Liverpool FC Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours 2016/2017

Knex*

If yer fed up of football, Bill Burr is doing a live commentary for the Dolphins Steelers NFL Playoff game.

Playoffs and comedy, can't go wrong.

https://www.facebook.com/AllThingsComedy/

Harry Palmr

TAA makes good full back option for now, he has good cross on him and is pretty quick. If he moves forward it should be as a winger.

btw a No 6 is DM

Ben Gadot

Morzadec wrote: »

Alexander Arnold is one of the young players who imo from what I've seen is good enough to be considered a number 2 to Clyne, as long as there's no significant long term injury to Clyne

Was expecting more from all of them but I guess that's a symptom of hype. Ejaria, Ojo and Woodburn were busy doing nothing but regardless of opposition, it's too much to expect them to translate their form at one level to another without a blend of experience.

As others have said it couldn't hurt to start one of Sturridge/Firmino/Lallana in the replay.

MD1990

Ojo is a good player & was very impressive in the Youth teams but I have my doubts he will make it at us.
Not judging off today's game either as he was just back but even last season he had some good moments but overall at first team level I don't think he has taken his chances.
Trent AA & Woodburn both are the youngest but look our brightest talents. Woodburn is superb technically. Trent AA looks like he could be our back up RB.

Buford T. Justice XIX

Harry Palmr wrote: »

TAA makes good full back option for now, he has good cross on him and is pretty quick. If he moves forward it should be as a winger.

btw a No 6 is DM

Same position as Henderson, but I don't think Klopp thinks as much as a traditional DM but more as an attack starter from deep.

klose

Buford T. Justice V wrote: »

There was a link earlier today on TAA saying he was playing as a no.6 and Woodburn as a no. 10 (with the U23s?) so the coaches must reckon his future lies further forward. Similar to how Gerrard started off at RB for a year.

Yeah, I believe it's from an interview with pep ljinders (although he's not involved with the u23s afaik) Trent has always been considered a midfielder but I guess it's easier to ease a player in at full back rather than slotting him straight into the middle of the park at senior level.

Gbear

Thought Woodburn looked really good today.

You might expect a bit of flair in the dribble or running in behind or whatever, but his use of the ball, vision and all round playmaking was impressive.

17 years old. Given the average age of this forum, he'll probably still be playing when you're pushing 50.

Buford T. Justice XIX

Press conference after the match by Klopp.

BorneTobyWilde

They have their victory and will have nothing to lose in replay.
Karius would be a worry in such a game
We might need some steel down there, a rich blend of first team players with some of today's side
It would be nice to win this. We have but a few options for trophies , really need to try win all 3 .

J Mysterio

Knex. wrote: »

Think it's defaulting me to it on my mobile now. Can't get the touch site at all.

Thankfully the legacy site Is still available from the laptop .

Edit: hitting legacy on the mobile crap brings it back to the old touch format, thank Christ.

Go to touch.boards.ie

mormank

Buford T. Justice V wrote: »

Same position as Henderson, but I don't think Klopp thinks as much as a traditional DM but more as an attack starter from deep.

Yeah it's crazy when you think about it, he likes the defenders to attack as much as possible and the attackers to defend as much as possible! :P

citytillidie

citytillidie wrote: »

Those over the fence going on about the replay as making Liverpool play more games, Jan is busy for Liverpool

Wed 11 Southampton V Liverpool
Sun 15 Man Utd V Liverpool
Wed 18 Plymouth V Liverpool
Sat 21 Liverpool V Swansea
Wed 25 Liverpool V Southampton
Sat 28 FA Cup Rd 4??????
Tue 31 Liverpool V Chelsea

But then look at Feb for Liverpool
Sat 4 Hull V Liverpool
Sat 11 Liverpool V Spurs
Sat 18 FA Cup Rd 5 ????????
Mon 27 Leicester V Liverpool

Feb For Man Utd
Wed 1 Man Utd V Hull
Sun 5 Leicester V Man Utd
Sat 11 Man Utd V Watford
Thu 16 Man Utd V Saint-Étienne
Sun 19 FA Cup rd 5???????????
Wed 22 Saint-Étienne V Man Utd
Sun 26 Man City V Man Utd

Demosthenese

Dunno why people are freaking out about the result there today - we had a team of youngsters on the field - playing against a seasoned team that were putting 11 men behind the ball with no regard for attacking whatsoever. They celebrated along with their fans like they won the Cup - fair bloody play to them and all that - from our perspective we had a newly built team - outplayed the away team and although didn't set the world alight we were in total command of the game.

