Liverpool Banter Archive November 10 2013

10 Nov 2013 19:09:06
Hi guys Liverpool supporter here. You will probably now be feeling like we were last week after the game at the Emirates.

Don't feel too down as you are still top of the league. With 11 games gone no side is showing signs of making a decisive break away at the top.

I still like the form that Liverpool and Arsenal are both showing and none of the other sides look really special

Can'twait for the international break to be over.

This should have been posted on d arsenal page :P

10 Nov 2013 18:09:17
Ughh Manchester United have won but it's nice to see Piers Morgan shut up.

Since Arsenal fans were being cocky(I still like Arsenal), I would like to say this:

: Greater Manchester Police have commenced operations to find Giroud, Ozil & Ramsey. The 3 men were last seen in the Old Trafford tunnel.

10 Nov 2013 17:27:32
Ed fellow reds, why couldn't arsenal be this poor last week?

Credit to Utd, they did what we should have done - chased and harried.
Phil Jones was excellent today.
Our recent record against Arsenal is pretty poor.
But we did enjoy success under Rafa, with a more defensive-based game.
Maybe we do need a specialist DM as an option / back-up to Lucas.

Truth be told Arsenal make A lot of mistakes, which they didn't do against us.

Thought Arsenal looked leggy today, reckon this was due to an energy sapping win in Dortmund, plus the Mancs had an extra day recovery.A draw would have been the perfect result.

Arsenal have a soft underbelly, they don't like it ''up em''. Wenger's got a thing about Man U and Man U know it. Although it pains me to say it, if there's one thing iv'e learned about footie over the years it's never bet against Man U!

Arsenal didn't have the same zip in their passing and let's be brutally honest - United's tactics were much better in terms of dealing with Arsenal's threat than ours. 3-5-2 with wing backs was disastrous and in truth we never really recovered from our poor first half, United and Moyes (as painful as it is to say) were tactically spot on against Arsenal - only threat was Sagna's crosses and nothing else. That was the difference.

Molby, don't I know it mate! Another tenner down the drain :0(

10 Nov 2013 16:10:48
This weekend just keeps getting better and better!

Chelski and City are very winnable games at the moment I would say we playing much better than both of them and Spurs, second in on the Table is where we should be

Given how kind our fixture list has been Newteeth is right, this is exactly where we should be. Real fight starts with these tough away games fast approaching.

10 Nov 2013 16:04:22
What a weekend of football!

Chelsea 2-2 West Brom
Spurs 0-1 Newcastle
Sunderland 1-0 Man' City
C' Palace 0-0 Everton

As much as I want Man' UTD to get stuffed a draw is probably the best result to keep UTD at bay and still be in touching distance of Arsenal.

It's not often results go our way and it just goes to show how open this season really is.

Red Rum

10 Nov 2013 15:03:39
Wonder if Adam still think Gerrard should be an impact sub after yesterday?

10 Nov 2013 17:32:25
Rodgers did exactly what I wanted him to yesterday. Played Gerrard against a weak team, but took him off when he started to get tired so we didn't let the game slip. Gerrard was also given a lot more freedom in the game to go forward. Do I still think he should be an impact sub? Yes, against fitter and faster teams. Fulham never play with a high tempo though so it was easy for a player of Gerrards quality to look good for 70 minutes. I liked the formation yesterday. The extra man In midfield allowed us to control the game, and reduced the amount of running Gerrard had to do.

YNWAdam

Lol come on Gabriel do you think Gerrard will get that much time against Everton, Spurs, Chelsea? He didn't against Arsenal and he was poor. In those games he is great to use but our midfield does seem to lack that extra bit of quality and snap against the top teams, using yesterdays game as a template to judge Gerrard's effectiveness is very naïve.

10 Nov 2013 14:49:15
Who do you think was our most technically gifted player of the last 6 years? For me benayone soon to be replaced by coutinho

The answer to this question is Xabi Alonso

Why 6 years? Alonso or Torres


Ynwa

Sturridge, Benayoun, Coutinho in order.

Sturridge isn't more technically gifted than Coutinho or Benayoun

top three for me is. Yossi, Aurelio & Alonso in no order.

