Over the summer, Liverpool were linked with a £40m double swoop for Southampton stars Adam Lallana and Nathaniel Clyne. Lallana signed for LFC, but Clyne stayed at St. Marys, but new reports (predictably) suggest that Liverpool are once again interested in signing the talented right back.
In May, The Mirror reported:
"Liverpool [are] keen on Nathaniel Clyne, who is valued by the Saints at £15 million.
"Rodgers believes Clyne would fit in well at Anfield because of his pace and attacking style".
On Thursday, The Telegraph claimed:
"Liverpool are among the clubs who are closely monitoring his [Clyne's] future [and] Southampton will offer Clyne an extended and improved contract in the coming weeks"
The Premier League's big guns poached Southampton's supposed top-stars over the summer, but the depressing irony is that, despite the heavy losses, the Saints are second in the table, whilst Liverpool and Manchester United are struggling to maintain mid-table obscurity.
Southampton's defence, in particular, is thriving without Dejan Lovren, Luke Shaw, and Calum Chambers, and in comparison to Man United, Liverpool, and Arsenal, Ronald Koeman's team is on a totally different defensive level:
* Played: SFC 11 | LFC 11 | MUFC 11 | AFC 11
* Goals Conceded: SFC 5 | LFC 15 | MUFC 14 | AFC 13
* Ave Conceded per game: SFC 0.4 | LFC 1.3 | MUFC 1.2 | AFC 1.1
* Clean Sheets: SFC 7 | LFC 2 | MUFC 3 | AFC 3
5 goals conceded in 11 games? That stat makes a complete mockery of Liverpool's failing defence, and Clyne is clearly a major part of why Southampton are so defensively solid this season. Indeed, the youngster is currently the Premier League's top-tackler, with 55 successful tackles in 11 games.
As a comparison, Glen Johnson has weighed in with a comparatively abject 9 successful tackles all season.
Ex-Red Jamie Redknapp is a fan of Clyne, and in a recent column for Sky Sports, he enthused:
"I’ve been really impressed with him [Clyne] this season. He’s athletic, technically good and he’s showing plenty of promise. He’ll learn an awful lot from Ronald Koeman".
Koeman is also impressed with Clyne, and when asked last month about the defender's form, he told reporters:
"Clyne is one of the best right full-backs that I've had in my teams in the last 15 years. That means a lot because I like to play with offensive right and left full-backs and he has those qualities, he's fast and gives good crosses".
I see no incentive for Clyne to leave Southampton. Historically, Liverpool is a much bigger club, but the Reds are on the slide right now, and I doubt many players will want to join a club where managerial change is an imminent possibility.
Also, I suspect the presence of Ronald Koeman will play a big part in Clyne's decision. Koeman is a legend of the game, and unlike Rodgers, he has an aura about him that only comes from having played at the highest level. I'm sure the likes of Clyne et al are in awe of their manager, and that can only be a good thing for Southampton.
Additionally, given the ridiculous transfer fees demanded for British players, £15m for Clyne is a pipe-dream. Southampton will probably hold out for an exorbitant fee, and knowing Liverpool, Rodgers will probably be willing to pay through the nose, just like he did with Lallana (£26m), and Markovic (£20m).
On a related note: I find it rather amusing that Reds have basically financed Southampton's rise up the table, and if the Saints finish this season above Liverpool in the table, then Rodgers transfer business will have literally sabotaged LFC's season (!)
Obviously, Rodgers believed that Lovren and Lallana would contribute to keeping Liverpool in the top four, but it doesn't seem to be working out that way.
Football - it's a funny old game.
Author: Jaimie K
In May, The Mirror reported:
"Liverpool [are] keen on Nathaniel Clyne, who is valued by the Saints at £15 million.
"Rodgers believes Clyne would fit in well at Anfield because of his pace and attacking style".
On Thursday, The Telegraph claimed:
"Liverpool are among the clubs who are closely monitoring his [Clyne's] future [and] Southampton will offer Clyne an extended and improved contract in the coming weeks"
The Premier League's big guns poached Southampton's supposed top-stars over the summer, but the depressing irony is that, despite the heavy losses, the Saints are second in the table, whilst Liverpool and Manchester United are struggling to maintain mid-table obscurity.
