Liverpool Banter Archive September 02 2015

02 Sep 2015 20:56:19
Eds, I know that before the West Ham game the majority of us fans were quite happy with how things were going. However, I do think that yet again we have bought average players for huge sums, maybe bar Firmino (verdict is still out, but he has been a regular in the brazil team) and Clyne who is quality.

I just thought I would ask if anybody has any idea what is going on inside the club, has Brendan been given any warnings aside from his review in the Summer, as I don't think I can bear another season of underachievement, especially when we have paid umpteen amounts for SH*T like Benteke who we can't even service.

I promise you all, for as long as Dejan Lovren is a starting centre back at LIverpool we will never hit the heights we are used to. Even a horrendous Man Utd team will pip us to the fourth place finish.

I really wish the owners could read this and see all of the mistakes they have made - its so hurtful for us fans and all the other teams fans are laughing at us. How can Harry Redknapp even be in a position to say our team is crap!!!???? The worst thing about it is that he is right!

02 Sep 2015 21:59:04
Red you might need to re state part of that.

I'll be specific

We will never hit the heights we are used to

Shoyld be

We will never hit the heights we were use to in the 80's

Because mate if what we have been served up to now since then is our heightd then what's the point haha

03 Sep 2015 05:43:51
To be fair free speech we might not have won the league but until hodgeson era we regular won other cups or at least looked like winning things. Under Rodgers were never far from a bad game so will be surprised if we won anything.

03 Sep 2015 06:30:29
My take on the summer recruits

1. Clyne is a good addition. Best Southampton buy we had.

2. Gomez looks good prospects but not a LB. He doesn't contribute anything in the attacking front. Our style demands a lot from full backs.

3. Firmino is the best buy IMO. But again play him where is he fits the best ( off the striker )

4. Milner shouldn't have bought at all. Now we are forced to play 3 CM with no creativity in between them all down to Countinho yet again. Apart from pressing he doesn't offer anything.

5. Benteke will score goals but stupidity if your agenda is to play through the middle. One of the most stupid decision by the club ever.

6. Ings is a better player than Benteke, but would never get a fair chance and I could see noise coming soon with in the dressing room ( lack of games )

7. Origi- Another player shouldn't have bought at all. Wouldn't get a single minute on the pitch.

What we missed

1. GK. Next summer finally when BR realizes the need

2. CB. We have plenty but none are good enough apart from Sakho.

3. CM. Every top club has a playmaker except Liverpool who will yet again relies on the hard work of Henderson and creativity of Countinho.

4. DM. Lucas is a good player but was all over against west ham. I feel sorry for the player as there is so much pressure on him due lack of creativity alongside him.
Lucas would now need to break up the play and also pick players ahead of him.
Matic and Mascherano always had an Alonso and Fabregas alongside them.

Not a rant. Honest opinion.

03 Sep 2015 08:16:16
Maybe move Gomez to the centre with Sakho.

03 Sep 2015 08:48:05
Reusch

Should do it IMO. But can't see Sakho getting games.

04 Sep 2015 03:24:06
Cos the coach would rather continue picking walking mistakes at CB instead swallowing his pride and making changes

02 Sep 2015 19:46:52
John Henry was on the phone to Brendan this morning complaining about our Scouts , he allegedly said what have our Scouts been doing this summer to which Brendan replied making fires in the woods as usual ???

bum bum the old ones our the best ??

02 Sep 2015 17:27:40
Brace yourself eds sky are reporting our net spend this window was a little over £10m you've got to laugh I suppose

02 Sep 2015 18:40:03
Absolute rubbish. The net spend imo is close to 50 million pounds. Just a guess though.

02 Sep 2015 18:46:22
It means Klopp will have some cash to spend in january.

02 Sep 2015 16:22:59
So harry redknapp believes this is the worst liverpool team he's seen in years :) got to love harry - always speaks the truth.

02 Sep 2015 16:52:38
Hopefully a few more speak up, then fsg might finally get the picture!

02 Sep 2015 16:58:15
Love how he got at brendan for always talking out of his backside - hopefully more people start calling brendan out.

02 Sep 2015 17:53:54
Depends on what he means by "team".

If he means the squad, he's wrong. The squad is fine.

If he means performance, he might have a point, depending on how many years he has in mind (I would argue we were worse in the first half of 2010-2011), but I'd attribute more of that to the manager than to the squad.

02 Sep 2015 18:13:05
The truth is going to hurt

02 Sep 2015 18:15:42
The thing is though it isn't one of the worst liverpool team in years.

Personally I think it's one of the best team in years with the players available. It's just the shit fecking manager that we've got.

02 Sep 2015 18:41:22
Well said Lavers. Even the best players can be made to look c**p with an incompetent man in charge. Brendan has turned LFC into a joke.

