Liverpool FC Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread 2014 - Mod Warning in OP, 10/12

Agent Coulson

MR NINE wrote: »

As for our policy in general, it was an underwhelming window right from the off. Maybe Im a dreamer, but once we had gained cl qualification I was imagining the likes of shaqiri, rakitic, sanchez, javi martinez, jackson martinez, griezmann etc being targetted. Of course some of these might have been unrealistic, and others may have refused our approaches, but this notion that we couldnt afford to pay competitive wages is quite concerning. I could understand taking punts on cheap fees and wages in 2013 when funds were low. In 2014, with cl qualification and 70m from suarez, we should have been able to afford at least one large incoming salary. I didnt have anything against the signings of lallana, lovren, origi, markovic, can etc but I think theyre all signings we could have made without cl to offer. It feels like a missed opportunity to bring in some real quality.

These are along the line of players I was hoping we would go for as well.

We could afford the transfer fees and wages for these players.

So be it if they didn't want to come we should be at least trying for them and getting turned down is better than not trying at all.

awec

I think BR will have learned a lot from the summer transfer window. The important thing is not to make the same mistake again. Our net spend was relatively low so hopefully there is still money in the bank.

That said we were in a bit of a unique position. Our numerous seasons without Europe meant we had a squad that really needed to be beefed up in terms of numbers to compete on both fronts - so all these new players aren't necessarily the wrong decision.

January is a bad time to be buying strikers too, which sounds like a cliché but it will be hard to find someone who's having a good season and available for sale.

Our biggest mistake of the summer might actually be passing on Eto'o, who would surely have provided more goals than Balotelli and been dead on for a shortish contract.

BenEadir

Agent Coulson wrote: »

These are along the line of players I was hoping we would go for as well.

We could afford the transfer fees and wages for these players.

So be it if they didn't want to come we should be at least trying for them and getting turned down is better than not trying at all.

The ambition would be admirable but what's the point investing recruitment resource chasing deals which have a very low or no chance of success? You could end up (as has happened before) at the tail end of a transfer window having been turned down by your initial targets scrambling round for what's left and paying inflated transfer rates as the selling club have you by the short and curlies.

It's also embarrassing being constantly turned down by the very top layer of transfer targets and sends a very poor message to the back up players we then have to turn to.

Liverpool isn't the city players and their partners dream of living in and LFC don't have the cash to outbid Chelsea, City or United so until something dramatic happens we're always going to be choosing from the 2nd tier of established players or trying to find talent which can be turned into 1st tier talent which we try and keep for as long as possible a la Johnson Suarez Couldn't resist that.

MR NINE

Im not sure it would be wise to use sturridge this week. I dont know if hodgson has named his squad yet, or if sturridge would get called up, but it seems like a better idea to rest him until after the internationals. Having said that, if hes fit hes fit and itd be a huge boost to have him back in the team, but id hate to see him rushed back.

Agent Coulson

BenEadir wrote: »

The ambition would be admirable but what's the point investing recruitment resource chasing deals which have a very low or no chance of success? You could end up (as has happened before) at the tail end of a transfer window having been turned down by your initial targets scrambling round for what's left and paying inflated transfer rates as the selling club have you by the short and curlies.

It's also embarrassing being constantly turned down by the very top layer of transfer targets and sends a very poor message to the back up players we then have to turn to.

Liverpool isn't the city players and their partners dream of living in and LFC don't have the cash to outbid Chelsea, City or United so until something dramatic happens we're always going to be choosing from the 2nd tier of established players or trying to find talent which can be turned into 1st tier talent which we try and keep for as long as possible a la Johnson Suarez Couldn't resist that.

So for the sake of not being embarrassed we shouldn't try for these players?

Chucky the tree

LuckyLloyd wrote: »

So that's it then? There you are now - wage bill says we can't achieve top four so shut up and accept our return to irrelevance within a season? Okay.

It's the same as people constantly noting to a poor transfer record that 'it's our policy'.

If your policies and structures won't deliver success then they aren't acceptable.

No. I'm saying if we can't achieve top 4 every year then sacking the manager after one season of missing out is pretty stupid. Or else if you want to direct your hate at someone do it at the owners.

T-K-O

Agent Coulson wrote: »

So for the sake of not being embarrassed we shouldn't try for these players?

Exactly, those type of comments drive me made. We should at least bid on the players.

Hidalgo

Agent Coulson wrote: »

So for the sake of not being embarrassed we shouldn't try for these players?

Depends on who else is vying for players attention. Waste of time courting Rakitic once Barca showed interest.
With Sanchez whilst the official party line is he chose London I'm curious as to what type of wages Liverpool were prepared to stump up. That mould of player was the ideal replacement for Suarez.

Agent Coulson

Hidalgo wrote: »

Depends on who else is vying for players attention. Waste of time courting Rakitic once Barca showed interest.
With Sanchez whilst the official party line is he chose London I'm curious as to what type of wages Liverpool were prepared to stump up. That mould of player was the ideal replacement for Suarez.

Trying get a player like Rakitic is what I want to see the club try and if that means losing out to Barca, Real, Munich so be it but that's not embarrassing.

Even losing out to a team like City, Chelsea or PSG isn't embarrassing because most people can see the player is going there for money.

awec

Agent Coulson wrote: »

Even losing out to a team like City, Chelsea or PSG isn't embarrassing because most people can see the player is going there for money.

Or to win things.

