Liverpool Banter Archive June 15 2015

15 Jun 2015 21:38:51
Hi eds i'm big fan of Clyne and just after reading a couple of reports that he favours a move to us over united is that the case?

{Ed002's Note - No idea, sorry.}

16 Jun 2015 01:22:19
Not going to happen.

Liverpool bid 10 mil trying to get him for 12.

Untied trump Liverpool by offering 20 mil and 170k P/w and Liverpool are scratching there heads wondering why there.not challenging for the title. But the fans gets to say what a waste of money Clyne was haha glad we're not paying them type of wages whilst man u win premier league title.

Not to bothered about Clyne, but i just summed up the last 26 years in a few lineS. Lol

16 Jun 2015 02:50:26
Must admit, reports I have read say that he favours United.

We jumped the gun by talking to Southampton and his agent ahead of anyone else, and managed to agree terms with his agent subject to agreeing a price with Southampton.

At this point, United were interested elsewhere - mainly in Alves.

However, with Alves now committing his future to Barca, United have come back into play, and it appears Clyne prefers them to us.

Not based on any ITK knowledge, just cobbling together various gossip sites and combining with what the Eds have been keeping us abreast of.

With Trippier likely to end up at Spurs, our best remaining RB option seems to be Montoya as his chance of regular football has been blocked by Alves deciding to stay.

However, I agree with the eds (both 001 and 002 I think) that RB shouldn't really be a priority (with Manquillo and Wisdom available, Flanagan to come back, McLaughlin still around and the 3 at the back system that BR has played most recently).

16 Jun 2015 07:13:40
Regarding Manquillo: will he be at LFC next season? I thought he was on a season long loan. Did we make his move permanent?

{Ed001's Note - it is a 2 year loan.}

16 Jun 2015 08:25:28
Cheers ed

{Ed001's Note - you are welcome.}

16 Jun 2015 09:35:31
@Redman, if Utd pay 20m and 170k a week for Clyne then they are more than welcome to him.

£10m is a reasonable bid, up to £12m would be as far as he would be worth - he only has one year left on his contract. £65-70k a week should be about his level in salary terms.

16 Jun 2015 10:25:16
The club need to live within its means. Utd are the biggest club in europe commercially iam afraid. Until were making money don't expect those wages given.

16 Jun 2015 11:00:11
If we're not going to use Manquillo, we should pay 12 or even 15mln for Clyne - at least we get someone Rogers will play and will improve the team. Rather overpay a couple of million where we need it than 10mln where we don't (which seems to have been our habit in the past)

16 Jun 2015 11:17:08
I still don't rate Clyne. Doesn't it say it all that Phil Jones and Jordan Henderson got the nod for England ahead of him. That's Phil "erratic" Jones and Jordan "midfielder" Henderson.

Average defender who looks better going forward than he actually is because he has pace. Trippier is a better player hey, he's not on the media hype train.

This is Moreno/Bertrand all over again. People just want the fast, fancy-named, more expensive full back instead of the one who can actually cross a ball and defend. Each to their own.

16 Jun 2015 14:18:43
By what Utd are willing to pay for him, he is just as overrated as Shaw is and is not good enuff as a one on one defender. Wisdom is a better defender, tough as nails and just as good on the ball. Give he and manquillo a chance to fight for the spot and hopefully, Flanno will com back and join that fight. Clyne is a waste of money and utd can have him

15 Jun 2015 20:35:30
Hey eds. Thanks for all your hard work during the silly season for us. Is really appreciated. Just wondering what is your take on our midfield situation? With kovacic looking like a possibility he would make 8 midfielders by my count with different specialities ofcourse. Do you reckon the club would look to offload some midfielders if new arrivals come in. How do you see our midfield options for next season? And/or your preferred combination of players?

{Ed002's Note - (1) Thanks. The Liverpool "silly" season - 1892 to 2019? (2) The club need to work with the "fringe" players in all positions figuring out who has a future and who doesn't. I suggested before (just my view) that the club finds a third party to talk to a number of the first team players about their future with a view to having them agree that it might be best for their career to move on. (3) The club are missing a balance in all positions - they need to build a squad that has coherence. (4) I don't have a preferred combination but if you look at the bigger picture - two per position, third goalkeeper and youngsters coming through who stand a chance of a handful of appearances should be enough for the first team.}

15 Jun 2015 21:54:25
In translation.

The manager is useless.

