Liverpool Banter Archive July 24 2015

24 Jul 2015 20:44:30
We have a great squad! Is Brendan Rodgers the man to get 100% out of this group of players.

We have a handful of the best attacking mid's in the league. We have a proven goal scorer. We have energy in midfield. We have a lot of expensive defenders.

I hope he has learnt so lessons why why do I think he hasn't :(

Really hope it's not that boring possession based football we watched last year.

Everyone saying there happy we got Stoke first, I'm not!

25 Jul 2015 10:14:14
Expensive defenders but exceptionally average based on results

25 Jul 2015 16:09:04
Hoax, expensive defenders but poor coaching and defensive tactics.

24 Jul 2015 19:10:25
Evening Lads, watched the game today, think we looked tired.

Didnt really play to Origi's strengths and kept the ball rather than playing it into him.

Ibe looked very good.

It pains me to say as I want him to come good but Lovren was very very poor today again and caused the first goal, as well as making numerous mistakes during the match.

24 Jul 2015 20:38:25
Would personally say Skrtel caused the first goal given he let his runner go without tracking him, leaving Lovren all alone to defend two by himself. That said, Lovren also made a hash of it.

24 Jul 2015 22:29:15
RDL.

Lovren had only one job to do and he was the closest to the striker. The striker bullied Lovren like a kinder garden and scored a goal. Don't be biased just because you don't like skrtel.

25 Jul 2015 00:31:01
EG- did you completely miss the part where Skrtel didn't track his man at all? Lovren had the other guy and had to come across for Skrtel as he was either too tired or slow to mark. Yes, Lovren should have done better, I said as much already, but for Skrtel to allow it in the first place was the initial issue.

25 Jul 2015 01:33:58
Watch it again Euro then again and then say Lovren as to blame ?

25 Jul 2015 05:30:10
How about we couldn't close down the one who hoofed the ball up top to reach the striker?
Let's not go too far in the chain,
Diagonal ball, skrtel couldn't run with his marker, Lovren couldn't bear his marker and he scored one.

25 Jul 2015 16:14:10
Skrtel made two howlers that one cost us a goal and the other was saved by Lovren. Nuff said

24 Jul 2015 17:46:17
I understand the financial gains of our asian tour and the benefits we gain in terms of money and sales and so on.
But purley from a footballing perspective. that must be the worst kind of prepartion for our season. playing with way lower competion and vastly diffrent atmosphere and from what we saw in some wreckles tackles here and there today. the long air travel its self needs days to recover from. at least we should have scheduled a decent match with a top team to compete with and know our real strenghts and weakness! But it seems not!
I fear for this kinda preparation and its affect on our season.
I hope i'm wrong.

24 Jul 2015 18:39:03
Last time we went on a pre season tour of Asia we came 2nd.

24 Jul 2015 19:53:14
I fly 10 hours everyday I don't need days to recover lol

24 Jul 2015 20:40:40
Pre season doesn't mean much. I've seen teams look invincible in pre season and then have a very poor start to season. And likewise seen teams look terrible and go on to dominate the start to the season.
Also couts had a great preseason last year and then looked very sluggish at the start, only to go on and have a great finish. I think all in all its been a worthwhile your and our players in the whole have looked sharp

24 Jul 2015 21:28:38
When we came 2nd we also played celtic and olympiakos and valerenga after the asian tour which is way better than what we are facing now.
Doesnt mean we will definatly do that again if we face these kind of teams again. i'm just saying we will learn the strenghts of our team in a proper way instead of rejoicing so highly if we preform against a makeshift team of weak asian league!

To the one who says he flies 10 hours everyday. do i even have to say that you are not a pro footballer!! And I hope your not comparing your self to one!

24 Jul 2015 21:52:23
I wonder why someone pressed disagree with my comment? Must have been my boss haha

25 Jul 2015 04:32:23
They don't know where you work Mikey.

24 Jul 2015 15:45:19
Im going to reserve a little judgement for the season start with the new senior players we have at home to come in but I have a feeling the manager won't get the best out of this squad, I just can't help but think someone else would have us tactically better off
Even pre-season it looks the same old same old system and play wise it dosnt look like we're actually trying anything different to what we've had in spells in the last two seasons
I really hope i'm wrong as i'll support anyway but i'm not convinced

24 Jul 2015 16:38:34
It's a fair comment but with the amount of movement in and out so far I'm glad to think we still have somebody who already knows most of the squad. Rogers isn't the best but surely we can't do worse than last season with him. A new manager would bring a fresh approach but we would have to start from square 1 again.

24 Jul 2015 16:17:28
I think it's entirely reasonable to reserve judgement on the season until we actually start playing.

24 Jul 2015 17:17:44
I understand where you're coming from, like noshbag, but I do think it's a little premature to judge when we have a triumvirate of attacking threat that will go straight into the team who haven't been seen yet in this preseason.

