Liverpool Banter Archive August 05 2015

05 Aug 2015 22:07:26
I know he played at the U21 tournament, but has Ilori had any preseason minutes with us?

06 Aug 2015 09:29:34
Nope. Hasn't been in training either.

05 Aug 2015 15:33:58
Eds, can anyone shed light on why lovren is preferred over sakho. Sakho has everything we need in a center back, speed stength vision passing and composure. It's baffling as a supporter that we don't play one of our best players.

{Ed002's Note - Dear Brendan ....}

05 Aug 2015 16:16:00
Except Composure Sakho has everything. Sakho is not the very best with the ball. One reason being he is left footed.
You need to be calm, Heads up and your hands should be looking for options when you carry the ball forward from back.

Agger was the best.

05 Aug 2015 16:22:48
Everyone sees different things in a player,there are those on these pages who never rated Mascherano,for example .

I find that unbelievable, but it's just life I guess.

05 Aug 2015 16:27:12
I'm a Rodgers supporter but even I don't get this. I'm not convinced that Sakho's a long term solution but he's better than Lovren.

With any luck he'll surprise us on Sunday and play him.

05 Aug 2015 17:31:49
Are you implying that just because he is left footed he is not good on the ball? Really ?? I would list out examples but you already gave a fine one in agger

05 Aug 2015 17:34:00
What?

". Left footed"?

That stops you being good with the ball?

Wow. How good would Digger have been but for that handicap?

05 Aug 2015 17:34:58
Composure - that's not different people that's people who know football and people who don't.

Although sakho always looked for a good forward pass, he is like 'bambi on ice'

He looked the most impressive during the friendlys though, very sharp. I think he only played one mind lol

I think were at a point that the club is banking on Brendan winning because I don't see a new coach coming in and saying he happy with our defence (apart from clyne bit that's even wait and see what he's like out of southamptona protection) and gk and even a new dm.

If we settle for a coach who will work with what he has then we might not get the best coach available.

Also I think the club our going for we will out score you or which is the most likely and worrying is that brebdan actually rates migs, martin, dejan and Alberto so highly we might not look tl replace them ifbwe succeed by outscoring people this tern. Meaning we might never see a proper defence and keeper under Brendan.

05 Aug 2015 17:37:27
Harry, your contradictions are stupendous. First you say one reason sakho is no good with passing is because he's primarily left-footed. You then proceed to proclaim Agger as being the best. Amazing.

05 Aug 2015 18:03:58
Sacky is average. But let's face it Lovren and Skrtel have had their chance and they are absolutely terrible. None of the central defenders are great and neither is the goal keeper. But our midfield and now strikers when all fit are solid and we have a decent team from midfield up

05 Aug 2015 18:09:38
Sakho cannot move his right foot by a millimeter. Agger had no such issue being a left footed player. Agger was calm and composed with the ball.

Gareth bale and Robben are left footed player, yet play on the right hand side, any problem there?

05 Aug 2015 18:26:00
I'm not sure Sakho is all that. For me the jury's still out on him. When he gets his man up close, one-on-one - there's only one winner: his strength and aggression always win out. However, he is prone to mistakes and for me doesn't look comfortable on the ball. I'm not saying Lovren is better. I'm merely saying that Sakho doesn't appear to me to be as 'secure' as people are making out.

05 Aug 2015 18:30:43
George Best had quite a bit of composure on the ball too.

05 Aug 2015 18:38:52
Hale, what you chatting about Mascherano?

Nonsense that, and you wasn't even on these pages.

05 Aug 2015 18:58:35
I think Brendan is alphabetist. Look at his signings recently:

Benteke
Bogdan
Clyne
Firmino
Gomez
Ings
Milner

Also in prior seasons:

Allen
Borini
Balotelli
Lovren

And meanwhile he's sold Suarez, Sterling and is freezing out Sakho.

I think the guy needs to get some anti-alphabetist training.

05 Aug 2015 19:54:21
Do you want a shovel Harry?

05 Aug 2015 20:19:59
Finally! People are recognising that Sakho is not a god. He is aggressive and powerful, but his ball control and short range passing are terrible. As someone else pointed out, Bambi on ice is spot on. But yeah, the other defenders are not great either.

