Liverpool Banter Archive July 17 2016

17 Jul 2016 22:45:45
Sounds like Liverpool will be being signing Augsburg's Ragnar Klavan. An experienced, thirty year old, central defender who comes from Estonia.

I don't really get it? Is Joe Gomez's injury really that severe or is this added padding at the back. I really hope this doesn't push Joe Gomez our of Liverpool as I honestly believe he could turn out to be a great player for us. A boy who can defend but also bring the ball out confidently, I've always felt more assured when I saw him running with the ball.

I'm not really sure how to take this news. We seem to be interested in a lot of experienced players from the German league. I know they will be there to offer experience and guide the younger players - filling in when necessary - but I hope they don't cause a promising youngster to leave the club due to lack of chances.

What is your thinking on this ED? I trust your opinion over my own on most occasions because you have a disturbing knack of being right.

{Ed002's Note - It means that Gomez has a bigger issue than we know, that Klopp is lying or that Gomez is lying. He was an Everton target in the past.}

17 Jul 2016 23:10:24
Any chance Everton will step up now we are interested? Can we let Everton know and see if they step in? Help please.

17 Jul 2016 23:13:04
Perhaps square tomato can shed some light if he is about. I also note that Ed002 has not advised there isn't any truth behind this rumour which speaks volumes.

17 Jul 2016 23:22:23
Perhaps this is our "Caulker" signing for this season expect him to play up front twice then disappear!

17 Jul 2016 23:34:13
Tbf sakho is injured and matip limped off today, maybe klopp is just worried about the reliability of 2 being fit.

17 Jul 2016 23:39:49
Which other experienced players from Germany are we being linked with?

18 Jul 2016 02:11:42
Square already poster earlier on.

I think sakho os off myself. Domt have a go I'm not saying I want him to but I don't see matip or lovren out of the side except injury, unless matips injury this afternoon is much worse than fesred, him and lovren look solid.

17 Jul 2016 18:10:49
Is not having European football really a benefit or just a myth? Like six group games makes a CL team worse off? Bigger squad to cope with more games, maybe better quality (? )

The time spent coaching and drills etc wouldn't that be more so, with more games?

Only downside is recovery, but I've not seen much of Messi, Xavi, Inesta, Ronaldo, Ramos etc need rests like the EPL players require. And then isn't that back to the squad note above?

It's a myth for me and we should be just as wary of teams in Europa and CL as anyother.

17 Jul 2016 18:44:39
Winter break makes a difference tbh. A lot of our top players played a full season, played in another summer tournament and then a gruelling preseason and then the start of another season. It's makes a difference not having European football, for teams that don't have the squads to compete at that level, and honestly that is definitely us at the moment. So it's not a benefit to teams like Arsenal, Chelsea, city etc but it's a benefit to us.

17 Jul 2016 18:45:37
Although I agree, don't forget these players in foreign leagues get breaks over Christmas between the group and knockout stages.

17 Jul 2016 19:26:44
Depends on the fitness of the individual players more I think.
I honestly think players in Europe tend to have better diets, lifestyles and therefore better fitness than those based in England.
I mean compare ronaldos stomach to rooneys then tell yourself that's because Ronaldo has Xmas off.

17 Jul 2016 19:27:33
Klopp has said during pre season already that they almost had no time to train last season. We had a long European season and 2 cup runs. Games midweek for a lot of them season. It makes a difference when a new manager is trying to learn about his players and get them to play how he wants. Going from game to game with the thoughts of who has most energy and least niggling injuries and with their main aim of not overworking players would have effected us.

17 Jul 2016 19:49:07
It's not just the winter break, Barcelona, Madrid and Bayern generally have about 10 competitive league games a season because their leagues are much weaker.
The rest of the time it's like shooting fish in a barrel for them.
Every game in the premier league is a physical battle.

17 Jul 2016 19:55:36
How can you possibly say the other leagues are weaker what makes you think the premiership is a stronger league than la liga. Is that because there were 2 spanish teams in the champions league final 3 spanish teams in Europa league semi finals. remember Seville haven't exactly been flying in la liga over the last few years yet still beat us.

17 Jul 2016 20:09:05
There isn't a more physically demanding league than the premier league but I wouldn't worry to much about whose making finals, every league has its strong periods.

05-10 wasn't it pretty much the English champions league. Before that Italy and now Spain and germsnt.

We will get stronger again and start making more finals.

17 Jul 2016 20:21:09
The premier lge is a far more physical lge . That's why it's more demanding.

17 Jul 2016 20:25:21
Peely, what Ron has said is not controversial or indeed that ground breaking. Most knowledgeable football fans know this, not least those in Spain, Germany, France etc. Those leagues tend to be dominated by a handful of teams, which is indicated by a simple wiki search of the league tables in Spain, France and Germany over the last few years.

