Liverpool Banter Archive September 02 2017

02 Sep 2017 21:53:01
Am hoping that we don't lose Emre, but I have convinced myself that he is off to Juventus next year.

A question for Ed 2 - do you think there is any way in a million years that Can doesn't know what contract Juventus will be offering him in January?

{Ed002's Note - He will likely know.}

02 Sep 2017 22:11:41
Hes a great player and is now confident enough to stake a claim to be 1st name on the team sheet,

I reckon that he will see how it goes berween now and Jan.

03 Sep 2017 08:40:19
We have to do all we have to keep him as it would be a shame to let him go now after he has come good.

02 Sep 2017 21:20:28
Ben Woodburn has just come off the bench to score a quality goal for Wales, futures looking Bright for that lad.

02 Sep 2017 22:44:43
Where did he play? Up front or in a deeper midfield role?

02 Sep 2017 21:19:05
Thanks ed2 for the reply I guess it's going take a lot from both sides to sort the issues out.

02 Sep 2017 21:17:39
Ben woodburn with a cracking goal.

02 Sep 2017 20:17:55
Thanx for bearing us during the window to all the eds🤗🤗🤗.

{Ed002's Note - You are welcome.}

02 Sep 2017 19:38:05
Hi Ed002,
could you please share your thougts on the transfer window? Do you consider it to be a good one for the club? thanks.

{Ed002's Note - It was good for the club in terms of the players they signed, bad for the image to an extreme, and bad for Klopp who needs to find out that being a cheat isn't a good thing.}

02 Sep 2017 20:49:18
My god change the record.

02 Sep 2017 20:54:02
Googled jurgen klopp cheat funny thing is the first thing that came up was a song about chelsea.

02 Sep 2017 21:11:09
Move on. City next. Let's smash em.

03 Sep 2017 00:54:11
Why so hard on klopp, surly he's not doing anything any other manager isnt?

{Ed002's Note - To an extreme he is.}

02 Sep 2017 18:10:05
My message to Coutinho.

You are earning big money at Liverpool mate. You came here with your career going nowhere. Do not cry because LFC did not want to sell you.

You have a chance to make history at Liverpool as the club is moving forward. At Barcelona you will be going backwards and it is clear to see that they will not be coming back for you unless they are willing to pay the ultimate price which they have confirmed they won't.

Stand up, dust yourself off and wipe those tears away as crying about it ain't going to get you anywhere and it won't be taking you to any place other than Liverpool.

Stand up and be a man :-)

02 Sep 2017 18:28:27
Nice one, Max. As they say in the States, "Stop crying and get off your arse, put your big boy pants on, tie up those boot straps, go out there and get it done".

02 Sep 2017 18:31:16
We live in a world where people can barely feed or afford to house themselves and he's getting pissy over not being able to move to Barcelona, yet is on more in a week than it takes some in the world a lifetime to earn, to hell with him.

02 Sep 2017 19:53:46
Nice one Max!

02 Sep 2017 16:42:19
What has impressed me most about Klopp is that every signing he has made since joining Liverpool has not been farmed out on loan or gone missing like we had in many windows before he arrived.

He has worked with every new addition. That shows that he is not here to waste the clubs money.

Now there may be calls for Grujic as it does not seem he will get much of a run this season unless it is in the cups or if we are bare due to injury. Maybe Klopp sees Grujic as not being ready yet?

02 Sep 2017 17:15:16
Caulker 😂.

02 Sep 2017 17:48:16
Ok, ok. He was a loan signing after all. Clearly ill advised by whoever suggested to Klopp that loaning Caulker was a good idea.

02 Sep 2017 18:35:19
Signings under Klopp so far:

Caulker, Matip, Grujic, Karius, Klavan, Mane, Wijnaldum, Solanke, Salah, Robertson, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Keita.

Bar Caulker, everyone is still at the club.

02 Sep 2017 19:08:58
If all his poor signing are short term loans then he'll be miles ahead of any previous Liverpool manager in the last 20yr. Caulker was an obvious mistake but so minor it's ridiculous to judge a manager on.

02 Sep 2017 22:53:23
Caulker wasn't a mistake. Unfortunately the lad had issues that seriously affected his game.

02 Sep 2017 16:09:43
Max Meyer has confirmed he leave Schalke on a free next summer. Surely as a free we will be interested? Would be a good deal even as a bench player for impact. As it stands we are losing both Can and Coutinho next summer, so signing Meyer on a pre contract in January for a summer arrival should be something we are looking at.

02 Sep 2017 16:37:14
If he's a klopp target we will definitely try.

02 Sep 2017 17:40:51
We're not losing coutinio next year. He has 4 + years left on his contract doesn't he? I was all for keeping him but the crying and the "great sadness" has annoyed me. We will probably sell him next year though for massive money. If it's done at the very start of summer we should have plenty of time and money to sort something out. Can is a different story, I'd like us to do w/ e we can to keep him. He has to understand that with quality we have in midfield also with kieta coming in he isn't going to play every game. I think he takes a look at where the club are at around January and then decides. Kieta and lemar in and Can and coutinio out is fine by me.

02 Sep 2017 17:43:38
Nabby is already in the fold and will replace Can even tho I don't want Can to leave as he and Naby will make a deadly midfield pair. As for Meyer, we shall see as right now, he is no where close to Cou's level and Lemar is already a better player than him. I trust the scouting team and Klopp as they will have near a full season to scout Cou's replacement thoroughly.

02 Sep 2017 18:37:45
Given how Barcelona gave an ultimatum to Coutinho that it was this summer or never, and with Ed002 saying that they will move on, so yeah, you would expect Barcelona to not come back.

