Liverpool FC Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread 2014 - Mod Note in OP, 1/09

Fescue

Fescue wrote: »

Well then is it worthwhile adjusting the team to get the most from him?

For instance returning to the diamond despite the defensive frailty of it.

I'd imagine it's only right to see him and Sturridge together for a good few games.

If Sturridge is out again the formation would probably need adjusting

Fescue

rarnes1 wrote: »

I'd imagine it's only right to see him and Sturridge together for a good few games.

If Sturridge is out again the formation would probably need adjusting

I think a lot of his shortcomings will be ignored if he starts scoring goals. If he can't contribute goals or assists, then he is of little use to anyone.

With Origi arriving next year, he could find himself well down the pecking order.

Agent Coulson

Ballotelli needs to play with someone beside him.

He likes to come deep to collect the ball and turn and run at defenders if he doesn't have someone up with him to drag players away he is running into a road block.

Harry Palmr

rarnes1 wrote: »

Nobody is turning against Rodgers. It's normal to question the manager after a run of poor games. 1 good performance in 10 isn't good enough.

Sticking the head in the sand and blindly hoping things will get better is ridiculous.

Why mention Arsenal? We are 9 points off Chelsea after 6 games! 7 off Southampton.

Agree with you on Can, calling him a baffling transfer when's he's out injured having not played for us is hilarious.

Don't agree on Balotelli.

4th place. That's the presumed minimum isn't it?

---

Jordon Ibe is in the England U20s squad to play a 4 nation tournie in Heerenveen.

England will play Germany on Thursday, October 9, Holland on Saturday, October 11, and Turkey on Monday, October 13.

---

Balo will be gone in January if things don't knit together with Sturridge.

---

and finally - I look forward to 8-10s first hand account of the game.

Kimbot

Balotelli last night showed an improvement but the main thing i noticed was that when he got the ball and ran forward more often than not there was nobody beside or ahead of him.

Sir Gallagher

joe123 wrote: »

Its actually laughable how quick some are to turn on Rodgers. The man that brought us to the cusp of a Premier League for the first time in years.

Absolutely laughable. I was at Anfield for the Everton game and the good news is that support is very much behind Rodgers which is a good thing. Reading some of the absolute tripe from the usual critics on here you'd swear hes about to get the sack.

We are badly missing Sturridge and I am convinced that once he is back, Balotelli will come into his own. It is clear Balotelli needs a strike partner.

Allen is a big miss for setting the tempo which allows Henderson push further forward. Cannot understand the post calling Can one of the most baffling transfers of the summer either. He has the potential to be one of those powerful midfielders that we so badly lack.

If Rodgers deserves anything after last season its time. We are only 3 points off Arsenal.

I said it about Can.

When you look at our DM and CM options who have we got, a 34 year old, a passenger and a player who's never fit for purpose. That's why a 20 year old Can is a baffling purchase to me. Dont get me wrong, he could turn out to be a good player in a few years, but he's still in the "potential" bracket when we needed an established player.

Fescue

Sir Gallagher wrote: »

I said it about Can.

When you look at our DM and CM options who have we got, a 34 year old, a passenger and a player who's never fit for purpose. That's why a 20 year old Can is a baffling purchase to me. Dont get me wrong, he could turn out to be a good player in a few years, but he's still in the "potential" bracket when we needed an established player.

As limited as he is, I would play Lucas in that role ahead of Gerrard.

Sir Gallagher

Fescue wrote: »

As limited as he is, I would play Lucas in that role ahead of Gerrard.

Not me, that'd mean double the the amount of set pieces coming into our box. We are truly fcked in DM at the moment.

Gbear

Sir Gallagher wrote: »

I said it about Can.

When you look at our DM and CM options who have we got, a 34 year old, a passenger and a player who's never fit for purpose. That's why a 20 year old Can is a baffling purchase to me. Dont get me wrong, he could turn out to be a good player in a few years, but he's still in the "potential" bracket when we needed an established player.

There was clearly room for both though.

