The candidates I’m presenting to you today are three players of quality and their future is a constantly subject to media speculation and declarations that are bound to see them play on a different turf come next season. Two of these players, both being fully established internationals for their country are currently warming the subs bench and are getting close to no playing time at their respective clubs. The third, and undisputed star in his native country is playing in a league that although thrives on the cash provided by this or that oligarch, is far from having the prestige of the traditional leagues which we are all accustomed to. These players have also been mentioned by many of you in your comments, so let’s take the occasion to present them and perhaps include them on our wish-list for next summer’s transfer window.
Eljero George Rinaldo Elia is an exciting winger, attacker and attacking midfielder. The 24 year old Dutch international is currently on the books at Hamburg where coach Veh has strangely marginalized to bench warming duties. The Dutch attacking powerhouse, like most talented dutchman of this age, is on the watch-list of most of Europe’s top Clubs. Elia moved from Twente to Hamburg in July 2009 for a fee close to Euro 9 million. He will be definitely on the move this summer, and the Reds will keep a close tab on him if they are intent on securing more quality on their left wing of the attacking front.
Ibrahim Afellay is a 24 year old (25 in April) exciting Dutch forward of Moroccan descent. It is claimed that the Reds made an offer for his services to PSV Eindhoven but he opted to do an ‘Ibrahimovic’ and chose FC Barcelona instead. Given that the blau-grana continue to dominate world football, his choice could be deemed the most logical, but players should now look at what happened to Zlatan Ibrahimovic and say “If he didn’t make it, will I?’’. The Swede did not make it because Barcelona works as a unit, and the jaw dropping forward is not much into hard-lined schemes and tactics. Afellay has found life at the Nou Camp harder than expected, and will be itching for more playing time at the highest level. Barcelona would be looking to recover the Euro 9 million spent on the player, who plays as an attacking midfielder with verve and speed and is never shy of having a shot at goal.
Keisuke Honda needs no introduction for those that know world football. The 24 year old Japanese midfield playmaker cum attacker was the master of Japan’s success in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. Voted ‘the most valuable player’ in the recent 2011 Asian Cup, Honda is an exciting player to watch and is phenomenal in set pieces with his venomous strikes bearing a resemblance in power and trajectory to an ex-Man Utd star we all loved to hate (and admire). Currently plying his trade with CSKA Moscow for whom he signed in December 2009 for a reported Euro 6 million on a four year contract. Bringing the blonde samurai to Anfield would be a very amazing experience and a possible financial bonanza, as the Reds would force their way into a football crazy market like Japan. Can you imagine merchandise sales with Honda in a Reds’ shirt??? Apart from the millions of replicas shirts sold in the land of the rising sun, the best thing about his arrival would be that it would not just be a marketing exercise, because he truly is an exciting player.
Honda would be a great addition. He would be way better than Charlie Adam! Left-footed, check. Great at set pieces, check. Midfield playmaker, check. AND an established Japan international with huge marketing potential to boot.
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Elia couldn’t really cut it at Hamburg, I can’t see him doing it at Liverpool. Good player, but definetely nowhere near world-class. As for Affellay, I have mixed feelings. He’s a talented footballer, no doubt, but I wouldn’t really see him fitting into the squad we have. I mean, his favoured role is the one that is currently occupied by Gerrard and Meireles. And I’d pick them ahead of him any day of the week. Honda is also a great player, and the one we’ve been linked to most frequently, but personally I’d much rather we went for his teamate Alan Dzagoev. Wouldn’t really be sad if we signed him though. ;)
All these players you mentionned have great potential and who can improve the depth of Liverpool squad. It would be great if we can sign either one them next season but it just when Lfc start targeting other players, you always see people Iike. Harry Redknapp and
Co who will try to disrupt any potential deal and we always be forced to looked elsewhere or pay higher than expected.
Im only slightly swayed by Honda, the other 2, no chance!!!!!
Turan !!!!!!
Tonio how can you state Ejlia is a player of quality? ~The guy is so hit and miss he’svery like Ryan Babel. I wouldn’t touch him, we’re looking to move on then get the next Babel.
