Liverpool Banter Archive July 03 2015

 

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03 Jul 2015 23:00:47
First time poster just wanted to throw out a question and then my thoughts.

Indication is we have interest in Benteke, would a deal for him hinge on us selling Stirling to finance it?
I can't help feel that our budget for new players is basically gone.

Starting the preseason without Balotelli would be my preference. His arrogance is not Liverpool FC. and getting rid of his salary would probably help in terms of other players expectations. All that said I am really looking forward to watching Firmino and Coutinho next season.

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03 Jul 2015 21:47:48
So Robbie Fowler has stated he thinks Benteke would be the perfect striking signing for us.

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04 Jul 2015 08:08:40
He also went on to say that we cross more balls into the box than any club in the league, which is nonsense

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04 Jul 2015 09:09:40
He did not. He said the reason we didn't cross a lot was because for a large part of the season we played Sterling at CF

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04 Jul 2015 11:19:50
Wiwar1000, that was a quote from Tim Sherwood saying that Aston villa cross more balls, and it didn't make sense for him to go to a team that didn't (ie Liverpool)

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03 Jul 2015 21:22:49
Just out of curiosity,have we over the years released any of the Youth Team folk who have went on to another club and had a successful career? As successful as he would of had at Liverpool per se.

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{Ed001's Note - Coady is doing well right now, just got bought by Wolves.}

03 Jul 2015 23:05:37
Yes, I'm aware of Coady moving to Wolves, but I'm thinking more high profile without being disrespectful. Players that we released that went on to have a great career,that perhaps in hindsight we regretted?

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{Ed001's Note - we have not had a good youth academy until recently to have that issue, it is this crop that are the ones who can go on to be good, not previous ones.}

04 Jul 2015 00:20:26
Who knows, might make it to the PL with them next season. Glad he's doing well.

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04 Jul 2015 00:29:15
How is Adam Morgan doing Ed001? I remember him being one of the ones a lot of people thought would come through.

Cheers.

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{Ed001's Note - just joined Accrington Stanley on a free, so not that well.}

04 Jul 2015 00:43:40
Lambert. Didn't Nolan play for Liverpool? Danny Murphy had a solid career. I know Danny Guthrie initially hot game time for Newcastle. Going furtherback you have the likes if sebastian coates

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04 Jul 2015 09:03:57
Martin Kelly will be one of that I'm certain,but he was cut less as a youth but more as an adult.

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{Ed001's Note - good point on Kelly.}

04 Jul 2015 09:28:56
Mikel San Jose of athletico bil was in our academy I think

And Gabrielle palette & tom Ince

That's about it really

As ed001 has stated this crop is the one but I.do want to add that for every Owen coming through there is a lot of mellors in there.

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04 Jul 2015 09:47:16
I think we might regret letting suso go too thinking about it. I went back through all our old youth teams and haven't really seen any of the late 90's early 00's that made a career elsewhere. As ed001 said it's this current youth group of the last 3 years or so,that we may regret letting leave. I think maybe Tom Ince could be classed in there,but I don't know if he will ever be a prem level winger.

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04 Jul 2015 10:44:27
Tom Ince will never amount to anything good with his father doing his talking regardless of any talent he has imo

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03 Jul 2015 20:47:51
Eds, can we get a poll on who people would rather see given time next season, markovic or lallana. Or we can do it here with agree for markovic and disagree for lallana. For me its markovic. Younger with much more potential. I fear we've seen lallanas whole bag of tricks.

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03 Jul 2015 21:28:54
You're crazy if you think Markovic should be ahead of Lallana. He was injured most of the season but will improve. Markovic is just a kid with potential.

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03 Jul 2015 21:51:58
You're doing a big disservice to Lallana there. He scored a goal every 356 minutes. That's better than Sterling (435), Markovic (467) and Coutinho (558).

He got an assist every 593 minutes, similar to Coutinho (558), better than Markovic (934) and Ibe (695) but bettered by Sterling (380).

If he's injury free next season I think he'll be even better. Markovic could theoretically be better one day but he's a couple of steps below him at the moment.

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03 Jul 2015 22:27:20
^^^^ I thought I was reading an EMS post then!! I was shocked to see another name

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03 Jul 2015 22:40:58
Absolutely ridiculous to suggest Markovic is more valuable than Lallana. Granted, Markovic had a decent spell around the new year with a superb game away at Sunderland but Lallana is the most naturally gifted Englishman in the premier league, or at least the most 'flair' player. If he was Spanish he would be a lot more highly thought of.

Again, absolutely ridiculous to even compare the two. Once fully fit, Lallana will thrive alongside courinho and firminho

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03 Jul 2015 23:35:02
Stats blah!!!!! LM could be well ahead of AL by the time they are the same age. Nothing is black and white

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04 Jul 2015 00:16:15
A midfield of Lallana Firminho and Coutinho? who would put the tackles in then?

the 3 names sound good together but a little light weight for me, need an enforcer behind them, and Brenda ain't looking like he wants one

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04 Jul 2015 00:21:48
Marko is not in Lallana's class ATM, end of.

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04 Jul 2015 05:21:10
Lewy, in a 4-2-3-1 formation with Lucas and Hendo behind them, i think will work perfectly

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04 Jul 2015 08:11:09
Except BR is pushing Lucas out of the club

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04 Jul 2015 13:42:41
Different styles of player, but Llalana is a long way ahead of Markovic right now, more mature on the ball and with better link up play.

Remains to be seen if Markovic can develop into the player everyone things can be, let's hope he's given a shot this season but not thrown in the deep end. I personally think he should be played in the cup games and as a super sub against weaker PL sides, preferably on the left wing in a 4-3-3 where he played with Benfica until he regains his confidence.

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03 Jul 2015 20:33:06
Edward 1 . Just a query on son min. Given our expansion into the Asian market . Would it not be a clever move to make a big move for him( or similar quality ) . Or is it a case of the commercial sales etc go to new balance . I think we done a deal with more commercial value to the club on merchandise . So in affect we get a quality footballer , that pays for himself to a degree ???

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{Ed001's Note - I would love us to go for him, it does make sense, but he is not interested in a move to us this summer. The commercial revenue would also come from other products, such as when AS Roma signed Nakata they produced a limited edition polo shirt, sales of which covered the transfer fee alone.}

03 Jul 2015 20:56:07
Wow !! They go mad over there . That's something else . Polo shirts paying the way . To your knowledge do Leverkusen do well in the South Korean ??

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{Ed001's Note - I don't know, but I would assume it must be a big help.}

03 Jul 2015 22:58:01
Hey the asian market is no comparison to the welsh market. ALLEN shirts are going crazy over here

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04 Jul 2015 03:59:30
I can confirm it helps a lot. Every Korean I knew (and I knew a lot) supported United just because Park played for them.

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04 Jul 2015 05:55:06
There is no Asian market; if LFC buy a South Korean player, South Korean people might buy merchandise, the rest of Asia wouldn't care.

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04 Jul 2015 14:16:31
Would put a new slant on the half time hotdog though

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03 Jul 2015 18:48:00
Have seen a few links regarding us loaning out markovic as he does not figure in Rodgers plans. I know after been on this site and the eds comments most press related stuff is lazy and garbage. It just does not figure after paying so much for him, and been played out of position just seems madness. How can he not figure when Rodgers wanted him last year

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03 Jul 2015 19:12:22
Madness? This is brenda

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03 Jul 2015 19:47:16
The only madness is the man without a CV, and a record of failure is still our manager- he paid £20 million for Markovic, he has got to play him in the position he was bought for - and not 20 minutes here and there.

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03 Jul 2015 20:06:10
That's why BR has been banned from doing transfers. He is simply aweful at it.

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03 Jul 2015 20:06:27
Markovic desperately needs first team football to develop into the player he should be and unfortunately I don't see him getting that with us this season.
Simple fact is we signed him too early, he wasn't ready for the Prem and due to the lack of football last season and being played well out of position he still isn't ready.
We jumped in and paid more than he was worth last Summer to get him ahead of Chelsea who were waiting to sign him this year (I could be wrong but I seem to remember something about Chelsea having a gentleman's agreement to sign him this Summer if he was still available). There was a reason Chelsea were willing to wait till this season to sign him as they knew he wan't cut out for the Prem then.
Unless we change to a formation that suits wingers (which would suit the signing of Benteke), rather than a narrow close quarters intricate passing formation which suits Coutinho and Firminho (I think this is how we'll look to play this season) then I don't see where Markovic fits in?

