Liverpool Banter Archive October 26 2015

26 Oct 2015 18:41:53
Hello Ed002. What has been your initial impression of Klippity so far? I noticed that you mentioned in another post that LFC handle their "loan players" poorly. With Klippity in charge, is it only the first team management that has changed, or are there movements being made to change areas where LFC lack in, such as loan players?

{Ed002's Note - Liverpool put in a lot of effort to make changes throughout the club - and I hope they take heed of the models used by other clubs, Chelsea is a great example, and adapt accordingly.

Klipperty will be getting stick if they don't win against both Bournemouth and Chelsea.}

26 Oct 2015 19:33:21
I don't think anyone will moan too much if we lose in Stamford Bridge, even this season Chelsea are clear favourites there. Losing to Bournemouth after they conceded 10 goals in the last two games will not be great though.

26 Oct 2015 20:03:59
Not half as much stick as Maureen will get if chelski don't get a result!

26 Oct 2015 21:53:18
Bournmouth is a must but at Chelsea, we should definitely go for the win but definitely must NOT lose.

26 Oct 2015 19:35:46
Thanks Ed002. Do you mean stick on here or stick from the media? Likely both I'd imagine but hopefully only a minority of fans. Well dodged on answering what your initial impression of Klopp is too ;-)

{Ed002's Note - From some of the fans.}

26 Oct 2015 20:09:57
I like the way Chelsea is run, but could you describe the model it uses? I know they are pretty damn good when it comes to loaning players but can't say I know much about the rest.

{Ed002's Note - Each loan player from Chelsea has a liaison officer assigned (some are ex-players) who regularly see them, deal with any issues and report progress back to the club. For instance there was an issue with Lukaku and the club decided at the start of 2014 that he would be sold in the summer. His liaison tried very hard to reverse that decision, but to no avail. There was also a problem with a couple of players in the Netherlands and that resulted in the club having them get involved with spending some time with the local community (schools and charities). Chelsea has also helped clubs they have and are building relationships with - this may include providing training facilities, loaning coaching staff, having ex-players works with them in some capacity etc.. They have a structure in the Netherlands and Belgium in addition to relationships with South American and old Eastern Bloc countries. They are currently working a deal with a Champions League side as well. In Italy I know that the clubs with a significant number of players on loan have regular contact and bring them back as a group for training on a couple of occasions mid-season. I am sure there will be someone at Liverpool keeping contact with the younger players on loan. In the case of Ojo there are legal responsibilities as he is still a child. Manchester United has a couple of long-term relationships with mainland European sides which have helped considerably in the past. Many clubs in Spain and Portugal have built relationships with other sides and it helps with brining in players from South America.}

27 Oct 2015 10:55:28
Thanks Ed. Is much of that decision making by the director of football or bigger than that i. e. a whole level more professional a structure across the business than we have? Who decides on the structure, a managing director?

{Ed002's Note - It has evolved over a number of years. It is constantly under review and changes are made dynamically as issues are identified.}

27 Oct 2015 11:07:26
Thank you. I live in Australia and know a few people involved in the AFL including Darren Burgess. It is interesting comparing how interstate players are managed quite professionally over here and our culture isn no where near as diverse as what young internationals would have to cope with over there.

26 Oct 2015 15:41:56
Hello eds! Ed002 do you have any idea when Jordan Henderson and Jon Flannagan will be fit again? I think Jord may be the answer to our problems. A midfielder with a calm head. And Jon Flannagan is a local lad who looked promising before this injury nightmare. Thanks Eds.

{Ed002's Note - I have not checked any football press releases today but the last notes from the club were that Henderson should be available for selection at the end of November. As for JF, there has not been a recent update I can find by searching the PRs, so the last I could find is the club "hope to see him back for the "New Year". There is a web site (physioroom.com) that monitors the PRs and work to try and get a little bit more from the clubs where they can, it would be worth checking there as I don't pay that much attention to these updates always. I am sure that the club will be avoiding rushing players back too soon - at least I hope so Davies.}

26 Oct 2015 18:22:14
We need our local lad back! Wasn't the United game the first one against the two without a scouser for Liverpool playing or a mancunian playing for them? Sad really!

26 Oct 2015 18:44:22
I think it's best not to rush back Flanagan. Remember he has missed over a year of football now, and that is a major amount of time. He needs to be slowly introduced, and even then I don't expect him to regain full sharpness for a while yet. And while we are struggling to express ourself with our fittest players, it is not a good idea to throw him in yet even if he is back in January.

26 Oct 2015 18:54:38
Have to admit it would be great to finally get Jon Flannagen back, just to put a proper local lad in the side which I really believe the 1st11 severely misses, the team has no real indentity since Carra and Gerrard have gone.
Up the pool.

