Liverpool Banter Archive January 31 2015

31 Jan 2015 22:48:36
I could watch Coutinho play all day, simply outstanding. add a few goals and he's right up there with Silva, Hazard etc
Thought Song was excellent for the Hammers today, IF Lucas goes then he'd be a great replacement

Song excellent any bit of skill or trickery and he through the player he is at best averge in the DMC role i do not see him as disciplined or tactically astute to play the role to as high a standard as lucas or can and according to most lucas is rubbish so where do u go.

This the same Song I watched? The one who charged around making pointless fouls and probably should've had a red card for a stamp from behind on Henderson long after he'd passed the ball and probably could've been booked about three times at least?

No thanks. Disgusting player. Look at his elbow on the Croatian at the world cup. He is a thug and he doesn't have the quality to make it bearable unlike Costa or Suarez.

In fact, I'd go as far to say he is just an African Joey Barton.

I completely agree regarding Coutinho.

31 Jan 2015 22:27:06
Genuine question to all the Brendan haters.Would you rather have Klopp ( bottom of the bundesliga )or stick with Brendan (best football seen at anfield for 2 decades) I think that at the end of the season you will have to eat your words.That goes to Ed's1 as well

{Ed002's Note - Why mention Klopp?}

Would rather have Klopp.

31 Jan 2015 22:53:18
Best football is nioce to watch, but for half of last season and half of this season it wasn't the best - it was dire.

What counts is winning. When Liverpool were top dogs in the 1970's and 1980's they played totally boring football a lot of the time - they were good enough and quite content to take a 1-0 and then kill the game dead. In fact they were experts at it. And that's what counts. I've watched games where they literally held the ball at the back and walked around (yes walked) for most of the game. But they were the greatest team in Europe because nobody was good enough to stop them doing it. They never ran when they could jog, never jogged when they could walk and never walked when they could stand still. And that is style and swagger.

Setting Klopp aside as it's irrelevant, what I want is what is best for the team going forward. In my view, come the summer that would likely be replacing the manager if results unfold as expected (meaning 5th or higher and no trophies).

Because not so long ago everyone wanted him to replace Rodgers? Good question.

Really don't get why people say our football was boring for the first half of last season. Maybe the first few games when we were winning 1-0. But that contradicts what Red Lenin just said about rather winning 1 nil. Don't forget we beat spurs 5-0 And also remember when Suarez scored 4 goals. Also that Sturridge chip goal. We actually played very decent football.

Also Red Lenin I think its best if everyone stops talking about 40 years ago. I mean that was the era where you could keep passing back to the goalkeeper for him to pick it up.

Replacing the manager??
Be careful what you wish for.
Rodgers has his faults as any young manager would.
He is 40 yrs old. He is 2 yrs older than me and I don't consider myself to be error free.
The sign of a good manager for me is when the shizzle hits the fan.
Can they turn it around when results and form are not going well.
Rodgers has answered that question.
He has been here for 2 and a half seasons.
The first 3 months of his first season we were terrible.
Then we were brilliant for a season and a half.
Then we were back to being shabbite at the start of this season for nearly 3 months.
And now it looks as though we are back to being brilliant again.
It has been a bit of a roller-coaster.
There are positives and negatives where Rodgers is concerned.
I think at the moment the positives outweigh the negatives for me.
The two bad periods I mentioned both came at the start of the season, when he first came and when he had bought 20 odd players this season.
You have to allow for players getting used to a managers methods.
The big negative is the pressing.
You could say another is the transfer policy but then Sahko, Moreno, Can, Sturridge,
Coutinho, Lallana and Markovic are hardly crap signings.
I keep saying that it is all about top 4 for me.
If we get it then why would we want to get rid of a manager who has achieved this feat for the past 2 seasons.
Personally, I would give him one more season regardless of where we finish because like the poster above mentioned, he has something about him. He talks ship. But then don't we all.

