Liverpool Banter Archive February 02 2015

 

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02 Feb 2015 22:29:22
I have it on good authority that the geniuses that run our clubs have sussed out the opportunistic agents who earn £££££'s through "panic buys".

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They only had to look at andy carroll deal

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Sussed out Brendan more like and decided not to give him anymore money to waste.

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02 Feb 2015 22:02:11
Eds fellow reds .just had a little chuckle to myself .i see salah gone on loan til end of season .bet he whichever he had signed for us now .unlucky greedy git enjoy Italy .another chelsea legend leaves .ha ha ha .

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Pretty hard for him to sign for us since we never agreed a fee with Basle.

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{Ed002's Note - The issue was that he could not settle in England. I am not sure why the original poster has so much hate given that Liverpool made only a laughable bid before Rodgers stuck his foot in hi mouth over the player. A little embarrassing for Liverpool.}

He never wanted to play for us not too bothered.

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Top comment King Luis! What an embarrassment for Chelsea with this Salah Saga!

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{Ed002's Note - Why say such a stupid thing about a player who could not settle?}

03 Feb 2015 00:35:20
embarrasment 4 chelsea ??? a squad player leaving , bit sad if that is the highlite of your season ?????? 1 worldclass player we got 2day and still in profit , forever in our shadow

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Apart from being in their club`s shadow which is misleading IMO, he has a point, lads.

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It does show how clever Chelsea have been in my opinion by stockpiling players so that when they need a player for a high fee they sell a couple for a high fee and balance the books.
They have 40 odd players out on loan.
All young with good resale value.
Good strategy considering financial fair play.

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Forever in Chelseas shadow?! is he having a laugh. seriously. lol

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03 Feb 2015 09:25:04
But when we do similar BR hater's on here say they have been Brendaned. Just can't win

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03 Feb 2015 09:40:18
Laughable bid by whose standards? We bid for him what he was worth.
Chelsea overpaid. Simple as that.

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{Ed002's Note - No, Liverpool's bid was actually a joke. But Rodgers' stupidity did for any chance of a deal.}

I am not getting to upset about Salah leaving on loan but i am getting quite envious about their ability to do buisness. They certainly bring in the right players more often than we do and if a player turns out to be wrong for whatever reason, they manage to get either a good amount of money or a ridiculous amount of money for him.

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Why are some poster showing such an obsession with Chelsea? Salah had it all to do regarding competition there and could've had a decent spell had we signed him. We didn't and it really didn't seem to have anything to do with the lad if we didn't make an acceptable offer. Showing bitterness at him is poor form.

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03 Feb 2015 12:30:01
I think maybe some thought it was the SWP's saga all over again, Chelsea getting him to stop us doing the deal, but as Ed has said this time, we didn't offer enough!

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{Ed002's Note - Not only that, Rodgers opened his mouth again.}

Chelsea flopped salah, he was ripping teams apart for years at Basel, and chelsea ruined him. And how can you lot say they did good business when they sold a good player as in schurrle and signing cuadrado and loaning out salah. Sold schurrle 28m = 2m profit n 12m salah =0 to buy cuadrado in 26.5m my calculations they lost out in 8m 2 players n gained 1

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{Ed002's Note - Chelsea actually made a profit (again) on transfers in the January window. Why do you want to make everything about Chelsea and share your ignorance of what has happened? This is so embarrassing.}

02 Feb 2015 21:06:22
Spurs are going all-out for Konoplyanka now that Lennon is off to Everton. That ends speculation of him joining Liverpool then ;0)

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We were NEVER in for him since the first time so the speculation was just that. Speculation. N BTW, we have signed other playrs like Marko and we still have Raheem and Ibe on the books so not too bothered.

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Markovic > Konoplyanka, plus he's finally adapted to the league. I've been quite impressed with how good he is and salivating at the thought of how good he (and the other young attackers at our club) could become.

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02 Feb 2015 20:48:27
If we let Lambert go then surely he has to be replaced.

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{Ed002's Note - Liverpool now have a fit Sturridge, Balotelli, Boeini, Yesil with Aspas on loan and Origi arriving in the summer. Markovich and Sterling can play anywhere across the front. Overloaded.}

02 Feb 2015 21:24:40
21:09 - BBC reporting Lambert as staying at Liverpool

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03 Feb 2015 05:40:00
Not overloaded at all, Ed002. Clearly we need a 9th choice striker just in case the other 8 manage to all be injured at the same time. :)

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03 Feb 2015 05:40:26
Ed002, Balotelli and borini not good enough, as you say yesil+aspas out on loan, sterling is not a natural centre forward and we have to allow for injuries

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{Ed002's Note - The club does not have the money to keep buying players without selling.}

Surely Aspas is out the door, as is Balotelli. Yesil (likely) has a long way to go before he reaches the first time, Ojo is too young but is at least getting some experience at Wigan, Borini's played pretty decent when given an opportunity, Lambert as well. Once Origi comes in (and possibly Ings?) there may be a shake up, but there's still a lot of time for Lambert and particularly Borini to help our team. Personally, I could care less if they score as long as we win when they play (that goes for Balo as well).

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Basically we should sell all our strikers apart from Sturridge in the summer.
Origi is coming in and I think Ibe and Sterling could play there if needed.
If we were to get rid of Balotelli, Borini and Lambert then I would promote Sinclair and buy a really really really good striker.
Studge, Origi, Sinclair as back up to them two with a bona fide 1st team striker bought from the sales of Balotelli, Borini and Lambert and also Aspas.

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02 Feb 2015 20:47:36
Summer a long way off eds I know but any chance of Konoplyanka given his move tonight fell through? Guess it's too early to say.

