24 Jun 2015

Next Transfer? After Firmino, Liverpool plan £14m offer for 'super-fast' Madrid 'phenomenon'

A few weeks ago, Spanish newspaper AS claimed that Liverpool had contacted Real Madrid to enquire about the possibility of signing Russian attacker Denis Cheryshev, and with Robert Firmino already in the bag, reports this week continue to suggest that the Reds are still tracking the exciting winger.

According to the Liverpool Echo:

* Liverpool are ready to make a £14m move for Cheryshev, who is also wanted by Everton.

* Liverpool are 'closer' than Everton to making an official offer.

Some info about Cheryshev:

* Left-winger, who spent last season on loan at Villareal.

* Missed the end of the season with a hamstring injury.

* 5 injuries in the last two years: 3x hamstring, plus a serious muscle injury (out for 122 days), and a fractured toe.

* 39 games missed through in injury in the last two seasons.

* Made only one senior appearance for Madrid before being farmed out on loan.

* This season: 7 goals/11 assists in 40 games for Villareal (Goal/assist every 2.2 games)

* 7 apps for the Russia national team.

* According to Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo: "Cheryshev is powerful, super-fast, and is one of Villareal's most dangerous attackers".

When asked in early-April about whether he'd return to Madrid next season, Cheryshev told Marca:

"Real Madrid haven’t told me anything about coming back yet. The only thing I want to do is play football. Right now I feel very well and after the pre-season tour of Australia, we'll see what will happen"


Cheryshev's goals/assists ratio is only slightly better than Sterling's, and his recent injury history is a massive concern; The last thing Liverpool need is another player who regularly suffers niggling injury issues.

It may all be moot, though, as Cheryshev wants to stay at Villareal, and he confirmed this in March, when he told reporters:

"If everybody involved reaches an agreement I'd be delighted to stay at Villarreal. Here people have always shown me kindness and I'd like to continue to repay that with my efforts and my performances."

In May, Villareal vice-president Jose Manuel Llaneza also confirmed that the club want to keep Cheryshev:

"We want to have Denis Cheryshev on loan for another season he is a phenomenon, and Villarreal will make an effort to get that done but the outcome is uncertain".

With Firmino now on board, the need for another attacking midfield is seemingly less pressing, though it all depends on how Rodgers plans to deploy the Brazilian. Is he a replacement for Sterling, or Luis Suarez?

If it's the latter, and Firmino is played up-front - or as a so-called 'false 9', then Liverpool (arguably) still need another wide player. Jordon Ibe is inexperienced, and Lazar Markovic has shown nothing so far to suggest that he's going to come good.

Worth a bid?


Author: Jaimie K


172 comments:

  1. Great minds think alike heh ;-)

    Just reference my suggested team line up (below) based on current squad situation.

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  2. Nicolas Chamberlain5:55 pm, June 24, 2015

    No more please! Exactly. We should be more wise when we have lots of money to spent.

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  3. Yep - and who knows how both Couts and Lucas influenced Firmino to come to Anfield.

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  4. The headline should read...."Remedy for Firmino hangover"

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  5. Responding further to you ideal type of player who can pass the ball and take pressure off the defense - you've effectively described Stevie G.

    And we all know that did not work out for him under BR.

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  6. That's a good lineup and formation although it limits the crosses and our presence on the flanks. However. with the type of players we have I think our play will be based on the center of the pitch, playing narrow and try to penetrate into the final third by short passes and through balls. This is a fantastic team to play in such style. Top 4...here we come!!

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  7. You see you are absolutely right - there is no width in that team, unless provided by the full backs. And that is the limitation of a 4-4-2 diamond - once necessitated by the players on the roster, and playing style dictated by the manager.

    For me, to finish in the top 4 would imply three important things:

    1. We've fixed the leaky defense
    2. We've converted a higher percentage of the chances created
    3. We've performed better against the top 4-5 teams.



    Realistically, I am only holding out for 1 of the 3 (namely scoring more goals). The other two points I think are beyond BR to fix.

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  8. Let's just not kill the mood and sign De Bruyne instead.

