Liverpool Banter Archive May 09 2015

09 May 2015 22:54:20
Vaguely Liverpool related question: been watching a lot of Valencia this year and they really are a good side, something they showed quite obviously tonight against Real. I doubt Nuno Santo would be available given their form this year but if he was to be? (First question) would he be someone we may consider? I appreciate that there isn't much info until the review but jw is he a name that has been mentioned? Not heard much in the press. Cheers

{Ed002's Note - Not as far as I know.}

09 May 2015 21:24:32
Hello eds and fellow reds,

I was wondering who decides on the position of the players which require to be strengthened in the transfer windows? As i feel this is where we are going wrong wasting so much money on players which are not needed, and also blocking the path for the younger players to make a breakthrough to the first team. The owners get a lot of stick for not spending money on players on hear but look at what has been spent since they have taken over and the nonsense of net or gross spend is irrelevant as it's how you spend the money not how much you spend. I don't feel anyone can question there ambitions, but I feel there needs to be a shake up of how the club is organised. I feel we don't seem to have a clear plan of what is needed when we sign players the balance of the squad is awful to many attacking players some of which are being played out of position to accommodate them. to many right backs and if the rumours are to be believed still after more yet not enough left backs as Enrique and brad smith doesn't seem to be trusted, leaving just Moreno as a natural left back. The Balotelli signing just seems to sum the whole transfer process up, signing a player who plays best playing of a striker and expecting him to change his game to try and play as Suarez did rather then sign a similar type player to Suarez or change the style of play to suit the players your signing. I feel Brenden needs to go and get a attack minded manager in with a bit more of a back bone in. The way we started the season, the nonsense he talks and the way he accommodates players into a system, rather then playing them where they should be. Is the reason I feel he should go. He hasn't been strong enough with Gerrard accommodating him in roles he can't play like the defensive midfielder where Gerrard has no positional sense for the role causing the centre halfs like Lovren many problems by dropping into there positions for no reason when he should be moving forward then always having to chase back which he hasn't got the legs for now, when teams attack us rather then being in positions to face the oncoming players which Lucas is the only player who has played in the role seems capable to do to often there's a big gap right down the middle when we defend as the midfield seem to be everywhere but where they need to be.
With the owners I feel the abuse they get is unfair I see somewhere under there ownership roughly 45 players have been signed spending over £350 million in the process, so what more can you expect from them if the people who spend it can't spend it wisely. I feel if we had these owners in instead of Hicks and Gillete maybe the perception of them might have been different. I for one don't want liverpool to become a club like city and chelsea and all the other oil rich owned clubs who just go out and buy players for the sake of it, I like the idea of bringing players through the academy and making stars then buying them, otherwise why bother wasting time and money on the academy if you don't have any intention of using them.

09 May 2015 20:39:34
Hey Mr Edds can you please tell me if I am still barred from the site its been months now and I have no idea why I was barred.
I still use your site to keep up to date but I miss being able to post.
Maybe Its because I was negative?
kind regards
negativeredwalter

{Ed002's Note - I don't think so. I can ban you if you want?}

09 May 2015 21:46:29
My wife has an excellent reputation in customer service training, if you want to address your negativity as a waiter. not sure if she can help any of the opinions on this site regarding Liverpool as she is no expert in schizophrenia!

10 May 2015 14:11:08
Ok thanks Mr edd 2 and please don't ban me x

09 May 2015 20:01:41
Hello Eds and fellow reds,

I was wondering who decides on the position of the players which require to be strengthened in the transfer windows? I feel we waste so much money on players in positions which don't need adding to and in the process block the path to the first team of the younger players. The balance of the squad is terrible, i sometimes look at the team sheet and the subs and think we don't have a big enough squad, but you look through the players we have and the squad really is to big

{Ed002's Note - It will be a joint decision.}

09 May 2015 21:11:10
Agreed.

Many important historical decisions have been made over a joint.

Did you know, that under the influence, Hitler decided to continue his March in to Russia on the Eastern Front, well aware of the frozen conditions that lay ahead?

