Liverpool Banter Archive March 01 2017

01 Mar 2017 22:10:54
This post is in reply to MK Scouser's earlier post. For those who have not read MK's post, he mentions that LFC should sell Mignolet, Clyne, Coutinho, Sturridge and some other fringe players from the first team and bring in Ricardo Pereira (Porto), Robertson (Hull), Scott Dann (Crystal Palace), Hector Herrera (Porto) and Mariano (Real Madrid) . I didn't agree with his post and I thought (and still think) it is ridiculous to sell players like Coutinho and Sturridge and bring in a kid (not literally) like Mariano (who has done nothing so far in his senior career) to replace them both. I also don't agree with bringing in Scott Dann and Hector Herrera. Here are my reasons:

Scott Dann: In no way is he an improvement over either Matip or Lovren and will only be a squad player and that is not what we want at the back. We have conceded over 130 goals in 3 seasons (including this) and I cannot see how Dann will improve the squad, let alone the first team. We need a CB who will challenge both Matip and Lovren, and Dann simply is not that player. I don't give credence to things like how he is a Liverpool fan and will run through a brick wall for the team, because simply, there is no substitute for quality and Dann certainly is not one at this stage of his career.

Hector Herrera: I have seen quite a bit of Herrera for the Mexican national team (I am not Mexican but my reasons for watching the Mexican NT is a private matter) and I can guarantee you that in no way will he be an improvement on either of Lallana or Wijnaldum. He is a hard working player who will not shirk away from a challenge but that is about it; he lacks genuine quality, and while he maybe an improvement on Emre Can, I don't see him displacing either Wijanldum or Lallana. I think it imperative that LFC bring in a DM who can bully the opposition and not let them run through our midfield like they have been for quite sometime. This particularly important as Henderson is showing signs of injuries now on a regular basis, and if Klopp doesn't trust Lucas or Stewart there (he prefers Emre Can over them in DM) then it is vital we get a strong DM, and Herrera is certainly not that player (nor will he be an improvement if played in one of Lallana's or Wijnaldum's position) .

Mariano: He has played a grand total of 9 senior games in his career at the top level in Spain and you want him to be the replacement for Coutinho AND Sturridge? We have seen that Firmino works as a good option up top when we play against the bigger teams but his lack of pace means the opposition can easily nullify what he has to offer when they defend deep. Keeping in mind LFC already have 2 players (Origi and Ings) who have yet to prove themselves at LFC, bringing in another kid (I think you understand now that this term is used loosely here) who have proved nothing is nothing short of baffling. We need a proven goalscorer who can slot into the team straight away and Mariano won't be that kid.

Ricardo Pereira: I have not seen a lot of him so I will pass on this as I did in the original post.

Andrew Robertson: He will be an improvement on Milner and Moreno (but then a lot of players will be) so I think Robertson is a decent choice.

Liverpool need a new spine (feel free to let your thoughts wander here) and bringing in Dann, Herrera and Mariano is not going to give us that spine. We need players who are ready to step up a level from already a good level or players who are at a very high level. I appreciate that MK stuck to the players the ED has pointed were of interest in, but quite honestly, I cannot see how any of those 3 will improve Liverpool.

There will be players moving this summer who we can bring in but it will cost a lot but that is what the owners need to pay to get them. Handanovic, Begovic, Kolasinic, Tierney, Robertson, Kessie, Fabinho, Tielmans, Brandt, Douglas Costa, Lemar, Lacazette, Aubameyang, Mbappe are among a mixture of very talented kids or experienced players who will be ready to step up or who will help Liverpool step up. I understand this maybe easily looked upon as fantasy.

Lastly, I would like to say that I didn't mean to offend you MK, but I think your posts are way to idealistic (lots of young players to be trusted over experience, expecting average players to step up, etc) . I hope this post is what you were looking for in terms of an explanation for my previous post.

02 Mar 2017 01:34:25
Needs top ready made players. We have far too much potential in this team.

Doesnt matter jf there young but got to have atleast a full season in a top league under tbere belt and comw in ready to improve.

As good as mariano could be let him have his development somewhere else.

Dann? No need to get in top top top top quality. Or none at all. Where here now needing new signings because we haven't signed top top players in the past.

Ia any of you even conaiderimg someone for the rw. No we got the reasy made mane and since his firsr game vs tranmerw he has been a hit.

Can and origi 3 and 2 years in and still waiting for half the impact of mane.

02 Mar 2017 01:13:29
He lost. me when to sell coutinho are only magic player.

02 Mar 2017 03:33:34
excellent post AG. this is how id like to read discussions, disagreeing without the need to be abusive. hope to read more posts like this.

i feel that a mixture of youth and experience is needed, and if were talking about the spine of a team, we definitely need some top players to fill in some of the gaps, probably midfield and defense. quality is what we really need now and for CB i would really prefer someone that can come in and perform like matip, and i agree that that man isn't scott dann.

for areas that are not as important or critical right now, we should have our youth players to cover.

02 Mar 2017 06:14:41
@AG - I agree largely with your sentiments: Dann is not up to the required quality and should not be signed.

Hector Herrera seems decent without being exceptional and, as has been mentioned, we want improvements over current players not similar ability.

