Liverpool Banter Archive December 16 2014

 

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16 Dec 2014 22:09:35
Your boy Ibe's got some serious speed. He almost beat Azpi twice, not many players can say they've done that :)

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17 Dec 2014 00:04:17
If he gets a chance he's going to be class

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He basically did, ivanovic was a great help to azpilicueta

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16 Dec 2014 20:46:23
If it was Bielsa who gave excellent attacking advice last year ?


Surely FSG are aware of this ?

They must also be aware that Rodgers has reverted to his 'system' - which is useless.

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Bielsa is doing great things at Marseille. He should be no1 target in the summer then either as manager or DOF. It shouldn't be too hard to get him in even if Marseille seems to be rising again, as things can change in a season. He might as well move on before things go sideways, unless he prefers to live in France.

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16 Dec 2014 20:34:58
Hmm, the Ochoa rumours are coming from the Express which also states a rumour that we are preparing a £32m bid for Eriksen from Spurs.

We could have had Ochoa on a free 4 months ago but are now willing to pay £3m for a player who has spent most of the last 4 months on the bench.

Can anyone else see where this is leading. ?

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16 Dec 2014 21:55:15
Btw, I am implying that the Ochoa rumours are a pile of sh*ep, in case you weren't sure!!

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16 Dec 2014 22:03:49
Doubt we need another attacking midfielder

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Why would Eriksen come from one midtable team to another?

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17 Dec 2014 04:19:10
Essubex

Where you going to play your attacking midfielder? You need to sell a few to buy one, else there would be more abuse on BR or any manager of not starting this player, that player etc etc.

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Agree - we already have plenty of attacking midfielders in Sterling, Coutinho, Llalana, Markovic.

What we need is a mobile striker to back up Sturridge (Berahino anyone?), a strong midfield that can play DM and even distribute (Can or Wanyama/Schneiderling/Song?) and some consistency in the CB positions

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17 Dec 2014 05:11:36
Redohio

Coz we are moving from BR to a better and proven pedigree while Spurs wouldn't improve from where they are currently.

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16 Dec 2014 20:29:45
Hey ed001

In Rodgers first season we were awful first half of the season, but if I'm not mistaken (not 100% sure on this) only utd got more points than us in the second half of the season?
So was it only last season Rodgers had the team playing well, and has he already proved he can turn things around?
Or do you fully believe he is not the right man and is not capable of turning this around?

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{Ed001's Note - it is not that much better a record from what I can see looking at it. Maybe my eyes are deceiving me but I don't see anything outstanding about the record in the 12/13 season, first or second half. If my eyes are correct, we picked up 5 more points in the second half of the season than we did in the first. I certainly don't remember us playing well either.

For me he has proven that he can't buy players, can't pick a side, can't get the best out of players for an extended period and is incapable of moulding a side that wants to play together. Also that he talks too much and says all the wrong things. Oh and that he will look to blame anyone and anything other than himself for every bad thing, while looking to take the credit for himself for every good thing that happens.

After Sterling had one game, following a lengthy slump, it was all about how 'I had a word with him', rather than just saying well done Raheem you played well. He is incapable, in my opinion, though I would love him to prove me wrong, I just don't see a single sign of him doing that.}

18/12/2013 Brendan praised kenny for signing Henderson and it was along the lines of "it's all down to him, no one else" when talking about hendersons turn around in form? We also played some terrific stuff second half of his first season 3-2 Tottenham wih baley, 5/6-0 of Newcastle it more about consistent performances but we do improve and then the first part of last season we were good few ups and downs but we didn't and hadn't lost two on the bounce until Chelsea and city in December and the city one we should of won except for a disallowed clear goal and the eto rugby tackle on Suarez which would of drawn the game, we also mauled Tottenham before Bielsa tool over, showed great characters and resilience in a lot of games and then the second half of the season was just super, prett sure aside from all the goals we were very much a team "but most probably weren't as us fans don't get the info the Eds do" Brendan won manager of the year, Suarez got sports writers player of the year, but only towards the end did Brendan say we were in the title race because as he said "it is unprecedented to go from 7th - 1st" the expectations were raised by the fans as we're are title contenders now and aside from money the Chelsea team and city team have been in the making for 4 years and have only had minor tweaks through each summer! We needed the majority of players we got this term and how the hell are we writing them off is insane, here all so young and inexperienced ever the lambert a, lallana a and lovren a! They will come good! And the difference with us and Tottenham is we have another level of development Togo because of the players we brought in with regards to there age and potential! I mean markovic, can, Moreno, origi and even manquillo will all be good players minimum! let's show some support reds and eds try and be abit unbiased I mean we know you don't like Rodgers but if you can criticss the bad, you have to praise the good! YNWA

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Have to say Ed, after thinking he might be a good thing, I've realised that you are pretty much spot with your appraisal there.
I feel like I did when we were saddled with Hodgson. doesn't that say it all?

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Ed, unfortunately, BR will continue to prove you and the rest of us right.

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16 Dec 2014 20:54:06
Ed001, to be fair to him though, he is an excellent canasta player and very generous with his Easter Eggs. Just saying. We need some balance.

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{Ed001's Note - good point Zedd, I apologise for forgetting those things. Also he is a very generous guy, always happy to share himself around....}

16 Dec 2014 22:42:16
Sorry Rj91, but you really have to repost this in a way that we can read it . You may have some good points but I doubt it.
A good manager will come good when things are bad and so far our manager not showing any signs of coming good .
Lets drop the age and potential thing because most of us don't understand it , I mean we had many young players with potential that come and gone without achieving anything, we have a lot of them in the academy , if he wants to promote potential then he needs to tap into our own youngsters and spend the money on experience. I admire your support, but a true supporter supports the club and wants it to do well, not protect a manager that keep making a mistake after another.

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I thought we were crap for the first 6 months under Rodgers then great for the next 18 months.
The last part of his first season and all of last season his record stands up to any other managers in the league.
But this season has been awful.
That's why I can't go along with the idea that Rodgers is completely inept or that he is a football genius.
The truth lies somewhere in between.
For 18 months he was doing something right then something changed.
What? who knows.
But that is the truth of it.
He needs to re-evaluate from the end of last season to the start of this season what he changed and revert back to what was working.
He can't use the excuse of players leaving because that would be an admission of guilt that the transfer policy was awful as well.
So he is in a bind.
It is a bind of his own making though.

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16 Dec 2014 20:08:19
Impressed with the team Chelsea have put out tonight. Look like they're taking this cup serious. Good on them, hope we do the same tomorrow night.

Derby playing well too. I watch a lot of Sky/BT football, seems only us that are boring to watch. If Derby can pass around why can't we? We'd be at least 1-0 down by now.

Doom and gloom sorry just down at the mo.

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Lol. 1-0 scratch my post I've jinked them

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Hey man, I'm happy that we're taking it seriously, but I'd prefer for us to have a couple of youngsters on the bench

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I`d prefer we win the game myself because I want my team to win regardless of the fact that the manager is a narcacisstic prat who blames everything on everyone else and takes all the credit for the things he didn`t even do himself.

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16 Dec 2014 19:58:28
I don't know if this has been answered already but I've been staying well clear for a while why the bad form continues but I've just been hearing that rafa is on the rails at Napoli and could be sacked . my question is would you take a brendan and rafa working alongside each other ? Just brendan rubbish at organising the back but is strong going forward but rafa can organise a defence but not that so clever up top I think it could work anyone else

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16 Dec 2014 20:05:42
strong going forward??. We have not scored a goal in some time in the league mate.

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16 Dec 2014 20:06:44
Rafa to organize Defense
BR for the attackers
Midfield???

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2 control freaks in one club?

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Don`t want one, don`t need the other.

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17 Dec 2014 01:08:23
Rafa's defence isn't doing too great atm!

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16 Dec 2014 19:24:35
I posted a fairly long post, my first in some time but it didn't get posted, any reason for this?

