Liverpool FC season 08/09

[Judge Judy]

Don't expect to see him break into the first team any time soon though, unless it's a dead rubber game.

i wouldn't be so sure of that!

[BillShankly]

Fee agreed for Keane

gettin keane on the back of all my tops.

[BillShankly]

Don't expect to see him break into the first team any time soon though, unless it's a dead rubber game.

i wouldn't be so sure of that!

agreed, i reckon he'll be getting a run still

[Judge Judy]

especially with 7 subs from now on

[LeBron]

Liverpool FC in for French teenager David Ngog

LIVERPOOL are set to sign teenage French forward David Ngog from Paris Saint Germain in a proposed £1.5m deal.

Rafa Benitez is ready to make the 19-year-old his fourth signing of the summer, coming hot on the heels of the acquisitions of Philipp Degen, Andrea Dossena and Diego Cavalieri, as he re-shapes his squad for the coming season.

A fee has been agreed with PSG who have accepted defeat in their battle to keep the player as he enters the final year of his contract and terms have also been agreed with Ngog.

The cousin of former Newcastle United defender Jean-Alain Boumsong, Ngog has developed a reputation as one of the most promising young strikers in French football and despite only scoring a single goal for PSG last season he did enough to impress Liverpool’s scouts who had no hesitation in recommending him to Benitez.

Born in the Parisian suburb of Gennevilliers, Ngog has come through the ranks at PSG and made his debut last season.

Should the proposed deal go through later this week as expected Ngog will join up with his new team-mates after they have returned to Melwood from their Swiss training camp on Wednesday.

Liverpool also snapped up teenagers Vincent Lucas Weijl and Nikola Saric recently but while they will go into Gary Ablett’s reserve squad, Ngog has been earmarked for the first team.


I don't like the sound of that

[King Ledley]

Liverpool FC in for French teenager David Ngog

LIVERPOOL are set to sign teenage French forward David Ngog from Paris Saint Germain in a proposed £1.5m deal.

Rafa Benitez is ready to make the 19-year-old his fourth signing of the summer, coming hot on the heels of the acquisitions of Philipp Degen, Andrea Dossena and Diego Cavalieri, as he re-shapes his squad for the coming season.

A fee has been agreed with PSG who have accepted defeat in their battle to keep the player as he enters the final year of his contract and terms have also been agreed with Ngog.

The cousin of former Newcastle United defender Jean-Alain Boumsong, Ngog has developed a reputation as one of the most promising young strikers in French football and despite only scoring a single goal for PSG last season he did enough to impress Liverpool’s scouts who had no hesitation in recommending him to Benitez.

Born in the Parisian suburb of Gennevilliers, Ngog has come through the ranks at PSG and made his debut last season.

Should the proposed deal go through later this week as expected Ngog will join up with his new team-mates after they have returned to Melwood from their Swiss training camp on Wednesday.

Liverpool also snapped up teenagers Vincent Lucas Weijl and Nikola Saric recently but while they will go into Gary Ablett’s reserve squad, Ngog has been earmarked for the first team.


I don't like the sound of that

He's actually not a bad player

[Judge Judy]

rubbish

[GiveNgog]

Don't expect to see him break into the first team any time soon though, unless it's a dead rubber game.

i wouldn't be so sure of that!

So you want him to be given a run in Premier League/ FA Cup /Champions League games?

[Judge Judy]

Don't expect to see him break into the first team any time soon though, unless it's a dead rubber game.

i wouldn't be so sure of that!

So you want him to be given a run in Premier League/ FA Cup /Champions League games?

regardless of what i want, i'm just saying don't be so sure that he won't get a run in the first team this season

[ramosrules]

Liverpool yearly cycle -

[totsreds08]

Liverpool keep unbeaten run with Herta draw

Andriy Voronin had a second-half penalty saved but Liverpool maintained their unbeaten record so far in pre-season with a draw against Hertha Berlin.


In front of 51,641 fans in Berlin's Olympic Stadium, Liverpool's starting line-up included just three players who could consider themselves first choice come the start of the season.


But they showed enough effort, fitness and strength - particularly at the back - to encourage boss Rafael Benitez.

But this was very much the final dress rehearsal as far as Benitez was concerned.

The Anfield chief has been denied his big-hitters so far this pre-season and that has given the support cast their chance to shine.

He has discovered that in youngsters Stephen Darby, David Martin and Jay Spearing there is plenty of potential for the future, and all three would benefit from a spell now out on loan.

But Benitez will bring his squad back to Melwood tomorrow and has a week of intense work before they fly to Spain for a friendly with Villarreal next Wednesday, followed by a demanding trip to face Rangers at Ibrox four days later.

