spacemonkey

https://twitter.com/#!/davefallows

Yeah, wasn't Rodgers quoted saying that the agreement would apply unless the player is going to leave Swansea anyway (i.e. if another club has a bid accepted for a player then Rodgers could at that point step in and match it if he felt that way inclined).

Don't think either are good enough and being a bottler is also a charge you could level at Elia. Let's just hope that our new "technical board" can come up someone better.

Saw a fair bit of Elia when he was here in Hamburg. He started fairly well in his first season but defenders quickly got the hang of him and he didn't rise to the challenge at all and seemed very light-weight. Second season he spent a lot of time on the bench or being subbed on or off, only scoring two goals and contributing three assists. Strangely, though, his anonymous performances on the pitch didn't stop him being in the papers all the time bigging himself up and encouraging bids for his services. I was quite surprised that HSV managed to get 10 million euros for a player who had flattered to deceive and become a disruptive influence. Not surprised at how it's worked out for him at Juve and frankly hope he stays away from Liverpool. Babel Mk II is not far wrong both in terms of playing style and mentality and as bad as Downing's season last year was, I've no confidence at all that Elia would be any better. Would rather replace Downing with someone better than both of them and failing that I'd have more confidence that Downing could get back into some kind of groove in his second year at the club than that Elia could deliver the goods here in his first.

Judging by his twitter page, he seems to think he's still a Liverpool player.

There seems to be a widespread desire to get the suits out no matter who they are. Of all the guys who sought to buy the club 18 months ago, it's hard to see - even with the benefit of hindsight - that one of the other options wold have been preferable to FSG. Regardless of the H&G experience, the club has prided itself previously and since on conducting its business in private so it's not surprising or unusual for that to be the case with the search for a new manager or DoF. In terms of the timing, they split with Kenny as soon as reasonably possible after the end of the season and Ayre has said that the vacant positions should be filled within 2-3 weeks. It's not ideal to change the DoF and manager at the same time, certainly, but if you're going to do it - and based on the performances on the pitch and the success of last year's transfers you can see why they took that decision - then I don't see how the timing could have been much better. 2-3 weeks to sort the new manager seems reasonable enough to me, not least when the season hasn't yet finished for one or two managers to whom they may wish to try to sell their vision. The end of the summer seems a better time to pass judgment than right now, before the changes have even been finalised and announced. When that happens, I'm sure we'll see Werner, Henry, the new manager and the new DoF in front of the LFC TV cameras until we're bored of the sight of them.

I thought a major reason for having a DoF in the first place was to ensure some level of continuity regardless of the manager. Changing managers this summer may or may not be the right decision but entering a transfer window with both the DoF and manager being either new or non-existent would be unfortunate timing and would surely present an extra challenge to squad development in the short term. Any new manager is going to have to come in and review the squad, review all the planning that Kenny and Comolli had been working on and decide what to pursue and what not to pursue and what additional ideas of his own he wants to add. In the meantime, other clubs will presumably already be negotiating their transfers. Might not be so dramatic a bedding in period if they bring Rafa back but not sure how likely that is. If Kenny does go, whoever is hired as DoF and manager will have a busy summer.

Both used to play for St Pauli in the German second division and were reasonably solid at that level. Liverpool quality though? I guess they've both improved since we then, especially hoilett, but I'm skeptical that they have what it takes to push us on.

Failed to live up to expectations at Werder so they just took what they paid for him.

Missed a penalty tonight as well. He's as good as signed.

Enrique may have dropped off somewhat and we may not have seen an awful lot of Coates but of all the problems that we've had this season, I'd say it's somewhat unlikely that the defensive signings would be the ones to have cost Comolli his job. I expect both of those players have retained their value and Coates was never expected to have a central role this season. I also can't see the owners saying, "happy with the £70m that you spent on Carroll, Henderson and Downing but Adam for £7m looks a mistake, we're going to have to let you go". I'd imagine he's being judged on Carroll, Henderson, Downing and indeed Suarez who has undoubtedly impressed with his ability but perhaps less so in other respects. Overall though, inclined to think it's Carroll and Downing that are causing the most alarm and it's probably one of those that Comolli's talking about.

