Comolli smokescreen or your fears realized?

[BrooklynRed]

Just read the interview with Comolli on the offal. Aside from Comolli intimating that Downing was the "big signing" everyone was anticipating (and no one in their right mind agreeing with him that Downing fits the bill in that regard), this paragraph gave me pause:

Q: Is there still work to be done, though?

Comolli: It's difficult to say. I'm sure there will be players going out because some players would like to play more and have more minutes. We will probably have a few loans as well, players who we would like them to develop, into the Championship or the leagues abroad. In terms of players coming in, it's difficult to say. I think we are going to sit down, look at the situation, see where we are, see who might leave and then we will reassess later. But we have done most of what we wanted to do.

Ruh-roh.

I have been defending the price of our new players on this site, because I assumed that our strategy included replacing targets we missed out on, especially Jones & Wickham ( so, a CB and young striker as required,) and filling glaring needs (LB). Is Comolli playing it close to the vest or is he truly needing to sell to buy ("see where we are, see who might leave and then we will reassess later"-- if so, I owe several posters on this site an apology for doubting their skepticism) OR, perhaps worst of all, is he certain we're ok with what we have?

I find this interview VERY troubling. Obviously, he will praise Downing ( and I will too--he's ours now), but this is very underwhelming and makes me wonder if he has seen a football match outside of England and is the right man to be doing deals for LFC. Miles better than Purslow, but if this is it, well short of good enough.

[Chris]

Bizarre. Not sure what your problem is with that. If you think we can just keep hammering the wage bill up and up without having to sell anyone then well....

[Mostar]

To me he appeared to be very realistic.

He said that we have done most of what we wanted and given our interest in Clichy it seems very likely that we will be pursuing first choice LB.

The rest (a good quality CB, a striker etc.) will depend on what type of opportunities we may see toward the end of the window and how quickly, how many and how much we can get for our deadwood.

I'm still cautiously optimistic and we have a long way to go before this transfer windows is shut.

[RedSince1964]

To me he appeared to be very realistic.

He said that we have done most of what we wanted and given our interest in Clichy it seems very likely that we will be pursuing first choice LB.

The rest (a good quality CB, a striker etc.) will depend on what type of opportunities we may see toward the end of the window and how quickly, how many and how much we can get for our deadwood.
I'm still cautiously optimistic and we have a long way to go before this transfer windows is shut.

Agree bud

[JBOX]

Bizarre. Not sure what your problem is with that. If you think we can just keep hammering the wage bill up and up without having to sell anyone then well....

We have a young CB. His name is Martin Kelly.
We have a back-up striker... Dirk Kuyt.
We just need a left back for next season IMO.

Next summer there could be better quality in differant positions that we can spend our money on, with hopefully CL football to offer them, so I see no need to go freaking with the squad we have now! Next year we'll be starting with a quality starting 11 - all of which want to play for Liverpool - and a strong bench with young talent coming good.

[-V-]

Our midfield is certainly far too big now so we definitely need to offload a few players first so its understandable if the focus switches to raising new funds through sales.

I wonder if maybe Commoli and Dalglish no longer see the full-back positions as big priorities anymore now that Flanagan and Robinson have impressed. We now have Johnson, Aurelio, Kelly, Flanagan and Robinson all capable of playing those two positions. Not to mention the fact that Agger and Carra can also fill them. I do think we need another versatile experienced defender but I wouldn't be surprised if the guys in charge are no longer too interested

[-V-]

**** I forgot that Insua is back too!

[Kenneth]

To me he appeared to be very realistic.

He said that we have done most of what we wanted and given our interest in Clichy it seems very likely that we will be pursuing first choice LB.

The rest (a good quality CB, a striker etc.) will depend on what type of opportunities we may see toward the end of the window and how quickly, how many and how much we can get for our deadwood.

I'm still cautiously optimistic and we have a long way to go before this transfer windows is shut.

