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

Liver_bird said:
Yep, that'd constitute a third of our budget sales not included plus all the backroom staff and the money required to bring the new man in just makes it extremely unviable. You've also got no guarantee that the players would adapt to the new man and how long it would to take for him to shape his side, this having brought a boatload of signings in last summer already who I expect will be given a chance to improve next season barring a few.
We might aswell just try and focus on helping Rodger's maximise his strengths and negate his coaching deficiencies, but I really am in two minds if Klopp is on the market and does want to come its a real can not miss opportunity, the only thing that worries me is the way he plays might not be sustainable in the Prem in the long term. Dortmund's players burntout eventually and here he won't even have a mid season break and will have a probable Europa League campaign to contend with to complicate matters further. Still its a moot point. I can't see the sack coming for Rodgers barring a disastrous end to the season but I'd fully understand if they pulled the curtains down on Rodgers if Klopp assured them he wanted to come long shot though it may be.
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In light of this, do you think that Liverpool might benefit from having an experienced Director of Football working alongside Rodgers?
 
Jazz said:
In light of this, do you think that Liverpool might benefit from having an experienced Director of Football working alongside Rodgers?
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On hindsight I think both us AND Rodgers would benefit with a decent DoF. But it would have to be a good DoF that employs good scouts. Not like Levy, etc.
 
Please keep Rodgers.

We need him to keep these mediocre performances up with the odd fantastic one to keep him on that fence. Hopefully Liverpool have a blistering start next season, everything seemingly ticking and coming together...then a gerrard slip moment when it all comes crashing down again and people debating whether he's good enough again. Rinse and repeat, Rodgers IN.
 
RobinLFC said:
I keep reading that but I think that's a wrong perception, ignoring the real underlying problem here. Last year was a freak season, it's not like we built a side that was going to compete for the title for years to come. With Suarez gone, our main attraction disappeared and our pulling power definitely went down. No matter what some Liverpool supporters might say on the matter, duplicating our league form was always going to be very hard and players from other teams probably knew that as well. The real superstars available went to established contenders or to clubs that can almost guarantee CL football year after year, Sanchez to Arsenal for example.

Fact is, we need to qualify for the CL a couple of seasons in a row and build a strong side that isn't too reliant on one player. Before that happens, we won't have a chance to sign 'top quality players'. What we need to do now is buy 'em young and develop them ourselves like we did with Suarez and even Torres to a lesser extent. More in the range of Lacazette/Vietto kind of players instead of Cavani/Higuain.
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I agree with pretty much all of this. I don't think CL foootball is as big as people say. We got Falcao and ADM without it and while neither are huge success stories, they're obviously top class players who could easily have gotten moves to CL clubs if they wanted. Until Liverpool establish themselves as CL regulars, they'll struggle to get the big names.

dhm91 said:
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I'm not on Twitter but surely you can be banned, removed or reported for the stuff you say?

Rafateria said:
To be honest you only have to watch Rugby to see how replays can be used professionally and accurately, down to fingertip touch. Sooner or later football will join the 21st century and , IMHO, it will be to everyone's benefit bar the divers, thugs, cheats and conmen.
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Agreed. It baffles me when I hear people talk about "slowing the game down" when we have Ramos rolling around the floor for 5 minutes, Varane getting medical attention because he got kicked and then ran onto the pitch, players surrounding the ref and the countless other acts of poor sportsmanship that make football hard to watch and wastes time. The day football resolves to eliminate that, will be a great day for players, spectators, coaches, officials and people trying to sell the game (Sky, BT). Laziness, old fashioned stubbornness and ignorance on the part of the FAs is why we are in this situation. Things like the keeping the game 'pure' and 'fast' are excuses.
 
Jazz said:
In light of this, do you think that Liverpool might benefit from having an experienced Director of Football working alongside Rodgers?
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Aye I mentioned earlier a David Dein type figure, someone who knows the game inside out and can offer valuable insight, but won't get in the manager's way. Ayre has improved us immeasurably in the commercial side of things but he's also incredibly inept at negotiating transfers although that's probably partially to do with the overall club policy. Either that or bring in the worlds best scouts ala the way Dortmund did it with 9 chief Scouts regularly watching games and allowing them to unearth hidden gems, if we can't compete financially we have to ensure we maximise absolutely everything else.
 