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03 Jul 2015 20:17:35
Rodgers did not pay £20 million for Markovic. He might have wanted him but i'm sure he didn't negoiate the price, but hey he gets stick for everything else!

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03 Jul 2015 20:49:39
Guys FFS how about we lay off Rodgers for a while? What's' wrong with buying a player with potential and loaning him out to gain experience regardless of the money involved. And regarding Markovic being played out of position it was more of a needs must situation and the 352 system called for it. I'm not BRs biggest fan but let's just see how this season pans out. BR is already in a lose lose position with most of you where if we lose games people will be calling for his head but if we win then people will say he got lucky etc.

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03 Jul 2015 21:00:45
Markovic can fit in with a passing system, I don't think he's a winger at all. Needs to play regularly and looked good the few times he played in a 10 role. Unfortunately it seems he has been Brendaned and I really have no idea why

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03 Jul 2015 21:31:17
shez9,

you seem to forget that we had players who p;ayed in the positions that other players were getting played out of position to play in , and the original post basicaly said markovic need playing time in his proper position its down to BR qho played where , now we have a situation where players with a lot of potential have to go out on loan to get game time to realise their potential , in stead of giving markovic the game time he needs with the 1st team and in the process learning how his team mates play and what runs they ar going to make or where they will be on the pitch when he has the ball so he can pass to a player without looking up because he knows where the players will be because he has played with them , me personally i would rather have markovic than lallana because a lot of people in the know say markovic is going to be a star but is he gets played like last season then there's nothing down for him his talent will go backwards , look at kevin de bruyne who signed for chelsea , his football came to an halt because he was messed about like markovic he had to leave chelsea to kick start his careea again and last season he was up there with ronaldo and messin in his form if not better , but he had to leave chelsea 1st now he will be one of europes top talents again and everyone will want him , look him up on google , BR has a lot to answer for with his tricks

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03 Jul 2015 21:33:36
I think marko was one of the better signings last year? Think his confidence probably shot to bits as he was made a scapegoat imo most of the time? worse performers on the park was left on for him to be dragged off. to loan him out would be madness some of his first touches was great i'd like him to get a fair crack. lallana should be loaned out with the "blue eye" ( joe allen) I see marko better prospect than can? call me a tit one more time.

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03 Jul 2015 23:23:17
A plan does not have to be for one year and a loan is not necessarily a step on the way out of the door. There are many reasons.Markovic needs game time to mature and I can't see him getting it with us this year so with the right loan it can be a win for everyone. Last season he showed signs of promise but also showed he isn't quite ready yet and to me it makes sense, with the little i know.

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04 Jul 2015 00:32:34
Rubbish, Irish! Need I remind you that BR was in charge of all the signings that were made last season. NOBODY was forced on him as he had the final say on every player including Balotelli so your post about BR not being the one who wasted 20m on Marko is baseless. "No player will come in here that the manager doesn't want". I give you three guesses as to who made that quote. Not beating BR up because that is not my intention. Just setting the record straight just in case you are trying to absorb him of any blame for Marko coming in and not being used properly or not being needed as we already had Ibe raring to go.

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04 Jul 2015 06:56:09
Rodgers hasn't been banned from doing transfers.

We still have the committee which he is part of.

The signings are therefore the clubs signings, not Rodgers.

That's why it's called a committee.

It's like the cabinet - there's collective responsibility for decisions (good and bad)

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04 Jul 2015 07:53:34
Because shez9k,we shouldn't be buying players for 20m and then loaning them out for other teams benefits,it's up to our manager to integrate into our way of playing or guess what,the fingers will start pointing at the manager.

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04 Jul 2015 11:33:34
You obviously have a problem reading Redohio. Read it again! I clearly state that Rodgers did not negoiate the £20 million fee but he may well have wanted the player. Maybe you should wait for ed001's response in future, then you can just repeat what he says further down the thread?

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03 Jul 2015 18:00:10
This may seem strange after just asking about brimmer, but overall I am absolutely perplexed that we sign so many foreign kids, and i wanted to agree with scarface about our failures in this department.

In my opinion, the only reason ever to sign a player is to actually improve the team, not sign a player who might be good soon.

The academy should only focus on developing talent from a very early age, not bringing more and more in so we can win the U16s league. Now my opinion would be very different if we had proven success, but we have bought in countless foreign youngsters who have done nothing. I genuinely believe we must just want to won the youth leagues for the sake of it rather than developing talents for the first team.

Now don't get me wrong i hope we can develop some great players but if we couldn't even develop Suso, there is little reason for optimism.

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03 Jul 2015 17:33:35
See we are signing some new academy players, any of the eds know if we ever signed young jake brimmer?

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{Ed001's Note - the official website did an article on him for the meet the academy players section, so yes.}

03 Jul 2015 17:08:42
Will I be the only slightly disappointed if we get all our business done early?

I quite enjoy the ridiculous names linked with us every summer and the hope that we may pull off a last minute worldie - I'll feel like I'm missing out if all the transfer ins are done by end of July

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03 Jul 2015 17:36:10
The problem with doing business is you can't react to the domino effect but everyone knows when you're being careful you go with a list get what you need and then leave everyone knows the benifits of buying early getting to know team mates and tacktics earlier etc but you do miss out on the player that became available because of that other player that moved

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03 Jul 2015 19:19:21
I know what you mean, on deadline day hoping Jim White cuts to big coming out of Melwood.

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03 Jul 2015 23:23:11
Yeah how did that work out for us in the past?

Andy Carroll
Mario Balotelli

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03 Jul 2015 23:26:27
I am more interested in the what happens on the pitch and if buying early helps gel then i am all for it while i do appreciate the excitement of the closing window at the same time. Early for me every time when you can.

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03 Jul 2015 16:44:00
Scarface you were talking about youngsters, referring to 15 year olds not adults who have played in the first team elsewhere . I was just stating as far as foreigners go their isn't many with a good record of doing it. Arsenal despite all their stability in 15 years don't have a great number that came through the ACADEMY. You could name them on one hand. Man utd ( januszai?), Chelsea, Spurs( Bentaleb?), city, all pretty much in the same boat. Think it just points to eds point about cultural differences at a young age. We had a few Suso? Wasn't given much of a chance. Texiera? - injuries, Pacheco? Always seemed so promising. There's already a fair amount invested in the British talent so I'm not sure ho

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03 Jul 2015 17:07:03
Seems that post was meant for a thread earlier, dodgy internet connection so I gave up on it!

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03 Jul 2015 17:45:47
I used Arsenal and Wenger as an example of somewhere that has a fairly good record of nurturing young foreign talent 15 -20 years old. Ok they may have signed some of the players at 18, 19, 20 but these players are very far fom the finished product and still need to develope, and you cannot dispute that their success ratio is much better than ours.
Since Wenger took over only Sissoko (debatable), Lucas, and Coutinho (21 when signed but I'll let you have him) could be regarded as players that made it at Liverpool or anywhere decent after us, that were signed between the ages of 15-20. Go and have a look how many foreign players we've signed since 1996 between the ages of 15 - 20, it is staggering and take a look at their careers, we were the high point of virtually all of them!

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03 Jul 2015 21:22:02
Thats because when arsenal buy all these young french players, they all live in wengers big ol mansion. He cares and nurtures them as one of his own. hence why they assimilate easier.

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04 Jul 2015 01:02:28
Funnily enough we were discussing this. I think that of the top teams in England it seems Arsenal are the best for nurturing academy players. Wilshire, Schezney(spelling), Coquelan, Gibbs etc. have all emerged as first team quality players. I understand that Wilshire and Schezney areb't starters but they have contributed. If you add in players bought into the academy you get Fabregas and Bellerin.

