Liverpool Banter Archive February 27 2015

 

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27 Feb 2015 22:49:04
My wife has just handed me 2tickets flights and hotels for me and my son to go to match this weekend
I can't believe I get to bring my 10 year old to anfield this weekend I can't wait it will be his first visit to the hollowed tu rf
What a match to bring him to I hope the atmosphere is its usual electric self and as they say in the add 2 tickets flights and hotel expensive but the memories priceless
Come on you reds y n w a

Believable19 Unbelievable0

27 Feb 2015 23:22:04
Lucky man

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28 Feb 2015 00:02:57
Enjoy the day, mate! Hopefully, you all can experience an LFC win.

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28 Feb 2015 00:33:48
Respect to the wife. .
Barry inLouth

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28 Feb 2015 08:02:23
Where in Louth you from??

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28 Feb 2015 08:48:49
Clogherhead

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28 Feb 2015 23:38:10
Between Dundalk and Drogheda mate
Barry inLouth

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27 Feb 2015 20:55:55
I wrote back in January that we were facing a cup final a week from then until May and it would put the team under immense pressure. People decried it, but now you see what I mean. We haven't got any easy games from now to seasons end - they are all literally critical.

Believable3 Unbelievable5

28 Feb 2015 00:05:24
That`s what waffling around for half a season does to you. You are behind schedule and on paper, fighting a seemingly losing battle. BUT, all is still in play.

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28 Feb 2015 08:00:47
We could have had plenty of easy games had Brendan not messed up in the first 4 months. Not every game would have been a must win if the team had started off well from August itself. Instead of being in the UCL and challenging City for 2nd place, we are fighting for a top4 spot and the FA Cup to salvage something from a season which is likely to end up being below FSG's expectations. U can try to put a positive spin on this all u want, but the brutal truth is we are performing way below expectations ad hence the major shakeups in the management are just around the corner.

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27 Feb 2015 18:35:22
So I was doom and gloom about Sunday until I realised were at home man city have to come to ANFIELD this weekend with henderson and coutinho well rested we will be a different team

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27 Feb 2015 21:49:32
I wish Lucas was fit but let's support whoever takes his place I suppose.

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27 Feb 2015 18:27:33
Seema simple to me. BR osnt able to rotate a squad. We had a good season last year as there was no CL/Europa, and now juggling. This season, our bad patch was around the CL games, where BR mis-selected the team constantly. Agree with a couple of other posters, we should go best 11 where poss, at least until we have a manager that can rotate better. Last nights team confirmed this for me.

Whilst I think we'll all agree we have drastically improved, for me, this is in spite of BR and not because of him. If we make the CL next season(and I fully expect is too), it's safe to say BR isn't the man we need at the helm

Believable5 Unbelievable6

27 Feb 2015 19:26:35
Wait until the end of the season to make judgement on Rodgers. There are loads of examples of teams not rotating and rotating where there is good and bad results so I wouldn't say whether Rodgers is good or bad at this. It's a no win situation for a manager.

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27 Feb 2015 20:18:50
Assuming we should go 'best' 11 every game, who was missing that BR didn't select? sakho? Injured. Coutinho and Henderson? Whilst maybe not actually 'injured' both have played a lot of games, and look jaded. Aside from that, it was pretty much our best available eleven. If you lose a game, your selection is criticised. For instance, if we lose on Sunday, other fans (not you obviously) will say we played too many of our best eleven last night. It's easy to be smart with hindsight. 😊

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28 Feb 2015 00:07:19
IMO, that team he put out there was good enuff to get it done and had they taken their chances in the first half, we are not having this conversation. They did not get it done and that`s it. The hindsight conversations to me, are not relevant. We screwed up and so be it.

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28 Feb 2015 00:20:05
Tbf been critical of BR but just looks like he was no where near ready for European football, but is his first time playing it so is a learning curve. Our European campaign was terrible but Spurs are out, City look out (barely got out of their group), and arsenal just got thumped by Monaco on their ground and for think the 3rd or 4th season running are out at the first round.

Not sure why but besides everton and city nearly every english team have been poor this season. Not entirely sure why but all I can think of is bar chelsea every english team have no concept of defending or tactics, everyone slates Mourinho but can make sure his team get result when needed. Other thing I've noticed is most BPL teams se to struggle to just keep possession, alonso was brilliant for us of taking the sting out of opponents by just keepin the ball for a few minutes which english teams seem terrible at

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01 Mar 2015 00:40:48
Rodgers has to tamper. To be the star.
We used to start every European match home or away like an away game.
Defence first. Keep it tight and use your speed to catch them on the break. If you score then the other team must come at you and guess what. You catch them on the break.
Nit for rodgers goes with arrogant chip on shoulder ballotelli and mr 4 touch sturridge.
Naivety in extreme.
Got what we deserved.

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27 Feb 2015 18:25:47
I'm guessing with the news that UEFA have cleared Liverpool of not breaching financial fair play rules it must have been very touch and go. Are we basically reliant on Champions League football next year to stay solvent? Could be a lean couple of transfer windows if we don't get there I'm assuming

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{Ed002's Note - No.}

28 Feb 2015 00:24:49
It should be lean anyway, considering the value of the players we have, we should be selling before buying. . We really could do with learning lessons from Chelsea, who seem to be the only club to fully appreciate and understand FFP, fair play to them.

