Liverpool Banter Archive December 12 2014

12 Dec 2014 22:07:10
What do you guys think of Sterling these days then? I think he does need a rest but also he needs to be dropped because he isn't justifying a place. Please don't tell me that he is just young and obviously will be inconsistent, I already know that. It doesn't mean he shouldn't be dropped to give someone else chance. Personally I would accept a fat offer from Madrid and get rid of him if he is being so greedy, he can bear the fruits of his greed and become an average player due to lack of game time If he wants to. He is not THAT good, we need money, we have Ibe, Ojo, and Wilson all with great potential too.

To sum up:

-Selling Sterling wouldn't be all that bad
-Sterling is not THAT good, not indispensable

Please note I don't want him to leave because I know he can become great for us. But I want to know: would you sell him if Madrid made a big money offer?

Thoughts everyone?

At the moment, I would not take it because history has shown we would waste the money on probably a gaggle of mediocre players who almost instantly get relegated to the bench and eventually to the stands. So, no, as long as the committee stands I wouldn't take it.

Sorry but Sterling is an amazing talent that stands out like a sore thumb in our team . He is a player that is improving .

If anything he is being made to look average by the complete lack of options ahead of him .

I do think that people should get of his back . Can you blame him for wanting to leave if he does ?

BR has basically pointed out that he made Raheem what he is, which I doubt went down too well.

12 Dec 2014 22:59:46
Great talent and potential but needs to work on his finishing, decision making and final ball for me. Superb mazy dribble against Spurs anyone?

Great talent yes but his form and work rate is crapy. Even Ibe and Suso are better at beating players, imo Ibe is a better talent he just needs to add finishing to his game.

Sterling see's way to much game time for the form he is in. He won't dramatically have a change around season unless he spends a few games on the sidelines.

If sterling doesn't improve in his final ball, finishing and decision making he will turn into arron lennon

13 Dec 2014 03:17:32
He may not be firing like last season but he also doesn't have 2 top forwards moving defenders around and creating chances for him / a chance to whip a ball in.

To suggest he's not a top talent is ludicrous. Best talent since. quite possibly gascoinge. The kid can far but he needs nurturing correctly and played in the correct position / style of play.

100% of you were creaming your pants over him last season so stop being muppets and pretending he isn't a top talent. Football fans are fickle, but Christ, stop being complete idiots.

Ibe has potential but to claim he offers more? Ibe is incredibly raw, needs time and not pressure that could potentially ruin him.

Sterling is still very young and has a lot of learning and developing still to do - he is still one of, if not the, brightest prospects at his age. He should not be sold under any circumstances.

Sterling will continue to underperform for as long as he is played on the wing. Get him in the centre and you'll see the Sterling that slaughtered Spurs earlier in the season.

Would I sell him to Madrid? To be honest I would but only if we got Isco as part of the deal because I think he has more potential anyway. As somebody said above though, the current set up cannot be trusted to adequately replace him so it's not worth the risk.

I have always maintained that Ibe will become the better player. Scarily though it looks like Ojo is better than both of them. Having said that, imagine a front 3 of Ojo, Sturridge and Ibe with Sterling in behind them.

That is a scary amount of pace! Now we just need a time macine to jumo forward two years so They're all ready for consistent game time!

The problem is EMS is that we have both Coutinho and Lallana who can also play there meaning too many players a for one position. If you look at Sterlings skill set there is no reason why he cannot play on the wing - I am not arguing that it is his best position, but that he should be more than capable of putting in a performance there, he did do numerous times last season. Sterling isn't enjoying a great run of form but neither is most of the team - I don't think where he is playing on the pitch is having that much impact on his form, there are other more significant reasons.

13 Dec 2014 08:12:07
There are plenty of players better than Sterling and that's something the boy should get into his head.
He has potential just like most youngsters have at their early stage of career.
40miill and I would drive him to Madrid.

Can't really argue with much of that Seano. Ili agree he does a job out wide. He is a match winner in attacking midfield though.

I think it's affecting his form, but 100% agree with you that there are additional factors to consider.

Personally I think he is very overrated. He is a victim of our media hype culture, and is being hyped like crazy by all sides just like Andy Carroll was in the first half of the 2010 season.
Time after time I watch him slow up play by stopping over the ball, make a bad final decision, a weak shot, or a poor final ball, and I wonder what people are seeing in him that lots of other premiership players don't have.
He had a lot of blinding games last season, but that was with top players around him.
My guess would be that if you look closely and specifically at his total end product this season in terms of goals and assists, it will be no better than your average premiership attacking midfielder.
All the running and clever dribbling in the world counts for absolutely nothing if you can't finish or get the ball to the striker.
He's got bags of potential but this season, for me he has been bang average most if the time, and I've been much more impressed by the wingers we've been up against than by our own players.