15 Jun 2015 21:59:47
Cheers ed02, appreciate the fast reply. Thanks for the insight.

15 Jun 2015 20:24:05
Would like to say enjoy your travels Mr edd 2.If you are anywhere near me your welcome to come for a cup of tea.
Also I'd like too ask why Liverpool and other teams have a lack of female coaches. Also do you think in the coming years this may change. Many thanks

{Ed002's Note - Thanks - I shall be heading for the high deserts of Nevada for a popular music concert. I will check in when I can - but I am not sure that Virginia City has internet access.

Female coaches are indeed rare in most of the game at the highest level. There are a couple in Russia I know of and there is a decent number in the United States and Canada. FIFA has a programme to increase the number of women in the game - from top to bottom. It was never well thought out. Few English sides have women in senior positions - West Ham has Karen Brady, Chelsea has Marina Granovskaia as director and lead transfer negotiator - and Ed007's fantasy squeeze Eva Carneiro as club doctor. After that it is patchy.}

15 Jun 2015 20:43:42
Thanks Mr edd enjoy your time away

16 Jun 2015 01:51:21
Marina Granovskaia is definitely on par with Carneiro

15 Jun 2015 22:04:44
Enjoy Ed and don't forget if your travels ever bring you to England there's still a beer in Tamworth for you

15 Jun 2015 23:50:49
I'll be there with my wife in August. Booked rooms at the MGM Grand. Have fun, Ed!

{Ed002's Note - There is no MGM anything in Virginia City.}

16 Jun 2015 14:27:58
Sorry, thought you were talking about Vegas

{Ed002's Note - I avoid LV whenever I can.}

15 Jun 2015 18:49:55
Firmino moving to the prem is it nailed on United ? Or are others in for him too ?

{Ed002's Note - Try the European pages.}

15 Jun 2015 20:20:34
what's the link?

{Ed002's Note - No idea - I never look at the site. There will be a link somewhere.}

15 Jun 2015 18:26:09
I appriciate people don't like Allen or Rodgers particularly, but can we stop with the uninformed 'Allen is Rodgers favourite and he'll be made into first choice DM' etc?
Allen has been a squad player more or less since he arrived, especially in the last two seasons,
There are enough real things we can criticise Rodgers for without making stuff up, there's nothing to suggest Allen will be Lucas' replacement should he leave,

15 Jun 2015 18:40:51
I like allen in that position. Wasn't Lucas a converted CAM ?

Allen could well thrive there, or fail but either way I don't think it will be an absolutely catastrophe if it doesn't work out lol

What annoys me is when we battered Tottenham in December (when we finish 2nd) our team was ob the left and why didn't he play this team on the right

Mignolet. ""
Jonno. ""
Skrtle. ""
Agger/sakho. sakho/lovren
Flannagan. moreno
Lucas ""
Hendo. ""
Allen. allen/can
Sterling. ""
Coutinho. ""
Suarez try borini, ballo, lam

It shouldn't of been as much of a change as It was, and I can't understand why we got so bad.

15 Jun 2015 19:08:11
Yep, Lucas was always further up prior to joining.

15 Jun 2015 19:44:28
Your both correct that Lucas wasn't a CDM by trade,
I'm not doubting Allen's ability there at all, as a Welshman who's home town is roughly 10 miles away from his, I have a soft spot for him.
My only point, is pointing out Allen will replace Lucas as fact is scaremongering,nobody knows what's likely to happen.
And I want Rodgers out as much as everybody else, but I'd rather concentrate on his actual failings rather than just creating them,

15 Jun 2015 21:40:25
Allen's not a terrible player (high praise I know) and he's had some good runs for us. But I have no confidence in his ability to deliver on a consistent basis. He gets a run of games where he gets about the pitch, shows for possession, helps keep a high tempo and makes a few good passes, and you think "finally, he's showing a bit of quality. He'll kick on start taking games by the scruff of the neck any minute now", but he doesn't. He continues at a level of almost being there for a few weeks, and then has a game where he's completely shut out by the opposition, has a couple of rough games after, and then either he gets injured, or someone else who was injured returns to fitness and he loses his place. Rinse and repeat. Whilst I can see what was going on in Rodgers' head when we paid £15m for him, and far worse has "graced" our midfield in the past, I just don't think he's ever going to hold down a first team place.

Even firing on all cylinders, I can't see him playing CDM, he's neither good enough defensively or consistent enough in his ability on the ball to effectively link play and start attacks.

15 Jun 2015 21:45:53
Allen at DM is like putting Sterling in goal. WHY? to get bullied or give away free kicks outside of the box being his little legs can't reach the ball when tackling.

