In November, multiple reports claimed that Liverpool were monitoring Southampton captain Adam Lallana, and planned to make a move for the coveted midfielder upon qualification for the Champions League. Well, that goal is now achieved, and new reports this week suggest that Lallana could reject Chelsea and Manchester United to become LFC's first signing of the summer.
According to The Mirror:
* Liverpool are in 'pole-position' to sign Lallana.
* The 25-year old has 'decided' on a move to Anfield.
* Rodgers believes Southampton will sell for £20million.
* Saint owner Katharina Liebherr is willing to sell.
When asked over the weekend about his future, Lallana predictably played down suggestions of a summer exit, but hinted that he's amenable to a move. He told ESPN:
"I am concentrating on the last two games and then I will sit down in the summer and see what happens. I just want to enjoy my football. That's when I am at my happiest"
Ex-Reds Dietmar Hamann and Jamie Redknapp are fans of Lallana. After England's recent win over Denmark - during which Lallana memorably created Daniel Sturridge's winning goal - Hamann enthused:
"Lallana is the most skilful English player I've seen in a long time. Skill and balance. Beautiful to watch".
Redknapp was also impressed. He told the Daily Mail:
"Adam Lallana booked his place on the plane to Brazil. He’s a certainty after that little bit of quality to check back with his right foot then stand up a beautiful cross with his left for the winner"
Having spent his whole career at the club, Lallana is Southampton through-and-through, and he's highly thought-of by his boss, Mauricio Pocchetino, who recently praised the attacking midfielder for his form this season:
'The one person who deserves all the praise for his improvement is the player himself [Lallana]. His performance has been amazing over the last few games.'
Lallana's stats for the last five seasons:
* 2009-10: 20 goals/5 assists in 56 apps.
* 2010-11: 11 goals/13 assists in 41 apps.
* 2011-12: 13 goals/11 assists in 43 apps
* 2012-13: 3 goals/5 assists in 30 apps
* 2013-14: 11 goals/7 assists in 41 apps (so far)
* TOTAL: 58 goals/41 assists 211 apps.
* Goal/Assist every 2.1 games.
Note: 2009-2012 = Championship stats.
Excellent stats overall, but it's clear that Lallana finds it harder to consistently score/create in the Premier League, as evidenced by the significant drop in output during his maiden season in the Prem (2012-13)
If LFC were to sign Lallana, where would he play? With Steven Gerrard, and Jordan Henderson seemingly automatic starters, would he get the get same level of game time he's granted at Southampton?
Lallana will, admittedly, be great competition for both Henderson and Coutinho, and in an attacking sense, he'll also be a significant upgrade on Joe Allen. Indeed, if LFC manage to seal the deal, it will almost certainly consign Allen to permanent squad player status.
As Sunday's defeat to Chelsea showed, the Reds need quality attacking midfielders capable of making an impact in the final third, and Lallana clearly fits the bill.
Author: Jaimie K
According to The Mirror:
* Liverpool are in 'pole-position' to sign Lallana.
* The 25-year old has 'decided' on a move to Anfield.
* Rodgers believes Southampton will sell for £20million.
* Saint owner Katharina Liebherr is willing to sell.
When asked over the weekend about his future, Lallana predictably played down suggestions of a summer exit, but hinted that he's amenable to a move. He told ESPN:
"I am concentrating on the last two games and then I will sit down in the summer and see what happens. I just want to enjoy my football. That's when I am at my happiest"
Ex-Reds Dietmar Hamann and Jamie Redknapp are fans of Lallana. After England's recent win over Denmark - during which Lallana memorably created Daniel Sturridge's winning goal - Hamann enthused:
"Lallana is the most skilful English player I've seen in a long time. Skill and balance. Beautiful to watch".
Redknapp was also impressed. He told the Daily Mail:
"Adam Lallana booked his place on the plane to Brazil. He’s a certainty after that little bit of quality to check back with his right foot then stand up a beautiful cross with his left for the winner"
Having spent his whole career at the club, Lallana is Southampton through-and-through, and he's highly thought-of by his boss, Mauricio Pocchetino, who recently praised the attacking midfielder for his form this season:
'The one person who deserves all the praise for his improvement is the player himself [Lallana]. His performance has been amazing over the last few games.'
Lallana's stats for the last five seasons:
* 2009-10: 20 goals/5 assists in 56 apps.
* 2010-11: 11 goals/13 assists in 41 apps.
* 2011-12: 13 goals/11 assists in 43 apps
* 2012-13: 3 goals/5 assists in 30 apps
* 2013-14: 11 goals/7 assists in 41 apps (so far)
* TOTAL: 58 goals/41 assists 211 apps.
