Liverpool Football Club Thread

[dogsout]

There's quite a few pop-up car-parks fairly nearby if you're prepared to pay. In the past, I've either used one of them, or parked in one of the streets nearby when I've been lucky enough to find a space, and bribed a nearby local kid to "look after" the car. Best bet is to get there well early, as carheex said.

[DeNeo]

Well that was a very enjoyable game! 2 very dubious penalties for Gerrard's side...

Thanks again, Azrael

[Azrael]

Glad I could help.

Absolute brilliant day. Drive down was done in a rapid 3 hours so ended up getting there just before 12 and finding a great parking spot just off Anfield road, had a wee walk about around the stadium then headed off to turnstile P to wait only to find a heap of people waiting around for the team buses. Joined them so got a perfect view of everyone getting off the buses which was great. Felt like a teenage girl at a One Direction concert.

The game was good fun and I couldn't stop smiling throughout. Hands are numb from clapping and throat sore from cheering.

Big surprise and one highlight was when Heskey emerged from one of the buses, no one seemed to expect that. Shame he didn't play.

Journey home was a killer though, only just in so knackered.

[Stig]

Had a really good time yesterday because it was awesome seeing some of our ex players plus some other iconic footballers like Henry play side by side with Stevie.

The people sat in the away end played along too and occasional started chants that away fans have sometime directed toward us. There was also no hostility towards players like Drogba or Terry either which was great to see. Everyone was just having a good time and a laugh.

They kept Torres & Suarez till the 2nd hald and they both made a big entrance coming on together after everyone else had made their way onto the pitch. The stadium erupted for them too, singing both the Suarez and Torres songs, shame neither scored though.

Some photos I took

Henry

Alonso on free kick duty

The worst penalty decision you've ever seen haha

What could have been

Lap of honour

The dream team

[Azrael]

Good photos.

Fun atmosphere and the "You're not singing anymore" chant directed to our stand after Carra's team went ahead was a piece of well time comedy genius. Got to join in with the "who are ya!" return chant later which has always been an ambition in life.

There was some booing at Terry (in the stadium and when he got off the bus) but all rather lighthearted which he took well and seemed to enjoy.

Been thinking about the experience all day, and getting a bit teary-eyed reading the player interviews on the LFC site.

Wish there was a second leg to the tie.

[Oh Danny Boy]

Anyone been reading in the papers that Sterling is going to turn down any contract given to him by the club? I know it's the papers but I wouldn't be surprised if it's true. I've never known a player at the club to get so big for his boots so quickly. Obviously getting his head filled with bad advice by an agent who is trying to manufacture a big money move. Either way Sterling isn't the player he or his agent thinks he is. I said it before I'd rather sell him abroad then get held to ransom over his contract.

[Timbuktu]

As much as I agree with you, it can't do the team any good to lose a young first team regular even if we get a decent amount for him. With Gerrard going and Henderson situation still unresolved, the potential of losing so many of our core players is unfathomable.

[JamesTW]

Yeah, apparently will reject 180k a week! I'd say thats way too much than he should be on right now, he's got fundamental problems for a forward like not even being able to shoot properly

If we sell him Id knock Arsenal back, sell him to Chelsea's or City's bench

[Oh Danny Boy]

I think we offered too much with £100k, no way is he worth more than that, and its a huge increase on his £30k wages, I doubt any other club in world football will offer more than that, not even Real or City. If we offer £180k I think that someone would need to check their heads, that's just mental. Maybe he thinks he's bigger than the club, he'll get a rude awakening, he wouldn't get into the teams at Bayern, Real or Barca and wouldn't even be guaranteed a place in the first 11 at City or Chelsea.

[Azrael]

I'd obviously like Sterling to commit and want to be part of our long term plans. But he's not worth more than 100k a week yet.

Part of me would want us to cash in if he wants out. The snidey part of me would like to see him dropped to the reserves for the rest of his contract, see how many clubs would be interested in him then.

Besides we have Ibe who shows even more promise. And that Sinclair kid was looking good in the All Star match. If we lose Sterling it won't be a disaster. For me keeping Hendo, Couts and Can longtime is more important.

[dogsout]

I know a good friend of his and he told me that Real Madrid made contact with him months ago and to prepare for the worst. I know how that sounds but I was told this before any of the rumours started up.

