20 Feb 2014 23:00:00
Hi eds and fellow reds! Swansea lads put in a a handy enough shift tonight, tired legs Sunday I hope.
My first Liverpool game in Anfield is this Sunday, can't fooking wait :)
Last time I got to see the reds play was in old trafford a good few years ago, from a prawn sandwich eating corporate suite, with 12 united supporters (far from prawn sandwiches I was raised just a lucky break to get in there), Danny Murphy got a peach of a winner, tidy finish from a free kick. Anyway i'm currently 100% going to games so hoping to keep the record going sunday.
Just looking for a few suggestions as to where would be best for pre game scoops and to go watch the rugby saturday also!
4-0 i'm guessing, Suarez hat-trick and Sturridge with a stunner!
Keep up the good work eds thanks a million guys and gals
Liverpool Banter Archive February 20 2014
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20 Feb 2014 21:46:44
One thing I find interesting is that for months everyone, myself included, thought we needed a midfielder. However now it seems like that could be the area we least need a player.
Since we've gone to a 4-3-3 with Coutinho in midfield we actually have solid depth right now with Coutinho, Henderson, Gerrard, Lucas and Allen. That's 5 guys for 3 spots. When you factor in potential young players like Suso and Teixeira, we could be in good shape. Think for next year we could potentially have Coutinho and Suso as the creators. Then Henderson or Allen next to that, Henderson if we want more energy and forward runs, Allen if we want someone who will more hold his position and help in possession. Then Gerrard and Lucas for the back of the triangle, Gerrard if we want a deep lying playmaker, Lucas a more traditional midfielder. Basically we may not need to spend any money on midfield this summer.
What's also funny is that our greatest strength clearly needs another player and that's in attack. The starting 3 of Suarez, Sterling and Sturridge is great but there is huge dropoff after that. Right now we have Aspas and Moses, but there is a good chance neither will be here next year. We need to add 2 more players to attack. One who is basically on the same level of our starting 3, so if there is an injury or a player needs a rest there is no drop off. Then we need another player to provide additional depth, although this potentially could be Borini returning from loan.
Good read and agree with most. Although I think we will only need one addition to the attack, someone like Konoplyanka. Aspas and moses will likely leave with suso and Borini coming back to take their places. Then we have Ibe and Teixeira to add a little more dept to the squad.
So that's Suarez, Sturridge Borini, Sterling, Konoplyanka, Suso, Teixeria, Coutinho and Ibe for our attacking positions.
Points well made, though I would still love to see a dynamic central midfielder, one who chips in with a few goals. When you think of Hendo, Lucas, Coutinho, and Allen, you don't often think of goals, and Gerrard predominantly offers them from the spot. Granted, when our forward line offers so many goals that's not such a big issue, but to consistently compete with the likes of City and Chelsea, this is an area I'm sure most of us would like to see improved.
I agree in that it would be great to add a really dynamic player to the midfield, but we have to realize that we can't fix every hole this summer. I think we need a right footed central defender, a leftback and another attacker. Whereas CM is a spot where we'd be improving on already solid players.
We need a Cabaye-like CM.
20 Feb 2014 19:55:36
Ed001, was just wondering what you think of Texeira? I've been watching him since we bought him and I'm a big fan.
Do you think next season could be a break through season for him? I'm also still trying to work out his best position .
Cheers
{Ed001's Note - I liked him before we bought him, it is nice to see him finally starting to look the part. He was instrumental in the way they took us apart in the Next Gen, which led to us buying him. Back then he looked one of the best prospects in world footie. Now he is over his injuries fully, he looks confident and classy and I expect him to push Coutinho for the rest of the season. I actually think he could well have a role to play in the run in to the end of the season, even if it is just being around the first team giving Coutinho some competition for his place.}
Great assessment Ed. If I'm being honest I knew he was going to be a great player, but I didn't realise he was that good! Hopefully we'll be 2 or 3 up tomorrow and he'll get a half hour or so. Then over the International period we get a few behind closed door friendlies and he gets a bit of game time. He looks like he lacks a bit of pace, but then again I thought the same when Flanagan came in and look what he's done! That reminds me Ed, what's your opinion on the full backs? With Johnson coming back, would you put him straight in? I'd prefer Flanno myself.
