Liverpool Banter Archive March 01 2016

01 Mar 2016 21:52:26
14 points above relagation zone, 10 wins from 26 games 11th in the league and BELOW Chelsea after their abysmal start.

Facts are facts somebody needs the finger pointing at them, Either staff or players its disgusting to be where we are right now. Ed002 has said klopps style has been found out, is it him? Ed001 has mentions you can count the players who have impressed klopp on one hand, is it them?

Either way something is wrong.

01 Mar 2016 23:20:44
We all know something is wrong and we have known that since last season. All we have to do is finish strong and prepare for next season hence, get our targets in early and make sure we are ready to go from the first game. All the other stuff you mentioned just sounds like a whine that I have no intention of responding to. Sounds more like a knee jerk reaction to a situation that you haven't thought through yet and just parroting other people's opinions. Btw, we have two games in hand so chill out.

01 Mar 2016 23:33:02
Patience is a virtue.

01 Mar 2016 23:51:38
The players are average.

02 Mar 2016 00:18:49
We have average players. I've been saying it all season.
Just wipe this season off the map it was all about getting in a young top manager who's won titles and waiting till summer to actually start building a TEAM. (Not a load of central midfielders)

02 Mar 2016 00:20:20
Like most things, I'd think it's a combination of all of the above Jay19 along with loads of injuries and a clogged fixture list rather than just any singular issue.

02 Mar 2016 01:07:56
Whose on the next coach to Stranraer Ron?

02 Mar 2016 01:23:36
Also chelsea have plaued more games! That helps gain more points!

02 Mar 2016 01:48:42
We've got 2 games in hand on Chelsea. Hypothetical, but win them both and we're 5 points above them. We're 9 behind City and amazingly 19 behind Leicester, though they have played 2 more.
This season is a tough one to call. Though our squad is average, we have put a few teams to the sword when on song. Take into account our defensive frailty and injuries, our striking injuries and poor money spent and a midfield offering little attacking threat, and our current position becomes easier to understand, though not entirely excuse. We've also had a change of manager and coaches and failed to replace Suarez and Gerrard.

02 Mar 2016 03:21:29
this is the aftermath of sunday rearing its ugly head imo. yes Chelsea and everton are above us in the league, we are mid table because we are to inconsistent, why are you throwing your rattle out of the pram just because Chelsea are 1pt in front of us?, under hiddink they are one of the form teams, also there was nothing wrong with there playing squad they had a situation with mourinho, unlike klopp the new Chelsea manager will only need to make subtle changes and they will be challenging again for next seasons title.

{Ed001's Note - at the start of the season most people expected Chelsea to finish above us, so why is it a shock that they have moved ahead of us now by a point when we have two games in hand?}

02 Mar 2016 03:51:38
a different perspective:

Chelsea with players like Hazard, Costa, Matic, Courtois etc are 1 point above us and we have 2 games in hand.

Look we're not doing good, but we can do better yes.

But i would say its a mix both, our players are not good enough, and maybe the manager needs to adapt his tactics abit to the type of players we have?

i don't know, but i don't feel its and either or case, but more of both. players underperforming, manager not able to get the best out of players at his disposal too.

02 Mar 2016 04:17:17
well said ed I myself had Chelsea down for a least a top 2 finish before the season started, there campaign was a big of a shock to me as the one Leicester are having.

02 Mar 2016 04:51:25
U know something is wrong when Thomas Tuchel took over same set of Dortmund players and get them firing all cylinders and playing attractive football.

{Ed001's Note - no you don't, don't be silly. There was a lot more to it than that, which anyone with a clue would know.}

02 Mar 2016 04:55:47
I think in key positions we just lack the players needed. Ed002 caused a stir with his comments about Klopp being inflexible/ unadaptable but I mean if you look at our team and the system Klopp has tried to play then it true. He's looking to play a similar game to his Dortmund side of old yet without the quality they possessed or the right players to do the job. That is not good management irrespective of what anyone says - and look I like Klopp, his attitude, his spirit, etc etc but looking at it from a purely strategic point of view he has gotten it wrong (IMO) . Add to that the complete dearth of real quality in the side and you can see where the problems lie.

