Liverpool FC Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours 2018 (MOD NOTE: POST #2805)

brevity · 02-02-2018 12:03pm

_______Karius__________

Milner_Matip_VVD_Robertson

______Winaldum

____________ __Ox/Can

________henderson/Can________

__Salah___Fun Bobby_____Mane___

It's annoying that our midfielders are all quite similar in their strengths and weaknesses. Keeping Henderson further forward is a priority though IMO

JB81 · 02-02-2018 12:12pm

I don't think we will beat Tottenham on Sunday,
However I do think we will make 4th place by the end of the season.
I think we will beat Porto, and admirably bow out of the CL at Quarters

All in all, I would take that for this season, and hope Klopp has more than just Keita up his sleeve for next season

smileyj1987 · 02-02-2018 12:26pm

JB81 wrote: »

I don't think we will beat Tottenham on Sunday,
However I do think we will make 4th place by the end of the season.
I think we will beat Porto, and admirably bow out of the CL at Quarters

All in all, I would take that for this season, and hope Klopp has more than just Keita up his sleeve for next season

A kind draw could see a semi final appearance, then it's all to play for

JB81 · 02-02-2018 12:29pm

Grayditch wrote: »

I like your suggestion because it makes sense but it's because Lovren had balls chipped over and all around him last time, Klopp will most likely see this is a great opportunity to start him for his confidence.

This is exactly what klopp will do,
And I reckon Moreno starts as well

JB81 · 02-02-2018 12:30pm

smileyj1987 wrote: »

A kind draw could see a semi final appearance, then it's all to play for

The only draw I could see us getting through from would be Roma / Shakhtar.

Nerdlingr · 02-02-2018 12:40pm

I'd keep the team the same as v Huddersfield. Thought the midfield 3 worked well. Strength, grit, kept going for the full 90.
If Klopp puts Moreno in the team he's dead to me.

Edit: Forgot about VVD not playing! I'd have him him instead of Lovren alright.

NabyLadistheman · 02-02-2018 12:45pm

WHERE'S THE COUTINHO MONEY

Boom_Bap · 02-02-2018 12:57pm

Nerdlingr wrote: »

I'd keep the team the same as v Huddersfield. Thought the midfield 3 worked well. Strength, grit, kept going for the full 90.
If Klopp puts Moreno in the team he's dead to me.

I'd have Wij or Ox in instead of Milner. Robertson needs to keep his place in the team.
VVD instead of Matip as well. There's a bit too much confusion when Matip is in our box, I think he's afraid to give away pens or something.

Suarezistheman wrote: »

WHERE'S THE COUTINHO MONEY

I read something from Klopp earlier how he was saying that he didn't want to buy someone that is not 100% for us right now. He'd rather wait until the right player is available, so I'm sure the money is still there.

Sappy404 · 02-02-2018 1:07pm

Boom_Bap wrote: »

I read something from Klopp earlier how he was saying that he didn't want to buy someone that is not 100% for us right now. He'd rather wait until the right player is available, so I'm sure the money is still there.

He didn't want to spend "crazy money" apparently. In my opinion when you've just made £100m+ in the 2nd biggest transfer deal of all time that you had 6 months to prepare for, you should be getting a deal done.

The money we could have spent on replacing Coutinho can't have been any crazier than the money we got for him. This pervasive narrative - that it would have been a 'panic buy' - needs to f*ck off. We had the time and the means to improve the squad in that area and chose not to.

JB81 · 02-02-2018 1:10pm

Nerdlingr wrote: »

I'd keep the team the same as v Huddersfield. Thought the midfield 3 worked well. Strength, grit, kept going for the full 90.
If Klopp puts Moreno in the team he's dead to me.

Edit: Forgot about VVD not playing! I'd have him him instead of Lovren alright.

I'm pretty sure you will see Moreno.

I would say:

Karius, Gomez, Van Dijk, Lovren, Moreno, Henderson, Can, Ox, Firmino, Mane, Salah

5starpool · 02-02-2018 1:21pm

MonkeyTennis wrote: »

Clyne could be back at the end of the month. We could actually have a decent defence in March.

If he was available for selection at the start of march, very little chance he'll start a game before April I reckon.

Iused2likebusts · 02-02-2018 1:33pm

I'd be starting wijnaldum over can or milner.

Boom_Bap · 02-02-2018 1:40pm

Sappy404 wrote: »

He didn't want to spend "crazy money" apparently. In my opinion when you've just made £100m+ in the 2nd biggest transfer deal of all time that you had 6 months to prepare for, you should be getting a deal done.

