Liverpool Banter Archive March 09 2016

09 Mar 2016 22:46:25
A rather broad question here eds, or for anybody who can be bothered to come up with a lengthy answer.

When FSG came in they said all the things we wanted to hear - investment, sustainability, restore the pride and culture to the club, promote youth etc. Basically a load of stuff we wanted to hear.

However when they appointed rodgers, who initially agreed to stick to this plan, the formula went out the window. Overspending, incompetence, poor scouting, unfair and horrible management of the squad, and bizarre transfer policy with no regard for the youth, suddenly became the norm and liverpool went down the toilet (again)

09 Mar 2016 23:22:41
Sorry, didn't finish.

Was going to say, does anybody else have an overall feeling that FSG failed their own mandates and goals, landing the club in more trouble?

When you look at the bigger picture, i feel as though they have talked the talk, but couldn't walk the walk.

09 Mar 2016 23:28:55
They said they wanted that and short term success, they spent the money thinking that would come, and once he knew his time was limited he couldn't afford go chance the youngsters. The poor loaning was a club failure highlighted by the eds, which stunted their development, meaning they were less likely to have proved their worth.

09 Mar 2016 23:46:05
So getting Klopp and finally expanding Anfield are part of the failure? They also signed Suarez and Couhtino to name 2. Are they perfect no, are they trying yes. Personally I think they are doing above average, I'd say a B. Almost forgot to mention how they have expanded our marketability worldwide. The club was nearly administrated so the fact we are where we are now is not so bad.

10 Mar 2016 00:06:02
I think they've backed up mostly on their promises? I will be even more impressed if they back Jurgen this summer. I think he could be the perfect fit for all concerned.

10 Mar 2016 02:31:40
They have tried to walk the walk - it has failed miserably in most areas. They have been naïve and have pandered to the fans too often. Their intentions have been genuine, I believe, but they have not achieved the desired result.

10 Mar 2016 07:41:59
Im Very happy with the owners and can't understand anyone not being. As an above poster said the marketing side has improved immensely. They've delivered on money for players, the new stand will be built by the summer and ready for the new season, and let's not forget they secured us one of the most sought after managers in world football currently.

When you think we were close to administration not so long ago, and before that had Hicks and Gillette asset stripping the club near the end of their tenure I'm surprised people aren't happy.

The new owners have stopped the rot the club was in and with funding on players and personnel in general (Klopp) . We have stopped sliding down the premier league ladder.
I'm very happy with FSG, and after 25 years of being on the waiting list I will be getting my season ticket for next season.

{Ed001's Note - FSG have made mistakes and are far from perfect, but, and it is a big but, they have always tried to rectify the mistakes they make, which is a very important thing. They backed down on the ticket prices, they brought in Klopp, there are a lot of reasons to be glad we have them.}

10 Mar 2016 08:13:45
Agree totally Ed, I never said they hadn't made mistakes (not saying you are saying I said that) .
All owners managers, players and even fans make mistakes part of life and part of the game.

But they have impressed me with their commitment and marketing strategy. Delivering on the stadium expansion as well is something we have heard since the late 80s, FSG have actually done it.

A HUGE GOOD LUCK tonight and let's hope the atmosphere is a great one.

10 Mar 2016 15:28:17
they have made the mistakes because they don't come from a football background, once those mistakes have been made at least they have rectified them, I think all things considered we could have had a lot worse, after all they have not stopped investing in the team, on the pitch or off it, let's consider what we have done under them, got to 3 cup finals, sadly only won 1, finished 2nd, had 1 season in the champions league, plus our other poor finishes in the table, now there is talk they will back klopp in the summer transfer market, it could be a lot better but it could also be a hell of a lot worse.

09 Mar 2016 18:44:03
Do anyone (Eds) know why Suso and Pacheco didn't get more chances with us?
I gress it was most likely their mentality, but can anyone specify what happened? They both have/ had great technical ability and looked like they were great talents.

Thanks for the reply.

{Ed002's Note - It is not possible to play everyone and Liverpool have for many years had no real plan to develop young players. A bloated squad takes opportunity away. Soon you can add Teixeira to the list.}

09 Mar 2016 19:50:14
Eds, do you think Klopp will change that and start creating plans on how to develop the younger players, thanks in advance.

{Ed002's Note - It is nothing to do with Klopp.}

09 Mar 2016 21:06:23
Poor Tex 😞

He's a good player IMO.