[glb]

£50m from Madrid, Ibe gets more games and we still have Phil. Win, win, win.

[Oh Danny Boy]

I know a good friend of his and he told me that Real Madrid made contact with him months ago and to prepare for the worst. I know how that sounds but I was told this before any of the rumours started up.

He has no chance of making the Madrid team.

Good riddance if he does. The club gave him his chance and stuck by him when he was getting in trouble for assault. I think Sterling has to be one of my least liked players to wear the shirt. I'll shed no tears when he leaves for a nice role warming a bench in Spain.

[Adrock]

It's simple enough, no single player is bigger than the club.

Cash in and move on, he joined the club as a youngster from another club because of money/career and he'll do the same again. Good luck to him.

Lallana and Coutinho are more suited to the role either side of the striker in a front three in my opinion. Leaving Sterling playing right wing back, which he clearly isn't suited to.

Sterling is definitely an exciting talent who needs to work on aspects of his game and that title should never warrant £100k a week.

[bear]

Anyone been reading in the papers that Sterling is going to turn down any contract given to him by the club? I know it's the papers but I wouldn't be surprised if it's true. I've never known a player at the club to get so big for his boots so quickly. Obviously getting his head filled with bad advice by an agent who is trying to manufacture a big money move. Either way Sterling isn't the player he or his agent thinks he is. I said it before I'd rather sell him abroad then get held to ransom over his contract.

The whole situation is bloody weird. Rodgers said two weeks ago that there'd be no discussions until summer and today we have a story about Sterling turning down a massive new offer? They discuss the situation on this weeks Times podcast and they all agreed he is being poorly advised. Tony Evans made the point that there will be no talismanic figure at the club once Gerrard leaves which is a void Sterling should try to fill. If he establishes himself as the face of the club and the future of England at the Euros then he could easily get another new contract next year or get a move to a Bayern or Barcelona. He simply isn't ready for those clubs yet and Liverpool is currently the best environment for him.

I hope they can thrash out some sort of deal as he obviously has massive potential.

[Timbuktu]

My reading of the story was that he would turn down a big money contract from liverpool 'if' it is in the table right now, not that the club has offered one. Just probably the agent realising that Sterling was looking a bit greedy and want it look like it's about the football and for it to still be ok for him to take that kind of offer elsewhere.

[Gabe]

Part of the problem is that he's been over-hyped ever since he started got into the team. He's got big potential, but he's a long way from it. As we've seen over his short career, he has more than his share of indifferent periods of form, too many to warrant the praise that gets lavished upon him. Sadly, it would appear that the hype has got to his head, in addition to being poorly advised, leading to this rather strange situation.

As noted, he's never going to get into Real/Barca/Bayern's first team regularly for a while and I think only City would probably be willing to pay big money for him over here.

I said a while back that from his first few appearances I feel Ibe is a Sterling with better ball control, presence and composure, so anything that sees him getting more games can't be a bad thing. Obviously it's very early days for him, but who knows how good he could be? I think the grounding he got playing on loan has been a massive benefit to his development.

[dogsout]

I don't consider him to be overrated. Putting his athletic gifts aside, I think he's a very intelligent player that has terrific tactical understanding. He's still developing and there are areas of his game that need improving but I feel like in a couple of seasons, he's going to incredible. I really hope that he signs an extension and this is all just posturing. I'm also not going to get too carried away about the latest stories when they've come after the manager has already said all of the contract chat is on hold until the summer.

[Gabe]

When I talk about being overrated, I'm referring to his first full season, where he played well up to Christmas then his form fell off a cliff for the rest of that campaign - but he was already being linked to big money moves. I recall Rodgers commented about his attitude at the end of that season, and may have mentioned the need to have the right people around him.

I was really impressed with how he approached last season though, it seemed he'd taken that feedback on board and I commented positively many times during games because he'd become more intelligent on and off the ball. Of course he's young and a real talent (and I've always said as such), I'm not disputing that - but my point is that he's not consistent enough or developed enough to take any links to Madrid seriously.

I do also feel in the last 5/6 games he's been in ordinary form at best and distracted.

Like you, I'd love for him to sign an extension, I said recently he has a chance to become a real icon at the club and I stand by that. I just don't think he's at the level that his advisors are possibly telling him he is and fueled by the press - yet.

