Liverpool Banter Archive March 06 2015

06 Mar 2015 20:54:24
Hi eds, flanno back in training, good to see, we have missed him, proper fearless front footed defender, that's good news. Wonder how he would fit the new system though as an old Sokol fullback? What do you think.

{Ed001's Note - he can play as a DM or wingback.}

06 Mar 2015 21:25:40
Maybe long term might be a Half decent dm but I don't think till he has learnt the game more.wingback better option.

07 Mar 2015 10:11:23
I think he will play u21 games for the next month or so, let's hope he doesn't come back as unfit as Martin Kelly did

07 Mar 2015 10:55:57
but can he play as a DM and wing back? or would he be more as just a stopgap.

07 Mar 2015 11:32:32
I don't think he will be a DM at all. His passing and technique isn't simply good enough with all due respect to Flanno. He would be a good back up full-back, and a loyal one.

06 Mar 2015 14:17:51
What is the opinion on balotelli?
He had a terrible start, partly due to his attitude and partly rodgers tactics.

Recently he's played so much better, looks to be getting some confidence and I'm sure more goals would follow.

Yet Brendan Rodgers looks adamant to drive him out the club. Surely every player deserves a 2nd chance. Putting lambert on instead is just a wind up really.

06 Mar 2015 14:55:57
To be frank he's very limited as to the style he suits and can't perform outside his comfort zone. Our current 3-4-3 suits him.

06 Mar 2015 15:31:58
Opinion is he's lazy with a poor attitude, Has ability but is wasting it. BR won't play him because he's static and the tiny amount of movement he does have is spent aimlessly strolling around the pitch looking un-interested. Surely your question should not be why BR won't give him a second chance it should be why is Mario not making it impossible for BR to not pick him. He's done ok in the last few appearences but Sturridge at 50% has been better so why does he deserve insistence on him playing ?.

06 Mar 2015 15:33:33
We are winning. Don't change anything

06 Mar 2015 15:37:46
Actually thought he had been playing a lot better in his last few games and still no where near paying off his investment has looked like he can play a part.

bit weird in in comparison with sturridge. Weirdly last few games thought sturridge's overall play was worse then mario's (lost the ball a lot, poor touch, passing, etc) but has scored and gets into better chances fair more.

Still hope he turns it around but seems to take one step forward one back. played better then most our attackers against besiktas but stupid yellow meant he had to come off (and we lost on penalties, his specialty).

But tbh think he offers more off the bench than borini or Lambert but still needs to stop with the stupid parts of his gameplay

06 Mar 2015 17:31:35
He changed a couple of games coming off the bench, was rewarded with a start against Besiktas, in which he only bothered playing football for 45 minutes & then disappeared. Sums the player up, can be great, but is more often than not a waste.

He's too liable to be a passenger and isn't special enough when he does put the effort in to be a regular starter. And I don't see him quietly accepting being a sub most of the time who gets occasional starts. We should cut our losses asap.

Tbh, at the rate he's going, by the age of 28, I think he'll either won't be playing Europe's top leagues (Prem, Serie A, La Liga, Bundesliga) at all, or playing for a club in one of them that finishes in 10th place on average.

06 Mar 2015 17:54:43
Yeah everyone does deserve a second chance.
Ballotelli was lucky enough to have several.

06 Mar 2015 18:48:01
Playing better yes, suiting our style of play no.

06 Mar 2015 23:04:20
I have to agree that he doesn't suit our style, but that isn't his fault. As a player, if a club want to buy you, you would think that they have done a bit of scouting on you. And that they would have a plan of how to play you? The whole transfer wasnt thought out very well. Although Mario hasn't really shown a whole lot of trying to fit the style of play he has looked better the last few apps.

06 Mar 2015 23:48:07
Balotelli has the ability to be anything he wants and could be exceptional in any system but simply can't be bothered. No option but to move him on unless he radically changes his attitude.

07 Mar 2015 01:08:07
Good point from Mark, it's not Mario's fault we bought him. I actually quite like the guy, he's probably just a very good example of someone who doesn't handle the money and fame particularly well.

I think he's done well over the last month, we need someone who gets in the box because we're currently terrible at that. How many times do we cross the ball or have the opportunity to cross and there's no-one in the box?

