Liverpool Banter Archive November 20 2014

 

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20 Nov 2014 18:58:56
Where is Henderson's best position? Henderson is a box to box midfielder. He has the ability to run at players and create chances but also has the energy to close players down and help out on the defensive side of things. He isn't a pass master or a complete defensive midfielder and doesn't look comfortable when shackled to a central midfield role. For me, his best best position is right midfield. Preferably on the right of the diamond formation.

Where is Emre Can's best position? For some reason everyone has this perception that Can is a defensive midfielder, however he is more of a Henderson type player. His biggest asset though is his physicality. He has a great burst of pace and likes to run at opponents, but like Henderson he has the ability and strength to get back and help out with the defending. For me, his best position would be left/right midfield, preferably in the diamond formation.

If we are going to play the 433 or 4231 formation we need to invest in players that are comfortable in central midfield and base their game on keeping possession and dictating play with their passes. I posted the other day that City's Toure & Silva and Chelsea's Matic & Fabregas are in the league's top 10 with the most passes on average per game. They control the game and dictate the way their team plays. Look at how Kroos and Modric embarrassed our midfield in the first leg. This is what we are missing, a solid central midfield partnership.

Imagine if we still had Alonso and Mascherano in central midfield. I guarantee that we wouldn't be conceding so many poor goals and that our defence wouldn't look a complete shambles. Yes good passing midfielders won't fix our inability to score goals but it will help the defence from leaking goals and it will give our attacking players more freedom in the final third. Unfortunately, Gerrard will never succeed as a holding midfielder, but that's not to say he hasn't got a future with us. He just needs to be managed correctly and played in his correct position.

Maybe we should play Lucas and Allen there until January, but for the benefit of the club we need to make sure that we bring in some quality central midfielders as soon as possible.

Red Rum

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Perhaps the answer then is a 4-4-2 with the central pairing being Henderson & Can and they can take it in turns to move up and drop back.

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I think the reason we speak of Can as a defensive midfielder (although I agree he has potential to do much more) is that he plays CB for Germany U21's - rather well. I think it is LCB which is not a position we are short of players for, sadly. (Not that any of our LCB can remember how to play this season mind).

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Would have to be Lucas, Allen is too weak and can't tackle, Gerrard's legs are gone.

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I said to my mate after the Wales Belgium game that we should play a diamond with Hendo on the right, Can on the left, Allen holding and Coutinho in behind Sterling and Borini. Press high and attack with incisive breaks and I reckon we could do well.

We all know it'll be 4-2-3-1 with Hendo babysitting Gerrard though (all assuming Hendo is fit, which I expect he will be).

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Allen is too weak and can't tackle? Have you forgotten his string of MOTM performances in holding midfield when he first came? The other night against Belgium I watched him bully Marouane Fellaini, completely shut Belgiums attacking midfielders out, boss the Wales midfield, make 7 tackles at a 100% success rate and help Wales to a 0-0 draw.

He is not weak, he can tackle, and he has wrongly been frozen out in favour of Gerrard because he can occasionally spray a 50 diagonal to one of our largely ineffective wingers/wing backs. Rodgers won't even play his own signings!

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Any ideas who the club should look to in january guys?

Ed, what's the situation with Granit Xhaka and Dani Parejo? Both played well for their teams last season and I remember we were linked with Parejo in previous windows.

Red Rum

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{Ed002's Note - There is no "situation" as far as I am aware.}

I stand by my remark about Allen, he gets brushed off of the ball too easily, his passing is poor, he is weak in the tackle, physically he's weak (he couldn't knock the skin off of a rice pudding), completely unsuited to the job of defensive midfielder. In my honest opinion he has been a waste of £15m.

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Fair enough. I'll just agree to disagree. Personally I think he is under rated and often used as a scapegoat.

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I wouldn't play Allen at the foot of the diamond for the reasons Mr Dennis gave. Even though it comes across a little harsh, he is correct in saying that Allen is weak both in the pass and on the ball. He just isn't suited to the defensive midfield role, especially in the 442 diamond or 433. If he had Lucas along side him in the 442 or 4231 then he has that extra protection and can be trusted.

We just need to find the best way to get through to January when we can hopefully bring in a couple of midfielders suited to the passing game. Dani Parejo should definitely be a target in my opinion. I haven't seen a lot of Granit Xhaka but from what I have seen he too looks a very good player who is confident and likes to get on the ball and play the passing game.

Red Rum

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If it were me, Red-Rum, based upon my near complete ignorance of whether it's viable or not, I'd try to get Pedro from Barca on a loan-to-buy deal and put in bids for Konoplynaka and Huntelaar who are both out of contract in the summer. I'd also send Markovic back to Benfica on loan. I suspect we have no or very little money, so that might just be about be doable (but probably not).

What I expect us to actually do is nothing unless we manage to offload players which seems unlikely.

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Hey guys do you really think that Brendan will have an epiphany and buy players we really need who can improve the first 11 and hit the ground running.
He hasn't done it in any transfer window yet with his only star buy being Sturridge (who unfortunately looks to be very very injury prone). Do you also want to allow him sell players to fund another failed transfer window, a God only knows who he will sell.

Let's get BR out and trust a new manager like De Boer to get the most out of these great players that we currently have, and give him the option on who he wants to leave and buy, I bet he can get us a young star from the dutch league that few know about.

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I personally think Allen need to step it up this season or be sold. He is a good squad player and works hard for the team and doesn't seem to mind the squad role, but with Emre Can and Henderson, both better players, needing to be accommodated, Allen needs either raise his game, re-invent himself as an intelligent DM or be sold next summer.

