29 Jan 2013

'We couldn't sign him'- Proof that €10m star is coming? Plus, some possible bad news...

Southampton boss Mauricio Pochettino has provided the strongest indication yet that Brazilian maestro Philippe Coutinho is on his way to Anfield.

Liverpool Coach Brendan Rodgers confirmed yesterday that talks had taken place with Inter, and the 20-year old is rumoured to be having a medical at Liverpool today ahead of a €10m deal.

Last night, Pochettino finally admitted defeat in his pursuit of the player. He told TalkSport:

"I am not disappointed we couldn't sign him [Coutinho].

"Coutinho is a quality player, and since I arrived I knew there was a small chance we could sign him, but I haven't had much time to consider signings"


If Southampton 'couldn't sign him', then that leaves the Reds with a clear run, which means that there are no further obstacles in the way to the signing taking place. As noted a few days ago, there is still the work permit issue to consider, but if Coutinho is having a medical, then the club must have that all sewn up.

There is, however, som potentially bad news. In an interview with the BBC, Corriere dello Sport journalist Andrea Ramazzotti - who has watched all of Coutinho's 28 games for Inter Milan - sounded a note of caution over the Brazilian:

"Coutinho played very well when he was on loan at Espanyol last season, and started well for Inter this season, but they were only brief spells really. For the rest of the time he just showed flashes of his potential and I fear the way of playing in England, which can be very physical, will not suit him, because he has a slight frame."

That doesn't sound too promising. The likes of Raheem Sterling and Suso have struggled at times this season with the physicality of the Premier League, and they already have an advantage over Coutinho in that they are used to English football.

After splashing out £26m on Joe Allen and Fabio Borini (who haven't really made a massive difference to the team), and Sahin and Assaidi (who haven't worked out), Rodgers needs to start getting his transfers right.

Hopefully, Coutinho will follow Daniel Sturridge's lead and make an immediate impact.



Jaimie Kanwar

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209 comments:

  1. We'll have to wait and see what we will see then eh!

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  2. Well, like all signings this one is/would be a gamble. It seems as if FSG have made it clear to Rodgers that it is youngsters they want to sign and all we can do is hope this one pays off. I'm not holding my breath, though.

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  3. Same build as Oscar? He scoring goals for Chelsea ..... Could go either way

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  4. What is the deal with his injury? What is it and how long is he out for?

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  5. Coutinho and Sturridge are of the right quality, I hope we get either of Fazio or Diakite too as we need a stopper with fighting spirit. Coutinho has huge potential alongside our other technical players, we are going for quality over quantity and im happy with that. Both have electric pace and dribbling ability, Suso, Sterling and Jordan Ibe can learn a few tricks from them, bring it on.

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  6. I think we should go for Ince too, he scored a brace against Wolves in his last game. We need the depth in the squad, as was apparent on Sunday and, if rumours are to be believed, then we should sign the Lazio defender who's available for £1.5m.

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  7. Diakite, given his age, has very little experience. 60 odd games at the age of 25 and after six years at his current club doesn't fill me with confidence that he could be good enough to improve our squad.

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  8. sorry imo another borini hope am wrong,but i dont think he will cut the mustard at anfield,this could well be the biggest mistake of rodgers anfield career,where crying out for some stronger players but yet again we sign 5foot7 .8 stone weaklings he,will not have the skill to help us beat the big boys,and the smaller clubs will just bully him out of the game

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  9. From the few games I have seen, he doesn't have the cunning intelligence and subtlety of say a Silva, he isn't all that creative but he loves taking players on, sometimes too much, and being direct with it. On one hand, hope he is allowed a license to thrill with his dribbling and taking on of players as he is a danger with it but on the other, in this system, may not be wise to encourage that a lot. I think he shares a few common traits with Sturridge, when the latter plays out wide. Not sure on Coutinho, despite all the hype around him but after all, he is young and one can never be that certain about their chances. He is still mostly potential at the moment. At least this will mean less games for Suso, as I don't think he has been anywhere ready to have played as many games as he has done earlier on. Coutinho may have the same build as Oscar but is a very different player to him, in terms of style. 

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  10. He has skill in bucket loads!!!

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  11. For less money everton are signing a strong dutch international. if Rodgers cant see what we need by now he is the wrong man.

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  12. Coutihno is 20, Owen, Gerrard, fowler, even Stirling were established first team players and internationals before that age - why isnt he ?.

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  13. Coutinho, is indeed a small player but so is Oscar,Hazard,Arfa & Silva and they all seem perfectly able to handle the Premier Leagues, Stokes and Fat Sam teams.
    Looking back at the Oldham game I was shocked how bullied Coates & Skertel were.
    I've never been a fan of host footballing skills, however if there was a game calling out for Carragher ...that was it.
    It's rare to see Carragher get bullied off the ball (with the exception of Drogba).
    I think that the attack is not going to be a problem but the defence and defensive midfield needs examining.
    I really wish we had a Momo Sissoko or Mashcerano in the squad.
    Lucas is the nearest we have but Allen is not that player.
    We have Agger as a solid defender but we need a BRUTE of a defender to play with him.
    Someone that is dirty (insert cheat here Jaimie), knows when to foul a attacker (insert cheat here as well Jaimie) and make the attacker think twice.

    You guessed it Jaimie ..I'm going to come back to your cheat thing at some point when you raise it again( I missed the last one you did).
    The point being I hope that you're anti cheat message is as consistent with Defenders who definitely foul opposing attackers (see Carragher's many interceptions).

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  14. jason carr u are the most ill spoken liverpool fan iv ever witnessed..why dont u support someone else so much negativity

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  15. oscar signed for 25m though so if he works out half as good weve still got a bargain

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  16. Don't be so negative all the time....

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  17. Leroy Fer. Has two caps for the Netherlands since 2010.

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  18. Because he isn't English, but Brazilian.

