Lately I've been listening to WNYC's wonderful RadioLab show, and recently came upon "The
Loneliness of the Goalkeeper" episode. Turns out it was originally broadcast on BBC Radio 4, so you
Brits may have already heard it before. (And here I was hoping to break new ground.)
Lately I've been listening to WNYC's wonderful RadioLab show, and recently came upon "The
Loneliness of the Goalkeeper" episode. Turns out it was originally broadcast on BBC Radio 4, so you
Brits may have already heard it before. (And here I was hoping to break new ground.)
There was an interesting comment on Twitter today from Tor-Kristian Karlsen, a football scout.
Karlsen noted that while Premiership clubs do have an overview for the world's footballers, most
are, I quote:
Tor-Kristian Karlsen
karlsentk Tor-Kristian Karlsen
many people (justifiably) puzzled that few premier league clubs were seriously in for arturo vidal
(no idea if arsenal interest was genuine)
personally i think the reason is lack of contacts and connections.
Of the players that are expected to leave this summer, there was only certainty around the
departure of Fabio Aurelio. Today it's been widely reported that he'll head back to Brazil on a
free transfer to join Gremio, where he'll surely see out the final days of his playing career.
We've said goodbye to the player once before, which makes this a less traditional farewell post,
but he's still deserving of a mention for the impact that he made during his time with
Liverpool.
A year after the magic in Istanbul, Liverpool found themselves back in a major cup final, this
time in Cardiff against a West Ham side that hadn't featured in an FA Cup Final since 1980, when
they won the competition as a second division side. Both clubs had their share of narrow results
along the way to Wales in what would be the last FA Cup final hosted at the Millenium Stadium,
where Liverpool won the first final at its temporary home five years earlier.
Guest writer David Bolt takes a look at how the new 25-man squad rule will affect Liverpool, and
considers whether the club has actually prepared well-enough for its implementation.
After the transfer window closes, Liverpool will have to name their 25-man squad for the Premier
League. As it stands, the club has got itself into a bit of a mess with the 25-man squad rule and
is facing the prospect of having to pay some players (and not just Brazil's answer to Mr.
Liverpool have today completed the signing of Jose Enrique from Newcastle, the club has
confirmed. The deal is worth £6m and the player will pick up £60,000 per week at Anfield. It was
ten days ago that we broke the news that Liverpool had rekindled their interest in Enrique in the
wake of Milan Jovanovic's agreement to join Anderlecht.
Liverpool moved closer to solving their problem at left-back after agreeing a fee with Newcastle
for defender Jose Enrique.
Liverpool will discuss personal terms with the Spaniard when he arrives on Merseyside for his
medical at their Melwood training ground this afternoon.
Enrique, 25, will cost Liverpool in the region of £6million but will fill a position which they
struggled with last season.
The difference a year makes. From Hicks and Gillett setting the club's money on fire to FSG opening
the checkbook at will. From an owl-faced over-matched media darling who "deserved a chance" as
manager to the club's greatest living legend. Checking under couch cushions for the privilege of
buying Konchesky and Poulsen to slightly less than £50m spent on Adam, Doni, Downing, Enrique, and
Henderson.
When Paul Konchesky was sold to Leicester City earlier this summer, one of the strangest and most
stressful periods of the past two decades in Liverpool's history came to a close. Seen as the
embodiment of the mediocrity that had somehow become the norm at the club, Konchesky's departure
was deemed as confirmation that the standards that had been allowed to drop were now being pushed
upwards again.
When Paul Konchesky was sold to Leicester City earlier this summer, one of the strangest and most
stressful periods of the past two decades in Liverpool's history came to a close. Seen as the
embodiment of the mediocrity that had somehow become the norm at the club, Konchesky's departure
was deemed as confirmation that the standards that had been allowed to drop were now being pushed
upwards again.
It is no secret that we are in the market for an established left back. Kenny tried out a whole
bunch of lads in the position in the latter half of the 10/11 season, with Paul Konchesky, Fabio
Aurelio, Jack Robinson, Danny Wilson and Glen Johnson all being tested out.
Anderlecht has completed the signing of Milan Jovanovic from Liverpool after the forward failed to
make an impact at Anfield.
The Serbian international joined the club following the 2010 World Cup, while previous boss Roy
Hodgson was at the helm.
