The Official Liverpool FC Thread [Vol 10]

[Cie]

TTmonkey said:

Sure it will work out well, but I'm concerned that he's been signed for several days now already as a livepool player, yet hasn't earned some kind of scouser nick name....

"Frimino 5 times la" is how he'll be known.

[paulrockliffe]

Never heard of him either, but that says more about me. As far as I can see he's a young kid that gets in the Brazil team. Also, although we know that basketball shot took 98 takes, it's still pretty cool. Up there with Downing putting it in that bin. Thats good enough for me.

[jammy_basturd]

Chris Stott said:

Mopey said:

Do we think if we get off to a rocky start with our difficult fixtures it will be goodbye Brendan?

I think he'll get to Christmas. But if there's not a significant improvement over last season, he'll be gone.

But if we lose to Stoke 6-1 again, he might not see the end of the 1st week.

I think the 'Suarez' season has earned BR the right to have 6 more months, especially with the signings we've already made. If BR can't have us competing for top four (competing, not necessarily in) with these players then he should be rightly sacked.

That said, I would be more than happy with a return to the all out attack style of two seasons ago. 100 goals, 50 conceded, 2nd place in the league and a cup win would be an awesome season to me.

[TTmonkey]

jammy_basturd said:

I think the 'Suarez' season has earned BR the right to have 6 more months, especially with the signings we've already made. If BR can't have us competing for top four (competing, not necessarily in) with these players then he should be rightly sacked.

That said, I would be more than happy with a return to the all out attack style of two seasons ago. 100 goals, 50 conceded, 2nd place in the league and a cup win would be an awesome season to me.

Shame is if those figures were more like 100 scored, 47 conceded you'd possibly have won the title.

Tight margins

[jammy_basturd]

Or 103 scored and 50 conceded...

[RedTrident]

I'm liking that we seem to be making informed decisions and wrapping deals up quickly. I'm also positive of the calibre of players being brought in.

Still think we need a strong defensive midfielder, a centre back and of course a striker. I don't think we'll get all of these players this window but a striker is essential.

The question remains the same for me, the defence, regardless of players seems to concede too often and too easily, whether it be from set pieces or the oppositions tactics. Is Mr Rodgers capable of setting up a team to defend?

[type-r]

Ronaldinho is also excited:

http://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/latest-news/187597...

[Chris Stott]

RedTrident said:

The question remains the same for me, the defense, regardless of players seems to concede too often and too easily, whether it be from set pieces or the oppositions tactics. Is Mr Rodgers capable of setting up a team to defend?

This 100%.

Whoever we buy up front, won't mean a thing unless we can get some consistency at the back.

If (in some strange world) it was a straight choice between another striker and a top class defensive coach, I think I'd prefer the coach... though I hope we get both.

[Eddw86]

Similar, cautiously positive feeling here.

Apparently we're being linked to defenders but it wouldn't surprise me if FSG turned around and said, "no more defenders, we've spent a bloody fortune on the back line" and bought in the back room staff to just sort it out!

I'm more of the 'it's the coaching/ set up" than the players.

[bigweb]

We just need 1 Top class striker now.

Lets get it done ASAP and give the squad the whole preseason together.

We will easily be strong enough to make a dent in the Top 4 if we get the striker right.

[RedTrident]

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/jun/25/go...

Would love him here but £67 million is just ridiculous. Think someone will pick him up between 30-40 million.

[NRS]

Chris Stott said:

RedTrident said:

The question remains the same for me, the defense, regardless of players seems to concede too often and too easily, whether it be from set pieces or the oppositions tactics. Is Mr Rodgers capable of setting up a team to defend?

This 100%.

Whoever we buy up front, won't mean a thing unless we can get some consistency at the back.

If (in some strange world) it was a straight choice between another striker and a top class defensive coach, I think I'd prefer the coach... though I hope we get both.

If we get someone decent up front it will mean a lot even if the back is still poor defensively. We saw that you can get 2nd with a crap defense, so it would be an improvement on 6th. With even just one 20 goal a season striker this season we'd have probably got CL football, and that was a terrible season!

I think the general lack of spending on defense is recognising it's not going to help much with Rodgers. He goes for attacking football, so it's about him adapting slightly but without losing goals (if the new players work, which was the problem last season).

[Flip Martian]

I think we can assume that Pascoe and Marsh were let go in part at least because of our consistently appalling defensive record. Whoever comes in should at least oversee an improvement in that area.

[Harbuzi]

Last season our lack of punch up top put so much pressure on the defence and keeper. With better attacking options I would hope the balance of play would favour us more anyway.

Add a decent right back, which appears imminent and some decent coaching and I think we will be okay there!

