Liverpool Banter Archive December 03 2017

03 Dec 2017 22:35:32
eds - convo between mates about lfc and our place in the world. my feeling is that we attract players like torres, suarez, coutinho etc who are potential "world class" players at the time, but that the culture of the club and the city isn't quite a fit for them when they catapult into the echelon of the world's best players. I'm not wanting to get too specific about this and I am not trying to speak on this like it is a negative thing, just an observation - but I feel like there are certain clubs and cities that are just a better appeal and fit for the personality / attitude / arrogance of the world's best players. you know what I mean?

Is it just money? Would we really keep our top players if we could just pay more to more of our players? I feel like there is more to it.

{Ed002's Note - players want to be playing and challenging at the highest level. Liverpool can’t offer that on a regular basis.}

04 Dec 2017 01:29:56
Ed002 said it best. If a player has the ambition to be the best and challenge for trophies on a regular basis then obviously they will be attracted to the Barcas and Madrids. Unless we can offer this on a regular basis I don't see any suprise in such issues. Its the same when we buy a player from a lower team e. g Southampton, its a chance for said player to move up.

04 Dec 2017 03:34:41
Ed002 nailed it. LFC as a club has provided a platform to potential world class players to take the next step in the development to reach the very top. Unfortunately, this is when the problems start. The best we can do is challenge for a top4 place (even that is a rare occurrence) while the likes of Suarez, Torres, Alonso, Mascherano, Sterling all wanted to win league titles and the UCL.
LFC need to start building a world class team to convince the likes of Salah to stay. A team that can compete with the best in England and Europe as well.
There is also this misconception that all players want to move to Barcelona and Real the moment they start sniffing around them. I beg to differ. Aguero, Silva, KDB still at Man city inspite of interest from the La Liga giants. Hazard is still at Chelsea even though Zidane keeps making eyes at him. De Gea still at Utd and they signed Pogba over Real. Its all about challenging at the very top. Once we do that, players will want to stay.

{Ed001's Note - it is not all about challenging, sometimes it is about money, sometimes it is about Real or Barca not making a genuine attempt to sign them, sometimes it is that they were only wanted as back ups there. There is a lot more to it than simply being challengers.}

04 Dec 2017 04:11:19
You need to win trophies to keep our best players at the club unlike top 4 Arsenal trophy! Why is it even a surprise? Raise your ambition from “ Futurr looking bright “ and “ Next year is our year “ to “ let's win the league and nothing else “. If you are satisfied with 4th and 5th place finishes then you ll loose the best players!

04 Dec 2017 04:46:35
Ed1 - to your point about money, is that an area that would "bridge the gap" for us? I guess that is the crux of my thinking - if we had equivalent money to spend, are we the kind of club in the kind of location where the worlds best players want to play?

{Ed001's Note - it really depends on the player. That is my point, there is no 'this is what a player wants', everyone is different, whether they play football or work in a bank, everyone has different wants and needs. Some players, such as Matt Le Tissier and Totti can go anywhere in the world but choose to stay with a team that is mostly winning nothing instead. It is not a lack of ambition that saw both stay, it was a different kind of ambition. Alexis Sanchez did not choose Arsenal because of trophies, for instance, he chose them because of location. Nainggolan stays with Roma because he wants to be in Rome. Other players just go where the money is. Still others, such as Milner leaving the title-challenging City to join us instead, leave for regular first team football. There is no one size fits all in any situation in life.}

04 Dec 2017 05:10:43
But this situation has become a norm especially with any quality player that joins LFC and then chooses to leave. So many factors but players like Torres, Sterling left purely to challenge for trophies. The situation where your best players can be mitigated to a certain extent by challenging at the highest level. It will not stop a player leaving 100% but it makes it easier to keep hold of our best players as they are unlikely to throw a strop and justify their actions over the club's lack of ambition.

04 Dec 2017 07:36:15
Some great comments above. We are a strange one because we look so close to being a challenging team but are yet so far away from it on other days. I think every man and his dog know where our weakness's are and if Klopp can get the next 2 windows right then next season there should be no excuse not for us to proper early challenge for the title or win it. If we fail to put in a realistic challenge and Salah, Mane and Firmino continue this form then would you blame them for having their head turned if a Real, Barca, PSG, Bayern or I hate to say it even city came In for them.

