With six signings already in the bag, Liverpool are reportedly close to sealing another two deals, which will take Brendan Rodgers' summer transfer spending past £100m.
According to the Daily Mail:
* Ian Ayre has flown to Spain to complete the signings of Sevilla's Alberto Moreno and Atletico Madrid's Javi Manquillo.
* Liverpool are close to agreeing a £20m fee for Moreno.
* Manquillo is expected to sign on loan for two years, with an £6m option to buy.
Liverpool's full-back positions are a transfer priority, and to be honest, at this stage, anything is preferable to relying on increasingly pedestrian players like Johnson, Kelly, Enrique, and Flanagan.
Having said that, Rodgers is once again spending big-bucks on players with minimal European experience, and he continues to be hellbent on packing the squad with youngsters who may or may not come good at some undetermined point in the future.
Rodgers' transfer strategy is crystal clear, but it's wishful thinking in the extreme to think that all these young, inexperienced players will hit the ground running and seamlessly adapt to life in the Premier League/Champions League.
Additionally, if Liverpool pull off these two deals, it will leave the club just two weeks to integrate 7 new players, FOUR of whom are yet to kick a ball for LFC (Lovren, Moreno, Lallana, and Manquillo), and one (Markovic) who's only managed 45 minutes so far, and is already injured (!)
This means that the existing squad will probably have to pick up the slack until the new signings are acclimatised, and without Suarez, the onus will be on the likes of Sturridge, Sterling, Henderson, and Coutinho step-up and make the difference.
Can they do it? The quality is there, but the pressure will be greater this season (especially without Suarez to fall back on) and it remains to be seen whether Hendo et al can deliver with greater expectations on their shoulders.
I'm loathe to use the now-cliched Spurs comparison, but AVB struggled to integrate a shedload of new players, and purely on that basis, Liverpool may also struggle. Having said that, Rodgers is a man with very clear plan and well-defined football philosophy - something arguably lacking at Spurs under AVB - so he's possibly better equipped to make it work.
Be that as it may, Liverpool have a tough start to the Premier League campaign, and getting good early results is essential, especially given the formidable top-four competition. Perhaps, like last year, Rodgers will work his managerial magic and get the squad overachieving, but at this moment, I don't have a good feeling about the new season.
Author: Jaimie K
According to the Daily Mail:
* Ian Ayre has flown to Spain to complete the signings of Sevilla's Alberto Moreno and Atletico Madrid's Javi Manquillo.
* Liverpool are close to agreeing a £20m fee for Moreno.
* Manquillo is expected to sign on loan for two years, with an £6m option to buy.
Liverpool's full-back positions are a transfer priority, and to be honest, at this stage, anything is preferable to relying on increasingly pedestrian players like Johnson, Kelly, Enrique, and Flanagan.
Having said that, Rodgers is once again spending big-bucks on players with minimal European experience, and he continues to be hellbent on packing the squad with youngsters who may or may not come good at some undetermined point in the future.
Rodgers' transfer strategy is crystal clear, but it's wishful thinking in the extreme to think that all these young, inexperienced players will hit the ground running and seamlessly adapt to life in the Premier League/Champions League.
Additionally, if Liverpool pull off these two deals, it will leave the club just two weeks to integrate 7 new players, FOUR of whom are yet to kick a ball for LFC (Lovren, Moreno, Lallana, and Manquillo), and one (Markovic) who's only managed 45 minutes so far, and is already injured (!)
This means that the existing squad will probably have to pick up the slack until the new signings are acclimatised, and without Suarez, the onus will be on the likes of Sturridge, Sterling, Henderson, and Coutinho step-up and make the difference.
Can they do it? The quality is there, but the pressure will be greater this season (especially without Suarez to fall back on) and it remains to be seen whether Hendo et al can deliver with greater expectations on their shoulders.
I'm loathe to use the now-cliched Spurs comparison, but AVB struggled to integrate a shedload of new players, and purely on that basis, Liverpool may also struggle. Having said that, Rodgers is a man with very clear plan and well-defined football philosophy - something arguably lacking at Spurs under AVB - so he's possibly better equipped to make it work.
Be that as it may, Liverpool have a tough start to the Premier League campaign, and getting good early results is essential, especially given the formidable top-four competition. Perhaps, like last year, Rodgers will work his managerial magic and get the squad overachieving, but at this moment, I don't have a good feeling about the new season.
Author: Jaimie K
its always hard to get deals done early in a world cup year so its not as if liverpool have left it overly too late.
ReplyDeletebut as you said 7 new players need to try and mesh together in a short time, not very ideal at all
We just have to hope that somehow they all gel together quite quickly, if not we will have to make more do with existing players for the time being. Got a feeling Manquillo won't go straight in but Moreno probably will considering the high fee. When you consider it's more than likely there will be another signing, possibly 2 that's 8-9 new faces who haven't played together much at all. Scary.
ReplyDeletePick a side, either you are happy with the current crop of full backs or you want new ones.
ReplyDeletePersonally I feel Johnson has been poor defensively for a number of seasons now, allowing far two many crosses from his side of the pitch. Flanagan Did superbly at left back, but a natural left footer gives us better balance and options.
With Johnson always wanting to come in side on the right and Flanagan only able to come in side we lose width at the top end of the pitch. Moreno would give us a better option.
To your other point, I can only really see one of the new players starting the season:
Lovren - Starter
Lambert - Impact Sub
Lallana - would have been a starter bar injury.
Can - Useful sub - great display v City
Markovic - ease the boy in
With maybe Moreno if that gets done. The young right back comes in to the ease in category as well.
The most interesting one would be the addition of another striker/forward player and how they fit in, If its a big money star who do they replace?
you moaned and complained about every little detail last year.This whole site is about nit picking at lfc.How about for a change this year you talk all positive about the team you are supossed to support.Try not to mention alberto as a bad signing every week for a start .
ReplyDelete1) doubtful about Moreno after hearing the wonder of liverpool from a player who didnt have the best time here but who knows, maybe the 3rd time the deal annonce done will be the one.
ReplyDelete2) agree about the like of kelly, enrique johnson but flanagan has been solid defensively (sure we wasnt great offensively but 101 goals with fullback who have been involved in less than 10 goals make me think maybe we dont need the dani alves type).