With Mariano I disagree though. It's not that I think he is great, i've barely seen the lad play, but I think our position rules out signing a top class forward. If Sturridge leaves I am unconvinced that either Ings (in light of his terrible injury issues) nor Origi (still young, very inconsistent) are enough to go into the next season with. The problem is top class forwards cost a lot of money and, as is well known, our defence is in dire shape. If we truly streghten our defence properly I doubt we have the fund to sign a 'marquee' forward. Mariano is young (ish), would not be overtly expensive and could flourish. There is of course no guarantee but, if Firmino is the longterm first choice, then there is space for someone like Mariano to grow and improve. He may or may not cut the mustard but I can understand how somebody like Mariano would be far more likely than, say, someone like Aubameyang (which is just fantasy stuff) . I wouldn't be against his transfer to be honest.

In terms of needing a spine I agree entirely and I think that will, hopefully, be what we look to in summer - we can but hope.

p. s. As an aside MK/ Adam is always wildly idealistic in terms of signings and potential of players - anybody who has been around on these forums for a while will know - but it's still nice to have contrasting voices and opinions on here, it's one of many reasons that this is the only football site I visit.

02 Mar 2017 08:01:30
'Keeper, centre back, left back, left winger. To me those are the top priorities. I won't say which players should be signed, but they should be those that can slot in to the 1st team, not backups.
And Stewart should be given game time. I'd rather play him when Hendo is out, rather than Can. but that's just me. That's his preferred role, instead of shoehorning Can into a position he really isn't disciplined enough to play.
Stewart may not be ready, to some, but he won't be if he doesn't play.

02 Mar 2017 08:01:38
IMO it's about time we signed more established players who can do a job straight off. We're filled with potential and young kids.
The players who have performed this season, for a fair chunk of it, Milner, Matip, Henderson, Lallana, Firmino and when called upon Lucas has more often then not done a decent job considering he plays out of his position and sporadic. All of these are senior players.
Teams like Chelsea, Utd and the top sides abroad often buy finished articles amongst the potential. It looks tried and tested to me and something we rarely do. But as Milner, Lallana (when coached properly) and Matip have shown, they come straight in improve us and over the season the most consistent.

02 Mar 2017 08:36:12
Mariano is a good talent but what does that mean to the furrier of Origi who is pretty much on the same age and same route?

02 Mar 2017 08:54:30
That is indeed the sort of reply I was after AG. Whilst I disagree on Dann, Herrera and Mariano still I can at least see why you disagree with signing them.

Just to add though I didn't say we "should" sell Coutinho. I just don't think we will be able to hold on to him. He has interest coming in from both PSG and Barcelona who can offer him regular titles and CL football.

I hope he stays, but I just don't think he will. I do think we should let Sturridge go though. He is currently the third choice striker behind Firmino and Origi, but he earns £150k per week. That is £7.5m a year in wages that we pay for little to no return. It's not even that he injury prone. I could back him to recover. It is that Klopp clearly doesn't see him as first choice yet his salary screams "star player".

Differences in opinion are part and parcel buddy. I respect what you have to say because you have backed it up with an explanation.

I have not actually said Dann is a better player than Matip. He is though a different player. Lovren, Matip, Lucas and Gomez are all ball playing centre backs. Klavan is a more out and out defender but he has probably come to the Prem too late to adapt. Dann is not as over the hill as you suggest though. He is only 30 so easily has another 6 years in him seeing as he has already adapted to this league.

Herrera I personally like. I think he is a much better player than you credit him for being but this is clearly just an area we will always disagree on.

As for Mariano, it is unfair to judge him like that. Yes he only has 9 games for the Madrid first team (5 goals though), but he totals up 84 appearances and 53 goals in senior football. I don't see why it matters which tier of the game it was in.

You have pointed out we still have Danny Ings end Origi, yet Ings has just 1 season in top flight football and Origi is only 21 and still shows massive inconsistency. Our scouts identified Mariano in the winter and tried to sign him so there is a good chance we may go back for him in the summer. I just feel you're being slightly too dismissive of him.

I would not say I am wildly optimistic either Seano. I like to present opposing arguments for or against players we sign if I feel the general consensus is either too excited or too down about a signing. Even signings I am completely against I will still try and be positive because I don't see why we should hound a player before he gets a chance. I was dead against signing Moreno and made that clear but as soon as it was looking like he would sign I tried to be constructive in my criticism and look for positives.

Surely that is part of being a supporter? I know for a fact that professional players look at social media and forums to see how they are viewed so I'm not going to go over the top with negativity about a guy yet to put the shirt on. Ed002 did actually confirm that one year a player changed his mind on a transfer after something he read on this site. That is disgusting.

02 Mar 2017 09:58:49
@MK - I enjoy your contributions even if I, personally, find them wildly optimistic. You have an opinion and express it well and try to justify it - I might disagree but it's all good, we follow the same team after all.

To be honest though if a player did read something a fan said on this site and changed his mind i'm glad we didn't sign the player. You need players with the right attitude, willing to fight, willing to prove people wrong - if a player changes his mind due to an internet comment then I don't think the mentality is right in the first place.

02 Mar 2017 12:54:15
One thing I will say here is that people are definitely looking at the club not the player in Scott Dann. He is a quality CB, with a calm disposition, a decent tackle and absolutely dominant in the air. Considering our weaknesses (defence panicing, inability to defend set plays, defenders being pushed off the ball, utter impotency from corners etc) Dann would be a very good signing. Not to mention that at least he'd give the shirt 100% effort every time he put it on unlike some we could mention.