They also get another chance to put it right - which means more opportunity. This also means long term - we promote from within - we show that the Manager wants to give them a chance and that can only be good for the club as a whole.

Last thing that these kids need is "supporters" showing up to the stadium and boards alike moaning when a cross goes wide or a show it missed. This isn't the first 11 or anything like a crisis.

Show the support. Don't worry about the BBC/SKY analysis bull**** about "The last thing Klopp would want was another fixture" - sure enough he'd have wanted to win it but another fixture is not the end of the world i don;t think he'll lose sleep over it.

mosstin

Demosthenese wrote: »

Dunno why people are freaking out about the result there today - we had a team of youngsters on the field - playing against a seasoned team that were putting 11 men behind the ball with no regard for attacking whatsoever. They celebrated along with their fans like they won the Cup - fair bloody play to them and all that - from our perspective we had a newly built team - outplayed the away team and although didn't set the world alight we were in total command of the game.

They also get another chance to put it right - which means more opportunity. This also means long term - we promote from within - we show that the Manager wants to give them a chance and that can only be good for the club as a whole.

Last thing that these kids need is "supporters" showing up to the stadium and boards alike moaning when a cross goes wide or a show it missed. This isn't the first 11 or anything like a crisis.

Show the support. Don't worry about the BBC/SKY analysis bull**** about "The last thing Klopp would want was another fixture" - sure enough he'd have wanted to win it but another fixture is not the end of the world i don;t think he'll lose sleep over it.

I really don't think I've seen one person freaking out about it.

BorneTobyWilde

''really sad that is your last question, as this is my last answer '

Kerrigooney

mormank wrote: »

Yeah it's crazy when you think about it, he likes the defenders to attack as much as possible and the attackers to defend as much as possible! :P

Total football innit?

citytillidie

Ref announced tomorrow for the game on Sunday should be an interesting appointment.

Also would like to say well done to Del Boy's little brother according to this scarf

Agent Coulson

All set for Wayne to come off the bench and score an offside goal in Fergie time to break Bobby's record and have the Monday meltdowns to return to this thread.

Kerrigooney

Agent Coulson wrote: »

All set for Wayne to come off the bench and score an offside goal in Fergie time to break Bobby's record and have the Monday meltdowns to return to this thread.

He won't be offside because that rule doesn't apply to Man Utd any more.

martyos121

Agent Coulson wrote: »

All set for Wayne to come off the bench and score an offside goal in Fergie time to break Bobby's record and have the Monday meltdowns to return to this thread.

The finesse and guile of that anti-jinx is second to none (Arsenal fourth to it, of course).

Bravo.

Buford T. Justice XIX

Just read that the starting lineup today had a total of 33 FA cup appearances with 15 of those by Lucas and 2 goals, Ojo and Lucas again.

Luckycharms_74

5starpool wrote: »

Good interview with Klopp and Lijnders about the youth system.

http://www.twitlonger.com/show/n_1spgsqm

Read it earlier but they only gave a summary of Lijnders interview in the times

Here is Northcrofts full Q&A with Pep. It's well worth a read


Q&A with Pepijn Lijnders, 5.1.2017.

"First team staff in world football are responsible for development - not academies"

IF there are four pillars Liverpool’s ownership believes the club can be built around they are Jurgen Klopp, Michael Edwards, Alex Inglethorpe – and Pepijn Lijnders.

At 33, Lijnders is a serious rising star. Klopp thinks he’ll become a top manager, perhaps even of Liverpool, one day. When Lijnders left Liverpool’s Academy to join the first team set up it was described by some staff in Kirkby as “like losing our Suarez.”