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  9. I think our defense will improve by at least 50% (easy) as soon as we start playing a dedicated DM. I really hope we buy someone but apart from Illaramendi, we haven't been linked with any DM so far. Yes, we definitely need a goalscorer. We have enough goals in the midfield now with Lallana, Coutinho and Firmino....just need a striker to complement our midfield. If we get a DM and a ST then I think we have a good enough squad to get results against the likes of Man Utd, Arsenal and City. Not sure about Chelsea though, I think Mourinho completely owns BR ;-)

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  10. enough for the day mate

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  11. Proving that you know very little. Just because we didn't get him do not be fooled into thinking that Depay is anything other than an exceptional young talent, just like Firmino is for us.

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  12. Chirag, do you realize how much respect we have garnered around the football word just by signing Firmino? Common we have to make use of that before everybody finds out that was just a one off...

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  13. Not fair! I was already on the pessimistic poo train and they go and do this! Make me eat my words...damn them! Well, kudos are deserved. Great buy guys. Really see him as a striker. Now just hope BR doesn't make him a wing back. At least Kopp will be familiar with him...heh..heh..

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  14. He gets criticised when he speaks and criticised when he doesn't.
    What is it that he needs to say? "Wonderful signing, potentially world class, marquee signing" and then JK will write another article saying that this is another illustration of Rogers' deification of players.

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  15. Honestly, I think Marko is better even after last season...

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  16. No Siavash, I don't think we should get ahead of ourselves. This is the first big signing in few years for Liverpool, we have been beaten to plenty others during that period. We should not go all out on the big names just for the sake of it because we can't afford it. 29mn for Firmino has possibly taken the big chunk out of our transfer budget. I don't mind if we add one big signing like this every year to build a team. We are not owned by some Russian or Arab oligarch. And we also need to be successful first. Firmino may well leave us like Suarez in couple of years if we are not successful. We will be back to square one then.

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  17. And thats with Marko, Studge, Lovren, Allen, Lucas not even in the squad

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  18. Chelsea - Hazard, Willian, Cudrado, Oscar
    City - Silva, Nasri, Navas, Jovetic
    Both buying more.

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  19. Chirag, our signings are self-funded by the sale of the Mercenary and hopefully Borini. We very well can sign a De Bruyne or Bacca. We should do it while everybody's in a state of shock because of our last night's heroics.

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  20. Ian Ayre for President ? you mean club right?

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  21. Arda Turin is available, a good old head, lfc fan and apparently the mancs are after him, that would do me nicely.

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  22. lfc need class - and he has it in abundance...

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  23. He said he's definitely on the outs, I love him and he reminds me of Xabi and Pirlo (must be the beard thing), but for 41 m, his agent and Simeone are having LOLLLZ

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  24. I think Liverpool fans are more in state of surprise rather than anyone else. Kevin De Bruyne will cost too much and might not be interested to leave ECL football for us.

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  25. I think Firmino has been signed as a striker and to be honest he suits the Suarez mold perfectly, as he has great movement, excellent finishing and great work rate, and I now think we should sign kovacic, Tyrone mings( backup LB and potentially a future option at CB), Mat Ryan( excellent ball playing GK that would be a available for low transfer fee, and one of Clyne or carvajal( don't know if Carvajal is realistic but he's one of my favourite players and would make an insanely good full back duo with Moreno, plus wed have the. Only if we sell sterling

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  26. Nonsense. Rodgers doesn't get 'criticised when he speaks' - he gets criticised for specific, credible reasons (i.e. gross overpraise).

    What happened to moderation and restraint? Rodgers can say what he wants but he doesn't have to go so ridiculously overboard. Other managers (Pellegrini, for example) are capable of making regular statements without sounding like a starstruck schoolgirl, so why can't Rodgers?

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  27. True, but my point is we should continue the momentum now with one big (and useful) addition. Firmino joining was practically like when we finished second. Kudos to Ayre for this one.

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  28. Nicolas Chamberlain6:52 pm, June 24, 2015

    Not convinced at all. There are better options available.

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  29. Firmino plays best on the left, it's where he gets the most goals/assists and is where he feels most comfortable, not sure why you'd put him on the right.

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  30. Ian Ayre for president6:54 pm, June 24, 2015

    I dont like Sterling
    but mercenary is pushing it a bit.
    He left London as a 14 year old kid to come to LIverpool ,because it was best for his career .
    And now he is leaving Liverpool because he believes it is best for his career.


    I think he is making the wrong decision what is best for his career is staying at Liverpool ,and trying to reach Gareth's Bale level and then join Real Madrid or Barcelona.


