Tottenham Hotspur boss Harry Redknapp praised Liverpool for signing Joe Cole, and compared the former Chelsea midfielder to Anfield legend Kenny Dalglish.
Redknapp was keen to sign Cole as well, but despite his best efforts, the England international has decided to join the Reds.
New Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson has made Cole the first addition in his attempt to help the Reds recover from a disappointing seventh place finish last season.
Redknapp believes that the former Fulham manager’s capture of the 28-year-old is a terrific signing and that Cole could enjoy great success with Liverpool.
"What a fantastic signing Roy has made,†Redknapp told The Lying Rag.
"Joe Cole on a free transfer is worth every penny.
"Were he under contract you would be looking at a £10million transfer fee just for starters.
"The Liverpool fans are going to love him. There has only ever been one King of the Kop and that was Kenny Dalglish, not even Kevin Keegan was good enough in his prime to take that away from him.
"It's obviously up to Roy where he plays him but you could see Joe playing just off the frontman the way Kenny used to.
"Joe wants to be involved, he doesn't want to be left to drift out on the wing any more.â€
Redknapp acknowledged that Spurs did their best to sign Cole this summer, but could not complete with a historic club like Liverpool.
"We tried our very hardest to get him. The chairman made Joe a fantastic offer.
"But, in the end, we were competing with a club that has years and years of tradition and a reputation as one of the biggest clubs in the world.
"I got a lovely message from Joe to inform me of his decision.
"He explained it. I think he wants to move for football reasons. He wants to be part of a transformation at Liverpool. I think maybe getting away from London and a clean break was part of it too. Whatever his reasons he has been genuine the whole way through. Joe is a bit of a throw-back, if you like.
"He has class and his manners are impeccable. I will always see him as the 11-year-old boy I first clapped eyes on at West Ham and I can only wish him all the best and hope his move is successful."
________________________
Now Lucas has admitted that such a high-profile signing was exactly what those already within the squad had hoped for.
"This is really good news for us," said the Brazilian. "He has a lot of experience and I have great confidence that he will help us a lot. I'm sure he is going to help us play well and show the form he did so regularly for Chelsea.
"He is a fantastic player, you could see what he did for Chelsea. For our fans, it is good that another English player is coming and they will feel good about it, as we do. As players, we were looking to see signings like this.
"You can see everyone is working hard to get really good players and that is what you can see here.
"We have got Joe and Milan Jovanovic has been really impressive in training as well. We all hope this means it will be a better season than last season."
__________________
“There may be surprises before August 31. The only direct contact I have had was with Manchester City. But getting Drogba out of Chelsea is not an easy task because he has all the conditions he needs to flourish there… At his age I can no longer hide the financial aspect. The club that want Didier will have to meet the price.†- Thierno Seydi, Drogba’s agent.
Guess his agent needs a new Ferrari.
________________________
“First and foremost I want to do well for Newcastle but, after watching some of the performances in the World Cup, on form I’m as good as anyone in this country and I don’t say that lightly… I’m very confident of finding the form which got me into the England squad in the first place. That’s my goal. And if I can break into the England squad it will prove I’m doing fantastically well for this football club.†- Joey Barton.
______________________
“I can’t speak for other clubs to be honest with you but we are comfortable with the squad we’ve got. We’ve bought players at the right time of the season, and we are quite happy with that.†- Ferguson.
_______________________
Mark Lawrenson gets all excited about the Reds’ potential line-up next season. “Joe will now give Roy Hodgson options at Liverpool. He can play right side, left side or off the forward. As things stand now - assuming the players stay - I see them lining up in a 4-2-3-1 with Cole right side in a three behind the striker, Gerrard playing off Torres and Milan Jovanovic on the left.â€
______________________
Mark Fleming again stresses how money wasn’t the main reason for Cole’s Anfield move. “In the end, it was the football that swung it for Joe Cole. Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal were both waving tempting offers in his direction, but neither club could promise quite the security that Roy Hodgson was all but guaranteeing at Liverpool.
Not financial security, for he could have earned similar amounts to the £90,000-a-week deal his agents have negotiated with Liverpool at either club. But footballing security, the comfort that comes from knowing the manager likes you and wants to put you in the team, the kind of security that Cole once enjoyed at West Ham United but he never really felt at Chelsea.â€
__________________________
According to the Daily Mail, “an Indian entrepreneur with links to the Indian Premier League is close to buying out Blackburn Rovers, it has been claimed. Saurin Shah, who is the nephew of IPL vice-chairman Niranjan Shah, is reported to be talks about a deal worth between £35million and £45m for the Barclays Premier League club.â€
_________________________
the Independent report that Real Madrid and Chelsea are wrestling for Mesut Ozil’s signature while the Pensioners’ 18-year-old Dutch defender Jeffrey Bruma could be farmed out to Wolfsburg on a season long loan.
