Liverpool Banter Archive May 23 2017

23 May 2017 17:50:03
Hi ed2,

Thanks for that early summer update- much appreciated as always.

Just a few questions from it,
firstly you mentioned a replacement for Clyne. I was wondering why this is prioritised over a new CB, I've always thought Clyne is pretty solid (without being brilliant) forward and defensively and hven't heard of any discontent from the player?
In term of attack i think Brandt would be a fantastic player, have followed him for a while and he looks like a gem who would fit klopp's style and adapt to the prem quickly. However, I know nothing of Luan, how would you rate him ed2 in terms of how he would fit into the squad?
Thanks Ed.

{Ed002's Note - I am not sure what you are referring to, but I don't recall mentioning a replacement for Clyne - although to be fair a year ago he was unhappy with his lot. Brandt is the preferred option on the left. Luan is well enough thought of but Liverpool would need to unravel the ownership issue first - it can be done.}

23 May 2017 21:59:29
Ed will both Brandt and Luan be aware of our interest in them, if so has Luan indicated if he is interested in playing for us?

{Ed002's Note - I have no idea what Luan has indicated but both will be aware.}

23 May 2017 22:35:31
Have you been watching the same Clyne as me?

24 May 2017 00:27:23
Defence solid. Attacking poor.

It's mad because TAA the other way round


So they both can learn of eachother.

24 May 2017 00:15:36
Is the plan to get in Luan (say) without any outgoings? Or will we only sign a striker if we offload one? If so who it the most likely to be offloaded?

24 May 2017 01:29:18
Clyne is not good enough. Have u seen the number of times our attack has broken down because he fails to keep the ball at his feet and then backpasses because of his lack of ability to pick a forward player? Not to mention his weak crossing and poor defensive positioning. The only good thing about Clyne is his fitness.

24 May 2017 02:00:06
The only way I see both luan and Brandt both being brought in is if coutinho was to leave. Its one or the other otherwise, as we don't need that much attacking reinforcements even if Sturridge was to leave. Personally I hope we go for a versitile forward that can play as striker and out wide.

24 May 2017 05:15:41
I could see both coming in if Sturridge were to leave. Can could be playing deeper next year with Lucas departing, giving space for Coutinho to drop into midfield.

24 May 2017 05:38:43
"Defence solid"

Is this Nathaniel Clyne you're talking about?

23 May 2017 22:50:33
Cheers ed.

24 May 2017 14:07:08
Brazilian, there is no way on God's green earth that Clyne is good defensively. None of what you say is true. Just watch the games and see for yourself. He is poor in every facet of the FB position, full stop. This is why Ricardo Perreira from Porto (who is light years ahead of Clyne and Milner put together) is the no. FB target.

23 May 2017 20:23:21
Just a post iv been meaning to do and didn't get round to. Just want to say what a great addition to site ed25 makes. At one point b4 champs league was assured he was the positive voice in the moaning posters and he's a blue haha. Respect ed25.

{Ed025's Note - cheers walton mate..

23 May 2017 20:33:59
Yeah it's good having you around ed, stick around some more mate!

{Ed025's Note - i certainly will daredman cheers, you might not like what i say all the time but i do try to be honest mate..well most of the time. :)

23 May 2017 20:57:08
You sure r honest mate only time iv not agreed was with lucas evaluation but diff people diff opinions.

{Ed025's Note - thats right mate..

23 May 2017 21:17:53
Ed25 is a closet red supporter . No ways will a blue allow his 2 lads to support us :-) On a serious note however it would be interesting to get the opinion of fellows posters who differ from their dad's in terms of their support of football teams . My dad supports Everton, I fortunately want to actually win things hence I support my beloved reds . cue the abuse from Ed25 :-.

{Ed025's Note - no mate i fully understand, just like my two you were obviously a rebel who never did as he was bloody well told, my 2 brothers are also reds while me and my sister were good kids and followed my old man in being blues, in all seriousness though there has never been any bother with friends or family over footy mate, wembley twice against the reds were great memories even though we lost, the trains to london were packed with red and blue and i never seen even a hint of trouble...unfortunately its not like that anymore and as i stated at the time the chants at goodison were abhorrent this season and i was ashamed to be a blue, its obviously a minority of mindless morons that i suppose every club has to endure but it does not make it any easier piaray, any way im waffling now.. :)

23 May 2017 21:22:09
That's what opinions are for mate, if we all agreed on everything then life would be a bit boring wouldn't it.

{Ed025's Note - it certainly would mate..

