Liverpool Banter Archive February 15 2016

15 Feb 2016 22:33:57
We all know and hope that next season under jurgen will be the start of something good and exciting. Although we all have different opinions on who should leave and who should be brought in. ad like to get a debate and other people's opinions to see where what near may bring So heres mine.
Enrique well enough said (bye)
Toure probably of to china
Sorted thanks for your efforts and time, but it's time he moved on
Moreno, I don't think he is good enough or what we need to move forward.
Miss enough is enough we need a better keeper some one that commands his area and can be a leader from the back.
Milner wages to high and offers us nothing as we have a simlar player in hendo.
Joe Allan it just hasn't worked out.
Lallana luxury we don't need.
Benteke just not good enough.
Bogdan say know more.
Balo, Marko, Alberto, wisdom, yesil. All sold on.
Klopp will decide on tex but looks like he will move on.
That's 17players sold or let go of our wage bill.

15 Feb 2016 22:58:44
Sent that with out finishing by mistake.
Anyway if we get a new keeper, Marko comes in, another mid, left winger and maybe a striker that will leave us with keepers new, ward, cbs, matip, lovern, shako, ilori, and Gomez for cover. Fbs, clyne, flanno, smith, Gomes. Dm. Lucas, stewert. Mids, hendo, grujic, New mid, can. At kids, couts, firming, ibe, and new left winger. Strikers inngs, sturridge, origi, New striker our good young lads can cover for injuries and fixture pile up.

15 Feb 2016 23:16:42
Personal opinion, a few different ideas:
Kolo is off but it will be a shame as I think he's a real leader in the dressing room. Lucas is going to be crucial next season.
I wouldn't sell Markovic, he is a very strong, quick, direct player (exactly what we need IMO), so long as he has an appetite to play for us again.
I think Caulker will go too.
I think Mignolet's contract extension means he's staying.
Klopp has a history of playing younger players as they have the fitness and energy to maintain their standards and strive to improve.
My Streamlined Squad after ruthless cull :

Ward Mignolet

Clyne Flanno Smith Moreno Gomez Matip Sakho Lovren Skrtel Ilori

Lucas Can Hendo Grujic Brannigan Stewart Texeira Markovic Ibe Ojo Coutinho

Sturridge, Firmino, Origi, Ings.

(Waiting in the wings: Randall, Canos, Kent)

15 Feb 2016 23:17:44
Arrggghhh hate predictive texting.

15 Feb 2016 23:29:05
Mate it has changed sum of my words a never meant what will happen, it's worth was meant as what would you do but realistically mate.

15 Feb 2016 23:38:40
Yeah I know knuckles:
That's what I'd do, a ruthless cull and see what these youngsters can do. I don't think we're that far off when everyone is fit and I think Matip will be a great addition:
He's quick and lanky and can play the ball out of defence. Alongside Lovren or Sakho he will make a good partnership.
I'd love to see Ings and Markovic playing in a Klopp team, they'd fit in well.

16 Feb 2016 00:04:28
Balo, Wisdom, Alberto, Enrique, Sinclair, Allen, Bogdan, Yesil, McClaughlin and Toure are all likely to leave in my view

Matip, Grujic and a winger/ wide attacking mid are likely to join, hopefully Markovic returns and stays too

Debatable if Migs is sold for a new keeper (I certainly hope so) and if Benteke can find form in next 3 months (otherwise may be sold if we get a good offer)

16 Feb 2016 00:06:23
Yeah agree with you mate one thing is for sure we need to of load a lot of players in the summer. Like you say klopp likes to use the youth and we have some great young lads at the club, so in order for them to play a can see maybe as many as 15 players leaving the club.
One thing that is certain we will defo see a different and better quality lfc next season.

16 Feb 2016 01:23:52
In your ruthless cull does everyone really think Benteke needs to go. I feel he should be given one more window. If he can't hack it then then off in January of 2017.

16 Feb 2016 01:46:00
Rossiter?

16 Feb 2016 04:05:39
I think that his contract runs out at the end of the season, although i'm not sure. I would say that kevin stewart has gone in front of him and the signing of grujic will only make it more difficult for him. he may have to leave to get regular 1st team football. this is the type of decision facing klopp this summer.

