Liverpool 2014/15 | WARNING: Contains strong amounts of Scouse nonsense

PedroMendez said:
no he wouldn't. Our biggest problem is, that we don't play as a team. Too many of our players aren't working both ways and there is little coordination between different parts of the team. You don't fix these issues with better players (and its up to debate, if Skrtel is any better than our lot), but with better coaching.
Its too early to praise Rodgers to the skies, but he certainly turned things around. Liverpool was a mess at the beginning of the season and now they are playing great football again.
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He would because he has tons of experience in the PL non of your defenders has. Smalling has probably played more games at RB than CB. Jones is very much the same. Skrtel has a PL season where he played every minute in every game as CB. So Skrtel has the experience and authority to actually lead and organize your defense. It's not so much whether he is better or not. Also someone like Fonte would be great.

I am not saying that if you bought them you would solve all problems. That might not happen because (as you say) they are not that good and would have to adapt to a new environment. But if you had one of them your defense would be much better.

So the problems stems from the fact

- that you didn't buy a proven CB, LB, RB 2 years ago
or that you didn't give enough game time to any potential young CB, LB, RB
or that you've constantly shifted the defense line probably for the last 2-3 years

Now you don't have any kind of stability or continuity in defense and considering that you're still doing very well.

The way forward for you would be that someone like Rojo steps up and becomes a pillar in your defense or that you buy 2 proven defenders (older than 25 and proven at the highest level) to sort out your problems.
 
OnlyTwoDaSilvas said:
I think Sakho is impressive, and I'm surprised his ability seems to divide opinion so much. I think he's quality. I'd have him at United. Skrtel is looking solid in this back 3 where he looks to have a bit more cover, but individually as a footballer I don't think he is too great. I'd take Smalling over him if Smalling could stay fit for longer than 24 hours. I think most United fans would, whereas most Liverpool fans would take Skrtel so there's probably no agreeing over that.
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A year ago, I would have said that Smalling at his best isn't far behind Skrtel's best, but at least he's less erratic.

Don't think either is true anymore. Smalling looks like he has regressed badly.

Then, the same could be said of skrtel a year ago.

Both are average on the ball. Skrtel at least scores goals.
 
Rafateria said:
United fans on here were full of it before the season started saying that LFC would not perform this season because we had lost Suarez and the extra games due to CL/EL football would give United a huge edge. I suppose 2 pts after 25 games is what you had in mind. Even with the team requiring a total change of formation, integration of many new players, Lovren falling to pieces and Sturridge out for half the season ..... BR has shown that he has the nouse and balls to handle the team. We all want a CL slot and yes that is definitely going to be a challenge, but the recovery, under huge pressure, has been nothing less than a very impressive piece of management by BR.
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This is such beautiful scouse logic. So the manager who bought badly in the summer, completely failed to integrate most of the players he'd bought for half a season, get humiliated in the CL, and was on the brink of getting sacked due to his appalling performances and frankly embarrassing handling of the press is now 'very impressive' because of the 'recovery'? The recovery that has seen you rise to a heady 6th position?
 
B20 said:
A year ago, I would have said that Smalling at his best isn't far behind Skrtel's best, but at least he's less erratic.

Don't think either is true anymore. Smalling looks like he has regressed badly.

Then, the same could be said of skrtel a year ago.

Both are average on the ball. Skrtel at least scores goals.
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Smalling has been very good this season, our best CB.

EDIT: I'm almost sure that Smalling has more PL goals than Skrtel this season, also.
 
Kentonio said:
This is such beautiful scouse logic. So the manager who bought badly in the summer, completely failed to integrate most of the players he'd bought for half a season, get humiliated in the CL, and was on the brink of getting sacked due to his appalling performances and frankly embarrassing handling of the press is now 'very impressive' because of the 'recovery'? The recovery that has seen you rise to a heady 6th position?
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Has now integrated the players after a rocky start so not such a disaster. It'd be worse if the new signings showed promise after joining but then faded as has arguably happened at United. Rodgers' work with the new players is reaping the rewards. Impact.

Where's the evidence he was on the brink of the sack?

Embarrassing handling of the press? When? Don't confuse this with people not caring for his style.

The 'recovery' has seen Liverpool go from 10 points behind United to 2 points. If you want to occupy yourself with table positions in late February then fine.

It's interesting that in 2 1/2 years in the job there's an overt focus on the poor 4 months as opposed to the clear progression of the other months.

