Liverpool FC thread - This Is Anfield

[twiggy]

sad to see maxi go still think he could do a job for us. borini signs long term deal heard everthing from 8-12 mill

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http://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/late...-will-love-him

[cleanprophet]

Probably in the 11m-12m bracket I would think.

I don't know too much about him really. He's still only 21yo, but he did enough to get in the Italy squad for Euro 2012. By all accounts, he's a hard worker, can play most attacking positions and is quite an aggressive player - in a good way. Rodgers seems to like this 4-3-3 formation and it's something Borini has played a lot in. With a formation like 4-3-3, there's less of a need for wingers. Last season, Dalglish liked to go with a 4-4-2 formation despite not having two wingers in the entire squad. Just like with England recently, you can't play 4-4-2 unless you have a couple of quality wingers in the team. 4-3-3 is much more continental in approach and you need more rounded players rather specific players for specific positions. It's a system where your players can be inter-changeable because the onus is on possession, playing in triangles and moving the ball forward as a compact unit.

[riise94]

Gutted to see Fabio Borini join you lot. The one that got away. Goal machine. Bargain. You'll love him Scouseman.

[scouseman]

Gutted to see Fabio Borini join you lot. The one that got away. Goal machine. Bargain. You'll love him Scouseman.

Hi mate. I hope you are well. I agree Borini looks a good buy I remember him for when he played at Swansea. However I am rather disappointed that Maxi has left the club. Could still do a job for us. I think a new LFC avatar is in order for the new season but as I am not too tech not sure if we have a thread for that sort of thing. I know Tony did my Rafa one many Don one many years ago.

Now if we got just get our money back on Henderson, downing that would be swell. Oh he am i kidding no-one in their right mind would take these two off our hands

[cleanprophet]

I am rather disappointed that Maxi has left the club. Could still do a job for us.

It's funny really because Maxi struggled at Liverpool as previous managers favoured more strict formations where you needed particular types of players such as wingers, forwards etc. Maxi was never a winger or a striker, but just an attacking player. He was often asked to play as a winger and struggled to do that. Under Rodgers, he would have been the right type of player for the system he wants to use where players are not expected to stick to playing as a winger, but to come inside, join up with other players and generally just use their football brain and their skill to play football.

[scouseman]

Newcastle are having a laugh at our expense. Let's get this straight. Newcastle sold Carroll for 35 ml and now want him back on loan and want Liverpool to pay some of his wages. Then after a year, they may buy him back for 12 ml. Why not go all the way and get Liverpool to pay all his wages and then pay Newcastle to take him back. Maybe they would like Suarez thrown in too? I understand that we need to sell before we can bring players in so why not sell Downing and henderson?

[cleanprophet]

Newcastle are having a laugh at our expense. Let's get this straight. Newcastle sold Carroll for 35 ml and now want him back on loan and want Liverpool to pay some of his wages. Then after a year, they may buy him back for 12 ml. Why not go all the way and get Liverpool to pay all his wages and then pay Newcastle to take him back. Maybe they would like Suarez thrown in too? I understand that we need to sell before we can bring players in so why not sell Downing and henderson?

I think selling Downing and Henderson would make more sense than selling Carroll. I still don't get the situation with Carroll. He's not some big battering-ram of a lump who can only thrive with long-ball football. He has decent technique and can play football. He also works hard (sometimes working back too deep in his attempt to win possession back), so I don't buy that he cannot do a job for Liverpool. I understand that Rodgers wants to play a 4-3-3 type formation not a million miles away from Barcelona style. But even a team like Barca struggled last season against teams that parked the bus. The need for a plan B and that option of putting crosses into the box for a player like Carroll is sometimes needed. Okay, fair enough, with Borini and, if Dempsey is signed, Dempsey then there will be players with ability in the air. But, I don't see a huge difference in style between Dempsey and Carroll.

As for the sale of Carroll. Liverpool have done themselves no favours by openly let it be known they will listen to offers for Carroll. That puts the club at a disadvantage when trying to sell. A loan can surely not happen because the funds are needed for other players. It can only be a sale and it can only be for, at least, £20m - otherwise the club will be heavily criticised and rightly so. I can't see anyone paying £20m for him, so unless Liverpool do loan him out or sell him for considerably less they will have the player at the start of the season and on pre-season tours. How Carroll and Rodgers would deal with that? I have no idea. But, it does give Carroll a chance to make Rodgers decision to sell almost impossible. Carroll has never played for Rodgers and has never even been part of a training session. It just looks odd and wrong for him to be pushed out the door without being given a chance. I like the way Rodgers has his clear plans and ideas, but managers cannot be so stubborn and strict. They need to be malleable and adpative whilst not drifting too far from their core principles. Stubborn and strict managers always struggle.