We could easily fit another top quality DM in the squad if Gerrard was playing the number of games he should be.

rarnes1 wrote: »

Is Ballotelli suited to quick interchangeable football, ie the way Rodgers wants his forwards to play? Absolutely not

Maybe not as a lone striker, but his ability in tight spaces, hold up play and all round technical ability would suggest that he should have no problem with it.

He needs others in the box when he plays the game outside it and there's nothing wrong with that per se. What's wrong is how we're trying to integrate that into the rest of the team.

NukaCola

Not writing off Mario, but what he's getting praised/defended for is the absolute basics lets be honest. He hasn't showed anything to get excited about really and thats probably not all down to him.

What is apparent though is if BR wants to play fast interchange of passing and movement up top similar to last season he is not the man to fit in. He gets on the ball and holds it for far too long and slows the attack, and doesn't press high up effectively. Wether he can adapt or not is anyones guess.

Also, i am a big fan of BR and am very confident he can tweak things to get the best out of the team but the defence is a huge blind spot for him and I'm not sure if he is humble enough to recognise this as a failing and get in help, which is clearly needed and way overdue at this stage. This is not a panicked opinion just an overhang from last season. I really thought the popular and obvious opinion was "We wont score as many goals but we can offset some of that by tightening up the back". If that was indeed the idea then he hasn't solved the problem.

Luckycharms_74

BR & Gerrard post match interview. Gerrard pretty scathing of the performance.

Agent Coulson

Brendan is such...

Harry Palmr

So Rodgers sees the problem, fine now do something about it.

After the match someone on the RTE panel suggested Skrtel should be tasked with one thing only at a set piece - heading the ball and nothing else.

gafferino

Luckycharms_74 wrote: »

BR & Gerrard post match interview. Gerrard pretty scathing of the performance.

I am glad to see the two of them having a go. A rocket needs to be put up these guys as well as the tactical side of things. Sometimes you have to make it happen.

Will be interested to see what he says at his presser at 2pm today.

LuckyLloyd

joe123 wrote: »

Its actually laughable how quick some are to turn on Rodgers. The man that brought us to the cusp of a Premier League for the first time in years.

Absolutely laughable. I was at Anfield for the Everton game and the good news is that support is very much behind Rodgers which is a good thing. Reading some of the absolute tripe from the usual critics on here you'd swear hes about to get the sack.

We are badly missing Sturridge and I am convinced that once he is back, Balotelli will come into his own. It is clear Balotelli needs a strike partner.

Allen is a big miss for setting the tempo which allows Henderson push further forward. Cannot understand the post calling Can one of the most baffling transfers of the summer either. He has the potential to be one of those powerful midfielders that we so badly lack.

If Rodgers deserves anything after last season its time. We are only 3 points off Arsenal.

One decent performance in 10 games. If that happens again over the next 10 games we're going to have an issue.

I know you live in a fantasy world where some of us are desperately waiting to sharpen our knives and spring out from behind a rock. However, that isn't actually the case. I have every intention of being patient and understand that there are injuries but we've been utterly hapless for a stretch of games and I'm not seeing signs of improvement.

Some of us are just worried. I don't think we can be blamed for that tbh.

Dickerty

I blame the head tennis. And Pascoe's knees.

spiritcrusher

In the long term a poor run of games and some deserved criticism could be the making of Rodgers. It's possible that he came into this season overly confident and now is being brought crashing back to reality. He now needs to seriously re-evaluate some players, his tactics and possibly his own coaching limitations. I'm starting to feel this season may be a bit of a write-off but in the long run it may be no harm to put the shit up Rodgers a bit.

NukaCola

LuckyLloyd wrote: »

One decent performance in 10 games

Some of us are just worried. I don't think we can be blamed for that tbh.

Absolutely. However there are some people who appear to be a lot more panicked and negative than they should be. Balotelli was called a disease on here last night for example. SG is past it. BR is clueless. All these are classic OTT.

1 good performance out of 10 is also quite harsh. We've played 9 games this season for a start.

Against Southampton we had some good spells, standard first game back get points on the board display. Excellent versus Spurs. We deserved more from the Everton game certainly.

I accept that it hasn't been good enough but this is the kind of language (1 out of 10) that really irks me. Needlessly OTT.

