Liverpool Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread Summer 2014 - Mod Warning post #6893

murpho999 · 06-05-2014 09:00AM

M!Ck^ wrote: »

I'm saying that Liverpool are not going to turn down 70 - 100 million regardless of contract.
Not saying it's related directly to his reaction that's up to interpretation.

Why wouldn't they turn it down?

I'm sure the club will look at Spurs and see what damage letting your best player go can do.

I'm under the impression that the club want to build a team around Suarez as they have stood by him so much in the past and wouldn't sell him last season.

Now that they're in the Champion's League they will want him in the squad.

No evidence either that any other clubs are in for him either.

06-05-2014 09:00AM

I hear ya.. I was bracing myself for work today.. There's a lot of United fans at work and there simply ecstatic today, even one crystal palace fan was sniggering away in the corner at me..

As I said to one United man its great that so many fans are hating Liverpool and taking joy from our pain. It show we're relevant again and the fact that United fans are taking the mickey so much shows how irrelevant their season has been..

Just reminded him that we're 21 points clear of United after last night's result!

x43r0 · 06-05-2014 09:01AM

witnessmenow wrote: »

I don't think we are as out of the league as people seem to think.

It's gone from needing either West Ham or Villa to draw, to needing one of them to win.

It does make it less likely, but there is still a real chance.

It's been such a great season whatever happens though!

This

This is the point that seems to be lost in the wave of depression and anti-Liverpool circle jerking going on.

The Chelsea game was our biggest blow. Not Palace. After Chelsea, we needed City to slip up. As it stands, we still need City to slip up - albeit a loss now rather than a draw.

I'm gutted too, but more because of the way we threw the game away not that we threw the title away. The title is just about as out of reach now as it was this time yesterday

DrumSteve · 06-05-2014 09:02AM

ebbsy wrote: »

Glen Johnson gets my vote for worst performance ever on a soccer pitch.

Plenty of worse performances than that.

mike65 · 06-05-2014 09:03AM

I wish people would get off Sakhos back - last nights defeat er draw can be laid he is actually just about the last one who should be criticised - none of the goals was due to him. He wins pretty much every ball, his passing is pretty accurate.

This is why Liverpool are vulnerable

Just conceded and everyone goes rushing up the other end (ignore score, its a replay and was 1-3 in real time)

PhiloCypher · 06-05-2014 09:08AM

The thing that stands out for me is how mentally fragile we seem to be in defence when we concede. We always seem to concede in clusters, instead of the first goal refocusing the defense/team they **** the bed as if it was a one goal game instead of the 3+ it usually is.

As has been said it's down to leadership Sakho and Skrtel had fine individual performances up until the last 15 mins last night and both are or have been captains for slovakia/psg in the past, but perhaps that's part of the problem as neither of them is subordinate to the other in the way Skrtel would be to Agger as vice captain. If Agger is sold to Barca in the summer Rodgers will have a decision to make as to which of his centre back pairing gets the nod for vice captain, seniority and sentiment would suggest Skrtel but Rodgers might have other ideas based on whose defensive style he wants to be dominant .

Then of course there is the language barrier between them which if I'm not mistaken is the reason Sakho got moved on as PSG who wanted to pair two brazilians together. This I'm sure will be a non issue next season assuming Sakho hits the books this summer.

RainMaker · 06-05-2014 09:08AM

Guess we re-group and get ready for next season now!

BoardsMember · 06-05-2014 09:09AM

monkey9 wrote: »

But as we know, the defense is terrible. I've said before, I wouldn't mind if we sold any of our defenders. We really need a higher quality of centre back.

It's not just the defenders that makes our defense terrible. It is what is in front of them. As fantastic and talismanic a player as Steven Gerrard is, he's not 100% reliable at the mundane and dogged part of the deep lying midfielder position. He doesn't track every run, he lets some go. He doesn't close down space like a madman. I'm not sure that's his role either, I'm not criticising him, just pointing out the obvious. But with such an attacking selection with Sturridge, Suarez, Sterling, and sometimes Coutinho, it really needs at least one very responsible DM to do all the donkey work. I'd worry about us next year in the CL if we don't get a solid foundation in place. Personally I dont see Sakho ever giving me anything but palpitations when he goes in for a challenge, or gets on the ball. I have warmed to Skrtel. I think Agger has had long enough.

Still delighted at the season, bright future with lots of young talent, new stadium changes to be built, responsible owners. We have come a long way in a short time since Hicks & Gillette.

murpho999 · 06-05-2014 09:10AM

mike65 wrote: »

I wish people would get off Sakhos back - last nights defeat er draw can be laid he is actually just about the last one who should be criticised - none of the goals was due to him. He wins pretty much every ball, his passing is pretty accurate.