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{Ed002's Note - They are far from the only club.}

28 Feb 2015 07:32:16
Is it still a case of having to sell to buy or can we, for example go out and spend big on gerrards replacement

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{Ed002's Note - Liverpool need to balance the books - it should not be too difficult to understand.}

28 Feb 2015 16:04:30
Sorry solvent probably wasn't he right word to use. Competitive might have been better. But than I guess no champions league would automatically downgrade the type of player that'd be available anyway

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27 Feb 2015 18:05:06
Hi all Ed's&Red's. .Very happy to see the stats on Sakho being the most influential defender in the league.I always had a feeling that given time he would settle and become a solid defender.The stats for when he plays and when he doesn't speak for themselves.Captain of PSG at 19 is exceptional so there was always quality there he just needed time.Unfortunately some fans on here expect player's with big price tags to hit the ground running and maybe at times there is a argument for that but sometimes it takes 1 or maybe even 2 seasons for a player to settle(Henderson, Lucas)Yes there is nothing more I would love to see than a big signing play like that from day one but sometimes that doesn't happen so we get behind them and support them.So well done young Sakho take a bow and we can't wait to see you pull on that world famous red jersey soon a hopefully for many years to come.
Barry inLouth

Believable13 Unbelievable0

28 Feb 2015 00:10:05
Always believed in Sakho and regardless of stats (don`t believe too much in those tbh), he has been our best defender and he and Moreno have struck a very effective partnership down the left. To me, he plays every game until he shows he can`t play any more. Just my opinion.

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27 Feb 2015 18:01:17
there's a photo of the team when the penalty's where taking place in the liverpool Echo, if you look at that you will see why we never won the shoot out, only lambert was the one with penalty experience, i don't want BR as the manager next season if we make it into the top 4

Believable5 Unbelievable20

27 Feb 2015 17:16:52
So we are supposed to be resting sturridge, guiding him back from injury.

I have this terrible feeling that after 120 minutes on the field, he is going to start again on sunday.

My point is, given sturridge's recent recovery, and his recent poor form and lack of rest, and that balotelli was the best of our attacking players yesterday, (although it isn't saying much), why should sturridge start over balotelli against citeh?

Believable7 Unbelievable2

27 Feb 2015 18:28:20
Doesn't matter who plays upfront,, little Tinho is banging them in from all over the pitch at the minute. Have faith in whoever plays Reds were on one hell of a run in the league and should be confident

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28 Feb 2015 06:53:17
Because he's our best striker

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27 Feb 2015 16:58:32
Ed2 are you surprised we got cleared with FFP? you said we would fail?? It must have been touch and go??
Thanks have a good weekend

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{Ed002's Note - Liverpool has worked very hard to justify their massive losses. The result is not a surprise.}

27 Feb 2015 22:05:26
What of you mean ed2?? By bringing in more commercial deals etc ????
Thanks

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{Ed002's Note - No, by persuading UEFA to accept certain figures in the accounts.}

28 Feb 2015 06:04:16
Ed002, reading over the past 6 months or so I thought you was convinced we(LFC) would be punished in relation to ffp?

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{Ed002's Note - Hardly "convinced" but until yesterday there was always the possibility of sanctions and it was apparently skin of the teeth stuff with Liverpool providing additional information and assurances. I am sure the board consider themselves one of the fortunate clubs like Sparta Prague - others were no so fortunate - Hapoel Tel-Aviv, Hull, Panathinaikos and Ruch Chorzow.

Inter Milan, Dinamo Moscow and Lokomotiv Moscow await the outcome of further investigation and UEFA said that they will be continuing to monitor the financial situation at Liverpool.}

27 Feb 2015 16:49:50
Eds 001 now that Liverpool have passed ffp does this mean the owners will spend money this summer?

Believable1 Unbelievable0

{Ed001's Note - depends on sales, one of the reasons they passed is that the situation is improving. So they will have to keep taking the club closer to break even, which means it will come down to what the outs are as to how much they spend. The reduction in wages and Champions League money will help a bit, but there won't be hundreds of millions to spend.}

27 Feb 2015 20:00:59
Edd001 I've fear there will be another spending spree in that now there will be more than a goalkeeper and striker bought if Rodgers is still in charge. Imo he shouldn't be allowed to spend any money this summer as he's useless at buying. Let the committee and scouts recommend and buy those needed

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28 Feb 2015 00:13:09
We have a core right now and all we need is 2/3 top class players for the first team and pick out who we need from the loanees and the academy and that`s all we need. I think the binge spending is over for FSG, IMO.

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28 Feb 2015 07:38:47
A keeper, right sided centre back for the back 3, a midfielder, for stevie and a good striker, hopefully sell lovern, borini, ballotelli and Allen, 4 players who imo offer nothing to the Team

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27 Feb 2015 16:34:24
Afternoon eds.

How come we have been cleared of breaching ffp rules? Thought we were up the creek without a paddle.

Cheers

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{Ed002's Note - Latitude.}

27 Feb 2015 16:33:01
Liverpool cleared of breaching financial fair play rules

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27 Feb 2015 16:31:34
eds002
there has not been an offical confirmation (as far as i can tell) from UEFA pertaining to liverpool not being fined for breaching FFP. If they indeed get away with a slap on the wrist, does this in your view make the FFP a joke as teams seem to find ways around it.

Believable0 Unbelievable0

{Ed002's Note - UEFA have stated that Liverpool will not be subject to sanctions. Hull have been fined €200k. There are plenty of other clubs who have got sanctioned so UEFA consider FFP to be working. There will be some further changes to the regulations to try and create a better balance. On March 20/21 a number of clubs will be meeting together and it is on the agenda.}

27 Feb 2015 17:00:00
eds002
I totally agree eds002, there needs to be a better balance. what is your opinion of FFP pertaining to this particular situation with liverpool?