Dickerty

spiritcrusher wrote: »

In the long term a poor run of games and some deserved criticism could be the making of Rodgers. It's possible that he came into this season overly confident and now is being brought crashing back to reality. He now needs to seriously re-evaluate some players, his tactics and possibly his own coaching limitations. I'm starting to feel this season may be a bit of a write-off but in the long run it may be no harm to put the shit up Rodgers a bit.

Yep, maybe he needs more that Pascoe and Marsh, neither has anywhere near his top-level experience at coaching.
Also puts pressure on us to buy in Jan, which may not be a bad thing...

I know a cure for Ballotellis disease.

Goals!

x43r0

Sturridge was spared anyway

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/29460356

x43r0

x43r0 wrote: »

Sturridge was spared anyway

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/29460356

Thank fcuk for that!

Agent Coulson

Lambert makes the squad with maybe 30 minutes of football this season.

Just shows how light England are up front.

Sir Gallagher

Gbear wrote: »

There was clearly room for both though.

We could easily fit another top quality DM in the squad if Gerrard was playing the number of games he should be.

Yeah i agree, we should have bought both and got rid of Lucas. Seems to me as the Can purchase was a punt and was made to keep up the numbers. When the emphasis should have been on getting a more established player in there. It's quite clear that Rodgers doesn't rate Lucas so why not replace him during the summer.

LuckyLloyd

NukaCola wrote: »

Absolutely. However there are some people who appear to be a lot more panicked and negative than they should be. Balotelli was called a disease on here last night for example. SG is past it. BR is clueless. All these are classic OTT.

1 good performance out of 10 is also quite harsh. We've played 9 games this season for a start.

Against Southampton we had some good spells, standard first game back get points on the board display. Excellent versus Spurs. We deserved more from the Everton game certainly.

I accept that it hasn't been good enough but this is the kind of language (1 out of 10) that really irks me. Needlessly OTT.

We were undeserving of the 3 points against Southampton and we conceded a bunch of chances to Spurs that they really should have taken before we scored and kicked into gear during the second half.

You're reaching in the above, which irks me. And even if you were correct, and it was actually a case that we'd been hapless in 66% of our games it would still be a cause for concern.

NukaCola

LuckyLloyd wrote: »

You're reaching in the above, which irks me. And even if you were correct, and it was actually a case that we'd been hapless in 66% of our games it would still be a cause for concern.

I'm not disagreeing with you. But one good performance out of 10 isn't correct, or even possible.

Utopia Parkway

Looks like no Sturridge again this weekend. Rodgers has told Hodgson he doesn't expect him to play.

Unless Rodgers is just trying to get Hodgson off his case re: Sturridge and he will actually end up playing.

tok9

LuckyLloyd wrote: »

We were undeserving of the 3 points against Southampton and we conceded a bunch of chances to Spurs that they really should have taken before we scored and kicked into gear during the second half.

You should rewatch the highlights/match. Spurs only had 1 excellent chance in the entire game (possibly another decent one) and we were 1 up at that stage.

This also really shows how much you are trying to prove your point too. If you argue that spurs could have easily got themselves a goal or 2 then you would also be able to argue that we should have scored a goal or 2 when Balotelli had some excellent chances.

NukaCola

NukaCola wrote: »

I'm not disagreeing with you. But one good performance out of 10 isn't correct, or even possible.

You can play average or poor and still pick up points.

Spurs is the only game I've seen where we actually looked like a decent team tbh

SlickRic

the one main problem with Balotelli is that he doesn't get into the box enough.

there was a moment last night where Sterling won the ball near the penalty area, he was driving at the defence, and Balotelli just stood centrally waiting for a 3 yard square pass.

Sterling then seemed to have a go at him for not making space with a forward run.

what Sturridge will create is another player willing to run in behind other than Sterling. it will make a world of difference.

i think I remember Rodgers saying after Balotelli's goal against Ludogorets that he was trying to get Mario in the box more. we need more of that from him.

all that being said, if we could defend we'd have got out of there with a 0-0. it's what the best teams do. they get a result even when they're playing shíte. we can't do that because the defensive system is so fragile.

noodler

rarnes1 wrote: »

I know a cure for Ballotellis disease.

