Liverpool Banter Archive August 15 2017

15 Aug 2017 23:26:07
Some positives to take into saturdays game. one being wilf zaha is apparently injured and out for a number of weeks. might have a little less to do defensively haha.

16 Aug 2017 04:46:58
At least you reflect the mentality of a LFC fan that has no faith in his own team (which is understandable) . Relying on flashy players like Zaha getting injured to have a better chance of beating teams like Palace shows how far we are off the top clubs.

15 Aug 2017 23:10:49
!

Clyne to put in a transfer request after TAA performancies! what a player his touch is sublime that run of his was naughty

BIG THINGS!

15 Aug 2017 23:57:30
Apart from his boo boo he was spot on.

15 Aug 2017 22:57:39
Glad we got the win, but 2-0 looks a lot tastier! TAA take a bow son, can only get better, his passing is unreal for an 18 year old right back?
Like Salah a lot, his finishing is off but it's early days!
Anyone think it may be better switching him and mane over?
Moreno is improving for me, gets stick still, but his attacking is better, less headless and covered a few times. Madness closing the goalie down, just what he's prone too - I'm scared the more confidence he gets the more he will do it.
Hendo looks a little unfit, but made some good tackles.
Lovren and matip still give me the shakes, I'm hoping they just need a bit of time to get up to speed, for me, lovren looks like he wants it more.
Eds I had to create a new account as my old one wasn't working and couldn't post - I assume everything was okay on your end?

15 Aug 2017 23:35:08
He'd definitely be better switching,

On the right he cuts in all the time.

15 Aug 2017 22:49:24
Moreno was shocking. Hendon looks unfit. Lovern just not good enough.

15 Aug 2017 23:01:29
Yet we won!

15 Aug 2017 23:01:49
As you're a negative Norah I'll say, TAA looks phenomenal.

15 Aug 2017 22:40:52
But good game tonight lads well done.

15 Aug 2017 22:39:27
Tell you what lovren needs to be replaced, we need to find someone that can command a back four and get rid of that lovren bloody rubbish.
Plus are wingers don't get back so time after time our fullbacks are left exposed.
Yes Moreno isn't the best but with no help, no cover he's going to look bad.

15 Aug 2017 23:10:31
Juju Moreno was casing down their goalie and they went down and got a penalty, he is a disaster and doesn't seem to have the capacity to learn from his mistakes.

15 Aug 2017 23:50:46
The Kop seemed to like him Port red.

You doubting the thousands who chanted his name?

The thousands who sat directly behind him every week?

Ok, so they also chanted Garcia and Titi Camara names, but gou know what I mean😉.

15 Aug 2017 22:20:44
Hey lads. got the win thank god but also had my doctor on stand by incase we lost the lead. two games in and the defence looks worst than last year already.? . we were also lost in midfield its puzzling looking at players just flying through our midfield. im still tryin to figure out what hendo brings to the team much prefer can in the center. we got the win doh most importantly.

15 Aug 2017 22:32:01
I'm hoping hendo was abit quiet cause of his injury looked abit lost. Would still have him playing for us cause he's a grafter and can change a game.

{Ed025's Note - if you want a big hole digging in your garden then a grafter is what you need...playing footy you need quality mate..

15 Aug 2017 22:33:08
Every time there's a free kick or corner to the other team I'm a nervous reck that just says it all about our defence right now and for Henderson he looks way off the pace right now, whether he's not match fit yet I don't know but he's needs to improve.

15 Aug 2017 22:35:35
Hoffenhiem have not lost at home in 16 months. It was a great result.

15 Aug 2017 22:38:15
Hendo is not quite fit yet after a long lay off. When he is he brings positional sense, a calm head, anticipation, an eye for a pass, keeping possession.
He often halts opponents attacks just by being in the right place at the right time. It goes unnoticed sometimes maybe. For me he's better than Can in that role. And we are a lesser team when Hendo is out.

15 Aug 2017 22:44:59
R u following me ed025 👍.

{Ed025's Note - not yet but im considering it mate..

15 Aug 2017 22:19:05
Why are we playing such a high line at free kicks? It is baffling to say the least. Ed001/ Ed025 got any ideas as to why we do this cuz we leave so much space where the attackers can attack the ball.

{Ed025's Note - its down to poor coaching for me SW, i dont like the zonal marking malarkey at all and most of the time they dont look like a unit mate..

15 Aug 2017 22:36:02
Also why have every player in the box defending surly if say firmino/ mane/ salah if one or two was waiting on the half way line to recieve the ball if we clear it the oposition will have to defend that which takes players out of the box and give an option when we defend set pieces we panic because its repeatedly played in because we have no body to clear to.

15 Aug 2017 23:26:20
Zonal marking is useless you can in theory navigate around all the defending side as when you pass each one they ignore you then. With Liverpool there's not even a 'eh dejan watch him' it's literally every Liverpool man trying to defend against he whole opposing team, ts weird.

15 Aug 2017 22:05:44
Pleased with the win in the end. We could've had a few more goals but at 1-0 up I always thought we were going to concede.

We really need to change the way we defend. It doesn't matter if you can score goals when you're playing against the big guns if you can't defend then we will suffer defeat.

First team to beat hoffenheim at home since their 2015/ 16 campaign so was a difficult place to go and win.

15 Aug 2017 21:53:00
Very very happy with the result.
Not impressed by our 2 CBs.
The most vocal Matip was all night was when he blamed TAA for not playing the whistle for their goal.
Both he and Lovren played so high all game and were susceptible to long balls all night, it's probably under team instructions but was only a matter of time before they paid off - yes TAA should have played the whistle but if Matip at 6 foot 5 was slightly deeper he'd win that header all day surely. However, great great result.

15 Aug 2017 22:10:38
Also moreno looked back to his usual self again, don’t think he knew where he was. And whenever he won a header he always seemed to head it towards the center of the pitch instead of clearing it wide 😓

We need to stop the high line when defending free kicks too it’s stupid. Running back against goal is asking for it xD

But on a positive set piece note, we seemed to do 50/ 50 zonal/ man marking instead of 100% zonal xD

Still a great result, first team to beat them at their home ground since the 15/ 16 season 😃.

15 Aug 2017 22:17:52
lovren and matip as a centre back partnership is an absolute shambles unless we can get a centre back in this transfer window and we've only got KLAVEN and gomez to come in think we could really struggle. and this zonal marking does my head in for Godsake mark your man.

15 Aug 2017 22:19:27
We couldn't cope with their diagonal long balls either, especially in the first half, pulling our midfield out of position, enabling lots of space for their runners to expose.

15 Aug 2017 22:19:40
Agreed.
Yep high line for free kicks is asking for trouble.
All it takes is a decent whipped ball and then just a touch from an attacker or defensive deflection and you're in trouble.
They're a good side though and should also be in the group phase so I am just delighted to win away. Won't be easy at home either but we've given ourselves a great chance now so well done the lads!

15 Aug 2017 22:32:10
I lost count of how many times Lovren got nutmeged! Matip is good on the ball but just a long bendy stick that gets bullied the rest of the time. Moreno doing his own personal bleep test on the left hand side didn't help either.
Other than that 😀
Great result that puts us in a solid position for the second leg. TAA showed extreme promise today, and we were again able to create many chances. If we don't manage to get any signings that will improve the first 11 then at least the youngsters will get a decent amount of game time this season see what they're really made of.

15 Aug 2017 22:38:55
Christ lads you can't criticise the players. Stand by for the moaning about the moaners posts.

15 Aug 2017 21:50:22
Have to say. Baumann looks like a great keeper! If he were ever to sell Karius back to Germany, I would go for Baumann. His decision timing was excellent when coming for crosses.

15 Aug 2017 21:59:12
I'm sure Hoffenheim must be thinking the same about Mignolet lol.
He saved us tonight, some top saves.

15 Aug 2017 21:59:41
Your not wrong there Benny he looked great.
But nobody can deny Simon Migs was absolutely Fantastic tonight.

15 Aug 2017 22:04:18
Taa getting that experience will really help the lad. Pleased for migs Tonight.

15 Aug 2017 22:18:34
MIGs wasn’t fantastic IMO shots he saved where straight at him, heck he could have held onto that penalty it was such a weak attempt.