Currently Coutinho & Assaidi (he's just lightweight)

Alonso for me also I saw him close quarters coming on for a second half away to Fulham years ago. He was just brilliant turned the game and is a real gent

Red wool

11 Nov 2013 09:52:16
Currently it is Henderson. I think you lot are confusing skill/flair with technique. Sturridge and Henderson walk it in our current team. Technical ability is the way you play a pass and the way you control the ball etc. Coutinho is just a very confident, very skillful and unpredictable player. Give him 2/3 years and I think he will be the best though. Gerrard is very good in terms of his technique. He just always lacked that flair. He was so predictable, but it didn't matter. If you aimed a handgun at me from 5 yards I could predict you pulling the trigger, but there is no way I could get out of the way! Gerrard was like a Barrett 50cal.

YNWAdam

Technically Suarez is just head and shoulders above everyone else in my opinion - it's simply his speed of operation which leads him to sometimes mis-control, misplace a pass, etc no one else near his technical ability.

10 Nov 2013 14:38:14
Cant believe the results this weekend (if man city stay losing) would be an amazing weekend! still can't decide what result I want with arsenal and the mancs. I think I would be happy with any score!

Arsenal to win 4-0. That will burst any feelings of hope or resurgence at Utd.

Great result for the Mackems and geordies. The next result should be a draw and that keeps arsenal in sight and Utd away.

Ynwa

10 Nov 2013 14:01:43
I'd just like to say how greatfull I am supporting Liverpool. Tottenham fans just booed there team off at the final whistle and they didn't play badly atall. If Krul wasn't in top form they would have won, I've seen arsenal Chelsea an city fans do it this year.
We may not be the best team in Europe anymore but we've still got the best fans!

We booed off Roy Hodgson and Kenny Dalglish in the past. We have also chanted 'you're getting sacked in the morning, sacked in the morning' to the both of them.
Do not ignore the past, it is there for a reason. We went through some bad times but we have survived and we are stronger because of it.
Saying we are better fans because we are currently not booing the club is a ridiculous statement to make.

You should have logged in last weekend after we got beat.

Im surprised ed002 ain't told you his thoughts on that one. {Ed002's Note - I have no idea if it is correct or not. On the odd occasion I bother to go to matches nowadays I am not normally anywhere I can hear the crowd.}

They're not booing the club. They're probably booing the players voicing their concerns. Tottenham haven't been playing well. Spending a fortune in the window and scraping 1-0 wins with dodgy decisions all season long. I know a few Spuds that are not happy this season

Who chanted that to Kenny, Phenom?
Cos it wasn't any Liverpool fan.
Everton fans had a go and they were soon shut up.

I have never heard Kenny Dalglish being booed off the field mate, or songs being sung about him being sacked, not by our supporters anyway.Please name the games that he was booed off.You're full of brown stuff pal.

Dalglish is an icon of this club, and has never, and will never be booed by Liverpool fans. After all the efforts he has made to help both the club as a player and manager, and also the 96, it would be unthinkable. Its debatable if we are the best supporters (possibly), but what is NOT debateable is that we look after our own, and Kenny is precisely that.

Liverpool vs Wigan 24th March 2012.
Liverpool fans boo the club for a poor performance.
Actions like these were the reason Kenny Dalglish was sacked.
We didn't compete in the league, certain fans lost faith and the king left.

I admit this is one example and was not a regular occurrence but we booed Roy Hodgson and chanted for him to be sacked, we booed Kenny Dalglish and I do remember fans chanting for him to be sacked too, it might have been other fans but that would be me remembering incorrectly, not lying.

I love this club, I hated how bad this club had got, how distant the fans and the board were to each other, fans wanted the team to lose so that the owners, the coaches, the players would leave and we could start again.

We have now moved on from that and LFC_Forlife is mocking other clubs for being in the same position that we were in.
Can we not just support our club and forget what other teams do? It does not matter. {Ed002's Note - I have explained previously why Dalglish was sacked - I don't think we need go there again.}

If you were at the Wigan game you would know that the booing coming from the crowd was aimed at the Ref he Disallowed a goal and gave us nothing. that's a fact pal.The Liverpool fans never booed Kenny and that's another fact.

10 Nov 2013 13:18:16
Many fans are now beginning to warm to Henderson. It is a bit like Lucas Leiva in that he has taken time to settle but he is now proving that he has the right quality. Not only does he have a great engine but he is also technically gifted and that is something that some fans are yet to appreciate. In a couple of seasons he may well add goals to his locker just like Ramsey has done at Aresenal.