We persist with Moreno despite him showing ineptitude, positional naivety and poor concentration again and again. Smith needs to start games from now till the season finishes.

Clyne has been marginally better defensively but has shown no guile at all when getting forward and to be honest may as well just sit back as he contributes so little (except loss of possession) - I suspect the only reason Flanagan has yet to usurp him is the staff are managing his return from a lengthy injury.

Mingolet and his consistency in cocking up and conceding goals is a story everybody on here is familiar with. As ed001 rightly said the great saves he was lauded for in that final were saves you would expect any good keeper to make - and his mistake was one no good keeper would concede.

The centre backs have changed so much this season due to injury and form that there hasn't been scope for anybody to form a cohesive partnership. It's no an excuse for the lack of quality but that sort of disruption really helps no one.

In the middle of the park Henderson is carrying an injury and so his effectiveness is massively reduced. Lucas does the job he does well but is now looking like being better suited to centre back. Emre Can has bright moments but frustrates the hell out of me with his inconsistency and especially his lazy passing - at this moment in time he is not economical enough with the ball. Milner? Words fail me. Headless chicken with no quality. His corners are unbelievably bad.

Wingers - we have none lol! A big problem.

Attacking midfielders - we have loads! Coutinho and Firmino have shown their quality. Lallana doesn't look good enough (as much as I like the lad) . Ibe has been in dreadful form (hence he has been dropped) . Texiera could of been good but has not been given any opportunities so looks to be off.

Forwards - Ings been out all season. Sturridge only really returned. Benteke woeful and slow and the striker many of us on here were adamant we should not sign. Origi has looked bright but again has also had injury disruptions.

I mean looking at this we are lacking in almost all areas of the pitch for whatever reason. There are a number of players who will shine but far, far too many who are not up to task. Klopp hasn't really organised us well enough in terms of game strategy to reflect this and I think it has caused additional problems. This is no call for Klopp to be sacked or something - there is simply a lot of fervour surrounding him which seems tobe making him immune to criticism - I think some of the faults do come back to him, I certainly think our results could have been better in spite of the obvious squad deficiencies.

Just my thoughts, sorry for the obscene length.

{Ed001's Note - sorry but I stopped bothering when you tried to claim Klopp is playing the same system as he did at Dortmund, that is not true. We are not even playing close to a similar system. I really wish people would watch the two teams before making ludicrous comments like that.}

02 Mar 2016 04:58:42
Can you elaborate on that ed? I'm just curious about your thoughts on it.

{Ed001's Note - we are dropping off, not playing the high press, we are pressing at a much lower level. In a full press of the kind Klopp favours, four or more are pressing the ball and blocking passing avenues, we usually have one or two pressing, while the rest filter back into position. There are many other differences, such as playing with a fluid 4-4-2, rather than the shape he favoured in the Bundesliga.}

02 Mar 2016 05:53:10
We never recovered from the loss of Luis Suarez.

02 Mar 2016 06:44:48
What did we win with Luis Suarez?

Our problems with the team are much deeper than the loss of Suarez, his presence papered over some deep cracks.

02 Mar 2016 09:02:55
We won many games, many new fans and a CL place. And we created a serious fear factor. It all dissapeared when he went.

