Liverpool Banter Archive September 15 2014

15 Sep 2014 23:18:23
Ive put a couple of replies on today but they never made the banter page, I can understand why due to me having ago at certain fans ha yeah fans constantly havin a pop at the manager. Fickle isn't the word as this manager who your slateing is the same one who got us second last season. You really need to look at yrself in the mirror an give ya head a slap, we are only 4 games into the season. Jeez an I thought united fans were bad.

We are fans, we are allowed to criticise, analyse, whatever and we do so because we care. The blerts calling out anybody who dares whisper anything negative are the worst of the lot.

15 Sep 2014 21:58:34
Come on people get a grip we will come good . I do not belive this season thou .Are team is young and will grow into a top team

15 Sep 2014 19:20:08
Given the very contrasting reactions to our start to the season, I would like to pose the question, where will LFC finish this year?
Rightly or wrongly, I've been critical of the negativity that only seems to surface after a poor result.
So it would be good to see if people think that the initial performances are an accurate reflection as to where we are or if you expect them to change for the better or not?
Eds, if you so desire, can I tempt you into a prediction?
I think the top 4 will be ultra competitive and between the current champ league qualifiers and our friends from Manchester!
I think we will finish 4th. whilst a lesser finish than last year, the importance of consolidation of another champ league qualification is a must given that we now have the numbers of CL squad.

Top4. Slowish start but that was to be expected.

5th or 6th battling with Spuds and Bitters.

Why was it to be expected Mikey?

I think somewhere between 4th and 6th. For me, point difference between those spots will be very tight, although I thought the same last year and we wound up having a trophy at Anfield on the last game (even if we didn't get to see it), so what do I know.

15 Sep 2014 21:54:42
Agree with Mikey on the expected slow start, adapting to life after Suarez and new players bedding in . I would still expect us to finish top 4,It will be hard close battle between us, Arsenal, United and Spurs for 3rd to 6th , but for me we should have that little bit more than United and Spurs at least.

5-6 for me I am afraid. Unfortunately Arsenal, City and Chelsea all have better squads and as of yesterday ManU as well, and all these teams when they have possetion look very dangerous. Our defence is very shaky, we don't do too much with possesion unless we score first, and our attack is fully dependable on SAS at their best and always fit. With CL load (which I am very happy with but it is load) we will struggle in many games. I hope I am wrong.

I agree with Ken.

3rd.

Everyone that is expected to be in or around the top 4, has had a bit of a shaky start apart from Chelsea.

We were just tactically out done vs Villa and City was always going to be a game where it was likely we'd drop points. I really don't see the need for all this negativity. 1 unexpected loss and it's end of our champions league hopes.

I have never witnessed such a miserable bunch of losers in my life. Get excited, get enthusiastic! Come on of for goodness sake. We missed the league by a nats whisker last season and some of you are saying 5/6 th!
How do you get up in the morning?
It's depressing here.

We will finish 3rd in my opinion.

Relax Marionatle, we are excited and hopefull. But we base the prediction we were asked to give on what we saw in the first 4 games, not on what we hope for and not on last season's achievments. And I will not try to explain for the 1000 time why last season is not relevant. It is a long season and a lot of things can change but I don't think you will find many serious non-LFC supporter pundits who think, after the last weekend, that we will finish top 4. Other than Paul Scholes who apperantly does think we can win the CL(?!?), well he was always a bit unexpected.

Should we be negative after a good performance? If you can't give out warranted criticism of what was a pretty terrible performance then why even bother having any opinions?

15 Sep 2014 18:41:55
{Ed033's Note - we'll add an 'Agree with Ed' button at some point soon to go along with Eds Notes.

I like it

Great. I always make that mistake. lol

15 Sep 2014 17:42:10
Does anyone know how long Allen is out for?

15 Sep 2014 18:14:56
Might be available for WestHam game?

15 Sep 2014 19:58:23
Any update on Flanagan eds or people?

16 Sep 2014 16:47:19
MR, he's expected to return to training by the end of this week. Wouldn't expect to see him in a squad for a couple of weeks.

