Re: Football Chat Thread : Sun Jan 30, 2011 7:50 pm  

Mark wrote:

I know Rob has seen him play but if you haven't put ESPN on now so you can watch Inter V Palermo. The player you're looking out for is Javier Pastore.

Would you have him to replace Scholes? Or still scarred from the Veron signing?

Re: Football Chat Thread : Sun Jan 30, 2011 7:51 pm  

74' wrote:

I agree Rob, we should show some balls and wait till the summer, then if Torres performs well throughout the remainder of this season his value could go up, and also, he then might want to stay, given time. I just think him and Suárez would make a brilliant partnership, he's been crying out for assistance and now he's got it he wants to go, I just don't get it.

You're a mid table club and he wants to be contending for trophies and champions league football. Something Liverpool can't offer him. It's not that hard to get.

Re: Football Chat Thread : Sun Jan 30, 2011 7:53 pm  

Robbie Rotten wrote:

Would you have him to replace Scholes? Or still scarred from the Veron signing?

I'd have him in a flash. Don't think he could play as a regular midfielder in the premiership. I think he'd play a Van der Vaartish role.

Re: Football Chat Thread : Sun Jan 30, 2011 7:54 pm  

Mark wrote:

You're a mid table club and he wants to be contending for trophies and champions league football. Something Liverpool can't offer him. It's not that hard to get.

Sadly, I agree. I've never buried my head in the sand over him moving, it's something that's been realistic ever since Xabi left, I just can't believe he's done it so crassly, which makes me feel he's being poorly advised, like many players have been this season.

Re: Football Chat Thread : Sun Jan 30, 2011 7:55 pm  

Robbie Rotten wrote:

I thought there was a clause that would activate in the summer if we fail to finish top 4, that would allow him to leave for £50m?

Anyway, I don't think they'd make a good partnership. Suarez will need someone to play to his strengths, same with Torres, I don't think they play to eachother's strengths, much like Torres and Keane didn't, so I could just see them playing like two individuals.

If Torres goes, we need to look for someone who's big, can hold the ball up whilst extra's like pace, mobility and finishing would be nice. Would release myself if we replaced Torres with Llorente, but he's allegedly off to Madrid, which would be a shame.

Correct their is a £50m buyout clause in his contract if we fail to finish top 4. If Torres was to stay (unlikely I know) but, would you play Suárez on the left and go back to playing Kuyt upfront, if you don't think they'd play well together. We're in need off a decent winger and Suárez can definitley play there.

An ideal replacement for me would be Andy Carrol.

Re: Football Chat Thread : Sun Jan 30, 2011 7:57 pm  

Robbie Rotten wrote:

No. We shouldn't sell him in January. In the summer, maybe, but it's more about showing the 'attitude' of the club, IMO. We were bullied over Masch and Alonso, we gave in and let the best midfield combo in the league go, submissively. We should tell Torres to stick it, Chelsea to stick it and wait until the summer.

Only way I'd let him go is for £40m/£50m and Zhirkov, who is wasted there.

Surely it makes far better financial sense to sell Torres now? Liverpool can get an auction going in January with the clock ticking. In the summer any potential suitor could sit in and wait patiently for Torres. He's worth more now than he will be in the long summer transfer window surely?

Re: Football Chat Thread : Sun Jan 30, 2011 8:06 pm  

Dita's Slot Meter wrote:

Yes, certainly an incentive to win.....Being a pessimist though, I can't help but think we had our chance yesterday. I can't remember when we last won at Chelsea?....Think we'll have to be practicing our pens if we are to go through?...

I think we did also, that 25 seconds of play when we could've gone two up only for Cech and Essien and they broke and scored. I can't remember last time we won there, I know we haven't lost since the Carling Cup semi a few years back and have drawn our last 5 in the league so maybe we do need to practice our pens

Re: Football Chat Thread : Sun Jan 30, 2011 8:08 pm  

74' wrote:

Correct their is a £50m buyout clause in his contract if we fail to finish top 4. If Torres was to stay (unlikely I know) but, would you play Suárez on the left and go back to playing Kuyt upfront, if you don't think they'd play well together. We're in need off a decent winger and Suárez can definitley play there.

An ideal replacement for me would be Andy Carrol.

If Torres was to stay, I'd have us lining up like this (only midfield and strikers here):

Lucas
Meireles-Gerrard
Rodriguez Suarez
Torres

But that wouldn't get the best from Suarez. Ideally, with a player like Suarez, you want to play either a 4-4-2, or a 4-3-3 with strong, box-to-box style central midfield players, like your typical African midfielder (I'm not being racist, just they have a habit of producing defensively strong, athletic midfield players).

If Torres goes, I'm struggling to see where Gerrard fits in unless we move him to the wider areas.

Re: Football Chat Thread : Sun Jan 30, 2011 8:15 pm  

Robbie Rotten wrote:

If Torres was to stay, I'd have us lining up like this (only midfield and strikers here):

Lucas
Meireles-Gerrard
Rodriguez Suarez
Torres

But that wouldn't get the best from Suarez. Ideally, with a player like Suarez, you want to play either a 4-4-2, or a 4-3-3 with strong, box-to-box style central midfield players, like your typical African midfielder (I'm not being racist, just they have a habit of producing defensively strong, athletic midfield players).

If Torres goes, I'm struggling to see where Gerrard fits in unless we move him to the wider areas.

I'd go with that however, I'd play Gerrard just behind Torres and Lucas in the centre alongside Meireles.

If Torres goes, then how would you feeling playing Gerrard in the same role as he played with Torres, just behind him Suárez? Would that work? I'll be honest, I've not seen alot of Suárez, but when I have seen him he's looked a very good player. What are your thoughts on Andy Carrol partnering Suárez, Rob? You say Suárez would suit a hold up striker, Carrol fits that bill for me, should be no.1 replacement.

Re: Football Chat Thread : Sun Jan 30, 2011 8:15 pm  

Madrid lose to Osasuna. League over I think.
Mourinho has them playing really slow, idealess, one-dimensional football. Be interesting to see what happens in June.