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{Ed002's Note - Liverpool will be relieved that there are no sanctions but must get their house in order. There is pressure being put on UEFA to cap the amount of television and media income that is allowable for FFP calculations. Clubs have been trying to agree a cap for commercial sponsorship monies that they can take to UEFA - but after a couple of years there is still no agreement. If that happens there will be a better balance across Europe.}

27 Feb 2015 17:53:14
eds002,
thanks for your time.

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27 Feb 2015 18:21:53
But then we also need to get rid of 3rd party ownership, although I agree English clubs and a few others have an advantage with higher television income and to some extent sponsorship so do clubs in leagues that allow 3rd party ownership

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{Ed002's Note - It is going from Europe with the possible exception of Portugal.}

27 Feb 2015 14:53:38
At home v besiktas Rodgers set up the same as he has since December, yet last night he has a tinker and plays 2 strikers away from home in a game we needed to boss in the midfield. Tactical naivety again same as what cost us the league last season and possibly a top 4 finish this season. Great coach br but hasn't got it tactically.

Believable10 Unbelievable6

27 Feb 2015 15:58:28
Complaicency for me. As you say since December he sticked very strictly to the formation and players that were winning games for us. Can, Sakho and Skertl at the back, Baloteli only from the bench, same with Lovern. Coutinho the first person on the teamsheet. He only did changes when needed to, becuase of injuries as gradually as possible.

I just think yesterday he thought we were too strong to lose there given the result in the first tie. As I said before here, as we already had list of injuries we should have try to minimise the changes - but leaving Couts in England, moving Can to midfield, playing Baloteli and Sturridge together - experimenting on a large scale all of a sudden - costed us.

I really hope one lesson BR learns from this season is you take your best starting 11 to every competitive game and stop with this 'these players are young and cannot play more than once a week so they need a trip to Jamaica'. Yes we have a big squad but there are big differences in the quality of players in this squad and we swa it very well in the first half of the season. I say If it is not broken why fix it (tired players is not a good enough reason) and if it is slightly broken because of injuries don't break it further.

By the way I keep on saying here that Can should stay in the back 3 because he is irreplaceble there - after yesterday I can add that he is just not very effective in midfield. Not with Allen anyway.

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27 Feb 2015 16:20:46
I think injuries and suspensions played a part in the team selection.
I have to be honest though and state that I thought that side last night would win the match outright let alone lose it.

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27 Feb 2015 16:21:08
I agree with fanobip about Can playing in defense until the summer.

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27 Feb 2015 17:05:09
I think we were all crying out for two strikers during our time of turmoil. The problem wasn't the system. Too many players didn't show up. It's hard to score when sturridge and Sterling have such bad games.

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27 Feb 2015 17:33:29
Oh lay off the blamemongering please the lot of you,

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27 Feb 2015 13:23:29
Edd002 what colour is the dress to you? ;) if youve seen the pic

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27 Feb 2015 15:45:34
White, gold trim and hideous

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{Ed001's Note - hey! Ed007 is very proud of that dress.}

27 Feb 2015 11:01:58
'Liverpool are set to avoid Uefa sanctions, despite being in breach of Financial Fair Play regulations after writing off a proportion of financial losses as allowable stadium expenditure.'

This is n the Daily Telegraph today, any truth in it Ed's?

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{Ed002's Note - It seems to be the most likely situation - and should be clarified later today.}

27 Feb 2015 13:32:30
Any advice on where best to park on Sunday morning for the City game? I'll have a hire car and my young son with me.

Believable0 Unbelievable0

{Ed001's Note - might be worth checking the justpark app. I have been told that is great for footie matches at away grounds.}

27 Feb 2015 18:16:26
The bingo car park (think it's Mecca) on spellow lane offers parking on match days. Cost £6 and if lucky you may get a free parking space on spellow lane itself. Unfortunately this does mean you will have to pass goodison on you your way to Stanley park but easy to get to and hassle free.

Cheers

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27 Feb 2015 22:41:04
In front of our goal !! 😆

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27 Feb 2015 13:12:33
Well, I either wanted to win it, or go out in the first round.

It's always nice to win something but hopefully we can push on in the FA cup and League now.

Terrible performance though. The only people who i remember making a (fair) tackle is Allen and Skrtel. Mingolet excellent again.

You have to ask the question though; Why when we are in need of a goal and possibly going to penalties do you take off the two most effective attacking players on the night (Balotelli and Ibe) particularly as Balo is so adept from the spot? Manquillo might as well have put on a Besiktas shirt. Can, Sturridge and Sterling were dissapointing (not awful, just not at their usual standard) in particular and compeltely failed to take advantage of Balotelli's neat flicks and hold up play. He looks a new man. Hopefully when we hit some form, and Sturridge is sharp, he and Balo can add a few goals to the team.

Dissapointing performance but hopefully we can really change gear in the race for top 4 now.

Believable6 Unbelievable8

27 Feb 2015 15:23:47
We're playing 3 at the back with 2 holding mids and 2 wing-backs as part time wide attackers only leaving (largely) 3 people really trying to score goals. Result is a better defensive record but a poor attacking one. When we played just Lucas holding the balance was better but until he's back I think we'll simply struggle to create much. Would be nice if we could find a bit more balance to the team.

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27 Feb 2015 23:46:23
Agree, our biggest problem is losing a top quality defensive midfielder who can give the confidence for others to push forward.

With Lucas there, Hendo feels free to kick on upfield, the wingbacks feel more confident play will be broken up on the counter, and we can put Can in the CB's to play the ball out from the back.

I think it's critical we buy someone like Wanyama, Schneiderlin, Khedira or Illara to really kick the team forward next year

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28 Feb 2015 06:58:10
Our players looked really tired
I remember BR saying the bigger pitch will help us but I felt it worked the other way

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27 Feb 2015 12:14:10
Let's move on from last night's game with a few positives. The central defenders played well. Toure got game time and his experience shone through. Lovren is improving with every minute and Skrtel was outstanding. He threw Ba out of his pocket at airport security on the way home. Mignolet also did well and his confidence is high going into the business end of the season.
as I'm focusing on the positives I'll only say thankfully some of the midfielders and forwards minded themselves for Sunday.

let's look forward. We can't change the past.

