Cantrell20

Scouse missionary It's ironic and cynical, just like Harewood or Jeffers instead of Torres as they were on a free transfer. If we had absolutely no cash and Konchesky was on Bosman, I would stand him and get past it. But to splash 4 million we desperately need on someone who in 2-3 years will have no sale on value, just to enable our midtable contender to buy a desireable left back for half price we pay, is at least debatable:)

Apparently Konchesky is rested not to stand in the way of a transfer completed before the end of the week. Sources from twitter say the deal will be done for 4 million pounds. Nicolas Otamendi costs Porto around that with all the add-ons, Taiwo would be one million more. Not to mention, Konchesky "replacement", which is actually an upgrade, costs 2 million pounds. Second bad move this week, Roy.

There is no excuse. He costs at least twice what we payed for Zorba last year having no pot to pee in. I am not slating Roy, just criticise him. None is bigger than a club, should anyone be immune to critics? Roy has a luxury to pay 3-4 for million for a left-back, something we didn't have last year with Zorba. Why to waste it? It's just like getting Chucho Benitez and saying he's prolific. Can't think of any left back more annoying Liverpool fans than this one. Joey Barton instead of Aqua (we dream of a replacement) would be the same punch. And ironically, popular among supporters Salcido replaces Konchesky for twice less money we pay for him.

Sky Sports | Football | Premier League | News | Reds confirm Konchesky talks Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson has confirmed he has spoken to former club Fulham regarding a possible move for Paul Konchesky. Skysports.com revealed earlier on Wednesday that Liverpool had lined up a deal for Konchesky as Hodgson seeks to bring in a new left-back. Konchesky joined Fulham three years ago from West Ham United and was a regular during Hodgson's time at Craven Cottage. A reunion with his old boss could now be on the cards after Hodgson acknowledged he has discussed a potential swoop for the 29-year-old. However, the recently-appointed Reds boss is unsure whether the twice-capped England international will pitch up at Anfield. "We had discussions with Fulham about whether they were prepared to sell any of their players and I would be lying if I said Paul was not a name we considered," said Hodgson on his arrival in Trabzon for their Europa League play-off second leg tie. "Whether or not there is a chance of business is still very much up in the air." Laughing stock of the league appears to be on his way to Liverpool soon. We already filled the homegrown quota, don't need any more English deadwood. More, still have four free spots for foreigners. 3.5-4 million pounds for ageing journeyman is terrible. We sell promising, probably decent left-back aged 21 to fund a move for 29 year old with nothing in his locker. He scored 2 decent goals in his career, one against Liverpool and nothing more. Loaning Aquilani, armbanding Lucas and now getting Konchesky seriosuly worries me, not kidding. I understood Kyrgiakos last year, he proved to be a good squaddie, while we had no money, when none was available. Now the likes of Ziegler, Mancienne, Morel, Drenthe, Emanuelson, Taiwo and Salcido can sign for comparable money. Roy seems a good businessman. Poulsen and 5 million for Aquilani, Konchesky for double the fee Fulham pays for Salcido, who is a preferred option among the fans, while Konchesky just the opposite. Bramble and Boumsong had expiring deals, why haven't we moved for them before the left their clubs?

I regret we haven't signed a defender able to play in a sweeper or DM role, Kompany alike type player. Marquez was there to grab his signature, Marchena went for less than 1.5 million pounds, Chico Flores, second best centre back in La Liga according to Balague joined Genoa for 3.2 million euro - his buy-out clause. Mancienne and Caceres are still available. Still, I think we need 2 players to fill the void in the middle. Mascherano leaves, neither Lucas nor Spearing can orchestrate the midfield and put the foot in, something like Milner last year for Villa. Give up Joe Cole as the fixture in the hole. play him only at times. Move Gerrard forward. That's why we need box to box midfielder like Defour, Banega or Javi Martinez, apart from Mascherano replacement. To do so we need to sacrifice someone and it has to be Lucas. Poulsen and Mascherano replacement as DMs, Gerrard and new box to box in the middle with Gerrard or Cole in the hole. We need a big squad, last year proved how injuries can hit you. With Gerrard and Poulsen thirty and Cole 29 and injury-prone, we need to take responibility off Gerrard and put on Mascherano replacement and new box-to-box, unless you won't Lucas to play there, me not.

