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

gosplan · 22-09-2014 06:20PM

You guys should listen to Wenger. As much as you might hate him and feel that he's a stubborn got who costs his team by staying so set in his ways, there are also some things he's done and continuously done well.

He had always maintained that bringing in more than 2-3 players is a risk to the continuity of the team. I'm not saying he's right to keep numbers in low but you have to accept that there's something in it and anyone judging Liverpool or new arrivals right now is doing so way to early.

Added to the need for general strength, Liverpool also have to deal with losing a guy who's probably the best striker in the world right now.

It needs far more patience.

22-09-2014 06:31PM

gosplan wrote: »

........ Liverpool also have to deal with losing a guy who's probably the best striker in the world right now.

It needs far more patience.

Indeed.

Also Sturridge is a huge loss, can't be overstated, Balotelli will also benefit with Sturridge back.

Lallana will also get better the more he plays, Gerrard will benefit once Allen and/or Can are back as Rodgers will have options.

I reckon the last two PL games are as bad as it gets for Liverpool this season

breghall · 22-09-2014 06:44PM

Augeo wrote: »

Indeed.

I reckon the last two PL games are as bad as it gets for Liverpool this season

Wish i had your optimism....

Kirby · 22-09-2014 06:45PM

DVDM93 wrote: »

Nothing a game of head tennis can't fix.

Zing! I laughed way more than I should have at this.

DVDM93 · 22-09-2014 06:53PM

Kirby wrote: »

Zing! I laughed way more than I should have at this.

This was my laugh of the day haha; this quote from the F365 winners and losers column pretty much sums things up from the weekend

"Liverpool's defensive ineptitude was horribly exposed, like a hideous creature born in a laboratory and brought into daylight for the first time, shrieking and soiling itself"

Thank NyOmnishbles

Francie Barrett · 22-09-2014 06:53PM

Charlie19 wrote: »

Daniel Agger speaks out on leaving Liverpool.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRhXrhBgaQM

And for those of you that don'y speak Danish;)

http://www.thisisanfield.com/2014/09/brendan-rodgers-didnt-appreciate-qualities-daniel-agger-speaks-liverpool-departure/

This paragraph really sums up Aggers loyalty.

“At least I have learned a lot from last year. I have learned that a lot of players in the world of football only think of what is best for themselves. I haven’t done that for the biggest part in my career. But with all that has been said and done and understand why players think think this way, even though it has been something I couldn’t relate to in the past. It has been an eye opener.”

I like the guy a lot, but some of what he's saying is very naive.

~Rebel~ · 22-09-2014 06:57PM

I'm really looking forward, one of these days, to seeing;

Sturridge--Balotelli

Sterling

Lallana

Henderson

Allen
Moreno--Lovren--Skrtel--Manquillo

High energy and high speed throughout the team, with real game changers on the bench. I still love Gerrard and think he has a place, but i'd really like to see how the above would fair.

Bandana boy · 22-09-2014 07:41PM

Can we not please hijack this deal

Sami-khedira

He is exactly what we need imo.

redbaron_99 · 22-09-2014 07:41PM

~Rebel~ wrote: »

I'm really looking forward, one of these days, to seeing;

Sturridge--Balotelli
Sterling
Lallana
Henderson
Allen
Moreno--Lovren--Skrtel--Manquillo

High energy and high speed throughout the team, with real game changers on the bench. I still love Gerrard and think he has a place, but i'd really like to see how the above would fair.

I'd agree that Gerrard at least needs a rest. But that trio of Sterling, Lallana and Allen seems a little lightweight defensively. Just looking at it from an opposition's point of view, that would be an area I would think could be exploited. And believe me, as a united fan, I know all too well what happens when teams start running through a midfield straight at the heart of the defence.

DVDM93 · 22-09-2014 08:11PM

Steve Finnan, such a solid and extremely underrated player.

~Rebel~ · 22-09-2014 09:01PM

redbaron_99 wrote: »

I'd agree that Gerrard at least needs a rest. But that trio of Sterling, Lallana and Allen seems a little lightweight defensively. Just looking at it from an opposition's point of view, that would be an area I would think could be exploited. And believe me, as a united fan, I know all too well what happens when teams start running through a midfield straight at the heart of the defence.

Our biggest issue for me is that we're not doing the closing down and harassing in midfield that we used to.

