Liverpool Banter Archive March 12 2017

12 Mar 2017 23:08:29
Well we got away with that one today, and thank god we did. For me the best team lost.

Once again we started off very lethargic in everything we did, and couldn't put 2 passes together.

After every defeat we have had against the 'lesser' teams we get the same old thing from the players - 'we know what we need to do and we will work hard and be ready next time'. Until next time comes though, and same old, same old.

But 3 points and that's all that matters right now.

It will still be a right struggle to make the top 4, and maybe we will do it, but we will be sweating when the teams around us play their games in hand.

12 Mar 2017 23:18:31
Arsenal are capitulating as usual and United need to win both games in hand by about a +8 goal difference to go past us.

They are both distracted by other cups anyway.

I am looking up the table myself. City are there for the taking in our next game, and Spurs without Kane are just draw merchants.

13 Mar 2017 00:01:53
I don't disagree with your post, KBL cos Burnley did play well and have been causing probs for big teams on the road all season. However, i will say that our boys came back in the second half and showed, grit, belief, desire and great determination to turn the game around and remain dogged in seeing out the result. This has been missing vs the lesser teams since this year began so glad to see some fight in the team. A lot more needs to be done tho as we go forward.

13 Mar 2017 03:01:40
I think you guys need a shot of reality, you complain when Liverpool play well but can't break teams down leading to draws and defeats then when the team plays not the best but wins you still complain. I really feel you will never get off their backs and full commit to supporting them.

13 Mar 2017 10:01:10
Great post bruffio. Was interesting that our fans and media were quick to point out we scored with our 1st shot on target yesterday, yet failed to point out that Burnley (who I may add played well) also scored with 1st and only shot on target! As they did in last game. Also Swansea 3 shots 3 goals! We can't play great like we did against Arsenal every game. And all top teams win games like we did yesterday and get praised for it, yet we (and media) want to hammer our team for it! Well done the players who dug deep and got job done, I for one will take a few more performances like that with same result! Get behind the team we are Liverpool.

13 Mar 2017 10:23:29
For me, that first half (up to, but not including the extra minute) was deja vu of most of our 2017 - poor passing, complacent against a smaller team, 1-0 down (although fair play, good goal), fruitless attacking chances and impatience.

Hopefully Gini's goal will light a fire up their arses for the rest of the season. Second half performance, while far from stellar, showed the raw determination to turn it around and grind out a result. It's the sort of attitude more of the players need week in, week out.

I won't judge them solely on this result, nor the City game. Consistency is the word, they get that then I'll say the tide has turned.

13 Mar 2017 16:51:22
Love your posts Jolly, Bruffio and Z99. It seems that some of our "fans" and the media were hoping or expecting us to drop points so they can have something to write about and moan about BUT to their chagrin, our boys altho not playing well, stepped up and fought back from a goal down to take the points.

Now, they are moaning that we didn't play well and that the "better team lost" or that we should BUT when we smash the bigger teams, they'll say "let's see if we can do it vs a lesser team" and on and on. Utter nonsense.

WE WON! So I don't care if people's feelings are hurt cos we won ugly. Mou has made a career out of that yet many hail him for his "ability to win ugly" via his often used "stoneage" tactics BUT when Klopp and the team grind out a result (something they've been slated for not doing), the knives are still out. Again, WE WON so such people need to get over themselves.

13 Mar 2017 19:52:40
"Draw merchants" strange thing to say after a 6-0 win without Kane yesterday.

13 Mar 2017 20:40:03
Millwall in the cup? Not exactly prem material though.

12 Mar 2017 19:00:40
Hi all,
Personally I thought the second half performance was a lot better defensively. Not the greatest performance overall but it's points on the board and hopefully the start of another good run. 🙏🏻

Up the reds!

12 Mar 2017 22:30:13
I thought Klavan was woeful. Far too slow for the PL.

12 Mar 2017 22:36:30
Agree Kate but very nervous towards the end of the game. Burnley could and possibly should have scored. Ecstatic with the 3 points tho.

