Liverpool Banter Archive May 31 2016

31 May 2016 22:14:01
Ed2 reports coming out we have agreed a fee for Samuel Bastien. Anything your end mate.

31 May 2016 23:18:14
Disgrace hath become me. This young boy Sammy looks a real handful for some such oppositions although I myself believe that a certain Welshman has more potential than the Belgian

If there's one thing I've learned over the past season or so it's that Belgians do not work in this Loverpool squad especially that god awful Origi who seemingly scored a fair few goals fair play to the lad one of the better players I've seen in recent times at the club a big powerful lad strapping handsome etc

Anyhow back to the matter at hand and that is oh bloody Nora I forgot oh that's right Sammy Bastien he looks a fair talent but one that I think would certainly not be ready for the Loverpool squad for another 24-36 months. Joe meanwhile you are a beauty and a side note that poor gorilla.

01 Jun 2016 07:40:11
what time did you start drinking? . Monday?

01 Jun 2016 08:45:43
Yeah but which mondsy and what year😜.

01 Jun 2016 10:59:03
Reckon love must have been down the old ship and mitre for few jars before writing this his mind could have been drawn by Picasso its so jumbled truly abstract brings a different meaning to cubism Howe Dr I must agree divock does appear a lovely young chap with real strapping shoulders. on another note this gorilla your talking about wouldn't happen to be named grodd and little psychic maestro if so than perhaps Barry's blast to the past has had some malevolent effects.

01 Jun 2016 11:19:57
I started drinking six or seven years ago and haven't been able to shake the filthy habit God knows I've tried even went to rehab for a short while but the nectar always find some way of jumping down me old throat and no the poor chap was named Harambe I believe young Queen.

01 Jun 2016 13:05:01
Oh okay thanks for clearing that up Joey boy and I hope you can overcome your demons and withstand the toxic drops of the old "nectar" as you call it and hopefully the only thing you will be getting drunk on is the joy of success when are lovely liverpool rise from the ashes like a Phoenix to the pinnacle of glory or even some glory for the england or Welsh in your case Joe lad.

01 Jun 2016 16:21:23
Origi will b in double figures next season as long as he doesn't get a ridiculous injury (15-20). imo.

31 May 2016 21:49:35
Ed2, you've mentioned (repeatedly, due to be not reading the posts) our interest in El Ghazi and Zielinski. I was just wondering who would you prefer of the two if you were in charge? (Or neither, of course) .

Thanks.

01 Jun 2016 08:42:22
They are not like for like. Zielinski is a CM that has played out of position occasionally on the wing. He is a far better CM from the looks of it to me. But then again, I only watched the many match highlights clips of him on youtue which are not entirely accurate reading.

El Ghazi, I ve seen plenty of (even at a live game) . Poor end to the season and needs a lot of work but brings a lot of things this liverepool don't have. Can play up front but is really an out and out wide player. I really think Klopp can develop him into something special.

El Ghazi would be my choice as I have faith in our current CMs once Milner doesn't play there.

01 Jun 2016 09:38:30
Thanks for the info Davy.

31 May 2016 20:22:33
It's pretty obvious, our four best attacking players are Sturridge origi firmino and coutinho. I'd like to see us try and play them all. Sturridge likes drifting wide right and origi left, so they should compliment each other well. I wouldn't designate coutinho as wide men, but allow them to move around in areas vacated by Sturridge, and dropping off to pick the ball up. Firmino makes good runs in behind and coutinho likes coming to get the ball.
I'd like hendo to develop his tackling and positional play more, but by no means do I think he should be sold. If he does, him and can are capable of holding a midfield together, and letting the four ahead of them play. He's fit, strong and has a decent range of passing. If he learns to read the game well, I think he can be very valuable to us, winning the ball back and using it well. It may not be the DLP everyone wants, but like I said, I'd back the four ahead to score if we keep it tight. They work hard too, so should make up the extra man in the middle if they are outnumbered. Also, with Ings coming in, playing one up front will mean limited opportunities for one of them, and I don't think they deserve that.

