There seems to be a lot of talk about new managers, new DoF's etc etc. So I thought I'd try and look at it from another perspective - from the players themselves. This summer was looking to likely to see the back of Joe Cole, Aquilani, Kuyt and Maxi. But will the new manager be keen to keep these guys on? Kuyt has already said that we is revising his future now that Kenny has gone, will Maxi do the same? Will someone finally see potential in Aquilani and persuade him to stay? Joe Cole has enjoyed a successful stint at Lille. Will he stay there or will he come back?
I think Maxi and Kuyt have made it clear they dont want to play a bit part anymore so I'd be surprised if either of them are here next season. I'd love to see Joe cole get a bit more game time, I feel he's been hard done by since he came and is still a better player than either Adam or Henderson by some distance. Aquilani just needs to be moved on permanently he clearly wants to be in Italy and if it was going to work out at Liverpool it would have done so by now. Shame because again he is clearly a more gifted player than Adam and Henderson. I'd like to see Sterling, Silva and Suso in the squad regularly to replace Maxi and Kuyt.
ermmm... joe coles "stats" don't suggest he did much bar drink wine and eat cheese in france sorry. Aquilani is a joke as every italian club has dumped him. Our wages are crazy... simply crzay.. one can only guess how bad it is at chelsea and city!!! maxi needs to go home and kuyt is just aging rapidly. All in all new chance? nah lets buy guys from league 2 and put them on 20k per week.. if we're on the cheap we may as bloody well rather than pay these 4 the wages they get.
Joe Cole insists he has unfinished business at Liverpool despite being linked with a return to boyhood club West Ham this summer. Cole has made a big impact in Ligue 1 this term on a season-long loan at Lille from Anfield and the French club are thought to be open to taking him back for another 12 months. The 30-year-old has also been tipped for an emotional homecoming at Upton Park, where he came through the youth ranks before spending five years as a senior player. However, the midfielder has not given up hope of rectifying his career on Merseyside, with the club currently searching for a new manager following Kenny Dalglish's sacking. "When I signed for Liverpool, it startled me a bit,' Cole, who joined Anfield from Chelsea two years ago under former boss Roy Hodgson, told the Daily Mail. "I don't know if I felt the pressure but the city is so in love with football. It's a religion. If I go back, I will be more prepared for it this time. "I can see why people say (joining Liverpool) is a culture shock. It is a small place but it has this great buzz. How can there not be in a city that has produced five Prime Ministers and The Beatles? The people are so sharp, quite a bit like Londoners really. "There is still a part of me that would really love to make it work there and I don't want to have a bad spell at Anfield on my CV. But it is out of my hands now. "At the minute I can't rule anything in or out. We have got to speak to Liverpool and see what happens there." Cole admits Ligue 1 has a slower tempo than the Premier League but is confident he can readjust to life in the English top-flight if given the chance.
let me translate joes pidgeon french... I aint taking a pay cut init. love to go to west ham init but the pool can pay 60% of may wages end of.
Joe Cole is alleged to be on about £90k a week. Seems a little too much for a player who probably wont get first team football. Aquilani bought when injured so never saw him at his best. A few years older and wiser now could be the missing link to the midfield to help Gerrard but would still rather see Alonso back. Kuyt first choice for the Dutch National team but not first choice for Kenny. Liverpool should allow him to leave if he isn't going to get more first team football as he always gave 110% when he played Maxi wrong side of 30 but always seems to score goals when he plays. For me Liverpool never replaced Mascherano in midfield who broke down play from the other team to give the ball back to Liverpool to attack.
For me Liverpool never replaced Mascherano in midfield who broke down play from the other team to give the ball back to Liverpool to attack. I prefer Lucas to Masch, his passing is more effective.
Knowing us, we'll simply loan Cole out again and continue to pay the majority of his wages...people like ripping us off and we seem only too eager to accept. Either shove him on the bench because we can make use of him, or sell him on the cheap and get him off the wage bill. Aquilani is gifted no doubt, but doesn't want to be here. If the next manager can turn his head, I'll be happy for him to stay. If not, again, sell him on the cheap and get him off the wage bill. Loaning him out again whilst we pay his wages is a loss in many ways. I feel we did replace Mascherano in Lucas who, in my opinion, is a little more rounded in being able to initiate attacks whereas Mascherano is a bit more limited in that aspect. Just a shame he got injured..
Ooh, deja vu. Cole is better than Henderson, Aquilani is better than Henderson, blah blah blah. Y'know what it reminds me of? "Alonso (28) is better than Lucas (22)." FFS, how many 22-yr olds are the finished article? And Henderson's still only 21. Will Lucas be better than Alonso when he's 28? Possibly. Is Henderson better at 21 than Alonso was at 21? Possibly. He was MotM against Arsenal in a team of excellent performances. Get off the guy's back because you probably said the same shyte about Lucas three years ago. And lest we forget, some of those players were shipped out because of wages as well as age.
Henderson looks like he will be a good player, people expected too much of him in his first season. Lots of good comments about him working hard in training and having a good attitude. One for the future.
Have to agree, I rate Henderson at 21. I never bashed Lucas...didn't think he was particularly great...nor bad. When he first started out I just saw him as a young fringe player who will need a lot of growth to compete with the likes of Gerrard, Masch and Xabi. Henderson doesn't cost us games, sometimes he seems invisible. But it irks me to see people mention him in the same breath as Downing or anyone else that is an established player.
Joe Cole is apparently on about £90k a week. Aquilani about £70-80k a week. After the whole Feyenord links with Kuyt, it came out he is on pretty much £90-100k a week. Maxi must be on around £70-80k a week too. That is £350k per week to keep those players alone, that is nearly £20m a year!!! and when you think of it; one was nearly as useless as Downing, one is good but doesn't want to stay, one is a bit past it and believes he isn't and the last one is most probably leaving. Despite others and myself liking Aquilani, he clearly won't be staying or playing, so we desperately need to move those players on. That would free up near £20m and any fees we receive for each. Moving them on alone, could easily free up £40m in all!!
I think there is a serious chance that some of your top players will leave this summer if we don't get a top class manager in.
for the record... alonso was amazing day one... some guys are not but i think lucas will never be as good at what alonso can do ever.. thats no disrespect just a fact... compare lucas to mascherano and that pic is better. Now.... jaffa is right about wages cos we are getting 50% max paid on these loans so these guys have to go... period. the way jaffa put is is precisely how i feel.
