1 Jul 2015

Transfer Agreed: Liverpool finally reach agreement over 'fantastic' £7m international. Done deal this week?

After four fruitless years at Anfield, and seemingly endless speculation about his future, Uruguayan defender Sebastian Coates is finally on his way out of Liverpool.

Last week, Chronicle Live claimed that:

* Sunderland are 'closing-in' on a deal for £7m-rated Coates.

* Coates is allegedly on Dick Advocaat's 'list of summer transfer targets'.

According to The Guardian last night:

"Coates [will] make his Sunderland move permanent from Liverpool. He will be the second centre-half to commit to Sunderland this summer"

Sky Sports further claims that the deal 'could be completed this week'.

Coates - hailed in December as 'fantastic' by Gustavo Poyet - has made just 12 Premier League starts for Liverpool since 2011, and with Lovren, Skrtel, Sakho, Toure, Can, Ilori, and now Gomez in the squad, it's obvious that he is a dead man walking at Anfield.

Advocaat clearly rates the big defender, though. Coates got a run of games in the final third of the season, and in a recent interview with the Sunderland Echo, the Dutch boss explained why he kept him in the team:

“He [Coates] was very solid in the last couple of games, so that gives him the confidence. We saw him improving in training, so put him in. He’s done well and that’s the reason why he is still playing.”

A move away is exactly what Coates needs to rejuvenate his career, but after being dogged by injury over last year, he'll crash and burn unless he finds a way to stay consistently fit.

Coates' exit is a good thing as Liverpool's squad is becoming increasingly bloated, and with no Champions League football this year, it's a prime opportunity for Rodgers to further trim the playing staff. With that in mind, the following players should (IMO) follow Coates out of the door:

* Sterling: Liverpool are not good enough for The Mercenary, apparently. Sell to the highest bidder ASAP.

* Allen: Adds very little to the team, and with Emre Can (probably) moving into midfield, and another central midfielder sure to arrive, he's now redundant.

* Markovic: A total waste of £20m. His goals/assists ratio was pitiful at Benfica (and I highlighted that many times), and it's even worse at Anfield. Plus, the purchase of Firmino - and the rise Ibe - instantly relegates Markovic to squad player status, so the Reds might as well just cash-in.


* Lambert: His dream move to Liverpool has turned into a nightmare, and he surely won't want to spend another season warming the bench. There's no place for Lambert at LFC, so it's time to sell.

* Borini: He is never going to cut it at Anfield. Like Allen, a comfort buy for Rodgers, and he's similarly ineffective for the team.

* Enrique: Barely plays; frequently injured; no loss whatsoever if he leaves.

* Manquillo: Just 137 minutes of football since January 1st. Rodgers clearly doesn't rate him, and with Clyne/Wisdom now in the squad, the Spaniard is no longer needed.

* Lallana: Yes, I believe Liverpool should sell Lallana. He's just not consistent enough or strong enough for Liverpool (IMO), and like Lovren, he's failed to reproduce his Southampton form. Sign Yarmolenko and ditch Lallana.

* Balotelli: My personal preference is for Balotelli to stay, but he needs a different manager to excel at Liverpool. With Rodgers remaining in charge, he'll never prosper at Anfield, so the Reds might as well send him on loan, or sell.

* Coutinho: Just kidding! :-)

KEEP

* Lucas - Fantastic, experienced pro with a top-class attitude, and a great role-model for younger players. His pleasant, unassuming demeanour reminds me of the legend that is Sami Hyypia, and Liverpool need that kind of honest, non-mercenary pro in the squad.

* Lovren - Despite the nightmare debut season, he remains an excellent defender (his history proves that), and I'm positive that he'll come good. If he's still making mistake by Christmas, then flog him in the January transfer market.

After Coates, who is likely to be the next player to leave Anfield this summer?

Author: Jaimie K


131 comments:

  1. Sterling - Yes
    Allen - Yes (I don't see him playing much any more)
    Markovic - No, could still develop and could be a decent back up
    Lambert - Yes, may as well try and make a bit of money back now
    Borini - Yes, clearly never going to be a first team regular
    Enrique - Not sure, decent back up, but injuries don't help. If he wants to leave then let him, if he wants to stay let him.
    Manquillo - Yes
    Lallana - No, showed some real quality at times, had a tough season due to injury. Give him a bit more time .
    Balotelli - Yes, just doesn't suit Liverpool
    I don't know who the last guy you mentioned is?! Couti-what? Never heard of him.

