Liverpool FC Thread

by **Crimey** Sat 07 Jul 2012, 8:10 pm

First topic message reminder :

Liverpool FC

Transfers in:

Fabio Borini (£11 million)
Joe Allen (£15 million)
Joe Cole (return from loan)
Oussama Assaidi (£2.4 million)
Nuri Sahin (on loan)
Samed Yesil (£1 million)

Transfers out:

Dirk Kuyt (£1 million)
Maxi Rodriguez (Free)
Fabio Aurelio (Free)
Alberto Aquilani (£7 million)
Craig Bellamy (Free)
Andy Carroll (loan)
Jay Spearing (loan)
Charlie Adam (£4 million)

by **Crimey** Wed 01 Aug 2012, 11:41 am

Andy Carroll is named in the Europa League squad which would make him cup-tied ruling out a move to Newcastle and others, wouldn't affect a West Ham deal. But all the news is that Carroll will only leave to go back to Newcastle.

Demba Ba is also not leaving Newcastle so won't need to replace him.

by **Crimey** Wed 01 Aug 2012, 11:45 am

In fact I'm wrong, if he plays it won't affect his eligibility.

by **Crimey** Wed 01 Aug 2012, 1:02 pm

Carroll has pulled out of the squad.

That leaves us with one forward in the squad...Borini.

I think Rodgers needs to take this game really seriously.

------------Borini---------

Downing--------------------------Cole

--------Gerrard---Henderson

----------------Lucas------------------

Enrique---Agger---Skrtel----Johnson

------------------Reina----------------

As long as they are all fit, that's how I'd start. Highlights how weak on the wings we are though.

by **Kenny** Wed 01 Aug 2012, 3:27 pm

I would have Cole up front with Borini or just behind him , or give the the young lad Morgan a chance .

by **Crimey** Wed 01 Aug 2012, 3:34 pm

I'm thinking that Rodgers always tends to play 4-3-3, so tried sticking to that formation.

I wouldn't be surprised to see Morgan given a start or a long substitute appearance, but would be wary. Need to take the game very seriously.

by **Kenny** Wed 01 Aug 2012, 3:39 pm

Yes i agree we need to take it serious , but i would hope we would have the beating of these even with a few players missing .

by **Kenny** Wed 01 Aug 2012, 3:40 pm

Whats your thoughts on us trying to sign the Portugal lad Fernandes who used to play at Everton ?

by **Crimey** Wed 01 Aug 2012, 3:44 pm

Haven't even heard the rumour.

Was never impressed in either of the loan moves at Everton. I won't be massively impressed if we signed him. It would suggest the Allen deal is off.

He's failed to deliver anywhere he has been so would be a risky move.

I think the priority has to be wingers and I'm getting increasingly frustrated that we don't seem to have made any moves for wingers. Downing and J. Cole cannot be our first choices!

by **Kenny** Wed 01 Aug 2012, 3:49 pm

Heard he's in Turkey ? and the price is 7 million . Agree he never really impressed me either .

The Allen deal seems to be Rodgers priority although i think Swansea wont do business with us .

I agree with you about needing width aswell but we dont seem to really going in for anyone in any position ........which is annoying .

by **Crimey** Wed 01 Aug 2012, 3:51 pm

I know the deals weren't that successful last year, but it was great to see the club actually fighting in the transfer market.

More cautious this year, but it's becoming frustrating that as our season begins we've only signed one player.

We haven't replaced Maxi and Kuyt, I will be disappointed in Rodgers if he doesn't bring in a winger before the start of the Premier League. Especially as we're rumoured to let Bellamy go, which would be totally ridiculous.

by **Kenny** Wed 01 Aug 2012, 3:55 pm

Yes more talk of players leaving then coming in .

Do you think he's maybe thinking of using the likes of Suso and Sterling and thats why we aren't moving in the transfer market ?

by **Crimey** Wed 01 Aug 2012, 3:57 pm

They haven't featured heavily in pre-season so seems unlikely. I think it'd be very risky relying on them.

Sterling looked good, but very raw. Suso hasn't even appeared for the first team yet. They can be brought into the team slowly, but I think we need a really good winger if we want to challenge for Europe this year.

