Liverpool Banter Archive March 08 2016

08 Mar 2016 16:10:59
Question for Ed1 - as a fan. Regardless of rumours or players that we have been linked to, who would you like to see the club bring in the summer?

{Ed001's Note - I have put this on my to do list mate, to do it properly rather than just naming someone off the top of my head. It is a keeper, left back and centre back in the main though, with possibly a left winger but I would prefer to see Ojo given some chances there.}

08 Mar 2016 19:06:11
Another CB on top of matip ED? I presume that would mean we would have to let two of Skrytll, Lovren and Sakho go. I don't disagree it just seems we haven't been linked with many other CBs apart from Subotic.

{Ed001's Note - it was who I would want, not who we will buy. I like Lovren and Sakho, but neither can be relied upon to stay fit.}

08 Mar 2016 22:31:37
Tbh all of our centre backs have drastically improved since klopp came in.

Unfortunately the goalkeeper and fullbacks have been making them look bad.

Sakho has had poor form recently and people are slagging him off when he's down, he was a hero a few months ago.

Toure and Lovren have been brilliant recently, very proud of them after difficlut periods at the club.

Even skrtel, who i have regularly ranted about, has improved drastically, although i don't think it will be enough to save him as he is still a loon at heart.

What the defence really lacks is chemistry and a leader, you can't buy those things in the market very often.

09 Mar 2016 02:20:18
I think Niklas Sule would be top of list for cb.

08 Mar 2016 18:03:54
Hi Ed001 - if you're about and going back to opinions of players from yesteryear - what's your thoughts on McManaman. For a few years he was unplayable in my opinion, his link up play with Fowler was almost telepathic at times.

{Ed001's Note - he could be brilliant, but had a tendency to run down blind alleys and waste possession also. On song he was incredible, but off it and he was awful. Everyone forgets the bad bits though, because the good bits were so exciting. I have to say, him, Fowler and Matteo were excellent for the youngsters, they were often at reserve and youth games when they could, watching and supporting.}

08 Mar 2016 19:48:36
I remember reading that about fowler, really top display from them 3 to do that, means so little to them, but so much to the youth.

08 Mar 2016 20:58:02
Cheers for the reply. He was the first player who ever really went on to achieve more after leaving Liverpool (in my living memory anyway) - was the start of us not being the pinnacle of a players career.

{Ed001's Note - very true.}

08 Mar 2016 22:53:16
Does nobody else find Steve mcmanaman unbearable as a pundit/ commentator. First of all there is his accent which is ridiculous as he insists on over-pronouncing words and then there is his constant repetition.

Brilliant player, terrible pundit.

08 Mar 2016 15:54:11
I think most fans and ed001 are critical about benteke. if you look at origi he has played 11 games and only 2 goals to show.

His work rate is appreciated but goals are important.
How many strikers in premier league can score 20 goals esch season.
Only aguero left to choose and even he is injured most of the season.
Sturridge had only one good season with us.

I will not swap vardy for benteke for his one season.
Benteke is only 25 and has scored more than 10 goals every season.
He had a preseason with rodgers and mid season with klopp, both completely different.
Give him some more time, he is s beast player. You are guareented to get goals from him, give the guy a full preseason with all attacking players being fit.

He is a proper no9, he played as lone striker when players like lallana and ibe were playing as wingers anf they were in terrible form and leftout. Now top players in couts studge anf origi is back.

He is proven talent in bpl. Its not easy to find 20 goal strikers every time. You all know how bad some top strikers become, when they play in bpl.

{Ed001's Note - everybody but Benteke has shown improvement under Klopp, that has to be a worry. No good saying he will come good, he has shown no desire to work for his country or clubs over the last few years. Until he shows that desire, he will be criticised.}

08 Mar 2016 16:17:43
Then that would be critic for transfer committe for chosinh wrong player.

Then again we went for balotelli. He might be better than balo i think in attitude.

