Liverpool Banter Archive May 22 2015

22 May 2015 22:30:47
If we continue with Rodgers do we risk losing quality players such as Coutinho and replacing them with potential inexperienced
players from european leagues. Gut feeling is we need stability and a well respected manager with european experience to promote youth players from academy to gain first time experience and to encourage and man manage first team players. I believe that Rodgers is in way over his
head and is using whatever tactics at his disposal to distract or blame. Handling of Lucas is disappointing and agree with ed's first name on teamsheet. don't think Hendo is ready yet and would be keen to know what ed's or other posts think about Milner as interim captain if he does join. Keep the faith!

23 May 2015 00:03:11
Couldnt fault your post until the Milner comment. Not sure that a new signing should be made captain. Ever.

23 May 2015 00:34:01
Another manager bashing hey? Your suggestion to make a player, who hasn't even signed, interim captain, shows a total lack of loyalty to and faith in the players who already wear the strip with pride.

23 May 2015 01:17:24
Hendo would start in any midfield in England. Maybe Fabregas would keep him out for chelsea. He is one of the only ones who gives heart when needed, as balo sterling are lazy and some others are just not smart enough. Drunk post so possibly wrong.

23 May 2015 01:46:26
Lucas should be first team squad for sure but IMO so should Hendo. He's been one of our better players

23 May 2015 12:42:13
Put yourself in Coutinho's shoes. His best mate is eased out of the club and goes to Italy.

How would you feel ?

What would you want to do ?

23 May 2015 13:19:47
IMO, clubs are watching him because that is what club's do. They watch players and if they see that he is in any way unhappy, they will be hovering and if we are not competing, they will move for him and snap, he'll be gone. Keep screwing the club over, BR and see what your apologists will say then after you have "eased" out all our commited players.

22 May 2015 22:24:18
If the owners would have asked me to write the infamous review, I would start I would start it with the argument that you can't fight for trophies if you try to only buy players in bargain prices.

Last summer it was very clear that our transfer committee was obsessed not to pay even 100k more than what they thought a player was worth. With Bony for example, who BR wanted, the asking price we got was mroe than 20M and the trnasfer committee thought it is a bit too much so went for the bargain Baloteli.

I assume they didn't want to repeat the Andy Caroll mistake. What they forgot was that the same week we paid 30M or so for Caroll we paid the same price for Suarez.

And these players, the Suarezes, the Aguaros, Costas and Sanchezes they worth 10-15 points at least a season. And yes you can get it wrong as well with them like United with Falcau. But you have to take risks.

Buying young unproven players cheap in the hope they will come good doesn't work anymore. Not that we bought so cheap, Markovich for 20M? anyway you would hope they have learned from all this.

But no, it seem that Juventus told us Vidal price was 25M and we offered 14M. What was that? hoping to agree on something in the middle? Well it is not real estate. Arsenal said thank you very much and took him.

All this transfer committee business is good for deciding about a new building for a primary school. The current football transfer marker is a bit like an auction of very expensive art pieces. You have to act fast sometime, pay the requested price and go for some big expensive pieces of art.

22 May 2015 23:47:06
Where do we begin. Bony was there to be bought has Swansea was ready to sell and Gomis was his replacement but BR dithered and messed up the deal. Nobody stopped him from signing Bony but BR himself. Also, the owners did not stop the purchase of Alexis either as he chose a more attractive club than us. BR sang the praises of these players when he bought them and is now fooling people and telling us that these players are no longer good enuff when he had 100m to spend this season yet sold Kelly, loaned Wisdom yet brought in Manquillo on a paid loan who can't get a game. The owners don't pick who gets bought. BR does and they don't even trust him with money hence, the TC which is dreadful. He is a failure and this notion that the owners are shackling him in the TW is just moral dishonesty. He is aweful and needs to go. There, fixed it for ya!

22 May 2015 23:27:02
What?

This is the biggest pile of s*** I've read for a while.

You firstly criticise the committee for wanting bargain priced players and then completely contradict yourself with the Markovic example. He wasn't the only overpriced player in the summer.

Carroll didn't cost the same amount as Suarez.

Vidal players for Juventus - not Arsenal

And then to top it off you compare football transfers to art. WTF???

Fanobip

23 May 2015 00:01:15
Falcao. It means falcon.

23 May 2015 01:11:15
Most of what you've said is fantasy

23 May 2015 02:33:09
As far as I'm aware, BR was at no fault for failing to get Bony. I remember the ed's mentioning that it was the transfer committee that failed to bring him in, despite Rodgers wanting him

{Ed001's Note - no, he couldn't decide if he wanted him, so Swansea pulled the plug, while the transfer committee got the blame. The deal was done, Swansea bought Gomis ready to replace him and then Rodgers held off giving the green light.}

23 May 2015 05:34:28
I fail to understand how would bony fit in our system?
A target man is the last one we need. This shows the inability of a manger who is still after a big name than the team.

{Ed001's Note - he is not a target man. He is an all round striker who can also play any of the attacking midfield roles. Personally I think he would have been an excellent partner for Sturridge and been able to take the lone striker role when he was out.}

23 May 2015 07:11:03
Ohio, you say that BR is at fault for all the transfers then in the same breath say that he can't be trusted hence the committee. So what are you saying here? Try not to contradict yourself mate.

