Liverpool Banter

13 May 2024 19:52:40
Efc fan here in peace. Just wanted to wish good luck for tonight. I'm gutted klopp is leaving. A top class manager and just a top quality fella. I can just about recall how respected kendal was by both sides of the city and I think most true fans hold Jurgen in the esteem. Hope you have a strong end to the season and rebuild again for next season. Best wishes.

13 May 2024 15:12:51
Thanks for your help at Castle Grayskull earlier MK 'She-Ra' Scouser. :)

13 May 2024 15:56:08
"Castle Grayskull".

I've heard that as a nickname for both Old Trafford and Ibrox.

13 May 2024 17:56:29
It was Mum-Ra (the everliving) not She-Ra!

13 May 2024 17:57:22
I found this so much funnier than I should have Ed033 😂 great choice of princess 👏🏻.

{Ed033's Note - MK Scouser, I thought you had changed your name from Prince Adam to Princess Adora; then went Exploring with a new pair of Boots that you Swiped from some Pirate Piggies! :)

13 May 2024 18:25:39
Mumm Ra was thundercats Stoneage. She-Ra was he-man’s twin sister in masters of the universe. Greyskull was He-man’s pad. I watched far too much tv as a kid.

13 May 2024 19:51:38
To be fair Ed033, seems to be quite common nowadays to go from ‘Adam’ to ‘Adora’. Not sure the missus would be very happy though. She’s about as cheery as Skeletor at the best of times so I better not push my luck. Shame, I’d look great in a dress if I shaved my legs.

13 May 2024 08:19:19
Ed’s anyone of the loanees coming back that you are excited about and think could be a useful player next season for us?

{Ed001's Note - Beck.}

13 May 2024 09:14:08
Would you sell tsimikas then Ed

And who else in the current squad do you thing could be sold?

{Ed001's Note - I would yes. I have no idea who could be sold as we have a completely new team in charge, they might have all new ideas.}

13 May 2024 10:54:56
Any idea how he’s done at Dunndee eds1?

{Ed001's Note - from what I have been told, he is their standout player.}

13 May 2024 11:25:25
Beck made team of the season in Scotland. Best left back in their league this season by all accounts, so well worth a shout, given the success of Bradley.

13 May 2024 12:14:27
Surely Nat Phillips is moved on this year.

13 May 2024 11:38:17
Jaros - having a good half season at Sturm Graz by all acocounts. About to win the league there. Could be a good replaecment for Kellerher as 2nd choice if he leaves.
Davies - dropped out of the Crewe team after failing to impress. Probably time to move him on.
Ramsay - get rid. Barely played again due to injury.
Van den Berg - had a great season at Mainz. I saw him described as one of the top 10 defenders in the Bundesliga on another forum. Could come back to replace Matip as a squad option perhaps.
Williams - not good enough. Let him go to progress his career.
Koumetio - not good enough. Let him go to progress his career.
Phillips - doing well at Preston. Should good a good move in the summer.
Beck - Not seen much of him but he's started over 80% of Dundee's games and according to Ed001 has had a good season. Possible Tsimikas replacement
Chambers - another who will be after Tsimikas's position in the squad. Had a great half season with Wigan playing CB, LB and LM. Decent utility player who might fancy his chances in pre season.
Morton - had a good season with Hull City but I think he'll struggle to get back in our squad with Bajcetic and Clark both just being better and younger players. Time to move on I reckon.
Balagizi - done nothing at either Wigan or Kilmarnock. End of the line for him I suspect. Will have to drop down to League 1 or below.
Corness - done well by all accounts in Switzerland but bit like Morton, I don't see where he fits in with better and younger midfielders in his way.
Carvalho - might get a chance in pre season. He's recently said he wants to come back to Liverpool. Scored some screamers too. Might find a way back under Slot.

{Ed001's Note - I forgot about VDB! He has looked very good out on loan in the Bundesliga. Injuries are the issue with him.}

13 May 2024 13:31:04
I've read a lot of good things about Sepp VDB recently, my only concern is that he's playing in a pretty poor team so probably easy to standout however didn't we buy Robbo from a relegated team so what do I know? I think we should bring him back as a Matip replacement to see if he can cut it over here, will free up some cash for improvement elsewhere. Same for Beck too, sell Tsimikas.

