Liverpool FC Thread

[Crimey]

First topic message reminder :

Liverpool FC

Transfers in:

Fabio Borini (£11 million)
Joe Allen (£15 million)
Joe Cole (return from loan)
Oussama Assaidi (£2.4 million)
Nuri Sahin (on loan)
Samed Yesil (£1 million)

Transfers out:

Dirk Kuyt (£1 million)
Maxi Rodriguez (Free)
Fabio Aurelio (Free)
Alberto Aquilani (£7 million)
Craig Bellamy (Free)
Andy Carroll (loan)
Jay Spearing (loan)
Charlie Adam (£4 million)

[hampo17]

Apparently the board aren't happy with Ayre over the Fulham negotiations, looks like he's going to face the chop.

[Crimey]

How do people want us to line up today? Agger is back from suspension, but unfortunately no Lucas, but Sahin could make his debut.

I'd go for...

Reina

Johnson
Skrtel
Agger
Enrique

Gerrard
Allen
Sahin

Sterling
Suarez
Borini

A part of me thinks swapping Coates for Skrtel is an option, but I don't think it'd be any good for Skrtel's confidence. Every time Coates plays though, he seems to get better. I'm not 100% sure about starting Sahin, I'd play Shelvey instead if not Sahin, but then if you don't give bring him in now, when do you?

Then I wouldn't drop Sterling, to keep up a good run of form he needs a run of games and it wouldn't send a right message to Sterling if after being the best player on the pitch for 90 minutes against Manchester City he's then dropped to the bench. He can cause real problems on either full backs (Arsenal's weak spots.)

I'm hoping for a win today, I think if the side plays as well as they did against City they probably will manage a win. Need to cut out silly mistakes, the last two games, victories have been cost by defensive or goalkeeping errors.

[kwinigolfer]

Liverpool have traditionally represented much of what is so great about British football.
But FSG now have them resembling Red Sox East.

Uncanny the similarities between massive player investment in 2010/2011, management changes, unloading of many of the players of whom so much was expected, and disaffection by the fans when it all goes wrong.

Hope the similarities will blur with a good season at Anfield, but history has a way of repeating itself.

[Crimey]

Liverpool line up as I predicted.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Confident Crimey? Mannone in goal for Arsenal must give you some confidence

[Crimey]

Think if we play as well as we did against City we should win.

[Guest]

Another match another error. That said great clinical break by Arsenal.

[JamesLincs]

yep, very good break away from arsenal. think commentators are being harsh on gerrard, it was a poor pass capitalised by the opponent, nothing else

[JamesLincs]

tell you what, ive been wrong about this game so far. some very good football here. giroud finishing is the worst ive seen from a striker for years.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Nice goalkeeping Reina

[Guest]

It never rains it pours. Pathetic.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

#BehindthemightyNorwich

[Crimey]

We look even worse than the year before.

The problems from last year have only been exasperated...

Good passing with no finished product at the end.
A lack of strikers.
The odd mistake.

Perhaps the most frustrating aspect is the sheer amount of crosses that are put into the box without anybody there to get them. Where were these crosses last year?!

[GSC]

You're hinting at it, but wheres the full blown rant at Carroll being a plan B despite Liverpool were never going to use him properly

[Crimey]

I don't understand what Rodger's plan A is for goals though, never mind a plan B!

We still haven't scored a single goal from normal play yet in the Premier League.

[Crimey]

It's going to be a long season.

[GSC]

Presumably have Allen and Sahin complete 300 5 yard passes in their own half and have all the ex Liverpool pundits fawn over it.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Well for some reason you play Borini as a wide forward, Suarez isn't an out and out striker. If those two get injured you are literally screwed

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

It's going to be a long season.

It's alright you play Norwich soon, Suarez will score a hattrick again grrrrrrrrrrr

[Crimey]

It's because Borini and Suarez are both wide-forwards, with nobody in the middle.

I fear next summer's transfer window could be even less pretty than this years.

[Guest]

Is that even possible Crimey?

[Crimey]

Well this season could essentially put Sterling in the shop window.

If we can't get Europe, Suarez will be taking a few glances towards the exit door and there'll be a few clubs interested.

Skrtel was talking about achieving top four, Agger has said he could be tempted by Barcelona (who didn't sign a centre back this summer).

