Liverpool FC News/Gossip/Rumours Summer '15

LuckyLloyd

5starpool wrote: »

The game is at the Britannia, not Anfield.

Ah. Well still...I'd be confident we'll beat them.

5starpool

Pl

5starpool wrote: »

Out of curiosity does anyone here think we WILL finish in the top 4 this year? I know some think we will challenge strongly for the top 4, but does anyone actually think we have something like a 60% chance even of doing so?

Personally I hope we challenge for the top 4 and we have the capability to be consistent enough to actually achieve it. I don't think we will be as close as I'd hope though, and ultimately it'll be another fairly frustrating season.

Augeo, I'm looking at you as the main voice of positivity from last season

It's all down to goals really imo.

Clyne in for Johnson in a back 4 improves us defensively, having a competent full back there makes (should) the 2 CBS better.

Milner is a huge improvement on the Gerrard of last year, I believe we lost points accommodating Gerrard, hard to drop him after losing suarez with sturridge injured too though.

Sterling of last year was far from unbelievable impact wise, I don't think its beyond the team & firminho especially to replace his input.

We got to a 50/50 chance of top 4 before the utd game after very poor period, a few more goals in that poor period and we would have been in a better position no doubt.

I think there's enough firepower without sturridge to make us well able to beat 13/14 of the PL teams, last year we couldn't do that.

I expect the team to function as a team this year, its nigh on impossible to compensate for a blunt end product, teams weren't afraid of us last year, we weren't dangerous for most of the season.

If Benteke isn't on the boil Ings & origi will have their chance, ings will be chomping at the bit and is a handful due to his aggressive dogged style.

Ferminho, coutinho & lallana are well able to create chances, Ibe is a great option to have on the bench. I think the burden will be shared by the squad rather than their being someone folks look to.


I'm fully expecting a seeming overperformance next season

Wouldn't surprise me if we got 3rd, Chelsea are rock solid but aside from them its all to play for imo.

Mr.H

LuckyLloyd wrote: »

All I said is that Sterling looked impressive in his preseason highlights reel.

While preseason is not competitive football, it isn't some remote experience in 1970's Siberia. Stoke got pissed on a mere two days ago and looked dreadful, really dreadful. We looked like we were getting there over the weekend.

The expectation should always be that we beat Stoke at home but, considering how they looked at the weekend, I am particularly confident we'll bag the three points, yes. Surely that's a good thing?

We did look tired the weekend though and have not been tested at all this pre season. We havent even played a game against the level of Porto so its hard to say.

But new season and fresh optimism means Im expecting 3 points

asteroids over berlin

Demosthenese wrote: »

We should not be expecting to be in the Top 4 but expecting to challenge for it. If we had any sort of consistency last season we'd have at least ran United closer for 4th.

It's hard to predict how Utd/Arsenal will go this season and City/Chelsea are pretty much going to be nailed on for top4 ... so we have to be ready to pounce in case they have indifferent seasons.

A good start and a head of steam can go a long way. Last season was pretty much a nightmare until xmas, and we still could have finished higher - so no reason to think we can't do better.

Top 4!!! Top 1, I have my cash down, €50 @ 33/1. Already ordered a new flymo and trimmer, still got about 1500 left for Xmas gifts for myself. life is good.

LuckyLloyd

Mr.H wrote: »

We did look tired the weekend though and have not been tested at all this pre season. We havent even played a game against the level of Porto so its hard to say.

But new season and fresh optimism means Im expecting 3 points

Tiredness would be expected as you'd imagine the training workload has been very heavy and there was a lot of travelling mixed in there. You'd imagine this will be a much lighter week and - assuming they've got the prep right and that's their job after all - the players should be refreshed and rearing to go at the weekend.

whatawaster

JohnDaniels wrote: »

But Gomez deserves a starting spot based on friendlies?

He looks more solid defensively than Moreno and more defensive minded.

There is a difference between using pre-season form to influence which players ought to start the first game, and completely downplaying a team’s ability because they were beaten by a side much better than any Liverpool faced this pre-season.

In 2013/14 we lost to Celtic (who are proper s^ite) and nearly won the league.
In 2014/15 we beat Man City and finished 7th

LuckyLloyd

LuckyLloyd wrote: »

Ah. Well still...I'd be confident we'll beat them.

We should most definitely expect to beat Stoke at the Brittania.
Great opportunity for Henderson first match of the season, he has Milner alongside him so the CM burden is shared.

Stoke should be looking at this game a tad puzzled, do a Stoke and Benteke can still impact the game, not do a Stoke and how good are the Liverpool of 2015/2016, all things considered they should be apprehensive enough imo.

brevity

https://twitter.com/TicketmasterIre/status/628500697219248128

Get in!

asteroids over berlin

brevity wrote: »

https://twitter.com/TicketmasterIre/status/628500697219248128

Get in!

