Liverpool 2014-15: Now Is Time On Merseyside When We Dance

[fletcherpost]

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/transfers/liverpool-transfer-news-brendan-rodgers-interested-in-chelsea-left-back-ryan-bertrand-9579318.html
 
Not exactly new news but Liverpool seem interested in Ryan Bertrand of Chelsea. I'm still trying to find any rumours regarding central defenders, cos like many i'd like to see Liverpool get a World Class central defender who can lead from the back. But they tend to be thin on the ground. 
 
Back to the old separated by a common language...what are you guys arguning about? I know it was about the value of Suarez, but it seems to have moved to something more nuanced and I'm lost.
 
FWIW If Liverpool get £75m (in cash and player, or just cash) for Suarez, i think it's a good deal. A great return on investment. It's not the best thing to compare to the Spurs/Bale sale and subsequent purchases cos there was mitigating circumstances, that being AVB didn't target all those signed players.

 

[JayMags71]

With all these new signings, I'm now worried that these players won't be familiar with each other. Especially if (when) they get rid of Suarez. I get that Sanchez would be a more than adequate replacement, but won't it take time for Sanchez and Sturridge to get used to each other?

 

[Morgan's Magic Snowplow]

Great points. Sanchez is a star and if extra money gets defensive help, Liverpool can become a better team.

 
Sanchez seems like a long shot for you guys at this point but you never know.
 
The history of teams selling and replacing big players is actually fairly encouraging in terms of maintaining their level.  Juventus sold Zidane and won Serie A the next year (although finishing with fewer points than the previous year when they were 2nd).  United sold Ronaldo and lost the league by only a single point the next year.  Spurs sold Bale and basically treaded water in terms of performance (fell from 5th to 6th). 
 
There aren't many examples of teams selling a massive player and actually getting meaningfully better the next season (although they might be better in the longer run).  Atletico last year might be the best example but Falcao wasn't on the Zidane/Ronaldo/Bale/Suarez level and they got better not by bringing in reinforcements (which they didn't really do) but simply because a huge number of their other players all made substantial leaps at the same time, which is a hard formula to repeat.
 
I guess what I'm saying is that I don't think the sky will fall if Liverpool sell Suarez but that the chances of them making another substantial leap forward, probably necessary to win the title or make the last stages of the Champions League, seem slim.  The more realistic goal might be to cement their place in the Top 4 and some deep runs in the domestic cups, paving the way for more serious title challenges as their young core ages into their primes.

 

[DLew On Roids]

Did someone mention center backs?
 
http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/liverpool-fc-offer-20m-lovren-7369316
 
Dejan Lovren seems to be spiking his relationship with Southampton in an effort to force a move to Liverpool.  In fact, both Lovren and Southampton seem to be following the playbook in the Suarez drama from last summer, though Lovren seems a bit more adamant than Suarez was (publicly, anyway).

 

[nolasoxfan]

Umm… can this be true?!!!
 
From ProSoccerTalk via Rotoworld:
 

The Luis Suarez to Barcelona rumor seems to be gaining more and more steam and the Uruguay striker could be headed to Barcelona within 48 hours.

There have been many rumors about a Suarez move ever since the bite accident in the World Cup and it seems the rumors are true. Various reports from England and Spain are reporting that a deal is imminent. The reported sum is $137 million, which would made Suarez the second most expensive player in history behind Gareth Bale. If the move happens, Alexis Sanchez could be headed the other way to Liverpool as part of the compensation for Suarez or in a completely separate deal. Sanchez would be a great fit at Liverpool and would immediately be a great fantasy option.
 
http://prosoccertalk.nbcsports.com/2014/07/04/report-luis-suarez-set-to-complete-137-million-move-to-barcelona/

 

[Zomp]

Yes, because thats dollars. We are talking in pounds.

 

[nolasoxfan]

Yes, because thats dollars. We are talking in pounds.

Right.  Silly mistake.  So @ £80m.

 

[soxfan121]

Very surprising. Almost a complete heel turn by Barca if true. They just need to seal with a steel chair to Xavi at this point.

 

[DLew On Roids]

Calling Vinho Tinto...Mariana Cabral of Expresso in Lisbon is tweeting that Lazar Markovic from Benfica to LFC for €25 million is a done deal.
 
Also, the BBC is reporting that a fee of up to £10 million for Divock Origi has been agreed with Lille.
 
They're definitely spending like the Suarez deal is a sure thing.

 

[Zomp]

Not sure I like the Origi move.  He didn't really impress me during this world cup.  I know thats a very small sample size but it feels like N'gog again.

 

[DLew On Roids]

I wasn't too impressed, either, but I think the pedigree is a little stronger than N'gog's.  Obviously, he's played for Belgium in a World Cup, while N'gog never was capped for France.  He's had twice as many Ligue 1 appearances as N'gog had by the time he was 19, and his strike rate, while not top class yet, at least suggests he can put the ball in the net on occasion (something N'gog never managed to do).  Interesting comparison, though.

