Liverpool Banter Archive October 07 2015

07 Oct 2015 22:41:51
IF we get Klopp. Surely we could be hopeful of trying to break into the Champion's League via the Europa? I don't understand why there isn't more focus on this competition now that qualification is possible by winning it. Especially if the BPL loses a slot, thanks to the so far piss-poor showing by English clubs this year.

07 Oct 2015 23:10:25
Surely we should go as far as we can in every competition. I completely agree!

07 Oct 2015 23:13:42
Coupled with the piss poor performances from us last year and the rest of the English teams. I think we should be ok though regardless. I can't see the Italian teams doing much in Europe this year.

07 Oct 2015 23:36:36
The Premiership is poor! Top 4 easier than "winning" Europa league that is for sure. Come on guys what you smoking? Yes we should take it seriously but there are far better teams in that competition than those in the prem - simple!

07 Oct 2015 23:35:49
The squad is so unbalanced I'm worried that the adaptation to his high press isn't going to cause some injuries.

08 Oct 2015 01:22:50
Lets just support & see what we can achieve this season as they're still lots of games left & who knows we might sneak trophy/top4 etc. Cl places are very much open 😀

08 Oct 2015 08:33:29
from what is seen of the last season we had with luis suarez, i actually think our team is perfect for the high press mate.

08 Oct 2015 08:46:49
Nothing less than winning the EPL will do!

07 Oct 2015 20:39:17
Reds!
If it is so that Zorc is happy at Dortmund, will Jurgen want someone else in that role in LFC? If so, Who? And can Klopp work without him?

07 Oct 2015 22:21:06
Liverpool will begin to scare the opposition sh**less.

07 Oct 2015 23:27:58
Does he need Zorc to hold his hand or something? Klopp should be able to work with whoever provided the roles are well defined

07 Oct 2015 20:46:01
Eds if you're around, do Zeljko Buvac and Peter Krawietz speak English?

Just wondering if they are brought in as Klopps assistants will they have issues passing on their knowledge to the players.

{Ed002's Note - I am sure there won't be any issues with languages. Buvac speaks reasonable English - Krawietz I have never spoken to.}

07 Oct 2015 20:59:16
Thanks Ed

07 Oct 2015 19:20:14
{Ed's Note - We have posted a new article entitled, Brendan Rodgers Time As Liverpool Manager

07 Oct 2015 20:27:48
Simply worded article with no bad opinions, sarcasm or delusion. Exactly as I see it. We go again LFC. YNWA

08 Oct 2015 02:17:15
Agree 100% with most of this, the recruitment and dramatic change in pattern we played in 14/15 made it clear to me that 13/14 was never Brendan's preferred style or system, even if we have to give him some credit for playing it for a while.

Can't for the life of me figure out why he didn't just try recruit someone like Aubemeyang in attack, and Schneiderlin at DM and have another go with a winning formula. And I'm pretty sure Sterling would have stayed if played at no. 10 again.

07 Oct 2015 22:48:46
Nice article Ed023; I couldn't agree more.

I never quite understood why he (BR) changed a formula that worked with one that didn't; its as if he wants to do something different so it defines him and a legacy he's not yet nor will earn!

{Ed023's Note - It was down to complete arrogance.}

07 Oct 2015 15:51:40
Ed002, this is a manager question so I do apologise in advance.

Should Liverpool manage to get Jurgen Klopp in as manager, will we still have to worry about Bayern coming in for him at some stage or will they move onto someone else?

Thanks.

{Ed002's Note - No, there won't be any need to worry for a while.}

07 Oct 2015 18:59:00
From eds response. Sounds like peps sighing a new contract ?

{Ed002's Note - Bayern Munich want Guardiola to sign a new long term contract and had asked for an answer by November. There choice would be for Klopp to replace him and they have approached Klopp over this. Guardiola has been resisting signing a new deal and wants to see what options will be presented to him - and there is at least one club who will look to him next summer and he will certainly be interested in the job. There is tenattaive agreement that he will give them an answer by the new year - that however would be too late for Klopp, even though he would take the Munich job if offered. With the interest of Liverpool Bayern Munich have put Guardiola on the spot and told them they want him to sign a new contract and need an answer now - and they have told him they have also made an approach to sound out Klopp. This won't force Guardiola in to an early decision so it will likely be Klopp to Liverpool. A significant fear that Bayern have is that Guardiola will only initially agree to a one year extension - and that will not be something they will be happy with at all.}

07 Oct 2015 19:28:09
Is it just me to thinks guardiola is average? What has he done? Barca are barca and Bayern are Bayern.

