Liverpool Football Club Thread

[tenrou]

I think lovren's bad because he's a Hollywood player. He wants the limelight, big tackles, big interceptions etc. aye that's all well and good for him but when he misses an interception and let's a striker by him or gets rolled by a striker as he cant just hold off and keep shape the team loses out as everyone has to rush back and try and fill a hole.

He's noty type of defender. Too many big errors.

[Adrock]

Do any of you trust that the right players will be bought? Or even that the manager's 'philosophy' today will be the same come September?

Cut out the rest of your post for neatness but reading it through again and its all basically boiling down to the fact Rodgers isn't playing the players in the positions they have been successful in prior to this season. Which is what most people have said at some point.

The worry is, of course, that Rodgers hasn't recognised that as a problem. I am still of the mind that he needs at least one more season to prove whether or not he is up to the task required but as of right now I wouldn't have any confidence that he will turn it around.

As for your opinion on Sterling, there is nothing wrong with wanting to move on if thats is what he deems necessary for his career. But the method of how the mess has played out in the media is distasteful. The excuse of being highly competitive is also rubbish, I'd bet nearly all Premier League players would be classed as highly competitive, it comes with the territory of being an elite level athlete.

[Istanbul]

Aidy Ward - what an absolute dickhead. Imagine being that undignified and unprofessional in your job.

[Chewylegs]

This Sterling saga is actually making me laugh...a lot! The most recent thing I know has happened is Utd want to buy him (yeah right) and his agent (who appears to want the lime light) has said there is no chance of him signing again, even for 900K, and that it's Liverpool fault and Carragher is a knob!! It's priceless.

I have no problem with a player wanting to move on, what I think is laughable is he thinks he is actually good enough to play at a higher level that he is at. He will not regularly get into Chelsea's, Man City's or even Arsenal's team. He won't play for Real Madrid or Barcelona, and not for Bayern. Now Liverpool are not the force they once were and I've seen all the crap on the Football thread about Liverpool supporters believing they are still some high and mighty club and how dare he want to leave, but the truth is he at 20 years old, not even 2 seasons under his belt is at the right level for his ability. He is getting game time, experience and playing for a top 5 prem club. If it was two years on and he had been excellent for us and we were still not winning, I'd get it, but I do think he does believe he is bigger than the club.

I'm really not worried about him going, I'm worried we might sell for peanuts cause our skills of negotiation is shit. I'm worried that we won't get a striker in of quality. I'm worried we won't have a settled team again next year and I'm worried we will continue to pay wages to players that don't fit in.

Mr Sterling needs to understand though that the grass is not always greener.

[Opinionated Ham Scarecrow]

The comparison with Wright-Phillips nailed it. With this attitude he'll spend the rest of his career bench warming and picking up bit part trophies, and by his late 20's no one will remember his name. His agent is not helping him at all.

[Istanbul]

He's definitely better than Shaun Wright Phillips...but is he better than Aaron Lennon?

Either way, both turned out to be turds on the field.

Same could happen with Sterling.

Suppose Sterling may just out do them both, with him being a turd on the field and off.

...

His agent is obviously a disrespectful buffoon...just look how he's behaved with WBA over Berahino too. He seems to be building a stable of juvenile delinquents with inflated egos and even less morals, all mixed in with a total lack of respect.

[Charliemouse]

Lennon is no turd, okay he hasn't developed into anything special but he is still a decent player, it's just sad after a couple of amazing season when he was 18/19, he never really pushed on to become the player it looked like he could become.

[dogsout]

I'm sorry but I think Sterling is being seriously underrated on here. Navas and Milner each made 40+ appearances for City in both of the last two seasons and you think Sterling wouldn't get a game? He absolutely would.

[Istanbul]

Lennon is no turd, okay he hasn't developed into anything special but he is still a decent player, it's just sad after a couple of amazing season when he was 18/19, he never really pushed on to become the player it looked like he could become.

