Messages

16

Liverpool FC, football, sport / Re: January Transfer Window 2018

« on: January 07, 2018, 07:15:35 PM »

I think Klopp understands that you don't necessarily replace 'certain' players, you replace or improve on 'their effect'.

Only when Coutinho didn't play in the front three does our midfield have real 'creativity', especially if Lallana is missing. Even then, it's been more a front four rather than Coutinho really playing in midfield.

Improving the pace, dynamism and 'real' creativity (Lallana aside) of our midfield (Can, Hendo, Wijnaldum) would help hugely.

Mane now gets the chance to play most games and rediscover his top form, and as Lallana's fitness and match touch comes back, we have two things to help fill the gap in a slightly different way.
Oxlade-Chamberlain is gradually have more impact, and as that develops, it will bring something additional.

Coutinho's a pretty unique player, hence Barca wanting him above others. We can adapt and develop, rather than try to replicate. After all, how many trophies did the 'collective' win with Coutinho in it?

that final point, is something that I have been thinking about too.

How often has Phil ever even looked like leading us to a league title, or a cup.

Suarez was the guy who nearly hauled us to the title a few years back.  But Phil has never been in that class.

I will always remember him scoring a great dinked goal at Old Trafford the other season, to put the UEFA Cup two-legged tie to bed just before half time.  That will be my favourite moment of Phil's......as well as his great free-kicks.

As you say, it's not a case of replacing like-with-like.  Every player brings their own attributes and personality to a team. 

Like you, I would like to see creativity added to our midfield.  And also a holding midfielder too, to protect the defence......not forgetting a new keeper.

17

Liverpool FC, football, sport / Re: Season 2017/18

« on: January 07, 2018, 06:28:10 PM »

apart from woeful commentators (endless meaningless data and drivel), I rarely ever get pissed at coverage of a game.  But I found the BBC's coverage of this game as cringeworthy (as you refer to it).

As a public broadcaster, the BBC was well below par.  I am surprised that there has not been a lot of complaints.

I don't understand why the likes of Holgate and Rooney get an easy ride from punditry team, while Firminhio (and in many other games, Lovren) and our lads get crucified. 

I am a big believer in equality.  And I think we need to see highly paid broadcasters confronted. 

The half-time (and full-time) allegations against the Brazilian were out of order.  And the dig at the scouser on benefits was beyond contempt.  If the same was said about a foreign citizen, or a person of colour, the pundit would be finished.   I thought Murphy was better than that. 

That little punditry group are far too smug and casual.   They are far too cosy and familiar with their surroundings.  I'd break it up and bring in fresh faces.

18

Liverpool FC, football, sport / Re: January Transfer Window 2018

« on: January 07, 2018, 03:13:33 PM »

poor form losing him in January.  I think that says something about the player and his loyalties.

Big money move.   I hope we use it wisely - and not be a dummy like when we sold Torres for big money, and burnt our dosh on Andy Bloddy Carroll.

I imagine letting Phil go in this window, must mean we have someone immediately lined up to come in.   Though knowing Klopp... if needs be, he will wait for his target to become available, rather than rushing a sale for a lesser player.

IMHO Barca have bought the wrong red.  Salah is a much better player IMHO.  I'd be worried that Madrid come in for him this summer or next.

Just imagine how good Salah will be at Anfield once he gets settled in!!!   Traditionally, a player peaks after two or three years in the premiership.

I'd like us to bring in Jasper Schmeical from Leicester.  Very good keeper, knows the league, strong reassuring presence at the back, good distribution, great stopper.   I also like his colleague Mahrez.

19

Liverpool FC, football, sport / Re: Season 2017/18

« on: January 07, 2018, 02:56:11 PM »

A false accusation should be punished with the same ban as a genuine racial incident, only it should be Holgate getting the ban. A false accusation sets back the attempt to remove genuine racist incidents.

absolutely.

I am still unclear as to how Holgate, a kid from Doncaster, is fluent in Portuguese.  This has never been explained.   And if the alleged jibe was in english, amazingly nobody else seems to have heard the N word being used.  I was reading about Holgate being lucky a few days earlier, in a dirty tackle from behind on United's Lingard......supposedly could easily have broken a leg...only being a booking.  Someone called him a nasty piece of work - a Joey Barton junior.

On a wider scale - I have to say I was very angry at the BBC coverage of the game.

Not only was the TV producer amateurish, in his/her wrong choice of camera shots (action happening, and them still on some close-up shot of something irrelevant), but also the punditry.

