Liverpool Banter Archive August 15 2015

15 Aug 2015 20:15:27
That was a great listen Benny and ed001, very interesting and funny , you both seemed to have good rapport . Any chance we could get Waro and Ron involved , I'd pay to listen to that debate ha ha

{Ed001's Note - now that would be fun.....}

15 Aug 2015 22:45:55
Thanks mate. I've done a few audio things before, but talking about the thing I love, with some harsh critics on this site I was to say the least, browning my pants!
And thank you to everyone's positive reinforcement, the pod cast will only get stronger and better. Was a pleasure listening to ed and his stories, thank god I was there to keep it moving else it could have been a three hour podcast! We get on great and Could talk for hours about the club. Big things planned :)

16 Aug 2015 00:16:42
Hats off Benny and Ed01. Great job, and a fantastic addition to the site.

16 Aug 2015 02:06:00
Just want to say benny your voice is sublime would defo listen to you on the radio.

16 Aug 2015 02:08:25
Me and Waro? It would just end up as a big make out session there's so much man-love.

16 Aug 2015 02:13:36
Had a quick listen to beginning, bit shocked.

Benny sounds far too young and Ed001 sounds VERY familiar LoL.

{Ed001's Note - sorry dad, probably should have warned you.....}

16 Aug 2015 02:58:00
Always agree with you Ron, but good arl Waro add some spice to these posts.

Such a contrasting opinion between you both but that's what makes a perfect couple.

16 Aug 2015 07:34:56
Was listening to the podcast and for a minute i thought it was ed001 and some girl. Benny really has a soft voice. Even I have a harsher voice than him

{Ed001's Note - ouch.}

16 Aug 2015 08:00:18
Thats funny! because i'm known as someone with a mono-tonal, bass voice. Which obviously no one wants to hear. Maybe ill go back to my jabba the hut voice if you feel i was to high lad.

16 Aug 2015 08:55:41
Ed001: you're grounded!

{Ed001's Note - =o(

16 Aug 2015 08:59:32
Iwas just kidding Benny. Don't take me seriously. Thing is over calls a lot of our voices get altered to unimaginable extent

{Ed001's Note - he is just grumpy because he was aiming to sound sexy....}

16 Aug 2015 10:04:47
getting more users in would make it more like a community here, which i think would be lovely. however only 2 max per podcast (including benny and ed001) and it would work out fine.

maybe in the future ey ed001. get it stabilised a standard format first before any of that though, as in the length, and maybe frequency of podcast i guess? before going ahead with other stuff.

{Ed001's Note - yes sir! ;o)

15 Aug 2015 19:12:57
It's great to see the site evolving. Podcast was a great idea.
There was that brief moment a few seconds in where I was anticipating hearing ed001s voice and then I was like 'oh, is that it?'
It was a bit like seeing the face behind a cartoon character. Or seeing a film star and then realising they are only 5 ft 2.
Only joking ed, love you really.

Can we please have ed002 up next talking finances and deep lying playmakers with Harry? Please.

{Ed001's Note - hahahaha that would be genius. And nothing wrong with being 5 ft 2.....}

15 Aug 2015 21:41:10
We don't discuss finances lol

15 Aug 2015 22:17:00
If it makes you feel better, being five two makes the ears look longer.

I'm six foot and often consider having flat shoes for the very same reason as them rodeo heels just don't impress the birds.

15 Aug 2015 23:18:48
😄😄😄

16 Aug 2015 00:32:11
Loved the pod cast, but what about the FFP rules, you could certainly get Ed002 onto that one!

16 Aug 2015 02:52:59
Ears? Haha. That got changed and you all know what I mean

{Ed001's Note - I have no idea what you could mean Davey, being an innocent young boy an all that like.}

16 Aug 2015 07:35:26
Ed001you ain't 5ft 2 are you?

{Ed001's Note - no mate, 5ft 2 and a half....}

16 Aug 2015 11:58:08
Nowt wrong with being short, if I said I was 5ft 7 I'd be giving myself an extra inch. not that the wife would mind!!!