Southampton's defence, in particular, is thriving without Dejan Lovren, Luke Shaw, and Calum Chambers, and in comparison to Man United, Liverpool, and Arsenal, Ronald Koeman's team is on a totally different defensive level:
* Played: SFC 11 | LFC 11 | MUFC 11 | AFC 11
* Goals Conceded: SFC 5 | LFC 15 | MUFC 14 | AFC 13
* Ave Conceded per game: SFC 0.4 | LFC 1.3 | MUFC 1.2 | AFC 1.1
* Clean Sheets: SFC 7 | LFC 2 | MUFC 3 | AFC 3
5 goals conceded in 11 games? That stat makes a complete mockery of Liverpool's failing defence, and Clyne is clearly a major part of why Southampton are so defensively solid this season. Indeed, the youngster is currently the Premier League's top-tackler, with 55 successful tackles in 11 games.
As a comparison, Glen Johnson has weighed in with a comparatively abject 9 successful tackles all season.
Ex-Red Jamie Redknapp is a fan of Clyne, and in a recent column for Sky Sports, he enthused:
"I’ve been really impressed with him [Clyne] this season. He’s athletic, technically good and he’s showing plenty of promise. He’ll learn an awful lot from Ronald Koeman".
Koeman is also impressed with Clyne, and when asked last month about the defender's form, he told reporters:
"Clyne is one of the best right full-backs that I've had in my teams in the last 15 years. That means a lot because I like to play with offensive right and left full-backs and he has those qualities, he's fast and gives good crosses".
I see no incentive for Clyne to leave Southampton. Historically, Liverpool is a much bigger club, but the Reds are on the slide right now, and I doubt many players will want to join a club where managerial change is an imminent possibility.
Also, I suspect the presence of Ronald Koeman will play a big part in Clyne's decision. Koeman is a legend of the game, and unlike Rodgers, he has an aura about him that only comes from having played at the highest level. I'm sure the likes of Clyne et al are in awe of their manager, and that can only be a good thing for Southampton.
Additionally, given the ridiculous transfer fees demanded for British players, £15m for Clyne is a pipe-dream. Southampton will probably hold out for an exorbitant fee, and knowing Liverpool, Rodgers will probably be willing to pay through the nose, just like he did with Lallana (£26m), and Markovic (£20m).
On a related note: I find it rather amusing that Reds have basically financed Southampton's rise up the table, and if the Saints finish this season above Liverpool in the table, then Rodgers transfer business will have literally sabotaged LFC's season (!)
Obviously, Rodgers believed that Lovren and Lallana would contribute to keeping Liverpool in the top four, but it doesn't seem to be working out that way.
Football - it's a funny old game.
Author: Jaimie K
So far nothing has worked out this season. Any young player will choose Koemen over Rodgers.. to play for.
ReplyDeleteohhhhh give it a rest Brenda, getting boring now ...... you've already had your hands burnt once, look elsewhere if this is true, Liverpool need to get the fascination of saints out of there heads, if Brenda likes Saints so much then i am sure SFC can find him a stewards job on a turnstile
ReplyDeleteHe would not leave Saints now - we must attack tomorrow with Stevie G in midfield where he belongs - B R might well lose his job but at least he would go down fighting then - Trouble is that if Palace score first we have had it - Agree ?
ReplyDeleteI have the plan
ReplyDeletejackson martinez,doumbia,clyne,schiederlin and bring back origi
...........................................martinez
sterling...................................................................doumbia
............................................coutinho
...................................can...................schneiderlin
moreno.....................lovren....................toure...........clyne
............................................mignolet
a 433 before logan complains of a 4231
bench: origi,lallana,henderson ,allen , sakho/skrtel, manquillo , jones
That is a strong liverpool if i ever seen one and will only need to buy 4 players
I have a plan for you. Stop commenting because you hurt everybodies brain here.
ReplyDeletecritical realism? way too critical i smell utd scum
ReplyDeleteLFC are only interested in Clyne because he is English. They would still pay over the odds to sign an English player irrespective of the mistakes made in the past. Lessons will never be learnt owing to sentiments. There are more talented and effective right backs that are cheaper than 15m GBP out there in Laliga, Bundesliga etc. We should even be ashamed of continually giving our money to Southampton when they are 2nd on the table while we languish on 11th.
ReplyDeleteWith Balo up front alone we won't score. BR will play same system and get same response-- a loss. Realistically the target is 40 pts that's how good we are
ReplyDeleteDo u know the cost of the four players? That is well over 70m GBP after we spent over a hundred million pounds in the summer
ReplyDeleteto all those lfc fans doubting rodgers.You need to take a look at yourself and ask "why am i always moaning like a little bitch ?".Have you the brain of a goldfish do you not remember the records rodgers broke last season ,most goals scored ,most goals h+ a,most wins h+ a, most consecutive wins h+a and a few others .Theese are lfc records and some are Top flight records.Once rodgers can get the new players flying and he will all the moaning whinge bags will have to resort to complaining about alberto never gets a game or we won 5-2 but that first goal was lucky.So any true red supporters out there lets get behind the man who has broke SHANKLY PAISLEY FAGAN RECORDS .
