Liverpool Banter Archive November 25 2014

25 Nov 2014 22:10:03
I personally think we're h****d. Sorry eds. Klopp, Simeone ect. It's never going to happen.
There's nobody out there, under the circumstances we are in, to change this around with no money and no top players.
Selling Luis Suarez and not attempting to replace him was the most ridiculous thing the club has done and our predicament proves that. What did they think would happen? You sell a world class player you got to have a replacement lined up or your going to drop into obscurity. The manager isn't good enough to lose such a player and still get the best from a mediocre team. Someone at the club, whoever is selling and buying the players, does not have the same ambition as the fans. It's filtered down and the players, manager and fans have lost the belief. I'm not bothered who the manager is I just want the best for the club. Worst transfer window we've ever had, sacking Brendan won't make a blind bit of difference he's a scapegoat for a terrible transfer window and the fingers should be pointed towards whoever sold and signed the players in the Summer

The calibre of players we have are at least top 6. We are looking no where near that. If we had a manager who wasn't totally clueless and stubborn we would be a lot higher. To be fair though, if we had Sturridge I think we would be in the Top 4 at the moment. He is that good.

I fully agree mate. I don't think BR has had it easy in regards to transfers as I believe a lot of signings were out of his control. What is frustrating me about BR is his reluctance to change his system to suit the players we have available. Also he hasn't got the balls to drop Gerrard, Skrtel, Balotelli and Johnson. We have better players available, what is going on? If he is willing to be ruthless and do things the right way then I am all for him staying, if he is going to continue down the route he has been then he has to go.

It's times like these is where managers need to prove their worth. It is make or break for Brendan Rodgers.

Red Rum

Suzrez-replacement players are not something you can buy in the shop mate. They are few and far between, they are extremely expensive (not just fee also salary) and a lot of them wouldn't come to us even if we are happy to pay - Sanchez is the clearest example. We wanted him and he did not want us. Messi and Ronaldo were not in line to join us neither did Zlatan or Aguero. Maybe we shoudl have gone for Di Maria - would we necessarily beat ManU to get him I am not sure.

BR is dreadful in the TW because he buys players then doesn`t use them and still wants to buy players to replace the ones he himself bought BUT no longer rates despite not giving them a fair shot. Talk about a complete mess!

26 Nov 2014 01:32:38
The system BR wants us to play ie 4-3-3 is highly successful system. There are more than 10 teams playing this kinda formation and style.
But yes, you need world class players to execute it.

26 Nov 2014 01:35:00
Eusebio

Calibre of whom brother? Markovic? Balletolli?
Keep aside the style we play for a min and how many of those players you actually think has justified their price?

Your point proves all the players we bought need an excellent new system to flourish? Lols

Fanobip even if LFC had made an offer for Di Maria and matched his terms, he would probably have still gone to Man Utd. The lure of LVG and players like Rooney, RVP and Falcao is way higher than a group of inexperienced people like Brendan and his coaching staff and losing the only world class player we had. As much as i hate to see it, Man Utd will do what it takes to get back to the top, while we will continue h*****g up in the transfer market.

26 Nov 2014 03:47:44
Indian

Spot on. I have heard Wenger got the job done on Ozil with just a phone call. Any player would love to work with a world class manager.
Sanchez would have joined us given we had a brilliant manager.

Passion_pride_LFC i have been saying this for so long that LFC is not a club where u come to learn your trade. LFC's manager should be a match winner who has been there done that. Brendan was a nobody when the club employed him and i doubt the likes of Di Maria or Falcao even knew who he was. Why would these high profile players choose an unknown quantity over a proven world class manager?

26 Nov 2014 05:49:51
Indian

I don't think 4-3-3 is a bad system and what if the new man comes with the same style.

The players we bought most have been dreadful till now.

Lallana 1 goal
Sterling 1 goal
Henderson 1 goal
Balletolli 2 goals
Markovic 0
Can no games
Lambert 1 goal

Goals conceded - plenty.

26 Nov 2014 07:21:24
I have heard Wenger got the job done on Ozil with just a phone call.

Somehow, I don't think 40 million pound transactions work like that. Maybe in Playstation.

