Liverpool Banter Archive January 11 2015

11 Jan 2015 22:49:12
Sounds like Juve want Balo on loan Ed? If a deal can be done will we look to bring in a replacement?

{Ed002's Note - Clubs who buy replacement for players on loans dig enormous financial holes for themselves.}

From the outside it looks like that's what we have been doing eds.

Origi would be the replacement

BennyC, Origi is not even close to being ready for the Premier League. He needs at least another year on loan next season. Somewhere that he will play many more minutes than he will receive at Liverpool. Bringing him in now, or even next season will completely hinder his development.

12 Jan 2015 08:50:08
Not ready for Liverpool but ready to start for Belgium in the World Cup finals. Okkkkkkkkk

{Ed001's Note - was he ready for Belgium? Not sure he was myself, but they had injuries to deal with, so he was given the nod, but he was always seen as covering for Benteke, not as a saviour of the club. Perhaps that distinction might be going over your head, judging by this ridiculous comparison. Hardly the same thing being given a run of games by a country which knew it had no chance of success, compared to being put in front of an expectant Anfield crowd who have developed a taste for turning on a scapegoat for some reason.}

12 Jan 2015 11:16:35
Never said he was a saviour; remember he was picked ahead of Lukaku in a number of games in the WC. Not a Lukaku fan but he cost Everton 28 million and starts for them in the prem unless I'm mistaken. Origi is 'ready' for the prem in the same way Sterling was 12 months ago in my opinion.

{Ed001's Note - so you are totally missing the point then. Like I said. Stop digging mate.}

Lukaku was dropped because he was playing shocking. I could have got in ahead of him! Bringing origi in sooner is not the answer.

Origi is still a child learning the game and comparing him to Raheem is just a lame excuse for an argument because Raheem has been in the team for almost 4 yrs and as a result, hei is way ahead of Origi in terms of his development now and the fact that they are of the same age will NEVER change that. Origi needs time like Marko and Can does and we can see improvements. If we put pressure on him now and he doesn`t perform, his confidence will b shot.

12 Jan 2015 17:06:15
Not digging, just an opinion. I think he's good enough and should learn in the prem now or next season. Anfield crowd won't 'pressure' him and pretty sure he won't read these message boards

{Ed002's Note - (a) He has been playing very poorly and the crowd are very much on his back. (b) Why would you think he would not read these pages?}

11 Jan 2015 22:21:55
Here's a question for you,
For months, the general view has been that pretty much any defender would look poor in our team right now,

In my opinion, Can and Sakho have dispelled that,
I've been impressed by both players in the last few games, whereas Lovren has come into the side again and still looked wobbly,
Skrtel hasn't really looked anything but,

Are Sakho and Can playing well despite the tactics, whereas Lovren and Skrtel couldn't?

My opinion is that our slightly improved defensive form is down to,
The introduction of Can and Sakho, and Lucas regaining his position.


Lastly, if Lucas wishes to leave I for one will wish him all the best,
I would be very disappointed, our form has picked up no question since he's played, and I wouldn't wish to replace him with Can, simply because he's doing well at centre half,

Lucas earns his money far more than some of the other playing staff we currently have, at least I would block any kind of a January move for him, if he still wanted to leave at the end of the season, whilst disappointed I would allow him to move on. Like him or hate him, the lad deserves our utmost respect for the way he has conducted himself during his tenure.
Having said that, he'd be my captain behind Henderson if we could keep him, players with his mentality should be kept.

11 Jan 2015 22:57:04
Lucas helps a lot I think. Sakho is class though; hopefully Lovren will grow into the club as Sakho has. Those two at their best would be pretty formidable

Can looks our best defender. And Only 20?
He's going to be unreal for us.

