The transfer necessity for Kenny Dalglish
According to various sources, Liverpool’s Director of Football Damien Comolli has been keeping tabs on German International Lukas Podolski who is viewed by many as an adept replacement for Luis Suarez whilst he plays out an 8-game ban.
This transfer rumour essentially assumes two things: Suarez’s appeal will fail and Kenny Dalglish has no faith in his misfiring striker Andy Carroll . There’s no doubt that Podolski is a talented forward and a natural goal-scorer, but it’s worth considering whether this would be a good move for Liverpool.
Firstly, we should note that Carroll’s Liverpool career hasn’t been a great success. His impact has been negligible and he has struggled for both confidence and goals. Of course, there’s every chance that he’ll leap on the opportunity created by Suarez’s absence, recover his form and start banging in goals, but on present evidence Liverpool fans won’t be full of confidence.
Then there’s Dirk Kuyt and Craig Bellamy who have impressed sporadically this season, but are perhaps more effective when they’re played out on the wings. One thing Liverpool are desperately lacking at the moment is goals. I wouldn’t be surprised, therefore, if Dalglish felt the need to bring in some forward reinforcement this January.
In contrast to Liverpool’s strikeforce, Lukas Podolski has enjoyed a fabulous couple of years in the Bundesliga. This season in particular has seen him grab an impressive (and Robin Van Persie-esque) 14 goals in 15 games for Cologne. It’s thought that the Polish born German International would be willing to make a move to the Premier League as despite his efforts his side are currently languishing in 10th place in the German League.
If Liverpool’s interest is genuine, they may well find themselves in competition with Arsenal, who are also desperate to bring in a world class striker.
But will Liverpool be willing to match FC Koln ’s £16.6m evaluation of their player? Liverpool’s owners have already dished out £100m on new signings and arrived at the club with a promise to cut out ‘wasteful spending’. Will they be willing to spend big money on a player who may not be necessary once Luis Suarez returns from his 8-game ban?
Even with his quality, it’s worth considering that Liverpool spent £35m on Andy Carroll only a year ago. Shouldn’t they be trying to get the most of their faltering star? During his time at Newcastle he proved he can get goals and if the club could help him recover his form they wouldn’t have to look to the transfer market and another big money signing.
At the very most Liverpool should look to secure a striker in a loan deal, so that the players they already have don’t get squeezed out over the course of the season. But for now, it doesn’t seem necessary to me that the club pursues Lukas Podolski.
But what’s your take? Would Podolski be a good signing for Liverpool?
Article courtesy of Harry Cloke from This is Futbol
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Yhhh we need a proven striker either lukas or gonzalo higuain .. Carrols a donkey hes just going to be like heskey and suarez isnt an out and out goalscorer.
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Podolski is hardly the striker we needs. He is always outside the box, we need a Soldado or higuain not podolski.
Also the owners haven’t spent 100m. The club, as in our own revenue streams have paid that whilst weve recouped over half by selling FT and meireles. We’ve also saved ourselves about 15m a season by ridding ourselves of dross on huge wages.
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I don’t think we can afford to wait and see whether Carroll comes good. We need a top class poacher. It seems we can get the ball into dangerous positions but just can’t get it over the line. In the meantime Kenny should think about bringing Kelly back, converting Johnston to a right winger and sticking kuyt up front. Dirk doesn’t score many pretty goals but he does seem to know how to get them across the line, when given a chance.
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Yeah I’d have 2agree that Johnson is our best attacking option on the right hand side. Kellys by far a better right back and we’ve got Flannagan as back up. I do believe Carrol will come good, he’s been unlucky rather than poor I’d say, but I still think were a world class striker short. Carrol will never bag us 20+ a season and Suarez isn’t an out and out striker. We need a poacher, Tevez would b perfect4 Liverpool but I just feel he’s 2much of a risk with his temperament, so Higuain is probably the best option out there, a natural goalscorer with age on his side. Y.N.W.A
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Yeah….agree that Kelly at right back n push Jonhson to right winger…KK…y not try this position…Jonhson good at crossing n eager to find the net…
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Smudger Reply:
December 27th, 2011 at 11:22 pm
Johnson has it written in his contract that he will only play at RB, hence the reason he hasn’t been tried on the right-wing, nor does he want to play at right-wing with Euro 2012 coming up, because he would no longer be first choice right-back for England. Johnson will be sold by Liverpool next summer if they can find a buyer, which will prove tough considering he is on 80k a week.
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If that’s right about Johnson, it’s a shame, although I though he’d played left back at one stage when we were short of cover at the back. Does this mean we need another right winger who can cross and attack with Downing permanently on the left?
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im not having that for 1 minute johnson has it in his contract he plays rb johnson will play where kenny tells him to there the ones paying his wages he even said last season when he played left back that he will play where the manager asks him to if it helps the team
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and why will liverpool want to sell englands 1st choice right back hes been awesome this season
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it is a much needed signing as a matter of fact, and it is not just to fill the boots of suarez… when suarez comes back – podolski shall he arrive to merseyside, will get equal gametime as he did when suarez is in suspension! because WE NEED GOALS, simple, we are getting pure brilliance and chance-creating stuff with suarez, but we need someone to put them away, carroll was signed for this reason, but that has failed – therefore another signing will be slotted into liverpool’s 11…
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Playing right backs in midfield ?
That shit is ok for impoverished clubs who are just getting by , like Wigan or Norwich but its simply not good enough for one of the worlds 10 richest clubs , we arent Everton , We are Liverpool FC & we need a squad bursting at the seams with talent , not cheap skate bargain bucket Rafa Benitez “Make Do & Mend” Players .
Arjen Robben is the best player in the world on the right wing at the moment & he has very successful experience in England already , its not like we cant afford him either financially or in terms of squad space , we are embarrassingly , cheaply using only 19 players & are allowed 25 .
Or perhaps we should buy Gary Cahill & play him on the right wing instead ?
I’m being sarcastic you Muppets !
Lukas Podolski is one of the very best forwards in the world , whoever signs him will be getting a fantastic player who scores a lotta goals from wide areas & is also a very competent central striker , a very composed consistent finisher with great pace & a powerful , accurate left foot , he isnt an out & out poacher tho .
Maybe we could play him RB when Johnson is playing RM eh ?
Fucking Muppets !
Kuyt needs replacing as does perhaps Renia , Skrtel & Agger , we have become Loserpool with their 2′nd rate “Nearly Men” attitudes dominating our club .
Long term Podolski would be an ideal upgrade on Kuyt who has had his time .
Robben & Downing switching wings providing & scoring , Carroll , Suarez & Podolski sluggin it out for 2 starting places .
Unless we want to remain pathetic excuse making overpaid , underperforming , mid table , weakling , dishonest shit ?
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D Walker Reply:
December 28th, 2011 at 10:23 pm
Agreed with all apart from Reina, Skrtel and Agger out?! Reina is one of the best goalkeepers in europe and Skrtel and Agger have been solid for us this season.
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