{Ed001's Note - he has not progressed much either, which is why his contract was run down. That is not totally his fault, but he does need to leave for his own sake.}

15 Feb 2016 22:17:59
Gotta say I have been pleasantly surprised by origi this year after reading about him on la ligue worst team of 2014-2015 etc I thought we had bought another plug. If he can learn from studges movement and hone his finishing we have a great prospect on our hands. If him and ings had stayed fit in sturridges absence I reckon we would have rattled top 4. Firmino IMO has also impressed I don't think we need to sign any attacking players in summer. A decent goalie with grujic and matip would be enough for me. Obviously get rid of 5-6 players.

15 Feb 2016 23:20:11
Divock has done really well, really chuffed for the lad. His interview after the Saints mauling was very heartening. Seems like a humble, hard working, down to earth lad
Completely unlike Balotelli or El Haji Diouf. I really hope he makes it, still a young pup but a mature head.

15 Feb 2016 23:57:45
Benteke would currently be in the EPL worst team this year - not because he lacks talent, he is just not suited to the style and team around him.

Origi may well have been poor last season. I don't know as I don't watch French footy. Regardless, he has taken this season as an opportunity for a fresh start and as Ron said - mature head on him. Full credit.

16 Feb 2016 00:06:24
Origi has impressed mostly with his ability to learn very quickly and hit the ground running. I thought he would need a lot more time but that perfect hatrick vs Saints ended that for me and his neat finish after coming in cold yesterday off the bench is another sign that the only way for him is up. His pace is deadly and with players like Studge, Couts and Firmino who are just brilliant, he will defo improve. Ings fits my overall opinion of Origi as well.

16 Feb 2016 00:31:58
Origi reminds me of young Kluivert, if anyone still remembers.

15 Feb 2016 19:47:53
Nice to see the spine of the team getting built, GRUJIC, MATIP, a goalie and a centre forward will do nicely for starters JURGEN.

15 Feb 2016 19:57:05
Plenty of forwards, in fact I think we'll let Benteke go and not bother replacing him.

Firmino, Sturridge, Ings, Origi and Ibe as a backup.
Sadly I can't see us going for a keeper now Mings has got his new contract. It really is our weakest position though.

15 Feb 2016 21:22:27
Ron got the spot on.

15 Feb 2016 21:31:40
Ron, is that an actually picture of you?

15 Feb 2016 21:22:27
Ron got the spot on.

15 Feb 2016 21:31:40
Ron, is that an actually picture of you?

16 Feb 2016 05:02:07
Maybe Migs got a new contract to protect his resale value?

{Ed001's Note - which just makes it more difficult to offload him. Resale value is not what clubs should be thinking about when handing out contracts if they want to progress on the pitch.}

15 Feb 2016 18:04:05
Hi Eds,

Perhaps an odd question however upon watching several games recently it feels like we often losing headers in the centre of the pitch (i. e. from goal kicks, clearances etc) and it got me thinking how our midfield players typically compare with the size of most team's main midfielders?

It's difficult to tell when watching, but the likes of inner, Hendo, Coutinho, Can etc don't necessarily appear small but nor do they appear the size and height of the likes of Yaya Toure for example.

Do you think that height is a major reason for us not winning the majority of these types of headers, or is it something else? Or of course am I simply seeing an issue that isn't there? haha.

{Ed001's Note - it can be so many things, from quality of ball to effort and desire to win it. Difficult to put a finger on one cause.}

15 Feb 2016 18:15:24
Thanks Ed.

15 Feb 2016 19:27:23
Most keepers clear the midfield these days with their kicks easily. I think height in the middle of the park is less required than ever.

Whelan and McMahon were hardly giants and that was 20 odd years ago.

15 Feb 2016 20:26:55
I think it has to be effort and desire to go up, and win the ball. We don't do that. How many times have I seen Moreno and Can jump and literally dock their heads in fear of a head injury. Moreno is the worst at that. Same thing in defence. Our defenders allow the ball to drop and bounce while the opposition always seem to attack the ball while in mid air because they jump and we don't. We don't even get bullied because we don't even jump which is worse than getting bullied.

15 Feb 2016 21:01:26
We have soft centre mids (with the exception of Lucas) . Pretty boys to be totally honest, winning a header might actually mess up their hair.

Winning headers is about commitment and desire. Lucas who is the smallest out of the lot (who play regular) is the best header of the ball by a mile.

We lack a lot of bite in the middle.

