Didn't he move to Inter for 12million last January? After snubbing us? so... why would we want a guy who sees us as second choice and why are inter getting rid so damn quickly? If he can't hack it in Serie A then he's not gonna do well here
It's not like they had anything on their mind and so would have a reason to not commit in a meaningless game against Southampton was there? Beat anyone else?
What did Stoke have on their minds...? Saints and Liverpool had the same record over the last ten games. Won 3, Drew 2, Lost 5. Obviously Liverpool's goal difference was worse as they finished off the season with a humiliating defeat.
The same as Southampton have had all season. We can finally bridge the gap that once existed between ourselves and a once mighty Liverpool. The only thing that differentiates Liverpool and all the other midtable teams is the outrageous and excessive spending, althought it is nothing new
If Shaqiri is available at that price and Stoke are the best team making an offer, maybe he's not that good after all...
Blast from the past! Welcome back i just saw this... Inter signed him for 16m and now selling for 12m 6 months later,.. Odd one. Only played 8 times so maybe fell out with manager?
Yeah quite a few teams actually, you tend to win more than you lose when you only concede 33 goals all season, a feat you could only dream of under Brenda 'defending is easy' Rogers.
Or maybe couldn't live up to the hype surrounding him? He didn't cut it at Bayern, which given their squad is understandable.. but with the state of Italian Football and Inter's squad, you'd think he'd shine there, but didn't... why?
Inter are crap as well, they're just as bad. For 12m, I would take him in a heartbeat. And he didn't turn us down, Rodgers wanted Lallana instead.
I am just praying we don't go through with the Benteke bid. Just like last season with Mario, I can't see it going well. He's just as lazy off the ball and we don't have the players/system to feed him. At Villa, it was all about getting the ball to Benteke in the final third or the box. That won't happen here; he'll have to work, move and interlink which he isn't going to do. This'll go down in the same bracket as Carroll if it happens and won't end well for Rodgers either.
well... I have to just say one thing. I've not seen benteke being that wasteful. He is a goal getter. Carroll missed a shed load. The thing is all i can say is in general yeah i kind of think he is lazier player but on the other hand he's only be at villa and been used that way and belgium are a bit of a big side too so i dunno. do we really know he'll not move in behind and invite passes to feet. He can get his shot off fast.
Belgium are quite a technical side that play on the deck. Put Benteke in that side and he sticks out - and not in a good way. The manager completely laid into him for being so immobile. The same will happen at Liverpool - and it's not a bad thing. The reason I say that is because his ingrained style is target man, long balls etc etc. That's how he has been coached. Not every player runs around, makes runs behind the defence etc etc. The same applies to Mario. We criticise them for not playing a style they simply aren't suited to - the player isn't the problem, it's the people buying them i.e. committee and Rodgers.
And Benteke's goal record isn't that great - he had one very good season which every striker is capable of - the other 2 seasons have been poor.
mario did the same at city wher eit was not lumped at him. we all knew what he was when he signed. I would say on benteke its not a good season you'll find its streaks of very very good form. he's turned it on in the second half of years for villa. he's also had injuries. thats whay i said consistency about him and injuries as risks. He can get a shed load as he did second half last season and he can do nothing for a long time too. balotelli was always going to be a not fit. benteke? I am not sure at the minute. its the type of run he will be asked to make. Even sturrdige doens't fit par se as half the time he wants to head for the right wing and ends up badly positioned. Lambert actually made good moves but had zero pace to make it count.
This is the thing - if we want to get the best out of Benteke, then we have to play a different way. Why is Rodgers hell bent on making Benteke work but didn't do the same for Mario? Mario is far more talented and has been poorly managed - he has been poor himself but we could have got far more out of him. I'd sooner keep Mario and actually use him properly than spend £25m plus on Benteke. And signing Benteke pretty much nullifies the strengths of Coutinho and Firmino. With regards to his goals, there's a common theme - he scores when the team plays to his style i.e. long balls and crosses.