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{Ed002's Note - None.}

02 Feb 2015 21:09:09
That ship has long since sailed. We gave signed other players in his position instead.

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02 Feb 2015 20:35:08
Seen as it's deadline day, any thoughts on the Rickie Lambert to Villa reds?
For me this was a very strange buy in the first place if I'm being brutally honest. Hard to not like one of our own and I hope the absolute best for Rickie he's a hard working guy.
But For me I believe he doesn't fit our style,, Brendan isn't going to give him a fair chance,,, he isn't a good enough goal scorer when Sturridge is out,, he loves the club but is coming to the end of his career and Villa are desperate for somebody. With Origi coming in Summer he isn't going to get much game time anyway I'd be happy for him if he went. Makes no sense to sell because we won't buy anyone to replace him but I'm entirely thinking about the lad and I think a Villa move would be good for him. Any Thoughts?

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Never really understood his signing (except that he would have been a plan B). If he goes, good luck to him and at his age, he should be playing regular footie even if it is not for his boyhood cub. Thanks Lambo and bless your heart!

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I thought the 1 game he got played wth Borini he did well.even though I stated at the time it was a carling cup game vs swansea. He and Borini looked good together.

Made the right runs, though he lacked pace, held the ball up well. I think if he had been bought as a different option to throw on with 15 minutes left if the attack wasn't cutting it, 4million for him wasn't bad. As it was he became a 1st striker option for a team based around pressure and pace in the final 3rd. I think he was more a victim of circumstances rather than anything else.

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02 Feb 2015 20:24:57
For the first time in my life I feel the need to slag off our manager.

To buy Lambert then sell him so quickly is simply a disgraceful decision.

Good for Lambert, but farcical transfer dealings by Liverpool FC.

Yes, you never know how things work out, but I feel sorry for Ricky who was lured away from his comfort zone when playing well, only to be benched and never given his run of games to prove himself.

Yes, he joined his beloved reds, but that decision has smothered his decision making.

Good luck Ricky lad, but the manager needs his head sorting here.

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02 Feb 2015 20:38:02
Thinking the same mate. Good luck Ricky. Was a ridiculous signing I still can't get my head around it tbh.

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The manager has needed his head and mouth sorted for 3 yrs and ONLY the owners can do that.

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If you look at the situation without sentiment.
Is he good enough for where we want to go?
And for those who ask why buy him in the first place?
Because he was cheap.

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02 Feb 2015 19:46:26
I can't believe we didn't go in for Dele Alli. I think we will come to regret this. I mean what do our scouts look for in a player. He is going to be a big player for spurs in the future.

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Poor mans Emre Can.

Don't get me wrong, Delle Ali has immense potential (being from that area I've been lucky enough to see him in the flesh once) but he really isn't better than Can, Rossiter or Phillips. Plus we have Chirivella, Williams and if Rodgers is to be believed Pelosi who all deserve chances. That is 6 central midfielders between 17-20 of which 3 are probably better and 3 aren't far behind.

He will be a very good premier league midfielder, but we don't need any more youngsters in that area of the pitch. If we sign a midfielder it should be a player ready for first team football at this level. Otherwise, we may as well just use our own academy players for once and save some money.

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We have enuff youth as it is and don`t need anymore.

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It's grand, Tottenham will probably ruin him (joke). We have enough quality in our academy surely?

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02 Feb 2015 19:43:08
Really pleased to see Pelosi not only getting called up to the USA national team, but also being praised by Rodgers!

He is a class young midfielder; think an American (and young) Gareth Barry. His career looked in tatters after a horror leg break and I'd virtually given up hope that he'd ever get a chance in the first team. Of course, Rodgers could just be talking out of his hoohaa again when he says he see's him as a future player here at Liverpool, but it has reignited my hope for the lad :) he really is class and can play left back, holding midfield, left midfield and in a more box to box role. Cracking left boot on him.

In fact, it's the best deadline day news I've heard in years! Put your money where your mouth is Rodgers; play him!

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Based on history, BR will put his money in his pocket, not where his mouth is. In fact, I would ask that he puts his mouth in his pocket atimes BUT we all know he won`t and quite simply, can`t.

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03 Feb 2015 00:47:17
Very happy for him, but not surprised. I was honored to be able to watch him play multiple times for deAnza force prior to his move, and he was a step above (a step above the creme of the crop of American soccer). Good luck to him.

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02 Feb 2015 19:22:33
Just saw that BBC said Suarez best January buy- Do you think any part of him is now regretting the move to Barcelona. Clearly the footballing side ain't working too well. I actually think Studge was the best.

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02 Feb 2015 19:57:20
I still think Suarez is better on his day, however I also think Sturridge isn't too far off his level mate. Considering Suarez is 3 years older, Sturridge really isn't as far behind him as people think. Although Suarez has the advantage of almost never getting injured whereas Sturridge? Less said the better.

Looking it it sensibly though, yes Suarez outscored Sturridge last year, but he did it in more game time and nearly 2 thirds of his 31 goal haul came against teams in something like the bottom 4/5 teams. He was a flat track bully who hammered teams like West Brom, Norwich, Cardiff, Sunderland etc. Sturridge on the other hand rarely ever scores more than 1 or 2 goals a game, but scores consistently against all calibre of opposition. His goals were actually worth more points last season than Suarez's because of this. Sturridge also creates more than he is given credit for. He sets up just under half as many as Suarez does. The main advantage Suarez had in this department was his uncanny ability to draw fouls in and around the penalty area which massively skewed his assist stats with some statisticians.

So whilst I'd still say Suarez's creative spark and lack of injuries makes him the better overall player, I hands down believe Sturridge is the better goal scorer purely because of his consistency and because he can score against big teams regularly. He also doesn't bite or racially abuse people but that's another debate I don't care to go into!

It's sad thinking about this all really because they truly were the best strike partnership ever in my opinion and whilst I'm pleased to no longer be associated with the dark side of Luis, I don't half miss watching him and Sturridge tear teams to pieces :(

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If you were playing against liverpool last year would you try harder to shut down and not get done up by suarez or studge. Suarez' ability and fear factor gave studge more freedom

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Sturridge scored at a slightly higher rate without Suarez on the pitch, so not sure of your point really Miltown.

