Since completing his fairytale £4m move to Anfield, it's fair to say that Rickie Lambert has struggled to make an impact for Liverpool. The striker generally looks sluggish on the field, and is yet to find the net during the Reds' pre-season schedule. The clubs fans are already on Lambert's back, but Brendan Rodgers has dismissed the early criticism, and explained why the former Southampton man will ultimately deliver the goods.
Speaking to the official Liverpool FC website today, Rodgers insisted he has 'no doubts' about Lambert, and put his middling form down to 'moving his family up, travelling away, and getting used to the players and how we work". He added:
"It's just the adaptation period. There are new pressures and he's still getting his fitness. He knows he [won't] play every week but he will play a specific role for us in certain games. I'm sure he will do that really well."
I personally don't see what all the fuss is about. Lambert is only being scrutinised to this degree due to Liverpool's lack of first-choice strikers. If Sturridge was fit, and Rodgers had done his job and replaced Luis Suarez, there probably wouldn't be so much focus on Lambert's form.
Additionally, pre-season is not a true indicator of how a player will perform when the actual season starts. As a comparison, consider Iago Aspas - the Spaniard had a fantastic pre-season last summer, but flopped when it mattered in the Premier League. I suspect Lambert will be the opposite: poor pre-season, but extremely effective in competitive games.
For me, Lambert remains a great signing. As Rodgers notes, he's at the club to perform a 'specific' role in 'certain games', and as a back-up striker, it's hard to argue with the deal. Sturridge will return from injury, and Liverpool will hopefully sign another striker before the end of August, and if that happens, Lambert will revert to his intended role: back-up striker.
Of course, if Rodgers fails to bring in another striker before transfer deadline day then that will be a major concern, arguably bordering on negligence. With four competitions to play for, the Reds need at least two top-class strikers (ideally three, at various age ranges) and it's a dangerous game to rely on just Lambert and the increasingly injury-prone Sturridge.
Still, it's worth remembered that 'struggling' Lambert is no slouch in front of goal. He is a proven Premier League goalscorer, and his stats show this:
* 29 goals/15 assists in 75 Prem games.
* Goal every 2.5 games.
* Goal/Assist every 1.7 games.
Not bad for a 32-year old. Granted, some of his goals are penalties, but the same applies to Steven Gerrard's goal tally. Lambert has scored goals at every club he's played for, and the probability is he will do the same for Liverpool.
Author: Jaimie K
Speaking to the official Liverpool FC website today, Rodgers insisted he has 'no doubts' about Lambert, and put his middling form down to 'moving his family up, travelling away, and getting used to the players and how we work". He added:
"It's just the adaptation period. There are new pressures and he's still getting his fitness. He knows he [won't] play every week but he will play a specific role for us in certain games. I'm sure he will do that really well."
I personally don't see what all the fuss is about. Lambert is only being scrutinised to this degree due to Liverpool's lack of first-choice strikers. If Sturridge was fit, and Rodgers had done his job and replaced Luis Suarez, there probably wouldn't be so much focus on Lambert's form.
Additionally, pre-season is not a true indicator of how a player will perform when the actual season starts. As a comparison, consider Iago Aspas - the Spaniard had a fantastic pre-season last summer, but flopped when it mattered in the Premier League. I suspect Lambert will be the opposite: poor pre-season, but extremely effective in competitive games.
For me, Lambert remains a great signing. As Rodgers notes, he's at the club to perform a 'specific' role in 'certain games', and as a back-up striker, it's hard to argue with the deal. Sturridge will return from injury, and Liverpool will hopefully sign another striker before the end of August, and if that happens, Lambert will revert to his intended role: back-up striker.
Of course, if Rodgers fails to bring in another striker before transfer deadline day then that will be a major concern, arguably bordering on negligence. With four competitions to play for, the Reds need at least two top-class strikers (ideally three, at various age ranges) and it's a dangerous game to rely on just Lambert and the increasingly injury-prone Sturridge.
Still, it's worth remembered that 'struggling' Lambert is no slouch in front of goal. He is a proven Premier League goalscorer, and his stats show this:
* 29 goals/15 assists in 75 Prem games.
