Liverpool FC Thread

by **Crimey** Sat 07 Jul 2012, 8:10 pm

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)

by nasisillmatic Wed 10 Oct 2012, 2:03 pm

I don't think we will try to replace Gerrard with our current style of play because he is not a possesion player. His style is about penetrating the defence, his passes always have an agenda, he simply doesn't pass for the sake if it, he is always forward thinking.

People have a little moan that he gives the ball away too much, ignoring tha fact his passes always carry a risk/reward as they are never simple. He consistently tries to unlock a defence and create openings.

by liverbnz Wed 10 Oct 2012, 2:11 pm

Possession based teams still need someone to unlock the door so to speak. They need someone to spot that split 2nd gap to create chances. Gerrard is still our best player at this, although he too often tries to do it in one fell swoop which is against one of Rodger's conerstones of his philosphy - patience.

by nasisillmatic Wed 10 Oct 2012, 2:35 pm

While I agree that he our best player, it would be interesting to see a full strength side without him in the midfield to see how they adjust.

Our record last season was much better while he was out injured.

by **Crimey** Wed 10 Oct 2012, 2:42 pm

Kenny wrote:I know Gerrard is in the team and will be for the forseable future , but does anyone think that Liverpool realise he is irreplaceable and that is a reason behind the change in style of play ? if you get what i meen

I've thought this for a while, that the club has been trying to prepare for Gerrard's eventual retirement for a few years now by becoming less and less reliable on him. I think he's a different player than he was a couple of years ago, the bursting runs and off the striker play aren't his game any more, he's more of a deep lying playmaker these days. I think when he retires, he won't be replaced with a player similar to him, but a player who fits into the possession based football.

by liverbnz Wed 10 Oct 2012, 2:53 pm

I'm not really sure how you reckon we've been preparing for Gerrard's retriement for years Crimey. We have become less reliant on him by default more than anything else. He's barely been available and he's no longer the player he was in 2009 so we've had to do without whether we like it or not. It could also be argued that we haven't been preparing very well given that since his last great season for us, we've finished 7th, 6th and 8th.

We've only become possesion based (or trying to) due the manager we've brought in, not due to the club's or the owner's own philosphy.

by **Kenny** Fri 12 Oct 2012, 10:51 am

Borini has broken his foot while on international duty with Italy , it's not known how long he will be out for at the moment

by GSC Fri 12 Oct 2012, 10:53 am

Bonus for Liverpool then. All you need now is for Downing to go waterskiing

by Soldier_Of_Fortune Fri 12 Oct 2012, 12:07 pm

GSC wrote:Bonus for Liverpool then. All you need now is for Downing to go waterskiing

by **Crimey** Fri 12 Oct 2012, 12:09 pm

It is worrying though, as I don't know what happens if Suarez is injured now. Morgan or Yesil will surely have to be played.

by **Crimey** Fri 12 Oct 2012, 12:10 pm

In more positive news, isn't it great to see so many young, talented English players break through at Liverpool.

Sterling
Shelvey
Wisdom
Kelly
Robinson
Flanagan
Morgan
And some young lad called Jamie Carragher as well. Wink

by **Kenny** Fri 12 Oct 2012, 3:18 pm

Crimey wrote:In more positive news, isn't it great to see so many young, talented English players break through at Liverpool.

Sterling
Shelvey
Wisdom
Kelly
Robinson
Flanagan
Morgan
And some young lad called Jamie Carragher as well.

Still a bit young though Crimey to make the first team Smile

by **Good Golly I'm Olly** Fri 12 Oct 2012, 3:38 pm

Crimey wrote:In more positive news, isn't it great to see so many young, talented English players break through at Liverpool.

Sterling
Shelvey
Wisdom
Kelly
Robinson
Flanagan
Morgan
And some young lad called Jamie Carragher as well.

