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17 Nov 2015 22:25:15
Eds I've seen mixed views on if Studge and Hendo will be fit for the weekend. Can yoi clear this up for me please mate?
{Ed002's Note - Sturridge will not be available for selection this weekend. Henderson will be.}
17 Nov 2015 22:41:30
Cheers mate
Appreciate it.
18 Nov 2015 11:16:52
According to the injuryroom site both will not be available for this weekend.
17 Nov 2015 22:02:05
Brad Smith has signed a new deal with the club.
18 Nov 2015 05:30:28
This is a good move by the club. It's possible Klopp wants to strengthen other positions in the squad using whatever money the owners will give him, and Smith getting a new contract will mean a decent back up option for Moreno than wasting money on another LB.
I have liked what little I have seen of Smith, so fingers crossed this works out well for both parties.
{Ed001's Note - he is certainly a better option than Enrique for the position, so that should allow us to negotiate a contract termination with Enrique before January, so he can find a new team.}
18 Nov 2015 06:22:09
So Smith and LFC make up post Rodgers. I don't know how long the contract is but initially LFC wanted him to sign a contract and he chose not to under Rodgers.
18 Nov 2015 06:33:30
Smith was never going to sign a new contract under Brendan. He had probably been told that one of our infinite CAMs would be the one challenging Moreno for the LB position instead of a natural full back. Can't blame the lad for dithering.
18 Nov 2015 10:48:13
I think this is good news and a good move. I recently asked what was going on with him. Hope it works out.
19 Nov 2015 02:09:40
I guess the boy knew more about BR than the rest of us. He's chose to stay because he knows he'll get his chance under a competent manager instead of a mediocre one. Guess Smith knows competence when he sees it.
17 Nov 2015 20:15:00
Must say this England team looks a lot better than normal, bring in baines/shaw, wilshere/hendo and maybe sturridge/ox for gibbs, dier and Barkley amd you've got a half decent side, young with a bit of experience and an actual holding midfielder.
On another note, I can't think of another of a better co-commentator than hoddle.
17 Nov 2015 21:11:34
You will actually have the normal team with all those changes.
17 Nov 2015 22:19:58
Knowing hodgson he will just bring back in lallana, Milner, jagielka, and take the like of Kane, dier, stones out. Not exactly the usual team.
18 Nov 2015 01:26:06
I think our CB pair for the Euros has got to be Stones - Smalling.
18 Nov 2015 01:59:24
We should just pick a completely fresh hungry and young team, the old guard have proved they can't win, but maybe this lot might, and if not, in 2 years, the abundance of decent young players we have, we will have a shot. Butland, clyne, smalling, stones, shaw, dier, alli, Barkley, sterling, Kane, oxlade, wilshere will all be there for a while, let them build as a squad without the likes of milner, Carrick etc, not that they're bad players but for the future.
18 Nov 2015 08:25:19
I'm not convinced of smalling, both time Schneiderlin hasn't sat in front of him, UTD have been hammered (Arsenal and PSV) and a third time they played very poorly vs Southampton (who themselves were in a rut)
Schneiderlin is the one resposible for SmallingS huge up turn in fortune for me. He sits and protects that back 4 very well, and quite frankly most of the challenges smalling makes are standard within the game.
Smalling still looks shakey in England for me, who don't have a strong choice of defensive midfielders, and for me Carrick aside the best of those is Mason who's out injured.
It wouldbe really interesting to see how Utd and smalling cope without Schneiderlin sat in front of the back 4.
18 Nov 2015 13:20:46
Who would you have as the 2 cbs, Bob? You do raise a good point.
18 Nov 2015 14:29:55
Dier is probably the only actually defensive minded midfielder we have, if he keeps playing there for Spurs i'd say he should start at the euros. May not be the best, but he's big strong and quick, and we literally have no other players bar like Gareth Barry that play as a defensive midfielder.
18 Nov 2015 14:37:58
1st off I'd have taken the time of stupid friendlies to try out other options if I were England manager, why Phil Jones still gets near that squad highlights Woy's imbicillic choices.