Goals!

I know some will feel I went to far with that remark but I can see it creeping in already.

He doesn't care about the teams he plays for.

People, including Rodgers (although what would one expect?), have said he worked hard last night? I say no, he may have worked hard by Mario standards but I still think he gave too little.

Fair enough, others underperformed as well. However, he was the one giving Coutinho and Sterling silly stick for his own mistakes, being selfish with the ball (and loisng it), moaning at the ref, raising his hand to an opponent's face (and subjecting the team to a risk of a red card as a result).

I was happy to get another front player in the sense that we needed another body but I cannot see hoe having him as the focal point of an attack when Sturridge is out is going to work.

A combination of Lambert or Boroni would be more beneficial in my opinion. These moments of genius (usually penalties or Free Kicks in my eyes) are too few and far between in my eyes.

NukaCola wrote: »

Absolutely. However there are some people who appear to be a lot more panicked and negative than they should be. Balotelli was called a disease on here last night for example. SG is past it. BR is clueless. All these are classic OTT.

I standby that comment. Roberto Mancini and Jose Mourinho saw some truth in the comment.

NukaCola

rarnes1 wrote: »

You can play average or poor and still pick up points.

Spurs is the only game I've seen where we actually looked like a decent team tbh

And i would counter that we played decent against Southampton and Everton also for large spells of both games, but then maybe I'm just being an optimist.

We haven't been good enough bottom line but some people love to make things look as worse as possible.

NEDDURC

Team I'd go with for Saturday:

Mignolet
Manquillo Toure Lovren Moreno
Lucas Henderson
Borini Lallana Sterling
Lambert

Gerrard, Balotelli, Markovic, Enrique and Skrtel dropped for poor performances last night.
Lovren may be in need or a rest soon too I think. Played alot of games since joining.

dogbert27

Harry Palmr wrote: »

Where did this go?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0bXJWSLcd4M

tok9

Suso is out for 2 months

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/spanish-midfielder-suso-set-miss-7869438

NukaCola

noodler wrote: »

I standby that comment. Roberto Mancini and Jose Mourinho saw some truth in the comment.

I honestly couldn't care less what you standby. I personally wouldn't call anyone a disease but thats your own business.

I called your comment OTT and i would wager the majority of people would a agree with that.

Utopia Parkway

SlickRic wrote: »

the one main problem with Balotelli is that he doesn't get into the box enough.

Didn't touch the ball inside the Basel penalty area last night. Not even once.

Actually think he's been working hard without the ball. Closing down, tracking back, tackling, etc.

When we attack though he just stands still. Always wants to come deep and have it into his feet. If he does that we need to be getting players running beyond him. Would like to see him and Sturridge for handful of games though as Sturridge will move around and make runs in behind.

At the moment it feels like Ballotelli and Lambert are both doing the same job and we only need one of those in the squad. Not two.

brevity

SlickRic wrote: »

the one main problem with Balotelli is that he doesn't get into the box enough.

I think in an effort to show that he's working harder he's trying to get involved in the build up. Doesn't help that we were so poor at getting the ball to him quicker.

brevity

Utopia Parkway wrote: »

Didn't touch the ball inside the Basel penalty area last night. Not even once.

Yes he did, he scored but was ruled offside.

Nerdlingr

Utopia Parkway wrote: »

Didn't touch the ball inside the Basel penalty area last night. Not even once.

Yes he did. Its just he was offside every time he did it!

noodler

NukaCola wrote: »

I honestly couldn't care less what you standby. I personally wouldn't call anyone a disease but thats your own business.

I called your comment OTT and i would wager the majority of people would a agree with that.

I honestly couldn't care less what you consider OTT etc etc

Am I doing it right?


It is only a matter of time. Every manager he has had wanted rid eventually. He is only a couple of games in and he is showing precisely why.

Granted, Liverpool fans will always give a new signing the benefit of the doubt but it is hard to look past his character flaws which aren't directly related to his goalscoring record.

I have never seen Sterling and Countino react the way they have after Ballotelli's selfish blame game motions last night. His behaviour seems to be spreading.

dfx-

Harry Palmr wrote: »

Where did this go?

