Vegard Forren (Molde)

Well I would have posted this hours ago but assumed somebody would have done it already, while I was at work...

Liverpool are to take Molde's Vegard Forren on trial as Southampton consider making a firm offer for the 24-year-old central defender.The Norway international has been monitored by several Premier League clubs this season, including Everton, Fulham and Sunderland, but will train with Liverpool from Tuesday as the manager, Brendan Rodgers, considers whether to offer the defender a long-term contract.Southampton, however, are in negotiations with Molde over a transfer fee and could rival the Anfield club for Forren's signature should they meet an asking price of around £4m.Forren, who has made five appearances for Norway, is keen on a move to the Premier League and is expected to remain on trial with Liverpool until the weekend.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2013/jan/14/liverpool-vegard-forren-southampton?mobile-redirect=false

The Times reported that the player initially didn't want a trial at LFC without a concrete offer, but then had a change of heart.

Thought it said Vegard Heggem for a moment who's a salmon fisher these days. Now that's the way a retired footballer should be spending his life...not filling the MOTD and Sky Sports sofas! Good on you Vegard good on you.



Here's what old Vegard thinks about (possibly) new Vegard.

@vedgy - Vegard Forren: done very well in Norwegian league and for Norway. Good enough for #LFC? Not sure, but an exciting signing IMO, if it happens

@vedgy - Forren: tough player, loves to get stuck in. Reads the game well, good passer of the ball. But: unproven at top int. level.

https://twitter.com/vedgy

 Vegard, his name seems a bit forren to me,is he Norwegian by any chance.

David Prentice
‏@prenno
Vegard Forren has had a change of heart. Southampton have made a firm bid. He wants 1st team football so is heading south for talks now.

David Prentice
‏@prenno
Trial had been planned at Liverpool but not likely now.

Writer for the Echo.

Have no choice but to absolutely admire our transfer dealings and the way they are publicized 

I wouldn't give out so much about the clubs transfer policy as much as this lad changing his mind with the wind.

He's lead us on something fierce. Wanted to play for us but we didn't want to commit to a contract, he didn't want a trial. We were going to leave it at that then all of a sudden he's u for a trial. Flies over, Southampton and Fulham have a sniff, Southampton jump the gun and all of a sudden he doesn't want a trial anymore.

If that's his decision making process maybe we're better off... he'll probably end up at Fulham after all of this.

I wouldn't give out so much about the clubs transfer policy as much as this lad changing his mind with the wind.

He's lead us on something fierce. Wanted to play for us but we didn't want to commit to a contract, he didn't want a trial. We were going to leave it at that then all of a sudden he's u for a trial. Flies over, Southampton and Fulham have a sniff, Southampton jump the gun and all of a sudden he doesn't want a trial anymore.

If that's his decision making process maybe we're better off... he'll probably end up at Fulham after all of this.

Can you really blame him?

We offer a trial with no guarantee of a contract while a couple of other Premier League clubs seem very interested in signing him. He has probably wieged it up and thought he might have a trail here, get nothing and then miss out on a move to England.

A 24 year old having played almost 150 games is not really a player looking for a trail when there are other offers on the table.

The lad was down for a week's trial originally so somebody has scouted him and sniffed out some potential, did write in another thread that Southampton and Reading had expressed interest subsequently.
It does appear that they have offered something a little more positive than the week's trial we put forward because the deal has hit the buffers according to reports.
For the derisory figure of £4m LFC are hustled out of a deal by relegation material, doesn't make pleasant reading but hard facts seldom do.

For the derisory figure of £4m LFC are hustled out of a deal by relegation material, doesn't make pleasant reading but hard facts seldom do.

It doesn't Stuey but hardly surprising if we're honest.

He fits mould of the type of player we are supposed to be targeting under FSG but lack of commitment to the deal will see us lose this one.

If we'd scouted him properly then there would have been no need for a trial. Don't blame him one bit for taking the concrete offer.

Sums up the club at the moment.
Can't even sign a relatively cheap defensive option.