10 Mar 2016 08:00:37
I agree ron, his problem though is he is slightly below the level of what we have in his position but not by a great deal. A move for him would be the best outcome, i can see him developing into an outstanding player unlike other fans favs who have moved on. I could see him doing very well in spain if he got an opportunity.

{Ed001's Note - is he though? I think he would offer more incisiveness than Milner or Lallana and could have been an option when one or other was either rested or out injured/suspended.}

10 Mar 2016 15:30:12
we need to learn from this with stewart and chrivella, yes they have both signed new long term deals, but do we have a path to the 1st team worked out for both players?

10 Mar 2016 16:15:32
Don't forget Ojo kk. He's going to be a quality player.

10 Mar 2016 17:58:55
I have not forgotten ojo ron, I just used the players mentioned because the problem with tex, amongst others was that we kept blocking there path to the 1st team, we need to learn from this. I would love to see ojo play in the 1st team this season.

09 Mar 2016 13:15:40
Hi Eds, I hope you're all well. Thank you in advance for the great work you all do.

I was wondering if you think player prices will increase significantly this summer and how, with new television rights on the horizon, how you think this might affect the costing of players and the ability of clubs to buy them here or abroad?

I hope that's not too broad a subject.

Thank you for your time.

Bryan.

{Ed002's Note - Foreign clubs will continue to look for premium prices from (a) English sides, (b) well know clubs with higher budgets (e.g. Barcelona, Real Madrid, PSG, Bayern etc.) and (c) New money (China right now). The television deals will reinforce that for England but no more.}

09 Mar 2016 14:25:47
Just watching 100 Players who shook the Kop youtube.
Number 8 is Keegan.
Was he ever considered to be Liverpool Manager?

09 Mar 2016 16:13:41
This question always stuck in my mind, Keegan or Daglish? Better player. Quite a few say Keegan was just brilliant.

{Ed001's Note - Dalglish! Keegan left for the money, Dalglish stayed and built a legend.}

09 Mar 2016 16:24:57
Ed001, I understand your comment completely from a legacy PoV, Keegan the man cannot compare to Dalglish the man when it comes to Liverpool.

However, the better player discussion is one I would be interested in! I started watching Liverpool towards the end of Dalglish's career (early 80s) and Keegan was before my time, so I can't really compare them. But would love to hear from older Reds!

Probably a rubbish comparison (and apologies for that! ) but what I and DG are getting at is to disregard longevity, and just look at the skills. Few would argue that Suarez was a better player than Kuyt (for example) and yet Dirk was at the club almost twice as long as Suarez. Like I said, not the best example, but hopefully you get the gist!

{Ed001's Note - Keegan was nothing like on Dalglish's level in terms of ability, he was a workhorse, a very high level workhorse, but not the top level player Dalglish was. Though his workrate does move him close.}

09 Mar 2016 16:36:22
Thanks Ed, and I meant "Few would argue that Suarez wasN'T" before anyone points it out!

Looking back at my hazy memories of watching King Kenny play, albeit he was into his 30s by the time I got into football, I would equate him, in terms of ability, with someone like Suarez - similar positions too albeit Suarez was maybe a touch further forward.

Would I be right in thinking that Keegan was a Kuyt type player? Presumably an upgrade on a Milner type player?

{Ed001's Note - sort of, though Keegan had more ability than Kuyt, a lot more, but he was that kind of hard running player who was non-stop.}

09 Mar 2016 16:55:26
He also had a great partnership with Toshack, both making goals for each other. Almost as good a partnership as Kenny and Rushie.

09 Mar 2016 17:14:37
My uncle said there were lot of speculations When Keegan left as it seems impossible to replace him. Never saw him play but People who saw him rates him very very high. They say Kenny was a like to like replacement for Keegan.

09 Mar 2016 17:21:02
Bob Paisley wanted Kevin and Kenny to play together.
Its in his autobiography.

Btw. What a manager.

09 Mar 2016 17:32:02
Keegan was a great player, no doubt but it wasnt natural ability. He was a grafter. Kenny wasnt blessed with speed but had great vision and flair. It doesn't come close in my eyes, its Kenny hands down although you have to respect Keegan for going abroad and being a success which was quite rare in those days, still is today infact.

