Liverpool have been linked with Denmark’s Christian Poulsen pretty much since Xabi Alonso left us for Real Madrid a year ago. The signing of Alberto Aquilani helped quieten these rumours thankfully but here we are a year later being linked with the tough Dane again. Upon first reading the speculation I dismissed it as lazy journalism, and this was backed up when Poulsen’s agent denied that he had spoken to Liverpool I was hopeful that this would signal the end of the rumour, but with Roy Hodgson now confirming his interest, it seems as if he will be a Liverpool player in the not too distant future.
Even though Poulsen is currently a fringe player for the struggling Juventus team, that is not really my biggest concern when it comes to us signing him. We’ve all seen players (and managers for that matter) revitalise their careers after having a change of scenery, and I wouldn’t claim that Poulsen’s not capable of ever regaining his form. While he was at Schalke and then Sevilla especially he actually proved to be a talented midfielder, and won the Danish Player of the Year Award two years in a row.
His ability isn’t the reason I’m against Liverpool signing him, because he’s shown in the past that he does possess some. I’m against Liverpool signing him because of his well-documented aggressive playing style and discipline problems.
It seems like everywhere Poulsen’s played he’s had serious altercations with opposing players and has made headlines for having a real nasty side while on the pitch. His higher profile incidents include him punching a Sweden player in the penalty area during an important Euro 2008 qualifier which led to the game being abandoned and Sweden later being awarded the game 3-0. He was also heavily criticised during a match for Schalke against AC Milan due to his overly aggressive play while marking Kaka, with the Italian side’s manager at the time, Carlo Ancelotti branding Poulsen a ‘coward’ for his quite blatant dirty tactics. During an interview which can be seen on Youtube, Poulsen even happily admits that his desire to win games is so great that he is willing to sometimes play beyond the rules to ensure he ends up on the winning team. I personally don’t agree with playing dirty to win games, and I’m doubtful that this type of character would integrate well with the values of a club like Liverpool.
One of the most positive things I noticed about Liverpool in recent times was that we have a reluctance to sign dirty or selfish players. An example of this is when it was revealed years ago that Liverpool had held talks with Ricardo Quaresma but chose not to follow through with the signing after realising he wasn’t a ‘Liverpool type’ player. I have to admit that when I see other team’s players disrupting the harmony of their squads but still being kept around, it makes me grateful that we don’t put up with that kind of behaviour: you only have to look at how quickly Albert Riera was removed as an example of this. It is observations like this that really makes me feel like I support a club full of genuinely good people, and in my opinion a player who openly admits to sometimes playing outside the rules to win shouldn’t be allowed anywhere near Liverpool. When you take into account the amount of yellow and red cards he would potentially gather it makes it even clearer that we shouldn’t be signing this type of player. Bossing the midfield during a game is surely what every central midfielder aims to do, and the very best of these players do so without having to use dirty tricks or bullying the opposition. I want Liverpool’s midfield to be no different so I’m hoping that Roy Hodgson chooses not to sign a player with this much baggage, as I have no doubt that it could seriously disrupt the harmony of the squad.
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If Flamini is available for the same money as Poulson then it’s a no brainer, Roy should buy Flamini period. If he chooses Poulson over Flamini then that will be Roy’s first mistake.
What a load of rubbish. Yes there were an incident in the match against Sweden. But Hodgson knows Poulsen and you wont disagree with Hodgsons judgement will you??
By the way Mascherano is by far a much more dirty player than Poulsen…
Money from the sale of players has not been promised for replacement, and yet I still see people posting sell for £30 million and buy this player and that player.
It’s not going to happen. When will you all look back to what has happened over the last 3 years. Just read my post above.
LOOK AT THE PATTERN.
I agree with all your reasons but quite frankly hes just not good enough and is 30. We have to replace quality with quality were replacing a 36 yr old one of the best DMS out there around 30 mil with a 30 yr old average 5 mil dollar player i think we will get him which is the bad thing
So you wouldn’t have had Roy Keane in his pomp then or for that matter a certain Graeme Souness.
Graeme Souness………….
Some valid points made but players should be given the opportunity to redeem themselves. My main problem with the intended deal is his age and form.
If funds are available we should be aiming younger and with more quality.
Maybe I dont see enaugh football (some might disagree, not me) or Poulsen is a real improvment for Liverpool?
I dont know any more, but Hodgson is managing Liverpool now is he realy his best option as defensive midfielder?
Who says Liverpool needs to replace Maschreano? Did anyone try to make an effort to convince Mascherano in staying with the latest news indicating that the club is finnaly getting some financial backing?
dj, i watched roy hodgsons unveiling on sky sports and broughton categorically stated that ALL money generated from player sales would be made available to roy, FACT!