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  2. Cant agree with selling Markovic or Lallana.


    Markovic has shown in a few games be can perform. He was played out of position for much of his game time last season being asked to perform an un-familiar wing back role. He is still a young player and the first season away from home in a foreign country will always be difficult. We have spent the 20m, he on a long contract so no rush to sell, at most if Markovic is not going to get games i would send him out on loan to get some more game time but ideally keep him in the squad and let him settle.


    Lallana has proved he can perform in the premier league with his excellent season with Southampton before his transfer to LFC. He was unlucky with injuries last year and just when he would get to his peak he would pick up a knock that would set him back, if we keep him injury free Lallana could have a big role to play next season.


    The rest you have mentioned i wouldn't have an issue with selling. Although i can't see Allen leaving as it seems rightly or Wrongly Lucas might well be sold so even with bringing in another midfielder we need one of them in the squad.

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  3. Ha ha you pretty much said the same as me.

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  4. agree with all except lallana i feel he will flourish next season.I would also like to add illori to squad and sell the useless trio of toure wisdom and sakho all 3 would struggle at u 18 level none of them can pass 10 yards

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  5. Well if one is to sell a better performed player in Lallana and a younger player with more potential in Markovic well one must sell Dijon Lovren.

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  6. Yes I agree with all that you say except for Lallana.

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  7. I would give Markovic another season as settling in periods have to be taken into account.
    I would also keep Lallana for the same reason.
    Everyone else I agree with....

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  8. Your "just kidding" phrase equally belonged beside the Balo comment.... You've got to be joking... Who's fault is it that Mario has zero football intelligence?? This guy downed tools the minute he started reading how great he was.
    When Mario plays I feel sorry for every other striker in the squad, who would at least bring industry and honesty of effort to the table... He's poison!! Please find a buyer...

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  9. The only way Lallana is going to make it into the team is if we do not play with a dedicated striker. Should Sturridge stay fit or we sign a big name striker or play Ings then it will most likely be Coutinho and Firmino to make up the front three.


    Markovic was not worth £20m, not in a million years. Not his fault he was signed at that price though and think that will be the downfall of his career at Anfield. He will be far down the pecking order this season.


    Sterling will be gone before the window closes. Maquillo loan cancelled.


    My worst fear is that nobody wants Balotelli and will be on holiday at Anfield for another season.

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  10. You must be kidding no way should we sell Lallana he will come good and I agree we should not sell Markovic yet lets wait and see on him. The rest can go

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  11. I agree on pretty much everyone except Lallana and Lucas.To me, Lucas is as expendable as Allen and for the same reason. He will never be a solid contributor to our season because he just isn't available for selection enough. If he stays fit and Rodgers doesn't pick him, there is not much he can do but he has to stay fit first. When fit, he can contribute but so can Allen. As for Lallana, I was against buying him in the first place but he's here now and there is no hope in hell that anyone will pay even remotely close to 25 million for him. And he's not a bad one to have on the bench.

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  12. I love it when people say "he will come good". It's basically saying "I don't know any other reason why we should hold on to him but I want him to stay and I hope he'll actually turn into a proper football player" :-)

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  13. Lallana could push Firmino and Friginho - I think Cou will play behind the strikers.

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  14. Only a fool would buy Balotelli. Damn you Mike Marsh and Colin Pascoe!

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  15. Snippet from Bogdan's first interview via the offical LFC site

    You'll be competing with Simon Mignolet for a place between the posts. How much are you relishing that challenge?

    I think it's a massive challenge. I know him as a 'keeper, I've been watching him and we are a very similar age. I respect him as a 'keeper. I haven't had a chance to meet him yet, but I'm sure we're going to get along very well and we're going to have a good relationship. We're going to compete, of course, that's the nature of this position and the sport. But I'm sure we're going to help each other as well; I have always been very close to the 'keepers I have worked with. It's going to be a big challenge but at the same time we are going to help each other as well.