Between the workrate of Lallana, Allen and Henderson I think that would be improved...it's not a role that necessarily needs strength, just diligence. You don't need to be a beast to close down and make passes more difficult, you just need fitness.

As it stands, in the diamond, the only person central is Gerrard who just doesn't seem to bother doing this. While Allen at the base of it is definitely more lightweight than I'd like (though is a lot stronger than he appears), Gerrard is proving to be almost a jumping off point for the opposition. We've seen Agbonlahor and Downing now on consecutive weekends literally just sit on him stopping him have time on the ball, and then start counter attacks by running off his shoulder, confident he can't stop them. Those guys aren't world beaters. I think in the same position, Allen is quicker on the turn to gain himself a little space, and he's a lot more mobile to prefer the person "marking" him from getting the run on him.

****it, we've been through this before, but is there anything to be said for Gerrard playing the Riquelme role behind the two frontmen? I want him to be in the team, i'm just not really sure where we can best use his strengths without his weaknesses hurting the team.

Ferris_Bueller · 22-09-2014 09:32PM

Not hitting the panic button just yet, I definitely think we will improve as the season goes on and as the players settle in. We're missing the likes of Sturridge, Allen and Can too.

However, I do think Rodgers has a big problem on his hands. Defensively we are a shambles, and I don't think it is down to the players not being good enough, as one or two posters pointed out the likes of Lovren and Sakho have performed very well at the top level in other teams. The problem IMO is how we are set up to play, last season we could afford to play like this because of Suarez, so far this year we haven't been able to reproduce those performances and we are getting torn asunder when teams attack us, Rodgers obviously knows something is wrong but now that the transfer window is closed what can he do to change it? We basically only have two defensive players on the pitch at all times (Centre halves), because Gerrard is not a defensive minded midfielder and the fullbacks are essentially playing like wing backs in this system.

There needs to be a big change made, I personally don't know what that change needs to be, but we cannot keep playing like this, even if we do improve it is doubtful that we will ever reach the attacking threat we had last season. We were all begging for a centre half, a left back, a striker etc during the summer and now it seems to be a defensive midfielder, while I think we do need to bring one in, a change in system might be what's needed more so. That is where Rodgers needs to make the call because it will be a big one, we can't afford too many more performances like the last few.

Don't think we can call any of the new signings flops, even the dislike towards Mignolet, Sakho, Gerrard isn't fully justified IMO. I think a change in how we play/set up is in order, but I do worry slightly in how long will it take to find a new successful formula.

Gbear · 22-09-2014 10:00PM

Bandana boy wrote: »

Can we not please hijack this deal

Sami-khedira

He is exactly what we need imo.

He's not really a DM though.

klose · 22-09-2014 10:12PM

Seems rossiter could be starting tomorrow and ojo is in contention too.

~Rebel~ · 22-09-2014 10:35PM

Realistically for us to play the way do, without it being suicide, we need the best defensive midfielder money can buy. It's one position that would instantly change everything else. Someone athletic who can tackle, but also intelligent enough to spot early danger and intercept passes, and who themselves can spray the ball around.

Harry Palmr · 22-09-2014 10:44PM

~Rebel~ wrote: »

Realistically for us to play the way do, without it being suicide, we need the best defensive midfielder money can buy. It's one position that would instantly change everything else. Someone athletic who can tackle, but also intelligent enough to spot early danger and intercept passes, and who themselves can spray the ball around.

Guess which manager has studiously avoided buying exactly that kind of player!

~Rebel~ · 22-09-2014 10:48PM

Harry Palmr wrote: »

Guess which manager has studiously avoided buying exactly that kind of player!

It's funny - our perfect manager is actually probably a cross between Rafa and Rodgers. Rodga?

Rodgers attack with a Rafa defensive midfield and defence. Perfect.

D'Agger · 22-09-2014 10:52PM

~Rebel~ wrote: »

Rodgers attack with a Rafa defensive midfield and defence. Perfect.

So a unicorn basically?

Jesus Wept · 22-09-2014 10:54PM

Resign chewie

garra · 22-09-2014 10:58PM

~Rebel~ wrote: »

It's funny - our perfect manager is actually probably a cross between Rafa and Rodgers. Rodga?

Rodgers attack with a Rafa defensive midfield and defence. Perfect.

Someone's gonna photo-shop that, and I'm going to thank it.

garra · 22-09-2014 11:01PM

garra wrote: »

Someone's gonna photo-shop that, and I'm going to thank it.

