Johnson signs extension

[Kenneth]

You must be delighted with this news BTW. IIRC, you've always been a big fan?

Not his biggest fan, certainly. I was in favour of selling at the rumoured 20m price when it was doing the rounds. But looking at the prices for English players this window that seems less generous.

I'm waiting for Shaggy to search for an incriminating post on the matter before I say any more.

[Pablo]

AAAAAAAAHhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. Stop this Mata nonsense, he's not coming.

Why are some people so adamant it's a daft fantasy signing?

He would be available for around the same fee as we paid for Suarez.

The main competition seems to be a waning Arsenal. A club with a really restrictive wage cap.

I think it's a long shot, but I certainly think its possible.

I just think you're being overly pessimistic Ken

[Mostar]

He's not wrong though. If we sign Mata, i'll eat my ear

I was hoping you will say "I will drink my own piss or I will eat my testicles" but I will eat my ear is not really convincing

[Craig_H]

Drink your own ****ing piss

[Mostar]

[Norbs]

Top news, best signing this week

Would do great in a 442 in front of Kelly. Can't wait to see if he's given a chance there

[Mostar]

@LucasLeiva87
Well done my friend @glen_johnson fot the new deal. Well deserved #GoodNews

[saj]

Unrelated but I was going to say how we don't seem to be related to any central defenders - and I think the reason for this is because of the development of Andre Wisdom. The irony is that I checked LFC website and he's been given a contract extension!!!!

http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/lates...tends-lfc-deal

Liverpool have confirmed Andre Wisdom has put pen to paper on an extension to his contract.

The Reds have secured the future of the highly-rated 18-year-old, who figured in the first-team squad last season, after he signed the deal today.

Liverpool's Director of Football Damien Comolli said: "We are delighted. He made fantastic progress last season. He was here at Melwood with the first team for a few weeks to a month towards the end of last season and he did really well in training and was involved with the first team.

"He also did really well with the reserves. He's got great potential and a great future ahead of him.

"Andre is another player who is versatile. He can play, is good on the ball, intelligent and physically very strong. He has all the ingredients to be a top defender."

Wisdom was installed as reserve-team captain for the 2010-11 season after helping England to success in last summer's U17s European Championships.

A knee injury sidelined the powerful defender at the start of the campaign, but he returned in the New Year stronger than ever, earning international honours at U19 level.

Such was his progress, Wisdom was named on the first-team bench twice over the course of last season, including on the final day at Aston Villa, as well as being included in the Europa League squad.

"We have shown for a while that if young players are good enough they will be rewarded," added Comolli.

"I told him when he signed it is just a step. It's an achievement in a way, but he should not just sit on this contract and wait to see what happens - he should show that he is hungry and wants to keep progressing.

"We know he is very young and that his position at centre-half is very difficult to break into in the first team because of the responsibilities of the position, but Andre has all the qualities and skills to get there."

Since returning to the club in January, Kenny Dalglish has displayed a willingness to give younger players first-team opportunities, with the likes of Jack Robinson, John Flanagan, Jay Spearing and Martin Kelly all benefitting from such an approach last season.

Comolli feels this confidence from the manager in Academy graduates serves as a spur for the club's starlets.

He said: "I think it is massive for the young players. They are coming here (to Melwood) with confidence. Kenny has got a way of saying the right thing at the right time to them, boosting their confidence and making sure they're relaxed, whether it's in a game or a training session.

"For players like Andre, he saw what happened last season with Jack Robinson, Jonathan Flanagan and Jay Spearing, so he must be thinking he could be the next one - and that's what we are pushing him to do."

[RedReet]

Unrelated but I was going to say how we don't seem to be related to any central defenders - and I think the reason for this is because of the development of Andre Wisdom. The irony is that I checked LFC website and he's been given a contract extension!!!!

http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/lates...tends-lfc-deal

We’ve been linked with Dann, Zapata and Jones offhand.

But I would really like to see a top quality CB added for next year as we still can’t rely on Agger, Carra is getting on a bit and Skrtel still can’t be trusted to put in consistent performances every week just yet (although he did finish the season strongly)

[Mostar]

We’ve been linked with Dann, Zapata and Jones offhand.

But I would really like to see a top quality CB added for next year as we still can’t rely on Agger, Carra is getting on a bit and Skrtel still can’t be trusted to put in consistent performances every week just yet (although he did finish the season strongly)

I agree. Agger is a liability with his poor injury record, Carra is getting too old (maybe one more decent season), Skrtel is too inconstant, Soto, who I like as a person, is not good enough to carry the team regularly in case of injuries and Kelly is too young and untested in CB role at the first team level.

That said, there aren't too many top notch CBs out there that are available or that they would come to us without CL football.

We can buy young talent like Sakho or perhaps Lovren or get little more experienced ones in Vertonghen or Cahill but we may decide to go with what we have for next season and then really strengthen our defense next summer.

[RedReet]

I agree. Agger is a liability with his poor injury record, Carra is getting too old (maybe one more decent season), Skrtel is too inconstant, Soto, who I like as a person, is not good enough to carry the team regularly in case of injuries and Kelly is too young and untested in CB role at the first team level.

That said, there aren't too many top notch CBs out there that are available or that they would come to us without CL football.

We can buy young talent like Sakho or perhaps Lovren or get little more experienced ones in Vertonghen or Cahill but we may decide to go with what we have for next season and then really strengthen our defense next summer.

I'd be very surprised and disappointed if we did. One major injury to Carra or Skrtel and we'd be in big trouble. Added to the fact that I think we might see 3 at the back a few times again next year, then we'd really be pushing it. It's too important an area for me to take such a risk on and could really undo all the hard work we're doing elsewhere.

[RedReet]

Edit: I suppose though Kenny will still see Carra as first choice for next year, so that only leaves one slot for the majority of games for Skrtel and Agger to fight for. Maybe we will hold out if the right player isn't available.

[Mostar]

Edit: I suppose though Kenny will still see Carra as first choice for next year, so that only leaves one slot for the majority of games for Skrtel and Agger to fight for. Maybe we will hold out if the right player isn't available.

I think that outcome is very likely especially for this season.

One thing that could possible change that imo is if we're presented with an opportunity later on in the window that we just cannot miss out on.

[Exiled_red]

I think that outcome is very likely especially for this season.

One thing that could possible change that imo is if we're presented with an opportunity later on in the window that we just cannot miss out on.