01 Jun 2016 11:07:49
What formation though mate? The problem with sturridge playing out wide is tracking back and I don't recall him ever making a challenge. He has to play on the shoulder of the opposition's last defender imo.

01 Jun 2016 16:25:06
Unfortunately cout's loses the ball too often on the turn so until he improves this he better out wide at mo, quality otherwise.

01 Jun 2016 09:19:32
You've forgot ings, i think he'll feature a lot next season.

31 May 2016 20:20:10
Eds - anything in these rumblings online about Pepe Reina? Would seem like an odd one to me unless pan face was to be moved on. Personally I don't think we should ever have gotten rid of him in the first place.
Couldn't find anything on the search engine.
Thanks!

{Ed002's Note - I don't know anything of PR.}

31 May 2016 20:54:34
We made a mistake loaning and selling Pepe, he just needed a real challenge at the club.


Baz.

31 May 2016 21:05:02
He was wanting out of the club at first option. Thinks he is to big for the club so don't want them.

01 Jun 2016 01:09:13
Would only make sense if Migs is sold. I don't know that having 2 keepers who want to be first choice is great when we have no euro footy next season. I know competition is good, but I'd prefer to see someone like Pepe who is happy to be back up and can pass on a wealth of experience.

01 Jun 2016 02:13:12
Do you think he's an improvement on Bogdan?

{Ed001's Note - depends on if he still has an attitude and thinks he is bigger than the club or not.}

01 Jun 2016 02:59:57
No mistake. He wanted out and he got his wish. Noothinelse to see here and NO, I don't want him back.

01 Jun 2016 10:29:23
This rumor is bullshit. Klopp is not an idiot and we don't need a backup keeper on super high wages. If Migs stays we will have that for 1 season, if he leaves we will replace him with a cheaper option or just not send Ward on loan. Reina is the solution to absolutely nothing.

01 Jun 2016 16:28:00
Perhaps pep as back up/ challenge Kraus then become y2k coach n move ward up after season or 2 on loan, that would be cool, imo.

31 May 2016 16:57:02
Can one of the eds or anyone give me an explanation .......

{Ed002's Note - You are in the wrong place, this is the Liverpool page.}

31 May 2016 14:26:00
Hi ed002 did I see you say on the la liga site that we are interested in Aubameyang and Lewandowski or did I misread it?

Thanks.

{Ed002's Note - That was about Real Madrid.}

31 May 2016 14:34:08
Oh okay thanks ed.

31 May 2016 13:50:03
So bacca is off to West Ham it seems. We should have signed him instead of benteke! 19 goals in his first season at Milan and he suits klopps style.

31 May 2016 14:02:06
I said this not too long ago on this site and someone said 'why, he hasn't exactly set the serie a alight'. Some people have very little knowledge of the game. Bacca would have been great for us and much cheaper, even though he's a lot older, he would have been much more worth it.

31 May 2016 14:19:59
Did Bacca turn us down for AC or did we not follow on supposed interest?

31 May 2016 15:01:15
You mak it sound like we picked up the wrong brand of crisps. Maybe he didn't care for living in Liverpool, or playing for bodgers or he was a Milan fan as a kid. Who knows!? We were not the only club in the world who needed a sttiker at the time.

31 May 2016 16:31:36
I'm not sure gaz could any of the Ed's further elaborate, did we bid or did we go straight for benteke?

{Ed002's Note - My notes from the time state: "I don't know what his agent has said but don't hold your breath for a move to Liverpool. Whilst Monaco, Roma, Spurs, Lazio and Inter (not Milan) have expressed an interest in Bacca, the player says he is happy with Sevilla and the future plans the club has. Milan has gone through the back door of not expressing an interest but simply submitting a bid without talking to his agent or the club. His agent has also made unsolicited approaches to two English sides, including Arsenal.}"

31 May 2016 16:39:44
OK thanks Ed, 30 or not I'd take him in a heartbeat. Obviously sell benteke but he would be great for origi to learn his trade off. Shame it won't happen.

