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

NukaCola · 23-10-2014 09:15AM

benny79 wrote: »

Even United have bought good quality players, you always want quality over quantity!

Ya......how many points are we behind Utd with their quality buys?

brevity · 23-10-2014 09:21AM

Francie Barrett wrote: »

Any thoughts on what we're going to do about Balotelli, lads? Sturridge is still crocked for the next two weeks at least, so my thoughts are at least to persist with him until then. Our next three games are against Hull, Swansea and Newcastle, teams who we should be getting chances against. I think if he can break his duck in the league, the goals might just come more easier for him then.

I guess we've no choice but to persist with him. I do wish Rodgers would play him with another striker but he seems to have no time for Borini and Lambert isn't suitable as first choice.

rob316 · 23-10-2014 09:26AM

I'd drop Balotelli until Sturridge comes back, then give him a chance to see if they can strike up a partnership, if he can't then we might as well cut our losses in January.
I would like to see us start against Hull with the False 9 formation like we saw last night in the 2nd half. It looked a lot more fluid and if you can get Coutinho, Sterling and Lallana around the box it will cause there defenders problems.
I would rest Henderson against Hull and start Can - its time to see what he is all about, Henderson has been poor the last 2 games.

I didn't think Johnson was too bad last night but I would prefer Manquillo to come back in, he will give it his all atleast.

Coutinho I think can be the difference, he looks sharp again and his through balls are improving game by game.

Nerdlingr · 23-10-2014 09:38AM

zerks wrote: »

Falcao's loan deal didn't involve a £16 million fee but that's moot.

Rodgers' transfer policy was discussed on Newstalk last night,he inherited Suarez who was Liverpool's best player by a mile & simply became too good to stay.Rodgers almost didn't take the job as he wanted full control & not to work under a DOF.Whatever about him being a decent coach,his transfer nous & dealings are questionable at best.
One point was raised,how relevant are Liverpool to players that weren't even born or only kids when they last won the league,that coupled with the draw of box office managers such as Jose,Wenger & LVG meant that it may have been harder than simply waving cash around for Liverpool.
Balotelli smacks of a panic buy & if I was a Liverpool fan,I'd be worried while looking at who United,Chelsea & now even Arsenal are buying in comparison.

Just had a look, yeah...its about 6m according to Wiki. The point still stands though. We cannot compete financially with them.
I'd agree with the notion that United, City, Chelsea and Arsenal are a massive draw for players around the world, as you say their recent success (last 15 - 20years) has seen them become the teams to follow, as we were in the 80's.
Its all well and good saying we should be buying quality like United, Chelsea etc but the reality is we're still shopping at a level below those teams.

Chardee MacDennis · 23-10-2014 09:46AM

jesus we're a mess this season.

I still have faith something good can come from Balotelli when Sturridge is back but it's madness persisting with him up top by himself.

Gerrard is useless in his current role. Johnson should be taken out and shot.

Lallana, Sterling, and Henderson are the only bright spots so far this season for me. Maybe Manquillo and Moreno but the defending as a whole is shocking.

Boom_Bap · 23-10-2014 09:51AM

For all the negativity that is being thrown around from last nights game, there is a whole load of positives to take from it.
At times, and I mean for decent spells, we played some excellent football against the best team in Europe. We had them chasing us around, Real are being applauded for thier movement and quick passing, but any of our simialr play is being ignored for some reason.
There were a few moments in the game that lost it for us.
Skrytl - On the first goal, he needed to get f*cking stuck in, instead he was more worried about giving away a peno. On the third goal, he was too busy trying to shield the ball so Mignolet would come to collect it, just f*cking hoof the thing.
Mignolet - Was not expecting Ronaldo to shoot with his first touch. Naive. For the header, nothing he could do. For the scramble, commit to getting the ball is you are coming for it.
Johnson - A big bag of d*cks could have done a better job than him last night.
Mario - He's getting a rough ride - he needs to start passing the ball. When he did start this and getting involved in link up play towards the end of the first half, we looked better. If we are to continue with him, I would throw Lambert up top with him.
Can - looked great, worked his socks off
Coutinho - his close control is ridiculous.