24 Jul 2015 17:49:52
Zeddius

That's the problem, we have too many attackers leaving an acre of loop holes in the midfield and defense.

We have none back at melwiod who will improve our midfield and defense.

24 Jul 2015 18:21:04
Again people waffle on about the attack, two seasons ago we had the very very best attack in the premiership but still didn't win the league.
Why? We still couldn't defend, last season we were even worst, this season we're going in with the same defenders, how can people be positive.
The defense and defending cover from midfield has been NON Existent for two years, THAT IS OUR BIGGEST PROBLEM GUYS. look at the goal today, terrible defending against a Malaysian 11, come on lads it's obvious to everyone except a gang on this website, our defense is atrocious, we need changes badly.

24 Jul 2015 18:21:10
European Glory, I'd actually say, given how we've played defensively that both Can & Ilori would both improve our midfield and defence. I hope the boss feels that way too!

24 Jul 2015 19:01:06
Irish

Neither Can, Henderson or Milner would improve our defensive attributes in the midfield nor starting an attack.

Llori has never played in the league and the expectations have reached sky high.

Can is a box to box player who has no clue literally on reading the game or breaking up the play.

If Lucas doesn't turn up in a match we are basically screwed in the middle and there would be plenty in the new season.

The club should have bought in at least one CM / DM in the window. We have not replaced both Alonso and mascherano and it's been almost 10 windows.

The motto of the coming season is simple, out score the opposition.

24 Jul 2015 19:36:51
We can afford to leak goals if we bang them in this season.

I'm a little dubious myself, but if Sturridge is fit also, then we'll out score many.

It's not ideal, but that's the impression I get about our managers mentality.

You never know.

24 Jul 2015 20:28:43
We don't need major changes defensively, just sell skrtel and lovren. Use ilori and wisdom even gomez at cb. Buy a proper holding midfielder.

24 Jul 2015 20:49:49
The old saying of attack wins matches but defence wins leagues is quite correct. The league is littered with teams over the years that had great attacking forces but shipped too many goals. We need to be a lot tighter at the back, defend better as a team.

24 Jul 2015 15:44:02
Anyone else think wisdom should of got some more game time in these per season games

24 Jul 2015 15:29:58
two things we look awful against a poor Malaysian side and two even though we have signings at home none of them are going to alter how we defend, which for the record is still woeful
Yeah yeah its pre-season but its still the same old too many touches and usually backwards nonsense

24 Jul 2015 15:44:21
Lovren has been the malaysians best defender, clearing 3 or 4 balls.

24 Jul 2015 15:52:16
Been saying it all along. We need passers in midfield. Players who know how to play quick short passes and link up. As for defending, Lovren has a lot of improving to do, and Moreno isn't strong defensively. There's no doubt that our defence is much better with Sakho and Gomez in it.

Red Rum

24 Jul 2015 15:58:21
I'm just extremely frustrated at the Sakho situation given I think he is far and away the best centre back in the team, I tend to ignore pre season games, The only thing I really took of note was Origis wastefulness, needs to work out it other parts of his game look really good.

24 Jul 2015 16:00:00
It was terrible!! If you want an illustration of how much of a dipstick the manager is, he brought on Chirivella in the 89th minute. I guess that's what Brendan and Ron Keague would say is giving the academy players an opportunity.

24 Jul 2015 16:03:51
Well at least we all now see the problems still facing us as we need to sharpen up in the defence, Lovren was extremely poor with Skrtel. I think Origi has good movement but needs a coach to help him work on his finishing. let's hope we get things ironed out before we start the season.

24 Jul 2015 16:10:38
We need good midfielders who step up and stop the attacking threat coming to us. We have none. our tempo was slow and we need plyers from the middle to make that spark.

24 Jul 2015 16:10:40
I agree the defending was awful. I honestly believe we missed Gomez, I've watched all the pre-season games and we look better with him in the side than without him.

Just wish it was Skrtel leaving and not Sakho, just feel we will offer so much going forward this season but will be found wanting at the back if he persists with Skrtel.

Plus I've been having my own game of where's Wally all pre-season, but this is called where's O'Driscoll and I finally saw him sitting behind BR, so I win.

24 Jul 2015 16:19:17
What do you mean Brendan AND Ron Keague?

24 Jul 2015 16:49:01
Lovern is getting a lot of abuse for his performance and rightly so but for the goal I think the blame should be placed primarily at Skrtels feet. The player who scored was Skrtels man who ran off him and leaving Lovern with 2 players to worry about. I don't think Lovern did enough still as the player went past him too easily and as he should have been shifting his feet quicker and anticipating where the player would go.

But why is Skrtel caught so high in the first place?? Even if Skrtel just remained a couple of yards behind the eventual goalscorer he can press if it goes into feet and still gives himself more space if the ball goes over the top as it did. Lucas is just in front too so if it goes in the goalscorers feet there is pressure from both him also. Skrtel always tries to win the first ball played into the forward and ignores the shape of the back 4 and space he in turn creates for other players to run into, e.g. Gayles goal for Place end of 13/14 season.

