Liverpool Banter Archive February 04 2018

 

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04 Feb 2018 21:53:53
{Ed's Note - Seano_ has posted an article entitled, How I saw the Liverpool v Tottenham Hotspur game

Believable10 Unbelievable1

04 Feb 2018 22:08:16
Well said Seano 100% agree.


04 Feb 2018 22:13:53
Though I don't agree with some of that, I appreciate your time and effort to write it mate, well played.


04 Feb 2018 22:25:09
I pretty much agree with all of that Seano. Good post.


04 Feb 2018 22:46:30
Klopp lost us 2 points with his subs. don't know how many times he is going to do it before people catch on. he took off mane which allowed trippier into the game and gave the width to spurs. Henderson coming off took away our shape and discipline in the middle while Can looked nackered but stayed on. all of Klopps subs invited more pressure from spurs and rather than making changes to help us keep our energy he actually killed the energy and we got overrun. lucky to get a draw in the end.


04 Feb 2018 23:04:49
Seano, good read BUT I disagree with some of your points. On Karius, the boy can always do better BUT he was awesome today and did not deserve the shafting he and the team got today from the refs. As for the defence, I thought they played well today and the fact that they shut out Alli and Kane who had NO SHOTS on target in 90 mins of open play, tells the whole story right there. As for Lovren and VVD, as a partnership, they were very good. Of course, there is a miskick here and there BUT they covered for each other very well and Karius covered for them when need arose.

I also think Klopp tried the tactics used against us by Spurs at Wembley where as soon as they scored, they played counter attacking football cos we had more possession than them and still lost 4-1. We did the same thing to City last season at home and got the win. I do agree that our boys looked jaded and we missed Hendo in midfield as well in the second half BUT I can live with that cos we limited Spurs no scraps, really. Tho they scored a worldie, Salah got us in position for the win until.

As for the refs, I am with you all the way. These clowns seemed to be making it up as the game went on. As soon as the first non pen was given, the game got away from them and it showed. As for the pundits, they are nothing but salesmen who talk w/ both sides of their mouth so that at the end of the day they are never wrong. If any kind of contact is deemed to be a foul even in the box then we might as well start awarding penalties on every set piece. Also, how can Lamela have been kicked if he jumped on VVD who was pulling away from the challenge? Also, how can a lino see from 25 yards, an incident the ref saw from 10 yards and waved away? The ref should have told him to buzz off and continue with the game. He did not and here we are.


04 Feb 2018 23:04:58
Just seen match of the day. That linesman wants firing from the premier league. He clearly has a self-importance complex and wanted to try and act like a smart Alec.

Kane was offside. The defender has to deliberately play the ball in the direction it travels for it to count as a new phase of plat. Lovren clearly did not mean that kick to go in that direction, and hence it is not deliberate.

On the second penalty, my opinion is Lamela instructed Van Dijk. Virgil has gone to kick the ball and Lamela has made no effort to play the ball, and only had eyes for forcing contact with Van Dijk. It is never a penalty.

Shocking decisions, but never mind. A point does nothing for Spurs to be honest. We still maintain the gap we already had and any other week we don't get two incorrect penalties against us, and we win. Abysmal officiating from the linesman. He clearly doesn't know the rules of the game based on what you clearly heard him say to the ref.


05 Feb 2018 02:52:50
I thought Karius was pretty solid today, about the punch, i think he has to come for that, i haven't watched it back, but looks like maybe a tap in for kane? I need to rewatch, 2 players i think first OX? then maybe it's can are ball watching as Wanama beats them both to the ball and hits a worldie. Have to be honest it was a top goal.

Second half we invited pressure and i thought everyone defended decently, Lovren made a pig's ear of the kane pen but he was offside. Didn't think it was a pen though, very little contact and kane just dives. Not that it made any difference karius read it well.

Lamela though so cheap, VVD catches him but as he feels the contact pulls out. lamela Just jumps infront of him goes for the dive.

Don't think the linesman saw the lamela pen too clearly. I think a draw was fair on how we played second half, very spineless. But its a cheap point for spurs. Very weak penalties. Detracted from 2 very good goals from each team. Even my mate who's a spurs fan thuoght we should have walked away with 3 points given how dirty spurs played, Alli dive also, very poor.

I hate cheating in football from anyone, wouldn't be happy if out players had been diving today. It ruins the game, the sooner VAR comes in the better. 1 point for us and 1 point for spurs is better than 3 for spurs. If chelsea can drop points tomorrow then we are still in a good position.

YNWA.


05 Feb 2018 05:58:08
Spot on, MK and Ali. On the whole, we defended well and shut down their strikers, reducing them to no shots on target in 90 mis of open play. As for the 2nd peno as the first one is not even discussing, VVD tries to clear the ball, sees Lalmela who already decided to go down regardless (as Alli did for his dive thinking Loveren would foul him) and VVD pulls out of the clearance and Lamela jumps on his leg.

The worst thing and that is not mentioned enuff, is that the ref sees the incident and waves play on. Why did the ref change his mind and allow himself to be overruled on something he himself saw? How can the lino see something whereas he is much further away from it than the ref? This is not being mugged. Had VAR been used, we win the game, easy. This was like you were mugged and the cops stood there, watched it happen and laughed in your face.