Shearer and his pals now have changed their tune.  A few weeks ago at the same ground, they crucified Lovren and said it was a clear penalty - you can't put your hands on the opponent in the box, was their cry.

Now some three weeks later, Shearer and his pals are adamant that "it's a contact sport" and Holgate's arms all over the Liverpool player did not constitute a penalty.  Shearer has been called out on his hypocrisy in social media since the game.

I liked the way Klopp threw this back in the face of journalists after the game.  i.e. he said that he was sorry three weeks earlier, and was clearly wrong....and unaware that hands on an opponent was an automatic penalty.  He has learned and now tonight's was clearly a penalty too.  He beat them with their own cane.

Also, the pundits never focussed on the clear foul of Matip that led to the Everton goal.

Also they were quick, at half time, to put down Firminho, referring to spitting at Holgate.  They had to row back on that one.   And it was as much as Shearer could do, as to suggest Holgate maybe could have been booked for his dangerous push on Firminho.

Rooney also should have got his marching orders in that first half.  Again, no focus on the tackles.

Of course Murphy referring to a scouser, and his crutches, being on benefits, was the usual anti-merseyside nonsense.  I'd call it racist/regionalist.

From a national public broadcaster, I felt their coverage was well below par.

I'd replace the lot of them.  They seem to be a happy little club, far too smug and limited, to be employed as pundits.

20

Liverpool FC, football, sport / Re: January Transfer Window 2018

« on: January 03, 2018, 12:39:10 AM »

Coutinho

Guillam Balague writes on Twitter: “About Coutinho. Barcelona will soon make an offer of €110+40.
“Chairman Bartomeu feels in debt to him for how hard he's trying to go to FCB.
“Their top players want him.
“LFC have changed their tone but have not put price to him.
“They will act when offer arrives. Which it will.”


I always respect Ballague and his sources.  Sounds like 150 might be enough.....tho I imagine depends upon how much up front and how much is addons. 

I'd suggest 150 upfront and no addons.  The guy is not 19 years old - he is bloddy mid-20s and a well-established regular in Brazil's front line.
To be honest, I can't figure why Coutinho leaving mid-season can be any good for the player, Liverpool or Barca.  He can have a go at the Champions League with Liverpool....and is cup-tied for Barca.  And Barca lead the Liga by some distance.  Leaving now, is a lose lose for the lad, and Liverpool.
I see mutterings too, of us trying to bring forward Keita's arrival from Leipzig, to January.

21

Liverpool FC, football, sport / Re: January Transfer Window 2018

« on: January 03, 2018, 12:26:02 AM »

agreed.

the big money is in england.   There is only sun, and a slower pace of league in Italy (which may suit his lazy slow to football).

I would not be surprised if he ends up signing a new contract with Liverpool.  It just feels like he is playing the field.

22

Liverpool FC, football, sport / Re: Season 2017/18

« on: January 03, 2018, 12:23:57 AM »

It was an horrendous mistake by Matip, but well done to the team that we came back to win.

happy new year Tes, to you and your loved ones, and everyone in here.

yes, and we made a couple of similar mess-ups versus Burnley, but on this occasion got away with them.

Klopp insists on us playing cute little short passes, even in the trickiest of scenarios.....when the obvious solution is to hoof it out of the danger area.

there is very little to be gained by being cute at the back - and a big downside.

23

Liverpool FC, football, sport / Re: Season 2017/18

« on: December 27, 2017, 11:00:59 AM »

Happy Xmas Tes, and to your loved ones.

aye, I had similar smiles when I saw Leon Britton's name come up in the media.   

Another Tory effort at hurting Liverpool. 

And another big embarrassing defeat!

24

Liverpool FC, football, sport / Re: Season 2017/18

« on: December 23, 2017, 01:01:12 AM »

I think Kevin Keegan has more managerial talent than this guy on the bench.

Every game, it's the same script.

Even at two or three nil up, he is incapable of winning games.

He said recently, that when he cannot take Liverpool any further, then he would go.  The fat lady is clearing her throat.

25

Liverpool FC, football, sport / Re: Season 2017/18

« on: December 15, 2017, 04:09:35 PM »

I knew when Mane missed the opportunity to pass to a team mate to make it 2 nil we were done!  I actually turned the telly off to go do some ironing...lol.

Watched a clip of Kloppo's interview after the game which was prickly to say the least.  Sometimes you gotta admit your mistakes and hold your hands up.  Not Klopp obviously! 