[kwinigolfer]

See 12.56 post.

Similarities between the respective plights of the Red Sox and LFC are unmistakeable, uncanny.

All very well bemoaning King Kenny's reign, high time fingers were pointed at the owners.

[Duty281]

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/1149317/liverpool-considering-michael-owen-deal?cc=5739

Any truth in this? Personally, I think it would be worth a punt.

[Kenny]

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/1149317/liverpool-considering-michael-owen-deal?cc=5739

Any truth in this? Personally, I think it would be worth a punt.

Said on friday this was on the cards

[Guest]

What's Robbie Fowler up to these days?

[Kenny]

Keegan hasn't got a club

[Crimey]

Rodgers has come out and said he would have never loaned Carroll out if he knew he wasn't getting anybody in.

Apparently there's a clause allowing Liverpool to recall him in January. If Rodgers can't get anybody in between now and the end of the January window, I think he'll recall Carroll.

I'd take Owen, it's better than nothing (which is literally the other option.)

[Lumbering_Jack]

I know Suarez, as a footballer, is great. But do Liverpool not get sick of his constant cheating/diving and general attitude. He really is everything that is wrong with the modern day footballer.

Now dont get me wrong, all teams have divers and at time Jonas can make my blood boild with his constant play acting. Surely Liverpool fans must be getting sick of this chump?

[Crimey]

Although I'm sure I'll be accused of being blind because Suarez is a Liverpool player, but from what I see, I don't think Suarez dives, I think he overacts when he is touched, but I think it's a foreign thing, fouls that would be given in other leagues aren't given here.

I also think he's improved a lot this year compared to last, but the problem is he has a reputation so referees ignore every claim despite the fact that most of the time they are genuine. I think there was a penalty today when Mertesacker grabbed hold of him.

I think he's a very passionate footballer and is desperate to do well and for the team to do well. This will always get him into trouble I think.

The one thing I want him to cut out is shouting at referees and getting unnecessary yellows. He's better when he just gets on with it.

[Lumbering_Jack]

Overeacting when touched (which usually involves falling and rolling) is a dive, surely?

Football is a contact sport, Suarez seems to think it isnt.

I think if a player is judged to have went to ground when staying on his feet is possible it should be a one game ban. This would cut out the blatant cheating we see week in week out.

[Crimey]

Overeacting when touched (which usually involves falling and rolling) is a dive, surely?

Football is a contact sport, Suarez seems to think it isnt.

I think if a player is judged to have went to ground when staying on his feet is possible it should be a one game ban. This would cut out the blatant cheating we see week in week out.

I'd say diving is falling to the floor under no contact, or very little contact. Suarez doesn't drop to the floor when touched, he falls when impeded, even if it is ever so slightly.

I think you, as well as most of the media, don't understand what 'contact sport' actually means. Any contact that directly impedes or effects a player is not allowed, that's a foul. Football is a contact sport, meaning that contact is allowed, but it's not a collision sport where contact is allowed to stop people playing football.

That is almost impossible to judge and a lot of players would be unfairly punished. The problem is that referees very rarely give fouls if players stay on their feet, especially in the penalty area, it's almost a necessity to fall to the floor for the referee to do anything now. You'll just have to get used to it I think. The Premier League isn't very bad for it, the Champions League and international football is much worse.

[Lumbering_Jack]

In that case, almost any contact stops a player doing what he wants so surely we should see hundreds of fouls per game.

Suarez (and many others) fall to the floor while barely being touched. I've seen more manly games at school boy level.

[Lumbering_Jack]

Another recent example is the foul on Saha. No doubt it is a foul, and possibly a red card, but what is Saha holding his face for. Shameful play acting, unless the camera angle i seen didnt show the actual contact to his face?

[nasisillmatic]

I have never seen a player be an ultimate waste infront of goal more than Suarez.

Why are our players so scared to commit themselves forward and get in the box?

[dublin_dave]

im amazed rogers did not bring in some a few out and out wingers aswell as an extra striker

dyer and sinclear offered real pace and verve out wide for swansea as well as a goal thread. borini may turn out to be a good player for liverpool but a winger he is not. sterling is a talent but very raw.

