Liverpool Banter Archive June 23 2015

23 Jun 2015 22:19:24
I hope the acquisition of Firminho will mean that we move away from midfield into attack and right back. If we have got him and we don't sell Sterling, money has probably been wasted as they are very similar. Kovacic would have been preferable for me, but let's move onto Bacca or even someone better for striking options. And mainly, let's get rid of the Italian strikers and Lambert, who tried but were simply not good enough (or at least 2 of them tried). Personally, Firminho is a luxury addition and the wages and fee could have been used on Lacazette or someone of the quality. This may just be Rodgers signing a 'striker', in which case I am slightly worried.

24 Jun 2015 00:05:01
I agree with you entirely. Not sure I agree with this signing

24 Jun 2015 00:13:29
Havent we just brought a striker in ings. Add him to origi lambert sturridge baloteli yet we need another. i'd hope we sell at least borini and balo before we go for others.

24 Jun 2015 00:17:13
What we needed was a goalscorer. And that's not his game. But I'm certainly not going to start moaning about signing someone as talented as this kid! Because he's a top top talent and we at Liverpool want the best players

24 Jun 2015 00:17:49
I genuinly believe we don't need another striker, I'd go into next season with Sturridge, Origi, Ings and Firmino as my four. Sturridge being out helps as rest get game time and they'll want to take the chance they've been given due to the injury. Then Youth come after that for me

24 Jun 2015 01:35:18
Liverpool will probably regret this, but I will happily eat my words if it works out.

24 Jun 2015 03:13:07
Kovacic unless i am mad is nothing like formino though, so not sure we are ruling trying to get him also

24 Jun 2015 05:13:37
Dbol, how is 38 goals and 32 assists in his last three seasons not what we need? His record suggests he is very much a goal scorer as well as provider. Firminho instantly improves our first eleven, without a doubt.

24 Jun 2015 06:53:04
Salt and pepper with that?

24 Jun 2015 07:29:05
Beat me to it. Looking at career stats he's scoring less than every 3 games. Considering the big issue has been that the midfield just isn't scoring goals anyone who creates and scores as many as this lad has to be a big plus. Someone needs to replace SGs goals and that someone needs to be a one, not the entire midfield put together.

On money side, with him, Coutinho and Ibe still developing we could afford to sell Sterling and not notice the difference on the pitch but definitely enjoy making a lot of money for someone who, ultimately, isn't as good as the £45-50M he will cost. Certainly one less midfielder who can't finish will be a blessing. Bigger concern is we need more/better range of options in defence to cover injuries and formations we're likely to have across the season.

23 Jun 2015 18:07:53
First time poster. Message for Ed001 if possible. With the speculation on Sky over interest in Firmino and Bacca from Lfc, what are your opinions of them both as players and as possible acquisitions? Thanks in advance.

{Ed001's Note - I like Firmino, though I am not sure he is entirely what we need, on his day he is a game changer, but lacks consistency. Bacca has got better and better and is very good at pressing opponents and applying pressure. It would certainly make more sense buying him, at 28/29, than buying another youngster who just blocks the passage of Sinclair.}

23 Jun 2015 22:17:45
We would be majorly improved if we signed both!

24 Jun 2015 00:50:18
True that, Ed. If we get Bacca with Studge next to him and Couts, Lallana/Firmino behind him, that would b awesome.

23 Jun 2015 19:36:43
I see that LFC have handed Danny Ward a new senior contract. We already have Mignolet, Bogdan and Vigouroux and now Ward gets a contract to be 3rd/4th choice? I am surprised the young man has signed it, instead of looking for at least a back up role at maybe a Championship club.

23 Jun 2015 21:35:55
Ward and Vigouroux are kids. They are many years away from being first team material at LFC and will need years of loans. He won't have signed a contract thinking he's 4th choice he'll think he's been rewarded for his progress and that he could have a future at a great club. We only have two senior GKs which is less of an investment than many PL clubs. Spurs had a lot of salary invested in Lloris, Vorm & Friedel last season. Shrewd if you gets loads of injuries but an expensive luxury if you don't.

24 Jun 2015 05:37:06
Ward is earmarked for a loan to a championship club. Look out for a move for Fulhams Patrick Roberts now that City have stepped back from a deal.

24 Jun 2015 05:37:16
Rubbish. Ward is 22 and Vigouroux 21. Friedel stayed on at Spurs because he was getting a coaching experience. No other team in the PL uses more than 2 able senior 'keepers.

{Ed001's Note - Chelsea had Schwarzer as 3rd choice, many other Prem teams have older heads as 3rd choice as well so that promising youngsters can get loan games rather than just U21 football.}

23 Jun 2015 19:12:51
I still can't believe we are having giant hoardings put up around Melwood? unless its for Mario's shooting practice? probably want a "no fly zone" next year when teams suss out how to beat us this year ( just turn up)

23 Jun 2015 19:25:34
Any excuse will do for El Noseo

23 Jun 2015 19:36:26
Seems like a very paranoid move to me

23 Jun 2015 20:35:07
Craig Johnstone used to climb over of a night to train/ practice after everyone gone home. Wouldn't of made it otherwise or with these stupid boards!on a brighter note though he ( BR) running out of people/ things to blame

23 Jun 2015 22:05:27
It's so we can write more messages of hate for FSG on :-)

23 Jun 2015 17:53:31
Hi,just wondered if there was any chance of Xani Alonso making a return? There is talk of him moving on possibly to Italy.I know we have seemingly hundreds of midfielders but it would replace some of the experience we have lost in Stevie and Johnson ? Might just be my sentimentality but we all know what a player he was and still is.

23 Jun 2015 18:36:49
Milner is replacing the experience.
Should never have sold him. :(

23 Jun 2015 19:01:33
Benitez should off been sacked for forcing him to leave

23 Jun 2015 20:05:01
And double sacked for bringing in such a woeful player in Aquilani

24 Jun 2015 00:08:49
Move on. Great player as he was rarely is there a fairytale ending for players coming back at the tail end of their career.