02 Mar 2016 09:38:02
I really want to defend Klopp here. I’ve been studying change-efforts in organisations and it isn't the easiest thing to do and you need to accept that short-term fixes rarely work and if they do, often leads to nothing but a temporary upswing. I feel confident that Klopp is working on long-term objectives and i am happy about that. At the same time i am confident that he knows that there isn't much patience in football and "now" is the king. But we just have been in a cup final. Isn't to bad really.
And changes are needed. You may call it transition and you may call it something else. But transition isn’t necessarily the worst thing in the world if you plan it carefully, know how to implement your ideas, care to evaluate and adjust along the road. And I do feel that Klopp is a lot better at doing so than our previous manager – who for me, looked incapable of that.
Klopp took over a dysfunctional team, poorly assembled and with no balance at all. We barely have any wide-players (senior at least) and a ton of attacking midfielders who all want to run with the ball and the ball played to their feet. We have a goalkeeper who is continuously making mistakes and… well don’t get me started on Mignolet. Our left back is young and tenacious but is really struggling with his defending, positioning, timing and crossing. Several players where bought that wasn’t needed, some like Benteke who many of us knew was never going to fit in and some like Milner on far to big money considering their actual ability. We severely lack runners from deep, people moving without the ball, running the channels. We have Sturridge, Ings and Origi who do that, but two of them have been injured for a large part of Klopps reign and are now trying to get back to form and Ings is out long term. Henderson, if he wasn’t carrying an injury, could make those important runs from deep – but at his current fitness level he can’t. The previous manager continuously shifted around in our central defence and never settled on a partnership who could develop an understanding – with the mainstay Skrtel being someone nobody understands. Klopp haven’t been able to settle on a duo because of an ocean of injuries.
Furthermore several players looked extremely low on confidence prior to Klopps arrival. Rodgers reportedly alienated several players. A number of players were continuously played out of position. Rodgers was constantly changing his formation and his trying to be clever with his tactics – but all resulting in nothing but aimless passing around and recycling of possession – a bad habit a number of the players struggle to get rid off.
The fans had been and are venting their frustrations in a not so nice way, in the stadium, on forums like this, twitter etc. - and the atmosphere at Anfield where (and still is) terrible I am told.
Just days after Klopp arrived both Ings and Gomez got long-term injuries – both players who could have contributed a lot. And what a difference it would have made to have Flanagan - love that guy.
I still haven’t mentioned a flawed loan system that does nothing good for most the players that we previously farmed out thoughtlessly.
So there is a lot of things going on, a lot of things that need changing, a lot of things that need fixing. It’ll take time for sure – but it’ll be worth the wait. Had Klopp just adapted completely to his players – or the way they been taught to play by Rodgers - we might have seen slightly better results this year. But it wouldn’t have improved us much overall. I like the fact that Klopp have decided that we need to start from scratch. Relearn. Restart. While he have still made adjustments to his preferred way of playing – to cope and get us through the season. We will be better next season because of this. We have started learning now instead of waiting to the summer. Things are going to get better – and they already are. Next season I expect you all will see it more clearly. It is far, far too early to write him off as a failure. It is far, far too early to say his methods don’t work. I cringe when I read some of the comments on here. How could anybody think that all our issues would miraculously go away? Rodgers spend 3 years messing it up and It won't be fixed in a matter of month. Yes I would have hoped for the results to be a little bit better, but anybody denying that our general performance level haven’t gone up is out of their mind or simply can’t remember the last season and a half under Rodgers. Everything is better. We now have a manager with balls, charisma and honesty instead of a manager with beautiful white teeth who constantly talks bull. We have a manager who – in cooperation with competent people like Watzke, Zorc etc – managed to take a worse team than what we currently got and get them in to a Champions League final through good planning, coaching and recruitment. I’ve had it with the argument about him not being able to change, adapt etc. He already did hare at Liverpool as ed001 rightly pointed out. He did that throughout his time at Dortmund. Even his last season – the one many use as a stick to beat him – he adapted, changed and found a formula for success that worked quite well in the second part of the season.
Klopp is the one, the only one – for our current situation. The best we could ever hope for and our best option for getting better. There may be better managers out there – but he is the best for us. He’ll make mistakes, we all do – but I trust him to learn from it.
Now I hope all you who doubt is capable of doing the same. I hope that you’ll soon realize that you where wrong and I was right. Klopp was right. And then we can start moving together as we are supposed to do, in the right direction – towards glory.

01 Mar 2016 23:23:07
Couldn't agree more. I wanted klopp more than anyone but this is not acceptable. The honey moon period is over and maybe he needs to toughen up a bit and stop being too nice. A ruthless streak is defenetly needed in the summer.

02 Mar 2016 08:35:56
It would be a shame and hard truth if Chelsea were to finish above us this season, The only season I have seen them struggle in past 10 years or more. An interim getting the best out of the players at his disposals.

02 Mar 2016 10:14:15
Brenda - it's a Megabus 😉.

02 Mar 2016 17:14:11
Kiva - hard truth? For me it doesn't matter who finishes sbove us this year. honestly! Building team etc more imp for me. And chelsea are still the defending champs! They got stale with Mou for lots of readons and stopped playing then suddenly once he's gone they're fine sgain. On the flip-side, say we go on a similar run to close the season.!?