_________________________
According to the Mirror, “Roy Hodgson has been monitoring Wigan defender Manyor Figueroa, and could make an official approach within the next 48 hours.â€
__________________________
Daily Mail claim that Sunderland are considering a £5million move for Wigan defender Titus Bramble and also speculates that Chelsea could snap up Kaka and Van der Vaart. “Chelsea targets Kaka and Rafael van der Vaart may be heading for the exit. With Khedira to come, Xabi Alonso pivotal and Angel Di Maria competing with Cristiano Ronaldo on the wing, there will be little room for manoeuvre. Chelsea may have little desire to take scraps from the Real Madrid table but Kaka is no mere crumb of comfort while Van der Vaart still has plenty to offer as one of his fans, Chelsea director of football Frank Arnesen, will testify.â€
The Mail continue with more never-gonna-happen stories including linking Birmingham with “Chile striker Humberto Suazo and Argentina ace Juan Roman Riquelme,†and “Inter Milan will demand £34million from Manchester City for Mario Balotelli.â€
_________________________
Either someone in the marketing department at Liverpool Football Club is very clever, or this was a very fortunate coincidence for the club. it was easy to miss the club’s announcement in a sharp increase in ticket prices for the forthcoming season.
Season ticket holders found out last month that they’ll have dig a fair bit deeper for their renewals this season, whilst other fans will have to pay almost £50 for a ticket to the big games this campaign.
The prices are also due to rise further in the New Year, when the UK government raises VAT.
___________________
Reports in Norway suggest that Liverpool have been sending scouts to monitor the performance of promising young striker Marcus Pedersen .
The 5.9ft hitman impressed last season, scoring 10 goals in 24 appearances for Norwegian side Stromsgodset and has looked even better in 2010, claiming six goals and two assists in the opening fifteen games. His bustling style and raw power have seen Pedersen dubbed Norway's answer to Wayne Rooney .
It has been rumoured that Celtic, Newcastle and Serie A clubs have been interested in the 20-year-old in the recent past and Pedersen went on trial at Liverpool in 2006. Now, Norwegian daily Dagbladet claims that Liverpool sent a scout to watch Pedersen play yesterday for Stromsgodset against Haugesund. Pedersen suffered a groin injury during the game, but still got on the scoresheet.
____________________
Redknapp was keen to sign Cole as well, but despite his best efforts, the England international has decided to join the Reds.
New Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson has made Cole the first addition in his attempt to help the Reds recover from a disappointing seventh place finish last season.
Redknapp believes that the former Fulham manager’s capture of the 28-year-old is a terrific signing and that Cole could enjoy great success with Liverpool.
"What a fantastic signing Roy has made,†Redknapp told The Lying Rag.
"Joe Cole on a free transfer is worth every penny.
"Were he under contract you would be looking at a £10million transfer fee just for starters.
"The Liverpool fans are going to love him. There has only ever been one King of the Kop and that was Kenny Dalglish, not even Kevin Keegan was good enough in his prime to take that away from him.
"It's obviously up to Roy where he plays him but you could see Joe playing just off the frontman the way Kenny used to.
"Joe wants to be involved, he doesn't want to be left to drift out on the wing any more.â€
Redknapp acknowledged that Spurs did their best to sign Cole this summer, but could not complete with a historic club like Liverpool.
"We tried our very hardest to get him. The chairman made Joe a fantastic offer.
"But, in the end, we were competing with a club that has years and years of tradition and a reputation as one of the biggest clubs in the world.
"I got a lovely message from Joe to inform me of his decision.
"He explained it. I think he wants to move for football reasons. He wants to be part of a transformation at Liverpool. I think maybe getting away from London and a clean break was part of it too. Whatever his reasons he has been genuine the whole way through. Joe is a bit of a throw-back, if you like.
"He has class and his manners are impeccable. I will always see him as the 11-year-old boy I first clapped eyes on at West Ham and I can only wish him all the best and hope his move is successful."
________________________
Now Lucas has admitted that such a high-profile signing was exactly what those already within the squad had hoped for.
"This is really good news for us," said the Brazilian. "He has a lot of experience and I have great confidence that he will help us a lot. I'm sure he is going to help us play well and show the form he did so regularly for Chelsea.
"He is a fantastic player, you could see what he did for Chelsea. For our fans, it is good that another English player is coming and they will feel good about it, as we do. As players, we were looking to see signings like this.
"You can see everyone is working hard to get really good players and that is what you can see here.
"We have got Joe and Milan Jovanovic has been really impressive in training as well. We all hope this means it will be a better season than last season."