Mariga, Banega, Javi Martinez, Axel Witsel, Yoann Cabaye, Etienne Capoue, Ignacio Camacho, Steven Defour, Kwadwo Asamoah can occupy centre midfield, deep-lying playmaker or box-to-box midfielder position. Don't have to say they're all better than Lucas and only Cabaye is older than him. Hope that if one of them sings they'll also be specially treated and will always be young kids, who just need to add 5 goals and 5 assists per season, booing and teammates ignorance destroys them, at nearly 24 showed only 20% of their potential and 6 million pounds, 8.8 million euros paid for them is a bargain, even though Arsenal paid for Diaby, Song and Denilson exactly the same money:)

I'll be pleased with anything above 15 million pounds and Caceres included, bearing in mind we have no time and no cash to splash and in less than a week a transfer window slams shut. 20 million and Caceres loan with a view to a permanent deal would be more than acceptable. 20 million pounds would let us buy both Diarra and Ben Arda, who are valued at 13-15 and 7 million. And Caceres is a type of defender we really miss since Arbeloa departure: versatile, adaptable and receptive to tactics. Fucile, Otamendi (joining Porto for less than 4 million pounds, a steal!), Burdisso, Salcido, Onouha the others that spring to my mind. Caceres can play anywhere across the back four. Aged 20-21 he was among 4 best centre backs in La Liga playing for Recreativo I guess, he failed in Barca, but excelled in Juve as a right back, reminding of Panucci with much more physique and agression. Looked like a bit worse Sergio Ramos. And in South Africa he played left back, not worse than Fucile IMO. He is only 23, plenty of room for improvement and already a commanding, agressive defender, similar to Mascherano in his attitude. And has a lot of pace, something our defence misses. Could sell either Kyrgiakos or Insua then, rather the latter.

Goatboy Kyrgiakos, Maxi, Jova, Shelvey, Suso and Wilson with the net spend total of 5.5 pounds to start with, including further incentives up to 9. Can't you that narrow-minded, can you?

Build new midfield from scratch. Remember singing about the best midfield line a couple of years ago, with Xabi and Mascherano, accompanied by Sissoko before he left two and a half years ago. We build from scratch, world-class and second best duo with Gerrard vanished for good. Can't get many (30% of L'Pool supporters I gues approx.) fans claiming Mascherano presence is overrated and we can replace him with Lucas. Shelvey and Spearing from the bench with Poulsen surplus to requirements. I am sorry, but Sunderland has better midfield duo in Henderson and Cattermole than we in Poulsen and Lucas. Sell Mascherano and Lucas, potentiall 20-25 million pounds and buyt world-class duo for centre park. Lass Diarra and Banega preferably.

Lucas 1.Carra didn't pass to him, so he couldn't show the player he is. 2.Gerrard ignored him and he had to stay defensive, even though Leiva has a better shot and dribbling 3.He is a scapegoat, even if we don't notice him, he plays splendidly, that's his role - not to be too noticeable 4.He kept possession and invited others to play 5.Made things tick for Liverpool, if you don't notice it you're a blunt blidn Lucas hater 6.He is a young whizzkid learning his trade here, how can you jump on him? 7.Great attitude, great pro, unlike our lazy twat Babel.

