7 Aug 2014

It's Over: LFC 'legend' quits Anfield to play second-fiddle to £40m star. No ambition, or a matter of pride?

It's been clear for a while now that Pepe Reina is a dead man walking at Liverpool, and it seems that the Spaniard's Anfield torment is finally set to end this week.

According to Italian newspaper reports this week:

* Reina has agreed to sign for Bayern Munich in a €2m deal.

* The deal was 'closed' on Tuesday.

Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has also confirmed the deal. On Tuesday evening, he told the club's website:

"Pepe Reina really wanted to join Bayern München. He had other offers, but he wanted this adventure even though he knows there will be a No1 in front of him in Manuel Neuer who, provided nothing untoward happens, will always stay the No1."

This is certainly great news for Liverpool as it means Reina's £100k a week wages will finally be off the wage bill.

The attraction of Bayern Munich is obvious, but as Rummenigge states, Reina faces endless bench duty playing second-fiddle to £40m-rated Manuel Neuer, which means he is rarely going to play in the Bundesliga, or the Champions League.

He's used to that, though. Reina - recently described by Brendan Rodgers as a 'legend' - is the perpetual nearly-man at international level, so perhaps he's just resigned to being a second-string 'keeper for the rest of his career.

On the other hand, it's more likely that it's about money; given his apparent unwillingness to compromise on his massive wages, perhaps Reina is just following the cash; why else would he basically choose to endlessly sit on the bench?

Either way, it's a massive waste of talent. Reina is in his prime right now, and he should be playing regularly, yet he's specifically chosen to go and be a number two who'll rarely play. To me, it seems like a staggering lack of ambition. Yes, it's Bayern Munich, but sitting on the bench is sitting on the bench, wherever you are.

That said, it could also be a matter of pride. There's no shame in being understudy to the world's best goalkeeper, but Reina probably takes exception to playing second-fiddle to Simon Mignolet, who he may perceive to be an inferior player (which, IMO, he is).

Ultimately, it's a shame that things have ended on a bit of sour note with Liverpool; Reina has probably damaged his legacy a little over the last few years, but he gave the club a few seasons of top-class service, and that shouldn't be forgotten.

Author:


142 comments:

  1. Really big fan of Reina, a bit sad to see him go, but he just wasn't going to play so I can understand him wanting to leave. But what I don't understand is that his opportunities will be even more limited at Bayern...
    I'm sure money does have something to do with it. But at his age, surely he has earnt enough....
    If it were me, I would much rather move somewhere on a bit less money if I knew I could play most games.
    He could quite easily be a No1 keeper for loads of teams. Why wouldn't you want that?

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  2. Agreed. For 4-5 years Reina was one the of best keepers in the planet and he hadn't even reached the natural peak years for keeper.


    I am sad to see him go in this manner, for me Mignolet is an average keeper and he needs to step up big time this season.


    The issue is: If Mignolet does not perform and keeps making silly half hearted attempts and blunders then would BR drop him for Jones who is no better?


    Saving over 100K a week and receiving a £2M fee is very helpful for the club.


    All in all, thank you Reina for the memories.


    Point aside, I really hope we buy a striker and a left back.

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  3. Probably Bayern was the only team willing to match or better his wages.

    Football players live in a bubble financially. He clearly has no ambition to play 1st team.

    He had a better chance to play 1st team here than at Bayern.

    Maybe he accepted being on the bench as he knew he will win some silverware at the end...His trophy cabinet is pretty empty (apart from golden gloves).

    Still... no ambition.

    Just like the players that go to play in U.A.E or China etc... for megabucks when they are still young.



    IMO.

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  4. lets be a club with Class and wish our players Kuyt Reina Agger Suarez nothing but the best players who have served our club well need life time respect.
    football there is no loyalty buy Club or Most players today But Guys who have been great players for us at some point need to be respected .
    YNWA

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  5. HE SAID HE WANTED OUT - RODGERS THEN BOUGHT MINGOLET - HE GOT HIS EYE WIPED WHEN THE BARCELONAS KEEPER CHANGED HIS MIND ABOUT LEAVING - HE THEN BLAMED RODGERS ?. HE HAS MILKED LIVERPOOL SINCE.

