Same sh*t, different season. Despite spending almost £60m on defenders over the last year, Liverpool are still shipping goals at a concerning rate, and new reports suggest that Reds boss Brendan Rodgers is planning to splash the cash yet again in a bid to solve the club's defensive problems.
According to reports this week:
* West Ham defender Winston Reid is 'confident' of joining Liverpool.
* He allegedly has his 'heart set' on a move to Anfield.
* Reid has rejected offers from Arsenal and Man United because he wants to join LFC.
* West Ham are willing to sell for £15m.
Liverpool were linked with Reid earlier this year, with The Mirror reporting at the time:
"West Ham centre back Winston Reid is...a summer transfer target [for Liverpool]. Arsenal are monitoring the 25-year-old's situation, but Liverpool are set to be the first to firm up their interest with a bid'"
Some info about Reid:
* Current contract expires in 2015
* Captain of the New Zealand national team.
* Won West Ham's 'Player of the Year' award in 2013.
* 100 appearances for West Ham since 2010.
* Averages 28 appearances per season.
* 6 goals 3 assists.
When asked about Reid's first-team future in February, hammers boss Sam Allardyce made it clear that the defender faced an uphill struggle to re-establish himself in the team. He told reporters:
"Winston Reid is chomping at the bit on the bench but there's nothing you can do when the team is winning. It's disappointing [for him] but my two centre-halves are playing ever so well."
Ex-Liverpool midfielder Jamie Redknapp rates Reid, and at the end of last season, he named the defender as one of his players of the season. He told the Daily Mail:
"Winston Reid...has been excellent alongside James Collins. Reid is a warrior defender who can look ungainly but rarely makes mistakes"
Hmmm. A defender who can look 'ungainly'? The Reds already have one of those (!)
Liverpool have ongoing defensive issues, but is throwing more money at the problem the right solution? Reid is unproven at the highest level, and LFC is a big step up from West Ham.
Basically, it's a big risk, and there are no guarantees that Reid will make the difference. What happens if he comes in and the team continues to ship goals; spend another £20m on someone else?
If Rodgers is to spend big-bucks on another central defender, it should (IMO) go on a proven, world-class player, with international/European experience, i.e. a Mats Hummels-type player. There are no guarantees, but it's arguably less of a risk.
If Reid - or some other central defender signs - who is most at risk: Sakho or Skrtel? Given Sakho's recent tantrum, and ongoing lack of game time, it's probable that he's most likely to be on the chopping board.
And what about Ilori? Signing another centre-half will surely sound the death-knell for his fledgling Liverpool career...
Author: Jaimie K
According to reports this week:
* West Ham defender Winston Reid is 'confident' of joining Liverpool.
* He allegedly has his 'heart set' on a move to Anfield.
* Reid has rejected offers from Arsenal and Man United because he wants to join LFC.
* West Ham are willing to sell for £15m.
Liverpool were linked with Reid earlier this year, with The Mirror reporting at the time:
"West Ham centre back Winston Reid is...a summer transfer target [for Liverpool]. Arsenal are monitoring the 25-year-old's situation, but Liverpool are set to be the first to firm up their interest with a bid'"
Some info about Reid:
* Current contract expires in 2015
* Captain of the New Zealand national team.
* Won West Ham's 'Player of the Year' award in 2013.
* 100 appearances for West Ham since 2010.
* Averages 28 appearances per season.
* 6 goals 3 assists.
When asked about Reid's first-team future in February, hammers boss Sam Allardyce made it clear that the defender faced an uphill struggle to re-establish himself in the team. He told reporters:
"Winston Reid is chomping at the bit on the bench but there's nothing you can do when the team is winning. It's disappointing [for him] but my two centre-halves are playing ever so well."
Ex-Liverpool midfielder Jamie Redknapp rates Reid, and at the end of last season, he named the defender as one of his players of the season. He told the Daily Mail:
"Winston Reid...has been excellent alongside James Collins. Reid is a warrior defender who can look ungainly but rarely makes mistakes"
Hmmm. A defender who can look 'ungainly'? The Reds already have one of those (!)
Liverpool have ongoing defensive issues, but is throwing more money at the problem the right solution? Reid is unproven at the highest level, and LFC is a big step up from West Ham.
Basically, it's a big risk, and there are no guarantees that Reid will make the difference. What happens if he comes in and the team continues to ship goals; spend another £20m on someone else?
If Rodgers is to spend big-bucks on another central defender, it should (IMO) go on a proven, world-class player, with international/European experience, i.e. a Mats Hummels-type player. There are no guarantees, but it's arguably less of a risk.
