Liverpool FC Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread 11/12-Jan 2012 onwards

internelligent · 01-02-2012 11:51am

missingtime wrote: »

Skrtel has been awesome of late. Man of the Match for me against Utd. Really impressed how calm and assured he has been on the ball and has become a threat in the oppositions box as well.

Agreed. He went through such a rough patch last year but with Agger alongside him he's so much more confident to pass the ball out of defence as opposed to the inevitable panicked hoof.

SlickRic · 01-02-2012 12:05pm

Johnson would not provide the same threat from RM at all.

he doesn't have the trickery.

the fact he can make runs from deep, i.e. the RB position, is far more suited to him.

i think he can play RM, but he would not be the success many seem to convince themselves that he would be.

LuckyLloyd · 01-02-2012 12:16pm

SlickRic wrote: »

i think he can play RM, but he would not be the success many seem to convince themselves that he would be.

One of the most common misconceptions of the football fan. Attacking fullback? 'Shur, he's great going forward but can't defend - play him as a winger!'

These guys don't play fullback for the craic. They've been doing it since they were kids, and the nous and feel in terms of positioning is completely different for either position. For better or worse, Johnson is a right back.

Kess73 · 01-02-2012 12:16pm

Morzadec wrote: »

Just to clarify Spearing is 23, Kess was saying that he was turning 25. He's not, he'll be 24 in November.

Players are bound to improve playing competitive high level matches. Spearing is doing that. He's no kid but I believe he will get even better, as I feel his position is one in which you learn a lot and develop from playing at the highest level - positionally, tactically, time on the ball etc... How much has Lucas improved in the last year (Lucas is a year and a bit older than Spearing)? Spearing's development has not finished imo. I think he definitely has the ability to be a useful squad player/option for a top 4 side.

I wrote him off prior to Kenny's arrival too by the way, but I think it's unfair, based on his performances at the end of last season and deputising for Lucas so far, to say he's not good enough to be a backup/option for us if we have top 4 aspirations.

It will be interesting to see if I'm proved right anyway, because I expect him to be one of the first names on the team sheet for the remainder of the season, so we'll get to see lots of what he offers and if he continues to develop as he has been.

I got his age wrong then. He is turning 24 this year.

One of the posts last night said that Spearing is better on the ball than Mascherano. Mascherano at 23 going on 24 was one of our best players, one of the best in the world in his role, and pretty good on the ball as well despite what many now like to say about him.

Including his time out on loan to Leicester in the Championship, Spearing has a whole 24 league games worth of experience since the start of the 2008 season. He has a further 19 cup games in that period. Says a lot about his ability that even with Lucas out that Spearing was not put in the side as a regular when not suspended.

I really don't see the big potential that some seem to see in the guy.

Hard working? Yes very much so.

Honest type player on the pitch? I would say so.

Not the type to hide on the pitch? He is no hider.

Has his level of play/ability seen decent jumps in quality over the last three years? I don't think so. He still seems pretty much at the same level as he did a few years back. Capable of the odd shift now and then, but that's about it.

Any comparisons to Lucas or Mascherano at the same age are a joke imho as last season Lucas was the age Spearing is now, and Lucas was as good last season for Liverpool as he was this season.

I think if Spearing was at another club and he got linked to Liverpool as a potential transfer target that the idea would be scoffed at. Very limited player who is a very hard worker with a very good attitude, and one who woulod not get a sniff at the first team if the squad had even semi decent cover for the DM role. If he had the talent to match his attitude and workrate he would be a Messi level player imho.

Kess73 · 01-02-2012 12:23pm

missingtime wrote: »

Skrtel has been awesome of late. Man of the Match for me against Utd. Really impressed how calm and assured he has been on the ball and has become a threat in the oppositions box as well.

Ever since Carragher has been dropped, Skrtel has really impressed with Agger beside him.

I have been very critical of Skrtel in the past and at times I thought he was a level or so below current Carragher and that he was causing more problems in defence than Carragher, but man was I wrong on that.