24 Jun 2015 05:43:04
Triple sacked by trying to replace Alonso with Barry.

23 Jun 2015 15:31:48
Eds can you put down the updated list of targets, thanks for the amazing job btw

{Ed002's Note - Perhaps later in the week when I get back to England.}

23 Jun 2015 19:24:38
We miss you man x

23 Jun 2015 17:45:15
Eds who do you rate more between Firmino & Kovacic?

Who would you prefer?
Who do you think will settle better in the prem?

{Ed001's Note - totally different players, it is not a good comparison. They should both be able to settle fine, they are both young enough to adapt easily.}

23 Jun 2015 18:12:35
They are similar though for what I assume were looking for! Someone to play alongside/just above Henderson and potentially allen/lucas/can (dm).

Cant see there being room for both at our place and also I don't envisage the club buying both.

That's why I wanted to know who the eds preferred!

Thanks tho. I'm not moaning haha just clearing up what I meant.

23 Jun 2015 18:44:39
If we're looking for someone to go alongside Henderson then wouldn't that be Miller since apparently he is playing centrally for us. Also Firmino is an attacking midfielder who can play anywhere across the front line, Kovacic is more your box to box player so as ed says totally different players for different roles

23 Jun 2015 19:13:16
To be fair pops, they are both targeted for one position.

In the middle 3, to add goals and creativity.

They will be needed to get up and down and defend but there both not great at it. Although both chip in.

23 Jun 2015 21:07:18
Honestly I would go for kovacic. He seems to have more loyalty and commitment to him, whereas I feel if firmino became a star here he would cause problems and would show a bad attitude and force moves etc. But even on ability, of its goals you want go for firmino. If it's establishing an overall better midfield that can dominate other teams, go for kovacic. I think a striker is what we need, not another forward.

24 Jun 2015 00:46:58
Kman what do you base that opinion on??

23 Jun 2015 17:14:23
Eds. Are there any updates on an Android app for the rumor site. Thanks.

{Ed001's Note - no mate, nothing happening there at the moment, sorry.}

23 Jun 2015 16:40:47
Hi Eds,
Thanks for running the site, just wondering if you have or have thought of running a twitter account linking to the site? Only reason i ask is because I see many accounts parrot your information as their own within minutes of you posting anything.

{Ed001's Note - I did try once, but it was not worth it. All it does is mean people go there instead of here and it attracted much more abuse, even when the information I put on there was proven to be correct.}

23 Jun 2015 17:43:15
Support believe?

Makes sense,thanks for running this site !

{Ed001's Note - I enjoy it most of the time myself.}

23 Jun 2015 20:14:38
I really don't understand the mentality of people just giving abuse for the sake of it. I wonder if they actually realise trolling is a criminal offence.

{Ed001's Note - it is horrible on twitter mate, I really do not understand why people subject themselves to it.}

24 Jun 2015 00:40:25
I steer clear of it for precisely that reason ed, just not worth the bother. Its a miracle you still have this site up and running with the amount of abuse you must see that we are fortunately spared.

{Ed007's Note - You kind of get used to it and for me personally I enjoy knowing that I upset trolls enough to get them raging even more. You need a thick skin to be an Ed, when I first started on the Celtic site and the Rangers meotdown started I had people threatening to rape and cut my wife and young neice that I happened to have mentioned and all the usual garbage that seems to go on in football up here.
That's not a dig at Rangers fans btw, there's idiots on both sides and I've seen some of the posts Celtic fans have sent in to their site and considering nobody knows who Eds are it's just keyboard gangsters at their worst.
Some of the abuse Ed002 gets is off the scale as well, I can't understand that when a) she's a woman and b) the most knowledgeable out of all the Eds - she memorised the Kama Sutra in 34 mins - and c) she's a very nice lady with heavenly virtues.
Anyway, Ed001 is a ninja, me and Ed039 are crazy wild-eyed Irish/Scots, Ed003 is a typical old school hooligan and Ed013 is Special Forces so our security at FR Towers is top notch. Thou shall not pass!!
P.S They made me type that last bit, they keep us chained up as slaves and we have impossible quotas to meet, if we don't type 10, 000 words an hour 24/7 we don't get our nappies changed or fed & watered. Now I know what Dante was on about. HELP US!!!!

24 Jun 2015 07:19:52
Lol, thanks for the insight ed, and truly shocked by what you said at the beginning of your post. Its a game ffs, unbelievable.

I can understand why ed02 is so jaded and justifiably believes we are the worst fans in the world.

Genuine respect to you all.

23 Jun 2015 15:42:48
This post is aimed at posters "Las" and "JayIreland".


Number of goals scored by the midfield of Premier League winners Chelsea: Hazzard-14, Oscar-6, Willian-2, Fabregas-3, Ramires-2, Matic-1, Cuadrado and Mikel-0.

Total: 28

Number of goals scored by LFC's midfield last season: Gerrard-9, Coutinho-5, Henderson-6, Lallana-5, Markovic-2, Allen-1, Can-1, Lucas and Ibe-0, Sterling-7(but only 4 when he was playing from midfield).

Total: 33

Number of goals scored by LFC's midfield during the 2012-13 season (when we came 2nd): Gerrard-13, Sterling-9, Coutinho-4, Henderson-4, Moses-1, Allen-1.

Total: 32

The point I am trying to make is,

1. LFC has no shortage of goals from midfield. Gerrard has left and LFC have added Milner and are on the look out for another central midfielder. In addition, the likes of Lallana, Can, Henderson, Markovic, Ibe and Coutinho all are expected to score more goals next season. Also, a very significant number of goals scored by Gerrard was from penalty spot.

2. If LFC need a right back, they should go and buy a right back, NOT a centre abcka nd play him at right back. If LFC need a central midfielder, they should go out and buy a central midfielder, not a winger and play him at centre midfield. If LFC need a striker, they should go out and buy a striker, not an attacking midfielder and play him as a "false 9".

LFC will have money when Sterling leaves, stop screwing ship up and buy players suited to their position and keep it simple instead of stockpiling on players because theya re good players or they became available. (aimed at whoever at the idiots in charge of buying players at LFC)

23 Jun 2015 16:33:10
Some very good points,though the midfield goal stats are made look a lot better due to gerrards penos.