But we know they have no class and will crawl back.

02 Sep 2017 15:51:58
I've been on this site since it was one rumours page for all teams.

I have to say well done to the Eds, esp. Ed01, Ed02 and Ed25.

This Summer you set your own bar even higher. You nailed it. We really enjoyed the ride!

{Ed002's Note - Thanks.}

02 Sep 2017 19:16:28
I'm sorry but who that the Eds said we would sign actually signed? Ed001 on deadline day "probable that we would sign Lemar" apparently we had no interest whatsoever according to Balague. Macca is the only one who correctly predicts transfers.

{Ed002's Note - There was interest, I explained that.

We get used to ungrateful readers like you. I suggest you write a begging letter to Macca asking him to spend as much time as I do sharing what he knows through the entire January window. I am sure he will agree to do that and I will happily step back at that point. I have deleted a number of posts who have been betting on Macca's say so which I find worrying - but when he is here throughout January I am sure you can all make a "bundle" or whatever morons like you call it. I have no doubt it will be a blast for all.}

02 Sep 2017 21:54:32
This is amazing! Calling out the edds over the info they provide for free, have some respect for the job the edds do, crawl back under you rock you helmet.

03 Sep 2017 11:31:54
All the edds worked their bum cheeks off for us this window. Macca gave good info which was appreciated, but his efforts do not match eds 1, 2, 25 and Mr edd 33 that does loads behind the scenes.

{Ed025's Note - cheers walter..

02 Sep 2017 15:29:05
Question for eds. Its not our way to buy in january if not needed. Even when needed its seem hard for us dipping into the market in january like last season. I only can remember the last time we have a good january transfer when we bought coutinho n sturridge. But I read from several report, we already planning to straight forward continue trying to buy VVD n Lemar when the january transfer is reopen. So is the report are true and its the new planning for the club to pursuit higher achievement like PL title for example rather than just see n wait till january, then start to analyst what n where we can improve? or its just another bs from tabloid? If you don't exactly know the very fact, what's your opinion on that matter?

{Ed002's Note - Generally clubs do not plan to buy in January. Some plan to negotiate with players who are to be out of contract in the summer and some look to sweep up a couple of players on the cheap in January as they will be out of contract in the summer. Liverpool publically withdrew all interest in van Dijk this summer. Liverpool did not offer anything like an acceptable amount for Lemar and Monaco will not be open to selling in January. The target for the club every single season since the owners arrived has been the Premier League title. Liverpool can make space in the squad by selling or releasing Bogdan and Markovic in January so they could potentially add players if they want.}

02 Sep 2017 14:44:53
Any truth Eds in the 200 million euros that Barcelona claims we have aked for Coutinho or is just excuses to cover their inability in the transfer market?

{Ed002's Note - I really don't know but what I do know and have explained is that Liverpool were meeting with Barcelona and there was some negotiation and Liverpool lied about it rather than say nothing. Which again makes them look stupid.}

02 Sep 2017 15:08:39
It is simple business logic, if you do not want to sell something, price it so high that the other party is not able to meet it. I am not sure how does that make liverpool look stupid.

{Ed002's Note - By putting a price on a player you are making him for sale whilst lying to the fans and saying he is not. It is far from "simple business logic".}

02 Sep 2017 16:36:45
I obviously don't know the details but if Liverpool put a price on Coutinho pre-Neymar then they were entirely in their rights to change that price after. It's clear Barcelona were put in a tough spot as the prices they were quoted on any replacements skyrocketed once everyone saw the 200m, just as Liverpool would have been stuck if Coutinho had been sold without a replacement lined up.

I mean 35m for Salah then suddenly we were quoted 80m+ for Lemar? Clearly 6 months ago no-one would have dreamt that was sensible.

Sometimes it's better just to say sorry but the market has changed and we're not getting stuck without our best player without a sensibly priced replacement.

{Ed002's Note - Sure, but to turn up to negotiate and up the price each time whilst lying to the fans is unprofessional. Clearly you don't think it is.}

02 Sep 2017 17:38:19
Ed 02 where you at these meetings or are you just taking the words of Barca's pr machine or then again someone high up in the club is leaking info meeting can take place without"lying", which is a strong word, but keeping your cards close to your chest.

{Ed002's Note - No, I told you each time they happened - but everyone seems to care only what they are tyold on Twitter. The club lied, like it lied to a formal investigation and like it tried to persuade the parents of a child lie.}

02 Sep 2017 18:12:49
It is unprofessional, Ed and that was not just stupid BUT highly unnecessary. If we weren't selling, we did not need to do all that really. As for the prices, that seems to be the way it is, SG. Had we sold Cou and we wnated say Lanzini, if Lanzini was a 35m pound player, he would have been a 60m player had we gone in for him, Why? Every man and his dog would know that we are flush with cash and would want as much of it as possible. It's crap but that's life in football right now.

02 Sep 2017 18:33:32
Whoah thems strong words have we wronged you and what's the kids case got to do with Barcelona you seem very bitter towards club and fans.

02 Sep 2017 19:05:28
I don't think a club is truly obligated to reveal the finer workings and details of ongoing negotiations or plans, for players. But if you are going to release statements to the media or make public declarations, then how is it too much for it to be the truth? Otherwise, just stay mum about it. The truth eventually always comes out anyway. My reading is that Lfc were playing a stalling game to see how Coutinho would react, which player was available for replacement (whether Keita, Lemar or another) and to see how desperate and how far Barcelona would go. Only this explains all that went on in the Coutinho/ Barca scenario.