23 May 2017 22:03:14
Thats enuff ed25 appreciaton now never hear end of it. Na honestly ed keep on page n keep doing what ye doin.

{Ed025's Note - will do mate..

23 May 2017 23:20:39
My Dad encouraged me to support Man Utd! There again he was easily seduced by the dark side.

24 May 2017 00:17:43
Thats because the dark side is generally more attractive. Case in point Darth Vadar is seriously cool whereas Anakin.

24 May 2017 05:32:07
Andy, I think that's grounds for child neglect, hope you managed to forgive him and reconcile things.

23 May 2017 19:03:14
The amount Madrid paid for vinicius is beyond absurd. I think I will soon leave watching this beautiful game as everything is about money now a days. Even LFC is no different.

23 May 2017 20:40:25
Soon there will be a break away league which will hopefully take with it all the absurdities in the financial side of the game. Then LFC and the other real clubs can go back to their roots. Unfortunately there will be a lot of casualties and probably only 40 professional teams left in the UK, but it will be real football.

I look forward to being 'left behind' because as you rightly say, football is going in a direction I won't follow.

{Ed025's Note - i have to agree MK, the breakaway league is not likely to happen for a good few years and i would expect liverpool to be invited to be a part of it but it will be the death of the game as we know it, besides a devalued prem the rest will become part time as the money from TV etc will all go to the fat cats, it will be a very sad day indeed if it really happens mate..

23 May 2017 22:26:02
They've been talking about a breakaway league since 1997 so I wouldn't be holding my breathe on that happening anytime soon.

23 May 2017 18:07:00
Now the season is over and just been looking at the table and we where only ten points off spurs and off the top of my head in games we blew ie palace Swansea and Bournemouth X2 and burnely we would have finished 2nd it such a shame we had so many bad injuries we would could have challenged don't get me wrong I'm over the moon with finishing Fourth and we are progressing but it could have been so much better even if we keep progressing at five ten points a season we shall win the league in 2 to 3 seasons!

{Ed025's Note - liverpool were not the only team who suffered injuries or were beaten by lesser lights jamesy, they finished 4th because they were the 4th best team in the league...the table never lies mate..

23 May 2017 18:23:33
I know that ed I'm just saying what ifs really we where the fourth best team in the league but top in Vs top 7 if you include Everton, I'm saying if we didn't blow stupid point like been 2-0 against Bournemouth and losing we could have been further up the table.

{Ed025's Note - yeah but you would be bottom against the relegation fodder jamesy, with a couple of good signings you could make it a regular thing although i think you may be quite a way of winning it mate, im just saying look forward and not back with all these wudda cudda shudda scenario,s...if my auntie had a pair of balls she would be my uncle.. :)

23 May 2017 18:18:46
Agree Ed.
Counter that with the Pen was given against boro.
Would we have won and finished 4th.

23 May 2017 19:41:23
The table always lies Ed. It said Leicester were the best team last season when clearly they weren't. It even said Everton were 7th this season when clearly Sunderland were better ;-)

{Ed025's Note - it never lies pip, leicester were the best side last year, and yes we were 7th best but that is temporary as we will be challenging the reds for that 4th spot next season, both of us are not good enough to challenge the big teams yet though mate..

23 May 2017 21:36:16
Ed 25 mate you are fast becoming one of my favorite eds . You are honest without being nasty when views differ and you are very engaging with the posters . Good on you mate and long may it continue .

{Ed025's Note - i try not to take myself too serious piaray, there are more important things in life mate as we have seen yesterday..

24 May 2017 06:15:25
I like Ed025. Does not get offended very easily and quite friendly as a matter of fact.
Also refreshing to actually pull an Evertonian's leg (never met one in person either in India or Down Under) . Maybe coz there are not many Toffees left after their endless trophy drought.

{Ed025's Note - there are millions of evertonians all over the globe buzzer, you need to get out more mate, like it or not we are still one of the most successful clubs in history and although just like liverpool we have not won much for a while we are still a massive club who are on the up, next season you will see us in the same bracket as yourselves excert we wont be making a show of ourselves in the champions league.. :)

24 May 2017 07:00:54
There may be many Evertonians around but I personally have never met one. Very few City fans as well. Utd, Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal fans are in abundance. Lots of Barcelona and Real fanboys as well.
If I visit UK anytime soon, then maybe I might just have the pleasure of p*****g off some good ol' Toffees boys too.

{Ed025's Note - you need to visit the mecca that is goodison mate, a true old style ground and the home of real merseyside fans..before we knock it down.. :)

23 May 2017 16:07:13
Hey eds as always awesome site, just wondered what you make off coutinhos comments recently, at the awards he said he wanted to be a legend and today he says playing for the Madridd and Barcas your just another player, my thing is if he's not sure of his future isn't it best to stay quiet, or is just a c.