If Reid - or some other central defender signs - who is most at risk: Sakho or Skrtel? Given Sakho's recent tantrum, and ongoing lack of game time, it's probable that he's most likely to be on the chopping board.
And what about Ilori? Signing another centre-half will surely sound the death-knell for his fledgling Liverpool career...
Author: Jaimie K
We have three who can look ungainly Sakho, Skrtel and Toure. Heaven help us if it snows this year
ReplyDeleteThere isn't much wrong with our centre backs. We play expansive football, with no real midfield destroyer and because of our recent defensive history, the confidence in scoring goals for opposing players is sky high. Every attacking player in the league believes they can score against us and confidence is massive in football.
ReplyDeleteMarkovic just got injured.
ReplyDeleteAttacking midfielders/strikers have a field day as you say because we play a 3 man midfield and Sg is the deepest one.Ive give up on this if im honest rogers hasnt the will to change it and would rather blame players like sako and balo for our shortcomings who are easy targets,
ReplyDeletewithout sounding churlish orm i feel like saying so what ,from what ive seen hes crap
ReplyDeleteOh hell no! Rather play Ilori and give him valuable minutes to try and improve him
ReplyDeleteThe report says he is a free agent soon. So sign him for nothing? I don't care.
ReplyDeleteJust an info, he is our player after all.
ReplyDeleteI'm beginning to think that it isn't the quality of our defenders that is lacking, rather the quality of our defensive coaching. We could sign Vincent Kompany and turn him into Bambi on ice in a matter of two or three games.
ReplyDeleteIm kinda ambivalent too
ReplyDeleteI hope this isn't the case, although I rate Reid I would much prefer a combative presence in midfield, man city bought Fernando for 12m!!
ReplyDeleteFrom my perspective it looks like we are weak in the middle and I feel this is the type of player we need, IMO you could have the best back four in the world, it just wouldn't matter if there isn't protection Infront of them.
Just an info than...
ReplyDeleteI think we both know that there is a solution to our problem. Dead she may be, but all it will take is one phone call from BR and our defensive worries could be over.
ReplyDeleteI just wish we spent the right amount for the right player without overpaying and it's time for someone with PROVEN defense or attack or whatever, to come and deliver for LFC, no more \one for the future' piecemeals please. On a side note, I am really uncomfortable when I see Sakho with the ball at his feet, just looks really shaky... I would have preferred Agger....
ReplyDeleteSpeedy recovery and all that, haha...
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, the only players we ovepaid for were Lallana and Lovren.
ReplyDeleteEveryone else was either at market rate (i.e. Markovic) or below-market (i.e. Balotelli).
I can't complain about what we did in the transfer window this summer.
Granted the players haven't worked out yet, but the season is young, and ultimately, I'm not sure who else was a reasonable target we could have gotten. We tried for Sanchez and he didn't want to come here. We tried for Falcao but weren't going to pay 43m for one year's service (like ManU are).
Maybe Remy but I'd prefer Balotelli to him.
Seriously, you think Milan will let us have him then?
ReplyDeleteI think our style of play has really exposed our defense, and that Stevie playing the CDM role does not work like it normally should.
ReplyDeleteWith our full backs constantly going up field, it leaves Stevie and the two center backs as the last line of defense and open to a quick counter. With better CDM in place, we could probably withstand it better. But now we essentially have two players playing defense on the counter and the third a liability.
Why not just play Illori? He has speed which none of the others have and has a better passing range than the others. He seriously cannot be worse than Kolo Toure who is going to play now. No more CB's. In the end, you can sign as many as you want but if the system exposes you, you cannot do anything.
ReplyDeleteI think most of our business has been fine. We have signed great full backs and indefinite improvements on last year. Lallana has been good as well. Balo has been good for me and I still have faith in him. Emre has not been tested. The only ones you can have a doubt about are Lovren and Markovic. Markovic could still come good in the future and Lovren has still brought composure on the ball. What has hindered us this season is BR's tinkering of system and personnel which has disrupted the team ethic.
ReplyDeletean upvote? wow..
ReplyDeleteSkrtel may not be with us next season. His contract ends in 2016 so if we still want to make some money on him then January or end of the season would be a good time to sell. FSG defintely are not going to renew his contract as Skrtel will not be interested in anything short term. Maybe loaning out Ilori is not the worst thing as he is gaining experience plenty of 1st team experience. If Skrtel goes then we another CB may be on the cards.