02 Sep 2017 14:20:49
Hi Eds, could Couts negotiate a realease clause/ fee in his current contract with LFC? So if Barcelona come back next Summer he then has a poss exit route that meets the valuation of the club. Could VVD negotiate the same with saints? Cheers.

{Ed002's Note - No.}

02 Sep 2017 14:46:24
No need for all that. Once Klopp gets his hands on Lemar, LFC will themselves push Coutinho out of the door to which ever club will take him (would be hilarious if Real made an acceptable bid) . As long as the Lemar transfer (or any other Coutinho replacement) is paid for in full by Coutinho's departure, I couldn't care less what happens next.

02 Sep 2017 14:43:47
Thanks Ed002. Surprised both players signed long contracts without an exit clause given their quality.

{Ed002's Note - This is England. The use of any sort of clauses is rare, expensive and unnecessary. Transfers simply take place when all parties agree - e.g. Oxlade Chamberlain.}

02 Sep 2017 15:28:22
I think liverpool are becoming a SERIOUS team. I wouldn't be surprised if we go further than Barcelona this year. If we put good showing in ucl and win the league why would anyone want to leave? A lot of "ifs" but I really fancy us this season.

02 Sep 2017 14:03:48
What I found quite funny is when Klopp said he rested Mignolet vs Arsenal. Do keepers need to be rested? Klopp also said Mignolet is still no 1 afterwards.

Mignolet himself did not look to happy during the match as he never even made the bench.

Will we see Karius vs City again or could we be in for a much bigger surprise with Ward starting?

02 Sep 2017 14:17:46
Karius had no shots on target against him.
Yet almost conceded twice by his nervousness on the ball.
Migs will start.

02 Sep 2017 15:21:23
What I find funny is tabloid's stating he was dropped for breaking a curfew the night before. Even though it was reported on this page the day before he would not be playing.

02 Sep 2017 15:45:09
Something must have happened. Either a potential sale or something needing disciplinary action. Mignolet gets dropped entirely from the squad, Klopp makes up a story for the public (keeping it in the dressing room) and they move on.

02 Sep 2017 16:04:59
Wouldn't call it nervous on the ball! If anything he was far too relaxed!

02 Sep 2017 16:30:34
Yes to relaxed. but confident. I'd like to see him given another run In the team. we know migs is not good enough.

02 Sep 2017 22:09:24
Ward will not be starting against City.

02 Sep 2017 13:29:12
Firstly I want to say Well done to the Ed's for a great job during the transfer window. Secondly I would like to say well done to the Liverpool transfer committee for not letting Coutinho go. Thirdly I would like to say well done to all the clubs that stood their ground in transfer dealings and I include Southampton in that. Player power has gotten out of control it's about time it was kerbed.

02 Sep 2017 13:15:20
Just wanted to thank all the eds and Macca for all there hard work and answering our question.

{Ed002's Note - Thanks.}

02 Sep 2017 12:53:53
Any truth in FSG asking for 200 million euros from Barcelona for Coutinho? Or is it the inept Barcelona board just covering their a***s to prevent a full fledged fan meltdown?
When it was clear as daylight that he was not for sale, they should have moved on to other targets. Bartomeu is definitely getting kicked out now.

02 Sep 2017 13:35:13
I wonder why they felt the need to release such information as well as why, in their statement, they issued a thanks for Coutinho for trying to engineer a move out of the club. Very brazen of them, Coutinho has not covered himself in glory at all and should be embarrassed by his conduct.

02 Sep 2017 13:48:44
This is completely embarrassing conduct by Barca.

The club coming out and making a statement like this is pathetic.

02 Sep 2017 13:57:57
Coutinho should also be embarrassed by his dream club's conduct in this whole saga. Seriously, the entire Barcelona board is a farce. Who behaves and talks s*** like this?
Stuff like this should be kept quiet and behind closed doors. If LFC have a reputation of dealing with clubs badly, what will those very clubs think about Barcelona now? Who will want to deal with them after the dirty manipulative tactics they use to force other clubs to sell them players? And that too they do it shamelessly in front of the whole world.
I never thought I would hate a club more than Man Utd, but congratulations to Barcelona for taking top spot in that list.

02 Sep 2017 13:26:37
I think probably an element of truth in both. I hope Liverpool did turn round and say €200m or get knotted (why not capitalise on what Pipco tried to do to us) and also Barcelona have to say something to save face. They are already imploding and not being able to sign players isn't going to improve how their fans feel!

As far as I am concerned, FSG have done exactly what we would have wanted here. If we could have gotten 200m euros then I would have congratulated them (as long as it got reinvested back into improving the squad etc)

{Ed002's Note - It is the club not FSG and it is something that is embarrassing given their not for sale stance. They had a price from the start and kept changing it.}

02 Sep 2017 15:07:49
Why embarassing? if Liverpool had managed to get £183m out of Barcelona i don't think there would have been an unhappy Liverpool fan anywhere. Clubs change"not for sale"stances all the time. Im sure that if we sold for £183m and went straight to Southampton and Monaco and offered £100m to each of them they would have bitten our hands off. As for changing prices, why not? Circumstances are always going to affect how much a club asks for a player. We knew Barcelona were desperate. just like Monaco knew in the last coupla days of the window.

{Ed002's Note - You don't find any of Liverpool's behaviour embarrassing then? If Liverpool had of gone to Southampton and offered them anything that would have been the most embarrassing of all after the board and owners had laid another trail of slime with their humiliating apology and their publically withdrawing interest in the player in order to try and avoid yet another charge of impropriety against the club.