This is why Liverpool are vulnerable

Just conceded and everyone goes rushing up the other end (ignore score, its a replay and was 1-3 in real time)

I would give more blame to Johnson, Skrtel and Mingnolet.

Skrtel seems immune to criticism nowadays as he has scored some goals.

Sitting back deep inviting attackers on is asking for trouble.
Mignolet has to be screaming at the backline for them to get out and he must dominate his area more.
Johnston needs to remember he is a defender.
Skrtel has always been capable of errors and that has continued this season.

I wonder how they are coached on this?
Did Swansea under Rodgers have the same issues?

mike65 · 06-05-2014 09:12AM

BoardsMember wrote: »

It's not just the defenders that makes our defense terrible. It is what is in front of them. As fantastic and talismanic a player as Steven Gerrard is, he's not 100% reliable at the mundane and dogged part of the deep lying midfielder position. He doesn't track every run, he lets some go. He doesn't close down space like a madman. I'm not sure that's his role either, I'm not criticising him, just pointing out the obvious. But with such an attacking selection with Sturridge, Suarez, Sterling, and sometimes Coutinho, it really needs at least one very responsible DM to do all the donkey work. I'd worry about us next year in the CL if we don't get a solid foundation in place. Personally I dont see Sakho ever giving me anything but palpitations when he goes in for a challenge, or gets on the ball. I have warmed to Skrtel. I think Agger has had long enough.

Still delighted at the season, bright future with lots of young talent, new stadium changes to be built, responsible owners. We have come a long way in a short time since Hicks & Gillette.

Being saying that for longer than I care to mention. Gerrard is not a true DM he is a fake Pirlo, what Liverpool need a talented 'bastard' in the middle, who eats up ground and attacking players.

barone · 06-05-2014 09:14AM

at least we have one more day of having a chance..id have never imagined that at start of season,that we would be in with a shout on last day..our lack of squad depth has killed us in the end perhaps,i was gutted last ngt, more gutted last sunday.. but ya know what the pain has eased,the pressure is off , it was all i could think about for a while lol,truly.

we go into sunday now with nothing to loose, city have bottled big games before .. anything can happen..not expecting it at all but ya never know..at least we will have a genuine interest on the final day..

2 years into his tenure and we are definatley going places,the other teams will strengthen yes,they wont all slot straight into their teams though..will take bedding in time..our youngsters will have gained invaluable lessons from this season,they will be stronger..
sterling,allen,studge,hendo,flanno will improve again .

city and chelsea be the teams to beat next year..we will be in the mix

good man brendan

SlickRic · 06-05-2014 09:15AM

I don't think last night showed mental fragility.

it showed naivety in the extreme is all. we did not shut up shop at 3-1. the attempt at closing the GD had failed by minute 70. we should've seen that, thrown Agger on for Sturridge, and just wound things down.

win the game. that was the most important thing and the team simply list sight of that. just look at all the players who were forward after 3-2.

these last 2 games have given this team the harshest lessons. and that in the end, should be a good thing.

klose · 06-05-2014 09:16AM

The team is young and relatively new together but **** me they have to calm their **** down when they concede a goal, they completely shat themselves last night and its unforgivable really for any side to play like that for 75ish minutes with a 3 goal lead and then throw it away. Its not the first time either, we need someone in midfield to slow the game down and take the sting out of it and a defender to be vocal and calm everyone down and organise.
It was crushingly disappointing but i expected city to win their remaining games and go on and win it in any case. Still a bloody amazing season all in all.

gafferino · 06-05-2014 09:16AM

LuckyLloyd wrote: »

I have so much to do today too.

I wish that was the case for me.....quiet day in work when I need to be distracted.

mike65 · 06-05-2014 09:16AM

murpho999 wrote: »

I would give more blame to Johnson, Skrtel and Mingnolet.

Skrtel seems immune to criticism nowadays as he has scored some goals.

Sitting back deep inviting attackers on is asking for trouble.
Mingnolet has to be screaming at the backline for them to get out and he must dominate his area more.
Johnston needs to remember he is a defender.
Skrtel has always been capable of errors and that has continued this season.

I wonder how they are coached on this?
Did Swansea under Rodgers have the same issues?

Rodgers at Swansea put the emphasis on ball retention and swift closing down (a la Barca 6 second rule), that was how things began at Liverpool of course and then he switched the tactics to play to the strengths of the team.