Carragher out seems to have been the making of Skrtel, and Agger's leadership/organisation at the back really seems to suit Skrtel's personality. Agger seems to be very quick to give a thumbs up or a slap on the back anytime Skrtel does well, and Skrtel seems to have gained confidence and is putting in some damn impressive shifts at times. Sure he still makes a few mistakes from time to time, but nowhere near as often as he used to.

His change in form this season is amazing, he look slow, nervous and error prone for the opening third of the season, then Carragher got injured and then dropped and suddenly Skrtel is as close to that cliche of being like a new signing as I have ever seen.

amiable · 01-02-2012 12:24pm

http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/latest-news/portuguese-youngster-joins-academy

Joao Carlos Teixeira will join Liverpool's Academy after the formalities of his transfer from Sporting Lisbon were completed.

The 19-year-old Portuguese youth international played and scored against the Reds earlier this season at Anfield in the NexGen series.

LuckyLloyd · 01-02-2012 12:26pm

Nice! Let's try and develop this one though, shall we?

amiable · 01-02-2012 12:28pm

I think OPR was getting a bit of a sweat on worrying about him:p

Crazy Horse 6 · 01-02-2012 12:34pm

Just hearing John Terry's trial suspended until after the euros. How brave. You couldnt write this sh1t.:mad:

amiable · 01-02-2012 12:35pm

Crazy Horse 6 wrote: »

Just hearing John Terry's trial suspended until after the euros. How brave. You couldnt write this sh1t.:mad:

Not suspended. Todays hearing was to set the court date AFAIK

mike65 · 01-02-2012 12:37pm

Initial hearing only for the plea, he pleaded not guilty and the trail date set for 9 July. Nothing remotely odd or unusual about that.

Crazy Horse 6 · 01-02-2012 12:38pm

amiable wrote: »

Not suspended. Todays hearing was to set the court date AFAIK

Double standards. Stinks to high heaven.

mike65 · 01-02-2012 12:40pm

Crazy Horse 6 wrote: »

Double standards. Stinks to high heaven.

Wind your neck in! The two cases are in no way comparable, one is a legal charge and dealt with on that basis the other wasn't.

amiable · 01-02-2012 12:41pm

mike65 wrote: »

Initial hearing only for the plea, he pleaded not guilty and the trail date set for 9 July. Nothing remotely odd or unusual about that.

I think his defence team asked for it to be put back.

amiable · 01-02-2012 12:42pm

Crazy Horse 6 wrote: »

Double standards. Stinks to high heaven.

Double Standards by the British Legal System?

LuckyLloyd · 01-02-2012 12:44pm

Crazy Horse 6 wrote: »

Just hearing John Terry's trial suspended until after the euros. How brave. You couldnt write this sh1t.:mad:

Crazy Horse 6 wrote: »

Double standards. Stinks to high heaven.

There are no double standards here, just different standards. There was no criminal case against Suarez, so it allowed space for the invention of an FA case conducted by their kangaroo court procedures.

In Terry's case, there are criminal proceedings, and such procedures are lengthy and thorough. It takes time. Additionally, because there is a criminal case, the FA's hands are tied.

So, because Suarez didn't behave as recklessly he left himself more open to being savagely victimised. Is that fair? No. But such is life.

Kess73 · 01-02-2012 12:52pm

amiable wrote: »

I think his defence team asked for it to be put back.

Pretty sure that is correct. Terry did not turn up himself today, but a plea of not guilty was lodged by his team. I see that if Terry were to be found guilty come November, he would face a £2,500 fine. Some difference to what Suarez got at a Civil hearing.

billymitchell · 01-02-2012 12:53pm

Kess73 wrote: »

Ever since Carragher has been dropped, Skrtel has really impressed with Agger beside him.

I have been very critical of Skrtel in the past and at times I thought he was a level or so below current Carragher and that he was causing more problems in defence than Carragher, but man was I wrong on that.