 

[teddykgb]

Markovic really broke out this year but does Liverpool really need another attacker? Very strange to me, Markovic needs to play and Liverpool have bigger needs

 

[soxfan121]

Markovic really broke out this year but does Liverpool really need another attacker? Very strange to me, Markovic needs to play and Liverpool have bigger needs

 
They are going to win lots of 7-6 games, apparently. 
 
And lose a bunch of 5-4 and 4-3's.

 

[PedroSpecialK]

I'm hoping that Lovren comes to fruition, because it seems that they're selling Agger regardless.
 
What they really need in addition to a CB like Lovren is fullbacks. It looks like they'll keep Robinson and bring on Moreno for the left side. On the right though, Johnson/Kelly/Flanagan isn't enough quality for a CL team with title aspirations, it's as simple as that. Not liking the Micah Richards rumors much, but if Martin Montoya isn't an option they've got to find someone else.
 
At least they're getting transfer business done early in the summer this time around.

 

[DLew On Roids]

I read somewhere yesterday that Sevilla is looking to pick up Aspas for something in the £4 million range, so maybe that'll goose the Moreno talks.

Markovic:

 

[PedroSpecialK]

Markovic really broke out this year but does Liverpool really need another attacker? Very strange to me, Markovic needs to play and Liverpool have bigger needs

 
They've already loaned Alberto out to Málaga and Aspas is as good as gone (hopefully). With Suárez likely out of the picture, Liverpool have the following for the 2 striker and #10 roles.
 
Sturridge
Lambert
Borini
 
Coutinho
Lallana
Sterling
Marković
Assaidi
 
Origi is getting loaned back to Lille for the coming season. Lallana/Coutinho can drop deeper if needed. Maybe Assaidi gets loaned out again or sold.
 
My only concern is, in the 4-4-2 diamond, there's a ton of competition for the #10 role between Coutinho/Lallana/Sterling/Marković/Assaidi. Rodgers' fluidity in his attacking tactics makes it less of a worry, and competing across 3-4 fronts will certainly require that added depth. Maybe for some matches they go back to the 4-3-3 with one deep midfielder and two of Henderson/Coutinho/Lallana/Sterling pressing from midfield.
 
Regardless, it's great to finally have some depth instead of being forced to bring on Brad Smith down the wing or an out-of-favor Aspas in an important fixture.

 

[Vinho Tinto]

I don't think Markovic is the next James (He had a better 19 year old season at FCP) , but you can see the potential. His red card in Turin may have been the difference in SLB not winning the Europa League. I found a great writeup of his game on a LFC blog here
 
I thought the best and most important goal he scored all year was in the Lisbon derby
 
[media]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8wjR1Zxj14[/media]

 

[soxfan121]

I'm hoping that Lovren comes to fruition, because it seems that they're selling Agger regardless.
 
What they really need in addition to a CB like Lovren is fullbacks. It looks like they'll keep Robinson and bring on Moreno for the left side. On the right though, Johnson/Kelly/Flanagan isn't enough quality for a CL team with title aspirations, it's as simple as that. Not liking the Micah Richards rumors much, but if Martin Montoya isn't an option they've got to find someone else.
 
At least they're getting transfer business done early in the summer this time around.

 
Agger OUT, Lovren IN seems like swapping out a used deck chair for a shinier deck chair...the problem being, multiple deck chairs are needed. Still need at least one more quality depth option and frankly, Lovren - Skrtel isn't good enough for a team with those aspirations either. Acquiring someone like Benatia to pair with Lovren would push Skrtel down the depth chart to where he's better than "quality depth". 
 
So, like $50 more needs to be spent on defense. 

 

[JayMags71]

So, what's Sakho's role, then? He shouldn't be considered a starter on a club with European ambition?

 

[soxfan121]

So, what's Sakho's role, then? He shouldn't be considered a starter on a club with European ambition?

 
Forgot about him completely. 
 
Now all you guys gotta do is actually sign Lovren.

 

[swiftaw]

They also have Can as another midfielder
 
I wonder if they still plan on playing the 4-4-2 diamond whether they are thinking about moving Sterling into one of the two striker spots. 

 

[cjdmadcow]

Who can come up with the wittiest adjective to describe our new 3rd-kit?
 

 

[Zomp]

Its fucking awful.
 
 
I win!

 

[PedroSpecialK]

Shitticane

 

[mascho]

Are those the "Welcome to the Big Ten" jerseys the University of Maryland men's team is wearing this season?

IIRC, I made a similar joke about last season's third shirt.

 

[cjdmadcow]

Its fucking awful.
 
 
I win!

 
The apocalypse is coming, I agree with Zomp. And everyone else for that matter who considers it an abomination.

 

[Zomp]

Its weird because I've felt Warrior has done a great job with the home kits.  But their third kit work has been...less than stellar...

 

[URI]

PSK definitely beat you Zomp.

 

[nolasoxfan]

A Land Rover with tires dipped in red paint ran over a hitherto unknown species of grey zebra.

God awful. Fail.

 

[DLew On Roids]

And yet it's the best third kit since the bumblebee kits in 2010-11.  After that we have the pseudo-Everton kits in 11-12 (which I loudly and profanely disparaged to Coulter on Opening Day, who started laughing and thumbing behind us at a guy wearing one), the grape popsicle kits in 12-13, and of course the...I don't know WTF we'd call last year's third kits.  Jayzus.
 