Cheers,
{Ed001's Note - Johnson would be on the bench for me. He has not deserved a place in the first team for a while now, we just haven't had a lot of options to choose from. Now we have Flanno playing so well, it would be a mistake to drop him, until his performances show sign of slipping.}
I was thinking the same Ed, I wouldn't even put him left back yet until he shows he deserves it. Aly is hitting a little bit of form as well, and at this moment in time he is better than Johnson. If Flanno can keep his form, and if Enrique comes back as strong as he left us, I think we have good options for the run in to the end of the season. That reminds me Ed, when is Enrique back? I heard he was going to be back in January, then mid-February, then March, so how far away is he?
Cheers mate.
20 Feb 2014 21:14:41
Hi eds thank for your efforts and keeping us in the know, just wondered if Johnson did leave this summer would we buy another right back or stick with Flanno, Kelly and possibly McLaughlin? It would save money for other areas that we need to stregnthen, or would BR prefer to get a more proven RB in?
Many Thanks
Henlow red
{Ed002's Note - I would think the club has sufficient cover. Rodgers may not agree.}
20 Feb 2014 20:41:58
What is people thoughts on a ground share with Everton
I personally think it would of been a brill idea
In an ideal world we wouldn't need it but if we could build a 70000 seater state of the art stadium for half the money surely it's a win win situation
We could have a big trophy room to ever tons smaller one etc etc but I think it would of made a lot of sense.
Could ed no 1 give an opinion pls
Pls post eds
Think a ground share is dead in the water. what worries me is if we get to 60000 at anfield, how does this future proof us for the future? what's the maximum we can expand to at anfield? if we progress on the football side of things and compete in europe year after year will we be confined to only a 60000 seater. ever the optomist I thought we could at least fill 75000 or am I way off the mark? what do you edds think?
{Ed002's Note - 60k is the limit.}
If Everton want a 70,000 stadium they should pay the full cost, and finance it themselves.
Reason I asked was Purslow was on saying it was a good idea
I think it would be a great idea
Is it worth extending anfield to 60000 if that's the most we can develope it? is it worth it when it seems even too low a capacity for today let alonr 10 years time
Daft idea!
Why should we share a ground with Everton? Should we share a trophy cabinet too?
Given the choice of 44k at Anfield or 70k ground share with Everton then it's
Anfield every time.
I think the ground share idea should be looked at again
realistically it would provide a massive opportunity for us to increase revenue and compete with the bigger clubs, like someone else posted we could re-develop Anfield and in 10 years time find it not fit-for-purpose.
We can shunt some of the costs onto Everton and have a Stadium the City (not just one club or the other) could be proud of and benefit the whole community.
do people not remember the early 80s when we, the City, ruled football and the buzz it provided to everyone?
we have to look wider than just EFC and LFC and envisage what it could do for the whole region and the benefits to each club would be massive - we are not about to get a rich Oligarch pumping loads of cash in so we have to make our income to be competitive somewhere else and although it may not be everyone's favourite option it shouldn't be dismissed out of hand
after all, isn't it how it all started?
20 Feb 2014 20:17:56
Hi eds hope you well.
just watched dnipro and spurs and you can tell why rodgers wants konoplyanka, looks a class act. Can pass, skillful got pace would be a great addition.
do you think we will revive interest in summer or think he will go elsewhere?
cheers lads all the best
{Ed002's Note - Done to death.}
He was outstanding. Then again, he was going against Naughton who is very poor. But I can see why we wanted him. We`ll see what happens in the summer because there`ll be lots of clubs looking to sign him.