Ed002 will no doubt put me straight here (please ma'am), but I also believe that the TV money in the EPL is shared much, much more proportionately than in other leagues. I believe, for example, that Real and Barcelona negotiate their own TV deals so they get the vast, vast majority of all TV money, making them able to compete for the best players and the majority of their competitors not.

We may have had the likely top 4 10 years ago - Man Utd, Chelsea, Arsenal and Us (happy days! ), but no longer. City have money, Spurs have money, West Ham are about to move into (I think) the second largest stadium by capacity in the EPL which will further boost their coffers, Leicester have the significant kudos of being the surprise champions. Even teams like Crystal Palace - minnows by comparison to us only a handful of seasons ago - are able to offer £30m plus for players due to the new TV deal.

Ron, and the majority of the sane, adult, football following world, recognise the truism that, for a large number of reasons (some of which I have identified above), the EPL has the greatest depth of competition of all of the European leagues. It's not like he's claiming the world is flat! Plus he's bought a 'Zeddicus' shirt, so his word is law 😉.

{Ed002's Note - The situation in Spain is changing. But the majority of sides want the "big sides" gone so they can have a more even playing field. That will include letting the "B" sides in to La Liga but not at the main stadia.}

17 Jul 2016 20:55:29
I don't know if anyone has mentioned this already but additional games can also lead to additional injuries, every game you play can lead to injury to a player (or more) and so 10 additional games can take it's toll on your squad if you are unfortunate.

Just throwing in another point.

17 Jul 2016 20:55:29
I don't know if anyone has mentioned this already but additional games can also lead to additional injuries, every game you play can lead to injury to a player (or more) and so 10 additional games can take it's toll on your squad if you are unfortunate.

Just throwing in another point.

17 Jul 2016 22:07:35
Cheers for clarifying Zeddicus 😉

Basically when I said weaker I meant "less competitive". No doubt la Liga sides have a lot of technical ability compared to the premier league, but 2 teams stand out and about 3 or 4 other teams occasionally provide opposition.
The Bundesliga is a bit ridiculous at the moment because 1 team has such a vast competitive advantage.

17 Jul 2016 22:23:54
how can you say two teams stand out when atletico is always so close and actually winning it . In England it was also three horse race (spurs, arsenal and leicster) . premier league is phisically strongest, most direct and has a lot of teams capable of hurting you with different styles of play so manager has to have players able to adapt to all circumstances but to say it is strongest it is just not fair. la liga has 10 good teams not just two, la liga teams are so good in european competitions and great club doesn't want excuses. We are Liverpool and we will be there again!

18 Jul 2016 00:08:21
La Liga probably do have 10 good teams in terms of European competition but do they really challenge Barcelona and Real in La Liga?

191
185
176
186
181

These are the combined points totals of those 2 teams for each of the past 5 seasons out of 228 and they score over 100 goals each every season.

18 Jul 2016 03:09:21
Tbh this winter break I just don't buy it.

If I run 10 miles every Wednesday and Saturday from januray to may is it really going to make a difference that I had a few weeks off for Christmas.

Ramsey, Allen, kanu, Williams, fonte, Cedric, payet, kosciely, sagna, giroud. All managed the semis at least and didn't have a winter break.

Its to easy to blame English success in general down to a few weeks off, but just not the problem.

18 Jul 2016 06:42:12
Tbh I've spoken to a few ex-pro's about the winter break and what they say is the biggest problem is the lack of recovery time from the little niggling injuries they pick up in matches. Not the injuries that keep them out for months, but the little knocks which we don't necessarily hear about.
Over the Christmas period it's not unusual to play 3-4 games in a week-10 days as opposed to having a fortnight off.
Then, if like last season, you go far in a domestic and European cup competition then you end up playing twice a week for the last 5 months. It's the lack of recovery time that takes its toll not '6 extra games' or whatever it is.
So I think not having European competition next season will help the team in the second half of the season.

{Ed001's Note - that is why you have a squad, to see you through busy periods. There is no need for a break.}

18 Jul 2016 09:50:16
It's alright Ron people will take one line of what you say twist it slightly and then argue that point till the cows come home even when it has nothing to do with what was said. Again he's referring to the distribution of quality rather than the overall quality of the top teams.

17 Jul 2016 17:44:58
Been watching some of the kids coming through the academy for a few years now. Watching today's game and I am impressed with the step up n class that some are showing. Woodburn and Kent showing very well. Hope that they, along with others continue the progress and we will have some great players in a couple of years. Time will tell I suppose but I am optimistic.

