10 Sept 2014

Emre Can Beware? - BR wants to sign 'unbelievable' €15m midfield star in January

Liverpool are reportedly considering a January move for Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Christoph Kramer, who is also wanted by Manchester United.

According to German newspaper Bild, the LFC were allegedly one of a host of clubs who tried to sign Kramer over the summer, and new reports this week claim that Borussia Moenchengladbach will try and gazump the Reds with a €15m bid during the upcoming January transfer window.

Some info about Kramer:

* 34 apps for Gladbach (on loan from Bayer Leverkusen)

* 7 apps for the German national team.

* Averages 90% passing accuracy.

Joachim Low surprised everyone by including Kramer in his World Cup squad, but the Germany boss insists he will develop into a a great player for the national side. Speaking to reporters recently, he enthused:

"He [Kramer] covers a lot of ground in central midfield, is very confident on the ball and I've had a very positive impression of him."

After Germany's World Cup victory over Argentina, Gladbach boss Lucien Favre also heaped praised on Kramer:

"With Christoph Kramer, we have a Weltmeister in our squad now is unbelievable. It shows you can't plan your career."

Kramer appears to be a strong personality, and when asked about his future recently, he made it clear that he is on control of his own destiny. He noted:

"For me, a contract can say whatever it wants. If I don't want to play somewhere next season, I won't play there. In the end, I will decide where I play. I see myself as a decision maker. I need to enjoy playing football, and nobody can force me to make a certain step"

With Lucas's future still uncertain, a move for Kramer makes sense, but signing the German - or indeed any other defensive-minded midfielder - will surely have an impact on Emre Can's first-team prospects.

Ironically, Can kept Kramer our of the Leverkusen team, so if he ends up at Anfield, there's every possibility that the roles could be reversed.

Author:


61 comments:

  1. Another injury for us, Can this time. It's a shame as he had an amazing game for the U21's.

    ReplyDelete
  2. With Lucas set to leave, Gerrard running out of legs and Alleb sub-standard I think there's more than enough room for both Kramer and Can.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I think Allen has only this season to prove his worth. Any more setbacks like injuries or bad form, he will be out IMO.

    ReplyDelete
  4. IMO he's just not good enough if we have serious ambitions of competing for the top trophies in the game. He is a busy body who works hard and has a top attitude but that can only get you so far. My worry is he is clearly a BR favourite which may mean he stays longer than he truly should, only time will tell.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Nevergonnacrackthecode4:22 pm, September 10, 2014

    no where does it say this?

    ReplyDelete
  6. Sign Kramer he was great in last World Cup til he got flattened

    ReplyDelete
  7. It's not down to his lack of professionalism or being amateurish that he gets injured. He is more susceptible to injuries simply because of his genetic make up. The same way some people are more prone to arthritis, sight loss, diabetes or any number of flaws. Besides nutrition and a training regime (which he undoubtably has tailored to his needs) there is nothing he can do about it.

    We just have to accept it and consider if his contribution on the field out-weighs the inevitable time spent on the treatment table.
    IMO it does.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Statistically, in the last 15 games Martin Skrtel has missed under, Liverpool have kept nine clean sheets via Dan Kennett Anfield Index.



    I am hoping Rodgers gives Lovren and Sakho a run. Moreno's pace is unbelievable and Manquillo is on a different level to Johnson at the moment.

    ReplyDelete
  9. We are massively short in our CM/DM position. DM is a totally different position - a common belief is DM should be someone 6'3"; 200+LB power dynamo. But, two of the best DMs that I have seen are less than 5'10" (Mascharano, Mekelele). I think DM is a totally different breed - extremely disciplined, tenacious for 90 minutes, organized & less ambitious (ready to do the dirty job). At LFC, we don't have even a decent DM - Lucas could have been, but after injury he is just a number, Allen is never a DM material, may be he can be a very good CM for a mid table club, & SG is too indisciplined, to ambitious to be a DM (& he is 34+).