I think the only chance we have of signing him is if we finish in the top four
20 Feb 2014 20:08:02
Would really like to see Liverpool go for some quality young players in the summer. Obviously a big signing to improve our starting XI but also players who would add that quality for years to come.
Players like Luke Shaw, Viktor Fischer, Granit Xaka, Leon Goretska, Alvaro Morata and yes Konoplyanka. Not all of them or even particularly those exact players. I just mean some quality players under the age of 25 who can add something for a good number of years, not just 2 or 3.
20 Feb 2014 19:54:31
That Konoplyanka lad spent the whole game running past the Spurs players as if they weren't there. Brilliant little winger, would have loved to have seen him and Sterling blitzing up and down the wings for us.
Where would you see Sturridge, Suarez, Coutinho, Henderson, and Gerrard playing if we had Konoplyanka on one side and Sterling on the other? Or more precisely, who would you drop?
It's all about rotation RDL - the problem Liverpool have right now is our starting XI is strong then after that we lack quality.
If we want to compete in champions league next year we'll have to tackle this!
I don't necessarily disagree Puzzled, but the post above had Sterling and Konoplyanka both starting which, to me, implies dropping one of Sturridge or Suarez. I also haven't really seen any indications that BR likes to rotate the squad, although to be fair he hasn't really had to worry about it much this season due to injuries and lack of European football.
20 Feb 2014 19:39:00
Banter please Edd.
Get in son!
See you at Anfield soon.
20 Feb 2014 19:27:26
I don't know if anyone is watching Tottenham but I am. Konoplyanka, he's brilliant.
Full if little exciting touches and flair to take his man on. Superb.
I like him too . Would fit nicely on the left side of our front three and can be like robben but on the opposite side. let's see how he does next week with the spud fans booing him if plays like that again maybe missing out on Salah was a blessing if we get him in the summer!
He was outstanding even considering how bad the pitch was. Have to say the ref was brilliant tonight too. Very open free flowing game and only blew up when he had to. Finishing left a lot to be desired for both sides. Looking forward to the return leg on a better pitch. Hard to tell Dnipro only just back from their winter break, kept going right to the end. Have to say I enjoyed it.
He gave them a roasting. But Naughton is quite poor so a bit of caution w/ the praises. Nonetheless, I see why BR wanted him.
20 Feb 2014 16:51:09
that konoplyanka. will roast the spurs players down the flanks. and buy himself a one way ticket to the spurs squad next season.
20 Feb 2014 16:59:48
im sure he will want cl football so if its choice between us and spurs it will be who gets top 4 i'd rather fancy r chances ahead of spurs r lol Manchester United for that mata.
To sit on the bench because they just collect good players to make them look average.
20 Feb 2014 16:26:15
Not Liverpool related but reading headlines I found these storyline bizarre:
Magath is convinced he can save Fulham; bold statement from a man new to PL with only 12 games left with Fulham sacking Curbishley and Wilkins a week after sacking the manager.
Wenger moaning that the referee killed the game by sending off Arsenal keeper; Now, wouldn't he be the first person to want the Bayern player sent off if the roles were reversed?
Roberto Martinez states Everton plans for top4. Now, here's a manager who never managed a team in the top half of the PL and eventually got relegated.He is a great talker for sure, but is he talking above his station?
And. Hull city owner is threatening to increase prices by 50% if he doesn't get his way in changing the club name to Hull Tigers!
Sorry guys and girls, not Liverpool related but football is our sport.
YNWA
20 Feb 2014 16:53:02
good post iran red have to say I was wondering myself for a while was it matinez smoking something funny instead of arsenal for a while now. tim sheerwood is not far off either thinking his spurs side r going to take their fight for top 4 till the last month lol.
I guess journos have to come up with stories which will sell newspapers. My view on stories:
Magath: put his head on chopping block and his boss likes to swing his axe about.
Wenger: got away with one in the FA cup. Just take it on the chin and stop whining.
Martinez: he's a good talker, but he got Wigan relegated last season.