Taking Salah off!  Hahaha.... Fat Sam must of been beaming!  I mean WTF!!!  Lovren....mmm.  Well we should be used to it by now.  We all know he's got a mistake in him which always tends to cost the team, I mean what on gods green earth was he thinking putting his hands on that toffee in his penalty box?  Nuts!!!

yes, if Allardyce had been given a pick, of the one red player that he'd want taken off - it would have been Salah.

Undiluted madness to take off your best player after 65 minutes, in the heat of a derby and only a goal up.

I looked at the penalty thing again from a different angle.  I think the ref had a bit of a nightmare on that one.  The everton lad needs to be up for an oscar nomination.  Lovren didn't do a lot wrong.  Would anyone have been surprised if instead the ref had booked the lad who went down so dramatically.  I don't think too many eyebrows would have been raised if he had been booked.

Like you, I thought the Mane thing before half time, could well come back to haunt us.

He had to get his head up and square it......would have been a tap-in for any one of the three reds alongside him.

4 points dropped at home in 4 days, versus everton and wba.

Title long since gone.....now doing our best to throw a CL spot away too.

We cannot keep on throwing easy points away like this.

We can't win dirty.  We can't scrape results on a bad day.

We are fair-weather bullies.

26

Liverpool FC, football, sport / Re: Season 2017/18

« on: December 10, 2017, 04:16:03 PM »

Liverpool 1 Everton 1

we totally dominated the game.

And then Klopp takes off our most dangerous player, Salah, mid second half while only one up.

Nutty (unless Salah was injured).

We should have scored far more.

Klopp's team cannot put games to bed.   It's the same story, over and over again.

His game management is non-existent. 

27

Liverpool FC, football, sport / Re: Champions League 2017/18

« on: November 23, 2017, 06:05:54 PM »

we need a left-back for the restart.

28

Liverpool FC, football, sport / Re: Champions League 2017/18

« on: November 22, 2017, 01:50:34 PM »

Sevilla 3 - Liverpool 3

Again Liverpool snatch a draw/defeat from the jaws of victory. We did the same in the home leg, which we somehow managed to also throw away and draw (2-2).  By this point, we should be home and hosed.  We should be sitting on top of the group, qualified as the top team. 

I am actually embarrassed for Klopp.  His ineptness at defending 2 or 3 goal leads is now becoming legendary.

Moreno is merely a symptom.  The root of the problem is Klopp and his ill-balanced sides and limited ability to game manage.  We have such a soft under-belly.  At the first signs of the opposition getting among us, it is like panic stations among a Dad's Army platoon.  I wouldn't want to be with this platoon, when the chips are down.

Our first line of defence is our attack.  Why in the second half, when we are under the cosh, is Firmino flicking balls around, when they should be sticking (and taking some pressure off our defence).   

Klopp is just not good enough.  A top manager learns and adapts to his environment. 

29

Liverpool FC, football, sport / Re: Season 2017/18

« on: November 10, 2017, 06:24:58 PM »

off topic

awful penalty decision for the Swizz.   Beyond awful.

Come on N Ireland in the return leg!!

And come on the Republic v Denmark!

30

Liverpool FC, football, sport / Re: Season 2017/18

« on: November 05, 2017, 03:37:55 PM »

the defence still looked a concern. Ayew's early chance where everyone was ball watching again and Moreno had tucked in too far leaving Ayew clear.

For the goal, Gomez should have attacked and cleared the ball

there were a couple of 'good' chances for The Hammers in the second half that really shouldn't have happened.

Our players appear to focus solely on the ball, rather than being aware of opposition players around them

Ultimately, players, not zones or spaces, score goals.

totally agree.

I saw the highlights last night - and was shouting at the screen, that we were "ball-watching" again for their goal.....and on other hammer chances.

Sometimes I really think that Klopp doesn't even have the basic skills, re coaching.  Pub teams try and eradicate ball-watching - so why should a big professional club be regularly caught doing it.

Ok, we hammered the bubble-blowers.....but this could have been something like a 4-6 scoreline. 

There is no future to such an ill-balanced setup.  Progress will never be made on the back of such a flawed strategy.

Any manager worth his salt, that goes ahead, then will sit back, which forces the opposition to commit players forward......THUS leaving gaps in behind for us to exploit and score more goals.

But Klopp doesn't do this.  He has one mode of operation - attack, attack, attack. 

But at least yesterday, he had Liverpool pinging the ball around at speed.  The slow possession based build-ups never work in his system.  But when we decide to stop masturbating over our possession and endless meaningless passes, and actually move the ball faster, we score goals.