'News from the Web' - Wednesday

[Frogfish]

More rumours, lies & innuendo.
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Birmingham City may have renewed their interest in signing winger Ryan Babel. The World Cup runner-up has been a target of Alex McLeish and reports in some tabloids this morning suggest the Brummies are tabling an £8million offer for Hodgson to consider.
_______________________________

Part of Liverpool’s squad will fly out to a luxury training camp in Switzerland today to begin preparations for the 2010/11 season. Whilst the Reds’ 13 representatives that took part in the World Cup in South Africa have not yet begun training with the squad yet, the Reds, under new manager Roy Hodgson, look to their first pre-season friendly against Saudi Arabian Champions Al-Hilal in Austria this Saturday.

The training camp, with excellent facilities and clean air, is situated in the Alps, close to the Austrian border. It will be a welcome change from the humid and sweltering conditions the squad were put through on their tour of Thailand and Singapore this time last year. The game against Al-Halil on 17th July (kick-off 6pm) is followed by a friendly against Grasshoppers at 6.30pm on Wednesday, 21st July.

Three days later the Reds take on Kaiserslauten at 3.15pm, before Borussia Monchengladbach, opponents in the 1973 UEFA Cup Final and 1977 European Cup Final, in Germany at 1.30pm on 1st August.
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Liverpool will learn who their opponents are for the forthcoming Europa League qualifiers, starting at the end of July, when the draw is made in Zurich this Friday.
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Meanwhile Lucas Leiva, who has been the subject of a bid from Palermo, has been told by new Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson that he does have a future at Anfield. Hodgson believes Lucas holds the quality to hold down his first team place at the club, with reports suggesting midfielder Javier Mascherano is almost certainly on his way to Inter Milan.

ALSO - from the Echo :

LIVERPOOL today slapped a hands-off warning on Lucas – as they reiterated their stance that Javier Mascherano is also not for sale. The Brazilian midfielder has been the subject of persistent interest from Serie A side Palermo, whose sporting director Walter Sabatani suggested a bid for his services had been made.

However, new boss Roy Hodgson does not want to lose Lucas, who was one of Liverpool’s most consistent and honest performers last season. He will travel out with the rest of the Liverpool squad who are back in full training today to Switzerland, where the Reds will crank up preparation for the new campaign.

Though Lucas does not enjoy the same popularity amongst supporters as some of his team-mates, he has never made any secret of the fact he is happy and settled on Merseyside. The Reds, meanwhile, do not want to lose a player whose best years are in front of him and have made it clear enquiries will be given short shrift.
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The club confirmed this morning that youngsters Francisco Duran and Nikolay Mihaylov have left the club after failing to make an impact. Mihaylov has signed a permanent deal with FC Twente in Holland, where he spent last season out on loan.
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Having conceded defeat in their protracted pursuit of Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard, Real Madrid have made Ashley Cole their number one transfer target and are hopeful they can lure the Chelsea star to the Bernabeu for £30 million.
__________________________________

Liverpool have sounded out Lille forward Gervinho about a move to Anfield.

Roy Hodgson hopes to add a versatile forward to the squad before kicking off their Barclays Premier League campaign on August 15 and the new Anfield boss is an admirer of the Ivory Coast international. However, with an initial transfer budget of £15million until others leave, Liverpool would have to knock down the £12.5m asking price.

Hodgson watched Gervinho at the World Cup, where the forward played in all three of Ivory Coast's group games. The 23-year-old can play on either wing or up front and scored 17 goals in 34 appearances after moving from Le Mans to Lille for £6.5m last summer.
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Paraguay had a good World Cup in their run to the quarterfinals and this saw the profile of many of their players rise. One of these was midfielder Victor Caceres and skysports.com believes that he's on his way to the Premier League with Liverpool a possibility?
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Steve Bruce has dismissed reports linking Lee Cattermole with a move away from Sunderland and stated that he is not available at any price. The 22-year-old has been the subject of speculation since the start of the year, with Liverpool consistently touted as possible suitors for the combative midfielder.
_________________________________

Roy Hodgson is thought to be interested in bringing Brede Hangeland to Anfield as he looks to shore up the Liverpool defence before the start of next season. Hangeland was a key player for Hodgson last season and one of the main reasons Fulham had such a fantastic run in the Europa League. The new Liverpool manager is a big admirer of the 6 foot 4 inch central defenderHangeland is now 29-years-old, and Fulham would be unlikely to let him go for anything less than £15m. Whether Hodgson will be able to persuade the Liverpool board to part with that sort of cash, for a player who is one year off 30, is another matter.
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Liverpool have also eyed Rafael van der Vaart for a similar role and Real Madrid are prepared to listen to offers, but won't want to let the Holland international go cheap.
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Hodgson remains keen on 24-year-old Costa Rica forward Bryan Ruiz, the Twente striker who would also cost about £12.5m.
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Bloody hell ... pick the bones out of that lot.

