Liverpool Banter Archive December 31 2015

31 Dec 2015 22:57:25
Happy New Year to you all.

Rumour has it 2016 is the year the messiah will return to land of the Reds.

Tiago Ilori will come back from the dead now his loan spell at Villa looks finished and take us to the title and Europa league success.

01 Jan 2016 00:20:56
Wont overtake toure let alone sakho lovren in the order. He will have to be utterly unstoppable in training to get a game.

01 Jan 2016 00:53:21
2 months ago: "Ilori is our messiah and will solve our defensive issues"
When he returns: "Won't be ahead of Toure in the pecking order and will be lucky to get a game"
The word fickle springs to mind here.

01 Jan 2016 00:54:13
Llori the Messiah!

01 Jan 2016 01:50:21
It's ilori not llori ron.

01 Jan 2016 12:44:23
I don't get it daredman, does my opinion represent anyone else of this site, why quote me on something I have never said? You will never find a post from me clamouring for ilori to play. The word ****er springs to mind here.

01 Jan 2016 13:40:02
Easy beef, I think DaRedman is quoting 'the site' as saying Ilori is the messiah. It's kind of an on-going joke. I don't think he meant to wind you up. 😉.

01 Jan 2016 14:09:33
Very few people have said that. All we want is for the boy to be given a chance so we can judge him based on the pitch instead on judging him based on the rank incompetence of his managers here and at Villa. Is that too much to ask?

01 Jan 2016 19:24:29
It wasn't meant as an insult buddy. I was quoting the site as a whole. And Ron I see what you've done there with the Llori thing😂.

31 Dec 2015 17:42:24
Ed2 latest rumours today are linking us with Caceres and berahino. Can you confirm its all a load of crap. Papers doing their usual make stuff up again i take it.

{Ed002's Note - I can't help with Berahino - that seems surprising. Caceres is at the end of his career and on a freebie I guess. He work hard to get Suarez to leave Liverpool. Makes near zip sense to me.}

01 Jan 2016 03:52:52
It will be one of Matip or Caceres. Preferable Matip for me as he is younger and has the better attitude though Caceres is way more talented. Clearly the club is struggling with FFP hence cheap options are being looked at, which i honestly do not mind as enough money has been wasted before. Ward also deserves a shot as first choice GK so maybe the club will hold back on signing a new GK for a little longer. Kent's back from loan, nice to see Klopp wanting to work with the club's youngsters. And please stay away from berahino. Shocking attitude and the English Balotelli.

01 Jan 2016 07:37:19
Has anyone looked at Caceres's injury record?

01 Jan 2016 14:11:52
I would pick Matip because he's younger, very experienced at CL level and at international level having played two WC's with Cameroun. He can also play at DM and CB effortlessly. Won't be too bad a signing.

31 Dec 2015 19:51:57
Seen some rumours on Ever Banega moving to Italy.

Could he be an option for LFC? Perhaps if a gap opens up in midfield.

31 Dec 2015 18:28:36
Just want to wish everyone on the site a happy healthy and peaceful New Year.

This has been the best season for ages and the reason is simple. we have got Jurgen bloody Klopp as our manager!

This is the first place I visit morning noon and night for information and insight about my beloved team.

All of the Eds are great and their work is much appreciated but special thanks to Ed001 and Ed002 who have legendary status for their insight knowledge and humour.

The Eds are just brilliant and whenever they feel frustrated with the bonkers posters on here they should remember that the vast majority of us on the site really do appreciate their efforts.

To all the Eds Happy New Year and thank you!

{Ed001's Note - happy new year to you and everyone on the sites.}

31 Dec 2015 18:00:44
Just watch Mini documentary on Klopp's journey to the Kop. Very touching esp the farewell at Mainz where he spent 18 yrs of his life as player and manager. Do catch ot if you can, stuff of legends this one.

31 Dec 2015 19:03:33
Do you have a link?

31 Dec 2015 21:08:48
Its on youtube for free too watch ffom lfctv.

31 Dec 2015 17:40:40
Happy New Year to the Eds and posters alike. Healthy and happy times to come with insightful posts and freedom to voice varying opinions.

31 Dec 2015 16:06:25
Happy New Year to all ed's and fellow posters.

Didn't watch the last game consiously and think it was a good decision after seeing the highlights.

Hope we recover well to be able do better against Hammers.


Cheers.

31 Dec 2015 17:30:24
Guys/ girls let's not forget at this time of the season its all about results, we managed 6 points out of 6 in the last 2 games, not many other clubs managed that, even the likes of Arsenal and City dropped points.

31 Dec 2015 15:22:15
Andrija Zizkovic fabulous young winger with pace skill and a good eye for goal. think we sholud get him as some of his playing is similar to that of Messi. Watched him couple of times and he is one for the future.