07 Mar 2015 07:03:41
I was really hoping he will come good but lost any hope about him. He doesn't get on the pitch to play football but to show off. He puts so much energy on showing off. Even when he runs (or more often don't run) back to the defence it is done with a lot of thought of him how to do the run so it will make him look cool. He is always happy to get into fights with or without the ball with defenders and sometime you think his main aim is to get a foul at any cost. His contribution in or out of the box this season was embarrassing, albeit that we didn't have very good service in term of accurate crossing into the box. He is probably still a decent box player for a team that can afford him not taking part in the game at all (both going forward and defending) other than waiting for the right cross in the box. I said before that in terms of value for money he is one of our poorest investment ever in line with Andy Carrol and he will have to score a hat trick every game from now to the end of the season for me to take that back.

07 Mar 2015 14:32:45
We bought Balo w/o a plan on how to use him hence, we should not be surprised that it has not worked out even though, he has helped us in the past few games. To me, that is down to management and strategy because Balo did not buy himself. We did hence, the blame should be equally shared b/w him for his atimes poor attitude and the management for their lack of vision and strategy of how to integrate him and make him suceed.

06 Mar 2015 14:10:50
Summer ins/outs;

Out:
B. Jones, Johnson, Toure, Gerrard, Lambert, Balotelli, Borini.

In:
Ryan (backup GK), Danilo, Khedira, El Shaarawy, Vietto, Ings.

06 Mar 2015 15:13:31
@Liam, from your list I'd keep Kolo Toure and in terms of your Ins I'd imagine we are likely to get Ings but none of your others.

Also what would we want El Shaarawy for? Serious question.

06 Mar 2015 16:07:59
U want 3 strikers??? For what? The reserve team?
I would take Vietto and Ryan out of that list. The rest are either not needed or not good enough. I would keep Toure out of that list. The rest will not be missed. People really need to stop having such high expectations in the transfer windows as far as LFC are concerned. The club nearly breached FFP rules and care needs to be taken to ensure such a situation does not arise again.

{Ed002's Note - The club may already have done it again.}

06 Mar 2015 17:14:05
I'd say likely departures would be.

B. Jones
K. Toure.
J. Enrique.
G. Johnson.
Lucas.
I. Aspas.
L. Alberto.
F. Borini.
R. Lambert.
M. Balotelli (if he can be sold, wouldn't be surprised to see him with us until the January window though).

We still have players such as.

T. Illori.
D. Origi.
A. Wisdom.
Plus Flannaghan still has to return.

Any purchases I think will be in keeper and striker department.

07 Mar 2015 02:32:21
I agree with your departures except for Lucas. I'd add a backup keeper (Ryan?), a proven young striker to replace the strikers (Vietto/Ings or hopefully even Lacazette?) and a strong defensive/box to box midfielder (someone like Milner, Khedira, Schneiderlin, Carvalho who can really lock down the defence but also attack when required).

I think Hendo is a natural selection in midfield, but Lucas and Allen can both be a little inconsistent in form (especially going forward), while Can is still young/developing and I also like the option of playing him RCB if required. A really strong midfielder would fill out the side nicely.

07 Mar 2015 07:20:39
Ed2 how have the club nearly already have done it again!!??

{Ed002's Note - So far, by spending far more than they bought in.}

07 Mar 2015 11:13:31
Ed why say again? because they didn't break it last year, which was revealed not too long ago.

{Ed001's Note - actually they did break it, but it was just an improvement over previous seasons. So please don't be ignorant.}

07 Mar 2015 14:34:39
Then the had better be ver careful with what they are doing right now because based on what the ED is saying regarding FFP, we are only on probation.