As first team development coach, Lijnders’ role is twofold, as he explains – and his importance to Liverpool’s youth is as ‘The Bridge’ between Klopp and all the prospects coming through. Headhunted after spells with the outstanding youth departments of Porto and PSV Eindhoven, talking to Lijnders about development is inspiring.

Here are some highlights from our conversation at Melwood on January 5th, 2017...

JN. What did you learn at Porto and PSV that you wanted to bring to Liverpool?

PL: That to be able to compete on the highest level with your own players it is a big advantage if you can create an academy that produces players for a specific style of play, so that the style becomes the playmaker, instead of that you buy the playmaker in. At Liverpool, that is the counter-pressing style we have in this moment…

That if you bring one or two young players through it opens a pathway for all the rest. This has happened with PSV. Ibrahim Afellay and Ismail Aissati – the moment they arrived all the next generation got their chances. It was the same with Porto, with Ruben Neves getting in. Ruben opened up the door for everyone by accelerating the processes with young players and creating the right projects around young players. Giving them the belief that it’s possible.

JN: Were both clubs good models for Liverpool, because they recruit not just local but from around the world?

PL: That’s the main target with youth development. Porto is the best, or one of the best, scouting machines in world football, and we created there a five year project – they called it the “6/11 project”, because it was 2006-2011 – where the target was that if we buy the best talented players in the world aged 20, 21, 22, we have to also create in the academy players good enough to compete with them.

The manager will always choose the best players. So we wanted to create a style of play that stimulates constantly attacking skills. Because that Brazilian boy from seven years old, before he came to Porto, had to make in each game 20 decisive actions – so he will develop in a decisive way. Able to play quick combinations, through passes. He develops a style where he became very attacking minded

So you have to match that in your academy. You have to match that style. Because the biggest development comes from the collective approach style of play.

It’s a big advantage of bringing your own players up because it creates a father-son relationship with the club and everybody knows that relationship is based on loyalty, that when there has to be decisions for their future the player will decide with everything in mind…including that we were the ones that gave them their opportunity.

This is a really powerful weapon to compete. For Porto it was a powerful weapon to compete with Benfica and Sporting. For PSV it was a real powerful weapon to come back and fight v Ajax. And for us of course it is a new project, trying to create a new generation of Liverpool FC players who can compete with the best signings of the other clubs. And we really believe, with Jurgen as the main motivator and stimulator of these processes, that this is possible.

JN: What ‘extra’ does a team comprising players who grew up together possess? Compared to the team of star signings for instance…

PL: First of all in modern football you don’t see any more a group of players who stay together and are from the same culture. What you see in modern football is players who come together from different places for a short period of time.

The most important person to create clarity in terms of style and structure is now the coach. The connections, the sectors, lines, the players working better together – that comes from the coach. A big big task.

In the past every club had a core group of players from the same culture. THEY decided the way of playing. The coach came in. Whenever they were touched by a top coach, they won everything. This happened in every country. Sacchi and Milan. Cruyff and Van Gaal with Ajax…

What you can create with your own academy is this, what you had in the past. We started the Talent Group so that we have a 15 year old training with a 19 year old with the only goal that they know each other. They know the rules of Melwood, they know the staff, the kitchen, all those things…but the most important thing is they know each other. They link with each other.

Because in the end, and this is our main main goal, is that they play together in the first team. And that this is not the first time they have played together. They know eachother from 15 years old. And this is only possible if you create a situation where the best 15 year old is training with the best 19 year old.

There’s a saying that talent needs models, it doesn’t need criticism. I really believe in that. So at the moment we bring Trent (Alexander-Arnold), Ovie (Ejaria) and Ben (Woodburn) up and they can watch Adam Lallana, the way he prepares himself in the physio room, the way he prepares himself before the training session, how he puts his shinpads on, how he treats his boots – everything. All these small things, these unwritten things, for young players to learn from their models is so important.

That’s before you even speak about the pitch: how Phil (Coutinho) controls the ball and turns away, how Hendo is the playmaker from out the back, the motor. And training. They see how Sadio is creating space for himself before he receives the ball – that is one of his biggest strengths, so he play one v ones in the areas we want him to.