Even Kelly can play left back can't he? Seem to recall seeing him play there for the ressies and doing well. Not ideal, perhaps, but with Enrique, Robinson and Kelly at left back and Johnson, Kelly and Flanagan at right back, I don't really think those are priority areas to strengthen. Suspect there'll be a decision to make as to whether to persevere with Agger or not though as apart from him and Skrtel, we're short of experience at CB now that Carra is on the decline and we can pretty much rely on Agger being unavailable for a significant part of the season. I'd imagine the focus will be on a goalscorer and wide attacking player(s) to replace Dirk/Maxi and provide competition for Downing (i.e. allow us to "rest" him if his form next season doesn't improve). That and trying to get Cole and Aquilani off the wage bill.

Yes. Fabio's contract is up at the end of this season and Bellamy, Kuyt, Maxi and Carra all at the end of next. I think.

At least we didn't win any penalties tonight. Every cloud...

So are the players seemingly. Not arsed unless it's a big game. That just seemed utterly casual without the ball from the moment our second goal went in.

Yeah, would have thought so. Said the same in my comment under the Indy article.

Suarez has many qualities but not sure that good penalty taking is one of them. His unpredictability might be counting against him there in that even he doesn't seem to be able to make up his mind what he's about to do until an instant before he does it. Anyone have any idea of his full record for Ajax? Kuyt, Adam, Gerrard, Henderson and one of Suarez, Maxi or Carroll?

Regarding Degen, he appears to have said in a recent interview that he would be prepared to walk away from his Liverpool contract and "would play for 3,000 CHF" if it meant he could play 90 minutes regularly. Linky

El Zhar as well.

eh?

Presumably we're looking to shift Jones, Insua, Degen, Poulsen, Cole, Aquilani and Ngog. Aquilani and Ngog could arguably still be useful (depending on whether we still bring in a striker) but there's quite a lot of money tied up in that group and even if the owners are willing to go out and get a CB and striker this summer regardless, carrying players on significant wages who aren't getting games has got to impact on our spending ability under FFP at some point, unless of course we have a City-esque sponsorship deal lined up. Hopefully there'll still be one or two new faces but also five + leavers.

http://www.fiorentina.it/notizia.asp?IDNotizia=98747&IDCategoria=98 Seems like they're saying Liverpool have ended up again agreeing a loan deal with an option to buy only for Aquilani himself to say he doesn't want another soap opera like last year so if he moves he wants it to be on a permanent transfer. Cue further negotiations.

---------------Pepe Johnson Kelly Carra Robinson ------------Spearing --------Gerrard---Cole Henderson---------Downing --------------Carroll The goalie stays Spanish.

HSV took a bit of a risk and increased spending for the past couple of years but it hasn't paid off (they remain outsiders for European qualification) and as a result they're now having to reign things in again. They've got rid of 9-10 members of the first team squad already this summer and they've been replaced largely by Chelsea youth team players (Bruma, Sala, Tore and Mancienne). Frank Arnesen has said they need to sell Guy Demel and Alex Silva this summer if they want to be able to bring in Skjelbred from Rosenborg now rather than in the winter (when his contract is up) and the consensus in the local media is that he would be the last signing of the summer and the overall goal has been to cut wageroll by 25% or so. Very hard to see how a Cole bid would fit in with their budget or their new signing policy (Arnesen actually seems to know what he's doing, unlike his predecessors). Maybe they want him on loan for 5% of his wages but I don't see them coming up with a remotely attractive offer from our perspective.

Saying the same as the translated Serbian article - he can go on a free provided he waives a pay-off, according to the Serbian media. No offers as yet but he's not in any of the training pictures from Melwood so focus is clearly on finding a new employer. They emphasise that these reports have not been independently confirmed.