* Goal every 2.5 games.
* Goal/Assist every 1.7 games.
Not bad for a 32-year old. Granted, some of his goals are penalties, but the same applies to Steven Gerrard's goal tally. Lambert has scored goals at every club he's played for, and the probability is he will do the same for Liverpool.
Author: Jaimie K
I don't always agree with you but this time you nailed it.
ReplyDeleteLambert was just going to be better Aspas behind Suarez and Sturridge but we haven't found replacement for Suarez yet. That's the reason why Lamber has played so much. He hasn't been great but he will get better and hopefully do few important goals after coming from the bench end game.
I agree tat Lambert will up his game and prove to be effective when it matters. However, I think it'd be unfair to say Rodgers would be negligent if another striker was not brought in as I don't think it would be his fault. His hands are tied by the fact it's not his money he is spending. He identifies targets along with a panel and then others are sent out to do the negotiating. I have no doubt Rodger will have highlighted plenty of targets for the transfer team to aim for
ReplyDeleteI disagree. Rodgers has had months to bring in a new striker, and even longer than that to identify targets. If he can't sign someone, it will (IMO) be a dereliction of duty.
ReplyDeleteIn this instance if the club doesn't sign a striker I can't really accept Rodger's assertion that they'll only go for the "right" player. How can Liverpool get through the next few months with only Sturridge and Lambert up front? Remy was hardly going to light the world on fire but he would have been decent. I can't believe that there isn't another Remy out there who wouldn't fit the club's needs. Borini would be OK but maybe as the 4th striker in the squad, otherwise he has to get himself up to another level. The club is willing to let him go so I can't see that Rodgers would really plan to use him as a regular striker if he chooses to stay.
ReplyDeleteI'll reserve judgement, I think the club is still working on brining in a quality striker and we probably just need to wait and see. But the longer this goes on the longer it ends up feeling like other windows where Liverpool just don't get the players they wanted. That ultimately turned out OK but in every instance they already had Suarez, they weren't looking to replace 30 goals a season. There is now a big big gap in this side and it needs to be filled. I expect that to happen, it just makes me uneasy that it's taking so long.
He's old and admitted himself that it takes him time to get his body in shape. I expect him to be a much more impressive player in about 3-4 weeks.
ReplyDeleteI agree. Lambert was imo bought to provide a specific type of threat against sides who would park the bus or allow crosses to come into the box relying on our lack of aerial threat to save them . He was £4m for pity's sake.
ReplyDeleteWhay we absolutely do need though is a genuine goalscoring threat , ideally one from up front and one from midfield.
Rumminigge has told the world that Reus has a £25m release clause; pay it already and give him Pepe's wages and a bit more to tempt him, if we did that , the striker no longer has to be a Falcao or similar and we could pay less than £20 for sure. then get Moreno an dlose Johnson, whos wages would pay for the new striker's pay terms
Somehow this all resembles the Summer of 2012 when we were angling for a Striker and ended with only Suarez as the established Striker. The arrival of Sturridge in Jan was too late to even salvage a Europa League spot.
ReplyDeleteDefine "right" player though mate? There should be someone out there but all the factors have to fit. He doesn't have to be a worldy but he has to fit in to a team that has a first choice striker. He would have to have some adaptability and presumably be very quick, he would have to not be at a team at a level above us, not be on stupid wages or at a club who value him too expensive. He would either come from a club who play attacking football like ourselves, high pressing football or be known to be hard working enough to adapt. I want this done as quickly as anyone. I want someone who makes our team that much better just by being there but perhaps it is not so easy.
ReplyDeletePart of me is hoping that now Reina is looking like he is gone off the wage bill we will properly pursue our target.
Question is why BR did not get a big or two signings before officially announcing Suarez departure?? Now you have to pay out of the nose! BR naivety is too obvious sometimes.
ReplyDeleteJackson Martinez
ReplyDeleteHe tried Sanchez, he didn't want to come. He tried Remy, he failed his medical. There is still time to get the player we need. Cut him some slack...
ReplyDeleteCause he and the LFC kingdom got caught up with the whole hype of been in CL so everyone wants to play for us BS. You still have to establish yourself and selling Suarez did not help either. We know he wanted to go.
