Liverpool FC

[TheChipPrince]

What incentive does Blackpool have to sell him?

Also whatabout Adam kissing the badge when he scored the other day and the day after that he hands in a transfer request? WTF?

Blackpool of course have no incentive to sell him, but when a player wnats to leave clubs are virtually powerless now.

re: Kissing the badge, I think players can still genuinely love the club they're leaving, albeit rarely (EG Eddie Howe), but kissing the badge is probs a heat of the moment reaction playing for a club he does really like, just v hard to turn down a move to a 'big' club.  having failed at Rangers he has a big point to prove at a big club, big fish/small pond<small fish/big pond etc

[kinboshi]

What incentive does Blackpool have to sell him?

Also whatabout Adam kissing the badge when he scored the other day and the day after that he hands in a transfer request? WTF?

Blackpool of course have no incentive to sell him, but when a player wnats to leave clubs are virtually powerless now.

re: Kissing the badge, I think players can still genuinely love the club they're leaving, albeit rarely (EG Eddie Howe), but kissing the badge is probs a heat of the moment reaction playing for a club he does really like, just v hard to turn down a move to a 'big' club.  having failed at Rangers he has a big point to prove at a big club, big fish/small pond<small fish/big pond etc

Club loyalty is very rare.  For many it appears to be a job and they realise that in their (relatively) short career they aren't going to get too many opportunities to play at the so-called 'Big clubs'.  This isn't a go at the players, it's just a pragmatic observation.  I think the fans wish that there was as much loyalty to their club from the players as their is from them.  But most of us would jump at the chance of a 'dream job' - especially if it paid a hell of a lot more and there was a lovely 'Golden Hello' as we joined them.

As a Liverpool fan, I'm happy to get him - as a Blackpool fan I'd be royally cheesed-off.  We're not in desperate need for him at Liverpool (I might be wrong and he might play every game), whereas at Blackpool he might be key to their survival.  I don't see why a deal couldn't be done for him to join in the summer - although I guess things can change, he could get injured, etc.

[MANTIS01]

So Roy inherits a crap squad, and that's why they lost so many games including against Wolves a few weeks back.

The team were terrible, performance abject and disinterested. Not Roy's fault though.

Fast-forward to today, and the same players are on the pitch. Kenny has inherited a crap squad apparently. Funny though, they looked very interested today and the performance was good to see.

But please remember, it wasn't Roy's fault the team were so bad before. Obviously something else must have changed...

One swallow does not a summer make.

I agree, it might just be an anomaly. We'll know more after a few more games.

BUT, with the emphasis on the players to just go out and play and to do their jobs well I expect to see the team continue to improve.

Cases in point - Pepe's distribution. Was sublime yesterday. Also, the 'pass and move' ethic that Kenny wants them to play was also evident, highlighted by the last goal.

Of course, Wolves were poor, and you'd expect Liverpool to beat them. But before yesterday how many expected Liverpool to win?

Before yesterday how many expected Liverpool to win? In answer to that question I would ask why expectations were so low? If Hodgson was the root cause of Liverpool's woes why wouldn't expectations be much higher before yesterday's game now he's gone? Dalglish has come in with all the right tactics and everyone is super motivated cos the king is back and the squad is very good yet you don't expect mighty Liverpool FC to go and get a result at relegation favourites Wolverhampton Wanderers. Too much results orientated analysis here. The back four are still as rubbish as last week. Only yesterday they faced zero pressure from an ultra negative and very poor Wolves side. My mates at the game said Liverpool were scrappy and poor before the goal opened the game up and then Wolves allowed Liverpool to play as they chased the game. If Hodgson didn't inherit a poor squad I don't know why Liverpool are currently chasing numerous high profile players.

Did you watch the game?