    So I guess that rules out a replacement for Migs who will still be no 1 this coming season.

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  16. ? Can't pass 3 yards? Kolo Toure - 87.1% pass completion last season. Mamadou Sakho - 90.1%, Wisdom (playing in a rubbish west brom side) - 78.8%.
    Aside from Wisdom, who is clearly still developing, they have dropped 1 in every 10 passes. What makes you think that they would struggle at u18s? Both Kolo and Sakho have won league titles, have been big parts of strong sides, have captained top teams, and Sakho is clearly up there with our must-starts.
    Ya big racist.
    #Bants

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  17. Coates for £2 million bargain ,,yer really have to get rid of those red tinted glasses.

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  18. Was Heno not told to move on by BR ?

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  19. He was going in exchange for Clint Dempsey back then.


    Luckily it did not happen.

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  20. When they are young they are given more time and rightly so!!!!!

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  21. Buy for 7m sell for 2m , thats good business . Not sure how long FSG will put up with this wasting of funds ?

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  22. Agreed on markovic, he needs more time and he's still 20.
    But the bizarre thing how on earth lfc paid 20m for a player with 5goals /zero assist? This has to be the worst transfer in football history.... People might dislike balo but he has an impressive stats before joining us.

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  23. I honestly think Lallana is a waste of money like the other purchases from Soton in the last window. Its a pain that many do not want to admit, just like what Benteke is going to be. this philosophy of buying people simply because they have EPL experience has to stop- Lallana, Lovren now Benteke!!

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  24. Illori impressed for Portugal last night....I've seen enough of this guy, for me, if we're reverting to back four then skrtel should make way.

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  25. Come On!! He has not come to Liverpool to make friends - if even he does not believe he can usurp Mignolet, who will

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  26. Bad bad news.

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  27. BR thinks Kolo is better than Coates. NO lessons learnt then

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  28. would rather see Lovren and Kolo make way. I think selling Coates is akin to "destroying so that we can rebuild". Why not remove the others who are poor than him first eg Lovren and Kolo- who has allegedly been rewarded with a news deal(OMG)

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  29. I really wanted Lallana to succeed and he's a technically gifted player and he does fit the mold of South American players, I want to see him working on his tactical side of game, IMO if he addresses that, he's got every chance of success at LFC.

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  30. Manquillo, Enrique, Allen, Balotelli, Borini, Luis Alberto and Lambert wouldn't be missed really! Markovic and Lallana are just on the edge in my opinion and I think they should be given another season...As it stands we have brought in Bogdan, Gomez, Milner, Ings, Clyne, Firmino and Adekanye! It looks increasingly likely Benteke is next on the list I still have serious reservations about this one but if he is signed I hope he does the business and bangs them in left, right and centre as we can't afford another hugely expensive mistake.

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  31. Liverpool have agreed a deal for Aston Villa striker Christian Benteke, Anfield insider tells talkSPORT

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  32. Hopefully not at £32.5m. Got a bad feeling about this one, not really the sort of striker I had in mind, saying that I didn't want Sturridge either.

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  33. Talksport not the most reliable...

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  34. Liverpool don’t want to pay more than £25million for the big frontman, who has two years remaining on his current contract.

    Villa have no interest in selling Benteke and are highly unlikely to accept lower than the release clause.

    Part of the reason is that Villa will have to pass on 15% of any fee over £7m to his former club Genk, who negotiated a sell-on clause when he left his homeland in 2012.

    If the release clause is met, that would be £3.8m heading to the Belgian outfit.



    Liverpool Echo

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  35. When they're young, yes. Lallana is 27? :-)

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  36. Is he that good that we can't improve on him?

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  37. Echo saying nothing has changed so think I believe them over talksport.

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  38. Liverpool have completed the €17.5 million signing of Nathaniel Clyne from Southampton.

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  39. Sakho has excellent mid-range passing stats, I think poster Jay Jay posted it once here, it is definitely in 90+ percentage, Lovren has 85% but varies his passes more- our CB's are not the probem it is the lack of cover they do not receive

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  40. They haven't impressed but it is fair to give them one more season (or half of it that is), before we bring the jury on them don't u think? Their performances prior to Liverpool would at least suggest that?!

