Liverpool thread

[davidmphill]

Theres not much you can do if the local talent thats available isnt good enough and it seems the only logical step is to cast the net further afield.

[Darren]

Originally Posted by Nade

Don't get me wrong; i like quality young players like fabregas coming in and developing in the Prem but it's just a shame when the local lads' chances of playing for their team reducing even further with added competition from elsewhere. Anyway, not my club so not really my concern, just the thought came to me.

TBH its similar elsewhere. The lads that don't get a chance with us also have Everton and Tranmere local to them. Everton seem to be bringing a few scouse lads through these days, but we just haven't been. The fans love nothing more than seeing a local boy making it through. I'm sure this is the same for every club throughout the land.

But things are changing, the Premiership is getting pretty big with money now and the foreign influx started a long time ago. We need to move with the times, and if a couple of the new lads go on the be first team stars its a couple of big money signings saved.

Kevin Nolan was allowed to go by Liverpool and has done very well for himself. If they are good enough and determined enough they will make it. After all Alan Shearer was let go by Newcastle as a kid.

[aliando]

i'm fully behind rafas plans - it would be lovely to have an-all scouse liverpool side that came through the ranks, but as davidmphill says, if the talent aint there it aint there! which do you sacrifice - tradition or success?

imo, the game has changed enormously over the last 10-20 years and the successful clubs are the ones that change with it. it is a global business now, and to limit your youth set up to people born within x-miles of your club is suicide.

my ideals arent being met, but i want success at my club - and to do that, it takes doing things you wish you could find a way around sometimes.

[Darren]

WREXHAM 2 - 3 LIVERPOOL Saturday 07 July 2007 15:00 , Friendly

BES HAT-TRICK SEALS REDS VICTORY Liverpool got their pre-season off to a winning start thanks to a hat-trick from 19-year-old striker Besian Idrizaj which helped secure a 3-2 victory over Wrexham on Saturday. The Austrian hit a 22-minute hat-trick before half time, with the impressive Jermaine Pennant playing a key part in all three goals. Wrexham's two second-half consolations through Eifion Williams did little to dampen the spirits of the thousands of Kopites who made the journey to the Racecourse Ground on a day when nine young Reds got their first taste of senior action. It took Rafa Benitez's inexperienced side just four minutes to break the deadlock following Jermaine Pennant's surging run down the right. His low ball was met by Dutch forward Jordy Brouwer, who laid it neatly for strike-partner Besian Idrizaj to smash home. Ten minutes later the lively Adam Hammill nearly made it two with a twisting volley inside the box. Unfortunately Wrexham stopper Anthony Williams had his wits about him. There was nothing the Welshman could do on 16 minutes, however, when Pennant and Idrizaj again combined to double the scores. Captain for the day Steve Finnan found Pennant with a sublime 60-yard ball down the right before the winger hit a pinpoint cross into the box. Idrizaj, who spent half of last season on loan at Luton, still had much to do, but the big man's cool headed finish certainly bodes well for the future. If that felt like déjà vu, things were starting to get spooky on 26 minutes when the Reds made it three. It was again Pennant who got the assist with another well-aimed cross into the box, with Idrizaj again on hand to nod it past the hapless Williams. With his side well and truly on the ropes, Wrexham boss Brian Carey tried to bolster his backline with the introduction of experienced centre-back Richard Hope. It did little to steady the ship. On 36 minutes Idrizaj found himself clean through and would have bagged a fourth had he hit the ball first time. Instead he lingered, giving the Dragons defence time to regroup, and the chance was quickly gone. Despite the miss, the young forward was one of just three survivors as Rafa rung the changes at half-time. Of those who started, only he, Hammill and David Martin in goal came out for the second half. If some of his teammates were still feeling tired from their summer break, Idrizaj was seemingly running on adrenalin. It took him just five minutes after the restart to clock up his first shot on target, another header which substitute keeper Mike Jones only just managed to tip over. Liverpool's new Hungarian starlets were given their introduction to English football 16 minutes into the second-half, with Andras Simon replacing Hammill before making his way over to the right, and Krisztian Nemeth replacing the hat-trick hero up front. At the other end, 17-year-old Youth Cup winner Martin Hansen replaced David Martin in goal. Sadly for the Danish stopper, his number 13 shirt instantly proved unlucky when Wrexham striker Eifion Williams pounced on his mishit clearance before tucking the ball into the bottom right-hand corner of his net. The closest the visitors came to making it four was on 75 minutes when Ryan Flynn found Nabil El Zhar on the edge of the box before the young Moroccan sent a dipping volley narrowly over the bar. Wrexham pulled another back on 89 minutes when Williams bagged his second with a fine lob over Hansen. Teams Liverpool: Martin, Finnan, Hobbs, Paletta, Arbeloa, Pennant, Sissoko, Peltier, Hammill, Idrizaj (captain), Brouwer. Subs - Roque, Threlfall, Lindfield, Spearing, Nemeth, El Zhar, Simon, Hansen, Huth, Darby, Flynn Wrexham: Williams, Spender, Williams, Pejic, Evans, Murtagh, Jones, Llewellyn, Roberts, Carvill, Done. Subs - Williams, Hope, Valentine, Taylor, Williams, Macken, Evans, Proctor, Williams, Fleming, Jones Referee: Mike Jone Conditions: Mild Attendance: 11,210 Liverpoolfc.tv Man-of-the-Match: Besian Idrizaj