If we go into the season with both players as our starting CB's I fear the worst, unless the forwards are absolutely on fire as I cannot see us keeping many clean sheets. Sakho and Ilori would be better suited to how we play. I don't mean to be negative but after two seasons of watching Skrtel cost us with poor defending its hard not to be.

24 Jul 2015 16:53:33
If Rodgers persist with Lovren then we may suffer not only in defence but also to build attacks.Lovren is afraid to make a pass through the center & to tackle the ball.We did play decently,Henderson was trying few deft passes,so its good that he is doing it in a preaseason game.Also Lallana was good but he is unneccessarily taking an extra touch.And we have passers in midfield only we need to tone down extra touch and be quick with passes,which I think we will improve with players getting more game time.

24 Jul 2015 17:11:18
well you are Brendan's biggest cheerleader and the only self professed Liverpool fan that seems to like the guy. Plus you always say how much of an opportunity he gives to young players at Liverpool. The Man City youngsters have got more of an opportunity on their tour than the Liverpool academy players have on ours!

24 Jul 2015 17:30:48
Essex, I take exception at that last comment!

24 Jul 2015 17:52:45
Lfc tommc

You are wrong mate, don't blame everything on skrtel. Often he has been criticized for dropping deep, nothing happened today.

Diagonal ball and the striker took it on chest bullied Lovren and back in the net. simple

24 Jul 2015 18:27:50
Euro Glory, Skrtel definitely isn't to blame for everything. I believe the system is the main issue when it comes to the teams performances at the back. The CB's get exposed more than anyone with Rodgers insisting on both full backs pushing up with no midfield cover (when Lucas isn't there).

Alot of CB's would struggle in this system but Skrtel lacks the two things you need more than most to be effective 1) Reading of the game and 2) Pace. Like you said he has been criticized for dropping too deep but if he isn't doing that he is getting dragged out of position leaving space for players to exploit. He just doesn't read situations well, like today pushing up with the right back already up he is clearly leaving space for that ball to be played, if he holds the shape the ball isn't even played and maybe its into the strikers feet where he is isolated and liverpool players in numbers.

You are right that Skrtel isn't the only problem, he was at his best with Carragher constantly talking to him and others around him. But he doesn't have that now and we have to work with the best combination we have and unless one of the other CB's suddenly turns into a leader then there is no combo I would include Skrtel in when deciding on a CB partnership.

24 Jul 2015 20:05:41
Lfc tommc

Could you elaborate the system mate? I have been hearing this word from quite some months. Which and what kind of system?
Playing from the back? High line? Flat back 4?
Which system is comfortable for Lovren that we should be playing?

24 Jul 2015 23:59:29
Euro Glory

The system Rodgers clearly prefers is possession based when we're in attack and high pressure when we are defending. In order to press the ball effectively the back line should play a relatively high line otherwise it is too easy to break the pressure applied from the forwards and midfield. I also think you need CB's with pace who read the game well as mistakes can easily lead to a goal i.e. stepping forward if ball is being played long allows space in behind for a player to run into.

For me, the main problem with the system is how Rodgers sets up his players. I think you mentioned previously that the one area we need is a DM, I could be mistaking you for another poster, but I think this area is key. Rodgers asks both full backs to play so high up the field it leaves a lot of space for the CB's to cover, which isn't that bad if the midfield offer sufficient cover. Lucas does this job but I am not sure he has the legs to do it at the highest level anymore.

Personally I would like to see either one of the other center mids to drop beside the DM when we lose the ball and forget about pressing or just have one full back push on at a time leaving 3 plus DM. This is just my opinion and maybe if that happened it still would be ineffective but when Lovren looked good he had 2 DM's in front of him giving the protection he needed and cover if he was dragged into a wide position.

24 Jul 2015 21:03:36
the system where lovern stays on the subs bench is the system that suits him best ,Rogers must have had the Guinness glasses on when he bought lovern to replace sako, must have had a few cans on a Friday night and been on eBay half pissed when he bought him,woke up Saturday morning going what the cola bottle did I buy last night

24 Jul 2015 14:42:03
As much as I think we should play 3 CMs, I cannot see it as a possibility with this squad. Presuming benteke and firmino settle, them 2 along with coutinho and Sturridge if continually fit, are in our best 11. Maybe hendo and lucas in behind them. 3 CMs also means only Can and Allen (and I don't believe allen is good enough as a 2nd choice) as first team cover in CM, and about 8 players covering the other 3 positions. It is the only way I see of trying to keep our many many players relatively happy with gane time.

