07 Aug 2017 18:51:12
Ed002's Note - Would you be a little happier if Andre Gomes was part of the deal Macca? }

Hi Ed002,

To be honest don't know enough about him, what do you see happening, as in if he goes who will come in?

Cheers

Macca.

{Ed002's Note - He is one of a number of players who are available to be included in transfers by Barcelona, he has specifically been offered to Liverpool in an attempt to put a framework around the offer they will return with in the coming days. Additionally his agent has been in London with Chelsea over another matter and may well inform Manchester United as to his availability. So it is possible that the offer may include him.}


1.) 07 Aug 2017
07 Aug 2017 19:38:01
I'd heard that his agent had been talking to Mourinho.


2.) 07 Aug 2017
07 Aug 2017 19:47:47
I'm guessing Rafinha would be another option?


3.) 07 Aug 2017
07 Aug 2017 20:00:03
Ed I take it Gomes would of been sounded out to see if he would fancy a move to us before being offered, and we would of course need to agree personal terms with him?

{Ed002's Note - At some point he would have to be.}


4.) 07 Aug 2017
07 Aug 2017 20:16:59
Here's my take on him. Its no surprise that Barcelona went for him. He and coutinho are very similar.
He has great ball control and dribbling skills and seems to be a step ahead of play when on form. He has a great eye for a pass and seems to be able to pick his spot. During his time at Valencia he chipped in with goals but through playing a sloightly different role for Barcelona didn't get quite as many shooting chances.
The bad.
Doesnt have Phil's shooting distance or power so don't expect goals from nothing. There's also the huge question mark about if he can adapt to the quicker and more physical prem league. The few times he's been up against physical teams he shies away though it's hard to judge as there's not enough examples.
His stamina is a tad low especially for our high tempo high pressing style so we might find he fades at the 65-75 min mark. The second big question mark is whether or not he settles, he's not settled very well at Barcelona and largely doesn't feel part of the group.

I'll let y'all decide whether or not youd like him based on my basic scouting report gathered from watching games and from my coaching staff friends at some Spanish clubs (not barca)


5.) 07 Aug 2017
07 Aug 2017 20:26:36
Rafinha is very mediocre. Not worth what they're asking for him and a substantial down grade in Coutinho.


6.) 07 Aug 2017
07 Aug 2017 20:47:53
Lots of negative points there nevada 😲

Think we should just take th cash and see who is available or can take us to another level.

It doesn't have to be like for like replacement.

Anyone would be downgrade from couts better to look for a player who would have a massive impact on our season 😊😊👍👊.


7.) 07 Aug 2017
07 Aug 2017 21:05:36
It's far too late in the transfer window to sell Coutinho! Especially Lallana being out for several months. There is no back up. If he goes we will struggling with the amount of games we have. Even with Gomez in exchange or Ox coming in, they both need time to settle. We can't let him go this window, January perhaps or next season!
Owners need to do what's best for the team, now the finances are stable!
After a great pre season, this would be a killer blow to the team!


8.) 07 Aug 2017
07 Aug 2017 21:10:22
I'm not sure I'd agree there kopite7 I gave many good points. As far as creative passing and dribbling go gomes has a similar level of talent to Phil. Sacriledge I know but it's pretty true. I coach friend of mine at atletico said when they scouted him previously they ear marked him as having the same potential as David Silva (though obviously not the same skillset)


9.) 07 Aug 2017
07 Aug 2017 21:19:31
Let's also not forget when Phil came to us we got an inconsistent yet very talented and humble individual willing to adapt to the team and put the time in to learn the league and style. He was not the semi finished article he is today just like gomes wouldn't be. Phil also came to us as a player who struggled in a weaker league (like gomes though arguably gomes is further than Phil was as his work at Valencia was outstanding) people were skeptical when we were rumoured with Phil and after we signed him for quite a while (not me I was sold on him based on what friends at inter had told me) there's quite a few parallels that can drawn.


