Liverpool 2014/15 | WARNING: Contains strong amounts of Scouse nonsense

James Redburn said:
Very true.

The only points I would make regarding Rogers is reading RAWK the raised expectations of last year has produced this "go again" sword of Damacles above him. I'm really not sure he's any safer than anyone else if xmas turns up and things aren't peachy.
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Using the more hyperbolic posts on RAWK (which has plenty of cerebral contributors also) as a means of questioning Liverpool's potential next season isn't the most secure method.

My point is that Liverpool's current state isn't terrible it's just going to be different going forward.
 
PickledRed said:
The Spurs comparison is arguably false and simplistic.

Their management structure is a joke and too unstable for sustained success.

After selling Bale it appears AVB didn't pick his transfers which instantly causes problems. They were a team of strangers without a clear identity and a manager insecure in his job. This is not comparable to the current Liverpool structure which appears more stable.

Added to that, Rodgers is a safer bet than AVB which is key. With Bale, Spurs finished the 12/13 season in 5th. It was evidently a team that relied on one man to beat teams at tight moments in games. That doesn't reflect last season's Liverpool team with Suarez. He was obviously the main man but Liverpool scored 102 goals and finished 2nd. A much better season to Spurs in 12/13. My point is that Liverpool appear a better equipped team than the Spurs team that lost Bale.

Also, it appears we are having this discussion before a penny of the Suarez money has been spent which kind of renders the Spurs comparisons redundant...for now at least.
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That isn't true at all. AVB had his targets; Hulk, Willian, Coentrao and Villa. Villa wanted to stay in Spain, we had trouble with Coentrao's wages, we were gazumped by Chelsea with Willian and AVB was always dreaming with Hulk (and we would have been gazumped by ZSP anyway).
 
africanspur said:
That isn't true at all. AVB had his targets; Hulk, Willian, Coentrao and Villa. Villa wanted to stay in Spain, we had trouble with Coentrao's wages, we were gazumped by Chelsea with Willian and AVB was always dreaming with Hulk (and we would have been gazumped by ZSP anyway).
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How have I contradicted this? I'm sure AVB had his targets but the players he ended up with didn't appear to be his picks. Hence Spurs looked poor without a clear identity.
 
PickledRed said:
They did indeed but that doesn't relate to my point.
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Well it kind of does. Liverpool would have known Suarez was off before the World Cup, naïve to think otherwise. All spending will have been done knowing that money was coming in for Suarez. They have simply spent a fair bit of it before the incoming fee came in. To think they are going to go and spend an extra 75m now is just ridiculous.
 
PickledRed said:
How have I contradicted this? I'm sure AVB had his targets but the players he ended up with didn't appear to be his picks. Hence Spurs looked poor without a clear identity.
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Because he had his targets, pretty unrealistic ones. We went for them, couldn't get them (unsurprisingly) and then had to move on to other targets.

If AVB had asked for Ibrahimovic and Falcao, it would have been equally as unrealistic as someone like Hulk. It doesn't mean that when we fail to secure those players we wouldn't have picked his transfers. We tried and couldn't pull them off, for various reasons.
 
Eric'sCollar said:
Well it kind of does. Liverpool would have known Suarez was off before the World Cup, naïve to think otherwise. All spending will have been done knowing that money was coming in for Suarez. They have simply spent a fair bit of it before the incoming fee came in. To think they are going to go and spend an extra 75m now is just ridiculous.
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Rodgers was granted £60m to spend plus anything garnered through sales. This has been widely reported. Also, Liverpool have stated the Suarez money is for transfers. Are you suggesting that Rodgers, a man with a sharp football mind, considered either Lambert or Lallana as a replacement for Suarez? I'd suggest that is a tad ridiculous.
 
africanspur said:
Because he had his targets, pretty unrealistic ones. We went for them, couldn't get them (unsurprisingly) and then had to move on to other targets.

If AVB had asked for Ibrahimovic and Falcao, it would have been equally as unrealistic as someone like Hulk. It doesn't mean that when we fail to secure those players we wouldn't have picked his transfers. We tried and couldn't pull them off, for various reasons.
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I agree. But reports after his sacking indicated that he was unhappy with player recruitment which indicates he didn't have sufficient autonomy in the market. After the Liverpool game in Dec AVB suggested he wasn't happy about his new players. My point is that using AVB's post Bale experience is not comparable to Rodgers' situation at Liverpool. It doesn't necessarily follow that Liverpool are going to do 'a Spurs' simply because Spurs used money poorly a year ago. My contention is that Rodgers does have greater control over signings and is a better manager.
 
