He's more refined than of our wide attackers - Ibe, Marko, Lallana, Sterling, But Markovic has a lot more potential in the future. I'm very confident Marko will be the leading the attack in the next few years.
I think we'll be stuck with Mario for another year, can't see anyone wanting him. Obviously, if we managed to shift all the players highlighted plsu the out of contract players too, it won't half free up some wages etc. Jones, Johnson, Coates, Enrique, Gerrard, Lambert, Borini, Balotelli, Aspas, Sterling and Alberto is probably about £750k-£800k per week. Or if you prefer, about £39m-£41.6m per annum!
Kono saying he was sorry he couldn't join Liverpool last season suggests he's angling for a PL move and hasn't been able to arrange anything yet (not sure what the rules are in the Ukraine but surely he'd have been able to discuss with foreign clubs from around November). On a free he's a no brainer. In fact, I'd be targeting the Ukraine if I was in charge... Given Ukraine's current climate players would surely want out. Would not say no to the like of Fernando, Douglas Costa, Yarmolenko or Kono. Of course the issue is these clubs are rich and ambitious.
Completely disagree on Can, I don't think he's suited to DM he's too slow over a short distance it's only when he get the ball out from his feet and can stride forward that he shows his pace. As much as the DM role is suited to someone who can read the game and has good positional sense it also needs that abilty to close a gap quickly and I don't think that suits him.
It would be impolite to take their first offer and would make them feel they've been done Push them up to £42m and let them think they won a good fight
Totally agree. Can looks good while he is pushing on but I have not seen enough discipline from him to be a holding midfielder. When he plays at RB he has somehow drifted back to the middle and charges at every chance. DMs have to be very prudent in their application of when to attack and if you limit that from Can, you lose the best attribute i.e. Box to Box.
Agree with the comments on Can not being a DM but that is what makes me think Brod will play him there. Brod has shown he doesn't like a proper DM, he likes a holding player in there that can play, hence him trying to fit Gerrard in there and dropping Lucas for a while.
You may well be right there and it'll be a mistake that'll expose our defence, as you know I'm a fan of Lucas where others are not but I would concede that due to his injuries we need someone who can do that job week after week.
I like Lucas too but I think what you said for Can for short distances applies to Lucas too. Lucas often makes petty fouls, some say they are tactical fouls to let the team recover so we can defend properly ( ) whereas others will say he makes them because he's that bit slower than he used to be. I think its a bit of both. He is a bit slower than he used to be but he always used to make the petty fouls before too. The tackles he used to make are now the petty fouls. the petty fouls have gone because he can't get there, instead he holds position. We do need a proper DM imo, if we can keep Lucas as well then fantastic.
We need a quality DM first and foremost. It's crucial to how every successful team players - the only team in recent history that achieved some success without one was Real Madrid in the CL last season. They are pivotal - we need someone like Mascherano. I agree with Gez that I simply don't think Rodgers wants that type of player - but he'd be foolish if he doesn't. Coquelin, who isn't great by any means, has been crucial to Arsenal since the turn of the year and it's why they were able to go on such a good run. Even Lucas was important in our 13 game streak.
I largely agree. Barry did that job for us brilliantly last season. (this season he's waned, and so have we!) United's best spell of form this season came when Carrick was playing the holding role so efficiently. Matic has helped take Chelsea from being very good to Champions. However the modern DM isn't merely a tough tackling defensive player, they're now the player who 'makes things tick' by reading the game well, covering their backline, intercepting the ball and moving it forwards accurately and efficiently. It's largely an unsung hero's role, but without doubt absolutely key in the modern game, as the full backs pushing on leave sides more defensively exposed, and the DM needs to offer cover.
I like Lucas and certainly provided better balance to our team in that DM role than Gerrard did. Any coincidence our form picked up mid year when he came back in? saying that, he can be improved upon, only need to look at Matic for Chelsea who does so much work that goes unnoticed and helps control the tempo of a game. He's a perfect mix between Lucas and Gerrard. Good defensively like Lucas but with a bit of drive and good passing like Gerrard.
Exactly - however, I'll be happy enough to get a DM who can do the defensive side first and foremost. Whilst I bash the defence all the time, they have no protection from the midfield.
