Liverpool Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread 2014 *mod warning linked in OP 26/07*

Anyone questioning gerrards contribution to the team needs their head checked.

Even if Liverpool signed a world class midfielder they'd play alongside Gerrard not instead if him. Amazes me how quick some 'fans' want to put a Liverpiol icon out to pasture

I'd written him off and have gladly eaten humble pie about it.

daithijjj wrote: »

Iv'e been reading the same stuff about Gerrard for 3 years.

He has played around 100 games the last 2 years. He will now get 4 or 5 fortnightly breaks from international games to freshen up for the club.

Gerrard is playing the role Rodgers is instructing him to play.

I read tonight he is signing a 1 year extension.

People should me more alarmed by Rodgers/the club not bringing in a yard dog to play in front of defence. Can isnt the answer, for another year or two anyway imo. Lucas is dead weight im afraid, i honestly dont trust him even up against weaker teams now. We have ball winners but no muscle. The EPL requires some muscle in the DM/CM slot. Its great to have an ethos in style but when the same old issues arise and are treated like nothings wrong you are only causing yourself unnecessary issues throughout a season.

So far we havent really done anything to cure the goals we conceded last season. If Lovren comes in that will help. Imo, he will be the leader of that defence after 5 games played, mark my words :cool: :pac:

Still need a yard dog.

Don't really agree regarding the need for a 'yard dog', and I think we'll see a defensive improvement purely by shift to playing one up top.

Let's not forget we had a great defensive record during Suarez's ban, winning a lot of games 1-0.

Also look at the likes of Khedira, Busquets, Fernandinho and so on: they contribute as much in attack as defence, and I think Rodgers will want similar from Gerrard or Can.

murpho999 wrote: »

Don't get this need for a 'star' or 'marquee' signing.

We arguably haven't had one at LFC since Torres, although Liverpool made him a better player.

Same with Suarez.

People baulked at Sturridge signing last year but wouldn't want him leaving now.

Think Liverpool create more stars than actually sign.

You definitely make a valid point, the club has improved players like Suarez & Torres. Torres was a marquee signing, Suarez not quite as much so but that might be to do with him coming from the Dutch league rather than La Liga. He soon turned that notion on its head, the little scamp

But all that aside I disagree somewhat on not buying a 'marquee' signing. Marquee is probably too derogatory a word because it smacks of playboys in Ferraris enjoying £200k per week wages and not producing the form we expect of a £50-60m player.

What I want is a world class player. One who, like Suarez, can deliver the goods even when others around him aren't producing an end product. The reason I want that type of player in the squad is because I'm of the firm belief that winning the Premiership is so competitive that it's millimetres that count as we know painfully too well from the season just gone. If you look at any Premier League winning teams of the last two decades there is a common strand running throughout- they all had one, sometimes two world class players who were the difference between winning the PL and not winning it. Look at the impact Cantona had at both Leeds and ManU, he was the lynchpin that swung titles his teams way at crucial junctures in crucial matches. Henry did the same for Arsenal, Viera and Petit to a certain extent, both world class midfielders who were often the difference in tight away games. Ronaldo with his 41 goal season did likewise at Utd, RVP did similar as has Drogba for Chelsea. Aguero was the difference between Man City winning their first title in 50 years when he stepped up to the plate and kept a level head to score a 93rd minute goal. You wouldn't have wanted anyone but Aguero in that position, because a world class player like him is what can swing a title.

In a competition where centimetres are no longer enough and every millimeter counts that extra bit of class that can win 0-0's in the final few minutes is what makes a difference. All the players I mentioned were IMO world class and often proved to be the difference between winning the PL and not winning it.

That's the reason I want a world class player in the squad. Not so we can boast about how were putting it up to the big boys by splashing £60m but because I'm firmly of the belief that it is almost impossible to win the Premier League without one.

Sturridge may well develop into what I'm talking about and I truly hope he does. But if he doesn't or if he gets plagued by injury again I think we could really struggle to make the top four. I suppose that's why the Sanchez thing annoyed me, he was the perfect fit at the perfect time, just a shame the bright lights of Liverpool wasn't for him.

Hollister11 wrote: »

Stevie got the captaincy in October 2003 when he was 23.