31 May 2016 13:26:46
It seems that West Ham are now having a go at signing bacca. I know everyone (myself included) were hoping they were coming for benteke but he's really nothing like batshuayi, lacazette and bacca (the strikers they are actually interested in) ie mobile.

31 May 2016 13:59:51
Its one thing chasing players, but its another thing getting them.

31 May 2016 14:17:38
I agree, but why target a certain profile of player only to change tac and sign something completely different. I know checking odds is not always indicative of what is likely to happen but west brom, any Chinese club and any MLS club are installed as the 3 favourites for his signature, it just shows how little interest there has been.

31 May 2016 15:49:47
The Chinese will offer to pay crazy wages Den82, the bacca ship has long since sailed, west ham seem determined to sign a striker, I wander who they will end up with, don't be shocked if they finally get round to bentenke.

31 May 2016 19:55:10
I would be amazed if they go for benteke with carol stil there.

31 May 2016 20:28:42
The thing is den most of what is read in the papers is bollocks.

They need to fill it with something just to sell it.

31 May 2016 11:32:44
Been reading up on ...........

{Ed002's Note - This is the Liverpool page - please take it elsewhere.}

31 May 2016 09:53:11
hey ed02. ihave some suggestions that klopp doesn't fancy henderson and that he is open to offers as he doesn't see him as a pillar of his team. would any side offer decent money on henderson. spurs and arsenal maybe?

{Ed002's Note - No idea.}

31 May 2016 10:13:44
when fully fit henderson and can has been klopps favourite midfield pairing.

31 May 2016 10:21:53
Mandzo I really don't think Red Lobster, GermanKlopp, Harry, Leekanyeuw and Workshy are very reliable sources.

Doomsayers will always try and drag you down just to be controversial if nothing else.

Klopp very clearly rates Henderson, and Hendo will still be captain next year unless he gets a good offer from a better team and asks to move.

If anything, he is too good for us. Not vice versa.

31 May 2016 10:30:32
I agree 100% MK mate.

31 May 2016 10:30:51
i don't think those sources. i know hendo is a good player but it is obvious he struggles and his injury is still a concern. he is a decent player but will he win us the league. our midfield is poor we need to compare our midfield with big boys not swansea or southampton and luckily klopp knows that there is not enough crativity. can is only player from our midfield that would be in champions league squad of serious team (psg, atletico, real, barca etc) do we remember our midfield of masch alonso and stevie and we still haven't won the league. it is not time to be sensible we need to create a midfield boss if we can't buy him and zielinski and dahoud fit that mould hendo is very good player but no real room for improvment.

31 May 2016 10:43:44
if we sign dahoud etc. hendo/ can will be dropped for few games atleast in the season ( rotation) , klopp plays with 2- man mid, we already have 5 midfielders excluding likes of brannagan and chiverella. So i don't think we will sign anyone without selling. let's say allen and lucas are set to leave, that still leaves us with stewart, can and hendo. if we are to add dahoud, zielinski or anyone else for that matter Hendo could very well be sold. its not about klopp not liking him though, its about having the best players and trimming the squad. however though is anyone of the players we are looking at really better than what we have is the question?
in my opinion there is no way hendo can be sold.

31 May 2016 10:44:49
Move him on. I want a Klopp team.

31 May 2016 10:50:34
this is tough i really like hendo he is a proffesional good athlete, good runs but sometimes he lacks that arogance as he plays it safe. he looked very good when he had free role but under klopp he seems lost and he is similar to milner so i think klopp will sell one of them as they are on a big wage and none will be happy to sit on bench. i would say only players that we will not listen to offers are origi, can and firmino and with matip they will be backbone of new kloppo team.

31 May 2016 11:02:29
I think Hendo stays but Klopp will add another player as an option at CM in addition to Hendo/ Milner/ Can -- hence the reported interest in Zielinski, Dahoud, etc.