04 Dec 2017 17:40:00
Spot on jayden23.

03 Dec 2017 18:32:32
{Ed's Note - we have posted a new article entitled, Brighton v Liverpool - A Liverpool Perspective

03 Dec 2017 18:57:36
Thanks ed, great review. I understand coutinhos defensive work has plenty if room for improvement but he was a jot to watch yesterday. His touch and balance is just brilliant the Brighton players couldn't get near him. They will be having nightmares.

I'm glad to see that we are making the most of set pieces lately. Also happy that we are looking into details like the wall jumping. Seems minor but we should always look out for things like this.

03 Dec 2017 19:50:31
Fully agree about Coutinho's work rate. If he could take a lesson from Firmino in that sense imagine how good he'd be!

03 Dec 2017 21:39:03
For me, I boil it down to what are the player's strengths and where can they be best utilized. in coutinho's case he is most effective in the attacking third, so for now it makes little sense to have him playing in central midfield where he has to use physical and mental energy to apply himself in a different way. yes he can use his eye for a pass from a deeper position, but that doesn't take into account the how it change his approach to the game by starting in a in deeper position.

in the future, I think he can be a cracking player in the middle of the park. but a lot of that will depend on his adaptability and willingness to work on his all round game to be effective there.

03 Dec 2017 22:49:12
He scored two and made one, from centre mid, the answer has to be play him there just get him to work on his defensive side.

03 Dec 2017 19:44:52
Hi ed,

I made the painstaking 6 hour drive up to Brighton and have not long got home and not had chance to watch the game back.
Agree with your comments r. e. mignolet, his kicking was truly abysmal mate, the fact that we had wingbacks at times made them look less crap to be polite about it.
Thought Lovren played very well, he actually read the game very well and looked very composed.
Can was fantastic I thought, Wiji looked extremely uncomfortable.
Milner made some very intelligent runs in to the channels and offered a different option on many occasions. I actually thought he played quite well.
Hendo was brilliant, his passing at times was sublime and always offered himself as an option. One of his better games this season.
Not much to add about the front 3, absolutely sensational.
We rode our luck a couple of times, Murray missed a very good chance in the first half, but so did Bobby (about 5 mins in) . Also Trent put a block in from the Brighton winger who came on as a sub, that was something you expected from a long standing experienced full back, fantastic tracking fair play to him and an even better block.
I know most people would think it was a good opportunity to give some subs some more minutes but I genuinely don't think Klopp could have. At 3-1 we still look and feel vulnerable.
P. S. Who was the penalty actually given against because I'm genuinely non the wiser.

{Ed001's Note - I would agree on Milner's runs if we were playing a front 2, so his runs had a point. We played a front 3, which means he was just running into channels that were needed for one of those. He is just getting in the way, when what we needed was him to protect Wijnaldum and Can.

The pen was given against Henderson, though he was the one who was fouled, if anything.}

03 Dec 2017 20:07:23
Great write up Eds. I Like the old Firmino comment of him not being able to score goals. That opinion is based on his previous seasons with LFC and the argument was he doesn't score enough (26 goals in 80 games, ), however he is proving the doubters (of which I was 1) wrong this season and may it continue. I will happily continue to eat humble pie if it means he keeps banging them in.

{Ed001's Note - 26 in 80 is very good for a false 9 though! That was the point, he had nothing to prove.}

03 Dec 2017 20:24:35
Great review as always ed. great performance from the lads as well. I wonder was coutinho attempting to remind Barcelona what they can get while the deadline neared? Totally agree about man of match. Such a shame his career will end like this but at least he won't be missed nearly as much.

{Ed001's Note - he will be missed, unless replaced, as he meant we could afford to rest Mane without missing a beat.}

03 Dec 2017 22:06:17
Great read, Ed. Re Cou, the problem is not his workrate or lack thereof. It is his overall attitude of late that is worrying. Back in the day or even last season, Cou was hailed for not just being a creator BUT most importantly for working his socks off when out of possession, getting stuck in and sticking the boot in when necessary. He is no longer doing any of that cos his attitude has changed for obvious reasons. I understand that he had a good game BUT Cou has played that way offensively many times in the past while at the same time, doing the hard graft.