02 Mar 2017 14:37:15
Funny really, when the real AG had a little pop at MK, he mentioned at the end, that MK tends to have a certain opinion on how to improve the team, well it sounds just how a certain Klopp thinks as well .

02 Mar 2017 14:43:17
what I think we need is to bring in a new spine into the team, from a top goalie, right thru the middle to a main striker, most of the top players who are on a roll right now, are all big lads, who can handle themselves, as well as performing at a high level, our players are way to nice, we need heart and desire as well as them fancy boots .

02 Mar 2017 14:15:46
hjkle I think your assessment of Dann is bang on the money.

01 Mar 2017 20:41:13
How sure are you on naby keita, harry?

01 Mar 2017 21:18:33
I wouldn't go above the boss opinion. This is just an info I got it from couple of people down there. They did inform me about Juventus interest in Kolasiniac as well long ago. Klopp is looking for a midfielder, So you never know mate.

01 Mar 2017 19:16:23
I know everyone picking new players they would love, I know I'm going back for a few years now but we used to have a few leaders on the pitch who you could always hear shouting instructions to one another. This would be from the goalkeeper, a defender and also someone in midfield. Whoever Klopp puts in the side or buys now not only needs to be better than what we have but also needs to be a leader.

01 Mar 2017 21:15:41
Couldnt agree more with this. Every side needs a mix of players but ours is screaming out for someone like Souness who isn't going to accept players taking games lightly.

01 Mar 2017 19:39:26
Agree entirely. If you look at Chelsea Luiz and Azpilicueta are clearly the skilled players with the ability on the ball.

However, Cahill is the leader. Since he was made captain Chelsea have lost just 1 game in over 20. He is a proper no nonsense defender who brings the best out of the more gifted guys alongside him

Could you imagine the uproar if we had gone for Cahill last summer though?

We need a leader in our defence. Not necessarily a great player. I advocated for Scott Dann. I think Harry has previously pined for Jose Fonte in the past. Lots of people wanted Ashley Williams in the summer.

I think the fans can see we need someone with a similar mentality as Carragher had. We just look so soft centred. I don't really care who we sign as long as they will get in the faces of the rest of the team when they aren't performing. I'd even take Pepe from Madrid right now! He might get a few cards but nobody would dare play poorly with him breathing down their neck.

We can only speculate though. Hopefully Klopp has an ace up his sleeve.

01 Mar 2017 22:22:42
Agree. we need a defender who can put the fear of god into opponents and team mates. If you have not done so already look at pepe's YouTube homage. think it's called pepe will kill you. Dirty player yes but efective. Reminds me of an old NBA player bill Lambeer who got in your head one way or another.

01 Mar 2017 21:46:04
It's real shame the academy did not give us another Cara.

01 Mar 2017 23:11:37
Seems there is a famine of quality leaders these days. As noted pool, Chelsea, United, Arsenal used to have leaders in at least 2 if not 3 areas of the pitch: Carra and Gerard; Cech, Terry and Lamps; Schmeichel, G. Nev and Keane; Seaman, Adams and Viera.

Lack of leaders, lack of loyalty and lack of will to win.

01 Mar 2017 16:30:10
Anything on the link to Naby Keita eds? Seems a Klopp type player high energy etc etc. could be our kante 🙏🏽.

{Ed002's Note - Read the posts.}

01 Mar 2017 14:49:25
The fact David moyes had a better win rate at man utd is a bit of an eye opener but stats can be turned into whatever you want them to look like. Moyes took over a title winning side and messed them up. klopp took over a mediocre side and personally I think has improved us. the last 2 months have been beyond belief, I don't think any fan saw this coming but klopp will learn. He will adapt his tactics because if he doesn't he won't be here long. he will sell the players that don't fit his mentality and he will take us on. I could sit here and go on about players to buy and sell but that's A waste of people's time, no one wants to read that. klopp will get this right I have no doubt in my mind it's just going to take longer than I think we all anticipated, him included.

01 Mar 2017 18:59:16
I agree with your post BUT for the life of me (not you, Abo specifically), can people stop using this win ratio nonsense to compare coaches as it makes no sense at all. Moyes will never be in Klopp's class, win ratio or not as his CV and trophy haul proves it while Moyes like many others I can mention, have won NOTHING to their names. Such daft comparisons are pointless and only used to berate him with and cause unrest within the fan base especially the BR lovers and those rooting for his failure and trust me, there are many of them if you read other LFC sites which I do.

01 Mar 2017 13:25:09
EDs,

I am curious to know about our centreback situation. With Sakho likely to be sold, Lovren not dependable and Gomez not seen as ready.

Who do you see as a viable option to partner Matip come next season? I saw in another post mentioning Nastasic, do you think Schalke would be keen to sell if we were to make an approach?

Thank you.

{Ed002's Note - Sakho is not a first team squad player so will not be replaced. That leaves the club with four centre backs, scluding Lucas, and given they play two and not three that should be sufficient given the U23s can provide cover. Nastasic is of interest to Zenit St Petersburg but Schalke are not looking to sell him.}

01 Mar 2017 13:43:37
So in general, Liverpool are not looking to add any centreback (s) for next season?

{Ed002's Note - Liverpool has not been looking specifically at centre backs. Klopp said he wanted four and that is what he has. If they were to let one go they will certainly need to be replaced.}

01 Mar 2017 13:46:46
not sure that we should include Lucas as a centre back, I still think we should sign someone who can deal with the likes of Huth and co .