15 Sep 2014 17:23:45
Taking a break from posting for some days
Goodbye guys and eds
you can find me on the banter site if you want

15 Sep 2014 16:23:10
BR press conference- taken from official LFC website

We had four players making their Anfield debuts at the weekend and the cohesion does take a little bit of time. At Tottenham, we had most of the players who have been working with us for a while in terms of the base of our team.

Well Brendan whose fault is that?

Learn your lesson and FFS don't do it again.

{Ed002's Note - "Transition" would be more applicable than "cohesion".}

15 Sep 2014 16:35:16
This is why I have stopped listening to his Press Conference.

If there is one word synonymous with Liverpool Football Club, it is 'transition.'
We buy a shed load of players, give them time to develop, then realize most of them are just c**p and then get rid of them for next to nothing. And the process continues again and again. This has been the story of LFC in the premier league era, something needs to change and very soon too.

15 Sep 2014 16:48:39
Indian

It has to start from us. The belief. We are so happy in giving away the title to Chelsea. or UTD. Now adding City into the mix.

Every team is in transition every season

He could have just waited a bit longer to give players a debut.

I agree with Chris and I cannot be used as excuse for poor results. Look at Chelsea for example.

15 Sep 2014 20:07:48
There's one thing synonymous with our supporters and that's whining. Even when we were winning the league nearly every season they still moaned and called the players rubbish. Nothing changes. And of course everyone knows better than the manager - surprised there's not some in charge of CL sides. Get behind the team, you might even enjoy it.

Nobody is saying we can do a better job
I for one can openly admit I would be a very poor manager at any level but we all know enough about the game to see that BR got it wrong by giving full debuts to both Lallana and Markovic on Saturday.
BR knows that too and I am quite sure he won't do it again

What damn right have any of you go argue with BR? You have gorged on a successful season and we lose one game - in which several new players were given home debuts - and you start whining like little girls.

God it's tiresome reading this teenage moronic drivel.

You were/are spoilt as children no doubt.

15 Sep 2014 15:01:33
Only have to wait one more day to get back on track. Guaranga bless champs league

15 Sep 2014 13:00:48
Chemistry my fellow reds. That's what is missing from our team. For all the passing and running ard like chickens Markovic and Lallana where hopeless. They didn't draw the defenders out and beat the men on the flanks and cut in. Very disappointing. Mad Mario was very good. He didn't retaliate for all the hard knocks he took. Congrats lad. Only thing is we bought u as a striker and expect u to put the ball in the back of the net. Simple.

Gerrard's time has come. He should just come on as an impact player. Give him 20 minutes. Personally I feel the team will play better without him. Whenever a player has the ball he wants to pass it to Stevie. This holds up the entire flow of the game. We must accept that this needs to happen sooner. Fergie prolonged The careers of Scholes and giggs this way.

Hopefully things will change for the better.

Not sure what there is to disagree with here. Spot on mate.

I just rogers picked the wrong team, either borini or lambert should have played up front with balotelli and sterling should have started but hey we live and learn . I have noted that every time we play villa they cause us problems because rogers picks the wrong team to play them. having said that its early days but we need to improve a lot

I disagree with the initial post as neither were hopeless- lallana was starting his first competitive game in months and markovic his first ever game in the premier league. these players have to be given time and plenty of it. Stevie is still vital this year as, although he's not a touch on his old self, we have no other player to sit in that role (both allen and lucas would slow attacks even more, as allens first instinct is to try to pass it back to the keeper!). his leadership qualities are also needed until hendo is ready to be captain- and he will be a great captain.
The biggest mistake this weekend was the team selection which didn't include raheem sterling who, in my opinion, is comfortably the best player in our squad, his potential is frightening.

15 Sep 2014 12:54:36
RDL:

I got it confirmed that Markovic is out for 2 more games in the CL/Europa League. He will miss the game tomorrow and the one against Basel away.

Thanks, AG!