Woopie do, I could win the league with Bayern, and they have been average in Europe.

He would get found out if he came to PL

All my opinions obviously, but I'm right! Ha

07 Oct 2015 19:31:03
So after reading ed002's detailed reply i would be optimistic that Kloop will come but at this moment it is far from certain so i would not be getting my hopes up just yet. I have this awful thought that this might still go tits up. Hope i'm wrong!

{Ed002's Note - I think it most unlikely that anything will block this from happening now. Without going in to too much detail I can confirm that one of the key players in concluding this matter has been in London this afternoon, and the Liverpool fans should take that as a very good sign. Guardiola has turned down four offers since the season began and the Liverpool job has come at a time which probably scuppers any deal with Bayern Munich who are somewhat stuck and have taken too long to figure out their situation with Guardiola.}

07 Oct 2015 20:01:56
Ed if you don't mind me asking, is the job guardiola wants next summer the man utd job?

{Ed002's Note - No.}

07 Oct 2015 20:10:11
I'm with you O G he couldn't have picked an easier job after barca.

Ed. Would it be out the question for bayern to look at mourinho?

{Ed002's Note - It is not their plan right now and I very much doubt it would be.}

07 Oct 2015 20:15:25
Cyprusred it's the man city job

{Ed002's Note - No, they were interested but that is not the job I am referring to.}

07 Oct 2015 20:16:45
Bayern Munich --- Snooze you lose.

07 Oct 2015 20:27:38
I thought man city were waiting for him?

07 Oct 2015 20:29:41
Are there any ex-bayern players that have started out on their managerial career at present , and might make it as a top manager?

{Ed002's Note - Try the European pages.}

07 Oct 2015 20:47:55
Thanks for your response Ed002. That does kind of ease some fears, but it also makes me question whether Guardiola is the sunshine and roses that everyone thinks he is.

It would seem that he is playing games with Bayern Munich, is this the case or have I misunderstood?

{Ed002's Note - I really have no idea what you are talking about.}

07 Oct 2015 23:30:52
O G - it's just you. Guardiola is a trophy magnet. You can't argue with his record.

08 Oct 2015 06:42:54
Ahhhh. so is this that November business you said Klopp was due to attend to?

{Ed002's Note - Yes.}

07 Oct 2015 14:03:12
We've uploaded a new article titled, Brendan Rodgers' Time At Liverpool
http://goo.gl/W5wUez

07 Oct 2015 18:08:39
Aside from a few spelling errors it's a good article ^_^

07 Oct 2015 16:42:50
Nice to hear somebody else's perspective on things, good article well done ed

{Ed023's Note - Thank you}

07 Oct 2015 18:04:50
It's generally a good synopsis - I would disagree a little on the ditching the diamond and going to back to "death by football":

I've said it before, but the very direct, attacking approach that nearly won us the league in the second half of 2013-14 wasn't sustainable and he was right to ditch it. It only worked because the players had convinced themselves they could win the league and came flying out of the blocks every game, and then put in another superhuman effort at the end of the game if it was needed. That sort of tempo wasn't going to mentally and physically sustainable forever. And even with us being so aggressive and direct, we were often 2nd best in terms of possession and territory for large parts of the game and got away with it more than once - I'm thinking Stoke, Norwich, Cardiff, Man City - we could've easily lost those based on how we played. And I think to be fair to Rodgers, he recognised that.