ReplyDeletewe have blew a massive amount though on positions that you could argue we didn't need to.Suarez was our main striker so replacing him should have been the clubs prority
ReplyDeleteGood article Jaimie. Pretty much agree with all that
ReplyDeleteSuarez was not our main striker
ReplyDeleteThere wasn't a direct replacement to be had except maybe Sanchez. Who did you think could replace LS directly?
ReplyDeleteits a semantic argument lets put it another way then one of our main or if not our main goal threat
ReplyDeleteI don't see Lambert making any significant impact, we need serious striker asap. It's slightly alarming that we are not making any progress on making a great striker signing and 31yr old striker will not do us any good. I am super happy for Lambert making LFC team again but who are we kidding...
ReplyDeleteThe Spanish press had already leaked the deal, there was no way what you suggest could have happened
ReplyDeleteI take it Sheringham didn't score all those goals for Utd then?
ReplyDeleteSuarez is a phenomenal, once in a life time player, how are we supposed to replace him other than by signing Messi or Ronaldo? You have to find a different system that will make do for those goals he scored and that is what BR is trying to do imo.
ReplyDeleteits not so much about replacing suarez in as much at least having a player who can score at the top level if Danny boy is injured ...the first port of call should of been just offering more for ogari so we could have him this season
ReplyDeleteThey knew he was gone before the season was over. There is no excuse!
ReplyDeleteAgree. Replace, as in bring in another striker capable of scoring goals, not a literal replacement for Suarez.
ReplyDeleteWho on earth is Ogari? While we are speaking Remy is supposed to be a LFC player but for his heart problems. It takes time to identify and then do what is necessary to sign a new player. All we need is patience right now.
ReplyDeleteNot sure that Origi is ready for that. agree we need a proper goalscorer, not more potential
ReplyDeleteogari is the Belgium lad we have bought and loaned straight out well at least i think we have the way we operate we probaly havnt
ReplyDeleteIn other news see Howard Webb is retiring from refereeing? Thank The Lord my prayers have been answered
ReplyDeleteim just using him as an example at the very least hes an international striker who kept a 30m luckacoo out of the team
ReplyDeletehahaha did you just compare Yaya to Lambert?
ReplyDeleteRodgers deserves no slack. He knew Suarez would probably leave, and he should've been preparing for that eventuality for the last year. He should've drawn up a list of 10 possible targets, and bringing one of them in should've been the top priority the minute the season ended.
ReplyDeleteNow, there's less than two weeks till the new season starts, and LFC are down to an injured Sturridge, and Lambert.
If Liverpool - with Champions League football - can't sign a half-decent striker despite having months and months to prepare, then there's a serious problem somewhere.
Re Remy - his heart problem is common knowledge, and was first discovered *four years ago*. LFC must've known this going in, so why spend all that time on Remy if there's a club policy of rejecting players with heart conditions?!
ReplyDeleteOnly in your mind. I compared him more to Sheringham who had a great influence on the then champions at a late stage in his career.
ReplyDeleteI mentioned Toure as he is 31 but I didn't see a single mention of his age when it seemed he might be on the market, people just trot that out when it suits them...
as if br is at fault
ReplyDeleteHis heart problems weren't deemed serious enough to prevent him from signing for other clubs, Liverpool had all the reasons to think they weren't major. They took a closer look and thought that they were major by their standards. Where is the problem?
ReplyDeleteDont you guys worry so much about striker. We have been bless with great strikers. Remember after Owen we get Torres than Suarez. I believe that we will get another one.....
ReplyDeleteI know who you were talking about but his name is Origi ;)
ReplyDeletebut surley it raises a flag when your looking into potential signings
ReplyDeleteill just call oggy from now on
ReplyDeleteHow is it possible that his heart issue is not deemed major for Marseille, QPR, and France, but for LFC, it's suddenly a big deal? Something doesn't compute.
ReplyDeleteQPR trying to give him a new deal, and according to Pardew, Newcastle are also interested, so the issue can't be that acute.
Well I have to say you would have to agree with that statement, losing Sanchez and even Remy should have just prompted work on the next one on the list - it wasn't like with Torres where it all happened last minute after all.