{Ed002's Note - I think it would be a luxury to sign a player just to deal with Robert Huth.}

01 Mar 2017 13:56:27
Better just to buy Robert Huth 😆.

01 Mar 2017 14:25:47
But how many of these 4 centre backs are good enough firstly for a top 4 team and then a title challenging team?

{Ed002's Note - I understand that Liverpool fans don't like the Liverpool players. Klopp purchased two of them.}

01 Mar 2017 16:45:46
Ed it's not that we don't like them, but some are just not good enough to take us forward. It's not like this doesn't happen for other teams. There are players that just can't cut it at this level and usually they are given chances. It's nothing personal, well I hope it's not anyway.

{Ed002's Note - I understand perfectly.}

01 Mar 2017 17:25:05
Ed can you tell us why Lucas started ahead of klavan. I think that saids a lot .

{Ed002's Note - I did it on impulse and take full responsibility.}

01 Mar 2017 19:09:45
just to mention Ed, that I said to deal with the likes of Huth and co, we could not deal with him from set plays, or Vardy from open play, so it was no surprise when we got beat, Klopp I hope has taken a few notes from this defeat, if Giroild spelling, plays on Sat, against Lucas, were in trouble once again, its not Lucas fault, he has been a great player for the club, just not good enough for a team looking for a top four place, in fact how many of our team would get into any of the now top four teams, like I have said, we are a top six team, very difficult to break into the top four, its going to take Klopp another 2 or 3 seasons, if he is still here .

01 Mar 2017 19:21:08
Lucas had a MOTM performance vs Spurs and Klavan has not covered himself with glory of late so it was only normal that Lucas started especially, with Lovren out injured.

01 Mar 2017 17:32:09
Ed002 cracking me up! Thank you for the laugh mate. I think you're right too Ron, let's buy Huth and be done with it! 😂.

01 Mar 2017 17:37:05
How about giving us your opinion on whether our four CB's are good enough Ed002, whether Klopp did or didn't buy them.

{Ed002's Note - The most concern has to be over Gomez who has never played centre back at this level but has been told by Klopp he is one of the four he wants. The others three are experienced and decent centre backs - Lovren has played for a long time in the Premier League, Matip has done well but his decision making in Germany was questioned, and Klaven replaced the similarly aged, commited and goal scoring Skrtel who Klopp didn't want.}

01 Mar 2017 11:28:03
Ed001 if your about mate or anybody else. What do we do if/ when Hendo is out? Do we buy in a similar player? Or hope one of the young lad's steps up which is my preference.

{Ed001's Note - for me I would prefer we looked to develop Williams or Stewart. It seems pointless to keep Stewart if he is not going to get games, so this is the perfect time, though Williams I think is a better prospect for the long term.}

01 Mar 2017 12:38:12
Developing players from within? Heaven forbid ed, but in this case we will go on a positive net spend again! This must not happen, lack of ambition, negligence, apocalypce, etc.

On a more serious note, I would also like to see Kevin Stewart getting a chance in the premier league again. I have always been rather firm in not seeing him as more than a squad player due to his limitations, but he has shown stability and deserves a shot, especially with Can being very unconvincing in my view. Ed, have you heard recently what is the staff's opinion of Emre and his development? It is clear that he has the potential, but I am no longer certain if he is developing it.

{Ed001's Note - he is very well liked, but his contract is a concern, so it would be no surprise if he was not with us next season. There is a chance he is moved on due to not having yet signed a new contract.}

01 Mar 2017 13:16:54
Well they aren't being given the chances, Leicester was a great game for some of the youngsters to start (such as Stewart and Gomez) but they do not get the chances in games like this. I'm not saying it would've changed the result even though Stewart is far better suited to the holding role than Can and Gomez has the attributes to cope with vardy better than Lucas. At least they would have been given a chance which hasn't happened for any of the youngsters on this dreadful run. We have either played a bunch of youngsters in the cup or no youngsters at all, so why do we cling to this imagination that Klopp will bring through some of the youngsters? Because it happened at Dortmund? Funny.

If a positive net spent is what is important to you as a fan then please go support arsenal. I too want my club to be a successful business but that will not happen until we achieve on the pitch and earn top 4 status which isn't happening right now, so net spent shouldn't be important for you. If we have to continually sell our best players to compete within our means then I doubt we will catch up any time soon. FSG have done a good job of backing us so far, I doubt there will be a small transfer budget in the summer, and as long as the youngsters are not getting chances to prove themselves we in turn need quality additions in 4/ 5 areas within the first team.

01 Mar 2017 19:01:02
Personally I don't think we have a like for like Hendo replacement. He is so vastly under rated that there are very few players about who can do his job. I'd switch to a holding pair against Arsenal in Henderson's absence with Stewart and Lucas in there just to sure things up. We are looking too exposed lately.

Klopp will have his own ideas though so fingers crossed however he sets up gets us the result we need!

01 Mar 2017 18:33:32
Thanks for the reply Ed. I like Stewart myself but I have never seen Williams play. I'm a big fan of promoting from within but sadly that doesn't happen much.