I agree if you want a striker you buy a striker

However i think that Firmino would be amazing in a false 9 role.

He's an creative player that can offer lots of goals and can make that penetrating pass/run

I think its the type of player we should have replaced Suarez with instead of Balotelli

23 Jun 2015 17:06:30
We don't need a false number 9 we need a proper striker.
Great post AG couldn't agree more.

23 Jun 2015 20:17:01
AG`s on the money. chelsea had issues last season. Did they go around stockpiling players for no reason? NO! They fixed their issues with precision. What are we doing? We are trying to reinvent the wheel in the TW by signing players for positions we don`t need help in. And we wonder why we are the shambles we are in atm

23 Jun 2015 20:17:03
Ings is a proper striker.

23 Jun 2015 21:11:46
Hazard is also a pen taker isn't he though so can't rule gerrards pens out its pretty accurate

23 Jun 2015 23:25:44
I would imagine we need to offload some strikers before we bring anymore into the club. Firmino strikes me as a replacement for sterling rather than being bought as an out and out striker.

Would be nice if we kept lucas and we would have 3 brazilians working it. Feeling more optimistic if it comes off. Whose to say we won't get bacca in if we can move balo and borini on!

23 Jun 2015 15:32:36
Kovacic definitely will not be signing!!! The reason for this is about a month ago I watched a youtube clip of him. It seems when we are linked with decent players I go on youtube to have a look at their skillset and almost curse like they never sign. i'm interested to know if this happened with anyone else, eds? I currently refuse to look at Firmino or Bacca just in case

{Ed001's Note - every player I want us to sign doesn't happen. That's why I hate it when people ask me who I would want to sign as I know it will mean it will never happen.}

23 Jun 2015 15:51:06
I wouldn't be so sure ed. The player and at least one coach at inter seem to be under the impression he will be plying his trade elsewhere this coming season. While nobody will say where it's not a stretch to say it would be us.

{Ed001's Note - no it's not a stretch, but I am not going to assume it is us, Inter would prefer to sell to someone else.}

23 Jun 2015 16:40:48
Can't see us getting him, Konoplyanka is much more likely I reckon as Macca said a while back we are still interested. Would love to get Firmino but can't see it happening either when we are trying to haggle prices so much. Also I am impressed with Emre Can so far in the Euros and also Illori is going to be better than what we have

23 Jun 2015 17:09:19
I once watched a video of Debbie while she was doing Dallas and sure to form, she didn't sign for us. So maybe your theory is correct

23 Jun 2015 18:38:57
I watched the same film, more than than once. Liverpool never even got a thought.

23 Jun 2015 20:59:15
Kondogbia has signed for Inter

23 Jun 2015 15:19:36
I always thought the owners were doing a good job considering but I must say that this season is really down to them. I was all for sacking BR this summer and credited this terrible past season all to him. But I must say that if we fail again this season they should really take the blame. I won't be able to blame BR cause if he does the same mistakes then surely it won't be a surprise and he should at least be praised for being consistent. I just hope they know what they are doing, although it doesn't seem like it, and they achieve the success they crave. I also hope BR changes his ways, learns and brings them that success!

23 Jun 2015 16:53:19
Suppose they didn't give Brendan bucket loads of cash to spend on the team. They haven't started work on the new stadium. They haven't signed us up.with great sponsorships. They haven't increased global revenue. Let's bring back Hicks and Gillette. Some people have very short memories.

23 Jun 2015 17:38:54
Have to disagree with you mate , most fans don't have issue with the way they run the club .but BR has the worst record as a lfc manager over a 3year contract won nothing and threw the league away season before last .i and may be other fans expected BR to get the boot .and if he gets it wrong again like we expect he will then the owners can't moan when the fans turn on them .lfc fans know what football is about ,we also understand the owners are a well run business. But they might need to listen to the terraces before its to late .br has wasted a hell of a lot of money and he's had more than any over gaffer ever had .so not good enough

23 Jun 2015 17:48:15
In Steph's defence, I understand what he/she is trying to say.

From a footballing point of view, this coming season should, success or failure, be down to them as they decided to keep BR when most were calling for him to be replaced.

In terms of other activities - sponsorships, money for players, stadium etc - I completely agree that they have been miles ahead of both Waldorf & Statler and the "Money-Grabbing Gob-Sheep" that preceded them. However, all of these activites ultimately contribute to the ulitmate aim for any fan which is success on the field. And whilst an increased revenue, through a multitude of sources, can significantly increase the chances of on-field success, having the wrong manager will ultimately defeat this objective.

I've been one of BR's biggest critics in recent months as he seems to fly in the face of the Einstein quote that is often repeated. But for now he is our manager and therefore it doesn't stop me hoping for a great start and a title challenge next season (but I haven't had my pills yet!).

23 Jun 2015 17:45:30
I was talking about this coming season JQL and their decision not to replace the manager. Didn't you read the first sentence of my post?

23 Jun 2015 18:54:36
While I don't want H&G back of course, JQLFC96 FSG have basically reinvested sales of players and increased debt.

We are still massively in debt aren't we? The stadium has just started and is that the awe inspiring stadium or a remodel job? I don't even know if it's purely to help them sell the club. They're never there to ask.

Don't dislike them at all, but I don't see the sun shining when they bend over either

23 Jun 2015 14:13:15
Eds i know u have probably been asked are we singing bacca or rondon already but my question is do either actually fit into the way we play?
i haven't seen either play. Are they what we need now?
Thanks.

{Ed001's Note - the way we played last season? No. The way we played the year before would suit Bacca, as he likes to press the defence. Rondon I remain to be convinced is suited to anything other than the long ball. I have only watched him a couple of times, but he offered nothing other than physical size and strength. He was slow, lacked any kind of movement and generally looked like nothing other than a big lump. I would like to see more of him though, as I might have caught him on bad days.}

23 Jun 2015 21:11:37
Yea i did mean the year before last but thanks for the reply ed seems rondon is exactly what we need then.

23 Jun 2015 13:08:04
Hey Ed001.

I used the search engine on Firmino and then CTRL-F ED001 to see if you had already answered my question but I couldn't find anything.

What do you make of Firmino? I have always enjoyed reading your in depth opinions on players.