* Goal/Assist every 2.1 games.
Note: 2009-2012 = Championship stats.
Excellent stats overall, but it's clear that Lallana finds it harder to consistently score/create in the Premier League, as evidenced by the significant drop in output during his maiden season in the Prem (2012-13)
If LFC were to sign Lallana, where would he play? With Steven Gerrard, and Jordan Henderson seemingly automatic starters, would he get the get same level of game time he's granted at Southampton?
Lallana will, admittedly, be great competition for both Henderson and Coutinho, and in an attacking sense, he'll also be a significant upgrade on Joe Allen. Indeed, if LFC manage to seal the deal, it will almost certainly consign Allen to permanent squad player status.
As Sunday's defeat to Chelsea showed, the Reds need quality attacking midfielders capable of making an impact in the final third, and Lallana clearly fits the bill.
Author: Jaimie K
I think Liverpool have to make this a top priority come end of the season, this guy would be a massive addition to the team and in my opinion would be in the starting 11 all day long. I hope this turns into reality coz it will move the club upward. He still has many years to play and can even end his career here. his style of play is fantastic and I see a never die attitude in him. Please Rodgers it will be more easier to snap him than any foreign player considering your managerial experience with the likes of mourinho, pellegrini, wenger and maybe Van gaal. So dont waste time chasing lost causes and eventually try making up for it hastily with mediocre buys!
ReplyDeleteLallana looks very good, personally I wish we would go all out for Luke Shaw.
ReplyDeleteJust to mention as you brought him up in the article, I think Allen has been XLNT since his return, but he is no Lallana, but a great squad player to call on.
This would be a great signing IMO. Wages won't cost the earth and it think he'll fit into our system perfectly. Can play well from the left, from the centre, as a no10 so he would get game time especially with us bein in champ league. Carries the ball well too. Him and a proper left back and our squad already looks significantly healthier
ReplyDeleteI really do like this lad.............quality footballer.
ReplyDeleteI think Lalana will cost more than 20 million. In all honesty, I would rather go for Xherdan Shaqiri who's agent mentioned recently that we are one of the clubs interested in him.
ReplyDeleteWEEE AREEEE LIVERPOOL, LALLANA LALLANA LALLANA
ReplyDeleteLET'S GO FOR BOTH. HUBRIS BITCH!
ReplyDeleteOn a serious note, surely at the age of 25, when big clubs come knocking, you can't refuse them? Doesn't matter how through and through you are with Southampton, you can't refuse, unless you don't give a s*** at all about winning and making the most of your career. Rooney was a blue through and through, but no way could he refuse Utd- and Rooney was 18, Lallana is 25. If he doesn't get a move on, next thing he'll know he will be 32, looking back at what could have been.
ReplyDeleteSeriously, no disrespect to Southampton, you produce some fine footballers, but I'm just looking at this realistically.
For 20m I think we should look for players like Firmino or Koke. They are younger and better prospects and have much superior stats than Lallana.
ReplyDeleteYes, yes, yes. English, hungry, creative and full of goals, proven in the domestic game. And if he'd prefer to move to Liverpool over United then he clearly has excellent taste. IMO a perfect quality addition to a squad that will be stretched much more next season. If he might be available for around £20 million I think we'd be stupid not to bid. But then I thought the same about Eriksen and look what happened there. Incidentally I hear Spurs are also interested in Lallana, naturally.
ReplyDeleteFirmuno or grizmen seam better. But BR has dine the business so far so let's have some faith JK
ReplyDeleteNothing wrong with being ambitious but highly doubt we are going to spend an awful amount on our attack. One versatile forward and possibly a striker pending the futures of Borini and Aspas.
ReplyDeleteWhat we desperately need are quality fullbacks. Johnson ain't cutting it and Enrique's career at Anfield could be over which only leaves us with young Flanno.
the other lad jay is good at the saints as well im just not sure if hes 20m
ReplyDeleteOf course he won't sign for Man United. That's barely a step up from Southampton...considering the type of player he is it makes perfect sense he would choose to play for us.
ReplyDeleteWith respect, having seen quite a lot of Atletico and Southampton this season, I would say that Koke isn't as good as Lallana, particularly creatively. Haven't seen as much of Firmino but I've never been particularly impressed to be honest. Evidently his agent is keen for him to move.
ReplyDeleteShaqiri is a nice player who would thrive in the premier league but he'd play a different role than Lallana in the team.
