Liverpool Banter Archive March 23 2014

23 Mar 2014 23:35:56
Can't wait till Suso is back! He's so perfect for the way we play.

23 Mar 2014 22:30:06
Sergio Ramos must surely be a possibility for Liverpool in the summer. He's a Red waiting to happen!

What? .

You really didn't get the joke did you Alan?

Is that you Sherlock?

Cyprus I never mate, hope it was!

23 Mar 2014 21:41:55
Another soft pen for Barca, games and results getting spoilt now.

What do u think about the ronaldo pen then? that was even worse. but the ref killed the game with his whistle

I thought all three were suspect!

Yes chrisrick, as I said itvwasboutside the box AND he could have stayed on his feet

All 3 were soft penaltys if they were penaltys there would be 5 nearly every game played the classico suppised to be the best game pkayed referee just ruined it a free kick every 30 seconss it was the same last time I watched it too and not sure what ney Mar cost but he looked to be worth about a mars bar and 2 packets of crisps and that's a generous offer

They were Keith, getting worse and will carry on getting worse because the stakes are so high. I don't know the answer to be honest, It's not all down to bad refs as the players are conning them and are very good at it. Maybe official with TV replays but were would/should it stop? Major decisions only like pens or what?

Maybe this is what brendan meant by a 'spanish penalty'

All 3 suspect but I think Neymars one was probably the correct call and thus a red card for Ramos. Other 2 were laughable.

23 Mar 2014 21:35:44
Thanks Brendan, you've ruined football for me. Compared to Liverpool all football is crap, this Clasico is well boring.

23 Mar 2014 19:46:44
Hi Eds and all Liverpool fans,
so all we need is 8 more wins and City dropping points on Tuesday?

You are correct sir :)

Come on you reds

This is actually possible!

23 Mar 2014 19:22:40
Good evening fellow reds,
Man City will go 4 points ahead of us with their games in hand and with their other game in hand on Chelsea could leapfrog them also.
Table if both Liverpool & City keep winning and have played as many as Chelsea
City played 31 points 72
Chelsea played 31 points 69
Liverpool played 31 points 68

I think that Manchester United will beat Man City on Tuesday though

Can't see it tbh. A draw at best for the mancs. going to be very close though.

Ynwa

23 Mar 2014 16:36:34
Some good points down the page regarding our defensive issues.

As we know Flanno was never our first choice right back, not even second choice under Rodgers, however due to injuries he has come in and whether asked to play on the right or the left side he has been excellent. He has not been perfect, but he has stepped up his game and taken his opportunity, exceeding all our expectations.

He was taken off at Cardiff and I suspect Rodgers will have took him to one side to explain why and to educate him on how he can improve his game. He still has a lot of hard work to do if he wants to establish himself as first choice so let's not expect too much from a youngster who has just turned 21 being played in his secondary position. Experience takes time.

I'm sure Rodgers is fully aware that left back is a position which needs to be strengthened, but the fact is there is nothing that can be done until the summer, so let's continue to support the young lad who has come in and been a breath of fresh air. I suspect that if we didn't have him, we would have conceded hell of a lot more goals than we have done with him in the team.

Red Rum

Exactly mate.
The best thing about Rodgers this year has been his analysis to identify and rectify problems.
The other most positive thing has been the ability of the group to step in when required, and keep it going.

Good post Red Rum; that pretty much sums up what I was trying to say earlier.

23 Mar 2014 13:49:46
Im dreaming and looking at the fixture list and pondering all the permutations.
if we win our game in hand and beat chelsea we go two points in front of them.
City our the main one we need to drop points if we beat them we need them to lose one game and hope UTD of all teams do that on This week.
come on you redmen and thanks for making me dream again,

23 Mar 2014 12:25:26
Ed's I posted about MIKEYS reply to Ozone earlier and it hasn't made it on, any reason why.

Cheers

{Ed002's Note - No idea.}

Ok Ed, cheers, maybe another Ed took offence to what I called MIKEY, for the record I said that Ozone made some salient points and well observed, and his points were yet again attacked by one of the co members of the fluffy cloud everything is fantastic at Liverpool gang.

Were entering a phase of games MIKEY were small details like Ozone pointed out can make the difference between Champions and also rans, so av a day off from being Liverpool's number 1 fan, and see it for what it was, a concern about the team and maybe heading off a potential spanner in the works moment.

