29 Jan 2016 01:58:42
I understand that the club need to be frugal and can't just pay hand-over-foot for players like Teixeira.
I've seen a lot of media reports and pundits claiming Teixeira is a "gamble". I think this is baloney. Costa, Willian, Mkhitaryan, and Konoplyanka are all huge talents who came from Donetsk. Moreover, Teixeira has proven far more prolific and productive as an attacking midfielder than *any* of these players, including in Champions League. All evidence suggests he's not a gamble, but a proven talent on a team that has a track record for developing world class talent. Teixeira is many things, maybe "overpriced" at 38, but he's not a gamble.
In the end, if the difference is merely £5-8m (30m bid from Liverpool vs 35m or 38m asking price at Donetsk) or even greater (24m vs 38m), I still don't understand why we're not selling Benteke to help fund the signing?
Honestly, don't see the point of a £32m impact sub who does not fit the attack or style of Klopp at all.
Sell Benteke before his value drops even further, and use the funds to cover Teixeira.
Bring in a player with explosive pace, power, piles of goals (including in CL), with world class potential-- everything we could use more of in our attack-- who has also literally came out and begged to come to the club.
And sell a player who does not fit, will not fit, and will never fit, and who is a third or fourth choice of striker when everyone is healthy, and often looks too lazy actually try.
I know it's never this simple, but felt it had to be said.
{Ed002's Note - Benteke is not for sale and nobody is showing interest in him. The Liverpool fans a crave a marquee signing and then moan about it.}
29 Jan 2016 02:06:56
I can believe he's not for sale. I'm saying, why not?
{Ed002's Note - He is a Liverpool player - past, present or future. Spew the hate.}
29 Jan 2016 02:10:09
And for the record, I've never viewed Benteke as a "marquee" signing. Never wanted him. Predicted he wouldn't fit. He doesn't. He won't.
{Ed002's Note - Feel free to start a hat campaign on Facebook or whatever.}
29 Jan 2016 02:12:12
It's not about hate. It's about building the best team. Period.
{Ed002's Note - No it is simply the modern day Liverpool fans destroying a club through not being supportive and spewing hate over everyone associated with that club.}
29 Jan 2016 02:24:00
Disagree. We've moved on players in the past who do not fit style and attack, especially if they'll likely excel elsewhere. It probably hurts Benteke as well retaining him as a sub, when he could lead the line elsewhere. Talented player, doesn't fit. The Benteke signing was a mistake. No shame in admitting that. Certainly Klopp feels no loyalties given his player choices.
I recognize there's hate out there in the fanbase, no doubt, but you're mistaken if you think that's what is animating my thinking.
{Ed002's Note - You are simp-ly another Liverpool "fan" who is unable to support the club nor the players at the club. It is imploding. Klopp has fixed nothing and the so called fans are trying to protect the so called "world class" manager by blaming the players - it is truly hopeless and indicative or either not understanding the game or simple stupidity. You choose.}
29 Jan 2016 02:34:27
I'm quite content with my LFC fan credentials, but thanks for the concern.
Klopp has taken a Rodgers team that could not compete with top EPL teams, and now, we're regularly beating and out-playing them this year with the same squad. There is plenty work to do, plenty of unfortunate injuries, but he has my full confidence.
Most fans were not supportive of the Benteke move. The rationale still escapes me as it escapes many; seems to also escape Rodgers himself who has yet to justify it.
29 Jan 2016 02:52:50
klopp is human after all. like any new employee, he needs time to feel the power bases at a new organisation before he ruffle any feathers and get booted out like say Benitez at RM. Like any employee, his bread and butter comes first. Once he feel the power bases and gain support and alliances, he will be able to kick over the sacred cows. surely u dun neeed me to teach u office politics.
29 Jan 2016 03:01:23
Imploding is quite an emotive word and given the evidence of the season so far -
Qualification for the final of a domestic cup competition, Qualification to the knock-out stages of a European cup competition, Still within striking distance of the top fou in the league,
Still in another of the domestic cup competition (at least until 7ish on Saturday night)
may be a slight exaggeration.
With respect to the player under discussion in this instance - the original reasoning behind signing him has been largely removed with the introduction of a new coach who seems to wish to introduce a different style of play. The player has had (and will have more) opportunities to rove that he has the skills to adapt to the new system. If he hasn't then it is better for both the player and the club if he moves on to try and further his career elsewhere. This opinion isn't based in hatred - it is based in a desire to see what is best for the club and the player.