10.) 07 Aug 2017
07 Aug 2017 21:18:23
Eds are they Dennis Suarez available.

{Ed002's Note - Potentially.}


11.) 07 Aug 2017
07 Aug 2017 21:44:31
What about giving young Ryan Kent a shot? He's looked like an absolute weapon in pre-season? Don't like talking business as such but if we paid £8.5mil for Pip and we sell on for £100mil then that's not bad business and Kent is looking the business if he was given a run in the team with the fans getting behind him instead of our usual demand of thirty goals a season or you can beat it?


12.) 07 Aug 2017
07 Aug 2017 21:45:13
Would we really need to replace couts? Personally I think Firminho can step in as that is really his position in the first place. I believe should he be sold the money would be better invested in quality in other areas of the squad GK CF and Defence. Not sure if many would agree.


13.) 07 Aug 2017
07 Aug 2017 22:34:12
We play better with Coutinho in the team.

We lack ideas when we doesn't play.

Firmino (the one you say can replace him) looks half the player when Coutinho doesn't play. Nobody else seems to be at the same speed mentally on the pitch.

If we sell Coutinho and he is not replaced with a similarly effective player then we will regress next year and be back out of the champions league as quickly as that.

This is a year to solidify and build our standing in Europe with a good season in the league and champions league. Not a year to sell your best player and get Firmino or (as one persona suggested) Ryan Kent for gods sake to try and fill in for a world class talent.

I'm not being negative, as nothing has happened yet but anyone under the illusion that we will challenge for the league or even finish top 4 by selling Coutinho and not effectively replacing what we brings to the team in CREATIVITY and link up play with our team is frankly deluded.


14.) 07 Aug 2017
07 Aug 2017 23:49:40
Andre Gomes has no guile to his play. He is not quick enough with his feet nor with his thought. I saw him a few times when he was with Valencia where he was given more freedom to attack, but at LFC he will also need to do his defensive side, and this is another area where he is just really poor.


15.) 08 Aug 2017
08 Aug 2017 01:37:01
If vvd comes and gomes as part of coutinio deal I still feel we need some more quality in cm role. But truth be told, with resurgence of moreno and Milner playing in midfield again, vvd and gomes in, coutinio out would be ok. Not the end of the world by any means.

We may be losing a little creativity but bolstered defence should even it out, results wise.


16.) 08 Aug 2017
08 Aug 2017 03:02:13
With all of this around Coutinho, can't really knock us if we slid a cheeky bid in for Sanchez, got a few years on Coutinho but he's still a quality player and clearly unsettled at Arsenal and he can play in a multitude of positions which seems to be Klopp's preference.


17.) 08 Aug 2017
08 Aug 2017 08:30:48
Why don't we try to get Turan or Rakitic included in the deal (provided they're willing to come of course)?


18.) 08 Aug 2017
08 Aug 2017 09:14:30
I agree with scruffy. What about Rakitic? I'd rather take him (although he is 29) and not have that mad 'end of window scramble' to buy anyone at any price to replace Phil, presuming that he goes. Rakitic is direct, has got the skills and has played at the highest level.

{Ed001's Note - and has been on a downhill slope for the last 2 seasons.}


19.) 08 Aug 2017
08 Aug 2017 09:45:50
Fair enough Ed001.
Don't you think it's quite ironic that we spend all summer chasing a player, throwing money at the club and continually getting told 'he's not for sale' to then be placed in that position ourselves? Hopefully Liverpool have learnt a thing or two in this window about the value of a player to a team, compared to the value of money.

{Ed001's Note - it is the way of the world.}


20.) 08 Aug 2017
08 Aug 2017 17:20:53
I respectfully disagree @theRealAG one of gomes best qualities is his quick thinking and reading of the game. More often than not he appears to play 5 or 6 seconds ahead of his opposition. Good players can do this.
For me the question marks are against his mentality and his stamina.