02 Sep 2015 19:22:56
He should of gone at the end of the season. The man's a baffoon. I'll hold my hands up and say I thought milner would be a decent player for us but I'm doubting that now. He's bought some players that should never wear the lfc shirt. Borini,balotelli,allen,lovren,markovic, and probably a few more.
So depressing watching us play now. Losing to west ham at home so badly is a disgrace. Sack him before it gets any worse in my opinion

02 Sep 2015 20:00:12
LAVERS. You can't have it both ways.You say its one of the best teams in years (which the manager put together) then you say that the person who put it together is useless

02 Sep 2015 20:16:35
Not so long ago most people would have said Harry talks out of his ass.

02 Sep 2015 20:40:15
Red since 64

There's a transfer committee that buys players so not only down to Rodgers also the money he has made available to him is crazy.

I remember only a few years back to the hodgson days we were buying the likes of koncheskey.

Rodgers has bought some good players but also a lot of bad.

He's a stubborn fool who will not change his ways. Lovren is just a wet lettuce in defence and after his display at weekend his confidence will be rock bottom again yet Rodgers will most likely keep playing him leaving sakho on the bench.

So all in all identifying players could probably be done by you and I , but actually coaching the players to play as a team and become better is the hard part.

02 Sep 2015 22:27:02
I can't believe anyone is taking anything Harry Redknapp says seriously! The man is an imbecile and will say anything to raise his profile and massage his ego. I'd say this is the best squad we've for a long time if you look at the depth. The manager now has the job of blending that into a team that can compete. Is he capable? Most on here would say not but time will tell.

03 Sep 2015 02:04:22
Much as I hate when anyone slags off my team. I have to agree & Harry is right & only echoing the sentiments of what the majority of the fans can see & are saying. we lack creativity, Coutinho is suspended. who can you honestly see taking that role?? Starts with Rodgers.

03 Sep 2015 06:29:45
The depth is part of the problem. We have a ridiculously bloated (and expensive) squad. Give me a solid 18 backed by kids any day. All that's going to happen is several will be disgruntled next summer (or already are) due to lack of playing time.

02 Sep 2015 12:53:30
Question for EDs and anyone really.

Thoughts on the future of contracts and transfers.

I can recall when a player had 12 months left they would be sold for a lower then, much lower then, expected fee. Now teams are paying £20-£30m.

Players with contracts seem to move if/when they fancy. Some have signed a new 5-6yr deal and go the following summer anyway. Are contracts just purely for the player protection for wages paid?

Could you see something more like self employed contracts, temp style contracts. You are agreeing to work for the club and adhere to their rules/regulation. Minimum 6 months or 12 months, rolling contracts. They'd have cover their own injury layoffs, but then that's possible at £50k p/w earning isn't it? It's similar in therory to what we have until a club wants to shift a player on.

I guess it's then the players union would have to earn their dollar in ensuring players stay and play during this period

Summer would see clubs retaining who they want/can and players free to discuss and move, no transfer fees involved unless someone has just resigned with X club but wants move to Y club.

Would clubs or players prefer this? Clubs would have to spend £200m on purchase price each year and players know they can move on each summer if not picked, better wages, ambition.
Have set agent fees and possibly a salary cap.

Just a question after seeing Berihino, Sterling, Suarez plus others over the years and clubs not able to shift players like Adebyor, Enrique, Balotelli etc

{Ed002's Note - Para by para: (a) It is true in a few cases. (b) Some clubs will have a player sign a contract before they go on loan to preserve their value. (c) No, that will never happen. (d) It is nothing to do with the Players Union, PFA or whatever. (e) Never going to happen. (f) Not even the slightest chance.}

02 Sep 2015 14:23:02
It would put a lot of the "power" back in the hands of clubs and chairmen.
Now the players and their agents have the power, they're not going to hand it back.

02 Sep 2015 12:43:11
I drafted a rant about Rodgers and Ilori but decided to tone it down a bit. The bottom line is did he have the talent to not only make it at Liverpool, but also jump from 5th choice to 1st or 2nd? None of us can know for sure, the evidence we have (loans and u21 games) is inconclusive but his performances certainly don't demand a run in the first team. Whether we trust their judgement or not Rodgers and his staff are far more informed about his ability than we or the Eds are, they see him in training every day and can directly compare him to the other CBs at the club.

Have the club treated him badly? What's clear is that Ilori wasn't going to be more than 5th choice this season, getting a few sub appearances and starts in the cups. That's not treating him badly, that's what happens if you're not first choice. If a move to villa was better for the player (more games) and the club (make some money back from him) then the right thing was to consider it.

This season I will watch Ilori with interest, I'll be fascinated to know with how he copes with the premiership and I'll retain a hope that he comes good and comes back to Liverpool. But yesterdays decision was a pragmatic one for both the player and the club and I much prefer that to the emotionally charged opinions on this site.

02 Sep 2015 13:25:01
Ridiculous post mate. There's only one way to find out if they're good enough and that's to play them! How can he be 5th choice in your words, without having a game. I guess ed001 is 6th choice seeing as he's never played for Rodgers either

02 Sep 2015 13:07:26
But he has been let down because he was promised games in the first team

02 Sep 2015 13:07:31
I really don't understand what is the issue people here are having with players going on loan. As I mentined yesterday Chelsea has 28 players on loan. If you sell a player and he become a huge player elsewhere like Chelsea and De Broyne maybe you can complain. If Illouri will prove himself on loan he will come back and if not then he is not good enough. Only 11 players can be on the pitch on a given time. Would it be better if he stay with us and never play? All the big teams have big squads as you never now who will turn to a player who is good enough to start. The others go for a loan.