Ramirez of Uruguay would be a good signing, would also make Suarez feel more at home keeping him here.

by Liam Wed 01 Aug 2012, 3:57 pm

i think you missed a trick with hoillet. genuine pace, looked very good left mid lasts season from blackburn and scored some superb goals.

by **Crimey** Wed 01 Aug 2012, 3:59 pm

martyr wrote:i think you missed a trick with hoillet. genuine pace, looked very good left mid lasts season from blackburn and scored some superb goals.

Same, I've said since January that we should try and snap up Hoillet, exactly what we needed. Powerful, fast, young, and notched goals as well. The fact that QPR snapped him up is ridiculous and disappointing. He could have been for Liverpool what Sinclair was for Swansea.

by Liam Wed 01 Aug 2012, 3:59 pm

Crimey wrote:They haven't featured heavily in pre-season so seems unlikely. I think it'd be very risky relying on them.

Sterling looked good, but very raw. Suso hasn't even appeared for the first team yet. They can be brought into the team slowly, but I think we need a really good winger if we want to challenge for Europe this year.

Ramirez of Uruguay would be a good signing, would also make Suarez feel more at home keeping him here.

From what suso has been saying on twitter, sounds like he wants a move away. basically he was saying stuff like 'another reserve team training session...nothing changes here at liverpool'. basically he thinks he should be ahead of a few people in the squad.

by **Kenny** Wed 01 Aug 2012, 4:00 pm

I would of liked Hoillet . Ramirez would be good though and according to his agent he is in talks with a English club .

by **Crimey** Wed 01 Aug 2012, 4:02 pm

martyr wrote:
Crimey wrote:They haven't featured heavily in pre-season so seems unlikely. I think it'd be very risky relying on them.

Sterling looked good, but very raw. Suso hasn't even appeared for the first team yet. They can be brought into the team slowly, but I think we need a really good winger if we want to challenge for Europe this year.

Ramirez of Uruguay would be a good signing, would also make Suarez feel more at home keeping him here.

From what suso has been saying on twitter, sounds like he wants a move away. basically he was saying stuff like 'another reserve team training session...nothing changes here at liverpool'. basically he thinks he should be ahead of a few people in the squad.

I imagine he's fallen out of favour since Benitez left and the Spanish feel of the squad has gone. It'll be disappointing to see him go, but you have to wonder whether he's that good considering he's struggled to break into the first team for so long, same with Dani Pacheo.

by **Crimey** Wed 01 Aug 2012, 4:02 pm

KingKenny7Heaven wrote:I would of liked Hoillet . Ramirez would be good though and according to his agent he is in talks with a English club .

Manchester City could be that club in talks with him which is worrying. We won't be able to compete with them. Although if they sign Ramirez, we could go for Adam Johnson.

by Liam Wed 01 Aug 2012, 4:02 pm

Crimey wrote:
martyr wrote:i think you missed a trick with hoillet. genuine pace, looked very good left mid lasts season from blackburn and scored some superb goals.

Same, I've said since January that we should try and snap up Hoillet, exactly what we needed. Powerful, fast, young, and notched goals as well. The fact that QPR snapped him up is ridiculous and disappointing. He could have been for Liverpool what Sinclair was for Swansea.

he was cheap and would have given you someone who really attacks the full backs. i always thought you should go for swp a few years ago, obviously never materialised.

think someone like defoe would be a good buy, always scores when he plays and would be relatively cheap. whether spurs would consider him leaving, considering adebayor hasn't re-signed and i'm sure they'll want him to stay to add depth.

by **Crimey** Wed 01 Aug 2012, 4:04 pm

If we hold onto Carroll, another forward isn't necessary if Rodgers sticks to 4-3-3. Wingers is priority and then another CM wouldn't be a bad option. After that I think the squad should be kept as it is.

by Liam Wed 01 Aug 2012, 4:04 pm

Crimey wrote:
martyr wrote:
Crimey wrote:They haven't featured heavily in pre-season so seems unlikely. I think it'd be very risky relying on them.

Sterling looked good, but very raw. Suso hasn't even appeared for the first team yet. They can be brought into the team slowly, but I think we need a really good winger if we want to challenge for Europe this year.

Ramirez of Uruguay would be a good signing, would also make Suarez feel more at home keeping him here.