{Ed001's Note - I really like what I have seen of Williams, before he suffered a few injuries. He was one of the top talents we had before them, not had a chance to catch up with how he is getting on since though.}

01 Mar 2017 19:04:35
Klopp prefers Can in that role over Stewart and only Klopp know why.

01 Mar 2017 19:16:18
Stewart gives the ball away too much at the moment and is a work in progress. I think Gomez will start playing in the first team during this month. Our youngsters are not as good as we think but we do have a couple of gems like TAA.

We need to mix things up and be less predictable. The last couple of months we seen to just want to walk the ball into the net. Huge amounts of possession but opponents keeper hardly tested. We will revert back to type with a win against the Gooners and a result against City.

After that we need Klopp to give the players Viagra for the other games as that seems to be the only way we will be up for it!

01 Mar 2017 19:23:19
its been stated that Stewart will be kept on, and yes I agree, he should have been given a chance on Monday night, he needs game time, Klopp has no idea how to use his subs .

01 Mar 2017 19:40:25
I don't really know what the positive net spend have to do with anything, really. As Kman said, the best way to remain profible in our position is success on the pitch and till that happens on a consistent basis, the net spend issue is just a hollow one. Klopp will get funds for sure come this summer and it will NOT be small. But then again, "small" is in the eyes of the beholder as spending 80m for some at LFC is "lack of ambition".

02 Mar 2017 05:28:59
@patemondo - mate he can't give the ball away as much as Emre Can I mean jesus christ every 3rd pass he makes finds the opposition. If Stewart needs games then he needs them at the top level - we'll never know if he can make the step up if we never actually play the lad. As others have said now would be the perfect time to try a few different players - it ain't like it would be disrupting some fabulous run of form would it?

01 Mar 2017 09:38:54
Just like to wish the Eds the best of luck.
We've just released our annual figures.

01 Mar 2017 11:07:47
Just read about it then - it sounds good to me. Club has reduced it's debt drastically, it is now far more secure and operating within reasonable parameters it can afford and is growing continually - the commercial side of the club certainly seems to be paying dividends with the new, more professional approach the owners have taken since joining. Our on field form is bad and that is something well known but this report, about our off field stuff, seems like good news to me.

{Ed002's Note - You don't understand about the debt. You need to look very carefully at the word "external".}

01 Mar 2017 11:40:38
Personally don't understand the likes of "external", do you see these set of results as disappointing then?

{Ed002's Note - No, the results are fine and the loss is less than expected.}

01 Mar 2017 14:27:23
Without reading the accounts in detail, I would assume that the "external" issue is that the amount of money we owe 3rd parties has fallen. However, I would imagine that a bit of digging will sho that our "internal" (for want of a better word! ) debt has risen, i. e. FSG have been loaning us money to cover losses etc. Famously we were losing £1m per week then they arrived.

01 Mar 2017 19:01:02
The club has posted an annual loss of £20 mill which I am sure would be ignored on this site conveniently.

01 Mar 2017 19:46:47
Not at all, Harry. 20m is a lot less than the 50m that the club was hemorrhaging every season so not complaining about that, my friend.

01 Mar 2017 08:14:05
Dream summer for me:

Kalidou Koulibaly £40m : powerful centre back to take control ( where we need improving the most IMO) would cost a bit but worth it to sort out the defensive shambles at LFC

Saed Kolasinac free: perfect first choice left back for free. We desperately need an actual left back. Milner done ok but not his natural position

Mahmoud Dahoud £12m ish (contract running down) : perfect centre mid to change defence to attack in the blink of an eye. Good energy levels and experience at
a young age (I'd replace Emre Can with him) I'd sit him as the two deeper midfielder with hendo in a 4-2-3-1

Julian Brandt £25m: young winger who's played quite a few games already, hailed as one of the best German players coming through. Would be a good option on either wing and we are heavily linked with a move

Outs: Moreno. Can. Klavan. Lucas. Sturridge. And a few of the loan players coming back like Kent markovic bogdan etc.

Ings will be back and like a new signing hopefully, Gomez will be fitter, Ojo and Wilson be more ready Stewart can hopefully get a few more games. Karius hopefully shows a little development between now and the end of the season And hopefully some of the players learn from the mistakes this season it hasn't been all bad let's remember that.

YNWA.

01 Mar 2017 09:53:45
Only problem mate we need a 20+ goal scorer. You look at the top 7

Chelsea has Costa
Spurs has Kane
Arsenal has Sanchez
United have zaltan
City have aguero
Everton have Lukaku

We been playing firmino there not saying he's bad but will he get you 20 goals a season.

{Ed002's Note - Liverpool has not been lacking goals, the main problem has been letting them in.}

01 Mar 2017 09:54:38
For me it would have to be:

Begovic/ Handanovic
Gaya/ chilwell/ bertrand/ ake/ fuchs
2 of martinez/ tah/ dann
Douglas costa
Aubameyang

Outs: Mignolet, lovren, klavan, moreno, can, lucas, sturridge

All of which will not ever happen in a million years🙃.

01 Mar 2017 10:00:02
Best buying fifa 18 ann!

Beware tho its only coming on the ps4 and xbox one. So if you haven't got one there should be some good deals on argos 😊.

