Liverpool Banter Archive April 02 2015

02 Apr 2015 23:25:03
Eds,

Any idea if Ragnick would be considered as Director of Football or Sporting Director? Was intrigued by him as coach at Hoffenheim, especially policy towards youth before health issues. I just saw he is involved in Austria and Germany as Sporting Director. Been struggling to think of decent options so thought he could be an option?

{Ed002's Note - It is simply a random name and I have zero interest in speculating over the subject of "Directos of Football" etc..}

02 Apr 2015 23:49:23
That's fine Ed. I guess the club have no interest in speculating about names either. It was a bit of a 'random' name to be honest. Probably a 'flashback' to when I liked the look of him around Rafa exit time. Must get those flashbacks treated.

03 Apr 2015 12:32:24
Coutinho to me is the better player, and a very genuine and humble person and if you watch him in interviews unlike the comparison, he actually shows desire to succeed and win trophies whilst actually at Liverpool for that reason I'd rather watch sterling walk out the door then coutinho

03 Apr 2015 12:33:09
Apologies eds I think I sent that reply to the wrong post mate haha

02 Apr 2015 20:43:20
As a loyal and devout LFC fan.
It's sad to see Raheem Sterling behaving as he is.
I remember the fly-on-wall documentary by FOX TV, when Brendan was putting Raheem in his place, telling him he'd be on 1st plane back home if he didn't sort his attitude out. Seems like he still has that attitude, in my opinion it's best we sell him for as much as possible.
Suarez earned better contracts, he bust a gut getting us to CL, even when we denied him his transfer, he worked his socks off for the team. Raheem has yet to achieve anything, he should show gratitude for game time. Shaun Wright-Phillips, Scott Sinclair, Jack Rodwell, Scott Parker, Francis Jeffers, Kieran Dyer, all chased big Bucks and look where they ended up! Sterling should've looked around Anfield on Sunday and took note of players the stature of HENRY, DROGBA, XABI ALONSO, STEVEN GERRARD, these guys are TRUE LEGENDS, and never in media for anything other than their accomplishments on the pitch.
I watched the Charity Game Sunday, and whether it's Suarez, TORRES, Luis Garcia, Reina, Alonso effc etc. Even non LFC players like HENRY showing love and feeling PRIVELEGED to be on Anfield Turf, representing Reds
Sterling should be sold ASAP, this scenario maybe brushed away for 1 season, but he's the type that will cause unpleasantness whenever it suits him. And if we keep him, every season he will cause problems.
Alternative, ditch him in reserves for next 2 years. And see who gives him a contract of even £50k per week after that, then he'll realise his agents aren't all that they making out, no Club will play top money to a player who hasn't played a competitive game in 2 years. He'll have to graft 2-3 years to earn a top contract, by then he'll be 24-24, and it may dawn on him that in long-run he'd have been better off with the £100k per week LFC have offered.
Personally if I got minimum £50mill, I'd sell (because we could improve team with money) . But I'd love to let him rot in reserves, learn a little manners

02 apr 2015 22:32:46
are you for real?
henry, drogba, xabi alonso, steven gerrard, these guys are true legends, and never in media for anything other than their accomplishments on the pitch.

02 Apr 2015 22:48:37
He has been misguided by his advisors and mismanaged by BR is certain areas which has made him make bad decisions like that ill-advised interview. If he really wants to stay, giving a dreadful intervie which accomplished nothing but turn more fans against him, was not the way to project that message.

02 Apr 2015 23:10:00
Did I miss when alonso and drogba? Tbf can't remember them being in the media for issues off the pitch, can complain about diving but every player does it (not right but still) and alonso may have left lfc but don't remember it being a controversial transfer. except that've wanted to replace him with Barry

03 Apr 2015 00:28:15
Was with you for a while there Bash, then came the crazy thoughts on dropping him to the reserves. Talk about cutting off your nose to spite your face. I agree, get rid for top money, but not because of apparent attitude or ego, but because he's not worth top money. Now, if it was coutinho we were talking about then I'd put up with a bit of misguided crap from the lad, because he is on his way to being worth top money. I know sterling is still young, but I wonder actually how much better he will become?

