Liverpool Banter Archive April 17 2017

17 Apr 2017 18:12:54
We need to recruit athletico madrid scouts. year after year they keep finding gems and then selling them for high value . there forward recruitmet has been especially impressive foe the past 10-15 years now.

17 Apr 2017 18:26:10
That is what Ed01 has been talking about. Our scouting network is so far behind other clubs, it's appalling. Do you think our scouting dept. would have found Kante who they scouted first when he was in the depths of the French second division? That would be an emphatic NO. Until that is fixed and hopefully it will be done under Klopp, we will continue to struggle to get talent. Look at Saints as well. We buy from them every time cos their scouting dept. is top notch. It's not record science really.

17 Apr 2017 18:28:02
Benfica, Porto, Napoli. There are many who finds gems.

17 Apr 2017 19:23:16
Can we get AM's goal keeping scout/ coach or in fact Oblak please?

17 Apr 2017 19:40:39
We did pretty well last summer by selling on Ibe, Smith and many others too for sum really good money.

I think we have failed recently paying way over the odds for players who should not have been let near a Liverpool shirt. Believe the tide is changing under Klopp. Keep the faith.

17 Apr 2017 19:43:43
I think athletico are the best. one classy striker after another. Fron torres to forlan to aguero to falcao to costa and now griezman. have i missed anyone?

17 Apr 2017 19:52:54
Diego Costa would be classy in the circus. Thank heavens he did not sign for LFC.

17 Apr 2017 21:00:52
They failed with Jackson Martinez but hey, they are allowed a blip once in a while, right?

17 Apr 2017 22:46:25
Id be very happy with Correa, he looks like a good player.

18 Apr 2017 03:29:44
Martinez was a fail but I'm sure they moved him on rapidly and for a profit to China.

18 Apr 2017 07:56:23
Part of finding undiscovered gems is also playing them and having the patience to let them adapt and settle in which is where many so called 'feeder' clubs have an advantage as these aren't fighting for a starting spot with a proven talent already like Coutinho, Firmino, Mane etc.

For hidden gems I think we should look to what we have already in Can, Grujic, Woodburn, Wilson, Gomez and just focus our spend on buying players that obviously strengthen our weaknesses (eg CB)

18 Apr 2017 09:50:54
Spot on Zimbo. What happens is the manager is generally too afraid to take a gamble on an unknown player that the fans also will not get excited about and in turn goes for the much more expensive "proven" player. When in turn those proven PL players are not proven at all or had one good season.

18 Apr 2017 18:37:49
Natural, OR the fans are too fickle and quick to get on the players' backs for making mistakes initially in their development and having no patience with them during the growing pains of adapting to the PL. I have always said it. If you don't give a player enough opportunities to come good, you do NOT deserve the player you want him to become. end of.

19 Apr 2017 08:31:58
At moment LFC has been stuck in between having money/ CL to buy the best and having the luxury of developing players. Probably the worst place for a manager to be when you look at it. The reaction from fans to players having blips in form or not being the finished article at 19 or making the odd mistake is part of the problem.

19 Apr 2017 09:22:03
Well said N Red, were all guilty of that at times.

17 Apr 2017 18:00:22
Hi All,

I've been wanting to do this myself however i feel like i haven't been watching the U23's enough to pass judgement!

So have a request for either the ed's or any other posters who would be willing to slowly do a review of the current U23 squad of how their season has gone and what future should hold for them!

just thought it would be something interesting other than rumours as i know quite a few of them are reaching an age where they should be playing regular football or are being overtaken by a younger generation!

Thoughts?

17 Apr 2017 21:52:27
I'd be interested in hearing more 👍🏻.

17 Apr 2017 21:57:57
I'll see what I can do mate but I won't make any promises. If anyone else can do it that would be great.

17 Apr 2017 23:08:47
i'd be happy to throw in a list of our U23's and give a brief summary of my opinion but i have limited viewing of game time this season!

or perhaps if people put in requests i will do research on specific players!

18 Apr 2017 08:23:26
Looks like the u23s will finish third in the league this year and had some outstanding performances and a few slips (mostly when their regulars have been sitting on first team bench to be fair) .

From what I've seen a few of the most talented like TAA, Woodburn, Ejaria got given a shot in the firsts squad this year, and most notably behind them I'd say Wilson has been a standout with 28 goals already this season! Ojo and Ejaria other notables but suffered injuries and not sure how badly that'll set them back.

Aside from those, Rhian Brewster has also stepped up well from the u18s, and despite only 17 looks like has all the attributes to make it in a couple of years time, he's made a big difference since coming in. Grabara at GK also has something about him IMO by shared the spot with Keleher who's also highly rated, and there are some others like Virtue, Stewart, Jordan Williams that have been very consistent if not spectacular. Juanma did well initially but now injured.

Others notables on the fringe but maybe needing a couple of years to develop still are Yan Dhanda (Llalana like player), Toni and Madger Gomes.