Hendo's chronic heal injury means that Klopp's choices at CM were quite thin this year, having to heavily rely on Lucas or Allen for reinforcement, neither of which are first choice. And when Can got injured, they were extremely thin.

31 May 2016 11:04:53
But none of Dahoud, Zielinski, Can, Stewart etc are better than Hendo. So trimming good players and replacing them with kids is just plain ridiculous.

Spurs came 3rd and would like to sign Hendo as they see him as a player who can take them up a level to win the title. Doesn't that say it all?

The most common criticism I see of Hendo is the myth that he doesn't score or assist enough. Yet in the season before last when Hendo wasn't injured, he got 7 goals and 15 assists. That was his first season as captain. At 24 years old he proved he has the quality to score and create goals from midfield with the added pressure of the armband.

Just as an example, at the same age, Miralem Pjanic got 6 goals and 6 assists. Henderson is easily at the same level as some of the best box to midfielders in world football.

If we sell him willingly we are absolute fools. He is still only 25 and easily in the top 5 midfielders in the Premier League.

You want a Klopp team? No you just want change because it's different and excites you. Hendo is the last player I would sell in our squad. It is an absolute crying shame that he still has to put up with clueless people who don't understand football enough to see what he contributes and how important he is.

31 May 2016 11:38:18
Yep, let's change the entire team and spend another 1/ 2 season going nowehere whilst the new players to gel.
Hendo will only get better, we should be adding to him and Can so we can rotate with better quality, not looking to replace him.

31 May 2016 11:38:30
Lots focus on the "Gerrard slip" when we came close

This wasn't the downfall - losing Henderson to suspension was.

When there were talks of us signing him he got pasted on here. I said he would be first pick and future captain.

He sets the tone and pace of our game.

Quality player IMO.

31 May 2016 11:46:43
I don't understand any of you people. You've never seen Dahoud or Zielinski on the pitch, never seen either one kick a ball in a LFC shirt and you're so eager and ready to kick out the LFC captain. A guy who plays his heart out for the team when he's fit and has been doing so for over 3 years now. I understand you need to get your cheap thrills for the summer and throw people out of the team and then buy unknowns without any regard to anything else. Just to get the satisfaction of having things your way, without ryhme or reason. That's okay. But it makes the rest of us, on this page, look just as flaky. And we're not. (MKS - you need to add Ja Kurtz to your list of "unreliables") .

31 May 2016 11:52:09
Absolutely right Aggerdo. That red card against ManC in 2013 lost us the title. He got suspended for the last 3 games of the season and we all saw the capitulation of the title because we had no one to replace him.

31 May 2016 12:56:58
Hendo, hendo is his name
His old heel might be lame
Yet even so he's still insane
The captain of the reds.

31 May 2016 12:57:38
This bashing on Henderson started to get really embarassing and damn annoying. I need to start to ignore and not to read any of these banters about him after this.

31 May 2016 15:54:55
nobody is bashing hendo we all know he is superb player but will he ever be on a level like before. and i watched dahoud and i'm absolutely thrilled with him i will not say he is better player but he would suit our current style better. there is football outside of England and you know that because none of english clubs haven't won nothing in europe for a long time. will you teach me about football please lol. you don't even know who i am and what i know and you say i don't see hendo importance. he is our most important player but obviously that is not enough (or we are happy with 8th place and no european footie? ) lucky klopp is here and will decide what he thinks is best.

31 May 2016 08:35:07
Ed001,
Great read about Moores, really enjoy the info you pass on. Ed001 maybe you should consider writing books on the things like Moores ownership.

Also things like what happened with behind the scene with Torres/ Suarez and all the other fast knowledge you have, or maybe once a month you might want to put it on the site.

Thanks
Keep up the great work.

