Liverpool Banter Archive November 08 2014

 

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08 Nov 2014 21:48:14
Liverpool football clubs aims.

Identify quality players, they don't have to be expensive

And lastly find an experienced manager who is ridiculously organised and experienced with tactics offensively snd defensively

At the end of the day. He had a few years he gave it a go. He's made huge mistakes, didn't learn from it and now it's time for someone else who can push is further

I don't see the problem with this I don't think it's negative thinking it's just he had his time now

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Well in mate a player does not have to cost 25 million to play for LFC he needs heart desire will to win commitment love of the badge team work hard work not all in that order and that there is no I in team this is what this club stands for this is what Shankly built this club on we are heading down a wrong path and I am not that clever to solve this problem but I do wish I was

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Completely agree

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09 Nov 2014 02:15:54
I was just sitting at home thinking the same thing. The last signing that cost over 20MM pounds and was a big success was Suarez. The current committee has not done a good job of identifying value. The two best signings have been Sturridge and Coutinho. Both would be considered non marquee signings. If I were John Henry I would tell the committee that they could not spend more than 15MM on any one player. Look at what Southampton has done, let Lovren go for north of 20MM and brought in Toby Alderweireld. Much better bargain with him coming off an underwhelming season at Atletico. I think the team would be much better off looking at players like that.

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You will be lucky to find players today who match that CRITERIA! yes good luck with that! those day's are well gone.

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Regards players and prices, I and others have talked about alonso 3mill, remy 8mill, koplyanka 12 mill, all wouldve done as good and probably better than what we have.

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08 Nov 2014 20:55:02
Hello Eds, specifically Eds002.

Lots of nonsense about Rogers could be gone soon. Do you think the owners are seriously thinking of this, we massively over achieved last year and it was 'almost' Lord Rogers! Now 11 games in, could be game over. What do you think? Is January a serious option? Or is he backed. ? Regards, Matt

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{Ed002's Note - I have explained my view repeatedly Matt. Search on "independent".}

Thanks, must of missed it. Great read.

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08 Nov 2014 20:43:44
eds to add to my last post just seen Rodgers say top 4 is are aim wonder how the owners will see that.

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{Ed002's Note - Disappointing.}

Ed did u receive the first post and if so any response?

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{Ed002's Note - I dealt with it.}

To risk the wrath of ed001 and half the posters here. Top 4 kind of has to be the aim after such a shocking start to the season. Not saying I'm happy with that at all. We should be aiming for a title charge this season.

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He might b out of a job even if that happens.

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This discussion is a bit naive in my view. The title wasn't a realistic aim with Suarez gone and with our limited resources and attractiveness (Sanchez preferring Arsenal etc).

Top 4 may have been a more realistc option in the begining of the season - it will not happen though, we have too many problems, we have played more than quarter of the games of the season and we don't improve on any of our problems one bit (the only improvement is we don't grab shirts in opposition's corners anymore).

The question what happens then when we finish 7 or 8 or 9. I think nothing will happan. BR will say things like transition, sturridge injury, he didn't want Baloteli in the first place etc and we start next year same all same. I don't think our owners will show BR the door in the forseen future whatever the results are.

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08 Nov 2014 21:44:39
Top four? We will be lucky to finish in the top 8 the way we are playing. Sturridge is a red herring - his return is not going to make that much difference, even Fowler, Owen or Rush in their primes would struggle to score with the delivery the midfield is providing. We are now 11 games gone - neary a third of the season, and we have already lost 5 games, conceding more goals than we have scored. My opinion for what it's worth is that we have bought to many players during the summer and not let enough go (forced out if needs be, yes Johnson I mean you). If we are to become 4-3-3 then I am afraid Gerrard needs to sit on the bench and we need to concentrate on bonding Can, Lallana and Henderson as the midfield trio to take us forward. More use needs to be made of young players - the talent we have seemingly ignored is beyond a joke. At the moment we seem to be drifting and lacking direction, floundering on from one match to the next with no real tactical doctrine developing other than 'it will be fine when Sturridge is fit' (no it won't) and no idea of what the first 11 should be. Our back line seems totally clueless as to what they should be doing and none of them seem to be showing any willingness to be the unit leader - they just flounder around like 4 blind strangers on roller skates and they continually put Migs under pressure by their hesitancy and inability to work together - I assume Johnson plays for two reasons, his contract and the fact nobody will buy him off us on his wages, Flanagan should be in his place. I really don't see the point of cameo appearances by Lambert and Borini. - I think we would have got better mileage reverting back to 4-4-2 in the immediate term and pairing them together up front.