16 Feb 2016 00:15:20
Spot on, JH. Our players lack that competitive streak, mental toughness and the desire to leave it all on the pitch. The only guy that has that is Skrtel. Look at Leicester. They play with a take no prisoners attitude and they outfight, mount work, and outhustle any opponent they play regardless of where they play them. Klopp needs to change our brittle mentality if we wanna succeed next season. Pretty boys with no heart, no backbone and no desire are non starters for me.

15 Feb 2016 17:14:25
Des fellow reds, just a quick question with matip coming in do you think he will play centre half or defensive midfielder as he plays both positions .

{Ed002's Note - Centre back.}

15 Feb 2016 17:39:59
Defo CB get rid of one or two dead wood.

15 Feb 2016 18:57:48
We got Toure leaving, does anyone know if he is coming to replace him? Or will there be further CB exits?
Talking of CB, does anyone know what the future holds for Ilori? I can't see anything other than the exit door, but please correct me if I am wrong?

15 Feb 2016 19:00:20
Apologies Eds, I think my last post is well and truly answered already. Sorry to waste your time.

15 Feb 2016 20:28:48
Itsonlybanter, calling our players who may or may not be goode nuff deadwood is a disgrace. Shame on you and your pathetic post.

15 Feb 2016 22:00:37
Enrique showing no desire other than selfies not dead wood?

16 Feb 2016 00:18:03
Even he doesn't deserve that regardless of not wanting to play footie anymore. Either way, we need to refrain from using that language because they're human beings before anything else.

15 Feb 2016 17:06:36
Hey eds, just wondering if benteke was to leave in the summer, would there be anyone be willing to take him on at all? I know it would be difficult to offload him but he is actually a great player if played correctly.

{Ed002's Note - Try the search engine or read the posts.}

15 Feb 2016 17:40:38
Try northern league teams.

15 Feb 2016 17:42:05
Just my opinion, but i would imagine West Ham may potentially be interested, they'd have the money, the style would fit him, they'd probably give him the wages he wanted too, but I do imagine they'd want to get rid of Carroll first and again, pure conjecture.

15 Feb 2016 19:09:04
West Ham would be a good option for Benteke provided they show interest. Carroll will be gone in the summer and if Emenike does not work out then there is a possibility they will show interest. Newcastle might also be an option. Cannot see any other club forking out 20 million+ for him.

15 Feb 2016 22:28:12
China.

15 Feb 2016 16:10:16
a question for you ed 2 if I may? do you think that neymar / messi could play in the epl one day, also I would love to hear your thoughts on that messi/ suarez penalty. thanks for your time.

{Ed002's Note - You need the European pages for this Kenny. There is interest in or options for all three Barcelona forwards - but it is nothing to do with Liverpool.}

15 Feb 2016 16:23:21
I should have said not lfc related ed 2. thanks for replying.

{Ed002's Note - Always ask this sort of stuff on the Euro pages KK.}

15 Feb 2016 16:56:07
will do. thanks ed2.

15 Feb 2016 15:09:44
Hi Eds, are we in with a chance on Niklas Sule?

{Ed002's Note - It is a player LFC has shown no interest in.}

15 Feb 2016 15:04:44
Hopefully this result will propel us to a strong finish but so many false starts this season I highly doubt that it will. At least we have Coutinho back in the team and Sturridge until his inevitable injury before the League Cup final. Enough with the negativity from me and time to prepare for Augsburg, come on you reds.

15 Feb 2016 15:51:07
At the end of the day we would have been happy with top 4 this season resulting in CL football.

Now with everything that has gone on we still have a chance of getting CL football and it would result in winning the Europa league.

Lets manage our main players carefully (Studge and Couts) and let's push for that, its achievable.

15 Feb 2016 13:59:00
So yesterday was pretty great, we've got to be cautious as it was against a team that have basically given up on their season but it was reassuring that we were so ruthless.

What really interests me is how this sets us up for the rest of the season. The top teams all have a fear factor, when others play them they set up defensively and play not to lose, we haven't had that since 13/ 14. Currently when we play mid tier teams they think they have a shot, they show us little respect and play to win. Yesterday Sturridge changed this. Scoring 16 minutes into his comeback and inspiring a 6-0 win was a shot across the bows of all our rivals. Sturridge's scoring rate is phenomenal and him being in the team makes us a completely different prospect. Couple this with the return of Coutinho and we start to look like contenders again.