Richards

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{Ed001's Note - it is on the others page, where the more lengthy ones go so they can be seen for a while rather than just falling off the page in a couple of hours.}

16 Dec 2014 20:45:15
Thanks, thought you might not have appreciated my ramblings.

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{Ed001's Note - no mate, just trying to put those that show a bit of effort on a page where they can be read, rather than just skipped past by people who are looking for a bit of banter. We decided to use the others page reserved for those kind of posts that deserve to be read at length.}

16 Dec 2014 19:14:43
Saw a few mentions of Mattia Perin on the rumours page. Thought to myself, hmm, I'll see what he's like.

There I am, watching him play fairly well and then BOOM. Red card. Well that buggered that scouting exercise up. At least I didn't travel all the way to Italy to watch him get sent off for a pretty bad dive. On a side note; Jesus Italian football is boring. Perin looked good up to him getting completely skinned my that mohawk dude and sent off as he tumbled to the ground easier than Ashley Young.

Still not keen on another Italian. What with Dossena, Paletta, Aquilani, Borini and Balotelli doing so well in red, what could I possibly be thinking?!

In all seriousness though, please god don't let the Ruddy rumours be true. Oh, and that wasn't my impression of Hagrid wishing the Perin rumour isn't true. That was my impression of me praying for the JOHN RUDDY rumours to be made up!

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16 Dec 2014 20:13:21
What has Harry Potter got to do with an Italian goalkeeper?

Can I have some of what you're smoking?

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16 Dec 2014 20:14:09
Paletta was argentine.

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{Ed001's Note - he was, but now he is Italian.}

Ahh one of those unsure types. ? Sounds Italian.

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16 Dec 2014 20:40:42
Paletta is actually having a decent career it would seem and still only 27/28 I'd guess.

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16 Dec 2014 20:57:10
Paletta is one of those few players who have left Liverpool to do better elsewhere. The majority have had poorer careers after leaving. Unfortunately another couple who have gone on to do better elsewhere include a couple of midfielders who have done rather well at a couple of decent Spanish clubs of late.

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Paletta was not needed and never got a chance.

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Note to self: don't ever make a Harry Potter reference again. Other people are not as sad as you and will not get the ruddy/bloody joke!

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{Ed001's Note - my daughter is Harry Potter obsessed so I have read all the books to her a number of times and watched the films over and over with her, but I don't get the reference either!}

Paletta was Ilori is now.

I had more fun watching the ISL than the Serie A this season.

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Hagrid is a teacher and therefore not aloud to swear. So instead of 'bloody' he says 'ruddy'.

It was a rubbish pun anyway. Explaining it as just made it diabolical!

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{Ed001's Note - ah ok. Yeah not worth explaining!}

17 Dec 2014 10:43:44
Speaking as a fellow potter-Phile, I agree with Ed001!!

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I'll get my goat.

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16 Dec 2014 19:01:28
for me as I've watched our games over the last 2 seasons one thing that has stood out that leads to us getting beat is how easy it is to get through our midfield, no matter who we play, teams just seem to run through our midfield which leads to all sorts of problems beginning with our defence because they come under so much pressure that they start to lose it, they never have time to relax, then we get players running out of position to try and help, so our problem is our midfield to me we need a proper Def-Mid lucas was our best but to be honest he was not the best in the prem, we have a young player in Emre Can who should play because he will get better and better with each game its his natural position so it should be an easy choice to pick him, but because BR sticks with stevie he has to use another player beside him to help cover leaving the team a player short in position, if we have a player to babysit gerrard then he is not doing his proper job, as soon as gerrard gets moved back to his best position and out of the Def -Mid position our team can move forward and start to play better and get the confidence back into the players, i really do see this our main problem and as soon as BR changes it then we can move forward that is why we are playing with 2 def midfielders and 1 up front at home against a team we should beat but instead we struggle and lose, its always been said that the game is won or lost in midfield get our midfield sorted out and we might start winning, this is just my opinion

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This because there is no accountability or responsibility as towho will make a tackle or foul the guy. Have you seen City or Chelsea allow players to run theu their midfield? NO. because Mou and Pello demand responsibility and demands players work for each other hence, foul the guy and take one for the team. With BR, there is no accountability and players don`t work for each other because he himself, doesn`t have it so why would the players have it? We have no leaders on the field because BR is not a leader BUT plays one in the media which is why, we make the same mistakes week in, week out BUT of course, BR is too full of himself to recognize he has failed hence, he blames everyone and aveything other than himself. We have good players who are being grossly mismanaged by a manager who IMO, must have mental issues or is a chronic narcassist because only an unstable soul would be in such a mess yet blame everybody else just to look good in the mirror or in the media which he isn`t even good at.

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16 Dec 2014 18:08:37
It has come to my attention that I may be sending the same post in over and over again. Just wanted the ess to know I'm not doing it purposely. My phone is messing up a lot lately; I get errors midway through most posts anyways.

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{Ed002's Note - Seen nothing from you for two days TJ.}

They must of gone to that other site you visit frequently TJ 😉😉

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16 Dec 2014 17:10:07
hi eds, apparently (The Metro) Liverpool have agreed to sign Mexican goalkeeper Ochoa. Any truth in this? Thanks.

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{Ed002's Note - See previous answers please.}

16 Dec 2014 15:52:15
Hearing rumours balotelli let go by liverpool
Also read an article about Liverpool transfer set up and Brendan doesn't get to pick who he signs it's done by a four man committee one person is an American graduate with no football knowledge any truth in that eds?

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{Ed002's Note - That is the 2015 model, please don't tell anyone about it just yet.}

17 Dec 2014 01:00:40
I feel like there is an feeling that people in England are superior to those outside on this site. Why on earth would a billionaire businessman and his ultra-decorated committee authorize a member of this new "4 man" team to be a freshly graduated college student with no football knowledge? My god. I personally heard that the prime minister is no longer in charge of decisions but the queen has created a 4 man committee that will make decisions with one of the members being a failed jockey.

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17 Dec 2014 04:43:21
you won't get presents for christmas for being naughty Ed002 hehe =P.

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Moneyball?

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16 Dec 2014 15:41:06
Hi Ed002,
is there any chance Rodgers will stay until the end of the season or even longer? Marry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

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{Ed002's Note - Sure Tom and have a great holiday.}

16 Dec 2014 15:44:55
edds been a regular visitor for a while.would like your insight into the current and previous players. in terms of whether they were "fan friendly".or arrogant like James.

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{Ed001's Note - a lot depends on where and when you catch them. For instance Gerrard will seem fan friendly at times, but has his entourage tasked with dragging him away so he doesn't look like he just can't be bothered to stay long to talk and sign autographs. If you catch any at the wrong time they are not fan friendly, but usually lads like Lucas are happy to chat. It is difficult to be sure, as most of the people I know that meet them are working with them, so they will have a totally different reaction to those people. A few people have suggested Sakho is a bit aloof though.}

Thanks for the response. What about past players?

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{Ed001's Note - Carragher, Hamann were particularly friendly. McAteer is another one who was a genuinely nice lad.}

16 Dec 2014 16:46:59
I don't know if it's true but Robbie Fowler was meant to be a bit of a person.I met Mark Hughes once he is a really nice man down to earth but I suppose he comes from the older generation that didn't get spoilt.

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16 Dec 2014 17:18:53
The fact that Sakho still doesn't speak great English might be a factor there, I know a couple of French people who'd met him at PSG and they found him very friendly

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16 Dec 2014 17:47:10
Most people would probably get a bit annoyed if constantly bothered for autographs etc - doesn't necessarily make them bad people :)

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Lots of good things going around on other forums about Lucas always stopping outside Melwood for kids etc. Balotelli seems like a nice enough chap, not too arrogant to get involved with fans (im sure someone will know more though)

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16 Dec 2014 17:58:04
Haven't met many but can say met sturridge, kolo, coutinho and hendo. Tbh all were really nice and had a chat. well except couts but tbh think it was more he didn't understand a word of what I was saying!

