Unbelievable

Couldn't disagree more that Ba is easily replaceable as you suggest. Here's some facts for you to ponder: - Sylvain Marveaux as a "ready made replacement" at the left side of a front three hasn't been able to play regularly for the last two seasons. It would be foolish to rely on him as a starter next season; - Demba Ba has played the majority of his career in Germany and England at the left of a front three. It is a position he is very familiar with; - Demba Ba has scored 1 in 3 in the Bundesliga and 1 in 2 in the Premiership. No forward with such goalscoring stats is easily replaceable; - Before the African Cup of Nations Demba Ba was on fire for us. We wouldn't have been in contention for European football if it wasn't for him; - De Jong and Best as possible backup striker replacements is laughable. De Jong ("a good investment" FFS?!) is a full Holland international who will go for 10 million or more, and will move to a bigger club than us as first choice striker. Leon Best is nowhere near the level Demba Ba is capable off, nowhere near; - If "unearthing some gems in Bundesliga or Lique 1 would just cost a few millions", why isn't everybody doing it? Who do you have in mind if I may ask? - Demba Ba has been very important for our team spirit this past season. Take Yohan Cabaye's and Papiss Cisse's word for it, not mine; - If Demba Ba were to leave for the conditions in the reported release clause, it would leave us with under 5 million to replace a 1 in 2 striker capable of playing on the left side of a front three and spearheading the attack if required. 5 million doesn't even buy you Jay Rodriguez in today's market. - Money invested in a replacement will not be available to strengthen positions where we need the reinforcements more to push on next season (full back and centre back) Yet your only worry is whether his buddy Papiss will be alright? Ok.

Syrup man will stay..

Within 10 seconds of the start of the Holland match our two central defenders (Bouma and Heitinga) have had a hard coming together with their heads.. Almost concede when they are forced out of play by the referee..

Will be out the door by Chrismas time with Liverpool sitting 14th in the table. They will appoint Souness to get them out of the mess they've created and he will see them going down by April, mark my words.

That RAWK statement man FFS. Barely two weeks ago you'd get "a week off" for even suggesting Rodgers as a replacement for Dalgleish, now you can expect to be banned for suggesting appointing Rodgers wasn't worthwhile getting rid of Dalgleish for..

Quite interesting to see the Liverpool fans' excitement over him, whilst almost every neutral can see this is destined to be a monumental failure from the start, in a similar way to how Sunderland fans seem to think O'Neill is the best manager in the world whereas other clubs' fans are quite indifferent about him at best.

Nah.. Liverpool haven't even tried this time..

I don't think their owners even know what they're doing tbh. To think they thought they had it bad with their previous owners..

If they are talking to Van Gaal, why not just give him the manager job. I think he's one of the biggest cunts going, but he will get them playing football and getting results again. To bring him in in a capacity where he needs to oversee an inexperienced manager like Rodgers is just looking for trouble though..

I ridiculed the possible signing of Martinez as Liverpool manager, but this is possibly even worse. Besides being completely unproven at that level, his style of football is the complete opposite of the Moneyball slight on football Liverpool have been trying to implement at a huge expense in the last transfer windows. They are set up to put as many crosses into the box as possible for Carroll to pounce on; I can't see a manager who would be further removed from this than Rodgers in the Premiership. Their squad would essentially be a write off. Bring it on I say!

I can see Sigurdsson not actually putting pen to paper before there is certainty about Rodgers' position.

Usually pretty reliable Dutch football magazine Voetbal International is reporting that Spurs (Levy) has been speaking to representatives from Luuk de Jong. They also claim Schalke is interested in signing Elia (another one of our reported targets), Kalou and Van der Vaart.

Shit source, can't be true..

Who would be the big one? Cisse just You'd call that a big man/little man combination..? Better keep Ba if that's what you're after

Who would be the big one?

I'm not sure it's dead certain like. His agent is just saying we haven't made a formal approach. Of course he won't go to us then. We need to come to senses soon anyway, and sign the man. The best we can get for a decent price. There's still some time to get something sorted I guess and with Mbiwa out of the French squad, he'll more than likely be available for a reasonable price. Mmmm, not so sure. Montpellier probably don't need to sell after the season they've had, the player has indicated he is happy to stay and the chairman has indicated they will only sell if a significant offer comes in for him. With reported interest from (other) big clubs from England and Germany I think we're looking at upwards of 10 million, which as that article correctly asserts pretty much rules us out..

FYP

He's just averaged over 1 in 2 games in one of the shittest teams I've seen in the Premier League for ages. Football is not all about statistics, Nut. Jonas Gutierrez's record is poor by all traditional statistical analysis, but those with a good understanding of the game can watch him and see what he provides to the side. Similarly Craig Gardner (even Andy Johnson in the past) had a great record (for a midfielder) in a relegation side, but when you actually sit and watch him play, you realise that he is detrimental to the team in every other way. We are a good enough side not to accommodate players like this. For a squad member coming off the bench and starting a dozen games, I'd back him to score goals. As for your last sentence, I think we are good enough TO accommodate players like him in the squad. He'd bury chances put his way from the likes of Cabaye & HBA. Much rather keep Best tbh

Harsh but true..

Well in Benny!

Didn't Ba play left of a front three at Hoffenheim and certainly West Ham too?

Told you.

I'd take him if Ba leaves. Think Gameiro fits better with Cisse too. We've struggled at bit in the 4-4-2 formation and that's maybe because Cisse and Ba are too similar. . Both are classical center forwards who like to take part in the build up play. We could need an attacker who focuses mainly on the space behind the defense: Opposite movement in other words. We'd get that with Gameiro. I disagree .. I think Cisse's strength is his ability to play along the line of the defence and make runs in behind. However we never really got to see how the Cisse/Ba partnership was going to work. Due to Ba losing confidence and being incredibly tired in the legs department in the run in. I think theoretically Ba and Cisse is a better partnership, because Ba likes to drop in the hole and contribute to the build up play, like he did in the first half of the season. Then making a later run into the box. Whereas Cisse stays on the last defender and plays off his shoulder. Agreed, far too early to call the Ba-Cisse partnership a no goer.