I thought it was a rubbish signing at the time so now I get to feel all smug and warm inside.
Liverpool : General discussion
- Thread starter Yorkeontop
- Start date
To be fair, I'm not sure there's a lot wrong in this. He's tried to adapt but it's not been working, apparently, so maybe he has to work on bettering the player he already is. Or maybe he's just not bothered trying hard enough to change for all I know.
But it's clear that there's more to under performance here. He genuinely doesn't seem to like Klopp, nor feels wanted one bit.
But it's clear that there's more to under performance here. He genuinely doesn't seem to like Klopp, nor feels wanted one bit.
Yep. Maybe Klopp's already made his mind up about Benteke, and CB suspects it. The Curse of Brendan continues...
I have no idea why they thought he'd be a good fit for their style under Rodgers either. Maybe he just wanted someone who could get things off high shelves for him.
Benteke is a good player, he just doesn't fit how Liverpool play, and clearly has zero confidence.
He is a good player, and I won't listen to anyone who says otherwise. It was ridiculous to sign a player who's style we never play.
Liverpool in making a daft signing shocker. I think his injury has slowed him down a bit but it was always an odd signing for Rodgers and didn't make much sense with Klopp in charge either. We'll sell him to West Ham for around £16 million in the summer and move on.
I'm disappointed because part of me thought we could get a lot out of him.
The best bit about that interview was that (as we already knew) Chinese clubs came in for him in January .... and CB said he will review his situation at the end of the season. Unless we get a major offer from a PL team (unlikely) then it may be a way out of this mess for all. Klopp has said he doesn't do loans so another Balotelli fiasco seems unlikely.
He can feck off.
The feck is this...
What position is Firmino primarily deployed in? My Liverpool supporting scum cousin is telling me he plays the same role Depay plays for United, on the wings. Isn't he mostly a second striker/number 10?
False nine mostly...
Not sure what sort of a fan your cousin is ! Firmino is not, and has never been, a winger. A #10, false 9, even an emergency striker more than a few times for us this season, though maybe best described as an old-fashioned Inside Left/Right
Not sure what sort of a fan your cousin is ! Firmino is not, and has never been, a winger. A #10, false 9, even an emergency striker more than a few times for us this season, though maybe best described as an old-fashioned Inside Left/Right
He doesn't know what he's talking about. I had to double check because I started second guessing myself, talking to him about it!
I think he kidnapped her.
It's a mysterious one to me, Firmino at false 9, Coutinho at false LW & Lallana also wandering around between attack & MF. Klopp is obvs a tactical genius, for this to be working in any way whatsoever, didn't I also see Moreno playing left side but with someone behind him? <--- not SO much tactical genius to think this is a wise move.
Can, Milner, Henderson though - that's the engine room & throbbing heartbeat of a potentially great side, innit?
Can, Milner, Henderson though - that's the engine room & throbbing heartbeat of a potentially great side, innit?
Assuming Henderson does go (he's not looked himself since returning from injury), who should be the captain? Lawro was on 5L saying it should be Lovren, and given his improvement (and lack of options elsewhere) I can see what he's saying, but I'm not sure I could deal with that personally.
I wouldn't be against it. He's emerging as one of our best players right now and seems to be the leader at the back. Automatic starter for every game right now imo which is hard to believe considering the lows of last season.
I don't see any other options for captain either really. We're not exactly overflowing with leaders.
As long as it's not Milner, I guess
Yeah he's nothing more than a squad option. We've relied on him too many times this season.
Milner was excellent last night. Such a reliable player. He's not anybody's favourite but squads need players like him.
Fergie built United's squads with a mix of piano players and carries. He knew the value in strong, hard working, technically sound pros.
The dismissal of Milner, to me, is emblematic of how fans view footballers. Some very good managers have put a lot of faith in him for years - evidence that he's not simply a squad player to be used when 'needs must'.
Fergie built United's squads with a mix of piano players and carries. He knew the value in strong, hard working, technically sound pros.
The dismissal of Milner, to me, is emblematic of how fans view footballers. Some very good managers have put a lot of faith in him for years - evidence that he's not simply a squad player to be used when 'needs must'.