Jazz said:
In light of this, do you think that Liverpool might benefit from having an experienced Director of Football working alongside Rodgers?
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No.

We might have benefited from that set-up if he had joined the club on that basis but his refusal to work with a DoF is well known. Any change of that sort now would be pouring petrol on a fire.

Liverpool might benefit from replacing Rodgers.

Liverpool might benefit from making a clear and positive statement of support - financial and organizational - including a clarification that all transfers are and have been subject to his sign-off.

Liverpool might benefit from making no changes whatsoever.

But a Director of Football at this stage? Dead manager walking. Open season in the press. Even more excuses for division in the stands. A wasted year before the new season even begins and a bigger hole to climb out of.
 
Tyrion said:
Agreed. It baffles me when I hear people talk about "slowing the game down" when we have Ramos rolling around the floor for 5 minutes, Varane getting medical attention because he got kicked and then ran onto the pitch, players surrounding the ref and the countless other acts of poor sportsmanship that make football hard to watch and wastes time. The day football resolves to eliminate that, will be a great day for players, spectators, coaches, officials and people trying to sell the game (Sky, BT). Laziness, old fashioned stubbornness and ignorance on the part of the FAs is why we are in this situation. Things like the keeping the game 'pure' and 'fast' are excuses.
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Exactly. 100%.
 
Sturridge possibly out for the season. I'd say unbelievable but it's entirely believable. I'd sell him if a good offer comes in.
 
Bob Loblaw said:
Sturridge possibly out for the season. I'd say unbelievable but it's entirely believable. I'd sell him if a good offer comes in.
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Where've you heard this from? But that must be so fecking annoying for you lot.
 
Bob Loblaw said:
Sturridge possibly out for the season. I'd say unbelievable but it's entirely believable. I'd sell him if a good offer comes in.
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He's had a horrific season this year. Liverpool will need to go out and sign a proper first team striker this summer as you just can't rely on Sturridge anymore.

Quite a few positions that Liverpool need to address this summer now.
 
Pretty sure Rodgers didn't say that Sturridge is out til the end of the season. Just voiced concerns over his overall injury record and reliability.

Attila said:
He's had a horrific season this year. Liverpool will need to go out and sign a proper first team striker this summer as you just can't rely on Sturridge anymore.

Quite a few positions that Liverpool need to address this summer now.
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I'd splash the whole budget on forward players with proven goal records, and maybe a CM & Milner on a free.
 
ShadesOfTomato said:
Pretty sure Rodgers didn't say that Sturridge is out til the end of the season. Just voiced concerns over his overall injury record and reliability.



I'd splash the whole budget on forward players with proven goal records, and maybe a CM & Milner on a free.
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Maybe a Cm? Youll need to replace wee Stevie.
 
dwd said:
Maybe a Cm? Youll need to replace wee Stevie.
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To be fair, every time he starts nowadays, it about halves their chances of winning. They've got Welsh Xavi and the future England captain Henderson anyway.
 
dwd said:
Maybe a Cm? Youll need to replace wee Stevie.
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If Can moves into the middle we'll have him, Allen, Henderson, Lucas, Coutinho & if we sign him, Milner for the CM spots. I think that'd be adequate if we got enough firepower in.

In any case, I'd take goals over a top quality CM.
 
ShadesOfTomato said:
If Can moves into the middle we'll have him, Allen, Henderson, Lucas, Coutinho & if we sign him, Milner for the CM spots. I think that'd be adequate if we got enough firepower in.

In any case, I'd take goals over a top quality CM.
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Any midfield you put together out of that bunch is going to be found wanting once a midfield of quality strolls into town. Once a team comprehensively loses a midfield battle, the quality of the front liners is pretty much nullified.
 
Bob Loblaw said:
Sturridge possibly out for the season. I'd say unbelievable but it's entirely believable. I'd sell him if a good offer comes in.
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One of those players who you never want to be your main striker because if the injuries. I'd definitely keep him if I was Rodgers, in the hope he gets over the injuries, but sign somebody else to be the main player up there. If he stays fit then all the better for you really. Was stupid going into this season without properly replacing Suarez with a reliable forward though.
 
