Topic: ALL Liverpool transfer targets and discussion here - LEARN THE RULES THOUGH - IV

[oddball]

From the Echo

Could you put the link to the story please. Thanks

[funkykingston]

15m for Allen too much?! Surely it is priceless to get in a player who will slot into the new system straight away and help guide those around him. Plus he 'could' take the strain from introducing Lucas too early

[Bob Loblaw]

15m for Allen too much?! Surely it is priceless to get in a player who will slot into the new system straight away and help guide those around him. Plus he 'could' take the strain from introducing Lucas too early

I'm the same really, think it's actually a bit of a steal for what we'd be getting, especially when you consider some of C+K's buys the last couple of windows.

[robbie keane]

What's with the obsession over whether a player is worth x amount, is it your money? No.

The first point we touch on is the fee, not whether the players qualities will improve us.

I remember the exact same thing being said this time last year, look at how that turned out.

[Fuzion6]

Interesting that the Telegraph who have been very active on the Carroll sale debate have softened their stance tonight saying that if no £20mn bid Carroll would be given chance to prove as a squad player that he fits a more fluid style...

[exiledintheusa]

15m for Allen too much?! Surely it is priceless to get in a player who will slot into the new system straight away and help guide those around him. Plus he 'could' take the strain from introducing Lucas too early

Happy to pay that, if his development continues over the next 2 years he will be a 30M player.  He really is that good, the thing that worries me is if we are not in above the requirements of the 'clause' then the other usual suspects will be, I rather we paid the amount needed to secure his service and as you state - fit straight into BR's system rather than fannying about and holding out till late on in the window, where we MAY miss out on him.

[keswick]

The Echo link for Oddball:

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-fc/liverpool-fc-news/2012/07/25/liverpool-fc-closing-in-on-deal-to-bring-swansea-city-and-wales-midfielder-joe-allen-to-anfield-100252-31466516/

[Camarero25]

15m for Allen too much?! Surely it is priceless to get in a player who will slot into the new system straight away and help guide those around him. Plus he 'could' take the strain from introducing Lucas too early

Depends how highly you rate him I suppose. Personally I think he's got what it takes to be one of the best centre mids in the league (if he isn't already), so I'd be fine with paying 15m. Though obviously if we could knock a few million off that it'd be great.

[Dirk18Kuyt]

Why do we need 8 Centre mid's? So we got Gerrard, Lucas, Allen starting. Where does that leave Aquilani, Adam, Henderson, Spearing, Shelvey, Cole, the introduction of Suso??

Another overpriced player that we're signing after one good season in the PL and ultimately won't help us in any way other than to get laughed at. Take note championship players, you'll be at Liverpool within a year for no less than £10 million if your team gets promoted.

Seriously, who had heard of him before this season? It's all well and good signing 'potential' but if they're gonna do piss all like Downing/Adam/Henderson then it's useless. I like these players and think they'll all come good but it just looks like such a waste at the minute, especially when we need a Left back and a right winger this time around.

[Garcepticon]

I'm torn with Allen, on the one hand last year we were very very short of decent CMs, Adam and Spearing offered little and I think one of them needed to be replaced - but hasn't Aquilani done that? Furthermore, Henderson barely got a run out at CM last year - I presume that won't be the case this year. So effectively we are gaining two CMs because Henderson and Aquilani are more likely to play there.

If we can offload Adam then I'll happily see another CM come in, but Allen just seems to be very similar to Henderson. I'd rather have Britton for a significantly reduced fee because he can cover Lucas, and we still don't have a replacement for him.

[Carlito Roberto]

If this goes through that will be £25m+ on players so far with only a million or so back through the door for Kuyt.

What happened to sell before we can buy and FSG bleeding us dry?

I'm starting to think notion is an agenda driven RAWK perpetuated myth.

[Camarero25]

Why do we need 8 Centre mid's?

Another overpriced player that we're signing after one good season in the PL and ultimately won't help us in any way other than to get laughed at. Take note championship players, you'll be at Liverpool within a year for no less than £10 million if your team gets promoted.

Would have thought we'll sell at least one if Allen comes in.

As for the rest of your post, have you ever seen Allen play?