12 Dec 2014 19:23:10
Hi eds,

What do you make of these claims j Henry tried to sack BR but he was swayed by Ian ayre and legends of the club?

Ta

{Ed002's Note - Twitter is this?}

Its hard to imagine Ayre opposing a sacking move by his boss, in case he ended up getting sacked himself. He does seem to be a bit of a yes man, which in fairness might be essential for a corporate survivor of several years of storms and purges.
Problem with a yes man is he is often scared to give bad news to the bosses even when it important they know the truth, and when he does give bad news its never his fault.
I wonder if he will survive the coming shake up?

If JH wants to sack anyone, NOBODY not even legends, can sway him against his wish. BR WILL b sacked, for sure. It`s a matter of when and not if.

12 Dec 2014 19:16:52
Hey Mr ed 2 I understand that you believe Torres will be player/manager soon. Is there a chance this will be before January as to give him time to work with the squad and then make decisions as to who he might sell or bring In.
Also not that I doubt your knowledge but has Torres passed his exams as my understanding is you have to pass before you can manage. I wonder if he has a special deal in place to allow him to manage whilst taking the exams.
Lastly do you think he will be able to improve our current situation. I know the owners went young in their last appointment of a manger but Torres has really surprised me with his age and experience. I thought we would go with someone older and wiser.
Thanks for all the hard work this year my friend and I hope you enjoy the festive period ahead

Please tell me you're joking.

(Everyone knows its the legend david ngog who is set to return in the player manager role.)

Anonymush just what I gathered from what ed 2 has said. Normally ed 2 is spot on with what he says.
I understand you were just jostling me with ngog comment but i take it you don't see Torres coming. Personally i'd have him back on cheap wages but I believe the managing job is far too early. What's your thoughts my friend.

12 Dec 2014 22:11:33
Ed was being sarcastic about Torres

12 Dec 2014 22:21:44
I heard it was babel.

You are all wrong, they want youth at the helm hence why they will offer it to Jon Flanagan, he has been doing his level 1 & 2 coaching badges whilst out with an "injury"

Heard Josemi was first in line for the job

You're all wrong it is none other than Ken Aguero

13 Dec 2014 11:08:10
Lol, that is actually very funny ;-). Of course you know Ed002 is pulling your leg!

12 Dec 2014 17:04:28
Eds fellow reds, read an article earliear about j Henry wanting to sack BR and that his first choice replacement is Simione from athletico Madrid .has anyone one read or heard this .

{Ed002's Note - Twitter is this? Simeone is likely headed elsewhere.}

FSG do want to sack Rodgers but Diego Simeone cannot even speak English and he is going to cherry pick his next team and doubt LFC is even on his mind.

Cited me thinks

Simeone`s lack of English is no prob for me. However, he wil have his pick and we ain`t going to b one of them

Are we now so poor that a manager like Simeone's to big for us i don't think so, we are Liverpool seems that people are forgetting that .

12 Dec 2014 16:05:40
just reading about your new belguim star, lille fans booed him off after missing a pen, he's on a goal drought he hasn't scored in 923 min

Yep and BR was telling us all how the kid was the next thing since slice bread, a month ago.

Undue pressure and expectations have been put on the kid, and posts like yours are a direct result of BR's motormouth problems.

Nothing better to do? a) he's 19 so booing him is pretty harsh b) Lille as a team are struggling and haven't won in ~2 months and c) while it wasn't the best pen, it was a decent save

Ye that sounds like one of our guys.

Who etto who was free, and youse knocked him back, whos sorry now

Another 10mill wasted by your football genius

Kone ??? Glass houses

Roberto, don't get me wrong, I was astonished at how few people recognised what Eto'o still has to offer even at this stage in his career. Check the archives, I suggested him many times.

However, Origi is a 19 year old striker being played out of position on the left wing in a team really struggling. That £10m was an investment for the future. Origi will easily be worth that, although he may never be as good as Rodgers suggested in the summer.

Comparing him to Eto'o is ridiculous though mate. It was an unnecessary signing, but we certainly got potential in Origi. Don't forget, he is only a third of Eto'o's age ;)

Eto'o is 33 and hasn't really scored of late after bagging a brace against the mighty burnley. Origi is 19 playing for a struggling team, but getting game, at 19, eto'o was on mallorcas bench and scored 6 goals. a bit of perspective please.