What I'm pretty sure about is that Man City would want to travel to pretty much any other ground next Sunday.

Well done, Brendan.
 
Rooney in Dublin said:
Smalling has been very good this season, our best CB.

EDIT: I'm almost sure that Smalling has more PL goals than Skrtel this season, also.
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He does. 3 to 1.

Skrtel had a good goal scoring last season though, with 7. Pretty good for a CB.



I don't think Smalling has regressed. His stints at RB perhaps stalled him in the last two seasons, but now he's playing only in the middle, he's looking fine. The game at City was disastrous for him, but outwith that, he's been very good. I predict most United fans here would want Smalling and Rojo to be first pick at the back.
 
OnlyTwoDaSilvas said:
He does. 3 to 1.

Skrtel had a good goal scoring last season though, with 7. Pretty good for a CB.



I don't think Smalling has regressed. His stints at RB perhaps stalled him in the last two seasons, but now he's playing only in the middle, he's looking fine. The game at City was disastrous for him, but outwith that, he's been very good. I predict most United fans here would want Smalling and Rojo to be first pick at the back.
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But how many of those 7 goals were OGs? :D

Agree on Smalling, I think he looks like our more assured CB and for the time being him and Rojo are our best pairing, for me. I don't understand why Jones keeps getting starts.
 
Barney said:
I think most of us agreed he was a very good manager. I don't think any of us were saying he should be sacked. My opinion was that he should be given until the end of the season to turn things around (which to his credit he has done). I thought he'd struggle to turn things around, despite being a good manager, mainly due to the lack of confidence in the team at the time. I know @Dumbstar was getting frustrated about his refusal to drop Gerrard, but again, I don't think he ever said he wanted Rodgers out immediately or anything of the sort. He also made it perfectly clear how highly he thought of Rodgers. Don't think @Bob Loblaw was calling for him to be sacked either, nor was @Rafateria.
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I didn't say he should have been sacked, but in the interests of being honest I had near enough got to the point of thinking that Rodgers wasn't going to be able to turn around the poor form, especially defensively. So pretty much in the same boat as you I suppose, he was really annoying me at one stage but I'm pleasantly shocked how much better we are defensively (and overall) now.
 
Rafateria said:
It is unsurprising that it has taken the younger players some time to adjust, shocking that Lovren and Lambert (and to an extent Balotelli, though clearly Balo wasn't a BR buy) have proven to be far less effective than imagined.

Markovic (20), Coutinho (22), Sterling (20), Ibe (19), Can (20), Origi (20), Flanagan (21), Manquillo (20), Moreno (22), Henderson (24), Allen (24), Sakho (24), Balo (if he stays, 24) and even Sturridge is still only 25. We may even bring back Texeira (22), Ojo (17), Wisdom (21) and Ilori (22) from loan and are already bringing through, with 1st team games under their belts, Rossiter (18) & Williams (18) and we can also expect to see Wilson (17), Sinclair (17), Dunn (20) and Canos (18) join them soon : all young players are understandably inconsistent but many of these have already shown that they are going to be excellent buys and fixtures in the team for years to come. They are a wonderful basis for what is still a very very young, and developing, squad.

Where I believe BR/Transfer committee fecked up was in not bringing in one or two more mature players last Summer, this will be necessary (though generally contrary to FSG's transfer policy) this coming Summer when we will likely lose all of Gerrard (35), Johnson (30), Toure (34), Jones (32) and Enrique (28).
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You are lucky, these players will hardly be missed, try losing Vidic, Rio, Evra and Giggs in one go.

Maybe my ignorance, but the backing given to BR because of the transfer committee actions does not sit well, just as some United fans seem to think Woody was the one that brought in Falcao. I don't believe for one minute that BR didn't want Balotelli or LVG didn't want Falcao.
 
SalfordRed1960 said:
You are lucky, these players will hardly be missed, try losing Vidic, Rio, Evra and Giggs in one go.

Maybe my ignorance, but the backing given to BR because of the transfer committee actions does not sit well, just as some United fans seem to think Woody was the one that brought in Falcao. I don't believe for one minute that BR didn't want Balotelli or LVG didn't want Falcao.
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TBH I reckon LVG wanted Falcao, or at least didn't object, who would have tbh?
I have my doubts about BR and Balotelli, I seem to remember an interview before they brought him in, where BR clearly stated he wouldn't be a Liverpool player.
 
