Transfer Rumours Transfer Rumours thread

Just maybe I use my eyes. Gerrard is, without question, my favourite Liverpool player but for the majority of this season (and on occasion last season) he has simply been a millstone for the XI when he plays. His goals have been penalties, his assists have been minimal, his corners shocking, his running and ability to defend in the DM role non-existent and our team performances when he has played have been awful on the whole. I'm not lumping our season on Gerrard, I would blame Rodgers for starting him when he should have been an impact sub, but we simply played better with a mobile trio in midfield - regardless of who that trio consisted of. Milner is a huge upgrade on Gerrard for that very reason. Hell, even Allen in there instead of Gerrard usually resulted in better performances!

Was it something like 40% wins with Gerrard and 60 odd % without? I forget, but something close...

 

Pressing last season was none existent. None of Balotelli, Lambert and Gerrard pressed plus we didn't have a catalyst to lead by example; Sterling didn't do it which meant others such as Coutinho didn't either (someone that did it so well in 2013-14).

I'd rather have every player working for the team rather than a prima-donna that is quality on the ball but offers little else. Perfect example is Berbativ; fantasic player but in no way shape or form would I have ever accepted him in the team. Gerrard wasn't that bad but still undermined the team. I love Gerrard to bits but it is no coincidence that we did better when he wasn't in the side.

Edit: and above all that, other players in our team seemed to perform better when Gerrard wasn't in the side too. Almost as if they were scared to make a mistake because the captain (aka Mr Liverpool) was there. Maybe you could say those underperforming were making Gerrard look worse but whats easier to change, one or ten players?

 

It's a bit like when Henry left arsenal. Everyone thought that was it, but others stepped up to the mark.

Gerrard is a legend and the greatest lfc player I've seen and you can't blame others for sometimes respecting him too much and feeling intimidated possibly with him. Always thinking it's easier to pass to Gerrard than try that difficult pass. He had a role last year and could have had one his year but wasn't managed properly but maybe he also didn't want managing like that. It must be hard for someone who has carried the team on his shoulders for 12 years to suddenly not need you as much as they did.

Hopefully without him others step up and take responsibility themsves without taking the easy option.

Agree with oth gerrez about pressing, we didn't have anyone to lead that. Suarez forced sterling Sturridge etc to press, without him the others didn't take the lead. Sturridge doesn't press and didn't even do that much 2 years ago by got dragged along by Suarez. Now I can't see benteke leading from that front however Milner, Hendo and Allen can do that job and Firmino is known to have a great work rate defensively so if those can lead by example than it should drag others along.

If your team mates are pressing and your not, you stick out as easy option to replace. So to maintain your place, you try to copy or exceed which in turn makes others try harder. Of 3 or 4 aren't doing it, players think there is no need which happened last year.

 

It needs to start from the front, can't see Benteke leading that charge TBH. Hope he proves me wrong though.

Ings would do it though

 

Borini to Sociedad for £7m? Deal...

 

Deal!

 

This one is for Jimmy.

Bayern Munich manager Pep Guardiola insists he wants to keep 23-year-old midfielder Mario Gotze at the club, despite interest from Juventus, Liverpool and Manchester United.(Daily Express)

Hilarious stuff this.

 

That passes for 'lauding' in Clog-Sparkerspeak, despite the rider of 'trepidation. If he turns out crap, in a year's time Shteve will be saying how you sacrificed your first-born to give thanks to the Football Gods (the FA) when you heard he'd signed; but if he does well he'll become a racist/*****phile/wife-beater that all Liverpool fans egged on to commit even more crimes.

 

Bayern Munich manager Pep Guardiola insists he wants to keep 23-year-old midfielder Mario Gotze at the club, despite interest from Juventus, Liverpool and Manchester United. (Daily Express

Real Madrid look set to wait until next summer to try to sign Manchester United keeper David De Gea, 24, after giving 28-year-old Keylor Navas the number one jersey. (Evening Standard)

Aston Villa are in talks with Tottenham over signing striker Emmanuel Adebayor, 31, to replace Liverpool-bound 24-year-old Christian Benteke. (Daily Mail)

 

I think I made the QC turn to drink.

 

Perhaps a poll of Liverpool fans for each of these signings would resolve this once and for all

Liverpool: James Milner (Man City), Danny Ings (Burnley), Divick Origi (Lille), Adam Bogdan(Bolton), Joe Gomez (Charlton), Roberto Firmino(Hoffenheim), Nathaniel Clyne (Southampton), Bobby Adekanye (Ajax/Barcelona), Brooks Lennon (Real Salt Lake)

 

and what would you like each poll to say dear fellow.

hit/miss/maybe or do you want worldie/ muck as the options

 

I can't solve all your problems, you'll have to figure that one out yourselves.

Perhaps once you've signed Benteke having one that asks "Were 10 signings enough?" or simply "Quantity over quality?"

 

For the record:

milner: improves LFC first team quite a bit. anyone who actually knew anything about football would say gerrard was toast last august and he's few goals last year didn't paper over any cracks. Milner is a good player but not a top player. He's far better than the alternaitve (allen) so he improves LFC. He will be vital to LFc's chances all year

Ings: the next aspas. he misses a shed laod but he's a hard worker. I can't see him having an impact i nthe time he will get off the bench. For 5-6mil? no brainer. We can't lose on him and he will give his all

Origi - looks like he has some talent, but he will be a sub and play europa. prob will get 20-25 appearances and score 8-10 goals at most. also missed a few in preseason

bogdan - a reserve nothing more.

Gomez - real bargain. already can see he is a very good option for our side even in europa action. he's better than anyone we've had at his age for a long time. wisdom and flanagan for example at 18 were not near this guy.

firmino - decent option and prob better than lallana. apparently adds pace.

Clyne - we had NO RB. he will improve us a lot. end of... but he is still jsut a RB so theres only so much he can do to help the back 4 if the centre is soft

Adekayne - just a kid. nice little addition to the acadmey on a free. may not be seen again.

lennon- as above. a kid

Beneteke - bound to play and will offer more than balotelli and borini and lambert. LFc will have to adapt to him.. thats just a fact. people should stop worrying about style and start worrying about rodgers being able to use him. He's a unit and gets goals when on form. not a top player but when you'd no forward at all for 70% of the previous season of course he improves us.

LFC chances: 5th looks on... I think cheslea will compete with utd and arsenal for title and city will be 4th unless aguero is on absolutel top form all year. I'd hope we are close to them at the end... any more is a bonus.

 

Translation: you're not arsed.... but its your problem not ours.

 

What is indisputable though is that any comments such as "this is a very exciting deal", "his potential is massive", "definitely a great addition" and/or "he is the perfect signing" should not be used as examples of support or praise for a signing in the eventuality that the player being referenced eventually turns out to be a bit crap as most people who aren't part of the Anfield family / ca'teedral always suspected would be the case.

 

L'Equipe saying Di Maria wants a move to PSG.

Man.U want £52m for him rather than the £25m he's actually worth

 

Di Maria is not a bad player, not every player copes well in their first year in the premiership.

 

Have a strong feeling he will have a good season next season where ever he is. I'd rather we keep him.

 

I'd also rather you keep him.