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If we finish the season 8th or 9th I would think the chances of BR surviving would be really, really low. 7th would show no progress from when he started and I would think still be considered unacceptable.

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I don`t even think he will make it till Jan if he doesn`t win his next few games.

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If he arrests the current poor form, top 4 will be the bare minimum. Anything worse and he will be sacked.

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08 Nov 2014 19:16:06
Eds there's a rumour that liverpool never actually bought balotelli and that he is owned by a third party instead.
Obviously I don't believe it but just to clarify 100%

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{Ed002's Note - That would mean a charge, a significant fine, a likely points deduction and perhaps a transfer ban for Liverpool. I assume you have been playing in Twitter.}

Eds, I saw the same thingh on bleacher report. "Mario Balotelli's Contract and the Real Reason Liverpool Signed Him from Milan" Not saying that it is factual, but the article is out there.

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{Ed002's Note - Third party ownership is banned in the UK. I don't care what you have read.}

Sorry Ed, I should have prefeced that I'm not arguing, I agree with you, just letting you know that the silly story is out there. I can't see LFC blatantly snubbing the rules. Sorry if I offended.

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I got linked it on facebook, yeah thought it was fake.
Cheers ed

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08 Nov 2014 17:34:18
I must admit I was impressed with Chelsea. They are technically excellent and seem highly motivated.

Little glimpses of last year but something is missing.

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Chelsea play with a tactical and technical structure along with a set sense of direction that makes them seeingly unbeatable. They defend with tenacity and everyone knows his or her job when attacking/defending set-pieces and their shape akes them impregnable almot all the time. That is down to tactics and sound direction and coaching from the manager and nothing else. Period!

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By 'glimses of last season but something is missing' you refer to LFC? if yes then this must be the understatement of the year. Here is a list of things we desperately miss this season that were there last season (most of them) to help you with your comment: Suzrez, non-injured Sturridge, goals, chances, headers, crosses, goals from set pieces, decent defence, accurate passes, creativity, strikers that can score, strikers that can run, strikers that can both run and score, shots on targets, a manager with a plan B, knowing what we want when we go forward, one good signing (at least?), a formation that works, knowing our best 11, confidence, decent gk (although I personally think in recent games our gk wasn't our main problem), courage to drop Gerrad and Johnson occasionaly, money to spend in the next transfer windows, good scouts, decisive owners, occasional imrpvement in anything of the above, luck, no goal line technology, hope. As you can see we are not lacking in being depressed and moaning but this is only because the team dosen't give us anything to cheer about not even once every fortnight.

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08 Nov 2014 20:11:07
Chelsea's defending is really superb. Their midfield was poor at times but still we couldn't break them down; lost count of their blocks in front of goal. Kudos to them

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I agree that Mingo has been good in recent games.

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He is a great shot stopper but he needs to keep working on the rest, and some of the mistakes he makes are schoolboy stuff! but he is trying harder

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{Ed001's Note - trying harder? So he wasn't trying hard enough to begin with then? There should be no more effort to give, if there is then they should be bombed out of the club. No player should be able to just try harder than they already have been, because they should be giving their all every game.}

08 Nov 2014 15:44:28
Just finished watching the match with a fellow life-long Liverpool supporter.
Yes we have lost Suarez and do not have Sturridge available. However, we have lost the pressing game that was a feature of so much of our best performances last season.
More questions are coming up every week and a lot of people are using this to either start questioning the manager or justify why they thought he was the wrong man in the first place.
It's a shame, yet you can see some of the points being made are cause for concern.

