Liverpool Banter Archive February 19 2018

19 Feb 2018 17:58:14
Ed as far as tou are aware, ate Madrid willing to sell Navas to us providing they get there replacement?

{Ed002's Note - it is not a “to us “ matter.}

19 Feb 2018 20:51:32
Pep "hypocrite" Guardiola 🤓
Had that tackle been made on a City player he'd have wanted a life sentence with no parole for attempted murder. what a knob.
Just proves all his bull about "we can't win 4 trophies" and the first risk to losing one of them and all his toys come out the pram.
C'mon Wigan see them off 🤫.

{Ed001's Note - he did say he wanted all players protected from leg breaking tackles like that, so not sure why he was complaining.}

19 Feb 2018 21:03:49
I doubt he told Delph to make that challenge.

he was making a valid point that there had been a lot of potentially serious challenges that could lead to a broken leg. i think he has a leg to stand on!

19 Feb 2018 21:06:33
Absolutely Ed, how Max Power got up from that I don’t know, lucky boy he wasn’t seriously hurt.

19 Feb 2018 21:14:17
SR, really? You are defending a manager that has cried for outlawing such assaults and he’s trying to claim his player shouldn’t have been sent off. didums he can’t have his cake and eat it.
He either believes that all such tackles should result in a red card or he doesn’t. The Pep love in shouldn’t cloud judgement, which it appears to be doing?

19 Feb 2018 21:33:13
There is a God afterall, Will Griggs on fire 👹🔥.

19 Feb 2018 21:38:34
Na na na na na na na na. your defence is terrified 👻😱.

19 Feb 2018 21:52:26
LOL, now that’s funny. Wigan were incredible, absolutely outstanding. Best team in the land my arse. Lose the league cup final next and they’ll need to spend another £400M in the summer ho ho ho. Left to win trophies Raheem 🙄🤑☠️.

19 Feb 2018 22:00:49
I believe SR was being ironic koppite. 😊.

19 Feb 2018 22:14:31
Oh dear fans ripping up the stadium, Aguero fighting with spectators and the manager pushing his opposite number, the wheels have come off.
Time for FA investigation and lengthy bans for Pep, Aguero and matches with none of their fans allowed in the stadium.
No chicken left at KFC either, what a day of shocks 🐓🍗🚫 1/ 4 final of 🏆⛔️ It’s a 🌚 tonight
🙉🙈🙊
By the way 🖐🏻 Times and pass this on to Ya Ya on your way out 🎂.
Here come the 💨 🌪 of change Pep 🧔🏻💋.

19 Feb 2018 22:33:59
One person on this thread is drunk. Guess who? 😉.

19 Feb 2018 22:27:06
I am quiete curious what he has to say for the punch in the face that Aguero gave to one of the Wigan fans.

19 Feb 2018 22:48:06
If he was being ironic “it’s a coming” then it went straight over my head 🚀 🤪
Seemed to me it was a genuine case of we all love 🧔🏻 He can do no wrong 😇 but now he’s been a naughty boy 😈.

19 Feb 2018 22:58:58
MK I’m drunk with delirium now that the media’s obsession with the quadruple has been put to 🛏
I just hope the rest of the trophies are shared around outside of Manchester mate 👍.

20 Feb 2018 00:08:54
I was offering some tongue in cheek irony with a twist of pun!

20 Feb 2018 01:01:12
I dunno how anyone can say Delphi’s tackle wasn’t a red card, he came flying in and if the Wigan players foot was planted he would of broken his leg. Don’t think the ref changed his mind, just thought he was writing on the back of his yellow.
Both sets of players and benches acted appallingly though imo. Pep should get a ban, if it was moaner at OT he would get three games, aguero should get a talking too as well, can’t belive shearer tried to defend his conduct!
Either way huge result for Wigan and chuffed that city won’t win the quadruple, some of their fans let themselves down as well, but all clubs have idiots.

20 Feb 2018 01:02:01
That is how you beat City. 2 ways, high risk football, like we did, but you have to be very good to do that, luckily we are very good. The other way is to batter them, fair play wigan. City, They have the money and they have the players the manager but, they don't have the history, the glorious reputation of European King's, they don't have that weight that liverpool, Manchester United and arsenal have. Some how this seems to matter in the business end of knock out comps, City don't win the ucl, no way, I bet we go further than them. I have a feeling we are going to have them in ucl 1/ 4 finals. I'd like to be drawn with sours, I think they are the weakest team left and in a fair game we would batter them, honest.