ReplyDeleteDon't forget Hodgsons
ReplyDeleteNot to state the obvious but neither Mourinho or Wenger played at the highest level. I wonder where they acquired their aura because they don't seem to have a problem attracting players
ReplyDeleteWe have a promissing youngster on loan on that position, captain material local lad returning to fitness and a very good (also young) player we just brought in. We shouldn't be going for him. With Moreno potentially being our Marcelo(if he can erase his, how do you call that?!?)- it is enough quality on full back positions. After all team that has real Marcelo has Arbeloa on the other flank...
ReplyDeleteLots of right back related articles recently. With regards to Clyne, too expensive for a position we've already got covered
ReplyDeleteIt could be argued that BR has not made any good signings. (DS is always injured, and has a history of injury which BR took a chance on.) Recently BR indicated LFC were unable to attract big name signings. I would argue the manager has to take some blame for that. Big players sign for managers as much as the club. BR does not appear to have that pull on big names.
ReplyDeleteHe also broke the record for most goals conceded by a top 4 team.
ReplyDeleteWin some, lose some. Dalglish is one of the biggest names out there and it didn't work out...
ReplyDeleteNot today he's not, not as a renowned manager.
ReplyDeletelet's face it, BR is not a big name in world-football, liverpool isn't an attractive city for the big names and were not paying attractive wages for players... These are the 3 factors were unable to sign big name players, you can't only blame BR for that. Rodgers was signed when he was a no-name manager, and he's still one, but you can't really blame him for that ..
ReplyDeleteMourinho, Guardiola, Ancelotti etc. are the biggest names out there. Most people don't even know who Dalglish is/was.
ReplyDeleteI thought his post was based on Jaimies' -not a good profesional player-
ReplyDelete??
ReplyDeleteTalking about pro footballers. They should know who Kenny is, or Lev Jashin?
ReplyDeleteand unlike Rodgers, he has an aura about him that only comes from having played at the highest level.
ReplyDeleteOh right, I see. I don't know if he's right about Koeman. He may have been a great player but I think players want to play for people with an aura about their managing skills rather than their playing skills...
ReplyDeleteMe too, just replying to mim re playing skill aura...
ReplyDeleteI am very optimistic but saying things are bad now in Liverpool is not moaning...
ReplyDeleteIf we had won the EPL last season then things may have been different.
ReplyDeleteAs a player he is well known.
ReplyDeleteRodgers is still a very young manager. The only way he will become a big name is to deliver trophies on a consistent basis just like Mourinho, Guardiola, Ancelotti have.
ReplyDeleteRodgers has all the qualities to become successful but his stubbornness unfortunately is his worst enemy.
Mourinho is the manager everybody loves to hate. His record as a manager is truly outstanding.
ReplyDelete20 trophies in 4 different leagues over 14 years. That is why when he can pull any player he wants.
Imagine us winning EPL last season and playing like this now
ReplyDeleteYeah...wouldn't be though. Sanchez probably would have actually come.
ReplyDelete“Is it possible for Lucas Leiva to leave Liverpool in January? Yes, naturally,” representative Henrique Coelho told Calciomercato.com.
ReplyDelete“Lucas Leiva really likes Rafa Benitez. After all, the two know each other well from when the Spaniard was manager of Liverpool.”
We will see players leave in January but whether we are going to sign any is another story.
“Is it possible for Lucas Leiva to leave Liverpool in January? Yes, naturally,” representative Henrique Coelho
ReplyDelete“Lucas Leiva really likes Rafa Benitez. After all, the two know each other well from when the Spaniard was manager of Liverpool.”
We will see players leave in January but whether we are going to sign any is another story.
Clyne and Schneiderlin are winners, so they wouldn't git to a mid table team who are about to understand how difficult FFP can be on teams. LFC's big spending days are done, the only asset has been sold (Suarez), the money was wasted, more was spent and the only way LFC can now sustain things is to get knocked out of all cups including Europe and play their balls off in the hopes of scraping a top 6 place, purely for the prize money. It's like watching what THFC did, but in red instead of white.
ReplyDeleteOnce Rodgers is gone, hopefully LFC will be able to find buyers for some of the squad and lose people like Johnson, to free up some cash for the new manager to use wisely.
