Liverpool FC Forum

Doeboy » Wed Aug 21, 2013 9:01 pm wrote:Do people think we would benefit from having a director of football? I'm not talking about a glorified scout like Commoli but someone with genuine standing in the game. I think you can do without one, if say your manager is a well known, successful manager say like a Rafa, Mourinho, Fergie, Wenger etc but BR is still a guy who is building his reputation and I just wonder if he has the necessary links and networking in the transfer market that others have at the moment?

Certainly food for thought. Looking at Txiki Begiristain at Man City and Franco Baldini at Spurs. Both clubs have been very efficient in what they have done in this window and seemed to have got their targets with minimal fuss. Being experienced guys in that kind of role, they probably have a rapport with agents and clubs across the globe which definitely makes life easier when looking to close deals. Obviously it's imperative both the manager and the director of football are singing off the same hymn sheet and get on. With BR and Ayre, I don't think they quite have the standing in the game yet, which may make things a bit more difficult for us in the market.

City and Spurs haven't 'got their targets with minimal fuss' because they have a DoF mate, they've got them because they've offered sh.it loads of money and met clubs' inflated asking prices for players.  LFC, United and Arsenal have so far refused to do that this summer.  Even Chelsea have baulked at the prices quoted for Falcao and Cavani.  I'm comfortable with our policy of not paying over the odds for players, it'll see us right in the longterm.

john craig » Wed Aug 21, 2013 9:40 pm wrote:

Doeboy » Wed Aug 21, 2013 9:01 pm wrote:Do people think we would benefit from having a director of football? I'm not talking about a glorified scout like Commoli but someone with genuine standing in the game. I think you can do without one, if say your manager is a well known, successful manager say like a Rafa, Mourinho, Fergie, Wenger etc but BR is still a guy who is building his reputation and I just wonder if he has the necessary links and networking in the transfer market that others have at the moment?

Certainly food for thought. Looking at Txiki Begiristain at Man City and Franco Baldini at Spurs. Both clubs have been very efficient in what they have done in this window and seemed to have got their targets with minimal fuss. Being experienced guys in that kind of role, they probably have a rapport with agents and clubs across the globe which definitely makes life easier when looking to close deals. Obviously it's imperative both the manager and the director of football are singing off the same hymn sheet and get on. With BR and Ayre, I don't think they quite have the standing in the game yet, which may make things a bit more difficult for us in the market.

City and Spurs haven't 'got their targets with minimal fuss' because they have a DoF mate, they've got them because they've offered sh.it loads of money and met clubs' inflated asking prices for players.  LFC, United and Arsenal have so far refused to do that this summer.  Even Chelsea have baulked at the prices quoted for Falcao and Cavani.  I'm comfortable with our policy of not paying over the odds for players, it'll see us right in the longterm.

Not sure I Can agree with that. Man City, with all their cash, really struggled last summer to bring in anyone of note and remember Mancini complaining at the time how deals were not being closed. As for United, Moyes is not Fergie and doesn't have the same draw and I'm pretty sure if he was still in charge, they would have been more active in the market. On top of that they also have a new CEO/managing director. As for Arsenal, it seems Wenger's indecisiveness is the cause of their inactivity. The board are ready to pay the fees but apparently it is him dithering that is the cause of missing out on players.

Benny The Noon » Wed Aug 21, 2013 9:23 pm wrote:

red till i die!! » Wed Aug 21, 2013 10:20 pm wrote:

bunglemark2 » Wed Aug 21, 2013 9:03 pm wrote:With Coates sidelined, Skrtel won't go anywhere

wouldnt be so sure about that, he will probably hand in a transfer request if that napoli bid is serious. he wont be a starter and he sure as hell aint going to sit on our bench for a year.

Yep - Skrtel will want to either play more often or leave and expect an improved bid soon and Skrtel leaving

Well he`s on good money so the owners will probably want shut. Some one should tell them you dont win anything for having the best looking books. They must be in the process of tidying things up for an eventual sale, I hope so anyway as this model of theirs which seems to be centered around cuts that the tories would be proud of isnt going to get us back into the top 4 let alone where we truly belong. Their greatest talent seems to be lowering the expectations of the supporters, 4 years ago second was nowhere now we hear from our own, the very same that even coming seventh is still progress as long as we have a couple more points than last season 
The notion that cutting the wage bill down and with it an already tiny squad a long with not making signings of the quality we need because we wont pay over the score will bring success is pure bullsh!t. If a player can improve us and get us where we want to be then sign him because if we dont someone else with real intent will. The longer this goes on the less likely it will become that top players want to sign even if we match the price because we are not showing the same intent as other sides and along with that any top players we have and any that come through the youth will be soon looking for a move. The fact that players see spurs as the better option as well as them being able to out muscle us financially is a clear indication on how far we have fallen and who can blame those players as spurs are clearly showing more ambition.
Just because its not as bleak as it has been doesnt mean its acceptable standards for LFC. I dont think their bad people or terrible owners, they would be good for a side happy to be midtable and financially stable but I think we deserve more and so far I havent seen anything from them that tells me they are fully committed to bringing success back to the club.

Liverpool on the verge of securing £10m Derby midfielder Will Hughes

Wednesday 21 August 2013

Liverpool are close to agreeing a deal for the £10m-rated Derby County midfielder Will Hughes, whom they would leave at the Championship club for the rest of the current season.

The England Under-21 international, who is 18, has long been regarded as one of the brightest talents in English football. He made his Championship debut for Derby at the age of 16 and was a regular in the side last season, playing 35 league games.