Lucas is a perfect exaple of what a professional player should be and whatpros of today are not. Only a deluded "person" would want to get rid of a player of his output and human qualities and replace him w/ a player who is not even good enuff to shine his shoesand because he is one of the coach`s favs. Lucas should NOT be allowed to leave regardless of offer and in a perfect world, I would hope the owners would veto any sale by BR and his deluded obssession w/ Allen at DM. As for Sakho, I always knew he was a beast since his days at PSG amd regardless of how BR has tried to sabotage him, he has fought back and is now our best CB. Can is a beast BUT I think he is wasted at CB even tho, he has excelled there and has the ability to play the ball out of the back w/ great comfort.

Well said Redohio, if Lucas does leave I'd wish him literally all the best, top, top bloke and a model professional.

12 Jan 2015 00:00:44
Can looks our best defender
=====================

Watch the Leicester City game again, specially their second goal

I wish Lucas all the best as well.
But the blame for him wanting to go lies with him because well. he wants to go.

11 Jan 2015 17:40:54
A question for Ed001.

When you have spoken with former players. Have they ever mentioned what it feels like when fans start walking out of games with 10 minutes to go.I noticed a fair few leaving the stadium of light at 80 mins, then by 85, it seemed only half full. It must be pretty disheartening! I thought Sunderland were still in the game at that point and had several good chances.

I would imagine it affects the locals/ Brits more than foreign players given the ''Local Pride'' of wanting to do well for your boyhood club.

Just wondering if any pros have said that it's actually affected their performance, or any managers have said that the atmosphere going, hindered the team.

I think if I were a pro and looked at the stand with several minutes left to see most had gone home early, I'd probably be downtrodden, and maybe not give 100%

{Ed001's Note - that is a damn good question, it has been mentioned, by an older generation player who told my auntie off about her leaving games early. He said it was horrible when it happened. He said that it made it difficult to motivate yourself if you are behind, as you need the crowd to lift you at times. So yes, he said it was a real problem and that he was glad it didn't happen so much in his day.

I don't know if it would make more difference to locals, I would think it would make little difference, it would just be generally dispiriting to see the fans flood out early. Not one player I have ever spoken to has ever disputed that the crowd can make a real difference to their performance. Though it depends on the player as to the effect.}

Cheers for the reply ed001, It just came as a complete shock to me when the camera panned at about 85 mins to the whole stadium yesterday and it looked half full. Especially during that period LFC's away fans were bellowing YNWA certainly from my POV it would have affected me I think. I've never seen that at Anfield. (YET)

I stay to the bitter end, I've paid that money to watch the game, win/lose/draw, I'm getting my money's worth!!

11 Jan 2015 19:12:11
Funny story from my callow youth. I grew up in East London and my local team was West Ham. My uncles, who I went to games with, all supported West Ham and one was a season ticket holder. I went my own way and chose to support Liverpool. I remember being at a West Ham vs Liverpool game at Upton Park in the early 1990s, and as I was with my uncle, I was in the hard core home supporters stand, when it was still terracing. West Ham scored early on, we then equalised, and in the dying minutes, Lee Chapman sent back a crap back pass which Rushie intercepted and scored the winner.

It was amazing the effect the crowd had on me as, die hard Pool fan though I was (and am), I was so disgusted with the back pass that I started the locals walking out! So yes, the crowd can influence not just the players, but each other too!

12 Jan 2015 08:05:38
Considering how difficult I generally find it to get tickets to games, it always depresses me. Win lose or draw, the only reason I actually leave Anfield after a game is because I can't fight the flood of people

11 Jan 2015 17:16:43
What are our chances to sign Alexande Lacazette? Great form in Lyon.

{Ed002's Note - Zip.}

11 Jan 2015 16:08:57
Is the impending sale of Assaidi to raise revenue to finance Origi coming early perhaps?

{Ed002's Note - No.}

11 Jan 2015 16:32:01
Shame as it just seems a nice tidy conclusion. €6M for the early release of Origi, €6M for the sale of Assaidi.

{Ed002's Note - But that is not how business is conducted.}

I'd rather keep the Assiaidi money and have Origi in the summer,
He won't play ahead of Sturridge on his return anyway,

{Ed002's Note - You would just waste it fast cars and chicks Dave.}

Not all welsh pastimes involve animals ed !

