As I have a few hours before giving my liver another kicking at the bar, I thought I'd talk strikers and today's gossip pages on the BBC.
Couple of rumours involving Liverpool (I know that's all they are before anyone points it out...) and our forward line.
Firstly, City interested in Bony. Now I've seen Bony's name mentioned a lot on here and that's only natural as he's a goalscorer at a club you'd imagine we could tempt him away from. City's interest could stick the cat amongst the pigeons though. My own thoughts on this are that we might have left this too late, had we gone for Bony last summer I suspect we'd have got him. Now we might have serious competition, at the very least he'll cost more now than 5 months ago.
Secondly, the rumours of interest in El Swaarawy and Vietto. Any opinions on these? El Swaarawy was supposed the be the next big thing a few years ago when he burst into the Milan first team but since then it seems to have gone a bit quiet for him. I can't claim to have seen much of him but the snippets I have he looks ok but not much to get excited about. Vietto I've never seen play. Can anyone enlighten me on these two? Or have views on whether they might be good options?
Thirdly I wanted to ask about thoughts on the two British forwards making waves this year - Austin and Ings. Who do you think is the better player and how far can they go? Will either make it at a top club? Personally I've been more impressed with Ings despite Austin's goal tally. On the evidence of this year I think he has a bright future, certainly at a top half EPL team.
Happy new year all.
Strikers
posted on 31/12/14
Ings is a better prospect IMO.
Austin is older and has dodgy knees. He is a great finisher but isn't a top level player IMO, more a Kevin Phillips who will always score goals but won't play for a big club.
Ings isn't either yet and isn't ready for a top club, but he might be in 2-3 years when he has more experience at this level.
Berahino is a better prospect than both, but is inevitably overpriced like all English players. He won't sign another deal at West Brom tho' so will only get cheaper from here.
He has 2 years to run in the summer. Next Jan or summer 2016 will be the time to get him at a decent price.
posted on 31/12/14
comment by D'Jeezus Mackaroni (U1137)
posted 1 hour, 8 minutes ago
comment by There'sOnlyOneReds (U1721)
posted 13 seconds ago
I don't know why people worry about ACON, you're buying a player for years, not for a month or two.
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City surely need a striker for now, to cover for the injuries to Aguero, Dzeko and Jovetic.
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Yes, I meant in general. I understand your comment that City need a striker for now, moving for Bony would be a silly move for them.
posted on 31/12/14
comment by (Kash) Mario Balle Balle Balotelli - Justice4G... (U1108)
posted 1 hour, 13 minutes ago
Bony is a good forward but his movement is very static ala Lambert/Balo. What he has that Lambert or Balo don't have is power and great ability to hold the ball. Rodgers doesn't like that type of forward and its clear that Lambert was forced on him. We could have got Bony in summer but he doesn't fancy him.
Vietto dubbed the next Aguero and you can see why but I've not seen enough of him to make any calls if he's got enough.
El Swaarawy has been dire by all accounts.
I agree with OP that Ings looks the better all round player than Austin despite the goals however neither should be considered for Liverpool. Not the type of players manager likes.
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I find it amazing how you always have this insight as to what BR thinks.
Bony isn't a static player either by the way, he does his fair share of running and harassing defenders.
posted on 31/12/14
comment by There'sOnlyOneReds (U1721)
posted 1 hour, 18 minutes ago
comment by (Kash) Mario Balle Balle Balotelli - Justice4G... (U1108)
posted 1 hour, 13 minutes ago
Bony is a good forward but his movement is very static ala Lambert/Balo. What he has that Lambert or Balo don't have is power and great ability to hold the ball. Rodgers doesn't like that type of forward and its clear that Lambert was forced on him. We could have got Bony in summer but he doesn't fancy him.
Vietto dubbed the next Aguero and you can see why but I've not seen enough of him to make any calls if he's got enough.
El Swaarawy has been dire by all accounts.
I agree with OP that Ings looks the better all round player than Austin despite the goals however neither should be considered for Liverpool. Not the type of players manager likes.
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I find it amazing how you always have this insight as to what BR thinks.
Bony isn't a static player either by the way, he does his fair share of running and harassing defenders.
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Lambert and Balo also do their fare share of running but its clear not the way the manager desires. I see Bony as a clear improvement on these two but he lacks the level of intensity and pressing. These are the managers words, not mine.
posted on 31/12/14
comment by (Kash) Mario Balle Balle Balotelli - Justice4G... (U1108)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by There'sOnlyOneReds (U1721)
posted 1 hour, 18 minutes ago
comment by (Kash) Mario Balle Balle Balotelli - Justice4G... (U1108)
posted 1 hour, 13 minutes ago
Bony is a good forward but his movement is very static ala Lambert/Balo. What he has that Lambert or Balo don't have is power and great ability to hold the ball. Rodgers doesn't like that type of forward and its clear that Lambert was forced on him. We could have got Bony in summer but he doesn't fancy him.
