Liverpool Banter Archive November 28 2013

28 Nov 2013 23:15:21
{Ed033's Note - New poll on What position do you think Liverpool will finish in the Premier League this season? on the Liverpool voting polls page.

28 Nov 2013 19:49:55
Don't think they are targets or but was curious, heard a lot about these players and was curious if anyone had seen them play and if they were any good.
-Alvaro Vadillo
-Remy Cabella
-Bruma

Sorry to throw names out but heard a lot about them and YouTube makes them look amazing (which doesn't tell much) plus struggle to find their games on telly.

I have seen all of them play; Cabella the most and he looks a very good player.

28 Nov 2013 17:50:43
Borini wants a return to Italy in janvier, we should let him go for his own good I do think he has great potential though but patience isn't a modern attribute in today's world!

Yes let the lad go home. It's not going to happen for him over here.

Let him go home. Never should've been signed simply not good enough but I wish him all the best

28 Nov 2013 15:51:05
Bye bye roddan good luck with your new career

And Adam Morgan.

28 Nov 2013 15:55:23
I think the young Mendez of Uruguay is a great talent he reminds me off Suarez him self and I think that's probably why he has supposedly requested a transfer attempt. He twists and turns like Luis. He nutmegs the same he can play wide and a killer through ball! And creates something from the tightest situations. Also seems like a hard worker. Up front not sure about tracking back only seen YouTube. What does the eds and everyone else think?

Cheers

He is a kid and there is no guarantee he will turn out like Suarez, the player. It wasn't long back when similar things was said about Nico Lopez, who is a very good young player, but now struggling for game time at his loan club.

28 Nov 2013 22:28:48
Who is nico lopez? {Ed002's Note - You mean "who is Bozo Texino" - figure that out and then Bobo Lapel or whatever he is will be much clearer.}

Bobo Lapel is a much travelled journeyman. I don't think he fits the profile FSG are looking for. {Ed002's Note - Cheap man.}

28 Nov 2013 12:14:22
I've read a few posts recently with regards to our squad depth and how it would cope next season should we qualify for the CL. If we do manage to hang onto a top 4 position I think next season we'll find our selves in the same position that Arsenal have this season. Last season the vast majority of Arsenal fans wanted Wenger sacked. They had their worst squad in years and qualified for the champions league by the skin of their teeth. They have added just 1 player this season and now they are 2nd favourites behind Man city for the title. We have a huge amount of young players who have been brought in and/or breaking through the ranks. Suso, Sterling, Ibe, Borini, Allen, Coutinho, Sturridge, Henderson, Sakho, Illori, Wisdom, Kelly, Alberto, Mignolet, Texiera, Etc. I know we all have different opinions as to who from the above list is good enough or not good enough, but they are ALL still young, and if only a handful them improve, like Arsenal, We would only need to add 1 or 2 truly world class players to really push us on.

The foundations have been laid, Hopefully next season will be when we start to move away from the rebuilding and start to reap the rewards from the work that has been done over the past couple of seasons.

Tommy Walsh

28 Nov 2013 14:32:50
We Need 4 world class player to compete in europe.
We are the only team who deosnt have a WINGER.
We need two full backs.A DM, ACM to comepte with Countinho and a versetaile striker once Luis Leaves.

They did not only add 1 player they added ozil and flamini to the squad and with ramsey fit it is like a new signing.

28 Nov 2013 11:03:35
Right lads say we get champions league this season how many players is our squad away from being firstly big enough to play the extra matches and secondly good enough to compete

28 Nov 2013 11:17:12
5, a lb, cam, winger, cdm and another striker!

Good question. I think our squad is still too small for the EPL so we would need a good few players to compete in Europe as well. I would say at least an extra striker, midfielder and cover for left back and right back positions.
As good as we are doing right now in the league I still see a threadbare squad that needs reinforcements. I feel we are riding our luck a little bit and that we are only ever an injury or two from meltdown.

Yeah especially if you look at our matches after international games we look so tired gerrard is super but playing twice a week is to much for him and a lot of others hopefully we make it there to start with!

28 Nov 2013 14:35:32
Gerrard is the sole responsible for our midfield problem. gerrard simply cannot play whole 90mts.
Nor he likes to be subbed.
With Gerrard playing Allen never get a chance at DLP. and Henderson always plays as ACM pushing countinho wide.