Hope this transfer comes off: he's a perfect signing if we can get him. Premier League experience, seen plenty of football, intelligent, skilled and creative, up-and-coming, durable.
I know hes good but hes had one great season and now hes world class. Lallana said himself he doesnt have any pace or power just some " magic feet". Where he fits? I think he plays as a 10 where coutinho is doing fine now, replace hendo, stevies replacement? I just dont think hes world class, should be looking for way better players, imo.
ReplyDeleteWouldn't mind seeing Connor Wickham on the squad, big strong, determined AND fast...... Is Lallana sturdy enough? Is he too similar to existing guys? Not sure.......
ReplyDeletePlease, he couldn't get in ahead of Falcao so he has no hope to get ahead of the best player on the planet, Luis Suarez. Maybe he could give Sturridge a bit of a challenge if he can settle in the Premiership. But that would take at least a full season. And the fact that he's going to a club that could f up Fernando Torres isn't going to help either..
ReplyDelete20m fair $? Judge by urself..
ReplyDeleteBut 20m will had plenty more option out there rite?
i rate him max 15m and + fringe player to trim down d wage
Well written bro.chelsea have an amazing squad depth
ReplyDeletehahahahaha best player in the planet that only scores against the minows please don't make me laugh hahahaha
ReplyDeleteTrue and I would not be surprised if their luck ran out on Wednesday
ReplyDeleteIf you want to watch a reflection of his 2013-14 season, watch this:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1kECyohGlE
By the way, I read somewhere else he's a boyhood Everton fan. Maybe not so Southampton through and through after all. And like being an Everton fan has ever counted for past Liverpool stars anyway...
For a silly 20 mil, what kinda crack are the british having?
ReplyDeleteFor a club with so much money, they've really f**king failed at find a Drogba successor.
ReplyDeleteFuck him then! He can piss off to Chelsea.
ReplyDeleteRakitic?
ReplyDeleteActali i would love sam1 lyk costa to join Liverpool,strong in the air good with his feet
ReplyDeleteYou can't fit three strikers into the team. Sturridge and Suarez is enough
ReplyDeleteI think his premier league stats actually tell a great story rather than showing a lack of consistency. The step up from the championship was always going to be difficult, he settled in and did okay in his first season and now is out there doing great. 2 poor seasons followed by this one, or a good first season then bad, would be a warning sign but I think his stats are encouraging. He's also Captain, so there's probably good things to be said about his mental strength and leadership ability.
ReplyDeleteI don't really think he's a player worth spending 20mil on though, or even that we need him at all. He plays CAM..we have Coutinho, Sterling can play there, and Suso as well. What we need is a player like Konoplyanka or Griezzman who can play from the wings and score and create with pace. Lallana is silky smooth and all, but not a necessity for us IMO.
abramovich is keen on cavani
ReplyDeleteOnly Di Maria has more assists than Koke in spanish league(both suarez and koke has same number of assits this season) and Koke scored against the big teams this season. Firmino has (scored 14 goals) 4 goals less than Lewandowski and 2 less than Reus and one assist less than Reus who tops the assit chart in German League with 12 assists. All these stats speak volumes about there ability. Personally i would like to see us go for any of these two instead of Lallana.
ReplyDeleteForget Costa we have plenty of gud strikers in europe like Adrian Ramos,Rodrigo,Alexis Sanchez and many more...moreover we can offer them Europe too so win win situation
ReplyDeleteI could give a longer answer to this, with specifics about the players and what those stats represent, but the easiest way to explain my point is to suggest you take a look at Spurs for evidence of the difficulties that players of certain kinds can face in adjusting to the Premier League. Lallana is tried and tested in that environment, and has shown himself an outstanding and consistent performer over successive seasons.
ReplyDeleteAtletico will do the same shit to Chelsea, that the blues did to us. I for one will be laughing when Diego Simeone sets his team to not let in a goal. We'll see a pen shootout tonight.
ReplyDeleteClubs like Everton get stronger when Chelsea sends their players out on loan.
ReplyDeleteLike every target we'll put a price on him and negotiate around that figure. It will probably frustrate the hell out of some fans but I don't see us spending a massive amount of money on Lallana so if the price is up around 25 million I think it's a no-go.
ReplyDeleteHe would also effectively end any chance of Suso coming back into the side, so that should be considered. Alberto also becomes even more of a long term prospect but just having to chase players like Coutinho, Sterling and Lallana would be good for him. I wonder if Rodgers will make a call on either Suso or Alberto because having two players on the fringe for a spot that doesn't even exist seems excessive. I have a feeling Suso is going to be sold this summer.