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Sturridge has 13 goals in 14 appearances without Suarez and 24 goals in 39 with Suarez. But nice try Miltown red ;)

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Suarez's greed from silly positions, and tendancy to concede possession actually took chances away from Sturridge. Danny is very obviously better without Suarez. In fact, his only Hattrick in a Liverpool shirt came against Fulham and guess who was banned for biting Ivanovic for that particular game?

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Suarez is probably the best player i have seen in my lifetime for liverpool in terms of ability, the definition of a world class player.

However the way sturridge has played since joining us, i don't think many people appreciate how good this guy is. His finishing is absolutely deadly, his left foot is an absolute wand, his skill and touch and forward play is a joy to watch. Always involved in every attack, always carries the ball forward with his grace and skill. His positioning is also second to none, as you will see when we start laying him up front as opposed to borini, lambert or balotelli. Did i also mention he is lightning quick?

I honestly don't think we could have got a better striker for us than sturridge. When the team finally gets sorted out, i feel that with the rest of our attacking options he will absolutely murder teams with coutinho, sterling and lallana. If he carries on like this, he will probably be better than torres and not far behind suarez in terms of our greatest forwards.

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Suarez work rate was off the scale. The amount of closing down he did for the team cannot be under estimated. I don't believe any player would suffer as a result of him being in their side.

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Facts don't lie Higgins. Sturridge averages nearly a goal a game without Suarez and nearly as low as a goal every two games when Suarez plays. Hard to believe, but facts cannot be denied.

Completely agree Woolback mate. Sturridge is criminally under rated.

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''In fact, his only Hattrick in a Liverpool shirt came against Fulham and guess who was banned for biting Ivanovic for that particular game?''

Only cus he ballooned a penalty

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Sturridge always looks like he's going to score, getting off the mark like that immediately at West Ham gives everyone around him a lift as they know if they get it to him early or in the right place, he'll score.

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Suarez couldn't take penalties either Bob. It's a different skill to goal scoring in open play. Most people don't even count hattricks that included penalties as true hattricks. Certainly people who believe Messi>Ronaldo don't.

You are correct though, that would've been his second hattrick had he scored it, but he didn't. That is no reflection on his ability to score goals without Suarez though so it's virtually irrelevant to this discussion. A fair point none the less.

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Regardless of the stats and nothing taken away from sturridge but suarez was magic. Sturridge is amazing himself and a great finisher but suarez is a different level. To each his own tho

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03 Feb 2015 08:09:55
Suarez was the better player, all round and goalscorer. Sturridge was the better January buy, because he was considered an early failure who wasn't going to his potential by the footballing world at large and almost single handedly rescued our season from a bottom half finish that year, which is where we were sliding whilst we could barely hit the target. Suarez was a restructure and bought for big money - Sturridge was a cheapish season changer

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''Most people don't even count hattricks that included penalties as true hattricks''

Come off it. MOST

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Bob, you're missing my point. Sturridge missing a penalty for a hattrick doesn't prove in anyway that he plays better alongside Suarez. Stop looking for a fight.

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02 Feb 2015 17:52:49
Ed002 is it possible Chelsea could sell Balotelli on our behalf? They could probably get 25million for him! Amazing negotiating skills regarding schurlle

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{Ed002's Note - Mino says €70M is what he is worth.}

Mino been on those funny pills again!

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I don't suppose Mino would like to buy him?

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02 Feb 2015 18:58:41
Didn't realise the euro was that weak at the moment!

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70 million euros for Balotelli? AHAHA!

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02 Feb 2015 17:03:01
Five players currently on loan who i beleive have no future at the club, Ilori, Aspas, Alberto, Wisdom and Coates.

Two players gone this window, Suso and Assaidi

Two players in the Summer out of contract Gerrard and Toure

Now the players that could easily be sold Enrique, Balo, Lambert, Borini and Brad Smith.

One player looking out of the club in Lucas.

Thats possibly 15 players in one window. Not possible? Also what about Allen? Is his time up also?


Am i painting too bleak a picture? Does anyone think some of these players might not go and is there enough value in the players being moved on to buy the quality goalkeeper, forward and midfielder that we might need?

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Lucas has recently sown how important the player is to our team, if BR wants to have experience in his team, he needs to keep him over players like Enrique or Johnson.

Apart form Lucas, I wouldn't think all the others leaving will have an impact on the squad at all, after all most of them are fringe players, out of favor or not needed.

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One or even both of ilori and wisdom will stay in my opinion, depending on the formation we use.
If allen goes and all 3 of the strikers, I believe we may get a centre mid and a forward in the summer, and obviosuly a goalkeeper. I know we have origi returning, and sturridge, but personally every team should have 3 strikers, and personally I prefer sterling not as a striker.
Even if these players all go, this certainly doesn't leave us short.

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02 Feb 2015 17:21:03
You're probably not wrong Irish Rover, shame though because i'd like to see Ilori in our starting line up, guy has pace to burn and can play the ball - surely fits our system?!! - Wisdom too I would,ve liked to have been given a shot this season and thought Toure was our best CB when he played, had a really calming influence at the back, def a leader

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Fencey
I totally agree about having the third quality forward. Origi as we have been told would not be ready for PL football. Its ok maybe putting him on to play with Sturridge but to rely on him to play regularly would be too much.

The Real AG
Again i agree with you about Lucas but maybe the bridges have been burned. I also think Gerrard has been more than a fringe player but i do agree that the rest have had very little impact. Do you not think that having only 16 first team regulars is not enough? Surely we can't fill the other 16 spots with unknown quality? Do we not need some experience?

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02 Feb 2015 18:14:35
Wisdom has gained some valuable experience whilst at Derby and now WBA. I would like him to replace Toure in the summer.

