As today's defeat to Arsenal shows, Liverpool still have major defensive problems to solve, and with Lovren seemingly not good enough to make the team, and Toure almost certainly on the way out after his horror show at the Emirates, the Reds clearly need upgrades in defence. Lille defender Simon Kjaer is currently linked with a move to Anfield, and this week, the Dane emphatically confirmed that he's willing to move on this summer.
Kjaer - nicknamed 'The Viking' - has been linked with Liverpool several times in the past, and in March, Danish newspaper BT claimed that:
* Liverpool scouts watched €11m(£7.5m)-rated Kjaer during Lille's recent 1-0 victory over Guingamp.
After the game, Kjaer offered the following response to questions about his future:
"This summer I have two years left on the contract with Lille, and then we will see what happens. But right now I think all of nothing else but to win games for Lille. "
When asked again this week about the possibility of leaving Lille this summer, Kjaer confirmed:
"I will leave if a top club wants me [and] they'll need to show that they intend to rely on me in the long term. I realised that I needed a coach who has confidence in me and listens to what I say. It's important to have a coach who understands you"
Some info about Kjaer:
* Averages 30 games a season.
* 44 apps for the Denmark national team.
* Two-time Danish player of the Year.
* Current contract expires in 2017.
* Oct 2014: Kjaer's admitted that he's interested in a move to the Premier League: “I will not be moving just for the sake of playing in the Premier League. Everything would have to be perfect to realise a move to England. I wouldn’t be moving there just for a bigger pay check for example”
* Nov 2014: When specifically asked about Liverpool's interest, Kjaer told reporters: "My family are Liverpool fans and a move to Liverpool would make my family happy. It is always nice to hear about big clubs being interested. I would choose the club that is the best place for me to play my football"
* In his first season at Lille, Kjaer helped the club achieve one of the best defensive records of any club in Europe, with only 26 goals conceded in 38 games (21 clean sheets.)
* Between September 21st and December 3 (2013), Kjaer helped Lille keep 11 clean sheets in a row.
* Overall, since signing for Lille, Kjaer has helped Lille keep 36 clean sheets in 74 appearances (49% of games), which is a superb achievement. The Dane is justifiably proud of that achievement:"A lot of people call us the clean-sheet kings and it has been fantastic for me since arriving last summer to be playing my part of the wall we have built"
Some seriously impressive defensive figures here. Kjaer clearly has an affinity for Liverpool, and he'd also be comparatively cheap. A potential replacement for Lovren?
Author: Jaimie K
Kjaer - nicknamed 'The Viking' - has been linked with Liverpool several times in the past, and in March, Danish newspaper BT claimed that:
* Liverpool scouts watched €11m(£7.5m)-rated Kjaer during Lille's recent 1-0 victory over Guingamp.
After the game, Kjaer offered the following response to questions about his future:
"This summer I have two years left on the contract with Lille, and then we will see what happens. But right now I think all of nothing else but to win games for Lille. "
When asked again this week about the possibility of leaving Lille this summer, Kjaer confirmed:
"I will leave if a top club wants me [and] they'll need to show that they intend to rely on me in the long term. I realised that I needed a coach who has confidence in me and listens to what I say. It's important to have a coach who understands you"
Some info about Kjaer:
* Averages 30 games a season.
* 44 apps for the Denmark national team.
* Two-time Danish player of the Year.
* Current contract expires in 2017.
* Oct 2014: Kjaer's admitted that he's interested in a move to the Premier League: “I will not be moving just for the sake of playing in the Premier League. Everything would have to be perfect to realise a move to England. I wouldn’t be moving there just for a bigger pay check for example”
* Nov 2014: When specifically asked about Liverpool's interest, Kjaer told reporters: "My family are Liverpool fans and a move to Liverpool would make my family happy. It is always nice to hear about big clubs being interested. I would choose the club that is the best place for me to play my football"
* In his first season at Lille, Kjaer helped the club achieve one of the best defensive records of any club in Europe, with only 26 goals conceded in 38 games (21 clean sheets.)
* Between September 21st and December 3 (2013), Kjaer helped Lille keep 11 clean sheets in a row.
* Overall, since signing for Lille, Kjaer has helped Lille keep 36 clean sheets in 74 appearances (49% of games), which is a superb achievement. The Dane is justifiably proud of that achievement:"A lot of people call us the clean-sheet kings and it has been fantastic for me since arriving last summer to be playing my part of the wall we have built"
Some seriously impressive defensive figures here. Kjaer clearly has an affinity for Liverpool, and he'd also be comparatively cheap. A potential replacement for Lovren?