26 Oct 2015 16:14:26
I like what klopp said " our opponents will not wait for us and that is the problem".

26 Oct 2015 17:39:18
He`s speaking the truth and that is the reality. We will have to fight for every point we get and get out of this mental block we have hence, we need players who are up for the challenge and not passengers or sulkers.

26 Oct 2015 21:59:44
All being well the Bournemouth game can bring us a bit of confidence in front of goal.

27 Oct 2015 01:13:23
It's a shame the players aren't watching his press conferences. After they score they need to kick on again, if they don't they just create more pressure for themselves.

26 Oct 2015 14:58:46
Edd001 any idea why klopp went out and spoke to Lucas after the game ended? Maybe he was saying well done but i do think he rates the boy alot.

{Ed001's Note - he sees Lucas as the key to the squad, from what I have been told.}

26 Oct 2015 15:04:27
Edd001 well he looks fond of him. He has been the only player to perform consistently and imo himself or sakho should have been made captain. I think Henderson was a commercial choice.

{Ed001's Note - Hendo was Rodgers' choice mate, not commercial.}

26 Oct 2015 15:05:59
id understand why though ed001, lucas is good with his job.

were lacking a leader though. milner not marking a man couldev been avoided if we had someone like carra. what do you think ed001?

{Ed001's Note - I agree completely.}

26 Oct 2015 15:10:53
Great for lucas. . a manager that values him and gives him respect ryc. I love klopp. breath of fresh air and he installs confidence and believe in players and fans alike.

26 Oct 2015 14:41:41
Klopp needs to be given funds in Jan to get some of his own players in.

Striker is needed ings is out and Sturridge well you never know with him these days.

Winger is needed like Carragher said there are to many number 10's in the squad.

Left back - Enrique is he still alive? dosen't even get a look in and not even seen him in the training photos posted.

We are undefeated so far and i know they have been draws and not what we were all hoping for when Klopp was appointed but game by game we are improving and getting a strong eleven now, Klopp has just been unlucky in the sense of injuries. I think when he has his own crop of players that he wants to keep from the original players and new players he brings in things will start to take place (not saying we are going to win the league next season) but i am hoping for a constant push towards the champs leagues spots. I just hope that the owners will allow the spends they gave Rodgers without selling our top players/player.

26 Oct 2015 15:03:58
Realistically jk is not going to bring in more than one or two players. Jan prices are inflated and top players rarely move mid season.

More likely the clear out will begin and based on the funds raised we might pick up a player or two.

Personally I think a DM is still a priority for us.

26 Oct 2015 15:08:16
id like to see him assess his team and only get 1 or 2 players that improve the team than changing too much.

26 Oct 2015 15:11:45
Would love to think funds would be as readily available for him but I just don't see it materialising. Don't want to start mentioning sell to buy because I have no idea about the financials involved with it.

26 Oct 2015 15:36:05
I think in the long term, Klopp needs to bring in enough players to put his imprint on this squad.

In the near term, we need a quality winger and possibly even a CF, of the Aubameyang mold, to provide movement, pace, creative runs up front.

Sturridge should be sold. Too unreliable. And I don't think Benteke will survive under Klopp long term -- may not have the work rate.

26 Oct 2015 15:39:19
We don't need a striker! Even though we have Lucas can and hendo I'd take a cm, a CB is a must, and a gk. People say we need competition for left back but if Flanagan is close I'd prefer him, but maybe a versatile full back. I don't see these players coming in in January, maybe one. I think klopp may sell a few in the summer and bring a few in but in not expecting or even hoping for too much. He needs time with the players, implement his ideas, and players we thought were key may be less so and players we thought should go may get invaluable.

26 Oct 2015 16:12:28
Benteke shows characteristics none of our other aquisitions over the past few years have.

Presence. Confidence. Influence. Quality. The ability to make a goal from nothing, to try new things, new tricks, he stands up and makes himself counted and while his finishing hasn't been perfect at times at least he does something, which is more i can say for the majority of players we have bought.

I really like having him around the team, regardless of his pressing - his workrate will never be as bad as someone like balotelli or carroll.

26 Oct 2015 17:15:20
Is Balotelli and Carroll the standard we're now measuring our players by?

27 Oct 2015 00:18:37
No but half the liverpool fans were deluded enough to try and will them to be good when they were here, even though their attitude was clearly unacceptable. So i think they can defiantely cope with benteke for now.

27 Oct 2015 01:43:49
Winger
DM to replace Allen
CB to replace Skrtel in the startling line up, he just isn't commanding at all. If there is anyone in our team that makes us defensively fragile its him.