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03 Jul 2015 16:13:30
Hello eds, hearing rumours about Newcastle coming in for balotelli. I'm taking it with a pinch of salt, but thought I would ask you for some confirmation on whether the rumours are true or not.

Cheers.

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{Ed002's Note - I am not so sure it was like that. Balotelli has representatives hawking him around trying to find interest.}

03 Jul 2015 16:13:24
The Reds have completed a deal for their second wonderkid in less than 24 hours, with 17-year-old American striker Brooks Lennon following in the footsteps of Bobby Adekanye by signing a deal at Anfield.

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03 Jul 2015 18:27:54
I mention we were about to sign both of these at the back end of last month.

They look good additions for the youth set up IMO.

vrcomp
Y.N.W.A.

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03 Jul 2015 19:02:15
I would think it is wise to allow Brooks to remain on loan in the MLS

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03 Jul 2015 15:28:50
Is there any indication eds that apart from Sterling, there will be a big player leaving us?

Coutinho or lallana type ?

Just someone we wouldn't expect?

Firmino just smells of someone leaving.

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{Ed002's Note - We'll see.}

03 Jul 2015 16:00:19
Oh great haha!

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03 Jul 2015 16:48:44
Skrtl. He's about 6'1" and must weigh about 14 stone.

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03 Jul 2015 17:13:05
Yeah, sterling!

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03 Jul 2015 17:22:14
Have I missed something here, Firmino leaving having it even kicked a football for Liverpool?

Baz

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03 Jul 2015 18:02:55
#51896

Can you describe the smell?

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03 Jul 2015 18:21:38
Wow Baz give it another read.

I said that Firmino smells of someone leaving.

I just can't imagine being allowed to ser Coutinho and Firmino link up.

Got a funny feeling hrs off or Lallana.

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03 Jul 2015 20:22:05
Neither will be off this summer.

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03 Jul 2015 21:54:16
51896 I do not think anyone understands what it on about here

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03 Jul 2015 15:26:07
I may have missed it at the time-

Did Arsenal's win in the FA Cup final mean that Liverpool start the Europa League in the Group Stages instead of the qualifying rounds?

Cheers

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03 Jul 2015 16:07:10
Literally would have been quicker to type that question into google, Group Stages it is.

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03 Jul 2015 14:55:18
Getting away from the Benteke rumours. Are Liverpool still looking at options of signing a better keeper?

I know from what was stated on here, we were looking at Neto. Would you say the idea died with the signing of Bogdan?

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{Ed002's Note - Bogdan will be it.}

03 Jul 2015 22:01:43
Bogdan hahahahahahahahahawhahahahahaha

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03 Jul 2015 14:49:07
Was wondering if the eds could answer something me. You've both mentioned how the way we conduct our transfer business has been annoying people and was just wondering whether the Bobby Adekanye deal will have done so with Barca and PSV? Obviously we have to do what's best for our club and I don't particularly mind if we have, but I was intrigued!

LKTIMLK

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{Ed002's Note - He is a child - it always annoys people but it is a separate matter.}

03 Jul 2015 14:29:30
The Echo saying Skrtel signing a new contract next week.Please say it's not true!!!
Barry inLouth

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03 Jul 2015 14:52:38
It's not true i wish was something that was true but i suspect it is not not true but rather true

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03 Jul 2015 14:15:42
I am also sick of the abuse that Enrique gets on this site.mit is so easy these days as a modern day footballer to keep a low profile, just coming in view to visit a children's ward or something. This is not what we want ! We need to see players like Enrique enjoying their fabulous wealth in a ostentatious style. I am happy that he leaps off on holiday to Dubai with his gorgeous wife lounging about switching on gold plated taps and eating caviar tastiest . I applaud his attitude to not being wanted to actually play football by compensating in putting two fingers ( manicured) up to the authorities and letting us enjoy his splendid lifestyle. I am looking forward to seeing the wing of his house where he keeps his loafer collection.

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03 Jul 2015 14:54:07
What's brought this on?

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03 Jul 2015 15:03:28
I think the issue people have is that he's just sat in the u21 squad on huge numbers without putting in much of an effort to get into the first team or play first team football elsewhere. He just wants to collect his cheque and go to knowsley safari park

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03 Jul 2015 15:28:22
I read this under the assumption it was a joke?? Now I'm worried he might be serious. players get payed substantial sums of money because they have an innate talent but also as compensation that the life they live is hard (or should be). Footballers aren't payed silly money not to fecking work. And if anyone wants to argue with the fact that Enrique simply doesn't work hard enough and has been very up and with fitness and even being in shape please be my guest.

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03 Jul 2015 16:56:33
He's not even 30 yet and is already in pre-retirement mode and ready to open his own holiday resort or travel agency. If LFC wanna keep paying him then, not much anyone can do about that.

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04 Jul 2015 00:10:17
Wasn't he injured for pretty much all of last season?!?!

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03 Jul 2015 13:06:31
Hey Eds,

I hope you don't mind, this is kinda about money but it's more about transfer strategy. It seems this year our plan is to do all our incoming transfers early and then recoup the money with sales later, this makes complete sense to me.

I do worry we've backed ourselves into a corner with Sterling though. Everyone knows we want rid and he wants to go. It appears that we are expecting his sale to balance the books for most of our incoming players. The problem is we are now in a position of weakness. There only seems to be one realistic buyer so we can't preside over a bidding war. City know that we are planning to sell him and probably have to sell him so they can make a relatively low bid and expect that we'll be forced to take it in the end. My worry is that City will wait and bid £25-30M on Aug 31.

The only card we can play is 'we'll just keep him then'. Therefore my question is, can we afford to keep him if no one meets our asking price or do we have to sell him to pay for everyone else?

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{Ed002's Note - I am not so sure that "can we afford" is the question. The situation is that the club need to be balancing the books and that is not a calculation that simply involves transfers. There is an overall balance required for the business and part of that is the income from sales of Sterling and whoever else. The owners have been taking on debt and they obviously don't want to be doing that so they will be relying on those sales. As for your fear, I can't answer that.}

03 Jul 2015 12:53:37
Got an awful feeling that Jordan Ibe is going to be a left wing back next season.

He was played at right back last season and actually did well. I read that he's been asked to play a bit deeper next season though, and you just wouldn't put it past Rodgers would you.

Otherwise we're just relying on Moreno to play about 60 games as things stand.

Hope I'm wrong.

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{Ed002's Note - There is always Enrique.}

03 Jul 2015 13:14:56
You know Enrique has way too many assignments to be asked to play football Ed002; twitter, instagram, waxing, nail-polish. just way to many things to for him to do!

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03 Jul 2015 13:38:54
Jose Enrique, Brad Smith, Joe Maguire, Kevin Stewart, Jon Flanagan (when fit)?

Emre Can and Mamadou Sakho can also play there if required. I think we are well stocked in this area and I'd rather go into the season with the chance of an academy player getting a chance rather than further reducing their chances. It's worth noting that Smith and Stewart are 21 years old. If they're not going to get a chance now then they never will and may as well be moved on

Red Rum

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03 Jul 2015 14:10:52
I agree with you Red Rum. I wanted Smith to get a chance last season, and this season Stewart should. Rodgers just doesn't have faith in the kids though. He only throws them in when he has absolutely no choice. As well as Maguire we also have O'Hanlon who is a cracking player.

My fear though is that we'll sign a player like Pedro/Ntep/Cheryshev etc, pushing Ibe back into defence and cutting off all our young left backs from the first team.

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03 Jul 2015 15:27:31
I think it's unlikely - moving someone from wing to wing-back is a stretch as it is let alone FB. I suspect it'll be Moreno playing 90% of the games with Enrique or perhaps even Can as a backup until Flanno hopefully gets fit again. I'd like to see Smith/Stewart though preferred over Enrique as we need to give youth a chance and Enrique hasn't looked too focussed of late.

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03 Jul 2015 16:52:44
Brad Smith refused a contract with LFC last year and was then pulled back from his loan. I suspect he wants to leave and we will never see him play for LFC again.

LFC need an upgrade on Enrique, but will probably have to keep him another year until his contract expires.