05 Feb 2018 07:02:07
I think a draw was fair as we failed to make our dominance count 1st half and were so so poor in the second. Why we kept lumping the ball away and encouraging their closing in was just beyond me. That said we defending well enough for the most part that those pen decisions make it a bitter pill to swallow. Everyone knows about the first and it didn’t matter anyway, but how the red can clearly signal no pen and then be swayed 5-10 seconds later by a linesman further away from him with no clear view who has already made a shocking decision is just beyond me entirely. Don’t get me wrong I can see why it was given but these rules need clarifying otherwise VAR will not solve anything.
My overall views:
Better for Karius, encouraging, could do nothing more than what he did and made some good saves. Getting slated for the punch that dropped to the first goal but could have been cleared before shot was taken. More games like that and he may keep his shirt.
Lovren - good defender 95% of the time but always seems to have a mistake or mis-kick in him that costs us. Best partner for VVD currently though.
Midfield - awful without Hendo, in desperate need of upgrading. Gini’s form has just fell of a cliff from last year and he needs to be more consistent.
Attack - Salah quality, Mane is getting back on it, Bobby looked tired and ineffective today. Should of been taken off in my view when he stopped having any influence on the game.
Refs - Just awful. Some schooling or rule clarification is clearly required because once again opinion is split even with replays. 1st pen definitely offside for me. Regardless of the touch the pass was played with intent to Kane who was offside at that time. 2nd pen just shocking.
Spurs - probs deserved a point but they should be ashamed of themselves the way they threw themselves around. Alli’s dive was embarrassing, Kane’s was a pen (ignoring the offside for a sec) although he still left his legs in so cheap play, and Lamela has again gone looking for a touch and gone down stupidly easily. Embarrassing. I used to have a soft spot for spurs but I genuinely hope they finish outside the top 4 in favour of Chelsea after that. Teams that play like that deserve nothing.
Rant over, moving on.


05 Feb 2018 08:35:14
That is an almost impossible game to sum up I must say.
Spurs did to us what we usually do to others and failed to beat us for all their dominance, mostly in the 2nd half.

The 1st penalty, dreadful decision from both referee and assistant.
The 2nd, the ref who is closer waves the player to get up (clearly thinking he dived) but the further away assistant gives an incredibly poorly informed decision in my opinion - he could not have been 100% sure it was a penalty, he just couldn't have.

We need to move on though and not be too disappointed as we're still in a good position for all Spurs' celebrations after the game and dominance during large periods of it, they're still behind us in the table.

Positives for me:
Salah is just breathtaking at times, that goal deserved to win a football match alone as did Wanyama's to be fair.
Karius was excellent and showed for probably the first time what potential he may have.

I was disappointed at the over all performance I must say - a few players just never showed up, but we're still ahead in the race for top 4, so I cannot complain too much personally.


05 Feb 2018 09:20:37
Lucky to get a draw? Slimz, were you watching the game backwards? Your post makes no sense, IMO. How can you say Klopp lost us two pints when we got completely mugged by the refs leading 2-1. What's fair about three Spurs players diving to win penalties with one getting booked? What's fair about the refs completely winging it and playing guessing games on critical calls that both had any clue about? Hendo is not fit to play 90mins and Mane was not holding the ball up well enough and Can played his heart out and so did the rest of the team and were it not for the refs, we are not having this discussion. You can't manufacture energy where there is not any. Stop bashing any of our players or Klopp cos that is dishonest and flat out BS.

Klopp had a tactic after we scored and it has worked before vs City last season at home and where we allowed them to possess the ball and even with all that possession, City only had one shot on target in 95 mins. The same with Spurs.

We limited them to scraps with none of their Crap Four having ANY shots on target for 95 mins in open play, FACT. The ref gave them a pen that they themselves did not know if it was or not and we still rose above that to get the save and get the second goal, only for the linesman to play hero for Spurs, nullifying an incident the ref saw and waved away. It would not have mattered how well or bad we played, we were in the lead and if the refs wanna ruin your life as they tried ever so hard to do last night, they will and they did.


05 Feb 2018 10:04:50
Everyone going on about the refs. If we hadnt allowed Spurs control of the second half we wouldn't be having this discussion. we clearly made defensive changes that caused us to be pinned back in our half for almost the entire last third of the game. Same reason we lost the UEFA cup final. Trying to defend a 1-0 way too early. Klopp is a great coach but his match day performances apart from being animated on the sideline is his biggest weakness. We have a better team than most others but Klopp gets out smarted with tactics in pretty much every game. Anyone remember the Swansea and West Brom games. If this was Rodgers you would all be slating him.


05 Feb 2018 10:43:49
It would have helped if we came out for the 2nd half and not allowed Spurs to control it, we sat very narrow along our own box and just let Spurs do whatever they wanted, a point is fair but if we had kept up our game it could of been better.


05 Feb 2018 11:25:36
That was an excellent summation Seano . I did n't think we were bad, just spurs in the second half upped their game and were better.


05 Feb 2018 15:24:03
A point can NEVER be fair if refs completely screwed up two big time calls just to rob you of them. People need to understand that, IMO. Also, us upping our game would not have guaranteed victory either. What we do know is that Spurs did nothing and they had all the possession cos we let them have it and they created next to nothing. So had it not been for those useless decisions that even the refs were not sure of, we are not having this convo. That is the reality, IMO.


05 Feb 2018 19:18:18
I think if we’d have won 2-1 Spurs would have felt hard done by. We dominated the first half, they dominated the second. It was a well balanced match.

However, the linesman got both penaltys wrong. They were both offside whether there was contact or not.