Red Rum

23 May 2015 08:53:48
Sorry ED001 I share Ramish96 view on this. BR said everywhere throughout the summer that Bony is his no 1 target and it was reported in various sources that the TC didn't approve this because they thought the asking price was too high and they went for Baloteli which BR publicly objected to at first. Yes he may and should have been fighting this and veto it, which he didn't and in any case I didn't intend this post to take off blame from BR for some of the other signings. I definitly think he should go.

I just said that it felt that our overall attitude last summer - other than Sanchez that wasn't our fault - but a lof of the 15-20 million players or less, look for bargain, don't buy very expensive players or people that you think worth less than their price so we don't have another Carrol.

I any case I am not really worried about last summer but about the coming one. It is reported and I didn't see it denied anywhere that Juventus wanted 25M for Vidal and we offered 14M - what is the point of that? it was also reported that Arsenal heard he is available and was quick to agree terms with him though this still is waiting for official signing to confirm that. But this is the dynamic now. You don't decide quickly someone else take the player.

{Ed001's Note - you can share whoever's view you want, but it was a lot of crap from Rodgers' mouth as usual. Funny how people believe a proven liar when it suits them. The transfer committee went for Balotelli because he was all that was left after Rodgers dithered and lost them Bony and blocked the move for Remy. I don't care what the other sources say, they are no doubt newspapers that have proven to be incorrect time and time again but they suit your point of view so you are going to believe them. It is people like you that make these sites hard work, we take the effort to find the truth, and all we get are idiots telling us that newspapers say different so we must be wrong, until a few months later when the newspapers suddenly realise we were right all along and you all jump on the bandwagon. You all repeat the lies Sterling was offered 100k a week and rejected it, even though he wasn't. You all spout the bull they feed you backing their mate Rodgers, because it is bull just to make him look good and deflect from his own failings. You all gave us grief for saying Rodgers was alienating players by taking all the credit for everything good and deflecting criticism, but now Macca has said it now it is suddenly accepted. Perhaps you should look at these 'sources' and ask yourself what kind of source they are?}

23 May 2015 09:15:52
Eds I live in Swansea and have watched them numerous times. I have NEVER seen Bony play an attacking midfielder role. And the reason Bony didn't go to Liverpool was because they wouldn't pay the price that Swansea wanted

{Ed001's Note - wow you have seen him play for one club and think you know his career now? He didn't play as a target man before they bought him. And you are wrong as usual about the deal. Another who just wants to believe what fits his point of view.}

23 May 2015 09:57:49
The thing with players like Bony, Balotelli and Lambert etc is you need runners ahead of them. Especially in a fast counter attacking system. However, I'd rather just play Coutinho in that CAM position tbh.

I'd have liked to have seen Lambert tried in the number 10 role this season though, especially when Coutinho needed a rest. He looks lost as a target man in a team that doesn't hoof the ball into the box.

Red Rum

23 May 2015 10:43:20
Anyway, back to the review.

I think 12 months ago we were ahead of where we expected to be in terms of the long term planning of the first team squad. Our young players were not ready to take up first team squad positions.
So we had 2 massive challenges : improve the squad for champions league games and improve the first team after the loss of Suarez.
We tried to do both and as usual we failed to successfully do either. At the same time Man Utd had no european football to concentrate on and paid 40 million more than us on improving their first team. Anyone who thinks this is down to one man is naive in my opinion.
Rodgers takes his share of responsibility, but is not a Lone Ranger, there are plenty if other people who are also culpable. Rodgers has never been in champions league competition before so the task on his shoulders was too great and he over estimated his abilities.

Next season we will be back. The manager will be a lot wiser, the new players will have bedded in and we have a full pre-season to prepare.

23 May 2015 11:18:46
Take it easy ed001 and relax a bit. It's a banter site, it is not that any time somone disagrees with something you say he is trying to kill you. I respect your work here and accept/agree to a lot of what you say and I don't believe every word I read in the papers either but I don't think that all other journalists in the world just invent everything they write while the eds here are the oracle of Delphy. You have your sources in the club and some journalists have their sources, and sources have their own interests. By the way I am still waiting for BR to be sacked as you promised us for long time while all the journalists said he is staying (don't got me wrong I really hope you are right on this one).

{Ed001's Note - I never promised anything at all, so please don't lie. This is what I mean, you just make up stuff and then claim utter crap like that. Find me one mention of me promising anything, go on. As for it being a banter site, so what? That doesn't mean I have to sit here and read you posting up lies like that does it? If this is what you think a banter site is for, posting lies about people, then you are not in the right place.}

23 May 2015 12:59:48
Well said Ed001.!

Your first post is excellent !

Bony and Remy would have made good additions.

Persevere with Rodgers and you will pay the price of failure.

23 May 2015 13:36:01
Rum, pay attention! The owners gave BR money for the first two years and wasted it on players with only Studge and Couts coming good at the time. They did not trust him with money after that hence, the commitee of which he has the final say, as the Ed said at the time. I did not say that, the Ed did. What we are now seeing is that BR will mess up and then blame the commitee to save himself and many fans have turned on the owners and the commitee instead of focusing their ire on the incompetent manager. Ed just confirmed what I posted about Bony so you can take that to the bank like it or not, it is the truth and BR will never tell you that in the media because that would make him look bad a clearly, we can't be having that. I never read the papers on what BR says because he's a proven liar, a cheat and a politician who takes the blame for nothing and credit for everything. No wonder the players and staff want him gone. Someone with such despicable qualities should never be anywhere near our great club and the fact that fans are taking his side over the Eds and the owners is just intellectual dishonesty. He is a failure pure and simple and the facts we are seeing on the field, back that up and nothing he nor his dishonest acolytes here and in the media will ever change that. Class dismissed!