25 Nov 2014 21:06:29
General question for the eds do you think FSG will still be Liverpool owners by 2017 or do you expect them to sell if so do you think Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum (Dubai International Capital) would be interested in us again as if it were not for Hicks (DIC) would be the current owners?

{Ed002's Note - Yes and no chance.}

25 Nov 2014 18:57:45
Evening Eds and all,

Eds, I hope I am not jumping the gun on your polls; but would you mind posting this to feed my curiosity please.

Should we sack Brendan Rodgers?

Agree = YES. Disagree = NO.

Thank you.

{Ed002's Note - Done to death and we know the answer.}

Of course we should Bazzaa. . .if you speed-read the posts you'll get a "feeling" for what the majority of posters on here think. There'll be no anti-owners protests if they decide to cough up the millions it'll take to sack team-Brendan.

Im certainly not in the sack Brendan camp. We could go on a 2 month unbeaten run, then things could look different. It depends on how long the owners are prepared to wait. He is running out of time tho to say the least. The pressure is mounting.

Based on what we hav seen, that unbeaten run ain`t going to happen because he Palace game showed he has lost it completely.

26 Nov 2014 01:36:49
Don't think we need to sack BR. With this form he is supposed to step down.

Not the whitewash I was expecting here!

26 Nov 2014 07:55:58
I kind of think the same on the result, I am curious of how vast it will be.

Thank you for posting Ed002, it's appreciated.

25 Nov 2014 17:23:05
According to Ed, FSG are already exploring replacements for BR.
My dream ticket would be Rafa Benitez with Carra as his assistant.
However I feel that Rafa will not be considered. Can the Eds shed any light why Rafa was not interviewed last time round? I thought that Rafa working with decent owners would be a massive success after his over achieving during the H&G nightmare.

RJ555

{Ed002's Note - There were lots of people not interviewed. Perhaps the owners are not so obsessed with the past as some of the supporters and are looking to the future - which many here seem completely unable to do.}

I made a point the other day that FSG would have been given plenty of info regarding Rafa via Ian Ayre who was part of the board that showed Rafa the door and I doubt what FSG would have heard about all the boardroom battles while Rafa was at the club and FSG most certainly will not for one second be dictated to.

I call it false hope for those who are thinking Rafa is coming back. I am pretty sure Rafa is a fantastic guy around the dinner table but my suggestion would be to remove the thought of Rafa's return and it will make it easier once Rodgers replacement has been announced. It ain't going to Rafa. Move on.

Frank Rijkaard Ruud Gullit Dick Advocatt and Michael Laudrup are all avaliable

Ruud Gullit? Are you serious?

Advocaat seems to be prostituting himself to any club that will have him, rijkaard and gullit.PLEASE!!

Gullit? Must b a joke. Advocaat is getting the sack in Serbia anytime, now. Rafa? Done to death.

Koeman is the only person worth sacking BR for. To say the very least he more than gets the best out of what he has got! Look what he is doing at southampton after all their 'best' players were sold. he has no real superstars but they r a great team. Imagine what he could do with our squad - youngsters and all. ynwa

{Ed001's Note - Koeman was very poor in his previous jobs, bit soon to be deciding he is some kind of footballing genius because of a good run at Southampton. Give him 3 years and then we can see if he is good enough to deserve a step up.}

26 Nov 2014 07:35:03
Ed002, do you think the owners envisage BR as the future?

{Ed002's Note - As I have explained, I would not expect him to be at the club next season.}

25 Nov 2014 16:38:22
Hi Eds,

On a scale of 1-10 How likely is Rodgers to be sacked if Liverpool don't make it into last 16? If He is to be sacked do you think the owners will move before Jan window? How likely is Mario to leave in Jan? Does he still have time to turn it around or is everyone upstairs looking to move him on? And how serious was J W Henry's post on Reus a while back? Thanks!

{Ed002's Note - (a) Why do I have to keep answering the same questions. (b) Why not read the posts. (c) Why not use the search engine. (d) There are only bathrooms upstairs. (e) Use the search engine.}

Why ..................abuse cut..................

{Ed002's Note - Again the brain dead cock sucking rubbish is back to troll the site.}

Owned

Triple-owned!

