The not so Official January Transfer Rumour Thread

[gkmacca]

I'm not sure how Rodgers deserves more blame for the summer striker fiasco. .

As I said. But even that gets misrepresented as sign of an 'agenda' against FSG. It can't ever just be taken as a point to agree of disagree with. It has to be some 'agenda'. Everything unpalatable to some other opinions gets misrepresented like that. Notice I don't desperately try to pin motives and past allegiances on opinions I disagree with.There's only one direction the disrespect is coming.

 

[peterhague]

'Progress' in most managers first seasons, certainly as far as we are concerned over the last two decades, is invariably slow. Houllier took time and had been bedded in with the disastrous joint manager role, Rafa had a poor domestic campaign in his first season, it was certainly not one that was progressive in that sense.

Rodgers hasn't pulled up trees yet but he deserves time to get it right.

We're on course for 53 points with one of the costliest squads in the league. That kind of performance was unacceptable last season, just as it was for Hodgson, and it is now, too. Rafa's first season was unacceptable in terms of league performance, but even without the CL run there were certain mitigating factors, such as it being his first season in a foreign league, the burden of CL games, and of course a couple of inspired signings in Alonso and Garcia inspired hope.

I wouldn't say I was losing patience: barring total disaster between now and May I'd want him to get another season, but so far it hasn't been good enough.

 

[LeTallecWiz]

I certainly did not dislike him from the off. Another myth. Let's end this self-serving compulsion to satisfy oneself that any alternative view is unacceptable because it's irrational. There's reason there. If you disagree, fine, but end the re-writing.

I'm going to say this once (today) and won't repeat it again (until the next time).

I have no problem with people not liking Rodgers, or being unhappy with his progress to date. Their right. I think not liking a manager is fine (many Madrid fans don't like Mourinho, but if he wins, they shut up). I think not being happy with his progress is ok, but its based on expectations that I think are far too high. Let's face it, we're not a top club anymore. We're trying to get there, but non-stop mistakes by the last 3 managers in the transfer market have hurt us tremendously. This can be undone, but it will take smart purchases and time. I don't know if Rodgers will do it - I really don't, but I am happy with what I've seen far because there has been progress, albeit slow.

What makes me laugh/get angry etc is the people who called for Kenny's head throughout last year now preach patience etc, or those who wanted to give Kenny more time, who believed in him and thought he could rectify his mistakes are asking for Rodgers' head after a few months.

It's going to take time. We're not going to flog Joe Allen because he's looked very average (massive compliment) the last few months. We're going to stick with this manager for 12-18 more months, and if there's really no progress upward (by then, I'd want to be properly challenging for 4th place), then it will be his time to go.

 

[refugee]

I'm not sure how Rodgers deserves more blame for the summer striker fiasco. Surely he has to rely on what he's told by the owners. If the owners had originally intended to let the Dempsey deal go through but baulked at the price, that too will have been down to others.

It's been discussed before, but a few people (including myself) believe that the money spent on Allen should have been used elsewhere. If he was gambling on getting money from selling Carroll/Henderson/Downing then that money should have been used to buy Allen if/when it arrived.

 

[LeTallecWiz]

We're on course for 53 points with one of the costliest squads in the league. That kind of performance was unacceptable last season, just as it was for Hodgson, and it is now, too. Rafa's first season was unacceptable in terms of league performance, but even without the CL run there were certain mitigating factors, such as it being his first season in a foreign league, the burden of CL games, and of course a couple of inspired signings in Alonso and Garcia inspired hope.

I wouldn't say I was losing patience: barring total disaster between now and May I'd want him to get another season, but so far it hasn't been good enough.