The goal they scored which was ruled offside too, he got beat at his near post with such ease (he didn’t stop because of the whistle he did try yo make a "save")

15 Aug 2017 22:25:07
Mignolet needed a good performance and he gave it.

15 Aug 2017 22:49:07
Sorry but Mingo wasn't excellent. He just made saves that were straight at him.

15 Aug 2017 22:56:38
Red Phil, he was a mile offside, our defenders stopped and so did Migs.
Nobody is pretending to be Migs favourite fan but Just accept a good performance from a Liverpool player tonight who saved a penny and probably our Champions League place.

15 Aug 2017 23:16:32
Red_Phil, couldn't agree more, the offside goal was bad keeping he should be going for shots like that with his feet.

15 Aug 2017 21:46:00
Hey eds, been reading that you still think 2 or 3 are still wanted in this window.

Now that we are two weeks away from it closing on us, do you think the negotiations are being ;
1. rushed?
2. kept behind closed doors entirely as opposed to the serial leaks that happen with lfc in general.

{Ed002's Note - I really don't have any thoughts about it but the club will need to get a move on.}

15 Aug 2017 21:39:32
Ed 001, could you give us your thought on today's game?

{Ed001's Note - I will do a match review tomorrow mate.}

15 Aug 2017 21:50:47
Bloody lucky I think!

15 Aug 2017 22:07:34
Nice one. Always lookforward to them.

15 Aug 2017 22:03:21
Thanks Ed 001! i'll be reading it an perhaps commenting too, if i've some time.

{Ed001's Note - cheers mate, I always post them on out FNV site, I will be doing it as soon as I have caught up on all the posts waiting.}

15 Aug 2017 21:41:20
Pleased we've come away with the win there and with 2 away goals but yet again we've failed to kill the game off and yet again we gave them the opportunity to get into the game in the final moments which they should have with that header. It's really starting to frustrate me how time and time again we can't take our chances in vital times with numerous opportunities to put the game to bed.

15 Aug 2017 21:29:35
Eds and reds,
Just a quick one, why are we playing Hoffrnheim?
They finished 15th last season and didn't win the German Cup (nor runners up) how have they got into the Champions League qualification stage?

{Ed002's Note - They came fourth.}

15 Aug 2017 21:37:29
🤦🏼‍♂️.

15 Aug 2017 21:48:11
One too many Shandy's Mr. C?

15 Aug 2017 21:43:31
Me: I really don't want to waste the eds time

Inner me: Mr. c.

15 Aug 2017 21:54:44
Its a smokescreen!

15 Aug 2017 22:42:39
They finished 15th season before last mate.

{Ed002's Note - Ok.}

16 Aug 2017 00:02:52
HAhaha, embarrassing, sorry Ed.

15 Aug 2017 21:15:32
Send on Solanke!

15 Aug 2017 21:27:41
Here he comes.

15 Aug 2017 20:41:33
So Ojo joining Fulham on season long loan, maybe a step to building bridges with them after the whole Dempsey embarrassment. Never know that may be a swap deal with sessegnon next season if ojo impresses.

Indifferent performance so far tonight but what a goal. Hopefully we can tighten up a bit at back and pinch another on the break.

Cheers.

15 Aug 2017 20:38:37
Nothing explosive from Liverpool but we are in control of the match.

TAA has just sent massive shivers down Clyne's spine. TAA has shown what we require from a RB. IMPACT. What a goal son and I will be pissed if TAA gets dropped for Clyne when TAA is delivering what a RB should be doing.

Mignolet has a predator instinct. Read the strike and saved the penalty.

Overall I enjoyed the shape of our performance. Nothing spectacular.

Let's just call it effective :-)

15 Aug 2017 20:53:31
Even taking out the goal, Trent has really highlighted Clyne's shortcomings in the last game and a half.

Everything Trent does is positive. He gets the ball, the head is up straight away he looks to go forward with it, either himself, or by playing in a team-mate. He gets it, he thinks "can I get a cross in? " "Have I space to move into? " "Can I pick out a diagnol run around the box? " "Can I get it down the side of the defender for Salah? ".

Clyne's a decent enough footballer technically, but his approach is safe and negative. He gets the ball, he stops, and he goes sideways or backwards nearly every time. Strangles our play. Trent only goes sideways or backwards if he has to.

There is no way Clyne should be restored as first choice unless he improves a lot when covering games Trent is rested in.

15 Aug 2017 20:36:35
That Brazilian lad Coutinho would really suit that AM role behind the front 3. 😭😭😭.

15 Aug 2017 20:45:33
Forgot he existed when TAA whipped that free kick in mate.

15 Aug 2017 20:49:22
Who he play for? 🙄🙄🤔🙃👍.

15 Aug 2017 20:24:01
Any ideas for a TAA chant?!

15 Aug 2017 20:38:27
Looks like we've found a new free kick expert.
Great goal TAA 👍🏼.

15 Aug 2017 20:44:11
"I taste just like ice cream
B*tch I am so icy
Heart cold like an ice queen
That's why they don't like me
Lackin', that's unlikely
I'm ridin' with pipes and
Smokin' on some good gas
Girl just come and try this
Catch me in the club b*tch
See me poppin' bottles
He saw me on IG, thought I was a model
Your girlfriend, she swallow
I'm loadin' these hollows
She like takin' footballs
Call that b*tch Hey Arnold"

Hey Arnold by Rico Nasty 😂.

15 Aug 2017 20:55:41
Why do you even know the lyrics to a Rico Nasty song, MK? Diva at heart, I see.

15 Aug 2017 21:13:21
I've always wanted there to be a TAA song based on Trans Europe Express by Kraftwerk, it would probably be the least catchy chant ever though haha.

15 Aug 2017 20:22:10
New free kick taker in TAA?
What a way to make your CL debut at 18.

15 Aug 2017 20:17:40
TAA is playing with such confidence. Unlucky Clyne, the kid is better. going to be good cm one day. Stevie G started at RB. Moreno great going forward but wobbly at lb. Thought salah should have buried his chance but promising signs. I think we have enough players. We have a great bench too. Anyone else is just gravy. Obviously we need PC replacement just for numbers. Not necessarily a direct replacement. I was saying salah is coutinio replacement weeks ago. And I think salah with score more than 14 and assist more than 7.

15 Aug 2017 20:25:57
Moreno has looked awful.

15 Aug 2017 20:37:54
Moreno is a mistake waiting to happen. Let's hope he can calm himself down a bit and try use his braun8.

15 Aug 2017 20:38:32
I suspect TAA would make a decent fist of playing anywhere on the pitch. Just a naturally good footballer.

15 Aug 2017 20:08:51
Hi Eds.

First time post, love this site, I spend as much time here as the wife does on Facebook (which is saying something) .

I might be dreaming but. If Couts goes (which I hope he doesn't), would we seriously be in for getting Draxler?

I like the player and with Neymar there now he might want to move as it's a threat to his position.

Thanks Eds.

{Ed002's Note - No, Draxler will not be moving to Liverpool unless Mane were to leave, and even then they would prefer their first choice. So I think you can forget him.}

15 Aug 2017 19:45:23
Two games in this European tie, so no need to go hung ho form the off imo.

Keep the press, not too high and keep defensively tight. Let's hit our opposition on the break for a change.

On another note, hopefully we our bridges back with Fulham again by loaning them Ojo.

15 Aug 2017 19:13:10
Hi ed,
Is Robertson injured can't see him in squad for match day.

Thanks.

{Ed002's Note - RTP.}

15 Aug 2017 19:17:37
He was a panic buy, when klopp realised we couldn't attract a top left back, now he's seen him in training and knows he's no better than Milner or moreno!

{Ed001's Note - or it could just be that he is not fit enough yet.}

15 Aug 2017 19:38:48
Did he travel? isn't his wife expecting?

15 Aug 2017 18:38:26
Robertson not included in the squad again lol other than that same team again. Massive game come on🔴.

