Neill copped it...and now could Kop it.

[Parm]

NEILL COPPED IT.. AND NOW COULD KOP IT
By David Anderson

BLACKBURN are ready to sell Lucas Neill to Liverpool after Ewood Park fans turned on the Rovers skipper.

They were angry Neill has kept the captain's armband, despite his determination to quit the club.

The Australia defender's performances have dipped recently and supporters vented their fury during Saturday's home defeat to Newcastle.

Rovers boss Mark Hughes hoped making Neill skipper might persuade him to stay until the summer, when his contract expires.

He now accepts it would be better to cash in on the full-back in the January transfer window and will want £1million plus Liverpool's Stephen Warnock in exchange.

Liverpool refused to pay Rovers' asking price of £2m plus midfielder Warnock in August and feel their bargaining position is stronger now because Neill, 28, has just six months left on his contract.

Anfield boss Rafael Benitez wants the former Millwall man to provide competition for Steve Finnan at right-back.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/footba...name_page.html

is there not some sort of provision which allows a player to "buy out" the last year (or so) of his contract and thereby enable to move for free? Am sure there was something about Barca being ready to stump up the last year of Henry's contract in order to engineer a move to them.

[ningnangnong]

So it seems only the Aussie Reds want us to sign Lucas facking Neill.

You're almost as bad as the Welsh.

He'd be a good signing.

[Shaggy]

He'd be a good signing.

If we were to sign him, I'd hope you're right, but you're in an Australian minority here. Seemingly everybody else thinks he's nowhere near LFC standard.

[Beachy]

If we were to sign him, I'd hope you're right, but you're in an Australian minority here. Seemingly everybody else thinks he's nowhere near LFC standard.

World Cup says otherwise IMO.

He thrived under the management of Guus Hiddink ... I think the same would happen under Rafa.

[Shaggy]

Using the World Cup as a barometer for a players' ability is pure folly - as we well know.

We see him in the Premiership every week and he's simply not good enough for us. Nowhere near in fact.

I'd be more than happy to eat my words if we signed him.

[Rich]

Let's stop with the stupid name calling too....

[Beachy]

We see him in the Premiership every week and he's simply not good enough for us. Nowhere near in fact.

I think he'd improve under a different style of management ... I mean, look at who he's been under at Blackburn - Graeme Souness and Mark Hughes.

[Red_hot]

Yes, lets leave peoples poor mothers out of our little 'tiffs', eh?

[dirty_sanchez]

Yes, lets leave peoples poor mothers out of our little 'tiffs', eh?

He started it!

[KingKenny]

I pray everyday that we don't sign Neill. He's average and not LFC material.

[Sunny]

No no no no no no. He's crud and he's a donkey.

[Red_hot]

He started it!

You sound like one of my kids.

[ronanm]

So what does this mean then?



He's not the best most competent defender we have.

In your opinion..:whatever:

[Red_Polo]

Too many extreme views either way on Neill. The bottom line for me is that he's alright, but we should be looking to get someone of real quality who can take over from Finnan within the next year or so.

[dww]

Whatever happened to Rafa wanting ‘laterals’ for full-backs? Finnan does okay but he lacks attacking thrust and dynamism. Neill is the same. Why are we going after him?

Also I hoped we’d be setting our sights rather higher than a ****ing utility defender from Blackburn who got slaughtered by his own fans for another inept performance in a home drubbing by Newcastle of all teams.

I think Rafa is still after and will in the end get 'laterals'. However it is all about the squad and with Sami getting older having a utility defender who can play all along the backline is a useful thing to have on the bench. I have a feeling Sami will be gone by next year (or a player/coach).

It is fairly clear that Neill has been a good PL defender for several years, his current form when he wants to leave and when the fans have been on his back even when he was playing OK earlier in the season shouldn't be too big a worry.

And about the price - if we want him and the rumours are true we will have to pay slightly over the odds as we need to beat off competition from Barcelona etc.