Liverpool Banter Archive February 17 2014

17 Feb 2014 19:27:47
Nice to see both Ilori and Suso playing so well for their loan teams. Both are playing major parts in Grenanda's and Almeria's survival in the top flight.

This will only strengthen them for next season, and in turn strengthen us.

Really hope they get their chance next year. If not another season loan would be better than selling either of them on. They both have great ability and will only get better. Youth is on their side so if they are to be loaned again, a team that could accommodate both would be very welcome.

Out of all our loanees I think these two have the best chance of breaking through.
I feel all of Reina, Assiaidi, Robinson and Wisdom wil all leave this summer. The only reason I include Wisdom is his size, his favoured position is centre half and I just don't think he will get that chance at Liverpool. I feel Borini could get another chance next season. He's done fairly well at Sunderland since Poyet arrived.

His 6'1, same as Carra. His going nowhere.

I;ve stood next to Wisdom at a friends bbq. He's not 6'1

18 Feb 2014 12:27:37
Andre Wisdom is 186cm tall or, 6ft 1inch. Whichever you prefer. The myth of him being short came about because he was 5ft 11inches when he made his first team debut. You have to consider that men don't stop growing until they are 21 years old. Martin kelly grew 3 inches in the same period of time and Ryan Shawcross apparently grew 5 inches between 20 and 21 years old resulting in serious muscular issues. Not sure how true the Shawcross thing is as it's just a regurgitated story my mate told me, but Wisdom is not short anymore. He is the same height as Carragher, taller than Puyol, Toure, Collocini, Cannavaro etc. Plus he's built like a train.

YNWAdam

Bobatron, were you maybe standing on a box? LFC website states Wisdom is 1.86m. 6'1" is 73". Which is 73x2.54cm = 185.4cm. ?

Thinking long term Sahko and Ilori would be ideal partnership. Ilori is like agger but waaay faster and right footed. Hope he realises his potential.

Maybe Bob was on the top step? ;0)

No I was stood next to him on some ''crazy paving'' he's not 3 inches taller than me.

I would maybe go with YNWA Adam's explanation, but in the summer last year, he was definitely on a par with me height wise. Maybe that tesco finest beef burger gave him that protein burst he needed?

17 Feb 2014 15:15:26
How ya doing Eds. Bit quite on here of late other than the discussions on the peno not given yesterday. Are you feeling positive that we can push on now with only focus and cement top 4 placing? You think we can and should aim higher than 4th?

{Ed001's Note - I don't see that we should aim to do anything other than win the next game and see where we end up. I really don't like this talk of aiming for a specific position. It affects players mentally, increasing pressure for no real reason. I really couldn't care less about 4th, if we aren't winning the league then it is simply never going to matter to me the position, so long as the team is looking better than it was the previous season.}

European nights at anfield though ed. can't say you don't miss them. Last year when Zenit came to anfield it was magic and reminded me what we are missing out on. i'm desperate for more tbh

Hello ED01, so if we don't win the league you couldn't care less if we finish 4th or 5th?

{Ed001's Note - not really, no. Does it really make a difference? I don't like being in Europe by a back door.}

Wow that's incredibly naive Ed, if we don't win the league (which isn't going to happen) it's extremely important to finish in the top 4

{Ed001's Note - no it is not, except financially. It certainly won't affect anything else. Nothing naive, that is insulting to suggest I am naive, it is simply that I don't like finishing second.}

The fall out if we don't get CL this season could be huge though Ed! We'd all rather win, but we will be further away next season if we finish 5th than we would be if we finish 4th.

We would be less attractive to top level players, have less money to buy them, potentially lose Suarez. whilst 4 other teams pull away that little bit further from us.

It is a shame that finances are so important these days, but unfortunately CL has such a huge financial effect that we simply have to qualify to have the resources to kick on.

Ash

But better players will want to come to us, and 4th is a better way of making progress than finishing 5th, otherwise how are we going to get that title?

{Ed001's Note - but I won't care, nor will I celebrate mediocrity.}

It's not meant as an insult Ed simply an observation. As you say financially it's hugely important but also in terms of keeping players and attracting players it's crucial.
I wish it weren't the case.
I wish winning a trophy were more important than finishing fourth because winning trophies should be what it's all about but the reality is champions league football has become more important and that's just the way it is

{Ed001's Note - I wasn't asked that, so your whole point is irrelevant.}

Perhaps Ed001 is being subjective here? I think he meant that he doesn't want the team he supports to finish second best. It is what he WANTS.

