Liverpool Signings and General Rumours Thread

LizardKing

Momo and Mascherano seem to have hit it off anyways ;-)
http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/images4/180207_npx_train_300_03.jpg

ciaran76

RE*AC*TOR wrote:

http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N155024070219-1015.htm


Liverpool PR in overdrive by the looks of things. Pictures of Riise and Bellamy hugging of all things.

lol reminds me of the time Dyer and Bowyer were wheeled out for their photoshoot after their incident.

Zapp Brannigan

Jus wondering, is Masch elligible for CL football?

PiE

RE*AC*TOR wrote:

http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N155024070219-1015.htm
Liverpool PR in overdrive by the looks of things. Pictures of Riise and Bellamy hugging of all things.

That's the gayest set of photos I've seen since that one time when I was 14 and curious.

griffdaddy

Slurms wrote:

Jus wondering, is Masch elligible for CL football?

yeah, is he a bona fide liverpool player yet or what?

RE*AC*TOR

Mascherano is in the Liverpool CL squad.

#20

http://www.uefa.com/footballeurope/club=7889/competition=1/index.html

tred

daveym wrote:

Bellamy faces €120,000 fine after training camp bust-up

09:20 Monday February 19th 2007

Liverpool forward Craig Bellamy's reportedly facing an €120,000 fine following allegations of a training-camp bust-up.

Reds boss Rafael Benitez said he would punish any players who breached club rules during the trip to Portugal.

Bellamy is at the centre of reports claiming a drinking session ended with the Welshman attacking defender Jon Arne Riise.

edit: this is from breaking news on independent.ie

in fairness, i remember logging a post on boards when liverpool signed pennant and bellamy, and it went by pennant and bellamy went into a bar, and broke it up...Bellamy is a thug.If there is any truth in what happened, they should sack him. How many second chances does he need?. he can be such a cancer in a club. Give it a week, hell start talking to the papers..

Zapp Brannigan

RE*AC*TOR wrote:

Mascherano is in the Liverpool CL squad.

#20

http://www.uefa.com/footballeurope/club=7889/competition=1/index.html

Cool, wonder if he'll make a brief appearance at Camp Nou? To help kill off the game.

redspider

I think the best thing to do with the bust-up(s) on the R&R is just to see if they will be blown over. It may have been Bellamy's first bust-up and whilst unwelcome, if its smoothed out its not the end of the world. Besides, everyone needs to concentrate on the Barca game and that can certainly focus the mind.

I would have liked to see both Kuyt and Bellamy playing up-front in the Camp Nou given the size of the pitch there. Their pace can certainly be exploited for breakaway chances which wil require speed. Crouch is perhaps the best option at Anfield, given his stature and the lack of height in the Barca centre.

I'd prefer to play with Gerrard and Alonso in the centre, although I hav a feeling that Rafa may revert back to having Gerrard out wide left. Not my choice but we will see.

I'm looking forward to a good game.

Redspider

missingtime

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KkZp8O3kAak

Voronin

RE*AC*TOR

missingtime wrote:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KkZp8O3kAak

Voronin

terrible goal-keeping

griffdaddy

is it just me or was the longest and most elaborate goal celebration ever?? the crowd seemed to go absolutely mental!

missingtime

griffdaddy wrote:

is it just me or was the longest and most elaborate goal celebration ever?? the crowd seemed to go absolutely mental!

I was thinking that as well. Just get to the bloody replay!!

mike65

taking the piss I think

Mike.

PHB

I think it's important for Liverpool to play Alonso and Sissisoko in the center, if they don't, they'll just won't have enough defensive cover to protect their goal. Also, Gerrard on the right win would mean he could keep an eye on Ronaldinho.
Gona be a great game I think.

RE*AC*TOR

PHB wrote:

I think it's important for Liverpool to play Alonso and Sissisoko in the center, if they don't, they'll just won't have enough defensive cover to protect their goal. Also, Gerrard on the right win would mean he could keep an eye on Ronaldinho.
Gona be a great game I think.

I would agree IF, and its a big IF, Gerrard could put his ego to the side and just get on with business on the right like he did last year.

Also people fail to remember Sissoko can't actually pass the ball. Not at all. Its an important quality in a midfielder.

mike65

---

Reina
Finnan--Carra--Aggar-Aurelio
Gerrard-Alonso-Sissoko-Riise

---

Bellamy--Kuyt

---

Reina

---

Carra-Hyypia-Agger
Finnan

---

Aurelio

---

Alonso--Sissoko

---

Gerrard

---

Bellamy--Kuyt

Kinda like the look of the second one.

