Liverpool Banter Archive April 14 2015

14 Apr 2015 21:26:55
Ok heres an idea sell Sterling buy Turan someone who loves the club and is the finished product

14 Apr 2015 21:53:44
I have to say after his goal yesterday I expected few 'sell sterling' free days here. It was a world class goal, of Dennis Bergkamp quality. Other than Hazard and Aguero, I am not sure which PL fotballer could have done what he has done there. No justification for his unbeliveable miss second half (and he had few more like this earlier this season - I remember one against Spurs in the first game) and he had too many games this season where he didn't show up. Still I think this goal should have earned him a rethink from some of us in terms of what he deserve and what he doesn't.

14 Apr 2015 21:54:58
You obviously haven't just watched him barely break in to a sweat in the most important game of his season .

14 Apr 2015 23:06:04
that young arsenal right back scored one like that against liverpool,and i would hardly call him world class,you obviously don't read the news,or you would have looked up and seen lionel stirling floating past,then you would realized why he gets so much stick on this page

14 Apr 2015 23:12:45
Not sure who could score a goal as good as that? Are you serious? I could name countless players in league who can and have scored better goals this season. Let's see if it makes goals of the month shall we

14 Apr 2015 23:25:56
Don't know why this always comes up, the young guy was our second best player on the night and worked hard, let's leave him alone until he makes a decision why don't we?

If you are playing devils advocate, if you're crowned best young player in Europe with two years on your contract still, and your manager is under scrutiny, and you're being consistently played out of position, why not wait to see if Liverpool can win some silverware, hire with ambition in the summer and hopefully get into CL before rushing to sign something? His agent may be saying, perhaps in the summer liverpool has not won the FA cup, hasn't got CL and has a new manager you don't like?

I personally think it's the best place for him to develop but the I am not his agent with a possible agenda to make a name for himself and juicy transfer fees!

14 Apr 2015 23:30:48
The Arsenal goal was nothing like Sterlings. Not in terms of first touch after receiving a long high ball from Anderson, keeping the goal on the ground with zero effort, not in term of dancing between the defenders and the finish was more difficult in my view though the finish of the Arsenal guy was also very nice.

Re the laughing gas I have read somewhere that Arseanl gave up their pursue of him for now because of this, few more incidents like that and hopefully City and the others will also decide he is too much trouble for them at the moment and we are sorted. Don't get me wrong, I am far from impressed with all contract saga but these childish nonsense not too concerned about.

14 Apr 2015 23:50:59
I thought the keeper should've saved it tbh. Don't get me wrong I like Sterling and want him to stay but 'world class goal' is a bit of a stretch to say the least. His miss however could easily be called a 'Sunday league sitter'!

15 Apr 2015 00:29:39
He scored a goal I have seen countless players young and old score so salivating at it seems quite desperate in an attempt to make him look indispensable whereas he is NOT because he is lacking in many areas of his game as we also saw yeserday BUT is being glossed over by some on here

15 Apr 2015 01:28:59
Sorry but think of an exaggeration about the quality of goal, great goal against a terrible defense. But scored a great goal then missed two sitters and regardless of the quality two goals are better than one. Bit of his game may improve but don't think he'll ever be a 20 goal a season player as seems to lack that natural goal scoring ability, but is still a great young player with other great qualities.

Want the lad to stay and Tbf actions may be daft but is a 20 year old so cut him some slack, could be worse!

15 Apr 2015 03:32:28
My sentiments exactly, Roland.

15 Apr 2015 04:25:47
what was surprising was that for once the ball didn't bounce 6 feet off his shin when he controlled it. He missed a sitter too ( by a very long way). he's got great potential and ideally we'd keep him but he's nowhere near the player he's made out to be . yet ( nor worth more than 100k a week)

15 Apr 2015 09:27:06
Again the vitriol against a Liverpool player. Yes he needs to work on his finishing. Was John Barnes the finished article at 20? No. Do young footballers with too much money and time do silly things? Yes. He always gives 100% as far as I can see and that's all you can ask.

14 Apr 2015 18:13:46
I do not know where everyone gets this thing about FSG having a 'to buy young policy'. Yes they have said they want to build for the future but it will be incredibly naive to think they will not spend on players in their mid twenties and up.