[ronanm]

I presume Comoli has a slot in his working week, presumably a few hours, to list potential targets. He has had a pretty free schedule from Jan to May. In addition to identifying primary targets, he also lists secondary targets should the former not materialise. We missed out on Young, got Downing. We missed out on Jones, got no one in that position (yet). We blatantly need an LB, CB and probably a forward. I am sure there are going to be further additions before this window is out.

[BrooklynRed]

Really everyone? I am far more satisfied with January than this summer, save Downing, who fills a glaring need. Let's not confuse the windows and blend them together; Go scroll your way through the Transfer Forum and look at the wants and perceived needs of this team in the SUMMER WINDOW and tell me a back up keeper on a free, Henderson (who was on nobody's wanted list prior to the summer) and Downing (as the "marquee signing" that was promised), were what anyone was looking for for this team. Happy to have Henderson and Downing here, but never in my dreams did I think that would be it or enough.

I still don't.

We need a class, veteran LB and CB (Agger made of glass, Cara getting on in years, Skrtel coming off an up and down season). For me, that has nothing to do with us shipping out the dross in squad. Cole, Poulsen, Jovanovich, The Greek (?), Ngog (replace with a young striker)-- in addition to maybe Aquilani (who I like) and maybe Miereles (who I also like).

Yeah, but maybe I'm crazy... Hrm.

[Charly]

I think we need a replacement for Agger who has the same qualities. Insua will do for me at left back, with Jonson covering.

We have Kuyt to play as a backup target man.

If Suarez is out, who will provide pace and flair? To me these are the two positions we should be looking for a backup, as we have no like for like replacements, and they are both integral to the team, as far as I am concerned.

[Chris]

Really everyone? I am far more satisfied with January than this summer, save Downing, who fills a glaring need. Let's not confuse the windows and blend them together; Go scroll your way through the Transfer Forum and look at the wants and perceived needs of this team in the SUMMER WINDOW and tell me a back up keeper on a free, Henderson (who was on nobody's wanted list prior to the summer) and Downing (as the "marquee signing" that was promised), were what anyone was looking for for this team. Happy to have Henderson and Downing here, but never in my dreams did I think that would be it or enough.

I still don't.

We need a class, veteran LB and CB (Agger made of glass, Cara getting on in years, Skrtel coming off an up and down season). For me, that has nothing to do with us shipping out the dross in squad. Cole, Poulsen, Jovanovich, The Greek (?), Ngog (replace with a young striker)-- in addition to maybe Aquilani (who I like) and maybe Miereles (who I also like).

Yeah, but maybe I'm crazy... Hrm.

Are you Peter Ridsdale?

[Fredo]

I think we've addressed our priorities. We're more or less covered at left back - Johnson & Flanagan can play there and we still have Ngog (while still not good enough) to cover for Carroll. Even Suarez can play that position. Thing is, if we've missed out on Wickham I am not sure who is available and can really improve us - I'm talking about a striker there.

[Vermilion]

It's the reality, i do think though, that there are still those out there, fans i mean, that really believe we'll pull an aguero type signing out of the bag, a 35-40 mill spend on a real world star.

Imo that's not going to happen, and i suppose, with all the early spending we've done, it maybe did look to some like we were minted, and the spend would continue.

So i think Commolli is just lowering expectations a little when saying we've done most of what we set out to do, ie, we've signed our main targets, and from now on we'll see what happens, see who leaves and for what price...then look at who becomes available and at what price, and can we use them.

[Gazmo1]

So i think Commolli is just lowering expectations a little when saying we've done most of what we set out to do, ie, we've signed our main targets, and from now on we'll see what happens, see who leaves and for what price...then look at who becomes available and at what price, and can we use them.

I have to agree here. I'm sure everybody has noticed that Liverpool now pursue targets behind closed doors and the first new we hear is from the official site not some red top **** rag.

I'm sure Commolli is managing expectations while not alerting the clubs of potential interest by letting the media twist his words thereby allowing clubs to take the piss with the price of players.

We aren't going to go from a underachieving club to championship contenders overnight and as good as Kenny and Commolli are there are going to be some duds and some dudes.