03 Apr 2015 22:12:16
To BurkeyBoy
No cutting off to spite face my mate.
I was saying I'd love to. We don't have the financial clout to do so. But if we did I'd love to.
Anyway the reason he went to media, in spite (no pun) of claiming he's leaving contract negotiations untill the summer because he wants to concentrate on his football shows he is full of #### . His Agent is trying to make a name for himself (I expect he got Raheem to sign up with promising he'll get astronomical amounts compared to any other agent, he represents Berahino too, similar story there too, and mark my words, if Raheem engineers a big pay-day, you'll soon hear of a similar scenario with Oxlade-Chamberlain at Arsenal).
Some of the stuff Raheem said. "I don't talk about how many house I've got". Well you don't hear any 20 year old talking that anyway.
"I love my mum, she's always been there for me" I should bloody hope so, u're only 20 & she's your mother, it's normal, where does he think other people's parents spend their time,and doing what?
Even mentioning "I have a 3 year old child" trying to use that. In all honesty I think it shows he's an arrogant, unruly person, when he was supposed to be concentrating on football & education, before he's even legally a man or capable of looking after himself, he was sleeping around. To have a 3 year old at his age. He must've been 16 or so. And he's still not married, and if the girl were younger than him, it's illegal!!

03 Apr 2015 21:53:11
What off field antics have HENRY, Drogba, ALONSO, GERRARD etc been involved in that Media/Public have treated with disdain TR1?
And questioning what a legend is?
People who have won Champions League? World Cup? European Cup? People who have broken records for scoring. ? Etc etc

{Ed001's Note - if you don't know what Gerrard did, then you have lived in a bubble.}

02 Apr 2015 19:20:20
I'm going to put this out there.

If it was your own son in Raheems position?

What would you want for him?

I'm sure I'd want his happiness first and foremost.
If he was un happy why?
I'm still not convinced this is a money issue.
Any more and I would be guessing.

Is there issues between him and Brendan?
Who knows.

I think he is a smashing young player that will only improve.
If he were my son I would only want the best for him.
And I'm sure most of you would be the same.

{Ed002's Note - I have told you repeatedly it is not fundamentally a money issue. Hopeless.}

02 Apr 2015 20:29:53
But surely Ed's that is just your opinion or have you been told something that you are not saying

{Ed002's Note - If it was simply my opinion I would have said.}

02 Apr 2015 22:52:32
If it is not money then we know it is something regarding certain clauses and perf bobuses, IMO. Just a wild guess, really

{Ed002's Note - There was a point where the expectation of all was that he would sign. Clauses/riders were seen by his representatives as restrictive whereas, I suspect (just my opinion) that the club saw the clauses/riders as justification for the offer that was made. Certainly that was the underlying basis of the original impasse.

Bottom line is that, as my many friends in Liverpool would say, "you cannot have the entire scouse pie and have the talking labradoodle be full of food".}

03 Apr 2015 06:12:47
( I'm still not convinced it's a money issue)?
As stated by Ed002.
Sorry Ed, my bad.

03 Apr 2015 19:56:24
It`s the clauses/riders then if I unserstand Ed correctly.

02 Apr 2015 17:11:33
So is Raheem Sterling a £60million pound player?
I think we would all say no to this question.
Do we all think he has the potential to be a £60 million pound player?
Some will say yes and some will say no.
Pretty 50-50 as well in the debates I have had on the subject.
My personal opinion is that he does have the potential to be a very good player.
If Raheem wants a contract to reflect his status then surely that means his fee has increased as well?
For a front man in our system a player like Raheem should be looking at 15 goals and 15 assists per year for arguments sake.
This season he has about 10 goals and 7 asists. So not far off that target but certainly not the stats you would expect for a 140 grand a week player.
So if he wants to move then surely the fact his agent wants a 140 grand a week confirms that he is worth £60million?
If other clubs want him then £60 million is the price because his agent says it is by arguing for £60 million pound player's contract.
I am not for one minute suggesting that Sterling wants to go.
I don't think he does and I still think he will sign.
The really annoying part of this whole saga for me is player responsibility.
When Torres left it was because we finished in 7th place the year before and yet Torres took no responsibility for playing in that team who finished 7th.
He was injured and went through long spells of poor goal scoring form but it was not his fault!!
Same with Suarez wanting to go the year before he actually did go.
All this top 4 being the reason why he wanted out. willing to go to Arsenal etc etc.
Well actually Luis, if you had not been banned for 10 games at the start of the season then we may well have got top 4.
Same issue arises with these contract talks with Raheem.
You are a part of a squad currently in 5th place in the league.
Are you not responsible for that by being in the team week n week out?
He is not solely responsible of course but he is partly responsible for where we are in the table.
I would only say to him now.
"prove your a top 4 player by getting us into the top 4"
Then we can talk.