Only on MOTD I'm afraid. But I was at Molineux last season watching this fixture and I thought Benitez's Liverpool side were terrible that day and struggled to string 2 passes together. After the game we all thought Liverpool as a force in the EPL were on the slide and the rot had deffo set in. Whilst I concede his transfer directive had changed during the last year or so Rafa had still spent about £250m on players in his time. In his last year he spent like £40m on Johnson, Aquilani and Kyrgiakos. The net product of all that time and money is a poor squad that turned over 80 odd players. I accept Hodgson was ineffective in turning around the slide in his brief spell at the helm but the slide had well and truly begun long before. His transfers were mixed in so much as Mierles looks good and Cole was a no-brainer but Poulsen and Konchesky have failed. Those last two were players he knew well who he thought could plug holes and stabilise with a limited budget. Neither of those two were his ideal signings for the positions and I can see why he made them. If you gave Hodgson 6 years and £250m I'm pretty sure he would build you better squad than the one you've got, so throughout this chapter I do think Roy has been an easy scapegoat. Kenny is now looking to rebuild in the true Liverpool way and I really hope he does that.

[kinboshi]

So Roy inherits a crap squad, and that's why they lost so many games including against Wolves a few weeks back.

The team were terrible, performance abject and disinterested. Not Roy's fault though.

Fast-forward to today, and the same players are on the pitch. Kenny has inherited a crap squad apparently. Funny though, they looked very interested today and the performance was good to see.

But please remember, it wasn't Roy's fault the team were so bad before. Obviously something else must have changed...

One swallow does not a summer make.

I agree, it might just be an anomaly. We'll know more after a few more games.

BUT, with the emphasis on the players to just go out and play and to do their jobs well I expect to see the team continue to improve.

Cases in point - Pepe's distribution. Was sublime yesterday. Also, the 'pass and move' ethic that Kenny wants them to play was also evident, highlighted by the last goal.

Of course, Wolves were poor, and you'd expect Liverpool to beat them. But before yesterday how many expected Liverpool to win?

Before yesterday how many expected Liverpool to win? In answer to that question I would ask why expectations were so low? If Hodgson was the root cause of Liverpool's woes why wouldn't expectations be much higher before yesterday's game now he's gone? Dalglish has come in with all the right tactics and everyone is super motivated cos the king is back and the squad is very good yet you don't expect mighty Liverpool FC to go and get a result at relegation favourites Wolverhampton Wanderers. Too much results orientated analysis here. The back four are still as rubbish as last week. Only yesterday they faced zero pressure from an ultra negative and very poor Wolves side. My mates at the game said Liverpool were scrappy and poor before the goal opened the game up and then Wolves allowed Liverpool to play as they chased the game. If Hodgson didn't inherit a poor squad I don't know why Liverpool are currently chasing numerous high profile players.

Did you watch the game?

Only on MOTD I'm afraid. But I was at Molineux last season watching this fixture and I thought Benitez's Liverpool side were terrible that day and struggled to string 2 passes together. After the game we all thought Liverpool as a force in the EPL were on the slide and the rot had deffo set in. Whilst I concede his transfer directive had changed during the last year or so Rafa had still spent about £250m on players in his time. In his last year he spent like £40m on Johnson, Aquilani and Kyrgiakos. The net product of all that time and money is a poor squad that turned over 80 odd players. I accept Hodgson was ineffective in turning around the slide in his brief spell at the helm but the slide had well and truly begun long before. His transfers were mixed in so much as Mierles looks good and Cole was a no-brainer but Poulsen and Konchesky have failed. Those last two were players he knew well who he thought could plug holes and stabilise with a limited budget. Neither of those two were his ideal signings for the positions and I can see why he made them. If you gave Hodgson 6 years and £250m I'm pretty sure he would build you better squad than the one you've got, so throughout this chapter I do think Roy has been an easy scapegoat. Kenny is now looking to rebuild in the true Liverpool way and I really hope he does that.

Net spend?  Seriously, you think Rafa's net spend was £250M?  Really?  So, so far out. 

The way we played against Wolves on Saturday was a million miles to how we played against them 3 weeks previously.  Why was that?

[kinboshi]

Cole wasn't a Hodgson signing.  It's was Purslow who made that signing, and apparently we had the opportunity to go for Van der Vaart, but Purslow liked to make 'footballing' decisions he wasn't qualified to do and went down the Cole route.