Monaco did not know Liverpool were desparate, otherwise Liverpool would have offered an acceptable amount for the player.

Liverpool have been unprofessional, pathetic and embarrassing in their attempts to bring in the players Klopp wanted and need to learn from a series of warnings they have recieved, the formal complaints made against the club, the charges laid against the club, the ongoing legal issue, the fines and the ban they are currently serving. It is a surprise that you think all of this is simply hunky dory.}

02 Sep 2017 15:49:08
I said all summer when people were slating the club on here that i would love the club to conduct their business in the right way, but i wasnt getting carried away or following the sheep when they didnt. Imagine my surprise then when the whole Barcelona machine start rolling into action and it was proven Lfc weren't the only big bad wolf out there.

{Ed002's Note - Liverpool remain well and truly bottom of the pile Emre.}

02 Sep 2017 11:24:41
Transfer window closed but Klopp can still improve the defense. Get in a defensive coach, with the alleged 80 million he was going to spend on VVD take a small percentage of that go and find the best defensive coach on the planet and pay him a big salary and let him work with the defenders.
Start fixing the problem at a fraction of the cost.

02 Sep 2017 12:25:46
The problem is, the best are not always the most expensive or well known. It would require our club to actually have people who know football running it, which we do not. Id honestly just go and get mike phelan or steve clark but klopp is so stubborn i know he never will.

02 Sep 2017 12:32:06
Wool, yeah it's obvious we are quite deficient in scouting but I think all is not lost if the manager can get his head out and get help to improve the defense. I believe it would pay huge dividends and would lead us to an excellent shot at the title. Attack is very good but he needs someone else to sort the defense, he's proven after 2 seasons him and his current coaches can't do it.

02 Sep 2017 12:44:18
Maybe E001 would do it?

02 Sep 2017 12:57:28
Eds any thought on this?

{Ed001's Note - there were clear signs in the last game that they had been working on the defence and changed things around. I don't mean the high line on free kicks, which is new for this season, I mean the picking up of players. The mix is more balanced between zonal and man-to-man judging from that. They were making sure to pick up any players that were dangerous with a man marker and then zonal. So long as they continue to set out with one man tasked with organising it, unlike in the past where no one did, then it should improve anyway as the players get used to it. On the high line free kicks, you can clearly see Henderson take charge and ensure everyone is picking up their man (at one particular freekick I remember him bawling out Lovren 4 or 5 times in a row until Lovren took notice and adjusted his position to cover his man). I did not see who was organising on deeper set pieces, but that should be down to the keeper and one thing for sure is that Karius is better at that than Mignolet according to his past record and the staff that have and are working with him. A lot of the issues were down to Mignolet, who does not command his defenders in the way he should, sadly. He is just too nice.}

02 Sep 2017 12:57:58
Our fans make it sound so simple when majority have no clue about coaching, management etc.

Has anyone on here managed or coached in football at the highest level?

{Ed001's Note - that does not mean they can't spot a problem though. Just because I couldn't fix a car when the exhaust is blowing does not mean I can't tell when the exhaust is blowing and point it out to a mechanic to fix.}

02 Sep 2017 13:18:25
Hey Max we are just trying to have a discussion mate, it's international week so a little slow. All we are discussing is how can we improve the defense now, everyone entitled to an opinion even negative ones. Great reply by Ed01 but if it makes you feel better then yes you are LFC's best supporter, happy now?

02 Sep 2017 13:19:57
do you expect mignolet to be the no 1 against city like klopp has said ed001?

{Ed001's Note - I hope not, he was dropped as a punishment and Karius does not deserve to be dropped, and Ward does not deserve to lose his place.}

02 Sep 2017 13:30:42
Of course Ed001, I agree but it does not help when our players switch off when they have to defend at set pieces. It is like each player is waiting on another to do something.

Klopp puts on that horrible skewed face when we let in goals from corners or free kicks. I am pretty he is aware that we are absolutely dire when it comes to defending set pieces.

Again, nothing he can do when players switch off or Mignolet goes flapping at an invisible ball.

{Ed001's Note - that is what they are spending a lot of time working on in training, though I think the keeper is the most important factor personally.}

02 Sep 2017 14:34:13
I think ed01 is bang on the money. As much as I want to have faith in mignolet I just can't, not totally. Of course it's down to the keeper to organise deep set pieces. You'd think Simon and matip both speaking flemmish it would help. We can only work with what we have and I think the fans need to get behind karius. We know he can be a bit shakey but that must be nerves. We won't see the best of karius (paradoxically) until he has cemented himself as the number 1. Ward will get a shot in the league cup, if he truly is good enough (which I'm not sure he is) he should get a chance to prove it.

02 Sep 2017 16:50:55
Completely agree with ed1 here. My son is in a keepers school and even at that level communication is drummed into them. shot stopping should be a given for a premier league keeper. The communication and organisational skills are what make a great keeper. Karious is better in this area. with those qualities he should have less saves to make.
Migs needs to be no where near that team or defence. karious may make a few error whilst he is settling in. but migs will make mistakes and we have seen it repeatedly from him.