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Sakho is far far from friendly mate, trust me haha
I met mcateer and macmanaman recently and both are really nice. Macmanaman is exactly what he's like on the TV.
I get to meet most of the players past and present through my job, all out of thier comfort zones and it's very interesting at times to see what they are like in real life.
Yeah sakho was probably the worst. Lol

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16 Dec 2014 18:25:06
Few years back on a holiday in Dubia we were in the water park and whilst queuing for a ride , Yaya Toure , Nicholas Anelka and a third person built like a footballer but we did n't recognise him were in front of us in the queue, we talked to them and my middle kid (an Arsenal fan) tried to convince Nicholas to leave Chelsea and join Arsenal, they were very pleasant and friendly. Nicholas happen to be staying in the same hotel as us, and the day after whilst my boys were kicking a ball about in the gardens Nicholas joined them for few minutes challenging them to take the ball off him,and pushing them whenever they manage to sneak the ball from him , he was very pleasant and real down to earth. My 3 football mad boys till now look at that time as the best of their lives
On the other hand a couple of years later , we saw a liverpool player, again in Dubia , my oldest by coincidence was wearing his Liverpool top with this player's name and number on the back, after some encouragement from me, my Kid tried to approach him to say hello, and this person just totally ignored him , not that he was doing anything important, he was by himself looking at his phone, I felt very bad for my boy, but hey , some of these players don't appreciate the fans that help build their brand.

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{Ed001's Note - I have to say Anelka is one of the nicest footballers I have met, lovely lad. As was Gary Speed, who was just a genuinely nice guy.}

Ive met Sturridge a few times as his some of his family live near by and my Auntie is there post women and he was nice enough to sign my shirt and send me a note back which was decent of him. Saw Balotelli a few times over the Christmas markets when he was at City and he was really friendly had pictures took with us all. Mignolet was another I met and he seemed a big arragont but it's hard to judge when you're just seeing them on the street and stuff

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16 Dec 2014 20:04:02
I met Michael balack and he was lovely, happy to chat and give time, Henry wasn't very nice at all though, maybe just a "bad day"

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Saw Rushie when I was a kid, he was brilliant signed my subbuteo set my dad bought me in toys r us and had a chat

Neville southall was another good fella although I only saw him based on the fact I attended his goalkeeping school in Llanduddno.

Mickey Thomas the former Man Utd player is a massive jeb, a lot of ego and posturing. It was always good when our side beat his in the juniors.Bellamy too is a pr!ck.

Lee Cattermole is an absolute legend! It was my friends birthday, and he found out from his dad, so booked us a table at a club in Newcastle and paid the bill out of his own pocket and also rang Joey to wish him happy bday.

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{Ed001's Note - Grob was great when I met him as a kid, though he wouldn't do a handstand for me, disappointingly.}

On trains down to London after games at Anfield, I've met a few players going down to London for England duty.
On one occasion I met Glen Johnson, who although a little arrogant was perfectly nice and ultra professional.
On another I was a carriage down from the then U21 lads: Wisdom, Shelvey and Hendo.
When I asked Jordan for a picture Shelvey retorted why would you want one with him. Some would say this showed he had more personality, I just thought he was a bit of a knob to be honest.
Both Hendo and Wisdom seemed nice enough though if both a little shy.

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We've seen Sterling a couple of times by where we live, my young lad got his autagraph and had a little chat.

Found him to be a really polite and well-mannered young man, which is not how he's always been portrayed.

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HAHA toddy I won't go into detail, but all I can say is wisdom needs to delete snapchat before he gets in trouble.

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16 Dec 2014 20:42:12
Ian Rush & Graeme Sharp were at my aunties wedding when I was a kid and I spoke to Sharp during a reserve game years later at Anfield. Vegard Heggem was also easy to approach and engaged in conversation whilst I was on the piss walking down Bold Street at bells in the morning.

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Met Graham Stuart a couple of days ago and spoke to him for a good hour and a half. A really amazing man who agreed to write on my blog should I ever decide to start one.
Met fowler the same day and he seemed really arrogant but then he was surrounded by hundreds of fans asking for a pic or an autograph. One thing that irked me was that he refused to sign a LFC jersey for a friend because he was wearing a chelsea one. Poorlad just wanted to surprise his bro on his birthday by gifting him his idol's autograped jersey.

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16 Dec 2014 21:35:19
Agger and kuyt were brilliant souls, I had a chance to meet both of them.

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You're right on Grob Ed. I found myself in the players lounge at Main road after the game once (we spanked them 4-1), and I was at the front of the queue for the bar, when Grob rolled in with Jan Molby (he was nice too). Bruce gave me £20 (to queue jump obviously), and told me to get him 2 pints of Carling and spend the rest on my family. You should have seen my old mans face when I told him my mate Brucey bought the round.

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Ive meet plenty of players over the years. Ian Durrant good lad and likes a drink. Chris Wood, complete arse, John Barnes, a bit aloof, but the best was Dwight Yorke! Meet him in a bar in Dublin with some other bloke. Spent about 2 hours inhis company. A good laugh, told a few stories and not shy in buying the drink. All good!

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On Balo, I have read that he is a lovely guy to be around and he is always nice to kids and loves to be around them a lot.

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17 Dec 2014 00:17:25
Met Mr Shankley in his retirement - lovely man - time for anyone. Met Graeme Souness after a 5-1 thrashing of Everton - thought he was very humble. Same day got a legger from Kevin Ratcliffe when I asked what the score was the night before. Happy memories,.

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I have only met Brad Jones and he is a really nice and polite guy.

His GF was not so nice though, quite the b*tch.

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Didn't meet him but saw Mignolet out for a meal with his (i presume) missus and mum and dad - and he made them split the bill! Thought that was a bit snide like

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16 Dec 2014 15:29:15
I have read the comments regarding James Pearce.
I had a look at his writing with the Liverpool Echo.
It is in the comments section that is interesting.

He seems like a Rodgers apologist. It doesn't matter how bad we play. Somehow it is everybody's fault EXCEPT Rodgers.

Certainly Pearce is a columnist without credibility.

He reads like a company propaganda news sheet.

Does someone want Rodgers to stay until the end of the season ?

It looks like there is some face saving going on?

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I made a similar comment earlier today. I think it is not Pearce being a BR fan, but BR or his team speaking through Pearce. Pearce has been getting exclusives on LFC for a while now and always is first to deflect blame from BR and interestingly on to the others at the club, like the Transfer Committee, which leads me to believe it is BR or his coonies feeding him info.

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16 Dec 2014 18:50:16
The Echo and James Pearce have always had a close relationship with the Merseyside clubs for many years and it is usually a good source of information. He did spend pre season with the team in the US and was providing daily updates and images which did a lot for the publicity of the tour. In relation to Pearce he is just printing what he is supplied with from the LFC camp. As to your question about keeping Rodgers i personally don't mind so long as he's willing to accept his faults and review the tactics/style of play to better suit the team he has now. If FSG have already started planning the future with a new man at the helm then I just hope they don't react to fan pressure and rush in to a replacement. Finding the best suited manager may take time and there are obviously no guarantees even then but i would rather they thoroughly scrutinised every candidate and leave BR in place until yhe end of the season.

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16 Dec 2014 14:30:25
to help put things into context, you can now get shorter odds on Whiskey Nose becoming the next manager of Liverpool than you can for Liverpool to win the league this season.

Worth a flutter? ;-)

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16 Dec 2014 14:51:25
What do you reckon he will want to knock united off their perch?

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He stoped managing Man Utd because of stress, taking over your lot would finish him off!

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16 Dec 2014 16:38:36
So it's win-win, wiganred?