[Darren]

Rafa Benitez has just confirmed that Bellamy been sold to West Ham, and Cisse to Marseille

[davidmphill]

Originally Posted by Darren

Rafa Benitez has just confirmed that Bellamy been sold to West Ham, and Cisse to Marseille

The cash generated from those deals more or less covers the outlay for Torres.

[davidmphill]

Believe it when it happens:

BLUEBIRDS HOPING TO LURE FOWLER Steve Hunter 07 July 2007
	Championship side Cardiff City have made an offer to try and sign out of contract Liverpool legend Robbie Fowler.
Cardiff chairman Peter Ridsdale, who once signed Fowler for Leeds United, has offered the former Liverpool ace a one-year contract. Ridsdale said: "We have offered an attractive package and are hopeful Robbie will decide to come to Cardiff City. "I think the calibre of the players the club is approaching shows how much we've progressed."

[Darren]

Bellamy joins Hammers

By Peter ORourke - Created on 7 Jul 2007

PREMIERSHIP SEASON 2007-08
Peter Crouch is 9/2 to be Liverpool's top scorer. Click for more specials!


Related links


Team Pages:

• Liverpool
• West Ham United

Player Pages:

• Craig Bellamy
• Djibril Cisse
• Yossi Benayoun

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has revealed Craig Bellamy has left to join West Ham.
The Reds have decided to let Bellamy move on after just one season at Anfield.
The record signing of Fernando Torres pushed Bellamy further down the pecking order at Liverpool and West Ham have moved quickly to offer him a way out of Anfield.
West Ham have been keen to bolster their attack and they have been frustrated in their attempts to sign Darren Bent, Mark Viduka and Djibril Cisse already this summer.
Alan Curbishley is actively scouring the market for reinforcements and Bellamy's move could help pave the way for Carlos Tevez to join Manchester United.
Benitez speaking after Liverpool's 3-2 friendly win over Wrexham, confirmed Bellamy had agreed to move to Upton Park.
"He's signed for West Ham, it's done," Benitez told Sky Sports News.
"He knew what I thought and I think it's a good move for him."
When asked if Djibril Cisse had sealed his expected move to Marseille, Benitez said: "Yep, it's done also."
Liverpool have been linked with a move for West Ham's Yossi Benayoun and Benitez confirmed talks are ongoing regarding a deal for the Israeli international.
"I don't know. (If he's coming) It's clear he'd like to come," continued Benitez
"We've made an offer and now we need to wait.
"He's a player I like. We've made an offer, now they said no. "Now we need to wait because he's a good player for me. "

[mileni4uk]

Well .. we got Voronin, who's the same class as Cisse if not better And Torres, who's far better than Bellamy. Payed 20J and got 14J back. That's good business for me

[Darren]

Rafa: Bellamy and Cisse sold. West Ham deny Bellamy deal done
http://www.anfieldroad.com/news/late...16292663b.html

Pretty sure Bellamy deal will go through early next week. It seems the fee is sorted, he has agreed terms and passed a medical, Rafa must just need to spell it out to him that he doesn't want him.

To be honest his Liverpool career ended when he went at Riise, from then on Rafa only used him when he felt he needed and its always been likely he would be shifted on. Pennant came in with a bad reputation and behaved, Bellamy just did what he is known for.