16 Aug 2015 12:46:37
I feel taller now. 5ft10 with two years of growth left 😎 but as they say it's how big you are down therw that matters 😝

{Ed001's Note - I hope not or I am really in trouble!}

15 Aug 2015 18:08:09
Milner and Hendo need a defensive midfielder behind them to allow them to do what they do best, which is press the opposition and create chances. So unless we switch to the 442 diamond, that would mean playing Coutinho out wide. If we go with the 433, wouldn't it make more sense playing Milner out wide and Coutinho central along side Hendo? I know Milner's been given promises of a central role, but for me, if we want to get the best out of them, this would be more productive.

Also, you can't play Benteke with the likes of Lallana and Coutinho on the wings. A big man up top is there to hold up the ball and feed the wide players. You won't see Coutinho and Lallana bursting down the flanks, they are more creative attacking midfielders that need runners ahead of them. If you're going to play those 2 in the wide positions, Ings would be the better option to play up front, as he has the pace and mobility to get on the end of through balls. If you are going to start Benteke, you need wide players with pace. 2 of Ibe, Firmino, Markovic or Milner would be the better options to play either side of him.

Red Rum

15 Aug 2015 19:13:05
Well, Thr abuse parade starts in 3. 2. 1. lols.
Milner in all honesty would raise more questions that answers. If the club never had any intention to buy a top class CM. I would have rotated bother Can and he darken either side of Lucas and played 3 attacking players behind Benteke.
Countinho / Lallana as CAM
Firmino and Ibe/Markovic on the flanks

15 Aug 2015 20:51:39
According to Mark Lawrenson in the Echo Liverpool don't have a major problem with defending so don't need Lucas. If shipping 50 goals a season isn't a problem then I'm not sure what is!!

16 Aug 2015 00:29:45
It's difficult though Essex. Lawrenson has a point. We don't play Lucas much, or a proper DM. We play Skrtel regular, as people say he's rubbish and Mignolet another everyone slates.

It was said on Fletch & Sav today that Mignolet/our team has the most clean sheets equal to Hart and Courtois. The two best keepers and teams.

16 Aug 2015 13:47:34
Those stats are misleading because in many of those games/clean sheets, it was more down to the other teams' inability to score than it was our competence in this area and the Swansea game was a big example of that. Lawro is wrong and he almost always is. We need a DM if we are going to play Milner and Hendo as we have seen worked at Stoke when Can came on. That is evidence and not some pudit's op. If we play like we did vs Stoke against Arsenal or any other big team with no DM, we will be thumped.

15 Aug 2015 17:27:53
Good podcast chaps,got to say though if the the JOLLY ROGER does not make the top 4 he will be gone,don't forget the power of the fans,there is already a split in the fanbase on ROGERS,if the fans see the top 4 teams pulling further and further away from us the heat will be turned up on the owners for not doing the right thing and installing KLIPPERTY when they had the chance.

{Ed001's Note - thank you mate, I am not 100% they will remove him though, the changes they made have given him an excuse if he doesn't reach top 4 this season.}

15 Aug 2015 19:58:32
I never enjoyed the podcast tbh, it was just a Brebdan-bashing session.
You need some dissenting voices surely ??
Your dislike of Rodgers is illogical in some aspects I find ed.
I mean, all this criticism for him not 'alienating' players.
There is virtually no-one guaranteed a game, maybe Hendo, Sturridge and Coutinho. The rest, no.
We're not that good, and there are no stand-out players who are automatic choices.
Certainly not Lucas.

Rodgers gets ripped for lack of defensive acumen, and apparently Lovren only looked decent because of Wanyama.
Well if Lucas was so good, why can't he do the same for Lovren, or protect the defence better?
Lucas has had one knee injury too many mate, and it's time to let go.

Not one mention of FSG and their lack of systems, poor football knowledge. Mike Gordon taking football decisions ?
Are we having a laugh, how the * Rodgers works with that lot I don't know.
Not one mention of the transfer committee. Who chose the striking options last season ?