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I think we need 3 players - a GK, a striker and a Centre Back. It doesn't have to be experienced players in the PL, but we do need players who can come in and start performing straight away, can't afford a year of settling in time.

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02 Feb 2015 18:26:14
For me AG, the priority would be a GK, a CM and a ST.

With Gerrard gone in the summer and Allen not up to scratch, I feel we definitely need another top CM. Schneiderlin would be my choice.

Red Rum

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Get back Illori and Wisdom, they will replace Toure and E.Can

E.Can to move to Mid to take Allens place.

Move on the rest, Keep hold of Lucas.

Get 3 players.
1 Bergovic/ Cech
2 G.Medel / Schederlin
3 Lazzate / Higuain

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Ilori and Wisdom are getting experience and could be valuable squad players next season in the absence of Toure. Gerrard's spot has already been filled by Can, who can play enough positions that we can afford 1 less squad player in defense/midfield. Enrique, bless him, should be playing along with Coates in a league that doesn't require you to come up against Sergio Aguero/Diego Costa. Brad's young yet, probably another loan. Alberto is a player that could come good but probably already burned his bridges here. Balotelli will be off. Borini and Lambert should stay, as Origi is yet young, Lambo is the type of attitude that he can stay 5 games on the bench and still give you his all, and I think Borini is still improving. Allen won't be leaving.

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Irish. good post fella.
For me it underlines the need to have a good sort out before throwing any more money at the transfer market.

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02 Feb 2015 15:58:01
OJO JOINS WIGAN

Wigan's a good place for him to get some experience. I trust he'll come back a better, more influential player.

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02 Feb 2015 15:20:51
Heard cavani and hummels have just been picked up from JOHN LENNON airport and have headed to melwood together playing eye spy in the back of the car apparently hummels is an oasis fan and cavani a beatles fan let's hope they don't fall out though!

You may say I'm a dreamer but I'm not the only one!

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This is soooooooooooooooooo not true is it??

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02 Feb 2015 17:55:15
As Cavani walked through the airport he was heard pleading into the phone 'tell Zlatan to release my children, I promise I'm leaving!'

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02 Feb 2015 15:02:41
Ojo has gone out on loan to Wigan. Good luck kiddo, make us look silly for not trying you when we couldn't hit a barn door with a shotgun!

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02 Feb 2015 14:30:36
Hi Eds. Not leaving much time as there are only 8 and half hours left but do you see us plundering a new goalie?? Ter Stegag, Cech, Begovic?? Any or all of the above.
Great work by the way. :o)

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{Ed002's Note - All of the above.}

I can't for the life of me see us pulling off all of them plus there is no need for so many keepers.

Also edd 2 I was under the impression a keeper would only come in the summer.

Thanks for being here today ed 2 xx

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02 Feb 2015 13:53:24
Ed fellow reds there will be no new signings coming in today

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02 Feb 2015 12:35:55
Dunn and Stewart have both been recalled from loan after picking up injuries, but Lloyd Jones has had his extended

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I thought they were only on a month loan?

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Glad Jones will still be there.
I'm going to the Robins vs Burton match at the wknd.
Thanks for the info.

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02 Feb 2015 15:01:53
They were a month loan but they still had another weekend there, didn't happen right at the start of the month

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02 Feb 2015 12:29:24
Have we completely written off Balotelli yet or is there anybody who still thinks he may come good?

I myself have a shred of dying hope that he might finally buck his ideas up and be a decent back-up striker, but i think it'll happen far too late for him to realise his full potential. Like it or not though, we're stuck with him until his contract runs out because nobody is going to buy him for what we want.

We can either perservere with him as a squad player, or pay for him to go out on loan to Italy (like we did with Aquilani) until his contract runs down. I'm really dissapointed that our coaching staff couldn't succeed where others had failed. I genuinely had faith in Rodgers to get the best out of him and Balotelli to finally change his attitude. Clearly my faith in both of them was misplaced.

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Me as well. We had no plan for him hence, we are just as responsible for his failure as he is. Will he come good? Nobody knows now because Sterling is the new striker now so he will be the start along w/ Studge. IMO, we should just sell hi and stop messing about w/ trying to get too much mony because frankly, NOBODY will even pay 10m-12m for him because of his past and present as well as everyone know we are desperate to get shot of him. Get what we can get for him so he can carry on his career and we can move on as a club.

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02 Feb 2015 12:54:42
I think Balo would play best for us playing behind Sturridge, I think that would give him the space he needs to play the sort of football he does. he's not been great so far but I would like to see him given more time to play and then make the decision at the end of the season.

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02 Feb 2015 12:59:14
Can easily see him as the kind of player we take a hit on to get rid of the wage bill and who spends the bulk of his career in America or the Middle East because he wouldn't do the work required to make it in a top league

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{Ed002's Note - I would think that he will return to Italy at some point.}

I am not disappointed in the coaching staff.I am disappointed in the committee for even thinking it could work.
As I said at the time, a multitude of managers couldn't get him to show the right attitude. He only has himself to blame when he's not looked back upon fondly. This will hopefully be a good lesson in how to to engage in transfers.
Sorry to say but any one who thinks he will still come good is deluded. An expensive lesson for BR, the staff and FSG. and I'm sorry to say the fans that love ''marquee'' signings

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The thing is though Bob, BR is part of the Committee. He could have said 'no' just like he did with Remi (as Ed001 or 2 mentioned). BR wanted him because he thought he could work on him and get him to do a job for LFC. This, despite BR knowing that he didn't fit into any system that he (BR) would be employing. It's what happens when one goes on a last minute, bargain hunt panic buy. Btw, I wouldn't call him a marquee signing as such.

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{Ed002's Note - Would Ings be a "marquee signing in the summer?}

Wonder if anything would have been different, for the better, had Sturridge not had injuries.

I recall a good game against Spurs, maybe a good partnership would have continued?