That hard graft is currently missing and leaves the team unbalanced in midfield when he does not track back. Our system requires all players to get involved in all phases of the game and if one is not bothered to track back out of possession, then the whole team becomes vulnerable.

{Ed001's Note - that was exactly the point I was trying to make about Couts. You are spot on.}

03 Dec 2017 22:51:16
Great review again ed.

{Ed001's Note - thank you.}

04 Dec 2017 03:45:50
Good point BRover and Ed001. The primary reason why Klopp and most fans wanted Coutinho dropped into midfield was the additional creativity he would bring without sacrificing of the midfield's defensive duties. Unfortunately the player has abandoned the second part and this make sour midfield lopsided considering the other two mids are not exactly defensive minded either.

{Ed001's Note - it is a major problem and leaves us very open when he plays deeper. Thing is Barca like players to press, which is one of the reasons they were interested in him in the first place.}

04 Dec 2017 04:54:37
And it was poor Moreno that gets clobbered by the fans base when Couts does a disappearing act in certain games. Maybe Klopp sees this problem too and hence the interest in slightly more robust and midfield inclined players like Meyer and Goretzka. Or Klopp could try OX in midfield and play Coutinho higher up the pitch when the one of the front 3 needs a rest. OX has certainly shown a willingness to track back and help with defensive duties so why not? Would give Gomez or Moreno a breather.

04 Dec 2017 05:06:59
Another Coutinho bashing post and in his defense I had a post which did not see the air!*rest deleted as pointless*

{Ed001's Note - it is because you are making personal attacks on other posters and are on the verge of another ban. You are also making false assumptions and posting up untrue false memories of what others said, as usual. Last warning.}

04 Dec 2017 05:59:50
Harry, if u cannot see Coutinho's lack of effort this season compared to last season, then there is no point even arguing with you. Yes, the lad's got unique talent but he wants to be at Barcelona and he that negative impact on his mindset is showing in his demeanour and work rate. He will always create and score goals because of his world class talent but he wants out and it is in the interest of both parties that parting of ways happens ASAP before relationships get too toxic.

04 Dec 2017 06:39:56
Talking about bans, may I know Ed1 why am I banned (for my previous user ID)?

Just want to know. Please don't ban me again.

{Ed001's Note - I doubt I would know even if I could be bothered to look up and see what your previous ID was.}

04 Dec 2017 06:51:38
Sorry Ed1. It was HaizanMSS. It is banned in the Movies page as well. Actually I did send some queries through the contact form, but didn't get any feedback, thus I decided to just create a new one for both pages.

{Ed001's Note - I don't know mate, are you sure it was banned? Only I don't know of anyone banning you. We did have server issues for a few days as the hosting company updated their firmware (or was it software? I forget now) and that made most of the code useless. We had a lot of bugs to iron out.}

04 Dec 2017 07:06:20
If trying to log in in the Movies page, yes it stated clearly "username banned". In Liverpool page no, but none of my posts or replies actually gone through for the past months. I thought it was banned too.

It's ok Ed01. Understand about the tech issues.

{Ed001's Note - I am sorry I don't know why, I have not banned you but I don't know if anyone else would have. As far as I am aware they haven't. It is Ed033 you need to ask (that's 2 3s not 3 3s. 333 would have less idea than me or you!}

04 Dec 2017 07:27:36
Apologies to the site, Ed01, I did not abuse any poster. Posting as long as I remember. Never crossed my line. I know what it feels someone abuse / mock / bully you. I have been on the reveieving end from years! Nevertheless I aal sorry 👍.

{Ed002's Note - You posts are largely trolling and looking to antagonise. I delete the threads you troll now so others are affected by it.}

04 Dec 2017 07:29:10
Ed01 Firminho had 15 goals in 59 games and I think that is decent for a false number 9. This season he has 11 in 21. I have beaten the drum in the past about him not scoring enough and us needing a goal scorer. Bobby is proving to be that goal scorer this season and in my opinion is starting to no longer look like a false number 9 but a complete forward. Hence why I am happy to eat humble pie.