This geezer is a twat! please don't tell me he is a pool fan!

Mr.H

LuckyLloyd wrote: »

Tiredness would be expected as you'd imagine the training workload has been very heavy and there was a lot of travelling mixed in there. You'd imagine this will be a much lighter week and - assuming they've got the prep right and that's their job after all - the players should be refreshed and rearing to go at the weekend.

oh yea I would assume as much. I just meant that we looked tired the weekend and expect to be refreshed for the weekend so I would assume Stoke may be of the same mindset. We should beat them yes but Im sure that tiredness played a big part in their defeat (also playing 2 games in 2 days most of the squad was named for both games although only a couple had parts to play in both games)

Jon Stark

LuckyLloyd wrote: »

Tiredness would be expected as you'd imagine the training workload has been very heavy and there was a lot of travelling mixed in there. You'd imagine this will be a much lighter week and - assuming they've got the prep right and that's their job after all - the players should be refreshed and rearing to go at the weekend.

I'm not confident tbh, I think we'll fly out of the traps and start well, all depends on if we can get an early goal. If we can't then I can see the team mentally becoming exposed and unsure of themselves, as was the problem so many times last season.

One of Rodgers' key objectives this season for me is toughening up this team. It won't be easy to get the ball rolling on that one at the Britannia.

brevity

asteroids over berlin wrote: »

This geezer is a twat! please don't tell me he is a pool fan!

Dunno if he is a pool fan but Knex loves him.

Demosthenese

asteroids over berlin wrote: »

Top 4!!! Top 1, I have my cash down, €50 @ 33/1. Already ordered a new flymo and trimmer, still got about 1500 left for Xmas gifts for myself. life is good.

33/1 is terrible odds! At least your garden will look good though.

JohnDaniels

whatawaster wrote: »

He looks more solid defensively than Moreno and more defensive minded.

There is a difference between using pre-season form to influence which players ought to start the first game, and completely downplaying a team’s ability because they were beaten by a side much better than any Liverpool faced this pre-season.

In 2013/14 we lost to Celtic (who are proper s^ite) and nearly won the league.
In 2014/15 we beat Man City and finished 7th

I just think it is completely ridiculous to make any judgements on him based on pre-season. We seemed to have purposely picked bad teams to play against this preseason. I think part of the thinking has been to built a bit of confidence between the defence by keeping a few clean sheets with a few solid defensive displays. The flip side of that is I would be taking exactly zero from Gomez's performance. The intensity, competitiveness, quality etc he will be facing come kick off is on a completely different level. I actually think considering he has never played at this level before and it is his first start for Liverpool it is kind of reckless from the manager.

Knex*

brevity wrote: »

Dunno if he is a pool fan but Knex loves him.

You're getting worse than Turtyturd with these horrible accusations.

Francie Barrett

Lads, don't be reading anything into pre-season. I've seen us have awful pre-seasons only to go on and do well, and vice versa.

klose

Fcuk Michael McIntyre, he withers my sack.

BorneTobyWilde

All the mistakes Moreno Lovern Sakho Mignolet made last season would have went unnoticed had we been 3-0 up at the time. We made as much, if not more mistakes when we almost won the league. I think if we get it right up the other end we will not care as much that Moreno or who ever makes a howler in a game we end up winning 3-1.
When you can't score the mistakes at the back become vital mistakes that cost points, every mistake last year was a huge blow to confidence and to results. I'm hoping this season we can make a few but that they will be laughed at because they don't matter due to the fact we can go on and put them right up the other end.
Goals is the key to success in Premier League, always has been. The mistakes defensively are a non issuse once you can score goals. In Europe it's a different story,one mistake and you're gone.

OwaynOTT

redzerdrog wrote: »

Could be worse! You could have made a pathetic post calling out everyone on the forum that disagreed with you, abused everyone and closed down your account. Only to rereg weeks later under a different username like a little weasel

Now that really would be embarrassing!

Who are we talking about here?

MD1990

Potential Underachiever wrote: »

You seem to be putting way too much emphasis on pre season games, Porto are a class above Stoke maybe even Liverpool so it's moot what happened in that game, same way you're championing Sterling in pre season, means fck all until the league starts.

What you seem to be implying is that we should beat Stoke handy enough, I don't think you believe that though.

I seen the game Stoke were embarrased tbh. It took them until about the 80 min to get there first shot at goal in the 2nd half. Watching some of the pre season games the PL isn't that great of a standard .

mosstin

Mr.H wrote: »

So your again ignoring everything presumably because you have no actual response?

I wont get into a slagging match as its a little petty. You have your opinions that we need to change everything but I have my opinion that we just need to make tweaks.