I'd also like to hear EMS' take on him as a player if he's around?

Cheers,

{Ed001's Note - my main take on him is he is inconsistent, sometimes he looks world class, other times average. On his day he is excellent, but he is very similar to Coutinho, though a bit more direct and pacey. They do seem to work well together for Brazil, I have noticed them link up a fair bit in this Copa America, there seems a real connection between them. Not sure myself that he really suits being a false 9, as he is being used, he really needs someone up ahead of him to work off. He does offer good movement, which is always a problem for defenders, but I don't see him scoring shedloads of goals for us or anyone. He is more of a creator who weighs in with a few. I want to watch more of him to be honest, as I have only watched bits and pieces, other than 5 full matches.}

23 Jun 2015 14:00:05
you're watching him ed001. is that a sign. ?



that we won't get him of course!

{Ed001's Note - good point.}

23 Jun 2015 14:43:25
Just for you, seeing as you asked, I'll reply. But I'm trying to avoid getting involved in discussion.

Firmino is a strong player, good at shrugging off challenges, gifted with quick feet and excellent close control. In terms of technical ability his first touch is amazing and his vision is also brilliant. He brings others into the game very well and creates a lot of chances.

My only criticism is his finishing. Whilst he is often deadly with either foot, I've seen him miss some absolute sitters.

I can't really think of a good conparison but I'd say Arda Turan is a similar player. Firmino is definitely not a false 9 though. No doubt he could play as a second striker but he doesn't attack the box enough to be the only central threat and he pulls wide to find space.

I would hazard a guess that he would weigh in with roughly 10 goals and as many assists though. He would be a fantastic aquisition. He makes a distinctly average Hoffenheim team worth watching. I'd be interested to see how hard he works for the team as well as I haven't really paid attention to that side of his game as I didn't really expect us to be interested.

I think he'd make up an excellent attacking trio with Coutinho and Milner to sit behind one of Ings or Sturridge though. Lots of creativity, direct play and a fair few goals in that attack. Especially with Ibe, Lallana and Origi as competition.

23 Jun 2015 15:06:59
I agree Ems he's a player we should have bought lst yea,, I'll b well happy if he arrives but I'm not getting my hopes up just yet

23 Jun 2015 15:14:42
Roberto Firmino will be the very definition of a "luxury signing". Excellent player he maybe, he is not what LFC need and they are bordering on incompetence with transfers like these is it happens. What happens to LFC's second most expensive signing Lallana if Frimino comes in? LFC should have bought the Brazilian last season in place of Lallana but I am not at all surprised with level of stupidity that is being shown by LFC's recruitment team.

23 Jun 2015 15:18:00
@EMS, how do you know so much about every player we are linked with every year? I thought you have a job or were finishing college or something, I think you were working from memory. Anyway I'm curious as it feels like you have provided very detailed analysis of players from numerous leagues over the years.

23 Jun 2015 15:36:36
Thanks Ed001 and EMS, much appreciated chaps!

23 Jun 2015 15:42:12
I use a steaming site to follow miltiple leagues. French, English and German are the only ones I follow extensively (I consider myself to also be a fan of Lyon and Leverkusen for example).

I watch the odd Sporting Lisbon game, the odd Sevilla game and the odd AC Milan game as well, though I wouldn't consider myself as knowledgeable of players in any of these leagues as I find them boring and non competetive.

Love watching European football as well. Let's just say there is a reason I failed A-levels and why I'm now failing my HNC haha. I bet I watch on average 5 games a week. It's embarrassing actually. My girlfriend left me because of it haha.

23 Jun 2015 16:30:04
No wonder your bird dumped you Adam!! I get grief for one match a week!!

23 Jun 2015 16:32:33
The real ag
You saved me a post. Not what we need yet again

23 Jun 2015 20:23:19
I think he would be a great addition to our collection of attacking midfielders.

23 Jun 2015 12:46:58
Imagine if we replaced Suarez with Firmino, Bacca and Rondon
Jpb last season

Instead we went with Balotelli, Lambert and Origi

23 Jun 2015 13:02:01
Although I see where you are coming from as I never wanted Mario to sign in the first place, itoesn't mean we would have done any better mate. After all none of them have proved it in the premiership before.

23 Jun 2015 13:04:25
Rondon is bang average, not much better than Balotelli.

23 Jun 2015 13:23:54
Who is this guy Bacca? He's suddenly the "name" that everyone should buy yet I've only heard of him after the Europa Cup final. And Rondon seems to have been around for ages, hardly pulling up the trees and I'm pretty certain he wouldn't be plying his trade Russia if he was the real deal. So no, I can't imagine having 2 out of the three instead of Balotelli and Lambert. As for Firmino, again only read about him at Copa America. Origi hasn't played for us yet so wait until he gets here then we can boo him etc etc. That always helps a player to settle in.

23 Jun 2015 13:25:14
To all the lfc supporters who are getting excited about the players linked to us. At the end it will all depend how much playing time they will get. Do not judge them as being flops when they are hardly played and if played out of position. Imagine Suarez playing right wing back. He would not have performed as well and we would have made a loss rather than a huge profit. If the 3 players are signed that is clearly an indication that STerling is leaving.
kit

23 Jun 2015 13:53:09
So Hulk is not good because he is plying his trade in Russia? What a ridiculous comment

{Ed001's Note - do you rate Hulk? Forget where he plays, I just mean do you really think he is that good? I have never once seen him play anything other than utter dog turd and really wonder why he is so highly rated. I understand he is powerful with a wicked shot, but he just looks awful every time I see him.}

23 Jun 2015 14:32:39
Hulk :) bad example !!

23 Jun 2015 14:45:55
Pirate, sorry for being ridiculous and for upsetting your day. The point I was trying to make is that he would have been spotted by the bigger teams if he had some star quality. And for the prices he's been moving at he would have attracted English clubs if he was able to add more value then someone like Bent. Just my opinion, but abuse accepted as my view is different from yours.