Cassidy said:
TBH I reckon LVG wanted Falcao, or at least didn't object, who would have tbh?
I have my doubts about BR and Balotelli, I seem to remember an interview before they brought him in, where BR clearly stated he wouldn't be a Liverpool player.
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I heard that as well, but just put that down to him not wanting other teams to bid for Balotelli. Who knows, like I say maybe my ignorance.
 
Kentonio said:
This is such beautiful scouse logic. So the manager who bought badly in the summer, completely failed to integrate most of the players he'd bought for half a season, get humiliated in the CL, and was on the brink of getting sacked due to his appalling performances and frankly embarrassing handling of the press is now 'very impressive' because of the 'recovery'? The recovery that has seen you rise to a heady 6th position?
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Well done. Beautiful editing to ignore the rest of the post that actually answered the questions you pose now.
 
SalfordRed1960 said:
You are lucky, these players will hardly be missed, try losing Vidic, Rio, Evra and Giggs in one go.

Maybe my ignorance, but the backing given to BR because of the transfer committee actions does not sit well, just as some United fans seem to think Woody was the one that brought in Falcao. I don't believe for one minute that BR didn't want Balotelli or LVG didn't want Falcao.
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So is that just good luck or good/bad planning or just good/bad management ;)

BR clearly stated on the US tour that Balo would not be joining LFC.
 
SalfordRed1960 said:
I heard that as well, but just put that down to him not wanting other teams to bid for Balotelli. Who knows, like I say maybe my ignorance.
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It was when we played Milan in Charlotte last summer. The Remy transfer had gone belly up and he praised Mario - who was with Milan at the time - saying he had all the attributes to be a top, top striker at any club in the world, but also denied any interest: “I can categorically tell you Mario Balotelli will not be at Liverpool.”

Obviously things changed, because first he bought him and now he doesn't rate him even when his game has been picking up.
 
PickledRed said:
Has now integrated the players after a rocky start so not such a disaster. It'd be worse if the new signings showed promise after joining but then faded as has arguably happened at United. Rodgers' work with the new players is reaping the rewards. Impact.

Where's the evidence he was on the brink of the sack?

Embarrassing handling of the press? When? Don't confuse this with people not caring for his style.

The 'recovery' has seen Liverpool go from 10 points behind United to 2 points. If you want to occupy yourself with table positions in late February then fine.

It's interesting that in 2 1/2 years in the job there's an overt focus on the poor 4 months as opposed to the clear progression of the other months.

What I'm pretty sure about is that Man City would want to travel to pretty much any other ground next Sunday.

Well done, Brendan.
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That's true, given our record at Anfield, I'd place it alongside the Emirates right now. Stamford Bridge is a place we are less likely to pick up 3 points at, but also we are less likely to lose there.

However, I feel you are giving Rodgers far too much credit for this season at the minute. As has been pointed, you are still only 6th in the table and performed poorly in the CL. He has basically done the minimum that was expected of him by any reasonable thinking fan. Admittedly he has positioned you promisingly to mount a decent challenge for a CL spot from here on in but until he delivers it I'd be much more cautious about showering him with praise.
 
Barney said:
They were all cack when they left.
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I'd def take Shaw Rojo and Smalling over Vidic Evra and Rio of last season.
Also I see no problem with the signing of Di Maria in place of the out going Giggs.
 
Rafateria said:
BR clearly stated on the US tour that Balo would not be joining LFC.
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If Rodgers is not responsible for transfers then pray tell why he'd make a public announcement that any particular player would not be playing for Liverpool when it wasn't his decision? Unless he's prone to sticking his foot in his mouth and embarrassing himself of course.
 
Kentonio said:
If Rodgers is not responsible for transfers then pray tell why he'd make a public announcement that any particular player would not be playing for Liverpool when it wasn't his decision? Unless he's prone to sticking his foot in his mouth and embarrassing himself of course.
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Rodgers does have final say. Rory Smith (as well as several other reliable journalists) say his hand was forced because it was Balotelli or no one.
 
Kentonio said:
If Rodgers is not responsible for transfers then pray tell why he'd make a public announcement that any particular player would not be playing for Liverpool when it wasn't his decision? Unless he's prone to sticking his foot in his mouth and embarrassing himself of course.
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That later, which we all well know. He's of course learnt from the master of that art.
 
Rafateria said:
That later, which we all well know. He's of course learnt from the master of that art.
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I can remember the sh*t being dished out to Rafa by Chelsea fans when he produced his fachts. Now LvG does the same, nothing.

Moreover, Mourinho makes a huge cock of himself and his "fachts interview" on TV and...nothing.

