Our players out on loan

[dww]

The away record was only PL games and it was against Southampton, Swansea, Everton, Villa and Sunderland. The games finished 0-2, 0-1, 0-0, 0-2 and 0-1. But we also faced Bolton, Besiktas, Palace and Chelsea away in cups during that run and conceded in every one of those games.

Are you trying to convince me that Bolton aren't covered by the top team caveat?

[The_weatherman]

I think the back 3 worked well but made pretty exacting requirements of all three positions. When we didn't have Sakho, Skrtel and Can fit and playing together we seemed very vulnerable.

The poor performance against top opposition point seems valid.

Yeah, the back three was almost wholly deoendant on those three at the back.

[Darkon]

I really hope we give the returning players a chance in pre-season. That's not to say that we should keep them all but Alberto, Teixeira, Wisdom, Coates and Ilori all look to have some quality (even if it is not clear it is enough for us).

If nothing else it would mean we would have just about every style of CB conceivable for the coaching staff to try to blend into a functoinal defense.

I agree in principle about giving them a chance, but it really depends on what's on the table. I don't think it's a particularly good idea keeping the around if it means postponing potential incoming transfers (if we need to recoup first). I think first and foremost we need to establish the new main squad as quickly as possible for pre-season to give Rodgers (or someone else?) as much time as possible to get it working. Last Summer we were a bit late with a couple of key transfers, and that didn't do us much good.

I'm fairly certain however that there is a pretty good idea of which of the loanies have enough quality already.

- Coates will be shipped if possible, been here to long without getting in to the team.
- Luis Alberto I reckon will leave as well only managing 15 games for Malaga
- Teixeira will likely leave. 22 years old and loaned out to Brighton is hardly encouraging.
- Aspas already seems destined for Sevilla (which is good)

That leaves Illori, Wisdom and Origi. Origi will defo be a part of the squad, was bought for it and we need more strikers. Illori and Wisdom are bigger question marks, but I do hope they get a chance to prove themselves. Wisdom doing reasonably well in the PL, and can cover 2-3 positions. Illori still young and could improve even if his loan have been of mixed succes.

[RedReet]

The away record was only PL games and it was against Southampton, Swansea, Everton, Villa and Sunderland. The games finished 0-2, 0-1, 0-0, 0-2 and 0-1. But we also faced Bolton, Besiktas, Palace and Chelsea away in cups during that run and conceded in every one of those games.

That's fine, but we also kept plenty of other cleansheets outside of those fixtures and generally looked good defensively, including against Chelsea, despite conceding.

[The_weatherman]

Meh, during our run our clean sheets were against, Burnley home and away, Sunderland, Villa, Bolton, Everton, Besiktas home, Southampton, Blackburn and Swansea. Three of those were 0-0's.

[Darkon]

Still doesn't change the fact that we have the 2nd highest number of clean sheets in the PL, no matter who we managed them against. All other teams are playing the very same teams as well and managing fewer...

We have defo improved on our defensive side of things, but it have cost us in the attacking department. It was a needed move however considering we had no firepower up front anyways.

[The_weatherman]

Still doesn't change the fact that we have the 2nd highest number of clean sheets in the PL, no matter who we managed them against. All other teams are playing the very same teams as well and managing fewer...

We have defo improved on our defensive side of things, but it have cost us in the attacking department. It was a needed move however considering we had no firepower up front anyways.

Yes, that's true. Maybe I got caught up in old grievances, but I still feel we are too open and that is something that costs us maybe specially so against the better teams.

[Darkon]

Yes, that's true. Maybe I got caught up in old grievances, but I still feel we are too open and that is something that costs us maybe specially so against the better teams.

We defo need improvement still Having a more level headed defender would do as a world of good.

[Exiled_red]

I really hope we give the returning players a chance in pre-season. That's not to say that we should keep them all but Alberto, Teixeira, Wisdom, Coates and Ilori all look to have some quality (even if it is not clear it is enough for us).

If nothing else it would mean we would have just about every style of CB conceivable for the coaching staff to try to blend into a functoinal defense.

To be honest I wouldn't mind keeping Coates and Wisdom, I would assume Ilori would stay anyway given Rodgers signed him and he hasn't been given a chance yet. I see them all being able to do a decent job and it would probably cost more than we would get for 2 or 3 of them to get a replacement, and I would prefer the funds to be spent elsewhere.

Teixeira I would like to see given a chance, Alberto hasn't really been given a chance either but if we could get a few million for him I would let him go. Aspas I don't see coming back.

[dww]

To be honest I wouldn't mind keeping Coates and Wisdom, I would assume Ilori would stay anyway given Rodgers signed him and he hasn't been given a chance yet. I see them all being able to do a decent job and it would probably cost more than we would get for 2 or 3 of them to get a replacement, and I would prefer the funds to be spent elsewhere.

Teixeira I would like to see given a chance, Alberto hasn't really been given a chance either but if we could get a few million for him I would let him go. Aspas I don't see coming back.

Aspas has already said he is going to Sevilla apparently, the deal already having been concluded.

[Darkon]

Aspas has already said he is going to Sevilla apparently, the deal already having been concluded.

According to Aspas himself it was a loan deal with a forced buy of 7m afterwards.

[ronanm]

According to Aspas himself it was a loan deal with a forced buy of 7m afterwards.

I hope we bring the heavy mob to make sure that drop goes through

[Exiled_red]

According to Aspas himself it was a loan deal with a forced buy of 7m afterwards.

We get 7m for him

[McDermotX]

We get 7m for him

No, we have to pay them 7m to take him off us.

Well worth it, I'm sure you'd agree.

[redmike65]

Aspas has been sold straight from Seville back to Celta Vigo and so the journey is complete - two years wasted by all parties really.