3 Dec 2013

'Seal the Deal': Aldo tells BR to sign 'fantastic' €17m star in Jan. Good idea...?

Liverpool's lack of mobility in midfield is a glaring problem for the club this season, and despite the obviousness of the problem, Brendan Rodgers never seems to prioritise the signing of strong, athletic midfield powerhouse. Well, Liverpool legend John Aldridge believes this needs to change, and he has urged Reds Rodgers to prioritise the signing of Tottenham midfielder Moussa Dembele during the upcoming transfer window.

In his column for Sunday World today, Aldo bemoaned the lack of 'balance' in the Reds' midfield, and argued that the team needs a 'powerful sidekick to do the donkey work'. He explained:

"One guy who would be ideal for that role [is] powerful and composed Dembele, who is struggling to get into [Spurs'] stuttering team right now.

"With Belgium in the World Cup, I’m sure he will look to get out of Spurs in January and he would be a fantastic signing for Liverpool if they could seal a deal".


With dozens of players fighting for their World Cup places this season, the January transfer window could conceivably be a fertile hunting ground for Liverpool, and a powerful, combative midfielder is (arguably) a priority.

Prior to his €17m move to Spurs, Liverpool were regularly linked with a move for Dembele, but is the Belgian the type of player Liverpool need right now?

I may be wrong, but Dembele is more of an attack-minded midfield playmaker than a defensive midfielder, yet Aldo seems to suggest that he can fulfill a similar role to Lucas in the team. In my view, that would be a waste of the Belgian's talent. At Fulham, he was more of an attacking midfielder, and from what I've seen of him for Spurs, he's more of a midfield playmaker than a defensive-mid.

Dembele is undoubtedly a quality player. He's 26, so his best years are still to come, and he has good technique/physical presence/passing ability. However, his end product is extremely poor:

* 13-14: 1 goal/1 assist in 21 apps.
* 12-13: 2 goals/4 assists in 44 apps.
* 11-12: 2 goals/3 assists in 45 apps

Liverpool already struggle to score goals from midfield. Hendo has 1 goal in 15 apps this season. Gerrard hasn't scored from open play for 24 league games (!); Lucas and Allen? Forget it! The last thing the Reds need is another midfielder who doesn't consistently score/create goals.

As an attacking midfielder, Dembele is definitely not the answer, especially for the £10m+ he'd inevitably cost. He's also (IMO) not an option for defensive midfield. If Rodgers is to sign competition for Lucas, he should sign a dedicated defensive mid. Signing a playmaker and then converting them into a DM is not the way to go.

If Liverpool are to spend money in January, I really hope Rodgers prioritises positional specialists, i.e. proven players who can come into the team and fulfil a specific, identifiable role in the team, and I don't see Dembele doing that.



Author:


53 comments:

  1. Hahaha why would dembele leave tottenham and London to go to Liverpool!

    Joker! I'm sure he would prefer living in Liverpool and not winning anything! Deluded! Name a player that has left spurs for Liverpool , only Robbie keane and then he came straight back!

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  2. Hey Matt how is the 100 Million Pounds Team doing??

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  3. Matt, your views are welcome here, but posts like this will only incite derision. How about laying out your views in a civil manner?

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  4. Matic should be our choice, regarldess of price. He will be sold to Real or Dortmund or any established cl team for 25 million pounds tops this winter or summer- we should publicly offer that and bid till 30 even 35 mill on the first day of window.
    At that moment at cl spot-we make a statement.

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  5. What have Tottenham won lately? Did you see the perfect Bale's perfect hat-trick the other day.

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  6. We will finish above manu this season, by the way...

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  7. That's two past players sticking their oar into Tottenham in the last 24 hours. Perhaps they should concentrate on their own team. They (Hansen and Aldridge) are pretty ordinary 'has beens' so I suppose they have to shout a bit to get noticed. Hansen's the biggest idiot I have ever heard on a football panel. Oh I forgot Souness another ignoramus.