24 Jul 2015 15:11:11
So what did you expect when we kept on buying similar players over and over again.

24 Jul 2015 18:37:43
What is your point?

24 Jul 2015 14:24:12
Have to laugh, watching the game in a thai bar, ibe picks up the ball on the right wing and I go to my mate, 'I know it's preseason, but you can tell he's giving It near 100%, if he doesn't stop getting tackled by the Malaysian right back there's no way he will start against Stoke.'
Half way through that the TV froze, from a poor stream I guess, and when it came back ibe was reeling away. What do I know ey?!

24 Jul 2015 14:36:01
Thats typical Ibe, Pace, Power and shoot. He is the perfect winger we need on that right hand side.

On another note, that's Y Lovre shouldn't be anywhere near the first team, Any decent atatcker could ease pass him.

24 Jul 2015 15:52:42
Skrtel didn't track the runner at all, hardly Lovren's fault completely.

24 Jul 2015 16:33:36
Eg, I would say we have better in coutinho to play on the left surely?

24 Jul 2015 13:37:20
I see that the stadium expansion works are making good progress. Apparently the bigger main stand will include a new players tunnel out onto the pitch. Now would be a good time for the THIS IS ANFIELD sign to be changed.

The new sign should be carved in granite and be part of the ground's fabric rather than some Perspex or plastic sign. Make it special.

24 Jul 2015 13:47:16
It's special regardless. however i agree and it also prevents it from ever being changed again

24 Jul 2015 13:59:35
The sign should remain where it is now, As its natural and let's not put our hands to it.

24 Jul 2015 14:59:39
Or will it say 'this is Macdonalds Anfield'?or some other random multi national

Don't be surprised.

24 Jul 2015 16:24:53
What are you on about marshy

24 Jul 2015 13:30:22
Ed s is there any evidence that sakho could leave? One day he's unhappy the next a new contract? Also anything further about moreno? Again rumours about him leaving? I really hope sakho stays.number1 cb for me . Thanks.

{Ed002's Note - RTP.}

24 Jul 2015 14:45:33
Sakho goes we riot

24 Jul 2015 13:12:19
Our best cb off and our worst signs new contract. Just when everything was going so well :( same old mistakes.

24 Jul 2015 13:21:10
What is wrong with some of you. Try getting behind the lads. Sick of hearing constant drivel from some so called fans.

Red Rum

24 Jul 2015 14:13:15
agree totally with you red rum. some people are not happy unless they are moaning and giving out.
get behind the lads like you are suppose to as fans and stop giving out. if sakho wants to leave let him leav. we have enough cover there. let him throw his toys out of the pram, sell him, get some funds for him and put ilori in until january.give the young man a chance and assess the situation at xmas for a new cb if need be. problem solved

24 Jul 2015 14:45:43
He is right though, what was the point of signing Skrtel to a new deal?

24 Jul 2015 16:01:08
Apart from Sakho, Skrtel is our best defender. No question. We are being impatient with Ilori, he may be our long term solution, but Skrtel is way ahead of him. Toure, is here merely as 4th choice and squad depth and Lovren needs to improve.

Red Rum

24 Jul 2015 16:33:19
Seriously? Skittles is the of the worst defenders I've ever seen. He makes Kvarme look solid.

24 Jul 2015 16:27:28
It's all great being positive and I try to be for the most part, but in this scenario it is very difficult. Sakho is undoubtedly our best center back, strong in the air, good positionally and although looks a little awkward at times he is good in possession and is excellent at playing the ball forward into the midfield and forwards. We should all be a little dismayed by the possibility of him leaving with Skrtel staying. The most worrying aspect being Rodgers ability to identify talent at center back which makes me worry about Ilori's future also.

At times the cover given to the CB's isn't enough and leaves them exposed so surely pace and reading of the game should be key attributes in our CB's locker, two areas lacking in Skrtel and Lovern seem to lack. The amount of times Skrtel and Lovern resort to leaving their feet and sliding in is laughable. The best CB's only dive in as a last resort while this seems to be their initial instinct.

When the season kicks off the fans will be behind the team and whatever players are on the field. The unfortunate thing is we can see the where the issues may arise with the team so questioning a decision like this only natural.

24 Jul 2015 17:49:09
Behind the lads red rum, just not the so called experts making the stupid decisions.

How is it drivel. Are you a blind follower?

24 Jul 2015 12:28:43
I really can't see sakho getting a move this summer judging by what we ask for players we will value him at 15+ mill and there will be no takers, I just can't see us sending him on loan or selling at a level other clubs would be interested in.

24 Jul 2015 12:43:27
He is a good player and we bough him at close to 20 mill, How much do you want us sell him? 5 mill? He has been playing regluar games at the club and a french international.