Carragher out seems to have been the making of Skrtel, and Agger's leadership/organisation at the back really seems to suit Skrtel's personality. Agger seems to be very quick to give a thumbs up or a slap on the back anytime Skrtel does well, and Skrtel seems to have gained confidence and is putting in some damn impressive shifts at times. Sure he still makes a few mistakes from time to time, but nowhere near as often as he used to.

His change in form this season is amazing, he look slow, nervous and error prone for the opening third of the season, then Carragher got injured and then dropped and suddenly Skrtel is as close to that cliche of being like a new signing as I have ever seen.

And how great has it been to have Agger in the team more often than not. If he could stay like that it will be a great foundation to start building the team on

amiable · 01-02-2012 12:55pm

Kess73 wrote: »

Pretty sure that is correct. Terry did not turn up himself today, but a plea of not guilty was lodged by his team. I see that if Terry were to be found guilty come November, he would face a £2,500 fine. Some difference to what Suarez got at a Civil hearing.

A £2,500 fine is the maximum punishment he can face AFAIK.

Does that mean he can't receive another fine from the FA if he is found guilty?

mike65 · 01-02-2012 12:56pm

Kess73 wrote: »

Pretty sure that is correct. Terry did not turn up himself today, but a plea of not guilty was lodged by his team. I see that if Terry were to be found guilty come November, he would face a £2,500 fine. Some difference to what Suarez got at a Civil hearing.

But if found guilty Terry would have a criminal conviction against his name forever and that is the real price, no MLS wind down for him!

Boom_Bap · 01-02-2012 12:57pm

billymitchell wrote: »

And how great has it been to have Agger in the team more often than not. If he could stay like that it will be a great foundation to start building the team on

Have to agree that having DAgger as a regular starter has improved things alot. It also allowed Skittles to move to his more natural right side of the back pairing.

My one concern about DAgger is his representation, his agent seems to be coming out with comments periodically that he should be playing at a better club or more often. I'm guessing that his agent is looking for a payday, but lets hope that Dagger looks past this nad focuses on LFC.

killwill · 01-02-2012 12:59pm

amiable wrote: »

A £2,500 fine is the maximum punishment he can face AFAIK.

Does that mean he can't receive another fine from the FA if he is found guilty?

I think if he is found guilty the FA are going to charge him.
They can fine him, ban him or both hopefully.

tok9 · 01-02-2012 12:59pm

Boom_Bap wrote: »

his agent seems to be coming out with comments periodically that he should be playing at a better club or more often. I'm guessing that his agent is looking for a payday, but lets hope that Dagger looks past this nad focuses on LFC.

I've never seen any stories from his agent but if true then I hope he gets a new one! Have you any links?

amiable · 01-02-2012 1:01pm

tok9 wrote: »

I've never seen any stories from his agent but if true then I hope he gets a new one! Have you any links?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/jan/15/daniel-agger-liverpool-ac-milan

Kess73 · 01-02-2012 1:01pm

amiable wrote: »

A £2,500 fine is the maximum punishment he can face AFAIK.

Does that mean he can't receive another fine from the FA if he is found guilty?

I reckon that if he is found guilty and fined £2,500, you will see the FA come out and say that the courts ruled on the case and that will be that.

What is interesting is that there is no major media outcry at Terry's claim that what he said was taken out of context, whereas with Suarez things like context etc were thrown out the window by many as a lot of people said that if you live in England then you should know what words never to use.

Well Terry is an Englishman living in England and has never lived anywhere else, so it is a shame in many ways that his case is not going to go through the same civil proceedings as the Suarez case, as it would have been very interesting to see how the FA dealt with it if it was put upon them to do so.

Crazy Horse 6 · 01-02-2012 1:05pm

mike65 wrote: »

Wind your neck in! The two cases are in no way comparable, one is a legal charge and dealt with on that basis the other wasn't.

