Our Rivals Squad's next year - Liverpool 2015/2016
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There's a whiff of the "my dad's bigger than your dad" about this thread...
Please don't interrupt it. There's nothing that gets my juices going more than fans of football clubs arguing about which of their players is harder than others.
Course he would. Shearer was as hard as they come. Keane has a loud bark is all.
Keane was a boxer for 10 or so years.
Skrtel, Lucas. The ones with experience.
Henderson is the gormless choice of a gormless manager in an even more gormless team.
Not that's it's a terrible choice and all, given the choices available. Just a reflection of where this team is at.
We've out-arsenaled Arsenal.
I went to wiki Shearer as I recall him being a boxer too. Uncyclopedia came up first and agrees with me: "He [shearer] is also the hardest person alive known for his brief boxing career and for being an underground fight champion."
This has even been done already by boxing enthusiasts
http://www.boxingscene.com/forums/showthread.php?t=211906
Face it. yer man Keane is not as hard as you want him to be. Just mental.
http://www.boxingscene.com/forums/showthread.php?t=211906
Face it. yer man Keane is not as hard as you want him to be. Just mental.
The problem with Hendo being named captain is that he still looks like a kid, and probably gets treated as one by his rivals. Not that he doesn't have the respect of his teammates, which is paramount for a captain, but whether he gets that respect from his rivals. Some might respect his playing skills, but I doubt many respect his 'manly-ness'. Eventually, that lack of respect gets transmitted to his team, who feel a bit lesser for it (or at least get some type of Napoleon/inferiority complex).
I think it was the Guardian that suggested making Can captain. A bit out of the blue, considering he was a new player and even younger than Hendo, but not a bad idea. Seems to have more drive than Hendo, and if used in his proper CM position, would probably have more influence. But then again, he ain't British, plus he didn't show much leadership in his Euro U21 pizza imbroglio, so there's that.
I think it was the Guardian that suggested making Can captain. A bit out of the blue, considering he was a new player and even younger than Hendo, but not a bad idea. Seems to have more drive than Hendo, and if used in his proper CM position, would probably have more influence. But then again, he ain't British, plus he didn't show much leadership in his Euro U21 pizza imbroglio, so there's that.
Isn't Mikel Arteta Arsenal captain? Does it really hold as much significance as people think?
Not a chance. And if you think keane only has a loud bark you're mistaken.
You clearly didn't see the match otherwise you wouldn't be talking out of your arse. Henderson actually ran across, faced up to him and gave him 'the stare', as you can see Costa walked off. What would you have Henderson do ? Stick one on him ? *rolls eyes*
Costa isn't 'hard', he's a coward who specialises in snide and dirty moves & abusive comments.
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It's a ridiculous idea. A youngster who doesn't have a guaranteed place in the team and has not even matured as a player, FFS. Who the new captain should have been is obvious and it's ridiculous he has been overlooked, just signed a new contract too, Skrtel.
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Shearer would have killed Keane.
Fail to see anything impressive about their work in the transfer market. They've not signed what they needed for the club to make the step up and have instead added on what they already had. Signing firminho is strange cause they already have coutinho and Markovic. Adding Milner is rather pointless when they have Henderson and Can. Clyne is the only signing I've seen from them that genuinely improves them. Their signings still scream squad depth rather than planning the next great 11 for the club that's going to move them forward. Add Sterling leaving in the picture then I can't see them doing any better than they did last season.
They need a DM and haven't managed to get one. Lucas is always injured and even when fit he's nothing to write home about. Coutinho deeper behind the front three which is what I presume will happen next season is a bit of an experiment that might work though. They needed a defender desperately and I don't see them signing anyone. They seem to have given up on Balloteli getting it done but no strikers are being signed even though Sturridge spend more time ont he physio's table than the pitch.
They need a DM and haven't managed to get one. Lucas is always injured and even when fit he's nothing to write home about. Coutinho deeper behind the front three which is what I presume will happen next season is a bit of an experiment that might work though. They needed a defender desperately and I don't see them signing anyone. They seem to have given up on Balloteli getting it done but no strikers are being signed even though Sturridge spend more time ont he physio's table than the pitch.
The problem with Hendo being captain is he shouldn't be good enough to start for a club with big ambitions, instead he's supposed to lead them to achieving them.
I find this playground talk about which footballers would win in a fight against others cringe worthy. It's not boxing for feck's sake.
Henderson trying to give Costa the death stare was hilarious though. Definitely trying too hard.
Henderson trying to give Costa the death stare was hilarious though. Definitely trying too hard.
So Liverpool are set to add McCallister as their new first team coach. Have to say I'm a little surprised at how they've gone about their appointments. I mean, they sacked Pascoe and Marsh and I suspected they must have top class replacements lined up, instead we saw O'driscoll come in and then quite some time later, McCallister. O'Driscoll seems planned, but McCallister seems like the result of a search after the fact.
Would not inspire confidence in me. O'driscoll seems highly rated by Rodgers himself but his managerial record is pretty wank. As is McCallister's. Different positions obviously but theyve yet to set the world alight.
Would not inspire confidence in me. O'driscoll seems highly rated by Rodgers himself but his managerial record is pretty wank. As is McCallister's. Different positions obviously but theyve yet to set the world alight.
Marsh was soon to be out of contract, Gary Mac is a great appointment - when he was at the club he was a real leader, his experience will be invaluable and one the fans will be delighted about.
I don't know much about O'Driscoll either and his stats as a manager aren't great. I can't judge yet though.
Some people refuse to see the obvious because .... well it's Liverpool isn't it.