 

[Judge Jules]

I thought innuendoes were Italian suppositories. On the football front:

1. I can only hope all this stuff about Lucas is an attempt to maximise the price we'll get for him. I'd far sooner have Cattermole or Caceres.

2. Would love us to sign Hangeland but Roy gave Fulham an undertaking not to "raid" their squad when he left.

3. I'd sooner sign either Gervinho or Ruiz than Asamoah Gyan.

 

[manwithnoname]

"Hodgson believes Lucas holds the quality to hold down his first team place at the club"

How can he? Based on fucking WHAT?

Yet another reason to want Woy out ASAP; this type of insanity cost the last manager his job, and he's a far, far better manager than Woy will ever be, so I'm left with the conclusion that Woy is just as shit a judge of player as Benitez was, but not as good at the football/ winning trophies bit.

So very, very depressing.

And if he does buy Scahrner and/ or Beattie I'll be screaming "WOY OUT" from the fucking roof-tops.

 

[keniget]

Should the fact that Caceres, 25/26, still plays in the Paraguayan league concern us?

He may have had a decent World Cup, but if he was half decent surely, at the very least, one of the bigger South American clubs would've signed him up.

 

[Frogfish]

[quote author=keniget link=topic=40968.msg1135633#msg1135633 date=1279102697]
Should the fact that Caceres, 25/26, still plays in the Paraguayan league concern us?

He may have had a decent World Cup, but if he was half decent surely, at the very least, one of the bigger South American clubs would've signed him up.
[/quote]

I saw someone else voicing just this concern - and it is a valid point. Late developer perhaps ? However lack of experience outside of Paraguay, never mind South America, could be a major issue.

 

[Sheik Yerbouti]

[quote author=Brendan link=topic=40968.msg1135632#msg1135632 date=1279102338]
"Hodgson believes Lucas holds the quality to hold down his first team place at the club"

How can he? Based on fucking WHAT?

Yet another reason to want Woy out ASAP[/quote]

Hysteria based on a newspaper article. Come on Brendan, you can do better than that. Sounds like you're willing him to fail.

 

[Judge Jules]

Fair points about Caceres. I'd still go for him if it came down to a straight choice between him and Lucas, simply because he might prove to be good enough whereas I'm as convinced as I can be that Lucas isn't.

 

[Frogfish]

UPDATE 10:44 BST: Gervinho, speaking to radio station RMC, has rejected any chance of a summer move, explaining: “I'll play with Lille next season. This is my first year. I still have two years of my contract [to run]. Do not panic. I had good times last season and still have good things to come.â€
_______________________________

Roy Hodgson is weighing up a move for South Korean World Cup star Park Chu-Young .

The 25-year-old is an enormously popular figure in South Korea, having originally starred for the national under-20 side, during which time he was named Asian Young Footballer of the Year. The striker moved from FC Seoul to Monaco in 2008 and has not disappointed. His intelligent style means that he adds much more than merely goals to the team. Park made a solitary appearance for South Korea in the 2006 World Cup, but played a prominent role in South Africa, scoring a goal against Nigeria.

Liverpool are considering making a £6million bid to bring Park to Anfield. Hodgson is understood to have some money available for signings and with Yossi Benayoun having been sold last week to Chelsea, the Liverpool boss should have enough available cash to make an offer for him. Park scored eight goals and contributed two assists for Monaco last season and has netted fourteen times in 39 international matches.
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Japanese international Keisuke Honda has received a number of enquiries regarding a summer move away from Spartak Moscow, however Sport.co.uk understands no serious offers have been lodged with the forward despite reported interest from Arsenal, Liverpool, Olympique Marseille and Italian giants AC Milan.
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[manwithnoname]

[quote author=Sheik Yerbouti link=topic=40968.msg1135635#msg1135635 date=1279103056]
[quote author=Brendan link=topic=40968.msg1135632#msg1135632 date=1279102338]
"Hodgson believes Lucas holds the quality to hold down his first team place at the club"

How can he? Based on fucking WHAT?