    Not one, actually I would say we need to off-load Lucas & Allen may be a bit difficult with 3/4 English/Home Grown players leaving, "Home Grown" clause might be an issue in future (SG, Lambert, Johnson, Jones 'll leave in 2 years). We need to buy a young DM immediately in Jan, & a veteran (someone into his 30s, experienced & willing to sit on bench) in July. Every successful team is built on solid defense - we need to grind out ugly 1-0 's to win trophies. Offence wins you matches, defense wins you trophies (Or a top 4 finish in EPL Context). Unless we make the bottom 6 (GK, 4 back line & a DM), we have absolutely no chance to catch MU, Arsenal & Plastics - that's out of top 4, afterwards 2015-16.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Lucas and Allen are the ones that should be concerned. After all, Can has reminded us recently of just how versatile he is, and he's only 20!

    ReplyDelete
  11. The first formation you suggested would be perfect I feel. The defense is a tough on though Skrtel has been our most consistent defender of late but Sakho and Lovren got a clean sheet last game? Might be a good idea to keep the back 4 as consistent as possible as changing it so much last season was terrible.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Skrtel was our best defender last season and I do rate him he is just extremely error prone. I feel our back 4 got out first clean sheet in like 11 games or something stupid why change it? We need consistency. I agree Sakho was somewhat shaky in the first half especially but he grew in confidence. Give him and Lovren a run of games and I think they will be perfect. Once communication is sorted and they learn each others games they will be ideal with our two young spanish fullbacks either side.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Allen this, Allen that. Seems like he is going to make certain lives miserable for many years to come...

    ReplyDelete
  14. Saw the highlights. Can has it all. Pace, power and vision. He still needs to prove himself but hell at 20 this guy is like a tank.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Don't know how serious it is though. He went down on his ankle in a challenge, received treatment and played on for the last ten minutes. They were 8-0 up, if it was any way serious he would have just come off. Wouldn't be too concerned.

    ReplyDelete
  16. And he did look very good yesterday. Though how much opposition the Romanian U21s provide is debatable :)

    ReplyDelete
  17. My formation vs Villa is:
    ........................................Mignolet................................
    ....Manquillo...........Lovren.............Sakho...........Moreno
    ........................................Gerrard....................................
    .......................Can..............................Lallana................
    ..............................Coutinho..........Sterling......................
    ........................................Balotelli....................................


    If we are dominating possesion then lallana can move into a more attacking role alongside Coutinho and Sterling can move up to compliment Balotelli. If (somehow) we are playing defensively then Can can move back alongside gerrard and Lallana will move into the middle while Coutinho and Sterling go out wider to hold off their wing backs..... Thooughts??

    ReplyDelete
  18. He's easily been our best central midfielder so far this season though hasn't he?

    ReplyDelete
  19. I say we stick with this...

    ReplyDelete
  20. Are Allen and Henderson injured? Start with them, definitely. And I'd stick Sterling up front because Balotelli would be crap on his own, and Coutinho at the tip of the diamond.

    ReplyDelete
  21. I suggested the same thing. Sterling is our most potent weapon and will destroy any defence. Balotelli just needs to get stuck in. He will score goals for us, there is no doubt about that. Sterling with his pace and Balotelli with his presence should make a very deadly combination.


    Diamond formation all the way.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Pieter Engelbrecht7:00 pm, September 10, 2014

    jamie your selection spells one word PACE and more PACE

    ReplyDelete
  23. Pieter Engelbrecht7:05 pm, September 10, 2014

    ALL WE NEED NOW IS FOR MIGNOLET TO START COMMANDING FROM THE BACK

    ReplyDelete
  24. Emre will get his chance, he looks very promising. Strong as a bull can't believe he's only 20

    ReplyDelete
  25. Yet another non-story on Liverpool-Kop. LFC are linked with new players every day but most people know that it's no more than idle speculation, except this website who insist on making stories out of every rumour. We've just finished this transfer window, it's over three months until the next one. Please be just a little selective in the rumours you choose to perpetuate.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Allen after Henderson is our 2nd best player at pressing. He has a role in our squad but don't think he should be first choice.