RooneyLegend said:
Berahino would fit them like a glove.
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Young, overrated and very average? Liverpool need to go all in for someone like lacazette, dybala, Vietto... Someone who has the potential to be world class and hope they lead them to the top, but not good enough at the moment where they would start elsewhere.
 
bosnian_red said:
Young, overrated and very average? Liverpool need to go all in for someone like lacazette, dybala, Vietto... Someone who has the potential to be world class and hope they lead them to the top, but not good enough at the moment where they would start elsewhere.
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More like young, underrated with bags of potential. I've never seen Lacazette plays so can't comment on him, Dybala is a massive talent but looks to be on his way to Juve and he's more of a second striker anyways while Vietto IMO won't have what it takes for this league. Berahino has world class potential with the added benefit that he's english.
 
bosnian_red said:
Young, overrated and very average? Liverpool need to go all in for someone like lacazette, dybala, Vietto... Someone who has the potential to be world class and hope they lead them to the top, but not good enough at the moment where they would start elsewhere.
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Berainho isn't that bad actually. Would be the logical signing for Liverpool and he could reach a sturridge type level. He's a lot better than the other shitty midtable british players like Ings.

Would suit their play style so much better than Balo and lambs.
 
RooneyLegend said:
Any midfield you put together out of that bunch is going to be found wanting once a midfield of quality strolls into town. Once a team comprehensively loses a midfield battle, the quality of the front liners is pretty much nullified.
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I still think it'd be a decent enough midfield. Mix of experience and players who can put in a shift.

Fergie showed over and over again that a competent midfield and top class front line is enough to win the league. Bang in enough goals vs the weaker sides and you've got one foot in the door.

Example: we had three world class midfielders in Gerrard, Alonso and Mascherano in 08-09, yet only one reliable goalscoring forward; you had Carrick, Fletcher, and an ageing Scholes but Tevez, Rooney and Ronaldo upfront. We did the double over you and Chelsea yet you absolutely murdered the West Brom and Sunderlands of the league and went on to win it.
 
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ShadesOfTomato said:
I don't necessarily agree. Goals win you games. Fergie showed over and over again that a competent midfield and world class front line is enough to win the league.
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Competent midfield, world class frontline and FERGIE is enough to win the league.
 
ShadesOfTomato said:
I still think it'd be a decent enough midfield. Mix of experience and players who can put in a shift.

Fergie showed over and over again that a competent midfield and top class front line is enough to win the league. Bang in enough goals vs the weaker sides and you've got one foot in the door.

Example: we had three world class midfielders in Gerrard, Alonso and Mascherano in 08-09, yet only one reliable goalscoring forward; you had Carrick, Fletcher, and an ageing Scholes but Tevez, Rooney and Ronaldo upfront. We did the double over you and Chelsea yet you absolutely murdered the West Brom and Sunderlands of the league and went on to win it.
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Liverpool also showed that last season. You definitely need to consider spending a decent amount of money on a prolific striker, IMO.
 
Insanity said:
Liverpool will have to unearth a gem, no proven goal scorer will sign for them.
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Apt user-name (re. that post).

How about Suarez then - proven in the NL - and we certainly weren't as decent a team when he signed as now. In the PL I'm sure the likes of Benteke, Berahino, Austin & Sakho (West Ham) would jump at the opportunity. Good strikers don't have to own Spanish or South American passports. All of those players listed know where the net is .. the trick is finding one that suits our style of play.
 
RooneyLegend said:
More like young, underrated with bags of potential. I've never seen Lacazette plays so can't comment on him, Dybala is a massive talent but looks to be on his way to Juve and he's more of a second striker anyways while Vietto IMO won't have what it takes for this league. Berahino has world class potential with the added benefit that he's english.
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Pity about Dybala but that looks like a done deal .. even more so because Juve are in the CL semis, making them look an even more attractive proposition. The only issue could be the transfer fee because Juve can't pay as much as top Spanish or English clubs. Lacazette & / or Firmino would be my preference though.
 