26 Oct 2015 12:19:16
Hello ed001 what do you think of the zonal marking we used yesterday at set pieces can't say i'm the biggest fan maybe i'm just a bit old fashioned with my view that man marking is best what do you think is best for the modern game?

{Ed001's Note - I don't think either work, what we use, as do most teams, is a mix of the two.}

26 Oct 2015 12:56:13
Rafa used it effectively. I'm not blowing smoke up Rafa, but when he had Hyypia and Carra they managed Zonal marking without any problems. We had one of the best defences in the premier league a few years running.

It's not the system, it's the personnel and the coaching.
Current coaches haven't been there long enough yet.

26 Oct 2015 13:31:59
I don`t think that`s true, Ron. I remeber clearly at the tail end of Rafa`s reign where we were conceding goals for fun due the zonal marking system and he was getting hammered in the media for it especially in his final season. All in all, teams always mix it up that way you don`t become predictable.

26 Oct 2015 13:34:46
Gonna have to disagree Ron, under Rafa zonal marking quite frequently cost us goals and it was well publicized and very often criticized.
Less having a world class winger and a decent back up striker, zonal Marking cost us big time mate. Very often our players looked like lost sheep defending a set piece in the box. I remember it all too well pal.

26 Oct 2015 13:59:28
Bla boa bla, both work if players within the system do their jobs. If they fail to you conceded. Simple.

26 Oct 2015 15:12:35
Zonal marking resulted in numerous goals conceded at set pieces under Rafa.

We never picked up on runners and were often conceding silly goals as a result. Has to be a mix of the two!

26 Oct 2015 15:17:55
@ Welsh - We conceded the least goals in the league from set pieces in 05-06 and 06-07 using zonal marking. And the 4th least in 04-05, 08-09 and 09-10. The only season where we shipped a lot of goals from set plays was 07-08. So even if they looked like lost sheep, it seems to have worked okay.

Problem is as follows:

You concede a goal when zonal marking a set play - Considered a systemic failure of zonal marking.
You concede a goal man marking from a set play - Considered a mistake by whoever lost their man or was beaten in the air by him. Man marking as a tactic gets no criticism.

"Man marking is better" assumes that no one will lose their man and even if they can't beat him in the air, they'll at least stop him from getting a good enough header to score or put it back in for someone else. That's not actually what happens though.

26 Oct 2015 15:41:23
I noticed yesterday that 6ft 4 ish van dijk was being marked by Lucas. Not gunna be able to challenge. I always think there should be post players. One at the front post to clear the bad crosses, and the centre backs and likes of benteke and can need to be marking their danger men.

26 Oct 2015 17:50:03
zonal marking is proven statistically to be more effective than man marking at set pieces. This is why we have a hybrid combination of the two today. Ex-players harp on that they don't like zonal marking but you have to remember that players aren't played to think.

26 Oct 2015 17:54:06
This is what happens when a team doesn`t work on attacking and defending set pieces because if the team did, lucas will not be marking a giant like Van Dyke. When I played semi pro, we actually worked on set pieces and everyone knew who they had to pick up. I am 6ft 2" and NEVER would I have been marking a smaller player. Those are the things that pros should be working on and I can almost guarantee that our players don`t work on them as much as they should because they are dreadful at it as well as not being able to put in a corner that clears the first defender to save their lives. Hopefully, Klopp will fix this.

26 Oct 2015 09:38:11
I would give my eye teeth to be able to attend anfield and bring my son every game, but I don't live in UK so it won't happen - once a year at best is all I can hope for - if that occasion was yesterday I would have been disappointed big time with the atmosphere, what you guys, the home fans, have to realise is how privalaged you are to be able to go week in week out, the very least you could do is shout and sing for the game, make it real for the fans who have made sacrifices to attend this one, for like me it would probably have cost them 2 grand and would have had a better atmosphere in their local bar. Just giving a different perspective is all! By the way strolling around liverpool the next morning is also a joy too!

26 Oct 2015 10:04:33
I agree, I live in Oz and have made the pilgrimage once, it cost me an arm and a leg and almost my marriage. I was expecting the kop to be bouncing but it was just like being in any stadium which was so disapointing. We 'the fans' need to realise how lucky we are to be there. Our support lifts the team and then they can lift us. don't underestimate the power of the '12th man'. As we say over here. 'time to get stuck in'. all of us. YNWA.