{Ed001's Note - they are just meaningless, best to ignore what players say publicly to be honest. They can change their mind ten seconds later.}

23 May 2017 16:59:58
Remember Delph. One day he said he was staying at Villa and committed to the them and the next he was packing his bags and saying goodbye to the club to join City.

23 May 2017 17:20:33
I'm not even convinced he gave the 'become something more at Liverpool' quotes. That's been flying around for a few days and initially he was just quoted as saying "speculation is for journalists" after the game.

I first read the other quotes from a journalist (Tony Barrett? ), and that's apparently what Klopp told Coutinho in private. Either way it's like the Ed says, players change their minds all the time.

23 May 2017 21:40:15
For max mate that's the way I understood it as well.

23 May 2017 21:51:00
With Ed on this one too even tho the Delph episode was hilarious.

23 May 2017 15:00:22
I apologise in advance Eds but since no one has asked yet I thought I would:

How many hours until the next marquee signing?

On a more serious note please could my fellow reds fans stop slagging off players before they've even signed?

It happened last season with Mane and Wijnaldum and we were largely proven wrong by both players. Give them a chance.

23 May 2017 15:18:18
I think next season that Lovren and Matip can form a decent partnership. They still haven't played that many games together - and do compliment each other well.

Lovren likes to be physical and go towards the ball whilst Matip seems happier retreating to the edge of the box and staying the right side of the ball - together they should be able to settle down and with Matip just covering in behind Lovren.

Both are reasonable players - they just need to communicate more to take it up a level.

23 May 2017 15:38:44
Whilst I agree they have potential to form a good partnership we are short in that area . Lovren, Klavan are both ball winners. Matip acts as a kind of baby sitter at times. Gomez needs opportunities but is not ready for a significant role as yet.

With his injury record I worry that we rely on him too much.

Just my opinion but I am concerned that with CB seemingly not being a priority and with Lucas going we may be even shorter in this position next season.

23 May 2017 14:40:15
i do agree that Gerald can do some transformation to those  young players because of the  love he had for the club.

23 May 2017 15:14:21
Only if he can articulate it.
More important, I believe, is that he understands and can communicate what it takes to get to the top. With youngsters getting "too much too soon" this is most needed.

23 May 2017 18:02:28
Gerald?

23 May 2017 21:20:29
Who is Gerald?

23 May 2017 10:29:10
Eds,

With the Brazilian contingent we have here at Liverpool do you think it makes the club more willing to buy players from the Brazilian league? and vice versa these players more willing to join?

I'm talking more with concerns about how players settle in and adapt to a change in environment and culture etc, surely it must be a huge benefit to a new player joining the club if there are already a few players there who understand their cultures

Thanks.

{Ed002's Note - Yes it is a benefit.}

23 May 2017 21:23:46
Firmino came to us in part, cos Couts and Lucas were already here so that camaraderie is always a good thing, . Bayern and Leverkusen back in the day, used to sign Brazilians in order to have a great contingent and help the new Brazilian players settle and it worked for them back in the day.

23 May 2017 12:36:21
Regarding Coutinho'scomments to ESPN Brasilia, I don't give any credence to what footballers say in the modern game anymore after Suarez signed a new contract and was in a Barcelona shirt a few months later. If Couts stays I'll be made up because he really is the main man everything goes through him. On the whole after Couts' positional change we build from the back through Matip who always looks to feed Couts. Clyne offers himself time and time again and Matip never utulises him. If he goes than I trust Klopp to buy a super player that fits the system. After the departures of Suarez and Torres I am not going to idolize any player. These guys are not Liverpool fans like us they are employees of the club whose priority is to secure their economic futures for themselves and their families, which I grudgingly appreciate. I implore you to stop the hero worship of these transitional employees. By the way at this juncture it would be remiss of me not to say that Nathaniel Clyne is one of the worst right backs I've ever seen in a Liverpool. He offers nothing going forward and I could wait 200 years and still won't see any of his crosss hit a Liverpool player. He is positionally woeful and the only redeeming feature is he has some great tattoos. If we get our money back on him I'd be astounded. I will say it again we need a new back 4. It pains for me to say it but I totally concur with Eds 001 in saying that Matip is suspect and really not as good as most Liverpool fans think he is. My girlfriend is more vocal when we make love and im a crappy lover. He loses concentration repeatedly but to be fair playing alongside Lovren can't help your game. I know it's impractical to change the back four but that's exactly what this team needs. We gave a pathetic and forlorn Boro team three golden chances to score which is lamentable. My glass is half full though because I think now is the beginning of something beautiful at Liverpool FC. Which will culminate in Stevie G taking over the mantle within 3- 5 years. Klopp will make us a super power once again like we were under Rafa!