Why are players not being picked on form? What message does that send out to a player not currently in the 1st team? Why should he bust a gut when there doesn't appear to be an reward of either getting a start or a 2nd game if he played awesome the game before and then gets dropped for someone not quite as good (either on current form or actual current ability)

Our defence has always been shocking yet our gaol-scoring masked the leaky nature of defence.
We will obviously have someone tasked with coaching the defence (set-piece positioning, shape, movement etc), so there has to come a time when it comes down to the player or the coach that is at the root cause of the problem and changes are needed.
If you look at Moreno, Manquillo, & Lovren, they are new to the set-up, yet the problems continue fro last season, so surely it is down to coaching?

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The confidence has gone. I would think Brendan will have until January to turn things round.

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At this rate, I doubt he will get till January.

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Who in their right mind would give him another transfer window??

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Good post I largely agree there.
It would interesting to see how many goals our strikers would have scored if the rest of the team had actually bothered to press high up this season. I bet it would be more than the current zero.
I posted just before kick off but don't think it was posted about why Lucas, toure and borini didn't start today. why should they bother trying to impress again if they are just going to lose their place to overpaid and under performing players.
To be fair the team where a bit better today, even ballotelli had an ok game. Running around a bit seems to do wonders for his game lol.

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I'd maybe give him another window depending on where we're sitting come Christmas, just no money outside of that brought in by sales.

Poor Sturridge- seems Rodgers is putting everything on him to save him from himself. Then again the excuses change every week, maybe next game it'll be something else.

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The team is lacking confidence and the manager lacks belief in his own abilities hence, he goes w/ what he knows best even though it is clear for everyone to see that it is not working. I think he is afraid to change his tactics because he will look like he buckled under pressure from the fans BUT if he remains on this stubborn path, he will not last till Jan. Only aninsane person would ontinue to do the same thing and expect diff results.

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There is no way I would give him more money.
Look what Koeman has done with a decimated Southampton team, there are good managers out there that could get top 4 with our boys

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I don't think he'll get till January as things are very dire and don't really look like improving. He's provingto be extremely stubborn in refusing help, and is hurtingthe Club by this action. He'll maybe get the next 3 (possibly 4) games to turn it around imo. If he doesn't, but the Owners give him till January, we may end up lower then mid table. Drastic action / change is required because all confidence, motivation, desire to win just isn't there.

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RDL, I agree BUT I still have this stubborn hunch that even when Studge is back, BR will still persist w/ this failed way of playing. Why? because if he plays both and we win, questions will be asked as to why he never played two up (he would look stupid if that happened). If he plays Studge on his own and we win, he will say Studge was the missing link hence making himself look right (which will b stupid as well). If he plays Studge on his own and we lose or draw, then he would be looking at being sacked in the morning, IMO. Also I don`t know why he took off Can and Coutinho and brought on Allen? He normally gets hiss changes right BUT bringing Allen on knowing we needed goals was a head-scratcher.

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I truly agree also that there are good coaches out there who can get our boys playing again because these players didn`t just go bad overnight. However, Koeman is not the right comparison, IMO. He has come in to a side where there were no expectations and if they were 14th today, nobody would slate him because of the situation the club was in. At that point, the bar is so low that the only other way is up. They are over-achieving now and doing well so kudos to him and the team but let`s wait and see. I say this because 2 seasons ago, Steve Clarke got the WBA job after being sacked by us and at this time that year, WBA was 4th and fans on here were slating the club for hiring BR instead of SC. At the end of the season, we were 7th and WBA was 9th (12 points below us. The next season, SC got sacked for poor results. Also when Poch came to the Saints last season, they had a good start to the seaso as well BUT in the end, they came 8th. I will wait to pass judgement on Koeman because knowing his history, he has had dodgy patches in the past. This is just my opinion based on the facts I just mentioned and nothing more.

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A great assessment of Koeman Redohio, pity you aren't as good at assessing BR.
A terrible defense last year which he never fixed, he spent millions on it in the summer and its worst.
No replacement for Suarez and none for the injury prone Sturridge.
Horrendous tactics all season, poor substitutions, no coaching, players being played in wrong positions, poor players still getting into starting 11 and you have the neck to look for faults in Koeman.