I love Robinson. Think he will be a top quality LB in 5 years

by JamesLincs Mon 15 Oct 2012, 11:08 am

so your set to work on anfield and increase capacity, instead of moving to a new stadium. surely, surely! if anfield stadium can have work carried out on it, why on earth was a new stadium even considered??

by liverbnz Mon 15 Oct 2012, 11:14 am

JamesLincs wrote:so your set to work on anfield and increase capacity, instead of moving to a new stadium. surely, surely! if anfield stadium can have work carried out on it, why on earth was a new stadium even considered??

There are issues with redevelopment of Anfield - political, financial, spatial and social. Those issues have not yet been fully resolved, but it seems at long last that the club and the council are on the same page.

by JamesLincs Mon 15 Oct 2012, 11:21 am

well that must be fantastic news for the fans then? if there was one stadium in england you wouldnt want to see gone, it would be anfield

by liverbnz Mon 15 Oct 2012, 11:39 am

I think so. I'm happy with it anyway although it's a long way to go yet. This is only really an announcement from the council for the CPOs. The club haven't fully committed to redevelopment yet as a lot depends on the council. It's progress though.

by GSC Mon 15 Oct 2012, 9:10 pm

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2012/oct/15/liverpool-anfield-redevelopment-ian-ayre?CMP=twt_gu

You have to feel for the residents, Liverpool's mucking around has contributed to the drop in market value.

by **Crimey** Wed 17 Oct 2012, 4:59 pm

Fabio Borini is out for three months, I expect to see Yesil or Morgan to be getting games soon then.

by nasisillmatic Thu 18 Oct 2012, 9:13 am

Its a shame about Borini, as I feel he just needs that first league goal to really show us what he's about. A lot of fans will think its a good thing he's injured which is disappointing.

by **Crimey** Thu 18 Oct 2012, 11:50 am

nasisillmatic wrote:Its a shame about Borini, as I feel he just needs that first league goal to really show us what he's about. A lot of fans will think its a good thing he's injured which is disappointing.

I think it does force Rodger's hand into dropping him, which he might not have been as eager to do so otherwise. I don't think it's a good thing he's injured, I'd like to have seen him given starts in the Europa league and Capital One Cup in the hope he can pick up a few goals and some confidence. He's struggled in the Premier League.

by **Kenny** Thu 18 Oct 2012, 3:14 pm

Imo it was always going to take Borini awhile to settle in , he has swapped clubs 3 - 4 ? times in a short space of time so to be expected to just start scoring goals straight away was going to be very difficult . Rodgers obviously sees something in him and has confidence that he will be hit rather then a miss having spent near on 10 million on him . Lets hope he recovers quickly and when he's fit and back in the team he gets a goal or two and gets some of the pressure off himself .

Were his injury now leaves us up front im not sure ? will it be Spearing Suarez Suso ? or does Downing get back in ? what does everyone think

by nasisillmatic Thu 18 Oct 2012, 3:37 pm

Sterling is a cert to start (how times change), Suso has done well but I don't think wide right is the position for him so maybe Downing could come in.

If Sterling or Suarez get injured we will struggle big time.

While Borini has not really got going yet I feel his best game was against Man City, he was constantly winning the ball, passing to Suarez, then making a good run into the box only for Suarez to fluff the pass. I think if Suarez would've been at the races that day Borini might have opened his account already.

by **Kenny** Thu 18 Oct 2012, 3:39 pm

Do you think Joe Cole will get a look in ?

by nasisillmatic Thu 18 Oct 2012, 3:44 pm

Kenny wrote:Do you think Joe Cole will get a look in ?

I hope not, but Rodgers has seen something in him so he just might. The problem is where do you play him? He has no out and out position, he likes to drift wide left then cut inside. In his younger days he could do that job, but I feel his days are gone and why switch Sterling who is all round better at the moment and in form.

by **Kenny** Thu 18 Oct 2012, 3:49 pm

I agree his best days are behind him , but the few games i saw him play last year on loan at Lille he looked good ........ i just dont get what happens when he pulls on a red shirt he looks awful

by nasisillmatic Thu 18 Oct 2012, 3:56 pm

Yeah I seen him play a couple of games last season and he was good, but the pace in France is a lot slower to our game and he had more time on the ball which he craves.