This was a time for him to try out Dann, Kelly, Shawcross, Dawson, Cresswell All of whom are better than Phil Jones, and see what partnerships work best. (I REALLY don't rate Phil)
If I was to pick 2 centrbacks currently, I'd go Stones, Dann.
In the next friendlies it would be nice to see Woy try out other players, Smalling doesn't fill me with confidence as I'm yet to be convinced for the reasons stated previously) and Cahill I just don't think is good enough, and never have thought he was.
18 Nov 2015 15:00:52
dann over smalling, really? you have to give smalling some credit, the guy has really improved. schneiderlin didn't play against Liverpool, but smalling still managed to keep benteke quite for large part of the game. stones and smalling is the best possible partnership for england now.
{Ed001's Note - has he improved or is he just enjoying more protection from the midfield this season?}
18 Nov 2015 16:02:47
Dann is a. unusual choice hehe.
18 Nov 2015 17:57:39
Smalling has been brilliant for 18 months now and is still improving.
right now he is England's best defender imo and fully deserves the praise he is getting.
he is getting more protection this season granted but he still has to perform and he is week in week out.
BOB, to suggest we got battered by PSV is laughable and question marks have to be asked if u watched the game which you obviously did not. if u had u would of seen it was a very one sided game marred by the horrific injury to Shaw. However it was a game where we smashed them and they had 2 chances and took them. Darmian being at fault for at least one goal.
the CB pairing for England for me has to be Smalling and Stones.
I agree it's laughable Jones is still getting a chance and I can only guess it's because of his versatility, likewise how Lallana gets anywhere near the side shows how bad English players are atm.
Ward-Prowse should be somewhere in there for me.
{Ed001's Note - seriously? Smalling was average last season, he was destroyed in the game against Arsenal this season, when he wasn't given protection by the midfield. He has shown nothing to suggest he is a quality defender. You are falling victim to the same failing in judgement that saw Liverpool spunk 20+m on Lovren. Lovren was given the same protection at Southampton and also looked top class. Smalling is the same, an average defender working in a system that provides him with cover. As for England's best defender, if that is true then England are a lost cause.
As for Ward-Prowse, I like him, but he has not shown any signs of being ready this season. I am surprised you are even suggesting him, but that shows just how bad English players are I guess.}
18 Nov 2015 18:23:42
I would reaply, but ed001 has said pretty much everything I would have.
With regards to watching the game, yes I did watch the PSV game, he had no composure, struggled to pick out passes when Schneiderlin didn't show and was rash in challenges, because Morgan wasn't there. Your midfield was all over the place and over all you lacked any threat up front and you were wide open for the counter. I don't comment on matches i don't watch. many on here will tell you I admit when I don't see games instead of spouting trash.
Smalling as ED001 said didn't have a great 18 months either, he's played well for 10 or so games.
18 Nov 2015 18:24:37
p. s Jones and Versatility, should NEVER bee in the same sentence CTR :)
18 Nov 2015 18:56:20
midfield protection or not, its a team sport, so everybody plays his role. can you say koscienly is not a good defender because he has couqelin making tackles and interceptions in front of him, or thiago Silva because he has matuidi and Motta. smalling is playing his role as a defender well, though schneiderlin does a lot, take nothing away from smalling who IMO has improved.
18 Nov 2015 19:44:11
Smalling has shown a great deal of improvement in the last year or so, after the city game last season it looked over for him but after that he came back in and really performed and since has gone on, yes he got hammered at Arsenal but tbf the whole team were set up in a suicidle way imo, to blame one defender in a make shift back four with a cm pressing is a tad harsh, and yes without that protection he got caught in limbo to press the ball or drop off.
imo him and lovern are proactive defenders who look to read the play and intercept the ball rather than a terry type of reactive defender who looks to drop off and get into position to defend (now I'm rambling lol) .
as for ward-prose, it was a bit left field ed I'll admit and maybe it's my like for the player ruling my head, it happens lol but I see a lot of good things in the lad that could really excell at a higher level. he has great technique and his work rate is solid to, although I'm yet to figure out where in the midfield he plays. what do u think? for me he could really do a deep lying playmaking roll but equally u lose his delivery there.