Afellay has only JUST moved to Barca i.e January window so come on that is a stupid link. Face it if say Juve fans started on about Suarez they could say he’s only started once since moving to Liverpool and never featured in either the Chelsea or Sparta Prague games. Whilst this is true it’s hardly an accurate picture so there is no chance.
Honda is a player who impressed with Japan in the World Cup but so to did Phil Babb in 94 with Ireland and his most memorable moment in a Liverpool shirt could be summed up the tennis comment New Balls Please! comparing playing for VVV in Holland to Liverpool is impossible and although he now plays as a deep lying midfielder for CSKA the question remains is he better than Meireles or Stevie G? Both of them I’m sure could easily play in the Alonso role (though it would be difficult to imagine them being better than Xabi) and we’ve seen both be successful in the attacking midfielder role. what Liverpool really need is 2 out and out wingers, another striker (maybe Pacheco could fulfill this role or N’gog improve far beyond his current levels). However 1st priority this summer must go to finding a world class defensive midfielder (Yann M’Villa for me) and another left back (maybe Wilson could do a job but I’m skeptical).
@ Andy! Okay, agreed! Let’s say Elia is not a quality player, he’s still on the watchlist of many european top teams. Comparison to Babel not likely as Ryan was mostly played out of position. Agreed?
Correct about Afellay. Only just got there. One thing’s for sure though. It will be tough for him to break into the team (but then he should have known that from the start), so he will move on in summer.
Honda and Phil Babb. Come on mate you’re not serious are you? It’s like comparing bordeaux to table wine.
As I said, if you read my article and those before it, I am presenting players that many fans, like you and me, want to be a Red. It does not mean I want them and it does not mean they will be.
Be positive mate.
Honda or Gervhino. Honda for the replica sales throughout Asia, though i dont think he is exceptional. He is an ordinary leftie who can score set pieces. Gervhino on the other hand is a talented ballplayer. He can score goals. He can be THE ANSWER TO OUR LEFT WING PROBLEMS. Thank God for Glen Johnson that wing is nw more productive.
Affelay can be a good buy but he wil be a third choice player. But Gervinho is the player we need. He may be an Ivorian but his football is BRAZIAN
ONLY AFELLAY.Another 50 million from the owner in the like of a.young (a.villa), el pocho (naple), contrao (benfica),adam
(blackpool)
—————-carroll————-
——-suarez—————el pocho———-
————gerrard———mireless———–
contrao———————————-johnson
——–agger——carra——–skertel———–
———————reina————————
subs:young,cole,lucas,dirk,kelly,pacheco,adam.
manager:king kenny
we will be champion of 2012.
king kenny has shown hes building for the future, a team which is young , can play football, moving the ball, around on the ground quickly, give and go style . ithink with 3 or 4 additions in the summer we with have a team with great prospect! if money was made avaiable i would buy eden hazard , ardan turan.
agree with jonathan L, honda would be a brilliant addition, terrific player and to crack the asian market could be phenominal! hazard or turan and coentrao too please!
The above 3 players are ordinary at best. Sign Nzogbia and Ashley Young, Adam and Rodallega. Promote Flanagan,Mavinga,Amoo,Ecclesston,Ngoo and Wisdom. Sell Jones,Darby,Degen,Irwin,Ayala,Konchesky,Insua,El Zhar,Kuyt,Maxi,Poulsen,Spearing,Cole,Jovanovic,Ngog and Aquilani. Dalglish needs to stop being a coward in his lineup selection like he showed against Sparta.
Hopefully there is a huge clear out of the 11 dead wood players we have at the club in the summer and Next January:
Krygiakos CB, Koncheskey LB, Insua LB, Aurelio(Injury Prone)LB, POULSEN DM/CM, LUCAS CM/DM, J COLE AM/RW/LW, Jovanovic LW/RW/AM, M Rodriguez RW/LW/AM, D Ngog FD and D Kuyt RW/FD.
