Liverpool Banter Archive December 08 2015

08 Dec 2015 20:22:27
Is it true that Sturridge has done his hamstring and is out till after Xmas?

08 Dec 2015 20:29:29
A lot of sites reporting this, so you can guarantee its true! His injuries are just ridiculous!

08 Dec 2015 22:26:37
I just don't see him ever fitting in with Klopp's high intensity training. Either Klopp allows him to have a separate training regime or he'll be sold.

08 Dec 2015 22:39:45
He'll get rid of the majority anyway Ron.
Benteke, Studge, Milner, Allen, Lovren, Migs. They're all as good as sold, Klopp will bring in his own players.
I can guarantee We'll be a big Red German machine within 3 years crushing most of Europe.

08 Dec 2015 23:09:29
How the hell did he get through the medical at anfield?

08 Dec 2015 23:18:02
Who is disagreeing with my post? I'm afraid sturridges time is up! We can't continue paying his high wages for 1 or 2 games every 3 months! Need a striker who will stay fit and play through the little niggles and not cry about it! Shame but that's why Chelsea got rid!

08 Dec 2015 21:00:11
Anything Eds?!

08 Dec 2015 16:41:09
Ed's and fellow reds, After selling a striker at a huge loss, due to him not fitting the style of our play Andy Carroll.

{Ed002's Note - It was nothing to do with the transfer committee nor Rodgers - try blaming Dalglish.}

08 Dec 2015 17:30:08
Ed why have you cut the rest of the text that went on to say why did the committee make the same mistake with Benteke?

{Ed002's Note - Because the people you need to blame were Dalglish and Comolli. There was no transfer committee - your phrase of "utterly useless" is about Dalglish - not about Roberts. There was no transfer committee at that time.}

08 Dec 2015 22:28:00
Carroll, only for his injury problems and having too much time on his hands due to these injuries could have been a great signing? thoughts?

08 Dec 2015 23:06:45
Looked the business at Newcastle, still stick by I was happy we bought him but very shocked at what happened after.

I still remember his 2 vs city and I thought he'd settled then.

He just seemed to lose any pace after we got him, he looked powerful and not quick but abit sharper at the toon bit such a donkey at our place. He wasn't even powerful in the air.

Remember his goal against us from about 40 yards out as well.

08 Dec 2015 23:24:29
Is that a wind up, Begball?

Carroll was an awful signing then, and worse now.

In ways, Carroll hindered Suarez' development early on, being forced to play with an immobile target man, leading to lazy crosses and long balls thrown into the box, neutralizing Suarez' skills and talents.

It took us turfing Carroll, changing our formation/approach, and bringing in some skilled attacking players like Sturridge/Coutinho, for Suarez to flourish and develop into a world beater.

People have been ripping Firmino, but I see Benteke similarly hindering his play. After being a monster at City, Firmino has been forced to start each subsequent game with Benteke. The entire team plays worse when Benteke starts, but Firmino especially, as he is effectively neutralized -- no outlets, no one to combine creative runs/passing.

09 Dec 2015 05:03:52
Carragher had some very pointed remarks to make about Carroll and his lack of effort both on the field and more particular in training. If true, then I can't see how Carroll could have ever been a success.

{Ed001's Note - Carroll is a drunken bum who should never have been bought.}

08 Dec 2015 12:34:37
Klopp: "We made our goal, but because we weren't good enough today, the linesman thought, 'Don't make world-class goals if play this ****. "

Klopp can be brilliant stand up comedian if he is not football manager. Its not just one time, he keeps doing it again and again, its his funny personality that endears him to fans.

08 Dec 2015 13:48:56
That is a very comical way od completely blasting the linesman for his error without being overt about it. Maybe Maureen and Van Hoof can learn a little bit from him. You think that`s funny? You should see what he said about Goetze and Pep after he moved to Bayern. Completely hilarious!

08 Dec 2015 16:07:10
Klopp must be doing something right if Ferguson has come out and said twice now that he is worried about what Klopp could do with LFC.

08 Dec 2015 16:34:59
Fergie should just shut it. He's trying to add more media pressure onto us by using his old media muckers and sadly it's still effective! Grrr.

{Ed001's Note - all he has done is compliment Klopp, not sure it is anything other than that.}

08 Dec 2015 16:39:08
I wish I could share your view Ed1.

08 Dec 2015 19:33:40
Fergie needs to retire gracefully. Time to shut up old man.

08 Dec 2015 19:36:51
Klopp appears to be a very sharp man. He is adept at saying one thing and implying something altogether more meaningful for those who are listening and he is doing it in a second language. He knows what he wants to say and gets his point across and does it in a very astute manner. I am looking forward to his timi hargea great deal.

08 Dec 2015 20:11:52
Fergie retired a while ago, and if he's saying he's worried about klopp succeeding, I'm not sure what is ungracious about that.

08 Dec 2015 17:39:54
Ferguson is the most underhanded person in football when it comes to manipulating the press towards Liverpool FC over the years he managed. I wish he would just fade away he has had his go and Klopp really does not need any back slapping from him.

