Okay, I'm getting a little impatient and I know there is still 5 weeks left of the transfer window but I was thinking to myself last night and wondering if Kenny actually wants a first choice left back? Last season it worked quite well with Johnson on the left and Kelly on the right but if he brings in a new lefty then he'll be forced to drop one of them for some games. We know Kenny likes the local lads so would he drop Kelly? And Johnson stepped up his game in the second half of last season so would he really drop him? Personally, I'd like to see someone like Jansen come in who can also play on the wing. I know it's a squad game these days so maybe it won't be a case of dropping Johnson/Kelly and more a case of rotation. Thoughts?
I think we have enough full backs. At the moment we have Aurellio, Insua and Robinson, Flanagan has played there in a friendly and Johnson can also play there. If we are going to buy a Left Back we need to sell first.
Let's be honest here, we're more than likely going to sign Enrique after his outburst at Newcastle the other day!
Aurelio - injured for the most of the season Insua/Robinson - youngster, need to be rotated Johnson/Flannagan - not natural left backs We need an experienced left back who will play a majority of the season. We should sell Aurelio (shame as he is top quality but he is our 'experienced' left back and he hardly plays). Johnson and Flannagan should stick to their natural positions and should only be used as last resorts. Insua and Robinson are both youngsters and need to be eased in. I remember when Insua was used as our first team LB and was struggling and fans wanted him to go! What if the same happens to Robbo and Flanno? Insua's best season was when he rotated with Aurelio and he looked solid and good in attack. We need to do the same with Flanno and Robbo and not rush them. I do agree in that we need to offload one player (maybe two) before we bring in a first choice LB.
I feel Johnson is still better on the right side, and Kelly is great competition/ rotation. They both offer different things to, with Johnson very attacking and Kelly stronger defensively. At left back I don't trust Aurelio's fitness, I like Insua but who knows how he will be after his loan, and Robinsons to young to play a major role right now. I would sign another left back. If one or two full backs get injured long term it could course big problems. I also feel a top quality, specialist left back could make our defence and left side a lot stronger.
It was obviously an attempt to get out. Whether we're the destination I dunno but we want him and he's probably the reason we haven't bid for Cissokho yet. We can't rely on Aurelio anymore. I thought he was on a rolling contract anyway. He's too old to get any fitter. I'd rather keep Insua as cover.
I think we should release Aurelio, he obviously wanted to go when he left the other season, only to find nobody else wanted him. Insua would be perfect cover, he's looked sharp in pre-season so he's benefited from a season's loan. I think a new LB is a must; Cissokho, Enrique, Jansen... all of them left sided left backs, which is all we really need. As long as they are half decent then it's better than what we've had over the past couple of years. I just miss having a left footed left back; they need to be able to pass to the left mid or cut it across midfield, if they're right footed then they're constantly having to change footing and leaving themselves more vulnerable to tackles.
I don't know much about Jansen but Pereira seems good, although every time I've seen him play (not many btw) he seems to be play high up the pitch??? Not sure whether he plays midfield but I was under the impression that he was targeted for LB, anyone know more about him? Enrique is Prem proven and I've always been keen on him since we were first linked a couple months back.
He does want two players and the strong reports that these are a left back and a centre back,but he has admitted that he has to get players off the wage bill first.The strong reports are Pacheco is on his way out on loan,Poulsen is on his way to Fulham,Aquilani is on his way to Fiorentina on loan and Ngog to Bolton.Then when this happens he will sign the necessary players.
Enrique's outburst was just a cry for help, he's getting itchy feet that nobody has bid for him. I'm not sure if I have seen enough quality in him to be a Liverpool regular?! I would prefer Jansen from what I have seen. It's time for Aurelio to leave. Good player, too injury prone. As far as the CB position goes, I'm not really sure we need anyone this season. Carragher, Agger, Skrtel are solid enough, I guess we just need Agger to stay fit for a season. We should give Ayala some more games this year and get Kyrgiakos off the wage bill.
Aurelio can leave, keep Insua. I'd want us to buy a new left-back in Aly Cissokho but I think we'll end up paying over the odds for Enrique. Move Johnson back to right-back and rotate Kelly who can also be used as cover for the centre-backs.
There is loads of reports in the media linking Ngog with Bolton,Apparently Owen Coyle sees him as an alternative to Daniel Sturridge whom Chelsea aren't keen to allow to go on loan.Bolton are offering £3.6 million,Liverpool want £6 million,However Liverpool are willing to bargain however it all depends on whether Ngog is willing to take a cut in his £45,000 a week wages.
Yes, we failed with Clichy and Zapata. We want defenders, they are just trying to keep it closed doors. Wouldn't be surprised if Jansen was the realest bid of them all seeing how out of the blue it was.
B4F. If there was a chance that Insua has a future,do you think by now he would have been given a squad number.I reckon all the players without squad numbers are on their way out ie Degen,El Zhar,Insua,Aquilani,Jovanovic.
Kenny said some players if they perform in pre-season may put themselves into his plans on a long term basis. I though Aquilani may have been one of those,However that seems to have changed after the weekend.According to Aquilani's agent,he may be off to Fiorentina on loan. However seeing as the 25 man premiership squad has to be picked and the only ones certain of making that 25 man squad are Downing,Henderson,Adam,Carragher,Gerard and Reina,Carroll and Suarez and Lucas,the rest have to convince Kenny they deserve to be in that 25 man squad.Thats excluding the under 21 players.