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03 Jul 2015 17:02:03
I don't think BR doesn't trust them it's the fact that their ether not ready or not good enough. when these young players go on loan they should have man of the match performance nearly every game if their going to play for Liverpool. If their good enough they will come throw ,but for now I haven't seen any standout defenders in the youth to make it to the first team.

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{Ed001's Note - that is just a ludicrous statement and shows how little you know about football. Harry Kane was dreadful in a number of loan periods, yet now look at him. Flanagan was not a standout in the youth teams, yet the moment he got his chance he was one of the best players we had.}

03 Jul 2015 17:44:03
Quick question while the subject is up Ed01,
Do you see Flanagan getting back to where he was?
I'm seriously concerned a combination of Rodgers and his knee recovery will see him come back a different player,
Which is a massive shame because he'd knock Moreno out of that left back spot in that form no problem.
Cheers mate.

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{Ed001's Note - possibly, impossible to say really.}

03 Jul 2015 18:47:30
It all goes down to what we're aiming for. Top4,winning cups sorry mate you tell me which from the current youth team can play for any PL side . Think we should stop over hyping these players . I don't know anything about football but I bet you non of the current u21 defenders will make it to play the PL

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{Ed001's Note - you mean like Ibe couldn't make it? You are typical of the kind of 'fan' that knows absolutely nothing about the game and just wants to whine about something. The only way you will find out if a player is good enough is by giving them a proper chance. Saying that non of them will make it is just another clueless statement as it is not just about their ability as to whether they will make it. They could get bad injuries, they could play for a team that buys so many squad fillers there is no space for them to get a game even in an injury crisis, they could have a manager that refuses to give youth players a chance unless absolutely out of any other option or they could just be unlucky. It is not all about ability. You only have to look at the way Coady, who was never given a chance, has had no issue climbing back up the divisions now he has regular football and has just joined Wolves in the Championship. All it takes is regular football and the right attitude and players will prove you wrong. Though I am sure you will still know best, even though you clearly have no idea what you are blathering on about and have clearly also had no involvement in youth football at all.}

03 Jul 2015 19:30:33
Can't you read mate I said DEFENDERS unless you want Ibe at rightback . that's the thing with you Ed's when someone post his opinion you all get rude and non off us knows any thing about football nixt time try to read the post

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{Ed001's Note - are you really going to keep arguing about something you know nothing about? Stewart will. You won't know anything about him don't worry. And I am not getting any ruder than you are being about young players at the academy of the club you are pretending to support. By the way, if you weren't so busy being whining, you would be able to read back your post and see that you said, and I quote: you tell me which from the current youth team can play for any PL side.

So tell me, when you can learn how to read your own nonsense, where I got it wrong by mentioning Ibe? I am sick of the imbeciles that slag off every academy player when they have no idea what they are talking about.

03 Jul 2015 20:20:08
Wazintime, your post is one of the most senseless I've ever read on here and I've read a lot of them. First, you say you know nothing about footie YET you say non of our youth players will make it in the PL. So how do you know they won't make it when you have confessed that you know nothing about footie? See the rubbish you just posted? You say our players just aren't good enuff. Are you basing that on a the antics of a failure of a manager and his inability to trust youth players or on your confessed cluelessness in the game of footie? See another piece of rubbish you just posted? Your post has so many holes in it that it's tough where to begin to rip it apart. I suggest you stop posting on a topic you clearly know nothing about.

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03 Jul 2015 20:20:45
My reply is for the above post from EMS about defenders but you stepped in to save the day with your wisdom( by the way he can't defend )yes let's put Stewart on and make mistakes that will ruin him . And then compline why we'er mid table team . If you want to be the best you have to have the best with ideas like yours we're only going backwards.

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{Ed001's Note - right because putting a player in and them making mistakes ruins them. Like it ruined Carragher, that is why he went nowhere when his early career was a struggle right? You are just making yourself look silly. You know nothing about this at all. You are one of those muppets that regurgitate the crap idiots spout that have never had any involvement in youth football to excuse themselves for never playing an academy player. I will stick to what experts in the field, such as Dario Gradi have said, which is that you need to play them to find out and they have to make mistakes to learn from them. Still I am sure you know better than the best youth development coach English football has had in recent times.}

03 Jul 2015 20:47:03
Yes you play them but not when the stakes are high and everyone demand results. The top teams in the league all have youth on par with ours but I don't see them breaking through at Chelsea, City because they are competing with the best so they have to be very good .But ours can't even compete with our bad defenders tells it's own story . Just because I want the best for my team doesn't make me portending to be a Liverpool fan

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{Ed001's Note - you mean like Chelsea didn't play Zouma? Or is that just something that went completely over your head. They aren't playing because our manager only pays lip service to using youth players, not because they aren't better than the likes of Skrtel and Johnson. If he grew some balls then he would stop wasting the club's money on 7 players every summer, when we could use the youth.}

03 Jul 2015 21:02:18
12 mil Zouma two years in Ligue 1 is a youth player now OK

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{Ed001's Note - he was an U21 player. I fail to see your point? Is he not a young player that was given a chance, even though he might make mistakes? Or does it not suit you to count him?}

03 Jul 2015 21:13:34
Mr redohio when I said I don't know anything about football is that what the Ed said about me . You read all my posts and they are all rubbish, it must taken you couple of seconds because I don't post much. but anyway thanks for reading

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03 Jul 2015 21:28:46
Don't get me wrong defenders will always do mistakes but how often you get away with it . I'm not slagging our academy players we have some very good forward players ,and Rossiter .Zouma is a good example that if you're good you will force your way to the team

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{Ed001's Note - not true, he is an example that if you are good enough you deserve a chance, but he is also an example of how managers will trust players that have cost money over ones that are just as good that didn't. Carragher, for instance, only got games because we were short of players, not because it was felt he was good enough. Coady was felt good enough but was never given a chance so left. There are plenty of examples of players who are good enough that have to leave to get an opportunity that turn out to be mistakes, such as Matic of Chelsea. He was never given a chance so ended up leaving and then they had to pay big to bring him back. It is not about their ability, it is about the bravery of the manager to take a chance on young players that are going to be inconsistent.}

03 Jul 2015 21:57:47
The Matic thing is down to deferent managers and the way they play, Matic was born to play in a Mourinho team and I think if Jose was the manager then Matic wouldn't be sold . We as a club are a mess but if we stick to a system and buy/develop youth player for that system then all our youth players will look like world beaters just like saints players and teams will buy them play a deferent system and they will look rubbish

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04 Jul 2015 06:01:37
This is a banter page so I am not going to ridicule you, however I disagree with everything you said. How does anyone know if a young player will make it, if that young player isn't given a chance? Youth players when given a chance are developing and we all learn from mistakes. The mark of a good youth player is the one who recognises his mistake and doesn't repeat it; grows as a player. Our youth system is NOT a mess. I believe FIFA put us as second in Europe after Barca for our youth system. Without it we would never have had players like Stevie, Owen, God or Carra. All of these LFC 'Legends made mistakes when being brought through, but the managers of that time supported them, look how they turned out!

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04 Jul 2015 08:37:29
We need to drop the 3-4-3 formation it didn't work last season and we got some awful results from it.

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03 Jul 2015 12:34:03
hey eds the echo published an article that skrtl will sign a new contract next week. any truth in this ? hope not because really wanne see Ilori play there.

cheers

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{Ed002's Note - I cannot answer questions about when people will sign contracts.}

03 Jul 2015 12:29:31
Allen set to be offered new contract and Skrtel will sign a new three year deal. (Echo)

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03 Jul 2015 13:05:44
Allen to be made captain and make £300grand a week and get the number 8 shirt with Xavi on the back

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03 Jul 2015 16:58:15
Nice one, Dbol. After all, he is the Welsh Xavi.

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03 Jul 2015 12:19:18
With the signing of yet another promising foreign youngster in Bobby Adekanye, it made me think, why hasn't any of the foreign youngster we've signed over the last 15 years made it? Are our foreign scouts just poor at finding the right players, are the people making the decision to sign the recommended players poor at judging these players, or are we just poor at developing these talents. I'm leaning more towards the scouts because we seem to be fairly good at developing the British talent. The list of foreign talents we've signed for the academy that we all get excited about only for them to be released 3-4 years later is staggering and surely someone at the club at some point has to take a step backwards and say, what the hell are we doing wrong?