{Ed001's Note - why do people keep saying we were brilliant at the start of last season? We were awful, but picked up results, similar to Man Utd this season. Secondly, why do we have to allow for players to get used to a manager's methods, surely Southampton show how much that is nonsense? Especially when some of those players, the ones that were actually in the team, played the style we ended the season using. Oh wait, it is because the manager arsed up and changed out system and so everyone was trying to get used to a new system and nothing to do with new players arriving at all! Other than that, I do mostly agree, he has done well to turn it around, but he should never have let it happen in the first place, especially for the 3rd season in a row.}

Maybe it's part of learning as a manager Ed.
We both agree that he should not have been given the job if you look at his CV.
Should a young novice of a manager ever be given the job as manager of Liverpool.
It is what it is.
Maybe the results at the beginning of last season masked the performances. But I thought that was a good thing. Winning when not playing well.
I agree that he arsed up with delusions of grandeur Ed. but he was clever enough to realize his mistakes.
I am coming around to the idea that getting rid of this manager would be short sighted and an over-reaction to a young manager finding his feet and getting a few things wrong.
Like I said thought the positives far outweigh the negatives for me at the moment ed.
Where do you stand fella?
Are you warming to him or still not arsed about him?

{Ed002's Note - He has failed to deliver after spending vast amounts of money. If you are happy with that, fine.}

01 Feb 2015 09:26:37
But he hasn't spent that much compared to the majority of teams that are above him in the league. If he gets top 4 then he's done very well. Imo

{Ed002's Note - Yes he has. He has pissed away vast amounts of money on the likes of Balotelli, Lambert, Tiago Ilori, Fabio Borini, Luis Alberto, Iago Aspas, Oussama Assaidi, Samed Yesil and the loans of Victor Moses, Nuri Sahin and Aly Cissokho. You can probably add a few more to that list. My 89 year old mother could have spent the money better.}

Ed's

How many of those transfers do you think we're driven by owner policy? Ie young players to develop to sell on ultimately.
If this is the case, you can only develop so many at a time and therefore achieve the aim. If this is part of the overall aim then it's doomed to fail

Or is it all BR s fault!

{Ed002's Note - There is no mileage in going down that road. He has made a complete mess of things.}

I don't think if he gets top 4 that he has made a mess of things.
Every manager makes mistakes in the market.
That list of players comes to a combined total of about 50 million Not including the loans).
That's 50 million on 8 players.
Hardly pissing money away in my opinion.
That is 6.25 million per player.
Not too mention that we will get money back for all of those players bar Lambert.
Although I would not get rid of Ilori.
The teams we are competing with are spending more than 6.25 million per player.

{Ed002's Note - Your maths is way off if you take account of all of the associates costs. How many appearances have these players made for Liverpool? Your other point makes no sense as these players have contributed nothing.}

01 Feb 2015 14:12:11
I couldn't care less about the football as long as we win. Football, Infact all sports, is about winning and being the best? Why would I want to play pass and move when Chelsea is playing "boring" football and dominating every team they play? Klopp as won things, I would want klopp.

01 Feb 2015 14:12:50
Are you on the wind up Ed002?

{Ed002's Note - No - your maths is way out. Splitting the value that Liverpool has wasted on players who rarely get a game and then comparing that to players at other clubs is ridiculous. An example of why we don't discuss money.}

Since 2012, Liverpool are the 5th highest spenders in world football. Only United, Chelsea, Madrid and PSG have spent more money than us.

Rodgers transfer record is appalling. It's absolutely shocking anybody can even contemplate defending him in this department. We should be competing for the league and CL on a £270m budget across less than 3 years.

You are right that it isn't entirely down to Rodgers but he is certainly the biggest culprit.

Our revenue cannot sustain that level of spending. He has crippled us in the transfer market and filled the squad with under performers.

Yet just to sound positive, many on here wanna gloss over all these blunders (and then some) that EMS just posted in order not to look fickle. NONSENSE! We are not fickle! Many of us just refuse to stand back, arms folded and allow gross mismanagement of funds as well as Club and players` fortunes (academy and first team) to be overlooked just because we`ve beaten teams that on paper, we are supposed to beat. Not going to happen.

Let's work out how much Chelsea, Arsenal, Man United and City would spend on 8 players?
Someone who is better at Maths than me:)
United are paying 1 loan signing a billion pounds a week.
The point I was trying to make was that when you are trying to find bargains in the basement you are not going to hit the jackpot every time.
For every player who has failed as a BR signing there are examples of successes.
Are Moreno, Can, Sahko, Coutinho, Lallana, Sturridge and even Mignolet failures in the market?
I don't think so.
So to suggest Rodgers is awful in the transfer market is simply not true.
I would say he is 50-50.
I bow to your superior knowledge in terms of associated costs involving transfers Ed. But I only ever include transfer fees and even then they are general and not 100% accurate. The £6.25 million was based on my memory. . Not my strong point.