09 Mar 2016 17:42:48
The King hands down best forward player that's ever put on a red shirt. Followed by Rush, Fowler and then Suarez. Can you imagine those four playing for us now? We could play with no goalkeeper and still win the league! Some would argue we don't play with a keeper now!

09 Mar 2016 18:18:15
Dalglish was the best player technically.

09 Mar 2016 20:22:28
Kenny by a country mile both as a player and manager.

Enjoyed watching him play from first minute i saw him in a red shirt and to become player manager of our great club and acheive great things like the managers he played under. A True Legend.

Kevin great player he was and a fantastic scoring relationship with Toshack. They even done a documentry type programme as to the telepathy between both of them.
Pity Benteke and sturridge could, nt have the same telepathy.

Great times though and both great players.

09 Mar 2016 20:57:11
Hi ED

Keegan was a great player, a managers dream. Hard working, quick totally commited. I remember when he left in 77. I was only 9, but even then loved him. For nobody that can remember him he was a cross between Kuyt, craig johnson, and Owen. Always in the danger positions, always running at and around defenders. I hate calling a footballer brave but he would stick his head anywhere the ball was. Although he wasn't the most technically gifted he made up for it with effort.
I remember thinking that Liverpool could not replace him or even anyone close - how wrong I was.
When Bob Paisley sat next to an unknown red cheeked Scottish player i wasn't over excited - "What had Paisley done selling Keegan and buying someone i had never heared of"
His first game i think was against Man Utd in the charity shield, "nothing special i thought, bring back Keegan"
Then at Ayrsome park a 40 year love affair started, his first goal, and i think in the next couple as well.
Dalglish for me had everything, his finishing was better or as good as anyone i have seen. he could score from 2 yards, 20 yards or from the bye line. he could pick a pass from anywhere on the pitch.
Where Keegan was a mix of Kuyt, Johnson and Owen, Dalglish was a mix of Suarez, Fowler and gerrard. for those who did not get to see Dalglish just watch footballs greatest, and watch just some of the goals he scored. He could pick a pass like Alomso, Pass a player like Suarez, and run a game like Gerrard in his pomp. There was only one player in the world at tha time i would put above him ant that was Maradonna.

To be honest Keegan was a really good player for Liverpool but Dalglish was a the great player for Liverpool, number one that I have seen.

Evered.

09 Mar 2016 23:17:36
Evered, best post on the Daglish Keegan comparison, I am an elder Red and saw them both play, both were magic . yes Kenny was the better player, some of his passes to Rush were just brilliant, Keegan played at the top gear, top speed, and the Kop loved him .
But King Kenny was our best, our No 1 .

09 Mar 2016 14:01:03
Great news on the £30 cap on away tickets in the league - really good to see some help for the man in the stands.

09 Mar 2016 13:33:53
Kudos to all the people behind the ticket price protests.

Just saw the news that Spurs are following suit and have also frozen ticket prices.

Hopefully all other clubs will soon join in.

09 Mar 2016 12:55:17
Any ideas on what Luis Alberto will be doing? Leaving or staying, departing or sticking at it with Liverpool. He's apparently in good form for Deportivo and I remember that one assist when we unceremoniously kicked those Spurs to the ground. I hope he's got a future with us but I can't say for sure. Needed to bulk up a bit, add a few pounds from what I remember from watching him.

09 Mar 2016 13:51:49
Leaving. He did something really stupid when he was at the club and blew his chances.

09 Mar 2016 13:57:06
He will most likely be leaving, he seems to be having a good loan at Deportivo however we are over-run with players in his position.

unfortunately wasted by Rodgers over the years, hope he goes on to become a good player once he starts getting regular game time somewhere!

09 Mar 2016 14:10:38
What did he he do may i ask.

09 Mar 2016 14:38:21
Yes spill the beans DaRedmen.

09 Mar 2016 14:58:20
Are you referring to the drink-drive ban?

09 Mar 2016 15:34:03
I guess it is the drink-driving ban which was stupid and probably, along with us having loads in his position, spelt the end for the lad.

09 Mar 2016 16:36:22
The ed's never actually specified what it was he had done but if he has had a drink driving ban then that wouldn't surprise me as the reason.

09 Mar 2016 09:23:17
BR in the Belfast Telegraph today telling JK something I'm sure he already knows.

09 Mar 2016 10:07:49
What's that mate? I'm an Irish news man myself but il get the telegraph at lunchtime.

09 Mar 2016 10:23:58
He said that at some stage while JK is in charge that the owner's will expect a title challenge. Good man Buck always stating the obvious.

