Liverpool FC Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread 2014 - Mod Warning in OP, 10/12

JohnDaniels

NEDDURC wrote: »

I disagree, I think we've gone to playing to narrow this year. I'd like to see Sterling revert to a more orthodox wing player for abit. Beat some players and get some crosses in. Lets get Markovic / Borini to do the same on the other side.

......................Allen
Sterling...Henderson...Lalllana....Markovic
......................Balo

You want to persist with playing Balo as a lone striker? :eek:

Whatever about needing more width, I thought the one thing we all agreed about at this stage was that we need to get someone close to him up top.

OwaynOTT

ush wrote: »

Can people stop using the phrase "world class".

Can we use top top player?
Or even top top top player, to distinguish those really top players, who aren't just top players but top of the tops, world class you would say.

NukaCola

Super-Rush wrote: »

So we were 1 point better off against those teams with Suarez and Sturridge playing last season. For me i think we are still on track for 4th place this season.

We have 14 points from 11 games.
We are 4 points off 4th but 5 off relegation.
We have scored 14 and conceded 15 goals.
Our now main striker has 0 EPL Goals 1 overall.
Our form is poor.
We are 11th in the league.

I like a positive spin but no matter what way you look at it we haven't been good enough. Last season means nothing anymore. We are still well in the race for top four but we need to win games.

NukaCola

ush wrote: »

Can people stop using the phrase "world class".

Continental class has a good ring to it.

Knex*

ush wrote: »

Can people stop using the phrase "world class".

"Global Quality"

NukaCola

JohnDaniels wrote: »

I thought the one thing we all agreed about at this stage was that we need to get someone close to him up top.

Rodgers doesn't.

Isn't Mario out for the weekend with injury anyway?

Knex*

They may not be 'World Class', or of a 'Global Quality'. But I think we can all agree that they are beautiful human beings.

NukaCola

Knex. wrote: »

They may not be 'World Class', or of a 'Global Quality'. But I think we can all agree that they are beautiful human beings.

And great technicians

Super-Rush

tok9 wrote: »

While I admire your optimism I wouldn't say we're on track for top 4 going by what looks like 2 poor runs.

I'd also add that of that list we beat Everton at home last season.

We also drew with them

We lost to City and beat them, drew with Villa and beat them, won and lost to Hull, drew and beat Newcastle, two losses to Chelsea, two wins against Spurs, won and lost to Southampton, won and drew against West Brom.

It doesn't have to be all doom and gloom though. Not one of us thought we would go on such a run in the second half of last season. We are only 2 points of United, 3 off Arsenal and level with Everton who are our main opponents for 4th. We're also only 4 points behind West Ham who are in 4th place and with the greatest respect to the hammers, they won't be there come May, and even with the great job that Koeman is doing with Southampton, they won't be in the top four at the end of the season either.

It's still all to play for for me. The internationals are over for a while so we can keep the squad together for sustained periods of time. Sure Sturridge is injured again but **** like that happens. It happened with Owen, Torres, Gerrard. I have faith in the manager to turn it around, he done it last season, he'll do it again.

Super-Rush

NukaCola wrote: »

We have 14 points from 11 games.
We are 4 points off 4th but 5 off relegation.
We have scored 14 and conceded 15 goals.
Our now main striker has 0 EPL Goals 1 overall.
Our form is poor.
We are 11th in the league.

I like a positive spin but no matter what way you look at it we haven't been good enough. Last season means nothing anymore. We are still well in the race for top four but we need to win games.

Why does last season not mean anything anymore?

Utopia Parkway

James Pearce saying the club fear Sturridge will be out for a significant amount of time again as it's the exact same injury he picked up in England training that time.

Super-Rush

Utopia Parkway wrote: »

James Pearce saying the club fear Sturridge will be out for a significant amount of time again as it's the exact same injury he picked up in England training that time.

Could be a blessing in disguise.

Rodgers needs to put pressure on the owners to splash out on someone of proven quality. Now is not the time for potential or value.

NukaCola

Super-Rush wrote: »

Why does last season not mean anything anymore?

Are you being serious?

Super-Rush

NukaCola wrote: »

Are you being serious?

I am. I'm curious as to why you think that.

Gbear

Super-Rush wrote: »

Could be a blessing in disguise.

Rodgers needs to put pressure on the owners to splash out on someone of proven quality. Now is not the time for potential or value.

Not much of a blessing with 10 crucial games between now and the time we can do something about it.

NukaCola

Super-Rush wrote: »

I am. I'm curious as to why you think that.

So much has changed for us and a lot of clubs. New teams, new managers and new players, different tactics etc
Last season cant really be used to accurately determine how good/bad our current season is. It means nothing really when talking about results.

BenEadir

joe123 wrote: »

Im going to list three players.

Torres, Mascherano, Suarez.

That's not answering the question which was "proven world class player we signed"

None of the above were proven world class players when we signed them. they had the potential to be and thankfully they fulfilled that potential in a red shirt before being sold on for significant profits to clubs who actually bought them as proven world class players.