    Suarez,Alonso,Mascherano,Arbeloa all moved to the elite of elites from Liverpool. Liverpool,Man united and Arsenal are Reals and Barcas favorite shop because those players get accustomed to playing for big clubs in a style akin to their own .


    Man city and Chelsea dont sell their best players and i cant see Sterling ever getting his move to Spain. Coutinho on the other hand him staying will earn him that big move .
    Sterling has really bad advisers

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  31. And Ahmen abdennour plays as left centre back not right, plus I'd rather have ilori anyway.

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  32. I think Firmino will be deployed as a striker (or wing back given BR), if Lazar is actually used in his natural position he may come good. Really don't think we need another winger.

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  33. exactly- i would say get rid of mercenaries who are drawing salary for for doing nothing and making merry with their WAGs.

    This should also include dead wood and under performers.
    Borini, Balo, Enrique,Lambert,Allen,Alberto,et al.
    We must sign players with proven class and a hunger to get better.

    Priorities in that order:
    1) DM - Illaramendi /Morgan Schneiderlin/ Moussa sissoko/Lars Bender(keep Lucas)
    2) RB - Clyne/Danilo/Andoni Iraola
    (Keep Manquillo)
    3) A proven striker - Tevez/Bacca/Higuain/Rondon
    4) LFC must try to entice Casillas to Anfield
    5) Adding a creative midfielder like Kovacic would be an icing on the cake.

    PS: Offload the under performers if they fail again - Lallana,Lovren,Markovic.

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  34. I don't understand the love for Sakho. He is not worthy of a top 4 team in any European league. In other words, he's not a CL type of player. All he offers is physicality, but lacks on ball possession, accurate passing and decision making. Also he looks terrible when he's on the ball. He should be just a squad player, and ideally for a different team.

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  35. Call me crazy but for some reason I see Ings and Firmino hitting up a good partnership.

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  36. Does anybody think that Firmino might be part of Jurgen Klopp's plans for next January????????

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  37. Let's just say that if Jurgen comes in, Firmino ain't going anywhere.

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  38. You are a typical fan who clearly hasn't seen the stats for Sakho. He offers physicality, yes, but you cannot fault his passing accuracy which is one of the highest in the squad and is often the link between Defense and Attack. And who cares if he looks terrible on the ball! Hendo has gait, Sterling runs like a dinosaur and Sakho always looks panicked but he gets the job done and very efficiently.

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  39. Still can't believe we actually signed him. He's no Messi or Suarez, but certainly on par with Sanchez and Martinez. Get the defense in order, keep Sturridge healthy for 70% of season and we may do some damage. Tough opening to season though...BR could be out by November. Get Klopp and now we are in business...which may be the FSG back of mind plan.

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  40. We only need 3 more transfers, which sounds like a lot, but I didn't consider the freebies "needs" in the first place.
    (1) A good DM who can slowly take over for Lucas. Lucas has had some good times, but his form has gone down, and even if he rediscovers himself, someone like Illarramendi would be a good option if we want to change things up and keep stability at DM.
    (2) A right back. We have a very rusty Flanno and an out of favor Manquillo right and an out of position Marko and Can. We need a right back. Period. Clyne would be a good option, though not the only one. Carvajal is way out of our zone at Real, but one can dream :D
    (3) A striker. Not the biggest priority, but Ings will only be good enough to be backup. If Studge has problems again, we'll need someone else to be first choice. Bacca would be my pick.


    Mat Ryan and Kovacic would be next on my list, but the above players are necessities imo.

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  41. Fuming is good, ok pretty damn good, but not on par with Sanchez I don't think because he hasn't proven his ability to play on the international stage... Yet. But I believe that in time he can be as good as Sanchez and have a similar impact.

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  42. Does anybody else think it is very strange that there has been no comment about this by BR (unless I have missed it)

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  43. I was just writing the same...

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  44. I'm thinking along these lines, too.