Lallana and Lambert, Aspas, Toure, Mignolet and Lovren signed over the last two years in their mid twenties an up.

Look at how many 'older players arrived when Kenny was in charge.

The other players we have been after over the last two seasons in their mid twenties or up, Sanchez, Remy, Willian, Mkhitaryan etc etc etc.

It is highly doubful we would have signed Balotelli if Sanchez did decide to join us who is older than Balotelli and if we would have signed Remy then Balotelli also would not have seen anywhere near a red shirt.

I really would love to know which other players were on the transfer shortlist this season for Rodgers to chose from that were rejected in favour of the players he eventually signed.

{Ed002's Note - Only one I can think of, Bony. But the likes of Willian, Mkhitaryan and Costa were never going to happen. Liverpool made a mess of handling the exit of the Runt otherwoise Costa would have been a very likely option to join 18 months ago.}

14 Apr 2015 19:22:20
Were we not also after Huntelaar, Eto'o? I am sure their are many other players Rodgers could have chosen from especially with the amount of money that was made available.

Bertrand, Ed002 another player that we were after? Also in his mid twenties.

Just making a point that there can be no excuse of 'Rodgers is forced to by young players' as it is not true.

{Ed002's Note - Liverpool spoke with Ryan Bertrand's agent - it stopped there. There was no interest in Eto'o. Huntelaar was never going to have happened, like Salah, Willian, Sanchez et al.}

14 Apr 2015 19:46:27
It does not mean that we did not pursue Sanchez irrespective of whether we had a chance to sign him or not. LFC wanted him and FSG would have coughed up the cash if Sanchez said yes to LFC, no?

I am just trying to make a point that Rodgers is not forced to just sign young players otherwise we would not have spoken to Bertrand's agent, pursued Sanchez and be interested in Huntelaar etc.

Will our fortunes change under Rodgers in the transfer market if he is still in charge next season?

{Ed002's Note - You want the fantasy football p[age with all of this.}

15 Apr 2015 00:31:48
Ed01 said that Bony was willing to come due to CL and Swansea was willing to sell BUT BR effed it up by dithering/vetoing the potential deal.

14 Apr 2015 11:19:16
First time posting on the banter page but I enjoy reading other Liverpool fans opinions. Anyway there are a few things that have frustrated me with BR of late. Maybe I'm being unreasonable and would more than welcome replies to hear your thoughts.
Transfers- BR has had so much funds made available to him by FSG. In fact I think our owners have been generous. I just don't get his transfers though. He continually buys the same type of players. Almost as if he doesn't have a plan. Then when the window closes he realises this, playing them all out of position and changing formations to try and accommodate.
Next playing three at the back, even though we went on a winning run with this doesn't work for me. Playing with wing backs encourages them to cross yet when sterling is the target in the middle. Doesn't really work. He does have lambert and balotelli on the bench would would suit the crosses but doesn't seem to want to play them. Maybe they aren't good enough but then why buy them in the first place Brendan.
He constantly says silly things in the pressers. I love it when he says a player in imminent on resigning. Well until the player signs don't mention it at all.
I'm afraid that he will keep making the same mistakes if he is given the chance. I start doubting whether he is the guy that will win us the title. In fact I've realised that Suarez was just that good last season that he was the main reason why we came so close.
So would I welcome a potential manager change. Yes I would.

14 Apr 2015 15:54:05
My biggest concern is the number of attacking midfielders he's signed yet continues to be forced to play GJ & Allen, and also Can at CB and Sterling as a Striker due to lack of cover.

Form of the players hasn't help but then I don't think he helped Lovren either by not having a proper defensive midfielder in the side for months, and by playing Balo alone upfront when he practically begged for a strike partner. He's a completely different player to Studge or Suarez in terms of movement but we didn't play to his strengths either.

Hopefully we plug 3 key gaps in summer and the signings come good. have faith!

14 Apr 2015 19:36:48
Welcome NormP

14 Apr 2015 23:23:11
Another first time poster here. Must say I'm enjoying reading like minded views. My problem with BR is I never thought he would be good enough for us or that he was worthy? I was told by a manc ( sorry for the swear word) that we are Liverpool FC! when should a manager of our club try and find a system to fit the players? does he not buy the players to fit the system? that and the fact he actually believes spy's peeking over Melwood working out his team / tactics cost us a game? come on this is worse than Roy rubbing his eyes and banging his head! I would love to see him go at the end of the season but I'm afraid there is now even bigger problems getting rid of players not good enough than getting the right players in? I fear BR ( and his committee ) have created beast of a headache for the club?