13 May 2024 13:36:16
Is there an option for Mainz to by VDB as part of his loan contract? I don't remember where I heard it, may have been when he went out on loan. If so, are we required to accept that bid, or is it just they get first, unrivaled option?

{Ed002's Note - Nat Phillips (CB) Time to move on come the summer.
Sepp van den Berg (CB) He likely won't get a chance as a starter at Liverpool and will probably be sold in the summer to raise funds - could be a mistake by the club. There is no option to buy for Mainz but they will have a a first pick option if he were to be sold. Will need to speak to the club and see what other options he has.}

13 May 2024 14:31:30
In fairness to VdB Ed, he’s not had any time out for injury this season, statistically he is the best u23 currently plying his trade in Europe according to Whoscored and he’s in good company in that bracket. He’s strong in the air, decent with the ball at his feet (doesn’t treat it like an unpinned hand grenade), he’s brave, likes a tackle and is rapid for a big lad. Only downside is he looks like a member of the Weasley family. No reason why he shouldn’t be given a chance.

{Ed001's Note - I like him, but he has had a couple of big injuries and that is always something to be wary of. I would defo keep him personally. He offers a lot of flexibility in play as well, due to being able to play full-back, right of a back 3 or right of a back four. That would have made him ideal for the tactics we employed this season, with the right-sided centre-back pretty much having to swap between those 3 positions as the game goes on.}

13 May 2024 16:06:38
Right, who's starting the petition to keep VDB for the 2024/ 25 season 😉.

13 May 2024 15:51:17
Is he able to play well on the left side of CB Ed1? I do think that if he is to play under the current coaching team, his injury record would be something to be worried about. As our injury record and players availability is really bad. But I do read that Fayenoord under Slot has one of the best squad in term of players availability in Europe. Maybe they can improve our squad in term of player's injury and availability.

{Ed001's Note - I have not seen him play on the left that I can remember.}

13 May 2024 18:53:55
Never thought of that, E01 re: VDB As someone who is comfortable at RB and RCB in a 4 or a 3, he definitely would have been more ideal to play the RCB with Trent inverted or Bradley pushing up as he is used to defending out wide in space in the wide areas. Well, we move on.

12 May 2024 19:21:13
Next season will be all about Harvey Elliot, surely. This lad can play. He will break into the England team as well. My favourite player without a doubt.

12 May 2024 20:56:55
Struggles to start for us, Where does he start for England?

12 May 2024 20:58:08
Where do you think he'll play next season for Liverpool and England, Nicol?
There is a place for him at Liverpool but he's not at the level that to take us to or above City and Arsenal standards. Maybe if we strengthen the team Elliott could play a part in improving us but I don't think he'd be improving City or Arsenal.

12 May 2024 21:20:00
If we play 4-2-3-1 then I suppose he could play ahead of the double pivot as a 10? Not sure he's fast enough to play on the wing or defensive minded enough at this stage of his development to play in a double pivot. Be interesting to see. He's got a lot of ability and he's a hard worker.

12 May 2024 22:03:30
Agree to a large extent with Nicol.
Slot likes technical players who can move the ball quickly and break the lines with quick 1-2s. Elliott will fit right in.

12 May 2024 22:16:34
He’s still yet to show me he’s anything but a natural number 10 playing out of position.

12 May 2024 22:29:25
Elliots 21 and excellent. He'll keep improving ans become top drawer.

12 May 2024 22:52:03
You can work on speed and power. Just have a look at a similar case in Orkun Kokcu and the specialised training program Arne Slot put him on because he knew the technical ability was there. However, the pace and power was to play as an 8 was lacking. Kokcu actually went onto have his best season and Feyenoord ended up winning the league. Which incidentally earned him a move to Benfica. So if Slot fancies Elliott as a 10 he will give him the best tools to effectively play that position.

One thing I have gathered is Arne Slot is well known for his tactical ability and Pep Guardiola like obsession for studying the opposition as well as improving his players. Also he likes playing either academy players or young players who are signed. Another thing is he is know for is training players into positions they weren't originally known for, and to great success mind. So don’t be surprised if we see that at Liverpool.

