Jack Butland

[Alex]

I thought you were being contrary (again) hence my reply. Seems you were serious I'll never understand Dog.

Edit: The 'again' was about me misunderstanding you. Not about you being contrary all the time....

[yamiedo]

Will help us with a respectable mid table finish.

Absolutely We are a mid-table club after all

[Muddled]

He'd be a good long term signing for us IMO but if we brought him in as a sacrifice to other areas (specifically the attacking 3rd) it would at present be a bad move as we can deal with having Pepe in the side even with his long term dip in form.

FWIW I think the approach FSG are taking is the right one, it's not going to be a quick fix but getting a strong young(ish) side in place will bear fruit in the medium to long term.

Agreed. Although I follow Kennth's trail of thought; if a young, up and coming goalkeeper becomes available at a (potentially) low price because Birmingham need the pennies, then we might generate the cash from future budgets which would not directly impact any immediate spending. Thus, we have the £15m/£20m/a tenner, still available in January to address the areas of the team that need immediate attention.

Or at least, I hope that would be the case if any of this happens, obv.

[Neil Young]

I thought you were being contrary (again) hence my reply. Seems you were serious I'll never understand Dog.

Edit: The 'again' was about me misunderstanding you. Not about you being contrary all the time....

As if I'd be contrary.

Regarding Reina and Butland, what information is out there is contradictory - e.g. LFC interested in Butland versus Rodgers has said we're not looking for a keeper - and it's a question of picking and choosing what to believe in order to make a coherent tale.

I don't know about Butland but then there are lots of things none of us know about all this. It's possible Reina has suggested he feels it's time to move on for some reason. Certainly he hasn't been what he was, perhaps he needs a new challenge. Maybe Butland really is a great prospect. Maybe Rodgers needs to raise funds. Maybe it's all just talk from Birmingham City or Butland's agent. Who knows?

When did Reina sign a contract extension? Was it two years ago?

[Shaggy]

It *is* a bit strange, this Butland link. Not that it's strange that we might be interested in arguably the country's top GK prospect, but in terms of Rodgers' categorical denial that we are in the market for a new keeper. He could not have been more emphatic:

"I don't like to talk about speculation as I know in my time at Liverpool the names we have been linked with has been incredible."

"But what is worth putting on record is that I'm not looking for another goalkeeper."

"We have been linked with lots of goalkeepers. I have two very good goalkeepers - Pepe Reina and Brad Jones, who is a very loyal and capable number two.

"Any areas we look to improve will be elsewhere."

So he's either playing some sort of media game - which I wouldn't put past him - or this is just paper talk. I hope it's the latter and we concentrate on strengthening the first team.

[RichC]

He stated this a while back didn't he?

[Shaggy]

He stated this a while back didn't he?

3 weeks ago.

[RichC]

Feels like longer ago, certainly sounds like no interest but maybe his club are touting him about which could change the thoughts on this.

I'd take him based on it not interfering on other targets

[Shaggy]

Yeah it does seem like Brum are touting him around, which might have forced our hand.

Rodgers quotes were December 5th: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20618197

[danperkins]

Rodgers clearly said we weren't after a keeper when spoken too. And this rumour was in the air before then.

If Butland is on the way in, Reina is on the way out. He's not coming as a number 2 after Jones signed a new deal. Bizarre.

That said, if Reina did go, I wouldn't be as bothered as I was 2 years a go. But I would be concerned about the replacement until I've seen how he settles.

I genuinely have never seen Butland play, anyone an idea how talented he is or just another over hyped young English player?

If Reina is going to go much prefer Vorm.

[Shaggy]

Just thinking aloud about potential new keepers - the one who's impressed me most over the last couple of years has been Begovic. He had a bit of a dip recently(ish) when he lost his place to Sorensen, but he is mightily impressive. Just looked him up and surprised to see he is only 25. The one thing I don't really know about him is whether he's any good with his feet, but regardless he'd be my keeper pick.

[Robbie-9-Fowler]

I genuinely have never seen Butland play, anyone an idea how talented he is or just another over hyped young English player?

If Reina is going to go much prefer Vorm.

He's looked really good whenever I've watched him play, but its hard to say how he'll turn out, Kirkland looked really good at one point as did Foster and Carson.

It'd be a risk but he certainly looks capable, if he came in I don't think 1st team straight away would be a great idea, the way we're playing won't help either. 1 or 2 mistakes and a bit of media attention could be too much for him, buy and loan out like Chelsea have with Courtois would be best. But do we have that kind of money?

And I agree if Reina leaves I'd take Vorm.

[G]

It *is* a bit strange, this Butland link. Not that it's strange that we might be interested in arguably the country's top GK prospect, but in terms of Rodgers' categorical denial that we are in the market for a new keeper. He could not have been more emphatic:



So he's either playing some sort of media game - which I wouldn't put past him - or this is just paper talk. I hope it's the latter and we concentrate on strengthening the first team.

Or he has no say on the matter.

Interesting convo on twitter at the moment between royhendo and Gareth Roberts.

[Shaggy]

Courtois looks ****ing brilliant.

[Robbie-9-Fowler]

Just thinking aloud about potential new keepers - the one who's impressed me most over the last couple of years has been Begovic. He had a bit of a dip recently(ish) when he lost his place to Sorensen, but he is mightily impressive. Just looked him up and surprised to see he is only 25. The one thing I don't really know about him is whether he's any good with his feet, but regardless he'd be my keeper pick.

There are a few good keepers about, Vorm, Begovic and Krul have all been arguably the best keeper in the league the past 2 seasons.

Butland doesn't look good with his feet at all by the way, very naive his kicking is a mixed bag to say the least.