6 Aug 2013

Transfer Fail? - €25m striker admits he's 'not heard anything' about LFC transfer

Atletico Madrid striker Diego Cost has responded to speculation linking him with a €25m summer transfer to Liverpool FC.

Spanish news program Punto Pelota, reported last week that the Reds have submitted an offer for the 24 year old Brazil international.

However, when quizzed last night about Liverpool's interest, Costa told AS:

"I've not heard anything about this. I'm happy here, and if the club want me to be here, I'm going to be here.

"The coach [Diego Simeone] knows how important it is to maintain the squad, the fans know it as well."


Costa - recently linked with a €25m move to Arsenal - is in the final year of his contract with Madrid, which means he could potentially leave for free next summer. This should give interested clubs a strong bargaining position, and render his €25m (£22m) buy-out clause practically meaningless.

Costa's team-mate, Koke, wants the Brazilian to stay with the club, and in February, he enthused:

"He [Costa] is a great footballer, he has a lot of character and he has his own way of playing when he is on the pitch. He does his job and people focus on other aspects of his game too much.”

Costa's stats from last season are creditable:

* 20 goals/8 assists in 44 apps (36 starts)
* Top scorer in the Spanish cup (beating Ronaldo)
* Goal/assist every 1.5 games.

Four different loan spells in five years is a cause for concern, but at 24, Costa is the right age for LFC, and at 6'2, he'd add some real physical presence to LFC's forward line.

At the beginning of July, Brendan Rodgers told reporters:

"What we've done in the early part of the summer is to improve the squad. Now what's important over the next three to five weeks is improving the team".

One month later and Liverpool still haven't signed anyone to 'improve the team', and with the new season only 11 days away, the club is running out of time to bring in experienced players capable of taking the Reds to the next level.



NOTE: Please stick to the Comment Policy (Click to read)


99 comments:

  1. Thats the real concern isnt it.
    I was happy for us to make signings such as Aspas and Alberto because you never know they might turn out to be world beaters when given the opportunity,
    When BR said that he would now strengthen the starting 11 i was pleased as it showed we had a bit more ambition than just to bargain hunt but since the statement as you pointed out we have not signed anyone.
    The only things that have been confirmed are that we lost out to dortmund for HM and Arsenal want Suarez.
    I know theres about 3-4 weeks left but surely BR would want the 1st team improvements to arrive before the stoke game.

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  2. where is the money our net spend is minimum ,if we are to believe our supposed 20 to 30 million budget ,we should have signed some guaranteed starters by now, i just hope all our money is not dependent on the suarez sale,or as i have stated before ,i think it will dragg on ,and then we will get excuses that we did not have time to find replacements

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  3. I'm sure the money is there mate, the right target just needs to be found.

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  4. time will tell i doubt it

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  5. i wouldn't put your mortgage on it.....i dont think there is any more money there for a big signing if one becomes available...i also think when Suarez goes we will see a minimal amount of that money...that's not me being negative its just how i think it will play out..

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  6. jaimie your m8s at it again

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  7. Everyone at Liverpool thinks they're cleverer than what they are. They actually need a lesson from Daniel Levy. Identify a player, make a bid, negotiate, then buy. Should all be wrapped up in a week or less. Instead they play this covert cat and mouse game until another team walk in and pick the player up. We are no longer a Champions League. You can't pressure teams to sell to us anymore. And you can't expect us to be the one and only destination for top players. If you don't have the money don't enquire, you just end up looking weak and stupid. If we had been tracking Mkhitarayan for months he should have been signed within days of the transfer window opening otherwise you're looking unprofessional and wasting your time trying to look cute. Just stop bullshitting everybody. Its making us look weak.

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  8. We seem to be linked with some pretty cool players - Eriksen, Aderweireld, Bernard, Mkihtarayan (now at Dortmund), Costa, Papa etc etc - But all we seem to hear from the selling clubs is that there has been no contact from LFC and no offers made. I also wonder if the LFC has no funds available, and all of this supposed transfer activity is just a smoke screen by LFC to appease the fans that we are looking when in reality there is no money unless Suarez leaves. Hopefully i am wrong.
    With the current squad, top 4 is a dream and will remain so.