Its not a question of sitting back rather its a question of taking control of the space - at 3-0 up Liverpool should have been as safe as houses and would have been with a more intelligent tactic - control the space get turnover (which will always happen) but don't over-commit and leave space for the opposition to run into which is how the 2nd goal esp happened.

gafferino · 06-05-2014 09:18AM

Ha ha just looked up Aston Villas recent away form.

Last 6 - L5 D1

donfers · 06-05-2014 09:20AM

what if Villa lead 1-0 and City pile on the pressure and equalise late on - you thought you were all suffered out, think again!

DrumSteve · 06-05-2014 09:21AM

Top of the league with one game to go.

Just saying, it ain't all bad.

barone · 06-05-2014 09:21AM

RainMaker wrote: »

Guess we re-group and get ready for next season now!

jonnyfingers · 06-05-2014 09:22AM

As a United supporter last night was the first time I watched a Liverpool match live with interest all season. With Chelsea out of the picture the league will go to either Liverpool or City, as such I'm stuck between the proverbial rock and a hard place when it comes to my preference for who I'd like to see win it! I turned it off when you were 3-0 up to watch the snooker instead as I could not see a way for Palace to come back. That in itself is a compliment as this year, for the first time in a long time, I expect Liverpool to win more games than they draw or lose. I was amazed when I turned it back on at the 93rd minute mark, and even then I thought Moses was going to score the winner!

And while I took some pleasure in seeing Suarez's tears (the cynic in me thinks he's just playing for the camera before an impending move away from Anfield in the summer but I'll give him the benefit of the doubt for now) that pleasure soon slips away when I look at the season Liverpool have had compared to United. Liverpool still have a chance of winning the league, and a part of me would not be surprised to see City slip up against West Ham. United haven't looked like winning the league since we appointed Moyes. At worst Liverpool will finish 2nd, gain an automatic Champions League place and will have scored 100 goals. United will be without any European football next year and have hardly scored at all. Liverpool have played fantastic football this season, even with a suspect defense. United have regressed badly and the football has been nothing short of ugly at times.

So yes I enjoy when things don't go Liverpool's way, but this season has been an absolute triumph for you, despite potentially throwing away the title. I'm sure any Liverpool fan would have bitten off the hand that offered them 2nd place at the start of the season. The improvement in a single season has been astonishing and if Rodgers can hold on to Suarez and improve the defense in the summer then you can only get better. As one poster pointed out the relevance of Liverpool has returned which I think can only be a good thing, especially as a United fan. If Ferguson was still in charge I'd be relishing the summer and next season as you would know he would do everything in his power to get ahead of Liverpool again. I hope those at United still have that drive.

So if City win the league this year I won't be celebrating. A main rival will have won the title in the year we completely capitulated in our title defense. If Liverpool win it I will think the exact same. However I can't say that neither team didn't deserve it.

So best of luck in the run in lads, you never know what might happen. And if things don't go your way at least you can enjoy some Tuesday and Wednesday night football next season. Sadly I may need to find another hobby for those nights instead.

Nerdlingr · 06-05-2014 09:23AM

mike65 wrote: »

I wish people would get off Sakhos back - last nights defeat er draw can be laid he is actually just about the last one who should be criticised - none of the goals was due to him. He wins pretty much every ball, his passing is pretty accurate.

This is why Liverpool are vulnerable

Just conceded and everyone goes rushing up the other end (ignore score, its a replay and was 1-3 in real time)

Someone needs to make a decision and stay back then! Ya cant have two centre backs going up for a corner when you're 3-1 up and then get caught on the break. Skrtel/Sakho need to realise the danger and not go gung ho at that stage. Thats the poor decison making and game management we're talking about here that has let us down. Rodgers can take some of the blame here as well though - he needs to be telling'shouting at one of them to stay back.

murpho999 · 06-05-2014 09:28AM

01 Jones
04 Kolo Touré
05 Agger
09 Iago Aspas
10 Coutinho
12 Moses
20 Cissokho

That was our bench last night.

Coutinho and Agger the only decent options. That's simply not enough at this level.
FSG need to take some responsibility for that and make the investment in the summer. We need players on the bench that can change games.

mike65 · 06-05-2014 09:32AM

Nerdlingr wrote: »

Someone needs to make a decision and stay back then! Ya cant have two centre backs going up for a corner when you're 3-1 up and then get caught on the break. Skrtel/Sakho need to realise the danger and not go gung ho at that stage. Thats the poor decison making and game management we're talking about here that has let us down. Rodgers can take some of the blame here as well though - he needs to be telling'shouting at one of them to stay back.