Djabys on RAWK also confirmed the 4-4-2 line-up. Thommo reported 4-5-1 with Poulsen and Mascherano protecting back four yesterday, anyway new offer from Barcelona was the turning point of squad selection. So I trust Djabys, as he is never mistaken (reported about Aquilani possible departure to Old Lady one day before the rumours in the media), Thommo less credible I think. We will press high at the beginning, City are terrible in opening 30 minutes, no matter where they play (same as we last season, if there was any decent football, first goal had do come first). Gerrard has to be withdrown as our midfield lacks pace and dynamism without Mascherano. Expect counterattack and a lot of hoofballs, this time more effective having two strikers (N'Gog as target man as against Reading?) and terrible quickly fixed Citeh defence. If we score, Babel to play on the counter in the second half, Poulsen in the middle to defend and control more.

Pacheco and Aquilani are destined to play in the central role, Pacheco just like Kelly will perhaps start out wide to move in the center sooner or later. Jovanovic and Cole cover left side. On Babel I couldn't agree more. Unlike Lucas, he has undoubted skill, but lacks Kuyt or Mascherano attitude. I think he can flourish under Roy, because as I said earlier Riise and Finnan said he is the most gifted in the side. We've already seen some flashes, I would start him against Arsenal to boost his confidence. Still, his lifestyle is horrible. I follow him on Twitter and he is still awake at 2-3-4 a.m. at times during the week:) Maxi and Kuyt are similar, true, offer great cover for Johnson. But remember, that last year we had Maxi, Benayoun, Riera, Babel and Kuyt and still had problems who to play out wide against Citeh, Stoke, Chelsea.

I know we need one centre-back who can boss the game in the air and chip a goal or two, just like Sami. I think Soto is a nice squaddie, but as I shudder to say, we need another one. Kyrgiakos will probably leave next year, when Ayala, Kelly and Wilson will be able to step up, but for now we can't rely on two injury prone, although gifte, centre-backs and to raw old-fashioned having no pace good game readers. Escude, Fernando Meira, Steven Taylor, Wheater, Benalouane, Cris, Perea are the ones having one year on their deals who spring to my mind. Chico from Almeria, who went to Genoa with a buyout clause of 3 million pounds, Marquez and Marchena who joined Villarreal for 2 million euro were my favourires. For now, loanee Caceres, free agent Gallas, wantaway Garay and next year free agent Mexes are nice options.

Does the fact Gerrard and Torres started 14 games together implies we played different number than 14 players? I don't think so. It's not literal, but we played Benny and Babel on subs, Lucas, N'Gog, Dossena and El Zhar sometines, Hyypia only in the hour of need. Luckily, Aurelio, Alonso, Benayoun didn't suffer from injuries and although we played Skrtel against Boro on right back once, we excelled on the small squad, because there was no flood of injuries. I am very optimistic about next season and had a bet of 100 Polish Zloty (20 pounds, quite much in our country, 10% of average monthly income) that we will finish at least third. Once again, you misread what I meant. What I mean is we have perhaps the best or one of three best backbones in the league, but our problems lie in details. Height for set pieces, no second choice natural finisher, no pace on the back four apart from Johnson and too little pace on the wings. That's why I want to get rid of Zorba, maybe Insua, whom I both really appreciate and like, Lucas and all the dross and bring 4-5 quality players, most of them having one year on their deals, able to loan, free agents or available for sale. We don't need much investment in terms of money, but some little changes have to be made not to miss on the title like one year ago when we were second to none

Johnson is more injury prone than Arbeloa. Skrtel-Agger get as many injuries as they did in the past when we need them more than ever, as Carragher isn't any younger. Aurelio played 13 games last season, 24 in the great 2008-2009. Lucas is far worse than Mascherano, regardless what Lucasizm believers claim. Aqua plays less than Alonso, if not much less. Gerrard and Torres get more injuries than they did. Jova and Maxi are better than Pennant and Riera, Joe obviously has more quality than Benny Onion, pity we haven't kept him signing Cole as well, still we don't know how many games can he play. City and Arsenal are stronger, Chelsea equal, United are weaker in starting eleven but better than overall. If we sign 2 quality defenders and a PROPER replacement of Mascherano and sale Lucas bringing Capoue, Annan, Banega, Javi Martinez, Ignacio Camacho and buy a decent striker I am sure we will challenge fot the title. You misread what I meant. Several additions are needed because of Insua, Degen, Kyrgiakos, Mascherano, Lucas (I hope) departures. Otherwise only a striker and one more quality player would be a necessity. I agree with you, Rafa left us a great squad:)