If it wasn't for pointless internationals and poor training while away from LFC we may have found out.

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Balotelli not a marquee signing, Come of it?A big name, clearly big wages, well known and many of the board predicting him to hit 20 goals a season. .In fact almost every one was using that definition at the time regarding him from pundits to fans


Also I am fully aware that BR is part of the committee.Why you have brought that up I don't know. Just as BR could have said no.I imagine the others members could have altered their positions, so clearly to rest or atleast majority of that committee wanted him too. I don't know what point you are trying to make there in all honesty. I mean if it comes down to BR wanting him against the committee and the player being bought, what's the point in the committe. so surely some of the other must have agreed. Like I say it's an expensive lesson for every one involved.

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It was a high risk transfer which I was disappointed the club proceeded with - not sure why anybody believed the coaching staff would somehow work a miracle where other high quality coaching staff had failed but I have to say Balotelli's time here has been completely predictable.

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02 Feb 2015 15:04:03
Probably Eds, but I just can't see him doing much there anymore - he's been hit and miss there so far at best, and it's been the weakest of Europe's top 5 leagues for a couple of years now

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02 Feb 2015 17:16:27
They was Predicting Balotelli to hit 20 goals a season ?!!! In the Prem?? Who was???
These people need sacking if they did because they know nothing about football?!!!! Even my son says Balo's awful infront of goal on FIFA so I don't know where these 'experts' are getting their ideas from.
Mario Balotelli thinks he can just walk around and be amazing. Like Bergkamp or Zlatan,,, but in all honesty plays like more like a one legged 59 year old Berbatov getting a piggy back off a slug

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I predicted he would score less than ten and ed 1 agreed with me. I do hope to be proved wrong

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02 Feb 2015 17:56:41
Maybe your son is the one awful at Fifa DBol, he's clinical for me and scored 50+ in all competitions second season!

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I don't think Balotelli has ever hit for 20 in his career and he only had 7 from open play all last year at Milan.

I think I had guessed he'd get about 8 this season, apparently I was wildly optimistic.

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Well I was mainly talking about people on here claiming he'd score 20 goals a season, I even had a littler £10 wager with EMS which I'm hoping he'll honour.

2 pundits said he was worth the gamble given his goals to return lawro, and I think Keown when I was watching footy focus. (Lwro 2 months later subsequently said he never understood why Liverpool bought him and he shouldn't have been in considertion)

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02 Feb 2015 20:16:41
Haha Probably hjikle. . Anyone who's watched football regularly over the past 5 years knows Mario isn't a goalscorer. Certainly thought he had the tools to be world class player though when you remember him as a teenager. Sadly his attitude has destroyed his ability

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BTW sidenote (EMS I found the thread) if Balotelli doesn't start banging them in you'll be £60 down

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02 Feb 2015 12:40:55
Read an article today about Carragher suggesting Sterling is our most important player and just wanted to say I completely disagree. In order, I'd say our top 10 most important players are:

1. Lucas
2. Sakho
3. Sturridge
4. Henderson
5. Sterling
6. Coutinho
7. Can
8. Toure
9. Gerrard (when played in an attacking position)
10. Lallana

For me though, there is absolutely no way that Sterling is more important than Lucas, Sakho or Sturridge to our team. In my opinion Henderson is also more crucial to our team but I'd accept others may disagree on that. quite simply though, Sakho is our best defender, Lucas is our best midfielder and Sturridge is our best attacker.

For me though, those 10 players are the people i believe make a genuine difference in games on a fairly consistent basis. Moreno and Markovic just missed out for me because I'm yet to be convinced that either are key players; despite the fact they are clearly very talented young players.

Mingolet is slowly improving and might well elevate himself to the status of a key player but as of yet he is still in the process of convincing me and many others I'm sure.

I'd love to know what others think though as I'm sure nobody will agree entirely on my top 10. The main point I don't think Stelring has earned the right to be called our most important player.

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Carra is only giving his opinion. However like you, I believe Sako and Lucas have been monstrous during this turnaround. We were leaking goals due to a porous midfield and a defence that could not get out of it`s own way until those two got back in the team. Sterling has improved and helped a lot BUT IMO, it is those two. Afor the others, they are coming along BUT not key players yet, Hopefuly with time, they will be.

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02 Feb 2015 13:02:01
I think that Sterling is the most important - not because of him being so crucial to how we play but because he's the future of the team. He's the youngest, arguably the most talented (but certainly among them) and doesn't seem to have any particular ongoing weakness for injuries. The team in the future will be built around him - he's the asset we can't lose. Lucas and Sakho are both vital to us but ultimately, we could replace them much easier than we could replace Sterling. Sturridge and Hendo are decent shouts but Sturridge I certainly think is potentially replaceable even if the quality won't quite be the same

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1. Sturridge
2. Henderson (showed end of last season when he was banned)
3. Lucas
4. Sakho
5. Sterling
6. Coutinho
7. Toure
8. Markowic
9. Lallana
10. Can

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Can't see how sakho is more important than everyone except lucas?

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Hjikle, I would be very surprised if Sterling is still at LFC in two years time.

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Fair enough hijkle. A compelling argument.

Fencey, I basically decided the order by asking myself "who am I tge most worried about losing to injury in our current squad". For me, Lucas, Sakho and Sturridge are the 3 players I feel we miss the most when they're not on the pitch. Sturridge is our main goal threat, but we do have others capable of scoring inconsistently. Whereas with Sakho and Lucas, I don't feel we have anyone in the squad capable of doing what they do to the same standard.

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1. Sturridge (he is amazing)
2. Lucas (rock)
3. Coutinho (no one creates more chances than this guy)
4. Sterling (pure energy)
5. Mignolet (zero decent backup)
6. Sakho (best defender)
7. Can (gives us so many options of formations. Our best summer signing)
8. Henderson (great leader and player. Bundle of energy. 8th because we have some cover for this position)
9. Skrtel (I've been a critic too but he's been central to the good defence lately. Literally.)
10. Moreno/Markovic joint 10th. Because I need 2 more to complete the first team. Almost sounds harsh to put them last. They've been performing really really well.

