Sport Liverpool Football Club

[The Fox]

Part of me thinks you should dig your heels in like we did with Cesc. Like him, I think Torres has enough respect for the manager, the club and its fans to carry on and not get in a strop. Mind you fabregas never put in a formal transfer request so maybe I'm wrong.

But then another part of me thinks if you can get like £50m for a guy who frankly has looked like he's heading for the knackers yard for several months now, you should bite their hand off and spend it on a #9 like llorente, and say turan or Sanchez.

[AbZorba]

Got to love the hypocrisy.

When Charlie Adam hands in a transfer request he should be allowed to better himself, but when Torres does it he should honour his contract...

I really hope we're not trying to goad Charlie Adam into putting a transfer request in. I'm happy with hard negotiations on the fee but it pisses me off when any of us 'big clubs' turn a players head to put a transfer request in and get the price down.

[Poppalarge]

Take the Money, you have suarez now.

[bradigor]

Take the Money, you have suarez now.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJaVTYiEnmo

[DeNeo]

Take the Money, you have suarez now.

Then we'd be back to square one. Suarez was bought to complement Torres, not replace him. We should only sell if we can bring in a replacement, which I highly doubt we could find before Monday.

[Charliemouse]

Go and get Crouch back.

If you do I promise to drive him to Liverpool myself. But as I cant drive, I would have to carry him there. But if it would mean no more Crouch leading our line and missing chance aftet chance its something I am willing to do.

[FATEone]

We're willing to spend. Our involvement in the CL is not an issue any more, FSG have deep pockets for the right players. We're making our record signing in the January transfer window, we've never done that.

Rooney is a thundercunt and that's what we expected of him. We thought Torres was better than that. Ah well. I just feel bad for all the kids who idolise him.

I think a lot of people are missing what I think is probably a key factor in all of this, and probably with Rooney as well. Some of you say you can't blame a player for wanting to challenge for trophies etc.. but to me that is wrong. You came to a team that were challenging/close to challenging for the league and CL, you get close, then things happen beyond your control yes, but at the end of the day you are part of the squad that has underachieved. It's your job to turn things around as much as the owners, manager and the rest of your TEAM. What is the big achievement in jumping ship and going to a team that is arguably more likely to challenge for trophies?

What is a mitigating factor for both players is this though; One bad run of form and a large portion of the fans say you've lost it, your hearts not in it. You're walking around every game sulking. You're a lazy cunt. We all thought Torres was different. I for one thought Liverpool fans were different. I thought Liverpool fans weren't the fickle, fair-weather bunch like a lot of teams' fans. I'm sure Torres did too. Now I fully understand that this isn't all fans, and in this case probably the majority, but you see my point.

[Kelthink]

Go and get Crouch back.

If you do I promise to drive him to Liverpool myself. But as I cant drive, I would have to carry him there. But if it would mean no more Crouch leading our line and missing chance aftet chance its something I am willing to do.

Going out on a limb here, but do you not like Peter Crouch?

[dogsout]

I think a lot of people are missing what I think is probably a key factor in all of this, and probably with Rooney as well. Some of you say you can't blame a player for wanting to challenge for trophies etc.. but to me that is wrong. You came to a team that were challenging/close to challenging for the league and CL, you get close, then things happen beyond your control yes, but at the end of the day you are part of the squad that has underachieved. It's your job to turn things around as much as the owners, manager and the rest of your TEAM. What is the big achievement in jumping ship and going to a team that is arguably more likely to challenge for trophies?

If he had done this at the first sign of trouble then I'd agree with you. He's not done that, though. I really expected him to leave last summer. He said we needed 5 quality additions, and what did we get? Meireles and a bunch of jokers. He's 26 and he's still not won a trophy at club level. He left his boyhood club to come here and win trophies, and he's not done that. He's been promised things that haven't been delivered and he's probably made a snap decision to join Chelsea. I doubt he desperately wants out of the club, and I wouldn't be surprised if he doesn't leave in the end. I don't think we can really cry about a lack of loyalty on his part when he's put up with more shit than most would have, and he left his club to join us in the first place.