Author: Jaimie K
Incredibly, we've spent £45 million on central defenders over the last few windows...and are still majorly suspect at the back.
ReplyDeleteWhat we need are solid and durable defenders, not this injury prone, weak under pressure type defender we've been buying lately.
Experience good footballers is exactly what Liverpool need,they have to bring in leaders in there positions.Players who can take control of games and give there teammates a lift when they need it.At the moment Liverpool are like a boat without a rudder,they look lost at sea.Gerrard aside,there is no leader at Liverpool,Henderson is not a leader and never will be.The next transfer window is crucial to Liverpool's chances of getting into champions league,fingers crossed.
ReplyDeleteif im honest i think a lot of our defensive problems are down to tactics and the system rogers plays .Its a phrase which gets used a lot under the rogers tenure square pegs round holes,hendo at wing back is an ideal example
ReplyDeleteour biggest problems seem to be backbone and not being clinical. You know who's frikken clinical though? Ander Herrera. Ander bloody Herrera. You give him one chance and he'll slot it into the bottom corner every time.
ReplyDeleteAll i know about Kjaer is Wolfsburg got rid of him and Roma said he was error ridden and decided not to take up an option to buy he is another one we have been consistently linked to over the years.
ReplyDeleteThis transfer is highly unlikely in my books.
We will finish above manu, by the way..
ReplyDeleteTheir next three games are Man City (h), Chelsea (a) and Everton (a). Then it’s West Brom at home and Palace away before the home game with Arsenal. On the final day they go to Hull, who may need to win to clinch Premier League survival.
If we keep a clean sheet for 6 consecutive away fixtures then suddenly concede 6 for the next two matches this shows the players are not defensively rubbish. Maybe a problem with confidence and tactics.
ReplyDeleteClealry sanity has prevailed and Lovren is seen as Sakho's backup. We don't yet have a good backup for Skrtel other than Toure who was ridiculously bad against Arsenal. An upgrade on Skrtel would be even better. I have doubts Kjaer is that man though.
ReplyDeleteCan wasn't too bad in the Arsenal game but Moreno's form has dipped terribly. Lovren and Toure can't really be trusted. Johnson is on his way out and deservedly so. Manquillo and Flanno are good defenders but unspectacular at anything else.
ReplyDeleteSeriously though how many of the mistakes against Arsenal and earlier in the season were down to tactics rather than terrible individual mistakes? I agree there is not enough protection at times for defenders but when it comes to the crunch they have to make better decisions.
ReplyDeleteHow many goals has Herrera scored? And I think he is on 100 plus.
ReplyDeleteThe thing is B Rodgers needs to be given his P45 at end of season whether we win Fa Cup or Not. His pathetic Transfers over last three seasons, his Love for clue less and useless J Allen(24) is alarmingly pathetic.
ReplyDeleteIn Crucial Games we have needed to Win he has opted to play J Allen(24) ahead of better players and we have come unstuck:
Basel at Home to make next round of Champions League
Man United at Home
Arsenal Away
J Allen(24) has two good games all season and B Rodgers is trying to get the guy a new contract, yet Sterling(20) has carried scoring burden and people are moaning the player who has scored more goals than anyone in this squad and is the biggest threat in our side wants to be paid what he is worth.
Sterling(20) is more crucial to team than Balotelli(24), Borini(23), Lallana(26), Lambert(33) and Markovic(20).
Going Forward the players a New manager should build the side around are as follows: Can(20) ,Coutinho(22) , Flannagan(21), Henderson(24) , Ibe(19) , Moreno(23), Sakho(24) and Sterling(20)
Sturridge(25) is top class and too injury probem, so we cannot rely on him.
Lallana(26) is hot or cold and needs to score more goals for side
These dead wood average players need to all be shipped off the clubs books and off the wage bill permanently:
GK: B Jones(32) CB: S Coates (24) CB: K Toure(34)
RB: G Johnson(30) RB: A Wisdom(20) LB: J Enrique(28)
CM: J Useless Allen(24) AM: L Alberto(22) FD: I Aspas(28)
FD: F Borini(23) FD: R Lambert(33) FD: M Balotelli(24)
..................................................................................................................................................
Agree, Johnson should definitely go. he is below our own not so high standards...
ReplyDeletewe should scout some decent right back until the end of season, if we are not to sign Alves. It is incredible scouting team has absolutely no clue on the upcoming young prospects like Danilo until they sign for huge clubs like Madrid.
I had a look at the remaining fixtures and we need to win nearly every game I think. I like the attitude and I am one who believes if it is mathematically possible then keep the hope alive.
ReplyDeleteWe were linked with Danillo heavily for a while and I am sure he was scouted. Problem is most really good talents are known by a lot of clubs.