The problem is he didn't go back to his old death by football philosophy. As far as I can tell, he actually didn't go back to any sort of distinct tactic. He tried to a create a Frankenstein of his preferred game combined with what he took from Biesla, but how it worked out was we ended up with players going forward early as if to anticipate of a long ball and then usually never receiving it. Needless to say that didn't work and we ended up being a slow, disjointed, mis-shapen mess - more boring than anything served up in his first season and a half. I lost count of the number of times I saw Gerrard at the start of last season with nothing on in front of him other than long passes to static players who were marked - because they'd all run forward early in the move and emptied the space in front of him for short passes, but at the same time none of them were fast enough to be a threat in behind. That sort of thing kind of lingered through all the personnel and formation changes on an off in our game until the very end, and ultimately cost both him and us.

{Ed023's Note - I didn't like how he stopped us from getting bodies in the box, he could of easily shored up the defense and still be high up in attack - having a high line last season could of worked if he actually thought out his recruitment for example Lovren was never going to work in a high line under Rodgers. He had Henderson sit deep to cover for Gerrard's legs.}

07 Oct 2015 20:22:18
Spot on ed23, people keep saying he only had 8 games, it went far deeper than that. The real madrid white towel was it for me, you has patience to wait until the palace game.

He was too proud and too stubborn to stick with bielsa'advice and it cost him his job. Well that and an inability to sort out the defence or play a player in his natural position.

I don't like to be cynical but he should have walked when he threw pascoe under the bus and feel he stayed to get his payout from being sacked.

{Ed023's Note - I agree, in the summer he should of been gone but to be honest I am glad he didn't go because now we have Klopp :D}

07 Oct 2015 14:58:53
Has any one listened to Dietmarr Hamann recently,having the German connection means Journos have latched onto him,as if he's some sort of Bundesliga expert.
I loved him as a player but as a pundit he's so so poor,and I'm not even sure he follows the game.

I don't mean to slate on old players,but he's just become a mouth for hire over the last 3 years, he'll tweet something one day,or go on talk sport,about a subject ,then a month later completely change his tune on MOTD or football focus or something.It's like he's prostituting his mouth out as a legitimate source on football to spew any bile a show pay him £10k to do.

He's really ruining his reputation as a former red for me.

07 Oct 2015 15:32:38
I agree on Dietmar Hamann coming across as a bit clueless.

07 Oct 2015 15:54:40
That maybe so, however he is one of the few I've heard that does not say BR should have been given time etc. He was quite critical of his tenure and one thing made sense - he said that under BR Liverpool tactics to break down a stubborn defence should be like others and keep knocking at the door until they break in down. LFC would knock once, have no luck and then run away!
I though this summed up quite a lot.

07 Oct 2015 16:10:12
I like Didi on the radio.
Comes across as just a normal guy and a bit of a laugh.

Normal people do change their mind / say the wrong thing sometimes; i prefer that to someone who is so slick and careful that they never make a meaningful point for fear of a backlash.

07 Oct 2015 16:51:28
Hamman is bonkers. My mate played with him at ML Dons. Said he was barking.

07 Oct 2015 17:07:31
Didi Hamman scored the last ever goal at the old Wembly.

07 Oct 2015 18:00:45
Didi is very nice in person mate, loves this club more than you know. He has time for any fan who bumps into him, perfect professional.

07 Oct 2015 18:29:20
I like him . Tells how it is . People can change their views in the free world .

07 Oct 2015 18:54:01
I'm pretty sure pundits get told to have a certain opinion sometimes purely for a healthy debate on tv so you have to take it with a pinch of salt sometimes Bob

07 Oct 2015 19:22:04
Funniest thing he said today was that the biggest criticism of Rodgers team was that they lacked character (especially when they were losing or under pressure or in crucial must win games)

Quite ironic when you think how many times Rodgers told the world his team showed character

07 Oct 2015 19:26:10
'Ruining his reputation as a red'. Is a bit harsh. You can't take away what he did on the pitch because you don't agree with what he has to say. It's not like he's moved on to be a coach at man utd. He's a pundit and like all pundits they say things to get reactions and are always switching opinions. He's no worse than any of the others. he's also meant to be a top bloke, funny reading about him and carra always having a few beers and a laugh!

08 Oct 2015 00:52:03
AG that was my point i saw him correct his own twitter posts twice this week it was pathetic to see a grown man do that for money.

08 Oct 2015 00:53:55
btw seeing ''hamann got the lat ever goal at old wembley'' get 8 likes,completely ignoring what the original point was about,,makes me feel sad for our generations concentration span.