23 May 2015 13:41:40
Well, at least you do publish my posts, even the critical ones, I will give you credit for that.

{Ed001's Note - is that you admitting I didn't promise it? ;o)

22 May 2015 21:05:52
Let us look at Gary Neville's reality check.

"If Sterling leaves, then that will be another star player who has decided that Liverpool is a club that is unable to match their ambitions."

Like him or not, he is right.

FSG should look at his comments in the cold light of day.

He may be right. I think he is.

FSG don't seem to be a company who like losing. They will if they follow the current path.

A strong man is needed.
Forget about youth. Bob Paisley was not young, but good !

22 May 2015 23:09:40
Disagree i think sterling should be viewed completely differently to suarez. Unfortunately we are not at the level that us fans want and suarez is now playing at the level that he should be with his talent. Granted he should have treated the club the helped him get to that level with a lot more respect.

Sterling is completely different, he is nowhere near the level to be expecting to walk into the best teams in the world and his time would be better spent playing week in week out to help our club get back to that level. I don't believe he is deluded enough to think that he is at that level and I'm not convinced it's only about money either. It seems to me from the outside that it's a combination of him perhaps being unhappy in the north west and wanting a move back to London, a useless, greedy agent who wants a good cut out of a move and a break down in the relationship with his current manager. If it's the latter then a good appointment to replace rodgers and a public apology from sterling would be good enough for me.

Getting back to the point I was trying to make. Yes suarez leaving was a consequence of where we're at as a club at the moment. Sterlings situation however is nothing to do with our position at the moment. Talk of only being interested in winning trophies is nothing other than a statement to try and put himself in a good light and deflect from the actual issues.

Ed001 I know you're a busy man but If you have the time. do you agree in general with these thoughts? Many thanks

{Ed001's Note - sorry but Suarez was also about wanting to be somewhere else, even if we had been winning everything he would want to leave. Partly for money, but mainly because his wife's family were in Spain.}

23 May 2015 03:37:27
Sterling is not a "star player"

Gary Neville is not right.

23 May 2015 08:18:40
Regardless of the clubs outward image looks like (that would be questioned with sterlings departure), we simply can not accept a player that thinks he is above the club. FSG has the do the right thing by the club and sell him, make huge money from it, bring in manager that actually has the ability to attract players of the caliber we under rodgers can not get. Sell the likes of Aspas, Borini, Coates, Balotelli, Lambert, Enrique and have him decide on Alberto, Allen, Manquillo, Wisdom, Yesil, Coates, Ilori, Smith, McLaughlin, Paez, Teixeira.
Hand the new guy a budget of £90-100m(75-80% from player sales) that would be enough to get two new big faces(CDM and ST), 2 other starting 11 players (WF, GK) and Nathan Redmond to replace Sterling. We're not in need of a CB, that can be revisited in the january transfer window as Skrtel, Sakho, Lovren are good enough first team players with Ilori, Coates, Wisdom as good options to have throughout the season.

Higuain, Lars Bender, Son heung-min, Resmond(though not necessary), Begovic: £90m-£100m.

---------Higuain------------
Son.H.M-----------Sturridge--
----------Coutinho----------
---E.Can------------Hendo--
----------L.Bender----------
-----Sakho-------T.Ilori-----
-----------Skrtel-----------
----------Begovic----------

Origi, Ibe, Redmond, Markovic, Lallana, Lucas, Allen, Flanagan, Wisdom, Lovren, Coates, GK

{Ed001's Note - Son isn't going to be coming no matter how much money we threw his way and Redmond is not good enough yet. You would pay more than £90-100m for those anyway, these figures are just fantasy.}

23 May 2015 09:05:59
The only name I would want desperately is either illaramendi or bender. We need a top class DM, else the the flow of goals continues.

22 May 2015 19:30:28
Hey lads, so how is your Messi, sorry, Sterling doing at the moment? Quite an overrated lad, ain't he?

Red soul, but the devil one ;)

22 May 2015 20:06:39
Did that take you all day to think of?

22 May 2015 20:53:08
Eh lad there's nowt like a bit of banter come back when it's decent turnip

22 May 2015 23:16:27
Quite an irony with the disaggrements. :D
Banter aside, get rid of Brenda, get someone who is in touch with the real world and is not psychotic. Cheers.

22 May 2015 23:59:22
Brenda will talk his way out of any decision.

The owners know nowt about football.

Not a lot about spivs either !

23 May 2015 03:26:26
He's not psychotic, he's simply outstanding.

23 May 2015 05:23:08
not as overated as 'next ronaldo' januzaj though for sure.

22 May 2015 17:44:24
Hey Eds and Reds,

I don't know if I was using this site when King Kenny was sacked; what was the general consensus on here beforehand?

Was the expectation Kenny staying, or leaving?

22 May 2015 18:33:26
He was going I thought

22 May 2015 18:39:39
The media where saying Kenny was safe but the eds said otherwise.

Pretty similar to Rodgers really.

22 May 2015 18:55:07
If it wasn't his backing of Suarez and the whole t-shirt campaign situation (regarding the Evra incident) I personally think he would have stayed.

I'm annoyed that he didn't get to stay to be honest.

22 May 2015 18:58:42
K Kenny was never a long term solution as far as owners were concerned. They required a young manager with great vision, but they found Rodgers.