04 Feb 2018 15:39:39
Did you see souso goal for milan cracking goal.

Believable6 Unbelievable3

04 Feb 2018 18:52:21
Did you see Salah’s for Liverpool?


04 Feb 2018 23:37:05
Did you see Coutinho? It was a sad sight.


04 Feb 2018 15:32:52
I’d take Van Arnholt at left back, lightning quick and good going forward, real upgrade on our two incumbents
Did anyone see Shelvey and Van Arnholt “hugging” each other outside the D as the pen was taken? Bizarre.

Believable1 Unbelievable30

04 Feb 2018 20:32:12
Van Aanholt is shocking and can’t defend, he is fast and scored a few at Sunderland but he’s just not a good defender.
I don’t rate either of our left backs but he’s worse than both.


04 Feb 2018 21:38:30
Sono, Van Aanholt can't defend against a chair, always out of position and lacks any positioning and awareness defensively. He's a MOTD type player and that is it. You prolly wanna move on from such players.


05 Feb 2018 11:20:18
Thought Chelsea’s loaned Kennedy looked good, never seen him play previously and was against Palace so not solid competition!
Can’t remember what the fuss he caused in the summer that he apologised for, but looked like a player.


05 Feb 2018 11:37:45
Also, LB is currently one of our strongest positions - Moreno still coming back from injury but has looked good all season up to then and Robertson showing he can be as solid and reliable as anyone.


04 Feb 2018 14:28:42
Thanks for the tip off on the Goose, GeorgeT. I was in there for an hour at midday for a few soft drinks, but we popped over to Colwick Country park for a walk and my Mrs in her post child birth dignity, has pissed herself 😂 the Goose seemed like a relatively classy establishment so she'd rather not go back with no bottoms on!

Long drive home now with a moody half naked lassie on the back seats 😂

Thank you anyway though mate! Gutted I didn't get a chance to run into you. Another time.

Believable7 Unbelievable7

04 Feb 2018 15:06:18
Thanks for sharing Adam, hope your Mrs doesn’t read this site 😂.


04 Feb 2018 15:12:47
Just some thing's you don't need to share Adam mate.


04 Feb 2018 15:08:35
Haha what a post!

Was wondering whether you would have made it there today.

Next time you might think to bring a few extra nappies.

You know if Liverpool win today, you'll have to ask your mrs to piss herself every time we play!


04 Feb 2018 15:43:01
We're going somewhere to get a new pair mate 😂 should be there as planned 😂.


04 Feb 2018 18:30:40
Missed it anyway. Who knew that slow cooked chicken takes 60 minutes to cook 😂.


04 Feb 2018 20:38:10
Bizarre.


04 Feb 2018 14:27:08
No secret on how big today's game is, a win would be massive and would put us in a solid position in the table ahead of Spuds points wise! 🔴.

Believable4 Unbelievable0

04 Feb 2018 15:10:23
Unfortunately I see us in 5th by the end of this weeks matches.


04 Feb 2018 17:21:11
Negative. u ever positive? #justsaying😂.


04 Feb 2018 18:15:01
Yeah dude I just said he'd save the penalty.


04 Feb 2018 18:23:13
Opps just said he wouldn't save this one.


04 Feb 2018 18:59:06
🤣🤣🤣fair play negative.


04 Feb 2018 19:55:37
Im with negative here i see us been 5th as well but the gap is so tight so we can jump back up. We'll be fine. I think.


04 Feb 2018 14:15:16
Well done to Suso, just scored an absolute stunner!

Believable8 Unbelievable0

04 Feb 2018 14:21:49
Ed01 you a big fan of Suso? Any chance of him ever coming back you think?


{Ed001's Note - unfortunately unlikely, but I love him myself.}

04 Feb 2018 14:22:11
Such a shame we let him go Ed001.


{Ed001's Note - defo.}

04 Feb 2018 15:03:23
Ed01 just watched the goal now. Some strike that.


{Ed001's Note - wasn't it just? Justifiably describe that as a worldy.}

04 Feb 2018 16:02:24
Such a filthy goal, It's nice to see him, take the ball, roll the marker with a little turn to create a bit of space then release a worldy!


04 Feb 2018 16:23:05
He was a great player when he was with us and now he's something different. Why we let him go is way beyond me, an absolute stupid move in my opinion. If he'd of got his chance with us I imagine him been up there with the likes of Salah, Firmino etc, if not even better.


{Ed0333's Note - suso was great for us Salah?

04 Feb 2018 17:28:36
Great may be the wrong word to use Ed333 but he certainly showed excellent potential whilst he was with us.


{Ed0333's Note - I know that’s what most people think mate but if he was that good he would have been in the team no?

04 Feb 2018 17:32:26
He wasn't great for us. We should put buy back clauses in some transfers or first option at least. Maybe we could do it when markovic goes in case he does a de bruyne and turns out top class.


{Ed002's Note - That won’t be happening.}

04 Feb 2018 19:56:12
This must be goal of the season for ED1 to post haha! Need to watch it now and yes I really wish we hadn't let him go, I always said he'd be better than sterling.


04 Feb 2018 12:23:11
What is everyone' s opinion on Nick Pope as a potential GK target in the summer? Alisson will be hot property in the summer with Real and PSG interested, Oblak has ridiculous release clause and Butland too injury prone.
We could do a lot worse than Pope imo. Yes Burnley play very deep and the GK has plenty of protection but Pope has shown his shot stopping is very good and he does clear his lines without fluffing. Not to mention he has an imposing frame and does well collecting corners. Would be a good signing for 20 million and solid competition for Karius.