Roberto, you are trying to b clever by talking trash BUT lack the ability to pull it off. Origi showed his worth in Brazil where he benched your donkey (who you overpaid for). He missed a pen, who cares? Let it go, bitter, let it go.

12 Dec 2014 13:31:04
Is borini injured or just left out the squad? Seems mad that if he was fit he's not even considered!

He's being left out. Rodgers wants to play with a 4-3-3 and to be honest, Borini just doesn't have the pace or creativity to play out wide or the hold up ability to play through the middle. So where do you put him?

He needs a strike partner and Rodgers won't go back to the diamond for some reason.

I think the term you are looking for Fencey is "Brendan'd".

It's ironic that one of the players that genuinely wants to play for the club and prove himself can't get anywhere near the squad even when he is the only other fit senior player available for his position.

Why was Borini bought in the first place then?

12 Dec 2014 14:00:50
Nope, he's been Brendaned.

(Ed002, I hope you don't intend copyrighting that term!).

I'm going to go out on a limb and say Borini is probably a better striker than Skrtel, EMS. Do I think he's great? No, but it makes little sense to me to send him on loan where he decently well playing as a winger in a poor Sunderland side and then when he comes back he can't even make the bench when Sturridge and Balotelli are injured and Lambert is on his 4th start after 13 days or something. It makes no sense at all to not at least have him on the bench.

12 Dec 2014 15:45:34
He's rubbish but so is Lambert and Balotelli. In fairness ALL 3 of them should be left out and some of the kids should get a shot. They've all had games for Liverpool and never looked anything above mediocre

Those are dear Brendan questions. I don't know why he isn't getting a chance. I would play him alongside Balotelli or Lambert when we're at home to lesser opposition.

I never said I agree with him being left out. I just explained why. He doesn't suit the formation Rodgers is persisting with.

Bodgered !

Rodgers bought Borini.

Yuri, stick to the official nomenclature man, the term is "Brendaned".

At least borini is mobile.
I'd be sticking lambert and borini up front together

In Borini's case, I think it's Brendoned.

I prefer Bodgered!! just like he's done to the team!

Another buy BR told us would be exciting and who is now an outcast by the same guy who paid 12m to get him. That is the type of stupidity that has gotten him sacked, only a matter of time before that happens

12 Dec 2014 12:44:25
Just been reading the reports about Sterling allegedly turning down his new £70k per week contract offer. Now I'm guessing it's a lot of paper talk but it's this kind of thing which really winds up us mere normal folk!

What Sterling needs to do is either a) go to Madrid at the earliest opportunity if they're really interested and see what he feels about sitting on their bench because he won't walk straight into that team or b) sign what's on the table from Liverpool and knuckle down and actually prove that he is worthy of an even bigger salary or a move to Madrid in a few years team when they need to replace Ronaldo.

Sterling will never replace Ronaldo. He doesn't have the instinctive finishing ability. He would be a perfect replacement for Modric though in attacking midfield. In his only season for us as a winger/wide forward he scored 2 goals and set up 6 in 36 games. In his only season for us in attacking midfield he scored 10 and assited 9 for us in 38 games. So far this season he has 3 goals and 5 assists in 22 games. and two of those goals and two of them assists came in the first 3 games when he was playing a more central role. He is far more productive there. He's just too keen to get involved to play out wide as he just drifts infield. He's actually too good at creating attacks to be wasted out wide.

Anyway, to be honest can you blame him for rejecting £70k when Glen Johnson is sitting pretty on a reported £120k?

I've just realised that if you take away the two goals and two assists Sterling got in the first 3 games playing central, he has 1 goal and 3 assists in 19 games out wide; which over a whole season on the wing would equate to 2 goals and 6 assists. Exactly what he posted in his first full season as a winger.

It's weird how accurate stats can be when you have a large enough sample size.

Just to carify i do think that if we persisted with it, Sterling would grow into a good winger. If we play him in attacking midfield though like last season, i think he could genuinely become world class there. I just don't want to see his ability wasted.

Modric plays CM these days and I don't see Sterling going to Real to play CM.

What will probably happen IF Raheem goes to Real is that he will be shunted out wide and largely used as a squad player, stunting his progress (keep in mind he is only 20) and in a couple of years, fed up of a lack of playing opportunities, would come back to the PL.

He is better off staying at LFC.

12 Dec 2014 14:05:06
EMS Sterling was 17 in his first season so obviously his stats will improve as he gets older because he will become a better player. But I agree I don't think he will ever be a top top player because he can't shoot at all. His shooting technique is all wrong. He doesn't get any power in his shots and most of the time ends up slicing it. And if his right foot wasn't bad enough his left foot shooting is even more atrocious

Sterling should grow into a striker or attacking midfielder not a winger. He's not Jermaine Pennant. If his finishing gets better over the next few seasons he could easily pop in 10 or more per

Sterling played in centre mid in the academy mate. He was bloody good there!