02 Sep 2015 13:11:07
Lovren's performances have never warranted a run in the first team, but still we are subjected to the comedy act that is Skrtel and Lovren, proudly brought to us by Mr Rodgers.

02 Sep 2015 13:32:15
''The bottom line is did he have the talent to not only make it at Liverpool, but also jump from 5th choice to 1st or 2nd? None of us can know for sure''

''the evidence we have (loans and u21 games) is inconclusive but his performances certainly don't demand a run in the first team''

Do you see the contradiction in those 2 lines one right after the other?

02 Sep 2015 13:43:20
Benny, he's 5th choice because he goes to work day in and day out with 4 other CBs. Competitive games aren't some magical place where also-rans become world beaters.

You need to show you can do it in a game to become a great player but you can clearly show if you can't cut it in training.

02 Sep 2015 13:45:46
The other point is, if he's not good enough why did Rodgers buy him in the first pkace.

02 Sep 2015 13:49:03
Fano read ''Loan to buy'' If he performs well and Villa meet the required buying price,he goes as long as he agrees personal terms.

02 Sep 2015 13:53:35
Bob, no, not at all. When the evidence is 'inconclusive' 'none of us can know for sure'. Stop trying to pick holes that aren't there.

Heisenberg, supposedly he's been promised games but he's certainly not been promised a first choice role. If Villa are offering him more games than Liverpool can then it's a good decision for him to make.

02 Sep 2015 14:03:00
Liverpres, I'm with you on Lovren and Skrtel and I've repeatedly called to bring Sakho into the team. But doesn't it make you think that there must be something hugely wrong with Ilori if he can't even be considered in the same bracket as those clowns.

02 Sep 2015 14:24:25
Muscat. as to your last reply. What makes you so sure there isn't something wrong with Rodgers then and that's why he couldn't make it anywhere near the first team? Why just blame the player of not performing in training when it is obvious our 2 first choice CBs don't suit our tactics? Unless our new tactic is to play a deep defensive line with 2 DMs and play on the counter with coutinhos and bentekes explosive pace? Or maybe we now just try to score from the half way line so we can keep all 11 players in our half of the pitch and minimise our chance of conceding.

02 Sep 2015 14:53:48
I have no knowledge of whether Ilori is good enough to be given a starting spot or not, but if, as the Eds lead us to believe, he was promised playing time at Liverpool and then loaned out, that's very poor by the management. You either keep promises or don't make them in the first place.

02 Sep 2015 14:55:07
The contradiction is you say we can't be sure he can jump from 5th to first,but then you can say we can make a judgement his performances don't demand a run in the first team. If you can't see your contradiction,there's no hope for you there pal.

How can 1 minute we not be able to judge his ability in Liverpool pecking order, then a second later have enough evidence to know he's not good enough?

02 Sep 2015 14:56:53
muscatred: Your entire argument is based on the line that you trust Rodgers and his coaching staff over Ilori. Many pertinent examples over the past 3 years shows Rodgers has mismanaged players and haven't given some a fair go.

02 Sep 2015 15:11:37
Cyprus, you could be right, but your answer is no more or less likely than mine, we simply don't know as we've never seen him play. Thankfully, his time at Villa should give us some evidence to actually back up our opinions. If he barely plays or bombs then Rodgers was right to let him go, if his reputation ends up as better than Lovren or Skrtel then the fans were right.

What bothers me about the last 24 hours is this has very little to do with Ilori himself and is far more about people's dissatisfaction with Rodgers, Lovren and and Skrtel. Two weeks ago we were having this same argument about Sakho when it seemed like he was leaving, the following week it was Lucas. Where are all the people celebrating keeping these guys? Nowhere and that's because people care far less about these players than they let on and care far more about attacking Rodgers.

{Ed001's Note - sorry but playing for a piss poor manager in Dimmy Sherwood is not going to show anything.}

02 Sep 2015 16:07:04
jeez Bob, you're clutching at straws there. No we can't know if he's good enough to go from 5th to 1st/2nd because he's done nothing on loan or with the u21s to demonstrate he has that ability. Those same performances also do nothing to back his claim to starting place now. Mate you've got me before but you've over thought this one.

02 Sep 2015 16:44:50
Muscatred like Ron Kreague, is a BR acolyte who will rather trash the player and whoever else to protect his BFF from any liability. How do I know that? He posted the exact same rubbish regarding a subject of BR not giving youth a chance on this forum in a bid to absorb him of blame so not surprised he is trashing Ilori now. His acolytes would rather trash the players and other fans to protect him from blame than look at the facts objectively

02 Sep 2015 17:24:03

So you're essentially saying we can judge a player because he hasn't played,but we can't judge how good he is,because he hasn't played.