03 Dec 2017 15:29:47
Liverpool this season so far:
Salah: 17 goals, 2 assists
Firmino: 10 goals, 4 assists
Coutinho: 5 goals, 6 assists
Mane: 5 goals, 4 assists.

{Ed001's Note - you have not included the Champions League qualifiers then I guess as Bobby has 11 and 1 was scored in them. Not sure about the other stats and how they would be affected, just know about Bobby's as I was looking them up earlier to check a post.}

03 Dec 2017 15:53:51
i wouldn't swap our attacking unit for anybodies. I like aoc in a Liverpool shirt, great little, industrious player with goals in him too. It still scares me when we sit deep and try to defend, asking for trouble. if we had carried on attacking Chelsea I think we would have got the win. Spurs are over rated imo, mainly coz they have a few decent England players but they are now sitting in a more relative position, I don't think arsenal will do enough to make top 4. I think we are now looking at the four teams who qualify for ucl next year. I think Liverpool can make second this year

well played lads.

03 Dec 2017 16:08:36
As Chris Hughton said yesterday our attacking line up is as good as City’s.
Wouldn’t swap or sell any of the Fab Four.

{Ed002's Note - Even if a couple of them wanted to go.}

03 Dec 2017 16:14:35
Couple of them ed? Phil and .

{Ed002's Note - As I have explained already Salah has asked his agent to talk to Real Madrid about any interest they might have in them, particularly given they are already planning on brining in two well known high-profile wide players.}

03 Dec 2017 16:21:24
Can we assume that the Salah to Madrid rumours have some substance behind them Ed002?

{Ed002's Note - Salah seems to be keen enough on the idea to have his agent approach them but Real Madid have two high-profile wide targets. He will also have a contract demand which I suspect Real Madrd would be unwilling to match.}

03 Dec 2017 16:46:27
Not surprised by the Salah to Real link at all. I genuinely thought he wanted to be at the club for the long haul but its so obvious now that all decent players see LFC as no more than a stepping stone to the big 2 in La Liga.
Was really hoping we could keep Salah for a couple of seasons at least considering I read somewhere that he was a LFC fan and Egypt has a huge LFC fan following. Guess it all counts for nothing if the team does not challenge for major honours on a regular basis.

03 Dec 2017 16:51:24
Salah hasn't even unpacked his suitcase yet he is already looking at his options! Charming.

03 Dec 2017 16:49:32
Question for Ed002:
Who are Real's two high profile targets for the wide positions? Really hope they get who ever it is they want. Its back to another rebuilding job for Klopp if Salah and Coutinho leave next summer.

{Ed002's Note - Neymar and Hazard.}

03 Dec 2017 16:59:19
As much as I love ed2, he just made my Sunday evening rubbish. Haha.

03 Dec 2017 17:15:49
If they get both Neymar and Hazard, I'm not sure how Real are going to fit those two in with Ronaldo, to be honest. Especially as Zidane plays without wide players most of the time.

{Ed002's Note - Bale and Asensio will be making way - two wide players. And the likes of Benzema and Ronaldo will be moving on soon aswell.}

03 Dec 2017 17:46:07
Ed002 asensio making way? Are Madrid crazy? Would want him in any salah deal (don't want salah to go anywhere by the way) . Think salah will stay anyway cause Madrid will more than likely nab hazard. (hopefully) . Is neymar interested in going to Madrid ed002?

{Ed002's Note - Asensio will not be moving to Liverpool - they have already held discussions with another club about him. The rest of this all belongs on the European pages.}

03 Dec 2017 17:55:30
If Real will let Ascensio go we should get in the queue for him without doubt

Don’t see Salah going to Madrid if they can get Neymar and Hazard but if they do go for Salah as second choice we will make good money on the deal and we move on

Really like Salah but if it’s just a short time together then so be it.

If Mo doesn’t want to stay longer then we simply move on.

We are LFC and we are a special club and if Mo doesn’t feel that then no hard feelings but maybe he doesn’t know what he is going to miss.