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  6. Very strange that Reina wants to go and be no 2 again. He got too comfortable at LFC unchallenged and let his standards drop. But the manner of his leaving, and THAT note to the supporters meant there was very little chance of him playing for us again.
    It's just a shame that he will have little chance to prove how good he could be barring injury, and that makes me think letting him go is the right thing- he should have been pumped up to show himself to be no 1 not content to be no 2 at a big club

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  7. well said

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  8. Agreed he should be at the peak of his powers at the moment but alas he has become a lesser player than the one we bought.

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  9. I understood that Rodgers looked for a different goalkeeper. Reina is a top lad and not at all a bad goalkeeper and he's given us great service BUT he's not a great goalkeeper. I don't recall one match where he really made the difference. The way Schmeichel did or Van der Sar. Even Courtois last minute save against Messi at the world cup made a difference. It kept Belgium in the game if even for another two minutes. So I understood we were looking to improve. What is completely beyond me though is how Rodgers could have thought Mignolet is that step up from Reina. Or how he ever will be. Mignolet is, at best. like for like. I understand Reina's move. It's a matter of beggars can't be choosers and if I were him I'd rather be behind Neuer, possibly the best goalkeeper in the world, at a club with a manager that wants me there than at Anfield where he has been spat out for a replacement that is, again, at best his equal.

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  10. I would also like to pay tribute to Reina's service to us over the years but Reina (IMO) is is the inferior keeper at Anfielfld. Yes Mignoley made a few blunders last season but he was also one of the best keepers, on his line, In the league.

    Reina had a few blunders as well in his last couple of seasons for us and at Napoli last season but still have us a good few years of excellent service. But currently Mignolet is the superior keeper. I hope Reina can go on to do incredible things later on in his career but for now I would like to thank him for all the good memories.

    YNWA Reina

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  11. It is sad that they are so motivated by money. I get it to a degree, but I would want to be actually playing over sitting on the bench but earning a bit more...
    Yea he might get silverware, but will he even get to contribute to it...

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  12. Mignolet conceded more goals in his first season than Reina did in his final season, which many fans deem to be his worst in a red shirt. I don't see how Mignolet is a better 'keeper, but maybe he'll drastically improve this season.

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  13. Fair points.
    I just think if he had lowered his wages, he would have loads of managers that would want him as No1.

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  14. Goals are not down to just the keeper.

    Be interesting if you would find the percentage of shots saved and keeper errors that lead to goals. Balls dealt with from crosses etc.

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  15. According to OPTA, Mignolet made 6 errors that led to goals last season, the highest error rate of any 'keeper in the Premier League.

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  16. ill be honest im glad hes gone, ultimately hes a player who actually thought he was better than he was, his career started well but then petered off.The club may be to blame for handing him a crazy contact , im not one for sentiment with players they dont play for nothing and for the most part cater to there own needs and not the club they play for.

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  17. something wrong in your keyboard?

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  18. Agree. Reina was a good keeper and he played well when he first started but money got the better of him and he kept on making mistakes and blaming others. I too am not one for sentiment and I want the best 11 players playing for Liverpool regardless of their outside personality.

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  19. Something about Reina has infuriated him so much that his keyboard could not handle it.

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  20. greed fuels greed i have actually more respect for ashley cole than reina who has took a pay cut to play football in Italy

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  21. Mignolet needs to grow a pair. Ever time I see him he looks so un confident. He needs to grab that defence by the scruff of the neck and shout orders to them. The should fear him....
    On another note, Jamie what do you think about these Falcao rummers? Apparently we have held talks with him...Makes a lot of sense to me.

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  22. its like teaching a frog latin im not sure the defense in front of him would take any notice any how

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  23. Any text that is in all uppercase can be changed to lowercase by using the shortcut key Shift + F3

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  24. i didnt know that sometimes i type in caps by mistake and cant be bothered to change it

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  25. Come to liverpool-kop for daily tips on how to improve your productivity at work.... I can't talk though I'm dyslexic.. spelling mistakes all over the shop

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  26. thats why i want shut of him all this tribute guff over the guy is sickening ...reina is the classic example of a player who only cares about money.

