Liverpool Football Club Thread

[Azrael]

I hope there's a clause in his Barcelona contract so we get first refusal on him when they have to get rid after he pisses off Messi and Neymar.

[Chewylegs]

I hope we get Shaqkiri, he'll fit in extremely well in our side.

[Timbuktu]

But apparently Twitter is saying we have signed Bertrand for £6m.

[Gabe]

I hope we get Shaqkiri, he'll fit in extremely well in our side.

And I hope we *don't* get Origi. Don't see how he would fit into the team at all (nor, based purely on this tournament, in fairness) do I think he's anywhere near good enough to make a mark on the Premier League.

[Azrael]

Who do people want in place of Suarez then? Only strikers I've seen us linked with are Sanchez (would love but apparently he's not keen) and Huntelaar (always liked but getting on a bit now).

Do we need to invest in a striker or reinforce elsewhere with Sturridge the sole striker with Lambert and Borini (and Aspas I guess) backup.

Or maybe we should use all the Suarez money to try and get Ibra, give him a taste of the EPL. #DareToZlatan.

[gospvg]

Sanchez would be a good signing but I'd love James Rodriguez. Just hope we spend the money wisely & don't waste it like the Torres money on a Newcastle Striker. Although Remy would be a good cheap signing if we can get him to lower his wage demands.

[JamesTW]

I'd rather we used up all the money on players like Sanchez, no offence to Bertrand, Lambert & Kan but these are the type of players we sign anyway not qualifying for Europe, use up most of or all of Suarez 200k a week on Sanchez and I'm sure he'd forget London quick enough

[Gabe]

Sanchez would be a good signing but I'd love James Rodriguez. Just hope we spend the money wisely & don't waste it like the Torres money on a Newcastle Striker. Although Remy would be a good cheap signing if we can get him to lower his wage demands.

Who cares about cheap? I've been reading Soccernomics which repeatedly points out 2 things (I'm paraphrasing here):

1 - Clubs that try to be run as a sustainable business don't win things

2 - Higher wages lead to better results

It's a very interesting read.

[gospvg]

We are not a Chelsea or Man City & don't have the bank balance to keep spending or paying high wages.

Hence BR first season he tried to clear out the high wage packets like Carroll & Reina.

Without Suarez I can't see us going better than 2nd & winning the league but I'd like to hope the Suarez money will give BR a chance to build a team to get a top four spot.

Lallana is a good signing but we need a few more quality players especially in defence & another playmaker/striker to replace Suarez.

Challenging in Europe we also need to have a bigger squad so players like Lambert & Can are building that squad depth.

[dogsout]

I don't see much value in the striker market. If we managed to get Sanchez that would be brilliant but it doesn't seem very likely at the moment. Failing signing him, I think the best bet would be to choose a "safe" striker - Remy fits the bill, for me - and then strengthen other areas. We all know we need defenders, but I'd argue that the wings are just as important, particularly if we're not bringing in a striker that can slot straight into the gaping chasm Suarez will be leaving behind him.

I'd hope that Aspas and Borini (contrary I know) will be moved on and a striker brought in to replace them. Then at least one but preferably two for the wings. Also, I really like the look of Origi and think he'd be a good fit for our style. Anectdotal I know, but I was talking to a couple of Belgium fans before the WC started that were talking him up and hoping he'd start ahad of Lukaku. I just think he looks like the type of guy Rodgers could make the most of.

[Adrock]

In the Liverpool system from last season could Sterling move into the Suarez position? Playing as a striker/free role across the front partnering with Sturridge? He seems to have the game intelligence to adapt to a different position, granted he'll never be as good as Suarez on the ball but he could be effective working across the pitch finding space. It'd be an interesting idea at least.

[Gabe]

I don't see much value in the striker market. If we managed to get Sanchez that would be brilliant but it doesn't seem very likely at the moment. Failing signing him, I think the best bet would be to choose a "safe" striker - Remy fits the bill, for me - and then strengthen other areas. We all know we need defenders, but I'd argue that the wings are just as important, particularly if we're not bringing in a striker that can slot straight into the gaping chasm Suarez will be leaving behind him.