JohnDaniels

I know it seems to be taboo to bring such things up in this thread but it's relevant. Rafa has hinted in an interview yesterday that he is will not renew his contract with Napoli at the end of the season as he misses his family in Liverpool too much and he will return to England. That oven isn't hot enough Brendan? Oh here let me turn it up for you

Super-Rush

Have we ever signed a proven world class top top top player in the PL era?

Or ever?

BenEadir

Super-Rush wrote: »

Have we ever signed a proven world class top top top player in the PL era?

Or ever?

Re-signing super Rush. :P

Harry Palmr

Super-Rush wrote: »

Could be a blessing in disguise.

Rodgers needs to put pressure on the owners to splash out on someone of proven quality. Now is not the time for potential or value.

As I said yesterday the owners need to put pressure on Rodgers to prove his metal as a manager and not start buying players to fix the problem (which cannot be fixed that way until January anyway)

Francie Barrett

Super-Rush wrote: »

Have we ever signed a proven world class top top top player in the PL era?

Or ever?

Torres was definitely in the top tier of players when we got him.

Crash Bang Wall

Super-Rush wrote: »

About these failures so far this season.

Southampton - Win
City - Loss
Spurs - Win
Villa - Loss
West Ham - Loss
Everton - Draw.....at home
West Brom - Win
QPR - Win
Hull - Draw......at home
Newcastle - Loss
Chelsea - Loss
Points 14(11 without QPR)

Games against those teams last season(excluding QPR)

Southampton - Loss (Sturridge, no Suarez)
City - Loss (Suarez & Sturridge)
Spurs - Win (Suarez & Sturridge)
Villa - Scraped a draw (Sturridge & Suarez)
West Ham - Scraped a win (Sturridge & Suarez)
Everton - Scraped a draw (Sturridge sub & Suarez)......this was away
West Brom - Win (Sturridge & Suarez)
Hull - Loss (Sturridge & Suarez)....this was away
Newcastle - Scraped a draw despite having a man advantage (Sturridge & Suarez)
Chelsea - Loss (Sturridge & Suarez)

Points 12

So we were 1 point better off against those teams with Suarez and Sturridge playing last season. For me i think we are still on track for 4th place this season.

Not comparing like with like pal

Knex*

Francie Barrett wrote: »

Torres was definitely in the top tier of players when we got him.

A lot of people questioned his goal scoring rate and his ability to withstand the PL pace and toughness.

He wasn't a sure fire thing, and certainly nobody predicted him to score 30+ goals in his first year.

Crash Bang Wall

Assuming no Sturridge Balotelli Sakho or Henderson for the w/e:

Mingnolet

Johnson
Skrtel
Lovren.....fresher than Toure after internationals...otherwise Id start Toure
Moreno

Lucas
Can

Sterling
Gerrard
Coutinho

Borini

Bench: Jones Toure Manquillo Markovic Lambert Rossiter Lallana

Francie Barrett

Knex. wrote: »

A lot of people questioned his goal scoring rate and his ability to withstand the PL pace and toughness.

He wasn't a sure fire thing, and certainly nobody predicted him to score 30+ goals in his first year.

Fergie himself said that he tried to bring Torres in the season we bought him. That is world class enough for me (or whatever moniker you want to use)

tok9

Super-Rush wrote: »

It's still all to play for for me. The internationals are over for a while so we can keep the squad together for sustained periods of time. Sure Sturridge is injured again but **** like that happens. It happened with Owen, Torres, Gerrard. I have faith in the manager to turn it around, he done it last season, he'll do it again.

I would say I'm one of the more optimistic ones around here but I was just showing it wasn't exactly a like for like.

At the moment we just need to start winning. Nothing else will lift us from the current doom and gloom around here.

2 strikers and a win against Palace would be a good start.

Utopia Parkway

6 weeks out for Sturridge.

tok9

Confirmation anyway.

Sturridge is out for 6 more weeks.

James Pearce
‏@JamesPearceEcho
Full story: #LFC dealt a crushing blow as scans reveal Daniel Sturridge will be out for a further six weeks http://www.

Agent Coulson

6 weeks unless he breaks down again which could be very likely to be honest with his history.

Francie Barrett

Well lads, that's top 4 ruled out unless we see some sort of miracle transformation taking place with our attackers. We have 8 games between now and his expected return date. Where are we going to find the goals we desperately need?

dogbert27

NukaCola wrote: »

So much has changed for us and a lot of clubs. New teams, new managers and new players, different tactics etc
Last season cant really be used to accurately determine how good/bad our current season is. It means nothing really when talking about results.

Your right. Last season has to be forgotten now.

As the saying goes, you're only as good as your last game.

Agent Coulson

Any chance Yesil is fit enough to take a chance on bring him up into the first team squad.

Iused2likebusts

ush wrote: »

Can people stop using the phrase "world class".