08 Oct 2015 00:59:06
I feel some of you completely missed the pint btw,it's not I disagree with him,it's that,he contradicts himself massively,he was loving BR only 6 months ago,saying he needed another season,after bedding in players,and that LFC were showing grit. (when we went on that 11 game winning streak) he silenced himself when we started losing,and has no come out and said BR embarrassed himself. He just seems like a gun for hire. and it comes across as quit parenthetic. It literally looks in recent interviews like he went back on everything he posted from Jan to April. Seriously,just go take a look.

I agree with people saying he's probably saying it for reactions and limelight,at the same time it was my point,it's so sad he feels he has to do that for mullah

07 Oct 2015 13:28:27
Ed do you think Balotelli will be able to rebuild bridges at LFC under a new manager? His recent tweets seem to show him trying to start this happening. Do you think someone like Klopp with his enthusiasm and passion for the game could instill some kind of improved work ethic for the lad? Bring out the best in him? Has he actually got the capacity to improve?

{Ed023's Note - I don't see Balotelli playing with Liverpool again}

07 Oct 2015 13:49:41
{Ed023's Note - I don't see Balotelli playing with Liverpool again}

I never saw him play at all. Wander about the pitch nonchalantly now and again but that's about it.

07 Oct 2015 13:50:14
OMG please drop Balotelli. I thought his loan move would make this subject done with. The Mario defenders need to finally learn that he is never going to change and infact he's an average striker. That early potential has never flourished. He's simply a disruption to training and the team.

07 Oct 2015 14:27:07
Right now he needs to get past Benteke and Ings if the new manager wants 2 up top. I can't see it happening, Mourinho was right when he labelled Mario as "uncoachable".

07 Oct 2015 15:19:51
'Average striker' is generous.

He was terrible in every aspect of his game and mostly seemed to even acknowldge he was a srtiker, spent most of his time walking around aimlessly on the right wing.

07 Oct 2015 17:25:22
Didn't he Play like 5 minutes against Spurs?

07 Oct 2015 18:47:42
Problem with him isn't ability. He has the physical attributes and skills to be great. He just has a rubbish mind set that he doesn't seem to be able to alter.

07 Oct 2015 12:37:17
Congratulations to Trent Alexander-Arnold on signing his 1st professional contact with the club, good luck lad. YNWA

07 Oct 2015 13:18:07
A regular started for the U18s in the centre of midfield and I believe he is the captain too. Congratulations.

07 Oct 2015 11:54:39
Am I the only one thinking the timing of Rodgers sacking is very poor the way Chelsea are playing at the moment can't see mourinho lasting the season I think we should of waited till they sack him and then make our move i think I he got the sack he would relish the chance to win the league with another prem club although I think klopp will be a great manager for us

07 Oct 2015 13:02:51
i would be amazed if you were not the only one who thought that.

We don't need Mourinho at Anfield. ever

07 Oct 2015 13:07:53
You mean wait for Chelsea to sack Mourinho (very unlikely) and then watch them poach the best managers.

Great idea

07 Oct 2015 13:10:57
It's just you, couldn't think of anyone worse to be manager of our club.

He is at the right club.

07 Oct 2015 14:57:07
I'd let bob saget manage Liverpool if they brought us a premiere league title. Just saying.

07 Oct 2015 15:11:53
Mourinho is arguably the best manager in the world and you wouldn't want him at Liverpool. ? Maybe just a sign of the times.

07 Oct 2015 15:33:02
Not really. Mourinho has had a star studded squad and big money wherever he has gone, except for Porto. To be fair, even most of his Porto squad went on to bigger and better things.

We've never seen Mourinho take on a real underdog team. Porto are always top in Portugal, Inter Milan at the time were always winning, Real Madrid needs no explanation and Chelsea, well they have a Russian Oligarch so again, no explanation needed.

I personally think Mourinho would struggle at a financially smaller club.