No. Do u think if Terry wasnt british he would have got that sort of treatment. The FA and the whole xenophobia aspect of English football is a joke.

ush · 01-02-2012 1:07pm

LuckyLloyd wrote: »

There are no double standards here, just different standards.

The FA don't have standards.

opr · 01-02-2012 1:07pm

everdead.ie wrote: »

On tonight the spurs next gen team has been weakened a bit by loan moves for some of our players and Lancaster making his debut last night.

Hoping for a good performance though we have some promising players coming through.

Lancaster hasn't featured in the Nextgen series apart from one game as a sub for 20 minutes. I don't think anyone from the Nextgen team went on loan ?

Anyways it is suppose to be a cracking Spurs youth side. Really looking forward to it as well.

Opr

Crazy Horse 6 · 01-02-2012 1:10pm

You know well what im saying. Terry is getting treated differently than Suarez because he' s an English international.

Boom_Bap · 01-02-2012 1:11pm

tok9 wrote: »

I've never seen any stories from his agent but if true then I hope he gets a new one! Have you any links?

If you google Agger + Agent you will see plently. His agent always seems to be talking about AC Milan and about denying there is any interest from Milan.

Now, there is never any mention of AC Milan and Agger except for what his agent is saying. And if there is one club in the world who like to blab about who thier targets are, it's Milan and Galianno or whatever his name is.

So his agent his pulling this out of his bum hole to try get a move and a pay day for himself.
I cant find the particular artcile i was looking for on his agent saying he belonged at a bigger club, I think it was during the summer when he said this.

Oh, and did we sign Terry yesterday? A lot of talk about him here today.

SlickRic · 01-02-2012 1:15pm

Crazy Horse 6 wrote: »

You know well what im saying. Terry is getting treated differently than Suarez because he' s an English international.

he really isn't.

it's all to do with the Criminal Justice System.

the FA can't do anything until the criminal investigation is done, which always take a fúcking age.

i know many are dying for there to be a double standard so we can garner some sort of siege mentality and what-not, but seriously, everything is going exactly how it can go.

is the British Justice System in on this conspiracy or something?

we'll have to wait until the criminal stuff is done before we see what the FA do.

but one thing i do agree with; the lack of a media outcry compared to the Suarez case is extremely telling.

mike65 · 01-02-2012 1:21pm

Aggers agent says his client is going nowhere. in 2010/2011
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1342572/Daniel-Aggers-agent-mystified-claims-Liverpool-defender-offered-European-clubs.html

http://www.caughtoffside.com/2011/01/17/liverpool-defender-daniel-agger-will-not-be-sold-says-agent/

http://socceranchor.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1317:daniel-aggers-agent-contradicts-liverpool-manager-kenny-dalglish&catid=66:latest-news&Itemid=170 (he got this one wrong)

everdead.ie · 01-02-2012 1:22pm

opr wrote: »

everdead.ie wrote: »

On tonight the spurs next gen team has been weakened a bit by loan moves for some of our players and Lancaster making his debut last night.

Hoping for a good performance though we have some promising players coming through.

Lancaster hasn't featured in the Nextgen series apart from one game as a sub for 20 minutes. I don't think anyone from the Nextgen team went on loan ?

Anyways it is suppose to be a cracking Spurs youth side. Really looking forward to it as well.

Opr

Tom Carroll and Harry Kane have both gone on loan. They featured only a couple of times given Europa league commitments.

Massimo Luongo though and Pritchard are the stars of the team.

Kess73 · 01-02-2012 1:24pm

SlickRic wrote: »

he really isn't.

it's all to do with the Criminal Justice System.
the FA can't do anything until the criminal investigation is done, which always take a fúcking age.

i know many are dying for there to be a double standard so we can garner some sort of siege mentality and what-not, but seriously, everything is going exactly how it can go.

is the British Justice System in on this conspiracy or something?

we'll have to wait until the criminal stuff is done before we see what the FA do.

but one thing i do agree with; the lack of a media outcry compared to the Suarez case is extremely telling.