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{Ed001's Note - it is the development, they are not getting the support they need. It is impossible to compare it with how British talent gets on as they are not moving to a completely new culture.}

03 Jul 2015 12:53:50
Yea ok fair comment about comparing them to British talent, I can fully appreciate that moving to a new country, with different culture, weather, food, etc, etc is very difficult. So every coach we've had over the last 15 or so years (or since Wenger set the trend of buying young foreign talents and developing them) has been useless at this? What are we doing so wrong that Wenger and his coaches do so right? Given our poor record of developing these foreign talents is it really worth us bothering, should we just concentrate on British talent?

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03 Jul 2015 13:46:06
I can't think of too many young talents arsenal have done that with in 15 years? Fabregas? Szcheney? Persie maybe? Given wenger had loads of connections in France when he came on board he was well positioned to poach there's not a vast amount. Most of big success were bought.

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03 Jul 2015 14:31:39
I think you are doing Mr Wenger and his coaches a massive disservice in stating that he has only developed Fabregas, Szcezny and Van Persie. How about Vieira, Anelka, Clichy, Denilson, Diaby Bendtner, Flamini, Fabianski and currently Coquelin, Bellerin and Gnabry. Now ok not all of them have been amazing or world beaters (injuries and poor attitudes have played their part with some) but that is vastly better than us!
We had a French manager who had better connections to the French youth than Wenger, remember Gerard Houllier, he worked with the France National squad at virtually every level and played a major role in setting up the Clairefontaine academy which was rather successful.

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03 Jul 2015 14:36:11
Scratch that persie definitely wasn't!

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03 Jul 2015 14:57:35
Scarface nearly every player you named were bought at a decent age 18 +. Most of them had already been developed to a high level elsewhere. They had already made first team appearances for their prior clubs.Fabregas is the only 'youngster' that I can think of which was actually developed from a young age. The likes of coutihno was bought at the same age as Viera so why not give us credit for him then??

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03 Jul 2015 14:59:15
And are you joking about Bender? Lol most clubs he played for will claim they had never heard of him rather than hold there heads in shame for having him!

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03 Jul 2015 15:11:04
If I were advising any youngster about joining the academy, I'd strongly advice them not to join Liverpool. The club is so cluelessly managed, it is unbelievable that at such a level of football it is allowed to happen. Instances like not following up youngster's development and not looking for suitable clubs to send them on loan are really curious at such a level. Fitness also seems to be an issue given the number of serious injuries at the academy. Add to that the fact that the manager does not seem to have a clue about giving youngsters a chance as part of their development.

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03 Jul 2015 15:23:59
I don't think Bendtner is a good player, but hey, the man is a professional football player and has played for Arsenal, Wolfsburg, Juventus, Sunderland, Birmingham and the Denmark national team, so he must be doing something right? A much better career than some of the talent we have signed and over the years that were supposed to be the next blah blah blah and the future of our club!

The point I am trying to make is that our record of signing and developing young foreign talent (15-20) years old is very poor, and I can't help but wonder if that volume of money and time would have been better spent developing British talent.

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03 Jul 2015 15:27:49
I agree to a point Kawabanga. I was just stating that you can't compare what wenger did in buying 20 year old first team players with developing a 15 year old.

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03 Jul 2015 17:02:22
He did not develop Vieira in any way. Vieira was already a beast as a teenager at AS Cannes, the same academy that gave us Zizou and one of the best academies in France at the time. He signed at AC Milan for big money but couldn't get a game so Wenger brought him over and gave him his chance. That's all.

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03 Jul 2015 17:57:31
Absolute nonsense Redohio, yes Vieira was a very talented youngster at Cannes hence why AC Milan signed him, but he was very raw and far from the finished article he ended up as. There has never been a finished article at 20 years old, and there never will be, you are still learning and developing at that age and to suggest that Wenger and his coaching staff played no part in developing him into the immense player he became is farcical!

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03 Jul 2015 20:25:55
Wrong again, genius! He was already a very good player way beyond his years. All he couldn't do was get a game at Milan because of the big stars ahead of him in a pretty poor team at the time. His talent was never in doubt. All he needed was a chance and a run of games which he got with Wenger, just as Studge who was already a very good player, needed games and a coach's confidence to flourish which he has gotten with BR. So is BR responsible for Studge's development the? NO! So Wenger cannot be given credit for that, either. Get it? Good! I respect your opinion and I agree to disagree.

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03 Jul 2015 21:18:29
Dear God redohio you don't half spout some nonsense! So everyone knew Vieira was one of the best midfielders in waiting and that all he needed was first team football. Total nonsense yet again GENIUS! So he'd have become one of the best midfielders in the world if he'd moved to let's say Blackpool under Sam Allardyce in 1996! No of course he wouldn't, he developed into one of the best midfielders in world football because yes he had natural ability and was built like a proverbial, but it took Arsene Wenger and his coaching staff to mould him and harness all the raw potential he had. To say anything else is pathetic!
If everyone knew Vieira was going to become one of the best midfielders in the world regardless of coaching then please explain to me why AC Milan let him go for just £3.5m and why it was only Arsenal and Ajax that were interested in him?
Comparing developing a 20 year old Vieira with only 51 first team games under his belt to a 23 year old Sturridge with 96 first team games under his belt (in the Prem) is absolutely stupid and pointless! Though I'm sure if you asked Sturridge he'd probably say that Rodgers has helped his development, if anything in that he's shown faith in him when others haven't!

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03 Jul 2015 21:39:43
Also just realised you called AC Milan's 1995/96 team pretty poor! Oh dear you really are clueless! AC had a midfield of Albertini, Savicevic, Donadoni, Lentini, Locatelli, Ambrosini and Zvonomir Boban! Not to mention Rossi in goal, Panucci at RB, Maldini at LB, Desailly and Baresi at CB and Weah and Baggio up front!
P.S. They won the Serie A that year too, not bad for a pretty poor team!
GENIUS!

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03 Jul 2015 11:34:11
To any new Liverpool players and potentially new Liverpool players that have the misfortune to come across this site and read some of the dross that so called supporters write, I wish you the best of luck and hope you succeed.

A lot of people seem to have lost the line between opinion and abuse. We as Liverpool supporters used to have such a good name about getting behind our club and it's players but over the last few years it has gone down hill. I know i'm certain to get abuse from this post but quite frankly, i couldn't care less.

We have signed players and have looked at a lot of players that aren't my first choice, that maybe I have not been impressed with at previous clubs etc but at least give them a chance. The latest scapegoat for our already failed season this/next year seems to be Benteke. No, not my first choice, I don't think he is suited to how we want to play, but that is because he hasn't played in that system before. Once he has and has some of the crativity and flair that we seem to have in abundance in attacking midfield behind him, we may find he could be one of the best in the premiership. The fact is, at this point, we simply don't know. So I for one, will support him or whoever else the club deems fit to bring in, if they are successful, happy days, if not, that is the gamble of football.

We have seen many players that are deemed world class or soon to be world class come to the premiership and fail. Falcao didn't have a particularly successful season with United last season, he may be amazing for Chelsea next season under a different coach, system, with different players around him.

Best of luck to all of our players, both old and new, and here's hoping for a successful upcoming season. You will have most of our support throughout, and this isn't blind support, we are still entitled to our opinions, that is what makes the game so interesting, seeing things through someone else's eyes, understanding someone else's view, or even not understanding but still appreciate that this is their view and that's what they're entitled to.

Big thanks to all the Eds as well, if what gets posted is the percentage that passes your moderation, you really do have the patience of saints, we appreciate your hard work.

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03 Jul 2015 11:58:00
Well said. I fully agree.

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03 Jul 2015 12:07:39
Great post mate , fully agree.

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03 Jul 2015 13:31:02
Couldn't agree any more, great post. Thank you for the hard work Ed's!