Yes, but he was a freak!

Gbear wrote: »

Henderson isn't really leadership material unless he does an awful lot of growing up. There's been a few glimpses over the past couple of years but there's been plenty of hiding as well. He's only just turned 24 so he has time.

It seemed like Lucas and Agger were being groomed but I can't see either sticking around long.

I wouldn't be surprised if it's one of the lads from this window (in 2 years time).



It's hard to say.

What are we trying to do this season? If the goal is to win the league then, while these signings have been excellent on the face of it in their own way, they're far from being ambitious enough.

If we're progressing along on our 5-year plan or whatever and the goal is to stick in the CL (with last season being an anomaly), then we're probably ok.

Unless we absolute nail that superstar, it might not be worth getting them just for the sake of it. If they're going to peak this season and next season, unless they're serious business I can't see it being enough to win the league.

On the other hand, if we solidify our position over 2 or 3 years and get within striking distance, then might be the time to go for the throat and get that superstar.

Without crazy money it'll be very difficult to maintain success so we might have to accept flittering around most of the time and taking a run at winning the big trophies once every few years.

growing up?

i heart chewy louie wrote: »

growing up?

i heart chewy louie wrote: »

wgytl

we're gunna win the league, wgwtl

anygbu

and now you're gunna believe us, anygbu,
wgWTL!

Divock Origi has arrived in United States to undergo his medical and confirm his £10 million signing * The Telegraph *

5starpool wrote: »

This'll be about the 4th medical he's done for us at this stage.

Remys medical has been going on for about 4 days now.

John Henry saying that Suarez was sold to add depth to squad
Good effort John, good effort

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGkEfvWiLf8

Underpaid Mike wrote: »

John Henry saying that Suarez was sold to add depth to squad
Good effort John, good effort

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGkEfvWiLf8

He's hardly going to come out and say we sold him because we were fed up of the disciplinary issues.

And in any case if we spend 130m this summer we will have built the squad.

Mirror linking us with Gaitan again

According to French station RMC, Liverpool are in a race with Atletico Madrid to sign Nicolas Gaitan . The Benfica attacking midfielder has been linked with a move to the Premier League on a few occasions in the last year and is thought to be sought-after once again. The player has been given the thumbs up for a move to Monaco, but the clubs have been unable to settle on a fee and the move looks set to break down. With a release clause of €45million, he would not come cheap, but the Reds have not been worried about splashing the cash this summer.

martyos121 wrote: »

Don't know what Henry is thinking saying all this about selling Suarez to add depth.
It's like saying you'd sell your Ferrari for three or four Nissan Micras.

Well if he goes and buys Reus and Vidal with the money its like selling a Ferrari to buy two other Ferraris. You really can never have enough Ferraris

Speaking of Gerrard. Had no one mentioned that he was going into the last year of his contract? Well, he's just signed a 1 year extension to take him up to 2016.

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/new-liverpool-fc-contract-steven-7503927

Brendan Rodgers says a new contract for Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard is a formality this summer.

The talismanic midfielder has entered the final year of his current deal but the manager expects Gerrard to soon pen a 12-month extension.

The 34-year-old retired from international football earlier this week in order to focus on his club commitments and Rodgers believes he still has a huge amount left to offer at the highest level.

“I am very happy that Steven is now going to commit to Liverpool and I am sure that (his contract) is something that we will look at,” Rodgers said.

“He is in real good condition and I’m sure it is something that will happen at some point.

“Listen, for his own mind, I’m sure he will want it sorted out, absolutely. You never want to leave players with not too long to go on their contract.

“A lot has gone on at the club over the course of the summer. It is something I am sure will get sorted.”

Gerrard, who is third in the club's all-time appearance list on 669, flourished last season in a new role as a deep-lying playmaker.

He contributed 13 goals to the Reds' Premier League title challenge and Rodgers hailed him as the best controlling midfielder in Europe.

A 12-month extension to his current contract would keep him at Anfield until his 36th birthday in 2016.

“I know that Steven can continue to play on beyond this season. I have always said that,” Rodgers added.

“Now he doesn’t have international football, he will have that freshness. I think it is something that will be looked at by the club.”

Can't have any arguments with that.