Re: Football Chat Thread PART II : Tue Jul 29, 2014 7:37 pm  

100% Wire wrote:

FlexWheeler wrote:

Liverpool will struggle to make top 4 this season.

- They haven't replaced the goals and assists that suarez gave them. They've lost a world class player and not replaced him and that will hurt them across the season.
- Yeah they've signed a whole bunch of players, but they needed more bulk anyway. None are world class.
- They have the CL to deal with
- Man united have a better manager this season and no Europe
- Chelsea arsenal and city have all strengthened their team to a greater extent than Liverpool (taking into account where they were last year in relation to pool and the fact they had CL, taking into account who Liverpool have lost and the dynamics of the teams and where they signed players)

For them to have competed for the title again, and play in the CL alongside that this season they needed to keep suarez and sign the players they already have.

Suarez's departure will have regressed Liverpool by a good few years, you can't possibly replace one of the world's best strikers and expect a season as good as the last one. I'd be willing to bet that Liverpool won't be in the top 4

Same here.

Like we all thought at the time, when gerrard slipped over, it was a massive huge unbelievable missed opportunity..... rather than just a delay on success.

Liverpool will fail to make the top 4, the transfer market will become difficult, gerrard will retire (over the coming years not all next season) and they'll be right back where they were a couple of years ago.

Re: Football Chat Thread PART II : Tue Jul 29, 2014 8:35 pm  

I see Ross Barkley has signed his 'Protect the club in return for them letting me go at an agreed point in the future' contract.

Where is he going then?

Re: Football Chat Thread PART II : Tue Jul 29, 2014 9:11 pm  

Saddened! wrote:

I see Ross Barkley has signed his 'Protect the club in return for them letting me go at an agreed point in the future' contract.

Where is he going then?

A Manchester club?

Re: Football Chat Thread PART II : Tue Jul 29, 2014 10:42 pm  

100% Wire wrote:

Suarez's departure will have regressed Liverpool by a good few years, you can't possibly replace one of the world's best strikers and expect a season as good as the last one. I'd be willing to bet that Liverpool won't be in the top 4

I think most people would be willing to bet that, but nobody would have bet on Liverpool finishing top 4 last season, as most expected Spurs to be the only challengers for that place.

United may have a better manager but I still don't see a particularly better side. Their greatest strength for years has been their defence, they've lost Rio and Vidic who have great experience, they've lost Evra (not a great defender) who again has years of experience, and they've brought who in? Luke Shaw, a fantastic prospect, but will he fix their defensive woes? Not for me. They haven't strengthened the midfield defensively, they still have Valencia, Young and Nani on their books and they still look to be persisting with Rooney and RvP when, for me, the partnership just doesn't work that well.

Liverpool do look weaker, we definitely lack the player to make the difference in the big games, but I don't think people can underestimate Rodgers and his ability to improve people. I never considered Sterling an option at the start of last season, he's arguably our most consistent attacker now. Coutinho I felt could only play as a '10', but he's played midfield and shown a better all-round game. Sturridge was class last year, who's to say he's reached his ceiling? Who's to say any of our players have reached their ceiling? Suarez never arrived here a £75m player, I feel we've got some fantastic players on our books and the manager to make them even better. Who's to say Sterling won't get 20 next year? Coutinho won't get 15? Markovic won't get 15? I remember people saying all sorts when United let RvN leave the club, but Fergie put faith in Ronaldo and Rooney taking the mantle. I think Rodgers could do the same with Sturridge and Sterling.

Still, Liverpool's biggest weakness remains our full backs. So crucial to our play, but often our biggest liabilities defensively. We haven't signed any depth or even quality first choice players.

Re: Football Chat Thread PART II : Wed Jul 30, 2014 1:30 pm  

Saddened! wrote:

I see Ross Barkley has signed his 'Protect the club in return for them letting me go at an agreed point in the future' contract.

Where is he going then?

It's really that easy to see through, isn't it. A friend of mine retweeted Everton's tweet about it yesterday, and my only reply was 'AKA: moving to Citeh in 2015 then''. I haven't really missed the Premier League ans all the circus it brings

Re: Football Chat Thread PART II : Wed Jul 30, 2014 4:34 pm  

duke street 10 wrote:

A Manchester club?

He'll go to city and it'll ruin him.

Re: Football Chat Thread PART II : Wed Jul 30, 2014 5:11 pm  

Saddened! wrote:

I see Ross Barkley has signed his 'Protect the club in return for them letting me go at an agreed point in the future' contract.

Where is he going then?

Nailed on for Chelsea, as soon as either Hazard or Oscar leave (Probably next summer) - The upcoming Lukaku deal will basically become a swap, with maybe a Chelsea reserve chucked in to balance things up.

We are already looking at getting Christian Atsu from Chelsea on loan for this season, so I'd reckon he will be the reserve in question, if he performs to a decent standard.

Re: Football Chat Thread PART II : Thu Jul 31, 2014 11:26 am  

Not sure about 28m for lukaku.

Re: Football Chat Thread PART II : Thu Jul 31, 2014 11:10 pm  

FlexWheeler wrote:

Not sure about 28m for lukaku.

I think it's a decent deal. Another improved season and they'll make that back and then some next year. Regarding Barkley, let's be honest he's going to go for at least £50m when he goes, if Everton get Lukaku, another Chelsea player and £20m-£30m, they'll have done well, especially as there's profit to be made in Lukaku. I'm curious what it is the 'big' clubs don't like in him, as he'd done enough to get a chance IMO. More power to him, he'll be a much better player if he focuses on playing and he'll have plenty of time for CL football, there really is no rush.

Re: Football Chat Thread PART II : Fri Aug 01, 2014 9:12 am  

FlexWheeler wrote:

Not sure about 28m for lukaku.

Quite a bit too much.