Attacked? Lol
Try supporting our young local players instead of picking apart their performances to criticise them.

Hey Mickey, do you think Flanno has reached the level he has through a lifetime of constant praise or do you think along the journey a bit of constructive critique here and there has improved his game. You've clearly never played the game.

Nothing that Ozone or anyone here points out as a 'potential spanner' will make any difference in preventing it from happening, because none of us are anything to do with the club or Rodgers.

However, supporting the players every week can make a hell of a difference. So let's all get behind them.

I never see anything you would call constructive in your posts ozone.

I know i'd said I wouldn't comment on your posts ozone but I have to now.
You give us no hope of finishing in top4 and I have yet to see you come on here and praise the team. I think that's the reason people jump on your back mate when you criticize the players because that's all you seem to do to be fair.
But its really unfair for us to make you feel you can't have your say either.
Why can't we all just get along lol

I have looked through Ozone's last few posts, and I hate to say it, but Old Big Ears is right, when saying that you don't post anything positive. There are more things that are going well right now, than the opposite direction. Nothing against any of you guys, but surely there is something good about the Liverpool side I am seeing these days?

Ozone the point which I want to make is, let us fans be fans and just get behind all our players, at fault or not. Fans don't want to see criticism after wins, that too at this point where we're doing really well. I can understand what you mean, yes, we're not the finished article, yes, we make mistakes, but the team is learning all the time and that pleases me and I haven't been this happy in a long time.

Us fans? Who are you on about Krishna? One of the lads/ blokes I go with has been to every European Cup final, followed us around Europe, has been most home and aways since the 70's but no matter what cannot stomach Brendan Rodgers. Is he not a fan?

Granted the said character gets called a miserable so and so but I think he's earnt his stripes and deep down all he wants is the best for the club. Hence he's the first to jump on a weak point, which if rectified, makes us a better team. Yes we're all happy as fans just now but I'll be even happier if we got to the promised land and win the title again.

{Ed001's Note - I don't see the problem with pointing out flaws myself. The problem is when someone twists things to have a dig, just for the sake of having a dig. Yesterday Flanno didn't have the best of games and so got criticised. The lad himself will no doubt spend a good part of the week going through his performance with the coaches and working on the things he got wrong.}

Fantastic entertainment, great young manager, quality group of players producing football I have not seen for many a year.

Ozone and Waro,, I have perused many of your posts,, concurred with some but not with all. some great points from your posts today getting slaughtered ( not guilty guv-please don't take notice of me previous)

You two I know will be cheering as loud as any if we see this challenge through to the line, and if I were to want a debate on the fortunes of L.F.C. past or present I would most certainly want both of you sat round the table.

Not so sure we would agree on who buys the next crate though, or the peanuts, or the cab home, or the. .

YNWA

Regards

Why can he not stomach him ozone?

Nice one Sizemick. To be honest Old Big Ears, I think he's now just got stubborn about it. I've argued the case. Upon reflection Rodgers has grown into the job, he's righted the wrongs over the season and without doubt he's good tactically, he's clearly also a good man manager as he's getting the best from the lads. My mate still thinks he let's his mouth runaway with itself and isn't impressed with off the field antics.

He can talk cricket Rogers but he has grown with the team and i'm sure if we COULD maybe win the league your mate would have a different view lol
seems last year we focused a lot on our pass on move part of our game, and this season looks to be set pieces and I think we are the leading scorers from set plays.
With champions league not to far away I hope they can sort out something defensively, maybe that's our next step because clearly we are ahead of schedule everywhere else.

If Ozone's mates anything like me, he could be of the mind that Rodgers seems to posses neither charisma nor gravitas and tends to come across as a smarmy w**ker.Undoubtedly Rodgers has got the results, the question is does he have the personality, is he a man we can warm to, is he truly one of us?

That just about wraps up how he views him molbysmetronome. We spoke about it at length on the way home on Saturday. If Rodgers brings us the title he's still not budging on it. He won't chant his name or his song. He just can't warm to him.

I prefer Rodgers than hodgson.
and is he truly one of us? I don't think that's a fair statement to make.
the only thing that matters is the players have bought into Rodgers and they clearly view him as one of them.