I have a standing issue with some fellow Liverpool fans because, as an Irishman, I think Roy Keane was a brilliant player and a brilliant captain for his club. Based on the criteria in this article and much more besides, Roy Keane would not be the kind of player Liverpool would have appreciated but I simply don’t see it that way. Guys like Keane and Poulsen do what they do for the team, not for themselves. They are not self-centered players, they are simply very very determined and often let their determination get the better of their self-control. I think their team mates appreciate them and you can see the simple effectiveness of it when you consider that Keane was captain of his side when they were at their peak. Naturally I risk a chorus of “we’re not man u scum and we don’t do things their way” but I think that’s partisan nonsense. What we want in our football team is success, determination and an attitude that the club and winning for the club is the most important thing.
As for Poulsen as a player, I’m quite pleased to see him coming here. He’s a very cheap short term solution, he’ll bring great passion to the club and it wasn’t that long ago that he was hailed as one of the best in his position in the world. Talent like that doesn’t just disappear. His age is not too much of a concern as a player in that position can be effective well into his thirties and I think we’ll get 3-4 good years out of him. That’s all we need.
Signing Puolsen wont change our clubs values. If his desire to win is so great he will do whatever necesary to win I back that fully. The modern game dictates it. I could ryhme off several examples including Gerrards blatant dives over the last few years to ensure we got a result. I would rather have a player like Poulsen willing to commit anything to win as opposed to mediocre players wearing our famous shirt like Lucas! Good old values but no ability!Quaresma is an idiot and bad in the dressing room. Poulsen doesnt have that character, he’s a team player who will do anything to win. With regards to playing dirty go and reference Graham Souness. Quality player but he would break someones legs if it meant gaining an advantage for Liverpool FC.
Ok. So let me get this straight. You don’t want Poulsen, because he has cojones, and is an aggressive type player??!! Who are you?? Javier Mascherano was sent off for going bananas at the Ref when his team mate, Torres was getting the crap kicked out of his ankles. Stevie G knocked someone in a pub out last year, and has been criticized by a bunch of people, as well as your Ancelotti, for being too aggressive. Poor Kaka!! No ones allowed to touch him!! I want someone who will fight for my club, I want someone who is aggressive and can tackle rather than someone who ‘dives’ for the cause. I want fighters, I want aggression. Not a Liverpool ‘type’ player?? Please. I don’t want a dirty diving Suarez, but I’ll take a Poulsen. You need to take up Tennis or something my friend!!
i totally agree with the article, haven’t really seen him in action, but then again, defensive midfield is a very tricky and challenging role.. If you look at Mascherano’s last season’s performance, i wouldn’t say he was any different from what you described Poulsen, but again, taking into account the fact the Roy Hodgson knows the player, i think this is a positive thing, meaning he knows how to control him and work on his type of play, with the lack of Funds at the moment, i don’t really think we do have a lot of options, with the new season about to kick off.
Go for Parker and Defour or Flamini or Banega.
if roy is goin tl play d same system as rafa..den poulsen is a decent replacement..but i would like to see him change d system n bring in a player of guile and craft in d centre..a la xavi or iniesta..
I’m in total disagreement… Why not have a trouble maker in the team??? for me our team are soft… Did you see how manure have a dig at refs in the past? He will bring some emotion on the pitch and will lift all the players around him… i think roy could manage him, look at fergie with becks… Sign him… He is class…
I think this is good buisness. he’s a clever player he might get a few yellow cards this season but that will be his role to break play down and protect our back four. he’s not as dirty as benitez’s love child masch. he tackled like a maniac sometimes. plus poulson will add some possitive grit to our midfield. i think hodgson will warn him to keep his cool, and who the divers in the prem are too. we could have a gem here…a great dane!
“One of the most positive things I noticed about Liverpool in recent times was that we have a reluctance to sign dirty or selfish players”
Erm didn’t we sign Craig “4 iron upside your head” Bellamy?
Hodgson knows Poulson very well having given him his start in football. How you can suggest he is any more likely to wind up players or be dirty than Macherano I dont quite understand. Do you not remember Masch getting himself sent off OT???
Yeah, we at Liverpool have never been as clean as the driven snow. Forget about Smith & Souness, what about Jimmy Case????? He tackled and trampled like a Sherman tank on steroids. I would love Liverpool to be on the side of angels, but football has never been a game for angels, more demons. We just need a player who can let Stevie G/Joe Cole/Nando off the leash.