07 Oct 2015 17:55:06
Given no option , I'll take Fergie rather then take that idiot .
Nothing personal.

07 Oct 2015 18:02:06
Why should you or any other LFC fan care what other teams do? We have our own issues and Chelsea have theirs. I can guarantee you that Chelsea don`t care what we or any other clubs do so saying it was bad timing with Chelsea in mind. makes no sense

07 Oct 2015 18:40:09
hsf to be fair inter milan hadnt won the league for some time. So out of four teams two had big budget.

07 Oct 2015 19:02:25
Its more a sign of the times that you'd want a moaning, whining media whore who falls out with players wherever he goes and uses tactics so underhand to win the game sometimes it borders on disgusting, eg getting players to bully the refs, and he'll slag off just about anyone when it suits him. And don't expect him to take responsibility when it goes balls up.

I think its more a sign of the times you would even want someone like that at liverpool.

07 Oct 2015 23:11:23
Mourinho's a better manager than klopp he would attract better quality players I'm fed up of having average managers who are only able to attract average players sick of watching Chelsea man city and man untd get the best players while we're left to pick the players who aren't good enough to play for them

07 Oct 2015 11:47:12
Apparently Ancelotti has ruled himself out, he won't return into management until next season, as it stands its only Klopp for the Kop. He is the only realistic and proven target remaining

07 Oct 2015 13:20:27
It's not that way. It is now very clear Klopp will be signed up, and Ancelotti is making a statement having known that LFC chose Klopp.

07 Oct 2015 14:43:57
Perhaps sounding out Carlo was a way of strengthening their hand when negotiating with Klopp?

07 Oct 2015 15:53:01
AG maybe that's the case

07 Oct 2015 09:44:23
In as much as we are happy with the pending Klopp appointment I think its also our responsibility as LFC fans to make anfield a fortress once again. Let's improve the Atmosphere home and away, we are the 12th player and we should be responsible.

The atmosphere at Anfield recently has been terrible. We need to improve big time, let's get behind our player on and off the pitch, I was really disappointed when some fans started celebrating when Lovren was injured that's really unsportsmanship at its best. I can see light at the tunnel, Come on Liverpool Ynwa

07 Oct 2015 10:56:29
Couldn't agree more. Let's make every game a big European night.

07 Oct 2015 13:23:07
It is a mutual relationship. If Rodgers' team played well, the fans would have got excited and showed boisterous support, but that was not happening, and it because too pedestrian. When the fans tried to lift the players, it still did not work. Under Klopp, I don't think there will be any such issues.

07 Oct 2015 14:31:04
If the team are competitive again, there won't be any lack of atmosphere.

07 Oct 2015 09:22:16
Having watched bits of bvb over the years klopps teams are all about the 3 p's. Pace, power and pressing. Its not always pretty but when the players get a good understanding it can be devastating.

There is plenty of talent in the squad to manage this and i imagine a fair few of them will need to increase their fitness to play his style and maintain it which is key.

I am not expecting miracles, but i hope he fully exploits the talents in the whole football club and not overlook players like rodgers. Some players we may deem not ready sometimes become ready when given responsibility and the chance to express themselves. We shall see.

07 Oct 2015 10:04:34
Our upcoming fixtures are pretty tough and agree we should not expect miracles. The new manager needs time to get his ideas across & for the players to get used to adapt.

You can't make a silk purse out of a sows ear, and after the pigs ear BR made of things it's going to be a while before we see confidence etc return.

It will be a start to hopefully see players playing in their natural positions without being stifled by being shoehorned into roles they are not comfortable with.

07 Oct 2015 11:07:30
Klopp is well known so will demand respect and make the players work. I think most players have to until January to prove themselves to him, I doubt many players are safe apart from the obvious exceptions. It's up to the players now to prove to them their worth their keep. I know he will have ideas already but if if I were mingolet, skrtel, lovren, Allen, and maybe even Milner and lallana I'd be watching my back

07 Oct 2015 07:50:57
I don't want to get too far ahead of myself but I'd like everyone's opinion. Do u think klopp will bring back some of the famous atmosphere at anfield

07 Oct 2015 08:49:47
It's probably going to take more than just Klopp but with his passion for the game and his style of attack there should be a lot more to get the crowds excited about.

