Danny Ings

[Doc_Piptorious]

Milner - upgrade on Gerrard
Ings - upgrade on Lambert
Origi - upgrade on Borini
Clyne (assuming it happens) - upgrade on Johnson
GK upgrade on Jones
Kovacic if it happens squad depth

"World class" is one of those stupid expressions like Marquee signing which only the hard of thinking trade in.

What clubs need to do is upgrade and buy smart. Who thought Gary McAllister was a clever buy, how many were a-whooping and a-hollerin' about Sami Hyypia?

I'm not saying a good quality striker isn't needed as one is but if "world class" is your definition of that player who are you after? And who do you think is gettable? And how big is the gap?

If we got Kovacic then he would be a lot more than adding squad depth.


Agree with most of what you said but not so sure (yet) about the certainty of Ings being an upgrade on Lambert and Origi being one on Borini.

All we have to go on for Ings is his one and only season in the premiership and his one good season in the Championship. I seem to recall that Lambert joined us on the back of two decent Premiership seasons (both in which he had a better goal and assist return than Ings did in his one Premiership season) and one good Championship season (again a season in which he did better in that division that Ings did).

So hard to argue that Ings is an upgrade based on what he did for his previous club when Lambert did better for longer at his previous club. He might be an upgrade, but his record before playing for Liverpool is inferior to that of Lambert before playing for Liverpool.


For Origi and Borini a similar case could be made in that Borini was at the very least as effective as Origi when given as much game time. Personally I think Origi will turn out to be an upgrade but that is based on my own gut feeling rather than it being backed up by goal returns.


I also think that maybe you are comparing the wrong players.

Ings being a replacement for Borini makes more sense as they are similar (ish) players in how they play. High work rate, pressing, harrying, lots of runs off the ball.

Origi for Lambert could be seen as replacing a physically strong player with another physically strong player that has much greater pace.

[BigChief]

When we bought Lambert, with all his experience, I was a little excited for a 2nd/3rd cover striker. As it happens his form and fitness fell off a cliff and we know he is now not that player from Southampton. I wouldn't even pick him for my first XI.

Ings on the other hand we do know has an abundance of fitness which isn't going to fall off a cliff as soon as he joins. He also has some pace and trickery, which Lambert doesn't. This is nothing but an upgrade.

[frank the tank]

Milner - upgrade on Gerrard
Ings - upgrade on Lambert
Origi - upgrade on Borini
Clyne (assuming it happens) - upgrade on Johnson
GK upgrade on Jones
Kovacic if it happens squad depth

"World class" is one of those stupid expressions like Marquee signing which only the hard of thinking trade in.

What clubs need to do is upgrade and buy smart. Who thought Gary McAllister was a clever buy, how many were a-whooping and a-hollerin' about Sami Hyypia?

I'm not saying a good quality striker isn't needed as one is but if "world class" is your definition of that player who are you after? And who do you think is gettable? And how big is the gap?

for me next season is the chance to see if Ibe, Markovic, Moreno and Emre Can integrate into the side and into english football in general. Milner and Ings will be low-risk in that sense rather than signing another couple of up and coming young foreign based players that will again need time to settle.

If Sturridge, Lallana and Flanagan can contribute on a regular basis to the first team, and considering that we have added Milner and Ings and Origi as well - then for me Clyne and Kovacic would be enough new players. To be honest any more than that and it is too many to integrate again and we are back to the start of last season where the players are getting to know each other.

Don't get me wrong, i would love us to sign Lacazette and Konogbia (and especially Vietto) but if we add 7 new players then we have another 6 month bedding in process and may as well write off next season.

Also, considering that Brendan is on his final written warning as well, then there is probably a case for keeping the cash in the kitty for a new manager should FSG need it. In reality Brendan would have had his meeting last week and said that with luck with injuries that we can compete - because the likes of Markovic, Ibe etc will all be better next year. If he kept his job because of that stance, then why would he get big cash to spend on loads of players? If BR went in and said "Markovic, Lovren, Moreno, Emre Can and Lallana are all ****e and need to be replaced" then he was signing his own P45 - so he needs to show improvement out of these players.


Do you know what is really frustrating though - people talk about bridging the gap to the top 4. Okay it is great to see Liverpool play in the CL but i'd rather win trophies. It's not just LFC - all fans now go on about getting in the top 4. ****in stupid.

[Kenneth]

While the signing of ings is indeeed subject to medical, isn't the subject to knowing the price bit likely to be more significant?

[meffin]

[Doc_Piptorious]

When we bought Lambert, with all his experience, I was a little excited for a 2nd/3rd cover striker. As it happens his form and fitness fell off a cliff and we know he is now not that player from Southampton. I wouldn't even pick him for my first XI.

Ings on the other hand we do know has an abundance of fitness which isn't going to fall off a cliff as soon as he joins. He also has some pace and trickery, which Lambert doesn't. This is nothing but an upgrade.

Except it did not. He rarely started a game and when he did it was not in the role he played in when at Southampton.


Don't get how his fitness and form can be criticised when he did not get the games and role to show that they "fell off a cliff"


If Ings does not get played on a regular basis by Rodgers and does not get a chance to show what he can do, do we then say next June that his fitness and form fell off a cliff as well?

[Alex]

While the signing of ings is indeeed subject to medical, isn't the subject to knowing the price bit likely to be more significant?

Not really. The thing could breakdown if he fails the medical, but if they cant agree the fee the Premier League will do it. You have to think that they factored that in when announcing.

[danperkins]

This is a good signing if Lambert, Balotelli and Borini are all sold and we go into next season with 4 strikers; Ings and Origi 3rd and 4th choice, someone new + Sturridge 1st and 2nd.

[ric.williams]

did any of our forwards get a fair go last year? hopefully ings gets a chance to show what he can offer

[rodo]

Sad state of affairs if he does actually get a fair go sub and cups an thats it

[spud_gun]

That's all well and good. Lambert scored more league goals in each of his two previous seasons with Southampton than Ings did with Burnley last season.

[DannyMan2006]

This is a decent signing. If he improves as much as expected it could be an excellent signing. Key to any signing is the mentality of the player. Sometimes a move to Liverpool FC is too much to handle. Hopefully he has the right mental fortitude to cope.

[Glenn Hysen]

This sort of post is cropping up all the time now. I don't feel all that optimistic about the signings so far, but, who knows maybe I'll be proven wrong, it does feel like unless you post something positive about Ings/Milnet/Bogdan/Rodgers/FSG, then these negative opinions make you less of a fan?

Whats wrong with a healthy dose of Skepticism?

Is it healthy to write off both the player and the clubs transfer business this summer in the beginning of june? When the window closes is when you can criticize...

It's the illogical and over the top criticism that bugs me. And I'm not saying that you do that but as a response to your question why people react.

[maxwellbaxter]

What is this club doing??? I mean, fancy signing a 22 year old English, injury free player who works his socks off and scores double figures in his first season in the premier league. And then to add insult to injury pay an astronomical price.
Somebody's head has just got to roll!

[The_weatherman]

Is it healthy to write off both the player and the clubs transfer business this summer in the beginning of june? When the window closes is when you can criticize...

It's the illogical and over the top criticism that bugs me. And I'm not saying that you do that but as a response to your question why people react.

But is it over the top. We want to challenge for fourth but we are buying Southampton players, either straight off them or in the form of Ings. Milner is good but he wont be the catalyst for us IMO.