[Josiah Maiestas]

Selling Kuyt was a mistake imo. You could have sold much worse players.

[GSC]

Kuyt was a nothing player that worked hard

[Guest]

kuyt was a good player and i do believe that liverpool made a mistake in selling him

[nasisillmatic]

Kuyt was a big game player for us, he scored a lot of important goals in the big games when it really mattered.

[Soldier_Of_Fortune]

We are only 3 games in and we have played City and Arsenal so lets not panic just yet but I am concerned about the lack of clear opportunaties in front of goals. We seem to grind out half chances but rarely have clear cut chances to score.

We have got a winger in Assaidi who is not match fit at the moment who is an unknown quantity and could bring something different to the team.

In no circumstance would I ever want Owen back at the club. The lack of respect he has shown the club since he left is unforgivable. Even going as far as saying he would celebrate if he scored for Manure at Anfield!. Even Bellamy who spent one season at us didn't even celebrate when he scored! He doesn't derserve to wear the shirt again.

[LivinginItaly]

I do think that kuyt would have given us an extra option, and would certainly choose him over Carroll or Michael Owen. Owen should never play for Liverpool again regardless of how bad the situation might be.

On the subject of contact and diving, you should try playing football against Italians with an Italian ref. It really is a different game outside of the homeland.

[nasisillmatic]

We are only 3 games in and we have played City and Arsenal so lets not panic just yet but I am concerned about the lack of clear opportunaties in front of goals. We seem to grind out half chances but rarely have clear cut chances to score.

We have got a winger in Assaidi who is not match fit at the moment who is an unknown quantity and could bring something different to the team.

In no circumstance would I ever want Owen back at the club. The lack of respect he has shown the club since he left is unforgivable. Even going as far as saying he would celebrate if he scored for Manure at Anfield!. Even Bellamy who spent one season at us didn't even celebrate when he scored! He doesn't derserve to wear the shirt again.

Amen with regards to Owen. He is a horrible, egotistical w***er who should not be even considered.

[Liam]

Ok you can correct me on my views on Owen as you'll know more than me probably, but didn't Benitez want him out and let him go, for in my view a terrible sum of just 8m to go to Madrid. And also in Owen's point of view, with a new manager at the club and Real Madrid knocking on the door, you can't blame the guy, who turns down Madrid?

At Newcastle he got injured, the metatarsel injury wasn't his fault, just a freak accident and I think he get's allot of stick from Newcatle fans that isn't entirely justified. He did score goals for them but was very unlucky with injuries.

Similar to the Madrid situation, can you turn down Utd when your a free agent and without a club. Never really got a fair run of games under his belt for us, even when I thought he should be starting games. Seemed to be getting towards starting for us when he scored in the carling cup final, then again, not his fault but the wembley turf, cost him his chance to break into the 11.

On the celebrating for Utd vs Liverpool, i'm one of those people who feel if you move from a club and score against your former club then you have every right to celebrate. That club is in the past and in the case of Owen, he gave you some stupendous years and won european footballer of the year with Liverpool. He was easily top strikers in the world for Liverpool and loved the club. If he had scored for Utd vs Liverpool (Almost did couple of years ago until Carra hauled him down, red card imo ) hasn't he every right to celebrate for the fans of his NEW team. I wouldn't care if Rooney moved to Liverpool and scored at OT, then celebrated, who cares.

ATM, Liverpool are in a bit of a mess and Rodger's unfortunately has his hands tied with the striker situation. Not his fault, business just fell through when he really needed to replace Carroll. Owen would be ideal for Liverpool right now, natural goalscorer who can come on for 20 mins and be a real threat. Adapted his game to drop deep and play nice passes and keep the flow of moves going. He's still got a bit of pace, knows where the goal is and for me would be ideal for Liverpool right now.

[Josiah Maiestas]

Kuyt was a big game player for us, he scored a lot of important goals in the big games when it really mattered.

Yep.. Liverpool fans were quick to blame Kuyt for one or two bad passes, yet Carragher and Reina with 50 odd mistakes last season are STILL getting paid big salaries for giving away goals like a buy one get one free sale. Sterling needs to slow down a bit too, running like Frankel at Ascot every game is going to cut short his career with injuries, if he doesn't slow the pace and play with his brain. Joe Allen is certainly Liverpool's best buy in a long time.