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I agree with AG. Allen at times has shown glimpses of form but in reality most of the time you are not too sure if he is still on the pitch or not. He should be doing better.

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The problem is we don't have a holding midfield player who is capable of "holding the fort" while our other players can express themselves.
All the players we have in this position are slow.
Gerrard, Allen and Lucas are all too slow to play in that area of the pitch on their own because the players who now play in the hole are your Sterling and Hazard types of player and they are just too quick and skillful for the holding mids we have.
I would actually advocate playing three at the back with Gerrard in the Beckenbauer role.
He sits in between the centre halves anyway.
That would then allow us to have wing backs like BR wants.
It would also allow us to play another midfielder.
Something like Mignolet, Lovren, Skertel with Gerrard in between them with Moreno and Johnson as wing backs.
A midfield of Henderson Lallana and Coutinho with Sterling and Balotelli up front.
This formation allows for lots of flexibility in regards to the players we have at the moment.
We are going to play Gerrard because he is our Captain.
So why not play him in a role which will help the team rather than hinder it?
Just a thought.

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Allen isn't slow. He might not be a flyer but he is so quick off the mark and very athletic.

His only physical deficiency is his height. I don't know where this myth about being slow and weak has come from. Multiple players who've played with and against him have mentioned how deceptively strong on the ball he is. I will admit, his shooting is poor and his passing isn't incisive in the final third, but he is the most composed player we've had since Alonso was here. The only thing that frustrates me more than him never getting a sustained run to prove himself, is people blaming him for his lack of chances!

He is actually a very good tackler as well; far better than any other midfielder in the squad. I'm not sure why people think you have to go flying in hard to be a good tackler. He rarely gets beaten in one on one situations because his tackling technique is spot on. He could probably work on being a little bit more solid in the tackle, but he certainly isn't bad at it! Aside from his lack of contribtuion on the goals front, I really don't see any problem with him. He's like a Welsh Makelele when he's actaully given the chance to bloody play. Who knows? One day he could be as good if we actually gave him a chance.

I know I'll get loads of disagrees because everything is either Joe Allen or Mario Balotelli's fault. In fact If you look really carefully at Gerrards slip last season, you can actually see Allen and Balotelli stretching a bit of invisible fishing line across the pitch to trip him up!

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A few games whose highlights you might want to watch with Allen being weak on the ball

Madrid 1-0
villa 3-0
villa3-1
Everton 3-3(If i remember may be another match)

Big players simply run through him, or cut off his run, this is especially evident when he finds himself out wide. trying to help a winger, he simply runs into an arm and gives up on making the run.
He constantly breaks down countere, because instead of pivoting, and trying to hold off a play and looking for the forward runner wide of him, he gets scared and passes it back safety first which isn't always bad but I've never once seen him take the gamble, where as Jord, Gerrard, (especially Can) and even coutinho might.

He just doesn't use his body all that well. Look at his stature next time he protects the ball, he stand flat footed, head over it blocking a player trying to draw a foul, or knock it back or across 5 yards, he doesn't lean into the player to try and turn, or push them back to create room to manouver.

P.S
Benteke & weimann purely humiliated him in 2 games.

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EMS.
I love Joe Allen.
But he is not in the least bit quick.
He is not as slow as Lambert but he is not quick mate.
Being quick would be alright if he was Matic's build but because he is small and slow it means he can't cover the ground needed to be a holding midfielder.
I still love him though!

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Gerrard being tripped up by fishing line.
That made me laugh out loud fella.
Funny.

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20 Nov 2014 19:18:45
I am firmly in the Rafa camp . I didn't want him to go and I don't believe he would have if we had had different owners. He does make us very difficult to beat and maybe with some different signings he could make is play with some flair. When I was living in greasby and he lived in caldy I spoke with him and he's a great guy. Plus if if wasn't for him I wouldn't have been to 2 euro cup finals as I was inside my mothers stomach for 1985 final I was born a month later YNWA

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We were also the number one ranked team in europe and I don't remember us struggling to score or defend under him.

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21 Nov 2014 12:56:50
You don't remember us struggling to score under Rafa?

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Nope. I'm sure we managed to score over 100 goals that season we finished 2nd. For the second half of that season every result seemed to be us scoring 3, 4 or 5.
We hardly conceded any either.
We were hard to beat.
I think tactics dictated us not going for it every game, but then if it was Rafa at th end of last season, we would have got the results needed against Chelsea and Palace.

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20 Nov 2014 18:16:18
Any chance of Jamie carragher coming back as a coach? Surely it's a logical thing to do, oh yeah and if Jamie had of played a season longer I reckon we would have won the league

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21 Nov 2014 03:42:50
Actually, I'd say that's highly illogical

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In what way? His analysis on mnf is excellent and he knows the players well, look at the other top teams back room staff compared to ours and look what happened with sheringham at west ham, oh no wait we've got Pascoe and Mike marsh

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20 Nov 2014 18:13:23
Ed with g.j poor form and apparently lack of interest of late. IMO. Have to say I have watched derby County all season and I watched rep of ire the other night, cyrus Christie looks a real player much in the style of Coleman of everton. Have you seen much of him and do ya think je would be an option. Thanks

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{Ed001's Note - decent player, but no better than our youngsters, they would have preferred WIsdom back rather than signing Christie. If we are going to sign a right back, then the club is just wasting money again.}

20 Nov 2014 19:43:28
How is Wisdom doing with West Brom, anyone?

I heard he had a good game against Man U, but other than that I've not heard much.

