Liverpool Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread 2014 - Mod Note in OP 28/8

Agent Coulson

Balotelli for Borini I say.

Pyjamarama

Vinz Mesrine wrote: »

Yes, he would be a disaster to team morale

You don't think that the players are mature enough to ignore him if he acts up? Or that Rodgers is clued in enough as a man manager to be able to deal with him? For me he's shown that ability (Rodgers) in the way he's handled Raheem and the various luis issues.

Riesen_Meal

Not Mario, I really don't know would he fit into our setup to be honest, we don't need the publicity either post Suarez era....

Sappy404

So Tony Barrett filed his report with The Times saying that we enquired about a loan deal, but has since re-filed to say that there is a permanent deal in the early stages of discussion. Falcao is the preferred option.

Balotelli as a backup to Falcao. This is more arousing that that Nicki Minaj video.

googled eyes

Potentially buying Mario.
Still pursuing Falcao

baldbear

It sounds like the Balotelli deal is happening. His laziness is so frustrating. Fingers crossed it works out.

Harry Palmr

whatawaster wrote: »

Can't see this on his twitter

Looks like its from his Times article. Anyone a subscriber?

kfallon

I loved Balotelli at City.....not sure I'd love him as much if he joined Liverpool!

Quality on his day.....just we don't know when 'his days' are likely to be!

Francie Barrett

MD1990 wrote: »

Tony Barrett - Liverpool have made an inquiry about taking Mario Balotelli on loan from AC Milan

I would be thrilled if we brought Balotelli in.

Agent Coulson

Harry Palmr wrote: »

Looks like its from his Times article. Anyone a subscriber?

This whats out there.

http://www.lfc.pl/files/pdf/2014_08_21_times.pdf

D'Agger

It'd be a pity if we couldn't loan him as he seems the type of player who would set out to prove a point that he'd be worth a permanent deal. Ideal scenario is Rodgers gets the best out of him, he thrives with Sturridge, Coutihno & Sterling around him and he lives up to his potential. Worst case scenario, he acts the lunatic and is a bad influence in what seems to be a harmonious squad. If the fee is around the £14m mark that was in papers earlier in the summer then it's a bit like the Sturridge deal to me, I didn't know whether he would be cocky, selfish & be able to step up and supply goals consistently - he's been a dream signing. Balotelli for a fee around that is a gamble that I wouldn't mind us taking

Dont be at yourself

I have to say, after getting dicked around on all these loans (Aquilani, Reina, etc) for years, it'd be great to see us pick up somebody like Falcao or Balotelli in a similar low-risk fashion.

Morzadec

I think Balotelli would probably be worth the risk.

I would probably get behind the signing.

I certainly don't get the horror and fear that he's going to do something absolutely mental.

Question marks over his attitude? Maybe. The problem is he's not as good as he thinks he is. I mean, is he better than Sturridge? I don't think so really, though he does have more 'star quality' and is maybe a bigger name.

As long as he's coming in with no illusions of grandeur I think he could be a really good fit.

I mean when you think of the qualities he has it's almost exactly what we're crying out for. Can play up top, but can easily slot in out wide, can hit a free kick (which we're now missing), is fast and flexible in attack...

He's just coming into a good age for a forward. I think it's an age when people tend to mature a bit in general.

Out of all Rodgers' qualities as a manager, I think his number 1 is undoubtedly his man management. I think he could get the best out of him, and get him hungry.

That's my main concern about Balotelli - not that he'll do something crazy, because I think that's all overblown a bit. My concern is more - will he fight and do everything to win? Does he have that will to win in every match? DOes he have the Suarez-factor, or is he going to shrug and sulk if things don't go his way?

I don't know, in many ways I think Balotelli could be a more shrewd move than Falcao if we're talking about a 20-25m pound fee.

I'd be excited by it anyway and it'd be a tentative thumbs up from me

Iused2likebusts

Francie Barrett wrote: »

I would be thrilled if we brought Balotelli in.

Me too I think he would be a great signing.

googled eyes

http://instagram.com/p/r7gAOXLjxv/

4 hours ago

Harry Palmr

Agent Coulson wrote: »

This whats out there.

http://www.lfc.pl/files/pdf/2014_08_21_times.pdf

here it is

Falcao remains their preferred option, but Liverpool have been made aware that the Monaco forward favours a move to Real Madrid. Should Real’s longstanding interest in Falcao fail to materialise, though, Liverpool would be willing to put together a £20 million package to sign the prolific Colombia international on a season-long loan.