Maybe Southampton has told him he will be an immediate 1st teamer and for us he obviously won't be?

Seems an odd one all round - strikes me more like an agent touting him round, we invited for trial and Southampton acted a bit more positively.

Agree with Chats - why would be trialling an experienced 24yr old we've been scouting?

If we'd scouted him properly then there would have been no need for a trial. Don't blame him one bit for taking the concrete offer.

Bringing anyone over on "trial" when they are not a youth prospect is pity-full.

Only just realised he is a full international as well having played 5 times for Norway.

A player like this is not going to want a trial when other offers are there for him and as chats said if we scouted him properly there would be no need for a trial.

Could understand it if it was a 18/19 year old kid but he isn't.

Bit old anyway 

Guess Southhampton have nicked this on off us again. Same for the Gaston Ramirez deal.

Shame we keep losing to relegation threatened teams.

Can you really blame him?

We offer a trial with no guarantee of a contract while a couple of other Premier League clubs seem very interested in signing him. He has probably wieged it up and thought he might have a trail here, get nothing and then miss out on a move to England.

A 24 year old having played almost 150 games is not really a player looking for a trail when there are other offers on the table.

I know what you're saying but I think the club made the right call on this one, might be in the minority on that one. We've dived head first into a lot of transfers and come out worse for wear, and that has no relevance to re sale value, that's based purely on what we have gotten out of the player.

We were interested, we didn't want to stick our necks again. My main issue with him is ow long has he known about Southampton's interest? If he has known about it and done this mind changing lark then I'm pretty pissed.

If not then I have to wonder what is going on at Southampton that they're willing to throw regulra football (apparently) at this young kid with minimum contact with the lad.

Agree with Chats - why would be trialling an experienced 24yr old we've been scouting?

Yeah - but the Norwegian league isn't the best.

Either Southampton are now a bigger draw than us, or he wasn't confident in his own ability.  Probably not a big loss then.

 Absolutely shambolic. What next, we offer Michael Johnson a "pay if you score five in one match" deal? These owners really are funny, trial? Bellends.

Yeah - but the Norwegian league isn't the best.

Either Southampton are now a bigger draw than us, or he wasn't confident in his own ability.  Probably not a big loss then.

Or he wanted a first-team place while being offered a guaranteed contract rather than a trial.

Yeah - but the Norwegian league isn't the best.

Either Southampton are now a bigger draw than us, or he wasn't confident in his own ability.  Probably not a big loss then.

Or was confident in his ability and felt insulted by a trail offer?

Most likely I feel.

Maybe - but either way if he doesn't want to try and play for us, then no great loss I think.

Maybe - but either way if he doesn't want to try and play for us, then no great loss I think.

It has nothing to do with it being our club - he isn't a Liverpool fan so he won't have any emotional connection to the club at all. He will have a different mentality as to that we think about the club. If it was Southampton offering a trial and us offering a solid contract then he would choose us. This is about a player wanted to play regularly in the best league in the world. That's just like saying if Messi didn't want to try and play for us that he would be no great loss - get a grip mate. Don't bother saying "yes but you're comparing Messi to Forren" because it is irrelevant. The same principles apply.

Maybe - but either way if he doesn't want to try and play for us, then no great loss I think.

Why waste a week of a transfer window almost half way through when other clubs seem very keen to get a deal done.

He might feel that we don't want him enough and best to go somewhere that shows genuine interest.

As I said this is not some novice 18 year old were talking about, it's a player with almost 150 games under his belt and 5 full internationals.

Everybody calm down (no scouse pun intended)!

James Pearce has explained what happened on Twitter and although it is slightly contrary to the Echo's article, it's more believable.

We have not been outbid or out-fought by "relegation candidates" Southampton.

Rodgers never had any great desire to sign Forren but he was offered to us so Brendan essentially said, "Send him over then, we'll have a wee look at him".
As he was due to have his "trial" with us, Southampton made a firm bid (reported to be £4m) and when Molde (or Forren's agent) informed LFC, Rodgers said, "Fair enough, we won't be competing for him. Best of luck, Vegard".