Fast cars and chicks sounds like a reasonable way to spend money, my wife might disagree mind you!

12 Jan 2015 01:38:56
I would hardly say that's a waste Ed002. Fast cars and Chicks are most mans dream

12 Jan 2015 01:39:12
You say that like it's a bad thing Ed002! ;)

11 Jan 2015 15:59:07
hi eds, we have been linked in the press with 2 players higuain and benzema, the more likely one to me is higuain, if we could get one of the 2 players who do you think would be the best one out of the 2 players, benzema or higuain, and who is the better striker and who would you prefer, i would prefer benzema myself because i think he would score more goals

{Ed002's Note - There is already interest from various clubs from both players and I suspect both will be available in the summer. In order for Liverpool to be interested they would need to move some of the existing strikers on, and again much will depend on who is in charge.}

We will not be getting either. It will be like the Sanchez saga all over again. Unless we finish top4 and appoint a high profile manager, the club will simply not attract players of the calibre of Higuain or Benzema unless we pay stupid wages, which certainly is not going to happen.

Benzea has a contract till 2019 and he w/ Higuain will cost a fortune. Good luck w/ that!

12 Jan 2015 01:38:01
Ed002 who would you prefer mate, as i said i would prefer benzema, or do you think you can't say for other people jumping on your back or taking it the wrong way, thanks for the sanswer though

{Ed002's Note - I have no doubts that Benzema would suit Liverpool the most and he will be available in the summer. So I will say Benzema.}

Redohio,

good luck with what ???, the fact i prefer benzema as a better footballer than higuain, if you read eds 002 answer he read my post properly, or do you mean when i said what i have read in the paper that we have been linked with them, come on big boy make your point clear, what do i need your good luck with,

Thanks for your answer ed,

11 Jan 2015 15:23:17
hi eds 1 and 2,

i would just like to get your opinion on chris martin from derby, just in my little opinion he reminds me of an alan shearer /chris sutton type of player, i don't know much about him or even how old he is but he looks a lot more mobile and stronger than ricky lambert,

also i know we get linked with a lot of players and when we actually go for a top player we always lose out on them, i heard in the news some player went to a club because the manager spoke to him in his native laguage i don't think the player was linked with us but i suddenly realised the problem we could have with losing out on these top players is BR and the way he sells the club and direction and ambition of the club, i thought is he the reason why so many top players reject us, look at the players southampton have been able to get to their club and i think the reason they go to the club is because of the manager the same goes for chelsea and the mourhino factor and the way he talk to the player he wants to sign, the more i think about it the more i believe its down to BR's talk with trying to convince the player to come to us instead of another club who is interested in the same player, we all know what happend with sanchez about going to arsenal because his wife wanted to live in london, to me that's a flimsy excuse i might be wrong but i think its more he went there because of arsen wenger v BR, that's just my thoughts on it, do you think it is down to BR's sales talk, didn't we offer more money in wages to sanchez than arsenal did, thanks for any replies and your thoughts on this

{Ed001's Note - sorry what big stars have Southampton attracted? Good players, yes, but no big stars, so I don't understand why you mentioned them. As for the Sanchez thing, that was nothing to do with anything other than his preference to go to Arsenal. Yes if we had Bill Shankly selling the club he would probably have ended up joining us, but we don't, so we had no chance of convincing him to change his mind.

As for Martin, he is a decent enough target man, but nothing else. Not sure of the relevance to Lambert, who is not a target man.}

Ed001 the only reference to lambert was because of their size, there's a lot i like about lambert what does not get used he is a great free kick taker, and also a great pen taker, i would not like to say who is the best dead ball specialist at the club, i think tadic is a top player so is awderfeld (sorry about the spelling ed, but he is the CB who we were after i think at one time ) i know he is on loan but as i have said i think we were after him and he is well thought of, and there's tadic i don't know if he is on loan or if southampton have bought him but i think we were linked with him but i sont know how solid the interest was, if it was just paper talk,

all i was trying to say is that i think BR can't sell the club to the players who have chose to go to other clubs isntead of us, that's all i am most probably wrong but some managers get more respect from players for what they have achieved in the game and who they are, also the ones who can talk a player into joing the club which i think BR can't do, as i don't know other good players who would have improved our team and are over 26 at the top of their game, that's why i come on here because you eds know a lot more than us