Benitez will hope by then to have made headway on the possible deals involving Gareth Barry and Robbie Keane while welcoming back to training Liverpool's Spanish heroes Fernando Torres, Xabi Alonso, Jose Reina and Alvaro Arbeloa - all return to training at the end of the week.

By then decisions may well have been made over the futures of Jermaine Pennant, Andriy Voronin and Sebastian Leto.

They have all had plenty of chances over four friendlies so far, but the pace of preperation will hot up now with a Champions League qualifier three weeks away.

Liverpool will face that without Javier Mascherano, who is bound for the Olympics and played his last game for the club for a month in Berlin.

Along with Jamie Carragher and Daniel Agger he showed how strong this central axis will be next term.

Elsewhere Spanish teenager Daniel Pacheco again showed clever flashes of talent and almost got on the end of an Emiliano Insua cross.

Hertha came closest in the first period with two efforts from full-back Sofian Chahed.

Liverpool changed their complete back-line at the break, Martin Skrtel, Sami Hyypia, Philipp Degen and Andrea Dossena taking over.

And the visitors should have scored after 49 minutes after Voronin was pulled down in the box by Kaka, who was tugging his shirt, but the Ukrainian striker saw his spot-kick saved by Christian Fiedler.

Cicero saw a downward header saved well by Diego Cavalieri, who was then replaced by Martin, with Jack Hobbs, Dirk Kuyt, Spearing and Yossi Benayoun all getting second-half run-outs.

[GiveNgog]

Liverpool keep unbeaten run with Herta draw

Andriy Voronin had a second-half penalty saved but Liverpool maintained their unbeaten record so far in pre-season with a draw against Hertha Berlin.


In front of 51,641 fans in Berlin's Olympic Stadium, Liverpool's starting line-up included just three players who could consider themselves first choice come the start of the season.


But they showed enough effort, fitness and strength - particularly at the back - to encourage boss Rafael Benitez.

But this was very much the final dress rehearsal as far as Benitez was concerned.

The Anfield chief has been denied his big-hitters so far this pre-season and that has given the support cast their chance to shine.

He has discovered that in youngsters Stephen Darby, David Martin and Jay Spearing there is plenty of potential for the future, and all three would benefit from a spell now out on loan.

But Benitez will bring his squad back to Melwood tomorrow and has a week of intense work before they fly to Spain for a friendly with Villarreal next Wednesday, followed by a demanding trip to face Rangers at Ibrox four days later.

Benitez will hope by then to have made headway on the possible deals involving Gareth Barry and Robbie Keane while welcoming back to training Liverpool's Spanish heroes Fernando Torres, Xabi Alonso, Jose Reina and Alvaro Arbeloa - all return to training at the end of the week.

By then decisions may well have been made over the futures of Jermaine Pennant, Andriy Voronin and Sebastian Leto.

They have all had plenty of chances over four friendlies so far, but the pace of preperation will hot up now with a Champions League qualifier three weeks away.

Liverpool will face that without Javier Mascherano, who is bound for the Olympics and played his last game for the club for a month in Berlin.

Along with Jamie Carragher and Daniel Agger he showed how strong this central axis will be next term.

Elsewhere Spanish teenager Daniel Pacheco again showed clever flashes of talent and almost got on the end of an Emiliano Insua cross.

Hertha came closest in the first period with two efforts from full-back Sofian Chahed.

Liverpool changed their complete back-line at the break, Martin Skrtel, Sami Hyypia, Philipp Degen and Andrea Dossena taking over.

And the visitors should have scored after 49 minutes after Voronin was pulled down in the box by Kaka, who was tugging his shirt, but the Ukrainian striker saw his spot-kick saved by Christian Fiedler.

Cicero saw a downward header saved well by Diego Cavalieri, who was then replaced by Martin, with Jack Hobbs, Dirk Kuyt, Spearing and Yossi Benayoun all getting second-half run-outs.

Not a good result all things considered, but individually the players showed promise.
Pacheco did some nice things, Voronin played pretty well (imo) and Dossena made some nice forward runs.

I don't rate Hobbs at all though. He's an average CB at best.

[LeBron]

Not a good result all things considered, but individually the players showed promise.
Pacheco did some nice things, Voronin played pretty well (imo) and Dossena made some nice forward runs.

I don't rate Hobbs at all though. He's an average CB at best.

Plz explain???

[GiveNgog]

Not a good result all things considered, but individually the players showed promise.
Pacheco did some nice things, Voronin played pretty well (imo) and Dossena made some nice forward runs.

I don't rate Hobbs at all though. He's an average CB at best.

Plz explain???

Well we should have won..I thought that was fairly obvious?

[LeBron]

Not a good result all things considered, but individually the players showed promise.
Pacheco did some nice things, Voronin played pretty well (imo) and Dossena made some nice forward runs.

I don't rate Hobbs at all though. He's an average CB at best.