ReplyDeleteNo need to look at our fixtures, we need to win 7 very tough games..
ReplyDeletedid we make an offer? Probably no
ReplyDeletecould we not include Sanchez in the Suarez deal? Probably Yes
it is known for a fact we are not good in transfers
From what I know about transfers is there is usually an amount of putting feelers out first through agents etc. You find out if someone is interested or not. As for the Sanchez Suarez thing you cannot make a player sign who doesn't want to but I agree that the business was done very poorly as we seemingly had no real backup plan and that is just dreadful.
ReplyDeletei love your optimism only i hope it rubs on the team right now because we are really low on confidence.It does look we can't really win games with 3-4-3 anymore and its reflecting in the players performance and confidence.
ReplyDeleteExactly no back up plan.
ReplyDeleteWe did it with Suarez
Shortly, will do it with Gerrard
watch this space.
Funny thing is, Mignolet who is know for his shot-stopping prowess, conceded form 4 shots!
ReplyDeleteTrue but he also kept a few out that he had no right to save. The other shots (perhaps barring Ozil's) could not be saved. The stopping should have been done before the shot. Toure and Moreno were awful.
ReplyDeleteThe sendings off have played a part too
ReplyDeleteAlso I think you mean conceded 4 goals as there were more than 4 shots.
ReplyDeleteThis could turn out to be the season Gerrard denied us from CL spot. Have U by any chance heard of a very similar scenario before, perhaps involving the word 'title'?
ReplyDeleteHow many goals has Moreno conceded? He didn't show defensive abilities once I think.. Ok, tracking back and tackling are very good, but positioned defending is just awful.. Look like a defensive coach would really be the answer..
ReplyDeleteYes, I mean 4 goals.
ReplyDeleteIt really is something he should know by now and at times he has taken up good positions. More defensive involvement is needed.
ReplyDeleteArsenal look invincible, Manu are grinding our results
ReplyDeletewe, on the other hand are dealing with Sterling contract
Yes, we'd be champions.
United dealt with Rooney's contract. Arsenal have dealt with Walcott's contract loads of times and his own fans want him to sign "da ting". Contract situations go on everywhere. Rooney is now on 300k a week. Falcao Falcoa fuckoa is on massive wages. What we are doing on the pitch and off may be linked but may not be.
ReplyDeleteProtracted contract talks I mean.
ReplyDeleteDo you think the contract issue with Raheem did not play a role in Saturday result?
Yes protracted talks! Either your new to footy or haven't payed much attention to the news regarding other teams. Rooney was supposed to be leaving and he talked about United not matching his ambitions, and that was during Fergie's reign. Nearly everyone of Walcott's negotiations have gone on for months. This one is now.
ReplyDeleteAs for it havng an effect of the result, I have no idea. It would be nothing more than guesswork and as Sterling was one of the better players I can't see how it was. I am not arrogant or foolish enough to presume to know what the minds of the players are when I have no real information to go on.
The point is, the Sterling Contract has been publicized way too much and this much publicity and him being 'flattered' by Arsenal link and the public row between Rodgers and Sterling does not help the club break into Top 4.
ReplyDeleteI am not sure I have seen a public row. But like I have said the very public and protracted talks between United and Rooney and Arsenal and Walcott didn't stop them from getting top four. What may be a factor is that all the teams above us have more expensive teams and more improtantly more expensive first team players. What might be a factor is we don't have any fully fit decent strikers. We have a team that has an average age of around 24 when those teams above us have an average age of about 27. Experience in both managers and players, lack of leaders in the team, players in terrible form but a lack of quality/experienced/applicable backups. These things I think are factors. But yeah the Sterling thing might be to as well. Why not.
ReplyDeletePersonally, Gerrard's lack of leadership in this crucial time is baffling.
ReplyDeleteHe has always been a player to lead by example. He can't do that so well anymore. He is supposed to be good behind the scenes but we need leadership on the pitch. One or two occasions have made me think that perhaps Hednerson is not the man for the job. We need to sign someone who can be that man, either as captain in name or just on the pitch..
ReplyDeleteWe'd beat united on the day and we'd be top 4. Is getting a stupid red card leading by example?
ReplyDeleteAs for Henderson, he is still way too naive. We need a temporary captain in Lucas or Skrtel
He was daft. As I was saying he can't do what he used to. Lucas was terrible against Arsenal and is injured a lot and Skrtel is not the best option either for me. Both are good experience and good on the pitch but we need more I think.
ReplyDeleteCan't think of any other candidates. I'd make Coutinho the club captain only for his passion for the club.