What is a mitigating factor for both players is this though; One bad run of form and a large portion of the fans say you've lost it, your hearts not in it. You're walking around every game sulking. You're a lazy cunt. We all thought Torres was different. I for one thought Liverpool fans were different. I thought Liverpool fans weren't the fickle, fair-weather bunch like a lot of teams' fans. I'm sure Torres did too. Now I fully understand that this isn't all fans, and in this case probably the majority, but you see my point.

I agree with this.

[dogsout]

I think a lot of people are missing what I think is probably a key factor in all of this, and probably with Rooney as well. Some of you say you can't blame a player for wanting to challenge for trophies etc.. but to me that is wrong. You came to a team that were challenging/close to challenging for the league and CL, you get close, then things happen beyond your control yes, but at the end of the day you are part of the squad that has underachieved. It's your job to turn things around as much as the owners, manager and the rest of your TEAM. What is the big achievement in jumping ship and going to a team that is arguably more likely to challenge for trophies?

If he had done this at the first sign of trouble then I'd agree with you. He's not done that, though. I really expected him to leave last summer. He said we needed 5 quality additions, and what did we get? Meireles and a bunch of jokers. He's 26 and he's still not won a trophy at club level. He left his boyhood club to come here and win trophies, and he's not done that. He's been promised things that haven't been delivered and he's probably made a snap decision to join Chelsea. I doubt he desperately wants out of the club, and I wouldn't be surprised if he doesn't leave in the end. I don't think we can really cry about a lack of loyalty on his part when he's put up with more shit than most would have, and he left his club to join us in the first place.

What is a mitigating factor for both players is this though; One bad run of form and a large portion of the fans say you've lost it, your hearts not in it. You're walking around every game sulking. You're a lazy cunt. We all thought Torres was different. I for one thought Liverpool fans were different. I thought Liverpool fans weren't the fickle, fair-weather bunch like a lot of teams' fans. I'm sure Torres did too. Now I fully understand that this isn't all fans, and in this case probably the majority, but you see my point.

I agree with this.

[Poppalarge]

It's certainly fascinating. Liverpool have time on their side. They only have to hold out until Monday, but the kid wants to go, and they'll get a sizeable sum for him. The longer they hold out, the less chance they have of using the monies.

[Charliemouse]

Going out on a limb here, but do you not like Peter Crouch?

Lol

He is ok in europe where for some reason defences dont seem to know how to play against him but in the Prem he is utterly useless as his 1 goal in over 20 games this season shows.

I am quite jealous you lot are getting Saurez as I would have loved him at Spurs.

[Guest]

It's certainly fascinating. Liverpool have time on their side. They only have to hold out until Monday, but the kid wants to go, and they'll get a sizeable sum for him. The longer they hold out, the less chance they have of using the monies.

I still say only for £75m.

For Torres himself to put a transfer request in right at the end of the transfer window; that's pretty shitty IMO.

I stoll maintain that the club have rejected one bid and have said he's not for sale plus have rejected his transfer request; so there's no reason to think he going anywhere.

[kimble]

There is a slim chance that Torres put in his request before the Suarez deal had been secured so he might be feeling a bit more optimistic about life at Anfield now.

As a fan I have found the handling of the Suarez deal plus Liverpool's public dismissal of the Torres transfer request reassuring. The new order at LFC seem to be approaching things with a calm, rational approach and they are managing communications well. This is something that was terrible under the old guard and well managed communications is normally a sign that 'behind the scenes' a business is running well.

The outing and denial of the transfer request puts the ball firmly in Chelsea camp. It's 'stupid money' or he is staying now.

[Poppalarge]

There is a slim chance that Torres put in his request before the Suarez deal had been secured so he might be feeling a bit more optimistic about life at Anfield now.