Exactly it very different to the civil hearing that Suarez received, and as such will be tried in a very different manner.

I would just thinking aloud when I was saying that I would have loved to have seen Terry's case to have gone before the FA in the same Civil proceeding setting as did the Suarez case. Just to see how the FA dealt with it.

The media outcry or lack of it is very telling indeed though.

jesus_thats_gre · 01-02-2012 1:26pm

Crazy Horse 6 wrote: »

You know well what im saying. Terry is getting treated differently than Suarez because he' s an English international.

He isnt. It is really down to him being pretty damn blantant about it - enough so that the law could get involved.

opr · 01-02-2012 1:32pm

everdead.ie wrote: »

Tom Carroll and Harry Kane have both gone on loan. They featured only a couple of times given Europa league commitments.

Massimo Luongo though and Pritchard are the stars of the team.

Coulibaly is the only one I know a little about. He looks like an absolute beast of a player for a guy who only just turned 17.

Opr

BrookieD · 01-02-2012 1:36pm

Liverpool sign Joao Carlos Teixeira
Liverpool have signed Sporting Lisbon teenager Joao Carlos Teixeira. The 19-year-old Portuguese youth international midfielder will join the club's academy having impressed against them in the NextGen series earlier this season.

on bbc.....

Morzadec · 01-02-2012 1:53pm

Kess73 wrote: »

I got his age wrong then. He is turning 24 this year.

One of the posts last night said that Spearing is better on the ball than Mascherano. Mascherano at 23 going on 24 was one of our best players, one of the best in the world in his role, and pretty good on the ball as well despite what many now like to say about him.

Including his time out on loan to Leicester in the Championship, Spearing has a whole 24 league games worth of experience since the start of the 2008 season. He has a further 19 cup games in that period. Says a lot about his ability that even with Lucas out that Spearing was not put in the side as a regular when not suspended.

I really don't see the big potential that some seem to see in the guy.

Hard working? Yes very much so.

Honest type player on the pitch? I would say so.

Not the type to hide on the pitch? He is no hider.

Has his level of play/ability seen decent jumps in quality over the last three years? I don't think so. He still seems pretty much at the same level as he did a few years back. Capable of the odd shift now and then, but that's about it.

Any comparisons to Lucas or Mascherano at the same age are a joke imho as last season Lucas was the age Spearing is now, and Lucas was as good last season for Liverpool as he was this season.

I think if Spearing was at another club and he got linked to Liverpool as a potential transfer target that the idea would be scoffed at. Very limited player who is a very hard worker with a very good attitude, and one who woulod not get a sniff at the first team if the squad had even semi decent cover for the DM role. If he had the talent to match his attitude and workrate he would be a Messi level player imho.

Just to clarify I don't think he has the potential to be anyway near as good as Lucas or Mascherano.

All I'm saying is that he's very competent at what he does, won't let us down when called upon, will become a much better player given what should be an extended run in the first team for the rest of this season, and will be good enough to be a squad player for us over the next however many years.

In other words, imo, it won't be a case of 'oh no Spearing's coming on/we have to play Spearing' in the future. We'll know that's he's well capable of putting in a good performance and won't let the team down and while he won't be capable of Masch-type performances in some of our CL matches a few years ago, or Lucas-type performances against City and Chelsea this season, he will be more than good enough to be the type of squad option any top team needs.

This is what I think anyway, the next few months will tell a lot.

Mr Alan · 01-02-2012 2:00pm

While I agree comparrisons to Lucas/Mascherano are way ott, I think you're being a little harsh on Spearing tbh Kess.

Turtyturd · 01-02-2012 2:11pm

Kess73 wrote: »

Exactly it very different to the civil hearing that Suarez received, and as such will be tried in a very different manner.

I would just thinking aloud when I was saying that I would have loved to have seen Terry's case to have gone before the FA in the same Civil proceeding setting as did the Suarez case. Just to see how the FA dealt with it.