[Vork+The Knights of Good]

I'm the same really, think it's actually a bit of a steal for what we'd be getting, especially when you consider some of C+K's buys the last couple of windows.

It's an interesting test case to be sure. I'm fairly certain that most of the people complaining about the 15m would be happy if we could get, say, M'Vila for that price. A player who's an ideal replacement for Lucas, but I have serious doubts about his ability to play alongside the Brazilian. Allen, while not a pure DM is pretty good in the tackle, allowing him to provide cover for Lucas, but he's perfectly suited to playing alongside our 21. I'm sure if you go back and look through older transfer threads you'll see posters banging on about signing a midfielder who can cover for and play alongside Lucas. Well that's exactly what we're looking at here. I'd like us to get the price down some if we could, but at least that amount of money would be going towards multiple roles in the squad. That's better value.

[macca888]

I wouldn't want him because I think he turns to shit after 4 months/whenever he's on a permanent contract.

But I'm a vindictive twat and I think it would force Spurs to pay over the odds for him if we declared an interest, so fuck it...

Absolutely correct. I was fuming when I heard Moscow I think had come in for him. I really want him to sign for Spurs because I think he'll have a fucking stinker of a season for them and cause similar problems in the dressing room for Villas Boas as he had at Chelsea. Once he's got his feet under the table with a permanent contract, he'll turn to shite again as a player and start up with his infamous  attitude and behaviour. He's like a fella who wines and dines a girl, is on his best behaviour at all times while they're courting, but once they move in together, starts farting in front of her and watching the telly with his hands down his kecks scratching his nuts.

[scottishRED]

Spurs seem to be in for all our targets - it's bloody annoying.

that thing in the echo about spurs not being bound to pay £15m+ and therefore potentially being able to do a cheaper deal than us sounds like utter bollocks to me.  (1) no-one is bound to pay/offer anything - neither liverpool nor spurs are party to that deal; (2) the clause benefits joe allen - it says Swansea have to accept a bid over £15m; (3) the clause doesn't say they have to accept a lower bid from Spurs (or anyone else for that matter).

To me, £15m sounds like a lot for Allen - getting into Downing/Henderson territory from last summer.  Credit to Swansea's chairman for standing firm if that Times piece is true, but at the same time you have to start thinking about other options if we are getting pushed once again into offering more than someone is currently worth. 

Big transfer fees weigh new players down with pressure / OTT media hype.  We can't make that mistake again - surely.

[Camarero25]

I'm torn with Allen, on the one hand last year we were very very short of decent CMs, Adam and Spearing offered little and I think one of them needed to be replaced - but hasn't Aquilani done that? Furthermore, Henderson barely got a run out at CM last year - I presume that won't be the case this year. So effectively we are gaining two CMs because Henderson and Aquilani are more likely to play there.

If we can offload Adam then I'll happily see another CM come in, but Allen just seems to be very similar to Henderson. I'd rather have Britton for a significantly reduced fee because he can cover Lucas, and we still don't have a replacement for him.

Allen could play Britton's role imo. I don't really see what skills Britton possesses that Allen lacks.

[OrangeMochaFraps]

I'd prefer an attacking/wide option to a center mid, but I'm not the manager and he knows what LFC needs more than any of us.

[macca888]

The Echo link for Oddball:

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-fc/liverpool-fc-news/2012/07/25/liverpool-fc-closing-in-on-deal-to-bring-swansea-city-and-wales-midfielder-joe-allen-to-anfield-100252-31466516/

We're not buying that soft twat are we? J Mc said he's shit and cheats all the time.

[scottishRED]

I'd prefer an attacking/wide option to a center mid, but I'm not the manager and he knows what LFC needs more than any of us.

don't do yourself down...no reason why an observer can't spot what we need just as much as (if not more than) the manager.  we all just hope to hell the manager knows best, right?

[amir87]

He's like a fella who wines and dines a girl, is on his best behaviour at all times while they're courting, but once they move in together, starts farting in front of her and watching the telly with his hands down his kecks scratching his nuts.

There's an image that will help me go to sleep. Adebayor cupping his bollocks. T'rrific.