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If its as a matter of importance then surely Sturridge has to be top scene as how we have missed his goals all season? The other 9 are much of a muchness.

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02 Feb 2015 20:21:29
Sturridge. You'd THINK he was bigger than the entire club the way Liverpool just give up and wait for him to be fit. Should've signed someone to share the goals burden by now. Mario, Rickie and that other guy who bites his hand once every 5 month just don't cut it as goalscorers

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02 Feb 2015 21:06:52
Our top 5 influential players
1. Balotelli
2. Johnson
3. Lovren
4. Lambert
5. Mignolet
You've got to give these guys credit. Without them there was no 'turning-around' to do! :P

Jokes apart hopefully Lovren and Mignolet come good

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02 Feb 2015 12:16:27
come on lads were are the amusing posts, its a bit quiet on here.
"I was just walking the dog past Anfield and saw Cavani/Ronaldo/Messi driving their Ferrari/Porshe/Lambo into the car park. Must be for last minute talks.

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Man. I still remember the one where some guy said he was walking down the street in Madrid in 2011 and he saw Ian Ayre who dropped his brief case and all the paperwork fell out. He then went on to say that some of the paperwork made it over to where he was(thanks to a gust of wind) and he saw something saying we were going to sign Aguero for £35million.

Had me in stitches!

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02 Feb 2015 10:26:49
Apparently we're only 8 points worse off than this time last season. Infuriating really when you look back at some of the games we've lost or drawn when we should have won them. Also, all this without a proper striker playing.

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02 Feb 2015 11:55:38
It's easy to forget considering how we ended last season that when we played Spurs for the second time (which I think was early Feb but may have been late Jan) it was actually billed at the match for 4th place and they would have gone equal points with us had we lost. Last season was great looking back from this point, but it clearly wasn't all the way through!

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This only shows how had we not wasted have a season dithering around, we would be in a better position now and still be in the CL because our group was weak enuff for us to go thru. Very Frustrating!

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02 Feb 2015 08:34:33
Hi eds do you see Lambert being loaned out today and are we interested in Gignac as a replacement?

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{Ed002's Note - Search engine please.}

02 Feb 2015 08:21:57
EMS, saw your post re us being 5th highest spenders in world football, even above city and Monaco, I guess that's gross spend, what about net spend? Any idea?

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Not a clue mate but Considering Suarez is the only player we've sold for a decent fee in the last 2 years I would hazard a guess we're probably third only to United and PSG. Madrid and Chelsea have made big sales.

Regardless of whether my estimate is correct, this is largely irrelevant as our revenue is far behind the likes of City, Chelsea, United and Madrid.

We simply cannot afford to spend how much we have been any more and until we get a decent scouting/transfer system in place, and Rodgers starts using academy players as squad players, this club will only go backwards into the debt we were fortunate to clear once. Comolli/Dalglish/Rodgers/Committee have crippled us for years.

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The issue is not spending money, its how mismanaged and illogical the spending was.

how many games
Borini, Aspas, l.Alberto, Sahin, Assaidi, Yesil, Moses, Cissoko, Lambert, Balo, illori, manqullio have played for us in total.

Per Game to pound ratio for these will be huge, that could have been well saved or well spent.

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You are quite simply wrong Red till death.

It doesn't matter if you spend 270m on 27 squad player or 5 world class players. You still spent 270m and that is still more than the club can afford.

The club is in debt, failing FFP and under performing on the pitch. Sorry if that realism hits you in the face like a tonne of bricks but people on here need to start accepting facts. We're spending too much money and not making enough in return through sales, sponsors, prize money etc. FACT.

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EMS I think he means that given that none of these players are given the opportunity to play regularly here or successfully on loan despite costing large sums and obviously being quite talented we inevitably fail to develop them well and sell them for anything close to their original sum.

If there's anything about Chelsea I can respect it is their ability to maximise value for their fringe players in most cases. Luiz, Lukaku, De Brunye, Mata even Sturridge and Meireles (even though Sturridge looks a bargain now). We are repeatedly unable to do this and in some cases stunt development by several years. If we were able to develop a strategy to maximise their value it would go some way to offset costs.

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Lmred, the difference between Chelsea and LFC is that Chelsea sign lots of players even if they are not required immediately for the squad with a definite progressive plan for every individual case. They make sure that the market value of these players does not dip due to lack of game time and their timing of selling players is just perfect. We just sign players and then forget why they were signed in the first place. We either stick them on the subs bench regularly or loan them out without getting assurances that the other party would give them enough game time to make real progress. Ilori, Aspas and Alberto are classic examples of such cases. Its just my opinion though. The club needs to work out its loan system better and distinguish between players they need now and for the future.

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Again the "net spend" argument which IMO, is a false argument. We spent 270m on players who were not good enuff, never got a chance or whose talent were never maximised. Those are the facts. Using the "net spend" is only a tool to soften the blow of clueless spending to me. I studied finance in Uni and it doesn`t matter how much you recouped because if you are spending 100m a season and fighting for 4th, you are wasting money because your investment is not being maximised while other teams are spending same amount and are fighting for the title. Their money is working for them while ours is NOT. That is the bottom line, IMO. It really doesn`t matter how much we rake in if we are not maximising the returns on our investments.

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That is true Imred, however I would rather cut out the financial risks compeltely and focus on developing our own academy players right now.

When we have sustainable success and a financial foundation like Chelsea do, then we can start playing around in the part ownership, loan, and parent club markets. It is too risky to run that kind of opertation during a building/transitional process; which we are currently in due to shocking management at every level throughout the club.