Rafa's first season was acceptable because the squad did improve, and we saw positives (& some of your excuses are valid - I'm surprised you won't use something similar for Rodgers - never managed a big club, burden of Europa League etc).
Kenny's first 6 months were very very solid - He kinda mucked it up by giving up on a working formula, and never fixed it.
Rodgers so far has got rid of our veteran spine (Kuyt, Maxi, Bellers etc), and that has hurt us as we've got little depth. We can't blame him for a 'costly squad' when he's only added three players to it - all who seem to be very good players (the majority says this here) and could get even better. I think the summer will be key for him - solidify the defensive side of the team, and we may see a strong assault on 4th (or better?). Fuck up, and I think year #2 may be his last.

 

[peterhague]

I'm not sure how Rodgers deserves more blame for the summer striker fiasco. Surely he has to rely on what he's told by the owners. If the owners had originally intended to let the Dempsey deal go through but baulked at the price, that too will have been down to others.

Well I don't really buy this idea that he'd been promised the funds to sign Dempsey. I'm quite a big critic of FSG but it's hard to believe that even they wouldn't have let it be known that a) funds had to be raised from selling Carroll and b) they would impose strict limits on spending on players of his age. I think Rodgers knew those things perfectly well, and even if he wasn't able to deduce what that might mean in the event of things not going to plan, he bloody well should've been. And that's without mentioning his highly questionable handling of the Carroll situation from the off, which might well have contributed to our inability to sell the big lummox.

 

[Red_Water]

Now that we aren't getting Forren everybody will say he is ace.

 

[Oncy]

Im not even thinking about Mr Rodgers position until after the summer window.

We're obviously doing ok as a club and financially we are sound so we SHOULD be thinking and moving forward. We dont need to keep saying 'we have a massive job on'
We HAD a massive job on, but we should have stabilised by now, we have built on a youth infrastructure and have cemented the groundwork for HOPEFULLY years to come. Whats important now is FINALLY getting our spending right.
We cant afford to waste another transfer window, we cant afford the mistakes of the past 5 years.
I tease alot about Allen, Borini, Coates etc but thats all it is, just teasing. These are good young pro's at the start of their careers and are growing up in public which is tough. They shouldnt be at a club like Liverpool at this stage and certainly not relied upon year in year out but when you have invested in these players for the future but spent the lions share of your money on present players (Carroll, Downing, Adam, Aquilani, Keane etc) who have abjectly failed to keep the club in its standing then there is little you can do but give this second line a chance to grow and support them on the journey. The mistakes have already been made, what we need to do now is not exacerbate them by relying on the failed regimes choices. I dont think we are going to do that.
We are in a poor position but thats what happens when only ONE of the last 6 or 7 superstar players you have spent hundreds of millions on performs.
Im not happy, but i dont think its Mr Rodgers fault at this stage.
I remember a lot of people at the time saying Souness tried to do to much too quickly, BUT admitting that it needed to be done. Well I think getting rid of Cole, Aquilani, Kuyt, Maxi, Carroll etc may well have been Mr Rodgers Souness moment. But I dont think now is the time to judge if he has done too much.
Secure your footing. Then build.
I know I have dogmatically stuck to this mantra this season but in Coates, Borini, Sturridge, Allen, Suarez, Shelvey, Suso, Henderson, Sterling etc we have built that footing. We need to build now. Our signings are everything.
Mr Rodgers makes a misstep or two and I will lose patience but for now results will be fragmented because our squad is not good enough. But it will be.

 

[Red_Water]

Will you all feck off and post some crap transfer stuff rather than bollocks on our manager! Priorities and all that.

 

[LeTallecWiz]

ahhhh andy ... you're back ... xxxxxxx XXXX xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

 

[the_khl]

I think it's fair to say that no-one is overly satisfied with Rodgers first 6 months here when it comes to our performances on the pitch. Some less than others.

However as has also been said, despite all the flaws, questionable decisions etc. we are not gaining anything as a club, at all, from chopping and changing manager as frequently as has been the case of late.

Rodgers has been, unlike Hodgson and to some extent Kenny too, hand picked to take us forward in a chosen directin and though we've not seen any real progress so far we at least should give him time to develop and progress.

I would've personally wanted to see Kenny stay in charge for at least another Season myself and was sad to see him leave. That's the past though and we've got to look forward, positively, without panicking at every poor performance.