01 Mar 2016 21:47:37
Lucas is fast becoming my favourite Liverpool player of all time.
Fantastic attitude towards the club and fans.
Everything you would hope a professional footballer would be, despite just about everyone putting him down from the press, fans and managers he's still here, giving it his all and more.
Hard to think we bought him all those years ago as an attacking midfielder.
I'm glad he's now getting the recognition he deserves and has a manager who belives in him.

01 Mar 2016 23:22:51
Those who know the game of football know the importance of Lucas and the smart talented player he is. The YouTube generation? I fdont know if they think as highly of him as you and I do, Mikey.

01 Mar 2016 23:49:16
Lucas ALWAYS had a fantastic attitude towards the club and fan's.

02 Mar 2016 00:18:49
Was thinking about that myself, we bought him 8 years ago as one of the best young attacking midfielders in brazil, recognized by the award he won in brazil. And yet here he is making his wembley debut as our Cb.

02 Mar 2016 00:30:56
I wanna applaud the lad. Captain for me all day.

02 Mar 2016 03:29:39
he has a top class mentality and a brilliant attitude, I always wonder though what his Liverpool career would have been if we had played him as an attacking midfielder as originally intended.

02 Mar 2016 05:01:23
Wasn't he a box-to-box midfielder rather than attacking midfielder in his early days? Saying attacking midfielder conjures up Coutinho images and I don't think he was ever that sort of player.

I think he is all class though, great ambassador for the club on and off the pitch and has taken a lot of (in my view unfair) flak from everyone including the fans. Definitely captain material (though I'm happy with Henderson in the role as he is also a fine role model) .

02 Mar 2016 07:47:05
No he was an AM, he played just behind the striker in the Brazil U21 team (I have no idea what he did in the league)

02 Mar 2016 17:18:46
Lucas is my fave player no doubt! Came as an AM, had to learn a new posirion because well, who else would really remove stevie from that attacking midfielder role!? Became our best DM, then ousted again by stevie because well, stevie will always be first choice in his chosen position while he wad first choice. then lucas pucks himself up again as our best DM, grts relegated with rhe emergence if Can and now, although in some ways it was forced, has rereated himself as a CB! GK and migs spot ne t me thinks!

01 Mar 2016 18:58:18
I don't think we will replace all the players out on loan, just thinking that including them could be around 14 players leaving, with Us having a bloated squad, would imagine around 6-7 new players coming in, not all first tearners, some would be squad players.

01 Mar 2016 21:37:29
I hate the idea of buying 'squad players'.

You should only ever buy players better than what you already have, its the only way to improve and keep the squad hungry.

If you just buy squad players who you know aren't first team quality, you just end up doing what rodgers did and bring in players like cissokho, aspas, alberto, borini, allen etc, players who are okay but ultimately just prove to be a waste of money because they never push for a spot in the first team and only get worse as they rot on the bench.

01 Mar 2016 22:02:46
Agree with what you are saying but sometimes players are bought with this in mind and for whatever reason don't kick on.

01 Mar 2016 23:24:43
Spot on, Anonymous. Squad players should come from your youth academy system if it is productive which ours is. You buy because you don't have someone better already in the squad.

02 Mar 2016 03:40:18
that's where our squad players should come from redohio, we have already given kevin stewart a contract, that should save us from buying a dm, we have other talented players that could do us a job when called upon, in the clamour for the marquee signing let's remember what we already have, just waiting for a chance.

01 Mar 2016 16:59:17
In reply to ed1's response to who he thinks will leave, you could also add, to the 7 he listed, balotelli, yesil, Sinclair, luis Alberto, possibly wisdom, illori, texeira, markovic, so you are looking at well over 12 players leaving this summer.

{Ed002's Note - The club would not replace those who leave after being on loan.}

01 Mar 2016 17:21:32
Bean78, all the players that u mentioned have already been replaced. Why would the club want to replace players who were out on loan? The squad is significantly bloated so 12-13 players leaving and 4-5 players arriving makes sense.

01 Mar 2016 18:35:10
To be fair Indian buzzer, I can't see where bean78 has mentioned about replacing the players he listed. He's just mentioned that on top of ed001 predicted players leaving, he's added who else he thinks is leaving.