{Ed001's Note - yes it was the fault of the manager who pushed for his signing, but that does not mean we should try and pretend he is doing well.}

08 Mar 2016 18:03:26
The TC is not responsible for CB being here so don`t know why you`re bringing that up. BR lobbied hard for CB, like he did for Lallana, Moreno, Allen, Lovren and god knows how many others. Benteke is not working hard and until he does that, he will keep getting benched. I didn`t say that, Klopp did when he said "If you`re angry because you`re not playing regularly, don`t come to me. Show me on the pitch". Origi, lovren, Sahko, Can, Firmino, Lucas and even Skrtel for a while, improved or have improved considerably under Klopp so what`s CB`s excuse?

08 Mar 2016 18:50:12
If Origis only scored twice in 11 games, awarding him that hat trick was a real blunder.
You make a decent argument but don't use untruths to back your point up.

08 Mar 2016 19:20:21
it must be league goals but i just checked minutes played origi it said was around 446 mins in the premier league benteke 1259 so there goals to minutes played ratio is similar.

08 Mar 2016 19:51:08
If benteke was not scoring and trying hard if give him the benefit of the doubt because of his record. But he's getting a few goals, but not busting a gut, and not making the correct runs (if any at all) then it's more worrying.

09 Mar 2016 04:24:28
When benzene came on he did make some runs and he did put himself about. He made a run and coutinho played him in he turned and the keeper made a good save. He made the run that hendo sent him to win the penalty. He was improved abit no doubt in my mind. And I'm glad to have benzene as plan b. Better than lambert who cares about 32 million. Liverpool will always have money to spend despite the fear mongering by the eds who act like they are Liverpool accountants saying oh we can't keep spending ect. Yes we can we are Liverpool. Not Norwich.

{Ed001's Note - good job you are not working for the club, you have the complete lack of understanding of financial reality shown by Rodgers. It is not fear mongering to suggest we stop spending more than we make. It is called common sense. Perhaps you should try it?}

08 Mar 2016 14:45:46
So Jamie redknapp has come out and said Liverpool would be 14 without Benteke goals . so layoff him people it's not his fault that we payed 32 million for him.

08 Mar 2016 14:57:47
It's not his fault not one of our professional football players can put a cross or corner in to the box.

{Ed001's Note - it is also one of those dumb stats that anyone who believes is relevant needs help! How do you know Liverpool would not be higher up the table if someone else had been bought with the money? They might have made the runs required and scored enough to put us in the top 4. The pretty boy is on TV for a reason - he doesn't have the brains to manage.}

08 Mar 2016 14:58:26
He won the penalty and scored the goal that won the match.

08 Mar 2016 15:16:38
another silly pundit comment, we could be in the top 4 if he had scored goals more often, no he did not set the fee, but he got the move he wanted when he left aston villa, can you truly say he has made the most of it? . He should be taking his game on to the next level, making himself undropable becoming one of the games most feared strikers, sadly I don't think he has the attitude required to score goals on a regular basis, he certaintly does not have the required work rate for a jurgen klopp team.

08 Mar 2016 15:36:19
Without bentekes goals I guess we wouldve had 10 men on the pitch. The 'without goals' statement is also stupid.

08 Mar 2016 15:45:57
But u can say they same if we had a good goalkeeper we could been in the top 4 or even if we had kloops from the start of the season.

08 Mar 2016 16:27:01
Statman muscatred here. I was playing with some numbers earlier and certain prominent players. The good news for Benteke is that we concede less when he's on the pitch. The bad news, and the more relevant point, is that we score less as well. I have a soft spot for Benteke but he hasn't taken his chances yet. Not convinced he can't come good but he's amongst or worst performers this season so far.

08 Mar 2016 16:36:54
Fact of the matter is we pick up more points without Benteke on the pitch - and score more goals. Origi is 20, cost 1/ 3 of what Benteke did and works about 3 times as hard.

08 Mar 2016 17:06:15
But does he score goals?

08 Mar 2016 18:18:37
Another one of those pointless stats that make an incompetent pundit sound good and has no basis in reality. there`s a reason he can`t coach, as Ed said. If we had signed Bacca who actually fits the way we play and press the opposition`s CB`s all game as he`s doing now with Milan, who says he wouldn`t have made the runs and the effort needed to get on Coutinho`s thru balls to score more? You see how easy it is to use "what if`s" to make your point? CB not only lacks effort, he also doesn`t even score the goals laid on for him on a plate so in fact, what is he actually good for? a plan B? Even city didn`t keep Dzeko as a plan B and Bony can`t get a game because he doesn`t fit the way they play but they can afford to have him on the bench. We can`t afford to have a 30m pound player on the bench. That is 30M in "dead" money as in, money that is not generating any profit for you.