29 Jan 2016 03:42:41
I can see why some people are disappointed with benteke as I am too for his effort sometimes on the picth but I for one don't think he has no ability and can't be a good player for us, I don't think he is just someone that should be stuck in the box looking for a header at every attack like all the pundits say he should do, the mans got feet and hasn't got a bad touch on him and can dribble past players sometimes with ease with skill he can join in attacks. Its stupid that people aren't even giving him a chance at all he still our highest scorer and isn't half as bad as Ballotelli just give the man a chance i don't think Klopp wants him gone otherwise he wouldn't have looked at him when he was dortmond although he is leaving him out I just think he's experimenting with different playing styles till he finds the right one for next season. Sorry rant over.
29 Jan 2016 04:19:17
Benteke has been getting chances and not looked particular impressive. I'll agree he does in fact have two feet, but dribbling past players with ease is a pretty massive stretch.
He's likely to still be here for another year minimum I'd guess, hopefully he picks it up a few notches.
29 Jan 2016 06:16:22
Ed, perhaps the English weather has put you in a really bad mood, but your exaggeration really excessive. Despite your accusations, Fear of a Red Planet is not the hateful, unsupportive fan you make him out to be. I'm sure he wants to see Benteke do well, but using rational thought, he doesn't think that will come to fruition, so I don't see how you take umbrage with his suggestions to sell him. The poster doesn't need to have his integrity and his character unfairly questioned like that.
As for Benteke being a marquee signing, well maybe in your world he is, but in the better universe that Liverpool fans live in, he is not. He's merely just a good player that Liverpool overpaid for. Fans cry out for players of marquee quality. They don't cry out for being ripped off over merely good players. There's a difference, and you've literally just made up a false narrative about Liverpool fans to support your agenda.
It is possible to be supportive and critical of a player at the same time.
29 Jan 2016 07:48:49
You're wasting your breath ed2. People often don't like what's in the mirror.
29 Jan 2016 08:05:25
ED I don't see where this typical "Liverpool fan" comes from that you keep mentioning.
I would imagine that this is how all supporters are past and present.
the only difference now is social media and the internet making it easier to voice your opinion.
29 Jan 2016 08:06:31
87red, let's put everything into context here. Ed002 has repeatedly asserted that Liverpool need to sell players to build funds, and to cure the squad's bloating. Yet when a fan suggests that Liverpool do just exactly that, he suddenly calls him a hateful, unsupportive fan. Don't you think that's a tad unfair?
29 Jan 2016 02:48:53
Ed002: One last thing -- I appreciate your perspective on this (and you sharing your deep knowledge of football dealings on here), especially as you're tasked with having to constantly deal with people spewing anger or hate on here (or elsewhere) .
And I agree, Klopp has made mistakes and isn't above criticism.
I've just long had a different take on the Benteke acquisition. That's all. That Facebook hat campaign, however, is not a bad suggestion: "Make LFC Great Again".
29 Jan 2016 05:04:22
Ed, just asking out of curiosity (hope it won't kill this cat) since you frequent many of the different teams that are represented on this site which fans slate their own players/ team the most? Surely it can't be only Liverpool fans?
{Ed002's Note - The Liverpool fans are by far and away the worst - and I appreciate there are more. The Manchester United page has been ruined by their new breed of toxic fans (and regulars here) that are trolling pretty much every post to make it about the manager. The Arsenal, Chelsea and Spurs fans are general very good but have one or two idiots. The West Ham fans are very good but have no interest in what is actually happening in terms of transfers. The Manchester City fan is a very nice chap called Bernard.}
29 Jan 2016 08:54:11
No nick,
Again I'm wasting my breath here but I'll try. A large proportion of the fans on here are fickle and extremely disrespectful to our players, staff and even the owners in some cases.
I can honestly say I've never met an lfc fan in person who speaks about our club and players in the way they are on a daily basis on this site.
i know this post will get a lot of disagrees (qu'elle surprise it will be said fans I'm referring to) .
Many modern day football fans are only interested in singing when you're winning. I remember being at anfield and the kop just got louder in support when we conceded a goal.
To re-iterate, this isn't all football fans but this site shows the good, the bad and the ugly.
29 Jan 2016 09:27:13
The Manchester City fan
ED002.post of the day :)
29 Jan 2016 09:31:37
87red, you've obviously never had a proper conversation with a bunch of Liverpool fans. Go to the local pubs near Anfield on match days, especially after the games. A lot of discussion about Liverpool, and a lot of discussion about who's not good enough. These people are out there, you're just looking in the wrong place.