I will rage if we sell Suso this summer. It is an absolute joke that Alberto cost 7M when he had less top flight experience than Suso and STILL has less PL experience than Suso. If you watch Suso you can see glimpses of David Silva. Again, it's an absolute joke that Alberto was 7M, he has represented nothing of that 7M. The long term prospect idea is an excuse and massive cop out. I'm happy to eat my words in the future, but the chances are slim.
ReplyDeleteAlberto has no future IMO. Neither does Aspas. I would sell them both and throw Suso and Ibe into the squad for next season. Borini has a shot too. That's money saved and money gained, and we can put it towards top quality fullbacks and a class midfielder to throw Allen on the Anfield scrapheap.
Only three of Rodger's signings (four if you count Sakho) have a real purpose. The rest were needless. We need players to complement the squad this summer.
I just have a feeling that Suso might not make the cut. I don't know why, it's probably just a vague intuition, I could be totally wrong. He's had plenty of chances to impress and maybe it just concerns me that he's still on loan. It's been a good season for him but something about the whole situation makes me think he's more in the shop window rather than getting experience to use at LFC.
ReplyDeleteI think you're way too hard on Allen. He's been an important part of a team that has a genuine title shot. He's played plenty of minutes. We can question Aspas and Alberto because they simply haven't played but Allen has been a regular part of the team and during those games he's played the team has done well. At this level you don't have players make that kind of contribution and not be any good, there can be no passengers.
Check the results ... without Joe Allen playing we're 9-2-3. With Joe Allen we're 16-3-3. When he plays at least 45 minutes we're 9-1-3. Worst case interpretation is that we're at least as good a team with Joe Allen. And we're on the verge of winning the title. Explain to me how a player can have that much involvement in the best Liverpool team in 20+ years and not be important. It doesn't add up.
Let's hope so for the weekend at least. :-)
ReplyDeleteDoes it work long term though for the receiving club and what about the concerns (ethical dangers) of one club being dependent on another? .
IMO Allen has been a passenger. He has never been first choice or 'preferred' this season because unfortunately for him (and yes there were injuries) he hasn't taken his chances in the past. Some great team and individual performances have effectively hidden some of Rodgers mistakes. Henderson has been well on top of him for over 18 months now. You can argue that Allen has been preferred to Lucas, but if Henderson is available and Coutinho is on song, both players are on the bench. What has Allen actually contributed? If we are looking to constantly improve the team Allen's time will come sooner rather than later. At present he is a squad player, and if better players come in, that just pushes him further down, and eventually out.
ReplyDeleteI don't mind Allen in the squad, but after such a long time, I demand more. You're acting as if Allen has been, some how, crucial to our success this season but I would argue that you can take him out of all our victories and the results would be unaffected. Take out SASAS, Hendo, Coutinho, then you've got problems. You can counter that not everything has to be specific, and measurable, JK style, but I defended Henderson when he wasn't bagging any goals or assists and pointed at other aspects of the game. I don't see much with Allen.
Regarding Suso, he hasn't had as many chances as you've made out. Almeria has been his first loan spell ever, and it's been successful in terms of game time. He got into the LFC first team and stayed there for half a season, out performing players like Sahin, Allen, and Shelvey. I'm not saying he is going to be a world beater, but from what I've seen he offers far more value than Aspas and Alberto combined.
What do you mean when you ask "what has he actually contributed"? He's played when we've needed him and in most of those games we've won. What more is it that you actually want? He makes passes, he's part of build up play, he presses, makes tackles and wins possession. All of that is immensely measurable, it's just not goals and assists, but it's still part of the actual game of football. No, he's not glamourous, he doesn't make killer passes into the final third or long sweeping balls to switch direction but seriously, you know very well that much of a football game is the dirty hard work of running around, tackling and working off the ball. Allen does that hard work and although Rodgers has a philosophy that ensures everyone else on the team also chips in, he's probably the guy who does it best. I admire him for that and I appreciate that aspect of his game.
ReplyDeleteI think what has happened here is that in a team that is scoring close to 100 goals in a season we're totally fixated on the end product and we've forgotten the players who are just there to pick up the pieces, do the dirty work and hold it all together. If a player doesn't score goals or make those clever passes in the final third they become invisible. However I do wonder if you ask Rodgers himself how important he thinks Joe Allen is you might find a very strong argument coming back at you. Outside of the obvious moments, the easy to spot attributes of a scorer or a good attacking passer, Allen is everything that Rodgers asks of his players i.e. his attitude, his work ethic, his decision making, his pass success rate, his willingness to do things off the ball. If he wasn't then he wouldn't be in the team, period. I very strongly disagree that you can be in the position we are and have a player like that in the centre of midfield be a "passenger".