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Think I've watched most, if not all, WBA games this season. He's been pretty solid for the most part, albeit not spectacular or anything. Good defensively, less so going forward, but I don't think that's overly surprising. Probably should have had a goal the other day (forget who they were playing), but for some reason took an extra touch and shanked it wide with his left from a very good position. He was excellent against United though.

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Wisdom is a solid defender and that`s where he stands. He needs to improve his attacking side because as a fullback, you have to do both.

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21 Nov 2014 08:21:30
Typical comment from our fans. Entire defense that couldn't keep a clean sheet if their life depended on it and we criticize defenders because they aren't attacking enough. How about our defense focuses on not conceding?

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Hijkle, Wisdom is a good defender and very solid defensively BUT we no longer live in the 70`s because as modern day FB, you have to do both and that is a fact. You can hav diff opinions but not diff facts.

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Didn't Nicol play in the 70's? I'm sure he is still the only denfender to score a top flight hattrick!

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21 Nov 2014 17:33:21
Adam, Nicol played in the 1980s and 90s, he was one of my favourite players when I first started following Liverpool. Although he did score a hat-trick, he was playing in midfield that day, so Gary Gillespie is the last top flight defender who has scored a hat-trick whilst playing in defence. Below quote from ESPN's resident statto:

"There has only been one Premier League hat-trick by a player I would describe mainly as a defender, scored by Steve Watson for Everton against Leeds in 2003. However, Watson was a versatile player who operated in midfield for some of his career, including that game, so no one actually playing in the defence at the time has managed a Premier League hat-trick.

In the old First Division, the last man who was a defender by trade to bag three goals was Liverpool's Steve Nicol against Newcastle in September 1987. However, Kenny Dalglish selected his fellow Scot in midfield that day.

Which, I think, means another of the Merseysiders' Scottish contingent is the last defender to claim a top-flight hat-trick: Gary Gillespie claimed one against Birmingham in April 1986.

Indeed, it was a month for goalscoring defenders. Only five days earlier, a more remarkable treble came from West Ham's Alvin Martin in an 8-1 win against Newcastle. It was scored against three different goalkeepers, with striker Peter Beardsley the third man beaten by the centre-back."

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20 Nov 2014 17:21:55
Eds fellow reds, just a little debate to start here not saying I want rafa back, but to all the rafa haters out there he spent a lot of money over his term about £285 million I think .thats over 5 years or so in that time he got us in champs league 5 times winning one final losing the other an fa cup win 2 nod in league and people hate him .BR has spent £220 million and got us a poorly managed 2nd place last year .imo rafa in the same position last year would have got the point against Chelsea to win the league .not knocking BR as he is learning his trade but rafa is a more consistent manager for me

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That is assuming the transfer fee, the agent fee etc would have remained the same during Rafa's and BR's term, which is simply not true.

While there are no pertinent comparisons, I would say both suck at spending money.

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20 Nov 2014 19:38:47
Most of Rafa's early bad buys were calculated risks based on the need to buy many players at once. That's why there was £3m on Gonzales and £7m on Pennant, and not £10m for a single player who had a better chance of actually being good enough.

Let's not forget that only about 10 players he inherited from Houllier carved out careers in the Premier League, or comparable continental league. And two of those were Diouf and Owen, who for different reasons could not be kept. And tbf, he kept most of the rest (Hyypia, Carra, Finnan, Riise, Gerrard, etc.) for at least a couple of years, rather than doing something like oh, I dunno, dropping every player the last manager signed on arrival even without better alternatives available and having to backpedal and reinstate half of them to the first time by November.

Where he fell down for me is when he developed the squad to a point where he didn't need to buy a lot of players and bought five players for around the £20m mark in the space of two and a bit years, and only two of them - Torres and Mascherano - were worth the outlay. That's not a good return on £100m.

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The year we came second under Benitez, I would say that Rafa well and truly blew it. We had a good lead on united in early season. We drew a big number of games as Benitez was too cautious. He is good at not losing, which lends itself to Europe. You need to win most of your games to get the premier and Rafa was not attacking enough for that. I thought he might build on that and was not backed by the owners. Perhaps a combination of rafa's defensive pragmatism and Rodger's attacking ideas might work?

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Does that account for inflation?

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Beulahkop, I have been saying the exact same thing since that season. People blamed the refs, Fergie time, Marcheda`s goal and so on. We didn`t win because Rafa played not to lose instead of getting the win. WE dropped 22 points from 11 draws and still fell short by 4 points. The pro-Rafa brigade should ask themselves this, Had he gone for the win in even half of those games, we would have stood a better chance of winning the PL that year. That will forever b my gripe with him. His defensive tactics bored me to death after a while and his other antics just peeved me off. Rafa ain`t coming and the Eds have said De Boer is the guy they (FSG) want and God bless them. Unlike many on here, I have no prob letting go of the past hence, Rafa is our past and like the other servants of this great club, should stay there.

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Redohio,
That's one of the best and truest posts I've read in a long time. Everyone complained about how overly cautious Rafa was at that time and I agree it's time to let the past go.

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Have you taken into account inflation etc?wages? blah blah

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Thanks Mcgoveb!

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20 Nov 2014 16:47:03
Is Mario fit for this weekend eds?