King got us into 2 cup finals and won carling, that is a good return compared to rodgers,where we are still doing roller coaster

22 May 2015 20:10:41
Nobody signs Andy Carroll for £35million and keeps his job

22 May 2015 20:30:53
Hmm borini , baloteli, Allen, markovic, Loveren,Lambert, around 85 million pounds !!! let's hope hey !

22 May 2015 23:30:25
Markovic yes expensive but the lad is 20.years old I wouldn't be writing him off just yet.

23 May 2015 02:33:21
Not saying Andy Carroll was worth the money,but how many goals as he scored this season.

23 May 2015 04:26:43
Markovic is young, yes, but hell's going to have to freeze over for him to become world class. His final product's appalling!

22 May 2015 16:40:49
What do you all make of Gary Nevilles recent article?
I for one think he speaks a lot of sense when you look past who he is and who he played for and take it for the genuine view it is.

Would be interested to see others take on it.

22 May 2015 16:56:35
I agree with a lot of what Neville had to say.

22 May 2015 17:01:51
Wasn't really sure of his point, to be honest. Started off about Sterling, spent more time rambling on about Anfield and was very loosely trying to tie the two together somehow. It's easy to say 'keep your best players' when you have ridiculous piles of money and even then you still lost the best one to Real. Not really sure how's that is much different to us losing Xabi to Real or Suarez to Barca.

22 May 2015 17:19:15
Irishkopite

Looking beyond my complete abhorrence for all things associated with "that lot" - past, present and no doubt in the future, I would concur that in that article he does indeed speak a lot of sense especially regards the transfer "committee" and the perceived lack of accountability. From outside looking in I don't really know if behind closed doors the people who form the committee are or aren't being held accountable, but purely from an on field player performance level then they bloody well ought to be because the players being brought to replace those leaving, and to "bolster" the squad simply aren't good enough.

As for a "visionary", well I thought Rodgers was this man, wasn't his 180 dossier supposed to forensically detail the clubs progression forward? . unfortunately the only vision Rodgers' portrays or exudes is one of "blindness" - when he opens his mouth the light coming off his expensive gnashers - blinds everyone!

22 May 2015 17:30:40
As fans we need to realise that players aren't as sentimental about Liverpool Football Club as we are. If you're not competing then players will look for a different club that can compete. Often you find those clubs to be the ones with deep pockets or clubs that have had a recent history of achieving successive champions league qualification.

Players want to know that when they move to a new club they're going to be playing in the champions league and competing for trophies in every season of their 4/5 year contract. Not just one season, which is why we couldn't attract the likes of Sanchez after finishing second last year. Even Arsenal who haven't won much in recent years can still attract players because they are regularly performing on the big stage.

Unfortunately, until we can build a team that achieves regular champions league qualification, we're going to struggle attracting top players to join unless we offer them ridiculous contracts, which the club will not be doing (and rightly so).

Therefore, over the next couple of years we need to find a few more players like Coutinho who has not only ability but patience as we build for a successful future. It would be nice to have fans of the same mindset too. It's about looking at the bigger picture.

Also, I think the fans are panicking In a very 'over the top' manner because we now have no big names at the club. "Quick, sack the manager and bring in someone who can attract big players". This seems to be the recurring theme among fans recently, when personally, I see it as a fresh start. Let's see which players can now step up and become the new stars of the team. It can be difficult for some players to step up whilst playing in the shadow of big stars, so let's see who has what it takes to up their game to the next level without feeling they have to compete with a legend like Gerrard. Maybe Allen could be that player, and you all know my thoughts on him, who knows though?

Red Rum

22 May 2015 17:45:10
Neville speaks sense.

Excellent pundit who backed-it-up on the field.

When he talks people listen and that's what it's all about.

22 May 2015 20:47:30
unlike your self a davey

22 May 2015 21:34:29
G Nev talks rubbish.

23 May 2015 03:43:32
Neville talks sense except when it comes to LFC and Man Utd.
He's too blinkered.

For starters he calls Sterling "a star player".

22 May 2015 15:33:07
Questions to the Eds: It was mentioned previously that 2017 would be a watershed with regards to the sale of some clubs in England with Liverpool being one of those clubs mentioned. FSG have also made it known that the presence of FFP was a critical part of their business model when buying the club in the first place. So my questions are: with the announced relaxation of FFP, are FSG likely to be even more resolved to sell up in 2017 and in the meantime just to maintain tight control of revenues and the merchandising brand to ensure a healthy P&L and Balance Sheet when 2017 comes? Are we unlikely to see a relaxation of FSG's own transfer policy just because FFP has been relaxed for all clubs?

{Ed002's Note - 2017 will still be a watershed. The point that FSG originally made by FSG regarding FFP and a level playing field are best forgotten as since then the club owners have found how expensive it is to run the club, and the club has haemorrhaged money and abused FFP. However, income for Liverpool will significantly increase pushing up the value of the club. The owners have gotten some considerable success off field with commercial ventures and are still looking to sell naming rights to help pay for the rework of the stadium. The FFP "changes" are largely a red herring for the English sides with two major issues as yet undecided - as I have explained.}

22 May 2015 14:37:23
Question for E002 if she's about. When summing up what you think of the transfers we made this season you said that Liverpool perhaps should've taken something from the fact that Chelsea could've had Markovic for around half of what we payed and deemed him not ready. I was just wondering whether you think that he will be a good player and maybe therefore worth the investment in the long term? I know it's all opinion, it's just I don't know too much about him but he seemed well rated when we were first linked so was just wondering your views. Thanks!

