Liverpool Banter Archive December 06 2013

06 Dec 2013 22:38:17
And there goes John Ruddy's chances of being England's No.1 in the World Cup.

06 Dec 2013 19:08:53
Hi eds,
NBC News are reporting that Liverpool are trying to set up contract talks with luis suarez? any truth to this or not?
Thanks

{Ed002's Note - He is a Liverpool player, so there is no need to do that.}

Yeah there selling gerrard and then there given luis stevie's wages lol

06 Dec 2013 18:28:15
Hi eds,
Two quick points:
1) how is suso getting on at almeria? I think that's who he is out at? not 100% sure. how is he getting on and are Liverpool still looking to keep him or will they look to try to offload him?
2) if suarez does wish to leave and we agree to sell, do you see Liverpool using the money to replace him with a big signing?
Many thanks hope to hear back

{Ed002's Note - Suso will be an issue to deal with nest simmer. Commitment to game time or not.}

I think he will replace moses and will be given a chance to cement his place in the team

{Ed002's Note - The problem may well be him wanting assurances of game time.}

06 Dec 2013 18:00:39
I think we can officially rule out John Ruddy for England's second match.

06 Dec 2013 17:31:45
Ed 02, I think you're American, so, that being said, we are going to need quite a bit of luck this world cup to get out of our group. Ghana, Portugal, and Germany! Such a bad draw. Oh well, maybe Liverpool will finish top 4 to make my summer bareable.

{Ed002's Note - Perhaps one point from the Ghana game.}

Really? I think we have 6 available points, not even going to include the Germany game as available. If Ronaldo has a stinker, we can win that game. And we owe Ghana.

Yeah we got dealt a bad hand.

USA got a bad hand? Look at Englands group! Uruguay and Italy, we probably won't even finished 3rd in our group!

06 Dec 2013 17:26:12
Oh Lordy - its Suarez vs Gerrard & Sturridge at the World Cup!

06 Dec 2013 16:14:25
As I and everyone else knows, we need, need, a central midfielder, but do we need an attacking style/minded player or defensive midfielder, eds?
If attacking I think Rodgers would actually go for a rm lm rather that a coutinho/Alberto mould CaM type player.

If we go for attacking who are we interested inlooking at? And also what are the possibilities of these players.
Koke
Shaqiri
Konoplyanka
Salah

And if we go defensive.
Matuidi
Matic
Fernando

I know these are probably unlikely but would just like to see the situation.
Also what's the latest on this xhaka kid and do you think we will sell anyone( I know it seems that lfc will loan out a few players but do think we will sell anyone) I know aggers name has popped up as one being sold and possibly Skrtel.
Would love to hear eds and everyone's opinions! Would love a response,
Cheers
Great site!

{Ed002's Note - There is zero chance of most of those players. Try the search engine and read the posts.}

06 Dec 2013 17:01:10
Ed02. Awesome.
One single Line for the whole Essay.

You have to stop wasting our time with repeated posts. Your post was posted. Think about whilst you are taking a rest from the site.

06 Dec 2013 10:11:07
Morning all.

This is not football related but I just wanted to say RIP to Nelson Mandela!

One of the truly great men that was left in this world!

RIP Nelson Mandela.

A great LFC fan has gone. YNWA

06 Dec 2013 13:06:15
RIP the world could be doing with a few more men like nelson, I didn't know he supported Liverpool that makes him complete for me great man.

Mandela an LFC fan? I`m in tears already. He is one man I wish I could have met. I encourage all LFC fans to watch the new movie "Mandela: Long Walk For Freedom". Great movie. May he rest in peace.