15 Sep 2014 12:15:46
Waited til now to post about the Villa game because I've been a bit depressed until now, but it really isn't the end of the world as some fans are suggesting.
2nd was an overachievement last season, and that amazing run of 11 wins will have disillusioned fans into thinking were unbeatable. We will be battling for 3rd-4th with Arsenal Spurs and maybe Mancs (theyve spent 150m net you'd have to think they'll get their act together soon).
Also the 4 games we've had so far this season have been tough, City Away (Toughest match in the 38), Southampton Home (Lost that one last year), Spurs Away (Top 4 challengers) and Villa Home (Who haven't lost at anfield in about 5 years and are our bogey team). Many Many easier games to come. Also we started with 6 new signings in the 4th game, big mistake from br, just haven't had time to gel yet, as much as I rate them all.
The final thing? Of course we miss Suarez. I think as a brand were better off without him, and the money was spent fairly wisely, but you just can't replace one of the worlds top 3 players instantly, his spark of genius, the 'final ball' as rodgers keeps saying.
However after all this there's so much reason for optimism with exciting signings getting used to the club, Raheem turning into the player we all knew he could become, Studge and Can (Who will be a wonderful signing mark my words) back from injury in not too long, and Champions league back at Anfield tomorrow.
If you're ever down about a Liverpool result, think of the 3-1 defeat to Blackburn under Hodgson, and think where we are now, and get a little perspective :)
Cheers

15 Sep 2014 14:03:59
2nd was an overachievement last season

So when are really going to be 2nd?.

My dear Friend, 2nd was the result of hard work, Sheer skill and some breath taking football.

I thought we were gifted 35 points by the FA.

We also had the player of the year and the top scorer in the prem, maybe that's is what helped us, we were unlucky not to win the prem, but with they money we spent I expect us to play better at home instead of one up front, or maybe i'm asking too much after watching that inept performance,

Mickey, I share your frustration as I too expect better. But that fantastic football followed an equally inept performance at home to Southampton last season.
That is no guarantee of a repeat this season, but it should serve as a warning to those that wish to base an analysis of the forthcoming season on a single performance.

Don't get me wrong, we played amazingly last season, had me off my seat most of the time watching our matches, and I loved every minute. And the 11 game 35 points was deserved aswell, better side in every game.
All I was saying was that given our team's youth and inexperience, and our very poor strength in depth it was remarkable we were performing that well, hence the overachieving.

15 Sep 2014 11:38:36
Please, is it true Pedro is available?. We need someone of that technical ability that can fit well into our style of play and formation. Imagine a trio of sterling sturridge Pedro.it will be awesome, could also play in the diamond formation along side sturridge and balloteli

{Ed002's Note - The chance for Pedro to move to Liverpool has gone with the other purchases this summer.}

15 Sep 2014 12:07:56
A month back, I was told to imagine a trio of Lallana Sterling and Sturridge.
lols.

I don't see a lot wrong with a trio of Lallana, Sterling and Sturridge.

No way will Barca let him go now. They cannot buy any players for the next 18 months so I doubt they would want to lose a player of Pedro's quality and experience. Shame because he would have given us some real options up front with his versatility. We should thank the committee for blowing the money on Markovic when we could have gotten Pedro as well as integrated Teixiera into the squad.
If I was in Teixiera's place, I would already be hawking myself to interested clubs than hang around wasting time at LFC, like Suso has done.

15 Sep 2014 10:31:26
Redpumpkin, I can see what your getting at and agree in part, but maybe the rhetoric is a bit much when critiquing a players performance/effort.

I didn't want Balotelli but thought he was good against Spurs but quite on Saturday ( not helped by some of the dross around him, ) why Rodgers didn't really highlight the treatment he received is beyond me, they were clearly trying to wind him up and if he doesn't make the authority's aware of it, it will continue to happen and he will blow but I would reserve judgment on the lad for now mate, as with most of the other signings especially llanna.

If your looking to vent about capitalist greed then it's these owners who are the real culprits and should be targeted, there the one's who will be milking the honest hard working supporter, there not the only ones but I don't care about other clubs just my own.

{Ed001's Note - I agree with you about the treatment Balotelli received, it is amazing the club haven't sought to draw attention to the blatant kicks he got in full view of the officials, who were poor.}

15 Sep 2014 11:31:18
Agree with ed001 he did really well not to react.

15 Sep 2014 12:09:45
Waro

What would happen If BR keeps quiet?. Nothing much, Mario would become Super mario and start what he was doing last time in England.