I agree winning trophies is what the game is all about, but if we can't win it, we have to make sure we get the next best thing, which is going as far as we can and continued improvement on the way.

{Ed001's Note - exactly mate.}

Glad that is cleared up now Ed001. Hopefully the other posters understand what you mean now.

No1 jumps from 7th to winning the league. But we ARE heading towards where we want to be. IMO I believe if we had defenders we'd of walked it this season

Hello again Ed01, I have agreed with approx 90% of your comments in the past 6 months or so (that's a lot more than all other Eds by the way) but can't agree with you here, at the end of the day only 1 club can win the league when around 3 or 4 think they have a divine right to win it and about the same number realistically have a chance to win it, there is a lot more than the position at stake, money (as you said) attracting players to improve our chances of winning the league in the future, building our fan base further etc etc.

{Ed001's Note - and? I don't see that has any relevance to my answer. Unless you all think we should just aim for 4th each season and then wonder why the players all struggle the moment we hit the top and fall away? Just win the next game and the position will take care of itself.}

I think there has been a misunderstanding here, or maybe I am wrong, but come the end of the season, Ed0001 will be happy if the players get the highest possible position they can. If that is fourth, then I don't think the Ed will be unhappy with it. Am I right in thinking this?

{Ed001's Note - yep.}

No Ed, I don't think we should aim for 4th at all, but as Mick Jagger said" you can't always get what you want",
I bet the got his fair share though,

Aim for 1st and see where we end up I say! We are in the mix with under 1/3rd of the season left so no reason not to.

Correct me if I am wrong, but I think Ed001 is just saying finishing 4th is nothing to shout about. I see his point, you don't look back ten years and think "Remember when we finished 4th, that was a good year." You remember cup wins and titles. No one remembers the losers. Also that setting targets only adds pressure, if you just focus on small goals (eg winning the next game) the bigger goals take care of themselves.

{Ed001's Note - exactly, Paisley never once set out to win the league ever. He set out to win the next game.}

Don't agree again ed (your average is reducing by the minutes)Paisley will obviously have set out to win the league, he just didn't say so

{Ed001's Note - not true, and I would believe his word over yours.}

Ed also said there is no difference to him in finishing 4th or 5th, come on get real will yous all agreeing or justifying that comment, ed, respect as I hinted earlier but can't agree at all, peace!

{Ed001's Note - what is the difference to me? None. We have achieved nothing finishing 4th. I am embarrassed by people who seem to think mediocre finishes are worth anything.}

I see where ed is coming from Yes champions league is good and great finishing fourth from this position with only league games to play is still abit of a let down why shouldn't we aim for the league as much as it might be a step to far this season we shouldn't just aim for the top 4 once the europa league starts again we should kick on from spurs and focus on the league

I agree that finishing second third or fourth is nowhere. Except that if we finish in any of those positions then to achieve that from seventh shows great progress has been made and the bonus is that we get into European competition. I don't believe that is the back door though. It is the set down qualification rules. The biggest bonus though in today's game is that financially it helps us to be stronger which opens up opportunities to sign strong players.

ED01, Sgt red, piledriver, Jamesy & AG nobody is saying aim for 4th, we should aim for first but so do all the big clubs and only 1 can win it. Simple question to all of yous, would you prefer to finish 4th or 5th?
ED01, I don't for 1 minute think you are niave ( but Chris Tamworth I understand why you said it) but I do think you are being stubborn. And you think Paisley didn't set out to win the league? Niether of us know what was in Paisleys mind but i'd bet my bottom dollar he set out to win the league EVERY year he was in charge, after all he did say that LFC existed to win trophies.

{Ed001's Note - yes, Liverpool existed to win trophies, he bought players that he felt were good enough to win them, but you don't set out to win the league at the start of a season. They expected to win the league, but it was never set out as a target. Ask anyone involved back then, it was all about the next game, not the title. Once you start taking your eyes off the present and beginning focusing on the possible futures is when you drop silly points.}

Another thing boys, we finished FOURTH in 2003/4, qualified for champions league and won it, tell me yous would forfeit that because we never qualified by finishing first, and if any of you say you would I've got one thing to say to yous B******S

@Alanhuyton

That 2003/04 season would not have been regarded as a success. The Ed is talking for the present, not what the Champions League offers in the future. I get it, I don't understand why you don't?