Mate, you need to sit back and think through what you're writing

02 Sep 2015 17:30:28
Redohio it's embarrassing how much they can't put together a single cohesive case without contradicting themselves or back pedaling.
I hope you noted Ron keagues big back pedal further down the page to me

02 Sep 2015 17:36:57
Not even close Bob, i'm saying he can't be judged by us at all. The club staff can judge him though because they work with him every day.

02 Sep 2015 17:45:15
And Redohio dives in with the BFF bomb! You simply don't get it do you ohio. I'm not trashing Ilori at all, I've never seen him play so I haven't a clue if he's good or not. I'm trashing the posters on this site who jump to conclusions that's he's the second coming on Hurst not because they have any clue how good he is but because it's a way of having a crack at Rodgers, it's immature, ignorant and embarrassing.

02 Sep 2015 17:58:34
My issue with Ilori going to villa on loan is the "option to buy" part of the deal. This is the type of loan that should have taken place when Tiago first signed for us. Sending him to a PL team to gain experience of playing in the league and tracking his development is essential.

The simple fact is that he was never given a chance to prove whether he could be first choice or 10th choice. What did Gomez do to deserve to be our current 1st choice left back? Well he played really well when given the chance. Ilori has never got that chance at all. That's no disrespect to Gomez, he has just grabbed the opportunity!

I honestly believe that with his pace he is probably the only CB we have who could actually cope with playing next to skrtel as he would have the ability to get back into position when skrtel messes up the back line!

My biggest issue is that it exemplifies the apparent lack of structure and forward planning that we have for our young players. Yes we can't put them all in the first team and gamble on them but we can put a 2-3 year plan in place and track this to make sure that they are developing at the level we would expect.

{Ed002's Note - You cannot simply "send" a player to an EPL side.}

02 Sep 2015 18:06:41
So you are saying the posters have no just cause to be disgruntled with brendan about anything. The decisions that are made are sanctioned by the fella muscat the two circumstances cannot be divorced from each other. Ilori was bought, farmed out year after year and the manager has never given the man a chance to prove his worth despite making promises to him of allowing him to do that.

Along with a few others he was one of the best players in the recent u21 tournament so we reward him with no playing time during preseason then shoved out the door. Who is the constant in all of these decisions muscat, yes brendan so why do y not expect him to be criticised. You befuddle me mate, at least ron tries to come up with half credible arguments although he fails mostly.

02 Sep 2015 18:57:23
Muscat, then say what you mean and stop trashing other posters for disagreeing with you. Example, I never said Ilori was world class nor is anyone really saying that. All we are saying is that BR man up and keep his word and give the kid a chance. Skrtel and Lovren are getting worse by the game so it can`t be any worse playing Ilori or sahko or Toure to see if we can stop the bleeding. Also, you get slated for insinuating that Ilori must not be good enuff if BR isn`t playing him. That is just nonsense to already declare him a waste just because a manager who ironically, can`t recognize a good CB when he sees one, doesn`t pick him. I would understand if Mou did this because he knows a good CB when he sees one. BR lacks that credibility which in turn, makes your argument senseless. that is the issue we are debating. if you don`t like that BR doesn`t have a clue, go have a word with him to get one instead of slating the rest of us for voicing that out.

02 Sep 2015 19:15:37
Right Boba! We have Lovren and Skrtel farting all over the field making mistakes but to them if BR picks them, then they are good enuff even tho our eyes tell us the contrary. But if BR doesn`t pick Ilori or Sahko, then they must not be good enuf whereas we have seen that Sahko is better and that Ilori based on his solid perf at the U21 touney, has shown he should be given a chance. Incohesiveness at its finest. The reason their stories are never straight is because they are contorting themselves so much trying to absorb BR of blame that they end up all tied up in knots. Pathetic!

02 Sep 2015 20:52:38
Muscat if you haven't even seen Ilori then you cannot comment. I've seen him a number of times and he's a big improvement on Skittles!

02 Sep 2015 21:03:55
Re Redohio's earlier post

I'm nearly positive that's the first time in history that the terms acolyte and BFF have ever been used in the same sentence. Rather unusual but well done!

02 Sep 2015 12:27:49
Best of luck to ilori would have liked to have seen him get a chance but isn't a goer.

Though genuinely interested to see how him and Richards pair this season (think lescott may be there as well?).

But are the only BPL club I can think off with two fast and athtletic CBs who are good with the ball at their feet, so very curious to see how it works out. Obvs positional play and reading the game come to mind but always found it odd no club has ever seemed to have two very athletic CBs with ability on the ball.

02 Sep 2015 12:57:12
I predict Villa will not take up their option to buy

02 Sep 2015 14:25:40
Expand that Ron, please.

02 Sep 2015 14:58:45
You predicted Top 3 for us last season, and a 4-0 win against West Ham last weekend, Ron.

02 Sep 2015 15:35:40
I don't think he will impress enough for Villa to pay the agreed fee. Could be for a host of reasons but firstly he has to remain injury free.