Hughes has been watched extensively over the last six months by Liverpool's chief scout, Barry Hunter. The teenager's performances have merited the attention of all the leading Premier League clubs, including Manchester City and Arsenal, but it is Liverpool who are prepared to pay the premium price for an English talent and leave him at his current club to develop for another year.

Hughes played for England Under-21s against Scotland last week and impressed once again. He is part of a small group of English players who the Football Association hopes can be developed in the next cycle of Under-21s to make the step up to senior level within the next four years.

Unlike many young players of his age group, Hughes has extensive first-team experience – albeit it at Championship level. While he will represent a considerable investment, and a risk, Liverpool are aware that the price is only likely to rise over the coming months.
++

Yes, we need another midfielder......

Why is everybody trying to look so deeply in Spurs ability to sign players? It has nothing to do with the DoF, the simple fact is that in every single transfer they've completed, they have paid more money than anybody else. The claims that DoF's build positive relationships that are beneficial? Because it's very beneficial to agree a few and then find out you have to spend an extra £5 million to make the agent happy... If the relationship was beneficial, spurs would be getting all these players on the cheap. They were the only ones in for Paulinho, and still paid 20 for him. Same with Soldado, but the still had to pay the full amount Valencia asked for from the start. Capoue was the same as well, and once again nobody is challenging them for Lamela, but they will be paying the full price asked for by Roma.

All the DoF is doing is the same thing Comolli did when he was here. Spending more money than anybody else so you can land your player. They've got the cash from the bale deal, that's it, no other analysis of how they make these transfers is needed.

Reg » Thu Aug 22, 2013 1:12 am wrote:Liverpool on the verge of securing £10m Derby midfielder Will Hughes

Wednesday 21 August 2013

Liverpool are close to agreeing a deal for the £10m-rated Derby County midfielder Will Hughes, whom they would leave at the Championship club for the rest of the current season.

The England Under-21 international, who is 18, has long been regarded as one of the brightest talents in English football. He made his Championship debut for Derby at the age of 16 and was a regular in the side last season, playing 35 league games.

Hughes has been watched extensively over the last six months by Liverpool's chief scout, Barry Hunter. The teenager's performances have merited the attention of all the leading Premier League clubs, including Manchester City and Arsenal, but it is Liverpool who are prepared to pay the premium price for an English talent and leave him at his current club to develop for another year.

Hughes played for England Under-21s against Scotland last week and impressed once again. He is part of a small group of English players who the Football Association hopes can be developed in the next cycle of Under-21s to make the step up to senior level within the next four years.

Unlike many young players of his age group, Hughes has extensive first-team experience – albeit it at Championship level. While he will represent a considerable investment, and a risk, Liverpool are aware that the price is only likely to rise over the coming months.
++

Yes, we need another midfielder......

Very very talented player - going to be a superstar the lad. He is certainly one for the future

Spurs want Ilori now!

(Ps did their interest in ince end shortly after ours did? )

In other news arsenal close to signing benzema for £40m and may move for di maria as well according to the bbc.

If arsenal were to stay as they are,  I have every confidence that we'd finish above them,  but if they add that Madrid pair and sign a defender,  it looks less likely

Redman in wales » Thu Aug 22, 2013 12:35 pm wrote:If arsenal were to stay as they are,  I have every confidence that we'd finish above them,  but if they add that Madrid pair and sign a defender,  it looks less likely

Cheer up mate we've only played one game and we're 3 points ahead of Arsenal !! 

Redman in wales » Thu Aug 22, 2013 4:35 am wrote:Spurs want Ilori now!

(Ps did their interest in ince end shortly after ours did? )

In other news arsenal close to signing benzema for £40m and may move for di maria as well according to the bbc.

If arsenal were to stay as they are,  I have every confidence that we'd finish above them,  but if they add that Madrid pair and sign a defender,  it looks less likely

To be fair if they do sign Benzema, it's purely because they didn't get Suarez, so guess we can't complain really.

Johnny Boy » Thu Aug 22, 2013 6:31 am wrote:

Redman in wales » Thu Aug 22, 2013 4:35 am wrote:Spurs want Ilori now!

(Ps did their interest in ince end shortly after ours did? )

In other news arsenal close to signing benzema for £40m and may move for di maria as well according to the bbc.

If arsenal were to stay as they are,  I have every confidence that we'd finish above them,  but if they add that Madrid pair and sign a defender,  it looks less likely

To be fair if they do sign Benzema, it's purely because they didn't get Suarez, so guess we can't complain really.

And Suarez could then go off to Real. 

you know I think that could happen (in Madrids world)

They only have Benzema and Morata as out and out strikers. Then they have Ronaldo, Di Maria, Modric, Ozil, Isco and Kaka... and now Bale... none of which are lead the line strikers, and I dont know if they would let Benzema go without them wanting a replacement.

Personally, even a £50m bid from madrid, i think we'd say no at the moment, as there is no time to find a replacement for us

...unless we already have as a backup plan identified a suitable replacement.

its like a really bad episode of brookside, think we all need to calm down eh

will hughes' potential is frightening. technically he's already light years ahead of most english players of his age.

in the future he could be the perfect gerrard replacement.

stmichael » Thu Aug 22, 2013 8:47 am wrote:will hughes' potential is frightening. technically he's already light years ahead of most english players of his age.

in the future he could be the perfect gerrard replacement.

Expect a late bid from Spurs then......