03 Dec 2017 18:27:08
If this is true about Mo, does it say more about the club than the player? Otherwise why would our new, massively in favour and also leagues top scorer be looking to leave already? The league has only been going 3 months!

Will be gutted if he goes, with him, Can and Couts gone, we aren’t the same team.

{Ed002's Note - It is the player who is having his agent enquire about possibilities in Madrid - that is all. He is certainly not being pushed out by the club.}

03 Dec 2017 18:52:26
Well then, fingers crossed Real get Neymar and Hazard. That should keep them off nabbing Salah for the next 3-4 seasons considering they will be blowing a considerable portion of their budget on those two players and another expensive forward like Dybala.

03 Dec 2017 19:14:24
Just when I thought things were going well, I come on here to read this . Sounds like we will be trying to replace Can, Couts and Salah! As well as the defence. what's that horrid word again? Transition?

03 Dec 2017 19:25:13
Indian buzzer nailed it in one. As long as the club are not challenging for major honours noone will stay long term. I know real Madrid are a huge draw for anyone but this is what really bugs me the posters and even fans of this club saying give karius or ward a chance in goal and I'm only using them as an example. Karius is not good enough and ward I don't care how good he was for Huddersfield last season will never make it as number 1 for a top 6 club in england. People need to seriously wake up to what's going on. De gea proves what a world class keeper does for you. He gets you points and carries the team when needed. Coutinho world class talent, firmino, salah, mane. Do yous honestly believe any of these will end there careers at Liverpool? I hope they do but they will all move on eventually like Alonso reina mascherano Torres Suarez to name a few cause the lure of winning trophies regularly appeals to them because they are winners. The lesser talents mignolet, loven, matips and so on will stay as they won't find a better club than Liverpool. All I keep hearing is transition. Its funny cause we all class Liverpool as a top club but I don't know any other top club that has gone through a nearly 30 year transition. Its getting embarrassing now. How many Chelsea, man united or man city players are leaving for the top 2 in Spain or Italy or Germany. The ones those clubs wanna sell is the answer and that's why they are were they are and we are were we are. And before people start we have spent millions since the start of the premier league so I don't wanna hear that money card nonsense. The difference is they spent well we haven't.

03 Dec 2017 19:59:13
Great post IR89. Brutally honest.

03 Dec 2017 21:10:13
but IR89, eventually we have to change the trend or what is even the point of turning up for a match each week? Spurs haven't won anything with their group yet, but Levy makes it so difficult to buy their players that the continuity they have from year to year increases their chances for success. Imagine if we kept Couts, Firmino, Salah Mane for another 3 years, we would actually have the chance to win silverware consistently, rather then shipping them off to Barcelona or Madrid anytime they come sniffing around. The centre backs and goalkeeper certainly need to be improved but keeping the front line intact makes it easier to convince people to come play for us.

03 Dec 2017 21:18:55
Ronaldo, Costa, Naymar, Zinadine, Figo, Bale, Pogba money talks, Salah in his wildest dreams couldn't have believed how well he would do here, he's put himself in the shop window to all the top teams in the world, just hope we can get a few seasons out of him first, hell if we do well he might even want to stay.
Fingers crossed.

03 Dec 2017 21:22:48
But nobody assumes harry kane will leave Spurs.
And nobody assumes Deli Ali would go.
But yet everyone assumes Liverpool would sell, because we have in the past, and this is what's wrong with the football club.

03 Dec 2017 21:46:37
IR89 is right on a lot there. I think FSG see it too and that is why they refused to sell Couthino last summer as they want to change that pattern and let Klopp a team to win the league.

03 Dec 2017 21:50:03
What’s the hierarchy’s view/ take ( at LFC ) on this Ed002? There’s been a couple articles written in the tabloids regarding Real Madrid’s interest in Salah so they must be aware conversations are being had?

Cheers.