Believable2 Unbelievable17

04 Feb 2018 12:42:45
Indian I think Pope would be a good shout as what I've seen of him (which isn't lots mind) I've been impressed. Especially his instinctive reaction save from the Ox against us where he pushed a thunderbolt onto the post from 3 yards away. When it comes to top top class or better keepers there are not many of them around and when they do become available unfortunately for us there are far more attractive teams vying for them as well. If Allison, Oblak or other top keepers became available then you bet your bottom dollar the likes of PSG, Real and Barcelona etc would be competing for them.


04 Feb 2018 12:56:34
First season behind a well drilled defence.
Early days for him - unsure.


04 Feb 2018 13:38:53
Not for me, IB. He's still young, no pressure and plays in ultra defensive system at Burnley. Karius would look good in that system and less pressure IMO. No thanks, mate.


04 Feb 2018 13:32:58
It’s a no from me. We’ve been down this road far too many times. If we bring in a keeper it should be a top notch keeper, let’s not settle for mediocrity again.


04 Feb 2018 13:37:01
Pope is excellent goal keeper.


04 Feb 2018 13:40:59
I think another season of Premiership football would do him well before we or any others teams started to bid for him.


04 Feb 2018 13:45:50
Whilst i agree pope is having a good season. If we are to compete at the top we have to bring in a top top keeper.

I know people may slate me but i see no point in bringing in someone at pope's level when we already have karius, who whilst some feel he has the ability of a blind man playing catch, who is a decent keeper with good potential.


04 Feb 2018 14:14:03
His kicking is worse than mignolet. No. We need someone obviously better than migs and Karius in both main aspects.


04 Feb 2018 14:22:46
Just wanted to point out that Alisson Becker is currently in his first full season after struggling to displace Wojciech Szczesny in Roma's goal.

So what people are saying is it's okay to take a punt on a keeper after 1 good season behind a really good defence, but only if he has a fancy name.

Pope on current form is the third best keeper in the league after De Gea and Lloris.


{Ed001's Note - but he can't kick and struggles to deal with pressure.}

04 Feb 2018 14:23:01
Shown good quality this season no doubt but we should be aiming for better, like someone said previously we’ve been down this road before of buying players based on a good 6/ 7/ 8 month run. We need proven quality at the top level.


04 Feb 2018 15:46:20
Becker was highly rated in Brazil and certainly he doesn’t have any real weaknesses to his game, he’s ahead of the Man City keeper for the international team, and if you want to know how good he is, ask any Chelsea fan as he virtually kept them out single handed in the champions league, he’s done it at the top level for a while and looks an absolute top class all round keeper. Pope has had half a season where he’s looked a half decent mid table keeper. He’d be fine at Everton, but not for a team with ambitions at competing at the highest level.


04 Feb 2018 16:23:55
I'd have pope before Migs but it's too early to say if I'd have him before Karius.


{Ed0333's Note - I’d have pope over both of them mate

04 Feb 2018 23:32:16
Pope is not good enough neither is he an upgrade on Karius, IMO esp. since Pope plays in a very defensive system while Karius is more exposed and has more pressure at a big club and Pope does not.

As for Oblak, French media says that PSG are on top of him right now cos both starters Trapp and Areola are not good enough.


04 Feb 2018 12:13:23
To all reds going the match, watching it on tele or by any other means, have a good game reds.

Believable12 Unbelievable1

04 Feb 2018 12:57:21
Cheers Spion, just about to meet for pre-match grub/ drinks.


04 Feb 2018 13:39:51
I'll be watching it taped but thanks Spion.


04 Feb 2018 15:15:15
Won't get to see it until MOTD on night's but thank you for your sentiment Spion.


04 Feb 2018 12:03:52
We buy a defender for 75m setting a transfer record and we're a selling club.

Believable4 Unbelievable10

04 Feb 2018 12:10:23
Are you ok wrongaloid? Lighten up will ye we’ve got spurs today.


04 Feb 2018 13:44:10
The owners broke our transfer record THREE times in 9 months yet they only care about profits. The level of contradiction and lack of logic in that statement is deafening. But like Spion said, let's focus our energy on giving it to Spurs today.


04 Feb 2018 13:32:55
Think he was being sarcastic spoin.


04 Feb 2018 23:33:37
Loris and wronglad, your using van dijk to prove a point, that's ONE PLAYER, we broke OUR transfer record 3 times not the leagues, up until the van dijk transfer Everton had a bigger spend on one player than us SIGURDSON £45 million. Torres, suarez, sterling, couthinho sold, salah is next then maybe mane if he gets back to his level then keita if he turns out the way we expect. So yes we are a selling club.


04 Feb 2018
New image uploaded to the
Liverpool Player Sightings page entitled, Keita vs. Kante stats

Believable2 Unbelievable0

04 Feb 2018 12:27:25
If Keita can produce those stats in the prem then we’ll have a very very good player. I think it’ll take at least half a season for him to adapt to the rigours of the prem still think he’ll be a class addition. Hopefully he can settle quickly and perform to the standards we expect. If he doesn’t perform great in his first few months don’t he get on his back he’ll still be adapting to England as a whole as well as the club.


04 Feb 2018 12:45:11
Quite hard to measure players stats when they play in different leagues. I think Kanoute and Forlan used to out score every top class Striker in England at one time but both struggled over here.


04 Feb 2018 13:45:20
LFCLeon, people will get on his back cos it's what they do. Look at how many of our new or young players like Karius, Solanke, Origi. They won't be able to help themselves.