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03 Jul 2015 13:58:54
Stop moaning you quilt. This like most internet forums is people sounding off, every Liverpool player gets more than enough backing and encouragement at the game, and don't worry about them reading this site, there to busy having money fights with each other. Any real men left on this site or what?

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03 Jul 2015 15:47:01
Did you go to Anfield last year Waro, the support was dreadful for most of the season!

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03 Jul 2015 15:49:16
There's other sites you can use if you're looking for "real men" Waro, each to their own.

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03 Jul 2015 16:44:58
Haha Waro you used to annoy me to the high heavens on here but I'm starting to see your side on some things.

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03 Jul 2015 16:49:03
Good one welshscouse,😉. Though I'm surprised you could reply through the river of tears your crying for the delicate souls that are footballers, you and the posters who agreed with you really need to get a grip on reality. Footballers couldn't give a flying f#@k what anyone on an internet forum thinks of them.

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03 Jul 2015 16:56:49
Well I'm a season ticket holder scarface so I think I may have been to a game or two. The atmosphere may be Muted but know players were abused which was the original posters point. Who cares what people say on here? Know one from the playing or coaching staff will read it, it was welshscouses round about way of throwing his hat into the ring for the #LFC'SNO1FAN crown, he's way behind Daveybootle and Ron keague ATM though, he will have to raise his game to match those two.

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03 Jul 2015 17:05:18
With all due respect Welsh scouse, I think a few older fans who are used to seeing us win titles (me included) are entitled to feel a little bit frustrated when we haven't won the league for 25 yrs, in the mid 80's early 90's we still had a reputation as being amazing supporters, but it is difficult to see many negatives when you have a team working their socks off and winning everything, That said if a player had a poor game or didn't give there all, They were told, some sections of the crowd used to give Sammy Lee, Whelan and ablett lots of stick, but they would come back stronger the following week. The club,players and fans had high standards.
The modern footballer must love going into a stadium were you can hear a pin drop, playing badly and still picking up his 50k a week. and walking off to a chorus of YNWA.
Maybe it's difficult for some supporters to comprehend that we are a top/mid table club, but some fans don't know any difference.
Having an opinion and voicing it because you want the best for your club is far more positive than paying money into the club by sitting in a seat, smiling quietly win lose or draw. and staying positive while the club spews money down the toilet in the transfer market, and then slagging people of for having a different view. that's Neglect.

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03 Jul 2015 17:09:30
Welsh, stop with the self righteous rubbish because it's pretty old and boring. This is a place of debate and free speech. Hence, opinions whether I agree or not, have a right to be aired because our club is in a shambles management wise and telling people not to voice their concerns on a coach, a player or the owners is just ludicrous. We all love our club and want it to succeed. The only thing is that we may differ on the methods we employ in order to get success and that's fine because it is the beauty of debate.

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03 Jul 2015 18:16:02
Same here Waro, and I heard plenty of abuse hurled out at our players, granted some of it was warranted, but a large part of it was mindless.
Completely agree with you that players and coaches don't come on here and read the comments about them, but I also agree with WelshScouse that IF they did then they would be horrified by the lack of support they receive from some of our fans even before they've even kicked a ball for us! And some of that does resonate in the stands, like when George reads out the names of the players, sometimes you can almost hear the despair in some peoples hollow cheers for some of the players names read out. Now I'm not old enough to remember the glory days of the 70's but I did catch the tail end of the 80's at Anfield and I don't remember hearing so much negativity towards our own players.

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03 Jul 2015 20:48:44
My sentiments exactly, Davel and Waro. I don't understand this idea that players can't be criticized on these boards anymore all in the name of positivity, whatever the heck that means. We watch and support our team everyday and if players aren't pulling their weight, they get the criticism they deserve and if they do, they get cheered. Players don't really care what fans on the internet think about them. Example, after the shalacking at Stoke, the very sMe players who couldn't be arsed to even break a sweat during the whole game, went on a partying spree in Dubal the very next day. I was shocked BUT that's the way players are today. When you see that, how do you want fans to think they care? During Paisley and Shanks time, they would be running laps till their legs broke. All in all, fans are upset due to the shambles we are becoming and one might disagree with the way they express their frustration BUT one can't say they don't have a case.

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03 Jul 2015 11:29:52
I've heard a rumour that Liverpool are interested in Benteke?

Is this true Eds.

ha ha

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03 Jul 2015 11:11:50
Eds as you say, benteke is our main target now! If we fail to negotiate a fee, as i believe that we won't! Will there be a plan b as backup or will we use what strikers we have already? If so it may be a bit of struggle to get 4th with what we currently have! Thanks and keep up the good work!

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{Ed002's Note - The focus is on Benteke. You are just clutching at straws because you don't like the player. Hopeless.}

03 Jul 2015 12:39:05
Eds I hate the total lack of respect shown by our so called fans, everyone is slagging of Benteke. He is a very good young player and will learn and progress at Anfield.
Liverpool need much added strengths and power as a lot of our players are lightweight and easily knocked off the ball. I hope potential players really do not read this site or else they would move else where.

Bad

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03 Jul 2015 14:49:03
Sorry but at which point do i say "i don't like benteke!" I think he is a good player, who can get goals and would help us considerably, he is better than we currently have, just don't think we will get him! Was asking if there is a backup plan in place or is it him or nobody?

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03 Jul 2015 14:52:03
Benteke will only progress with us if Rodgers has had a complete personality bypass and changes his style of play to suit and accommodate the talents Benteke has to offer.
If last season is anything to go by, then I think we can look forward to Benteke tying to get onto the end of through-balls that he has no hope of getting to, trying to get on the end of dreadful long balls from Lovren and generally being made to look like a poor player like Lambert did last year because the manager is too inept to realise that he isn't Luis Suarez and isn't suited to our style of play, and is too arrogant and stupid to change the style of play to suit him and others and ultimately help the team!
Now I don't profess to being an expert coach and I have not done any UEFA coaching badges, nor was I a particularly good football player as a youngster, but surely if you are a manager you do one of two things, you either decree that you have a style of play that you want to stick to and sign players that will fit and compliment that style, or you sign players you think are talented and find a style that suits all of their attributes to get the best out of them (and yes I know this is a very simplistic view of it). We do neither!

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03 Jul 2015 17:14:40
Spot on, Scarface! Benteke has all the ability in the world but he is just too lazy, lacks desire and a times can't be arsed to even try.even his Belgian manager is fed up with him, ATM. That won't fly here, I'm afraid. He will have to improve his work ethic, desire and be part of that system otherwise, we are looking at another Andy Carroll situation.

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03 Jul 2015 11:13:05
{Ed001's Note - We have posted a new player profile about, Nuri Sahin

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03 Jul 2015 11:36:25
Interesting read cheers Ed. Still gutted it never worked out with us- I'd only heard good things about him prior and was genuinely excited when he signed.

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03 Jul 2015 11:02:46
Welcome to L.F.C Bobby Adekanye.

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03 Jul 2015 11:00:07
Hi Eds, just wondering with the huge figures being banded around for Benteke, is there any chance we could look to spend that cash on any alternatives, aubamyang of Dortmund for example I think would be a better alternative, even if he is all pace!

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{Ed002's Note - Why would Liverpool do that? Benteke is the player Liverpool want and have been putting a lot of effort in to getting.}

03 Jul 2015 12:08:01
Ed, when you say putting in a lot of effort, is this within the club preparing a bid or are they in discussions with Villa?

Thanks

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{Ed002's Note - We are not getting in to blow by blow accounts and I have no idea what you think "preparing a bid" is.}

03 Jul 2015 13:18:23
Preparing a bid: Typing the letter, grammar check, Ian Ayre stamp, you know, the usual.

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03 Jul 2015 13:32:04
I think preparing a bid would involve discussing and deciding the figure and payment structure that would be put forward to Aston Villa and the personal terms offered to Benteke. A bid must take some preparation, I'm probably well off the mark but we're not as clued up as you Eds.