02 Sep 2015 16:12:15
AG you're wrong about last season and I predicted a 2-1 win against West Ham

02 Sep 2015 16:57:29
Nostradamus has struck again. Ron`s only saying that and wishing the kid fails so he can justify his BFF loaning him out. Pathetic!!

02 Sep 2015 17:42:13
Whereas all summer you predicted Rodgers would not be our manager this season.

People in glasshouses Ohio

02 Sep 2015 19:24:39
I was wrong and happy to admit it. You on the other hand?

02 Sep 2015 19:25:27
And you were also wrong about the West Ham game so are you going to admit that or make excuses for that as well/

02 Sep 2015 11:25:36
As pointed out by Ed001, a few unecessary buys this summer when resources were tight. Great read previous reply by Ed001 to another post into Brendans mismanagement and promises that are broken. But how is getting away with this constantly? I honestly thought at that level you would think, if you purchase a player, he plays or there is a clear plan? I will support the team no matter what, but if we don't win something this year or at least come in the top 4 then i feel its game over for Brendan. Also absolutely gutted about Tiago Ilori going on loan to buy deal to Villa, this kid I thought was up there with Ronaldos pace with decent touch as centre half, must be madness by the club? Or is it his attitude, not a good trainer or something in the background that we don't know about? Would love to hear Ed001 thoughts on the Ilori matter? Hope he does well and if he is excellent and sold for a snippet, surely this will also warrant Brendans head? 2 ears and 1 mouth and hope he listens to people around him.

{Ed001's Note - I have never heard anyone complain about Ilori's attitude or anything. Everyone I have spoken to raves about the lad. It is a strange one and can only be because of Brendan Rodgers decision to build around Martin Skrtel, as they play the same position. I also hope he does well, but for his own sake.

As for the lack of planning and forethought in transfers, I think he is getting away with it because FSG realise that the club should have these plans in place regardless of who is currently managing. These issues go beyond Rodgers.}

02 Sep 2015 11:54:43
Completely agree! I almost hope that Llori gets a chance at another club and it comes back to haunt BR! Build around Skrtel? He's hardly Maldini.

02 Sep 2015 11:47:13
Nearly 5 years on and I often wonder if FSG could have seen back in 2010 how things would pan out, whether they would still have bought us or walked away.

{Ed002's Note - The shock to them has been the year-on-year cost of running the club - hence the massive debts and losses.}

02 Sep 2015 12:00:10
But isn't it the managers' job to at least contribute to the recruitment plan/strategy and then carry it out? Wouldn't he be the first man to know which areas in the squad need improvement and which players he needs for the job? Can you please expand on that?

Thanks

{Ed001's Note - yes, but it should be as part of an overall strategy by the club. The club has no strategy in place, so they are working on setting up that strategy at the moment. Then the manager can be held accountable for mistakes he makes.}

02 Sep 2015 12:07:11
Quick question Ed. Is a transfer fee agreed upon before the "loan with option to buy" or negotiated at the end of the loan period? So for example if Llori has a great season on loan can a LFC ask for more or if he struggles & the team (AV)still wants to take him can the ask to pay less.
Thanks

{Ed002's Note - It is in the contract. Why would Aston Villa want him if he is struggling? They would just send him back.}

02 Sep 2015 12:27:03
I thought the club already had a strategy of buying young and promoting youth, which is something that Rodgers has deviated from, especially with the youth development.

So are you implying that, right now, Rodgers according to his superiors is not really accountable for anything so far because he didn't have a solid recruitment framework set in place by the club, hence why he still has a job? And yet he could be given another considerable frame of time to get it right?

Who's constructing the recruitment strategy and what is it? Apologies for all the questions but I can't resist the informed insights.

Thanks

{Ed002's Note - People have repeatedly been misled, probably by Twitter about nonsense regarding not buying players over 25 and not buying players who the club cannot profit from and a baseball strategy called Moneyball. It is all nonsense. Transfers are considered on a case-by-case basis.}

02 Sep 2015 12:38:35
Why can't people spell Ilori?

02 Sep 2015 12:39:20
Vast majority are misled, because this is basically the only site that feeds you accurate information. Your next closest bet is LiverpoolEcho, but even then, half of what they say is sprinkled with fairy dust to make things seem rosier than they are.

02 Sep 2015 16:58:13
Building a team around martin skrtel is the worst idea i have ever heard. Its like building a car around a massive engine that has a tendency to spontaneously combust and leave you stranded.

02 Sep 2015 19:01:58
I don't want it to come back to haunt Rodgers because i don't foresee Rodgers to be here long enough for the lack of faith in Ilori to affect him.

I want ilori to have a cracking season at Villa and come back to play under a new manager, preferably someone who has any kind of pull.

02 Sep 2015 19:29:45
I think Ed knew how funny that statement was which is why he mentione it, LOL.

02 Sep 2015 09:49:25
Unfortunately Ilori will not be coming back to play for liverpool. They do not see him as being ready or at the level. The loan is with a option to buy & it's down to Aston Villa they have the option. Liverpool were not going to play him. It was trying to be arranged for him to go to another prem club that play in yellow. Won't say the clubs name as it did not happen because villa came in. Good luck to him, hope he does well, but time to move on as he was not going to play this season at liverpool maybe the odd cup game & he knew this. If villa choose to sign him permanent then that is it. He has gone to villa to get some game game time. He won't be playing most of the time but he will get some game time and that's what he wanted. Good luck to him & hopefully the defenders we do have gain confidence and fix up.