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  19. "After splashing out £26m on Joe Allen and Fabio Borini (who haven't really made a massive difference to the team)"

    It's Brendan Rodgers first season the players he buys are not going to have instant success. For any manager to come in its going to be hard because your altering the team from the previous regime. If anything to go buy is the example of Lucas Leiva who took many seasons to become the solid player he is for Liverpool.

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  20. Two completely different players...

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  21. For the opening Oldham goal their striker has his arm in Coates' face and maybe even on his shoulder. I'm not trying to defend Coates, but the striker obviously cheated for that goal. Not that I am complaining, we've got what we've deserved from that match.

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  22. agreed we need a defender who can do that type of stuff and dare i say it a "leader" someone who will command the entire back four... i don't like the guy personally but that williams from swansea might be a good shout, he's vocal and gets stuck in put agger at the side and it may be a winning combo with skrtle as back up and wisdom or kelly as further back up.... add diame from west ham to that i reckon that might cost us 10m in total but who knows... think we'd have a stronger looking side.... sell coates and jones and recoup half back aswell

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  23. and sturridge was fouled befor the second goal... lol we really should have won without oldham cheating ha ha

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  24.  I agree Anteater, but one of my points here is with Jaimie's moral crusade about cheats and the definition of a cheat.
    I'll wait for Jaimie to respond before I say anymore.However  if Jaimie sticks to his ARNIE GUNS then he will come on and say he's against defenders cheating as much as strikers (insert Suarez).At which point I will be opening up the debate about Carragher, last season chopping Owen against Man U and various other games I have stored to beat him about the head with, when he on his very own blog here he praised players who clearly cheated.
    Jaimie, you know I admire your content on here but you have double standards on this cheating thing admit it .

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  25. This lad is quicker than Sterling and even better skills too and his finishing is much better. He needs experience. He doenst need to be big in the position he is likely to play (Messi is no bigger and no-one is going to argue we wouldnt want him). Where you cant have weakness is in the middle of the park which is why Allen will never be good enough. I still have nightmares of Toure brushing aside Allen like he was a little puppy as he waltzed through our midfield earlier this season.

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  26. Lucas took too long to make an impact. Yes, he's come good, but it shouldn't take 4-5 years for players to come up to speed.

    Rodgers' transfer record is not very good at the moment. using 'it's just his first season' is just an excuse. Laudrup is in his first season and his signings are settling in faster. 

    Sturridge aside (and possibly Allen in the long run) Rodgers just hasn't brought the right players to the club. 

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  27. For midfielders and strikers, having a slight frame need not really be an immediate disadvantage as can be seen from the many players already in the UK. An example would be Tom Ince who is thriving in the even more physical Championship. For these players, the important thing is mentality. If you're weak up there, you can be physically big all you want, you'll still struggle. S'for what the journalist said about Coutinho, it rings a different alarm for me - sounds like the little guy is lazy. Working hard at the beginning and then slacking off. Maybe that's why they stopped waiting for him to come good and have decided to sell. Anyway, we won't know till we get him.

    Come to think of it, even defenders can be big and then still struggle - Coates. heheh

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  28. so why are milan letting himgo for such a small fee and why have no other big clubs come in for him

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  29. you show me whats to be posotive about and i don,t mean rodgers his building a dynasty crap

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  30. not have skill? he has better technical skill than suarez.

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  31. Who else came in for Suarez? Mata? Oscar? Torres? Michu, and the dozens of other top players down the years? It means nothing.

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  32. sorry m8 but thats not to hard to improve on so he takes sterlings place hardly strenghtening the squad,not that i thik stirlings a bad player but starting every game no way he should be getting 40 mins here and there

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  33. We have a young team? exciting players coming through, in the long run Liverpool will be up there, yoû can't just give up on Rodgers and be negative. Just be more positive...

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  34. all the players you mentioned had big reputation when they came to the prem thats why they cost big money and other big teams wanted them,but we are supposed to beleive that this lad who plays for milan has been overlooked by all the big clubs and milan have undervalued him as well,my god there is a santa after all

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  35. I agree that we need a big solid centre back, somebody who is dominant in the air. Maybe Sahko at PSG if he is available. But I'm not sure about your comments about Carragher. He's great at reading the game and putting his body in but not so much at the aerial side of the game. Grant Holt won everything against him the previous week and while we won that game easily everytime the ball was played into Holt he held off Carragher, brought the ball down and started attacks. We are physically weak throughout the spine of our team and need a dominant presence both in the middle of our back four and the centre of midfield. I can't understand how M'villa hasn't attracted more interest because he would be great for us. Until we sign players who can mix it when it gets physical we will continue to struggle against the likes of Stoke, West Ham and the mighty Oldham..

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  36. I've been arguing for years that Carra is in the wrong sport as his playing style resembles Greco-Roman wrestling on a regular basis.

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  37. i know lads who can juggle the ball and do all the flash 'freestyling' tricks to fabulous levels. put them into an 11 a side game and they are not all that. football is more than just about trickery, the prem is physical and quick, if he can't take to that, he won't make much of an impact. skillfull players are easily nulified with the right tactics.

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  38. Our performance probably didn't deserve a victory.

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  39. I had hoped that Skrtel would be a leader to command the back four last Sunday, but my hopes were shattered.

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  40. i'm all for bringing good youngsters to the side, but we do need experience to help them. we do look lightweight and a little lost at times.  stevie g. can't do it all on his own anymore. the 'young' lads who were awful on sunday(coates, robinson) and not so young(jones), need help off seasoned winners. we don't have to abandon the youth/re-sale value policy. just add a bit of help.