I don't blame Hodgson for the bad signings he made.  I'm not criticising his activity in the market.  It's his approach to the game with the squad he had and the way he had them playing that was the problem.  Nice bloke though.

[pleno1]

Where is Adam going to play? You have one of the best centre midfielders in trhe Premiership and players like Gerrard and Lucas around him so where exactly does Mereiles fit in?

[MANTIS01]

So Roy inherits a crap squad, and that's why they lost so many games including against Wolves a few weeks back.

The team were terrible, performance abject and disinterested. Not Roy's fault though.

Fast-forward to today, and the same players are on the pitch. Kenny has inherited a crap squad apparently. Funny though, they looked very interested today and the performance was good to see.

But please remember, it wasn't Roy's fault the team were so bad before. Obviously something else must have changed...

One swallow does not a summer make.

I agree, it might just be an anomaly. We'll know more after a few more games.

BUT, with the emphasis on the players to just go out and play and to do their jobs well I expect to see the team continue to improve.

Cases in point - Pepe's distribution. Was sublime yesterday. Also, the 'pass and move' ethic that Kenny wants them to play was also evident, highlighted by the last goal.

Of course, Wolves were poor, and you'd expect Liverpool to beat them. But before yesterday how many expected Liverpool to win?

Before yesterday how many expected Liverpool to win? In answer to that question I would ask why expectations were so low? If Hodgson was the root cause of Liverpool's woes why wouldn't expectations be much higher before yesterday's game now he's gone? Dalglish has come in with all the right tactics and everyone is super motivated cos the king is back and the squad is very good yet you don't expect mighty Liverpool FC to go and get a result at relegation favourites Wolverhampton Wanderers. Too much results orientated analysis here. The back four are still as rubbish as last week. Only yesterday they faced zero pressure from an ultra negative and very poor Wolves side. My mates at the game said Liverpool were scrappy and poor before the goal opened the game up and then Wolves allowed Liverpool to play as they chased the game. If Hodgson didn't inherit a poor squad I don't know why Liverpool are currently chasing numerous high profile players.

Did you watch the game?

Only on MOTD I'm afraid. But I was at Molineux last season watching this fixture and I thought Benitez's Liverpool side were terrible that day and struggled to string 2 passes together. After the game we all thought Liverpool as a force in the EPL were on the slide and the rot had deffo set in. Whilst I concede his transfer directive had changed during the last year or so Rafa had still spent about £250m on players in his time. In his last year he spent like £40m on Johnson, Aquilani and Kyrgiakos. The net product of all that time and money is a poor squad that turned over 80 odd players. I accept Hodgson was ineffective in turning around the slide in his brief spell at the helm but the slide had well and truly begun long before. His transfers were mixed in so much as Mierles looks good and Cole was a no-brainer but Poulsen and Konchesky have failed. Those last two were players he knew well who he thought could plug holes and stabilise with a limited budget. Neither of those two were his ideal signings for the positions and I can see why he made them. If you gave Hodgson 6 years and £250m I'm pretty sure he would build you better squad than the one you've got, so throughout this chapter I do think Roy has been an easy scapegoat. Kenny is now looking to rebuild in the true Liverpool way and I really hope he does that.

Net spend?  Seriously, you think Rafa's net spend was £250M?  Really?  So, so far out. 

The way we played against Wolves on Saturday was a million miles to how we played against them 3 weeks previously.  Why was that?

1. I didn't say net spend I said spend. This doesn't make me so so far out bud, it makes me correct.

2. Because Wolves were abs terrible?

[kinboshi]

Where is Adam going to play? You have one of the best centre midfielders in trhe Premiership and players like Gerrard and Lucas around him so where exactly does Mereiles fit in?

I don't know.  Gerrard obviously plays when fit/not suspended for daft red cards, and Mereiles showed why he should be in the first XI with his display as an attacking central midfielder.  Lucas is in for his defensive work, as well as his ability to get round the pitch.  So not sure at all where this leaves Adam.  His passing is fantastic, and this is what Dalglish wants from his players - but it looks like there will be an abundance of options for a limited number of roles.

