Luis Suárez

[banditos]

First test century for Steve Smith. Excellet.

[Slinky Skills]

I'd take Mata + cash for the ****ing negrito bucked tooth ****house vole rat.

[Daffy Duck]

Mata to us I've already started to scrape the letters of my #7 shirt

[marcus50bucks]

Liverpool ready to rebuff any Real Madrid transfer bid for Luis Suárez

• Anfield braced for late approach for unsettled striker
• Manager says any deal would be 'difficult' to countenance

Andy Hunter
The Guardian, Thursday 22 August 2013 22.30 BST

Brendan Rodgers has said Liverpool are prepared for a Real Madrid bid for Luis Suárez but has reiterated John W Henry's claim that the striker will not be sold.

Liverpool's principal owner stated a fortnight ago that the club would not entertain any offers from Arsenal or a European team for the Uruguay international and none have been received since. But with Arsenal switching their focus from Suárez to Real's Karim Benzema, and the Spanish club holding a long-standing interest in the Liverpool striker, Rodgers is anticipating a belated approach from Real, who are also close to agreeing a world record £86m deal for Tottenham's Gareth Bale.

Real have always been Suárez's preferred destination and relations with Rodgers were strained when he accused the Liverpool manager of breaking promises over his future in a Guardian interview. But having missed out on a major summer signing for the third time this week, and confirming that Liverpool's pursuit of Willian collapsed for financial reasons, Rodgers says the club cannot accept any late moves for Suárez.

Asked if he expected Real to formalise their interest with an offer before the transfer window deadline of 2 September, the Liverpool manager said: "I'm sure there will be plenty of activity in these last number of days. It is what it is and we will deal with it like we have during the summer.

"It's very difficult at this time (for a Suárez bid to succeed). We are trying to get one or two more quality players in through the door. If we lose Luis at this stage it would be difficult to replace him. There might have been a point a few months ago where there was time to do it but with 11 days to go it would be difficult to replace him."

Arsène Wenger said his pursuit of the Liverpool striker had ended following Arsenal's win over Fenerbahce in the Champions League play-off on Wednesday. With the club's move for Manchester United's Wayne Rooney also looking impossible, he has turned his attention back towards long-time target Benzema.

Ironically, Suárez could hold the key to Arsenal's hopes after they failed with bids of £35m and £40,000,001 for the 26-year-old. Real would not sell their only senior No9, having already moved Gonzalo Higuaín to Napoli, unless they could sign a big-name replacement and Arsenal hope that Real could yet take Suárez, despite Liverpool's insistence that they will not sell.

Benzema, though, is a favourite of the Real president Florentino Peréz and it is unclear whether he would fancy a move to Arsenal. The London club have struggled thus far for a high-level transfer breakthrough, having found that they need others to do business in order to unlock the stalemate.

Liverpool have endured similar frustration this summer and Rodgers did not hide his disappointment after the club failed to land Willian from Anzhi Makhachkala. The Brazil midfielder's future is unresolved, with Chelsea making a late play for the Tottenham Hotspur target. Willian is understood to have had a medical at Spurs on Tuesday but there is anxiety at White Hart Lane that he may be slipping through their fingers.

Liverpool's interest is over after Fenway Sports Group refused to pay above their valuation of the 25-year-old. The Anfield club were close to a £30m deal at the weekend only for an improved package from Spurs to prompt the owners to withdraw.

Rodgers said: "We identify the targets and then try and get the deal done financially. That's how it was. The club pushed as hard as they felt they could financially but it wasn't to be. "It's the owners' money and they will always have the final say because it's they who run the club. What they have taken on here is a huge job. You have seen over the last few years they will finance a project we are trying to develop and what we have to make sure of is we get the right players and the value and worth of the player is right. It's disappointing because this was a player who would have been perfect for us."

The Liverpool manager added: "It wasn't a football reason [why the deal collapsed] and I don't really want to go into it. That's for us as a club really. The bottom line is he hasn't come here for whatever reason and we move on."

Rodgers said only a week ago that Champions League qualification was a realistic demand of Liverpool but, should Spurs strengthen with Willian and others, he concedes the task will become even more complicated.

"The challenge is the same. This week hasn't changed it. What it has done is reinforced the clubs that are already in there," he said.

"Chelsea have won the Champions League and spent millions upon millions, Tottenham could spend up to 90-odd million and they are outside the Champions League. For us it is a huge, huge challenge, there's no doubt about that. But I don't want to be defeatist. We can't accept that. There's no doubt quality will cost you money. We just have to try to ensure we can get quality through the door and that will give us a chance for fourth. But make no mistake about it, it's a big ask and a big challenge."