15 Aug 2017 18:42:42
Unchanged!

15 Aug 2017 18:45:41
Not a good start to Robertsons LFC career. I understand bedding him in but he can't even make the squad. What does that say.

15 Aug 2017 18:50:46
Just goes to show he definitely wasn't Klopp's first choice Left back option in the market.

15 Aug 2017 18:54:13
It says he wasn't the one Klopp wanted and is not preferred over Milner. I fail to understand why the board buys players who is not wanted by the manager!

15 Aug 2017 18:54:38
How bout waste of money?

15 Aug 2017 18:56:48
Klavan made the substitute bench.

That tells you exactly what Klopp actually thinks of Robertson.

Would rather pick 2 centre backs, one his personal favourite, for the bench then put Robertson there. Hopefully, Klopp is just helping the lad settle and has him in mind for future games. Otherwise, Robertson is going to have a serious battle on his hands. If Moreno, after one good game in pre-season can make it into the first team, after an entire year of being the second choice to a veteran midfielder playing in his position, then there is still hope for him.

15 Aug 2017 19:04:51
I think Robertsons wife is close to giving birth lads that's why he has been left out of the squad. Did he even travel?

15 Aug 2017 19:05:54
Does make you wonder why they waste millions Like that?
Could've just give me the money and I'd have spent it on better things
I. E. beer.

15 Aug 2017 19:09:29
Or possibly not throwing him in like he did with Karius. He only came in a few weeks before season started answer a lot of travelling during that time so maybe wants him up to speed in training and the system.

15 Aug 2017 19:10:14
Robertson's wife is expecting.

15 Aug 2017 19:12:45
we have done it for years fowler.

15 Aug 2017 19:23:58
Pretty sure he travelled with the squad.

15 Aug 2017 19:34:49
Come on dudes. We are barely two games into the season and i see people calling Robertson a waste of money already - telling me that he wasn't Klopps choice etc. etc.

What is wrong what some of you?

15 Aug 2017 19:37:34
I bet if Robertson played tonight and had a howler of a match he will be crucified by our lovely fans.

He is not in the squad for tonight. Get over it already.

15 Aug 2017 20:32:54
i have to say i agree lavije, the so called 'supporters' above have obviously made their mind up on another liverpool signing before he's even kicked a ball for us. it is kind of embarrassing. i wonder, if the lad made his debut from the bench at anfield would you boo him? try getting behind your team for a change, enjoy the ups and downs that come with your chosen team. if its so important for you to be the supporter of a team that wins the league every year, simple solution, change teams.

15 Aug 2017 20:48:28
Semi by the sea, maybe we are the ones who ought to change team? If only we could. But what's going on above in this thread is pretty typical and nothing short of embarrasing. A minority of spoiled bull horns i hope.

15 Aug 2017 18:07:23
Too many doom mongers at the moment along with fans getting their panties twisted.

As Ed001 and Ed002 have suggested, they expect more signing to happen. Nothing is guaranteed though.

Plus drawing our opening match is not the end of the world.

Just breathe people otherwise you may loose too many brain cells.

15 Aug 2017 18:12:23
It's not the fact that we drew but the flaccid way that we conceded goals. Nothing has changed from last year.

15 Aug 2017 18:46:19
People are allowed their own opinions Max.

15 Aug 2017 20:34:50
true, but when you have some posters leaving four, five or more messages a day pretty much saying the same thing it becomes a bore and far from constructive.

15 Aug 2017 18:01:54
We should just sell courts first as last get the best deal for him that we can. Hendo has had to try and be politically correct with the media about the situation this week and you can tell klopp is proper fed up with the situation from his demeanor with the media. Sell him get the cash in and if our scouts are earning their wage we should at least be able to sign 2 or 3 players with the couts o money that will either improve the squad or stabilize it. Fed up of hearing the names van dijk, keita and coutihno this summer. hoping for a solid away European performance tonight then a proper European an field night in a fortnight when I'm lucky enough to be there in person! YNWA.

15 Aug 2017 16:56:25
Good to see the loan deal agreed with Fulham. Great move for the kid to get valuable game time and hopefully will go a long way towards building bridges with a club who we have pi$$ed off in the past.
Do any of the Ed's think this could be a sweetner in a possible deal for Sessengnon in the future following Spurs denial that they have bid for him?

{Ed002's Note - No.}

15 Aug 2017 17:27:37
Spurs are going to offer them a bucket load of cash for him. He's not coming to us.

15 Aug 2017 17:26:45
Shame!

Do you think Sessengnon will end up at Spurs despite them denying making a £25m bid for him?

{Ed002's Note - Not this season.}

15 Aug 2017 18:08:33
Thanks for the reply Ed002, keep up the good (even if depressing) news.

15 Aug 2017 18:18:50
At the price I've seen sessengon quoted at today for spurs I'm glad he told us he wasn't interested. good p! ayer with a lot of potential but far to expensive for an unproven champio ship youngster.

15 Aug 2017 16:09:40
Eds, Ladies and gents. What will signify a good season for us? How much progression are we expecting? For me top 4 is a minimum as CL football should be our minimum target. Would we be happy with a cup, but finish lower than 4 th in the league? Unless we win the CL then anything less than 4th in the league is regression from last season in my eyes. Interesting to see everyone's thoughts. YNWA.

15 Aug 2017 16:18:19
With the squad we have and the other teams around us spending some serious money (Spurs excluded at the moment), the likelyhood of losing Coutinho, then i think it would be a minor Klopp miracle to get top 4 again. I can only hope that maybe Spurs don't settle at Wembley. They were awful there last year in the CL, which is the only grain of hope. So, top 4, qualify for the group stages of the CL and a trophy would be amazing but probably unrealistic if im honest.

15 Aug 2017 16:30:34
The league is harder and harder so id say top 4 finish and the knockout stage of the CL.

15 Aug 2017 16:32:14
top 4 and a trophy for me, also a good showing in Europe, sadly with our defence I have ruled out winning the title.

15 Aug 2017 16:35:51
As you said mate. If we finish outside the top four JK's job has to be under serious threat. As for a cup yes of course it would be great but I'd be more happy with a guaranteed top four finish.

15 Aug 2017 16:39:27
minimum top 3 with a trophy. regardless of whatever you think about the squad, it is klopps 3rd season.

15 Aug 2017 16:52:19
Top 4 and a knockout stages is what we would all want.

What we will probably get is knocked out in the groups and a messy scrap with Arsenal Chelsea and Spurs for 4th.

15 Aug 2017 17:07:04
Unfortunately with thise around us improving and us not strengthening a couple of key areas and possibly losing our best player, I see top 4 being a hell of an achievement and let's be honest being consistently in the Champs League will go a long way to persuading players to sign for us in the future, providing we learn how to behave properly and act appropriately to get them done!

15 Aug 2017 17:39:22
Win the league, we can do it!

15 Aug 2017 17:47:23
A good showings Europe with Klavan and Lovren? God helps us!

15 Aug 2017 17:51:09
We need to win these two legs before we even get into the CL.

15 Aug 2017 15:42:56
Ed001 if your about mate. I was always a great believer in that if a player wants to go then get the best price that you can wish him all the best and then move on to his replacement. But what I don't see is what the point is of keeping PC for one more season! Weather he goes this or next season either way he's gone so why wait? Even more so after handing in his TR. So tell me why keep him when the player wants to go?

{Ed001's Note - because we had not planned properly and have nothing in place to cope with him leaving yet.}

15 Aug 2017 16:29:53
Even though they knew that the interest was there from Barcelona since last season? Yeah that really is bad planning mate.
Anyway Ed mate a good result tonight should really help you with your category A man flu.

15 Aug 2017 15:16:49
If we do lose Coutinho, who realistically would we look at? Most clubs seem to be very confident of keeping their key players this summer. With 2 weeks till the window shuts how likely is it we will lose him and not find a replacement?

{Ed002's Note - RTP.}

15 Aug 2017 15:10:58
Have we considered Costa at all, even on loan? I know he's a nightmare but, if Coutinho leaves he really wouldn't be a bad addition.