{Ed002's Note - It is all very naïve about the transfer fees. But a great way for the player to run down his contract and bring further disruption. Perhaps taking the lead of other clubs who move players on should be adopted by Liverpool. He will bring good money and together with the other sales put a reasonable post June 30 pot in place. No money raised before June 30 will go into that pot but I do expect some sales.}

02 Apr 2015 18:23:36
Yep, unnecessary disruption which we've endured for a number of seasons.

I think he's a likeable lad and a great player, but we should let him go before it turns into another circus act situation.

02 Apr 2015 18:35:27
Could you implement a ban for talking about contracts in mid season Ed002 or is that unworkable?
There should be a set time table for dealing with all contract matters at the end of the year.
There would then be no disruption.
Player nor club should be allowed to break that rule.
Like I said in my post.

I like Sterling and don't want to see him sold.
I want to see him improve as he has been doing for the next 2 years and see where we are then.
Truth is that Raheem is a £25-30 million pound player who wants a £50 million pound player contract.
He could well be a £50 million pound player in the future in my opinion.

Whatever happens I think more incentive based contracts are the way forward.

02 Apr 2015 19:27:15
As a United fan (a sensible one) I have a detached view. I think Sterling is a very good player with the potential to be great player. I understand the frustration on here as having watched the interview, I'm not sure what he was trying to achieve. Far from clarifying the situation, he muddied the waters further. For a 20 year old to behave this way O can only assume he is getting very poor advice f

02 Apr 2015 22:54:16
I have posted the same thing often.

02 Apr 2015 15:46:22
Hi eds,

I have been looking around the sites for other teams and I have seen Ed002 saying numerous times that Lacazette will not be joining this or that team, and so, my question is do you think Lacazette will be leaving Lyon? And if yes, where do you think he'll probably end up?

Cheers.

{Ed002's Note - You need the European pages for this.}

02 Apr 2015 18:34:25
Obviously Ed002 wants to keep Lacazette to herself.

02 Apr 2015 13:50:51
What a mess. And Liverpool FC are all over the news again for the wrong reasons. Sterling gave interview without permission.

Most fans turning on him, I don't see a way back from this.

02 Apr 2015 14:51:47
That interview was extremely ill-advised and for someone who has defended him a lot this season, I am severely disappointed in him and his entourage especially after learning the club was not informed about it prior. He might have burnt his bridges with an interview that IMO, achieved absolutely NOTHING to qwell shut down the media circus. I hope he signs BUT it has become very difficult right now.

02 Apr 2015 12:27:10
I do not blame sterling one bit for all that is going on. After all it's his life he can do whatever he wants. Personally, i wouldn't want to stay under Rodgers for another year were nothing would be guaranteed in terms of success, the change of formations and switching positions all the time. I find it absolutely reasonable if he wants to see what will happen with the club in the summer. He will be a great player one day so why would he want to stay at Liverpool where the best he can hope for is top 4 every few years? So let the kid take his time, this goes for rodgers, the media and the fans, and when and if he is no longer a Liverpool player then start the bashing of his boys character and skill

{Ed002's Note - Sterling has to at least shoulder some of the blame and, I would hope, look for better representation.}

02 Apr 2015 13:04:20
Well I don't think Wenger will let him have extra holidays during the season.

Look the lads Got talent but still a long way from the finished article.

I just hope his hunt for silverware (greed) doesn't hinder his career.