Balo for 20m and Falcao for 20m - that's only 40m. Sell Sterling for 70 million next summer to Real Madrid, buy the rest of the Columbian

Francie Barrett

Either Balotelli or Falcao would be perfect. Much better than the likes of Eto'o or Borini. Hopefully we get the deal done pronto!

Kirby

D'Agger wrote: »

It'd be a pity if we couldn't loan him as he seems the type of player who would set out to prove a point that he'd be worth a permanent deal. Ideal scenario is Rodgers gets the best out of him, he thrives with Sturridge, Coutihno & Sterling around him and he lives up to his potential. Worst case scenario, he acts the lunatic and is a bad influence in what seems to be a harmonious squad. If the fee is around the £14m mark that was in papers earlier in the summer then it's a bit like the Sturridge deal to me, I didn't know whether he would be cocky, selfish & be able to step up and supply goals consistently - he's been a dream signing. Balotelli for a fee around that is a gamble that I wouldn't mind us taking

Oddly enough, the answer to all four of those questions is yes. :P

whatawaster

Just watched a video of all his goals from 2012-13. Christ, an awful lot of them were penalties, which he won't be taking here. I'm very much in two minds. He is good, and has a very fine goalscoring record in England and Italy, but he's nowhere near the world-class talent some make out.

As Morzadec said, he's not as good as Sturridge. £160K a week is mental money for him

garra

So we're all behind Balo move in a reverse jinks maneouvre to ensure we get Falcao, is that it?

Morzadec

Sterling---Sturridge---Balotelli


Interchanging all over the place and running on to Coutinho's throughballs like there's no tomorrow

Knex*

I don't care what we pay out, as long as we do sign someone in the ilk of Falcao or Balotelli. Even more so if its a year loan with option to buy.

We need the quality.

Pilsbury Doughboy

Curb gifs always welcome!

whatawaster

Is he quick?

Only attribute that matters

Kirby

whatawaster wrote: »

Is he quick?

Only attribute that matters

We've got a fifa player over here! :P

Vinz Mesrine

Morzadec wrote: »

Sterling---Sturridge---Balotelli


Interchanging all over the place and running on to Coutinho's throughballs like there's no tomorrow

Balotelli is far too lazy and unreliable. Would rather play Markovic or Lallana.

Morzadec

whatawaster wrote: »

Just watched a video of all his goals from 2012-13. Christ, an awful lot of them were penalties, which he won't be taking here. I'm very much in two minds. He is good, and has a very fine goalscoring record in England and Italy, but he's nowhere near the world-class talent some make out.

As Morzadec said, he's not as good as Sturridge. £160K a week is mental money for him

I actually agree that he's not as good as his name suggests. He's kind of got this aura and personality where people believe he's more talented than he is.

I also agree that 160k a week is an excessive wage demand. It should be more like 100k. Would be a decent test of whether he wants to come and if he believes in the project. I can't see him being on more than 100k at Milan.

Despite all this, he still is a very talented player, a player that really nails the need we have in the squad right now (a really flexible centre-forward who can do more than just score goals, and with a good bit of pace), and in today's market, at his age £20m isn't too bad a fee.

If you're talking about risk, for me Balotelli at £20m is a shrewder and less risky move than Falcao for £40m.

Maybe the latter is more exciting and a bigger name, but I really believe Balotelli is a better fit for the style we play, is younger, is cheaper, has less injury-risk, has a sell-on value.

Either would be exciting and would make me really happy about the window, but I see Balotelli as the more sensible move

Stargate

Sappy404 wrote: »

Balotelli as a backup to Falcao. This is more arousing that that Nicki Minaj video.

LoL Sappy

DaveSuarez

@LFCZA posts the Times articles on his timeline whenever there's anything interesting happening. He's worth a fellow if you're just looking for transfer news.

noodler

Why do we have to pay ridic loan fees?

We seem to give players out on loan for a pittance!

Milan owe us one for Aqualani!