20 Feb 2018 01:12:20
Fair play SR, sorry I was mixing it up with playing a couple of games of chess at the same time as posting, clearly I took on too much at once and missed it first up (read it back just now and I’ve finally got with the programme 🤗)

20 Feb 2018 07:42:46
Aguero acted ok in my opinion if someone came at me like the pitch invader did I'd protect myself.

20 Feb 2018 07:51:40
Haven't seen it but from what I've read the fan was a pitch invader and was in agureos face he's quite entitled to push him away imo.

20 Feb 2018 08:19:34
The pitch invader came up to the side of Aguero and has obviously said something. Whatever he has said, Aguero has no right to punch him though. That is a criminal offence irrespective of whether it is on a football pitch or not, and Aguero should be banned. I'm not sure it's on the same level as Cantona's of course, but he's still attacked someone and should be punished.

These are role models for children. Defending Aguero's actions is very dangerous. He's assaulted a spectator and we can't teach kids that it is acceptable to hit people who say something you don't agree with or like. You deal with this stuff professionally.

I used to work in a shop as a young man and believe me when i say there were a few customers I'd loved to have punched who said some very unsavoury things. I never did though and i was only 18! I'd have been sacked on the spot if i had. So if an 18 year old kid understands how to behave professionally, I'm pretty sure a 29 year old can grasp the basic concept of "don't punch your customers". Because that is what the fans are. The players are the employees, and the fans are the paying customers. Aguero has ballsed up and he should face his punishment like a man.

20 Feb 2018 08:54:55
Aguero had plenty of space to walk away, and plenty of City staff around him. He didn't punch a guy (not push, punch) because he was threatened and scared and needed to defend himself. He punched him because he was pissed off. Which was made especially clear when he didn't get away after the punch, he continued to go after the guy to try and hit him again and needed dragging away.

20 Feb 2018 09:43:59
We'll said hjikle. The media are now making up that the fan spat at Aguero 😂 even if that was true (which it's blatantly not by the way, to anyone who has seen the footage), that is still no excuse to punch someone whilst you are representing Manchester City, the Premier League, and English football. He has brought the game into disrepute if nothing else!

It is a players responsibility to rise above fan abuse and walk away. Let the authorities deal with them. He should not have needed to be dragged away after throwing a fist in someone's face.

19 Feb 2018 18:17:12
Plenty of talk about summer changes to our back 5, but what are people's expectations for potential changes at the other end in our front 3 positions.

There's no doubting that if Mane, Salah, or Firmino were injured then we would be short of quality up top, we'd certainly miss Salah and Firmino!

We've seen with the MSN at Barcelona and BBC at Madrid that its very difficult to get quality players to play as backup to the starting trio. Neither of those teams had a real quality alternative on the bench.

Are we really going to be able to attract players like Lemar, Pulisic, Fekir etc if they're not going to be in that front 3 every week? We do rotate a lot but these types of players will want to be key players for every game.

I like a lot of our youth options like Woodburn and Solanke but I'm sure we need some seasoned quality. Are we going to be able to sign a worldclass player without guaranteeing 1st team football?

19 Feb 2018 18:49:39
George, I thought we already moved on from Lemar, Pulisic is a non starter and not sure Fekir is even a target. Apart from all that, If Klopp wants a very good player, I'm pretty sure he knows what he is doing and how he will use them. The fact of the matter is that NOBODY plays all the games under Klopp as that has been made abundantly clear this season. I would not worry too much about all that, IMO. Our guy knows what he's doing.

19 Feb 2018 20:49:57
I still think its a good question that deserves to be considered. In the past how did UTD attract game changing players to come and sit on their bench and give strong strength in depth? Consistently win trophies and pay them lots of money!

19 Feb 2018 21:51:03
The players I gave were just an example.

Just saying that I imagine it will be difficult for us to bring in someone with 'game changing quality' to play 2nd fiddle. Even if they play 20-25 games a season, it'll be tricky to bring in star players who don't play in the 'big games'.

