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Bunch of 5s: "Premier League players who would improve us"

    Each week the Reds continue to be linked with dozens of potential new signings from around the globe; Costa Rican goalkeepers, Spanish strikers, Brazilian playmakers and Italian full backs. TLW Editor Dave Usher takes a look at five players a little closer to home who could improve the current squad.

 

Adam Lallana 

 

If there’s one player in the Premier League I look at and think “now that’s a Brendan Rodgers player” it’s the Southampton skipper. He’s the most ‘un-English’ English player I’ve seen in a long time.

 

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The balance, grace of movement and general silkiness to his play make him more like Coutinho than Henderson, and his versatility would add to both Rodgers’ midfield and attacking options next season. I’d love to see Adam Lallana in a Liverpool shirt - even if he is an Evertonian - as I honestly believe Rodgers could turn him into an absolute superstar.

 


Luke Shaw

 

Unrealistic perhaps, but if you don't buy a ticket you can't win the lottery.  Good left backs don’t grow on trees and 18 year old ones who are good enough to hold down a place in any side in the Premier League are even more of a rare breed. 

 

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Shaw wouldn’t come cheap, if he’d come at all, but given that left back is an area that definitely needs addressing this summer Liverpool owe it to themselves to at least try for Shaw. If the price were £25m and Shaw were to make the left back spot his own for the next decade or more, that would be money well spent.

 

Unfortunately Chelsea are looking for a replacement for Ashley Cole and Shaw is a Chelsea fan, so they would appear to be in pole position, especially as Chelsea can offer more money and the London lifestyle.

 

Liverpool, however, can offer him a platform to showcase his talents in the country’s most entertaining, attacking side and he’d be teaming up with several other young Englishmen who could form the heart of the national side for many years to come, so for purely footballing reasons Anfield would be a perfect fit.

 


Fabian Delph 

 

Villa have struggled once again this year but despite that, Delph has quietly been enjoying an impressive season. It’s taken him a few years to finally start to show the undoubted potential he had as a teenager at Leeds and he is still far from being the finished product, but he looks a player now. 

 

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He’s technically good, quick, athletic and most of all he has boundless energy. Rodgers improves players - both technically and tactically - and Delph has the kind of raw natural attributes that could make him a great fit for the Reds. 

 

He was brilliant when Villa played at Anfield and he was the best player on the pitch when they beat Chelsea last weekend (scoring a superb winning goal in the process).  Whats more, he seems ideally suited to the way we’ve been playing in recent months.  There are still question marks about him and it's far from certain he's got what it takes to make the step up to a top club, but when you look at how Rodgers has helped the likes of Henderson, Sterling and Flanagan develop their game then who's to say he couldn't do that with Delph?

 

In the current squad we only really have Henderson and Allen who can play the energetic, box to box pressing role, they won’t be able to play every week next season so adding Delph to the rotation would give us further options. And if and when we play the midfield diamond we’ve seen of late, Delph would be a great fit for that left sided tucked in role that Allen has been deployed in.

 


Fabio Borini

 

He’s our player already, obviously, but his future appears to still be somewhat uncertain. The current squad is a striker short as Aspas has shown nothing to suggest he should be here beyond this season.

 

borini.jpg

 

The extra games we’ll face next year due to European commitments mean Suarez and Sturridge can’t play every game even if they avoid injury, so another forward is needed, preferably one who can also play wide if necessary. That’s why Borini was bought in the first place, but he struggled initially and found himself loaned to Sunderland.

 

He’s been a revelation on Wearside and is a hero to the Sunderland fans having scored numerous goals in important games. He’s looking like a good player now, his confidence is up and he’d be an asset to us. Besides, if we don’t bring Borini back we’d only have to go and buy someone, so why not just stick with the Italian?

 


Ashley Cole

 

Out of left field this, and it may not prove to be a popular suggestion, but if Shaw proves to be unattainable then free agent Cole could be a good option for a year or two. At 33 years of age clearly his best days are behind him and he's lost his place in the Chelsea side to an above average right back. For a player who not so long ago was widely regarded as the world's best left back, that's quite a fall from grace. Does that mean he's finished though?

 

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He still looked like he had plenty in the tank against Denmark recently and it was interesting to hear Roy Hodgson claim that Cole was one of the fittest players in the squad and graded out very favourably in the various running tests done amongst the squad. He’d add experience to a young squad, he’s won Premier League titles and a Champions League, and having been written off by Mourinho he may have a point to prove. He's the same age as Steven Gerrard, and the Reds skipper clearly still has some good years left in him so perhaps Cole does too?