3) fullbacks being one of our weakness defensively i dont see the point of buying moreno wo have lost more duel than he have won, and if we buy inexperienced player at the highest level we might aswell stick with our youngster.
AVB had those player dumped on him by Levy who bought them regardless of whether AVB fancied them or not, plus none of them had played or lived in England before. He ended up falling out with some of them and the rest is history as they say.
ReplyDeleteBR has been given more say of transfer targets with his new contract and has bought some players with EPL experience, some have also played alongside some of existing players at international level. As you say, Rodgers has a clear plan (that was proven successful last season), whereas AVB's plan failed in the EPL. Twice.
I think (hope) that the situation for LFC will be different to that of Spurs last season. Besides Suarez leaving, we still have the same team in place that came 2nd last year :-)
3 weeks OMG!!! Still way better than last year. Besides this was a WC year and many players and teams weren't focused on this at all. I don't find this shocking at all. I have a good feeling after last night. We stood straight up to City. They leaked in a couple of lucky goals. We scored two great goals and with just an ounce of luck could have scored 3 more.
ReplyDeleteWe'll get Moreno, even if we have to pay the asking price. Rodgers has identified him, it's just the price that is the sticking point. I think Liverpool just want to make it seem like they are hesitant to pay so much and look like complete suckers in the transfer market, plus they might finally get Sevilla to drop that asking price. It will still be a steep price but this is the guy they identified as their main full back target this summer, Rodgers obviously thinks he'll add some quality and there is no point at this stage umming and ahhing over the price. If he wants the player and there are no clear alternatives just spend the cash.
ReplyDeleteMoreno will probably work his way to being first choice while Manquillo is a gamble, pure and simple. However the list of potential first team full backs we have is decent enough:
Johnson, Kelly, Flanagan, Enrique, Moreno
5 players into 2 positions is good, with a couple of young guys in the larger squad to push for a spot and up the ante during training. I think this is normal for a top team like Liverpool.
As for the pessimism over the new season ... just compare this to last year. We were facing 5 league games without Suarez but we won our first 3 then a draw and a loss. Interestingly, once Suarez returned the next 5 games were the same: 3 wins, a draw and a loss. Next 5 were the same again. There is no question in my mind that we're in a better position. Henderson and Sterling will start this season far better players than they were at the beginning of last year. I think Coutinho will be better too and he'll start the year in an attacking role. Everyone else will be as good as they were last season, if not better.
7 new players will take time to integrate but the reality is that we've already got a starting 11 from last year that is more than capable and if Rodgers has to stick with those guys in the immediate short term then it's hardly something to be worried about. It wasn't all Suarez that had us playing so well last year. We can put together a team that will be very familiar with each other and will know exactly what kind of system Rodgers wants to run. There is no reason to think that these existing players can't get up to a high level very very quickly and get us playing well right from the start.
The new guys will then get their chances to integrate and in fact most of the work happens on the training ground anyway. Can, Lambert and Markovic will have had a number of weeks training with the team so I don't see any issues for them. Lallana is the biggest disappointment because of the injury so I expect it to be some time before we see him at his best in a Liverpool shirt. Lovren is anyone's guess but I expect him to work hard at training and the whole point of getting him is that Rodgers doesn't have to think so hard about defensive tactics. I don't expect to see Moreno straight away.
This is my proposed starting 11 for Southampton:
Mignolet
Johnson Skrtel Sakho Enrique
Gerrard
Henderson Can
Sterling Coutinho
Sturridge
That's only one new player on the pitch and Can has already shown his quality, I think he'll fit in perfectly. I'd be very surprised if that line up can't produce a result against a decimated Southampton squad. I'd expect a comfortable 2-0 or 3-0.
Nah, the script for the Southampton game is already written: 'LFC steal Southampton's top stars yet still can't beat them!'
ReplyDeleteThe universe will ensure that irony wins the day with the Saints game, and I'm personally expecting a draw.
Agree with your line-up except Flanno for GJ and Sterling is up top with Studge.
ReplyDeleteCome on, City tore LFC apart on countless occasions, and looked quicker and more dynamic all-over the pitch. Plus, they had lots of first-teamers out, whilst LFC played most of their first team squad.
ReplyDeleteAnd you suggested the other day that I was being too positive ... somebody has to be!
ReplyDeleteAll the top teams have gone for wholesale makeovers except City. We're not special there. Look at ManU...they're not even close to being finished in the market. Arsenal has a new look. Chelski bought a bunch. I don't us as being out of whack. Besides, there is no direct replacement for Suarez on the market so BR has to put together something to compensate for that. I think we're ok as long as everybody buys in and plays together.
ReplyDeleteNot even 3 weeks; 2 weeks and 3 days.
ReplyDeleteBR has a system. Lallana will fit in pretty well regardless of time due to the type of player he is and similar style of previous club. Same with Lovren. Can and Lazar are getting integrated now - Lazar will be an impact sub this year regardless. The emphasis on youth is a long term strategy. Sure it is a risk. Every player you bring in can be a risk. While I think it will be a challenging season and six teams will be fighting it out, I do not think it has been that poor of a window for LFC. Doom and glooming it now is a bit premature in my humble opinion.
ReplyDeleteThere were periods where both teams dominated. We had the better shots and forced Joe Hart into good saves. City didn't have those shots at all except that crazy part in front of the net when one went off the crossbar from close range. City ran roughshod over our FBs but it was BR who wanted the FBs forward and GJ either can't or won't play defense...either way he's a liability. The other side had essentially 2 new guys platooning since Enrique hasn't played for so long. The left was going to be shaky from the start so that's no surprise. It wasn't as bad as you make it out to be.
ReplyDeleteOops meant to reply to main article..duh.
ReplyDeleteCity doesn't have a "second team". The margins between who starts and who gets left on the bench is absurd, I think sometimes Pellegrini just pulls bingo balls out of a bag to decide who he puts on the pitch. Sure, they had a couple of lesser players get a chance but it was still Dzeko, Jovetic, Toure, Hart, Korolov. It wasn't a weak team because City don't field weak teams, it's not possible. Pandle is right, City got a couple of sloppy goals and tearing Liverpool apart on "countless occasions" means very little if they can't make anything of it.
ReplyDeleteIt's a pre-season game, not much to read out of it either way if we're honest, but it was still a good performance where Liverpool showed the same attacking qualities that got us so far last season. And our two goals came from midfielders. I think the point is that there is good reason to believe Liverpool can play good football and score goals.