{Ed001's Note - but we never went for either and nor did anyone else, so how is it anything to do with the manager that they got them? They were the only Prem club to make the deal. Not saying they aren't good players, but they weren't big names to be swayed into joining. One was sat on the bench watching, the other was playing in a weaker league. You were talking about pull and managers, but that is an irrelevance. This is just a rant about fantasy signings we didn't get and is totally unfair and pointless. We can't buy every player just so you won't moan we missed out.}

I cannot stand for the life of me people who as soon as a player is doing well at another club, they come here and start moaning about why we did not go for him as if they always knew they would pan out when in reality, they prob had never heard of the player until he came to that team.

11 Jan 2015 13:55:45
Hi eds,

I have a question - sorry for my ignorance. A team who buys a player has to pay a fee to the selling team only if he still has a valid contract? i.e. if the player reached the end of his contract and he is a free player the selling team gets no fee (or a lower one?)? If it is the case, this gives a player alomost unlimited negotiation power with the team when it comes to contract extension because the team knows that if he doesn't sign he can then go for free and they will not get anything for him. Is this where we are with Sterling now (so if he doesn't sign a new contract he will be able to go in the summer to whatever team without us agreeing or getting the fee we want?) or do I get it totally wrong? and if this is the case what can teams do about this balance of power amid threats of contracts of attractive players coming to an end.

{Ed002's Note - Sterling's contract is not coming to an end.}

11 Jan 2015 13:34:26
So Marc-Andre ter Stegen has said he's fustrated at the lack of opportunites at Barca so far (Claudio Bravo being preffered).

A 6 month loan would be a greta bit of business for both parties I would imagine.

I know they are under transfer ban but they have a reasonably strong B team in the second division which they can (if I'm not mistaken) promote players from mid-season.

For the minimal role he's playing they could just promote Ortola from the B team.

At just 22, ter Stegen needs game time at a high level and he'd certainly get it here. A 6 month loan would be the perfect stop-gap until summer when the squad can be reassesed.

{Ed002's Note - It would hardly suit Barcelona would it.}

11 Jan 2015 16:43:23
I couldn't say, but I would think there would be some positives there.

Bravo is getting on a bit and ter Stegen was bought as a long-term option. While Bravo is the better keeper right now the idea is ter Stegen will eventually surpass him and become their number 1, right? He needs game time to do that.

{Ed002's Note - The cannot replace him.}

Do you have any info on why he's out of the team Ed?
Are they just easing him in and see him as a long term solution? Or are they not impressed?
Would sell my left arm for a young keeper like him,

{Ed002's Note - There is no more reason that he is not first choice right now.}

11 Jan 2015 11:44:13
Lucas (a player who I admire immensely but didn't like when he first arrived) is arguably our most consistent and reliable player this season, which shows how little we are improving despite the influx of some fantastically gifted players. And that can only be a problem of coaching.

Just shows you need to give some players time.
Nobody (apart from me it seemed) give it to Lucas and he turns out to be highly important to the team.
Our summer signings have only been here half a season, who knows how good they will be.

11 Jan 2015 12:01:11
I'm glad you are not the coach being obsessive with mediocre players

11 Jan 2015 12:02:34
You can afford to give a couple of players time, but not half a team every season.

11 Jan 2015 12:07:17
Lucas? Mediocre? You think? Doesn't say much for the rest of the squad then does it pirate.

11 Jan 2015 12:19:57
Lucas is by far the best we have in that area,

Pirate, Lucas must be doing something right for the team. Played 11 prem games defeated once, compared to 10 games benched six defeats. Let the haters hate.

