I demand the finest January signings. I demand them here and I demand them now.

[mark1975]

We've got 4 players capable of playing the CM role, and all of them are playing well. Your argument is effectively based on those guys maybe getting injured, or dipping in form? That's hardly convincing that spending 15M odd on someone questionable would helps us tremendously I'm afraid.

They are playing well, I'm not sure they are the sum of their parts when Gerrard is playing though because his natural inclination is to wander and look for the ball and look for openings. At times we do look like we lack an authoritative player in there, but you're right, the four of them are playing well at the minute. A bigger question hangs over the defense, like I said the other day, we need to get over this shite of having a backline that crumbles the minute it's exposed by the midfield.

Over the next 12 months we should be looking at the fullback positions and maybe bringing in (Toure and Agger/Skrtel clearly aren't the answer longterm) a dominant centre half, I do think we need to bolster the midfield with a player though, however well Allen and Henderson are progressing, they and Lucas need the competition and Gerrard won't be around forever. Adding another player wouldn't necessarily fuck it all up, no one is saying throw them in now, the five months now ahead of next season can be a big plus in bedding players in and getting them used to the club ahead of a full season, I don't think it's necessarily a case of "let's blow £20m on a player, throw them straight in the team and everything will be fucking dandy", idiots were going on and on about how amateurish we were in the Summer, compared to Spurs. They might benefit in the longterm, but in the short term at least, we've done well because of the continuity.

 

[LeTallecWiz]

We've got 4 players capable of playing the CM role, and all of them are playing well. Your argument is effectively based on those guys maybe getting injured, or dipping in form? That's hardly convincing that spending 15M odd on someone questionable would helps us tremendously I'm afraid.

I guess it makes sense ... I would still sign him if he was available. It feel like another Coutinho-like signing in terms of value for money.

 

[Ryan]

They are playing well, I'm not sure they are the sum of their parts when Gerrard is playing though because his natural inclination is to wander and look for the ball and look for openings. At times we do look like we lack an authoritative player in there, but you're right, the four of them are playing well at the minute. A bigger question hangs over the defense, like I said the other day, we need to get over this shite of having a backline that crumbles the minute it's exposed by the midfield.

Over the next 12 months we should be looking at the fullback positions and maybe bringing in (Toure and Agger/Skrtel clearly aren't the answer longterm) a dominant centre half, I do think we need to bolster the midfield with a player though, however well Allen and Henderson are progressing, they and Lucas need the competition and Gerrard won't be around forever. Adding another player wouldn't necessarily fuck it all up, no one is saying throw them in now, the five months now ahead of next season can be a big plus in bedding players in and getting them used to the club ahead of a full season, I don't think it's necessarily a case of "let's blow £20m on a player, throw them straight in the team and everything will be fucking dandy", idiots were going on and on about how amateurish we were in the Summer, compared to Spurs. They might benefit in the longterm, but in the short term at least, we've done well because of the continuity.

Yup, agree with bit of that - especially the Gerrard comment.

I still stand by my point over the last few years too that a quality CM pairing isn't really that crucial either. People get too hung up on centre midfield these days. So long as you've got a decent defensive midfielder and a collection of attacking mids that can shape games you're pretty good to go. CM really isn't that crucial.

 

[mark1975]

Yup, agree with bit of that - especially the Gerrard comment.

I still stand by my point over the last few years too that a quality CM pairing isn't really that crucial either. People get too hung up on centre midfield these days. So long as you've got a decent defensive midfielder and a collection of attacking mids that can shape games you're pretty good to go. CM really isn't that crucial.

It's not, at least in the short term and in the cut and thrust of the league, where it's pretty direct and it's down to how good you are as an attacking unit and how prolific your players are. I think in the longterm United's lack of real quality in the middle has been telling, particularly in Europe when they come up against the big boys - not that we have to worry about that yet, but we will at some point.

 

[doctor_mac]

I agree that we need to be thinking about the longer term too, but only if the quality is right. We've shown that whilst coping well this squad is far too light to cope with a season with European responsibilities. *If* the quality is there, bedding someone in for half a season (whilst giving us cover and options) can't be a bad thing. I'd have Salah and a quality, defensively astute FB as a priority. And actually, I think a FB is a bigger priority than an attacking fancy dan. We have *clearly* got the tools to open defences up given we're having perhaps our most prolific season in front of goal in the PL era. Yes we're mainly dependant on two guys, but they're doing the job and look virtually unstoppable. Raheem is looking like he may start to pitch in more too and Coutinho's barren streak won't last forever. However we look extremely leaky at the back, and we need to shore that thing up. We need to rack up a few more shut outs for me to start feeling comfortable with where we're going. FB who can defend please.

