Liverpool FC Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours 2016/2017

Lord Trollington

The finish line is in sight. Today should have been like a cup final considering what's at stake and the match on after ours.

In truth it was a drab affair with no urgency. That's the most worrying aspect. I would have thought Klopp with his ability to motivate would have had our lads chomping at the bit , instead we came out and went through the motions. It was like a match with 2 teams in 9th/10th position with nothing to play for and holidays in the summer was on the mind.

I cannot for the life of me see why Klopp did not change things at HT.

Gbear

Harry Palmr wrote: »

A major overhaul isn't needed, what's required is deepening the squad. I'm sure Klopp will get a striker, a wide attacker (maybe two), a dedicated cm and a left fb.

There's depth in the squad and there's a depth of options on the pitch and we need both.

Only having one direct threat with pace isn't enough.

Not having any finishers isn't great.

Everyone and their dog knew we were lacking pace and then we signed Mané.
I'd hope we're as judicious with our targeting of attacking positions as that again.

We were very good 1st half of the season.
1 element is depth of squad so that we've more players that can implement that plan for more than half the season.
The other is that, even then, we were getting shut out by defensive teams, so we need the tools to break down those defences more reliably.

citytillidie

So now United's long unbeaten run is over, they started 6 points behind Liverpool who have been crap since Jan and ended 5 points behind Liverpool

ERG89

Harry Palmr wrote:

A major overhaul isn't needed, what's required is deepening the squad. I'm sure Klopp will get a striker, a wide attacker (maybe two), a dedicated cm and a left fb.

Quality is needed above everything. A lot of average players still at the club.
I look at Clyne or Origi & think we'll never win much relying on players like that. Oh well can wait for them to improve but it won't happen consistently which is what matters.

Harry Palmr

citytillidie wrote: »

So now United's long unbeaten run is over, they started 6 points behind Liverpool who have been crap since Jan and ended 5 points behind Liverpool

If that run was a superhero he'd be the worst superhero ever. Satinbeigeman

Turtyturd

ush wrote: »

Does anyone really believe that, even if we qualify for the CL, there'll be a major overhaul of the squad in the summer. I think we'll manage to qualify and still have a disaster of a transfer window.

Like the disaster last summer when we signed 3 of our best players this season?

Turtyturd

Harry Palmr wrote: »

If that run was a superhero he'd be the worst superhero ever. Statinbeigeman

Worse than that...they're f*ckin' Aquaman.

martyos121

Turtyturd wrote: »

Worse than that...they're f*ckin' Aquaman.

Didn't he play for us at one point, an Italian lad? Even worse than the actual Aquaman too.

Gbear

Turtyturd wrote: »

Like the disaster last summer when we signed 3 of our best players this season?

It could be summed up as not quite enough of a good thing.

ebbsy

Holding on to Coutinio will be a big challenge, top 4 or not.

He's a real Barca player.

MD1990

ERG89 wrote: »

Quality is needed above everything. A lot of average players still at the club.
I look at Clyne or Origi & think we'll never win much relying on players like that. Oh well can wait for them to improve but it won't happen consistently which is what matters.

I think a major problem with Clyne is he is being overplayed.
Full back is an a very demanding role & I think he could do with being rested now & again.

Clybe has played more mins than anybody in our squad.

Agent Coulson

ebbsy wrote: »

Holding on to Coutinio will be a big challenge, top 4 or not.

He's a real Barca player.

real would be better with Alli and Barca would be better with Eriksen

BorneTobyWilde

Everyone has seen the improvement, but everyone has also seen the old Liverpool since Jan.
Is Premier League changing again, we had the phase of attacking football and exciting games, but now it seems there is a trend of playing very restrictive football. The likes of Chelsea, Spurs and United could possible concede less goals combined next season than we will concede next season. If Liverpool and City don't start to follow this trend then we won't win anything. The same is happening in Champions league, Juve beat Barcelona to give 2 thumbs up to playing very defensive football, but Real beat Atletico to give two thumbs up to attacking football. Who will win final though, I think Juve.

micks

Harry Palmr wrote: »

We see it but we also see how the improvement has ceased since the end of 2016 - 2.25PP is now 1.6 PPG and the goals have started drying up somewhat. The small squad is down to Klopp obviously - January was screaming for two players.