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  8. No you won't. Why would Dembele take such a step down? You will definitely have money from the Suarez sale but players like Karl Henry will be all you can attract. The 80's was a long time ago lads, move on.

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  9. We should do what it takes to get Mata - if it means 40 million then so be it. there is no point spending 10 million on 4 average players. Cant still believe that comolli and kenny preferred downing to mata!

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  10. I'm sure that what Matt meant was that there very little chance of leaving WHL in January, and less chance of being allowed to join Liverpool even if he wanted to (and there is no reason to suppose he would).
    Just to clarify things: He made the standard, stock, footballing reply that it is better to be in the team and playing than not. Journos with an agenda then ran with it that he was somehow major league disgruntled. He didn't intimate that in any way shape or form. As a matter of fact, if they had bothered to check rather than hopping and skipping orgasmically to the presses with an anti-AVB anti-Spurs story they would have noticed that he has actually had plenty of game time.


    StevenG - the £100 million team is just a few points behind yours. If you really believe this is anything other than a very good bunch of players you have been reading too much of Mr Ashton in the Daily Fail. Try to think of it in these terms: Seven new players. Holtby joined in January and is relatively young. Kaboul has never played under AVB and is returning from a season long injury. Sandro had only half a season under AVB and then a long term injury he is returning from. Danny Rose and Townsend were both out on loan last year (and Rose has got himself injured with no natural cover at left-back). Lloris, Vertonghen, Dembélé and Sigurdsson have only played together and under AVB for a year. That is sixteen players who have very little experience at the club and under AVB - essentially a new squad. And quite a young squad, at that. If you don't believe that results will steadily improve then you weren't watching last season ;-/

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  11. I can see us getting Carlton Cole-Fantastic!

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  12. I'm afraid,do'nt hold your breath.

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  13. in the meantime you are humiliated with 6 goals...and oh will AVB still be here!!?wait wait and wait

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  14. Wesley Sneijder like players we need some one to take over from Steven

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  15. yeah mate whatever ...go and govern another site, preferably one that can accomodate people not used to success!!

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  16. With the amount of money you guys have spent and the quality you acquired, should validate a higher league position, at least above Liverpool. Suarez alone has scored more than Spurs, in fewer games. Dembele or any other spurs player would love to play for Liverpool, IMO. After all, its a global club. Spurs, umm, not so much.

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  17. There is only one Belgian player Liverpool should target and that's Axel Witsel! Probably the best midfield enforcer in the world at the moment. There is a young player at Anderlecht worth a look aswell: Mbemba IMO the next Kompany.

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  18. We are very fortunate to be in the top five right now. No production apart from DS and LS. I think Ibe, Alberto should see field time. Sterling has proven nothing except he can't pass, retain possession and stand on his feet for more than ten seconds. I have grave reservations about Aspas but agree that as a winger or mid he was atrocious. Last call for a roster spot; show yourself as an EPL striker or se you later.......

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  19. I like Dembele but think he is better defensively than offensively. Physical presence for sure......we need speed, scoring and creativity, badly from mids.........maybe an ad in the Telegraph?

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  20. Ah man! Witsel is such a beast! He completely dominated us last season! Only problem is that he cost Zenit £32M and signed a 5year deal last season so his fee would be crazy! But he is one of the best enforcers. If he plays well then Belgium will surprise many in the world cup. It's their golden generation right now.

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  21. Yea his creative input in negligible to be honest.

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  22. Maybe a few years ago, but not now.

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  23. Love you optimism hermano!

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  24. I like Dembele, wanted him instead of Allen, when he was on the move to Spurs. Very few that are better than him when it comes to driving through central midfield with the ball from deep. Yep, he doesn't get much assists and goals (though give him a lamppost to aim for, he may do better. Google it ;) ) but he does play deep and doesn't get forward as much as the 3rd CM which is usually Paulinho. He is creative but he isn't the 'last pass' kind. Yes, we need goals and assists but we also need a solid base in central midfield too, which we don't have currently. I'd definitely like him here as one of the two central midfielders in front of defence. Would take him over any of our CMs at the moment. But too late, just like it is too late with Vidal when he was on the move from Bayer (just signed a new contract).

