Liverpool FC Forum

[Cool Hand Luke]

I think Eidur Gudjohnsen is a good option who should be attainable.

He has proven he can perform at the top end of the Premiership (although he was inconsistent) and is not playing much at Barcelona so a loan deal until the end of the season might be on.

Also, he is the style of striker (or second striker) that would work well with Torres. You don’t find him occupying the box much, he holds his position between the half line and the box well. He is always there to pick the ball up “in-between the lines” and has the technique and vision to create chances.

It sound like there is very little cash to spend but we probably wouldn’t want him on a permanent basis anyway because he is inconsistent and apparently he doesn’t have the best life style (gambling, late nights, etc).

A loan deal until the end of the season could prove to an astute bit of business and be beneficial for us, the player and Barcelona.

[bigmick]

Well no insults from me John, as you managed to read the thread opener (which deserves a medal in itself, particularly as it's one of mine). I did ask in that if people could put aside the blame for Keane's form (as I think at the moment it isn't important) and ask themselves, could we do with another striker?

Sabre made an interesting point, in that we probably do and have all season even if Keane was playing well. He's probably right too, most teams try and have four credible options. We IMHO have two, (three if you include Babel which Rafa doesn't so no point in going there). If Keane plays like he did the other night (once again for whatever reason, leaving that out of it) then being honest we really only have one, who is just coming back from a medium term injury and could break down again.

Now I know we play 4-5-1 so therefore we probably don't need four strikers, but we certainly need two and even possibly three. I honestly do think we should be looking at an option. FWIW I don't think Mcfadden is good enough TBH, and while Kevin Doyle is better than the Championship I'm not sure he is either. Tuncay I also like very much but I think he might const a bit more than that (8m) while Gudjohnson would be a good shout I agree on a free. The other blokes I know very little about to be honest, in fact I've never even heard of Zilic so it'd be daft me trying to offer an opinion.

S@int I think it was came up with another scenario where we traded Keane if there was no cash available. Maybe Darren Bent as a straight swap might find favour with Redknapp, or Jo from Man City (although I must confess I've never seen him play ).

All in all though, I can't help but think that Owen is the one, despite what he says.

[JC_81]

Owen certainly opens a whole new can of worms Mick.  The majority I think would accept him, I for one took a long time to forgive him for first of all being selfish and leaving the way he did, and then being spineless in moving to Newcastle imo.  But even I have now come round to the idea of him returning.  I honestly don't think it is an option now though, Newcastle probably see writing off the possible 4 million fee they could get now as good business, given that if he stays and scores the goals that keep them in the Premiership it is worth maybe 40 million to them.

I was in Newcastle today as it happens (at St James Park in fact - don't ask!), and seeing Owen's face splattered all over the billboards etc there still doesn't look right.  Perhaps he does have unfinished business with us, you never know.

[JC_81]

Also, he is the style of striker (or second striker) that would work well with Torres. You don’t find him occupying the box much, he holds his position between the half line and the box well. He is always there to pick the ball up “in-between the lines” and has the technique and vision to create chances.

Agreed mate.  Of the players I mentioned I think Gudjonssen would compliment Torres' style the best.

But then again, it still doesn't solve any of the problems if Torres is injured, because Gudjonssen certainly couldn't play as the focal point of the attack and Gerrard behind him, I could see them getting in each others way like Keane and Gerrard do.  Maybe we're better signing someone who would also be of use if Torres isn't available.

[bigmick]

Probably given Gerrards form off the front man, we are probably best served looking at a stright swap/rotation for Torres, someone who can play as a lone striker. Though he is absolutely not to be mentioned in the same breath as the Spaniard, Darren Bent can do that job. He also would provide another option off the bench should we resort to sticking a big lad up and lumping it (which all teams do on occasions).

They did by all accounts offer plus cash him to Sunderland for Kenwyn Jones, so I wouldn't be surprised if Redknapp would go for the idea.