Vietto dubbed the next Aguero and you can see why but I've not seen enough of him to make any calls if he's got enough.
El Swaarawy has been dire by all accounts.
I agree with OP that Ings looks the better all round player than Austin despite the goals however neither should be considered for Liverpool. Not the type of players manager likes.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I find it amazing how you always have this insight as to what BR thinks.
Bony isn't a static player either by the way, he does his fair share of running and harassing defenders.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Lambert and Balo also do their fare share of running but its clear not the way the manager desires. I see Bony as a clear improvement on these two but he lacks the level of intensity and pressing. These are the managers words, not mine.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
When did the manager ever say Bony lacks the required level of intensity and pressing? I think you've made that up.
posted on 31/12/14
comment by There'sOnlyOneReds (U1721)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by (Kash) Mario Balle Balle Balotelli - Justice4G... (U1108)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by There'sOnlyOneReds (U1721)
posted 1 hour, 18 minutes ago
comment by (Kash) Mario Balle Balle Balotelli - Justice4G... (U1108)
posted 1 hour, 13 minutes ago
Bony is a good forward but his movement is very static ala Lambert/Balo. What he has that Lambert or Balo don't have is power and great ability to hold the ball. Rodgers doesn't like that type of forward and its clear that Lambert was forced on him. We could have got Bony in summer but he doesn't fancy him.
Vietto dubbed the next Aguero and you can see why but I've not seen enough of him to make any calls if he's got enough.
El Swaarawy has been dire by all accounts.
I agree with OP that Ings looks the better all round player than Austin despite the goals however neither should be considered for Liverpool. Not the type of players manager likes.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I find it amazing how you always have this insight as to what BR thinks.
Bony isn't a static player either by the way, he does his fair share of running and harassing defenders.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Lambert and Balo also do their fare share of running but its clear not the way the manager desires. I see Bony as a clear improvement on these two but he lacks the level of intensity and pressing. These are the managers words, not mine.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
When did the manager ever say Bony lacks the required level of intensity and pressing? I think you've made that up.
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Rodgers said that about Balo and if Bony is in the same mould then he will say same thing about him. Rodgers just doesn't fancy Bony like he didn't fancy Carroll.
posted on 31/12/14
Play mario as a 2.
posted on 31/12/14
Ithink Kash has hit the nail right on the thumb, and I agree with him. Brendan has a style of play the requires considerable versatility, changing positions, tactics - Can being the classical example against the Swans - but each and every striker has got to have speed of thought as well as sound. Balo and Lambert, sadly, just don't fit the bill. I appreciate I am stating the blindingly obvious. No matter who we get, that's what we need, someone to scare the pellets out of defences.
JimmyTheRed
posted on 31/12/14
comment by (Kash) Mario Balle Balle Balotelli - Justice4G... (U1108)
posted 1 hour, 42 minutes ago
comment by There'sOnlyOneReds (U1721)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by (Kash) Mario Balle Balle Balotelli - Justice4G... (U1108)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by There'sOnlyOneReds (U1721)
posted 1 hour, 18 minutes ago
comment by (Kash) Mario Balle Balle Balotelli - Justice4G... (U1108)
posted 1 hour, 13 minutes ago
Bony is a good forward but his movement is very static ala Lambert/Balo. What he has that Lambert or Balo don't have is power and great ability to hold the ball. Rodgers doesn't like that type of forward and its clear that Lambert was forced on him. We could have got Bony in summer but he doesn't fancy him.
Vietto dubbed the next Aguero and you can see why but I've not seen enough of him to make any calls if he's got enough.
El Swaarawy has been dire by all accounts.
I agree with OP that Ings looks the better all round player than Austin despite the goals however neither should be considered for Liverpool. Not the type of players manager likes.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I find it amazing how you always have this insight as to what BR thinks.
Bony isn't a static player either by the way, he does his fair share of running and harassing defenders.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Lambert and Balo also do their fare share of running but its clear not the way the manager desires. I see Bony as a clear improvement on these two but he lacks the level of intensity and pressing. These are the managers words, not mine.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
When did the manager ever say Bony lacks the required level of intensity and pressing? I think you've made that up.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Rodgers said that about Balo and if Bony is in the same mould then he will say same thing about him. Rodgers just doesn't fancy Bony like he didn't fancy Carroll.
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But Bony isn't in the same mould. That's the point.
posted on 31/12/14
We pretending we didnt play well when mario was in a 2 with pace, rodgers hasnt used him properly, hes never been a lone striker.