Rodgers should have shut up about turning over the goal difference, while we don't know what he was telling the squad he was setting the team up for a needless fall - players read this stuff and he (Rodgers) might actually have been bigging up an "all action" approach in training. IF so then his words this morning about Roy of the Rovers football being the undoing of the title tilt ring very hollow.

Two days ago

"If there is any team that can score goals and turn it around it will be us. There is no question. That will be our aim. No question about that. I have seen it before. Chelsea beat Wigan 8-0 in the last game of the season [in 2010, when Chelsea won the title]. I am not paying any disrespect to Newcastle at all but if there is a team that has shown it can score goals, it is us. We are not a 1-0 team. We showed that at the beginning of the season but what we have shown since is we can score goals.

Last night

"For 78 minutes we were outstanding. We'd looked solid defensively and didn't have many scares, had control of the ball and had gone three goals up but we got carried away and lost our defensive structure.

"We thought we could play Roy of the Rovers football and make the goal difference up but tonight was about winning the game. When we had the structure and discipline to our game, we scored goals and created chances. But we didn't manage the game. At 3-0 we gave them a sniff and they have some good players who can punish you. This is something we'll improve on for next season. We've got better this season from last seasonand we need to get better again next year."

PhiloCypher · 06-05-2014 09:32AM

ebbsy wrote: »

Glen Johnson gets my vote for worst performance ever on a soccer pitch.

When he's not running down blind alleys he's taking it inside and running into traffic and losing the ball, absolute headless chicken of a player. All Rodgers decision trees and pie charts seem to be lost on him. At least Flanno knows how to recycle the ball when there is nothing on.

slingerz · 06-05-2014 09:34AM

If Henderson wasnt suspended i dont think Liverpool would have lost to Chelsea nor would Palace have gotten back in it for the draw last night.

Agueroooo · 06-05-2014 09:44AM

Positive distraction...

Raheem Sterling is 19yrs old. Its scary to imagine how good he could be.

Benimar · 06-05-2014 09:45AM

Nerdlingr wrote: »

Someone needs to make a decision and stay back then! Ya cant have two centre backs going up for a corner when you're 3-1 up and then get caught on the break. Skrtel/Sakho need to realise the danger and not go gung ho at that stage. Thats the poor decison making and game management we're talking about here that has let us down. Rodgers can take some of the blame here as well though - he needs to be telling'shouting at one of them to stay back.

That shouldn't have been a problem though. Palace had 9 men in that pic which meant Liverpool should have been 3 on 2 at the back (probably Johnson & Flanagan as FBs and either Lucas or Allen)

The problem was there was no player on the edge of the box to drop in if needs be. It looks as if it should have been the 2nd from the left (Stevie G?) but he got too far ahead of the ball.

Where I do think Rodgers got it wrong last night was the Coutinho for Sterling sub. Johnson was getting roasted so he should really have just 'parked' Sterling in front of him as protection. Either that or bring Agger on and put Flanagan on the right. Johnson had done well in the first half but went to s*ite in the 2nd.

Still gutted this morning. Yes we had a great season in comparison to what we thought last August, but it doesn't disguise the fact that we blew a very winnable league title. Its ok to say we will be back next year, but will we? You really can't be passing up the chance we had this season, especially the way we did.

Obviously the defence needs sorting. I think we need two new FBs. Johnson is not reliable enough and as much as I like Flanno, I think I'd be happier if he was squad cover. The GK and CBs need to sort themselves out or we need to replace at least one of them with a dominant presence. If one of the 3 had the organisational skills/leadership of Carra, last night (and other blown leads) would not have happened. Saying that, you wouldn't expect a pub team to lose a 3 goal lead with 11 minutes to go in such an important game.

kfallon · 06-05-2014 09:46AM

Why did the hell didn't Coutinho just take Bolasie (spelling??) out of it for the second goal. Take a yellow card and let us regroup!

whatawaster · 06-05-2014 09:48AM

slingerz wrote: »

If Henderson wasnt suspended i dont think Liverpool would have lost to Chelsea nor would Palace have gotten back in it for the draw last night.

Henderson was on the field for every other game where the opposition came back at us and we had no answers.

It wasn't him who kept Swansea/Norwich/Sunderland/Villa from getting equalizers against us.

klose · 06-05-2014 09:49AM

kfallon wrote: »

Why did the hell didn't Coutinho just take Bolasie (spelling??) out of it for the second goal. Take a yellow card and let us regroup!

It was johnson, he got done badly a few times, also moved out of the way for the deflection if the first goal.

Liverpool Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread Summer 2014 - Mod Warning post #6893

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