140 million or 40 million that is the question.

[El Pistolero]

So if the story is to believed below thats the 2 different figures we could have to spend this summer. What would you do? I personally would consider on cashing in and restarting, reason being yes Gerrard has provided us many great years but he is quick approaching the twilight of his career. With Torres he is just going to be continually affected by niggling injuries all through his career and as good as he is we need someone he can stay fit all season.

We would need 2 left backs, defensive midfielder, Attacking Midfielder right winger, left winger and 2 strikers. I've tried to be realistic on who would actually come, and with players who are likely to join.

Left back 1 Taye Tawio 8.0 Mil
Left Back 2 Wayne Bridge 5.0 Mil
Defensive mid / attacking De rossi 25 mil Could play in either postion
Attacking Mid J. Cole
Left Wing Mata 25.0 Mil & Turan 13.0 Mil
Right Wing
Striker Luis Suarez 30.0 Mil 35 goals last season
Striker Remi 12.5 Mil


Cant think of someone to play on the right, any ideas.

What would you do and who would you sign?

http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/sport/football/880117/MAKE-YOUR-MIND-UP-TIME-FOR-LIVERPOOL-DUO.html

LIVERPOOL want Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard to decide their futures in the next two weeks.

If the star duo do not ask for a transfer before the end of the month, they will be staying at Anfield.

New Kop boss Roy Hodgson will hold further talks with £30million-rated midfielder Gerrard when his skipper returns to training on Tuesday.

Torres and his representatives have also been informed of Liverpool's hardline stance on his £70m valuation.

Chelsea and Real Madrid have been effectively told to 'put up or shut up' in their pursuit of the players.

Neither has made an official bid, despite making contact with the Merseysiders to register their interest.

Unless their suitors meet Liverpool's price before the start of next month, Gerrard and Spain striker Torres will not feel they have any decision to make and will commit themselves to Anfield.

Liverpool have been wounded by high-profile transfer negotiations in the recent past and are determined not to allow history to repeat itself.

In 2004, striker Michael Owen told the club he wished to leave on the eve of a new season, leaving Liverpool with little choice but to accept a paltry £10m from Real Madrid and no time to recruit a replacement.

There are fears Madrid will try similar tactics with Gerrard.

Hodgson's transfer plans are effectively in limbo until his stars make a decision, but there is increased optimism at Anfield they will stay.

If they do, Hodgson will have a minimum £40m kitty following Javier Mascherano's expected departure and he can press ahead raising more funds with the sales of fringe players.

If the star pair leave, the kitty rises to around £140m, allowing Hodgson to bid for high-calibre replacements.
Overhaul

Hodgson is assessing his resources in the knowledge he faces the biggest player overhaul in Kop history to revive Liverpool. A staggering EIGHTEEN members of the squad from last season are either unsure of their future, are surplus to requirements or have already left.

Hodgson is even struggling to field a competitive side for the Europa League qualifier on July 29 as he awaits the return of his World Cup participants. He has already sanctioned the £5m sale of Emiliano Insua to Fiorentina and transfer listed youngsters Nabil El Zhar and Damien Plessis.

Reserve keeper Charles Itandje has also been told to find a new club.

And rookie striker David Ngog will be allowed to go on loan to West Brom when Liverpool sign a replacement.

It is hoped England World Cup players Gerrard, Glen Johnson and Jamie Carragher will be available for the second leg of the qualifier with either Macedonia FK Rabotnicki or Armenia's FC Mika.

And with no quality goalkeeping cover, an SOS may be sent to Pepe Reina to cut short his holiday to play.

 

[keniget]

The problem is that if we sell Gerrard and Torres this summer, it will damage the reputation of the club almost irreparably in the short-term (at least). What's more, there is no guarantees that the players we bring in will be able to keep us as competitive as we'd like - some of the players in your list wouldn't come (e.g. De Rossi) and some just aren't that good (e.g. Bridge).

We're obviously facing a massive rebuilding job ahead, but we'd be much better off delaying at much as possible till the club is sold, the board is sorted and the manager situation is completely clear. To attempt to do it all now would be insanely risky and would almost certainly end badly.

 

[El Pistolero]

[quote author=keniget link=topic=41015.msg1137534#msg1137534 date=1279410053]
The problem is that if we sell Gerrard and Torres this summer, it will damage the reputation of the club almost irreparably in the short-term (at least). What's more, there is no guarantees that the players we bring in will be able to keep us as competitive as we'd like - some of the players in your list wouldn't come (e.g. De Rossi) and some just aren't that good (e.g. Bridge).

We're obviously facing a massive rebuilding job ahead, but we'd be much better off delaying at much as possible till the club is sold, the board is sorted and the manager situation is completely clear. To attempt to do it all now would be insanely risky and would almost certainly end badly.
[/quote]

I can see where your coming from Keniget, but this season we are seeing City strengthening there team and if we wait, it maybe a season to late to push back into the champs league places. The number of positions that need strenghening in the first team I doubt 40 million would be enough, so in my eyes this is the only other option if we can't get new owners in place before the end of the window.