If we had of put away either the Coutinho chance, or the Allen chance near the end of the first half, I think that we would have seen a different game.

gafferino · 23-10-2014 09:54AM

I thought Can was decent when he came on. Didnt see him at the weekend but I hope thats a sign of good things from him.

Struggling to find any other positives.

LuckyLloyd · 23-10-2014 09:55AM

Boom_Bap wrote: »

For all the negativity that is being thrown around from last nights game, there is a whole load of positives to take from it.
At times, and I mean for decent spells, we played some excellent football against the best team in Europe. We had them chasing us around, Real are being applauded for thier movement and quick passing, but any of our simialr play is being ignored for some reason.

How I despise posts like this. Look at the scoreboard.

galwaylad14 · 23-10-2014 09:57AM

Nerdlingr wrote: »

Just had a look, yeah...its about 6m according to Wiki. The point still stands though. We cannot compete financially with them.
I'd agree with the notion that United, City, Chelsea and Arsenal are a massive draw for players around the world, as you say their recent success (last 15 - 20years) has seen them become the teams to follow, as we were in the 80's.
Its all well and good saying we should be buying quality like United, Chelsea etc but the reality is we're still shopping at a level below those teams.

Ya but look at all the players Liverpool bought and what it cost them, they're paying big money for a few decent players instead of paying huge money for 1 or 2 world class players.

I haven't looked up the figures so I may be wrong but I'd guess if you added up what say balotelli, lallana, markovic, lovren, can, lambert and Moreno cost (any other summer signings?) in terns of transfer fees and wages I'd be fairly sure you could afford di Maria and falcao. Would you be better off with those 2 world class players instead of those 6 or 7 decent players? That's the question being posed.

And don't say that pool couldn't have got them, if you're willing to pay enough then you can get anyone and especially if you're from an attractive league like the premiership and have champions league football to offer ( united didn't even have this)

googled eyes · 23-10-2014 09:58AM

Talkin bout Ballotelli
I feel bad for you son.
We got 99 defensive problems
Ballotelli ain't one.

The lads a scapegoat. Play someone up beside him and at least try to get the best out of his style of play.

The team has regressed so much from last season. What has happened to our pressing and the magical diamond that worked so well?
It can't all be because we've lost a player?
If it is then the majority of the players need a long hard look at themselves.

We need a defense coach. How this isn't obvious is beyond me.

23-10-2014 09:58AM

LuckyLloyd wrote: »

How I despise posts like this. Look at the scoreboard.

And add the fact that Madrid went from 4th gear to 2nd after the break.

If they really wanted to they could have really went for the jugular

Mr Alan · 23-10-2014 09:58AM

One of many reasons it's imperative that we start to improve quickley is that our squad, which is already relatively devoid of genuine top class players runs the risk of losing the few we do have (particularly Sterling) if this season pans out the way it looks like it's going to.

LuckyLloyd · 23-10-2014 10:00AM

Mr Alan wrote: »

One of many reasons it's imperative that we start to improve quickley is that our squad, which is already relatively devoid of genuine top class players runs the risk of losing the few we do have (particularly Sterling).

Arrah, I think we'd hang onto Sterling for another year no matter how shambolic this season was to become. And we may inevitably lose him towards his mid twenties no matter what happens.

NEDDURC · 23-10-2014 10:01AM

We were better in the second half but Sterlng up front is not really an option (Carra was wrong). He doesn't know when / how to hold the ball up and just ends up giving it away too often.

We are also playing far too narrow. Trying to force the ball through the middle way too much.

Team for weekend for me would be - 4231:

............... Mignolet
Manquillo.....Toure....Lovren....Moreno
...........Henderson....Allen
Sterling.....Coutinho.......Lallana
...............Borini

A more solid centre of Henderson and Allen would allow the full backs and front 4 to get further forward. Skrtel needs a break (just too many mistakes) and with Sakho out, I'd give Toure a go for some leadership.

