Liverpool Banter Archive March 29 2016

29 Mar 2016 23:08:22
So reports are 20mil for Gotze.
Good player, only 23. My only BUT is this:
Can we not just buy a top goalkeeper for that price. That surely has to be the number 1 priority.
Unless the plan is to do that too?

29 Mar 2016 23:25:19
You think we only have 20mil to spend in the summer?

30 Mar 2016 00:44:45
We do have more than 20 mil I hope . Gotze to good off a player to tur down if there's a chance we can get him but yes we need a new gk.

30 Mar 2016 01:05:16
Without sales, can't see it being much more to be honest.

30 Mar 2016 02:42:52
The owners will spend again. They've been very generous.

29 Mar 2016 23:22:30
Gotze will cost any club much more than £20mill.

29 Mar 2016 21:23:21
Quick opinion grabber.

Is it possible for players to have specifics written into national appearances?

Just asking as I'm sure Milner must have corner taking in his.

29 Mar 2016 22:41:24
Seriously what on earth were our scouts watching before making him the highest earner. He is making a living out of the LIVERPOOL FC brand.

30 Mar 2016 05:48:03
Milner will be moved on for a free transfer if there is a club willing to pay his wages. No doubt he works hard, but 9 out of 10 times, our attack falls apart because of his poor passing and decision making. He also lacks the intelligence to be on the same wavelength as Coutinho and Firmino, hence the interest in Gotze.

30 Mar 2016 08:08:59
Of course he is making a living out of the brand. So its everyone else on the payroll. What a ridiculous thing to say.

29 Mar 2016 20:31:31
If anyone has any paint that needs watching whilst it dry's, give me a shout.

29 Mar 2016 21:27:40
Contender for post of the year surely!

29 Mar 2016 23:09:25
Can't help with paint, but I have some grass currently growing.

29 Mar 2016 18:18:02
Ed. Seeing as you got it right about Illori I thought I would ask about Markovic.
What's your view on him? Do you think he has a future at the club? Has he improved much over this season in Turkey?
Thanks in Advance.

{Ed002's Note - Markovic's promising career hit a road block when he joined Liverpool. Playing regularly in Turkey has done him a lot of good and he will return in the summer to be considered by Klipperty when they will no doubt discuss the season ahead. I suspect he will want some pretty firm assurances that he is not going to be discarded. He can certainly be an asset to the club - but I don't know if the club will be able to give him what he wants.}

29 Mar 2016 20:11:47
Fingers crossed for him that if he does get his chance he can take it
Thanks Ed.

29 Mar 2016 20:54:54
Does he want to be a regular starter then?

{Ed002's Note - Of course.}

29 Mar 2016 22:31:37
I can't see a future for Markovic at Liverpool with Klopp looking for a winger in the market. A decent offer and he would be off.

29 Mar 2016 17:08:47
You'd have to say that having gotze - firmino - coutinho behind your striker looks very very good all beit on paper.

29 Mar 2016 17:44:24
Yeah, we are biased but you've got to think if firmino carries on like he is and gotze shows his Dortmund form then those three plus sturridge look like they could score 5 every game.
I'd be more than happy to just have gotze as an incomer this season.
Considering we already have grujic, matip, hopefully markovic to return as well as Ings and Gomez it's already a few players coming in.
And I'm already sick of buying a new squad every summer.

29 Mar 2016 20:42:53
You'd rather just have gotze, a player in the position we specifically have too many players, rather than any defensive minded players at all?

29 Mar 2016 20:55:57
Of course

Its been proven, forget about defending and just score loads and you win the EPL.

29 Mar 2016 22:32:39
Not sure on the fuss for Gotze. The last thing we need is another ACM.

30 Mar 2016 16:12:29
we scored 101 goals and did not win the league agger, we also conceded 50, you need a solid defence in reality to challenge/ win a title.

30 Mar 2016 20:17:59
Attack wins you matches, Defence wins you titles.

29 Mar 2016 13:28:43
Hi ED

I understand if you are not prepared to answer this but I thought I would ask because this has been on my mind for a little while.

You get a lot of questions about who Klopp likes outside of the current Liverpool players. So I was just wondering.

Do you know who Klopp has been most impressed with in his time as a Liverpool manager? A current Liverpool player, either a first team player or youngster that has impressed.

It would be interesting to read your views on this as Klopp hasn't revealed much of her plans or thinking.

Thank you for your time, ED.

