Liverpool Banter Archive December 28 2013

 

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28 Dec 2013 21:07:27
Realistic January Transfers.

Right Back - I think we can all agree that Glen Johnson is a weak link in the team. He is one of our most experienced players, but the effort from him has been minimal for a long time now. So, who do we replace him with? Kelly has barely played in 2 years and should be loaned out in January. Flanagan is a decent "understudy" and McLaughlin isn't ready. We need a wing back who is better than what we already have. Going by Rodgers' most successful signings (Coutinho & Sturridge) we may look for a young player who is out of favour at a big club. Martin Montoya (22) or Micah Richards (25) would be very good options to replace Johnson.

Left Back - Whilst Enrique has been out we have really missed his attacking threat down the left flank. Flanagan has done a good job in his absence, but he is a right back by trade and Cissokho is Rodgers' third choice who I expect to return to Valencia after his loan spell. Therefore, we should bring in Ryan Bertrand (24) from Chelsea. He would provide that attacking threat in the absence of Enrique and he would also add genuine competition for the left back position.

Attacking Midfield - What are we looking for in an attacking midfielder? The answer is simple. Goals and assists on a regular basis. Let's not forget we don't have £30m+ to spend on one player, so we can rule out the likes of Juan Mata. We should go for Ivan Rakitic (25). He already has 9 goals and 12 assists in all competitions this season and will be available at a reasonable price. Will he improve the squad? Yes.

Winger - Raheem Sterling has been excellent since being recalled to the first team, but Victor Moses has been very average. When Moses returns to Chelsea we will be short in the wide positions. Mohamed Salah (21) would be a great acquisition. We need to bring in a player who offers something different to the squad. Salah offers blistering pace and an end product. He has already proved that he has the quality to play at the top level and would certainly improve our attacking options.

Do you agree?

Red Rum

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Agree with most of it, however, at RB think they are both excellent choices but may struggle to get Montoya and Richards would probably be quite expensive to get and does get injured regularly. Would like to offer alternatives but don't know enough RBs sorry! But if we got either would be happy as long as Johnson went as well. Think Bertrand would be an excellent choice, decent LB who has played at a very high level, would be able to get for a reasonable fee and is the perfect age to gap enrique going to bringing a youngster through.
midfield bit unsure if we need an AM with suso coming back next year. Personally would like a more defensive minded midfielder of high quality. Which would allow is to put coutinho in the whole with saurez, sturridge, and sterling/whoever is bought in in jan. Would be a great attacking option at home. As for a winger would love either Salah or konoplyanka would be perfect. Decent record at a high level (Europe and international) score goals and have that blistering pace which defenders hate. Though Salah is apparently the more likely and we don't have an internet in konoplyanka

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My 2 pence,

Don't rate Richards at all. Don't know enought about Montoya to comment.
Been enjoying a bit of Bundesliga recently, quite a few quality RBs there that appear in a realistic bracket of player-

Any eds know if Seb Jung of E. Frankfurt is moving anytime soon and if any clubs have shown an interest in him?

This is shakily sourced and my attempt at internet scouting, but is Andreas Beck available on a free July 2014?

Cheers

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{Ed002's Note - Sebastian Jung has attracted the attention of Bayer Leverkusen. Beck is in the last year of his contract.}

While I think your transfer targets are realistic, I think the probability of us getting all four positions filled in January is very unrealistic.
Glen Johnson will stay, Aly Cissokho will stay which means we don't need to worry about full backs until the end of the season.

Liverpool still needs a striker to compete with Suarez and Sturridge because Aspas and Borini do not cut it.
We would rather change formations when the SAS is injured or suspended than start with one of those two.

Depending on where you think Jordan Henderson's best position is, attacking like Coutinho or holding like Gerrard, decides whether we go for Ivan Rakitic or Mohamed Salah.