Dalglish played in 89 cup final ? I was there and I can't remember seeing that.

Some good points and crack, but. 4/10 effort for me.
Just honest criticism, not trolling or ripping for the sake of it.

{Ed001's Note - ok mate if you didn't like it not an issue you don't have to listen. As for hazy memories, that was all they were, from when I was a kid, as I pointed out. I don't remember any criticism for 'not alienating players'. As for dislike, why would it be logical, even if it was true. It is not a personal thing, I am not interested in that, just in the fact he is not doing his job. No one said Lovren looked good because of Wanyama, you need to syringe your ears and stop making lies up in your head. There is a difference between a system and a player, must have escaped you like it has done your precious Brendan. If you bothered to read anything I had posted about Wanyama, you would know I don't rate him at all. Oh and Lucas does protect the back four, but when Lovren was first in the team and playing crap, your hero didn't pick Lucas. Or did you forget that? As for FSG, we just didn't get on to them, not sure what you expected from a first podcast, but we can't cover everything. As for how does Rodgers work with that lot, he doesn't obviously or they wouldn't have ripped all the club apart and started again in the summer. Maybe if Rodgers actually spent more time working we wouldn't have to take the transfers out of his hands due to the huge pigs ear he made of it. The transfer committee was brought in because of the mess he was making, again that seems to have gone over your head.}

15 Aug 2015 21:04:19
I'm behind the manager, but you've got to respect the owners as many would have booted him out.

Only time will tell.

15 Aug 2015 21:54:41
I agree but could not fully understand the thick Somerset accents

15 Aug 2015 22:21:20
Rodgers is not my hero, nor is he precious, but that's the point ; let's have some to and fro in the future.
The Wanyama thing is in black and white, it'll be in the archives 100%.

Your views on Rodgers have very much set the tone for this site now ; and a lot of the criticism is just baseless.
Do we know what Lucas' numbers were like in pre-season - no. What if he's lagging behind the others ?
Unless you're a peak Gerrard or a Suarez, nobody is guaranteed game time in this side.

I know it was only the first podcast, but the FSG issue has to be on the agenda for the future. By systems I am talking about management and reporting structures, the choice of key personnel and who is responsible for what. The direction of the club ; they seem great at getting in commercial revenue but poor at the bread and butter. FSG have got people on the board of directors and in top positions so the problems at the club have to start there. You can't lay it all at the manager's door. He was a young inexperienced manager thrown in, their choice. And clearly with poor support behind him.
Anyway ed, it's just my opinion and feedback. Hope that the podcasts continue and I'll listen to them.

15 Aug 2015 23:42:10
I don't think the owners have done too many "right things", on the football side since they have been here if i'm honest. Dalglish, Commolli, hiring Rodgers, not sacking Rodgers. A big mess.

16 Aug 2015 03:19:06
What about bailing us out of a dire situation Irish?

{Ed001's Note - they have made mistakes though Davey, I do fully agree on that, the big question is whether this summer was another one or not?

And Juicer, I do agree, but that first podcast was just supposed to be about expectations for the season, it just got a little carried away. The FSG question will require a full podcast I think, there is so much to cover, but it will definitely be a subject for later, maybe during an international break when there is not much else to talk about?}

16 Aug 2015 11:01:57
Wow relax ed. The staff on this site have never been good at taking criticism. So this guy disagrees with You? Leave it. Don't attack the poor guy

{Ed001's Note - who was attacking him? I was disagreeing, or is he only allowed to disagree and not me? Why are people like you so precious? It is people like you that ruin the internet, because you think everyone who disagrees is trying to start a fight. It would be a truly woeful discussion if only one person was allowed to give an opinion. Oh and I was only disagreeing with some of what he said, I would have preferred to get someone on to give the other side of the view, but no one ever actually has any reason to back Rodgers other than he has the job, which is just not going to make for a decent conversation.}

15 Aug 2015 14:39:28
So podcasts up. Good work guys. Really enjoyed it. Of course it would have been better if better looking and younger people like me were on there 😉😊

