27 May 2015

Can-Killer? Liverpool chase 'incredible' €35m midfield destroyer Wenger claims is like 'Pogba'

In April, the Daily Mail claimed that Liverpool were tracking Monaco star Geoffrey Kondogbia, and new reports today suggest that Reds are stepping-up efforts to sign the midfield powerhouse.

According to The Mirror today, Liverpool have made another 'enquiry' about Kondogbia, who is also reportedly being pursued by Arsenal.

Some info about Kondogbia:

* 22-year old defensive-mid.

* 58 appearances for various France youth teams.

* 2 apps for the France national team.

* 59 apps for Monaco (3 goals/3 assists)

* 2013: Helped France win the U20 World Cup.

* Two injuries in the last year: (Ankle/Hamstring)

* Current contract expires in 2018.

* Two weeks ago, Le 10 Sport claimed that an unnamed Premier League club put in a €35m bid.

* Arsene Wenger's assessment: "Kondogbia is a very interesting player because he's a left footed midfielder and he's one of the promising stars, just behind Pogba, in the French national team."

* Kondogbia's view staying at the top: "The most important thing is to be rigourous. That's the key to remaining at the very top level. You have to be consistent and work hard humbly. Talent will do the rest."

Ex-Red Jamie Redknapp is a huge fan of Kondogbia, and after watching Monaco beat Arsenal in the Champions League last month, he hailed the French midfielder as 'incredible', and further enthused:

“Kondogbia was organised, disciplined and let his other team-mates play. He was the difference”.

Kondogbia is exactly the type of midfielder Liverpool need to sign, and with Gerrard leaving; Lucas increasingly injury prone; Joe Allen still struggling to really dominate in midfield, and Emre Can failing to convince (in midfield) a different option is clearly required.



I may be in the minority, but I am just not convinced that Emre Can is the answer in midfield. He's shown nothing in that position this season, and I've seen no evidence to suggest he's capable of scoring/creating goals on a regular basis (either at LFC, or in Germany)

Kondogbia seemingly wants to stay at Monaco, though, and when asked recently about speculation linking him with a move to the Premier League, he told reporters:

"I repeat again that the project here [at Monaco] is what suits me more. I became an important player here and I hope to participate again next year in a competition like the Champions League"

His agent seems to take a different view, and when asked on May 11th about Kondogbia's future, he told ESPN:

"We're being approached by big clubs. They are big names. We will have the lucidity to make the right choice. We won't go and sit on a bench."

If Kondogbia does decide to leave this summer, Arsenal - who have qualified for the Champions League once again - clearly have the edge in the race for the midfielder's signature.

That said, if he signs for Liverpool, Kondogbia will almost certainly be a regular starter (at Can's expense?), which is clearly a key requirement for the player.

Worth pursuing?

Author: Jaimie K


106 comments:

  1. Channeling Logan: He probably won't sign unless there's a change on the horizon. Does he know something we don't? ;-)

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  2. Liverpool do love a good "enquiry"...

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  3. As long as Klopps onboard I can live with Ings mate! Haha!

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  4. with kondogbia we can build a team of champions. strong, athletic and deadly.


    Kondogbia - £20M
    Yarmolenko - £20M
    Benteke - £20M
    Son Heung Min - £15M
    Cech - £10M
    Konoplyanka - FREE
    Pirlo - FREE
    Kolarov - FREE


    --------------------------------------Cech
    Wisdom----------------Skrtel--------------Ilori-------------Kolarov
    ----------------------Kondogbia-----------Pirlo/Hendo
    Yarmolenko-------------------Coutinho-------------Konoplyanka/Son
    ------------------------------------Benteke


    i know alot of people dont like the price of Benteke but trust me this guy one of the most promising footballers in world football. for me, the moment i saw Benteke i was wowed. some of his goals are sheer brilliance and his chances will increase at a better club. hes the focal point for any team and Villa are not up to Benteke's standard. Benteke has the ability to become the best striker in the world. hes honestly that good. at LFC he can become a true great.


