KopTalk.com Forums Football Liverpool FC Forum Does this signal the end for...and a few opinions.

Progression

First of all, I’m very happy that Charlie Adam has "signed" of course the medical and personal terms will be a cert, personal terms it seems, he has always wanted to play for us and medically he should be fine.

I think we can all safely say with confidence, Charlie is now our player FINALLY ...let’s just hope the wage issue does not become a problem (Like Doni’s apparently did)and everything goes through as smoothly and easily as possible.....So we can swiftly get any other business done and that the players can train and learn together in pre-season, ahead of a sole league campaign that being totally honest with you (and bias as ever) we WILL be challenging for.

One thing is for sure, I'm glad we got him, instead of the scum or anybody else for that matter. Very excited, this sort of player is right up my street.

Intent

I think this also signals our intent and that the management are fully aware of the situation and problems we had last season, even after The King’s return.

I think I’ve said this before on here that in certain games last season it was clear to me that on occasions our strikers looked like they were playing in a different game to our midfield, there were no links at times. Even when Gerrard was "fit" and playing, the problem was still there, lesser, but still there. So I feel this will go a long way to "solve" one of the main problems we have had since Alonso left.

Transfer talk and my opinion/main point

Hopefully, now we can push on and get a classy winger or winger(s) to rubber stamp our intent for next season.

I expect finally a CB and a LB to conclude our transfers, anything other than that; I will be shocked to say the least. The CB and LB, I feel will not simply be bench warmers. I have a feeling they will go straight into the first team whoever they are, because although it was brilliant to see the youngsters get their chance towards the end of the season under Dalglish. The situation only really came about because of the injuries, leading to Dalglish having to put trust and faith into them to perform....and didn't they just! This won’t mean they will simply disappear at all, I still feel they will be given their chance by Dalglish 100% and rightfully so.

Now to my main point;

With the Adam signing, it got me thinking that surely some of our center midfielders/attacking midfielders will be on their way out?

Don't forget we have signed Henderson also, whilst I would love to maintain a midfield like we have now and whilst this is the sort of depth we need for all areas on the pitch, I don't think players like Meireles, Lucas, Aquilani or Spearing** are going to pick their game up that much to be able to nail a spot in the first team every game, ahead of obvious (Dalglish favorites) in Gerrard and Adam. To me it says one thing, signing Adam and Henderson is an improvement.....but at who's expense?

Personally I can see us flogging Meireles (Unfortunately) and Aquilani for both decent money and looking to invest that into another player we desperately need on the wing. But as Comolli said (on the Johnson interview...and if we take his word as gospel) we are not looking to sell our best players/assets, I believe Aquilani has stated that he wants to stay at Liverpool and I cant hear anything negative out of Raul Meirleles, only that "one rumour", but nothing official as such.

I could be just reading too much into it all, but all these midfielders who play in roughly the same position’s being brought in, surely means some of them will be sold? If not (and the players all get a fair crack of the whip and are happy with the healthy competition for places) then I can say with confidence as we once sang before,

“We’ve got the best midfield in the world” again.

Now as I’m here I might as well give my 2 cents on Stuart Downing.

It makes sense to me that if Villa are playing the "hard to get" card for let’s be honest, a player that can cross a ball. If we stick in there, we are going to be robbed again for around £20m, get out of there now I say. Let them keep him. Go for Mata and/or maybe Lennon and forget all about Downing. Those 2 are better than Downing for now and in the future (Mata more so, of course at a price)

Hopefully we see at least one marquee “shock” signing before the window closes, we still have a long way to go. But if we was to sign Mata, I will jizz out, I feel he could be the missing jigsaw piece (as we said all those years ago for Harry “always injured” Kewell)

Optimism

I really feel now as a team, if the season started tomorrow and we did not sign any more players we would challenge, if we can get a Mata and/or Nzogbia or Lennon, together with a LB and a CB, I can safely say, we are more than ready and up to it. Especially with the lack of Europe for us this coming season, where we can concentrate on League matters.

Your Man United's, your Chelsea's, your Arsenal's, your Tottenham's all have one thing we don't next season....and that's Europe. Yes, while we would all love to be back in the CL this season, Europe really drags the season on, produces injuries and fatigue also. We don't have that "problem," lets take advantage of it! Besides would we all honestly be looking forward again to Europa League football next season, if we did qualify for it?

The Owners

Oh and I’m really pleased with the owners so far, a breath of fresh air they are in my eyes, we needed severe help behind the doors more than anything, but now we have the stability and the full backing of Dalglish and the obvious investment into class players, I can say it looks like we will be returning to the glory days very soon, I get this vibe about us now, our team and how it’s being run, so differently from any team “above us” right now. Chelsea don’t know whether their coming or going, Man United are in obvious decline + it seems there is no relationship between management and board (just debt money given for players) Arsenal are staring at the fact of loosing their best players, failing to replace them with any real quality and Tottenham have a situation where nobody wants to play Europa League. Bless.