Did you enjoy last night's tactical barnstorm?
I thought Liverpool were lucky last night, Dortmund fecked some very good situations in the final three in the first half. Tbf, in the second half I don't really remember them creating too many chances apart from the goal they scored. Lovren is an huge improvement though, looks back to his Southampton form.
Lovren's free header
Origi's goal
Origi's one on one
Clyne's blocked shot from 15 yards
Coutinho's drive from 12 yards
Those are the ones I remember. Dortmund are class and you'd expect them to create a lot but they actually didn't fashion as many really clear chances - in terms of chances Liverpool's were bigger on the whole.
Can, to me, looks to be the obvious choice for captain whenever I watch Liverpool lately. But it is probably too soon as he is still quite young.
Don't think he needs that responsibility yet. Promising talent who is prone to the odd brain fart.
I agree in general. Regarding Milner specifically though, the problem is he's a first team starter for us rather than a squad player. He starts too many games right now, and shouldn't be trusted in centre midfield - pretty much the two reasons why he wanted to leave City.
Yeah Milner is not a CM, he reminds me of Richards in that the latter chose Villa over other teams because he wanted to play CB. Some players must underestimate the different requirements needed to play a central role. Milner's strengths are best-suited to playing a wide position, and the label of him as some kind of 'Mr Consistent' is one I've contested for a while. He is only consistent in the sense he'll always work hard, otherwise he's a player who will give you some excellent games but will also provide some truly awful ones.
Did you enjoy last night's tactical barnstorm?
Oh yes, greatly Pickled, obvs.
Shrewd move to put Origi in, thought LFC were well worth a draw & probably deserved to sneak a win,
.Lovren may not even be an automatic starter come next season. Whispers of Klopp's interest in signing Hummels still persists. What odds on a Hummels - Matip starting CB partnership next season ? Probably just wishful thinking of course !
I think Hummels is well out of our reach. He'll probably end up at one of the big boys if he leaves at all. I'd like a CB partnership of Lovren and Matip personally, given Lovren's improvement of late.
Sakho has had a mix of very good and very shaky games recently. Be interesting to see what we do with the CB situation. Can only imagine Matip has been bought in to start.
Yeah I think he'll be benched at the start of next season. Far too many nervy moments for my liking and it negates his positive attributes. He crumbles when put under any sort of pressure. I do like him but Lovren is better and as you say, Matip is probably being brought in to start.
Lovren has been better for about 5 minutes, barring an odd 4-5 month spell at Saints a couple of years ago. I'm quite convinced it's a good patch of form for Lovren and he will revert to type (= his career overall level) quite soon.
I don't think Sakho is the answer either though, especially with the style Klopp aims to implement.
Nah, after a horrendous start - he's been gradually improving for about a year now. Physically and technically he has everything to be a top CB.
They're both front foot defenders, so that suits us. Sakho's clumsiness is worrying at times though - even yesterday he passed to Dortmund players in dangerous areas of the pitch a couple of times.
Regarding Sakho and Lovren, I think the change in their form is simply down to sensible coaching and tactics. Lovren has calmed down massively compared to the bloke who arrived in 2014 looking to show off every time he played. He was trying stupid stuff all the time. I think Klopp has just said to him that he's a decent player but play to your strengths, keep it far more simple, stop the extravagant crap.
Both defenders are also behind a better midfield who are playing with a responsibility to protect the defence. This has helped both hugely.
At the minute neither are leaving and they'll both kick on.
Both defenders are also behind a better midfield who are playing with a responsibility to protect the defence. This has helped both hugely.
At the minute neither are leaving and they'll both kick on.
Agree with the general theme of your post, but I also believe that nobody in our squad is safe this summer, save for Coutinho, Firmino, Clyne and maybe one or two more.
Disagree. Klopp won't overhaul the squad. Firstly because it's not terrible, secondly because it's been overhauled the past two seasons and thirdly, and most importantly, Klopp hasn't spent 6 months drilling a set of players to align to a way of playing for nothing. Already signs are good with some much improved players. Why would he start to threaten players with the heave?
Allen may leave, a few peripheral squad players will leave but the team last night will likely stay with possibly the odd surprise.