Believable9 Unbelievable1

27 Feb 2015 13:09:36
Are people just blind to the pummelling we took in the second half?

I like toure but he had a terrible game vs his winger

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27 Feb 2015 13:15:39
I thought our biggest issue in the second half was that every time Sterling or Sturridge got the ball they lost it, and Can kept over hitting through balls for Sturridge. We just conceded possession too easily which allowed Besiktas to attack us with wave after wave.

It was bound to give eventually. Skrtel must've made at least 20 last ditch defensive actions.

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27 Feb 2015 18:26:07
Can and Sturridge were exhausted looking and rightly so they have played a lot recently I would have started borini due to his work rate but hard to drop can with the injuries we've had od a brang hendo and swapped them but easy in hindsight

Can't see can starting Sunday now though

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27 Feb 2015 11:59:53
Fed up with the sterling stuff! He's been injured, playing out of position, either as a striker or wing back and has played a lot of games, even with his break! He's very Young still and is s quality dribbler, just needs to sort his head out, on the pitch, with tactical awareness and position sense and off It. Reading this page you'd thijk he was Aaron Lennon or something. He had the natural ability to become top class, and has shown moments if it (goal bs chelsea comes to mind) and its up to him whether he achieves this. I just don't understand all this 'sell him' cr*p, and yes we may have younger players with as high potential coming through, but they are not all nailed on, and sterling is, possibly along with ibe, at the moment, the best winger/wide player we have. End of.

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27 Feb 2015 13:09:38
Hi Fencey, unfortunately I couldn't watch the match last night.

Was Sterling wing back last night or when has he played wing back?

I wouldn't have played him up top on his own against Southampton but I wouldn't consider playing him up top with Sturridge or Balotelli as playing him out of position.

This season he has been over-used, I think he's being played when off form and I'd have him dropped a bit more. It would look to us (the fans) like Rodgers is protecting him by resting him whereas in private he could tell him he's not doing the business so taking him out and see how he reacts see if he improves in training.

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27 Feb 2015 11:28:46
Can hardly bash Lovren for having the bottle to take a pen, but the 5th one? Why would we let the player who is arguably lowest on confidence and a centre back (not that, that necessarily matters) take that.

All ifs and buts, but pretty grim seeing the abuse he got on Twitter etc. When many players, after the season he's having would have completely shyed away

Believable17 Unbelievable0

27 Feb 2015 14:50:21
Don't understand why Moreno didn't take it. The lad can hit the ball very well.

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27 Feb 2015 15:14:47
I think Lovren has improved since we have moved to a back three and Migs playing better than ever, now, should he have taken the 5th pen, and can someone tell me, I thought his best or strongest leg was his left, but he took the pen with his right leg ?
maybe one for EMS .

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27 Feb 2015 15:51:01
Lovren is right footed.

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27 Feb 2015 16:23:03
I don't understand why Kolo did not take one. He buried his pen in the african nations cup final.
He would have netted. He is Kolo after all!!

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27 Feb 2015 18:30:23
Lovren even taken one was quite brave considering ghe season he was having wish he just hit it down the middle played it safe poor fella can't catch a break (I taught he was going to be the answer)

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27 Feb 2015 10:43:57
Liverpool investigate the possibility of signing Besiktas midfielder Arslan in the summer. They're not but thought I'd get in there first!

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27 Feb 2015 21:58:34
Can Ed002 confirm that i remember him saying that we wanted to get him on a free transfer from hoffenheim in january as a replacement for lucas? Or am i thinking of someone else? Sticks out as it was the only player Ed002 said we even had a chance of getting in january.

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{Ed002's Note - Arsenal and Sevilla were interested in January.}

27 Feb 2015 10:36:50
Well i'm a positive sort of bloke so my take is that we haven't been beat in 90 mins in donkeys. That can't be bad can it? Last nights game? Penalties? Is always 50/50, we have won our fair share over the years so eventually you are going to loose one? Shocking miss by Lovern tho! Where did yhe ball end up? Ah well, roll on Sunday, big game!


Oh, and by the way! Wise up on the Sturridge bashing. He has hardly played that much yet! The same people bashing him maybe the same thinking he was our saviour?

Believable10 Unbelievable0

27 Feb 2015 13:11:41
Sturridge is a lose lose. He needs minutes to improve and the more minutes of playing below par the more he'll get bashed.

Patience with him would be nice alright as we all know he will come good.

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27 Feb 2015 13:23:18
Sorry to point this out, but we did lose, we drew over 180 minutes, but lost over 90 1-0. Few positives to be taken from the game, Skrtel played really well, Lovren played well, aside from a few crazy long balls, Moreno did well aswell, and Mario at times, he does seem to want physicality as much as possible tho, and therefore isn't ideal for counter-attacks as he seems to want a foul rather than turn and move.
Their manager made a couple of good decisions and I liked the way he motivated his players, I don't think BR made the right call bringing ballo off, I would have gone for either Sturridge or Sterling, both obviously weren't on top of their game, for whatever reason, overplayed/not fit. Onward and upward tho, Bring on Sunday.

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27 Feb 2015 13:32:06
''Well i'm a positive sort of bloke so my take is that we haven't been beat in 90 mins in donkeys''

We're just ignoring that they got 1 goal and we got 0 last night in 90 minutes now? Is this what it has come to?

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27 Feb 2015 13:44:02
Yes, my bad liljack!! Its my age you see!

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27 Feb 2015 10:05:42
If we weren't going to win this you r better off going out asap, imo too many games in too little time could be detrimental to r league push and Get beat in the final with nothing to show for all that effort, they need to change the format of the Europa to not drag it out as much and if you are in it have a Monday match after it.

