Liverpool Banter Archive May 09 2016

09 May 2016 20:57:25
Anything in the rumoured £20m-£25m bid coming from West Ham for Benteke?

{Ed002's Note - That's the word on the street is it? No, no word.}

09 May 2016 17:57:24
Wow. Just wow! What a bunch of legends. £325 for ed! Let's smash this and get the full £500 for him.
Now I'm not at work I can go in to a bit more detail, as ed001 is still in shock about what we are doing for him.
So this morning I got my normal "morning babe" from ed. our talk came to how he is going to have to put his return to Spain on hold, due to the mishap in Dubai. Obviously 3 months rent being taken out of anyone's bank account, it's going to bounce back! This is a majorly bad thing in Dubai, in which they can take your passport/ stop you travelling.

Eds brother in law has given him a loan, and ed himself has paid about half of it, yet he is still £500 short and been given a 7 day deadline for the £500 or so left.
We've all done amazing so far, and ed has shed many a tear today for the generosity of us boys, but our job is not complete, it's half time against Dortmund, we need another £325 and I know we are going to do it!

Ed was planning his wedding and going to Spain to stay with family and save money for the big day, we need to get that back on track, we owe him for what he's given us over the years.
Lfc fans, call to arms, let's smash that target!


Ed001 Donate Link

09 May 2016 22:52:14
Up to £805. What a group :)

09 May 2016 23:34:50
Well done benny, I knee u were a nice guy regardless of the rumours :)

10 May 2016 05:17:37
The rumours are still true lol.

09 May 2016 20:02:42
Dearest Ed001,

I would like to say that I have just donated £50 towards your go fund me page and I have to say it is the best £50 I have ever spent. If I had more I would have definitely given it.

Now let me explain why I love this site so much, and my wonderful journey with the site.

Since I first stumbled across this site over 4 years ago I have been hooked. It is the first thing I look at when I wake up, it's what I read on my commute, and it's what I read before I go to bed. I am 100% totally obsessed. I have even found myself occasionally getting angry at having read all the posts first thing in the morning and then having nothing to read for the rest of the day!

I almost thought the site couldn't get any better then you started making podcasts! Absolute game changer for the long journey home after a tough day at work.

So from the bottom of my heart I would like to say the absolute biggest thank you for everything you have provided. You are an absolute Liverpool legend who has made many a Red from all over the world feel more connected to our beloved club. We are all eternal grateful

Big love
Hamish A. k. a Red Sandman

P. s big love and shout out to all the other editors too. If ever you are in need you know we have your back too x.

{Ed001's Note - thank you mate, it is days like this that all the work seems worth it.}

09 May 2016 20:09:15
For £50 I would want a signed photo of ed001, ed002s identity and a meet and greet with ken aguero lol.

09 May 2016 20:21:12
I can offer 1 and 3. But 002 is an entity. Like you can't see it, but you know it's there. Ed002 is gravity basically.

{Ed002's Note - The word you are searching for is "ethereal" Bennie.}

09 May 2016 20:44:54
No going to the bookies for a bit now. 😉
Early wedding present from the site. 😎.

09 May 2016 21:06:17
Had to google the word, and it's spot on lol.

09 May 2016 21:11:41
Red Sandman, it is so spooky you captured my sentiments better than I could have expressed!

Not just Ed001, or Benny who made the call, but to all the Eds and all who have been part of this one way or the other, thank you. I can't imagine what my Liverpool experience would be without this site!

10 May 2016 00:25:57
After all the insight and honesty this site has given me over the last five years, I wish I couldve donated ten times what I did.
There are thousands who read this site and about 50-odd people have donated so far. Come on boys, we can do more than that to help out the best transfer info site on the net.