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I agree, redohio. I could easily see him deciding that due to 'poor form' or whatever Sturridge plays central by himself with Balotelli sitting on the bench. Guess we'll see in 2 weeks.

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Mcgoveb, you are taking my post the wrong way. I was not comparing BR w/ Koeman. I was stating the facts because I thought you were saying we should get or have gotten Koeman. I never said Koeman was better than BR or vice-versa. BR`s faults are clear for us to see and I have posted numerous times that he needs to shape up or get the sack. So you can calm down and stop being so nasty.

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08 Nov 2014 13:47:16
Bring Lucas into the midfield! Can, Henderson and Lucas could work wonders. Gerrard should be used sparingly, he is man-marked for every single game we play.

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Gérard brings very little to us anymore, even his dead balls are getting poorer

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08 Nov 2014 14:40:31
Lallana, Lucas an Can as the midfield 3.

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Listen he's tried everything this season, and we still can't get it right.
too many armchair fans on here that know it all.
time to make a change, because the players are good enough.

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Don't remember him trying Can, Lucas and Lallana. Must've been asleep in my armchair.

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08 Nov 2014 14:48:30
He can't find the key to unlock it as he's too stubborn, get him gone and bring in someone who knows what he's doing in a big club

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Henderson needs dropping mate. He's not in good for ATM and hasn't been for a while.

Midfield 3 would be Can, Lucas and Lallana for me.

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08 Nov 2014 15:02:58
Henderson doesn't need dropping.
He needs to have other midfielders around where he can concentrate on his own play rather than having to be the legs for Gerrard.

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08 Nov 2014 15:08:51
He's tried everything? Gerrard will walk in regardless of what he does. So will Lovren. Constantly playing that 4-2-31 with Mario upfront on his own when it clearly didn't work. The slow build up play.

We are broken

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I agree drop Gerrardand ass he's not contrimbuing at all, a def mid who can't defend and is doing nothing going forward, and stop with the messing around with the ball at the back

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I see some valid point above. But what concerns me more, is that when we are behind and needing a goal to get anything out of the game, why are we bringing on Joe Allen as a substitution? He may be replacing Emre Can, but we needed a goal!! Lallana was on the bench and BR seems to think Joe Allen will get something for us?

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The groan around Anfield was telling when those two substitutions were made.

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Not only Allen on, but a second striker (which makes sense), and then removing one of our most creative players in Coutinho. Just bizarre substitutions really.

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I agree with most of what was said above. I struggle to see why Lallana is not starting let alone not coming off the bench. Johnson was actually fair today when he has been horrible most of the time. I like Can and thought he did well. Henderson seems a little off but probably in our top 3 players overs the last 2 seasons.

But again we have no penetration. Coutinho looked for the gaps but no one was there. Despite spending 100m and having a deeper squad we are definitely a poorer starting team. There is no threat. No one to stretch the opposition. Does anyone think with this squad that another manager could do better? Not really sure despite my thoughts on Lallana, etc. We miss a predator. Either it is a Rush/Aldridge or Owen or Suarez. all different styles.

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RJB,
I believe another manager would get results with this team. He would definately improve the defense by getting real coaches in maybe even a goal keeping coach too.
He would see the error in playing Gerrard at DM and he would play Lallana who is too good to be on the bench.
Chelsea had no real striker last season but still got top three and that's because they were strong in defense and midfield and scored a lot on the break, that what a new manager would do for us.
It's time for change, I like De Boer, he's a winner as a player and winner as a manager plus works with minimal money in the Netherlands, plays young players and hopefully will bring great coaches with him too.

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The prob I have w/ De Boer is that the Dutch league is a poor league in comparison to the other leagues and because you are successful there doesn`t mean you will be successful here because the PL is a diff kettle of fish. Ask LVG at Utd. Also, he might have experience in th CL but i can`t remember him ever getting past the group stages. All in all, these are just a few of my concerns which DOESN`t mean he`s a bad coach. In fact, I think he`s a very good coach.