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  9. m8 some fans think we have 20,30 million plus another 40,50 if we sell suarez they are in for one hell of a shock

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  10. It is a concern, I think we all mostly agree. Lots of talk about quality signings to "improve the team" but no actual movement. I had it pegged as a central defender and an attacking midfielder. I suspect that we're waiting for Skrtel to go before we go after that defender, with a full back signing just waiting on paperwork or the finer touches on an agreement. But this attacking player is the one everyone really wants to see. Maybe it's Costa, or maybe it's not. At this stage it's impossible to tell because Liverpool might have done nothing more than make an enquiry after the player and suddenly it's all over the news. I can imagine a scenario where Liverpool have asked Atletico about the player, been informed of his release clause, but are simply waiting.
    But waiting for what? It's getting far too close to the new season to be not getting our players. Anyone who's going to make an impact needs to be training with us ASAP. With Suarez suspended we need the attack to start this season well, scoring goals from the very first game.
    I appreciate that this is all very challenging but Liverpool are leaving it late to get those quality players. There is a difference between spending money for the sake of it and ultimately getting no one at all. Another poor start to the season and it's no different from last year. We just can't have that again.

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  11. Personally i believe there is 20-25 mil availible for a transfer or two but i do agree if Suarez is sold i highly doubt we will see all that money this window.
    it will most like be spread between the owners pocket and the next 2 windows or whereever else they see fit.

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  12. Carr Bro Come on . I put up few weeks ago that we will sell Suarez Downing Skrtel Pepe spearing Coates to get our Budget how many people come on and had a go at me that FSG are buying starters that they don't have to sell to buy . I hate to tell you all I was right. PEPE (Gone) skrtel (gone) Downing (going) spearing (going) coates would be gone he is keeping suarez there for sale . There is our Budget . Rodgers hands are tied FSG are massive liars .

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  13. Old habits die hard

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  14. But that is exactly what is going to happen

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  15. I dont have a mortgage ;)


    I believe the club is just looking at targets, otherwise Rodgers and his recruitment team aren't doing their job. Nobody wants a repeat of Andy Carroll. Since Rodgers came in and the owners stated they would approach things differently, we have not spent higher than 15m on a player. Coutinho and Sturridge were good signings. Price tags are not always representative of ability.


    Rodgers stated that there were funds to spend, but he was just identifying the right targets. The only reason I believe him here is this: Why would he say there is money to spend if there wasn't? That just puts unnecessary pressure on himself.

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  16. Only one reason I think there's some cash to spend (maybe only 20m like HazeyMatt suggests). See my reply to gilstrap

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  17. you did m8 ,and was ridiculed for it like my self.i just hope them posters have stopped smoking the the same thing arsenal are supposed to be smoking,and have woken up and smelt the coffee

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  18. he also said mingolet was competition for pepe,there is one easy way to tell if rodgers is telling porky pies in his press conferences ,when it comes to transfers ,his lips move

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  19. sorry what is exactly going to happen

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  20. I thought it was noted that FSG didn't want a 100K a week keeper providing nothing on the bench and Rodgers hand was forced.


    But Mignolet is different because Rodgers clearly stated that yes there is funds available for him - and this does nothing but increase the pressure on him and only him. So in this particular instance why would he say if it he wasn't true. And you know I'm not one of those people who believes anything and like you I'm anti-Rodgers in a lot of things but on this one I'm trying to be as fair and objective as possible.

