Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson stated to the media at the weekend that he is still looking to bring in players before the end of the transfer window:
“If the right player comes along, it would be good if we could bring another striker in. But I’d want it to be the right man and I don’t think we should go out and just sign someone because we can. It’s important if we bring someone in that he really fits the profile I’ve sketched out. We have a juggling act to perform due to the requirement for English players in the squad.”
The latest two strikers connected with Liverpool are Toulouse’s Andre-Pierre Gignac and PSV Eindhoven’s Ola Toivonen. So what do we know of the pair?
Andre-Pierre Gignac – 24 year old Gignac started his professional career with Lorient and made his debut for the Ligue Two side in 2004. After Lorient were promoted to Ligue One on 2005, Gignac was loaned to third division side Pau but he returned to have a successful first season with Lorient in Ligue One the following campaign. After scoring nine goals in 37 league matches during the 2006/07 season, he attracted interest from some bigger clubs. Lille were said to have agreed a €4.5million for the youngster and had a pre-contract agreement with him to join the club. However Toulouse stepped in and reportedly offered Gignac double the wages that Lille were offering and he opted for the larger deal. A dispute between the two clubs ensued although he would eventually move to Toulouse.
Despite all the fighting over his signature though, Gignac struggled in his first season for the club, and only scored three goals. His performances only really took off during the 2008/09 campaign when he scored 25 goals in all competitions. His goal scoring exploits attracted the attentions of France coach Raymond Domenech and he made his debut for France in a World Cup qualifier against Lithuania last season, assisting the only goal of the match scored by Franck Ribery. He would go on to score the only goal of the match versus the Faroe Islands, two goals in return fixture in France, and another against Austria in a 3-1 victory. For his contributions to qualifying he was called up to France’s World Cup squad for the tournament in South Africa despite having a less than successful campaign at Toulouse where he only scored 11 goals.
Ola Toivonen – the same age as Gignac, Toivonen is a Swedish striker who can also play in midfield. Starting off life at Degerfors, he helped the Swedish side battle against relegation before being transferred to another relegation threatened side in Orgryte. His performances however attracted the attention of bigger clubs after he was awarded the “newcomer of the year” award by the Swedish FA in November 2006.
Swedish giants Malmo were said to be interested in the player and he was bought for a near club record fee, which had only been eclipsed by the amount paid for Alfonso Alves a few years before. After an unsuccessful first season for the club in 2007 where he scored only three goals and Malmo finished ninth, Toivonen improved immensely during his second season after scoring 14 goals and providing 7 assists as Malmo finished sixth. Subsequently he has been called up by Sweden and has scored twice for the country, including a goal against Scotland in a 3-0 win last week.
Back at club level, his successful 2008 campaign got him a move to PSV Eindhoven and scored 6 goals in 14 games at the end of the 2008/09 campaign. He followed that up with some good performances last term with 13 goals in 33 matches, and Roy Hodgson watched the player play for Sweden last week and was said to be impressed with his performance.
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rather have toivonen from what i have seen
It’s bound to be Toivonen! It is Roy we’re talking about :o) He loves a good, strong Scandinavian player.
Gignac would be good too though.
Gignac doesn’t offer us a dimension up front that Ngog doesn’t. That’s why I think Toivonen would be the better choice. His height and strength can be called upon if needed, and even with this he doesn’t lack speed or ball control. His versatility also helps; he’d be able to play even when Torres is fit.
Gignac is only an inch shorter than Toivonen. He isn’t slightly built either, perhaps not as strong as the Swede but he’s certainly got presence.
Mish, Toivonen is one of the most dangerous strikers in the world when it comes to heading. You give it to him, he’ll head it in.
Roy better u sign back Michael Owen and John Arne Riise!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And pls DONT play 4-5-1-…
You play 4-4-2 attacking or 4-3-1-2 (best formation)…Pls play attacking game….yesterday we draw and arsenal can score us because we start to play defensive.Its gerrard houllier style…..
Gerrard houllier style is, he will wait untul liverpool score 1 goal,after that START to play defensive game….ITS A STUPID IDEA!!!
DONT repeat again and again…!!!plsss
—————–Reina—————-
Glen—–Carragher—–Agger/Skrtel—–Riise
—–Gerrard—-Poulsen?Aquilani—-Babel/Jova
———————Cole—————–
————Kuyt————-Torres——–
—————————–Reina
Glen—––Carragher—––Agger/Skrtel—––Riise
—–—–Gerrard—-Poulsen/Aquilani—-Babel/Jova
————–———————Cole
————————Kuyt————-Torres
Akash,33
We had 10 men!!!!
What are you talking about? utter drivel!!!
Why is Liverpool unable to match 12 mil. offer for Remy?
Not like it’s braking the record or anything.
It was Hodgson’s first choice.
Until now, Hodson only spent what the club made in transfers it means that there is no transfer budget.
What a surpise!
Brendan – I’m all for it! I think Toivonen’s would be a great signing. Just saying that Gignac’s no shrinking violet either :o)
Toivonen would be my choice though.
Sounds like Toivonen would be at his best playing off Torres, but isn’t that Joe Cole’s job? Still, I’ve never seen him play, so I’m prepared to trust those of you who have seen him.
And m-kop, Liverpool can’t pay £12m for Remy (who wasn’t Roy’s choice anyway) because we don’t have £12m unless we sell someone first.
I like the Sweedish guy Ola Toivonen more, he seems to have a little more about him. Even though Gignac is nearly the same height as Ola he seems a little to stationary for me. He also seems to have that little aura of an un-coachable player. I also think the swedish guy will adapt a lot faster than than the french striker. Scandnavians already hae a very good understanding of English and that will bode well with the rest of the team.
Gignachas got good strength speed skill and finishing abilities hed be great but would be just as good and probably cheaper and offer us the height dimension like crouch but someone who can actually header well!
Banzema & Villa would be better choice than those 2.
So ferris, care to sponsor deals for Benzema or Villa? It’s impossible to get a world class striker to play with Torres at the moment. We simply do not have the funds. We should get a stop-gap player to play with Torres, or even Jovanovic to play with Torres and get a left winger.
i go to find very fast striker…. at least he can shoot emedietly.. very prolific … heading..shooting..running out from marker… not selfish…
I am very wary of players scoring for top sides in Holland Toivonens record is fair but not brilliant especially as PSV are a good side.
I would definately prefer Gignac though i noticed both have been really slow off the mark early on for their respective clubs.
Has to make a move for Cousins he’s heading for dort cheap..would suit big roy’s style!! hit and hope!!