23 Jun 2015 15:21:59
Samp not every decent player needs to have had an English team after them for them to have star quality. He finished 5th in the league and helped his team win the Europa cup. His name has been mentioned for some time on here but it's only recently that there have been rumours surrounding a firm interest. He's playing in the CL next season and is an established international. I don't know what standard of player you're hoping for but i'd argue that he's the best we could hope for ( not that he's interested in playing for us anyway!)

{Ed001's Note - more to the point, would he have been eligible for a work permit for most of the time? He plays for a lesser nation that struggles to get high enough in the rankings for the old way of getting permits. So that might well explain a lack of Premier League interest. At least for a large part of his career.}

23 Jun 2015 15:54:05
Hi Swish, think I've confused you mate, I was referring to Randon and star quality and Randon plays in Russia and didn't win the Europa Cup last season. But the point I was trying to get across (apart from Ed001's point about permit) is that mid/lower Premier League table English clubs would have snapped him up if he was showing some strengths as good strikers are at a premium. So the link with Liverpool does surprise

{Ed001's Note - another thing, his wages and having European football might make him unattainable for the mid/lower table Prem teams.}

24 Jun 2015 07:01:49
Well I do rate Hulk more than Giroud and other donkeys that play in top teams. I didn't say he is a superstar, he is good. And he plays in Russia. So was Willian and now he plays for Chelsea.
So yes Hulk is a good example.

{Ed001's Note - I would take Giroud over Hulk any day, to call Giroud a donkey is so far wrong it is scary! He is a very good player with a lovely touch, just far too slow and lacks a clinical finish. Hulk has pace and power but an awful touch and a lack of real quality. I really am surprised you rate him so highly, maybe I need to watch him more, I have only seen him 20 or so times, but he has been utterly awful in every game, though a couple of times he has been masturbated over in the media and twitter after scoring a screamer, despite being woeful for the rest of the game.}

23 Jun 2015 12:25:01
SSN reporting that we have spoken to Fermino, Bacca and Rondon.
Does this mean we are in serious discussions about signing all 3, just one or none of them and was just a tentative enquiry.
All 3 with the Sterling cash?

23 Jun 2015 13:26:56
Most probably just enquired about them and then seeing which one is possible?

Id hope, dream and pray for:

Firmino
Kovacic
Clyne

With our outs as follows:

Borini, ballotelli, aspas, Alberto, origi (loan), sterling, Allen (he's never going to do it here but I do like him), Enrique, skrtle (promote ilori), manquillo (sent back), gimez (loan)

Gerrard and jonno have already gone and hopefully next summer

Mignolet gone with a stupidly top gk coming in and potentially Medel (because he is a good player and yeno the eds deserve it.)

23 Jun 2015 13:28:00
The eds have said there is not much there in the FRondon and Bacca rumours. The Firmino one, maybe.

23 Jun 2015 11:42:23
Reports claiming we are set to offer ILORI a new deal. i don't know what that means really if true
Other reports suggesting he got confirmation he will get a chance to claim a spot during pre season.

Heres for hoping BR is not 99% insane and gives the kid a real chance!

23 Jun 2015 12:38:34
I hope he gets a real chance, pre season isn't competitive enough.

23 Jun 2015 12:39:31
From what I've read he has had assurances from the club he will be given a chance. I am assuming this is the club and not Rodgers who have said this. I hope it's true as I think Sahko and Ilori could be a successful partnership. Ultimately I hope we adopt the DoF model as it is clearly the way modern football is moving and will allow for the manager (head coach) to focus on coaching

23 Jun 2015 13:00:42
Our scouts probably picked him out then realised he is already on our books

23 Jun 2015 13:42:10
Good one, Lavers! I hope so as well because clearly if BR is left to his guise, Hendo, Ilori, Sahko, Lucas would all have been gone fromt his club had he has his way. the tought of that alone scares the heck out of me

23 Jun 2015 10:40:41
hey eds really respect the job you do here and find you are unfairly attacked by some so called fans here for giving your asked about opinions, imo keep up the good work.

Fans here seem to forget this is a banter page not a bitch forum or a place to start a witch hunt. Actually if you look up the word banter it has two meanings:
as a noun.
the playful and friendly exchange of teasing remarks.
as a verb.
exchange remarks in a good-humoured teasing way.

I don't find any witty funny reasons to come here now it actually pains me somewhat, look you guys have to just agree we all think we are in a bad shape yes we have opinions and they are allowed to be voiced but to be saying the same things day out and day in is boring, if i wanted to listen/read a bitchfest i'd listen to the missus. Look no matter what we all have one thing in common, we are all Liverpool fans 100% whom want nothing but success and come the new season we will support our club, personally i buy my tops for the coming season already will go to three matches as i do every season and watch every other game online, we don't need to come here which is our best source of information and bitch all day or give the eds a hard time, if it keeps up people will stop coming.

23 Jun 2015 09:55:05
Maybe who wouldn't want to join us but in my opinion the first player we should have tried to get was Cech. We have had so many problems with Migs and though he improved some departments he is not good enough to be our starting keeper next season.
Cech is a magnificent player who not only would be outstanding on the pitch I'm sure he would be great help to Migs in training and our young academy players. Such a huge pity we didn't even try.

{Ed001's Note - he wasn't interested.}

23 Jun 2015 12:41:51
I don't get posters saying we should have gone for so and so when they clearly have no interest in joining us. The argument of it shows intent is stupid, what intent? they we intend to go for players clearly uninterested in us so we can appease the so called 'best fans in the world' by saying well we tried to sign so and so

23 Jun 2015 12:59:05
So we did sound out his agent, Ed001?

Did we do the same for other keepers who knocked us back, like Begovic, for example, or even Neto?

Thanks

Z

{Ed001's Note - no, he had made it plain he wanted to stay in London and that was widely known. Begovic we went as far as speaking to him, but he wanted to stay put at that time. Now he is available though we have not made any moves.}

23 Jun 2015 13:28:13
Thanks Ed. Given his love of London, I'm surprised Orient didn't come in with a late offer ;-)

23 Jun 2015 09:41:37
Hey ed01! I would like to ask if in your opinion Rodger's role will be different this season? I do not know if a DoF will be appointed, but is it possible that the condition of BR keeping his job was for him to accept instructions from above - like adhering to a certain press and attack tactics rather than his preferred "pass for the sake of it", or giving players like Illori and Can a chance?
Also, great news if the Illori getting a chance rumours are true, don't you think? Even though it is rather sad if this has to be forced upon the manager. I have high hopes for Illori, Markovich, Ibe and Can, (Ings too) even though there might be difficulties developing them properly with all the players rumored to be coming to the club.