06 Dec 2013 10:02:58
Xhaka of BM in germany who used to play for basel are Liverpool interested on a couple a web sites we are

{Ed002's Note - Read the posts.}

06 Dec 2013 09:38:46
Why are people so against signing Berbatov? He proved at United he doesn't mind fighting for his place, he always hits double figures even when he's used as a squad player, he is technically probably the best player in the League. Yes he is lazy, but so was Matt Le Tissier and he was world class. If we could snap up Berbatov for a nominal fee, say £5-7m he is a bargain. At 32 he will add experience up top, and not stand in the way of youngsters like Yesil and Sinclair. We need another striker. Sturridge is made of glass and Aspas hasn't proved anything yet. Why spend double figures on someone who might grab 10-15 goals, when we can spend a few million on someone who will get double figures? He might be lazy, but he is effective. Don't let his Manchester United history cloud your Judgement.

YNWAdam

06 Dec 2013 10:39:46
YNWAdam

Where would he play Adam. We need quick and skillfull feat. someone who can take on defenders. He can hold up the ball, but then what?. he doesn't beat a man. he has got some trickery. and pretty good finisher. But we need much more than that as a striker. someone who would drop deep collect the ball and move very quick forward. also should shoot from distance.

Berbatov is just like RVP, he would score tonz provided with good opportunity.

We need strikers whou would actually make an opportunity and score.

If we were to sign a relatively cheap experienced striker who would get 10-15 goals per season, Jermain Defoe would be my preference.

Personally, I would prefer us to go for a younger striker like Benteke or Lukaku, but would cost be an issue?

Red Rum

I can tell you've never watched Berbatov. He has very quick and skillful feet, and seems to glide past people without pace due to how close he keeps the ball to his feet. It's not all about skill though. He turns away from players brilliantly. Like you say, he is excellent at holding up the ball and with players like Sturridge and Suarez running beyond him, he can lay it off to them. People seriously underestimate his vision though. Berbatov is excellent at the final ball into the box from the edge of the area. Pretty good finisher is just an insult. You have to be bloody good to get 15 goals for Fulham! Your last point is the funniest. Berbatov is always dropping deep to pick up the ball. He gets very heavily involved in the football and his attacking positioning is absolutely fantastic. Age hasn't phased him because he never relied on pace anyway. We don't need a striker who makes opportunities for themselves, we need midfielders who can make opportunities for our strikers. Why move quickly forward? We don't play counter attacking football. Why score from distance? Shooting from outside the box is widely regarded as a waste in football. Good teams work their way forward.

The only thing I can fault Berbatov on is his defensive work rate. He never tracks back and he doesn't press the ball at all. Whether or not that could be drilled into him at this stage of his career is debateable. However at the prices being quoted in the media, he would be a great piece of business. He would happily be an impact sub or a squad rotation player, and he brings Premier League winner experience. Toure has already shown how important that can be. You need people who have been there in the squad as it rubs off on the youngsters and gives them a winning mentality.

I won't be dissapointed if we don't sign him. He's not the best option. But he is a very good option, and people are literally just making up reasons to not sign him because he played for Man United. He's lazy, i'll give you that. But he is one of the best forwards the Premier league has seen in the last decade. It'd just be nice to have another top striker in the squad. All the best teams have 3/4, we have 2.
United: Rooney, RVP, Hernandez
City: Aguero, Negredo, Jovetic, Dzeko
Chelsea: Eto'o, Torres, Ba, (Lukaku)

YNWAdam

06 Dec 2013 12:31:51
Defoe is also a good option. He is a different player to Berbatov though. He doesn't get involved in attacks, he just finishes them off. His pace and ability to lash a shot in from anywhere inside 25 yards is a great threat to have though.

I'd take either, but prefer Berbatov tbh. Another experienced Striker is Anleka. Although he is about 34 now, and does seem affected by age, he is still a great player, and an ex-Liverpool player as well. The problem with signing somebody younger and good is that they will want regular game time, which Suarez and Sturridge will prevent. Aspas is young, but is not a first team player just yet, and may not ever be in the English league. Benteke would not come to sit on the bench, and if he dislodged Sturridge, Sturridge will leave anyway leaing us in the same position. Its about squad balance. Hopefully Aspas can be our Hernandez (the super sub) and then we just need to fill the experienced role. If we sign too many top strikers we will end up with the same problems we're having at centre back. An unsettled pairing, chopped and changed every week; or two moaners on the bench. The only reason City get away with it is because who would moan on £200k a week? Chelsea get away with it by loaning out one of them, having an experienced striker (Eto'o) and another who doesn't mind sitting on the bench for a club slightly above their level (Ba).