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  21. I can think of a few reasons why BR would say there is money to spend when there isn't anything substantial in the coffers......
    1. By admitting we need to release players before we spend would put a lot of pressure on FSG,
    2. It would send out a bad message about LFC's ambition to our current senior players such as Suarez that the club is not going to be challenging for the Champions league anytime soon (maybe he already knows this),
    3. It sends out a bad message to any possible incoming transfers about LFC's ambition, or lack-of.
    4. It would send out a poor message to our current sponsors who are pumping millions into the club - Standard Chartered, Warrior etc etc....
    All in all, far better to say funds are there for us to compete with anyone in the transfer market if we think the player is worth the price required - the club gives the illusion of ambition, and keeps the masses happy that we are following a good business plan.... Of course any money saved in this window will be added to the pile available in the next window, wont it????

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  22. and we all knew that fsg would not want him on the bench ,so why did rodgers come out and try to say different,i also think rodgers may have been told something different to what was going to happen ,when he signed a new keeper if that his the case ,he needs to grow a backbone

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  23. money added to the next window,please do not give the fsg brigade more ready made excuses ,we all know where our moneys going either on the stadium so they can sell for a bigger profit,or exchanged into dollars

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  24. M8 sad to say we are being lied to we are being taken for fools. And like torres suarez wants to leave for same reasons Suarez is telling us we have no Vision for champions league or epl title . FSG ARE making us Profitable business to sell at are great win to them. Cut wage bill and team size as long as its not coming out of there pocket , lets sell our prize assets Suarez ,

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  25. I have to agree with the Carr-meister here (mostly). 11 days till the season starts and nothing has happened for weeks. I really doubt we will bring in any quality either, maybe a couple of no namers and then we can all be happy with that.


    If we want top 4 we need to spend some money now, regardless if Suarez leaves.


    Levy has done great business this off season, bought 2 real quality players and looks like to make 100m off the Bale sale, we have bought 1 quality player, an golden oldie and 2 unknowns and look like we might get done on the Suarez sale. The pre-seasons started so well and now it has just petered out

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  26. Reina would leave in an instant for Barcelona. Suarez will do the same for Madrid. They don't really want to be here.


    Rodgers did the right thing by signing a new keeper. At least Mignolet is somewhat reputable, he's not some random Spanish kid. The club engineered Reina's loan move behind Rodgers and Pepe himself, that's just what I think though.


    I think Rodgers had a backbone in this case because Reina wants out, and if you don't want to wear the shirt then fine. On top of this he has been pants for 2 seasons. Good decision to sign someone new.

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  27. maybe jaimie could run a poll
    have fsg lacked ambition in this transfer window

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  28. a lot of clubs have been active in the transfer market ,swansea are a good example

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  29. Do you really think FSG care what we think .?
    poll whats that going to do .

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  30. we have been left behind. It only looks like Man u and Arsenal haven't done great business, but both teams were way ahead of us anyway, no chance of catching them up!

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  31. How is this a transfer fail ? if he hasn't heard about any offer, then liverpool hav'nt made an offer, so how can they fail on a offer never made ?

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  32. This guy you must be really panicking or something cause you are all over the place like your hair is on fire!!! Why don't you wait till the window is closed then go on a rampage like you doing now?? Or better yet apply to be the next Manager of LFC.


    And doesn't most players always say am happy where am at then turn in a transfer request???

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  33. and i still think they will spend money especially man ure

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  34. for sure they will, at least they are actually bidding for people

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  35. do you mean really bidding ;-)

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  36. i know they do not care ,it would just make me feel better

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  37. I mean actually putting a bid in an the other club saying so, not this fairy tail we have of pretending to bid and the other club saying they have never even heard of LFC

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  38. i would not get the lfc job ,i have balls and fsg would soon find that out

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  39. but we did bid , i have been told numerous times ,stop being a realist and get your head in neverland;-)

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  40. Well we do a new type of bidding. What we do is say we are interested in a player and say we are willing to pay x amount and then we pack up and go for the night. Budget efficiency to the max

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  41. have no doubt fsg will come good before the end of the transfer vwindow,i expect 1or2 world class players before the end of this window,a couple more if we sell suarez ,but i think suarez will have a change of heart,when he sees the signings fsg make,why would he want to leave ,when he sees the waythe club is thrusting forward ;-)