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  41. Good and I hope that agreement is for Villa to sell him to Spurs.

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  42. I'm pleased with the signing of Clyne. Good player, lots of pace, does good defensive work and has an attacking threat too.
    Also £12.5 million is a good price I think. Normally I would've said that would be a deal where Liverpool would get fleeced for every penny.

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  43. Totally agree Stipe

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  44. Don't get how it's right to keep Lovren but not Lallana. I would keep both and Markovic.

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  45. Buy three get one half price

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  46. He was talking about Lallana

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  47. Because when you have information like that, Talksport is the first media outlet you contact..

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  48. We'll at least we'll have a wingback to play at wingback..

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  49. Genk - isn't that the club we had a partnership with when Villa snapped up Benteke and Chelsea snapped up Courtois and DeBruyne?

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  50. I wonder who we will buy from them next.

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  51. Yes...absolutely poor! Makes me mad just thinking about it.

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  52. have a sneaky feeling its Ronald Koeman..

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  53. Please let it be Shane Long for 25 million...or better yet...32.5 million

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  54. Please JK clarify why you think Lovren will come good? You claim that he is an excellent defender and that his history proves this but that is absolute bollocks! He only had one good season at Southampton and he was ridiculed at Lyon for being so bad. I think that, for once, you are just plucking this out of thin air because- if anything- history proves that he will not regain his form and that his form at Soton was just a one off.

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  55. Jaimie, you say that Lallana is not good enough for Liverpool but that Lovren will come good when Lallana had a much better season than Lovren did. Lovren was abysmal whereas Lallana at least had a few good moments. I think Lovren should be on the brink of an exit and Illori should be given a chance to prove himself. I also believe Manquillo should stay as a good back up to Clyne with Flanno out injured.

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  56. Thats not true, Rossiter has made his debut this past season, Brannagan also mad his debut and so did a few others..... Rossiter scored on his debut...

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  57. Sinclair made a number of appearances also.

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  58. You mean "of"

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  59. Stoke agree 12m for shaqiri sky are reporting. Hell of a lot better than lallana markovic ibe sterling and alot cheaper. Can't understand how we didn't go for him

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  60. It beggars belief that you say sell Lallana, and then keep Lovren... Lovren was not injured last season ad missed plenty of games, and those he did play, he was shocking... Lallana on the other hand, was injured alot last season and never got in a good run of games to get going, but showed on occassion that he was a classy player.....Lallana is a keeper.....

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  61. Although I don't want to sell Markovic, but I totally believe he is a waste of money, I don't think Liverpool can afford to pay 20M for players and hope to develop to be decent backups (thats what the academy is for). The least acceptable thing for 20M is buying a decent backup player and hope he develops to become a regular.

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  62. He turned down LFC in Jan for Inter !

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  63. Lallana and Lovren are two different types of players.

    And I disagree that Lallana had a better season; Lovren put in lots of good defensive performances, but they're overshadowed due to a few of the issues he had.

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  64. I don't get where this impression of Sakho has come from, it so far removed from reality it's makes me think that it's been said and then repeated by people who haven't actually wtched him play.... Sakho is a cracking passer of the ball.. Played the most positive passes of all our defenders...

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  65. I feel for Balo (people may call him lazy,etc.). The end point is we bought him (so blame the TC and BR) to be our main striker. He did not get an extended run in the team and BR did not adjust his tactics a bit to accommodate him. I don't think we will find a buyer for him unless we are willing to accept less than 10M, and with BR in charge I don't think his chances are going to improve.

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  66. I do agree with you to a point. But Markovic didn't set his transfer fee. It's not his fault that the fee was so high.
    They have him now, they may as well try and develop him some what. You say its a waste of money (which I don't disagree with), but surely its more of a waste if they just dump him after a season - where lets remember he played as a wing back at times, clearly not a natural position for him.

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  67. I can see us play a mix of 4-2-3-1 and 4-3-3... There will be plenty of opportunties for everyone, especially with the europa and domestic cups...