23 May 2017 12:47:00
I agreed with most of that until you mentioned Stevie G. ( I cannot comment on you and your girlfriend) . Let's wait and see if stevie turns out to be a half decent coach. If we are truly great in 3-5 years we should hardly be looking to a novice to take over.

23 May 2017 13:17:58
I'm with Razor on this. Gerrard had to prove himself every step of the way to get where he got, as a player. He should have to do the same as a coach/ manager. Continue adoring him as a player by all means, but let's stop the sentimentalism and give him a free pass to the top job without knowing how he'll do.

23 May 2017 16:10:02
a little bit to much information about you and your girlfriend there Brenda, don't put yourself down, they say practise makes perfect, so keep trying!

23 May 2017 11:29:25
"Stay here and they will end up building a statue in your honour, " Coutinho told ESPN Brasil.

"Go somewhere else, to Barcelona, to Bayern Munich, to Real Madrid, and you will be just another player. Here you can be something more.

"I have a long contract with Liverpool. Speculation is for journalists only. "

Sleep easy fellow reds.

23 May 2017 11:54:05
sooooo happy if it is true. Can't find the video footage on youtube though.

23 May 2017 11:54:24
Means zip mate.

23 May 2017 11:54:39
Great Stuff - The fans have a massive role to play, make match day at Anfield an experience, support the players, chant their names, sing songs, wave flags, intimidate the opposition and inspire the team to perform then if a player wants to leave it is purely about the $ and nothing else because with our support, Jurgen Klopp and the backing of FSG we will have success.

23 May 2017 12:33:41
25th May 2005 - Steven Gerrard interviewed on the pitch after the Champions League final and says that he can't see how he could ever leave.

5th July 2005 - Steven Gerrard informs Liverpool that he wants to leave and will not be signing a new contract.

Pip's interview came just after the win at the weekend.

It means absolutely nothing.

I hope it's true and he stays but this interview means nothing.

23 May 2017 13:39:53
For all we know the club could be the ones to move him on to drum up funds for other transfers. So even if he truly does want to stay it doesn't mean he will. Let's just wait and see.

23 May 2017 14:35:25
We will just have to wait till the summer, we should be able to heavily invest without needing to sell coutinho and we should really be trying to build a team around our best players and he is one of them. I won't look much into an interview like that, they say 'anything can happen in football' for a reason. I still half expect him to leave but he does seem convincible, at least for another season. Whatever ends up happening this should be a very interesting summer.

23 May 2017 15:46:41
Red dawn?

I forgot the part where stevie left.

Hes signed a 5 year deal so hea staying put if we do t want to sell. Simple.

Want him then get the blank check out and pass it to our board.

Champions league. Hero. Main man. El numero uno. The champ. The boss.

Hes going now where you half empty pessimistic problem finder haha.

23 May 2017 21:39:04
Everybody just chill out and see what happens. However, I doubt he will leave cos Klopp will not allow it and we don't need to sell in order to buy as money will be made available by the owners and it will be up to Klopp to spend it on who he wants.

23 May 2017 10:57:21
with all this chat about what to do with Milner next season if a new left back comes in, and what to do with Clyne as he is playing poorly, why not move Milner to right back?

One of his main criticisms this season has been the fact that he always cuts back onto his favored right side, this would fix that. Now i am by no means saying this is the ideal situation but could be a useful stop gap while we integrate Trent AA into the 1st team picture

Let me know your thoughts.

Red Sandman.

23 May 2017 11:26:56
This could well be the plan B if we fail to land our target RB. Question is, will Milner swallow it?

23 May 2017 11:30:40
Id go for it.

Easily see him becoming the new finnan.

Endless runner. Superb defensively. Cracking cross.

Hes smashed it on tbr left. Would love to see him on the right!

23 May 2017 14:38:40
If it meant spending and focusing more on an established left back, then I'd do that. I don't think right back is as big a priority as some have made it out to be. It will become one if clyne was to leave though.

We should definitely look to keep Milner, he is what you need to compete.

23 May 2017 21:42:35
Kman, both FB positions are a priority and Klopp has made it so, per Ed01. Ricardo Perreira is our no. 1 target for RB (and LB as he can do both) and having seen him play a bit, he is light years ahead of both our FB's and that is the quality we need cos our system depends on it.