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16 Dec 2014 14:17:14
Just a quick one to let you know that a lot of the longer posts have gone on the 'Other' posts page to make sure they get seen more easily.

There are a few well worth a read there, not all are demanding Rodgers leaves either, there has been at least one lengthy post backing him.

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16 Dec 2014 14:04:29
ill ask again as i have been ignored 3 times now!

is there anything rodgers can do to keep HIS job?

top 4? trophy? or is he completly gone?

does he know its all in placd for him to be sacked?

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16 Dec 2014 14:50:53
does he know its all in placd for him to be sacked?
==========================

Nothing is in place; and him being sacked is not a certainty . The owners might be looking for alternatives, but its possible they may not find a replacement. I doubt he 'll go before end of season and before then a lot can happen.

The targets (as Ed002 told us) was a title, or at least a challenge for the title, so if he puts together a team that can win every game till the end of the season, then he position is secured. But pigs may learn to drive before that can happen.

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16 Dec 2014 16:57:30
Roy, Google GEICON piggy pulled over commercial.

So we're not completely without hope for the second half of the season?

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I'm working on a prototype now lads. !

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16 Dec 2014 14:03:15
Cheers Eds and great work

This one for you Adam As I would love to hear from you.
You have claimed that BR picks his Beloved Underperformers over and over again.

1. Johnson: With Flanno injured from past 5 months and no sign of coming back, That leaves with Only Monquillo and Johnson, Whose your pick mate?

2. Allen : A CM by trade and an excellent ball retention player. Is he the real reason We don't have a single shot on goal at Home?

3. Skretel : Poor player, But How is he responsible for the sitters that goes under the Legs of Lovern ( Oh wait Bad coaching )

4. Mignolet : 3 years in running and countless errors and I don't think any coaching staff could fix this.

And what about the rest 8 players in the team?

Sterling- No goal
Henderson -Terrible these days
Lallana - Works his socks off ( At 27 mill You need to score goals )
Markovic - doesn't get a game since the above players starts
Balletolli - We know it
Gerrard - Leading goal scorers and impossible to drop
Lucas - He cannot score
Emre Can - Dropped for Allen.

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16 Dec 2014 14:45:05
If anyone need to be "Rested" is Sterling, he may still have the legs to run, but he is mentally tired, the 2 sitters he missed on Sunday is a sure sign he needs to sit on the sidelines for a couple of games.
Nothing against the player, I like him, but for his own sake and his career, he needs a rest.

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Keeper: Mingolet is awful. Jones is not good enough. Why not give Ward a chance and potentially save some cash.

Right back: Johnson is awful. Manquillo isn't playing well. Why not give McLaughlin a chance?

Right centre back: Skrtel is average. Toure is in great form. Why not play Toure.

Left centre back: Lovren is really struggling. Sakho is fit now. He was on the bench against Basel. Why isn't he playing?

Left back: Moreno isn't great defensively. Stop dropping for Enrique every 2 weeks and shattering his confidence! Or give Smith a go.

Holding midfield: Allen is in bad form. Gerrard isn't a holding midfielder. Why isn't Lucas starting here more often and why are Can and Rossiter being completely over looked?

Midfield: Hendo is in bad form. Allen offers nothing going forward. Gerrard isn't playing well. Why not play Coutinho here like last seadon and stop putting him on the wing? Or give Can a go? Or Rossiter? Why was Teixeira loaned?

Atracking midfield: why aren't we utilising anybody in this role except an underperforming Gerrard? Sterling is best here. Suso never played ecen before his injury. Coutinho isn't playing well here because he relies on runners in behind which we are lacking.

Right wing: why is Sterling still playing here? He can't cross or shoot. He hasn't scored in 21 games. Why not give Markovic more game time? Ojo? Why lian out Ibe?

Left wing: why keep playing Coutinho here? He isn't a winger. Why not put Lallana here where ge played for Southampton. He is our only senior player who can play as a left forward! Ojo? IBE?

Striker: Why over play Lambert and completely over look Borini? Why does Balotelli still get a look in despite being in awful form? Why only play one striker all the time? Why not give Sinclair or Canos a chance?

Harry, he is clueless. He will continue to start the same underperforming players in a poor set up out of positions because it can make them look bad and deflect the blame from himself. He has turned half the squad against him and eachother from the sounds of it. You cannot blame the players for poor management.

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Passion,

1. I would have liked to have seen Wisdom there over the other 2, maybe when he comes back from loan unless they see him as the preferred CB ormore than likely will be sold off.
2.I like Joe Allen but he just doesn't seem to be able to intergate in to the team and style of play and doesn't have much of an impact wjen played. His work off the ball is good but requires improvement around positioning and creating space for a return ball once he's passed it on. I think he may also be low on confidence and seems a shadow of the player who was at Swansea. Maybe we mighr see him regain this form in the future. For me Can is the more effective player at present and should start before Allen.
3. Skrtel's positioning when under pressure is shocking. He constantly drops too deep and can't keep in line with his fellow defenders which does have an impact on how the others react (We mentioned earlier about the non existent communication). This doesn't excuse Lovren who we all know is a decent player but currently under performing. Is this due to the communication issue and not being confident with the defensive set ip and also not knowing wjat the others are going to do? Enrique is a perfect example of this as Carragher has recently mentioned. Can Lovren again find his form and be the leader we all expected and to do this does his CB partner need to change, Llori for me springs to mind along with Kolo and Wisdom in the future. I say these 2 as I'm quite confident we will see Sakho leave.
4. New keeper needed. Decent shot stopper but if he can't command his area now he never will do.
In regards to the remaining players Sterling, Hendo and Lallana are the core players and we should always ensure they are played in their preferred position as we all know how well they can play. Markovic needs time and cannot be judge until he has had time to settle and enjoyed a run of games. The lad has emmense potential and maybe a loan in the Championship would do him the world of good if he isn't going to be played. I know 20M is outrageous for a player who isn't ready but hey ho it's done. Ballotelli say no more. Gerrard does need to be dropped every other game and the manager needs to ensure he is dropped for thw right games where Lucas or Can should be able to step straight in. In regarss to Lucas why is it a problem that he doesn't score? As long as he does his job in front of the defence and breaks up play and cuts out the ball before it reaches the backlime then I'm more than happy. Sadly it looks like he will be moving on to pastures new.

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To be honest Harry I don't know what your point is?

Either you are suggesting that Mingolet, Johnson, Skrtel and Allen are the only players we have underperforming, or you're suggesting that I've said that.

If you had bothered to visit the teams page recently you'd see that I have been calling for a lot of others to be dropped too. Half the starting 11 are playing terrible not just 3 or 4 players.

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16 Dec 2014 15:44:25
Adam

Assumptions doesn't work on football mate, and some of the replacement you mentioned here has ever kicked a ball in the senior team.

Let's see how the new man would bring the changes

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So if a player has no senior experience he isn't a viable option? Jheez, somebody better let Wenger, Klopp, Guardiola, De Boer and Fergie they've been doing it wrong for years.

As Alan Hansen infamously said, "you won't win anything with kids".

Ward, McLaughlin, Smith, Rossiter, Ojo, Sinclair and Canos might be young but they will never make it of we keep putting off playing them.

It's like the old catch with getting a job; " You need experience to play senior football, but you need senior football to get experience! "

Tell me this then Harry; how many senior games had Manquillo played prior to this season?

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16 Dec 2014 16:15:53
Adam

I believe both players and BR are equally responsible for the mess we are in.
His team selection has been poor but all the names on the sheet should do a lot lot better at what they are paid and bought for.

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There is no doubt a lot of players are underperforming. When does it get to the point where so many of your players are underperforming at the same time that you stop blaming it on bad luck, and accept their must be something wrong with the coaching/management? 5 players. 10 players? 15?

The whole squad looks shot mate and that has to come back to the manager. People are either playing and playing badly or not playing and angry at the manager. It's a shambles.