09 Mar 2016 12:41:11
In the Liverpool Echo he saying the owners want a 'improvement'. An seeing how he finished 2nd that means the title. Has this man no shame? When he finished 2nd FSG gave him wads of cash an watched him waste it making a mockery out of us in champs league. No Brendan they wanted a improvement on the mid table mess u left us in. Or on the clueless person who stood on the touch line at palace dripping wet getting whooped an not having a clue what to do? Spose u have to keep yourself in public eye? If we win the Europa Spose you'l want a spot on the open top parade bus too. Leave it be now your history the future goes BOOM.

09 Mar 2016 13:51:56
He should keep his gob shut and move on with his life instead of trolling JK and the club, giving unwanted advice to a man to whom he will never be his equal and does not need to take lessons from a failure. Don`t hear Roy or Rafa or KK talking about us or what coach A or B should be doing. He`s starting to sound like a stage 9 clinger girlfriend who can`t get over the fact that he had his chance and blew it.

09 Mar 2016 14:00:04
He just can't help himself. I'm not saying he's doing it out of badness but your right he sure does love the spotlight.

09 Mar 2016 14:09:38
IMO he is using the club to keep his profile high after the Newcastle rumours started.

09 Mar 2016 14:58:12
Again I'm knocking my head against the wall but as you guys are determined to believe anything negative in relation to Brendan Rodgers here is the quote that all this nonsense has come from :

Question: What's your verdict on Liverpool since you left?

Brendan Rodgers: It's not really for me to comment on. They have a very good manager in Jurgen Klopp in place. It is going to take time to bed in his methods and how he wants to work. He has some very good players there. The expectancy of course is to win the league, we went very close in my time and obviously Jurgen will go in and feel that he can improve on that and that's why the owners made the change. They felt they wanted to improve and to improve on runners-up would be to win the league but it is going to take time. I'm sure the owners will give him that time.

He's a monster isn't he. You cretins.

09 Mar 2016 15:18:39
Thanks Muscat. So he said what everyone is saying he said 👍.

09 Mar 2016 15:19:18
No Muscat not a monster just a crap manager. As pointed out why don't Rafa's or kennys quotes get printed? Maybe they don't court the press as much? only cretins around are the ones who still believe the hype.

09 Mar 2016 15:58:30
Muscatred,

What was his first comment?

It's not for him to comment on - what did he then do?

And he is quoting runners up - not the position he left us in.

Had he left it at - it's not for me to comment on he wouldn't be getting any stick - then again he always had a problem with foot in mouth syndrome!

09 Mar 2016 16:43:10
We didn't come close to winning the league. Luis Saurez did on his own.

09 Mar 2016 17:11:58
that is insulting to all the other players who contributed to that unexpected title chasing season, yes suarez was the jewell in the crown but he also missed the first 6 games of the season, due to another stupid ban, had he been available for the entire season, it could have been a different story.

09 Mar 2016 17:20:19
Again you guys are failing to read the damn thing. The question was 'What's your verdict on Liverpool since you left', a question he declined to answer. He then said that Klopp was a good manager who had been brought in to win the league and that the owners would give the time he needed to that. There is nothing in that statement or sentiment that is arrogant, disrespectful or untrue.

He is a media figure, he will be interviewed a lot over the next few years, do we have to go through this ridiculous act every time he is in the paper? Since he left he has been nothing but respectful to Liverpool and Klopp and his reward is morons who think they're being clever attacking an ex-Liverpool manager.

09 Mar 2016 17:30:09
I personally thought it was unfair Kenny Dalglish lost his job after getting us to 2 finals, we were playing ok that year and we hit the post 20 odd times in games which was unlucky as if a few of them went in it would have turned draws into wins tho wasting 35million on Carroll il probably never forgive him (joke) lol I also believe Suarez nearly won us the league and Gerrard lost us it with that slip (accidental I know) and Brendan Rodgers takes the glory, he should NOT have been given the job in the first place and he's getting a load of grief, I blame the owners for giving him the job when he shouldn't, he really did try his best tho, my point is, we have the manager that 99% of Liverpool fans wanted so let's leave the slanging aside now and unite and beat them 2moro night 💪 I hope to see Anfield rocking #StayAngry 👊.