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  45. There are lots of options there, Firmino has played in all four attacking positions in a 4-2-3-1 for Hoffenheim and that's probably how I see us playing at least some of the time, there is variation there, Sterling, firmino Ibe and Markovic all pacey an could play as more orthodox wingers in 4-3-3 or even 4-4-2 (not likely). They way we played in 2013-14 it was key that the attack was fluid with interchange of position and pressing from the tip of the attack without the ball. We just didn't have the personnel to do it often last year. The Echo and others are reporting that Ayre is staying in Chile....and that Liverpool are looking to sign an out and out front man. We have heard the rumours re Rondon and Bacca.....but now there are noises about Higuain as well (Warren Horton on Talksport and others) Milan are sniffing him as well but if we got him to put away Coutinho/Firmino's bullets then we would really be cooking

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  46. The biggest problem with Sakho is his touch while dribbling. He looks panicky on the ball because he's never seems to be under complete control unless he's stopped. But honestly, if that's the only big thing he has to work on, I'd say that's pretty dang good.

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  47. Have I missed something because I have yet to see any comment from BR about this signing.


    When the club your manager of makes its 2nd most expensive signing in its history you expect the manager to say something but unless I have missed it nothing.

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  48. I doubt BR has even spoken to Firmino yet aside for transfer dealings. Ayre went to Chile to take the photos and stuff since he's at Copa. BR will probably make a statement after the tourny.

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  49. He is younger, yes - which is a plus - and just got into the national squad. Should have been in WC i nstead of Fred, which many suggested in Brazil. Having a nice tourney now. In terms of club level though think he is on par with Sanchez. See what he does in prem, but German league is similar style/quality so have hopes. Hell, he bangs in 15 goals that's better than what we had last year.

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  50. Tell that to garfield who actually believes BR convinced the guy... intense stuff I need to smoke something right now!

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  51. Sakho is still 25, relatively young for Center Back. Skrtel for instance was absolutely horrible untill 2 seasons ago. And Defenders usually develope a bit slower, and play longer careers than attacking players.



    Sakho has been established player and International both in junior and Senior side. It would be HUGE mistake to get rid of him / not develope him. I can see him peaking at couple of years and become a top top Defender.

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  52. I seriously think that now FSG are contemplating on Bodger's future after all the mess he has created.
    I think FSG will surprise us after they find a suitable replacement !

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  53. They will at least work hard for the team. Both have good movement and not shy about pressing.

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  54. One of Suarez many qualities is his body strength. Unfortunately I don't see the same in Firmino, he may well struggle in this very physical league.

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  55. ian ayre for president7:32 pm, June 24, 2015

    Origi will be a legend. Has more goals then Henry in French league at same age while being deployed out wide 90% of the time.


    i want to see Origi and Firmino link up as well , if it si anything as good as Hazard-Origi we will be very sucsessful

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  56. now that is complete ...... sorry mate. He has played in Germany for 5 years, id say it is a pretty physical league? ever watched Bundesleague?

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  57. Lacazette is a beast but he is an unrealistic target for LFC.

    Host of rich clubs are after him.So no chance for LFC. I think he'll end up at PSG.

    Perhaps we should try for Aubemayang(adept in the style in which LFC plays) or Higuain,or Bacca/Rondon

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  58. Well, considering he keeps Koscielny out of the French side suggests he's beat him into Arsenal's side too. Something tells me that Utd could use him too. He'd give City a partner for Kompany, and he could give Terry+Cahill a run for their money.

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  59. Higuian can finish even if Napoli fans disagree, but he has lost his legs. We need a pacey striker who

    is willing to chase and harry when we dont have the ball. So I agree all variations from 4-2-3-1 to 4-4-2 diamond to 4-3-3 are possible.


    I'd even consider a variation of the 3-5-2 with Can deployed as a sweeper in a 1-2-4-3-1 formation, such that he can come out with the ball whenever it suits. This may actually suit LFC better.

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  60. If you're going to judge a player, it has to be accurate though. You specifically say lacks passing accuracy, but he clearly doesn't from the stats. He has better tackling ability than Skrtel and gives up less fouls. He's better at positioning than Lovren, and can track back better as well.


    Sakho was one of the world's premier defensive talents just a few years ago. He captained PSG at some ridiculously young age. While they're better now than they were, he'd probably make the squad over Luiz if he was still there...

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  61. Please do.. as I doubt he'll know who Firmino is ;-)

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  62. Asier Illarramendi, Nathaniel Clyne, Carlos Bacca, Salomon Rondon, Mateo Kovacic and Iker Casillas...possible to get all these boys in?

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  63. Just show him the pic below and tell him he's another jolly foreigner in a LFC red shirt..

    .. should be enough basic info for BR to acknowledge !