{Ed002's Note - Of course not.}

15 Aug 2017 15:35:28
Why? Haven't you had enough of Suarez-type headcases/ nutjobs?

15 Aug 2017 15:48:47
Yeah, I'm sure Chelsea would be over the moon to loan us a striker who will make us stronger this season instead of selling him.

15 Aug 2017 14:19:36
The spine of our team just isn't good enough.

15 Aug 2017 14:40:25
Thats why Ancelotti wouldn't take us over. Smart man.

15 Aug 2017 14:52:21
We have spend considerable amount of money to make it right. Can't blame the owners here. Just that we spend on Klavan and Lovren!

15 Aug 2017 15:03:47
Klopps net spend is 25 mill.

15 Aug 2017 15:45:11
And what has Ancelloti achieved at Bayern, exactly? By the way, winning the Bundesliga does not count.

15 Aug 2017 15:54:58
Haha bingo red. A league title doesn't count in which world.

15 Aug 2017 16:36:45
Jay, in the world of a one-league team where the one team (Bayern) weakens the competition by buying their best players hence, there is no competition really.

Again, winning the German title for Bayern is just like Celtic winning the Scottish league or Juve winning the Serie A. It does not matter nor does it count.

15 Aug 2017 16:54:45
So in that case Hoffenheim should be a walkover tonight. What with them coming from a one league team.

15 Aug 2017 14:10:07
Not transfres news lol though fifa 18 our liverpool team will have real faces this year player faces added our arnold klaven karius matip ojo woodburn gruijc looking forward to fifa 18 with our new signings too sofar salah solanke Robertson coming out sep 29th
Ynwa.

15 Aug 2017 14:42:30
Yeah its great to see us win the league. Then I turn off my PlayStation.

15 Aug 2017 15:15:51
I wouldn't know how to turn one on.

15 Aug 2017 13:35:29
Afternoon Ed002,
..............

Cheers in advance.

{Ed002's Note - It is not a matter for discussion.}

15 Aug 2017 14:51:03
Yep that's fair enough, Cheers mate.

15 Aug 2017 13:19:06
Sheyi ojo is off to Fulham on loan. Good luck to the lad could be a big year for him is he can find some form and regular first team action. Hopefully this will also help heal some of our wounds with Fulham.

15 Aug 2017 14:14:46
Spurs have apparently had a 25 mill bid turned down for Sessengon. Could this be us trying to build bridges for a bid next season. Robertson is a 1 year stop gap.

{Ed002's Note - No.}

15 Aug 2017 12:39:12
Been following for years, first time poster.

Although unlikely, do we have interest in Aubameyang?

I've heard that Aubameyang and Klopp don't get along but with Coutinho more than likely to leave, one idea maybe to move Firmino into Coutinho's role and splash out on Auba. We will certainly have the money for him and i believe he is actually available.

Not an ideal situation but most of here would be happy if we had someone like him up top.

Then we can hope for 1 CB + Midfielder and this transfer window may not look as bad as it does right now.

One can hope atleast lol.

15 Aug 2017 13:06:18
When Chelsea opt for Morata over Aubameyang, you've got to question why 🤔
It's a strange one but I think it might be his attitude.

15 Aug 2017 13:19:17
He's been discussed at length the whole window. Isn't happening.

15 Aug 2017 13:19:17
Zuum exactly what I've been saying.

Firminho can fill most off the gap left by coutinho but I think an out and out striker will add so much more to our squad.

Sturridge is never fit and unfortunately I think he will never discover his form off 3 Yeats ago.

Is play solanke ahead of origi but solanke won't hold are line at present.

15 Aug 2017 13:34:08
A striker is not coming in, end of. Also, this idea that Firmino can play the no. 10 role is a false dawn. He does not have the vision, creativity and decision-making ability at the level needed to play the no. 10 role which is why Klopp has never played him there. During a game while chasing the score? Maybe.

15 Aug 2017 14:10:31
Bingo it's people having an opinion, majority of players mentioned on here are never going to play for our club.

Firminho for me is not an out and out striker and maybe not a number 10. I think it would be easier to bring a striker in than a coutinho replacement on such short notice.

See how firminho gets on this season then sort it out next summer if needed.

15 Aug 2017 14:16:08
There we go. Bingo has spoken.

15 Aug 2017 16:51:36
I know I'm somewhat of a pedant but, its FIRMINO not Firminho or Firminio. FIRMINO. Not all Brazilians have the 'y' sound at the end of their name. Just think Liverpool fans of all people should know this.

15 Aug 2017 17:20:23
Bobby has had 1 full season in the Prem and I fully expect him to be better this year. To say that he doesn't have the vision or decision making ability is pure nonsense. Coutinho was hardly the player he is now in his first season with us.
He played off the striker in Hoffenheim and was very good at it hence why he caught our attention and I firmly believe that we would be a better team with an out and out striker with him in behind rather than him playing up front.
Yes I'd obviously have Coutinho over Firmino in the no10 position but let's face it, Coutinho is off and playing Firmino there is hardly going to be a disaster.
Personally feel there are more pressing issues at the club like the organisation and training (or lack of) of the defence. We didn't play well in Saturday but still managed 3 goals but conceded 3 because of amateur time defending which has been the case for since Steve Clarke left.
Does anyone know who is or if we even have a defensive coach?

15 Aug 2017 12:21:38
Hi,

One for Ed02 if possible, the following quotes from Ralf Rangnick today .

There were two offers from Liverpool and in between times also a telephone call between the clubs. But not between me and Klopp"

"For us, it was always clear that we would not give Naby Keita. That is why there was no direct contact. Every club that has sporting ambitious would have done the same as we did.

"But we must weigh it up. If we let Keita go for €70-80m this year, what more would that bring us compared to the sum we would get next year. "

What are tour thoughts, if any, regarding this?

Thanks for your time, as always.

{Ed002's Note - What he is saying is that they don't know what they will get for him next season.}

15 Aug 2017 12:34:29
so ed002, I know we don't talk money but is that rumoured fixed £48m price in 2018 not really in Keita's contract?

{Ed002's Note - Any German "release clause" is of no significance to Liverpool. I have no idea what his contract says.}

15 Aug 2017 12:41:12
And that there was no direct contact or "tapping up" from klopp with the player.

15 Aug 2017 13:23:08
You're right Jezza, there was nothing direct to the player as we have illegally done in other well publicised cases.

But there was a deliberate attempt to unsettle the player and talk about him to the media hoping to entice him into forcing a move.

Just as morally reprehensible in my view.

15 Aug 2017 13:37:13
It may just be a case that RBL are rethinking the whole thing and saying, "should we just take the 75m now cos he may not be worth 75 m next season? Or just ride with it? " They may be just signaling that they may have to cash in now, which may explain why Macca says Keita is house-hunting in Liverpool.

15 Aug 2017 14:08:41
Ed how do u know if it's just for Germany if u don't no his contract.

{Ed002's Note - You don't understand about the various clauses. I have explained it on multiple occasions.}

15 Aug 2017 15:55:58
Cream, Firmino had a release clause of 14m at Hoffenhiem. We signed him for 29m excluding add-ons. Why did that happen? His release clause only applied to German teams, not to others. I believe this is the case with Keita.

15 Aug 2017 12:12:48
Same old same old
Out muscled by other teams for players
If we are going for them in first place
Not ad dressing our weakness
Same system under Rodgers score more goals then you let in
Very bleak future.

15 Aug 2017 12:30:02
Maybe you should ring this number mate 116 123.

15 Aug 2017 15:57:55
Need a hug, OP?

15 Aug 2017 12:08:28
Look our transfer window to now seems to be a mess.
But add the 2 who's names shall not be mentioned and not so bad. 3 players brought in who improve our first 11 and even if couts leaves I think with those 2 we look stronger. (obvs would prefer he stays)

It could be A LOT worse. we could be utd fans. No matter if we got relegated and they won CL I'd still wouldt swap lfc. the greatest club in world with the greatest fans in the world.

Cheers yourself with a game me and my boys play. it's called. I'd rather . than be a utd fan.

15 Aug 2017 12:21:44
Get off my name (get off my plane) 😂
Anyway if we signed the 2 who can be named now. wouldn't that make 4 signings? Do people forget we have bought 2 players? Although I suppose it would be 3 since Robertson doesn't seem to have wiggled his way into the team o. O.