{Ed002's Note - I can tell you that Chelsea certainly expected him to come good but he was in need of a year or two playing regularly at a decent level in a reasonable league whilst getting European experience. I doubt their, or in particular, the view of a third party advising them, has changed.}

22 May 2015 20:03:28
I think he will come good and has looked good when played up top in the correct position. He isn't a wing back and has been misused by Rodgers. We did overpay regrettably, but that's not the players fault by any stretch of the imagination.

22 May 2015 14:15:44
Eds reds re players who may come in this summer. My opinion, right or wrong, we can't expect to get players who want or can get cl football or big wages or both. Man city, before qualifying for cl were able to offer massive wages to tempt top players, then put together a team good enough to qualify on a regular basis. We won't pay those wages. Then young international class ie vietto, cl qualifying clubs chasing them. So that leaves us with very promising young players whom we scout early, players through our youth system and players, more than good enough, experienced, whom are at clubs with bigger, stronger squads than ours who want game time rather than money. Konoyaplanka, milner, ings, montoya?, and the like would be our targets. Maybe benteke, but if others come calling I can't see him coming to us, baez, we shouldve moved on him by now, as ed02 has said, yet again we will probably leavecit to late!! I hope i'm wrong but I can't see us attracting others unkess our transfer policy changes. Nevertheless I think with 3 or 4 signings of the right qualitymin the most needed positions we coukd do very well next season. This season, we all know, we haven't done well consistently, and stiill 5th in the table so there is hope!!!

22 May 2015 15:34:15
Konoplyanka is the only player form the list you mentioned I would look to sign.

22 May 2015 13:32:10
{Ed001's Note - We have posted a new article entitled, Raheem Sterling why oh why!

22 May 2015 17:22:06
This article is good, but it misses out the point of view in which the agent only does what Sterling wants him to do.

22 May 2015 17:59:16
good article Ed01. Have to agree with you about never dealing with that knob! agent again

22 May 2015 11:50:14
I think a lot of fans are seriously deluded as to expectations this summer, we, as a club, will not be going out and spending 30m+ on a striker, so talk of benzema, lacazette and higuain is very very unlikely.

If Rodgers remains in charge I expect a cheaper or more flexible alternative, along the lines of a jovetic/vietto (I'd love us to sign vietto)

Milner on a "free" is a must, so much experience, hard work and versatility would be an invaluable asset for the squad.

A new rb mustn't be a priority, we have a returning flanno (if we can get him fit) and I've seen little to suggest manquillo is a bad player

We don't need a marquee signing, we just need better options that offer something different to the stale and predictable options we already have, give the attackers more freedom to play, recently (this season) it's all seemed a little too rigid, we've lost the fluidity and unpredictability that made us such a force last season.

Il end on a question, it keeps popping up that konoplyanka is "free" this summer? Can any of the eds confirm/ shed some light on this? Could be a very astute bit of business if he was and we could pull that off

{Ed002's Note - I have explained about all of these players and Konoplyanka - why not try the search function?}

22 May 2015 13:08:41
Another mouth watering season to look forward to then

22 May 2015 13:18:21
Let me summarise what the eds have said from memory.

Benzema might have been an expensive option if we had achieved CL but we didn't so he is no longer an option.

Lacazette is unlikely to move as Lyon would rather sell Fekir (I believe Arsenal are a likely destination) and even if Lacazette did move, Lyon hate selling to English teams for some reason so he'd cost a bomb.

Higuain may yet be an option but I would assume that is only if Sterling leaves (to finance such a deal) and if Napoli fail to reach the CL. It may even hinge on us qualifying for the EL as that competition is actually rated highly outside of England.

Vietto is a complete no go as Atletico Madrid are currently in talks for him to replace Griezman (spelling) and Real Madrid may yet turn to him (which is what the player wants).

Liverpool have shown no interest in Jovetic as far as the eds are aware.

Konoplanka is available on a free but Spurs are the front runners and West Ham are also interested. Liverpools interest is gone right now.

Milner is nearly done according to Macca, but rumours are flying around he might go to Arsenal. Personally i think our lack of CL football rules us out as it Milner will want CL level wages which we probably can't afford now for somebody who may end up a squad player.

Ings is still our most likely signing right now but there is interest from other top clubs such as Man United and even from Spain in the form of Real Sociedad.

Also, Flanno is not returning. He's just been ruled out again for about 6-9 months following knee surgery and it is unclear whether Manquillo will be staying after a series of poor performances. HE just bombs forward with no sense of timing or clear intention which leaves massive gaps at the back when he then strolls back. His delivery is also inconsistent and his tackling rash. He is no better than our own academy players; but everybody on here knew that last summer when he was signed. To be honest he hasn't had an exceptional game since the 4-0 pre season win over Dortmund. In fact he was so bad he has lost his place to Markovic, Ibe, Can, Henderson, Sterling, Lallana (none of whom are right backs) and couldn't even keep Johnson out the team. So let's not sugar coat the most pointless signing of the last 3 years (although you could argue Alberto, Ilori and Aspas were right up there).

{Ed002's Note - There have been some updates with some of these players but nothing that impacts Liverpool.}

22 May 2015 14:29:45
All this is irrelevant; what is needed is the removal of Rodgers and his replacement with someone competent.