The money we could have spent on replacing Coutinho can't have been any crazier than the money we got for him. This pervasive narrative - that it would have been a 'panic buy' - needs to f*ck off. We had the time and the means to improve the squad in that area and chose not to.

Well, if rumours are true, the way the price of Mahrez developed over the transfer window is insane. Also, the numbers following Lemar tended to spike a bit as well.

I'm not one to normally talk money, but there is some form there for the prices going mental.
I think even with Sanchez, things got a bit out of hand and City stepped back.

So if all that's true, then Klopp may have a point.

But you're right, we new Coutinho was going and had 6 months to prep for that.

x43r0 · 02-02-2018 1:56pm

Suarezistheman wrote: »

WHERE'S THE COUTINHO MONEY

Agent Coulson · 02-02-2018 2:02pm

Neither Mahrez or Lemar are worth anywhere near the £90m their clubs wanted for them and Liverpool were right not to pay that kind of money on them even City said no at that price for Mahrez.

Coutinho at a £140m was crazy money and has skewed the marketplace completely Barca couldn't even afford that price alone needed Nike to back them and Coutinho to pay £10m as well.

Princess Consuela Bananahammock · 02-02-2018 2:07pm

Suarezistheman wrote: »

WHERE'S THE COUTINHO MONEY

9ada2d5ff2708a59336a7764b61f9cb0356f39e14064f23369a80d34974a74c6.jpg

Iused2likebusts · 02-02-2018 2:08pm

Clyne, VVD and ings added to the CL squad.

Sappy404 · 02-02-2018 2:10pm

Boom_Bap wrote: »

Well, if rumours are true, the way the price of Mahrez developed over the transfer window is insane. Also, the numbers following Lemar tended to spike a bit as well.

I'm not one to normally talk money, but there is some form there for the prices going mental.
I think even with Sanchez, things got a bit out of hand and City stepped back.

So if all that's true, then Klopp may have a point.

But you're right, we new Coutinho was going and had 6 months to prep for that.

Yeah I've seen people pointing at the Mahrez situation as an example of what it would have gone like for us. But really, that was with what, 2 days left in the window? City looked at him following Sane's injury last weekend. Leicester had no time for a replacement.

But look at Spurs' pursuit of Lucas Moura - a younger player of ostensibly higher standing in terms of ability, trophies won, experience in the CL etc, and they got him for a song. Why? He was surplus to requirements at his club and Spurs took weeks to get a deal done. Now there's an argument that these are both extreme examples and a team like Liverpool with all the money in the world wading into the market with a clear need for an attacker will probably have their pants pulled down to a degree, but you can't say it would have gone like the Mahrez deal and ignore the Moura deal completely.

Good players were available at reasonable prices and the squad is significantly weaker and it's only because of our lack of interest.

54and56 · 02-02-2018 2:14pm

JB81 wrote: »

I'm pretty sure you will see Moreno.

I would say:

Karius, Gomez, Van Dijk, Lovren, Moreno, Henderson, Can, Ox, Firmino, Mane, Salah

I'll be depressed if Moreno starts ahead of Robertson.

54and56 · 02-02-2018 2:18pm

Boom_Bap wrote: »

But you're right, we new Coutinho was going and had 6 months to prep for that.

Which is why the Ox was purchased and Key8a is arriving in the summer.

Isn't it actually good management to have your replacement in place and bedding in before the departing player leaves?

Edit: Sorry, it's much better to see the negative side as it gives us all something to continuously whinge about.

Can't believe the Coutinho money wasn't spent immediately on a replacement :eek:

Agent Coulson · 02-02-2018 2:21pm

Sappy404 wrote: »

Yeah I've seen people pointing at the Mahrez situation as an example of what it would have gone like for us. But really, that was with what, 2 days left in the window? City looked at him following Sane's injury last weekend. Leicester had no time for a replacement.

But look at Spurs' pursuit of Lucas Moura - a younger player of ostensibly higher standing in terms of ability, trophies won, experience in the CL etc, and they got him for a song. Why? He was surplus to requirements at his club and Spurs took weeks to get a deal done. Now there's an argument that these are both extreme examples and a team like Liverpool with all the money in the world wading into the market with a clear need for an attacker will probably have their pants pulled down to a degree, but you can't say it would have gone like the Mahrez deal and ignore the Moura deal completely.

Good players were available at reasonable prices and the squad is significantly weaker and it's only because of our lack of interest.

Moura is a great player and I would have loved for us to in the past and have stated it here plenty of times.

The question you have to ask if we signed him now is where would he play?

