Liverpool 2015-16: We Didn't Want To Play in Europe Anyway

[DLew On Roids]

Rumor is that Liverpool are going to pay Luciano Vietto's release clause at Villareal:

http://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/liverpool-fc-transfer-news/2015/5/31/8694159/luciano-vietto-release-clause-atletico-move-liverpool-arsenal-interest

If they can talk him into coming to Liverpool instead of fighting with Arsenal's strikers for time, getting him for less than £15M seems a lot better business than paying £20M for Lazar Markovic.

 

[Conigliaro's Potential]

I was reading about Vietto today, and it seems more likely to me that he'll go to Atletico to replace the soon-to-be-outgoing Griezmann.

 

[Morgan's Magic Snowplow]

There is tons of speculation that you'll sign James Milner on a free sometime this week or next.  Assuming the wages are more reasonable than what he got at City, that's a fantastic move.  He can play just about anywhere but at this point in his career I think he could be a really good well rounded central midfielder if given a run of games there.  Its not nearly as sexy as signing some 21-year-old from Spain or Germany that is hyped as "the next xxxxx" but I think its pretty clear that Liverpool would be a better team with Milner and that's the point.

 

[soxfan121]

Milner would compliment or backstop Henderson, which is another way of saying MMS is correct. 

Plus, @BoringMilner will be epic.

 

[teddykgb]

I kept wanting Milner in CM but every time we played them there he was nothing special.  He's industrious as all hell and can get up and down the wing without a doubt.  I really enjoy watching him as a player but I have to admit he felt a bit off the quality needed at times.
 
But I really don't like writing negative things about him.  He works his ass off and every team would be ecstatic to have a bunch of James Milners in their squad.  He's got more skill than people suggest...he's not just a lung buster.  I think his future remains as a super industrious winger, though, not in the CM.

 

[PedroSpecialK]

A combination of Moreno, Milner, Ibe, and Marković out wide is pretty appealing. Milner (like Henderson) can play a pressing role in a 4-man midfield, and my hope is we see Marković more central this season.

Sounds like Milner will be on ~£150k per week. Cue the next round of Sterling articles.

 

[JayMags71]

A combination of Moreno, Milner, Ibe, and Marković out wide is pretty appealing.

To you, maybe. He seemed to be in BR's doghouse for huge chunks of the season.

 

[SoxFanInPdx]

Milner and Ings. Not excited about either of them. I've lost total trust in this so called transfer committee and I no longer trust Rodgers in regards to lineups. I'm still pretty hungover from the season. 

 

[SocrManiac]

I don't see what a Milner signing accomplishes. With the current system there's already an abundance of talent playing out of position. He seems like yet another duplicate piece.

 

[CPT Neuron]

Maybe BR changes to a 4-1-4-1....but who plays the role of the lone target striker? Sturridge won't be fit for the beginning of the season....There isn't any reasonable chance Balotelli or Lambert stick around. IF they sign Benteke, but then what do you do when Sturridge is fit, 4-1-3-2 - seems like duplictious is the most kind term for a Milner signing.

 

[Morgan's Magic Snowplow]

I don't see what a Milner signing accomplishes. With the current system there's already an abundance of talent playing out of position. He seems like yet another duplicate piece.

 

Milner and Ings. Not excited about either of them. I've lost total trust in this so called transfer committee and I no longer trust Rodgers in regards to lineups. I'm still pretty hungover from the season. 

 
You guys just spent last year giving 2400 minutes in midfield to Joe Allen, who is awful, 3200 to Gerrard, who is cooked, and another 1900 at right wing to Markovic, who has lots of potential but clearly wasn't ready.  Now you're going to thumb your nose at Milner, who comes for free (or, more accurately, a sign on fee and then decent wages) and would be a big improvement on any of those guys, whether played in midfield or out wide?
 
I can't really speak to Ings but by most accounts he has good pace, works his ass off when out of possession, and is a decent poacher/finisher in the box.  That's not a player that will win you the Premier League but it sounds like an improvment on Borini/Lambert/Balotelli, a guy who won't kill you when subbing for Sturridge after his next knock and will bang in goals fairly regularly on Thursday nights in the Europa League so that you can rest Sturridge for the league.  And he'll cost 4-6m pounds and be on very low wages.

 

[Zomp]

Some reports today say Liverpool asked Arsenal for Walcott and Gibbs for Sterling...not sure that makes sense but I don't rate Walcott or Gibbs.

 

[Morgan's Magic Snowplow]

Maybe BR changes to a 4-1-4-1....but who plays the role of the lone target striker? Sturridge won't be fit for the beginning of the season....There isn't any reasonable chance Balotelli or Lambert stick around. IF they sign Benteke, but then what do you do when Sturridge is fit, 4-1-3-2 - seems like duplictious is the most kind term for a Milner signing.