Allen never gets a chance as DPL?

What about the chance he had at the start of last season for about 4 months when Lucas was injured, and everbody finally realised how much we miss him?

That was because of Allens poor performance in that position, he needs to play further up the pitch to make more threatening passes.

Allen is not good enough for LFC. We saw that last season, he's a liability when he gets the ball and looks like a scared cat in front of an oncoming car

Good question Dezy.
I have thought, as much as we crave the top 4 and champions league,
If that is achieved will we really be good enough to progress through the group stages?
If we don't, then will everyone turn on the manager?
I hope not.
I think if we do qualify this year we will need to strengthen the squad for the challenge ahead.
But personally I feel our first season back in the champions league will be a case of us finding our feet once again with Europes elite.
The mission I see that is as equally important as progressing in the champs league is to ENSURE that we are there the following year.
All in all this could be a big test for our manager.
YNWA

28 Nov 2013 20:35:20
Imho: Mignolet, Agger, Skrtel, Toure, Sakho, Lucas, Hendo, Coutinho, Suarez and Sturridge are all good enough to be a part of a Champions League suqad. Gerrard is too, but he needs to be pushed forward to a more attacking role behind the front three with Hendo & Lucas doing the centre mid work. I know he's 33, but he's still fitter than quite a few PL and even if he wasn't, his finishing and technique is more of a goal threat than Hendo's energy.

Jonno, Enrique and Allen are on the edge for me. They all have the talent, but they could and should do better than they have done. I wouldn't lose sleep if they were sold, or if they stayed.

Everyone else either isn't good enough (Jones, Coates, Assaidi etc.), has the potential but hasn't completely convinced yet (Sterling), hasn't gotten a chance yet and thus can't be rated (Ibe, Illori, Alberto etc.), or won't be here next season (Cissokho, Moses, Reina).

In terms of what we need, a backup goalie, a left back (either to compete with or replace Enrique), a central midfielder and another striker (since I don't have faith in either Borini or Aspas) are definite buys for me, even if no one leaves.

As for other areas that need strengthening, I found that we have a young player (or two in some cases) that we are or were very excited about in that position. So do we risk trusting him or do we buy and then wonder why youth isn't getting a chance?

So do we buy a right back to provide a genuine challenge to Jonno, or do we hope Kelly gets over his injuries at last? Or hope that Flanno becomes the player we thought he would when he first broke through two years ago? Or that McLoughlin steps up?

Likewise, do we buy a pacey, direct wide man to give us a different option to Suarez & Coutinho from the flanks, or do we depend on the development of Sterling and Ibe?

Do we buy a backup player to Coutinho, or give the job to Suso or Alberto? (This is the only one I have a definite opinion on - Suso should be given the chance).

@something red

Gerrard has slowed down too much, can't last the full 90 minutes - he should be an option off the bench not first name on the team sheet.

Borini has not been given a fair shake by fans. No team has 4 world class strikers because a world class striker will not accept time on the bench. Borini might not be the same pedigree as Suarez or Sturridge but he is young, hungry and nowhere near as bad as people make out. He has value as a squad player and, if we qualify for CL, is someone that could be utilised within the context of the squad.

Aspas is slightly different in that he hasn't really been effective thus far and doesn't seem to have the right attitude/work ethic (unlike Borini). Only time will tell but if there is no improvement come next season you'd suspect we would look to move him on.

In a CL squad we'd have to assume that with increased games (and thus increased injuries?) that Sterling, Ibe, Illori and Alberto would be looking at increased playing time over the course of a season. Our squad is not massive but with European football the physical demands are easily negotiated - if that changes next season then more of these fringe players will come into the equation. I'd be careful about any sort of fire sale (or panic buy) based on the squad this season, the demands aren't high and until they are the actual strength of the squad is a relatively unknown quantity.

If both Suarez and Sturridge (for example) have a weeks rest between games then there isn't really a need to rotate. If next season we (hopefully) play Saturday-Wednesday-Sunday then provisions might have to be made dependent on opposition and fitness and players like Borini, Sterling, Alberto, etc will come into the fray. Our squad isn't strong enough yet for a season in the CL however it is fairly untested due to the ease of the fixture schedule without European football. Those squad players mentioned will only really have the credentials tested when the playing schedule demands it. Before then the first XI is pretty settled.