01 Mar 2017 10:17:52
I don't care which names come or go. What I want to see is strategy.
Everyone knows our problems. They are not new, they are common to several managerial regimes now. Our opponents know our weaknesses, the media knows our weaknesses and fans know our weaknesses.
I want them addressed. It does not have to wait for the summer transfer window.
Our problems :
Goalkeepers - weak on crosses
Defenders : No leaders. No tactical/ positional awareness. Weak on crosses. Seemingly no strategy for addressing specific strengths of opponents. Set pieces - poor on marking, poor on second ball.
Midfield : Too soft, no steel. Unable to stop opponents. Often too slow in possession. Poor at retaining possession.
Attack : lack of movement against a well drilled defence. Lack of versatility.
In general: poor attitude against well organised weaker opponents.

All these things can be improved without signing more players and signing more players in a poorly organised, poorly motivated team will not solve the problems.

{Ed002's Note - It is the tactics that need to change - I get it that you don't like any of the players and want them all changed, that is common whoever is playing for the club, but you seem blind to the most obvious shortcoming - the same tactics being used by the manager who can only have his team play one way.}

01 Mar 2017 10:17:52
A Good summer would be :

GK - Handonovic of Inter. Probably available experienced and cheapest. Plus the return of Ward.

LB - not sure of exact players just as long as left footed.

CB - good in the air, quick minded, robust and sturdy.
Keane of Burnley.

DM - Romeou of Southampton?

Winger - Zaha/ Brandt/ or the winger at Dortmund.

CF - Aubaminyang (spelling)

6 in paid for by Sturridge, Sahko, Moreno, Markovich, Mignolet, Lucas, Flanagan, and fifty million.

01 Mar 2017 11:12:02
This is fantasy football stuff there is no way, without significant outgoings, we are going to be bringing in 6 top class players and, even with outgoings, I would doubt we have the financial means to complete 6 top class signings. I'll be happy with 2 top class improvements to the defence - so long as they improve it (which won't be hard to be fair) i'd be happy with that.

01 Mar 2017 12:21:39
If these are people's expectations they'll be very disapointed.

Id go for:

GK - let Karius and Ward battle it out and give them a genuine opportunity to claim the place

lb - sead kolsinac (free)

cb - promote joe gomez to actual first team and ease him in over a season whilst phasing lovren out

rb - ricardo pereria

lw - julian brandt

st - a really tough one and should only be addressed if sturridge goes. even then, I don't see a need to displace firmino and origi will be another year developed.

that would not be an outrageous spend by any stretch and will could move on the people klopp no longer requires.

this list won't be a popular one because it's lacking those "marquee" names that people seem to crave. put thoughts of aubamayang out of your head, there's virtually zero chance of this.

01 Mar 2017 13:00:24
Ed002 I feel that you have misunderstood my post.
At no point do I say I hate all the players and want them replaced. I even said our problems can be addressed without signing new players and that new players won't necessarily solve our problems.
Tactics and strategy feature heavily in my post. New players do not.

{Ed002's Note - Aside from moaning about the hoalkeepers, defenders, midfield and forwards? I guess you think the substitutes are all OK.}

01 Mar 2017 13:27:32
I reckon he's got a point ed. I think tactics don't address the main problem. The team doesn't have enough fighters. It's something Liverpool have neglected to consider for a long time. If Liverpool are sent out with the right tactics they could still be submissive and roll over when the opponent that is coming 15th gives it to them.

{Ed002's Note - So you replace the coach with one who is more tactically aware.}

01 Mar 2017 13:30:40
I'm not moaning about individuals, I'm pointing out where we need to develop. You don't solve set piece defending by buying new players, you organise the incumbents.

01 Mar 2017 13:41:19
Ed002 has a point here Ron. But I do agree with parts of what you're saying. I think the criticism has to be on Klopp at this point. Folding under pressure, not turning up for the small teams, all those arguments are nonsense. We thrive under pressure (facing big teams), we dominate possession and put in huge work rates pressing against smaller sides, but they just sit back and patiently wait to hit us on the break.

You should always stick to your guns. Pressing is clearly Klopp's philosophy, and it should be present in all games because of that. However, there are modifications that need to be made against each opponent. And I haven't seen a difference in the setup/ tactics against anyone we have played this season, except maybe on the road to the big teams (we sit back a little more) . Why not try interchanging some players or making substitutions sooner? What we are doing now clearly isn't working.

01 Mar 2017 14:29:28
I don't think there's any merit in apportioning blame but ultimately the manager is responsible for results.

I just want to see us moving forward. I think buying players can sometimes be counter productive. We need to see the team becoming more organised at set pieces or break downs in play.

01 Mar 2017 15:53:56
............abuse removed - one less brain dead moron on the site...........

01 Mar 2017 18:32:52
Inges will be lucky if he is match fit by Christmas. He has had 2 separate serious knee injuries.

He is a determined lad and apparently a great professional but the nature of the injuries it's quite possibly he will struggle at the top level.

I hope I'm wrong as he seems a perfect fit for Our style of play and I wish him all the luck in the world because he has handled a devastating situation with class.

01 Mar 2017 18:35:31
Will certainly remain as dream. Koulibaly wouldn't happen in million years. Napoli are nut case and they turned down a huge offer from champions Chelsea last summer. They are regularly playing CL.

Kolasinac is a good player who will have plenty of suitors for his signature. We will have to pay top wages and top signing on fee for him to consider ( Again I don't think
Klopp would fancy )

The other two could happen if we make an attempt. Without CL I don't see Brandt joining us nor Dahoud.