He also couldn't get passed the 75 minute mark in a game.

I get the feeling that Joe Cole has always relied on his great technical ability to see him through, and to me comes across as quite lazy in his approach to the game. I just don't think he has the desire and hunger to make it with Liverpool.

by LivinginItaly Sat 20 Oct 2012, 7:44 am

Since this season is already a write off in terms of honours (unless we get lucky in one of the cups) I'm quite looking forward to seeing who will take the opportunity created by the injury to borini. Of the young players who do you think can full the void? Or will Rodgers use one of the oldest players out of position such as Cole or downing?

by **Kenny** Sat 20 Oct 2012, 10:35 am

Suso has signed a new long term contract keeping him at Anfield until 2016

by **Crimey** Sat 20 Oct 2012, 2:11 pm

Reina is out with an injury, Brad Jones is in. Jones doesn't fill me with confidence, but neither does Reina this year. At least it comes against Reading rather in an FA Cup semi final...

by GSC Sat 20 Oct 2012, 2:17 pm

Think I saw that Reina has saved 35% of shots on target inside the area or something

by **hampo17** Sat 20 Oct 2012, 3:32 pm

STERLING!!!!!! First of many Liverpool goals for the lad hopefully.

by **Kenny** Sat 20 Oct 2012, 4:13 pm

Sounds like a decent enough first half display

by nasisillmatic Mon 22 Oct 2012, 10:45 am

LivinginItaly wrote:Since this season is already a write off in terms of honours (unless we get lucky in one of the cups) I'm quite looking forward to seeing who will take the opportunity created by the injury to borini. Of the young players who do you think can full the void? Or will Rodgers use one of the oldest players out of position such as Cole or downing?

I don't know how the season is a write off in terms of honours. We're in the League cup, Europa League and FA Cup, we could do well in any of them. The league was never gonna be a possibility, we just need to get as close to 4th as we can.

In relation to your question regarding Borini, at the moment it looks as if Suso is the man being picked to replace him. I think Assiadi may play a bit more as the season goes on.

by **Kenny** Mon 22 Oct 2012, 1:27 pm

I agree you cant say the season is a write off yet , like nas says the league was never a realistic option this season . This season is about build the team and if we can do well in a cup or two then great

by nasisillmatic Tue 23 Oct 2012, 3:57 pm

Andy Carroll has said he wasn't given a fair chance at Liverpool. Do people agree?

by **Crimey** Tue 23 Oct 2012, 4:01 pm

nasisillmatic wrote:Andy Carroll has said he wasn't given a fair chance at Liverpool. Do people agree?

Yeah, I don't think there was ever a time where he was considered first choice.

Due to the injury when he first joined, he never really settled into the team, so he could have a good performance only to be dropped the next game and Kenny would often try and use him as a super-sub, which only really worked in the FA Cup final. I imagine Carroll is more talking about this year though where Rodgers made no attempt to even consider Carroll as an option.

by nasisillmatic Tue 23 Oct 2012, 4:13 pm

Yes suppose he may be talking about Rodgers. It does seem strange though that you pay £35 million for a player and don't play him every game.

All in all, the Carroll transfer is going down the route of disaster.

by **Crimey** Tue 23 Oct 2012, 5:11 pm

nasisillmatic wrote:Yes suppose he may be talking about Rodgers. It does seem strange though that you pay £35 million for a player and don't play him every game.

All in all, the Carroll transfer is going down the route of disaster.

If Rodgers isn't given funds to bring in a new striker in January, don't be surprised to see him recall Carroll.

by LivinginItaly Tue 23 Oct 2012, 5:58 pm

Kenny wrote:I agree you cant say the season is a write off yet , like nas says the league was never a realistic option this season . This season is about build the team and if we can do well in a cup or two then great

That is exactly what I meant by this season being a write off. I wasn't referring to our form, or the fact that the title is beyond us, obviously that was the case before the season started. On reflection write off was the wrong term to use, I should have said a transitional season.

by Guest Tue 23 Oct 2012, 6:00 pm

Crimey wrote:
nasisillmatic wrote:Yes suppose he may be talking about Rodgers. It does seem strange though that you pay £35 million for a player and don't play him every game.