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{Ed002's Note - The club will provide an update tomorrow on all injured players.}

20 Nov 2014 14:02:00
'Robbie Fowler quote unquote. "Liverpool are not as bad as people are making out". Have you been sniffing the Anfield turf again Robbie? Thanks for your reply earlier Ed's 001 it's much appreciated. I have slept on it and I have come to the conclusion that Rafa would be my choice. De Boer is much like Rogers the flavor of the month. Young, full of innovation, plays modern football. But at the moment we need a brain transplant our confidence is shot to pieces. Someone like Rafa with his no nonsense approach, experience and know how would steady the ship and build systematically. Yes it's boring but effective. If we want top 4 this season we need to stop leaking goals and getting points. And can you imagine Ian St John's reaction to Rafa coming back. priceless!

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At this moment I agree 100%

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20 Nov 2014 17:34:05
Can you imagine Rafa's first game back in charge at Anfield. Ra-fa Ra-fael Ra-fa Ra-fael. Goosepumps down the spine. You not agree eds'001?lol. lol. lol

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Got to agree massive rafa fan but gutted I just don't think the owners will entertain it

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20 Nov 2014 18:27:27
I'm all for Rafa return.

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20 Nov 2014 19:46:09
Fowler is correct in so far as we have a better squad than 11th in the league would suggest.

It's one of the things that's bothering me a lot, we have the players to fix this and make this whole Rodgers Out discussion a laughing matter a few months up the line.

Not hopeful atm, though.

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I'm not a big Rafa fan but his football would even seem exciting when compared to what we are playing now.

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Agree to some extent BUT if Rafa was in FSG`s sights, they could have hired him instead of BR but they IMO smartly refused. He ain`t coming because he`s not the ONLY coach capable of getting it done to the chagrin of many on here. There are others who are much more proven than BR who can. They just need a chance. N BTW, you don`t look for a brighter future by dwelling on the past. That is what has held us back too because we always seem unable to let the past go (coaches, players the lot). You have to dare to dream and that can only b done b taking risks.

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20 Nov 2014 12:45:59
I for one, am literally praying we do not yank Origi back in January.

He is a good 19 year old player with potential to be very good.

The amount people have built him up, within the club and outside, means even if he did get 5-10 goals between January and the end of the season would lead to disappointment.

To pit all our hopes on an unproven 19 year old lad, to bring him into our current rubbish storm could devastate him and destroy his confidence and belief for the future.

He should not be made to bear the pressure the transfer board and the manager have created themselves

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Yet another example of BR's motormouth problem and still there are people out here who thinks there is nothing wrong with him talking bull.

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20 Nov 2014 21:47:32
Amazing you can criticise someone for having a 'motormouth' yet chat so much pineapple yourself.

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I like pineapple.

Unlike me, BR represents and manages LFC and I think it is pretty clear that he has responsibilities that involves not being a porky mouth.

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20 Nov 2014 12:42:25
Hey Eds and all Reds fans. There are so many posts every day now about how long Rodgers will last and how bad a manager he has become over the last few weeks when he has been without a recognised strike force since the end of August.

The one thing that encourages me is that EVERY player at the club sings his praises - even the great Jamie C has publicly stated that Rodgers is the right man to take us forward. Saurez has said the same thing too.

Surely, these professional footballers, who have played for several managers cannot all be wrong.

So, yes times are tough now, but we must give BR the rest of this season to see where we end up, and not where we are now.

KBL

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20 Nov 2014 13:13:23
Every player at the club doesn't sing his praises. A couple that get a lot of media face time sing his praises - Gerrard, Suarez, Henderson etc. Some probably for quite selfish reasons e.g. they should have been dropped a long time ago but BR hasn't and they love him for it. A lot of players and ex players are clearly very unhappy with him, but most have had the good career sense/general tact and good manners not to go making a big deal of it to the media even after they left - with the exception of Sahin who said exactly what he thought

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20 Nov 2014 13:44:52
"Without a recognised strike force"

Balotelli, Lambert, Borini, all BR's signings.

Not to mention Aspas, Alberto and Yesil.

£40m+ on strikers he signed and you are claiming there he has no recognised strike force

BR's tactics are a good 2-3 years out of date and his lack of adaptation and change plus shocking dealings with transfers and squad members shows he is not up to scratch

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20 Nov 2014 13:49:15
"EVERY player at the club sings his praises"

Sahin, Downing, Agger, Reina, Suso to name but a few have not got quite so many positives to say

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You know footballers are known for being stupid?

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"He (Rodgers) was the one manager I had problems with. After Liverpool it was good to be dealing with a straight-talking man"

"Thank God I have left Brendan Rodgers."

"The things that went wrong between us is that I say things the way they are and I expect others to treat me the same way. Maybe it is wrong to always expect this."

Yeah, clearly everyone loves him.

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I think soon, you can add Sakho, Ilori and Borini to the list of players who will have a problem with BR.

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I would imagine Alberto and Aspas don't have anything particularly positive to say either. Nor Moses, Assaidi, and the various others he bought that he didn't consider good enough after they showed up.

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RDL, that is what angers me the most about BR. He has no confidence in the academy and that`s fine. Yet he and the commitee buy these players YET never plays them. Therefore, the academy youth are wondering WTF is going on and these new players (who could be good yet are NEVER given opportunities to show what they can do) can`t get a game because BR has no confidence in them YET he was the one that sanctioned these arrivals overall. Moral of the story? He is screwing the club at both ends. I have defended him for a long time BUT I can`t take this type of mismanagement. You can kind of get away w/ that if you`re winning BUT if you`re losing, you should be getting the sack. Oh N BTW if we are trying to recall Origi, then we are in more trouble than we thought. God help us all w/ this guy.

