Liverpool Banter Archive September 03 2015

03 Sep 2015 20:58:02
A loan update you will all appreciate.

Ballotelli scored a great goal 3 minutes into his debut as AC Milan lost 3-2 to Montova in a friendly

03 Sep 2015 21:46:44
I saw that goal some time back. Curling effort from distance to left corner. No celebrations and looked cooler than ever.
Good luck to him.

03 Sep 2015 23:59:47
It was just bound to happen wasn't it!

04 Sep 2015 01:46:29
Prem keepers would have caught that shot no doubt

04 Sep 2015 04:22:48
Fencey

He also had 2 assists.

04 Sep 2015 12:34:20
Does that change what I said?

03 Sep 2015 18:29:17
Hi eds,
Just wondering with the performance against West Ham can you see BR sticking with Lovren or do you think he'll give Sakho the nod?

As a side note I took my 5yo to West Ham, first game!! But never have I been so embarrassed of the negativity inside Anfield, the talk around me before the match had even started was tearing apart players and BR (ok maybe most of the points raised about Him were true) then during the game it went from bad to worse, I appreciate it was a frustrating game but how can we expect to inspire our team if all we seem to do is get on their backs, that's not the example I want to inspire in a young Liverpudlian!

{Ed002's Note - I really cannot predict what players he will chose for the next game.

The team should not need to be inspired, they are professional sportsmen getting paid a decent amount of money. If they need inspiration in order to get on and do their job they are really not for the top leagues in Europe.}

03 Sep 2015 20:33:13
its not negative its desperation. never since the heady days of rafa has there been much to sing about. downwards since he went. need a manager who will give you the belief that you are going to cheer a team that already has most teams beat before they arrive. not in a long time we now seem to be a soft touch despair mate.

03 Sep 2015 22:55:06
2 seasons ago there was a lot to sing about the atmosphere was great in the run in.

03 Sep 2015 23:08:17
don't you mean indecent amount ed?

04 Sep 2015 01:33:29
I see your point Ed, they are pros getting paid very well, but they're also mortals just like you and me. They have to be effected by either a positive or negative atmosphere toward them, otherwise how does anyone explain a team's home form compared to their away form? (Generally that is)

{Ed001's Note - actually it is usually based on knowing how the ball runs better, which is why away teams train on the pitch at the stadium if they can.}

04 Sep 2015 09:19:00
At this level, you need a team of leaders. If they can't motivate themselves then they are out of their depth.

04 Sep 2015 10:03:59
Yeah I am always fascinated by players when they just don't seem bothered and people give them leeway when they're caught drinking smoking etc. Yes they are mortal but they are paid obscene amounts of Money to compensate the fact that it (should) be a tough life, not to just enhance the craic they can have acting the idiot in their fast New toys. I absolutely despise a strict diet and the gym even more so but offer me 80k a week + and yeah I think I would be able to push myself to go and work hard everyday!

03 Sep 2015 17:19:41
Hey ed002, something that intrigues me is how teams like city agreed a fee for Firmino and then stepped back, and Liverpool end up paying way more than city were going to. How does this happen? Are clubs going into negotiations like this complete blind to other clubs bids/negotiations?

{Ed002's Note - Liverpool offered that much and it was accepted - that is why everyone was so surprised.}

03 Sep 2015 14:56:25
Ed002,

If you would rather not get into this I understand.

The way it has been explained to me, rightly or wrongly is UEFA have the final say on a clubs budget. A club put forward a somewhat business model to UEFA not to dis-similar to that drawn up to a bank for a business loan. The clubs plans will include the commercial revenue going forward from sponsorships etc, recent successes' i.e UCL qualification assurances based on the last so many years, recent trophies won and a staggered value on players for future selling on purposes. The transfer budgets are then reviewed against that and UEFA give the nod if it is acceptable. Most large transfers are spread over 4-5 year payment terms so the plans are based on that.

Listen, if that is wrong mate then fair enough but a bit of clarity would be very much appreciated.