{Ed001's Note - there will be strictures on him to be abided by.}

23 Jun 2015 13:55:38
Why should a manager be forced to use players that we all know are good enuff to be given a chance? Beggars belief, really. If he`s being told what do at every step and with pepin coaching the team day to day, what is BR`s job really or is he LFC manager in name only? Eds?

23 Jun 2015 06:17:14
Its been bugging me for a few days now after reading posts both here and on the official liverpool fc website. Could it be that the biggest problem with our club is not the manager or owners or players. Perhaps the biggest problem is the so called supporters. Every player we have is either not good enought to be in starting 11 or deadwood. Every player we sign is average or useless. The staff is useless. Everyone screaming for youth to be played and most of them wouldn't even know what the player looks like before they beg he be played just because some article on some website says he is the next big thing or because he is a wonderkid in FIFA. People outright saying that if we don't sign so and so player (who again they might never have even watched but did well for them on FIFA) we will get relegated because all our players are average. Fair play to the fans who are not like this and actually support the club but they seem to be in the vast minority. I am not saying everthing is nice and dandy with our club right now but the amount of hate spewed by liverpool "fans" at absolutely everything related to the club has to stop if we are to move forward. Just my opinion.
Have a nice day everyone

23 Jun 2015 06:53:25
when we were winning, the season we got 2nd, fans were praising our players. now we're not in a good state, fans are not happy.

fans tend to follow the performance of the team on the pitch. so look at who is responsible for the performance of the team on the pitch instead mate.

yeah most fans here do moan here. but the amount of posters here is nowhere near the representation of the entire population of liverpool supporters around the world. its the same as every other site. it is skewed to people who post, if your making this assumption based on this website and liverpool fc's website.

{Ed002's Note - I am sure there are lots of excuses you can find to explain the embarrassment and the moronic posts.}

23 Jun 2015 07:03:28
Fans are the lifeblood of the club. Fans pay good, hard earned money to watch their team. When the team, management, club, fail as spectacularly as they did last season then they have every right to ask questions. Fans have every right to question and debate signings, of whether they are good or bad or otherwise. What you want is blind support irrespective of the choices the club makes and the consequences that follow. We, as a club, have fallen behind and have a long way to go to catch up to the "top 4" - it would be a sign of how far we have fallen, and the lack of ambition we have, if fans were happy, supportive, compliant with the current situation. I'm happy there is so much discontent - it shows that the fans still care and still harbour the highest of ambition for the club.

As for signings: we've so far bought a reserve keeper who will have little impact on anything, we've bought a midfielder who is simply an older, slightly less talented version of what we already have (Henderson) for big wages and we've brought in a striker who was decent for Burnley but has no real experience playing at a top club and whose future success is impossible to predict. These signings do not exactly scream out "top 4" do they? I think Milner will be fine, Ings I don't know, Bogdan is irrelevant oh and we signed another youth prospect (who, if history tells us anything, will be loaned out and forgotten about). On top of this we've fired lots of coaching staff but kept the manager! That is shambolic decision making from the very top. There is still a lot of time left for signings to be made, decisions to be reached, etc etc and let's hope the right decisions do happen. As it stands things are troubling.

Fans have a right to voice their discontent - with the clubs current plight I'd be worried if there wasn't any complaints or misgivings. If you want to walk with the sheep and 'get behind the club' in spite of farcical operations, on and off the pitch, go for it but don't sully fans who simply have the clubs interests at heart.

{Ed002's Note - You need to get hold of the owners and stomp on their heads or whatever the hip thing is.}

23 Jun 2015 07:38:39
Most of those issues all point back to one man. BR. Players aren't used to their potential, an ever growing squad of players brought in with no thought as to how they will be played or loaned out again. Likewise no plan for youth, loaning them out and loaning players of the same calibre back in and as for the coaches, their position was redundant- BR said it himself as most of the 100 goals we conceded were 'uncoachable'. Most on here are behind the club and the players ( albeit with the odd disagreement around selections) but right now we have moved backwards. We've signed 4 players yet I don't see how we are any stronger than last year. Of course I hope I'm proven wrong and will support all the new signings but right now we've spent more cash in the wrong areas whic can only mean there's less cash for the right areas.

23 Jun 2015 08:05:35
The biggest problem of the club is supporters who argue that the main problem is the supporters. Liverpool supporters have nothing to do with where we are. It is one of the most loyal fan groups in the world, maybe too loyal. Our matches are always sold out, supporters always support the team on the pitch, sing the YWWA, never boo anyone, what is the complaint? that some people here in this banter site moan? it is a banter site, where will people moan if not in here?

In any case fans have a right to moan and in the case of LFC almsot a duty to moan. We used to be an empire and we became a mid table team, We got a huge chance to come back to the big ones two years ago and then we screw it after we had one of the worst season ever not taking advantage of the fact that ManU and Arseanl didn't have a great season.

Maybe if the fans were more loud on their disaapointment and less loyal - the owners would feel they have to do something about it, sack BR and bring Klopp for example which every football person in the world knwo they had to. This is what the ManU fans did last year and this made the ManU borad sack Moyce and bring LVG and see where they are today. And ManU supporters really didn't have a reason to complaine after thier recent successes. In any case, we are fans we don't get the millions the players and managers and owners get or have, we actually pay them their salaries through season tickets and subscription to Sky Sport and in return we get just misery. If we cannot even moan what is left for us to do about it?

I promise you that if we won the league just once again people will not complain for ten years. But ye we are not too exctied about being a midtable team, who can blame us?

23 Jun 2015 07:04:35
Can't argue with that, it's easy to be a critic.

23 Jun 2015 08:18:06
So your excuse that LFC has been decidedly average for the past quarter of century is the fans? The most perfunctuary of an excuse if I have ever heard one.