25 Nov 2014 14:55:04
hello eds,

Great site. eds how do u rate de boer as a manager?
Is he a good tactitian?
what exactly is the work of a dof ?
and how he is important in the performance of a team?

thanks.

YNWA

{Ed001's Note - I am not sure of De Boer's abilities as a manager as he is a head coach. His tactics are just those set out for him, but he can tinker with them during a match.
A DoF's role varies from team to team. Cruyff at Barca set out everything and run the lot, the head coach just worked to his instructions. Other clubs a DoF has a lot less power.}

The Cruyff version of a DOF sounds interesting ed. One concern I see with it if is it doesn't work out then you potentially have an extra person to dismiss. The structure does make sense to more effectively apply a philosophy through all teams at a club, this is too big a role for a manager/coach. It's interesting how soon me managers are opposed to this structure. For Rodgers Ed, do you think this is a control thing that he wants to be the main guy in control to instil his philosophy, or is there an underlying fear of relinquishing control to a DOF?

{Ed001's Note - it is a fear of relinquishing control, in my opinion. A powerful DoF will pick a head coach to instil the system he sets out, the head coach has little real power.}

Ed001 I remember (I think it was you anyway) you saying ferguson was basically a DOF in the end. Do you think that's half the reason why moyes failed? The fact he came in as a classic manager when the United structure was basically set up with a DOF (fergie) with some really good coaches under him?
The whole DOF and coach VS manager debate is very interesting. It seems if you get the right DOF and a coach willing to be just that then you will have massive success but if it's not quite right then it's a complete disaster. It also seems that a manager is just not enough on his own to manage some of the bigger teams on his own these days, or at least it's starting to look like it's going that way.

{Ed002's Note - You are all just getting wrapped up in the terminology without thinking any of this through in terms of just what this DoF would be doing. The club have been looking for a General Manager to oversee another aspect of change so the hierarchical changes aren't simply adding a FDoF not a Defensive Coach. These discussions are very tiresome.}

A DOF is only as strong as the power he is allowed to have. IMO, a DOF is one that does the bidding of the coach and should not interfere in tactics or anything like that which is why I do not like DOF`s who were former coaches because it causes confusion. The Dof gets the players in, gets the administrative and managerial side of footie under control while the head coach in this case, focuses on the tactics and playing staff. IMO, that`s it and nothing more.

{Ed001's Note - the best DoF in football is Cruyff, and he is the one that tells the coach what to do and sets the tactics. That is what a DoF should be, in my opinion, as he is the one that will stay when the coach is sacked. He needs to be the one to make the decisions or the whole system is a shambles.}

25 Nov 2014 14:34:34
Hey Ed002,
you mentioned that a number of clubs will be sold come 2017. Other than the entertaining aspect of the game I am also interested in the business side of it. could you elaborate a little on the reasons behind the sales and if there are already buyers lined up?

{Ed002's Note - 2017 will see a significant increase in TV revenue and will make clubs more attractive to buyers.}

25 Nov 2014 15:17:16
I think FSG will definitely sell in 2017. Anfield will have been expanded and the increased TV revenues like Ed002 says should enable them to recover most of their investment into the club. Hopefully the new owners whoever they may be know more about football than FSG.

FSG have been very supportive to the club. That's more than acceptable in my eyes.
Anybody who knows a lot about football would probably never want to own a football club. Lol

{Ed002's Note - FSG would certainly think twice about a club like Liverpool again. Probably sport's biggest money pit.}

Ask Alan Sugar!

26 Nov 2014 07:35:41
Ed002, what do you mean by money pit?
Can you elaborate please. Thanks.

{Ed007's Note - money pit: Something of value, which, for some reason or another, has continued to absorb considerable amount of payments due to its continuing failure to live up to expectation.}

26 Nov 2014 07:56:14
Ed002, biggest money pit got to be Formula 1 :-)

{Ed002's Note - A mid tier F1 team costs less to run annually than LFC.}

25 Nov 2014 13:33:28
i hope we will buy a top class defensive midfielder in january we really need 1, we won't be buying a striker because we have orogi coming next season.
There will be many games gerrard can play just behind the striker and still be effective with his passes and shots.
Malta

We don't really need one, we already have one in Lucas. Plus Can can do a decent job there as can Allen and you have Gerrard and Henderson as a last resort.