Maybe now is the time to set up a scouting department like Southampton have got?
Sunday mate not tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteWhy would they finish 9th? Saints will most likely still be in 2nd going into December, even if City manage a win on the 30th, then play all of the other big teams in quick succession (with Burnley, Everton & Palace thrown in the middle for good measure).
ReplyDeleteThat takes them into January after possibly losing 2 or 3, when they can utilise the massive amount of available cash (wonder where that came from), strengthening even further by buying more awesome players and regain one of the top spots through end of Jan til end of the season as it's pretty much plain sailing from then onwards.
Liverpool are far more likely to be scrambling for 9th place than Saints, you can thank Rodgers for that; we do! ;)
Without Suarez, it would not have happened, fact. I agree Sterling was great, but without Suarez, things are different, there's no hiding from that. :(
ReplyDeleteI read that a nine year old schoolboy applied for the manager;s job at Bolton Wanderers job.
ReplyDeleteagreed
ReplyDeleteSachnez would probably be here, Stevie and the team would be much more confident, BR wouldn't get criticised that much... football is such an output-driven sport, it's unbelievable...
ReplyDeleteYes you are right if we had of played with ten men it probably wouldn't have happened. What the mentally retarded don't quite get is that we are not only missing Suarez we are also missing Sturridge who never had this long out since joining and not only that but at the beginning of the season. So yes take the top scorer of the league and the team would doubtless struggle a bit more for goals. But take out the second top scorer in the league and well yes sh!t street.
ReplyDeleteHmm they not we? So you even a saints fan then or just trolling us? Why will they finish ninth? Largely because its a fact. But other reasons contain the inevitability of Atsenal, City, United and Spurs all improving over the course of the season. That all of those teams and us have suffered from key injuries and so too will Saints at some stage. That the run of fixtures have been relatively easy and therefore the harder games are on the horizon, the fact that you have started each season quite well yet finished around mid table.
ReplyDeleteBut you didn't answer. Will you be back at the end of the season no matter where Saints finish?
Yeah so if we do get Origi then Logan does that mean we were both right re signings in Jan?
ReplyDeleteSchneidelin...? Good luck with that one mate.
ReplyDeleteOrigi is already a Liverpool player on loan to Lille. To cancel his loan deal is going to cost us money.
ReplyDeletePersistence with playing Balotelli up on his own though...
ReplyDeleteOf course, I am always around! Wherever there are articles about Saints, I can be found.
ReplyDeleteWhen I spot the one about Saints amazing season long performance keeping them unbelievably ahead if Liverpool, or the one blaming Liverpool's poor finish to the season on buying players from Southampton, I'll be along to read them. :)
It's quite satisfying to know that my predictions of a strong season, as opposed to the relegation battle I was told Saints would be in all season, continue to be outdone. I honestly thought that with the player sales etc, we'd be way down where the likes of Man Utd, Arsenal and Swansea are at this point in the season.
Now I am forced, instead, to read articles about how it's likely that Saints will finish in the top 6 but can't manage to break the top 4.
Or how Brendan Rodgers wants to continue the conversion of the formerly great Liverpool into Scousehampton, by buying more Saints players. It's quite nice to see, if I'm honest.
I know and so therefore I would be right in some ways but as he is already our player you would be right in that we would not sign a new player. So both right?
ReplyDeleteOk matey. See you next season when your lads start well.
ReplyDeleteSCNIEDERLIN IS A LFC FAN
ReplyDeleteWe probably won't start so well next season as it will be a tough schedule when you consider our squad size and the games in Europe, but I hope you're right that we do again.
ReplyDeleteWould have been top 6 last season, if we hadn't lost Boric and Wanyama for so long, but hey ho, these things happen.
I don't know how you managed it but I like you now. Voted your last two posts up.
ReplyDeleteI reckon Origi will see out his loan.
ReplyDeleteAre you deliberately not answering?
ReplyDeleteBoth right.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful.
ReplyDeleteThis exchange pleases me. Thanks, fellas.
ReplyDeleteI don't think he would have. He went to Arsenal, who weren't even in the race at the end of the season. How would us winning the title have convinced his wife to move to Liverpool over London?
ReplyDeleteSuarez was destined to leave; Sanchez, despite the assurances of Phil Thompson, was destined not to arrive; we were destined to have a sloppy start to this season.
No, his worst enemy is NGCtC.