17 Jul 2016 17:52:24
The only worry I have with our kids is that the best of them are all attacking midfielders / wingers and we're well covered, even arguably have too many players, in that area in the first team, so there'll be tough decisions for the management to make.

Its not a problem for Woodburn because he's only 16, but Ojo, Kent and Ejaria could use a good chunk of first team experience this season. If we can't give it to them ourselves we have think about suitable loans - and then if they are gone on loan, not ignore them and buy in 124 other players like we have before.

17 Jul 2016 17:56:53
Most impressed with Woodburn. A lot of calm and self confidence at such a young age. Very natural in his movement and doesn't try too hard to impress (Kent's guilty of this) . Too early to say of course, but we may have found one!

17 Jul 2016 18:29:28
Ejaria going to be a boxs to boxs player.

17 Jul 2016 18:53:26
I like matip he looks assured on the ball.

17 Jul 2016 19:09:41
Hobbled off before the end, hope he's okay. He does look good on the ball, not seen much of him defensively yet. He looks a little clumsy, hoepfully he will iron that out in preseason.

17 Jul 2016 19:36:14
Kent has been playing for the U21s for couple of seasons now and perhaps needs first team football, and I think he is one who is ready for a loan as he will have little opportunities this season with Ojo ahead of him along with the senior players. Ejaria will be making the step up full time to the U21 setup next season, so it is really how fast he adapts to that setup that will see him getting involved in the senior team. As an example, Sinclair was outstanding for the U18s but struggled to step up at U21s level, Sterling and Ibe had no problem stepping up like Ojo.

Like Ejaria, Alexander-Arnold, Toni Gomes, Bobby Adekanye, Yan Dhanda, Tom Brewit, Ben Woodburn will likely be involved a lot with the U21s regularly next season.

17 Jul 2016 20:43:54
Alexander Arnold has a lot about him, good football brain, plays with his head up, nice movement on the ball and a very good range of passing and looks like he'll be a physically imposing lad when he fills out a bit.

17 Jul 2016 16:51:01
Honestly can't beileve some people are actually getting on karius back already. Shocking.

17 Jul 2016 17:04:10
dont get on the lads back, but might wake people up from thinking for no reason what so ever that he is Manuel Neuer.

17 Jul 2016 17:04:14
Now, now, that one little lapse is clearly comparable to three years of Migs flapping at things and having a 15% pass completion rate once he goes beyond 10 yards.

17 Jul 2016 17:16:19
At least it's not a handling mistake, just a lapse in concentration which he should now learn from and not do when it matters.

17 Jul 2016 17:29:12
It was shocking. Hope he sorts that out.

17 Jul 2016 18:04:34
Remember de gea 1st 6 months 😉.

17 Jul 2016 18:53:39
Stop the random examples and comparisons to the likes of de gea and neuer. Karius made a mistake, he will work on it. He's shown confidence for the most past and we've kept 3 clean sheets even though it's preseason and against lower tier opposition its good signs. I'm still 50/ 50 on karius, I'm almost sure he should be better than mignolet but I won't be suprised if he's as good given that John achterburg is still goalkeeping coach for some reason.

17 Jul 2016 20:45:27
It's normally consecutive mistakes that cause problems, he made one mistake and made a superb recovery to prevent the goal.

17 Jul 2016 23:09:56
Exactly, everyone going mad about capturing the new neuer for a bargain price. What we have actually done is sign a bargain price migs 😂😂.

17 Jul 2016 23:17:27
Exactly, Franky. The knives are already out for him even tho he more than made up for his mistake by preventing a goal from happening. It's not like all the other gk's at the club are better because frankly, they are NOT. If we gave a hapless GK like Mingo three years to prove he was a bad one, we should at least do the same for Karius.

18 Jul 2016 10:48:14
Why are we so hard on our own players? Neuer is prone to the odd mistake and Bayern have conceded goals due to them, if he played for us I'm sure there are idiots on here who'd be saying he's no good and should be replaced.

Its football, players make mistakes! It was a momentary lapse in concentration in a meaningless friendly and he recovered really well and prevented the goal.

Give the lad a bloody chance!

17 Jul 2016 15:41:05
Moreno out with a neck injury. Must have twisted something being turned inside out in training.
Brad Smith and Marko Grujic out too.

17 Jul 2016 16:51:43
Lol (tickled me that! )

17 Jul 2016 14:48:53
Klopp calls Zielinski, player gets his head turned and have his heart set for LFC. Whoever is negotiating deal are playing hardballs over paying smallish amount. Udinese does not wanna negotiate. We need Monchi anyhow next summer. Putting in people like Ian Ayre and promoting financial directors as Director Of LFC is benifical for club in terms of Finance club can bring in not players. We need someone up top who understand football not just Money.