[Crimey]

I was a big fan of Kuyt when nobody else seemed to be, but the past two years he was really struggling to play at a high level. I think it was best to let him go, the problem is just not bringing in anybody to replace him.

[Guest]

In no circumstance would I ever want Owen back at the club. The lack of respect he has shown the club since he left is unforgivable. Even going as far as saying he would celebrate if he scored for Manure at Anfield!. Even Bellamy who spent one season at us didn't even celebrate when he scored! He doesn't derserve to wear the shirt again.

[JamesLincs]

at the end of the day owen repaid you with plenty of trophies, must be hard for an evertonian to do that. my opinion on his is, fair enough. pretty sure bellamy isnt an evertonian. and owen hardly comes across as a d*ckhead does he

[Soldier_Of_Fortune]

Ok you can correct me on my views on Owen as you'll know more than me probably, but didn't Benitez want him out and let him go, for in my view a terrible sum of just 8m to go to Madrid. And also in Owen's point of view, with a new manager at the club and Real Madrid knocking on the door, you can't blame the guy, who turns down Madrid?

First of all Owen was in the final year of his contract hence the low transfer fee. Owen was holding back on penning a new contract when Benitez arrived. While Benitez was Valencia manager, Owen's agent was actually in Spain offering his services to them and Real and Barca. So when Benitez took charge he had a meeting with Owen which actually began with, "you don't actually want to be here as your agent said to me were going to become avialable?". Owen was then shipped out for a mediorce fee.

At Newcastle he got injured, the metatarsel injury wasn't his fault, just a freak accident and I think he get's allot of stick from Newcatle fans that isn't entirely justified. He did score goals for them but was very unlucky with injuries

Owen was just one of those players who struggled with injuries, Newcastle knew the risk they were taking when he signed. He actually did have a decent record when fit but for the wages he was on it was a bad move.

On the celebrating for Utd vs Liverpool, i'm one of those people who feel if you move from a club and score against your former club then you have every right to celebrate. That club is in the past and in the case of Owen, he gave you some stupendous years and won european footballer of the year with Liverpool. He was easily top strikers in the world for Liverpool and loved the club. If he had scored for Utd vs Liverpool (Almost did couple of years ago until Carra hauled him down, red card imo ) hasn't he every right to celebrate for the fans of his NEW team. I wouldn't care if Rooney moved to Liverpool and scored at OT, then celebrated, who cares.

He was still held in high regard with Liverpool, even though his fiasco of not renewing his contract as he scored a lot of goals and win some important matches. But the fact the he came through Liverpools ranks from a schoolboy, he knows about the intense rivally Liverpool and United have. So to hear what he said knowning all this is unforgivable for any Liverpool fan. Period.

ATM, Liverpool are in a bit of a mess and Rodger's unfortunately has his hands tied with the striker situation. Not his fault, business just fell through when he really needed to replace Carroll. Owen would be ideal for Liverpool right now, natural goalscorer who can come on for 20 mins and be a real threat. Adapted his game to drop deep and play nice passes and keep the flow of moves going. He's still got a bit of pace, knows where the goal is and for me would be ideal for Liverpool right now.

Owen no longer has any pace! His game as completely changed from when he left Liverpool. He is another hamstring pull away from retirement.

at the end of the day owen repaid you with plenty of trophies, must be hard for an evertonian to do that. my opinion on his is, fair enough. pretty sure bellamy isnt an evertonian. and owen hardly comes across as a d*ckhead does he

What are you goin on about you moron. Bellamy not an Evertonian?

[Liam]

SOF,

Cheers for the info, sort of cleared up the reason why he left liverpool. I also thin k the reason for his hamstring injuries was that at such a young age playing all those games without much rest, took its toll on him. He was just a kid when he was banging in the goals and wasn't really managed that well, not a dig just my views. Who would've rested him with the form he was in.

I still think he get's far too tougher time from Liverpool fans. You take him out of the Liverpool side at the start of his career and there's allot of goals and match winning contributions gone. I still disagree with the whole 'he shouldn't celebrate' and stuff. Think people have got to be grown up about it all and say 'he was great for us, he's with utd whatever' i genuinely would have that thought if say a utd player was in the same position as owen was.

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