Liverpool Banter Archive June 30 2015

30 Jun 2015 20:52:46
Hi eds,
I know there've been a number of questions about Higuain coming in, mine is this:
Regardless of who shows an interest l, do you really think Napoli would force them to pay his full release clause? I know their President, or owner was it?, recently suggested they would but is that just tactically trying to convince people to make higher bids?

{Ed002's Note - If Napoli don't want to sell it would take an Italian side offering the full value of the termination clause and Higuain wanting to move to make that happen. You would do better with these questions on the European pages, where I have already answered about interest.}

30 Jun 2015 20:46:05
Why don't we look a bit further afield than Europe for a striker? We have reasonable striking options at the moment so why not take a chance on a young South American, and maybe get a player who could turn out to be a bit special in a year or two. Anyone have any suggestions?

30 Jun 2015 21:09:21
Could you tell me what these reasonable striking options are please monkfish?

30 Jun 2015 21:20:49
The main problem with young South Americans is trying to get a work permit for them. This is the reason there has never been an influx of young South Americans and why they often use other nations as a gateway into the european leagues.
Although we could give Jerome Sinclairinho a chance.

30 Jun 2015 21:24:48
What about - shock horror - using the academy?! The same place we got Michael Owen and God for the princely transfer fee of zilch.

30 Jun 2015 21:34:15
If It was this easy, surely we'd just raid Germany under 21's and Argentina under 21's and have probably the best players on the planet for the next 10 years.
Throw in a few Brazilians for flair and rack up some Italian Defenders. Dominate Europe,, I'm going to try this on Champ Manager cheers mate

01 Jul 2015 03:31:30
What young South American strikers are there that qualify for a work permit and wouldn't cost a fortune? The rules are looser in other countries allowing them to take those punts. Otherwise everyone would have thought of that strategy and be implementing it.

01 Jul 2015 04:34:51
EssexRed: I agree with your point about the academy. But Michael Owen actually went through the England school of excellence and was with them until he was 16 with an attachment to us. Then he came to us on YTS. So our academy has partial credit at best for him.

It stil makes me smile to think about how he left us for Silverware at the beginning of a season that ended in Istanbul.

01 Jul 2015 06:47:50
You are wrong user.

Heighway and Co deserve much credit.

01 Jul 2015 08:14:57
Don't doubt it, but he didn't spend half as much time with Heighway as Gerrard,
And he was in the first team a little earlier than Gerrard too,

01 Jul 2015 09:06:11
If for some unknown reason we do fancy flushing 30 odd million down the drain on Benteke i'd much rather Sinclair play. He will press all day long for Liverpool and he has pace and a strong finish. Twitter will say he's not a big name, not ready but presumably neither was a 17yr old Owen or 18yr old God?

30 Jun 2015 19:21:57
Hi Ed, just a quick question. Given who it looks luke were getting as assistant manager, who is advising FSG. That does not seem a random choice of a big name. Or has Rodgers picked him?

{Ed002's Note - I am not sure who suggested him but it will be a club appointment not one made by the owners.}

30 Jun 2015 23:31:06
Ed002,
Given that several of the owners / direct representatives are on the Liverpool Board of Directors, how can they be divorced from the football side of things ?

{Ed002's Note - FSG has a focal for dealing with the football side of the business - only he would have been involved in any such decision and that would be made on behalf of the club and not the owners.}

30 Jun 2015 18:08:17
I'm coming round to the Benteke idea. 49 goals in 101 games in a dire Villa team. Which ever way you dress it up its a good record and imo he can be successful in our shirt.

Ed, Spurs interest on him today, do you no if they are serious in him?

{Ed002's Note - Try the Spurs page.}

30 Jun 2015 18:36:17
For 30+ million?! What are you smoking over there?

30 Jun 2015 18:39:18
Please don't, he is not what we need!

30 Jun 2015 20:30:33
He doesn't want to sign for spurs - pretty sure he'll be a liverpool player next season.

30 Jun 2015 20:31:38
Just seen a stat that says 75% of his goals over the last 3 seasons have come from crosses into the box.