Bench - Dudek, Crouch, Riise, Gonzo, Mascherano (I think he's clear for UEFA games), Zenden, Pennant,

Mike.

Zapp Brannigan

Voronin confirmed by Rafa
http://home.skysports.com/list.aspx?hlid=449329&CPID=8&clid=14&lid=&title=Rafa+confirms+Voronin+deal

So now I'm guessing no chance of Villa or Torres

Hopefully Rafa will spend big on Alves this summer, or Arbeola wows us all.

Vokes

Shouldn't Mascherano be cup-tied cos of playing in the UEFA Cup with West Ham ?

mike65

Ah!

Voronin is Fowlers replacement I'm sure.

Mike.

Zapp Brannigan

SofaKing wrote:

Shouldn't Mascherano be cup-tied cos of playing in the UEFA Cup with West Ham ?

Nope, I remember when we were trying to sign Lucas Neil I read an article stating there is a rule that allows a team to register a player who has played in the UEFA cup to play for a team in the latter stages of the CL.

Anyone confirm this?

~Rebel~

I remember reading the same thing posted on here alright Slurms. Hopefully its true anyway.

Id agree with Mike, id say Voronin is just brought in as the backup man, to replace Fowler. It is a decent signing in that respect, grand cover who wouldnt have dellusions of grandour.

What id like from our front 4 for next year considering the cash influx would be;
1. Eto'o/Villa to replace Bellamy
2. Kuyt - 1st choice partner to main striker
3. Crouch - worth hanging onto due to the extra dimension he adds
4. Voronin - extra backup striker for injuries, player resting and carling cup.

im not sure about Torres still, i've seen him a lot and he can be class, but at times goes through spells of looking like cisse in his finishing. Would put Villa or Eto'o as the perfect main striker to suit liverpools play.

Zapp Brannigan

Between Eto'o and Villa I'd prefer Villa.
Eto'o seems to have an attitude problem, I remember he was moaning to the press because they were only talking about Ronaldinho and ignoring him despite his goals, then there's the thing of him refusing to play.
Villa doesn't seem to have any problems like that, just seems a quality player who has stated he likes Liverpool.

~Rebel~

Eto'o does have a fiery temperment alright, but his arrogance is something i like, since he can actually back it up with every type of goal imaginable. His attitude would be a gamble alright but one which could pay off big time. Wouldn't blame him with the not wanting to play thing though. I saw the game and when he was warming up on the touchline, he didnt look comfortable at all with his knee, had a very worried face on him and kept feeling and stretching it. Must be hard enough to go back to pushing it to its limits again for the first time after such a bad injury. The game was already won at that point as well so its not like he was letting his team down or anything.

I do love Villa too though, good for all sorts of goals as well and lots of them, and would probably work very very well in a partnership with Kuyt.

Nunu

Slurms wrote:

Nope, I remember when we were trying to sign Lucas Neil I read an article stating there is a rule that allows a team to register a player who has played in the UEFA cup to play for a team in the latter stages of the CL.

Anyone confirm this?

He's eligible. Scroll down to article 15.18.

http://www.uefa.com/newsfiles/19071.pdf

Stky10

Looks like Pongolle is on the way out

http://www.tribalfootball.com/article.php?id=29404

I'm slightly surprised

redspider

mike65 wrote:

---

Carra-Hyypia-Agger

I hope that's not the case as it will signal a tactic of going for a 0-0 draw, with less of a chance of a good breakaway goal (as there is less support in midfield).

Its a wide pitch and we need fast legs. Hyypia and Agger with their lack of pace and turning capability is asking for trouble. I envisage a hapless ahnd up in the air from Hyppia seeking an offside and none coming with a Messi skipping through. There is only so much that Carra can do. He is superman but even superman has limits.

Asking Barca to come onto us could lead to a goal eventually and make for a long night. Once one goal would go in, we would have little response and it could slip to two.

I think 4-4-2 is our best option.

If 0-0 is the score sought, then 4-5-1 is more effective, so that could mean something like:

Fin - Car - Agg - Rii

---

Sissoko

---

Pen - Ger - Alo - Aur

---

Kuyt

---

Little chance of a goal for us apart from a dead-ball situation, but a set-up that could keep Barca out. I'm not a fan of that type of style but if Rafa did come away with a 0-0 it would be seen as an ugly scalp. And in football, there are no prizes for elegance.

Redspider

PHB

Liverpool have the same chance of signing Eto as United have of signing Ronaldinho. Eto is possibly the best striker in the world at the top of his game, and Barca want to keep him. Not gona happen. Villa is a possibility, but are Liverpool really gona spend 20-25 million on a striker?