[Emerald Red]

We should never have got rid of Crouch. I suppose in the end it was Crouch's decision to leave but to be quite honest with you, Rafa's treatment of him was nothing short of a disgrace. I suppose the CL final in 2007 was the prime example of this. If you looked at the bench last night, with Torres and Keane both off, we had f#ck all to change the game. Babel could possibly be used upfront but it's extremely unlikely and El Zhar and Ngog are young and unproven at this level. Ok Crouch wasn't treated fairly by Rafa, but it never stopped him showing his class whenever he played. That's the difference. CLASS. Unfortunately, Keane doesn't have enough of it to be a Liverpool player.

Now I'm not Heskey's biggest fan but if we could get him for cheap he could do a decent job short term and at least provide an alternative to what we have. Nobody will ever convince me that Kuyt is good enough and Heskey would bring more out of those around him aswell. Owen is also a no-brainer as far as I'm concerned from a football perspective but just wouldn't fit in to our preferred system. We need to get back to 4-2-3-1 as soon as possible.

I can agree with most of this. For Keane to play well, he needs a player that can make the ball stick up front and bring him into the game more. Too often last night I noticed long balls being knocked up to him and he just couldn't find the control and power to hold it up when he was central. Keane needs a target player. He is not a lone striker, a role which he has been asked to do a few times for us, and done to the best of his ability.

His lack of consistency on the pitch can be put down to a few factors, according to opinion of course. It's my opinion that Keane just doesn't know what the f*ck he is meant to be doing at the moment; what position he is meant to be playing in. He's constantly having his role on the pitch changed about. Is that down to Rafa, or is it down to Torres not being fit most of the time?

On Monday we saw him drift out wide right and try to put crosses into the area. Then he was central and just didn't have a kick. A Heskey type player could seriously benefit Robbie, but then again, it's also down to the manager to try and get the most out of that combo, or the player himself, which is where I have to throw in the towel and capitulate to the fact that Rafa just hasn't done this enough and it's resulted in Keane's confidence being shot to shreds.

Another feature of our play that's sorely been lacking is our wide play. Not from the left, because Riera is doing an admirable job there, but on the right. Again, Heskey could be a good solution and a decent open out there, even though he's obviously not a winger, but he could open things up on that side with his power and pace, and ability to hold things up allowing for the likes of Torres and Keane to be where they need to be: in or around the box. It's time to give Kuyt a rest, Rafa.

[JC_81]

Probably given Gerrards form off the front man, we are probably best served looking at a stright swap/rotation for Torres, someone who can play as a lone striker. Though he is absolutely not to be mentioned in the same breath as the Spaniard, Darren Bent can do that job. He also would provide another option off the bench should we resort to sticking a big lad up and lumping it (which all teams do on occasions).

They did by all accounts offer plus cash him to Sunderland for Kenwyn Jones, so I wouldn't be surprised if Redknapp would go for the idea.

I see your point mate, but personally I don't value Darren Bent a quid over about 5 million.  We'd be taking a massive loss on Keane, who although still never worth 20 million, would probably still command a fee over 10 million.

We criticise Keane for missing sitters, but for my money Darren Bent is an even bigger culprit.  Yes he'll work the channels and give you an outlet, but would he put it in the net more often than Keane?  Possibly, but I'm not convinced.  Put simply, I just don't fancy him, but there you go.

[JC_81]

We should never have got rid of Crouch. I suppose in the end it was Crouch's decision to leave but to be quite honest with you, Rafa's treatment of him was nothing short of a disgrace. I suppose the CL final in 2007 was the prime example of this. If you looked at the bench last night, with Torres and Keane both off, we had f#ck all to change the game. Babel could possibly be used upfront but it's extremely unlikely and El Zhar and Ngog are young and unproven at this level. Ok Crouch wasn't treated fairly by Rafa, but it never stopped him showing his class whenever he played. That's the difference. CLASS. Unfortunately, Keane doesn't have enough of it to be a Liverpool player.

Now I'm not Heskey's biggest fan but if we could get him for cheap he could do a decent job short term and at least provide an alternative to what we have. Nobody will ever convince me that Kuyt is good enough and Heskey would bring more out of those around him aswell. Owen is also a no-brainer as far as I'm concerned from a football perspective but just wouldn't fit in to our preferred system. We need to get back to 4-2-3-1 as soon as possible.