Plays for Everton on loan...he's a turd.

[DeNeo]

*Good stuff*

Completely agree with everything you've said. I mentioned a bit ago that Balotelli, Borini and Lambert scored quite a few goals between them last season, so their lack of form couldn't be all down to them becoming bad players overnight.

I never understood why we were after Lallana so badly. Rodgers obviously wants players who can play in multiple positions, which is great, but his best position is where Coutinho plays. Being multifaceted helps when you've got injuries, but surely you need to set out your team to play to their strengths.

I don't think Rodgers is the man to take us forward, we're pretty much in the same position as when Kenny left, but without Suarez and Gerrard. Yes, last year was amazing, but the number of goals we conceded showed something wasn't quite right.

Unfortunately, the noises are that FSG will do their usual end-of-season review and probably change the transfer structure (whether that's replacing members of the committee or hiring a 'sporting director') - but looks like Rodgers is safe.

[dogsout]

The excuse of being highly competitive is also rubbish, I'd bet nearly all Premier League players would be classed as highly competitive, it comes with the territory of being an elite level athlete.

It's not an excuse; it's a reason. I'm saying I think he is more competitive than the average Premier League player. In much the same way that Suarez is. I think he has high standards - higher standards than LFC currently have if the manager's comments this season are anything to go by. The point is, he doesn't need an excuse to leave. If he wants to leave because he thinks he has a better chance of being in a winning team somewhere else, I don't see the issue. The club still has the power. Unless they get an offer that is acceptable he doesn't leave. That's one thing that has improved under FSG. I'm completely relaxed about that.

[DeNeo]

This is an interesting read about Rodgers not identifying talent - both in potential transfers and in the players we already have:

http://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/liverpool-fc-tactics-longform/2015/5/20/8629191/sack-keep-brendan-rodgers-director-of-football-power-liverpool-football-club

[redbloodcell]

He's definitely better than Shaun Wright Phillips...but is he better than Aaron Lennon?

Either way, both turned out to be turds on the field.

Lennon is no turd, okay he hasn't developed into anything special but he is still a decent player, it's just sad after a couple of amazing season when he was 18/19, he never really pushed on to become the player it looked like he could become.

Lennon never lived up to his potential because he was a bit of a wannabe gangster kid. I have to wonder what he'd have done with his talent (and he had plenty of it) had he been given a stricter hand rather than having Jol and Redknapp mostly. Indeed the only time he really looked like kicking on was around the time Juande Ramos was in charge, who was much more of an authoritarian. Could the same perhaps be said of Sterling?

[Liquid Myth]

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/may/21/raheem-sterling-liverpool-agent-contract-900000

In short, Sterling needs to get rid of Aidy Ward as soon as possible, regardless of whether he stays or goes.

[kempstar]

Urgh, Kempstar, I find that a really sad attitude to have towards a player. Just accept that players move on, some on better terms that others, but just like when Torres left there were people who hoped he'd fail and I never really got that, either.

Players move on, but Sterlings behaviour has been disgraceful. Moving on to a better club is one thing, but his behaviour and attitude is insulting to the fans. A lot of whom pay a big proportion of their wages to watch him play.

[Adrock]

It's not an excuse; it's a reason. I'm saying I think he is more competitive than the average Premier League player. In much the same way that Suarez is. I think he has high standards - higher standards than LFC currently have if the manager's comments this season are anything to go by. The point is, he doesn't need an excuse to leave. If he wants to leave because he thinks he has a better chance of being in a winning team somewhere else, I don't see the issue. The club still has the power. Unless they get an offer that is acceptable he doesn't leave. That's one thing that has improved under FSG. I'm completely relaxed about that.

Im surprised you have lumped Suarez and Sterling together. The only similarity is that both players went to the press without permission, after that the way Suarez conducted himself is at odds with how Sterling's form has taken a massive dip since he decided to do the BBC interview. Suarez went on to have his best season for Liverpool and all whilst not wanting to be at the club.