05 Aug 2015 20:22:35
I think having the same CB partnership helps a lot .If Sakho can stay fit he would be my first choice with
Lovren not ideal but I think they are the best we got,Skrtel to slow and sets too deep so the midfielders have a larger area to cover , but keeping Sakho fit for most of the season will be hard

05 Aug 2015 19:11:36
Obviously this is speculation.
But could there be the possibilty that Skrtel was consulted & asked who he prefers to partner with? (And asked who he is more comfortable playing with?)

. just a thought.

Personally I'd prefer Sakho as well.

05 Aug 2015 20:30:10
I believe lovern will come good. I know we all expect a 20mill player to be good from the word go but I believe if he can improve his confidence we will see a different side to him.thats just my opinion now ;)

05 Aug 2015 20:33:11
Bale played on the left hand side for spurs EG. Robben plays on the right for munich,it was the left for Chelsea,I think it's the left for the netherlands.

05 Aug 2015 21:51:56
Imagine how good Messi would've been if he was right footed!

05 Aug 2015 22:20:46
still blame him for the gerrard slip. terrible ball to play

05 Aug 2015 22:22:46
In terms of releasing the ball forward, Sakkho is the most skillful defenders we had in some time. Fantastic passer. He is very confident with the ball - sometime over confident, that is his only weakness for me - sometime you have to release the ball quickly and not wait for the perfect pass - but more often than not he will find the perfect pass - and that takes a lot of pressure of our defence. He also almost never doesn't pass back to the kepper. This is also one of Loverns main weaknesses releasing the ball forward. So for me Sakkoh over Lovern without a doubt.

05 Aug 2015 23:09:53
George Best was actually right footed but 'taught' himself to use his left foot when he allegedly was inspired watching Real Madrid and in particular their left winger (Gento ?) warm up before a friendly against United.

The thing is Skirtel is the best natural defender of the three mentioned, Sakho is the best natural leader of the three and Lovren - well you need someone to get the bovril at half time I suppose. If wew had a coach who was a useful man manager, or even a man manager who was a useful coach . hey ho

05 Aug 2015 23:37:55
I had to a double take on that left footed comment because my brain couldn't quite comprehend that level of stupid at the first attempt.

He's trolling right? You are trolling? Please tell me your trolling.

05 Aug 2015 23:54:16
imagine how good robbie fowler would have been if he was right footed euro glory , what nonsense about the left foot , fowler was left footed and he did ok don't you think , sakho is a beast and should be played BR does not know his arse from his elbow never mind his 1st team that's why he played so many players out of position last season look at playing a winger as a striker when we had 3 strikers waiting to get a game , and stop going backwards start looking forwards agger has gone , yes he was good but let's move on , i think sakho would be a great CB if given the game time , the was i see it is BR has is favourite players and he plays them at the expence of the team and club and fans , instead of putting out the best 11 he puts out his favourites ,

06 Aug 2015 00:12:39
So many excuses, so just useless and illogical, to explain why Sahko is not good enuff. One said because he's left footed, another blames him for SG's slip (first I have ever heard of because it was SG that took his eye off the ball that was played directly to feet), while another calls him every other name in the book. All pathetic excuses, IMO. Sahko is not perfect and neither is any CB. But it takes a lot to be France capt where Mangala, Koscielny and Varane scramble for the other CB spot while he is the starter. He is a superb passer of the ball and his ability to play a forward pass over fifteen yards is unrivaled by the other cbs we have. He gets caught out in possession because he has no one to pass to and the mids often don't show for a pass. He is a beast and tougher and a bigger a Bully than Skrtel who only looks like one. When he and Lucas play, we rarely lose and the numbers support that. He's our best CB by a mile and is better than defenders who are actually better than our cbs in Varane and Koscielny.