 

[Mystic]

I agree that we need to be thinking about the longer term too, but only if the quality is right. We've shown that whilst coping well this squad is far too light to cope with a season with European responsibilities. *If* the quality is there, bedding someone in for half a season (whilst giving us cover and options) can't be a bad thing. I'd have Salah and a quality, defensively astute FB as a priority. And actually, I think a FB is a bigger priority than an attacking fancy dan. We have *clearly* got the tools to open defences up given we're having perhaps our most prolific season in front of goal in the PL era. Yes we're mainly dependant on two guys, but they're doing the job and look virtually unstoppable. Raheem is looking like he may start to pitch in more too and Coutinho's barren streak won't last forever. However we look extremely leaky at the back, and we need to shore that thing up. We need to rack up a few more shut outs for me to start feeling comfortable with where we're going. FB who can defend please.

I guess I'm holding out a lot of hope on Enrique. He has a huge number of critics on this site, in his first season I used to be one of his biggest ones, for his old habit of holding onto the ball for approximately four minutes too long, but last year he was absolute immense at the back, a fantastic defender, and I think he'll back a world of difference to our backline, from a defensive standpoint. Personally I'd focus more on finding a long term Johnson replacement, but I think we can hold out until the summer for that.

 

[FoxForceFive]

I guess I'm holding out a lot of hope on Enrique. He has a huge number of critics on this site, in his first season I used to be one of his biggest ones, for his old habit of holding onto the ball for approximately four minutes too long, but last year he was absolute immense at the back, a fantastic defender, and I think he'll back a world of difference to our backline, from a defensive standpoint. Personally I'd focus more on finding a long term Johnson replacement, but I think we can hold out until the summer for that.

His distribution is less than great too. Once he's settled in the side it improves but it may cosy us as he does so.

That said Cissokho was gash against stoke. He has the odd game/half where I think there's a good player there then in it other games looks like he should be in a ligue 2 side.

 

[doctor_mac]

I guess I'm holding out a lot of hope on Enrique. He has a huge number of critics on this site, in his first season I used to be one of his biggest ones, for his old habit of holding onto the ball for approximately four minutes too long, but last year he was absolute immense at the back, a fantastic defender, and I think he'll back a world of difference to our backline, from a defensive standpoint. Personally I'd focus more on finding a long term Johnson replacement, but I think we can hold out until the summer for that.

I really like Enrique, and he's a million times better than Cissokho. He's also built a great understanding both with Coutinho and Suarez. But I still think we need cover. Johnson, even by his staunch supporters' standards, is having a lamentable run of performances. It is a Johnson replacement that I'm primarily thinking of.

 

[Halmeister]

We're in desperate need of a left back, Cissokho is gash (called it months ago before he signed, *smugface*) but if there isn't anybody worthwhile available, but Yann M'Vila is for a reasonable price, we should go for him. Potential to be a monster of a player, and someone that our competitors will snap up if we don't. I know we have options in that area, but he'd be an upgrade on Lucas, and will ease the load on Gerrard and Hendo - and Allen, who seems to have his share of injuries.

 

[keniget]

We're rotating fullbacks every few games anyways so buying a new (better) fullback shouldn't really disrupt the side unless he's a massive prick behind the scenes or something.

I think we could do with adding a couple players this window but I guess it just depends on who is available and who are long-term targets are. If, for example, M'Vila is a long-term target and we risk on losing out on him because someone is looking to sign him now, what do we do?

 

[Halmeister]

Sign the mad bastard!

 

[FoxForceFive]

Sigh him. Once this charge is sorted out his value will rise again & we'll regret when Utd, citeh, or Chelsea get the fucker.

 

[Red Mullet]

Sigh him. Once this charge is sorted out his value will rise again & we'll regret when Utd, citeh, or Chelsea get the fucker.

Quite!

 

[rurikbird]

If we want to maximize our chances for a top-4 finish or higher, signing somebody like Valbuena would be the surest bet, IMO. An experienced and quality attacking player, who would probably not need as much time to settle as some of our younger targets.

A quality full-back also would be welcome, but most of the good ones are not available in January.

 

[Modo]

So when Modo says we don't need M'vila that's wrong but when Ryan says it, it's right?
Used the same explanation as well.

 

[Spionkop69]

Whilst it's never nice watching someone blowing their own trumpet, you're right. I'd like to sign Salah, as it would be nice to have another attacking player who can be rotated in without completely changing the team, realistically, I'm not that bothered if we wait until the summer.

But its not the attacking options we have a problem with!!!

We have conceded two goals or more in seven out of the last eight away games. There is a fundamental issue in defence / midfield at away games that is being covered slightly by our "we're gonna score one more than you" approach.

This is not something we can keep ignoring. So pardon my french but fuck getting anymore exotic attacking players. Find a player / players / system that stops the opposition scoring so often in away games that puts our backs up against it.