{Ed002's Note - You must be the only person that does not realise how bad Rodgers has been with transfers. Massive spending and no success. You keep want to make this about other clubs for reasons I don't understand. The owners were promised a lot for their significant investment in players and much of the debt the club is now carrying relates to that investment. So what happened in the Champions League - abject failure. What has happened in the Premier League - failure. Rodgers has explained it is another year of transition. I am surprised the Liverpool supporters like you are so accepting of year after year of this.}

I do not try and make it about other clubs Ed.
It's just that we are fighting against other clubs for success.
We are in a league with other clubs.
Only one club can win the league.
I am not saying he is brilliant in the market ( I said he is 50-50 in terms of success).
I just can't see how you can say he is a complete failure in the market?
When some of his players have proven successful buys.
As for the league this year my belief is well stated. If we do not qualify for the top 4 then I would consider sacking him.
I am not blind to the manager's faults Ed.
Not at all.
And thanks for giving me something to chew over.

{Ed002's Note - If you are happy with mediocrity and having numerous players around who are simply not up to it, then fine.}

One last thing Ed.
Sorry for asking a question relating to another club and it is Chelsea.
You said that Rodgers has spent vast amounts of money and has failed.
If Mourinho does not win anything this year then does he deserve the sack in your opinion?

{Ed002's Note - It is about Chelsea then - and no I don't think Mourinho deserves to be sacked. Chelsea have been very successful and that is what the Liverpool owners crave. The managers they have had since they arrived have given only mediocrity - and less for the money they have invested. Look at the sheer number of players that have arrived whilst Brendan Rodgers has been manager - the team has effectively been rebuilt more than once. The owners will be well aware of how much money has been wasted on players who are not contributing. They will be aware that the club spent a staggering £15M plus on agent fees this summer alone. They will be aware of the enormous amount of debt the club is carrying. They will be aware that one way to start addressing all of these issues is on field success. Rodgers promised a challenge for the EPL and the Champions League this season. Liverpool are not going to win the EPL and the whole Champions League affair was an embarrassment.

And the owners continue to address improvements and continue to pump money in to the club - whilst keeping an eye on their exit plan.}

I can see your point ed.

{Ed002's Note - Plus this must all be very frustrating for the fans. I often hear Ed001 sobbing in his room.}

31 Jan 2015 20:31:27
I would like to congratulate BR and the coaching team over the past few weeks. The performances have been a lot better in recent matches and more importantly the defence is better and more clean sheets. With Sturridge back things are looking very positive. I have read a lot of negatives for Brendan and his coaching team and the possibility of him leaving at the end of the season which to me is ludicrous. Congratulations BR, onwards and upwards. #InBrendanWeTrust

31 Jan 2015 17:28:18
Happy with that result, again we look so much more solid with Lucas in the team than when we got spanked at their place, defence played well again, another clean sheet for Mignolet (and good performance) and Sturridge scored a great goal, only hope it's not too little too late.

Mr Dennis, its never too late until its mathematically impossible. It all comes down to the games against Man Utd, Arsenal, Spurs and Southampton. All 4 games are 6 pointers that the club needs to win without fail. If we cannot do that, then no chance of top4. There is always a second chance with the Europa league which should be prioritized over the FA Cup.

{Ed002's Note - Each of the games is three points - not six.}

31 Jan 2015 18:29:49
Mr Dennis I stand to be corrected but I think Lucas played at Upton pk.

31 Jan 2015 18:43:57
They're six pointers in that they are direct competitors and need the three points themselves.

{Ed002's Note - You didn't study math did you?}

You are right Tommy, but if you remember, BR was playing Gerrard as a defensive midfielder and played Lucas as an attacking Midfielder, he then took Lucas off at half time. Gerrard had a shocker.

31 Jan 2015 21:53:41
Tbf Ed its a well coined phrase in England. Never really comprehended it myself.

01 Feb 2015 03:48:09
I think you know what he means Ed002! We gain 3 points and so the opposition can't get a win. I am sure you are just joking though, Ed.

01 Feb 2015 03:49:29
It's a well used phrase in english football Ed002, it refers to the suggested differential between teams competing for similar rankings in a 3 points for a win system.

In both examples, a win for team 1 would increase their lead by the "3 points", however the phrase has found popularity due to the perceived "swing" of winning the 3 points, and the rival losing them.

The assumption that it is "worth" 6 points lies in that the rival teams would have expected each other to match each others results if not playing each other, and is especially used for top & bottom table battles as the expectation is that the more teams you beat below you the higher you finish.