15 Aug 2017 12:01:42
Our pressing need is for a top class centre half with leadership qualities and a top class goalkeeper.

It doesn't matter how good our forward line is if we keep leaking easy goals. There is no command in the penalty area.

15 Aug 2017 11:55:14
Why are people adamant that we should let Coutinho leave to let him chase his dreams nut also seem resigned to the fact we can't get our 2 main targets because their clubs are holding firm. What's the difference between our situation and theirs?

I don't feel sorry for Coutinho, he's earning millions a year, and it was his decision to sign a contract with no release clause. I don't see why we should bow down to Barcelona and let them take our best player - again. It would be a gamble whoever we replaced him with and one we should have to take, at least for another year, he's going to hold his value if not increase it.

Keep hold and he'll get over it. I'd put money on him being our best player again this season if he's still around.

{Ed002's Note - The difference is enormous.}

15 Aug 2017 12:09:58
Coutinho has been courting Barcelona for about a year.
VVD and Keita have been illegally approached and unsettled by our club.

Do you see the difference?

15 Aug 2017 12:17:11
Sorry ED002 but the only difference between Keita to LFC and Coutinho to Barcelona is a transfer request, I don't think it's that significant, considering it got rejected, doesn't always need to be in black and white to see a player wants a transfer, sometimes they just do in their team mates during training instead.

{Ed002's Note - No, that is not the case.}

15 Aug 2017 12:18:59
I think I know what you're saying Ed in the fact that Coutinho is trying to engineer the move as opposed to us unsettling players. But the current situation is that Couts, VVD and Keita all want to leave the club they play for. Our fans seem to want us to Let Couts go now for some reason whilst being resigned to Southampton and RBL not selling to us.

Why shouldn't we expect our club to do the same thing?

{Ed002's Note - You don't seem to understand the process at all. If Liverpool don't want to sell they don't have to. If Southampton don't want to sell to Liverpool they don't have to. If RBL want to wait until next season to see what they can get for the player then they can.}

15 Aug 2017 12:36:53
That's my point Ed. Sorry if I'm not explaining well, I'm happy with the club's stance on Coutinho and hope they stick to it. My point was more about fans being seemingly happy for us to fold and accept a bid for Couts, whilst it looks more and more unlikely that Southampton and Leipzig will not sell our main targets.

I'm not criticising those clubs, I just don't understand why some posters on here are willing to lose Couts, but at the same time accept Saints and Leipzig don't want to sell.

15 Aug 2017 12:48:18
Ron, yep fully aware of that, thanks. My point is about supporters accepting that Saints and RBL don't want to sell, whilst thinking that we should let Coutinho go.

I don't know your position on Coutinho, but in my opinion, there is no money I'd sell him for in this window.

15 Aug 2017 12:48:54
"now for some reason whilst being resigned to Southampton and RBL not selling to us"

No we still want it to happen. Fact is there is no point living in fairytale land hoping they do happen. What'll be will be.

15 Aug 2017 12:57:15
Get what you're saying Phil, I accept that those deals will be incredibly difficult, but I still don't see why anyone on here would be accept losing Coutinho, no one has addressed that yet, which is my main point.

15 Aug 2017 13:01:52
Liverducks - Coutinho doesn't want to play for LFC anymore. Therefore he is not committed to LFC anymore. He is not playing in a very important game tonight for LFC.

If your players are not focussed on the team then they will under-perform. That's why the clubs basically run the players lives for them. They don't want the players thinking about anything other than football.

If he doesn't want to play for us we should sell him for the best deal we can get and that goes for every player.

Keita and Van Dijk have not been angling for a move for a year, they have not been approached by the likes of Madrid or Barcelona. It is vastly different. RBL are in the champions league and Bundesliga runners up. We can't match that.

15 Aug 2017 13:26:06
Spot on Ron.

To add to it - if any of our players do not want to play for us then good riddance to them. We want players who are dedicated to LFC and have their heart in every game. Couts heart is set on Barcelona and has been for over a year.
World class or not he will start going missing in big games a lot more than he does now, and will not put 100% in.
Specially if this is really a "now or never" transfer. If we kept him he will never be happy with us.

Does he reaallllyyyyyyyy have a back problem? I think not to be honest.

15 Aug 2017 13:26:42
We can't match RBL?!? I'm sorry Ron, but I do not for 1 second believe that Liverpool FC can not match RBL in any way. On the pitch off the pitch, I think any player worth having would choose Liverpool over RBL, as indeed Keita would like to do if it was his decision.

Now, RBL don't want to sell - fine. They clearly see enough talent and professionalism in Keita that he will still be an asset this season and maybe even increase in value. That is clearly what the people who have a say at Liverpool see in Coutinho.

In my opinion, we will never win the league again if we take your approach and sell players as soon as they want to go. We have to keep our best players and add enough quality to convince those players to stay. We will always be a selling club if we don't do something about it, Coutinho will be 100% focussed when the window is closed and he can get on with his job.

All my opinion of course. But I just can't see how we'll progress if we continue to let the likes of Coutinho leave.

{Ed002's Note - Keita has said he sees Liverpool as the next step up to one of the big clubs, Barcelona, Real Madrid or Manchester City.}

15 Aug 2017 13:39:23
I think It's a nice sentiment that fans don't want players that don't want to play for liverpool, and I would be fully on board with that if we were winning trophies every year. But we're not, and never will if we sell our best players.

Ed, that might help make my point! Keita sees us as a stepping stone to a big club. Players don't see us a top level club anymore. The only way we get there is by adding players like Keita and keeping players like Coutinho. Otherwise we'll always be a stepping stone and be in and out of the champs league. If we're challenging for major trophy year after year, players will stick around.

15 Aug 2017 13:52:23
ed02 actually more fabrication to justify your bias, at no point where liverpool mentioned in the quote about man city barcelona or real madrid.

{Ed002's Note - He was t

15 Aug 2017 13:58:46
If Keita sees City as a bigger club than Liverpool, I think we'd be better off chasing an option with a bit more common sense!

15 Aug 2017 11:42:44
is it me or is anyone else sick of this coutinho saga you've got Henderson saying he can't influence coutinhos desision the players saying they symphasise with him symphasise with the fans who had coutinho printed on there new lfc shirts. i like watching coutinho myself but it's time to get what we can and move on. let's hope the players mind are on the game tonight and not what coutinho wants.

15 Aug 2017 12:01:22
They're employees. Do you work? Have you ever left a job for higher wages and better working conditions or for a more prominent role?
Get used to it because it'll happen more and more and so long as the transfer fee is fair I wish them well.

15 Aug 2017 12:02:56
We have no replacement lined up nor the club has any confidence in landing a top player in less than 2 weeks. Hence we are stalling his move.

15 Aug 2017 12:04:01
Watching Hendos press conference it was much more casually said then suggested. It seemed more a passing comment.

15 Aug 2017 11:35:07
If Coutinho goes and we can't get who we want in (1st or 2nd choice), as this been the most disastrous summer transfer window ever?

I normally try to be a glass half full kind of bloke but I can't recall a more frustrating summer than this one.

I know it's all about what happens on the pitch and 3 wins on the spin and all will be well with the world, but, like I posted the other day, the next 16 days could shape not just this season but others to come.

15 Aug 2017 12:02:10
I remember the first summer window under BR and that was a complete shambles (not all his fault, tho to the point that FSG had to write an open letter to the fans afterwards. Hopefully, we will sign more players as Ed01 has said we will.

15 Aug 2017 12:04:15
We seem to have a habit of not replacing players.
No, worst was Woy's summer transfer window. Short memories but I understand why you're frustrated. Judge the squad in 16 days mate.

15 Aug 2017 12:06:16
We addressed 2 major weaknesses in our team in LB as. Left wing and bought 2 decent players. So far, so good.
If you think this is the worst window ever then you have a very short memory.

15 Aug 2017 12:07:21
I think wait till the end of the window before claiming this has been a bad window. I'll remain optimistic.

