Liverpool Banter Archive September 07 2017

07 Sep 2017 18:20:57
Hi Ed001, just seen that Leon Goretzka is potentially available on a free next summer if he doesn't sign a new contract, what's your opinion on him? Seen him a few times for Germany and has looked the real deal in those games. Could make a good replacement for Emre perhaps? Although if the club see Can's long term future in a holding role the I suppose Goretzka might not be suitable.

{Ed001's Note - looks a very good player, I have no idea if we would need him now though, with Keita coming next season.}

07 Sep 2017 20:19:10
Probably a stupid question, I've only seen you tube highlights of keita but what is keita really that good? I truly hope so. Kante who can attack has been whispered.

{Ed025's Note - hes excellent aoe..

07 Sep 2017 20:35:15
Keita is top draw aoe and will prove to be a bargain.

07 Sep 2017 20:36:23
If anything, Klopp will probably concentrate on our defence next summer.

We will have enough midfielders even if Can leaves. Wijnaldum, Henderson, Grujic, Lallana, Ox, Coutinho (if he stays) and Keita.

And please, let's not start this talk of a defensive midfielder when it is clear that none were going to arrive or will arrive anytime soon under Klopp.

07 Sep 2017 20:45:01
If anything, Klopp will probably concentrate on our defence next summer

😄 I think he has "defence-blindness"

07 Sep 2017 20:58:03
We all know Klopp wants attacking football to be displayed and I have no problem with that. Hence we are pretty much the highest scoring team in the League since he joined.

We let in less goals 16/ 17 compared to 15/ 16 so that is improvement.

Do not expect to see the the goals stop flowing in at the other end though :-)

07 Sep 2017 22:18:48
Spot on, Max. The thing is that the media and the fans latch on to a media talking point of "LFC have defensive issues or our defence is bad". That may or may not be true as we have kept 7 clean sheets in the last 9 PL games BUT clearly as soon as we concede a goal or two, the baby is thrown out with the bath water by the fans and pundits.

Collectively, Klopp wants his team to defend the minute they lose the ball cos to him, if you switch to defensive mode and plug the holes as soon as you lose it, the back 4 does not have to do much. Already, we don't concede a lot of chances and teams simply cannot open us up and never do. The problem is that the individual errors or defensive setup during set pieces, has plagued us immensely. If we can fix that and get the CB that Klopp wants in (VVD or whoever), we will be okay esp. with Keita coming in next season to add more defensive and offensive dynamism in midfield.

08 Sep 2017 01:26:18
We've got a potential worldie in Keita, he will come in, alongside Kante, as the best central midfielder in the league. Superb player.

08 Sep 2017 05:57:49
Have made it a point to watch Keita this season and its been a very bad decision on my part. Already I want this season to end. Can't wait to see him in Liverpool red.
He works really hard, puts himself about defensively, breaks up play and turns defense into attack in a flash, and that's not even the best part of his game.
To me, his most obvious talent is driving at the heart of the opposition defense, his runs always seem to open up space for his team mates, especially if they are coming in from the wings. My one criticism is he sometimes puts too much on his forward passes and the ball skips away, and he certainly loves him some megs, maybe a bit too much.

07 Sep 2017 22:33:11
Is he that good ed25, I'll be brutally honest, I've never seen him play I don't think 😕.

{Ed025's Note - yes he is nicky, he will run the show and become your best player mate..

08 Sep 2017 07:58:45
Ed025 is right. Keita will run the LFC midfield next season.

08 Sep 2017 07:59:44
Cheers for the replies. Something to look forward to next season.

08 Sep 2017 09:23:33
Spot on, Jcan. Keita will be the steal of the season next season. The guy is the real deal and his dynamism, skill (the nutmeg is his specialty), ability and intelligence is unrivaled in the PL. Kante is not a patch on him as he is an offensive juggernaut. Kante is not and we have the better player.