24 Mar 2014 10:06:15
Ah, so now that we are all friends again
Ozone, I assume you mean to keep your promise IE streaking across Anfield if we got top 4? I assume you don't mean to welch on that? ;)

Being an LFC fan doesn't mean you have to be rational! Me mum has been a fan all her life and she is older than all of us. She has also travelled with the reds back in the day! She hates BR and I reckon it is simply because he replaced the King which was a travesty in her eyes. We've all had a word but she won't change her mind. TBH right or wrong shes earned the right to her opinion! Same with anyone else

24 Mar 2014 13:00:24
Regarding Eds point about being critical about players, I think it's fair enough to analyse a players performance and be constructive about it. Where's the harm in saying if someone has had a bad game? What gets to me is when people call our players 'waste of space' and 'rubbish' and stuff like that. I want nothing more than to see all our players succeed, why beat them down?

23 Mar 2014 11:35:26
Just a question for Dags would you be happy if Wenger was your Manager next season? Would winning the Fa Cup change your opinion? From a distance there always seems a mixed opinion towards Wenger just interesting to get your opinion mate.

Hi Mighty,

Good question mate.

I think to be fair Wenger has captained the ship through some very choppy waters.

We moved from Highbury to the Emirates to be able to compete with the sugar daddy funded clubs like Chelsea and Man City, at a cost of nearly £400m.

To keep up with the mortgage payment's we had to sell our best players, the likes of Henry, Adebayor, Clichy, Nasri, Fabregas and RVP.

But, whilst admittedly winning no trophies, we have managed to compete with the aforementioned teams, plus Man Utd, and now Liverpool, and still regularly qualify for Champ's League.

In fairness, we can see the light at the end of the tunnel and I think Wenger should remain manager for at least another season.

He deserves that I believe, although many other Arsenal supporters would disagree.

Completely agree dg
Arsenal would seriously regret getting rid of wenger
Like us with benitez we took champions league football a little bit for granted

Arsenal at one stage this season looked like it was all theirs. that's not easy against the chequebook charlies ;)

Totally agree Frankly mate

23 Mar 2014 07:41:27
Please can I request a classic Ed001 break down of the game when he is free?

{Ed001's Note - now that was a game of two halves. First half we were off the pace, our passing was poor and we looked shaky defensively, completely disorganised. Even so, we only actually gave up two shots to Cardiff and they scored both, so it was not as bad as it may have looked. There were signs that we would win. The first goal was the only time we really got our passing together, and we swept them aside easily. Second goal was just as me mam (my parents are visiting for a few days and so I had to put up with her running commentary on the game while watching) had finished moaning about Skrtel being caught out of position and being a red card waiting to happen. Anyway the ball drops out wide to Coutinho, so she starts on about how he hasn't done anything right either. With that, he puts a great cross into the box for Skrtel to toe into the net and the pair of us just couldn't stop laughing. Only trouble is, it has now convinced her that her moaning is lucky, and I couldn't really argue as we did put another 4 past them in the second half with her constantly looking for things to moan about!
Sorry back to the game. We showed they were there for the taking, they do look a poor side Cardiff, with no organisation whatsoever, and a manager without a clue. I noticed Bellers kept running over to the touchline for instructions, which is never a good sign. They clearly didn't know what the manager wanted from them.
Half time, Brendan woke them up, as we came out a different team, taking advantage of all the weaknesses in their defence. Caulker looked like a lumbering brute, Cala looked lost, and Suarez and Sturridge compounded that by moving everywhere at pace, giving them no time to organise. Added to the forward runs of Allen and Henderson, it just overwhelmed Cardiff. Solskjaer had no idea how to fix it, instead he just made bizarre decisions which seemed to compound their issues and make it even easier for us. By the time we got the 4th, we were cruising and just looked like a cat playing with a mouse, able to score when we felt like it.
It was not just because of their weakness that we won though, it was because of our ability to exploit that weakness, plus the manager's ability to adapt to the situation. Cardiff had set out tactically in an unexpected way, that caused a few initial problems, but Rodgers assessed it, found the gaps in their defence, then the players were given the knowledge to hit those gaps in the second half.
Now we need to be able to do that to the Chelsea and Man City's, rather than go down to glorious defeat like we did at theirs. Rodgers is clearly streets ahead, tactically and in his coaching and man management, of most of the Premier League's current crop of managers. Is he up to Jose's level? He needs to be if we are going to win this thing!}

He needs to be if were going yo win this thing what a quote fighting talk

Thank you ed for your reply as I really enjoy reading your views.

Sorry to here your mum has found out she is a lucky moaner. However, for the good of Liverpool let her moan away if it results in points.