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  41. Although Liverpool are by far the bigger club, Southampton are building a team on the same principles as Rodgers. Saints wanted him for the same reason Liverpool do, young and talented with an eye for the future. So far Saints have not been too far off in their transfers. We have all been very excited about the possibility of him arriving at St. Mary's but it's not to be. The same negative points were made about Gaston Ramirez joining us, but he has risen to the challenge, is getting better every game as he adjusts the our football and weather. I hope Coutinho does the same, he seems such an exciting prospect, I also hope that he as an off day when the Saints meet Liverpool

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  42. jaimie the lads a dud,i just hope they give him a dam good medical,and to be true if he was as good as some people think he is he would not be coming to anfield for 8.5 million unless our scouts have done there job and found an untouched gem which i cannot see happening if there recent record is anything to go by

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  43. who else centreback wise would you bring in with those qualities in mind?

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  44. but i can m8 am not an eternal optimist ,who thinks everything will be all right in the end ,if lifes taught me anything is if you want something do it your self because if just sit and wait for it to happen it never will

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  45. theres skill and skill and i will tell you what ask any defender who they would rather mark and it will be stirling every time

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  46. why sturridge aside hes scored 3 tap ins hes also missed plenty fair play you have got to be in the right place to tap them in but his passing awareness of other players has not been outstanding ,i will reserve my judgement on sturridge till after the next few games before i jump on the sturridge  is a fantastic player bandwagon

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  47. Don't know really. My scouting ability is not very good. Benedikt Höwedes of Schalke looks good and I was pleased with us being linked with Nicolas Isimat-Mirin, but he is probably way to inexperienced to displace Skrtel. Would prefer him to Coates as a prospect though. The guy Newcastle just bought, Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa, may well turn out to be a shrewd piece of business. Ryan Shawcross probably would go straight into our first team. He wouldn't have shied away from the physical challenges the way Coates did.

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  48. but it dose not seem an option under fsg its buy them young or don,t bother  kind of policy,one thing if any of these young starlets dose come good they will be off ,because the days of people like gerrard are over,and if we do not have champs league these players will feel they owe us nothing,as we have already seen with sterling its not about playing for the club its how much can they earn

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  49. i do agree just pointing out the foul

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  50. Their centre forward was a monster, Hyppia might have coped with him back in his day.

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  51. Some of us have been wondering where the money for all those transfers and nearly signings is coming from for you. You surely don't have a very lucrative shirt sponsor and I'd like to think that we sell much more shirts and merchandise, but your club seems to spend pretty big for a newly promoted club. Could you give me/us your views on this one, please (now that you are once here :-) ).

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  52. you used 'coates' and 'defender' in the same sentence? what a lovely sense of humour, you have!

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  53. I may have misinterpreted your comment, but I was talking about the skill of footwork and ability to beat defenders. I agree with what you are saying though

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  54. Cabaye went to Newcastle for 4.5 million.... Transfer fee low or high don't be mean there good or bad....

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  55. Can you post any proof to your claim that he's a dud?

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  56. We are REBUILDING, there is no quick fix, your the only fan I know who keeps slating Liverpool,FSG,Rodgers, it isn't going to get you anywhere.

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  57. Write to Werner & Henry, tell them that you'd be better at the job than Brendan as, it seems to me, that you think you can.

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  58. howedes good shout although personally not seen enough of him myself... shawcross could be ideal although he just signed a new contract didnt he so thats why i went for williams of swansea... but money talks so the right offer could still get shawcross do you think he's vocal enough to "lead" the back line

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  59. Can you remember Ronaldo's first season in England? He had a bag full of tricks, step overs, nutmegs etc and lots of pundits called him a show pony with no end product. Look at him now. Why can't some of the doubters who lurk around here, in between doses of Prozac, see that, with proper nurturing, that this kid has the potential to be one of the best players in the world?
    I read an article this morning from an Inter fan and he's raging that he's being sold for so cheap.
    Give the lad a chance, get off his back and support him.

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  60. One part of the job as manager is to recognise your weaknesses and buy players to compensate.

    Unfortunately Rodgers seems to be the kind of manager who is so wedded to his "philosophy" he can only go for the types of players that fit the way he dreams of playing. If that method will ever work (which I'm not sure it will) it will surely take a long time and and a lot of painful losses on the way.

    Liverpool being a bit powder puff is not just a recent problem. Rafa Benitez (the last great manager we've had) had similar issues when he took over and so brought in people like Sissoko and Mascherano to give us steel. In that vein Crouch was also a very important Benitez purchase. 

    I'm sure Rafa would agree in an ideal world you wouldn't need a Crouch, but Benitez had the practical thinking and tactical nous to realise we needed him to stop us being bullied by aerial bombardment on our travels.

    Contrast this with Rodgers who throws away a player like Carroll who would've been perfect for marking the Oldham monster striker who dominated us at set pieces.

    Our best hope for a return to challenging for titles and European trophies is still the return of Benitez, however it is a hope that diminishes with every passing day.

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  61. i don,t think m8 i f"cking know half the shower of sh1te would have been sold this month and i would at least have the balls to tell fsg to back me or sack me instead of being there yes man ,on another subject who picks the players rodgers or fsg because ive just looked at rodgers signings for swansea and,he did not seem to have the same passion for young players there

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  62. I really don't know. Agger is quite vocal to be honest and I think he is more determined than Skrel. The Slovak was our player of the season last year, but before that some had doubts about his consistency and general ability to defend. And that's where we are again. Still I think that a stronger defensive midfielder than Lucas would help our defence, too.

    Shawcross may well turn out to be way to expensive. Long contract, England cap, plays in the Prem already. My guess would be that Stoke would ask for 20m. For that money we should find two or three centre backs of the same quality abroad.

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  63. and i may have misinterpreted your comment two no hard feelings :-)

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  64. why do you take prozac i feel sorry for you at least it will keep you believing 

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  65. h & g may be shareholders!?

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  66. I think this guy could be world class given the right encouragement.

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  67. There are whole forums of raging inter fans, which is one of the reasons I'm excited about this one. He's not the finished product yet, but it sounds as though he has the potential to become something special. 