From what suso has been saying on twitter, sounds like he wants a move away. basically he was saying stuff like 'another reserve team training session...nothing changes here at liverpool'. basically he thinks he should be ahead of a few people in the squad.

I imagine he's fallen out of favour since Benitez left and the Spanish feel of the squad has gone. It'll be disappointing to see him go, but you have to wonder whether he's that good considering he's struggled to break into the first team for so long, same with Dani Pacheo.

see i've always liked the look of pacheco. very nice first touch, quick and agile and plays in the cf/st position.

by **Kenny** Wed 01 Aug 2012, 4:51 pm

Crimey wrote:
KingKenny7Heaven wrote:I would of liked Hoillet . Ramirez would be good though and according to his agent he is in talks with a English club .

Manchester City could be that club in talks with him which is worrying. We won't be able to compete with them. Although if they sign Ramirez, we could go for Adam Johnson.

Id take Johnson . Mancini is quoted as saying it wasn't his fault Johnson didn't go to the Euros it was Johnson not doing enough himself ....so there could be friction there .

I think we missed out on signing Marko Marin aswell , maybe we should ask for him on loan as he might not get a game at Chelsea considering all the midfielders they are signing Wink

by **Crimey** Wed 01 Aug 2012, 4:52 pm

I have a theory on Chelsea, will post it in the Big Premier League signings.

by **Kenny** Wed 01 Aug 2012, 4:59 pm

Read that i think you could be right there .

by **hampo17** Wed 01 Aug 2012, 5:01 pm

Crimey wrote:
martyr wrote:
Crimey wrote:They haven't featured heavily in pre-season so seems unlikely. I think it'd be very risky relying on them.

Sterling looked good, but very raw. Suso hasn't even appeared for the first team yet. They can be brought into the team slowly, but I think we need a really good winger if we want to challenge for Europe this year.

Ramirez of Uruguay would be a good signing, would also make Suarez feel more at home keeping him here.

From what suso has been saying on twitter, sounds like he wants a move away. basically he was saying stuff like 'another reserve team training session...nothing changes here at liverpool'. basically he thinks he should be ahead of a few people in the squad.

I imagine he's fallen out of favour since Benitez left and the Spanish feel of the squad has gone. It'll be disappointing to see him go, but you have to wonder whether he's that good considering he's struggled to break into the first team for so long, same with Dani Pacheo.

Suso is a cracking little player, and only 19. I think he fell out with Dalglish because despite him doing well for the reserves there was no indication he would get a first team chance. I'm sure he do just as well as Adam or Henderson, Pacheco the same.

by **Crimey** Wed 01 Aug 2012, 5:05 pm

The problem with Pacheo is that he's had a few loan moves now where he hasn't really impressed, we seemed to try and get rid of him when we sent him to Atletico Madrid, who immediately sent their loanee on loan which I didn't think was possible.

I'd love it if he could make a break through this year, but unfortunately I'm not sure he'll ever live up to the potential.

Perhaps both of them have had their development stunted by spending so long in the reserves.

by **Kenny** Wed 01 Aug 2012, 5:09 pm

I dont think we have shown the same amount of trust in our young attacking players as we have in our more defensive young players . We seem to be reluctant to give them a chance imo .

by **hampo17** Wed 01 Aug 2012, 5:13 pm

I agree KK would have liked to see Sterling more last season, he can play on both wings and we desperately needed a RW.

Unfortunately if we sign Dempsey Suso won't get his chance.

by **Crimey** Wed 01 Aug 2012, 5:17 pm

I imagine Sterling will get more first team football this year. I think his development is being handled fairly well for now, no reason to rush him into the first team. You heard the reactions he was getting every time he touched the ball last year, that pressure needs to be cooled by slowly putting him into the first team.

by **Kenny** Wed 01 Aug 2012, 5:23 pm

Sterling and Suso do both seem to be Rodgers type players so hopefully both will be brought into the first team even if they dont make the squad every week just being involved should bring them on more .