Take Stoke for example. All 3 of those goals were down to tactical or individual errors. Crouch's goal - we were too deep when the defender cut back inside. Our line was almost on the six yard box! Adam's goal, we gave the ball away cheaply in our third, something we do too much, and then back off Adam. The third goal was a comedy of errors, where we gave it away cheaply, then back off Walters, then stood off him again and then the keeper let it through his hands!

This is a microcosm of our away form. Look at City away, both preventable. Chelsea away etc. If we want Top 4 then this needs to change or we're going to start dropping points and we're already 3 points off 3rd with at least 3 teams breathing down our neck.

So back to my original point. If we do sign someone, then a) it needs to be an improvement on what we've got, not another £7m benchwarmer and b) it needs to address the issues documented above - which, by the way, might actually get solved by playing a slightly different system.

 

[BlitzAce]

I would like us to sign someone just to send a message to our rivals that we're a good side and strengthening. Someone like De Bruyne would be ideal or Mata now that would be a statement of intent! I have every faith in Mr Rodgers' judgement though so whatever decisions he makes they're the right ones for us.

 

[mark1975]

Why (Modo)? Who said what? You'd have to wager that part of Ryan's dismissal of our need to buy, is his staunch defense of Allen and Lucas. It's a bit myopic to blindly say we don't need to improve in this area because we already have four players, we've struggled there for a while, and while it's not detrimental to teams in this league, particularly, it might end up being the difference between being also rans and shoring things up at the back so that when we play someone decent, we don't fall to pieces. That rests largely on the defense too where we need at least two players, but still. The point stands, we should ALWAYS be looking to improve, we've got some good players, we could and should be on the look out for players who are better still, that should always be our philosophy.

 

[Fabio]

Full backs and midfield

That's what we need. The midfield is rotated a decent amount due to injuries and as for full back.... Fucking hell it shouldn't need pointing out.

Cm is a riskier option because we might unbalance the side, however I think Gerrard already IS unbalancing the side.

An option to replace Gerrard will do while Allen is injured. Gradually bring him in with late subs etc.

Tbh we should be doing this with Coutinho and Alberto already.

The sub part, not long term successor part

 

[Glen C]

The lads already jumping through enough hoops. I've heard Grenada want to make a TV programme on him.

Grenada or GrAnada ;-). Grenada couldn't afford to make a tv programme of him lol.

 

[FoxForceFive]

But its not the attacking options we have a problem with!!!

We have conceded two goals or more in seven out of the last eight away games. There is a fundamental issue in defence / midfield at away games that is being covered slightly by our "we're gonna score one more than you" approach.

This is not something we can keep ignoring. So pardon my french but fuck getting anymore exotic attacking players. Find a player / players / system that stops the opposition scoring so often in away games that puts our backs up against it.

Take Stoke for example. All 3 of those goals were down to tactical or individual errors. Crouch's goal - we were too deep when the defender cut back inside. Our line was almost on the six yard box! Adam's goal, we gave the ball away cheaply in our third, something we do too much, and then back off Adam. The third goal was a comedy of errors, where we gave it away cheaply, then back off Walters, then stood off him again and then the keeper let it through his hands!

This is a microcosm of our away form. Look at City away, both preventable. Chelsea away etc. If we want Top 4 then this needs to change or we're going to start dropping points and we're already 3 points off 3rd with at least 3 teams breathing down our neck.

So back to my original point. If we do sign someone, then a) it needs to be an improvement on what we've got, not another £7m benchwarmer and b) it needs to address the issues documented above - which, by the way, might actually get solved by playing a slightly different system.

Steve Clarke it is then.

*this post is only half tongue in cheek*

 

[FoxForceFive]

We have 4 central midfielders. We need 3.

That leaves us with almost no cover. A central midfielder who can score would address that.

I think we equally need a quality full back & I think a quality defensive midfielder would help us stop shipping goals too.

 

[Hansern]

Sky Italia are running the Badu to Liverpool story for 7 mill £. I hope to God thats not true.

 

[Modo]

Why (Modo)? Who said what? You'd have to wager that part of Ryan's dismissal of our need to buy, is his staunch defense of Allen and Lucas. It's a bit myopic to blindly say we don't need to improve in this area because we already have four players, we've struggled there for a while, and while it's not detrimental to teams in this league, particularly, it might end up being the difference between being also rans and shoring things up at the back so that when we play someone decent, we don't fall to pieces. That rests largely on the defense too where we need at least two players, but still. The point stands, we should ALWAYS be looking to improve, we've got some good players, we could and should be on the look out for players who are better still, that should always be our philosophy.

I agree in prinicipal, but I don't like the idea of bringing on a player who's new to the league to replace someone who's been doing well (Lucas , Allen).
Especially mid season. I mean to get M'vila up to speed and in shape (off season in Russia currently) is a big risk.
I wouldn't mind strenghtening the team, especially if we're playing in Europe next season but we're fine in the midfield department for now.
Signing an attacker (winger, offensive midfielder, striker) is less of a risk. Just look at our bench.
I don't know if it makes any sense to you.