{Ed001's Note - I think that is one important point there, Karius may make mistakes but we know Mignolet will. Better to try something new and take a chance on an improvement, especially as we have Ward there if Karius doesn't work out.}

02 Sep 2017 10:34:55
would like to know when the Eds think the transfer should be open as i know its not going to change anything, but have it still open first few games of season is stupid. I personally would open it beginning of May sometime in July and maybe move January one by couple of weeks. Or it open just when season is on. Would love to know all your thoughts and i know it will never change anything,

{Ed001's Note - it should be open all year round except for the final weeks of the season, as it used to be. Closing it early just starts the hysteria for the next transfer window sooner. It is the fact that it is so restricted that is creating the problems. Once you remove the restrictions on timing, you could then buy as you need, use much smaller squads and youth players would benefit as managers could take a chance on them. I mean you can try them out knowing if they sink, rather than swim, you can buy a replacement straight away.}

02 Sep 2017 10:23:29
Ed, DDG missed the first 6 or so games for utd two years ago when his transfer to Madrid was on. Was his situation so different to Couts? He came back after it didn't work out for him and has been utd's best player since. I'm hoping it's a similar story with Couts.

02 Sep 2017 09:49:35
Week of a Liverpool fan:
Sunday: We're going to win the league!
Monday: We're going to win the league next year as well with Keita signed.
Tuesday: Can't wait for Van Dijk to be signed up.
Wednesday: What happened on Sunday?
Thursday: We're getting relegated now we've only signed AOC today.
Friday: This international break sure is boring.
I didn't think this just saying but having read the posts on here and on other places, this is basically what has been said😂.

02 Sep 2017 14:53:52
You forgot "Sit Couts in the U23's for the whole year" for Friday, also.

02 Sep 2017 08:17:40
If we look at the outs and the ins from the summer window, it clearly shows that we have added depth to the squad and did not weaken our current squad.

Out: Sakho, Stewart, Wisdom, Lucas, Fulton, Origi (loan)

We only brought in one defender, Robertson and there rest of the players were attacking. My only guess here is that Klopp planned on going out all attack if he could not land his no 1 target VVD.

You know, the way our fans carry on about not signing a CB is just becoming ridiculous.

If we did sign VVD would that have been the end to our set piece defending problems? Would VVD on his own been able to sort out our entire set piece defending issues?

I doubt Klopp was going to spend a record amount on a defender just to leave him to take the fall if set pieces continue to go wrong as then VVD would get the blame.

Klopp did not want another CB other than VVD so we can look at him as a luxury signing otherwise another CB would have been signed. VVD would have been a massive risk if our defensive issues continued.

02 Sep 2017 08:32:30
Good point, wonder if the Karius saga has made him cagey. If he spent big money on a player and had to pull them out of the firing line then the abuse would have been massively more.

02 Sep 2017 08:45:39
The best centre back available (available is the key word) to deal with set pieces we sold to Crystal Palace.

There's not much out there that's is better than what we have and available in terms of CB.

02 Sep 2017 08:50:38
This is not so much about the abuse VVD would have received if our defensive issues continued. I am just making a point that VVD would have been the fall guy when it comes to our fans as they are the ones who have been crying out for a CB.

It does not matter which other options there were when it came to CB's. It would be utterly daft to expect our defensive issues to disappear if we did sign another CB.

Klopp wanted VVD and if he could not get him then that was that. Klopp did make mention plenty of times before and during the window that he was happy with his CB options.

VVd = Luxury = Risk otherwise Klopp could have gone to sign a CB at less than half the price VVD would have cost and that would have been no guarantee that our defensive issues would have been resolved. So good on Klopp for making the decision to not just buy for the sake of it.

02 Sep 2017 09:00:57
Sakho is awful at defending set pieces!

He has a 50p head. You never know what direction the ball will go in.

02 Sep 2017 09:13:23
Sakho goes for balls he has no chance of winning, and leaves his CB partner exposed.

Not good when playing a high line. He is suited to staying compact and getting cover from FBs playing narrow and a DM.

So if we played him that would mean 2x new FBs, buying a DM and changing the whole way we play.

Really?

02 Sep 2017 09:14:20
Since Klopp arrived, in the whole of Europe and our domestic leagues, there has been no CB better than either Lovren?

Sorry I just don't buy that.

02 Sep 2017 09:16:35
OK we conceded less goals last season than any of the 3 seasons when sacko was playing, I think it's our of sight out of mind, or a mild case of amnesia, the guy was a bang average defender, abs no better than what we've got, but a hell of a lot less professional, so he's gone. Also not strengthening this area will again be the reason we miss out this season, it's baffling how it wasn't sorted,

02 Sep 2017 09:17:28
I agree with Adam. Sakho was awful at heading the ball but still a better defender than Klavan and Lovren, but that ship has sailed. To say that there are no better CB's than the 2 i have mentioned is plain crazy in my opinion. Maybe top quality CB's are rare but to suggest that we can't find better players than Lovren and Klavan is deluded.

02 Sep 2017 09:22:25
Sakho was pretty good at playing the ball out from the back but agree, at set pieces he made no difference.

Sakho for me is better than Lovren though but it still does not fix our problem at set pieces.

Which brings me to the point, would VVD on his own have been able to fix things?

Klopp and the coaches will need to find a solution now for us to defend better at set pieces and it surely starts with our players not switching off in those situations?

Height is a bit of an issue in our squad but that is no reason for us to be one of the worst teams when it comes to defending set pieces. Lack of concentration and communication seems to be the major problems.

02 Sep 2017 09:32:38
Irish, Klopp could have signed another CB at probably less than half the price it would have cost to bring in VVD. It is quite funny that you think Klopp did not look at other CB's as that is what you are implying? I think it is quite clear that if VVD was not coming then Klopp did not want anyone else.

Ed001 and Ed002 made mention of the other CB's we had a look at. Does not mean Klopp wanted them and Klopp did also make mention he was happy with the CB's he has. You just need to add 1+1 in order to figure out that it was either going to be VVD or nothing otherwise we sit in another Brendon situation where Liverpool add players for the sake of adding players.