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08 Nov 2014 13:31:16
Was just wondering if anyone could shed some light on why Brendan persists on bringing everyone of our players back when we are defending corners surely the likes of sterling and coutinho would be better staying up the pitch for if a ball gets cleared instead of it just coming straight bck at us and it would mean opposition teams would have to leave more players defending also. Another note I think we really need a strong mobile defensive midfielder as much as I love Gerrard he contributes nothing defensively in that position and I've lost count how many times players just breeze past him it may stop us letting so many goals in.

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This is enough I m watching isl

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I'm struggling to see what gerrard is bringing to the team at the moment. Poor defensive MF and nothing going forward.

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I'm totally dumbstruck. Team selection, formation, tactics, defense. You name it. BR lost the plot.

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08 Nov 2014 13:19:49
A quick note just to say thanks to all the Eds, especially Ed001 and Ed002 on here.

My favourite reads are Ed001's after-match comments/reviews and Ed002's comebacks.

The amount time and effort you must put in and the info and points of view you give are much appreciated.

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{Ed002's Note - Post of the day.}

08 Nov 2014 15:49:17
Don't know if this is something that can be added (bearing in mind volume of work etc?), but how about a section dedicated to Ed002's best put downs? It could named JRTFP?

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{Ed002's Note - Try the Ed002 Appreciation Society at: tinyurl.com/c6j7t2m }

08 Nov 2014 12:57:14
I'm liking the more aggressive and direct play

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08 Nov 2014 12:17:09
hello eds
hypothetically if rogers were to be sacked and de boar took the managers job do you think he would bring in kruyff in as a dof

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{Ed002's Note - No.}

08 Nov 2014 11:52:38
Just seen the team. Disappointed that loveren is playing instead of toure. Starting to lose patience with brendan

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{Ed002's Note - First choice centre backs are R = Skrtel, L = Lovren. Second choice R = Toure, L = Kirikou. This has been explained at length before.}

Has Brendan pissed Mamadou off sufficiently that he wants to leave?

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I think a few of the players that played in Madrid will be a bit peed off today, and rightly so.how does Johnson keep getting back in

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08 Nov 2014 13:20:05
true Ed002, but i think the disappointment was because others have performed better but are not given their chances based on merit.

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{Ed002's Note - I would agree Kaizer, Toure did well midweek and is replaced. Can't be goods for him.}

I rather think Sakho wanted out as soon as we bought Lovren and it became clear he was relegated to warming the bench (or stands).

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Well he didn't leave PSG's bench behind Thiago Silva to move to ours behind Dejan Lovren

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08 Nov 2014 18:14:41
How is Glen Johnson getting in the side ? he is a poor excuse for a defender if you look at the second goal today he did not try to help coutinio if he had he may well of blocked off the cross that resulted in the second goal but instead he gave up running . Loveren is so out of his comfort zone its frightening he constantly switches off he can't win a header and his passing leaves a lot to be desired . skirtel well what can I say that other supporters have not complained about him . Ming yes he has made some good saves ( saves you would expect any keeper to save )but there is more to goalkeeping and in my opinion he lacks very much in those departments .Why were we hitting high balls in to their area when everybody watching knows we are not going to beat their two centre halves in the air we needed to play the ball on the floor around their back four which we would of done last season we seem to have players who for one reason or another have gone off the boil like Henderson, Gerard, sterling, etc. Corners on percentage wise we must be very low in goals scored from corners we need to come up with plans to create goal scoring chances from corners it does not have to be lashed in every single time . As for Brendan well his interview after todays game was on a similar vein as Tuesdays we played well we deserved a draw well Brendan you must watch a different game to us because on Tuesday Madrid could of stepped it up a gear or two and scored more and the same today again with Chelsea it is no good bemoaning penalties we did not get we were just not good enough Brendan on Tuesday, today and all this season so far . I hope Brendan can change things around soon I think he could be a good manager and hopefully learn form this experience mind you he should of already as he had a similar experience at reading and Watford I am lead to believe which both cost him his job and does every body really believe than Studges return will make everything better I for one don't to many problems with the playing staff for one man to be the answer to all our problems ? And finally we can't go on wasting money on players that are not top top class as we have done under several managers I would like us to buy quality if they are not available then go for some one who is not just because they have half of a good season Quality will win you trophies average will win you nothing