The 30-year-old found first team opportunities hard to come by though and was regularly on the
fringes of matchday squads.
Liverpool have reportedly identified Dynamo Kiev defender Gerson Magrao as a potential summer
acquisition.
According to talkSPORT, the £5 million-rated Brazilian has been pinpointed by the Reds as a
possible replacement for Paul Konchesky, who recently left Merseyside for Leicester.
Konchesky moved to Anfield from Fulham a year ago, with then Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson
splashing out £4 million to secure the signature of the former England international.
Alex Livesey/Getty Image (Bleacher Report) Liverpool continue to go after young talent as they are
reportedly now battling Arsenal for the signature of Blackburn Rovers starlet centerback Phil Jones
claims Sky Sports.
Valued at around £16m it would be another example of the Reds sticking to their youth policy after
having just wrapped up the signature of Sunderland wide-man Jordan Henderson.
Ian Macnicol/Getty Images(Bleacher Report) Since his arrival last summer, Honduran International
Emilio Izaquirre has made quite an impression on Scottish football as a Hoop, and on the world of
football in general.
The left-back was highly linked with Liverpool during the January transfer window, and he again is
in the press as one of the best choices for the Reds to fill the boots of chronically injured Fabio
Aurelio, and out classed outcast Paul Konchesky.
Sciott Heavey/Getty Images(Bleacher Report) The 2011-12 season started off with great belief and
great doubt all at the same time. The Rafael Benitez era had come to a close in a dismal fashion,
as the Reds slumped to a 7th place finish after having finished 2nd the season before.
Roy Hodgson, after leading a mid-table Fulham team to the UEFA Europa League final, was installed
as the new man at Anfield, but it was a signing that had no real fan belief behind him.
This morning, we are delighted to welcome Paul Grech back to
Twohundredpercent, to preview the chances of his team, Liverpool, in next seasons Premier
League.
When Paul Konchesky was sold to Nottingham Forest earlier this summer, one of the strangest and
most stressful periods of the past two decades in Liverpool's history came to a close.
This morning, we are delighted to welcome Paul Grech back to
Twohundredpercent, to preview the chances of his team, Liverpool, in next seasons Premier
League.
When Paul Konchesky was sold to Nottingham Forest earlier this summer, one of the strangest and
most stressful periods of the past two decades in Liverpool's history came to a close.
One year ago newly appointed Liverpool manager, Roy Hodgson, was familiarizing himself with his
new surroundings on Merseyside. Having led Fulham to a Europa League final in the previous season
the former Inter Milan head coach was employed to stabilize a ship navigating unsettling waters,
occupying the vacant post after his predecessor, Rafael Benitez, had earlier walked the plank.
Sit back and watch the best of the 2011/2012 Premier League season live with Sky Sports
HD.
I awoke from my slumber this morning with an uneasy feeling way down in my gut. At first I
thought it may have just been the loaded egg mayo preparing for round two, but no it ran far deeper
than that.
New Fulham signing John Arne Riise has expressed disappointment that Liverpool did not press harder
to sign him before he made the move to Craven Cottage.
Kenny Dalglish is thought to be in the market for a left-back following the sale of Paul Konchesky
to Leicester, with Aly Cissokho of Lyon heavily linked to Anfield.
Liverpool FC remains in the hunt for a left-back but Lyon's Aly Cissokho is unlikely to be filling
the void at Anfield.
The Reds have been linked with a £9million move for the 23- year-old France international.
However, reports in his homeland that a deal is imminent are wide of the mark and Liverpool are
considering other options.
Kenny Dalglish splashes cash but Liverpool spirits rise | Paul Hayward
Liverpool manager has spent a lot of money on players but it is necessary to compete with
Chelsea and Manchester United The Kop lives in mortal fear of the mediocre buy, the non‑Liverpool
signing: a dread that dates back to Phil Babb, Neil Ruddock, Julian Dicks and Jimmy Carter.
Liverpool are ready to rekindle their interest in Bayer Leverkusens Michael Kadlec having grown
frustrated in their pursuit of a new left-back.
The Reds have limited options on the left side of their defence, where England right-back Glen
Johnson was often forced to fill in last season as Anfield flop Paul Konchesky was loaned to
Nottingham Forest and yester day sold to Leicester City
Reds boss Kenny Dalglish has found it difficult to solve the problem position so far this summer as
top transfer target Gael Clichy opted to join Manchester City , while Newcastles £15m asking price
for Jose Enrique has proved a stumbling block in agreeing a deal.
