12 Aug 2013

Anfield-bound? - LFC make €12m offer for 'great' international striker

With Luis Suarez's situation at Anfield becoming increasingly untenable, and the Diego Costa deal off the table, Liverpool continue to be linked with a move for Juventus striker Alessandro Matri

Last week, Silvio Berlusconi-owned SportMediaSet claimed that the Reds had 'sent scouts to produce a report on Matri', and Sky Sports Italia reported:

"Liverpool have stepped up their search for another striker by requesting information about the availability of Alessandro Matri.

"The Juventus striker was the subject of an enquiry earlier today from the Reds"


Last night, Sportsmediaset further claimed that:

* Liverpool have submitted a €12m offer for Matri.

* The striker met with directors Beppe Marotta, Fabio Paratici and Coach Antonio Conte to discuss his future.

* The meeting took place at the Villar Perosa training ground after a game against the Juventus youth team.

The arrivals of Carlos Tevez and Fernando Llorente this summer would seem to suggest that the Italian internationals's days are numbered at Juventus, but there are many other strikers out there (arguably) preferable to Matri, whose recent goalscoring stars are seriously underwhelming:

* Last season: 10 goals/2 assists in 33 apps.
* 2012-13: 11 goals/4 assists in 36 apps.

This would be just like Liverpool, though: buy a striker that no one else is really after, but ignore superior goalscorers available for similar prices (i.e. Wilfried Bony).

Last week, Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers suggested that a deal for Atletico Madrid's Diego Costa is no longer an option. He told reporters:

"I believe Costa has signed an extension. There’s nothing in terms of players to add"

Matri - recently described as a 'great player' by Luca Toni - is back in pre-season training with Juve at the moment, and when taking time out last week, he told reporters:

"It’s been a tough start, but it’s always nice to get going again and think about the new campaign that’s on the horizon”

Rafa Benitez is also interested in signing Matri, and with Napoli being in the Champions League, it's seems likely that he'll choose to stay in Italy.

Would Matri be a good addition to the squad...?





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


155 comments:

  1. For a striker those stats aren't great, but then I don't know how many were sub appearances. I would rather someone else.
    We need to act fast now, as there isn't long left, and the longer you leave it, the more the prices usually go up.

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  2. I think that Bony will prove to be a missed opportunity. Don't know about this guy, but Borini had similar if not better stats.....

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  3. May as well leave the money in his pocket as buy Matri he is no good to the team he is very unlikely to adapt.
    There is no point carrying on about squad strengthening when the first 11 is left wanting.

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  4. please no...it cant be april 1st...this guy is the epitome of average

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  5. hes an out an out striker so he doesn't fit the rogers profile...rogers likes his attackers to be comfortable on the ball but without the ability to score,hence we couldn't score against celtics second string...

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  6. He will be the next Borini .
    We are selling players not replacing them .
    No one will come of great improvement

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  7. There's still 3 weeks left in the current transfer window. Plenty of time to bring in players.

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  8. No more Italians or English players unless they are severely undervalued for their talent levels (a la Sturridge).


    And this guy does not appear to be undervalued at all...

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  9. liverpool4life5651:07 pm, August 12, 2013

    No thanks...

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  10. at 29 years old and 10 goals last season and a price of 12m this would me mad

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  11. If we sign 3 class players I will be first to tell you sorry I was wrong. Don't thinks so? we will see

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  12. I understand that its a straight swap for Borini

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  13. another day another average player linked to our club ,i prefered it when we were linked to hk ,we all new we would not sign him ,but at least for a few days we were dreaming big at least,now its just turning into a nightmare

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  14. Rodgers says we can expect more signings but I giuess it will only happen after we sell Downing and Agger

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  15. ah well thats different a young average player for an old average player ,i suppose at least he has some experience

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  16. if you want a striker - GO GERMAN - p s What became of Morgan Yessil etc - HAVE WE SOLD THEm ??

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  17. 'great' ? That's probably what Brenda thinks. Filling our team with mediocrity. FSG and Rodgers are bringing our once great team down faster than Suarez.

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  18. Downing on his way for a medical. There are better options out there thanthis guy. Really hope this one doesnt go through.
    We really dont seem to have an idea who to sign to replace suarez. in my opinion the club are all in on the hope that an apology will be forthcoming and suarez will be available after six games. A gamble that could turn out to be very costly.

