Liverpool FC Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread

Karmafaerie · 18-07-2008 10:35AM

Cyrus wrote: »

PHB wrote:

If you get Keane, which is becoming more and more likely, all that is required imo is somebody on the left wing who is good enough to challenge for the title week in and week out. Silva seems to be the touted choice, but personally I haven't seen enough of him. Certainly need another attacker, preferably one with pace and the ability to start a counter attack.

like Babel

I'm the biggest Babel fan you'll find (I even have a jersey with Babel 19 on the back, and think he'll be one of the best in the world some day!:p), but I can see PHB's point.
Last season Babel wasn't consistant enough, week in, week out.
I think he will be next season, but I also see him starting more upfront towards the end of the season.
A good left winger/wing forward is needed.

raven136 · 18-07-2008 10:37AM

with the money we have i see it being downing and i see its as being a step up.He has premiership experience and if he can make the step up to a bigger club could be excellent.
Silva is very small and slight and also moneywise is double the price of downing

Cyrus · 18-07-2008 10:38AM

i like the lad too, i think rafa will leave him as a left sided or right sided forward for the next few seasons and then move him more central

he can drift in and out of a game on the wing but not as the main striker

prendy · 18-07-2008 10:50AM

but would you have downing ahead of babel in the first 11?

personaly id like
keane----gerrard----babel

torres

loads of goals, i think downing is good but babel will offer more of a goal threat, and he's bound to improve.
If we get keane and sell carson as expected and leave the squad at that we would have the above with pennant kuyt voronin and benni as decent reserves. not bad i think.

Karmafaerie · 18-07-2008 10:53AM

Cyrus wrote: »

i like the lad too, i think rafa will leave him as a left sided or right sided forward for the next few seasons and then move him more central

he can drift in and out of a game on the wing but not as the main striker

I still have my fingers crossed that we'll see a flowing attacking formation like Spain.
With Torres, Babel, Keane, and even Gerrard, drifting all over the frontline, pulling defences apart.:)

DeadSkin · 18-07-2008 10:59AM

IIRC Babel did most of his damage from the bench last season, but yeah I do have higher expectations from him next season.

I wouldn't mind seeing Downing out on the left for Liverpool. I must say I've been intrigued by the players we've been linked to over the past few weeks with Downing/Keane/Barry, all good proven Premiership players

IrishMike · 18-07-2008 11:00AM

Karmafaerie wrote: »

I still have my fingers crossed that we'll see a flowing attacking formation like Spain.
With Torres, Babel, Keane, and even Gerrard, drifting all over the frontline, pulling defences apart.:)

I still have my fingers crossed we sign Messi

But i agree a spanish style formation with an on form Alonso for me would be
the perfect resolution to this transfer window.
Even the signings of just Keane and a winger like Marin, Downing or even
pederson from Blackburn at this stage would keep me very happy indeed

mike65 · 18-07-2008 11:00AM

Degan--Carra-Agger-Dossena

Masch

"Alonarry"
--Gerrard

Babel

Keane

Torres

bench -GK, Skrtle, Yossi, Lucas, Kuyt, Insua, Pacheco

Mike.

PHB · 18-07-2008 11:02AM

Babel is still massively inconsistant. Scores spectacular goals, but doesn't score enough of them yet. Quite like Nani actually. But I wouldn't want Nani starting out for United, not for 1-3 more years.

I don't necessarily think that Downing is much better to be honest, but if you look at it this way

United's front 4 next season:

Berbatov

-Rooney

Tevez

Ronaldo--

Chelsea:

Drogba

-Malouda

Deco

Cole----

Arsenal:

Adebayour

Van Persie

-Rosicky

Nasri---

Can you really tell me you think Babel is good enough? You might say he's as good as Malouda, maybe so, but Chelsea want to bloody replace both their wingers cause they don't think they are good enough.

Liverpool need somebody of top quality for their attack, even after Keane. Pretty much every post at the end of last season agreed you needed at least 2 more attackers.