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  27. True man, but he really needs to do it otherwise it wont matter how many goals we score

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  28. whats Gerrard doing as captain and club icon why isn't he barking orders out to the defenders or is that not in his remit,if he doesn't want to tell Johnson and the other knuckle heads to get in position maybe lovren should be made captain.Rogers should be telling his defenders that if mingo tells you to move you move if he tells you to get near post you do it this happens at Sunday league level so it must be happening at pro level

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  29. me cant be mentioned in the same breath as those utd keepers they where on another level to reina imo

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  30. JK I`m a big fan of Pepe Reina,I wished him all the best at Bayern because at Liverpool Rodgers clearly shown him that he is not wanted.All Rodgers did was to frustrate Reina so that he will leave which was very bad.You will see what will happen in the Champions League.I have come to a conclusion the Rodgers only want to dismantle Banitez/Daglish`s team and build his own team period.Look what ManU is doing,they are doing it slowly but sure,Rodgers wanted to give LVG a hinted which was not taken by our oldest rivals.He is under pressure since he is the one who blocked the appointment LVG.Rodgers should do it right because waiting for 25 yrs gentlemen its not a joke.Lets wait and see.

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  31. its so infuriating. the thing is I would have bought Mignolet too. I hope your right about Lovren, he certainly looks confident

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  32. thanks and good luck to him. but anybody else get the feeling its gonna be a glen Johnson situation all over again with mignolet? he has absolutely no competition now.

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  33. I'm just glad it's dealt with. Something odd is happening when a keeper of his ability can't find a club where he'll be first choice. Wages ... maybe that's it, otherwise it doesn't really matter to us any more. He had some great years here but he's no longer a Liverpool player.

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  34. coady is out too.. i have not seen him play but i kept hearing a lot of good things about him.

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  35. i wonder if this is all about the farewell letter. i think he burned bridges with rodgers on that stunt?


    i hope sign talented young, up and coming goalkeeper to put pressure on Migs.

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  36. im not sure if we have seen the best Mignolet yet. he has played only for 1 season with us. he is 24? right. he shouldnt be at the top of is developement yet.

    he can work at his distribution and coming from the line, the one thing he exels in is shot stopping, which IMO is the most important part trait of a keeper, ability to stop shots.

    Goalkeeper is a bit of a tough position to fill, most of those goalkeepers that are actually better than mignolet, play in top clubs in top leagues as No 1. Hopefully in 2 years Mignolet will be one of those top keepers.

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  37. Reina used to be great shot stopper and his distribution was class. but he seemed to have lost his reactions the last season he played for us. thats about it.

    Van Der Sar and Schmeichel + Olli Kahn are absolute legends. i dont think there will be as good keepers as they were in next 20 years. maybe Neuer...

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  38. Comparing Reina to Mignolet based on statistics will never give you the full picture. There are far too many variables - for instance, our defence was awful last season (missing Carra in a big way) which led to Mignolet being involved more than Reina which obviously heightens the possibility of mistakes and errors. Stats won't tell you that. I really think that the Mignolet - Reina debate will always be one based on impression, memory and maybe even a little bit of bias.

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  39. He's hoping Bayern have the league wrapped up by april again, then maybe he gets the required number of games to qualify him for a Bundes League winners medal.
    Plus he's gettin 100k to warm a bench.

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  40. I have always defended Pepe cos I think he is a very good goalkeeper. I know he apparently indicated a wish tojjoin the club he grew up supporting but as a fan I can relate to that and I suspect the club (BR?) were happy to use that to get rid of him.


    That all said I cannot understand him being willing to play second fiddle at Bayern and perhaps that does indicate an attitude that would rankle with BR

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  41. Arsenal, seriously??!

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  42. Problem is that Dortmund have a habit of digging heels in, as they're relatively comfortable money wise. Remember how they fought and ended up keeping Lewandowski for an extra year.....

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  43. one out of three then

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  44. The major issue with all of the above is that real life doesn't go the way of your wishes.
    For instance it's all well and good saying Borini isn't a top 6 striker, but when Sunderland have withdrawn their offer and the player himself won't agree personal terms then it's a moot point.
    As for Assaidi, if 5m is Stoke's limit, that's their limit, we've lost players because we wouldn't go above our limit, so there's no reason to expect Stoke to go over their limit for our convenience.
    The club has already rejected a bid for Toure and Rodgers wants to keep him (possibly due to his dressing room influence).
    Coates does want a move if we can't guarantee football, but there doesn't appear to be much interest, you can't sell something(or someone) without a buyer.
    Agger-Vermalen, Vermalen is as much of an injury crocked player as Agger, why bother swapping them? Also Vermalen looks set to move to Manchester United. Also I'd rather have Lovren playing than Vermalen.
    Toby Alderwield is a good but not very good defender, who can play at right back but isn't all that comfortable there (like Vertonghen and LB). He's also rarely played in the last year so is unlikely to be at his best.
    Not to mention we have Flannagan Kelly and our young Spainard aside from Johnson to play RB and all are specialist RBs not people who can play RB.
    As for Harry he's said he's not buying Johnson, he's also got other concerns to deal with.


