You had a very interesting set of points but then you went along and ruined it with irrelevance.
Liverpool 2014/15 | WARNING: Contains strong amounts of Scouse nonsense
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You had a very interesting set of points but then you went along and ruined it with irrelevance.
I know what you mean, but overall it's not good for England's UEFA coefficient, I don't think it's in immediate danger but if English teams keep doing poorly in Europe, eventually it'll affect all teams.
Also, on Origi: you really shouldn't be counting on him too much to improve your team, especially in Europe. Still incredibly raw, and not everyone is convinced he'll kick on like Scousers are expecting him to.
Maybe but for a team with all the experience of Europe behind it, your game in Turkey last week was dreadful. You might want to consider that as an EPL side your performances haven't matched those in Europe. Your top players haven't performed; and United were just as bad the previous seasons. All squads including Chelski, you lot and us have really not fully achieved their potential in Europe since 1999, irrespective of the supposed quality of players in the EPL and the financial outlay by clubs. Something is wrong and even foreign managers in the EPL have not really addressed it. IMHO I think the EPL receives too much attention and Europe thereby comes second, irrespective of the club or competition.
If you make the CL you will be in pot 4.
http://kassiesa.home.xs4all.nl/bert/uefa/data/method4/trank2015.html
As Stretford End Phil points out PL teams have a lot of ground to make up on the rest of Europe. Starting out in pot 4 makes it incredibly difficult.
We don't need a replacement for Stevie - his position is now redundant. We need :-
1. a new high class DM (keep Lucas as backup),
2. another CB (bring back Ilori perhaps - his technical skills and great pace may be perfect for our Back Three) or 2xCB if we let Kolo go (personally I'd keep him for another year for his experience and the help he gives to the younger players). We need 5 CBs and fewer FBs with this system so Johnson, Manquillo, Wisdom and Enrique are all surplus to requirements. Flanno / Can / Toure can all play RB/LB if we ever revert to 4-x-x for any match.
3. a replacement for Jones (Ryan is growing on me now I know he's not a midget)
4. and a new striker (to replace Balo who it seems is nailed on to leave, Origi replaces Borini), Ojo, Ibe & Sinclair could/should see game time up front as well.
There is absolutely zero danger to England's co-efficient regardless if one or two English teams fail to get out of the group stage or not the odd season here or there. We'd need a massive capitulation of English teams over 4-5 years to even get close to that.
Origi - definitely with you on this one but he does look to have the raw talent. We'll see, I doubt he'll see much game time next season unless he impresses on an Ibe-like scale.
Of course, it's what I meant with the 'keep doing poorly'. If for the next 5 seasons, we had one team doing ok and the other 3 performing to various levels of shiteness (+ EL teams), then it'd have an effect, surely? It was really a 'big picture' type of thing, I enjoy a rival crashing out as well, but I'd be annoyed if it happened so much it affected England's standing in Europe.
Yes I'd be upset if we lost that 4th CL slot (and nothing to do with Liverpool per se, so no quips on that level please anyone) simply because the other leagues, apart from Spain, don't really deserve it.
Yes, we do. You're talking about positions and tactics, not the size of the squad. As he has declined, we've lost an arguably world class midfielder. Just like we lost Xabi and Masch. I want to have Emre Can's babies as much as the next easily impressed Liverpool fan. I think Jordan Henderson may become the stalwart leader half of us see in him. And I have nothing but love for Lucas. But even with Joe Allen, possibly Jordan Rossiter, and our wealth of attacking midfield talent, I still believe we need one more top class midfielder and I would rather see us spend big there than anywhere else.
Your approach is a bit shopping listy for me.
Which would be the replacement for Steven Gerrard in terms of squad size and payroll, if that's the direction the club decide to go. Alternatively, we recognise that Lucas is the one and we start to groom a replacement for him. Or we use Emre Can in that position. Or Joe Allen. Or we reject the need for a purpose built shield for three centre backs and focus on controlling the ball and the game. Or any combination of the above.