15 Aug 2017 12:47:18
Hodgesons window was pretty bad. It was like reading a comic strip.

15 Aug 2017 11:30:45
As much as I love little Pipco, i really hope the club just accepts the inevitable bid from Barcelona and let him go.
The only issue then, is how do we replace him or improve the squad when everyone knows we have £100m+ to spend. We'll be quoted overinflated prices.

I'd still go for Ox, however the CB role is a major concern.

15 Aug 2017 11:41:20
Why go for Ox? He isn't a centre midfielder and isn't a replacement for Pipco? I haven't seen anything that makes me think he isn't any more than a very bog standard winger.

15 Aug 2017 11:42:46
Ox and VVD I'm hoping for. Then if we signed someone like Seri, Keita or Lanzini on top of that it would be sufficient. Keita would be my first choice but if RBL are defiant that they aren't selling then Seri or Lanzini would be good back up options imo.

15 Aug 2017 11:49:14
Ox can play in any of the offensive positions in midfield. He's versatile and has a great engine suited to Klopps style of play.
Pipco was likely to play the AM with two behind or left side of a 3 with a holding midfielder. Ox can definitely play both positions.

Not saying he's as good, but who is that's reachable for LFC?

15 Aug 2017 12:04:15
Spas, Ox is patently poor and would be the worst "replacement" for Cou, ever. We need creativity in midfield and if we think we can rely on Bobbie and Lallana to do that then we will struggle, mightily.

15 Aug 2017 12:09:34
We need a matic type player. As well as a coutinho replacement.

15 Aug 2017 13:12:59
Bingo, we can't attract players of Coutinho's quality to directly replace him therefore we need to bring in different players to help improve the squad and minimise the affect of Pipco leaving.
We 'replaced' Suarez with rubbish. This time we need proven PL experience.

15 Aug 2017 13:15:34
This is why we won't win anything. Sell coutinho and buy ox are you joking?
Whatever money we get for Couts should be ALL used on a player equally as good.
Didn't selling Suarez and buying 5 average players not teach you anything, we went from League contenders to 6th and have barely recovered since.
We need top players not more average ones.

15 Aug 2017 14:18:31
Who is in Coutinho's bracket that will come to liverpool?

15 Aug 2017 11:18:51
Our transfer dealings are a complete joke. I've tried to keep my chin up this whole window, but starting to realise just how pathetic we are now.

Desperately need a new CB and DM IMO. I can't see VVD joining, so in the ED's opinion who do you think we will try to sign that is actually available? It's clear we need leaders / physically strong defensive players.

Thank you for all your hard work guys and for putting up with our endless gripes.

{Ed002's Note - I don't know who, if anyone, Liverpool will look to if they cannot sign VDD.}

15 Aug 2017 11:39:53
Hi how about stefan de vrij or maybe even smalling?

15 Aug 2017 11:51:59
There best be some other young CB somewhere in Europe called Smalling because if you mean Chris Smalling i'm afraid you've lost it mate.

15 Aug 2017 11:54:25
This is really for an eds for some reason I have it in my head alderwield has a 28 million buyout clause am I right?

{Ed002's Note - Buyout clauses are incredibly rare and where would he get £28M from?}

15 Aug 2017 12:13:03
Mo Salah must feel great hearing about how our transfer window has been "disasterous", a "complete joke" and "the worst summer of transfers ever".

Bunch of ingrates.

15 Aug 2017 17:53:47
Thanks for the reply Eds.

Ron, i don't think it's particularly ungrateful to show a bit of annoyance for a club you spend a lot of your time and money following year in year out.

Salah looks to be a decent buy but I'd consider tapping up players, having no plan B and our star player handing in a transfer request hours after we release a statement saying he's going nowhere a complete joke.

If we manage to get VVD I promise i'll be happy.

15 Aug 2017 11:14:35
After a little more reading, I've discovered that there's a whole lot more to the stoke 12 year old, and I don't think we can help.
For those that don't know :
- stoke had some sort of contract with the boys parents, to pay for his education.
- the summer Liverpool asked him to switch to anfield ( with a similar contract ) was the summer new PL rules came in.
- the rules introduced, were to deter what many clubs, if not all, have been doing; and they were that if you pay for one academy players private education, you have to pay for every academy players!
- that soon becomes a massive amount, and after getting everything all clarified as that ( the boys already made the move and started his private education ) Liverpool decided to pull out of paying for his education.
- as far as I can make out, he is still at the club, but not allowed to play competitively until stoke are paid £49,000 ( for which I assume was what they paid into his education maybe )

So god knows what the resolution is, I'm not a lawyer.
But my personal conclusion is that I don't think we can help, even with a funding page.
If Liverpool paid the 49k to stoke, maybe they then have to pay for every one of their academy players, or maybe it would just clear the lad to play for another team other than stoke.
Either way the club would still have the problem of the lad being in debt to his now private education.
I kind of wish the PL would make an exception, seeing as the new rules came in at the unfortunate timing of the lads move, however Liverpool should have been aware, so I do believe they're culprit.

Maybe Liverpool can pay stoke the compensation so at least the lad can play football. An then maybe when 16 and eligible to sign a contract, we could see his family reimbursed.
Really tough one to call, and a really sticky situation, but once again due to our neglect.

As I said, I don't think a funding page will help, I just can only hope for the lad the PL can help out.
(002 I believe I'm close in what I've said, feel free to edit anything you think is wrong )

{Ed002's Note - The education part at Stoke is incorrect.}

15 Aug 2017 11:44:46
I tend to think the best thing any reasonable person would do in this situation is make a fair Part 36 offer to the family and settle with them, then pay the £49k to Stoke, to at least allow this lad to play football again. The FA have found us guilty and we really are not covering ourselves in glory by dragging this situation out, the fact that the FA have found against us would be very good evidence in a court of law.

15 Aug 2017 12:33:35
Stoke haven't paid his education fee. I last read that the kid is constantly being threatened with being kicked out due to none payment.
The 49k or w. e was to cover the academy costs at Stoke for him.

15 Aug 2017 10:22:34
Hey eds im interested to know your opinions on the current issues.

1)how much longer do you think fsg will be around?

2) how long do you think klopp will be around?

3) is klopps and fsgs relationship strained with recent events going on?

From what i see as a fan from the outside looking in i don't think klopp looks happy at all and physically looks deflated (clownless in ed eyes) and fsg can't be happy having to make statements all the time.

Do you see any drastic changes happening?

Thanks for your time.

{Ed002's Note - (a) I am not aware of any issues related to FSG. The Pound does not facilitate an early sale. (b) 2019. (c) I am not sure what sort of relationship he has with FSG, he is employed by the club. I agree that he is showing signs of it not being great right now.

I am not expecting anything drastic.}

15 Aug 2017 11:53:57
Thanks for replying ed. Do you think klopp thinks that we LFC are a bigger job than he thought?

{Ed002's Note - I don't know if he thinks that - he is a confident guy.}

15 Aug 2017 10:49:58
Rumours about Chelsea and city wanting vvd but he's stated many times he doesn't want to play for them so why would they want a player who doesn't want to play it's just the same as him staying at saints.

15 Aug 2017 10:56:07
Let's not be naive. If we don't pull our fingers out and get the deal done, he will be in a Chelsea or City shirt next season. He just wants out of Southampton now.

15 Aug 2017 11:03:46
Once he sees the wage they are probably willing to offer I guarantee his head will turn.

15 Aug 2017 11:09:35
Chelsea have other priorities But City and Arsenal desperately needs a CB!

15 Aug 2017 10:13:54
Hi Eds, will the owners review LFC's off-field performance with the manager and others after the transfer window closes or at another time? Thanks.

{Ed001's Note - yes.}

15 Aug 2017 11:17:42
To be a fly on the wall in that meeting. Lol.

15 Aug 2017 11:39:08
Was the fly tapped up?

15 Aug 2017 09:33:52
ED002 do you believe Barcelona have the finances to obtain both Dembele and Coutinho? Apparently the Dembele deal is edging closer.

