Liverpool Banter Archive April 29 2017

29 Apr 2017 13:16:28
Hi eds hope you are all well.

Just wondered if you were aware of any more talk about investment into the club either a small stake or a full buy out. It seems to have gone quiet in the press which might actually mean things are going on in the background the proper way rather than through the press?

Great site and thanks for any insight.

{Ed002's Note - I am not aware of anything specific right now Robbie. The club are still keen on a naming rights deal for the stadium.}

30 Apr 2017 08:05:11
Thanks for the reply ed02 - are you aware of any of the possible interested parties? Hopefully they keep away from gambling and alcohol companies.

{Ed002's Note - Not right now.}

29 Apr 2017 20:41:28
Just reading Steven gerrards book so probably about 2 years late with these comments but wow, how we could do with some more players with his and carra's fierce determination to win and commitment to Liverpool as a club. Seems to me to be so important to have some local lads as the foundation and soul of the team. Hopefully that can be the likes of TAA and woodburn.

30 Apr 2017 02:30:19
Post of the day.

30 Apr 2017 11:41:07
is woodburn local?
but ye, for me I think whether they are local or not, the fire and competitiveness is what we are after. Stevie and jamie are great recent examples, but I'm not sure if there are many others over the years we could point to? flanno?

30 Apr 2017 22:25:57
The way it's gone now is if your British or Irish then you're considered local.

29 Apr 2017 17:30:06
Hi ed001,

As promised here is my match analysis for potential Liverpool target Ryan Sessengon in Fulhams 1-1 draw with Brentford.

Now let me just start by saying that if you check my previous posts, I was certain that while Ryan shows promise he isn't ready for the first team of Liverpool. However I now take that back.

This young lad I really think is the real deal. Once again he showed incredible skill and desire on the pitch and really didn't seem like a teenager at all. Playing in the left of a midfield 5, Not only was he a threat everytime he had the ball (including showing real maturity and unselfishness to pass it to Cairney in the box when through on goal for Fulham's goal) the thing that really stood out for me was the fact that he really made a massive effort to track back and win the ball back when ever it was lost, and I mean like really sprint as hard as possible back to try and win the ball back. I loved it. Any time the left back, Malone, gave the ball away up the pitch it was Ryan who was giving absolutely everything to get back in position. Add on top of that the fact that he also takes set pieces (although didn't today) then I really think he could offer a lot to Liverpool whether as a left back or a left wing (where he played today) .

I've now watched this lad at least 20 times live and he is getting better with each game. Yes he still has his faults like any young player would (for example he does lose possession quite a bit) I still think we should go all out and get him as a player for our first team squad next season. The only thing that worries me is that he is vertically silent on the pitch. I don't think I've ever seen him say more than three words in a whole 90 mins which may be down to his age or confidence but I hope it's something he can change as the last thing we need is another silent member of our back four!

Let me know if you have any questions as I've no doubt forgotten to write half the stuff down that I intended but as you can imagine it's quite hard to type up a match report on a crowded train after a game on your phone!

Red Sandman.

{Ed001's Note - cheers mate, nice to know you are coming round to the idea of signing him! I think the lad is the real deal.}

29 Apr 2017 17:51:00
Thanks lad hopefully we'll get the kid👍.

29 Apr 2017 18:25:18
The lad has been playing for a team chasing promotion in the championship so he can't be no mug.

If he's brought in to push Milner then that would do for me.

Milner hasn't been too bad at LB I'm sure he can do another couple of months whilst Ryan settled in.

29 Apr 2017 18:06:16
Klopp is very keen on the player as much as I know. I am skeptical about his defending and trackin back. Moreover he plays on the side of Degan Lovren!

29 Apr 2017 19:51:26
The sandman has just watched him live and praising his tracking back.

29 Apr 2017 19:58:20
If we sign him he's coming into replace Milner, Milner is totally out of his depth, simply not good enough. Seesegnon is miles better.

30 Apr 2017 00:20:38
Thanks for the match report Red Sandman, sounds promising for such a young player! I think one of the problems with Milner has been after we've had a lot of games and his fitness levels have dropped off, he struggles to keep up at times!

29 Apr 2017 21:56:24
You think we will get him ed mate?

{Ed001's Note - no idea, certainly not if they get promoted, he will stay then.}

30 Apr 2017 02:39:44
Milners has a lot to offer.
He's been played out of position and in my opinion ion he has done well.

There is a lot more that milnerror brings to the team. Remember the late high pressuree penalty against Swansea?

He kept his composure and slotted home the perfect penalty to keep our then winning streak going and put us in 2nd place.

I think he is a honest a player as you will get.

29 Apr 2017 15:08:48
ED. Just a quick question . What went wrong with Jordan Ibe? I mean he was making strides at Liverpool, but the next year even after extra training sessions, he became stagnant . Is it more of a confidence issue or mental issue? Or he was never good? or Lack of intelligence.

Thank You.

{Ed001's Note - for me it was mental. He just seemed stuck in a rut of doing exactly the same thing every time he received the ball and lacked the mindset to mix it up. He would always stop and then go, looking to use his acceleration to burst past players. It had become ingrained in him and he did not seem to be able to do anything different. When he does take the ball on the burst, he can be devastating, but he was always looking to drop in and receive it, then go, rather than run onto a pass. Because of that, he struggled and that then destroyed his confidence.}

29 Apr 2017 16:20:44
Agree, most frustrating thing was he never used his pace to get in behind, just look at the runs Mane makes for example. never understood why Ibe never tried the same. Add the fact he doesn't have an eye for a pass and he becomes a one-trick pony.

