Liverpool FC

[kinboshi]

Mereiles for Portugal, playing a far deeper role than he has for Liverpool. Still quality though, such a good passer of the ball.

[The Baron]

Shelvey out for 3 months for Knee tendon injury!

Sigh. Starting tolook useful.

[The Baron]

£20mill release clause in Reina's contract?

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/10022011/58/premier-league-paper-round-reina-20m-release-clause.html

Old news - Purslow strikes again. 

Balague says it's cobblers.

[The Baron]

SEVEN months ago his name featured prominently on Christian Purslow's cull list. Now it's among the first on Kenny Dalglish's team sheet.
The likes of Martin Kelly and Raul Merieles may have dominated the headlines as Dalglish has resuscitated Liverpool's season, but no other player is thriving under the Scot quite like Lucas Leiva.
If the bungling Roy Hodgson did one thing right in his disastrous six months in charge it was to ignore Purslow – who failed to grasp the difference between the remit of manager and managing director – when he sought to usher Lucas through the exit along with Rafa Benitez and a host of his signings.
The 24-year-old rewarded Hodgson with a series of fine displays, yet the return of Dalglish has inspired him to reach new heights.
Lucas is revelling in the Reds legend’s pass-and-move philosophy. Unsurprisingly, perhaps, given that it is as much the way of Brazil as it is Liverpool.
If Momo Sissoko was once described as the Reds’ “battery” by Benitez, then the former Gremio star is their pendulum, his rhythmic distribution dictating the tempo of Liverpool’s play – something he did to great effect in the 1-0 defeat of Chelsea.
Just as important, however, is his movement – the Brazilian always making himself available for a pass – relentless pressing and defensive grit.
If an indicator of his performance at Stamford Bridge was needed, then Lucas’ Opta Index stats provide it.
Against Carlo Ancelotti’s men, he completed 89% of attempted passes, 82% in Chelsea’s half.
They are figures impressive enough before you consider the calibre of midfield opposition and the high intensity of the game.
It’s been a similar story in each of his outings under Dalglish, although his pass completion rate for the entire campaign – 84% – is of an equally high calibre.
Indeed, the consensus at Anfield is that Lucas has been Liverpool’s most consistent outfield player of the last 12 to 18 months.
No statistic can accurately measure his greatest quality, however – his character, demonstrated best when overcoming the Anfield boo boys and the criticism of the press during his early days at Liverpool while he was adapting to a new country, league* and position.
Indeed, many unkind words about the midfielder were typed by these hands and for that this observer is both embarrassed and apologetic.
Perhaps there are still weaknesses in* Lucas' game – the occasional lapse in concentration and shortage* of goals.
But for too long have people focused on what he is not rather than what he* is, with the likeable Brazilian unfairly judged by the standards of Xabi Alonso and Javier Mascherano, two players arguably the finest in their position in European football.
However, anyone who has seen the footage of Lucas' career in Brazil – when he became the youngest ever winner of the Bola de Ouro* – will suspect* there is still more to come from the £6m signing.
Just as anyone who remembers Dalglish’s first spell in charge at Anfield knows this sequence of* four successive victories* is** merely a taste of the future under King Kenny.
A future Lucas will undoubtedly play a key role in.

[Waz1892]

Indeed, many unkind words about the midfielder were typed by these hands and for that this observer is both embarrassed and apologetic.

Happy to also do this if he keeps his form up!

[boldie]

£20mill release clause in Reina's contract?

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/10022011/58/premier-league-paper-round-reina-20m-release-clause.html

Old news - Purslow strikes again. 

Balague says it's cobblers.

Sigh...really wanted to get Kin's nose up on this one.

[kinboshi]

£20mill release clause in Reina's contract?

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/10022011/58/premier-league-paper-round-reina-20m-release-clause.html

Old news - Purslow strikes again. 

Balague says it's cobblers.

Sigh...really wanted to get Kin's nose up on this one.

I thought the buy-out clause was there?

[kinboshi]

@JamieDalton82 Been told by a good contact on Merseyside that Liverpool are favourites to sign Marseille left-back Taye Taiwo on a free transfer.

Scores a few goals - anyone watched him play more than the handful of times I've seen him?

[gatso]

Shelvey out for 3 months for Knee tendon injury!

Sigh. Starting tolook useful.

2-3 months according to his uncle so you may be lucky and get him back fairly quickly

[pleno1]

Odds on L'pool being in top 4 next season?

[sweet potata!]

Looks like Stevie G's withdrawal from Eng duty was genuine!


Liverpool: Reina, Kelly, Carragher, Skrtel, Johnson, Maxi, Meireles, Lucas, Aurelio, Kuyt, Suarez. Subs: Gulacsi, Kyrgiakos, Wilson, Poulsen, Pacheco, Jovanovic, Ngog.

[sweet potata!]

Not a great performance today at all, It looked like the midweek travelling had took Its toll on alot of our players, Lucas,Kuyt, Meireles all looked very sluggish there was just no snap in the passes, Maxi was his usual mediocre self. Wigan deserved their draw anyway, they played the better stuff.

Plus side - Suarez was miles better than any other Pool player , I thought he was very tasty looking, lively, tricky and brilliant work rate. He did all but score , he hit the post and bar , He's very Tevez like Imo....I just cant wait to see him and Carroll in full flow...

[Waz1892]

Not a great performance today at all, It looked like the midweek travelling had took Its toll on alot of our players, Lucas,Kuyt, Meireles all looked very sluggish there was just no snap in the passes, Maxi was his usual mediocre self. Wigan deserved their draw anyway, they played the better stuff.

Plus side - Suarez was miles better than any other Pool player , I thought he was very tasty looking, lively, tricky and brilliant work rate. He did all but score , he hit the post and bar , He's very Tevez like Imo....I just cant wait to see him and Carroll in full flow...

suarez looks really good defo, and this with only 1.5 games under his belt since December.

[The Baron]

This summer's freebies:

Vicente (29, Left winger, Valencia)
Miroslav Klose (32, Striker, B. Munich)
Hamit Altintop (28, Right midfielder, B. munich)
Piotr Trochowski (26, Attacking midfielder, Hamburg)
Johan Elmander (29, Striker, Bolton)
Jose Boswinga (28, right back, Chelsea)
William Gallas (33, Centre back, spurs)
Matthew Upson (31, Centre back, west ham)
Sebastian Larson (25, right winger, Birmingham)
Nigel Reo-Coker (26, centre midfielder, villa)
Luke Young (31, right back, villa)
Josh Mc Eachran (17, Centre midfielder, chelsea)
Taye Taiwo (25, Left back, Marseille)
slyvain marveaux (24, Left winger, Rennes)
Robbie Fowler (35, Striker, Perth)
Andrea Pirlo (31, Centre midfielder, ac milan)
Phillipe Mexes (28, Centre defender, Roma)
Alesandro Nesta (34, Centre defender, ac milan)
Massimo Ambrosini (33, Centre midfielder, ac milan)
Reto Ziegler (25, Left back, sampdoria)

[boldie]

So, out of that lot, who would you want? Vicente? Mc Eachran?