{Ed002's Note - He played in less than half of the league games according to his agent.}

24 Jul 2015 12:58:36
his agent should ask how many of those were due to injury

{Ed002's Note - Sakho was of interest to another side earlier in the season when he had been replaced by Lovren and is not getting regular game time with Liverpool. The issue will be that Liverpool will probably not be looking to loan him out. If they don't want to sell they need to speak to his agent and make that clear.}

24 Jul 2015 13:00:01
Thats not correct, We played with back three and there were only 4 defenders with the club last season. He was injured to some extent last season.

It was Can-Skrtel-Sakho throughout.

{Ed002's Note - So all 38 games then. I have no idea where you get this nonsense from.}

24 Jul 2015 13:00:48
I don't want to keep a player against his will, but I think we should try and keep him another season at least. Sweet talk him a little, with the amount of games we have he will get time. Next season toure will go, and one of lovren or sakho if he has not left already, I would rather try and delay it until then and allow lovren a 2nd chance. If he is still poor then we can sell lovren and guarantee sakho games easier

24 Jul 2015 13:13:44
I don't want him sold EG I'm just stating that as a club we will price him at a level that there won't be any interest we have a number of players that were bought at high prices have not played and are now not going to fetch the rate we paid. We either sell them at a loss and remove the burden of their wages or they stay in the squad and we carry on paying them either way we will have to bite the bullet on some of them.

24 Jul 2015 13:18:24
So EG. at no point did Sakho storm out the dressing room and go home about not being in the squad let alone the starting 11

24 Jul 2015 13:19:59
Aside from the 1st two games of the season when he was on the bench, he played every game that he was fit for. 16 games, was taken off in 2 of those. Fact is he missed 20 league games due to injuries including a thigh muscle strain & a hamstring.

I really hope the club tell him he's 1st choice and they don't want to sell and he's satisfied with that. Then obviously they should stick to their word. Surely if anyone has to play Europa League to earn a place it's Lovren.

24 Jul 2015 13:15:04
I did not say that Ed02, He was out injured for a large part of the season.

24 Jul 2015 13:50:46
Last season, as per Transfermrkt, Sakho's Premier League appearances were as follows:

Squad: 18, Starting eleven: 15, Substituted in: 1, On the bench: 2, Suspended: 0, Injured: 20

Of the 15 starts he played 90 mins in all but one, 68mins v West Ham when he went off injured and this was the start of missing the next 11 games with a thigh injury.

I really hope he stays and I really hope he plays.

24 Jul 2015 13:55:47
The club has committed mistakes in assuring games and positions to some and not to others. The reason Sakho came out from PSG was due lack of games and that's quite natural at every top club. He might play a lot of games at Lazio and that's a fantastic attitude for a player who wants to play rather than be at a club, But it has its onsequences as his resume will stop at Lazio.

Brendan doesn't like the player and prefers Lovren at the Left side and Sakho cannot move his right foot by a centimeter.

24 Jul 2015 14:34:04
Sakho was ready to be put in the team by Mid november,we didn't play him until Burnley at the end of December I think.We kept lovren on the bench or toure

24 Jul 2015 10:35:15
Going back a few days, about the lack of correct spelling of our players nanes, this story came to me, not quite sure why! I was in Sydney, watching Spurs on tour, and the stadium announcer at HT said tweet who your man of the match is. Harry Kane lead the way (although doing little) and danny rose was 2nd.
Which would have been fair enough, but he wasn't in fact in the squad.
In a sort of chamberlain/Gibbs moment, bentaleb (who bares no resembelence to rose, however) played left back for the first half and centre midfield for the 2nd and totally ran the show from CM and did well at LB too.

24 Jul 2015 12:01:45
But the worst case of cases is, if you can not even spell the word "name" itself. ;-)

24 Jul 2015 12:23:20
Oh dear

24 Jul 2015 10:26:39
Hats off to ED2 for saying that they're would be an unexpected leaver from the LFC Squad and it turns out to be Sakho.

Good luck to him to were ever he ends up good player who deserves to be playing first team football.

24 Jul 2015 11:50:12
I said back in May that I had a feeling he'd be sold this summer. It's a shame really, but the club need to sell as we have too many players for each position.

Red Rum

24 Jul 2015 12:20:05
It is a shame that he may be leaving even more so that ed02 said psg offered a straight swap for blaise matuidi during last season we probably have no need for him now and in any case the offer is probably off the table now.

24 Jul 2015 14:34:45
I agree but we have enough CBs if he leaves i don't see him being replaced, just a pity that BR can't see what everyone else can that skrtl should have been the one to move on, just because he's not suited for the systems we play were as Sakho is, but can't slag Sakho off for wanting to leave, if you ain't happy in your work what's the point in staying.

24 Jul 2015 09:55:18
Ed's how does this game time assurance thing really work?

I have a legal background and while you can put anything you like in a contract I'm struggling to see what the consequence of breach would be. That is, if a player is guaranteed to play X games if he is fit but the manager doesn't pick him for whatever reason what can happen? He can sue for breach of contract but as he gets paid anyway he hasn't really lost anything (match bonuses maybe?).