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  64. ...I wonder how long its gonna be before we start playing like the team 2013/14....?


    ...'cos that team gave us all a hard-on......so in 2015/16 lets all hope we're walking around with 'firmino's' in our trousers.....


    ...our new brazilian......LFC's version of viagra...... :)

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  65. He will certainly replace Henderson in year only if Bodgers has the b@lls to play him in the central midfield.
    He is Yaya/Ballack Version 2 in making.
    It is writing on the wall that he'll be the future LFC captain !


    His talent would be wasted in RB or DM.
    We need a new signing to play at DM. Perhaps Morgan/Bender/Illa/Sissokho

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  66. ...oh sh*t...the electrics gone in the house.....!


    ....oh I know I'll open the top of his box and ask him to smile....that'll light up the place... :)

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  67. He is well known in the Bundesliga for tackling from the front and his hunger for the ball. 175 successful tackles made in the last two seasons - only 5 players have made more, and they're all defensive midfielders by trade. If nothing else this is an indication that he's probably much stronger than he looks.

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  68. As great as we played that year, pls do not forget the record number of goals we conceded.

    There needs to be a balance between attack and defense, and that should be the role of the two CBs and the DM.

    Two ways to solve that problem: 1-2-4-2-1 formation, which effectively has Can as sweeper, Stktel/Sakho as man-markers, and Hendo/Milner as holding midfield. Then 2/3 of Can/Hendo/Milner taking it in turn to join the attack..

    OR 4-4-2 diamond, 4-3-3 or any variation thereof, with Srktel/Sakho and then Lucas (or upgrade) holding down the fort, allowing everyone else to attack. SG tried to do the DM role that year and failed miserably.

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  69. ...surely we should allow him a day-trip to Blackpool......

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  70. Erm.. make sure the box is big enough to house his g/f. You know that smile gets brighter when he's been in action ;-)

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  71. That is precisely why our next signings should be Illaramendi, and Clyne.
    We need to improve on our vunerability. Kovacic, we can cope without. Illaramendi?
    Not so much

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  72. i doubt he wants to go.... but i suppose he can if he so wishes

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  73. I am getting a felling that Origi - Ings would come good.
    I can see the fire in the belly

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  74. Maybe not all, but deffo 2 or 3.

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  75. A DM and RB should be our next targets

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  76. I'd totally forgotten that :-)


    I think now we know that the whole basis for naming her Christmas was so they could slip in a cheap orgasm joke.

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  77. ...he will once he reads the tantalising travel brochure....


    ....dubai six stars....meh....

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  78. Can's ability poses a big problem for BR in that he does not fit the type of player BR needs to carry out his tactics. Can reminds me a lot of the great Beckenbauer and Matthaus.

    An old-fashioned sweeper who is able to bring/carry the ball out of defense and join the the attack. For LFC to adopt this, they'd need to revert to a 1-2-4-2-1 formation.

    Somehow, I think that is beyond BR to comprehend.

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  79. So we're in agreement again Mike ;-)

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  80. ...wow...thats so much information....


    ...its surprisingly difficult to think of anything when all your thinking of is hard-ons....

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  81. voice of reason8:13 pm, June 24, 2015

    England is sooooo sooooo sooooo bad.... Ings so far has some great off the ball movement but he should have finished his chance or at least tested the keeper

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  82. And I still feel that Bodgers will again play many players out of their natural positions - a testimony to his own managerial naivety

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  83. Look I know you are in to the (younger) boys, but the rest of us have wives to cater for our needs ;-)

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  84. ...Mike, someone mentioned Lucas' role in getting Firmino...so he's prob staying...there you are; a def mid.....

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  85. I'd say Illarramendi, Clyne, and Bacca most likely. Kovacic has been on the "brink" for like a month, so I doubt it's any closer than the other. Rondon is nothing but a rumor to me, probably another backup target if Bacca falls out. Casillas maybe, but we just resigned Ward and agreed to Bogdan. We could do the deal before July and just cancel the Bogdan contract, but that seems unlikely.

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  86. Agree - hence despite all the euphoria over the Frimino signing, there's a dull aching pain in my head and heart reminding me that BR is still in charge..

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  87. Yes he's awfully ordinary.

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  88. As much as I like Lucas, and he has served LFC well, he is not as mobile/pacey for the requirements under BR. So a good back-up - but we need an upgrade if were are to challenge for honours.