{Ed007's Note - Like Ed002 I only got wind of this today when I messaged Ed001 to see how the packing for Spain was going! He'll moan at me for bringing it up on here but I'm fed up telling him that he should have a donate button on the sites, it's not charging people to use the sites and you're not pressuring anyone to give. You guys don't know that there's months Ed001 and Ed033 are out of pocket after covering the costs of the sites, that doesn't sit right with me considering the amount of work and time they put into it and the amount of traffic, that's why the ads keep changing, people aren't even taking the time to cliick a couple of ads so they try different companies.
What really pisses me off is that there's people out there taking donations off people for running a blog, a clatty one page blog and they openly beg people for money, it's shocking that for all the praise for his good work Ed001 gets he has had to end up in this situation.
Every single one of you who have donated is a class act in my eyes and if you didn't donate because you're skint don't sweat it, we know how tough things are out there. YNWA}

10 May 2016 10:34:01
Completely agree, set up a donate button and once I'm working I'll happily spare cash to help the site run.

09 May 2016 19:49:36
Tristan (ed001)won't be going to jail, you did it boys, target reached.
Ed get the 3 months paid, relax, get over to Spain in September, then invite us all out there for sangria.
Ynwa.

{Ed001's Note - sounds like a plan to me. To think I was gutted I wasn't going out sooner as the parents live near Villareal, now I am just glad to be going there at all! Thank you everyone, whether you could afford to give money or not, every single one of you contributes by using the site so thank you. And if you ever consider the UAE be very careful which agents you use, there are some really good ones, but they are few and far between. They tell you one thing then you find out too late that they were lying and a bounced cheque out here is not something that can be taken lightly.}

09 May 2016 20:39:17
Benny - don't take the page down, because I'm sure many more of us (including me) still want to contribute, tomorrow and onwards. Guess the extra proceeds can be used for the wedding or the sites or whatever Ed001 chooses. It's the least we can do for him.

09 May 2016 21:07:52
Great idea ra, hopefully he can get a new wardrobe and change out of his 1980s shell suit.

09 May 2016 23:55:16
Excellent news for the Eds and fair play Benny for getting this in motion - a great act and glad to have contributed - we might even be able to convince Ed002 that we're not that bad after all.

NB: If we need to do this again just charge harry for each name change - that should cover most costs ;o)

{Ed002's Note - Actually you have all been absolutely fantastic over this. Well done to everyone who has contributed. I rather missed what was going on but will help make sure that he gets what assistance he needs. I am on the road right now but I will have my PA deal with this in the next day or two.}

09 May 2016 20:51:06
yeah I just gave a fiver,
after today thought you could do with a pint ed001.
my small way of saying thank you for such an amazing site.
cheers dostiej.
ynwa.

{Ed001's Note - thank you mate. I really can't thank everyone enough.}

10 May 2016 00:24:25
Class from Ed002.

{Ed001's Note - Ed002 is a classy guy, to be fair. He can be acerbic and cutting, but he takes so much abuse I am amazed he even bothers to reply at all. Especially when you consider he has helped out from the start for free, in his very precious spare time.}

10 May 2016 08:33:57
That remark was tongue in cheek Ed002, I know that every player whether they joined us or being scouted is slated straight away and you have to put up with everything we throw at you! Thanks for a great site!

09 May 2016 19:20:00
£10 on its way ed001. Sorry it can't be more but almost hit the £500 mark now!

Good luck and thanks for the site

Crooky.

{Ed001's Note - thank you mate. I really don't have any words left to tell everyone how grateful I am.}

09 May 2016 18:00:42
Wow. Just wow! What a bunch of legends. £325 for ed! Let's smash this and get the full £500 for him.
Now I'm not at work I can go in to a bit more detail, as ed001 is still in shock about what we are doing for him.
So this morning I got my normal "morning babe" from ed. our talk came to how he is going to have to put his return to Spain on hold, due to the mishap in Dubai. Obviously 3 months rent being taken out of anyone's bank account, it's going to bounce back! This is a majorly bad thing in Dubai, in which they can take your passport/ stop you travelling.
Eds brother in law has given him a loan, and ed himself has paid about half of it, yet he is still £500 short and been given a 7 day deadline for the £500 or so left.
We've all done amazing so far, and ed has shed many a tear today for the generosity of us boys, but our job is not complete, it's half time against Dortmund, we need another £325 and I know we are going to do it!
Ed was planning his wedding and going to Spain to stay with family and save money for the big day, we need to get that back on track, we owe him for what he's given us over the years.
Lfc fans, call to arms, let's smash that target!

gofundme.com/23b2fmb8

09 May 2016 18:21:09
I'm away back Wednesday I'll chuck a £20 spot in.

09 May 2016 18:23:28
I'm in on this - donated - thanks and Good Luck Ed!

09 May 2016 18:43:28
I'll put something in this evening. Well done Benny and all the posters who have contributed.

09 May 2016 18:49:20
You never walk alone ed001 :)

{Ed001's Note - thank you everyone. And you haven't even properly joined us yet Grujic, so that is especially gratifying. YNWA indeed. I feel blessed right now despite everything.}

09 May 2016 18:53:46
Hey guys, first time poster here . Have you tried sharing this on all the other rumours sites as all the donations seem to have come from reds fans . Just a thaught.