At least as good as mata is a better way of looking at it.

JohnDaniels

Injury record over the last.

Hip/Thigh Injury - 18.11.2014
Calf/Shin injury – 13.10.2014
Thigh Muscle Strain – 05.09.2014
Hamstring Injury – 31.07.2014
Hip/Thigh Injury – 14.06.2014
Hamstring Injury – 13.04.2013
Ankle/Foot Injury - 29.11.2013
Hip/Thigh Injury – 09.11.2013
Hip/Thigh Injury – 01.09.2013
Ankle/Foot Injury – 29.05.2013
Hip/Thigh Injury – 19.03.2013
Hip/Thigh Injury – 25.02.2013
Hip/Thigh Injury – 03.02.2013

MD1990

Should we consider recalling Ibe in Jan or would that put too much pressure on him?
Players are going to have to start performing. Some players are in a comfort zone & Rodgers needs to be harsher in terms of dropping certain players.

brevity

If he plays again this season I'll be very surprised.

We need an experienced striker in January, it's as simple as that. FSG, Rodgers and the transfer committee need to get this one right.

Augmerson

Agent Coulson wrote: »

Any chance Yesil is fit enough to take a chance on bring him up into the first team squad.

Didn't he make the bench recently?

kop77

ya... another 6 weeks of the cameras zooming in on Sturridge in the stands when there is a break in play....... great, fcukin great,,.:mad:

klose

Agent Coulson wrote: »

Any chance Yesil is fit enough to take a chance on bring him up into the first team squad.

Yesil is pretty injury prone himself

Hidalgo

BenEadir wrote: »

Sure but the problem is we can't outspend the clubs we're competing with. If they want him as much as we do they can match and (as Chelsea did with Willian and Salah if I'm not mistaken) they can also out spend us.

Or the business needs to be done quickly before other clubs show interest.
May or may not be true but Liverpool playing hardball a bit too hard delayed deals for Salah and Mikityran.

Harry Palmr

Playing hardball got Moreno for about 12 million rather than the 20 Seville wanted. Its a risk, swings and roundabouts.

martyos121

Just gonna leave this here.

Harry Palmr

Harry Palmr wrote: »

Playing hardball got Moreno for about 12 million rather than the 20 Seville wanted. Its a risk, swings and roundabouts.

Who else was prepared to pay 20m for him though?

Different scenarios to the other two

Francie Barrett

Here's a thought. There have been rumours that the owners have not been happy with Rodgers. With Sturridge out and a string of easy games ahead, if we don't get decent results, we could see Rodgers come under massive pressure. Would the owners consider sacking him over Christmas if our bad run extended until then?

Agent Coulson

For January..

Cavani is on the outs at PSG by all accounts Zlatan doesn't want him there and whatever Zlatan wants Zlatan gets a PSG.


I wouldn't mind going for Lavezzi at PSG he might not be the greatest goal scorer but he his the kind of wing forward we have been crying out for works hard puts in a shift and can hurt teams.

Hidalgo

joe123 wrote: »

Haha I knew this type of post would come along.

As Turtyturd said, there are varying levels of "what is world class"

Torres was leading the line for his national team and was off the back off a great tournament for Spain.

He was a huge talent and very like when City signed Aguero.

Mascherano along was Tevez was considered one of the best players to be coming out of South America. Remember the fuss that was kicked up when West Ham signed them two? Yeah I doubt youd be seeing that if West Ham signed Borini or Aspas when we did.

Suarez, another player playing regularly for his national side and was being touted as the player to watch in the 2010 world cup.

Any football fan with even the smallest bit of knowledge on the game knew how good these signings could be for us.

There is a world of difference in those type of signings and the types we are bringing in now.

Re Torres for Spain.
Whilst starting for Spain highlights his ability, the Spain Torres played in pre Liverpool is nowhere near what they went onto achieve.
Afaik Torres was involved in 2 major tournaments before Liverpool signed him.
Euro 2004 where Spain failed to make it out of the group and World Cup 2006 where they exited om the round of 16.

Francie Barrett

Francie Barrett wrote: »

Here's a thought. There have been rumours that the owners have not been happy with Rodgers. With Sturridge out and a string of easy games ahead, if we don't get decent results, we could see Rodgers come under massive pressure. Would the owners consider sacking him over Christmas if our bad run extended until then?

Didn't see those rumours myself. Any links?

Agent Coulson

Francie Barrett wrote: »

Here's a thought. There have been rumours that the owners have not been happy with Rodgers. With Sturridge out and a string of easy games ahead, if we don't get decent results, we could see Rodgers come under massive pressure. Would the owners consider sacking him over Christmas if our bad run extended until then?

He will get to the summer one way or another and he deserves that.

I have been a critic of his this season and last to be fair but he deserves to get to the summer.

NukaCola

Augmerson wrote: »

Didn't he make the bench recently?

Didnt know he was good at carpentry. Multi talented!