 
I have no idea what Rodgers is planning but something like this makes sense to me as a front six (assuming Sterling stays):
 
Sterling---Sturridge---Coutinho
----Milner---Henderson-------
-----------Can--------------------
 
You could also move Coutinho into one of the midfield positions in games where you needed more firepower.  Or play the 4-4-2 diamond again with him at the tip.
 
In any event, a midfield trio of Milner-Henderson-Can might be a little light in terms of flair and attacking power but should be able to retain the ball pretty well and be tremendous in terms of work rate and defensive pressure.

 

[SocrManiac]

 
 
You guys just spent last year giving 2400 minutes in midfield to Joe Allen, who is awful, 3200 to Gerrard, who is cooked, and another 1900 at right wing to Markovic, who has lots of potential but clearly wasn't ready.  Now you're going to thumb your nose at Milner, who comes for free (or, more accurately, a sign on fee and then decent wages) and would be a big improvement on any of those guys, whether played in midfield or out wide?
 
I can't really speak to Ings but by most accounts he has good pace, works his ass off when out of possession, and is a decent poacher/finisher in the box.  That's not a player that will win you the Premier League but it sounds like an improvment on Borini/Lambert/Balotelli, a guy who won't kill you when subbing for Sturridge after his next knock and will bang in goals fairly regularly on Thursday nights in the Europa League so that you can rest Sturridge for the league.  And he'll cost 4-6m pounds and be on very low wages.

 
Allen wasn't the pure awful he's reputed to be. I don't see Milner as a long-term defensive midfielder or in any way a replacement.
 
Lambert is cooked, but I'm not convinced that Borini and Balotelli are toast. Balo has never worked as a lone striker. It's more of a question of whether or not Rodgers (if still there) will have enough tactical flexibility to play to the strength of his squad, not what he wishes his squad actually was. There isn't a striker in the bunch suitable to be alone up top, but that's how virtually the entire season was played. 

 

[SoxFanInPdx]

Some reports today say Liverpool asked Arsenal for Walcott and Gibbs for Sterling...not sure that makes sense but I don't rate Walcott or Gibbs.

 
If that deal was to be done, that'd be the most idiotic move of all for this club. Gibbs is absolutely useless, not to mention Walcott only has one year left on his deal with Arsenal (I think he signs a new deal anyway with them) and can never stay healthy.

 

[SoxFanInCali]

I've seen so many people talking about Milner like it's a done deal that I'm now waiting for the inevitable last-second offer from someone else that screws it all up.

 

[sachmoney]

I'm not going to pretend like I don't rate Sterling, but that move would make no sense for Arsenal.

 

[Bailey10]

Liverpool officially announced the signing of Milner today.
 
Really good signing for Pool. Was a consistent preformer whenever got he on the field for City and was an absolute stud for Villa. I wouldn't be surprised if we see a return to higher Villa-era goal/assists numbers, given the key role he will likely be given at Anfield.
 
One of Milner's greatest assets is his ability to play multiple positions, but If I were Liverpool I would stick him at CM and use him and henderson to control the center of the park. Playing him at wingback would be a waste of his talents, just like it is for Markovic and Lalana.
 
Only thing that should scare Liverpool fans about this signing is Brendan thinking he now has even more tactical flexibility to screw around with his XI.

 

[blueguitar322]

Milner/Liverpool is a great fit for both sides.

 

[DLew On Roids]

Seems like the exchange deals would be a good way to get maximum value for Sterling without having to send money to QPR. 
 
"What, we sold Sterling to Arsenal for 10M.  Here's your 2M.  Never mind that we got a couple players from them on free transfers."

 

[SoxFanInCali]

Danny Ings deal is done.

#LFC are delighted to announce that a deal has been agreed to sign striker Danny Ings, subject to a medical. pic.twitter.com/REoM9qGi9F
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) June 8, 2015

 

[JayMags71]

Can someone besides Morgan's Magic Snowplow sell me on the idea that Ings is an improvement over Borini, Lambert or Balotelli? I'm willing to be convinced?

 

[SocrManiac]

The only way we'll know is when we see the team line up again. If they're still set up with a lone striker... He's still not the guy.

 

[DLew On Roids]

He scored goals for a team that couldn't otherwise put the ball in the net.  That makes him different from Borini, Lambert, and Balotelli.  He's also not going to make the attack clunky the way Lambert and Balotelli always seemed to when they were on the pitch.  I expect the players around him will create more chances because he doesn't need to be fed the way a big target man does.
 
