Liverpool Banter Archive March 31 2015

31 Mar 2015 19:00:17
Wasn't such a bad day Liverpool rumours wise. It seems like not only Lallana may be fit for the weekend but even sturridge! - after those depressing reports about being sidleined for a month. Even if not for Arsenal then let's hope at least for Blackbourn. Lovern (who was also reported injured earlier) is also fit, so can replace Skertl (which I predict will miss badly). Lucas is back as well, so things are not that bad.

Our important match next week is Blackbourn. I hope we can somehow still get a draw in Arsenal, though will not be easy (and will not help us for top 4 but at least not a second consecutive loss).

31 Mar 2015 19:46:51
Really need to win this weekend to get back in the race and gain some momentum for rest of the season.

Pity we couldn't have kept a few of the boys from Sunday for a week longer

☺

31 Mar 2015 20:48:10
Don't forget Ibe! He's back too!

31 Mar 2015 21:08:52
Ibe is not back until end of April.

31 Mar 2015 21:42:56
A draw your hoping for a draw even tho were on a smashing run bar 1 loss haha I want to win or I won't be happy were still in with a chance of top 4

31 Mar 2015 21:53:28
Could Lallana n Studge play ed?

{Ed001's Note - possibly yes.}

31 Mar 2015 13:09:06
Does anybody else feel that Mario Balotelli would be better off used as one of our no10's behind the main striker???

I think we could see the best of him in a more free role however his work rate is a major concern for this role as we need those guys up top to press hard for our system to work.

Thoughts???

31 Mar 2015 13:36:32
I think every striker we have would be better if they had other players running past them and giving them options, and didn't have to do it all themselves to have any hope of getting anywhere

31 Mar 2015 13:58:11
Said this a long time ago. Same with Rickie, but I'd prefer Coutinho in that role tbh.

Red Rum

31 Mar 2015 14:11:03
I think he's best with another striker beside him. Why not try him and our RB at striker?

31 Mar 2015 15:59:56
He has no interest in working hard, on the training ground or on the pitch, making him an expensive liability and little else. Also think he disrupts our flow and our togetherness when he plays. Prefer we stop playing him in vain hope he becomes great as it simply is not going to happen.

31 Mar 2015 17:27:12
I think he would be better off used as a backup groundskeeper myself.
Then again do we really want the pitch half mowed, the white lines only done on one side and goals without nets in them?

31 Mar 2015 18:09:37
To be fair Mikey.
The pitch couldn't get much worse ;0)

31 Mar 2015 11:38:50
How about Benitez as a Director of Foortball?

31 Mar 2015 13:05:11
Hmmm, a DoF with a completely different idea as to how the team play to our current manager. Not just that, but where BR has played the expansive, attacking high press game, this is what most of us fans have relished too. So, would you want to dump all that to return to Rafa's style of play?

31 Mar 2015 14:05:53
It wouldn't happen, but Rodgers ideas and style of play combined with Rafa's experience could be a great combination. Rodgers could learn a lot from Rafa especially defensively.

Red Rum

31 Mar 2015 14:22:33
weren't we the highest in the league one year under rafa? and i'd take being number one in Europe again and actualy wining trophies then not

31 Mar 2015 14:32:20
As much as I like BR's style of play, I don't think he will take the club forward. He just hasn't got the tactical nouse, and by the looks of it, he never will.
Liverpool doesn't always play high press IMO, but when they do they play well, but man. when they don't, they're soooo tedious.

Your question; LFC were indeed quite defensive in those Benitez days. So. maybe not, no.

31 Mar 2015 15:31:38
I would love Rafa as the next boss if Rodgers doesn't get top 4. For me he is still one of the very best coaches out there and he is available.

31 Mar 2015 15:40:05
When we people realise it is not BR's style of play, he got that idea from Biesla. and he reverted back to his own style due to his arrogance and hey presto we struggled the first part of the season!!!
Rafa wanted us to play flowing football with a strong defence and he actually won stuff which to me show pedigree and knowledge of what he is doing.

31 Mar 2015 19:37:07
I might get a bit of stick for this but. Rafa was a tactical genius, he frustrated and annoyed the hell out of Fergie and mourinho, he very nearly won us the league and built a great team, put it this way he's that respected he signed alonso, garcia and mascherano without a whimper. Liverpool cannot do that anymore, benitez as a dof is an excellent idea. He was unfortunate during his time at Liverpool due to the problems with the owners. If he had a stable boardroom back then I firmly believe he would still be our manager

01 Apr 2015 12:30:11
Lerchy - changing history? Regards to winning the league, he was as close as BR came (and before anyone cries 'but BR had Suarez on fire', Rafa has Gerrard, Torres, Carragher, Alonso and Mascherano on fire). Regarding player signing - we also missed out on plenty of big name targets and bought some expensive duds under Rafa. Lots of them. The big names that we bought generally weren't actually that big when we got them (like Alonso, Garcia and Mascherano) - we made them what they are, especially Alonso. We weren't picking up the big boys because Rafa was so respected - we were making them

31 Mar 2015 09:32:17
Just wanted to throw my 2 pence worth on Sterling.
I think he wants to know if we are in the Champion's League next season before he decides whether or not to sign on the dotted line.
When Sterling got his chance, I heard at the time that Jordan Ibe would have been given the opportunity but was injured and so Sterling came through and the rest is history.
Although I firmly believe that Sterling is a very good player and would do best by sticking with us, £35m+ is a figure that Liverpool would not be able to ignore. We need investment in our Forwards and to finance our Champion's League wages. As much as Sterling staying would be great, he would help the club finacially by moving on, and I personally believe that Ibe is a better player, and could easily replace Sterling.
Anything less than that £35m figure should be ignored, anywhere above and I could fully understand and agree with the club allowing him to move on and sit on a bench somewhere!

31 Mar 2015 11:41:35
Ibe is a year younger, he was never going to get the opp before sterling who was scoring plenty in the youth teams etc. simple reality is if we said yes to his demands he would most likely have signed ages ago. His agent can make it out to be about CL now but that wasn't the case originally ( given we were in the CL)

31 Mar 2015 16:53:45
if Sterling turns out to be great, that 35m would be a great investment for the buyer. of course it could go the other way as well.

my point is, if we can keep him i don't see why should we sell. i really don't buy the 180k a week stuff. let's just wait until he is sold or signs a new contract and either ed001 or Ed002 can update us on things.

{Ed002's Note - Putting aside the numbers, I don't think there will be any updates for a little while - but Liverpool will look to options and that is perhaps why they have looked at the likes of Depay? The proposed interest in Walcott is not something I can concern. Zakaria Bakkali has said an English side is still interested in him, but I cannot imagine it being a high-profile side.}

31 Mar 2015 16:54:25
according to wpedia, looks like Jordon and Raheem are born on the same day - December 8th! Raheem being exactly one year older.