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  68. Hi Jason,

    I am still waiting for a reply regarding your accusation yesterday that I am back-stabbing people on here and belittle other commentators, too.

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  69. no probably about it - we were pants

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  70. i hope your right m8 i really do just cannot see it

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  71. Why didn't Rafa bring on Crouch earlier in our 2007 CL final? You seem to have a different view than I have on him, and that match was when I first seriously doubted Rafa's tactical nous. This is not a wind-up, I really would like to know what you think about it.

    Concerning Carroll, do you think it would help maintaining his value and improve his overall play, if Rodgers had kept him solely for matches against Stoke and Oldham? He wouldn't have got much time on the pitch apart from those instances, would he?

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  72. No one thought that highly of Ben Arfa until he joined Newcastle on loan. He was a 'wonderkid' who had never fulfilled his potential. Sound familiar? 

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  73. you cannot know many then where do you live salford

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  74. i replyed go check then jaimie defended you 

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  75. At the end of the day it's there money, also "back me or sack me" isn't going to get you far, you will have "sacked " on your CV.

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  76. i agree there's not many commanding centrebacks around at the moment availabe who you would say, yes thats the man we need... i think that williams from swansea has the right attributes and under rodgers again seems to fit and him and agger for me would work quite well as a pairing, if we signed him in the summer maybe a new left back a good young reserve goalie a midfield monster and personally would love to see jovetic brought in instead of ince or coutinho id be happy lol ill just get 100m out of my wallet though for all that

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  77. On this site your the only one. If Liverpool fans really felt like you did. Then wouldn't we have "Rodgers out"banners at anfield? Have you seen that? No guess not.

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  78. Diame has a 3.5m release clause. He was bossing our midfield when we played West Ham, we only got a foot hold once he went off injured. M'villa would be great, Moussa Sissoko probably would have been too. Newcastle also got a bargain in Mbiwa who is very highly regarded in France.

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  79. In the last reply I've got from you claimed that me writing that I find a comment hard to understand would belittle another commentator. Then I explained to you that in my native language this wouldn't be considered as belittling anybody and that I was sorry if this was different in English, which, to be honest, I still don't think it is. Still I don't understand how you can accuse me of back-stabbing and even told you that I would seriously consider my behaviour towards others, if you were to give me evidence of me being "the biggest back-stabber on here". No reply!

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  80. but were not at the match are we and if we were i would be behind the team as much as anyone because that is what we do support,but here we are discussing our opinions

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  81. sacked by the yanks who also got rid off the england manager and a lfc legend who they want back dose not seem to have done them much harm

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  82. there probabley raging about the fee considering every italian club we have dealt with as ripped us off 

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  83. How much time Carroll got on the pitch should have depended on how effective he was when he was on it and for a player like Carroll that's not just how many goals he scores.

    I'm not saying Rodgers should have kept him to warm the bench, what I'm saying is Rodgers is blinkered by his ideals. He wants to play in a particular way above every other practical consideration, including actually winning games. Hence the "the boys were great" post-match interviews and the feeling that the most important statistics are the % possession instead of goals scored.

    I'm contrasting that approach with Rafa's, who despite having a continental manager's pedigree is willing to adapt his tactics in order to win.

    We can argue about decisions in individual matches, I was a fan of Crouch and probably would've played him more than Rafa, but I'm not sure anyone could argue with the view that Rafa is about finding a winning formula whatever that may be, while Rodgers is about playing to a particular formula above all else.

    If you only want to play only one style then you will be worked out by other teams, when that happens you have to fall back on the individual quality of your players, and we are falling short.

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  84. I tend to agree with most of this. I am glad we are getting him, but I do think he needs a lot of work. I feel he may well run into a lot of dead ends, but in time I`m sure we can iron that out. 

    like yourself, I think out system means you don`t want to risk losing the ball in the final third to much, as we normally have pushed up a lot, and often get hit on the break.

    So while I don`t think the hype is worth it, and would prefer Ince, who I think has a real eye for goal, and is a lot more suited to our style, I am also happy that we are at least going in for players who are creative.

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  85. according to bbc sport..... he's now having his medical so its all just a formality now... welcome coutinho.... heres hoping u stick one in against city good luck lad

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  86. they were as good as, when they mortgaged us to the rafters. that's why we were on the verge. (it was a joke by the way, about southampton).

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  87. Every SUCCESSFUL team has a BRUISER and at least two FLAIR PLAYERS.
    Chelsea, Drogba & Terry, Robben & Crespo ,Arsenal's invincibles Keown & Viera, Berkamp &Henry, Man U Keane & Butt, Ronaldo & Rooney.
    Barcelona have Busquets & Puyol Brusiers,and a array of flair that is frightening.
    Real Madrid Pepe & Ramos,Ronaldo & Ozil.

    We have flair in Suarez ,Gerrard, Sterling,all capable of beating a player and they have 'tricks'.
    We had a two Bruisers in Carragher and Hypia but now we don't have someone who has that BRUTISH mentality that ALL SUCCESSFUL teams need.

    We desperately need players who match that I'd say at the moment we don't have those.

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  88. williams and diame sending coates the other way maybe for williams to keep the fee down

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  89. liverpool4life5651:13 pm, January 29, 2013

    Well he went to west brom had to build his reputation again and KK is a legend but will be known as a manager who couldn't handle it....

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  90. liverpool4life5651:13 pm, January 29, 2013

    I was only giving a example, that fans don't think like you.....