Firmino (no 'h') is obviously both a natural replacement for Sterling's versatility (but not a 'like for like' replacement) and also in part what Suarez brought to the team in work ethic from the front. Coutinho is the most similar player we have to him but I'd rather both on the pitch than one .. which is what will happen of course. Markovic isn't ready for that much responsibility (though I still have hope for him in the long haul), that much is obvious, so it's a major upgrade to the front 5, especially if we add a new striker too.
Milner is far ahead of Can and Henderson (who I don't rate as highly as some, though there is no doubting his work ethic & ability, the later of which needs to be shown more often) and is an undoubted strengthening of the midfield. It's weird beyond belief you can rate Can, a youngster who has yet to find his natural position and lacking in experience (which this Liverpool team lacks and which Milner brings) and has yet to prove his undoubted potential. For me Can will be ready in maybe 2 years to become a regular starter, depending on his progress between now and then. For now Milner adds bite and class to the midfield, I'd call him more of a Gerrard replacement in terms of experience but with more versatility and stamina in 2015/16 than Gerrard would be capable of.
BR has said he doesn't like/want to play with a DM (no idea what he classifies Lucas as) so I doubt we will be buying one, though I agree with you I'd like to see a flexible DM-style player (Matic-like) in that slot.
Why do we need another defender (I assume you mean CB as we have signed Clyne and Flanno will be back from injury in January) ? Personally, whilst we are busy rectifying other issues, I'm happy enough with Sakho & Skrtel and Toure as a backup, there are worries re. Lovren but maybe he can overcome last year's abortion of a debut season.
As for a striker - has United signed one yet ? Or Arsenal or City or Chelsea or Spurs or Southampton ? So why use that as a stick to beat Liverpool with when there is so long left in the transfer window, to say nothing of our obvious pursuit of Benteke ?
O'Driscoll is highly rated amongst his peers for his one-on-one coaching, he's not being hired as a manager, the jury is out on this one so we'll have to see how that goes. Personally I don't need a 'big name', just someone who can do the coaching job well. Many excellent coaches simply can't take the step up to management.
Gary Mac is a popular placement. He brings experience, passion, leadership, empathy with the players and was a highly respected player in his own right, no different to seeing either of the Neville's sitting on the bench. With the loss of Gerrard from the changing room I suspect this will be an excellent appointment.
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A possible team with more signings likely to come: Mignolet; Clyne, Skrtel, Lovren, Moreno; Can, Henderson, Milner; Firmino, Sturridge, Coutinho.
That's not a bad-looking team at all at this stage, with Lallana, Ings, Sakho, Allen, Gomez (if he stays) and others on the bench. Another striker so they can bench the unreliable Sturridge and think Rodgers can be happy with his work.
That's not a bad-looking team at all at this stage, with Lallana, Ings, Sakho, Allen, Gomez (if he stays) and others on the bench. Another striker so they can bench the unreliable Sturridge and think Rodgers can be happy with his work.
You seem to assume quite a lot, has the transfer window closed?!
I didn't realise we were not allowed to sign a striker before end of August.
The signings so far have been good and the majority an upgrade on what we had, Clyne for Johnson, Bogdan for Jones. Firmino adds some flair, assuming Sterling goes, and Milner is quality plus adds experience.
Ings is young, hungry to learn & improve and scored goals for Burnley.
I don't know much about Gomez, probably go out on loan.
Probably undefeated on the streets also
I think they are shaping up OK. My worry if I was a Liverpool fan is that by the end of the window I still think squad-wise they will be behind last years top 4.
I think they need Benteke, a CB and GK. With the signs we look to be making and the other teams around us they look weak in central midfield too.
I think they need Benteke, a CB and GK. With the signs we look to be making and the other teams around us they look weak in central midfield too.
TBH I don't think we could reasonably expect to catch up in one transfer window, I'd imagine it will take 2-3 years to get close to similar squad strengths (assuming FSG continue to invest substantial amounts, as they've indicated they will do).
I suppose thats fair.
Out of interest where would you be happy finishing next year? and what the general fan expectations for the season ahead?
I thought people within the club would be expecting top 4 but perhaps I'm wrong.
I think most reasonable people are, at this stage, expecting a decent challenge for Top 4 and a good performance in the domestic cups and EL. Of course the current Top 4 are all going to spend substantial sums before the end of the transfer window and it would be foolish to think they won't. Then it all depends on how it all comes together .. or doesn't .. for each respective club.
Last year we were unlucky to not make Top 4 (IMHO) due to Sturridge's 'virtual' season-long absence that cost us big-time. If he can stay fit then buying Benteke or another striker may be pretty much irrelevant in terms where we finish in the PL. That said Sturridge staying fit is probably a forlorn hope.
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If they had this squad at the start of last season, they'd be set for a good season.
The trouble for them is that they've moved two steps forward while the teams around them get ready to move four.
Forgetting the top 4 for a minute, if teams like Palace and Stoke are attracting players like Cabaye and Shaquiri (and I expect a few more of these sort of deals before the window is out) there is going to be a lot finer margins involved in picking up points right across the table.
Signing Danny Ings and James Milner isn't going to put a huge gap between them and the midtable let alone catch the Top 4.
Get to feck. Shearer is a fanny
So Gary McAllister is first team coach for the dippers then
Balotelli and Borini not in the squad for the tour - Sterling is.
Exactly what I meant, but your more eloquent...
Yo'ur*
People assume our starting position is from where we ended last season. But that's not the case, there's no Stevie Gerrard conundrum for Rodgers to waste half a season on for a start.
Our starting position isn't from where we ended 2nd either as that too was skewed by the presence of Suarez. We're somewhere in between so two steps forward is decent if we indeed do make that.
Sigh, I put it down to being on a phone. I'm pretty good at English, honest!
WTF is that ? You're !!
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