PickledRed said:
Rodgers was granted £60m to spend plus anything garnered through sales. This has been widely reported. Also, Liverpool have stated the Suarez money is for transfers. Are you suggesting that Rodgers, a man with a sharp football mind, considered either Lambert or Lallana as a replacement for Suarez? I'd suggest that is a tad ridiculous.
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I'm not saying they are direct replacements. I don't care what is reported really, most of those sounds from the club are to please the fans that the club is moving forward, every club will say that. The club will no doubt want to reinvest the money brought in for Suarez but if they are able to use that to fund the previous signings, it will please the owners far more than going out and blowing it on another Carroll type signing with the intention of 'replacing' Suarez, which can't be done.

You can't replace players like that, you have to recreate the role, find a new way, something different, nothing stays the same.

If you think Liverpool are going to spend £135m on incoming transfers this summer, well good luck to the lot of you.
 
This article is amazing, please let it be based on some semblance of fact...

Brendan Rodgers is ready to spend every penny of the £75million Liverpool bank for Luis Suarez – and then some, writes Alan Nixon in the Sunday People.

The Kop boss wants a further six players that could take his spending this summer to a whopping £135m – eclipsing the transfer frenzy Spurs went on last year after getting £86m from Real Madrid for Gareth Bale.

And Rodgers will go back to Southampton, from where he plucked Rickie Lambert and Adam Lallana earlier in the summer, for one of the incoming six – striker Jay Rodriguez.

Rodgers has also targeted Sevilla’s Alberto Moreno and Swansea’s Ben Davies – with a £20million move for Benfica’s Lazar Markovic almost completed.

And centre-back Dejan Lovren could be the fourth Saint to sign for the Reds with talks well under way.

Swansea keeper Michel Vorm’s £6m price tag has not put off Rodgers and the Dutchman is likely to be another heading to Merseyside this summer.

The spree will go some way to calming the fears of Liverpool fans, worried that Suarez’s move to Barcelona will rule out a title challenge.

But it mirrors the spend-spend-spend policy last year of Spurs, who wasted all the cash they got for Bale on a string of flops like £26m forward Roberto Soldado and midfielder Erik Lamela, who cost the same.

Rodgers is working overtime to get in the players he thinks will help Liverpool go one better next season in their title bid.

But the move for Rodriguez will surprise most people, especially as the big striker is still sidelined with the cruciate ligament injury that wrecked his World Cup hopes.

However, the Liverpool chief sees the St Mary’s frontman as the perfect replacement for Suarez, who moved to the Nou Camp on Friday.




http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/footb...brendan-rodgers-targets-3848231#ixzz37L8FX2o9
Follow us: @DailyMirror on Twitter | DailyMirror on Facebook

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Yep, four Southampton players, two or three from Swansea, I'm sure "The spree will go some way to calming the fears of Liverpool fans, worried that Suarez’s move to Barcelona will rule out a title challenge." Especially considering Suarez mark 2 is in there, you know, Jay Rodriguez, the brummie Suarez!!
 
I really don't understand the Bony link. Ok he's a top goalscorer but not really suited to our style from last season. What is going through the cogs in Brendan's head?

Brendan knew that Luis was off last year, as widely reported. He doesn't stand still, always planning and plotting tactics. That's one thing Brendan does really well. So back to Bony, does he have some master plan already worked out? Some cyclical, diamond, pyramid formation? I know I'm I'm excited to find out.
 
This just seems eerily similar to Liverpool's 2011 window with the purchase of a boatload of mediocre players...

Lambert (cheaper Carroll)
Banana (Downing)
Bony...

All in all that year Dalglish bought Stewart Downing, Jordan Henderson, Charlie Adam, Jose Enrique, Alexander Doni, Sebastian Coates, Craig Bellamy, Villyan Bijev, Andy Carroll and Luis Suarez.

That's an extraordinarily large amount of dross albeit Saurez turned out to be a saving grace of sorts performance wise and in terms of resale value....
 