Now I’m not saying we will be winning multiple trophies right out the gate as patience is required. But the more I read about Arne Slot, the more I understand why Edwards chose him to be Klopp’s successor.

12 May 2024 23:32:57
If Harvey develops and plays as a 10, is he taking Bellighams place in the England line-up?

13 May 2024 02:20:31
Think Harvey is more than quick enough to play on the wing. We very rarely have space in games to be in a straight sprint and I wouldn't describe him as slow.

harvey is quick of mind and agile. That is all he needs for the wing in our team.

13 May 2024 06:48:33
As long as Southgate is England manager Elliott could play anywhere, maybe in a back 3.

13 May 2024 07:37:50
Apparently Southgate is a fan of Elliot’s. When asked about him he was quoted as saying “Elliot is currently his 115th choice right back”

Which in theory means he’s still got a shot at going to this euros.

13 May 2024 07:39:34
Elliott is not quick and he's not talking Bellingham's place in the England team. Bellingham is younger than Elliott, too.
Slot could improve Harvey Elliott, make him quicker and stronger but it's highly unlikely that next season will be all about him. I think some of you are looking at him through rose tinted specs because he didn't feature as much as others in the poor run at the back end of our season.

13 May 2024 09:03:29
Rigsby, Im one of Harvey's biggest fans even when many on here were getting impatient with him and wanted rid. He is a very good play and his technical ability on the ball, his vision and quickness over 5 yards are really good.

However like you, I think there is some recency bias going on with his performances of late and how people are assessing things. Has he had very good to great games for us this year? Of course BUT let's not overdo things here.

IMO, The kid is ripe for an elevation in his game and Slot is very interesting with the ways he improves players like @Alonso said with Ozcan and what he reportedly did to improve Santhiago Gimenez by changing his running style completely. I look forward to the work Slot can do with ALL our players, not just Harvey.

13 May 2024 09:46:19
I don't think it will be all about Elliott but I do think it could be the year he really takes off and becomes a regular starter for Liverpool. He's been around so long people take it for granted how young he is.

I've always likened him to Juan Mata as a player and Mata's career really took off around this age (20/ 21). For players so small in stature who also lack pace, it is their technique and their intelligence that they rely on to succeed, which are attributes that take a little longer to hone.

Bellingham never had to worry about that because he's big, strong and a powerful runner so it's an unfair comparison. Kane didn't hit top level until 22 because he lacked pace and was always off balance so he had to learn how to find a yard to set himself and get a shot away. All players career trajectories are different. Never say never though. At 21 years old when Kane was behind Sturridge, Rooney, Ings, Austin and Welbeck who'd have predicted he'd break the record for most England goals ever?

Elliott's got good vision, an explosive shot with very little back lift and exceptional work rate. I think we could see him go get 10 goals and 10 assists in the league next season quite easily. He can certainly break into the England squad, but breaking into the first XI when he's up against the likes of Bellingham, Foden, Saka and Palmer will be tough.

13 May 2024 09:48:38
I think Elliott is having an overall decent season with us. Always trying and never giving up are the two things that we can expect from him without fail, and that is what endears him to us. Definitely rose-tinted but I want him to succeed with us and have a good career purely because of that. He has improved from last season to this season, not only in stats but in overall performance, so I won't be surprised if he continues on this trajectory into next season as well.

13 May 2024 10:41:17
Ed01, if we play with a 10, which I guess we could with. 4 - 2 - 3 - 1 do you think that Carvalho might find a place in the squad? Do you think he could be good enough or not and would his attitude towards Klopp be too much of a risk in terms of his character?

{Ed001's Note - not because of his attitude towards Klopp, but because of his attitude in general. He threw his toys out of the pram rather than working harder. I would want to have a seriously long chat with him before I considered him.}

13 May 2024 14:52:49
Fair comment Ed01 - hopefully he matures as a person and comes to appreciate what’s required in terms of attitude. To be fair from the little I have heard he seems to be putting the effort in at Hull.