Liverpool Kop = Imposter, every single thing with this guy is a negative, please don't give him airtime!
ReplyDeleteWhy is it that whenever fans express constructive criticism of anything LFC related it's labelled 'doom and gloom'?
ReplyDeleteThese are legitimate concerns, and they will be in the minds of many fans, and for some, discussing them can be a proactive way of assuaging these concerns.
The problem with Spurs was that the new players didn't know what they were buying into. Levy just went out there and handpicked all these players, and AVB is just like, 'Ummm, yeah, now what the f*** do I do with you lot?". BR has handpicked them, he's given them a direction to buy into, and he knows what to do with them. The limited preparation time is not ideal, but that's just the nature of a WC year.
ReplyDeleteDifference between AVB spurs and BR LFC is AVB 7 new players did not have pre season preps. The players that came in for AVB most we're not his choice it was the director's. It will take time for all of them to be fully LFC match fit.
ReplyDeleteAnd the lack of European experience doesn't matter too much. We're not expecting to win the UCL this year.
ReplyDeletewell done boss
ReplyDeleteOH NO.... we'll be known as Southampton Hotspurs!!
ReplyDeleteGranted we've got a 5 hard games to start, but if we can get some scarppy wins in these games, it will act as a catalyst. Like the Mignolet save against Stoke, maybe a Joe Allen hat-trick on the opening day will make the players believe it's our year.
What's wrong with Flanagan did an admirable job at LB last year and tore Spurs to pieces
ReplyDeleteThat was meant to be the script for Stoke last year, minus the irony
ReplyDeleteI agree with that but the question is what are you going to do when your boss says this what I want, Madrid for years were run like that. Perry got let go because Benitez complain about that. He became in charge of transfer. You can disagree with your boss but if boss say I hear you but a still going with that choice what can you do?
ReplyDeleteAgree with a lot being said here apart from Flanagan. He seems to have enough to this game to be useful for Liverpool this season. We have a lot of players to still sell but not a lot of them are 1st teamers from last year. Mignolet, Sketel, Flanagan, Gerrard, Henderson, Coutinho, Sterling, Sturridge are all good enough to start. 8 players. Now fill in the gaps with 1st team signings and you are much stronger throughout with a bench that has numerous options and combinations. BR changed formation more than most last season and that was with very limited options. This year, he has an abundance of choices and has the strategy to implement them.
ReplyDeleteNothing except he's not left footed. He'd be better on the right. That's why we need a fast LB.
ReplyDeleteBut how do you explain Shevchenko... Mourinho situation?
ReplyDeleteSometimes managers have to say things to appease the owners. It's like my girlfriend will argue till the cows come home (even if we both know deep down she's wrong), but I just bite the bullet and let her have her little victory (plus I know, when she was wrong- I usually get a reward that stops word coming out her mouth).
You shouldn't believe everything that comes out of a manager mouth (or person in general), if they want to keep their jobs, they have to be a puppet in some sense. (I'm sure everyone has wanted to tell their bosses to go f*ck a goat- but staying in the job is more important than, a person having his opinion heard.
I totally agree with you JK. How can any rational fan have good feeling about the new season after seeing the same old joke in defense in those pre-season games? Till now, we do not even have concrete targets for the 2 full-back positions let alone plans to integrate incoming defenders. Also, we gotta stick to Sakho and Mignolet despite their obvious shortcomings. Right now, I can only whisper with tremble, good luck, LFC, YNWA.
ReplyDeleteThe point of getting attacking full-backs is purely to improve assists from out wide. Think last season we had very few assists from the full-backs, counting all the full-backs that played, I think the combined total was 7 assists (off the top of my head).
ReplyDeleteRicardo Rodriguez got more assists on his own than all our full-back put together. So this is a area that needs improving,since we lost 12 assists from Luis. Flanno can come in when we need to play a more reserved style, and Glen Johnson can just collect the BIB's in training or be sold.
Who exactly are these young players with minimal European experience? I know you just mean the 2 full backs but I'll cover everyone to make my point. Lallana Lovren & Lambert aren't young, all have EPL experience and Lovren European as well. Markovic has played in the Europa league and champions league, and Can has champions league experience and has looked a class act for us so far. Manquillo and Alberto have also both played in the Europa League, Alberto won it last year.
ReplyDeleteWe're a LB and RB away from our window being complete (unless 1 more striker, but BR said he can wait), and if we pick up these 2 all our signings but Lallana and Lambert, who are proven in the EPL, will have European experience, with only Manquillo's experience being limited. Obviously Rodgers won't make them both starters from day 1, he doesn't need to.
The only one of our signings so far who should get the "for the future" tag is Manquillo, who might make an immediate impact. Everyone else is ready now, but they won't all start...Spurs tried to but 7 starters, if everyone was fit I only see Lallana and Lovren walking into the team. On the evidence so far and based on what I've seen of these players in the best we've had a fantastic window so far with every reason to be optimistic. Our offensive play against City was a little rough around the edges but we created a lot of chances with slick play and finishing will come with fitness and sharpness, and I think Lovren and Sakho will be a top 3 CB pairing in the league. Where's your joy!? And Alberto Morenos fee will definitely be smaller up front then 22mil (you know Lallana was only 16mil up front right?) and Manquillo's 6mil won't be for 2 years, let's be realistic about up front costs here.
Moreno to be fair won the Europa League, scored a few goals and broke into the Spain team. he is also younger than Enrique and already a international for Spain and European winner. his transfer in a sense can be justified as there is no top LB available. Manquillo could be good but its a doubt. Rodgers should have gone for Serge Aurier for RB or Nathaniel Clyne. anyways this is what we have got and we will have to deal with it. we need to shift Assaidi and Borini for a combined £20M and buy Shaqiri and Reus for a combined £60M. after this we should be ready for the new season. we are 2 world class players short. last year we had the world class luis suarez, sturridge showing hes basically a world class player, sterling showing hes a world class young player and steven gerrards remaining world class abilitys. we've lost Suarez and Gerrard is getting worst by the game. i think if we showed intent to sign Reus for £42M and Shaqiri for £18M, people will respect the clubs ambition. Gerrard is a world class player, but even from 2 seasons ago, Gerrard has been struggling and it was abit suprising how much he chipped in last season. but we must replace him if we want to move forward as Liverpool football club. £50M for Paul Pogba. we will not need to invest for a long time and will be able to grow a team of young but world class players.
