Football 2014/15

[Wooderson]

I'll keep them coming then...

...Sturridge will be gone before the start of the 2016/17 season

The Premiership consistently loses their best players. On the other hand, if he wants to return to one of his two previous employers good luck to him. Think he's a smarter fella than you give him credit. But then again, your LFC predictions havent been that smart have they?

[Wooderson]

Its the usual horseshit from Barca. One price will be leaked in Spain and another in England. Wish LFC would just announce the official transfer fee and be done with it. But they won't.

[pink_triangle]

I'm presuming that Liverpool will go for - and probably get - a player who is at around the same level as Ozil was considered to be last summer. No ideas who tho.

And I don't see them as having less pulling power. They're clearly a team on the up (with the owners and on the pitch), and traditionally one of the big boys with a very strong history. And crucially, they have CL football.

While they look a team on the up, it's a bit premature to make big predictions. They have a big problem and that is that there are more clubs with the finances to fight for the champions league places, than there are places available. They are still one of the more likely teams to miss out if man utd reclaim there's. I don't think they will get an ozil stature player on the basis of 1 season in the champions league, I think those players will wait another year untill they have a better idea if 1 will become 2 or 3.

[eFestivals]

While they look a team on the up, it's a bit premature to make big predictions. They have a big problem and that is that there are more clubs with the finances to fight for the champions league places, than there are places available. They are still one of the more likely teams to miss out if man utd reclaim there's. I don't think they will get an ozil stature player on the basis of 1 season in the champions league, I think those players will wait another year untill they have a better idea if 1 will become 2 or 3.

so what you're saying is that players of that level don't have belief in their own abilities and instead want a certain bet that by-consequence has no relationship to their own abilities at all? In other words, they must think themselves crap but if they can find a mug they'll mug him.

Or alternatively, if they're as good as they think they are they'll either make enough difference to ensure the sure-bet or shine enough to move on again if it doesn't happen.

The reality is somewhere in the middle, which gets to mean they won't have all players of that level queuing up (but no one does anyway!) but they'll have some to choose from.

Given that there's no such thing as a sure signing with any player no matter what they've done previously, it actually doesn't make too much difference in the end - it would otherwise be impossible for the likes of City to rise.

A signing works out or it doesn't, not particularly related to getting your first choice. Here's betting that Suarez wasn't first choice.

Edited July 11, 2014 by eFestivals

[TheGayTent]

Sturridge, like 99% of players will chase the $ and silverware.

If he continues to bang them in, he'll be off. Just like all very good Liverpool players who aren't intimidated by local gangsters.

Edited July 11, 2014 by TheGayTent

[pink_triangle]

so what you're saying is that players of that level don't have belief in their own abilities and instead want a certain bet that by-consequence has no relationship to their own abilities at all? In other words, they must think themselves crap but if they can find a mug they'll mug him.

Or alternatively, if they're as good as they think they are they'll either make enough difference to ensure the sure-bet or shine enough to move on again if it doesn't happen.

The reality is somewhere in the middle, which gets to mean they won't have all players of that level queuing up (but no one does anyway!) but they'll have some to choose from.

Given that there's no such thing as a sure signing with any player no matter what they've done previously, it actually doesn't make too much difference in the end - it would otherwise be impossible for the likes of City to rise.

A signing works out or it doesn't, not particularly related to getting your first choice. Here's betting that Suarez wasn't first choice.

I think if a player has the chance to join last season runners up Liverpool or 4th place arsenal,if equal money is on the table, arsenals consistency of regular champions league football makes them the bigger attraction. Every season Liverpool finish in the top 4 that changes, but its not overnight thing.

I said at the end of last season I thought Liverpool and (non champions league) man utd would be shopping for the same calibre of player, nothing I have seen has changed my mind.

[eFestivals]

Sturridge, like 99% of players will chase the $ and silverware.

right now he looks far more like a man who's just happy to have the chance to chase a ball for a change.

He's spent years sat on his arse not getting a kick. I don't think he'll be chasing the cash and silverware elsewhere too quickly.

[Wooderson]

Sturridge, like 99% of players will chase the $ and silverware.

If he continues to bang them in, he'll be off. Just like all very good Liverpool players who aren't intimidated by local gangsters.

Superb stuff.

[eFestivals]

I said at the end of last season I thought Liverpool and (non champions league) man utd would be shopping for the same calibre of player, nothing I have seen has changed my mind.

Utd's spaces and the shopping list to fill them has been known for ages. The same isn't true at Liverpool.

I wasn't around to read the papers at the time of Suarez's latest nibble, but from everything I've seen that doesn't seem to be anything about the transfer - and I've not seen a squeak about it from LFC either (tho perhaps i missed that?). It it looks like they knew it was on the cards.