The rest is history, of course, but some on here say Brendan's signings were of a very similar comparison, only to come back to haunt him, albeit on a different scale.

10 May 2015 11:27:14
Good skills Davey, now pass the Dutchie 😍

09 May 2015 19:04:03
De gea has single handedly took utd to the champions league.

09 May 2015 19:49:46
One handed saves?

09 May 2015 20:54:31
They deserve it over us . If we had ddg we be top 4 but we didn't buy him . We went to the bargain basement as usual . Decent shot stopper mignolet but nowhere near de gea.

09 May 2015 21:07:25
The fact that the got this close in itself due to the mistake-littered first half of the season, is a small miracle which clealy shows we have a moore than capable squad of players that with some strategic fine-tuning, can compete any day. We just have to get things right from the word go next season and hopefully, lessons have been learnt by the owners and that the restructuring that have embarked upon bears fruit. Here`s to hoping!

09 May 2015 21:13:47
De Gea is a good keeper, but he was fortunate enough to pick up on his form, as he had a dodgy start and may have been lucky to stay.

He was slated but has proven he's got the character as well as the goalkeeper ability.

09 May 2015 22:15:34
To be honest redohio, I think it more shows how poor United and City have been rather than how good we've been.

09 May 2015 22:37:54
I agree RDL. I guess it will be harder next season.

09 May 2015 23:56:53
In addition to what you posted RDL, it also shows how poor the PL has become in general

10 May 2015 06:31:35
I'm with redohio

United have been lucky as hell in majority off there wins this season, will they be as lucky next season?

Yes they will spend big but will they all settle.

Did people think di Maria would be that poor this season?

If city get guadiola as manager how good is he really, the minute his inherited barcelona squad started slipping he jumped ship had a year out then picked one of the easiest teams in the world to manage.

10 May 2015 08:15:00
I said this at the time lavers, pep ain't all he's cracked up to be no way is he. Bayern win the league that's a given and he's hardly blown everyone away in cl. Heynckes had them playing much better football. They have definitely gone backwards in my opinion.

If we sign the right players for once who knows.

09 May 2015 17:32:47
I was rooting through the bins outside Ed2's home yesterday and aside from hearing Cliff Richard greatest hits blasting from the Radio I rather interestingly overhead a conversation that Ed had about Liverpool signing messi. Well I think that's what was being said, either that or Ed was giving out about the pool being messy but either way, you heard it here first!

09 May 2015 18:50:13
I like it haha!

09 May 2015 16:03:19
Hey Ed002, reports claiming an unnamed BPL club has made a 25 million bid for Kondogbia. Any idea which club it is?

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

09 May 2015 16:57:23
Good result at Burnley, Hull in danger will need something on last day of season. Now come on Palace!

09 May 2015 12:34:00
Just wanted to gauge a opinion from Ed001 if possible. What are your thoughts on Ander Iturraspe as a player?

{Ed001's Note - I liked him a few years ago, haven't watched him much this season as I haven't been able to keep up with Spanish footie, due to there being so much football on here to try and keep on top of. He looked to be a very good player to me. I wouldn't be opposed to us bringing him in, if he plays like he did then. He is at his peak, in terms of age, so it is the kind of player we need to bring in, we have enough young talent, we need players to play now, not in a few year's time.}

09 May 2015 11:40:59
Any chance we will sign Son Heung-Min, I'd love to see him play for us. Thanks in advance.

{Ed002's Note - Search or try reading the posts.}

09 May 2015 09:53:11
Morning, just a quick question about Rafa.

I said a few days ago I didn't think he was the answer but just wanted to hear peoples thoughts on the type of football you prefered - the Suarez led reckless abandon from last season which was exciting to watch or the more controlled pressing game with Gerrard, Alonso, Masch, Momo etc with Torres adding the sparkle.

Just watched us destroy West Ham in 2008 4-0 and I know which style I'd prefer to see at Anfield next year

09 May 2015 10:25:47
You will see a new style altogether next year mick. ;)
However I probably enjoyed the second half of last season more than any other. It was full on reckless entertainment.
We must have been great to watch for the neutrals especially.