PS:The poster that dared to blame him for SG's slip, your post is a disgrace and the fact that you even had the Gaul to want to pin SG's mistake on Sahko shows me the type of person you are and you sir, are a disgrace

06 Aug 2015 01:12:08
Nice one EMS! Sakho does look ungainly but is actually good on the ball, strong, quick and a good passer, whilst being impossible to bully. unlike Mr Skrtel. Definitely our best centre half. I also agree with an earlier poster who said that he thinks that lovren will come good, however he needs to be paired with Sakho. Also like Clyne and Gomez could potentially be our best bargain since big Sami. There could be optimism for our defence this year it just depends on Mr Rodgers realising that Skrtel is the issue and picking Lucas whenever fit. Somewhere near Ed001 as I bow down to your superior knowledge?

{Ed001's Note - Skrtel is first choice though :-(

06 Aug 2015 06:21:03
Adam

Yes, the moment he starts using his right foot for the slightest, he would be untouchable.

06 Aug 2015 07:02:12
Sakho is left footed and cannot operate on the right hand side. I have hardly seen him using his right foot at all. Sakho buckles when under pressure or someone press him. Once you nutmeg then he is helpless.
But he is the best we have got with us.

06 Aug 2015 08:06:37
I think EG meant he is only left footed. Even then there are plenty who get by. robben for example

06 Aug 2015 13:15:14
Thanks Ed001. Yes I realise Skrtel is first choice. You mentioned the new no. 2 (can't for the life of me remember his name) is an intelligent man wit a good understanding of the game? I'm just hoping that after a few typical Skrtel errors, he will highlight the problem for Rodgers and make him see the error in his ways!

06 Aug 2015 16:39:34
If BR hasn`t seen that Skrtel is aweful after near 3 years, I doubt he`ll see it now. Here`s to hoping, tho.

06 Aug 2015 18:23:45
I personally think skrtel is adequate. not great, but relatively clinical. he'd do better with a team like stoke/sunderland where passing out of the defense is not a priority. As for people saying sakho isn't good with the ball, this is a myth at best. The way he handles the ball often makes it appear this way, but it was the same with crouch. Smaller players always appear more composed with the ball. Sakho, I believe, is a world class defender. It should be sakho illori all day long. Lovren has had his chances, he has nothing else to prove and playing him will only cost us points and potentially 4th place

05 Aug 2015 13:45:55
Hi Eds, I think Kroos will fit in really well with Reus and what with Lacazette joining its all looking good but I'm not sure where Cheryshev will fit in? I'll look at The Metro for more guidance. Thanks.

05 Aug 2015 17:32:49
Also when does Klopp join? Will he be here in time to greet everyone? This could.

{Ed002's Note - There is a lot of scurrying around by a number of clubs trying to figure out their mananger changes for next season. Klopp will have some decisions to make in the coming months.}

05 Aug 2015 21:46:35
Ya on a serious note on Klopp he'll have his pick of any top clubs looking to make a change, maybe even more I'd wonder would Wenger see it as an opportunity to step aside to someone he may actually enjoy handing over to. I'm not looking for an answer obviously it's just speculation on my part but he would suit.

Then you have Madrid who even before hiring Benitez you're thinking he'll be sacked by the end of the season (well I've always thought that anyway).

Don't know if itchy feet, new challenge and huge money could have Pep in Manchester and the Munich job would be another. Whether or not he'd even consider that I don't know.

Two years left for Van Gaal but he could walk away to retire early if he was pushed. Anyway that's plenty speculating for me I feel like a horse racing pundit who's covered his arse saying something nice about every horse now!!

05 Aug 2015 22:08:50
Any scurrying by FSG ed02? Klopp most likely to bayern in my opinion

06 Aug 2015 08:43:09
Agree with Sajid. He's off to Munich and Pep will probably go to City.

05 Aug 2015 13:30:54
Ed001 or Ed002, whoever is around, what is your take on LFC's seemingly interesting management of younger players? Lots of have them been loaned out, and it appears many more will follow, with the Brazilian, Allan being the latest linked with a loan move. I get the feeling we are doing a Chelsea, and somehow seem to be trying to loan out younger players AFTER giving them a contract extension. The rational for such a move would be that if they do really well, they come and be part of the squad (whether Rodgers plays them or not is up for debate). If they don't do well, they will be picked up by another club for a fee depending on how bad/good they do. Chelsea make money out of this model, they they deal with a "higher" profile of younger players (De Bruyne, Lukaku, Matic, Cortouis are examples).