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20 Nov 2014 12:05:31
Hello fellow reds! I haven't posted in a while because of all the negativity surrounding are great club. Got a few things to get off my chest so here goes.
1. What sort of message does it send out to the players (like Lambert-Borini) when lazy Balotelli gets started every single game and he won't chase down lost causes and there is absoloutley no urgency in his game what's so ever! Can u imagine if u was Borini or Lambert and u see Balotelli not getting on to the pitch in time and then just walking around every game.
I bet them 2 give 110% in training an would love to start upfront. So why why why is Rodgers sticking with Balotelli upfront? Surely if i was in the other lads shoes i would be thinking, what's the point? No matter we do he will start regardless. Them 2 must be totally disheartened with the current situation. If i was Rodgers i would start borrini and Lambert and let that waste of space sit on the bench!

2. Sturridge is injured. get over it! Origi is not the answer at the minute. We need a player like Bony or even berahinio who is proven in the premiership. Its the clubs fault for thinking that balotelli was the answer for Liverpool. By the looks of things this buy went above and beyond rodgers. there's no way he would of wanted him!

3. I can't believe how bad lovren has been! U don't go from being a class defender to awful in a few months. Oh and can someone please tell me why glen johnson starts games still? he's a champioship player at best!

Thoughts.

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It is not a running competition and not an effort competition mate. It is a scoring competition. If Lambert and Borini want to get more minutes they need to score in the minutes they do get and both of them - definitley Borini - get many more minutes than they had dreamt of pre-season. And when it comes to one on one in the box in front of goal I still favour Balo on them two, the problem is he rarely gets a decent ball there and cannot produce anything by himslef. In any case I think he is also injured no? So surely they will get their chance this weekend let's see them take it.

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20 Nov 2014 10:20:35
How is it possible that our so called amazing academy that everybody is raving about and our excellent youth system and so on. how is it that it didn't produce a single good forward since the days of owen? Even now i look at the youth forwards we have now i only see dunn (which was a midfielder by the way) but he isn't anything special i don't know if he can cut it at priemer level. and the other is yesil (who is just as injury prone as sturridge !)
I mean what is going on at the academy ?

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20 Nov 2014 13:15:25
Did it not produce a single good forward? Or did we just fail to promote the good forward at the right stage of their career and let them fall by the wayside?

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The problem with forwards is first of all you need to pick the type of forward you want to produce which we've failed to do, ngoo, morgan, yesil and Sinclair are all very very different players for example ngoo was a big lad with no foot ball quality whatsoever he was just bigger and stronger than everyone else and could bully himself a chance and usually fluff it. Yesil is a fox in the box that makes clever runs and finishes well but his work rate is none existent and he's not quick but he's by far the best I've mentioned. Morgan looked great until he had to step up from u18 level which for some reason he couldn't do his feet were very slow although he had a good turn of pace but slow feet means no skill he had to have a chance created to score he couldn't create. Sinclair 2 years ago looked like the next big thing he was 15 playing in the u18s and could literally score from anywhere and was lightening quick but over the last 18 months has had a lot of injurys and has lost form although he's still a regular scorer. I wasn't going to mention Dunn because he's played mostly on the right wing and as a ten for the last year or so and I personally don't rate him at all he's greedy, he shoots from everywhere he shoots from every free kick he's completely left footed he's mardy he's injury prone but he can strike a ball true. Our main problem is that our strikers don't have an identity. Our best stocked positions on the academy is on the wings and in midfeild where it's clear all our wingers must be tricky and fast and our midfielders must be able to contribute goals and assists even as the pivot from open play and they must be comfortable with the ball at their feet in tight spaces

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20 Nov 2014 09:46:07
Can I just wish Daniel Sturridge a speedy recovery. I am sure he is devastated to be going through another lengthy injury, I appreciate a lot of fans are frustrated because of how much he brings to the team, but reading through the posts the last couple of days, it's ridiculous.

This is a Liverpool player who, when fit, has put his all in to every performance, and to be spoken about like a lot of people have been recently is just out of order in my opinion. He does not want to be injured, he does not want to have missed as many games as he has this season, he has never been one to turn up just for the pay cheque. I hope to god he's doesn't read this website while he goes through his injury rehabilitation because from being compared to Samuel L Jackson's character in Unbreakable, to some fans nearly even blaming Sturridge, to reading in today's papers that Rodgers has been said that he is now getting the arseache with sturridges as well, I think we forget sometimes that it's hard on the player as well, who only wants to play football.

Get well soon Danny, no rush, your prolonged fitness over the next 5 years is more important than the next 6 weeks so look forward to seeing you back, fit and hungry in the new year and fingers crossed for you, injury free for a long time after.

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20 Nov 2014 10:44:54
Well said welshscouse it's not as though he wants to be injured and scan to prove he is get of his back, with comments like glass man and injury prone.Y.N.W.A.

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I would like to point out, although why I even need to is beyond me, the reference to Unbreakable was a bit of light hearted, tongue-in-cheek humour.

I personally don't see the problem in having a playful poke at his injury record. Hey ho, each to their own.

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20 Nov 2014 13:39:09
Super post!

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Wassa, the problem we have sometimes is because emotions run high on this site very frequently, what starts out by one poster as tongue in cheek, fuels a stronger response from the next poster, then stronger again and suddenly, we have players being slated for no other reason than they are injured. I just wanted to make a point that as frustrated as we all are, got to feel for the lad more because all he wants to do is play.