01 Mar 2016 16:10:43
Hello ed001 if your about.
Who do you think will be leaving this summer? Not who you want (if that's different), but who you think.
Appreciate if you've been asked before and don't want to answer as I've not checked back anyway.
I personally don't think we need a massive overhaul, it just needs a couple of additions with a lot leaving and hopefully klopp will do well with a preseason with the players.

{Ed001's Note - I expect Bogdan, Toure, Caulker, Enrique, possibly Moreno, Allen and Benteke to be surplus, at least. Possibly a few more.}

01 Mar 2016 17:00:12
Balotelli, Mignolet (good offer pending) Skrtel and Llalanna for me on top of what was said.

01 Mar 2016 17:17:08
Interesting to see Moreno part of that list but considering his performance so far it's understandable. Would not be worried as Smith look ready and also Flannagan. Just wondering is there any interest in him (moreno) so far?

01 Mar 2016 18:32:40
Rage, a bit premature about Smith, he has some good qualities but I think his defending is also suspect, he needs some sub chances and cup games to get up to regular PL starter for me.

01 Mar 2016 18:45:07
Mcgoveb - he is at least in position to defend, more so than Moreno, and phenomenal stamina to get up and down all game - he at least deserves more starts to prove his worth.

01 Mar 2016 20:40:27
I don't see Lallana going just yet think he can be a good squad player if he is willing.

01 Mar 2016 22:01:24
you can't have a £25 million quid "squad" player . can't see lallana getting in ahead of ings and origi next year? now they're squad players, didn't cost the earth that they should be deemed 1st team starters, good enough to fill in and start young enough to coach / learn and probably at the same level.

01 Mar 2016 23:31:00
If you want expensive players as squad players then City or Chelsea is the club for you. Lallana is not good enuff and has failed to justify the price paid for him so why should he be kept? Origi, Ings, Coutinho and Firmino are better than him so again, what is he doing here?

02 Mar 2016 03:49:50
I think klopp likes lallana, maybe one of the eds know something about this, but I think klopp likes his stamina, and workrate. I don't see him leaving in the summer.

02 Mar 2016 06:47:50
I agree kingkenny, not a big fan myself but Klopp seems to like him.
Who knows, he can still turn it around with his work ethic.

01 Mar 2016 15:08:15
Question for any of the ed's.
There was allot of hype and excitement with the appointment of Klopp. Do you think he has so far met the owner's expectations?

{Ed001's Note - it depends on what way you mean. In terms of media exposure and excitement around the world he has massively exceeded expectations and made Liverpool into a premium club once more by his presence alone. In terms of results, this season was just about steadying the ship and stopping the rot, though I think they would have hoped for a bit more.}

01 Mar 2016 15:26:49
That was exactly what I meant ed! Off the field he is massive and everywhere, which is great, but I am little bit disappointed with the results, but expecting an exciting next season! Thanks man.

{Ed001's Note - glad I could help then, as I wasn't too sure what way you meant. The owners very much take into account the effect he has had commercially and marketing wise as well as results. A manager like him is an enticement to players to want to come and play for us, enabling us to get players we otherwise would not have a chance of, and to get players to come for less money than they would get elsewhere. Aubameyang could have earnt 50% more signing for someone other than Dortmund, for instance, but he wanted to play for Klopp.}

01 Mar 2016 16:01:11
When he took over we were struggling to beat the mighty Carlisle at Anfield with more or less a full team out. We also got humiliated by United and West Ham, scraped a draw and a win against Norwich and Villa at home. Our only wins came courtesy of an offside goal against Bournemouth and a worldy by Phil. We were also struggling to qualify in the Europa League group. This suggests both the previous manager and the squad he assembled were not particularly good. Since then we were beaten on a penalty shoot out against one of the top teams on Europe in a Wembley final and we are in the last 16 of the Uefa Cup. Is Klopp perfect and the best manager in the world? No. Is he a massive upgrade on the previous chap and the best LFC can do right now? Yes.