07 Oct 2015 08:56:47
I hope so because the atmosphere has been terrible since we finished second

07 Oct 2015 09:06:24
Results bring back the atmosphere in the long term, it was dead because the football was dead.

07 Oct 2015 08:51:51
If he is given time and money to build his own squad and i will take Rodgers' words here as it is a new rebuilding phase for Liverpool FC but with a top class manager, who will demand the respect of the players. If they play badly Klopp is a manager who will let them know about it and not praise them, that's where Rodgers failed.

I am not expecting instant results as i said he needs time to get his players in and it will take time for the players to understand his way of football that he wants to be played. In my opinion if he plays 1 up top then he has already failed as Liverpool need two up top at all times. Klopp does like to play 4-2-3-1 so unless he pushed Sturridge out as a RAM then he will have to change the formation that he likes.

07 Oct 2015 09:10:02
Bring back the famous football and the rest will take care of itself.

07 Oct 2015 09:18:00
I agree O.G but that's a problem, we aren't the best fans anymore, palace are rocking no matter what, its like we are snobs now, no good football/results no atmosphere.

07 Oct 2015 09:33:53
Finishing 2nd killed us. Then we went from this amazing football to dross over the space of the summer, it's no wonder really but I agree we need to pick it up.

07 Oct 2015 10:39:28
it was not finishing 2nd that finished us it was losing suarez , pure and simple for me because if we still would have had suarez there would be no need for the players bought with his money and we would have finished in the top 4 every season we had him he was that good and his goals would have got us there

07 Oct 2015 10:40:33
Its up to the fans to bring back the atmosphere not Klopp, we as fans are way too fickle and despite what we feel about the off field issues we need to sing our lungs out at the game. Our motto is, 'You'll never walk alone', but I feel our players have been walking alone for months now and that too is fuelling their lack of confidence! Dont bring BR into it or any other bs just sing your hearts out.

07 Oct 2015 11:03:13
Well I hope it starts match day 1. Give Klopp full support, give him the best chance to feel welcome and settled, let him know fans are 100% behind him.

Why stay quiet and dull, Rodgers has gone. Previous results and style are nothing to do with Klopp. Even if we lose or draw our first couple or so under him, it's not his team or tactics yet, we should still make the right noise.

This guy respects and adores our club and fans from a far, why show him a dull dead atmosphere? No need to be disgruntled anymore.

90 minutes of songs, cheering, clapping, support every game. We've just landed one of the best and most sort after coaches in world football, any sign of Anfield or away being like it has been would just be embarrasing.

06 Oct 2015 19:05:56
Ed001 would like to get your opinion on klopp. I remember you saying how mad Monchi and Emery(?) are about football. In the sense that they breath and talk football. Are klopp in that category as well? If not, how's his style like?

{Ed001's Note - he is more of an inspirational type, than an obsessive. Yes he does try and get more involved than most, but not to the level of Monchi or Emery. His focus is more on managing people, to get them to perform to their best. He will look to inspire better play, as much as inform the players about their opponents' weaknesses to allow them to exploit it.}

07 Oct 2015 09:44:44
I just felt all warm and fuzzy reading that.
I have long thought that most of the players we have are high quality, but Rodgers mismanagement of them has been the problem, going from very bad to very good on the front will see at least some of the current players go up a level or two or even three! Only very few new players will be needed, it's getting the right ones that's important.
(LF: Reus, CB: Hummels, GK: Leno, LB: Hector) :)

07 Oct 2015 09:00:22
Ed001- a lot has been made of his tactics and the gegenpressing (might be wrong?) do you think he will be able to implement that style on our players? Tactically he's got to be better than Rodgers!

{Ed001's Note - we have players who are well suited to a press, which is why we always look better on those rare occasions one happened. So yes, I fully expect the players to be able to cope with a pressing style, though, in his final season at Dortmund Klopp was looking to change things slightly. The high press to smother those teams Dortmund would struggle against and playing a more possession based system against teams they would expect to beat. He felt that his players were struggling with tiredness trying to implement the press all season. Personally I would prefer managers that feel that is an issue to look at the training, as there is absolutely no real reason for players to suffer from exhaustion in a season, other than not being fit enough or mental tiredness. Either push them harder in training or rest them, rather than drop the press for some games.}