Liverpool Football Club 08/09

Football Genius wrote:Does anybody actually believe we'll invest in a striker come January?

I personally believe theres not an overwhelming need, knowing Torres will be back in action by then, and we have a very real opportunity to give Babel a chance to shine in his favoured role.

Never the less, Torres injury / Keanes lack of goal delivery, has posed the question, do we have enough goals upfront and competition should we lose Torres, or even do we have the quality when Torres is fit?.... SAF once said you needed 4 recognised strikers to compete on all fronts, if that be true.... what have we got? Kuyt who plays RWF more often than not, a forward in Keane who hasn't delivered and our gem who is Torres.... Babel who gets no look in, and NGog whos done f@ck all.

Do we need another striker? i'd suggest so...

FG

Okay no one knows whats going on behind the scenes. Maybe there is money available. Maybe the money will be generated from a Pennant, Yossi or both. Maybe Lucas as well. Do we need another striker? I'm half and half on the situation. Torres needs a suitable back up who is capable of playing the lone role and simply, can finish a chance 9 times out of 10. We can't keep on relying on Keane to find his feet and plus the lad simply cannot lead the line. Who knows if Crouch hit the ground running in 05/06 and was banging in the goals we I have no doubt finished 2nd that season. N'gog was an utter pointless signing, at least Voronin showed some signs of quality, yes quality before he got injured a 1/4 of last season in. N'gog scored 1....1 fucking goal for PSG for godness sake.
Nemeth should be promoted as soon as he has a run of games to gainmatch fitness.

If we are gonna stick with whats currently available. The strikers should be...

Torres, Kuyt and Nemeth. The only ones who are capable of leading the line. Nemeth needs time of course but Kuyt would be my choice to play upfront.

Kuyt, Keane, Gerrard, Yossi and Babel can all play the SS/AM/wing position if need be.

If we get Adriano(not saying it's likely or nowt) all well and good though a massive risk. We all know on his day that he can be unplayable though so there is some optimism if we did sign him.

I really think Kuba(the Polish RW) could turn out to be a very good signing but the fee(£15M) is a joke and according to our resident Pole, the paper is garbage. If we could get him around £8M that would be a decent signing plu would free up Kuyt to play upfront.

Roger Hunt wrote:

stinger wrote:With Owen and Heskey you don't even need to spend much, so you can easily upgrade (?) your forward line. Probably only if you'll be ready to pay big wages for them...

Owen would be a huge waste of money. Just wouldn't fit the system any more. He scores goals when he gets the ball (and when he's fit) but it's like playing with 10 men for much of the game.

I can see more of a case for Heskey as he will create space for the others, but he still doesn't score goals.

As for needing 4 strikers - Man U seemed to do OK last season with Rooney and Tevez?

If we had £20m to spend, I'd spend it on a striker. But I don't see the point in spending £5m on a bench-warmer.

Rafa basically said today there is no chance of signing Owen

You need a striker that will be able to play up top by himself in the absence of Torres, or a Partner for Keane, Because Keane cannot play upfront alone.

Heskey could be a good buy, he can provide knock downs for Keane, similar to what Berba did for him. But he lacks the finesse of Berbatov.

TM wrote:You need a striker that will be able to play up top by himself in the absence of Torres, or a Partner for Keane, Because Keane cannot play upfront alone.

Heskey could be a good buy, he can provide knock downs for Keane, similar to what Berba did for him. But he lacks the finesse of Berbatov.

Thats exactly what I said

Not sure on Heskey tbf. If Rafa really wants him he'll get him in the summer when Heskey runs out his contract more than likely.

TM wrote:You need a striker that will be able to play up top by himself in the absence of Torres, or a Partner for Keane, Because Keane cannot play upfront alone.

Heskey could be a good buy, he can provide knock downs for Keane, similar to what Berba did for him. But he lacks the finesse of Berbatov.

If only Kuyt was 2-3 inches taller, eh?