{Ed002's Note - Yes.}

15 Aug 2017 10:05:42
Really even after spending 35 million on Paulinho?

{Ed002's Note - Yes.}

15 Aug 2017 10:20:51
Lol Why do some people sounds like a west ham or Crystal palace? I mean c'mon Barcelona has money! No matter how much they pay to keep Messi and Suarez at the club! They are not a "Sell to buy club". Why are people surprised at Barcelona spending. Did they not splash €40 mill on Gomes and £30 mill on Turan lately?

{Ed001's Note - but they are selling to buy. If Barca had not offloaded Neymar, they would not be buying Coutinho or Dembele this window.}

15 Aug 2017 10:35:26
They were willing to spend circa 100 million Euros on Veratti, pre-Neymar transfer. I think they've got enough.

{Ed001's Note - only because they were looking to offload a significant number of players to fund the deal. They have money issues of their own, which the loss of Neymar has gone a long way towards fixing. His wages were a major burden on the club.}

15 Aug 2017 10:39:14
Barca are not broke. They just have more money now due to the Neymar dough.

{Ed001's Note - technically they are in financial difficulties, which is why they have had to amend their own constitution repeatedly in recent years to allow a higher percentage of wages to turnover and to allow the club to carry a larger debt. If they have a down year financially, ie an early exit from the Champions League, then they are in serious trouble. However, this being Barca, they can carry as much debt as they want because no Spanish bank will call it in.}

15 Aug 2017 10:57:24
Thankfully Dembele is not a LFC player, otherwise everyone would lose it. He won't talk to anyone from Dortmund and apperently he is allready in barcelona and waiting for the conformation. Dortmund want €130-150mil but Barcelona only offered €90mil+€20mil add ons.

If Barcelona splashes €150mil on him + €30mil on Paulinho they would still have €40mil left from the Neymar deal alone. As far as i know Barcelona haven't been that active and could add another €110mil on the remaining €40mil for the coutinho deal.

15 Aug 2017 11:04:40
Barca could certainly afford one star signing every summer in the bracket of £70 mill regardless of Neymar! Now they have adequate money to buy which would rise even higher if they could offflod a few of their fringe players.

15 Aug 2017 11:07:29
Aren't Barcelona in like the top 5 teams with the most debt in probably the whole of the footballing world?

{Ed001's Note - I have no idea.}

15 Aug 2017 09:45:34
Well today is our first match of champs league qualifier, really difficult away game which will really test our resolve as hoffenheim seem to be really strong at what we struggle with. Set pieces and counter attacks. I think we need a win or a positive result or we going to get a lot of lack of signings and coutinho saga thrown in our faces to contend with. So here hoping for a great win tonight then I can't wait to go to anfield on Saturday and see my mighty reds in action for first home game of the season.
YNWA.

15 Aug 2017 10:35:53
This is a massive game for us so i have no doubts the players will be well up for it. Playing watford and huddersfields of this world that worry me. Same old same old i. e when we beat reao madrid at the beurabao abd thrashed them at anfield and inbetween then results lose away at middleborough.

15 Aug 2017 09:09:21
With regards to VVD, would you think there's efforts behind the scenes to try and smooth things over with Southampton with the intention to try and see if they would be open to selling the player to us? Or at the very least consider the sale. I know Southamptons public stance is the player isn't for sale, but as we know these things rarely mean anything in public.

{Ed002's Note - No, Liverpool withdrew all interest in the player. Clubs will not be open to sales forced because of illegal actions - meaning it will be difficult for Liverpool to go back on their word (although perhaps they will) and Southampton will be reluctant to deal with Liverpool. They want to keep the player but are aware that his position is untenable so they may need to sell.}

15 Aug 2017 09:33:46
They withdrew their interest publicly. That doesn't mean they have privately. I guess if they still maintain an interest. Obviously if they lodge a bid if it comes to that then yes they will have very publicly gone back on their word. I think if Liverpool want to do things correctly then they should pay whatever Southampton want if they choose to sell as they caused the mess. Well Klopp did.

{Ed002's Note - I suspect Southampton don't want to sell to Liverpool - perhaps they have a price £20M higher for Liverpool than they do for other sides?}

15 Aug 2017 10:29:12
I know Macca maintains VVD will come, to me I think it's pretty straightforward. I say not given the relationship between the clubs as it stands. I have a feeling we'll get to the end of the window with no new additions now. I know there's a while to go but I'd rather stick with what we have until Jan than have a knee jerk Balotelli situation on our hands. The team isn't that far off. If we can sort the defensive frailties out then we will be a hard team to beat.

15 Aug 2017 10:44:35
I think you are right Ed. I think this is the Clint Dempsey tapping up saga all over again. Fulham were ready to sell CD but NOT to LFC at any price and that is how it went down. Here, Saints don't want to sell VVD to us and if they do, they will stick us for more cash than for other suitors.

{Ed001's Note - there is also the problem of the fans down there, who have had enough of us cherry picking their best players each summer. The club can not afford to just carry on letting us do so or they will struggle to get crowds in.}

15 Aug 2017 11:12:49
"perhaps they have a price £20M higher for Liverpool than they do for other sides"
Ed2 haven't most teams for the last few years done this to LFC? 😂.

15 Aug 2017 08:08:50
Morning Eds
After taking your info in yesterday about what is perceived as a lack of spending by many over the years, im curious to have your take on the general feel that FSG like to buy cheap potential and sell for big profit, this is the Coutinho saga down to the ground an exactly what the model seems to promote, what message does it give when we are losing our best players for allegedly high gains, where is the ambition to add to a squad and have a go for the league? We finished 2nd under Bodgers, sold Suarez, who was a pain, and wanted out but replaced him with more potential, Can, Markovic etc when it would have been wiser to get first 11 players imo, the kids need to bulk the squad out and it should mainly always be the first 11 that needs improving.

{Ed002's Note - FSG do not decide on the players joining.}

15 Aug 2017 09:14:14
Lots of Critisism for the owners if we buy cheap and sell high but nobody ever mentions the hundreds of players we have bought who's value has dropped over the years.
If we buy a player cheap and they end up being worth a fortune then that's surely a good thing? If our players are being targeted by the likes of Barcelona then we must be doing something right.

15 Aug 2017 09:46:59
FSG don't handle players coming in or out of the club.

15 Aug 2017 09:52:54
1985,most of the players we sell are at a loss, because they don't "cut it" or aren't given a decent enough shot, remember we cut massive wages from "mistakes" the other summer, we seem to need a reshuffle in scouting, we made the mistake (and this is just my opinion) of trying to fill out the squad rather than bettering the team over the last few seasons and beyond.

15 Aug 2017 10:11:46
Im fed up of selling players before they reach the best years of there career. I understand somewhat if a massive offer comes in that's too good to turn down but there has to be a point where to progress in the league and champs league these players need to be kept to move on and push forward into then becoming a realistic top club in the world. Fsg have this model of buying potential and selling for one purpose and that's to make money and unfortunately in football nowerdays its not really a fantastic business opportunity. Unless you make money faster than its printed (city/ chelsea) then restrictions financial wise will be there. Eds say fsg have invested a lot and i wonder if they're getting fed up of our club and the fruitless trophies and riches its had since there takeover. Behind the scenes i wonder if the club really know what is going on or what there doing? It doesn't seem like they new or know now how to understand football. Im just another"uneducated fan" not ITK but from the outside looking in this is what it looks like from my point of view.

{Ed001's Note - FSG do not set the transfer model at all. Why do people have this ludicrous fantasy that they do?}

15 Aug 2017 10:18:04
Coz over the years we bought too many potentials which were a gamble. Nothing wrong with it but then you should have no complaints when they go for cheap! The club never wanted to pay big wages for big players. Hence the potential!

15 Aug 2017 10:28:56
I think his point is that they gamble on potential rather then buy so called established stars which I tend to agree with the op.

{Ed001's Note - FSG do not have any involvement in recruitment. As for the potential, LFC have always done that, why is this new generation of spoilt brat fans suddenly got a problem with it?}

15 Aug 2017 10:49:33
FSG have not forced anyone out the door in the interest of massive profit, the two players who have left, Suarez and Sterling, made their positions untenable and forced the club to sell them. I fail to see how this is FSGs fault and part of their master plan to cream the club of finances.