09 May 2015 10:30:42
The football under Rodgers is a lot more appealing than rafa

IMO

09 May 2015 10:49:19
Rafa was brilliant in Europe where it was tactical and counter attack but it was ropey in the League, except that season when our squad was outrageously good and we only just lost out to United.

Look at how dodgy it was in the F.A cup final v West Ham where Gerrard had to pull two fantastic goals out of the bag just to save our blushes and get us to a shoot out which we won but it was seriously touch and go, Rafa never made it easy for us.

No doubt i loved Rafa as our manager, i didn't much care for those slagging him, his transfer or his inconsistencies in the League or his squad rotation. He made us a force in Europe but 5 seasons on and what has he done!? Europa League at Chelsea and Copa Italia or whatever it's called with Napoli. What have we done!? .

I think if we were to start over with a new manager we need to get a trail blazer not get a blazed trail which is what i see Rafa as currently. In short i loved him when he was our manager, but have to be honest and think his time at our club has past and i'll always remember the great memories and joy he helped bring to our club in a difficult time with owners and such.

That being said (typed), if he was appointed our manager by the start of next season then i'd be extremely supportive because i find the current trend of slating our manager and blaming everything and the weather on him beyond disgusting and totally out of character with our club and it's history. If that's progression then you can stick it and hard. Just my opinions.

09 May 2015 11:06:24
I think a different way to ask this question is to ask which one of these styles is more annoying to watch when things don't work. After all, when the team plays well and we win, who care how exciting is our game. Especially as both types of style lead to many goals scored and are not the 1:0 type of football. The problem is what happens when things don't work.

I have to admit I in particular find it frustrating to watch BR's LFC in poor games. The 'little passes' game when you don't have good passers, the endless dribbles into defenders, the total lack of crossing, the look for some magic pentration without doing much when trygint o figure out how to do it- hard to watch. I know that when it works it looks great and I am the first to admit that Barca for example when they play this style, are absolutley unbelivable. But for me watching us play this year was really hard. I hate to say it but watching United for example, even in some of their poorer games at least when they got the ball they run forward through the wings, try to cross or send a long ball to the box and you feel something can happen. In our games it was like we faced some hidden wall and tried to pass through it unsuccesfully.

09 May 2015 11:12:15
Was it any better than the Fowler, McManaman, Collymore years though? We tore teams a new one in those couple of years. Couldn't defend for toffee though

09 May 2015 12:26:14
The 1st and this season I reckon BR puts a picture up on the tactics board one of them ones drawn by a kid? you know the one sqiggly line going all over the place with no end and is not much to look at. Rafa's worst always looked promising to start but then for no reason left you wondering what was that sposed to be? On the football side of it Rafa wins it for me an that's not because I dislike BR I just think he was much more suited to management where as BR would be a brilliant number 2 ( no pun intended)

09 May 2015 13:07:52
I agree fanobip. Which is why I think a player like Benteke would be ideal for us. He'd push back the centre backs to the 18 yard line which would allow Coutinho, Sterling and Sturridge the space between the lines to do some damage. Far too often this year we've been stopped by lesser teams condensing the play in the final third and not allowing us to break them dowm. A player like Benteke would allow us the option of knocking an early ball in to change things up. Whether you like that type of football or not we have to accept we're not Barcelona and to break into the top four next year we need to find a way of scoring more goals

09 May 2015 16:10:50
Ollie, if he BR was getting all the credit for our relative success then he should be getting the blame for our blunders and poor form as well. That is the reality of being a manager and the rules aren`t going to change just because sme of us aren`t comfortable with this reality. IMO, many have blamed BR for his blunders and weaknesses because all the bad decisions made are all down to him No one is blaming him for what is NOT his responsibility and many don`t trust him to change his ways because even the owners don`t trust him with money anymore due to his frivolous antics.