08 Dec 2015 21:49:02
Fergie has jinx us a few times. The latest jinx result in a 2-0 loss. Before that was Charlie adam freekick worth 10mil and Daglish got suckered in.

08 Dec 2015 11:26:15
Just want to say a big thank you and a Merry Christmas to ALL the Ed's. Thanks also for putting up with us over the last year. I know some of us can be a right pain in the backside at times but we are only football fans and sometimes football fans and intelligence don't go in the same sentence.
Happy Christmas Eds.

{Ed001's Note - thank you Barry, I hope you have a great Christmas too mate. Hopefully with lots of wins to spread cheer!}

08 Dec 2015 13:49:36
Merry Chritmas to all the Ed`s as well. And to you, Barry.

08 Dec 2015 16:30:34
If Carlsberg did posts.

08 Dec 2015 18:05:32
And to you and yours Redohio. Do I get a prize Gazza?

08 Dec 2015 08:44:09
Away vs Exeter in the FA cup, my home town! Can't wait for this one. Tapping up all of my Exeter City Trust mates for tickets, so will be there cheering on the Redmen (albeit quietly to save myself from a lynching), going for a 3-1 as in the League cup 3 years ago.

08 Dec 2015 12:19:10
I am at the university, so will be nice to have the team so close.

08 Dec 2015 07:58:21
With Rodgers being linked with a return to Swansea, do we think he'll be looking to take his boy Allen back too? We paid £15m surely by Rodgers valuation we could get at least £20m 😉.

08 Dec 2015 10:05:09
Wouldn't be the worst idea in the world. Perhaps we could even swap him for Ayew and have someone who can play on the wing as our plan B with Benteke!

{Ed001's Note - Ayew was desperate to join in the summer, as he is a Liverpool fan, but Rodgers did not want him.}

08 Dec 2015 10:27:18
I don't think ayew is the class of player we should Go for. If we are going to buy they need to be a big step up, not just another squad player.

08 Dec 2015 10:57:11
To be fair ed I've just gave you a nice post above but I don't think there is many who would of wanted ayew as he's not good enough.

{Ed001's Note - I never said we should have signed him, just that he was desperate to join but not wanted by Rodgers. It was more because I was pointing out that the chances of Rodgers wanting to swop Allen for Ayew are fairly decent. I was not suggesting it would be a good move for either team.}

08 Dec 2015 11:29:55
Yeah I wasn't meaning to have a gk it was just how you phrased it. It sounds like we all wanted him but it was yet again another bad move by Rodgers.

{Ed001's Note - that was not my intention sorry. I was never keen on the idea of him joining either.}

08 Dec 2015 12:12:49
I was actually joking based on the rumours he wanted to move somewhere but perhaps it's not unfeasible after all!

Can't say I know for sure whether Ayew is the goods or not, but if we are to keep Benteke I wouldn't mind a top winger in the side. Milner and Llalana too slow, Ibe still has much room to improve on his crossing (as do our FBs) and Coutinho/Firmino are natural no.10's. tough to say we have a perfect setup to make the most of Benteke without a Mane/Mahrez/Willian/Sanchez type player to call on out wide.

If you offered me a costless swap Allen for Ayew it would at least be worth looking into as it would add something we lack right now.

08 Dec 2015 11:22:07
Ayew will score goals. He has excellent pace and physique for the league. Would be a brilliant signing IMO.

08 Dec 2015 14:04:44
Been an OM fan for decades and I watched even Ayew through out his career at OM and frankly apart from a great engin and superior aerial ability, I wouldn`t want him here. we have better players than him already at the club.

08 Dec 2015 16:53:23
I love how you use those 4 names when saying we need a top winger and then suggest ayew. He's not even a fast winger is he more of slower but powerful number 10.

And Ed I am glad Rodgers has gpme, I just didn't want anymore uneccesary bleating on about him. Especially when there is real stuff to have a go at him for.

On another note now he is gone, were there any players that would have done well for is that Rodgers asked for but was told no?

{Ed001's Note - who would tell him no?}

08 Dec 2015 04:29:54
I would advice people to watch evertons goal against palace to make it 1-1. A way of playing we have been awful at for many many years now. They constantly used the wings and should have been ahead before a smash and grab by palace. When you used the wings to stretch teams you open up gaps in defence, but when benteke is your plan A you have to be able to cross quality balls into the box and have bodies in their to convert. It's such an easy concept against these defensive teams, it's almost always the only way to break them down unless you get lucky and knick a goal. It doesn't work all the time but it is the way to win those sort of matches unless you are awesome on the ball and play fast intricate football like Barcelona (which we are not able to do), or you have a player like Suarez to carry the team. Very simple concept, practice and prepare for games like Newcastle or palace or west brom by using the wings and swining in 'quality' I repeat 'quality' balls into the box. Get good at taking and defending set pieces. If we don't fix these things those teams will continue to be our weakness (and not just the odd loss, more like half the time we play these teams) .

Everton did that today, knowing how to counter palace playing style. And they saved the game and definitely should have won the game.

08 Dec 2015 04:58:09
I lol at your idea of using the wings when looking at the fullbacks and wingers we have. Even ibe cannot deliver simple cross. Next better idea.

