Luis Suárez

[Leyton388]

I'd gladly go out and spend the entire Suarez money on Rodriguez. But we wont and end up giving Southampton another £25m for Lovren.

After selling Suarez we'd best not go out and blow it on average ****e. Spend it all on Rodriguez.

[tanner]

The main concern for me with this is the reinvestment in new players. Rogers is very hit and miss with his signings so far, I have my concerns with how well the Suarez money will be spent.

[Leyton388]

Deleted

[MrMichael]

The main concern for me with this is the reinvestment in new players. Rogers is very hit and miss with his signings so far, I have my concerns with how well the Suarez money will be spent.

I actually think our transfer record since Rodgers came in is pretty good, if unspectacular.

Coutinho, Sturridge, Sakho, Mignolet, Allen and Borini make up about 75% of the money spent, of those we overpaid for Allen, though he's a decent footballer, and Borini probably won't make it at this level though we should break even on him. Its a pretty solid group though and we'd probably be a touch in profit should we sell them all tomorrow.

Of the rest, Illori and Alberto seem strange allocations of resources but may prove to be worth it in future seasons, Toure was a sensible enough free, and the loan signings haven't worked out so it was a good thing we didn't bring any in permanently. That only really leaves Assaidi and Aspas as obviously not good enough, but we won't really lose untold millions on them.

Given the standard success rate of transfers at any club, especially when shopping on a budget, I really don't see the record as all that poor; certainly it isn't in terms of potential loses compared with transfers previous managers have made. It could always be better, but really it could be so much worse (and has been in recent memory)

As for spending on new players, well I do find it interesting that several people have recently mentioned worries about us "becoming the new Spurs", when last summer their signings were being proclaimed as making them certs for top 4 and possible title challengers. Personally I hope our guys stick with their long term plan, even if that means the signings we make initially appear unspectacular to the fans, given that the massive progress we have made over the last 2 seasons has mostly come alongside signings the fanbase were really not that impressed by. Maybe they know something we don't?

[Kinell]

Despite the negative publicity he creates for us, he's a wonderful player and im sad to see him go.
Gave us so many great memories and were selling him for three times the amount we payed for him. I'm just hoping we can fill the void and spend the money wisely.

[James P]

I actually think our transfer record since Rodgers came in is pretty good, if unspectacular.

Coutinho, Sturridge, Sakho, Mignolet, Allen and Borini make up about 75% of the money spent, of those we overpaid for Allen, though he's a decent footballer, and Borini probably won't make it at this level though we should break even on him. Its a pretty solid group though and we'd probably be a touch in profit should we sell them all tomorrow.

Of the rest, Illori and Alberto seem strange allocations of resources but may prove to be worth it in future seasons, Toure was a sensible enough free, and the loan signings haven't worked out so it was a good thing we didn't bring any in permanently. That only really leaves Assaidi and Aspas as obviously not good enough, but we won't really lose untold millions on them.

Given the standard success rate of transfers at any club, especially when shopping on a budget, I really don't see the record as all that poor; certainly it isn't in terms of potential loses compared with transfers previous managers have made. It could always be better, but really it could be so much worse (and has been in recent memory)

As for spending on new players, well I do find it interesting that several people have recently mentioned worries about us "becoming the new Spurs", when last summer their signings were being proclaimed as making them certs for top 4 and possible title challengers. Personally I hope our guys stick with their long term plan, even if that means the signings we make initially appear unspectacular to the fans, given that the massive progress we have made over the last 2 seasons has mostly come alongside signings the fanbase were really not that impressed by. Maybe they know something we don't?

It's not as though other teams are far better at transfers than we are. The Spurs example is a case in point. I think that, as you have expressed above, our dealings are not as bad as some people believe them to be. I have faith that we will reinvest the money wisely and strengthen the squad even though we are losing an individual talent.

For a quarter of the season at least it's almost guaranteed to be an improvement because we'd be without Suarez anyway. If we genuinely believe that the team is only top six without Suarez then we'd almost certainly be out of the title race after nine games, and potentially a significant way off the top four. At least this way we have the opportunity to build a team that can keep us in the title hunt.

[Bender]

San @Zizouology 2m
Exclusive from Agência News that FIFA will reduce Luis Suárez' ban. Their information is that the reduced ban is for 5 matches and 1 month.
Agência News say FIFA will in the coming days announce that Suárez' 9 game + 4 month ban is reduced. Sepp Blatter will chair the meeting.
Agência say CONMEBOL President Eugenio Figueredo and FIFA reached an agreement to reduce Suárez ban from 9 games/4 months to 5 games/1 month
__________________________________________________ __

I wonder if Suarez will do a Gerrard and decide to stay ? Someone call Rick Parry
FIFA WHAT A CIRCUS

[TheElephantMan]

That's convenient.

[Vermilion]

Just after...