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  89. voice of reason8:17 pm, June 24, 2015

    more injured than DS

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  90. Definitely not on par with Sanchez.

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  91. ....after carefully considering experimentation, I have decided I am heterosexual - nothing at all against any other orientation.....


    .....and, as Jesus once said, there are plenty of fish to go around... ;)

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  92. After this secret transfer coup I am getting a feeling that FSG are also silently working to find a suitable replacement for Sir Rodgers in near future (they will be very critical of his performance now and might make the move if and when he makes his first slip)

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  93. Still - I prefer to sleep with my wife than a fish.. or otherwise known as a slapper ;-)

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  94. Yeah - but this is wasting time, another season gone, when just about everyone knows the likely outcome of keep BR.. as well as Klopp waiting in the wings..

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  95. but can't expect anything better when we have Ian Ayre at helm and Americans guiding the board regarding soccer

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  96. Sakho's passing stats are skewed because he regularly plays hospital balls to our central midfielders, which effectively gives the ball away.

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  97. Have to agree.

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  98. Just to get another chip off my shoulder...

    As fantastic as the acquisition is of Firmino, I'd like to know who from the LFC hierarchy will take the credit for this coup.

    Because that same person/group needs to then take accountability/responsibility for all the past trash we've bought and wasted over the previous 3 years - so definitely a double-edged sword.

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  99. And Brendan Rodgers just cooked my dinner, so don't know why people think it was lunch.

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  100. Hence my heavy heart and current disillusionment - despite the Firmino signing :-(

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  101. He's the most comfortable on the ball 0f any of our defenders, better pass accuracy than all our defenders, and commits less errors leading to goals.... The fact that he has a strange body shape when he plays, people confuse it for being uncomfortable and clumsy... Not the case. Plus the vast majority of his passes are passes forward, compared to all the sideways passes from Skrtel and Lovren....

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  102. Easy to confuse his stance for uncontrolled, but if you see him on the ball when no one is on him, he looks the same... It's just the way he moves....

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  103. Correctamundo.
    So glad they updated Bond after that

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  104. ...I always go for hot, exotic women...the 'fish' thing is a metaphor...... :)

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  105. Yes pretty please....

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  106. Yep - very fishy.

    Note - Look up "Priyanka" and "Exotic" and you will not be disappointed!

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  107. Ican't believe Rodgers will ever sign a dedicated DM... He just won't do it... Illarimendi is the closest we'll get, and he's less a DM and more a deep lying playmaker...

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  108. Unadventurous passer though. Legs not what they were. Recovery non existent. Back up, but no more.
    Illa will do what Stevie did in 13/14 but with added defensive nous. Intercepts for fun. Stays on his feet so less fouls ( and less play acting by opposition forwards without slide tackles to swan dive over)

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  109. Very true. He plays the hot potato game. I'm pretty sure that there must be an stat that shows how many of his passes lead to losing possession, because despite of finding a team mate, his passes are compromised most of the time, leading to a loss in possession. So again, his stats may look great, but reality says otherwise.
    If he were "one of the world's premier defensive talents", why was he let go just as he was entering his peak years?????? Doesn't make sense, does it?

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  110. PSG are looking lustfully after him...

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  111. ...how do you know about priyanka...?


    ...your part of the world...?

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  112. Let's just say I have an acquired taste for the arts ;-)

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  113. Firmino is well known for his strength... Just one of his key attributes....

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  114. I'm sold - yes pls :)

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  115. yeah, who'd have thought it... :-)
    Just finishing baking my cake for Loges though, especially if we get them. And only one of the intended targets is British , which nukes another well stated theory ...

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  116. Crazy!.... I would like to see that....

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  117. ...totally agree...btu haven't heard much about illaramendi after the first round of speculation so am slightly cynical it will happen....


    ...Lucas is 27...yeah 27 !!! still he's good for the team as one who has been there some time and level headed...albeit with lost legs....

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  118. You forgot to include Barcelona, Real Madrid and B Munich in the list of possible suitors for a player of Sakho's ability.........:)

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  119. ....yep, agree....


    ...very tasty indeeed.......

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  120. Maybe, but during his medical, he will be having a tracking device fitted.

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  121. Technically 28, but defo lost his legs after a number of injuries.

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  122. The tag line should have said..