{Ed001's Note - it is a difficult one to answer, because a manager can't be seen to have favourites as such. The ones he keeps will be the ones he likes most. He is not going to say publicly, nor tell the playing staff this kind of thing.}

29 Mar 2016 16:35:10
He seems to like Lucas a lot.

30 Mar 2016 01:18:49
I would Guess Firmino, Can, Couts, Llalana, Lovren, Origi (for his age) . I think he'll be building the team around a Couts/ Firmino partnership as well he should.

29 Mar 2016 14:15:23
Hey Eds. I was watching Yarmolenko there again v Wales. It would be a travesty if the blues get him.

I know we were interested in the past. Did we ever come close?

A 6 foot +, left footed, versatile wide forward who scores goals is surely something we lack! he's proved himself in the CL, the Euros and vs England a few times. Surely we'd still be interested. From a Klopp angle he's not to disimilar to Reus.

{Ed002's Note - No, Yarmolenko was never close to joining Liverpool.}

29 Mar 2016 13:55:50
3 years ago I saw debated over who was going to win more balon d'ors over the forthcoming decade: Neymar or Mario Götze.

Now, I see questions over whether he's the player we need? Over his attitude?

This kid is one of the most naturally talented footballers in the world and has scored the winner in a World Cup final at the age of 21. He was named the "greatest ever German talent" by none other than Franz Beckenbauer, I believe. And our coach has a history of success working with Götze and knows his game inside out having brought him from the youth into the first team himself?
If Götze comes to Liverpool this summer I see only injury troubles as a reason as to why he would not become one of the best players in the club's history. Big statement I know, but he is so ridiculously talented it's hard not to get overexcited.

29 Mar 2016 14:18:31
Agree with you. No need to overthink this one. If we can get him, we should go for it.

I firmly believe that Guardiola is the reason he is not featuring that much. It happens sometimes, people should not use it to judge Gotze's ability.

Remember we got Coutinho under similar circumstances.

This is a no-brainer, Kloppo plsssss get him in.

29 Mar 2016 14:22:41
I know with coutinho and firminho it would be to hot to defend against for other teams . could we see gotze in the number 8 next season.

29 Mar 2016 14:44:31
Ed001 has confirmed Klopp has had both Ter Stegen and Gotze watched so i would take both since they are quality players and will improve our team instantly. Ter Stegen's a huge improvement on Migs while GOtze albeit a bit unnecessary signing adds more to the squad than a Milner or Lallana. Both are also household names so will enhance Liverpool's ambitions and pulling power.

29 Mar 2016 15:09:30
Gotze is good but he's not that good. Have you actually seen him play. He's talented but I'm never actually sure what his naturally position is. I guess the best guess would be behind the striker in the number 10 role. He's not that good of a dribbler, he's not that quick, doesn't work as hard as others around him, doesn't play intricate balls that slice open defences. He's been played mainly outwide by Bayern, not sure where he played for Dortmund but he hasn't featured much for Bayern this season. Injuries are his main problem and it's definitely something we can do without. If he costs a substantial fee I wouldn't see the need for him. Maybe as a replacement for lallana if he's on his way out but if not then there is no need. From watching him play, I can't see how he's an improvement on firmino or coutinho. If he costs the £20m being reported then why not, but in attack I'm sure there's other priorities than another number 10. But new manager, new ideas I guess.

29 Mar 2016 15:18:22
people are saying that we don't need him but we do. while klopp rates lallana and he has improved recently Gotze is certainty an upgrade on him, we need a strong squad from starting to bench and at the moment we don't really have that. i would say benteke is a game changer but not at the moment, origi is still learning and while he can cause some problems he is still raw. then you have to look at the rest of the bench who can change the game? if we do get gotze i think it will be lallana who loses his place with firmino gotze and coutinho in the ram cam lam roles with sturridge or another striker depending on what klopp feels is necessary. exciting time coming up for the fans and let's see who klopp gets in.

29 Mar 2016 15:21:36
Kman you said yourself he's naturally a number ten but has been played out wide! His touch is as good as anyone bar Messi and Suarez's in world football. His movement is incredible. Watch him playing with confidence and tripling in value within a season.

29 Mar 2016 16:41:34
Problems with attitude and injuries. Not worth the money/ hassle.
Balotelli was once touted as the next best thing, attitude goes a long way IMO.

29 Mar 2016 19:31:06
Ron,
Klopp isn't concerned with the attitude and has worked with him before.

29 Mar 2016 22:00:52
Problem was that he came back from the world cup very unfit and funnily enough has suffered injuries ever since. Maybe Klopp can sort him but my impression is that he has let his fame go to his head and needs an attitude adjustment (AKA kick up the backside) . So do we want to spend big on a guy with issues?