Clyne is a real problem in a side that is lacking width bar Mane, he offers nothing as an outlet so everything filters back inside. Those teams that know they are there for the point (or a smash and grab) simply sit across the width of the box at which point either it's a moment of magic or it's points lost. Klopp must address this issue in the summer and I'm sure he will as it happens but I'm not sure it'll be from FB - more likely to be another pace attacker.

As mentioned above TAA needs to be fully integrated as Clynes shadow next season, he has pace and a fantastic early cross on him.

Playing Can and Lucas made no sense either, surely Grujic should have been the first half pick with Can as the anchor and then Lallana replacing him at HT. Origi has had a bit of 'mare recently but he keeps getting picked to play front and centre when he needs to be in one of the channels.

There is no way its down to those 2 players not being available is it?
The world and I am sure Klopp knows that Liverpool's squad is light

Liverpool have also been hit by more first choice players being injured than most if not all the other top six teams - that is irrevelant also?

so go on humour us all who are those two players that Liverpool could realistically have signed - that you know that they didnt try to sign?

Kerrigooney

BorneTobyWilde wrote: »

Everyone has seen the improvement, but everyone has also seen the old Liverpool since Jan.
Is Premier League changing again, we had the phase of attacking football and exciting games, but now it seems there is a trend of playing very restrictive football. The likes of Chelsea, Spurs and United could possible concede less goals combined next season than we will concede next season. If Liverpool and City don't start to follow this trend then we won't win anything. The same is happening in Champions league, Juve beat Barcelona to give 2 thumbs up to playing very defensive football, but Real beat Atletico to give two thumbs up to attacking football. Who will win final though, I think Juve.

I get what you're saying and largely agree but Juventus beat Barcelona 3-0...hardly "defensive football".

It's an accusation that gets thrown at Juventus quite a bit and it's not true,that they are a defensive team. They have a brilliant defence alright but they're not "defensive".

Turtyturd

I think the major problem with Clyne is that he's just very limited going forward. 90% of the time he's going to pass it back inside and 10% of the time he'll smash a cross off the first defender. Having Milner on the other side doesn't help things as the only attacking option down that side is to check back inside on his right foot and play the exact same cross in every time.

Dub13

The HJC shop is closing in the summer. I suppose that's a good thing.

mikeym

Its bloody pathetic that we have to rely on other teams in order to get Top 4.

Last week Swansea & Middlesboro helped us out big time and today Arsenal did everyone a favour and beat the draw specialists.

I wonder which West Ham side will show up next Sunday?

Harry Palmr

micks wrote: »

There is no way its down to those 2 players not being available is it?
The world and I am sure Klopp knows that Liverpool's squad is light

Liverpool have also been hit by more first choice players being injured than most if not all the other top six teams - that is irrevelant also?

so go on humour us all who are those two players that Liverpool could realistically have signed - that you know that they didnt try to sign?

Players who could have been prised away from their clubs included Quincy Promes the club was apparently interested but that went cold, (supposedly Coutinho's recovery from injury meaning he wasn't needed). Other names mentioned were Wilfred Zaha and Sardar Azmoun. Hard to know how serious either of these were of course, not working for Liverpool, the Julian Draxler link always seemed unlikely esp with PSG waiting to sign him.

As for a CM Hendo was struggling with his foot/heel thing and the club knew Can was carrying a knock back then even if we didn't (we do now). Klopp gave the media some guff about not being able to buy the "perfect player" in January, as if that has stopped anyone previously and who the hell knows what constitutes perfect - did Liverpool with Suarez or Sunderland with Defoe? Turned out they were handy enough. Not buying in January was as ludicrous as Arsenal trying to walk it in. As for names of central midfielders, very few were linked - Leandro Paredes, Geoffrey Kondogbia

This proved a rather prescient article

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/liverpool-klopp-january-transfer-business-12452228

BY JAMES PEARCE
05:00, 14 JAN 2017

A leap of faith was required when Jurgen Klopp announced that his transfer business was over last summer.

