Liverpool Banter Archive November 11 2013

11 Nov 2013 17:56:42
Eds.great performance at weekend plus most results going our way, eds if we are in similar position come january do u feel the owners will splash the cash dcm and attacking mids defo required in my opinion. ynwa {Ed002's Note - I would expect a couple of players to come in. This desire for them to "splash the cash" is relentless from the fans of course, but is far from reality.}

The thing is if we bought some expensive player for say 20 million, where in the team is there space to accommodate him? Maybe left sided midfield, but if we are playing 3 up top that would mean that Coutinho would need to be taken out - or moved to the midfield and then we lose Henderson or Gerrard. And it goes on. I think our weakest position is left back, but I can't see us spending there with Cissoko here till the summer. I can't really see where the club will spend to improve our first team to be honest, and I don't really see the need to splash any cash. Maybe flog a CB and keep the money till the summer, but I am liking all that competition at the back - a bad game and you lose your turn! I would be happy if we stay as we are (obviously that includes keeping Suarez!)

You can always improve one injury in a lot of positions were done

11 Nov 2013 20:03:11
Agreed Dezy. Our starting XI is currently doing very well, superb in fact. But we have too look at our whole squad. We don't really have our own 'quality' winger, we have Moses who is loan and Suarez pushes out there but we could do with a true winger. I believe Ibe is our best prospect there but he is still perhaps a year or two off consistently starting there, as is Sterling, so it makes more sense to loan Moses for now than spend big on a winger when we potentially have two £15m+ wingers already, just a couple of years away from fruition.
We only really have Lucas in DM, Allen is yet to impress, although I am fully aware he has been hampered by injuries and being in and out of contention due to Henderson being in fine form.
Coutinho is our main '10' and although Gerrard has recently proven he can still mix it up there as a 'top top' player we could still do with someone who is there to push for that position in years to come. I once again believe that player could be Ibe and believe he is better suited to playing there than to playing on the wing.
Looking at our squad we are perhaps a winger/forward and sitting midfielder away from a really strong squad, with a further striker needed in the future.

We have Jack Robinson for LB, just thought i'd point out that he has the potential to be quality, and until the emergence of Luke Shaw I would have said he was the best young English LB around, potentially. haha

We have Alberto to challenge Coutinho and Gerrard. Sterling needs to have an impact now. Age is not stopping the young winger at Utd. I think if we need to add players then we need to sell. Be it our plethora of centre backs. Maybe Wisdom, Agger and maybe even Kelly. Maybe Allen from midfield if Rodgers thinks he isn't going to cut it. We also have Suso out on loan doing really well in La Liga (which still surprises me why Alberto was purchased). What we need are genuine first team players and not players who might not be trusted to make a difference on the pitch.

I agree with you AnfieldAndy but what you're saying is to I crease the depth of the squad. Rodgers was talking about players of such quality that they would come straight into the first team. Who would get chopped then? As you say we have Moses, Sterling never mind Aspas, Allen and Alberto kicking about. How much cover do we really need to pay generally inflated Christmas prices?

As someone pointed out Andy, you are forgetting about Suso who will come back after this lone spell with much more first time experience under his belt and wanting to cement a spot in our starting XI.

If we sell Skrtel for a good price and bring in a quality central midfielder i'd be happy - let's face it if Gerrard, Lucas or Henderson get injured we are going to be very thin. Alberto can cover but not exactly the tackling/hassling type. That's only part of the squad I can envisage in need of strengthening.

p.s. Gerrard is getting old now, we are going to need a replacement of some sort soon - when is the right time to start looking?

11 Nov 2013 13:27:29
I think Liverpool have been the most consistent team in the league so far in terms of results. The Arsenal away game is one we were expected to lose, and our worst result of the season was a 1-0 defeat to Southampton which really only happened because we were missing Suarez and Coutinho, thus we struggled to start any form of an attack. The fact that we've lost twice, and both of those teams are in the top 3 with us speaks volumes about our performaces so far. Even Arsenal dropped points against Aston Villa. Although there is still much room for improvement, we are grinding out the results. We haven't really dropped any 'easy' points though. The Newcastle point just keeps looking better with Chelsea and Tottenham falling to them, and the Swansea game was seriously affected by the Coutinho injury, as well as them being in good form at the time (smashing the likes of Valencia). I am largely impressed with us so far this season, and when you look at the stroll to the season Arsenal are calling a start, its really not that bad they are 2 points ahead. Before Man United, the only other top teams they had played were Us and Spurs and they had us both at home. Now the wheels have come off, I quite fancy Southampton to nick something there. Maybe a draw which would be excellent for us. I must say, I'm suprised at how United have dragged there way back up the table, but even more suprised at the easy points being dropped by the teams around us!

