Summer of 2014: Part 2

Art Morte wrote:I'm not saying we should sign Bony or Benteke, but given the scarcity of options available, it wouldn't surprise me if we did. (I also think they would accept a 2nd choice striker role, it would still be a step up from playing for Swansea or Villa, not to mention more money).

Anyway, I hope we sign an attacker who is predominantly a CF, because that's where we are light. We've got plenty of players who can play out wide, but if Sturridge is unavailable we are going to need someone who is at their best playing through the middle.

Lambert is a fine option to have, but past his peak and probably not quite good enough to be our 2nd choice striker.

I do hope you'll forgive me if, going by past posting on similar topics and previous posts on this very discussion, I did actually think you were suggesting exactly that.

El Cujo wrote:Bony is far and away a superior player to Lambert at almost everything come on now.

I'd accept people saying Bony is superior to Lambert, but not in any world "far and away." In no category does Bony blow Lambert away and even those areas where he IS notably better aren't the ones that would actually help him fit into LFC.

Lambert has a touch as good as or better than the other two options, is similarly prolific in front of goal, and provides a similar physical presence. He may be slower than them, but neither Benteke nor Bony utilise what speed they have in the manner Rodgers generally asks of his forwards, nor does either player contribute with defensive pressing nearly as much as what Rodgers asks of his forwards and what Lambert has done for both LFC (in preseason) and Sotton before us. Neither Bony nor Benteke has shown a real consistent willingness to work and focus primarily on supporting another forward, their games are built around creating chances for themselves. They don't drop deeper to pull defenders and pick up the ball, they don't make many selfless runs to create space, and neither has shown the willingness or ability to slide out wide and allow other players to make runs centrally to confuse the opposing defense.

Lambert is slower, older, weaker, and maybe not as talented overall, but he's also more versatile, more diligent, and more willing to work for the system/team. Neither Bony nor Benteke are vastly superior to Lambert in general, and certainly not for Liverpool. There's no need for either with Lambert at the club and Origi coming next summer. Signing either would require at least some shift in our approach from what we've seen all pre-season long and would again force Sturridge into something of a support role in matches in which they played... which would be a damned shame thing to do to a forward who scored 22 goals in 29 league matches last season.

Both Bony and Benteke are good players (who could be great in the future) in their own rights, but they're not good fits for what Liverpool is doing under Rodgers right now. If we sign Bony or another player similar to him at this point I can only see it as something of a panic buy from a club scrambling to fill out their ranks with a body and a name, rather than finding the proper piece to fit into the overall system... which is exactly what Rodgers has repeatedly said the club will not do.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/liverpool-transfers-tearful-daniel-agger-4002143

Breaks my heart to pieces reading that

Will always love him. YNWA Danny. Will support you wherever you go.

We've known all window that Agger was likely to leave and just about what his price is (12-15m) so the article isn't really a revelation and the whole "teary-eyed plea" sounds like made up nonsense as well, as Agger would have known what his position was in the marketplace already (i.e. that he IS available to leave).

Sounds like The Mirror is trying to make a new story out of old news in the hopes that people will conveniently forget everything that's been reported if they add in a bit of an emotional twist.

It's Mirror. So I'm not going to give up just yet.

Would anyone consider doing the unthinkable and placing a bid for Welbeck?   

No.

There's really not a single good reason to even consider it.

What's the status/update of Moreno deal!!!

I love agger as much i loved Kuyt. I dont think Agger's has the character to beg, He's a leader ffs.

Mc, I think you should continue with that table, Its looks a bit more appealing i guess

We should sign this guy for target man, absolute GOAT!

https://www.riemurasia.net/video/Vuohi-treenaa-p%C3%A4%C3%A4peli%C3%A4/146021

We should sign that Andreas Cornelius guy. He's a GOAT in FM14. Or Fernando Torres he's already familiar with some of the players and is a legend at Anfield.   

But seriously I read somewhere that we're looking at Loris Karius, a good young German keeper.

I still think that we should throw a bunch of money at Volland as he would be like...the perfect player for us. Not too high profile yet, but accomplished enough and world class potential as well as extremely versatile.

Haven't this Volland guy is signed by some Italian club! Not sure, may have read some thing like that.

still at Hoffenheim

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/aug/07/liverpool-enquire-radamel-falcao-real-madrid-deal-close?CMP=twt_gu

Liverpool apparently in on Falcao, but he wants Madrid. Supposedly Rodgers is looking for a top class replacement for Suarez right now (good news). Unfortunately despite this rumoured interest in a top class replacement I'm just not sure there's one available on the market right now.

Edinson Cavani's agent, Claudio Anelluci: - El telegrapho
"I can confirm that Cavani has heard proposals from Liverpool & Arsenal."

Hapless_Hans wrote:still at Hoffenheim

vs.

So geography shouldn't be a problem

Seriously though I'd be very content with the duo of Firmino and Volland.

http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11095/9410039/transfer-news-mark-hughes-goes-cold-on-landing-liverpools-oussama-assaidi-for-stoke

ffs theyll get him on cheap now

so we did seriously inquire about Falcao!! Even Barrett confirmed that! But it's cold now as Monaco have rebuffed our interest  

If they inquiry is true, Im glad we are showing ambition even though its fruitless.

but still the question remains who then?  

Reus

FC Bayern English ‏@FCBayernEN 4m

Welcome to Munich, @PReina25! Medical successfully completed, contract to be signed tomorrow. #MiaSanMia

Reus and Falcao coming in Dem poverty Ayre inquiries.

OFFICIAL: http://www.swindontownfc.co.uk/news/article/smithjoinsonloan-1811656.aspx

Brad Smith out on loan.

www.liverpoolfc.com/news/latest-news/168467-reds-confirm-smith-loan

Elsewhere, young Liverpool defender Rafa Paez is expected to join Italian Serie B outfit Bologna on a season-long loan deal. ECHO