LFD What's rubbish? As far as I remember Torres and Gerrard STARTED together 14 times that season, still Torres played more than last one. The problem is I've written nothing referring to Gerrard and Torres partnership and not only you cant' refer to all the post, but you can't read carefully late at night, after bevvy as me probably:)

And we played virtually the same 14 players week in week out for 18 months, which cost us last season, plagued by unbelieveable string of injuries. We play more games this year due to Europe League. We had the biggest amount of players in the World Cup and started season in July and face tougher league now. Gerrard and Carragher are 2 years older while the other yougner, great by the way, can't step up because of injuries (Johnson, Torres, Skrtel, Agger, Aquilani - all of them worth maybe 120 million pounds). And we are on the verge of losing part of our spine tracked by the best team of last decade and last season CL winners with 50% of L'Pool fans claiming we can replace him with Lucas, laughing stock of the league, who might be even a better player than Argentina captain.

I absolutely agree with the quality of their defence as I witnessed the game myself as my second favourite club Legia Warsaw faced Arsenal which was a part of Fabianski deal to lower the price tag, even though I find hard to imagine he is worth anything more than profits from one exhibition game (his successor is in Everton now, much better goalie). Gibbs has more lapses of concentration than one against ManU and Koscielny can't deal with a sixth choice central defender, who was loaned for last four years and got a hat-trick today:) Koscielny is much tougher than Vermaelen and less composed, he is French version of Bruno Alves. Both of them have pace, but lack communication and play quite high up the pitch, I think Babel could score against them, as he holds the line better than N'Gog.

I believe Babel will play up front more coming season, according to the likes of Riise or Finnan he was the most skillful on training ground. We played on the counter against Everton twice, Arsenal away, Blackburn away and we did that with not really quick N'Gog, while Babel has so much pace we can use against bigger boys in the league playing away from home. I think we need a pacy striker (can be Babel, if sell, bring Abel Hernandez for example) and a target man. Loic Remy combines both and can play on the wing, so he would be a good addition. I regret we haven't gone for Cavani. 13 million pounds with initial loan isn't that much. I've just read Martin Caceres is available on loan from Barca for the next season. He can play anywhere across the back four and is available at half price Barca paid for him 2 years ago (14 million pounds then).20 million pounds for Mascherano and Caceres would suit me. I think the only position which is well-equipped in our team seems to be media punta, trequartista role: Joe Cole, Gerrard, Aquilani, Pacheco, Shelvey, even Maxi can all play there. And I can imagine Kuyt sweating his blood there. Maxi is the only natural winger in our side, who is great in the build-up, but can't beat opponents. Jova and Babel are a blend of striker and winger, assuming one will play up front (Babel), we have Jova, Maxi, maybe Kuyt and Joe Cole if we play Aquilani and Gerrard together. Could be one more, as none of above is younger than 29. One more striker, one winger if possible, Mascherano and Lucas replacements, 2-3 defenders and we can challenge then.