{Ed002's Note - I didn’t know about the articles but his agent can speak to clubs to ask if they would be interested. I have no idea what the club think of this matter but they will no doubt not want to sell.}

03 Dec 2017 21:55:35
Fowler, we are NOT a selling club and all the players who have left us of late, made it impossible for us to keep them. They were sold on our terms esp. since FSG came in. You talk about Spurs as and can keep their best players. They can not. Toby wants to leave if they can't pay him what he is worth. Dier was Utd's first choice before they got Matic. Rose is virtually out the door. Alli just changed his agent to get a better move if all goes south at Spurs. Comparing us to Spurs as if they can keep their best players (whereas they are in the same boat as everybody else) makes no sense.

Spurs sold Bale and Modric, two of their best players at the time cos they wanted to go to RM and Spurs could not keep them both. If Kane wants to leave Spurs if RM really want him, he will go and that is the fact. I understand that we have to be able to compete for trophies BUT even at that, if RM come calling, our boys will be keen to look into it. As for Salah, he already said that his dream was to play at Barca, Real and such big clubs since his days at Basel so what Ed is saying is not shocking.

03 Dec 2017 22:08:48
The usual suspects Ed2, involving the Express, Daily mail and the Evening Standard.

On the flip side, I can understand why RM want Hazard, what a player. I’m lucky enough to have a season ticket on the Kop, I get to witness and watch great talent on the pitxh, not just from and LFC prospective but other teams players too.

I hope we can keep hold of Salah, he’s been a great addition to the team.

{Ed002's Note - Ok, thanks.}

03 Dec 2017 22:08:58
But if we keep these players and convince them to put the effort in we will have a team that can challenge. Man Utd kept De Gea (as do other top clubs) so why shouldn’t we keep our players? I mean is Southampton can keep VVD then surely we can keep ours? Couts, Salah, Bobby and Mane all signed long term contracts, so if they want to leave? Tough! If they do an Emre Can and run their contract down so be it, but we stand a better chance of winning/ challenging for top honours if we keep and add to our better players roster rather than try to replace them every summer. If they sulk and don’t put the effort in, drop them for another quality player! If we are going to get back to the top we need to have a top club mentality and show players the club is, was and always will be bigger than them and will still be around and supported long after they are pushing up the daisies and forgotten.

03 Dec 2017 20:29:49
Great post. Exactly the point I was trying to make. Our biggest names don’t want to, and aren’t staying because it appears the club aren’t that interested in challenging for trophies, so why would they stay.

I dare say Klopp won’t be far behind if they let all of those guys leave - they need to show some desire to win things and spend big like the other top teams, if they want to keep our best from wanting to leave.

04 Dec 2017 04:57:10
Real are utterly stupid if they let Asensio go. He is Spanish, he is the future and a fantastic player that would walk into most teams in Europe. Why would they even entertain the idea of letting him go? To buy more shiny new toys like Hazard and Neymar? And where would these two even play in the same team? Both are left wing players.

04 Dec 2017 09:13:36
salah had 5 assists

vs maribor
yesterday
vs watford
vs Arsenal
vs huddersfield.

03 Dec 2017 13:12:18
Nice to see a run of good results and no negativity on here. Back to old ways people having a laugh. How good is Trent going to be aswel. Bring on the blue noses.

03 Dec 2017 15:00:12
yes, Trent is going to be some player, some of his crosses into the box are just brilliant for a young player .

03 Dec 2017 10:45:38
Eds I see silly season is starting again in the media. Salah to Real and Aubemyang to us in January apparently. What's the silliest rumour everyone has ever heard?

03 Dec 2017 11:03:04
Simao to Liverpool for about 7 seasons in a row.

03 Dec 2017 11:15:34
Ken's coming in January.

03 Dec 2017 11:15:38
Typical media destabilization. LFC is on the rise of late. What does the media do? Stir the pot and cause unrest.

03 Dec 2017 11:20:28
I really do believe that we will get Simao this time lad's😁.

03 Dec 2017 11:21:26
Redawn we've had quite a few players we were meant to sign for about 7 seasons. I remember the Simao one well.