We badly need a deadly striker who can create for himself as Benteke can't beat a defender one on one as he has no trickery or foot skill. Sturridge get fit you glass made man.

31 Dec 2015 16:55:21
Zivkovic is out of contract in the summer i believe. Heading to Ath Madrid if i'm correct. Although Dortmund have supposedly bid €2.5m for him.

31 Dec 2015 15:37:16
Happy New Year Eds and everyone.

{Ed002's Note - And you Lee.}

31 Dec 2015 14:48:00
Happy and healthy new year to all the sites editors and the fans ❤😉.

{Ed002's Note - Thanks Al.}

31 Dec 2015 13:15:01
We have weak links throughout the team. Goalkeeper, both fullbacks, midfield and further forward.
You then look to see if we have younger players who could improve them areas and be future first team players. Flannaghan and smith could be our future long term full backs. Flannaghan was fantastic when fit and firing and smith looks like he could be top drawer. Midfield we have rossiter coming though to challenge but he's not the midfielder we really need to improve. We need a top class passer and creater In a Scholes or alonso mould to play alongside henderson and possibly Can. Further forward we need more creativity and goalS A player in the shape of mahrez to play alongside cocoutinho/ firminho / sturridge / ings / orig.

31 Dec 2015 11:52:54
Ed 01 - following up on your reply to Waro below - Surely lalana's inability to tackle is a non-issue though.
I've had the understanding that counter pressing doesn't necessarily require one to (be able to) tackle but instead just needs a handful to work as unit and force the mistake. (Pep's teams press passing lanes, while Ferve likes his players press and run pass the attacker while the follow up players look to intercept and play it forward) .
To me the major problem is the inconsistent fitness levels through the team. It's preventing the team from playing as a unit and lalana's is going to continue to look out of place a few of the others raise their fitness levels.
Lalana along with everyone else shone in the city game when everyone was well rested and able to press consistently.
What I'm getting at is maybe it's too soon to write him off and once everyone's fitness levels are up, and Hendo gets a handle on his heel, Lalana's contribution might be more useful to the team.

{Ed001's Note - it is never a non-issue, because when the opportunity to make a simple tackle is on, which will happen when you press, then you have to take it. Otherwise players will not be worried by the press as they can just ride out the pressure by keeping the ball when it is Lallana coming at them and that negates the whole press anyway.}

31 Dec 2015 12:22:20
With peps Barcelona team, Xavi and iniesta were both good tacklers, I watched them at the camp nou and was so surprised in how well they got their bodies in front of loose balls and regained possession. I think it was ed001 who said the reason they sold Fabregas was because he couldn't tackle like Xavi, causing Xavi to play more than he should of, shortening his Barcelona career. Same with Bayern, whoever they play, Vidal, Lahm, alonso, they all are good tacklers.

31 Dec 2015 13:37:59
Do you think he's capable of turning it round ed001 and fitting in?
I feel like if he was 5 years younger Klopp could coach him into a top top player but I'm not to sure he has a future with us, especially as he could still bring in some much needed funds.

{Ed001's Note - no, I can't see him ever being the player we need.}

31 Dec 2015 15:56:43
Ed is right. I saw Lallana bottling tackles and getting bumped off the ball like it was no joke. Borini shrugged him off the ball, of all people. Allen gets grief for this but even he gets stucking and does a few things right atimes. Seriously apart from runnining up and down the field which frankly anyone can do, what exactly does this guy offer? He doesn`t seem to know what he`s doing and keeps being invisible in every game recently and there`s no sign of improvement in his game. Can`t shoot, can`t score, can`t tackle, runs into trouble seemingly on purpose, loses the ball at will, i can keep going. Ed was right all along and I was wrong at the time we signed him. i thought he would be good for us due to his silky skills BUT he is getting worse and should never have been bought.

31 Dec 2015 10:44:54
Anyone else think that part of the reason Firminho Coutinho and Lallana are not clicking with the striker is more to do with the quality and movement of the striker?

31 Dec 2015 11:07:10
Anyone else think the Benteke is also responsible for the floods in North England this week?

I am really tired of this very typical type of argument in this site to find one player as a scapegoat and blame on him all the problems we have (before Benteke it was skertl and Mings) . Benteke has its own issues with movement, but he has nothing to do with how poor Firmino, Coutinho and Lallana are at times. They were all as poor when he was on the bench firt half against Leicester and most fo the game against Watford. Give him a break, he just won us two games this week, what else you want from him. These three have their own problems, especially in finishing but thier passing wasn't great either, nothing to do with Benteke.

31 Dec 2015 11:07:16
Think it has a bit to do with it, certainly making phil look average. Lallana and firmino not doing enough to warrant being in the side and that's not all bentekes fault.

31 Dec 2015 11:24:45
It's a nonsense to blame it all on Benteke.
Benteke hasn't even started every game.
He's not that type of striker so he's having to try and adapt his game. Will he get time? Probably because Benteke is a goal scorer, his record proves it. He's not the most clinical striker, but he does score goals.