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  19. rodgers stated a few weeks ago the squad players had been signed it was now time for the big boys to be signed ,i expect him to put an offer in for croach sometime this week

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  20. to be fair to rodgers he can only spend what fsg say he can

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  21. Meh. From Juve, I'd rather have Vucinic instead. Despite him being older and scoring only 2 goals more in the league whilst starting far more games than Matri and played mostly up front, despite being versatile. Not very a convincing argument I guess, for the stat-orientated

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  22. liverpool4life5651:30 pm, August 12, 2013

    Do you always have to have a dig at Rodgers?

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  23. liverpool4life5651:32 pm, August 12, 2013

    So we are at advanced stages for the granada Left back. Good piece of business. :-)

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  24. Roy - please do not refer to Rodgers as 'Brenda'. That is belittling and unnecessary. Please remain civil. Thanks.

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  25. Revealing Liverpool's transfer strategy part I: sign one average Italian striker for twice his worth every summer

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  26. But...but we beat Valerenga and Thai and Indonesia XI....

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  27. LFC for league 2013-14 season!!!

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  28. There are five days left before the season starts. As past seasons have taught us, you can't miss your start. As past seasons have also taught us, we don't do well against Stoke. BR has been banging the "we need to get in players early so they can train with us in pre-season for as long as he's been at the club so I'm not accepting there are still three weeks left. There are already six weeks behind us is more like it.

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  29. We haven't.
    But we will eventually.
    People really need to stop getting carried away about these young players. The Irish team that won the Euro U-16 and U-18? Only Robbie Keane actually made it relatively big. Cyprus won the Euros a couple of years ago and so did Switzerland but at senior level these countries are mediocre at best. Serbia recently won some youth level Euros as well and the main contender for their top players signature in Europe is Anderlecht. A club where Jovanovic was a superstar.Once they make the step up, great. But you have to accept that of every 100 15 year olds we sign, maybe two will become first team regulars. If that.

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  30. Who cares if the season is only 5 days away? As long as players are brought in before the deadline, that's the main thing that matters.


    It would've been better to get all business done before the start of the season, but just because that didn't happen doesn't mean the club will suffer.

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  31. no i just like to ,

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  32. But it does increase our chances of missing our start. Stoke, Villa and United are our first three games. We can quite easily drop six to nine points there which will put us on the backfoot from the get go

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  33. @Jaimie K I know how rodgers system will now work
    sturridge will go through the middle , suarez if he stays on the right or aspas
    coutinho through the middle ,gerrard and lucas holding in behind
    just the left winger missing which could have been costa, bony only plays in one position so that is why we are not intrested .
    we need someone like podolski a striker who plays on the left
    how about willian?

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  34. Matri is a decent player but not for Liverpool for me. Wouldnt do too well in the Prem

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  35. Why? You say you're such a avid supporter of Liverpool football club yet there's never any support...Just constant digs.

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  36. Seems to be the best available out there. Hope he makes it, last season he looked good, but honestly never really stood out before that. Which is a small bit worrying, but glad to see we're still working.

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  37. on fifa 13 he has
    pace 84
    and accelaration 84
    so suggest can play in the wing?

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  38. loosen up niall its just a laugh

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  39. ball control 78
    and dribbling 74
    which i guess is alright bring him on
    im gonna play with him on ffia now

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  40. this guy makes borini look like mario kempes

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  41. just like you said we were signing hk ,you read it you believe it

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  42. plus if rafa is intrested he must be a good player
    rfa signed : torres,alonso,reina,kuyt,mascherano,agger,benayoun,arbeloa,lucas,johnson,garcia
    sissoko

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  43. great international striker ??????


    more BS from JK

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  44. you hit the nail on the head whats part 2 oh i forgot we never have a plan b

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  45. If that is what we are going with, might as well get Agbonlahor instead on the wing, as his speed causes havoc on FIFA for a few seasons

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  46. There's a difference between 'having a laugh' and as I quote 'I like to' have a dig at Rodgers at every chance one can get...Is there not a difference there? I certainly see one...Or is it just me.....?

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  47. with out the pc brigade getting on to me or sounding racist Italian players are the ones i don't want at the club more than any other ...i detest liverpool being sewn up like a kipper by italian clubs for below average players

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  48. What concerns me is that we had the chance to act like Spurs and buy decent players after the fillers in the first coup[le of weeks.Now it seems they're still looking at Alderwiereld and Eriksen, having bought Soldado, and two other good players. If Bale goes they will be a threat to 4th if he stays they will be a big threat.
    Maybe they are preparing for life after Bale now, and will gamble on CL status next year if he stays
    Why can't we do the same? Replace Suarez now, then strengthen mid season by adding him if he doesn't. And sign some 1st teamers NOW

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  49. if you say that enough jamie you might start believing it

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  50. well said mike ,but we will sit on the fence and twiddle our thumbs

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  51. liver pools women's team could have beaten them

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  52. I despair if they're serious.
    Using Fifa to judge how a player might play? Tell me it's in jest....