22 May 2015 10:40:33
I'll be sad if Lucas leaves, just as I was when Agger left. Both are/were good servants to the club who seemed to embrace being Liverpool players. But football shouldn't be sentimental, Agger was too injury prone to be a solution at CB. Similarly Lucas isn't good enough to be a future first 11 player if Liverpool want to compete with the big 4. I'll concede that I'd rather see him play than Allen but I expect contracts, work permits and a number of other factors mean it makes more sense to have Allen over Lucas.

The team should evolve, try new things and discard the ideas that haven't worked. Lucas has had his chance and never cemented his position. If Rodgers has a better idea then it's his right to try it, if that means Lucas leaves then we say goodbye and wish him well.

22 May 2015 11:09:51
Souness had a BETTER idea on how to run the club when he managed us. He now acknowledges that his attitude was a mistake and that it was not appropriate for the club. BETTER IDEAS can ruin clubs and impact on long term futures.

I understand and sympathise with what you say to a certain He's had three years to implement his ideas and FAILED. He has wasted a tremendous amount of money. When he left Swansea the players were generally happier with the philosophy Laudrup brought in. It had purpose and they felt that BR played possession football with slightly less purpose. Last year his possession football was given purpose by two players who seemed to want to score to outdo each other. but this year their absence shows the truth.

We must stop feeding a bad idea hoping it becomes a good idea. sometimes it's better to move forward with a new manager rather than new players who will probably continue to mark the problem rather than correct it.

22 May 2015 11:23:12
Lucas. not good enough to cement his place? It's not that he is not good enough, it's that rodgers is too stupid to realise it. Look at the results with and without Lucas in the team. For me he would get into any of the top four sides excelt Chelsea's as matic is exceptional

{Ed001's Note - Lucas only dropped out when he picked up an injury, results nosedived and yet still Rodgers didn't put him straight back in when he was fit! He deserves a place.}

22 May 2015 11:27:35
I absolutely disagree, I think Lucas is easily, easily good enough to play consistently if he is fit. I think he would've been a better solution than Gerrard in the DM position this season but I understand that it would be very very hard to drop Gerrard in his last season.

I think he is a fantastic DM, I think the only reason he hasn't been a consistent starter is the numpty managing the club.

22 May 2015 11:35:17
Lucas, when fit, would walk into any team in the league except Chelsea. Matic is the only holding player who is better than him at what he does.

If you want to dispute my claim, then first you'll have to come up with a legitimate argument as to why our win ratio is so much better with Lucas in the team.

Trouble with modern fans is they get bored of consistency. Lucas is an old face so it's no longer exciting. My only issue with him is his fitness. He is a model pro, an excellent player, an incredibly hard working and passionate player etc. If he wants to stay we'd be absolutely stupid to force him out. Rodgers biggest mistake in his tenure has been dropping Lucas to try and shoe horn Gerrard into the team based on sentiment; and you're correct. There is no place for sentiment in football.

I'll happily debate this all day if you want and against as many people who want to disagree with me. Lucas is class in every definition of the word.

{Ed001's Note - Lucas should be first name on the team sheet, I fully agree with you on this EMS, he is far better than he is ever given credit for. People moan about him giving away dangerous free kicks, when that is part of his job!}

22 May 2015 11:54:05
Agree totally ems and ed he should be in that team everytime when fit

22 May 2015 11:55:56
Agreed with ED001.

Lucas would be my first name on the team sheet as well. Absolutely fantastic player for us. You only have to look at the records when he plays against when he doesn't.

I'm speechless that a man who get's paid to do his job, can't see how important he is to this team.

Also the moaners who go on about the free kicks he gives away, it breaks up the play and the flow of the game.

It's only picked up on because of our poor organisation on set pieces and the defensive line as a whole. Matic does it all the time for Chelsea.Just it doesn't concern them as they can deal with it.

22 May 2015 11:57:58
The great Makalele, Mascherano, Matic actually all of the decent defensive midfielders need a rash side to their game. If the defence push up slightly then the free kicks being given away by the defensive midfielder should be in further out/less dangerous area (in a ideal world). A good demolition player needs a organised defence behind him in order for it to truly benefit and work.

22 May 2015 12:13:28
Like I said previously Henderson captain, Lucas vice captain. Only because Henderson won't be injured as often. A midfield of Lucas, Henderson and Coutinho would rival any midfield in the league but unfortunately Lucas is forever injured.
I reckon we'd have got top 4 easily if Studge and Lucas were fit all season.

Red Rum

22 May 2015 12:42:15
Feel I may have misrepresented myself here. I'm a huge fan of Lucas and I'd love him to stay. I also prefer him in the team to Allen. I don't know why he's not played since he returned from injury and don't really want to speculate why that is. What I do think though is that he's not a defensive midfielder of the class of Matic, Mascherano or the other DMs who have excelled in the Champions League. I think Rodgers has a plan in place for next season which he thinks is an improvement over Lucas (if that plan turns out to be Allen I will join the anti-Rodgers brigade), Lucas has been told this and would rather leave than be second choice, I respect that.

I still trust Rodgers and I have positive expectations for next season, if next season is a disaster then I'll probably change my view but I'm a Rodgers fan for now.

22 May 2015 12:58:31
Hi Ed

Totally agree, with the players at our disposal Lucas should play when fit. Evidence is there for all to see that when he is fit Liverpool concede less goals. Unitil the Man City game last year he was our best palyer. i think it was you who said Pirlo looks good only when he has a defensive midfieder alongside, that is what we should have done with Gerrard and Lucas. When Allen, Gerrard or Henderson play in his position teams just walk through us.
One of Rodgers biggest mistakes is that he overlookes the improtance of a good defensive midfielder, and Lucas is the best we have at the club and should play when fit.

