Liverpool Banter Archive February 24 2016

24 Feb 2016 21:09:16
Apparantly we had scouts at the Malaga v Madrid game at the weekend. Anyone know who we might of been watching? Ed?

{Ed002's Note - No idea.}

24 Feb 2016 22:19:14
Camacho perhaps.

24 Feb 2016 21:48:05

24 Feb 2016 16:40:22
Who should we get. not the targets but realistically who should be on our list. because everytime people say we need to buy this and that. Clearly we have loads of striker. Loads of midfield players and now defence seem to be settled.
so where is the space for new players?
Except for the player who improve our current squad available and who can go directly into our first team squad we shouldn't buy. let's just wait for current team to jel up.
question though who is realistic target for such player?
first time post. however fan from quite a long time.
Great work eds. Cool page.

24 Feb 2016 20:22:57
Priority #1 is a new keeper.

24 Feb 2016 20:51:46
I think we should sign Jesus he's great on crosses.

24 Feb 2016 20:57:38
Ha ha Ron every time I visit this site I see you say this. If only Migs was a consistent as you.

24 Feb 2016 20:58:14
I wait for the obvious response :-)

24 Feb 2016 23:33:12
Much will depend on outgoings. If we can't get an interested buyer or loan club for some players, the club will have to decide whether or not to pay out and release players from contract (which I doubt) or try to incorporate and use them in the squad. We need to trim the squad so need many more to leave than come in.

25 Feb 2016 02:53:20
Mingo needs to get gone and award given a chance. The rest will depend on who will be shown the door.

25 Feb 2016 04:18:15
we need a goalscoring midfielder someone who can chip in with 15-20 goals. provide your own names.

24 Feb 2016 15:06:36
Hi reds and eds. I'm off tomorrow for my 2 year travel around the world starting in south east Asia. Just wondering what the support from the Asian fans are like there? Especially in the Philippines as I'll be there on Sunday/ Monday and hoping to find a bar for the final.
Thanks james.

{Ed001's Note - mostly it is huge, but the Philippines is all basketball and volleyball, so you would need to find out where the ex-pats gather.}

24 Feb 2016 15:32:06
Contact Liverpool supporters Hong Kong on Facebook the guy that runs the page is a photographer and he is British and a really nice broke i'm sure he can point out places and people to meet as he is based in Asia but travels a lot between there and Liverpool regularly.

24 Feb 2016 15:33:13
If you're in the big cities then you can find the local chapter of LFC supporters on most social media. H&J Sports Bar is good spot if you're near or in Makati City.

As for Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam, you should be able to catch any match at various clubs and pubs. Just do yourself a favour and try another spot if you see Manc jerseys.

They're far more annoying over here than they are in the UK!

{Ed002's Note - And you have to take care as there is a lot more than Liverpool matches you can catch there.}

24 Feb 2016 15:41:37
Make happy memories James and endings!

24 Feb 2016 15:45:37
H&J sports bar in Makati. Probably find a fair few fans in there. Have a great time crab.

{Ed002's Note - I am not so sure you can have a great time with crabs.}

24 Feb 2016 15:51:49
Thanks guys for the posts I appreciate it! Yeah I'll try these places. I'll be very surprised if I see a united fan as they are all based in London no?

{Ed002's Note - In terms of the demographics for five Premier League clubs:

Manchester United has the most supporters in both India and China - and given the size of population in those countries it is not a surprise to see them so far ahead. Their support is growing in America.

Chelsea are the club with the most supporters most in mainland Europe, Asia, Middle East, Central America and South America. Their support is growing quickly in America and they will soon be well clear of Manchester United and Arsenal.

Arsenal are traditionally the most followed Premier League club in Canada and the USA and, very significantly, throughout Africa (except South Africa) but the USA support is moving rapidly away from Arsenal and toward Manchester United and, in particular, Chelsea.

Liverpool has the highest number of supporters of any club in the UK, the Republic of Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and is doing well in some parts of Asia.

Manchester City are not leading the way in any one market but are picking up new supporters faster than any other side. This is a reflection of their success.}

24 Feb 2016 15:26:48
Cheers ed. game will start at midnight and I'm going to be at boracay island so will be fun trying to find somewhere to watch the game. Any idea where we're going to be for pre season this year? Let's hope auz as I'll be there around that time.