12 Mar 2017 22:38:09
Got to agree, they actually handled the Burnley long balls relatively well.
If Barnes could play the ball half as well as he plays his man then he'd be a world beater! Well done to Can for sticking to it. I thought he was excellent defensively. He was immense in the air against a very physical side and a weak referee.
I think that performance proves just why we need a player like Can in the squad. think we have space for another too. Maybe not as much as we need a ball player in the Alonso mould though. our play can be so slow and predictable against these deep lying defensive teams.

13 Mar 2017 00:05:57
Spot on Shanks. The team stood up to the challenge today and Burnley gave us our most difficult game of the season, IMO cos they were up for it. We came back and turned the game around in the face of great adversity and that has to be commended. However our lethargic start to such games is still a problem and that has to be addressed and 3 points in the bag, makes it easier to work on this issue during the week.

13 Mar 2017 09:12:20
Migs was excellent yesterday. Not many keepers would come that far off the line as it leave them open for ridicule should they misjudge the ball, but he really helped the defence out. Good report from Ed1 on his performance yesterday.

13 Mar 2017 14:23:42
Credit where it's due- Migs didn't have many saves to make but commanded the area well.

12 Mar 2017 17:58:07
Oh ah Emre Can, oh ah Emre Can!

Get in lad. Not our best performance this season but a good battle at times and most importantly, the right result!

Roll on Man City and another big win.

12 Mar 2017 15:03:27
nice to see wilson on the bench:)

12 Mar 2017 17:59:07
And on the pitch. Looked good I thought.

12 Mar 2017 18:45:03
Do you mean Woodburn ND?

12 Mar 2017 13:25:38
This tierney. left back for Celtic looks decent in defending and going forward. maybe worth a look at? What you reckon eds do you now if we've even scouted him. cheers for any info 👍.

{Ed001's Note - I have covered this a number of times.}

12 Mar 2017 23:15:40
Sorry pal I'll try the search engine didn't realise it's been covered👍 He did look good mind lol.

12 Mar 2017 12:24:03
From the rumours i've heard and read I think our squad definitely needs 2-3 quality players that can improve our starting xi with an additional 2-3 players coming in to improve the depth of the squad.
Ins: Van Dijk (desperately want him)
Pereira
Brandt
Paredes
Young striker (not sure who)
Maybe another younger players which is better than we currently have.

12 Mar 2017 13:13:23
Van Dijk seriously? Another over rated ball playing CB that is flavor of the month and would be a really expensive mistake. Better try for someone like Nastasic who has played in the premier league before and faced and overcome criticisms about his quality by becoming a mainstay in Schalke's defense.
Agree about Paredes and Brandt, but we seriously need a LB and CB as first priorities.

12 Mar 2017 13:18:58
Van Dijk has more premier league experience than nastasti, he was awful for city and really didn't look like preimier league quality in my opinion. Van Dijk has Ben quality this season and has definitely been one of the better defenders in the league, would be an ideal partner for matip in my opinion.

{Ed001's Note - where do people get this 'Van Dijk has been quality' from? He has been good on the ball and poor defensively, constantly caught out of position. He has plenty of ability and the physical attributes to be great, but mentally he is lazy and sleepwalks through games.}

12 Mar 2017 13:23:39
LB why not try for tierny at Celtic, yes he isn't the finished article but there's aren't many out there that are without paying over the odds. The guy has been good for Celtic this season and would in my opinion be a viable option.

12 Mar 2017 13:30:20
Van Dijk may be over rated to some here but certainly not. He is good and better than anyone at Liverpool by some distance. We ain't getting him coz he is ridiculously priced at. Paredes is a decent option, A deep lying playmaker wee severely need. Brandt is sure and certain.