08 Mar 2016 19:13:00
"He scores goals"

Yeah he does, but he has missed about half a dozen 1 on 1's with the keeper and looped a few free headers into the stands.

As a pundit Redknapp is a grade A twonk.

09 Mar 2016 03:06:49
he should stick to the Budweiser ads, I think that's his level, what next is he going to give advice to sturridge on how to stay clear of injury?

08 Mar 2016 12:42:40
Is Markovic officially coming back next season? I remember reading something on it in the last day or two. A quality player in the few games he played last year and I hope things work out for him here especially considering we paid a pretty penny! If he is back on the Side of Mersey next season where does he fit eds? And how highly do you rate him I ponder?

{Ed001's Note - nothing is agreed or decided either way yet. I quite like him, he worked hard, just needed to be given a chance in his proper position.}

08 Mar 2016 12:58:05
Thanks for the speedy reply ed, all the best.

{Ed001's Note - you are welcome mate.}

08 Mar 2016 13:21:21
Just waiting on the wannabe scouts weigh in on why a 20 year old in a new country that was played out of position is not good enough for Liverpool. He did okay when he did feature, personally I think he'll be a great player given a few years to develop. Hopefully with us.

08 Mar 2016 13:58:26
+1, the guy has something, just needs to be properly coached and integrated into the side and may yet develop into something special.

08 Mar 2016 14:37:29
I feel he maybe good as no.10 as he has good passing range. The bad thing about him is he can't tackle.

08 Mar 2016 14:51:04
Paddy Berger v2.0

If he wants to stay he should.

08 Mar 2016 15:43:05
Lol Ron are u making that comparison purely because they had the same hair?

08 Mar 2016 15:17:45
my only question would be does he want to come back?

{Ed001's Note - he is not sure right now.}

08 Mar 2016 18:03:02
I remember him against real madrid in his preferred position. kinda like sterling but looks to offer a bit more.

08 Mar 2016 19:14:23
Of course not Chris, they have the same cheekbones too!

08 Mar 2016 20:37:08
Haha I was worried u missed that!

09 Mar 2016 07:09:39
I really like Markovic. Has a good attitude and looks like he has real potential. My biggest concern is that he does seem to suffer injuries quite a lot.

08 Mar 2016 11:46:22
Crystal Palace

Its about time palace fans got a grip, they are starting to look stupid!

First Manager goes into meltdown, this is the same Manager who headbutted a player!

Then the full back says "I definitley did not touch Benteki, and ever if I did it wasn't a foul" make your mind up, watch the replays, You clearly caught the foot!

Now some sad individual is starting a petition to ban benteki for ever and deduct Liverpool 6 points! , what a prat, grow up and move on.

Would I feel aggreived if it had happened to Liverpool? probably, but thing happen in football GET OVER IT muppet


rasone.

08 Mar 2016 12:36:57
It is at thimes like this when Pardew is getting all stroppy in the interview, where I would love to see the interviewer actually pose a question to him along the lines of "What about the dive Dwight Gayle did last year against Liverpool to get Henderson booked? " as well as feigning injury etc.

08 Mar 2016 12:52:46
The petition to ban a diver is a bit daft like, especially coming from a fan of a club that Dwight Gayle and Wilfried Zaha play for. However it is always a shame to see a Liverpool player cheat like that, and it is cheating there's no covering it up with 'oh he touched his left foot'.
Anyway time to move on and focus on united coming to town as it looks like our season is hanging on these next few games.