    ReplyDelete
  27. It is not about being first choice. It is about doing what is expected of you as a player. If you are asked to go and frustrate the opposition which is what Allen usually does then it is job done.


    Those who expect goals from Allen will keep on waiting. It clearly is not his purpose but if you want a player who is going to hunt and chase the ball then Allen is your man. The midfield diamond of Gerrard, Hendo and Allen vs Spurs demonstrated how dominant our midfield can be. Henderson is not going to score loads of goals either but he is going to run the opposition into the ground.


    Still some fans cannot see how crucial the two CM's playing ahead of Gerrard are? If those two players are out of tune then LFC fall apart. It is that simple.

    ReplyDelete
  28. Im not playing hendo because he jut played 2 full matches for England as well as news of a ankle problem... always a starter for me but I wouldnt risk it. Allen for me is just not good enoguh IMO. Can is stronger and more commanding than Allen and we might need that towards the latter stages, as well as against Villas midfield. And to Loganfc my point is that if we are owning the possesion we just move Sterling up and put Coutinjo at the tip and play with two strikers...

    ReplyDelete
  29. I blame the last Norwich manager, he tried to use the diamond against us

    ReplyDelete
  30. Prepare yourself boy. Jaimie won't like that comment at all.

    ReplyDelete
  31. Because Coutinho wide was so so so effective against Southampton

    ReplyDelete
  32. While Balotelli never played for Italy I would save him for the UCL and start Lambert as a lone striker for the game against Villa


    Sterling Lambert Markovic
    Lallana Allen
    Gerrard
    Moreno Sakho Lovren Manquillo
    Mignolet

    ReplyDelete
  33. Is Allen the new Johnson?? Everybody wants him out but the manager rates him.

    ReplyDelete
  34. Nevergonnacrackthecode9:34 pm, September 10, 2014

    allen has a support base although its less then more
    johnson has none

    ReplyDelete
  35. Nevergonnacrackthecode10:11 pm, September 10, 2014

    liverpool echo say sturridge has a race vs time for everton fixture
    so only miss probably villa and west ham
    time for 45m duo lallana and markovic

    ReplyDelete
  36. How much longer will Gerrard really be regular, planning ahead for an anchor midfielder (with Lucas also likely on his way) is all it is. There'd be a place for both Can and Kramer in a club competing in all competitions.

    On the selection front, is it a bit risky playing both Markovic and Lallana against Villa? We seem to have a lot of these, but it's generally a fixture where form goes out the window.

    Mignolet



    Manquillo Skrtel Lovren Moreno



    Gerrard



    Henderson (if he says he's alright)

    Lallana

    Sterling Coutinho

    Balotelli

    ReplyDelete
  37. Terrible formatting - but you get the gist.

    ReplyDelete
  38. Those who are blind will not understand, to me it shows the level of naivety with which some will view the game.... Let those who have eyes see !!

    ReplyDelete
  39. If you look at the CL winners of the past 20 years, almost all of them have a player like Allen in midfield, a dynamic, energetic player focussed on possession winning and retention, unspectacular but effective. That said, Allen actually is a somewhat spectacular player full of skill if you bother to watch what he does.

    The notion that he's a BR favourite should either:

    (a) make you wonder if you might be completely wrong, because Brendan Rodgers appears to be a very good judge of players.

    (b) make you wonder if it's for the best that he keeps his spot since loyalty is a rare and valuable asset in football

    or (c) make you stop worrying because there is no evidence whatsoever that BR operates a favouritism system, and the accusation is outdated.

    Allen's just a very good midfielder, at this point in the top 10 in the premier league as I see it.

    ReplyDelete
  40. Everyone doesn't want him out.

    ReplyDelete
  41. Who is this "Gerard Henderson" you have central midfield? He looks good ...

    ReplyDelete
  42. When I called never crack the code dude a clown, I was actually starting to believe the comment would stay live...

    ReplyDelete
  43. Why continue to come here? While I happen to agree with you on the number of rumors posted, these are merely discussion starters.