It's a problem every top club will struggle with I guess but just saying.

I don't mind giving youth a chance but not sure if thatll happen.

20 Feb 2018 00:59:26
Yes, We need one or two wide players that could play anywhere across the front three. As long as Klopp is at Liverpool there is no place for an out and out striker in his team ( we don’t play with one ) . That will raise serious question marks on the future of Ings and Solanke.
I would expect Klopp to bring one or two wide men. Bailey from Leverkusen is my pick. He is excellent. The other one could be Malcom / Fekir
The current front 3 won’t last 60 games and we need at least 2 equally good players above. Coutinho played as a wide forward and scored 7 goals last season. A number that has not been replaced by any CM.

20 Feb 2018 01:04:09
I think we sign Kroos in the summer. Honest to God.

20 Feb 2018 03:43:11
I still think we’ll go back for Lemar. He’s capable of playing attacking mid or on the wing, so perfect starter in place of Lallana or an impact sub depending on what we need.

20 Feb 2018 08:59:41
Your options are to either accept a loss of quality when big players go out (like Spurs, or us at the moment), bring up the best young players you can, give them whatever game time you can and hope they'll be ready to take their chance (like Soton) or pay so much money that you can essentially maintain a squad of infinite size because they are all paid so much they don't even care when they play (like City) . For us, the money option isn't viable so if we want to change our bench options, we need to sacrifice the 4th and 5th goals in some games (or at least risk them) and start getting players like Woodburn and Wilson on the field instead.

19 Feb 2018 15:27:40
How's all Ed001?

{Ed001's Note - last time you asked me that, I ended up sick as a dog within hours and only just got over it. I am not going to get caught out again, what is it you have poisoned so I can avoid it? Or is it a voodoo doll you use???}

19 Feb 2018 16:21:39
Lol I'm just after a serious bout of man flu and the little man was sick as well and i got the blame for that as well mate.

{Ed001's Note - I can see why, you are either a Jonah or responsible. Not sure which is better!}

19 Feb 2018 16:37:12
I'm ok with boats as in I haven't sunk any yet so that's the Jonah argument out the window.

19 Feb 2018 12:20:59
Hi Ed sorry if you answered already but where is it the club sees Trents long term position being?

{Ed001's Note - it's ok, I have only answered it 100 times so easily missed. He is a midfielder.}

19 Feb 2018 14:28:49
Is that it Ed, thought it was a lot more mate lol :)

{Ed001's Note - I was just talking about today....}

19 Feb 2018 14:32:35
He will never make it as a midfielder, will always be a back up right back i'm afraid! Xxx.

19 Feb 2018 14:09:24
Is that cm or winger? Midfield makes me think cm but his fb role makes me think he is a winger.

19 Feb 2018 14:43:03
hardy, the only thing he is lacking is muscle and that comes in time.

19 Feb 2018 15:08:18
Lol about right Ed, hope your having a good day mate!

{Ed001's Note - it's ok mate, just wondering how I will last until Saturday without a Liverpool game!}

19 Feb 2018 15:12:45
He’s unlikely to make it as a right back, he’s done incredibly well filling in there especially considering his age but it’s quite obvious his future isn’t there.
Really hope he makes it as a midfielder and with us, it’s nice to have at least one local in the team.

19 Feb 2018 15:21:13
Hardy, interesting take. what knowledge/ info do you have to draw up that conclusion? I've followed him for a few years and I couldn't commit to such a statement like 'will always be back up right back' he's only 19, has more technical ability, vision and intelligence than most of our current midfielders, in my opinion the lad needs to gain a bit more strength and work on his defensive game to be the type of midfielder we crave, and low and behold Klopp has spent this season working on his defending at right back. Talk about writing a player off too early.

19 Feb 2018 16:14:00
I think due to the lack of quality fullbacks nowadays, I can easily see TAA ending up as a RB who fills in occasionally in midfield a la Joshua Kimmich and Sergi Roberto.

19 Feb 2018 16:23:23
He'll be a right back. If he carries on he'll go to the World Cup.

{Ed025's Note - not this one obviously, but maybe a future one if he keeps improving 8..

19 Feb 2018 16:21:52
I feel your pain Ed1, it was a boring weekend, I can't stand these long breaks in-between games, roll on West Ham, I'm going to score an hat trick against em!