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20 Nov 2014 16:26:20
No wassa that was funny and was a lighthearted joke but some other posts r going on as if it's his fault r the mail today saying Brendan is pissed off with him.

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Couple of Journalists have reported BR's thoughts. It was BR who only a month ago claimed Sturridge's injuries were hereditary.

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Guess his foot-in-mouth syndrome has crept up again.

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20 Nov 2014 09:14:23
Guys,

I live in the Netherlands and DeBoer is really really well thought of throughout Dutch football. He is very vocal in his thoughts of bringing through academy players and using youth to unearth the next gem.
He is also a regular analyst when they show Premier League matches and he really knows his stuff about the premier players.
I really think the guy would be a fantastic match for our great club.

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If De Boer is who the owners want then they should make it happen. He was a great player (his bro was pretty good too), elegant defender and national team captain with a Gerrardesque passing ability. I just hope the job isn`t too big for him because the Dutch league is a poor league hence, could dominatiing a poor league in comparison to the PL give him the right temprament where he would be expected to coach and succeed at an institution like LFC every week? That is my only concern. Apart from that, I`m good w/ him.

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20 Nov 2014 08:36:50
I would love to see Coutinho, Lallana and Sterling in the team at the weekend.
What should we do, who should we drop to accommodate these players?
I was thinking last night about it.
Its hard to play those 3 with Gerrard as the holding midfielder in my opinion but can't see Gerrard not starting.
Would welcome some thoughts.

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Diamond. Gerrard holding with Coutinho and Lallana in front, Sterling number 10 and Borini and Balotelli up front

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Give Lambert the chance to lead the line, he will bring that tricky trio into play. Gerrard & Hendo behind.
Stevie needs to have a good game on Sun, he has just had a week off!

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Scab Inspector, with that midfield even Crystal palace would put at least 5 past us. As it is clueless Brendan has no idea how to set up the defense and if u play 3 CAMs by trade as our midfield 3 then a beating awaits the team no matter how poor the palace forwards are.

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20 Nov 2014 12:08:32
Remember the 4-2-4 fiasco at Oldham where we basically had no-one in midfield? Well. that. The only way of having it work is to play with one of them as a striker

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We should definitely have these 3 starting at the weekend, but when you play with so many attacking players you absolutely need more than 1 player behind them.

I would suggest playing Lucas and Can behind them or even Lucas and Gerrard as long as Gerrard plays slightly further forward. Of course this is presuming that Henderson is injured.

Up front we have to play Lambert. He is not just a big lump who likes a header, he's a creater who can hold the ball up well and pick passes for the likes of Lallana, Coutinho and Sterling.

Red Rum

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20 Nov 2014 13:50:15
play Can holding, Gerrard and coutinho up top (unless hendo's fit, if so swap coutinho for him) then sterling/lallana wide - with Mario up top.

Would leave a healthy bench of allen, borini, lambert, markovic, and lucas all available for selection, plus gerrards had a week off so can do at least 70 mins playing up the pitch which i think would bring a lot out of Mario.

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I would play a 4-2-3-1 formation with Can and Lucas protecting the back four. Coutinho, Sterling and Lallana providing the movement and creativity whilst supporting a lone striker, probably Mario

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20 Nov 2014 19:14:18
I would play Stevie G up along side Mario and try kill two birds with one stone getting Stevie out of the midfield and Mario a chance to prove he can play with a partner . I know your going to all say I am mad well maybe but Stevie has had all season in midfield has not been able to perform to his very high standards which I think he would admit himself so this would give Brendan a chance to put a midfield together from Lucas , continio, Henderson, Cann Sterling, ect. And as for Mario if he can't connect with Stevie G and create goals then he has run out of chances and needs to be moved on because taking the chains of carrying the team from Stevie G and letting him just play up front and enjoy his game again we may see an improvement in both players and more importantly the team

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Midfield diamond of Lucas, Lallana, Can and Coutinho. Sterling upfront with Lambert or Balo.

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I've been thinking for ages now that I'd love to see Lallana play up front. He can turn on a six pence and has a decent strike. He also makes striker runs. I think he could be a revalation there. Well worth trying IMO.

For me. That will work wonders.

While were at it get skrtel and Johnson out of defence.

Problems sorted.

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BR will play his usual boring possession footie and we will struggle again and again.

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Cheers for the feedback fellas.
It's hard to not see the fact that we are doing everything we can to prolong Gerrard's career at Liverpool.
I got no problem with that from a certain point of view (because he has been brilliant for us) but I do think our greatest managers have not allowed players coming to the end of their career's to dictate the future of the club.
Gerrard is an absolute legend and in the top 3 players of all time for our club.
But this holding midfield thing is not working and we can all see it.
The only way I see him staying at Liverpool and be effective is in the Beckenbauer role.
Play him as a non marking centre half who can bring it out of defense and start things off from a deeper role.

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20 Nov 2014 07:49:02
Hey ed's 001 I need you to throw me a pearl of wisdom. I'm in Miami, it's 2.40am and what's keeping me awake is whether I want De Boer or Rafa in charge of my beloved Liverpool. The romantic in me wants Rafa but i can't see us playing that sexy football of last season but we won't leak goals either. The modernist in me wants to see De Boer but my instinct tells me he's not ready for a massive club. Would Rafa or De Boer come mid season? Are there any other candidates for the job that we don't know about? And why is 22 men chasing a piece of leather around for 90 minutes so addictive? What say you mate??