Hull city owner: should be locked up. (jail/a mental hospital)
Bye
{Ed002's Note - Magath is not your common manager - once he starts with his new regime he will start falling out with players.}
Is Magath as extreme as Di Canio? Ed?
I've heard he fell out with players before.
Cheers
{Ed002's Note - He is very strict indeed.}
20 Feb 2014 15:51:55
i see r oul friend daveyboyboyblue is over ranting on utds banter page, how there is no transfers between everton and Liverpool anymore and it should be the same for everton and utd, unless they come up with 25-30m for seamus coleman to not bother trying, he is loosing his marbles, maybe he ate too many toffees.
Coleman is the best right back in the league along with Zab
Tommy all I've been trying to do is let the Mancs know is that Coleman is NOT for sale. Moyes has started his old tricks again by unsettling players saying that he is coming after them in the summer. If the best solution would be to cease any direct dealings with them (as we do with you) then that would be fine by me but if not scare them off with a hefty price tag for the best RB in this country if not in Europe.
Surely it's up to the Everton board to tell the Man United board whether their players are for sale.
I can't see any point in a crazed fan telling opposition crazed fans that a player is not for sale.
Whatever makes you happy Blueboy.
Look on the bright side, you do have a good relationship with them as they pay top dollar for your players and then send you their has beens for a discount price. Without this agreement in place you may find yourselves in financial trouble!! Thank goodness for loan signings.
Davey, I suggest you let Moyes have your players because u`ll get good money for them and they will flop as soon as they step foot at Old Toilet. Ask Fellaini and Mata. They`ve become flops overnight and so will Coleman. Baines was smart though and refused to join a sinking ship. Take the money and run for the hills.
Ha ha Ken.
20 Feb 2014 15:12:58
Hi Eds,
Wanted to know what you think of our scouting network.
Diego Costa got me thinking about it. Last season he looked good with Falcao but this season he's incredible. I know we tried to sign him.
My question is. was it well known how good he would become or were our scouts spot on seeing his potential?
Thanks
{Ed002's Note - Lots of clubs have been interested in Diego Costa so he wasn't an undiscovered talent found by Liverpool scouts. Liverpool's interest was when they were expecting Suarez to leave.}
20 Feb 2014 15:05:35
Hi Ed2, as a Chelsea fan I would like you're neutral and insightful thoughts on a subject that doesn't get much attention on here please.
Liverpool have been playing very well this year and, while the football is exciting to watch, there has also been a lot more steely determination to win games and battle back than previously. I can't help thinking that a significant part of this has been the influence of Steve Peter's and would value your opinion on the matter and his influence on the players and team.
Also, credit to BR for everything they are doing and great people they are bringing into the club, and to the owners who have brought great stability in what was a precarious position post H & G.
Cheers
{Ed002's Note - I read his book but must admit to having not done any of the exercises. Certainly many of the sportsmen and women he has worked with have advocated the benefits of what he has done with them particularly overcoming anxiety. So I think you are probably correct that he has brought out the inner chimp in a number of the players.}
Thanks Ed2, I always appreciate the responses.
Here's hoping it long continues. I had read before that certain players were not participating in his sessions but the team looks a lot more united now (no pun intended) so maybe that changed.
Who knows, it might start a trend or was the trend already started by Glenn Hoddle and David Icke :-)
Cheers
{Ed002's Note - It is not for everyone as you say.}
Sorry OP, or any ed, what does Steve Peter do? his name is new to me.
{Ed002's Note - He is a psychiatrist.}
20 Feb 2014 18:03:51
ahh thanks Ed02
Kaizer, he's the guy BR bought in to help with the teams mental state. He is also famous for working with Ronnie O'Sullivan, Chris Hoy, Rebecca Pendleton, Bradley Wiggins etc. very impressive guy
Heard great things about him
20 Feb 2014 11:35:05
Has anyone else been surprised that Rodgers hasn't favoured his signings?