04 Feb 2018 08:35:56
People need to ask themselves why LFC have fallen down the ladder.

We have been completely inept in the transfer market for many, many years.

Our biggest problem has been to try fix the squad problem in one transfer window singing as many players as possible without thinking things through properly.

The one thing we have noticed about Klopp, bar Grujic and Solanke, each and every player he has signed on a permanent basis has had a fair amount of minutes on the pitch and have been integrated into the starting 11.

There has to be a plan building a squad capable of winning silverware and to me it seems like Klopp has a reasonable plan unlike we saw with previous manager who bought players without some sort of logic whether the player will fit the purpose.

Our squad is in a far better situation compared to the squad Klopp took over from Brendan, that is for sure. You cannot fix things overnight at LFC especially if the problem has been hindering us for over two decades.

Being impatient will just lead to more failures and the January window saw LFC being patient even though we were held ransom for VVD due to how the club acted with how VVD was approaced.

Hopefully LFC have built some credibility after biting the bullet but the club deserved what they got. Lesson learned, hopefully for the very last time.

Believable13 Unbelievable21

04 Feb 2018 09:02:09
Well said, the strength of our squad is miles apart from anything we, be had in 25 years in my opinion, I think after the summer it will be very close to what klopp has been trying to build.


04 Feb 2018 09:37:49
Swish I don't know if our squad now is miles apart from anything we had in the past 25 years. There is still a lot of work to do.

We have had much better midfield's and defence in the past 25 years (inc players on the bench) .

I agree/ hope that after the summer transfer window we will have improved the first 11 and squad. But the list of players who need to improve or leave is vast

Clyne
Milner
Grujic
Gini
Sturridge
Origi
Wilson
Kent
Ward
Mingolet
Matip
Flanagan

Can will leave

That basically is a full team. So plenty of work still to do.


04 Feb 2018 09:56:29
Imagine today’s squad with the midfield from 08-09. Gerrard Alonso and Masch behind our current front 3 would be immense.


04 Feb 2018 10:03:38
Mark, perhaps not miles better squad But certainly one of the best 2007? 2009? 2013? We had potentially a better starting 11 but squad was fairly thin . Possibly 2001 may have been better ( at least defensively and were set up to do that) where as this squad is more weighted to attacking.


04 Feb 2018 10:11:54
Imagine the 08-09 squad with Salah and Mane, that would have been the best team in the world.


04 Feb 2018 10:45:23
“People need to ask themselves why LFC have fallen down the ladder.

We have been completely inept in the transfer market for many, many years. ”

What ladder? What have we fallen down?

Totally disagree with the inept comment?
So it was ineptitude when we bought McAllister on a free, Babbel on a free, Mascherano for small fee, Alonso, Torres, Suarez, Coutinho, Hyypia for buttons, Reina, Hamann?

How far back is this “many, many years” going?

Sorry, I don’t see it.


04 Feb 2018 11:20:03
I read it as the ladder of being consistent winners so it makes sense to me. I don't think he means successful transfers alone. He has a point Ron.


04 Feb 2018 11:41:47
The trick is to stop selling your best players. Sell one and buy a better one in his place. Not sell Suarez for example, and replace him with Lambert and Baloteli. Because then your going 6 steps backwards.


04 Feb 2018 11:53:00
Ok so we’re going back pre Premier League as that’s when we were consistent winners.

The reason is not just ineptitude in the transfer market over many many years.
When the premier league came in, Man Utd saw an opportunity to steal a march on us. We had a great team who were all coming to the end of their careers. It was a natural transition anyway plus Hillsbrough and Kenny’s premature departure. Man Utd invested very heavily in their team when the premier league came in.
They saw an opportunity, they ran with it, we lost ground for numerous reasons and ever since we’ve been trying to catch up.
Arsenal did it with a genius manager at the time - Wenger
Chelsea did it with Roman’s billions
City did it with their billions.

Other than Man U, Chelsea, City and Arsenal there hasn’t been anyone to win consistently. They’ve all done it with money expect Wenger who was miles ahead of his time.
Now FFP is here it is probably not possible to do it in one hit anymore. So we have to do it slowly. It’s not because we’ve been inept in the transfer market, it’s primarily to do with money.


04 Feb 2018 12:04:19
Agree 100% Ron. If you want to look at a team that has fallen from grace, look at Newcastle. One of the ‘Big Four’, the others being Liverpool, Man United and Arsenal (not so long ago) . City and Chelsea appeared solely due to money, Arsenal and Liverpool still hanging on in there. United shot ahead for a bit, but fallen back a bit since.


04 Feb 2018 12:12:14
Look the January 2018 transfer window is history, gone, finished. As far as I’m concerned it’s on to the next one. Can’t wait for the summer 140 odd days or so.


04 Feb 2018 13:46:14
The most sensible thread I have read in a while.


04 Feb 2018 06:50:31
With spurs comming up later today. How many of you would like Son in our side and where would he fit in?

Believable11 Unbelievable3

04 Feb 2018 07:58:33
He wouldn’t fit in at all unless it was on the bench.


04 Feb 2018 08:31:49
He plays in Salah's position. Enough said.


{Ed001's Note - he usually plays on the left or central. Not really Salah's position. He is at his best playing off a forward or in a false 9 role like Firmino.}

04 Feb 2018 08:43:55
Son is a quality player but who would we rather have starting matches for us, Mane or Son?


04 Feb 2018 08:56:05
I don't watch spurs loads but I've only ever seen him on the right side, with Eriksen on the left, and Alli playing just off of Kane.