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  25. B Rodgers needs to be backed well in January by the owners, then he needs to spend it wisely on players who will come straight into first team and stake a claim: No more Alberto, Assaidi, Aspas, Borini or Moses type players. Players who are simply dead wood average at best and not good enough for the club

    The owners need to give B Rodgers 60-70M in January to bring in these five players:

    Two players to sort out our: diabolical, soft, lacking in creativity, lacking in scoring goals, unproductive, not mobile, sluggish, centre midfield:

    Two Good centre midfielders to bring class, creativity, fight, goals, mobility, power, strength and to control and dominate the centre of park:

    1: DM: M’Vila(23) Of Rubin Kazan for 10-15M to compete and Cover Lucas Leiva

    2: CM: Y Cabaye(27) Of Newcastle for 14-18M to compete and Cover Henderson

    Two class quality pacey quick creative goalscoring wingers on either wing: To provide good quality service to our attacking midfielder and strikers

    3: RW / RWF: M Salah(21) Of Basel for 12-16M to play on the right wing or right hand side of attack to compete and cover Sterling

    4: LW / LWF: D Capel(25) Of Sporting Clube De Portugal / Lisbon for 4-6M to play on the left wing or left hand side of attack to compete and cover IBE

    And a striker to compete and cover sturridge: No Aspas, No Borini's:

    5: L Remy(26) Of QPR, one of these two strikers should be brought to club for 5-8M

    These 5 players would cost club 60-70m but would help us maintain our the top 4 pursuit all the way through to May.


    But with our current poor weak squad, We will struggle to keep the top 4 pursuit up come february and then we will end up in 6-10 position in league.

    Being blunt, honest and truthful, I love my team but we have too many dead wood average players at the club. And that is why we have now become a top 6-10 side for the last 5 and half seasons and it is the main reason why L Suarez wants to jump ship.

    If the owners back B Rodgers well with some serious investment and he brings in M’Vila(23) DM, Cabaye(27) CM, Capel(25) LW / LWF, Salah(21) and Remy(26) FD these five are players of Coutinho(21), Gerrard(33) and Sturridge(24) class and calibre.

    Whereas the likes Lucas (26) DM, Henderson(23) CM , Allen (24) CM, IBE(17) LW / LWF, Aspas(26) LW / LWF, Moses(22) RW /RWF and Stering(18) RW / RWF are nowhere near the calibre and class of Coutinho(21) , Gerrard(33), Sturridge(24) and Suarez(26).

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  26. When Dembele seems surplus to requirements at Spurs and has not set the world alight why would Liverpool pay 17 million for him when 2 seasons back Spurs paid about 9 mill.

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  27. That very true. We has the chance to go for Mata and we opted for Dower.... Oh LFC when will we learn?

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  28. Why pay 25-32M pounds for Matic?


    When B Rodgers could bring in Y M'Vila(23) Of Rubin Kazan and Y Cabaye(27) Of Newcastle for a combined total of 33M


    Y M'Vila(23) Of Rubin Kazan for 10-14M and Y Cabaye(27) Of Newcastle for 14-19M


    Those are the two players who should be brought to club in January to sort out or non creative,lacks goals, immobile, laboured, sluggish soft centre midfield:


    M'Vila(23) and Cabaye(27) would be the clubs 2014 day version of Mascherano and Alonso

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  29. Not sure why Aldo is saying he struggling to get in the team as he has started 9 PL games this season and started 6 EL games. Joint first (with Paulinho) when it comes to which CM has started the most games for Spurs this season.

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  30. The real question for me is whats the reason for having Lucas on the pitch when we are chasing the game because for me he adds nothing when we need to go forward. Lucas is fine when we're ahead and those five players in front of him are on the same wavelength. Or am I wrong and Lucas is held back by manager tactical orders?

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  31. I think Lucas is held back by the manager's tactics. I think he's told specifically to protect the defense and make sure that shots are coming from outside the box so that Mignolet has the best chance to make a save.