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There is not 1 player playing to their standard Ems.

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I agree harry the players need to take some responsibility for what they do on the pitch.

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Losing your place to a kid when you have an international career to worry about should be a huge kick up the backside to a senior player.
Some very large kicks are needed in this squad.

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16 Dec 2014 20:22:16
I would give ryan kent a taste of first team football and jerome sinclair a run out. Maybe even harry wilson although like kent prob isn't physical enough yet.

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Manquillo had played 48 senior footy games.

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Exactly Bob. Not exactly rolling in experience is he. Markovic, Moreno and Can aren't exqctly experienced either. Yet nobody moan about playing them. It's just a fear tgat has been instilled in our fan base by previous managers being scared to use kids. That irrational fear has filtered to the fans.

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All those players had about 30/40 more games than our youth who didn't go on loan quick enough. markovic can moreno had all played in excess of 60 games of senior footy each.

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16 Dec 2014 13:19:50
I think everything at the moment can be summed be quite nicely with the immortal words of Sir Elton John.


It's sad, so sad
It's a sad, sad situation
And it's getting more and more absurd
It's sad, so sad
Why can't we talk it over
Oh it seems to me
That sorry seems to be the hardest word


All joking aside let's hope for two wins to finish the week and see us all enjoy a very happy Christmas.

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16 Dec 2014 14:16:31
Actually, "win" seems to be the hardest word right now, closely followed by the phrase "clean sheet"

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16 Dec 2014 11:56:36
I can't find these latest Rodgers quotes, anybody tell me where to find them?
Cheers lads.

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16 Dec 2014 12:23:08
Liverpool Echo, James Pearce.
It's better not to read it.

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16 Dec 2014 11:52:18
I had a great chat with Rudolf Stager, the chairman of FC Luzern of Switzerland. Gave me a great insight in how he believes the infrastructure of LFC will be moulded in the coming months. It was actually not far off what Ed002 suggested.

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16 Dec 2014 14:47:21
And why the chairman of FC Luzern of Switzerland have this insight into how our club will be moulded ?? Just a question not a dig, is he involved in any way?

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It was fascinating speaking with somebody who actually owns a football club and getting his point of view. We got on the subject of Liverpool because of Markus Babbel funnily enough.

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16 Dec 2014 09:41:42
Hey eds.
Now we all know the names but if Rodgers does get sacked;who do you think would be the likely replacement?
Also has Liverpool looked into Ochoa this term?
Cheers

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{Ed002's Note - (a) Done to death. (b) Not as far as I know.}

16 Dec 2014 10:49:06
Ed001, by now everyone knows I want De Boer as the head coach/manager.

One name keeps coming to my mind for the DOF role but I have no idea whether it's realistic. Would Jupp Heynckes consider the role were it offered to him. There is no question he'd be up to it, but I have doubts over whether he'd be willing.

Similar age to Cruyff and therefore has a vast pool of experience and knowledge in the game. He was incredible at Bayern Munich and what a mentor he would be for De Boer.

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{Ed001's Note - I have no idea mate sorry.}

16 Dec 2014 10:56:46
Heynceks would be excellent. He is wonderful manager and one of the best. Enormous experience over there.

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{Ed002's Note - Never.}

He`s enjoying his well-earned retirement and is fine where he is fine with that.

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16 Dec 2014 12:43:46
Thanks for the replies Eds. It's a shame if Ed002 is correct. I think he'd be an excellent DOF for us.

I knew it was a shot in the dark though as i vaguely remember him retiring from Bayern for a personal reason.

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The man is coming up to 70 and said this

''I could transfer to just about any club in Europe. I have a problem with the finality of saying 'never'. But I can assure you that I have no intention of coaching again. I had a worthy ending.''

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I know bob. He is 69. Cruyff is 67 though and people aren't disregarding him. I had a feeling he had said something like that though. Cheers for finding the quote for me.

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16 Dec 2014 10:44:00
I read eds that its clear, even for Rodgers himself, that he is gone.
Would it be ideal to make the change now or in the summer you feel?

I would love nothing more than for Todgers to turn things, BUT he wont, and since a new manager is on its way anyways it would allow the new manager to get some quality time fra now until summerwindow to asses the squad and so on.

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{Ed001's Note - as soon as the replacement is ready then it is time to swing the axe.}

16 Dec 2014 11:13:55
Thanks again ed.
Have a great day! Keep up the good work.

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Ed001, I know not many people will care; but what do you think this will do to Rodgers career?

I'm seeing a Steve McClaren style fallout (similar to what happened after he flopped as England boss).

The similarities are there for all.

Does a great job at a mid table club (Swansea/Middlesborough). Get's massively over hyped and talks their way into a big job (Liverpool/England). Fails miserably despite looknig good in spells (current season/euro 2008 qualification campaign).

I genuinely think Rodgers is going to have to completely rebuild his reputation after this managing clubs in lower level European countries like Holland/Belgium or the Championship. What top club will take him after how spectacularly he has failed at Liverpool?

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{Ed001's Note - I agree, it has destroyed his reputation and he will desperately need to rebuild it. It would really depend on what job comes along now, but it does seem unlikely he would get a big job again. It might do him good to go abroad like McClaren did.}

EMS that is precisely the reason why Brendan is coming up with all sorts of excuses. He knows that once he gets the boot, its going to be a long long time before he gets his reputation fixed. His spectacular failure at LFC will be etched in the minds of football fans forever just like Woy. No big club will want him for the forceeable future. He needs to go to Spain or Germany, get his basics right, tone down his arrogance and ego, coach some smaller clubs and work his way up the ladder again. Even if he does that, big clubs will still be wary about appointing him because of the money he has already wasted and his failure to win us the league title from a winning position and no trophy to show thus far in his career.

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16 Dec 2014 14:18:41
I completely agree that abroad would probably be the only option he would consider. Dutch league wouldn't be a bad shout, nor would Spain. Moyes vs Rodgers may be a fixture in seasons to come.

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What other managers great work can he claim this time? Martinez looks safe at Everton. Could he take over at Southampton if Koeman gets taken? Could claim the good work and style he's developed there?

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He honestly wanted to coach in Spain. I think Rayo Vallecano could need need a coach like him.

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16 Dec 2014 10:07:42
Where is Jack Dunn? He has not played any games with the reserves this year nor the first team. Thanks.

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16 Dec 2014 12:12:24
Visit the LFC official site and click on U21/U18 fixtures , Dunn has been playing recently after long term injury .

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16 Dec 2014 06:37:46
Pathetic. BR is now airing his views to the public via James Pearce of the Echo. Since he has been warned-off from spouting his mouth off at every opportunity, he has now found a new way to get to the public. Through this, he absolves himself of all blame regarding the position LFC find them-self in; it is all the Transfer Committee doing going as far back as failing to sign Diego Costa in the summer 2013 when the committee was set up only last summer!

It is truly embarrassing to read such drivel, and public washing of this dirty laundry. This is exactly the kind of thing why I do not want Benitez back as he used tacit means to get what he wants and cause trouble (albeit he was working in a much poorer environment).

I would like to hear the editors thoughts on the issue.

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The Ed's have constantly referred to Rodgers mouthing himself off in the media. Not only about players but also claiming 'he is the best man for the job' while the club has seen its worst form this century!

Those who still think Rodgers should be given more time have fallen in his trap of sweet talking. The sooner he goes the better.

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Real AG, at least Benitez got results with Hicks and Gillette around. Brendan is a disease that needs to be removed as soon as possible. He knows that the sack is around the corner, and is trying to protect his non-existent reputation with such embarrassing comments. If he gets the sack now after wasting so much money, then no top club will even consider him for the forseeable future, so now clueless Brendan has gotten desperate. He thinks he is a top class manager when in reality he is a championship manager at best with a failed philosophy that got him the sack at Reading, Watford and now LFC. I hope the owners learn from this debacle and give the job to someone respectable and down to earth, someone who is grateful for the opportunity to manage a club like LFC. Brendan merely saw us as a stepping stone but reality has hit him hard knowing he is not good enough for LFC let alone Madrid and Barca.

