Liverpool FC 2011-12

[RedReet]

He tackled ok against City. 7 attempts, 7 won. Xabi was hardly a tough tackler in his first season here either, very few players are coming from a less aggressive league.

[JohnDoe]

He tackled ok against City. 7 attempts, 7 won. Xabi was hardly a tough tackler in his first season here either, very few players are coming from a less aggressive league.

Xabi was an utterly superb, top class tackler.

[ronanm]

Why Glen Johnson? He's a good fullback, still our first choice right back and can provide cover at LB, and push futher up the park if needed.

IMO we won't sell Johnson unless we get offered stupid money!

I think we can get good money for him. I don't think he is a great defender although he has done better when played out of position for KD, but his attacking threat has been curtailed imo - which is his primary skill. For whatever reason, here, he will never be pushed further up the park.

[RedReet]

Xabi was an utterly superb, top class tackler.

Aye, by the time he left is he was. It was a side of his game Rafa worked wonders on and something that went unnoticed for a long time by a lot of fans who claimed he was finished as they didn't appreciate his new role in the team.

[Exiled_red]

I think we can get good money for him. I don't think he is a great defender although he has done better when played out of position for KD, but his attacking threat has been curtailed imo - which is his primary skill. For whatever reason, here, he will never be pushed further up the park.

What do you consider good money? For me a full back of the quality we need is under normal circumstances (i.e. not out of contract or in last year etc)going to cost probably in the region of £10-15m and would still represent a gamble (will they settle etc). Given the number of other positions we need to address and the fact Johnson can cover left back, upgrading on Johnson is way down the list of priorities. I think it would take a bid of £20m minimum* before we should even consider it.

*Not that I'm saying Johnson is or isn't worth £20m+ just with the disruption to the squad and likely cost of a replacement (possibly 2 if we need additional cover at LB) I don't see accepting an offer of less as being practical.

[Mostar]

We shouldn't be contemplating the idea of selling GJ as we need at least 2 viable options to compete for the starting job.

Also who would we get for the money we would generate for selling him?

There is no point of selling anybody for the sake of selling unless we have identifed a target that clearly would be an upgrade on the player we would like to get rid of.

I cannot see that happening with GJ and would be very surprised if he would leave in the summer.

[ronanm]

What do you consider good money? For me a full back of the quality we need is under normal circumstances (i.e. not out of contract or in last year etc)going to cost probably in the region of £10-15m and would still represent a gamble (will they settle etc). Given the number of other positions we need to address and the fact Johnson can cover left back, upgrading on Johnson is way down the list of priorities. I think it would take a bid of £20m minimum* before we should even consider it.

*Not that I'm saying Johnson is or isn't worth £20m+ just with the disruption to the squad and likely cost of a replacement (possibly 2 if we need additional cover at LB) I don't see accepting an offer of less as being practical.

I'd take £10m.

[Exiled_red]

I'd take £10m.

You couldn't IMO get a player as good as Johnson who can play RB and offer cover at left back for £10m (unless they are out of contract or vey close to being out of contract). So in my mind it's no a deal worth doing.

[ronanm]

You couldn't IMO get a player as good as Johnson who can play RB and offer cover at left back for £10m (unless they are out of contract or vey close to being out of contract). So in my mind it's no a deal worth doing.

£12m then. That's my last offer

I see your point. But my belief is GJ cannot play right back. A defender should be able to defend first and foremost. Arbeloa and Finnan were miles ahead of him defensively, and nearly as good going forward. With a bit of luck, Kelly is in their mould as opposed to Johnson's.

[Rudo]

Get rid of:

Aurelio - way too injury prone
Ngog
Joe Cole
G Johnson
Jovanovic
Aquilaini
Insua
Soto
Maxi

for a start!

Be tempted to keep Maxi tbh, til next Jan at least.

Agree with all the others though. Obviously Poulsen needs to go as well.

[yamiedo]

Getting rid of Johnson would be dumb.

[Kenneth]

Depends on what we could get for him really, as with most players I guess.

[JHP]

Depends on what we could get for him really, as with most players I guess.

The logical extension of that is that we try to sell everyone?

[Rudo]

Getting rid of Johnson would be dumb.

Why?

[yamiedo]

Why?

He's a useful player, he's got experience, he has a lot to offer and our other choices at right back are still being bred into the side. Unless we can find a decent replacement there's not much point, I would rather see money spent on other areas than RB when we have a good enough one for now.