I don't think Son takes the place of any of our front 3, regardless!


04 Feb 2018 09:24:25
Good player but doesn’t get in ahead of any of our first choice front 3.


04 Feb 2018 09:25:40
Son is a good player and gets in our team. We could still play a front 3 and play Mane as attacking midfield, where Coutinho Played. If that didn't work Son could play a free role behind Firmino. He would improve our first 11 so for me you have to find a way to get him in the team.

Same with Ali
Eriksen
Kane.


04 Feb 2018 09:46:08
classic liverpool fans -
Son - where would he play?
don't sign any one - what if firmino, mane or salah get injured!?

anywho, I'd love Son in our team. he can play anywhere in the front 3 for me but seems his best bet would be where bobby plays.


04 Feb 2018 09:54:50
Son could play in the midfiled just like KDB and Silva plays for City.


04 Feb 2018 10:47:08
Yeah agree with Baby Driver (disturbing name) .
Midfield, not in the front 3.


04 Feb 2018 10:55:21
I'm surprised we didn't push for him to be honest.

He would allow us to continue with out free roaming front four as he can play anywhere up top similar to all our players.

Spurs have signed Lucas. Ali starts and so does eriksen, Kane aswel. So he might struggle. Id of gone with a 60/ 70 mil bid.


04 Feb 2018 11:13:51
He plays in Firminos position. Enough said.


04 Feb 2018 11:15:20
People just assume that our front 3 will remain injury free and on form throughout a season. A player like Son would give our squad a massive boost, allowing for more rotation and options up front.
No disrespect to Ings or Solanke but would you rather those two backing up our front 3 or Son?


04 Feb 2018 11:29:55
I’d rather have Eriksen than Son. That boy has magic in his feet.


04 Feb 2018 11:46:37
I’d play a 4-2-3-1 to get him into the side. Firmino upfront with Mane, Son, Salah in behind.


04 Feb 2018 12:17:12
This thread is a classic example of people reading what they want to see to push their own agenda.

The question was who would have Son in our team. T o which I replied that he wouldn’t get into our team unless it was on the bench and I 100% stick to that. I would not trade any of our front 3 for him. If the question was who be up for signing him to our squad I would definitely be up for that. I don’t think anyone is saying he wouldn’t be a good signing just that he doesn’t make our starting 11.

In response to Harry saying he could be KDB in CM, why take that experiment and not just buy a quality CM instead?


04 Feb 2018 12:59:26
Agree with Mr D, Eriksen is a class act.


04 Feb 2018 23:31:00
Son is a brilliant player and is the only attacking player I would take from Spurs cos I don't think Kane would do all the things Bobbie can do apart from scoring goals. Where would he play? I would play him off Bobbie cos Son can play anywhere in the attack cos yeah, he's that good. Just my opinion.


Review Of The Day 4th February 2018

04 Feb 2018 04:38:17
{Ed's Note - we have posted a new article entitled, Review Of The Day 4th February 2018

Believable1 Unbelievable0

04 Feb 2018 08:49:28
Good read, didn’t realise no club picked up sagna? Would have thought a Brighton or Newcastle could have used him.

Funny about colback!


{Ed001's Note - cheers mate.}

04 Feb 2018 09:17:42
Controversial opinion; Conte reminds me of Brendan Rodgers.

Firstly, he is obsessed with a back 3.

Secondly, his interviews are consistently embarrassing.

Thirdly, his transfer business is bang average at best.

And finally, he cares too much about his appearance with his fake hair.

He's just started off with a very good platform to win trophies, had huge amounts of resources, and gradually taken the team backwards. I told you it was controversial!


{Ed001's Note - so you like him then?}

04 Feb 2018 10:42:01
I'm not sure it's his transfer business, isn't that why he's skulking like a 15 year old girl?


04 Feb 2018 10:44:35
Conte doesn't do the transfers! That is part of his issue with the club.


04 Feb 2018 10:46:11
The thought of Rafa arranging his dishes in 442 formations makes me giggle.


04 Feb 2018 10:49:59
“And finally, he cares too much about his appearance with his fake hair”

Hmmm, any other managers this could apply to? 🤨

Any other managers have embarrassing interviews in the opinion of oponents? 🤨.


04 Feb 2018 11:17:17
Conte's problem with the Chelsea board is more to do with the players being signed. He wants upgrades to the current first team which will cost a bucket load of money. Instead the Chelsea board is serving him squad fillers like Barkley and Giroud.
Conte will walk at the end of the season imo. Roman has lost his touch a bit with the people he has employed to run Chelsea.


04 Feb 2018 11:34:36
He is less of a bellend than Mourinho.


04 Feb 2018 11:50:37
Most people are less of a bellend than Maureen.
Also most bellends are less bellendish that Maureen.


04 Feb 2018 12:40:41
Ed001, I enjoyed reading that piece about Rafa and moving plates and glasses in 4-4-2! You talk about someone obsessed with the game!

Thanks for the review Ed.


{Ed001's Note - oh he is obsessed, bless him.}

04 Feb 2018 12:57:48
Love him Ed. 😂.


{Ed001's Note - he is a lovely guy.}

Premier League Match Preview Sunday 4th February 2018

04 Feb 2018 03:41:32
{Ed's Note - we have posted a new article entitled, Premier League Match Preview Sunday 4th February 2018

Believable1 Unbelievable0

04 Feb 2018 01:40:07
Just a quick question for the regular crew, how many of you genuinely believe the owners didn't want to sell couthinho but had every intention of buying a replacement in January? I'd appreciate it if you could answer not from the point of defending these owners but purely as your opinion only. 100% opinions either way would be appreciated.