[macca888]

There's an image that will help me go to sleep. Adebayor cupping his bollocks. T'rrific.

Whilst an image of you cupping Adebayor's bollocks would keep you awake most of the night, and sheets like a coffin lid in the morning 

[Paul-LFC]

Allen has a release clause in his contract which is triggered if one of five Premier League clubs bid £15million for his services.

Liverpool are one of those named in the four-year deal he penned last August, along with Manchester United, Manchester City, Arsenal and Chelsea.

That has complicated matters as Tottenham, who are vying with the Reds for his signature, aren't subject to meeting that amount and could effectively land him for a lower fee.

Surely that reasoning is bollocks? Just because we can trigger his release clause if we bid £15mil doesn't mean we can't get him for less - it just means the bid wouldn't trigger the release clause and it'd be up to Swansea if they wanted to accept it or not.

[hide5seek]

Allen even at 15 mill will be a steal. Can play the Lucas roll as well as partner Lucas. Well worth 15 mill if we have too.

[Bob Loblaw]

The only way I would be happy with this deal would be 15 mill minimum to be reinvested in the squad or 5 mill plus Joe Cole would be happy days also!

Haha, one Swansea fan seems to value Cole at £10m, shame he's probably just about the only fucker in the country who thinks that.

[RideTheWalrus]

Why do we need 8 Centre mid's? So we got Gerrard, Lucas, Allen starting. Where does that leave Aquilani, Adam, Henderson, Spearing, Shelvey, Cole, the introduction of Suso??

Another overpriced player that we're signing after one good season in the PL and ultimately won't help us in any way other than to get laughed at. Take note championship players, you'll be at Liverpool within a year for no less than £10 million if your team gets promoted.

Seriously, who had heard of him before this season? It's all well and good signing 'potential' but if they're gonna do piss all like Downing/Adam/Henderson then it's useless. I like these players and think they'll all come good but it just looks like such a waste at the minute, especially when we need a Left back and a right winger this time around.

Give him a chance for God's sake. He's 22 and British, of course he won't cost peanuts. But Rodgers has come in and wants to make the squad his own. No point bringing in Rodgers if he has to keep all the current players.

[oddball]

The Echo link for Oddball:

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-fc/liverpool-fc-news/2012/07/25/liverpool-fc-closing-in-on-deal-to-bring-swansea-city-and-wales-midfielder-joe-allen-to-anfield-100252-31466516/

Cheers mate. Can stick that in he news thread

[Bob Loblaw]

Why do we need 8 Centre mid's? So we got Gerrard, Lucas, Allen starting. Where does that leave Aquilani, Adam, Henderson, Spearing, Shelvey, Cole, the introduction of Suso??

Find it hard to fathom how you could be so short-sighted to be honest. With Aquilani and Adam there's a good chance neither will be here come the end of the window, and since when is Cole a centre-mid?

[Sarge]

Why do we need 8 Centre mid's? So we got Gerrard, Lucas, Allen starting. Where does that leave Aquilani, Adam, Henderson, Spearing, Shelvey, Cole, the introduction of Suso??

He is a good player and can already play Brendans system, on the CM's yes i think we will get rid of 2/3 of them where it be a loan (Shelvey/Suso) or sold (Cole/Spearing/Aquilani/Adam). Just cannot see all of the being at Anfield come the new season. Personnally i do not think all 3 of Cole, Adam and Aquilani will go. Spearing and the two loans i think may happen.

Gerrard, Henderson, Allen, Lucas will not go the rest is up in the air but as i said above.

[Camarero25]

Haha, one Swansea fan seems to value Cole at £10m, shame he's probably just about the only fucker in the country who thinks that.

They all seem to think Shelvey's shite on their forums as well, the weirdos.

[Dentron]

I'm at a complete loss as to why we're being linked with a 15m pound CM who wouldn't walk into the first 11 instead of wide attacking players. Hopefully we just aren't privy to what's really going on.

[amir87]

Whilst an image of you cupping Adebayor's bollocks would keep you awake most of the night, and sheets like a coffin lid in the morning 

[Camarero25]

I'm at a complete loss as to why we're being linked with a 15m pound CM who wouldn't walk into the first 11 instead of wide attacking players. Hopefully we just aren't privy to what's really going on.