Harry! WHAT?

So your agreeing with ed001 agreeing with me? Good god, the ed's must cringe at the apple nosing that goes on on this site.

Lee Mason was the referee. Possibly the worst in the PL.

Having said that, the linesmen should have seen that.

15 Sep 2014 13:21:44
Waro

Nothing mate, I was into imaginary world, Mario being the fair player of the season.

Waro, you really need to get over your anger issues towards our owners.

15 Sep 2014 14:23:18
To be honest Waro I don't even read your posts anymore but I read eds reply.

Never thought I'd ever say this but I agree with you Waro

FSG have done a crap job of milking the supporters thus far to the tune of well over negative £100M. Not only are they capitalists, they're also not very good at it.

With reference to the initial post.can you imagine the headlines had it been the other way around and Balotelli had kicked out?!
Just look at the publicity a behind closed door friendly got with an alleged balo incident!

15 Sep 2014 10:21:46
I don't see how people can lambast others for being critical of the team after Saturday. The team were awful.

I'm not going to over react like some and say all our signings were awful and Lallana isn't good enough etc. But the team was not good enough on the day and as fans we have a right to be annoyed by that.

I still think we'll finish 2nd or 3rd once the team has settled.

Against Villa our front 3 was Lallana, Balotelli and Markovic. Lallana is just back from injury. Balotelli has only been here 3 weeks. Markovic had never started a Premier League game before. To top all that off, none of them had ever played together before!

Rodgers got it wrong. Simple as that. No need to call for his or the players heads. I was very critical of individual performances, but never did I question their ability.

I personally think we missed one player massively though on Saturday. No not Sterling. Sturridge? No not him either. Suarez? Don't be silly. Yes, Joe Allen. Midfield looked static and was wasteful in possession. The lack of movement led Lovren and Gerrard to just whack 70 yard diagonals into the stands for 90 minutes. I can't believe I'm saying it, but Allen was a massive miss.

Manquillo, Sakho and Henderson were the only players on the ball in that game. I keep seeing people say Agbonlahor bullied Sakho but I don't know what game they were watching. Villa barely got a sniff of goal. There was one time where the back spin on the ball resulted in a bad touch from Sakho off his thigh and Agbonlahor stole in. Sakho still showed him to the corner and extinguished the danger though. Our attack didn't click, and Lovren and Gerrard combined to gift Villa a soft goal with a combination of poor marking, and Gerrard not staying on the front post. Yes the team were bad, which many have quite rightly pointed out. However that game is no reflection on how our season will go or on how good our signings will be.

Lets smash Ludogorets and West Ham and this will all be forgotten next week. People need to stop trying to prove they are a 'superfan' though and accept others rights to criticise the team after a 1-0 home defeat to a very poor team; regardless of current form. On the flip side though, those criticising the team need to do so realistically and with perspective.

{Ed001's Note - I like Sakho, but he was physically bullied by Agbonlahor, which was why most of his defensive headers were just bouncing off his head. He was unable to control them, even when he was getting to the ball first, due to Agbonlahor's strength.}

I suppose you could call that being bullied Ed. In my opinion though, being bullied would be losing the headers. He might have been knocked about a bit, but he always came out on top. Agbonlahor isn't exactly a weak player either. I just disagree with the term bullied. It suggests Agbonlahor was all over him when in reality, he barely touched the ball. From a Villa point of view, Agbonlahor won nothing all game vs Sakho.

I see your point regarding Sakho being a bit outmuscled on occasions, I just don't think that can be called bullying. It was a battle that Sakho won, regardless of whether or not Gabby made it difficult for him.

Ed001, maybe LFC should employ some Rugby defensive drills to build strength and power to avoid being brushed aside by the opposition so easily (like Sakho was). I actually think it would be a good thing.

{Ed002's Note - That is not going to happen.}

15 Sep 2014 11:42:35
Good post
Was wondering where you had gone to

He was bullied ems you are the one who watched a different game

15 Sep 2014 12:13:45
We tried to play though the middle in the first half and that backfired us big time.
We improved in the second half and moved the ball into the flanks.
Both the Fullbacks had a decent game.