09 Mar 2016 17:48:13
Brendan Rodgers will also be attending the last Hillsborough memorial, I agreed with muscatred last night and I still agree with him on this topic, also it is a fact that his 2nd place finish will need to be beaten by whoever the manager is. Yes he has his faults but we do need to stop overeacting everytime his name is mentioned, you are only playing into the media's hands, which is what they want.

09 Mar 2016 18:21:11
I don't know whether Klopp needs to win the league to improve on Rodgers record, perhaps just winning anything in 3 years is a start.

09 Mar 2016 08:24:17
One thing I've wondered. the likes of michu, vardy etc. How come our scouts can't pick out a few bargin scoring machines like that fell through the cracks.

09 Mar 2016 08:35:06
Because it requires a competent backroom staff, but also fans who won't slag off every player we're ever linked with and put pressure on the club to sign big name players that bankrupt us.

I personally am not arsed who klopp beings in because i trust him to being in the right players for the job.

09 Mar 2016 08:41:05
Michu has been terrible since his wonder season. We missed the trick in not going for Ali, Given Brendan preferred Henderson and Milner in the CM role.
Lack of footballing brains.

09 Mar 2016 09:09:09
Dgeneration but at the cost of michu would the goals per money spent and low wages be worth it?

09 Mar 2016 09:37:41
Michu and Vardy definitely worth it even if it is 1 season wonder.

09 Mar 2016 09:48:37
DGeneration, you are talking BS, Brendan has already come out in front of an audience of millions and stated that he wanted Alli, and the player himself wanted to come, but the money men in the club wouldn't sanction the deal.

09 Mar 2016 09:58:43
Because there aren't that many of those around.

09 Mar 2016 10:44:27
The pressure for playing for Liverpool, fans expectation etc. Confidence plays a big part in someones form, that is something that is built from managers and fans.

09 Mar 2016 11:02:15
Random red vardy, michu, nkolo the midfielder (spelling), mahrez there's a few players mad huge steps i think it may be worth it even for 1 season wonder.

09 Mar 2016 11:11:14
Cos if we sign a player under 10mil and has a bad few games he's hounded out by the' fans' as not good enough. Can you imagine what the reaction would have been had we signed vardy pre-season. ( after he had an okay first season in the league!? ) there would have been a lynch mob outside Ian Ayres house.

09 Mar 2016 11:33:20
We'd just sell them anyway when they got good.

09 Mar 2016 11:49:18
You can't compare vardy and michu, vardy isn't a one hit wonder.

09 Mar 2016 13:57:39
BR may have wanted Alli but would he be as good for us as he is now with spurs? I HIGHLY doubt it. Why? because BR will prolly would have played him at RB or CB just to prove a point like he did with Can at CB and RB, for the pathetic outcomes that we now know. Look at can now who will be potentially better than Alli if he harnesses all his talents. It takes a good coach to improve a player and BR is NOT that coach. As for Mahrez, Kante or Michu, who had heard of these players before they came to the PL? Who would have wanted any of the Leicester City players before this season started? The answer is NOBODY so people should stop rewriting history and stick to today`s reality.

09 Mar 2016 14:04:31
Because whenever liverpool sign a player for less than 25 m, the fans give them such a hard time and so many ridiculous assumptions about them they never get the chance to shine.

09 Mar 2016 14:29:35
Why did we need Alli? We have Can, Kev Stewart and Rossiter 💪 plus Brendan blew the wages budget on James Milner 🙈.

09 Mar 2016 15:27:48
Hjikle every time Brendan spent 25 million on a player they came from Southampton think his sat AV was stuck st Mary's road.

09 Mar 2016 18:02:40
You do realise these clubs value these players based mostly on contribution, so of Michu was sold to Swansea for £2000,000 chances are that's what his club thought his contribution was worth.

We could sign 100 different players all valued at pennies and we'd be lucky if 1 of them had a season like Michu.

Michu got so much media attention that season because it's so rare to pluck a player from relative obscurity and it being such a success. Not becauses it's easy, or down to incompetence.

09 Mar 2016 07:34:58
I know I'm probably an outlier on this but I think Coutinho doesn't suit the wider attacking role. He doesn't have pace or left foot to go outside and cross the ball, leaving him looking a bit one dimensional unless you have a FB making a run around the outside of him (which Moreno does well, just a pity he can't cross the ball either) . The wider role also doesn't make the most of his vision and ability to feed runners ahead of him.