ReplyDeleteStevie wasn't a problem vs Spurs was he though? It is not like Spurs sat back in the match. They had their fare share of attacks etc. If we play the right system i.e. pressing then Stevie is not much of an issue. Playing someone alongside Stevie quite honestly is beyond me, Gerrard/Lucas have not worked and Gerrard/Henderson was also of no benifit to the team. Hendo is totally and utterly wasted as a holding midfielder.
ReplyDeletei would like to see Can given a chance at playing as the single pivot. Watched highlights of as German U21 match and he destroyed the opposition. Expecting big things from this player.
really logan give up on the spurs game as a yardstick one swallow dosent make a summer
ReplyDeleteMost fans can see this except rogers it was obvious in the very first game of the season,last year we had two forwards who scored us out of trouble and what worries me is that i think rogers thinks thats gonna happen again as if by magic
ReplyDeleteI was gonna post the exact same thing but I see you've saved me the trouble
ReplyDeleteGive what up, our most convincing performance this season?
ReplyDeleteFind another performance like it then we can continue this discussion.
I think BR has her in mind as back up for her preferred left back position but if things don't improve I don't see he has much choice. Though you don't see that many CBs under 5 foot these days in top level football.
ReplyDeleteHi, this is VermHat's assistant.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry but he'll be unavailable for the foreseeable future. I assure you that this is unrelated to the raid on his properties by the LA Vice squad or the allegations of using a 'casting couch' approach with his clients.
I can also assure you that he values your skills greatly and will be happy to meet with you in a country of your choosing, provided it is one that does not have an extradition treaty with the United States or the United Kingdom.
Lovren and Markovic injured. Hopefully Hodgson does not cause us anymore harm...
ReplyDeleteI think injuries have hampered us more than anything ekse
ReplyDeleteRumours. Exactly. If he was available for that price he would be playing elsewhere NOW. That price is supposed to be next year and even that is still just rumour.
ReplyDeleteAre Milan going to pay the price stated above? No.
ReplyDeleteMarkovic is a concern not from injury but from the standpoint that he refuses to shoot or really try to make plays and beat people. Maybe he was saving himself for the EPL but he was just a peripheral, shadow player while in against Armenia. Doesn't look like 20m sadly. By contrast, Tadich looks, acts and PLAYS the part much more than Markovic and that is reflected in EPL play thus far......
ReplyDeleteOur most convincing performance this season can be considered the anomaly.
ReplyDeleteWe haven't looked remotely close to it before or since.
It's the ideal situation, but not realistic based on recent performance.
I agree that hendo is wasted as. Defensive mid and kills our press and therefore our attack. I agree Can once healthy should be given a shot. I worry that Can has said that he doesn't see himself as a defensive mid.... Then what???
ReplyDeleteWhat is a "ball winning offense crusher with some passing skills" going to do to help our defenders defend at set pieces?
ReplyDeleteStill gobsmacked how people do not see that there are fundamental issues at at the back and nothing has changed from last season.
I think what we can be concluded is that we need to play the system which works best and i.e. the way we played last season which has only really been evident in one match this season = Spurs.
ReplyDeletemust be in Indian Rupees ;)
ReplyDeleteMignolet
ReplyDeleteManquillo Sakho Lovren Moreno
Schneiderlin Gerrard
Henderson
Sterling Reus
Sturridge
What I meant by that is we need an animal DM, with a motor like Henderson, who can stop the other teams offense and make a pass up-field and get us going.
ReplyDeleteI think he's just a bit uncertain and trying too hard to do what the manager is asking. He's really playing within himself because he's moved to a big team and, despite the big talk, doesn't really have the confidence yet to consider himself as the best option in an attacking situation. I've been surprised by his discipline and that's good but it's like you say, he's not looking to shoot or beat players and it's disappointing. It will take him time to find his place in the team because Rodgers has such clear ideas on how everyone should play and Markovic is still getting used to those ideas. Once that stuff is bedded in and habitual for him he will (I suspect a bit like Balotelli) feel more comfortable expressing himself.
ReplyDeleteThere really is no point spending more money on more players. Rodgers needs to suck it up and admit that many of these issues are due to team problems that should probably fall on his shoulders to solve. We've got good defenders, we just need to get them working together and do something about the massive spaces that open up in midfield ahead of them. I'm still tending to think Joe Allen is the answer, at least the best answer we've got in the short term, otherwise play Lucas as a dedicated DM. That would go a long way to making the defenders job a little bit easier.
ReplyDeleteDon't give up. I agree with you.
ReplyDeleteWho?
ReplyDelete