Liverpool Banter Archive December 11 2015

11 Dec 2015 20:53:15
Think ojo might have been recalled like wilson he's not in the squad tonight for wolves and he usually plays some part.

11 Dec 2015 23:23:50
My mate who is a wolves season ticket holder says he is very inconsistent, never seems to want to take on the full back.

12 Dec 2015 06:31:32
An 18 year old is inconsistent? You don't say. He's also scored goals and assisted this season in the Championship.

{Ed001's Note - and the not wanting to take on the full back is as likely to be an instruction as the way he plays.}

12 Dec 2015 08:12:13
I have watched Shey since he joined the academy. a lad who has always played against lads in the older age groups, very much like Jordan Ibe and Jordan Rossiter and Sterling. He is predominantly left footed, so he is never going to get past experienced professionals by dribbling past them. He will more often or not try and draw a foul. He reminds me a lot of John Barnes Strength a great shot. I hope we let him develop playing football, than bring him back to early and sitting him in the stands with the fringe players. He will become a Barnes type player, but Barnes played 6 yrs at Watford before joining us at the age of 23. Would he have been as good playing with the under 21's and the odd cup game? I don't think so.

11 Dec 2015 17:49:19
My two cents regarding Benteke at the moment.
I understand harrying and pressing has never been a facet of his game, and this is at odds with Klopps style, which may become problematic for CB,
The problem is, we aren't asking him to become Ronaldo-esque at set pieces, we're not asking him to learn a foreign position or gain a yard of pace.
We're asking him to move, pressure the ball, make a run for gods sake.
I feel it will be a crying shame if Benteke fails to make the most of this opportunity, for the sake of a sprint here and there.

11 Dec 2015 18:23:52
He brings a lot to the table that no one else in the squad does and he's still fairly young so there's no need to give up on him yet.

Let Klopp work with him for a while, there's plenty of room for improvement, he may still have a great future with us.

11 Dec 2015 18:51:14
Spot on, Muscat! The boy has only played 11 games. People should calm down and give him a chance.

12 Dec 2015 21:24:20
But he should be busting a gut to prove himself and show what he can do, how hard he can work, etc etc and, from all accounts, it appears he is not doing that. I'm all in favour of giving players time but if they are not willing to put in the graft then the battle is all but lost anyway. I hope he proves me wrong but the early signs ain't great - if he isn't willing to work for his place, and for his team, then what use is he? Talent he has but work ethic is a huge part of the equation and a part he lacks. If it does not improve i'd sell him in summer - we don't need another idle, work shy forward.

11 Dec 2015 15:06:24
I have to say what a great game Brad Smith had last night, there's a debate about benteke on the rumours page but with the crosses that Brad put in i think benteke would have scored, its just my opinion but benyeke is very good in the air also he is good with his footwork,

I would like to see brad smith play with benteke and see if i'm right, but i'm so glad he signed a new contract, i don't know why he did not sign straight away but i'm glad he did, this young lad looks the real deal and i hope he gets a lot more game time and with the way we are playing and winning game i hope his head does not get turned by any of the big clubs in spain, , he looks like he can take morenos place in the team and progress with more game time, he never even looked fazed by the occasion, i know he plays as a winger for his national team so he can play in 2 positions,

mot giving this lad more game time would be the wrong thing to do as i think with more games he will just get better and better.

11 Dec 2015 15:42:51
He is excellent in my opinion. He was always one of the most talented players in our academy. He just needed to be thrown in to see if he could adapt. And he's taken to senior football instantly. His final ball is already superior to Moreno's and he is just as good defensively if not better. Moreno has a better shot to be fair, but how often do we want our left back shooting? It'll be very interesting watching the two of them battle for a place in the side this season.

11 Dec 2015 15:47:47
You hope smith's head doesn't get turned by one of the big clubs in Spain? What on earth are you talking about?!

11 Dec 2015 16:50:02
Must admit, with Flanno due back and able to play left and right, and clyne able to play left and right, and Moreno and Smith, I am quietly confident about our full backs for the foreseeable future.

{Ed002's Note - The club have been scouting a left back as I explained.}

11 Dec 2015 16:50:47
P. S. Puzzled, I think the Spanish reference was comparing Smith to Bale. Although he did look great, I think the comparison may be a little premature.

11 Dec 2015 21:37:17
Jesus! he's played 2 games,1 where his position defensively wasn't great and another where LFC and their opponents only had to draw to go through. let's not go getting our hope high from about 100 minutes of football, very premature.
Saying he's better than Moreno now is laughable, I don't even particularly rate Moreno, but to say he's defensively better after that amount of 1st team football is a joke.

12 Dec 2015 00:36:17
Joe Gomez is only 18 and is my bet for left back.

12 Dec 2015 01:38:32
I'm also a bit puzzled by all the Smith hype.

He made a few overlapping runs down the left. I found his awareness to be very limited; he seemed to retain the same intent on each run. he'd have his head down and try to throw in a cross.