{Ed001's Note - it is expected to be in the US this summer.}

24 Feb 2016 16:02:42
I was all over South East Asia recently (not the Philippines though, unfortunately) .

You'll easily be able to find bars in most towns/ cities showing the matches unless you're fully out in the sticks. One of the best matches I ever watched was in a bar with loads of locals watching Vietnam's national team. They were going mental and throwing beers everywhere.

Also, be prepared for loads of Asian united fans. They're everywhere out there. Huge fan base.

24 Feb 2016 16:23:51
I spent last summer in the Philippines and unfortunately I really struggled to find football. I remember trying to find a sports bar in the city of Cebu to watch a Champions League tie but it proved to be a fruitless chase. As Ed001 says, it's all basketball there. Perhaps you'll have better luck than I did tracking down the football, but you'll enjoy your time there regardless, it's a very interesting country!

24 Feb 2016 17:50:55
Well at least here in India, the premier league has a massive fan following. Majority of the matches are held at the peak hours (8.30pm) .
All the major cities have a good number of sports bars around. My city has a one dedicated for Liverpool FC fans. and there is a group on Facebook for the same.

24 Feb 2016 19:04:26
I used to work and live in Indonesia, premier league was everywhere. I went to see Persebaya play. It was an experience to say the least, the stadium was surprisingly good and packed.

24 Feb 2016 23:40:44
Ed, i'm not disputing what you say but I'm pretty sure I read quite recently that Tottenham is the best supported Epl team in USA.

{Ed002's Note - No, what I said is correct.}

24 Feb 2016 23:46:37
I have family and friends in Thailand.

Liverpool have always had major support there.

Although because of King Power Leicester are coming up!

25 Feb 2016 01:17:02
Make sure you visit Burgos Street in Makati after the football for a cultured meal. Sure Ed002 has dined there a time or two!

24 Feb 2016 11:29:39
Morning

Question for ed002, with the proposed breakaway league will the FFP rules still apply to the teams in it, if not is this why certain teams are pushing very hard for this to happen especially after the comments of the Barcelona president highlighting the premier league tv deal?

{Ed002's Note - No the FFP rules won't apply to any teams breaking away. Certain teams are pushing hard because of commercial opportunities, because of the political situation in Spain, because of television and other media monies etc.. Twice already this season a proposal by two clubs to begin the breakaway in 2018 only received support from one other side – the others in general voted against it with either one or two abstaining. It pretty much ends the chance of an early breakaway. This though may simply have been posturing as they look to a more realistic date of 2022. Because of the World Cup and the general mess with high-end sponsors related to the WC and on-going issues at FIFA, the original pencilled in date of 2027 is back on the table. There will be a at least one more meeting this season - date has been set in April and I rather suspect that the clubs involved in these discussions will discuss the issue again as the situation with FIFA and UEFA is not going to change overnight.

What many are overlooking is a caveat to the Spanish TV agreement that, regardless of the new agreement kicking in means all sides will earn at least what they did last season (it might be this season, I would need to check) for six more seasons – this was reluctantly accepted by the other clubs simply to push through the deal. However, the only clubs protected by it are the only two that would potentially lose money – Real Madrid and Barcelona.}

24 Feb 2016 12:39:50
Hi eds2, not sure if you know how this breakaway league will happen, or if you even want to talk about it, but is it just a breakaway from the champions league and the teams will still be involved in their domestic leagues, or is it a breakaway from their domestic leagues as well?
I hope it's not a breakaway from the domestic league as it could have huge implications with football in our country as I'm sure the money would follow the high profile league which in turn could impact on the development of football in England. Our league could end up like the Scottish league (no disrespect intended), with teams struggling financially and then a slippery slope of poor quality football being played.

{Ed002's Note - It has been covered before but here goes. It remains very much an on-going issue with regular discussions on the matter between a dozen or more clubs.