Piledriver, 2003/4 season was a means to an end, and end that saw us win the champions league and keep big ears forever, would you now prefer that we finished 5th, 6th, 7th etc in 2003/4 or what?
I would like to point out that as I said at the start of this thread that I have agreed with approx 90% of what ED01 has said over the past 6 months or but not on this occasion.
Some people on here really do have to stop treating Eds like gods that are never wrong.

Ed, I can't believe you believe what you are saying, to clarify, in your words

They (the club) expected to win it

You yourself aim to win it (Not settle for mediocrity)

But it was never set out as a target

Total contradiction, you aim and expect but do not set out to win it?

We could go on all week at this rate so that's my final say on this matter, let the other posters decide, I expect a reply from you trying to justify your comments because I have learned that you are stubborn. I suppose its a bit like expecting Howard Webb to come out and admit he got it wrong on Sunday, not going to happen is it!

{Ed001's Note - it is not a contradiction, it seems to be going over your head this whole concept of aiming only to win the next game. It is not as difficult to understand as you are making it seem.}

To be fair to the ed here Alan, Rodgers has actually come out and proposed a target of 76 points for 4th. An average of two per game.
That never happened in the past mate, because it was never possible to say that with such precision.
You're twisting the argument there.
What once was failure, is now success.
That's the point for me.

I agree in a way Ed. I agree that if we don't win anything then there is nothing in particular to get excited about. But I do think it is crucial to finish top 4. If we want to win the league, we need the best players to suit the club, a great manager and a great mentality. I believe right now, we have two of them things, all we need is a couple of more quality players. These quality players want Champions League football, and if we get 4th, we can provide this for them. From there, we can build a team capable of winning the league and other trophies, which is where your point comes in. Fair enough, 4th place only really provides us with those European nights we crave and we don't win silverware for doing so, but it gives us a platform to push on and win those trophies. As you say taking things on a game by game basis is the best way of doing this, but I think it is important to get 4th place as well. But yes, it is nothing compared to winning a trophy.

Hope I haven't misunderstood the argument but that's just how I interpreted it.
Cheers,

Bayern last season in the Champions league, they humiliated Arsenal at the Eimerites (spelling) then only went out with an attitude not to get defeated and almost snatched defeat in the jaws of victory so psychologically it is wrong to set a long term target.
Every season you see a West Brom, Swansea, Southampton, Sunderland go on a very good run and then get to February and die away.
Spurs for about 3 seasons in a row lost their bite after January, when a title looked a possibility and didn't even make the champions league.

Juicer I am twisting nothing mate, I said from minute 1, 4th was better than 5th, Ed said it didn't matter were we finished if it wasnt 1st, are you telling me you agree with that? a simple yes or no will suffice.

I'd rather we competed to win the European Cup of course mate.

Top of the league would be amazing! But champions league is the bread and butter.
Sorry but that's how it is.

17 Feb 2014 13:32:09
Our defence is the biggest concern, and what we should focus on for the summer transfer window.
Most people would agree that Brendan Rodgers considers our best defence is Glen Johnson, Martin Skrtel, Daniel Agger and Jose Enrique.
They're cover is Martin Kelly, Kolo Toure, Mamadou Sakho and Aly Cissokho. With Jon Flanagan competing with all full backs for a starting role.
On the face of it, that's a solid structure but it has it's flaws. Liverpool's supposed favoured line up is too attacking.
Each player has the potential to carry the ball into the opponents half with a surge of power and pace. Each player has the potential to score, Skrtel and Agger from set pieces or Johnson and Enrique cutting in.
This is good but it leaves our defence in a weak position. Not every time do these players surges or attempts at scoring lead to goals, they usually lead to an opponents counter attack. Applying the pressure where the player that just attacked should be.
As well as that Martin Skrtel has a tendency to drop deep and tackle the player when they are going to shoot instead of doing it before hand. Allowing the counter attack to become more of a threat by the opponents team pushing up the field in support.
Also, our defence is incredibly injury prone, Johnson, Agger, Enrique, Kelly and Sakho are expected to pick up an injury throughout a season.
Which leaves our most reliable defence as Flanagan, Skrtel, Toure and Cissokho, the defence that played the last four premier league games.