Let's face it, both Chelsea and City can offer much higher odds of silverware than we can. That's hard to compete with.

Chelsea also have the advantage of being in London, much more attractive to foreign players than the north west.

Agent Coulson

awec wrote: »

Or to win things.

Let's face it, both Chelsea and City can offer much higher odds of silverware than we can. That's hard to compete with.

Chelsea also have the advantage of being in London, much more attractive to foreign players than the north west.

Of course but my main point is that it is not embarrassing losing out on signing a player to these clubs.

What is embarrassing is not even trying to get a player of that level.

Utopia Parkway

Hidalgo wrote: »

Depends on who else is vying for players attention. Waste of time courting Rakitic once Barca showed interest.
With Sanchez whilst the official party line is he chose London I'm curious as to what type of wages Liverpool were prepared to stump up. That mould of player was the ideal replacement for Suarez.

Liverpool were offering Sanchez a bigger wage than Arsenal were. Also a bigger transfer fee to Barcelona. Actually read an article on it this morning. The family were set on moving to London though.

Kirby

Agent Coulson wrote: »

So for the sake of not being embarrassed we shouldn't try for these players?

Trying is the first step towards failure phil! :P

This London **** is bollocks, if you can't see that there are some other reasons why a player might join Chelsea or Arsenal its a bit desperate.

And of course I don't mean every player in every situation would choose those clubs, there are numerous things to be considered when a player makes the decision but simplifying it to just 'London' isn't right.

Kirby

AdamD wrote: »

This London **** is bollocks, if you can't see that there are some other reasons why a player might join Chelsea or Arsenal its a bit desperate.

And of course I don't mean every player in every situation would choose those clubs, there are numerous things to be considered when a player makes the decision but simplifying it to just 'London' isn't right.

It would have been a part of it but I agree....I think Arsenal just winning a trophy and being ever present in the champions league would have been a bigger deal in my opinion.

Liverpool haven't won anything in a while and haven't been in the champions league in years. Players would see it as a risk. If Liverpool make top 4 consistently over the next few years it will become an easier sell.

Don't underestimate the manager too. Very few players from spain will know who Rodgers is where as Wenger has a reputation.

Talisman

Hidalgo wrote: »

What difference would Lucas have over Gerrard?

For somebody that plays in such a pivotal role in the team it's shocking that Gerrard can't read the game especially at this stage of his career. Lucas can at least read the game and is tactically aware.

SlickRic

Rodgers reckons our defensive problems are over-exaggerated.

excellent.

we're fúcked.

MR NINE

I hope rodgers is watching mnf right now

Utopia Parkway

MR NINE wrote: »

I hope rodgers is watching mnf right now

I doubt it. Liverpool are training in the Bernabéu at the moment.

marklazarcovic

Its not beyond the realms of possibility that mario was not brought in by rodgers too..

And he is intentionaly playing him in a system that wont suit him to prove a point..

Its been done before and wouldnt surprise me.

Still does not explain our defensive crapness of course.

Just a thought

Rodgers playing an unwanted player for almost 1/3 of the season while not getting results is tinfoil hat stuff imo

Sir Gallagher

AdamD wrote: »

This London **** is bollocks, if you can't see that there are some other reasons why a player might join Chelsea or Arsenal its a bit desperate.

And of course I don't mean every player in every situation would choose those clubs, there are numerous things to be considered when a player makes the decision but simplifying it to just 'London' isn't right.

Where would you rather live?

Talisman

marklazarcovic wrote: »

Its not beyond the realms of possibility that mario was not brought in by rodgers too..

And he is intentionaly playing him in a system that wont suit him to prove a point..

Its been done before and wouldnt surprise me.

Still does not explain our defensive crapness of course.

Just a thought

Rodgers made a big song and dance effort about the Balotelli signing - he looked into his eyes etc.

Agent Coulson

I wouldn't be surprised if Rodgers bought Balotelli to prove he could change him and do something Jose couldn't.

Agent Coulson

Agent Coulson wrote: »

I wouldn't be surprised if Rodgers bought Balotelli to prove he could change him and do something Jose couldn't.

Or.. he bought him and thought he might strike up a good parthnership with Sturridge, and they could get a decent tally between them.

Charlie19

Agent Coulson wrote: »

I wouldn't be surprised if Rodgers bought Balotelli to prove he could change him and do something Jose couldn't.

Is Rodgers that full of himself though?

Hidalgo

Talisman wrote: »

For somebody that plays in such a pivotal role in the team it's shocking that Gerrard can't read the game especially at this stage of his career. Lucas can at least read the game and is tactically aware.

The mind might be tactically aware but Lucas doesn't have the legs anymore.
The position isn't helped by FBs playing so far forward. Means more space has to be covered

Gbear

rarnes1 wrote: »

Or.. he bought him and thought he might strike up a good parthnership with Sturridge, and they could get a decent tally between them.

Or, as he said, he was the only one we could (edit: or would) get.

Agent Coulson

rarnes1 wrote: »

Or.. he bought him and thought he might strike up a good parthnership with Sturridge, and they could get a decent tally between them.

Maybe maybe.

Then why play him on his own in every game instead of letting him strike up a partnership with Lambert or Borini when he knows Sturridge will be out for 10+ games.

rob316

SlickRic wrote: »

Rodgers reckons our defensive problems are over-exaggerated.

excellent.

we're fúcked.

I would perfer if we focused on our attacking play to be honest.