Liverpool Banter Archive December 08 2016

08 Dec 2016 16:10:59
After watching the game against Bournemouth then the highlights and listening and reading a lot of comments on it I thought I'd have my say on things. Clearly matip is showing to be the bargain of the season and lovren continues to be woeful. Everyone has slated karius but between lovren and origi he shouldn't have been called upon. What was that ridiculous attempt at a header that ultimately results in the penalty. Gets caught out for pace for the second if he's not playing offside then surely he should be giving himself 5 yards on the striker. Gives away the free kick for the 3rd goal and looks disinterested on the 4th. I know he cost a lot of money and clearly he must have some ability but he keeps showing that he can't play with out a better CB covering him. I can forgive karius for his mistake young gk spills ball hardly a headline he can learn from his mistakes and when origi misses an open goal gifts the ball away at 3-1 with the worst choice of unnecessary pass and lack of challenge on the clearance for the 3rd goal. He doesn't play regularly but lovren has had a couple of seasons to improve and He still looks vulnerable. A CB partner for matip should be a serious consideration and you can't go far wrong with VVD however he will be big money I'd be surprised if he cost less than £40 or £50m after signing a long contract with saints. Imo We also need cover for mane because without him we lack pace to stretch defences. Yes Africa cup of nations is only a month but if he picks up an injury we have no cover for that kind of pace. We showed a severe lack of pace in the Europa league last season and it makes it so much more comfortable for the opposition. This season his pace has allowed other players more time on the ball because they can't afford to leave the kind of space behind them that he could exploit. Just my opinion sharing my frustrations at lovren still being a first team player. I hope we invest in two or three players this January because we are genuine title contenders in a season where other big money sides around us are still finding their feet could be a good chance to win a title with some January investment. I doubt it will happen though as Klopp doesn't seem to like the January transfer window. Rant over.

08 Dec 2016 17:13:10
There is a chance both Matip and Mane would be off for AFCON.

08 Dec 2016 21:00:30
Is Matip considering it ed001? Hope not.

{Ed001's Note - he is keeping his options open.}

08 Dec 2016 21:18:19
Ffs so we could be down to Lucas and Lovren aa our CB partnership for a number of games. Not dissing either player but the thought of it scares me. We saw what happened at weekend. Anyone else?

08 Dec 2016 21:40:20
It does worry me as well Lfc, but don't want to think of the worst before it happens, who knows he may stay with us. We can hope, otherwise it's certainly worrying but to be honest it'd surprise me if he did go, I wouldn't blame him if he did but I don't think he will, he must know he's needed at Liverpool and with it been his first season and all I can't see him going.

08 Dec 2016 22:26:06
This is where I still feel we didn't address the defensive issues properly last Summer. We've been lucky in the fact that Milner has been really solid for us at LB but still the weak link is CB. Matip has been brilliant but we are playing Lucas ahead of a purchased CB in Klavan

I personally think more could have been done to secure a quality centre half especially as Lovren is still suspect at times and Sakho on his way out.

I really hope this doesn't come back to haunt us should Matip decide to go the ACON.

Just my opinion.

08 Dec 2016 23:40:03
UB that's is exactly how I saw the game and how I feel about
However I would add the Klopp is not without blame
At 2-1 we were under the kosh due to Bournemouth's tactical changes - shuffling the back 4 and more direct up top with Ibe and Fraser
Even our 3rd goal was against the run of play
And we still looked all over the place
Instead of giving lallana a little "run around" should have brought on klavan for mane and pushed Lucas next to Henderson

Sometimes I think klopp gets swept away with the emotion of the game as a spectator would rather than a manager
He rarely makes tactical changes when things are not working - feels like he has blind faith in his pre-set tactics
I rarely see him consult with his back room staff apart the occasional hug and chest bump

Just an observation not a klopp out rant
Still the best manager we have had in the last 25+ years.

09 Dec 2016 03:34:57
Why is he the best manager we've had in 25+ years? I love Klopp and were playing some exciting stuff but he's achieve nothing yet. Rafa and Kenny brought trophies in their first season with arguably worse squads. don't get me wrong, i wouldn't want anyone else except Klopp right now but i don't understand what you are basing your over-enthusiasm on.

09 Dec 2016 06:32:49
Our team is based on high pressing offensive football and when teams press us we crumble. That has not been changed from last season. I don't expect Klopp to make any tactical changes.

{Ed001's Note - it is not true, stop saying it, you just make yourself look silly.}

09 Dec 2016 14:31:47
Harry, that is patently false and saying it multiple times will NEVER make it true. you sound like a Trump supporter, repeating falsehoods in a bid that someday, we`ll all believe it.

09 Dec 2016 22:37:49
Best as in what he brings to the fans, players, club, press and wider public compared to his predecessors
- hope and exciting football for the fans
- belief, improvement/ development and level playing field for the players (no favourites / bigger than the club players)
- sound financial squad dealings and promotes structure of club for future stability for the club/ owners
-engaging and adored by the press
- respected and admired by rival fans and the non LFC public

As far as success in terms of trophies is concerned, let's wait and see at the end of his time at the club.

10 Dec 2016 03:13:11
Kenny didn't do bad.

He should have had at least another year.