ReplyDeleteI am welling up
ReplyDeleteIf we attack tomorrow we could catch them unawares
ReplyDeleteI was always told not to repeat gossip :-)
ReplyDeleteIsn't that what turns one's palms hairy?
ReplyDeleteLets pearl harbour those b!tches.
ReplyDeleteSturridge's injury record upto the beginning of this season
ReplyDeleteHamstring 13/04/14 - 24/04/14
Ankle Ligaments 26/11/13 - 08/01/14
Hip/Thigh Injury 01/09/13 - 14/09/13
Ankle Ligaments 29/05/13 - 04/08/13
Hamstring 19/02/13 - 08/03/13
Hip/Thigh Injury 03/02/13 - 15/02/13
Hamstring 18/11/12 - 11/12/12
Hamstring 16/09/12 - 18/10/12
Broken Toe 12/08/1217/08/12
Viral Meningitis 02/07/12- 23/07/12
Knee Injury 20/09/11 - 26/09/11
I'm not saying he isn't injury prone. That seems to be the case but he had never been out this long. He usually gets injured but when he had been injured he came back and scored. By the time he cones back he will have been out longer than all the others combined. In games for Liverpool. For me the club made two big gambles (at least) in the summer. Balo and Sturridge. Both wrong. But hindsight us 20/20.
ReplyDeleteHe might not of been injured for this length of time but there clearly was an issue regarding his fitness. If that is the case then why hasn't BR brought in another striker that he is willing to play.
ReplyDeleteIt is no good having Lambert and Borini if you are not willing to play them.
YEAH LETS SIGN THE WHOLE SOUTHAMPTON TEAM WHO ARE ON FIRE RIGHT NOW AND ABOVE US,ONCE WE BRING THEM TO LFC ROGERS WILL DO A REMARKABLE JOB IN DAMAGING THEM AND LFC EVEN MORE LIKE LOVERN,LALLANA,LAMBERT.
ReplyDeleteAS FOR ORIGI I DO NOT SEE THE NEED OF BRINGING HIM BACK BECAUSE I THINK HE IS NOT READY TO PLAY IN SUCH A PHYSICAL LEAGUE AND FOR HIM TO ONLY SCORE 3 GOALS FOR LILLE IN WHAT 18 MATCHES IS REALLY NOT GOOD SO LET US NOT BRING HIM AND MAKE HIM BORINI NUMBER 2.
LFC NEED TO CHANGE THE TACTICS FROM 4231 TO 442 OR 4141 WITH EITHER BORINI OR LAMBERT IN THERE TO HELP MARIO.
WHEN JANUARY COMES WE NEED TO SIGN PEDRO WHO I THINK WILL BE THE CLOSEST WE WILL GET TO SUARZE WE ALSO NEED A STRONG PHYSICAL DM A NEW KEEPER AND SHAQUIRI WITH DOUMBIA FROM CSK THESE PLAYERS IF SIGNHED WILL WIN US THE FA CUP AND TAKE US TO FOURTH SPOT THIS SEASON AND IF WE GET OUT THE GROUP STAGE OF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE THEY WILL TAKE US TO THE LAST 8
BUT GUESS WHAT ROGERS WILL NEVER DO THIS AND NEITHER WILL HE GET A DEFENSIVE COACH SO YES ALL YOU DIE HARD LFC FANS LIKE ME WE ARE DOOMED THIS SEASON.
Champions or perennially 4th placed tram...champions or perennially 4th placed team...he needs to give his wife the boot if she's influencing such decisions like that!? 'Don't go to liverpool, how am I going to go to the goooochiiii store?'
ReplyDeleteIf we were champions, other better players would have come, making it more appealing for Sanchez.
Have I missed something here, shocking record in the cups no European football and haven't won anything . Just exactly what records of the great managers you have listed has BR broken apart from blowing the biggest transfer budget in the clubs history to turn us into a mid table team.
ReplyDeleteSo we killed Studge. Loyalty at its finest
ReplyDeleteNot the records that matter.
ReplyDeleteExactly. They know they will win things and be paid well whilst doing so.
ReplyDeleteThe time to sign him was summer, not now after playing for England and doing well. Price has probably gone up 5 mill. Did want us to get him in the summer though.
ReplyDeleteNot as a manager. Not since 1990
ReplyDeleteFelt really good to read that just now! What a diffrence four months make eh! Hahahaha
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately I am not sure which comment you are referring to, sorry. There is a few above that it could relate to.
ReplyDeleteIs it the one about Clyne and Schneiderlin not moving to Liverpool?
Or the "9th place" response?
I'm guessing it's one of those, but can't be sure from my phone.