And Ovie and Trent and Ben, they can learn from that. And now when the new talent group is in, Paul Glatzel, Luis Longstaff, Curtis Jones (all Under 16s) – they learn from Trent, they learn from Kev Stewart, they learn from Pedro Chirivella.

It’s a one-club mentality. With our vision. With our future. With our ideal – and the ideal means the playing way: what makes us specific, what makes us recognizable. And that’s indirectly we try to represent the fans. We want to represent their passion. That’s why we choose this style, because it all has to link together: the manager, the coaches, the players, the staff, the academy boys, the fans. That all has to come together. And over time you can compete.

JN: It is your responsibility to look after the Talent Group…

PL: My first responsibility is to assist Jurgen and Zjelko (Buvac), to try to create a recognizable LFC style – that is not only for now but the future. So it’s planning sessions, preparing for the next game and the next game.

Second role is to create a situation where the academy – which is far away in Kirkby – and the manager have a bridge. Once, it was this big and now we make it smaller and smaller. And the Talent Group is something that happened because at a club as big as LFC it is impossible for the manager to watch every youth game, so I thought if the manager can’t go there and can’t see them….okay, we can bring the best of the academy to him.

Personal relationships are important. We believe that 30% is tactics and 70% is feeling for each other and the staff; team spirit we call it. If we believe in that, then it’s important Jurgen knows these players from a young age.

So. one time a week, Melwood is these young players’ home. Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, academy at Kirkby. Tuesday, Melwood is their home. To learn the unwritten rules. And to create a relationship between Jurgen and these players.

Say Curtis, or say Yan Dhanda…if now we have to make a decision about a left winger coming in, Jurgen knows inside out Ben Woodburn. That’s really really important. Because in the end these decisions make or break a young player’s career.

We want to create something unique. Jurgen always says if it was simple everyone would do it, so it’s not that easy.

JN: What are you looking for when you select for the Talent Group?

PL: Character No1. Talent No2.

Talent because the game is complex. Talent can be in many different ways – if you’re quick in your mind and not quick in your legs you can still be a talent.

But character, the passion, the ambition…I’ve said before that love of the game is the most important quality that drives a player. But you can stimulate these things. What can you create in a training session to stimulate the competitive process?

If there are five things you try and put into a young player they are 1) hard work, 2) self control, 3) skill, 4) four team spirit and 5) competition. We go through these steps with every young player. But passion and ambition are the first things we look for. Passion and ambition stimulate 99% of development.

And what all the boys in the first team have in common are these five characteristics. Putting your heart into every training session. Earning the respect of everyone – and that’s what we say, you have to earn the respect of everyone and earn the respect of yourself. By giving everything.

JN: Am I right in thinking the first group you took when you arrived in 2014 were the Under-16s, featuring Ben and Trent?

PL: Yes, Trent was my captain.

JN: And you are not surprised by where they are now?

PL: No. We played all season almost the same style. We had 3 diamond 3. (3-4-3 with a diamond midfield). We started with the ideas of a high pressing game and that we don’t defend our goal, we defend the midline. The idea was the attackers were the first defenders, so it was total football.

And there are certain positions in that structure where overload situations, offensively and defensively, develop. These are key positions. 6 and 10.

We try and find the best player to construct the game out from the back, to have the right timings, to have the pausa and ability to speed it up. And Trent always plays there. No6. My Ruben Neves. I always put Trent at 6. Why? Because every attack he is the main guy, the pivot, the lighthouse of the team, guiding the rest.

And the second key position is the No10 position. Because this player has to structure the press, to be able to jump to the centre halves at the right time and he gets stressed offensively and defensively. And my 10 was Ben Woodburn for the whole season.

Trent and Ben went through a big big development since then – and the very biggest development was Jurgen putting them in

JN: You’re right to mention that, because I always think, in youth development, that without the first team manager giving talents chances at the end of it, the whole process counts for nothing…

PL: Yes, and that is why first team staff in world football is responsible for youth development. Not the academy. First team staff is responsible for planning, for starting project, for accelerating development, for knowing young players from a young age. The moment clubs split academy and first team…you have nothing.