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  91. Maybe we should recall Carroll and play him centre half!!! he was always good at keeping the ball out of the net!
    However, i do believe that we could have used Carroll up front this year, sometimes the physical side is needed, and we have put in loads of crosses this year, what have we been missing, someone in the box to put it in the net, I am sure Carroll would have scored more this year, but alas, we have the monster goal getter called Borini instead

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  92. not all but some do i will not name them to spare there blushes lol

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  93. Erm, you really make me struggling for an answer here, asking who I think would be the right centre back for us right now. Most of the really good ones aren't available, as they are at CL clubs (like Cahill for instance). Shawcross probably won't be affordable and if Rodgers signs another player from Swansea and he shouldn't hit the ground running, I can see him in deep trouble with more fans turning against him. Therefore I am split on Williams. That leaves us with adding a talented youngster while sticking with Skrtel and Agger for the time being. Zulu mentioned Sakho in another comment and that was a pretty good shout, but he's with one of the richest clubs in Europe. 10m might get us Höwedes, who has quite some experience, too (and isn't just a youngster). I'd go for him, if you'd force me to sign someone. Or any of the youngsters I've mentioned before.

    You're right, we need another left-back and a stronger midfielder as well as a better back-up goalie. Jovetic would be a great player to have, but we probably won't get him. He looks a bit like Skrtel with a perm.

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  94. could not handle what,he got to two cup finals last year,more thanrodgers will get this year and please do not boreme with rubbish about a top 4 finish because its not going to happen

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  95. I thought that Rafa, too, basically sticks to his preferred tactical set-up wherever he goes.

    Still I'd like to know what you made of the 2007 CL final. Pennant had the game of his life firing in crosses at will with no-one being there in the centre. 

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  96. i did reply it must have got stopped by the mods which all my posts to you do must be a glitch  i would not bother wasting your time no more

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  97. he had gone to madrid for a big fee,i just dont think this lad will add anything to lfc time will tell

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  98. if he was that good and that hard to play against he would still not be at oldham

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  99. Unfortunately M'Vila just moved to Rubin Kazan, but we really should rival Arsenal's bid for Diamé. We shouldn't have got the Man City scouting team in, but the Newcastle scouting team. They sign really good players we could do with.

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  100. Back then they still owned some other sports franchises and they've lost them all. Glad they are gone.

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  101. You made some great points. +1

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  102. You made some great points. +1

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  103. howedes it is then and i take your point on another swansea man.... might look as though he can't attract other players and he's just settling for him because it's what he knows, i actually think he might work out though seems strong mentally so id take both myself howedes and williams with agger and possibly skrtle making up a mean competitive back 4 of centrebacks, johnson kelly and wisdom cover the right with mcloughlin to follow but again i'm stuggling to find a quality leftback to give enrique something to think about.... ill put it to you again as i think youve put across good points with regards to the centreback..... that southampton kid looks good but its way too early for him yet also like the look of alonso at bolton but again is still young...anyone on your radar? 

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  104. Well I for one am excited. How many years have we waited to get a young attacking brazilian in the team (No Aurelio doesn't count!). Especially an -inho! He could be mustard for us and will surely improve the pace and trickey in the final third which can be no bad thing. I think he'll thrive under Butch. Cannot wait to see him slip on the new no.10 shirt...YNWA

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  105. If we went after him people would say we were signing a nobody, EFC can do it but not Liverpool???

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  106. my god jason carr support someone else ur not a liverpool supporter

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  107. Have you got a job Jas????

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  108. Ditto. Rafa is a wee bit more flexible than Rodgers but that isn't saying much. Certainly no tactical chameleon, imo, especially with a team's attacking play. Since Valencia, always seems to be similar tactical set up at each of those sides, with the occasional tailoring. Most of the the time relying on 4-2-3-1, with not much difference between how he tries to execute at each club he has been at since Valencia (with the occasional game, he'll tinker with it a little). Which is fine, as long as you and your team can impose your way on the game. I don't think he is all that fond of using 2 up front and always wanting to go back to the 4-2-3-1, hence maybe one of the reasons for how Crouch's LFC career went, Kuyt being moved from striker to right wing, Cisse moved to the right too, etc.

    The words 'stubborn' and 'Rafa' have often been in the same sentence and for good reason. Certainly no Jose, Lippi or Ferguson, when it comes to tailoring tactics for oppositions. 

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  109. Give mr Carr a happy pill , haha never laughed so
    Much , cheers

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  110. Clyne or what's his name at Southampton. Well, yes, it's a bit early to say how he will develop. Another left-back, available too. I like that David Alba of Bayern, but he probably isn't available. Jetro Willems of Eindhoven may turn into a very good left-back. Think he is better than Robinson, but am not sure whether he will develop in a player of world-class. Make that the best shout for a back-up left-back I have, from the top of my head.

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  111. imo, funnily enough, Rodgers tactics against Man United in the first half was probably not all that different to how Rafa had set up against them for us. Sit deep, soak up pressure and counter at will. Obviously, for Rodgers, it didn't work, for whatever reason, and he opted to change back to his usual plan A, which did work. 

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  112. Exactly. If we would have been linked with him, it would have been proof of how low we sunk. Everton sign him and he is "a strong Dutch international", to use a quote from a comment above. I don't know how good he is. Moyes gets quite a few transfers right, so I wouldn't be surprised if he hit the ground running. At the same time I have that feeling that they are preparing for the loss of Fellaini. May I also mention that Jelavic, who has gone off the boil this season, was considered a shrewd piece of business and a player we missed out on about this time last year.

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  113. I can also remember Le Tallec, who had plenty of hype. For every Ronaldo, there is a truckload of unfulfilled so-called potential of hyped players who ended up having average careers. So forgive me, if I don't get carried away with hype, instead remaining conservative. No, I don't take Prozac. 

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  114. This about sums it up. And makes me wonder why some people still think that he is THE master tactician.

    Just to balance things a bit, it can't be denied that he has managed some quite remarkable achievements like winning La Liga, twice, and the Champions League.
    When we've won it in, we often really went for the opposition. I probably will never understand why he reverted to a cautious style in subsequent seasons with us, trying to play on the counter most of the time and being more concerned about not losing than about winning.