30 Jun 2015 20:23:35
ED001 Has mentioned on the Spurs page that they are interested in him, Kane off Benteke being the idea

They are trying to tempt Sherwood with Adebayour in the deal as Levy won't pay the £32.5 million asking price for him

30 Jun 2015 20:23:35
ED001 Has mentioned on the Spurs page that they are interested in him, Kane off Benteke being the idea

They are trying to tempt Sherwood with Adebayour in the deal as Levy won't pay the £32.5 million asking price for him

30 Jun 2015 15:42:04
What's your take on Mario Gomez? Personally I don't see there being anything in it but I would prefer him to Benteke. I wouldn't say he is ideal to the high press but then the Bayern team he played in pressed well and he banged them in for them, granted he's had injury troubles since. Clever movement and he knows where the goal is.

30 Jun 2015 16:10:03
Depends which Gomez we get. In his last season in Germany he bagged 19 goals in just 1200 minutes of football.

However in his last 2 seasons (in Italy) he's bagged 14 goals in 3200 minutes.

He needs to get fit and stay fit and then there is no doubt he is a class act.

If he can stay fit for a full season and find the form that saw him score at a ratio better than a goal every 90 minutes, he is a 30 goal a season striker. I haven't seen much of him in the league the last two years though so I don't know if he's playing badly or just not getting many chances created for him.

30 Jun 2015 17:22:04
Would take him over the above mentioned targets. Fsg really seem to be digging into the archives. Llorente and then Gomez. It's the January of 2011 all over again. Just hope it doesn't end with us signing another big lump for huge money aka benteke.
P.s all this mario gomez rumors only paper talk or any substance to it?

30 Jun 2015 18:08:23
personally, would rather us not sign anyone if the options are benteke, llorente and gomez.

30 Jun 2015 20:37:38
Eds, we seriously need to look at the "agree disagree" system, ems just got three disagrees for stating some facts?

30 Jun 2015 20:49:03
No thanks, Gomez has had injuries, and like Llorente, has gone down a level.

30 Jun 2015 14:42:15
I doff my cap to Ed001.

He recommended Sean O'Driscoll for a coaching role several moons ago.

Eds 001 and 002 make this site a must-see for LFC fans.

Anyone else wondering if FSG have this site bookmarked also .?

30 Jun 2015 15:46:15
No or Rodgers would have been gone

30 Jun 2015 16:03:14
Not yet .

30 Jun 2015 16:21:35
Pre season is yet young!

30 Jun 2015 19:47:42
Ed1 aka Brendan Rodgers.

The secret is out.

30 Jun 2015 12:18:55
Good morning Eds,

I have been using the search function in regards to Matoe Kovacic, but cannot find a definitive answer, so was hoping if you could clear the following up.

Up to now we know.Liverpool have made a bid for Mateo Kovacic, which is still currently on the table, and Inter Milan are looking at there options / other things to happen (or not), and wether to sell or not

So, Since then, have the club officially, via representatives and agents spoken to the player, or the players reprsentatives / agents regarding a transfer to Liverpool?

And if so, do you have any knowledge on what the players response actually was?.Has he said he would like to join if the opportunity arrises?

I am presuming, if the original offer is still on the table, then there must have been a positive reaction from the player in wanting to come?

I understand its all a bit more complicated than that just now from Inters point of view but it was more the players initial thoughts I was intersetd in.

And with the original offer still being on the table. Are Inter Milan any further forward with there thought process, and making a decision wether to sell or not? Or are they still waiting for other things to happen first, before looking at there options.

Thanks in advance

{Ed002's Note - There is nothing new.}

30 Jun 2015 17:07:05
Ed

Thanks for your reply

What is it that has to happen now, on Inter Milans side of things, that will see them accept the offer for Kovacic?

I have read the posts, and understand they need to sell to buy, but not necessaryily Kovacic

Are they waiting to see if they can off load Hernanes, or other players?

I guess this will go on all summer if our interest remains

Regards

{Ed002's Note - They are not going to accept the offer from Liverpool on the terms Liverpool want - the situation is as I have explained.}

30 Jun 2015 17:41:55
Ah ok I see ED.so we know what to do basically if we want Kovacic

Thanks for your time

Enjoy your evening

30 Jun 2015 13:15:42
Lucas to Inter rumours. My guess and prediction

We want Kovacic. They want Lucas. Blind people from far away places with no knowledge of football spot a clear swap oppertunity.