{Ed001's Note - not sure it is possible to get better looking than me, but I am sure we could easily improve on benny. When he was born the midwife slapped his mother......}

15 Aug 2015 14:51:47
You were teased out with an irn Bru :)

{Ed001's Note - that's a bit harsh, Reet is not that bad.....}

15 Aug 2015 14:53:37
Wait till you see me ed. You'll develop a good looking complex

{Ed001's Note - I already have one of those, it is a chore being this good looking mate. It can be dangerous to all around me when women are literally throwing themselves at your feet as you walk past....}

15 Aug 2015 15:05:58
Benny
You don't sound like the one in your avatar. lols 😎😎

15 Aug 2015 15:08:44
I don't want to brag but I often get into trouble with my girlfriend because girls keep sending me qll these pics of their boobs on whatsapp

{Ed001's Note - I think that is the only reason most women have apps like that, is to send pics of their boobs out.}

15 Aug 2015 15:22:20
You speaking from personal experience ed?

{Ed001's Note - I am saying nothing to that mate. My missus checks this site...}

15 Aug 2015 15:24:56
Someone tell that to all the women on the apps i have.

{Ed001's Note - you obviously just don't have my suave charm and stunning good looks to help you out mate. I heard Reet uses my pics as a profile piccy to attract the women.....}

15 Aug 2015 15:31:19
On the topic of your missus still waiting on the wedding invite 😉😑

{Ed001's Note - you will have to speak to the missus, she is in charge of those. In fact she is just generally in charge.....}

15 Aug 2015 15:45:53
I wouldn't go infront of your missus ed001. I wouldn't want her to leave yoy after seeing me

{Ed001's Note - I wouldn't worry mate, if she has put up with me this long I don't think there is any hope for her!}

15 Aug 2015 15:50:44
Is that better Harry ?

15 Aug 2015 16:06:41
So Benny how much you did you pay that women to stand next to you? 😂 no offense

15 Aug 2015 16:39:57
Sorry but I'm not too technological. Could you do a podcast with live fans opinions and debates similar to a talk show? Me and a lot of fans have a lot to say

{Ed001's Note - not really, the connection issues held up recording that one until the early hours. It just wouldn't be practical. We are going to set up a voice record feature for people to leave opinions, questions or topics to be discussed that we would then feature in future podcasts. That is about all current tech will allow for now.}

15 Aug 2015 18:01:47
Benny

Brilliant. 😄😄😄

15 Aug 2015 18:26:24
Was more expensive than your sister mate :)

15 Aug 2015 19:00:44
Wow bennys gf looks really like my ex.
Really don't want to zoom in incase it's her haha

{Ed001's Note - it's when she looks like your present missus you have to worry.}

15 Aug 2015 19:37:31
She did say that some creepo scouser kept offering her money to take a pic with her 😂

15 Aug 2015 22:54:40
Reet did you listen to the podcast? Scouser in my heart, not in my voice ! Should have a competition to guess where I'm from, ed001 thinks I sound posh, but surely that's anyone south on the m6 lol

16 Aug 2015 02:20:50
Benny you sound kind of Suffolk or Norfolk to me .

16 Aug 2015 03:59:13
Yeah Norfolk, like a very young Alan Partridge

{Ed001's Note - it did feel a lot like talking to Alan Partridge. Obviously benny is not as professional and charismatic, but a close second.....}

15 Aug 2015 14:34:49
Wiwar made a very good point earlier, with regards to Rodgers purchases, but in fairness most managers make mistakes in the market, as ed1 said it how a manager does with the resorces at his disposal that will define him.

15 Aug 2015 13:32:26
Well Southampton finally pay the price for selling Morgan.

Ed01 I saw your comment in UTD page and bang on. Southampton ll struggle without him and they are ripped off in the midfield.

Y did the club who have the habit of buying midfielder never looked him mate?

{Ed001's Note - no idea mate, I have said for years he was the main player there and that losing him would be when they would finally struggle. Clasie is good, but he needs to raise his game a long way to reach Schneiderlin's level. Wenger should have completed the deal for him years ago when he kept trying to buy him.}

15 Aug 2015 13:49:00
It was obvious my pottechino went to Spurs that the player he wanted to take was going to be the main man.