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{Ed001's Note - Rafa would walk to Liverpool to manage us again, but for me it would be De Boer. Rafa I love as a man, absolutely adore him as a person, he is fantastic, but his tactics put me to sleep last time and his constant playing games behind the scenes trying to get more power are not conducive to running a club well. There are other candidates, Klinsmann would be one. I have no idea why it is so addictive, it is odd, but it truly is addictive.}

Is it clear that De Boer wants to come? I wouldn't think we are such an attractive club to manage at the moment. We have primarily a mid table squad, no defence, one of our strikers can't run because he just can't, the other can't run becuase he is always injured, we have no money to buy whatsoever, we are in post trauma because of Suarez leaving and everyone's expectations are top4 minimum. Why would he want to get into that?

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To be fair, I don't think we have a mid table squad, i think we have a squad capable of top 4, i think we have a defence that is capable of a lot more than we're currently seeing, and even the strikers we have fit at the moment, used correctly and with a bit of confidence, could still do the job.

Our squad isn't being utilised to nearly half of what they are capable of at present and I think someone like De Boer is qualified enough to see the potential we have there if worked with the right way. Let's be fair, he could walk into plenty of clubs in the premiership alone without the quality of players we have. I genuinely believe we have the ingredients to climb the table, just need to find the right recipe to bring out the best in them

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Fanobip the players we have are more than capable of managing a top4 finish for the club. Its Brendan's ineptness which has made them ineffective. The players we brought in all did well for their respective clubs last season but are struggling right now apart from Moreno. The common denominator here is Brendan so go figure the real root of our problems.

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Don't get me worng. I think our team hugely underperfom under BR and I say for long time he should go and I would be very happy to see DeBoer as our manager. Of course great manaers can make the most of any squad. I still think that compared to the squad City, Chelsea, now ManU and even Arsenal (I would replace all our midfielders together for one Sanches) have, ours is not as strong, especially when we know Sturridge is so injury prone. I don't think our sqaud is so much better than Everton for example forgive me for saying this. However, the exectations we have are also very high with minimum top 4 (this year it is only natural they are so high after last year) and maybe the biggest problem is that we don't have money to spend - so I think he needs a lot of courage to take Liverpool now.

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Fanobip, I do understand where you're coming from, but do you not also think it could work the other way? Think Moyes at Man U, he went into a team that had just won the premiership and huge things were expected of him so with no instant success came a short tenure, I think Liverpool at the moment is tempting for a manager that wants to prove themselves. We have a strong squad if utilised correctly, we have owners that have been supportive through transfers, stadium expansions etc, we have a fanbase that on the majority, get behind the team and the manager with a passion not met in many other clubs, personally, I think it's a fantastic opportunity for a lot of managers out there but guess we will have to wait ad see.

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Strong squad WelshScouse clueless manger

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Rafa is the man to lead LFC the man is exactly what this club needs right now and he needs LFC . Some o you on here discussing Rafa coming back sound just like Chelsea fans when he went there Now the club has been set on an strong footing he has no need to go to war with the new owners just get on with running the tea as for his transfers yes he made mistakes but when you see how much he spent and how much he brought into the club he spent modestly we had a world yes world class midfield a back four that could defended were very mean at the back and A forward which was the envy of Europe . I believe he would give josey run for his money as this premier league is open for one team and manager to dominate and this could be Rafa s time

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Obviously the owners (and myself) disagree here because if they thought he was the guy as some are suggesting, why have the owners not hired him whenever they could? because they know that you don`t seek a future by going back in the past and they learnt that the hard way by listening to the fans and hiring KK and trust me, that won`t happen again, IMO. They will do things the way they always wanted to do it and we will all get over it because IMO, they`ve listened to the fans long enuff and got burnt. Rafa ain`t coming and if he does, I`ll be concerned YET will support him because if he succeeds then so do all of us.

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20 Nov 2014 01:24:18
Hi Eds,

When would you expect they will sack Rodgers? Would they wait till after the Boxing day? Or is this something that would be done sooner rather than later?

So I take it that De Boer is keen to leave Ajax mid-season? Also, if De Boer is in, would you think there is any chance Suso would stay? I think he loves Anfield.

Cheers,

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{Ed001's Note - I expect them to take their time unless there are disastrous results in the meantime. De Boer is keen to move up from Ajax, yes. As for Suso, it would depend on if he is going to be given a chance to play or not.}

20 Nov 2014 03:37:02
I don't post many comments but read this page everyday, To say I'm embarrassed is an understatement, to turn so quickly on Rodgers is a joke! this is the man that brought us so close to our first premiership ever whilst playing the most attacking and exciting football we have seen in over a decade! We have been unlucky with injuries and lost our gem but just remember how worse off without Rodgers we were.I don't buy into this we were lucky last season, We ripped teams apart! We are missing our 2 main players from last year ofcourse we are struggling but to be struggling still in every cup and fighting for top 4 doesn't warrant a Rodgers out campaign for goodness sake!!! We have a better squad now once Rodgers finds his best 11 then judge him Rome wasn't built in a day! "if you can't support us when we are losing don't support us when we are winning"

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20 Nov 2014 08:22:18
Your post actually crystallizes why peoples opinions have turned. Last year we played exciting, attacking football and won. This year we played slow, boring possession football and are not winning. And Rogers seems set on refusing to go back to the football we played last year. All last year means is that he actually has no excuses for what he has us doing now because he knows how to coach the other type and he knows it's more effective!