17 Jul 2016 15:12:47
Let's act responsibly. Stop calling the players before we get a permission. How easily you blame everyone Exocet to manager.

17 Jul 2016 15:40:27
Exocet? That's a bit harsh?

17 Jul 2016 15:48:20
all lfc need to do is support the the managers choice and if player is available pay what they want. an if it doesn't work then the finger can be pointed.

17 Jul 2016 16:11:28
harry has a point. i'm going to buy a lottery.

17 Jul 2016 16:32:03
How hard is it to just contact the player through his agent? Isn't that clearly allowed? Just communicate through the agent as a go between. No big deal.

Or if you do talk to the player, tell him to shut up about it!

{Ed002's Note - Right,

17 Jul 2016 23:14:41
If LFC would just stop tapping players up, maybe we would get somewhere. This is the same thing that happened with the Dempsey deal where we tapped him up and got Fulham mad and they refused to even sell us a virus, just like Udinese is doing now. Shocking!

17 Jul 2016 11:19:58
I believes that everyone that comes to this site will eventyually post an appreciation for the eds post.
The time has come for me to do mine.
I have to admit, I'm not a fan of the way ed2 replies to some posters, but I do understand the frustration he/ she must have.
In the last week or 2, I have read the most well documented, and informative pieces of football journilism (and I do mean journilism) .
Ed2 is extremelly knowledgable o things that not many experts are. This is a great asset to this site, and we are grateful.
I am more of an ed1 fan though.
I love the way ed1 is alway understanding, and diplomatic in his manner.
1 huge request of this site, if possible, can we get email notifications when someone replies to our posts, or if there are more replies to posts we reply to?
Although I read this site everyday, and start my day off with it, there are times when I don't log on for the rest of the day, so I miss replies to what I have posted.
Thank you for this life changing site eds.

{Ed033's Note - Email notifications will start to be tested soon. If you consent then you receive an email when someone replies on a thread that you posted/replied on.

17 Jul 2016 15:35:09
Massive respect for ed002. Loads of knowledge and funny too. I now call people retromingent gilfnards as a result of Ed!

17 Jul 2016 16:54:39
Great idea for notifications. Thought that myself but never got round to suggesting it. Would make it much better as can take ages scrolling looking for a thread. Cheers.

17 Jul 2016 12:00:30
Sorry guys been really busy last couple weeks, Joe isn't really injured like the media is making out they only do it so it looks like he's made a miraculous recovery, he just needs to strengthen his Achilles, it was all expected to happen apparently, ed001 aluded to something like this being normal when players have long term injuries, if Klopp does want another CB it'll have nothing to do with this "injury" also sturridge has said he can't imagine leaving Liverpool ever, I know there isn't any talk of it but it's nice to hear.

17 Jul 2016 12:10:34
Nice one ST!

17 Jul 2016 12:11:01
Thanks ST! Really appreciate the update!

17 Jul 2016 12:21:22
Square tomato for a knighthood?

17 Jul 2016 12:25:57
That's awesome news ST, as always pass on our best to Joe and all the lads. Really cool about Studgie, I love the lad personally, doesn't get the love he deserves for me.

17 Jul 2016 12:56:43
Cheers Studge 😉.

17 Jul 2016 13:25:25
That exclamation mark after 'ST' looked like an 'I' for a second.

17 Jul 2016 13:26:06
Thanks, ST!

17 Jul 2016 14:37:06
Arise Sir Square Tomato.
Thank you very kindly Sir.

17 Jul 2016 14:45:20
Good job he's not on statutory sick pay!

If he said it, it is nice to hear from players.

17 Jul 2016 15:22:39
Square. As ever, thank you.

Please pass on best wishes to Joe and hope for a full recovery soon.

17 Jul 2016 17:19:22
Didn't Sturridge say in an interview that he doesn't understand players who say they will never leave a club.

17 Jul 2016 11:51:18
Going to this afternoons game v Wigan, we need to push on from our first two games. I am hoping we can turn some of the possession play into actual attempts and goals rather than the tip tap across the edge of the area.

The other target we have to beat is the man utd score from yesterday.

Main priority is for them to improve fitness and NO injuries.

Come on you reds!

17 Jul 2016 11:57:30
I'm going too looking forward to it ynwa.

17 Jul 2016 11:57:46
We beat Fleetwood 5-0? Is that not enough?

17 Jul 2016 13:27:54
Push on from where? A friendly game? Calm down and enjoy the game as you don't get points for winning friendlies?