26 Oct 2015 11:19:49
i live around the corner from the ground and go the games but i'm afraid to say it is very difficult to praise a team or players when they keep on making mistakes and letting the fans down, as you say it costs a lot of money to go the game, even for some one like me who lives 5 minutes away, i will sing and shout my support but i won't do it if the team are not playing well and the same players are getting ccarried by his team mates Aafter making mistakes that lead to goals week in week out, it was the same yesterday lucas made 2 mistakes that lead to their goal it was his 1st mistake that lead to the free kick when he had the ball and was not under pressure and for some reason he panicked and passed the ball straight to the southampton player who played it out wide and milner had to make the tackle to stop the break against us, then when the free kick was taken the player who headed the ball across the goal was next to lucas and lucas let him run past him then never even challenged for the ball, you will see this when you see a replay of the southampton goal lucas and ramirez are on the edge of the box next to each other and the rest is history but you will see that lucas let his man go and that is what i can not sing about or support.

{Ed001's Note - seriously Milner never had to make a challenge, he was getting revenge. Get off Lucas's case, it is pathetic. He was the best player we had yesterday and yet you are slagging him off, like one of those boo boys that were always on his case.}

26 Oct 2015 11:35:25
i agree that the atmosphere has dropped at Anfield but there has not exactly been anything to shout about has there? I went the Ruben game and the atmosphere was a lot better than what is sounded yesterday. We need a good run of games and feel confident in the team that we can get a result and then Anfield will be rocking again.

26 Oct 2015 11:37:56
Think you need to re-watch the game if you think Lucas was our best player Ed001 ^^.

{Ed001's Note - or you do maybe?}

26 Oct 2015 11:41:29
Echoing parts of what mbrock says - I rarely get to go to Anfield but I also get that when you're watching boring football producing no effect week after week and spending a huge amount of money to do so, it's hard to get the singing going. You need to be given a reason to sing and then singing will happen - going to football shouldn't be another job where you turn up and do X to support other people doing Y.

And if they do expect people to be giving them the full scale unconditional love every game all game no matter what they are doing on the field, other things have to change. They have to slash ticket prices for a start, and try a lot harder to clamp down on 3rd party reselling of tickets above face value. Both will help bring in a varied group of fans who aren't expecting 'returns' for their investments and who are just happy to have a chance to be there, and therefore improve the quality of support. What you can't do is keep charging the earth and expect people to turn up and do all the work while you do nothing.

26 Oct 2015 11:47:36
I thought lucas was very good yesterday. can't wait to get Hendo back.

26 Oct 2015 11:50:09
Firstly completely agree with eds1 lucas was class yesterday and like ALWAYS works his nuts off and plays for the badge. Milner is awful and should never be our captin. Secondly what is it with some of u people i am just like the rest of u wanting us to win trophies but the reason Anfield has always been so iconic is because of the wonderful fans we have. New manager has already shown more passion then a lot of fans and he's doing his bit why can't we do ours. All i could hear on sunday was the saints fans and that is gutting. We are all in this together. Please remember YNWA surly that says it all.

26 Oct 2015 12:11:52
The Rodgers legacy continues. I am not surprised Ancelotti had second thoughts.

I am pleased Klopp has been given the job. He will have his work cut out.

It will take him time.

A £200+ million legacy of mis-fits loan outs and not good enoughs.

The 6-1 defeat was a late late wake up call.

I saw the problems at least two years ago. What we have now doesn't surprise me in the least.

26 Oct 2015 12:39:19
i saw lucas make 2 mistakes which led to southamptons goal, all you have to do is go throught the passages of play leading up to the free kick and the ball getting put into our box, lucas and ramirez was next to each other on the edge of the box ramirez was bhind lucas so lucas was in the right position to cover ramirez as he was goal side, then lucas let's ramirez run when the ball gets put in, while lucas is watching the ball ramirez is running to get on the end of it which he did and headed the ball across the goal for manae to score, so in my eyes it was lucas who made the mistake by not tracking his man to top it off he never even got the chance to challange for the header because he never tried to jump, he then looked at the linesman with his hands up looking for offside, leading to the free kick that led to their goal well again lucas had the ball by the halfway line he was not under any pressure at all and he passed the ball to a southampton player who then passed the ball outwide and milner had to make the tackle to try and stop the break, so i'm my eyes if lucas did not give the ball away we would not have had to give a free kick away that led to the goal, so if you think that's class then my defination of class is different to yous, but all in all it meant that all his good work was undone because of his mistakes that led to their goal the loss of the win for us and the 2 points dropped, ans off the top of my head you add yesterdays mistakes that led to the goal and add it to the goals that came from his mistakes in the last 2 games of the season last year then you have a player who costs us games each time he makes mistakes, no matter who else mistakes and i know other players do because they get slated on these pages it still remains he makes mistakes as well but his mistakes leads to goals, so if you blame milner for making mistakes yesterday with the goal then you have to blame lucas as well instead of praising him, we would be better with outh him because his mistakes would not be costing us points and wins, all you have to do is watch the lead up to their goal to see if i'm right or wrong, because i know i'm right about him giving the ball away leading up to the free kick and i'm right about him switching off at the free kick and letting his man go to head the ball across goal before anyone answers this post to call me you want to watch the parts of the game I've just wrote about,