15 Aug 2015 14:43:32
Og
"My Pochettino" ? His wife would certainly say otherwise

15 Aug 2015 16:58:26
Oh dear, I've let slip :/

15 Aug 2015 13:15:35
Opinions?

Should the team be built around Coutinho having a central role?

15 Aug 2015 13:29:49
No, nothing wrong with the vision, Countinho could move next summer if he keeps playing well and we don't win anything either.

15 Aug 2015 13:53:47
But what about this season? He's much more effective when he can get the ball in the middle and has options ahead and to the sides.

15 Aug 2015 14:12:57
Forza has clearly never watched coutinho he's at his best coming from the left its where he scores all his goals from.

15 Aug 2015 14:38:27
He is a roaming player and should set him free in the midfield. Playing him out wide is crap and should be the third man in the midfield three. Countinho plays throug the middle and that's where he is good at.
He is average of occupies the wide area.

15 Aug 2015 14:39:06
Building a team around 1 player is not a good idea unless that player is Diego Maradonna or the team is Real Madrid.

15 Aug 2015 15:23:59
He scores from the side but its not like he is picking the ball up on the wing.

15 Aug 2015 10:44:13
Podcast is on its way guys! ed033 is working on putting it on.
Things we cover, what we expect this season, ilori, brendan, souness and shanks.
Also a little extra on eva and paulo wanchope :)
Go easy on us with your comments haha.

15 Aug 2015 14:26:22
Looking forward to it

15 Aug 2015 09:50:48
Is it just me or does anyone else think that Van Gaal has some voodoo connections? How can one team have so much luck?

15 Aug 2015 13:09:21
United has been sacrificing unicorns since the early 90's. Y'know, like that Dark Lord chap.

15 Aug 2015 14:27:43
You make your own luck in sport

15 Aug 2015 14:28:06
Amerigo that would make a lot of sense. LVG must have known that he could not have survived without a little help from the one whose shirt no would be 666

15 Aug 2015 08:53:46
Hi Eds - hope you are well

read all the posts over the last week and will NOT be getting dragged into the Rodgers debate!

quick question (or 3) if you have time.
Out of all the clubs in Europe which would you say has the best youth to first team set up, ie where do academy players get the best chance to make the first team? Also which club in your opinion has the best management structure? Is it a simple case of potentially seeing and copying that model for us?

{Ed001's Note - it would be a Portugese team, probably Sporting. Best management structure you would have to say Sevilla right now, but that is because they have Monchi, not because of the structure itself.}

15 Aug 2015 18:38:14
Ajax and Lyon do a good job of youth to first team development, in my estimation as well.

{Ed001's Note - Marseille have done well lately too. Good point Ohio, I was talking over a long term though.}

15 Aug 2015 07:08:57
If I may Eds, I'm interested to hear Ron Keague, Oyvids and other BR die-hards whether they agree that:

1. Loaning out Wisdom to then loan in a younger player and from a different league, but then ignoring him and playing a younger midfielder in that right back area, was a cringey shambles

2. Spending £20m on Markovic to then loan out Ibe to Derby County was a waste of money

3. Having no better plan in place than spending £20m on Lambert & Balotelli to 'replace' Suarez was just plain inept (it had long been clear he was going and it would have been a challenge to find 2 other players less suited to the system we had hit some form playing)

15 Aug 2015 07:33:42
Im not getting into the debate on BR, but with regards to point 3:

Lambert wasnt bought to replace Suarez he was always intended to be lower down the pecking order. If you want to say that he replaced someone then it would have been Aspas/ Borini, not Suarez. As for Balotelli, he was very much a laast minute choice with some reports saying not wanted by BR. The club had been targetting other strikers all summer to replace suarez, Sanchez being the main one who we looked odds on to get until Arsenal stepped in. So yes, they did have a better plan, and for a variety of reasons, those better plans failed to come to fruition.