At the absolute worst, we have been used as a means to boost the transfer value.

He was never really a target and we didn't lose out. Put the razor blades away and roll your sleeves back down. 

Everybody calm down (no scouse pun intended)!

James Pearce has explained what happened on Twitter and although it is slightly contrary to the Echo's article, it's more believable.

We have not been outbid or out-fought by "relegation candidates" Southampton.

Rodgers never had any great desire to sign Forren but he was offered to us so Brendan essentially said, "Send him over then, we'll have a wee look at him".
As he was due to have his "trial" with us, Southampton made a firm bid (reported to be £4m) and when Molde (or Forren's agent) informed LFC, Rodgers said, "Fair enough, we won't be competing for him. Best of luck, Vegard".

At the absolute worst, we have been used as a means to boost the transfer value.

He was never really a target and we didn't lose out. Put the razor blades away and roll your sleeves back down. 

While I agree with you totally mate I do feel this highlights the fact we're clearly open to a centre back coming in but aren't at all confident on our current selection (whoever that is). Maybe it's too much to ask for our scouts to be decisive but I believe if we wanted this guy we'd of had him no problem at all, the fact that we really aren't too sure what we want is the worry for me.

I think we can surely close this thread
  http://www.sportinglife.com/football/news/article/168/8398184/saints-bid-for-forren-accepted

I think we can surely close this thread
  http://www.sportinglife.com/football/news/article/168/8398184/saints-bid-for-forren-accepted

I F***ing despair.
Irrespective of all the claims/counter-claims, press half-truths and patent bullshit the club has failed again in a cut price deal and beaten by a cut price outfit.
Is there no F***ing organisation in the lashing out millions dept or what? We allegedly waste the proceeds of the Torres windfall and baulk at a £4m deal for some potential!
Things are getting crazy.

 edit: but wait There is a voice of common sense and that request again to be patient there is the summer transfer window to contemplate....that is yet to open....and close again....

Seriously with the reactions? How many of you have actually watched him play? "The club is a shambles," "sums up the club" etc

Come off it. If he was a serious target, he'd have been bought outright. The club probably just wanted to see how he would cope against our guys before making a concrete offer as moving from Norwegian football to any of the top league is a big step up. And considering that, 4m isn't all that cheap, either.

Come off it. If he was a serious target, he'd have been bought outright.

Really?

I'm not so sure.

I'm not saying he was a serious target but if you think all of our serious targets are just bought out right by the current owners you have much more faith in them than I do.

Dempsey was a serious target for us last summer. Don't see him in a red shirt this season.

Really?

I'm not so sure.

I'm not saying he was a serious target but if you think all of our serious targets are just bought out right by the current owners you have much more faith in them than I do.

Dempsey was a serious target for us last summer. Don't see him in a red shirt this season.

Did you read the rest of the paragraph? Bought outright instead of being offered a trial.

Seriously with the reactions? How many of you have actually watched him play? "The club is a shambles," "sums up the club" etc

Come off it. If he was a serious target, he'd have been bought outright. The club probably just wanted to see how he would cope against our guys before making a concrete offer as moving from Norwegian football to any of the top league is a big step up. And considering that, 4m isn't all that cheap, either.

I might have walked past him! Have just got back from a meeting at Staplewood where Saints are based

He looked rubbish 

Seriously with the reactions? How many of you have actually watched him play? "The club is a shambles," "sums up the club" etc

Nobody is saying the ''club is a shambles'' comments have been made about the threadbare squad, quality not being replaced and missed targets, not hysterical reaction as you imply but statements of fact.

Come off it. If he was a serious target, he'd have been bought outright. The club probably just wanted to see how he would cope against our guys before making a concrete offer as moving from Norwegian football to any of the top league is a big step up. And considering that, 4m isn't all that cheap, either.