I might be wrong, but think Wilson played no more than 14 in the domestic league and can't imagine around 30 in other competitions. I expect Ayala to be loaned out, but not the way we did with the likes of San Jose, Nemeth, Michaylov. He has to play in England and apparently he might be on his way to Leeds or Charlton, but would like him to play for the Baggies as last years we missed youngsters playing on loan in the top flight (Threlfall, Kelly, Eccleston, Simon), apart from Leto and San Jose, but that's abroad. That leaves us with Carra, Agger, Skrtel, Wilson and Kelly at the back four, with honourable mention for Zorba, who will be probably sold. Even if he stays, as much as I like him, I don't want want Zorba and Carra to partner each other that many times. Agger, our most skillful CB had his least injury ravaged season last term, still failed to play more than 23 games and that's including early exit against Citeh. Second best on the ball, very underrated IMO, Skrtel played only 38 games in last two years. I don't want us to count games down in belief Zorba can play against Wigan, as Agger and Skrtel are injured and that still having Mascherano as a right back! Let's face it - Carra is on his last legs, Agger and Skrtel are injury-prone, same as Kelly, who was injured for 3 of last 5 years. Wilson should be nurtured carefully and we face around 60 games to play this term if not more. So if we sell Insua to Genoa, even though according to RAWK he is dead cert to stay, we have Johnson, who is also injury-prone, extremely injury-prone Aurelio and versatile promising but injury-prone as well Kelly. So I think we should sell Kyrgiakos as well and sign a pacy centre-back and at least a versatile fullback like Salcido, Fucile, Caceres (can play anywhere), Rod Fanni, Onuoha. We need a new defensive midfielder and new deep-lying playmaker/box-to-box midfielder if we sell Lucas. And one attacking-minded player at least, favourably striker.

Rafinha had one year remaining on his contract, still they got him for substantial nearly seven million pounds. Srna, Bosingwa (to ease Benny), Eboue, Ujfalusi, ReveillerreAdam Matthews are other quality right backs with one year on their deal. Not to mention left backs, including Ziegler, Morel, Taiwo.

The Resonator Surely, Alex Song doesn't play as a typical defensive midfielder. If we play with two of Aquiliani/Gerrard/Cole, I think you' ll agree it's more attacking minded tahn Fabregas-Diaby, Lampard-Essien, Modric-Huddlestone. What's more, having Carra as a starter, bearing in mind Agger injury record and Skrtel having played no more than 40 league games for us in last two years, he may play week in wee k out, we have to sit a little deeper or have better DM than Lucas. Or we need no defensive lialibilities on fullback positions, but Johnson and Insua are second best assisting pair in the league on sides of defence and both spend plenty of time on the opposition half. On the paper, we have similar attacking-minded fullbacks as Arsenal, less pace in between centre backs and more offensive midfield, because Song lies deeper than Lucas and Gerrard/Aquilani can't defend and run like Diaby. They think they shipped in two many unnecessary goals, but we won't go even further, having slower centre backs and more offensive midfield duo (both). Madness.

The Resonator There is no team in the world playing without a defensive midfielder. Of course, there are many variations and options to include him in the side, it can be a destroyer, holding midfielder or a deep-lying playmaker. Barcelona played over 15 games last season with Busquets and Keita in the same starting line-up. Song and Diabt start for Arsenal week in, week out. Denilson can replace both of them. Manuel Pellegrini teams always have a destroyer and a holding midfielder in the same side, some times two DMs and a deep lying playmaker! You absolutely misunderstood what Lucas critics are pointing our here: we don't need 2 defensive midfielders, but one at least. And one holding midfielder, playing further up the pitch, Banega/Javi Martinez kind of player. We play with 3 midfielders now, so Joe Cole in the hole, Aqua and Gerrard as CM or ACM and we need to protecting able to protect, one being more attacking minded. One Mascherano-type, one Essien-type. 1.If we attack, we can play: Banega/Javi Martinez - holding midfielder Gerrard Joe cole/Aquilani 2.If we face tougher opposition: Mascherano type/ Diarra/Inler Gerrard Cole/Aquilani 3.If we defend: Mascherano type/Diarra/Inler Javi Martinez/ Banega Gerrard I think it's quite simple. We have Lucas, who clearly isn't a defensive midfielder. So we need a Mascherano replacement. But as you wish to play with more offensive midfield line, without a DM (I also think it's good for some games, as above), ask yourself a question if Lucas is good enough to be a starter. And think, if we play with Gerrard instead of Alonso, so it's more attacking-minded and have Johnson and sometimes Insua, who are useful offensively, but so-so defensively, can we afford not having a better player in the squad than Lucas to protect defence? I don't mean first squad, because at times DM isn't necessary (better player than Lucas is necessary, like Banega or Javi Martinez), but we HAVE to have destroyer in the side. Every side have, even Barcelona and Arsenal, more often than you might think