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  115. lol love the inho line but surely coleman from everton would make a better mustard signing

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  116. liverpool4life5652:33 pm, January 29, 2013

    He isn't a "dud" he has passed his medical.... Already he now on his way to London to get a visa. Our medical do a good job....

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  117. I don't have anything against a 4-2-3-1 at times. For Rafa it has worked once (at Old Trafford) in six league matches, but that one victory was very impressive indeed.

    I think it is a tactic that works if you have strong defensive midfielders. Didn't like Mascherano, but he was strong. Put Allen there and it's much more difficult to make it work. The same could be said about the 4-3-3.

    IMO we should have brought in a strong defensive midfielder this January, but I am repeating myself.

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  118. Don't get too excited and please don't expect too much of him. He still is very young, pretty inexperienced, new to the country and so on. I don't want to spoil your euphoria, but we might be in for a major disappointment if we put all of our hopes on the shoulders of a 20-year-old.

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  119. I don't share his opinions, and don't like his style of argumentation amongst other things, but his passion about our club cannot be denied.

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  120. he is an Everton fan, he is sooooooo bitter

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  121. not at the moment whats that got to do with the price of eggs

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  122. liverpool4life5652:49 pm, January 29, 2013

    So you can't really call him a dud can you??

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  123. He does a great job when he has his first XI and is able to use his favored tactic. Its when he can't use his first XI is where he falls short, imo. This rotation thing of his, which mostly started when he came to the PL, is one of his downfalls. He doesn't seem to rotate effectively, i.e., doesn't alter his tactics accordingly/effectively to suit the inferior XI he puts out. Fine, rotate but change the tactics to suit the players you bring in, as they aren't going to be the same as Gerrard/Torres/Masch/etc. 


    I think that is partially why he made us play cautiously in the latter parts of reign, as he couldn't use his first XI and ended up trying to compensate for it.It was the same at Inter, sort of. He had a big injury list but instead of working with it by tailoring tactics to suit the players he actually had fit, he just ended up stubbornly sticking by his usual tactics and putting square pegs in round holes. 


    I've always said he is a great first XI manager but need to be more than that in modern football. 

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  124. Cant agree with you theremate, kenny got us yo 2 finalsin his first full season with us & iam sure you rememberwas a double winning manager among otherthings in his previous reign, i,d have him back over BR tomorrow

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  125. He seems a decent enuff lad but he is so depressing , football is a game end off , he needs to lighten up and maybe take a few libery caps , see the happier side of life , or maybe find a new team , possibly the town he comes from ?

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  126. I think he's going to be a great signing, however I do believe that now we need an experienced player on a low fee, or free transfer. Something like a Didi Hamann type signing would do us great...

      

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  127. Coates turned his back like a bottle merchant, you only had to look at his mug to see he didnt have the gonads for it

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  128. https://twitpic.com/bz9azg Pic of Coutinho in LFC shirt borrowed from twitter....

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  129. I wouldn't disagree with those who criticise Rafa as cautious and defensive minded. That kind of football is not to everyone's taste although I'd take cautious and winning (or at least challenging) over free flowing and losing any day.

    Also I don't worry too much about minute by minute tactics in a game where so much depends on individual form on the day. Who could've predicted Pennant would have such a good game that day.

    But in shaping a teams style to be effective and changing that style to cope with the different requirements of away at Stoke or home to Real Madrid, Benitez, imo, is leagues ahead of Rodgers. 

    If nothing else the way Rafa adapted Liverpool to bring out the best in Torres and nearly bring home the title is the football equivalent of a masterpiece.

    As we trudge into 2013 it is shocking to think that in May 2009, less than 4 years ago, United pipped us to the league via dodgy penalties and Fergie time. Look where we are now.

    And don't think about how that manager would have jumped at the chance to manage us again, it's just too depressing.

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  130. Agree, we don't have the central midfield to soak up pressure like that.

    It protects the defence better, especially with the way Rafa uses it but in CM, you need a rock solid pairing. At Valencia, he had Baraja-Albeida, and here he had Xabi-Masch with Stevie ahead and sometimes Momo in the mix too. We don't have that kind of robust presence in CM, especially not with Allen. We certainly could do with a Diame, who isn't necessarily a sitting DM, he can get about a bit too as a box to box player. 


    Yep, I'm going to bring up Dembele again, so repeat yourself all you like ;)  Against Man United at Old Trafford, Spurs played really defensive in the second half of the game and he was brilliant at adapting to the change, put in great work at soaking up the pressure. He is not even a DM, he is a strong attacking central midfielder who can put in the dirty work and play in almost any CM role. Gutted that we didn't go for him. Their win rate with and without him, the difference is huge.



    Crying out for some physical presence in the middle. Doesn't have to strictly be a DM but at least someone who is robust.


    Even a more technical side like Arsenal have had players like Song, Vieira, Gilberto, Flamini, Diaby, etc, who served a good purpose in a side that was/is about a lot of passing. There is space for such a robust player in Rodgers' philosophy.

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  131. Chelsea should have a big enough squad with good enough players to make his approach work. Where to go for him if this one doesn't work out right. It's not as if clubs were queuing to appoint him since he's left Inter. Anyway, I thought we played cautious even with our first 11 available quite regularly.

    I the possibility for a similar problem here with Rodgers. The 4-3-3 will work well, if the right players are available, but when playing fringe players this doesn't seem to work (at all), at least this is the impression I've got so far. That's why I've always liked the now out of fashion 4-4-2, as it seems to be a tactic that is easier to implement and easier to throw youngsters in. Well, he's still only about half a year into his job, so I won't pass my judgement. May well be down to our thin and young squad amongst other things.

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  132. Exactly. Rafa would've bought one you can be sure.

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  133. Neither can his depressing nature!!