The media outcry or lack of it is very telling indeed though.

Just out of curiosity Kess can the FA still prosecute him if the courts fail to find him guilty? Everyone seemed to think that the Suarez case would fall apart if it went into a proper courtroom, so will be interesting to see reverse that logic.

Kess73 · 01-02-2012 2:11pm

Mr Alan wrote: »

While I agree comparrisons to Lucas/Mascherano are way ott, I think you're being a little harsh on Spearing tbh Kess.

What part is harsh.

I think he has a great attitude, really good workrate, does not hide, is a model pro, but is very limited as a player.

What's harsh about that?

Kess73 · 01-02-2012 2:13pm

Turtyturd wrote: »

Just out of curiosity Kess can the FA still prosecute him if the courts fail to find him guilty? Everyone seemed to think that the Suarez case would fall apart if it went into a proper courtroom, so will be interesting to see reverse that logic.

I could be wrong on this, but I think that technically the FA could take action against him if he were found guilty in court.

opr · 01-02-2012 2:16pm

Not LFC but funny.

Saha arriving at Tottenham

Opr

Chucky the tree · 01-02-2012 2:29pm

Spearing is a decent/solid back-up. He won't ever be anything more. Even against wolves in the highlights there were two play were he was caught out and against better sides he'll/we'll be punished. In saying that there are plenty of other areas that need strengthening before our DM one. But I'd still like us to pick another one up in the summer, especially with Lucas coming back from an injury.

citytillidie · 01-02-2012 2:35pm

Turtyturd wrote: »

Just out of curiosity Kess can the FA still prosecute him if the courts fail to find him guilty? Everyone seemed to think that the Suarez case would fall apart if it went into a proper courtroom, so will be interesting to see reverse that logic.

One of the top guys in the FA said if the courts fine him then the FA will do nothing more.

Mr Alan · 01-02-2012 2:39pm

If the FA don't launch proceedings against Terry, irregardless of what the court case finds, it's a ****ing travesty tbh & will confirm what most people have known/suspected for a long time.

mike65 · 01-02-2012 2:43pm

The whole point about Spearing is that he is capably of being the foil for whoever is the other deeper lying midfielder, that's all, he ain't a worldbeater but he is far better than not being there.

Anyway enough of that, Liverpool have 4 strikers and two of them might be rising from their
respective slumbers while the other should be fresh for the rest of the season, how best to use them? 2 from 4 or 3 from 4 in any given match? 4-3-3? 4-4-2? 4-2-3-1? 4-2-1-3?

Crazy Horse 6 · 01-02-2012 2:52pm

citytillidie wrote: »

One of the top guys in the FA said if the courts fine him then the FA will do nothing more.

The whole thing is a predictable farce. Suarez gets a trial by media and an 8 match ban (as well as a slew of sanctimonious bullsh1t from people who decided that a summary was enough depth of understanding) while Terry will get a fine and have the whole thing brushed under the carpet and forgotten by the same "take a stand" media and FA. Clearly the whole Suarez thing was a predictable political event to have a potshot at Blatter and no more.

It's absolutely sickening! How must Ferdinand be feeling right now.

SlickRic · 01-02-2012 2:59pm

Mr Alan wrote: »

If the FA don't launch proceedings against Terry, irregardless of what the court case finds, it's a ****ing travesty tbh & will confirm what most people have known/suspected for a long time.

i agree.

there's no point second guessing anything until the time comes though.

Turtyturd · 01-02-2012 3:04pm

citytillidie wrote: »

One of the top guys in the FA said if the courts fine him then the FA will do nothing more.

That's f*cking ridiculous, as far as I remember reading the worst that can happen to him is a £2,500 fine. So no football time missed for a case that was more clear cut than the Suarez/Evra one (in that he either said it or didn't).

Liverpool FC Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread 11/12-Jan 2012 onwards

Comments