Thanks

{Ed002's Note - Absolutely not correct at all. Sorry. I suspect someone has misunderstood the "new money" investment rules to do with the relaxation of FFP for clubs who previously didn't have money, and have concocted this strange story. It doesn't apply to the likes of Liverpool in any case.

UEFA have no control over or interest in any of the budgets the club has. The clubs have guidance regarding FFP, and that is what they must meet.}

03 Sep 2015 16:49:28
I suspected it was nonsense but am grateful for you clarifying this. Thank you Ed002.

03 Sep 2015 14:16:41
Ed 001 if you are about, can you give a brief comparative analysis of the Manchester United and Liverpool squads.

Further down, Red_Jack08 said the Manchester United side is horrendous. In your opinion who has a better squad position for position and overall in terms of squad depth and quality.

Thanks

{Ed001's Note - ok quickly, they have better keepers to choose from, well De Gea is better, Romero and Valdes are no better than Migs. Their first choice full backs are excellent, but they have no decent back ups, they are ahead of us there. Central defence is different, they are severely weak there, Smalling, even when he manages to stay fit, has no idea about positioning and relies on pace so requires protecting by the midfield. Blind is simply not good enough, while Jones is injury prone and not good enough. Midfield is now one of United's strengths with Schneiderlin, Herrera is excellent though not trusted by the manager. We have lots of huff and puff but the quality is not there. Their attack is hopeless, Rooney has never reached anything like his potential, but now he has got flabby and lost the physicality that made him special. They are relying on Depay and the silky but hopelessly sluggish Mata, when the team pass forward that far. On the other hand, we have what looks, on paper, a decent attacking threat with Benteke, Coutinho and Firmino, if we get the most from them.

Their side is not horrendous, they are just badly managed and scared to make mistakes in case the ego gets upset. Our side is not horrendous, but it is being shackled by a tactically inept manager. We are probably both on a par and should be looking over our shoulders at the likes of Swansea as the top four battle is going to be difficult.}

03 Sep 2015 15:34:53
Perfectly summed up Ed

03 Sep 2015 17:12:40
United are stronger than Liverpool all over the pitch, don't kid yourself into thinking that Coutinho is going to put in a full season this year and Firmino will be the same, Benteke is a good number 9 but Liverpool will not get the best out of him as they will not play to his strengths just as they wouldn't to Carroll's.

{Ed001's Note - and you think Rooney is going to be good then? Or has it escaped your attention that he is not a good player?}

03 Sep 2015 16:50:40
I have to say to some extent I disagree on the full backs front Ed. while Darmain and Shaw are both good players Shaw has had a lot of injuries problems. I wouldn't say Clyne is that bad.

We also have Flannagan who as we all know has had bad injuries of late but was brilliant two seasons ago at both left back and right back. Moreno has the potential to be a top left sided player but probably not as left back more left wing.

04 Sep 2015 01:52:28
Rooney or benteke to score more, disagree for Rooney agree for benteke

04 Sep 2015 11:31:55
Well said Ed, agree with the synopsis entirely, although I suspect LVG may eventually get more from the squad than BR will just because BR is not playing to our squads strengths (Coutinho as a winger instead of a no.10 for example).

Their biggest issue was not buying a top striker IMO and if they miss top 4 that will probably be their downfall.

03 Sep 2015 12:56:15
Hi, can anyone tell me how long Henderson is out for? No news from anything official LFC? Cheers!

{Ed002's Note - The club said he is available for the next game.}

03 Sep 2015 15:04:52
finally. really missed him in the midfield.

03 Sep 2015 11:56:55
One for Ed001 if about. What do you make of Harry Redknapps comments about lfc and do you agree? Cheers

{Ed001's Note - I haven't seen them, have you got a link to them?}

03 Sep 2015 13:14:02
'Worst Liverpool side I've seen in a while'

'They will do well to make the top 5'