    Yarmolenko has 19 goals/21 assists and that is just truly amazing. we know what hes about and have scouted him for many years why dont we sign? we need goals, pace and power and end product, he brings that, and Konoplyanka? its a no brainer, we were willing to pay £15m so why not get him for free? tbh if we bought Konoplyanka last january that would have been the boost we needed and we would have won the title. hes about to play a european final so lets get him and Yarmolenko to make a deadly wing partnership around the brilliance of coutinho and with all good assists rates, they will complement benteke and each other. Hendo should be rotated and learn from a legend like pirlo who we should go all out to sign to help groom our young midfielders. Kolarov is a two time title winner and far better than moreno. experienced and a free agent, its a no brainer. his set piece ability crucial as well(like the days when we got wins from Riise goalscoring exploits)


    sell sterling, aspas, borini, lambert, lovren, allen, balotelli, alberto and get £90M


    Yarmolenko ten times sterling and lallana put together. 19 goals/ 21 assists which they could only dream of. Sterling was non existent in our Champions League and Europa league phase and missed an absolutely sitter against Ludogrets, when we were 2-1 up and we ended up drawing 2-2.

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  5. I think Logan knows that the horizon changes

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  6. Jaimie, this is an interesting article about Mike Gordon and will might explain why Henry and Werner did not attend Gerrard's last match at Anfield :

    http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/mike-gordon-fsg-profile-man-9336112?

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  7. I recon there is no chance of getting any class players this window after the season we have just had, The only way is to try and convince them is that we are going to spend and spend Big to get the best available players to challenge for the league and trophies.

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  8. voice of reason2:41 am, May 27, 2015

    emre can not convincing in midfield??? u lost me there jamie as can has barely gotten a sniff at midfield

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  9. LFC have been crying out for a quality DM for a long time in my opinion. I agree with Fowler 09 that Can operates more effectively bursting from midfield so the CM position is more suited to him. kondogbia is a strong pacey DM and would be a good signing, Imbula from Marsielle and Christoph Kramer look pretty good as well from what I've seen of them on TV, we still need at least 8 players in my opinion it might sound drastic but Borini, Balotelli, Sterling, Gerrard, Johnson, B. Jones, Enrique, Lucas, Lambert, Llori, Aspas, Alberto, Allen and Coates are not upto the job or need replacing.

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  10. I'm quite sure there are more than a handful of clubs monitoring this player. We are certainly not in a position that is capable of turning this player's head and I don't think top teams around Europe will allow his head to be turned by us. As much as I love LFC, I have to admit we have diminutive influence as a big club right now and it will be almost certain that the faltering will only deepen with each passing season of inane results both on pitch and in transfer market.

    Also, pardon me for bitching about the present management at LFC, again. If nothing changes at the management, this will not be the kind of player the management will be interested in and capable of attracting. To them, the more viable place to source for players is Liverhampton. But I guess players from Liverhampton already understand, apart from pay raise, they won't be getting anything more in terms of ambition and football.

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  11. Wat a joke can player 1 game in midfield in a cup game and got an assist, he has played out of position at right back all season dont get it twisted. We do need better cover maybe some like vidal but it aint gona happen

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  12. We can 'track' all the players we want..there's only one problem...


    We seem to be using 'Tonto' from lone ranger's 5 year old brother and every other team seem to have their hands on Bear Grylls clones...


    ..in other words...I have more than a reasonable suspicion we won't get him...

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  13. At 5m Ings will be value for money signing but we all know what 5m buys you mediocrity.

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  14. I rate Nzonzi, he's a decent player, doesnt make too many mistakes in possession and is very economical in his movements. The commentators for the stoke game couldnt get enough, I could basically hear them tweaking their nipples everytime he got the ball.

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  15. Maybe the Daily Mail reported it on April Fools Day. Kondogbia is French, Wenger is French and has a contingent of French players at Arsenal that will help him to settle quickly. Carvalho has gone under the radar of late, so when the Kondogbia bid fails we can try and somehow get Carvalho. Emre Can barely featured in midfield this season so it baffles me how he can be deemed a failure.

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  16. Don't consider Sturridge, as he's a permanent crock. Ings is a good, young player but he'll have to settle for 3rd choice, at least I hope so, as it will mean we have two better strikers as starters.

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  17. If B R has LOST THE LOCKER ROOM then neither he or LFC have a future - I am struggling to see where we go from here - Clueless Manager being assessed by a Clueless American is what we can look forward to next week. LFC are losing the fans and that is the biggest sin of allJAMIE =we can buy 200 new players but it will make no difference -they will play out of position and be totally cheesed off within 3 months as this guy would be We are relegation material HONEST

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  18. Always Red - Interesting article about Mike Gordon ??? You been on the hard stuff mate ??