Inter sign Lucas. Kovacic stays or moves elsewhere, possibly for less then our bid.

30 Jun 2015 14:02:01
It's been reported that they are separate situations .

30 Jun 2015 15:02:41
But why? Wouldn't you use this as a swap option?

30 Jun 2015 15:21:41
Why would we git rid of our only quality DM?? Why?? This is why our defence is so bad, because we consider doing stupid things like this that make no sense and just weaken the defence completely. This doesn't border on stupidity, this crosses the line into full blown insanity.

30 Jun 2015 15:33:57
No one does swaps anymore because clubs need the cash.

30 Jun 2015 15:16:11
I believe a swap deal wouldn't be possible as the original hold up was the amount of cash Inter want up front. They want cash to pursue other targets. This is probably why it won't be viable as well as swap deals being hard to complete anyway.

30 Jun 2015 13:05:32
Do people feel that O'Driscol will have an impact on our transfer policy? I mean, the apparant Benteke pursuit doesn't seem to make sense given our style of play (not to mention the fee).
Therefore, will ODriscol have a say in the recruiting of players?

30 Jun 2015 13:33:04
I would like to think the decision to appoint Linders and O'Driscoll would point to a desired style of play, which indicates a more attacking, pressing style will be employed, Benteke specifically as such would make little sense but there is apparent interest, so its very confusing from what I make of it.

30 Jun 2015 15:39:38
If the high press style is what we are deploying then, benteke will b a waste of money, time and might as well have ings play uptop because at least he will press the opposition

30 Jun 2015 17:55:13
We played the pressing style (as you people like to call it )the season before last and parts of last season with marsh and Pascoe as our coaches so what are these lower division and youth coaches going to bring to improve your pressing style . We have a manager that is out of his depth and you put two coaches that would not be employed by any of the other premier league teams I am totally bewildered by these appointment's and very disappointed .

30 Jun 2015 19:57:07
Albeydered, 2 coaches that would not be employed by any other premier league teams? Linders was regarded as quite a coup having come from Porto F.C. and O'Driscoll has left the English youth setup to join. I'm not sure why you think no other club would employ them?

30 Jun 2015 20:07:31
No, our interest in Benteke precedes O'Driscols appointment

01 Jul 2015 00:23:29
Why would he have an input?

30 Jun 2015 11:36:57
Could it be possible that BR is learning from mistakes?
I think that the owners have driven it home that he is on his last chance and must show improvement in the coming season.
They have got rid of 2 of the coaches and looked like bringing an older head in for more experience.
I believe that the signings that we have made were needed and they are more tried and trusted with PL knowledge. (Milner, Ings, Clyne etc)
I think we need to back the manager as much as possible and see where we go. Obviously decisions have been made at the top for the next 6-12 months.

30 Jun 2015 12:28:54
It is a lot of players though with more being linked?

30 Jun 2015 12:29:06
Gotta believe he has until December and considering that the first 7 away fixtures couldn't have worked out much worse Mr Rodgers has his work cut out for him. Let's wish him all the best and his new back room staff. Plenty of transfers out to come and possibly 3/4 to come in yet. Fingers crossed we nail the transfer Market this summer, top 4 is getting increasingly harder

30 Jun 2015 12:40:52
Firmino was a pleasant surprise. Clyne is an improvement on Johnson but we had adequate cover at RB.

BR learn from his mistakes when we are wanting to sign Benteke, a target man? Signed Ings when we already had Sinclair waiting for an opportunity?

Lucas most likely leaving and not one indication that a defensive midfielder is going to be signed. Why oh why?

Have Lloyd Jones then why sign Joe Gomez?

Bogdan when we needed someone to send Mignolet to the bench.

The list goes on.

30 Jun 2015 13:14:55
It puts it into perspective when Chelsea are lining up Begovic as their reserve keeper and we manage to get Bolton's second choice as back up to Simon Mignolet.
Mignolet is a truly awful goalkeeper and should not be playing for our first team.
He has no presence at all, cannot distribute properly, is extremely dodgy at set-pieces and is very naive tactically.
When he and Skrtel start fannying about with it at the back I literally have to look away.
Plus he has that permanent look of bewilderment that Igor Biscan used to have.