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  53. liverpool4life5652:06 pm, August 12, 2013

    Skysports have said it, :) and it we pull it off then we have a great LB on our books!:), I didn't say Mkhitaryan was going to sign for defo I said we was In talks which were true :)

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  54. niall get off your high horse just because your happy to soak up fsg,s and rodgers bs it dose not make you a better fan ,and as you will see i have already defende rodgers on this thread

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  55. liverpool4life5652:07 pm, August 12, 2013

    True this guy has got excellent crossing skill, also has pace and he got defensively a upgrade on erinque

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  56. having digs is habit forming once you start you cant stop

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  57. quote he was on the plane quote he his in a secret hotel

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  58. a bit like pringles

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  59. liverpool4life5652:08 pm, August 12, 2013

    He has tried to do that, Mkhitaryan and costa both players turning us down. It isn't BR fault we have declined so much,

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  60. liverpool4life5652:09 pm, August 12, 2013

    I didn't say he was on the plane?:)

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  61. Once you pop you cannot stop :D

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  62. probabley put a few more goals past them as well

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  63. he also signed a lot of crap

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  64. Apparently we never got to speak with the player,Either BR said that or Ayre can't remember which so you're off the mark there.

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  65. thats what i meant where the f*ck did i get rolos from hahah

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  66. i distictly remember your post the plane boss the plane

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  67. We are selling ? you do know what comes after selling at Liverpool FC ???????????????????? What you say ????? buying .
    The system that is only in place at one club in premier league.
    Its the new money ball system sell before you buy .HAHA

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  68. do you love anyone enough to give them your last rolo haha

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  69. liverpool4life5652:14 pm, August 12, 2013

    Talks with the club not Mkhitaryan

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  70. Not Rodgers fault all FSG

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  71. liverpool4life5652:14 pm, August 12, 2013

    No. That wasn't me :)

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  72. we may just sell sell sell

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  73. Seriously give it a rest Jason...If we don't spend I'll criticise FSG then but unlike you I'll reserve my criticism where it's actually due.Which isn't the case yet.Come September 3rd and we're in the same boat then I will.Not until then.

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  74. I agree, every game and point will matter and count in the end. I would hate to miss out on 4th by 6 points just because we didn't get those players in for the start of the season.


    In my eyes the team that starts on Saturday should be the team that starts most games. Right now, that team is the same as last year

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  75. And they basically said a deal with Dortmund was already in place.

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  76. stoke and villa are 6 pointers for liverpool

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  77. i am just getting mine in early ,as i fear the internet may go into meltdown once we see who we did not sign

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  78. Im clapping my hands with Joy YEEEERRRRRRR

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  79. they should be and if we do not take at least 4 the pressure will be mounting on rodgers

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  80. i will ask max to clear the situation up

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  81. liverpool4life5652:19 pm, August 12, 2013

    That was at the end I'm talking about we was only interested with anzi :)

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  82. jaimie do you think agger will go ,

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  83. liverpool4life5652:20 pm, August 12, 2013

    Good for you:)

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  84. I think it's just you. Rodgers isn't really the problem though. I think he's a decent manager. It's our transfer policy that is the problem.

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  85. I would say 6 points from those 2 games, lets be honest

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  86. my fear was spurs selling bale and signing 3 or 4 quality players which it looks like they are doing ..i dont think bale is as good as is made out and if spurs get the money which is being mooted its great buisness

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  87. rogers problem is he is on a learning curve at a big club...the problem is you dont get a learning curve at a big club...all your statements ,transfers,results etc are under intense scrutiny

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  88. rogers is on a remit to trim the squad and wage bill by what amount is anyone's guess but there will be more going than coming thats for sure

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  89. Eeeeh wha?

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  90. the joke is it wont surprise me if agger &surez follow downing out the door..well if you sell a company you need to trim the wage bill

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  91. Im beginning to think agger going has more legs than some would admit.....didn't travel to celtic game..agent in paper ..barca have actually bidded....plus hes a big earner....adios danny boy

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  92. Are you on the drink ?????????????
    Is there a job open at FSG you have put your application in ????????