 

I’m not saying I want to see Ashley Cole at Anfield next season, I still wake up in a cold sweat in the middle of the night thinking about the last Cole we signed on a Bosman from Chelsea; those kind of ghoulish memories don't fade in a hurry, but it is certainly worth looking into.

 

I don't like Ashley Cole, never have done. In a lot of ways he epitomises everything that is wrong about modern footballers. If I were making the decisions, I'd give him a wide berth but nevertheless a decent case can be made as to why we should look at him. The questions that need asking are 1) does he have enough left to be able to help us and 2) would he accept a reasonable salary in order to stay at the top level instead of chasing one last big pay day.

 

If the answer to both of those is yes, then he'd be a shrewd signing.

 

Dave Usher


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I'd have Andros Townsend here, runs around like a headless chicken for Spurs but i reckon Rodgers could sort that part of his game out. I'd also have Kyle Walker here at a reduced fee, even though he's had a terrible season with Spurs, because he's got real potential, it's just his positional awareness that costs him.

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Callum Chambers RB Southampton (keeping Clyne out of the side)

Luke Shaw LB Southampton (it's all been said already about him)

Stephen Caulker CH Cardiff (6'3, good in the air, and not scared of passing the ball)

Erik Lamela AM Spurs (wasted at Spurs and ready for a good Rodgering education)

Gerard Deulofeu AM Everton/ Barca (like Barkley, wasted at Everton)

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I like Chambers, looks very good.

 

Lukaku is quality but don't think he's what Rodgers would be looking for, and he wouldn't come here to sit on the bench watching two better strikers either.

 

I'm not having Townsend, I thought he was shit even when he was playing well.  Don't like his face either.

 

Agree on Walker, Rodgers could sort him out I reckon.  He'd be overpriced though even if Spurs decided to sell.

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I'd take Clyne, Shaw, and Schneiderlin or Wanyama from Soton, not going to elaborate for the 10th time on Lallana and why I don't want him (I mean for 8mil I'd take him, not worth 15-20mil), I want Borini back too, Delph is having a brilliant season but he's not better than Allen or Hendo (better than Lucas tho but I'd prefer a natual DM). I don't want A. Cole anywhere near Liverpool, Walker is as brainded as Enrique, rather have some new fullbacks from Bundesliga, better players, better value. 

 

I'd say Clyne, Shaw, Wanyama/Schneiderlin, Caulker, Lamela (spurs basically wasted a year of his development, great player, would flourish under Rodgers, fits our style too, would love a cheeky bid for him in the Summer if we can't get the likes of Shaqiri, Vela or Iturbe for RW/RF)

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Remy is one we really should look at. We might be able to loan him for the year first so he could be very cost effective.

 

I don't see the fuss with Caulker. He's a decent player but is he going to be better than Skrtel? I doubt it. If we are buying a CB he has to be better than what we have already.

 

Delph, Shaw and Lamela would be very good additions to the squad. Not sure who else I would take that would add depth and quality to the squad beyond what we already have.

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Just read some of the other replies. That Dual Fuel chap at the Bitters would be a good addition. They have the option of a second season on loan I recall.

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I really like Lallana, but he's basically another Henderson/Allen and I fear he might even exceed the £15M (?) we paid for Allen. Not sure he's worth that.

 

Boss little player though.

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Ben Arfa is a rough diamond that needs polishing by a quality manager. He's terrifying when on form, and I think we could pick him up for a very modest fee.

 

I almost put Remy in my list, and Goiffran, he's been quietly effective playing behind a striker or out wide.

 

I'd also be interested in Gnabry! because think we can offer him more first team minutes than Arsenal can, and also develop him better.

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Ben Arfa is a rough diamond that needs polishing by a quality manager. He's terrifying when on form, and I think we could pick him up for a very modest fee.

 

I almost put Remy in my list, and Goiffran, he's been quietly effective playing behind a striker or out wide.

 

I'd also be interested in Gnabry! because think we can offer him more first team minutes than Arsenal can, and also develop him better.

Remy would be a good shout as he's not a lazy fat fuck like Ben Arfa

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Shaw- love Enrique but we need a natural left back for when he is out

Koscielny- like all of our centre backs but he'd add us the little bit of extra quality

Schneiderlin-what we're lacking in midfield

Lamela- quality player mismanaged by the Spurs mongs, if we signed him it'd be like when we rescued Mascherano from West Ham

Remy- he aint no Suarez or Sturridge but he'd be as good a competition as your going to get

 

all would fit in with our style and make us a complete beast

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I know Chelsea might not want to do a Sturridge again but if Lukaku is for sale, I think we should be in for him

 

This annoys me because i keep seeing it and us Liverpool fans really should know that a player like Lukaku is about as far from a Rodgers type player as can be.