Believable4 Unbelievable1

27 Feb 2015 11:35:42
yes let's start by getting rid of champions league deadwood, once your out your out, no second chances in europa

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27 Feb 2015 18:06:06
Have you not changed that name yet lol.I thought I would never say this but your right not with your name but the post above.

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27 Feb 2015 08:53:27
No excuses now, a lot less fixtures and Sunday's game is hardly one we expect to win. So if we end the season out of top four and without a cup then BR would be under serious consideration and rightly so. Yesterday was, if anything, some of the players playing terribly but it is what it is and BR has been abject in Europe so I was not expecting to win this competition, in fact get to the QF. If we do somehow miss out on our aims, then BR will obviously make the same excuses and for this, I would not trust giving him an extra season, because he has clearly not learnt his lesson.

Until then I'll stick by BR and hope he pulls it out the bag, but without the excuse of Europe, I just see the worst is yet to come.

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27 Feb 2015 08:39:37
Sturridge has been so poor, he refuses to pass to anyone. And then he loses the ball. Had balotelli done that the fans and media would of gone on a witch hunt, Brendan would of critics him asking for more.

Then I come to sterling, on current form he should not be in the team. Impact sub as best. He is weak on the ball, had no shot on him and has stopped running at people. Perhaps Brendan's tactics have limited him.

I think both these players have started believing the hype, they aren't as good as the English media say they are. All we want is consistent performances for liverpool.

Had sturridge taken his multiple chances to square the ball instead of shoot, or try to beat 5 players. We would of won comfortably.

Believable20 Unbelievable3

27 Feb 2015 09:31:53
Couldn't agree more, Sturridge has been doing my head in since returning from injury. if he could learn when the right time to pass was he could a great. right now he's far too greedy, not that greedy players make bad players but over greediness is not what we need in this team

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27 Feb 2015 09:33:25
Sturridge isn't playing very well - but it is a bit harsh with people slating him. He can do better and will do better but he need to regain his sharpness. He haven't played for ages, it is only normal. Give him a break. His decision making will get better as his sharpness comes back

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27 Feb 2015 10:08:46
Possibly it's something to do with us as a fan group piling on the pressure of him being the only man who can 'save' us for 4 months? No wonder he's not doing great and being selfish, he's had it drilling into him that it's all on him!

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27 Feb 2015 10:55:11
He looked tired is all same with can

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27 Feb 2015 11:17:45
Don't think it's anyone 'piling pressure' was the same at Chelsea. I think he's a great player and I'm happy to have him, but it doesn't mean he can abstain from criticism. Players can always improve

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27 Feb 2015 13:05:29
I'm not saying he should be immune from criticism OrangePeanut. Just maybe a wider lesson in avoiding players feeling the extremes of a god complex or having the world on their shoulders when results without them go sour

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27 Feb 2015 13:16:45
Hi Mag, I'm going to ignore your Sturridge part as I think he needs minutes to improve.

On Sterling though I agree he shouldn't be starting on form. It looks to me as if Rodgers also believes that hype and he seems to believe we can't win without him.

Drop him when he doesn't play well enough and give someone else a chance. What is the point in having a squad when players off form are kept in the team.

In terms of your point on consistency though you won't get many consistent performers in the attacking positions at 20 years old. I'd prefer to take him out when he's not playing well and then he wouldn't be open so much criticism.

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28 Feb 2015 02:33:56
I guess I can agree with you.
I think if we all agree sturridge needs fitness and match sharpness, and we can all agree that balotelli has had a good 3-4 games. So wouldn't it make sense starting balo and giving sturridge 30 mins at the end until he's match fit and sharp.
Instead BR is doing it the other way round and it is costing us. I just feel BR has become obsessed in this 'I'm gona teach balotelli a lesson and tame him' stance.

I mean seriously, sturridge and sterling should of been subbed, or at least one of them. We say sturridge needs match fitness, yet he played 120 mins!!! And very poorly at that.

personally I don't feel the fans have made sturridge and sterling into our saviours, I feel BR has with his team selections. Some people seem to think fans opinion has created this false sterling and sturridge aura, if we were that influential sturridge would stop being so greedy and sterling would of accepted a lower paid contract.

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27 Feb 2015 08:21:13
We had the chances in the 1e half last night we could have killed the game.
We lost control and were under pressure.what i have seen we need a top class defending midfielder.
We are defending well and most of the time our we create enough chances but when Lucas is missing we have no replacement.
Can is our best buy this season but he is not a holding midfielder, we need a Matic type of player.
Allen is good, but when he comes under pressure he can't cope with it, the game is to fast for him.
We really got something going if we can add 3 top players we be a force.
We need to spend more wisely this summer, anyone who watches european football knows that 25mil for Lallana is crazy much better players available for that kind of money.
We need to skip the English market and buy abroad, English players are overpriced and the best ones stay at their club.
Malta

Believable4 Unbelievable1

27 Feb 2015 08:12:33
I did not watch the game last night.
When I saw the team I thought we would go through.
I did manage to see the first 20 mins before leaving to play 6 a side myself.
I thought we would definitely score when I left because we were already causing them problems.
I have got a lot more respect for Lovren now though. He knows he has been poor for us so far so to step up and take a penalty takes guts.
We lost a game we should have buried in the first 20 mins. ahhh well.
It's called football and those choosing to slate players off the back of it shows a lack of class.
Do we honestly think the players wanted to go out of the competition?
Sterling, Sturridge and Lovren seem to be this weeks scapegoats.
Do people actually know what YNWA means or is it just a badge of convenience to some people????
Gutted we are out but hopefully we will respond on Sunday.