Ganymede Glow

Name the dweeb behind Riise

Nothing would justify giving Mario £160k/week, Sturridge would be rightfully p1ssed off imo along with lots of other players.

noodler

Alberto?

Ganymede Glow

Arda Turan apparently

whatawaster

Ganymede Glow wrote: »

Name the dweeb behind Riise

Is it Balotelli?

Soups123

I came into see how the Falcao signing was going and in about 10 mins it became Balotelli

I'll be back at qtr to 12 for the next one

Vinz Mesrine

Soups123 wrote: »

I came into see how the Falcao signing was going and in about 10 mins it became Balotelli

I'll be back at qtr to 12 for the next one

Bony

Knex*

Pilsbury Doughboy wrote: »

Curb gifs always welcome!

You're God damn lucky I can't find any decent Alan Curbishly gifs.

Charlie19

Is it Aspas?

Suarez out, Ballotelli in. Stuff of nightmares.

Really hope it's not true.

He doesn't last long at clubs for a reason.

pmy.murphy

Gianluca DI Marzio a fairly reliable Italian Journalist for Sky Sport Italia now reporting LFC have enquired about a loan deal for Balotelli but Milan refused. Tony Barrett also reporting it and are now discussing a permanent deal with Milan. Talks have also been held between Ian Ayre and Balotellis agent Raiola in Amsterdam

Kess73

pmy.murphy wrote: »

Gianluca DI Marzio a fairly reliable Italian Journalist for Sky Sport Italia now reporting LFC have enquired about a loan deal for Balotelli but Milan refused. Tony Barrett also reporting it and are now discussing a permanent deal with Milan. Talks have also been held between Ian Ayre and Balotellis agent Raiola in Amsterdam

Think it was on here earlier that someone pointed out that Balotelli's agent is also the agent of the goalkeeper, Romero, we have been linked with of late.


Could easily be a case of Ayre being seen with the agent, and journos guessing wrong as to which of the agent's clients was being discussed.

Knex*

rarnes1 wrote: »

Suarez out, Ballotelli in. Stuff of nightmares.

Really hope it's not true.

He doesn't last long at clubs for a reason.

Inter for three years, City for three as well. That's not bad at all.

Suarez's wouldn't be markedly better, for example.

And he's only just turned 24 last week, which is nuts.

~Rebel~

rarnes1 wrote: »

Suarez out, Ballotelli in. Stuff of nightmares.

Really hope it's not true.

He doesn't last long at clubs for a reason.

To be fair he was at Inter and City for 3 years each, it's just this Milan move which will be particularly short, and he did still have 14 goals and 6 assists in 25 starts and 5 subs.

I'd definitely have Falcao over him, but if we do bring in Mario, it'll be because Rodgers wants him, in which case i'm ok with it. Noone here knows better than Rodgers how the squad is, and how much Mario will or won't disrupt that. It's clear that attitude and group dynamic is a key part of buying new players at liverpool now.

Knex.

Knex. wrote: »

Inter for three years, City for three as well. That's not bad at all.

Suarez's wouldn't be markedly better, for example.

And he's only just turned 24 last week, which is nuts.

He's an Italian Collymore.

Stan Ballotelli

pmy.murphy

Kess73 wrote: »

Think it was on here earlier that someone pointed out that Balotelli's agent is also the agent of the goalkeeper, Romero, we have been linked with of late.


Could easily be a case of Ayre being seen with the agent, and journos guessing wrong as to which of the agent's clients was being discussed.

True but Tony Barrett is reporting we are in talks with Milan about a permanent deal for Balotelli plus balotellis agent is now on his way to England. Barrett is extremely reliable so normally when he reports something it is true. Thats not to say Romero is not under consideration aswell

Smithwicks Man

I can systematically, 100% tell ye that Balotelli will not be loaned to Liverpool from Milan.

Only way he'll move is on a permanent basis and a fee of £20m would most likely be enough.

Will be gutted if he leaves Milan but I won't be shocked as Berlusconi isn't an admirer.

8-10

Kess73 wrote: »

Think it was on here earlier that someone pointed out that Balotelli's agent is also the agent of the goalkeeper, Romero, we have been linked with of late.

And he's Assaidi's agent which could also be why they met

Tony Barrett isn't too reliable these days tbf

googled eyes