03 Sep 2015 14:44:37
Really? How long is 'A While'?
Our team under Hodgson was pretty dire

03 Sep 2015 14:41:52
Also eds if you do answer, what is your opinion on him as a manager? Personally I would have liked him at Liverpool so long as his spending was monitored. I think he did a brilliant job at spurs and shouldn't have left. Though that was mainly the FA fault for tapping him up xx

{Ed001's Note - he was hopeless. How did he do a brilliant job? He was just lucky that the media loved him and so only reported good things about him. Dreadful manager.}

03 Sep 2015 21:51:32
Personally ed I thought when arry was at spurs they were one of the best pl sides, considering the state they were in under Ramos, I also feel he helped bale and modric become top players although I know he never fancied bale but he was still the guy who playedhim left wing. Also I feel he would have done a much better job at England than woy. A few years back I would have liked to see him manage us. Just my opinion bro

{Ed001's Note - hahaha you must be reading too many papers. This is Harry who never took training on the training ground just watched his coaches do it, so how did he make Bale and Modric better? Modric was already top class, it is just that people here know nothing about Croatian players so had never heard of him. Bale he nearly destroyed and didn't want him, it was an injury crisis and luck that made Bale, not Redknapp. Harry is clueless about management, he has a fantastic knowledge about players, but not about management. As for Spurs being in a state under Ramos, it was not as bad as being made out.}

04 Sep 2015 08:13:45
Harry Redknapp tried to sell Bale if I remember rightly

03 Sep 2015 11:19:51
I read a post regarding Texeira and europa league list exclusion.
I might be wrong but there's a b list also. You can have as many players on it as you like as long as they meet certain criteria. I know that Jordan Ibe is on it, maybe Texeira is on it too along with other development players. Maybe one of the eds can clarify this position.

{Ed002's Note - I think he will be too old.}

03 Sep 2015 11:37:30
thanks mate

03 Sep 2015 11:48:07
I found this Ed02 it explained it to me and thought it might help others understand a little better.

Brendan Rodgers has today submitted his completed squad list for this season’s Europa League group stage.

The 21-man squad includes two notable omissions – defender Jose Enrique and midfielder Joao Carlos Teixeira – who both failed to do enough to earn a spot in the team due to the various UEFA restrictions currently in place.

The Reds were permitted to name a 25-man squad, with the understanding that at least eight of those players would be homegrown. However, in an additional UEFA caveat, at least four of those eight players must have been trained at the club – meaning they’ve spent three years with us before they turn 21.
The only player that fulfils those requirements is Jon Flanagan, who is currently sidelined through injury, and as such the Reds have had to give up those four places in our squad – meaning there’s no room for Enrique or Teixeira.

In addition, we are permitted to include an unlimited number of under-21 players on what is known as a ‘B’ list – but, in order to be eligible, a player has to have been both born after Jan. 1, 1994, and needs to have had an uninterrupted two-year spell with the club at some point since the age of 15.

Jordon Ibe is the only member of the current first-team squad who would fall under this category – although the likes of Jerome Sinclair and Ryan Kent would also qualify for selection in this way.

03 Sep 2015 11:48:49
Texeira is too old

03 Sep 2015 12:07:44
Texeira doesn't qualify for B list nor can he be considered locally trained nor association trained. He's therefore competing for 1 of 17 places in the squad available. The only realistic option to get him in the squad would be to drop Allen (which would not be a bad thing in many peoples eyes).

03 Sep 2015 12:30:29
Rossiter should qualify for the B list too.

The omission of Teixeira clearly shows the very obvious lack of planning for fringe players at LFC.

03 Sep 2015 15:55:54
muscatred, I certainly wouldn't drop Allen for Texeira. 2 things you definitely need in away Europa games is experience and ball retention, which I think Allen has, especially now that Wales are almost certain to qualify for the Euro,s. I am all for giving youth a chance, but you also need experience for these sort of games

04 Sep 2015 02:59:33
Experience? Experience at being average? That makes no sense. Allen has been here four years now and is still the same player as when he arrived. I'll gladly take Tex over him.