01 Mar 2016 16:30:18
Mainz, those are massive rose tinted glasses you're wearing.

01 Mar 2016 16:34:57
Spot on, Mainznilfunf! Many on here have used this roller coaster time under Klopp to slate him on how "disappointed" they are in him, using pathetic stats and win percentages to try to butress their point, things that make absolutely no sense in reality. Although I thought we would be better than where we are when he arrived but a lot went wrong with injuries, players under performing, a couple of his own mistakes as well. But to say we have not improved nor grown under him is moral dishonesty at its worst. Under him, we made a cup final we lost on pens, our youth system is being revamped, our youth have gotten games to the point senior players fearing for their own LFC careers, certain players have improved under him, he's improved our image worldwide, players will come to us because of him, all of which would never have happened with the clueless and drab football we were playing under BR.

01 Mar 2016 16:55:20
klopp has done better than BR he has lifted the fans and the players, hopefully we will get players at the club because they will want to play for klopp, players that would not have come under BR maybe that's why we have such a mediocre squad because we lost out on a lot of players because they did not want to play for BR and his shiney teeth, once klopp gets the players he wants then we will play better and our results will improve, and i'm not that sure but i don't think klopp has had a full squad to choose from, any way i believe klopp will turn the results around next season.

01 Mar 2016 12:05:55
Hello Ed1,

According to three of the papers today there's going to be a cull this summer and one of the main targets of ours will be Piotr Zielinski. I was wondering if you know of any interest in him from Liverpool and whether you rate him at all?

Thanks.

{Ed002's Note - Try the search engine. I suspect all three papers are probably printing the same story.}

01 Mar 2016 13:08:01
Thanks Ed.

01 Mar 2016 13:23:28
Quality young CM who would be a steal at anything under 20 million. Good passing range and work rate is commendable. Will create lots of chances for the forwards and also gets into good goal scoring positions. Also double footed from what i have seen, at least that is my impression from Youtube videos and 2 games for Empoli.

01 Mar 2016 13:23:28
Quality young CM who would be a steal at anything under 20 million. Good passing range and work rate is commendable. Will create lots of chances for the forwards and also gets into good goal scoring positions. Also double footed from what i have seen, at least that is my impression from Youtube videos and 2 games for Empoli.

01 Mar 2016 18:45:38
So why was he sent out on loan if he's so good?
If it's to get game time then his own club obviously didn't think he was a first teamer.

{Ed002's Note - Manchester City had a sustained interest in taking Piotr Zielinski as padding for their squad but Udinese didn't want to sell him - and over last summer they stepped back from their pursuit of him completely after watching him during his first season on loan at Empoli. Certainly he was not going to be moving in January but a number of clubs have looked at him whilst on loan at Empoli this season including Brighton, Liverpool, Napoli, Roma, Auxerre, Young Boys and Bayer Leverkusen. Udinese still remain unconvinced about the player even though things are going well for him now - and in the summer they may well pass him off to "sister" side Watford for another season.}

01 Mar 2016 08:43:34
Lucas at CEB reminds me of Baresi, the former Italian international. Not tall or pacy but reading of the game was immaculate making him one of the best defenders of his time.

01 Mar 2016 09:16:17
Here we go, till he gets found out then he will remind you of titus bramble.

01 Mar 2016 10:08:11
He is no Baresi or no Bramble - but so far he have done exeptionally well at CB. I am very intrigued about the prospect of him playing there regulary. I simply love him and nothing would please me more than if he was able to cement a place in the team as a CB - as that would mean he was doing well there. I am really impressed with him so far. Very smart player. We have been missing someone with the qualities he have in our defense - with his reading of the game, positioning and ability to play from the back. Great idea Klopp - now give him the rest of the season to prove it is no fluke.

01 Mar 2016 10:12:00
lucas has half a dozen games at centre back and you are comparing him to probably the greatest defender of all time?

01 Mar 2016 12:30:05
He will need someone tall and pacey alongside him - Matip.
Who knows, he could nail down a place there but it's early days.

01 Mar 2016 12:46:20
LOL@ Twinkletoes. Too much the people on this site, too much.

01 Mar 2016 13:41:18
He's no Baresi but he is one smart and intelligent player. His ability to anticipate, know when to press the striker and when to drop off, his positional sense is spot on and is superb in the air and on the ground for a 5 ft 10 player. I thought he played Aguero very well overall and didn't foul him except when he needed to. I know a couple of our CB's can learn from him as head and shoulders above them. I hope he drops there later in his career because he's one wise head our players can learn from.