IrishMike · 18-07-2008 11:07AM

Babel played a lot better after xmas last season and was even better still in the last 4-5
games of the season.
He is not going to improve quickly enough unless he plays so you are in the same
situation that United were in with Ronaldo 3 seasons ago.
Play him even though he does stupid things at times because when he is brilliant he is
unplayable or else bring him on as a sub and stunt his development.
For me he should start the majority of games as the players in the side around him can
make up for him on his off days and when he is on form he can turn games by himself.
Oh and Babel is a better player than Malouda thats not even a debate.
Malouda has been completely and utterly awful for Chelsea all last season.

joker77 · 18-07-2008 11:10AM

My brother was at the game against FC Luzern the other night. In his words:

"That Degen lad really doesn't look like a footballer though!! I will be surprised if he's not warming the bench most of the season. Don't know what Finnan did wrong!"

Doesn't inspire confidence...

Chardee MacDennis · 18-07-2008 11:11AM

PHB wrote: »

Babel is still massively inconsistant. Scores spectacular goals, but doesn't score enough of them yet. Quite like Nani actually. But I wouldn't want Nani starting out for United, not for 1-3 more years.

I don't necessarily think that Downing is much better to be honest, but if you look at it this way

United's front 4 next season:
Berbatov
-Rooney
Tevez
Ronaldo--

Chelsea:
Drogba
-Malouda
Deco
Cole----

Arsenal:
Adebayour
Van Persie
-Rosicky
Nasri---

Can you really tell me you think Babel is good enough? You might say he's as good as Malouda, maybe so, but Chelsea want to bloody replace both their wingers cause they don't think they are good enough.

Liverpool need somebody of top quality for their attack, even after Keane. Pretty much every post at the end of last season agreed you needed at least 2 more attackers.

no one knows how Nasri and Deco are going to settle, i would definitely take babel over those two. Imho uniteds is the only better line up than Torres, Gerrard, Keane and Babel.

joker77 wrote: »

My brother was at the game against FC Luzern the other night. In his words:

"That Degen lad really doesn't look like a footballer though!! I will be surprised if he's not warming the bench most of the season. Don't know what Finnan did wrong!"

Doesn't inspire confidence...

i would be absolutely shocked and amazed if Arbeloa was not our starting right back, he is horribly under rated on these boards...

IrishMike · 18-07-2008 11:12AM

First game of preseason though after being out with a serious injury for most of last season.
Ill give him a few months to get up to speed before i make any sort of judgement.
Its not as if he was ever brought in to be first choice

joker77 · 18-07-2008 11:14AM

I don't underrate Arbeloa, and I think Degen would come in as third choice. With Aurelio / Dossena at left full, if they're both injured Arbeloa would slot in there. Not doing too badly overall with full backs, hopefully

mike65 · 18-07-2008 11:27AM

Could be Finnan is still the primary RB for the start of the season. Its the most "open" postion.

Mike.

Cyrus · 18-07-2008 11:43AM

BastardPrince wrote: »

i would be absolutely shocked and amazed if Arbeloa was not our starting right back, he is horribly under rated on these boards...

QUOTED FOR TRUTH

raven136 · 18-07-2008 11:50AM

liverpools front line compares favourably with the other top 3 teams and i wouldnt expect nasri to have any major impact.Skillwise he has it all but it takes size and strength to succeed in the premier league.He will be fantastic,i just dont expect it straight away.
Just because someone plays for boro doesnt make a french guy automatically better.We see these foreign players on you tube and becuse they are well known then we expect greatness.Downing isnt messi but he slots striaght into your team,crosses well and creates goals.
keane-15 goals
torres-24
babel-4
gerrard-12
total 55 goals

rooney-12
ronaldo-31
tevez-14
berbatov-15
total-72

liverpool need more goals from babel or whoever is in his position as otherwise we are man for man as good.Also even if ronaldo does stay he is injured for 2 months and wont equal his same record.