03 Dec 2017 11:31:21
Arda turan 😂.

03 Dec 2017 11:31:35
Arda turan as well.

03 Dec 2017 11:44:30
Your being very optimistic BarryinLouth been after him for soooo long😂😂.

03 Dec 2017 12:05:02
Remember when we were nailed on to sign Honda, for about 4 years.

03 Dec 2017 12:31:48
Tbf, at least Simao to Liverpool was true once.

"Barton to Liverpool" cropped up a few times. Initially as a replacement when Gerrard was supposed to be going to Chelsea, but resurfaced a couple of times after. I think it was floated as recently as when Kenny was in charge.

03 Dec 2017 12:37:49
Remember we nearly got Lee bowyer.

03 Dec 2017 12:38:04
benzema to arsenal every window for about 6 years. complete tripe.

03 Dec 2017 13:20:52
Charlie Adam to Liverpool, I mean imagine that ha ha. oh wait 😭😭😭.

03 Dec 2017 13:51:56
I used to have arguments with a Liverpool fan who used to insist that Adam was some sort of cross between McAllister and Alonso and was far better than either Lucas or Henderson.

Yeah. That worked out well for him.

03 Dec 2017 14:24:57
I wonder how much Salah would be worth now?
We seem to have bought him extremely cheaply, probably tripled in value since the summer.

03 Dec 2017 14:58:55
At the very least double his value Mikey.

{Ed001's Note - that CIES Football Observatory did an article when we bought him saying that we paid half of what he was worth then. He has to be worth more now.}

03 Dec 2017 20:51:02
if only we had signed Simao.

03 Dec 2017 10:00:04
Good morning Ed001

Whats your take of Coutinho at the minute in regards to his application and desire? I had expected Klopp to perhaps use him less and play Mane or Ox instead of him but it seems he is very much in Klopps plans and looks to be doing ok on the field. There doesn't appear to be an agreement with Barcelona either so looks like he may well stay until the summer?

{Ed001's Note - difficult one, what he does he mostly does well but he is not doing enough for the team for me. He is not working off the ball and trying to do too much. Great when it comes off, but it is bloody annoying when a quick pass could open up a defence and he takes on another two men instead. Then the next time he gets it he picks a great pass. So I don't know. He was not bad yesterday but it was a lot of show with little substance at times, like the runs Milner makes. Mixed is how I see it. Some good some bad. The problem for me is that Mane is better in the left wing role, so he is not doing enough to hold that place down. In midfield his lack of tracking back at the moment means he can become a liability. Still it is good to have the option.}

03 Dec 2017 11:22:53
Ed 01 what would you say in your opinion is our strongest current 11. I appreciate the side changes for the opposition. But say we had 1 game to win the league and we just went with the best player for every position.

{Ed001's Note - that is a tough one, the front 3 pick themselves Salah, Mane and Firmino. It is after that it gets difficult! While I am not a fan of the back 3, playing it does mean we can get away with the midfielders we have a bit better. Stops us being caught quite so short when opponents break, so I would go with a back 3 of Gomez, Matip and Lovren, with Moreno and Alexander-Arnold at wing back. Though, thinking about it, that leaves us even weaker in midfield and leaves Coutinho on the bench. Still I would go with it and play Can and Henderson in the centre. There is no perfect formation for our team but I think that best protects the weakness while still allowing the strongest bits to play.}

03 Dec 2017 11:44:34
Cheers Ed. Interesting thought process there. Who would you have in goal? For me it would be Ward with back 4 of TAA, Gomez, Matip, Moreno, Can, Lallana, Coutinho, Mane, Firminho, Salah. That team would create loads of goals but would also concede loads still probably.

{Ed001's Note - I would go with Ward, sorry forgot to even mention goalkeeper. The worrying thing is that we have so much strength in depth yet both of us are stuck with picking Matip!}

03 Dec 2017 13:05:18
I would go:
Karius (barely seen ward)
TAA gomez lovren Moreno
Can hendo
Lallana
Salah firmino mane

I like Robertson but Moreno hasn’t done too much wrong. Give lallana a chance in coutinho’s spot.

03 Dec 2017 13:29:16
I'd definately play that formation for now but drop henderson for coutinho and let can play deep, take him out of the firing line for now. Then rotate in grujic, oxlade, solanke, robertson and woodburn every other game to keep the side fresh. Also not saying matip is the best defender in the world but id like to see how he would do in a defence not surrounded by total numpties.

