Summer of 2014

Better than dragging football threads off-topic with bickering and snide remarks (hint hint).

RedOranje wrote:Better than dragging football threads off-topic with bickering and snide remarks (hint hint).

What do you mean, I thought everyone enjoyed rehashing the same arguments without adding anything to them?

It's true that aside from if we get Sanchez/Shaqiri we're not really upgrading, but it's not like our squad is really "weak" anywhere except at fullback. Depth is important and needs to be addressed.

With young players like Henderson, Coutinho, Sterling, Sturridge, Flanagan, Allen, etc. all improving we just need to have a team that is stable and capable of carrying a heavy workload at the top level. Lallana, Markovic, Lambert, Can and co. are supplementary players right now with some upside (if Lallana can carry his form from last year that's great, and if Markovic/Can develop as expected they'll be immense in the future).

I'd be very happy with just a window involving Origi, Lambert, Can, Lallana, one of Shaqiri/Markovic and a LB (Blind, Moreno or Rodriguez). If a top class attacker is added on the level of Sanchez I'd be delighted, but it's not necessary unless we move Suarez and I'm almost certain that if Suarez goes we'll add a top class guy or two.

If Suarez stays we need a top class signing, if he leaves we need two. I think people need to understand we over achieved a lot last season and whether we can pick it up at the same pace remains to be seen if not, we need to bring in WC players if we want to win the PL, if were just after t4 then we might have enough.

The Suarez rumors grow ever alarmingly! !

mr-r34 wrote:If Suarez stays we need a top class signing, if he leaves we need two. I think people need to understand we over achieved a lot last season and whether we can pick it up at the same pace remains to be seen if not, we need to bring in WC players if we want to win the PL, if were just after t4 then we might have enough.

My exact thoughts

Don't call me James wrote:

mr-r34 wrote:If Suarez stays we need a top class signing, if he leaves we need two. I think people need to understand we over achieved a lot last season and whether we can pick it up at the same pace remains to be seen if not, we need to bring in WC players if we want to win the PL, if were just after t4 then we might have enough.

My exact thoughts

  

Fahim89 wrote:The Suarez rumors grow ever alarmingly! !

       

http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/28090791

Stoke are really mad with LFC who are asking for close to 7m pounds for Assaidi.

Stoke said that a month ago the same and then few weeks ago said now not interested in signing him due to his price tag.Now after a month comes out saying price is too high again   .

Clearly they want to sign him and trying to low ball us imo.Good to see us holding our ground and arent push overs like in the past (Aquilani )

Brendan Rodgers expects Liverpool's summer transfer business to ensure 'a really exciting time' for the Reds before the new season gets underway in August.

The Northern Irishman has so far swooped to complete a switch for England striker Rickie Lambert, while a deal has been agreed in principle to bring in midfielder Emre Can from Bayer Leverkusen.

"I think there has been a lot of work that has been done," the boss told Sky Sports News. "If you look at us as a club and recruitment, we haven't been resting over the course of the off-season - a lot of great work has gone on.

"We've targeted players, we've signed some and we'll have more signings to come over the course of the pre-season. The idea is by the end of August we'll have the squad together and it will be a really exciting time for us next season.

"Next season will be equally as tough, we knew it would be tough, we had an incredible performance level and we'll have players who want to prove themselves and the beauty is that we as a club will improve too.

"We've a lot of young players who will have gained experience last season and we will bring in more players with added quality so we will also improve as well and that's something I'm really looking forward to seeing."

Rodgers, who guided the club to second place in the Barclays Premier League and Champions League qualification last season, added: "We still have signings to make to ensure we have the squad strength to cope.

"Obviously returning to the Champions League is fantastic for the club and for the supporters, but we're into four competitions next season and we want to do really well, and that's going to take a few more signings to bring in."

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/liverpool-fc-bracing-themselves-opening-7349612

Lallana and Can will be unveiled in a few hours

Liverpool are ready to turn their attentions to strengthening their defence after completing the £25 million transfer of Adam Lallana from Southampton and making progress on moves for other attacking targets.

Brendan Rodgers wants Dejan Lovren to become the third Southampton player to move to Anfield this summer, after Lallana and Rickie Lambert. The Liverpool manager is also hoping to strike a deal with Chelsea for Ryan Bertrand after becoming frustrated with Seville’s refusal to lower their £20 million asking price for Alberto Moreno.