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28 Dec 2013 23:00:51
Ivan Raktic has a Release clause of over 30 mill. Impossible.
Salah would come in which will push countinho into middle and Hendo as CM.
Sorry But Allen would drop down. Gary Medal would be a decent option in the middle.
Two Class Full backs in Summer.

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Beck on a free or for a low fee this January would be a pretty good deal in my opinion. I think he has to improve a fair bit to be considered a starter, but he would be a great squad player (apparently he plays LB as well, I've only seen him at RB though).

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Rakitic? Surely we just wait for Suso to come back? See little sense shelling out money for a position we already have a younger, equally talented player to fill.

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If we are to keep Johnson as is expected, then one of Richards, Montoya or Bertrand would be satisfactory. Montoya can play left or right full back and would be my preferred option.

I see Henderson as more of a CM who can get forward on occasion, but Rakitic is more like Lampard. He has the ability to come from deep and he likes to get into the box and chip in with the goals. He is also very good technically. He can pick a pass and is a very good set piece taker. Due to the financial troubles surrounding Sevilla, he should be available for a reasonable fee. Anything less than £20m would be a great piece of business.

Add Salah to those 2 and that would be a very good transfer window.

Red Rum

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29 Dec 2013 10:04:49
FGS. Ivan Ractic has a Release clause of 32 mill. He won't be moving.

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Bertrand can't get a game at Chelsea. Even when Cole gets dropped he's not playing. Jose is playing a RB at LB instead. That tells me everything I need to know about the lad to be honest.

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FGS Harry. Rakitic will not go for the value of his release clause. Sevilla are broke, so chances are they will not be able to turn down a realistic bid. In my opinion he is a realistic target at the right price, but reckon others will come in too high for us.

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{Ed002's Note - The long term interest in Rakitic is from Lazio where he was expected to move in the summer. Personally I do not see him moving in January but Chelsea, Manchester United, Lazio and perhaps Liverpool would be interested if he were availale at a sensible price.}

28 Dec 2013 20:27:00
It's strange but for the first time in a very long time I feel confident that our club can get a good result home or away. I'm looking forward to the game tomorrow knowing if we play like we have been we have every chance of 3 points.

Teams might just be starting to fear playing us once again :-)

Well done BR and the team.

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28 Dec 2013 20:26:46
I said the same thing before the Spurs game lads, we need three points from the Chelsea game.If we are to win the league or stay in the top four, we need to be beating the top four and iv'e no doubt we can beat Chelsea.Can see it being between the present top four and Man U who are climbing the table and looking increasingly strong.I truly believe we can beat any team in this league, we need to beat the best! Again, fingers, toes, b****cks the lot crossed!

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The way we are playing we can beat anyone. We were unlucky against City, and if we play like we did at the Etihad we will surely pick up 3 points at the bridge.

Aim for the win but settle for no less than a point.

Red Rum

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28 Dec 2013 19:18:44
Don't want to be critical and never judge on a couple of games but I think Sterling should go out on loan

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Wot! Bit early to be drunk surely?

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Why? He's been playing very well lately and him and Suarez are striking up an understanding, particulary in using Sterling's pace to great effect. Don't know what couple of games you've been watching.

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What the h**k are you on about? He's been one of our best players recently

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Why? He has just it some excellent form and going out on loan now would be a bad idea.

Atleast you got your name right eh?

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His name says it all!

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Sterling has been excellent. Have you watched us play recently?

Red Rum

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Sterlings development from last year has been phenomenal and his form since coming back into the squad exceptional, you're a clown lad.

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I met him today (and nearly all the squad) off my train into euston and he waw buzzing, all smiley and very happy to have a photo with me. He's stepped up to the plate these past few games and would've scored 2 goals at citeh but for rotten luck. Think the OP's name says it all about their post.

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28 Dec 2013 18:47:28
Hey guys, hope your all having a great Xmas.

Couple of debates to start. interesting to hear people's views.