01 Mar 2016 17:05:39
omg can't believe what i'm reading about lucas, he is getting compared to one of the best defenders and now he is getting called our best defender, there's no denying he has played very well at CB but people are going over the top, if he has a bad game what will you all say then, let's keep our feet on the ground and just say we have found a player to fill in at CB, he was my mom at wembley as he was with many others but i'm not going over the top, i just hope he has good games there every time he plays a CB.

01 Mar 2016 17:05:39
omg can't believe what i'm reading about lucas, he is getting compared to one of the best defenders and now he is getting called our best defender, there's no denying he has played very well at CB but people are going over the top, if he has a bad game what will you all say then, let's keep our feet on the ground and just say we have found a player to fill in at CB, he was my mom at wembley as he was with many others but i'm not going over the top, i just hope he has good games there every time he plays a CB.

01 Mar 2016 19:38:19
Hes played really well as a CB, and I might be looking through Lucas tinted glasses but the whole defensive organization seems better (not difficult granted) with him there, little steps.
I loved Carragher as a player but arguably his greatest gift was his leadership and organizational skills, maybe Lucas has a bit of that too.

01 Mar 2016 22:13:30
I haven't seen any of our "real" CB's win as many headers into our box? he may not be a maldini or baresi but he is a Lucas and he IS a upgrade to sakho an co. ( well you'll find out tmorra anyway)

01 Mar 2016 01:36:53
I have to say that I agree with the author of the Liverpool Centre back article in that Lucas should be given the rest of the season at CB. I think he could adapt to that long term, Mascherano has and he doesn't have nearly the same level of football intelligence as Lucas. As the article points out despite his lack of height he wins a lot of headers. The other obvious advantage is the leadership he offers at the back, I was at the game on Thursday and he was constantly talking with all members of the defence; something Skrtel and Lovren seldom do.

01 Mar 2016 04:14:32
I second the sentiment too. Perhaps more so because all year long our defense has been in shatters against set pieces or in general really. i like the fact that Lucas attacks the ball when its in the air something none of our defenders do. Height just has nothing to do with headers - search tim cahill. you just attack it, now Lucas might in future get it wrong but that is the right way to go. for now i would like to drop Hendo in the Lucas role for this season. next year we could seriously consider either of Rossiter or Stewart for that role. I think if Lucas plays and succeeds as CB this season it will be sure a blessing for the club, because i for one never want to loose Lucas. He has been with us for ages now. It also gives us room to sell a few defenders and may be fund a winger though the earnings. (LUCAS MOURA maybe lol)
Also Lucas should be club captain for me (nothing against Hendo but he has a few injury issues of late and he could do with some less pressure on his mind) Lucas is just the captain material ala Thiago Silva type-vocal, ever-present, aggressive and yet good lad everyone wants to be around.

01 Mar 2016 05:34:19
i would have no complaints if our cb partnership changes to lucas sakho till the end of the season.

01 Mar 2016 07:48:07
Strongly agree with this.

Lucas could very well be our best CB, which is incredible given the number of CBs we have here, and how much we've paid for then (Lovren nightmares) .

Lucas was absolutely immense against City. He just reads the game on an entirely different level not just from most of our CBs, but most players more generally. Highly intelligence, great positionally, excellent composure on the ball, great vision and passing.

He lacks height and physicality, but he makes up for that, as Fornax argues, with great positioning.

Seems to me every clearance on set pieces vs City, came off of his foot or his head.

Next season: Lucas-Matip partnership?

01 Mar 2016 08:23:17
Imagine how good a CB he'd be if he had pace,

01 Mar 2016 09:00:02
Physically he does win fifty fifty challenges and is decent in the tackle and he won a lot of headers too.

01 Mar 2016 13:45:30
Lucas and Sahko would work for me till season's end.

01 Mar 2016 13:45:30
Lucas and Sahko would work for me till season's end.

01 Mar 2016 22:19:27
defo should be made captain maybe its because he is not british that he's not? but would be mine.