Yet another reason to want Woy out ASAP[/quote]

Hysteria based on a newspaper article. Come on Brendan, you can do better than that. Sounds like you're willing him to fail.
[/quote]

The signs aren't particularly promising, let's be honest.

One of Benitez's biggest failings was his "blind spots", which many assumed Woy wouldn't have.

But now he's made positive noises about two of the biggest twats in our first team, and claims he wouldn't want to sell either (even if that decision is taken out of his hands, which in Insua's case looks likely, but I'm worried that Lucas will stay. Which will leave us, after Masher leaves, with one of the worst Central midfields in the entire Premiership).

 

[Frogfish]

Smoke screen - let's get the fees up, let's face it Lucas is worth more than the 4M or so bid we've received from Palermo.

 

[jason]

[quote author=Brendan link=topic=40968.msg1135641#msg1135641 date=1279103512]
[quote author=Sheik Yerbouti link=topic=40968.msg1135635#msg1135635 date=1279103056]
[quote author=Brendan link=topic=40968.msg1135632#msg1135632 date=1279102338]
"Hodgson believes Lucas holds the quality to hold down his first team place at the club"

How can he? Based on fucking WHAT?

Yet another reason to want Woy out ASAP[/quote]

Hysteria based on a newspaper article. Come on Brendan, you can do better than that. Sounds like you're willing him to fail.
[/quote]

The signs aren't particularly promising, let's be honest.

One of Benitez's biggest failings was his "blind spots", which many assumed Woy wouldn't have.

But now he's made positive noises about two of the biggest twats in our first team, and claims he wouldn't want to sell either (even if that decision is taken out of his hands, which in Insua's case looks likely, but I'm worried that Lucas will stay. Which will leave us, after Masher leaves, with one of the worst Central midfields in the entire Premiership).
[/quote]
Youre not completely right about Lukas Roy sees something in him Give the man a chance.

 

[Judge Jules]

Give him a chance? What, like Rafa endlessly did? And doing what, anyway? At DM he's nowhere near good enough. As an attacker from midfield we have Gerrard and (if he really is fit now) Aquilani, either of whom have way more in their locker.

 

[keniget]

Is it not a little premature to start ranting and raving about positive remarks particularly given the fact that there are interested clubs and supposed transfer negotations ongoing?

 

[ILD]

[quote author=Brendan link=topic=40968.msg1135641#msg1135641 date=1279103512]
[quote author=Sheik Yerbouti link=topic=40968.msg1135635#msg1135635 date=1279103056]
[quote author=Brendan link=topic=40968.msg1135632#msg1135632 date=1279102338]
"Hodgson believes Lucas holds the quality to hold down his first team place at the club"

How can he? Based on fucking WHAT?

Yet another reason to want Woy out ASAP[/quote]

Hysteria based on a newspaper article. Come on Brendan, you can do better than that. Sounds like you're willing him to fail.
[/quote]

The signs aren't particularly promising, let's be honest.

One of Benitez's biggest failings was his "blind spots", which many assumed Woy wouldn't have.

But now he's made positive noises about two of the biggest twats in our first team, and claims he wouldn't want to sell either (even if that decision is taken out of his hands, which in Insua's case looks likely, but I'm worried that Lucas will stay. Which will leave us, after Masher leaves, with one of the worst Central midfields in the entire Premiership).
[/quote]

Brendan, it's newspaper reports. Do you want Roy to come out and say, "Lucas is shit, Palermo can have him for 3 million". Since when do you buy into newspaper hysteria? Perhaps now, as it fuels your 'Roy Out' Agenda.

 

[jason]

[quote author=Judge Jules link=topic=40968.msg1135644#msg1135644 date=1279104438]
Give him a chance? What, like Rafa endlessly did? And doing what, anyway? At DM he's nowhere near good enough. As an attacker from midfield we have Gerrard and (if he really is fit now) Aquilani, either of whom have way more in their locker.
[/quote]
I meant Roy. But partially Lucas player of the year he isn't that shit.