{Ed001's Note - she doesn't need an excuse, believe me.}

23 Mar 2014 08:36:18
I'm worried about Flanno, Blackburn revisited yesterday. Great in the tackle but he tends to try and body check when a winger takes him on due to his lack of pace; yellow card yesterday and his usual game went out the window. Campbell had him on toast and we looked very shaky down that left side. Maureen will exploit that to its full potential. There's a red card in the making plus another yellow for Gerrard and he misses two games; the majority of Gerrards cards have come from sliding in down the flanks mopping up the fullbacks shortcomings.

Flanno definitely looked exposed yesterday, it's something Brendan will have to consider. Maybe switch him and Glen?
Also fair point on Gerrard, perhaps a case to bring in Lucas against Sunderland, we can not afford to have Gerrard miss the big games at home.

Trust you to put a negative spin on things.

Sorry Mickey, I should have known better. No doubt Brendan will completely ignore the issue in the interests of having a Rosey back garden. Are their fairies at the bottom of your garden playing with princess's?

That's what we were saying yesterday Jassi, either hope he gets the yellow against Sunderland and misses Spurs and West Ham or rest him to suit.

Some people are never happy.

A top four spot almost guaranteed and it's not good enough for some glory-hunters.

Relax, enjoy the fact that your team will enjoy the thrills of proper European football and stop moaning like fadge.

When you refer to Liverpool as 'we', is that a collective term to 'we' as Liverpool supporters or yourself and an increasing majority of moaning supporters who want every last drop of blood?

Sort it out.

I do agree on this one, I like Flanagan, he works really hard and gets stuck in, but he's just not good enough. He doesn't offer much offensively and he really is a red card waiting to happen. I can't wait till Enrique's back.

It really is painful, it really is. Who's taking a shower together this week? Daveybootle, do you want us to win the league? If you do except the observation for what it is and stop making churlish swipes for the sake of it.

Daveybootle, we're in with a chance of winning the league, there's no scope for any mistakes, we were weak down the left hand side. We benefit from Gerrards range of passing sat in front of the back four but he's susceptible to committing a foul around the box when chasing the cause appeasing fullbacks mistakes. The alternative would be to shore it up by dropping Lucas in front of the back four but then we lose the pass finder quality. It's an issue and if we want to win the league it has to be looked at by Rodgers, which in no doubt he is, especially against Chelsea given how they're set up with Matic and Luis in front of the back four coupled with pacey wingers. They won't give much away at the back and could take us on the break. I'm confident we'll beat City at Anfield and I'm confident they'll drop points elsewhere. The Flanno issue with Chelsea in mind concerns me.

One bad game agger was just as bad he had 2 players to deal with and no left midfielder to help

Listen, I rate Flanno and he certainly has a place in the back four. He's committed, strong and great in the tackle. His distributions improved and generally his positional sense as a full backs spot on. However, he does have this habit of trying to body check when a winger has some momentum on him as he's slow off the mark. He got the yellow early doors and it threw his normal game out the window, he was cautious and this made him indecisive, consequently we looked vulnerable down the left side. If Chelsea nicked 2, do you think we could realistically claw it back with their defensive set up
including Matic and Luis?

We're winning, sure, but I think its actually a good point from ozone. you shouldn't stop trying to improve even when your winning.

like ozone, I rate flanno too. but he has his weaknesses too. although looking at how BR currently sets up and tinkers the team during a match, we might be in for a surprise.

im pretty sure BR realizes this, and he has to come up with a way. maybe glen lb raheem rb? this will be a good test for BR.

Everyone is screaming about winning this league when most of you on here have slagged this team and the manager off for seasons.

Now, as we lie comfortably in a top four position, many of you find it easy to target a green youngster for the sake of it, while forgetting whom and what players have actually got us into this lofty position by exceeding ALL our pre-season ambitions.

The manager deserves much credit for having the plums to play these youngsters, but some of you still look for excuses to nit-pick for the sake of it.

Now, remember this everyone, we should not be in this position, so stop getting all uptight and relax without over-analysing every performance and tactical change.

Ozone, if you don't like a opinionated reply then don't post in the first place.

I suggest everyone should relax and look forward to real European football next season.

I suggest you read the post again Daveybootle before claiming I've targeted a 'green' youngster. Besides I don't see an opinion in your post, just the same old Mills and Boom drivel. Just for the record, what's real European football? Are you Arsen in disguise?