The next player to prove his worth shoud be Joe Allen. Brendan has every faith in his abilites and that is good enough for me.

The way forward may be for Stevie and Couthinho to be the advanced playmakers to link with Sturridge and Suarez at Anfield with Leiva and Henderson doing the running and clearing up

In away games maybe put Coutinho on the bench and bring Allen in to play along with Henderson and Lucas and just let Stevie be the link to Suarez and Sturridge. We can then have Coutinho come on after 60 minutes if needed to win the game.

Plenty to think about but we are in a good place at the moment.

I like what Brendan is doing.

Today we should all give a thought to our armed forces and the sacrifices that they and their families have made for us.

Coutinho is one of our best players

Coutinho fit should be the first name on the sheet.The lads a magician.

10 Nov 2013 13:12:34
Pressure was put on Hendo from the very start, given his price tag, and given the injury to Lucas.
I feel Kenny had no choice to throw Jordan in at the deep end, and that affected his performances.
He played almost 50 games in his debut season, which was
A) Loads for a young lad
B) out of position
C) much more pressure at Liverpool than Sunderland.

My point is, I very much doubt Dalglish expected Jordan to play so much, he would have had a much easier time if given more time to settle in.

Now I think we are seeing the Henderson that Kenny wanted, and it's paying dividends as far as I'm concerned. My MOTM yesterday (although MOTD managed to skate over his performance quite well).

With this is mind, do we think collectively we could give Allen some time?
As fans, we make a massive difference. And we owe any player in red who fights 100% every time support.
End of rant!

I think he could have been managed better in his first season. When he wasn't performing and the supporters turned on him, KD should have taken him out of the firing line.

I agree about Henderson, and I also agree about Allen. He is a brilliant little player - just needs time to settle in.

He actually played some great games in his first season and I often came on this site to defend him.He was guilty of doing what Allen did last season when the criticism came and playing safe passes.I am glad he's worked hard in proving a lot of people worng including our manager who wanted him to leave last summer by the way.Keep it up Jordan.

10 Nov 2013 11:44:05
Morning Reds and Eds.

A good win and good performance by our boys yesterday.

Now a question for you all.

Our next 5 games are crucial and say we win 3 and draw 2 of these games or better.are we on for the title?

I ask this as I keep hearing "as good as Liverpool have been playing, they won't win the Premier League this season"

Personally, I'm thinking why not?

Granted, I'm not expecting us to win the title but that is no reason not to try to! If we push for the title and keep playing as well as we have recently then a top 4 finish should be achieved come May 2014.

We have not even played to the best of our teams ability yet imo!

If Brendan gets to bring in the players he wants in Jan and we are still riding high in the league. I would not be against betting on us getting our first title for 20 odd years.

Maybe its just me, but I'm getting that same feeling like a few years ago when we came second to Man Utd.

Maybe I'm just getting ahead of myself lol.

What you guys think? I would be interested in Ed001 and Ed002's opinions aswell if possible?

Ps, they may be ahead of us in the table but I really hope Arsenal batter Manchester United today! :)

{Ed002's Note - Liverpool has been doing fine all year and it is a pity the team do no not have the sustained support of the posters. Last week Gerrard's career was over if you read any of the posts here. Somehow he managed to hobble out again this week. Liverpool will continue to do well. I will stick by my prediction for where they will end up.}

10 Nov 2013 12:38:04
Id agree mate, we are playing well and points are totting up. I backed Chelsea for the title at the start of the season but Arsenal are doing so well. The pundits are saying Arsenal can't win the title and are still saying we won't push, but they could well be wrong.
The problem with Liverpool fans is this, we have been over optimistic for so long 'this is our year', that when we see a decent opportunity we can't quite believe it or back it for fear of ruining or jinxing it.
Becuase of this fear we go all conservative in our aspirations cor the season. Every Liverpool fan out there is openly stating our ambition is Top 4, and that is all we need to be able to progress, however, secretly every Liverpool fan must have a little hope that we can push Arsenal and finish top 2?
I for one have that hope, but I also realise that achieving Champions League is what we need to progress.

Yes we were good yesterday, and Fulham were bad. I for one am on the edge of my seat week in week out so see how we perform, there is a buzz around Kopites, one we have not known for a good few years, and that buzz is a mixture of hope and excitement, but not quite expectancy, which is good.