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  19. Message to MIKE GORDON -If you sort this mess out then you will be the next Einstein - BEST OF LUCK MATE - COME ON MIKE PLEASE

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  20. There are Four DM'S New manager or B Rodgers should look at bringing to club this summer:


    1: L Bender Of Bayer Leverkusen for £16-£22M


    2: G Imbulla Of Marseille for £10-£15M


    3: S Bender Of B Dortmund for £12-£16M


    4: W Carvalho Of S Lisbon for £20-£25M




    Those 4 players are miles better than J Clue/Useless Allen and L Leiva as Defensive midfielders as they all have the size, Energy, Mobiity and pace needed to protect back four efficiently and break up play effectively.


    Two out of the 4 players above should be brought to club this summer, whilst Clue/Useless J Allen and L Leiva should be shown door this summer.


    The Two DM'S club should bring to club this summer are :


    1: L Bender Of Bayer Leverkusen
    2: G Imbulla Of Marseille


    For combined total of £36M

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  21. I think we need more prescence in the midfield. I hoped Can would provide that, but I worry he's a 'tweener'...someone who can play in a variety of positions, but perhaps not quite at LFC level in any specific place.

    He's young, so we'll likely get a better picture this year, with a year under his belt here.

    I thought he was going to be a box-to-box midefielder when we signed him, given the reports and scouting I'd seen. He was being compared to Stevie with his bursts forward from midfield.

    Bit surprised to see him played at the back, don't really think he's good enough in the last line of defence. Don't see the 3-4-2-1 being a long-term solution for either us, or him, so maybe we'll work on formation better suited for him.

    In the meantime, a robust, mobile, aggressive defensive midfielder would be a welcome addition.

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  22. Sadly, you're likely correct.

    If we couldn't sign any marquee players when we had Stevie and Luis and was in the CL last year...add in the end of season collapse of the ages, man, we're going to have to do what United did with Di Maria, really pay over the odds.

    Bit of a worry, as we often times resist paying even market value (Salah et al)...yet then go and throw a fortune at Lallana, Lovren and Markovic.

    Crikey, when you think about it, it's baaaaaaaaadddddddddd : (

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  23. there are too many players who are better than wee Joe ;)

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  24. the earlier they get here the better,but you never know with Mr.Ayre and the rest as they say is history.......

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  25. So does the press whether true or not

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  26. Gordon has been there "sorting things out" ever since since BR joined the club, he is a member of "the Committee" and has had an elevated position in the club for the past 12 months, So if he has not sorted things out so far can't see what is going to suddenly change


    An interesting profile though on one of the figures behind the scenes

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  27. Was there an edit that has made your comment redundant? Or am I, as usual, missing something?

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  28. Off topic, anyone know who the 10 FIFA officials that have been arrested? Wonder if Sepp Blatter is one of them, now that is someone that everyone here could have more disdain for than BR and RS.

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  29. That's right, I don't think that there is much loyalty around anymore all players want now is more money and trophies and if they cant get that they will just move on. saaaaaaddd, So I think that at the moment we should be grateful just to get any upgrade on what we already have.

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  30. I cannot see FSG spending money this summer.

    So all the talk of spend big is pie in the sky .

    Just signed Wisdom ,so that is RB sorted out ,Can will take Steve G's place ,Milner ,if ,Big if , he comes to Liverpool ,will take over from Lucas ,Benteke and Ings up front , will be about all that will happen this summer AND then they will have to sort out Sterling's mess .

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  31. Potential to have potential!!! Its really tiring this business. I think that this cheap skate business will carry on forever and ever. We will be competing for top 8 places and nothing else, because of this type of thinking by the transfer committee or Brendon or whoever is in charge! Year in and year out we have fans voicing their opinions about good players that are available that could really perk up the team, and what happens, NOTHING! I really don't need to remind us all about "who was or has been available" as apposed to who we actually bought, I heard this chap crying on talksport the other day and i can TOTALLY understand how he feels! Like Jaimie and just cannot get excited about Danny Ings really, but I do feel that this type of player really displays in no uncertain terms the total lack of ambition at LFC at the moment!

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  32. An illuminating read, but I did wince a bit at Gordon's former business partner's description of him as 'really outstanding'.

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  33. That's the first time I've laughed since I heard Rodgers might be staying!!😊

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  34. Wisdom at RB? Oh my gosh, please no!


    I'd really like Milner, though, he's a hustler and that hustle can be infectious.

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  35. Sad state of affiars, but you're probably right.

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  36. So, Mike Gordon has all this power at one the worlds biggest football clubs...

    ...yet has no previous experience in "soccer"?

    Until we get some proper/decent football men in to handle the football side of things, we will flounder.