 

[themn]

Vegard Forren at Manchester Airport, last night.


Now.....

BBC Sport Football ‏@BBCFootball1
Saints close to £3.5m Forren deal: Southampton are close to signing Norway defender Vegard Forren, after he pull... http://bbc.in/RWxzB3

WHAT A GAWAAAAAAN ??!!

 

[the_khl]

Will you all feck off and post some crap transfer stuff rather than bollocks on our manager! Priorities and all that.

I've tried mate, I really have.

It's like Kindergarden on here.

Ryan, what's the percentages on Eriksen on the O'Hare metre?

 

[gkmacca]

I've tried mate, I really have.

It's like Kindergarden on here.

Ryan, what's the percentages on Eriksen on the O'Hare metre?

Gay.

 

[Judge Jules]

Quite. The "O'Hare metre" indeed.

 

[Mystic]

Always seemed weird that we'd take him on trial but not make a bid. If he's that good, take a punt.

 

[peterhague]

Where I defo agree with you Oncey is that overall I'm optimistic about the future. We have a shedload of quality young players in the seniors and youth teams who, touch wood, will constitute the bulk of a very good squad in 5 years' time. Reina, McLaughlin, Wisdom, Enrique, Robinson, Smith, Coates, Jones, Heaton, Lucas, Allen, Lussey, Dunn, Shelvey, Teixeira, Suso, Henderson, Ojo, Rossiter, Ibe, Sterling, Suarez, Sturridge, Sinclair. Obv not all of those players will still be here by then, some will fail, but then others might make it instead. I genuinely believe that the future's bright.

What I'm much less sure of is whether Rodgers himself will still be here to lead them.

 

[the_khl]

Gay.

Where?

 

[Silver Sean]

That's one version, and a very slanted one. Another version is that we have a manager who, despite his age, has been coaching for 20 years, has earned the respect of major figures (Jose Mourinho, Vicente del Bosque) in Spanish football in the process, has managed - successfully - in the Prem already, had a fractured and lopsided squad to work with when he arrived and is now bringing Henderson and Downing (neither of whom were his signings) up to speed. Sorry but an outlook like yours would never have let Shanks in through the door.

Not my point. It's not 1959, we are not sleeping giants who have been in the second division for a decade. There are no excuses. We should be always challenging for at least a top 4 place. That's the minimum requirement for this club. There are other managers out there who would be with this squad. People can talk about needing time etc all they like but how we have performed this season is unacceptable so far. This idea that we don't have good enough players, squad is thin etc is not a plausible argument for only having 31 points from a possible 66.
I have no agenda, Rodgers seems like a decent enough bloke and an ok coach and as long as he's our manager I shall support him as I have every other manager we've had in my 44 years of supporting Liverpool. (Hodgson excluded, the utter bell) I am merely concerned that we are beginning to embrace our mediocrity instead or demanding more from everyone at the club.
Anyway, it's all opinions isn't it?
I don't want you thinking I am more interested in being right in my prediction that Rodgers will not get us back to where we all want to be than it actually happening. I desperately hope I'm spectacularly wrong, as I was about the internet (what's the point of that, it'll never catch on) and Madonna (one hit wonder, Cyndi Lauper will last much longer).
I fervently hope that in two years time you send me a message laughing at how misguided my opinions were and how little I know about anything. That would mean we are doing well. I would welcome it and hold my hands up.

 

[the_khl]

I am just trying to keep Ryan happy here, he loves to talk about Eriksen. His new favourite footballer now that Allen turned crap.

 

[Red_Water]

Always seemed weird that we'd take him on trial but not make a bid. If he's that good, take a punt.

I thought we employed a ton of new scouts over the last few months, what are those cunts doing if not watching players?

Coming for a trial? well it's not like this guy is 15 or something!