08 Dec 2016 14:56:40
Vecino "I like Liverpool and I would like to follow [Marcos] Alonso and many other team-mates of my national team [to the Prem]"

Vecino is a holding midfielder player for Fiorentina.

You got any info about this Ed02?

{Ed002's Note - There is no interest from Liverpool.}

08 Dec 2016 15:04:42
Thanks mate 😊.

08 Dec 2016 08:25:45
Brendan Rodgers claims three players are key to Liverpool's title chances this season.
1. Philippe Coutinho
2. Jordan Henderson
3. Lucas leiva

Think it's time to leave the Planet!

08 Dec 2016 08:56:42
On the first two he is 100% correct, Hendo is one of those players who people don't realise ther importance they are to the team until they're out injured. No explanation needed for Coutinho, our very own Lil Magician, for No.3 I'd have either Matip, who is the glue holding our defence together - we saw how they collapsed without him, his composure on the ball and calmness he brings to the team is invaluable or Firmino, who is a brilliant player.

08 Dec 2016 09:18:58
Agreed Magician - Lucas I love, but he's no key player for us, Hendo is most definitely one of the top Key players as of course is Coutinho, Firmino, Matip, Milner, Mane, Lallana. These players are key to our title chances, if we was to lose one of them for some time, we may have issues but luckily we do have enough quality to cover should the worst come to the worst, apart from of course the defense, that would worry me, without Matip and/ or Milner our defense is buggered.

08 Dec 2016 09:37:58
To be fair I haven't watched Celtic play this season, but I think brendans key player choices might reflect that he still isn't giving enough consideration to the importance of a really organised defence in his tactical thinking- if it is the case it will cone back to bite him when he is back in a strongly competitive league.
But the area I think he needs to address in order to realise his potential is motivating players and building a ream mentality- some of the lfc team displays in his last 12 months were just abject, with players appearing lost or disinterested- and it was often week after week.

08 Dec 2016 09:43:01
That is not what he said, if you listen to the interview. He came on to talk about the draw Celtic had against City. During the interview he was asked if he thought Liverpool could win the league. He said he thought they could because Henderson, Coutinho and Lucas were now more experienced than 2 years ago.

08 Dec 2016 10:01:44
This is not in defence of Rodgers, but to a certain extent, and within a restricted role, Lucas is quite important. I don't know how many of you remember last season when Lucas was brought in during the last 15-20 minutes of most games to close them out and finish them off. He was closing off channels, fouling right, left and center, getting the yellow cards for the team, and the disruption of oppositions' buildup. Unglamorous and certainly ugly, yes, but he was getting the job done. And now with him filling in at CB, I think there's a void for that role of "play killer". I don't discount Stewart's abilities, but Lucas is simply better at it. And it's a role that we need. To help kill off games in the last third or quarter. To stifle opposition buildup. To finish off games, so that we don't have to go through unnecessary and unwarranted surprises like last weekend.

08 Dec 2016 10:15:54
Also worth bearing in mind that Lucas is probably a big influence in the training room as one of the most experienced players, the longest standing LFC player and a massive personality.

08 Dec 2016 10:36:17
Doing the old "envelope" trick again Bren?

08 Dec 2016 12:45:51
For me the key people are Karius and Matip. Matip to remain fit and maintain form and Karius to come to terms with the league and ensure he can cope when we do come under pressure. The attacking options we have means we can and should cope if Coutinho is injured or having an off day. If Matip and Karius get it right, consistently, then we have a great chance.

08 Dec 2016 12:48:22
Lucas may have a pivitol role as it seems he is very close off the pitch with Firminio and Coutino.

Rodgers was trying to sell Lucas during his tenure.

08 Dec 2016 13:40:41
Would that be the same Lucas Leiva and Jordan Henderson that he moved hell and high water to try and drive out of the club in favor of his brother from another mother, Joe Allen? Still comedy gold and the guy hasn`t learnt a thing. "It is better to be silent and be thought of as a fool, than it is to open one`s mouth and remove all doubt" - Abraham Lincoln.

08 Dec 2016 15:00:37
Hamilton

According to you what should he say mate? If he keeps silence you would abuse him for showing arrogance.

08 Dec 2016 16:32:16
He should probably stick to talking about his current team Celtic Harry.

08 Dec 2016 16:35:51
He is free to talk, Harry. However, he should be honest and not try to pull the wool over our eyes as what I posted about those players are verifiable facts. What he said was ironic BS hence, he should have said nothing and I`m sure.

08 Dec 2016 16:43:16
My point exactly, Mikey.

08 Dec 2016 17:15:07
Mikey

You mean to say he should skip the question asked to him? What if someone ask Klopp about Tuchel and his ex club BVB?

If you want to just slag him, you could pick up plenty from the past mate.

09 Dec 2016 16:24:55
Yeah Harry he should brush off the question like most managers would, unfortunately he still can't help being baited by the media.
Naming 3 players that are crucial to our title chase is very disrespectful towards Klopp in my opinion seeing as though one player (Lucas) isn't really in the team much, suggests Klopp doesn't know what he's doing, despite the fact Brendan tried to force him and hendo out the club.
So yeah he should refrain from trying to pick our team, if he can't resist talking about his ex then just say the usual "they look great", "hope they win this year, they have some great players etc"