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  37. Yeah, someone linked to an Echo article below, and after having read it, I was left wondering...how is this 50 year old American with no previous experience in "soccer" going to be an asset to our football operations?

    You could make a case that any one of a dozen or more posters on here are vastly more experienced in football matters than this guy.

    Financial wizard he may be...but...

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  38. It's not Can's job to score and create goals. He's a defensive minded player who would play defensive mid or box to box in our midfield. I'm sure he would chip in with more goals and assists than Lucas has over the years but, like Lucas, there will be very little onus on Can to be scoring goals

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  39. What's Nicola Cortese doing since he left Southampton? He'd be a good shout for a role at the club, be it DOF or some upper management role

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  40. It's gonna be another summer of Aspas's and no Suarez to mop up the mess for BR. He'll be gone by Christmas which is when Klopp's sabbatical ends. Whatever though, we're three days since the final insult on Sunday and he's still there. The man lacks any class and dignity.

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  41. Very good shout, imho! Good call.

    It pains me to say it, given our history, but over the last few years, Southampton have shown us the way forward.

    I have nothing but fear when i look at who is running the club and how they are going about things.

    Happy to invest millions, yet have not yet managed to hire one football man with any pedigree. Closest we came was interviewing LvG.

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  42. We never properly replaced Mascherano. Or Alonso for that matter

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  43. I love it how fans reckon "he's only five million so worth a shot". That's the whole point! Aspas was only 7 million. Class players no longer come at 5 million anymore. Especially strikers. If he was so great, Chelsea or some other club with money would have snapped him up in January or even long before that. It's the only five million transfers that got us into this mess in the first place. Five, five million players get you Depay.

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  44. Khedira has signed for Juve

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  45. Oh man, was thinking about this the other night.

    Xabi leaving was the beginning of the end : (

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  46. There does seem to be a lot of floundering about and feet dragging, around transfers especially.
    I think they thought they'd got proper football guys when they hired Kenny and Commolli. After that fiasco, I think FSG decided to do things their way.
    One thing I will say is that FSG are a proactive company not afraid to make changes. I believe they'll eventually get it right but some patience is required

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  47. Yeah, they had the right idea, just made the wrong hire (Comolli). And then sacked Kenny too soon. Would have liked to give Kenny a year that isn't marred for months by that ongoing Evra/Suarez row.

    In Kennys first 6 months back in charge, during that span, we were 3rd in the league, just a couple points behind the top two.

    Now we're 22 points behind and rebuilding yet again.

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  48. I would've given Kenny another season too. We were desperately unlucky that season too. We broke the record for the number of times we hit the woodwork

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  49. Blatter wasn't but Webb (the Vice President) was. Hopefully this will make Blatter's position untenable

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  50. Yep, it was about 20 or 30 times wasn't it? Something absurd like that.

    If only a tiny percentage of those had gone in...well...I can dream...

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  51. Precisely. Signing players just because they're cheap. More squad-fillers.

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  52. Nut he ain't good enough for us, according to some.

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  53. Nzonzi is better than Allen and Henderson.

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  54. I think it was more like 42. Football is a game of fine margins

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  55. People need to ask themselves whether they'd still consider signing a player if he wasn't being offered at a cut price.

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  56. Not bad. Both nigh-on world-class.

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  57. 42? That's ridiculous! Surely, that was the most ever by a looong way?

    That beggars belief. If only a few of those had gone in he might not have been sacked : (

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  58. Emre Can and Lucas were a match for the Real Madrid midfield at the Bernabeu. Of course, Can's confidence will need rebuilding after being wrecked at right-back.

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  59. Spot on. He should be playing next to Kondogbia or Lucas.

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  60. That would be good. He was excellent for Southampton.

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  61. Playing as a central mid is Cans preferred spot thats where he will end up he looks good going forward there is no reason they cant play on the same team.

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  62. It's interesting how some tend to create dichotomies between 'the manager', the 'transfer committee' and 'FSG' when appraising the club's progress or lack thereof. Surely all have some measure of influence in the club's success or failure.

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  63. HUG'S recon we are on the same page :)

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  64. Not being funny, but I'd rather have you as our boss...

    At least with you I could actually watch a press conference or interview without cringing or writhing in embarrassment.

    And, I'm sure you wouldn't wait until the 69th minute before bringing on a striker during a game in which you were 5 nil down.

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  65. Klopp have signed players of lower profile and made them world class. He is not all about signing superstars

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  66. He's got an eye for skill.

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  67. What about his defensive stats?