The club desperately needs more width speed,pace,creativity, class,quality,excitement,Cutting edge in the side:
Two wingers are needed for each wing:
An Out and Out right winger: A Young Of A Villa, E Hazard of Lille, A Sanchez Of Udinese, J Navas Of Seville, A Turan Of Galatassary, J Mata Or P Hernandez Of Valenia or E Elia Of Hamburg, One of these wingers need to be brought to club to be Right winger.
An Out and Out Left Footed Left winger: R Drenthe Of Real Madrid, D Capel Of Seville, C Nzogbia Of Wigan, S Downing OF A Villa Or A Crusat Of Almeira, One of these wingers should be brought to club to be Left winger.
And another striker should be brought to club to compete against Carrol and Suarez: Hulk Of Porto, L Podolski Of FC Koln, Bojan Of Barcelona, Benzema Of Real Madrid, Llorente Of A Bilbao, Gervinho Of Lille or L Lopez Of Lyon, one of these strikers should be brought to club.
Guys. The way you splash out your shopping (and chopping) list amazes me! :-)
@Tonio. Agreed with your post and comments. Looks like most of you here could do a better job than the King. Why don’t you all just apply for the job. Maybe you can all buy the players in your wish list a.k.a football manager (game):)
YES….LFC should quikly bring Honda,Affely,adam,gervinho, bojan kirkic & some good defensive.Lucas is ordinary player. HE cannot replace possition left by mascherano because he is not dangerous(effective) when doing a tackle.SO this summer let them go…jovanovic,maxi,lucas,ngog,soto can says “good bye”.LFC must pay attention now to position DEFENSIVE MIDFIELD.The player must good on air,can assist or score more goal,agresif tackle,tough defend,skillful,tricky,FAST&more…. What happen to Yan M’vila??Lucas not creatif&agresif player. LAZY & SLOW….
PLEASE BRING BACK INSUA..DON’T LET HIM OUT AGAIN.
No idea where the prices and market come from for these lists, we are not Man City. And when in modern history as anyone ever switched up half a team and expect to win? This is not football manager sorry. Trust in the King or go be a City fan with the lists.
Like Honda for the same reason you do Tonio as he would sell shirts, which would pay for whatever transfer fee he would cost AND his salary. My issue is his pace or lack thereof. He is great with space but what happens when he is crowded and bumped? An Asian Joe Cole?
Some ridiculous, FM style pronouncements here.
Sell half the squad and buy players worth roughly double the amount recouped from the sales? Why of course sir! Any other dreams you would like fulfilling?
Stupid thoughtless nonsense. Now go away and actually use your brain and consider the realities.
The squad would not take more than 5 or 6 changes and still remain anywhere near a settled unit. I poaitively predict us buying and selling a total of 8 players maximum, and that is unlikely.
ONLY ARDA TURAN (a must) & Levazzi – better than all three including Hazard. Get Turan and Levazzi to povide the trickery and much-needed crossings for Suarez and the tall Carrol. Hamsik also if he available.
—————-carroll————Suarez-
——-Turan—————Levazzi———-
————gerrard———mireless———–
contrao————agger———–skertel———–carra/johnson
———————reina————————
we will be champion of 2012.
When will some of these numpties stop referring to Lucas and Kuyt as ‘deadwood’ when they’ve been consistently among our best players. The only negative is that Dirk is getting older and if he keeps working that hard, bits will start dropping off. I wonder if any of these clowns ever go to a match though. Building a team is not a shopping list with a bottomless amount of money, oh sell him, him, him and him, and buy him, him, and him. Leave those decisions to those in charge and trust them to get on with it. If you don’t trust Dalglish, go and support somebody else !
I Understand we have to sign players now. Just wish Suso, Sterling and Pacheco were ready because i think they could be a great attacking three behind Carroll for the next 10+ years.
young and contrau only..we only need a quality winger because if aqua comes back he can partner merileis in the centre,with stevie g sticking in great crosses for carroll..
carroll……saurez
young…………………..gerrard
merileis…..aqua
contau…agger…skrtyel…johnson
…..reina…..