30 Mar 2016 04:56:39
my take on gotze is this he joined Bayern munich it has not worked for him he is not happy not playing regularly, no player should be, he has suffered from injuries, he is not a pep favourite he is not alone in this. he knows klopp, klopp knows him, he is still young enough to put this behind him and get back to where he once was, he still has plenty to offer and if klopp thinks he can get the best from him that's all I need to know and quite frankly the day Liverpool are not interested in signing a player of his calibre is the day we have officially become a mid table club. i'm only hearing negative things about gotze, what about the positive things a signing like this could bring.

29 Mar 2016 03:09:00
Hi eds,

It would be interesting to know whether, liverpool will let cout go for 50 mil offer.

Personally, i feel he has been very inconsistent for us. Some day he look amazing and goes missing next day. but he has been a big game player for us.

I also don't remeber whether he got double figures in assists or goals.

Flannagan - i know he's scouser, but y he has been given captaincy is beyond my thoughts. There are players who gave their best all day like sakho or even can. One day a kid comes in and get cap node.

29 Mar 2016 10:11:26
This is the problem with Liverpool FC. And the main reason we haven't won the league in the past 20 odd years.
We sell our best players to "strengthen other areas"
It's Never worked, not once, Ever! So can we try a different approach and KEEP our top players and add to them.

29 Mar 2016 10:19:36
Oh pleeeeeeaase. The guy is pure class and our best player. How can you say he doesn't contribute goals and assists?! Think I'm right in saying he's our second top goal scorer and he was out for 6 weeks.

29 Mar 2016 10:35:06
I think the transfer policy worked when we sold Rush, we bought Barnes, Beardsley and Aldridge (admittedly at a net loss of about 250k on transfer fees) .
It also worked when we sold Torres and brought in Suarez (admittedly Andy Carroll didn't work out but our form pre Torres and post Torres was like chalk and cheese)

Point is, you can sell your "best player" and have it work out well, but what you need is the right strategy to replace them (see Rush) .
Our problem recently is that the club lacks strategy in the transfer market unless the strategy is to recruit as many mediocre (Southampton) players as we can. The club needs to take a long and short term approach and make them cohesive. No point in spending money developing the likes of Ojo and Ibe if you are going to spunk £50m on Sane for example.
Fans also need to stop clamouring for the latest MOTD player.

29 Mar 2016 13:03:40
Coutinho is great on his day, but 50m? Who's going to pay that? Snap their arms off for that amount.

29 Mar 2016 13:26:20
Congratulations to James Milner. Captain of England tonight.
Great recognition for a true professional .

29 Mar 2016 13:52:28
Ann is right. For 50mil we could have gotten gotze, zelinski, ter stegen.

29 Mar 2016 15:42:51
Wrong Mr Ron, Aldridge was bought before Rush Departed for Juventus and not with the Rush money. It was Barnes Beardsley and Houghton.

29 Mar 2016 16:33:19
I don't know whether you want to argue the chronology of the Rush/ Aldridge transfers but Rush was bought by Juventus and the agreement let him stay at Liverpool for another season.

So, with keen interest, I'd respectfully ask you to check that Aldridge was bought over a season before he played. I don't think he was 😉.

29 Mar 2016 18:17:46
Read your post Mr Ron. They did not fund Aldridge Barnes and Beardsley with the sale of Rush. If that was the case who did we sell to buy him back a yr later.

29 Mar 2016 18:41:52
I never said anything about using 'x' money to buy 'Y'.
I said the transfer policy worked when we replaced Rush with Aldridge Barnes and Beardo.

What's your issue? I'm not interested in specifics, I'm not in a position to talk about what money was used for whatever. I talked about the policy of selling your best players and improving the team with the proceeds.

Rush was sold a year before he left, that is a fact, but I have no interest in arguing over semantics.

29 Mar 2016 19:43:07
I just got no time for you. Aldridge Barnes and Beardsley actually replaced Rush, Walsh and Dalglish as Liverpools attacking options. So at that time we did not sell our best player to fund them. I believe we would have bought Beardsley and Barnes even without selling Rush. Within 12mths Rush was back and Rush Barnes and Beardsley were our front 3.Let's leave it at that. I will just skip your post in future.

29 Mar 2016 19:56:06
Fair enough, I wish you had done that earlier.
And the sentiment is mutual.

29 Mar 2016 22:31:38
So we sold Rush (because he wanted to leave) and replaced him with Aldridge (very similar player) . Maybe we would have bought Barnes and Beardsley anyway - or maybe Rush leaving was the catalyst for the club looking to renew. Who knows but have to say I think Ron's basic point is still valid. You can sell your best player if you are smart about who you replace him with. In Rush's case we were lucky because we had over a year to work it out.
Its when you aren't smart about your replacements that it all goes pear shaped.