More often than not, when a manager brings in a player they stick with that player, and I have been surprised that Rodgers hasn't felt obliged to do that. Especially when around £100m has been spent under his reign.
Here is a quote from Rodgers on Ilori.
"Hopefully in the future, maybe long after I am gone, he can prove to be a talent. That is the responsibility of myself and the club going forward to nurture it.
"Of course I have to focus very much on the here and now, but I always have to respect the club and have one eye on the future."
To me this translates as. Ilori is a player for the future. What I want is players who will have an instant impact, however I have to respect the committee and bring in players who match their criteria.
Maybe I am looking too much into it, but this would explain why he doesn't feel pressured into playing certain players, as they are not his signings.
Red Rum
Think your translators broken mate. you've taken that quote of the context of the press conference.
If Rodgers always had his way we would have Borini's, Allen's & Aspas' galore.
And apostrophes
I feel some of his signings were not really his first choice
Stoneage, Is he Greek?
And Socrates of course
20 Feb 2014 10:32:17
Eds - quick question.
What season did UEFA plan to increase the # of competing teams in the champions League? End of this season or the next?
{Ed002's Note - There are discussions to reconsider the structure of the European competitions from 2015/16 on as Platini remains concerned about a breakaway pan-European league which a number of clubs discuss each year.}
Would FFP apply to any breakaway European league?
{Ed002's Note - No, because it would be outside the control of UEFA.}
So would it be fair to say UEFA are trying to keep clubs sweet on this eds?
{Ed002's Note - It is UEFAs primary concern.}
Or similar?
{Ed002's Note - I would doubt it.}
20 Feb 2014 08:09:13
Having a great read of all the opinions of which players will be moving on and who we will and won't keep if and when we make the CL.
Lets face it, the future and more importantly next season looks excellent for us - We have a load of players out on loan who would add real depth to the squad which will enable us to compete on 5 fronts.
Borini, Suso, Coady, Wisdom, Alberto, ilori, Aspas are all well regarded and can definately do a job. Its a shame for the likes of Coates whos never been in favour plus injured.
Eds - You may know better than me but have any of the players who are due to return and are there now got the atitude of 'Hey Liverpool are the most exciting team in europe at the minute and I can be part of something good' or do any of them want to look for moves away? I guess where we finish in the league will make up the minds of some.
I for one would prefer to give these people time and a chance next season than us just look to sign players who want champions league football. If that's all they want, why doesn't everyone sign for Celtic!
{Ed002's Note - I really have no idea what they are thinking.}
. damn good point though. Why don't they all go play for Celtic!?
Jackzokay
20 Feb 2014 05:05:09
Let's try an experiment:
I ask that replies:
1) Abstain from using negatives (no, not, can't, won't) and instead use words like zero, never, fail.
2) Write one or two lines on the player you think one of the least likely to have a future at Pool.
3) Write about mostly positives and one critical line.
I'll get the ball rolling:
Cissokho and Moses have many great attributes and could fit in many PL sides. At LFC the issue is more than technical in that interplay, trust and an undefined 'threat' or top attribute have yet to be realized.
Low risk of investment is key yet low risk without much return during the risk period seeks the be the issue.
19 Feb 2014 23:55:29
Dear Brendan,
Would it be possible if we could borrow Steven Gerrard the next time we get a penalty?
Yours,
Arsene xx
20 Feb 2014 01:25:43
Hey DG, you ever read the mirror football website? I very occasionally take a read when I have nothing better to do, they're actually being quite nice to us this season! Anyway, there is a rather scary Arsenal supporter who keeps commenting on all the Liverpool related articles, who just cannot be for real, but never the less quite entertaining (if only for the world record beating moron-ness). I imagine him or her sat at a computer in a dark room, insanely stabbing a voodoo doll of Brendan and watching repeats of Sundays highlights, rocking insanely and cackling like a witch. anyway, they're letting the side down a bit for you guys! Just thought you should know, and it's cool, there are many moronic LFC supporters as well!