23 May 2017 10:43:05
Nice to see big Phil stating publicly what he has been saying privately for weeks now.

"Stay here and they will end up building a statue in your honour, " - Coutinho to ESPN Brasil

It's rare to see a player for whom honesty is important.

23 May 2017 09:58:23
Just thought I'd say we should all be sending our prayers to the families from Manchester arena last night.

23 May 2017 10:27:01
Bloody awful. Kids for crying out loud.

23 May 2017 11:50:34
I went to school in Manchester, consider it my home city and have been to several gigs at the MEN. Something like this happening in your back yard is doubly chilling. It's every parents nightmare to lose a child my heart goes out to anyone who has lost or had a relative or friend injured. Am dreading my kids returning from school with the news that they've had a friend caught up in it.

23 May 2017 08:45:05
Eds reds. Through different things i haven't been able to get to anfield this season. I haven't seen the defence live, where yiu can watch them without the ball etc.
Why are people saying clynes gone etc yet we - apperently- are not going to sign a cb. Is lovren good enough? When i watch him he looks full of mistakes. can't undersrand the difference.

{Ed001's Note - Lovren has good and bad games, on a good day he is excellent, on a bad day he is awful. I would prefer to see Gomez take the spot to be honest.}

23 May 2017 09:21:12
Listened to the shark pod ed001 and have to say I'm still slightly concerned with our plans for defence.

I agree with you regarding Gomez taking Lovren's spot but as we know, players get injured and we could be back to a lovren / klavan partnership.

Lovren made a couple of glaring errors on Sunday, in the first half, it could have been a penalty and a red card and twice one of their forwards ( can't remember his name) got himself goal side of lovren and should have scored.

{Ed001's Note - we can't do everything in one summer mate. Fullbacks are the glaring weakness, they have to be priority for this window.}

23 May 2017 09:54:07
We can't afford to have 2 inconsistent CBs
Need to get rid of one of Klavan or Lovren as we can't rely on them to perform well every time.

23 May 2017 10:02:17
Unless the centre back coming in as a sure fire winner, I actually think keeping consistency with who we have is better van establishing do partnerships as well as new fullbacks.

23 May 2017 10:13:37
As ed says we can't do everything in one window, quality over quantity and let's push on.

The only thing I would do is keep clyne for another season and look for a CB instead.

23 May 2017 10:45:32
I think it's a little unfair to criticise the defence this year, it's been near constant change. I'd like to see how they perform when its the same back 4 every week without changing then make a judgement.

23 May 2017 12:47:01
True Nevada but going off the injury records this season it doesn't you with hope that they will play together every week.

23 May 2017 14:10:18
Thanks ed1 so you think gomez is ready? I hope so. Hoping to see far more of him and grujic. I would go for karius in goal still very confused on the full backs.

{Ed001's Note - the only way to find out if Gomez is ready is to try him.}

23 May 2017 15:34:34
Lovren is quite simply awful, constantly charging out from the back to win a header further up the pitch leaving a gaping hole in the middle of our defence. Look at the penalty incident on Sunday the lad runs off him while he's ball watching, he could of cost us champions league football with his incompetence. Stunned he was given a new contract and pay rise.

23 May 2017 20:11:42
You and I on the same page Waro.
This is not just this season, he has been awful since he joined and this should have been already addressed imo .

It wasn't just the penalty incident, twice their forwards got goal side of him and should have scored on both occasions.

23 May 2017 08:08:02
Hi Eds

Are you particularly pleased with the quality of the transfer targets?! especially Julian Brandt?
I think Bellarabi and Calhanoglu are better players.
Also the LB targets seems worrying tbh.
Pereira is a fantastic RB and can play other positions too.
Luan will improve around fellow Brazilians, Sessegnon would be a coup (a Delle Ali-esque tal.

{Ed001's Note - I don't see the problem, I haven't seen enough of any of those players to choose between them.}

23 May 2017 10:14:52
Evyred

Sessegnon a coup? so why does the LB position worry you?

23 May 2017 04:55:37
Not Liverpool related but I got to put it out there. my heart goes out to the people who lost their lives in Manchester tonight totally tragic just young kids going to watch a concert and not coming home it's a disgrace. my daughter is 13 and boy is 9 and I just can't get my head around these scumbags who do this scary times😪 People of Manchester ynwa 👍.

23 May 2017 08:15:56
Sickening, just sickening 😞. My thoughts go out to anyone caught up in this barbaric and cowardly act. YNWA.