18 Nov 2015 19:47:39
Bob he is versatile, he plays a number of positions awfully lol.
18 Nov 2015 19:58:30
Koscielny has proved over several seasons he's generally competent and a good player. Smalling has had 10 or so consistent games when he's not messed up and looked above average. but then the evidence has been when schneiderlin hasn't sat in front he's played poor and so have utd. This can not be said of Koscielny who played well before coquelin discovery even when arsenal were tanking and slow starting he often could hold his head high.
You need to realise there's a vast difference in the (playing well) sample size. Ones lasted 3+ years the other 1/3rd of a season.
18 Nov 2015 20:00:28
None of this is a simple lfc fan hating on utd players btw. I hope for England smalling turns out to be good, and for the lads career. I personally don't revel and get kicks in u5d player playing poorly. I'd rather lfcs play better. I'm just not convinced. But I won't apologise for that given the evidence I've witnessed over 4 or so years.
18 Nov 2015 20:27:44
kos is above average imo just. he gets caught out to many times. u can get down the side of him to easy imo resulting in him giving away silly fouls.
granted he has improved 10 fold on the player that first came to England but his ceiling was high.
19 Nov 2015 00:18:32
The pace and strength combination smalling has, he should be a beast for a centre back, but he just isn't, and he's not exactly young and inexperienced now. To me he always looks like on the edge of a card and doesn't make it look easy. I'm not saying he doesn't use his pace and strength well, because he does, but he relies on it, and doesn't really have much else to his game.
18 Nov 2015 23:03:33
Ed001, any center back will benefit from having a strong CM in front to protect him. That doesn't mean the CB hasn't improved tho does it? Smalling has come on leaps and bounds the past 18 months. Ever since his wreckless red against City, he has been brilliant. He's much more vocal and dominant, his positioning has improved massively, his timing of tackling is very good and he is very good in the air. He's comfortable on the ball, and chips in with 3 or 4 goals a season. A totally non biased opinion is that he's been the best CB in the league for the last 6 months.
{Ed001's Note - you are clearly biased, how has he been any better than say the Palace centre backs, who actually get little to no protection from their midfield? Smalling has shown none of the dominance of a top class centre half, his positioning was shown up against Arsenal, as the usual clueless running around. He has improved, I agree, but he is not anywhere near top class, nor close to being the best CB in the league. He is barely the best centre half at United, and you don't have any decent ones, which is why you play such negative football, to protect the weak links at the back.}
19 Nov 2015 08:33:44
Wow best CB in the league, is an unbiased sentiment? he's not even close to top 10 stand united.
17 Nov 2015 19:59:23
Hi Ed and Reds
Long time reader but seldom post, would like to comment on the post regard global following of our beloved Reds .
I can confirm that the support for LFC is HUGE in South Africa . We would bite our arms off just to have the team visit our shores for a preseason and would surely give those amazing Aussie fans a run for their money with our rendition of YNWA .
Our countrymen Steven Pienaar plays for the bluenoses but even that cannot sway the support we have for the Reds.
Ed, I have 2 question for you mate .
1 - Any chance of the team visiting our
beautiful country in the future?
2 - Why does it seem ( on tv ) that our
travelling supporters are awesome at other venues with their passion but we see very
little of that at home games?
Thanks to the Eds and posters for making this an addictive site . Hope it long continues .
Thanks.
18 Nov 2015 01:28:59
Didn't we play in SA a few years ago? I've got no idea if we are going there in the future anyway, sorry.
18 Nov 2015 17:08:10
The last time Liverpool were in SA was in 1994. The team took a picture with the great Nelson Mandela at the time. Liverpool were suppose to play a post season friendly 2 years back, financials were even agreed between the 2 parties, but the South African Football Association cancelled the game due to the South African league not being being finished yet.