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  68. Then only if we play diamond will able to accommodate hendo and can in the same team.

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  69. I'd sacrifice Hendo to the bench for some games. He can be part of the rotation. No need to play them both for the sake of it.

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  70. Exactly.The main concern should be whether a player will improve us, not how much they cost. We're not paying the fee so we don't need to worry about that.

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  71. Well I miss them too but we did OK last year so it's not necessarily that gloomy though Stoke has shaken my belief a bit too. Let's hope the break, a few signings and a fresh start next season will see a resurgence.

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  72. I think all that could happen but would expect a couple of better signings too from the Sterling money. C/F and goalie would be my choice.

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  73. Can has been our best midfielder when played in CB, and very average when played in CM.

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  74. That's right Hug's and I would have you as my P.R :-)

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  75. This about sums up the club's problems. The senior decision-makers are money-men, and the footballers (manager/coach and scouts)work within a framework decided people who first came across soccer in 2010, plus Ian Ayre, who didn't cover himself in glory at Huddersfield Town. Mike Gordon might well be an "outstanding" dude but there needs to be someone with experience of and love for football that directs the club's footballing strategy. The suits can advise on what's possible, and be willing to bend what's possible when the footballers can make a compelling argument. Tail is currently wagging the dog.

    Unless they're not too fussed about winning the league before the stadium is upgraded.

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  76. I would imagine 90% of the time it's not

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  77. but he is about signing players of a higher standard than Ings

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  78. I think Origi is taking Borini's place in the squad, and considering the junior strikers like Sinclair and Yesil pushing upwards, I just see no need for Ings. We need two senior strikers, plus Origi and the young'uns, plus Sturridge when he eventually returns in November or whenever.

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  79. That's subjective

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  80. We have a manager with an eye for outstanding skill.

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  81. Pity it's just the one.

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  82. most opinions tend to be....

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  83. So a interview a few days ago stated the reason Mascherano left was because Liverpool wanted Barry ?

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  84. Swap Ings for somebody like Gameiro and I'd be happy with that.

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  85. Hindsight is a wonderful thing...

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  86. That was Alonso

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  87. This is all well and good other than the fact these players would all demand high wages...
    FSG won't pay high wages or sign players with experience it seems unfortunately.


    I would also swap Skrtel with Sakho...

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  88. Depends where you gets stabbed...i wouldn't mind being stabbed in the arm or in the leg...but then again would being shot make much difference? aaah one of lifes great mysteries

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  89. David Godoy Cano1:12 pm, May 27, 2015

    What i think most Liverpool supporters agree on is the potenital in Can as a box to box midfielder. And with that i agree that we should not rely on Can in the midfield next season. He is just not ready.. Not a finished product.. I belive he will be someday.. But what we need is physical prescense that can control and dicatate the game from the midfield. (Sorry for my english)

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  90. I think it runs a bit deeper than hindsight alone Inam although hindsight is wonderful you take gambles most of the players I mentioned where internationals and doing well for there respective clubs, you can forgive a few players not really working in hindsight out but not on the scale Rodgers and his masters have done it is more like poor judgement.

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  91. FIFA vice-president Jeffrey Webb and lead official Jack Warner have been brought in. While Eugenio Figueredo, Eduardo Li, Julio Rocha, Costas Takkas, Rafael Esquivel, Jose Maria Marin and Nicolas Leoz are being charged.

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  92. Sorry , before my time as a supporter.

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  93. your gran is much better than Joe Allen. Seen her play. Must make you all proud. Step over once, twice... in the back corner. And that trademark "I'm just pouring a cup of tea, do you want want one?" celebration... poetry in motion

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  94. It's not just her skills tho.she has so much pace and power compared to Joe. Even with her arthritis and brittle bones!!!

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  95. Your English is good.

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  96. Reports now suggest he may not go to LFC. Watch him sign for Spurs, than people will cry that 'pool missed out, gnash their teeth etc.

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  97. You can see Kondogbia on the phone to his agent now...tell Real, Barca and Juve no when they call you, Liverpool may be interested! I get to play with Manquillo, Balotelli and Raheem! And for the Brodge!

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  98. He can keep Sturridge company

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  99. I don't know. I was drink-posting. Gotta stop doing that.

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  100. 'Blatter's position untenable' pigs might fly! Modern day Nero!

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  101. are we so small a club now that "INGS's move is a big one ....smh

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  102. David Godoy Cano7:59 am, May 28, 2015

    Thanks :) , guess its easier to just write a "sorry for my english" than spend time on spell checking.. xD

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