Nemeth to join AEK Athens on loan

[Shanks]

I'm not putting my house on us winning the title, but i wouldnt put my house on us missing out either. This season is going to be a bit weird, and it could go either way.

and you slate Guillem Ballague.

[dww]

Yeah but it won't help learn to play better football at the top level.

Is the Greek notably stronger? I'm not sure that AEK have even qualified for the Europa league and it is arguable that the quality there is not that high either.

I think the most important thing is for him to be playing competitive football. To me his movement looks childish and lacking in guile and you only really know how well a player will be able to finish in pressure match situations when they have played a good number of games. We don't have the squad depth to mean we would loan out a player who was good enough for a big team, so therefore we are always looking at a compromise of some sort.

[carheex]

With Fowler, Gerrard and Owen they were a class above. Nemeth isnt in the same league. He needs some competitive football. Good move

Literally.

[BFG]

**** me! I Whatever happened to blooding players into the first squad? I don't recall the likes of Fowler, Gerrard, Owen and Carra spending time at some small time european club. What a waste of time. You can be a professional for years at a foreign league and still fail to make the grade in the EPL so why do it with a guy of this age? Introduce him to english footy by playing him in english football not in greece. Its not like with have an abundance of strikers is it.

No but the likes of Glen Johnson, Beckham and Sheringham all spent time on loan in the lower leagues in this country and considering how their careers went after that I'd hardly view it as a waste if time. Nemeth may be going abroad but at Liverpool he already is anyway. The experience he'll gain will do him no harm whatsoever.

[The Birdman]

Going out on loan anywhere (within reason) is far better for him than the reserve ****e they play in

[dww]

**** me! I Whatever happened to blooding players into the first squad? I don't recall the likes of Fowler, Gerrard, Owen and Carra spending time at some small time european club. What a waste of time. You can be a professional for years at a foreign league and still fail to make the grade in the EPL so why do it with a guy of this age? Introduce him to english footy by playing him in english football not in greece. Its not like with have an abundance of strikers is it.

You could name any number of players who have failed to make the step up from the lower leagues too, and there are even a decent number of examples of players like Robbie Keane who failed with the step up from a mid to top level PL team. So I don't fully buy the argument that a loan elsewhere is inherently useless.

It seems likely that there are aspects of the game in this country that he would learn better here but then there is the argument that a top Greek side might have better facilities/coaching/whatever than many lower league teams.

No one has any doubt that he needs games. I have a slight preference for him getting them in England but at the same time I think any number of experiences might help him grow as a player.

[Mattshark]

Is the Greek notably stronger? I'm not sure that AEK have even qualified for the Europa league and it is arguable that the quality there is not that high either.

I think the most important thing is for him to be playing competitive football. To me his movement looks childish and lacking in guile and you only really know how well a player will be able to finish in pressure match situations when they have played a good number of games. We don't have the squad depth to mean we would loan out a player who was good enough for a big team, so therefore we are always looking at a compromise of some sort.

They are in the Europa League (3rd in Greece last season). I think they are a better team themselves than the teams in the championship (many of whom find passing a near impossibility). I agree with you that competitive football is important but him being with a better team I think will be positive to his progress.

[lickedlollipop]

Hope he rly get better and that he come back someday.. got luck lad!

[dww]

They are in the Europa League (3rd in Greece last season). I think they are a better team themselves than the teams in the championship (many of whom find passing a near impossibility). I agree with you that competitive football is important but him being with a better team I think will be positive to his progress.

I think they got beaten in the qualifying though by a Romanian team. I guess they may have the second leg to come.

I think you hint at a very important point there in that the specific club that he went to would be important. There are a number of factors from our point of view that could be key - 1/ standard of coaching, 2/ style of play, 3/ pressure to win, 4/ size of existing squad and 5/ willingness to play (loaned) young players. I'd be happy for a player to go to any team managed by Glenn Roeder (even though there are question marks over his ability as a manager), Burnley would have been a good option last year.

[dom9]

Who needs strikers! We havee Torres, Ngoe and the pony tail. Should be enough for the season. Surely all three cannot get injured at the same time!

If its true that we could not afford the fee and had to include this kid as a loan option then we are really t*ts up! Could we blame Rafa for walking out tomorrow? Its obvious he loves the club but he has taken us as far as we can go under the current financial situation. He needs real backing and I would say he is getting rightly pssed off with this bargin basement shopping...He deserves much better than this

Drama queen.

[Craig_H]

and you slate Guillem Ballague.

[Delinquent]

Im sorry mate but I see no evidence of any of this.
For starters, - Who in there right mind would pay top dollar for a 4th choice CB? Would Slur Alex? **** no. Would Wenger? Again, same answer.
I know it looks like bargain basement shopping but if you want a 4th choice,,well you get me point hopefully.
And I also dont see this "He needs real backing and I would say he is getting rightly pssed off with this bargin basement shopping...He deserves much better than this"
He looked quite chuffed the other day and doesnt look a man about to walk.

'He looked quite chuffed the other day'

Are you serious? What do you expect him to do? Stamp his feet and slam doors?

**** me.

I don't think he's about to walk but if the rumours about our finances are true, and Rafa has been denied the resources with which to go about his job, then I suspect he is a little less than happy about it.

But I suppose as long as he looks jovial in his press coferences then we have nothing to worry about.

[RedReet]

'He looked quite chuffed the other day'

Are you serious? What do you expect him to do? Stamp his feet and slam doors?

**** me.

I don't think he's about to walk but if the rumours about our finances are true, and Rafa has been denied the resources with which to go about his job, then I suspect he is a little less than happy about it.

But I suppose as long as he looks jovial in his press coferences then we have nothing to worry about.

To be fair, Rafa does seem to be one of the most petulant and petty managers about. If he’s unhappy, it’s usually pretty transparent.

I didn’t see the press conference by the way, so I can’t pass judgement.

[Reece]

'He looked quite chuffed the other day'

Are you serious? What do you expect him to do? Stamp his feet and slam doors?

**** me.

I don't think he's about to walk but if the rumours about our finances are true, and Rafa has been denied the resources with which to go about his job, then I suspect he is a little less than happy about it.

But I suppose as long as he looks jovial in his press coferences then we have nothing to worry about.

Do you really have to be so patronising and condescending in so many of your replies? It doesn't really help threads remain argument free.

[DannyMan2006]

I think Nemeths biggest mistake to date so far was turning down a loan move to Leeds at the start of last season. Had he been a success he would have been a step ahead in his progression to the first team squad. The loan move to Blackpool was curtailed by injury and again this means he failed to make any significant strides forward last year.

So whilst Nemeth had a very bright start to life in England his career at present has hit the buffers. I think the size and strength of Nemeth hinders him getting starts in the premier league, and he doesn't possess electric pace either which would be a big advantage. Due to this I think his progression to the Liverpool first team is going to have to be a slow and steady one until he bulks up and can hold onto the ball.

I think his ability as a player is not in question and if he does bulk up I think we will have a special player on our hands. In the mean time he needs to play games to improve his understanding of the game. I think playing with one of the better teams in Greece will help him and show him what it's like to play at a club with big expectations. Plenty of big match atmospheres in the derby games will also be a big plus for him, something you wouldn't get at most clubs.

I see Championship clubs mentioned, but the majority of them all play a different way to Liverpool, more kick and rush than possession football - would learning this style of play greatly improve Nemeth?

If Nemeth has a good year it will raise his profile and improve him as a player. This time next year there would then be plenty of premier league clubs willing to take him on loan, never mind the likes of Blackpool and Barnsley. We could then loan him out to allow him to get more experience of playing in this country, or even keep him in our own squad.