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Reds look to complete jigsaw

No rush for new Reds boss to make summer signings

Last Updated: July 5, 2012 4:53pm

Brendan Rodgers: Moving on after Gylfi Sigurdsson snub

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers has stressed that any new signings must 'fit the model' he is trying to install at Anfield.

The Reds are yet to sign anyone this summer and Iceland midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson turned them down this week in favour of a move to Tottenham.

But before pursuing other targets, Rodgers insists he will assess the attributes of the squad he inherited from Kenny Dalglish.

"I've got a bunch of wonderful players here," he told the club's official website. "I'm going to take time to have a look at that.

"I believe there's one or two areas that I'll need to improve on for sure, but overall the core of the group is strong.

"But like any manager, you want to add the other pieces that can complete your jigsaw and that's something that we're doing over a period of time.

"This window for the summer, you either had to get your business in early or it was going to run over towards the end of the window, just purely because of all the games and holidays and championships, and everything that was going on.

Certain type

"We're doing a lot of work off the field in terms of potential players to come in, but it will only be a certain type of player that will fit the model here at Liverpool."

Rodgers felt Sigurdsson would fit that model after having him on loan at Swansea last season.

And having agreed terms over a permanent move to Wales before being appointed Liverpool boss, Rodgers was disappointed he couldn't lure him to Anfield.

"He wasn't playing at Hoffenheim, I brought him to Swansea and he did very well for me there," he added. "He scored seven goals in 19 games and was very, very good.

"He and I both sat and spoke and believed that playing football was going to be the most important aspect for him. But obviously it was important financially so we agreed a deal for him to go to Swansea and that was wrapped up.

Wonderful opportunity

"I then became the Liverpool manager, and that then wasn't something that was going to happen at Swansea. So he then had a choice of where he wanted to go. I knew what the market was and I wasn't prepared to pay anything over what I had known was agreed before.

"Liverpool would have provided Gylfi with a wonderful opportunity to perform with a manager that he knows and at a club which is a real footballing institution.

"But he's decided to go to Tottenham, for whatever reason. I wish him the best, he's a good kid and there's no ill feeling. We've got other targets and we'll move on."
http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11669/7870725/Reds-look-to-complete-jigsaw

[RUSHIE#9]

Ripped from the offal:

"Gylfi did fantastic for me at Swansea last season," said the boss. "He wasn't playing at Hoffenheim, I brought him to Swansea and he did very well for me there, scored seven goals in 19 games and was very, very good.

"He and I both sat and spoke and believed that playing football was going to be the most important aspect for him. But obviously it was important financially so we agreed a deal for him to go to Swansea and that was wrapped up.

"I then became the Liverpool manager, and that then wasn't something that was going to happen at Swansea. So he then had a choice of where he wanted to go. I knew what the market was and I wasn't prepared to pay anything over what I had known was agreed before.

"Liverpool would have provided Gylfi with a wonderful opportunity to perform with a manager that he knows and at a club which is a real footballing institution.

Link to full interview

He clearly has his valuation of players and isn't going to be held to ransom by them or their agents and clubs over money.

[Reg]

But unfortunately the lad put money first. C'est la vie.

[friendlyguy33]

personally, i think the guy is waiting until pre-season where he can get a proper look at the squad. Who knows, maybe he can transform some of our dross into good players.

If he doesn't will you be calling for him to go like you were with Kenny at the end of last season?

[LFC2007]

Times will tell if it was the right decision or not to hold firm on the Sigurdsson deal but at least now we know for sure that the manager's interested in a midfield playmaker. Could anyone see us still signing a CM and keeping all of our current midfielders, Aquilani included? We need squad depth but I don't think it makes sense to have that many midfielders competing for one or two positions (Gerrard, Henderson, Adam, Shelvey, Aquilani, Cole +?). I'd look to add one top playmaker to the mix, and move at least two out, preferably Cole and Aquilani with another (Shelvey) sent on loan. By doing that, we should be able to improve the quality of the midfield whilst lowering the wage bill. Hopefully that then means more can be spent on improving others areas of the team, with a winger and a forward being top priority.

[alwayslfc]

Missing out on Siggurdson was a shame as he can significantly improve Liverpool next term. But it's not the end of the world for us in terms of transfers. What is most important is whether B.R. can walk the talk and the team he selects will be able to play according to his brand of football. Yes, we need new signings but missing out on one Siggurdson is not going to make much difference. Happy to learn that Liverpool have learnt their lesson in that they will not be hold at ransom from clubs or any player demanding a big fee. I don't think B.R. would have signed Carroll, Downing  Henderson and Adam for 82 million. That was KD blunder and it cost him his job.

[SouthCoastShankly]

Times will tell if it was the right decision or not to hold firm on the Sigurdsson deal but at least now we know for sure that the manager's interested in a midfield playmaker. Could anyone see us still signing a CM and keeping all of our current midfielders, Aquilani included? We need squad depth but I don't think it makes sense to have that many midfielders competing for one or two positions (Gerrard, Henderson, Adam, Shelvey, Aquilani, Cole +?). I'd look to add one top playmaker to the mix, and move at least two out, preferably Cole and Aquilani with another (Shelvey) sent on loan. By doing that, we should be able to improve the quality of the midfield whilst lowering the wage bill. Hopefully that then means more can be spent on improving others areas of the team, with a winger and a forward being top priority.

I disagree about Shelvey.

His finish to the season showed he can not only cut it in the premier league but also he looks talented enough to play for Liverpool. I think he has great potential and to think he is not even 20.

[RichardLFC1]

B-Rod has got a job on his hands with the amount of cm's we have and trying to keep them happy. Personally i think we should keep Gerrard Lucas and Henderson hopefully adding gaston ramirez and a DM cover loan out Shelvey and sell Aqua Cole and Adam

[kartiek]

I really liked the interview. Shows a great clarity of thought and it just means that he had other targets in mind as opposed to Gylfi.

[RED BEERGOGGLES]

Great interview free on LFCTV

http://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/latest-news/rodgers-interview-on-lfc-tv

[RED BEERGOGGLES]

I disagree about Shelvey.

His finish to the season showed he can not only cut it in the premier league but also he looks talented enough to play for Liverpool. I think he has great potential and to think he is not even 20.

I agree ,towards the latter end of last season Shelvey delivered  some very impressive performances .

[ycsatbjywtbiastkamb]

Great interview free on LFCTV

http://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/latest-news/rodgers-interview-on-lfc-tv

i really like his style, he has that calm authority about him that will come in handy managing this club.
by this stage roy hodgson had already insulted our fans, fell out with the danish press and insulted the nation of norway or someone

[RED BEERGOGGLES]

Great interview free on LFCTV

http://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/latest-news/rodgers-interview-on-lfc-tv

i really like his style, he has that calm authority about him that will come in handy managing this club.
by this stage roy hodgson had already insulted our fans, fell out with the danish press and insulted the nation of norway or someone

  Good Old Uncle Woy and his successful stint at Malmo ,how could we ever doubt anyone with such an illustrious CV ?

[andy_g]

  Good Old Uncle Woy and his successful stint at Malmo ,how could we ever doubt anyone with such an illustrious CV ?

to be fair, hodgson had had a far more successful career when he came to us than rodgers has so far. hopefully rodgers will be putting that right as soon as possible.

[Benny The Noon]

I wouldn't call Hodgson career successful tbh

It was longer than Rodgers.