70% of Class 'A' matches I think.

Jews in general and that includes about the whole of Armenia. It's all history la else, English and German clubs would be at war and Japanese clubs with just about everyone else.

Several reports are linking us to Sunderland's Belgian duo of Christian Benteke and Simon Mignolet.

Benteke was impressive for Aston Villa last season and had a standout game against us. He's big and powerful so much so that Martin Skrtel was bouncing off him. He's also got some pace to boot. Would be a good addition as he has something to offer our current crop of forwards don't. He's a much more direct player and we could use some prowess in the air as we don't score all that many from setpieces or headers in general. The blokes also only 22 and averages a goal every two games for Belgium. He was a monster at youth level and if you look at his former employers, he bags you a goal every two game at club level as well. I reckon he'd make a good addition.

With Pepe Reina still in the team, it's unlikely that Begovic would settle for a no.2 spot given the interest show in him by other clubs. Like Begs, Mignolet is a young stopper that has forced himself into a starting role recently. He was lauded as one of the best young keepers in the league last season and I reckon he'd be more willing to settle for the no.2 spot should Pepe stay. .

The Armenian wonderkid is an attacking midfielder hence why I posted earlier the importance of getting one since our midfield hasn't been contributing much to our goal tally. It's why we've been over reliant on Suarez to score. If he's going, it's good to have the midfield contribute. Gerrard's production will slow down and the next highest scorer from midfield is Henderson.

I'm not sure how they'll line up but on things for sure, we need players who can bag goals and Aspas, Benteke and Mkhitaryan have all just come off impressive seasons in front of goal. This will give the likes of Coutinho more options. I think it's safe to say that the team lacked depth last season and this season, he'll have the option of rotating players depending on the strengths and weaknesses of other teams. I know BR has been criticised for not being a master tactician but he didn't exactly have a strong bench offering a lot of options. I mean we had the likes of Shelvey, Henderson, Sterling, Assaidi and co. All young lads with potential but hardly match winners.

I reckon Aspas will be slowly introduced into the first team so we could see a forward like of Countinho, Benteke and Sturridge, with Downing, Sterling, Borini and Aspas providing cover from the bench. In midfield we could see Gerrard, Mkhitaryan and Lucas with Shelvey, Henderson, Allen, and possibly even Downing as options. If anything the development of Jordan Ibe could be impeded. Oh well, this is only if we bag Mkhitaryan and Benteke.

None of them were as impactful as Rocket Ronnie!

This post has been edited by Duke Red: Jun 4 2013, 05:00 PM

Corny bro

The picture of Ian Ayre at the airport has been circulating amidst rumours that it involves the Reina debacle. However if it were, it's more likely that reps from Barca fly in rather than he having to fly over. Could be purely for a vacation for all we know.

Hmm Suarez for Robben? Don't like him especially after that flop when Reina grazed his face with his hand.

Shankly's birthday is coming up.

http://live4liverpool.com/2013/06/lfc-news...anklys-birthday?

With Eden Hazard having moved to Chelsea, rumours of our interest in Mignolet and Benteke, Vincent Kompany being a key player for Man City, and Fellaini's $20 mil price tag I couldn't help but noticed that Belgian football is on the rise again. They are currently topping their World Cup 2014 qualifying group and I reckon they have it in them to be the tournament's dark horses. Not since the days of Enzo Scifo have I been so interested in them. Just look at this list of players:-

Courtoise
Mignolet
Daniel Van Buyten
Vincent Kompany
Jan Vertonghen
Thomas Vermaelen
Toby Alderweireld
Dembele
Fellaini
Axel Witsel
Steve Defour
Eden Hazard
Romelu Lukaku (standout season on loan at WBA)
Benteke

They actually ranked 12th in the World now, highest ever. I'd actually be pretty chuffed if we do sign Mignolet and Benteke.

Fulham seems to be an attraction to top rate keepers. First they managed to sign Van Der Sar from Juventus now they've signed Stekelenburg from Roma who is the Dutch no.1.

Don't like the thought of selling Shelvey. He may not be a first team regular but at 21, he shows no fear and his tenacity is unrivalled in a midfield which lacks cold, hard steel. He's got goals in him. He was one of our leading scores in Europe last season and his spell with Blackpool brought a return of 6 goals in 10 games. He's only going to get better this one.

Amidst suggestions that Downing and Assaidi may be leaving us, we could be in the market for widemen. Downing was ever present last season and it's testament to his character that he raised his game and was one of our more dependable players last season.

There are a couple of bargain out there if we aren't looking at splashing and id like to mention one of them. Vladimir Weiss was a player that caught my eye during the last World Cup. Like Assaidi, he has quick feet and is an accomplished dribbler. He was in my opinion the standout performer for Slovakia in the tournament. Played for Pescara last season. Still a young bloke.

I'm not sure where he plays after watching youtube videos of him but wiki has him listed as a striker. From what little I've seen however it appears to me that he's most effective coming in from wide areas, much like Henry. He's also got a good eye for spotting team mates in goalscoring positions. Leads me to believe that he's most effective playing either behind a lone forward or on either side of a 3 pronged attack. If this is so then we're a little heavy on wingers unless we unload Assaidi or Downing. If we don't, we hinder the development of younger lads like Ibe and Suso.

Luis Alberto is relatively untested in top flight football and he hasn't had that much exposure at U-21 level either. Reckon he'll be starting for the bench initially and we'll still persist with Downing or Sterling, if both stay on at the club.

Again, this will limit the playing time of the other wingers in the squad. I don't see us getting both Luis Alberto and Robben unless we lose some weight in this department. Sentiments aside, I find it unlikely that we'll match his wage demands. Best we get a cash deal or no deal at all. More interested in a player swap deal with Real Madrid.

This post has been edited by Duke Red: Jun 10 2013, 11:52 AM

Thin line there. Being a fan is in my opinion an emotional choice rather than a logical one, especially when it comes to Liverpool who are no longer at the summit of domestic or European football. Emotions are seldom governed by logic unless you're Vulcan.

That being said, I care more about supporting our club than I do about insulting someone else's. Taking the piss is however part of the game.

Bit of an exaggeration by the article to suggest that Martin Kelly could have saved the England U-21's but there is little doubt in my mind that his addition would have been vital to the squad. No secret that I'm a big admirer of his and I think this article sums up his strengths pretty well. I really do believe that he'll be an important player for us in the near future what with his versatility and especially his composure at such a young age. He'll be well suited to the high defensive line Rodgers likes to play. I'd dare go far as to say he's one of the quickest defenders in the league considering his stature. Blokes 6'3".

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1667128...1-championships?

Looking forward to seeing him back in Red.

Just to reinforce what I mentioned about Kelly being one of the quickest defenders around...



Well that's his opinion anyway

http://www.lfctour.com/news/latest-news/th...iz-martin-kelly

I'm hoping he'll be our next Carra. Kelly has already played in central midfield like Carra and now he's at rightback. I'm hoping he'll mature into a world class centreback in the near future. Been awhile since we've had a centreback with genuine pace. Would be nice to pair Agger with someone stronger in the air. I'm more excited at the prospect of having Kelly back than signing any other defender.

Martin Kelly is more solid defensively than Glen Johnson and I think few would disagree. We've conceded some really silly goals from crosses because we've failed to pick up players at the far post and Kelly is better at intercepting crosses I feel. Ideally, fullbacks should cut out crosses but with players overlapping these days, it's sometimes unavoidable. Good to have another physical presence in the air to help our centrebacks out.