Lovern was pathetic, If people excuse his lack of pace, Then what makes him better than Agger is beyond me.

Any decent striker with pace would bully Lovern with ease.

15 Sep 2014 12:16:26
EMS

I am sorry mate, Both the CB were poor and I could see Skertel starting once He is fit.

I disagree with the terminology Jessie. Bullied implies Agbonlahor was the victor. Sakho kept him quiet all game aside from one scrappy corner where Sakho wasn't even the one marking him anyway. So what if Agbonlahor pushed Sakho to his physical limits. He does most defenders every weekend and Sakho more than coped. Bullied is the wrong word for me. He tested sakho physically. Nothing more in my opinion.

I'm just going to put this down purely to how different people interpret different terms. Bullying for me suggests Sakho was flat on his backside after every physical battle with Agbonlahor coming away with the ball. Clearly to some others, bullying is just getting knocked slightly off balance 2 or 3 times a game. I can't tell you you're wrong because it is 100% subjective. In my humble opinion though, bullying is far too strong a term to describe it.

Agbonlahor did bully Sakho though. The very few occasions he went forward, like for the corner from which they scored.

Prior to it being a corner, Agbonlahor did bully Sakho into giving away the corner in the first place.

Harry, stop being a imbecile. While Lovren has made many mistakes, how can you predict bullcrap like that? Poor form that man.

EMS, u really expect to finish 2nd or 3rd? If offered a 4th place finish now, I would take it without second thoughts. Be realistic mate, the gap in quality between us and the likes of Chelsea and Man City is huge. Even Arsenal I expect will finish above us. The squad needs time to gel, plus we do not even know how they respond to playing two must win fixtures in a week. Its a straight fight for the club for 4th with Man Utd, Everton and Spurs.

Can we just agree to disagree? Sakho was very clearly not the focal point of my post lol

15 Sep 2014 14:07:11
AG

That was a genuine concern, Lovern lacks pace and we would witness in coming games.

Who are all this super quick CBs you seem to be alluding to?

Lovren had had a shaky start, but he is a good CB. The only thing you can point to is his lack of pace as you call it. How about a positive, like his excellent tackling?

You just don't like the player, that is it.

15 Sep 2014 16:22:15
Ag

Not really mate, I have seen Skretel making some nice sliding tackles. one on one with a striker especially chasing back.

I hope I am proved wrong because After Benatia Lovern was the highest paid Defender in the window.( transfer fee )

20 mill is a hell lot of money. Isn't it?

{Ed002's Note - David Luiz? Mangala? Shaw?}

15 Sep 2014 06:54:43
As far as i'm concerned i'm still not sure how Mario will turn out, but all this Mario bashing is getting to me.
From what I saw of the game he pressed when he could, made runs that his team mates didn't see, had 3 or 4 defenders around him when we took too long passing it around and went wide to try draw defenders out.
Again i'm not a Mario fan. but come on guys the whole team played bad to below par.

I think he's being unfairly compared to Suarez.
He's a different type of player and not half as good as Suarez.

15 Sep 2014 07:38:05
I agree with Ken, He needs a support upfront, Someone who would draw players and give him that space to shoot.
He is a deadl�y finisher, But a Static CF. I don't blame him for that.

First thing that needs addressing is set pieces again followed closely by crossing practice because we were dreadful at providing the ball.
Ps get off players backs yes it wasnt our best performance we all have days like that.

15 Sep 2014 04:48:18
Gutted at the result over the weekend, thought we could atleast grab 1 point.

I thought BR bought Lambert precisely for these sort of games, where teams they lay deep and we find it hard to break. Lallana had a debut to forget I guess.

But what grinds my gears is Loic Remy scoring on his debut.

Hope Allen, Can are back soon and Balotelli breaks his duck. Looking forward for Champions League. We go again.

15 Sep 2014 05:47:28
Remy's failed medical is the next mystry thriller in Sherlock Hormes.

It will also have w cameo from bond and the hardy boys as the understudy