15 Apr 2015 00:36:45
That is right, scouse john. We will be left with a mess in the off season and to me, BR is NOT the one we can trust toclean p that mess because he made it and since he is too stubborn and egotistical, might not even or refuse to acknowledge the mess he has caused.

14 Apr 2015 10:56:55
STAT ATTACK - Defense
---------------------------

Been a while since I've done one of these (been working in Sunny California for quite a while until last couple of months) but thought I'd take a look at our defence to see just who is good and who is not.

Key-
TPG= Tackles Per Game (avg)
ST%= Successful Tackles %
ADW%= Aerial Duels Won %
KPI = Key Pass Interception
MLC = Mistake leading to chance
MLG = Mistake Leading to goal
C = Clearances per game

Name---TPG-ST%-ADW%-KPI-MLC-MLG-C
Skrtel-1.1-61--68---1.9--2---2--10
Lovren--2--46--71---1.8--4---2--8
Sakho--1.8-51--53---1.6--1---1--6
Can----2.3-53--61---1.6--1---0--3
Toure--1.6-55--44---0.7--1---0--5

I have only reviewed players which have played CB to try see who our best pairing is and the short answer is that it's not possible to tell as they all excel at something different.

*Note - Amount of games played will affect stats, with Skrtle playing most and Toure playing least.

Hope you enjoyed the read. Comments welcome as always

14 Apr 2015 11:45:19
Based on stats (which are never the full picture) it could be said that our best pairings would be as follows:

Against teams scoring primarily from set pieces and crosses -
Skrtle & Lovren with their combined 69.5% Headed duels won and 18 clearances per game.

For teams playing on the deck our best pair is -
Can and Sakho with their 4.1 combined tackles per game and 51% success ratio and 3.2 Key passes Intercepted per game.

14 Apr 2015 12:58:05
Mistakes leading to goals surely includes penalties doesn't it? If memory serves right Can gave away pens in both Chelsea legs (capital one cup, which i'm sure were converted) and against United (which was saved) - or are these just BPL games?

14 Apr 2015 15:13:02
Sorry, I should've mentioned the stats only cover BPL games.

14 Apr 2015 16:47:39
We've conceded around the same as United City and Arsenal. But have scored WAY less goals. Our problem is we've only got one goalscorer, who is, as we know, made of tracing paper

15 Apr 2015 00:51:16
A post that shows stats meen next to nothing regarding the partnership. We had Lovren/Skrtel in the beginning of the season and we were AWEFUL. Could not keep a clean sheet of our lives depended on it with mistakes almost at every turn. We were so exposed (the setup by BR dod not help, for sure)and that was a main reason why we changed the system. The stats will NEVER beat what we are all seeing on the field with our very eyes

15 Apr 2015 04:39:32
in fairness Redohio, whilst I agree we were awful we did have gerrard doing a terrible job of trying to protect them at the time and no lucas in his natural position. I think some people thought sakho and Lovren would be the long term pair and i'd like them to be given a chance again with someone like lucas in his rightful position. Lovren looks like he may be regaining some confidence again.

15 Apr 2015 07:04:04
I did say the stats don't give the full picture but you can't dismiss them as also important. For instance when discussing a striker everyone focuses on one stat - goals scored so clearly people just like to pick and choose which they pay attention to.

15 Apr 2015 07:34:45
Statistics do not indicate in any way how certain players performances, styles, attitudes, Those statistics make Skrtel look great but the reality is he drags the defensive shape all over the place and constantly drops deep which impacts our entire team strategy. These detrimental qualities will not show up in stats which is why using them in the first place is somewhat nonsensical.

14 Apr 2015 09:27:51
heard anything about patrick roberts being linked to lfc??? looks like a good young player

{Ed002's Note - I can't help, sorry.}

14 Apr 2015 10:33:57
Oh yes, so he can come and prosper at lfc like all young players, always being given a chance, not like we have a massive surplus of young players not being given a chance or anything.