29 Apr 2017 17:33:17
There is nothing more frustrating than a fast player not knowing how to use his pace. It sets players apart.
Take messi vs Ronaldo. Ronaldo undoubtably quicker, yet messi is quicker with a ball, it's hard to explain but I think those that have played the game will get me.

29 Apr 2017 17:57:34
Nothing happened. He was incredibly average who got over hyped by the supporters after losing Sterling.

29 Apr 2017 18:02:47
Stop. Knock. Run. Tackle. Repeat.

Was to much to be towards the end for me.

Is he going to be the player who had it all and did nothing. Seriously hope not.

29 Apr 2017 20:37:34
I'm not necessarily defending Ibe, but surely good coaching can rid a 19/ 20-year-old player of those bad habits. It's not like he's an old player, stuck in his ways with no time to adjust his game.

29 Apr 2017 21:05:54
I get you, Benny. There is a huge difference between having pace and knowing when to inject it. It's like a wide receiver in the NFL. Because you can run faster than Usain Bolt doesn't mean you can run crisp routes to get separation from your defender to catch the ball. Ibe had pace but did not know what runs to make to get on the end of passes using that pace he still possesses.

29 Apr 2017 23:40:17
He has one of the worst football brains I've ever witnessed.

29 Apr 2017 12:24:58
Thanks edd for that have a great day xx.

29 Apr 2017 11:34:10
Hey eds/ posters, looking at our left back situation, I was thinking when Kenny was around we had a very young and highly rated lad called Jack Robinson around he was going to be the next thing etc bla bla and made record with his debut I think. Think he is also one we should have nurtured better along with Suso, or am I wrong?

{Ed001's Note - he had a few attitude and injury issues.}

29 Apr 2017 11:38:37
allright thanks for the quick reply eds, think that attitude is a big problem these days with these young players they end up killing their own career.

29 Apr 2017 14:17:16
He's at QPR right now, I think. Never thought he was good enough really.

29 Apr 2017 10:25:22
Hi eds, great content. I don't usually post things, but I heard a lot about duglas costa, how true are these rumours? And what is this chance of us signing him from Bayern? Phil Coutinho follows him on Instagram so he might be able to persuade him. Thanks.

{Ed002's Note - There is very real interest from China and his agent has spoken with Chelsea, Juventus, PSG and Barcelona again to see if they can get one of the clubs to start chasing Bayern so he can use it as leverage for a pay rise. he may well have spoken to Arsenal and potentially Liverpool as well. Clubs won't get drawn in to that sort of scenario and Bayern are miffed at him because of this and some unreasonable demands. Out of the clubs approached, Juventus, might just bite. Bayern are unhappy with what is happening with both him and Coman right now.

I would not rely on social media as an indicator of where he will move to - particularly given Coutinho could be moving elsewhere.}

29 Apr 2017 08:14:55
Eds, was just reading about Lovren getting his new contract and saw some of the various weekly wage packs that are floating around lfc and the premiership, which for some reason got me thinking about prior to the new sky deals how clubs found themselves in massive financial debt.

I suppose I'm referring to lfc and indeed the situation that man united are in after the glazers bought them.

My question/ questions are should clubs have much financial debt nowadays (bearing in mind new sky deals) and I know eds in general dislike commenting on this topic, but financially, for want of a better word, how healthy are lfc and Man U ATM?

Thanks eds.

{Ed002's Note - Manchester United have a far, far higher income than Liverpool but are still servicing debt of old. LFC still carry a lot of debt.}

29 Apr 2017 10:05:32
Man UTD have a lot of debt but because of their massive revenue each season they are able to service their debt with ease.

Liverpool on the other hand rely on FSG pumping money into the club each season which is not good for them and neither is it good for LFC.

29 Apr 2017 10:29:36
Without getting into specifics Ed002, how long can a club like Man United go with such old debt? Surely they have to pay it off at some point and can't go on leaving it unpaid?

{Ed002's Note - It is not unpaid. They are servicing their structured debt - it is not an issue at all.}

29 Apr 2017 07:08:17
So Lovren might have got a new contract but let's not forget him and Matip as a partnership saw us have an unbeaten run for something like 13 matches when they featured together.

Lovren is not the worst defender but our biggest problem with him is his inability to stay fit. Matip has also started showing problems with fitness so it is a bit strange that we have given Lovren a fancy new long term contract as we clearly need more reliable CB's.

Still believe that our biggest problem defensively is at left and right back. It is becoming evident now that we are unlikely to sign another CB unless Klopp decides to bring in someone else for Sakho, that is if he leaves.

For me getting in two competent attacking fullbacks will resolve plenty of issues for us when it comes to our problem with width. The only player which has shown to be adept at going forward playing as a fullback is TAA.

In my humble opinion, left and right back are the weakest links in our squad. (Bar our GK situation)

29 Apr 2017 14:35:42
Their ability to stay fit and play together as a partnership for a long period, is key since Lov will be kept. Skrtel was a hopeless defender but looked good alongside Carra or Dagger cos they played long periods together. Lov/ Mat are a solid pair together even tho, they are not the best one v one defenders, something our CB's need to do in our system. Klopp prolly thinks he can coach them up to improve. We'll see what happens.