11 Jan 2015 12:29:50
We are not mediocre. We are underachieving. We have top players in the team, Lucas is not one of them. I won't miss him weak excuse of a footballer. And yes Welsh it might have been the best we had in that area(Can will prove to be a far better option than him), but I will say it again. THIS DOES NOT MEAN HE IS GREAT. The best we had for a CDM was a mediocre player and was about time to leave.

11 Jan 2015 12:41:51
T MONY I guess you watched the Moneyball movie. No worries, I got your paranoid point. Maybe you missed the point when Rodgers completely changed the system since then.

We are not under achieving when lucas plays though, are we? We are harder to defeat.

Rodgers played this 3-4-3 against the Mancs but with Gerrard and Allen as defensive midfielders and if you remember we got our arses served up to us, with those two at the centre, teams ran through us at will, that doesn't happen with Lucas. You carry on hating him Pirate, but he is ultimately effective at what he does and I would argue that the only players better are ones we can't afford, if we sell him for peanuts now to Inter, then forget top 4. Again if the club wants to get rid of Allen to trim the midfield, a wage and bring some money in, then go ahead as he offers nothing.

If Lucas is allowed to leave in this window and we don't bring in an adequate (ie better) replacement, it will prove to me that Rodgers is totally inept.

Gerrard, Allen, Henderson or Can cannot do the job that Lucas does (maybe Can in the future but it would be a waste and he is not ready to do it now).

No wonder Rodgers gets away with his 'David Brent' spin, because there are so many on here who don't have the slightest clue and totally fail to see the job that Lucas does in breaking up the play and moving it quickly to players in dangerous areas.

Not true. Lucas started 3 undefeated games before he was dropped at old Trafford when rogers changed the system, and lost the game. He was brought straight back and we have remained unbeaten .Fact, we have been beaten once in our last 14 games. The only game Lucas was benched.

11 Jan 2015 13:20:31
If you agree he's the best CDM we have, why do you not want to ship out some of the others? Why lose our best CDM? Then we play someone who's not as good and we are weaker.
Simple really.

{Ed002's Note - THis whole thread is getting very tedious and doesn't seem to be going anywhere.}

You can't argue with the fact that we have played a lot better with Lucas in the team this season. So some might argue he isn't the best DM in the world but he is our best! Are we going to get better with the €7 million we might get if he is sold? Play Can there? Its possible but a waste of his talents if you ask me. I want our strongest players on the pitch, not one to replace another.

Lucas is average for me but is arguably the best we have in that position. Personally I'd like to see him gone with the intention of purchasing a better DM when the right one comes available and in the mean time I would play Can there

I agree with some posts that lucas is an average def-mid who plays the ball side ways and back most of the time, if you watch him play he does not do anything great, he always slows the play down and stops attacks, in our last game against sunderland he had the ball on the half way line markovic who was on fire in that game had his hand up for a ball to be passed to him and all lucas di was pass the ball side ways, now correct me if i'm wrong a ball forward would have put the sunderland defence on the back foot and gave us a chance on goal, but instead because he passed the ball sideways markovic had to drop back the sunderland players got into their defensive positions and made it harder for us to attck them, nad that is just one pass and one moment in the game, so instead of passing forward he done his usual and stopped the attack by passing sideways, also what's frustrates so much about him is the way he runs to a player with the ball and then stands a couple of yards off the player with the ball, even though there is other players who are also going to the player with the ball but they actually do a tackle instead of just standing off the player which results in him leaving the space he came from open for the other team to exploit, you can watch him do all of the things i have mentioned, so to me he is a mediocre player, when he came into the team and we have stopped losing its because stevie has moved a bit further up the field, since he came back into the team have we stopped letting goals in, no we have not and that shows our form is not just down to him but the other players plaing better and the formation working, as on poster has said Emre Can will prove a better player when he moves into lucas's position he has shown his defensive side in the position he is playing now, he also passes the ball forward more and is a better passer, to the ones who like lucas please watch him with an open mind and watch how many times he passes the ball side ways or backwards when there's a ball on forward to a player, watch him misplace passes as well and his mistakes, to jusdge a player you have to add the players mistakes as well nit just watch him with rose tinted glasses on, now this post has some valid points i'm not slating him i'm pointing out his bad points and all who think he is our best player can see these bad points by watching him, i will watch him in our next game and time every mistake he makes so anyone will see at what time he makes the mistake and what he does wrong at that time

the real yard stick is when he goes we will miss him like we have missed suarez and like we will miss gerrard, that's how you can tell a very good player on how much we miss their input into the team, i don't think we will miss him,