31 Jan 2015 17:10:53
What a second half performance by sakho, I think we would have lost that game without him today.

This new formation were playing has sorted out our defensive problems big time, we look more solid, Chelsea really struggled to score against us 1 goal conceded in last 6 games.

Plus it gives all the front 3 room to roam which they all need.

Top 4 here we come!

I can't quite figure out why Can and Skrtel switched positions in the 2nd half. Maybe an attempt to push the line further forward?

Skrtel is not suited to playing as the side CB and he struggled when he switched positions with Can. I couldn't the decision either. Nor could I understand the reasoning behind playing Lallana as the Right wingback after Markovic was subbed.

I think its was because of the threat from valencia, where can is much faster then skrtl

Agreed, AG. There were a few dodgy moments between the pair as well caused by uncertainty. If it ain't broke, don't fix it comes to mind.

31 Jan 2015 19:56:11
I think its more down to the use of the long ball/crosses to the back post being defended by Skrtel and Sakho.

I thought Llalana didn't have his best game, but seems to be someone who needs more time on the pitch to come good, and there's no questioning his class. He should be a fairly consistent starter if possible and with Sturridge back, I'd be tempted to play Markovic and Llalana as the wing backs over Moreno. He can certainly cross the ball better than most.

Thought Ibe looked very good for his cameo, wouldn't mind seeing more of him as sub into wing back too.

01 Feb 2015 09:25:15
Not sure Lallana is a wing back. Think he should rotate in the 10 role as Phil can't play every game we have coming up. I think Lallana could play Hendos role too if needed

31 Jan 2015 17:07:48
Great to see Sturridge mark his return with a goal, we played very well today and Andy Carroll getting injured while trying to injure Can has poetic justice about it, Marko's miss was dreadful, and Henderson's weak shot straight at the keeper?? well only proves an earlier post, if he can improve his shooting he would be such a top player, give him credit he was excellent today and i won't be so harsh on him in future, unless he gives me cause to that is, LOL!

31 Jan 2015 16:48:31
Does anyone else .................

{Ed002's Note - Try not to be xenophobic - it is embarrassing.}

31 Jan 2015 16:40:09
Welcome back Sturidge!

31 Jan 2015 15:47:11
it's been a positive enough first half, good movement, creating chances. Llanana seems to be way off the pace at the moment, would like to see Sturridge come on for him half time, Moreno seems to get himself in brilliant positions as well but his end product is dire, whether it be shot or pass. Marcovic plays wing back role well so would be interesting to see if Ibe could replace Moreno and how he gets on

I'd love to see us switch back to the 442 diamond for the second half with Sturridge and Ibe coming on up top.

Red Rum

31 Jan 2015 13:49:51
Eds

Do you think we will look to sign Ings in the summer if we can perhaps shift some Strikers?

{Ed002's Note - The summer is a long way off.}

31 Jan 2015 09:28:39
Big congratulations to Steven Gerrard if he does play his 700th game today.
700 games for Liverpool.
John Lennon said it best "I'm just a jealous guy"
Well in lad.

He is on the bench for lalanna

If he does start, it should be from the bench.

Looks like Gerrard is in the stands with the likes of Lovren and Balotelli. Strange bench for me, three strikers, a winger, a midfielder, and a fullback.

31 Jan 2015 08:58:10
If we don't win today does that end our hopes of finishing in the top 4?

No chance it could go right to the wire. Come May we will be in top four.

31 Jan 2015 02:12:29
hello eds.

with ings out of contract at the end of the season, is it possible for him to sign a pre contract with Liverpool?

eds, personally how do u rate the lad?


THANKS.

{Ed001's Note - yes, at the end of the season. He is ok, decent player but has a lot of injuries.}

31 Jan 2015 04:08:15
talking about a gerrards replacement & people giving their opinions on lot of players like milner, pjanic . I watched a lot of them and few others.Dunno but I think the only player caught my eyes is kevin de bruyne . Same style, same power on shots, great shooter in and out side of the box, good long passer, good fk taker . absolute gem !

30 Jan 2015 23:30:10
Team for tomorrow:
Mignolet
Can skrtle sakho
Markovic hendo Lucas Moreno
Lallana sterling coutinho

Will sturridge and balotelli be in the squad?

The Polish journalist guy on twitter who's been listing the teams for the last few months just lists the starting 11, not the subs. No idea if Benny's source is the same or something different, though.