It appears that Kopites will have to take a similar jump this month with the Liverpool boss unlikely to strengthen his squad during the January window.

Six months ago there was a clamour for Klopp to sign a left-back and a holding midfielder.

Those positions were held up as glaring weaknesses that simply had to be addressed if Liverpool were going to compete at the top end of the Premier League.

Klopp didn?t agree. Instead he transformed James Milner into an accomplished left-back and utilised captain Jordan Henderson?s qualities in the deep-lying midfield role.

It worked a treat. Liverpool?s tally of 43 points and goal difference of plus 25 at the halfway stage of the campaign was their best in the Premier League era.

However, the Reds? wobble at the start of 2017 has re-ignited the debate over whether Klopp really does have sufficient strength in depth to go the distance.

Injuries have depleted his ranks of late and with Sadio Mane heading to the Africa Cup of Nations, Liverpool have lost the services of their nine-goal top scorer at a crucial stage of the season. Other key personnel are looking jaded and performance levels have dipped.

By the end of January the Reds could be looking ahead to a Wembley final against their arch rivals in the EFL Cup, still in the FA Cup and bang in the title race.

Alternatively, they could be out of both cups and playing catch up in the battle for a top-four finish.

Many fans would love to see a couple of new faces on board to help ensure momentum isn?t squandered.

The rumour mill continues to throw up an array of ?targets? on a daily basis, but the reality is that one of two things will have to happen for Liverpool to land reinforcements.

One, the Reds would have to suffer a serious injury blow in the next fortnight which convinces Klopp that he doesn?t have enough cover and that dipping into the market is a necessity.

Two, one of the targets Klopp is keen to land this summer would have to suddenly become available.

If Liverpool don?t splash the cash this month then critics will vent their spleen at owners Fenway Sports Group and accuse them of penny-pinching.

But that doesn?t stand up to scrutiny when Klopp stated at Melwood on Friday that funds were available for him to spend. He only has to give the green light to the club?s recruitment team led by sporting director Michael Edwards.

The fact is that Klopp knows who he wants but is prepared to wait for them rather than settle for an inferior option.

?I?m not interested in solutions only for the winter,? he said recently.

Klopp doesn?t need telling that the Liverpool squad is crying out for at least one more classy wide attacker.

That?s why he made a move for Wolfsburg?s Julian Draxler last month. The Germany international was also considering a highly lucrative offer from Paris St-Germain.

When it became all about money, Klopp decided that discussions with the 23-year-old would go no further. Draxler ended up joining PSG for ?30million.

Borussia Dortmund?s Christian Pulisic and Bayer Leverkusen?s Julian Brandt also feature highly on Klopp?s wish list.

But their clubs have made it abundantly clear that they won?t entertain offers for them during the current window.

Some will argue that Liverpool should make either Dortmund or Leverkusen an offer they simply can?t refuse. Others will insist that Klopp should set his sights elsewhere.

Barring a change of heart, the Reds boss will push on with what he?s got through until May.

Those fans concerned about a lack of depth will be desperately hoping their fears prove as unfounded as those that surfaced last summer.

OwaynOTT

Hope that Milner Miss doesn't come back haunt us today.*





*My stream is running a bit behind

tinpib

Gbear wrote: »

The upsides is that I can't see Spurs getting much better because I don't see where they're going to get the world class players to improve on the already very good ones, and Arsenal do seem to have finally been broken, whether or not Wenger stays.