So for me: Berbatov, Defoe or Anelka would be good options (ranking in that order). The other option is to sign wide forwards who can also play as the striker and save us bothering with a striker at all. The difficulty is finding players who don't mind a squad role, but are good enough to fill gaps without seriously damaging the sides overall quality.

YNWAdam

For me Berbatov and Anelka are not good enough whatsoever.

Berbatov had the chance to establish himself as a world class player when he was at Spurs and United, but his Laziness prevented him from progressing. I want players at Liverpool who work their socks off, not give half hearted performances.

I have watched Anelka a couple of times this season and it is clear he is past it. He is 35 in march and to be honest I would much rather have Borini on the bench. Anelka was a quality player for Chelsea and a few years ago I would have definitely had him back at Liverpool, but certainly not now.

Red Rum

06 Dec 2013 16:16:50
YNWAdam

Eto'o, Torres, Ba, top striker?. call up jose and ask him. what he needs in jan.

I'm sorry but no matter how you dress it up, he's a big headed lazy sod who used to play for that lot. They are the only facts that need considering.

Berbatov would be a top striker, he has an amazing pass - with two out of cou, suarez and sturridge behind him he would thrive by creating spaces and setting up attacks - and he still has a mean shot. Sadly, I don't see it happening, have there been any actual links Adam?

This thread is ridiculous. Not to mention whether they're good enough or not, Berbatov and Defoe want to play football every week at this stage of their careers, so why would either move to sit on our bench?

06 Dec 2013 08:01:47
Hai Ed mng and great Work and thanks.

". Someone the other day mentioned, the Look on BR face at the Norwich Match.
The reason being all then goals were sheer individual brilliance and any manager would be worry If your star player would be going in the summer and we would never be the same.
I think We should either bench him or sub him every 60 mts, so that we actually know where we are without Suarez. "

Wow, what remarkable insight and philosophy. For sure, all teams should sub their best players off after an hour.just to assess of course

Omg Harry has completely lost the plot. Bench your best player when your only other recognised striker is out injured. Granted Suarez might leave but if he does he will be replaced with several players. So how would leaving him out show where we would be if he left.

My Theory: Coaches are more interested in how the team performs than a star player. of the 5 goals, if we are generous we can attribute 2 of the 5 to the team creating the goals - the rest all down to one individual performance.

As a team we did not create much against a poor team, same as vs Hull.

I just don't think BR was that impressed with our team performance.

OR maybe he is aware that Suarez is half way out the door - come summer.

Who knows really

Good lord! (shakes head)

06 Dec 2013 09:50:12
Prestige

Mate, I don't have any problem in playing Suarez whole 90mts. But Once he goes in the summer. whose going to score?. those 40 yards. 25 yard. freekicks. 16 yards. those assist. skills. dribbles.
I just can't Imagine us wiothout him. we actually have no creativity.None of our midfieldes have scored so far. can you believe that?

Without Suarez we are spurs without bale except we'd still have coutinho & Sturridge as players who can do something magical when fit. Spurs despite spending all that money have nobody who has magic. Soldado is pure and simple a finisher ericson is a poor man's coutinho dembele is their best player by a million miles. Lamella is still young & has proven nothing here Townsend will never create a striker a chance only himself & seems to of tried to copy bales game

06 Dec 2013 10:44:40
The Reason Aspas and Borini failed or haven't got clicked til now, is the lack of creativity from our midfield. How many chances have we actually created for them? I would say 0-5.
Suarez and Sturridge could hit the ball well out 15-25 yards. the only one they actually link up is countinho and bit part Gerrard.
Lucas doesn't go forward. Allen doesn't do nor henderson. all three would break up the play and then they simply run out of ideas.
We don't have pretty good wingers. who could link up with our strikers.
Take out Sturridge and Suarez from the Eleven, What ar we going to do?.