I can agree with most of this. For Keane to play well, he needs a player that can make the ball stick up front and bring him into the game more. Too often last night I noticed long balls being knocked up to him and he just couldn't find the control and power to hold it up when he was central. Keane needs a target player. He is not a lone striker, a role which he has been asked to do a few times for us, and done to the best of his ability.

His lack of consistency on the pitch can be put down to a few factors, according to opinion of course. It's my opinion that Keane just doesn't know what the f*ck he is meant to be doing at the moment; what position he is meant to be playing in. He's constantly having his role on the pitch changed about. Is that down to Rafa, or is it down to Torres not being fit most of the time?

On Monday we saw him drift out wide right and try to put crosses into the area. Then he was central and just didn't have a kick. A Heskey type player could seriously benefit Robbie, but then again, it's also down to the manager to try and get the most out of that combo, or the player himself, which is where I have to throw in the towel and capitulate to the fact that Rafa just hasn't done this enough and it's resulted in Keane's confidence being shot to shreds.

Another feature of our play that's sorely been lacking is our wide play. Not from the left, because Riera is doing an admirable job there, but on the right. Again, Heskey could be a good solution and a decent open out there, even though he's obviously not a winger, but he could open things up on that side with his power and pace, and ability to hold things up allowing for the likes of Torres and Keane to be where they need to be: in or around the box. It's time to give Kuyt a rest, Rafa.

Sorry Emerald mate, but of all the arguments for signing Heskey, his ability to play as a right winger has got to be bottom of the list.  Houllier tried him as a wide player and he was awful.  Just awful.  Worse than Kuyt in fact.

We do need a better right midfielder, but Heskey isn't it, not even for the odd game.

[Emerald Red]

We should never have got rid of Crouch. I suppose in the end it was Crouch's decision to leave but to be quite honest with you, Rafa's treatment of him was nothing short of a disgrace. I suppose the CL final in 2007 was the prime example of this. If you looked at the bench last night, with Torres and Keane both off, we had f#ck all to change the game. Babel could possibly be used upfront but it's extremely unlikely and El Zhar and Ngog are young and unproven at this level. Ok Crouch wasn't treated fairly by Rafa, but it never stopped him showing his class whenever he played. That's the difference. CLASS. Unfortunately, Keane doesn't have enough of it to be a Liverpool player.

Now I'm not Heskey's biggest fan but if we could get him for cheap he could do a decent job short term and at least provide an alternative to what we have. Nobody will ever convince me that Kuyt is good enough and Heskey would bring more out of those around him aswell. Owen is also a no-brainer as far as I'm concerned from a football perspective but just wouldn't fit in to our preferred system. We need to get back to 4-2-3-1 as soon as possible.

I can agree with most of this. For Keane to play well, he needs a player that can make the ball stick up front and bring him into the game more. Too often last night I noticed long balls being knocked up to him and he just couldn't find the control and power to hold it up when he was central. Keane needs a target player. He is not a lone striker, a role which he has been asked to do a few times for us, and done to the best of his ability.

His lack of consistency on the pitch can be put down to a few factors, according to opinion of course. It's my opinion that Keane just doesn't know what the f*ck he is meant to be doing at the moment; what position he is meant to be playing in. He's constantly having his role on the pitch changed about. Is that down to Rafa, or is it down to Torres not being fit most of the time?

On Monday we saw him drift out wide right and try to put crosses into the area. Then he was central and just didn't have a kick. A Heskey type player could seriously benefit Robbie, but then again, it's also down to the manager to try and get the most out of that combo, or the player himself, which is where I have to throw in the towel and capitulate to the fact that Rafa just hasn't done this enough and it's resulted in Keane's confidence being shot to shreds.

Another feature of our play that's sorely been lacking is our wide play. Not from the left, because Riera is doing an admirable job there, but on the right. Again, Heskey could be a good solution and a decent open out there, even though he's obviously not a winger, but he could open things up on that side with his power and pace, and ability to hold things up allowing for the likes of Torres and Keane to be where they need to be: in or around the box. It's time to give Kuyt a rest, Rafa.