That's fine, but on a few occasions if he just looked up, there were better plays to make. One instance, a simple cut back to Firmino would have meant a clear shot on goal. Instead, Smith had his head down and cross it directly into the Sion defender, which deflected out.

He looked lively, but the type is a little much. I far more favor Moreno, both his awareness and pace, on the left. Neither are game changers.

11 Dec 2015 11:24:13
Ahoy - topping the group undefeated is excellent.

On a slightly different note now that Man City have qualified top of their CL Group do you think Mr Pellegrini regrets starring in the John Lewis Xmas advert?

11 Dec 2015 09:37:41
Hi eds,

Sorry if been answered before but wanted to know everyone's take on firmino?

Not trying to be jump on the back of an expensive signing. Personally think we overpaid for him but also think he is a really good player!

Struggle to see how him and benteke will play together (excluding Studge, lallana, ibe, coutinho, etc) .

From what I've see he looks to be a very clever and tidy player, he likes to play one twos and has a good touch/first time ball, but coutinho has to play so wondered where you think he fits? Does he replace benteke or do you move coutinho out left?

{Ed001's Note - for me he replaces Benteke.}

11 Dec 2015 09:49:43
Again to play the same song but we really didn't need benteke. He is just giving us problems we don't need in the team, we should of just stuck with our signings we had and used firmino as our striker.

The only thing k can think is the sjgnings were done with the possibility of sturridge leaving.

If there all fit then sturridge plays and that's means either firmino or ben on the bench and therefore 35/40 million pound to sit on the bench.

The only other thing could be they signed firmino for the right wing.

11 Dec 2015 10:05:47
He was a stand out player in Germany along with KDB last season. He is brilliant on the ball and his touch is fantastic. He could play on either side of a front three which relies on movement than direct play.

He will have to adjust his game when you play off Benteke. Its more like a buddy pair. Benteke could hold the ball well and bring in players with him.

If you want to utilise the best of a 35 mill player rather then being a joke, You need to twist your system to get the best out of the player we have. We are in a situation where you cannot sell him for half the price.

11 Dec 2015 10:54:45
Or you have signed two players like carrol and Suarez who aren't going to be able to play off each other and therefore kt doesn't matter where you put firmino if him and ben aren't comparable.

Benteke at with pace nszt two hum would be frightening, abit like Basel a few years ago with the bug fella up top, salah on the right and the other pacey one on the left.

Firmino up top for arsenal would be frivhtenjng ozil, Sanchez and Walcott around him all the interlinking play.

You can't just out two players together because they cost a lot of money.

Firmino for me is going. to have to play as a striker with cout, lallana and ibe behind him or benteke but were going to have to pick one I think.

11 Dec 2015 11:36:23
Maybe give him more than a handful of games in a different league with 2 different managers before I judge the poor lad.

11 Dec 2015 11:44:49
Taking Firmino out of Hoffenheim has had the same effect as taking Suarez out of LFC.
he is a quality, quality player if those around him have excellent movement.
Would have to find a way of playing Studge, Firmino, Coutinho and Lallana in same side

Play Hendo and Lucas/Can behind them.

11 Dec 2015 12:47:30
He's a quality players who's had a couple of bad games, but then the whole team has struggled in those games too. I would like to see him start upfront a few games and see if he can build on the Cit performance with Coutinho in behind him to play off.

11 Dec 2015 12:03:07
Agree with your view Agger, We shouldn't play 3 CM together when you are very well aware they wouldn't be scoring a goal.
2 Players behind 3 Attacking players and striker up front.

11 Dec 2015 13:47:44
Carroll and Suarez did play together and quiet well in the cup semi finals vs Chelsea if memory serves me right but I don't think carrol was fully fit very often.

11 Dec 2015 14:31:34
Firmino `s talent and ability is of no debate, IMO> What he needs do is to be more forceful and physical in the challenge and add some aggressive attitude to his game just like Suarez did when he came here because like Firmino, he was talented but did too many tricks and couldn`t hit a barn door initially. That is what i think he needs. As for Benteke, I trust Klopp will give him time to prove himself. I actually wanted Bacca because he was a better fit with the way we play but that did not happen hence, was willing to give Benteke a chance provided, he upped his game and improved on it. If Klopp can`t get that out of him then, he will need to go.

{Ed001's Note - that is the thing that worries me about Firmino, he bottles 50-50s, even against weak opponents.}

11 Dec 2015 15:02:07
Even Drogba bottled challenges in his first season. I think it's too early to judge him.

11 Dec 2015 15:38:53
Could Frimino still be worried about tweaking his back again? If so, that's something that can be solved either with the psychologists help or with a few hard knocks that he happily walks away from, but either way will be fit. On the Benteke issue - if he tried to fit in he'll be a great success. But he has to try in the way that everyone at the club and watching the club wants him to, not in the way he wants to.

11 Dec 2015 15:45:44
My thoughts are not so different from redohio.

I also preferred Bacca in the summer, would have been perfect for our typical approach, and from what I've read, we likely could have had him, but BR was dead set on Benteke. I'll never be able to figure that out, but it seems by the end, Rodgers had betrayed his own football ideals (you send out Carroll, cultivate Suarez, but years later sell Suarez and bring Balo / Benteke? ) .

