Liverpool FC Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread 11/12 (End of March 2012 onwards)

G.K. wrote: »

Statistical analysis isn't the only facet of moneyball, just a big one.

Well obviously but we don't even know how Comolli was trying to apply it to soccer other than he valued chance creation and fitness very highly of which Downing had two huge ticks next to his name.

Opr

Chucky the tree wrote: »

It's honeslty one of the worst ideas and it pains me that it is continuously mentioned. We've seen where we are at with Kenny, either stick with him now for the nxt 4 years or move on. This whole "oh one more year" is painful stupid and short-sighted. Being realisitc even Kenny can't do a much worse job and if he does a better one then how can he be sacked next year if he takes us 6th? It's not possible to just give him one more year. I think he should be gotten rid of now because in my eyes he's clearly shown he doesn't have the ability to ever make us premier league challengers or Champions league ones. challengers.

Let's say we appointed Lambert/Rodgers etc & are 10 pts off the CL places at Christmas or at the end of next season-at that point we'll be talking again about 'knowing they don't have what it takes to get into top 4/challenge for league' etc and saying we need another change. That'd be what? 4 managers in the previous 3 years? Retarded stuff altogether.

Stability is vital for a club to build success-any manager except in the most extreme of circumstances should always get more than 1 full season at a club to change its fortunes.

So as I said, let's see where we're at next season. If it's a repeat or even only a tiny improvement on this season, then it's time for a change.

Revolution9 wrote: »

There is not one realistic alternative I can think of to replace Dalglish, so that's why I'm hoping we stick with him. Rodgers, Lambert, Martinez etc. do nothing for me. A quick fix was always unlikely after the mess left by the previous regime. I'd give KD another season. If I felt like we could attract someone like Jurgen Klopp I'd be behind his removal, but I don't think we're in the position to do so. I would have Benitez back but I can't see that happening until some of the current playing staff have left/retired.

What players are left that would have a problem with him?

Bellamy? Not really a bit concern to me.
Carra? Be happy for him to put him in his place.

Gerrard? I got the impression they got on grand and there wasn't a problem between them.
He also got more out of Gerrard than any other manager has.

tommyhaas hasn't been around for a while.
Has he had enough too does anyone know?

Mr Alan wrote: »

That'd be what? 4 managers in the previous 3 years? Retarded stuff altogether.

That's not relevant. How many managers under the new ownership? Everyone has derided the previous owners. Rafa was sacked when he shouldn't have been and then Hodgson installed by .... who.. dunno if it was the owners or Purslow as they thought that they had to get rid of Rafa to sell the club because he was 'trouble' for owners.

The new owners have hired one manager, they shouldn't have hired him in the first place, time for a change. And if they hire the wrong person again, then yes, it will be time for a change.

They could just try making a decent appointment this time. We'll grant them the first mistake, that happens.

delw wrote: »

Kenny's verdict on today's game
http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/latest-news/kenny-s-swansea-verdict

I didn't see the match so someone who did can comment on it...

But he seems to say we didn't deserve what we got in most post match interviews when we don't win. It's tiresome at this stage. We have been unlucky at times but not like the way Kenny tells it. Touch of the Hodgsons off him.

Revolution9 wrote: »

A genuine challenge for 4th coupled with a good stab at the Europa League, FA Cup and Carling Cup. Although I wouldn't mind if the early stages of the cups were used to blood kids and give some of the second string game time as long as we look like we could finish 4th.



If Carra and Gerrard were asked their opinion by the owner I can't imagine them being too receptive to the idea, especially Carra. Admittedly that's just based on rumours around the time of Rafa's dismissal.

And the owners probably wouldn't want to appoint Rafa as it could easily be portrayed similar to how some see Kenny's appointment, as a step backwards/towards the past. I imagine that they'd want to be seen as starting afresh with a new appointment, if Kenny was removed.

But I would love to see Benitez back.

I agree the owners probably will think that way.
I couldn't care less what Carra thinks or if he left because Rafa was coming back.

I was listening to Talksport today before the kick-offs when they were going around the grounds and the reporter at Swansea/Liverpool game said that he had it ''on good authority'' (or something like that) that Skrtel wouldn't be at Anfield next year.

I know Talksport isn't the most reliable of sources but any of you hear anything about that?

Ardent wrote: »

Think you are missing the whole point. Poor and all as some of our players are, the biggest problem is the number of appalling defeats in the league this season - manager is either not up to the job or has lost the dressing room.

Not sure i was addressing any point, only making my own.

We have lacked quality cover. I expect players that come in to push current 'regulars' to the margins and rinse repeat as we go on.

For me Maxi, Kuyt, Carragher, Aurelio, Aquilani, Cole, Spearing etc are dead weight for various reasons at this stage, holding the club back. Add in 3 or 4 big players missing lots of games and it wont be good.

You cant have a prolonged period of no investment like we have had and change that in a couple of windows. Sure, we overspent probably on a couple of players, Kenny didnt sign the cheques, our 'negotiator' got his p45. If Commoli had managed to get Henderson/Downing/Carroll for 45 mil total we would have had a net investment of roughly zero.

Im not making excuses for Dalglish but some fans, the same fans no doubt would fire the next man next summer if he didnt get 4th. At some point you need stability and direction. If Kenny doesnt get the message across next season about league position then he is fair game, however partly, our league form has suffered from cup runs. For me, you play your best (and save your best if you have to) players for the league, in the Europa and CC i expect fringe players to show why they should get a chance in the first team or move on.

super_furry wrote: »

What do those who think Kenny will turn it around base it upon? Is it a case of the heart ruling the head because there's precious little evidence on or off the pitch that he can make Liverpool a force again.

Do you not think there has been a heap of performances this season where based on general play we were the much better side but lacked a clinical edge to our play.

If that one facet of our season could improve, there could be an immediate improvement in our fortunes. Add in Lucas coming back. Reina not having his worst season in England & us doing some good business in the summer & there's plenty of reason to think/hope their could be an improvement in our fortunes next season.

whatawaster wrote: »

Are you kidding me?

Yes we have lost players, big players.

But Kenny started with a spine of Reina, Johnson, Agger, Skrtel, Lucas and Gerrard.

Are you seriously telling me that 100m outlay on players on top of that shouldn't be sufficient to yield a strong top 4 challenge.

It should have, but instead through sheer incompetence in the transfer market it has led to our worst ever PL season.

Yes, im serious.

Reina should look closer to home for reasons for his form. Lucas and Gerrard have missed huge amounts of games, so has Johnson, we sent two players to play with England and they come back unplayable for a month.

We have spent, but we have not invested very much. Chelsea have spent and invested 100 mil more than us in the last 18 months alone.

Aquilani hasn't made the Italian squad for the Euros