They've got Origi as well coming in as a striker option so i guess they will buy someone like Ings and keep one of Balotelli and Lambert as a 4th choice.

Sturridge
Ings
Origi
Balotelli/Lambert

Can't see any top class striker being interested joining Liverpool.
 
Rafateria said:
Apt user-name (re. that post).

How about Suarez then - proven in the NL - and we certainly weren't as decent a team when he signed as now. In the PL I'm sure the likes of Benteke, Berahino, Austin & Sakho (West Ham) would jump at the opportunity. Good strikers don't have to own Spanish or South American passports. All of those players listed know where the net is .. the trick is finding one that suits our style of play.
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To be fair, that is a very underwhelming set of strikers for a top club like Liverpool.
 
Burrow said:
To be fair, that is a very underwhelming set of strikers for a top club like Liverpool.
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Only if you have decided that English PL players don't match up to their South American peers. Take Charlie Austin for example, he is far more than just a striker and yet even though having scored 17 goals and still in the race for PL Top Scorer, playing for a team struggling to stay in the division, which certainly doesn't help, he often fails to garner the plaudits in comparison to those around him, Kane for example (yes, I know he's English - but he's fashionable and has dropped like an A-bomb from nowhere).
I don't think anyone here underrates Benteke and Berahino has pace to burn and goals (though temperament/attitude could be dodgy).

I agree it's not easy, and overall there's a lack of depth of striking talent in the PL, but even if shopping in Spain it's still not easy to pick a free-scoring, reasonably priced, striker with PL potential. As I said above though, Lacazette & / or Firmino would be my preference.

If we were to take a current PL striker then Benteke would get my vote, he could be very helpful in assisting fellow Belgian, Origi, to settle into the PL. Austin wouldn't be far away though, for his all round game.

Actually talking of Benteke and Austin brings a major Liverpool weakness to mind. A lack of headed goals. I simply can't remember any this season, though maybe there are 2-3. However I saw a table last week showing those teams with the most headed goals this season in the PL, 14 I think was the leading figure, United were about 5th with 8-9, I can't remember the details. However that is a serious weakness in our team and we need a striker who can re-instil some form of aerial threat.
 
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Rafateria said:
Only if you have decided that English PL players don't match up to their South American peers. Take Charlie Austin for example, he is far more than just a striker and yet even though having scored 17 goals and still in the race for PL Top Scorer, playing for a team struggling to stay in the division, which certainly doesn't help, he often fails to garner the plaudits in comparison to those around him, Kane for example (yes, I know he's English - but he's fashionable and has dropped like an A-bomb from nowhere).
I don't think anyone here underrates Benteke and Berahino has pace to burn and goals (though temperament/attitude could be dodgy).

I agree it's not easy, and overall there's a lack of depth of striking talent in the PL, but even if shopping in Spain it's still not easy to pick a free-scoring, reasonably priced, striker with PL potential. As I said above though, Lacazette & / or Firmino would be my preference.

If we were to take a current PL striker then Benteke would get my vote, he could be very helpful in assisting fellow Belgian, Origi, to settle into the PL. Austin wouldn't be far away though, for his all round game.

Actually talking of Benteke and Austin brings a major Liverpool weakness to mind. A lack of headed goals. I simply can't remember any this season, though maybe there are 2-3. However I saw a table last week showing those teams with the most headed goals this season in the PL, 14 I think was the leading figure, United were about 5th with 8-9, I can't remember the details. However that is a serious weakness in our team and we need a striker who can re-instil some form of aerial threat.
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Well, I didnt. However, I would imagine Liverpool would buy players to both fit their need as well as being good enough to bring them to the level you want to be at. If this player is South American, Asian or have been playing in the Premier League for 40 years is really not of my concern.

I would claim that all of Ings, Austin and Berainho would be decent squad players to fill the English quota at a club, or even good enough to start for teams competing for 8th or 9th. However, I still imagine that Liverpool wants to be counted as one of the greats, where I would imagine a better striker would be needed. A Sturridge in top form for the entire season is somewhat what I would expect to be starting for a club like that, which is why Arsenal still is getting critisism despite having a Giroud in top form. In a league where Rooney is probably not amongst the top 5 strikers, it's vital that you have a top, top striker to be able to compete.