02 Sep 2015 10:50:34
It will be very interesting to see how he does at Villa. I expect him to be playing at the Euros for Portugal based on the assessment of our fans.

02 Sep 2015 11:25:01
You still here Ron? Thought you would have left in disgrace.

02 Sep 2015 11:54:45
I guess what they say about acting as your rolemodels is true then, hey Essexred884?

02 Sep 2015 12:24:25
After that comment I'm convinced Ron is BR, because no one can be that deluded that they can't see the woods for tress.

It's not about whether or not llori will become a world class defender or not,it's about BR's disgraceful management of the youngsters that is the issue here.

To borrow a few words from JFK. An error does not become a mistake until you refuse to correct it.

And now FSG have made just that by keeping BR in a job when they had a chance to remove him during the summer.

02 Sep 2015 12:30:54
Don't know what you're on about Essex, but that's nothing knew.

Maybe you go me mixed up with Waro?

02 Sep 2015 17:07:30
Spot on, Danred! His errors have become dreadful mistakes not only does he fail to correct them, he continues to make them.

02 Sep 2015 19:19:55
Ron he may well be in that squad never know Portugal aren't that bless with CB's.
AND Ilori was Portugal's star defender for the U21 Euro Championships.

02 Sep 2015 20:14:48
Sure, let`s trash the boy that BR lied to about game time and getting a chance so as to make BR look good.

02 Sep 2015 09:31:16
Hey lfc fans

I would just like to thank Harry redknapp for finally coming out and saying what needed to be said out there in the media

Average . Unbalanced . Worst side in years and will struggle

As much as I want success for Liverpool I think sometimes disaster is the only way to start fixing it
Other than that hope two forwards play in the next game . Duck it nothing else to lose

02 Sep 2015 10:48:41
Lol @ Arry Redknapp. FSG should definitely listen to him.
What was it? 1 FA cup in 20 + years? West Ham - relegated, Southampton - relegated, QPR - relegated, Portsmouth overspent to the point of near extinction.

Who was it who beat him to the England job?

:Unbalanced? Maybe, left sided players are a premium and very few clubs have strength in depth on the left.
:Worst team in years? Depends on how many years. Definitely not worse than Hodgsons team.
:will struggle. Let's see. However, Arry ended his prediction with the comment "having said that they will probably win the league now".

He really should leave the punditry to his son.

02 Sep 2015 11:43:37
Red lobster we had our distaster with the other Americans, this was meant to be our rebirth. We can't handle another one. I would question were the money is firstly.

This team os going to be forced to play one way for a while and then with any luck it will be played the correct way.

With or without Brendan.

02 Sep 2015 12:13:03
Give it a rest Ron
How many top 4 teams has he managed Ron? He did ok with Tottenham and was unlucky to get the boot I think. Personally I think he would do a better job for England than Hodgson, he didn't get the job because of the tax evasion case.

How many trophies has your precious Brendan won?
Redknapp was clearly stating what most in the media won't admit due to this ridiculous media love in for Brendan. The squad might not be the worst in years, but the tactics and therefore the team on the pitch certainly are

02 Sep 2015 12:24:36
Hodgson is bad but he didn't spend 300 million and have 3 years so Rodgers is even worse and has zero excuse. Watford and Reading saw through this guy without too much long lasting damage, not sure why one of the greatest clubs in the world is putting up with him and letting him drag us to mid table level

02 Sep 2015 12:29:44
You think our tactics are worse than the ones Hodgson employed?
May I remind you - Poulsen and Konchesky?

Redknapp is a clown that's why he hasn't got a managers job but is openly criticising others who do.

02 Sep 2015 12:38:26
Erm if you listened to the interview Ron,the imbalance he was talking of was the difference between the defense and the attack hence he was slamming the defense as a total talking about the 2 centrbacks and Gomez. He is correct too. He was talking about the miss use of gomez on the left,the centreback pairing being poor the loss of any leaders to drive the team forward.
Whether it's the worst team in years in terms of personel is debateable.For me whether it's the worst team in terms of cohesion,gameplan,talking,command,understanding isn't. but a lot of that is down to your bff.

Harry was having a joke with the people in the press conference the way he ended that sentence. What he's good at is being affable to the audiance,something BR could do with when he criticised BR for simply saying he never saw Bentekes goal instead of coming out and saying ''yeah we got 1 there,but they even themselves out.'' He's giving BR a lesson in PR it's why people love him and Big Sam regardless of their other parts to their personas.

I have no idea about the England stuff,there's not a doubt in my mind,Harry would have still been a better manager than Hodgeson,and I don't even rate Harry that highly. It's worth noting that your bff admitted Harry asked him to become a coach at England should he get offered the job and BR said he thought long and herd over it.