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03 Jul 2015 17:04:56
I believe preparing a bid involves counting the cash (no one wants a loose £5 ruining a deal) ordering the correct briefcases deciding how much to put in each briefcase (the more cases the better its more intimidating) and finally selecting the right "heavies" to carry and deliver the breifcases

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03 Jul 2015 17:18:02
Clutching at straws really. LFC wants Benteke. He doesn't wanna play for Villa anymore, won't sign a new contract and ONLY wants to come here. The discussions are ongoing and IMO, he will be an LFC player based on what we know. Clear enuff or do you want the Eds to repeat themselves for the umpteenth time

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03 Jul 2015 10:52:29
Welcome to Bobby Adekanye looks a super prospect left footed winger super quick we have wingers in the academy to last 15 years if they reach their potential. Ibe ojo Kent Wilson canos dhanda and now Adekanye. Of course some won't make the grade but you'd bet with the right application and them being managed correctly they all could

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03 Jul 2015 10:36:19
There have been a lot of question marks over the almost inevitable signing of Christian Benteke and many of the "reservations" deserve to be addressed.
However, leaving the money-issue to one side, I personally think that he is less of a gamble than many of the names we've supposedly been linked with.
First and foremost, for me, is the threat at corners/set-pieces he'll provide. This was a massive black-hole for us last season (even Skrtel wasn't as prolific as usual).
After Suarez we've lost the ability to distract defenders with any genuine attacking threat. Even if he's heavily marked and doesn't score too often himself he'll free up the likes of Firminho, Coutinho, Hendinho and Milner to find the onion-bag.
Like many players, Benteke strikes me as a "confidence player" who plays well when the team is doing well. No disrespect to AVFC but I'm sure we can offer a step-up in quality for the lad and maybe we'll see a decent return as such.
What I'd love to see this season, above almost anything else, is a happy group of players with defined roles and objectives but with a freedom to show their strengths and justify their price-tags.
Last season, at times, we were less like a team than a bunch of individuals meeting for the first time. Often we couldn't string more than three quality passes together and, when we did, there was rarely a striking threat to take advantage.
Milner and Firminho should provide creativity and experience and, if used right, Benteke could actually be a revelation.
I'm more than pleased with the new coaching changes and really hope BR is humble enough to work with stronger characters and take advice.
In terms of youth we've added Gomez, the young winger from Barca this a.m. and we're looking at a Swedish U-21 full-back. Hopefully any new additions will be nurtured properly and won't stifle the progress of others on the books.
It's no secret that successful teams generally have a couple of very good players for every position and, ideally,a good crop of youngsters being readied for the future.
I'd hate for players like Ibe, Llori, Ward, Rossiter, Lloyd-Jones and Brad Smith to be overlooked completely. More concerning is that Moreno, Markovic, Can and Origi could join the growing list of expensive benchwarmers.
Whether we like it or not this coming season will be transitional to some extent. The absolute main goal should be top four and that is very achievable with the squad we've got. Anything else would be a bonus but we also have plenty enough strength in depth to mount good runs in the cups.
For example, take the Def. Mid role. If we were in the Champions League I'd say we would need to address this urgently but we're not. At this moment we have several options who could "fill in". Lucas Leiva, Emre Can, Jordan Rositter, Kolo Toure, James Milner, Andre Wisdom, Jordan Henderson and Joe Allen.
How many other clubs have this "problem"?
I truly believe that we'll regret not addressing the GK position more seriously this summer. It's no less a problem now than it was at the end of last season.
However, I'm slightly more optimistic now than I have been recently so. here goes for another ride on the rollercoaster!!

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03 Jul 2015 10:28:16
Oh god it must be frustrating to be an ed these days. People keep on asking the same questions, despite they can find the answer within a few seconds if they were to be bothered to use the search function. I´m sure that if anything changes then the eds will provide us this information.
Another thing, please stop with the fantasy questions e.g; If player A is sold and club B loan player B, is there then a bigger chance to sign player C?

The eds have repeatedly said that Benteke is at the moment our main target, and the Kovacic deal is a maybe. I´m not aware of any other incomming players, and the eds have said that it is time to sell some of our fringe players.

Eds you have my respect and I would like to thank you for the work you´re doing - It is much appreciated.

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{Ed001's Note - thank you.}

03 Jul 2015 11:18:28
I think the eds should do a banner in big block letters at the top of the page saying

' yes Liverpool are trying to buy benteke'

' No Liverpool are not trying to buy ( insert random name that has never been mentioned or if they scored a goal within the last 4 weeks) '

That would cut out about 20 post a day, excluding the ones eds delete before even making it that far.

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03 Jul 2015 11:25:02
Swishcleaner, the only downside to the aforementioned banner at the top of the page would be the 50 questions a day asking where to find it. Hahaha

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03 Jul 2015 09:50:52
Hiya eds do you think lfc is looking at signing eduardo vargas. ??.

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{Ed002's Note - No, Liverpool very specifically has a striker they are looking to buy.}

03 Jul 2015 09:50:34
I see Robbie Fowler's been praising the possible signing of Benteke. I know football is all about opinions but, Benteke's not for me at all. Hope I'm wrong

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03 Jul 2015 09:20:42
Hey eds great work as always.ed002 and 001 as usual.ed002 about your reply to a post on 2july "Liverpool's interest in a new striker is elsewhere ", ed is it benteke ? And could we possibly get him as Vila not lowering their demand? Thanks in advance. :-)

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{Ed002's Note - Yes it is Benteke and yes the club are working hard to get something done.}

03 Jul 2015 07:45:24
Hey all, quick one for Ed001 what is yours and the clubs view of Chivrella. Will he get any game time this year possibly or will he go out on loan. Looks like he could be one to watch for us

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{Ed001's Note - likely to go on loan.}

03 Jul 2015 10:41:10
Much rather have

Can/allen
Hendo/milner
Lucas/chirivella

And if it can be done kovacic for Allen.

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03 Jul 2015 08:49:43
Eds, just your thoughts or opinions please.

The new coaching set up so far, plus I hear there will be a third coach, the caliber of these guys seem high. They also seem to fit what FSG were rumoured to originally want. Young, good quality attractive football, known for work with youth and as they seem to be coaches then would work well with a DOF.

It's the third coach that has me thinking. If it's Zenden (my choice), have FSG positioned pieces into place to replace Rodgers. O'Driscoll being head coach, Zenden his no.2 and Pepijen staying in his new role.

Rodgers is staying, so I'm not asking you guys to go there again. But if we had a poor start for example, do you see these appointments as shrewd, like they already have set up in place? Are these appointments suggesting anything to you guys?

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{Ed002's Note - You are trying to read something in to this that isn't there. You knew changes were coming.}

03 Jul 2015 09:23:56
Eds Do u agree with the need for a 3rd coach?
Eds did liverpool not sack its goalkeeping coach?


Thanks.

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{Ed002's Note - There are other coaches at the club as well - you are looking at a microcosm. I really have no idea if Liverpool has now sacked their GK coach.}

03 Jul 2015 10:43:04
Eds with a squad of 25 players and the numerous youth etc

Wouldn't it be beneficial to have some you get more up and coming coaches working with the likes of Brendan, pep, Sean. Yeno learning off them and protecting ua for the future when of wr stick with Brendan, both Sean and pep will be off getting there own gigs

How cone the club in general don't have more coschez ?

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{Ed002's Note - Clubs in the EPL have numerous coaches at all levels.}

03 Jul 2015 11:24:55
Love the conspiracy theories.

Brendan Rodgers praised O'Driscoll to high heaven years ago so who do you think suggested him? Rodgers or FSG?

Rodgers is staying and he's hand picked his coaching team as is right and proper.

O'Driscoll hated the media stuff at Championship level so no way he'd ever make a PL manager. A caretaker one maybe.

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{Ed001's Note - O'Driscoll is not here to replace Rodgers.}

03 Jul 2015 13:05:31
That's exactly my point.

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03 Jul 2015 08:39:51
{Ed001's Note - We have posted a new article entitled, Is Downing Really The Difference Maker For Boro

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03 Jul 2015 07:39:53
Just a ticket query for the eds or anybody else who is part of the auto cup scheme.

Did you notice that this year the Europa league games did not require any stubs or previous match history to join the scheme. From what I can remember the auto scheme, particularly the euro one, has always worked that way. Not that I'm complaining like but I just wondered if anyone knew why?