17 Nov 2015 17:17:50
I would just like to say Big respect to the france team and all the players and staff who will be at Wembley playing, they have been through a very tough time so respect were respect is due.
17 Nov 2015 12:40:15
Hey all, as it is the international break (slow news days for clubs), thought I'd ask the Ed's, all or any, what are your thoughts on the England set up and management, do you think Hoddle should have been given another crack at it?
{Ed002's Note - Glenn Hoddle was not an option and going forward he won't be either. Without going in to detail, I can say that that The FA has sounded out the representative of a high-profile manager with a view to have him take over from Mr Hodgson after the Euros. They did not get an encouraging response.}
17 Nov 2015 13:05:48
One of the most poisonous jobs in football. Average squad with unrealistic expectations, politics all over the place and under more public scrutiny than the prime minister.
17 Nov 2015 13:49:41
I can't think who we could attract we any genuine pedigree. Sigh.
17 Nov 2015 14:34:54
Rodgers for England manager 😂.
17 Nov 2015 15:27:53
Ok thanks Ed. Shame, I really like Hoddle as a manager. As hijikle said, most are doomed to fail before they even begin with this country's massive over-expectations.
17 Nov 2015 15:29:15
I can think of worse ways to earn millions of pounds a year than a part time job where 75% of the time you're up against teams with a fraction of your resources.
17 Nov 2015 16:23:23
Well I guess there is the difference Ron; personally, I'd like to have something to show for my career other than a big house and 60 million people thinking I don't deserve it because I was bad at what I did!
17 Nov 2015 17:24:26
I take it you don't play the national lottery then?
17 Nov 2015 17:32:22
I do not. But even if I did - at least then I would have won something for the money ;)
17 Nov 2015 17:44:37
For starters they'd have to have the balls to drop Rooney, he's not doing much to help the squad move forward.
17 Nov 2015 17:52:57
Fully agree with lavers. Drop rooney. And why they called up lingard when he's only played 4 games. I understand you have to call up youth, but that's a joke. No wonder a lot of people have lost interest in the national team. Could rant all day about it really.
17 Nov 2015 18:16:58
Does seem that roy seems to be putting a lot of youth in the team, I think a bit more experience is needed playing for the U18's and U21's first.
Everyone knows international games are different, I can decide if he's being ballsy or silly.
Guess we will find out in a few hours if lingard will play.
17 Nov 2015 18:19:34
Madmax to answer you're question because he plays for united.
Forgot to add we should of dropped Roy after the World Cup, which other top nation would have stuck with there manager after that.
17 Nov 2015 18:40:08
Does anybody really care about England? Scouse not English.
17 Nov 2015 11:46:07
Morning Eds, I wondered if either of you could explain where our main international fan base markets are, where do we do we compare well with Europe's top clubs, and which markets are we planning on focusing on in the coming years?
{Ed002's Note - For a while now the stats for fans are based, as you would expect, on the number of fans on social media and that helps provide the demographics for where those fans are based. Top 10 at the last time of asking found Liverpool at number 7 ahead of PSG, Manchester City and AC Milan. Liverpool were just behind Bayern Munich, with Arsenal and Chelsea ahead of them. There was then a significant leap to Manchester United, Real Madrid and, at number 1, Barcelona.
In terms of the demographics for the five Premier League clubs:
Manchester United has the most supporters in both India and China - and given the size of population in those countries it is not a surprise to see them so far ahead.
Chelsea are the club with the most supporters most in mainland Europe, Asia, Middle East, Central America and South America.
Arsenal are the most followed Premier League club in Canada and the USA and, very significantly, throughout Africa (except South Africa).
Liverpool has the highest number of supporters of any club in the UK, the Republic of Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and is doing well in some parts of Asia.
Manchester City are not leading the way in any one market but are picking up new supporters faster than any other side. This is a reflection of their success.
