Liverpool Banter Archive February 23 2016

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23 Feb 2016 21:07:41
Just watching the Arsenal v Barcelona game and I got to say that ter Stegen looks a great prospect. cool under pressure and plays the ball out nicely.

Believable2 Unbelievable2

23 Feb 2016 21:32:39
He hasn't really had much to do tbh. Barcelona attacking wise are sensational.

23 Feb 2016 21:37:23
They want 20 mil for him he needs to be the real deal for that price tag not a prospect.

23 Feb 2016 22:26:01
Considering some of the players we have signed for excessive amounts such as Carroll, Benteke ( can you believe those two alone cost over £66 Million yes read that again! ) not to mention Ballitelli Lovren another £36 Mill why would a £20 Million goalkeeper have to be the "Real Deal"
Suggest we pay it for him or Butland as soon as we can n watch the difference a top goalkeeper brings to a fairly young team.
Poss our most important signing is securing a reliable keeper who can grow into a top keeper.

23 Feb 2016 23:01:56
If he was a top goalkeeper why would Barcelona have decided he's not up to the standard to be their second choice goalkeeper, I just don't see the hype and 20mil is an awful lot for a goalkeeper even in this day and age. I still think begovic would be a good option if available.

23 Feb 2016 23:32:10
We should try to get him in the summer even if it dose 20 mil because he's only 23 and can play for the next 10 years.

24 Feb 2016 00:15:30
He didn't have a lot to do, but when called upon he was brilliant because he's a top keeper and concentrates on what he's doing. This is the guy we should go for as he'd be our first choice for years to come, not the likes of Sirigu, Begovic or the lad at Betis as they're bang average at best.

24 Feb 2016 01:47:02
Don't care too much for after Stegen. There are better Keepers out there for way cheaper.

24 Feb 2016 03:26:01
If I understand the eds correctly, Barcelona view him as being not as good as Bravo at the moment and so are playing him in cup matches to keep him happy but he isn't their first choice. Ter Stegen doesn't agree and his whinging about this has lead to Barcelona making him available. So the downside to buying him is that Barcelona don't see him as being top notch at the moment and his attitude could be an issue.

The upside to buying him is that IF he lives up to his potential and regular game time leads to him sorting his attitude out, then we could have our own De Gea. But since he is young and undeveloped, he will make mistakes - will "fans" make allowances for this and give him time to develop?

If I was managing the club, would I buy him? Probably. But then again, if I was running the club, then the first thing I would do would be to take the so-called fans who are perpetual whingers, out the back of the stadium and take photos of them all dressed in ManU jerseys. Then place said photos up on an "honour wall" in the new stand for all to see on match day.

{Ed001's Note - I would be more worried about an attitude of a player willing to sit on the bench, than one who is unhappy at sitting on the bench.}

23 Feb 2016 17:13:01
Kevin Stewart has signed a new contract! Fantastic news as he is a great prospect for us, well done lad.

Believable16 Unbelievable1

23 Feb 2016 17:28:33
Until 2020 too so looks like he's earnt himself a real chance.

23 Feb 2016 17:35:08
no need to buy a replacement for lucas, kevin stewart is more than capable. agree with the other posters, great news.

23 Feb 2016 17:37:10
He's shown himself to be more than up to the job when he's played.

23 Feb 2016 17:57:02
Well done Kevin Stewart. Possibly next in line for Lucas crown.

23 Feb 2016 18:03:40
Very good news for the club!
We have got ourselves a Lucas replacement without having to throw money at another club. Hopefully the likes of Smith and Flanno will follow suit with new long term contracts.

23 Feb 2016 18:10:14
Why can't he be Kevin Stewart instead of the next.

23 Feb 2016 20:24:35
I think he's got more about him than Lucas TBH.

Lucas is a great pro, but I think Stewart has more potential.

23 Feb 2016 20:32:52
Hyperbole. He has had a few games, 2 against lower league teams and he is being hailed as some sort of wonder player. Settle down.