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This is a new season and all we are asking for is a coach, who is trying to win us games not a philosopher. let's get points on board and leave this its Buck's way or bust, because ryt now its not working. We are not playing Borini, Suso (yes he is injured but wasnt playing even before) over playing Gerrard. Lucas, Allen etc. we need a new man on the reigns bcoz we can't hope BR will change. The sooner he is off the sooner we can slavage the season. Frankly I wanted him gone the day we hustled,QPR 3-2, I think that was it for me. To think that is how low we have fallen. So drop BR get us a coach with balls or at least who knows when to seek help.

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20 Nov 2014 09:44:51
Yep because you just flick a switch and we will suddenly be a winning side again.

Changing the manager as always will once again bring in a sea of change.

We haven't been playing well, but do you all think that BR has not tried to get us playing like we did last season.our players are out of form and low in confidence, we can't score or defend. BR will be doing all he can to get us going again.

He deserves time, we cannot keep chopping and changing. Managers need time and based on last season and the way we played he has to be given it IMO.

The grass is not always greener.

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20 Nov 2014 10:35:51
No No101 I don't think he has. I think he's trying to get that quality back but I think he's actively not going back to that style on purpose, it's not what he considers 'his' style and he doesn't like it. Players are low on confidence because of what his tactics are making them do, not in spite of them.

Look, I don't think anyone wants BR out for the sake of getting BR out (okay some people do, but it's not the majority view). They want him out because all the evidence currently points to him mismanaging out club and causing us severe damage whilst refusing any help. If he changes his ways to become a bit more of a team player and a bit more tactically flexible, I'm sure we'll get a good run of form going because with or without Sturridge we have plenty of quality and goal scoring ability. But right now it's up to him to prove he can and will do that, because thus far he's refusing to

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Last season we did not come close due to br, we came close due to the SAS scoring more goals than the opposition. in nearly three years BR has failed to sort the defence, spent stupid amounts of money and not spent wisely. and he is so stuborn in his team selections ie always playing GJ and SG even when they are not performing. i am not saying shoot him down but if he does not get things sorted soon i can see the owners replacing him.

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The reason Brendan Rodgers can't play last seasons football is because Suarez and Sturridge are missing and the defence would be even more open

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Defense is open cause we split the CB's and pass the ball sideways all game at the back with our FB's on the halfway line.

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Fensh is spot on. That system is suicide and makes good defenders look terrible BUT only BR thinks it is an awesome system even tho it is destroying the team and the club`s fotunes as we speak.

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That system is suicide and akes good defenders terrible and bad defenders even worse.

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19 Nov 2014 23:29:04
The Echo are reporting that Liverpool will look to bring Origi in in January. If that is true that the club feel that it is right to put the burden of saving Liverpool's season on a 19 year old, albeit with evident potential, then God bless us all! Absolute mis-management at its best. If this is the plan then FSG need to look not only at Rodgers but management overall at the club. I have high hopes for Origi but don't want to see him come into the club like this. How can a young player develop in this situation?

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I can see a move like this destroying Origi's confidence. Everyone knows the team's biggest problem is scoring goals and with Sturridge sidelined yet again, the burden will fall on Origi to pull the club back up the table. No 19 year old should have to take up such a responsibility with so little experience under their belt, while the older experienced pros and their dufus manager watch the freefall.

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Ed

Do you think the latest Sturridge news will have a increase affect on us trying to get Origi in January now or won't it make much difererance?

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{Ed001's Note - if it does make a difference, then we have a real problem with how the club is being run. I am sure Rodgers will make more of a push to get the club to act, but it makes little sense to me to bring in an unproven youngster for a lot of money, rather than just give one of our own unproven youngsters a shot for a few months.}

I would agree all day to that. When we had a crisis last time, we turned to youngsters and I think we have one now, so repeat the formula. won't do us any harm, we are in free fall. grab ahold of something, heck even Pardew took a chance and see how well it lifted the team, spirits and points on the table.
We got Sterling and Flanno playing because of injuries etc so let's repeat get Sinclair, Dunn, Yesil or whoever to come give us a boost. That hunger and fearless is missing in the team. Maybe Mario could even benefit.

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If a 19yr old kid is being recalled to do the business then we are in worse shape than we all thought and is also a scathing indictment of BR and the shambolic commitee`sdreadful handling of transfers in the past 2-3yrs.

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19 Nov 2014 21:38:41
Right, so before I begin I do not want Rafa back on a permanent basis and I am not advocating as such, HOWEVER how would people feel if he came in as interim boss until the summer to give the board time to get the man they want - for arguments sake let's say the manager they want is not available until summer, which is likely considering not many TOP managers will leave mid-season for Liverpool right now.

So?

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Just don't mention the word interim in front of him ;)

Red Rum

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Isnt rafa the manager of Napoli?
Def not my choice either way.

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I would love Rafa back, the man loves the club and city and would not see it as a stepping stone to bigger things unlike Brendan who wants RM or Barca but will probably end up at Wolves or Leeds. At this point however i would even take Pulis who would improve us defensively because Brendan cannot seem to get anything right nowadays.

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We have a strong team, I would get Pulis any day, BR has hit the wall. He has reached his ceiling, dare I say. He needs a shot in the arm, or something to move him up a level. because ryt now its not looking anything will change soon esp for the better.

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The Pulis for Liverpool shout is one of the most embarassing things i've read on here recently, and that's saying something.

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I'm speechless Ron

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{Ed007's Note - That's got to be a wind-up or one of Pulis' relations.}

Must be Pulis himself, then.

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Say what you like about a Pulis side, but they wouldn't get mugged off like that week in week out.

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