{Ed001's Note - I think it is pointless discussing football with someone who holds up Everton as being good at set pieces! No wonder he thinks their play is all about good wing play, when their set pieces are considered good. They don't even practice them. At all. Roberto Martinez considers them to be beneath him.}

08 Dec 2015 05:53:49
You don't need to look at Everton, you can look at the third goal of Origi against Southampton. The problem is, as people already said here, our wingers can't cross (and I don't see Brad Jones replace Moreno on a regular basis) . Maybe things will improve with Henderson. he is not a winger but at least he can give the kind of long range assists of the kind Can and Allen gave Stirridge against Southampton.

{Ed001's Note - I am glad Jones will not be replacing Moreno, even putting aside the fact he has left the club, he is a goalkeeper! I would assume you mean Brad Smith mate.}

08 Dec 2015 08:06:03
Well at least I got the first name right, not bad for this time in the morning.

{Ed001's Note - good point.}

08 Dec 2015 06:20:21
Kman92

Pretty much right. I did try to bring up this discussion on the page and was brushed aside claiming the movement up top was static blah blah etc.

Martinez has been playing this style from ever since he took over Everton. Baines and Coleman press very high up the pitch and whip in crosses.

City plays very similar with Korolov and Sagna / Zabaletta hit the byline constantly.

We had no idea against new castle. Wasted the first 45 mts doing nothing.

People need to check the facts before buying Clyne. He is a not a good crosser. The only reason Milner was bought to put in crosses and he has been terrible all season.
Ibe cuts inside and never hits the byline.

We play narrow.

08 Dec 2015 07:12:37
So, if a team "parks the bus" and concedes possession, unless you're Barcelona with Suarez and Messi and can play "intricate" football, the only real option to "break down" such a defense is to play a boring style of football perfected by Everton, by stretching defences with wingers and throwing in crosses?

Well, given that Barcelona isn't in the EPL, and most teams fall back defensively when playing away, I was shocked to learn (from a simple google search) that Everton hasn't won a league title in decades! Must be their set pieces need work.

Klopp describes his ball as heavy metal. This strategy sounds more like elevator music on repeat.

08 Dec 2015 11:40:53
How far did that wing play get Everton last year EG?

Milner was brought to put crosses in. yet played central midfield under rodgers.

You were shot down about the movement because we kept the ball wide, and Benteke didn't move.

Kolorov sagna and Zabaletta hit the by line contantly. I think you should see where the majority of city's goals have come from this season. Their width has been seriously lacking compared to previous seasons. Is by line a new term you've seen Harry, you've used it a lot recently.

08 Dec 2015 14:09:16
Kman2, you can have great wingers and crossers BUT if your CF can`t be arsed to bust a gut and get into the box, it`s not going to matter. And using Everton as a template where as many people even among Everton fans, know that Robbie is nothing other than a BR with more articulate and media-friendly platitudes, discredits your premise.

08 Dec 2015 11:26:49
Fear

So far we have failed to breach that system. There is no shame in playing with wingers. UTD dominated English football for more than 20 years with Paul Scholes and two Wingers either side.

It's stupid to compare any team with MSN. They are in their own league and could score against any style of play.

08 Dec 2015 12:16:34
Bob,

Everton used to play with their Full backs. Baines and Coleman were pretty good a season ago If I remember.

Milner was promised a central role and was bought to replace Gerrard. He simply couldn't and got shifted to wide and was even worse.

City always depends on their full back who press very high. that's the system they used in the past with great success.
KDB and Sterling who normally plays on the flanks have scored plenty in between. Aguero has been absent for ages.

08 Dec 2015 14:55:20
''Milner was brought to put crosses in. yet played central midfield under rodgers''

''Milner was promised a central role and was bought to replace Gerrard''

This is why people don't take you seriously.

08 Dec 2015 15:01:40
btw, the goals from city have come from wide, but not wide positions or crosses. Simplyusing pace to get to ''by lines'' and cross in. it's involved raheem and KDB cutting in centrally.

Everton had one good season using coleman up high and baines, a lot of their goals come from counter attacks using Kone, Barkley and Lukaku. They are quite clinical on the break. so far over 14/15 and 15/16 baines and coleman have been ineffective going forward.

08 Dec 2015 17:00:43
EG,

Of course there is "no shame" in putting out wingers. In fact, I actually think we could benefit from greater width in some of our formations offered by wingers with more pace, but not necessarily to just throw in a cross; rather, to provide more options on counter-attack or to cut in, with creative movement in our attack.

But to suggest that this tactic/strategy is the only way to break down defenses is simple thinking. You don't have to be Barcelona to break down a defensive team sitting deep with something other than crosses from wide; you can also do it with an attacking line with creative movement, comfort on the ball in tight spaces, triangle passing with quick movement through traffic, and a fast and effective press if the ball is lost in those tight spaces.

United may have had success with this simple/boring style of crossing in, for many years in the EPL, but thankfully football has evolved, and we have a manager who plays a far more exciting and fluid style, that ultimately, will be far more successful in today's EPL.