I'm convinced Spurs will have a fairly major slump next season due to dropping points at Wembley. Their home record is excellent this season and it seems the norm that team's home form dip when they switch grounds. Arsenal, West Ham spring to mind.

micks

Harry Palmr wrote: »

Players who could have been prised away from their clubs included Quincy Promes the club was apparently interested but that went cold, (supposedly Coutinho's recovery from injury meaning he wasn't needed). Other names mentioned were Wilfred Zaha and Sardar Azmoun. Hard to know how serious either of these were of course, not working for Liverpool, the Julian Draxler link always seemed unlikely esp with PSG waiting to sign him.

As for a CM Hendo was struggling with his foot/heel thing and the club knew Can was carrying a knock back then even if we didn't (we do now). Klopp gave the media some guff about not being able to buy the "perfect player" in January, as if that has stopped anyone previously and who the hell knows what constitutes perfect - did Liverpool with Suarez or Sunderland with Defoe? Turned out they were handy enough. Not buying in January was as ludicrous as Arsenal trying to walk it in. As for names of central midfielders, very few were linked - Leandro Paredes, Geoffrey Kondogbia

This proved a rather prescient article

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/liverpool-klopp-january-transfer-business-12452228

Thats all ifs , buts and maybes

so you reckon 2 of Quincy Promes, Wilfred Zaha and Sardar Azmoun would have made the difference?

We are multiplying

SEPT 23 1989

BorneTobyWilde wrote: »

Everyone has seen the improvement, but everyone has also seen the old Liverpool since Jan.
Is Premier League changing again, we had the phase of attacking football and exciting games, but now it seems there is a trend of playing very restrictive football. The likes of Chelsea, Spurs and United could possible concede less goals combined next season than we will concede next season. If Liverpool and City don't start to follow this trend then we won't win anything. The same is happening in Champions league, Juve beat Barcelona to give 2 thumbs up to playing very defensive football, but Real beat Atletico to give two thumbs up to attacking football. Who will win final though, I think Juve.

Do you really want your team playing that horrible crap football?

OwaynOTT

micks wrote: »

Thats all ifs , buts and maybes

so you reckon 2 of Quincy Promes, Wilfred Zaha and Sardar Azmoun would have made the difference?

We don't know if any signing would have for sure but I'd have rather tired for someone and see.
Success or failure is better than not trying.

daithijjj

Agent Coulson wrote: »

We are on 70 points with two games to go we have only gotten 70 points plus 7 times before in the PL era.


If people can't see the improvement and rebuilding we are doing with probably the smallest and weakest squad of the top 6 teams then you never will I guess.

Its only improvement if you're competing for top players and trophies. Massaging of figures really in respect of fun facts like this (in or out of Europe?, deep in cup comps).

Obviously we went deeper in cup/s last year so league total falls off. Im sorry if i dont feel 'the groove' of improvement when we struggle v Plymouth and get knocked out by Wolves and rely on others to be where we are in the league.

We havent improved at all in many respects, as a team or as a club. I think anyone who watches this team every week and really believes its improved in the last 18 months is realising their view by putting lipstick on a pig.

Summer is huge. Everyone should be able to see from this summer if these people can take us forward or not. Qualify for CL with more of the usual 'almost signed' stuff and its time to rethink for supporters.

corwill

daithijjj wrote: »

We havent improved at all in many respects, as a team or as a club. I think anyone who watches this team every week and really believes its improved in the last 18 months is realising their view by putting lipstick on a pig.

Look, we're 10 points better off in the league on last year, with another 6 points to play for. 10 whole league points. That is tangible, meaningful progress. How in the **** is that lipstick on a pig? Seriously?

Harry Palmr

micks wrote: »

Thats all ifs , buts and maybes

so you reckon 2 of Quincy Promes, Wilfred Zaha and Sardar Azmoun would have made the difference?

Would you prefer to do nothing and be left wondering?

I'm pretty damned sure the sideways football of recent weeks would have been avoided with pace down the flanks yes.

BorneTobyWilde

SEPT 23 1989 wrote: »

Do you really want your team playing that horrible crap football?