Hopefully we take advantage of every one of them next season and run away with it ay?

Thoughts?

- Dan

PS: If you have taken your time to read all of that, have a cookie

too long - can you summarise?

im not reading all that!....

No surprise is it.

Ok, after reading all of that firstly i'd say that it definitely could have been a lot shorter - considering having as many points as you had to make, you could have rambled a good bit less Having said that, you clearly put a lot of time and effort into it, which you should be commended for, and it's quite harsh people replying to say they're not gonna bother reading it. So here are my thoughts on a few of your points...

You said you'd expect at the very least a CB and LB to be signed. I'm guessing you mean those on top of assuming the Doni and Downing deals happen? If so, i'd add to those, that i'd like to see a further winger and a striker signed.

On top of Downing, Mata would be a fantastic signing, but i'd probably be happy with N'Zogbia and Downing, if i'm realistic. Mata though, would be the "marquee" signing we're waiting on, and would represent a great signal of intent that LFC mean serious business. Mata would cost north of £20m, as would Lennon, who you also mentioned. Lennon would be a no-go anyway. If Chelsea can't prise Modric away from Spurs, we stand ZERO chance of doing the same with Lennon.

Going back to your point about possible CB & LB signings, you said you reckon they'd be players that will be expected to go straight into the first team. I definitely think that about a LB, but i'm not so sure about a CB. Ideally it would be the case, but we've already been priced out of a move for Cahill, and look like the same is going to happen with Dann. If this is happening with these players, what chance do we stand or getting someone else suitable without shelling out ridiculous money?

I don't see the CM position as being as over-crowded as some are making out. We have Gerrard, Meireles, Lucas, Adam, Henderson & Spearing. Shelvey will go out on loan most likely, and i expect Aquilani & Poulsen to be sold. Don't forget, Spearing wasn't in the starting 11 fold until late last season when we had an injury crisis there. There was a time when we had Gerrard, Alonso, Mascherano, Sissoko & Lucas, and we managed that fine - and that is arguably a better group of players than what we have now - and thus harder to keep happy.

You said Aquilani said he wants to stay - i don't buy that for a second. He's been saying all season how happy he is in Italy and that he wants to stay there - he's only changed his tune cos he's back in Liverpool now. Insua said the exact same on his Twitter this evening! Not exactly gonna say they don't wanna be here, no transfer materialise, and then be stuck here with that hanging over them, are they?

Long, but good read.

I too am happy with the signing of Adam (assuming that he does sign).

We do have quite a few midfielders now indeed. Who I think would be chosen and which to stay, hm.. Gerrard, Adam, Lucas, Henderson and perhaps Meireles if he does stay. Unsure what will happen to Aquilani but if he does get a chance and stays with us I think I would maybe loan Spearing out for a few months at first.
But for the selling part, much like want3d said. Sell all those. Only one I might have given a chance would be Aquilani. I like Aurelio but he is always injured.

I would not pay the asking price Villa want for Downing. £16 is an absolute max. I would look to Aaron Lennon and Adam Johnson instead. Of course I'd like to see Mata here as well. N'Zogbia could also be okay.
Don't really know who I'd get for CB but Cissokho or Enrigue on LB. Arsenal might bet one and we the other.

Owners, great so far. Haven't got anything bad to say about them at this point.

This season I would expect City and Chelsea to be the most dangerous teams in this upcoming season. Arsenal might fall a bit behind so that we might get 3rd or 4th place, which I would be fine with. Getting back into the CL it first priority for next season and then we could really start getting class players to form a queue outside Melwood.

Can't remember if I answered everything but I'm not reading that again :P

Good Day Bro want3d...

You listed out all the players that needs to be sold. I agree with that list but sincerely I think that not all will be able to be sold. The main reason is that only a few club have come out and enquire about those players. So far the only players that I've heard some other club is interested is Paul Konchesky and David Ngog. At the moment I would rather keep Aurelio or Insua rather than selling them. If we do buy a new Left Back , then we would need to have an experience back up , in case the new Left Back having an initial problem settling in or injured.


As for the Centre Back position , it would be ideal if we can get a long term replacement for Jamie Carragher. I would gladly take Cahill or Samba as they are either English or with Premier League experience. The transfer fee for either of them is going to be enormous. But with King Kenny and Damien Comolli , hopefully the price can be negotiated to within the budget. Agree with you we need a Sami Hyypia type of player. Not only should the new Centre Back be a good header but he must also be a good reader of the game. A good header like Kyrgiakos is of no use if he is always being caught for pace and out of position. If Daniel Agger can keep himself fit then he will be even better than all the new signings that we are targetting. But for right now I would love if Liverpool purchase Simon Kjaer as he would have a mentor in Agger and have a good motivator in Carragher. He would also fit into the category of players that FSG are looking for.


Just My Thoughts
YNWA...

Good points mentioned mate.

Kjaer how old is he? Is he good? What about sakho?

Kjaer is a very good player, can defend as well as attack, has good mentality. I think he can even play in the CDM if needed