Liverpool have not, as far as I know, made any announcement for a post-season tour or pre-season tour for this coming Summer. With the Euros happening, anything post-season will possibly be limited to perhaps a high-earning match or two utilising only those players not involved in the Euros. Pre-season, all I can say is I know that enquiries were being made to see what could be done in the United States and perhaps Canada - but I am not aware of anything firm just yet.}
17 Nov 2015 12:35:38
I recently lived in Singapore for a couple of years. In terms of replica kits, supporters watching in local bars and general conversations and anecdotes, two clubs stood out, both in terms of Singaporean supporters and supporters in the international expat community. No surprises, I guess, that it was Liverpool and Manchester Utd. You would also see a lot of Bayern shirts, although mainly worn by Westerners (primarily Germans I assume) rather than locals.
There was also a Newcastle supporters club based at one of the city centre bars. Always packed in there on match night.
17 Nov 2015 13:26:42
Thanks Ed02 for that, really interesting.
I see your point that it is crucial that Arsenal have the best support in Africa. Whilst everyone seems to talk about the USA as a main market to grow the fan base, Africa has improved drastically from an economic perspective over the last 15 years, and this all leads to improvements in their ability to follow the premier league through TV and social media.
Whilst USA clearly already has all the necessary infrastructure for fans to be introduced, they have other very established national sports. Africa favors football.
Looking very long-term, Africa is the main area in the world that will actually grow in population during this century. It currently has 1 billion, but will grow to 2 billion by 2050, and 4 billion by 2100 (approximate numbers) . Asia in comparison has 4 billion currently and this will only increase to 5 billion by 2100.
17 Nov 2015 14:50:36
Wirh regards to Manchester United I think they do a fantastic job in asian countries. Of Course their success in recent years has helped and they have capitalized on that. You can see a Manchester United club shop in the smallest of towns. Liverpool i believe lack in this area.
17 Nov 2015 08:14:41
Quick question - has liverpool ever had senior players from Asia? I know we've had a couple from Israel which kind of counts and some from Australia which is Asia for the purpose of FIFA tournaments, but have we had from anywhere else? Can't think of any and just curious.
{Ed001's Note - a lot depends on if you count Turkey as Asia or Europe, as it is in both continents, in which case Nuri Sahin immediately becomes a possible. Other than that, I can't think of any.
Which reminds me, what happened to Yan Dhanda? Is he still in the academy? I have lost track of what is going on there in the last couple of years.}
17 Nov 2015 09:10:34
Yan Dhanda is playing for the under 18s and from what I can make out he's progressing well in that team.
{Ed001's Note - thanks.}
17 Nov 2015 08:43:15
Yan Dhanda is still in the academy.
17 Nov 2015 10:13:33
Yeah he's looking good. If Coutinho were to leave he would make a good replacement to the bench whilst texi takes the starting spot.
Both have then been given a chance and if it doesn't work out then we can replace them but please dint replace them without a shot.
17 Nov 2015 10:26:40
isnt Samed Yesil a turk? or is he a turkish german?
{Ed002's Note - He is German of Turkish origin.}
17 Nov 2015 11:28:23
Both Israel and Turkey are "in Europe" for the purposes of FIFA, and neither come under AFC.
Brad Jones and Brad Smith are both Australian and they come under AFC.
Yan Dhanda is a British Indian and has been playing for the England youth teams and there is zero chance of him switching nationality to play for India. He has been with the U18s but has hit a bad patch of form but is recovering well and he may well pull through to the U21s by the end of the season.
17 Nov 2015 12:21:33
I'd count Israel and Turkey as Europe for the purpose of football. Thanks guys!
17 Nov 2015 12:34:45
Ronnie Rosenthal was from Israel wasn't he? let's not beat around the bush, Israel isn't even close to Europe, but political maps wise, it's probably not worth them being in another football federation other than UEFA.
17 Nov 2015 12:42:51
Although of course it's done for political reasons bobatron, you'd be surprised how close Israel is to Europe - it's only about 100km to Cyprus, which is closer than London is to Liverpool!
But yes Rosenthal was from Israel, as was Avi Cohen and Yossi Benayoun.