{Ed001's Note - I am dreading the next international break, they always really drag!}

19 Feb 2018 16:28:34
Well said TIA19 the lad has been brilliant. And shows a great attitude and plenty ability to go with his determination. If keeps improving, bulks up abit and has luck with injuries. Trent will be a great player for Liverpool.

19 Feb 2018 18:46:11
Could easily go to this one if he kicks on for the rest of the season, alternative to Walker if you need a bit more going forward.

19 Feb 2018 19:00:23
No chance beef, Gomez might go as a CB/ RB flexible option from the bench.

19 Feb 2018 23:43:11
Great to have a local lad too. He is pure class. Look at the players we have and in a European game he is given the free kick. He must be good in training for the boys to give him the free kick. And he scored, what a beauty. I think he just brilliant, people keep calling him a kid but he is pretty much an established premier league player and champions league player. Will he make it? He already has.

20 Feb 2018 00:54:17
Yeah, I agree, well said tia19.

19 Feb 2018 09:55:08
Firmino is just something else, it's an absolute joy to watch him play.

19 Feb 2018 10:02:26
Shhhhh. let's keep it quiet or Barca/ Real might come knocking :)

19 Feb 2018 10:41:20
Lol too true Kev.

19 Feb 2018 10:51:26
They won't only Liverpool fans think Firmino is world-class it seems.

19 Feb 2018 10:59:13
Honestly wouldn't swap him for anyone right now. He always puts in 100% for the team and does so much more than add to the goals. he's getting better each season too.

19 Feb 2018 11:07:16
Firmino is the ONE we cannot afford to lose, IMO.

19 Feb 2018 11:25:05
So has your stance changed on Bobby then BRover? Unless am mistaking you for another bloke on here.

19 Feb 2018 11:11:18
Modern day Kenny Daglish. Firmino doesn't play in the system, He is the system!

19 Feb 2018 11:52:19
I agree Harry.

19 Feb 2018 12:27:22
RBL, you must have mistaken me for someone else. Bobbie as BD said, IS the Klopp system.

19 Feb 2018 14:07:48
I honestly think I would cry if Bobby left. Genuinely. I have not loved a player so much since stevie g.

19 Feb 2018 14:35:01
He is always fit too. Last season I wasn't 100% sold on him but jeez I was wrong. What a player.

19 Feb 2018 16:33:27
“Modern day Kenny Daglish”

Don’t put that pressure on him. No-one will emulate he King.

20 Feb 2018 00:56:43
Personally I thought he’d been watching Rushie on video the way he tackles back and harasses the defenders. Love to see it and we’ve done well out of his work and commitment.

19 Feb 2018 07:28:30
A question for ed01 if I may.

I feel as if we’re about to enter a new phase of our progression under klopp this summer and that is the one of building a squad that has equal (if not almost) quality on the bench as it does on the pitch. What I mean by that is if you look at the top clubs they’ve have 2 excellent players competing for the same position such as Aguero and Jesus or sane/ sterling etc. Whilst at the moment we have unequivocal first choices in our front 3 in particular. We likely need to look to an additional winger or possibly striker depending on what happens to Ings/ Sturridge/ origi.

I guess what I’m asking is do you see that transition as tricky? Will top prospects such as a Brandt, Bailey or Pulisic etc be keen to join knowing how hard it will be to displace our front 3 and if we do sign such players, how our front 3 will feel about not playing pretty much every game they’re fit for?

Hope that makes sense?!

{Ed001's Note - I do not see us as anywhere near that point yet, we have no midfield to speak of yet, we have two right backs who both are intended to have a long term future in different positions. Those positions need attending to before we should even be thinking about squad depth.}

19 Feb 2018 10:48:23
Here here! We need full backs! The system demands two excellent full backs. I don’t care if we don’t buy another CB in the summer. It’s our full back that’s worse than anything. However I do expect 2 midfielders to arrive in the summer and the total tally will rise up to 6-7 players.
Except the front 3 anyone could move in the summer.

19 Feb 2018 12:37:31
Spot on Ed001. I know you're a fan of Ndidi and Mendy at Leicester but are there any others you think are viable and a good fit. I like the look of Jorginho, Torreira and Dendoncker but I don't think we've shown any interest in them either. And at right bac apart from Pereira, are there any others we're looking at?