{Ed002's Note - The figures UEFA have recently considered were for the ending with the 13/14 season. UEFA accepted, after investigation, the two costs attributed to previous work on the stadium as allowable costs for FFP whereas only one lot of costs would have been allowed. That is how Liverpool got through by the skin of their teeth. The costs associated with the spending spree last summer will be submitted as part of this seasons figures to UEFA. At the very least Liverpool will be under investigation again and I suspect the club will be looking to sell players between the end of the season and June 30 this year in order to offset the costs. That will allow the club to look to do their buying after July 1.}

07 Mar 2015 23:48:52
Here`s to hoping we r not found guilty.

{Ed002's Note - If Liverpool could sell some surplus between the end of the season and June 30 I would think the problem will pretty much go away redohio. Going forward there will be increased commercial revenue and then the new television money kicking in the season after that. A number of European sides are looking to pan-European football magistracy (who meet March 19/20 and not 20/21) to recommend to UEFA that a cap is introduced for television/media income as the new deal favours the English sides even more. There have been several meetings to try and agree a commercial income cap which would hit all of the leading English sides amongst others but a figure remain to be agreed (although it looks like a figure in the €105M to €120M range will eventually be agreed on). I suspect that Liverpool willagain be under investigation next season and it would be a real foul up by the club if the house is not in order by then.}

06 Mar 2015 12:10:18
Hey eds, will flanno get a new deal?
And if yes, and if we keep 3-4-2-1 where do u see his future?
Can he adjust to rcb?
I think we just can't lose him-our best proper defender, a scouser and an amazing work ethic.
Just love d lad!

Thank and keep up the good work :-D

{Ed002's Note - I would think that a decision has yet to be made. Flanagan will have the next couple of months of training to prove that he is worth a new deal, and to prove his fitness. The options appear to be either let him go this summer or give him a deal and integrate him in to the squad as, probably, cover. I doubt a new deal and a loan would be an option. The shape of the team is of no consequence. What might be a consideration is that Glen Johnson will be leaving and Manquillo is not really ready.}

06 Mar 2015 12:33:10
Like TKA I think he's our best FB and possibly our best defender. If nothing else, give him a deal so if the decision is made that he goes we get some money - if Bertrand cost £8m from Chelsea he should be at least equal to that!

{Ed002's Note - The fee you quote for Bertrand is incorrect. The value of Flanagan is nothing to do with the value of Bertrand - an established player with considerably more experience.}

06 Mar 2015 13:18:22
@hjikle, Bertrand cost about the same as Moreno cost us I believe.

Anyway if we haven't offered him a contract yet (albeit due to fitness concerns) then how would you suspect we would be able to sell him and get £8m for him?

{Ed002's Note - No, Bertrand did not cost what Moreno did. Best to ignore the money.}

06 Mar 2015 14:15:07
Who would pay 8 million for a player that has 1 good season and then spent a year injured? Honestly how can people think like this!? I like him as a player but if he was spanish half the people on here would be saying get rid for any fee we can get. He's a great squad player but he's a long way off from being close to a 10mil defender.

06 Mar 2015 16:20:20
Ya sorry Ed002 I didn't know we paid so much for Moreno. Without putting a figure on it, Bertrand did cost what we wanted Moreno for (as in the desired fee which was spoken about at the time).

Anyway ya I agree with Swishcleaner.

{Ed002's Note - You would do best to avoid the numbers Sean.}

07 Mar 2015 00:10:30
Unless flanno has a career threatening injury it would be madness not to offer him a new deal. The lad was brilliant last season. I have to admit that prior to last season I didn't think he had a hole in hell of making it but boy did the lad prove me wrong. We all love it when a scouser makes it and in the past I think the club have been guilty of holding onto players for too long just because they were Scouse. Flanno's the real deal though and I would be gutted if the club let him go. Providing he's fit would take flanno over Bertrand every time and that's just at left back, would like to see how Bertrand gets on covering right back

07 Mar 2015 09:10:12
He wasn't brilliant, over-hyped because of his accent. He worked hard, but imo Connor Randalls a better player. And he's a scouser

06 Mar 2015 10:21:31
Bobatron I'm not sensitive like a few on this page about people hitting the dislike button. Shows my secret admirers who's fighting the Al attraction.
And skrtls not and will never be good enough. Watch the fans jump ship when skrtl let's us down

06 Mar 2015 10:55:01
Skrtel is playing better with there being three center backs. A lot of people notice his interceptions (which he is making a lot of) but they don't seem to notice him at fault still for a lot of chances (& goals) we give away.

For the past two years I've been hoping we'd get rid of him but Rodgers has his favourites.