{Ed025's Note - why try to discredit the best player in the league bingo just because you have got naby?, kante is exceptional and though im a massive keita fan he has yet to dip his toes in the EPL which is the toughest league in the world... typical..

07 Sep 2017 18:03:22
Chelsea got a drinkwater.

Everton got a drink driver!

red deano YNWA.

07 Sep 2017 18:56:47
What do you guys think of Chelsea selling Matic for 40 million and then signing Drinkwater for 40 million?

07 Sep 2017 19:19:56
Good business. for Leicester and Utd.

Chelsea though 😂

They got mugged off left right and centre this transfer window 😂.

07 Sep 2017 19:20:22
That I would say is like dropping a very expensive bottle of whiskey and being let to drinkwater.

07 Sep 2017 23:01:58
I think your wrong guys. Drinkwater is a good player and had a great partnership with kante add bakayoko and that's a great midfield 3. Fabregas asdds guile from the bench its a good mix.
Moratta is a top player too.

07 Sep 2017 23:54:51
But still, why on earth sell a vital player to a major competitor? I could understand if Matic had been sold abroad but flogging him to the mancs, I mean, even if chelski didn't need him why make him a present to another Prem team. Cannot begin to fathom the logic in that.

08 Sep 2017 03:37:38
Disastrous business for Chelsea selling Matic and signing Drinkwater for the same fee. Matic is a much superior player and he has made Man Utd credible title contenders, which is something that will have p****d Conte off big time. The only logical reason for splashing all the Matic cash on a one season wonder like Drinkwater is his partnership with Kante at Leicester. If that partnership does not show at Chelsea, then Conte's going to look like a total mug.

08 Sep 2017 05:54:21
I don't think you have ever watched matic, he always does start a season very well and then mid season to end he forgets how to even make a pass.

08 Sep 2017 06:48:28
Truly bizarre business by Chelsea to let an excellent player (Matic) go and then replace him with merely 2 good players (Bakayoko, Drinkwater) - I think Chelsea made some strange decisions in the transfer market and, as mentioned above, it was a truly bizarre decision to allow Matic to move to a title rival - it is rare to see a rival strengthening another but that is what Chelsea have done.

08 Sep 2017 09:27:01
Spot on, IB. Conte said he never wanted Matic sold and Chelsea stabbed him in the back on this one. They will regret it big time cos Drinkwater and Kante ar not a patch on Matic.

{Ed025's Note - kante is amazing bingo, i have books on football if you would like to borrow one mate...god knows you need to..

08 Sep 2017 18:51:19
Bingo bongo bango nonse nonsense.

07 Sep 2017 16:16:12
Nice to see the photos of the squad in training today, everyone seems to be in good spirits, lots of smiles and laughs, seem to have a good group. Whatever has happened over the window, this is our team, our squad, our boys until at least January so if they can all pull on the shirt and play at 100% and give their all for the club, I hope we as supporters can also put the window behind us and support each and every member of our beloved squad 100% and leave the business side of things to those who are paid to deal with it. Onwards and upwards, We Are Liverpool.

07 Sep 2017 14:39:33
Ed001 I'd love to hear your thoughts on the announcement that the summer transfer window will shut the Thursday before the opening of the season from now on.

{Ed001's Note - as I have said all along it is just nonsense to keep shutting it earlier and earlier. It has the exact opposite effect to the one they want it to have. It is utter stupidity to block trade for 90% of the time, it will make the window even more of a frenzy and make it even more difficult for English clubs to compete in European competition.}

07 Sep 2017 15:21:27
Well now we have our window shut by the start of August bu5 all of the coutinho drama would of continued as the other windows are all still open.

I disagree to an extent ed in that it could make the window and clubs more efficient. Plan properly and take less time haggling and waiting for prices to drop like levy for example.

07 Sep 2017 15:21:47
It will have the biggest impact on the smaller clubs as they won't know if their squad can compete.

Brighton as an example, they thought they had enough played a few games and realised they needed more so went back into the market.

Shutting the window early also allows European clubs to potentially unsettle players to force moves without the ability of English clubs replacing.