1. When sturridge is fit where (if anywhere) do you fit him in given the form of Suarez up front by himself, the formation as it is is working well and sterling, coutinho, hendo in good form behind. Also, I would think you loose the best of sturridge in a role behind Suarez?

2. Transfer window coming up.which areas do you think we need to improve.obviously squad needs strengthening.I'm talking first team.if you take our best first 11 which players can we improve on?

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Sturridge's return will be interesting-

Suarez's dropping deep creates the space for Sterling/Coutinho and Henderson to run into. If Sturridge played, from what I have seen, he would occupy a much more traditional striker's position, negating the effect of Suarez's movement on the defensive line. Saying that, Suarez and Sturridge at the beginning of the season were pulling backlines all over the pitch with their movement.

I think Sturridge won't be used wide, so if he starts I guess Suarez would play a free role and Henderson asked to essentially cover a wing's defensive zone and play from midfield.

Sterling will be very hard to drop from the team if he keeps this level of performance up.


RE transfer window, personally I don't want to see more than 2 senior players. The positions I've seen people want strengthening are-

RB- Unlikely to get anyone better than Kelly/Flanagan for a reasonable price in Jan. Lot's of competition and Flanagan has been playing very well.

LB- Once Enrique returns I don't think it is responsible to bring in another LB unless we can terminate Cissokho's loan.

CM- Lot of people want a destructive, strong midfielder. I agree but can't give any names of who would be a practical choice.

Wing- If Salah signs I would consider this position strong.

ST- Prefer to see Aspas given a chance.


Cheers

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Think we need a quality all-rounder in mid-field, a player like Yaya or Ramires at Chelsea. A ball winning, ball playing, goal scoring master of all trades like the Stevie G or Frank Lampard of yesteryear, although i'm not sure there's a proven one available out there.We also need quality cover/competition for the left as I see Coutinho and Henderson as the 'men in the middle' and I don't particularly rate Moses, maybe BR plans to give Ibe a crack, it hasn't phased Sterling!Basically what we need is another Stevie G in front of Allen and Lucas and behind Coutinho or Henderson, a player that can play any of these positions with a bit of class and steel, either way we need more goals from mid-field!

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Well, it is probably going to be February by the time Sturridge is back, but I agree with ForzaRed, he will start up front with Suarez and Henderson will start wide, with Coutinho or Sterling and the other wing.

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Certainly interesting points!

For the record, I tend to think that it is sterling that may drop out of the current lineup and Allen may drop out when gerrard returns. Basically that would have Suarez, sturridge, coutinho and hendo as front 4 but flexible as to which position they take up.

As for players. I agree right back needs strengthened. I appear to be the only person who doesn't rate Johnson. Not good enough defensively and in my opinion slows the play down too much going forward. I think Kelly has the potential to be top top class but needs to get fit and a run of games. In my opinion a loan would benefit him greatly. I think Aspas should be given a chance and there are plenty of young lads coming through to look forward too. What would people make of us signing m'villa? Just saying! Watch this space

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I agree Andy that Sterling will be dropped for Sturridge, however I would like to see them both playing. It is good to see that players have stepped up having been given their chance to shine and Rodgers will be blessed with a nice little selection headache when we have a fully fit squad.

As for players coming in, Salah would be a very good attacking option, Rakitic will add goals and assists from midfield, Montoya or Micah Richards should come in to REPLACE Johnson and I would bring in Bertrand at left back.

Red Rum

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28 Dec 2013 18:43:14
I really don't want to get in to any of this as it will lead to hundreds of questions for which most people will not understand the answers.

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A little faith Eds :)

I shall continue to trawl the internet for any guidance.

Thank you for the great site all the same, I asked the question here because I knew I would either get the correct answer or none.

Cheers

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28 Dec 2013 18:35:53
Eds fellow reds, just read a funny article on paddy power .Liverpool are wobbley on the road especially in the capital .lost 4 out of 17 very wobbely, and the last trip to london finished 0-5 . Wish we were at ANFIELD then . Hopefully take at least a point tomorrow com on red men .