Plz explain???

Well we should have won..I thought that was fairly obvious?

Dude, it's a friendly with only 3 first team starters (that started the game) and 11 subs through the game.....who really gives a rats ass if you win lose or draw.....it's a hit out!!!!!!! :? :? :?

So how many times have you seen Hobbs play????

[LeBron]

SPANISH TEENAGER SIGNS FOR REDS


Liverpool have today confirmed the capture of Spanish right-back Emmanuel Mendy on a three-year deal.
The 18-year-old arrives on a free from Murcia Deportivo and will compete for a place in Gary Ablett's reserves.

Small but powerful, Mendy has also been known to play at left-back.

[Judge Judy]

we've signed about 3million youngsters under Rafa

[LeBron]

we've signed about 3million youngsters under Rafa

Tobes.....I don't think there's anything wrong with that......If Rafa can uncover only a few gems it's worth it isn't it???

[GiveNgog]

Not a good result all things considered, but individually the players showed promise.
Pacheco did some nice things, Voronin played pretty well (imo) and Dossena made some nice forward runs.

I don't rate Hobbs at all though. He's an average CB at best.

Dude, it's a friendly with only 3 first team starters (that started the game) and 11 subs through the game.....who really gives a rats ass if you win lose or draw.....it's a hit out!!!!!!! :? :? :?

So how many times have you seen Hobbs play????

Dude chill, I didn't whinge about the result, I simply said it wasn't a good one. Anything less than a win is not a good result really.

I've seen Hobbs play on numerous occasions and really don't see anything special in him. He's competent in his position..but nothing exciting.
And to take a first team spot from Agger or Skrtel in the future, you would need to be something pretty special.

[mattieg1200]

ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE YOUNGSTERS

Liverpool snap up French teenager

Benitez is still chasing Aston Villa midfielder Gareth Barry
Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez has completed the signing of French striker David Ngog from Paris St Germain.

The highly-rated 19-year-old has penned a four-year contract at Anfield for an undisclosed feee and he is Liverpool's fourth signing of the summer.

Ngog, the cousin of former Newcastle defender Jean-Alain Boumsong, scored once in 18 games for PSG last season.

Liverpool add Ngog to their previous major summer signings Andrea Dossena, Diego Cavalieri and Philipp Degen.

606: DEBATE
Tell us your thoughts on Ngog
Benitez is still thought to be chasing Aston Villa captain Gareth Barry and Tottenham striker Robbie Keane.

Ngog has scored goals at every youth level for France and he struck twice against England Under-19s last season.

[totsreds08]

i like how we are getting young players but we need first team starters

[LeBron]

Rafa Lends Leto To Olympiakos

Argentine starlet Sebastian Leto has let it be known that he will be leaving Liverpool to play on loan for Olympiakos next season.
Leto, who actually officially joined the Reds from Argentinean side Lanus in January 2007, is ineligible to play in England at the moment due to complications in obtaining a work permit, so he is looking forward to the prospect of playing elsewhere on a borrowed basis.

"I spoke with the people of the club [Liverpool] and our decision is to leave the club and to play somewhere else on loan for one season," Leto was quoted as saying by Sky Sport News. "I have to play football next season.

"My agents are in Athens. They speak with Olympiakos for my loan.

"Their manager, Ernesto Valverde called me. He told me that he is really interested in having me at his team. He told me about his thoughts and everything. For me its really important to have a manager who speaks my language.

"I spoke with some friends who know everything about Olympiakos and they told me that this is the biggest club in Greece, that they always win the championship and they always play Champions League football.

"I have some offers from Italy and Spain but Olympiakos is the best club for me at the moment," the highly rated 21-year-old added, before stressing again that it

"I am still waiting for the community passport. Liverpool will wait for it until 31st of July.

"Of course, my dream is to play football here in Liverpool.

"I spoke with Rafa Benitez and he told me that he wants me but I can't stay without the passport.

"He advised me to go somewhere else to play for one season and to return next summer. He is right."

The Merseysiders beat off competition from the likes of River Plate, Real Betis and Racing Club to land the promising left-sided midfielder.

[OldRedback]

A scouse friend of mine recently equated Liverpool FC to St Kilda FC - a few stars, great anticpation and hopes for the next season but ultimately don't deliver and everyone else is tired of hearing what they're going to do.....

Fair comment I thought.

[LeBron]

Robbie Keane left out of Spurs squad but Gareth Barry in limbo

The transfer of Robbie Keane to Liverpool moved closer last night when the Ireland forward was omitted from the Tottenham Hotspur squad for a friendly match in Spain, with the Merseyside club hoping to conclude an £18million deal this weekend. Despite their complaint to the Premier League about Liverpool's conduct, Tottenham are resigned to selling their vice-captain, as underlined by his absence from a 19-man squad when Juande Ramos's team took on Hercules in Alicante.