So judging by the tone of your post Davey, you resent anybody who historically dared to criticise Rodgers and the team but who now applaud what he's done but are just throwing in an opinion for good measure when observing a weakness bearing in mind we are serious title contenders.

A bit harsh on young flanno I think, I've been to most of Cardiff's home games this season, and to be honest they have 5 top players, Marshall in goal is fantastic, caulker great defender, medel is a beast, noone and Campbell up front are tireless. I've watched Campbell do exactly the same to pretty much every left back this season he's quick and has great movement I remember him giving Baines(Frodo) a hell of a time, so give flanno a break he's young and will improve, all the pools defence were to blame for the goals yestetdays goals because they never closed down around the box quick enough. incidently we made a very good cb (caulker) look pretty ordinary yesterday does that make him poor? I think not.

Nothing that you say Ozone (however constructive your criticism might be) will make any difference in preventing it from happening. So don't worry mate and just enjoy it!

However, supporting the players every week can make a hell of a difference. So let's all get behind them.

23 Mar 2014 01:36:24
Don't think I have ever seen us play such exciting football. I really don't.
Starting to look like arsenal are having an end of season meltdown (sorry dags) and all of a sudden it's looking like a three horse race (sorry 2 horses and a chihuahua)
I'm trying to not think of the title but starting to get the same feeling I did several years ago at half time in a very special match.
Our team have already blown me away and exceeded all expectations this year so it's a successful season regardless now.

Thats ok Mikey, lol

22 Mar 2014 23:39:55
Banter please Eds.

Evening Gents.

And than there were 3, lol.

I think our ship has sailed Gents, mainly because of our ability to self-destruct.

Liverpool are a fantastic club with fantastic supporters, a true footballing establishment.

I truly hope you go on to win the league as I think you have been the best team all season and probably have the best balanced team (slightly dodgy defence, but not as dodgy as ours) but you have an incredible forwards line.

All the best for the rest of the season. Don't do an "Arsenal" and bottle it please.

You've had some awful luck with injuries, DG. I suspect if Ramsey and Walcott had been about things would be looking a bit different for you now, to be honest.

8 to go and near anything could happen at this point. Think these last few games could be quite exciting!

What I would say though DG is to never give up. we certainly never did when we fell from 1st to 4th. 8 more games to go for the both of us and anything could happen in football.

All the best to the end of season for the both of us (since we don't meet each other anyway haha).

but how bad was that red card decision aye. took this from the internet but it was quite a good joke:

Ref: "Gibbs, you're off!"
Ox: "But ref, it was me!"
Ref: "Shut up Walcott, get on with the game!"

Chelsea must certainly be given credit for what they do. Their defence is boss according to me and a very tough nut to crack. Word of appreciation for your traveling fans

Cheers Dags. Top man as always. But, hey at least you guys are due a trophy this year (knock on wood for you guys). We could win every match and still finish with nothing.

Was genuinely disappointed for Arsenal yesterday and not just because you failed to do the two good guys of this race a favour by stopping one of the plastics. Anyway, hope you recover and give City a hard time.

Cheer up Dags,

Cheers DG, I'd much rather you lot won it than either of the moneybags, I really can't stand Mourinho especially.

Hey dag, don't give up yet, if its not Liverpool it must be arsenal. Have to say I felt really sorry for wenger yesterday.

Thanks DG- you're a credit to arsenal- but for the record I would blame this self-destruction on the 1000 game man. Going away to the second favourites in the league, Wenger playing a 4141 is risky in itself. Factor in Arteta, who's not defensively that good, is playing in the all-important holding role, and it looks an almost Kamikaze team selection. Why on earth Flamini didn't start I'll never know. But that's not all! Whenever Arsenal had an opportunity to counter attack, nothing really of any notice happened. Because after Podolski was taken off 20 minutes in, those breaking forward were Rosicky, Giroud and Cazorla, (the Ox rarely got out of his own half) so surely you have to question the set up of the team. No pace at all. And that means you are restricted to scoring wondergoals.
Wenger could have bought a certain Shane Long in January but insisted he was happy with one half-decent (at best) striker to lead his title charge. After that January transfer window, Arsenal were destined to crumble. And finally, say Wenger had bought a Diego Costa or similar rather than Özil then Arsenal could well have won the league this season.

Thanks Gents,

Good points toddy, totally agree with you there mate.