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  134. Deal obviously done. There's a picture showing him in Liverpool training gear in the comments section of this article:  http://liverpool.theoffside.com/liverpool-transfer-news/2013/1/29/3928216/scouting-philippe-coutinho-liverpool-newest-transfer-signing-inter

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  135. Yep, bit lost as to why we went for the City team, im sure there is more to it behind the doors, but getting scouts in from a team who don`t really need scouts, as they just sign the worlds best players for massive sums of money, does in a way seem a little odd. 

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  136. is he cup tied for europe do we know?

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  137. I recall a game against Stoke in early 2010, for example. Couldn't play his first XI, e.g., Degen playing right winger and Aurelio left wing, not full back but as wingers...supposedly. FOUR FULL BACKS. Set up the team to play ridiculously defensively from the start. Labored to a 1-1 draw at Anfield. One shot on target, one poxy shot, that was it from during the whole game from us. It was one of the most horrendous defensive tactical attempts I have witnessed and up there with some of what Hodgson served up. He had Maxi, Aqua, Riera fit but didn't play them and left out Babel altogether. He may well tailor things now and then, tactically but he isn't all that effective at it. I don't rate his ability to tailor tactics highly, not even close. Will have to disagree on that, if you are on the other side of the fence. Probably one of the worse managers at a top club when it comes to getting the best out of a non-first XI side. For a manager that is a fan of rotation, he isn't great at doing it. Which is strange. 

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  138. I was the keepy uppy champ at my team at amateur level ,i could do bloody thousands but it never got me anywhere further

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  139. He is (4 games, 4 assists).

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  140. im thinking west brom home......as his debut... then swansea home and wigan away... could potentially hit the ground running

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  141. That, unfortunately, is true.

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  142. Lol, they still remember how weve been butt fu**ed over alberto, dossena & borini & wonder wheres their slice of the action, lol

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  143. Still waiting on Rodgers to pull out a proper plan B. We may well see it in the next two big games coming up. That is probably my main concern about Rodgers, i.e., what else has he got up his sleeves tactically.

    It is hard work getting your non-first XI to play your plan A. Imo, generally better off tailoring the tactics to those players.

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  144. There's hardly anything I can add, as you've said it all. Well, bar the fact that, if I put on a bit more weight, I'll be robust, too.

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  145. Well considering the way my stamina has gone down in the last year or so, I'm beyond the point of robustness! Hard work changing one's game from being about energy to relying on positioning :(

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  146. Possible. An injured one, or one he would late claim he never wanted. Also possible. Of a free transfer the quality of Voronin or Degen. That too is possible. I don't buy into this "everything would be better under Rafa" stance that some people seem to have. See he's making lots of friends at Chelsea, too.

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  147. Hi mate, ive only just read your post asking me where i worked in germany, i replied on the old article but in case you dont read it i lived in a place called Darmstadt for 3 years, its not far from Frankfurt am Main, also spent a few months in Potsdam , an area of Berlin :)

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  148. They have 22 players out on loan, Chelsea. Yoikes!

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  149. I wish I had the ability to argue like that.

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  150. Why mate? Because he doesnt settle for sh*t?

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  151. Don't know how much longer he is injured.

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  152. I would like to think that he is from Liverpool or within 20 miles of the city. Not that I have any proof for that.

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  153. That's maybe why they let them go.

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  154. well 4 game 4 assists seems pretty god anyway for a fullback sign him aswell

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  155. Well, he has only one in 20 league matches. Don't know who the opposition was in the Europa League. Wouldn't mind if we signed him, though, as Robinson still fails to convince me at all.

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  156. I've read it, thanks. Potsdam is a nice place to live, but Berlin is too filthy for my liking (having lived in Munich).

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  157. I don't think that anyone of us on here is happy with our current league position, or with going out of the FA Cup at the hands of Oldham.

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  158. thats why there upset there the laughing stock of italian football they don,t seem to have screwed lfc on paper,but they may have the last laugh this lad might turn out worse than the rest lol if it dose not work out we can always loan him back to them and pay his wages for 5 years

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  159. Surely the point is he's in the race for a CL spot in spring. Rafa's greatest weakness was always failing to put the lower teams to bed, but the truth is Rafa's worst ever, most disastrous season would now feel like a triumph. Did he lose stupid games? Did he have to play crap players to find out they were crap? Yes. Did he constantly juggle things so cleverly that he's the closest we'll have to a successful manager for at least a decade after his departure? Absolutely.

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  160. Is this guy for real? Clearly you know very little about football. There is a mutual agreement before you sign a contract to be a manager at a club. Rogers requested that he was in charge of all transfers under the fsg policy and not a director of football (like the outrageous Damien comolli). Rogers inherited an average squad of players worth over the top prices which was payed by none other than your Heros KK and Damien comolli. Do you realise how many mistakes KK made in one whole season, that warranted him being sacked. The second half of the season was relegation form mate... We could not score to save our lives. Kenny thought we needed to be traditional and physical rather than technical and versitile. Football has moved forward. Why do you think Spain and barcelona conquer world football right now? The cherry on the cake for me that made me realise how much of an ignorant bitter fan you are was by mentioning Roy hodgson...Paul konchesky :| need I say more about that.

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  161. The point of my posts were that he isn't great at tailoring tactics (yours was also to do with his so-called effectiveness at tailoring tactics) to opposition, subs or rotating, so no, the point is not that he was still in the race for CL spot in Spring (compare the standard expecting THEN, not NOW), when I bring it up in my context, I'm afraid. Instead the point of that example was his poor use of subs.


    Those players weren't all necessarily crap. Certainly not the likes of Riera and Maxi, who were credible squad players and left on the bench, whilst he faffed around with playing four full backs at home to a side that isn't good away from home. He is, imo, bad at getting a non-first XI to perform well. Like I say, great first XI manager but beyond that, rather poor.