02 Sep 2017 09:33:46
Please can people actually look at our defensive record when matip-lovren played together. it's actually quite good. 2 clean sheets out of 3 games thus season so far.
Oh and in the Watford game it was matip who was terrible not lovren.

The key is 1) keeping those cb fit 2)karious playing, and living up to his billing. A gk who can organise, communicate and command will make a defence look 10x better. imo there is no point in buying defenders until the keeper is sorted. Time to leave migs behind for good and let the 2 other fight over the number 1 shirt.

02 Sep 2017 10:48:24
Spot on, Max. People thinking VVD would have solved all our defensive issues have a very myopic way of watching football. Our defensive issues are more complicated than that. We have spent over 100m on CB's in 5 years and the problems persist. What does that say? It says that the whole defensive setup has to be looked at including getting a GK who inspires confidence in his defence, individual players not switching off and attacking headers in the box and the defensive setup itself on set pieces so Firmino is not in a position to pick up a tall CB which is a pathetic mismatch all day.

If you think VVD would fix all these issues then I fear for your football knowledge or lack thereof. Klopp wanted VVD and no one else and that is fine by me instead of getting some secod rate CB in a la BR and then having to sign another one next season cos this one is crap. Klopp does not settle for players and would rather work with what he has than get players he thinks are not good enough to help us.

Statto, you are having a laugh. Would that CB (who could deal with set-pieces) we sold to Palace be the same one who was here as a starter for 3 seasons where we conceded 150 goals and many of them from set pieces? Would that be Sahko? If true, then your post is comedy gold. Ever tried stand-up comedy?

02 Sep 2017 10:48:37
Irish rover. It's irrelevant that there are other CB out there better than loveren and klavan. Klopp only wanted VVD and he wasn't available. That's the way it is so stop twittering on about our defence. Klopp has made it clear time and time again that he knows who he wants and has excepted it is his responsibility to coach and develop the players he has. He is a coach not a property developer or second hand car sales man. Get behind the team. There is plenty of talent in defence coz defending is about the whole team not the centre backs. 7 clean sheets in the last 9 premiership games. What more do people want!

02 Sep 2017 11:02:09
Nicky no one is saying there haven't been better CBs but that doesn't automatically make them for sale. Also the club isn't going to run around making bids for every CB in the world knowing they'll be rejected and potentially hack off clubs they need to do business with on other deals. Also clubs put out feelers without telling the media and fans every detail. This isn't like your average Facebook user letting people know their every bowel movement. So generally it is getting a bit tired now people moaning about there being millions of better CBs as though that means anything in the context of LFC not signing one. You might as well point out that Hansen and Lawrenson were a much better pairing than Matip and Lovren, it really has no less relevance to the situation. Yes there are better ones out there but then again this isn't are pure science, some players may have been available but the gain v cost didn't add up. Ultimately we didn't buy a CB and no one else bought a top quality CB either so maybe there is more to it than Klopp being the an obstinate idiot.

02 Sep 2017 11:12:41
Pieman, maybe you should read all of the posts and put your brain in gear before replying. I was commenting on Statto's post that "There's not much out there that's is better than what we have and available in terms of CB. " Which in my opinion is nonsense. In future RTFP.

02 Sep 2017 11:50:35
Gomez is the answer. He can cover RB and CB and looks back to his best. Personally believe we took a look at other backs and decided he was our best bet for this season. With Clyne coming back we have 9 potential defenders (Robertson, moreno, Milner, lovren, matip, klavan, Gomez, TAA and clyne) . Personally feel pretty comfortable with our options despite not getting a CB through the door.

02 Sep 2017 12:35:29
Freshst.

How many player get bought when they are "not for sale" or not available " Lallana was t "for sale " if you cast your mind back?

You are taking pure garbage if you think, that during klopps tenure, there have been no CB's out there better than Lovren and Klavan? Im not eve taking world class, just better than those two.

Now I'm really sorry you're tired of reading about our defensive deficiencies but that's the reality. Do you listen to the radio Merseyside phone in after the games? You'd be throwing the radio in the bin knowing how tired of these comments we are.

You need to wake up and smell the coffee because history tells you you won't win the league with s crap defence.

I'm very fortunate to have a season ticket, 22 rows up to the left of the goal as you look at the Kop. The last game of the season against Boro, we were extremely fortunate not to concede a number of times as they attacked the kop end. Their striker ( can't remember his name) got goal side of Lovren at least 3 times and should have scored!

Would you have been so forgiving had we not won that game and ended up 5th?

I don't think so.

02 Sep 2017 13:57:48
So Irish rover u think we should have kept sakho. Amazing! Cannot head, no pace, cannot play a high line, no better than lovren, completely disruptive . need I go n
On.

01 Sep 2017 23:49:43
Ed2,

You've mentioned Coutinho has no relationship/ dislikes Klopp. Did this start in the summer when he was trying to move or was there trouble between them before that?

Thanks for all your hard work during the window.

{Ed002's Note - I understand it has been brewing for some time.}

02 Sep 2017 09:01:00
Really? Strange. looked like he didn't have much of a problem during those hugs! I think it's all to do with him wanting out. Petulant little boy, let him sit on the bench and play for the under 23's. He will get slaughtered by the fans and rightly so. Football is becoming a joke.

02 Sep 2017 10:26:35
I wish fans would just relax and think big picture. All this I hope he gets slaughtered and rot in the under 23s is lunacy. You are getting swept away with your emotions like do many others.

I like you love liverpool and if I had the chance to play would never leave even if Barcelona came in. I wouldn't even leave when all the fans are booing me for being the crapiest player the club ever owned. Sure I would asked to be benched so as to not hamper the teams chances. But hey, think of the great seat i'll have. What was I talking about again. Oh yeah.