Tomato tomato

I've given my response, a few times. System change or no, our CBs aren't up to it. Sakho hasn't had a long enough run of games for us to judge if he's going to be a success for us.
Lovren may come good - agan, this season will show. My original point was that our CBs aren't good enough, particularly Skrtel and Lovren (from what we've seen) and you've done nothing to dissuade me from that.

Turtyturd

brevity wrote: »

Dunno if he is a pool fan but Knex loves him.

I thought you'd messed up your countdown to the beginning of the season.

Turtyturd

OwaynOTT wrote: »

Who are we talking about here?

Hangball Doughboy .

OwaynOTT

Demosthenese wrote: »

33/1 is terrible odds! At least your garden will look good though.

What you in about his garden for? He's the Liverpool groundskeeper, why do you think the pitch was so poor last year?
Rodgers and FSG bought him a used trimmer off adverts last year because of the potential it showed a few years ago cutting estate lawns. They thought Rodgers and asteroids over Berlin could coach it up to being usable at premier league pitch standards.
Didn't work out and they spunked the Suarez money on a gamble, when they should have bought quality stihl equipment.

OwaynOTT

Turtyturd wrote: »

Hangball Doughboy .

What is he gone? And reregged pretending to be someone else who left and reregged. Rereggedception

Agent Coulson

OwaynOTT wrote: »

Who are we talking about here?

Turtyturd

Knex. wrote: »

You're getting worse than Turtyturd with these horrible accusations.

But there's truth in mine, and you might still be right about Sturridge.

Mr.H

mosstin wrote: »

I've given my response, a few times. System change or no, our CBs aren't up to it. Sakho hasn't had a long enough run of games for us to judge if he's going to be a success for us.
Lovren may come good - agan, this season will show. My original point was that our CBs aren't good enough, particularly Skrtel and Lovren (from what we've seen) and you've done nothing to dissuade me from that.

I agree that they havent done enough for us.

But all I am saying is that we could spend another 20 or 30 million on defence but I dont think it would actually help. My point is that the problem is bigger than the individuals and spending more money on it could be a waste.

We spent more than 70 million on our defence. Clyne Moreno Sakho Lovren and Skrtel. Surely it would be wiser to spend a little bit on a proper defensive coach rather than another 30 million on defenders.

Hyypia for example could come in. He would be in charge of defensive organisation. That COULD help the likes of Skrtel and Lovren to become better at positioning. Maybe he could teach Sakho how to be more composed in certain situations while defending. Teach Moreno how to tackle ffs.

You have your opinion and thats fine I agree............. sort of. I just think there is an easier solution than changing the whole backline and I think the Liverpool staff agree with me

corwill

Mr.H wrote: »

... and I think the Liverpool staff agree with me

Rodgers doesn't, he was sneering at the suggestions of taking on a defensive coach while we were on that bit of a run last year. Then the wheels came off over the course of the matches against Swansea and Utd, and stayed off, and I don't recall any further wisecracks from him on the topic.

Potential Underachiever

corwill wrote: »

Rodgers doesn't, he was sneering at the suggestions of taking on a defensive coach while we were on that bit of a run last year. Then the wheels came off over the course of the matches against Swansea and Utd, and stayed off, and I don't recall any further wisecracks from him on the topic.

You're under selling that bit of a run, I don't remember the exact figures as I'm not statto, but was it not 5 or 6 away clean sheets in a row, a club record since the 60's.

corwill

Potential Underachiever wrote: »

You're under selling that bit of a run, I don't remember the exact figures as I'm not statto, but was it not 5 or 6 away clean sheets in a row, a club record since the 60's.

You're right, I am, but you might forgive me if I feel what came after took a little of the shine off it.

Mr.H

corwill wrote: »

Rodgers doesn't, he was sneering at the suggestions of taking on a defensive coach while we were on that bit of a run last year. Then the wheels came off over the course of the matches against Swansea and Utd, and stayed off, and I don't recall any further wisecracks from him on the topic.

Sneering................? you mean he just quashed the rumour that we where about to appoint a defensive coach. Far from sneering.

We did over the summer change our coaching staff................. Not exactly a designated defensive coach but I am sure that some sort of organisational qualities where sought in any new additions to the staff

That and the fact that we havent replaced our whole backline. Glen was always leaving and Gomez was hardly brought in with the idea of being thrown into the starting X1

JohnDaniels

Mr.H wrote: »

Sneering................? you mean he just quashed the rumour that we where about to appoint a defensive coach. Far from sneering.

We did over the summer change our coaching staff................. Not exactly a designated defensive coach but I am sure that some sort of organisational qualities where sought in any new additions to the staff

That and the fact that we havent replaced our whole backline. Glen was always leaving and Gomez was hardly brought in with the idea of being thrown into the starting X1

No he definitely was sneering. He sarcastically mocked the media in one of his press conferences last year.