23 Jun 2015 08:44:29
asking fans to accept mediocrity , surely they will loathe and moan. was a big club, is no more. its frustrating . owners spend money not on the right players often , so there is dissent.
nobody here is asking to play youth because they go high in FIFA, its because they do deserve chances based on their performances and growing from roots is the best way forward, fans just want club to stop making investments on players that just fill the spot take us nowhere and rather promote youth players, how is that wrong.
The club will be much better off right now if they listen to the moaning and loathing fans for once.
and the hate is spewed because A to Z of our beloved club has failed last season. and we aren't learning from mistakes. in simple terms Explain milner? how does he solve any problem? did we have any midfield problem to begin with?
great player but not an immediate need of the hour.
What is true is true , we have no too many players not good enough and the management isn't smart enough.
some fans accept it and go along others like to moan and vent it out. Still they all are Fans.

23 Jun 2015 09:11:04
Can't totally disagree. All have their good points and they also have their bad.

FSG had saved us and invested money. They have also rubbished our name throughout football, appointed the wrong people and keep away from the club, too distant.

Rodgers has improved our play, had some of the most exciting football. He took us back to the CL and signed some great players. But also signed some crap. He has alienated some great players and refuses to learn from mistakes. He does look out of his depth and after spending untold millions still hadn't won a thing.

We are used to winning, to being a big club, a respected club. We all watch the games there on on TV so we can also see what's needed, who's good who isn't.
We want to return to the top table, our owners promised this. Fact. They have given money towards it. Why is it so wrong to see players of the level of Allen, Lambert, Mignolet, Bogdan arrive and then question if we will win the league or challenge? Why is it wrong to pay to watch Ballotelli or Enrique and see their effort and woeful product then criticise them?

It's not Lovren fault he cost £25m, but is he even performing the level of an £8m CB? Why can a fan not moan at watching Allen get knocked over in every challenge, watch him lose possesion when we are told he is there to win and keep it! Not only that but he's outstanding at doing so. Worse when we see Lucas missing out or Can playing out of position, for his place in the team?

You've seen unauthorised video of Sterling, read his agents comments, seen his performances. I can't wait to sell him and get rid. Am I a bad fan now?

It is not our fault if we are suckered by our own staff stating players like Ilori, Yesil and others are top talents, are class - but we never see them. Of course we want this £7m CB to play a game after 2yrs, he did well on both loans and in tournements. Our defence is poor. Skrtel is not good enough, we spent £25m on Lovren, we play Can in there. So yeah I'm a bad fan if I want to see this kid or Lloyd Jones.
We played with no strikers, Sterling couldn't finish sitters while Yesil is scoring for fun in the reserves. I must be awful for calling for him to get his chance.

It's chicken and egg for me, which came first? Fans suddenly becoming haters and moaners OR the clubs greatness disappearing, the reputation evaporating with average players (not all) and an average manager?
We used to be the model to follow, now we are chasing how Chelsea is run, or Southampton. Want to be self sufficient like Swansea, play like Barca. Maket the East like Utd or City. These clubs used to look at us and want to be us. Yeah I question why and how we got to a place where we are.

The only time I can agree is when we sign a player that wants it, is hungry to succeed and realises his oppertunity like Ings and fans rubbish him. That's when i agree this is not how we were. A young English player, scored double figures in his first top flight season in a relegated team, cost nothing, is a talent and will be a full international, will improve at our club. He turned down the no8 shirt allegedly, as he said he needs to earn an iconic number at our iconic club. We never used to knock that type of player or person. He will improve us, we used to spot that not question it.

23 Jun 2015 09:15:06
The supporters expectations need to be more realistic but, if you honestly can't see how much the manager has contributed to the poor performances (and consequently the negativity amongst fans) then I pity you. Having said that, everyone has a part to play in trying to support the club and the players and if Rogers is our manager this season, let's at least get behind him and hope he can pull some managerial magic out of his dossier.

23 Jun 2015 10:10:58
We have minimal influence, so venting frustration is all we can do. It's just human nature. There is no point in coming to a site like this if we don't voice our opinions frankly. I come here to find out the gossip and gauge my own opinions against that of other fans. Fortunately FSG and what's left of the coaching team are too busy with transfer business to read all this and get dragged down!
Personally I don't care whether a post is positive or negative, as long as the poster tries to be balanced, fair and rational. Can't say I've any time for personal vitriol directed at the manager, the owners or the players and I reckon the eds do a good job of filtering it out. Sure mistakes have been made and sometimes it seems the same mistakes are made more than once, which is incredibly frustrating, but if we look at ourselves we'd probably all realise that the same has applied to us.
If at the end of this summer we have signed a decent LB and stiker, given Illori a chance pre-season, got shut of peripheral players and players who don't want to play for us for the right amount, then I think it will have been a sucessfull summer. All the indications are we're doing this, and earlier than last year. I think Milner and Ings have been good signings, but I think that a lot of frustration is based on the fact that they are the first signings and the only significant ones to date.

23 Jun 2015 10:51:21
Like I said, it's easy to be a critic and the manager certainly had a bad season last season. But he has gone from being lauded by all to a figure of ridicule. People comment on his nose, his teeth, his tan even his private life. Come on, criticise where it's deserved but don't pick on his appearance like some 8 year old playground bully. Act like adults about it and stick to the football.

23 Jun 2015 11:32:01
We need to support our team and manager even if we have doubts over his suitability for the job. The owners have backed the manager and seem to be ready to go again . We didn't get to where we wanted to be last year but hopefully we can turn it around this one , get behind your club and let's see where we go .

23 Jun 2015 11:37:37
I think fan negativity can be an influence on a team, when you're in a rut it's harder to get out of it when everyone's saying you're s**t. Having said that I expect the ratio of satisfied to unsatisfied is not really represented by the people on this site. I don't think BR will be booed or there'll be fans sticking their fingers up at him from the stands, or at least not yet.

{Ed001's Note - I very much doubt those saying he should go here would boo him at a game anyway. I know I didn't when I was going along and watching us under Souness. I was desperate to see the back of him and his awful buys but at the ground it was all about cheering on the team and hoping they would prove worthy of the shirt. The same when it was time for Ged to go etc. You support the team on the pitch, then go home and moan about them afterward, not during the game.}

23 Jun 2015 11:42:02
One of the few things i actually agree with you on ron. Not necessary tbh, i don't personally respect brendan but i don't see the relevance of his personal habits.