In a 4-2-3-1, I'd personally go Can and Hendo at the base of midfield (who seem to be forming a strong pairing now with Can dropping a bit deeper) and then put Coutinho at no.10 with Firmino on the right cutting in, and Llalana on the left with Sturridge up front.

I actually feel his perfect position is as part of a midfield 3 though like he played in 2013/ 14, where he was frequently the one transitioning play from Defence into Attack, and making killer passes into the runners ahead of him.

A 4-4-2 diamond setup with Can at DM, Hendo and Coutinho in midfield, and Firmino at no.10 tucked in behind Sturridge and Benteke would be a very dangerous side IMO.

09 Mar 2016 08:15:32
Was talking of this the other day and the more i thoight the more i ageee now. He has the max options available to him with acm and cf's. My team at the min with some back would be migs moreno/ smith lovern lucas flanno can hendo couts frimino origi and studge.

09 Mar 2016 08:33:31
Lallana is a not a wide player. We have seen it countless times. We need proper winger who has pace and trickery to beat players and has an eye for goal. ( Texiera, Mahrez )
Those names mentioned are BIG but doesn't serve the purpose.

Diamond makes it narrow especially for a side who has struggled to score goals against opposition who makes it compact. ( SAS struggled )

I struggle to understand how people are happy with Can sitting deeper. His positional sense is close to 0.

09 Mar 2016 09:14:54
I agree to a point, hence why I'd like to see Volland or someone similar to bring something different to the attacking mids Long term. We can't afford Coutinho, Llalana and Milner to all be infrequent goalscorers from attacking mids. Hence part of the reason I quite like studge/ Benteke and Firmino all on the field at the same time in a diamond, that should score plenty.

A diamond does have its problems with being narrow but if you have Firmino or Sturridge pulling wide at times and/ or fullbacks creating he width (as we are effectively doing now anyway) you can mitigate this.

Can is young but learning. He is more than capable of playing DM and adds mobility and strength there that we've lacked until now.

09 Mar 2016 11:06:54
Henderson doesn't have the legs to play in a diamond whilst he's carrying that injury.

09 Mar 2016 11:37:36
When Couts, Firmino and Lallana play high up we create loads. Just wish one of them was prolific.
Firmino is having a good first season if you ask me though, settled in now and he could double his goals next season.
Still need wide men so I think we could see Lallana move on.

09 Mar 2016 14:19:20
what we need is right players for the right position. If Klopps decide to go with a fluid 4-3-3 we need wing forwards, the only WF on our book are Ibe and markovic, we need a good holding midfielder as well and the only DM we have is Lucas. Now Klopp does not like to play Lucas there that's why we see Can or Hendo there. But they can't read the game defensively as good Dm like Makelele, pirlo, alonso or even Lucas. so that why our back 4 has the least protection. After reading all the comment on this matter I believe the best thing is decide what formation we have to play and buy accordingly. For the moment we should play 4-4-2 diamond. agree with degeneration that 442 diamond is narrow but that why we have the full back bombing forward, we could play Lucas as DM then Hendo, Can, Milner or Allen as the 2 box to box, and the Lalana or Coutinho as the AM. Then you have Origi and Firminho upfront.
And yes i will start with Origi as he runs well into channels where as Strud just come deep to pick up the pass. One more thing on the strurridge matter, I feel he is not playing as his regular self, he is one of those strikers who doesn't need 5 games to score a goal after injury, he come scores, gets injured and come back after 3 months and do the same. I hope i'm wrong and will gladly accept it if he scores against the Manc.

{Ed001's Note - what about Ojo and Kent? Origi can play there too.}

09 Mar 2016 14:27:09
Hi ED I was taking the senior players in consideration, but you are so right and that's why we don't need to buy 10 players in summer we should use our youth players, may be just a good, fast and goal scoring Winger forward if we persist with the 4-3-3.

09 Mar 2016 17:19:01
Full backs bombing high up has been another big issue mate. Leaves so much gap behind and not having a specialist DM to cover when they commit up leaves quick counter attack from the opposition and resulting goal.

09 Mar 2016 05:28:04
Not MOTD fever Eds, but what's your take on Andre Gray of Burnley. Everytime I've seen him play he looks dangerous and hungry. If we do not go for an experienced striker (international) then I'd be happy for Gray and as a replacement for Benteke. I think he'd compliment what we already have in Ings, Sturridge, Original and makes the runs Couts would love.