{Ed001's Note - this is rambling nonsense. Milner was a moron and had no need to make the idiotic revenge attack, that you are suggesting was a needed tackle, as there was no real danger, but he turned it into a dangerous position by overloading the play. While I agree that there was a misplaced pass, it is little wonder as Lucas was worn out from carrying the hopeless Milner for the entire game, it is difficult to play with ten men you know. Secondly, Milner was in a position to clear the ball from the free kick, but he was ball watching and made no move to deal with anything until too late, so again just as much to blame as your whipping boy was, in fact more so, as the best Lucas is going to do against a player an inch or two taller than him is to make his header difficult, while Milner should have been in a position to clear before Mane got near it. If he had not been out for revenge, then there would have been no free kick to begin with. Needed tackle my arse! Milner was as bad as Cattermole and all the other moronic England failures who can't help but kick out at opposing players and cause their own team harm.

It was more disappointing than him playing badly, for me. I don't expect him to play any better, as that is his level, but I do expect him to act like a captain and put the team first over his own petty squabbles.}

26 Oct 2015 12:41:45
Two years ago we were smashing teams left and right. You made your prophecy then?

26 Oct 2015 12:45:46
I go fairly regularly, not yesterday unfortunately.
It's tension. The crowd is tense. We're not playing fluent football, we don't look like we have much of a clue other than to keep ploughing through the middle and long shots from outside the box.
In the crowd you struggle to see where we're heading and usually we give possession away tamely. Attacking set pieces struggle to clear the first man, defensive set pieces are a shambles.
Everyone wants a party atmosphere, but you can't ignore the football.
It's tension, pure and simple in my opinion.

26 Oct 2015 12:47:38
Lucas could score a Hatrick save two pens win the European cup and knockout Tyson fury and still get pulled to pieces on here! Love him myself.

26 Oct 2015 12:49:47
ed001, I've just read your post sorry to say i have to disagree with you, i don't agree with you that lucas was our best player, everyone agree we played awful in the 1st half so going by the 2nd half i would say benteke was our best player his header was class, i'm not on lucas;s case i'm just pointing out his role in their goal, i thought you can have your say on this site without people calling you for your honest opinion, i just don't like it when other players get a lot of stick when they play bad or make mistakes and other don't because they are a fans favourite, i must have made up all the mistakes lucas made, his not tracking back or him giving the ball away before milner made the tackle for the free kick, if you want to turn a blind eye to lucas's errors for their goal be my guest, but why don't you watch what I've wrote about and tell me i'm wrong, don't worry i will keep my opinions to myself from now on, now you have pointed out that i can't post my opinions about what i see and because i'm not in the lucas fan club people want to watch the game to see who set the ball up for benteke before calling milner because no one else put a cross in like taht when benteke came on,

{Ed001's Note - so the lazy arse who got constantly bawled out by the manager for standing around doing nothing is your man of the match for one header, while the player who kept us in the game, in large part, carrying a useless Milner for 90 minutes, is awful according to you. You want to defend our dross over the quality, go ahead, but don't expect people to just sit and agree with you because your opinion makes no sense. If you are too much of a baby to stand and argue your point, probably because you are just bitching at your whipping boy rather than making sensible points, blaming him for not tracking once or twice and giving away the ball once, while your blue eyed boys failed to track back almost every time and barely completed a pass at all. If you can't see why your posts are a joke, then I fear for you.

Clearly you are a Lucas boo boy, and it is sad, he does his job for 90min, makes one error and you are on his back like a rash, yet you are backing Milner, who got one thing right in the entire 90 minutes and was a liability on the pitch for the rest of the match. A guy being paid more than twice as much as Lucas, yet hinders our play requiring Lucas to carry him for 90 minutes. You bitch about Lucas being poor, yet your absolutely insane idea is that a man should get man of the match for making one header!}

26 Oct 2015 13:01:07
Lucas was truly brilliant last night. Anyone who says differently shouldn't be on here discussing football.