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Indian Buzzer, it's really not like that.
Chelsea's transfers are just handled far better than our own.
Profits on Schurrle, Luiz,Mata,Lukaku to name but a few.
They really have hit the nail on the head,
Also worth mentioning that by the time FFP was introduced, Chelsea's squad was already worth like £500 million, so they've got it sussed out.

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WelshBoyDave, i was not talking about Chelsea's established first team players. I was talking about the likes of De Bruyne, Lukaku etc. These 2 were 2 very highly rated young players who were sent out on loans to clubs where they would be key members of the squad and came back better players with valuable experience. Since Chelsea could not find a regular place for them in their squad, they cashed in on them for big money once they had shown everyone how good those two could be with regular game time. It was a win - win situation for Chelsea.
The likes of Luiz, Mata and Schurrle were already full internationals when Chelsea purchased them, so i do not see why they would have been loaned out in the first place. They were always going to be sold for big money. I was talking specifically about the loan system, not the transfer system of the clubs as a whole.

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{Ed002's Note - Just to be clear. De Bruyne was moved on by Chelsea because the club could not agree to certain demands. Lukaku was moved on because of an incident more than a year ago and an immediate decision was taken not to have him back from his loan last summer.}

EMS, I'm all for the development of youth. I am the biggest fan of Martin Kelly you'll find! I think given the right development Teixeria, Rossiter, Ojo, Sinclair, Wilson to name a few could go on to be fantastic players. The issue I was pointing out was not just that we cannot develop and sell on our 'failed' purchases for a healthy sum. It is an issue all the way across the board.

That we are so poor at transitioning most of our youth team either on loan or at the club that if they do not make it into the Liverpool squad they are let go for almost nothing. I think as a club now it is no longer feasible to say 'lets develop our youth team now and then think about how to maximise value of our fringe players'. A complete overhaul of how we treat both our youth and fringe players needs to be done at the same time. Because fringe players who don't play often take up room in the first team squad that could be development time for our youth.

Bare in mind I am not targeting any of our fringe players. I think Borini, Aspas, Balotelli, Lambert are all good players but Rodgers either won't play them, can't figure out how to get the best out of them etc. Imagine how Borinis career would have developed had he stuck it with Roma after a debut season scoring 9 goals in 24. I am rarely one to write off players because the likelihood is if they are talented enough they will make it eventually at a decent club. The issue with us is that we are unable to translate that talent either at youth level or at first team into any sort of meaningful transfer fee most of the time.

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Oh I definitely agree with that mate. Any player already here should be treated with respect and either utilised or sold on in a deal that suits all parties involved.

I simply meant that going forward, we should stop signing players to fill squad rolescthat academy players are capable of filling. By and large, I agree with you.

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02 Feb 2015 17:28:53
Ed002, but the important thing here is that both Lukaku and De Bruyne were loaned out to clubs where they played regularly and came back with superior reputations in terms of football experience. Plus Chelsea made a healthy profit on both the players. Even the likes of Piazon, Hazard are playing regular footie and will either be integrated into the first team squad or be sold for decent money.

On the other hand, the likes of Alberto, Aspas, Teixiera are hardly featuring for their clubs, so what happens when they come back next season? Do the club keep them in spite of the fact that their replacements have already been brought or do they sell for huge losses? Its a lose-lose situation from every POV.

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{Ed002's Note - That is all correct IB. Chelsea has a plan for each player and folks oversee them. Chelsea has helped out a couple of the clubs (providing facilities) that they have agreements with them to take players on loan. Someone checks where they are living and what they do with their spare time. They are encouraged to do a little charity work in their local communities and go to local schools to assist with training the kids there. It is all structured and planned with each player having a player liaison (often ex Chelsea players). Liverpool has been rather more ad hoc with their loans - largely dumping players on loan during the summer just to move them out.}

02 Feb 2015 17:34:34
Ed002, but the important thing here is that both Lukaku and De Bruyne were loaned out to clubs where they played regularly and came back with superior reputations in terms of football experience. Plus Chelsea made a healthy profit on both the players. Even the likes of Piazon, Hazard are playing regular footie and will either be integrated into the first team squad or be sold for decent money.
On the other hand, the likes of Alberto, Aspas, Teixiera are hardly featuring for their clubs, so what happens when they come back next season? Do the club keep them in spite of the fact that their replacements have already been brought or do they sell for huge losses? Its a lose-lose situation from every POV.

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{Ed002's Note - That is all correct. Chelsea has a structured plan for each of the loaned players and have helped the clubs taking them with facilities on occasion. The players each has a player liaison (typically ex Chelsea players) and they are checked on to see how they are living and spending their spare time. They are encouraged to get involved with the local community and do a little charity work, help out with school sports etc..}

We can defo learn a thing or ten from Chelsea`s strategy which is well-thought out.

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02 Feb 2015 05:38:23
What a showing by arsenal yesterday and no sanchez ( but entire team is fit now). looks like they are hell sure for top 4. now its one spot for liverpool, soto, united and spurs.
we also have started to turn it on and have sturridge, ibe back, i think if we win against everton and tottenham, we are definitely top of the pack for champions league.
( it just tells you the importance of a good striker in a team, arsenal have giroud back and they are a different team, we have sturridge back and we looked so threatening in the 20 minutes he was on . tottenham found it in kane and they are flying )

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Did you not watch Villa?
They were awful.
Yes Arsenal played well but you can't judge a club on one game against Villa.
Next week Arsenal play Spurs and we play Everton.
That surely is a better indicator?

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02 Feb 2015 07:50:29
Arsenal looked good yesterday, but they always look good one day and awful the next. Saying they are 'hell sure' for top 4 makes no more sense then saying it about us following the Spurs match, or the Swansea one.