Onwards and upwards, maybe with a few more additions in January we can start to push on. I would also like to praise Rodgers with regards to how he utilised Gerrard against Fulham. Not only pushing him further up the pitch, but also by taking him off at the right time, allowing us to maintain our domination. It's like I've been saying all along, I'd rather have the 100% Gerrard for as long as he can last, than a Gerrard pacing himself every week for the full 90. The 100% Gerrard won us the game in 3/4 of the match anyway.

YNWAdam {Ed002's Note - Crystal Palace have been the most consistent Adam.}

11 Nov 2013 14:24:51
Oh Ed002 ;)

YNWAdam

I think saying the 'wheels have come off' is a tad premature. They beat us and played very well and went to Dortmund and won there. Losing to Manchester United at home especially when they're starting to pick up results (damn!) is not a terrible result.

One thing for sure though is the top teams are dropping a lot of strange points and if we can navigate the next 8 games and still be in top 4 I may even start dreaming of the T word.

11 Nov 2013 15:26:12
All I meant by that was United ended their unbeaten run. So the wheels have come off so to speak. There is no telling how good Wenger will be at changing the tyres though. They could bounce back and get rolling straight away, or this may dent their run. I wasn't trying to suggest that was them finished and the season was over for them haha.

YNWAdam

He was subbed due to some hip injury didn't he? don't think BR would sub him if it wasnt for the that injury

Ed002 on form today ;0)

11 Nov 2013 12:26:25
Afternoon Eds. from your vast football knolage and understanding of Liverpool. How far behind the top teams are we from a complete team
? {Ed002's Note - Players are transient and come and go. Every year will see some arrive and some move on. A couple of players will likely arrive in the winter. The club needs to sort out the problems it has with the over stocking of centre backs. There is nothing clearly measurable - last week the posters here thought Gerrard was washed up and should be let go - this week they are pleased with him. So are Liverpool nearer to the "top" teams than they were last week?}

I think this can only be answered in January. Tough away games are what determine the real quality of teams and as we haven't had that many (Arsenal. that's it) it is difficult to discern. Smashing Fulham's and Crystal Palace's at home doesn't give us much insight.

11 Nov 2013 10:18:34
Question for everyone: Do you think Suarez and Sturridge have that great an understanding? Or are they just two very individually good players? Just something provocative for the Monday morning.

They just create space for one another first of all and secondly have the quality to pick one another out so yes in a way they do

11 Nov 2013 10:38:57
They do have a good understanding. But Sturridge doesn't like suarez stealing the show, let's be honest.
IF suarez does score goals, then sturridge gets insecure and he tries everything to get into score sheets.
Henderson, Countinho, Gerrard infact most of them forms a great link ups with Suarez.
Havent seen sturridge passing a single ball last game.

Stop talking nonsense harry!they r both natural goalscorers, and both are greedy to an extent.can u tell me why suarez didn't pass the ball to sturridge for a simple tap in against arsenal?
i can accept the fact that u love suarez on an unhealthy level.but if u are going to criticize sturridge for not passing the ball, then news flash suarez is equally guilty.
about the game suarez might have scored two goals but it was gerrard and hendo if i'm not wrong who put it in a plate for him. it was a team effort on saturday, nobody stood out.
cheers,
YNWA

They do have a great understanding but they also have ego's and they both like scoring goals. In a sense you have to be selfish as a centre forward but when it becomes detrimental to the team that is the problem. I think Suarez is way too selfish at times (more so than Sturridge) and that the team would benefit if he was a little more conscientious of players around him - I know Suarez CAN skin 2 players and score but that isn't always the best option to try, he needs to pick his moments more, for the benefit of the team.

p.s. I think when Suarez is more selfish is has the knock on effect of making Sturridge more selfish as well, both player and team would benefit more by both players adopting a more 'for the team' attitude - i'd rather (for example) Henderson definitely score from a yard out than Sturridge/Suarez maybe score from a 10 yard acute angle.