Overall I'd like to think TAA, Woodburn, Ojo, Wilson have the most promise to make the step next year and I'd love to see them all given a real shot, but not sure how we'll find game time for all three forwards and if not who will miss out. Perhaps Ojo need to go on loan again to play regularly.

Not sure anyone in midfield or defence ready yet but I wouldn't rule out perhaps a shot for Matty Virtue in cup games or Jordan Williams.

In a year or twos time I'd hope to see Grabara, Yan Dhanda and Brewster pushing hard to be considered.

17 Apr 2017 17:14:15
Anyone unsure of sessengon of Fulham just look at the goal he scored today it's effectively a far harder version of milners chance from yesterday the ball ends up in the net.

17 Apr 2017 17:19:22
He played lw today that was interesting.

17 Apr 2017 19:20:17
He has played as a winger on a number of occasions I do believe.

17 Apr 2017 22:01:05
1 goal - that ought to be enough to change people's mind about a player 😂.

17 Apr 2017 23:08:34
Our ban will stop us from signing sessegnon.

18 Apr 2017 00:10:57
It won't Phil, he can sign a pro contract this summer.
We won't sign him though.

{Ed007's Note - And Kieran Tierney's goal on Sunday was better ;)

17 Apr 2017 13:55:56
So now that Simon Mignolet has performed really well in the last 2 games (long may it continue) what do u think the club should do in the summer for the GK position?

I still feel there is a mistake in him but to be fair to him he's been doing well.

17 Apr 2017 14:13:21
Although he has been playing well of late, and has made a couple of decent saves, that beig all they are, decent, not these world class saves people keep making out.
I think we're so used to mediocrity that by him keeping us in the last two games have changed some peoples viewpoints, however he has been here for around 3 years and two good performances back to back should not be a reason to consider him as our first choice keeper for years to come. I don't want to come across as negative but it is what it is, all keepers are bound to make mistakes, but some of Mignolets are just outright stupidity and come around quite often.
Compare him to our competitors first choices, De Gea, Cech, Courtois, Lloris, these guys are making match winning saves every week, had they made the saves Mignolet had made the past few games, they wouldn't be hailed as world class saves. My point is we need a keeper who we can rely on to keep us in games when were not playing well, not one that is suspect at times but can keep us in the odd couple of games a season.

17 Apr 2017 15:02:44
It's obviously more than back to back games where he's played well, he's played decently more often than not this season but he's a mistake prone player, so we will have to see how he does until the end of the season. A lot of people seem to think mignolet will be sold and karius moved to number 1 with ward as number 2, whilst that would be an ideal scenario, there's a few problems with that. Is ward ready, and would he be willing to be second choice when first team football is available to him and that might be in the premier league. And is karius an adequate first choice goalkeeper, those are still questions left to be answered but I think it is huge risks. If ward can't be relied on and karius performs the way he started this season then there is no mignolet to come in and improve on that, because without question he did that this season and it was a good call by Klopp regardless of what people say. For me goalkeeper only becomes a priority if ward leaves again and mignolet is sold, only then would I look to bring in someone, but that someone would have to be better than karius. I want to give karius a fair shot and I'm sure he will get it but my gut is telling me he is as bad or worse than mignolet especially at the basics from what I've seen.

17 Apr 2017 15:13:43
Everyone should be judged at the end of the season over a whole season. As to whether we replace him, it depends on who is available to us. It is still our biggest weakness in my opinion because it is such a crucial position in the team.
I agree with a lot of what Mr C says. 👏.

17 Apr 2017 15:58:16
I think some of you lot have become a little too used to mediocracy when it comes to goal keepers, 2 games where he doesn't make a mistake doesn't make him Buffon.

17 Apr 2017 15:59:16
No new GK will arrive unless Mignolet leaves. Think everyone needs to deal with it. There is no interest in Mignolet.

17 Apr 2017 17:15:45
I don't see the point in bringing someone in unless they're a huge upgrade. So I'd rather we didn't waste money on Hart/ Ruffier/ Pickford as they're not an upgrade. We should tighten our defence and get better coaching staff in for our current incumbents.

17 Apr 2017 17:23:15
I will maintain that we should spend whatever money Liverpool has for transfers this Summer on the defence. Sell Mingolet, Clyne, Moreno, Klavan, Sakho (unfortunately) and Lovren and buy the very best replacements we can afford. Do i think this will happen? No! Do i trust Liverpool or the scouting system to pick the best available players within our budget? Sadly, No! What i will say is that it should not be too difficult to upgrade on the likes of Moreno, Clyne, Mignolet and Klavan.

17 Apr 2017 17:24:27
We are looking at Jordan Pickford as our world class keeper for the next season.

17 Apr 2017 17:24:21
Unless we're prepared to pay the price for someone like Bernd Leno or Jan Oblak then I can't see why point in changing keeper as they're the only genuine top class keepers that would be in the same class as those mentioned.