23 Jun 2015 12:39:37
Ron have you posted that to ed002 also who for months has called him the nose ( which I found amusing tbh,)ermmm my guess is NO!

You and dozens like you will cherry pick posters or groups of posters to criticize, to defend the indefensible, but won't have the balls to take on an ed if you find something they post not to your taste.

Now go gaze longingly at your poster of swiss tony in his L.F.C. blazor and tie combo whilst clutching a rose and sipping a chardonnay, telling him the nasty men are all wrong and he'll sow em!!

23 Jun 2015 14:27:50
All great points! The fact of the matter is many of us have been fans of this great club for years and that will never change regardless of how good or bad the manager is. What I dislike is fans criticizing other fans for stating our obvious issues and venting frustration about how things are being run and the bad decisions being made on and off the pitch. These aren`t partisan witchunts or wild goose chases. these are true facts on the ground that we are seeing YET many call sid fans moaners and negative because they have the courage to voice their concerns and disagreements. The manager, the owners have a lot to answer for and if the other fans cannot have an honest debate over our current state without calling us moaners and the like, I suggest they go to another forum where they can all live a life of fantasy where NOTHING bad is happening and all will always be well because on THIS forum, we talk about reality, not fantasy.

P/S: Good post, Waro. All Ron wants to do is be a contrarian without presenting any logical arguments as to why BR should be kept or why the owners kept him. All he seems to care about is that BR stayed and that`s all even tho, he has claimed he wanted BR gone. Sounds like sitting on the fence to me. I have been consitent that BR should be gone, no if`s or but`s about it but I guess he wants it both ways like his BFF does all the time

23 Jun 2015 14:53:32
Only poster I gaze at lovingly is you Waro.

Ed002 is quite clear that he is not a Liverpool fan. If he wants to insult our club or it's employees then she is only doing what most other opposition supporters do.

It's quite different for so-called LFC fans to do it. Sort of like some kind of masochism.

I've not named anyone personally or singled anyone out, you are completely wrong about that. In fact it's the opposite, I'm often the target of personal abuse.

Other than that, you know I love you darling xx

23 Jun 2015 15:07:36
Well your only human Ronald!

23 Jun 2015 16:26:49
Ohio: WTF do I care whether BR stays or not?

I really don't care and I don't see why I should try and justify something that has nothing to do with me.

To be clear this is my position:
Whilst he is our manager, I will support him. I will not try and justify his actions or decisions, I don't know or pretend to know the reasons he makes his decisions.
Equally I will not stay quiet for long whilst others conduct ridiculous hate campaigns based on his appearance or his private life. If opposition fans want to do that, it is up to them, but my definition of a supporter is obviously different to yours.

23 Jun 2015 17:06:05
Spot on Ron. The decisions been made so spouting on a forum every day about the same stuff and hurling personal abuse at our manager just seems pointless. If you really cared write a letter to FSG. Otherwise you're just whining. why not just spend the time thinking of some genuine banter?

23 Jun 2015 10:17:45
ed002, i am in no way giving excuses for those posts. don't get me wrong, i know and read the site so i know what you mean. add the fact that i don't see what other posts you guys have to filter out, there's more that i don't know surely. But he is making that assumption based on what he reads on this site and the liverpool site.

all i'm saying is, how, have LFC been bad because of the fans? that's just illogical. in agreement to what AG said.

i have absolutely no reason to defend moronic posts, don't get me wrong.

{Ed002's Note - How would you feel as an owner, player, ex player, prospective player, manager, coach of a club where the fans constantly stream ill-informed abuse at everyone associated with the club. The daubing of abuse on the stadium? The threats made to the family of someone associated with the club? By a country mile, the worse there are.}

23 Jun 2015 00:38:09
Hey Ed do you think Milner expects to play in the center as he probably is due the honors after being used as a utility player so much?

{Ed001's Note - I think it will depend, but that is where he wants to play, so I would expect him to be shoehorned in there if possible.}

23 Jun 2015 07:22:35
I listened to an interview with Milner a few years ago where they addressed his versatility. He said he's just happy when he's playing and would play in goal if the team required it. (Paraphrasing)

23 Jun 2015 08:23:54
I thought he was being brought in as Gerrard's replacement in the squad but the interest in Kovacic probably shows he is more Sterling's replacement.

23 Jun 2015 08:29:41
Ed001 I don't see Milner playing in the centre as necessarily bad. I haven't watched many England games recently. But I used to be quite impressed with him at Villa when he was slotted into the centre once Barry left.Dare I say that was his best year of football for me.

Over all I think we have enough centre mids so he can be placed out wide.He always said he doesn't mind where he plays and I would like to finally see some decent crossing from wide which I have said for a long time now I don't think Sterling gives us.

23 Jun 2015 08:01:37
Edoo1 do you see Milner as our new Captain ?

{Ed001's Note - god no. No new player should ever be given the captaincy, it should be earnt.}

23 Jun 2015 14:42:58
But when Can does that, many say he is aweful.

23 Jun 2015 15:46:18
Don't tell Rodgers Milners prepared to play in goal.

22 Jun 2015 23:57:45
Ed2 are you able to clear up this report in a brazillian paper globosporte i believe saying lfc are at advanced talks with firmino. The writers are apparently close the Brazil camp in the Copa Americs.

{Ed002's Note - Liverpool are not in "advanced" discussions with a player during a tournament - if they need to talk to someone it is his club - or are you suggesting Liverpool are tapping up the player?}

23 Jun 2015 03:59:07
Yep that's what i'm suggesting. Of course not ed just asking for your wisdom as every fan is tossing themselves off on twitter as they take papers as gospel.

22 Jun 2015 23:01:50
I've heard that if Inter sign Imbula they will definitely let Kovacic come to us. Any truth in this eds. if this isn't true are there any recent developments you guys know of.

Thanks guys.

{Ed002's Note - I have explained the situation - over and over.}