Gerrard is playing so poorly. I'm amazed more people aren't picking up on it. He is essentially part of the defence in that deep lying mid role and our defence is shocking. Rodgers has rotated all others at this stage but stubborny refuses to change him and its costing us.

Nerdlingr · 23-10-2014 10:01AM

Fair enough we played well for the first 15mins.
But in that time Real were strutting their stuff too. Its not like we had them penned in. They had us at arm's length for the most of it. Then they get the first goal and the flood gates open. Could have been a whole lot worse if they hadnt taken their foot off the gas second half.
So yes it was good to see us harry and press and get in amongst them the first 15mins but lets not kid ourselves, we got schooled.

Cjs21 · 23-10-2014 10:08AM

galwaylad14 wrote: »

Ya but look at all the players Liverpool bought and what it cost them, they're paying big money for a few decent players instead of paying huge money for 1 or 2 world class players.

I haven't looked up the figures so I may be wrong but I'd guess if you added up what say balotelli, lallana, markovic, lovren, can, lambert and Moreno cost (any other summer signings?) in terns of transfer fees and wages I'd be fairly sure you could afford di Maria and falcao. Would you be better off with those 2 world class players instead of those 6 or 7 decent players? That's the question being posed.

And don't say that pool couldn't have got them, if you're willing to pay enough then you can get anyone and especially if you're from an attractive league like the premiership and have champions league football to offer ( united didn't even have this)

Clearly not according to the league table. If we had Di Maria or Falcao we'd still be stuck with an average team that has potential but that's it.

The players that Rodgers has brought in during the summer seem to still be blooming, Sterling still hasn't got near how good he will be. Sturridge still needs to come back, Allen also isn't fully fit. Have Hope.

Harry Palmr · 23-10-2014 10:08AM

Nerdlingr wrote: »

Fair enough we played well for the first 15mins.
But in that time Real were strutting their stuff too. Its not like we had them penned in. They had us at arm's length for the most of it. Then they get the first goal and the flood gates open. Could have been a whole lot worse if they hadnt taken their foot off the gas second half.
So yes it was good to see us harry and press and get in amongst them the first 15mins but lets not kid ourselves, we got schooled.

Context!? Real Madrid are one of the top three clubs in the world Liverpool are well short of that, so in the context of the match that Liverpool did re-discover some of the qualities that served so well last season is important when facing Hull, Newcastle and Swansea back in the real world (I'm assuming no one is deluded enough to think LFC will get past the first knockout stage even if they qualify).

23-10-2014 10:12AM

Harry Palmr wrote: »

Context!? Real Madrid are one of the top three clubs in the world Liverpool are well short of that, so in the context of the match that Liverpool did re-discover some of the qualities that served so well last season is important when facing Hull, Newcastle and Swansea back in the real world (I'm assuming no one is deluded enough to think LFC will get past the first knockout stage even if they qualify).

Well...... You never know:)

Nerdlingr · 23-10-2014 10:13AM

galwaylad14 wrote: »

Ya but look at all the players Liverpool bought and what it cost them, they're paying big money for a few decent players instead of paying huge money for 1 or 2 world class players.

I haven't looked up the figures so I may be wrong but I'd guess if you added up what say balotelli, lallana, markovic, lovren, can, lambert and Moreno cost (any other summer signings?) in terns of transfer fees and wages I'd be fairly sure you could afford di Maria and falcao. Would you be better off with those 2 world class players instead of those 6 or 7 decent players? That's the question being posed.

And don't say that pool couldn't have got them, if you're willing to pay enough then you can get anyone and especially if you're from an attractive league like the premiership and have champions league football to offer ( united didn't even have this)

The thing is we spent maybe about 20m net on transfers. United spent about 140m net. BIG difference whene the chairman says go spend what you like there's an open chequebook policy this summer.
Plus we needed to fill out the squad. Buying two players to replace two players was never gonna work for us.

I dont agree with the argument that you can get anyone if you throw enough money at them. United werent in the CL like you said but still manged to draw the likes of DiMaria, Falcao etc because their name is huge all over the world , CL or not.
We were probably looking at the likes of Sanchez, Falcao and a few others to fill suarez boots but got neither. Why is that? As you say we had money to spend yet they choose to go elsewhere.