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/aug/22/liverpool-real-madrid-transfer-luis-suarez?CMP=twt_gu

[Slinky Skills]

Liverpool ready to rebuff any Real Madrid transfer bid for Luis Suárez

• Anfield braced for late approach for unsettled striker
• Manager says any deal would be 'difficult' to countenance

Andy Hunter
The Guardian, Thursday 22 August 2013 22.30 BST

Brendan Rodgers has said Liverpool are prepared for a Real Madrid bid for Luis Suárez but has reiterated John W Henry's claim that the striker will not be sold.

Liverpool's principal owner stated a fortnight ago that the club would not entertain any offers from Arsenal or a European team for the Uruguay international and none have been received since. But with Arsenal switching their focus from Suárez to Real's Karim Benzema, and the Spanish club holding a long-standing interest in the Liverpool striker, Rodgers is anticipating a belated approach from Real, who are also close to agreeing a world record £86m deal for Tottenham's Gareth Bale.

Real have always been Suárez's preferred destination and relations with Rodgers were strained when he accused the Liverpool manager of breaking promises over his future in a Guardian interview. But having missed out on a major summer signing for the third time this week, and confirming that Liverpool's pursuit of Willian collapsed for financial reasons, Rodgers says the club cannot accept any late moves for Suárez.

Asked if he expected Real to formalise their interest with an offer before the transfer window deadline of 2 September, the Liverpool manager said: "I'm sure there will be plenty of activity in these last number of days. It is what it is and we will deal with it like we have during the summer.

"It's very difficult at this time (for a Suárez bid to succeed). We are trying to get one or two more quality players in through the door. If we lose Luis at this stage it would be difficult to replace him. There might have been a point a few months ago where there was time to do it but with 11 days to go it would be difficult to replace him."

Arsène Wenger said his pursuit of the Liverpool striker had ended following Arsenal's win over Fenerbahce in the Champions League play-off on Wednesday. With the club's move for Manchester United's Wayne Rooney also looking impossible, he has turned his attention back towards long-time target Benzema.

Ironically, Suárez could hold the key to Arsenal's hopes after they failed with bids of £35m and £40,000,001 for the 26-year-old. Real would not sell their only senior No9, having already moved Gonzalo Higuaín to Napoli, unless they could sign a big-name replacement and Arsenal hope that Real could yet take Suárez, despite Liverpool's insistence that they will not sell.

Benzema, though, is a favourite of the Real president Florentino Peréz and it is unclear whether he would fancy a move to Arsenal. The London club have struggled thus far for a high-level transfer breakthrough, having found that they need others to do business in order to unlock the stalemate.

Liverpool have endured similar frustration this summer and Rodgers did not hide his disappointment after the club failed to land Willian from Anzhi Makhachkala. The Brazil midfielder's future is unresolved, with Chelsea making a late play for the Tottenham Hotspur target. Willian is understood to have had a medical at Spurs on Tuesday but there is anxiety at White Hart Lane that he may be slipping through their fingers.

Liverpool's interest is over after Fenway Sports Group refused to pay above their valuation of the 25-year-old. The Anfield club were close to a £30m deal at the weekend only for an improved package from Spurs to prompt the owners to withdraw.

Rodgers said: "We identify the targets and then try and get the deal done financially. That's how it was. The club pushed as hard as they felt they could financially but it wasn't to be. "It's the owners' money and they will always have the final say because it's they who run the club. What they have taken on here is a huge job. You have seen over the last few years they will finance a project we are trying to develop and what we have to make sure of is we get the right players and the value and worth of the player is right. It's disappointing because this was a player who would have been perfect for us."

The Liverpool manager added: "It wasn't a football reason [why the deal collapsed] and I don't really want to go into it. That's for us as a club really. The bottom line is he hasn't come here for whatever reason and we move on."

Rodgers said only a week ago that Champions League qualification was a realistic demand of Liverpool but, should Spurs strengthen with Willian and others, he concedes the task will become even more complicated.

"The challenge is the same. This week hasn't changed it. What it has done is reinforced the clubs that are already in there," he said.

"Chelsea have won the Champions League and spent millions upon millions, Tottenham could spend up to 90-odd million and they are outside the Champions League. For us it is a huge, huge challenge, there's no doubt about that. But I don't want to be defeatist. We can't accept that. There's no doubt quality will cost you money. We just have to try to ensure we can get quality through the door and that will give us a chance for fourth. But make no mistake about it, it's a big ask and a big challenge."

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/aug/22/liverpool-real-madrid-transfer-luis-suarez?CMP=twt_gu

That bit at the bottom about going for 4th tells me everything I need to know.

It tells me we have no money or are not willing to fork out for quality which also tells me that we can no longer compete.

It tells me that we need owners who are willing to cough up the cash which ours clearly aren't prepared to do when they need to.