Cheers mate, unlucky last night
Hi Super,
Thanks mate, I will check it out, sounds scary mind, lol.
Regards to last night mate so so but what is the deal with Ozil he doesn't look interested at all mate.
The question is why was Oezil allowed to take the penalty? Has he not missed a few this season? Surely someone else should step up! Bayern are a good team but it was going to be tight with 11 men on the pitch.
Does ozil remind anyone of torres b4 he left really doesn't look interested sulks just like him his heart just isn't in it for me
I've said it before and I'll say it again-I really like this dagenham gunner chap! It's how banter should be(and no you can't have StevieG. he's ours!)
In Buck we trust!
DevaredJay,
Thanks mate, always a pleasure talking to you boys.
Reusch,
I truly don't know mate, he is struggling bigtime.
I think part of the reason is, at Real Madrid he had license to roam and not have to track back as much as what he has to at Arsenal.
Also, he is normally use to having a winter break but you don't get that in the BPL. He's basically knackered mate.
Dags- that PK was a shame, even worse that Ozil took it. Pivotal point in the match and it could have gone very different from there. You guys looked very sharp from the start.
Super- I think you are on about that Anne Field Slayer guy (or whatever his name is now) on Mirror. Sad troll that one, your description has to be accurate. TBH I've been tempted to invite Faith to this site :) just to see if she can hang with the big boys.
Get stevie to teach jack how to take them at the england camp
Can I ask dg why is he playing sangbo or whatever he is called instead of giroud I know he's been playing away haha but surely you need him in big games like Bayern bad move by Arsène Wenger really was
We can do swapsies. you lend us your back four, keep your goalies, and you can have Stevie every other week. don't damage him mind!
FL Redfish,
Mate, my nan could have scored that PK, it was shocking.
Jamesy,
You are correct what you said mate, Giroud's head is not in it at the moment because of his off field activities.
Also, Wenger likes to be proved right. If Sanogo scores a few goals from now until the end of the season, he will be hailed a genius if we win the league courtesy of Sanogo's goals (I won't be complaining, lol).
Wenger likes the adolation he gets when he unearths raw talent, sometimes to the detriment of Arsenal FC.
Dags, if Wenger is more interested in being right than moving the club forward (copeting for trophies) then he has become bigger than the club and we both know what needs to happen. HE NEEDS TO GO. The club has been there for a century or so and will live another century after he is gone. For 10yrs or so, the club hasn`t got a pot to piss in nor a trophy to call its own yet we hear how successful Arsenal is and how they are moving forward. Sorry, LFC haven`t won the league for over 20yrs and it is seen as failure but we have picked up every other trophy over and over again during that span. Not winning a trophy in almost 10yrs is a failure and Wenger needs to be held accountable for that and his excuses should no longer be tolerated IMO. Wenger w/ the help of the board, has taken this great club down the path of mediocrity to the point that many fans have now accepted this as the norm and the way things should be. The club has accepted failure as success. For big clubs, qualifying for the CL is the strict minimum. Coaches who can`t deliver trophies sooner or later should get the chop. This great club should be bigger than the manager and not the other way. Rafa thought he would never get the sack. He did. People thought we would struggle to recover from the debacles of the Roy and KK regimes. We are recovering and the future is bright. If we can recover, so can Arsenal. I like the club and loved it very much back in the day when Wright, Bergkamp, Adams, Anelka wreaked havoc on the mancs and the EPL in general. Those days seem like 100 yrs ago yet it was only 15 yrs ago. The club is not moving forward and sometimes you have to go two steps back in order to jump higher. If Wenger is only interested in being right and massaging his ego and not in the success (trophy-wise) of the club, then he needs to be let go. Dags, I didn`t write this to slate your club. I wrote this to let you know how some fans cannot understand what is going on at this club that we admire for its tradition and history.
Have to say DG, pretty unlucky buying the only German in living history who can't take a pen lol ;)