03 Sep 2015 10:51:44
Away from the transfer discussions and West Ham fallout for a few minutes.

(I'd like to preface this as it sounds like bull, and if it is then I apologise in advance, but i'm just passing on the message)

A friend of mine apparently recently played a round of golf in a group ahead of Carra.

He asked him whether he was thinking of going into coaching/management or if he is focusing on his TV work?

Carra said that he loves his TV work and is falling out of love with the idea of managing as the pressure/media harassment is just stupid. But that he likes the idea of doing some coaching. However he doesn't feel his contribution would be welcome or helpful under BR as they have very different views on how training should be run and the tactics needed on the pitch.

He did say however that he thought Liverpool had 3 very high quality CBs at the club (he wouldn't say who they were).

Like I said, it sounds like bull to me, but the guy has never led me wrong before, always a first time I guess.

Have a great day all

03 Sep 2015 11:23:23
Carragher generally isn't one for holding back his opinion even in front of TV.(Laughing at the idea of coloccini becoming a manager springs to mind,as well as his complete character annihaltion of jose enrique)
He's said before on MNF and in interviews he would never consider management due to the pressures and what he saw as the toll on Houllier and others.

He doesn't get on with Brendan (atleast that's what I always thought from interviews) since he was dropped stubbornly by BR. Everytime he criticises Liverpool BR seemed to take it personally and respond to the press. It does feel at times there is bad blood there,I can't imagine Carragher sharing the same defensive views of a man that seems to have none

03 Sep 2015 12:39:14
I know it won't happen, at least for now, but what do people make of Carragher as a coach? We only have his analysis from TV to go on but would still appreciate people's views?

03 Sep 2015 12:40:35
Ah, that would explain where Ed001 gets all his anti-BR info from !

{Ed001's Note - there is bad blood, but no, it is not from him. He did leave earlier than he intended to because of Rodgers, but I wouldn't want to get info from him because of the personality clash, similar to Gerrard. They are too personally involved.}

03 Sep 2015 14:45:30
I always said if carragher stayed that one more season we would have won the league. You think our defence would drop so deep like they did against palace with Jamie there?

03 Sep 2015 16:03:46
Don't take this the wrong way Ed001, but if I had any authority at LFC, the first thing I would do would be to weed out the person giving you the information and sack him. He doesn't seem to show any loyalty to his employers

{Ed001's Note - or perhaps they, and yes that is plural, have loyalty to the club and feel that something needs to be done to improve it, instead of blindly following like you do. Some people don't have their heads up their own backside and can see what a mess the club is in, that is not lacking loyalty, it is not being a fool. I feel you fail to understand the nuances involved in loyalty.}

03 Sep 2015 21:33:23
My understanding of the nuances involved in loyalty is when someone is paying your wages you don't go mouthing off behind their backs. Grow a pair and either make your concerns known to the club or go public with them. If any of the people I used to employ did that to me I would have sacked them immediately

04 Sep 2015 03:03:27
Red, you just got owned by Ed. Oh Snap!

{Ed001's Note - I wouldn't bother, even his post showed how lacking in understanding he is with his reply. Going public would mean they would have their contracts terminated and struggle to get another club. If he is so dense he thinks the club have not been told, hence why players such as Agger got alienated in the first place, then he is beyond help. Have a look 64, even the biggest imbecile can surely see why it is not a good idea to point out inadequacies in the coaching as it means you never get a game again unless the situation gets desperate.}

03 Sep 2015 06:52:43
Can someone explain to me why we would buy a target man for a system where we don't threaten from wide? It's quite obvious that we're not going to see Benteke bursting through defences and running onto through balls, which is exactly why Lambert and Balotelli didn't work out for us last season.

Notice how we've played our best football in recent years when we've had forwards who can make penetrating runs. Torres, Suarez, Sturridge, Sterling. And why Carroll, Lambert, and Balotelli didn't work out.