Face of devastation.



Never mind, good news is on the way Luis!

[tanner]

I actually think our transfer record since Rodgers came in is pretty good, if unspectacular.

Coutinho, Sturridge, Sakho, Mignolet, Allen and Borini make up about 75% of the money spent, of those we overpaid for Allen, though he's a decent footballer, and Borini probably won't make it at this level though we should break even on him. Its a pretty solid group though and we'd probably be a touch in profit should we sell them all tomorrow.

Of the rest, Illori and Alberto seem strange allocations of resources but may prove to be worth it in future seasons, Toure was a sensible enough free, and the loan signings haven't worked out so it was a good thing we didn't bring any in permanently. That only really leaves Assaidi and Aspas as obviously not good enough, but we won't really lose untold millions on them.

Given the standard success rate of transfers at any club, especially when shopping on a budget, I really don't see the record as all that poor; certainly it isn't in terms of potential loses compared with transfers previous managers have made. It could always be better, but really it could be so much worse (and has been in recent memory)

As for spending on new players, well I do find it interesting that several people have recently mentioned worries about us "becoming the new Spurs", when last summer their signings were being proclaimed as making them certs for top 4 and possible title challengers. Personally I hope our guys stick with their long term plan, even if that means the signings we make initially appear unspectacular to the fans, given that the massive progress we have made over the last 2 seasons has mostly come alongside signings the fanbase were really not that impressed by. Maybe they know something we don't?

Unspectacular is probably more accurate. Our standout players I'd say are Suarez, Sterling, in terms of players that really can cause trouble, neither of which were purchased by Rogers.

If I'm thinking of Rogers players who really add something to our starting 11, I can only think of Sturridge and Coutinho, who in my opinion disappointed last season.

I'm completely on the fence over Sakho (I know plenty others aren't), whilst Allen, Aspas, Mignolet, Assaidi, Sahin, Alberto, Borini, Moses, llori, Cissokho and a few others are a mixed bunch ranging from shocking to fairly average and thats over £70m or £55m without Sakho, the equivalent of the supposed Suarez transfer.

So whilst I'm not saying that Rogers transfer record is terrible, I am concerned that the money from Saurez will not be spent on players that will really take us to another level, and the signings so far with Lambert, Lallana and Can have done nothing to convince me otherwise. I think they'll be good squad players, but theres no magic there which we'll miss with the loss of Luis.

Its a waiting game now, but I feel we really need to get this summers transfers spot on or we'll pay the price with Champions League football on the horizon.

[Exiled_red]

I think that as MrMicheal said our signings under Rodgers have generally been quite good but unspectacular. I think that if we sell Suarez (which looks likely) he would be able to buy steady players, the problem is selling Suarez leaves a massive hole. He is the one genuinely world class player in the squad who provides unpredictability and huge technical ability - to the extent that even if defenders know what he is going to do they still struggle to stop him. I don't see what we replace that with - I know we aren't going to replace like for like, but we need a very talented and unpredictable player, a series of 'reliable' or 'steady' players won't cover that. The issue isn't due to Rodgers it is more our ability to attract that type of player.

[michelmas]

I think they'll be good squad players, but theres no magic there which we'll miss with the loss of Luis.

Its a waiting game now, but I feel we really need to get this summers transfers spot on or we'll pay the price with Champions League football on the horizon.

And this is based on what exactly? Surely the "magic" you speak of does not come from a single player. This would not be magic but rather straightforward skill or talent. Magic is something that cannot be measured so easily. Magic is the undefinable something that happens when separate individuals come together and play above their respective abilities. Very like that "something" that defined the club at their peak last season. Try to define it and you will fail. Try to measure it and you will fall short. Yes, Suarez created a spark in the team but it was there without him too. The magic happens in the space in which the ball is travelling not in the foot that places it there. IMO, of course.

[EwarWoo]

Magic is the undefinable something that happens when separate individuals come together and play above their respective abilities.

Magic or tactics?

Both can be described as magical if being whimsical. Basing a debate on the correct usage of whimsy wont go very far

[tanner]

And this is based on what exactly? Surely the "magic" you speak of does not come from a single player. This would not be magic but rather straightforward skill or talent. Magic is something that cannot be measured so easily. Magic is the undefinable something that happens when separate individuals come together and play above their respective abilities. Very like that "something" that defined the club at their peak last season. Try to define it and you will fail. Try to measure it and you will fall short. Yes, Suarez created a spark in the team but it was there without him too. The magic happens in the space in which the ball is travelling not in the foot that places it there. IMO, of course.

Congratulations, you've successfully managed to be both patronising and pedantic in one post

Okay, lets not refer to it as magic, but skill. We will miss Luis's unique skills and talent.

[tanner]

Magic or tactics?

Both can be described as magical if being whimsical. Basing a debate on the correct usage of whimsy wont go very far