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  68. I echo Glen, and add that we have Firmino now, vastly better player.

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  69. Gotta be better than Balo, Borini and Lambert. Throw him into the first team if he has an eye for goal and pace. Expect the unexpected.

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  70. I don't see it being the case, not with the arrival of Clyne, and the search still on for back up's for LB...

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  71. In all fairness, Coates may be looking to play regularly, something that we can't provide, and his contract is running out, so while the 2M is not a lot of money at least he will be off the books.

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  72. Point is, he made his debut, suggesting youngsters are getting their opportunities....

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  73. I admit I was exaggerating to make a point :), but do you think that with all the Midfielders we have on the books he is going to get an extended run in the team?

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  74. Lallana has a lot of passion as well.. You can see that in every goal he scored. The bare minimum any Liverpool fan demands is that passion

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  75. Played well on debut, scores and then never seen again point is - Surely Jordan should have played in the next league game or at least be on the bench for reward. There's a reason (which we don't know) why he never got near the first team again

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  76. Passion without end product is worthless.

    Erik Meijer had shedloads of passion.

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  77. Lallana is a classy player, you dont need to know football to see that. The added pressure at Liverpool may have got to him, coming from a comfortable situation at Sotton. But he has a lot to offer going forward and backward

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  78. That is a possibility. He did play him there last season and seemed ok with making that decision, so don't know why that would change. Hopefully it does, and I hope he gets a decent chance.

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  79. shaqiri to stoke...huh...

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  80. don't worry he will most likely play LM

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  81. what end product has lovren had?

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  82. It was a league cup game, usually a good opportunity to blood the youngsters... We should see plenty of the youngsters getting their chances again or for the first time now we have the Europa League.. Brendan made a point of using that comp to play younger players the first time he was involved with it.... Fact is though, competition is hard, and the opportunity to play again never really came up.... But we'll see more of him...

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  83. I guess he decided to go there after he saw them play against us at the end of the season.

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  84. No reason to see why he couldn't make the starting spot his own..He has as much opportunity as Coutinho and Firmino... Infact, I would be suprised to see Firmino start ahead of him intially...Then, it's upto each of them to fight their case....

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  85. Jaimie please tell him, I don't have the strength (sigh)...

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  86. If you think Lovren's history proves that he is a good defender and he will come good then by all means proceed to tell me where i am wrong.

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  87. he hasn't progressed in the last 2 years, honestly im happy we never got him

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  88. Bojan, Shaqiri. Who next Freddy Adu?
    Stoke are like a who's who of 'wonderkids' I used to buy on Football manager.

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  89. Did u actually watch him play in Dinamo Zagreb? Guess not... Did u watch him play for Lyon? I dont thinks so... Did u watch him play for Soton? Maybe... When I say watched, i mean full games, not just highlights? Btw he was given contract extension in Lyon in his final season, and as for Schneiderlin and Wanyama factor, they did their part granted, but if u just bother to take a look at Lovren's highlights before he came to Liverpool (where he was still adapting), and if u missed his full matches, u will see that a lot of time there are no Schneiderlin or Wanyama, or Bodmer or Toulalan doing Lovren's work, it's actually himself!

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  90. I think that is the first and most important quality to have if we are ever to come back where we should be. Again we have a few classy players in the spine, bit more flare and we are good...

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  91. Not lots, two or three very good games, and a few more solid ones.Plus quite a few nightmares... I am the last one to 'abandon' our player and Lovren should be kept, but Adam should be given much more faith than him.

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  92. All 3 should have been at LFC
    Benteke cost +- 8 m
    DeBruyne cost +- 5m
    Courtois cost +- 6m

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  93. Lallana is British ,Lovern is not .

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  94. Fair enough I didn't watch his games at Dinamo Zagreb but I did watch all of his games for Lyon because I follow Ligue 1 very closely and I can fully say he was terrible. The Lyon fans hated him and he was constantly ridiculed for his errors.
    And the only reason that they offered him a new contract was so that they could sell him on for a higher price and not risk losing him for free. I admit that he played well for Soton, I said that in my original comment, but not before that.
    So I am correct in saying that his history does not prove that he will come good. Even though he was good for Soton he was still prone to concentration lapses quite often so I do have reason to suggest that he isn't all that he is made up to be although he performed admirably most of the time at Soton.