Do you move Salah who is in the form of his life right now on the right wing the position Moura plays we haven't moved Salah for a reason to let Mane have a run there.

Mane on the right wing is a better option for us than Moura as well and Mane offers more on the left wing than Moura as well even with his form off right now.

Would Moura have moved to us to be a squad player like he is at PSG I doubt it to be honest.

NukaCola · 02-02-2018 2:28pm

Maybe we shouldn't have sold a player we couldn't replace......its all excuses at this point....

Agent Coulson · 02-02-2018 2:29pm

Maybe we should get new owners and manager who do what the fans on the internet want.

MD1990 · 02-02-2018 2:32pm

Wasn't impressed with Moura when I saw him a few times last year.

Possibly lacking confidence at the time but he wouldn't take on his full back & if he isn't doing that not much else to his game.

NukaCola · 02-02-2018 2:33pm

Agent Coulson wrote: »

Maybe we should get new owners and manager who do what the fans on the internet want.

There you go again :rolleyes:

Criticism does not equal wanting people gone. There was no sense in selling Coutinho in Jan. If we couldn't replace its an even more strange move. IMO of course.

54and56 · 02-02-2018 2:35pm

Agent Coulson wrote: »

Maybe we should get new owners and manager who do what the fans on the internet want.

Then we'd be Barcelona and have Suarez, Messi and some lad called Coutinho in our team - yipeeeee

(or possibly Saffron Walden Town F.C.

)

54and56 · 02-02-2018 2:36pm

NukaCola wrote: »

Maybe we shouldn't have sold a player we couldn't replace......its all excuses at this point....

Maybe we replaced a player before we sold him.......it's all whinging at this point.....

BorneTobyWilde · 02-02-2018 2:43pm

We've only lost 1 of the last 11 meetings with Spurs. They are usually another 3pts just like City always are. I expect an easy victory as usual.
4-2 Liverpool

NukaCola · 02-02-2018 2:47pm

Je_suis_Jean wrote: »

Maybe we replaced a player before we sold him.......it's all whinging at this point.....

How is suggesting that we dont sell our best player, or for the sake of argument one of our best players, without an adequate replacement whinging? Seems like common sense to me.

I dont agree that Keita and Ox are his replacements btw because we still need someone in the front three and Ox just isn't that player IMO. Who knows, we'll see I guess.

Grayditch · 02-02-2018 2:50pm

I'm not asking for much I just want to smash Spurs to a degree that the demoralising loss carries with them in their psyche for the rest of the season.

Potential Underachiever · 02-02-2018 2:53pm

Sappy404 wrote: »

He didn't want to spend "crazy money" apparently. In my opinion when you've just made £100m+ in the 2nd biggest transfer deal of all time that you had 6 months to prepare for, you should be getting a deal done.

The money we could have spent on replacing Coutinho can't have been any crazier than the money we got for him. This pervasive narrative - that it would have been a 'panic buy' - needs to f*ck off. We had the time and the means to improve the squad in that area and chose not to.

Bang on the money here imo. It's crazy how people are prepared to gobble down the narrative about Klopp only wanting the perfect fit. It's a far too restrictive transfer strategy and could yet torpedo our season and even the work we did last year by getting in the CL, if we miss out this year it's back to square one. A quality replacement for Coutinho should've been lined up since the summer if they knew he was going, it's just needless leaving ourselves so thin on numbers for the rest of the season with plenty to play for by selling such an important player, we're playing Russian roulette with the season. Hopefully we get away with it.

shamrock55 · 02-02-2018 2:58pm

Suarezistheman wrote: »

WHERE'S THE COUTINHO MONEY

Earning about 1,445 pound a year n intrest

Harry Palmr · 02-02-2018 2:59pm

(/\ I hope they are not buying bitcoins with the money!)

Not sure many of us think Klopp is right at all in this regard. It's no good attacking the club as some will if the manager is so wedded to his approach that he wont even buy a good "second choice" player.

NukaCola · 02-02-2018 3:05pm

Potential Underachiever wrote: »

It's crazy how people are prepared to gobble down the narrative about Klopp only wanting the perfect fit.

Wanting the perfect fit is great in theory, but if you cant be adaptable in terms of transfers then you should be open to criticism. Top targets aren't always attainable. Its hard to take the perfect fit thing seriously while you simultaneously play Karius as number 1, Moreno left back, Lovren at CB, Henderson as a DM, having Solanke and Ings as backups etc etc

Personally I think we sold Coutinho for mega money and couldn't get a deal done that wasn't equally crazy and thats that.