    And by and large, I think that has been done. The majority of the goals scored against us this year have come off set pieces or wonder-goals from outside the box.

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  32. There's no chance that we get Dembele from Spurs, especially for a fee marginally above what they paid Fulham for him!


    We had the chance to go after him, and fluffed it by messing about with Dempsey and Allen, when it was quite obvious that Dembele was a better fit. He may not be a specialist holding midfielder, but he is an upgrade over Henderson (and Gerrard now imho) in the secondary role.

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  33. Well when we were being ripped every time we lost the ball towards the end of the game against Everton, I think that's one example of where a specialist holding midfielder still has a role to play.


    It's all well and good sending out an attacking line-up, but it's no good if you're just going to concede chances and goals so frequently at the other end...

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  34. I very much doubt that Dembele is living in Tottenham, if he is even living in London at all.


    Premier League players live in a very different world to the rest of us...

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  35. Yeah, true.
    Unlike your lot who performed so admirably at Hull.

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  36. I always liked Dembele. Great with the ball. Seems to have that extra little something to create by drawing a challenge and passing-on at the right time. Belgium is deep. Him aside, I said last year to all my football friends, that I was predicting Belgium to reach the Semifinal next year. The price of all Belgium players will skyrocket after the WC due to their anticipated success. If I am honest, I find I fancy spurs over last few years, of course they do not compare to my beloved pool. Pool will always be first, but I don't mind watching spurs lately. Must say I enjoy seeing them fodder as of recent, tho. Seems they tend to snag our prospects right out in front of our noses. I would say, I suspect in recent times, it seems that spurs is perceived by the players as a better choice, or that it carries more respect professionally. Frankly seems we are just below spurs on the pecking order. My hope is that this changes back again after finishing in the top 4, and back to CL where we belong.

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  37. Perhaps then Lucas still lacks the other qualities a certain Alonso had and even a Mascherano to an extent? Don't get me wrong I like the guy just wish he'd do more than passing the ball side ways!

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  38. Maybe Pool with offer Suarez in a straight swop, rumour has it he has been trying to get to North London since the summer

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  39. it wasn't a 'perfect' hat trick he said so himself

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  40. shame to see Aldridge go the same way as Best and Gascoigne....

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  41. Rumour has it that Suarez is also desperately trying to get himself into the Champions League though, so would likely reject that swap unfortunately...

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  42. Send 'Matt' to 'The chopper'.

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  43. I hear he's in line to replace AVB!

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  44. Yeah, that's going to happen.

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  45. Despite Matt being a bit of a nob I don't see why Dembele would leave Spurs in Jan.

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  46. Hold on mate - AVB & Levy has brought your club to a point of no return. I understand that 100mn is covered by Bale money, but Spurs has increased the wage expense by at least 150%, if not more. Unless Spurs qualify for CL, either there 'll be a massive clear out next summer (probably at huge loss - who's going to pay 56mn for Soldado & Lamela?) or we 'll see another Leeds United happening. AVB is probably at his last step from sacking & if that happens, it's again a recycle of process. Had I been a Spurs fan, I would have been anxious, very anxious by now.

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  47. Gone are the days of Woy "hoofball" Hodgeson or KK mate. Best thing I like about BR is his strict reservation from over priced, over hyped & over paid British garbage.

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  48. i was being sarcastic, hopefully.But nothing should surprise us.

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  49. In my opinion you are a miserable bitter evertonian masquerading as a red Jaimie K, i've never read anything positive from you

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  50. And you're banned for a week. Seeya!

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  51. Yes we will.Without Dembele.

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  52. Cabaye will be overpayed if we buy him-you know the reasons... And Matic is masterclass waiting for the right club to come.

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  53. Cabaye(27) would not be overpaid, If Lucas is on 60,000, Henderson on 55,000 a week and Allen on 50,000 a week. Cabaye should get 65,000-70,000 a week as he will offer us more class, creativity, fight and goals in the centre of Park. Cabaye(27) is an awesome player and a Champions league player, who is currently play for a up and down Newcastle side.

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