Tottenham made no comment about Keane's absence before the match and are expected to play down its significance, but the 28-year-old, who has informed Ramos, the Tottenham head coach, of his desire to join Liverpool, is not believed to be carrying an injury, having trained on Wednesday. Dimitar Berbatov, who is agitating for a move to Manchester United, was included in the starting line-up.

The imminent breakthrough over Keane would raise further doubts about Liverpool's protracted bid to sign Gareth Barry from Aston Villa. Despite having raised £20million this summer by offloading Scott Carson, John Arne Riise, Danny Guthrie and Peter Crouch, Rafael Benítez, the Liverpool manager, has been told that there are insufficient funds to proceed with deals for his two principal targets. Much to the anguish of Martin O'Neill, the Villa manager, the Barry deal is on the back burner while Benítez looks for a club willing to offer him £16million for Xabi Alonso, the Spain midfield player.

Benítez may also be about to lose Álvaro Arbeloa, who was expected to start the new season as first-choice right back. Arbeloa has performed consistently since a £2.6million move from Deportivo La Coruña in January 2007, but it emerged yesterday that the 25-year-old plans to return to Spain for personal reasons. Benítez has two other options at right back, but, given that Steve Finnan has been offered to Villa as a makeweight in the Barry deal and that Philipp Degen is unproven, the loss of Arbeloa would be keenly felt.


It has been a summer of upheaval at Anfield, with Sebastián Leto, the Argentine winger, joining the exodus after agreeing a loan move to Olympiacos. Benítez has spent only £11million on four players - Diego Cavalieri, Andrea Dossena, Degen and David Ngog, a 19-year-old forward, who completed a £1.5million move from Paris Saint-Germain yesterday - and Alan Hansen, the former Liverpool captain, believes that even the capture of Barry and Keane would leave them short of title-winning quality.

“They are getting closer, but they still need three or four players,” Hansen said yesterday. “Barry would be a great acquisition, but really they need wide players, a couple of full backs and wingers. Liverpool rely too heavily on the goals of Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard. If they go with the squad they have, their 11 best players can compete. But, whereas United and Chelsea can replace quality with quality, Liverpool can't.”

The situation should become clearer today, when Alonso returns to pre-season training, having been given an extended break, along with Arbeloa and others, after his role in Spain's European Championship triumph. If Alonso insists on staying, Benítez may be forced to drop his interest in Barry, at least until January. That would allow him to concentrate on signing Keane and a left winger, although, unless further funds can be raised by selling players such as Jermaine Pennant and Andriy Voronin, the emphasis would be on mid-price options such as Stewart Downing, of Middlesbrough, James Milner, of Newcastle United, and Albert Riera, of Espanyol.

O'Neill is desperate for Barry's future to be settled but will consider selecting the midfield player in an Intertoto Cup match against Odense tomorrow. “It's a long-running saga and I wouldn't mind it ending one way or other,” O'Neill said. “We have our own plans to make. We should not be at the behest of Liverpool Football Club.”

[Toon Man]

Do you 'poolians think that Dossena will get the gig at LB? Who else have you got to play there. Just Curious.

[totsreds08]

Do you 'poolians think that Dossena will get the gig at LB? Who else have you got to play there. Just Curious.

aurelio is left back and insua? i reckon that dossena will start
insua is good but he is still young so he will most likely be first choice in a few years..he will be good if we keep him
but for now..dossena is probably the goods

[GiveNgog]

Do you 'poolians think that Dossena will get the gig at LB? Who else have you got to play there. Just Curious.

There's always Aurelio and Insua..tho I'd prefer Dossena to play over both of these players.
And in some circumstances Agger or Arbeloa could play LB quite well.
So I don't think we're in any danger.

[LeBron]

Rafinha Back On Liverpool Radar

Brazilian fullback Rafinha is once again being linked with a possible transfer to Premier League side Liverpool.

He has long been linked with a move to the Merseyside giants with Reds boss Rafa Benitez a confirmed admirer of the Schalke right back.

With Alvaro Arbeloa being linked with a move back to Spain following a mystery £6 million bid, money could well be available for the purchase of Rafinha.

The Brazilian is also in dispute with his club at the moment over the Olympics, and his future at the Bundesliga club is far for certain.

He was called up by coach Carlos Dunga for the summer’s Olympic tournament, but was told by Schalke he couldn’t go. However, Rafinha has gone against the club’s wishes and travelled regardless.

Any parting of the ways at the Veltins Arena will surely awake the interest of Liverpool amongst others.

[Judge Judy]

it'd be awesome to get rafinha, but don't think we'd be able to afford him now

[totsreds08]

how will our formation fit around keane or will he be a bench player?