    I tried to acquire the Miss World, but alas could only afford the Missus at the auction ;-)

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  123. 89.4% is pretty accurate, considering Skrtel has 90.1%. I don't know who you're watching, but Sakho is great on the ball, he just looks kind of weird on it.

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  124. Ayre THE BEAST

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  125. :-) its odd his agent says he only want PL? even when specifically asked about P$G. it must be Liverpool love or maybe the league, either way his fee is prohibitive.

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  126. It's what we should have done last season.

    maybe then we'd be the ones signing Petr Cech,
    and Van Gaal would be up to his neck in $hit explain to Man U's board how he had spent going on for £200m in one window and missed the top 4....

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  127. Absolutely agree. Last year we looked lost in the transfer window and clearly did not learn any lessons from finishing second in stead of first.

    So we lost Suarez, we should have forced Barca to offer up Fabs and Sanchez or no deal. And I do not buy into this argument of London being a draw over Liverpool. You pay and workers/players follow the money.

    If we had got those two players we'd easily have finished in the top 3 again, and no way would Chelsea and Arsenal been as strong.

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  128. I think I've worked it out.
    Good player though he is, it's not that that's lifted the fan base.
    It's the change in direction, and actually winning a race that included top clubs
    If they don't follow this up with the same type of signings, then Firminio won't be enough.
    I hope they know that

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  129. We're singing from the same hymn sheet now.

    A good DM followed by an all out assault for Lazarette or Bacca please :-)

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  130. yes we need quality DM and ST. Lets hope for the best. No complaints today :-)

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  131. I agree we need a DM but I think Emre can will take that role instead of a new signing. He could potentially be busquets-esque, as he would not only be good defensively but be excellent on the ball. Think a midfield of Can, Kovacic, and Coutinho could be potentially world class.

    Clyne would be brilliant for RB, although if we had a spare £25 million I'd love us to make a bid for Carvajal, would be a real statement of intent.

    I must genuinely be the only person I the world who doesn't like Bacca. He's a brilliant finisher, and good at getting in behind the defence. But he is brilliant in the build up, would much prefer Firmino who could be potentially a Suarez like striker. Plus Bacca is not getting any younger, and we'd be paying £20M for a striker on the decline

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  132. 21m + add ons and the 21m won't have been paid up front. Be paid in instalments over a few years.

    All deals done this way nowadays.

    I reckon few more good signings to come. Kovacic next? Still reckon we should go for Konoplyanka on a free too

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  133. I suspect the opposite. Lets see,

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  134. Good points and not the small player many sites seem to suggest. 5ft 11"

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  135. I said yesterday that Firminio's successful signing could lead to a domino effect as top players see a proper top side emerging.
    So Illaramendi would help the likes of Lacazette, Bacca or whoever to see a future in signing for us
    I've never thought FSG or Rodgers were as bad as you but you cannot be one eyed about football whichever side you're on

    Mess this up, and there will be no defending them

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  136. We still need a dominant centre back, we still need a striker, we still need a defensive midfielder, we need a keeper and we need full backs.


    What we DO NOT NEED, is yet another offensive midfielder.


    We are CLUELESS.

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  137. Is that his release clause, or what Atleti are genuinely asking....

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  138. Friggin on the bench? No Milner way

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  139. he is demanding 100k a week

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  140. release clause, but his agent pretty much ruled out anyone paying below that

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  141. ...I am absolutely sure..Neutral Red...that for you your missus is miss world... :)


    ...and make sure she feels that.... :)

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  142. Well yeah but no.

    I have no problem if that player is better then what we have and many would argue that Firmino is better then what we have.

    Lets be honest here, our midfield were exactly scoring goals were they.

    You need you midfield to contribute to goals and our didn't last season or the season before.

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  143. Francisco Mambela9:41 pm, June 24, 2015

    Please can someone tell The board that Kono is free. Free
    please not this guy

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  144. If we are talking goals ..

    Firmino got 7 goals last season and 16 the season before (found out a bit perhaps?)

    Whilst ..

    Gerrard got 13 goals last season, and 14 goals the season before.

    Stirling got 11 goals last season, and 10 goals the season before.

    Coutinho got 8 goals last season ..



    Even Henderson got 7 goals last season ..

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  145. Yeah I know that.. but would never admit that to her..

    .. not after all this time.. it's mean spending money on her now that she's used to frugal ways..