25 Nov 2014 14:37:13
We need a goal scorer

Can would be massively constrained by a pure defensive midfield role. As I see it his main attributes are dynamism and ability to carry the ball forward, would be a shame to inhibit that by asking him to sit

I agree Jeraldo, Can is no holding midfielder he has to much drive in him.We need player like matic.the dutch have a good player Clasie

25 Nov 2014 16:32:22
Jeraldo - Henderson can do all that Can does and better. A spell in a disciplined role could do Can wonders for his career as a whole and help develop versatility in the team - having a dedicated CDM who can actually bomb up when there is a chance too good to waste, or if the CDM becomes unnecessary.

Was about to post more or less what hjinkle put then.
Can isn't a "destroyer" (if you have been reading below) but someone who can be a defensive midfielder who can drive the whole team forward when in possession. Very useful and a potentially brilliant player.

Did I just read someone put that Gerrard and Allen can play as a defensive midfielder? Haven't stopped laughing, Gerrard made the grand sum of zero tackles against Palace at the weekend and Allen couldn't fight his way out of a paper bag, he is as much a defensive midfielder as Glen Johnson is a footballer.

Last resort I said Dennis.
I remember Allen having some of his best performances for us when he first joined and he was basically the DM.

25 Nov 2014 10:33:34
Eds,
Lots of people talking about players being sold or let leave in January but isn't this a terrible situation if there is a possibility of a new manager coming.
Surely a new manager should be given the option of who he wants to work with before BR sells good assets?
Maybe some of these players would be first choice for a new manager with different tactics etc.

{Ed002's Note - I have no idea what players you are talking about.]

Well with the clubs financial constraints the only way to buy new players is to sell, I believe the Eds have said this.
If that is the case then Rogers will shift players who he currently won't play, Sakho, Suso, Borini, Lucas, Maybe Allen and Balotelli. My point being is this not bad business if as presumed the manager may be moved on?

{Ed002's Note - I think your expectations of what will happen in January are miles from the truth. Suso will be looking to sign a pre-contract in January and move in the summer at the end of his contract. Lucas may well go - that might be it from your list.}

25 Nov 2014 12:29:01
I agree with you Quagmire and "IF" there is a change of manager I hope it happens before the transfer window opens

It is really, really sad to see suso go. just as sad as when sahin left for me. both of them looks like they genuinely love the club only to be not played or played in the wrong position.

suso has so much potential.

25 Nov 2014 09:32:26
I just wanted to share a piece that I read about different types of "defensive midfielders" (or "number 6" in this piece) - it may be worth thinking of Gerrard when reading this and considering what he used to be - and what he is now:

"What is most underappreciated about the number 6 are its complexities that most fail to recognise. In fact, the failure to do so can be key to why some sides may struggle to find the right balance. Indeed, the defensive number 6 sits at the heart of the game and at the center of the pitch where everything goes through him. It is for this reason that it is important to recognise the many intricacies of that position and its numerous roles in order to better appreciate it.

There are important differences between the types of number 6, which can be broken down in three different roles:
1) The Destroyer - Exclusively a defensive midfielder
2) The Regista - A "holding midfielder
3) The Volante - A player who belongs to both types

The Destroyer is a plain defensive midfielder without any particular technical or passing ability to speak of. The destroyer's main attributes would be speed, anticipation and tackling ability. His function on the pitch is to use any of these attributes to break up opposition attacks (Mascherano).

The Regista is a holding midfielder. The Regista is an Italian football term that means 'deep-lying playmaker'. He is a highly technical midfielder, unlike the destroyer, whose primary attributes are offensive one. Unlike the defensive midfielder however, the holding midfielder has the luxury and willingness to roam a little farther up the pitch. The Regista mainly 'holds' his position in front of the defence and opportunistically makes key interceptions to cut out opposition threats.
In other words the holding midfielder is far less reliant on physicality and athleticism and puts more of a premium on anticipation and his ability to read the game without even necessarily needing to be a good tackler (Luka Modric).