I still feel we need a proven goalscorer. But to have pretty much all of our business done by now is impressive work by FSG.

[RedTrident]

NRS said:

I think the general lack of spending on defense is recognising it's not going to help much with Rodgers. He goes for attacking football, so it's about him adapting slightly but without losing goals (if the new players work, which was the problem last season).

I saw very little attacking football last season. Yes we were unbelievable the season before but that seemed more a blip if you look at Rodgers 3 seasons with us and take into consideration his previous tenure. He goes for death by football, technical unassuming players that pass it sideways a lot. Joe Allen is a living example of Mr Rodgers preferred style of play.

We've got to get a stronger defence. I doubt very much its about players. We've got two 20 million plus centre backs and two 10 million plus full backs. That's separate to Skrtel. I doubt we'll be bringing in another centre back, Lovren was the strange one, left sided to compete with a 20 million plus left sided centre back. He was Mr Rodgers leader when we needed a right sided centre back. Regardless, we need a defensive coach, someone who actually knows how to set up a defence. Mr Rodgers has demonstrated that he is unable to do this.

With the buying of Clyne and Moreno on the other side, I'm interested to see if he lines up 3421 next season. I think if played right it has all our best players on the pitch at the same time, playing to our strengths and compensating for our crap defence. Hopefully the pre season is used to test a 3412, 433, 4312 and 4231.

A 3421 for me would be

Mignolet
Skrtel Lovren Sakho
Clyne Henderson Milner Moreno
Coutinho Firmino
Sturridge

Or a 433

Mignolet
Clyne Skrtel Sakho Moreno
Henderson Milner
Coutinho
Firmino Mario Sturridge

At least the squad looks stronger with Ings, Origi, Lallana, Lucas and Ibe on the bench . All up to Mr Rodgers now.

[Chris Stott]

I'd like to see the diamond...

Mignolet
Clyne Skrtel Sakho Moreno
Can
Henderson Milner
Coutinho
Firmino Sturridge

With Can playing the role Mascherano plays for Argentina - dropping back to make 3 center backs when needed.

Or a 4312

Mignolet
Clyne Skrtel Sakho Moreno
Henderson Milner Lallana
Coutinho
Firmino Sturridge

[DuncanM]

RedTrident said:

NRS said:

I think the general lack of spending on defense is recognising it's not going to help much with Rodgers. He goes for attacking football, so it's about him adapting slightly but without losing goals (if the new players work, which was the problem last season).

I saw very little attacking football last season. Yes we were unbelievable the season before but that seemed more a blip if you look at Rodgers 3 seasons with us and take into consideration his previous tenure. He goes for death by football, technical unassuming players that pass it sideways a lot. Joe Allen is a living example of Mr Rodgers preferred style of play.

We've got to get a stronger defence. I doubt very much its about players. We've got two 20 million plus centre backs and two 10 million plus full backs. That's separate to Skrtel. I doubt we'll be bringing in another centre back, Lovren was the strange one, left sided to compete with a 20 million plus left sided centre back. He was Mr Rodgers leader when we needed a right sided centre back. Regardless, we need a defensive coach, someone who actually knows how to set up a defence. Mr Rodgers has demonstrated that he is unable to do this.

With the buying of Clyne and Moreno on the other side, I'm interested to see if he lines up 3421 next season. I think if played right it has all our best players on the pitch at the same time, playing to our strengths and compensating for our crap defence. Hopefully the pre season is used to test a 3412, 433, 4312 and 4231.

A 3421 for me would be

Mignolet
Skrtel Lovren Sakho
Clyne Henderson Milner Moreno
Coutinho Firmino
Sturridge

Or a 433

Mignolet
Clyne Skrtel Sakho Moreno
Henderson Milner
Coutinho
Firmino Mario Sturridge

At least the squad looks stronger with Ings, Origi, Lallana, Lucas and Ibe on the bench . All up to Mr Rodgers now.

I fear you're absolutely right regarding death by football (good analogy).

Nothing I hate more tbh, very Everton under Martinez and if BR doesnae change it, he'll be out by Xmas.

You need to crab it about at the back, then attack with complete abandon imo.

Look at Barca's front three, they have no defensive responsibilities which makes them play with such freedom!

[epom]

Anything over €20mil for Higuain is too much imo. Just can't see it.

[BlackST]

epom said:

Anything over €20mil for Higuain is too much imo. Just can't see it.

He was bought for £32m so he'll sell for £25m+. Only 27 too.
Just unsure who would be in for him.

[jammy_basturd]

Apparently we still want Benteke, but we won't pay the £32.5m asking price.

Kinda glad and hope we look elsewhere.