What do the best teams in the world have in common? Generally, it’s a one-club mentality. That the same exercises, the same style drops all the way down. That first team coaching staff feels the responsibility (for youth)

We are not in this job to participate. We are in it for silverware. Period point. And we believe it is an advantage to use young players. Because lets say Ben and Ovie…if we lose the ball, for them it’s an invitation to counter-press. For many other players who come in it’s a moment of ‘oh we lose the ball’. But if there’s an immediate reaction to see the positive side of losing balls, then counter-pressing becomes an offensive weapon. Because from 13, 14, 15 years our players are learning this.

And the big advantage of the style is the higher intensity stimulates each individual to have a quicker mind, to know what happens before it happens. And that in itself helps: the player with the quick mind makes development quicker.

But one thing that’s important is to say my Talent Group is just the icing on the cake (of Liverpool’s development) The cake is the Under 16 coaching. Alex Inglethorpe. Alex Inglethorpe…wow! That’s the cake. This is just the icing.

mosstin

Kerrigooney wrote: »

He won't be offside because that rule doesn't apply to Man Utd any more.

And they never really wanted the offside rule in the first place anyway.

price690

Ruben Neves is having a patchy time at Porto now is the time to swoop in and buy him at a cut price.

I get the impression from the above Ljinders piece that he really rates Neves too.

Talisman

price690 wrote: »

Ruben Neves is having a patchy time at Porto now is the time to swoop in and buy him at a cut price.

I get the impression from the above Ljinders piece that he really rates Neves too.

We've been repeatedly linked with a move for him since Lijnders joined Liverpool. If the club believe that Trent Alexander-Arnold deserves the chance to develop in the Liverpool first team then a move for the likes of Ruben Neves is unlikely.

They're both in the same age range (18-19) and will play the #6 role, so signing Neves would block the first team path of a talented academy player. Klopp has recently touched on this subject regarding Joe Gomez, and his viewpoint is the same as the approach under Damien Comolli when FSG took ownership of the club. The club won't limit the development path of talented players at the academy by bringing in long term signings for the same first team position.

sword1

A bit worrying the lack of Transfer rumours with any substance. Hopefully they are busy behind the scenes

Talisman

Buford T. Justice V wrote: »

There was a link earlier today on TAA saying he was playing as a no.6 and Woodburn as a no. 10 (with the U23s?) so the coaches must reckon his future lies further forward. Similar to how Gerrard started off at RB for a year.

It's good that there is a talented bunch of players coming through because it's tough for individuals to forge their way through the academy into the first team.

Trent Alexander-Arnold will inevitably get the Steven Gerrard comparisons and Ben Woodburn will be compared to a young Robbie Fowler. That's an incredible weight of expectation for players to carry so early in their careers. Gerrard said in his book that he expected TAA to be the next big talent to come through the academy and that as a young player he modelled himself on Gerrard.

Vicxas

sword1 wrote: »

A bit worrying the lack of Transfer rumours with any substance. Hopefully they are busy behind the scenes

Klopp said they'd dip in if and when they see something they like.

Although I am seeing a lot more uptick on Promes.

Iused2likebusts

I see the utd thread turned into the humour thread for a couple of hours last night. Hazard and aguero the only two players in the league that would get in their team. They have the best squad, the best first eleven, the best 12 to 22. Luke shaw is the best lb in the league he has been at the club 2 and a half years he has yet to have a serious run of games. No mention of Chris smalling when bigging up the squad. He was the best around last year now its Jones and rojo.

NukaCola

Iused2likebusts wrote: »

I see the utd thread turned into the humour thread for a couple of hours last night. Hazard and aguero the only two players in the league that would get in their team. They have the best squad, the best first eleven, the best 12 to 22. Luke shaw is the best lb in the league he has been at the club 2 and a half years he has yet to have a serious run of games. No mention of Chris smalling when bigging up the squad. He was the best around last year now its Jones and rojo.

Sure Darmian was world class at one stage......

I know all fans are fickle but its funny when they call LFC supporters deluded........