MD1990 · 23-10-2014 10:14AM

What really struck me was how we have no one anyway near being world class. Real were so far ahead of us thats even though they only played there at there top level for 20 mins.

Nerdlingr · 23-10-2014 10:14AM

Harry Palmr wrote: »

Context!? Real Madrid are one of the top three clubs in the world Liverpool are well short of that, so in the context of the match that Liverpool did re-discover some of the qualities that served so well last season is important when facing Hull, Newcastle and Swansea back in the real world (I'm assuming no one is deluded enough to think LFC will get past the first knockout stage even if they qualify).

We harried them for 15mins in the first half when the score was 0-0. After that we went to pieces.

23-10-2014 10:17AM

LuckyLloyd wrote: »

How I despise posts like this. Look at the scoreboard.

He is making a valid point. There were a lot of positives to take from the game. We played very good football at times last night. Particularly in the first 20 mins, a few defensive feck ups that killed us.

You need to stop being so so negative all the time.

Hangballlouie · 23-10-2014 10:17AM

I'll ask again like I did after QPR.
I think you all know what I'd answer.
I'm expecting to get abuse but fcuk it, it's how I've felt for the majority of the time Rodgers has been in charge.

For me, The Rodgers is more Pardew than Paisley.

hangballlouie wrote: »

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.

23-10-2014 10:18AM

hangballlouie wrote: »

I'll ask again like I did after QPR.
I think you all know what I'd answer.
I'm expecting to get abuse but fcuk it, it's how I've felt for the majority of the time Rodgers has been in charge.

For me, The Rodgers is more Pardew than Paisley.

Not a chance, we would never have played the football we played last season under Rafa and remember how much fun last season was!

MD1990 · 23-10-2014 10:19AM

Dangelo Stocky Rage wrote: »

He is making a valid point. There were a lot of positives to take from the game. We played very good football at times last night. Particularly in the first 20 mins, a few defensive feck ups that killed us.

You need to stop being so so negative all the time.

Are u mad. We were ok first 20 & Coutinho looks to be regaining a bit of form. Other than that there was no positives.

Hangballlouie · 23-10-2014 10:20AM

Dangelo Stocky Rage wrote: »

Not a chance, we would never have played the football we played last season under Rafa and remember how much fun last season was!

The man who truly made it fun is gone, unfortunately.

Agent Coulson · 23-10-2014 10:22AM

Rodgers on Spurs spending over £100m. From last season

As a means of deflecting pressure even further from his charges, Rodgers used this weekend’s opponents, Spurs, as his patsy, aiming a wee dig their way, saying they were set up to challenge for the title this season after spending £100 odd million on players.

http://www.101greatgoals.com/blog/brendan-rodgers-has-dig-at-spurs-they-were-set-up-to-challenge-for-title-after-spending-100-million-on-players-video/

Boom_Bap · 23-10-2014 10:24AM

LuckyLloyd wrote: »

How I despise posts like this. Look at the scoreboard.

Completely aware of the scoreboard, and well annoyed with it. Very frustrated with defensive players just not getting stuck in to win the ball which could have prevented the goals.
If we can get them mistakes cut out, we would be looking more at the positive side of our game.

noodler · 23-10-2014 10:32AM

Dangelo Stocky Rage wrote: »

He is making a valid point. There were a lot of positives to take from the game. We played very good football at times last night. Particularly in the first 20 mins, a few defensive feck ups that killed us.

You need to stop being so so negative all the time.

First 10-15 are the only positives.

The second half was just us being kept on a leash.

The only positive from last night was what happened in Hungary.

Harry Palmr · 23-10-2014 10:39AM

Dangelo Stocky Rage wrote: »

He is making a valid point. There were a lot of positives to take from the game. We played very good football at times last night. Particularly in the first 20 mins, a few defensive feck ups that killed us.

You need to stop being so so negative all the time.

LL is a megaphone/sloganeering poster. You'll not get much else out of him at times like this except flecks of enraged spittle. You'd think Liverpool were on equal terms with Real Madrid or something.

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

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