31 Dec 2015 11:32:47
Fanobip I'm not blaming Benteke for everything as I still don't rate Skrtel and Mignolet either.
When he was on the bench Origi didn't show particularly great movement either so it's not just Benteke that's the problem.
My point was they'd have more options with a striker that fits our system better and actually does some work.

31 Dec 2015 11:52:49
I really want to see us play two upfront with Benteke plus Origi or Sturridge.

31 Dec 2015 12:16:28
I'd rather see 2 up front as well just gives you more options.

Then a front 2 of Sturridge and benteke looks good, best of both worlds movement and power.

Also fanobip people are putting all the blame on benteke but it will effect the people behind him.

If Sturridge was fit then I'm sure you'd agree coutinho would look a damn site better.

31 Dec 2015 12:30:45
Bentekers is 6'3 and built like a tank. Is this type of player suited to constant running? He'll always score goals though as he as good technique.

31 Dec 2015 13:26:34
Two up front for me every day of the week. Playin 3 number 10s isn't working. Sorry but i'm not seeing 28 mill of player in fimino sorry.

31 Dec 2015 11:27:49
Plenty of times Benteke was waiting for the ball into feet to use his strength and turn or play the ball off to someone but the ball never came.

31 Dec 2015 16:03:12
Benteke in terms of movement, was very good yesterday and some of his one-touch play with Firmino and Couts was good as well. If you are looking for a scapegoat, look no further than Lallana. We might as well be playing with ten men because the guy is getting worse with every game. he even bottled tackles and got shrugged off the ball by Borini of all peaople. Firmino was our best attacking player last night and Couts had a poor game because he seemed bent on scoring rather than creating. Stop bashing Benteke because frankly, it`s getting old. He shows good movement and scores, he gets stick. He doesn`t score, he gets stick while Lallana remains untouchable although he offers NOTHING else but running all over the pitch? NONESENSE!

{Ed001's Note - do you really think his movement was good? Klopp certainly didn't, nor did I. He was awful I thought, other than the goal, which he mishit or we would probably have drawn.}

31 Dec 2015 18:57:40
I guess we agree to disagree there, Ed. I know benteke needs to move his but but based on where he was before, I feel last night was an improvement albeit slight. I know that the bar is very low for him right now.

31 Dec 2015 10:29:33
Edd001 Love klopp but I wish he would make one or two changes up front. Ibe and texeira are such quailty options for us and I'm sure they know how to work hard on the pitch. Don't understand mate why they aren't getting a more gametime, same with smith too.
Coutinhos not been having good performances but he has very few options other than to shoot. People are just static. Firminho is improving however.

{Ed001's Note - Klopp is giving them a chance to prove they can adapt to what he wants, but I do expect there to be a number of players being offloaded after recent performances. I do agree though, I would like to see some changes made but I trust Klopp knows what he is doing, even if I disagree with those choices. Coutinho is playing poorly, but he has nothing open when he receives the ball, unless he plays it back, which he does not want to do. Benteke is stationary, Lallana just looks to run towards the ball like a schoolkid, so we have no width, except for Moreno, as Clyne does not get forward enough. Firmino is moving around trying to do something, but we need players moving, not player.}

31 Dec 2015 11:16:05
A number of players off loaded ed? Even from the starting 11 last night or you mean in general.

{Ed001's Note - in general, though more than one player in the starting 11 from last night are in serious danger and playing for their careers.}

31 Dec 2015 11:42:56
Is this Lallana and Benteke ed?

{Ed001's Note - it is more than just two who are playing for their future with the club. Very few are safe.}

31 Dec 2015 12:01:47
Edd001 cylne hasn't been great defensively either. Flannaghan will need time and a good bit of time before coming back to full fitness and form but he will seriously be challenging for that right back spot. Same with smith and moreno. Smith looks a real option at left back for us and can cross some excellent balls.

{Ed001's Note - I got accused of being on Clyne's back, as I really do not rate him and fail to see what he offers. He can't cross, he struggles positionally and offers little to the side either attacking or defending. His shot was something, but he needs to be more decisive and do more of that. Right now, he seems to be caught between two stools and not doing anything. I hope he can change that given time under Klopp, but I do fear he will end up being another player we have overpaid for and will end up losing out on.}

31 Dec 2015 12:23:25
For me Allen, Lucas and lallana defo need to move on.

Allen offers no more than a kid will, Lucas has done well over the years but I just think its time to make a step up. Whether can can do that I don't know.

Then lallana is just the weakest of a packed position which we have in the team.

Time to bring a bit more pace back into the team and let's start getting around the back of the defence again instead of being restricted to 35yard wonder goals.