    Hopes and dreams are all well and good, but you need to temper them with reality I'm afraid.

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  45. but we have mid fielders like llana and tino sterling lazer and even hendo who are better offensively but worse defensively its about utilizing the the squad

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  46. Yes, I don't think Ozil would have thought of coming to Liverpool. Sanchez for that matter :-)

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  47. Arsenal rumoured to be a more attractive destination..!? How many more seasons will Wenger be there (which, aside from living in London, has to be a deciding factor)...?! Not many. GET IT DONE, LIVERPOOL!!! Christ, the dilly-dallying of the board to seal these deals is infuriating. We're playing Dortmund soon, make an attractive offer. They want Ilori on loan, done, what about the likes of Ibe as well? He won't have a lot of playing time, but he's a massive talent. He'd do well at counter-attacking Dortmund, offer him to them for a season. Just get it done!

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  48. BR: "Hello, how would you feel about."
    RF: "No"
    BR "But, you haven't
    RF: "No"
    Because that's how transfers happen too....

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  49. How do you know BM is paying him 100K a week? Why would they do that? Maybe he negotiated a lower weekly so he would be a more viable candidate for his next team.

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  50. Spirit of the Shadows1:26 pm, August 07, 2014

    We should get a backup keeper too ( Marshall Maybe ) can't imagine brad Jones playing a cl game in case something goes wrong. We should have gone for Ochoa, everyone knew reina was a gonner.

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  51. Maybe because he could be playing first team football if he had done that.

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  52. I doubt BM would agree to this if they were going to pay him 100K a week to warm the bench. Seems to defy my experience German frugality.

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  53. With all this speculation about strikers i thought Jackson Martinezes name may have come up.

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  54. Spirit of the Shadows1:48 pm, August 07, 2014

    Any light in the falcao rumours?

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  55. Muslera is at Galatasaray. Courtois was at our partner club Genk whilst we dozed off and allowed Chelsea to sign him for 9 million. Courtois who, as it happens, is one or two years younger than Mignolet. Age means nothing, not for a keeper either. Neuer signed for Bayern at the age of 25 and it was obvious then how good he was, same for Van der Sar at Ajax at the time. If you're good enough, you're old enough.

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  56. In my opinion Pepe created this by himself, he burned bridges with Rodgers. BR has said time and again that he wants players who are committed to fight for Liverpool and put the club before themselves. Pepe made it clear that if Barca came calling then he wanted to jump ship so BR went and got another keeper who was hungry and would give his all to the cause. This is also true for Suarez in my opinion, i think that Liverpool would have sold him regardless after returning to the champions league bit would have commanded a better fee if it wasn't for the bite at the world cup.
    Brendan is trying to build a team of players who will win the Title through sheer fight and desire to win for Liverpool, who will sacrifice themselves for the badge. Remember fellow Kopites, its the best "team" that prevails and not the team with the beat players.
    Also100k a week wages off the overall bill is a bonus for us.

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  57. But maybe he prefers to be at a big club. Sure, had he been willing to take a pay cut, the likes of West Ham, Sevilla or Sampdoria would have snapped him up but maybe he feels that, at 31, he still wants to train with the best and work with the best. Us supporter sometimes forget that it's a job for these guys and a job they have to turn up for more than just the 90 or 180 minutes a week when they're playing a game.

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  58. Haha true! "Held talks" can mean anything lol

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  59. mirror reports its off.

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  60. This deal will never happen, LFC create world class footballers we don't buy pre-made ones.

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  61. create world class? lo!

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  62. Just to give a few examples over the last decade or two......Jamie Redknapp(when fit) Sami Hyypia, Xabi Alonso, Fernando Torres, Javier Mascherano, Luis Suarez just to name a few. These players were all brought in as players with high potential and LFC made them into world class footballers. Out of the current crop i think Sterling, Markovic, Sturridge and possibly Ibe can follow down the same route.
    Never forget our very own Steven Gerrard eh? Came from just round the corner. What about Steve Mcmanaman? Michael Owen (in his LFC prime) and Fowler too to add our "home grown" players to the list. Not to forget Carra!
    That is without going a little further back, i could name some real "folklore" legends but i think my point is made. How many "already world class players" have we brought in?