ReplyDelete------------------------------Mingolet
Flanagan---------Skrtel---------Lovren--------Moreno
---------------------Pogba---------Hendo
-------Markovic----------Sterling-----------Reus
----------------------------Sturridge
Pogba and Henderson is a solid midfield. Raheem plays so well all the time as the No 10 and i just wish he would stay there. he picks passes, makes good runs, takes long shots and interchanges. everything you want from a number 10 and his defensive work rate and pace is second to none. Reus coming in from the left is too deadly. hes so quick as well, his talent is ridiculous. he will replace Suarez with ease, as the Germans always do things, with ease. Markovic on the other side will be crucial as well with his deadly pace, and can always swap with Lallana and move Sterling to Right. then off the bench Markovic, Shaqiri and Coutinho. Pogba scores goals and in a Champions League Anfield setting, Pogba would be perfect. hes worth every penny, and his experience of living in England is crucial as he will be able to hit the ground running. no need to settle into a new country, he knows the weather and regime. Pogba, Reus, Shaqiri and we will win the PL and get to the final of the Champions League. guarenteed
This is a dream but I wish it comes to pass
ReplyDeleteyou are the most negative 'lfc fan' ive ever seen.Eveey single comment you've made is either negative towards lfc or undermines a positive point to lfc.
ReplyDeleteNo European experience? Sevilla and Atletico both got to European finals
ReplyDeleteWhy is it you always claim your comments aare constructive? How is "I dont have a good feeling about this season" constructive? Discussing concerns and making truely constructive points is one thing, but your choice of language and tone is, usually, very despondent. The fact that you jump on anyone that suggests your tone is such merely underscores this fact. You never addressed any of my points, but seized on the last sentence. Relax dude.
ReplyDeleteWith Lovren in, 2 solid full backs are needed at a bare minimum. Last season Chelsea did not win the league, purely due to lack of a quality striker, and Liverpool didn't win it because of the lack of a solid defense. This year Chelsea, Arsenal have done really well in the market, they usually do. Man United will add quality and there will be that Van Gaal factor. Man City will still be the team to beat. Even Everton will fight harder with Ross Barley and Lukaku up front. So how do we win? First, we trust BR to get the players he wants. After these 2 full backs, I am sure he will buy that marquee striker. Then let him employ his different formations. Pace, tikitaka, counter attacking football, solid defense...Our target should be the League Title at a bare minimum so as to give a fitting farewell to Stevie who will play his last season this year.
ReplyDeleteWOW did Jamie really just include Jon Flanagan on the pedestrian player list? I agree with the rest but please do think before criticising certain players. Flanagan was arguably the best young full back to burst rank in the premier league last season. To the point that cafu himself praised his performances and he was even selected in the preliminary England squad. Jamie often has valid points but sometimes it's hard to believe that he's actually a Liverpool fan. Then again he probably knows more about fullbacks then Cafu.....ahem....
ReplyDeleteOK....how many of us had a good feeling about the start of last season in advance?...Suarez was suspended and we had players like Henderson, Sterling and Coutinho who the jury was still out on, and Flanagan wasn't likely on the radar of most fans as a first team regular.
ReplyDeleteWe now can essentually start the coming season with the same 11 who did well in the squad, only this time having more confidence in the ability of those players to perform and know the system and way we wany to play, with the added bonus of better players like Lovren, Markovic, Can and Lambert available to improve the team and offer impact in key areas. It isn't like Rogers has just dismantled the core of the team with the addition of players, albeit Suarez is going to be a huge void to fill.....but then as I said, we didn't have him until I think October last season and did ok. It isn't like we didn't try to get Sanchez...we did, but he chose to go elsewhere and there just aren't many players around with those qualities and we'll need to play to the strengths of the players we do have and can get.
I don't have a problem at all with Liverpool bringing in 7 or 8 players of good (who just could turn out to be great) quality to give us a squad with real depth to hopefully allow us to put out a consistently good quality side across all competitions and deal with the inevitable injuries that will arise.
Yes, it will need some managing and integrating, but look at Man City, Chelsea, Arsenal and Man Utd....they have have healthy competition and a number of options at most positions with a core of probably 6 or 7 players who start most games. The squad have to buy in to the concept it is a squad game and that not everyone will be necessarilly start every game...that is what the big successful clubs do.
I'd be surprised if anyone would argue that we don't need to strengthen and generate some healthy competition at full back, and my understanding is that both Moreno and Manquilo are young players with great ability who may turn out to be what we need. Moreno was voted player of the year I believe has been in the Spanish national squad and was pert of a team that won in Europe last season. Manquilo has been part of a squad at Athletico with one of the very best defences in Europe. As with any transfers, there may be a risk they won't deliver but in the case of Manquilo, the less proven of the two, its a loan with an option to buy whereas Moreno is a more proven performer so hopefully less risky. Admittedly, I'd like us to go for Richards from Man City and that may still be an option.
Personally, I like the signings in principle with the caveat that ANY signing may prove a bad one...we need to find another top quality striker and that is the other major priority and Rogers has said as much...I'd personally like that to be either Bony or Lacazette from what I believe are the targets we could actually secure....and that is assuming Reus just isn't really likely to join us (though I'd love him to). Rogers has also pointed out that there is also the possibility of bringing in the right player in January if that us when they are available.
I'm more positive about the coming season...there does appear to be a strategy to what we are doing and how we are looking to build. It will be difficult as other teams will be better but a combination of last year's players continuing to improve plus at least some of the new signings really delivering and the likes of up and coming players like Ibe contributing means I'm hopeful and less pessimistic in outlook than Jamie.
If we can get Maquillo, it will very good replacement for Johnson! Apart from having good stamina and speed, Johnson doesn't provide that right-back should have! He can't dribbled, can't provide a decent cross, can't shoot, giving away plenty of short passing, and worst of all poor basic defending!
ReplyDeleteSad but true! I also share the same sentiment about the new season!
ReplyDeleteB R - Do not allow llori to go on loan to Dortmund thus help Mance get Hammels unless they let us have Reus =NEVER HELP UNITED -CAUSE THEY NEVER HELP US
ReplyDeleteflagan is anything but pedestrian!!!! and he truely is reliable, if he improves this season on last, he will be world class sooner rather than later.