I'd hope that Aspas and Borini (contrary I know) will be moved on and a striker brought in to replace them. Then at least one but preferably two for the wings. Also, I really like the look of Origi and think he'd be a good fit for our style. Anectdotal I know, but I was talking to a couple of Belgium fans before the WC started that were talking him up and hoping he'd start ahad of Lukaku. I just think he looks like the type of guy Rodgers could make the most of.

I don't think there's anything contrary about saying Borini should be moved on - he did well for Sunderland and could be a squad player for us, but with Lambert now signed he'll be number 1 backup so his game time would reduce further.

I'm really not sold on Origi but, as I said earlier, that's mainly based on his performances in this tournament. He took up some good positions and is quick, but lacks composure (I know he's only 19) and his finishing looks raw - and whilst this is a terrible comparison, he makes me think of David Ngog; much promise, technically good, but his finishing was never going to be top-drawer and he never looked it.

Was Origi played out wide for Lille? He didn't score many there. I don't see him as playing as a wide man of a front-3, which is surely the only place he could go as Sturridge will be central, either.

[dogsout]

He played wide a fair bit for them, I think. The few times I saw him he was wide - in one of those games he started on the right and finished on the left. I agree he looks raw but I think he has potential. He's fast, comfortable on the ball, and has very fast feet - he'd win a lot of freekicks, I'd bet.

As I've said before, I think the most likely outcome (signing Sanchez aside) is we'll ditch the diamond and move back to the 4-3-3. We actually set-up that way in plenty of games after the diamond was first used, anyway.

Most people I've spoken to want us to bring Borini back. I'd personally cash in due to the reasons you've mentioned above.

[Azrael]

I'd keep Borini but get Aspas out.

Also hoping we see more from Ibe, could be next seasons Sterling - while he also continues to improve hopefully.

[Gabe]

Aspas I wouldn't be surprised to find donated to a local pub team or something (he'd probably still only make the bench). Where do you see Borini fitting in if he remains? He will work a pressing game, but doesn't really fit out wide due to lack of pace and dribbling and won't be anywhere near regular with Lambert as reserve No.1. I think the team has moved on from when he was originally bought and he no longer fits anywhere.

[dogsout]

Agree. I don't think he fits at all and will only be kept if things go badly wrong with incoming deals.

[Azrael]

Our squad is hardly the biggest and Borini's not a bad player to have available. Did a decent job for Sunderland in a few different positions so think he'd be useful to keep hold of.

[dogsout]

Yeah, but then we're about to get some daft amount of money and will most likely be moving to predominantly playing with 1 up again. That or Sanchez comes in. Either way, he's not going to get much game time and his value can only go down in that scenario. The fact he did a decent job for Sunderland only serves to make his exit more likely, in my opinion.

[Gabe]

Agree with dogsout. If we had no money, then sure, you'd keep him as a squad player, chuck him some cup and any European games immediately before we play a big league match. He'd be solid, perhaps like Kuyt, but neither spectacular nor in the position he'd really want to play (because in all likelihood any games he'd play, Lambert would also be in. And Lambert certainly isn't going to work the channels.) And even then, you'd probably stick whichever of Coutinho/Sterling has played fewer games out there.

But we do have money, bolstered by the Suarez cash. That means we can either look for somebody to play out wide but also central - and I'll defer to dogsout's views on Origi here - who has some pace and good feet, or buy a dedicated winger or somebody more comfortable as a front 3 (Shaqiri could be an interesting option if he floats around).

It's hard to see a scenario where keeping a young striker with some market value who isn't going to play more than perhaps 10 starts a season makes any sense.

[V3zna]

Origi is likely to stay on loan at Lille for a year so even if we do buy him there's still a space in our squad for a season.

Shaqiri makes a lot of sense to me right now. Versatile and looks suitable to our style of football. Alexis Sanchez feels like a player that you just can't see at Anfield for all the wrong reasons.

[bear]

Do we know if Lovren wants to join Liverpool?

[V3zna]

Do we know if Lovren wants to join Liverpool?

Dejan Lovren has told Sportske Novosti his head is already at Liverpool despite Southampton rejecting an offer worth 20 million pounds.

