Liverpool Transfer Rumors, Tabloid lies and Nonsense

Hilarious. We need to send this guy to tell them how much Stevie will cost:


"One beeeeeeeelion dollars!"

 

Darn, I guess Liverpool missed out on Rivaldo.


;^)

 

Can't stop him from wanting to play for a massive club, I guess.

 

Nah, if that were the case, he would have signed with MLS. ;^)

 

Here's my bold prediction - wherever Rivaldo ends up, he and his manager will hate each other by the end of the season. Also, on at least one occasion, he will keep the ball when a pass to an open teammate in scoring position would be more sensible.

 

i know it's the mirror, but they reported benitez's first two signings will be racing santander's yossi benayoun and valencia/spain's #1, santiago canizares. i'll take'em both.

 

"From that point forward in my life, I have never ever told anyone the truth if I could get away with a lie...!" ?



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sorry, former spain #1. i don't think his old ass is threatening casillas for minutes. either way, i'll take him over dudek and kirkland's running out of things to injure.

 

Canizares is definitely an improvement over Dudek. If he can defend the goal for a couple of years, it'll buy Kirkland time to get stronger, or for us to get another keeper for the future.

Plus, he's a Bosman so we'll make a profit no matter how cheap Dudek goes. Though it concerns me how keepers seem to get better after they leave Anfield (Friedel, Westerveld, er... James).

 

Seems to be a habit with our keepers dunnit. I think Dudek is at his best right now (I mean, I hope he can't get better when he goes) but I like him, he's done pretty good for us.

Canizares is an interesting character though, he takes control of his area and still has plenty of good saves left in him.

 

Goalkeeper is the least of our worries; Canizares would be fine, but if we don't get him, that's fine as well. So long as it's a Bosman, and we can use transfer funds at the other positions where we have pressing needs.

I haven't seen Benayoun either, but there's a story on the LFC.TV site from SkySports that discusses his possible move to Anfield:

http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/mediawatch/drilldown/MW6179040605-0744.htm

We can always use a quality A-mid.

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he's very good on the ball, with really quick feet, a great passer and abolutely deadly at free kicks. he's young too, like 24. i'm not sure about how well he can track back though, haven't seen him play enough to say. either way, if we can get him for around 2m it's robbery.

 

just found this about benayoun...

"Tireless link man between midfield and attack. Capable of changing the direction of play in a second. Great passer and extremely good at reading play. Has been the revelation for Racing Santander and should spark interest from a lot of important clubs. A name for the future."

 

I think Benitez would have a better idea about the quality of Benayoun since he has actually managed against him. I feel many of Houllier's "prospect" signings were from word of mouth from friends in France and video without actually scouthing the player properly.

 

Re: Valencia rumors

Canizares would be a smart signing. For one thing, he is available on a free. In addition his arrival would allow Dudek to be sold so the club would not only get a better keeper but make a profit as well.

With regards to Ayala, my feelings are mixed. He is undoubtedly one of the best centerbacks in the world and theoretically has characteristics (pace, ability to defend on the turn, aggression, ball-playing skills) that would complement Hyypia's perfectly. However, like Hyypia he is 31 years old and a costly investment may not be justified. If someone here were to ask me whether I would be in favor of his signing I would say: depends on the price tag.

Aimar. Great player but where would he play? In the orthodox British 4-4-2 he would not fit anywhere. The problem is that he would be ineffective out wide and a change to a European formation would shut out either Cisse or Owen. Clearly Benitez will face some tough decisions when he arrives. Let's hope he makes the right ones.

 

A certain Czech striker had a pretty good game yesterday - maybe our striker concerns are unfounded? Perhaps a little better service is all that's needed for Mike and company to raise their level - Aimar?

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report?id=151606&cc=5739

 

Today's Guardian reports...

Rafael Benítez is due to fly to Merseyside today with the Premiership club hoping to unveil him as their new manager within the next 48 hours.

Further talks will take place early this week to smooth the finer details of the deal, believed to be a four-year contract worth £25,000 a week, which will virtually double the salary Benítez enjoyed in winning the Spanish League title last season.
**
Liverpool are anxious to conclude the matter ahead of the start of Euro 2004 as that will give Benítez time to assess squad strengthening this summer, with three Valencia players - the Argentinians Roberto Ayala and Pablo Aimar and the Spanish goalkeeper Santiago Ca-izares - potentially to follow him to Anfield along with his No2 Francisco Ayestaran.

 

This is more about who I would like to see than who will actually be here. First, I hope Benitez is the new manager. If Cisse signs then this is a good start to a team: Kirkland, Finnan, Hyppia, Riise, Kewell, Gerrard, Owen, Cisse. Means we need a central defender and 2 midfielders. I agree with an earlier post that Ayala is a good defender but I'd like to see someone younger, possibly Dawson from Nottingham. Also, why can't Carragher play center defense? In midfield I'd like to see someone who can play wide right, maybe Wright-Phillips. If Hamann stays we are set at center mid if not we need someone to work with Gerrard. Option might be Aimar (meaning Gerrard plays the holding role).

 

Because our critical problem last season was a lack of pace at the back. Even as a centerback Carragher is slow.

Aimar is not a central midfielder. If he joins Liverpool next season he will play in front of the midfield.

 

Is the "Thailand takeover" officially a dead issue? Haven't read much about it lately.