NukaCola · 02-02-2018 3:08pm

Harry Palmr wrote: »

(/\ I hope they are not buying bitcoins with the money!)

Not sure many of us think Klopp is right at all in this regard. It's no good attacking the club as some will if the manager is so wedded to his approach that he wont even buy a good "second choice" player.

I think if there is one thing we can be sure of, its that if Klopp wants a player, then FSG will bankroll it.

shamrock55 · 02-02-2018 3:10pm

I have confidence in klopp signing one top class player every 2nd window,so in about 8 years we should have a team capable of challenging for the LGE,problem is bobby, mo, and sadio will be long gone by then so we'll have have to replace them by which time 4 of the 8 top class players we signed in those last 8 years will be gone so it'll be another 4 years before they are replaced,by which time the next 4 will be gone so that's another 4 yes to replace them,the lads we got in to replace mo,sadio and bobby are coming to an end now too so that's another 3 yrs.
I think I'll be dead by the time we get a team together to challenge the way klopp goes about signing players

Potential Underachiever · 02-02-2018 3:10pm

NukaCola wrote: »

Wanting the perfect fit is great in theory, but if you cant be adaptable in terms of transfers then you should be open to criticism. Top targets aren't always attainable. Its hard to take the perfect fit thing seriously while you simultaneously play Karius as number 1, Moreno left back, Lovren at CB, Henderson as a DM, having Solanke and Ings as backups etc etc

Personally I think we sold Coutinho for mega money and couldn't get a deal done that wasn't equally crazy and thats that.

Serious whiff of well Klopp knows best so we have no right to criticise/moan/whinge about our dealings from some folk in here, the man is not infallible.

Agent Coulson · 02-02-2018 3:14pm

Coutinho was never our best player on any consistent form in one way or another he was our most talented player but he never showed that for more than a handful of games in a row.

I'm pretty sure we lost and drew plenty of games against teams we should have beaten with Coutinho in the team to unlock their packed defences.

Last season Mane and Wijnaldum were our best and most consistent players this season it has been Salah and Fun Bobby.

Would I rather he stayed of course but you don't turn down that kind of money for a player who goes on strike twice.

liam7831 · 02-02-2018 3:15pm

Agent Coulson wrote:

Would I rather he stayed of course but you don't turn down that kind of money for a player who goes on strike twice.

Didn't realise he went on strike

Potential Underachiever · 02-02-2018 3:15pm

shamrock55 wrote: »

I have confidence in klopp signing one top class player every 2nd window,so in about 8 years we should have a team capable of challenging for the LGE,problem is bobby, mo, and sadio will be long gone by then so we'll have have to replace them by which time 4 of the 8 top class players we signed in those last 8 years will be gone so it'll be another 4 years before they are replaced,by which time the next 4 will be gone so that's another 4 yes to replace them,the lads we got in to replace mo,sadio and bobby are coming to an end now too so that's another 3 yrs.
I think I'll be dead by the time we get a team together to challenge the way klopp goes about signing players

I reckon in approx 32 years we might have the right squad in place:D

Harry Palmr · 02-02-2018 3:15pm

shamrock55 wrote: »

I have confidence in klopp signing one top class player every 2nd window,so in about 8 years we should have a team capable of challenging for the LGE,problem is bobby, mo, and sadio will be long gone by then so we'll have have to replace them by which time 4 of the 8 top class players we signed in those last 8 years will be gone so it'll be another 4 years before they are replaced,by which time the next 4 will be gone so that's another 4 yes to replace them,the lads we got in to replace mo,sadio and bobby are coming to an end now too so that's another 3 yrs.
I think I'll be dead by the time we get a team together to challenge the way klopp goes about signing players

It's lucky that Klopp is ahead of schedule then! Salah, VVD and Keita in one year

Add a proper keeper and a second central midfielder as the big buys in the summer with cover for the front line and that really should be that.

Agent Coulson · 02-02-2018 3:15pm

Harry Palmr wrote: »

(/\ I hope they are not buying bitcoins with the money!)

Not sure many of us think Klopp is right at all in this regard. It's no good attacking the club as some will if the manager is so wedded to his approach that he wont even buy a good "second choice" player.

The way I look at is Klopp probably already has his good "second choices" at the club already and is waiting to get his good first choices.

Potential Underachiever · 02-02-2018 3:16pm

I thought Coutinho was the best in the world!

5starpool · 02-02-2018 3:20pm

Potential Underachiever wrote: »

Serious whiff of well Klopp knows best so we have no right to criticise/moan/whinge about our dealings from some folk in here, the man is not infallible.