Croatia defender Lovren, 25, appeared set to be the latest star to depart St Mary's, with Rickie Lambert and Adam Lallana already having moved to Anfield while Luke Shaw has joined Manchester United. Their former coach Maricio Pochettino has also departed for Tottenham.

However, new Saints boss Ronald Koeman rejected the Reds' bid for Lovren and the player has expressed his frustration at the situation.

"Liverpool sent the offer and the club haven't informed me," he said. "Not even about the subsequent Liverpool bids. That wasn't right. I found out about the bid from other people which disappointed me and I realised I've got no business staying at Southampton.

"Liverpool sent a 20 million offer and they [southampton] paid nine million for me, so they would've earned twice the amount.

"At this point, I don't know what I'll do and I don't like it. It was unbelievable that a few days ago I had an offer of 20 million pounds. It was in the morning and by the afternoon the club had said I was not for sale. Frankly, my head is already at Liverpool."

He said he had addressed a letter to the club to make clear his feelings but no longer knew who was in charge of such decisions.

"Honestly, I don't know who the main man at the club is anymore," he said. "They are now looking for 25 million pounds, but I don't think they'll get it."

He added: "Liverpool is one of the biggest clubs in the world. Only Real Madrid have as many fans around the world. The last time I played at Anfield, I got chills when I heard 'You'll Never Walk Alone.' I would like to listen to it all the time."

Lovren, who arrived from Lyon a year ago, insisted he would not be looking to leave Southampton if the club had aimed higher.

"Look, I'd gladly stay in Southampton if the club had any ambitions, if they kept the key players," he said. "[if that had happened] not even the Liverpool bid would have dissuaded me."

He added: "When I decided to go to Southampton, many people were surprised, but I went because the people at the club had great ambition," he said. "They gave me assurances about the project -- the former chairman, Nicola Cortese, and the former coach, Mauricio Pochettino, convinced me. They gave me incredible confidence.

"When I began training there, I realised they had a very good team. They promised to buy two more players -- they bought [Pablo Daniel] Osvaldo and [Victor] Wanyama. They are great players. The aim was to qualify for Europe, to get into the Europa League at least."

He said that midway through the season, when concerns were raised over the direction of the club and Cortese ultimately left, he realised there were problems.

"No one knew who would take over the club," he said. "Suspicions were raised. I asked Mauricio what was happening and he couldn't say whether or not he would stay on or make promises for the next five or six years about investment in the club, challenging for the Champions League, making new signings or keeping key players.

"It was because of that I'd agreed to sign for Southampton. When the chairman left, and Pochettino was going too as early as April, I realised things had fallen apart."

[bear]

I'm still not sure.

[Gabe]

Must be quite hard to read that statement if you're a Saints fan.

I haven't really seen Lovren play (didn't really notice him in Croatia's games), is he worth the money or should the club be looking elsewhere?

[humdrum]

If that statement is true then he sounds like a bit of cunt.

[redbloodcell]

If that statement is true then he sounds like a bit of cunt.

More like someone with no real connection to the club who's seen the project he signed up for melt around him very quickly.

[Kelthink]

Damn, I'd love Kuyt back at the club. A proper utility player now and infinite stamina. STILL.

[Azrael]

Do we need Lovren/a new CB?

Sakho had a shakey start but think he'll come good this season and (despite the own goals) Skrtel probably had the best season for us so far. Plus there's Agger. And Toure for back-up back up. Coates will probably go but we have Ilori, Wisdom and Kelly who could potentially play there if needed.

Could do with new fullbacks over a new CB first.

Oh and I finally changed my LFC wall calendar to July, had to be Suarez this month, didn't it. So cruel.

[SaintM]

If that statement is true then he sounds like a bit of cunt.

Same as Lallana really, both of them have acted like cunts and declared they had their hearts at anfield before any deal was agreed. Can't do much when the bigger club is massaging their egos behind the scenes and encouraging them to act up.

A shame, but that's the modern game. So long as we get loadsa money then for all I care he can go and give the Kop his best badge kissing efforts until the next bigger club comes along.

[Azrael]

Who is this Markovic guy? Is he good? £25m good?

Don't really know much about Origi either, other than the few times he played during the World Cup.