We love liverpool but we have to accept that we will buy players who will have other dream clubs. We have to because all the best players do not support liverpool.

I don't have much of a problem with Coutinho. He was doing all he could to get this dream move. I would prefer his actions were different but he knew he needed to go big to have any chance. Bridges will need to be mended now and I'm sure the will. I hope the fans get behind him now because that will quicken the process and we ll have coutinho back firing in no time.

If the fans slaughter him then that helps absolutely no one. Not even yourself. Tell me what good can come from slaughtering him. He becomes a sakhi type player and we sell him for far less next summer. That's non sense. I hope fans see sense and try to think a little.

I'm delighted we kept coutinho. He is and absolute star of a player. I have no doubt he will knuckle down and have a great season. My worry is not coutinho but that fans will turn on him and slow down the reintegration process.

We were right to keep him and here are the seven reason s why.

1. Coutinho is a superstar player. A game changer. Just because we have some others does not mean we don't need coutinho. He is the difference of at least one place in the premier league to this squad. That one place can make all the difference.

2. Coutinho loves playing football and it is a world club year. When he plays he will give 100 per cent and will enjoy winning. All this will bring him back onside.

3. Selling coutinho would have caused serious unrest with the fans. Carragher mentioned riot and I don't disagree. Not me personally but it would have happened. Which would damage the team more. Unhappy player or fan unrest. Look at at arsenal and I ll let you decide.

4. We needed to get rid of the stigma of a club that regularly sells it's best players. We need to be a club that sells on their terms. This is so important.

5 we need to set a precedent. That acting up is not the way to go about things.

6. Creativity. Coutinho gives massive creativity in passing that no other player on our team comes close to matching. We ll need this more than ever playing teams that sit back like crystal palace.

7. No replacements. Once no replacement in any capacity was purchased it made no sense to weaken the squad by such a large amount.

Now let's all relax, support coutinho and wait for that first curler into the top corner to make everything OK again.

Till next season at least. And who knows. During the season coutinho may see progression that will make him Want to stay longer. De gea still at United.

02 Sep 2017 10:53:17
I never caught wind of any of that since Klopp arrived BUT to me, I think it's just a ploy by Cou to get his move. Do players and managers disagree on issues? Sure BUT I think Cou's camp just overstated and overplayed their hand in this matter. I would not read too much into whatever comes out of his camp as they are nothing but desperate people trying to force us to sell him.

02 Sep 2017 11:59:36
Can't really imagine Klopp being that difficult to get along with but his bust up with Sakho has really set the lad back. not saying Mama wasn't in the wrong but if Klopp doesn't want to play you, he won't. Coutinho may not see eye to eye with him but his talent is a bit too obvious to leave in the u23s or loan our. One of the best of his generation and Phil can still drive us to the next level if he gives us the next 8 months. The only slaughtering Coutinho will be a part of is when our team is on the counter.

03 Sep 2017 18:49:34
Davey suits, I stopped reading your post after the first sentence.

02 Sep 2017 07:30:03
Morning Ed001,

Sifting through the mass hysteria on here on deadline day, I saw you mention that Klopp had had enough of Couthino and rightly so after his antics.

I would say there will be tension between the two when PC returns from international duty and we all know klopp is pretty stubborn.

Do you think they will sell PC during the Jan window or wait until next summer if he is to be sold?

{Ed001's Note - depends on when a replacement is signed.}

02 Sep 2017 07:54:00
I would have taken the money in any case! Not a chance Barcelona will offer half of the money in Jan or next summer! He won't play. So what's the point in finding a replacement lol! Barcelona will somehow hang on for another 4 months and will dictate the deal on their terms as the whole world will be aware we want him GONE!

When you don't want a player. You should sell him regardless of any replacement.

02 Sep 2017 08:06:25
140 mil.

They could of been brave and sold him and not got a replacemen5 for a year but the day crowd would of been ou5 in full. If they had of been given our support to take the money and wait for the right player.

My guess is he will go for about 90 mil next year and we have keita

Also I (unless eds say otherwise) don't think the offers where as big as what's getting maid out. Just got see us rejecting 130/ 140 mil bu5 if we did then we'll played fsg.

02 Sep 2017 08:12:44
Harry, you seem to talk with both sides of your mouth. A day ago, you vwere crowing as to how Cou was so sublime for Brazil and wanted Klopp to "put his ego to the side" (whatever that nonsense means) and make up with him cos we needed him. Now, you're saying we should have just sold him and taken the money w/ o getting a good replacement for him (which makes no sense, IMO) . Make up your mind, mate. Which is it?

02 Sep 2017 08:16:02
If Barcelona come back the LFC answer can be the same money or more, Liverpool by saying no previously, in spite of all the games and attempts to undermine, have already shown won't be bullied on this. Also now they want him gone they can open up a bidding war and if he wants gone might be harder for him to play the Barcelona or no one card. Don't think this is anywhere near a will only get half the money situation people think. A lot of time to be played out before January. Also if didn't take the money in the summer then the only ones the money matters to are fans not the club. So halving the offer may not be an issue. Keeping an unhappy player may not be an issue. I actually think the club has put itself into a strong position and handled this one pretty well.

02 Sep 2017 09:00:49
Hope Couts does play, we'll need his creativity when teams drop deep and our pace is nullified.

Cant see Couts being shut out like Sakho. Sakho was never that good anyway but Coutinho is one of the best players in the league. Hope he gets his head sorted and helps us out!