The Volante. The term 'Volante' is Brazilian football terminology to describe the player who not only protects the defence but also acts as the team's metronome. In fact the word 'volante' literally translates as 'steering wheel', because the number conducts the flow of the team. The Volante receives the ball from the defence and sprays it to the players ahead of him to set up the play. The Volante marries the physical and the technical, but does not necessarily possess the physical attributes. This is why the Volante can both be categorised as a defensive midfielder or a holding midfielder (Busquets).

Now we might probably ask what is the difference between a Volante and a Regista? The difference is in technical ability and forward impetus. The Regista is more prone to moving forward while the Volante's priority is still protecting the defence. The Regista is much more capable of influencing the game in the final third whilst the Volante confines himself more to the centre circle and takes advantage of late surging runs when space ahead of him opens up.

Thus, recognising the type of number 6 a player can be is very important to how a side sets up. It takes a keen manager to recognise what type of no6 and what role he can fulfil for the benefit of the team."

What type would you have at Liverpool then?
I believe we need a destroyer type, a huge, ugly nasty piece of work in the middle snapping anybody who dares to attack us.
Not enough men in our team.
Gerrard just doesn't have the speed or stamina to be a "number 6" you can see that in almost every game this season.

I think Gerrard used to be a Volante - but is now more suited to the Regista role.
The closest thing LFC have to a Destroyer is Lucas.

The sad thing for me is that Gerrard is still one of the best players in the team - he hasn't been replaced and he isn't being used correctly.

I would personally prefer a 'destroyer' as our CDM, who would provide leadership, physically imposing, good reading of the game being his best attributes. The only player unfortunately that ticks all these boxes imo is Matic and we will never sign him. If it was me, i would let both Lucas and Gerrard go in the summer, promote Rossiter and sign Wanyama from Southampton, who is the closest player to Matic in terms of a pure CDM.

Wanyama would have been a good signing a year ago (for the destroyer role).

I think Alonso is the perfect example of a Regista, as you say. I think Gerrard is more like this than destroyer but we need a destroyer not a regista type. My reason for thinking this is I think a regista suits where they are playing for a team that generally controls games.

Alonso for Bayern, they have the ball most of the time. Modric for Madrid as per your example, Madrid have the ball all the time. Move along to look at Barcelona - a team known for having the ball - do they play Mascherano DM? No, because really he's not needed there with his high energy and closing down. He plays more at CB because they were stuck but Busquets, as you say, offers much more going forward so he plays ahead of Mascherano in the DM position.

For me we need 2 central midfielders who specialize in passing the ball and who can also defend when needed.

Having 2 central midfielders will give the forwards more freedom to attack and will also provide adequate protection for the defence.

Red Rum

25 Nov 2014 13:07:37
Waynama would have been an awful signing for us. Not because he's not good or can't do it, but because it took him about 6 months to settle in and start being effective in the PL. Our fans don't give players 6 games anymore

@hjikle, are you one of those fans?

Summer 2013 when Wanyama was going to Southampton for £12m I posted that I thought we should be going for him and that he could take a year splitting playing time with Lucas so as to not overwork Lucas and to help him settle with less pressure. Summer 2014 then my thinking was that he would be ready to step up to first choice with Lucas being backup to him.

That was my thinking at the time anyway. For me, I don't see how that would constitute an awful signing.

25 Nov 2014 20:18:47
Sean - honestly? I'd like to say no but in reality, I have mood swings and it varies from player to player as well - I fully admit I give some players a lot more time than others

25 Nov 2014 22:21:14
Play a midfield triangle Henderson alongside Can with Llanana just in front of them in a classic 4-3-3

Just an opinion. Sere Die (the Ivorian DM for Basle) had a great game v LFC in the CL and I watched him play twice for the Ivory Coast in the qualifiers last week and was also very good (as was Toure who was awesome yet can`t get a game here). He is one who IMO is one we might/should look at if Lucas leaves. Can is not a DM as we saw in the QPR game where he struggled. He is a box to box midfielder who is quick, physical and very athletic. If well coached, he`ll be awesome.

25 Nov 2014 04:26:56
Ed002, when the owners make the now seemingly inevitable change of management, are they only looking to find a permanent option or do you think they'd consider an interim manager like Chelsea did a season ago?