{Ed001's Note - Jorginho is one I particularly like but I think we would be better with the more combative type, such as Doucoure. There have been a few right backs looked at, though most are unlikely to be options this summer, Fredericks of Fulham could well be possible, he is of interest.}

19 Feb 2018 13:37:07
If I may ask Ed001, why are the right backs unlikely to be options this summer? Is it due to them not being available or because many top clubs are also looking at them?

{Ed001's Note - both.}

19 Feb 2018 13:41:13
Thanks Ed. Doucoure has really hit the ground running in the PL. I don't know much about his mentality or game intelligence but his ability is there for all to see. Must admit I don't know much about Fredericks apart from he's a former Spurs academy player so will keep an eye out. Thanks again!

{Ed001's Note - Fredericks is very attacking.}

19 Feb 2018 13:47:30
would like any of those mentioned tbh. not seen much of Jorginho so can't comment but i agree with ed that i would like a real enforcer. Doucoure is a really good player from what i have seen. really hope we target a midfielder of that nature. with Kieta coming in i only expect 1 more midfielder after that a right back and an attacker/ winger then replacements for outgoings.

19 Feb 2018 14:03:55
Whilst Torreira doesn’t match Doucoure or Dendoncker in height he’s a snarly and tough little chap who loves a tackle and pretty useful passer. Has a bit of Mascherano Medel Veratti about him.

{Ed001's Note - I have not seen him play.}

19 Feb 2018 14:35:36
The player I would've loved in there was Obiang of West with every game before his horrible injury problems.

What's happened to him do you think Ed? He looks half the player he was before his injuries. Do you think they've just taken too much out of him he'll never get back or do you think it'll just be a matter of time before he's back to his best?

Also, I'm very surprised to see a question about midfielders and you not say you hope we sign Gary Medel!

All the best.

{Ed001's Note - what are you talking about? Obiang was playing well this season until he picked up another injury.}

19 Feb 2018 14:49:43
Personally I think he looked a off the pace. But granted that may well have been because he was playing in a poor West Ham team.

Do you know if he is seen as being particularly susceptible to injuries, or if its just seen as bad luck on his part? West Ham have plenty of experience of dealing with the perpetually injured Andy Carroll.

Are Liverpool interested in any of this sort of combative midfielder that you know of? We have Keita coming in who people seem to think is like that but I think he's a lot more creative and dynamic than people believe. I've seen him described as a more attacking Kante, which is completely wrong in my view.

{Ed001's Note - no point asking West Ham about this, they do not do enough work on this area. The fact he has suffered a number of injuries means that he will be more susceptible, it is just the way it is. The body will slightly alter its running style to protect damaged joints creating wear and tear where it shouldn't be and so increase risk of another, different injury, as well as the possibility of a weakness where previous injury occurred. So he would be off my list off targets if I was choosing.

We are not really looking for a combative midfielder, more of a pressing, high-energy player, such as Keita, who you rightly point out is not a lot like Kante really.}

19 Feb 2018 15:01:11
Cheers for the replies Ed.

I'd like us to be looking for someone who can take Hendersons slightly deeper role, when he is injured or rested, but could also be used further up the pitch in the pressing, high energy capacity yoy have described.

The worst thing about all of this is that if I were looking around Europe for such a player I would only really find one that fits the bill.

Young, very fit, high energy, decent on the ball, lots of potential, experience in England.

And that is Emre Can. Which is a shame.

{Ed001's Note - I wouldn't even consider Can for the role personally, he has not got the right mentality and is far too forgetful of his defensive responsibilities. There are many who fit the bill far better, Allan of Napoli, Ndidi of Leicester off the top of my head.}

19 Feb 2018 14:26:25
Doucoure is perfect and he will end up at spurs as the Long term replacement for Dembele. We are looking outside England. I wouldn’t mind Yuri Tielemans from Monaco, Kovacic from Real,

19 Feb 2018 15:13:53
Fair enough mate. Cheers for the responses.

I'd like us to take a chance on Nampalys Mendy. He would likely be available quite cheap, and even if he doesn't kick on to become a great player he would be a solid squad player for many years to come.