Official Summer Signings / Rumours / Information Thread

All fair points MITO - no secret that we are in for Henri and a CB of quality so gotta hope this happens I guess.

I think Borini can fill in for Sturridge's inevitable injuries and Sterling was one of our best players in the opening fixtures so maybe he could be the answer to Suarez' first 6 games?

-------Gerrard---Lucas-------
Aspas-----Coutinho-----Sterling
----------Sturridge-----------

 

Kolarov is a decent player... Where we would put him I'm not sure. He's not a big improvement on Enrique and wouldn't want to be a back up surely.

He might be in Pellegrini's plans though. Who knows.

 

Four league games, two cup games (assuming we get through the League Cup second round game )

 

That's what I thought, it's just competition for Enrique.

Dunno how much they'd want for him if they were to sell him though.

 

They are still the first 6 games, no?

 

Wouldn't mind seeing Kolarov's left peg in the side though

 

utd have bid for Baines, inevitable.

 

might actually get something out of Set pieces.

 

I'm not sure Borini suits the central striker role. I expect him to play on the left. He has looked good playing from the left and did so successfully for Roma to.

Aspas could play central. But ideally we need another real striker.

-------Gerrard---Lucas-------
Aspas----Coutinho----Borini
-----------Sturridge-----------

I liked Henderson on the left to. I prefer Sterling on the right.


What if it ends up bring:

--------Gerrard---Lucas-------
Robben----Coutinho---Suarez
--------------Sturridge-----------

 

No one interested? Clearly making the bitters weaker.

 

Apparently they've rejected. The dance begins!

 

see my issue... all three named teams have sturrdige up top. if and WHEN he gets injured we are screwed. we need a striker option. if suarez goes we need to buy a STRIKER not another second line across the front type player.

If i were LFC manager I'd want a CB CM and ST out of suarez money.

 

Agree 100% with this.

 

Don't undervalue Aspas because he was cheap and unknown. He's rated pretty highly amongst the players in La Liga who aren't playing for Barca or Real and I think he's a great mix between Bellamy, Kuyt and Tevez. Little bit of flair, good pace, works hard, picks up goals even in a poor side so clearly his movement is on the money...I have a good feeling about him slotting into the RF role or even ST if Sturridge is injured or off form. Aspas is coming in regardles of sales, so adds to the squad depth and, most likely, to the starting 11.

Borini can also play ST if we're hit by injuries and Suarez too if he's still here. We only need another striker if Suarez leaves.

Also, Alberto is someone BR seems to rate highly - similar to how he spoke about Coutinho before he arrived. He might have the same impact and we'll all be wondering why we ever doubted him. Or he might not...but either way, from what's available on him on the internet, he's a damn sight better option than Shelvey and seems to be his direct replacement given the latest links. That's fine for me.

I would like another quality CM to really push Lucas though, Hendo might step up another level and challenge Gerrard this season. He showed great signs of development towards the end of last season. This is a big weakness if the team right now though. If Lucas gets injured again, we're ****ed, even if he's on bad form.

LB lacks depth and must be a concern for the management. CB is well known and they're looking at Llori as a replacement for Coates (who'll be sold as soon as we can wrap that up, but we're not willing to spend 10mill asking price for Llori). I think we'll come back to Papadopolous negotiations soon and try haggle down to 15mill ish then push Skrtel out if we can.

With Migs too.

Maybe not top 4 quality on paper, but all big name players make their name somewhere. Coutinho is doing that now. Suarez did that here recently. Aspas I believe will do that next season. Hendo will step up another level. Mignolet will improve with games. Alberto could be another...have faith reds.

 

Me also.



The Kevin Gameiro rumours are about again.

 

you are right not to under value the work thus far, my point is not that these guys can't step up. its that they are ALL of a type and do not look like line leading players. They are also similar to what we have already. This is why i am predicting that when not if sturridge picks up a 3 week injury we'll look a bit toothless up front. When suarez goes, as seems inevitable, a striker... and a true striker... must come in.

 

You mean like a Soldado type player who'll just sit up top and wait for the ball to come to him? I was under the impression that Rodgers doesn't want players who can't play multiple - which is why Aspas works as a signing.

 

Not so much that as sturridge himself. the abilty that boy has to hold the ball up is quite under rated. He's got pace, strength and a finish. he is quite raw and takes wrong options but most of all he will get injured. Either add pace or a guy to get on the shoulder of the last man.

the reason i want that is to use gerrard's fast long pass. if we win it in our half that's when sides expose space and if we play it to gerrard we want someone who's able to run into the channels and hold it up while the coutinhos, aspas and suarez's can get up there to support. Gerrard can play it perfectly into space or onto a guys toe.

when we play suarez up there he does three things... first he loses it, a lot.. second he hasn't got height or pace so he dives if he's not in behind and finally third his instinct is to come towards the ball and not run the channel so gerrard will be passing shorter and to a guy with his back to goal.

thats just my opinion of course but fast breask need sturridge or a direct replacement from the bench up there.

You are right that sturridge cuold play right side but trust me if aspas plays like i think he will he'll come short too and then we'll be toothless, he's not big enough to compete with our english league cbs on long balls. In short i see him as a right side player in the kuyt role. I think he could do well.

BUT give me a no 9 anyday to compliment that.

 

Soldado would be a brilliant replacement, and a real sign of intent IMO.

 

He's probably to old for our system though unfortunately.