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  63. Well....lets see:


    Madrid and Barca have no need for him.
    I'm pretty sure he said he'd never play for Bayern.
    Utd don't have CL.
    City aren't in the picture for whatever reason.
    PSG aren't in it either.
    Chelsea have too many AM/Wingers.
    Arsenal just got Sanchez and have Ozil, Walcott, Ox, etc.. plus no rumors sooo...
    Dortmund are likely, but he hasn't renewed his contract.
    Juve aren't in it.
    Liverpool: YAY


    For me, the most attractive would be Dortmund, Liverpool, and Atletico Madrid. He would be an undisputed star on any of the teams, and would be working with a team on the rise with one of the greatest young managers (BR, Simione, etc)

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  64. what top talent have united signed this summer? just curious.

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  65. from whoscored.com

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  66. I agree with all you have said apart from the LVG bit. We sign Soto players and that is not making everyone say Rodgers is a pull. As for Herrera a good player yes but not top talent. He was also willing to go there last year under Moyes.

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  67. That is a really good point but why would Reina go then? Unless they were the only ones willing to pay a fee for him and we are paying some of his wages. TBF the whole thing is hard to understand.

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  68. It absolutely makes no sense. Bayern could have anybody in the world to be their backup goalkeeper. Why would they pick a guy who is not preferred at all in a (currently) inferior team and who has such high wages?

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  69. From what I heard he had a decent season at Napoli and his style is very similar to their current keeper. The wages thing though? That is hard. Also I disagree they could get any keeper in the world. No matter who the team is most players don't want to be sitting on the bench.

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  70. Ridiculous mate, your first sentence itself made me laugh.Sturridge and Hendo have been complete dynamites and consistent as ever. Sterling once he was brought back, showed us what we were missing. Lallana and Lovren obviously were consistent enough to earn 20m+ transfers each plus Lallana was in the TOTY. We're losing a great unit in Luis, but your idea that only if we replace him, we'll go back to where we were? We can't even replace him, you idiot, the only players on par to him are Messi & Ronaldo.

    Chelsea have got stronger only because of the arrival of Costa and F.Luis. Don't think Cesc is a major upgrade on either of their midfield. City and United i agree are going to be strong but don't expect Spurs to go above the Europa League spots because their defensive unit still isn't Pochenttino's level.

    Balo is not going to be signed by Brendo, he's got huge wages, he's a lazy brat and although worldly; Brendo prefers a workman in his frontline, and someone with raw pace.

    Reus would be ideal but you sound like those little fucktards on the livpool insta page commenting reus on every pic. He's not going to be worth 25m, his buyout is that much, yet Dortmund still hold the cards and Reus' wages will be astronomical.

    Markovic is an eden hazard-esque gem and we've got him a year earlier than his time because next season there's no way we'd be in the pool for him. Shaqiri wanted to come but Bayern offered him a better contract with the lure of a more prominent role. Firmino is going to be kept by Hoffenheim for a year more so they can get a huge fee for him as well. Lallana and Lovren aren't wordlies and I'm equally scared about us not being title challengers, because by the looks of it we've got a strong bench, but our first 11 is weakened.

    PS: Coutinho on the bench? HAHAHA if you've followed any game in the pre-season, this is his year. Go buy 'Football for Dummies' cause you obviously seem like a plastic fan. And after paying 25m for Lallana, Brendo gonna use him like a rag doll.

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  71. I wish it was various sources mate but alas it is not. Various news outlets are quoting the same source. ONE journo.

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  72. Yes summed it up there James.

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  73. Torres(as many others you've mentioned) was a big fish in a small pond- had he gone to manu, Juve, Milan or Arsenal, the outcome would have been the same. We didn't create him, just used him to his full potentional which is not a small thing, but not the same as creating...

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  74. We will climb up the ladder after this amazing campaign ahead of us, but unfortenatelly you are right.
    And I kinda think that majority of players would still pick us instead of Juve as it is..

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  75. aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!

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  76. Sqwuaka say 7 defensive errors with 5 leading to goals.


    Joe Hart made 5 defensive errors with 4 leading to goals.


    Pepe Reina made 6 defensive errors with 5 leading to goals.


    Bot Reina and Hart played less league minutes than Mignolet so there is a possibility that both Reina and Hart would have had more errors leading to goals.

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  77. My guess is that his next best offer was 35 a week to be a starter and BM offered 70...