Or does the player have some kind of right he can activate if his contractual threshold isn't met?

{Ed001's Note - it is not a contract issue, it is a manager making a promise. I remember the same thing saw Stephen Warnock leave, after Ged promised he would give him games and then broke the promise.}

24 Jul 2015 13:54:10
Thanks Ed.

It's a funny one isn't it. It seems like a slippery slope - you can't promise everybody game time and you always want to put out the best team you can. And you don't often buy a player with the thought in your mind of not playing him.

I can't imagine the Special One or Rednose (or Shankly but that was a different era) ever promising anybody anything. I worry it is more a foot-in-mouth problem that has created issues and mistrust.

I'm sure I over simplify but it would surely be better to have a we-always-put-out-the-best-team-and-if-you-play-to-your-potential-you-have-a-good-chance-but-no-guarantee-of being-in-it. policy. But that requires players and managers to trust each other and that, may be exactly the issue we are facing.

24 Jul 2015 09:36:30
Sakho:

Some interesting posts regarding our centre back and his possible exit from the club.

I have seen some suggest that he can't pass - he can. Yes he looks clumsy at times but he is very composed on the ball if he has options to pass to, and is about our only centre back who, with confidence, can pass into the middle and final thirds of the pitch.

Someone else has posted he is a leader and shows some character - would agree, and would hazard a guess as this being one of the reasons he could exit - all our leaders and vocal players have not survived under BR's stewardship - leading me to conclude he doesn't know how to deal with them.

I think the loss of Sakho would be massive, coupled with potential sale of Moreno we would need a new pairing on the left side of defence again as we did at the start of last season - and look how well that went.

I don't think we will ever learn.

24 Jul 2015 10:19:23
It should be abundantly obvious at this stage that BR can't coach defenders or set up a back 3 / 4 properly, and thus far hasn't had anyone around him who can (hopefully that's changed this summer). Every combination of center backs we've tried since Carra & Agger two seasons ago have made loads of mistakes and it reached the point last season where I found it hard to say which of them should actually retain their place.

That being said, Sakho's always struck me as having the potential to be top class if managed & coached correctly, wheras Lovren probably won't improve much more, and Toure and Skrtel are past their peaks. I think we should do everything to keep him, but if the ship has sailed and he has irreversibly decided he needs to be elsewhere, there's not much point in trying to force him to stay.

24 Jul 2015 10:21:26
Maybe if sakho stayed and digne came in, at least they could communicate better! The Gomez and clyne on the right.

{Ed002's Note - Why play Gomez out of position?}

24 Jul 2015 10:52:50
Can I ask what you mean here Ed? I thought he was a natural centre back but was being eased in by playing fullback or is that completely wrong??

{Ed002's Note - He is a left sided player.}

24 Jul 2015 12:17:41
Are yiu thinking of someone else Ed002? Gomez is a centre back, and right-footed, though he has no preference playing left or right as a centre back. I don't think he will get a chance at CB anytime soon at LFC, and expect him to cover both full back postions, which is what he has been doing this preseason.

{Ed002's Note - He was purchased to play on the left but you are right he is comfortable on either side. keep in mind Liverpool already has Skrtel, Toure and Ilori to play on the right.}

24 Jul 2015 12:28:29
I'm not a great believer in this right footed left centre backs, if you are a good defender, it shouldn't be too tasking playing either side.

24 Jul 2015 12:35:48
Good point. Also worth noting that Ilori is comfortable left or right in central defence; he played as the lefy-sided CB for Portugal. I think this is a good example of players beeing bought in by Rodgers who are easily adaptable, perhaps echoing the reasoning behind your comments regarding formations a few days back.

24 Jul 2015 12:42:24
Have to disagree here ED002. Gomez is a right sided centre back, who can fill in anywhere across the back line. Ilori is predominantly a left sided centre back but can play either side.

{Ed002's Note - Ok fine.}

24 Jul 2015 14:02:01
I disagree with Fencey on the issue of right and left footed centre backs. Sometimes it can work but definitely it didn't with our 2 lefties (Lovren and Sakho) last year. That might just be them but they looked uncomfortable together.

So today we have 3 left sided centre backs and Gomez who can cover there. My pick of them all is Sakho but perhaps he's right to see some writing on the wall and perhaps it is better for us if he does go now.

24 Jul 2015 09:19:21
Ed001, I seem to remember a post from you around six months ago in regards to Sakho possibly looking to leave if BR remained in his job at the end of the season, which has obviously happened. Disappointingly, it seems what you wrote several months ago has now seemingly come to a head with Sakho heading for the exit. I am massively disappointed, glad I got to meet him in Brisbane last week before he leaves. One of my favourite Liverpool players.