The HuddFather wrote:

TM wrote:You need a striker that will be able to play up top by himself in the absence of Torres, or a Partner for Keane, Because Keane cannot play upfront alone.

Heskey could be a good buy, he can provide knock downs for Keane, similar to what Berba did for him. But he lacks the finesse of Berbatov.

If only Kut was 2-3 inches taller, eh?

And could head the ball ...

Kuyt is good in the air, why am I surprised that Target Man doesn't know what he's talking about

none of the fringe players are good enough, with the exceptoion of Keane, Babel and Skrtel, perhaps Benyanon will be useful in the Champions League but when I see the free transfers that have been available over the past couple of seasons and we end up with Voronin, Degan, Plessis and Ngog I can't help but feel a little short changed.

why sign Voronin when Tuncay was available? Plessis may be one for the future but someone like George Boateng would have made a much better reserve. There are countless other examples.

Looking to the next window I think the priority should be a right back, or a DRC. If we bid for Heskey we'll get him, but I don't see it happening.

Christmas Hysén Obama PhD wrote:none of the fringe players are good enough, with the exceptoion of Keane, Babel and Skrtel, perhaps Benyanon will be useful in the Champions League but when I see the free transfers that have been available over the past couple of seasons and we end up with Voronin, Degan, Plessis and Ngog I can't help but feel a little short changed.

why sign Voronin when Tuncay was available? Plessis may be one for the future but someone like George Boateng would have made a much better reserve. There are countless other examples.

Top of the league and you're jealous of Middlesboro

I'd guess wages and guarantee of first team football are the problem points. Not all players are happy to move somewhere predominately to sit on the bench, e.g. Tuncay - if he wants to prove himself in England, he'll struggle to do it with limited first team football at Liverpool; unlike, say, Benayoun, who at least already has established himself and would have no problem finding a mid-level club if Liverpool let him go. And Liverpool (like any club) don't generally want to pay big wages on players to sit on the bench. Hence, you use either youngsters (low wages, happy to be reserve for now) or mediocre players like Voronin, degan (probably on lowish wages, happy just to have been noticed by liverpool)...

@debaser (off topic)

Who's more likely to be involved in Villa's UEFA Cup game Agbonlahor or Young?

if we had signed Tuncay instead of Voronin he would have go planty of chances, would have been an option on the right or left in the 4-2-3-1 or could partner Torres or Crouch in a 4-4-2.

Keane was a pointless signing, could have had Owen for half the money and he could't have done any worse.

There were plenty of decent keepers available so I don't know why he went for this Brazillian guy.

De Guzman wrote:@debaser (off topic)

Who's more likely to be involved in Villa's UEFA Cup game Agbonlahor or Young?

It's hard to say. O'Neill never normally rests either, but we don't usually have these type of fixtures (home cup games against teams we should beat!). Both of them probably need a break - with an important game vs Everton on Sunday - but I think they will still start due to lack of options. There is a risk they'll be subbed pretty early if we look comfortable.

I assume this is FF: if you want a cheaper outsider choice, go either Sidwell or Milner. Both pretty certain to start, and decent chance of goal/assist.

Thanx debaser. Yep it's about FF.

debaser wrote:

De Guzman wrote:@debaser (off topic)

Who's more likely to be involved in Villa's UEFA Cup game Agbonlahor or Young?

It's hard to say. O'Neill never normally rests either, but we don't usually have these type of fixtures (home cup games against teams we should beat!). Both of them probably need a break - with an important game vs Everton on Sunday - but I think they will still start due to lack of options. There is a risk they'll be subbed pretty early if we look comfortable.

I assume this is FF: if you want a cheaper outsider choice, go either Sidwell or Milner. Both pretty certain to start, and decent chance of goal/assist.

Have Young in my team

Laursen should start tonight, shouldn't he?

@ TM

You obviously didn't see Kuyt's header againist Bolton a couple of weeks ago. A fantastic finish that many would have struggled with hitting the target

As Glenn said, he is very good in the air.