01 Mar 2017 19:04:09
Koulibaly, Kolasinac and Brandt I agree with. Not sure Dahoyd is what we need. Think we need a more combative midfielder. Someone who can go box to box but add some aggression to our play.

Hector Herrera, William Carvalho, Arturo Vidal, Wanyama etc. Dahoud is small, technical player. We have loads of players like that in the senior team, on loan and in the academy.

We don't have anyone who can take a game by the scruff and bully teams though. We lack a physical presence.

01 Mar 2017 18:51:17
You could fix a lot of issues by tweaking your set up and tactics certainly not everything as we lack severely in quality. But for a top 4 finish this team is more than enough. I can't see Klopp changing his set up other than running day and night from one end to other.

It's kinda baffles me as Chelsea who has the worse CB's in their history has kept more clean sheet than us. A make shift WB at right followed by a failed winger on the right.

01 Mar 2017 19:55:35
I agree with you in part, Harry. As much as the system and tactics need adapting, the poor attitude we have vs lesser teams is alarming. If not, how do you explain that 5 of our losses are vs bottom feeders in the PL? That is prolly a tactical problem in small part BUT an attitude problem more importantly, IMO. Even Klopp has seen this vs Hull and LC games, a complete lack of desire to fight.

However, we seem to NEVER have this problem vs the big boys cos NONE of them can beat us since Klopp came to us. So I maintain that it is an attitude problem more than a tactical problem and Klopp needs to fix this too as he is in charge of all forms of preparation including mental and psychological.

01 Mar 2017 03:18:42
Hi ed002

Who do you rate as the best managers in the world?

{Ed002's Note - It is difficult to compare managers as the circumstances at different clubs varies a great deal. Certainly the likes of Allegri, Sampaoli, Mourinho, Hiddink, Conte, Wenger and Simeone are well respected around the world.

There are also a number of managers with growing or well respected reputations I can think of. One real standout right now is Italian Roberto Stellone and another is German Roger Schmidt. There are a whole bunch of young coaches and managers with growing reputations - in France, Jocelyn Gourvennec, Willy Sagnol and Olivier Echouafni have growing reputations. Although not so young, Philippe Montanier is gaining a lot of respect. Murat Yakin is one who has been resting after a spell in Russia but is helping out Schaffhausen now. The Netherlands has the likes of De Boer and Phillip Cocu. Elsewhere Laudrup, Petrescu, Hutter and Markus Weinzierl are well thought of. I would also not be surprised if Julen Lopetegui and Leonardo Jardim don't get noticed by some of the very high end clubs in the not too distant future. Paulo Sousa (Fiorentina) is getting great press right now but the pick in Italy is Eusebio Di Francesco (Sassuolo) who looks like he will be getting a very good offer at the end of the season.}

01 Mar 2017 08:08:25
But surely you wouldn't rate someone like De Boer better than Klopp?

{Ed002's Note - I didn't rate any better than anyone else.}

01 Mar 2017 08:18:34
I know, it was just interesting that you omitted Klopp's name but mentioned De Boer's.

01 Mar 2017 08:20:01
Hey Ed, are you aware of any young English managers who are building a reputation in the lower leagues?

{Ed002's Note - Paul Clement is well respected and is a very nice guy. Mark Sampson may be one to look out for. Eddie Howe is certainly well thought of but the pick might well be Lee Johnson.}

01 Mar 2017 08:56:16
Thanks ed, I'll look them up.

01 Mar 2017 09:01:10
Ed, it's a disgrace that amongst that list there are no British managers. There are a few British managers in the epl, but no stand out ones. What are we doing wrong in this country? It seems to me that we don't have enough young British number 2's learning their trade with experienced managers. Seems it is easier for retiring footballer to be pundits rather than find a position as a number 2. Or is it a case of clubs and managers not giving these players a chance.

{Ed002's Note - Whereas in the past we have seen the likes of Kenny Dalglish, George Graham, Howard Kendall, Brian Clough, Howard Wilkinson, Alex Ferguson, Ron Atkinson et al the change is changing dynamically and there is not the interest nor skillset out there right now. The most significant change has come with the portability of managers from other nations and with the money in the English game, English sides can cherry pick the better managers from abroad - hence the likes of Jose Mourinho, Arsene Wenger, Pep Guariola and Antonio Conte are managing in the Premier League.

Many British players have no interest and to be honest, many are far from the brightest so would not take well to it.}

01 Mar 2017 13:14:01
I read something recently on Hoffenheim's young manager ed. any thoughts on this guy? sorry if he was included in your list can't quite remember his name.

{Ed002's Note - Julian Nagelsmann is doing well with the first team there right now. But there is a certain amount of frustration that Hoffenheim are struggling to win games and seem to be drawing and playing to avoid losing as they are not scoring enough goals.}

01 Mar 2017 13:56:24
What do you think of Guardiola Ed002?

{Ed002's Note - He has been successful but perhaps not over-taxed as a coach given he has only been at the very highest level.}

01 Mar 2017 18:44:37
Plus a lot of the owners are foreign as well.
When you look at the England National team coach and see how much premiership managerial experience He has
it tells you the mess we are in.
Where are all the former great players.
It's way easier being a pundit getting well paid for f#$& all.

01 Mar 2017 04:36:15
I think ed001 is completely right about Liverpool's current woes.

I think the people harping on about tactics, systems, plan Bs, Plan Cs, and plan Ds, have got the wrong idea.