If you have been consistently picked for Brazil then you are doing something right. Are there better DM`s than Lucas? Sure! Are they at the club? Hell NO! Lucas is the best we have and until we get someone in who`s better (which there are), he plays every game and those who think he is mediocre should deal with it because regardless of whether he is mediocre or not, he has improved us and that is all I care about.

12 Jan 2015 07:22:18
He is not playing for Brazil anymore if you noticed. This has been for some years.
We bought Can if you noticed, a better player.
He has not improved us. He just does his job better than others who have not been CDM but used as that, but he does nothing fancy. The man can't shoot for crying out loud. He is a pathetic attempt of a player and you are buying into this bulls. That's why we are a laughing stock because we are obsessed with joke players.

You are asking him to do things that has nothing to do with his job. As for Brazil, he was playing regularly last season until he got injured and lost his place to Fernadinho (who had a shocking WC). In the system we play, he flourishes and until we get someone better (who IMO, is NOT Can because he is better further forward and is being wasted at CB) like Medel of Inter then he is the best we have. He tackles well and does the job of protecting the defence. Players like that are not flashy (Zidane w/ France would be NOTHING w/o players like Viera, Makelele and Deschamps who did the exact job Lucas is doing now) and are only noticed when they win the ball or commit a foul to stop an attack. He was a mainstay in our team under KK b the injury which has taken time for him to get over. Like I said until we get someone better, he is the best we have and the results prove it regardless of opposition. Allen and SG played vs Utd and CP and they walked through our midfield like there was nobody there and he is greatly ineffective when SG plays w/ him because he is doing two peopl`s jobs because SG is always out of position. So based on that evidence, he plays every game so people should stop criticizing him for no reason while the results are there to prove he has helped our fortunes along w/ Can, Sakho, Toure, Moreno and Lallana.

Redohio, being picked for a brazil side that has won nothing since he has played for them should tell you everything you need to know, i can't believe you have mentioned him with top players like viera, malelele and deschamps, you are deluded, ok you think he is good and you say he protects our defence then why do we let so many goals in when he plays seeing he is that good at protecting the defence, your psot is a joke saying he is as good as them players, any of the players you mentioned would have walked into a lot of top teams, lucas would not, i'm not saying he is a bad player just not as good as you think he is, i will ask you wbout all the goals he has stopped, all the tackles he wins, believe me when i disagree with you when i say he is not a good tackler, he is more of a spoiler, do you watch him when he tackles players and gives fouls away around the box, it was only a few games ago he gave a foul away and it led to a goal again, there is loads of times when we have been winning and he gives a foul away and a goal gets scored from the foul he has given the other team, he has even gave a few fouls away that have cost us games because the other team have scored the winner from the foul he gave away so your talking out of your back side when you say he tackles well he does not, or don't you watch or see them or blame other people for his bad tackles, he never bosses the midfield in a game, i don't think he is the best we have i think Emre Can is better than him, only when he is gone we will see how good he is when and if we miss him in midfield, you do go over the top with your man love for lucas as not to see his bad points, he is that much of a gent that he would himself admit he had a bad game, he is not as good as you think, and all your bravado won't make him a better player, the way you talk you would think he was better than souness or jimmy case, all def-mids who scored goals, because if he was as good as you say he would score more goals, i have seen him at the edge of the opponents box and he passed the ball back instead of passing the ball forward or even having a shot because if you knew some thing about him you would know when he was playing for the under 21s for brazil he was banging 20 and 30 yards goals for fun,