This season anyone can win the title. As long as we are consistent and keep racking up the points we are in with a chance. However, let's keep our feet on the ground. There is still a long way to go till may but nothing wrong with being optimistic. I prefer the optimism to the constant moaning by some on here, but who knows? The next 5 or 6 games will be a big test for us and will show us how strong we really are.

On a side note, yesterday was a prime example of what I have recently said regarding Gerrard. I said after the Arsenal game that we need a younger midfielder with similar attributes to Gerrard who can play in the high intensity games against opponents such as Arsenal and then play Gerrard in low intensity games such as Fulham. That is when Gerrard is most effective. A player like Cabaye would great to alternate with Gerrard. As Rodgers said yesterday, Gerrard is 33 and he will try and rest him when he can, but until we have a player of similar quality to replace him with, I cannot see Gerrard getting much rest.

Red Rum

Thanks for the opinion and reply Ed002

Good one, ed. LFC has been operating on about 2 points per game all calendar year and don`t get the credit from some of our own "fans" who IMO never wanted BR or never wanted KK to get sacked or for whatever pathetic hidden agenda they have. All they do is complain when we win, lose or draw. We are doing well and if we can get some results during the big games then that will set us up for an interesting finish. The title? I don`t know BUT if we can make a "secret" run at it then GO REDS!

Thanks for the replies guys :)

Where did you predict they'd end up ed002 {Ed002's Note - Fighting over the lower league places that provide European qualification - 4th or 5th.}

Anfield Andy sums it up brilliantly!

I think consistency will be the biggest challenge for all the teams in the PL this season due to the outstanding competition in the PL.

10 Nov 2013 10:26:16
I'd be happy with Will Hughes and Diego Capel during the Jan transfer window. Both are attainable and will improve first eleven.

But Rodgers has stated he wants 2 players who can be in the first team from the off? Capel maybe but not Hughes, I think we may buy him but loan him back to derby.

Disagree. Both won't even get into the first eleven.

Will improve first eleven, really?
So you would play Will Hughes instead of Gerrard, Lucas or Henderson.
Or you would play Diego Capel instead of Coutinho, Suarez or Sturridge.
They help with squad depth but they do not improve the first team.

I think Diego Capel can play in the midfield alone by himself. Lucas, Allen, Henderson and Gerrard can sit on the bench. Diego Capel alone is enough. Good Lord! Can we just enjoy some football rather than speculate about transfers?

Both will add depth. These days you need two players for each position. Capel is a great winger who has been capped by Spain. We were sorely lacking on the left of midfield when Coutinho was injured. As for Hughes he has ability beyond his years and while he isn't going to be an automatic starter he will learn from Gerrard and others. In addition to that, if we don't sign him quickly another Premiership side will. We already have enough depth in central midfield to cope with injuries to Gerrard, Hendo or Lucas.

- Kostas Mitroglou at ST to replace Aspas
- Koke, Cabaye or Rakitic at CM
- Leandro Moura at AM/RF/RW for more attacking options

play 4-1-2-1-2. that's a straight back four, Lucas, Gerrard & new CM, Coutinho, Sturridge & Suarez

Better outfield options from Cissokho, Kelly, Toure, Sakho, Henderson, Allen, Alberto, Leandro, Moses, Mitroglou.

net spending would around £27m but with Champions League a realistic aim it should be an acceptable figure.

At no point was Capel a "great winger". He had one good season at Sevilla about 3 years a go and was rewarded with call-up to the national team. Since then, he has been consistently average.

Hughes is an outstanding talent, but as Ed002 points out, he will cost a lot. For the reported £15 million, if we buy him, I can see him being treated in a similar way to Henderson and Allen are now.

10 Nov 2013 16:38:30
Your really ambitious! Alonso is obviously a target as Macca has stated and I also suspect an attacker will be bought.

I'd imagine there will be a lot players looking move on so that will finance it between January and Summer. Eg Coates Flanagan Reina Robinson Allen Assaidi Alberto Coady Assaidi Aspas Borini are probably some of the players that will want to move.

Capel's better than any wide attacking midfielder we have in the first team at the moment. He's got the quality, and just needs the stage and right environment to show it, just like 9outinho. If he plays to his potential he can be great, if he doesn't we can easily sell him on with little if any loss on the 6mill he's going to cost

Nope he is not. Sterling, Ibe and Moses are better than Capel, but that is just my opinion. I rather go for a player only if he is a huge improvement on our current crop and Capel is definitely not a huge improvement. It's these kind of signings in the past that has kept us back.