09 May 2016 19:15:03
On it in the morning Benny.
Good work.

09 May 2016 19:02:19
£435 you legends. Come on boys, even if it's a quid. I'm amazed by you all.
Ynwa is the perfect summary.

09 May 2016 19:05:17
God knows why it won't let me donate, unless it's because I've got an Irish bank account, sorry Ed but I've tried a handful of times with no luck.

{Ed001's Note - no worries mate, thank you for trying.}

09 May 2016 19:54:09
I am a bit poor at the moment but can do a fiver if someone can show me how to donate.

09 May 2016 19:54:44
Benny I don't have much but can you set the limit lower? Wouldn't let me donate less than a fiver but I'd like to contribute something,

09 May 2016 19:56:21
Put a few quid in and it was a pleasure to do so by way of a thank you for this brilliant site.

Ed001 YNWA.

09 May 2016 20:23:49
That sucks Dave. ill see if I can edit it!

09 May 2016 20:30:09
Donated all the best ed001!

09 May 2016 21:58:18
Ed001 we're here for you, you just make sure your lucky charm is around on 18th May, deal? Sorry for the twice post, replied to the wrong one first.

{Ed001's Note - ah good point, I am going to be stuck here, rather than off to Spain, then, so I can kidnap him if need be....}

09 May 2016 17:09:39
Eds

Any recommendations for football websites/ blogs off the beaten track?

{Ed002's Note - I have no idea what that means.}

09 May 2016 17:33:58
Apologies.

Would you recommend any football websites that are not well known or not part of the mainstream internet media?

Or any writers on football that you would recommend?

{Ed002's Note - I have no idea about such matters Joker. I have no interest in football sites and would not know what is well known and what isn't. I could hazard a guess that there will be a Third Lanark supporters club with a web site somewhere, they won't get much passing trade. Inter's Godfathers still play in the North Mariana Islands league as far as I know. Somewhere there will no doubt be a blog about them.}

09 May 2016 17:48:41
If I had to take a guess, I would imagine he means do you know of any football websites or blogs that have good content (that may be yourselves like to frequent) that aren't common knowledge.

Happy to help.

{Ed002's Note - I don't frequesnt any football websites aside from this one. Sorry.}

09 May 2016 19:06:22
thanks red for the translation. this english language lark is hard work.

09 May 2016 13:42:41
Wishing a happy 20th birthday to our U21's captain, Cameron Brannagan. You may have grown up a Red Devil but all is forgiven because your attitude has been impeccable and you've proven a lot of people wrong. Good luck lad, keep battling and training hard and one day you might lead put the first team.

09 May 2016 13:04:02
Hello again,

One final question for today if i may, not transfer related but curious as to whether Luis Alberto will have the pre-season to stake a claim in the squad this year or if the club has already decided he is surplus?

Again, thanks for your time

A-P.

{Ed002's Note - He is a loan player who will return in the summer. If he stays space will need to be made.}

09 May 2016 13:19:57
He is excess to requirements and will be leaving.

09 May 2016 11:57:10
I think player vastly improved under klopp is allen.

Previously allen was epitome of rodgers philosophy, keeping the ball and moving it sideways and backwards.

Once he started working with klopp, the passing is always forward, he is always looking for thru ball or to get in a position to score.

Lovren was the opposite trying to attack the ball always and caugt out of position.
He has changed, now very calm and composed, only goes for tackles which he is 100% sure.

Players not improved, moreno and ibe.

Youngsters improving stewart and ojo.

I am also waiting for the comeback of origi and ings, that will be dynamite duo, klopp will love this pair.