16 Jun 2015 00:02:05
I have nothing against him as I have credited him for the good or very good games he's had for us and he has had some. However, what I don't like is that for a player of limited ability, he should not be forced down our throats just because the manager is obsessed with his version of possession footie that he compares to Barca's but has no basis in reality. He seems to always wanna shoehorn him into the lineup even tho for certain games, he would not be effective or wanting to play him at DM and sell Lucas, a true DM to accommodate him. Sorry but if you are working that hard to convince us that a player of such limited ability, is worth his spot and you are ready to freeze out a better player in such a disgraceful manner just do achieve that then, don't get pissed when they call said player your love child. If the shoe fits, wear it.

16 Jun 2015 00:56:25
Allen gets a really raw deal, he hasn't ever really done anything wrong. Risking sounding like BR he's great technically, a good outlet for his teammates and if he was in a team that did not really on pace on the counter he'd be a very good player. Sure, he doesn't do the flashy stuff, but if you watch, and I mean really watch, a game you realise how he can make a team tick over with his passing and positional intelligence. His performances did perhaps get sloppy during the tail-end of the season, but why do some fans fail to consider that it could be the idiocy of some fans just slagging off any player who isn't Suarez or Coutinho because they don't go on pitch length dribbles.

16 Jun 2015 13:47:23
Redohio, I think you've missed the point entirely, but if you want to jump on the Allen's been a key player/regular starter for 3 years bandwagon that's cool.
Quick look at his appearances show he's a squad player,nothing to suggest the departure of Lucas or Gerrard will change that.

15 Jun 2015 17:03:17
Hi eds is there any latest on Skrtel's contract situation? Also what's the latest with Ilori? Cheers

{Ed002's Note - Nothing has changed.}

15 Jun 2015 16:31:59
We seem so busy so early this year. milner ings bogdan origi done.

Potentially kovacic aswell

Clyne rejected but still trying

And now gomez

Howi wonder how many signings are we going to make. anyways where do you see firmino going. ?

{Ed002's Note - There is a good chance of Firmino moving to England but please don't hold your breath over a move to Liverpool.}

15 Jun 2015 17:24:23
Think he`s off to Utd. Heard it on BEINSPORT during the Brazil-Peru game.

15 Jun 2015 18:05:33
beinsport also said guardiola was off to city! mayebe they only assume to know things that are City related

15 Jun 2015 18:12:03
Yes, he was until Bayern came out and squashed it. It was in the spanish daily As as well as, Marca.

15 Jun 2015 16:28:52
Hi Ed 02 ! Hope You are fine ! what's the latest on kovacic situation ? Any twists ?

{Ed002's Note - You mean like Inter wanting more money because of the payment plan offered by Liverpool? Nothing worth mentioning.}

15 Jun 2015 18:13:24
Can they negate on an already confirmed verbsl deal ed

Or are they ok with the sum offered but wsbt more money up front ?

{Ed002's Note - They can do whatever they want - there was no final agreement.}

15 Jun 2015 18:15:55
No interest free credit Ed 😏

15 Jun 2015 18:52:52
Can lfc get a payday loan to offer a better deposit? Satsuma loans are offering competitive rates.

15 Jun 2015 21:44:28
Doesn't Satsuma have a typical APR of 1070% or something horrendous?!

15 Jun 2015 13:00:44
The one top quality player we are linked with and we mess it up again. I know a lot of people are suggesting that we don't need him, but he's a step up in our other midfielders. We will get a striker, I'm not going to say top quality because every time we are linked with a quality signing we never pull it off. But a striker nonetheless and I think that's what people are worried about, we will down our so called 'kitty' on kovacic and be left short in getting a striker. I can only assume that sterling will be sold this summer along with other players, so there will be money available from player sales regardless of bringing in kovacic. It's just a shame that we always show intentions of bringing in top players but never actually do it. It's like the people at Lfc want to fool the fans and say, 'look these are the players we are interested in and we are showing real ambition but they just don't want to come to us so we will settle for option C' whilst teams like Spurs snap up these players?

15 Jun 2015 13:39:03
What I fear is, that they will just find another midfielder.
Ed002 has informed that we have interest in the following midfielders:

Kovacic: At the moment it´s a maybe
Stindl: Rejected a LFC move
Khedira: Went to Juventus
Pjanic: Extremely Expensive
Vazquez: LFC´s interest has waned - He would also command a huge fee
Anderson: see Vazquez

If these are the only targets LFC have chosen, then what will happen if the Kovacic deals falls through? Will we see a kneejerk reaction, the same that happened last year with Balotelli?