24 Jul 2015 08:59:41
I am absolutely gutted about sakho. If it is down to not being first choice I think this is one of brendan rodgers biggest blunders as manager. Sakho in my opinion is by quite a margin our best defender, so he should be first choice, the back 5 players should be settled and the same back 5 should be picked for each game. The only reason that sakho should not be in the team is if he is not fit. Feel for the lad always looked like a good character. People go on about gomez and llori but I haven't seen much of them and can you see them playing over a very expensive centre back that we only purchased last year? Personally I can't

24 Jul 2015 09:49:10
I agreed with you overall (so I hit the button). I thinks it a big call to say this is Captain Colgate's biggest blunder but it's definitely on the list.

24 Jul 2015 12:30:50
If Sakho goes i'm sure Illori will get his place and show why we bought him, he is very very fast and will when paired with Lovren it will allow us to play the high tempo football we played 2 seasons ago.

{Ed002's Note - Ilori is right sided - Sakho left.}

24 Jul 2015 13:05:04
If I was Sakho and found myself sidelined in favour of Skrtel I would leave too, and if true it once again questions the judgement of the manager. Is this yet another nail in his coffin?

Sakho is our best defender and why in gods name he is not first name on the team sheet is beyond me, if he is good enough for France he sure as hell is good enough for us. I give up.

24 Jul 2015 08:19:47
I'm not sahko biggest fan . But he's passing is terrific for a cb . be a shame to go . But young Gomez looks a player . Maybe he might get the gig. Very young all same but looks very composed and mature .

24 Jul 2015 09:06:22
Hi 5ive

Disagree with you on sakho's passing yes he looks like bambi on ice but out of louvren, skrtel and toure he is the best passer.

24 Jul 2015 10:12:40
Think that means you'll agree with his post then, 5ive said his passing is terrific

24 Jul 2015 10:23:18
The OP said it was terrific.

24 Jul 2015 05:40:43
Hello Eds and Reds.

After reading the posts on Sinclair and Ings,It reminded me of the argument with my friend on Rodgers inability to nurture academy/young players.Sterling's sucess and Ibe's performance clouded people's judgement on Rodgers.And also lack of proper knowledge leads to conclusions such as Rodgers developes young players.

Rodgers changed i)Coaching staff ii)his style of speaking to some extent,along with this iii) we bought better targets compared to previous season.But one thing which really disappointed me was the news of losing out Sinclair

Its OK that he preferred Benteke for first/second choice,but why did he have to sign Ings or Origi when we have Sinclair.We produced some brilliant forwards like Owen,Fowler and after a long time we now have Sinclair.

The thing is all the best managers like great Shankly,Fergi. had faith in thier academy players.They had the courage to give them a chance.Rodgers instead of filling places with academy players he either shoehorns others in those places or goes into buying another player.

Eds is youth developement part of FSG's philosophy?
Sad that we have good academy players when Rodgers is incharge of the first team.
Ed001 on a sidenote,how good is Sinclair?

Thanks.

{Ed001's Note - youth development is a cornerstone of FSG's policy for the long term future of the club. Strange that they then obsess over buying young players to develop and block the chances of the academy bearing fruit. It is yet another example of how they have really not thought out their plans for the club.

Sinclair is a player that should have a very good future in the Prem. He has the potential to be a future England striker for sure.}

24 Jul 2015 07:01:46
Every club has an academy and young ones coming through. Liverpool have given more chances to the young players than any other club at this point of time.
How many are playing at UTD, Chelsea and Arsenal. Apart from loaning players from year after year who was the last academy player to play for their respective first team?

{Ed001's Note - what academy players have come through for us? Sterling was from QPR's academy, Ibe from Wycombe's, Sinclair from WBA. Who has come through from ours?}

24 Jul 2015 07:22:27
Only time will tell how good Sinclair becomes, he has had a few first team games and clearly hasn't nailed down a place.
Sometimes these young players (he's not from our academy just don't reach their early potential. Big deal.

{Ed001's Note - how can he nail down a place in a few minutes run out? Silly comment Ron.}

24 Jul 2015 07:25:20
Gerrard

{Ed001's Note - and how long ago was that?}

24 Jul 2015 07:43:41
The only current ones are Flanno and Rossitter, also Martin Kelly who's now at Palace. Not a great influx through the academy, but sadly this is a common theme through most of the top premier league clubs who have money to spend each season and would rather look to foreign youngsters instead of promoting from within their youth set up. This can't be down to future player value as when a club do produce a british talent then their transfer value is multiplied, Sterling being the prime example. Given this you would think that such clubs would priorities developing young local talent. Or do they feel that young foreign player's are coached better from an earlier age and more developed for PL football.

24 Jul 2015 07:45:37
ED01, Y don't we loan Sincliar to a club that would give him game time, After all that's exactly the kid wants now. If he proves his worth he would sur and certain get a chance.

Y does everyone thinks that at the age of 20 you are getting a sure short at Liverpool senior side?

Loftus Cheek is a good player and wouldn't get a game at the senior level and would happily take a loan, Kalas has joined. Y not our players?