Vigouroux, Ward, Ojo, Stewart, Wisdom and soon Allan and Kent will all have signed a new contract and loaned out.

{Ed002's Note - It is an uncoordinated mess.}

05 Aug 2015 13:40:15
Difficult to argue with Ed002s reply as we continue to display shambolic incompetence at strategic corporate level

05 Aug 2015 15:14:44
That's what happens when any business employs a manager without a CV.

The interview of BR must have been amazing, I can only assume, being American, they were captivated by his Irish brogue, and believed every word he said.

And BR has shown in his on the job training as a football manager an amazing lack of skills and abilities that are required for success.

He's already proved to a 50 year record breaker, no trophies, 6-1 top flight defeat, who knows what probable disaster we will suffer this year.

Do I sound negative? - not negative just scared that we have manager who has shown he is not up to the job.

05 Aug 2015 15:27:44
To be fair most people are taken in by the Irish brogue. Especially the women!

05 Aug 2015 15:35:01
The reason it works well for Chelsea is down to their affiliate clubs for want of a better word such as vitesse. Here players have a clear plan where they will play for one of these clubs for a couple of years under presumably a similar philosophy (this bit I'm just assuming). Liverpool on the other hand get these players and end up pretty much loaning them aby where that will take them. If we could make deals (again for want of a better word) with a local enough league 1 and championship team where we would actively look to develop a relationship of sending a lot of our prospects to these clubs to gain valuable game time.
The other thing which I've seen the eds mention is the lack of support for players from abroad markovic being a good example. In comparison with man u and Chelsea who do vasts amount more to basically get the player settled in their new environment. I would assume we would have to be looking to improve in this aspect as the benefits of having it or more so the problems from not having it I think are blatantly obvious.

Ed002 I know players can't go on loan untill 17 or 18 can't remember which but the reasons for this rule are obvious. But would it be possible to loan out younger players to local sides so that they could still live at home, keep up with schooling etc. Or is the rule completely black and white?

{Ed002's Note - Yes but there are very strict restrictions and it is rare to do it.}

06 Aug 2015 00:32:02
BR is aweful, incompetent at managing young players and his record is dreadful. He doesn't even go to the youth games to see them play. Nuffield said!

05 Aug 2015 09:53:38
So 27 out of 28 pundits asked by BBC Sport think we would finish out of the top 4. Not surprising really and just show what everone think about ours and the top 4 squads, signings and managers.

05 Aug 2015 10:30:20
I wonder how many gave us a sniff of 4th the season we finished 2nd.

05 Aug 2015 10:32:30
Football can be very hard to predict sometimes, we will just have to wait and see how the season pans out.

If we are going to break into the top 4 we will have to ride our luck a bit and hope that the players we have brought in settle down quickly.

Have faith my friend.

05 Aug 2015 10:33:29
We would have to replace City to reach the top4. What makes me optimistic out of all, City are struggling to get their targets.

05 Aug 2015 10:40:51
A good morning to you too. It's all opinions. I think we will so let's see if I'm more knowledgeable than the 27 pundits lol

05 Aug 2015 10:42:15
Do you ever post anything positive? A real Victor Meldrew!

05 Aug 2015 11:01:00
What did the 28 predict for us last season? Life is what happens when you make other plans. With certainty it will be other than they predict!

05 Aug 2015 11:16:08
They are just predictions. It may help us if expectations are lowered this year.

05 Aug 2015 11:42:56
Long way to go lots of twists and turns ahead , can we gel quickly is my only worry but we are a top 5 squad where we finish in that top 5 I do not know .

05 Aug 2015 11:39:11
A lot fo them rate the city squad. I think it's terribly weak.
I put a little bet on Liverpool to finish ahead of City

Kompany really needs to up his game after last season,demichellis for me is not a great central defender,mangala seemed very shakey and fernando and dinho just aren't good enough. I think they really lack a decent defensive spine. Not only that but time and again they rely too much on aguero to bail them out. for me top 4 will be chelsea arsenal UTD and either us or spurs. I think city will drop out

05 Aug 2015 11:45:52
No one ever rates our chances of top 4 don't worry about it

05 Aug 2015 12:17:23
What are some of you moaning for? On last seasons form and a failure to properly address our back line, I'm surprised they all didn't say we won't be in the top 4!