    If you don't like it, don't join in on the discussion.

    ReplyDelete
  44. Or our spanish defender Manquillo Skrtel Lovren Moreno?

    ReplyDelete
  45. I think coutinho will play this one and lallana will be on the bench as will markovic and Allen will play.

    ReplyDelete
  46. Joel Matt Murdock Hwa4:22 am, September 11, 2014

    Don't understand the lone striker talk. We performed the best when we played we two upfront and a diamond midfield formation!

    I'd love to see Balo and Lambert upfront. Lambert must be given more chance to show his qualities. I know he can deliver.

    ReplyDelete
  47. Joel Matt Murdock Hwa4:38 am, September 11, 2014

    There's no reason why both Can and Kramer can't play together! We will lose Lucas and Gerrard in the near future, so a combo of Hendo, Kramer, and Can can set
    us a strong and energetic midfield! We need Allen as backup from the bench.

    Plus, Kramer and Can previously come from the same club, so the adjustment and understanding should come naturally between them.

    It's a brilliant transfer if we manage to pull it through!

    ReplyDelete
  48. Sterling has to play Central . also did you not watch sakho against Spain. He I'm and lovren are the way forward. I'd play:
    Manquillo lovren sakho moreno
    Gerrard allen
    Markovic sterling lallana
    Baollotelli

    coutinho needs a break to rediscover his form.

    ReplyDelete
  49. As everyone has pointed out, we've got spaces opening up in the squad. Gerrard won't last much longer and Lucas seems like he's on the verge of leaving. Liverpool need at least 4 top class central midfielders in the squad so I have no doubt that the club scouts are working very hard to find those next generation players. Kramer will be one name on what I assume is a long list of possible targets.

    ReplyDelete
  50. wow, that's a stretch............

    ReplyDelete
  51. definitely not happening....

    ReplyDelete
  52. sorry to interfere but for me it's his opinion that he (Kenny) has written...for me it's a positive discussion concerning this title...and if you are not happy, please ignore...thank you sir

    ReplyDelete
  53. If you post another pointless comment like this you will be banned. I'm not interested in your view of whether you think the posts here have merit; engage in constructive discussion, or go elsewhere.

    ReplyDelete
  54. Based on the games that he has played this season, think some people are starting to like Allen...maybe he will be next Lucas or Hendo (in terms of like or unlike, where all of them were hated during their first seasons)

    ReplyDelete
  55. Haha yea me too

    ReplyDelete
  56. Spot on. Great comment. Allen is a scapegoat for being one of the first signings in the King Kenny aftermath, so many hate him purely because he symbolises the axing of KK. He was always on a hiding to nothing when BR put his arm around him, declared him the "Welsh Xavi" and gave us a direction to channel our fury about KK's plank-walk in. As you say, watch him closely and his skills are apparent. He was exciting at Swansea and, bar injury-disruptions and associated losses of form, has replicated that form many, many times for LFC. Wish he would get some credit for the good work he does.

    ReplyDelete
  57. Ok then. As your article states, Liverpool were "allegedly one of a host of clubs" interested in Kramer, which doesn't sound very convincing at all. Therefore in response to your original question, I don't think Emre Can will be losing any sleep over this situation.

    ReplyDelete
  58. If other big clubs cannot afford Khedira's wages, Liverpool certainly can't.

    ReplyDelete
  59. I don't hate Allen at all that is way wide of the mark. For me if he is happy to be a squad player then I would be more than happy to keep him on but I just don't ever see him commanding a nailed on spot in the first 11. I also think to accuse Allen of being a scapegoat is very much clutching at straws. Some fans may see him as thus but I don't. He just doesn't do it for me, everyone's entitled to their own opinions but lets be honest how many top teams would Allen be playing for...I can't think of one if I'm honest.

    ReplyDelete
  60. Hmmmmm I think I would give Hendo the nod over Allen but I see what your saying. Perhaps that has more to do with our CM options at the moment which other than Mignolet is probably our weakest position at the mo IMO.

    ReplyDelete