As a fan I have found the handling of the Suarez deal plus Liverpool's public dismissal of the Torres transfer request reassuring. The new order at LFC seem to be approaching things with a calm, rational approach and they are managing communications well. This is something that was terrible under the old guard and well managed communications is normally a sign that 'behind the scenes' a business is running well.

The outing and denial of the transfer request puts the ball firmly in Chelsea camp. It's 'stupid money' or he is staying now.

I doubt it, about the Suarez thing, the club perspective would have been that they were always going to get him, no doubt. So it's unlikely that the eventual signing of him would be a revelation to Nando or anyone else.

[kimble]

I doubt it, about the Suarez thing, the club perspective would have been that they were always going to get him, no doubt. So it's unlikely that the eventual signing of him would be a revelation to Nando or anyone else.

A revelation? no, as Liverpool had clearly shown their intent but Nando might have been discouraged by the initial low offer and it could have fed his 'lack of ambition' demons. Agents and rival clubs would definitely take advantage of that and I doubt the management of LFC are talking openly about transfers in the dressing room. That could and would be disastrous.

I admit this all could be wishful thinking but the timing of the Suarez signing and the writing of a transfer request is very tight. The request probably went in before the signing of Suarez was done.

[dizogg]

If Torres genuinely wanted to leave, this request should have been handed in on Jan 1st. The timing is weird because it makes the whole thing seem ill thought out and leaves us no time to replace him. Shows a lack of respect for us, and seems a bit stupid really. We have no option but to reject his request. Stupid. See you guys at 11pm on Monday...

[Oh Danny Boy]

i hear that Liverpool are reporting Chelski for tapping up

if thats true then i guess that means that liverpool are pissed at what has happened and therefore wouldn't even sell chelski a virus

[larrydavidsanger]

Say Torres goes, other than Llorente, what are our options? I've really lost track of football outside of England over the last two seasons. I seem to remember Negredo and Lavezzi being mentioned quite a bit in Rafa's last season. Either of them much cop?

[Reynard]

Well, no one seems to know for sure, but the timing is apparently to do with our lack of action during the window. Torres has stated on a couple of occasions that we need 4-5 quality signings to compete up the table again. He could be pissed at the lack of signings, but everyone knows that you don't do much business in January, so... I dunno.

Another angle was that he's been waiting for us to sign Suarez before going, as we've now got a replacement (tenuous, as Suarez isn't exactly a replacement).

The situation has got an air of brinkmanship to it though (IMO), like something's gone down recently. There has been talk that he wanted to go last summer, but was convinced to stick around for another season/until the club was sold. Who knows. He has probably been given all kinds of assurances over the past couple of windows and we've only now just got a similar calibre of player in (the type of which he probably referred to).

As a professional with a limited career and high ambition, the pragmatic side of me doesn't blame him one bit for not wanting to devote the peak years of his talents to us slowly climbing our way back. Not happy about the 11th hour of the window shit though.

The current talk is that Dalglish to trying to talk him round and the club are standing firm. I hope that they do - I appreciate all the stuff about not keeping an unhappy player and all that, but we need to make a statement with this and show everyone that we will not be fucked about (like Blackpool are trying to do at the moment).

There were also rumours of Torres firing his agent and withdrawing the request, which will be bollocks, as that would've happened by now.

[Reynard]

i hear that Liverpool are reporting Chelski for tapping up

if thats true then i guess that means that liverpool are pissed at what has happened and therefore wouldn't even sell chelski a virus

Can't see it. Everyone gets tapped up these days and we have probably done exactly the same with Adam and Suarez.

Clubs normally don't make offers for players unless they have at least an inkling of the player's desire to leave/join them. Agents get contacted, the feelers go out and if the vibes are positive a starting bid is made.

[Oh Danny Boy]

Can't see it. Everyone gets tapped up these days and we have probably done exactly the same with Adam and Suarez.