First of all I think we should start with full backs, take from the big clubs that are currently not playing quality players. Micah Richards or Toby Alderweireld for right back and Ashley Cole or Fabio Coentrao for left back. In these four players you are looking at a better defensive full back than Glen Johnson and Jose Enrique respectively. Providing quality competition for a starting spot, just like we have in our centre backs.

Johnson is poor has been for years

Sakho has not been brought in to cover.

We could have trouble shifting Johnson.

{Ed001's Note - only another year left on his contract.}

LB: Enrique seems to be injury prone but is a very good defender, Sissokho can do an average job but doesn't offer a huge amount of attack or defence.

RB: Johnson looks very bored and I think he was taking his place for granted, he has the talent and experience to be the player we need but needs to improve if he wants to keep his place. Kelly seems injury prone but has the potential to be better than Johnson if he can hit a run of form.

Flanno can play both sides and has suprised everyone, he is consistent, confident, energetic and a great defender. Need another player like him in the summer, just hope he can keep it up.

CB: Skrytle is a brilliant defender but his box defending is very questionable, all this grabbing of players is going to get noticed one day and he will cost us points if he doesn't stop. Agger has always been injury prone but is probably our best defender, just needs to get back into the swing of things however once again, he isn't great at defending in the box. Sakho looks brilliant and in his first season has done quite well, just hope he can shake this injury off and become a rock for us. Toure is a perfect replacement for Carra, he has done us proud most of the season but has been unlucky to conceed those 2 goals, its a bummer but a man of his experience should be able to overcome that and not loose confidence, 1 more mistake and I think he will be dropped as we cannot afford that at this stage of the season.

I don't think we would have trouble selling Johnson, I just don't think (much like Reina) we'll get much for him. Maybe 4M or thereabouts if we're lucky?

It doesn't matter who is at the back,
They have all been tried, as a unit they
are not good enough they on average concede 2 a game.

I would also point out that Liverpool has basically brought in the replacement of Reina, Carragher and Agger with Mignolet, Toure and Sakho.
Arguably the best defensive players we had at the club. So time will tell if we get a Johnson, Skrtel or Enrique replacement in the next transfer window.
Obviously it is our defence that is holding us back in the Premiership. Suarez and Sturridge are the two top goalscorers, Gerrard has the most assists, Coutinho has the most clear chances and Henderson has the most interceptions. So attack and midfield is solid.

Skrtel can not read the game to save his life, takes up poor positions, is slow. He will be gone this summer, he is NOT in BR's starting 11 if all fit.

Skrtel needs someone vocal beside him to dictate the positions he takes up because, he drops all of the time (last week for Arsenal Goal) comes across at bad times (Man City away springs to mind instantly) and isn't so dominant in the air or quick enough to compensate for these flaws.

17 Feb 2014 12:40:12
Joe Allen played well yesterday. He looked sharp, made some good interceptions and was willing to get stuck in. He also never panics when surrounded by opposing players- he just calmly waits until a pass becomes available, and then plays it. He looks a really decent player to me.

Finally, someone who REALLY watched the game. Allen was very composed in possession and BARELY lost possession regardless of who was around him. He`s great at doing the small things and that`s why NEVER gets the credit he deserves atimes.

I have to agree with you both, we have only seen glimpses of JA at his best. Will only get better imho. Best years are ahead of him too, he reminds me of a young Paul Scholes and if he turns out to be half as good I'll be happy with that.

He will be a good player in time and if he gets a good run injury free. Not sure if he will be the same level as Scholes but I think he will come good.

I also agree. Seen plenty of comments saying he was terrible and I really couldn't understand them. It left me wondering if I'd watched the right game as I thought he was very good!

I also agree he just needs to adjust to injuries stay fit and become vital to our team

I've been one of his biggest critics, but he played well yesterday.

Allen at the minute reminds me of Henderson before he went up a level, is doing a steady job in midfield but not taking games by the scruff of the neck at this moment in time. I think once he hones the qualities needed he will go up a level. Hopefully that will start next season of even better before!

What I want to see from Joe is a bit more muscle on him as he works his socks off but is frequently outmuscled when trying to regain possession, forward incisive passes and the confidence to beat a man going forward. He has great feet, workrate and balance so he is not far off and has ample base qualities.