All in all, the Carroll transfer is going down the route of disaster.

If Rodgers isn't given funds to bring in a new striker in January, don't be surprised to see him recall Carroll.

Can he do that? Didn't West Ham pay a season long loan "fee" for Carroll? Would Rodgers even be prepared to lose face by recalling him? I'd be stunned if he returned in January to be honest.

by **Crimey** Tue 23 Oct 2012, 6:04 pm

FreekShow wrote:
Crimey wrote:
nasisillmatic wrote:Yes suppose he may be talking about Rodgers. It does seem strange though that you pay £35 million for a player and don't play him every game.

All in all, the Carroll transfer is going down the route of disaster.

If Rodgers isn't given funds to bring in a new striker in January, don't be surprised to see him recall Carroll.

Can he do that? Didn't West Ham pay a season long loan "fee" for Carroll? Would Rodgers even be prepared to lose face by recalling him? I'd be stunned if he returned in January to be honest.

It's been reported that there is a clause in the contract to allow this. I imagine the loan fee will be being paid in parts, and they'll just stop paying if he is recalled.

I agree it's unlikely, but if he isn't given any funds for a new forward, he might not really have a choice, especially if Suarez is injured.

by LivinginItaly Tue 23 Oct 2012, 6:05 pm

Think rodgers has said before that we have an option to recall Carroll in January.

by nasisillmatic Wed 24 Oct 2012, 9:58 am

Yes we can recall him in January, I don't think he will though.

by **Mat** Wed 24 Oct 2012, 12:17 pm

Can't see Rodgers recalling him, he is far too arrogant to admit he may have made a mistake or showed poor man-management in the whole situation.

by nasisillmatic Wed 24 Oct 2012, 1:20 pm

Rodgers was in a tough situation with Carroll. He clearly didn't fancy him when he took over, nothing wrong with that. The problem was the price we paid for him, the club apparantly would not let him go for anything under £17 million, and no one was willing to pay that.
Carroll probably would have preferred to go back to Newcastle but they only offered £12 million. He was left with either warming the bench or going on loan to West Ham for first team football.

The £35 million we paid for him and a brief good spell at the end of the season made it hard for fans to accept he was surplus to requirements. At the end of the day Carroll did not perform no were near good enough for nearly a year. While he always seemed to give a 100% on the pitch, you expect more from what we paid.

The price tag means nothing to Rodgers, he didn't pay it. If he was to keep Carroll and not use him, fans would not be happy that a player worth that much money was on the bench.

What else could he have done?

by LivinginItaly Thu 25 Oct 2012, 7:01 pm

Sounds like both gerrard and suarez are starting tonight.

by **Crimey** Thu 25 Oct 2012, 10:14 pm

I am slightly worried about the use of what was essentially the first team squad, even Sterling who didn't start got 45 minutes. Rodgers must see the importance of the derby match, a win there would be a huge morale boost and would certainly get the fans behind him. Benitez was the master of winning a big match to turn things around.

As admirable as it is that Rodgers is giving the Europa League a good go, and playing a weakened side against Anzhi would probably have led to a quite heavy defeat...I'm not sure the squad can be stretched across the Premier League and Europa League never mind the domestic cups as well.

I have a feeling if it had been an away game, the squad would have been much weaker.

by The genius of PBF Thu 25 Oct 2012, 10:42 pm

Downing

by azania Fri 26 Oct 2012, 12:11 am

The genius of PBF wrote:Downing

Assists - 0

Goals - 0

£20m? Shocked

by Soldier_Of_Fortune Fri 26 Oct 2012, 7:19 am

azania wrote:
The genius of PBF wrote:Downing

Assists - 0

Goals - 0

£20m?

Did you watch the match yesterday? Am sure he scored a 25 yard screamer? Like he did earlier in the competition. He has actually got 2 goals and 3 assists in the Eurpoa league so far kiss

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