Suarez is competitive to the level of it being detrimental when it spills over. Sterling has never shown anything out of the ordinary when it comes to that level of desire to compete. I'm not questioning Sterling's ability at all, however, the one thing we can all see is that his professionalism is lacking.

[Jamin]

Interesting to see what happens. JWH won't put up with this sort of behaviour though, that's for damn sure. He's already showed it today by cancelling the scheduled contract talks with Sterling and his agent. The big problem for Sterling is, as Adrock says, his form really dipped at the end of the season and now he's making strong moves to try and leaves, the majority of the fans will be on his back.

As Henry showed with the Suarez situation, he doesn't take any shit. I'd be very surprised if we sold him to a Prem rival. I think he'll go abroad for big money (and likely fade into obscurity) or he'll be with us come next season. If the latter, it'll be down to his attitude how often he will play. Hard to have much sympathy for him in the situation he has created tbh.

[Guest]

Im surprised you have lumped Suarez and Sterling together. The only similarity is that both players went to the press without permission, after that the way Suarez conducted himself is at odds with how Sterling's form has taken a massive dip since he decided to do the BBC interview. Suarez went on to have his best season for Liverpool and all whilst not wanting to be at the club.

Suarez is competitive to the level of it being detrimental when it spills over. Sterling has never shown anything out of the ordinary when it comes to that level of desire to compete. I'm not questioning Sterling's ability at all, however, the one thing we can all see is that his professionalism is lacking.

There's no way to know if those two things are linked - his form may have dipped for a number of reasons.

His desire to compete isn't up to Suarez's? Well why compare indeed - because I don't believe I've ever seen another player with that same desire.

[Chewylegs]

I'm sorry but I think Sterling is being seriously underrated on here. Navas and Milner each made 40+ appearances for City in both of the last two seasons and you think Sterling wouldn't get a game? He absolutely would.

Of course he'd get a game, but he won't be week in week out with the form he's had this season.

He's a good player, that potentially will be a great player, but at 20 he is not currently playing at level higher than he is at.

[dogsout]

Im surprised you have lumped Suarez and Sterling together. The only similarity is that both players went to the press without permission, after that the way Suarez conducted himself is at odds with how Sterling's form has taken a massive dip since he decided to do the BBC interview. Suarez went on to have his best season for Liverpool and all whilst not wanting to be at the club.

Suarez is competitive to the level of it being detrimental when it spills over. Sterling has never shown anything out of the ordinary when it comes to that level of desire to compete. I'm not questioning Sterling's ability at all, however, the one thing we can all see is that his professionalism is lacking.

I've read quite a few things about Sterling that make me think he is highly competitive, actually. On top of that, as I have said in here before, I know someone that knows him quite well. He's told me he's always in the gym and he regularly stays late at training, etc.

How can his professionalism be questioned when he's clearly been unhappy here for months but has continued to go out and put a shift in every time he's selected? He never lets his fullback down when he's on the wing, he presses from the front when he's played up there, he's kicked and pulled about constantly. It would be very easy for him to just show up and fuck about but he hasn't done that. I think that's because he wants to win.

I find it very hard to be offended by an interview a 20 year old has made under advice from his agent. He barely said anything of note and the only disappointing thing about it is he did it without permission. Most football fans are much too easily offended.

[dogsout]

Of course he'd get a game, but he won't be week in week out with the form he's had this season.

He's a good player, that potentially will be a great player, but at 20 he is not currently playing at level higher than he is at.

I disagree. He's already as good as or better than the two players I mentioned there, for a start. I think he'd flourish in the City team and prove a lot of people wrong. It's hard to judge him on this season given the overall level of the team and all of the tactical problems, etc.