Joe Allen offers something the others in midfield don't. He's not flash in possession but keeps the ball moving with a lot of short, sharp passes often under pressure from the opposition.
His movement off the ball, trying to create an angle to receive a pass often goes unnoticed.
His style of play is similar to the current 'Barcelona' style which we know Brendon Rodgers is an admirer of.
I believe he has the technical ability to succeed, BR must know what his attitude is like. In time, if he can improve his final ball, finish off the chances he has been missing he will come good. Hopefully!

17 Feb 2014 11:56:49
Great show by the boys. Nice to see Arsenal defenders blow their cheeks in relief, having survived our attacks. We have moved up a tier, it is plain to see. This was another match we could have won 5-1. Never mind! The boys were brilliant! In this form top4 is a certainty and the league will not be that far behind.
It is a blessing in disguise, as much as I would've loved to see our boys at Wembley, the league is much more important for us, at this point of time.
BR is doing a great job and the team look MEAN!
We have moved up a tier, I no longer fear any team and that is down to the everyone at the club. You made me proud yesterday, boys. Thank you.

YNWA

I agree. We were awso me and we dominated them to the point of them pooping in their pants each time we penetrated their box with slick passing and movement. If we beat the Swans on sun and Everton tie or lose to chelsea, they might be semi-eliminated from top 4 contention. In fact, if we win, whatever result in the everton-chelsea game will benefit us regardless.

17 Feb 2014 11:32:44
Sturridge was poor yesterday and he knew it. When all the players had left the pitch he walked over to us all and gave his shirt to a fan. He looked proper gutted. Great reaction by him. Great player, just a bad day at the office. We all have them

You my son, need to take your head out of your ass! Liverpool were great yesterday and will finish way above your so called (on loan) team, Lol!
Must be getting to you that you come on our site and talk out of your ass.
Enjoy boy, it's going to get a lot worse for you team of loanees!
ENJOYEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!

{Ed001's Note - I think you might have replied to the wrong post mate.}

Sturridge poor?

I know he missed a few but I thought he was the best player on the pitch yesterday, along with Suarez and Sterling.

I agree. He sat on the pitch an looked dejected and sad. As a striker who missed those chances and lost, you always have this feeling that its your fault your team lost even though nobody`s blame you for it. As a former striker, I went thru that a few times and u can`t wait for the next game to make amends. He has our support and I`m sure BR will massage his bruised confidence and get him going again. We were class at the emirates.

Sturridge didn't have his best game but it shows the type of lad he is becoming. last year or two he would have walked off and thought ah well with his its all about me attitude. Yesterday at the end it shows to me he cares more now about the team and club, also shows what he expects from himself. Glad we have him. Things are looking positive for us for the future let's just get that final push now for the CL place.

You could tell he was gutted at the end if the game when he was head between knees sat on the pitch. He played well but too flashy with his 2nd and 3rd effort and it didn't come off for him. If it goes in like it did v Villa then its amazing but he should have hit the 3rd attempt instead of trying to round the keeper, who also had a great game for Arsenal and read him well in fairness.

He will make up for it against the Swans all being well! Not that he needs to, he has been immense this season!

17 Feb 2014 11:25:36
the dust as settled now, it was a pen no doubt, but if webb would of had a perfect game he would off send gerard off.so what would you rathr have.a replay and gerard misses games

I have said all day Arsenal have the squad to cope with more games than us. Their team yesterday was a suposed to be a second string but the only weak link on paper was Sanogo and he played well.

I think we would miss Gerrard in the next few league games if he was sent off so really Webb has done us a favour.

I would rather go out than have a replay but we had enough chances to win the game outright yesterday, even without the penalty.

17 Feb 2014 10:57:31
@JimmyHustle. Thanks for offering help with the Cardiff game tickets.
Have provided email i'd to Ed02 :) (how kind of you 2 guys).
Please let me know if tickets can be available

Hey mate - I am still waiting for confirmation. As you can imagine (or maybe can't), a lot of lads in Cardiff are Liverpool supporters so the tickets are wanted badly.

I will do all I can to get them for you though, and will give you a definite answer as soon as I can. I will certainly aim for the end of this week (can't remember your travelling days)

Cheers

Hi Jimmy:) Cheers . Thanks again amte.
its 15 - 29th March, I have weekend of Cardiff vs LFC to enjoy
22nd March .