Without going in to too much detail: (a) A number of clubs take the opportunity to meet and discuss various issues including changes in rules, club versus country issues, television and other media rights, the power of UEFA, exploitation issues for new technology streams, etc.. The meetings were annually but now they happen two and sometimes three times a year. There was a meeting in December – where there was a discussion about the state of FIFA, the situation with UEFA and a so far unpublished claim from a retired referee that the result of a Champions League game was influenced by a third party. These discussions also always turn to the possibility and structure of a breakaway pan European league. Several are ex-G14 clubs, several are not, and some clubs decline involvement in such discussions. (b) The plan is that at some point a number of clubs would break away from their national leagues and UEFA. They accept that they would be banned from all existing club competition and the players would initially be banned from all FIFA competitions as well, but know that FIFA would be looking to negotiate in any case. It would be the end of UEFA in all probability and UEFA are very aware of this. It would also result in a restructuring of many of the national leagues. (c) The clubs would renegotiate their television and media rights, rights of distribution via other streams etc.. (d) It remains the greatest fear of UEFA and all major national authorities that one day this will happen – which has resulted in a counter-proposal being drafted by UEFA. (e) Timing wise, two very prominent clubs want it to happen as soon as possible (2018) and they have the support of a third club - but most are looking at 2022 being a good option. A few clubs are looking at 2025 to 2027 and I suspect that could end up as the reality.

There is going to be a counter-proposal backed by UEFA to try and save their own skin which is soon to be tabled. The proposal is to rename and change the format of the UEFA Champions League to make it an elite closed-shop pan-European league with a fixed number of teams – and these would be the same teams every year. Although one FA has come out in support of that approach another has proposed a variant on it - effectively allowing entry for the champions of the 12 top ranked European leagues plus a fixed number of "elite" clubs. This fails somewhat in that the Champions in many cases will be in the elite group and not allowing replacements limits the competition rather. It would then require the restructuring of the Europa League and the possible introduction of a lower-tier European competition. Although they have yet to flesh out the detail, one major Football Association has given their support but I suspect they will struggle with others.

If the proposal for a breakaway goes ahead, there is every likelihood that the big money from television, sponsorship etc. would go with a breakaway league. It would completely rupture the operations of UEFA and I would expect it would require national associations like the FA to restructure their leagues. Nobody wants this but it is the eventual consequence I would expect. Initially it could be that there is a single 16 team league with 2 or 3 EPL teams making the initial plunge. If I had to speculate, I would think (1) you might eventually see something like five or six EPL teams leave for two-tier pan European league - but it won't be based on the UEFA rankings; (2) the Premier League would be disbanded as an organisation; (3) the FA would restructure in to two 20 team divisions with lower leagues regionalised as they were many years ago; (4) FIFA would ban all players from the breakaway teams from International football - perhaps rescinding that position to stop FIFA breaking up as well - they don't want further issues but the troubles are not going to go away. I could also see many teams lose their professional status. I would think we are probably 10 years away from any significant move at this time.

I hold a reasonably strong view in terms of the need to restructure football in Europe in any case. For me an eventual a breakaway pan-European league would force the restructuring of many of the national leagues, possibly resulting in a British league with perhaps only a couple of professional tiers and then regionalised amateur leagues below that. Financially I do not see that so many pro sides can be sustained within the sport which, like it or not, will see more and more money going in to the highest levels of the game. Governments will ensure that grassroots sport get funding but everything in the middle (Southern, Northern, Conference, Division 2, Scottish Divisions 1-3, League of Wales will not get the funding needed to continue on any sort of professional basis.}

24 Feb 2016 14:23:20
Thanks ed a fascinating read once again, YNWA.

24 Feb 2016 22:43:27
I know ed has said time and time again that it will happen, but I just don't want it to. We wouldn't be one of the teams in the first tier, so would be in the reformed English league, which wouldn't be as interesting without say a couple of United/ Chelsea/ Arsenal/ city.
If the two tier thing comes in ed, would there be relegation and promotion, so if we originally weren't in the pan Europe league, could we win the English league and earn a chance to play off for the tier 2?

{Ed002's Note - It depends when it happens as to what will happen to Liverpool. Right now there would certainly not be involvement from the club. Something could happen to change that.}

25 Feb 2016 03:59:59
While on performance we would not be involved, but how many teams from Germany or France or Spain or Italy have a bigger global fan base that we do? Ultimately those that can contribute to the most money will likely be in it.

