Official Summer Signings / Rumours / Information Thread

Not sure if this has already been mentioned but looks like Alberto will have a medical on Friday, and we are leading the chase for Christian Atsu.

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/liverpool-fc-pole-position-sign-4685834

 

Well at least we will have pace and options, just have to be careful we arent too one dimensional.

 

That's what it is at the mo, options. They could be a bunch of Assaidi's. Hopefully at least one will be a nice surprise and turn out to be a great bit of business. We need at least one quality attacking player who can slot into the first team. I'm hoping this Micky feller will provide that, but there is a chance he could take time to settle in this league.

 

Its options but there is a degree of one dimensionality to it. why? we've one striker. sturridge, borini's not yet got ten games up top to prove anything but i doubt he could lead a line. All our options are behind that. We could do with another line leader.

Also we are still a short arse side with no height for set piece. We really need to address this and quick.

 

But with height comes cumbersome play. You rarely get a tall forward who is mobile and nimble and we are not a direct/hoofing team so having a tall forward just for a set-piece is a bit of a waste of a position

 

Is Papadonkasaurus quite tall and good in the air?

 

I understand what MITO means - we're not after another Carroll or 7ft goon. Someone like Torres who is around 6ft but has a very good aerial presence due to his technique and timing of his jump. At the same time, he had electric pace and good on the ball.

 

He's about 6ft and had the best aerial success rate in the bundesliga (I think). A serious beast in the air.

 

Could be our new big No. 9.

 

You don't need tall players to be good at set-pieces. the likes of John Terry and Fernando Torres prove this; they are not the tallest but the time things perfectly to get the jump on their opponent making them very effective in the air.

Nor does having a presence at set-pieces mean it needs to be an attacker. Get a dominant CB and/or DM in instead.

 

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How open David Luiz. A randomly selection of dribbling, heading, tackling and long range shooting.

 

Tell Gerrard to get in the ****ing box - this should have been addressed a long long time ago.

Gerrard is second to none when it comes to dead ball deliveries around the box but he is no good at taking corners so should be in the box getting his head on it as he is very good at it! Lurking around the 18 yard box for a ball that never comes is also a waste!

 

Bayern munich..... or Steven gerrard... there are many fine examples of tall men with pace and power and technique right there. where did i say hoofers?


1. sturridge is over 6 feet and can hold it up just fine. We need an other option up front to cover him or push him on or just plain come in when he's unfit.... every other player is short so it is one dimensional and about passing about the d looking for openings. Gerrards game is all about vision, and quick forward ball that opens up play. We need a sturridge to get on the rum to receive those passes and then hold it up while the pacey players arrive. If sturridge is out nobody can hold it up! draw sides on, gerrard classic pass to sturridge, he controls finds a fast breaking team mate and bang goal.... thats how we'll open sides up.

2. BUT we also need to sort the back line height issue as well. Set piece defence and attack comes from tall centre halves usually. with due respect to agger if is see him going at one more attacking set piece with his eyes closed only to half head it over the bar.... well it aint sami hyppia is it? We are leaking goals at the back at set plays and we will score nothing without a threat in there from frees. If thats papadopolous (risky) great but toure and agger aint it that is for SURE.


i hope this clarified the point as i really didn't ask for hoofers. Bayern are a great example of tall domineering but also technically excellent players... their front man aint too mobile but lewandowksi is an example of a guy who is big but not a plodder so if they get him....

 

oh and while i made that point i see a pic of messi jumping on a totally free header. again misses the point totally. anyone whos a pro should be able to head the ball for on and a free header is a separate matter to a crowded box with guys pulling and dragging.

john terry is 6 foot 1 inch or 2 inch. he's a fairly big guy, not hyppia but still tall. he keeps his eyes open unlike agger. that's attacking set piece. torres is 6 ft as well..... this is all about guys who can attack a ball in terms of set piece. Like skertl did a few times for us.... however DEFENSIVELY if that's you're lot you struggle, you need a magnet for the ball from set pieces like kompany really, 6ft 4" and you may as well pass the ball to city as cross it when he plays.

how many goals come from corners? set piece? depends on who you are but if rodgers wants to "buy" 20 more goals that's great.... you can get 10 from defending better and 10 from powerful attacking threats in the air, others will get free if nothing else. Suarez would love to pick up the scraps off a kompany like character.

Again i hope this clarifys my thinking better than the one liner i started with.

 

Liverpool have been given a glimmer of hope in their pursuit of Toby Alderweireld.

The 24-year-old Ajax centre back has been linked with the Reds, as well as Spurs who are seeking a replacement for William Gallas.

He has caught the attention of a number of European clubs, following his accomplished displays for the Eredivisie champions.

Liverpool looked set to miss out on Alderweireld, as he was closing in on a move to Bayer Leverkusen, however the Bundesliga are stalling over his fee.

German paper Kolner Stadt-Anzinger has it that Leverkusen's CEO Wolfgang Holzhauser believes Alderweireld's £6.4m price tag is a bit over-inflated.

They also mention that Liverpool could be given a clear run at him now, as they have agreed a fee of £2.5m with Inter Milan for Giulio Donati.

The Reds have already landed Kolo Toure on a free, but Brendan Rodgers is keen to add to his defensive ranks.

Alderweireld made 41 appearances in all competitions for Ajax last season.

 

ffs!

 

.....

 

Not sure rum is the solution

 

Who would people prefer? Alderweireld or Papa?