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  93. Great deal if we can get it done especially at the price SKYSPORTS are suggesting,No more ENRIQUE, the rampaging bull who's trademark is running up blind alleys!

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  94. Yes, LFc could drop points, but equally, they could gain points too. It's simply a matter of how you look at it. You choose to look at it negatively.

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  95. If the team contains - as is likely - Mignolet, Aspas and Toure, how is it the 'same as last year'?

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  96. Why? Because you say so? Every game is a six-pointer; why do those game suddenly mean everything?

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  97. This is unsupported supposition. Where is the proof that this is indeed Rodgers' 'remit'?

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  98. Jason - I've already warned you about this. READ the site update above: stop making pointless one-line comments about Rodgers that serve no purpose other than to continue your campaign of ceaseless negativity against the man. You can criticise, but make sure there is a point, or you have reasoning. One line digs for no other purpose than just having a dig are not welcome.

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  99. As they are not really upgrades on what we have. Reina = Mignolet, Toure = Carra (I was hoping we would get a better CB in) and Aspas < Suarez. I'm sorry but there is no improvement there for me.


    It seems to me that BR is hoping that the year of gelling as a team will make us better than last year, he could be right, but i am not convinced. Saying that BR doesn't have to convince me of anything

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  100. liverpool4life5652:51 pm, August 12, 2013

    FSG have gave Rodgers funds but it just hard to get the players in because we don't have CL. E,g Mkhitaryan and costa.

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  101. It would be then really strange to make him vice captain if we are ready to sell him. That wouldn't make sense to me

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  102. liverpool4life5652:52 pm, August 12, 2013

    I agree, plus hopefully this would push erinque to do better. :) with erinque he always loses the ball which is frustrating

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  103. liverpool4life5652:53 pm, August 12, 2013

    He injured him self? Everyone saw that, your reading to much Into things.

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  104. Why are people upset about being linked to poor players? Just because they are linked doesn't me it happens. In truth only about 1% of linked players actually move to LFC

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  105. No, it's not just you. Endless digs at Rodgers (or anyone) are not welcome here. Constructive criticism is always welcome.

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  106. Yes, and that's the way it should be. However, that doesn't mean one-line snipes are acceptable. Criticise the man to whatever level of depth you want, but do it constructively, and with reasoning/examples etc.

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  107. Then he shouldn't be talking about 1st team signings if they are not all wrapped up, makes him look very foolish. Let's be honest we haven't signed first team players as this wasn't the real plan from the start. If we wanted to, we could have signed someone by now!

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  108. Unless it was a last ditch attempt to convince him to stay.

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  109. True, but i would be surprised nonetheless

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  110. and lose some nails too ;)

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  111. we've been linked to more than 60 players already you'd think we'd have signed at least 6-8 already ;)

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  112. i'd rather spend £20 million on Shaqiri.

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  113. mine have already gone m8

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  114. No I choose to look at it realistically. In fairness, do you believe that with our summer transfers we have improved our first team? Is Mignolet a step up from Reina? Is Aspas a step up from Sturridge? Is Luis Alberto a step up from Downing? Is Touré a step up from Carragher? In the very best case you can say that those mentioned above are equally good.Considering that Man U and Stoke are always difficult for us and the fact that we have not improved at all, the chance that we will drop points are much bigger than it would have been had we brought in some actual improvements to what was already there. Last season we struggled partially because we only had Suarez to lead the line. Now we are in the exaxct same situation so why would things be better now?

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  115. get him of the wage bill

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  116. there is trimming then there is taking a chainsaw to it

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  117. could well be nothing surprises me

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  118. jaimie why write loads of lines when one says it just as well,i also find that most times i write something to long it gets deleted

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  119. No, no, no, no. Another waste of money on a distinctly average player, at the moment we seem to be more interested in reducing the wage bill by miving players on and replacing them with other teams tat, I know we can't attract the top players buf surely we don't have to scrape the barrel.

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  120. sometimes jamie the jokes write them self..whether they are true or not

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  121. fsg and rogers have stated numerous times that they wanted a more streamlined competative squad i thought that was common knowledge

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  122. Please, NO! Matri is a carbon copy of Borini but older (maybe he can head the ball better) but that is it!


    If we are willing to go for someone older in Italy, we can look at Osvaldo or even Vucinic who is 30. The better options are in Turkey as we can go after Yilmaz or Sow. Yes, Bony was a missed opportunity but FSG should not sanction the signing of Matri who I'm sure we will all want out of the team by January 2014. If Yilmaz or Sow prove to be expensive, we should go for younger options such as Rondon or even Muriel at the expense of a front line that is totally devoid of any heading ability.