 

[keniget]

There is nothing we can do about City though unfortunately. We just have to hope that it doesn't quite come together for them and maybe a couple of the other sides have less impressive seasons this time around.

Trying to replace over half the first team as well as build up a squad when we've got no CL to offer, a club in disarray and our best players all exiting is pretty unlikely to end up with us regaining our place in the top 4.

 

[dee]

Steve Gerrard

On a football point of view:

Bens:
A superb player who has dragged the team round by the throat for the last 6 years
He is one of the few players in the world that can make 'things' happen
He is, effectively, Liverpool for many fans.
If we sell the best footballing scouser in the world we deserve bum rape

Cons:
Gerrard is 30 and had an indifferent season with club and country. Whilst officially the club captain we all know who are the real powers on the pitch
He is pretty shit at dead balls but takes them all nonetheless

Torres:

Bens:
THE best striker in the world when fit
Came to Liverpool when he could easily have gone elsewhere
Really gets the English game

Cons:
Has no reason to be loyal to Liverpool
Rafa and Alonso have gone with Mascher soon to follow - all key parts to his success.
Err - that's it.

 

[kingjulian]

City has spent more than 140 million and they are still not in top 4.

Where as, these players have already performed at the sharp end of the table and we know that they are world class players.

Unless you can say with certainty that we will make every penny pay in the transfer market. My answer is no...we should do our best to keep them.

 

[Frogfish]

Total rebuild ? Much of the team than ran United to the wire are still here but injuries aside (which lack of squad depth meant we were unequipped to handle) we failed to strengthen last season thanks to G&H. Lets not start seeing monsters under the bed.

If we can add Cole, Figeroua, Remy, Turan (or Mancini perhaps) and a strong more creative replacement for Masherano to Jovanovic we have a much stronger side than last season and that should be good enough for a top 4 at least. None of those mentioned are unachievable and most seem to be edging our way.

 

[Hansern]

I wouldn't trust a NOTW story as far as I can throw it.

Torres to Real? Yeah sure.

Either way, Gerrard will stay. That is pretty obvious if you look at his and Roys comments.
If we did enough to persuade Torres I don't know, but if he wants to leave, then leave. I don't think he will though tbh. If we now get in a good left back and a few other additions, we'll be a much better team than last year. Let's just take it from there.

 

[Frogfish]

Torres has got 5 years left on his contract - I wouldn't let him go even if he wanted to.

 

[Foxwold]

Teams up their prices when top English clubs come in for their players any way, let alone when they know they have 140m sat in the bank and are desperate to replace players.

 

[keniget]

[quote author=Frogfish link=topic=41015.msg1137561#msg1137561 date=1279430499]
Total rebuild ? Much of the team than ran United to the wire are still here but injuries aside (which lack of squad depth meant we were unequipped to handle) we failed to strengthen last season thanks to G&H. Lets not start seeing monsters under the bed.
[/quote]

I think people need to forget about that season. A combination of things brought our 'success' (if you can call it that) around that season and we can't rely on most of them any more.

 

[RolandG]

I wouldn't sell Gerrard at any cost. He stays. We don't need a total rebuild just 4 or 5 players to strengthen the team and squad. I believe that Roy will get the best out of our squad players.

Any player who doesn't want to play for us must go regardless of who they are.

 

[Frogfish]

[quote author=keniget link=topic=41015.msg1137635#msg1137635 date=1279449057]
[quote author=Frogfish link=topic=41015.msg1137561#msg1137561 date=1279430499]
Total rebuild ? Much of the team than ran United to the wire are still here but injuries aside (which lack of squad depth meant we were unequipped to handle) we failed to strengthen last season thanks to G&H. Lets not start seeing monsters under the bed.
[/quote]

I think people need to forget about that season. A combination of things brought our 'success' (if you can call it that) around that season and we can't rely on most of them any more.
[/quote]

But we can rely on still having the basis of a very good team, Reina, Agger, Carra (for one more season), Johnson, Skrtyl, Kuyt, Gerrard, Torres. possibly Aquilani now he's fit, and now Jovanovic. We just need to plug the obvious gaps and have decent, probably young, squad back ups. It's not a total re-build, the chassis is still sound.

 

[HC]

Whod want to play for a torres and gerrardless liverpool - most your list wouldnt

 

[RolandG]

Liverpool without Gerrard and Torres would still be Liverpool. I do believe that we can get top players in without them at the club.

Roy would have his work cut out trying to convince top players to come to us and some will while others won't! Money talks, look at Citeh.

 

[Frogfish]

[quote author=Hardcastle link=topic=41015.msg1137696#msg1137696 date=1279452170]
Whod want to play for a torres and gerrardless liverpool - most your list wouldnt
[/quote]

Oh - did I miss the announcement they are leaving then ?

 

[HC]

I'm sorry - on my phone, I assumed the pretense of this thread was that they were both leaving and thus 140m was raised?

 

[Frogfish]

[quote author=Hardcastle link=topic=41015.msg1137703#msg1137703 date=1279452917]
I'm sorry - on my phone, I assumed the pretense of this thread was that they were both leaving and thus 140m was raised?

[/quote]

Either / Or. And they were both on my list so that is the 'staying' possibility.