Liverpool Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread Summer 2014 - Mod Warning post #6893

If we can get Lallana for £20m, I'd be happy.

It might not be immediately obvious who he displaces from our starting 11, but he could reasonably displace 3/4 players and he certainly could rotate and provide excellent backup for 3/4 players. That will be extremely valuable come next season.

People are more than happy to spend £20m on Konoplyanka. Where is his obvious place in the starting 11? Sterling has been undroppable lately - has been our best player the last 2/3 months.

With a front 4 of Sterling-Sturridge-Coutinho-Suarez - and the performances they have put in this season it will take a world class performer to come in and push them automatically out of the team. Yet we do need re-inforcements in the forward positions who are better quality than Aspas, Alberto and Moses.

If you add Borini, Suso, Lallana and Konoplyanka to that forward roster, it's a job well done, yet the first 11 might not be any stronger. Forward options win games.

Every other part of the team needs FIRST 11 SIGNINGS ONLY.

I hate to be the guy who brings it up, but is there anyone else out there that thought that Sturridge over performed this season and that he wont be able to duplicate this seasons performances? I think we need another striker, just in case.
Dont get me wrong, he had a fantastic season, and I am aware that he works extremely hard, and he has the ability to score some amazing goals...but for some reason I am just not fully convinced that it is down to his class rather than him being in form.

Devilman40k wrote: »

And yet he's performed like that for 18 months in a red shirt...

And even when not in form (which he hasn't been of late) he's scored a couple of goals

31 goals and 10 assists in 43 (37 starts) premier league games for Liverpool

The assist stat alone is impressive.

http://www.leaguemanagers.com/news/news-7392.html

LMA Chairman, Howard Wilkinson, said: "There can be no greater tribute to a manager and his work than a tribute awarded by his match day foes and peers. This evening we applaud Brendan Rodgers as he receives that most valuable award.

“Liverpool Football Club's performances and results this season have provoked memories of some of those momentous years in the past when they had to contend with those two United’s, the first from Leeds, the second from Manchester.

“For Liverpool and Brendan, I'm sure we all hope this season marks the beginning of a new voyage and a new era.

LuckyLloyd wrote: »

And you'll be sorely disappointed post next season if we do a rerun of Spurs 2010 / 11. This is a vital tipping point. Stretch now, use momentum to establish a squad (not just 7 players) at the next level and then use a bedded in CL position to gradually unwind the finances over the next five years.

Penny pinching this year to balance the books for the financial year at hand would be a terrible missed opportunity. Small minded, short term and unimaginative thinking.

We are a half decade on at failing to push in 2009. I'm comfortable in my 'immature' traditional fan position - you swissramble football hipsters aren't interested in the important business of winning stuff. The business that should be burned in your brains more fiercely than ever given the collective deflation and disappointment this thread has experienced following its best ever Premiership performance (finishing as best losers).

:pac:
Had to stifle a laugh while reading that in work.

I really do think we need to invest, and quite heavily, this summer. It would be naive to think that our squad, plus one or two additions, could cope with what is ahead next year.

We have Champions League, and arguably overachieved in doing so. Now lets get a squad that makes it doing it again for the next 5-10 years the norm and the expected once more. Currently, we do not have that.

A case could be made for an entire back four, at least one more midfielder, and a winger. All starting quality.

Personally, I feel we need 1CB, LB, RB, CM, Winger/AM, for our first team players, and then we can look at squad additions after. Hopefully we don't do this the other way around again this season.

For backup/rotation, I would be happy to have Flanno, Wisdom, Ilori, Borini, and Allen (i'm a big fan of Allen, tbh).

Wisdom and Ilori may well go on loan, but also perhaps some from the reservers/U18 might make a step up again next season, who knows.

Out, I would be shipping on Assaidi, Lucas, Johnson, Enrique, and I wouldn't be adverse to seeing Agger leave if good money was offered. I suppose same situation should probably be applied to Lucas as well, actually.

Red Pepper wrote: »

I am not sure how you can be manager of the year for snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. Pulis for me was manager of the year, he completely resurrected that team (and I had money on Palace to get relegated).

Really? Taking a team from 7th to 2nd in one season doesnt rank as an achievement for you? Even more of an achievement when you look at the teams, squads and money we were up against.

rarnes1 wrote: »

I'd have thought the complete opposite.

They compliment each other brilliantly.

While I agree that with Gerrard in his new role they do compliment each other. He has a point.

Until Gerrard got injured I always felt Hendo was a bit awestruck to have Gerrard beside him in midfield. He would look to pass rather than try something himself.
Gerrard being out definitely spured Hendo on to realise his potential

I think Lallana is a great buy, even at £25m your getting a good player who has PL experience. How many good foreign players have teams bought and they have either not worked out or needed a season to bed in. Last August everyone was predicting that Spurs would be challenging. We obviously need some good foreign players as well, preferably with proven CL experience, especially at the back. I can see Lallana being a good fit.

I Posted this awhile back, but didn't get an Answer, so I guess I'll Post it again.

Is Nuri Banned? Haven't seen him in awhile. He's usually in the Thick of Things Madness around here.

Knex. wrote: »

Yeah, got a months ban I believe. He'll be back for the transfer madness, and thankfully, the World Cup.

Be a shame to have someone such as himself, with his vast interest in football and sport in general, to be banned during such a big tournament.

Same can be said for Opr in that regard too.

I know OPR got Banned, but is that a Month's Ban like Nuri or is it Permanent?

Raif Severance wrote: »

I know OPR got Banned, but is that a Month's Ban like Nuri or is it Permanent?

Opr's was a permanent forum ban, I believe.