14 Apr 2015 09:02:57
Ed reds good performance last night defence shaky at times and decision making in front of goal needs to be quicker but overall a good night. Lucas lucky not to be seriously injured what was sissy hoping on last night? Proud of us reds minutes silence observed impeccably and the applause for glitter tare was great to be
part of.

15 Apr 2015 13:03:02
glitter tare. love that guy.

14 Apr 2015 01:04:31
There is one player in our starting 11 which I cannot make my mind about and this is Moreno. I don't think he is poor, I cannot remember many errors or losing the ball etc, but I also cannot remember huge contribution to our forward game. He can run with the ball but less skilled in overtaking defenders compared to some of our other forwards, not a great passer of the ball or provider of assists or a finisher.

I don't think he would have made it to the starting 11 of the other big four but we may have to stick with him and see how he developes.

14 Apr 2015 04:00:48
I think he's a potentially great talent with some rough edges.

For example in attack, I agree he struggles to take anyone on one-on-one (but then so do GJ and Manq), but his relentless energy and pace often get him in behind teams and into dangerous positions anyway.

In defence, he makes some great runs back to cover, and some great last ditch tackles, but then he also makes some glaring errors from time to time.

If he can learn to cut out the defensive errors (and I think he can with good coaching), he'll be a really strong player for us, but if not then he risks being seen as a potential liability against the top sides.

If he can do that ad also learn to take on players and use both feet, he could potentially be unstoppable!

14 Apr 2015 06:36:28
He has made 5 errors that has directly or indirectly resulted in a goal this season. Moreno gets into the most awkward positions when defending and looks amateurish as a result sometimes. He also get way to close to his man out wide and then at that point, his attempt at defending is to stick out a leg and hope he catches the ball. He is quick, very comfortable on the ball and can retain ball well, and does go forward a lot. With good coaching, he can be a better defender no doubt and that is what the coaching staff at LFC should be looking at, but having seen how poor our defending was yesterday, 3 years after BR has come in, I do wonder if we will ever be a good defensive side and be able to improve defenders.

14 Apr 2015 06:59:43
I can remember him losing the ball, making errors, losing concentration and costing us goals in a number of games - a fair number of them big, important ones. I agree that his attacking game is lacking as well. He perhaps just needs more time to develop as he is still relatively young - certainly he is a long way from where he see's himself (i.e. at Real Madrid). Hard work and graft and hopefully he improves but it's 50/50 at the minute.

14 Apr 2015 09:24:49
If only someone had warned you all about this in the summer ;)

No to be fair Moreno has potential. I've always maintained that, but if we wanted potential, we could've just saved £12m and given someone from the academy a chance. Now Moreno is here though, I support him and hope he improves. Because currently he is the Spanish Glen Johnson! Thank god he has 8 years on his side to improve.

14 Apr 2015 09:28:14
He needs to have more faith in the players in front of him, he passes back to the CB too much for my liking. Defensively he needs to stop putting his hands behind his back because that is unnecessarily causing him to stand off players, allowing cross to come in and/or to be beaten as your body is in an unnatural position. Also when defending he plays almost like he has no sense of spatial awareness, losing track of wingers etc. But he'll learn to iron out the kinks in his game with experience.

14 Apr 2015 09:50:47
Played the bulk of the season out of position, he's very raw anyway and still very young.
We might see him improve a lot over the next season or 2 or he might flop, I think a lot depends on the players mentality. If he keeps his head, learns and works hard, the potential is there to be a very good left back.

14 Apr 2015 10:36:55
Moreno is our fifth best crosser (behind SG, JH, PC, and RS) with 56. He is fifth behind the same players with 31 chances created. He does need to improve his passing percentage but he is our 9th best player for that but this might account for his lack of assists. he obviously has two goals and clearly likes to take on a shot but he needs some work on his defensive capacity and his passing. I think he's improving and is far from being bad.

14 Apr 2015 15:37:23
During my Stat attack research (see post above) I looked at Moreno stats before deciding to focus on just our CB and Moreno has made more mistakes that led to both goal scoring chances and goals directly than any other defender in europes top 5 leagues.

I'm not saying he is poor because I quite like him (he was also in the top ten for successful tackles) he just needs time to develop.

15 Apr 2015 12:54:27
EMS-

Who would you rather ?

Flanno or Moreno