I'm not convinced we'll continue to play 3-4-3. It's a model we were forced into by Sturridge's injury and the transfer failures last summer. However, I've assumed Ilori and Wisdom - who is naturally a centre back - will be back but yes, we may need a new one if we stick with this formation and they're not up to the job. However, that's one of the positions I reckon we should be buying potential for while we ask the manager to earn his money by making Sakho, Skrtel, and Lovren work as our first choice back line.
A replacement for our backup keeper is not a major purchase and won't have an untoward affect upon the team or playing style. We either buy potential with time to grow into the role or an older hand not expecting to play every week. The much bigger question is whether we bring in a direct replacement for Mignolet. It would be good to have a Clemence/Grobbelaar situation for a season but I don't think it'll work out that way.
I'm not sure Borini will ever leave. And no one knows what will happen with Mario. Personally, I want him to stay but I can see a lot of other people want rid. In the whole recent penalty farce, no one seemed to want to acknowledge that Jordan Henderson is actually two months older than Mario. He has so much potential - and he's been turning in decent performances lately - that I'd love to see us persevere with him. Although if Icardi was available ...
My main idea here, btw, is that when we lost Suarez, we were forced into a redesign of the team and the raft of new purchases took time to bed in and we struggled to find our form and a way of playing. We don't want to make the same mistakes again. We need a season where we hit the ground running and consolidate our position as a top four side. The current squad is good enough to do that with the addition of a couple of high quality players in the right positions. Or so I delude myself.
I think we were doing a very good job of over-achieving in Europe until Hicks and Gillett screwed everything up and a bunch of incompetents fired the best manager for the job and replaced him with the owl-faced twat.
Pjanic, Laporte, Lacazette. I know that's very unrealistic but I'd be over the moon if we even get one of those next summer. Preferably Pjanic.
How much will Liverpool have to spend in the summer? Do you think?
Hard to say, might depend on who leaves.
I think it's quality not quantity needed, with the likes of Ibe coming through, possibly Ilori to come back plus Origi I don't think it will be a lack of numbers.
There is no way there will be as many new players as last summer and we can't afford any more mistakes given the lack of impact so far from the likes of Lovren, Balotelli and Borini.
I reckon the last 2 plus Lambert will be off and a new striker (maybe even 2), the priorities along with a central midfielder and goalie.
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How would the team be an embarrassment? Do we have John Terry playing for us?
If you're on about winning/losing then Liverpool are the holders of the European Cup 5 times. Haven't said that in a while and now seemed apt.
Wow that escalated quick. Yes obviously I meant performance wise and recent history not 30 years ago!
Besides I wasn't singling out Liverpool. Arsenal and City(particularly) fall into that category too. In fact its bene odd because the following trends started happening about 5 years ago.
Liverpool stopped qualifying for the CL, sometimes playing in the EL but never getting that far.
City started qualifying for the CL but barely scrape out of the group before losing in the last 16
Arsenal perennially started losing in the last 16.
We should have won a CL between 04 and 09 really. Us and United were among the top 3 teams in Europe at points in that period. 2008 wasnt our time, just but 2009 probably was more our time but for the farce of a semi vs Barca.
First, I'm not convinced that this system will be here long term. For instance, if we lose our next two games, Rodgers would undoubtedly change it.
Lucas won't stay as a back up. In fact, I doubt he'll stay at all. I also don't want to spend more money on a centre back who in all likelihood won't improve us much. Give Wisdom or Ilori a chance. I'd bring in Ings, another top class attacker, a top central midfielder to replace Gerrard and a keeper. I'd use Rossiter as Lucas' replacement as he's getting to an age where he should be ready for more first team football.
It took BR half a season to change the system when we were under the cosh ..... there is no way he is going to change it for the remaining 11+FAC games of the seasons, regardless of what happens in the next two games. He may prefer to go back to the Diamond next season if he has the forwards for it, otherwise I can see 3-4-3 staying because it suits the personnel we have (especially midfielders and Back Three) and it would require a greater change in personnel to change it again (bearing in mind who is leaving or likely to leave) rather than just supplement it.