10 Nov 2013 09:51:16
Who do people think will depart the club this January?

I can see Sterling being loaned for the second half of the season. a prem club like Hull would be a good move to gain playing time.

Illori is another I can see being loaned again for vital experience.

In regards to sales its hard to find one. Slight possibility Skrtle could still go. His performances can only have improved his price tag. I think if a decent offer from Napoli or a Russian team in region of 20 million came in I think we would take it.

Even if we don't sell anyone this coming window, we are in a healthy enough position to still sign a top player or two to three squad players. We tried and failed to sign Mkhitaryan, Costa and Willan for fees in region of 20-30 million so money is available if the right player comes along.

I'd like a combination of two of the below to help push us on this season.

Yarmalenko. 20-30 million.
Konoplyanka. 20-30 million.
Banega. 5-8 million.
Shaqiri. 12-20 million.
Jorginho. 10-15 million.
Iturbe. 15-20 million.

I'd love both Yarmalenko and Shaqiri for the wings, but combined fee would be too much. More realistically a combination of Shaqiri/Yarmalenko with a Banega/ Jorginho is possible.

Jonesred

Konoplyenka from the one time I've actually seen the 2 Ukrainians play is by far the better player

Koke - £20-30m
Cabaye - £15-20m

Red Rum

El Shaarawy £25-£30million &, of those you mention, Konoplyanka but that's two wingers which wouldn't fit our formation unless Luis leaves

Real Madrid still behind Barca,
Suarez in form and scoring for fun, 2+2=50mil bid in January?

{Ed002's Note - I have explained before about Real Madrid planning on bidding in January but just recently there has been a flurry of activity by Suarez's people with approaches made to three other clubs again - and the reason behind this is that Real Madrid has identified an alternative target who would not be as high maintenance as Suarez. I very much doubt that Liverpool would want to sell until the end of the season.}

Hey you guys, I have a plan. Why don't we buy all the players you guys have listed?

We should buy Yarmalenko, Konoplyanka, Banega, Shaqiri, Jorginho, Iturbe, Cabaye, Costa and Ibrahimovic. We should buy every player on the market in January.

Suarez is going NOWHERE in jan.

10 Nov 2013 00:20:00
Just putting it out there
Say Henderson was signed this summer for £16million, would you feel he was a great buy, decent value or slightly overpriced? I think that despite a tough start he just needed to settle and now is worth what we paid for him- if not more.

I was always a supporter of henderson. I still feel that it is the mental side of his game that limits him. He is a good tackler, hard worker, great range of passing, great vision and great technique. The problem is when it comes to crunch moments, he is like a fish out of water. If he is able to mature and sort this side out, then 16 million is a bargain.

Toddy, Jordon had a tough start, probably because of his age, price tag and being in the spot light, however in my opinion he has been our most improved player in the past 12 months, if you actually look at the guy and watch his work rate the bloke is a beast and is finally stating to get the recognition he deserves.

Completely agree with the both of you
In fact he is possibly my favourite player other than Stevie!
I've modelled my game on Hendo's as I have the similar physical attributes and even got his name on the back of my shirt: He's great! Got to go to Brazil if he continues this form.

If he can work on his finishing and as calm said handle big spot light moments I think he will be worth more then 16 mill. He's a great player hopefully he can add a few more goals and he will be even more of a beast!

Henderson is becoming a great buy. He will be a Liverpool regular for a long time if he keeps it up. Good on him.

Hendo was and is STILL overpriced for the things he can do on the pitch. He`s coming good and growing right before our eyes but for his ability, the money was way too much, IMO.

He has a weird running technique, he's terrible. Have you guys not been paying any attention?

09 Nov 2013 23:40:30
Oops need to make a correction to the last post! It's 16 pts we need out of next 8 games to keep on track!

Hi Statto,
We have 23 points from 11 games.
We actually need 15 points from our next 8 games. 4 wins, 3 draws and 1 defeat would be on track.

Ken

3 wins at home
Beat Hull at KC
3 draws and 1 loss against Chelsea, Spurs, Citeh and Everton.

15 points plus 23 = 38 points from 19 games.

Hi ken,

Good point as we have averaged above 2 pts per game so far. To be fair, at the end of this run, if we come out with 12 pts we would be still in a very good place. Home wins are a must I think.