17 Apr 2017 18:37:19
Spot on, Mr C. In addition to that, all the top GKare taken so whoever you get will still need time to adapt and get comfortable hence, mistakes will happen. We all know howmany people reacted to Karius' two mistakes and if we think that won't happen again to the new GK next season then, we are deluding ourselves. We need to create our own top class GK by improving him, sticking with him thru thick and thin, protecting him with a good defensive setup so he can grow. NO amount of money will fix this issue as NO top GK will come here. This is what people need to get over.

Pinkford is no better than Migs nor Karius, IMO. Hart? He's worse than both of them. Klopp is not going to bring in a new GK as he's already alluded to that. He will have both duke it out for the no. 1 spot cos let's face it, Karius is going nowhere. Migs? If there's an offer, maybe.

17 Apr 2017 18:34:01
Dennis

There are 32 teams playing CL every year and 48 teams playing EL. It's bull to say there aren't any good keepers at all in Europe!

17 Apr 2017 21:26:57
There are loads Harry. Just that we're apparently incapable of finding them. Proven by our scouts looking at Pickford and Ruffier.

18 Apr 2017 02:23:43
There are loads of shotstoppers but very few who are good at organising the defence and at defending crosses.

18 Apr 2017 02:39:03
Dennis, both GK's are poor as heck, too.

18 Apr 2017 09:57:17
We should sign whoever saints are signing to replace VVD their black box? Thing is obviously working season after season and we need to take note.

17 Apr 2017 10:03:14
I've been the first to slate the defensive side of our game of late, along with mental toughness. But I felt we delt with their aireal threat pretty well to be fair . Yes, there were a few moments yesterday when we lost a bit of composure at the back but we limited them to only 2 Shots on target.

Whilst Origi didn't score, he gave their back 4 plenary to think about whilst not being bullied off the ball. Once again Bibby showing want a good player her really is.
Migs - hats off, he had another pretty decent game.

I also want to mention Gini. Im a firm believer that this he gives the team balance. You need to be watching the games live to appreciate the work he does off the ball, stuff you don't on the camera's!

It wasn't a great game but who can play free flowing football against a Tony Pulis side that instructs his players to kick lumps out of the opppsotion?

We won ugly yesterday and for that I'm pleased.

17 Apr 2017 10:39:41
Put comment on wrong thread, I still see teams targetting Clyne and getting plenty of return from it. He is still being caught out either day dreaming or ball watching and better teams will get results. Strange to say but Milner as a converted midfielder is noticably better.

17 Apr 2017 12:09:58
Tough place to go and win. Thought Mignolet was brilliant, concentration, good anticipation and dealt with high balls confidently and decisively. Lucas marshalled the midfield and defence well ably supported by Can and the quietly efficient Wijnaldum. Origi had a thankless task but was a willing runner and caused problems for them. Great goal and the irony of Pulis complaining about set piece argy bargy is hilarious.

17 Apr 2017 13:39:11
Klopp deserves a lot of credit for preparing his team both physically, mentally and tactically for the battle and for once, we took the fight to them instead of allowing them to dictate the physical battle.

That started with Origi, man-handling their defenders. Think about it. An LFC striker bullying WB defenders under Tony Pulis (watching him drive Evans' face into the ground was priceless) and the team was able to feed off of that. We did the bullying and they shrunk. We should have been up 3 goals had we taken our chances too BUT we got the win and we move on.

As for Pulis just like Koeman, he knows he got tactically hammered by Klopp so he started complaining about things that had NOTHING to do with the game.

17 Apr 2017 13:42:13
Yes Dennis, we were just brilliant, and I just love football Karma, bet Pulis doesn't .

17 Apr 2017 07:54:34
Top 4 is all I've hoped for all season, as slated for several times. Not far away now. Utd play 5 of their last seven away inc city arsenal and spurs. If we are as solid defensively in the remaining games as we have been over the last 2, then things look good. Anyone think arsenal can get on a run?

{Ed025's Note - arsenal are no threat at all burkey..

17 Apr 2017 08:36:07
And I thought Chelsea might pose them a problem, Arsenal will be easy for them. We need to win all our remaining games to hold of Utd I reckon.

17 Apr 2017 08:39:18
Agree johnny, every dropped point is a blow.

17 Apr 2017 10:15:48
Any team playing arsenal will fancy their chances.

17 Apr 2017 13:58:14
Even Boro tonight.

17 Apr 2017 06:14:06
{Ed's Note - We have posted a new article entitled, World's Top Managers?

17 Apr 2017 09:00:00
Class read mate, but what about Jorge Jesus?

{Ed001's Note - damn I knew I was forgetting someone. Not sure if he would make it, I would have to research him first, but I forgot to even include him on the list of managers to consider.}

17 Apr 2017 10:07:14
NO Tony Pulis or Fat Sam? That list has absolutely no credibility without those two.

17 Apr 2017 10:25:39
Fat Sam gets a lot of criticism on this page and whilst some of it is deserved (the off field stuff) he is exceptional at what he does. Without exception he had improved the club he's at and that is an incredible record.