02 Apr 2015 13:49:32
If its guaranteed medals he wants Celtiic or Olympiacos is the place to head for, there's no guaranteed trophy in the premier league no matter where he went.
Personally I think he will be a Liverpool player still this time next year

02 Apr 2015 15:12:29
Better representation and representation seems to be what he needs!When i posted earlier i was not aware the interview was not sanctioned,which in that case for sure he must take some of the blame, however i can't help but think that he is still a kid and doesn't know much better. It just seems that agents will do anth to get a buck no matter how it affects their client.

02 Apr 2015 16:04:02
Sure you don't want to blame the club or the manager Steph1? Some 'supporter' you are

02 Apr 2015 18:26:20
It's got nothing to do with tactics and playing in a different position.

It's about money, and in fairness, the lad wants to win trophies NOW and not in the future.

02 Apr 2015 19:20:25
Thing is though why is he flattered by arsenals interest if he wants to win trophies.

The only difference between us and arsenal is that they make the champions league every season.

02 Apr 2015 11:59:43
Hi EdS, first time poster here. Long long time follower. In my opinion I believe having Lucas back is our best chance for top 4, do you think we have a greater chance now that he is back or is the damage already done?

{Ed001's Note - if we don't pick up points we won't have a chance, so of course having him back is a big help, so long as Rodgers will drop Allen and play Lucas instead. We will have a greater chance, but we are reliant on others dropping points, so it is still going to be a case of keeping our fingers crossed other results go our way.}

02 Apr 2015 11:47:09
If Arsenal want him, straight swap for Alexis Sanchez? But in all seriousness, I think the interview was aimed at those that believed Sterling wanted money, but it backfired and has put him under even more publicity. I don't ever want Liverpool to be a selling club, but by seeing that interview, success away from Liverpool is the only thing on his mind (in money terms) so he may have to go - even if to just maintain a good team spirit.

02 Apr 2015 11:28:16
I think that the club need to be blunt with Sterling and tell him that's the offer on the table, accept it or we will accept offers for him. Yes Sterling is a good player and will no doubt only get better and I know it's right to keep your best players but if that'd the case Suarez should never have been sold.
Sterling is 20 years old and being offered the rumoured 100k a week or me is way to high as it is, even in this mad football world of wages. If the club feel that Ibe is at a higher level of development at his age compared to Sterling then accept an offer of around £40-50 million and move on and give Ibe his chance. No player should hold the club to ransom, it should lack of loyalty, integrity and professionalism.

02 Apr 2015 12:22:41
Why should we do that? He has 2 years left and wants to discuss it in the summer. Why keep distracting us and him with this nonsense when there is plenty of time?

{Ed002's Note - I have explained repeatedly that it is not the money that is the core issue here - and if perhaps if (a) Rodgers had not spoken in public (again) about in house issues, (b) Sterling's representatives did not make the monumental misjudgement to have Sterling partake in this open interview, (c) the young and formally untutored Sterling had not been led in to a series of naïve, or even, stupid answer, then this mess would not need the resolution that it does.

Again the owners of the football club will no doubt be irked by circumstances that have led to yet another Liverpool player providing an unsanctioned interview that brings significant unwanted to attention to the club.

Quite what the consequences will be I don't know. Any other club would have by this morning have fined a player acting this way one or two weeks wages. I am sure that his agent will have been called to account for this interview by the club. And the club may well tell the player to find another agent as they will refuse to have any further dealings with the one he has (this was a popular tactic by another premier league side).

In the summer the options will be limited. We know that the club has browsed at options and we know the club must act decisively. First and foremost it must be kept in house and Rodgers must be gagged about this matter - and anything else regarding contracts, the behaviour of players - anything other than what is directly related to the football. Negotiations must be minimised - if the club want to keep the player put an offer on the table without any controversial "get out" clauses. If it is unacceptable, make the player aware they will listen to offers and look to move him on.}

02 Apr 2015 15:38:43
ED just nailed it, Bravo Sir/Madam!

02 Apr 2015 15:45:12
Well Said Ed002, I think that Rodgers and all players should be banned from talking to the media and we should have someone who is confident and comfortable talking to the world's press.

