Liverpool Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread 2014 *mod warning linked in OP 26/07*

Cannot lose a world class player and NOT be worse off thats just the way it is. BUT, if you look at the Bale/Spurs situation last season they never had another guy like Sturridge for example that could come in and pick up some slack for the team. This is a HUGE season for Sturridge, it is clear he is now our No.1 and it is time for him to prove that he can stay fit for a season and deliver. It is surely what he's always wanted .... to be THE MAN.

Now what we need to do is fill the gaps around him with quality and make up the rest of it with the same type of attacking football we did last year. We "Should" be better equipped to defend better as a team when not trying to fit in 2 strikers as well so even that should help us at least concede less.

Goals have to come from all over the park, i'd expect Lallanna and Sterling to chip in with their share for starters. We have the nucleus of a team shape there to begin with so i am not expecting us to do a Spurs next season without our star man.

Gona be interesting either way ... looking forward to it and hopefully 1-2 more decent FIRST TEAM signings.

Grayditch wrote: »

I've never made a panda, sap or Doni joke.

I'm currently working on a whole new bunch of Spurs and Fellaini stuff, though.

I enjoyed the original Panda jokes things,but the whole Panda Saps thing, I don't get it.

martyos121 wrote: »

I still don't get all the disappointment about Suarez leaving. Sure, he was an amazing player and his goals will be sorely missed, but we've recovered from far bigger blows than this. When Alonso was sold in 2009, the spine was ripped out of our team and our midfield fell to pieces. The difference here is, that we just need someone to bang in the goals, and Sturridge can fill that role with the service of Lallana, Markovic, Coutinho and Gerrard.

I definitely think we are in a far, far better position this summer than we were in 2009.

Night and day, almost, in terms of a comparison. So I certainly agree there.

But we won't be able to replace Suarez. He's probably in the top 5 or so players to have ever played for the club. One of the best players in the World right now, which is saying something when you consider the accepted top two are possible two of the greatest to have ever played the game.

His will to win was as infectious as Vicxas claims your optimism to be. He's the standout player on the team, clearly the most talented player on the pitch, and he broke his balls from the 1st second to the last, regardless of the score or the match.

That alone is huge. Dirk Kuyt made a damn fine career from the above alone, with half the talent of Suarez.

Then you add in his sheer brilliance, and his ability to turn a game on its head in an instant. That Norwich game when we won 5-0 and he got 4? That was going nowhere before he decided to fuck shit up. Nil all stamped all over it, and he was the difference, as he was on countless occasions.

And, finally, you add in his ability to produce moments that left me laughing like a school kid who's seen his mate get a ball in the nads, and its quite sad to see him leave. But I'm not too disappointed, as it was inevitable. It was a privilege to watch him for the 3 and half years, for sure.

So, while I do think we are in a much better position than before, especially when the likes of Coutinho, Sterling and even Sturridge and Hendo are all young, and have bags of potential, I don't think our status as a Top 4 team is solidified by a long shot.

But, we are a relative unknown as we don't know how the above will progress, along with the additions of players like Markovic and Can. And we will see Sakho improve, and hopefully sign another CB to partner him (which is possibly harsh on Skrtel).

So, once again, I am cautiously optimistic for the season ahead. But that stings a little, as with Suarez I would be bullishly optimistic.

Knex. wrote: »

I never liked it as much as Torres' chant.

Oh I agree. Nando leaving broke my heart, as such I never took to Suarez. Unbelievable player, but I never took to him and always saw him as a short-term signing. Hence why his song is the thing I'll miss most about him.

The club will go on and I have every faith that someone will improve and step up to the plate. Keegan, Kenny, Fowler, Owen, Dundee, Torres... we'll be ok!

/glasshalffull

Optimus Caesar wrote: »

Jesus, you'd swear we had to play all games with 10 players this season the way some lads are going on about Suarez.
Super player and made a massive contribution to LFC but its not like whoever plays in his place is going to do absolutely nothing.
Going on and on about Suarez's goals and assists completely ignores that there was goals throughout the team last season.
He's a massive loss but we are not the one man team we are being made out to be.

Suarez scored or assisted nearly half of our goals last season

Sturridge was great last season but his injury record is hugely worrying

Description Start Date End Date
Hamstring 13/04/14 24/04/14
Ankle Ligaments 26/11/13 08/01/14
Hip/Thigh Injury 01/09/13 14/09/13
Ankle Ligaments 29/05/13 04/08/13
Hamstring 19/02/13 08/03/13
Hip/Thigh Injury 03/02/13 15/02/13
Hamstring 18/11/12 11/12/12
Hamstring 16/09/12 18/10/12
Broken Toe 12/08/12 17/08/12
Viral Meningitis 02/07/12 23/07/12
Knee Injury 20/09/11 26/09/11
Suspended 21/05/11 27/08/11

We will struggle to maintain a top 4 position without another 20 goal a year striker in my opinion.

Underpaid Mike wrote: »

Suarez scored or assisted nearly half of our goals last season

Sturridge was great last season but his injury record is hugely worrying



We will struggle to maintain a top 4 position without another 20 goal a year striker in my opinion.

And Suarez never missed a game for either Ajax or Liverpool through injury. Staggering. (though he did get a couple of bans of course)

We need Bony!

8-10 wrote: »

And Suarez never missed a game for either Ajax or Liverpool through injury. Staggering. (though he did get a couple of bans of course)

We need Bony!

But then you have to consider this . If a player gets a big ban it's his own fault . Injury is part and parcel of the game but players getting banned for acts of stupidity really isn't . The Evra thing I don't know what went on but two bites is a big problem !!

The team not only needs to bring in defensive players, I'd also like to see a full time defensive coach. May not be everyone's cup of team though. But the lads need to sort their act out.

Too many errors last season.

smileyj1987 wrote: »

But then you have to consider this . If a player gets a big ban it's his own fault . Injury is part and parcel of the game but players getting banned for acts of stupidity really isn't . The Evra thing I don't know what went on but two bites is a big problem !!

3 bites

0028673 wrote: »

Southampton (H)
Man City (A)
Spurs (A)

That is a tough start to the season and underlines to me that it's vital to get the W against Southampton because it's conceivable that we will have no wins after 3 games. Sorry but I'm a pessimist at heart

I can see United get off to a rocket of a start. Very possible to see them on 18 points after 6 games.

Swansea (H)
Sunderland (A)
Burnley (A)
QPR (H)
Leicester (A)
West Ham (H)

On paper it's a great start but a lot of the time playing promoted teams early on is the worst time as they are full of enthusiasm and there confidence hasn't taken a battering yet. Utd lost to burnley the last time they were in the Pl at the same point in the season.

Spanish papers reporting a fresh bid for Moreno - €20m plus add ons and a friendly between the two clubs.

Tusky wrote: »

Spanish papers reporting a fresh bid for Moreno - €20m plus add ons and a friendly between the two clubs.

That friendly is going to be a tough game. We'll need to keep a close eye on that Aspas fella, I hear he's deadly at corners.

Very interesting article here on Mingolet
He made more individual errors leading to a goal than other goalie in the premier league last year
5 goals is a lot of goals. Surpising because I thought he had a decent season
https://www.bsports.com/extratime/201314-numbers-goalkeepers-cech-mannone-szczesny-mignolet#.U8kT1PldWGM

Soft Falling Rain wrote: »

I assume we demanded a no compete clause when we loaned him.

Or a clause that says he has to play against us if the game is in any way competitive