Now, with almost all of our targets (whether first or second choice) having been acquired during the summer, it is a the widely held belief that the ‘missing piece’ of our jigsaw is a new central defender. I still, personally, believe that we need a few more quality players than just that but if we were to pick up a new CB before the window closes I’d be very happy with our summer’s business. Which is why I find it confusing that Kenny and Comolli haven’t tried to use Bolton’s desire to sign David Ngog to push through a transfer for Cahill. I’m aware that he is really highly thought of at Bolton and that they are very reluctant to sell but were we to offer somewhere in the region of £10-£12 million plus Ngog, surely Bolton would’ve found that hard to turn down? And if reports are to be believed, that would also have meet the club’s asking price for the Englishman.
The second thing which had me slightly baffled today were the rumours that Wigan’s Rodallega has been lined up as Ngog’s direct replacement but for the princely sum of £9 million. I’m sure there are those that will claim Rodallega is Ngog’s superior but a closer look at their recent records reveals that they are eerily similar, in terms of goals scored. Since joining Liverpool, Ngog has managed 19 goals in 94 games overall. Not a hugely impressive record but for a lad that has spent 75% of his life coming off the bench, it actually isn’t bad: he usually made a difference when he did come on as well. Similarly, Rodallega has scored 22 goals in 94 games for Wigan since he joined the club, averaging an almost identical goals-per-game ratio. Both are similar players; both are quick, pacey and have a decent eye for goal.
The only difference is that Ngog is only 22, whilst the Columbian is 26 and is probably almost at his highest point of potential, unlike Ngog who can still improve well beyond his current level, if he plays regularly. The almost double fee for Rodallega – if rumours are to be believed – don’t make any sense to me, much like Liverpool’s willingness to let him go, if a suitable replacement isn’t lined up. Whatever the case, I just don’t think that Hugo is the right man for the job, particularly not at that extortionate, totally unjustified price. For me, the player we should be looking at – who would also offer us something different – is Niko Kranjcar; he’s still young, has Premier League experience and I’m guessing he probably wouldn’t break the bank either.
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Read the replacement is Ryan Boudabouz ? Agree with your story, Hugo is a step back not forward with Ngog replacement.
IF, we bought a top CB, Right Winger and a good striker we would be almost complete.
Cahill
Mata
Higuain
This would give a chance of more than 4th.
ohh man Cahill, Higuain and Mata would be just amazing I highly doubt it would happen but would it ever be phenomenal !!
the only problem is i rate all three of these players as better then what we already acquired and i doubt KK would wait this long to make moves for all three if they were to be our marquee signings !!
I believe the deal for Cahill will go through and that N’gog will be a part of the swap. As for Mata I think we’d have already gotten him if we were going to. And as for a striker back up I would bring Raheem Sterling on or send him on loan in the PL, not championship league! Then maybe Beckford in as back up striker as Toffees seem to be letting him go. I’ve read we are looking at Paddy McCourt as our other winger, from Celtic. It’s hard to tell what KK and DC are going to do. I too would be happy as long as we get Cahill… To me he is our must sign as of now.
If Ngog goes we need another striker, somebody who can run the channels and offer penetration in the final third. Although Kranjcar’s a good player, the midfield clearly isn’t the area where we need to add another player.
On Ngog vs. Rodallega. A good chunk of Ngog’s goals were scored in the Europa League against pish opposition. In the last two seasons in the Premier League he has 7 goals in 49 games, which is 1 in 7 – admittedly a fair share of those appearances were as substitute, but it should also be remembered that a share of them were with him coming on and getting the 3rd or 4th goals in a rout. In the last two seasons in the Premier League Hugo has 19 in 74, which is better than 1 in 4.
You also have to factor in that Ngog’s all round game is not great and he lacks strength to compete with defenders. Rodallega is superior in this respect and while he may not be a great goalscorer, he is a scorer of great goals and can have that spark, that unpredictability that we need in tight games. He can also play on the wing too, which Ngog cannot as far as we know. For a £5m outlay i believe it would be a good deal to bolster the forward line.
I don’t think we’re interested in Gary Cahill though. If we went for Cahill he’d need to walk into the side for the wages he’d demand, and we would need to drop Carragher pretty abruptly. I think we’re looking for someone younger with lower wages who can replace Carragher gradually over this season or the next. Like we wanted Phil Jones.