And now, with both Benteke and Origi, Klopp is stuck trying to play two types of ball -- one that accommodates big target men at the top, and another-- which we deploy against the best teams-- with Firmino as a false 9, with Lallana/Coutinho in a tight trio attack.

Firmino is talented and I'm not worried about him; I do think he's still acclimatizing-- literally-- to playing conditions and a much more demanding schedule.

My worry, is that he looks very lost when he's thrown into the former type of system (with Origi or Benteke at the top), and it seems Klopp keeps persisting in playing him that way, despite great success with the latter style attack.

My other worry, is that Firmino is just bloody frustrated as hell, and is giving up some of his more instinctual ball.

Yesterday, I saw him make creative runs on countless occasions, often waving for the ball when doing so. Before Coutinho came on, I didn't see a single instance where a Red tried to find him when a through ball, or pass, when he makes that kind of run.

That's got to be frustrating and demoralizing. I mean, it took Coutinho literally minutes to find Firmino on one of his smart runs, thought Firmino's touch was heavy (not great, but given the frozen pitch not atrocious) .

Not many Liverpool players have Coutinho's awareness, to see Firmino's creative movement, so that worries me. Hendo and Can, I think, would be the others, though Hendo looked a shadow of his former self. And Can was stuck very deep, trying to develop an understand with a backline of Toure and Lovren who, when it comes to playing out the back, don't have a two clues to rub together.

11 Dec 2015 19:10:41
Roberto Firmino looks moody to me. He seems to make twice the effort if team mates around him are closing down and harrying the opposition, but kind of lacks initiative to start it all by himself in the first place. He looks super alert or almost asleep. He probably needs more communication on the pitch. Somebody nailed it with the Suarez comparison and that he needs to add more aggressiveness to his game - absolutely agree. Anyway, I would love to see him involved with movement in and around him. He seems to work well with creative players around him rather than a static player like benteke. Or maybe for lords sake benteke starts moving his arse around and about a bit. I really don't want him to end up like balotelli.

11 Dec 2015 23:18:37
Firmino to Coutinho Coutinho to Firmino ooooh lovely play by Liverpool Firmino Firmino gorgeous pass for Coutinho. i would love to see Firmino make a name for himself at Liverpool so iam giving him time, i love to see players playing with there head up always looking for runs and i think he does that, maybe his workrate just needs tweaking, good luck to the boys on Sunday.

11 Dec 2015 00:25:05
I bet we get either Dorrmund or Valencia in the next round.

{Ed007's Note - Dortmund would be tasty and your travelling fans would love it going over there.}

11 Dec 2015 07:09:10
It might be embarrassing if we get Dortmund.

11 Dec 2015 08:09:19
I'd love a tie with Dortmund, a real decent European night again with a manager who actually respects such an occasion.

Personally though, I'd love to get Valencia and make sure that Neville gets knocked out of two European tournaments in three games, that would be fun!

11 Dec 2015 06:13:05
I hope we get Napoli. They are the best in the competition. Plus people will see what Insigne is all about. Also Allan. I am just in love with Sarri's team.

11 Dec 2015 09:48:18
So you'd want your opinion to be validated harry instead of hoping that we get an easier team which will improve our chances of qualifying? Hmm.

11 Dec 2015 09:50:55
So you want us to get a team so we can see a certain player rip us apart and potentially knock us out? Oh.

11 Dec 2015 10:02:43
Oh no is insigne your new love child?

11 Dec 2015 10:12:42
FENCEY

Lols, There are plenty as I watch a lot of matches outside England and follow them on regular basis. There are some real quality players outside. Its just you need to widen your search.

11 Dec 2015 10:56:35
You csnt say though you want us to get s team so we can see a player who your in love with rip us apart just so you can say told you so.

This is your team! Why don't you start bugging are players up and get more productive on your posts at this rate your just not going to be welcome here. You start reading good pists and them bam you appear and its always something. Never positive.

11 Dec 2015 11:04:20
Donetsk, man utd, galatasary, sevilla, leverkusen, olympiakos, Porto, and Valencia are also set to join in as well Harry.

11 Dec 2015 11:37:52
Knock em out early doors.

We can take any of the teams left in. Piece of cake.

11 Dec 2015 11:49:24
By the time we play next round and if we do get Dortmund, we will be in for an easy ride

Apparently Hummels, Subotic, Gundogan and Reus will all be playing for us.

11 Dec 2015 11:51:49
I've seen Napoli play, not sure what I'm searching for though haha!

11 Dec 2015 13:12:13
AggerDo - but none of them will be eligible!

11 Dec 2015 11:48:50
Paulo96

The OP was all about who do they wish Liverpool to face in the Knock out. I gave my opinion, You could agree, disagree or move on. I am not here to please you mate. simple.

I agree Bob, They all join in the hunt and I would love Liverpool to play against Napoli.