I like the idea that the club do not deal with certain agents, it might hopefully make players understand that agents are not always getting them the best deal and making a situation worse. Maybe you cold offer your services for in going contract negotiations?

Hjikle most clubs want to reward their best players with contracts, if Sterling did not want to enter into contract negotiations until the summer he should have made this clear to his agent and the club earlier instead of letting it rubble on.

We as a club move on if he wants to go and pick up the best value we can on him, we managed without the likes of Owen, Torres etc so don't give into his demands. If we all gave up so easy we would all be speaking German now!

02 Apr 2015 16:45:02
Baz i think you'll find that it is part of the sky contract ( who pay billions for it) that managers hold a press conference weekly

02 Apr 2015 17:48:27
Well red since 64 I think Rodgers ticks the `see me, more effort needed` box. Fergie, Wenger, Jose can or could speak to the media with ease. Maybe Rodgers needs some media training if he is staying in the post.

02 Apr 2015 09:02:30
A lot of very negative coverage of Sterling on TV this morning.

02 Apr 2015 11:30:58
Maybe he should have thought before trying to be a hero when he gave that interview?

02 Apr 2015 11:37:29
Maybe his agent should have thought before feeding him to the lions.

02 Apr 2015 15:41:07
The agent works for him and not the other way around. Raheem is young and hence not the sharpest knife in the kitchen BUT he can fire his agent for potientially sabotaging his career because clubs will not want to do business with such a self-centered moron who seems to care more about his cut than the player`s future.

02 Apr 2015 08:37:30
Question to eds, back in the day what would shankly or Paisley etc have done with the stelling situation, a clip round the earhole or a arm round the shoulder,,, thanks

{Ed001's Note - it would never have happened in the days of Shanks and Paisley. Just like when Brian Clough was asked, after Roy Keane had committed a particularly nasty stamp on an opponent while at Man Utd, what he would have done if Keane had done it while Clough was managing him. Clough just replied 'he wouldn't have done that if I had been managing him' and that was it. He is correct as well. Sterling would have known better than to think he could get away with it, but then neither Shanks nor Paisley would have made idiotic public statements trying to force the lad into a corner. This is as much Rodgers' fault as anyone, he has been the one who started all the furore about the lad being greedy.}

02 Apr 2015 09:51:10
Ed1 you blame everything on Rodgers, some of Sterling interview was rubbish, he said he would of signed a new contract this time last year, he had only been in the first team around 5 months, Sterling owes Rodgers for his development and it was Rodgers who gave him a chance but your anti Rodgers head will surely give him no credit at all.

{Ed001's Note - sorry but you are reading into what I said and making it anti-Rodgers. His answer about that question was evasive, he said maybe for maybe less, not he would have. Which is ridiculous anyway as he knew he would not have been offered a contract then as he had just had a new one. It was a dumb question and irrelevant, so why even bother talking about it?

As for giving him a chance, he had played under Dalglish and Rodgers only played him as he had no options, he wanted to buy players to play in the position he put Sterling into but we couldn't get them. So it was not Rodgers who gave him a chance, he was left with no option after Dalglish gave him a chance.

As for his development, most of it was done in the reserves, where he was sent to work on his game in various positions, such as full back.}

02 Apr 2015 10:10:57
Well said ed001. there is no doubt Sterling is greedy imo but Brendan should have kept his mouth shut and told the media that the club had more important things to worry about than player contracts for the time being. This issue should have been closed till the summer but Brendan's "incredible contract" interview has put both Sterling and the club in a bad situation. Who is he to decide what constitutes an incredible contract? His job is too improve the club's performances(which on a whole have been average at best), not blabber about in house issues like player contracts in public. All he had to say was the contracts would be sorted out in the summer as the club was concentrating on a top4 finish, but Brendan's big mouth somehow managed to find a way to spill delicate details about the contract situation and now the media is milking the story for all its worth.

{Ed001's Note - one thing I meant to say in reply to the previous post, if Sterling owes Rodgers for his development, why is it everyone on here is moaning about how badly he is playing under Rodgers? What exactly is he developing?}

02 Apr 2015 10:39:32
Blaming the club or the manager is ridiculous. Indian Buzzer you must be a very wealthy Indian if you don't think 100k is a very very good weekly wage.