Not only does our system do Benteke a disservice, but also Coutinho and the other attacking players who have no runners to feed through ball to. This is why we were poor last season, and it's exactly the same this season.

Selling Lambert and Balotelli and buying Benteke hasn't solved anything. It's the same problem, just different personnel.

No matter how good a target man we buy, he won't fit in at Liverpool unless we change the system to compliment that player. However, the transfer window is shut, and were left with only Ibe as the natural wide player. I'd suggest Milner, but did he not sign with promises of a central position?

I'll get shot down for this, but I'd drop Benteke (through no fault of his own) and go with Ings up top. At least then Coutinho will have someone running in behind who he can feed his through balls to. I know most will disagree because of how good Benteke is, and how much he cost, but if he's not going to be able to make an impact then why play him. I really don't understand the thought processes behind the majority of transfers over the last few years.

What's everyone's thoughts?

Red Rum

03 Sep 2015 07:44:08
Its completely down to the manager. I said this all summer, Liverpool FC will not change its style to suit any player except countinho and we would continue to play through the middle. Our game revolves around Countinho no matter who we buy and what we buy.

The one thing I learned in past three year under BR, He relies only and only on individual brilliance.

Suarez
Sterling
Benteke/Countinho

Loaning Markovic proves it clear.

03 Sep 2015 08:21:08
He is a first class idiot if he wasn't planing to get balls into Big Ben from out wide. He was planning on tippy tap football behind him then when get in trouble we can lump it up to him. It's the most painful football to watch and it doesn't even habor results in the long run so what is the point? Why would the man in charge that's on thin ice try what doesn't work?

03 Sep 2015 09:34:29
Well, it seems that Suarez and Ronaldo where not available. I think actually BR would be happy for his players to play wide and have crosses from wider positions, he just may not have the right players to do it and more importantly he is not good neough manager to understand how to actually change our style of play.

03 Sep 2015 09:48:14
You were all fine with Benteke after the first 3 games and one bad game and your all on his bad Brendans back for brining him in. Pathetic

Hrs a great player and once starring or inks get behind him and the other players get used to him we will be fine.

I'm not asking for blind support from use but one bad game which is just the fourth game of the season and your all going mad.

03 Sep 2015 09:58:35
Fanobip

Well that's a stupid excuse of players not available.He had close to 100 mill and 3 months to plan and execute.
Loaning Markovic is a clear signal he has no interest in pace and width. Ibe situation is different as he is under pressure to play the Lad.

03 Sep 2015 10:14:21
Buying Markovic for 20 million and now loaning him out to Fenerbahce.
Sums up the inept management of Liverpool across the board.

'Arry is totally correct.
Worst in years.

03 Sep 2015 10:27:52
Free speech,I think you missed to point completely there pal.I would sit back,grab a cuppa and RE read what Red Rum wrote,OG wrote.

03 Sep 2015 10:28:11
I'm only saying what I've said all along Free_Speech. Lacazette was my choice, I don't know if a deal was ever possible, but if not I'd have liked another striker in that mould. Ie with pace to get in behind. I've got nothing against Benteke (as I said above), but we should have learnt from the last 3 target men that if we want a big man up top we would need to change our system.

My point overall is that we have a very good striker but no players around him that can give him adequate service from the wide positions. The only other way I can see him getting service is if we play Milner and Ibe on the flanks. Or possibly play with wing backs.

