Liverpool FC Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread 2014 - Mod Note in OP, 1/09

Lord Trollington · 20-10-2014 03:19PM

Some of the comments on this forum about our player Balotelli is shocking and this coming from our own fans also some of which should know much better than to judge a player only several games into the season.

It's not balotelli's fault we are completely at odds in midfield and at the back. And we are playing no where near to the level we are capable of which may (or indeed may not) allow Balotelli to excel far more than he has been.

Considering this we are not playing to his strengths.

There is enough of other teams fans sticking the boot in our players without us doing it ourselves also. Think Balotelli deserves a little more time to prove himself.

Hangballlouie · 20-10-2014 03:22PM

Monday meltdown hasn't been that great lads so I'm gonna throw a spanner in the works and get it kicked off in here.

Tomorrow you have the opportunity to replace Rodgers with Rafa. Ye or nay? Discuss.

brevity · 20-10-2014 03:25PM

@CoutinhoRed's https://twitter.com/CoutinhoRed/status/524193603397361664

Agent Coulson · 20-10-2014 03:28PM

This is the team I would go with..

Mignolet

Manquillo----Lovren--- Sakho

Moreno

Johnson---Henderson--Gerrard--Lallana--

Sterling

Balotelli

Replace Sakho or Lovren with Skrtel it doesn't make a huge difference.

I would have Johnson playing for his experience and attacking and he can also cover Manquillo on his attacks.

Dickerty · 20-10-2014 03:31PM

Anyone seen a link to the U18s highlights yet? Marsh and Canos sharing 5 goals...

tok9 · 20-10-2014 03:37PM

rarnes1 wrote: »

No but it would surely help us not concede?

Ya it probably would help but again that doesn't mean we won't concede.

If we do concede should we just keep defending for damage limitation too?

We're at home. I don't care who it's against, we should be playing to win.

Harry Palmr · 20-10-2014 03:52PM

Arbeloa interview with Sid Lowe - very good read

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/oct/20/alvaro-arbeloa-liverpool-real-madrid-champions-league

NEDDURC · 20-10-2014 03:56PM

If I was picking the team I'd pick the following:

Mignolet

Manquillo----Lovren--- Skrtel

Moreno

Can

Allen

----Sterling---Henderson---Lallana

Balotelli

I know he'd never leave Gerrard out but I wish he would!!

mav79 · 20-10-2014 04:17PM

We don't have the players to sit back and defend against the likes of Stoke and Palace nevermind Real. I'd pack midfield with Allen, Henderson, Gerrard and Couthino, and play Sterling running in behind constantly. Hopefully he will have caused Pepe and Marcelo to be sent off after ten minutes.

5live · 20-10-2014 04:46PM

Lord Trollington wrote: »

Some of the comments on this forum about our player Balotelli is shocking and this coming from our own fans also some of which should know much better than to judge a player only several games into the season.

It's not balotelli's fault we are completely at odds in midfield and at the back. And we are playing no where near to the level we are capable of which may (or indeed may not) allow Balotelli to excel far more than he has been.

Considering this we are not playing to his strengths.

There is enough of other teams fans sticking the boot in our players without us doing it ourselves also. Think Balotelli deserves a little more time to prove himself.

Will you stand naked outside the GPO if he is judged a bust, though? That's the question; -)

~Rebel~ · 20-10-2014 05:15PM

While Balotelli was obviously pretty rubbish yesterday (and in general), I do think it's worth pointing out that for the two OG's had the ball not been touched by the defender, he was in the position to score. That counts for something at least.

I also thought he looked a lot busier and desperate to contribute in the last 30 minutes or so...again far from ideal, but i'm grasping at whatever positives I can see.

We really do need to play someone up with him though, even as a constant reminder to keep moving - a partnership with someone like Borini would at least force him to keep focused, in a similar (but much smaller) way that Suarez presence on the field made everyone elses tempo rise.

Knex* · 20-10-2014 05:16PM

Balotelliisnottheman

Knex* · 20-10-2014 05:16PM

I do think he'd be good if Sturridge was in the team, however.

Harry Palmr · 20-10-2014 05:20PM

Balo is not a line-breaker and that's where it all falls down.

Hidalgo · 20-10-2014 05:36PM

Lord Trollington wrote: »

Some of the comments on this forum about our player Balotelli is shocking and this coming from our own fans also some of which should know much better than to judge a player only several games into the season.

It's not balotelli's fault we are completely at odds in midfield and at the back. And we are playing no where near to the level we are capable of which may (or indeed may not) allow Balotelli to excel far more than he has been.

Considering this we are not playing to his strengths.

There is enough of other teams fans sticking the boot in our players without us doing it ourselves also. Think Balotelli deserves a little more time to prove himself.

What annoyed me the most yesterday regarding Balotelli was his inability to hold the ball up/bring teammates into the fray. Instead he lashed a lazy shot away to no effect.

Holding the ball up and laying off a simple pass to Sterling or Henderson isn't exactly Baloon d'Or material in fairness.

20-10-2014 06:00PM

Harry Palmr wrote: »

Balo is not a line-breaker and that's where it all falls down.

It falls down by him being at the club in any capacity. One shot he took yesterday just summed him up. Lazy effort. No apology to anyone and looked like he didn't give a fcuk.

garra · 20-10-2014 06:01PM

Hidalgo wrote: »

What annoyed me the most yesterday regarding Balotelli was his inability to hold the ball up/bring teammates into the fray. Instead he lashed a lazy shot away to no effect.

Holding the ball up and laying off a simple pass to Sterling or Henderson isn't exactly Baloon d'Or material in fairness.

Agreed, he does not look a team player at all, disinterested and turning his back on play, his attitude is stinking up the place. I wished and hoped and prayed that Mancini & Mourinho were wrong about him and that he could somehow change his mentality/maturity levels but am not surprised at his performances.

mosstin · 20-10-2014 06:05PM

rarnes1 wrote: »

It falls down by him being at the club in any capacity. One shot he took yesterday just summed him up. Lazy effort. No apology to anyone and looked like he didn't give a fcuk.

Nah, for me the most worrying thing about him yesterday was when we scored our first goal. They highlighted the deficiencies in the QPR on MOTD for turning their back on the ball but Mario did exactly the same thing, turning only at the last second as if he'd just remembered where he was and what his duties as a striker were.
There doesn't appear to be the slightest inkling of a killer instinct there which, given what we've lost, is a huge problem.

Harry Palmr · 20-10-2014 06:32PM

rarnes1 wrote: »

It falls down by him being at the club in any capacity. One shot he took yesterday just summed him up. Lazy effort. No apology to anyone and looked like he didn't give a fcuk.

I'm talking tactics, rather than application. Clearly he is all wrong but the main reason he is wrong for the team is that he is not a good fit, so he is rarely going to be where he needs to be at the right time. If he were able to make the runs and were played with say Borini that would aid the whole side, it could push up, squeeze the play and so stop the opposition waltzing into the space that is currently in abundance and easily exploited due to weak CM and CMs. Close that space by pushing up 15-20 yards and retain the ball higher.

PhiloCypher · 20-10-2014 06:59PM

Balotelli strikes me as a fair weather player , he'll look the part when we have Sturridge back and the team has gelled and is playing well again. Collectively we are ****e atm and Balo isn't the pull yourself up by your bootstraps sort of player Suarez was so he just gets the hump and gives up.

Agent Coulson · 20-10-2014 07:09PM

We can't rely on Sturridge either he will score goals when fit but he will pick up injury after injury! Rodgers needs to go out and spend big on a world class striker in January and again next summer.

At the start of next season we need 3 top class strikers.