PickledRed said:
Rodgers was granted £60m to spend plus anything garnered through sales. This has been widely reported. Also, Liverpool have stated the Suarez money is for transfers. Are you suggesting that Rodgers, a man with a sharp football mind, considered either Lambert or Lallana as a replacement for Suarez? I'd suggest that is a tad ridiculous.
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The issue probably isn't transfer funds and is probably more that your wage:revenue ratio was already one of the worst in the league and you were flirting with FFP failure.

So dropping one big wage from the team and replacing with 3 or 4 big wages is infeasible. Hence why the links are with players like Bony and Remy who will require salaries less than half of Suarez's I'd imagine.
 
Yesterday the back page of a paper had Liverpool chasing James Rodriguez, today its Jay Rodriguez :lol:

That's a cold bite of reality.
 
Suso: "Manager talked to me, said he was happy with what I was doing and he wants me to stay here. I want to stay here and sign a new deal."

Andre Wisdom is apparently going on loan to West Brom.
 
So they're going to add a whole heap of average players to the whole heap of average players they've already bought?

Sounds good to me.
 
Orc said:
So they're going to add a whole heap of average players to the whole heap of average players they've already bought?

Sounds good to me.
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I've said before, but I think the default opinion that Liverpool are now average is healthy in terms of expectations. Liverpool were last season's surprise package. I'm happy to retain the idea of being average if it means we surprise again. Easier than having opposition set up to not lose.
 
johnny boy said:
United and Arsenal had stronger squads than us last season also, yet we finished comfortably above both. Despite Suarez leaving we should have more options, especially on the bench where often last season we were very limited.
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Agree with this but do you think it is fair to suggest that there is a possibility of Chelsea, Man City, Arsenal and Man Utd finishing above Liverpool?
 
PickledRed said:
I've said before, but I think the default opinion that Liverpool are now average is healthy in terms of expectations. Liverpool were last season's surprise package. I'm happy to retain the idea of being average if it means we surprise again. Easier than having opposition set up to not lose.
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Exactly. The same under rating as last season will help us score loads more than a top name striker (if there's one around and available)
 
Subho611 said:
Agree with this but do you think it is fair to suggest that there is a possibility of Chelsea, Man City, Arsenal and Man Utd finishing above Liverpool?
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It was more fair to expect Arsenal, Chelsea and league winners Utd to finish ahead of us last season. All possibilities are open start of the season.
 
Dumbstar said:
It was more fair to expect Arsenal, Chelsea and league winners Utd to finish ahead of us last season. All possibilities are open start of the season.
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Yes, but they are not equal probability possibilities. You cannot deny that these teams look much stronger on paper and hence have a higher probability of finishing above Liverpool. Of course, what happens eventually is anybody's guess.

But my larger point is that pool supporters on this forum completely dismiss the idea of Liverpool not being able to hold on to their top 4 spot and that is something I find surprising.
 
Dumbstar said:
I really don't understand the Bony link. Ok he's a top goalscorer but not really suited to our style from last season. What is going through the cogs in Brendan's head?

Brendan knew that Luis was off last year, as widely reported. He doesn't stand still, always planning and plotting tactics. That's one thing Brendan does really well. So back to Bony, does he have some master plan already worked out? Some cyclical, diamond, pyramid formation? I know I'm I'm excited to find out.
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I think it's just about getting a 2nd option as a 9 so when Sturridge is out, or tired after an hour, you have a replacement. They will play together at times, but you can't have one number 9 and play in 4 competitions.
 
NoPace said:
I think it's just about getting a 2nd option as a 9 so when Sturridge is out, or tired after an hour, you have a replacement. They will play together at times, but you can't have one number 9 and play in 4 competitions.
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I forgot about Lambert, but that's probably best.

1 Striker: Sturridge, Bony, Lambert
2Wingers: Sterling, Lallana, Markovic
2CM: Coutinho, Henderson, Allen
1DM: Gerrard, Lucas, Can

Looks about right, depth-wise, if you want a small squad. 12 main players for 6 spots and some youth and fringe players as extra depth.

Don't think the CM play will hold up for another year, though, personally.
 
