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

bishblaize said:
I bet table topping Bournemouth are gunning for Liverpool this week. They're a team that loves to attack and they're in great form.

Can't decide how I'd feel if I were a Liverpool fan. If they lose, obviously there's pressure that comes from that.

But if they win, they gain a pair of games home and away to one of Chelsea, Southampton or Spurs (assuming the favourites all win in this round). Not only that, both games are in January which gives them a fairly punishing run of fixtures from now til the internal break in March. Poisoned chalice?
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Always take a cup semi. Surely supporters don't view the league cup that badly?
 
Spiersey said:
He moved to Madrid. Despite not playing this season rumours are this is Ikers last season and Navas will replace him next season. Only way I can see him leaving is if Real sign De Gea.
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That would make sense actually. So you're fecked. Nice one.
 
bishblaize said:
I bet table topping Bournemouth are gunning for Liverpool this week. They're a team that loves to attack and they're in great form.

Can't decide how I'd feel if I were a Liverpool fan. If they lose, obviously there's pressure that comes from that.

But if they win, they gain a pair of games home and away to one of Chelsea, Southampton or Spurs (assuming the favourites all win in this round). Not only that, both games are in January which gives them a fairly punishing run of fixtures from now til the internal break in March. Poisoned chalice?
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What was your view when you reached the semi-final with Sunderland under Moyes?
 
Break the bank for Petr Cech. With FFP Chelsea could use the large fee and Cech is not exactly happy on their bench. He's the kind of goalkeeper that would transform a defense and a real leader to boot.

It's unlikely but it's worth a try.
 
Ole's_toe_poke said:
Break the bank for Petr Cech. With FFP Chelsea could use the large fee and Cech is not exactly happy on their bench. He's the kind of goalkeeper that would transform a defense and a real leader to boot.

It's unlikely but it's worth a try.
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It's a strange one for me. Despite Mourinho banging on about not caring about selling to rivals, the only reason Mata was sold was because the fee was incredible and it wasn't going to be matched by another club.

A goalkeeper isn't going to go for a massive fee (30 million) and I'd struggle to see Cech going for £20 million unless to a team that is desperate. Liverpool may offer £20 million but I'd guarantee we would rather accept £15 million from a PSG or Roma.
 
Barney said:
Always take a cup semi. Surely supporters don't view the league cup that badly?
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In a normal season most fans would be happy enough to win it. But its hard to overlook the potential adverse impact on your league campaign that those godawful twin mid-week semi finals might bring. Winning the league cup is no solace if you fail to finish in the top 4 I would guess.
 
Cheech Wizard said:
What was your view when you reached the semi-final with Sunderland under Moyes?
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It was nothing but a ballache for us last year, a total distraction we could have done without. we went into the first leg having lost two games 2-1 on the bounce, and promptly lost a third by the same scoreline. Having had a decent end to december it was part of a car crash January that we never recovered from all season.
 
Spiersey said:
It's a strange one for me. Despite Mourinho banging on about not caring about selling to rivals, the only reason Mata was sold was because the fee was incredible and it wasn't going to be matched by another club.

A goalkeeper isn't going to go for a massive fee (30 million) and I'd struggle to see Cech going for £20 million unless to a team that is desperate. Liverpool may offer £20 million but I'd guarantee we would rather accept £15 million from a PSG or Roma.
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I think Mourinho just generally likes United so didn't mind doing us a favor as it still won't impact the title race or anything, even though you did get a great price at the same time. With Liverpool you can tell he genuinely dislikes them
 
bosnian_red said:
I think Mourinho just generally likes United so didn't mind doing us a favor as it still won't impact the title race or anything, even though you did get a great price at the same time. With Liverpool you can tell he genuinely dislikes them
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Yeah he definitely has a small affinity for United (maybe just Ferguson mainly). I love how much he hates liverpool. Probably all stems from the ghost goal.
 
Didn't we turn him down before we appointed Rafa?