ReplyDeleteYou think signing people is easy
ReplyDeletefor liverpool it should be a doddle as we usually pay over the odds on fee and wages..if clubs like the swansea and southampton can sign players we should walk it
ReplyDeleteThere is not a doubt in my mind that he will be of value to us. It's also about expectations. You cannot expect a 32 year old who cost 4 million to score 31 goals a season. He's what we lost when Kuijt went to Turkey. But even more scouse than Durk :-)
ReplyDeletei appreciate your optimism. But...
ReplyDeletea lot of players were off to the WC and others waiting to see how it would turn out for them before talking to clubs about transfers. Even Lallana had trouble and he wanted to come
ReplyDeletePlease don't tell me what I think. I don't think it's 'easy' to sign players. A major part of Rodgers' job is, however, to sign players. LFC is an elite club with an entire scouting infrastructure dedicated to scouting/assessing players all year round. As such, it's not unreasonable to expect Rodgers to be able to sign a half-decent, experience striker, especially when he's had months and months to identify targets and make his move.
ReplyDeleteYou are assuming it was a heart issue. Plus QPR and Newcastle can rarely attract that level of player and so would likely take a bigger gamble
ReplyDeleteIf Sturridge and Sterling score respectively 5 goals more than they scored last season, that will be Suarez's goals covered. I think we should stop being obesessed with this 'Suarez replacement'.
ReplyDeleteDidn't quite work out. Supposed to be panicking and jumping out the window (if you're not familiar with the episode). I guess GIFs don't work here.
ReplyDeleteBRs hands were tied IMO. The only decent replacement available was Sanchez and he didn't want to come. We can't sign another top out and out striker as think that will seriously affect Sturridge's confidence. Whoever we bring in has to be flexible to play out wide but there just aren't many options available who will chip in with an adequate number of goals.
ReplyDeleteim not to sure it works like that mike in regards to insurance etc
ReplyDeleteSorry mate, that doesn't follow. Sturridge scored 21 goals IN ADDITION to Suarez' 30+
ReplyDeleteHow does 10 additional goals make up Suarez's 31? I could see your arguement working if we were to aim for 30 conceded but can't see that happening.
ReplyDeleteIt is my opinion that you think signing players is easy, why wouldn't I share it?
ReplyDeleteThe fact is Rodgers has already added two quality attacking players to the team in Markovic and Lallana. Has has tried to sign 2 other quality ones but it hasn't come off. The window is still open, there is no reason to panic in my opinion.
so lets get this right in the whole of world football with us having 75m we cant find a striker are you kidding me
ReplyDeleteHe must have had insurance last season; I think LFC felt the condition might worsen and the risk of that to be more than they were prepared to take. Don't forget they sent him for a 2nd opinion, so they must have wanted him
ReplyDeleteKey word 'hopefully' and you compared him to both in all fairness. Toure has far more experience compared to Lambert. I respect your opinion and don't agree with it :)
ReplyDeleteWell yeah I was kinda disturbed :-) But lets say in addition to those 10 goals, MArkovic, Lallana and Lambert score 20 goals between them, that should do the trick right ?
ReplyDeleteI think you missed the point, Tom.
ReplyDeleteMe too. It seems he doesn't rate Lambert, fair enough. Not the point , but fair enough
ReplyDeleteanyone else worried we might have an entirely new defense come the start of the season?
ReplyDeleteDoes it really matter when the one of last season was inept?
ReplyDeleteBut this one doesn't even have a preseason.
ReplyDeleteThe way Lallana and Lambert linked up for Southampton is what we will need from them at Anfield.
ReplyDeleteFor £4 million you still cannot go wrong. Aspas or Lambert on the bench?
You said a 31 yr old striker will not do us any good.
ReplyDeleteI pointed out that 30+yr old striker (Sheringham) did Man U lots of good even tough he wasn't prolific in goal terms. so it is possible.
I then pointed out that the age matters far less when people rate the player highly (Toure) as he too is 31
So it seems it all boils down to the fact that you don't rate Lambert even though he scored more than, say, Remy last season and nearly as many as Bony
Still makes no difference.