Believable5 Unbelievable2

27 Feb 2015 09:17:06
Penalties are a lottery at best anyway, can't blame someone for having the cojones to step up and take one. We should have done more in the first leg, 1-0 was always going to cause us problems.

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27 Feb 2015 13:12:53
Mr Dennis, all we needed to do was score a goal over there and they would have needed 3! We couldn't and I blame all the 14 players and the manager in particular! Brendan needs to be quicker in his substitutions, because we all could see what was going on in those initial minutes of the 2nd half and what was happening, led to them scoring! My worry for Sunday is tiredness, but I want to see a reaction from the team, as last night's performance worried me with a lack of fight for the win!

As I said though, no individual player deserves the blame for last night's loss, as you win as a team and lose as one!

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27 Feb 2015 07:30:52
Well, yet another European game comes and goes and yet again we are dumped like the proverbial desperate boyfriend clinging to the last remnants of a relationship, this one being the EL,
I could go on forever about Sturridges new found need to never pass to anyone once the goal is within 30 yards or Sterlings latest instalment of 'I want 130k but also don't criticise me for playing poorly as A. i'm still learning the game and B. my heads all wrong due to transfer talks that are purely down to my agent'
I could also rant all day about the fact we knew 2 and a half years ago that Allen, try as he may bless him just isn't the type of quality player to get us back to the golden chalice of winning Champions leagues, oh sorry for that statement also see - Lovren, Toure, Manquillo, Johnson, or just fill in where appropriate anyone else you see fit,
But what would be the point?
Whether we like it or not or whether we missed a few players or not we simply aren't good enough, Couthino would have got kicked around all night, granted he would have taken a penalty unlike Sterling, but the only player that might have helped would have been Henderson due to his work ethic,
If we are to move on and if the manager is to convince people he is definitely the right man for the job then we should be brushing teams like Besiktas away on route to at least the quarter finals of a competition like the EL, it wasnt the toughest draw and yet we struggled like we did in the CL, with to be honest yet again the manager feeling the need to mess around with things the minute he sniffs the company of the European elite like its a requirement to do something continental and intelligent to outfox the opposition,
I just don't get it, just when your in a false sense of security and you think he's turned a corner you realise that actually a big club needs a big proven manager with the ability to get big players to sign for him and play for him, I just don't think Brendan Rodgers is that man,
I know a few on here will probably say i'm saying that on the back of last night and we've been unbeaten in I don't know how many weeks but if we want to rejoin the worlds elite then its either a DOF with the pull for top players or a new man with the same because personally I just don't see this relationship lasting any longer than this season
YNWA

Believable11 Unbelievable5

27 Feb 2015 08:05:31
Why should we simply just brush a team like Besiktas aside? They are a good team.

Agree4 Disagree6

27 Feb 2015 08:43:55
Totally agree with Sturridge, I posted a comment week ago about not passing and too many final touches. Am 100% with you on both Sterling and Allen. Not sure how many times I've posted the poor return from Allen. We lost it in midfield, I knew when his name was on the team sheet we wouldn't win, but I hoped for a draw.

Lovren shouldn't have taken the penalty, players on or wanting £100k+ a week should stand up, at least if Sterling had he would have contributed something during the 120mins. Lovren didn't play well his 70 yrd skyward passing is poor, it seems he can play well if it's perfect conditions and he has full and total protection, at home, under no pressure, sunny day, good meal the night before, etc.

But we did play a tough team, I would hope we'd beat them but at this stage with our squad I wouldn't expect to beat them. Rodgers is new to this Euro competition, that's what the owners wanted, that's what they got. I don't even blame him for the signings anymore (except Allen) until I'd have total clarity of this transfer committee. A good result against Citeh and this is all forgotten.

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27 Feb 2015 09:02:00
I agree with most of your analysis, mate, and think BR has a lot to answer about yesterday but still suggest to wait with conclusions about the manager for the end of the season and not base it on one poor night.

If we win the FA cup or finish top 4 it will feel different than if feels this morning.

Re manager with proven record, Mourinho will not come to replace him and neither will Guardiolla. I don't remember that De Boer the main name mentioned, has won the CL or EL as a manager. And world class players will not come to us because we don't have money to buy them anyway.

BR did superbly recently in the league and got a lot of credit for it and rightly so - but maybe took the compliments it too seriously and started to believe that he got some magic formula that will work regardless who is on the pitch. He still has what to learn re Europe and otherwise but let's wait with far reaching conclusions to the end of the season.

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27 Feb 2015 09:41:03
Refreshing and honest analysis mate, post of the day for me.

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27 Feb 2015 12:11:22
Sturridge is not match sharp people. 6 months without football guys. 6 months!!!!

Some fans just don't seem to understand injuries. It might be you've never played the game yourself or experienced a severe injury.

You lose all your sharpness, decision making included. I agree Sturridge always had a slightly selfish side to him which I liked in a striker but he did generally pass at the obvious times (against stoke, cardiff etc. last year). It's all about getting back to speed of the game and this bashing of him in my view is an uneducated opinion of how difficult it is to come back from a lenghty injury much like what Lucas has had to endure.

Judge him in 2 months time FFS but not weeks after 6 months out.

Agree0 Disagree0

27 Feb 2015 07:29:01
We over defended. We played 5 at the back and the midfield 2 sat too deep creating too much space in the centre for their midfield. Jordan Ibe was told to defend as he didn't take anyone on all night. The ploy was to draw them in and try and catch them on the counter attack using the pace of the front 3. It failed. He rolled the dice and lost. On another note we have a massive problem in the attacking sense of our game, we have too many individuals in attack that are more concerned with their own victories rather than the team this is identified by the amount of touches Studge, Sterling, Coutinho, Markovic, Balo and Lallana have in or around the box, when they play it early or shoot we score. I am all for creativity but this should not be confused with pure greed. Good luck on Sunday i'm quietly optimistic

Believable6 Unbelievable0

27 Feb 2015 07:28:50
Got to be honest I felt NO emotion whatsoever about the reds going out of the Europa league last night, none. My biggest disappointment is that while we were playing extra time in Turkey. Man city are 2 days into their preparation for what is a huge fixture on Sunday.