They are peoples opinions and given the above points I've made they have a point.

I despise Man Utd ( not as much as Everton like,) but not because I'm biased against them, I genuinely think that out of last seasons top 4, they are the most vulnerable, unless they pull 2 or 3 world class players out of the hat before the TW closes then the current squad isn't up to scratch. They have also failed to improve there back line problems and the players they've brought in don't fill me with fear at all.

The Italian full back could be another dossena, Schweinstiger & Schneiderling ( apologies for the spelling ) have points to prove for me, 1 has to prove his fitness and if he is still up to the levels of 3 years ago and the other has to prove he can hack it at a massive club with the expectation and pressure to deliver from game 1 on his shoulders, same point applying to Depay, looks great in a poor league and he may turn out to be fantastic, but until he proves it then he's just potential, and I think as we've all seen, pressure and expectation can way heavy on potential.

So you see, people have opinions without being bias against a club, so stop looking for a media conspiracy against us, because makes us all look like nuggets!

{Ed002's Note - To be fair their interest in Darmain goes back more than a year and Chelsea would have taken him this summer if Ivanovic were to have left. He is a well thought of player. They are also still looking to add between two and four players - depending on someone leaving. I would not discount them just yet.}

05 Aug 2015 12:37:15
Last seasons predictions were better than the average. From a random sample of 60 pundits from 'well known' media outlets were reviews and 25% of pundits predicted the top 4 correctly, 47% got the top 2. Year before that it 8% getting too 4 correct and 12% guessing top 2.

It's all just blowing smoke. No-one knows what this seasons worth of games will bring and that's why we play them.

But, if you want to take anything even remotely serious, may e the top 2 predictions can be given a grain of merit but as far guessing the top 4, it's a shot in the dark.

05 Aug 2015 12:44:20
Actually agree Waro. I cannot fathom why these 'experts' are so hyped about United. The look very frail at the back, and with Rooney leading the line no one can guarantee he will bang the goals in. Though, unfortunate as it is, I do think they will pull off a least one major signing (Bale maybe) that will turn it all upside down. But, based on the squads as they are now, I think United and City look weakest, and personally, I think Arsenal will push Chelsea all the way and may even win it

05 Aug 2015 12:47:36
Pundits pick the obvious stuff they pick last years top4 because it more offen than not happens so they can feel like they got it right. Like top goal scorer, it's easy to pick aguero because he is the best in league but realistically he won't be top because he will be injured. Pundits make me sick! Alan shearer is the worst of the lot! Mr penalty! Muppet!

When was the last time a pundit stuck there head out and said something different to the rest of them?

Having said all this I don't think we will but not because of our squad, because of the idiot picking the team!

05 Aug 2015 12:49:21
The fact is there are 2.8 billion billion permutations possible in the premier league this season anyone that can predict the exact league is certainly defying the odds

05 Aug 2015 13:07:14
Six new Man Utd signings so far, and more to come.
That's an awful lot to 'gel' (that dreaded word).
They look good on paper, but I agree with Waro, how that translates to form on the pitch is a different matter.
Chelsea and Arsenal look settled and clear of the rest.
But 3rd and 4th positions could be a dog-fight again, with the respective attacking forces being the difference.

City up front are strong, Man Utd's attack is a could / should be, Liverpool upfront is a hope so, Tottenham's is a Kane or bust.
Liverpool need to start well.
2 points average will do it, I feel.

05 Aug 2015 14:44:59
i wouldn't wory about what the pundits think. half of them thought southampton would go down last season and look at them now. it will no doubt b difficult to break into the top 4 but i think we can/will do it. i am an optomist though

05 Aug 2015 14:54:41
permutations and chances are different shane k. This isn't a lottery where every ball has the same chance of coming out,this is probability,which is an entirely different concept.