@ Glenn

I would love for Rafa to sign a RB. Anyukov(Zenit) or Srna(Shaktar) being the most obvious choices for me no doubt. But I just can't see Rafa signing a RB in January.

Wished we had signed Tuncay as well. He was head and shoulders above Fenerbache when he played for them. He is a Rafa sort of player too... meaning he's versatile, tracks back and of course his intelligent attacking style would be perfect for us.

I wouldn't be stunned if Laursen was rested. Cuellar-Davies, or even a rare start for Knight is not impossible. But there's a good chance Laursen will start, knowing O'Neill's general conservative tendencies with team choices.

Is it just me, or are there a real shortage of striking options available on the market? - Does anyone know any half decent strikers whos contract will be in its last year / 2nd last year come the Summer?

In an ideal world Ibrahimovich would be an ideal foil for Torres IMO... however that is obviously dreamland material, ah if only we'd bought Berbatov instead of Kuyt.... hindsight what a wonderful thing

Etoo's contract expires in 2010

[quote="Festive Genius"]Is it just me, or are there a real shortage of striking options available on the market? - Does anyone know any half decent strikers whos contract will be in its last year / 2nd last year come the Summer?

In an ideal world Ibrahimovich would be an ideal foil for Torres IMO... however that is obviously dreamland material, ah if only we'd bought Berbatov instead of Kuyt.... hindsight what a wonderful thing [/quote


Vargas for LB and Anyukov OR Srna for RB

I wished

Festive Genius wrote:ah if only we'd bought Berbatov instead of Kuyt.... hindsight what a wonderful thing

I'm sure Nigog will come good.

I'm suprised no one's mentioned that Pavlyuchenko would have been a good back up.

Rafa could have just left Keane at WHL and saved about £8m(?)

Pav could lead the line for 'pool

Pierre Littbarski wrote:I'm suprised no one's mentioned that Pavlyuchenko would have been a good back up.

Rafa could have just left Keane at WHL and saved about £8m(?)

Pav could lead the line for 'pool

I mentioned that a few times in the summer Pierre

Torres out till Jan:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/l/liverpool/7764335.stm

we should sign Ronaldo

In the long term, I it's a good thing that the club are making a conscious effort not to rush him back too early and make sure the problem is properly healed. Plus the time off to charge his batteries will do him a world of good. Cause let's face it while he has scored the goals his all round performances have been a bit lacklusture probably due to the Euros.

In the short term,
He'll most likely be out for: Blackburn, PSV, Hull, Arsenal, Bolton and Newcastle.

Can Liverpool fans give me some insight on Dalle Valle (sp?) how highly rated is he ? how do you rate him ?

Seen him once or twice , a talent no doubt.

Liverpool v West Ham United - Premier League
LIVERPOOL, UNITED KINGDOM - DECEMBER 01: Robbie Keane of Liverpool reacts to a missed chance during the Barclays Premier League match between Liverpool and West Ham United at Anfield on December 1, 2008 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

Spoiler:

Batman hasn't posted in the United thread since Sunday night

how many times has he posted in the Liverpool thread in the meantime?

Answer:

Spoiler:

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard flattens Lucas Leiva during Melwood training session
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/liverpool/3546584/Liverpool-captain-Steven-Gerrard-flattens-Lucas-Leiva-during-Melwood-training-session-Football.html

Also have you heard the interview of Rafa calling Liverpool fans contes for critising Lucas and if you think he is a bad player then you don't know much about football? Not my words but Rafa's.

Batman wrote:Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard flattens Lucas Leiva during Melwood training session
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/liverpool/3546584/Liverpool-captain-Steven-Gerrard-flattens-Lucas-Leiva-during-Melwood-training-session-Football.html

Also have you heard the interview of Rafa calling Liverpool fans contes for critising Lucas and if you think he is a bad player then you don't know much about football? Not my words but Rafa's.

Who is Lucas biggest critic? CotR isn't it?

Have you seen the league table? we're top and United are 3rd.