ReplyDeleteconsidering lovern, lallana and lambert are from the same team, they should fit in easily, southhampton was liverpool with less goals conceded and scored, can showed when he came on against city that he is quality enough to fit in. Spurs last season signed players from different leagues who really didnt fit into on system, whereas Liverpool are signing players that resemble the team ethic but of a slightly higher quality.
ReplyDeleteMoreno has had 2 season of first team football and Manquillo is young and untested but both have what we desperately need which is PACE!
ReplyDeleteRodgers will sign more players than what he had mentioned at the start of the transfer window and it will not be easy integrating all these players but think our situation compared to Spurs is different as our squad of last season was already a very good one even without Suarez and all we need is depth whereas AVB tried to make wholesale changes and it backfired.
I have constructive criticism of your Comment last year Liverpool only beat Melbourne Victory 1-0 Suarez could not be bothered to wave to 95000 people . People walked away saying top 6 if lucky . We finished 2nd ..To your point which could be true We still need 4 major signings left right back box to box strong dominating midfielder And proven striker .
ReplyDeletePositive as usual then, your glass must be a 3 quarters empty.
ReplyDeleteWhat utter rubbish how is it the same old defence? We have signed Lovren that was one of the stand out CB's in the premier league last year, the two full backs mentioned in the article are concrete targets, they will be wrapped up quickly.
ReplyDeleteSakho once fit and a run of games will show his quality.
The difference is AVB ousted alot of players that had performed well for spurs the year before. He brought in new faces and decided they would come straight in. He also didnt have the leagues second top goal scorer all ready in the team once Bale left.
ReplyDeleteI suppose if [small man with a big mouth] Iago Aspas has his way, Liverpool will be signing neither of these players.
ReplyDeleteNot sure how you can possibly know the finer details of our transfer business. Seems like a load of old tosh to me.
ReplyDeleteTo describe Flanagan as "increasing pedestrian" is ridiculously insulting. Flanno is the leagues most improved full back in the last year, by a long shot. And he's only gonna get better. He only played half of last season and still made the most completed tackles in the league (or close enough)
ReplyDeleteSpot on jamie.Still lots of fans needs to understand that our performance needs to increase in order to compete in highest level specially without suarez who has brought some goals ,assists and vital passes from nowhere so we are gonna miss that intelligence on the pitch so performance wise we have to be spot on.yaah we have scored two lovely goals but our performance overall was average when compared to city pre season wise.i'm shouting for the improvement.
ReplyDeleteshouting to get rid of this garbage glen johnshon.
ReplyDeleteIf you ask me I do not see the problem. If you check first squad, the only one left is Suarez. So Basicly the main squad is the same. And this squad will carry all the weight. Of course there will be people saing we are without Suarez. It's true. That's why Lambert and Lallana were brought. To fill this hole. And of course Sturridge is expected to step up.
ReplyDeleteOn the oher hand we can learn last season when Suarez was missing, Sturridge filled his absence very well. So we can expect the same thing this year. And we can expect Sturridge to be top striker next season. Then there are Marković and Origi who will have their chances.
Ones again I say squad is the same expect for Suarez and this squad is now strengthen with 7 new players. Of course we must understand this 7 players will not jump straight in the first team. They will be included slowly and in a smart way. One by one. And there will be a lot of competition next year, a lot of matches and big squad will be needed.
I have a different opinion to you. Get over it.
ReplyDeleteSent from Samsung Mobile
Some real mature arguing there :P
ReplyDeleteThere's nothing like some good old 'reasoned, adult discussion'.
ReplyDeleteParry DID sign Keane, FACT!
ReplyDeleteWow, what a mature response to a perfectly reasonable comment
ReplyDeletethe problem is that the system rogers players coupled with a slow midfield means the full backs have to be both fit and fast and i mean rapid fast
ReplyDeleteThe likes of Lallana(26), Lambert(32), Markovic(20) and Can(21) were going to be brought to club this summer whether we sold or kept L Suarez(27) as B Rodgers was told he would get £60-£70M for achieving Champions league football.
ReplyDeleteBut B Rodgers needs to ship out these players and bring in £35-£45M on Sales:
GK: B Jones and P Reina could bring in £5-£6M
If we don't bring in another 20 plus goal scorer then we will struggle to score many goals when Sturridge gets injured / suspended/ or just out of form. Let's hope our defence improves drastically with the new signings and lets hope we can bring in another prolific goal scorer to help replace Saurez. I hope it's not Lavezzi
ReplyDeleteAgree re Lavezzi - overrated.
ReplyDeleteIs it shedload, shed-load or shed load ?
ReplyDeleteIt's not like they've sat on their backsides either is it? It's not possible to sign 7 players within a week. People seem to think that it's "simply" a matter of calling a club, saying I give you a lot of money and poof there's a transfer. There a lot of legal things to take care of, for one, and those take time. The way I see it, we made a signing nearly every week on average and they've all been for the positions they needed to be for. I still think we need to strengthen midfield and bring in a leftback but the story above suggests we're doing the latter and there is still a full month of the transfer window left.
ReplyDeleteDid you see my email about plagiarism?
ReplyDeleteI agree with most of what you have said Jaimie. I recall a few years back some football commentator said it takes a team, that has undergone significant team changes, about 12 to 18 months to properly adjust and understand the way other team members play. I am sure BR will be mindful of this but its a price we may have to pay for failing to spread the new signings over the past two seasons, what we bought over the past couple of seasons has largely been rubbish, hopefully this time will be different.
ReplyDeleteI think we will finish in the top seven (but not top four) but I would be extremely interested to hear what other Red supporters think once the Transfer window closes .....Jaimie, maybe you might consider a survey amongst readers in a few weeks time.
City's C-squad shredded two of our first choice FBs. At this point, I don't mind rolling the dice on two new recruits.
ReplyDeletethe Liverpool starting line up for their opening game in the prem will be different and a lot better. This was not Pools best team.
ReplyDeletedon't you know optimism is not welcome here? go play outside, Pollyanna ;)
ReplyDeletegood point here as alll the city players are more than able. For example Jovetic if given the chance to prove himself I feel could go on to be their best player.
ReplyDeleteThere are no concerns here, we nearly have a starting 11 anyway and only 2 or 3 of the signings will have to adapt from the off. The others will be eased in... I can't stand negative comments and 'what if's'... just see what happens
ReplyDeletetotally agree. Enrique when fit is a very good player. underrated.