Evered

22 May 2015 13:05:45
For me it is one of the most damning indictments of br's quality as a manager that he was totally unable to see just how important lucas is to the teams success, and he was willing to let lucas go up till xmas.
All of us amateur managers could see lucas should be the first name on the teamsheet when fit.

Not playing lucas and forcing him out of the club might be one of the most damaging things that has been done to lfc in the whole of this arrogant and blinkered man's tenure as manager.

Lucas is a player of rare quality in his position, and if he goes he will be really hard to replace.
Can is good in defence, but i think he still has some progress to make in the dm position. Lucas learned his trade the hard way at lfc, and he is the finished article.

22 May 2015 13:23:33
The fact that he is injury prone is NOT a reason to sell him. You get him a back-up which we already have potentially in Can. Our best results are when he and Hendo played in midfield which solidified us when we had those cleansheets this year so don`t see why you want him gone, really. The fact that you compare him to Allen shows how low you actually think of him. And the fact that BR prrefers Allen, SG or even Delph to Lucas shows you how incompetent he is as well.

22 May 2015 12:32:23
Ed001, sry but you are wrong. Lucas was in the starting 11 against Arsenal right after getting back from injury, but failed miserably to protect the backline.

{Ed001's Note - that was not the first game he was fit for though was it? He was fit to face Man Utd and he didn't pick him. So he didn't get straight back in and it is a bit unfair to suggest he failed miserably against Arsenal when he was left to cover 4 midfielders on his own. Typical of the kind of boo boys that get on the backs of Lucas for no reason, you blame him for everything. Ridiculous to suggest he failed miserably, kind of comment that shows why he should leave and why we can't keep hold of the likes of Sterling. What is the point with fans like you who only want to jump on their back if they aren't scoring a hattrick every week? Miserable failure is your assessment of Lucas's role in that match.}

22 May 2015 16:15:03
Ed001 agree 100% on Lucas. Brilliant player and you only realise how good he is when you watch him at the ground. Brilliant reading of the game which enables him to gain a greater amount of possession for the team. As I said earlier, 2nd only to matic as a defensive midfielder in the premier league and matic probably only looks slightly better a he has a better organised team around him.

22 May 2015 16:30:55
Let me be clear, i love lucas as a player. When fit, he protects the back line, breaks down play and recycles the ball really well. An old school battler. However, if we isolate te Arsenal game, he looked tired, out of pace and couldn't handle the speed of the game. He failed to deliver in that game.

To call me a bad fan for giving a fair analysis is a bit harsh. Friends?

22 May 2015 17:17:56
But for you to give Lucas a harsh analysis after a fair effort is ok?
Sounds like you can dish it but can't take it. Lucas should be the first name on our team sheet. He should also be our captain. He is a credit to our club and supporters.

{Ed001's Note - sorry dwarf I didn't pick up your reply, I do feel you were harsh, if you look at that game he was overrun because he was left to pick up the entire Arsenal midfield on his own. Apologies for going off on one though, as it is just a general moan at the way the lad has been treated rather than you in particular and I should not have accused you of being one. Lucas should have been vice captain the moment Agger left, in my opinion.}

22 May 2015 18:21:28
Sorry to say that is lucas past his best, unfortunately his own fellow country man(Ramirez) took him off the pitch, he was emerging as the best DM during his 2010,2011 seasons, where he was bossing against chelsea and Manc Midfield.

After that injury to knee he never got back to his old self and often got injured. However I will take him any day over Welsh Xavi.

Emre Can should take the place and Lucas should be used as cover, (good first team members for that position.)

22 May 2015 20:02:44
It makes no football sense to keep Allen over Lucas.

Allen has been abysmal since he arrived and its fair comment to say that the team looks weaker when he is in it.

That BR thinks Allen is a superior footballer to Lucas says exactly how clueless he is, it has nothing to do with work permits as Lucas has EU status.

Lucas, when fit, is one of the most effective defensive midfielders in the league, Allen isn't effective at anything.

23 May 2015 00:03:31
Agreed, D!

22 May 2015 10:03:20
We are all saying that we ned a new, prolific sriker. This season was a disaster without one. But come July 1st we will have 2 recognised first team strikers in Sturridge and Origi presuming we offload Balo and Borini). And if the rumour mill is to prove correct it looks like we will be signing Ings on a free.
All of these are decent players (Sturridge being spectacular when he's on on form), but we couldn't really rely on any of them.

So most people are hoping we go and spend mega-bucks on another striker. Higuain, Lacazette et al. But are we not then stock-piling strikers? Do we need 4 strikers? Does that then hamper the development of young lads like Sinclair?

If we are going to spend mega-bucks on a striker, which I hope we do, then it would probably be best to forget about the Ings deal. We have been signing players for the sake of it last couple of seasons, with no hope of them seeing the 1st team. Time to wise-up a little

22 May 2015 11:27:19
Origi can't be relied on as a young lad in his first season in a new league. Sturridge can't be relied on either. We definately need to sign a proven striker of great quality

22 May 2015 11:39:35
We could just not get Ings and promote sinclair and get a top striker in. Ings is a good striker but I feel sinclair has the attributes to be a better player if given the chance.

22 May 2015 13:13:49
No one doubts Sturridge being a class striker, its just the fact that he is injury prone.

Look at this season he's missed most of it.

Origi is a young lad so I don't really have high expectations, for the fist season anyway.