And sure even in Cardiff LFC will be madly supported
even Down in India its a massivly supported club

17 Feb 2014 10:20:02
BANTER PLEASE/

Good performance, bad result. I know Sturridge must be gutted as he knows he should have buried a couple and on another day the timing of Fabianski's save with his foot would have been too slow to stop suarez's shot. An YES we should have had a second penalty . BUT we should just take it as a blessing in disguise. I would have loved for Liverpool to WIN the FA Cup but if we were not going to would prefer to get knocked out now rather than play 3 more games(if there aren't any replays) and lose in the final.
We have 12 games to go, not extra games or potential replays. Its all set up and we need to try to win every game.
YNWA

17 Feb 2014 09:15:29
I know people will be gutted about yesterdays result and going out the cup but you have to take stock and really think about it.
We still played well and should earnt a replay, something I would have hated, and Sturridge had an off day. We can continue our league form unfaltered by what happened in the cup, and Arsenal simply have more fixtures.
I understand that its the FA Cup and its meant to be this massively prestigious event worldwide, but that isn't really reflected in the prize for winning it.
Even if you go all the way and win it the monetary prize is not even a weeks wages for a top prem club and it gets you long thursday night trips to deepest darkest Russia, Ukraine, Turkey before a league game at the weekend. Does the above not mean it is simply the same as the League Cup? You get the same prize essentially, and if your a top 6 prem club, pushing for top 4, then the league is more important.
Just compare the two, finish 5/6th with the FA Cup, yes you have silverware but you now have to shop at the second tier of talent, play ridiculous away legs and in terms of monegary prizes you can't even pay your staff.
Now, finish 3rd/4th, no silverware but your now in the most prestigious club competition in the world with a minimum £30m tv deal and are now able to attract the best players in the world with extra money to buy and pay them.
Unfortunately the FA Cup is billed as prestigious but in reality is just as Mickey Mouse as the League Cup.
I personally believe that winning the FA Cup should give the winner a place in the 3rd Qualifying round of the Champions League, instead of fourth.
The reason we have seen smaller teams win the FA Cup in recent years is down to the fact that by the time the 4th/5th round comes round the big teams are vying for other things. Some are hopeful of the Champions League. Some the Premiership, others top four. The only time this differs is when there's a big team clash such as City/Chelsea or Arsenal/Liverpool, and even then City and Arsenal both played weakened sides ahead of Champions League fixtures.

In summary, the FA Cup is not what it is billed to be, it is simply another distraction from bigger and better competitions, and winning it only promises the chore of long distance travel for next to no monetary reward the following season, which is how a businessman would view it, and unfortunately football clubs are businesses as well as a passion for millions, and until the reward for winning the trophy is as good as finishing in the Champions League places we will not be blessed with big teams offering it the respect we all think it deserves.

I think some of your post makes some decent point, but could you imagine wigan in the champions league over chelsea or arsenal?

I totally disagree with you. The FA cup is the 2nd biggest prize in our domestic game after a top 4 finish. Why not finish top 4 and win cup, then you don't play in Europa cup . Also think the likes of Suarez and Coutinio would love the atmosphere of a Wembley final

17 Feb 2014 10:27:15
The difference is that the big teams would put in better teams and performances in the FA Cup and a Wigan winning would be more unlikely, but the Cup would become the event it is billed as.
And if a team like Wigan or whoever did win it, they would still have to overcome the qualifying round, which these days include much bigger teams. If they genuinely got through into the group stage then they wouod have won the cup and qualified by rights and thoroughly deserved their place, and in your example Arsenal would have not finished in the top 3 or won the cup and therefore would not have any right to the Champions League.
The only way 4th place would be hsed as Champs League spot would be if one of top 3 teams won the FA Cup.
I think it would work much better.

What team did City put in that final? The champions league is meant to be about the best teams facing off against 1 another. Wigan certainly wouldn't be that. They've proved they have neither the depth or ability to compete at that level. They are barely staying alive in the championship, having played in this years europa league.