09 May 2016 13:42:11
Agree 100% on Allen, he's improved immensely but I still think he's not physical enough to play DM, and doesn't score enough to justify an attacking midfield spot. As good as he's been, Liverpool should be able to find someone that direct play but also do either one or the other.

I'd be OK to keep him as a squad player, but if we get 15-20m for him, I think it would make sense for both sides if he left to take a leading role somewhere else.

09 May 2016 16:22:06
Allen was the best player on the pitch yesterday. He was dynamic, always nipping the ball off of people and making clever passes. With the exception of giving the ball away pretty badly in our own third once, he was stellar, chipping in with a goal and distributing it quickly and concisely.

I wouldn't get rid of him. We haven't seen how Grujic adapts to the league and we may very well be kicking ourselves if we experience injuries again next year like we have this year. I can't see another 15 players coming into the squad and, though it pains me to say it, I would rather see Lucas moved on than Allen considering Stewart's recent play and Matip can play defensive midfield.

But of course, if we could get something close to what we paid for Allen from a team that would start him 75+% of their games, it only makes sense to let him go on and further his career. I don't see that happening at the moment, and I think he's finally hit form for us under Klopp. Would be a bit disappointed to see him go in the summer, tbh.

09 May 2016 16:11:07
Hmmm. I don't think it's that obvious that Allen would choose to go to a mid or lower table team while playing full time. Is it really that bad to play 15-20 minutes (and a key vital 15-20 minutes at that) for a prestigious badge with titles and trophies in the near horizon? It's actually a question I would ask the Eds and fellow posters for their opinion. My opinion is that I would not be surprised to see Allen staying if he were asked to, despite offers being received for him. His game has improved vastly, he knows, and it can conceivably still get better if he stayed. I agree space has to be made in the squad, but I'm not sure it should be at his expense.

{Ed001's Note - it depends, personally I would get rid as he offers very little, especially defensively. Certainly with the addition of Grujic and the likes of Branagan pushing through, it seems pointless to keep him. He would only want to stay if he was guaranteed at least those kind of games, which I don't feel he should get. I would rather see Branagan or Stewart brought off the bench in the situations he is being used.}

09 May 2016 18:04:05
I'd agree with you Ed001, in that he is definitely not better than those starting ahead of him in the midfield. And I wouldn't want him to stunt the potentials of Grujic, Brannagan, Stewart or Chirivella. I just saw him as a supersub type of player "a la David Fairclough" (in a different position, of course) to come in and close out games when players were tiring from the hectic pressing. Brannagan played an impressive last 10 minutes, btw.

09 May 2016 10:55:54
Question for the eds, regarding the court of arbitration for sport on its jurisdiction and powers to enforce its ruling. I see platini has a fine to pay, what would happen if he just said I'm not paying it? He's resigning from UEFA so if he just walks away can he be forced to pay up? How does it work, is it recognised by our courts and other legal systems?
Cheers in advance!

{Ed002's Note - This is the Liverpool page - try the European page.}

09 May 2016 11:25:50
Done, thanks ed.

{Ed002's Note - And answered.}

09 May 2016 16:46:48
He is out dure to ligament damage to his knee. So why we would we want him?

{Ed001's Note - wrong thread?}

09 May 2016 08:53:36
Yipee Yipee Yipee for Joe
Three cheers for our bearded hero

Well done Master Allen.

09 May 2016 10:33:21
What was Allen doing with his hair though. He looked like Qui-gon's little brother!

09 May 2016 10:37:42
Ive always thought Joe would be a very handy player to keep at Liverpool. He is not guaranteed a starting spot in the first 11 but he is a more than able replacement for any of our midfielders.

09 May 2016 11:37:37
I don't know if it's the Klopp effect but he has started to look like the player we thought we were getting from Swansea. I like him and he does seem to slot in pretty effectively, as well as having a good understanding with the players around him. When he's not on the pitch perhaps he could lend his brain to Moreno? ;-)

09 May 2016 12:38:16
Lay off our Joe's hair, he played a perfect game with his hair like our Welshman Gareth, here's to many more years of Joe Service.