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28 Dec 2013 18:27:56
I know this might be to much but after the city game I really feel like we can beat any one

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Agreed :-)

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28 Dec 2013 18:12:56
was up guys
as I said last week. Liverpool work will be undone by the middle of january slipping down the table and the real contenders rising to the top, you were all laughing at Manchester United but by their next game they will jump above Liverpool.

no point being top at the start of december. guys

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I would hardly call it a 'slide down the table'. Considering that we have now played 7 out of he top 8 teams away from home, I would say that we are looking to be in a pretty good position for ourselves. If I were you I would keep any predictions to yourself until May.

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Yeah, and if we beat Chelsea then the gap is 5 points, utd will be lucky to manage a draw at spurs and we beat hull at home then it could be 7/8 points of a difference. Long way to go yet and a lot of ifs and buts.

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I can see us only improving when our injuries come back, and we had a real tough Christmas period and not doing too badly at that.
well done utd for beating Norwich, a team that we hammered

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You come to say told you so after you managed to scrape a 1 nil win over the mighty norwich if you did manage to go above us it wouldn't be for long a game or 2 as soon as you played any 1 in the top half you would come undone again where as were playing well deserve to be in top 4 and come end of season then come do the told you so to change it up a little no point with your told ypu so's in december lol

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Who does this guy support?! Mate we lost to man c however out played them and deserved atleast a point. We will see tomorrow whether what your saying is true. You funnily enough forgot to mention we only have united and Southampton to play away. So we shall see. You obviously see us as a threat if you repeatedly come on this page instead of your own

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Haha Manchester United have been laughable all season got lucky at hull an lucky again today not a hope in hell of a top 4 finish this yr you've played nobody of any note at home apart from Everton an they tonked you where as we've played all our tough away games apart from your lot an your not playing anywhere near good enough to beat us

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I'm assuming you're not a Liverpool supporter.

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The only slide that is happening to your team son.

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Win loose or draw, we will still be a above United come 6.30pm tomorrow.

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29 Dec 2013 10:02:14
i would love to know which team has the hardest 2nd half of the season I suspect utd have everytime I look they r playing mid table teams I know we have to go to them and away to southampton 2 hardest games I can think of but very winnable.

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28 Dec 2013 17:17:20
Its almost that time of the year again, where are you macca? we need some insight!

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28 Dec 2013 17:14:41
Just a quick question for Ed001 if he is about. I was wondering how Wisdom has been getting on while on loan? Do the club still have a long term plan for him, or will he likely be shipped due to the large stock of centre backs we have?

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{Ed001's Note - he is doing well, as are Derby since his arrival. Right now he is still seen as having a future at the club.}

28 Dec 2013 16:10:43
im sat here and can't help but think how nice it would be for city and utd to drop some sort of points today and hope everton and arsenal likewise tomorrow then it would make our chelsea game a hell of a lot more exiting. personaly any kind of points would suit me at chelsea also expecting a good display of football from us unless jm decides to try and snuff us out.
come on lads give it everything 2mo

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28 Dec 2013 16:23:34
I'm sittting here and can't help but think how nice it would be for City and Utd to drop some sort of points today and hope Everton and Arsenal do likewise tomorrow. It would make our Chelsea game a hell of a lot more exciting. Personally any kind of points would suit me at Chelsea. I am also expecting a good display of football from us unless J.M decides to try and snuff us out. Come on lads - give it everything tomorrow.
Trans

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28 Dec 2013 16:48:57
Wtf? ^^

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28 Dec 2013 15:16:27
Hi Eds,

I know that we will never get a B team into the football league like they do in Spain, but if we had our U21s playing in league 2 how well do you think they would do?