I don't see him as having massive upside, but if he represents quality depth, I'm good with it.  SocrManiac is right, though--if he starts 30 matches in a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1, they will be in trouble.
 
My one homer comment: He could have Kevin Phillips upside, which would be a real treat.

 

[fletcherpost]

I'd rather have Ings than Balotelli or Lambert. Bornin got so little playing time I can't say much about him. Ings had a good season but he was able to shine being in a team of well meaning grafters. We have to wait and see just how much quality he has cos we expect if he plays he'll get more chances to score. His link up play is not bad and he works hard for the team...he's a good pro. He's young. One can be hopeful if not expectant. Both Milner and Ings join the club minus a transfer fee...one assumes the bak has not been broken yet and there ought to be money to spend on serious quality.
 
Early days in the close season it might be...but Milner and Ings are not gonna get you into the top four, when the teams above come to retool, one expects it will be with players of a higher quality/pedigree. 

 

[JayMags71]

Reds agree terms with Adam Bogdan

Liverpool FC are pleased to announce that personal terms have been agreed with Adam Bogdan and the goalkeeper will join the club on a free transfer on July 1 after his contract with Bolton Wanderers has expired.

 

[SocrManiac]

Fortunately he won't be issued an outfield kit. That hair would clash horribly.

 

[Nick Kaufman]

These transfers are non stop excitement.

 

[SoxFanInPdx]

Officially a mid-table club. Can't wait until someone buys Sterling on the cheap. 

 

[DLew On Roids]

Jesus, you guys sound like you belong in the Arsenal thread.

Milner is probably the most underappreciated player in the EPL. He would be in the match day squad for all but a handful of European clubs and Liverpool got him for a song. Ings and Bogdan are expected to be squad players. If either is a regular starter something will have gone wrong.

 

[JayMags71]

Yeah, everything I read about Bogdan suggests that he's definitely an upgrade from Brad Jones*. Can play in cup matches, and early-round Europa League ties. Maybe even spell Mignolet if he hits a rough patch. Good enough for me.








*(Except for hair. Brad Jones had a lustrous, luxurious mane of chestnut-colored hair.)

 

[DLew On Roids]

La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that Liverpool and Inter have agreed a deal in principle for Mateo Kovacic at €23 million.
 
It's an interesting deal, not least because Kovacic was the player Inter brought in to replace Coutinho.  And Kovacic has had much the same profile with Inter as Coutinho: Pieces of brilliance, but thought in Italy to not be tactically aware enough or physically robust enough to work well in Serie A.  Journalist Mina Rzouki, who specializes in Serie A, said on 5 Live's World Football Phone-In on Friday night that Kovacic has Coutinho's skill set, but is likely to be better in the long run.  It's worth noting that she didn't think buying Coutinho made sense for Liverpool a couple of years ago, so she may be overrating Kovacic relative to Coutinho since she hasn't seen him much since his move to Liverpool (I normally see her covering Italian and Spanish clubs).

 

[JayMags71]

I'm torn. If he projects to be better than Coutinho, that's obviously good. If he has the same skill set, then he seems redundant. Is there a way tactically the two of them could fit on the field together?

 

[SocrManiac]

I'm torn. If he projects to be better than Coutinho, that's obviously good. If he has the same skill set, then he seems redundant. Is there a way tactically the two of them could fit on the field together?

To be fair, that's not the right question. Putting players on the pitch out of position has been a hallmark of late.

I can imagine seeing Coutinho and Kovacic playing behind a lone striker. Both would be pushed wider than I think truly comfortable.

 

[DLew On Roids]

You could play both of them in an attacking 4-3-3 with a single pivot. Or the middle and left in a 4-2-3-1

 

[SoxFanInCali]

Well, we can get the memories of the stomping at Stoke out of our minds quickly.  Guess where the first game of the 2015-16 season is?
 
The next 6 away games after that? No problem, just Arsenal, Man U, Everton, Spurs, Chelsea, and Man City.
 
Of course, a bunch of these will end up getting moved to Sunday to support the Europa League dream.
 