It would be embarrassing. This weekend fixtures pitted the top 4 against each other.so 1/2 the strong competion is out before the quarter finals

17 Feb 2014 12:29:48
JW, if the FA Cup was the second biggest prize, as it is supposed to be, then the reward for winning it would be as such. Unfortunately the prize is around 30 times less than getting into the Champions League.
So it is the second biggest trophy but in terms of biggest prizes you have to say that 1st 2nd 3rd and 4th in the league are worth more, and even winning the Championship play off final is worth more than the FA Cup!
Finishing in top 4 and winning the Cup is obviously preferable to finishing top 4 without the cup. Think about the possibility of replays and double legged semi finals, extra injuries. Just look at the weakened line ups from Arsenal and City, then tell me they see the FA Cup as the 2nd biggest prize in our domestic season!
I get the clamour for silverware from fans, I am a fan but also a realist, top 4 is worth more financially and gives the club a better foundation to improve and move forward than the FA Cup does, in its current form.

17 Feb 2014 13:29:53
Im not saying my idea of Champions League for winning the FA Cup is the best idea, was just an idea.
But I think all must agree that winning the FA Cup should be worth more somehow to make it the prestigious event it is supposed to be.
The FA Cup is historic and a tradition but has failed to move with the times, and has failed to adapt since the introduction and then development of the european leagues.
Perhaps the answer is that the Europa League needs to be worth more hence increasing the value of winning the FA Cup, but still, you get Europa League from winning the inferior League Cup.

It could simply be worth more in terms of cash value for winning. Right now I think it's what, a little less than 2M or so for winning? Or enough to pay our wage bill for all of a week or so? Try to somehow get it to be worth 10M-ish and I think you'd see an improvement in the competition.

17 Feb 2014 08:53:11
In the end the facts are - Arsenal made 7 changes to their side for yesterday's game which is understandable in view of a very important CL game this week.

BR made 3 wholly unnecessary changes, which I really didn't understand - why change a winning team, particularly when this was our only real chance of silverware this season

They had 2 shots on goal and scored twice. We just cannot defend anymore.

Please don't get too carried away by the performance - they got a 2 goal lead and then sat back to defend, conceding all the possession to us.

We were in effect playing their 2nd string.

Very, very disappointed that once again, we have failed.

KBL

BR made three changes which were:

Goalkeeper to give Jones a game.

Agger for Toure, who has been poor in recent weeks so I don't blame him and Agger is the vice captain.

Allen for Henderson, who has a wrist injury and has played every league game this season so deserved a rest.

Arsenal have such a big squad that they can afford to make so many changes and still have a strong team. It was by no means a second string.
The only surprise was Sanogo who actually gave our CB's a hard time.

Any other day we would have been 2-0 up in the first 10 mins and had a second penalty.

Fair points Jay.

I just worry that we have not been able to open up a points cushion on Spurs - or Everton really. So it will be touch and go for 4th, so the FA Cup was an opportunity for a trophy at least.

KBL

KBL we have an 8 point gap over Everton. That's not too bad and a three point gap over spurs and just four off top.

And a good that might as well be an extra point.

17 Feb 2014 08:14:48
I didn't get to see the game yesterday, but I read the match report and caught a few highlightes. Well done to the lads, BR doesn't take losing too well, I guess he's as passionate as any fan .
Last season at this time and we lost to Arsenal, i'd be furious. But this year I really couldn't have a care in the world, cause I know that the next team we play will get a bashing to remember. Were a work in good progress, keep it up lads.

17 Feb 2014 02:14:52
For me, Suarez is wasted out wide. He needs to play more central with Sturridge and Sterling at either side.

Red Rum

Sturridge would be wasted wide more than Suarez is.

Yeah Strurridge had an off day.

BR should have taken off him in second half and put Suarez in the middle and played Mosses out wide.

Sometimes BR need to make these adjustments Suarez this goalless streak is not good.

I think it is to control the midfield and still be attacking minded, but I agree Suarez is less influential out wide.

Against Swansea, hopefully, we go back to a 4-4-2/.

I believe we missed Henderson and the way he covers the wide area when Suarez drifts infield. His energy levels allow him to cover that half of the pitch.

I thought Allen played well yesterday however he seemed to play the role different to Hendo.
He was getting into advanced positions but very centrally. This was keeping Suarez outwide and with only Flanagan overlapping there wasn't much of a threat down that side.

Having said that Suarez still nearly scored three which just shows how high his standards are.