In matches against far inferior, lower table sides, tactics are not the difference between winning and losing. Tactics are the difference between winning comfortably and winning ugly. But this can only be applied when the team possesses fight and resolve. Teams with such qualities find a way to win. Teams without those qualities don't, and Liverpool fall into the latter, hence why they lose every single time a lower table manager has a tactically sound game.

Remember how many wins Fergie ground out in his last season when he won the title? Quite a lot. And do you think he had to grind out so many wins against crap sides because he was always getting it tactically spot on? Of course not. If he was then they all would have been easy wins. A title-quality team with great character and superior tactics can only mean a comfortable victory. But if Fergie's players were made of the same character fibres of Klopp's players, people would have just the same accused Fergie of no plan B. So it just proves ed001's point of how you don't really need to change your system much, if at all. All Fergie had was a team with dependable fullbacks that used the exactly same style of spreading it to the wings. That's it. And it nearly always worked against the poorer teams, even when they were giving United a run for their money.

01 Mar 2017 04:56:58
Dependable defenders**.

01 Mar 2017 08:31:04
I have the opposite view, the players worked hard for fergie because it was fergie, not because they were natural grafters. My view in all walks of life is that if an employee is not doing what they're supposed to its their manager's fault not their's. That's as applicable in an office or factory as it is in a football club.

I don't blame the quality of the squad or their workrate for our current problems, for me it is totally that Klopp has lost control. The challenge he now faces is can be wrestle back control and get the players back to where they were in the autumn. I have some confidence that he can do it so fingers' crossed.

01 Mar 2017 09:14:44
I don't really believe that Putney. I believe you're getting mixed up with his ability to squeeze every ounce of ability out of someone. What Fergie was brilliant at was making his men strut around on the field with swagger.

01 Mar 2017 10:57:32
That's kind of the point, Fergie was brilliant, that's why his teams were so good. There's a concerted effort to point the blame for our poor performances anywhere other than the one person who is literally responsible for team performance. It's Klopp's fault that performances have dropped, now it's his job to get them back up.

To link this into other discussions I don't think Ranieri should have been sacked but that's because I think the club owed him loyalty after last season but any other manager who was dooming his team to relegation risks the chop. If Leicester do stay up this season then, for purely football reasons, the decision will be vindicated.

As for Moyes he failed because he couldn't get the players to buy into his methods. That's not the player's fault it's his.

01 Mar 2017 11:33:32
Putney you basically ignored my point and just said "nah it's Klopp's fault that his players don't have enough natural determination and leadership".

If Klopp is managing a team full of milksops who shirk away from adversity then his job is made almost impossible. Fergie was brilliant at extracting all of your talent onto the pitch but there was nothing he could do if you were a wussy player. All of his successful players just happened to be made of the right character.

{Ed001's Note - Fergie also had been given time to recruit players with the right character.}

01 Mar 2017 11:55:15
Exactly ed. He also worked for a club with incredible pull power for such players.

It's such a negligent oversight by the club to recruit the same kind of players. Seriously, this has been going on since the 90s. We had the wussy spice boys and its' basically continued on bar a few odd years here and there with the likes of Carra.

01 Mar 2017 13:10:06
I didn't ignore your point, I agreed with it. You said 'What Fergie was brilliant at was making his men strut around on the field with swagger', I agree with that, it's what made him so successful. Right now Klopp is failing to do the same, he's not getting them to play with swagger or anything else for that matter.

You're making the argument that Fergie wasn't successfull because of the tactics he employed but because he was able to get them to perform at a high standard. You then contradict yourself by saying that he only got them playing well because they weren't 'wussies'. So which is it? Was Fergie a good manager or was he able to rely on his players working hard?

You can't have it both ways, if it's not Klopp's fault when the team plays badly then it's not down to Klopp when the team plays well either and if that's the case what's the point in having Klopp as manager at all?

01 Mar 2017 18:26:26
We don't need Plan B or Plan C. That is nonsense. Klopp should make slight tactical differences, but ultimately he needs to find our identity as a Klopp team and then perfect Plan A.

We need leaders on the pitch who will change their game subtly to suit the match they are in though. Players with good game management skills. For example if we are under the cosh and leading by a goal, the last thing we need is Clyne and Milner making forward runs too early. They should be experienced enough to think "hang on, we are not keeping the ball well right now, I don't need to go forward as we are winning, I'll just hold back for a few seconds and see what develops".

We need midfielders who can see playing everything inticately through the centre isn't working so they will get into the box and look to get the header or even just the second ball in a scrappy tap in.

We just don't have any players with the balls or brains to react on the pitch. That is a sure fire way to failure. Great post Robin.

01 Mar 2017 18:30:25
And what / who are these dependable full backs? Your whole post is confusing and I don't think you understand the game at all. These are the wings backs Klopp wanted and Klopp preferred over others.

Fergie had world class players all over the pitch. Not mere DEPENDABLE full backs!

01 Mar 2017 22:22:28
MK I'm going to focus on one part of your post because I've said my piece on the rest. Our fullbacks rush forward early not because they lack judgement but because that's what they are specifically instructed to do. Klopp's game plan is built on winning the ball back high up the pitch and overwhelming the opposition defense before they get organised. Reacting instantly to a change in possession is key to that gamelan. If you're unhappy with how the players act on the pitch criticise the guy who tells them how to act not the players themselves.