ReplyDeleteShaqiri and Reus ! why not add Pogba foer the middle of the park.
ReplyDeleteNavas is on the C squad?
ReplyDeleteYour default position is always pretty glass half full Jamie. Come on! It's the new season - new opportunities, new sense of hope, new beginnings...., and all that!
ReplyDeleteim kind of optimistic about our transfer strategy. even if we fail / struggle for top 4 this year. this is a healthy transfer strategy, aslong as we stop buying british talent on premium. though i loved watching lallana last season in Saints, and was hoping we would sign him. we paid too much, but he is a terriffic player.
ReplyDeletewe have one eye in future and we arent simply building for coming season, we are building for next 5-10 years.
and concidering the 2 spaniards coming in Manquillo cannot be worse player than Johnsson in his current form and "cant be arsed" attitude.
and if Moreno flops, we have Enrique as a backup, and i do not concider him to be a bad player. he is hellovalot better defender than johnson, quick enough and strong as bull. useless going forward though.
Surprised that there hasn't been a strong link to Rodriguez - need is there, money is there, and he's arguably been the best LB in the past year.
ReplyDeleteFor RB - Seamus Coleman or Kieran Trippier from Burnley ( 2 goals, 14 assists in Championship) could be alright.
Enrique got 2 assists in 6 games he played last year.
ReplyDeleteHe also got 2 goals, 4 assists and made 22 key passes in 12/13. I thought he was really growing in to Rodgers style of play before his injury issues.
i dont really understand the whole spurs comparison thing. they lost their best player, signed a bunch of new ones and only finished 3 points worse off than they did when they had bale. if we did "do a spurs" then it wouldnt be the end of the world, we'd still finish in the top 4 pretty comfortably!
ReplyDeleteEvery transfer target is too expensive or unproven and too young to Jamie K. It's like Jamie knows some secret pool of cheap uber-excellent 25 year old talent each with international and European experience. Real world, Jamie. Real world.
ReplyDeleteVillainous little wretch needs to work on his crosses and overall footballing abilities, and stop blaming Liverpool for the fact he is sh!te. To quote Bill Murray in Groundhog Day, "I don't see any way out of it. He's got to be stopped. And I have to stop him".
ReplyDeletealso, didnt know marko had was injuured, i was wondering where he was against city!
ReplyDeleteVery dubious about BOTH of these signings.
ReplyDeleteOne is very, very expensive.
The other is virtually untried, potentially he could fail and simultaneously spoil Flanno's progress.
I'd have liked us to go for more experience: the Chilean Mauricio Isla or the Ivory Coast's Serge Aurier at right back, and at Left Back, I'd have gone for Portugal's Fabio Coentrao (who is behind Marcello at Madrid)/Holland's Daley Blind/ Switzerland's Ricardo Rodriguez ..
they are also both short (5ft 7 and 5ft 9)
ReplyDeleteFor some reason I see things happening totally the other way round. Everybody will be expecting that ironic outcome and especially because of that, I see us hammering them.
ReplyDelete4-0 minimum, mark my words ;)
Moreno cant defend and Sevilla fans are very keen to sell him because they believe he isnt much of a player
ReplyDeleteIts a weird one that we'd sign Manquillo on a 2 year loan with an option to buy. I can see the logic to an extent, but I would have thought that buying him now and sending him out on loan somewhere where he'd be guaranteed playing time would be far better for his development than coming to Anfield and playing 3rd fiddle to Johnson and Flanagan (and possibly even 4th fiddle to Kelly - if he gets is promised playing time on the right rather than in the centre).
ReplyDeleteAnyway, at least we're being proactive and bringing in players that have been targeted by the club. I'm still hoping for Reus or Shaqiri to replace some of Suarez's creativity, but there's still time... YNWA
5'9" short?
ReplyDeletehell be at home then with our defenders
ReplyDeleteI read an article on Bleacher Report where the writer compared Manquillo to Carvajal and pointed that Carvajal was more inexperienced than Manquillo when Bayer signed him and he turned out amazing. Some times you need to take risks. He turns out well, we sign him for just 6 mil and if it does not, we can do a Sahin and give him back.
ReplyDeleteIf true, Johnson will have some decent company.
ReplyDeleteJaimie truth is his own truth but it doesn't make it true
ReplyDeleteIt's particularly tough that we didn't sign him a few years ago when he was a bit more affordable, he'd be perfect for us now.
ReplyDeleteHope you are right.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I fear if he does well, knowing Ayre, we will get fleeced/gazumped.
Its not Manquillo i am worried about. Its Moreno. Even his scoutnation video didnt had a single defensive tackle and we are about to pay 20m for him? very poor transfer committee at Liverpool..very poor
ReplyDeletea prerequisite of all our transfers is that we get fleeced its written in the small print
ReplyDeleteYeah. I am here with you. Last week was supposed t be the time when Liverpool show an astuteness in the market by selling Borini and Assaidi for 21 mil and signing Remy for 8. But, as usual, nothing happened. This is too good to be true. There must be some hidden clause somewhere.
ReplyDeleteGood LB's are a rare breed in today's world. The three most complete left backs are Alaba, Luis and Rodriguez. We are not looking to get any of them. I like Moreno more than Shaw, Kolarov and Gibbs. That puts us ahead of all of them in that department.
ReplyDeleteHow do u figured out Moreno is better than those 3? I have seen him pay and he is better than none of them
ReplyDeleteI've seen Gibbs play and he is not that good. Shaw is the most overrated player in today's world and Kolarov is just like Moreno where he just attacks. I have seen Moreno in a few games for Sevilla and in the U-21 WC and he looks good to me.
ReplyDeleteWell fingers crossed lets hope you are right and i am proved wrong
ReplyDeletefor a footballer, i think so. owen was considered short and he was 5'8-5'9. i wish it wasn't though, i'm 5'9!
ReplyDeleteSpot on. We were dealt 4 aces and promptly folded ..
ReplyDeleteIf we sign Lavezzi for reported 18mn, I will never trust BR again.
ReplyDeletefull or empty?
ReplyDeleteSo in effect we spend 125mn to nearly have same starting 11 as last season?
ReplyDeleteWe are not going to blow that much on a player approaching 30. Add to that his wages then one can figure out that FSG would not sanction a deal like this.