15 Aug 2017 10:57:39
The problem is ed is selling them too early and not keeping the group together to actually be able to realistically challange for the league. Im not a spoilt brat at all ed maybe when other fans abuse us for living in the past to much we actually are on all fronts? Transfers and how to conduct ourselves, Recruitment etc. Maybe what we've always done doesn't work anymore with every team in prem getting ludicrous amounts of tv money could it be time to get to the here and now? Not what we've always done.

{Ed001's Note - not at all, the problem was that we changed the way we worked and it has all gone wrong ever since. We are not doing things the way we used to at all. Everything has gone to pot since the idiot directors forced out the world's best scout ever, in Geoff Twentyman, because Ian Rush didn't immediately perform. That was the beginning of the end for LFC as a dominant force.}

15 Aug 2017 11:11:04
Scarface, the points being made point towards the calibre of player we have tended to get, potential can only get you so far, they need class players around them and they need a couple seasons usually to bed in, we haven't ever really kicked on when we have had a decent team, to get the best standard of player unfortunately you have to pay and we paid for the wrong talent too many times, its not a new generation of fan either that has a problem, I grew watching early 90's LFC and that model back then of pushing players like Beardsley out for younger potential didn't work, it wasn't until Fowler, Owen, Mcmanaman etc who actually had the talent did it come good.

15 Aug 2017 12:24:48
Thanks ed1 about twennymen info. We need to get up to speed asap with the behind the scenes camp. It is frustrating that as soon as we get a decent team going it gets broken up. Is it just luck that it happen?

{Ed001's Note - it is poor forward planning. The club have not got a long term structure in place and so everything is always about this season and maybe the next one. We need someone, such as a DOF, planning ahead of that.}

15 Aug 2017 04:20:34
Hi Eds,

I saw your reply about our rejected bid of Koulibaly. At this time, any chance that LFC would be back for bidding him again?

Thank you
Federal.

{Ed002's Note - I would very much doubt it.}

15 Aug 2017 00:36:46
Eds, just a but of light fun before bed. Is there a football equivalent of the Peter Principle (a concept in business that people get promoted one level higher than that which they are competent at)? In football terms, it would be a player who is good in one divison but is bought by a team in a higher division and turns out to be pants. Examples proliferate; in recent terms you could cite Jordan Rhodes, Rudy Gestede, Patrick Bamford. I'm sure we could come up with quite a list. Anyhoo, if such a concept does not exist could I make the suggestion of naming it The Beauchamp Principle. The older fans will know what I mean.

15 Aug 2017 07:50:57
So. 16 days left of the transfer window. I can safety say my bum hole is twitching a bit with the lack of transfers both selling and buying.
Just hope our players are up for this game tonight from the very start. Klopp need so fire in there bellys and I would like to see Henderson and mings a bit more vocal. COME ON YOU RED MEN! YNWA.

15 Aug 2017 09:48:55
That's the spirit, OP.

15 Aug 2017 10:20:17
You might wanna see someone about that twitching bumhole though. YNWA.

15 Aug 2017 07:10:51
if we defend tonight like we defended on Saturday, we will be out of the champions league by bedtime, im not going to call our defending schoolboy as that's a insult to schoolboys, it was diabolical and a repeat tonight will see us crash out of the cl. on a positive note they also struggle with defending so if we can get our front 3 involved and improve in defence and get the balance right in midfield we should get the job done over the 2 legs.

15 Aug 2017 07:29:19
It's a 2 legged tie, even if we lose 10 we're still in it until the second leg!

15 Aug 2017 08:10:17
I am sure this must be our easiest draw in CL given we are almost certain to be in the group of death in group stage. We should despatch teams such as Hoffeinham if you have any ambitions to progress in CL.

15 Aug 2017 08:50:30
Exactly, if we can't beat Hoffenheim there's no point in being in the champions league, the point is to play against the best and prove your class, you can't do that by complaining.

15 Aug 2017 09:21:10
I'm supremely confident about beating the Hoff over two legs. Especially with the second leg being at Anfield. I do love a good European night at the home of football! COME ON YOU MIGHTY REDS!

15 Aug 2017 06:43:20
The club has to offload players before they make any further signings. Sakho and Markovic tops the list.

15 Aug 2017 07:01:07
we keep pricing players out of moves away, we are getting a bad reputation as a club for letting players go, also Moreno should be on that list, Robertson is premiership proven and should be in the 1st team now.

15 Aug 2017 07:29:52
Inside knowledge or a complete guess?

15 Aug 2017 08:12:13
Smeg
Both and based on what's happening from past 2 months and I am actually surprised!

15 Aug 2017 16:31:42
How can it be both?

15 Aug 2017 05:15:02
Would be a great addition. Great to have left sided centre half and he is good quality too.

{Ed001's Note - ?}

15 Aug 2017 07:20:26
guess the player readers!

{Ed001's Note - is the first bit Messi? The second bit about Klavan and the third is that Salah?}

15 Aug 2017 00:46:17
The more I see of costa in the news the more I think of mario ballotelli and us taking a punt on him, I hope to god he doesn't end up here.

15 Aug 2017 02:23:02
Scores goals, do anything to win, a bit crazy, willing to press and chase things down, id snap their hand off!

15 Aug 2017 04:11:09
Except Diego Costa has had an accomplished career and Balotelli hasn't.

{Ed001's Note - Balotelli hasn't had an accomplished career? 33 caps and 13 goals for Italy, 1 Champions League, 1 Premier League, 3 Serie A titles and more. Winning trophies is a team thing, both Costa and Balotelli are proof of that. Costa did his very best to sabotage the second half of Chelsea's season, would have no interest in joining us as he made it plain as long ago as last January that all he wants is to go back to Atletico Madrid.}

15 Aug 2017 08:16:57
Can we bring Costa in just to train with our defenders. It might toughen Lovren, Matip and Klavan up having Costa man handle them every day. And you never know it might result in one of them then putting in a successful tackle on matchday or even competing in the air.

15 Aug 2017 09:24:11
You'll have to get costa to come from Brazil. Apparently he has refused to return to Chelsea until he is sold back to AM. Moratta is also unhappy, doesn't sound too good for Chelsea at the moment.

15 Aug 2017 10:24:39
Ed, I don't really care if Costa wants to join us or not, I was just making the point that his career has been far more accomplished than Balotelli's, and in no way can he be compared to another player who perennially underperforms. How can Diego Costa be labelled a risk like Balotelli if he's spearheaded his teams to 3 league titles in the past 4 years?

Yeah, Balotelli may have a lot of titles next to his name, but upon closer inspection, they don't really mean much when you realise that he didn't significantly contribute towards any of those titles, and he won those trophies more so because he was just there, rather than by virtue of him being a key player. Of course winning trophies is a team effort, but for the lesser players in the squad who didn't contribute much, they won because they were lucky to be in a team that happened to win a trophy due to the greater efforts of other teammates.

The guy is 27 now yet instead of hitting his peak, his career has taken a complete nosedive because he didn't know how to make use of his talents.
Yeah, Costa may be a colourful personality, but he also backs it up on the field. I'm not sure what he did to try and sabotage Chelsea's season though? The only controversy seemed to be the China rumours, which seemed like hot air.

{Ed001's Note - but that is my point, how much is Costa contributing and how much is he hindering? You can't tell because it is a team game, but the season before last he was a major, probably the biggest, part of their problems and then again last season he dragged them back when they were running away with the league.

There is little difference between the two, other than Costa looks like he is doing more on the pitch, but as much of his time is spent bickering and arguing, rather than playing football.}

15 Aug 2017 12:14:50
But of course you can tell. Costa's role within the team is to score goals, and he excels at it. Without all of his goals, Chelsea wouldn't have won the league twice in the last three years. I think this makes it pretty obvious that he greatly contributes to the team.

How does Costa merely 'look like' he does more than Balotelli? If he's scoring far more goals than Balotelli then he most definitely is doing more than Balotelli on the pitch?

I'm really not privy to how Costa hindered Chelsea last year. Can you elaborate?