The first goal is scored by the guy gone to Barcelona
The guy following up the first shot for the second goal is gone to Barcelona
The third goal is set up by the guy gone to Barcelona
The fourth goal is scored by the guy gone to Barcelona
The fifth goal is set up by the guy gone to Barcelona

Fescue

https://twitter.com/BassTunedToRed/status/517654008027426816?lang=en

Harry Palmr

dfx- wrote: »

The scorer of the first goal is gone to Barcelona
The guy following up the first shot for the second goal is gone to Barcelona
The third goal is set up by the guy gone to Barcelona
The fourth goal is scored by the guy gone to Barcelona
The fifth goal is set up by the guy gone to Barcelona

True What was missing last night as compared to Spurs was a genuine cut and thrust starting from deep. Lucas/Allen/Hendo were terrific with Henderson getting ahead of the ball and the striker. This season he has got beyond play in two games I think - Spurs and Everton (briefly) last night he was so deep as to be wasted. Pressing the ball or the man has gone out the window by everyone bar the full backs now and then.

NukaCola

noodler wrote: »

I honestly couldn't care less what you consider OTT etc etc

Am I doing it right?


It is only a matter of time. Every manager he has had wanted rid eventually. He is only a couple of games in and he is showing precisely why.

Granted, Liverpool fans will always give a new signing the benefit of the doubt but it is hard to look past his character flaws which aren't directly related to his goalscoring record.

I have never seen Sterling and Countino react the way they have after Ballotelli's selfish blame game motions last night. His behaviour seems to be spreading.

Its your choice of language not your opinion that I called OTT.

Balotelli is a disease is not how I'd describe him or his actions. I don't want to come across as faking outrage here or anything I just would never say it about anyone.

rob316

dfx- wrote: »

The first goal is scored by the guy gone to Barcelona
The guy following up the first shot for the second goal is gone to Barcelona
The third goal is set up by the guy gone to Barcelona
The fourth goal is scored by the guy gone to Barcelona
The fifth goal is set up by the guy gone to Barcelona

Ya he was kinda good:(

MD1990

I see Balotelli is getting alot of blame . He hasn't had that many clear cut chances since joining. Partly down to his movement but also because we are creating very little atm. Coutinho i thought was starting to get into the game before being taken off. For West Brom i would go

---

Mignolet
Manquillo---Skrtel---Lovren--Moreno

---

Gerrard

---

Henderson----Coutinho

---

Lallana

---

Balotelli

---

Sterling

I think Sterling should be tried as a striker to make runs in behind in place of Sturridge & it would give him a break from tracking back.

NabyLadistheman

Whats the story with Markovich lads? I am all for letting him settle in and find his feet but he was desperate last night. Just seems to be way off the pace & no match sharpness at all. It looks like it is all a bit too much for him at the moment. Was shocked to see Coutinho (who hasn't been great) taken off ahead of him

Harry Palmr

Suarezistheman wrote: »

Whats the story with Markovich lads? I am all for letting him settle in and find his feet but he was desperate last night. Just seems to be way off the pace & o match sharpness at all. It looks like it is all a bit too much for him at the moment. Was shocked to see Coutinho (who hasn't been great) taken off ahead of him last night.

A couple of times he put his foot down and showed the pace that some here seemed convinced he didn't possess, unfortunately his passing was sh'ite, I think he'll get there - its not helping him that he is a runner when the forward is not. Sturridge will give him something better to work with, a runner for a runner.

Pilsbury Doughboy

LuckyLloyd wrote: »

We were undeserving of the 3 points against Southampton and we conceded a bunch of chances to Spurs that they really should have taken before we scored and kicked into gear during the second half.

You're reaching in the above, which irks me. And even if you were correct, and it was actually a case that we'd been hapless in 66% of our games it would still be a cause for concern.

Really? Seems like you just concocted that story from thin air, Sterling scored in the first 10mins IIRC, so not quite sure what chances you're talking about? They had one good chance right on half time when Chadli blasted in straight at Mignolet after a cock up from Sakho/Lovern, I'm fairly sure you posted on here that you didn't see the game as well, so anyway if you could remind us of those chances you refer to that'd be nice.