26 Oct 2015 13:07:08
Reetred. Three years ago in fact.

The one good season was down to Suarez and a non-Rodgers style of football, which he subsequently ditched; Sturridge stayed uninjured mostly. Who gave him an insight into this better style, I could not say, but it was definitely NOT Rodgers style. Perhaps Suarez conducted the events from the front?

26 Oct 2015 13:37:58
I have been embarressed by the atmosphere lately. It only starts to bounce if we score.
Unfortunately there's too many people going to the match who are more interested in taking photos than to join in and sing. I read something the other day that in some countries it it seen as disrespectful to get your camera / phone out while the match is being played. Maybe we should try to take a leaf out of their book, and if you see a 'supporter' next to you using their phone, politely tell them to wait until the final whistle. Can't see it happening myself but it's worth a try!

26 Oct 2015 13:41:14
I thought Lucas was by far our best player yesterday, seemed to be there to make interceptions time and time again, and did a lot more running and harrying than i've seen in the past from him. I don't think there's any doubt that he would have been absolutely knackered by the time Southampton scored, as the other central midfielders kept turning the ball over when the team were pushing forward, so Lucas had to be quick to get back to cover.

I've not been overly critical of Milner so far this season, and his cross was a belter, but if Benteke is in the team, i would have him wide or not at all.

26 Oct 2015 14:02:30
Mbrock, watch the game again. Milner was aweful all round and the foul on Bertrand was revenge. he and bertrand got into it first then Bertrand sweared at him. The very next second, Bertrand passes the ball, tries to make a run and Milner did him a good one instead of just tracking him to block the one-two. That was a stupid foul to give up so blaming someone else for that makes no sense. That is what Ed is talking about. I saw the game again and did not believe what he had done. He hurt the team right there. And had he not been ball watching instead of attacking the ball before it dropped, mane who was a yard or two behind him, would not have scored. Not saying the Saints wouldn`t have equalized eventually but that situation could have been avoided and as a "seasoned" pro, he should be the old head and not the headless chicken he was for the whole game. Blaming Lucas who had to cover for can, Couts, the FB`s and of course, Milner, is pointless because you`re the only one doing that so I suggest you let it go because nobody believes Lucas was bad and that Benteke was the MOTM.

26 Oct 2015 14:10:36
Milner continues to underwhelm. I must admit that I had high hopes for him, but those are now well in the past.

Lucas was very good and I don't begrudge his couple of mistakes as he seemed to be having to put fires out all over the pitch Sakho yet again was strong maybe some of the others could learn from his passing, his completion has to be one of the best in the team (haven't checked the stats yet) .

I didn't get a good look at it, but could Lallana have tapped in Moreno's fizzing cross?

I thought Moreno actually played better than on previous occasions, his tackle on Mane (I think) was very well timed.

Emre Can needs an arm around his shoulder, he is trying way too hard. some of his flicks showed that we aren't all playing on same wavelength.

I am going to come and take my son to the Capital One Game, I feel that we will probably put out a strongish team as JK will be keen to get a win b4 Chelski on saturday lunch.

26 Oct 2015 15:04:34
Pretty much agree with Ed001 on every single point argued here.

Bang on about Lucas -- he's a boss in the MF, been one of our best these last games. Everything seems to go through him.

Milner has looked absolutely mediocre, which is as usual for him. Just this time, he cost us a win.

Benteke -- incredible goal, but then probably doesn't have the work rate to survive under Klopp. Klopp was screaming at him all game for standing around and not pressing/closing out/being lazy.

26 Oct 2015 15:44:45
Lucas was quality! And how is he going to win the first header, he had to be goal side, and the ball wasn't high enough to reach him. The problem was next two headers they won with ease. No matter who stupid the free kick Milner gave away was, he should have been marking better from it, that was his biggest mistake.

26 Oct 2015 19:26:16
I'm no Lucas basher, I think he is exactly what we need in the middle of the park nor am I a Milner basher as I would never slate anyone that works so hard for the shirt, he may not be a great player but its not him that starts him every week or him that pays him vast amounts every week. And the goal was conceded last night because of errors from both players you don't have to be a genius to see that Lucas gave away possession poorly then Milner made a stupid challenge and then both defended extremely poorly in the box. Put the handbags down.

26 Oct 2015 20:41:45
Mbrock you are pointing out little things. what about the 20 times a game lucas gets his foot to the ball and breaks up play before teams hit us on the counter? Or are you blinded by what you want to see, take a look at a rerun of yesterday's game and watch how important lucas is to the team.

watch him solely and come back when you have a clear mind. Lucas was our best player and 9 times out of 10 usually is!