30 Jun 2015 13:32:59
@Anfield Pete, what do you mean when you say Mignolet is very naive tactically?

30 Jun 2015 15:44:03
Don`t know if mistakes have been learnt BUT we`ll soon find out. On the face of it though, we seem to be doing the same thing as we did last year and buying players for areas we don`t need

30 Jun 2015 21:02:16
Sorry I'm all for giving youth a chance but Ings is better than Sinclair at this moment in time. Why would you rely on a kid that wasn't getting game time in the championship over a week in week out premier league starter?

Its the Pachecho thing all over again. "Fans" claimed he was the answer yet four different managers didn't pick him.

01 Jul 2015 00:26:41
Same with Suso. He was the messiah at one point, but failed to hold down a place.
Youth players look good when they are playing against other youth players. Very few teenagers play regular premier league football.

30 Jun 2015 11:36:06
Ed001 you're a very happy man today mate and if you're happy then we are all happy.Just a quick question about Sean O Driscoll please.Say BR was using the wrong tactics would Sean be the type to tell BR what he thought and stick with his thoughts and not back down?
Barry inLouth

{Ed001's Note - he would try and talk to him yes. I don't expect him to start a full blown argument or anything, but he would stand his ground and try and persuade Rodgers to see it as he does. At the end of the day, as an assistant the final say is not his and that is all he can do.}

30 Jun 2015 12:13:12
if he is the man who can improve our defense, stabilize our tactics, actually use our subs, then I´m satisfied.b Though, I´m not sure how much of an impact the coaches have on such matters.

I hope we start to rotate our players more, and actually use our very talented youth players.

30 Jun 2015 12:42:54
I'm just curios how does anyone know that pascoe was a 'yes man'? I like the announcement of ODriscoll, criminally underrated and has always been overlooked

30 Jun 2015 14:45:00
He was either a yes man or as stupid as Rodgers if he couldn't see the issues which 99% of football fans could see.

30 Jun 2015 14:59:53
Its means about erm ZERO swish wether Pascoe saw the mistakes or not. He can do nothing about it. Brendan makes the final call. End of, no two ways about it.

The coaches coach the players following the manager/head coach instructions and drills etc.

That's it.

Doesn't matter wether Sean's teams never conceded a single goal whilst he was there, if Brendan keeps giving him drills to coach that he's been using for 3 years then there will be no difference.

Maybe Pascoe wasn't a yes man but more just got on with what he was told because he either believed in what they were doing or because he knew Brendan wouldn't listen anyway.

People need to stop slating Pascoe does my head in with all this yes man stuff. Like any of us are in the dressing room lol

30 Jun 2015 17:01:08
Don`t know if he was a yes man BUT I do know that neither he nor Marsh was the reason BR has failed on all fronts last season. Anyone who believes that is either severely naive or just disingenuous and dishonest

30 Jun 2015 18:00:01
A good trades man never blames his tools !

30 Jun 2015 10:27:36
O Driscoll is a great shout from the club, part of the problem with pascoe is he was just a yes man to BR, I just can't see this guy being that. BR needs someone to disagree with him and give him an alternative point of view on things. Pleased with the appointment.

30 Jun 2015 15:50:22
Forcing him to defer to his assistants or just surrounding him with good coaches who he can overrule if he likes because he`s still the manager, makes no sense. IMO, a coaching staff should work together in the bigger scheme of things even tho, disagreements can happen. the way we are doing it is like setting him up to fail and it seems incoherent, in my view.

30 Jun 2015 10:19:45
Some fans really irritate me Sean O'Driscoll hasn't even been officially announced as our assistant manager and people are having a go. Give him a chance for goodness sake.

If he had a Spanish, Brazilian or Italian name people wouldn't be saying a thing.

Fair shout to Ed001 for calling it ages ago, what are the lottery numbers going to be? :)

SA

{Ed001's Note - I will go with 1 (for my Ed's number), 95 (for Ed003's age), 175 (for Ed002's IQ), 6 (Ed007's mental age), 73 (for the average amount of times I say the wrong thing a day), 88 (because 2 fat ladies is Ed004's dream date), 41 (for the number of teams Ed008 supports) and 23 (because Ed023 would cry if he doesn't get mentioned).