It tells me we have a lack of ambition.

Finally, and sadly it tells me that we are finished as a big club.

[john316]

Just being a 'big club' doesn't generate you Champions League-level money. Better scouting and coaching is going to be needed before we can risk massive expenditure.

[Leyton388]

That bit at the bottom about going for 4th tells me everything I need to know.

It tells me we have no money or are not willing to fork out for quality which also tells me that we can no longer compete.

It tells me that we need owners who are willing to cough up the cash which ours clearly aren't prepared to do when they need to.

It tells me we have a lack of ambition.

Finally, and sadly it tells me that we are finished as a big club.

I thought the same when i read that.

[Slinky Skills]

I thought the same when i read that.

I'm going to get grief for writing it mate, no doubt I will have the 'sensible' brigade come around soon to say "At least we're targeting the right people" but we're not ****ING SPENDING ON THEM ARE WE!!!

****ing pisses me off no end. We've all ripped the piss out of Arsenal these past few months for being cheapskates when in fact in we're the tightest cunts of all, we're Liverpool football club ffs. We clearly have money just fork out that little bit more and get those who will take us on to the next step.

And this ****e about finishing fourth, I know it's going to be a challenge but why use it as a barometer for where we want to be. We're never going to be successful if we're negative like that.

Makes me so ****ing angry.

[ChesterDave]

Its exactly that type of attitude that resulted in us spending £35m on Andy Carroll. We don't have billions to spend so we have to spend what players are worth. There is no point spending £40m if we think he is only worth £25m.

It's madness.

[Leyton388]

I'm going to get grief for writing it mate, no doubt I will have the 'sensible' brigade come around soon to say "At least we're targeting the right people" but we're not ****ING SPENDING ON THEM ARE WE!!!

****ing pisses me off no end. We've all ripped the piss out of Arsenal these past few months for being cheapskates when in fact in we're the tightest cunts of all, we're Liverpool football club ffs. We clearly have money just fork out that little bit more and get those who will take us on to the next step.

And this ****e about finishing fourth, I know it's going to be a challenge but why use it as a barometer for where we want to be. We're never going to be successful if we're negative like that.

Makes me so ****ing angry.

It pisses me off as well that clubs like spurs are poaching players from us but i think FSG have had their fingers burnt by the Carroll, downing transfers The right players are out there we just have to look harder. TBH £30m for Willian is about £5m to much Imo so to hear Anzi wanted more is just nuts.

[Tee]

That bit at the bottom about going for 4th tells me everything I need to know.

It tells me we have no money or are not willing to fork out for quality which also tells me that we can no longer compete.

It tells me that we need owners who are willing to cough up the cash which ours clearly aren't prepared to do when they need to.

It tells me we have a lack of ambition.

Finally, and sadly it tells me that we are finished as a big club.

It will change overnight with new owners. Rest assured Slinks, keep the faith.

[doogle]

Cissokho looks pissed off

No wonder Arsenal only bid £4,000,001, he only has one leg

[MrMichael]

Its exactly that type of attitude that resulted in us spending £35m on Andy Carroll. We don't have billions to spend so we have to spend what players are worth. There is no point spending £40m if we think he is only worth £25m.

It's madness.

I hate how the possibility of success for many fans now seems to only be linked to the winning of an insane and destructive financial arms race, one we cannot possibly win in the end. Doing it through hard work, team building and sustainable growth doesn't even seem to be accepted as a possibility any more.

People are getting so defeatist and negative about a situation which isn't even new, we've been financially overpowered by the likes of Chelsea and Utd for many years now. Its not like football will end and all chance of ever being successful again will evaporate if we don't spend big in the next week. And perhaps if we'd used our resources more wisely over the last decade or two we would be in a very different position today.

But hey, even if everyone else is depressed I still think we can go on to have a good season. At least we're not Coventry fans eh?

[MrMichael]

It pisses me off as well that clubs like spurs are poaching players from us but i think FSG have had their fingers burnt by the Carroll, downing transfers The right players are out there we just have to look harder. TBH £30m for Willian is about £5m to much Imo so to hear Anzi wanted more is just nuts.

Aye. How can you say you're having a fire sale then end up making a profit on your most extravagant purchase? Brilliant marketing by Anzhi if nothing else.

And Spurs are after all spending the income from the sale of their best player to do their transfer business. If FSG had actually looked to sell Suarez to fund squad building there would have been even more uproar imo.

[Fredo]

It will change overnight with new owners. Rest assured Slinks, keep the faith.

I'd rather we stick with FSG. I'd hate it if we had to win the league by the strength of our pockets. I'd rather do it through hard work and clever scouting and coaching.

I think we have the right owners at the moment. They are getting our house in order, slowly and surely.