To the delight (and amazement) of fans across the globe, Liverpool are currently within touching distance of an amazing (and improbable) title victory, but the team's stunning achievement this season is punctuated by consistent defensive frailty, and it seems highly likely that Brendan Rodgers will try and tackle this problem (again) during the upcoming summer transfer window. The Reds are currently linked with a raft of defenders, and the latest name to enter the fray is Borussia Dortmund left-back Marcel Schmelzer.
According to reports in Germany and England today:
* Schmelzer is Liverpool's 'top transfer target'
* The Reds are preparing to make a bid at the end of the season.
* The 26-year old will cost around €12m.
Some info about Schmelzer:
* Spent his entire career at Dortmund.
* 197 apps for Dortmund over the last 6 years.
* Averages 33 appearances per season.
* 4 goals/13 assists in 197 apps.
* Averages a goal/assist every 11.5 games.
* 16 apps for the German national team.
Defensively, Schmelzer may be sound, but 13 assists in six years? That's clearly not good enough for a left-back with attacking responsibilities, and I find it hard to believe that this makes the German LFC's 'top' transfer target. If LFC want a left back who'll average a goal every 1.5 seasons, the club might as well just keep Aly Cissokho.
Germany manager Joachim Low is seemingly not a huge fan of Schmelzer, and when faced with having to play him as a result of injuries, Low mused:
“We don’t have any alternatives so we’re going to have to carry on with Marcel for the next three, four or five months,”
Hardly a vote of confidence (!) Schmelzer admitted he was 'flabbergasted' by Low's comment, but he seems to have stayed in the Germany squad despite that withering criticism. Borussia Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke was not impressed with the Germany boss's comments, and he told reporters:
"I found the criticism completely counterproductive. I was angry about it and I made that clear to Low himself"
Last year, Dortmund extended Schmelzer's contract until 2017, and after sealing the deal, the club's Sporting Director, Michael Zorc, enthused:
"Marcel is an important component of what is still a young team. He reflects BVB's philosophy to continue the path we're on with the core of this promising and identity-promoting team."
At €12m, Schmelzer is significantly cheaper than Luke Shaw, but in my view, LFC should keep the money and put it towards Mats Hummels, another Dortmund defender.
Author: Jaimie K
According to reports in Germany and England today:
* Schmelzer is Liverpool's 'top transfer target'
* The Reds are preparing to make a bid at the end of the season.
* The 26-year old will cost around €12m.
Some info about Schmelzer:
* Spent his entire career at Dortmund.
* 197 apps for Dortmund over the last 6 years.
* Averages 33 appearances per season.
* 4 goals/13 assists in 197 apps.
* Averages a goal/assist every 11.5 games.
* 16 apps for the German national team.
Defensively, Schmelzer may be sound, but 13 assists in six years? That's clearly not good enough for a left-back with attacking responsibilities, and I find it hard to believe that this makes the German LFC's 'top' transfer target. If LFC want a left back who'll average a goal every 1.5 seasons, the club might as well just keep Aly Cissokho.
Germany manager Joachim Low is seemingly not a huge fan of Schmelzer, and when faced with having to play him as a result of injuries, Low mused:
“We don’t have any alternatives so we’re going to have to carry on with Marcel for the next three, four or five months,”
Hardly a vote of confidence (!) Schmelzer admitted he was 'flabbergasted' by Low's comment, but he seems to have stayed in the Germany squad despite that withering criticism. Borussia Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke was not impressed with the Germany boss's comments, and he told reporters:
"I found the criticism completely counterproductive. I was angry about it and I made that clear to Low himself"
Last year, Dortmund extended Schmelzer's contract until 2017, and after sealing the deal, the club's Sporting Director, Michael Zorc, enthused:
"Marcel is an important component of what is still a young team. He reflects BVB's philosophy to continue the path we're on with the core of this promising and identity-promoting team."
At €12m, Schmelzer is significantly cheaper than Luke Shaw, but in my view, LFC should keep the money and put it towards Mats Hummels, another Dortmund defender.
Author: Jaimie K
turn it however you want, schmelzer would be an awesome addition to our team!
ReplyDeleteHummels would be a dream signing, and although we'll have CL footy and perhaps a prem title, I think it'll be a big ask. Especially if news of it spreads. Because we all know we'd lose in any bidding war that would surely ensue for his services
ReplyDeleteKelly, Wisdom, Flanagan, Robinson, Ilori, Coates, Toure, Skrtel, Agger, Sakho, Mclaughlin, Enrique, Johnson
ReplyDeleteWe have enough depth at the back IMO. These are not ECL quality but BR will make them. I would like if BR gave them chance before looking outside. I hope we use money elsewhere, like midfield.
Both players are very happy at BVB und will not leave.
ReplyDeleteKelly, Robinson, Coates, all finished at Liverpool. Can't see a future for Toure or Enrique, particularly after this injury. McLaughlin and Wisdom may or may not turn out to be good enough, same as Ilori, though I rate Ilori highly, certainly. This leaves us with Skrtel, Agger, Sakho and Johnson, who are all inconsistent players, historically vulnerable to losing form, Agger to injury. The only player I'd rely on there to give me 50 games in a successful Champions League season is Skrtel.
ReplyDeleteSo I disagree. We have some investing to do.
