Summer of 2014: Part 2

so Assaidi off to Stoke on loan.

Borini hanging on as the 4th striker

I suspect Borini simply wants out of England altogether if he's to leave LFC, so he was holding out hoping that the Inter interest would seriously materialise or that another Italian/foreign club will come back for him in January.

As a silver lining this does mean that even if one of our strikers picks up an injury we can properly rotate in cup matches while they're out.

We know that neither Assaidi nor Borini are on huge wages with us (both on relatively low wages if previous reports are accurate) so it's a bit odd that they'd be demanding huge weekly wages in moves just because they felt like it. Given both are young you'd think they'd be willing to accept comparable wages and regular playing time over what we're paying them and basically no playing time.

Despite the deadline passing, it’s still possible there could be one more addition to the squad between now and January.

The Reds boss is interested in former Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdes, who is a free agent after his contract at the Camp Nou expired.

The Spain international is still recovering from the cruciate ligament injury he suffered back in March and isn’t expected to be fit until December.

However, as he’s a free agent he can sign for a club outside of the transfer window.

Liverpool will assess the 32-year-old’s fitness in October before deciding whether to offer him a contract.

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/liverpool-left-frustrated-attempts-sell-7704487

Meh.

Gotta say I'm disappointed with Borini. He's doing his own career no good by sitting on the bench / playing for the reserves at Liverpool and denied us a £13m-14m transfer fee...

I'm also a little surprised Suso stayed with us. Assaidi back at Stoke on loan, that £7m permanent move would have been sweeter, though. Coates going to Sunderland on loan is a very interesting one, though, I didn't think he had a future in English football. Hopefully he'll challenge Brown and O'Shea for a starting spot.

Don't call me James wrote:

Red Alert wrote:Chelsea's wage bill is also double ours and actually improved on what they needed upon.

Are you implying that we haven't improved on what we needed?

Yes and no.

We probably just did enough to finish top 4.

Our defence is still a mess.

Lovren is no better than Agger, and we spent 17m net to get him in. Agger was deemed not good enough so we had to improve instead regressed.
We didn't get anyone better than Skrtel and Johnson. Manquillo is doing no better than Flanagan atm, and at the end of the day he wasn't deemed good enough. Although to his advantage, it's early days in a new league/country at a young age. Still expect GJ to come back into it as soon as he's fit.

Moreno was always going to be an upgrade from last season due to Enrique's lack of appearances and Cissokho/Flanno playing left full back last season. If he can play as well as he did against Spurs he can be quite good. Look's very similar to Riise imo. Just hoping he's consistent. 12m is fine though, just happy it's not at the 20m figure at once rumoured.  

We still have a 34 year old Gerrard shielding the defence...
Coutinho is still the only real "playmaker" in the squad.
Can can add some physicality I guess, Lallana is good but he's not great. Not 25m great.  
Markovic has looked good early, but again another "for the future".
Balotelli was our best signing, but will need time to settle. He'll be huge though. Definitely won't replace Suarez influence though.  

All in all, it was a "decent" window. Not exactly great, but we really didn't get value for money in regards to half of our transfers. Losing our best player in Suarez didn't help the cause either.

Natalie Portman wrote:

Don't call me James wrote:

Red Alert wrote:Chelsea's wage bill is also double ours and actually improved on what they needed upon.

Are you implying that we haven't improved on what we needed?

Did you see his post on GD . He actually doesn't think Rodgers has made us an amazing team. The pace in which we pass and play football is frightening. Hell, have a look at our match thread on RedCafe from yesterday

"this LVG team when it clicks "

They have Falcao, Di Maria, Rooney, Mata and one of the best managers in the world.

As soon as LVG gets rid of the 3 at the back (how we were playing earlier last season), they're going to go on a roll.  

They're going to have a strong finish with nothing to worry about Europe this season too. We need to make a safe distance from now and until they find their feet.

Also, RedCafe? What?

Do you really want me to go back quoting your posts again? Or are you going to go back and hide into your "I was trolling shell" (which by my understand is actually bannable, no?)

Art Morte wrote:Gotta say I'm disappointed with Borini. He's doing his own career no good by sitting on the bench / playing for the reserves at Liverpool and denied us a £13m-14m transfer fee...

Did you say the same about Hendo when we offered him out for Dempsey from all people?

Players want to prove their worth. I for one am all for it.

Also, happy for Coates. Really reminds of me of a young Sami. Definitely won't reach Hyypia's level, but I'm glad he has a chance to stay around in Europe. Has massive potential does Coates.

Too pessimistic imo.

RA you'd be absolutely livid if you were a Man U supporter. They spent stupid money to add quality to the (very rare) spots on the pitch they don't need it. If our window was a 6, I can't fathom what theirs was when they're going into this season without quality anywhere in defense, DM or CM.

What's price of Suarez!!! I have a lot of figures between 65-80 million (GBP).

Red Alert is not a human being. I am convinced.

He must be the biggest troll of all time

He is unbelievable.....reminds me of George Costanza.

"GJ will force his way back in ahead of Manquillo/Flanagan (who is now injured" ROFL !!!!!!!!!

calls LVG one of the best managers in the world.....yet never ever gives any praise to Rodgers

ADORJAN

stevieg8 wrote: RA you'd be absolutely livid if you were a Man U supporter. They spent stupid money to add quality to the (very rare) spots on the pitch they don't need it. If our window was a 6, I can't fathom what theirs was when they're going into this season without quality anywhere in defense, DM or CM.