08 Mar 2016 13:08:37
Shows you how pathetic the club is and it starts from the top. You have a whiny, self-entitled, petulant, provocative and tactically aweful manager who is known for being a thug on the sideline, running his mouth and blaming everybody but himself for a poor game that he himself thought they did not deserve to win. And the fans, who are just as petulant as he is, are eating it all up because well, they have become just as bad as he is. None of them had bothered to ask him why his team haven`t won a game in 3 months? Blaming Benteke for getting tactically hammered by Klopp in a game in which he had a one man and one goal advantage and still lost, is typical of the overrated English PL manager who hides his incompetence behind a ref decision that is universally hailed as the right one. Listen CP fans: you may have had a decent run vs LFC in the past three games BUT even a dead clock is right twice a day. You will never be at our level and you will be in the Championship if your manager is remains as incompetent as he is now.

{Ed001's Note - to be fair, Pardew has done brilliantly to deflect away from his complete inability to manage.}

08 Mar 2016 13:21:25
It's getting cringe very cringe I could understand straight after the match tempers being high and people
Not being happy but come on get over it
Ras43 u said it spot on mate.

08 Mar 2016 15:00:31
Ed just a quick question living up north I heard he only got the toon job because of a outstanding gambling debt between him and Ashley don't know who owed who but it did come out the blue when he was appointed did you hear anything about it or is it just one of them rumours he wa sout of mange ment for a long time.

{Ed001's Note - it was Derek Llambias he owed it too and it is true. He was being paid a pittance in actuality and the rest went on paying off his loan.}

08 Mar 2016 15:28:23
I have never liked Alan Pardew as a manager and I would love Newcastle to stay up at Crystal Palace's expense. AP is a legend in his own lunchtime and in my opinion probably will manage England which would be a shame for those fans that actually give a toss about the team. AP needs to focus on his next game and try to stop the rot as CP have one or two good players and played well against us at 11 vs 11, we had the man disadvantage and were trailing. Alan Pardew is solely responsible for the defeat as he is the manager I am running the risk of a headbutt so I'll leave it there haha!

08 Mar 2016 17:47:03
He's a center back isn't he?

08 Mar 2016 18:23:08
Spot on, Ed. Just like BR did until his bluff got called and was rightly given the boot.

08 Mar 2016 19:15:42
Palace fans won't get a grip whilst they have a twonk for a manager.

08 Mar 2016 21:11:06
i wouldn't mind losing a few hands of poker to lambias or ashley so i could get the newcastle job i'd easily get them relegated and they would let me they seem to be ok with it by the ammount of time mclaren has been kept i'd also buy joe allen for 40 million off lfc get some of that carrol money back.

{Ed001's Note - the head coach does not choose the players brought in mostly. Hence why they bought so differently in January when they actually let McClaren choose his own dross, instead of just being given it.}

08 Mar 2016 10:40:59
Only positive factor I see in liverpool team is that attacking players in coutinho, firminho, ings and origi are young and got good years ahead of them.

Hopefully firmino finish the season with double figures in assist and goals.

Klopp should move coutinho from left wing to central role and get a proper winger. Coutinho is a player who can score goals if we can get into box often.

By playing in left wing he is only trying to cut inside and nowhere getting near box and always shoots from outside the box.

In central position he was able to pick a pass and shoot easily . This season he was very much restricted.

We have already brought grujjic and players like joe allen play very less these days and I don't think there will be additional improvements in mid as stewart was promoted recently.

Lot of outgoings and 1/ 2 incomings in key positions and a strong finish to europa is what now expected.

With a full preseason under klopp let's see how far liverpool can go next season.

08 Mar 2016 13:12:49
Jerrin tbh i think pc is better on the left. When we played 433 sterling ended up as the central. Each opinion to there own.

08 Mar 2016 14:00:42
I think he is one dimensional playing left.

08 Mar 2016 14:32:54
If he plays centrally, he would need speedy players in front of him making those runs for his passes and I don't think we have the wingers required. Sorry for my english;-)
Opinions are welcome
Ynwa.

08 Mar 2016 14:20:11
Personally I would play him in central midfield as we need somebody who can create from deep.

08 Mar 2016 15:29:02
I would give countinho a free role he is the one player in our team the opposition know they have to mark, which should create space for others, sturridge and firmino for starters, plus he has the ability to dribble past defences.