__________________
“There may be surprises before August 31. The only direct contact I have had was with Manchester City. But getting Drogba out of Chelsea is not an easy task because he has all the conditions he needs to flourish there… At his age I can no longer hide the financial aspect. The club that want Didier will have to meet the price.†- Thierno Seydi, Drogba’s agent.
Guess his agent needs a new Ferrari.
________________________
“First and foremost I want to do well for Newcastle but, after watching some of the performances in the World Cup, on form I’m as good as anyone in this country and I don’t say that lightly… I’m very confident of finding the form which got me into the England squad in the first place. That’s my goal. And if I can break into the England squad it will prove I’m doing fantastically well for this football club.†- Joey Barton.
______________________
“I can’t speak for other clubs to be honest with you but we are comfortable with the squad we’ve got. We’ve bought players at the right time of the season, and we are quite happy with that.†- Ferguson.
_______________________
Mark Lawrenson gets all excited about the Reds’ potential line-up next season. “Joe will now give Roy Hodgson options at Liverpool. He can play right side, left side or off the forward. As things stand now - assuming the players stay - I see them lining up in a 4-2-3-1 with Cole right side in a three behind the striker, Gerrard playing off Torres and Milan Jovanovic on the left.â€
______________________
Mark Fleming again stresses how money wasn’t the main reason for Cole’s Anfield move. “In the end, it was the football that swung it for Joe Cole. Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal were both waving tempting offers in his direction, but neither club could promise quite the security that Roy Hodgson was all but guaranteeing at Liverpool.
Not financial security, for he could have earned similar amounts to the £90,000-a-week deal his agents have negotiated with Liverpool at either club. But footballing security, the comfort that comes from knowing the manager likes you and wants to put you in the team, the kind of security that Cole once enjoyed at West Ham United but he never really felt at Chelsea.â€
__________________________
According to the Daily Mail, “an Indian entrepreneur with links to the Indian Premier League is close to buying out Blackburn Rovers, it has been claimed. Saurin Shah, who is the nephew of IPL vice-chairman Niranjan Shah, is reported to be talks about a deal worth between £35million and £45m for the Barclays Premier League club.â€
_________________________
the Independent report that Real Madrid and Chelsea are wrestling for Mesut Ozil’s signature while the Pensioners’ 18-year-old Dutch defender Jeffrey Bruma could be farmed out to Wolfsburg on a season long loan.
_________________________
According to the Mirror, “Roy Hodgson has been monitoring Wigan defender Manyor Figueroa, and could make an official approach within the next 48 hours.â€
__________________________
Daily Mail claim that Sunderland are considering a £5million move for Wigan defender Titus Bramble and also speculates that Chelsea could snap up Kaka and Van der Vaart. “Chelsea targets Kaka and Rafael van der Vaart may be heading for the exit. With Khedira to come, Xabi Alonso pivotal and Angel Di Maria competing with Cristiano Ronaldo on the wing, there will be little room for manoeuvre. Chelsea may have little desire to take scraps from the Real Madrid table but Kaka is no mere crumb of comfort while Van der Vaart still has plenty to offer as one of his fans, Chelsea director of football Frank Arnesen, will testify.â€
The Mail continue with more never-gonna-happen stories including linking Birmingham with “Chile striker Humberto Suazo and Argentina ace Juan Roman Riquelme,†and “Inter Milan will demand £34million from Manchester City for Mario Balotelli.â€
_________________________
Either someone in the marketing department at Liverpool Football Club is very clever, or this was a very fortunate coincidence for the club. it was easy to miss the club’s announcement in a sharp increase in ticket prices for the forthcoming season.
Season ticket holders found out last month that they’ll have dig a fair bit deeper for their renewals this season, whilst other fans will have to pay almost £50 for a ticket to the big games this campaign.
The prices are also due to rise further in the New Year, when the UK government raises VAT.
___________________
Reports in Norway suggest that Liverpool have been sending scouts to monitor the performance of promising young striker Marcus Pedersen .
The 5.9ft hitman impressed last season, scoring 10 goals in 24 appearances for Norwegian side Stromsgodset and has looked even better in 2010, claiming six goals and two assists in the opening fifteen games. His bustling style and raw power have seen Pedersen dubbed Norway's answer to Wayne Rooney .
It has been rumoured that Celtic, Newcastle and Serie A clubs have been interested in the 20-year-old in the recent past and Pedersen went on trial at Liverpool in 2006. Now, Norwegian daily Dagbladet claims that Liverpool sent a scout to watch Pedersen play yesterday for Stromsgodset against Haugesund. Pedersen suffered a groin injury during the game, but still got on the scoresheet.
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