30 Jun 2015 11:29:50
Totally agree with you SA.
I don't understand some of the comments. like, (I am willing to give him a chance. )
What is that all about?
We are talking about an assistant coach who can only help with the progress of the squad.
Going back a few years you wouldn't have known who the assistant was, never mind questioning him before he is even appointed.

30 Jun 2015 16:18:36
if the Ed`s view on him is anything to go by then he is more than welcome here because he sure knows his stuff. i just feel that with BR at the helm and still having the power to overrule them is what scares me. I would have liked a new manager to appoint Sean and Pepin because at least we would know that said manager wanted them hence, the cynergy would be there. The way it is right now doesn`t fill me with confidence. Only time will tell, tho.

30 Jun 2015 10:06:10
I've no knowledge of O Driscoll but what I've read sounds very positive so welcome and good luck sir.

BUT what I have read seems mostly to be quotes from Captain Colgate. That suggests it is his appointment which means we can forget about getting our transfers done then announcing a less orange manager.

Oh well. We are where are. Let's have a good season, push for top 4 and have a dart at the cups.

30 Jun 2015 16:21:43
Don`t get too hung up on what BR says and doesn`t say because he has proven that his word ain`t worth a nickle and talks so much that there can only be lies in between what he says. The owners have stepped in and they are the ones appointing and firing people, NOT him.

30 Jun 2015 09:43:23
Eds quick question for ye, what was your opinion on Stan collymore prior to his arrival at l.f.c. And during his spell here??

I have great memories of the Liverpool Newcastle games of Stan running off celebrating with fowler and co.

Was just wondering as I know it all went wrong for Stan at lfc and subsequent clubs

Regards

{Ed001's Note - he was an utter bell, complete and utter tosser of a person who I would not have peed on if he was on fire. He would regularly not turn up to training phoning up to complain of traffic, when he had not even left the house. He was told he had to move closer to Liverpool and refused.

The guy was a waste of talent. Possibly the most talented English centre forward of his generation, no probably the most talented, but he could not be arsed at all. I really disliked him intensely and it is a disgrace that a vile piece of crap like that is able to make a living as a public persona.}

30 Jun 2015 10:05:47
What a shame!!

Talent wise or position wise would he be similar to firminio or are they nothing alike?

{Ed001's Note - not really alike, Collywobbles was more about power and pace to go with the skill. He was probably the closest thing to fat Ronaldo England will ever have, though not in the same class. David Moores was an absolute imbecile bringing him to the club, he had been told repeatedly it would be a mistake.}

30 Jun 2015 11:17:18
Ed1
From what i have read i think david moores was always an absolute imbecile

{Ed001's Note - good point. He is the man most responsible for our downfall.}

30 Jun 2015 12:36:34
Remember a quote from him about that Newcastle game, sonething along the lines of 'my goal was the one that sealed if, probably one of the best goals scored' or something pretentious and arrogant like that!

30 Jun 2015 13:10:11
He also beats women. Ask Ulrika her thoughts or Kirsty Gallagher

30 Jun 2015 14:41:21
Kirsty Gallagher 😍

30 Jun 2015 16:33:19
I wouldn`t call arguably the greatest CF to ever play the game fat because we all know he had health issues that led to his weight gain.

30 Jun 2015 08:22:59
Can I just say I think it's great news re: O'driscoll. No he isn't a Liverpool facourite like pako or Sami but what he is is a fantastic coach so let's get behind him. Steve Clarke was not a massive name in football or had ties with Liverpool when we bought him in but look at his impact and was he West Ham or something? Let's give him a chance and support our new look management team! Also is he still working with England youth? Could be good for our lads to impress closer to home and get their chance eg. Ojo Sinclair Gomez rossiter brannagan

30 Jun 2015 06:25:33
Hi Eds,
Higuain wants to engineer a move to us apparently. Any truth in that. ?

YWNA,
Amit

{Ed002's Note - It really doesn't work like that.}

30 Jun 2015 08:50:44
He could just hop on a plane. Naples is served by a good few airlines

30 Jun 2015 09:19:54
There isn't much chance in us getting him sadly

29 Jun 2015 21:33:42
Hey ed, does Montoya to Inter have any impact on Kovacic? Cheers!

{Ed002's Note - No.}

30 Jun 2015 07:46:56
Interesting a news ref odriscoll.

People moaning they've never heard of him. Tell me, how many assistant managers do you know by name exactly? Ignorance at its best. He was at Bournemouth and donny for 5 years apiece. That's a lifetime in modern football without getting sacked.