I'd like Rafa's strong bald head with Rodgers mischievous grin peeping out, pls.

DVDM93 · 23-09-2014 12:52AM

~Rebel~ wrote: »

It's funny - our perfect manager is actually probably a cross between Rafa and Rodgers. Rodga?

Rodgers attack with a Rafa defensive midfield and defence. Perfect.

We shall name him Rodgeael Brenditez.

Rodger-Raffer our favourite gaffer.

ush · 23-09-2014 02:12AM

~Rebel~ wrote: »

Maybe, but I wouldn't be too quick to judge things based on someone elses translation. The interview wasn't given in English, so the language of the translation is completely open to interpretation.

So, anything spoken in a foreign language can't ever...**** it, why even bother.

~Rebel~ · 23-09-2014 03:25AM

ush wrote: »

So, anything spoken in a foreign language can't ever...**** it, why even bother.

Ha, i'm not saying not to listen to translated interviews, i'm saying not to read too much into the nuanced language used in the translation.

The good agent coulsen was pointing out that he thought it was a dig against Rodgers that Agger said "very very competent", my point is that Agger didn't choose the word competent, the newspaper translator did.

In the context of: "I think he is an incredibly talented manager,” he said. “You can’t take that away from him. He’s good in the way he trains and he is clever in the way he sets the team up. He’s an extremely, extremely competent coach." I think it's reading a little too much into the word, as it doesn't quite tie in with the spirit of what Agger appeared to be saying.

Oranage2 · 23-09-2014 03:42AM

~Rebel~ wrote: »

Ha, i'm not saying not to listen to translated interviews, i'm saying not to read too much into the nuanced language used in the translation.

The good agent coulsen was pointing out that he thought it was a dig against Rodgers that Agger said "very very competent", my point is that Agger didn't choose the word competent, the newspaper translator did.

In the context of: "I think he is an incredibly talented manager,” he said. “You can’t take that away from him. He’s good in the way he trains and he is clever in the way he sets the team up. He’s an extremely, extremely competent coach." I think it's reading a little too much into the word, as it doesn't quite tie in with the spirit of what Agger appeared to be saying.

I didn't think their was anything too wrong with the interview, obviously something happened much more serious for Rodgers to sell him at a cut price that Agger nor Rodgers will say which is very professional of both.

~Rebel~ · 23-09-2014 04:14AM

Oranage2 wrote: »

I didn't think their was anything too wrong with the interview, obviously something happened much more serious for Rodgers to sell him at a cut price that Agger nor Rodgers will say which is very professional of both.

The deal isn't too bad really. In exchange for Agger, we got a little bit of money, and more importantly I believe we have first pick of any future talent coming through.

If we take at face value what Agger said about not feeling his body was capable of playing regularly at the highest level any more, then the options for letting him go were very limited anyway.

I agree by the way, what he said in the interview I think was quite fine. He obviously respects Rodgers, while also having his issues with him - something every out of favor player will have with their manager I imagine. Self belief is an integral part of being a professional athlete - if someone doesn't seem to hold that same opinion of you, naturally you'll be a bit miffed.

Vicxas · 23-09-2014 06:34AM

Henderson is a doubt for tonight and the weekend with a hip problem!?

Ah, here.....

Agent Coulson · 23-09-2014 06:48AM

https://twitter.com/BenSmithBBC/status/514089497743884288

Agent Coulson · 23-09-2014 06:50AM

Liverpool face Uefa penalty for heavy financial losses

Exclusive
Liverpool could have almost £7 million of Champions League prize money withheld pending a Uefa inquiry into a possible breach of Financial Fair Play regulations. The payment, expected next month, may not be forthcoming if the club are referred to Uefa’s Club Financial Control Body (CFCB).
Along with teams such as Monaco, Roma and Inter Milan, Liverpool’s absence from either the Champions League or the Europa League last season meant they were not asked to submit their accounts for 2011-12 and 2012-13 to Uefa’s monitoring body. Now, however, they are subject to last season’s FFP regulations.

No pay wall version

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/public/football/article4214782.ece

dogbert27 · 23-09-2014 06:51AM

Vicxas wrote: »

Henderson is a doubt for tonight and the weekend with a hip problem!?

Ah, here.....

That's what you get when you run from the knees!! :pac:

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

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