The only way this works is if all windows are the same length. But the framework should be the end of the season to Feb/ March.

07 Sep 2017 15:29:45
Eds how come we cannot say that no club can sell aswell as buy with the new window changes?

{Ed001's Note - I have no idea why the rules are so confused. There will be lots more players letting their contracts expire so they can pick their moves and get more money. It is either that or we will see someone challenge the ruling under restraint of trade. Sadly this is all to benefit the big clubs over the small clubs as usual.}

07 Sep 2017 15:39:48
Meanwhile, at the English FA headquarters, a monkey is given a keyboard to type up the new transfer window rules.

At first, it seemed almost unfair to put so much pressure on the poor thing, but Rooney took to the keyboard like a fish to water.

07 Sep 2017 16:03:31
Even if the link was metaphorical, I find offensive on behalf of the existence of fish' to be compared to Rooney, MK.

07 Sep 2017 16:05:01
The window should be open all the time. Maybe take a month off during the year but maybe not. It is the weirdest business model that clubs can only trade at a small percentage of the year. With such money involved I'm surprised the so called men behind the curtain haven't pushed to have the window constantly open.

I think this would help to keep transfer fees down. It could help the younger players who aren't in the first team at their respective clubs as teams with injuries and limited transfer fees would be more likely to acquire the services of a promising youngster.

The only thing that would worry me about this is the amount of influence the vultures that are agents would have over the game. As it is they are like vampires who only come out to feed in the summer and then for a month in winter.

This new solution will only intensify the agent activity and create more of a frenzy with more outrageous transfer fees. That said I can understand the club's not wanting the distraction of transfers at an important time in the season. But the solution is not to shorten it is it to open it completely.

{Ed001's Note - spot on. I have been saying it for years, they shortened the window and it caused the frenzy. In their idiocy they think think shortening it more will cut back on the frenzy! Unbelievable how dumb the thinking is sometimes.}

07 Sep 2017 16:28:50
Yeah I think I saw you talking about how it should be open constantly before (or one of the other eds) and when I thought about it, it really makes sense for it to be so. This new ruling is just trying to sort out a problem that simply wouldn't be a problem if it was open all year round.

{Ed001's Note - exactly mate. They created the problem by shrinking the window and now they are trying to fix the same problem by shrinking it more! Bizarre. It just defies logic.}

07 Sep 2017 16:40:42
Players will just request 3 year deals at the top clubs.

They won't commit a coutinho and sign a 5 year deal (with the unspoken agreement that we can sell you but this will allow us to get a good fee)

Players will ask for 3 year and a release clause at the top to power end of the market for example 50 mil in fans contract is a good amount for us but a pittance for his quality in this market.

I really hoped to see bigger longer contracts coming into play where the likes of Woodburn could sign a 10 year deal now and have a lot of raises dependant on performance etc but we know we not only develop him but also get the peak years.

I think the premier league should introduce a franchise tag similar to nfl. For the those unfam8liar, a player at the end of his deal can be put on the franchise tag for a season at a time, we could do it not with can at the end of this year so we technically get 2 years outta him and maybe longer to change his mind. Might make players stop thinking themselves clever and getting big fat signing on bonuses.

On another note though.

Sanchez at the end of the season 40 mil signing on fee, 200k a year 4 year deal?

07 Sep 2017 19:21:43
Back to the old days when it closed in March nobody panicked buyed especially those in the bottom 6.

07 Sep 2017 20:00:24
If we opened the window year round it might encourage teams to buy English players as they will be the only ones available for most of the time, you would think the FA would want to encourage prem teams to buy more British?

08 Sep 2017 02:30:43
Why on earth would a club offer a player a 10 year deal (unless wages were a pittance)? there's no telling a player's ability or performance in ten years time. Many youngsters fizzle before reaching their peak, many players in their 20s deteriorate with age by their 30s. Could you guarantee that woodburn, or even Mbappe will be worth the same a decade on?