23 Feb 2016 21:12:45
Stewarts athleticism with lucas's positioning would be some DM.

23 Feb 2016 21:42:15
Dead on rover. He has looked good and I hope it continues. But 2 bag games in a row and he will be part of the the deadwood group that are holding us back. He will probably even be called that before the season finishes.

23 Feb 2016 22:41:09
Until 2020. That's great vision from the club.

23 Feb 2016 23:42:07
Well deserved as Stewarts worked hard, but I do not rate him as high as other it seems. Chiravella is who I am excited about more in CM tbh.

24 Feb 2016 01:49:02
We will need to support him during good days and bad because if he suffers the same abuse Lucas has and still deals with, he won't Lat here very long.

24 Feb 2016 03:28:41
He might not turn out to be the next "superstar" but the thing that has impressed me about him is that he came to the club down the pecking order but put his head down, worked his butt off and has improved out of sight. Hopefully his injury has no long term affects.

23 Feb 2016 17:12:57
Congratulations Stewart signing a new deal well deserved.

Believable12 Unbelievable4

23 Feb 2016 22:41:39
Agreed looks a great little player.

24 Feb 2016 00:17:52
He can also play at full back as well so he's a good utility player.

23 Feb 2016 17:07:25
Good news guys, club have confirmed that Kevin Stewart has signed a new contract.

Believable12 Unbelievable0

23 Feb 2016 17:04:44
Hi eds,

had tickets to the game on the 13th of march and it got postponed cause Chelsea got into the next round of the FA cup. is there any way to tell when that will get moved to. Live in America and need to figure out if I have to get my money back for the ticket or if I can go still.

THanks.

Believable2 Unbelievable1

{Ed002's Note - The club will announce it on the web site as soon as they know.}

23 Feb 2016 17:21:04
If you can't go I'll buy those tickets mate.

23 Feb 2016 16:52:40
Just read in my local paper that Coutinho has said that he has worked with great managers in his career, and named Benitez, Pochettino and Dunga. But he said he would always have a special gratitude to Brendan. Make of it what you will.

Believable2 Unbelievable6

{Ed002's Note - Rodgers gave him the opportunity Coutinho felt he deserved.}

23 Feb 2016 17:11:49
Rogers is a very good coach.

23 Feb 2016 17:47:21
Coach driver maybe.

23 Feb 2016 18:42:33
its funny how we now perceive Brendan Rodgers as fans. 7pts away from legendary status. makes me wonder on how we will remember jurgen kloppp. Time will tell.

23 Feb 2016 20:05:41
7points? We finished 2 points begin city.

23 Feb 2016 22:31:11
I think people need to just move on from BR.

He was not a bad manager but things changed, he couldn't cope and made mistakes. Now he is gone. It happens in all walks of life.

24 Feb 2016 01:50:10
We all knew what we had to do. Chelsea sitting deep with 10-11 men in their half. Bring the ball back 20 yards and invite them on to open up the game. Create openings and chances.
All season long we was conceding! 3-0 to Palace. Do to them what Chelsea did. Sit behind the ball. Defend the title! Fool onto himself with those decisions.

24 Feb 2016 01:51:16
Spot on, Pank. BR is the past and like Rafa, should stay there. He wasn't all bad, just mostly bad. He gave Coutinho his chance and should be credited at least for that.

24 Feb 2016 02:37:26
we were 5 clear of city at one point kman92. we needed 7 pts from the available 9 hence the fact if we had drawen vs Chelsea beat palace and Newcastle, . man city couldn't have done anything about it. 3 games from glory if that makes it easier to understand.

23 Feb 2016 16:44:38
eds. can you tell us how clubs inform all other clubs that a player is available for sale. i dout there's a site like ebay, or craigs list, where they are entered. many thanks.

Believable1 Unbelievable4

{Ed002's Note - Through the player's agent. If they are out of contract the PFA hold details.}

23 Feb 2016 15:29:34
Question for Ed1 if you're about mate, or anyone else with knowledge of the subject.

Was reading a nice article in the echo about Ronnie Moran returning to the club recently and was warmly greeted by Klopp and flanno. It had a brief history of his lengthy service at the club but the part I found interesting was the name of Reuben Bennet came up as a founding member of the famous "Boot Room".

