Last week, the Agent of Basel star Mohamed Salah was allegedly spotted at Anfield, and with the January transfer window fast approaching, the Reds are reportedly preparing an official bid for the 21-year old attacker, and will look to grab the player ahead of Spurs, Arsenal and Man United.
According to the Daily Mail:
"Liverpool are poised to make a £12million bid for Mohamed Salah. [The Reds] have been trailing the Egyptian for over six months.
"If Rodgers gives the go-ahead for an official bid, they are likely to get their man"
With Liverpool on a massive positive upswing at the moment, Salah - dubiously dubbed the 'Egyptian Messi' - seems like the type of player who could come in and make a Coutinho-like impact on the squad. However, when asked about his future recently, Salah indirectly dismissed the possibility of a move to Anfield. He told Sky Sports:
"I want to play for one of the best teams in the world. My favourites are Real Madrid, Manchester United and Chelsea."
Well, Liverpool's 5-0 annihilation of Spurs yesterday - coupled with being second in the Premier League - should be enough to convince prospective signings that the Reds are heading in the right direction. What young, ambitious player wouldn't want to be part of LFC's ongoing revolution? In my view, the Reds are the most viable option:
- Man United are struggling this season, and their chances of winning the league are slim. Top players will be wary about joining them in David Moyes' first season. Better to see how he does before taking the plunge.
- Spurs are in complete disarray right now, and their managerial situation could change any moment. Only a fool would go there in January.
- Mourinho is always a draw for players, but Chelsea have way too many attacking options as it is, and Salah would be competing with the likes of Willian, Hazard, Oscar and Juan Mata. Too much competition.
- Would Salah get consistent game time at Madrid with Bale and Ronaldo certain to start every game when fit?
With 17 goals in 26 games for the Egypt national team, Egypt's American coach Bob Bradley is convinced that Salah is destined for big things. He told reporters in September:
“Salah is the future of Egyptian football. He is a perfect professional player both on and off the pitch, and he will play a great role in guiding us to the World Cup finals.”
Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho is also a fan, and after Chelsea's defeat to Basel last week, he enthused:
"They [Basel] were very difficult to play against, and he [Salah] is a very good player, and very fast too.”
In early December, the Swiss football federation named Salah as the 'best player in the league' for 2013. During the ceremony, the official presenting the award called Salah a 'superhero for Basel’s supporters'.
Salah looks like a good player, but does he have the physical strength to make an impact in the Premier League? It could go one of two ways: he could be like Coutinho, and take the league by storm, or LFC could have another Oussama Assaidi situation on its hands.
Worth a bid? Or is Shaqiri a better option...?
Author: Jaimie K
According to the Daily Mail:
"Liverpool are poised to make a £12million bid for Mohamed Salah. [The Reds] have been trailing the Egyptian for over six months.
"If Rodgers gives the go-ahead for an official bid, they are likely to get their man"
With Liverpool on a massive positive upswing at the moment, Salah - dubiously dubbed the 'Egyptian Messi' - seems like the type of player who could come in and make a Coutinho-like impact on the squad. However, when asked about his future recently, Salah indirectly dismissed the possibility of a move to Anfield. He told Sky Sports:
"I want to play for one of the best teams in the world. My favourites are Real Madrid, Manchester United and Chelsea."
Well, Liverpool's 5-0 annihilation of Spurs yesterday - coupled with being second in the Premier League - should be enough to convince prospective signings that the Reds are heading in the right direction. What young, ambitious player wouldn't want to be part of LFC's ongoing revolution? In my view, the Reds are the most viable option:
- Man United are struggling this season, and their chances of winning the league are slim. Top players will be wary about joining them in David Moyes' first season. Better to see how he does before taking the plunge.
- Spurs are in complete disarray right now, and their managerial situation could change any moment. Only a fool would go there in January.
- Mourinho is always a draw for players, but Chelsea have way too many attacking options as it is, and Salah would be competing with the likes of Willian, Hazard, Oscar and Juan Mata. Too much competition.
- Would Salah get consistent game time at Madrid with Bale and Ronaldo certain to start every game when fit?
With 17 goals in 26 games for the Egypt national team, Egypt's American coach Bob Bradley is convinced that Salah is destined for big things. He told reporters in September:
“Salah is the future of Egyptian football. He is a perfect professional player both on and off the pitch, and he will play a great role in guiding us to the World Cup finals.”
Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho is also a fan, and after Chelsea's defeat to Basel last week, he enthused:
"They [Basel] were very difficult to play against, and he [Salah] is a very good player, and very fast too.”
In early December, the Swiss football federation named Salah as the 'best player in the league' for 2013. During the ceremony, the official presenting the award called Salah a 'superhero for Basel’s supporters'.