No man, Sterling never played CM in a 2-man CM ever for the academy or the reserves.

He definitely played CM. I can't remember the formation so I won't claim to. I promise you though he spent a good few months playing there and at QPR it was virtually his main position at times. I don't think he has the finishing ability to be a striker and doesn't cross well enough to be a winger. Running at people, pressing the ball, and short passes are his key strengths for me. His vision and movement is excellent.

Besides, Modric and Rodriguez are not a two man midfield anyway. They play in front of Kroos. Sterling could easily replace either of them in 2/3 years. Neither of them are exactly defensively minded. If you've got a class holding midfielder behind them you can afford to play two creative players. Look at Barca. Busquets does the job so well they can afford to have Rakitic and Iniesta attacking. Then you've got Bayern. Alonso does the job so well they can have Goetze and Thiago attacking. The best teams in the world put technical ability above physical strength in their midfield and then combine the two. City are the same. Fernandinho holds whilst Yaya and Silva attack.

I'd be willing to put my neck on the line and say Sterling will be an attacking midfielder eventually, not a winger or a striker. He just shines there.

He was 15 years old at QPR -are you telling me you were watching his developments even then EMS? Somehow I doubt it.

How did that sample size work out for balotelli?

12 Dec 2014 10:49:57
Think everyone's a bit disappointed about the result but saw a quote in one of the news sites made by Carragher about their being only 1 world class player in the BPL (aguero obviously) and to be fair I think he is right.

Obviously different ways of viewing world class but I always thought of it as, would their be a place for them in the world XI if you made one only aguero would get in it (suppose if you added a bench courtious and kompany might make it).

Just baffled how with the massive increase in TV revenue for our clubs how they all seem to have gotten worse. I know other teams have massive improved (Real, Barca, Bayern, etc.) but if you took the starting XI of our top clubs from 4 or so years ago they would wipe the floor with our current top teams. Added to this we have seen a big drop in the drop in the quality of english players.

So guess my point why hasn't the increase in TV revenue brought any real improvement to the BPL? Know it is entertaining but starting to see a real loss in quality in the majority of the football played.

12 Dec 2014 08:32:39
Can I just put this out there;

I would rather win the Europa league than come 4th.

People don't remember your league positions. They remember the trophies you won. Plus it would qualify us for the CL anyway.

It'd give Rodgers a bit of credibility as well.

12 Dec 2014 08:59:35
" Rather " is a wish or hope, reality is far from it Adam.
I don't see any chance us winning the EL. Simply because we wouldn't.

I'd rather win the premier league

Not saying I expect it mate, just that I want us to take the Europa league seriously.

12 Dec 2014 11:25:55
You have to keep clean sheets and score goals to win trophies r come in the top 4 so at this moment if Brendan delivered either it would be a major surprise to me a pleasant 1.

I can see where you're coming from, but I would want the financial rewards for a higher finish.

However, bit of silverwear and champions league is a good shout, but I can't see it with Rodgers in charge.

EMS u can forget about LFC winning any competition this year. There are probably around 10-12 teams in the Europa who would run circles around us, so there is no chance to win, not to mention our record in any European competition under Brendan is pretty horrible. Top4 finish and the Capital One Cup are our best bets for this season. Better to just forget about the rest and lower the expectations than be severely disappointed at the end of the season.

Trophies are always a good thing for league position is a real barometer of quality - falling outside of the top 4 (which looks like a nigh on certainty) displays, in painful clarity, how much of a step back we have taken in such a short period of time. Now We are in the Europa League I want us to win it as its the only way I can see us qualifying for the CL next season. That is a sad indictment of where we currently sit as a club though.

You win the Europa you don't need 4th as you qualify for the Champions League.

11 Dec 2014 23:38:38
Let the kids play Europa league and time to focus on the PL.

{Ed002's Note - Why do that - are Liverpool so much worse than every one else?}

12 Dec 2014 07:56:11
Considering the recent performances of our first team, it's hard to imagine that the kids will do worse

The kids beat Basel 3-0 to progress out of their group.

12 Dec 2014 09:04:03
The kids played with their kids Adam. Doesn't always mean every club has prosperous academies and youngsters.
Saints / Chelsea kids would beat our first teamers.

I have no idea what you're talking about Harry.

Why did people disagree with my first comment? That's a fact. They won 3-0 to progress from their group.

I can't even fathom why anybody would disagree with that. I guess some people on here just have a blatant agenda against me lol.