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  123. that old chestnut ......

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  124. vice captain ...what exactly is that

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  125. because we dropped serious points to these two teams last year

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  126. jamie kanwar hahaha

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  127. max says agger is staying

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  128. if fsg where fron texas it would make a good film

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  129. Yes, I believe the squad is improved. Mignolet is (IMO) a step up from Reina (based on recent form and future potential); Aspas is not a replacement for Sturridge, so I'm not quite sure you're comparing them. Aspas is potentially a step up from Carroll and Shelvey. Alberto could be a step-up from Downing. Toure is a step up from Carragher, who is 35 on and his last legs.

    LFC are not in the same situation as last season. Sturridge is available to lead the line, and Aspas is also there to provide striker support. Plus, Coutinho will also have an impact in the final third.

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  130. What a horrible Catch-22 we're in. Players we need to get us to the CL won't sign for us because we aren't in the CL. Even the player we do have that could get us to the CL won't play with us because we're not in the CL. I'm beginning to see the FSG logic of buying young talent. We can't buy our way into the CL so we're going to have to grow into the CL.

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  131. Certainly not! Darren Bent would do a better job and no i don't want Bent either :-) I would love to see Roma's Eric Lamela sign but think i'm dreaming there.

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  132. Was Damian Duff not in those Irish teams, ?

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  133. Not sure about the u16 but not in the u18. Even if he was, these youmgsters were european champion and most of them never made it. The swiss too. Senderos never fulfilled his promise, neither did Vonlanthen and not to mention that rb we signed whose namen i can't even remember. Or what about our fa cup winners or league winners. Where are they now?

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  134. I am feeling great despair about our future. Rodgers simply does not fill me with confidence. Borini, Allen Aspas and alberto all look lightweight.
    Would BR ever have signed Hamman, McMahon.
    God I hope I am wrong

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  135. fuck off luis suarez...be gone you horse faced mother fucker, bring back emille heskey

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  136. Not true on not being able to get the players - look at Monacco (ok they have big money), but Fiorentina got Mario Gomez, they aren't in Champions League.
    It's moneyball - philosophy does not dictate spending on big name players, its all about x goals for y money, etc. etc. See aspas 12 goals for 8 million - is 1.5 goals a season / each million. Roberto Soldado's 24 goals for 26 million, gets less than 1 goal per million.
    Overall not such a bad philosophy, but this is not baseball, and there is added value in buying bigger names.
    Liverpool are just being cheap.

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  137. i may be wrong but i think arsenal have got a fair few black players, will they wear t shirts for the goofy cunt?

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  138. Just cannot contain my excitement at Liverpool's mouth watering potential Italian strike force!

    Borini and Matri!!!!

    Everton - watch out!!!!

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  139. If Matri is good enough for Rafa and Napoli then he sure as hell is good enough for LFC.

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  140. glad that issue is sorted ,no need to discuss it further;-)

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  141. if they were oil barons even better

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  142. But that doesn't mean to say I would want him at LFC,it's just that us supporters have got so picky with wanting world class players at LFC when the fact is we can't attract them anymore. For God's sake our best player wants to leave us to join Arsenal! What does that show about us?! Put it this way,I would rather we get Matri than constantly be linked with all these players (Muriel,Yilmaz etc) but end up with no one

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  143. get f***ing rid of that ad at the bottom of the page.......

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  144. No more sissies like Acquilani.....PLEASE

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  145. Deletr


    Sent from Samsung Galaxy Note

    -------- Original message --------

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  146. Missing Soldado,Gomez and Bony were big misses IMO.

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  147. ALL your blog posts are terribly childish, boring, monotanous and irritating....please adapt your headings/title. How old are you btw....maybe that's the reason.

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  148. Hey Jamie seriously what are the chances of getting Willian from Shaktar
    I have only seen a bit of him but he is a huge hand full for any defender what do think.

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  149. Practically zero I'd say. I'd be surprised if he's even on Rodgers/Ayre's radar.

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  150. Why are we not in for someone like Burak Yilmaz - proven in the Turkish leage, proven in the Champions League....and throw the 'buy young policy' out the window because our immediate aim is to get into the Champions League and Yilmaz is a proven goalscorer!

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  151. Thanks lad. Can't believe it was there in the first place
    but your prompt reaction is appreciated.
    Good site, this.
    Come on you Reds
    And to our fans: stay positive and keep the faith.

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