Stky10

PHB wrote:

are Liverpool really gona spend 20-25 million on a striker?

Now that they've got to money to do so.... maybe...

mike65

Flo-Po is doing pretty well in Spain, if I were him I think I'd stay.

Mike.

el rabitos

id be hard pressed to take the risk of spending 20+ on any player coming from la liga to the premiership, especially a striker, and thats the kind of money althetico would be looking for to part with torres, stupid money, he's very overrated and very lightweight, i dont see him ever playing in the premiership.

villa on the other hand is the only player i'd even consider being able to make the change to the premiership, he's by far the most complete spanish forward in la liga. i'd love to have him at pool, but as i said, i think its always going to be a massive risk taking a spanish striker to the premiership when your parting with such a large amount of money.

copacetic

Slurms wrote:

Voronin confirmed by Rafa
http://home.skysports.com/list.aspx?hlid=449329&CPID=8&clid=14&lid=&title=Rafa+confirms+Voronin+deal

So now I'm guessing no chance of Villa or Torres

Hopefully Rafa will spend big on Alves this summer, or Arbeola wows us all.

i reckon he is just a backup and getting him for free has to be a good deal even if he looks average..

Raskolnikov

Can Mascherano play this week in the CL? Do Pool have him permanently? Do MSI still have a stake in him?

PiE

Yes he's eligible, scroll up a few posts.

I think we're getting a slight bit ahead of ourselves with this talk of signing players like Eto'o and Villa.

Eto'o is still an integral part in what many still consider the best team in Europe at the moment, despite their patchy form. Villa is a star player in a re-vitalised Valencia team with genuine title ambitions this season.

Why would either wish to leave?

On the game itself, I think we need to get at least a score-draw. Can see away goals playing a major role in this tie.

The Rooster

Voronin 6 goals in 20 games for Leverkusen this season, 5 goals in 40 games for the Ukraine.

Prolific

....but perhaps he has a huge bundle of assists in there too!

Stky10

The Rooster wrote:

Voronin 6 goals in 20 games for Leverkusen this season, 5 goals in 40 games for the Ukraine.

Prolific

I know... but I saw a statistic yesterday that he has something like 27 goals in 65 appearances for Leverkusen, which isn't bad.

When I've seen him before, he reminds me of Bellamy, pace and ability to get into positions, but doesn't convert a high enough number of chances. Time will tell I suppose.

~Rebel~

PiE wrote:

I think we're getting a slight bit ahead of ourselves with this talk of signing players like Eto'o and Villa.

Eto'o is still an integral part in what many still consider the best team in Europe at the moment, despite their patchy form. Villa is a star player in a re-vitalised Valencia team with genuine title ambitions this season.

Why would either wish to leave?

There have been suggestions and question-marks about either of them being at their respective clubs next season, and both have expressed interest in trying their hand in the premiership Hence why i thought it was worth a mention for discussion. If we could get either i'd be over the moon anyway.

Through astute and low-key management, Barcelona managed to limit the damage of Eto'o-gate, at least to the end of the season, when either the Cameroonian or Ronaldinho is expected to be sold. Nevertheless, as 'Sport' argued, Rijkaard has neither forgiven nor forgotten Eto'o's insults but had merely signed a pragmatic peace pact with his striker.

http://www.football365.com/spanish_thing/0,17033,9405_1928165,00.html

Valencia are not expected to part with Villa for anything less than a gigantic sum, but Liverpool, Chelsea and Real Madrid are reportedly leading the chase for his (Villa's) signature.

http://home.skysports.com/list.aspx?hlid=449106&CPID=8&clid=14&lid=&title=Villa+admits+Prem+attraction



I agree with the idea that its a massive gamble taking a striker from another league for that much money, but theres noone of that proven caliber available in England at the moment really. Closest we could get really would be Defoe or Berbatov from spurs which would both still be pretty expensive anyway and neither quite what we're looking for (though i do really like the look of berbatov)

mike65

Boing!

Mascherano cleared by Premier League.

Squad for tomorrow

Liverpool (from): Reina, Finnan, Agger, Hyypia, Carragher, Riise, Aurelio, Pennant, Gerrard, Sissoko, Alonso, Zenden, Bellamy, Crouch, Kuyt, Fowler, Gonzalez, Arbeloa, Dudek.

No Mascherano though he did travel.

Mike.

Dont be at yourself

Arbeloa is a Ronaldinho specialist apparantly, but surely he won't start ahead of Finnan!

Zapp Brannigan

NekkidBibleMan wrote:

Arbeloa is a Ronaldinho specialist apparantly, but surely he won't start ahead of Finnan!