My assumption is they weren't expecting a particularly mad rush for the group games from the outset.

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03 Jul 2015 07:36:22
Morning eds,

Quick question in relation to Ilori. As has been pointed out the club have tried to sell him, and now its been said they are stuck with him for various reasons.

My question is, if the club wanted to sell and its now being described as being 'stuck' with him, then why are they offering him a new contract? (according to his father)

A new contract is surely a contradiction of their aim?

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{Ed002's Note - I know nothing of contracts but the club tried unsuccessfully to sell him, and now it appears he is staying.}

03 Jul 2015 08:03:13
Thanks ed,

His father mentioned a new contract in the interview he gave a couple weeks back which confused me because as you said Liverpool tried to sell'

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{Ed002's Note - Right. Liverpool scared off the interested parties with the asking price.}

03 Jul 2015 08:59:37
I thought his father said they had a new agreement rather than contract but I may be wrong.

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03 Jul 2015 07:27:59
Has o'dtiscol been appointed as coach yet? All this transfer talk but I don't think he has sctuslly been announced yet, is that correct? If not we need to be getting it sorted out. I wasn't too sure on him but having read that article yesterday I think he sounds like just the guy we need.

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03 Jul 2015 10:51:23
Monday

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03 Jul 2015 03:58:13
Can't wait for this season to start really really excited to see all the new additions to the squad. We finally have a great 11 and bench wooohooo. Bring on top 4

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03 Jul 2015 02:23:58
Maybe this question has been asked before, and I apologise if it has but I'm eager to know what Ed2 thinks about benteke. On field performances and off field attitude, how do you rate him and do you think at the price he is worth it?

Cheers

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{Ed002's Note - Benteke has the ability to score goals and that is something that can do nothing but help. Albeit expensive and not one I would choose, he is a less bizarre purchase than some of those made last summer. He has been a bit of a nuisance off the field in the past but I am sure he has grown up a little now. He deserves the support of the fans.}

03 Jul 2015 07:01:51
Would agree with Ed about last summer, out of all our signings last summer only Moreno made sense to me and he didn't have that great a first season.
They all deserve our support though, including Benteke if and when he signs.

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03 Jul 2015 08:24:34
More than half of the signings last summer made sense.

Balotelli didn't at all - a pure gamble.

Lovren, at the price, was an extremely poor choice. He's neither quick nor a leader and that's what we required from a defender (and one who would complement Sakho, not sit on the bench when Sakho plays)

Lambert made sense on some levels but his age and lack of pace must surely have been cause to pause and think (although when viewed as as an affordable replacement for Aspas then it was a no brainer)

Can, Markovich, Moreno & Origi all fit the profile of players that have huge potential.

Lallana is a great footballer and obviously more was expected of him a he was Rodgerss banker signing - the one that would deliver straight away and replace a bit of Suarez's creativity if not his goals.

Our model isn't buying a load of ready-made players.

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{Ed002's Note - Origi made zero sense. Manquillo made zero sense. Markovic was way over priced and has hardly played - so it makes no sense. Moreno has been trashed for por performances so it makes little sense. So perhaps a third of the signings make sense. And the club went backwards. How far back will the club go if only a third of the signings make sense this year. Do you think £130M was well spent for the improvement in performance and league position? Do you see last seasons success of challenging for the Champions League and winning the EPL as something the Liverpool fans will be proud of for years to come? Oops.

I am sure the other clubs around Liverpool and those that will be pushing this year like Southampton and Stoke are hoping it makes as much sense again.}

03 Jul 2015 09:31:11
I think i am in love ed002

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03 Jul 2015 10:33:44
I hate all people slagging Benteke off, I think he is a good young player and will only get better. I work in a role where each different job I go to I have to preform differently so why can't Benteke be expected to do the same?

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03 Jul 2015 01:56:13
With the news that liverpool are open for lucas offers and that the fact we are not basically linked with any defensive mids at the moment. i just hope and pray that reason for that is CAN will play that position with backups from youth such as rossiter and williams being pushed through. i just hope that's the case! Not the obvious BR solutions of allen and perhaps playing firmino there if didn't work it!!

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03 Jul 2015 02:28:04
I doubt any other side targeting top 4 would go into a campaign with Can and Rossiter pencilled in as CDM

I suspect BR must be thinking Milner as a deeper playmaker and Hendo/Coutinho ahead of him if a midfield 3, or Milner/Hendo as midfield 2

Can/Lucas/Allen as backup in the deeper roles and maybe Llalana/Firminho in the more attacking roles (if not playing on the wing)

I think we should sell Allen and keep Lucas at CDM personally (as most seem to agree)

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03 Jul 2015 03:53:29
Lol Milner as a DM there's so meny clueless posts on here it's funny.
Lucas was the sole reason behind are unbeaten run last season and should start against stoke.

But there was a report just as the season ended stating that Rodgers doesn't think Lucas is good enough and sees Allen as the solution. Which would be a disaster !

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03 Jul 2015 07:06:45
A few possibilities: we may not be planning to play with a DM in every game. Milner might be used there or we might be planning to replace Lucas if he is sold.

Most of us agree that it's important that the youngsters have a chance to come through and if Rossiter has Can plus another to get passed then it probably won't happen.

I'd be happy with Can, Milner for backup and Rossiter if he takes his chance.

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03 Jul 2015 07:14:55
Lol Lucas has never been the sole reason for anything. He is a good player but you are vastly overstating his contribution. Google causal links. Yes Lucas was in the team during the run but that may be no more than a coincidence. You have no proof that the run was because of the player. Personally I think Sakho and Can were more instrumental in the run but that's my opinion.

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{Ed001's Note - Liverpool's win rate has always been much higher throughout his career with us when he is in the team. Seems you have a short memory or you would remember how the season fell apart for Dalglish when he lost Lucas with an injury.}

03 Jul 2015 07:17:10
I said I suspect BR may be considering Milner as a deeper playmaker in a midfield three, not as a DM. no different to Gerard, or how Wiltshere has been used for England, neither of whom you'd consider DM's. Hardly a clueless comment. how else do you fit Hendo/Milner/Coutinho in a starting midfield 3?

I also said however I'd prefer to keep Lucas as a pure DM (or would personally love to see someone like a Kongdogbia for the longer term).

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03 Jul 2015 08:01:02
As good as he is (and he will be very good in time), Can is not yet fully ready to replace Lucas, and if we go into next season with Can as the starting DM, I feel certain our MF and defence will come under a lot more pressure, we will concede more and threaten less. Fir me, the bottom line is that without Lucas we can kiss goodbye to our slim chance of a top four finish.

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03 Jul 2015 10:31:51
Personally I think we are going to become 4-2-3-1 with Milner paired with Henderson as the '2' (Can as cover/rotation). Three attacking midfielders (from Ibe, Coutinho, Firminho, Markovic, Lallana), and a big striker as the '1' to knock the ball to who in turn plays with his back to goal, putting the ball down for the three attacking mids to run onto (Benteke, Sturridge as cover/rotation).

That just leaves the back four to sort out - 2 central defenders, one wing back on one side for raiding and a more orthodox full back on the other.

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03 Jul 2015 01:18:04
What about tello from barca. We were linked to him back last year. Good striker.

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{Ed002's Note - There is no interest - Liverpool has identified the striker they want and are working toward him.}

03 Jul 2015 01:26:36
I thought Tello was a winger not a striker?

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03 Jul 2015 05:23:58
He is a winger and NOT a striker.

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02 Jul 2015 23:32:29
Ed.
Just a thought. What about pelle from southampton. Think he's better than benteke and cheaper.

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{Ed002's Note - And of zero interest to Liverpool.}

03 Jul 2015 05:24:29
Cheaper yes, better no. Older too. 31 maybe? At least bentek is still young enough to improve as well.

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03 Jul 2015 07:07:45
I wonder if our transfer committee has looked at any Southampton players.

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{Ed001's Note - it will never happen, they will never take any notice of them, when have you ever known us to buy a Saints player?}

03 Jul 2015 07:33:32
Must say, I think that Templar is good player, very suave indeed.

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