{Ed001's Note - if only I had the time to write a book I would have done so by now. I did start one a few years back, but about my family, was trying to get it written for my nan, as she was ill. Sadly she died and it got put aside as I lost my appetite for writing it. Shame because the family are.....interesting, to say the least. The amount of material I collected to write about could have filled a hundred books. I have often thought about putting it together as a blog instead, just telling the stories bit by bit that way. Maybe I should do that for the Moores stuff etc instead?}

31 May 2016 10:14:11
Go for it. So many of us on here would be intrigued to listen/ read about your knowledge of LFC. 👍.

{Ed001's Note - if I get some spare time I will do that.}

31 May 2016 10:37:59
Maybe it something you take up again in her memory ed001,as it would be a fitting tribute to your nan from you.
Would be a interesting read about your family, also don't give up on writing other books about your football stories as it would be a waste mate, even if you only write a little at a time.

{Ed001's Note - ok mate, though the problem with writing about my family is making it seem believable, as it is difficult to believe even knowing the stories are true.}

31 May 2016 11:13:11
Larry David springs to mind or John sullivan lol. Is it as crazy as the things Larry or John's father used to get upto.

31 May 2016 14:28:04
Something to consider. If your ever over here again Ed. maybe do a audience with theme or something?
Get a decent venue, maybe you could stage it with some others and have the audience throw questions at you?

Charge tickets at a decent price to cover costing and what ever is over is for the site?

Just an idea?

{Ed001's Note - not a bad idea. I know the guy who does the Liverpool Legends tours, I will see if he would be keen on the idea.}

31 May 2016 08:05:16
Has Benteke been told he cab go as yet? Just that I'm hearing Juventus are interested as they are possibly going to lose Morata and Zaza.

30 May 2016 20:26:43
ed001 could you be good enough to give us some details about david moores time as Liverpool owner, the lack of expansion at anfield, obviously sticks out, but for fans like me growing up all we cared about was getting results which we often did but it seems know whith the benefit of hindsight we stagnated in every area possible allowing man utd to over take us on and off the pitch, he couldn't even sell us properly, you obviously know quite a bit about his time there so any info would be great. Thanks pal.

{Ed001's Note - there are so many things it is difficult to pare it down for a post on here but I will try and just simplify it.

Moores was not an owner like Abramovich, who puts money in, but an owner who took constantly money out. He would travel with the squad, first class, at the club's expense and all his food and drink and hotel rooms were also on expenses. He liked to think he was friends with the players, which was what led to the 'Spice Boys' crap, as he would undermine Roy Evans' staff constantly, whenever they tried to discipline players.

As well as doing that, he rejected the chance to expand Anfield or build a new stadium, at a time when the costs were a tiny fraction of the current costs, because it would have meant he would have had to put his money on the line. It was not so easy for football clubs to borrow money then, but his wealth was easily enough to provide surety on a loan or he could have loaned the club in the way Abramovich did, but he never wanted to put money in.

When we needed defenders, he decided to put all the money in to buying Collymore instead, against the wishes of the coaching staff once again. He was never wanted, Evans had asked for defenders. Moores didn't feel defenders were exciting enough so bought someone he had a hard on for instead.

Then there is the commercial dept, which he refused to expand, because he was completely clueless about running a business. He was one of those who inherited their wealth and never had to do any work for it. Unfortunately it meant he had little business acumen, so he never saw any reason to invest. What we were left with, when G&H bought the club, was a couple of people working above a pub to run the whole commercial department. We are still catching up on that front now.

Then there was the sale, which he took the extra money over what was best for the club. DIC (while they, like G&H, later got into trouble during the recession) had a clear plan for the club's future. G&H came in with little real plan as they were a last minute combo who jumped in together to raise the funds needed to buy it. Even knowing that G&H were tapped out raising the money to buy the club, and intending to leverage debt onto it to pay for things, while DIC had clear outside investment plans to raise the cash for a stadium etc, Moores still took the extra cash from G&H.