Music to the owner's ears, a myriad of excuses that keep the hand firmly in the pocket.
How much faith did Brendan have in the lad? For the player to be booked for a trial run somebody has shown a fair amount of interest.
Was Brendan's enthusiasm dampened when another club took up the chase and showed willing to pay the £4m rumoured fee.
By experience it seems that FSG capitulate when rival bids are forthcoming without any response whatever which seems to be the case here.
Not the best formulae to construct a title winning side I would have thought.

The fact he was coming for a trial says Brendan was unsure about him, which in itself is good enough reason to not bid on him.

Nobody is saying the ''club is a shambles'' comments have been made about the threadbare squad, quality not being replaced and missed targets, not hysterical reaction as you imply but statements of fact.

Really?

For the derisory figure of £4m LFC are hustled out of a deal by relegation material, doesn't make pleasant reading but hard facts seldom do.

Sums up the club at the moment.
Can't even sign a relatively cheap defensive option.

Shame we keep losing to relegation threatened teams.

Absolutely shambolic. What next, we offer Michael Johnson a "pay if you score five in one match" deal? These owners really are funny, trial? Bellends.

I f**king despair.
Irrespective of all the claims/counter-claims, press half-truths and patent bullshit the club has failed again in a cut price deal and beaten by a cut price outfit.

---

Music to the owner's ears, a myriad of excuses that keep the hand firmly in the pocket.
How much faith did Brendan have in the lad? For the player to be booked for a trial run somebody has shown a fair amount of interest.

But not necessarily serious interest. It could very well have been, "let's have a look and see" as opposed to, "I really want this player."

Was Brendan's enthusiasm dampened when another club took up the chase and showed willing to pay the £4m rumoured fee.

Maybe the player jumped at a concrete offer as opposed to the manager's enthusiasm "dampening." Again, if the manager really wants the player, he makes a bid (or has Ayre do it). Allen, Borini, Sahin, for example. The only one that didn't come off was Dempsey, and that's because of the owners not willing to pay for a 29-year-old.

By experience it seems that FSG capitulate when rival bids are forthcoming without any response whatever which seems to be the case here.
Not the best formulae to construct a title winning side I would have thought.

Again, maybe we didn't scout him enough to make a concrete bid but wanted to see him up close against our players before making a bid. £4 million is NOT that cheap for a CB from a foreign league that isn't among the best in Europe (La Liga, Bundesliga, Serie A, Premier League, Eredivise, etc.)

Really?
 

---

But not necessarily serious interest. It could very well have been, "let's have a look and see" as opposed to, "I really want this player."

Maybe the player jumped at a concrete offer as opposed to the manager's enthusiasm "dampening." Again, if the manager really wants the player, he makes a bid (or has Ayre do it). Allen, Borini, Sahin, for example. The only one that didn't come off was Dempsey, and that's because of the owners not willing to pay for a 29-year-old.

Again, maybe we didn't scout him enough to make a concrete bid but wanted to see him up close against our players before making a bid. £4 million is NOT that cheap for a CB from a foreign league that isn't among the best in Europe (La Liga, Bundesliga, Serie A, Premier League, Eredivise, etc.)

At something of a loss to understand you quoting a shitload of posts for no apparent reason.
In spite of your assertions one statement always comes to the fore ''the owners unwilling to pay blah blah blah.
''Maybe we didn't scout him enough'' is a ludicrous statement and £4m for a CB from a foreign league is madly generalising in order to once again take the spotlight from the owners lack of committment and financial wherewithall.

There's been rumours all month about needing a CB, possibly on loan whilst Coates is sent out on loan (which seems pointless).

We've therefore, I presume, been scouting potential targets but this guy wasn't one of them until somebody said he would like to come to LFC.

If he wasn't a target, hadn't been scouted previously but we keep hearing we will only get players in who Brendan wants, what the f**k was he doing coming for a trial. 