On the bright side at least he hasn't brought Johnson back into the team!

06 Mar 2015 11:33:07
Sean in mate but we have can who has been excellent in the backing being wasted there to accommodate skrtls weaknesses. My opinion isn't going to get him dropped from the team because he appears as one of Rodgers first players on the sheet.
However I will say this, if there is no dof employed in the summer and a defensive coach or someone to sort the defence, fans will be crying for far more years to come. If we do not rectify the defensive issues this summer, we will regress behind the top teams. Fans don't realise how important a good defence and goalkeeper is. What fans what Liverpool to win the PL? We will never win a PL in the near future with skrtl, no top CB partnership and an average goalkeeper. The league has been poor and we haven't been punished at the back. If we were to face Barcelona or real Madrid again and they were to put away their chances we would be humiliated. The cracks get bigger under more pressure.

06 Mar 2015 11:35:27
And just to add. Skrtl and a few others are great lads. It's all football

06 Mar 2015 12:08:08
DOF seems to be on the cards alright but I don't know if a defensive coach would be added, I'd doubt it.

If Lovren settled and played to his capabilities then I think we'd have a top defence. I agree Can should be in midfield rather than defence but next season he could be replaced in defence by Ilori/Wisdom.

06 Mar 2015 12:28:58
Big Al,

We haven't won the league for 25 years mate.

A few years back it was because we never had any decent wingers.

Now it's because we don't have a decent defence.

In Reina, Carragher/Hyppia, Alonso/Stevie/Masch, Torres we had the best spine in the Premier League, still didn't win it.

The point is, you will always find evidence or a hole in the team if you don't win what you really want to win, and in our case, the Premier League.

06 Mar 2015 14:09:58
Jimmy the standard of the league was a lot better 5 years ago. If we sort out our defence this summer, we have a great chance next year because we have the quailty in the squad as we have shown these last couple of months. We would be much higher had it not been for Rodgers. We need abit of cover upfront and a goalkeeper. City and Chelsea will not grow into an unstoppable force next season, United will be transitioning again' and arsenal will have the same tune playing. With the way we play, the consistent improvement of our young playerso, if we sort defence and a goalkeeper we will have a real shot again.

06 Mar 2015 15:40:00
None of our central defenders are great. That's why we play 3 instead of 2 IMO. I would even stick my neck out and say Emre Can is our best defender. I can't understand why though because I thought Sacky and Lovren where going to be top players but they're ok at best

06 Mar 2015 20:16:25
True talk DBol. We don't really have better options.

06 Mar 2015 09:24:45
Interesting question on the poll of the day, but ultimately I think no. When an ex player or manager or world leader died you applaud to appreciate their life and impact. But when it's Remembrance Sunday, or there is a terrorist attack or a natural disaster etc - what exactly are you applauding? I don't think it makes sense to applaud it and would just be pandering to the utter persons out there who seem unable to manage a minutes silence

06 Mar 2015 09:50:25
Maybe people r applauding the brave men and women who died trying to defend their people r maybe applauding the people left to pick up the pieces.r both.

06 Mar 2015 13:12:52
A minutes silence followed by applause is acceptable. The silence is to ponder on the sacrifice, the applause to celebrate their life. I have been to many military funerals (Northern Ireland, Iraq, Afghanistan have taken their toll on the lives of people I served with and sons of the people I served with) - we always applaud the coffin into the church.

06 Mar 2015 04:11:58
HI Eds. Are the number of injuries we have had normal for a club? Sakho, Lucas, Lallana, Flanagan, Gerrard, Sturridge, Ibe, Allen have all been injured over the season and we often had 3-4 players out at the same time. Chelea and Man city seem to have 1-2 players max injured at the same time.

{Ed001's Note - yes.}

06 Mar 2015 08:16:52
The only club that has an abnormal injury record is Arsenal. Compared to them, our club is very fortunate in that respect.

06 Mar 2015 08:30:25
Look at arsenal and you'll consider us normal

06 Mar 2015 09:24:01
Raviance, you seem to be forgetting the point where city had to play Pozo up front
Every team has a similar amount of injuries to us. you only notice ours because you support our team.