Regards

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{Ed001's Note - I think it is a terrible idea anyway, what is wrong with the league system as it stands? They would struggle, the B teams for Madrid and Barca are not U21 teams, they are proper stand alone teams that just happen to have access to the youth teams of Madrid or Barca. It is because of them that the rest of the teams in Spain struggle so badly that it is almost like Scotland. Not in terms of quality, but in terms of the lack of quality in any other team, due to them being unable to get any kind of real fan following as every fan is busy gloryseeking.}

Don't think the lad said it was a good idea, just how do you think they would do. Read the post! Ho ho ho.
Think we would struggle, kicked around the pitch

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{Ed001's Note - and I answered that as well, if you read my reply.....}

28 Dec 2013 14:27:01
I have reached the conclusion that there is not a defence in the PL that can properly defend set pieces. We are poor at defending set pieces as are all the rest of the division.
My question/thought is that maybe it's the quality of the set pieces that are so high and not the poor defending. Your thoughts will be appreciated.

P.S. We were robbed against city but loved to see how threatening we were and their fans whistling for the final whistle. YNWA

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We went robbed at all. We had more than enough chances to win the game, regardless of a poor decision here and there. We lost due to not taking our chances when they were offered up.

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28 Dec 2013 14:16:37
Hey ed01 mate, good to see you back! After the great display against City, do you think we can replicate it against Chelski? A totally different team in terms of style, do you think we will be able to break their stubborn defense? Personally, I am extremely worried about set pieces, Chelsea seem good at them and us - weak.
Also, any new info on recruits during the January window apart from Salah?
Cheers, hope you had a pleasant holiday!

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{Ed001's Note - I think it will be much more difficult to play like that against Chelsea, they are much more defensive than Citeh are. I do think we can score goals against anyone though. We just need to sort out the defence, for me it would be Toure alongside Sakho (sorry Dagger, I still love you but they are just more suited to the style of play we use), and just get rid of Skrtel.
I don't have anything new on recruits in January, it was a good working holiday, some great days out with my daughter and got a lot of things sorted workwise, but it was horrible being a bit out of touch with what was happening!}

Ed001 whayts your problem with skrtel? Our best center half this season who last year never ran his mouth to the media or anything while I read agger making comments (although I believe that the media may had edited it to make it look bad) but the way skrtel came back I think he deserves more credit would like to hear your opinion . Glad to hear all is well

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{Ed001's Note - for starters, Skrtel did make comments about moving and was interested in a move, which never went through. Whereas Agger has never said anything of the sort, in fact, even when Barcelona made their interest known he came out publicly to dismiss the suggestion of him leaving Liverpool.
Secondly, Skrtel is far from our best centre half, he is constantly out of position, leading to chances for the opposition and own goals. Added to his rashness in the challenge, plus his constant shirt pulling in the box, could have lead to a large number of penalties given against us. He is an accident waiting to happen and it is no coincidence that our defence has shipped goals since he got back in the side.
He is weak in the air, bullied by any strong defender he faces (even lower leagues ones such as that donkey Matt Smith that tormented him and Coates last season in the FA Cup), lacks pace which sees him constantly dropping deep when we are trying to hold a line so playing every attacker onside.
Simply put, Skrtel is not very good, but he makes a few last ditch tackles so people forget that if he was just in the right position there would have been no need to make any kind of challenge anyway.}

Well Rogers is putting faith into him and matt smith I did say since since he got back in the team well I ment to anyways and personally I would like to see agger beside kolo as they were keeping the clean sheets even though skrtel will probably need to give a peno away before he is dropped but all in all time will tell who'll make the grade as we have another very tough match tomorrow with JM grinding out results hope we take our chances this time

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I agree with the Ed 100% about Skrtle being an accident waiting to happen, especially with the media picking up on the shirt pulling and Brendans unwise comments on the referee after the City game.I would not be surprised if fat frank doesn't have a free shot from the spot tomorrow.We are shipping goals this season and the majority of them come from set pieces and considering Martins a big unit he spends most of the time tangling with an opponent rather than trying to deal with the ball in the air.Toure and Sakho would be the 2 for me also.If skrtle steps up with Sakho against city Negredo gets given offside, rather than running on to chip Mignolet.The way Brendan wants to play doesn't suit Skrtle.