Believable3 Unbelievable1

04 Feb 2018 02:28:18
I think they wanted the money and had no intention of buying a new replacement especially after we beat City.
In my opinion they only bought VVD because Phil was leaving and then pocketed the rest.


{Ed001's Note - your opinion is nonsense. The two events are unrelated.}

04 Feb 2018 02:52:20
I think klopp decided to sell klopp after coming to the conclusion that coutinho would be more trouble than helpful if we maade him stay. Then there were players to buy but the prices being asked were not worth dipping into the market again.


04 Feb 2018 03:06:51
Why did he have to be replaced? How do you replace ~150 million in talent? There are other That need strengthening more anyways. It was January. let’s move on.


04 Feb 2018 04:17:31
Im sure they were happy to make a few millions profit on an unhappy Coutinho and would have thrown a juicy chunk of it right back at Klopp if there was a suitable player available.
Coutinho was desperate to leave, LFC got way more than he was worth imo. The timing wasnt the best but aside from that a good deal all round.


04 Feb 2018 04:27:58
I suspect the club brought in Ox partly because they knew Coutinho was likely to leave and so depending the squad made sense. While I believe they would have liked to bring in someone else in Jan, they certainly didn't feel any need to panic buy if their primary targets weren't available, and I fully expect someone to come in over the summer.

I also think you're taking this far too literally, there are lots of other players in the team, it's not always necessary (or possible) to replace like for like. especially someone with Coutinho's quality. They certainly aren't viewing this as pocketing the difference.


04 Feb 2018 05:05:22
I think if klopp felt that the player he wanted this window Was available then the club would have backed him. Just as Barcelona had to wait another 6 months for couts we may have to do the same . I’d rather do that than have the club held to ransom with massive inflated fees.


04 Feb 2018 05:30:33
I believe a lot of what we see is PR so supporters believe the club fought hard to keep one of their best players. I think the club reluctantly sold Coutinho because he was determined to go to Barcelona, but the agreement to sell him was made long before the public knew. Same as with Van Dijk.

I also think we would've got Keita and maybe Lemar in if it was possible and at the right price.


04 Feb 2018 05:43:05
Someone mentioned Ox, that is a great shouy actually. His signig was questioned as being surplus to requirements, but when you think about it he has basically taken coutinhos cm / wing role.


04 Feb 2018 07:48:16
Attacking options we have minus Coutinho:

Milner, Ox, Firmino, Mane, Salah, Ings, Solanke, Lallana and Gini.

That is already 9 players without Coutinho which Klopp can make use of from our first team squad for our attack at this point.

Keita will arrive this coming summer who most probably is Coutinho's replacement.

So does that mean that Klopp had to go spend a ridiculous amount on another player to cover for Coutinho until the end of the season? Can is leaving end of the season so expect Klopp to sign another CM in the summer.

We already have a massive squad and LFC cannot afford anymore panic buys. Klopp was looking to add another CM in January which the Ed's were making known. Klopp also made it very clear that if it does not make financial sense to buy in January then he will wait for the summer. Seems perfectly logic to me and the last thing we want surely is another manager like Brendan who could not give a crap about how much of LFC's money was being wasted on filling the squad up to the brim with players he hardly ever used.

And once again, just because Coutinho was sold for one massive amount does not mean LFC are sitting with that massive amount in their account as Coutinho will be repaid in installments like majority of transfer deals are done and Coutinho is going to be repaid over many years.

The VVD deal is also costing the club and arm and leg. You can bet Southampton requested one hell of an upfriont payment for VVD. I doubt Coutinho's upfront payment from Barcelona was nowhere near what Southamton held us ransom to for VVD.

I really do hope that the VVD deal as well as the Keita deal will be the final lesson for LFC to start acting with compentence in the transfer market.


04 Feb 2018 08:01:53
Hi Waro,

I believe they intended to replace him if the option was there and I genuinely believe that. I think if they were just interested in pocketing the money they could have sold him last summer instead and I also believe if they sold him without the intention of replacing, klopp would be absolutely livid. They were happy to buy Van Dijk in the summer had klopp not messed that up with his tapping up and had already committed to pay a huge fee for keita in the summer too.


04 Feb 2018 08:51:47
I don't believe they intended on really replacing him this January as the prices for the calibre of players we want is still really high, it's even more difficult to negotiate and gets deals over the line in January, and I think the club has some ideas about who they will move for in the summer. I think Coutinho was sold as the situation was becoming too toxic as to be tenable - I don't think there is much more to it than that.


04 Feb 2018 09:05:15
Some people talk as though Barcelona gave us cash in a suitcase, and FSG split it into two. A section to cover the costs of Virgil, and the rest got put on a plane to Boston 😂

Finances are too complicated in football and besides, Virgil signed before Coutinho. Our owners are highly successful businessmen. Do you really think they'd she'll out a world record fee for Virgil before the Coutinho deal had gone through, if they were in this for profit? If Coutinho had suffered a huge injury or had a change of heart, and their intentions were to make a profit, they'd have been screwed.

Forget about reinvesting money and replacements. FSG invest a bloody fortune, regardless of who we sell, and that should be that. Only Manchester United, Real Madrid, Barcelona and PSG have a more expensive record signing than Liverpool. Just let that sink in.