12 Mar 2017 13:27:15
Who do you suggest for CB then Ed001?

{Ed001's Note - Nastasic is a good left footer, Gimenez of Atletico is probably out of reach sadly, Romagnoli of Milan. Laporte is another probably well out of reach. Maksimovic, De Vrij all worth a look at. One I have heard a lot about but never seen play, so I am going off what scouts and coaches have said, is Engel(s?) of Brugge.}

12 Mar 2017 13:41:45
Thanks Ed. Would take gimenez for sure!

{Ed001's Note - me too, he can play in midfield as well.}

12 Mar 2017 13:47:40
Do we stand a chance at getting him?

{Ed001's Note - if you read what I said initially, I already answered that question.}

12 Mar 2017 14:13:39
If we do sign Ricardo Pereira then that will mean the end of the road for Clyne. Ed002 did say Pereira would be a good option and that Liverpool have been watching him.

{Ed001's Note - Liverpool did look for a replacement for Clyne in the summer.}

12 Mar 2017 14:36:20
And Liverpool were also trying to find Clyne a new home last summer too. Guess it was a case of we will bring in a new RB once Clyne is moved on which will probably be this coming summer.

12 Mar 2017 15:51:38
On the subject of players failing in the PL but worth a shout, I'd like to introduce Felipe Luis to the mix. Excellent LB, but could he be persuaded?

{Ed002's Note - (a) Filipe Luís did not fail in the Premier League. (b) He will be 32 by the start of next season. (c) Liverpool has zero interest in him. (d) He would not be interested in moving to Liverpool.}

12 Mar 2017 19:18:12
You were mentioning left footed LB's earlier Ed001 and was wondering although it's very unlikely would Salho still be considered by Klopp at end of season should our denfesive troubles continue? As I feel he is good enough to play for us ahead of Lovren and could be a better alternative to some other left footed LB's out there.

{Ed001's Note - Sakho is done. He does not deserve this adoration he gets for talking crap on social media while being a complete arse behind the scenes. Sooner we are rid of the fanny the better.}

12 Mar 2017 20:54:09
Felipe Luis stayed a season at Chelsea, did ok when played but wasn't a regular. Even if he was competing with Azpilicueta this is no success. A bit harsh to call it a failure though, point taken.

Anyway, at 32 he is far from finished. Could have 3-4 more years at absolutely top level, seems to be as fit as they come.

Haven't heard anything about LFC holding any kind of interest in him, but neither about Nastasic, Laporte or Giminez.

My point is he would be my ideal LB for next year. Solid defending, excellent going forward, used to Simeones style- not too different to Klopps. Would slot in nicely in our brazilian colony, and could be a steadying force in a back four looking constantly nervous. Nice role-model for Juanma, TAA and the rest of the youngsters as well.

{Ed002's Note - (a) Liverpool are not going to pay what it would cost to sign the player. (b) Liverpool has no interest whatsoever in the player. (c) There is no way at all that the player would move to Liverpool this summer.

All just fantasy football.}

12 Mar 2017 22:24:37
Ok, are there another seasoned pro, used to playing fullback in a pressing system who could do a job for us and might like to work with Kloppie? A bit unimpressed with the names tossed around, both for CB (van Dijk for one) but particulary for LB (Pereira and that Celtic guy) . Need some experience and winning mentality!

12 Mar 2017 08:04:02
{Ed's Note - We have posted a new article entitled, My Premier League Team Of The Season, So Far

12 Mar 2017 09:42:50
Great review ed001, thanks! Funny reading it as think Kante and Mane were the only obvious ones I thought for my team of the season (the former far more than the later) . Chelsea are walking the league but due think the large majority of that is done to kante and in fairness costa's lethal finishing, just looking at his statistics for shot accuracy and conversion rate is very impressive. Know you're not big on stats but thinking of the chances we've missed this season, having someone who can convert as often as him would be ideal!

12 Mar 2017 09:42:50
Great review ed001, thanks! Funny reading it as think Kante and Mane were the only obvious ones I thought for my team of the season (the former far more than the later) . Chelsea are walking the league but due think the large majority of that is done to kante and in fairness costa's lethal finishing, just looking at his statistics for shot accuracy and conversion rate is very impressive. Know you're not big on stats but thinking of the chances we've missed this season, having someone who can convert as often as him would be ideal!

13 Mar 2017 09:25:06
Great team but for me Kane instead of Costa and hazard instead of silva.