 

[LeTallecWiz]

Modo - it's not like Sturridge and Coutinho were playing a lot of games for Chelsea and Inter respectively. They were barely playing! M'Vila has the potential - talent wise - to make the same impact as they've made. I think for a team that is aspiring to play on 4 fronts, if a player like this is in fact available, then we'd be foolish to turn our backs on him. He has the potential to be better than any of our current midfielders very quickly ...

I don't think it's a 'critical signing' mind.

 

[SummerOnions]

Full back should be priority for me, someone youngish who can come in and maybe displace Johnson/Enrique but if not offer enough of a challenge to make Johnson run a bit more

 

[LeTallecWiz]

I think if we can find a really good young FB, I'd agree with you Sumo. I don't want a Cissohoko-like loan signing though.

 

[Gerry_A_Trick]

Yeah, someone like Kelly, Wisdom or Flanagan.

 

[FoxForceFive]

Sky Italia are running the Badu to Liverpool story for 7 mill £. I hope to God thats not true.

I know nothing about him. Is he that badu?

(serious question, despite the shit pun)

 

[doctor_mac]

Rumour One
Liverpool are the latest club to enter the race for Porto midfielder Fernando, who has also been linked with Manchester United and Everton.
The Brazilian was thought to be close to a move to Serie A side Napoli, having been linked with a number of Italian sides, but it seems that Liverpool have now also thrown their hat into the ring.
Reports in Portugal suggest that the Reds had scouts present for Porto's match against Benfica on Sunday and the Fernando was the player being monitored.
Fernando's contract is set to expire next summer and there had been speculation that the 26-year-old could be available for a cut-price fee.
But Liverpool will have to act quickly if they are to secure a deal with Fernando's agent, Antonio Araujo, hinting that his client was close to agreeing an extension with Porto.
Rumour Two
Liverpool are planning a last ditch swoop to beat Napoli in the race to sign highly rated Verona playmaker Jorginho according to TuttoMercato .
Former Anfield boss Rafa Benitez is said to be closing in on a €10m (£8.3m) deal to sign the Brazilian born Italian Under 21 international but Brendan Rodgers will look to lure the youngster to Merseyside where he hopes the 22 year old can act as a long term replacement for veteran skipper Steven Gerrard.
Rodgers is keen to continue his youthful transfer policy and the willingness of the Northern Irish boss to offer his young talents regular first team football may well act as a motivating factor for Jorginho.
Jorginho was a pivotal performer in last season’s promotion Serie B promotion campaign and has proven more than capable of making his mark in the top tier, netting seven goals and providing three assists in his 18 starts this term, form that has helped keep Verona in or around the top six all season.
Rumour Three
Brendan Rodgers is set to hold talks with Liverpool's owners on Friday but accepts that his January transfer dealings may be restricted to a bid for Basle's Mohamed Salah.
John Henry is expected to fly over from America for Saturday's home game against Aston Villa and will sit down with Rodgers and Liverpool's managing director Ian Ayre to discuss finances.
Rodgers is known to want a left-back, centre-back, midfielder and a striker but it is likely that most of his targets will have to wait until the summer.
The exception could be Salah, 21, who is valued at £16million by Basle. Liverpool are looking to pay little over half that for the versatile Egypt international and face competition from Atletico Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen.
The Anfield boss insists he needs more goals from midfield after seeing Philippe Coutinho, Raheem Sterling and Jordan Henderson score just six between them in all competitions this season.
Rumour Four
The Reds have also been linked with Roma striker Mattia Destro. The 22-year-old has not being a regular starter for Rudi Garcia's side, and Rodgers is reportedly scouting the forward as an alternative should the Salah deal fall through.
Rumour Five
Liverpool have been linked with a move for Napoli midfielder Gokhan Inler.
The Swiss star was a target for former Reds boss Roy Hodgson during his time in charge at Anfield, and now it has been reported in Italy that Brendan Rodgers is ready to rekindle the club's interest.
Steven Gerrard is still a crucial member of the Liverpool side but at 33 the England international cannot go on forever.
And now it has been claimed that Rodgers is a big fan of central midfielder Inler and may launch a summer bid to bring him to the Premier League.
But the 29-year-old is near ever-present for Rafa Benitez's side and the Spaniard will have no intention of selling him to his former employers.
Rumour Six
Spanish clubs Valencia and Real Betis have asked to take Liverpool forward Iago Aspas on loan.
Aspas, 26, has struggled to make a big impact since his £7million move to Anfield from La Liga's Celta Vigo last summer.
Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers must now decide whether he can spare Aspas or needs him to cover injuries as the Reds chase a top four finish and also try to remain in the title race.