We need more options up front and in defence rather than in the middle, imo.

[boldie]

Of course club loyalty is rare and you can't blame someone for wanting a dream job. But sitting on the bench at Liverpool is not a dream job, is it? (Well, for us it is but not for a footie player) you always hear of footie players "wanting to play". Does he expect to get first team footie at Blackpool? The main thign that gets me is why he didn't go to Blackpool and said "Listen I'd like to go but let me go in the summer"

I don't know why players don't do this.

Kissing the badge, well I reckon that he kind off knew that Liverpool had made an offer and that he was considering it. You just don't kkiss the badge and then hand in a transfer request the following day. I'ts just not cool.

[The Baron]

Under £120m net. So it's hard to build a squad as you sell to buy. I don't get why this is so hard to fathom?

Yes it would be great to have Bellamy and Torres but one pays for the other. It's dead simple really.

One thing I will agree with is his last summer of transfer activity wasn't brilliant Aquilani (whilst now excelling) wasn't fit and Johnson wasn't an upgrade but they're still infinitely better than Hodgsons signings.

Lol at Meireles. This is known to be Murcia's recommendation, so much so that Hodgson said after a MONTH that he didn't know Meireles' best position. (So he played him at RM)

Prior to the last 3 games people thought he was average. WD Roy.

So Roy inherits a crap squad, and that's why they lost so many games including against Wolves a few weeks back.

The team were terrible, performance abject and disinterested. Not Roy's fault though.

Fast-forward to today, and the same players are on the pitch. Kenny has inherited a crap squad apparently. Funny though, they looked very interested today and the performance was good to see.

But please remember, it wasn't Roy's fault the team were so bad before. Obviously something else must have changed...

One swallow does not a summer make.

I agree, it might just be an anomaly. We'll know more after a few more games.

BUT, with the emphasis on the players to just go out and play and to do their jobs well I expect to see the team continue to improve.

Cases in point - Pepe's distribution. Was sublime yesterday. Also, the 'pass and move' ethic that Kenny wants them to play was also evident, highlighted by the last goal.

Of course, Wolves were poor, and you'd expect Liverpool to beat them. But before yesterday how many expected Liverpool to win?

Before yesterday how many expected Liverpool to win? In answer to that question I would ask why expectations were so low? If Hodgson was the root cause of Liverpool's woes why wouldn't expectations be much higher before yesterday's game now he's gone? Dalglish has come in with all the right tactics and everyone is super motivated cos the king is back and the squad is very good yet you don't expect mighty Liverpool FC to go and get a result at relegation favourites Wolverhampton Wanderers. Too much results orientated analysis here. The back four are still as rubbish as last week. Only yesterday they faced zero pressure from an ultra negative and very poor Wolves side. My mates at the game said Liverpool were scrappy and poor before the goal opened the game up and then Wolves allowed Liverpool to play as they chased the game. If Hodgson didn't inherit a poor squad I don't know why Liverpool are currently chasing numerous high profile players.

Did you watch the game?

Only on MOTD I'm afraid. But I was at Molineux last season watching this fixture and I thought Benitez's Liverpool side were terrible that day and struggled to string 2 passes together. After the game we all thought Liverpool as a force in the EPL were on the slide and the rot had deffo set in. Whilst I concede his transfer directive had changed during the last year or so Rafa had still spent about £250m on players in his time. In his last year he spent like £40m on Johnson, Aquilani and Kyrgiakos. The net product of all that time and money is a poor squad that turned over 80 odd players. I accept Hodgson was ineffective in turning around the slide in his brief spell at the helm but the slide had well and truly begun long before. His transfers were mixed in so much as Mierles looks good and Cole was a no-brainer but Poulsen and Konchesky have failed. Those last two were players he knew well who he thought could plug holes and stabilise with a limited budget. Neither of those two were his ideal signings for the positions and I can see why he made them. If you gave Hodgson 6 years and £250m I'm pretty sure he would build you better squad than the one you've got, so throughout this chapter I do think Roy has been an easy scapegoat. Kenny is now looking to rebuild in the true Liverpool way and I really hope he does that.