And somehow Rodgers seems to cop more abuse about foot in mouth disease. I think pyschologists call it 'projection'.
 
Dumbstar said:
I can remember the sh*t being dished out to Rafa by Chelsea fans when he produced his fachts. Now LvG does the same, nothing.

Moreover, Mourinho makes a huge cock of himself and his "fachts interview" on TV and...nothing.

And somehow Rodgers seems to cop more abuse about foot in mouth disease. I think pyschologists call it 'projection'.
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That's because Benitez went full-on Tinfoil Hat, Alex Jones, Flat-Earth Society, crazy, and was chatting absolute shit. LVG was simply responding to a baseless assertion.

Mourinho is renowned for his maverick, off-piste rants, there's nothing new to see. Plus, he's one of the most respected managers in the game.

Rodgers, on the other hand, is a jumped-up plonker, more likely to say something completely inane than anything of value. He's a decent manager, but as a character, he's a complete joke.
 
Start of season Rodgers is lambasted for his signings, poor team, bad defending, struggling without Suarez.

February comes and Rodgers is lambasted for his signings, poor team in the autumn , bad defending in the autumn, struggling without Suarez in the autumn.

Any positive since the autumn is nullified by the poor results in the autumn. Any notion that Rodgers has shown himself to be a manager who can turn things around is nullified by the poor results in the autumn.

Let us never forget the autumn, for those 4 glorious months were the defining months of Rodgers' pathetic reign as Liverpool manager. It shall be written as so.
 
TooBias said:
That's because Benitez went full-on Tinfoil Hat, Alex Jones, Flat-Earth Society, crazy, and was chatting absolute shit. LVG was simply responding to a baseless assertion.

Mourinho is renowned for his maverick, off-piste rants, there's nothing new to see. Plus, he's one of the most respected managers in the game.

Rodgers, on the other hand, is a jumped-up plonker, more likely to say something completely inane than anything of value. He's a decent manager, but as a character, he's a complete joke.
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It's reassuring that a United fan holds these views about present and past Liverpool managers.
 
PickledRed said:
Start of season Rodgers is lambasted for his signings, poor team, bad defending, struggling without Suarez.

February comes and Rodgers is lambasted for his signings, poor team in the autumn , bad defending in the autumn, struggling without Suarez in the autumn.

Any positive since the autumn is nullified by the poor results in the autumn. Any notion that Rodgers has shown himself to be a manager who can turn things around is nullified by the poor results in the autumn.

Let us never forget the autumn, for those 4 glorious months were the defining months of Rodgers' pathetic reign as Liverpool manager. It shall be written as so.
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That's not what people are saying. They are having a reasoned approach and waiting to see how the rest of the season pans out, which seems sensible. If your form carries on and/or you finish top 4, people will agree he's done a good job despite a rocky start to the season. If you finish outside of top 4, he'll be rightfully (surely you'll agree on this?) criticized.
 
Rooney in Dublin said:
That's not what people are saying. They are having a reasoned approach and waiting to see how the rest of the season pans out, which seems sensible. If your form carries on and/or you finish top 4, people will agree he's done a good job despite a rocky start to the season. If you finish outside of top 4, he'll be rightfully (surely you'll agree on this?) criticized.
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So who's wrong then, Liverpool fans praising him for turning things around or United fans criticizing him for having a very poor start to the season? Because I'd say neither, but if it was LvG who struggled at first and then caught form when he found the right formation, you'd all be praising him because it's only normal a (new) manager has to adapt to new players. For me, it's only normal Rodgers had to search and shift his players a little bit in order to find the right formula. LvG has done the same but hasn't been able to get his team playing good football for the record.

And in regard to finishing outside the top four: if we make a decent challenge but fall short (say 5th within three or four points), he can definitely stay for me. All United fans (or surely a huge part) proclaimed we'd never get top four before the season, and now you want to criticize him should we indeed not get it? Realistically, I wished for a trophy and a top four finish at the beginning of the season and six months later, I'd say we're still very much on course to achieve that.
 
RobinLFC said:
So who's wrong then, Liverpool fans praising him for turning things around or United fans criticizing him for having a very poor start to the season? Because I'd say neither, but if it was LvG who struggled at first and then caught form when he found the right formation, you'd all be praising him because it's only normal a (new) manager has to adapt to new players. For me, it's only normal Rodgers had to search and shift his players a little bit in order to find the right formula. LvG has done the same but hasn't been able to get his team playing good football for the record.