Also, if he hates us over the ghost goal he's an idiot. If a goal isn't given we have a penalty and they have a man sent off.
 
shaggy said:
Top 4 is over for them when Arsenal beat them on the weekend.
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Jeez it wouldn't be far off would it.
Didn't realise they'd fallen that far off the pack - they're as close to the relegation spots as top 4!
Spurs could end up 6 points ahead of them next weekend
 
bosnian_red said:
I think Mourinho just generally likes United so didn't mind doing us a favor as it still won't impact the title race or anything, even though you did get a great price at the same time. With Liverpool you can tell he genuinely dislikes them
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I am not sure he likes anyone. He just thought it's good money, especially because it helped them a lot regarding ffp.
 
They're at a strange situation. I can actually see a decent team in there somewhere, they just have glaring issues that stop them from being so. Sturridge out is a huge issue. He would have scored at least one, maybe two against us. I don't get the Lallana thing, I thought he was good in the first half and he got subbed out while Coutinho struggled. Lallana's pressing in particular was really good. And with three United players on yellow cards his quick feet would have been handy.

They need to sort the defence and midfield out too. I thought Lovren was a good buy in pre-season (I was very very wrong). I'd be playing Sakho and Toure. Why bother with Skrtel and Lovren? They aren't up to it. Don't know why he persists. I'd do anything to get Cech too. Both 'keepers need to be given the boot. Gerrard looks finished too, I think last season took it out of him. He was anonymous. Not sure if I would back Rodgers. I actually think he's a decent manager but to improve they need to be good in the transfer market and that is his huge weakness. It's a tough spot to be in.
 
Could quite easily see Bournemouth beating them.

Rodgers needs to go. I don't think he can turn this around. He's not a bad manager, but it's just not working any more. Problem is, who is realistically available who is better?
 
Amazing how quickly the worm turns isn't it, pre season and post Suarez it was all about the managers system and it would be Brentan that would hold this side together, now they're rueing the loss of Suarez as the reason for failing and Brentans up for the chop.
Who knew eh !
 
They could do a lot worse than snap up Crouchy in January. Cheap, genuinely hard working and he'll be more deadly in front of goal than their strike force combined, Sturridge aside.
 
They have drawn Besikstas in the EL. Reunion with Demba Ba.

100922.jpg
 
duffer said:
A January move for Petr Cech perhaps?

Jose has talked down chances of transfer mid-season but I think a decent offer could tempt us.
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Would be my #1 transfer option. It's a tragedy that a keeper of his standing, probably #3 in the PL, is not playing week in week out. I'd pay whatever Chelsea want because of the stability and organisation he would bring to our defence.
 
Rafateria said:
Would be my #1 transfer option. It's a tragedy that a keeper of his standing, probably #3 in the PL, is not playing week in week out. I'd pay whatever Chelsea want because of the stability and organisation he would bring to our defence.
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Whether they'll sell or not is another matter. They may just want to hold onto him till the end of the season, in case he's needed at all. Would be worth a try for you though.
 
duffer said:
Thy've got a pretty tough game on Wednesday. AFC Bournemouth are absolutely flying in the Championship.
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Yep. And playing very good football too. I'd play a mix of squaddies and reserves and see what happens - that cup should not detract from preserving the players we need fit for Arsenal ; Sterling, Toure, Skrtel, Lucas, Gerrard, Lallana, Coutinho.
 
Liverpool's February fixtures looks a bit testing:

Everton (a), Tottenham (h), Beşiktaş (h), Southampton (a), Beşiktaş (a), Man City (h)
 
Zoo said:
Liverpool's February fixtures looks a bit testing:

Everton (a), Tottenham (h), Beşiktaş (h), Southampton (a), Beşiktaş (a), Man City (h)
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Very difficult set of games for them then. May depend on where they are in the league on what they prioritise. If they don't pick up, EL might end as the priority for them.
 
Zoo said:
Liverpool's February fixtures looks a bit testing:

Everton (a), Tottenham (h), Beşiktaş (h), Southampton (a), Beşiktaş (a), Man City (h)
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There's only two games in a very quiet February, so our players will get a ridiculous amount of rest. :)
 
bishblaize said:
I bet table topping Bournemouth are gunning for Liverpool this week. They're a team that loves to attack and they're in great form.

Can't decide how I'd feel if I were a Liverpool fan. If they lose, obviously there's pressure that comes from that.