DeadSkin · 18-07-2008 11:57AM

From the Echo

LIVERPOOL will look to tie up a deal for Robbie Keane in the next 48 hours after Tottenham gave up the struggle to keep their star player at White Hart Lane.

And on Barry:

The England international has held clear the air talks with O'Neill - which were described as "cordial and positive” by Barry's agent Eric Black - giving Liverpool renewed hope that O'Neill might finally be willing to bring the long-running saga to a close by agreeing to a compromise deal which would suit all parties.

Karmafaerie · 18-07-2008 12:00PM

raven136 wrote: »

liverpools front line compares favourably with the other top 3 teams and i wouldnt expect nasri to have any major impact.Skillwise he has it all but it takes size and strength to succeed in the premier league.He will be fantastic,i just dont expect it straight away.
Just because someone plays for boro doesnt make a french guy automatically better.We see these foreign players on you tube and becuse they are well known then we expect greatness.Downing isnt messi but he slots striaght into your team,crosses well and creates goals.
keane-15 goals
torres-24
babel-4
gerrard-12
total 55 goals

rooney-12
ronaldo-31
tevez-14
berbatov-15
total-72

liverpool need more goals from babel or whoever is in his position as otherwise we are man for man as good.Also even if ronaldo does stay he is injured for 2 months and wont equal his same record.

And I think that Babel will score more goals.
:cool:

yom 1 · 18-07-2008 12:04PM

Assuming the Keane deal is finalised over the weekend, and that if the above reports suggest the Barry deal gets finalised too, what would people think of the following?

Mascherano

Alonso

Keane

Gerrard

Barry

Torres

Karmafaerie · 18-07-2008 12:07PM

yom 1 wrote: »

Assuming the Keane deal is finalised over the weekend, and that if the above reports suggest the Barry deal gets finalised too, what would people think of the following?
Mascherano
Alonso
Keane
Gerrard
Barry
Torres

If Barry comes, Alonso will go (IMO).

I just can't see them both here.

Mr Alan · 18-07-2008 12:07PM

^^^^
that'd be sweet.

mike65 · 18-07-2008 12:08PM

Will Liverpool end up selling Alonso in a late August fire sale?

Mike,.

Karmafaerie · 18-07-2008 12:09PM

mike65 wrote: »

Will Liverpool end up selling Alonso in a late August fire sale?

Mike,.

Doubt it.
Can't see us getting less that £15,000,000 off of Atletico for him.

raven136 · 18-07-2008 12:10PM

would be great to see barry and xabi together.Nothing better than a good squad depth,there would be no problems with rotation in the media then.

Anyone seriously think we will use the 3-5-2 or 4-4-2 more next season?

Jazzy · 18-07-2008 12:12PM

would much rather:

Gerrard

Mascherano

Babel

Barry

Keane

Torres

Mr Alan · 18-07-2008 12:14PM

the line up of.......

Alonso--Mascherano

--Gerrard

Keane

Barry-

Torres

would be quite excellent, especially in Europe and against the other top 4 in the league.

maybe Rafa sees Barry (if coming to us) featuring out on the left quite a bit?

could easily adopt 4-4-2 aginst weaker opposition or when needed with 2 of Barry/Alonso/Masch in the middle. and Keane and Torres up top.

colly10 · 18-07-2008 12:14PM

yom 1 wrote: »

Assuming the Keane deal is finalised over the weekend, and that if the above reports suggest the Barry deal gets finalised too, what would people think of the following?
Mascherano
Alonso
Keane
Gerrard
Barry
Torres

I know we have a habit of buying strikers and playing them on the wing but if were going to do that would we not be better off buying wingers?

PHB · 18-07-2008 12:15PM

Buying Barry and not selling Alsono would be ludicrous considering the other problems in the squad.

Mr Alan · 18-07-2008 12:16PM

emmm that formation does really have wingers in the typical sense, behind the main striker has always been Keanes best position.

Liverpool FC Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread

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