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What a load of rubbish. We all know who is at fault for not signing Diego Costa, Willian etc. The people who make the decisions about the money. And it is definitely not Rodgers!
Who were not giving the extra money for both of these occasions and we lose on them because of that extra money.

So even if Rodgers is at fault on so many things, this is not one of it. I'm sure he is the least at fault concerning transfers.

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16 Dec 2014 07:58:11
I think its unfair to compare Rafa & BR . Rafa was seen as a trouble maker until the truth came out about the condition the club was in. I am not saying he was a hero ,far from it but his voice helped get the crooks out.

BR has had all he support he was ever likely to get and possibly more.

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16 Dec 2014 08:02:22
Looks like Suarez was far far better.lolzzz

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16 Dec 2014 08:15:55
Indian

He isn't going to step down himself

1. Financial constraints

2. A flop manager sacked doesn't get a job easily. He needs to protect his career.

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Still there are some who blindly try and defend Rafa.

The man is untouchable and is exactly the reason why he should not be allowed back to manage LFC as he can do no wrong. Everyone else will be blamed again if things do not work out.

No thank you, Rafa needs to stay far away if there is any chance of us being dug out of this mess we have been once again left in by another stubborn manager.

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I understand why everyone is on brendans back including myself, but when do the players stand up and take responsibility for the tripe they serve up weekly?

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Brendan Rogers knows what he's doing, it's just trying to stop him losing his job. We had a 4 game unbeaten run before Sunday. Lucas was playing DM, he drops him and drops the Goalkeeper indefinitely. He tries to outscore the opposition using a bench warmer in goal. A back five for the first time this season, and a front 3 without a striker. If It doesn't work, I will blame the transfer committee .He needs to shut up and go.

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OK, I think the people that have replied haven't really taken on-board my major concern: BR continues to talk to the public. Why? Is he trying to wriggle out of the mess he has created by feeding stories to the public and to the owners? That is definitely how I read things having kept a close eye on Pearce's articles over the course of this season.

I think it is counter-productive that he is still looking around to deflect blame when he should be trying to fix things. But unfortunately, that is not what he is doing. Surely, people at LFC will be seeing this drip-feeding of information to the Echo from BR and acting on it?

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{Ed001's Note - he has been on the verge of sacking for his comments a number of times, but now he knows he is going anyway, does it matter to him what he says?}

I would be happy with Rafa has D O F with Borrell head coach.

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16 Dec 2014 08:44:09
Pirate

What about players from Borini to Moses? He has signed close to 20 players in 2.5 years and only Sturridge has been a hit. Whose responsible for this mate?

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16 Dec 2014 08:46:10
Ed01, you have been around with the game from a long long time, where you convinced that He was the reason for our performance last season.
I wasn't and I knew he isn't doing anything as a manger.

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{Ed001's Note - you can't give blame him for the bad run if you aren't willing to give him credit for the good run last season. The issue is that he has learnt nothing from it and reverted back to type this season. He seems to think fancy words and spiel is what brought success, rather than simply how the team was set up. One of the most important things in maintaining success is being able to analyse that success and pick out the parts that led you to it and continue with them. At the same time you need to pick out the weak parts and strengthen them. Unfortunately, Rodgers has picked out the weak parts of our game and decided they were our strengths and that is why he is failing.

He obviously has no idea how to analyse things, he just tries to copy what he believes worked for others in the past, in this case Barca and Spain. The problem is that it wasn't about the short passing around at the back, possession for possession's sake football that Rodgers has decided brought their success. He, like all those idiot pundits, have picked out exactly the wrong parts of the football they played as the secret to success.

It was a similar story when Catenaccio was successful for Inter Milan, every Italian side copied it but failed to understand it. They turned it into an ultra defensive system, far from the ideal of Helenio Herrera, but people didn't understand it or read it properly. They instead subverted it to their own view of how football should be played and twisted it to suit their mind set. Rodgers is doing that with his style of play, he is looking at what happened with Barca through eyes clouded by his vision of how football should be played.

It will be his undoing, his vision is clouded by delusions of the game being all about possession, when there is so much more to it than that. Yes possession is good, having more of it does bring you an advantage, but only if you use that possession to achieve an aim, rather than just use it to keep the ball. Rodgers just wants to keep the ball, he has no clear aim of what to do with it other than keep it. No thought of moving the opposition players around to make them work, no thoughts of creating space for attackers, nothing. It is just all possession, possession, possession.}

Pirate, u seriously blaming the committee for this mess and taking Brendan's side on this? Apart from maybe 4 or 5 players, the remaining 20 players were all his choices exclusively.
He chose Allen as our CM ahead of Sahin which itself is a offence worthy of the sack. Where is Borini, another of his personal choices? Lallana and Lovren? Has he really improved the squad even though he got a number of players he wanted? Do u really think Willian and Costa would have chosen Brendan over Jose and Simeone? Brendan is an unknown and failed manager, and no world class player will want to play for him when they have better options to choose from. Costa must be thanking his lucky stars for opting to stay at Atletico than join LFC last season, and now he got his dream move to Chelsea. Same goes for Willian.
John barnez, how can u expect the players to stand up and take responsibility for the all the tripe when the fault lies at the manager's feet? Who makes all the horrendous team selections week in week out? Who plays a formation which the players are simply not comfortable with? Who makes senseless substitutions that make no impact whatsoever on the game? Just look at the situation the likes of Borini, Sakho, Can and Suso are in. Would u tolerate this nonsense if your employer also replaced u with incompetent people?

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16 Dec 2014 09:14:05
Brilliant mate, thanks for that assessment.
Another one of you could, y do you think De-boer would do it with us? Unproven manager. Plays a similar system to BR and what about the current players?

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{Ed001's Note - he plays a totally different system. He is much closer to the old Ajax system than anything Rodgers tries to play. I don't know if De Boer is the answer, but I do know he is willing to listen to advice and act upon it, he doesn't surround himself with yes men telling him how brilliant he is and how it is not his fault. That would be a step forward at least. We will never know who is the right man until they get the chance to try their hand at the job.}

He knows he's a dead man walking, The real AG. It's called passing the buck, to keep the messiah reputation alive.

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16 Dec 2014 09:23:21
Ed01, As you mentioned earlier we did revert to a pass and move system because we ran out of steam last season.
I agree on this as if you press high and intense in the first 25 mts you should score couple of goals, else you get tired and the opposition then starts to dictate the game.
He has complete trust in Sturridge but none else.
And I could see him changing to the high pressing game once Sturridge comes back.
Am not defending BR but as it stands this is the reason what I believe.
The players he bought aren't match winners like Hazzard or aguero.
He is guilty of wasting cash and spouting nonsense.

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{Ed001's Note - but there is no move in the BR system, that is the problem. It should be about passing and movement, quick passing, quick movement, dragging opponents about and played in areas that forces them to react and so tires them out, rather than us. Instead we play it around slowly in defensive areas, allowing the opposition to settle into their defensive formation and make little attempt to move them out of their comfort zone.

It is even worse when defending, as was shown on the first goal at the weekend, the players have no communication and no idea what system they are playing and so no idea where to position themselves. The coaching is not working. It is clearly not imparting anything useful to the players. They should instinctively know what to do at all times. When a team mate gets caught out of position, the rest should know how to fill in the gaps without needing to be told. It should be natural.

The main worry for me is that, in his third year of building a team, Rodgers has turned them into 11 individuals with absolutely no team work. They don't work together or for each other, that is a managerial failure of the highest order. His main job should be to get them working for each other. They don't have to like each other, or even speak the same language, but they should respect each other and work for each other. They should all know that they can rely on their team mates to help them, not point fingers of blame at them when they make a mistake.