I think it's important to hit this summer with momentum, we can't rely on Klopp's reputation alone to entice new players, if we can show we're on an upwards trajectory we're a much more attractive option. I'd love us to get fourth but I think that's gone, fifth is very much achievable though. Not only would that demonstrate progress but it would mean coming above Utd and that in itself is important. If we could qualify for the CL via the Europa League that would be even better.

I've yet to be won over by Klopp but he's finally got his best team to play with and I think he's got a shot of showing us what he's really about, I'm pretty excited about the next three months.

15 Feb 2016 14:16:09
I loved the post mate. I am not in the group of people who has already written off this season. There is still close to 45 points to play for and EL should be the top priority for us.
A CL place next season would give us a real push going forward.
If Sevilla could win it, We should also give a decent try.

15 Feb 2016 14:50:21
36 points? Plenty, but I don't think top 4 is not an option against the others up there. 5th is very achievable though.

15 Feb 2016 15:11:32
I don't think Villa had given up. They were unbeaten at home in the league since mid December. It was a tremendous result.

15 Feb 2016 15:37:18
Even though villa have been so poor I think our shooting at goal has vastly improved, the number of shots we were taking that flew well above the posts in recent games was shocking. Even if villa played bad I think we deserved credit for at least getting shots on target which became goals. Still not sure about some of the senior players but credit to the team effort.

15 Feb 2016 15:45:18
Harry, your maths is questionable but i like the enthusiasm.

Bob, to get top 4 we basically need to get 10 points more than City in just 12 games. It's possible but would take a massive swing.

15 Feb 2016 19:14:51
45 points 😄

I thought I was the delusionaly optimistic one 😉.

15 Feb 2016 12:54:00
So who knows about how good this matip is?
Know nothing about the lad. But welcome to Liverpool.

{Ed002's Note - Use the search engine.}

15 Feb 2016 14:04:02
He's very good. CL and WC experience, decent pace and positional sense, 27 caps for Cameroun and can play both CB and DM seamlessly. Very good at attacking set pieces because like Skrtel, he used to be a CF. Good enough for ya?

15 Feb 2016 14:15:17
Redo

This kid has not face likes of Caroll, Lukaku or Ighalo type of physicality.

15 Feb 2016 15:11:05
6'4, very good in air but also athletic and has got very good passing range. Good pace for a CB and while he plays RCB, he can also play DM.

Only question in my mind is how he'll adapt to the physicality of the league, but I suspect he'll be a great signing and greatly improve our threat from corners and hopefully our set piece defence too.

There's a Matip vs Hummels video on YouTube. Complete tosh but at least shows someone thinks he's good enough to at least compare the two which is good enough for me!

Grujic for 5mln and Matip for "free" - two very very smart transfer moves so far IMO.

15 Feb 2016 19:32:22
On Sly sports website they have a profile of him; it says he is in the top 10 in the German league for interceptions, blocks, clearances and headed clearances - Clearences being his lowest position - 7th.

his style of play as a central defender who likes to lead on the front foot. His pace and mobility also mean he's able to work well in a high line.

I know this tells us nothing as we do not know if he will adapt; but he is 24 so will hopefully get better.

Considering we will not have a lot of money to spend the two signings thus far seem sensible.

Just need to shift a lot of players on in the summer (i'm hoping ilori gets a few more games and has a future) .

15 Feb 2016 11:59:12
Eds,
With Benteke looking like a total misfit, but Sturridge looking like he may finally produce a run of games, how do you think Liverpool or more Klopp will view the striker position this summer? Assuming Benteke is moved on and Ings will take time to regain fitness, are we likely to look for an addition, and who would you see as the most likely options?

{Ed002's Note - I would not right off Ings at all. I have explained about Benteke already - try the search engine.}

15 Feb 2016 12:24:42
If Klopp wants to play with only one striker, then Benteke can be moved on without needing a replacement immediately as we also have Firmino who can play up front in addition to Sturridge, Origi and Ings. None of those will be happy being perennial bench warmers so i would rather Klopp gave both Origi and Ings a fair chance before looking for a new striker.
Btw Ed002, any idea how highly Ings is rated by Klopp and his team?

