Daniel Agger

[Shaggy]

Buxton probably talking ****

It's mentioned in The Guardian's latest report on it.

[danperkins]

Buxton probably talking ****

No thanks for Adam Johnson, if it means losing Agger. Just City pawning off players that don't want

[danperkins]

One thing Rodgers had going for him, was a solid back five; a foundation for him to rely on, knowing that if our midfield or attack looked impotent (again), he'd be safe in the knowledge he'd have a resolute back line and the potential for a clean sheet.

Developing a centre back pairing is not something that can be done overnight, it needs time and a variety of ability that complements the other. Two weeks before the start of the season and losing the vital cog that makes two central defenders look good, could be catastrophic.

we are playing a very dangerous game. With our fixture list, losing a player like Agger and that partnership in the heart of defence would be a disaster.

Even if we get players in, it's very late in the day. We need some sort of continuity for the seasons start, there is no forgiveness or room for error with our run of games.

Rogers is a long term appointment but we need to see progress, i just don't see selling one of the best CB's in the world as a step in the right direction

[doogle]

No thanks for Adam Johnson, if it means losing Agger. Just City pawning off players that don't want

They might aswell throw in Dzeko and Tevez

[MrMichael]

I'm not wanting to spread negativity but as things stand this is very concerning. We need to bring in a few players and top quality ones at that.

Definitely a concern. I'm quite sure we will make several signings though. And I'm actually quite keen on the idea of a loan or two on top of those. Spurs certainly benefited from having Adebayor last season (probably much more than they would have signing him outright), and I'd much rather we did something similar than make rash purchases.

[fidget]

I'd want £25m and Tevez on a years loan with them paying all but £70k a week of his wages to even entertain losing Agger.
We can't let him go

[danperkins]

They might aswell throw in Dzeko and Tevez

**** them if their gonna take one of the worlds best from us, don't insult us by pawning off a player that they clearly don't want.

So frustrating being a selling club

[Mostar]

Oh I do remember. But it is not fair to tar Rodgers with the Commolli / Kenny brush is it?

Aye, Vertonghen was a miss. But sort of proves my point, Spurs paid what, about £9m for him was is?

By no means am I saying replacing Agger would be easy, or that we should contemplate selling him unless he is adamant that he wants out and will not be signing a new contract. However if that is the case then I do think anything over £20m and we will not be excessively hurt in the long term IF it is reinvested wisely.

It was not intended as a dig at Kenny or Comolli.

It was just merely an observation about what could happen when you leave things too late in the window and how under pressure of time you can make a poor decision on who to buy.

Yes Vertongen went for about 9m

A player that we can possibly get for 9-10m is Kyriakos Papadopoulos from Schalke.

Only 20 years old and big, big talent.

Already very good player and will only get better.

Another one we should probably look at, if we have to, is Mamadou Sakho from PSG who is not held in high regards by Ancelotti.

Only 22 years old and still a very good prospect.

Also Dejan Lovren. We were linked with him before but it seems Barca is interested in his services.

That said, one name circulating around for last little while, as possible replacement for Agger is Amorebieta.

Decent player but he is already 27 and we can and should do much, much better.

[Fivex]

I think the reservations about the youth thing is that, as Stevie points out - youngsters have always had to prove themselves first to force established players out before getting their break.

Maybe Rogers isn't like that. What if he likes to give them more of a chance at their early stages of development, making it easier to mould them into round pegs rather than buying in the squares after they've matured?

He might have already given a clear indication of this, I'm not sure.

He probably sees the next 18 months as the only certain period where he'll get to do this however.

[Fivex]

I've just been looking at our squad and with Aurelio, Maxi, Kuyt, Aquilani gone and Bellamy and Agger looking likely to go that leaves us with an out field squad of:

Defenders
Johnson, Enrique, Coates, Carragher, Kelly, Skrtel, Flanagan, Robinson and Wilson

Midfielders
Gerrard, Henderson, Downing, Spearing, Lucas, Adam, Sterling, Shelvey and Cole

Forwards
Suarez, Carroll, Borini and Pacheco

That's 22 outfield players, but then you consider that the likes of Flanagan, Robinson, Wilson, Sterling, Pacheco and even Shelvey and Borini are fairly inexperienced, that leaves us with 15 experienced outfield players. Of those 8 were at either the Euros or the Olympics so could not yet be up to speed or could be tired, and we've been looking to ship 2 (Carroll and Cole) out. I'm not wanting to spread negativity but as things stand this is very concerning. We need to bring in a few players and top quality ones at that.

However it is hard to ignore this point

[Mostar]

I think the reservations about the youth thing is that, as Stevie points out - youngsters have always had to prove themselves first to force established players out before getting their break.

Maybe Rogers isn't like that. What if he likes to give them more of a chance at their early stages of development, making it easier to mould them into round pegs rather than buying in the squares after they've matured?

He might have already given a clear indication of this, I'm not sure.

He probably sees the next 18 months as the only certain period where he'll get to do this.

Given what he said so for I doubt it.

He said that Sterling, one of our brightest prospects, is not ready yet and will think about it loaning him and one of the best young talent we had in a long time Suso can even get on the squad sheet for EL.

[Lee]

Really?

Coates is good enough to play week in week out with Skrtel?

Carra can play another season and be solid?

Wilson can make it? Kelly can start CB? Wisdom or Sama can make the step up?

The other worry here is that Skrtel looks so much better and assured with Agger next to him.

Exactly.

Our defence as it stands is definitely good enough to compete for the top four; Reina (if he finds his form), Johnson, Skrtel, Agger, Enrique and Lucas is very strong. Take Agger out of that and we're very thin. We should be looking to strengthen, not weaken.

I've just been looking at our squad and with Aurelio, Maxi, Kuyt, Aquilani gone and Bellamy and Agger looking likely to go that leaves us with an out field squad of:

Defenders
Johnson, Enrique, Coates, Carragher, Kelly, Skrtel, Flanagan, Robinson and Wilson

Midfielders
Gerrard, Henderson, Downing, Spearing, Lucas, Adam, Sterling, Shelvey and Cole

Forwards
Suarez, Carroll, Borini and Pacheco

That's 22 outfield players, but then you consider that the likes of Flanagan, Robinson, Wilson, Sterling, Pacheco and even Shelvey and Borini are fairly inexperienced, that leaves us with 15 experienced outfield players. Of those 8 were at either the Euros or the Olympics so could not yet be up to speed or could be tired, and we've been looking to ship 2 (Carroll and Cole) out. I'm not wanting to spread negativity but as things stand this is very concerning. We need to bring in a few players and top quality ones at that.

A decent core but nowhere near enough to compete and see the season through.

[colin85]

**** it, had an hours kip. I have faith in Brendan and he will bring in some good players. If we lose Agger then that's life, like any other player he'll be gone sooner or later.

[cream]

We've got rid of Aurelio, Kuyt, Maxi, Aquilani and brought in Borini. I make that one player down, not sure what the mass panic is.

[Zapater]

I'm beginning to have an awful feeling about this. All of this "selling to raise funds". If we sell Agger (our best player) for 20m and buy a relatively unknown quantity like Allen for £15m I don't think I'll be able to handle it. ****ing horrible.