[scouseman]

@ cleanprophet what gets me mate is the fact that Rodgers has not even given him a chance or seen him first hand in pre-season. Carroll is on Holiday still and he USA tour has just started so give the lad a chance. I just feel like you that it will be a big mistake. I can remember what happened when Robbie Keane signed. We never gave him a chance ever and his confidence went to bits and he left and it left a poor taste in the mouth the way we treated him and I feel the same way now with Carroll. I know he was signed before he came but you cannot base your decisions without trying out and giving the guy a chance. Poor form from us really.

[cleanprophet]

It is a mess. Carroll says he wants to stay. If he can't, he will only consider a loan. Liverpool say that they will only consider a permanent move.

I think it's time Rodgers gave the lad a chance to prove himself. Let him have some game time in pre-season games. Carroll has had a tough time of it in the last 18 months. There's been plenty of abuse from opposition fans (not least, of course, on his return to St.James or sportsdirect or whatever it's called these days). He clearly wants to prove himself and this whole episode just looks like another kick in the teeth for him. He's a well paid footballer, but I do have sympathy for him and I'd like to see Rodgers give Carroll the opportunity to show what he can do and, if a move doesn't happen, come out and back him 100%.

I wonder what the likes of Gerrard think about all this? He has come out and backed Carroll and spoken about what a cracking player he could be for us in this coming season. I'm sure he must be a bit dismayed to see Carroll be treated this way.

[cleanprophet]

A few of the young lads have looked decent in the two friendly matches so far. Suso is one I watched a few times last season for the reserves. Only 18yo and very raw in terms of his game. Rodgers needs to work on toughening him up and making him more consistent. Rodgers is a percentage man and he wants to see players playing the percentage pass as much as possible. This is something Suso needs to work on. The same applies for Sterling. It's good to see Pacheco back at the club and finally being given a chance. He's been impressive in his appearances so far. He's skilful and has a football brain. Everything you need for the system Rodgers wants to use.

On the negative side, there's a few players who's time looks up. Carragher looks woeful. It has to be said. He makes mistakes all the time now and is so uncomfortable on the ball it beggars belief that he started out as a midfielder. Spearing too, looks short of the technique that is needed.

There's been lots of talk about Joe Allan. Looks like something around £15m would have to be paid for him. I've not seen a lot of him, but what I have seen suggests he's one of the most technically proficient young British footballers currently playing in the EPL. You can understand why Rodgers would want him.

[scouseman]

I only managed to catch the first half of the Roma game last night before falling asleep. From what I saw jonjo shelvey and Joe Cole looked very creative and should really have scored but they played well. I agree that Carra has past it and needs to go into coaching or something as he does not cut it at the top level any-more. Aquilani went missing for large parts of the first half did not really get a chance to show what he can do. Disappointed we lost (I am one of those fans that hates losing even in pre-season). Hope we do better and we see the new lad Broni against Spurs on Saturday. All good just want to get one with the business of the season starting now.

[bead5]

Gutted to see Fabio Borini join you lot. The one that got away. Goal machine. Bargain. You'll love him Scouseman.

thanks mate

[bead5]

I only managed to catch the first half of the Roma game last night before falling asleep. From what I saw jonjo shelvey and Joe Cole looked very creative and should really have scored but they played well. I agree that Carra has past it and needs to go into coaching or something as he does not cut it at the top level any-more. Aquilani went missing for large parts of the first half did not really get a chance to show what he can do. Disappointed we lost (I am one of those fans that hates losing even in pre-season). Hope we do better and we see the new lad Broni against Spurs on Saturday. All good just want to get one with the business of the season starting now.

it was just a testing game

[vikingbones]

Greetings all. Just in the middle of punishing pre-season training. Plenty of practice routines like opening beer bottles with one hand and plumping up the cushions on the old trusty armchair. Next up is reps at finding most consistent soppy streams. Hard work I know but come mid-season I should be reaping the benefits.

I watched the game against Roma and what I saw of Pacheco augurs well. He appears to have lost his puppy fat and is looking lean, sharp and dangerous. Also good to see Lucas on the comeback trail. Agree with comments that Carra is unfortunately past his best by date, he should take the sideways step into coaching. Adam, despite the goal was as ever hopeless. Always looking for the Hollywood pass.