And in regard to finishing outside the top four: if we make a decent challenge but fall short (say 5th within three or four points), he can definitely stay for me. All United fans (or surely a huge part) proclaimed we'd never get top four before the season, and now you want to criticize him should we indeed not get it? Realistically, I wished for a trophy and a top four finish at the beginning of the season and six months later, I'd say we're still very much on course to achieve that.
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First of all, I have no idea why you're parking me with 'all Utd fans proclaiming' something, nor why you believe such a unanimous group exists. Second of all as regards your first sentence, if you read what I'm saying, you'll understand I'm not saying anyone is right or wrong, just that it's too early to come to a final conclusion on how well Rodgers has done this season. If you don't carry on this form and finish outside of top 4, I don't really see why you'd be giddy. I'm not saying he should be fired either.

Utd have played some good football this season, not champagne stuff but some decent games. It's regressed badly recently, and given the attention span of the modern day fan is about 5 minutes, I'm not surprised people have totally forgotten our good spells.
 
PickledRed said:
It's reassuring that a United fan holds these views about present and past Liverpool managers.
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Haha, there was no biased, goal post moving, revisionism there whatsoever. I've said it before, the more people hate Rodgers the better. Don't want him going to any other club, and he won't while he's perceived to be some plonker with a big mouth.
 
Rooney in Dublin said:
First of all, I have no idea why you're parking me with 'all Utd fans proclaiming' something, nor why you believe such a unanimous group exists. Second of all as regards your first sentence, if you read what I'm saying, you'll understand I'm not saying anyone is right or wrong, just that it's too early to come to a final conclusion on how well Rodgers has done this season. If you don't carry on this form and finish outside of top 4, I don't really see why you'd be giddy. I'm not saying he should be fired either.

Utd have played some good football this season, not champagne stuff but some decent games. It's regressed badly recently, and given the attention span of the modern day fan is about 5 minutes, I'm not surprised people have totally forgotten our good spells.
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I get your point but a large number of posters came to a 'final conclusion' about Rodgers by December. There was a certainty about it. He was a fraud who relied on Suarez. There wasn't the balance you are reasonably projecting.
 
PickledRed said:
I get your point but a large number of posters came to a 'final conclusion' about Rodgers by December. There was a certainty about it. He was a fraud who relied on Suarez. There wasn't the balance you are reasonably projecting.
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Fair enough, but that's the downside of an internet forum, and even moreso an opposition team one (and your historic rival's!). I don't doubt that Liverpool message boards have come to definite conclusions regarding Van Gaal (hell, our own fans have), and generally speaking, people on internet lack the ability to try to get some perspective. I'm guilty of this too, of course.
 
Is Sakho back this weekend? If not, it could sway my FPL captain decision in favour of Aguero. Lovren looked dodgy the other night.
 
Rooney in Dublin said:
Fair enough, but that's the downside of an internet forum, and even moreso an opposition team one (and your historic rival's!). I don't doubt that Liverpool message boards have come to definite conclusions regarding Van Gaal (hell, our own fans have), and generally speaking, people on internet lack the ability to try to get some perspective. I'm guilty of this too, of course.
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Yep...all true
 
Rooney in Dublin said:
First of all, I have no idea why you're parking me with 'all Utd fans proclaiming' something, nor why you believe such a unanimous group exists. Second of all as regards your first sentence, if you read what I'm saying, you'll understand I'm not saying anyone is right or wrong, just that it's too early to come to a final conclusion on how well Rodgers has done this season. If you don't carry on this form and finish outside of top 4, I don't really see why you'd be giddy. I'm not saying he should be fired either.

Utd have played some good football this season, not champagne stuff but some decent games. It's regressed badly recently, and given the attention span of the modern day fan is about 5 minutes, I'm not surprised people have totally forgotten our good spells.
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In my opinion, you can't criticize someone for finishing the season were you expected him to finish. And it's a fact that many on here predicted we wouldn't finish top four before the season started. Maybe you weren't one of those, I don't know. I was just pointing out that it's not a certainty for me that Rodgers will be rightfully criticized (especially by those United fans) if Liverpool don't finish in the top four.

I agree that it's too early to judge Rodgers' season yet, the question wasn't particularly directed at you. I've never said he should be fired, nor he has proven his managerial skills by turning Liverpool's season around. But I do think United fans saying he's a fraud are wrong (and Liverpool fans praising him into the sky as well, for that matter).
 
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