ReplyDeleteAaaaaamen to that.
ReplyDeleteOverrated.
Yes. The question is would you have Johnson-Skrtel-Sakho-Enrique as your defense or Manquillo-Lovren-Sakho-Moreno. I would prefer the latter.
ReplyDelete"Rodgers had done his job and replaced Suarez" - I feel this is a little unfair. I know that his track record in the transfer market hasn't been world class, but there are still several weeks to go until the end of the transfer window, and while it is preferable to get your signings done early, I don't think it can always go down that way.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I don't think that there is any way that any one player could replace possibly the 3rd best player on the planet; there are rumours about Falcao but there's no guarantee he'll recover his Atletico form, rumours about Cavani being unhappy but I don't think he'll be leaving any time soon, we missed out on Costa when we had the best possible chance, Benzema won't leave Madrid when he's got the best supply line in world football, and the other strikers in that upper echelon aren't going anywhere.
There must be a lot of work going on in the background, and I really hope that we get a decent 20-goal striker before the end of the window, I do believe it's necessary if we are to fight for top 4 plus a swashbuckling run in the Champions League (by swashbuckling I mean that I would be happy if we made it to at least the last 16 while playing some entertaining football). And I REALLY hope that Rodgers and his team aren't trying to replace Suarez' goals with as many attacking midfielders as they can find.
There's still time...
That seems to be BR's plan
ReplyDeleteOh my God! The PTA has disbanded!!
ReplyDeleteWhen Gary Mac came, most people thought it was crazy, but it worked out well; it was a master stroke.
ReplyDeleteThe minute Lambert got the move, many people, I'm sure a good few on here called it a master stroke ... it wasn't .. perhaps the fee, based on Southampton's opposition to the Lallana move might have been a hint?
Buck's dealings in the transfer market, have in general been, poor and very, very expensive ...
Mignolet should step up with a few more goals too. Don't panic everything is under control.
ReplyDeleteYou could sit me (or Ash's Nan) on the bench and it wouldn't matter. The trouble starts when Sturridge gets injured and our number comes up on the board...:-).
ReplyDeleteYou can go wrong for £4M if his legs have gone. Not saying they have but he has been very poor in pre -season and if I want to be harsh Ii would say that if this really IS his dream move he might have worked on his fitness over the summer.
I'd suggest we all need to get off Lambert's back a little. He will prove his usefulness in the long run when we are faced with teams who sit back and won't come out and play (Chelski, I'm looking at you). That's why he was bought. Little bit much to expect him to be banging in goals in pre season. Having said all that, I am pretty concerned about our lack of firepower, and there doesn't seem to be too much activity yet to address the issue. I hear names (Bony, Icardo), but we are running out of time.
ReplyDeleteMaybe Johnson plans on showing the world that his shooting ability mirrors Zidane and his vision mirrors Cryuff and was just trolling us during last season and pre season because BR told him to save his energy. We might not know it but our Suarez replacement is already in our team and wears the number 2.
ReplyDeleteIn other news dortmund accuse bayern for public pursuit of reus , maybe brendan can talk with klopp on sunday and get him eh?
ReplyDeleteTo digress -why dont we use Lucas as player exchange deal for their Argentine 29 year old winger ??? Hopw we are not going to LOAN a player to BENITEZ AGIN
ReplyDeleteJohnson is every other team's secret weapon..
ReplyDeleteDont know if we need a great striker to replace Suarez but I do know we need a GREAT PLAYER
ReplyDeleteWhy would PSG want Lucas? They have Matuidi, Verratti and numerous others. There is a reason why swap deals are so rare. Both teams must be willing to accept what the other team has.
ReplyDeleteThat's the spirit. We all need to think like that to fool other teams into thinking like it. Then, Johnson will show how good he is. That is the only plausible explanation I can come up with for why Johnson is so crap.
ReplyDeleteGet Eto'o on a short term deal to get us through the year. Far more mobile than Lambert even if he is 54.
ReplyDeleteHis wages would be astronomical for a squad player
ReplyDeleteNo Thanks. Not even for free.
ReplyDeleteNow you're talking.