But if they win, they gain a pair of games home and away to one of Chelsea, Southampton or Spurs (assuming the favourites all win in this round). Not only that, both games are in January which gives them a fairly punishing run of fixtures from now til the internal break in March. Poisoned chalice?
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Indeed it is. Arsed if we go through, arsed if we go out. Pros and cons to both.
 
bishblaize said:
In a normal season most fans would be happy enough to win it. But its hard to overlook the potential adverse impact on your league campaign that those godawful twin mid-week semi finals might bring. Winning the league cup is no solace if you fail to finish in the top 4 I would guess.
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Exactly how I feel.
 
Rafateria said:
Talk about masochistic tendancies. Even United fans laughed you off the thread last time and yet here you are again. God bless !
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United fans aren't what they once were. No faith. Believe!

Would be great though wouldn't it? A total capitulation after Suarez leaves and a spell in the Championship after both QPR and Crystal miraclulously go on a run that sees them stay up having both beaten Liverpool at Anfield in the last fixtures of the season thus condemning Liverpool to lower league football.
 
dwd said:
There are rumours that they're dipping into the market in January to sign Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa.
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I heard that just came about from him following Liverpool on Twitter after the line up was announced (Mignolet dropped).

Frimpong was another who joked and said Liverpool need someone like him on Twitter.
 
ZIDANE said:
I heard that just came about from him following Liverpool on Twitter after the line up was announced (Mignolet dropped).

Frimpong was another who joked and said Liverpool need someone like him on Twitter.
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I've heard rumours they are signing Frimpong as a backup GK too.
 
Not quite sure of this statistical model. But its a hell of lot expensive gamble.
Inside Line: Liverpool's Transfer Committee Has Been a Spectacular Failure
How do you spend more than £215 million on transfer and loan fees and sign 24 footballers but end up with only two who have significantly improved your first team?

You hire Liverpool's infamous "Transfer Committee."

Established in the summer of 2012 to introduce science and collective decision-making to the club's recruitment policy, Liverpool's committee is formally composed of four individuals—Brendan Rodgers (manager), Ian Ayre (chief executive), Dave Fallows (head of recruitment) and Michael Edwards (head of performance analysis).

Their collective conclusions have been little short of catastrophic. More than half of the Transfer Committee's spending occurred this last summer, when Rodgers boasted of having a "different vision" and a clear transfer "strategy," according to ESPN FC. Yet with that spending, Liverpool have descended to ninth in the Premier League, scoring just seven times in eight home games.

As they were outplayed and ousted from the Champions League by FC Basel on Tuesday night, Rodgers chose to start just two of Anfield's high-tariff summer recruits.

One of them, Rickie Lambert, began at centre-forward despite, as captain Steven Gerrard put it, having "ran himself into the ground the last five games."


Rodgers had such little faith in his other strikers that he named no backup to the weary Lambert for a must-win game.

Watching from the stands were two Transfer Committee specials. Mario Balotelli (read about his LFC contract here), who was still sidelined with the peculiarly intransigent injury that brought a halt to the Italian's embarrassing barren spell leading Liverpool's attack, and Fabio Borini, the €13.3 million acquisition from AS Roma who Rodgers told Liverpool's official website "the supporters will love" in his first spell at the club.

Between them, Balotelli, Borini and Lambert have delivered just two league goals in 40 Liverpool appearances.

Forwards are by no means the sole area of underperformance. SimonMignolet is a £9 million goalkeeper for whom Liverpool were scouting replacements before his first season was even complete.

More than £45 million in fees have been spent on three centre-backs, yet Rodgers still frequently pairs the error-prone Martin Skrtel with the greatly declined Kolo Toure (brought in for free but with high wages).

Still more money has been spent on midfielders, only for Rodgers to use four inherited players for five starting in midweek.


The Northern Irishman's apologists like to use the committee to absolve him of blame for many of these signings. The truth is more insidious.

Rodgers has the power of veto over any transfer target proposed by Ayre, Edwards, Fallows or chief scout Barry Hunter. The rest of the committee can veto any player proposed by Rodgers.