To shed some light on how I feel about this whole situation. I'm pretty tired of Liverpool eyeing up players and making bids below the asking price, I'm fairly sure we have enough players to unload to make this signing cost nothing. The lowball offers we constantly see seem more like something to keep the fans happy/ excited than actually trying to sign the players. Teixeira would fit our style of play much better than Benteke,
my girlfriend who knows nothing about football could watch both players for 1-2 games each and know that. Benteke simply doesn't fit what we need, you can call it 'hate' all you want, but these days what isn't 'hate'. You say 'he couldve done better' and suddenly you're a 'hater', its just not true, having an opinion on something does not make you a hater, nobody is saying Benteke is awful and doesn't deserve to play for our club, we're saying he's good but doesn't fit our style of play. We need to cash in and use the money to not make similar mistakes.
29 Jan 2016 09:38:55
The Liverpool page is by far the busiest.
So talking % wise of idiots all fans are probably the same :)
happy days.
29 Jan 2016 09:41:36
Fans have always criticised under-performing players or ones who don't make an effort on the pitch. Benteke needs to justify his wages. No hate campaigns, just fans frustration with a current under-achiever.
29 Jan 2016 09:48:06
A lot of people do not like Big Ben, I for one do. Yes he is not the runner we all want, he can be frustrating but what players arnt? Benteke has a good goal and assist records even if you look at his Liverpool days. He is the type of player that works with another striker up top yet till now he has not had any one to play with. He is on his own and a lot of the service he gets is still the balls played for sturridge or suarez with lots of explosive pace.
I'm sure any of you here that worked some where and you was. It getting the service from other departments then you to do you would struggle. Give Benteke a pre season under Klopp and I bet he starts to show his true ability. Give the lad support not call him names.
Baz.
29 Jan 2016 10:38:05
Benteke is one of those cricket players who ain't famous for his footwork or technical ability. He just stands and deliver. Make no mistake we never played to his strength and we never looked like paying to it at all.
Apparently the team is getting build around Firmino and Benteke is left out.
Wait some time, and the same posters would come up and ask Klopp, Where is the plan B? We do need a physical mister up front blah blah.
I am eagerly waiting.
29 Jan 2016 06:43:01
Imploding is what I call battling relegation. Fans calling their own players "Rats. " Fans singing peaceful songs on Paris train. Signing finished players from Brazil. And then there is the cases similar to Papy Djilbodji. Yet they are the model to follow according to some people.
Liverpool have done fine under Klopp under the circumstances. It is a well run club. Benteke has full support from most of the Liverpool fans.
29 Jan 2016 14:06:34
Insulting players and calling them rats and the worst, "deadwood" is just beyond the pale and disgusting. I agree that many of our fans are fickle, unterested in supporting the team when the going gets tough or simply incapable of having a rational conversation about players and transfers. What i don`t agree with is to just categorize people as haters just because they have disagreements on a player`s worth or ability. that is just wrong and childish. Hatred is a word reserved for Satan alone, in my book so that should not be used on fellow human beings and if so, it should be condemed. As for Benteke, many of us didn`t want him because of the very reasons we are now seeing. his talent is there and his ability to do better and contribute more is also there BUT he has to want it and desire to be great. taht is where the issue is, IMO. He has too much ability to just be as poor as he has been even tho, he has shown some glimpses of improvement, of late. He won`t be sold this summer because no one will take him off our hands hence, he`ll be here next season and Klopp will have a full preseason to work with him and team as a whole so we`ll see what happens then. As for Klopp, he may have made a couple of mistakes but as long as he`s learning from them, I`m fine with it. He has said repeatedly that he`s not a genius and that he will not always be right so it`s not as if he`s an ITK.
29 Jan 2016 21:26:20
NickIsARed, redohio: Thanks, both, for the reasoned defense. Didn't think I was spewing hate or anything really extraordinary. Certainly don't hate Benteke. I actually feel a bit bad for the guy; though he's certainly getting paid well for his struggles.
{Ed002's Note - He has been crying all day because of what you said.}
29 Jan 2016 22:00:49
Ed002: Feel bad not because of what I said, but because he looks low on confidence due to being out of favour under Klopp.
But thanks for the tears report. Nice to hear you're keeping tabs on him. Such a caring Ed.