August
 
8 - Stoke City (A)
15 - Bournemouth (H)
22 - Arsenal (A)
29 - West Ham United (H)
 
September
 
12 - Manchester United (A)
19 - Norwich City (H)
26 - Aston Villa (H)
 
October
 
3 - Everton (A)
17 - Tottenham Hotspur (A)
24 - Southampton (H)
31 - Chelsea (A)
 
November
 
7 - Crystal Palace (H)
21 - Manchester City (A)
28 - Swansea City (H)
 
December
 
5 - Newcastle United (A)
12 - West Bromwich Albion (H)
19 - Watford (A)
26 - Leicester City (H)
28 - Sunderland (A)
 
January
 
2 - West Ham United (A)
12 - Arsenal (H)
16 - Manchester United (H)
23 - Norwich City (A)
 
February
 
2 - Leicester City (A)
6 - Sunderland (H)
13 - Aston Villa (A)
27 - Everton (H)
 
March
 
1 - Manchester City (H)
5 - Crystal Palace (A)
12 - Chelsea (H)
19 - Southampton (A)
 
April
 
2 - Tottenham Hotspur (H)
9 - Stoke City (H)
16 - Bournemouth (A)
23 - Newcastle United (H)
30 - Swansea City (A)
 
May
 
7 - Watford (H)
15 - West Bromwich Albion (A)

 

[Morgan's Magic Snowplow]

Wow. Usually (although maybe just by chance) fixtures against other top teams seem to be broken fairly evenly in terms of home/away over the two halves of the season. I can't recall a top team playing all away fixtures against top six sides one half and then all home fixtures against those sides the next half.

 

[cjdmadcow]

So effectively we'll complete all of our away fixtures against what may be considered our immediate rivals (and Everton) by the time we've played 13 games? Very unusual & could be the make or break of Brendan Rodgers' tenure at Anfield. 
 
Complete that part of the season unsuccessfully and there's a certain German coach that's likely available in time for a January transfer window.

 

[DLew On Roids]

So effectively we'll complete all of our away fixtures against what may be considered our immediate rivals (and Everton) by the time we've played 13 games? 

 
Also known as "by the time Daniel Sturridge is back."

 

[teddykgb]

So effectively we'll complete all of our away fixtures against what may be considered our immediate rivals (and Everton) by the time we've played 13 games? Very unusual & could be the make or break of Brendan Rodgers' tenure at Anfield. 
 
Complete that part of the season unsuccessfully and there's a certain German coach that's likely available in time for a January transfer window.

 
It seems to me you're playing most of your actual rivals at home (except Everton) in the first dozen or so games of the season  :q:

 

[DLew On Roids]

It's so precious when City fans talk shit.  It's like they think they can convince us that their history began in 2008 when everyone knows football was invented in 1992.

 

[teddykgb]

Football was invented on November 20th, 1970 .  It just didn't know it yet.

 

[SoxFanInPdx]

That schedule to start the season..yikes. If Rodgers doesn't sign a top end striker and I'm not talking about Benteke, he is pretty much screwed and will be gone by Christmas.

 

[fletcherpost]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/33161310
 
 

Liverpool have formally rejected a second bid from Manchester City for England forward Raheem Sterling.
It is understood the new offer was a basic £35.5m, which would have risen to nearer £40m when various extras were added.
 

 
So we're up to £40M now for Sterling. Liverpool value him at £50M so if £45M gets it done, whar d'you spend it?

 

[DLew On Roids]

It appears that Sebastian Coates is out to Sunderland for £4M and 18-YO CB Joe Gomez is in from Charlton for £3.5M.  If he brings half the entertainment of Liverpool's last teenage Charlton signing, I think we'll all be richer for it.
 
I speak of course of:
 

Spoiler

 

[Conigliaro's Potential]

Liverpool - and Spurs, for that matter - increasingly remind me of an American sports team stuck in the middle between tanking for better draft picks and GFIN and therefore only able to restock its talent pool with late first-rounders, hoping to get lucky that some of these draftees blossom into stars. Except of course, there's no draft system in international soccer, and the equivalent of the "late first-rounder" is the £5m youngster and the £15-20m player in his prime. Sometimes you do get lucky (e.g., Suarez, who was slightly more expensive but at the time still untested beyond the Eredivisie), but more often you get so much mediocrity and "squad depth" masquerading as title-contending talent. How often is buying early and buying often a good transfer strategy?

 

[Mighty Joe Young]

So effectively we'll complete all of our away fixtures against what may be considered our immediate rivals (and Everton) by the time we've played 13 games? Very unusual & could be the make or break of Brendan Rodgers' tenure at Anfield. 
 
Complete that part of the season unsuccessfully and there's a certain German coach that's likely available in time for a January transfer window.

Does the Transfer Window apply to off field staff? I was under the impression it was only players.

 

[DLew On Roids]

Does the Transfer Window apply to off field staff? I was under the impression it was only players.

 
Pretty sure CJD meant that The Footballing Hipster might be here in time to orchestrate the transfers in the January window.

 

[SoxFanInCali]

Does the Transfer Window apply to off field staff? I was under the impression it was only players.

 
He's saying they could bring in Klopp in December, then he would have the January transfer window to bring in players he wants.

 

[SoxFanInCali]

Looks like Skrtel is staying, he's agreed to a new 3 year deal.