ReplyDeleteGive the victim-complex a rest for five seconds. Where did I question your right to state your opinion? I didn't. And no one is panicking; this is merely discussion about LFC's striker options.
ReplyDeleteI'd better apply for that exhumation order.
ReplyDeleteNot the SBS?
ReplyDeleteIf Origi is ready to play in the World Cup, then he's ready to play for Liverpool.
ReplyDeleteTo judge a player in preseason is being premature.
ReplyDeleteIf Aspas had carried performances into competitive matches then we would all be foaming at the mouth.
Lambert is a very tidy player. How long did it take Pete Crouch to open his account? How quick was he?
I agree that we should go for Reus, but that release clause doesn't come into play until next summer I believe. All we have to do though is pay more than that and Dortmund might be forced to sell. I mean the choices are lose him for 20M next season or get 25-30M for him now. Still pretty low for a player of his class.
ReplyDeleteI am foaming at the mouth but that';s another story. I admit though his hair is well kept I just expect a striker to score goals as well as look presentable
ReplyDeleteIcardi looks like borini all over again, so that leaves us with bony as the only option i guess
ReplyDeleteThe player I am going to follow closely this season is Origi. Something tells me he is going to have one hell of a season.
ReplyDeleteThis signing could save us big money in the following summer window...
Has ibe ever played a strikers role for the youth teams? sure looks strong enough for it..Maybe thats where he belongs..
ReplyDeleteAnd .... Don't forget Robbie Keane !
ReplyDeleteLet's not forget. Rafa wanted Gareth Barry first before we signed Keane :-o
ReplyDeleteI'm betting Lambert doesn't read anything anybody on this site writes. We're all just venting because we have nothing else to vent about. It would have been different if we wallowed through the US and got our butts kicked every match...but we didn't.
ReplyDeleteI just checked my calendar...and it's only 6 August. We have 25 Days of window open still. Last year we hadn't really signed a soul yet by this time. And you're right...we're not going to find a replacement for Suarez because neither Messi nor Ronaldo are headed anywhere. So, at best, we're looking for a reasonable substitute and buying MFs and wingers who might make it easier for Studge and Mr. X to score.
ReplyDeleteOne idea is that LFC are owned by Americans. There have some American athletes in college who had heart conditions and were 'cleared to play' only to collapse and die in plain sight on the court or field. This was not well received by the American legal profession.
ReplyDeleteRumour that Rodgers is interested in Cavani!? That will never happen, some of the things Cavani and Suarez discussed about Liverpool I'd imagine he has been put off for life! Like it's been said, there is no replacement for LS, but there are only two premier league proven who could potentially get us 20-25 goals a season, Bony & Ballotelli. Falcao would be worth the gamble but he wants Madrid, but then again who doesn't!? I really hope BR's comments on Ballotelli were a smoke screen and we sign him, yes I know he's a bellend, but he's a goal scoring bellend, and a marketing dream, and the Mancs (both blue and red would despise him). He would be such a killer signing for us, I don't care what anyone says! Still, it ain't gonna happen, Bony at best for us I feel!
ReplyDeleteWhat about Schurrle? Why can't we get him if Chelski are stupid enough to sell him to Ateletico...why wouldn't they sell to us?
ReplyDeleteI would much rather see Coutinho grow as a player.
ReplyDeletei very much agree with this specific article! this happens like three times in a year! Rickie WILL come good!
ReplyDeletei think Rodgers wasnt prepared for remy failing his medical, and now we might be panicking to bring someone else in. weve had targets and "targets". im a bit affraid that Remy was our only summer striker target, and now that ship has sailed we are scraping barrell again
ReplyDeletewe might try to play sterling up front if we fail to bring another striker, heaven knows we got attacking midfielders aplenty.
ReplyDeleteNah...not as a #10...as the #9.
ReplyDeleteSchurrle played on the wing, mainly left for Chelsea last season. Coutinho can play there too.
ReplyDeleteI would even prefer Ibe to progress in that case.
Jamie K Brendan could only get such damning blame for transfer failures if he had the final say on wages and transfer fee.