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  95. Was thinking the exact same thing. Should have left Bayern long time ago when it was clear he'd never become a regular.

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  96. Don't forget Muniesa as well their Centre Back. He was a good replacement for Huth last year, even though he isn't the finished article yet he will still improve.

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  97. He wanted to leave last summer but Bayern rejected our bid because they wanted to keep him as a squad player. Not sure if it's true but that's what a lot of sources were saying.

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  98. Difference is JK strongly advocated to sign Lovren, claiming he'd send Sakho to the bench.

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  99. Sell Lovren? No one wants him

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  100. Hope we keep Markovic and play him in the correct position this season. Too early at this stage to give up on him.

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  101. Can't really say there will be no loss if Enrique leaves. Who else will be able to organise the table tennis competitions and play FIFA 15 competitions.

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  102. I agree, you don't just pay £20m for a young winger in a new league and expect him to perform consistenly. Selling him now would be absurd because there is no downside to keeping him since his wages aren't too high and he is keen to do well at Anfield. If he leaves then he could come back to haunt us. If he stays and then still flops after ab additional two years then we can sell him for a higher price than we will get for him now because he will be more experienced. If he comes good then that's great because it means another deadly, pacey attacker in our hands.

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  103. I think if we sign a good striker, DM and LB then our squad would be close to Arsenal's squad in terms of quality. However, difference in the quality of manager can prove decisive for the top 4 finish.

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  104. Ooooh shots fired

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  105. Easy solution is to keep them all and sack BR ;-)

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  106. Lallana would be the first out the door, worst signing since Carroll. Makes Benayoun look like Zidane.

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  107. Who? Lallana? Nonsense mate. He's a midtable player, there's absolutely no comparison between him Coutinho or Firmino. It's preposterous to even think otherwise.

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  108. lallana started 33 games and did nothing mate. He's West Brom level, if players like that keep getting a game at Liverpool, we'll be midtable forever.

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  109. Well I can tell u he played imperiously for Dinamo and showed double the talent the likes of IIlori and Coates show at their respective age.
    The Lyon sitation was tricky, he came big with fee and didnt speak the language, and it didnt mitigate the situation that Puel took a disliking to him from the get go, playing him often as LB or RB, and keeping him often on the bench thus ruining his confidence- his luck changes somewhat when Puel was sacked but I think everybody gave up on him by then; and he said himself when it came to reckless challenges and red cards he did nothing different than he did at Southampton- so maybe referees were somewhat biased Im not sure.
    As for Soton he showed class nothing else, 5th best CB in PL that season, with excellent reading of the game and positioning- I believe he was the joint best CB when it came to offsides won, and his tackling and interception meant he played the high line excellently- and due to Soton's high line I dont think they were all that defensive, they just played intense pressing.
    And for Croatia he played imperiously as well and didnt have a bad WC at all- his best game was versus Brazil where he easily dealt with Brazil stars, he was let down by Croatia's keeper who should have saved all three goals.
    He is in cultural shock in Anfield and should be judged next season, although his last season wasnt disastrous at all stas wise, it was more mediocre, if we disregard errors leading to goal of which the last one occured mid December.
    So I would say yes- Lovren has a lot to offer with a right CB partner that is Sakho

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  110. I don't think a new Left Back is needed to replace Moreno but a full back who can play LB & RB to provide cover/ competition. Maybe somebody like Adriank from Barca. What do you think of this line-up:

    4-3-3

    --------------Mignolet---------
    --Clyne-- Skrtel-- Sakho-- Moreno
    -------------Illaramendi---------
    ---------Hendo-----Milner-------
    Coutinho--------------------Firmino
    -------Sturridge/ Aubameyang-----

    The Coutinho/ Firmino positions cause a dilemma of sorts since both play as CAM or LW not RW. This means that one will have to be shoehorned in a 4-3-3 or we can play a 4-1-2-1-2 which can have two options.

