Brendan Rodgers has revealed why he decided to sign another top-class goalkeeper this summer. Simon Mignolet was one of the Barclays Premier League's top stoppers at Sunderland last season and arrives at Anfield to provide competition for Pepe Reina - Liverpool's first-choice between the sticks since 2005. Brad Jones also has experience as a No.1 in the top flight, meaning Rodgers is spoilt for choice in the goalkeeping department. "I always felt it was important for us to have competition right the way through the squad, and that includes the goalkeepers," Rodgers told Liverpoolfc.com. "I spoke to Pepe about this a few months back and told him we wanted to bring in another goalkeeper as real competition. Pepe has been terrific here, Brad Jones was excellent when he stood in last year, and I felt we needed another one. "I was very open with my goalkeepers and they know the situation. Simon comes in and we've got great competition, and when you've got competition it pushes everyone to perform. "We obviously lost a young goalkeeper in Peter Gulacsi so we needed three very capable goalkeepers - and we've brought in Simon Mignolet, who's one of the top young goalkeepers in Europe. He's shown that at Sunderland over the last few years. "He's got great stature and I think he was player of the season at Sunderland - and I really think he can improve on that talent. "He's part of the Belgian set-up and it's really their golden era of players. Him coming here will hopefully increase his opportunities there also." http://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/latest-news/138428-br-why-i-signed-another-keeper
I'm worried at the amount of money we've spent as competition for goalkeepers. I love Pepe but I think he needs to go, we can't keep two incredibly high calibre goalkeepers happy at the same time at the detriment to our wage bill and transfer kitty. If Mignolet is the future then we need to go gung ho with him in my opinion and make him feel like he is the future here. Sorry Pepe.
I agree to an extent. I think we can have two high calibre keepers but they need to join the club at the same time to compete on a level playing field.
I think Reina must be on his way now or January. You just don't have goalies 'competing' for their place it's ridiculous. Have a great 2nd keeper, yes, but not one of Mignolet's calibre playing for the ressies. I can't say I'm that taken with Rodgers' very public style of letting players know their place isn't guaranteed.
A lot of tops sides have two top keepers. Man Utd have, Spurs had two last season, Chelsea have a few decent keepers, etc. Arsenal haven't got one though
But that could be because the top sides are allowed the luxury of having two keepers. We're still very much a work in progress and if he intends to keep Pepe on the books then this is definitely the first time I've really struggled to see the logic in Brendan's idea. There are quite obviously other areas of the team that need immediate reinforcement (left back, centre back, backup DM) and we should be prioritising on these areas.
Its not don't I don't agree, I was just saying it isn't impossible. I think Pepe will be gone come 1 September
either way its going to balls up my fantasy football team this year as I nearly always have Reina in goal
It's a strange one I agree. If Pepe does stay we'll have one very expensive keeper on the bench every week whichever doesn't play. Plus we've spent a big chunk of the budget too. If he goes then the above is all just waffle. The one reason I can think of (if Pepe does stay) is that he knows he's off in Jan or next summer and he wanted Ming before his value goes higher.
Putting two and two together here - If Barca are going to procrastinate over coming in for Pepe, I think we might just see a cheeky bid from l'Arse - they've been linked with Pepe a few times in the last couple of seasons...
I expect Reina to leave this year or next year. If he doesn't leave this year, then I still see him as the number 1 choice unless he has a dramatic change in form. Also, it will allow Mignolet to get settled into the club without much pressure (however, with it being WC year, he will want to be playing).