I have no qualms with what Harry said,the truth hurts,lick your wounds and get over it,he has said in this itnerview and multiple others,he'd have loved to manager Liverpool,and enjoys the fans and atmosphere and that he loves everything about the club. There is no malice in this interview just cold hard footballing truths

02 Sep 2015 18:00:37
Ron is getting desperate in his attempts to defend his BFF to the point of either side stepping inconvenient truths or facts or making them up to suit his pathetic rhetoric. Give it up, Ron. You`re being found out and the facts against your op are stubborn and are not going anywhere regardless of your double speak. You sound just like BR. Talking crap and have no idea what you`re doing. Harry just told the truth that none in the media, his acolytes nor the paid trolls online would say. And you know why we know you can`t handle it? because you`re busy getting dizzy making stuff up and talking crap. Boba has set you straight and called out BR for the incompetent manager he has become. NOTHING you and you brigade on here say will change that. The facts aer stubborn, Deal with it!

02 Sep 2015 08:53:30
Many thanks to all the EDs for their knowledge and sharing what was going on.
Going to throw my take on Brendan promising players one thing then doing another.
I have tried to back Brendan but now after telling Llori he will get game time then loaning him out is bad man management and he has previous on this as seen with some of the other young players.
Remember when we are Liverpool was on TV and Sterling had a spat with Brendan and Brendan said "you say that one more time you will be on the first plane home". He then went on to say "you should take a leaf out of his book (pointing at Adam Morgan), and work hard and you will get rewarded". What did Brendan do? got rid of Morgan and kept Sterling. So the signs were there early days as to how he works.
I don't think Brendan has the man management skills to deal with big players. Maybe Gary Mac could be better and deal with the problems.

02 Sep 2015 08:26:53
With the transfer window now shut I thought I would give a quick update as to who has gone where on loan, please let me know I I miss anyone.

Ojo has gone to Wolves

Jones has gone to Blackpool

Vigouroux, Williams and Stewart have gone to Swindon

Wisdom has gone to Norwich

Danny Ward is at Aberdeen and has now been joined by McLaughlin.

Alberto is on loan at Deportivo. Eds, any reason why Alberto isn't named on any squads on the Liverpool website? All other loanees are?

Ballotelli has gone to AC Milan (that purchase worked out well!)

Markovic has gone to Fenerbache

Maguire is on loan at Leyton Orient for an initial 4 weeks.

Illori has gone Aston Villa (baffling!!)

Awoniyi was purchased yesterday and immediately loaned to FSV Frankfurt, he's a striker for those that don't know.

Yesil was loaned to Luzern

Canos was loaned to Brentford

Wilson is on loan at Crewe

02 Sep 2015 18:29:54
@23carragold.
Thanks for a really useful update.
I too have been wondering about the lack of Alberto from the team sheets.
No squad number - nothing. Yet still on the club's books.
Very strange.
If you get a response to your enquiry - do please share.
Thanks again.

{Ed002's Note - Deportivo has played Alberto against Valencia at the weekend - number 21.}

02 Sep 2015 08:11:29
Morning reds,

Loan update from the first round on the Football League Trophy.

Maguire played the full 90 as Leyton Orient lost 2-1 to Luton due to a 90th minute winner. Maguire put in an impressive display including 2 goal line clearances.

Stewart played for 80mins in Swindons 7-6 penalty win over Newport. Vigouroux was an unused sub whilst Williams wasn't named in the squad, a brief look on their website doesn't indicate he is injured.

02 Sep 2015 08:19:24
Thanks Carra mate.

02 Sep 2015 09:42:33
Williams is on international duty

02 Sep 2015 07:26:07
Gutted about Ilori he looked special to me deserved a chance more than most, I'm sure we're going to look stupid letting him go.

02 Sep 2015 01:31:23
Hello to all EDS and fellow REDS

Sorry guys, wasn't going to have kneejerk reaction but BR has become an open wound that does not close or heal.

Loaning out all our POTENTIAL talent! Talent he bulls---ed the fans about and his normal smarmy way.
Enough! Owners can't see all this and just ignore. It's not bad business, its terrible business. Illori gone with the option to buy? Why buy this poor lad? He was one of the players of the U23 tournament in the summer wasn't he?
Bad management again and again. Too much wrong to fit into one post. BR must leave, period.
Benteke will be his only striker until we play Carlise, I bet.
He is getting exposed. Suarez made him look good, Sterling carried the team last year but this year we look impotent, lob-sided and bereft of ideas against defensive teams while our strikers sit on the bench. I bet he is cursing Sturridge for getting fit!
Owners must do something before our team is damaged beyond repair or more better players begin to leave. BR's B.S. does not work anymore.

And it's only 3 games in. depressing days ahead unless.
YNWA

02 Sep 2015 08:05:46
Does that fact that it is 4 games make it any better?

02 Sep 2015 08:38:57
pretty sure every big club loans out 'potential talent'. that is what the loan system is for. Would you prefer we played our u21's in the league and finished in the bottom half?