05 Aug 2015 15:15:31
We have the worst backline of the top teams so yes expectations should be lessened. It's more of whether we are punished at the back this season

05 Aug 2015 16:07:21
Waro and others
all players settle in at different rates some take forever and some hit the ground running.
Chelsea, much the same squad as last season -not an issue
Arsenal- much the same with the , 1 of the best signings in cech (already) premiership ready)
City - need more players and think they are weak in comparison to the others
united- added quality players got rid of di maria and expect other top signings, darmian looks decent, sneiderlin already epl player schweinstiger-luxury player ? depay could be the real deal
Liverpool- benteke epl background , firmino ? prospect, milner liverpools best bit of business imo, clyne epl backed but a bit rash, origi good prospect ings- bench warmer
wont mention spurs but its going to be the same top 5 and 3/4 place between united , city and liverpool . get the blnkers off enjoy the season and like a fan of every team hope for better than what they deserve:)

05 Aug 2015 16:44:40
How many of the pundits where ex Liverpool players? I bet a lot. Our fans are deluded, seriously. We are nowhere near as strong as the top four

05 Aug 2015 17:39:54
Obviously bobatron but the fact of the matter still remains predicting anything in the premier league is as good as a lottery. No one would have said West ham and Southampton would have been in with a shout of europe after the summer they had. With a few games to go no one would have said Leicester would stay up.
I'm just alluding to the fact that realistically using 'some pundits say we won't finish in the top 4 therefore we wont' is silly.
I would still also be surprised if in a 100,000,000 people 1 would predict the table top to bottom. Ladbrokes will confirm this after they rake in a couple hundred million on people entering the premier predictor to win 50 million, which will not happen and a couple people will get one hundred thousand consolation price but Ladbrokes will be sitting back laughing.

05 Aug 2015 00:22:54
Hi guys,

Few questions,

1) who do you think will be the most important Liverpool player upcoming season?

2) biggest surprise/most improved player?

3) best signing/most important signing?

05 Aug 2015 06:10:13
1. Coutinho

2. Gomez/Ibe

3. Benteke (Giving us goals)

05 Aug 2015 06:31:09
The answers for 1 and 3 are Benteke I think. It seems to me that our all season is dependent on how prolific scorer he can become. I have little confidence in our defensive abilities, not just because the back 4 but because I am not sure BR knows how to fix our problems in midfield in term of being more dominant and preventing our back 4 and GK to be too busy.

Also going forward I didn't get the impression that we sorted all our problems there in term of creativity, movement and clear understanding of the players what to do with or wihtout the ball when they go forward.

However, despite all these problems, last year we still had 2-3 good chances every match and in many cases there was just no one to take advantage as we were unbelivably wasteful. If Benteke will take his chances his impact on our season will be huge. If he can't, I can't see who will, so the negative impact will also be huge.

For biggest surprise I will go for Sturridge's fitness. You never know with these things but I have a gut feeling that with all the pressure on Benteke Sturridge will be actually fit most of the league which will open a very interesting competititon between him, Ings and Origi for the second striker and hopefully also lead to us playing two strikers mroe often than not.

05 Aug 2015 07:27:20
1. Mignolet. I don't think he's the most important member of the squad, but it's vital he plays well and carries his second half of last season form into this season and improves on it.

2. Ibe. All Liverpool fans know what he can do, but I think this season he will show the rest of the league how good he is.

3. Benteke. We were desperate for goals last season, hopefully Benteke hits the ground running.

05 Aug 2015 08:14:19
That's a very good call on Migs actually - it wouldn't have come into my mind to choose him but you're right.

If he has one or more of his wobbles it will really hurt us.

05 Aug 2015 08:15:07
1 Every player who wears the shirt are important. It's a team game. The squad is full of internationals so the answer must be 12th man. We need to get behind the club.
2 I think Lovren, Lalana and mignolet need to improve on last season so 1 of them 3.
3 Firmino will prove to be the best player we signed. We never scored enough last season. So it's important that all the attacking players we've signed score goals, which I am sure they will.

05 Aug 2015 08:22:16
@fanobip I thought that in terms of creativity but was shocked to find the other day on Sky Sports that last year we created more goalscoring opportunities than the previous season so think creativity is there and hopefully bent eke has a good season

05 Aug 2015 09:38:40
1.) Henderson (Setting an example for the rest to follow in terms of work ethic)

2.) Moreno (If he gains more of an edge to his end product, and keeps concentration for 90mins he could be outstanding )

3.) Firmino (Should provide us with goals & assists,just hope any slump in form doesn't coincide with Coutinho's)

05 Aug 2015 09:57:46
1) whoever Rogers decides on as a DM for the season

2) Ings for me - he's got movement that boy

3) Benteke for me

05 Aug 2015 09:59:39
fanobip

Sturridge fighting for 2nd striker with ings and origi how insulting.