Sadly they are led by a man who takes no responsibility for anything that goes wrong and they are following his example. He should be out there leading, protecting them from blame and criticism, while taking it all on his own shoulders. Instead he hangs them out to dry and then looks to claim the credit when they do get something right.}

16 Dec 2014 09:27:25
Indian

As much as I agree with your post disagree on the players effort
Most have been utter poor in past 4 months.
Going down against Basel. QPR, Sunderland, you don't need a bloody big master plan to beat those.
The players on the pitch with the price we paid to purchase them should do better.
If the new man in charge gets the same response from the players then the twist would be the same.

His team selection and subs have been poor. But those on the pitch were labelled world class 12 months back.

Countinho has been playing from past 4 months and his only good performance came against Dortumand in the friendly.

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De boer has Ajax and Barcelona pouring through him. He and Rafa would be my first choice for coach, and dof, but I would also be happy with Borrell and Rafa. Rafa needed Pako and ended up with Lee. Rafa would make a better DOF than he would Manager.

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Passion, Coutinho, Henderson don't have the same movement upfront as they did last season, mate. Now they are encourage to pass back and keep the ball which encourages opposition to press our playmaker, Quarterback and pick holes in the gap between him and back 2.

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16 Dec 2014 10:37:30
Ed001 your absolutely spot on with your above analysis. As for the non existent communication it is so frustrating to see the players looking blankly at each other when things go wrong and not being able to identify the issues and amend them going forward through good coaching as we keep making the same errors . It doesn't help when we don't have a single leader on the field. Stevie is a legend but is no leader on the pitch, yes on occassions he has led by example but he is virtually silent when it comes to doing whay a captain should be doing - Vocal leader.

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16 Dec 2014 10:43:07
Jimney

Disagree, Baring one game Countinho has always played in the from three along with Sterling or lallana.
No one has asked him to pass back. He simply couldn't penetrate inside and miss large part of the game. His tracking back is poor and as good as Mata which got him the exit door at Chelsea.

Henderson needs space to run else he is an average player. He has unlimited technical limitations. He is neither a deco, lampard, Gerrard or Zidane ( All different version of CM )
He cannot turn the ball and carry the ball much like Ramsy or wilshere.

I love both of them Regardless.

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16 Dec 2014 10:50:38
I don't blame the players for any of this. Coutinho and Henderson are good players, not their fault they're playing in a botched system.

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16 Dec 2014 10:53:29
IMH

didn't we all thought Lovern would the next Carra, the vocal at back and splashed 20 mill on him when he available at half price last summer?
The goals conceded by him at the back are all of individual blunders. Don't blame everything on the manager mate. It's simply not true.

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16 Dec 2014 12:34:54
Lovren is a good player, we've seen that with Southampton and Croatia. No defender would stand a chance with no DM protection and in the system we play currently. Plus playing next to Kamikaze Skrtel . Lovren's best game was in a team with Lucas and playing next to Toure and that's not a coincidence

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BR is the SOLE responsible person for this mess as the ED eloquently stated. He is gone and IMO, the axe should fall NOW.

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Harry, the reason players are underperforming is down to the manager. You can't drop Lovren for 4 weeks and then just through him back into a CL must win and a local derby in the space of 4 days. It's suicide.

Plus it is down to the coaching. Lovren hasn't just forgotten how to defend. He is playing in a different system with new team mates and it is the managers job to integrate him in. He has failed.

I never wanted Lovren in the first place. I wish we'd just sold Skrtel and gone into the season with Toure, Sakho, Ilori, Kelly and Agger as our central defensive options (which i repeatedly said on here). We didn't need any more central defenders! Lovren is a dman good player though so i wasn't dissapointed with his signing. He is just being hung out to dry by the manager. Rodgers just wanted to spend his money like a kid in a candy shop as somebody put it. He tinkers with the team so much that nobody has a chance to settle into the team or find some form. The only players he is playing consistently, he is tinkering with their position or the players around them so they can't spark up an understanding with anyone. Or he plays them through bad form and drains them of confidence.

This has everything to do with the manager. Blaming the players for this absolute mess is ridiculous. Lovren, Skrtel, Sakho and Toure have all captained their countries and are the first choice centre backs for Croatia, Slovakia, France and Ivory Coast respectively. None of them are awful players (Skrtel is admittedly average though). Rodgers is making them look bad with his lack of tactical understanding, poor set up and shocking coaching.

Blaming the players is exactly what Rodgers wants us to do. Why do you think he is persisting with uderperfomers? He is a selfish, arrogant man who will not accept blame for anything and that is why he will fail.

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16 Dec 2014 13:18:01
Fair replies guys.

I just said what I saw on the pitch.

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16 Dec 2014 13:32:00
Someone posted the other day how Chelseas backline were very vulnerable without matic and I agree utd defence would be awful only for Carrick stopping a lot in midfield city have big strong defensive minded midfielders before you even get to kompany more strength is needed in this area for us and at this moment Can must be ready to step in and show us why bayern didn't want to lose him.

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Ok it is pretty simple from my point of view Rodgers does not make the selections alone.
Now if you have primary targets you go all in or else stop trying to look big. Borini, Mignolet etc etc were not the primary targets. Mkhitaryan, Willian, Costa all were primary targets. We missed on them. Who is at fault. Rodgers? Or the owners and the committee who are not getting primary targets?
As Neville said, if we really want to compete we need to splash money, not beat around the bush.
I've been saying all along 2 years ago after we bought Sturridge and Coutnho, that all we needed was another world class player. Did we get one? No. And now we lost Suarez(who most of you wanted gone because of his antics and because he was "damaging" the club), what a load of rubbish.
The owners, BR and the committee should all sit down and take a hard look of themselves and say what they want to do with this club. All are at fault, not just Rodgers. They just don't know how to spend 100 mil pounds.

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{Ed001's Note - Borini was a primary target.}

Pirate, let it go. BR is the sole responsible for the debacle we have become. He bought the players, picks the team, picks the tactics. No DOF or owners interfering w/ him nor his work (I wish they did atm). The only on who thinks he is free of any blame is BR himself which says it all really. Don`t b in that camp because it is a deluded place to be.

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17 Dec 2014 12:21:21
redohio, you clearly have no clue. There is a committee in place and they are all giving opinions. Rodgers is just a piece of the jigsaw. From the owners down to the scouters all are at fault. And yes even Rodgers. But certainly I'm not in the camp who throws everything at Rodgers.
Suarez alone didn't give us any 2nd place before last year

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16 Dec 2014 06:33:35
Honestly speaking I don't see the owners sacking rodgers in mid season. Maybe he could be axed in the summer but not in january. the owners need to give some dateline to brendan .

1. well at least 5th/6th position in league.
2.Win one of the league or FA cup
3. Win the europa league & qualify for CL.

If brendan fails to achieve those just sack him and bring someone better. And in this period the owners should concentrate on stadium rebuilding & forming a strong transfer and scouting system, appointing a DOF etc.etc.

And what should be our motto for january transfer ? well we need to try to sell at least few players who are nothing for good under rodgers.
1.borini
2.balotelli
3.enrique

If they can be sold with a decent quid invest on a GK(neto/romero), a striker(lacazette/bony/cisse/bemba ba) & if possible on a left back(antonelli).
if possible bring back coates or illori from loan.give rossieter, texeira, sinclair/suso/yesil few games.

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Collins, none of that is going to happen in the January transfer window. Enrique will be difficult to offload considering how poor a player he is and hardly played in the last 2 years. Balotelli if he leaves will be at a huge loss while Borini may not have any takers apart from a loan move. All 3 will likely leave in the summer, not next month. If Lucas ends up leaving in Jan (hope not), then i would invest in a quality GK and ask for money for a striker from the owners.