A move for Bertrand is also being lined up, with Chelsea understood to value the left back at about £8 million. Rodgers is a long time admirer of the 24-year-old, having worked with him at Chelsea’s academy, and wanted to sign him on loan last January only for Aston Villa to secure the defender’s services on a temporary basis after José Mourinho ruled against him joining Liverpool.

Rodgers believes Bertrand represents superior value to Moreno and Chelsea are now understood to be willing to sanction a permanent move to Anfield as long as their valuation is matched. Liverpool are also confident of completing the signing of Divock Origi, the 19-year-old Belgium forward, from Lille after the World Cup finals and have registered their interest in Lazar Markovic, the Benfica and Serbia winger.

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/sport/football/clubs/liverpool/article4135664.ece

Also Liverpool open talks with Barcelona over transfer of Luis Suárez and want Chile’s Alexis Sánchez as part of deal

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/jul/01/liverpool-barcelona-luis-suarez-alexis-sanchez

Would rather see us buy Moreno for 20m than Bertrand for 8m, but we'll see how things go.

I have only watched Bertrand play twice.Once against us for Villa when he made his debut on loan and then in the CL final where he played as winger.So have absolutely no opinion on him.


I doubt any Liverpool fan has actually seen him play much either (Unless Art really watches Villa for Lambert)   .Its bit underwhelming to sign a chelsea reject (if the deal comes off) but have to see how he actually performs rather jumping to bandwagon slagging him off already .

If what i read is correct he never got a decent run at LB for Chelsea(ala Sturridge) before being shipped out to Villa on loan.
So just hope Rodgers knows his potential ability and we pick up a bargian.Definitely rather have Morano for 20m for sure

I'd wager that a number of us watch more PL matches than just those featuring Liverpool fairly regularly, so have seen a fair bit of Bertrand for Villa and Chelsea. I've never been particularly impressed by what I've seen of him; he looks rather average.

I'd rather spend a good bit more on a player than looks to be developing into a great player than spend less on one that appears to be average, to be honest.

BBC also reporting on this specifically Ben Smith. Also the same suggestions of Sanchez being included in the deal for Suarez.

http://m.bbc.com/sport/football/28112887

RedOranje wrote:I'd wager that a number of us watch more PL matches than just those featuring Liverpool fairly regularly, so have seen a fair bit of Bertrand for Villa and Chelsea. I've never been particularly impressed by what I've seen of him; he looks rather average.

I'd rather spend a good bit more on a player than looks to be developing into a great player than spend less on one that appears to be average, to be honest.

Coming from a Chelsea fan, he is rather average, I doubt he will get much better either.

A decent back up but he wants more than that.

Kick wrote:

RedOranje wrote:I'd wager that a number of us watch more PL matches than just those featuring Liverpool fairly regularly, so have seen a fair bit of Bertrand for Villa and Chelsea. I've never been particularly impressed by what I've seen of him; he looks rather average.

I'd rather spend a good bit more on a player than looks to be developing into a great player than spend less on one that appears to be average, to be honest.

Coming from a Chelsea fan, he is rather average, I doubt he will get much better either.

A decent back up but he wants more than that.

Just curious did he ever get regular run out for a few games at LB in the league ?

Yea.

In 11/12 he started (and played 90+ minutes in) 6 of the final 7 matches for Chelsea.

In 12/13 he played regularly when not injured, though his time was mixed between LB and LM.

For Villa he played every match but the one against Chelsea.


He's had a few runs in the PL though none were season-long or anything like that.

Bertrand and Lambert are obviously Art Morte's signings.

Bertrand! Seriously!!!!!! Bertrand!!!!!!

Nishy wrote:Bertrand and Lambert are obviously Art Morte's signings.

Bertrand, that sleeping giant

Nah, seriously, I think Bertrand is an OK player, but would be a little pointless signing as we have Flanagan for back-up and Enrique is definitely better than Bertrand. Then again, it was difficult to shine for Aston Villa last season, so maybe Rodgers has seen something in him that we haven't, but would still feel an underwhelming signing (and I don't think we're buying him).

Would rather see us buy Moreno for 20m than Bertrand for 8m, but we'll see how things go.

I wonder if there's third LB in this wide wide world     !

BBC also reporting on this specifically Ben Smith. Also the same suggestions of Sanchez being included in the deal for Suarez.

Name two PRACTICAL options (players) who can ADEQUATELY fill-in if Suarez leaves.

Reus & Muller would come very close @Ifti bhai