{Ed001's Note - that is the time when you find out how good the manager really is, in times of trouble. When he is forced to manage his resources, rather than being able to buy his way out of trouble.}

15 Aug 2015 09:04:45
Wiwar

I am sorry but what's your problem with Markovic mate?
The only issue I find with the whole deal was money being over pad just like Firmino.
If you play Firmino as RB you would get exactly the results what Markovic had.

15 Aug 2015 09:24:29
That's only partially correct, Ed. If only life and success were so black and white. While I agree that any manager will be asked to show their skill, creativity, resolve and leadership under difficult circumstances, which is definitely the challenge of 90% of the managers from lower divisions and leagues, one of many other skills is the ability to buy the right players to avoid trouble in the first place. Something that Mourinho does well.

It's an interesting debate as to what are the stronger abilities to have considering the press regard Jose as the best manager around rather than the Eddie Howes and others who display different skill sets.

just debating for something to do so please don't take offence as I enjoy and agree with many of your views.

Just a footnote to say that it genuinely saddens me to hear such negative views from some of our fans. Everyone has different views and beliefs so we all see different opportunities, both positive and negative, but after giving us fans the chance to line the streets cheering the team coach on in the hope of landing the title, surely BR deserves the chance to show he can do it again. A lot of 'glass half empty' views out there but let's not assassinate the manager, players and owners before the seasons ever started.

15 Aug 2015 09:57:30
1 when you try something that doesn't work you try something else.

2. Markovic looked first team ready, ibe didn't. Turned out the other way round was true. Stuff happens.

3. There was a clear plan to replace Suarez. Not a lot you can do if the player you want rejects the club though.

{Ed001's Note - so there was only one plan? Considering everyone knows that plans never work out, so you always have to plan for contingencies as well, that should worry you that we were not prepared for our plan to fail. Though personally I see no sign of any planning in our transfers at all.}

15 Aug 2015 10:47:48
Think you need to go back to the actuall time of the decision to decide if it was a good one or not, Lambert was bought before the WC, and I think the plan was to use him the last 10 minutes. Then Suarez bit, and we decided to sell him. TO replace him we tried to get Benteke until he got injuried, we tried Sanchez(Arsenal), Firmino(wanted to play one more year for Hoffenheim), and so on. Last days of the transfer window we could either go for Balotelli or Etoo. I understand the decision to try Balotelli. At the time everyone was happy, but today it is clear it was a bad decision.

For Ibe I think the loan was good for his career, and Markovic is a good player. Maybe a loan for him will do him good, like with Ibe.

Wisdom also got playing time, so not a waste of his talent, but probably would have been better than what had last season. Maybe at the time Flannagan looked like he would be fit, and Glen was second choice. Wisdom and the club then decided that the best would be to loan him out.

{Ed001's Note - it was known Suarez was going, if they were stupid enough to think he would stay then we have a problem with our club being run by imbeciles. As for buys to replace him, it doesn't help when the manager pulls the plug on a deal after a medical is done because he decides he no longer wants that player, so we then end up in a mess rushing around looking for anyone.

The question regarding Ibe is more why bother buying Markovic at all? Ibe was ahead of Sterling in his development, so why was he not just earmarked for that role instead? Again more bad planning from the club as a whole. Not just Rodgers, but the whole club, as there should have been someone above him saying no to the deal and telling him to make use of Ibe.

As for Flanno, it was known he was highly unlikely to be back, they knew there were issues, but again failed to plan and sold Kelly and loaned out Wisdom. Then suddenly realised we still needed a right back and went and got a desperate loan in for a player that was not highly rated by anyone. It was yet another huge error in planning, because they ended up taking Manquillo on loan for two years, while Wisdom was only sent out on loan for one, so it was not needed.}

15 Aug 2015 10:55:24
Hello EG, I have no problem at all with Markovic as he didn't decide how much the club paid for him etc. It was just another example of BRs mismanagement of promising young players already at his disposal.