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16 Dec 2014 08:04:29
I go along with Eds and believe under normal circumstances he wouldn't be sacked till summer.
It makes no sense to sack him midway financially. It would bring quiet a lot of mess.
But if we loose against Bournemouth by some margin and then go down at home against Arsenal, things might change

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He has already lost the dressing room, we need to act now.

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I agree with Harry, and I do believe losing both games might change it too.

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He has to go if we lose at Bournemouth or Arsenal.
But I can't see why he can't go mid season? Is it only pay off FSG want to avoid?
Way things are going we could finish say 14th? Lower? Any new manager could lose star players and have no attraction (Europe) no money and complete rebuild.
Someone comes in now, could still finish top four as we do have quality players, we are only about 9 points off, with right man and getting the results we should get maybe a cup.

This would lead to players seeing light at the end of the tunnel, success and chance. Plus the new boss can see what he's got, what he needs.

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16 Dec 2014 10:45:51
Borini does not want to leave. Ed002 said we would be willing to settle for half of what we paid for balotelli if we wanted to sell and who will want to by Enrique?

The likelyhood of FSG making any money available in January is a big fat nil.

Win the FA Cup and Europa League? Are you living in La la land perhaps?

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I blame sturridge its all his fault.

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After sayin there is unrest in the DR, BR now says it is not true yet he said it on Sun. For the love of God and LFC, FSG should sack this guy ASAP!

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16 Dec 2014 06:00:19
Remember the days when we relied on Torres and Gerrard? Two players.
Then it was Suarez/Studge. Two players.
Now we are relying on a 19/20 year old. The poor kid, i feel sorry for him. Instead of being able to play off others he's being made to try and carry the team. At least when we relied on a single player in the past (Gerrard) they were established, not kids still learning there trade. 120 mill spent and we are relying on a kid. Not good enough, by any streatch of the imagination.

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Yeah, figures. £120 million spend in the summer and we put Sterling out to dry.

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16 Dec 2014 07:51:30
He should be carrying a clipboard and learning, not carrying the weight of the team.

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16 Dec 2014 08:06:27
120 million spend which wasn't needed. Instead of bringing players as good as Suarez and Sturridge we bought quiet a lot of decent players.
This is the difference between us and Chelsea or city. They always replace their players with a better pedigree.

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Cos we have a manager who would rather hide behind the poor perf of a 20yr old child rhan take responsibility for the shambles that happened during the game. W/ BR, you would think he was manager in name only and does nothing because he is so quick to absorb himself from the debacle we have become YET is quick to take all the credit for every good thing that happens to us which thanks to him, is becoming very few and far between

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16 Dec 2014 00:48:23
Season's Greetings to all the Eds and fellow reds.

Well it's 16 league games played, with 7 lost already, and approaching Christmas in the bottom half of the table.

So far this season we haven't had much to be celebrating, and I was just thinking - back in the 1930s - 50s or thereabouts, we had the likes of Preston & Bolton who were very successful with Nat Lofthouse, Tom Finney etc. But where are they these days - actually not done anything to shout about for over a 100 years. I just wonder if we could go the same way. Just imagine not winning the title again over the next 100 years.

I read an article on why Liverpool might never win the league again, and it was all based in the main on how much money the top teams have these days. It actually stated that Liverpool are a 6th / 7th / 8th placed team
based on their financial standing over the last few years, and that last year we did, in fact, massively over achieve.

If we carry on like we have been doing so far this season we look more like a lower table team.

City, Chelsea and Utd + probably Arsenal and Tottenham are way ahead of us in terms of our financial standing, so not looking too bright for us going forward unless we manage to bring through
some excellent youngsters.

I'm just thinking aloud, so thought I would share my thoughts.

KBL

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7 league games with Lucas starting DM, 1 defeat, interested why he's only started 7?

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16 Dec 2014 10:11:33
Coz, Lucas and Gerrard won't work in the middle together unless you push Gerrard to a CAM.

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Lucas should be playing every game. We should always play our best player for the position. That's been Brendans downfall this season

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Then bench Gerrard - simples

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16 Dec 2014 11:08:51
Jimney

Gerrard is the leading goal scorer this season. Surprised right?
And I don't think the new manager would bench him either unless you are bloody big name in the business.

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Leading scorer because he takes every free kick, penalty and plays just about every game for 90 mins.

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16 Dec 2014 13:22:09
Swis

Poor reply, he hasn't had a single penalty all season.
2. Free kick is a skill, you have to master the art. It's sheer brilliance. Gerrard and only Gerrard could do it in the current team and I challenge the rest if you could bring one name.
3. He is CM and hardly a player leads in goal scoring charts.

Bring up some better excuse mate.

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Balotelli and Lambert are both pretty handy on free kicks (one of few things I'll say nice about Mario). He scored 3 from the spot last season and 4 free kicks, Lambert had 3 penalties and 2 free kicks.

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15 Dec 2014 23:59:09
Hi eds just a thought could it be that FSG are waiting to sack BR as they know the rest of Europe has a winter break and would allow other teams to get a manager in

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{Ed002's Note - No.}

15 Dec 2014 23:39:48
Hi eds
am I right in thinking if we finish 8th this season but win the Europa league we'll still be in the champions league next year?

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{Ed002's Note - Yes.}

Wishfull thinking the way things are going so far this season.

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16 Dec 2014 08:07:41
Couldn't beat QPR and Sunderland and expecting us to beat Roma and other biggies?

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16 Dec 2014 10:24:36
If sturridge gets bk playing and Brendan sorts out the defence gives can a run in midfield I think we can beat anyone in that comp I was glad city stayed in the cl though over 2 legs I think we would have really struggled with them.

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Don`t hold your breathe w/ BR sorting the defence. He hasn`t sorted the defence out since he got here and it is not when he is virtually on the sacking block, that he will do it.

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15 Dec 2014 23:19:57
Hi eds. What would you do with raheem sterling because he hasn't scored in 21 games now and his crossing and shooting looks below par to say the least. Personally i think he needs better coaching but a lot of people are saying sell him espically now he has stalled on contract

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{Ed002's Note - Nothing in the short-term.}

I will never blame a 20 yr old kid for us losing a game. I will however, blame a clueless manager for placing so much pressure on said kid in a bid to mask his own failings as a manager and as a eans of not tking responsibility for the mess he has caused.

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Sell only if he doesn't want to stay, you can't force him to stay.

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I would not be too worried if Sterling left. We already have some ready made replacements in the Academy in Jordon be and Ojo to take his place at a fraction of his wages, and use the 35-40 million we could get to sign a quality GK and CDM.

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16 Dec 2014 07:55:38
sell our best player , our best chance of a goal !

Sorry that's crackers , he is our only decent attacking option at present . He is a kid who has been propping up our team at times . I think we should get of his back & support him!

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No way would I blame Sterling for anything. He is an excellent young talent being completely mismanaged and played out of position. It was said on the other day. All we do is pass it to Sterling, hope for the best, he loses it, repeat.

You can't put that on a 20 year olds shoulders. He is in a really bad spell of form and should be dropped for his own protection. Rodgers is happy to continue to play underperformers because it takes the heat off of him. That isn't the players fault. They're not being managed.

However, If Sterling wants to start demanding mega bucks way before he is worth it then i wouldn't care if he was sold if we get a good price. We have more talented players in the academy and plenty of replacements in the squad like Markovic, Ojo, Ibe, Teixeira, Coutinho, Suso etc.

The only reason it looks like we rely on him is because Rodgers is clueless enough to put all the presure on him week in week out.

I really rate Sterling but he is not a goalscorer and he is not worth the wages he is rumoured to be holding out for.

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16 Dec 2014 13:27:56
Who are the under performers Adam?
Take out Allen, Johnson and Skretel and rest 8 are your boyhood heroes, aren't they?
How many goals have those scored till now?

Do you honesty think it's the manager who instruct all the 7 players to pass to Sterling and then keep quiet?

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