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  78. The writing was on the wall. He was not even on the bench for any of the preseason matches. Adios.

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  79. Theycallmemrburt4:59 pm, August 07, 2014

    I think he has gone to work under Guardiola. If Guardiola doesnt leave Barca then I believe Reina would have joined. Now Pep Guardiola wants him at Bayern..........case closed :D

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  80. Where is Reina's ambition though? He has been told he will be warming Bayern's bench. He either has been offered the same wages or got an increase.

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  81. From what I understood at the time, Reina was telling everyone that he was set for Barca when suddenly Valdes decided not to retire.
    Rodgers had already lined up Mignolet (who had just had a fantastic season for Sunderland) and had probably promised the number 1 spot, thinking that Pepe was leaving.
    Things went south with Barca for Pepe and the Napoli move came about and he penned that goodbye letter, which was nice for us fans, but must have p!$$€d Rodgers off.
    It was all a goddam soap opera.
    I said all last season that I hoped Pepe would come back because Simon really could do with some advice and a good example set by a seasoned veteran (and arguably better 'keeper).
    Alas it was not meant to be. I think LFC has come out worse off than they started in this saga. I don't know what went on behind closed doors, and have no idea who to blame.
    The whole thing is a massive shame.

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  82. Torres for Athletico was a player who had shown great potential but had never made the step up. Just like a certain Luis Suarez. Bringing in a player who shows signs of being able to make that step up is no guarantee otherwise this stuff would be easy. My point is Liverpool seem to have a knack for unearthing "diamonds in the dirt" and sanding off their rough edges, helping them to make the step up to world class, that is The Liverpool Way.....not spending multi-millions on another teams ready-made world class player.

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  83. could you write something about Agger
    i have something to say for BR

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  84. Yep as far as I am concerned the jury's still out on Migno and he has to improve drastically this season . We seriously need another class keeper to compete with him or I can see him becoming complacent just like Pep did

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  85. Blame Aspas, why not?

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  86. Mignolet is a keeper, right. Most keepers don't do well in their first matches/ months/season, right? Mignolet did alright in his first season, and if he improves as much as he can- he will be a world class..

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  87. I really like your remarks like this one...

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  88. I have a feeling we might snag Cavani, surely Suarez would would tell him it's a great place to play football, and he could play in his favourite position up through the middle which he's not getting to do at PSG!

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  89. Herrera and it looks like Vidal has agreed personal terms.
    And not that I personally rate him that highly but Shaw. With the way the media made him out to be he could have gone to pretty much any club bar RM BM and Barca.

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  90. I have said it before, I want to see any other keeper having a comfortable season with the back four we had last season.

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  91. Theycallmemrburt5:29 pm, August 07, 2014

    maybe Reina knows he has lost it..... he doesnt really make crucial saves anymore. he's still a good penalty saver with great distribution and positioning but he's so poor in the big games. shocking on his near post and rarely saves unless the ball goes straight at him. It only takes one injury and Reina could be playing a whole season, that might be the way Reina sees things.

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  92. We did so much of chop and change last season and we never had a settled back four or system. We played 3 at the back, 4 at the back. We played Sakho, Skrtel, Agger,Toure,GJ, Flanno, Cissokho and Enrique. This affected Mignolet no doubt. Let him have a settled back four and we will see how he does.

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  93. Back four AND midfield. BR didn't make the whole team 'click', but he did enough and willl do much more in following seasons.

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  94. Good business - another one off the payroll - BUT where O H where is Suarez repacement ?? Sincerely hope Borini joins Sunderland - a work horse with no class

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  95. If you look at it, our defence is the only section which BR has not fully concentrated on.


    Out of all his 18 permanent signings only four have been defenders and all four of those are centre backs. Then there was Cissokho on loan and now Manquillo on loan too.

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  96. Still three weeks left of the window. I can see quite a few more players leaving. We desperately need a LB so hopefully we get the Moreno deal wrapped up and pretty sure another striker will arrive too.

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  97. He brought what he thought he need in cb department- very experienced one and a promissing youngster. Didn't work out so well, but with a year behind them all and Lovren as young and experienced one, plus Skrtel so we are set for top football there. In full back positions I'm thinking that lack of money and real quality on the market got him hanging on what he had plus cheap Sissokho who was a mistake. Now he found young cheap one plus Spanish Luke Shaw if I might compare the two, so with Enique, Flanno and even bloody GJ, we will be ok..