Redohio,

the results have not got better because of him, don't you agree lallana has had some great games, markovic has been great these last 3 games and our turn of fortune and our play has got better because BR has found a formation that gives couthino the chance to do what he does best and that is run at players and make great forward passes, not because the ball gets played sideways or backwards, i know you would say we are keeping the ball but we do nothing with it, we can't score when the ball is getting passed side ways or backwards, like I've said lucas had the ball around the half way line and markovic was open with no one around him, he had his hand up calling for the ball and this great brazilian of yours passed the ball side ways, which resulted in the sunderland players picking up markovic, stopping a go on goal if he would have passed the ball forward, stopped the attck by our team by passing the ball side ways so our players had to stop attacking and drop back to their defnsive positions, and not being able to score because you can't score by passing the ball side ways in midfield, you really do the other players a disadvantage by saying all our good play and results are down to lucas, WITH YOU SAYING HE WAS PICKED FOR BRAZIL, TELL ME PLEASE WHAT THEY WON WITH HIM IN THEIR TEAM, that's IF YOU CAN, don't forget he does the dirty work for the flair players in the team to do their thing, and in the brazil team there's plenty of players with flair, its only when he was dropped they started to win games never mind win any comps his inclusion in the brazil team coincided with brazil playing their worst football for years, who will you blame for tha neymar i'm sure some of the good folk on this site who are good with stats can come up with the stats of how many times brazil won when lucas was in the team, its not many if any, but i'm not really bothered about brazil i just think can is a better player, in def-mid, because that's is emre can's main position, his secondry positions is at CB which he has proved he is ok at, we will only see when can replaces lucas as our def-mid, and where the likes of viera scored goals and lucas does not that's you comparisson between viera and lucas as in they are the same type of players, i also think Can will score goals,

i tell you what redohio, in our next game, we will write in a post the pros and cons of lucas in the game, you can write all the good stuff and what time he has done it at and i will write the bad things he does and at what t ime he does them, so that will prove who is right, is that ok to you to prove your point i'm up for it

11 Jan 2015 09:54:22
Eds,

With the current speculation about a move for Higuain, what are your thoughts on him (I mean as a player not whether we will sign him which I very much doubt). I have only really seen him a few times and have to say that he never really stood out to me and in my view wouldn't give us any more than Ballotelli (though there would be no circus!). I would appreciate your views (and anyone else's who perhaps has seen more of him).

{Ed002's Note - Higuain is a decent well respected footballer.}

11 Jan 2015 08:40:30
Watched the game.
Thought it was a good first half and a poor second half.
We were affected more by the sending off than they were.
That is a shame because we could have won that game 4 or 5 nil and that would have helped our confidence immensely.
I have been reading some of the comments below and some people because they are anti Rodgers just can't accept that sometimes he deserves credit.
A theme running through some of the comments is that Rodgers will never learn.
I am sorry but that is just a load of poppycock.
We had a terrible start to the season but our recent form surely shows that the manager is learning?
How can a team put together a run of 1 defeat in 13 games if the manager has learnt nothing?
I am not in the pro Rogers camp and I am not in the anti Rodgers camp.
I just give the team and the manager credit when they deserve it and criticism when they under perform.
They have under performed a lot this season but I think people are still criticising Rodgers and the team for our poor start to the season without recognising the recent improvements made.
And in my opinion that is harsh and ignorant when looking at the last 14 games.

Totally agree we are improving and Can still make it a very good season. Onto Villa park now.

I think shifting Lazar into the middle affected the 2nd half. He was the main outlet first half.
Can did well there but was not as effective as Lazar.

The players he benched and who had little or no part in our 6 premiership defeats, Lucas, Sakho, Markovic and Can have come in and been professionals, have nothing to do with our unbeaten run ? If Allen Johnson Toure Sterling Lallana available, then the 4 players above get benched again and we become easier to beat. Rogers lost my respect ages a go, with his self promoting, mate. Give the players the credit for playing for the shirt. I have said it before, most of the prem managers would cruise top 4 given the funds Rogers has had.

I know we've been btn 7 times. I meant 6 defeats coming with out Lucas in the team.