26 Oct 2015 08:58:39
I think out issue in defending is the type of player we have gone and bought.
We (BR and TC) have sought to purchase players who are confident on the ball and can pass their way out of trouble.
However, you have to win the ball first and that means competing in each final 3rd -w e simply haven't got enough players to do this

For an opposition corner we have, realistically, 2 players who can attack the ball - Skrtel and Sakho, who both unfortunately have a tendency to go to sleep.

If I was the opposition I'd love to be matching up against Moreno, Clyne, Coutinho, Milner, Lucas, Lallana etc. I'd be gutted if I didn't get on the end of a set piece.

Winning game starts with defending and clean sheets and no matter what else happens in January, 2 centre halves, a true destroyer and a keeper would fix us. If that means we have to sell a star (I said Coutinho a year ago) then so be it.

26 Oct 2015 09:32:10
Really I don't think the problem lies in the defense. The problem is we simply don't have players who are aggressive enough to score goals. They are hesitant and their final attempt is the worst possible choice they can make most of the time. This is the problem.
Sakho is a top defender, Moreno this year shows how great he is, Clyne needs to be better and well Skrtel needs to be replaced. But the Southampton goal yesterday was pure luck. Can't blame anyone for it. And you can't expect to be keeping clean sheets every game when our main game is pressing the opposition and not parking the bus.

26 Oct 2015 09:42:11
Pirate

If we didn't have any problems with defending we would have won the EPL instead of coming 2nd.

Southampton's goal was not luck, no-one attacked the ball at the far post and the header across goal saw Mane come in and bundle in virtually unopposed.

It starts with keeper, you need a keeper who is going to come and total everyone to get the ball.

Time and time again yesterday from set pieces Saints players got free, there has to be a desire to stay with your man and not let him get free.

26 Oct 2015 09:44:27
Sakho is top defender and Moreno to show how great he is. LOL this must be a joke right.

26 Oct 2015 10:03:26
The goal was not bad luck. It was a stupid foul by Milner followed by Lucas going to sleep at the back post added to terrible positioning by Migs. We are an absolute shambles at defending set pieces.

26 Oct 2015 11:26:41
irish al i agree with you mate but milner had to make the foul to stop the break, but if you watch the game before the foul you will see that lucas gave the ball away to the southampton player who passed the ball out wide to the player milner fouled, the ball was not won from lucas he actually had no one near him and he just gave the ball away with a pass straight to the southampton player, i wish the fans who sont blame lucas see this he is always at fault for our goal that we let in, if the ball was won from lucas by a tackle i could not say anything about him but it was not he just gave the ball away straight to the southampton player then he let the player go at the free kick, he needs to be dropped asap because his mistakes are costing us points and stops us from winning games.

{Ed001's Note - how can you defend Milner for that? What a load of crap that he 'had to make the foul', there was no danger until Milner decided to get petty revenge on someone who had wound him up. Milner was solely and utterly at fault for forgetting he was the captain and deciding to be a spoilt brat and boot the lad. Good news is that Milner will at least miss one game due to suspension, as he has already picked up 5 yellow cards this season.}

26 Oct 2015 12:44:07
As soon as Milner got booked, I thought he did it deliberately to take his suspension for the cup game and therefore be available for the Chelsea game.

{Ed001's Note - he did it deliberately because he had clashed with the player, nothing to do with being available for a later game. He was getting revenge.}

26 Oct 2015 13:03:44
We need a leader in defence, not Sakho but a partner for him.
Someone good in the air who is vocal and can read the game.
Someone like Hyypia. And we need a left back.

26 Oct 2015 14:03:15
We need Wisdom back before we need a left back.

26 Oct 2015 15:35:49
A decent DM destroyer to protect the back 4 and Lovren will do the job.

He was great at Southampton with protection and alongside Sakho we will stop conceding silly goals.

26 Oct 2015 17:11:56
@AggerDo How can you seriously compare this team to the one two years ago? Totally different makeup, focus and style. The defending is different, but has become better. The difference between Roger's tinkering and the stability of playing the same back 4 every week is there. But changes to approach and tactics will come.

26 Oct 2015 18:26:16
MapleRed14

I haven't compared the 2

I was stating we have not fixed our defensive frailties despite them obviously not being addressed.

We have conceded 11 EPL goals already and whilst this may improve, replicate over course of season and we would be close to conceding 40 goals - that would be a push for 4th unless we suddenly start scoring hatfuls.

26 Oct 2015 08:31:25
Morning Reds,

Loan update for you.

Ojo came on for the final 5 as Wolves lost 3-1 to Boro, ex red downing hitting the decider.

Blackpool won 2-0 against Crewe although due to injury jones played no part.
Wilson played 70 minutes for Crewe.