Just as an example:
Rafa as interim boss until the summer and then move for De Boer

Also would Rafa do that type of job again do you think?

Thanks mate

{Ed002's Note - Benitez has a job until summer.}

You want Rafa to quit his job, just so that he can cover for us till the end of the season? are you insane? nobody would take him after that. leaving a permanent job at a club just to be an interim manager.

Puzzled Red i'm pretty sure Rafa would rather quit football altogether than leave Napoli midseason and take a job as interim manager only to leave us again in the summer. I am sure he has more self respect than that, and no LFC fan should even think about the man who won us our 5th UCL title in that way. If he was to come back, i would be more than happy as long as someone else is in charge of transfer negotiations.

25 Nov 2014 19:36:42
Yeah, I agree with both of you, the more I think about it.

The Rafa obssession is becoming pathetic because it seems any on here have VERY short and worse, selective memories about his tenure which albeit the owners were useless, was not what people have been saying here. I remember everything about his tenure and even when he almost got replaced by Klinsman.

That looked a lot harsher than what i meant to say. sorry Puzzled but you get what i mean.

25 Nov 2014 08:36:40
I have a question for ed001. You are often spot on with your information, so i was wondering if you have sources within the club or is it just qualified guesses? And have you ever been workin within lfc before you started this site? Been readin here for a long time and it is so addicitive even in theese harsch times. Thanks in advance
Chris

{Ed001's Note - if I make a guess or give an opinion I say so mate. It is not always sources from within Liverpool, but a lot of it is. I have worked with the club a few times and they did also put me through a sports science course, but I have never worked within as such.

Usually I try and get information from more than one source, unless it is first hand from someone involved in whatever it is I am getting the info about. The main issue is knowing what information to take at face value and what is not quite as it seems. For instance, we know Balotelli has been offered to a number of clubs by a 3rd party, but that is not enough to give the full picture. You need to know whether or not it is at the club's instigation, his instigation or just a 3rd party acting on his own initiative to try and broker a deal. Without knowing that, you can't be sure if it is the club looking to sell, him looking to leave or just someone sniffing an opportunity. So you have to dig a bit to get more info and that is the same with most things.

Sometimes it is dead easy, such as when Charlie Adam signed for us, because we knew all the details, even down to what time King Kenny was picking him up to go for his medical. So while every other site was saying nothing was happening yet, we were able to confirm that he was going in for a medical that afternoon, despite Adam's Twitter saying he was at home watching TV. Though we did take a lot of abuse for putting our necks on the line and putting the info out there, knowing that if it fell apart it would cost us a lot of people's belief in our information.}

I did a sport science course through LFC too Ed.
There was a presentation night at Anfield and Sammy Lee was the one handing out the certificates at the end of the evening after the dinner.
The match the next day was Liverpool v West Ham. Owen scored twice and we won 2 nil.

25 Nov 2014 07:05:42
To be honest I think we've possibly kept Rodgers to long into the season all ready.

If we were to make a change the defeat to Newcastle was the time I think.

Now I don't see Rodgers leaving unless the next 3-4 results are also poor which could potentially see us out of the champions league seriously struggling for top 4 with realistically no chance of getting anywhere near the title and I'm not sure when the fixture is but possibly out of the cup as well?

That means any manager coming in would probably have the whole season with getting anything as a bonus and looking to next season but this is just such a huge step backwards and will make progressing next season even tougher.

This is why I would take de boer as he is possibly the best candidate I feel to nurture the youth and potential we have because the last thing I want is another overhaul next summer and I seriously doubt the owners will want to rebuild the squad again either.

On the positive flip side we win all ouour games up until man u (not impossible either) and then we could be going into that matchmatch with the chance of getting into the ttop 4 and through in the cl.
so really make or brebrebreak time as it's on a knife edge at the moment.

25 Nov 2014 03:54:44
Hi eds,
Throw a couple of names at you be great if you could get back.

1)Kloop or De Boer, ? rate both prefer klopp due to being a lfc fan.
2)Neto or cech?
3)Clyne or Danilo?
4)Inigo martinez or Agger?
5)deli or keidira?
6)odegaard or pedro?
7)berahino or martinez?

I think any of these players will improve our squad.i also like to know if you do know if any of these players are on the move.