A player like dembele, Modric or mata is a must for any top team. we don't have it.

{Ed002's Note - Rather than blaming the Liverpool midfield, I should make it clear is the reason that Aspas and Borini have not "clicked" is that one has been injured and the other playing for Sunderland.

Who is it you support Harry.}

Harry, what do you mean our midfielders haven't scored?

Coutinho and Gerrard have both scored this season.

Harry

I would like to think that if Suarez were sold in the summer we would be receiving a substantial transfer fee for him. That being said I would also like to think that that money would then be spent on players that can come in and replace his goals.

Sterling and Moses too.

06 Dec 2013 20:08:46
Yes, take Suarez out and we are in trouble, but I am assuming we are smart enough not to sell until we have players set to come in,
And Suarez is probably leaving, you can't blame the guy, especially if he is going to the biggest club in the world,
I'd love to see him stay, but we have to be realistic.
But to bench him? common man, tell me you were joking.

06 Dec 2013 02:28:29
I am by no means an expert but have been supporting an watching Liverpool for 30yrs, I believe under BR we have improved as a team and club we are moving in the right direction but we are not quite their yet. We are in a good position running in to a very busy period which will state where we are at in terms of competing for 4th spot, unfortunately as I have said previously without our full strength first team I think we will not finish in the CL spots.

My criticism of the way BR has the team setup:
Defence-
Stable defence apart from injuries we have been rotating our defence to much, When fit we have a very good defensive line not withstanding Johnson. (I don't think we need any additions in defence just players back from injury and faith in our youth players.

Midfield-
Midfield is my biggest concern Lucas is a very good defensive midfield player that unfortunately due to our current setup is being asked to cover to much of the pitch. Gerrard's role needs more definition and for me he is not able to maintain 90mins in his current role. Henderson is a box to box midfielder that seems to lack tactical knowledge of where he should be and what he should be doing (saying that I like his work rate and I think he could be more suited working along side Lucas, but wit a leash on!). Allen I know not everyone likes him but he is a very capable midfielder who needs games, he is still young and has more tactical knowledge than Henderson and a better pass (I know they play in different roles but we another anchor alongside Lucas).
Wingers/L & R Midfield-
I don't think Sterling is ready for first team football an should go out on loan ASAP to get experience, for me this is the main positions wide right and left where need quality adding to the team. Moses I was unsure off prior to joining us but I think he should be returned to Chelsea ASAP. We need quality attacking width that have the ability to track back when required.
ATM-
As long as Coutinho stays fit we don't have a problem he does go missing for brief periods but his class shines through, we do however require cover. or call Pacheco back from his loan.
Strikers-
We will lose Suarez hopefully not till the summer and our recent purchases are struggling to make the adjustment to the EPL but on paper we are not short on options for the strikers.

Round up-
Additions to the left and right midfield is a high priority and also another attacking midfielder, we have I believe potentially world class youth players on the fringe that should be given more opportunities.

This is my opinion I know not everyone will be of the same opinion.

06 Dec 2013 00:41:46
Platini is open to using "sin bins" replacing yellow cards, I think it's a great idea.

Platini = the next Blatter. Who votes for these people to run football? Its fine how it is!

06 Dec 2013 08:52:07
Awful idea. Football isn't like Rugby where you only get booked for dangerous tackles or dissent. You can be booked for silly things like accidental hand ball, professional fouls, mistimed tackles etc. Plus, Rugby does not have a crucial position like a goalkeeper. If a teams goalkeeper got sin binned that's game over. Terrible suggestion and it will never be implemented.

YNWAdam

'silly thing like professional fouls'
do you mean cheating?