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Shaw (as all have agreed on) as he's right in the mix to be one of the best in the league already and still a teenager.

Bony from Swansea would be someone i'd consider for the squad striker, always looks a threat in the games i've watched (though not a great many i'll admit) and has a cracking strike on him.

I like Lallana, but feel Will Hughes (outside the Premier League though) is a similar play with 6/7 years on him and maybe more potential with a likely reduced fee. He would obviously need more time to develop but i'd expect a better return long-term.

I'm finding it hard to choose a 4th and 5th.

Barkley would be fantastic too, though completely unrealistic.

I'd have to go with Vertonghen as one, though not without his weaknesses he's one of the best in the league at a good age and in a position we could do with a settled partner to hopefully go alongside Sakho.

And I could accept Delph as the final one (Barkley wasn't realistic) but mostly due to a snippet here and there and others confidence in him. He seems very Henderson-like but maybe further on than when Rodgers started to improve him.

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Shaw would be good.

Lallana a decent squad option.

Pretty much every other player suggested in this thread is a big pile of shit.  You're down to Ashley Cole on a free and getting Borini back in the best 5 players in the league?  Time to go shopping well away from the premier league.

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1)Shaw would be my number 1 priority this summer, if a deal is not already done with Chelsea we need to start whispering sweet nothings. I would speculate that anyone who comes through Southampton's academy would appreciate Brendan Rodgers and the work he does developing young players.The last left back that left Southampton for Chelsea had his bird infected with aids  and his career shot to bits (where is the cunt, did I miss his funeral?).

 

2)Barkley would next on my list. In my opinion every blue deep down in their soul wishes they where red. 

 

3) Rodgers could work wonders with Rodwell. Cheap option with great potential.

 

4) Ashley Cole is a suggestion I'd agree with. I'm no fan of Enrique, quite happy to have him as back but not first choice. Flanno looks ace but its early days, a signing like Shaw could finish him while a temporary signing like Cole could help him develop, with a CL run we will have plenty of games for both.

 

5) With out doubt we will need another body in the middle. Gareth Barry would be a bit left field but worth considering. Like Cole there will be enough games for everyone and neither are the future but equally neither will let you down if played 20 or so times a season.

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Ravel Morrison.

 

A talented nut-job who would stretch Brendon’s man management skills to the outer limits and then some.

 

A Mancunian from a dysfunctional family, described by Dementio as having more natural ability as a teenager than Ryan Giggs, the midfielder is currently on loan at QPR following his transfer from the Mancs to West Ham.

 

Morrison’s early season goal against Spurs and his mazy run and cross for a tap-in at Fulham are both goal of the season contenders. Fast, skilful, energetic, young and bought by Big Fat Sam for a modest fee, he fits our club’s money ball criteria.

 

He is an attractive prospect for many clubs but his character is disturbing, to put it mildly.

 

When at MU Morrison pleaded guilty to witness intimidation after his girlfriend refused to give evidence against him following a tiff, and was heavily fined after posting homophobic abuse on Twitter.

 

The MU squad was disgusted when one member, said to be Fannylips, had an eye catching pair of brand new boots nicked from his kit bag.  The following day Morrison returned the missing boots and explained he only “borrowed” them.

 

Given how BR has dealt with the darker sides of Saurez and Sterling and the alleged arrogance of Sturrage, converting Morrison to the path of the righteous is a worthy challenge well within his capabilities.  If he succeeded we would have a top class talent on our books. If he fails, we can dump him and recoup the modest transfer fee West Ham are asking.

 

A risk worth taking in my view.

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Ravel Morrison although obviously a talented footballer, is destined for the Championship permanently. Ferguson got rid, Allerdyce got rid and Harry will probably get rid as well at some point. Thats a man that coached Cantona, a man that coaches Andy Carroll (amidst rumours of drug fuelled orgy's) and a man that coached Paulo Di Canio, all unable to curb this guy's behaviour.

 

Why would a team like West Ham get rid of a precocious talent like him, unless something was wrong? it doesn't make any sense to ship out your most talented young player for nothing to QPR when your only 7 points from the bottom, with about 10 games left.

 

It's pictures like this, that don't help his cause.

 

Bhd_SFRIUAAyDVh.jpg

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