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Couldn't agree with Ed01 more! When it comes to set pieces (especially corners) Skrtle is amateur at best! I just can't believe that Rodgers doesn't see this, and replace him with Toure immediately? It's incredibly frustrating! If we only had a more solid defence, we'd be running away with the league by now! :-)

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28 Dec 2013 14:08:14
By the looks of it, Xabi Alonso will not be returning to Liverpool, however, things are looking positive regarding Montoya of Barca. I think montoya could be a big part of our side in a couple of years.

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28 Dec 2013 13:27:54
I find it funny that JM says that as we are not in any other competitions we are in the top 4 and will be title contenders.

Considering that they have a side double the size of ours and filled up with expensive highly paid players he can't use that as an excuse IMO.

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28 Dec 2013 13:03:38
Has anyone read Carra's article in the mail on Rogers and the Reds. He thought this style of footie wouldn't work, says if he realised how good we would get he would have been playing for us now!

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Yeah you have to feel for him if we win the league poor guy haha

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He can do a Paul Scholes and sign in Jan

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If we didn't have 4 center halfs he probably would

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28 Dec 2013 11:33:12
End do you think that we will look to do our business as early as we can in January? Also if we want Hughes do you think he will be loaned back to Derby for remainder of season or is he expected to challenge for a starting slot in our first 11? Is he central holding type or more of an attacking mid in the number 10 slot?

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{Ed001's Note - clubs always try to do business as early as possible. He is likely to be loaned back, as that is the deal Derby are after. He is very much an attacking player.}

Thanks Ed. best for Derby that they have him for season suppose, although I would of thought we would push to have him straight away as our lack of depth in the attacking positions is slim.

Having said that I'm sure we have other targets in mind.

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28 Dec 2013 09:02:19
Having scouted Dundee's Ryan Gauld many times this season is there really any chance of us bidding £6mill that the club are asking for him?
Compared to Derby's Will Hugh's at £15mill seems like a cheaper alternative. We have to start looking for a replacement for Gerrard (He's not going to be here for ever) and either of these two look like they have the potential to fill his boots.
Which of the two (or maybe both/neither?) would supporters like to see us go for.
vrcomp
Y.N.W.A.

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{Ed002's Note - He certainly won't be moving to Liverpool in January.}

28 Dec 2013 03:14:17
Ramirez is out for Sunday, that's a pretty big plus for us!
I think we can really rip Chelsea apart, there mid is going to have to be mikel & lampard. if we stop hazard we'll have a great chance!

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28 Dec 2013 09:18:07
does this not mean he will play mata which is bad for us.i know mata wasnt getting on I hope it stays that way on sunday.

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It's good that Ramires is out, they do have plenty of options though! I'm not convinced we'll rip Chelsea apart. Even though they haven't been playing well of late, they are still getting results and have a very good squad.

I just hope we can keep up the energy levels shown against City on Boxing Day and most importantly of all, take our chances!

I see this as a tight game so we need to make sure we maximise all of our opportunities in front of goal!

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I like your enthusiasm, but Chelsea have very strong squad to compensate for such misses.

I will be happy with a point.

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To get a point at Chelski is a good result as I think they will be more attacking at home, but if they do park the bus as they tend to sometimes I think you have what it takes to unlock their defence and get 3 points from them

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If it's anything like the Arsenal/Chelsea game then me staying awake for 90 mins would be a good result!

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28 Dec 2013 00:20:24
Ed, if a club were to appoint a player-manager, i.e perhaps Bellamy at Cardiff, if they were sacked as the manager would they continue on as the player?
Cheers

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{Ed002's Note - I would doubt it.}

 
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