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  146. So hoping for the best with BR still at the helm..

    .. which should really be read as wishing on a miracle to happen and for BR to wake up and smell the roses, and put place the 4 point plan I suggested yesterday:

    1. Get his tactics right, at times varying style of play to suit player availability and strengths of opposition.

    2. Stop having player favourites and pick the team on merit.

    3. Balance between outright offence and reasonable defence.

    4. Stay away from hyperbole and be stricter with player appraisal both in public and private. Maybe learn a touch of humility.

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  147. Can could make a great DM, but I can't help but seeing his best position being a box-to-box CM He plays that for the German u21s and is a beast.


    I agree with your RB evaluations :D


    As for Bacca, I'm not completely sold on him, but at this point we really have no choice unless someone else becomes available. I'm more keen on Bacca than Salomon Rondon, and Luiz Adriano doesn't seem to be on anyone's list. J. Martinez and Vietto are going to Atleti it seems. Lacazette seems to be available for the taking, but I'm not sure if it's realistic. None of the top clubs really need a forward at the moment, and Lyon aren't offering a contract he likes, but I just don't see him coming to us...

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  148. Dont do it ! Mine was holding up the tv aerial when Stevie lifted the CL trophy and that 5 minutes indoors ruined Babestation for me

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  149. Personally I would pop another £6m or so on top of the £14m Cheryshev is valued at and take a pop at Yarmolenko if I had my way but if I was going to use these resources they would be spent on someone like Bacca

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  150. If we just had Sturridge' s 20+ goals we wouldn't even be listening to the constant wailing and lamentations on these threads. We'd be talking about which poor CL group we were going tear up in the fall. We need another class striker. I hope Firmino can make the transition.

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  151. Shame, would be a great addition.... But if we play hardball over Sterling, we can't begrufge Atleti doing the same.... Sad state of affairs we seem to have reached in football.... No reason anymore, no sense that clubs would do eachother a good deal....

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  152. Last season's shambles in the transfer market cost Liverpool dearly. Firmino on the other hand is the smartest bit of business we have done since the likes of Coutinho and Sturridge, as I am 100% confident Firmino will light up the Premiere League and come the end of the season any doubters will be eating humble pie I guarantee it. If we manage to bring in Bacca, Kovacic and say someone like Janmaat then it will be a very fruitful transfer season.

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  153. But they never were offering that much up front.

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  154. perhaps you could do with my staff

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  155. All of our lamentations are predicated by a gigantic IF, which I think sums it all up ;-)

    Whereas us fans dream and hope for the best, it's the likes of BR who are paid the big bucks to ENSURE we succeed by having plans to cover all eventualities (like your main striker getting injured). So when after 3 years there is no success, I think it is only reasonable to then question why BR still is in charge.

    And that's the crux of the difference of opinion re BR. Those who harp back to finishing second think BR needs more time, whereas the vast majority believe Klopp could do a better job.

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  156. Nick1811 does make a good point though when he say's "We also get that his job is not safe"
    Do you see what he means... I think your point about BR's absence is relevant but also think most others would of noticed it too but would rather just rejoice in our Brazilian tent signing for the moment.
    Brendan's holiday can't go on forever so I guess we will all soon find out what the deal is...

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  157. I say beware of chelski and their disruptive ways, wouldn't surprise me in the slightest if they are just trying to delay the deal between us and City.
    I think they spend as much energy trying to medal in others windows as they do in making their own a success. I'd be very tempted to try and play them at their own game, or alternatively tell them to do one in accordance with the well known phrase 'we don't negotiate with c*nts'

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  158. Dude, they have better things to do than that type of petty stuff.

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  159. You shall not (make a) pass!

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  160. LFC does not need to keep buying players especially from the Premier league Clubs they are expensive and not effective and two the coach needs to style up and be more competitive rather go around experimenting with his found philosophies

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  161. If you look at the stats for last year are attacking line was on average 10 metres further back then when suarez and sturridge played the year before. this means opposition defences can push up causing even less room in midfield and inevitably you get overrun - a decent striker will allow for more space in midfield. Don't get me wrong I would love a combative DM but i think rb and cf are more important at this stage

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  162. That point is completely redundant. Even with a higher attacking line while SAS was here, we still leaked way too many goals. 2013/14 is no way worthy of being a defensive benchmark.

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  163. Firmino is going to be one expensive flop.

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