02 Sep 2017 09:23:18
Ed01, as we seen with arsenal, Monaco were willing to sell Lemar for a price, 90m, and seen how he was identified as the replacement for couts, is there a reason we didn't match the bid accepted by arsenal and go sign him?, then offload coutinho and still have banked some money? It just looks like overall good football and business sense, cheers.

{Ed001's Note - because it was above the amount we felt was worth spending. He had been available for 50m earlier in the summer so 90m would have been a panic buy.}

02 Sep 2017 11:00:37
Spot on, Ed. This is how we have been getting mugged in the TW and thanks to Klopp, all that nonsense will no longer be tolerated. No more panic buys. Lemar was 50m in July. Now, he's 90m. What changed withing a month and a half? Nothing. They can keep him.

02 Sep 2017 11:19:11
Thats interesting Ed, Why did we not move for him earlier?

What changed then later to make us make our higher offer?

How does the player feel now, knowing we didn't value him as much as Arsenal?

Ps. I have to take my hat of to Ed 2s, patient, polite replies and cautiouspatience throughout really out did all the ITKs.

As for Ed25, well that's another days work. lol, only joking Ed, great Banter even through the sh@#$!, sorry toffee tinted glasses.

{Ed002's Note - Liverpoool had no interest in the player initially. The player won't feel anything about Liverpool.}

02 Sep 2017 03:51:00
Suarez behaved in a very bad manner when arsenal and Barcelona came calling compared to couts.

Still I never felt anything bad about hm, because whenever he put the Liverpool he always give 100+%.

I have to iterate that, never seen anyone playing with more intensity and eagerness in Liverpool shirt before.

I did watch some of the Barcelona games and never seen the same intent, he showed with us.

02 Sep 2017 05:20:09
In fact, Couts has arguably behaved worse - Suarez didn't strike and fake injury. Yeah he threatened legal action, but at least he had a somewhat reasonable excuse because lfc ignored his release clause that arsenal met.

02 Sep 2017 06:26:38
Couts may not have behaved his best during the last month as he wasn't getting his dream move and I'm sure there was a lot going on tin the background, but there's no doubting he certainly respected the club before, and if he shows he can put the past behind him, respect the shirt and give it 100% then I'll be fine with him being integrated back.

This is not a marriage, it's a professional sport and we can't be naive about the fact he wanted Barcelona and we blocked that move, hopefully both sides can put it behind them and we can all get on with our lives then next season Coutinho out and Keita in and all good.

I have a sneaking suspicion he'll come back and make a big difference with the front three ahead of him feeding off him. If Hendo and Can retain form and can protect the back 4, we could be in for a special season.

02 Sep 2017 08:02:38
Did Coutinho go out and racial abuse people in a Liverpool shirt? Did Coutinho try and bite players (physically abuse) in a Liverpool shirt? Did Coutinho spend months suspended because of his antics whilst a Liverpool player? It's all very well saying he gave his all on the field, he was suspended about 20% of the time. Suarez damaged the club and its sponsors reputation. Coutinho has just damaged his own.

I just don't comprehend some people's point of view.

02 Sep 2017 08:21:23
Spot on, Ron. Robin, are you having a laugh? Suarez bit a player, racially abused another, flipped the bird at opposing fans (Fulham), cost KK his job in the Evra saga by lying to him that he never racially abused Evra, suspended for games on end, refused to come for preseason, took us to a tribunal cos we did not let him go to Arsenal and J. Henry put his foot down.

And with all this and then some, you say Cou was worse. You may have a short memory but the rest of us don't. I know both players were disgusting in their approach BUT Cou is not a patch on Suarez. He was awesome on the pitch BUT Suarez was a problem from the day he arrived till the day he left and like it or not, those are the facts.

02 Sep 2017 08:24:06
And Suarez was a fair bit cuter about doing it cos the last bite may have been designed to push himself out the door.

There is another answer available with Coutinho that hasn't been mentioned, loan out for second half of season to keep his value up and him out of the way. Ultimately if he keeps saying he is injured then turning up at Brazil games and playing it will kick off far more and as has been said the club could go down the fines route.

02 Sep 2017 01:12:35
Hi eds

What happens to couts if lemar comes in January or next summer? Because I'm using the assumption that Barcelona are no longer interested.

02 Sep 2017 05:19:04
just like how they wanted fabregas, they will return for him surely. or someone else will.

we should be more prepared by then.

02 Sep 2017 05:25:48
They'll be back in January or the summer. They didn't buy an alternative and if Verratti is still unavailable, they'll be knocking on Lfc's door.

02 Sep 2017 06:37:57
Monaco won't be open to sale in jan unless a rubbish amount is bid whch shd be more than 125m or smtng.

02 Sep 2017 12:13:37
Ed002 kept on saying "no chance in hell that Barcelona will be back for Coutinho after this window, they want an iniesta replacement now". Hence my confusion. But I suppose their failure to achieve that changes things.

{Ed002's Note - Barcelona nearly signed Angel Di Maria but that would only have addressed part of their problem and they still need to replace Iniesta - who is now staying for this season. Whilst they would ideally like Verratti or Coutinho they have effectively moved on immediately and have reverted to a Plan B that they always had in mind - and they will see how that goes first. They also, internally, are being pushed at another option who would not be available until next summer at the earliest. But by then politics may well have shifted matters somewhat in any case.}

02 Sep 2017 00:22:47
The first thing the players will do is put a Barcelona shirt with phil's name on it in his locker. you just know it - players banter!

02 Sep 2017 10:50:51
Creative would be to take a Neymar one and get that crossed out, put Coutinho on it and then cross that out as well.