Having never heard of him before I consulted the all knowing Wpedia to read up a bit more on him and it mentioned he was the only member of the boot room to have never managed the club.

Just out of pure curiosity do you know much about this man? Was there any particular reason he never took the hot seat himself?

Believable0 Unbelievable0

{Ed001's Note - he was a big part of it, but he never wanted the job for himself, he was offered it before Shanks, and turned it down. When Shanks came in the two of them hit it off and they worked together. Pako Ayesteran reminds me of him, a fitness and conditioning coach, but far more. Bennett was years ahead of his time, because he was in essence a fitness and conditioning coach, in the main. Like Pako though, he was more than that. He was the number two that was a trusted confidante and gave input into every decision taken. Reuben Bennett was an essential part of the club's success. I believe he had been a manager himself, in Scotland, but it never worked out, before he moved down to join us.}

23 Feb 2016 17:41:32
Still find it fascinating how one group of men could transform the club and the face of English/ European football so drastically. They almost seemed to make it look easy when it's anything but!

What i'd give to have been around to witness it in its pomp.

We can only live in hope we'll reach them levels again.

23 Feb 2016 19:05:39
Shankly, Paisley, Bennett, Fagan and Moran possibly the five most important people to ever serve the club, YNWA.

23 Feb 2016 20:06:30
What, no room for Roy Hodgson on that list?

23 Feb 2016 21:15:14
Roy Evans should.

23 Feb 2016 22:08:24
Got to include Evans in that list.

23 Feb 2016 15:58:46
I think the general consensus is that the current squad aren't good enough to challenge for the league race and top 4. Results are evidence of this statement. So what do we do this summer? Completely overhaul the team which will probably mean that the new group will need time to gel or do we add a few quality footballers and see if they can make the difference? Personally I'm with John Arne Risse I would buy a spine (GK who can kick, dominant CB, ball winning CM a pacey winger who can beat a man, and a forward to replace the lampost. I think these additions coupled with a lot of players out will make us a force to be reckoned with. Let's hope our summer acquisitions will hit the ground running because who knows what fresh hell City, United and Chelsea will be bringing next season?

Believable6 Unbelievable3

23 Feb 2016 21:08:51
Im sure if everyone could go out and just 'buy a spine' then they would.

Reality is that just doesn't ever happen, a spine is cultivated not just bought.

Take the city spine for example.

Joe hart took his chance after impressing out on loan and grew into a good keeper.

Zabaleta and kompany were excellent buys, proper good scouting, but have also grown into their roles.

Yaya toure was a misfit at barcelona but city saw the potential, again, simply another case of faith and definately not an obvious transfer.

Silva was another great buy and another risk, another example of great scouting.

Aguero was almost an accident and was bought in haste to replace tevez.

None of those players were bought with the view to 'build a spine', everything clicked into place for them and they grew into the players they are today, aided by excellent scouting of course.

A spinr is cultivated, not bought outright.

23 Feb 2016 22:37:54
Completely agree with anonymous.

These things need time and you can't expect an overhaul in the summer. It makes no sense as it rarely happens that you get all the right players in one transfer window.

We work with what we have and when a suitable upgrade is available at the right price, we go for it.

It's that simple.

23 Feb 2016 22:58:02
Like Reina, Alonso and Torres?

24 Feb 2016 01:58:57
Spot on, anonymous. No club goes out to buy a spine of a team. You do that by scouting players you know can develop into core players in the future like City did. Silva was that great when he came, neither was Toure, Kompany, Hart nor Zabaleta. They were bought from so so clubs like Hamburg for Kompany, Espanyol for Zabaleta, Valencia for Silva, Hart was a loan and De Jong came from Hamburg too. Only Toure came from a big club. These players grew in stature and then became the spine of City just like we got Alonso from Sociedad, Reina from Villareal, Masch from West Ham and Torres from AM.