{Ed001's Note - please stop talking about Loftus Cheek, you clearly have no idea about the lad at all, and you are talking absolute crap every time you mention him. Sinclair just wants to know we are not going to continually buy young players to block his route into the team for the long term. We brought in 3 this summer alone, we already had Sturridge, who is not old by any means. He sees no chance of him getting any real chance of a run in the first team, loans are not going to do it. Ibe didn't get his chance because of how well he did on loan, he got his chance because a move for Ings broke down in January. Until we start giving young players a real chance, instead of buying a new team every summer, of young players, then we are simply going to keep losing them.}

24 Jul 2015 07:53:31
I don't think Both Sterling and Ibe would have kicked a ball at the senior level other than Liverpool. Young ones doenst mean our own academy there are plenty of excellent kids coming up and liverpool has always tried to help them.

{Ed001's Note - you are wrong, both were bought as players almost ready to play first team football for us.They could have gone to any lower end Prem team and been regulars easily.}

24 Jul 2015 09:13:30
Ed001 whereas teams like Barca,Bayern,Sevilla,Inter,. etc have been succesful in bringing youth players,especially Barca.Barca underwent many coaching changes but one constant thing which remained was bringing youth and style of play.

Ed do these teams have constant setup independent of managers and head coaches?Why are they sucessful in implementing it and why are we failing?

Also Ed001,Ed002 and other Eds I feel really lucky to find this site.This site helped me in understanding things related to football and is helping me to become a better observer of the game and the Club.Thanks for being so generous to share your views and information.

{Ed001's Note - because they give them a chance, it is that simple. They don't just ignore the kids, they try them in the first team.}

24 Jul 2015 11:38:01
They have B teams in Spain playing competitive league football not like the reserve teams over here. I think that let's players feel they are still in with a chance of first team football compared to over here.
It's a symptom of the competitive, cut throat Premier league where a manager who has lasted 3 season is classed as "long serving". They can't afford to risk youth players in the first team because if they lose a game the fans are asking for the managers head on a spike.

{Ed002's Note - Interestingly both Barcelona and Real Madrid has had to give certain commitments to the other Spanish teams over the "B" teams come the time when they breakaway from La Liga. This includes concessions over the stadia and television rights. However, you should not think of the Spanish "B" teams as reserve sides, they are not. Think of them as separate teams.}

24 Jul 2015 12:21:19
Should we think of the Spanish B teams as "feeder" teams Ed002? From my somewhat naive point of view, that's what they seem like.

{Ed002's Note - Yes, some players do progress through to the first team but they are registered as players with separate clubs (e.g. Castilla).

24 Jul 2015 12:27:32
I think it should not be forgotten that injuries might have played a part. Sinclair was prolific and rapid progress in the U16 and the youth side, which is when he first got a chance at first team action, 3 years ago. Since then, injuries meant he has not regularly featured as much as neesed for even the u21s. In a way, this could be seen as him not making a step up at reserves levels. And if I am being very honest, I don't think he is ready or deserving of a regular first team squad option this season.

24 Jul 2015 01:43:50
Hi Eds got a question that you might not want to answer but here goes, what is the truth or to the best of your knowledge why Sterling left also why does sinclair want to leave , hope you reply to these thanks

{Ed001's Note - Sterling's situation was badly handled by the club, but the agent jumped in and made it all happen to get money. They gave him an opening and he forced it all through. Sterling was too immature and stupid to take a step back and realise that what was best for his future was not Ward's true worry. The club made a mistake trying to pressure him, which gave the agent the chance, but it was 95% the agent's greed, allied to the player's stupidity and immaturity.

Sinclair has seen 3 young players come in to block his route into the first team for the long term. Going out on loan offers little to no hope of a future at Liverpool with those young players in his way getting to impress the manager with our first team. It is not like Brendan regularly goes to watch our loaned players or the youth teams to make the youngsters think they have a chance of progressing. This is just the tip of the iceberg.}

24 Jul 2015 07:03:45
Ed01, y don't we loan Sinclair to another PL club? After all even if the kid needs game and y not a loan?

{Ed001's Note - like who?}

24 Jul 2015 08:21:14
I hear Man. Utd and Arsenal are after a striker.

24 Jul 2015 00:02:30
Sorry to repost a question but I was not answered yesterday. Does anyone know how highly regarded Rossiter is outside of Liverpool for instance, England youth coaches, coaches of other sides etc.

24 Jul 2015 06:24:27
The lad is good and decent but not the hype people at time shower on the page. He needs a proper loa and game time. He is not near to loftus cheek at Chelsea.

{Ed001's Note - seriously? He is nothing like Loftus-Cheek for one, but secondly he is way ahead of him at the same age, a year is a big difference at this age, but Rossiter is a more complete player. Don't get me wrong, I rate RLC, but Rossiter is better.}