That's your opinion though. In my opinion he would walk into our first 11.

Having said that I do agree that we are in more pressing need of wide players.

[Live in the Now]

I'm at a complete loss as to why we're being linked with a 15m pound CM who wouldn't walk into the first 11 instead of wide attacking players. Hopefully we just aren't privy to what's really going on.

Not only would he walk into the first XI but he'd be the cover for Lucas everyone has banged on about for the last little while. To put it in perspective Allen is better at the moment than every player we signed last summer, which is really quite shocking. It's no wonder we had problems last season.

[swordfishtrombone]

I'm at a complete loss as to why we're being linked with a 15m pound CM who wouldn't walk into the first 11 instead of wide attacking players. Hopefully we just aren't privy to what's really going on.

I think he'd walk into our starting eleven, but I agree that it'd be nice to see some progress on wide forwards too. Presumably our manager is well aware of this, and we'll see someone come in before long. I'm surprised that we weren't linked with Cazorla because he seems like the perfect kind of player for us.

All the talk has been about Rodgers preferring a 433 formation, but as things stand we've got a 3 pronged attack with only one decent prong! I suppose we've been linked heavily with Ramirez and then with Dempsey, but we've got to hope there's another signing lined up. I don't doubt that we'll dominate possession against most teams next season and control games. The next problem though is penetration, and I think (even if Cole, Bellamy + Carroll stay) that we really need to improve in this area.

[Dentron]

We can argue all day about whether or not Allen is an upgrade on Henderson/Shelvey. That's pointless. I don't think he is. People in the transfer forum looking for greener grass will always disagree. What does matter is that the latter two are already in our squad and on our books, and the former is looking like he'll cost a bomb, when we have far more pressing areas of need.

[greeny01]

We just have to trust BR if he signs Joe Allen...BR has worked and has seen some great players whilst he was at Chelsea etc, so he knows what is required to compete and if he rates Allen then lets get it done.  I also think there is money there but its common sense that we have to move some of the high earning players sat on the outside before we just add to the wage bill.  Personally I think it makes sense and it also ensures we don't have 70, 80, 90k players not pulling in the right direction if they are not playing which will happen even if we don't sign anyone else from here on in... Busy few weeks ahead me thinks (I hope).

[kkhaku]

Why is everyone so interested in wide players?

You don't really need a touchline hugging winger unless you want to focus on whipping crosses in - and with Andy Carroll seemingly on the transfer list, and Brendan's style being a ball on the floor pass and move 4-3-3, what's the point really?

Also, our problems offensively last season were with finishing chances more then they were with creating them. Borini should go a ways towards fixing that, and I think Allen will too. He and Lucas will allow the 3rd central midfielder (be it Aquilani or Gerrard) to concentrate on creating chances for the front 3.

[cezred]

sheets like a coffin lid in the morning 

Will be nicking that one.

[iamrobk]

Why is everyone so interested in wide players?

You don't really need a touchline hugging winger unless you want to focus on whipping crosses in - and with Andy Carroll seemingly on the transfer list, and Brendan's style being a ball on the floor pass and move 4-3-3, what's the point really?

Also, our problems offensively last season were with finishing chances more then they were with creating them. Borini should go a ways towards fixing that, and I think Allen will too. He and Lucas will allow the 3rd central midfielder (be it Aquilani or Gerrard) to concentrate on creating chances for the front 3.

Totally agree that we don't need these "touchline hugging wingers", but we do we need players who can play there and take a man on (and beat them).  Right now we have Suarez and... not many other people that can do that.  Sterling's too young and Bellamy may be sold.  So we absolutely still need someone to play there, unless Pacheco ends up getting a lot of minutes.

[DanA]

It seems madness to me that we are being linked at 15m for Joe Allen while Arsenal are being linked with Santi Cazorla at 15m.

Carzorla plays DM, CM, LW, RW, AM and does a bloody good job in all of them. Was probably the best player outside of Real Madrid and Barcelona in La Liga last season and has consistently performed. Best mates with Pepe too.