I'm not really sure where I'm going with this, though I would agree that someone like Benteke would be decent for you. However, I would think that his level is the absolute minimum of what you should hope for this summer, rather then be happy with someone like Austin being your main striker.
 
Rafateria said:
Only if you have decided that English PL players don't match up to their South American peers. Take Charlie Austin for example, he is far more than just a striker and yet even though having scored 17 goals and still in the race for PL Top Scorer, playing for a team struggling to stay in the division, which certainly doesn't help, he often fails to garner the plaudits in comparison to those around him, Kane for example (yes, I know he's English - but he's fashionable and has dropped like an A-bomb from nowhere).
I don't think anyone here underrates Benteke and Berahino has pace to burn and goals (though temperament/attitude could be dodgy).

I agree it's not easy, and overall there's a lack of depth of striking talent in the PL, but even if shopping in Spain it's still not easy to pick a free-scoring, reasonably priced, striker with PL potential. As I said above though, Lacazette & / or Firmino would be my preference.

If we were to take a current PL striker then Benteke would get my vote, he could be very helpful in assisting fellow Belgian, Origi, to settle into the PL. Austin wouldn't be far away though, for his all round game.

Actually talking of Benteke and Austin brings a major Liverpool weakness to mind. A lack of headed goals. I simply can't remember any this season, though maybe there are 2-3. However I saw a table last week showing those teams with the most headed goals this season in the PL, 14 I think was the leading figure, United were about 5th with 8-9, I can't remember the details. However that is a serious weakness in our team and we need a striker who can re-instil some form of aerial threat.
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Lambert and Balotelli are both aerial threats they're just not utilised because we don't cross or use cut-backs often. Our entire play style is geared towards getting the best out of quick technical players with good movement and 1v1 ability.
 
Liver_bird said:
Lambert and Balotelli are both aerial threats they're just not utilised because we don't cross or use cut-backs often. Our entire play style is geared towards getting the best out of quick technical players with good movement and 1v1 ability.
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Spot on, aerial threat is overrated. We don't really need it, we need players who fit into our planned tactics. If they have aerial threat too it's a bonus, but usually when you target players like that you end up with Andy Carroll up front with cross and hope clowns like Downing out wide.
 
Rafateria said:
Only if you have decided that English PL players don't match up to their South American peers. Take Charlie Austin for example, he is far more than just a striker and yet even though having scored 17 goals and still in the race for PL Top Scorer, playing for a team struggling to stay in the division, which certainly doesn't help, he often fails to garner the plaudits in comparison to those around him, Kane for example (yes, I know he's English - but he's fashionable and has dropped like an A-bomb from nowhere).
I don't think anyone here underrates Benteke and Berahino has pace to burn and goals (though temperament/attitude could be dodgy).

I agree it's not easy, and overall there's a lack of depth of striking talent in the PL, but even if shopping in Spain it's still not easy to pick a free-scoring, reasonably priced, striker with PL potential. As I said above though, Lacazette & / or Firmino would be my preference.

If we were to take a current PL striker then Benteke would get my vote, he could be very helpful in assisting fellow Belgian, Origi, to settle into the PL. Austin wouldn't be far away though, for his all round game.

Actually talking of Benteke and Austin brings a major Liverpool weakness to mind. A lack of headed goals. I simply can't remember any this season, though maybe there are 2-3. However I saw a table last week showing those teams with the most headed goals this season in the PL, 14 I think was the leading figure, United were about 5th with 8-9, I can't remember the details. However that is a serious weakness in our team and we need a striker who can re-instil some form of aerial threat.
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You could say Lambert signing was similar to Austin. Banging goals in the Premiership or at least getting into double figures but doubts over whether they can make the step up. I think you have to look at more than the stats when signing a striker. For example, Dybala doesn't really have an amazing scoring rate but watching him you can see he is star quality and can later add that to his game or win games on his own. I can't see Austin, just as I predicted with Lambert, making the step up to a challenging CL team as he doesn't have enough to his game, teams like QPR play to his strengths.

I do agree with Benteke though, I feel he can make the step up. He's young, talented and has a good all round game.
 
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