Summer Transfer Window

[Tes]

Walcott's barely 23. He's the perfect age for a footballer 5 years of prime ahead of him.

Now why on earth would Wenger dream of selling him...

Nah, we don't want him if Wenger wants to sell him. 

Tbh, i haven't followed Walcott's career, but given he's been round for ages he should be
either completely indispensable or cost the earth. Maybe Arsene should make him captain 

Walcott, even with one year left will easily be into double figures, plus the Arsenal selling premium. His injury record is less than inspiring (I'd hoped we'd finished with signing players like Degen and Aquilani and hoping we could somehow buck the trend of them being injury prone), plus he's not really kicked on from the promise he showed when Arsenal signed him.
Is end product can be erratic, as can his performance levels and his consistency levels would give you a mountain range in graphical form.
If he was cheap enough (so that's where I really should finish this) I'd bring him in as a striker and play him more centrallly than use him as a 'winger' type player. He's always struck me as being a better finisher than a provider (of sorts).

I really don't think our budget can either stretch or afford to be risked on young Waldorff. 

[the dude abides]

walcott definitely has pace.

but I have not seen enough of him to judge more than that.

I have not seen much end product....at least not on a consistent basis.

[Tes]

walcott definitely has pace.

but I have not seen enough of him to judge more than that.

I have not seen much end product....at least not on a consistent basis.

That's the thing with Walcott, he has pace...and err.......

Can it be coached into him? Is he young enough still to change?

Even ignoring the fee, which I realise is a daft thing to say, there's so many ifs and buts about Walcott.

[Ed]

I really don't think our budget can either stretch or afford to be risked on young Waldorff. 

A Waldorf salad!, i think we need a raw steak on the right wing tbh. Too much flimsy
wimsiness with Allen, young Sterling, Assaidi and Downer ( ).

I note the esteemed (joke!) Mr. Philip McNulty is making noise about Dempsey joining us.
A rumour that steadfastly refuses to go away. Mind you we seem intent on f*cking Fulham over
for some reason a.) hijacking (too strong a word...? gazumping!) their replacement for
Dempsey b.) nicking their star player for our reserves  . Jolly must not be amused.

btw, i noted the other evening Ben Smith saying that in his opinion, he reckoned that the owners
had spoken to Rafa in their manager hunt. Interesting.

[the dude abides]

That's the thing with Walcott, he has pace...and err.......

Can it be coached into him? Is he young enough still to change?

movement can be coached into players, and you can also deploy them in new roles.

but you can't coach technical expertise into a lad this old (23).   

[the dude abides]

A Waldorf salad!

whatever you do, don't mention the war.

btw, i noted the other evening Ben Smith saying that in his opinion, he reckoned that the owners
had spoken to Rafa in their manager hunt. Interesting.

this story refuses to go away.

Rafa may well be back by Christmas, if it all goes pear-shaped for David Brent in these opening months.

[Ed]

A rumour that steadfastly refuses to go away.

Forget that!

https://twitter.com/TonyBarretTimes

whatever you do, don't mention the war.

I speak Eengulishh...Eye lerrrn it from a buk

[Ed]

I presume the standard in Eredivisie is relatively low. Have to say though
I'm positive on this guy:

http://www.footylounge.com/films//milankakabaros/osama-assaidi-welcome-to-liverpool-compilation-12-minutes-goals-assists-and-more-video_eeec41ed3.html

[Juan]

Today we are being linked with Adam Johnson and Kaka.

I'd have my doubts about both. Kaka is past it and Johnson at 25 has never consistently performed over the course of a season to warrant a 10 million pound punt.

Why are we failing to address the whole goal scoring scenario. Borini came in but was never prolific in the past so you cant expect him to turn into a 20 goal a season player. Did we miss a trick by not activating Bas 7 million pound release clause?

At the moment we got a forward line not capable of scoring goals consistently. Suarezs scoring record cant be ignored forever, its appalling for us. I dont doubt his ability and importance to us but we need someone to helpl carry the goals burden.

2 weeks left in the window, i suspect Carroll will leave at the last minute and we will either overpay for his replacement or buy someone whose actually not altogether going to improve the first 11.

[Juan]

Would someone from the club please tell Newcastle where to stick their 12 million

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/newcastle-united/9491177/Newcastle-United-say-the-ball-is-in-Liverpools-court-over-12m-transfer-of-Andy-Carroll.html


Newcastle United say the ball is in Liverpool's court over £12m transfer of Andy Carroll

Newcastle United will not raise their £12m offer for Andy Carroll and insist it is up to Liverpool whether they want to keep an unhappy player they do not have a role for or grant him his wish to return to Tyneside.

That would potentially jeopardise his place in Roy Hodgson’s England squad, but the attempted brinkmanship has done little to strengthen Liverpool’s negotiating position.

Carroll has rejected a move to West Ham United, leaving the club he so badly wants to return to as the only one to have made an offer and with time running out, Rodgers must decide whether to take what he can or make the best of a bad situation.

Newcastle are also waiting to see whether Lille make a similar decision regarding right-back Mathieu Debuchy, although they are also braced to fight off late interest in their midfielder Cheick Tiote.