“It's the new defensive coach that we got in that everybody thought we needed. That's what has done the trick.”

corwill

Mr.H wrote: »

Sneering................? you mean he just quashed the rumour that we where about to appoint a defensive coach. Far from sneering.

Maybe sneering is overstating it, but as soon as I heard him say this, the words "hostage to fortune" sprang to mind - http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/southampton-0-2-liverpool-coutinho-delivering-8696854. Then there was the flurry of articles across almost all the broadsheets bigging up how he alone was responsible for that temporary turnaround in form, clearly with him as source.

Mr.H wrote: »

We did over the summer change our coaching staff................. Not exactly a designated defensive coach but I am sure that some sort of organisational qualities where sought in any new additions to the staff

I still think the setup is crying out for a dedicated defensive coach, and I think Rodgers' pride is getting in the way of him making such an appointment. But that's just what I think. Oh, and a new gk'ing coach too.

Mr.H wrote: »

That and the fact that we haven't replaced our whole backline. Glen was always leaving and Gomez was hardly brought in with the idea of being thrown into the starting X1

I'm more than a bit worried about chucking Gomez in for his debut in a position he has never played in a competitive match, away to a team that caned us in our last competitive match. It's quite the gamble.

Buford T. Justice XIX

brevity wrote: »

AndersonIsGod isn't happy anyway..... http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=96475130&postcount=7760

Is he ever happy?

OwaynOTT wrote: »

Who are we talking about here?

rarnes 47.

Agent Coulson wrote: »

Yup, rarnes 47

Vicxas

Jesus our handling of Balotelli is really making us look bad....

Sir Gallagher

Vicxas wrote: »

Jesus our handling of Balotelli is really making us look bad....

Yeah, we'll be up in front of the Geneva human rights council this year, fo sho.

Pyjamarama

Vicxas wrote: »

Jesus our handling of Balotelli is really making us look bad....

How so?

corwill

Vicxas wrote: »

Jesus our handling of Balotelli is really making us look bad....

Have we started the water-boarding, then?

rob316

Vicxas wrote: »

Jesus our handling of Balotelli is really making us look bad....

Please no we discussed Mario to death yesterday

Vicxas

rob316 wrote: »

Please no we discussed Mario to death yesterday

I wasn't here yesterday

brevity

It's like being at school...

"Where's your home-work?"
"I wasn't here yesterday..."
"Hmmmm"

Vicxas

Vicxas wrote: »

Jesus our handling of Balotelli is really making us look bad....

Presumably FSG have done some sums and effectively written off much of the £16m with a view to getting him off the books. Training away from the first team squad is making him fully aware of the clubs intentions, should make most other options that may come along comparatively attractive from a footballing viewpoint.

If Mario doesn't think so he remains, turns up, trains & gets paid... Might even get a game.

Vicxas

brevity wrote: »

It's like being at school...

"Where's your home-work?"
"I wasn't here yesterday..."
"Hmmmm"

We must have went to the same school

Turtyturd

rob316 wrote: »

Please no we discussed Mario to death yesterday

Yep, hard truth is he's a failure who has contributed nothing.

Not worth the discussion, just take the hit and let another team take the burden.

Knex*

brevity wrote: »

It's like being at school...

"Where's your home-work?"
"I wasn't here yesterday..."
"Hmmmm"

"Show me your note"

MD1990

My team for Stoke

skydish79

Team for Stoke

Mignolet
clyne skertle lovren gomez
hendo lucas milner
ibe benteke countiho

punk_one82

Mr.H wrote: »

Marios messing hasnt been anything major. Just things like bringing his friends into Melwood when he is suppose to be training and driving his segwa around the training pitch with Enrique on the back and just little things like that. More unprofessional behaviour than "messing" I suppose but still stuff that could irritate staff.

As for Enriques kids maybe it wasnt his kids maybe it was locals or something but for what ever reason it seems the staff have given up on him.

I dont think Borini is good enough either but he does keep himself fit unlike Enrique

I highly doubt Mario was faffing around Melwood instead of being on the training pitch when he's supposed to be. I don't think the staff gave up on Enrique because he was supposedly playing football with some kids either.

The fact of the matter is Enrique only knows how to run around in circles and offers very little else apart from a never ending stream of cringeworthy instagram posts. Borini may be able to keep himself injury free for the most part, but he's still with Enrique in the "I'm a dud" camp.

All these rumours about footy with kids and playing around with Mario are a joke. I'm sure no decisions at Liverpool are based on 2 of the players having the craic at training.

edit: However, Borini buys his sister lingerie for her bday so his position is now untenable.

5starpool

I see the official site is doing free live commentary for every game this season which will probably come in handy for some, I'm guessing that it will be geoblocked for the UK, but not sure of that. It's easy enough to get around anyhow if needs be these days.