09 May 2016 16:58:20
The Welsh Pirlo.

09 May 2016 16:58:20
The Welsh Pirlo.

08 May 2016 18:02:17
edo1 now the season is nearly over who do u think should go stay or loan
for me loan wise should be randal brad smith and ibe I say ibe because unsure weather he should even stay thought he would push on this year but been very disappointing. branagon and ojo loan/ first team think these 2 could be realy good players.
flanagon has to push on next year2.
would sell benteke migs skrtel wisdom lori Bogdan.
don't want to sell allen but with so many midfielders I think couple need to go so stewart branagon grujic get game time cheers ed thoughts would be apreciated.

{Ed001's Note - I do not like the loan system and would prefer not to use it, personally. Even those loans that benefit the player while they are away do not benefit the player as much as being involved in the first team squad and training, building up a team spirit with the players around them imo.

For me, loans are only of real benefit if you intend to sell the player and you want to get the best price possible by putting them in the shop window on a regular basis.

I would get rid of from the first team squad (not going to get into the younger ones now):
Bogdan
Skrtel
Caulker
Ilori
Enrique
Allen
Teixeira
Benteke

Some of them it is for their own good, such as Allen, as much as ours. I would also happily sell Milner, Clyne, Wisdom, Lallana, if we got a good fee, though none I would push out of the door just yet. I just do not feel any of those four are good enough for the club, nor are they young enough to develop.}

09 May 2016 05:22:21
Ed, do you not think the benefits of a full season's footy on-loan outweighs being around the Liverpool first team (so long as they are constants in the 1st team)? I'm not sure whether Wisdom and Ward have improved their game from playing regularly or not this season which is why I ask.
Alternatively, playing infrequently on loan or the reserves seems pointless for all parties.

{Ed001's Note - no, not at all, it just ups the price for a sale. Even the players it is claimed that loans helped, such as Harry Kane, it did no such thing. He would have been sold if they had not had a shortage of strikers. The best teams win consistently because of the way they build togetherness, you have to have a core team that you slowly evolve. Work primarily on team spirit (like Leicester did) and you can produce miracles.}

09 May 2016 06:41:31
Ed001, what's your main issues with Lallana? I feel over the past few months he's upped his game a fair bit. I know he takes too many touches at times, but his skill, energy and pressing have made him a Klopp favourite. I also think he's starting to show more end product, the odd goal and assist. As a defender myself, I think he'd be a nightmare to mark. His change of direction and ball control are great.

{Ed001's Note - because he still has too little of an end product and counter attacks crash and burn because of him more often than not. I love his work rate, he has a fantastic touch but he still fannies about too much and his comments in the papers are embarrassing. If he kept his mouth shut and just concentrated on learning how to move the ball on quickly, he would be a much better player.}

09 May 2016 06:52:40
Fair enough :)

09 May 2016 07:20:03
Couldn't agree more
Even his pressing is often at the wrong time
He tends to go charging off on his own from too far away
Leaving a dangerous gap behind and often doesn't even get close to the opposing player still allowing him to make the pass he wants or an even more dangerous pass into the space Lallana has just created

From afar it looks like he is working hard
, chasing down players but when it is ineffective pressing he just looks like a headless chicken.

09 May 2016 11:56:17
Milner as been one of our most consistent players second half of the season, very good player to have around the squad.

09 May 2016 11:56:17
Milner as been one of our most consistent players second half of the season, very good player to have around the squad.

08 May 2016 14:26:17
Hi ed's.
Any chance of a brief history of the site. From its humble beginnings to the high corporate world the the editorsame enjoy today. Thabks.