Salah looks like a good player, but does he have the physical strength to make an impact in the Premier League? It could go one of two ways: he could be like Coutinho, and take the league by storm, or LFC could have another Oussama Assaidi situation on its hands.
Worth a bid? Or is Shaqiri a better option...?
Author: Jaimie K
Haven't seen much of him tbh.
ReplyDeleteShaqiri looks physically suited but hey, get both of them! LFC needs depth and right now we r as limited as is!One more injury and the wheels could come off, I think IMHO 4-5 players needed right now in Jan, 2-3 attacking midfielders, 1-2 strikers and 1-2 in defense ( for me, Johnson appears off a bit, Kelly is not given chances and Flanagan is still learning and Agger is hit or miss)
ReplyDeleteOn a side note:SpursOfficial - We can announce agreement has been reached with Head Coach, Andre Villas-Boas, for the termination of his services !
bless. How quickly some forget the lesson handed out by Hull!!
ReplyDeleteAVB Sacked!!
ReplyDeleteI think the lesson from the Hull game has been well and truly learned - 14 goals scored and 2 conceded in the 3 games since.
ReplyDeleteI hear West Brom need a new manager, next job for AVB?
ReplyDeleteTo be honest, it makes Hull's performance seem even more impressive. Any team that want so beat LFC should examine that game and try to figure out how they nullfied the Reds' attacking threat, and kept Luis Suarez out of the game.
ReplyDeleteFor starters, we had Gerrard and Moses in the team, maybe that had something to do with it ;)
ReplyDeleteHonestly we just weren't good at that day. We all know the thin threshold that Liverpool are on for some time
ReplyDeletehow do you know he's sacked? I read before he had a meeting.. but he still has his job haha that's a bit harsh sacking i think. They are only 5 points off fourth.
ReplyDeleteI said after the match yesterday that if AVB still had a job in the morning he would be the luckiest man in football.
ReplyDeleteoh yep I just saw it on Skysports hahah that's bad ay. Even though i don't like him i feel sorry for him.
ReplyDeleteI actually hate Spurs supporters, players, owners, managment way more than AVB. I have no problem with him. I think he is a decent guy and a good manager.
ReplyDeleteSo good for him to be out of that disgusting club.
Fans that like complete idiots sarcastically applaud they're team when they lose. Always swear like maniacs and are not embarrassed to ask for more money from monster Levi after they spent well and lose.
They send a girl to tease Suarez in the most idiotic, light-headed, insensitive way i have seen. They purposely let their bench warm up in white shirts that looks like the field players shirt.
Players actually sit down in the dressing room and take photos mocking themselves and they're manager when they're having a hard time as a team. And it goes on. Disgusting. They have nothing, no respect no humanity no nothing.
They are out of defense in injuries, sandro gets injured, Paulinho (The one who did like he is leaughing after the girl pranked Suarez - may be naive - i dont think so at all is my opinion - but so un appropriate after what he's been threw - And then shot a Kung Fu kick to his most dangerous place at the chest. He was worst than AVB yesterday to this game for Spurs but they curse AVB like un-human people.
AVB is better off. He is a bigger person than this horrified club and i wish him all the luck.
It works for everybody really; I would have felt worst about my joy of the sinking of Tottenham (And there was no other team i wished all season we beat more than them for so many reasons including referees 8 points given, and the destruction of the legitimate transfer market mainly of course, which i won't go further in but that was a curse to football) if AVB was in charge.
Wanted to say I got the AVB news from SPURS twitter account here https://twitter.com/SpursOfficial/status/412538371882242049
ReplyDeleteMy friends mate works in a betting shop and told him, and he told me. However unlikely that sounds.
ReplyDeleteHad to happen. You can't spend this much money and then get these type of results. It's not just the match against us and Citeh where they've failed to live up to expectations. I feel sorry for the poor bugger coming in next though. Stuck with players they spent a fortune on which he will have to make fit his system.
ReplyDeletethe liverpool players owe an apology to avb.
ReplyDeleteDon't get me started on Moses!
ReplyDelete...not to mention spurs players too haha
ReplyDeleteWe could do with an extra attacking option. He fits the mould too.
ReplyDeleteDon't really know anything about him though.
I think it's more about where they should be right now which is firmly inside the top four. 5 points off might have been good enough had they not invested heavily in players last summer. Don't forget that Spurs already dropped back last year from where they were under Redknapp. AVB was brought in for that final push but he hasn't been able to deliver. Totally justified imo.
ReplyDeleteanother nice option to have after we ship moses out in january
ReplyDeletenever the less, big teams get undone by sh** teams every season.