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Albey, I agree with your post. GJ is so bad, it`s frightnening. Manquillo isn`t the best RB I`ve ever seen BUT he`s young and still learning and is currently better than GJ which says how bad he really is. Studge cannot fix our issues. Studge will not fix our inability to EFFING defend set pieces (interesting to see how many goals we have conceded from set-pieces since BR took over), fix our manager`s obssession w/ playing one up or play this boring possession footie that is getting us nowhere fast. Also, Balo is actually showing som effort and desire BUT he is playing in a team that doesn`t create enuff chances and yet we are suprised he doesn`t score (I know he has missed a couple of sitters BUT he`s working hard for the team). If he doesn`t change, he will be gone and will have nobody to blame but himself.

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08 Nov 2014 11:46:55
is anyone else going to B Smart and have a tumble on Gerrards Slip in the 12.40 at Doncaster.

YNWA

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08 Nov 2014 07:34:10
Ed002, whatever happened to Sterling's new contract?

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{Ed002's Note - It will at some point be signed. The offer is there, and I understand it has been agreed.}

Sterling's new contract will result in a big pay day for LFC when Madrid come knocking.

Let's face it, Sterling is not going to stick around when he can be guaranteed trophies elsewhere.

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Max first of all most importantly is Sterling needs to play himself back into form. He has been poor recently.

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Well that's a relief. Cheers.

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08 Nov 2014 06:34:19
Interesting poll question about Balotelli. He has an awful attitude and work ethic and any criticism is deserved. He is though serving as a scape goat to conceal larger short comings and failures at the club. The transfer window has been awful - the manager is currently managing the club and its players badly: these 2 point are far more detrimental than any singular player, even if they do have a god awful attitude.

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Where and when has Balotelli shown to have an awful attitude this season?

Sorry but if the manager who is unable to grasp the fact that Balotelli is not a lone striker then what do you expect to see from the player when the manager persists with him as a lone striker?

And then there is talk about Balotelli's work ethic when the manager asks him to run around like a headless chicken.

I was not for Balotelli joining Liverpool. I did not want him here but he seems like a really good lad and for me Balotelli is doing what is asked of him from his manager and that is to play as a lone striker ***when Balotelli ain't one***

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I agree. It's like buying Cat to race in a Stallion racing event and then criticizing the cat for not winning the race.

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Sort yourself out Seano. I did not agree with the Balotelli signing either, but the guy has been forced to feed off scraps ever since he joined the club. Rodgers has got us into this mess, how can u expect a player to perform if the team does not play to his strengths? Does picking an unfortunate scapegoat make u feel better about the situation the club is in right now?

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To be fair he has missed a few sitters as well.

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100% agree Max. He's not the answer to our problems obviously, but he's working hard and has behaved well, certainly by his standards, so far. Shame on those abusing him.

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At this rate. even if we have messi not much will change. although suarez was magnificent last season and overshadowed many others, he wasnt the only one performing, he wasnt the only one pressing

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You's are all defending a player who puts in the bare minimum of effort week in week out. He will chase 1 pass, maybe 2 and then lose interest. How many times was he caught offside today because he was too lazy to get himself onside and into position? How many times did he misplace a 5 yard pass because he was way too lax? Just look at the difference in work rate over the course of the entire game between Costa and Balotelli. If you all want to bum his head in because its Balotelli then fine but other players have been given much worse stick yet have have shown far more work rate and commitment so tell me why is Balotelli so special that he shouldn't be criticised for being abysmal? 0 premiership goals - not good enough. 0 assists - not good enough. Barely involved in play in every game he has played - not good enough.

@Max - Balotelli is doing what's asked? A lone striker is mobile. A lone striker holds the ball up, links up play - has Balotelli done any of those things once this season? No. If this was any other player he'd be torn to shreds but because its Balotelli fans make excuses for him. The lad already had a song the first game he played its a joke. Fans have warmed to him because he is a character - I could not care less, I want someone who will perform and play well and work hard and train hard and Balotelli is none of those things - I have no time for him.