07 Sep 2017 13:40:37
Hendo will never be a Gerrard - hell most players could never be like him! However, we miss him when he's not in the side.

He does a lot of dirty work in the middle of the park, no one can say that he doesn't put 100% commitment and effort on the pitch.

He's a decent player and is a worthy captain.

He only needs to add some finishing quality in his play. Problem is that often (save a few games) he and Can don't often provide the incisiveness on the pitch when they play together.

07 Sep 2017 09:51:27
So kyle walker's the quickest player in the league. Should be a good battle with mane on Saturday then.

07 Sep 2017 09:54:48
He's quick, but I'd fancy Mane or Salah against him. They base this stuff on top speed clocked. Walker takes longer to hit full stride than Mane or Salah though.

07 Sep 2017 10:05:28
Is his ban for the red card completed? For some reason I thought it was a straight red - 3 match ban. I'm probably mixing his red card up with Chelsea's Cahill.

07 Sep 2017 10:11:43
Mendy is the one to look for! going to be interesting. We will have to get behind their wing backs! They don't have CM's. In fact they play KDB in there. Good passer and vision but lacks the physical side of the game!

07 Sep 2017 10:41:09
It's funny how they totally forgot about Salah!

07 Sep 2017 10:43:19
Wouldn't say kdb is not physical. He is incredibly physical on the ball and incredibly strong. What I would say is he doesn't always defend at a level suitable for a deep midfielder or midfielder that has defensive duties. so essentially it comes down to can we keep the ball not letting city have it and can we take chances when we have the ball.

Simples really.

07 Sep 2017 10:51:34
Harry, if we win, keep a clean sheet, or Henderson scores, will you change your name to 'MKS is boss'?

If City win, Silva scores, or Henderson gets sent off, then i'll change my name to 'Harry knows best'.

07 Sep 2017 10:59:42
Well MK. I would fancy us against City, if there is one team that could beat city at their ground is us! We will take the challenge to some other game! May be against a bus parker UTD!
What i can guarantee is Hendo won't score a goal aginst City ( penalties exempted ) . 275%.

07 Sep 2017 11:15:44
Nice little wager there, MK!

07 Sep 2017 11:32:36
Yeah but Harrys bottled it, hasn't he 🙄.

07 Sep 2017 11:44:36
one of hendo's best goals to date was against man city.

07 Sep 2017 12:17:16
MK you got to clarify, Bernardo or David Silva.

07 Sep 2017 12:54:21
Think we need to be wary of Gabriel Jesus, he's playing well.

07 Sep 2017 12:57:29
The Spanish one. Only Spanish, German and Croatian players have the technical ability needed to score.

07 Sep 2017 13:36:32
Mk that is good for us then. Means moreno, lovren and can will all score.

07 Sep 2017 14:39:02
RedEka, they didn't, its just that he's not hit the same speeds as the top 10. There was an Echo article about it also expressing surprise he hadn't made the top 10.

07 Sep 2017 16:14:45
It's going to be z tough game. I think we have a great chance of winning. I just hope if we lose the fans don't lose the optimism that is surrounding the club at the moment. There is no shame of to city away. We will beat em at anfield I'm sure so let's give city the respect they deserve. That said, if I had to bet I would pick liverpool.

07 Sep 2017 05:52:43
With all these posts about coutinho starting this week or not, i wonder if woodburn could get game time, he has had a terrific week with wales, his confidence must be sky high and may be we could see a cameo from him? definitely makes sense to get him on for some real competition.
Might give a taste to coutinho too, he shouldn't be allowed to just walk into the team.

07 Sep 2017 06:10:43
I'd be happy with Woodburn getting cameo appearances in league games and starting in the domestic cups this season. The issue is the number of senior midfielders in his way right now. Can, Hendo, Gini, OX, Coutinho, possibly Grujic and Milner.
The kid will need to bide his time for now until next season when there will be a clear out of Can, Milner and Coutinho in midfield. Then only will we see how far he can go once he gets a run of games under his belt.