Cheapskates is how our senior management is coming across.

posted this in the transfer and gossip thread too


Liverpool turn to Federico Fazio after missing out on Molde defender Vegard Forren
http://metro.co.uk/2013/01/15/liverpool-turn-to-federico-fazio-after-missing-out-on-molde-defender-vegard-forren-3352948/

Forren, Fazio... I'm sure our scouts are using Football Manager to find talent.

At something of a loss to understand you quoting a shitload of posts for no apparent reason.

Seriously? Did you not post this?

Nobody is saying the ''club is a shambles'' comments have been made about the threadbare squad, quality not being replaced and missed targets, not hysterical reaction as you imply but statements of fact.

Do you see now?

In spite of your assertions one statement always comes to the fore ''the owners unwilling to pay blah blah blah.

How do you know they were unwilling to pay for Forren? This is almost exactly the type of player that fits their MO.

''Maybe we didn't scout him enough'' is a ludicrous statement

Is it? If we had scouted him thoroughly, do you think we would have offered him a trial? Or would we have bid outright? Because having him on trial isn't going to lower the price.

and £4m for a CB from a foreign league is madly generalising in order to once again take the spotlight from the owners lack of committment and financial wherewithall.

It isn't at all. Have you seen Forren play? Or do you watch Norwegian football? Or how well Norwegian teams do in European competitions? Norway's league is in the 20s in UEFA coefficients. That isn't to say there can't be a good player there, because the country has certainly produced some good ones, but £4 million is about the top price you'd pay. It isn't that cheap considering the jump from Norwegian football to English football, with all due respect to Norway of course.

I'm not very happy with the owners either as a whole but wait a little, it's not the first time a player is offered on trial, trains with a club and moves on. So much fuss about what was apparently no big deal at all...

Most people in this thread had never heard of this lad before this week and now everyone is having a cry that we can't seem to land him.

Nevermind that he wouldn't have any bearing on us getting top 4. Right now in this window I'm concerned with players that can help us get into the top four.

Come off it, he may turn out good but clearly he prefers the Saints because they've bid for him and we just wanted a trial. To me, this is the players decision and not the club fooling around again. If BR wanted to see him train with the 1st team before putting a bid in and spending the money, so be it.

The fact he was coming for a trial says Brendan was unsure about him, which in itself is good enough reason to not bid on him.

We'll have no such common sense in here, thank you. Get out! 

The posts in this thread are almost as speculative as any of the transfer rumours you read in any of the red tops throughout January

Quote from: stuey on Yesterday at 15:10:07''Maybe we didn't scout him enough'' is a ludicrous statementIs it? If we had scouted him thoroughly, do you think we would have offered him a trial? Or would we have bid outright? Because having him on trial isn't going to lower the price.Quote from: stuey on Yesterday at 15:10:07and £4m for a CB from a foreign league is madly generalising in order to once again take the spotlight from the owners lack of committment

You seem to have a penchant of asking questions about speculation and argueing about theoreticalls.
The fact remains another bid has evaporated, whether it's down to scouting staff, mangement factors or boardroom direction somebody is firing the bullets, somebody has overall control.
The buck stops with the owners.

posted this in the transfer and gossip thread too


Liverpool turn to Federico Fazio after missing out on Molde defender Vegard Forren
http://metro.co.uk/2013/01/15/liverpool-turn-to-federico-fazio-after-missing-out-on-molde-defender-vegard-forren-3352948/

Please god no, he has the speed and turning abilty of an oil tanker (and looks like the arse end of a bus too)

Please god no, he has the speed and turning abilty of an oil tanker (and looks like the arse end of a bus too)

Like I said, just give Coady minutes on the pitch, his versatility will stop us throwing silly money on "back-up" DMs and CBs..

You seem to have a penchant of asking questions about speculation and argueing about theoreticalls.
The fact remains another bid has evaporated, whether it's down to scouting staff, mangement factors or boardroom direction somebody is firing the bullets, somebody has overall control.
The buck stops with the owners.

How does it stop with the owners though? This definitely a management/scouting one. The money was evidently there, but there were reservations about the player hence offering a trial. As someone else posted in here, if the coaching staff weren't sure and wanted a trial, that's probably good enough reason to not bid.