 

[Rosco]

[quote author=keniget link=topic=40968.msg1135650#msg1135650 date=1279104936]
Is it not a little premature to start ranting and raving about positive remarks particularly given the fact that there are interested clubs and supposed transfer negotations ongoing?
[/quote]

It's Brendan.

 

[Judge Jules]

[quote author=jason link=topic=40968.msg1135652#msg1135652 date=1279104969]
[quote author=Judge Jules link=topic=40968.msg1135644#msg1135644 date=1279104438]
Give him a chance? What, like Rafa endlessly did? And doing what, anyway? At DM he's nowhere near good enough. As an attacker from midfield we have Gerrard and (if he really is fit now) Aquilani, either of whom have way more in their locker.
[/quote]
I meant Roy. But partially Lucas player of the year he isn't that shit.
[/quote]

No, he isn't, but you don't have to be that shit to be not good enough for LFC.

 

[jason]

[quote author=Judge Jules link=topic=40968.msg1135654#msg1135654 date=1279105193]
[quote author=jason link=topic=40968.msg1135652#msg1135652 date=1279104969]
[quote author=Judge Jules link=topic=40968.msg1135644#msg1135644 date=1279104438]
Give him a chance? What, like Rafa endlessly did? And doing what, anyway? At DM he's nowhere near good enough. As an attacker from midfield we have Gerrard and (if he really is fit now) Aquilani, either of whom have way more in their locker.
[/quote]
I meant Roy. But partially Lucas player of the year he isn't that shit.
[/quote]

No, he isn't, but you don't have to be that shit to be not good enough for LFC.
[/quote]
Given our present circumstances if Stevie is injured who can at present stand in.

 

[manwithnoname]

[quote author=Rosco link=topic=40968.msg1135653#msg1135653 date=1279104986]
[quote author=keniget link=topic=40968.msg1135650#msg1135650 date=1279104936]
Is it not a little premature to start ranting and raving about positive remarks particularly given the fact that there are interested clubs and supposed transfer negotations ongoing?
[/quote]

It's Brendan.
[/quote]

And so far my doom and gloom predictions have been what? Miles out?

No money (tick)
Benitez out and Woy as manager (tick)
Lying cunt in charge (treble tick)
Losing at least one of Masher/ Gerrard/ Torres (tick)
No new owners (tick)
Linked with lots of seriously shit players (tick)

I would wager that by the start of the season, all of the above will still be true, we won't sign anyone exciting, and Lucas will still be at Anfield. We may get some of the Mascherano money, but we certainly won't see all of it, and that's where the bulk of any prospective transfer cash will be coming from.

We are totally, utterly fucked, because even if we do manage to keep Gerrard and Torres, the team still has fucking gaping holes all over it that I can't see Woy being able to plug, even if he did have lots of money to spend. Which he doesn't.

We will be lucky to come 6th next season.

 

[Rosco]

Mystic Meg hasn't a patch on you.

 

[manwithnoname]

Brendan, it's newspaper reports. Do you want Roy to come out and say, "Lucas is shit, Palermo can have him for 3 million". Since when do you buy into newspaper hysteria? Perhaps now, as it fuels your 'Roy Out' Agenda.

Why come out and say anything? Just sell the cunt. Why come out and say he rates Insua "as a player and a person" and then admit that he had no idea what stage the negoations are at with Fiorentina? Which implies:

a) he knows nothing about who is being sold
b) he rates the same shit players that cost Benitez his job, and
c) he has no say in who leaves or stays anyway, it's Cecil and his masters who will tell him what's going on.

 

[Atlas]

[quote author=Brendan link=topic=40968.msg1135658#msg1135658 date=1279106286]
[quote author=Rosco link=topic=40968.msg1135653#msg1135653 date=1279104986]
[quote author=keniget link=topic=40968.msg1135650#msg1135650 date=1279104936]
Is it not a little premature to start ranting and raving about positive remarks particularly given the fact that there are interested clubs and supposed transfer negotations ongoing?
[/quote]

It's Brendan.
[/quote]

And so far my doom and gloom predictions have been what? Miles out?

No money (tick)
Benitez out and Woy as manager (tick)
Lying cunt in charge (treble tick)
Losing at least one of Masher/ Gerrard/ Torres (tick)
No new owners (tick)
Linked with lots of seriously shit players (tick)
[/quote]

Are you fucking serious?
You are actually trying to claim all this like it wasn't going to happen!
Want to add a few more to the list.