[The Baron]

Cumulative spend over many years is irrelevant. By your reckoning Wenger has spent half a billion? Reality check please!

So Roy inherits a crap squad, and that's why they lost so many games including against Wolves a few weeks back.

The team were terrible, performance abject and disinterested. Not Roy's fault though.

Fast-forward to today, and the same players are on the pitch. Kenny has inherited a crap squad apparently. Funny though, they looked very interested today and the performance was good to see.

But please remember, it wasn't Roy's fault the team were so bad before. Obviously something else must have changed...

One swallow does not a summer make.

I agree, it might just be an anomaly. We'll know more after a few more games.

BUT, with the emphasis on the players to just go out and play and to do their jobs well I expect to see the team continue to improve.

Cases in point - Pepe's distribution. Was sublime yesterday. Also, the 'pass and move' ethic that Kenny wants them to play was also evident, highlighted by the last goal.

Of course, Wolves were poor, and you'd expect Liverpool to beat them. But before yesterday how many expected Liverpool to win?

Before yesterday how many expected Liverpool to win? In answer to that question I would ask why expectations were so low? If Hodgson was the root cause of Liverpool's woes why wouldn't expectations be much higher before yesterday's game now he's gone? Dalglish has come in with all the right tactics and everyone is super motivated cos the king is back and the squad is very good yet you don't expect mighty Liverpool FC to go and get a result at relegation favourites Wolverhampton Wanderers. Too much results orientated analysis here. The back four are still as rubbish as last week. Only yesterday they faced zero pressure from an ultra negative and very poor Wolves side. My mates at the game said Liverpool were scrappy and poor before the goal opened the game up and then Wolves allowed Liverpool to play as they chased the game. If Hodgson didn't inherit a poor squad I don't know why Liverpool are currently chasing numerous high profile players.

Did you watch the game?

Only on MOTD I'm afraid. But I was at Molineux last season watching this fixture and I thought Benitez's Liverpool side were terrible that day and struggled to string 2 passes together. After the game we all thought Liverpool as a force in the EPL were on the slide and the rot had deffo set in. Whilst I concede his transfer directive had changed during the last year or so Rafa had still spent about £250m on players in his time. In his last year he spent like £40m on Johnson, Aquilani and Kyrgiakos. The net product of all that time and money is a poor squad that turned over 80 odd players. I accept Hodgson was ineffective in turning around the slide in his brief spell at the helm but the slide had well and truly begun long before. His transfers were mixed in so much as Mierles looks good and Cole was a no-brainer but Poulsen and Konchesky have failed. Those last two were players he knew well who he thought could plug holes and stabilise with a limited budget. Neither of those two were his ideal signings for the positions and I can see why he made them. If you gave Hodgson 6 years and £250m I'm pretty sure he would build you better squad than the one you've got, so throughout this chapter I do think Roy has been an easy scapegoat. Kenny is now looking to rebuild in the true Liverpool way and I really hope he does that.

Net spend?  Seriously, you think Rafa's net spend was £250M?  Really?  So, so far out. 

The way we played against Wolves on Saturday was a million miles to how we played against them 3 weeks previously.  Why was that?

1. I didn't say net spend I said spend. This doesn't make me so so far out bud, it makes me correct.

2. Because Wolves were abs terrible?

[77dave]

1 week left in window

what business do we hope/expect to be concluded?

other than babel any exits?

[MANTIS01]

Figures and article from The Sunday Times before Rafa's last season kicks off...

Manchester United total net spend 2004-2009: £27m loss

Arsenal Net total net spend 2004-09: £27m profit

Liverpool total net spend 2004-09: £122m loss

On the eve of this season, Liverpool manager Rafa Bentiez bemoaned his side’s lack of financial power. However, an analysis of the spending habits of the ‘Big Four’ since his appointment in June 2004 shows that the Spaniard has outspent Sir Alex Ferguson by £80m. Furthermore, when money raised through player sales is taken into account, Benitez’ net spending dwarves Ferguson’s by £95m and only Chelsea have spent more on player recruitment during the same five-year period.