Debuchy has repeatedly made it clear he wants to leave, but Lille have rejected two offers from Newcastle and have ordered him to stay. Debuchy must now decide whether to force his employer’s hand or accept the move is not going to happen in this window.

Tiote has not expressed any desire to leave Newcastle this summer, but Telegraph Sport understands he is attracting fresh interest from rival Premier League clubs.

Manchester City, United and Tottenham have both enquired about the Ivory Coast international’s availability in recent months, but have baulked at the £20m asking price.

Newcastle, though, are still worried a bid will come and that the player will ask to leave when that happens.

[the dude abides]

12 million.

newcastle are taking the pi.ss     The club should never sell to them now. 

let him languish on the bench, making a rare sub appearance.

his decline from prominence will effect his england starting place.....and thus the lad will start to consider non-newcastle destinations in january and next summer.

[Tes]

12 million.

newcastle are taking the pi.ss     The club should never sell to them now. 

let him languish on the bench, making a rare sub appearance.

his decline from prominence will effect his england starting place.....and thus the lad will start to consider non-newcastle destinations in january and next summer.

Thankfully the club aren't doing 'a Martin Jol'.  Newcastle are looking to unsettle the player, partly by putting in such a ridiculously low bid, they're giving him an out but aren't prepared to bid anywhere near the market rate, which they set 18 months ago, and hope he will 'force' the move through.

[Juan]

Thankfully the club aren't doing 'a Martin Jol'.  Newcastle are looking to unsettle the player, partly by putting in such a ridiculously low bid, they're giving him an out but aren't prepared to bid anywhere near the market rate, which they set 18 months ago, and hope he will 'force' the move through.

Just saw an article titled Newcastle Hold Liverpool to Ransom over Carroll.  Have I missed something or did Newcastle sell Andy Carroll to us nearly two years ago. So we own the player right. The way its being reported we're trying to buy the lad.

I cant get over Newcastles nerve to use the buying tactics they are using. They are clearly desperate to buy Carroll, I assume they believe they can restore the player to the way he was prior to the move. But trying to almost lecture us in to selling and telling us we should be happy to accept their market value of 12 million for the player is from where im standing absolutely unbelievable. I would prefer to keep Carroll for that kind of money. In fairness what do we actually need cash for because the club has little clue how to use it. We'd probably end up giving the 12 million plus Charlie Adam in return for Dempsey. Ive actually started to hope Carroll starts getting his game. This talk that he cant fit into our way of playing is rubbish. We dont actually play tiki taka football, Carroll given a run of games cant score any less than the players that are already getting a run. I wish they would just start using him instead of leaving him on the bench.

I also wish the club would either send Newcastle a fax telling them where to go or come and state Carroll is an integral part of the team and not for sale at any price.

[Ed]

Just saw an article titled Newcastle Hold Liverpool to Ransom over Carroll.  Have I missed something or did Newcastle sell Andy Carroll to us nearly two years ago. So we own the player right. The way its being reported we're trying to buy the lad.

I cant get over Newcastles nerve to use the buying tactics they are using. They are clearly desperate to buy Carroll, I assume they believe they can restore the player to the way he was prior to the move. But trying to almost lecture us in to selling and telling us we should be happy to accept their market value of 12 million for the player is from where im standing absolutely unbelievable. I would prefer to keep Carroll for that kind of money. In fairness what do we actually need cash for because the club has little clue how to use it. We'd probably end up giving the 12 million plus Charlie Adam in return for Dempsey. Ive actually started to hope Carroll starts getting his game. This talk that he cant fit into our way of playing is rubbish. We dont actually play tiki taka football, Carroll given a run of games cant score any less than the players that are already getting a run. I wish they would just start using him instead of leaving him on the bench.

I also wish the club would either send Newcastle a fax telling them where to go or come and state Carroll is an integral part of the team and not for sale at any price.

Hey Juan, i think the matter is complicated because we still owe the c*nts some shekels for the
big man. I agree Newcastle are desperate to get Andy back and why not, if they keep their two
Senegalese lads and add Carroll, I think that they have enough firepower to mount a top 4 challenge.
Everton showed the other night how lethal a big physical presence can be to expose defensive
weaknesses and that it doesn't have to be all trickery, pace and technique up front.

Imo, the league isn't just won on the pitch and Newcastle are playing a blinder over Carroll. It's how
we respond that shows our strength or weakness...

[Tes]

We need to do nothing. Like teeth, ignore them and they'll go away. If they want him, they'll bid accordingly. If they don't, they'lll bis accordingly.
What makes or breaks this is Rodgers.
If he shows faith in Carroll, at least publicly, and gives him starts in all three cups, plus a decent go in the league as a Plan B, he'll show Newcastle's bid for what it is and tell Carroll, they can't want him much, otherwise they'd bid a figure which would allow a sale to go through.
Also, remind him that they sold him against his will and that 18 months ago they rated him at £35M, now they think he's worth only a third of that. In other words, use Newcastle's figures against them, to show that they didn't and don't really want him badly enough.
Point out, Allen. A player who had only one year of PL experience, but we believed in him and bid accordingly.