ReplyDeleteI think we need to sign some of that experience and leadership. Difficult.
ReplyDeleteMore importantly, Rodgers is not the man to pull that of.
ReplyDeleteWhat happens in the summer happens. If he is still here (which I think he will be) he will need support and has shown that he can excel in the right circumstances. The loss to United was poor but I am sure we could have gotten something out of the game had we had eleven men in the second half. Arsenal are the form team of the league with ten wins from eleven. They showed us what can be done when you buy quality on top of a decent side. I hope we learn that lesson in the summer.
ReplyDeleteWhat will be no good is constant sniping amongst fans. Constant unrest or otherwise. I can tell you right now that if Rodgers goes then we are going to sign another young manager who will need time to get the team to what he wants. This will mean a fifth place finish again maximum. Anyone believeing we will have this massive turnaround with a new manager is dreaming.
Rodgers is a fine manager and excelllent tactician, its just at this moment of time, with no Gerrard, no Torres and no Suarez around, there is a huge need for a manager like Benitez to replace the experience we so desperately need
ReplyDeleteWe dont like to adnit it but we are now a selling club
ReplyDeleteYesterday ,I said on this forum that it was the players not the managers fault that we lost .
ReplyDelete,Well I got slated !
Manager's or players fault !!
ReplyDeleteLallana , Southhampton 's captain for the last 2 season's.
ReplyDeleteSoto and Liverpool are very different bud. For me Lallana hasn't yet gotten to grips with being a Liverpool player yet never mind captain. He could be helpful next year but for me we need a Vibrant, a Roy Keane. Not necessarily a mid but soneone with that fire and natural authority.
ReplyDeleteI can't see Benitez coming back. He had a right to war with our cowboys but he tends to fall out with whoever he manages.
ReplyDeletebut the reality is 90% of the team is playing in either an unfamiliar position or system which leads to poor decision making,IT would be interesting for the next game if rogers just played a simple 442 with players that purely suited the system and positions
ReplyDeleteNo excuses Red cards were players faults -
ReplyDeleteGerrard , Skirtle and Can totally irresponsible at this crunch time and they knew the importance of these key matches to our keeping in the race .... Total lack of mental discipline . We missed the experience and defensive authority of Stevie and Skirt yesterday . I blame Rodgers for persisting with the strategy of trying to build play from the back ....
All these short quick passes . Our players don't possess enough skill to hold the ball or win it back after losing it . Just can't understand how we seem unable to pass and move . What do we do on the training pitch FFS ?????
Other teams know it now and when they press us quickly from the start we can't cope , panic and make mistakes . Often as not this puts an opposing player directly in on goal ! Like the MU match we totally lost control in the first half and thanks to Migno we were not 2 nil down in the opening ten minutes ! So much for our style of play of last season where we were were the ones to press and inject pace from the off ......
It's all gone pear shaped and the players must shoulder most of the blame . If we don't get things right and minus key players , Blackburn will be giving us another hiding on Wednesday !
Could be a telling summer for the club and the manager I think... Whatever comes from this season, it has to be a more evolved understanding of how we need to approach each game as an individual, and not one tactic fits all as we have been doing...
ReplyDeleteWalcott's contract negotiations are famous for being protracted, to the point that Wenger even makes a joke about it..
ReplyDeleteAre you forgetting the early part of the season? We have won 9 of 11 using this system. In a 4231, 433 and diamond we had the worst start to a campaign in years.
ReplyDeleteHe was very highly rated in his Palermo days (more in terms of potential rather than his actual quality, though starting in Serie A so young, in such a tactical league, counts in his favour, a few spotty performances notwithstanding) but I remember he was horrendous at Roma and totally surplus at Wolfsburg.
ReplyDeleteI don't know whether that was fair at Wolfsburg or it just reflected his status as the latest victim of Magath's whims but he was awful for Roma. Admittedly, the whole team looked shite under Enrique, but I don't think that totally excuses him.
Has looked good whenever I've seen him internationally or in Ligue 1.
Yea I thought Can was the only player to come out of the game with any credibility... Then he got sent off
ReplyDeleteSakho and Mignolet for me. Can if not sent off.
ReplyDeleteI probably don't watch Herrera enough then. Because every time I've seen him shoot it ends in a nice, cool finish to the bottom corner
ReplyDeleteI think he has gotten most his goal said late. Finding form at the worst time for us.
ReplyDeletewe have scraped through in a lot of these games and look unconvincing
ReplyDeleteCertainly there have been a few of those. Others were comfortable. United have not looked good most the season but that doesn't matte. Winning games matters and we were doing it. Earlier on the season we were not winning games so what matters more?
ReplyDelete