{Ed002's Note - There is no scale by which coaches and managers rate players - particularly injured ones. Once he is back to being integrated with the squad and then is seen by the coaching staff they will have a better idea about how he will be able to fit in with the squad. Right now I don't know when he will be available for training with the squad but he is doing light training at Melwood and is back in the fold so to speak. My best guess is that the club will avoid using him this season - maybe a cameo in the last game if fit - and will look to have him fully fit for the preseason games.}

15 Feb 2016 13:18:16
I think Ings has a bright future, and can come back from that horrible injury.
The talent is there, he has good movement, is always busy and working hard, has quick feet, some pace and can finish. I would think he would be the type of player Klopp would like, from what I saw there is a very good player there.

15 Feb 2016 13:37:11
In the few games he played I thought Ings' first touch looked top notch. He was a lot more impressive than I thought he would be when first bought.

15 Feb 2016 14:07:46
Ings is very underrated and I confessed at the time before his injury that he had impressed me with his pace, movement, desire and goals because I. Railed against wanting him here. He like Origi, can play wide as well so for me, they both stay as they have both shown their ability to play at this level. Benteke? We shall see.

15 Feb 2016 14:21:51
I also thought Origi's first touch against Villa was excellent after a long time out.

With Klopp taking a risk and proving Firmino can play upfront, and also assuming Sturridge can prove he can stay fit into the end of season, I'd be OK with Sturridge, Origi, Ings and Firmino as our CF options next year as all suit our style nicely.

If we go that route though, I'd like to see a first class winger/ AM signed to strengthen us out wide, especially if Firmino gets pulled upfront. without him, we either lack a bit of pace (Milner/ Llalana) or experience (Ibe, Kent or Ojo) .

15 Feb 2016 11:37:48
Red quick question is matip any good I've never really seen him play cheers.

15 Feb 2016 09:59:47
It was nice to finally see our front three playing together for the first time this season! I hope to god Hodgson doesn't take sturridge to the euros and we can get him in for at least 50% to 60% of games next season saying that if he does go and get injured I'm sure Hodgson will not return to England because klopp will go liam Neeson in taken and turn him into a pretzel up the reds onwards and upwards augsburg played bayern yesterday aswell so I doubt they will be looking forward to Thursday either.

15 Feb 2016 14:15:28
With you there, jamesey. Klopp should put his foot down and tell Roy to leave Studge alone as he needs to get fit and raring to go for England and us next season. He already has Rooney, Kane and Vardy so don't know what he needs a half fit Studge for?

15 Feb 2016 08:40:41
A very good performance yesterday and a fantastic result. The converstion rate was amazing, every time we went forward we scored. If we were half as good in making the most of our chances this season we would still be in the title race. It reminded me very much the Game against Saints in the league cup where we also scored 6.


It is important not to get too carried away though. We remember what happened after that Saint's game. It was a very much one off explosion. And Villa were unbelievebly poor yesterday. Other PL teams would hardly allow us 1-2 of the 7-8 rediculus chances Villa allowed us yesterday. We need to keep Sturridge and Origi fit and for me especially Couts. I think he assisted 3 goals yesterday. This is also true about the summer. We have to keep him and Sturridge at any cost.

I was especially happy with Can's goal yesterday. He gets to these positions about once a game and it is important he will score them. I really enjoyed watching him this season even though he wasn't always perfect. But I think he is improving.

We only now need Benteke strats scoring and we can be in a good place. In any case, the next three games are much more important than tyesterday's. There will not be any six goals feasts in any of those.

15 Feb 2016 09:55:58
No mention of Firmino? I thought he was better than most.

15 Feb 2016 12:27:19
Sturridge is the link between the two results.

15 Feb 2016 14:19:58
The trident of Studge, Coutinho and Firmino will give ANY team fits. Yesterday's game showed us what might have been this season had these players been fit with Klopp at the helm from the word go. Well, with a bit of luck, we may just nick 5th and with a trophy to boot? That would be a very good season indeed. Here's to hoping.

15 Feb 2016 00:07:57
Whan we go to Germany I would like to see the cup final team and get the job done over there so they have 10 days off.

15 Feb 2016 06:27:37
Yes, Finish it in the first attempt.

15 Feb 2016 10:09:29
If only it was that easy.

15 Feb 2016 10:38:34
You can make it easier or harder but you can't finish it at the first attemp.

15 Feb 2016 11:08:32
Unless you win 7-0 cause clearly 6 ain't enough :)