02 Sep 2015 08:41:22
Yeah I really don't get it, Ilori could've gotten games against Bordeaux & Carlisle at least. If Lovren starts against United I hope Sakho goes and gives Rodgers a slap. A few good signings this summer, but the main problem at the heart of our defence remains, Skrtel & Lovren as a pair are always going to be a disaster waiting to happen.

02 Sep 2015 09:38:51
Skrtel is not a good CB partner to play next to. Everyone who has played next to him has said as much. No communication skills, unpredicatble and can't read the game. No matter who plays next to him they'll be made to look bad. Lovren appears to be in meltdown mode. His performances before joinning us showed a great ball playing defender, albeit a slow one.

01 Sep 2015 23:22:44
Just a thank you to the Ed's for keeping us up to speed and being informative for the last 60 ish days (of this transfer window) - as always spot on or thereabouts (due to unforeseen circumstances).

It's much appreciated.

{Ed001's Note - cheers mate.}

02 Sep 2015 07:54:45
Here here and the podcasts have been genius thank you and benny b with his dulcet tones.

02 Sep 2015 09:44:42
Thanks Eds. It's great to see a site about Liverpool where honest opinions can be shared without interest imposed . Best on the net.

01 Sep 2015 20:30:19
Ed 001. seems to me we have failed to address a replacement for Gerrard and Sterling. defensive midfield and left sided midfield but there again without tactical nous on Rodgers' part it wouldn't have made any difference. What's your take on this?

{Ed001's Note - the club has decided to go in a different direction. Away from the width and pace of Sterling, to a narrow and intricate style of play mainly down the middle of the pitch.}

02 Sep 2015 07:37:48
You're saying this is intentional, Ed001? I was hoping it was just a temporary tactical thing?

{Ed001's Note - this is the way Rodgers likes to play, lots of possession and central play. Benteke was brought in to bring people into the play, by holding the ball up, not to be in the box for diving headers.}

02 Sep 2015 07:55:44
Do you think this was a wise decision ed?

{Ed001's Note - no, there is nothing wrong with looking to get it wide and whipping the ball in when you have a player like Benteke up top. It is not an outmoded way of playing, you only have to look around Europe to see that it is a very effective way to attack. I watched a round up of European goals from about 10 different European leagues, a huge amount of the goals were scored from a ball being put into the box from wide areas.

I know Milner doesn't want to play as a wide man, but he is far too good a crosser of the ball to have him stuck in central areas. If he is going to play centrally, it should only be when we are defending, when we have the ball he should be looking to get out wide and whip a ball in. The full backs should be supporting an attack, so that if the ball drops back to them, when bodies are in the box, they can sometimes look to just play a simple cross into the box. Not every time we have the ball, but a lot more often than we do now. We are just too predictable, even Barca have moved away from playing through the centre.}

02 Sep 2015 08:12:50
Gerrard was replaced by Milner and Sterling by Firmino in the squad.

02 Sep 2015 08:24:40
I agree with Ed01, UTD domiated english football for more than 20 years with Paul scholes and wingers. If playing through the middle is our primary agenda, then we are going to struggle against team who makes it narrow and plays a flat compact back 4.
This is plain stuppid by Brendan IMO.

AG
That would be stupid as Gerrard for the past two years played the deep ying playmaker role and Milner is far from a Deep play maker. This is one proble with our manager/transfer. we replace players and not the position.
Agree on the firmino deal.

02 Sep 2015 08:41:05
I understand the thinking behind both the signings but with them being used incorrectly it will add up to nought in the long run.

We don't need superstars just a manager who can get the players we have to play like a team.

The lack of creativity in midfield can easily be rectified by playing our deep lying creative player in texiera who in my opinion can become a superstar in his own right.

As ed02 said we have a ready made winger in milner to add width and quality balls into the middle and a competent second striker in firmino to support benteke and act as link between midfield and attack if used properly.

We need to go back to the high press with intelligence and drop the two centrebacks and replace them with sakho and iloŕ, oh scratch that. And then return to basic pass and move ensuring you are in space to receive the ball if your within 10 feet of it.

Of course this has to be tempered by good coaching so basic defensive play is understood and implemented.

Sounds simple, i just get the feeling rodgers is unnecessarily making it complicated.

02 Sep 2015 10:55:56
This was all researched decades ago, 50's??

Crosses have always been the most effective way to score a goal.

02 Sep 2015 08:27:57
Cheers ed, as my username suggests i am a fan of john barnes and in particular his excellent wing play so don't understand why you would move away from that. I totally agree that it has be mixed up otherwise its too easy for the opposition to play against you.

For me brendan is tactically bereft, he may be a good coach but he is not a manager. I get that they are giving him the benefit of the doubt based on the nearly season but 3 years in football is a lifetime and he has had that amount of time to find a system and improve tactically.

This is reading all over again but they wised up to his lack of ability and acted decisively.

{Ed001's Note - I have no faith in him to fix the problems at the club, because they are almost entirely of his own making. I do still have faint hope that the new coaches will be able to rectify the issues a little, but it has to stem from the manager.}