It's pretty simple.  Don't lump 4M at a player you are uncertain of.  We offered him a trial, he went with the firm contract offer.  If he looks like a solid player over the next 5 months, then sign him when the saints get relegated.  Or don't.  Either way, this lad was never going to have a big impact on our current season.....

How does it stop with the owners though? This definitely a management/scouting one. The money was evidently there, but there were reservations about the player hence offering a trial. As someone else posted in here, if the coaching staff weren't sure and wanted a trial, that's probably good enough reason to not bid.

Who cares who it stops with? Was this kid going to deliver us Champion's League football?  Highly doubt it. Can't see why everyone is so concerned with "missing out" on this kid unless it's merely being used as a stick to beat the owners with.....oh wait.........

Most people in this thread had never heard of this lad before this week and now everyone is having a cry that we can't seem to land him.

So he hasn't been scouted by Everton, then?

Maybe and this applies to most in this thread, we offered him a trial and his agent found out about Southampton, speaks to Forren and tells him to reject us as Southampton will give him a proper contract.

Give him two years, if he does well couldn't we sign him then?

So he hasn't been scouted by Everton, then?

Maybe and this applies to most in this thread, we offered him a trial and his agent found out about Southampton, speaks to Forren and tells him to reject us as Southampton will give him a proper contract.

Give him two years, if he does well couldn't we sign him then?

Works for me HR, just don't see the point of everyone getting their panties in a bunch about "missing out" on him.

Works for me HR, just don't see the point of everyone getting their panties in a bunch about "missing out" on him.

Got to be someone's fault though hasn't it.

But that's the way I'm looking at it!

Got to be someone's fault though hasn't it.

But that's the way I'm looking at it!

Maybe so, I just figured our interest was lukewarm to start with or we would have made an offer instead of a trial, could be wrong though.

Whatever the reason we are not attracting/bidding/signing for players who can take us to a more acceptable level.
If you want to play the blame game fair enuff, but the situation is to the detriment of the club ultimately and needs correcting.
The only people that can address that particular quandary are the owners, when all said and done it is their asset and they theoretically have a duty to sustain that status.
FSG have no clue on running a football club full stop.
FSG are businessmen and are fully aware of the intricacies involved in the finer points of finance and commerce.
Why haven't they stood off and let those that know do what they do best?
John Henry dropped in and took in a game a two; the consequences were he offended the supporters by ignoring and giving a club legend the bullet, previous to which he had appointed an individual who in his estimation would be a benefit to the club.
 Comolli failed miserably and we were then supposed to be placated with the admission by FSG that they had made ''mistakes'' and we were to be patient, presumably so they could glean some enlightenment from the admitted mistakes.
Still we wait.   

I'm not very happy with the owners either as a whole but wait a little, it's not the first time a player is offered on trial, trains with a club and moves on. So much fuss about what was apparently no big deal at all...

This.

Got no idea why people are fussed without knowing the deal.

Yeah I like to have a hop at FSG to pass the time, but for me this deal never looked likely. The lad probably prefers the idea of concrete offers for his signature rather than having to go through a trial process here.

Southampton FC ‏@officialsaints
Southampton Football Club are delighted to announce the signing of Norwegian international defender Vegard Forren. More to follow. #saintsfc
 Retweeted by Nick Parrott

Time to lock it up.

You've got to question our signing policy if a player would rather go to S'ton than us. What makes them more appealing than us? Something we have no control over and it seems that can only be signing policy or contract offers/terms.

You've got to question our signing policy if a player would rather go to S'ton than us. What makes them more appealing than us? Something we have no control over and it seems that can only be signing policy or contract offers/terms.

It seems he was offered to us on a trial ( we werent massively interested in him ) so BR said yeah why not and in that time Southampton offered him a contract and he accepted. The player has gone to Saints because they offered him a deal

Gone to Southampton, the pride of somewhere.

Good luck kid, you may need it.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21028507