04 Dec 2017 09:11:08
Agree 100% Ed - he's not tracking back enough to play a midfield three (esp with someone like Milner who doesn’t sit back to protect either), but on other hand neither is he as effective on the wing as Mane / Salah.

He's a fantastic player and I was keen on the idea of him dropping deeper but think it needs more of a 4-2-1-3 and Hendo/ Can or Hendo/ Gini setup where has two to give him a bit more cover if we lose the ball.

03 Dec 2017 05:35:15
{Ed's Note - we have posted a new article entitled, Premier League Match Preview Sunday 3rd December 2017

03 Dec 2017 00:01:55
Ed01 my friend if u could answer!
What do u make of this rotation?
Yes injuries wise! But is this klopp being understanding of EPL? Does he now know it's not a sprint it's a race? What's your take?

{Ed001's Note - a lot of it is injuries and illness, so it is difficult to really judge it. You can ignore the full backs being swapped around as most teams do that these days, as they have to cover so much ground. It really just seems to come down to Klopp trying to pick a team to win a game, rather than just putting his best team out and letting them play. I think it is more about him finally having the resources at his disposal to allow him to pick and choose players, rather than any particular understanding of the EPL. I am sure he would have done the same in the Bundesliga is Dortmund had been able to bring in the players to give him the luxury.}

03 Dec 2017 11:01:12
Great analysis, Ed. The depth and versatility is there in the squad and since we can play any type of formation up front, it allows us to still be at full strength up top while improvising in midfield and defence. Credit to Klopp and the boys! On to Wed and Spartak.

03 Dec 2017 12:17:41
I feel also Klopp has learned from last season when we were flying Untill the new year. Then players looked shattered and we went like 8,9 games without a win in January. Let's hope this run continues and it's great to look at bench and have 4,5 good players to take on.

02 Dec 2017 21:01:02
Ed01 do you think Justin Kluivert will be as good as his dad giving the right progression.

{Ed001's Note - according to coaches who have worked with both he is better at the same ages. It is up to him to have the desire to work on his game now.}

03 Dec 2017 03:54:51
Better than Patrick? Woah! That's one tall order the kid's going to have to emulate. Patrick Kluivert was a brilliant player for both Barcelona and Holland. He carried that Holland team that reached the semi finals of the Euros 2000.

03 Dec 2017 02:09:32
Coutinho was immense today but Firmino is just as good of a joy to watch imo; people talk about his workrate but he is so skillful, especially his first touch and hold up play.

Even the weird celebrations make me laugh. Hope he continues his great form. Great game.

03 Dec 2017 03:55:43
A bit disagree on Coutinho. He was good yes, but he was just different compared to his previous seasons. Sorry I don't have any specific words or sentences to describe it. This is just my opinion.

I also felt that Can was quite good last night. A bit disappointed with Salah not because he played badly, but it seems he was being marked by Bonk (I think that's his name) and another left CB (I couldn't remember the name though) quite well.

The team is playing with very beautiful counterattacks. Really wanna see more of these in the next games.

03 Dec 2017 03:57:18
Just keep Firmino, Mane and Salah at the club and I am happy even if we don't strengthen our front line for a long long time.
Phil played well too but he needs to go. His heart's not in it. Rather a player who will sweat and bleed for the club.

03 Dec 2017 08:22:18
That’s the beauty of it Nurhaizan. Salah was doubled up on. It wasn’t Bonk, but the equally brilliantly-named Bong, and that meant Coutinho and Firmino ran riot. Firmino 2 goals, Coutinho a goal and three assists if you count the own goal.

03 Dec 2017 09:39:48
Indian Buzzer - for the first 25 mins I was thinking WTF about Coutinho but for the rest he bossed that game, great 2nd assist and loved his free kick - great player and great to see himself enjoying himself with the end product which was my worry for the first 25 mins.

03 Dec 2017 11:03:40
If you double up on any of our forwards, you will STILL pay the price as Brighton clearly did by trying to stop Salah. That is the sign that slowly and surely, turning the corner BUT a lot of work needs to be done.