ReplyDeleteTo be honest, I'm still hopeful for Moses :/
ReplyDeleteI'm 50/50. Yes, there was a lot of money spent but it was all Bale money. Levy didn't really dig into his own pockets. I doubt someone can come in and do a better job than AVB. Way too premature to sack him IMO.
ReplyDeleteanother positive from the match is there was great contribution of goals from midfield and defence. that is something which was so important to relieve the pressure from suarez.
ReplyDeleteWell we've already got the Welsh Xavi, why not add the Egyptian Messi? Anyone know of an Irish Ronaldo?
ReplyDeleteI thought you did post this article just days before, no need to re post the same news, or cant find any new one?
ReplyDeleteWe do not need to sign 4-5 players in Jan (unless a number of those players youth team players). Just look at Spurs to see how making wholesale changes to a team can be damaging - and Spurs had the preseason to try to integrate most of their signings.
ReplyDeleteFollow last January's practice -by signing 1-2 players who can make a first team impact and then wait until the summer to make any significant changes.
Managing Liverpool is not like playing a game of Football Manager.
LOL :)
ReplyDeleteRedknapp was doing a better one.Sure it was the Bale money that was spent but it's still 100 million that has had no return what so ever. They could have kept it in their pockets and they wouldn't have been any better or worse off. As for replacements, I would guess Laudrup would be on the shortlist for some odd reason. Maybe Mancini (already at odds with half his squad at Gala again) and possibly a stop gap till the summer.
ReplyDeleteAgree with most of your post, but I don't agree his sacking had to happen. Perhaps the problem is Spurs were spending that kind of money on ill thought out signings - as we did post Torres. Fans seem to demand that hundreds of millions are spent on players, without looking at the value of the players their clubs are buying. Levy and Baldini should be taking far more responsibility, but hey it's just easier to palm it off on the manager.
ReplyDeleteAVB should have been given more time. Although he was on the receiving end of two spankings, it won't be the last time Citeh and Liverpool hand out such drubbings this season. He needed at least a season, probably two, to see if he could effectively integrate the multi-million £ signings Spurs made in the summer. I think pretty much all of the players Baldini signed came from outside the PL, and AVB would have been very fortunate if the majority of them were consistently performing this early on in their Spurs careers.
I dont think we need him, know little about him but watched some vids didnt convince me, plus apparently sterling is hitting the form now hes was tremendous last night so if he continues like that theres no need for a winger unless we get someone special which salah or shaqiri aint, why not di maria hes not getting game time at madrid so.. Or alexis..
ReplyDeleteNet spend again. pffft.
ReplyDeleteSorry, Man C is doing well with wholesale changes FYI. Think about one injury to Suarez, Coutinho, Hendo or Johnson.....we have such a limited group of personnel as it is and since we r in such a great position (hope it remains this way come Jan 1st) then, we have to have the squad to build on till May!(Plus on 5th Jan FA cup starts for LFC). Last Jan we had limited funds but good choices bought. If any more recovery delays to Studge or Gerrard or if any injury comes about to any player then LFC would be exposed miserably. Some of the youth players according to Brendan 'are not good enough', so who else is there? Positions I mentioned above needs bolstering in my view from now till May!)
ReplyDeleteYou wrote "Managing Liverpool is not like playing a game of Football Manager" ......I agree, but no one said it was!
So we'll have the 'Egyptian Messi' and the 'Welsh Xavi' on the same team!
ReplyDeleteWe do need a winger. We need someone that can come off the bench and make an impact. Sterling played really well yesterday but that may not carry on. Competition is key!
ReplyDeleteAgree...and the video shows me a lot. I like his composure on the ball, his first touches look good...especially at high speed, and he is really fast. Reminds me more of Suarez than Messi. He's 5'9" and 160 pounds so he's not undersized really. He's primarily a right-footed winger, but I know I saw at least one left-footed goal in that video. At 14M he might be a good deal. The only cloud is he's really good in the Swiss league...which doesn't count for much...but they did beat Chelski in a CL match...and that's not easy to do.
ReplyDeleteI knew you we're going to come back with Citeh and was tempted to state this in my first post, but I'll state the obvious anyway: Citeh have a multi-billionaire sugar daddy who can afford to write off £60m of a £120m spend on players who don't make the grade - we can't.
ReplyDeleteSo the other option is to spend £30-50m on a collective of 5 players, who would probably be no better than what we already have, just for the sake of bringing new players in.
You also forget A) bringing large numbers of players in without a preseason will upset the dynamic of the team as it will take time to bed the new players in and I'd bet we'd perform worse in the second half the season for doing so. B) It sends out a message to individuals fighting for a first team role like Flanagan, Agger, Kelly, Sterling, Allen, Alberto, Aspas - to mention just but a few - that they are not valued by the club despite the fact the team is performing well and most have performed admirably when called upon which will undoubtedly damage the club's morale again having a negative impact on the pitrch.