Who would you like as manager?

I'm unhappy that we have a thin squad again, but I don't pretend to know better than someone I want in charge, who is in charge.

He has money to spend, for sure, but it is not infinite money. If we miss out on CL next season it will be a blow and Klopp may rue some of his decisions. I can't predict how the future goes or know if there are reasons other than the ones Klopp already gave for not buying. He I not infallible, or else we'd have a 100% record, but he is the man I want in the Liverpool manager role.

He may have 150m to spend, but want to buy 3 top class players. If he spent 90m on Lemar he may well not be able to get all 3 players he wants. That may not be the case, but when he is talking about spending more than we have to while still having a good bit to spend, it is possible something like that is at play. I'm guessing though obviously, bit given that we are not one of the Manchester clubs in terms of our budget, not an unreasonable guess.

Potential Underachiever · 02-02-2018 3:31pm

5starpool wrote: »

Who would you like as manager?

I'm unhappy that we have a thin squad again, but I don't pretend to know better than someone I want in charge, who is in charge.

He has money to spend, for sure, but it is not infinite money. If we miss out on CL next season it will be a blow and Klopp may rue some of his decisions. I can't predict how the future goes or know if there are reasons other than the ones Klopp already gave for not buying. He I not infallible, or else we'd have a 100% record, but he is the man I want in the Liverpool manager role.

He may have 150m to spend, but want to buy 3 top class players. If he spent 90m on Lemar he may well not be able to get all 3 players he wants. That may not be the case, but when he is talking about spending more than we have to while still having a good bit to spend, it is possible something like that is at play. I'm guessing though obviously, bit given that we are not one of the Manchester clubs in terms of our budget, not an unreasonable guess.

Come on man!

I want Klopp as manager 100% behind him, I can't see where we'd go after him. I don't claim to know better either btw, that's a silly argument.

Does not mean everything he does is perfect though, that's all I'm saying that if you criticise him in any tiny way then you have numpties saying that people want him sacked, not true at all.

His transfer policy is frustrating, it's easy from the sidelines obviously, I think most accept we're short on numbers and selling Coutinho mid way through a season is annoying/stupid, we should have replacements lined up but we didn't.

54and56 · 02-02-2018 3:31pm

NukaCola wrote: »

How is suggesting that we dont sell our best player, or for the sake of argument one of our best players, without an adequate replacement whinging? Seems like common sense to me.

I dont agree that Keita and Ox are his replacements btw because we still need someone in the front three and Ox just isn't that player IMO. Who knows, we'll see I guess.

I get your POV but my opinion is that whilst Klopp inherited Coutinho and used his talent to the max he actually would never buy such a player as he values high energy, constant high line pressing (a la Man City game), direct play and interchangeability over the sort of individual talent Coutinho has hence Ox was recruited for huge money (relatively speaking) and lots of people were scratching their heads as to where he'd fit in.

IMO the Ox is slotting into a re-shaped (post Coutinho) midfield 3 to which Key8A will also be added in the summer (and would have been added last summer or over Xmas if Leipzig would agree to release him) and going forward it'll be a highly dynamic 4-3-3 shape rather than the 4-2-1-3 it tended to become with Coutinho play nominally on the left but predominantly at the tip of MF in a more classic #10 type role.

If (and WTF do I know) I'm right Klopp is never ever going to replace Coutinho with a similar player regardless of available cash etc as he want Ox and similar type players in his midfield 3.

Agent Coulson · 02-02-2018 3:35pm

Klopp putting him back in his box.

Klopp on Jamie Carragher comments on VVD: "I'm sure that Jamie needs to lose a bit of weight. It's not an issue."

https://twitter.com/JamesPearceEcho/status/959414128883458048

54and56 · 02-02-2018 3:35pm

Potential Underachiever wrote: »

I think most accept we're short on numbers and selling Coutinho mid way through a season is annoying/stupid, we should have replacements lined up but we didn't.

Don't you think it's even possible that Ox is Coutinho's replacement for the reasons I stated in my last post above?

rgace · 02-02-2018 3:56pm

Klopp said they did everything they could to persuade Coutinho to stay.
If he had already been replaced and Klopp was happy with his squad they would not have tried to keep him surely.

BorneTobyWilde · 02-02-2018 3:59pm

If Ings is fit then give him a chance. Put Firmino back where he was in Germany, where he made his name. We need a player like him in midfield

________Henderson_______

_____Firmino___Ox________

Salah_____________Mane__
_________Ings____________

Liverpool FC Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours 2018 (MOD NOTE: POST #2805)

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