With regards to Dempsey im in favour of bringing him in , he would add goals and being American wouldn't do our image over there any harm ....the US is a big market for us imo which we need to tap into more especially as a certain club has just sign with Chevrolet

by Guest Wed 01 Aug 2012, 5:30 pm

Is it fair to say that Dempsey is a 'boardroom signing', so to speak?

by **Kenny** Wed 01 Aug 2012, 5:33 pm

He is a good player but i dont think it hurts hes American

by **Crimey** Wed 01 Aug 2012, 5:36 pm

I'm not sure, he would fill the role that Sigurdsson would have done.

I'm sure we have a deal with Chevrolet as well, not our main sponsor, but some kind of deal.

by **Kenny** Thu 02 Aug 2012, 2:55 pm

So what do we think about tonights 1st leg ?

by **Crimey** Thu 02 Aug 2012, 2:58 pm

I want to see a good performance. A win and a clean sheet. We should easily outclass them and need to treat this as an important game.

Hope to see a strong selection from Rodgers.

by **Kenny** Thu 02 Aug 2012, 3:03 pm

Rodgers has said the right things about the game so i do expect a strong line up . I haven't seen them play so cant really comment on how strong they are, but i agree a win and a clean sheet from us would be good .

I think the match is on Premier Sports Sky channel 428 but it is pay per view i think

by **Crimey** Thu 02 Aug 2012, 3:07 pm

Yeah, will have to be a stream tonight.

by Lee Thu 02 Aug 2012, 3:17 pm

Yeah pretty gutted when I saw it wasn't on ESPN or 5

Stream it is then

by **Kenny** Thu 02 Aug 2012, 4:00 pm

Dont want to jinx tonight but just wanted peoples thoughts .

Bit of a daft question but .......

If we win is they way we play more important then the winning margin ?

In that i meen if we win 1 nil and play a good passing game is that a better result then playing disjointed and winning by 2 or 3 .

by **Crimey** Thu 02 Aug 2012, 4:18 pm

The latter.

Last year we played some good passing football but failed to deliver results, that was our main issue, so if Rodgers doesn't solve that and just continues nice looking football without the results to go with it then we haven't improved.

I'd rather we won by a big margin and focused on winning.

by **Kenny** Thu 02 Aug 2012, 4:22 pm

Id hope for a bit of both , but would prefer a good win . I hope Borini gets off to a good start to take some pressure off

by **Crimey** Thu 02 Aug 2012, 6:02 pm

Team is:

Jones

Johnson
Carragher
Skrtel
Enrique

Henderson
Spearing
Gerrard

Downing
Cole

Borini

Subs: Gulacsi, Lucas, Adam, Shelvey, Kelly, Robinson, Sterling

I assume Lucas isn't quite fit enough for the start. No strikers on the bench which is slightly worrying.

I hope we do line up in 4-3-3 and we don't play 4-4-1-1 with Cole behind the striker and Henderson/Gerrard on the right.

by **Crimey** Thu 02 Aug 2012, 6:18 pm

Borini makes his debut, Carragher makes his 700th appearance.

I think Robinson and Sterling could make their European debuts if they come on.

by **Crimey** Thu 02 Aug 2012, 6:58 pm

Need a big performance from Cole tonight I think.

by **Crimey** Thu 02 Aug 2012, 7:24 pm

Cole's big performance is 23 minutes of pretty poor touches before going off injured.

At least Sterling will be a bit more eager to make an impression, more pace and penetration.

by Guest Thu 02 Aug 2012, 7:27 pm

Don't forget the "hands on waist bent over blowing like a team strain after taking a throw in" look he's perfected over the years.

by **Crimey** Thu 02 Aug 2012, 7:31 pm

Liverpool have actually been pretty poor in the first half an hour.

Early days for Rodgers, but for now I don't think his style has been stamped on the side. Without Suarez/Bellamy there isn't really enough creativity in the final third.

Need to see an improvement, we want to win this match comfortably. Most of the players will need a boost of confidence going into the new season.

by **Crimey** Thu 02 Aug 2012, 7:36 pm

Been pretty embarrassing for the past 10 minutes, Gomel easily the better side creating a lot of chances.

by **Crimey** Thu 02 Aug 2012, 7:40 pm

If this performance is any indication of what to expect for the season ahead, I would expect to do worse than last year.

by **Crimey** Thu 02 Aug 2012, 7:41 pm

Given away about 3 good chances in the past 5 minutes...

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