I know in many instances ill be wasting my breath but for god sake give him a chance.

30 Jun 2015 08:40:13
Ive never heard of him but he can't be any worse than Pascoe. I don't know what he actually even did, other than nod his head at Rodgers!!!!

30 Jun 2015 08:41:43
Too right 87red. It's not like people were doing cart wheels when pascoe arrived- because coaches aren't generally very well known.This guy has a Great reputation and deserves an opportunity.

30 Jun 2015 11:02:25
He played some great footy at Doncaster Rovers, my lad has raved about him for yrs I'm now wondering if my lad is secretly ed01

{Ed001's Note - would that make Shanks my grandfather?}

30 Jun 2015 14:04:13
wouldn`t suprise me ed you have no time for fools and idiots (owners and chairmen included)an you only want what is best for the club, shanks would be proud of some of your rants on here

{Ed001's Note - I often wonder what he would think of football in the modern era, I don't think he would have liked what he sees to be honest.}

30 Jun 2015 17:17:27
He had no time for shysters and conmen or players who were bloody avaricious back then, can imagine he'd have a head fit if he saw how ugly the beautiful game has become now

30 Jun 2015 07:35:45
Re: Sean O'Driscoll. I don't know a lot about the guy but I'm willing to give him a chance and don't see the issue of not having a "big" name assistant. All I'm bothered about is whether he is any good but for those who are saying he's not a big enough name for Liverpool let's look at some of the other assitants

Chelsea - Steve Holland
Arsenal - Steve Bould
Man utd - Ryan Giggs
Man City - Brian Kidd

None of those are big names in the world of football coaching but their managers have faith in them. So if he does joing the club let's give him a chance

30 Jun 2015 05:24:38
I'm not convinced we need to be taking chances on our whole back room team. Getting rid of two guys with no real experience of Europe and Adding two guys with no premier league or European Cup competitions experience on the apparent say so of an fairly inexperienced and flagging manager could be a recipie for trouble. If it was one of them and a more experienced addition I would feel more confident. Fingers crossed they both prove me wrong.

30 Jun 2015 07:21:56
I don't see how European experience makes any difference for us. We're in the Europa league to win it of course, but it's not the priority. Domestic form is the priority.
Premier league experience is over rated too. It'd be different if BR was new to the premier league, but he's had 4 seasons. He has enough premier league experience.

How much premier league experience did Wenger, Mourinho, Pellegrini, Ancellotti have before they won the league?

30 Jun 2015 07:32:15
Why is European/Premier League experience essential for an assistant manager? Why isn't he good enough just because he hasn't had that opportunity yet? The logic doesn't really make sense to me.

30 Jun 2015 07:36:48
Experience means nothing if your plan is garbage.

Mauricio Pochettino
Gary Monk
Tim Sherwood

3 managers without EPL and european cup experience (as managers) and still they have done fairly well in the epl. I would also believe that Eddie Howe will do well in the EPL.

Unfortunately I don´t know anything about O Driscoll, but it seems that Ed001 rates him, so it can´t be that bad. I´m still a bit concerned about the forced partnership between BR, Pepjin and Driscoll, but only time will tell.

30 Jun 2015 10:15:58
You don't need premier league experience to win the league with a league superpower like city. Winning the league with Liverpool is an entirely different kettle of fish.

29 Jun 2015 23:44:00
Just heard about Sean O'Driscoll taking the AM job. Good shout IMO and the first person I thought of when I heard was ed01. ed are u actually on the committee now.

{Ed001's Note - that would be telling but watch out for the arrival of Keisuke Honda and Gary Medel.....}

30 Jun 2015 06:55:49
I expect atleast 5 questions on those 2 names now. lol