Lucas - yes he is supposedly very interested in going to Inter, however maybe he could be persuaded to stay. Rossiter has had a serious injury and he's only just turned 18, hardly the profile of a back-up player for such a key position, though I agree he may have a bright future ahead of him. As I said though, we need a high quality midfielder anyway.
It does look very much like Ings is on his way here, he turned down Moyes for the opportunity I heard. So if Balo and Borini leave that would give us : A.N.Other (too many rumours to keep track of but I'd simply love Lacazette), Sturridge, Ings and Origi, a good looking line-up.
So I take it you didn't read the bit where I said " a new high class DM" ? Is a DM no longer a midfielder ? And is that not where Gerrard has been playing before injury ? Lucas was a fixture in this formation until his injury, whether he stays or goes we still need another for that position - I like Rossiter (a lot) but he is too young yet. And did I say anything about Can ? Except that next season may be too early for him to start as DM and Allen isn't a DM, he's a playmaker. In general it seems to me all you've done is agree with me !
Que ? Of course it's a shopping list, you identify your weaknesses and then search for the right players to fill them. Maybe you would prefer we just pick names of players out of a hat ?
I've addressed the formation issue in my reply to Barney. I don't think we will change it because this formation seems to suit the players we have, but time will tell.
It seems you don't really know who Ryan is. Because he is exactly what you are advocating, a very good young keeper to grow into the role. However he is far more than that, he is strong competition for Ming, and more than anything that is what is required and what Ming needs.
Everyone wants Icardi and there is no way he'd take us over United, Chelsea or City (the others rumoured). Ings is almost nailed on if you believe all the chatter. You are right, maybe Balo will stay (I would prefer better) and Borini surely knows there is no future for him now .. we may have to supplement his salary elsewhere though to get rid.
I agree with that. And if you look at my 'Shopping List' again it basically follows the same premise you have put forward ; high quality midfielder, backup/competition keeper, forward, CB (you will see I basically said only if Ilori doesn't return or Kolo goes). 4 players, I doubt any top team will acquire less than that .. and neither should they as new blood creates competition and keeps a team progressing.
Hugely depends in CL qualification. If they miss out they'll have peanuts in today's market (maybe £20-25m), if they qualify they may have around £45m.
Depends on wages also - they'll have a good £6m a year freed up with Gerrard leaving.
What's 100% certain is they'll be shopping in a different market than us, Chelsea and City (and probably Arsenal).
£30-50m on top of sales.
So from this I conclude you haven't a clue
So from this I conclude you haven't a clue
As much a clue as anyone I guess. Your yearly accounts are available for public consumption and short of structuring deals so that they are heavily tail ended I don't see how Liverpool can spend heavily.
They certainly won't be in the market for £200k a week/£30m+ players, that's for sure (Unless they splurge their entire budget on one big name).
If the right player came about we would (Sanchez and Willian, for example).
I do. A number of people from your own fanbase were calling him that.
I haven't read their public accounts recently but most clubs don't have the liquidity to fund £200pw players. In response to the rising cost of players, clubs are turning to facilities that lie beyond public statements. For example deals like Rooney's that incorporate sponsors and advertisers. The purchase of players have also seen the adoption of deficit payment mechanisms with set periods of repayment. Leverage and heavy gearing is being shifted away from clubs and placed on players transaction and contracts.
On another level I wonder if the presence of the £200pw players destabilise the rest of the squad. They are a new factor in football and I wonder if all those social issues like jealousy play a part inside squads. On those grounds I' m not sure clubs are wise to buy top players who have long periods of poor performances whereas the 'cheaper' players seem to fit in quicker and perform consistently.
Posters on here?
Suarez had signed a deal worth £200k in December before he left. Sturridge and Gerrard are both on £150k. I really doubt there will be an issues if we wanted to bring in another high earner.
Football Ramble made me very sad today when they said if we had just had an average start rather than our worst in who knows how long, we'd probably be challenging for the league.