24 Feb 2016 11:07:28
I see a lot of people calling for Moreno to get a chance on the left wing but I really don't understand why? One of the biggest criticisms levelled at him is his absolutely shocking delivery from crosses. I would push him forward, though I'd either utilise him in midfield where his pace, energy and robust tackling could actually be useful, or on the right wing. If there is one thing he can do in the final third it is strike a ball. So why not have him cutting in onto his left foot to have a shot a play a pass like Coutinho does on the left?

I just don't know why people think changing the position of his magnetic dot on Klopps white board is going to suddenly make him a good crosser of the ball. Perhaps someone can elaborate though.

24 Feb 2016 11:41:37
Ive grown to dislike moreno, really don't think he is good enough.

Offers pace and tenacity, moves well down the right hand side and has a good shot.

However his defensive awareness and positioning is as bad as any fullback i've ever seen, its shocking. He ain't the best at dribbling and his crosses are woeful too.

So he is essentially not very good at being a winger or a fullback for us in the long term.

24 Feb 2016 12:45:39
Until he scores a goal, and you will be all made up with him again.

24 Feb 2016 13:45:11
There could be an argument that if he wasn't running the full length of the pitch before getting his cross in, he might be a little bit more composed.

Either way, i'd rather try to improve the issues that are holding him back as a LB than try to convert him into a LW.

24 Feb 2016 14:43:32
Actually dan i'm seemingly one of the only people who doesn't implode with praise if one of the players i don't like scores.

He is a left back after all, so for every goal he scores he's probably caused another 7 from his mistakes.

{Ed001's Note - I would play him further forward simply to provide Smith cover initially. Just to ease the lad in with a bit of insurance.}

24 Feb 2016 16:36:57
I don't think Moreno would get the time and space he had now if he were to be push to either wings. He will be mark out of the game and he didn't have enough ability in him to get past defenders.

24 Feb 2016 18:21:45
im sure i read few weeks ago moreno had the most chances created by a defender he was at least 12 in front of the number 2 maybe if sturridge had been fit all year he might have a lot more assists.

24 Feb 2016 21:29:18
One of his biggest problems is he's too one footed IMO, can't really cut inside and shoot effectively enough for left wing.

He's for more effective using his energy and pace to run from deep on overlapping runs for Coutinho (who has the opposite problem) and getting to the byline.

24 Feb 2016 21:34:10
I guess that could work ed, but he won't be much good as cover if he's always out of position like he is at left back.

Do think smith has been much better than moreno though, i just wonder how much longer before klopp gives him some proper game time at left back.

24 Feb 2016 08:35:04
Hi ED002, what's your overall verdict on Memphis Depay? Although a Utd player, we were really 'in for him' and he turned us down. Did we dodge a bullet? Is he as good as expected but just hindered by LVG?

It reminds me of Ryan Babel and we were lucky not to have signed him, although maybe under a new manager like Jose he could fulfill his potential.

{Ed002's Note - He wasn't readyt or mature enough for the move as I said at the time. He is continuing to substantiate that.}

24 Feb 2016 10:08:58
Cheers 002. You said very much the same with Markovic. I'm hoping he returns to us as a regular (or at least that opportunity) . After his loan season, would you now see Markovic as ready now (next season)?

{Ed002's Note - Fenerbahce will again look to sign Liverpool’s Lazar Markovic in the summer after a successful loan period. I think he might well return to Liverpool but that will be another place gone in the 17 non HG/over 21 allowed and, critically, he will likely want some guarantees.}

24 Feb 2016 10:44:07
I said In the summer than he wasn't better than Ibe and got hammered by Liverpool and United fans who thought he was the second coming of CR7.

Depay is a kid. He wasn't ready, was over priced due to a semi-good season in a very poor league and now she's wasting away on the bench in Manchester. 20 goals in Holland for a forward is standard if you're above average. Altidore scored 30. You have to actually watch their goals to see the quality of them and most of Depays goals would've been saved by 90% of the goalkeepers in the Premier League and Championship.

He has great potential though. Just wasn't what he was billed as last summer.