17 Nov 2015 14:08:07
U know if you compare demographics of youth recruitment by English teams compared to German teams, i feel German throw much wider net than English teams. They had iranians, koreans, turkish, Japanese and yes even English ( owen Hargreaves) while it seem English teams just recruit from british isles.
{Ed002's Note - Hargreaves is not English - he is Canadian with English parents who was picked up by a German side. And English teams have to recruit from within the rules but often have youth players from other countries. You are very short-sighted.}
17 Nov 2015 14:22:05
Not picking a fight and i am not sure why i am short sighted. But look at Son Min heung he is product of german youth system. But its not just Germans, the dutch too have wide net for youth recruitment. Seriouly when is last time english produce a Iranian or korean or algerian or senagalese talent?
{Ed002's Note - Son Min Heung did not move to Hamburg until he was 18 - in accordance with the rules. You clearly have no grasp of the European game at all.}
17 Nov 2015 23:57:57
But Son was accepted into German club youth recruitment. Regardless of when they are recruited in terms of age, what i am saying is English clubs should throw a wider net.
17 Nov 2015 01:56:35
Idk if everyone knows but West Ham are the first club to use the increased TV revenue to reduce their ticket prices. from 2016-17.
There is an interesting article in anfield wrap around this and Ayre's recent comments abt the difficulty in getting youth to Anfield stadium.
17 Nov 2015 05:22:52
i think it is going to be very difficult for liverpool, unless we start winning trophies. kids these days support clubs that win stuff the bayerns, the barcas, the madrids, may be it has to do with top class players and those fifa games. its tough for liverpool without trophies to get youth really interested.
lowering the prices might get them to watch a game or two but i don't think any young one wants to support a club that hasn't one a thing for a decade. the locals kids will support liverpool all their life. but for clubs based in liverpool for now it seems everton have a better setup for young fans as i have read in few articles and these pages.
17 Nov 2015 07:06:55
Local kids support local clubs.
So long as they can afford it!
Get the kids for a quid (under 10 maybe) and entice them in. Whether your team is world class or not watching your local team is always a great day out if affordable.
No one like remortgaging every week to watch a pile of crap!
17 Nov 2015 07:20:15
Well done West Ham, just a shame the tax payer had to buy them a massive new stadium allowing them to sell their old stadium in London for a massive amount and only charge them a token amount in "rent".
Ayre is a hypocrite for what he said. He could make it more affordable for youngsters if he really wanted to.
17 Nov 2015 07:29:02
West Ham have been gift wrapped a sparkling new stadium, with a number of associated running costs paid by the taxpayer, for absolute peanuts. This might also play a part?
17 Nov 2015 08:26:46
Ok Ron and Seano. thanks for the info. It puts things in perspective.
17 Nov 2015 09:47:58
Akshit, so if MANCHESTER city carry on as they are and kick on even more and win a champions league and MANCHESTER United have a resurgence and start winning trophys again, then youngsters from LIVERPOOL will start looking down the East Lancs and think about supporting them?
This has to be up there with the worst posts I've ever read on here and that's quite an achievement.
By the way, in the last 10 YEARS, we've won a champions league an f. a. Cup and a league cup, were hardly an Everton or a Newcastle are we.
17 Nov 2015 10:05:16
Waro,
How about the global support, How do you think Chelsea and City are vastly imporving overseas?
Chelsea have a huge fan base in Asia and Middle east.
Everton and Newcastle have spent 1/100th of what Liverpool have spent in past 10 years.
17 Nov 2015 10:24:08
Waro, i am talking about kids round the globe . i clearly state local kids will always support liverpool. Man atleast bother to read it before taking down someone.
17 Nov 2015 17:35:14
Akshit, I did read it mate, the point was attracting the next generation of Liverpool supporter primarily to the ground, how much could young kids from around the globe contribute money wise to the club which is what there after, apart from 2 games every pre season in various parts of the world, as ed002 has said, the club make very little from kit sales, so what other major revenue streams could they offer? That's why I'm reading his quote as younger fans from Liverpool and the surrounding areas. Apologies if you think I was overly aggressive in my post mate, that wasn't my intention.