Red Rum

03 Sep 2015 10:48:16
you guys are the happy go lucky doom sayers that are all to referred to as liverpool fans lots to say and always negative, you voice you opinions loud and your heads are stuck in fantasy manager, what we got realise is that its your opinions and the problem with that is opinions are like assholes everyone has one and they usually spout shit

so instead of coming on here trying to depress us all about how bad rodgers is or how much he has spent or how our youths don't get a chance try saying something positive stop repeating yourselves, you must realise 80% of the fans here or maybe more agree rodgers is the wrong guy for the job
you want to go on about a manager and flops in transfer market go united page and wind them up about 59 million on di maria ( a costlier flop than balowelly) or how he spent roughly over 259 million just over one season, or how he identified a cb and a striker as his main problems and like rodgers keeps buying midfeilders at least we d find that funnier to read than your constant moaning like fishwives

03 Sep 2015 10:50:00
I like Benteke and I do think there is more to his game than just heading, but as I said when we were about to sign him I was worried that we wouldn't utilise his best attribute (heading) like we didn't with Lambert, and low and behold we aren't getting crosses in! How and why doesn't Rodgers see these obvious things?
One thing I can't fathom is what is going to happen when Sturridge is fit? Surely he has to play 2 up front then (Benteke & Sturridge)? If the plan is not to play 2 up top then we will lose Sturridge because he will certainly not hang around as backup to Benteke and he will not be happy not playing up front if that is what Rodgers is thinking (if he's thinking at all). And if the plan is to only play one up front then the question has to be asked what was the point in signing Ings knowing we already had Origi coming in. There is no point having 4 strikers at the club if you are only plying one up top.
Next thing, if plan is/was to play 2 up top when Sturridge is fit then why has he not started the season with 2 up top so that the players are used to playing with 2 strikers again rather than training and playing for a few months with one then changing to two? Surely it would cause less disruption?

03 Sep 2015 11:13:42
Benteke has a lot more than just being a target man, his pace is quick enough to scare defences and he has a nice touch. Problem I see is he has to be up for it to see his use with our system. Even the first games which we won I sat there hoping to see ings get on for the last 20 or so minutes as I think at the moment his style of play would suit coutinho and our style better and give us a different threat in the last 20, holding that as the next few games come to us our team will start to play as a better unit through out the games, we weren't the only team to suffer a defeat last weekend, apart from city what other "top 4 team" is blazing away in front of us.
I'm not happy with a mediocre performance and still unsure if sticking with Rodgers is a good thing but after 1 bad game I'm not going to start throwing rattle out of pram, it's a bloody long season and as I said and as the table shows were not the only team that had a bad weekend.

03 Sep 2015 11:29:31
I think some of you have totally misunderstood what my intentions were by making the post. I probably didn't make myself clear.

So here goes. The squad is what it is, so how do you guys think we should utilise the squad to start being more dangerous on the attack?

Red Rum

03 Sep 2015 11:50:20
Red Rum it was clear enough,don't worry about that.

03 Sep 2015 12:01:21
We don't need width just for benteke - we need width as an option 'period'. When teams park the bus, only a fool (brendan rodgers) would still try and play through the middle - where there is no space.

03 Sep 2015 12:10:37
I think Benteke can play up top on his own, without question.

The key thing is where we set up collectively on the pitch. At the moment, and like last season, we're too deep as a team. We need to push 10 yards up the pitch, and get players around him more quickly.

Our wide men (in what is a narrow system) are pressing from the half-way line. It's too deep, if we move 10 yards up the pitch, the pressing will be much more effective.

I agree Ings needs to play. I really think he'll score a hatful given the chance.

03 Sep 2015 12:56:27
We have a good squad, Rodgers should be able to use our squad for top 4 at least, not saying win league but we should be there or there abouts, apart from Man city perhaps Chelsea the other clubs have no better squad than us. Problem to me is Rodgers has that many midfielders he's concentratin on how to get them all on the pitch at once.
We need to start from the back, strong back 4 including sakho if I had my way then let lovren and skrtle fight to play next to him, Luca has to start just in front of them, Milner and Henderson just in front of Lucas left and right central, which leaves the 3 front spots to be fought over, I'd start with firmino and Coutinho either side of bent eke to start with, then during the second half use lallana ibe and ings to change pace, shape and another dimension depending on team.
We have good players who can create, good experience and a lot of power and pace. But too many midfielders playing at once. Our players should be made to earn their place, we have cover all over the pitch so if ANY player is not performing change him.
Just my opinion