15 Jun 2015 14:27:13
True, it's just goes to show how badly the club is run from top to bottom. Personally I think kovacic is the only viable option out of the ones you listed and has the potential to be the best if he isn't already. So all I am saying is this is a one off opportunity that we keep on messing up.

I just feel we will be left uninspired by the remaining signings, especially a striker who is the priority of the summer. I'm suggesting we go all out on a benzema or cavani because I try be realistic, but there are top quality strikers out there that we could get, but never seem to go for them.

15 Jun 2015 15:20:14
I think Kovacic only will get better, but he needs to play week in week out to improve. If we bought him we would have to play him every week, but where does that leave Can, who is also a talent?
Other positions such as GK and DM are more important, but it seems we already have bought a GK (who won´t improve the team), and BR doesn´t fancy a DM.

I wouldn´t be surprised if Ings is the only striker that is bought this summer. It will though depend on what happens to Borini, Balotelli and Lambert(Balo and Lambert will probably stay with the club). So that leaves us with 5 strikers; Balotelli, Ings, Origi, Lambert and Sturridge. I think Benzema and Cavani are unrealistic, and to be honest they need quality around them to have an impact.

{Ed002's Note - GK has been dealt with - Liverpool have already signed a new one.}

15 Jun 2015 16:53:59
Completely agree with you Kman92.
I have been thinking this for a while now. Not just this transfer window but previous ones as well.
Whoever is dealing with the transfers needs booting out imo. Fail after fail!

15 Jun 2015 18:17:46
Our team next season with abit of Luck and investment will be

Mignolet
Clyne/manquillo
Skrtle
Lovren
Moreno
Henderson
Kovacic
Coutinho
Milner
Lallana
Ings

Origi
IBR
Marko
Can
Allen
Toure
Bogdan

15 Jun 2015 18:58:27
Sahko Sturridge

15 Jun 2015 19:06:32
Redman, are you assuming Sturridge is recovering from injury and Sakho has left along with Lucas and Balo?

Also is IBR Ibrahimovic (who would probably want to start) or Ibe?

Would hope we get a more established striker in to complement Sturridge, Origi, Ings and Ibe.

15 Jun 2015 21:48:23
Eww, that team is 7th place material 6th at best.

16 Jun 2015 01:15:42
Sturridge injured
Sakho, Lucas, sterling sold
Ibr (is Jordan Ibe) my other phone would just not let me put it Hah.

I do think there going to be stuck with ballo and unless he moves then Brendan has to try and get some of that 16MILLION back through goals, and we also then can't have another striker on the books.

Sturridge, ballo, origi/lambert, ings.

And sold would be borin, aspas, albeto, sterling, Lucas, sakho and gerrard, jonno released and potentially Enrique going.

15 Jun 2015 10:33:41
Hi all, just wanted to know, is it just me that still has hope for Lovren??

When we signed him I was pretty sure that him and Sakho would be an immense pairing. This was only reiterated in the friendlies he played for us, although they weren't the highest level of games obviously, he seemed to fit in perfectly. As soon as the competitive season began he just fell to pieces.

To be fair to him Rodgers is happy to constantly change the most important place regarding stability on the pitch. He feel like his drop in confidence then transitions in to other players, in particular Mignolet.

At the beginning of his Liverpool career I remember him being one of the most vocal on the pitch, however this doesn't seem the case anymore.

I strongly believe he is actually a good players, I remember how happy some fans were, probably the majority after his signings and his preseason. He did very well for Southampton and Lyon, surely this must be a mentality problem. Obviously if played with Sakho he would be on the right side; not his favourable position but it shouldn't matter too much. I would really like him and Sakho to get a run of games in preseason together. Or if not then Sakho and Ilori.

I just really feel we can't move forward at all with Skrtel playing, I will support him while he's here but feel our system doesn't cater towards his strengths and this is massively exploited at times only masked my his goal saving theatrics.

Does anyone agree? Or not

{Ed002's Note - It is really Sakho or Lovren rather than Sakho and Lovren.}

15 Jun 2015 11:08:12
He just needs confidence IMO.

15 Jun 2015 11:23:21
It absolutely baffles me when Rodgers declines to play Sakho and Lovren together. Arguably our best performance last season was the 3-0 win over Tottenham away where Sakho and Lovren started together (one of few if any times they did).

15 Jun 2015 11:39:47
Lovren is definitely one player who needs to step up in a big way. His performances last season was close to amateurish, but I do hope he steps up; easy to say that but difficult in reality to achieve that In a team coached by Rodgers.

15 Jun 2015 11:42:07
My take on the defensive situation:

Skrtel is the culprit of our defense at the moment, as he has little defensive awareness, which leads to him often being out of position. His fellow CB then has to cover some of the gaps Skrtel creates, hence his fellow CB looks poor.