We need another top class striker to play alongside Sturridge nd start playing 2 strikers, I hate playing a lone striker or even none.

22 May 2015 13:24:45
We can do much better than Ings

22 May 2015 13:48:35
The thing with Ings is, is that he does have potential but so do Sinclair and yesil.

Ings is ahead of the two above but if they both got game time next season then that gap in quality may not be that big.

If Ings comes in with origi you've two new strikers just into there twenties so that pretty much blocks any current youngsters getting there chance.

We need proven quality this summer because while we're pissing about in transfer windows with kids the other top4 teams are going to be out of sight.

If you believe papers and arsenal are after Cech,Vidal and schneiderlin which in my eyes are easily do able for them then they are 3 ready made quality players with bags of EXPERIENCE.

22 May 2015 16:01:11
We have loads of strikers, but only one good one and he's injured most of the time.

22 May 2015 16:24:09
Ings is decent but as someone said earlier much better to promote Sinclair and give him the chance to compete with origi as 3rd choice striker. Only need one top class striker to compete/play with Sturridge. if Its two up top then Origi & Sinclair should be given the chance to compete for the 3rd choice spot or better if their performances deserve the recognition.

22 May 2015 09:18:39
Eds, is it a concern that players could be sold early in window by BR as surplus to HIS requirements but then FSG decide to end BRs contract and we've lost great players like Lucas, Sakho, potentially Coutinho as a best friend of Lucas and maybe even the Sterling issue.

{Ed002's Note - No.}

22 May 2015 11:57:50
I'm sure fsg won't allow Rodgers sell players if he's going to be sacked

22 May 2015 12:43:44
I,ve got a bad feeling we are stuck with Rodgers for another season, great

22 May 2015 13:15:37
Well if we are stuck with him it's the owners who are going to feel the full force in there wallets.

22 May 2015 13:27:46
Let`s wait and see.

22 May 2015 16:35:31
I can't see it. FSG didn't get to where they are in business by accepting mediocrity and public embarrassment from their employees. Personally think he will be gone around the end of next week.

22 May 2015 08:49:07
Hello to all EDS and fellow REDS

Just when I thought it's safe to go back in the water. Lucas is being sold? The only 'true' defensive midfielder in our squad?
I am sorry everyone but THAT'S IT as far as I'm concerned. BR has lost the plot. There has been too many 'mistakes' for want of a better word. Good players make managers look good and last year our players did that. This year. we all know about this year. Our team is getting damaged beyond repair. I can't bear this and I know BR will come on TV and give us his usual smarmy banter about possession and determination etc.

Maybe FSG cancelled today's meeting so they can let BR go on Monday and sort out the Sterling saga themselves. Whatever happens, we can not wait and see our club being chopped down both in the press and by BR. Does he know what he is doing? In my humble opinion Lucas is and has been a great player for us especially how he overcame his difficult first season.
Opinions appreciated.

P.S. I didn't mention the Coutinho connection to Lucas because I could not bear to even think about that!

YNWA

22 May 2015 09:35:20
Coutinho isn't leaving because Lucas is going ?

22 May 2015 09:47:12
If Lucas goes, so does Coutinho.

But never mind we have Allen and soon to have Milner !

Good grief.

22 May 2015 10:59:28
Austin, best read what Ed001 had to say about it from the other day. Its a possibility for sure.

22 May 2015 11:44:51
Not to mention Lallana as a ready made replacement for Coutinho.

22 May 2015 08:07:46
I'm just askiing this, so hopefully I don't get my head chewed off. But, would Lalana not make a fairly good striker? He is a forward player, has skill, seems to have strenght, has a good shot, seems to be able to hold up the ball.

22 May 2015 08:21:18
Well his general position is supposed to be as an attacking midfielder lurking behind a front two who bursts through from behind the strikers in the tradition of the great Michael Laudrup.

So we basically bought a player who primarily fills a role in a formation of play that we don't actually use.

Only Brendan Rodgers.

22 May 2015 09:54:59
Not a good enough finisher to be a striker in my opinion.
Striker is a specialist position, the movement, the runs, the timing it's all completely different.

22 May 2015 10:42:25
Lacks pace and acceleration in the final third.

22 May 2015 11:23:13
I think one of the aims moving into next season would be to NOT play players out of position again.

22 May 2015 07:54:08
Hi Ed's

Just out of curiosity. You have explained on numerous occassions that FSG have handed the review regarding the management position to a third party. my apologies if that has been misinterpreted by myself.

If with this in mind, and the usual end of season meeting with Rodgers to go over the season passed. Also taking point of not making any "knee jerk reaction" on any decisions.

In your opinion. do the collate the information from the details they already have, along with the info from the third party and the end of season meeting then sit down to discuss the best way forward for yhe club. The options available should the decide to weild the axe on Rodgers tenure at the club and plan the best way to carry this out so they cause as little disruption and financial impact?

{Ed002's Note - I have not said that at all.}

22 May 2015 06:36:09
I honestly think we're no more than 3 players short of being competitive. A proven striker is paramount ( obviously ) a Center half to partner Skrtel because Lovren's about as much use as my Grandmother, and a combative midfielder. I feel Lallana providing he stays injury free and has a good pre-season will be a different player for us next year too.

22 May 2015 08:32:37
Sakho??!!.?

22 May 2015 08:35:31
A centre half to partner Skrtel?

He's mostly the cause of our defensive issues.

22 May 2015 13:46:35
Sell Skrtel and keep Ilori with lovren partnering Sahko.