ReplyDeleteI am not too worried about the age or money, its the player himself. He is not worthy enough. I don't mind blowing money and wages for 29-30 year old Yaya Toure.
ReplyDelete'It's Showtime, Iago.' *Bob Loblaw drives off cliff with a screaming Aspas*
ReplyDeletePeople said the same thing when we signed Sturridge and Coutinho...
ReplyDeleteWay to attack the argument there
ReplyDeleteYour a cock.
ReplyDeleteYaya Toure also would cost a pretty penny and is probably City's highest paid player. My point is that FSG would not allow such a deal for a player approaching 30 or already into his 30's no matter how much the manager would approve of such a player.
ReplyDeleteif hummels is available fr such a cheap rate ..why arent we goin fr him..it seems if we loan out ilori to dortmund ..man utd wud sign hummels..might as well sign him and loan ilori to them..and sell one of our aged walls of defense
ReplyDeleteNot levy Baldini.
ReplyDeleteIrrespective of FSG approval or disapproval, it says lot about manager's transfer/players judgement. So if BR is really interested, he loses my respect and if he is still interested after the quoted price, he will never get the respect back. I just hope its a normal paper hogwash.
ReplyDeleteWhat a load of bull. Its this kind of paranoid assessment that makes issues greater than they apprear. Pre season prep is always a mixed bag with injuries and new players. The support will be put in at the right time and all us liverpool supporters need to keep lifting our team and ignore this paranoia.
ReplyDeleteHe has a different opinion to YOU. Get over it.
ReplyDeletesurprisingly good stats, all i saw was cruyff turn and pas backwards
ReplyDeleteVery surprised if we are even considering this move, let alone put in an offer. Like you said, over-loaded in central defence as it is and honestly wouldn't see him as an upgrade to any of our potential starters or even back-ups.
ReplyDeleteI think this is an agent/media story.
If we do that we need shooting. Loan them Illori IF they sell us Reus. Or Hummels. He's getting on but by then Illori will be ready
ReplyDeleteWe do not know whether Rodgers is interested in Lavezzi. Right now it is all media hype.
ReplyDeleteApparently that remark does not apply universally..
ReplyDeleteSeeing that my comment was removed, if we were really after Lavezzi then someone like Ben Smith, James Pearce or Tony Barrett would have been all over this story who have made all our targets and signings public first most of the time.
ReplyDeleteMy comment was removed even though it was word for word the same as JK's only directed at him not the poster. Hmmm
ReplyDeleteJames pearce and Tony Barrat are left out of some loops if we want to keep something quiet.
But still, FSG would have made it well known that we are not going to blow a sh!te load of cash on a player irrespective of who it may be.
ReplyDeleteWe have not signed any players approaching 30 or over for a huge amount of cash undder FSG and cannot see that changing so why would Rodgers want to rebel against their wishes when he will not get his way unless he will get the player for 'free' i.e Toure.
Skrtel, Ilori, Agger, Sakho, Kelly, Coates, Lovren, Toure all CB's.
ReplyDeleteUnless we move on some CB's then I honestly do not see us signing anymore.
have to hate the orwellian nature of cencorship on the site sometimes
ReplyDeleteKelly Robo are going to be moved on! Hopeful we keep Coates he has improved. Ilori might be going to BVB if 'reports' are to be true. Personally I think it's time Captain Fantastic is moved from that holding position. I think he needs to play 30 minutes at his preferred position which will allow him to bomb foward. I am sorry but his legs are gone and he is making too many mistakes. Personally I think it's time and I think he knows it. What y'all think??
ReplyDeleteJust don't hold your breath
ReplyDeleteI think you're overreacting to THAT mistake. Take that one moment out of Gerrard's season and you wouldn't be saying bad things as we would have won the League partially due to his cool head and general play
ReplyDeleteI would replace Vermaelen with Sakho and that team still works. Coates needs to continue to improve, if he does we could keep him, if not then we still need a !st team contender esp if Agger goes
ReplyDeleteI agree. Even in the City match there were times when he brought the ball out of defence, shifted his weight from one side to the other and the middle of the pitch opened up for him to come forward or to splay passes around.
ReplyDeleteI think talk of his demise is premature
Was there not a very similar article to this last week? This is paper talk IMO. No way we're away to buy another left sided defender, especially one who's past his best and always injured
ReplyDeleteNo way will be sign this guy, not an improvement on anything we've got and is too injury prone. Don't think BR would even contemplate signing him.
ReplyDeleteIt's ridiculously premature. A couple of mistakes has led to a total knee-jerk reaction by fans who don't really understand the system we play and why Gerrard is still such a vital part of it
ReplyDeleteAgreed, all this talk of dropping Stevie is ridiculous. He got 13 goals and 13 assists last season. He still has plenty of miles left in those legs.
ReplyDeleteJk called scouse cafu pedestrian. Super harsh IMO, jk entitled his opinion, but if others see it as harsh, backing up the claim helps.
ReplyDeletePedestrian lool
ReplyDelete'Scouse Cafu'? What a joke. What else is Cafu supposed to say when he's besieged on twitter by rabid LFC fans?
ReplyDeleteIMO scouse cafu is not pedestrian
ReplyDeleteA clean sheet?
ReplyDeleteHe obviously is not cafu, but due to his hearty performances he affectionately was compared to the best full back ever imo and others. I think to say pedestrian kinda undermines his qualities which are still in development, he isn't super quick but he is no slouch over a short distance and has bags of stamina, I do respect ur opinion but its harsh I think. The 2 Spanish kids tho is a risk didn't we do this last season with aspas and the other guy Alberto. Lesson to be learned for sure.
ReplyDeleteWouldn't replace Sakho just yet, since he's come in the Beneteke's of this world can't bully us. If he can get a run of games and some confidence, would give him another chance.
ReplyDeleteEven Skrtel seem more physical next to Sakho, as a pose too when he's next to Agger, they get fingered like a bunch of wet Pu$$ies.
That's fair enough. I can see why people rate Flanagan; I'm just not one of them.
ReplyDeleteSent from Samsung Mobile
They will not have to be integrated all at once, the fact these players have been signed is due to the demand of more games next season. Most of the squad will still be intact until Rodgers feels the newbies are ready for Premiership or champions league action. Again, all the new signings will not be in the starting line-up together at first.