23 Feb 2016 14:01:33
Regarding Kolo staying as somebody posted earlier my heart says yes but head says no. I'm sure he wants to play for as long as he can but when he does hang up his boots I would definitely try and get him in as a coach.

Believable5 Unbelievable3

23 Feb 2016 15:23:29
Based on what? Don't get me wrong I like the guy and I think he is giving a very good season for us (in previous seasons he wasn't always our most solid option in the back, though) but I don't think any of us who doesn't know him perosnally and only saw him playing can have any idea about his coaching abilities.

23 Feb 2016 17:15:09
Kilo Toure should be a life guru.

23 Feb 2016 17:24:03
considering how supportive and how much of a positive influence to the squad he is currently, I'd be willing to give him a crack while he does his badges and see how well he can develop into a coach as well as just a motivator.

23 Feb 2016 17:51:56
What's to say another club wouldn't take him on? Who says he would want to coach and coach with us?
From what has been said he is very good with youngsters at the club. See what happens.

23 Feb 2016 18:49:26
could he be a club ambassador tied in with his various charities? no matter what happens to kolo, let me say this he has been a brilliant role model.

23 Feb 2016 13:57:09
Hey Ed001, I read Ed002's detailed summary of the club's targets and it seems Subotic may still be looked at if the price is right. Do u see the need for Subotic or would u simply like to see Sakho and Lovren given more opportunities at LCB? Personally i would like our current CBs to be given more chances with a competent GK at the back before signing more defenders.

Believable1 Unbelievable4

{Ed001's Note - my worry is that the pair seem to pick up a lot of niggles, which affects them getting back to form. So I would not be against bringing someone in and letting them go to be honest.}

23 Feb 2016 15:09:22
Agree about the niggles part Ed001. But letting both of them go would be foolish on the club's part unless Skrtel still has a future at the club. A new GK has to be the priority and maybe a CB like Subotic (strong, tall and a good tackler) if one of Sakho or Lovren leaves. Matip, Subotic, Ilori and Sakho as our CBs with someone like Begovic in goal would certainly improve our defense.

{Ed001's Note - Skrtel should be gone anyway, regardless. He is the first we should move out.}

23 Feb 2016 15:13:32
Ed001, who would be your ideal back 4 at the start of next season? I know Skrtel won't be in it ;)

{Ed001's Note - no idea, I have never seen Matip play to judge him. We have no chance of getting Varana or anyone like that, so my ideal is just a dream!}

23 Feb 2016 16:16:08
Agree Ed001, I quite like Sakho, but he does seem to get injured a lot and then takes a while to regain form. Might have something to do with his unorthodox style-- he does seem to haphazardly twist and flop around in traffic.

He's nowhere close to his early season form, and he's not necessarily looking better each game, either.

And Lovren, when in top form, isn't all that impressive.

A Subotic-Matip partnership might be a far more stable and reliable partnership.

23 Feb 2016 18:58:36
could subotic remain injury free though. also ed 1 we could have had a back 4 of Flanagan, Kelly, wisdom and smith if things had worked out for each player.

23 Feb 2016 20:41:38
Is Subotic the answer though? I don't watch the Bundesliga but I have a couple of mates who do. In their opinion, Subotic has lost some much needed pace since he did his cruciate ligament a couple of years ago - not to mention that he appears to have missed a fair few matches in the last year due to back issues.

23 Feb 2016 12:03:23
i don't see the point of asking Eds question...

Believable1 Unbelievable4

{Ed033's Note - To everyone, this web site was not created so people could ask Eds questions. This web site was not created for people to post about Ed002. It was created so people can talk to other people about everything and anything to do with Liverpool FC.

23 Feb 2016 13:14:31
All the eds do a great job aswell, makes me laugh when everyone has ago at ed002 after they have asked for an opinion.

23 Feb 2016 13:00:41
I have been associated with the site for nearly a decade. And I could proudly say the site has been a real asset in my life. I have been eating their heads ( Eds ) from ages. I have gained plenty from this site.