This pattern is ridiculous, but with the dark colors I don't think it'll show up as awful on the pitch as it does in the pictures.

 

[URI]

Spilled printer toner?

 

[DLew On Roids]

It looks like a Flamengo kit is trying to break out of shirt jail.

 

[SoxFanInCali]

Warrior is improving.  They've gone from their normal nice home kit and ridiculous looking other 2 kits to 2 good kits and a terrible third kit.
 
Progress!

 

[SoxFanInCali]

Oh, and Emre Can has been issued the #23 shirt.
 
Last 2 guys to wear that number?  Jamie Carragher and Robbie Fowler.
 
No pressure, kid.

 

[DLew On Roids]

The irony being he probably speaks more comprehensible English than either of those two.

 

[MiracleOfO2704]

Shitticane

Shitpocalypse.

 

[swiftaw]

Who can come up with the wittiest adjective to describe our new 3rd-kit?
 

Still better than Man U's walking Chevy billboard. 

 

[soxfan121]

Still better than Man U's walking Chevy billboard. 

 
Yeah, Standard Chartered's walking billboard is much better.

 

[Zomp]

Still better than Man U's walking Chevy billboard. 

 
 

 

[swiftaw]

 
Yeah, Standard Chartered's walking billboard is much better.

I wasn't really commenting on the comparative merits of the sponsors or teams, simply that they seemed to have found a rather large chevy logo to use on the United shirt. 

 

[fletcherpost]

That picture is really cold Zomp, but it's fuckin hilarious.

 

[nolasoxfan]

Anyone here going to the Liverpool-AC Roma match @ Fenway?
 
http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/bos/ticketing/footballatfenway.jsp
 
Anyone go last year?  I see that redsox.com still has what seem to be decent bleacher seats (Section 39, Rows 28 - 30) available and was wondering what general impressions were regarding last year’s match?  Worth the price of admission?
 
DOPES:  maybe move this to its own thread?  Maybe...

 

[wibi]

I wasn't too impressed, either, but I think the pedigree is a little stronger than N'gog's.  Obviously, he's played for Belgium in a World Cup, while N'gog never was capped for France.  He's had twice as many Ligue 1 appearances as N'gog had by the time he was 19, and his strike rate, while not top class yet, at least suggests he can put the ball in the net on occasion (something N'gog never managed to do).  Interesting comparison, though.

 

Does capping mean anything to a club or is it just the fact that the country wanted the player to play in an international match what matters/

 

[JayMags71]

Agger OUT, Lovren IN seems like swapping out a used deck chair for a shinier deck chair...the problem being, multiple deck chairs are needed. Still need at least one more quality depth option and frankly, Lovren - Skrtel isn't good enough for a team with those aspirations either. Acquiring someone like Benatia to pair with Lovren would push Skrtel down the depth chart to where he's better than "quality depth". 
 
So, like $50 more needs to be spent on defense.

So, what's Sakho's role, then? He shouldn't be considered a starter on a club with European ambition?

Forgot about him completely. 
 
Now all you guys gotta do is actually sign Lovren.

Honest question: I know Sakho played a bunch for France, but is he really considered "quality"? This is the biggest reason I'm hating all this Suarez nonsense. AFAIC, the biggest priority is *completely* rebuilding the back line. This never-ending soap opera is sucking up an inordinate amount of time and energy. It's like a re-run of the A-Rod nonsense 10 years ago.

 

[soxfan121]

Honest question: I know Sakho played a bunch for France, but is he really considered "quality"? This is the biggest reason I'm hating all this Suarez nonsense. AFAIC, the biggest priority is *completely* rebuilding the back line. This never-ending soap opera is sucking up an inordinate amount of time and energy. It's like a re-run of the A-Rod nonsense 10 years ago.

 
I think the jury is still mostly out on Sakho; he has the potential to be quality and he has shown quality glimpses but he has not been consistent. Which is why I forget about him. 
 
And Benatia (like Agger and Sakho) is left-footed, which is really the only reason I suggested him when forgetting about Sakho.
 
EDIT: Or you could simply use the transitive property: Sakho plays for France, Koscielny doesn't, ergo Sakho has more quality than Koscielny. Except, aside from being great Gunner bait, the transitive property kinda sucks. 

 

[soxfaninyankeeland]

Koscielny doesn't play for France?

 

[soxfan121]

Koscielny doesn't play for France?

 
He's been either backing up Varane & Sakho, or rotating with Sakho, making him something less than Sakho based on the stupid transitive property thing I posted above.

 

[JayMags71]

https://twitter.com/messi10stats/status/486171628225568769

 

[fletcherpost]

Beeb saying he's packed up and pissed  off.
 
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/28180600
 
Liverpool have agreed to sell striker Luis Suarez to Barcelona in a five-year deal thought to be worth about £75m
 
"Luis is a very special talent and I thank him for the role he has played," said Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers.

 

[MiracleOfO2704]

It's official.