Benitez wasted no time in splashing the cash on his arrival on Merseyside. In his first season at the club his net spending totalled £31m, including £20m on the misfiring strike partnership of Djibril Cisse and Fernando Morientes. At the same time, Ferguson was making an upfront payment – also of £20m – for Wayne Rooney, who has since confirmed that he was, and still is, the brightest prospect in English football.

With Roman Abramovich a year into his Chelsea spending spree at the time of Benitez’s arrival, only the West London club could match the Spaniard’s outlay. Their most expensive signing that summer was the £24m Didier Drogba but his 102nd goal for the club against Blackburn yesterday suggests much better value for money than the £6.3m Benitez paid for Morientes, who managed just 12 goals throughout his Liverpool career.

While Benitez was spending £41m on eight players in that first season – none of whom are still at the club – Arsene Wenger was splashing out £2m on four players, two of whom – Manuel Almunia and Emmanuel Eboue – have become crucial members of the Arsenal side, while a third, Vito Mannone has burst on to the scene this season. In fact, since June 2004, Wenger has earned his club £27m from his transfer dealings and has spent £154m less that Benitez.

The extent of the Liverpool manager’s spending comes as a surprise, his method of recruitment offers up a telling explanation; as the figures show he likes to spread his wealth thinly. Since joining the club, he has signed 23 players for less than £3m, while during the same period Ferguson has brought in just seven bargain-basement players, the last of whom was the out-of-contract Michael Owen – the first player Benitez allowed to leave the Anfield.

It is worth noting that the world record fee of £80m Manchester United received from Real Madrid for Cristiano Ronaldo this summer undoubtedly massages their 2004-09 net spending figure, although such largesse did not stop Florentino Pérez boosting Liverpool’s coffers by £30m in return for the services of Xabi Alonso.

While in the six months before Bentiez’s appointment, Ferguson spent £26.7m on Louis Saha, Alan Smith and Gabriel Heinze, he was at least dipping into a £40m war chest funded by the sales of David Beckham to Real Madrid for £25m and Juan Sebastian Veron to Chelsea for £15m. Even taking Ferguson’s pre-Benitez spending into account, the Liverpool boss still comfortably outspends the Scot.

In conclusion, he could only have been referring to Chelsea when he said on the eve of this season that: “It is always difficult to compete in the Premier League with clubs who have more money.” And even then, Benitez’s net spending over the last five transfer windows eclipses even that of Abramovich. Perhaps now it is time he turned to some more imaginative excuses.

[sweet potata!]

Would love to see Suarez signed and a centre half, not sure about Adam I guess we could do with him but as kin said its other areas that need to be looked at rather than another midfielder.

Babel please go to Ajax as a makeweight in a Suarez deal.

[kinboshi]

Figures and article from The Sunday Times before Rafa's last season kicks off...

Manchester United total net spend 2004-2009: £27m loss

Arsenal Net total net spend 2004-09: £27m profit

Liverpool total net spend 2004-09: £122m loss

On the eve of this season, Liverpool manager Rafa Bentiez bemoaned his side’s lack of financial power. However, an analysis of the spending habits of the ‘Big Four’ since his appointment in June 2004 shows that the Spaniard has outspent Sir Alex Ferguson by £80m. Furthermore, when money raised through player sales is taken into account, Benitez’ net spending dwarves Ferguson’s by £95m and only Chelsea have spent more on player recruitment during the same five-year period.

Benitez wasted no time in splashing the cash on his arrival on Merseyside. In his first season at the club his net spending totalled £31m, including £20m on the misfiring strike partnership of Djibril Cisse <APPLY BRAKES>

Stopped reading there.  Houllier signed Cisse, not Rafa.  Therefore we can rely on the rest of the figures in the article to be accurate, can't we?