 

[LeTallecWiz]

Where I defo agree with you Oncey is that overall I'm optimistic about the future. We have a shedload of quality young players in the seniors and youth teams who, touch wood, will constitute the bulk of a very good squad in 5 years' time. Reina, McLaughlin, Wisdom, Enrique, Robinson, Smith, Coates, Jones, Heaton, Lucas, Allen, Lussey, Dunn, Shelvey, Teixeira, Suso, Henderson, Ojo, Rossiter, Ibe, Sterling, Suarez, Sturridge, Sinclair. Obv not all of those players will still be here by then, some will fail, but then others might make it instead. I genuinely believe that the future's bright.

What I'm much less sure of is whether Rodgers himself will still be here to lead them.

Bold players - can you tell me a lot about 'em.

Red players - can you tell more than the little I've read in the youth thread about them, and their potential?

 

[Gerry_A_Trick]

I'd prefer to be challenging for titles in 3-4 years that doing an Arsenal on it and threading water in top four. We need to continue this rebuilding from the ground up, which is beginning to pay off. If it means we're not in the CL for another season or two, then so be it. As long as we continue to show signs of going about things with a long term mentality, then I'm happy for Rodgers to stay.

 

[Oncy]

I do agree with Macca btw. Im not in favour of a Rodgers out stance, but im not against those who are. I can understand totally.
And I think if you think he isnt the right man you should be allowed to say so as vociferously as you like and you shouldnt be harangued for it.
Im in favour of supporting him as well as the club right now but that will change based upon how i feel we are progressing, everyone has their own barometer and thats fine. I didnt give Ryan shit for wanting Kenny out OR how he voiced it, and I wont give Macca or anyone else shit for wanting Mr Rodgers out. I can see why you would.

 

[the_khl]

Bold players - can you tell me a lot about 'em.

Red players - can you tell more than the little I've read in the youth thread about them, and their potential?

Yeah he probably can mate.

But not in this freaking thread.

GET OUT!

 

[Silver Sean]

I'm going to say this once (today) and won't repeat it again (until the next time).

I have no problem with people not liking Rodgers, or being unhappy with his progress to date. Their right. I think not liking a manager is fine (many Madrid fans don't like Mourinho, but if he wins, they shut up). I think not being happy with his progress is ok, but its based on expectations that I think are far too high. Let's face it, we're not a top club anymore. We're trying to get there, but non-stop mistakes by the last 3 managers in the transfer market have hurt us tremendously. This can be undone, but it will take smart purchases and time. I don't know if Rodgers will do it - I really don't, but I am happy with what I've seen far because there has been progress, albeit slow.

What makes me laugh/get angry etc is the people who called for Kenny's head throughout last year now preach patience etc, or those who wanted to give Kenny more time, who believed in him and thought he could rectify his mistakes are asking for Rodgers' head after a few months.

It's going to take time. We're not going to flog Joe Allen because he's looked very average (massive compliment) the last few months. We're going to stick with this manager for 12-18 more months, and if there's really no progress upward (by then, I'd want to be properly challenging for 4th place), then it will be his time to go.

I wanted Kenny to have more time because he was one of our greatest managers who won trophies and bought brilliantly and made me proud for 6 years first time round. He also won the league with a team he brought up from the second division, albeit spending heavily. I still had faith he could steer us back on course based on past evidence. My patience for Rodgers is tempered by the fact that I'm not sure on what basis I'm meant to believe in him. I like that we have good youngsters being given a chance and he seems to have some good ideas. Time will tell, we have no say over the matter, I hope I'm proven badly wrong and he turns into the greatest manager we've ever had and we name a stand after him in 25 years.

 

[Mystic]

I thought we employed a ton of new scouts over the last few months, what are those cunts doing if not watching players?

Coming for a trial? well it's not like this guy is 15 or something!

Exactly, it's strange.

 

[the_khl]

Confirmed: Lamah to Swansea.

Who is he?

 

[Red_Water]

Stop fekin up the thread!

Just for that......................

Liverpool have just signed a new centre half. Can the scandinavian lads provide comment please?

 

[Red_Water]

Confirmed: Lamah to Swansea.

Who is he?