In my opinion our transfer dealings over the last 10 years have been nothing short of criminal, missed opportunities, falling away at negotiation stage, over paying on average players, making losses on players. Now we all know the players most likely to be moved on that are deemed surplus to requirements squad players like, Borini, Lambert, Johnson, Enrique etc.

But I think 2 bigger decisions need to be made on Sterling and Sturridge.
I don't think Sterlings demands of over 100K per week are justified, And I sincerely hope the club tells him to jog on. If Madrid are stupid enough to offer 40m I would snap their hand off.
I just don't ever see him becoming World class, He gives the ball away more than anyone else in the team, holds on to the ball to long, can't really spot a killer pass, I just don't get all the fuss?

Daniel Sturridge is far too injury prone, With him you have to accept that he will miss at least 6/8 games through injury per season, If you look at his game, He only seems to pass in the final 3rd if he has to( back to goal), he would rather go alone which is normally the wrong choice, Playing second fiddle to Suarez really suited his game, The pressure of being a lone striker and our no1 might see his game deteriate, If we buy a world class striker to partner him things may be different.

I think the fact that these players are English clouds the clubs judgment sometimes.

Believable7 Unbelievable1

27 Feb 2015 08:38:28
Based on one performance there is nothing like backing your players that have been brilliant for the club.

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27 Feb 2015 09:08:58
Can't disagree with any of that. Another thing to point out with the amazing £130k p/w saviour of English football, why does he constantly flop over after losing posestion then wave arms around at other team mates like they gave him the wrong pass?

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27 Feb 2015 09:26:41
I always expected one. care to elaborate, were exactly was my post inaccurate

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27 Feb 2015 10:36:35
Spot on with that post davelfc.

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26 Feb 2015 23:31:56
Hi eds.

Just wondered who in your opinion are the most underated managers in the prem. Any insode info on who's out there that's doing a good job at them mo

Thanks
Tom

Believable4 Unbelievable0

{Ed001's Note - I don't think there is such a thing in the Prem, there are very few good managers, and every manager is over rated in the Prem, as has been shown in Europe being all shown up by half decent European coaches.}

27 Feb 2015 07:07:56
Sorry but an extra 9 games added to our season to win a farce of a cup. I'm so pleased we are out. We can really get stuck into the league now. I think we might struggle v city due to injuries and tiredness but I think this will be a blessing. 3rd or 4th and the fa cup will do very nicely.

Believable5 Unbelievable4

27 Feb 2015 07:33:37
Who says any of those things are going to happen? I can't believe you want to be our of European Competition. It may be inconvenient but we have no one to blame but ourselves to begin with. We should try and win every competition we're in, isn't that what football is about?

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27 Feb 2015 07:34:41
Farce of a cup? farce of a cup that now gives a place in the Champions league?
The same competition that we're trying to reach by getting 4th place? considering we're currently in 6th with Man city to play this weekend and two other form teams around us trying for the same spot i'm saying we'd have been better served trying to win the thing thus guaranteeing us a place in something we're currently NOT guaranteed to be getting anywhere near

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27 Feb 2015 11:31:58
I have my opinion. You have yours. I think if by competing on both fronts we would've got neither. Now we have a good chance at top 4. My opinion - thanks

Agree1 Disagree0

27 Feb 2015 13:04:27
Farce of a cup though?

Are we above the Europa Cup now?

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27 Feb 2015 01:10:51
Brodgered again :-(

Believable1 Unbelievable6

27 Feb 2015 01:10:40
Five minutes in the Europa league.

Perhaps we finish fourth?

Then it will be five minutes in the Champions League.

Building a house on sand.

Believable1 Unbelievable4

26 Feb 2015 23:06:27
People only seem to be hating Allen, Lovern etc, so that maybe someday if he fails they can say "i told you so" if that's the case then you're a very petty selfish fan. An individual has never won or lost a game of football it has always been about the collective team effort nothing more nothing less, and if you can't see that then you are either blind or you have never played football.

Believable8 Unbelievable1

26 Feb 2015 23:05:17
My two cents on Lovren.

To say he's had a hard start to his Liverpool career is an understatement but so did Lucas and so did Henderson. There's countless examples of players being much maligned by the fans initially. Also factor in that we as a team were a bunch of headless chickens for the first few months of the season. The whole team couldn't defend to save its life so it wasn't purely Lovrens fault he was playing in countless shambolic systems set out by his manager.
The fact he missed a penalty means nothing to me, his confidence is probably shattered from his start to the season so this won't help him but I sincerely hope he keeps his head up. I for one applaud him for having the courage to step up and take such a pressure shot, especially when a certain young star forward who's looking for lots and lots of cash in his new contract was nowhere to be seen when it came to the crunch and was happy for his centre half to go before him.but I'm sure that'll be glossed over because he's the golden child ;-)

Believable9 Unbelievable0

27 Feb 2015 07:52:53
Irish - are you seriously having a go at Sterling for Lovren's penalty miss? Is that actually what just happened?

Jesus, talk about any old excuse.

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27 Feb 2015 09:38:36
Why would anybody want Sterling to take a penalty? Isn't there enough pressure on the kid already? Didn't he miss last time he tried? I had no problem with any of the penalty takers last night. Only i would have wanted Lovren to take his a the second or third. Can't understand why you'd ever put him as number 5? I really don't get it. Maybe it was all Sterling calling the shots - deciding Lovren should take the last one. let's all blame him

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27 Feb 2015 13:29:17
In that particular melting pot of a situation yes I am questioning his mentality. He's a forward, goals are his 'bread and butter' as they say. Centre halfs are rarely known for their goal scoring ability but the fact that Lovren and sterling have had polar opposite seasons so far it was the man who's been hammered all season who stood up to be counted and for that I've nothing but respect for him for doing so.