I just think we will see Chelsea +1 next season. Same thing on, just one season later.
There is a balance of course,Spurs they have scored a lot of goals while keeping solid defensively.
Today we looked like we were willing to throw away that point in the pursuit of 3.

tinpib

Interesting, MOTD2 are sh!tting on the quality of the prem league, certainly not the "best/most exciting league in the world" kool aid on Sky Sports.

Turtyturd

corwill wrote: »

Look, we're 10 points better off in the league on last year, with another 6 points to play for. 10 whole league points. That is tangible, meaningful progress. How in the **** is that lipstick on a pig? Seriously?

Nah, forget about points. It's all about who we sign in the next window to see how we've progressed.

monkey9

Agent Coulson wrote: »

We are on 70 points with two games to go we have only gotten 70 points plus 7 times before in the PL era.


If people can't see the improvement and rebuilding we are doing with probably the smallest and weakest squad of the top 6 teams then you never will I guess.

Overall, i like the way things are progressing and i'm very happy with Klopp's work.

But he needs to be backed for next season. Our first team when everyone is available is very good. But we all know football isn't like that, everyone is not going to be available. We now need to build a squad. Not a squad for the sake of having a squad, but a proper squad.

We've suffered this season when we've been without the likes of Mane, Lallana, Coutinho etc. Next season we need a squad to cope with those absences with quality replacements to the extent that when they're all available again, they're not guaranteed a start because the replacements ensures they are not missed.

I'm still convinced we'll be playing Champions League football next season, i'm not really worried about that. Not so much ourselves, but others just aren't good enough to capitalise on our disappointments.

Once we guarantee Champions League football, the club need to behave like a Champions League club in the summer and bring in the recruitments to reflect that status. Not just for next season, but for continuous Champions League football over the next few years.

daithijjj

corwill wrote: »

Look, we're 10 points better off in the league on last year, with another 6 points to play for. 10 whole league points. That is tangible, meaningful progress. How in the **** is that lipstick on a pig? Seriously?

We didnt have to play 25 games outside of the league this season.

If people dont get it they dont get it.

monkey9

daithijjj wrote: »

We didnt have to play 25 games outside of the league this season.

If people dont get it they dont get it.

This is why it'll be interesting as to who we bring we in in the summer. Either way, we're playing European football next year so FSG need to splash the cash. I know we're not a Man City, Chelsea type, but we need to show significant power in the transfer market.

daithijjj

monkey9 wrote: »

This is why it'll be interesting as to who we bring we in in the summer. Either way, we're playing European football next year so FSG need to splash the cash. I know we're not a Man City, Chelsea type, but we need to show significant power in the transfer market.

Indeed. Need about 5 players who can contribute to first team without diluting the level of it. Need to let go of 5 or 6 too tbh.

Sir Gallagher

Not too much up on european football these days, but can amybody tell me if theres any decent midfielders about who we look to be after? A Macsherano type would be my dream, send Lucas packing.

PhuckHugh

A well earned point yesterday has put Liverpool more or less in the CL... Draw at W'ham and beat Boro and job done.

ricero

Lack of wide players is killing us. Until we sign more quality that and add width to the the team more of yesterdays results will happen next season

Transfer wise, I wouldn't be surprised to see us linked with Joshua King :pac:

daithijjj

daithijjj wrote: »

We didnt have to play 25 games outside of the league this season.

If people dont get it they dont get it.

Last year showed no improvement in PL over the previous season, as well as klopp only being in charge since Oct the focus on the EL was deemed a reasonable excuse for the finish to the season league wise.

This year, in contention for 3rd/4th we lose to Crystal palace at home after being a goal up, draw to S'ton at home and win by a goal of the season contender away to watford.

We are over 2ppg for our last 10 pl games though.

There's undoubted improvement in the PL points haul but how much is due to a pre Christmas purple patch remains to be seen. Juggling Europe with the PL is the acid test IMO.... if it goes pear shaped FSG will get the most criticism from the boards.ie LFC supporters, no doubt.