In the manager's first summer at Anfield, for example, he asked for a cavalcade of his former Swansea City charges, including Leon Britton,Gylfi Sigurdsson, Neil Taylor and Michel Vorm. Purchases were restricted to an inflated £15m fee for Joe Allen.

In May, Rodgers explained his significant role in the Liverpool transfer process to James Pearce of the Liverpool Echo:

Obviously, I am involved heavily in the identification of the player.

The principal idea when I first came in was that like any manager you will have the first call on a player and the last call.

That's the call on whether he's good enough to continue to look at and try to organise a deal and the last call to say yes or no.

There is a big part that goes on in between. In modern football you need to trust other people to do the work. That's something we do here and that's why we have had the success we've had.

Edwards is the committee's other main protagonist. A former video analyst whom Damien Comolli brought with him from Tottenham Hotspur, Edwards gained the trust of Liverpool's principal owner, John W. Henry, by presenting a statistical model for analysing potential signings.

Famously enamoured with Billy Beane's sabermetric approach to hiring baseball players, Henry believed that in the young Englishman he had a football equivalent.

Edwards was invited to spend time with Henry at the businessman's Florida mansion. His guidance was taken seriously when Henry and the rest of Fenway Sports Group sought a replacement for former Reds manager Roy Hodgson.



Aware that numbers mattered to FSG's vision for the club, Edwards appointed Ian Graham as Liverpool's director of research. Holder of a PhD in theoretical physics, Graham had developed a computer programme designed to add discriminative value to player performance statistics provided by companies such as ProZone.

When Rodgers, a scout or an agent suggested Liverpool sign a particular player, Edwards would have the player's numbers run through the Graham model. If the computer said no, the deal was off.

When Red Bull Salzburg were looking for a buyer for Sadio Mane in the summer, Liverpool were one of the clubs approached. Graham's analysis indicated the Senegal international wasn't good enough, so Mane ended up at Southampton instead (paid for with a fraction of the money Rodgers channelled to the South Coast club for AdamLallana, Dejan Lovren and Lambert).

Mane's new club currently sit fifth in the league table, five points ahead of Liverpool.

Edwards' backing of a "moneyball" approach and Rodgers' limited knowledge of non-Premier League players has led to several standoffs.

Oussama Assaidi and Nuri Sahin were Edwards' men whom Rodgers assented to signing then hardly used in their preferred positions.

After seven league appearances in five months, Sahin's loan was terminated. The Turkey international ended the 2012-13 season playing a Champions League final for Borussia Dortmund.

Assaidi, recently identified by Raheem Sterling as his most skilful team-mate, per Sky Sports, was permitted a total of 83 minutes in the league before being loaned to Stoke City for the last two seasons.




In their first summer working together, Edwards pushed for Fiorentinacentre-back Matija Nastasic to be recruited. Rodgers wanted a player with Premier League experience, but during the standoff, Manchester City bought the Serb instead.

Nastasic was named Manchester City's Young Player of the Year during his first season in England, while Liverpool still hasn't found a reliable central defender.

For another Premier League manager whose club also utilised the Graham model, part of that comes as no surprise.

"That guy was a serious nerd," he says. "And the program was ridiculous. The parameters were set from his own view of what a defender, midfielder or attacker should do. They were ludicrous and inaccurate."

For two Anfield years, Luis Suarez's unalloyed excellence compensated for a multitude of recruitment and coaching sins. Yet between Edwards' faith in analytics and Rodgers' poor eye for a player, Liverpool have managed to blow well in excess of £250,000,000 pounds once payoffs and agents' fee are factored in.

Even the committee's conspicuous success, Daniel Sturridge, was recommended by an unconvinced Rodgers to only be brought in on loan.

If you were the man who paid this pair to run your football club, you'd be forgiven for wondering if you might not be better off replacing both of them.
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http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...sfer-committee-has-been-a-spectacular-failure
 
dwd said:
There are rumours that they're dipping into the market in January to sign Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa.
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There were several reports during the weekend we were very interested in Fiorentina's goalie Neto. Can't really say anything about him as I haven't seen him play, although I read somewhere he made a horrible mistake this weekend :nervous:
 
It's premature to speak of sacking him. He's coming up with some really shitty ideas on the pitch though and will need a massive turnaround to stay here at the end of season.
 
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