1. He has been in goalscoring hibernation. He shutdown in October and had no intention of returning
to normal duty until spring had sprung. 2. His hair hasn't been blonde enough. The dry spell is
down to his hair colourist, who has kept his hair far too dark since he arrived at Stamford Bridge.
Nando [.
Liverpool's reported search for a first choice left back has reportedly led to PSV Eindhoven's Erik
Pieters. Anfield boss Kenny Dalglish is said to have expressed an interest in the adaptable 23 year
old who can also effectively fill the centre back berth, another area that the Merseyside club may
look to strengthen as defensive frailties became all to clear during recent pre-season matches.
Like a deleted scene from the airport bit in Love Actually, Leicester City pair Sean St. Ledger
and Kasper Schmeichel touch nipples to celebrate their 2-0 win over Southampton last night...
Leicester: Having massively overhauled the squad during the summer, signing no
less than nine players, including the marquee signings of Kasper Schmeichel, David Nugent, Michael
Johnson, Neil Danns and Paul Konchesky should give the Foxes the quality needed to reach the
Premiership for the first time since 2002.
Noel's gone ahead and capped a busy summer by churning out some unparalleled deadline day
coverage, and if you're just coming back into the fray, scrolling down is an absolute necessity.
From Tuesday's confirmation that Sebastian Coates had arrived to the exit of Raul Meireles last
night, the club's transfer activity was covered incomparably.
Rafa Benitez undoubtedly signed some brilliant players during his time at Anfield, and the club is
still benefiting from some of the players he signed. However, it's also true to say that Benitez
wasted a lots of money on players who just weren't good enough for Liverpool. It's taken a long
time to rid the club of these highly paid players, but with the departure of Philipp Degen today,
the club is no longer lumbered with Benitez's deadwood.
Kenny Dalglish admits keeping Liverpool's bulging squad happy could prove one of his biggest
managerial challenges this season.
The Anfield outfit has embarked on a major summer recruitment drive with more than £50m spent on
signing Stewart Downing, Jordan Henderson, Charlie Adam, Jose Enrique and Alexander Doni.
We haven't taken it upon ourselves to do too much in terms of season previewing we figure most
of you are already up to speed on how this is the season that Joe Cole makes his impact and the
restorative properties of Christian Poulsen's alice band. By force of habit, though, we've put
together a few assorted ramblings; Noel wrote this non-preview for SBNation a few days ago and
organized a roundtable with other Liverpool bloggers, so this will serve as my supplement to those
posts you'll notice a few similarities between the questions asked and answered in this and the
roundtable post, so go ahead and chime in wherever you'd like.
Liverpool owners Fenway Sports Group (FSG) want manager Kenny Dalglish to sell members of his squad
before they will allow him to spend the cash again.
The Reds have already embarked in a £40million recruitment drive this summer, resulting in Stewart
Downing, Jordan Henderson, Charlie Adam and Alexander Doni being signed.
The Club can confirm that defender Carlos Salcido has joined Mexican Primera División team
Tigres de la UANL on a season long loan.
When Salcido went the full 90 minutes in last week's USA-Mexico friendly, I knew he was a goner.
He never featured in any of the Europa League squads, nor in last weekend's EPL opener.
Liverpool's need for a left back is inching them closer to proposing a loan move for Manchester
City defender Wayne Bridge.
The Reds are short of options in that part of the field having seen Emiliano Insua, Paul Konchesky,
Fabio Aurelio and Glen Johnson all turn out in that position to differing levels of success over
the past two years.
The 2011/2012 Championship season gets underway this weekend and in what has become recognised
as possibly the most competitive division in football, it is Leicester City and West Ham United who
are the favourites to win the much coverted price of a place in the Premier League.
Traditionally the hardest league to be promoted from, the Championship has earned the reputation
of being uncompromising, erratic, unpredictable but always entertaining, where any team can win any
game.
There are many truly iconic moments in International football the Marco Van Basten volley, Andrea
Pirlo's recent Euro 2012 panenka penalty, and Paul Konchesky earning an England cap come
immediately to mind. However, few have put a bigger smile of football fan's faces than theÂ
unforgettable acrobatics of Colombian goalkeeper Renee Higuita.
