2 May 2015

Rodgers confirms: Liverpool now in 'discussions' with 'impressive' international star. Done deal soon?

Despite Simon Mignolet's improved form this year, a new goalkeeper (arguably) remains a transfer priority this summer, but if the Reds are genuinely looking for a new 'stopper to replace and/or challenge the Belgian, why is the club seemingly trying to tie-down Brad Jones to a new deal?

On Friday, Rodgers told reporters:

"There have been discussions [with Jones]. Obviously, Brad is in his last year but there’s been nothing resolved".

This could mean one of two things:

* After Mignolet's resurgence, Rodgers has abandoned the idea of signing a new goalkeeper, and decided to put his trust in the Belgian, and stick with Jones as back-up.

* A new goalkeeper is still coming in, and Aussie international Jones is being retained as third-choice 'keeper.

Hopefully, option two is the answer, as it's a gargantuan mistake to go into next season with Mignolet operating with no real competition.

Anfield legend Mark Lawrenson is no fan of Jones, and in a recent column for the Liverpool Echo, he reiterated a view that most Reds fans seem to hold:

"If you walk into a Premier League dressing room, there will be somebody sat there ready to take your place. Mignolet doesn’t have that as Brad Jones sadly isn’t good enough at this exalted level".

Jones is often maligned by Liverpool fans, but in my view, the Aussie - recently praised by goalkeeping coach Jonas Achterberg for his 'impressive' attitude' - gets a bum-rap most of the time.

Some fans make it sound like he's a calamity keeper who constantly makes mistakes, but that just isn't fair, or accurate.

In most cases, when he's called into action, Jones does a creditable job, which is impressive considering the fact he often faces long spells on the sidelines between his rare starts for LFC. Jones' stats for LFC:

* 35 goals conceded in 27 games (1.2 per game)
* 8 clean sheets (30% of games | 1 every 3.3 games.

Compare this to Mignolet's record:

* 104 goals conceded in 90 games (1.1 per game)
* 28 clean sheets (31% of games | 1 every 3.2 games)

Overall, there's minimal difference between Jones and Mignolet, and if Jones had been Liverpool's number one over the last three years, who's to say he wouldn't have grown into the role and performed ever better?

That said, I'm not advocating a promotion for Jones; a new, top-class goalkeeper is required, and if Jones stays at the club as third-choice 'keeper, then so be it.

Author: Jaimie K


48 comments:

  1. If we've only got a limited transfer budget would you like to see some of it spent on a back up goalkeeper? I would say no, spend what we've got on players who will come in and improve the first team. We all know where we have to strengthen, at least 2 strikers, a new central midfielder and at least 1 full back. If we get all those positions filled and we have some money left over then yes, go buy a back up gk but in my opinion prioritise those positions first.

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  2. A goalkeeper, defender, dm and 2 strikers. Ain't going to happen this window. Oh yeah someone to replace Stevie as hendo not up to it. Dreaming

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  3. Migs is good. One striker is coming already, one is needed. Sturidge has all summer and won't be rushed if something happens to him, so only one needed. Nobody can replace Steven, but Hendo is instrumental in our future successes. Realist..

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  4. Realist yes except for the Migs bit

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  5. Well.. Things he has problems with are mostly about experience and confidence, this season will bring loads of both I think..

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  6. He is no youngster now and whilst I agree he has improved for me he is just not decisive enough or commanding.

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  7. He is a keeper, young enough.. We need to play to hide his flaws, but he'll save our a'ses when many keepers couldn't..

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  8. Not 110%? We're looking for full backing here.

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  9. Stan Dinaround9:59 pm, May 02, 2015

    I don't get this at all... We need numbers granted, but numbers that can be relied upon, not numbers just because... Spurs, Chelsea, Utd, Arsenal and City all have 2/3 GK's that they can rely upon... We have 1 improved GK, and somebody who is happy to never play... This beggars belief... Shows a serious lack of fore thought... God forbid Ming gets injured or shows another drop in form.

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  10. Hendo not up to it... Who have you been watching...?

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  11. A backup GK is needed, but I think this might be a case of BR prioritising. FW, RB, and CM/DM are much more pressing matters right now, and if the budget is limited, I think I could wait until January to replace Jones if we spend on the other areas adequately.

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  12. I hope so.... Does anyone know of any freebies coming available.... I would say Neto, but it seems he prefers Juve....

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  13. There's no point in saying Jones couldn't have done any worse if given the chance mignolet had. Jones is a terrible gk and we 've seen how shocking he's when called upon... Diving the wrong way, got beaten at near post, punching a soft shot back to the opposition

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  14. He's watching game film from 2012. Don't mind him.

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  15. Case in the place10:18 pm, May 02, 2015

    Lets get ready to rumble!!! (not the PJ and Duncan song)
    Come on the Pacman!
    Oh, and Mignolet for the win too, got to reward his improvements with the number one spot imo. Plenty of work on his distribution during the summer though.

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  16. or maybe, just maybe it's PR talks.
    Even though i don't consider him good enough i don't think saying it in public for a players who have always did their best and never complained would be awful to me.