ReplyDeleteDoes BR negotiate with agents? Does he decide a players wages or phone up the chairman of a players club to try and broker a deal? No all he can do is tell the club the players he would like and wait and see if Ian Ayre and co can pull it off. Brendans failure? Not in my opinion, It is quiet apparent that its the clubs failure, specifically the board and transfer committee.
I'd be happy with Bony. Uses both feet, has good vision and a great sense of the game. Very strong in the air too.
ReplyDeleteSo outs so far: Suarez, Aspas, Alberto and Reina
ReplyDeleteIns so far: Can, Lambert, Lallana, Markovic, Manquillo, Lovren, Origi (next season) Moreno (rumored to be close) and another forward/striker.
Surely we will be better off than last season?
I already mentioned this in another post so write it all out again. But I completely agree with you. He has been great for 2 seasons, and there is no reason why this shouldn't continue.
ReplyDeleteA few days back BR said he wants 4 signings. Manquillo is completed, I suspect one to be Moreno and one to be a striker. Who will be the fourth signing?
ReplyDeleteAgain Jaimie i feel like your blame for no striker is falling on the wrong person. There is no doubt strikers have been identified but how can it be BRs fault if Ian Ayre flies out to negotiate a deal and fails? Brendan does not buy players he identifies them and leaves the rest to the club. The highest influence he can have is either phoning or texting a player or at the very most fly out to talk to him 1 on 1. He does not write up contracts or offer wages, he doesn't negotiate transfer fees. All he is in this situation is a scapegoat for a small portion of (in my opinion) uneducated (football wise) LFC fans. It is understandable to be upset as a fan if we fail to bring in another striker who is up to the job but that would still be LFC's transfer failings and not Brendan Rodgers.
ReplyDeleteA keeper to compete with Migs, perhaps?
ReplyDeleteI would love Diego Lopez to join. Quality keeper with experience. Will provide good competition and also a good leader for Simon to follow.
ReplyDeletei have it on good authority he reads all my posts
ReplyDeletehe cant look that bad
ReplyDeletequick enough to score with abbey clancy
ReplyDeletei dont think lazer and sturridge and llana getting knocks has helped as all of a sudden its all eyes on me up front...the media scrutiny is on a whole different level
ReplyDeletethe thing is that there is only lovren a decent bet to start a regular number of games out of all them players
ReplyDeleteIt is not about who starts or who does not. We have addressed the problem we had last season which was depth.
ReplyDeletebut if the initial starting 11 doesn't improve we are stagnating
ReplyDeleteBrendan Rodgers does not make decide transfer fees,, negotiate with players agents or phone a players club to make an offer nor does he negotiate contract terms (including wages). What Brendan Rodgers DOES do is spend alot of time identifying the players he would like to buy. After all the effort do do this he then hands this list of players to LFC's transfer committee and hopes Ian Ayre and co can get the job done. So in my opinion it would be ludacris to make BR an easy scapegoat for what would clearly be Liverpool's transfer failings. (in particular the board and Ian Ayre)
ReplyDeleteBrendan has done a fantastic job and in my opinion performed well, well, well above everybody's expectations and therefore should be given a bit of slack.
That's true but it is something he is going t have to get used to. The exposure at Liverpool is much greater than he is used to.
ReplyDeleteI wonder what to make of the Huntelaar rumour. He's probably not in the "ideal" category but he'd absolutely score goals and wouldn't cost the earth. I also think he'd jump at the chance to come to Liverpool, it might be his last chance to play in the Premier League. I think we'd get a good year or two from him although injuries might be a worry. He got through limited minutes at the world cup and did OK.
ReplyDeleteOchao was available for free.
ReplyDeleteWhat about those other 9? Those who were here last year will be better because they are more accomodated, more experienced, and more rested as there won't be need for say Hendo to miss his first minutes of EPL in last couple of games. Plus they will all be worried for their spot and will work even harder.
ReplyDeleteReus, but he knew it when Dortmund friendly was agreed.
ReplyDeleteThe last 'target man' to really score goals for us was Toshack and then Crouch, yet we still persist in signing big sean Dundee type lumps. *shrugs shoulders.
ReplyDeleteTarget man as the first and only option is outdated idea, but it still is a good way to score a goal you need.
ReplyDelete