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  42. That this will drag on and we'll be left empty handed at the end of the summer

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  43. Why isn't there someone that can do a world wide account for Liverpool fans all over the world to put $1 -$5 to buy the club or even make a transfers account to buy players . But then again that's a stupid idea. last thing I want is FSG Rodgers or Ian Ayre spend my money . How can the Fans buy the club

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  44. Mr. Point Of View9:20 am, August 06, 2013

    Do we really need a striker IF we sell suarez ? I think our biz in this window were finish. Wise move will wait till JAN see where we are standing (table) only make decision to spend more (if we fall far behind) or less (recover injured) !

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  45. Come on do you really believe that? So Soldado, Wanyama, Alderweireld, Lovren were all not the right targets? BR's description of "the right player" is an ambitious player at the right price. Why would the aforementioned, all signed by non CL clubs, not fit that bill? We were behind Man United and Chelsea for years fighting with Arsenal for third. Then City and Spurs overtook us and we did nothing. Now even the likes of Southampton and Swansea are building bigger and better squads than us and we're still doing nothing.

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  46. liverpool4life56510:55 am, August 06, 2013

    Coutinho said the same then he signed for us....

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  47. liverpool4life56510:58 am, August 06, 2013

    All the player you've mentioned have been poor. So why not get rid of them and get a upgrade?:) also it's about balancing the books.

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  48. The point as myself and carr said before. they come out and said that we are getting 3-4 serious signings Which are starters. Where are they You use the word UPGRADE where are they there is 12 days to the session opener . Rodgers will give us that upgrade he will tell us all how he believes Allen is up to it which in code means no signings there. then he will come out and say Borini is killing it at training in code again no new player in that place. If only the word UPGRADE was used in true form buy people who run LFC. I like to think your right . but peter pan is not real nor is FSG towards the LFC fans, I hope I am wrong.

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  49. liverpool4life56511:07 am, August 06, 2013

    Wow, FSG has lied, Rodgers has lied haha, some people... Rodgers is getting rid of rubbish. Downing? POOR player, skrtel rubbish in BR system. Also BR didn't put a time frame on when the players will be coming in. People have forgot the word patience.

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  50. liverpool4life56511:10 am, August 06, 2013

    He said 2 players, if anyone that leaves he will replace them too.And lets just wait until the window has closed. Then we will see :)

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  51. I think you'll probably find that there is money, why would we have been in contention to sign HM if there wasn't any?

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  52. Im not sure what to make of this one. A bid of 20m + always seemed very high for a player in the lastyear of his contract. i think there's more to come on this.

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  53. I hope you are right

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  54. we tried before and failed my money would be down

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  55. thanks for clearing that up

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  56. one massive fall when this window closes for you ,my friend

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  57. liverpool4life56511:35 am, August 06, 2013

    Not really.... because we will sign someone by next month just I know it takes times.

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  58. yes we may do if we sell suarez we may spend 20million,i seem to remember a certain person harping on about,how we had 20/30million to spend plus any sales i take it you stick by what you said

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  59. What's this? Someone being positive, mate, are you on the right site? lol Seriously though, I wouldn't bother trying to be rational, too many on here prefer to view everything the club does as a negative. Forget the fact the the club signed Coutinho and Sturridge two players that have elevated the club WITHOUT Suarez! No, instead let's focus on negatives, or perceived conspiracies.I'm sure we'll sign some new players. I don't really care if anyone else believes that if Suarez goes, or we don't sign Cristiano Ronaldo the next Apocalypse will start.