I'm with you on the Agger situation. About RB, I did not forget about Flanagan actually. I hate to say it because I admire what he's done this season and love that he's a local lad, but he simply isn't good enough for this level. He's performed admirably at times and at other times he's gotten dangerously exposed, and he doesn't really offer much going forward. He lacks the power, pace, and skill on the ball required for the position, especially in our system, though he's managed to make up for it (mostly) this season with good positioning and an incredible amount of desire. But when Wisdom comes back he'll be the clear choice to fight with Johnson on the right, and we'll be strengthening things on the left. I feel for him, but I don't think we'll see Flanagan much outside of the domestic cups next season unless we get hit hard by injuries.
ReplyDeleteWisdom is actually a centre back who has played as a right back
ReplyDeletewas that Bale's first trophy ever? he made a wise choice.
ReplyDeleteWhy did we buy Coates for? Just to let Suarez have a mate?
ReplyDeleteAlmost certain Johnson wont be staying
ReplyDeleteFlanno will be Johnsons replacement. I can see Flannos career panning out like Carragher's. A lot of money will be spent trying to find a more skilled player but Flannos bottle and tenacity coupled with his love for LFC will see him usurp his replacements and become an LFC legend.
ReplyDeleteI think you're wrong. Flanno will continue to improve and his attacking ability will improve also. He is someone who will do what BR asks of him
ReplyDeleteThat could be true if he played a different position, but RB? He's just too slow and doesn't offer enough going forward for our style, and while he is extremely tenacious in the tackle and has done well he still gets beat cold too often, so he doesn't have the defensive skill to make up for his lack of offensive ability.
ReplyDeleteI really hope you're right, I'm a big Flanagan fan...but would you want him in there against, say, Real Madrid in the champions league? Trying to shackle Bale or Ronaldo? His attacking ability might well improve, but he's not going to suddenly become a speedster, or develop the ability to deliver balls like Enrique or shoot and cross like Johnson, or at least like Johnson used to.
ReplyDeleteCoates will be loaned out again or sold, there won't be any takers for Enrique unless it's on the cheap as he has been injured, but it's been confirmed that he is finally making some progress in his come back. I think Enrique is a decent defender, our only natural left back anyways. We should hang on to him.
ReplyDeleteIlori has only managed 4 games at Granada, a loan spell designed to get him crucial games. I don't think he's anything special...And I don't think Kelly is ever going to get back to the player he was.
The post above suggests we should sell Agger and hold Sakho as our undisputed number 1 at the back, but Sakho has been injured more than Agger this season. We should just keep all 4 senior centre backs and loan out the rest, and sign one senior fullback.
goals/assists can't be the only meter for success when considering the left back position. Amount of runs, successful pass/dribbles, Key Passes, defensive ability and even Headers(something which alot of left-backs are not good at). We will only need a centre-back if Agger goes. The money from Agger sale should be used for Hummels.
ReplyDeletesaying that maybe we should scour the World for the next Roberto Carlos to put some pressure on Scouse Cafu!
ReplyDeleteCant understand what the scouts saw in Coates. Didnt they see that he woefully lacks pace?
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't write off any of them. I always rated Coatea and Kelly highly. Anyway, opinions :-)
ReplyDeleteHmm...anyone can leave BVB. You guys follow certain wage structure which is good. Arsenal lost many key players due to that and you guys lost 2 of your best players to your rivals. Sad.
ReplyDeletePL title or not title, we have done amazing to get into the CL from our position last season. And because our CL qualification, we will have to use, Borini, Illori, Wisdom, and Suso in some games. With that we will need another 3 to 4 players that can actually play in the first team not the likes of Alberto or Aspas that BR doesn't really trust or consider to good enough to throw into the first team. We need real options, not just options for the sake of it. I would like us to get:
ReplyDeleteAlex Sandro,
Granit Xhaka,
Son Heung Min
Yvgen Konoplyanka
Dont think we will in the market for a CB unless a couple get moved on and Caulker is available from a relegated Cardiff
Well playing against Bale and Ronaldo may just be out of the reach for every full back not just Flano or Wisdom even Johnson is not up to, but (even why we are talking to early) if we are to defend against RM (or any other good team) we have to defend as a team cause they are better than us simple as that. Expect LB I think we have to buy a good DM for these type of games, someone who is good on defending and good withe th ball at his feet. While many are saying to spend big on a DM I don't know how but I'm convinced that Diame (West Ham) is the perfect solution he's been great last season playing just in front the back 4, this year he's playing out of position and did relativelly good and the good thing is that (media rumours) we can snap him for as little as 4M.
ReplyDeletehe is a little bit Slow for Premier League
ReplyDeleteWhy not go for Ricardo Rodriguez? Think he's still averaging the second best match rating after Ribery in Bundesliga according to Sqawka (?), or at least he's up there. Wolfsburg is a lower rated team, and he's some years younger as well.
ReplyDeletenot suddenly agreed. I see Flannos career like Carraghers. LFC will buy players more skilled but at the end of the day players like Flanno and Carra show through because of their courage, willingness to do what the manager requires and their absolute love and devotion for the club. For me Flanno is our new Carra...
ReplyDeleteRomulu
ReplyDeleteAgree to disagree.
ReplyDeleteyes anyone can leave bvb, but you know nothing about bvb unless lewandowski and gotze. lewa never stay at one club for more than 2 seasons no matter how much the money is, and BVB is his longest club. Gotze moved to Bayern because of Pep guardiola. do you think BR got the magnet like pep to attract either hummels or schmelzer? hummels' dream move is barcelona, and both lewandowski and schmelzer think that bundesliga is the better league (in their opinion.. the only bvb player i know might interest to your club is mkhitaryan.
ReplyDelete