Furthermore, the transfer committee/Rodgers has chosen to pick Lovren and Sakho who previously has had cover in form of Waynayma, Schneiderlin and Matuidi (all great DM). BR doesn´t want to play a DM, and it can be seen that especially Lovren is used to have someone to cover for him, as he´s often out of position. It doesn´t mean that Lovren is a poor player, just that he doesn´t fit the formation we play.

As I see it, Skrtel won´t be able to improve his part of the game, he is to old to change his mentallity. I believe that Lovren will improve (though I still can´t believe we paid that much for an average defender) if he will get another CB (who can hold his line) and that we start playing with a DM.

15 Jun 2015 11:46:48
Ed, do you not think Lovren would be as capable as we would need him to be, if he was playing as a right sided cb?

{Ed002's Note - That was not why he was purchased.}

15 Jun 2015 12:30:55
I was going to ask why we would purchase a left sided cb, only to purchase another one 12 months later. Even though the first one we bought is good enough?
Then I thought well why would we buy a promising young cm and play him as a right sided cb and send a promising young cb out on loan twice without even giving him more than 45 Mins to prove himself, then it dawned on me. Skrtel is Pinky and BR is the brain! Problem solved.

15 Jun 2015 12:57:53
Lovren should be switched to RCB or learn how to tackle with his left foot. He always tries to make tackles (even slid tackle) with his wrong foot - that's why he gets done so much.

15 Jun 2015 16:41:02
Lovren like Clyne, excelled at the saints because it played a true DM ahead of him along with a competent partner next to him hence, a system that allowed them to thrive At LFC, you have an incompetent manager who plays we pretty much NO DM when Lucas is benched for SG or Allen and you have an incompetent partner in Skrtel to partner him. Spot the difference and you`ll see why the boy is struggling. As for Clyne, he is the same as Lovren. If he plays in BR`s system, he will struggle.

15 Jun 2015 09:21:03
Wanted to get peoples opinions on Charlie Austin.

Considering his premier league goal scoring record compared to a falcao or Ballotelli its very impressive.

I've not seen a lot of the guy and wondered if he could play with an ings/sturridge upfront.

These days i think its hard to buy goals especially without champions league and looking through previous posts Benteke seems like the most possible at double the price Austin is.

Personally i'd go for Austin over benteke and don't see players like Tevez coming any were near lfc.

15 Jun 2015 10:03:20
Opinion: a younger version of Ricky Lambert.
Decent ball skills, decent movement, too slow to be a top class striker.
Wouldn't bother spending the money on him, he will not make a massive difference to us IMO.

15 Jun 2015 10:11:46
He is going to West Ham.

15 Jun 2015 16:42:50
That is what keeping BR and FSG`s poor decision gets you, Ron. You must be proud

15 Jun 2015 17:34:24
Comparing anybody's goal scoring record to Falcao and Balotellis is quite impressive.

15 Jun 2015 07:50:07
Would anyone here like lukas podolski . I think he is good little dynamite of a player. Has been playing for Germany since eternity. Has a good goal scoring record. i don't think he will remain at arsenal but i think he could be a good buy for us. Not anyone's first choice but he could very well be an excellent signing for a couple of seasons. anyway i have this view also that is like can never go wrong with germans. any of the Eds rate him at all?

15 Jun 2015 08:25:22
He's truly awful .

15 Jun 2015 09:12:58
Why would he leave Arsenal's bench to sit on ours?

15 Jun 2015 09:16:41
Terrible shout!!

15 Jun 2015 09:24:12
17 apps and 1 goal for inter. not the best goal scoring record

15 Jun 2015 10:11:33
Id have had him when arsenal got him.

I always wanted to see what he would do in the prem.Which was nothing.

So no I wouldn't look at him now.

15 Jun 2015 10:29:14
A few years ago when we was on fire for Koln and Germany then yeah.

15 Jun 2015 16:46:44
When he was 22, yes. Now? Heck no.

15 Jun 2015 06:57:15
Morning Eds

Any update on the Kovacic situation? Its been quite all weekend?

Joke obviously chaps. I just hope we can resolve this hickup amd get him signed up.

15 Jun 2015 08:02:43
A good player we really don´t need. Other areas are more important at the moment. I guess it is a win/win situation for the fans, as we want better players. I would assume that it is a lose/lose situation for the club - the clubs reputation will have worsened no matter what, and once again the club can´t get the player they want.

15 Jun 2015 17:00:59
Redfuzz has echoed my points exactly.