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  60. have we bid 20million thou we may be dealing in rupees

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  61. liverpool4life56511:43 am, August 06, 2013

    Like every window we've been given 20/30 million. Also we don't know if Suarez will get his move because players have so much power these days. But I'm certain a big player will come in :)

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  62. so your saying if we sell suarez we will get that money on top of the 20million

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  63. liverpool4life56511:54 am, August 06, 2013

    I agree, we've brought in well this summer which is a positive. We've improved our team from last year. People are just negative for the sake of it. Which is a real shame. Also another thing, we've got coutinho and Sturridge for a whole season :) which would be good to watch!:)

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  64. liverpool4life56511:56 am, August 06, 2013

    Depends how far we are down the line of the window. Because we don't want to spend on anybody and they flop (andy Carroll rushed signing)

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  65. and there lies the excuse we did not have time you really should get a job of fsg ,we all know what excuses they will use,

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  66. liverpool4life56512:35 pm, August 06, 2013

    It's true, Jason why would you want a rushed signing? we shouldn't waste money like we have before. We need to be more smarter in the market. "Lies" they haven't lied. Seriously your vendetta against FSG is a JOKE. Because you don't have any reasons for it. :)

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  67. They should have targets now, lets be honest they will not be surprised if Suarez leaves. For me, if FSG are honest there is no reason not to spend 20m + what ever Suarez goes for on great players. We hear a lot about the committee and how they are working, well it is time to prove it!

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  68. liverpool4life5651:31 pm, August 06, 2013

    They might have they might not, they wasn't expecting Suarez to says this and it takes time to scout players and see the right fit for a certain position. But we have to see what happens

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  69. They should always have targets scouted as you never know what happens. To be honest if they do not have any idea who they want to replace Suarez with then that is bad management.


    When Suarez said all this, was anyone really surprised?

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  70. But spending money for the sake of it isn't a wise strategy.


    And considering that we aren't going to guarantee large weekly wages, and we don't have Champions League this year, it's going to be tough to attract the 25-30m> player.

    That's a major part of why Higuain would have never come in here as a makeweight for Suarez.


    It may sound like an excuse, but it's still true.


    There's nothing wrong with having a net spend close to zero. All that matters is that the team improves and has a better chance at top 4.


    I believe the team has improved and has a better chance for the top 4. I'm just not sold yet that we will make the top 4.

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  71. Ha ha, that could be more like it. Maybe we could pay in canadian dollars and save ourselves some money....

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  72. we can pay them in what they like as long as they except the bid

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  73. sorry i do not agree we have improved and if suarez goes we have gone backwards

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  74. So you saying you are clueless or if by any chance you were to get it you will bankrupt LFC. So basically you are just Full of Sh*t !!!?

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  75. no iam saying i have a spine and would tell the fans how it is,something fsg will not let happen,i am more convineced now than ever,that the real reason kenny was sacked ,is because they know they could not treat him like they treat rodgers as he would not stand for it,but thanks for your post as always a pleasure to hear from you,comical genius as usual

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  76. i feel fsg are winging it on the transfer front...alot of there plans are purley down to what we will recoup on the sale of players...thats all fine but what it means is you cant define your targets as you dont know what you have to spend

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  77. liverpool4life5656:41 pm, August 06, 2013

    He was sacked because he didn't know how to spend money.

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  78. liverpool4life5656:43 pm, August 06, 2013

    Well it's more financial sense to get rid of players who are not going to play much. E.g reina,skrtel,downing who are on more than 80k a week, this enables Rodgers to bring in better players.

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  79. I just hope its true we aren`t in for him. From watching him in a few games (on telly only) and some vids, I think he is about Average in terms of skill. This might be ok as a back up, but not for the figures reported. There is also a reason he is always moved about because the will spend about 7 games banned every season, year on year. I can`t see the need for another striker unless Suarez is sold, and if he is, this guy is miles away from being a good replacement.


    Just over a week till the first game and no marquee top level signing yet. I don`t think we will get one either before the season starts, and even if we do its not giving him much time to settle. If we failed to before the season starts then I will stop giving my support to FSG and this window has been shocking. Buy to sell is back. Current net spend = almost 0. Or will once Downing is sold. Glad the big hike in TV money and the commerical increase which came in this year has been put to good use....