Vigouroux played the full 90 for Swindon and Kent played an hour for Coventry as the teams drew 2-2.

Wisdom wasn't in the squad as Norwich lost 1-0 to west brom.

Ward played the full 90 and McLaughlin came on as an 89th minute sub as aberdeen drew 1-1 with Motherwell.

Alberto played for an hour as deportivo lost 2-0 to uh Malaga.

Ballotelli was out injured as ac Milan won 2-1.

Markovic played for 85 minutes as fenerbache drew 1-1 with galatasaray.

Awoniyi was an unused sub as Frankfurt won 3-2.

Yesil played for 75minutes and won a penalty as Luzern drew 1-1.

Canos played the full 90 and got an assist as Brentford beat Charlton 3-0.

Illori played no part as villa lost 2-1 to Swansea.
The sacking of Sherwood may see him get more chances.

Allan played for 75 minutes as senajoen won 2-0 to stay top of the league.

And that's your lot 😊

Frustrating weekend for the reds, but depending how u spin it, klopp is yet to win, or klopp is undefeated 🏆.

{Ed002's Note - Thanks.}

26 Oct 2015 07:05:12
It is obvious we need a passionate leader on the pitch, instead of Klop shouting himself hoarse from the touchline. If he can take set pieces that would be an added plus.
So many corners and set-pieces were wasted, and there was obviously no one gingering the team from the pitch . give Lucas a voice (on the pitch) and let see where we go from there.

26 Oct 2015 08:29:19
I certainly agree regarding the set pieces. The corners over the last couple of seasons have been dreadful.
You look at the Southampton game yesterday, it was frustrating watching that.

26 Oct 2015 10:14:06
I am amazed how poor our set-pieces have been. Whether it is the attacking or defending from them or the delivery from corners and free-kicks, it is really really poor, and frankly unacceptable.

26 Oct 2015 03:58:06
Facts are that the team is low on belief. I think confidence comes from winning. You need belief and character to never give up but unfortunately the team desperately needs a few leaders on the pitch to instill that belief via words and actions. The team has potential and Klopp is working hard on the belief factor for the players and the Fans but he is in his infancy at the club hampered by injuries, too many similar type players with no one with any X factor. As for the fans, I live in Australia now and still get weepy at YNWA but I see so many fans at Anfield with their arms crossed, no scarf, hardly saying a word during YNWA. They then sit down and wait. Not good enough I think, Anfield is so quite unless something happens and we all know nothing is happening on the pitch. So it's either chicken or egg. Cheer, sing, chant to make something happen or just wait for something to make you sing. I am genuinely excited by the Klopp era. I am not calling him the messiah but we have got to believe this is the best we are going to get and he has a proven track record. So Anfield, wake up and get behind the team! Especially in adversity. sitting in silence is what other teams do. If things don't improve I cannot see why we can't be the first English club to have "conductors" to get the Kop singing. I saw a few weeks ago another poster saying that is works wonders and takes away the inhibition of being the first to stand up and sing.
Cheers.

26 Oct 2015 02:42:10
Stayed up late last night to watch Liverpool play with just 10 man until half time.
Striker Origi was almost missing, the team couldn't get the ball into the box.
Clyne - is he better than Johnson? Defensively I feel he is but in attack he can't even send a decent cross or even cut inside and take a shot.
Milner doesn't seems much excited by New Manager and has lost his touch.
Coutinho also looks quite down in all his recent performances.
Ibe look like he is on some kind of drug, he is never give his best performance since last season.

As rightly said by manager after conceding one goal team almost gave up.

I still recall Liverpool used to be creating many chances in last 15 mins (under Rafa)

But currently the performance are really very defensive.

it looked like for most of the time Liverpool's goal was NOT TO SCORE a GOAL but to just play football.

Hope the teams improves under Klopp.

26 Oct 2015 06:47:58
Relax mate its not so bad. Klopp did say in i think his first interview that a good team is built on a stable and solid defense. And that once you have this, the attacking side will come. Something along those lines anyway. This will be the main focus of the team right now i'm guessing. let's just be patient, relax and watch the team grow and evolve under the perfect manager for us right now.

26 Oct 2015 06:57:18
That is not how o remember the Rafa era at all.

26 Oct 2015 09:41:03
Really? Because I wish we had the Rafa era.

25 Oct 2015 22:37:03
Edd001 sorry to reply late on benteke. Yes benteke needs to pull a finger out now. He should be doing what klopp asks and putting the work in. Has to help defensively and press.

{Ed001's Note - I am hopeful that he is just not fully fit and up to speed and will press once he is. Fingers crossed. It is just a worry as this trait is something he has displayed continually throughout his career.}