Daemonic

Augeo wrote: »

Transfer wise, I wouldn't be surprised to see us linked with Joshua King :pac:

Good to see us broaden our scouting horizon further along the English south coast!

Daemonic

Daemonic wrote: »

Good to see us broaden our scouting horizon further along the English south coast!

Slightly tongue in cheek on my behalf

But of last summer's transfers Mane and Wij were plucked from the PL after eyecatching seasons. Mane more than Wij of course.

Btw, while mentioning him, Wij in the last lash of games is adding some credence to the Newcastle folk who reckoned he went missing for runs of games...... with Lallana sidelined recently I thought he'd make an impact, link the midfield to the front 3......... didn't really step up IMO.

PhuckHugh

Klopp asks a lot of his players with his high energy game and has a history of players fatiguing/getting injured... A number of the current team are struggling the last 2 months - Firmino the main one - But with what he demands of players it leads to a lot of injuries.

Obviously squad depth will help but he's still going to have a core group that will play most big games and will face the same burnout --- From my understanding, Klopp pretty much goes against all modern S&C advice.. Now, i wouldn't put massive stock in that as S&C is constantly changing opinion but he's going against most medical advice also with how he pushes players.

To do it you need the majority of your team in the 24-28 bracket and you need to have a set of inter changeable players.

One thing is clear, this team really needs players with bite/conviction in them. The current lot lack a bit of backbone.

NukaCola

Augeo wrote: »

Btw, while mentioning him, Wij in the last lash of games is adding some credence to the Newcastle folk who reckoned he went missing for runs of games......

Wouldn't be that harsh on him, he's been good for 90%+ of games IMO, tbf a lot of players have gone missing the last few games

Vicxas

NukaCola wrote: »

Augeo wrote: »

Btw, while mentioning him, Wij in the last lash of games is adding some credence to the Newcastle folk who reckoned he went missing for runs of games......

Wouldn't be that harsh on him, he's been good for 90%+ of games IMO, tbf a lot of players have gone missing the last few games

Firmino especially, his touch and passing has been awful the last few games.

PhuckHugh

NukaCola wrote: »

Wouldn't be that harsh on him, he's been good for 90%+ of games IMO, tbf a lot of players have gone missing the last few games

They have been flogged - As in my post above, the legs have gone.

NukaCola

PhuckHugh wrote: »

Klopp asks a lot of his players with his high energy game and has a history of players fatiguing/getting injured... A number of the current team are struggling the last 2 months - Firmino the main one - But with what he demands of players it leads to a lot of injuries.

When was the last time we pressed a team with high energy or imposed a high energy game? Everton? The last 6 teams we played in the league sat back with us having all of the possession. Perhaps energy is low alright.

Injury wise I dont think we've suffered too much from the way we play have we? Mané injury was nothing to do with style of play, neither was Henderson or Lallana.....maybe it has an effect on rehabilitation but I dont really know.

NukaCola

NukaCola wrote: »

Wouldn't be that harsh on him, he's been good for 90%+ of games IMO, tbf a lot of players have gone missing the last few games

Apologies if it sounded harsh, I meant "some credence" is the literal sense

brevity

I feel that Klopp might have left himself with a bit too much to do in the summer. Liverpool need 8 decent players to complete on all fronts next year, to try and bed them in and avoid the inevitable injuries will be incredibly hard.

PhuckHugh

NukaCola wrote: »

When was the last time we pressed a team with high energy or imposed a high energy game? Everton? The last 6 teams we played in the league sat back with us having all of the possession. Perhaps energy is low alright.

Injury wise I dont think we've suffered too much from the way we play have we? Mané injury was nothing to do with style of play, neither was Henderson or Lallana.....maybe it has an effect on rehabilitation but I dont really know.

Injuries are more prone when you are fatigued.... Granted teams have sat back but from January on a lot of players look dead on their feet.

And i'm as much talking about going forward with hopefully more mid week games on the horizon as I am this season.

It's a very demanding style of football on players' bodies.