ReplyDeleteSorry haven't read comments (will in a min) but have to say these "all about the fitness" friendlies have shown one thing- god we are going to miss Suarez. No, out ball, no spark of imagination and creativity, 30 odd goals and endless assists, wonderful passes, chaos in the opposition box, who is going to score when lying on the ground or from the half way line, nobody that's who! Raheem and Coutinho can't do it all, let's hope Markovic get's a game and goes some way to adding some flare.
ReplyDeleteNow do you guys realized that you are all talking about what he DID?! Let's be honest the man is total Class, however we are moving forward and yes he does great things for the team but when will he do it constantly? Also, we are bringing in players and those players are been played out of position because the team has to accommodate StevenG. Can plays well when SG was subbed and I guess Roma Can did not played well the same with Joe Allen. Hendo had to adopt to new position. I am saying let's move him forward were he can play his favorite position with less minutes so he does not burn out! What y'all think?
ReplyDeleteCorrection please I meant to say " will he do it constantly" not "when will he do it constantly". Thanks!
ReplyDeleteWhy would he go to liver pool ? M u or barca if they want him m u because of manager unusual guy
ReplyDeleteHe did it 'constantly' or consistently last season, he scored or created 26 goals despite playing defensive midfield, he's our captain and the man who the rest of the team look to for inspiration, he's our playmaker whose capable of launching attacks from the edge of our area, he wins his headers, he organises the rest of the team, he hands out bollockings when somebody is not pulling his weight and finally he is one of the greatest players to ever play for Liverpool and is still among one of the best players in the league. To talk of dropping him just because he slipped in one game is unbelievable.
ReplyDeleteGerrard is very far from being dropped, but to be fair, 11 of his goals last season were penalties.
ReplyDeleteTrue, but he's still got to hold his nerve and slot them in.
ReplyDeleteI think Raheem and Coutinho just might do it. Certainly Raheem changed the Man City game when he came on
ReplyDeleteIt's lots
ReplyDeleteI object to the rabid bit
ReplyDeleteOnes again you are talking about what he has done. And those makes him great. LFC have spent money to move forward. We have been ridding on his shoulders for years maybe it's time he starts ridding on others. By that i mean it's time for others to take responsibilities. When he is around everybody want him to make things happen and when it does not we do really bad i.e. Hull City 3 LFC 1. It's not his fault he is allowed to have bad days but when he does nobody steps up. Let's be honest when he is not playing we still play well. Gone are the days when we will be dreading in his absents!
ReplyDeleteSorry, it's a typo - should've been 'rapid LFC fans'. The speed with which they tweeted Cafu was something to behold...
ReplyDeleteVermaelen is worse than Sakho
ReplyDeleteIt's what he did TWO MONTHS AGO, every player is judged on what they did previously not on what they might do in the future. Because he was one of our best players last season that means he will be one of the first names on the team sheet this season. If his form drops then and only then will the possibility of him being replaced happen, not because he slips in one game. The Hull City game everyone was poor including Suarez, don't see how you can blame Gerrard for that one. I can't believe I'm having this conversation with a Liverpool fan after the season he and Liverpool have just had. Gerrard scored 13 goals, he assisted 13 more. He was fantastic and showed no signs of his legs going. Unbelievable.
ReplyDeleteHow about Sterling for Flanagan and Markovic behind Sturridge
ReplyDeleteVermahlen was good and probably still is but the injury history is a H uGE negative. I would give Ilori a shot as the fifth CB . He is either a keeper or not and with the expanded schedule keep him with the big club. Sadly, I don't think Kelly will make it at right back and won't convert to CB so why not give TI a shot?
ReplyDeleteYou are correct. It should be sadly obvious to all, even Stevie himself. Headed for MLS next year for that very fact.....
ReplyDeleteWhat an interesting formation you've suggested. An attacking 3-5-2 eh? Who would have thought of something quite so brilliant?
ReplyDeleteYour flippancy is pointless. I made it clear in the article that Rodgers had utilised 352 in the past.
ReplyDeleteSent from Samsung Mobile
How many of those goals were from penalties?
ReplyDeleteLeast of all a guy with a legacy of injuries......
ReplyDeleteAgreed. Gerrard's legs are gone. Let him play fewer games and let Can play his position
ReplyDeleteCoutinho still doesnt seem to have improved his decision making and shooting. BR seems to be seeing if he can play the Suarez role but I dont think he is our best option to do that. I think Lallana may nick his starting role.
ReplyDeleteBR get #Benteke 15M Rues 25m+1year ilori loan Diame #manquillo #alberto moreno done it about 60m or 65m and we have 5 good players herE
ReplyDeleteour squad we be like this if we get this players
mignolet#Raina
Sakho Skrtel Lovren Coates toure
jonhson flano enrique moreno manguillo
Gerrard Can Hendo Allen Diame Lucas
Coutinho markovic Starling Lallana Rues Suso
Sturridge Benteke lambert
AND SELL
Agger borini asaidi
and loan most of the young lads
becouse we have 27 good players at first team that will be enef to play all the comtitio we are IN
COZ we want trophy this year and we tired of this young lads playing in the capital one cup and the FA CUP becouse if we dont win the league and chamions league we must win the FA cup or we fucktup
You are a LFC fan who is not looking at the facts. and you are not reading what I said right. I did not blame him for that lose. I said when he was not playing well everybody else followed sute. Who is the player who is going to step up when Captain Fantastic is not so fantastic. Who isthe player SG going to rest his tired legs on???
ReplyDeleteSorry I cannot accept that and have noticed a definite negative vibe on the site - especially against dogs.
ReplyDeleteConstant references to biting, growling, barking and now rabies. Any further comments and I'll send the "boy" round..
I thought he was incredibly underrated for us last year in spite of the amount of praise he received.
ReplyDeleteHe was just solid all over the place. He's not going to offer the offensive pressure that Glen does, but I was still pleasantly surprised to see how well he did get up and down the flank. His tackling was superb often and he would occasionally throw in a rough tackle to let the opposition know he's there.
In my eyes, he's the future at right back for the club. We should really be selling Glen since he's got a year on his contract.
Moreno on the left and Flanagan on the right could be a nice pairing for a lengthy period. And having Enrique as a backup is a nice option too.
Now we just need to figure out the center back puzzle... and with that one, I don't really even know where to start.