Clubs normally don't make offers for players unless they have at least an inkling of the player's desire to leave/join them. Agents get contacted, the feelers go out and if the vibes are positive a starting bid is made.

the new regime has been very respectful, the only reason those transfer attempts have been revealed was because the clubs themselves making them public

Adam's wanted to leave blackpool for ages, its the reason he's never signed a new contract, he doesn't get along with the chairman, apparently its mutual.

no matter what prem team went in for him he would have wanted to leave

[Reynard]

Fair enough - doesn't change much of what I said though.

[redbloodcell]

Accusing a team of 'tapping up' means little, they'll stick some extra cash on top of whatever price they have to pay and it'll be withdrawn.

[Guest]

You would have thought the polite thing to do would be to send a text to the manager first asking "Can I tap that?".

[exwhyzed]

The reason Torres wants to move is obvious. He has looked at Gerrard and decided he doesn't want to end up a fading star who's spent his career dragging Liverpool FC to sporadic success. Moving to Chelsea or another club is a chance to win trophies. Timing of the transfer request isn't surprising, most players wil ask to leave after a potential new club has made themselves known and he hasn't looked the most interested the past season and a half has he.

[Kelthink]

Four days before the window closes isn't surprising? I think you'll find it is, regardless of what interest has been shown. It would always be rejected at such a crucial stage to the team.

[exwhyzed]

Four days before the window closes isn't surprising? I think you'll find it is, regardless of what interest has been shown. It would always be rejected at such a crucial stage to the team.

He wouldn't want to lose face to the club and fans by putting in the formal request on Jan 1 before he's sure anyone's willing to put up the big money to come in for him. Now he knows someone is willing to pay the money and he's willing to try to force the move. He probably expected it to be rejected, what transfer request aren't, but it's the biggest play he can make, bar refusing to play, to engineer the move.

[SMD]

He wouldn't want to lose face to the club and fans by putting in the formal request on Jan 1 before he's sure anyone's willing to put up the big money to come in for him. Now he knows someone is willing to pay the money and he's willing to try to force the move. He probably expected it to be rejected, what transfer request aren't, but it's the biggest play he can make, bar refusing to play, to engineer the move.

Nonsense. How can you say on the one hand he doesn't want to lose face by putting in the request at the beginning of the window then say he's trying to force the move in the last few days? We won't sell him without getting a replacement in and we won't get a replacement in now because there's no time.

We're not a selling club now we don't have debt to service. There are no books to balance (within reason). If he wants to go, it's going to be on our terms and not his.

[Graham S]

Why would Chelsea leave it so late?Torres' people seem to have been fluttering their eyelashes at Man City and Chelsea for a while. Chelsea don't want a bidding war with City. Chelsea would prefer a big deal now, so it doesn't count under FFP and so they can save their season (fucking us up so we don't somehow snatch 4th place would be a fringe benefit). Chelsea know they've got a clean shot at Torres now City have bought Dzeko. Presumably the most important part of the timing is CFC's failed bid for Aguero. Torres looks a decent last minute second choice.And they might get away with it too, depending how much FSG want the money on offer now versus keeping Torres for another few months.

Torres has had a shit time for ages. LFC haven't been the club he thought he joined. He's given the club plenty of warning in the past, and been relatively patient. His career and form have suffered. I think in his shoes I'd think a move would probably do him some good.

I know we hope that the Suarez deal is a sign that our prospects will improve, but the true situation won't become clear until the summer, and even once the situation with the manager is resolved, and if FSG go on a big summer spending spree (possibly for young, not quite proven players with potential), it's still almost certain we won't be playing Champions League football next season. It's a gamble for Torres to stick around and hope that this time the club mean it when they promise real improvement. And for all we know, they may have explained to Torres their plans and he doesn't think they're good enough. He may have been hoping for an LFC buyer with megabucks, instead of the moderately wealthy (and apparently astute and professional) owners we ended up with.