Turtyturd

Has it not been a humour thread for a few years now?

marklazarcovic

We shouldn't take a fee for sakho if saints want him,just get a kind of store credit off them,be useful down the line.

jeff bingham

Talisman wrote:

Trent Alexander-Arnold will inevitably get the Steven Gerrard comparisons and Ben Woodburn will be compared to a young Robbie Fowler. That's an incredible weight of expectation for players to carry so early in their careers. Gerrard said in his book that he expected TAA to be the next big talent to come through the academy and that as a young player he modelled himself on Gerrard.

Personally if I was a young lad coming through I could see no bigger compliment than being compared to those two. Id see it more as a motivation than as an expectation

Polo_Mint

Iused2likebusts wrote: »

I see the utd thread turned into the humour thread for a couple of hours last night. Hazard and aguero the only two players in the league that would get in their team. They have the best squad, the best first eleven, the best 12 to 22. Luke shaw is the best lb in the league he has been at the club 2 and a half years he has yet to have a serious run of games. No mention of Chris smalling when bigging up the squad. He was the best around last year now its Jones and rojo.

It tends to happen when a team have squad depth.

Teams like United now have players on the bench who are just as good a as the players on the Pitch.

Harry Palmr

Stuff happening

Fun Bobby's home robbed by hooded scum - not much fun

Lucas is 40 30!

Ibe called a disappointment by Eddie Howe

Tiago Ilori sale completed, 35% sell on clause.

Harry Palmr

Harry Palmr wrote: »

.........

Fun Bobby's home robbed by hooded scum - not much fun ...........

Done on the 22nd Dec, the Firmino clan than moved into a hotel. He was done for being over the limit the morning of the 24th iirc?

Tough couple of days for him.

54and56

Polo_Mint wrote: »

It tends to happen when a team have squad depth.

Teams like United now have players on the bench pitch who are just as good a as the players on the Pitch bench.

Fixed that for ya

PaddyWilliams

Guaranteed they think we're the delusional ones though

BorneTobyWilde

Lucas would be perfect for Barcelona
They could do with him
A like for like for Surgy Biscuits
They play a lot of games, so he would get a lot of football

Harry Palmr

Coutinho fit for Southampton squad says Klopp and that it'll be a strong side.

5starpool

Harry Palmr wrote: »

Coutinho fit for Southampton squad says Klopp and that it'll be a strong side.

Good stuff. Hopefully he'll get some minutes and be ready for Sunday. I don't see him starting on Wednesday anyhow.

Utopia Parkway

Iused2likebusts wrote: »

I see the utd thread turned into the humour thread for a couple of hours last night. Hazard and aguero the only two players in the league that would get in their team. They have the best squad, the best first eleven, the best 12 to 22. Luke shaw is the best lb in the league he has been at the club 2 and a half years he has yet to have a serious run of games. No mention of Chris smalling when bigging up the squad. He was the best around last year now its Jones and rojo.

Was reading that last night alright. Talk about losing the run of yourself.

Buford T. Justice XIX

Linky to an article on TTT about how this is the healthiest the club has been in decades.

https://tomkinstimes.com/2017/01/this-is-the-healthiest-liverpool-football-club-has-been-in-decades/

There isn't anything there I would disagree with, tbh.

Osmosis Jones

Puel has announced that Fonte won't be in the squad for Liverpool, good news for us.

rob316

Great news Phil is fit, give him 20 mins Wednesday and start him at old Trafford.

citytillidie

Michael Oliver for ref on Sunday why not a Liverpool ref like the 1st game had a Manchester ref :pac:

Harry Palmr

Michael Oliver is the best ref in the league for my money - he won't get fooled into reffing the occasion rather than the match and is young enough to keep up!

Utopia Parkway

Sounds like Hendo will be a doubt for the United game. Not due to start training again until Thursday.

Agent Coulson

James Milner named the 2nd best left back in Europe by CIES football observatory

http://www.football-observatory.com/IMG/sites/b5wp/2016/171/en/

Harry Palmr

Second best? :mad: It's an outrage. Danny Rose better not be No 1!