{Ed001's Note - he is ok, very quick, but nothing special. He is lower end Prem level for me, at the moment. I would like to watch a bit more of him to get an idea of his potential before I would dismiss him though. Before he signed for Burnley, he looked extremely average, but they seem to have a very good striker scout there, so I would want to look at him now they have picked him up. Personally I think we might be better off getting the scout though.}

09 Mar 2016 06:31:47
Agree with Ed001 and even if we sell a striker I think we still have enough with Ings, Origi, Firmino and Sturridge.

09 Mar 2016 06:31:47
Agree with Ed001 and even if we sell a striker I think we still have enough with Ings, Origi, Firmino and Sturridge.

09 Mar 2016 07:56:51
Benteke can leave without needing us to sign a replacement. The same goes for Lallana. We will sign a wide player and also have Markovic coming back from loan. Signing sub standard players was a mandate in the BR era, not Klopp's. We have some fine young players in our squad that need game time and u want us to consider some average 25 year old (who is hit and miss btw) from the championship? Classic example of why our squad is bloated with quantity and not quality.

09 Mar 2016 08:35:44
I kinda agree with Indian. I am not sure on Markovic mate, But a world class winger / wide attacker would give a whole new dimension to our game. Why do we need 4 strikers when it's clear Klopp doesn't play 2 up top?

09 Mar 2016 12:11:42
I'm sure a world class player in any position would add a whole new dimension to pretty much any team you care to mention.

09 Mar 2016 14:13:23
Just like Sanchez is doing at Arsenal. I saw Leroy Sane play once and boy, what a player he`s going to be.

09 Mar 2016 14:29:30
I think we should only look at strikers if we are able to sell 2 of the 4 we have right now. We play with only one up front so we really don't need 4 strikers and then we have firmino who can play there as well.

09 Mar 2016 01:36:32
I just read that the Lino who awarded the penalty has been dropped for this weekends fixtures. Is this because the FA thought it was a mistake, or because there would be a lot of pressure on him this weekend, given the media coverage? Either way, surely that's a bad decision. The general view is contact and penalty, so the FA should stick by their man, and if they're worried about pressure, don't we want officials who can cope with high pressure situations, and not bow to it, or hide away?

09 Mar 2016 06:28:05
Probably down to the grief he's had this week, he made the correct call it was a penalty simple as that.

09 Mar 2016 06:28:05
Probably down to the grief he's had this week, he made the correct call it was a penalty simple as that.

09 Mar 2016 14:18:14
He made the right decision and I applaud his courage. Only because people whinged and the haters hated is the reason he`s been dropped or he was dropped just to take him out of the firing line.

08 Mar 2016 22:37:11
In relation to some replies i saw earlier ed001, does it not infuriate you when footballers refuse to celebrate against former clubs?

Its become a form of footballing political correctness, its embarrassing and pathetic.

The only way you'll lose respect is by not wanting to score for your new club - if you look upset to score for us, get off the pitch!

As much as he has infuriated everyone this year, and as terrible as the celebration was ultimately, much credit and respect to milner for not following this stupid tradition when he scored last week.

{Ed001's Note - yes. Drives me mad. It shows a lack of respect for their current team and its fans. No one should get upset, I remember the days when we used to applaud when old boys came back and scored against us.}

09 Mar 2016 04:06:26
Hey Ed001 that only happened a couple years ago when shelvey scored a cracker against us. he put his hand up to say thank you and looked so shy and maybe a bit shocked about it. was a great moment.

{Ed001's Note - I had forgotten about that, good point.}

09 Mar 2016 04:12:51
Milner did a nice cowboy lasso celebration against city when he scored. I thought it was great that he celebrated. And milner is like kuyt for me on that right side. i'm glad we signed him even if some can't see his true value.

09 Mar 2016 07:57:12
I think for the first game back, if you left on good terms then maybe don't go all out in the celebration. After that, go for it.

09 Mar 2016 14:30:20
I`m not glad we signed Milner, Lemon. He`s been average for the wages he commands and offers little going forward and on set piece deliveries. Many of us said he was not needed and we have been proven right. Experience? At what? being a back up at city or being a liability and getting sent off because he can`t keep up with players running past him? NONSENSE! When Klopp gets his players in, he along with Lallana, will be history.