A little gutted to see Bellamy go, but if you can't control the idiot in him even when he is at the club he supports and on his last chance at a big club then fcuk him.

[2hcb]

Greetings scousers. Has anyone got any info on Paul Anderson, a young winger who has just joined us (Swansea) on a season's loan from you?

Can we have any hopes of getting him permenantly or is he highly enough rated that this year deal is just to get him some experience?

[Darren]

Originally Posted by 2hcb

Greetings scousers. Has anyone got any info on Paul Anderson, a young winger who has just joined us (Swansea) on a season's loan from you?

Can we have any hopes of getting him permenantly or is he highly enough rated that this year deal is just to get him some experience?

Has he?

Gutted on that tbh, I hoped he would break into our first team side at some point this season.

He looks a smasher from what I have seen of him. Very talented player.

I'm hoping to see him in the first team side at some point, he has always looked like he has the ability, so little chance of a permanent deal anytime soon really.

[Darren]

Reds lodge Babel bid - Agent

Ryan Babel's agent Winne Haatrecht has claimed Liverpool have lodged a bid for the Ajax winger.



Babel impressed as the Dutch Under-21 side won the recent European Championships and has been heavily linked with a move to Arsenal.
However, it now appears Liverpool have joined the race to sign the 20-year-old.
Haatrecht told Sportweek magazine: "I can say nothing about transfer fees, but I can confirm that Liverpool have made a bid for Ryan. Ryan himself hasn't spoken with that club. Only when Ajax says that the clubs have an agreement can we speak, and phase two starts.
"But it's not that far yet. We first have to wait to see if the clubs reach a deal or not."
Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez admitted last week that he was on the lookout for wingers after signing striker Fernando Torres from Atletico Madrid. Babel - who has also been linked with Newcastle - made 27 Eredivisie appearances for Ajax last season, scoring five goals.

[Darren]

And it looks like Carragher is ready to quit England. Not a big surprise as he never gets a chance.

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liver...name_page.html

[mileni4uk]

Just to add something I read in the previous posts. About the young lads .. well if you have the talent of Gerrard, Owen, Carra or Robbie you'll always break into the first team. If not then you'll end up in division 1 or 2 .. it's very simple. Young scouse boys will get the same chance as in the past. They just have to be good otherwise they will never play for the first team. The new method Rafa is introducing is for the good of this football club.

[davidmphill]

I like Babel as a player and being a fan of the Eredivisie i've seen him develop slowly over the last few years.

Arsenal have been continually linked with him and i'm shocked they've not gone through with it.

The good thing about the lad is as well as being a winger, a left one at that he can also operate as a striker which is more than handy.

[davidmphill]

Levante look to loan Paletta

By Francisco Acedo - Created on 9 Jul 2007

PREMIERSHIP SEASON 2007-08
Peter Crouch is 9/2 to be Liverpool's top scorer. Click for more specials!


Related links


Team Pages:

• Liverpool
• Levante

Player Pages:

• Gabriel Paletta

Liverpool defender Gabriel Paletta could be set for a loan move to Spain with Levante.
Reports emanating from Spain suggest Levante have expressed an interest in taking the Argentine ace on loan for the whole of next season.
The 21-year-old joined Liverpool from Banfield last summer, but he struggled to establish himself in Rafa Benitez's first-team plans.
Paletta made only eight appearances for the Reds last term and he is well down the pecking order of defenders at Anfield.
Benitez is believed to have given the loan move to Levante the green light as he is keen for the South American to gain some valuable first-team experience. The deal does not include any option for Levante to make the move permanent as Paletta is tipped for a big future at Liverpool.

[davidmphill]

Good move for both parties I believe as I dont see him getting regular 1st team action again next season.

[Darren]

Are they Spanish top flight still?

Looks a good move for us as that boys pretty iffy at the back atm. Hopefully with experience he will improve but he doesn't look too great any time I have seen him.

[2hcb]

Originally Posted by Darren

Has he?

Gutted on that tbh, I hoped he would break into our first team side at some point this season.

He looks a smasher from what I have seen of him. Very talented player.

I'm hoping to see him in the first team side at some point, he has always looked like he has the ability, so little chance of a permanent deal anytime soon really.

thanks for that. so we have got ourselves a good little winger for this season at least then? What are his strengths? Pace, crossing, dribbling, goal scoring? I'll report back to you on how he gets on!