31 Dec 2015 12:27:02
We don't know his plans for this team, he may be playing the best options he has right now, but even though we might think they are playing well, and klopp might agree they still might not be part of the long term plans. I'm sure he will look to add pace eventually, I can't imagine playing 3 cams is ideal for him when he had the likes of rues, aubameyamg and kuba before.

31 Dec 2015 13:18:29
Be saying all my prayers milner doesn't walk back into the team when's fit.

31 Dec 2015 14:19:25
It is kind of frustrating to see the inbalance in our team. I'm glad we are still getting results and we look safer at the back against Sunderland, but you just look at the team and some players you do have to question if they are at the required level.

Allen looks to be out of the 1st team really, Milner, Lallana have been pretty poor. I hate criticising our own players i want everyone of them to succeed but some of them week in week out don't look like they really do anything.

Not surprising at all Ed01 is saying very few are safe, if i were Klopp i'd be thinking the same thing right now after the last few performances.

Hopefully by summer Mr Klopp brings in the players he wants and we can push on to have a great season.

I think we could get top 4 this season. If studge gets himself fit very very possible but we have ground out a few results now so that's at least something over a busy christmas period :)

31 Dec 2015 16:25:17
Allen, Lallana, Milner for sure need to get gone. As for Clyne, Ed again was right. When at the Saints, he looked pretty good but ED was right again. Ed had once said at the time that Ronald Koeman builds a system that allows players to work together and thrive under that system. now when you take them out of it, you then see how poor or not so good they actually are and we of all clubs, have seen this first hand with Lallana, Lovren (who is starting to emerge to his credit) even Schneiderlein at Utd and now Clyne. I hope Clyne does a Lovren but only time will tell.

31 Dec 2015 16:26:21
In addition, I hope we never buy any Saints player again under Koeman because nothing will change (in conclusion to my last post.

31 Dec 2015 07:46:07
Hi all,

Hope everyone has had a good Christmas. Sorry I haven't provided a loan update recently, with Christmas etc I have just been to busy!

I'm back now though 😁

Hard fought win and back to back clean sheets which is always nice to see.

Just thought i'd let you know there's an article on sky sports (not that well written) about Danny ward. It highlights how well he's doing and has some pretty big praise towards him.
It mentions how he has had meetings with klopp and klopp is keeping a close eye on him which is always nice to know.

Anyway redmen. Have a good new year and here's hoping to another 3 points Sunday.

31 Dec 2015 08:01:00
3 points on Saturday would be nice as that's when we play west ham.
If we get points on Sunday too then great 😂.

31 Dec 2015 08:48:46
Anyone know the reason as to why there is no new years day football?

{Ed002's Note - The games are on at the weekend.}

31 Dec 2015 02:11:44
Good result against a poor but resolute Sunderland team. Although we didn't really perform the three points is all that matters. Sakho and Lovren were very solid although Lovren did make a few positional errors which lead to nothing fortunately. Emre Can was IMO the best player on pitch, the guy is pure class and only 21! Coutinho wasn't up to usual high standards and Lallana was anonymous which is becoming a regular occurrence. Firmino showed glimpses of his talent, I feel he's only going to get better. Benteke took his goal very well but apart from that he really didn't offer much. Hopefully with a few signings in January we can make the top 4.

31 Dec 2015 14:26:25
AL seems to not be on the pitch really, it's a shame but don't think he's up for the task at hand!

RF is very hot and cold i feel, you see glimpses but can go missing sometimes but you cannot doubt his quality! Hope he gets rolling!

30 Dec 2015 23:53:25
So, Skrtel out injured the last two games.
2 cleans sheets and haven't looked troubled.
Interesting.

31 Dec 2015 01:20:42
He is always the weak link in our defense line.

31 Dec 2015 09:29:00
I have a feeling that unlike previous regimes, he won't be straight back into the team for a change too.

31 Dec 2015 13:05:58
What about the three consecutive clean sheets in the first three matches of the season, with Skrtel in the team?

I happen to agree that we've looked good with Lovren and Sakho together. I see no reason to change this when Skrtel is fit and it's no secret we've struggled for a reliable and consistent pairing at the back but it does annoy me when people highlight the stats that support their argument whilst completely ignoring the stats that don't fit.

Furthermore, last nights clean sheet confirmed Mignolet's status as having kept more clean sheets that any other keeper in the Premier League this calendar year. Skrtel would have been in front of him for the majority of those.

31 Dec 2015 15:08:16
Mignolet stats read well, and would be even better if we had a stable and consistent pairing in front of him.
Lovren is playing better and Sakho is great defensively, although his distribution from the back leaves a lot to be desired.
For now I would stick with Migs, but if we had the chance to sign a CB who could offer good competition, I would take it.

30 Dec 2015 23:32:17
Thought Clyne had his best game yet for us tonite, truth be told not much to beat, but much better hope he's settling in now.