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26 Feb 2015 22:56:47
Can't believe some of the bile spewed on here against Joe Allen. He was out best passer by a mile this evening, bar Skrtel. Can didn't eve get close, but that's not his fault because they were both horribly exposed with no "out ball" to take the game forward. Ronnie Whelan called it pretty much straight away in the second half, but BR capitulated again in Europe.

I said it last week and say it again now - we keep trying to funnel everything up through the middle, but by the time we finally manage to get out of our defensive third, there's nobody to pass to because most of the team is either to the side or behind the player with the ball. On the rare occasion that we do get players in behind on the wings (7 times tonight, out of a whole 2 hours of football), there's nobody in the box to cross to.

Could have well done without that before playing Man City on Sunday.

Embarrassing and bloody exasperating.

Believable4 Unbelievable1

27 Feb 2015 08:01:20
Actually the outball was from Moreno over the top to Sturridge.

Allen WAS very very poor, he was over run all night and outmuscled.

Agree2 Disagree4

27 Feb 2015 08:06:05
Allen our best player? You must be on the weed bloke hallucinating i'm afraid, he's so poor it beggars belief how he gets on a pitch at this level.

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27 Feb 2015 09:31:19
Correction - it was BR who had a shocker, more than anyone else.

The player doesn't pick the team, set the tactics, then sit back and ignore the fact that those tactics are clearly not working halfway into a game.

Over the 2 hours Allen had the highest pass success rate, made the most interceptions and I'd wager he covered most miles too.

You're inaccurately identifying Allen as the single reason behind BRs latest capitulation in Europe. You're picking on a player that it clearly trying and wants to do well and that, unfortunately, makes him an easy target for the likes of you.

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27 Feb 2015 10:01:34
I would say Can is most likely to be the one that covered most ground.

Both he and Allen were the centre mids. Ididn't see Allen doing too much going forward, I remember some of Cans runs. Especially linking up with Ibe on the right, Can't say the same for Allen, though I do remember Allen getting brushed off the ball by Demba bas twice when trying to protect skrtel and lovren and a few other times he let a play glide past him.Sosa did this often

The biggest weakness all night that wasn't sorted was Toure up against sahan/tore(when they switched). Kolo looked slow on the right back position, and was left for dead every time allowing tore/sahan to cut in constantly. Ibe was doing the work of 2 men. BR did not identify this at all. It pegged Ibe back all night till he came off

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27 Feb 2015 00:44:00
You can divide our players by what they typically do when the get the ball.

Skertl (our best player recently btw, other than his lack of goals from corners) will almost always head it away. Lovern will give it back to the GK. Baloteli - (maybe our worst player ever in terms of what we got for how much we paid - even compared to Andy Carrol) will keep the ball where he is with the back to goal, encouraging the defenders to try and take it from him and then try to draw a foul.

Can, Moreno, Sterling, Sturridge and Ibe will take the ball and run forward through as many defenders as they can, the more the merrier. As they are talented and quick, occasionaly they will be able to break through but usually even then they will still have to pass the ball or cross to create something and most of them are not very good at that.

Coutinho used to belong to the previous group but occasionaly can also belong to the final group of
Sackho, Gerrard, Henderson and Lallana that try to move the ball from defence or midfield to the opposition box using accurate passing, and they also (other than Sacko maybe) try to shoot from distance if they can without trying to pass 5 defenders.

Given that Sakho, Henderson and Gerrard were injured yesterday, leaving the fit Coutinho at home and Lallana on the bench, and starting with Mario meant that there was no attempt to move the ball forward other than in desperate dribbling into wall of defenders that usualy was blocked quite easily in the middle of the pitch or trying to draw fouls that nothing came from.

Believable1 Unbelievable7

27 Feb 2015 01:35:34
Ballo played well today. I think worst ever signing is a bit of a stretch. Also lovren played well other then his missed penno. He actually set up our two best chances with some good passes out of the back.

Agree3 Disagree1

27 Feb 2015 02:58:49
Sturridge and sterling lost the ball every time they got the ball last night, first post I read and the positivity is out for the both of them, they were abysmal by the way. Don't think Balotelli did much wrong to be honest, however personally I would have started with Borini just for his energy. All round a severe lack of interest shown by the players (apart from Can and Allen) and Brendan again gets it tactically stupendouly wrong in Europe and heaps huge pressure on himself for top 4. Must be make or break

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27 Feb 2015 04:59:35
Id suggest your view of our players abilities is a teeny weeny bit one dimensional

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27 Feb 2015 06:24:08
I disagree Re: Balotelli

granted i only watched the 1st half, but from what i saw, he was contributing much more to the team the Sturrdge (who seems to think he can dribble past 38 players)

Agree4 Disagree1

27 Feb 2015 07:44:17
I stopped reading after balotelli being our worst value for money as you're obviously talking out of your arse. Keane, aquillani, Carroll (purely because he is our club record fee at 35mil) to name a few

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27 Feb 2015 08:08:16
Balo is a decent player I think, but he's a sulker, and he sulks lots so your never going to get any great performance out of him i'm afraid.

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26 Feb 2015 23:48:07
Tough place to go but disappointing.

Still, a simple blessing in disguise but in my opinion, both European competitions have proven one thing, that regardless of the entertainment value, the Premier league is simply overrated.

We slipped up like that arl singer at the Brit awards (and deservedly so judging by the performance).

Believable5 Unbelievable1

 
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