04 Feb 2018 09:27:04
I don’t think it really is an issue for “the owners”.
I don’t think FSG make strategic decisions about transfers without discussing it with Klopp. I genuinely believe if Klopp has said “don’t sell for any price” they would have backed him.
In reality, as Ed001 has mentioned, players control transfers these days usually via their agents. If a player decides he wants to go there is little the club can do to stop them. They can drop the player and fine him 2 weeks wages. Big deal! In the past players needed their wage to survive, these days if you play for a season you’re made for life (at Coutinho’s level) . I think Klopp would have known there is an optimum time to sell and keeping him beyond this window was counter-productive.

As for a replacement, again I think FSG leave it largely up to Klopp to strategise. By January we were realistically out of the title race, we went out of the domestic cups so only had top 4 and the CL to play for. Most players at Coutinho’s level would be cup tied for the CL. So that leaves top 4. So Klopp has asked the question - “do we need to pay January prices for a replacement to get top 4”? I think the answer is balanced firmly towards the negative.


04 Feb 2018 09:21:26
Cheers for the replies, can't say I agree with most of them especially zimbo and max, but it's about opinions at the end of the day. Fingers and toes crossed for a win today.


04 Feb 2018 09:48:09
I believe the club took the offer as keeping couts could of been counterproductive and disruptive to the squad. They (Klopp and the owners) wanted a replacement but weren't going to be held to ransom for one.


04 Feb 2018 10:08:24
Salah was signed and then the ox. Both play in similar position couts did. With kieta coming too I think its already covered. Id be concentrating on a deeper position likw a alonso type of player. Hard ti find but eved hopeful.


04 Feb 2018 10:11:02
Woro you must really hate fsg!
But anyways, imo fsg are trying to do the best they can for the club. The edds have stated the situation with the player for over a year and it was only a matter of time before he left.
Although it's still fresh im over couts leaving. Im ok with not buying a replacement aswell. When couts played with the other 3 attacker's it was all a little bit go for broke type of football imo. We obviously couldn't feasibly bring in lamar or whoever else so we should all just be patient and see what the summer brings.
We will be ok. No conspiracies here.


04 Feb 2018 10:08:46
Disagree MK, I think that's why he went in the January window because the owners spent the van dijk money straight away and put in place the keita deal because a deal with Barcelona was in principle agreed, klopp said we couldn't sell couthinho in the summer because there wasn't enough time to find a replacement (which contradicts a poster above saying the ox was his replacement) yet he's sold in the January with even less chance to find a replacement, this makes no sense if the owners didn't want to sell, this to me all points to a sell to buy policy with Barcelona giving a now or never ultimatum to the club.

I no longer put us in the massive club bracket, were in the spurs and dare I say Everton bracket now, with the real top clubs cherry picking our best players. Salah is already gone for me, and I think you can see it in his body language and who can blame him because he like couthinho can see were we are as a football club, happy with a top 4 challenge ala arsenal every season, read torres' book, that's why he wanted out and I believe him.


04 Feb 2018 10:21:29
Without getting into the whys and wherefores of the entire business, I’m just wondering on the point that people say he would have been a distraction to keep him. With the World Cup at the end of the year would that not have kept his performance level up, at least enough to warrant a place in our 1st team even if people felt he wasn’t at his very best? Or do we dwell too much on it being a world cup year so he’d have to play.


04 Feb 2018 10:27:14
That book any good waro?


04 Feb 2018 10:32:52
Haven’t our top players always been potentially cherry picked Waro?
Keegan, Souness, Rush, McManaman, Owen, Torres, Suarez.

I even remember Barnes being strongly touted for Juve and Gerrard was tempted by Chelsea.

There have always been richer clubs than LFC who have been able to tempt our top players. It’s not an FSG phenomenon by any means.


04 Feb 2018 10:48:57
I was reading something where Liverpool have made the most money in Europe from selling players over the past few years. It's great business. But we're not going to challenge for the Prem that way. I think under these owners we are a selling club.
We buy talented players that will turn world class, then when they reach potential, we cash in.


04 Feb 2018 10:51:28
We seemed to be chasing Griezmann and Lamar in the jan window so looks like there was money to be spent.


04 Feb 2018 11:08:57
I don't agree that we are a selling club. We are an unsuccessful club, no trophies and very little Champions League. Change that and we have more revenue and players will possibly hang around longer.


04 Feb 2018 11:49:49
Actually agree with Rover, our complete lack of success has to be a big reason for both players leaving and other players not wanting to join.
1985Mikey, but we’re we actually looking to sign those players or was that just a PR episode to placate fans for a month.


04 Feb 2018 12:19:44
If Greizman was a PR stunt then it would have been dealt with in the public eye but the press never once reported of us actually bidding for him or really being in talks.


04 Feb 2018 13:18:35
Hamburg a top club Ron? Sampdoria a top club? Keegan and Souness went for the money, Rush was part of the peace process and trying to build bridges with juventus as the player at the time didn't really want to go and had to be talked into the move, macmanaman went because he wasn't happy about being pushed toward Barcelona Ron and I know that for a fact because I know a few of his family as he grew up on county road, he was a furious and basically said up yours I'll let my contract run down and go were I want. Owen went for money Barnes and Gerrard may have been tempted but didn't leave, and torres has stated his reasons in his autobiography as I've stated, so totally disagree with you Ron, this for me is solely about the current owners business model. Which our trophy hall and champions league apperances since they bought the club back up what I'm saying imo.


04 Feb 2018 14:22:02
Fact is Waro, they were all our top players and they all went, they were all cherry picked.


 
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