{Ed001's Note - not sure it has really gone beyond the humble beginnings all that much to be honest. We started off as one site, football-rumours, with everything on there as a free for all, but in the first few years I wrote all the content for the rumours page myself. Eventually people started to contribute rumours and replies to the rumours, even then though it was a lot of questions, though they would usually come via email. There was a lot of people who were distant relatives of a player that would request info on them and how they were getting on, so I would spend a lot of my spare time trying to find that out for people.
Then it started to get busy and we began to launch other sites, such as the US sports sites, to try and actually make some money out of it after 5 or so years of it costing us money and being a hobby.
At the same sort of time, it just sort of exploded and became incredibly busy, but there was a problem with trying to find a way to stop the main page just becoming swamped with one team or sectarian arguments between Celtic and Rangers fans, oh and the Geordies and Mackems arguing over which one of them was about to win the league the next season and how the other team was ****.
We first off tried giving them separate pages on the main site, so that we could limit the arguments to there, but they would still carry them on to the main pages, so we started up separate sites. Liverpool, at the time, was by far and away the most followed club online, the official site had the highest page views of any team in sports back then. So we had to create a separate site for Liverpool at the start. It has always been the busiest one we have, by a long way. We tried things like forums and such like, to try and improve the site, but we have realised that just makes us like every other site out there, so we have pretty much stuck to our original format, just tried to tweak it and improve it.
Things got so busy with just one site, I had asked a few people to help, regular valuable contributors, such as Ed002, who was one of the very first group of editors. As we created more sites, the editors just pitched in to help, we couldn't have done any of this without their help, given for free.
It has destroyed my health but I still love what I do and wouldn't swop it for any job out there. The next step is to grow enough to earn the money to begin paying editors, so they can devote more time and we can grow more and employ more etc. Hopefully.}

09 May 2016 05:32:43
The work you put in is incredible and much appreciated. It's given many of us a much deeper understanding and appreciation for the club and game we love. Cheers Ed (001 and 002 especially)

{Ed001's Note - thank you mate, I have had to cut back in recent years to fit in time for things like sleep....}

09 May 2016 06:44:01
Shows how much passion u have to push through the toughest days and keep it going, thanks because it's fantastic reading everything on this site especially living in Australia and I love LFC so I get my fix everyday.

{Ed001's Note - it must be tough enough being a Kiwi in Oz!}

09 May 2016 06:58:46
What? We love Kiwi's over here!
Just want to add my thanks also, as an ex Fazakerley boy following my team from the other side of the planet, this site is much appreciated.

{Ed001's Note - long way from Fazakerley that mate!}

09 May 2016 07:17:34
been on here since the torres sale days. there has been a lot of highlights. agueros lucky pants. blair mayne and harry annoyances and maccas up to date rumours that nearly broke this website. was as if the pope was typing out the rumours but my favourite things from here are the detailed editor rumour replies to the ins and outs. wherever you get your info from you can tell you put heaps of work in. its a good read to forget about the real world of work.

{Ed001's Note - Blair Mayne has been a big loss to the site, it must be said. I hope he is all well and good and enjoying his life.}

09 May 2016 07:56:38
Well done, in any case, Ed001. You've really created something "of substance" over the years and I would even say created something that makes a real difference (only postive) to a lot of people. I hope you get the rewards all of you deserve (financially, and healthwise) . I'm a strong believer in the "hard work and effort always leads to deserved rewards" ethic, so I know you will.

{Ed001's Note - if only that were true mate! Still it does give me a lot of pleasure (at times) and I would never have met the missus without it, so it has brought me rewards beyond purely monetarily.}

09 May 2016 10:30:23
The podcasts have been my favourite addition.

09 May 2016 11:26:50
Ed001 and ed002 got married? My days.

09 May 2016 10:59:40
Yeah cheers eds, I love this site and you all do a great job. A nice mix of info, banter and Mickey taking with the odd (emphasis on odd! ) wind up merchant. I've stopped believing anything lfc related unless it appears on here from the eds. Thanks to all.

{Ed001's Note - thank you mate. It is hard work, but mostly worth it.}

09 May 2016 12:33:40
edoo1 when I think about how busy you are and your schedule and everything else you have going on, its even more impressive to me how you find the time to fit everything in. Thanks for the site and for all the hard work and good luck with everything you have going on, going forward, thanks pal.

{Ed001's Note - thank you mate.}

09 May 2016 13:31:06
You said something about paying the editors. When the time comes, please don't be shy to approach me ya Ed01.

{Ed001's Note - what to pay the editors? ;-)

09 May 2016 14:24:51
Brilliant site. Brilliant insights. First place, last place, I check out for everything #LFC.

Go raibh mile mile maith agaibh!

09 May 2016 14:26:05
Hehe.

But all the best guys. I'm sure it will grow enough, so you can do whatever you guys are planning to do. It's just a matter of when.