He was the single worst owner the club has ever had, and destroyed the club singlehandedly. When he took over we were an extremely well run football club who were top of the pile in European football. When he left we were a struggling mid-table club with an ageing stadium and no money. Other clubs had moved with the times, Moores had actually taken Liverpool backwards.}

31 May 2016 07:42:03
Nice, good to read thanks ed1.

{Ed001's Note - thanks mate.}

31 May 2016 07:48:48
And you read that and wonder how fsg get so much stick.

31 May 2016 07:11:29
Great insight. I was always at a complete loss as to the marketing after winning the CL. There was hardly any merchandise after winning it, no springboard onto anything. And then the kit thing, only 5000 was it? Special replica kits if I recall, think they came out late and of course we should have been selling 5mil around the world at that point. Might recall this slightly wrong, but we won in May but by July you couldn't even buy a mug with five times or CL winners etc. Not exactly a massive amount of time after, but enough for the high to disappear a bit, missed that instant pop.

That was just one incident which I guess I was old enough to notice the commercial side was seemingly poor.

31 May 2016 08:18:11
Have you ever had the pleasure of meeting Moores Ed01? if so, what's he like.

{Ed001's Note - not since I was young and I can't really remember him that well. Not sure it could be considered pleasure, he was a bit of a laughing stock to be honest. He honestly thought he was bezzies with the players, most of them just laughed at him behind his back. It is quite sad really. He was so desperate to be loved that he let himself be used and so lost their respect.}

31 May 2016 11:48:21
Really do love this site, some great banter some shocker questions and really great football knowledge by the eds . cheers to those who make it worth a look every chance i get.

{Ed001's Note - cheers mate.}

31 May 2016 11:48:49
Brilliant hope you don't mind me screenshotting it and posting it on Facebook. And Ed write a book will you.

{Ed001's Note - go for it mate. And yes I will add that back on to my to do list....}

31 May 2016 12:46:55
Really interesting info about Moores and how he hastened the decline of Liverpool. Would make an interesting book on how his lack of any kind of acumen hastened the decline of Liverpool just when football was going hyper commercial. Well worth submitting an outline to a publisher. Ready made market for it. - As for the family saga, you should post a teaser just to let us know how 'interesting' your clan is.

{Ed091's Note - I'd like him to tell you about unfortunate cucumber incident when he turned 13

31 May 2016 13:11:55
thanks for the info regarding moores ed001, the thing that sticks out for me was when he decided to sell he said "you only get to sell the family silver once", yet he made such a mess of it first of all he let us believe we were going to be owned by dic, then for a extra £8million he gave us laurel and hardy, without sounding naïve I have often wandered why he didn't pull the plug on both parties and then cast his net further by announcing his intention to sell Liverpool fc, I suppose we have to be grateful he did not sell it to Kenny haunge.

{Ed001's Note - it was £6m extra. Moores just wanted the cash now, that was all it was about to him, greed and the promise of being club president with free travel etc.}

31 May 2016 14:07:36
you have whetted my appetite now for your book about david moores ed, no pressure mind, any time in the next 20 years will do, I know you're busy!

{Ed001's Note - probably take me that long!}

31 May 2016 17:39:37
Ed001, My knowledge of the club ownership pre-Moores is hazy, so has it been owned by his family for a number of years, using Littlewoods Pools money, and the decline happened once Moores took over running? How was John Smith (Moore's predecessor other than a few months with Noel White) as the Chairman? Was Moore's forced on the club by his family given their ownership? Was strange that Noel White was ousted after so little time, was it because he wasn't working out?

Sorry about so many questions, but I'll use your answers to start ghost writing your book ;-)

{Ed001's Note - yes, pretty much spot on. Smith was brilliant, for that era, though it was simply a case of staying out of the way and signing cheques back then. What he did so well though, was he left the football side to football people, while Moores liked to think he knew the game and so got involved. Unfortunately Moores could barely pick his own nose without help, let alone pick a signing. White was ousted because Moores wanted to get in, it was far too soon to tell if he was working out or not to be honest.

Good idea on the ghost writing.....}