Aston Villa were appallingly bad and gifted them goals. They are a team that hasn't managed to score a single goal for 6 games, that's how bad they are. A lot of season still to go

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02 Feb 2015 08:36:30
Top 4 relies very heavily on six key games between now and the end of the season:-
Spurs (h, 10 Feb)
Southampton (a, 22 Feb)
Man City (h, 01 Mar)
Man Utd (h, 22 Mar)
Arsenal (a, 04 Apr)
Chelsea (h, 09 May)
In addition we have two tricky games against Stoke and Swansea who are both not that far behind us, and one wild card game - Everton (derbies are always unpredictable).

To be thinking of 4th spot, we really need to take at least 12 out of the 18 points available there (besides winning most of the rest opf our games) as these are teams above us, so it not only stops them pulling further away but also closes the gap on them and let's us start to overtake. So we basically have at least 2 cup final games a month between now and the end of the season. Football is a cruel game and my gut feeling is that if 4th becomes likely, the key game will be Chelsea with fate dictating they need three points to be champions and we need three points to be 4th (no room for slip ups there then ).

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Totally understand what people are saying about Villa and about us being great one game awful the next but at the etihad everything changed and hopefully it was permanent.
We we're disaplined like I haven't seen for year's and Coquelins arrival looks to be the DM we have needed for so long.
The work rate of some has been increased by Sanchez shining example but all have upped their work rate since the city game, if you look at Merterducker against yourself Stoke and Southampton he made a plumage look active, but yesterday he was running trying to actually recover position even though the ball was behind him, not seen him do that for ? Well ever.
How long it lasts is up for debate of course but I have not seen the ability matched by the effort for a lot of years and its a pleasure to watch again, .
Long way to go in the top 4 race for all involved but its been a long time since we looked like the 4th place trophy was an underachievement for us

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Since we played them in that god awful game, Arsenal have improved a considerable amount. Taking 15/18 points. including a game against City.

People have been claiming we are back on track when we get 2-0 victories looking poor against Villa, yet claim Arsenal can't be judged beating Villa 5-0.

Liverpool will not get 4th spot. if you think that will happen, you might as well put your money where your mouth is and bet on us winning in an accumulator vs arsenal, UTD, city, Chelsea, Spurs and Soto, as that's what we have to do.

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Agree with Bobatron. The teams we have beaten recently are all awful teams who will very much be in relegation battle. We have yet to face a half decent team in the league for over a month, so all this talk about LFC being back to their best needs to be cooled down. I still believe Arsenal will comfortably get 3rd place while we fight it out with Man Utd, Saints and Spurs for 4th.

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02 Feb 2015 10:51:20
I'm not claiming that Arsenal didn't do well or aren't likely to get into the CL. Just that it's too early to say anyone but Chelsea and City are guaranteed (or any other phrasing that means guaranteed) - we're all having the occasional stutter, off game and masterclass performance and a lot will depend on how we all perform against each other, with most of those games still to play!

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Gunner62 You can only beat what is in front of you.
And you played really well.
Ozil and Walcott coming back and in good form is very good timing for you.
But I can't judge you on a 5-0 against Villa.
That triangle of Carlos Sanchez, Okore and Clarke is the worst in the league.
Sanchez is the worst defensive midfielder I have seen for a long time.
You can't read too much into that.
Having said that. They beat us:)

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Personally back in August I thought you'd finish 7th this season simply because losing Suarez would be too difficult to cope with for Rodgers and his signings did nothing to convince me otherwise.
But below city and chavs no team has been consistently good over the first 23 games and now top 3/4 is very much a 5 team race and you've as much chance as any but only if you ditch the Thursday night league ASAP

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02 Feb 2015 11:58:03
Also Indian, granted we couldn't pull it off in the end but we did just draw twice with Chelsea. And we beat West Ham and Swansea - both of who have been strong this year and had some big wins. Not going over the top and saying we're back to our best, we're not. But it's not been all bottom half teams

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Hjikle, Swansea were awful that day. They would have struggled to get anything against a Sunday League club the way they played against us. Garry Monk himself did say it was Swansea's worst performance in a while. Completely forgot about West Ham even though it was just recent. But that was our only convincing performance in the league over the last month or so. The games against Everton, Spurs, City will give us a better idea of where LFC actually deserves to stand, and if the club fails these tests then i'm afraid the writing is on the wall for BR.

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We are playing catch for no reason which is why I can understand why many think we won`t come 4th because there are too many obstacles to overcome. But we are in the mix and we play the teams ahead of us which is what IMO, will determine if we get 3/4 or not. Heres to hoping!

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We are playing catch for no reason which is why I can understand why many think we won`t come 4th because there are too many obstacles to overcome. But we are in the mix and we play the teams ahead of us which is what IMO, will determine if we get 3/4 or not. Heres to hoping!

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How are the 3 points against City or Chelsea anymore important than the others?
We will be nowhere near either, so apart from helping decide who'll win the league, those two games won't decide sh!t.
Spurs,Arsenal, Soton yeah, 6 pointers, but City and Chelsea are light years ahead of us,

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I still say arsenal are hell sure because they HV done this like 8 seasons straight and they always turn it up . they HV a full squad . I mean just look at that squad ozil cazorla Ramsey Sanchez Walcott ox giroud available ( wilshere, arteta injured) flamini . youth players like bellerin coquelin coming in and contributing. Arsenal have a great squad and are looking good. And they will be top4 . its between lfc and others the remaining spot . Chelsea city arsenal are there.

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02 Feb 2015 15:24:25
Ak - you can say that about anyone. Spurs have Erikson, Kane, Chadli, Vertoghen, Lloris etc all having storming season with young players like Benteleb and Mason contributing greatly. We have our load of Sturridge, Sterling, Coutinho, Lucas, Sakho etc with plenty of young options around like Ibe to chip in. United have a mouthwatering attacking line up with the likes of Di Maria, Falcao, Rooney, RVP etc. And Soton just seem to roll on, even when they take a knock they recover and just keep going. Good luck to everyone and may the best team over the season win, not just the one who hits the best form for a month mid-season!

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