Hodgson in talks to retain stars

[lucozade]

Source

 

(UKPA)

 

New Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson admits the club are having to work hard to persuade some of their disenchanted stars to stay this season.

 

There has been fevered speculation about the futures of striker Fernando Torres, captain Steven Gerrard and midfielder Javier Mascherano since the Reds finished a disappointing campaign under Rafael Benitez.

 

"We are working very hard on making certain the players we have at the club who you would call the 'good players' are going to be with us for next season," said the Englishman.

 

"The board are working very hard in that area. Some players are a bit disenchanted after what happened last season and we want to make sure we get that enchantment back."

 

Hodgson has spoken to Gerrard but he is yet to meet Torres or Mascherano, who are still on leave after the World Cup.

 

Speculation continues to grow about an impending Chelsea bid for Torres while Mascherano has been linked with a reunion with Benitez at Inter Milan or a move to Barcelona, who were interested in him 12 months ago, and his agent is actively talking up the prospect of a transfer again.

 

As well as the reported exodus from Anfield, a host of names have been linked with moves to Merseyside as Hodgson looks to strengthen a squad which under-performed in the previous campaign.

 

The 62-year-old has made no secret of the fact he wants to bring in fresh faces but he dismissed the lengthening list of players which are being linked with the Reds.

 

"We are looking to add to and improve the squad, but I prefer not to talk or say what we are doing until we have something concrete to announce," he added.

 

"We are being linked with players left, right and centre and it amuses me that we are sometimes linked with players we haven't even heard of."

[Irishlad]

Well I'm sure he's heard of Beattie and Schnarer.

 

Honestly though, found that a good read this morning. Happy with the stuff about not believing the media.

[lucozade]

I probably should have put this in the transfer thread actually... not sure if it deserved a thread or not.

 

Anyway on the story itself. I'm not sure that we should be making the 'good players' distinction but clearly he's just talking colloquially.

 

Hopefully the disenchanted players are going to be enchanted by the additions and improvements to the squad. Time will as always tell.

[shaunstrudwick]

"The board are working very hard in that area. Some players are a bit disenchanted after what happened last season and we want to make sure we get that enchantment back."

 

the only way you'll do that mate is by confirming a sale will be done before the end of the year

[Guest TK-421]

"We are working very hard on making certain the players we have at the club who you would call the 'good players' are going to be with us for next season..."

 

Ominous.

[Barnesey]

SG was pissed off with Michael leaving without giving Rafa a chance. With Madrid just signing Khedeira think he will stay. Torres will give us another season at least and I'm not too bothered about Masch, tbh

[lucozade]

A further quote from Roy that ESPN had but the Press Association didn't:

 

"I have great faith in the Liverpool public that they will see through the snippets of information they may read, take it with a pinch of salt and wait for an official announcement."

 

Er,,, I don't have as much faith as Roy does.

[Hermes]

The talks need to be short, end of July maximium.

[esoteric]

I'd like to think it goes something like this:

 

RH Do you want to play for Liverpool?

Player Well erm....

RH Goodbye!

[esoteric]

Does anyone believe Albert Riera is someone Roy should be talking to?

[Carra_is_legend]

Does anyone believe Albert Riera is someone Roy should be talking to?

 

No. Roy said he will be talking to the "good players"

[stringvest]

"We are working very hard on making certain the players we have at the club who you would call the 'good players' are going to be with us for next season..."

 

Ominous.

 

At least it won't take too long.

[esoteric]

No. Roy said he will be talking to the "good players"

 

Good point.

[TheResonator]

Hodgson on Torres talks - Liverpool FC

 

Roy Hodgson today declared Fernando Torres is not for sale at any price after positive talks with the striker.

 

The new Liverpool boss met briefly with Torres before flying out to Switzerland to lead a pre-season training camp.

 

And today he has warned off potential suitors for the World Cup winner.

 

"I have met with Fernando. I found him to be a very pleasant man and we had a nice conversation," Hodgson told reporters in Bad Ragaz.

 

"As far as we are concerned he is a Liverpool player and we want him to remain a Liverpool player. He is not for sale and we don't welcome any offers for him.

 

"We want to keep him. My conversation with him was only short because I had to leave to come to the training camp in Switzerland. We spoke about football, the World Cup, his injury, and I told him how much I am looking forward to working with him.

 

"Christian Purslow was also at the meeting and chatted to Fernando for a lot longer after I left but my chat with him was only about football matters."

 

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Something's fishy with that closing statement.

[YNWA12]

I think Gerrard an Torres will stay now. It doesn't matter if they want to or not.

[danperkins]

Does anyone believe Albert Riera is someone Roy should be talking to?

Yup the conversation should go something like this:

 

RH: Albert can i talk you for a sec?

AR: Sure boss whats up?

RH: Your shite, Fuck Off!

[Red Lad]

I don't like how that snake was talking to him "for a lot longer" after Roy left. Fuck knows what he was saying to him but i'll be surprised if it was to the clubs benefit.

[Bogman]

Nando will be talking to him about where the club's heading.

 

If not, we're screwed.

[Gary Mac Legend]

"Christian Purslow was also at the meeting and chatted to Fernando for a lot longer after I left but my chat with him was only about football matters."

 

Love to see RAWK's reaction to that quote

[danperkins]

Love to see RAWK's reaction to that quote

:D

[jackofdk]

I don't like how that snake was talking to him "for a lot longer" after Roy left. Fuck knows what he was saying to him but i'll be surprised if it was to the clubs benefit.

 

It's pretty obvious to me. Torres wants to stay but he also want reassurances about the level of investment in the team going forward. Roy can't really give that.

[PaulMcC]

And Purslow won't give assurances that we'll sign 4 top class players, like Torres said he wants us to.

[waddy78]

But he has repeated that he has made it clear to Gerrard that he will not be sold at any price.

 

"I have met with Steven and thought the talks were positive," Hodgson added.

 

"We are in a situation where we hear our players are being courted by other teams but it is all just rumours.

 

"What we haven't had is a club wanting to buy Steven Gerrard. Steven Gerrard is not for sale - I made that clear to him.

 

"I told him I supported the club's policy that we don't want to sell our best players and have to start building again.

 

"We want to build our team around these players. He understands that position but clubs can get into players' ears and make promises. It destabilises the club and the players and we can't do anything about it."

 

just seen this on ssn Roy speaking about his chat with Stevie sounds like he made it clear to him he's staying the bottom bit sounds a bit worrying about clubs getting at players,makes you wonder how close Gerrard was to actually going?sounds abit like tapping up as well

[jackofdk]

And Purslow won't give assurances that we'll sign 4 top class players, like Torres said he wants us to.

 

There are two potential positive outcomes: He could balls out lie, or we could be close to getting new owners in and he could say that.

[sh#t waffle]

Maybe it's just his understated manner, but Roy isn't exactly being reassuringly unequivocal today.