Have you heard about a player called Rabiot? If not use search function and you could see a detail summry by Ed02 of the player and the potential transfer rumors. Tell me another site which matches this.

23 Feb 2016 11:50:09
Ed002 if you're about, not LFC related as such, but with the Barcelona president talking about the Premier League etc, are we more likely to see a much more competitive La Liga and as a result, ECL now the teams cannot negotiate their own TV deals?

Believable0 Unbelievable0

{Ed002's Note - I don't know what Bartomeu has said but they are one of the clubs that is concerned about the revised television deal min England and the additional money the premier league sides will have. Equally, Barcelona has a much bigger primary issue related to wages - and issue that the premier league sides have struggled with a little but nothing like the extent that Barcelona has now - and it is about to get a lot worse. Obviously he has the breakaway on his mind and the pressing attempts of UEFA to find an alternate solution. Whilst the revised television money in La Liga benefits clubs other than Barcelona and Real Madrid, in many cases it will simply offset losses and put the clubs on a stronger footing - they won't go wild with the spending. You also need to consider the massive match day and commercial revenue created by the two "leading clubs". There is new money for Valencia and a fabulous new stadium for Atletico Madrid, but don't expect to see Levante winning La Liga real soon.}}

23 Feb 2016 12:36:50
That's a shame. Thanks Ed, much appreciated.

22 Feb 2016 23:40:28
Would anyone else be opposed to a 1 year extension for kolo? For an old man he stays fit and is always available to do a job. A great leader/ person too. Granted we need some players off the book. I'm just saying it wouldn't be the worst thing in the world.

Believable14 Unbelievable8

23 Feb 2016 01:05:51
I would love for that to happen, but I'm not sure if it's because I love the bloke or because we actually need him.
I'ld be happy if he stayed, slightly gutted if he went.
I don't know.

23 Feb 2016 01:24:18
i disagree. with matip coming in, gomez returning from injury, then decision to be made for ilori, add that to the cbs that we have in sakho, lovren and skrtel, i think it is best that we allow toure to leave.

23 Feb 2016 06:26:22
I would personally let Toure go, great servant, but his time is up. I would also let Skrtel, Sakho and Ilori go, as they are all below top standard, and are not what Liverpool need right now. Keep Lovren, I think he will improve, Matip due in July, Gomez to return, and sign another experienced CB with leadership qualities. The cash return on the three defenders listed above must be £20m or thereabouts. Would want £12-14m for Sakho alone.

23 Feb 2016 07:30:19
34 years old = old man.
😰😭.

23 Feb 2016 09:05:26
Let's face it, it's highly unlikely that next season would be his best one yet.

23 Feb 2016 09:30:28
34 years old yes - but priceless experience / leadership etc. happy to play abit part, but just loves been at the club and probably not even bothered about a big wage. speaks volumes.

23 Feb 2016 10:45:26
The club needs to move forward. I expect him to go but he's done well for us.

23 Feb 2016 11:35:59
He's one of the nicest guys in football. I remember asking Ed001 about him a year or so ago, apparently the guy is really genuine and just happy to be in the privileged position he's in.

He also really helps out with the youth players apparently.

{Ed001's Note - he spends a lot of his spare time and money on an orphanage back in his home country. He is genuine good guy who appreciates what he has and tries to help others achieve as well.}

23 Feb 2016 12:08:22
Kolo is a fantastic human being, but sentimentality should not get in the way of the club's progress. We have 5 CBs on our books (including Matip) which is more than sufficient for next season. However, i really hope the club retains Kolo's services in another capacity like an ambassador or maybe even join the coaching staff and teach our 'soft' defenders to be real men on the pitch.

23 Feb 2016 12:39:31
I would have him as a coach in a heartbeat, especially for the younger players, but we need the space for people to come through in the playing squad.

23 Feb 2016 13:38:35
My heart say yes but my mind say no. He's just so positive and smiling always. But his age and the amount of CB we have said otherwise.