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  98. Just saw Cissokho has signed for Aston Villa. Curious to see how that's going to work out...

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  99. BR's philosophy is attacking football that's why he only by limited amount of defensive player. it's okay if we conceded 3 goals as long as we score 4 or 5..... if this season start now, then we are at the lower mid table, because we don't have the fire power anymore.........

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  100. I guarantee he will score a screamer against us.

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  101. My point is that Rodgers still need to make the defence his. The likes of Skrtel, Agger, Johnson and Enrique will all be gone by the start of next season.

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  102. Sounds about right.

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  103. Skrtel most certanly won't, and I wouldn't write off Enrique just yet..

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  104. You did watch Torres in Atletico? He was a beast..

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  105. I am not trying to count my chickens before they hatch but like Agger, Skrtel will not be keen on warming the bench.

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  106. Three top CB's in one team is not benchwarming for anyone in a long term...

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  107. Skrtel will be 30 in December. I can promise you he ain't going to want to sit on the bench.

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  108. Liverpool youngster Brad Smith has joined Swindon on loan.

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  109. They are in league one right. Good for his development.

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  110. He served his purpose while he was on loan for us but just not good enough.

    All of the best to him.

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  111. Yes, was a big fan and was very pleased when he signed but he had never scored 20 goals a season and struggled to make a major impact on the national side consistently. He was not considered "world class" until Stevie G hooked him up with his crazy goal assisting right foot.

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  112. i agree, i think the writing is on the wall for all those players and a few more as well ,if we have any kind of interest rogers will ship them out he may not say so in public but thats the way its going

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  113. the problem is rogers has spent big on sako and imo will give him the benefit of the doubt ,i think thats one of the reasons he has bought lovren to try and buy him time

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  114. but looking at preseason i think rogers may well give Coates the 3rd choice baton

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  115. Why not just say it mate.

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  116. he may well hit his level at villa but the problem with filling in a problem position at a big club means every aspect of your game is under scrutiny ..

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  117. ill help you a long....daniel agger is a danish player who has played for liverpool ...QUE ALI

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  118. Rodgers has spent big on Lovren too?


    Lovren is 25 now, right footed and Sakho is 24, left footed. Both can speak French. You can see where this is going can you not?

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  119. hes the type of defender who needs other types of defender around him to flourish.Certain defenders can go into any style of back four and look good for me sako is good in the air is strong in the tackle and isnt as bad with his passing as he looks ,but there are aspects to his game which are poor ...one is he defends to deep and stands off players when he should be tight .he says hes a leader but hes not, that for me is where lovren comes in to tell him where to go.it doesn't help that Mingo shows no authority.

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  120. he looks awkward at times thats just a fact

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  121. So does Henderson. Does not make them inept.

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  122. Well...all we know for certain is that was his philosphy last year when he had SAS. This year he doesn't. So perhaps his philosophy changes a bit.

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  123. Great player but with our recent record in failing to securing marquee overseas strikers , I just can't see this happening. Not sure where we are going wrong but would the club be prepared to raise their game and willingness to pay out . When considering the £10 million paid out for Orighi who we won't see until next year and the club's transfer policy is still questionable .

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  124. Sing his name at the weekend when we play Dortmund! Learn the chant in German too lol

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  125. Agreed he's never been near their level

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  126. I thjink you mean Lovern :-)

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  127. At least a rana temporaria would command his penalty area and leap

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  128. because there is alot of things should be said about how BR treated Agger
    Agger shouldnt be treated like that
    making fun of him in public

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  129. Lets not talk about history. Only Suarez and Torres are two world class player we created in last 5 years.

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  130. F Borini(23) is not a top 1- 6 club striker, if Borini played 40 league game for Liverpool he would probably score 8-12 goals a season. That is not good enough playing for our club. Poyet is confident they will get Borini and are waiting at moment. So that could get sorted.
    Assaidi(25) was a huge hit for Stoke last season and he would offer them real class quality out wide now they have shipped out Etherington and pennant. Stoke could pay the extra £1M and will eventually do so
    Agger(29) has and will always be a Liverpool great and is still joint best defender at club, but his injuries hampered his game. But the key attributes Agger is missing Vermalen(29) has: Mobility, pace and speed and is Very good in the Air.
    Agger(29) is more comfortable on the ball than Any centre back in world football, but Vermalen(29) has mobility, pace and speed which would put him in good stead.
    And If B Rodgers put in Swap deal I am sure we would have better chance of getting him than Manchester United as we have Champions League football.
    And Skrtel(29) and Vermalen(29) could and should be our Champions league central Defensive partnership, While Lovren(24) and Sakho(24) would be our premiership defence as Skrtel and Vermalens class quality and experience in Europe would be of huge help.
    J Vertonghen(27) would cost the club £15-£20M and Tottenham will not be selling him to us at all.
    K Toure(33) and S Coates(23) are simply not good enough, Neither is M Kelly(24) or G Johnson(29) and none of the players above should be first team regulars at All.
    Flannagan(21) and Manquillo(23) and should compete for the Right back position now. G Johnson(29) should be allowed to leave for £4-£5M, H Redknapp will snap him up real quick.