Do we have that much quality in our defence and/or "DM"?

Their window went okay. Wasn't necessary great, but it was good I guess. They overspent on many players yes. But then again, so did we when we weren't in Europe. So were Juventus when they weren't in Europe. So did City when they weren't in Europe. You simply have to overpay at times to bring players into your team if you're not a European team. It's as simple as that. And at the end of the day they bought real genuine quality. Falcao, Di Maria, Blind, can't really remember who else there was out there, but those 3 are MASSIVE. Not many people rate Blind, but El Cujo and I will tell you that he is genuine. Great player. Probably their most underrated signing. Oh, there's Herrera too. He's not world class great, but he's a tidy player to have on your books too. Arq would have a better opinion on him though, I've only seen glimpses of him really.

Anywho, I don't rate their window too highly as like you said, they bought many players that weren't really needed. Their defence is a mess. I'm not saying it's not. But we showed last season you don't really need a defence to do well in the league. They don't have Europe to worry about this season. And they have better depth than we did last season too. Now before McAgger and Sepi come trying to put words in my mouth again, I have to state I'm not saying they're a guaranteed top 4 team, but they'll come at the very least close. If they can stay close to teams by the time they settle/click under LVG, they'll be a genuine threat to a top 4 team. They're also got that underdog status we had last season too.

Natalie Portman wrote:Red Alert is not a human being. I am convinced.

He must be the biggest troll of all time

He is unbelievable.....reminds me of George Costanza.

"GJ will force his way back in ahead of Manquillo/Flanagan (who is now injured" ROFL !!!!!!!!!

calls LVG one of the best managers in the world.....yet never ever gives any praise to Rodgers

You're a clown. You really are. I'm sick of talking to you. And I'm sick of you talking about me all the time. With all due respect, please stfu.

Why are you putting "GJ will force his way back in ahead of Manquillo/Flanagan (who is now injured" ROFL !!!!!!!!!" in quotation marks? I never said that. I said he'll walk into our team when he's fit. Because he will. Because he's still the best we have. Your manager essentially agrees.

LVG is one of the best managers in the world. Him moving to the scum won't change that. Look at the foundations he left at Ajax, Barcelona and Bayern. Look at his teams at Ajax and Barcelona. What was your opinion on him again when FSG approached him a couple seasons ago?

I don't give praise to ROdgers? Wtf are you on about. I've continously stated he's not a tactician. Because he's not. That does not mean I don't rate him as a manager ffs. Considering you actually called for his sacking, I'm still confused on why you're acting like your top shit. Or was that you in your "troll days"? :\ I don't know, you live in your own delusional world I can't determine when you're serious or not anymore.

I've always said Rodgers will become a SAF or a Wenger. He'll be great for us domestically. I've always said that. Again, stating this a second time, I said he won't do all that well in Europe against the elite because he's not that type of manager. I'm just sick and tired of you and McAgger continuously saying he's someone he's not. He's not a tactician. It's not a criticism ffs.

iftikhar wrote:What's price of Suarez!!! I have a lot of figures between 65-80 million (GBP).

75m pounds.

RA, you are no different from other posters in terms of being extreme, like:
-GJ is WC (pls dont provide the BS that BR said it, BR plays mind games with players and we all know that)
-Rodgers is not a tactician.

I think it is somewhere in between, specially about Rodgers. You can say in some of the games, Rodgers has got us tactically wrong but sometimes he has also won over other managers by simple but damn effective tactical changes. Even fans of other teams will agree with that.

1. I said he WAS world class on his day. Did I say he was world class today? Would I want him to be upgraded upon if he was world class atm?

Do you really want me to go through your posts 2-3 years ago and state that they're still factual to this day?

FFS. I said he's still still the best we currently possess. If you honestly think Manquillo or Flanagan are better, then well, I really don't know what to say to you. Then again, you were hating on Skrtel when he wasn't even playing against Spurs, so who knows what to expect from you.

2. Rodgers isn't a "tactician" ffs. It's like saying Mourinho is an attacking minded coach because he put 6 past Everton. Again, I will not agree to him not being somebody he isn't.

but when you claim something like that, people are going to jump on you as soon as they get any chance , so I will say if everytime you post long posts where we are in a merry go round of a circus, it doesnt prove anything which you havent already posted. So chill and dont take everything personally, that Sepi against you or something, you can sometimes not reply and give it up, but then again, I dont know if you reply to his posts purposefully.

Spoiler:

Btw, i think I didnt hate on Skrtel, I think you meant some other posters.

Enough, you two. Return to the topic.

Ladies FFS, stop being Drama queens, FML.

this whole life is a drama

Lovren is better than Skrtel, and I would prefer to have both Flanagan and Manquillo on the field over Johnson. I think most fans at this point who have actually watched Johnson play over the last year or so agree.

Would I still like someone more proven and talented? Yes, though Manquillo has been good so far so I think he's earned a shot at consistent playing time.

Summer's over in any case, let this thread slowly fade into history.

summer is over but our business is probably not yet over

our summer business is.

Final

Shaqiri has told Sky Sports Germany that Liverpool had made an official offer for him before the WC that Bayern categorically rejected as we made clear we didn't want to sell him.

Seems as though he was either second choice after Lallana (that was around the time we'd temporarily broken off negotiations with Sotton) or first choice ahead of Markovic for the other attacking signing. Would be interesting to know which it was and see what role we wanted him for.

I think Shaqiri will get eventually get sold and Bayern will try to replace him with some other player from BL like Reus