    -------------Defense-------
    -----------Illaramendi-----
    ----Hendo-------------Coutinho
    --------------Firmino----
    ---Aubameyang----Sturridge

    This would allow us to have Firmino dropping in to midfield to get involved in play while also providing intense pressing with Hendo and Coutinho. An alternative would be this:

    4-1-2-1-2

    -------------Defense-------
    -----------Illaramendi-----
    ----Hendo-------------Milner
    -------------Coutinho-----
    --------Sturridge--- Firmino

    This above line up will allow intense pressing in midfield and attack whilst allowing Coutinho to pull the strings in midfield and use the space made by the attackers to instigate attacks. The use of a DM in both formations provides cover for the defense but Illaramendi also boasts an incredible range of passing similar to Alonso (Sorry I couldn't help but make the comparison). If my memory serves me correctly then Illaramendi was the second best passer in the CL last year so he can play at the top level.

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  111. He's nothing like a south american player mate. I can't believe how our scouts bought into buying him, the first warning sign is how he plays with his head down, no top level player does that.

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  112. That may still be the case. I've already admitted I got it wrong with Lovren, but of the two, I'm confident that Lovren will prove to be of more value to the team this season. Lallana is expendable: Coutinho, Firmino, Ibe, and possible another attacking-mid (hoopefully Yarmolenko) - like Allen, he is redundant, and if Coutinho/Firmino work out, he'll spend most of his time on the bench (hopefully).

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  113. Darovar - do not describe someone else's opinion as 'absolute bollocks', which is childish in the extreme. Remain civil, especially if you want people to respond.

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  114. Lallana made 41 appearances, starting 33 games. To say he didn't have a run of games is ridiculous.


    I remember Rodgers playing him week in week out when he was stinking the place out "playing him to form".


    He's not of the level required, not even close. Nothing describes him better than a poor man's Benayoun who cost literally 6 times as much.

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  115. I see your point and it is a valid one but his performances at Zagreb- a much smaller team than Liverpool and in a much smaller league- do not justify a starting place at LFC when we have Sakho (A much better passer, tackler and header of the ball) and Skrtel which is where the problem lies. Lovren or Skrtel must partner Sakho, who is our best Centre Back, but they are similar types of players. Skrtel and Loveren both like to step out of defense and break the defensive line and make a tackle or interception. The only thing is that Skrtel is better at it and they are both prone to errors. The only thing Lovren has over Skrtel is age.
    At Soton Lovren did show class, most of the time (You can't argue that he wasn't prone to concentration lapses) which shows that he can play well when he is confident but he won't get that confidence with the current situation at LFC.

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  116. Fair enough and I apologise for the hot-headedness but I cannot fathom how Lovren's history suggests that he will come good at Liverpool.

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  117. I was never a fan of his but Rodgers never gave Marcovic a chance, played him mostly at wing-back which is insane. When he did give him the nod in an attacking position he did well.


    He's got pace, he's a similar player to Schurrle. Ibe and Marco should be way ahead of Lallana in the pecking order on the bench.

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  118. Similar to what I had conjured up as well. Apparently Lacazette is available, pipe dream but would work wonders with Coutinho and Firmino.

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  119. Spot on there. Nobody can claim he is a genuine failure until Rodgers plays him at Left Wing where he has played well when called upon.

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  120. Agreed he would do amazing with the attacking midfield that we have but for now it remains a pipe dream. Alas it seems that even the amazing Ayre can't pull of this deal which should've been done last year after we pulled out of the Remy deal.

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  121. Lallana isn't redundant, you can't judge him after an injury-plagued season. By the way, his specific, measurable impact is on par with Coutinho's

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  122. Of course it doesnt but performances he put for Dinamo week in week out and playing in the Champions League, meant they were a stepping stone for greater things, and it at least showed that Lovren had tremendous potential (at least bigger than IIlori or Coates at that age).
    Whether or not Sakho is a better defender is open to discussion he played for Liverpool for two seasons and still has a lot of convincing to do but Lovren just finished his maiden season here, so Sakho had more time than Lovren to prove his mettle. Anyway, its not a coincedence that we shipp goals whilst playing Skrtel- we've done so throughout all Skrtel's tenure here, and he never showed anything particulary awe inspiring as a CB if we disregard his own goals and errors which plague him ever since he arrived :in a nutshell Skrtel is flawed and we need an upgrade on him. Enter cover-stopper defensive set up which works wonders for both Lovren and Sakho, and just go watch the pair's display vs Tottenham where they allowed one shot on goal entire match and made three crucial interceptions high up the pitch- I thnk our team didnt play better high line the whole season and that match is a blueprint we should work on- with a proper DM of course