Ibe out for the whole fcking season now. How shit is that? Hopefully with no Europe and Markovic/Sterling able to fill his role we should be ok. But Ibe just gives you that edge of the seat excitement that we're going to have to wait until season to see again.
Ibe out for the whole fcking season now. How shit is that? Hopefully with no Europe and Markovic/Sterling able to fill his role we should be ok. But Ibe just gives you that edge of the seat excitement that we're going to have to wait until season to see again.
Really? According to who?
Yeah, that's news to me...
Tony Barrett was discussing Jordan Henderson on the Irish Times' podcast yesterday. Discussed how highly Henderson is thought of by his teammates and Rodgers and also discusses the massive amount of work that Henderson puts in off the pitch (ie. helps his teammates when they have problems and things like that). He said that he's doing a lot of the stuff that Steven Gerrard does off the pitch. Henderson really wants the captaincy.
Barrett said that privately there was a feeling that winning the Europa league was going to be a huge ask, on top of winning the FA cup and finishing in the top four. Said we didn't want to go out of the Europa league, but they are taking positives out of it and it wasn't a priority.
Also hinted that Lucas might not be here next year.
Barrett said that privately there was a feeling that winning the Europa league was going to be a huge ask, on top of winning the FA cup and finishing in the top four. Said we didn't want to go out of the Europa league, but they are taking positives out of it and it wasn't a priority.
Also hinted that Lucas might not be here next year.
No report but someone mentioned it on est.
http://www.theguardian.com/football...-feared-sack-liverpool-rally?CMP=share_btn_tw
Good, honest interview with Rodgers. Well worth a read.
Good, honest interview with Rodgers. Well worth a read.
The problem is the right player (£30m/200k a week) won't sign for Liverpool. The Sanchez', Di Maria's and Willian's of this world pick the club's that pay them big (Irrespective of their success later on). Liverpool can throw a £30m bid at those players, but can't offer the package.
Liverpool's summer is again going to consist of bargain bucket signings that may or may not come off (given Rodgers record it's dodgy at best). Especially because United, Arsenal, Chelsea and City are all looking for similar players (CF, DM, CB & WF).
Not denying he's done a great job with your turnaround this year but there's always so much self-promotion from him. Every sentence is "I did this, I changed that, I knew it all." It's just so hard not to find him annoying.
Just trotting out ' BR's dodgy transfer record at best' is becoming a well worn but out-dated tune. More so when you consider that one of his so-called 'high-profile failures', Balotelli, was a Committee purchase. Even this season's new players are now beginning to settle in very nicely and have contributed strongly to our recent run of 8-3-0 in the PL, 5 of them playing in the win on Sunday over City. And those we thought were beyond hope from previous seasons e.g. Allen, have shown some sparkling form of late, giving hope for the future. Even Lovren has shown he could yet be salvaged.
Every manager has their high-profile failures, their Verons, though that's not surprising when it has been shown that most manager's rarely have more than a 50% success rate (I suppose that is very subjective). Are you writing off Falcao yet ? I know he is only a loaner but a very expensive one on a massive salary, and loaned with an eye to signing him at the end of the season if all went to plan. Shaw, Rojo and Herrera haven't exactly set the world alight either. And has Di Maria been worth 60+Mil ? Blind has been your most consistent signing this season, for me.
The same can be said for most managers, Mourinho, Wenger, Pardew, Moyes, LvG and so on and so on, all have crazy sound bites ..... it's the nature of the job and the nature of opposing fans to deride whatever comes out of a rival manager's mouth. Maybe Pochettino has been the most innocuous but even he cracks up when under pressure. It's no surprise then, considering how managers are roundly lambasted when it goes wrong on the pitch, that they pat themselves on the back when it goes well.
I love this. If he had banged in twenty goals, you'd all be hailing Rodgers as a genius.
Bollocks we would. We have said right from the beginning he was a Committee purchase. Suggest you read or search the thread before jumping in at the deep end where the water is way over your head.
Perhaps the committee might table a motion to have LOLvren removed from the list of penalty takers.