Wrongislander You're a Wronglucashater in this case, Denilson completes less tackles per game than Lucas, what's more his success rate is lower in this field. Anyway, I totally agree with you, how low can we fall in terms of centre midfield, coming from Sissoko/ Mascherano/Alonso to Lucas/Aquilani/Spearing. I regret Duran and his three cruciate ligament operations, he was far more talented than Lucas, I also think Plessis and Pepper, who left us for Derby I guess, weren't worse players. Same Spearing, who at least has some nice attribute about him - long range passing, while Lucas is just average at everything, apart from being strong-willed, uncompromising, hard-working, having great attitude and so on. So does Darby, Kyrgiakos, Stevie Irwin. I want Roy to get rid of both Mascherano and Lucas and try to accumulate 25-30 million for a destroyer protecting back four and a holding midfielder/box to box midfielder offering a bit of every aspect of the game, being half offensive, half defensive. I want to offload Lucas just because he isn't great at playing DM on his own. He lacks pace, agility and "why the fuck you're looking at me?" attitude - all in all, he has no big presence. Hi contract expires in two years and what's unbelieveable, in last three years none met our valuation or even money we paid for him when he was 20! No one really rates him apart from L'Pool fans and I think that's the last moment to make a profit on him as he is still quite young. Anyway, it's a shame Diaby, Song, Hamsik, Meireles, Lassana Diarra when transferred to Chelsea - all of them were bought for less money we paid for Lucas, while Javi Martinez cost Bilbao just the same money we paid for "the best young Brasilian around". What's more, Hamsik, Banega, Martinez, Busquets are all better or much better footballers than Lucas, they're not considered young players with potential, how Lucas is labelled. And last but not least, what I can't stand at all; Lucas supporters claim, that next season will be his, he hasn't shown his talent yet, he will be great in five years, he will captain Brasil in 4 years, who was Zidane at his age, he will be better than Zizou - how do you know that? We could say the same about anyone!!! We sold Sissoko, who was a bit younger than Lucas is now and he did not get as many excuses as Lucas thanks to tender age. But Sissoko was purchased by Juve, who paid more than we did to Valencia and he is a first team performer, when not injured, in one of Italian giants. While no one wants Lucas and can't offer more than 3 m so far. If Palermo imporve their bid to 5-7 m pounds according to different sources, we need to sell. 30 will let us buy one DM and one holding midfielder. We will be able to afford pairs like: Annan-Javi Martinez, Banega-Etienne Capoue, Inler-Moussa Sissoko, Ledesma-Melo, Mariga-Flamini, Lass Diarra-Boateng, Alou Diarra-Tiago, Mahamadou Diarra-Ignacio Camacho, Cattermole-M'Bia. All those pairs of DMs and HMs are better than Lucas and Mascherano. Have more physical presence and are better on the ball. And might not have future Brasil captain, but already a proven good player, something Lucas-Mascherano misses, unless Lucas gets injured:)

Aquilani was third quickest player in Roma set up that contained pacy defender in Mexes, swift Mancini and Perrotta (back then) or Cicinho and Esposito. Maxi has less pace than Aqua, we can bet on that, otherwise Maxi must have been in at least Atletico Top5 quickest players. And yes, Maxi doesn't have such a close control as Aqua has and the ball doesn't slide on the grass after Maxi pass as much as Aqua pass does:)