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  80. I dont think we will bid 20mil for anyone, unless Suarez is sold. FSG are using H&G transfers policy now.

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  81. Will be to late then though. You need players in before the season so they can gel and settle. If you have lost you first 4 games your chances of top 4 become very hard, and no matter how great the player you sign, your already waiting for next season. For me I think we need that top player in the next 2/3 days. I have hope still, just not much.

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  82. When Torres left, after he came out and stated that the Liverpool fans didn`t know the true story and FSG arent the people the fans think they are. At the time I thought sore grapes, but in hindsight, I would love to know a bit more about what he mean`t.

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  83. I do agree with you in almost every way, but I do think FSG want to keep Suarez. I completely agree that FSG are now just making the club a profitable business so they can sell it on, which is why wages are being lowered by selling every high paid player. However To keep the value of the club I think they still want to finish as high as possible, and therefore would want to keep Suarez as the club is prob easier to sell with him than without, however if a good enough offer comes in, then I`m sure they will see the sense it makes money wise to sell him. His value is a sixth of the whole club. Liverpool were a toxic asset when FSG brought it, now they arent. That alone increases the value. I do think at first they wanted to go for broke and win the EPL and not sell for a few years, but since the big cash injection failed I think they might now just be looking to settle the ship then move it on. Makes the most business sense. They aren`t football fans, there own companies don`t profit out of them owning us (like some owners companies do), and so I fail to see any reason why they would own us, other than to sell on to make money.

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  84. And dare I say it even Everton do better than us now. Which is shocking.

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  85. We don`t know the bid we put in. Papers gave figures, but no real proof. Neither Shakar or us said how much we bid. We might have bid 12mil, or maybe we did have the cash and matched the other bid. All we know is Rodgers said he never got the chance to speak to the player, which might be for many reasons.

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  86. I hope your right Pete. I just hope they dont look for too long. Season starts very very soon.


    He did say the same last summer then we got no one in the end. He said there was 1 or 2 more signings to come, but they never did. Which turned out well for us cause Dempsey dont look that great. Every cloud huh hahaha.

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  87. I`m sure FSG are the problem, as all managers would prob love to spend crazy money if given it, so the fact he isn`t is prob down to FSG, however Rodgers had has cash, and picked his players. 15mil for Allen and 11mil for borini isnt FSG`s fault. Currently I think both sides deserve equal share of the blame. There is still time to go, and I`m hoping I will be suprised, as normally I am positive about the club, just things seem to be slipping a little imo.

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  88. poor excuse he won cups he got eureopean football

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  89. i have plenty of reasons and you just keep adding to them

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  90. it was always going to turn out like this

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  91. liverpool4life56510:25 pm, August 06, 2013

    You don't have any reasons with any facts.

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  92. A few months ago I said this very thing only carr71 agreed with me . I got a blasting from people now everyone is coming our way. Its sponsors dollars and buying and selling lower wage bill On the books at the end of year show profit . Sorry to say FSG don't give rats ASS what we the fans think . they will sell it and there pockets will be full.

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  93. I have said it since FSG took over that they were only here to turn the club into a profitable business then sell. I even posted up very detailed break downs of costings etc. So it werent just you two. However I tended to disagree with the idea they would take money out year per year, which is what some people were saying. Not suggested you said that.

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  94. 100% right once our fellow LFC fans see it the same way it will force the owners to act faster in either supporting us . or get out faster . The thing that's shocks me is that fans mmmmm let me put it this way believe this is like a kids book with happy ending .those books are not real ??????? Nor is what we are being told

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  95. It's not that shocking to me. They've been steadily improving under Moyes whereas we've only been regressing ever since our CL win.

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  96. they are not rushed they knew suarez would force the issue ,they will use it as an excuse and the gullible will buy it,then start harping on about how much we will spend in the next transfer window,well m8 hes something for you to chew on ,looks like your favourite yanks are about tp burst your bubble

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