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  131. Gilstrap, where is there balance? Most of our central midfielder are better offensively than Defensively. And the players we have who are defensive , do not have the legs or mobility to protect back 4 to a high standard. So we are struggling? We need a Mascherano, Momo Sissoko and Fernando type defensive Enforcer at club.
    Someone who just screens and protects back 4 and reads the game better than most and can start attacks: B Matuidi(27) Of PSG for £16-£20M or J Martinez(26) Of B Munich for £22-£27M
    B Matuidi(27) is currently the best DM in the world at the moment though.

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  132. Ok firstly you haven't addressed any of the points I've made, repeating your original comments doesn't add anything to a debate.
    And secondly Manquillo is 20 not 23.
    Finally like I said there is a disconnect between what you'd like to see and reality. You need to learn how to adjust your projections to factor in real life situations, e.g. Rodgers refusing to sell Toure, or Wenger wanting to sell Vermalen abroad and LFC not being interested in him, or clubs having a limit on the money they have available.

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  133. I realy hopes that before transfer will be closed,LFC can get sign Marco Reus and Mauro Icardi.Ricky Lambert still cannot firing the goal we all expected.....Radamel Falcao,Lavezzi and Cavani will not become bargain signing.Marco Reus and Mauro Icardi young talent who can be marquee signing.

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  134. I think BR knows his 3 cb, and the pecking order- preseason is for Toure, Coates and others, to give him material to decide what to do with them.

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  135. B Rodgers is a comedian if he wants to sell the joint best defender at club and keep players who are too old or not good enough for the club.


    This season B Rodgers has put a rod over his back , if we do not make top 4 this season or do well within Champions league or he does not win a trophy this season he may have be given his P45 Sharp.

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  136. BR is the master of mediocrity as evidenced by his signings of Rickie Lambert who will turn 33 in February and Emre Can. What kind of manager pays £4 million pound for a striker
    who is about to turn 33? A striker’s lifespan is the shortest compared to any other type of player in football; defenders and goalkeepers have a longer lifespan. So, why pay so much for Lambert an ageing striker who at the very
    best has only got one year left in him? The only logical reason is that LFC did not have to pay an astronomical fee for a striker. While they have not paid over the odds in absolute terms they have paid over the odds in relative terms.

    Every time Liverpool make a dud young mediocre signing they dub it as ‘one for the future’ or he has got ‘potential that will need to be developed’ why can’t you say you just made
    a mistake? Emre Can has not shown any evidence that he can hit the ground running.

    BR has absolutely no experience of managing over £100 million worth of transfer budget. He should not have been given this responsibility given his background. His managerial stints were
    very lowly before he came to Liverpool and this shows in his transfer dealings. His mentality is to buy bargain basements in the hope of developing them but this kind of mentality is suited to a mid-table club not a club that is aspiring to be title contenders. Buying Marco Reus requires a big mentality and
    I am afraid BR does not have that kind of mentality.

    LFC had a one off good season last year and managed to get second spot but that is not going to last. You just need to see
    the signings BR has made he has gone down the well trodden path of Gerard Houllier and Benitez. Both of these former managers were abject failures with regard to the Premier League title. Both managed to get second place and then the very next season dropped out of the top four. BR is following the same path but he is going to do it after wasting over 100 million pounds of LFC’s money.

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  137. NEVER sign a player when he is injured.

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  138. im not entirely certain but isnt Genk affiliation only couple of years old partnership? about same time as we made one in Uruguay?

    Courtois has been in chelsea for quite long now, and two years spent loaned to atleti.

    anyhow, it appears our scouting system has only begun to work with relative success in last year and half.

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  139. We already had a deal with Genk in place when they got Courtois. We actually had one before Courtois was even in the first team

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