02 Apr 2015 11:02:07
Essexred, where did i say 100k a week is a measly wage packet? I was merely saying the whole situation has been badly handled and Brendan had no need to go public with any details. Such matters should not be made public, it should be handled indoors. No way should the club offer anything more than 100k a week to Sterling as he is simply not that good at this point of time. If the lad still refuses to sign, then sell him for good money. That was all i wanted to say.

02 Apr 2015 11:50:51
Theres a little too much finger pointing in the wrong direction here. Neither Sterling nor Rogers and the club initiated leaks about the way talks were going. And its pretty safe to say that neither the club, nor Sterling himself came up with the idea of this interview. Step forward Agent Ward. Who, interestingly enough, is also part responsible for the talks breaking down in January, as he was in the process of splitting from the company representing Sterling in order 'to go it alone'.
Sterling has been hung out to dry, but not by Rogers or the club.

{Ed001's Note - but Rodgers was the one who publicly put pressure on Sterling. So Rodgers has to accept he handled it badly. Keep your mouth shut about contract talks, leave that for the club and the agent to sort out, not him.}

02 Apr 2015 12:20:33
Fair point Ed. We know Rodgers has a penchant for talking too much. However, to be fair, it is naivety and lack of experience more than anything else. He allows himself to be drawn into conversations which he doesn't need to do. Incidentally, the catalyst for this particular conversation was in reply to a press question about Steven Gerrard 'urging' the club to sort out the contract. Not the first time SG has put the club on the spot recently.
You are right that he should keep his mouth shut, but the agent leaks and other comments were designed to show the club in a bad light, and he was trying to counteract that. Not the brightest, but certainly not to blame for where we are at with Sterling right now.

02 Apr 2015 15:55:58
So in other words, EVERYONE at the club should have just shut their gobs and focused on the tasks at hand instead of airing their worthless opinions on a matter they should never have commented on to beging with. There, fixed it for you.

P/S: BR and SG are to blame for this nonsense because had they kept quiet, the circus would not have come into town and Raheem would not have needed to go public which was another stupid decision.

02 Apr 2015 17:26:44
Pretty much spot on Ohio. Although, to be fair, 'leaks' saying talks had broken down 3 times and the club were dragging their feet put everyone's back up. It certainly fooled SG into jumping on the 'get it sorted' bandwagon. BR shoots his mouth off for all sorts of dumb reasons, but in this case he got suckered into defending the clubs integrity. What he should have said at the time when asked is 'the club do not discuss contracts in the public domain, and neither should anyone else'. Job done, and point made. But unfortunately (like my girlfriend), BR over complicates the simplest things.

02 Apr 2015 23:05:00
Now that is how you answer a question WITHOUT actually answering it, something you seem to be good at BUT BR is abjectly AWEFUL at to the point of hopelessness. He seems to have an opinion on everything under the sum and by God, he wants you to hear it. I give up, really.

{Ed002's Note - The point is that the club needs to keep discussion about certain matters in house - the questions don't need to be dodged just simply answered with "as I explained that is a matter for the club to address - but not in public".}

02 Apr 2015 07:56:49
Terrible timing, the Sterling interview, just days before the crunch game with Arsenal !

His form has dipped, so I'd drop him for the Arsenal game.

02 Apr 2015 15:58:54
Shows you how badly advised he is and how self-serving and moronic his entourage is as well.

02 Apr 2015 07:18:13
Sell Sterling IMO

Yes he's s great player but he's to big for his boots.

Sell him in the summer for as much as we can and Ibe can take him place (he looks a better player in any case).

He can then go to a club who can afford him where he will sit on the bench but win trophies as he wants.

02 Apr 2015 08:34:25
I agree, not once in the interview did he mention any love for Liverpool or the fans, even suarez managed that. Boot the little baby out for 50mil and go buy a striker

02 Apr 2015 12:06:15
Been saying this since the whole thing started the lad needs a good shake. Who the hell does he think he is.