[JamesTW]

not worth the effort, Suarez was worth it but who wants a transfer saga and Sterling with a face like thunder on pre season tour? The only good thing about this cancellation of negotiations is its put the agent in his place but I'd rather it just got fast tracked and get some money in early

strange comments from the agent, He does know that to get what he wants LFC needs to co-operate?im sure the last thing he wants would to be to write off his big cut of a fee if LFC just kept him for 2 years and let him leave on a free

[glb]

If Sterling went on a free he'd still get 10-15% of a signing on fee and subsequent wages; without a transfer fee those would be both be very, very good cuts.

Not angry or surprised, just want it all done quickly so we can get on with speculating about what formation will get the most minutes in our opening pre-season tour game. I'm gong for 2-2-1-3-1-1.

[JamesTW]

but who says he'll get that big move in 2 years? I can't see him keep going on an upwards trajectory if he's at Liverpool unhappy on 30k a week and the team and manager don't want him there, the agent must want it to happen this year?

[Timbuktu]

This is an interesting read about Rodgers not identifying talent - both in potential transfers and in the players we already have:

http://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/liverpool-fc-tactics-longform/2015/5/20/8629191/sack-keep-brendan-rodgers-director-of-football-power-liverpool-football-club

Interesting pretty much every name mentioned are defensive talents.

At least Ibe and Flanagan have signed.

[Adrock]

I've read quite a few things about Sterling that make me think he is highly competitive, actually. On top of that, as I have said in here before, I know someone that knows him quite well. He's told me he's always in the gym and he regularly stays late at training, etc.

How can his professionalism be questioned when he's clearly been unhappy here for months but has continued to go out and put a shift in every time he's selected? He never lets his fullback down when he's on the wing, he presses from the front when he's played up there, he's kicked and pulled about constantly. It would be very easy for him to just show up and fuck about but he hasn't done that. I think that's because he wants to win.

I find it very hard to be offended by an interview a 20 year old has made under advice from his agent. He barely said anything of note and the only disappointing thing about it is he did it without permission. Most football fans are much too easily offended.

I'm not sure anyone is actually offended, surely. Also I think his professionalism is definitely up for being questioned, but we'll have to disagree on that. Those mate stories dont mean much unless said mate is actually a player in the Liverpool squad who trains alongside him every day.

The best thing that could happen already has, and thats United coming in for him too. With two clubs both after him the final fee should be a decent amount, just whats required. With Chelsea also sniffing about that could well inflate the price some more.

Lets hope Ian Ayre can finally put his negotiating hat on and get the best deal for the club and actually buy a striker who will score goals in the system the club plays. The system Rodgers plumps for is about as difficult to guess as the lotto numbers.

[dogsout]

For what it's worth said mate is also a player and a former team-mate but isn't at Liverpool. I don't want to get him into trouble by saying any more than that so I'll leave it there.

I think we can all agree that we hope it's sorted out quickly, anyway.

[Chewylegs]

I disagree. He's already as good as or better than the two players I mentioned there, for a start. I think he'd flourish in the City team and prove a lot of people wrong. It's hard to judge him on this season given the overall level of the team and all of the tactical problems, etc.

I'd actually say he hasn't proved he's better than Milner at all (a lot different players though). Milner has been doing it for years too.

I find it strange that you defend him so much but criticise the team he is playing in. He's part of the team, he's played well but he's also played like shit, and it's not always when he is played out of position.

Like I said before, I'm finding the whole thing laughable and I'm not really bothered if he goes or stays, just make sure we don't lose out on the deal.

As you and many others have said, no one player is bigger than the club.

[Chewylegs]

Now if Coutinho was off I'd be gutted!!

[dogsout]

I'm not criticising the team he's in (as in the rest of the team bar him), I'm saying the tactics have been all over the shop so how can you properly judge him? I've defended a lot of the other players, too. Also, he's been one of the better performers over the course of the season with his form only really dropping off after the interview.

Whatever, anyway. Hopefully it's sorted quickly.