We have been on a strong run of form until recently, but after 2 defeats on the trot every thing looks like doom and gloom. The press are having a field day with transfer rumours and stories of player unrest. Rodgers has said it will be difficult to attract top new talent with out CL, but we are also seeing our players linked to other clubs. Sterling to Arsenal, Henderson to Chelsea. Gerrard is off and Lucas said in January he was looking at other clubs. Last time we dropped from 2nd to outside the top 4 we lost Alonso, Mascerano, Benayoun, Riera and Arbeloa, and Rafa was also gone. I'm not giving up on top 4, but if we dont get it should we fear an exodus?
Personally, I think Sterling and Coutinho could be leaving sooner rather than later - they are quality players who are starting to grab the attention of the bigger clubs. Hopefully I'm wrong.
Can't see there being an exodus,just the usual turnover. We all know where we need to strengthen. As for the media stuff,most of it will be complete bollocks as usual. We are flavour of the month cos' we've lost two games
We cannot afford to loose Coutinho. Sterling we can cope with out/can be replaced. Coutinho is to important.
I think in some ways BR's failure to bring in top quality may mean we avoid this! Bar Coutinho, not sure any of our players will be in such high demand?
Contracts mean very little - it just puts the selling club in a better position when maximising a fee.
Depends on the player,Couts signed when there was little prospect of top four for us. I think this tells us he's happy where he is and considers LFC to be the right club for him at the moment
You can't predict what players and their maggot agents will do, but let's be right, of the expected top 4 who from your side would they want?
Henderson to Chelsea? Don't think we quite need players of his ilk, thanks. There's a reason you're a midtable team, it's because you've got midtable players. So as Tobes intimates, any of your lot who genuinely think they belong at a bigger club will be in for a shock when no big clubs want them.
Allegedly ... Arsenal want Sterling, Chelsea want Henderson , Man City want Sterling and Henderson. The reason is to fill up the English player quota the F.A. are bringing in. Hence no rumours of Coutinho to any of the top 4. Truth be told we could cope without Sterling and Hendo. Obviously be better with them but...
Sterling and a Coutinho are most likey imo. Sakho and Can would be two others. Don't really care about anyone else if they were to leave.
Countino signed a new 5 year deal this year, it's going to take a huge amount of money to get him and he strikes me as someone that won't kick up a fuss and strike if he doesn't get a move. I think he knows this is the best place for him at the moment, he so ly just got back into brazil team and knows if he goes somewhere else and doesn't play its another 3 steps back.
Same with Sterling - the time left of their deals merely maximises the fee we can command. Won't be surprised if Barca come in for him when their embargo is up. He's the perfect replacment for Iniesta.
There is a worry with Man City, the other top4 less so, Man City are desperate for Homegrown players and are going to be more so next season as all their English players they bought 4-5 years ago have left or are likely to leave. Plus they have the money to throw at players they'll barely play. Whilst it'd be the wrong move for players like Henderson and Sterling to go there, as they wont get regular 1st team action, the allure of big money, CL and a tilt at the title could be dangerous. I said it yesterday but we need someone better handling our contracts, too many contract sagas as of recent. Seems to have come hand in hand with our piss poor handling of transfers, a DoF to sort this mess out.
They can have Hendo, Lallana and Flanno Don't think contracts are an issue - we're doing the right thing by not overpaying for players.
If city buy English players they wont play, they wont buy any quality and will continue to disappear. They have a squad of old, useless fogies who need to be taken out back, old yeller style. Its going to cost them a fortune and they basically have to buy English.... I think Uefa are going to ban them too. They spent over 50million and have continued to included sponsorship from their owners own family.
Theyll do what they've done before and buy players like Richard Wright and stick him as the 6th choice keeper on low wages just to meet the criteria. Citu seem confident they won't have to pay the rest of their fine this year due to meeting FFP so will be interesting to see what FIFA do as you say becuse they still seem to be including dodgy sponsorship deals