Rodgers appears to want to play tika-taka and is using this tour as auditions for those who can play this fast, intelligent, technical stuff. I can see a lot of players not making the grade.

Hopefully tonight's game vs Spurs will include a few senior players and give us an indication of where we are

[cleanprophet]

Europa League qualifying game this Thursday:

FC Gomel vs Liverpool 7pm BST

Not a great game to look forward to. Just be like a pre-season match I think and Carroll is in the squad to play. Just need to see if we get a stream for it. It's on Premier Sports in the UK but I can't get that channel - even if I wanted to pay to watch it (which I most certainly do not).

I see we have been linked with Gaston Ramirez again. I heard about that a few weeks ago but Liverpool let it be known that there was nothing in it. But, the player's agent has confirmed that he is talking to a Premier League club and so Liverpool are being linked with him again.

[twiggy]

suarez signs new deal hope its not the good news before the bad as in agger off

[cleanprophet]

Hopefully it puts an end to the constant stream of nonsense stories of PSG, or some Italian club making a bid for Suarez.

The Agger one, if City pay £20m for him or Skrtel - they can have them. Agger is a very good defender but is injured far too often. It makes him unreliable. Skrtel is still a poor defender prone to terrible basic defensive errors. He had, in general, an impressive season last season. By a distance, his best season for us. I would like to see him remain at the club and continue that level of performance. But, my reading of him as a central defender is that he has no football brain. He is the very opposite of Hyypia and, as a result, he regulary makes bad decisions in games. That's the sort of thing that simply doesn't change in a player's game and so I don't expect him to have a very good season next season. I expect him to make plenty of mistakes as he often does. Plus, he's made one or two demands on the club that they have to match his ambition or he's off. Cheeky git. Think of the far better players at the club who wouldn't dream of being so arrogant. He still has to prove himself as far as I am concerned and does not have enough good footballing credit in the bank to make any demands on the club.

[Cambspur]

Hopefully it puts an end to the constant stream of nonsense stories of PSG, or some Italian club making a bid for Suarez.

The Agger one, if City pay £20m for him or Skrtel - they can have them. Agger is a very good defender but is injured far too often. It makes him unreliable. Skrtel is still a poor defender prone to terrible basic defensive errors. He had, in general, an impressive season last season. By a distance, his best season for us. I would like to see him remain at the club and continue that level of performance. But, my reading of him as a central defender is that he has no football brain. He is the very opposite of Hyypia and, as a result, he regulary makes bad decisions in games. That's the sort of thing that simply doesn't change in a player's game and so I don't expect him to have a very good season next season. I expect him to make plenty of mistakes as he often does. Plus, he's made one or two demands on the club that they have to match his ambition or he's off. Cheeky git. Think of the far better players at the club who wouldn't dream of being so arrogant. He still has to prove himself as far as I am concerned and does not have enough good footballing credit in the bank to make any demands on the club.

Your description of Skrtel is bang on, and for these reasons I'd like him to stay at Liverpool! Whenever I read that a player starts threatening to leave because
the club "don't match my ambition", 99% of the time what they really mean is they think they can get paid more if they sign for another club!
There are banners all around WHL that say "The game is about glory", which it should be, but sometimes I think they should add "But only if the money is right". This wanting CL football remark is made not because they want to win it, but to make sure they play in a bigger shop window! I know this does not apply
to every player who moves to another club, but I'm convinced it does to the majority of them.

[cleanprophet]

Well, I know a lot of people don't like Suarez and he certainly needs to work on his finishing. But he is definitely a CL standard player and much, much better than Skrtel. I don't know how he can sign a contract extension whilst Skrtel talks about the club's ambition having to match his. As I say, his standard performance for Liverpool is not particulary impressive. Many's the time I have lamented his name on the teamsheet and I think that says it all really. It was a blessed relief to see him play quite well in a lot of games last season. He still had some dodgy games and made some schoolboy type errors. Even thought I don't like it, I can live with the likes of Torres saying he wants the club to have more ambition or he will have to consider his future. I can't have the likes of Skrtel doing the same.

[cleanprophet]

As expected, Joe Allen has joined Liverpool to become Rodgers second Liverpool signing. Not good news for Charlie Adam. I don't think Adam will fit in with Rodgers plans. He's too slow and too often wasteful in possession.

Liverpool looked quite decent in the Europa 2nd leg this week. Decent movement, albeit against lesser opposition. Lucas looked pretty fit and strong to me and should be fine for the start of the season. You would imagine Joe Allen would replace Adam in that 3 man midfield.