17 Jul 2016 14:22:46
5-0 was a great score line but in the words of Jurgen not a great performance. I watch the games and not just the scoreline.

Push on as in regards to the general preseason improvement we should be expecting.

If I am over excited its because I care about my team, sorry its called passion. And of course I will enjoy the game thanks.

17 Jul 2016 10:48:10
I think the priority for next season is keeping the squad injury free. What's the use of having a great starting 11 if you can't field them week in week out.

I remember last season, players dropping like flies which I think cost us quite a few points.

Hope Klopp pays attention to this!

17 Jul 2016 11:02:01
It's not like we choose to have them injured!

17 Jul 2016 11:17:24
Could be the reason why Klopp appointed the fitness coach from Bayern Munich, Andreas Kornmayer?

Rome was not built in a day. Klopp was not going to miraculously change things around in 8 months when he never even had a preseason at LFC and getting a squad which was hopelessly unfit to adapt to his requirements when last season was already well underway.

17 Jul 2016 12:01:38
Think top four, maybe a cup is more a priority.

17 Jul 2016 13:33:17
If you don't want to get injured at all, then don't step on the pitch ever. Problem solved.

17 Jul 2016 07:11:13
Well, I for one am very excited about the forthcoming season and have belief in Klopp and the team. For the first time in a long time, I feel there is good business being done at sensible prices addressing areas of the team that needed attention.

Crujic is young but I have real optimism and hope for the lad, Mane will come in and add pace and a goal threat from the width and Matip will add size and composure defensively. Karius will hopefully add competition and be less prone to errors.

I suspect our business is not yet done, but I am already excited about how the squad is coming together.

Now come together as fans and supporters and have belief in a world class manager. let's make Anfield a fortress again and have the new stand contribute to a wall of noise that shows the LFC family and their supporters as the best in the world. Believe.

YNWA.

17 Jul 2016 08:31:19
Grujic could be a phenomenal player. It's great to see someone with his strength and stature be so good on the ball and show such composure. I looking forward to seeing him more.

17 Jul 2016 08:48:54
Karius won't add competition he'll be the number one end of.

17 Jul 2016 08:58:12
Good post connor.

17 Jul 2016 14:22:35
Grujic + Coric in midfield = crujic bit presumptuous on the coric front but I like your optimism.

17 Jul 2016 03:52:43
Hi Ed's,

Do you think Klopp should learn from 2013/ 2014 season where we almost won the league?
The lack of European Football and extra games this season is the best chance Liverpool can try to chase the Title, Klopp seem to never mention that in any interview or may be ibhave missed when he said we want to try and win the league.
We should not just focus on Top 4 but rather win the league.


I look at the fixtures shcedules and predict and hope us to finish somewhere between 80-85 points.

{Ed001's Note - we should be aiming to win the league every season, I fail to see your point. The job is to win the next game, then the next, then the next, not to worry about anything else. Then see where you end up. All this aiming for things should be left to the media.}

17 Jul 2016 09:12:19
Ed right again we are Liverpool we should always be aiming to win the league but unlike 13/ 14 we don't have that special player . Sturridge is not the same player he's lost a bit of pace . But we will see.

17 Jul 2016 10:02:51
Wtf has2013/ 14 Got to do with anything? Klopp is not going to try and 'learn' anything from a past he had nothing to do with! As for 'special' players we need a team that works well for the style he wants to play. The last thing we want is reliance on special players!

17 Jul 2016 10:24:20
Think firmino going to show you how special he is this season.

17 Jul 2016 11:32:32
I hope for Origi, Mane, Ings to score atleast 10 goals each and give a stiff competition to Sturrige for starting role.
Firmino no doubt is a quality he should score more goals.

17 Jul 2016 11:56:13
All the players giving 100 percent each week I'd be happy with.

17 Jul 2016 12:13:50
Agree EDOO1s just win the the next match is what it's all about. Also think we we have one of the best attacking line ups in the prem, just need to fit the right players in to the way we want to play and not so called maque signings. I think that was proved last season.

17 Jul 2016 13:45:30
What will he learn from a past he had nothing to do with? Also if you think Klopp doesn't wanna win the PL because he didn't tell you that specifically then you're fooling yourself. The man is a fierce competitor. You don't achieve the things he achieved at Dortmund and even in getting us to two finals and making us relevant again in Europe, without that attitude. Winning the next game is the mantra for every good manager.

17 Jul 2016 14:27:17
Best sell all our best players and get some hard workers in swish?

18 Jul 2016 03:37:56
didn't say that. I mean don't rely on 1 player to get results ( think suarez and bale at spurs)