Playing at Anfield 10/11 (tick)
Red Home kit (tick)
Tuesday comes after Monday (tick)

All of those were 'predicted' by people across the fucking world..........

 

[manwithnoname]

Are you fucking serious?
You are actually trying to claim all this like it wasn't going to happen!
Want to add a few more to the list.

Playing at Anfield 10/11 (tick)
Red Home kit (tick)
Tuesday comes after Monday (tick)

All of those were 'predicted' by people across the fucking world..........

That would explain the plethora of investment threads and Sheikh speculation, the umpteen "Pellegrino/ Rijkaard" for manager discussions, and the pervading sense that SOS loonies are all doom-mongering and actually everyything is great, despite the fact that Woy was appointed by non-football people foir non-football reasons.

Our club is in a worse state than any time in living memory.

 

[Rosco]

lol

 

[manwithnoname]

[quote author=Rosco link=topic=40968.msg1135666#msg1135666 date=1279107316]
lol
[/quote]

I'm not surprised you think it's funny

 

[jason]

[quote author=Brendan link=topic=40968.msg1135658#msg1135658 date=1279106286]
[quote author=Rosco link=topic=40968.msg1135653#msg1135653 date=1279104986]
[quote author=keniget link=topic=40968.msg1135650#msg1135650 date=1279104936]
Is it not a little premature to start ranting and raving about positive remarks particularly given the fact that there are interested clubs and supposed transfer negotations ongoing?
[/quote]

It's Brendan.
[/quote]

And so far my doom and gloom predictions have been what? Miles out?

No money (tick)
Benitez out and Woy as manager (tick)
Lying cunt in charge (treble tick)
Losing at least one of Masher/ Gerrard/ Torres (tick)
No new owners (tick)
Linked with lots of seriously shit players (tick)

I would wager that by the start of the season, all of the above will still be true, we won't sign anyone exciting, and Lucas will still be at Anfield. We may get some of the Mascherano money, but we certainly won't see all of it, and that's where the bulk of any prospective transfer cash will be coming from.

We are totally, utterly fucked, because even if we do manage to keep Gerrard and Torres, the team still has fucking gaping holes all over it that I can't see Woy being able to plug, even if he did have lots of money to spend. Which he doesn't.

We will be lucky to come 6th next season.
[/quote]

1st. Which one?Can you back this up or is it a hunch?
2nd.Might still not happen.
13th but that doesn't bother me.

 

[Avmenon]

[quote author=Brendan link=topic=40968.msg1135667#msg1135667 date=1279107389]
[quote author=Rosco link=topic=40968.msg1135666#msg1135666 date=1279107316]
lol
[/quote]

I'm not surprised you think it's funny
[/quote]

It isn't, but what else can we do but hope things arent so bleak?

The managers and Rafa have turned us into a broke club full of shit players, but its still our club and we have no place else to go.

 

[Oncy]

Brendan = the new Rebel.

I can't tell if he's doing 'a bit' he must be surely?

 

[Stulikesdrums]

[quote author=Rosco link=topic=40968.msg1135666#msg1135666 date=1279107316]
lol
[/quote]

Ha.

 

[Atlas]

Roy was appointed because that's the best we could do. I agree the club is in a shit place right now, there are a number of people who, it seems to me to be almost forcing themselves to be positive in the hope that it means they will enjoy the coming of the new season.

There are however a number of people on the forum, the majority who would have 'predicted' the same things you have 'predicted' but not been so fucking miserable and cunty about it as you.

Right now Roy is here to steady the ship, because due to the fine margins in the game and playing at the top end of the game within a season our ship is fucking wrecked. The point of Roy coming in is to calm shit down, he kinda did a similar role at Inter (although yes I fucking know it was a gazillion years ago) but that's what he does and as a result I'm ok with it (NOT over the moon, not fucking jumping from the rooftops happy about it) but just OK.

Players will no doubt play a little better this season, there will be a number of players who underperformed last season and they will perform a little better, Lucas, Babel, Insua will not turn into world beater cos Roy puts his arm around them but they will improve a little as will the team. Will it be enough for 4th place? I doubt it as City will be stronger....but at least let a brother dream (even if it is a shit dream).