Oh and writing long lists of wholesale changes is like playing Football Manager
I don't know mate. He is average at best, I can't wait till Suso comes back.
ReplyDeleteI think when you sign so many 1st team players in one go it affects the team. It's normal.
ReplyDeleteAVB should have been given more time IMO.
PS read my first post, I agree 1-2 signings capable of quickly making the first team grade would be beneficial. Especially a striker, where undoubtedly if Suarez got crocked in the near future we'd be up the proverbial brown stuff without a paddle.
ReplyDeleteMaybe a little harsh with Vertongen, Eriksen, Rose out...but he should have started Lamela, Townsend and Sigurdson...so maybe not so harsh.
ReplyDeleteTook the service to Suarez away by shutting down our slow mid-field. If our mid-field had played Hull they way they played Spurs it would have been a different outcome.
ReplyDeleteI am starting to agree, but I think we do need a more consistently attack minded mid-field. Everybody was on the move Sunday and it created space for Suarez because Spurs had to honor the threat from the wings and Coutinho. If we can move that fast against Spurs, how come we can't do it every week?
ReplyDeleteCity looked dangerous against Arsenal...they scored 4 without Aguero. There's a lot of talent there.
ReplyDeleteBecause our players are human beings and not machines. Until that technology issue is resolved I'm afraid we're going to be stuck with the odd 'bad day at the office'.
ReplyDeleteIn the meantime let's get behind the team, it's plain to see that the players are 'giving it everything they can'. Hell, even if Chelski and Citeh beat us, lets not start ringing the alarm bells. The team is generally playing to a standard we could only hope for 18 months ago. Lets back what we've got where ever possible, after all isn't that the meaning behind YNWA?
james mcleann ha
ReplyDeleteSign him up, this could be the start of the best 'B-side' team ever!
ReplyDeleteNot that long ago many would've rather had AVB as Liverpool manager! Well... he's available now, section 0-5 next to the humble pie ;)
ReplyDeleteHe might be a decent guy, but his track record in the EPL has been dismal at best. I don't think he is sucha good manager...and there all those rumors of his locker room style being a bit abrasive.
ReplyDeleteI don't think it is 'not' getting behind the team to expect a level consistency from highly compensated professionals. A bad day at the office would have been beating Hull 1-0 on a slightly questionable foul and subsequent free-kick goal late in the game...not the thrashing we took. But you are right...as late as August many were bemoaning the spectre of another mid-table finish and here we are. I would not ring alarm bells with a loss to City because of their form of late. However, I truly believe we can beat Chelski if we play with the same attacking attitude we displayed against Spurs...but a loss wouldn't shock me and a draw would be nice. After the WH match I was thinking we should be happy to wake up on 2 January with 9-11 more points. We have a great start but I'm not blindly optimistic.
ReplyDeleteJuan Mata should be our prime target for Jan IMO. He is out of favor at Chelsea and would be a great addition to LFC. Probably we could get away with buying only one player this Jan if it was him.
ReplyDeleteagree 1-2 players is good business and one of those should be Juan Mata. IMO he can be bought at the right price. I think the player would welcome a move away from Chelski and the personality cult that is Mourinho.
ReplyDeletea lot of ex Chelsea managers looking for work.
ReplyDeleteThat guy would make a huge and instant impact on our squad and results, he'll prove worth his value more than aspas, Luis Alberto and sterling, although sterling has just started to step up to his game and do good things, but Salah remains a better and a more creative player, he totally demolished Marcelo of real Madrid during the Olympics last year, needless to mention his performances against spurs and Chelsea last and this year as well, just go for it Brendan
ReplyDeleteI think he would be a great signing. I know we're struggling for depth in our squad, to the point where I'm worried that we don't have a plan B when things aren't working for us in a game.
ReplyDeleteI think that if we get 2 wingers in January (we're linked with 3 good ones: Salah, Turan and Pastore), it would immediately offer us greater depth in the squad. Secondly, if the quick passing game through the middle is not working for us we can go to plan B and throw on the wingers to give us greater width and start peppering the opposition box with crosses.
With Stevie and Daniel set to come back in the next few weeks, and Enrique due to come back by late Feb, they will feel like fresh signings.
I think we could do with another defensive midfielder to be on the safe side, but other than that; if we got 2 wingers in January, and if the fitness gods smile upon us, we could really push on and a top 3 spot could well be within our grasp.
If we can get him, great. But I like the Shaqiri kid too.
ReplyDelete