Would be risky but the lad has to be blooded at some point! Still I reckon it's Finnan starting and I'm thinking Agger will get the nod ahead of Hyppia. We'll need to be able to cope with the pace of the attackers and Hyppia cant do that.

Mark

Who the hell is Arbeloa? When did he sneak in to Anfield?

mike65

Wake up!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Álvaro_Arbeloa_Coca

Eto'o NOT in the team for tomorrow, Messi is.

Mike.

KdjaCL

PiE wrote:

Eto'o is still an integral part in what many still consider the best team in Europe at the moment, despite their patchy form. Villa is a star player in a re-vitalised Valencia team with genuine title ambitions this season.

Hasnt played in 4 months, wants the same amount of money Ronnie is on (120K pw) has 4ish years left on his deal. Barca have no interest in upping his wages (laporta has done very well to get them making money) so hes now shockingly bitching about the club......He may as well have a for sale sign hanging around his neck with a mobile number on it.

Have Liverpool got 20 million or so? As im sure Barca have identified a player in London with a similiar price and sign around his neck



kdjac

redzerdrog

KdjaCL wrote:

Have Liverpool got 20 million or so? As im sure Barca have identified a player in London with a similiar price and sign around his neck



kdjac

Robbie Keane

Stky10

Rafa being surprising frank about interest in players

http://home.skysports.com/list.aspx?hlid=449375&CPID=8&clid=14&lid=3&title=Rafa+reveals+Italian+targets

and respective wikipedia entries

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valeri_Bojinov

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amauri_Carvalho_de_Oliveira

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vincenzo_Iaquinta

Trezueget I'm not sure of. He can be very good some days, and very bad other days. Bojinov and Amauri have been good in the very small bits I've seen of them, and Iaquinta has been pretty crap any time I've seen him.

Stky10

Maybe there'll be a Bojinov+Trezuguet/Crouch swap

http://talkingsoccer.blogspot.com/2007/02/benitez-crouch-attracting-italian.html

el rabitos

KdjaCL wrote:

Hasnt played in 4 months, wants the same amount of money Ronnie is on (120K pw) has 4ish years left on his deal. Barca have no interest in upping his wages (laporta has done very well to get them making money) so hes now shockingly bitching about the club......He may as well have a for sale sign hanging around his neck with a mobile number on it.

Have Liverpool got 20 million or so? As im sure Barca have identified a player in London with a similiar price and sign around his neck



kdjac

he hasnt played in 4 months for obvious reasons, not because of his temperment or ability. he and ronaldinho are still intergral parts to the barcelona squad and theres alot of time between now and the end of the season for issues to be ironed out.

i do believe its possible if not likely that either he or ronaldinho will leave the club at the end of the season, both will not leave. but if i had to predict one to leave it would be ronaldinho who has not been offered a new contract either and who's been very much courted by milan. there would be no better time for barca to cash in on him.

there will be changes at barca but i highly doubt eto will be one of them tbh

Stky10 wrote:

Rafa being surprising frank about interest in players

http://home.skysports.com/list.aspx?hlid=449375&CPID=8&clid=14&lid=3&title=Rafa+reveals+Italian+targets

and respective wikipedia entries

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valeri_Bojinov

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amauri_Carvalho_de_Oliveira

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vincenzo_Iaquinta

Trezueget I'm not sure of. He can be very good some days, and very bad other days. Bojinov and Amauri have been good in the very small bits I've seen of them, and Iaquinta has been pretty crap any time I've seen him.

definitely suprising to see him being so frank about who he's targeting, if those are indeed direct quotes.

personally iaquinta would be the only one i'd want, he's the only one who's strong enough and powerfull enough to make an immediate impact in the premiership imo

~Rebel~

Rafa has a track record or courting several players seriously about any one position, such as with crouch and kuyt (when he went with crouch) before at the same time, and later Alves and Pennant. This could be that maybe Juve are playing hardball with trez and this is letting them know he wont be bullied into price and has other options on the cards. Or else, possibly more likely, is that he's interested in an entirely different player and this is publicly showing pool have other options, without compromising a push for an unnamed player..

Stky10

According to this, Mascherano is a 10m deal on an 18month contract. Wierd

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/sport/football.html?in_article_id=437452&in_page_id=1779

Stky10

el rabitos wrote:

personally iaquinta would be the only one i'd want, he's the only one who's strong enough and powerfull enough to make an immediate impact in the premiership imo

Oh he's powerful alright, I'll grant you that, but he's very slow, and hasn't a great goalscoring record. He's made his name with Udineze, but only has 44 goals in 146 games, thats only a goal every three matches. For the money he would cost, I think we could do better.

Personal matter of opinion though.