03 Sep 2015 12:56:59
Starting from the back I would play a high line which requires pacey CBs who are good on the ball. Pacey to catch the opposition attackers trying to beat the offside trap and good on the ball so as to invite pressure and stretch the opposition team. That would most likely mean Sakho, Ilori, Gomez.
I'd change our LB to Moreno who carries an attacking threat and the high line would mean he would have less ground to cover when tracking back. I'd also have the full backs overlapping so as to add more options in attack. So Clyne and Moreno there.
The midfield three would be either Lucas or Rossiter as deep lying, Hendo or Milner or Can as box to box and Couts or Texeira or Lallana as advanced playmakers.
In attack I'd keep Benteke because he is good at winning the first ball but I would place wingers/inside forwards playing off the shoulder to give him and our midfield some runners. So that would be three attackers, with the wide ones contributing defensively, mainly by pressing high. For me that would be three of Benteke, Firmino, Ings, Ibe and Lallana. I would add Milner as well but I doubt he'd be happy with that after being promised a central role.

In the summer I'd bring in a sweeper keeper who's fast at coming of his line and has a good, quick distribution to start counter attacks.

03 Sep 2015 13:37:31
Red my problem is your comments are based on one game, the West hame defeat

Before that Benteke was absolutely fantastic all round

Hold up play
Winning the first ball
Running in behind to which him an continuo linked up well
Chasing and pressing even in the final minutes

He had a game where all the space was restricted because of how deep west ham played. We also had continuo to far away from him, unlike the arsenal game were he played more central.

So I think bob and red you need to understand why I an others will have a problem with what you have said

There are positives all over the place, West hame was a cock up granted but even ed001 I mean ED001 who loathes br said there were positives from the arsenal game. It's going to take abit of time, lovren has to go for sakho (personally would of loved ilori but will settle for mama), once he get the middle 3 right with a good balance and firmino settles in we will be soundo.

{Ed001's Note - I do not loathe anyone, let alone Rodgers. I dislike the way he is destroying the football club I love, but I do not loathe him.}

03 Sep 2015 14:46:35
But freesp it was a problem in the first three games too tbh. Yes we didn't concede but it was not the free flowing stuff you are trying to make out it was. As far as i could tell plan b was to lump it up to benteke who generally had no one within ten yards of him to knock it down to.

The team needs to mix up playing through the middle with playing wide to stretch opposing teams and yes a bit of long ball play. But at the moment without a bit of magic from our only creative player or shed losds of luck we are devoid of cohesion going forward.

Lots of fans today telling people they should not have an opinion on how the team should play on a banter site. sigh. No one tells you lot to stop being super fans.

03 Sep 2015 14:50:14
And again it was not a post by rr to criticise benteke but on how as a team we are not playing to his strenghs or players of his type. I swear some people cannot process the english language when they read it.

03 Sep 2015 14:55:32
Anyway lads, there's more important things happening this month far more important than football. Google bible prophecy September 2015. We all need to get right with God.

Red Rum

03 Sep 2015 15:06:08
I think the problem might be the presumption there was a plan at all. Really ever since BR came in our signings seem to be made more by dart board rather than meticulously planning out what positions we are weak in, how we want to play, and then getting the best possible candidates in for those positions.

04 Sep 2015 03:18:31
RDL, I totally agree with you on your point. It is management by trial and error which will only breed incompetence

04 Sep 2015 03:17:24
I think it is very childish or immature to label someone a BR hater or loather just because you disagree with their views on the manager's job. It just shows your level of intelligence or lack thereof.

02 Sep 2015 23:55:41
The europa league team has been released looks like Enrique is missing out and we've left Texeira at home too?

03 Sep 2015 06:24:47
Teixeira probably should have pushed for a move in the summer as I really can't see the kid getting a chance here.

04 Sep 2015 03:21:58
Enrique is retired