I've already acknowledged the less favoured (by some, not by me) areas of Allen's game that you have mentioned. I also see that tactically he is good and one of his better attributes that I have noticed is his ability to cut off passing lines for the opposite player on the ball. Of course I know these aspects are integral to the game, and yes Allen does them well - Because after all, Henderson has been my favourite player for quite some time, a player whose off the ball traits are his greatest attributes.
ReplyDeleteAllen has played his part and done his job as a squad player. That's all he is. In the future, can you see a first choice midfield involving Allen? No. Where is the miraculous improvement going to come from to suggest otherwise? All of his minutes have come as a result of replacing somebody else. Gerrard/Lucas injuries and Hendo's suspension.
Allen is a decent player but just because he has earned some minutes on the pitch doesn't mean he has been integral to our success. If he was so good he would have been selected every week, but for the majority of the season he has been on the bench and not an ever-present like Henderson.
People rave about Rakitic, let's say we sign him. It's not over the top to demand more impact from Allen, and after two years of (arguably) being average, it's not out of the question to consider his future.
Ah stats,of course.
ReplyDeleteI'd probably agree with that. Allen has filled gaps when they come up and that's the kind of job I'd expect from him in the future. If we can find a player who can give the same kind of energy and work rate of Henderson or Allen but who also adds that dimension of passing ability and vision then Allen is on the way out. I never disagree with the notion of getting better players. Still - Henderson cost 20 million and Allen himself was 15, if Rakitic is really that good then surely he'll be 25 million. It's an awful lot of money to spend when our current midfield has already done a job. If Lallana is a genuine option then are we really going to sign someone else too? That would put either Henderson or Gerrard to the bench. I'm not sure we're at the stage yet. I think the attacking midfielder/winger/deep striker is more likely. Allen can continue to alternate his spot and that makes us a marginally better team with more squad depth to cover injuries. That's what I see next season at least, so Allen will be around a bit longer. He does have room for improvement and I expect it to happen.
ReplyDeleteHe's class and would improve the side and he is prem proven. Its a no brainer
ReplyDeleteAlberto hasn't shown much the few times he was in. While its a bit unfair to write him off given his limited play, I think his brief window of opportunity may have passed. With Ibe and Texeira lurking, what real future does he have at LFC? Allen is another one. I know he is a defensive pest and does slow down the opposition, but there is nearly zero scoring threat based on the few but ragingly good chances he has blown. At best he is a late game shutdown insert. We should pick out a better box to box type guy who has more offensive ability and nuke Allen. What about Lucas. I love his work ethic but he still lacks pace and gets dumb yellow cards at needless times. I would get a more mobile and physical defensive mid and the heir apparent to Stevie G and say farewell to Lucas.
ReplyDeleteThere's room for a Lallana or Rakitic type of player. We can't have the same team every game next season, and you can't have guys like Hendo play 50+ games because they will burn out, or when they are suddenly unavailable it can have a detrimental effect. I think we mostly see Sterling and Coutinho having some time on the bench, and Allen is the player most likely to come off the bench for us in any type of match, so you're right about his place for next season.
ReplyDeleteAnd in the long term how could we ever replace him? A better quality of player isn't going to accept that role off the bench as Mr Flexible, only getting game time because of injury and essential be second choice. I think in terms of having someone in the squad who can fill those roles when needed, isn't Joe Allen the best we could hope for? When everyone else is fit and on form he simply won't play. What top quality mid-field player would be OK with that? I don't say we shouldn't try and improve on him, I just say it seems unlikely we can.
ReplyDeleteYou don't like for like improve on Allen. Teams are always looking to sign better players. Say, we sign a top quality midfielder, who initially pushes Henderson to the bench because of the managers backing. Everyone else has dropped down the pecking order so where does that leave Allen? With the gradual improving of the squad, players are eventually squeezed out, and if Allen doesn't up his game, it's inevitable that he will go.
ReplyDeleteLucas is an example. IMO, his future isn't so bright, it's clear Rodgers prefers outright attacking options. Lucas worked all the way to being the teams lynch-pin, and now more than ever, his future looks most uncertain. Similarly, Rodgers held Allen above the rest, but he has gradually fallen down the ranks.
If we get lallana its not because of pace and power, its because of intelligence. I would disagree to reinstate that he is quite the pacy, quick and sharp lad in his attacks. To give you a picture look at the chelsea stars vs the manchester city stars. City have players who are intelligent while chelsea lacks intelligence
ReplyDelete