Sorry Emerald mate, but of all the arguments for signing Heskey, his ability to play as a right winger has got to be bottom of the list.  Houllier tried him as a wide player and he was awful.  Just awful.  Worse than Kuyt in fact.

We do need a better right midfielder, but Heskey isn't it, not even for the odd game.

I'm not so sure about that. We do need some kind of target player, and if he can also be played on the right, then it's options, and we know how Rafa likes his options. It's one of the main reasons why he was chasing Barry for so long. He likes players that can fill two positions. Barry would have been useful for either left back, or as a  defensive mid. I know people have shot me down for making this point about Barry before and said how Barry is not a left back, but they are wrong. I'm also not advocating that Heskey is the solution. But a player of Heskey's power and ability to hold the ball up is. Kenwyne Jones would be a decent signing for us, IMO.

[Igor Zidane]

Sorry to p1ss all over this thread mick ,but we ain't signing nobody as we don't have a pot to p1ss in . So looks like we'll have to make do with the squad that's got us to where we are at present . I think i'd rather it that way anyway if i'm honest ,as i worry that a big signing might rock the boat . I'm pretty happy to have all our players fit and fight for friggin everything from here on in . Keane was gash last night though.

[bigmick]

Keane was gash last night though.

I don't think I've ever seen a player who is as good as him (and lets not forget here, he is a good player) play as bad as that Igor to be honest. He was absolutely, totally, awful.

If we ain't got no cash mate it maybe time to take a punt and do a wheel and deal. Babel would command a fee and would feck off given half the chance I should think, maybe's we take 6-7 mill for him and take a punt.

I'm just a bit worried that Torres breaks down mate, because if he does we will be utterly fecked from what I can see. Bizarrely, someone mentioned bringing Voronin back, and if the worst comes to the worst (and it would be the worst in this scenario) it might even be an idea.

[bunglemark2]

Normally I'd give Keane the benefit of the doubt but last night he was well and truly cack. I don't think Rafa knows what he wants in his own mind, so how can he make the players understand what he wants from them ?

[bunglemark2]

Keane was gash last night though.

I don't think I've ever seen a player who is as good as him (and lets not forget here, he is a good player) play as bad as that Igor to be honest. He was absolutely, totally, awful.

If we ain't got no cash mate it maybe time to take a punt and do a wheel and deal. Babel would command a fee and would feck off given half the chance I should think, maybe's we take 6-7 mill for him and take a punt.

I'm just a bit worried that Torres breaks down mate, because if he does we will be utterly fecked from what I can see. Bizarrely, someone mentioned bringing Voronin back, and if the worst comes to the worst (and it would be the worst in this scenario) it might even be an idea.

I've been over and back to Germany quite a bit of late and have seen a good bit of footie when over there. I personally think there's a lot of useful talent in the Bundesliga, Voronin aside (I mean, we couldn't bring that mullet back to Anfield, could we ?)

[Igor Zidane]

Keane was gash last night though.

I don't think I've ever seen a player who is as good as him (and lets not forget here, he is a good player) play as bad as that Igor to be honest. He was absolutely, totally, awful.

If we ain't got no cash mate it maybe time to take a punt and do a wheel and deal. Babel would command a fee and would feck off given half the chance I should think, maybe's we take 6-7 mill for him and take a punt.

I'm just a bit worried that Torres breaks down mate, because if he does we will be utterly fecked from what I can see. Bizarrely, someone mentioned bringing Voronin back, and if the worst comes to the worst (and it would be the worst in this scenario) it might even be an idea.

I still believe Keane will come through ( he is to good a player not to ), i still believe we will win the league , i really do . Torres will stay fit and start knocking in the goals , confidence is what it's all about mate . Once we beat the mancs and chelsea and arsenal it will be in our hands once again . It's our year . And you can frig off with your Vorinin idea  bl00dy short memories.

[maguskwt]

it's about time rafa swallows his pride and re-sign owen...