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  123. Sakho is left footed so must play at LCB but that is also Lovren's position because he plays awful at RCB. Playing well for Zagreb in the league didn't prove much and his performances in the CL were perhaps similar to how he played with Soton. Sakho has priority because he is our best defender by a mile and its very hard to come up with a counter argument to that bevause he has dominated the stats. So between Sakho and Lovren it will be Sakho all day long.

    It is quite ignorant to say that Skrtel never produced anything awe inspiring because in the 2013/14 season he was one of the best defenders in the league and got 7 goals along the way. He played much better in a 3421 formation this year because he didn't need to worry about reading the game he just did what he did best. Clear the ball and make crunching tackles and was our sweeper for our best run of form.

    That Tottenham game was a one-off when they played together. There were several other games when they both played and were a disaster together. But one of the reasons we did so well in that game was not primarily because of our defense but more of our relentless attacks and midfield pressing.

    To be honest I don't think that Lovren or Skrtel are the long term solution because neither is good enough in a Back Four (Skrtel only plays well in the centre of a Back Three) so a new Centre Back I required, preferably a ball playing centre back to complement Sakho like Toby Alderweild from Atletico Madrid.

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  124. * Lallana is 27, and in the prime of his career. He's had copious experience of English football, yet he's still struggling to consistently make an impact.

    * Coutinho is younger, and his grounding is not in English football, yet he's still scoring/creating more goals than Lallana.

    * Additionally, Lallana cost £26m; Coutinho cost £8m, so for that piffling amount, his goals/assists return is fine.

    That said, Coutinho and Lallana need to step it up next season, and if played regularly, both need to hit double figures for goals. Anything less is not acceptable (IMO)

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  125. Stewart D0wning?

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  126. Your claim Lovren can't play RCB is incorrect- he played that position, for Dinamo, Lyon, Soton and national team- something he'd done very well in my opinion, again there are highlights of him playing that position so take look if u want.
    You disregard his great performances for Zagreb a club with CL participation, an argument which counters your claim that Lovren's past shows he's a bad player.
    Skrtel's sole season in 2013/14 proves nothing he was stats wise our best CB but scored tons of own goals and we still conceded 50+, and managed to get 2nd place, which shows u the Suarez factor; we weren't any better this year, we shipped same amount of goals so how does that make Skrtel's performances good at all?? He's good at back three because it dumbs down his game- he needn't play a high line nor read the game, which basically says he's flawed without using a more severe term.
    When it comes to Sakho's and Lovren's stats- Sakho's passing is at 90%, Lovren's at 85%, Lovren has more interceptions won this season, and more won aerial duels than Sakho, whilst Lovren was 47% of all his attempted tackles and Sakho is at 53% (those are last season stats and not much of a differnce between the two if u ask me)
    Lovren made 6 mistakes leading to goal but that was at the time Gerrard played aDM and Moreno was more of left winger and a poor man's Marcelo so that was never gonna end well for Lovren; he came back into the side and put good performances vs City, Soton, Swansea (man of the match) and Chelsea.
    I only watched Lovren-Sakho play once so I maybe missing something?

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  127. He isn't interested in a sporting challenge, simply who will offer him the best financial package.

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  128. He's an easy target for some. I have a theory as to why but I shan't offer it.

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  129. Racial thing? Bambi on ice has nothing to do with it

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  130. Sorry SP didn't see your reply till late last night and think others have covered the topic well now, although even just the two young players you mention is probably two more than a lot of managers would have done.
    To me BR seems very willing to give prospects a shot but you have to temper that with the fact we can't afford too much 'in-game experimentation' from our first team and IMO that's why loans play an important part in the overall equation.

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