@the real AG - no Balotelli is a football player. He might not be playing in his favourite role but its not like Rodgers has thrown him in goal. He doesn't work hard enough when pressing and closing down and, more significantly, he doesn't work hard enough off the ball to create space and make runs and craft openings. That is all down to Balotelli - your analogy bares no resemblance to the reality.

@indian buzzer -sort myself out!? You're defending a lazy, inept player who has yet to put in even a decent performance in a Liverpool shirt this season. The team should not revolve around one player they should be, as the name suggests, a "team". Balotelli does not put in a shift and as such is not part of the team. You say he is feeding off scraps but as shown when Sturridge plays and when Suarez played last season that when they make runs, and create space and keep busy we have the players to provide them with opportunities. Balotelli has to work for the space and the time and the goals and he simply doesn't do that - that is his problem. Does it make me feel better about the club? No. We have bought another Andy Carroll, a player completely unsuited to our club and its philosophy - it was a bizarre transfer and one which I expect to be reversed by next summer at the latest.

@BigRedF - he is working hard? How? Is sulking when he doesn't recieve a perfect ball to his feet despite the fact he is marked by 3 players because he is so static working hard (or behaving well)? I don't know what hard work posters on here witness so please enlighten me - what is it exactly he does that means he is "working hard"?

The bottom line is he is playing woefully, doesn't look like he can put together a decent half of football and doesn't look like he cares whether he does or not. Good strikers have bad patches but the difference is they get themselves into positions but miss or just cannot find a goal. Balotelli, since the Spurs game, has failed to even get into those positions. Until he starts working harder, for the team and for himself, he will continue to fail.

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08 Nov 2014 05:56:23
I really do not hold much hope for the match today. I am just really tired of watching the awful football on display this season.

Start Balotelli up on his own and Mourinho will have a fat grin on his face. Rodgers will then praise the team again should we lose talking about the character the team showed bla bla bla. broken record.

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If Toure and Lucas don't start then I will be really disappointed in BR. They played well in midweek and deserve to play.

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I would hope that Lucas starts at least! I would also not be up in arms about Toure starting. We need a few more leaders on the pitch.

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08 Nov 2014 05:11:23
LIVERPOOL 2-0 CHELSEA.Red card on board.just believe guys and it will happen.

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08 Nov 2014 00:53:22
Hi eds, just to let you know that the Jackson Martinez rubbish is picking up pace AGAIN, I know this is not going to happen but just thought I would warn you in Advance. I did see that Jack Dunn was training with the first team in Madrid though, do you think he will be given any form of first team action any time soon or is he not quite ready yet?

Many Thanks

Henlow red

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{Ed001's Note - he was there for experience, so only if he impressed enough to be given a minor sub role before vanishing off never to be seen again while Rodgers is in charge, like the rest of the kids.}

Would have made a lot more sense to buy Martinez in the summer when we actually had some money.

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Could not have put it any better Ed001. The same fate awaits all the academy kids no matter how much potential they have, just ask Teixiera and Suso. I just do not see any point in continuing with BR as manager any more. The primary focus was to integrate as many academy players with loyalty into the first team, but instead we get to see a bunch of persons cast them aside and splurge stupid money on foreign mercenaries with no actual plan for the numerous players already on the books of the club. BR has failed one of the most important objectives set by FSG which was to reduce expenditure on transfers by making good use of the Academy, but all he has done is waste the club's resources. LFC need a manager who has built a team using the young players already at the club like Klopp and De Boer. BR never once built his own team as a coach, handing so much money to him for a task which he had no past experience was FSG's biggest mistake to date.

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Rodgers seemed like he was good with the younger players at first but it was only because he had no other choice but to use them. Its now being shown that, when there are other options, he will simply refuse to give the younger players a chance. It's a deeply worrying precedent.

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He must have learnt that fro Mou because he never used and still doesn`t use young players at all.

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07 Nov 2014 23:52:19
Don't ask me why but I have this little feeling your going to take a point off Chelsea tomorrow. I also feel City will draw at QPR . So my bets slip tomorrow looks like this

United win
QPR v City draw
Liverpool v Chelsea draw
Swansea v Arsenal draw

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The point taken from chelsea game that you refer to is that BR is clueless but we know that anyway

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