In which case any real shopping will have been held back on, and the signings so far are only filler for the gaps they already had - which in the main aren't absolute first-choicers.

So, while you might turn out to be right, I don't think you've any seeing to base that conclusion on just yet.

[The Nal]

I see there's now rumours (again! Nal will love it ) of Sneijder for Man U.

I've gotta say, based on the WC, that'll be money down the drain.

He was great at times and utter shite at times. Sort of sums him up. I'd still love to see him in the Prem. Available for 16m apparently. Him, Mata and Herrera is very interesting midfield. Better than Cleverley and Fellaini anyway!

[Wooderson]

Could be wrong but I don't think any of LFC's spending thusfar has been financed by the Suarez deal. We had that cash to spend anyway. Whether it was informed by it is another thing. Whilst I'm a fan of Wilf Bony I dunno whether the side can adapt to his strengths without further losing some of that swagger we played with for much of last year.

[thetime]

He was great at times and utter shite at times. Sort of sums him up. I'd still love to see him in the Prem. Available for 16m apparently. Him, Mata and Herrera is very interesting midfield. Better than Cleverley and Fellaini anyway!

You mean no Vidal, oh!!!

[Wooderson]

£65m - Ballague/Sky Sports/F365 (same thing)

£75m - BBC, Telegraph, Independent, Everyone else seemingly

[eFestivals]

could be £65 and then £10m add-ons, perhaps?

The "around" that Guardian used suggested there was scope for variance in there somewhere (tho that might just be exchange rates).

Edited July 11, 2014 by eFestivals

[ThomThomDrum]

I said at the end of last season I thought Liverpool and (non champions league) man utd would be shopping for the same calibre of player, nothing I have seen has changed my mind.

The difference is Utd need to fill a lot more 1st team holes and LFC are filling squad holes predominantly

[TheGayTent]

The difference is Utd need to fill a lot more 1st team holes and LFC are filling squad holes predominantly

That's the mistake Liverpool are making...

[pink_triangle]

The difference is Utd need to fill a lot more 1st team holes and LFC are filling squad holes predominantly

I'm not sure I agree, if I did a combined man u/Liverpool 11, I would probably pick half of both. The teams who finished 3rd and 4th have made big statements in the transfer market. I think Liverpool must do more than bulkout the squad.

[Wooderson]

Ballague (ballax) has backtracked. Sky Sources can now be updated accordingly. It's £75m - 3rd highest transfer fee in history. Solid.

[thetime]

Ballague (ballax) has backtracked. Sky Sources can now be updated accordingly. It's £75m - 3rd highest transfer fee in history. Solid.

What ever the price you made a tidy profit.

[Gucci Piggy]

That's fair enough. No surprises that Ballague was wrong.

[Wooderson]

They should go for Draxler.

[ThomThomDrum]

I'm not sure I agree, if I did a combined man u/Liverpool 11, I would probably pick half of both. The teams who finished 3rd and 4th have made big statements in the transfer market. I think Liverpool must do more than bulkout the squad.

They defo need to make a big signing or two to keep up with the big dogs now that Fredfie is gone but Utd I feel have more immediate 1st team issues. One could argue nearly a whole new defence and midfield

[ThomThomDrum]

That's the mistake Liverpool are making...

It's not a mistake what they are doing now. That squad is in desperate need of depth especially now LFC will have more games to contend with. But yes, if they leave it at just squad depth and no real top 1st team player brought in then they may slip from where they are....

[TheGayTent]

It's not a mistake what they are doing now. That squad is in desperate need of depth especially now LFC will have more games to contend with. But yes, if they leave it at just squad depth and no real top 1st team player brought in then they may slip from where they are....

Well that's one opinion.

I guess it depends on your opinion of the quality of the players purchased thus far, and their cost.

[pink_triangle]

They defo need to make a big signing or two to keep up with the big dogs now that Fredfie is gone but Utd I feel have more immediate 1st team issues. One could argue nearly a whole new defence and midfield

Bringing in a whole new defense and midfield would be a mistake, these units need to have an understanding and throwing together a load of strangers is not the answer and also ends up in the money available being spread too wide. LVG will need to show he can get better perfomances out of the likes of Rafael, Jones, Fellani etc, like he did with several average dutch players in the world cup.

As for Liverpool, its pity they couldn't have brought mascherano back as part of the Suarez deal as he would have transformed the midfield. I would like to see Liverpool prioritize a top class central midfielder to build the side around as I think they are lacking in that area. Unfortunately its easier said than done. Is that player available? Can Liverpool beat other clubs to his signature? How does Gerrard cope not being the main man?