If he changes a winning team again then he's learnt nothing. Let's see how the next game works out. He'll probably find a way to play Johnson and put gerrard back into the DM role.

He'll play Johnson RCB, move can to CM alongside Henderson, Sell Lucas and buy Delph.

Which is why BR cannot be trusted. A good manager NEVR changes a winning team REGARDLESS of circumstances BUT BR has succeeded time and again that he has not learnt a thing and like one already said, has no credibility as he showed again after the Sunderland win as he was trying to take credit for Hendo`s great progress when he couldn`t wait to give the poor boy the boot in fav of the "Welsh Xavi" as soon as he arrived. Go figure!

Thanks for proving my point redohio.

What point exactly? So he should get credit for wasting half of our seson on being a stubborn arrogant "person", sabotaging players like Sakho, Suso, Lucas, Moreno in favor of his favs (skrtl, SG, GJ and Allen) who have been aweful all season, taking credit for everything and blaming everybody else for our failures, or for being a complete "person" in frot of the edia and destroying Balo in the media just to cover his own failings. Sorry BUT you must have misread my post. He gets credit for nothing because he has pissed this season away by being a narcassistic DF all season which is why the owners are doing the review and if the Eds are to b believed, he will get the sack come this summer regardless of where we finish.

My point is that you can't give the manager any credit even when it is due.
The reason for this is because you want him sacked. I understand that.
You are entitled to your opinion and I am sure it is an opinion shared by others (at one point this season it was even shared by me!) but the idea that Rodgers is a "person" who has never got anything right is just absurd, unfair and not the truth.
Just because you don't like him and think he should be sacked does not mean you can't give him credit when it is due.
First half at the weekend we were very good. Does he not deserve any sort of credit for that then?

11 Jan 2015 08:15:31
Just wondered what's the ruling on players out of contract such as players we are claimed to be interested in such as: Delph and Milner to name a couple. I know abroad clubs can agree deals and approach them but when can domestic clubs approach? At the end of their contract? Also seeing as the club is reviewing the staff and restructure, will Brendon be able to sanction a transfer in the summer?

Thanks again

{Ed001's Note - clubs in the same league may approach players in the final month of their contract only.}

11 Jan 2015 03:41:32
If Lucas goes we need to buy a proper defensive midfielder as a replacement.
People keep rambling on that we are over run with central midfielders, can, hendo, Allan, Gerrard none of them can do the job Lucas can, which has been proven in the games when Lucas hasn't played.
I see a lot of people saying emre can is Lucas' replacement but he's not, he's not a defensive mid, he's way better with a license to get forward.

It seems odd to me that Lucas would be allowed to leave right now.

I'd agree we shouldn't let Lucas go, although I do think over time Can will be a fantastic CDM, he's got the tackling, passing and defensive read required for the role, he just needs another 6-12 months of experience in the PL in my view.

I do agree he's good going forward, but we also have Henderson and Llalana who are more effective attackers not to mention Coutinho, Markovic and Sterling, so of all these, I'd prefer Can at CDM.

If the club was smart they would keep hold of Lucas. It sounds like he has already been alienated by Rodgers though and is pretty much set on leaving, I think he'll be a big loss, on and off the pitch.

I like Can a lot, when he powers forward he's like a runaway train. The way Rogers as us set up at the moment I think he would excel in the middle of the back 3, as I don't think he's nimble enough, to play the way Rogers wants us to press in the midfield. I think under a different Manager, he and Henderson could become a formidable partnership, in the middle of the park.

If Can can (see what I did there!) do what Lucas can do and also be better at fwd play where Lucas lacks, is that wasting him? Surely it's better to have someone who can play DM and also have an attacking threat at times? Granted needs to be disciplined and not bomb fwd too often. I'd rather have that than an out and out DM who can't shoot and go past people and lacks pace or an attacking player there such as Gerrard who can't do the job.

11 Jan 2015 09:50:24
I like Lucas a lot. But if he does leave we have Can who looks an absolute beast. Plus it means Rossiter, Chirivella etc can hopefully get more chances. Both of those can be star players