08 Mar 2016 11:09:34
Decent assessment Jerrin.
Let my out my view on this.

A very balanced team will have 2 wingers either side of a CAM behind a striker. Unfortubatly we don't have wingers ( Ibe have not performed to the level we all expected while Klopp doesn't favor Ojo or Kent which is a real shame )
I am not sure what's his plans with Firmino? He isn't a wide player and played a lot centrally and free behind a striker or as a striker upfront on his own.
Lallana? Another player who is good played centrally? Where is the place for wingers when you start all three of them?

Coming to midfield. Let's play down all the hype on Grujic. At 19 years old he isn't going to be the Alonso next year.

Stewart is a fine fine player. One to look out for next season. Midfield is still incomplete due lack of a top class Playmaker / CM with fantastic passing abilities to unlock the defense and dictate from the back rather than Sakho playing out from the back.

I am strictly not convinced by Henderson sitting deep or Can sitting deep. Both often leave huge gaps when they charge forward and not famous for passing attributes either.

08 Mar 2016 10:31:29
I'd prefer Conan to Leno, his quiff would help him settle in with the lads quicker and he wouldn't keep tripping over his chin.

08 Mar 2016 09:36:32
I rate both Firmino and Coutinho highly and at the start of the season i was licking my lips at the thought of them playing together for us. But so far they've only played 9 times together in the league. That is just under a third of the games we've played. Hopefully we'll see them play more regularly together for the rest of the season and next season! If they manage to do so i am absolutely positive we will improve no ends. I think they've already shown small signs of a good understanding - something that can only develop as they play more together. Firmino moves around so well and we've seen what a difference it makes to Coutinho to play with someone like that compared to a Benteke or a Balotelli. With Sturridge making his comeback and ings still to come back, young talented players like Ibe, Ojo, Kent who play on the wing, maybe Markovic coming back - we do not need to add to much on top of the pitch - if anything.

I think the future is very bright and i am so optimistic at the moment. I'm in love with being a Liverpool fan.

08 Mar 2016 10:42:01
yes, coutinho's ball control and dribbling is immense its like he's from another earth.

08 Mar 2016 10:21:49
Ed001 if you about, any idea how Smith is progressing off the field since his contract signing? Part of me thinks well as he's had a couple of opportunities and showed real promise. However with Moreno's performances of late I would like to have thought Smith might have gotten more opportunities.
Now that I've written this I have got the sense that he could just be injured at the moment, so I'll adapt the question slightly if that is the case to, do you think if Moreno and Enrique leave in the summer we potentially have enough cover already with Smith and Gomez with flannagan and clyne as potential back ups if needed?

{Ed001's Note - he had done well but not well enough to be relied on yet, I would prefer us to look to bring in one, as Gomez, Flanno and Clyne are not left backs and they should only be used as emergency cover.}

08 Mar 2016 13:11:53
Spot on, ED. Is Guerrero a good LB in your mind?

{Ed001's Note - I have not seen enough of him yet to really be sure. I did watch that Rodriguez a few times recently and he was dreadful. Not sure if he is just going through a bad patch, but he was hopeless.}

08 Mar 2016 18:32:18
Rodriguez is just like Moreno IMO as in, can`t defend to save his life.

{Ed001's Note - that is how he looked to me in the games I saw. He was giving away silly fouls as well, due to chasing back and lunging in. It was very reminiscent of Moreno.}

08 Mar 2016 06:52:38
Morning all

Question, not that everyone thinks we want to qualify but if we finish 7th do we go into Europa?

08 Mar 2016 08:13:57
When the season starts 5th gets Europa.
If the winner of the league cup (In this case city) is already in Europe then 6th place becomes a Europa spot too.
I believe the same rule now applies for the fa cup? I could be wrong it may still go to the runner up if the winner is already in Europe?
But if this does apply then say if arsenal win it then 7th becomes a europa spot too.

08 Mar 2016 08:28:03
Cheers mate. i'm mixed tbh if I want us in it or not.

08 Mar 2016 08:51:33
I want us in it.
I don't like the competition, the format is wrong etc, a lot needs to be improved.
However Liverpool is a big name, we need European football. And we need to start doing well in Europe not just making up the numbers.

08 Mar 2016 09:26:31
If we had the squad for it I would have us play everyday. Don't you enjoy watching our team play Lfc forever? ;p.