07 Sep 2017 06:33:59
Really rate Woodburn but against City? For Coutinho? Not good for the kid or for the message it sends Coutinho, we need to build bridges not burn them.

Play starting Hendo, Can and Gini who were on fire against Arsenal, bring Coutinho off the bench for me.

07 Sep 2017 07:22:23
SG I think it's coutinho that needs to build bridges. But the only way I would give Woodburn a run out is if we are 2 up after 60/ 70mins. Same team that started against arsenal for me.

07 Sep 2017 07:28:05
to be honest i don't think why we need to mend bridges with coutinho. he wants to go and he will next season. it was he who has been throwing excuses not to play. i don't think it sends the right message to the team if he just gets back in the city game. It is he who has to mend the bridges not the club after the summer fiasco.
Woodburn though has shown quality to be in contention for a cameo. Big games make big players. we have been far shy for far too long with our young players. I think woodburn should be evaluated this season. If we look at him as a potential coutinho replacement we need to look at him this season. Klopp has done it with several young players.
I would love for woodburn to gain experience in the game playing against the likes of de bruyne silva and company even if it is just for a few minutes.
I don't care how world class a player coutinho is.

07 Sep 2017 08:48:42
Wouldn't start Gini away in this one personally. Not because he doesn't score away usually, we have plenty who will/ can, but we need a little more protection for the defense on Saturday, so I'd actually start Milner for experience or Grujic for his physicality. I know that wouldn't be a popular choice/ decision but we need to keep it tight early at the back. You don't want to be too open too early in this game and be chasing a goal, leaving gaps too early or you'd be run ragged IMO. Who knows, we might blow them away with our attack, exciting game me thinks?!

07 Sep 2017 08:53:30
I wouldn't involve him this week, do we really need the distraction this week? I'd include Woodburn in the squad however. Confidence must be through the roof.

07 Sep 2017 10:15:47
Hendo - Can - Coutinho should be our midfield. Anything else and we will be punished by Silva and KDB.
James Milner? Lol David Silva will fool him all noon!

07 Sep 2017 10:27:26
He can fool Milner all he likes as long as Milner has the last laugh. Like I said, not a popular one, but his experience might be vital. I'd love to try something more aggressive or offensive but City could really punish us if we get it slightly wrong.
Who knows?! It might be Wijnaldum's time to shine away from home - has to happen sooner or later.

07 Sep 2017 11:24:25
Oh God please no Milner against City. Unless coming off the bench to see out the game.
Will stuck with Gini-Hendo-Can for this one. Perfect combination of strength and creativity for a game like City away. Coutinho will start from the bench.

07 Sep 2017 11:46:21
Gino can Coutinho would've a better shout.

07 Sep 2017 12:15:38
It would be stupid to go there and try to contain them! We can't defend so why try bothering it? Our strength lies in solid attacking. Let's attack and put prrssue on city. This is not the game to achieve clean sheet.
You have to hit City on their weakness and they do struggle against pace and high press!

07 Sep 2017 14:31:32
I wouldn't start milner at all. Especially not in any of the cm positions. He's came on there from the bench in the last few games. Dwells too much on the ball for me. Gets caught in possession a lot. If wee need to score bring coutinho on and if wee need to close the game out bring on grujic.

08 Sep 2017 08:54:13
Not so much to contain them, but just not to leave ourselves open too much and over commit in attack. We will be picked off if gaps open in the midfield again. There's a very real chance Chamberlain could start I have been hearing on the grapevine though so you lot probably won't need to stress over Milner lol.

06 Sep 2017 23:45:41
I'll tell you what, I live deep in Spurs country but all of the Spurs fans round here say they would definitely stick the telly on if Liverpool are playing as we are the most exciting team they've seen in years. Nice to get an outside perspective. Most say we will finish above them this season too.

07 Sep 2017 01:44:50
But not on a Saturday.

07 Sep 2017 04:20:35
Can you imagine how excited the Chelski's must get then!