Suarez shooting from 45 yards out and a rather poor rabona from 18. How is Sturridge the selfish one?

Please lads, they are both goal hungry stickers that want to score goals.
The way Suarez celebrated last week when Studge scored that sublime chip last week, to me shows that they both enjoy either either of them scoring goals for team

11 Nov 2013 08:25:30
Iv been looking for players that would improve us for a while now and believe I have found some.
We need another DM and my option would be Yann M'Villa if he were available.
Now a creative winger/midfielder, I wasnt too sure on him at the start of the season but Lallana is sensational.
A striker, someone I used to buy on all those games such as Fifa or Champ/Football Manager but I have kept an eye on him this season and his talent is sensational. Timo Werner, any information on him ed? I saw him score a good double this weekend. {Ed002's Note - He is only 16 or 17 so I am not sure how long ago you were buying him on these games.}

11 Nov 2013 09:27:37
Only the last two seasons. Wonderkid on the game, but I have obviously watched him play in reality before making any judgement

Are we on about Adam Lallana here? Because I'm sure he's 25

11 Nov 2013 09:43:24
I don't want M'Vila anywhere near Liverpool. Off field issues make him a liability on par with Balotelli, but he has only half the ability of Mario. Seriously, you may as well just pluck any 6ft3 fast powerhouse from any team and they would do the same job. he has no technical ability and even less tactical awareness.

Lalana on the other hand! What a player, I swear he is spanish. I's snap him up in a heartbeat, but Southampton will price him well above £15m.

Tim who? Haha

YNWAdam

Adam llallana is definitely 24

Lallana is having a quality season he is Southampton captain would be quite pricey and after watching him the weekend I'm sure a lot of people have MOTD fever on here {Ed002's Note - They maybe want to think about a player who is entirely committed to Southampton, who went down a division with them when he could have left, and is at a club who are very well placed financially and looking to improve.}

11 Nov 2013 10:29:29
YNWAdam

Are you sure we could get him below 20 mill?, I would still go for him, He is much more than 20 mill, If michu is 30 and benteke is 25 mill.
He is gem of a player, One word SKILL.
If he is availble at 15-20, go for him rather than gambling on Aspas and Alberto combined at 16 mill

I hear ya ed but come on MOTD fever is hard to shake of around here

11 Nov 2013 11:36:31
Yeah, fair play Lallana wouldn't be a viable option, I didn't say the club will go for him, just that I like him. Its not MOTD fever from me, he's really fairly consistent. Last season he did very well and has continued that this season.
I do think Werner would be a viable option though, although once again I don't think the club will move for him.
And I imagine Mvilla has a massive wage and I wasnt aware of his iff field trouble.

Pirlos contract expires at the end of the season. haha.

Calm down with this Lallana nonsense he is good and quality I agree but so were lots of players before they came here then all those brilliant displays went. I would prefer if LFC went for more sublime talent like that of El Shaawary, Mata or Pastore. Trust me not being negative but there is a difference with playing good and being a good player.

11 Nov 2013 13:11:54
According to various ex team mates and coaches (speculatively of course) he has a terrible attitude and thinks he is gods gift to the sport. I am not sure why exactly, but he has also been banned from the France national team. Perhaps Ed002 could expand on this?

YNWAdam {Ed002's Note - If you are interested in tittle-tattle about Kirikou I can only refer you to #WonderDogSparky.}

M'Villa would be a catastrophic buy. Lallana is simply unrealistic (both from a price perspective, player perspective and our current status - no European football - perspective).

Southampton have some really good players, I really don't see them selling any of them this season though, they like Ed002 says are in good financial shape and their players seem committed to the cause.
Schniderlin does it for me, he is a quality defensive midfielder, as someone previously replied to me he will be the next captain of France and Southampton, so I presume he was a saints fan :0)

12 Nov 2013 18:30:05
Southampton are playing really well recently, however, I would be astounded if they manage to keep it up for 38 games.
I don't see why if we finish in the top four, and IF B.R decides he wants them, Lallana and Schniderlin couldn't be viable targets.
A lot of Ifs of course, but I don't think they should be put in the 'unobtainable' bracket just yet!