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  17. well, said it badly... but hope people got my point though.

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  18. Twas a point well made Sir, also it never makes sense to run your own players down, it's disrespectful and wouldn't help team morale nor market value if your thinking of moving them on.

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  19. One of those times when stats tell a small side of the story. Jones is not a good keeper but Mignolet was been great second half of the season.

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  20. Tbf, not many can replace Gerrard. Liverpool still need to bring in a top midfielder.

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  21. Yeap credit to Migs and plenty of good vibes to the Pacman!

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  22. Just put a fiver on the Pacman to get knocked down but go on to win on points, 28/1, hopefully not jinxed him. Enjoy fight if ur watching :-)

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  23. True, He's definately irreplaceable.

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  24. Only logical reason that I can think is the home-grown quota. If Sterling leaves, with SG retiring & Lambert, Johnson off-loaded, we 'll be seriously short of HG players. 3rd GK is a wasted spot in the 25 listed for EPL, but you have to keep one.

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  25. Agree - And it looks like we've tied down the CM 'replacement' for Stevie with the potential free signing of Milner - which I'm not unhappy about. So, FB and a Striker

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  26. I've been thinking about it, but I would like to see Balo Origi. Of course it will never happen because we can easily see how BR thinks Balo should be played.


    -------------Balo----Origi
    ---------------Coutinho
    --Depay----------------------Konoplyanka
    ------------------Can
    Moreno---Skrtel---Sakho---Montoya/Henderson?
    --------------Mignolet


    This would definitely be an interesting team, one that I would love to see in action, Depay should be bid on for 40m to secure him into our team, and Kono on a free


    Of course though, there is always a possibility of Depay being a flop, in which I wouldn't be mad at because at least it isn't an english player!

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  27. Case tired p*ssed off & broke8:17 am, May 03, 2015

    Annoying as it is, I have to admit, Mayweather, pretty bloody good. Still don't like the bloke.
    Thought Manny showed a lot of character, outstanding.

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  28. Would Danny Ward not pass as home grown .?

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  29. Agree,
    The only reason that I can see for a new contract with Brad Jones is either ;
    1) Liverpool has no more money ?
    or
    2) Has no more ambition to win the EPL ?

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  30. For the price he is going for nobody can give me a good reason why were not going after Cech.think chavski would rather sell him to us than Arsenal.not putting in a bid because we don't think he will come is beyond brain dead.

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  31. Offer ends up beind third choice then fine but second? You would have to think it was what you are saying.

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  32. Full back that can play on one side very good and solid on another would be ideal. Glen from 3 years ago..

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  33. You sound a bit like a politician Jaimie. First off you talk Jones up a bit and then go on to say you feel third choice goalkeeper is his correct position in the squad . If I said to you he's crap and we need another goalkeeper you can say you said that we need another keeper and if I was to say to you he's a good back up you've also covered yourself there with your stat analysis with Mignolet. Good thinking Jaimie

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  34. Thanks, I did enjoy it (mostly), and sorry about your bet!


    Amen to all that. Mayweather is phenomenal, and I wish he wasn't that good. At least the crowd backed Pacquiao.


    Manny deserves that 'outstanding'. To be honest I thought the judges could have scored the fight closer than they did.

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  35. We need to bring in a top class quality GK who will keep S Mignolet on his toes or on the bench. So complacency does not creep in with him again: B Jones needs to be shipped out this summer, how can club even contemplate giving him new deal? Its things like this that shows owners and B Rodgers ambitions are not on par with the ambitions of us fans.
    A Begovic Of Stoke or Marc Andre Ter Stegen Of Barcelona should be brought to club this summer for £10-£14m

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  36. Theycallmemrburt6:14 pm, May 03, 2015

    Completely disagree Jamie Jones is one of the worst goalkeepers we have ever had alongside Mike Hooper Patrice Luzi and pegguy arphexad. He cant catch and he cant make a save.

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  37. He would, but I don't think he is good enough for the 2nd GK position. If LFC allows Jones to leave & can't get a better one than Mignolet (or replaces him), we might end Ward as our 2nd GK.

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  38. hendo aint up to it. its just that he is english

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  39. Hendo was instrumental in our title push last season. And he will be again.

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  40. We need a new number 1. To me, it is a priority position and a top keeper can win us points just like a striker or top midfielder.

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  41. Grealishisshit2:45 pm, May 04, 2015

    Manny was well beaten and the judging was generous enough. He let hi,self down by crying afterwards, saying he thought he won. How can you think you won a fight if you ain't hit the other guy?

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  42. With all respect Orme, I think you put it correctly there when you say "He was...last season". I think that is one of our biggest problems. We look too much into the past and use the past too much as a point for evaluating the present. Look at sunday's game. everyone is praising Stevie for scoring that goal vs QPR. Seriously can we really bend our mouths in praising anyone in our team for the performance against QPR. I think we now have Analysis Paralysis hence we live in the past too much

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  43. Past? It was last season?! He is still as good, and better, it is just the rest of the team wasn't up to it.

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