Sturridge fit is our best striker and one of the best in the league.

05 Aug 2015 10:18:30
Lavers, I agree afit Sturridge would start before Ings and Origi. I don't think he will start before Benteke if Benteke have a good start and score goals, but in that case I hope we will play both.

05 Aug 2015 10:35:42
1. Lucas

2. Lucas Fitness

3. Gomez

05 Aug 2015 10:40:42
1) Lucas
As I've said many times if we lose Lucas to injury without bringing in adequate cover, our season could be over before it starts. It's all well and good having hundreds of attackers and hundreds of defenders, but when you only have one out and out central midfielder, you're treading thin ice. So Lucas, for me, will be the difference this season.

2) Gomez
I think Gomez will come in and surprise a few with his natural ability, and the experience he shows which is well beyond his years.

3) Benteke
He will be our best signing solely because of his goal scoring ability. I think Milner won't be too far behind.

Red Rum

05 Aug 2015 10:46:31
1 - Milner

2 - Ibe

3 - Milner

the game is won and lost in midfield , that's why i think BR has bought so many midfielders , but with the eperience Milner has he can go on to be our main player , he can set up the chances our other mids can't see and he is old and wise enough to see the dangers of teams attacking us , i think he will be a big player for us this season, we all know what we are going to get from him with his work rate and add his experience to that then its easy to see why he is going to be big for us this season , i agree with the others though benteke needs to have a good season for us and score the goals that went begging last season also i think he will get into the positions that our other players never got into last season to finish off the good moves we made , also let hope he does not get that much injured because with him and studge up front firing then i'm sure we will get lots of goals , on the defensive side let's hope BR can get a good solid pairing going at least it will help our GK with clyne and gomez all we need for it to be tight is a good pairing at the back , its great that the season is starting very soon i can't wait

05 Aug 2015 11:20:19
1. Henderson. If he starts dictating the game and goes up a level, he could be the difference between top 4 or not.

2. Lovren. Hopefully. I couldn't believe how bad he was last season. BR prefers him over Sakho, and we need this guy to step up.

3. Benteke. Goals wins you games, and with an incredibly difficult away fixture list in the first half, tactical prudence and counter-attacking football maybe a good way to go about the business. We would need Benteke to pull off some magic though, as he will not get the kind of service he will at home in the first half of the season away.

05 Aug 2015 11:26:27
Migs

Ibe

Benteke

05 Aug 2015 12:08:13
Henderson

Keeper

Milner

05 Aug 2015 12:33:07
Harry how can you say Lucas? You've spent all summer saying we need to replace him with Kovacic!

05 Aug 2015 12:48:42
Benteke

Henderson - Has to step out Gerrards shadow, will be interesting to see how he copes

And Benteke again

05 Aug 2015 13:45:57
Adam

Exactly Why I put positions ahead of Player names. I would have named Kovacic had Liverpool signed him. You do realize, BR desperately needed him much more than any other player.
The center of the midfield where your attack and defense starts/stops

05 Aug 2015 14:22:08
Personally I think attack starts with the goalkeeper with the ball in his hands, and defending begins with the strikers pressurising the opposition defense.

06 Aug 2015 15:35:05
1 coutinho
2 henderson/Gómez
3 Benteke

04 Aug 2015 23:57:43
L'Equipe apparently reporting Lyon have given us clearance to talk to Lacazette!

Will this story never die?!

Are L'Equipe to be treated in the same bracket as the Metro, Star and Express for the accuracy of their football 'rumours'?

05 Aug 2015 14:58:29
Sadly its seems every single media outlet in the world now just writes what will be seen and make them money.

It's funny that when the British press report here about papers in Germany (Bild), Spain (AS), France (L'Equipe) saying something, it is treated as the absolute truth when in reality they are just the same media vermin posting nonsense equivalent to the Metro and Daily Star.