Now as for Rafa, I would not want him back for reasons I have mentioned here many times before and BR did give us some of the best footie we`ve seen in years and I was always happy and giddy going to watch us play because I knew we would be brilliant during the game espeially in the second half of last season. However, I will say that the style we played is not "his" style and based on his system which has proven to be a failure this season, he NEVER believed in that style and only uses it when all else have failed. His tactics are easy to figure out YET he changes nothing and keeps playing the same way because he thinks it will eventually work. We have struggled in games this year and needed a spark BUT he would do nothing and keep going through the motions. All in all, i would like a new direction as in, not going back to the past and not persevering with clear mediocrity. We need to move forward and go for some with some winning pedigree and experience and new energy.

09 May 2015 09:40:09
Ed2 I find liverpools transfer targets as poor ? Milner ings and benteke, we really should be targeting more clever and better players! Would you agree??

Thanks

{Ed002's Note - Typically footballers are not the brightest of sparks so finding the "clever" ones might not be so easy. As for "better", that is entirely subjective. I have explained that Liverpool have looked at the likes of Pjanic but the prices is really way out there. Vietto again, but you have Real Madrid considering him and Atletico looking at him as a replacement for Griezmann. If Sterling were to leave then a move for Walcott may be on the cards, or perhaps Cheryshev - but no offer has been made. We will have to wait and see.}

09 May 2015 10:00:27
We as a club have to cut our cloth accordingly.
We have no money to spend on players due to FFP.
That is why we are targeting out of contract players as they don't command a transfer fee.
We will not be going for Benteke.
Ings, Milner, Walcott and Micah Richards will likely be our targets.

And then people think the likes of Klopp are going to want to come here! Laughable.

09 May 2015 12:16:01
Ed002, Griezmann on the move is he?

{Ed002's Note - Very possibly - enough for Atletico to start looking for a replacement - and hence their interest in Vietto.}

09 May 2015 16:18:31
Already? He only joined this season and has been great for them. As for the likes of Walcott, Richards, Ings and Milner, they are not good enuff especially, the first three and Chereshev will be another player with potential. We need players who can improve us now because we are filled with potential already in the squad and the academy.

{Ed001's Note - he has had a storming season and his value has skyrocketed. Atletico will take the huge profit and invest it in improving their team should a deal go through.}

09 May 2015 20:14:02
Ed, where do you think he would go because he is a cracking player with super movement, skill and finishing ability?

{Ed002's Note - Griezmann only moved last summer, and Atletico has no intention of selling unless a very significant fee is offered. Whilst Griezmann has said on a number of occasions that he has no plans to leave Spain anytime soon, he has said he would be interested in a move to Chelsea if the opportunity arose.

Chelsea would need to pay more than his release clause to make any such deal happen, but with interest in other players not looking fruitful, I expect them to make an offer for Griezmann. Atletico have a replacement in mind.

Both PSG and Bayern Munich would also be very interested if he became available - but I doubt that PSG will be in a position to do any sort of deal, even though they are desparate for a high-end French player, and Bayern Munich are looking to him for a specific role that they have another player in mind for.}

09 May 2015 06:12:41
After 15 years of marriage its all over. Quite sad to think we never won the league in my entirety of marriage and also my kids lives 17 , 12 and 9 but all of them have supported Liverpool all their lives. Stuff like this that you'll never walk alone means something because I'm dying now and can't walk alone. We are one family simple as

09 May 2015 08:13:48
You have all our support mate

09 May 2015 08:25:48
Sorry to hear your going through a storm mate, but as the song goes, hold your head up high.Let my words alone assure you that you will never walk alone. Hope you see a golden sky soon.

09 May 2015 08:56:54
I'll pray for you mate.
Red Rum

09 May 2015 09:12:38
Puts it all into context really.
YNWA .

09 May 2015 12:18:16
Been there WelshScouse, chin up mate, it gets easier.

09 May 2015 12:34:26
Thinking of you my Welch neighbour
YNWA

09 May 2015 14:46:17
All the best Welshscouse

09 May 2015 16:19:25
Goodluck, bro! It won`t be easy moving on BUT we are all with you.