Subho611 said:
Agree with this but do you think it is fair to suggest that there is a possibility of Chelsea, Man City, Arsenal and Man Utd finishing above Liverpool?
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Of course it is fair, it just seems many are writing off our chances already.
All we are saying is we feel we can challenge again.
It is clearly going to be very competitive however I think we will be up there.
The transfer window still has plenty of time to go and so far we have done okay.
 
johnny boy said:
Of course it is fair, it just seems many are writing off our chances already.
All we are saying is we feel we can challenge again.
It is clearly going to be very competitive however I think we will be up there.
The transfer window still has plenty of time to go and so far we have done okay.
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Ok is not good enough Johnny what do you think will be a successful season for your lot?
 
Lawman said:
Ok is not good enough Johnny what do you think will be a successful season for your lot?
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Winning something. Obviously being so close to the title we want to be up there again , you have to win silverware though. When I say okay we have to see what is done with the Suarez money and defensive changes. I think Lallana is a great addition.
 
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johnny boy said:
Winning something. Obviously being so close to the title we want to be up there again , you have to win silverware though. When I say okay we have to see what is done with the Suarez money and defensive changes. I think Lallana is a great addition.
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I think Lallana is a good purchase also but lambert not so much. I really think being in top 4 again is a top season for Liverpool. I can't see us or yourself challenging with our squads right now. I honestly think as stands Spurs are stronger than Liverpool right now.
 
Lawman said:
I think Lallana is a good purchase also but lambert not so much. I really think being in top 4 again is a top season for Liverpool. I can't see us or yourself challenging with our squads right now. I honestly think as stands Spurs are stronger than Liverpool right now.
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The team Liverpool beat 9-0 on aggregate last season? The team that have their third manager in 1year? The team that were shambolic at times last season? Ok...
 
I think Liverpool will be competing for 5/6 next season.
 
PickledRed said:
The team Liverpool beat 9-0 on aggregate last season? The team that have their third manager in 1year? The team that were shambolic at times last season? Ok...
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That's the problem but squad wise imo they are better equipped than Liverpool.
 
Lawman said:
That's the problem but squad wise imo they are better equipped than Liverpool.
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That's what we are putting right though, our bench last season was very weak. I expect it to be much stronger next season, in addition we are much more of a team that Tottenham. Even the return of a few loan players, Ibe/Suso/Borini already gives us more depth, even without players being signed.

I can't see why they would finish above us.
 
johnny boy said:
That's what we are putting right though, our bench last season was very weak. I expect it to be much stronger next season, in addition we are much more of a team that Tottenham. Even the return of a few loan players, Ibe/Suso/Borini already gives us more depth, even without players being signed.

I can't see why they would finish above us.
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They have finished above you's for a few years now though barring last year. Suarez is gone Gerrard (been brilliant) is declining he struggles to run nowadays, Sturridge is good but not great like Suarez. Sterling has a lot to learn. I just don't see it with Liverpool. I think last season will be to much to replicate as I think a lot rolled in their favour. Most teams around them have improved where as it stands (Liverpool will buy) Liverpool have weakened significantly.
 
Lawman said:
They have finished above you's for a few years now though barring last year. Suarez is gone Gerrard (been brilliant) is declining he struggles to run nowadays, Sturridge is good but not great like Suarez. Sterling has a lot to learn. I just don't see it with Liverpool. I think last season will be to much to replicate as I think a lot rolled in their favour. Most teams around them have improved where as it stands (Liverpool will buy) Liverpool have weakened significantly.
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I wouldn't swap their squad for ours. If people don't think we will do well this season then that's fine, we surprised quite a few last time around.
At the end of the day we will see. I am excited at seeing Lallana in our line up and looking forward to who else we may bring in.
Sterling I think could be outstanding for us this year.

I am more concerned about our title rivals last season - City & Chelsea than I am about Tottenham.
 
johnny boy said:
I can't see why they would finish above us.
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They have done bar one season with ye above them when they were trying in integrate new players. You really just don't want to see any reason they might finish above you.
 
Lawman said:
They have finished above you's for a few years now though barring last year. Suarez is gone Gerrard (been brilliant) is declining he struggles to run nowadays, Sturridge is good but not great like Suarez. Sterling has a lot to learn. I just don't see it with Liverpool. I think last season will be to much to replicate as I think a lot rolled in their favour. Most teams around them have improved where as it stands (Liverpool will buy) Liverpool have weakened significantly.
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Even if pool do buy more, it'll be to improve the squad, the first team will be weaker without bitey racist chap.
 
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