Mario, johnson, markovic, suso, sakho, borini, lucas, manquillo, kolo and lambert? Because i seen on the internet we are trying to offload a couple of these players just want to know which ones are fake or not.

Thanks anyways eds.

{Ed001's Note - 1) Klopp - he has proven himself over a long period of time, in a league in which Bayern are light years ahead of the rest financially. He often has to contend with them cherry picking his best players, so not just losing them each year but then having to face them.
2) Cech - purely on the basis I have seen a lot more of him. Before his head injury he was possibly the best keeper in the world.
3) Tie - could do with seeing them both in the same league to really compare them properly.
4) Agger - he does have injury issues and lacks pace, but his attitude is exemplary and his loyalty has to raise him above any but the best, when that loyalty is given to your team. His reading of the game is excellent and he is one of the better ball playing defenders in world football, he just suffered by mostly playing alongside Skrtel and having to adjust his game to him. As has been shown though, very few other defenders have ever managed to produce consistent good performances alongside Skittles, so that suggests he was better than he was ever given credit for.
5) I am not sure who Deli is, sorry. I am assuming you don't mean the lad at MK Dons. If you do then him. I am not convinced that Khedira will ever be off the treatment table to offer anything for his enormous wages.
6) Odegaard - the lad has the potential to be the best in the world, Pedro is nothing special at all. Though right now we don't need future talent, so Pedro would be the one I would consider this season.
7) Which Martinez? There are many of them playing football you could mean.

Mario has been offered to a number of clubs. Johnson's contract is running out at the end of the season. Suso's contract also ends this season and he is looking at signing elsewhere, possibly a pre-contract in January. Sakho has been pushed out by Rodgers, he is looking to move on. We would like to sell Borini but he wants to stay and fight for his place. Contrary to some of the nonsense spouted on here, he was offered a wage rise to move, plus he would have received a signing bonus and a cut of the transfer fee, but he chose to stay and try and prove himself. Rodgers has also pushed Lucas towards the exit. Liverpool were happy to let Toure move on in the summer and would still be happy to let him leave in January.}

25 Nov 2014 05:10:07
Ed 001 what's your opinion on lucas now, do you think he should be sold or given a chance to prove himself

{Ed001's Note - I think he should have been playing all season, and should have played last season too.}

Reading Ed001's views have now left me depressed. It seems clueless Brendan wants to get rid of Sakho and Suso, who are two of my favorite LFC players. And why would the club let Lucas go when he is the only CDM at the club or is this Brendan thinking out of his backside? Keeping my fingers crossed that Brendan gets kicked out before these players are pushed completely out of the door.

25 Nov 2014 10:15:45
Hmm, so Borini was offered a PAY RISE, not a pay cut.

I wonder is certain individuals let's say less than warm to the lad will reply to this thread, doubt it though eh? ;-)

{Ed002's Note - Borini wants the opportunity to progress at Liverpool. Many of the "Supporters" don't like him - but he is a Liverpool player and the "supporters" don't really seem to like any of them.}

25 Nov 2014 14:33:57
I've called for him to stay a few times Ed002, I like the lad!

{Ed002's Note - Good for you Dave.}

25 Nov 2014 14:34:17
Tbh Ed002, Borini is never going to get a fair shot at LFC. With the options that the club already has and Origi coming back next season, the lad will be completely frozen out next season so it is best for both the club and player to part ways and Borini needs to understand this. Brendan does not rate him and there is no guarantee the next manager will want him either.

{Ed002's Note - And you are basing "Brendan does not rate him" on something The Nose has said, or just a guess?}

25 Nov 2014 15:17:34
Ed002, if Brendan rated him highly, would he not have gotten a fair chance by now especially looking at how poor LFC have been in the goal scoring aspect of the game? The lad has only started 1 BPL game in spite of being fully fit since the start of the season. He did not even get to play in the Capital One Cup game against Swansea. He has been 'Brendaned' just like Suso, Sakho, Lucas and Kolo. Its in Borini's best interests to move on.

{Ed002's Note - There are plenty of players who have no played that many games this season - Markovic is one, Lambert is another. If the manager doesn't "rate" these players he should not be buying them.}