[dogsout]

I put his lack of recent form more down to him covering a weakness in the side (wing-back) rather than the contract stuff. He's really not suited to the role but he's been putting a shift in and hasn't been moaning like many other high profile forwards would if tasked with a similar role.

[dogsout]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/32143181

Not sure what to make of this. The interviewer has obviously been briefed to high heaven. Things to take from it:

- He's not happy with where he's been playing
- He's not happy he wasn't offered a contract last season
- He has a high opinion of his own ability and is highly ambitious
- He feels undervalued by the club

It doesn't look likely to be resolved, does it? I'm keeping this one filed under 'prepare for the worst'.

[SMD]

Looks like he's a bit of a bell. Who knew?

[DeNeo]

Sterling said it was "quite flattering" to be linked with the Gunners, a team Liverpool visit in the Premier League on Saturday

Not exactly the most sensible thing to say. Maybe about Real Madrid or Barca, but not Arsenal.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/32149613

[JamesTW]

Not exactly the most sensible thing to say. Maybe about Real Madrid or Barca, but not Arsenal.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/32149613

Carlito/The Fox will correct you on that!

Some odd quotes, It seems he wants to leave, Im suprised because its not like hes 27 and hasnt got that much time left, Id sell him this summer with 2 years left to get a big fee, i hope hes ready because hell have to play better than he has this season if he moves for a big fee and wages

[Oh Danny Boy]

The thing is who would be willing to pay the £40m+ transfer fee we'd be asking for and around the £150k weekly wages he's obviously looking for? For a world class player for sure but Sterling isn't that player yet, a very good player, but no one is spending that kind of money on someone who is just a very good player.

[The Fox]

I called Sterling the best U21 in the world or somesuch a few months ago and got rained with +1s from y'all, now he's overrated? Come on.

Rodgers has been regularly calling him the best young player around for ages, so it's hardly surprising that he might want money in line with that sort of hype. That said, it's all a bit unsavoury how it's playing out, with both parties taking shots at each other in the press.

As for going to Arsenal, I can't see it. I think Chelsea is more likely as they have arguably more use for a player of his type, and obviously have deeper pockets.

[Oh Danny Boy]

£100k a week is more than enough for a player of his current ability and promise. To say otherwise is madness. The club won't let him go, the Suarez saga showed that the owners only let players leave on their terms. Him and his agent have taken a leaf out of the Rooney book of negotiating new contracts and its leaving many of us with a sour taste in our mouths. Of course like the United fans I'm sure the fans would forget this whole situation if he turns up on the pitch. I don't think he'll ever be loved and I'm sure he's using us as a stepping stone so can see him gone in three or maybe four years time.

[Gabe]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/32143181

Not sure what to make of this. The interviewer has obviously been briefed to high heaven. Things to take from it:

- He's not happy with where he's been playing

- He's not happy he wasn't offered a contract last season

- He has a high opinion of his own ability and is highly ambitious

- He feels undervalued by the club

It doesn't look likely to be resolved, does it? I'm keeping this one filed under 'prepare for the worst'.

I read the selected transcript version of that interview after I had posted the other night, and it did vindicate some of my thoughts about how he perceives himself.

As we've all said in here, none of us think he's good enough to play for Madrid or Barcelona, right? And yet the impression many are getting is that he thinks he can (I fully admit my bias is colouring my view here). It's crazy. There's no doubt he's got a lot of promise, but even ignoring playing out of position in the last few weeks, his form dipped quite a bit before Christmas too. The fans at the Bernabeu would turn on him in an instant if that happened , especially if he came with a big fee.

The stuff about the trophies is interesting, though. You could understand a more experienced player whose always been the bridesmaid, never the bride, wanting to move on but he's a kid. To me it smacks a bit that he doesn't really have a great deal of faith in the future of the team and it's hard to read this quote in a positive way (my emphasis):

"In my head I've sat down and thought about it. But, at the end of the season, I just want to sit down with the club and my representatives. I will definitely give guarantees when the season has finished."

I think prepare for the worst, hope for the best.

[hmm]

I like that he's imagined sitting down and thinking about it. Very meta.

[Oh Danny Boy]

But the question is, who would buy him? Who could afford to prise him away, he won't be cheap and can anyone afford the luxury of spending big bucks on promise? Not even City with FFP they'd be Investing what they can replacing some of their aging squad