15 Aug 2015 10:57:35
slowdog76, by your measure BR did a good job then replacing Aspas/Borini with Lambert because he hardly plaid any of them.

15 Aug 2015 11:54:11
Forget this plan and contingency for a min.

For a manger who relies so much on individual brilliance, is nearly impossible to find another Suarez and that's the bottom line.

BR has and will never have any plan and the recent acquisitions of attack minded players shows if.
From past two season he is desperate trying to replace Suarez and his goals through various players.

Someone has to wake him up there is no another Suarez and need another plan.

15 Aug 2015 12:09:05
Well said Ed001 .

15 Aug 2015 12:52:19
Only a crisis will clear the nonsense from the club.

15 Aug 2015 13:03:59
What you on about wiwar? I didn't express an opinion on the subject, merely corrected the ops ascertations. Stop putting words in my mouth

15 Aug 2015 14:33:49
It's true that the transfer committee basically only consists of Rodgers. There is no-one else involved.
He coaches all the players, does all the scouting, negotiates all the transfer fees, negotiates all the contracts and decides on his own, with no involvement from any of the youth/reserve staff, which young players to send out on loan.

It is also true that I only support Brendan Rodgers and when he leaves LFC I will probably go and support whichever team he decides to manage next.

15 Aug 2015 19:05:19
I am not arguing that last season was a good transfer window, just saying Lambert was a good decision at the time, and they would probably to the same with the same information they had at the time. Balowas a panic buy, and this year we have learned from that. We finish the transfers early, and the discussion is now how to get rid of players. That is probably the problem with buying early, but much better than getting stuck with panic buys.

Markovic was highly rated by the club, and they were extremely happy when we signed him. Apparently celebrating that we managed to get him in front of the rest of the top clubs in Europe. Many highly rated football scouts and reporters said he was one of the best young players in the world. Bad scouting some will say, but I still think he can be really good.

Final point is that I wanted a new manager at the end of last season. Mostly because we did the same in game after game, and even I could tell that the tactics didn't work. The reason I now want to give Brendan a chance is that it seems like he knew what went wrong last season, and they have adjusted and tried to correct it over the summer. This season he has the players he wanted, staff, and tactics. I think therefore he should get a chance replicating two seasons ago were we played the best football we have done for years.

15 Aug 2015 19:13:10
Ed has posted the same thing he just posted now many. Times before so I don't know why he even bothers to join in this debate vs the BR acolytes because they like their idol, have an excuse for everything and will do anything even make up scenarios, to absorb him of blame. Ron, BR is part of the commitee and has the final say on who gets signed and who doesn't hence, he stopped the Remy deal after the medical but suddenly, couldn't stop the Balo deal, right? Nonsense! Face it bro, your BFF is a failure and the facts bear that out so you are making urself look desperate with every dumb excuse you make for him.

15 Aug 2015 06:38:49
Hey Guys.

I just wanted to say that not all of us BR backers want to distance themselves from fans who want him gone. I understand the reasons you want him gone. Maybe it's blind faith, but there is something there that tells me that we can do good if we stick with him for a while.

Let's just hope whatever the outcome, we get back in the top 4, play some good football and hopefully win a cup.

YNWA.

15 Aug 2015 07:36:45
I finally wanted rid at the end of last season. But it was decided he stays so he gets my support. Its a new season, its a new opportunity. If he fails, then so be it, but I would much rather he succeeds.

15 Aug 2015 09:35:58
I would love him to succeed as that means the club will be successful, however the evidence suggests that he's inept and I worry for the club

15 Aug 2015 16:17:04
I hope he has learnt from our dismal champions league effort last season. Next season if we are in it which I think we will be, we will have to show a big improvement. We have two more transfer windows to further improve the squad, so by this time next year we could, and should be ready to challenge for the champions league. i'm sure the owners expect this as well.

15 Aug 2015 19:28:24
Spot on, Hendo!

15 Aug 2015 01:41:19
Eds quick question. Had we completed a deal for Kovacic earlier in the summer would we still have gone in for Firmino?

{Ed002's Note - They are two entirely different players.}