    Just because our standards are lower NOW, doesn't mean today's standards should be applied to the standards expected BEFORE. Different times. So no, Rafa's worse season didn't feel like a success and still doesn't, as circumstances are different, such as one of many factors being that Gerrard was at the peak of his powers under Rafa and now he is in the twilight of his career and clearly not the same. Obviously he is going to be the best manager we have had in recent times but that is down to not just what he acheived, also down to the failures of KK II, Hodgson, etc as to why his reign LOOKS better NOW. At the time, I didn't regard his reign as a great success. Just because the standards have fallen now, doesn't mean his reign should be rose-tinted. I don't rely on the failures of others since, to make myself feel good about what I have and have not achieved. The same principle is what I apply to Rafa, in this context. So no, I disagree, just because standards are being lowered now, doesn't mean they should apply to the past.

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  162. Mostly youngsters, though. Some of them probably would get into our team.

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  163. Don't know whether it qualifies as a "proper plan B", but he changed tacticts during the match against Chelsea for instance. Also switching a midfielder to full-back in order to get more attacking minded is something we've already seen. But basically I too want to see more tactical flexibility from our manager (whoever it is), though route one never really seems to work for us.

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  164. Yep, although should have kept Lukaku, as even with Ba, they are short up front in terms of depth for a top 4 club. Courtois looks good but he was always better off on loan and getting regular action. I'd take Courtois in goal for us, for sure.

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  165. They obviously could do with Lukaku. And I've thought the same thing about Courtois this morning when I read rumours about them being interested in signing Butland.

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  166. He also changed things somewhat in the Newcastle game, especially with the tempo. Would like see a plan B he sticks from minute 1 to 90+, that would mean he is comfortable with it. Although its good to see him willing to change things during games.

    Agree, don't see us being comfortable with route one but maybe something focusing and overloading on wing play, although that would possibly mean two up front to utilize it. Another maybe a counterattacking a la Rafa but we don't seem to soak pressure up well.

    Will be interesting to see how he encounters City and Arsenal. He may not even have to veer too much from plan A for these two, maybe, as I would like to see us press Arsenal at least as I don't want them to get comfortable in possession. But the danger with that is their counter attack, especially Theo and Cazorla. Dangerous game to play, the pressing game but seems to something that Rodgers wants for the long term.

    As long as the plan A isn't all that successful, we need something different at times. We can't afford to be as faithful and stubborn in our plan A as Barca or even Arsenal (not necessarily this season, but when they had Cesc, Nasri, RVP), we aren't that good yet.

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  167. When was this mythical 1-1 tactically baffling HOME draw against Stoke when we laboured at Anfield??

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  168. konchesky was no worse thanborini and a dam sightcheaper

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  169. Ye right, how tall are Messi, Xavi, or Iniesta?, no matter how big or small one is, you need to play football with your brain!, not just your feet!.

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  170. Another 5ft 6inch player who will probably be blown off he ball to easy, i hope i'm wrong. He is a 'nice to have' player rather than what we need a good DM.

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  171. That comment is littered with factual mistakes.

    We NEVER drew 1-1 at Anfield against Stoke during Rafa's reign.

    There was, however, a 1-1 draw at the Britannia Stadium in 2010.

    In THAT game only a 90th minute goal from Robert Huth denied Liverpool a victory.

    Benitez was robbed of his three top scorers going into the game with Steven Gerrard, Fernando Torres and Yossi Benayoun all injured.

    Even so, Liverpool had 51% of the possession, three shots on target (not just one) and were also denied two legitimate penalty shouts for fouls on Lucas.

    Maxi Rodriguez was indeed available for THAT game - but had only signed for the club three days previously so had barely trained with his new team-mates.

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  172. agree m8 but these small players are becoming rarer especially in english football most of the academys now have giants 

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  173. Ah apologies, it was at Stoke, thanks for the correction. Not that it does much harm to the point I was making but thanks.

    Secondly, from the stats I have read, it was one shot on target.

    Thirdly, I don't care if Gerrard, Torres and Yossi was unavailable as its not relevant to the points I have been making (I refer to his inability to get the best out of a non-first XI, tactically, so in fact your mention of their absence helps. Thanks).

    Fourth, regardless of whenever we conceded that goal, we played absolutely rubbish in that game and tactically, we were woeful, which again is what matters to my point, not when we conceded but thanks. 

    Fifth, regardless of whatever penalty shouts we should, it still doesn't take away that we played rubbish and the tactics were rubbish. 

    Sixth, the one mistakes of my post doesn't nullify the point I was making with that example, which was the tactics.

    lfckopchat 

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  174. He did it in a few games, though I am not as good at memorizing things like this as you are.
    Switching to two up front if things don't go our way should be something that's easy to implement (in theory).
    Our inability to soak up pressure makes the fact that we didn't go for one of the strong defensive midfielders who were available even more puzzling. We surely have the players to counter-attack.

    We might get something out of the Arsenal match, but given the quality they have I can't see us getting anything at Man City. We might even be in for a painful afternoon.

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  175. Clearly not good at memorizing! as pointed out by this person called TonyTone ;) (Stoke game was away, not at home but point still stands).

    I'm actually looking forward to the Arsenal game, I think it will be somewhat open affair if both managers stick to their so-called philosophies as well as allowing Cazorla, Theo, Sturridge, Suarez to break on the counter like you imply. With City, they are a unusual team as they don't always play like a team, instead sometimes rely on a few individuals to get them through games. They sometimes change systems so much, don't know what City turns up, such as playing Kolarov on the wing, or 3-man defence, etc. That new boy has done well at the back but Kompany will be a miss, looking forward to seeing Suarez go up against them. I couldn't even guess as to how they would set up. Pity Balotelli is leaving as he can be a hindrance to his own team when he plays!

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  176. Just to clarify, some stats sites do not count blocked shots as shots on target.

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  177. Arsenal game should at least be more pleasant to watch than our recent cup games and matches against Stoke. This one could go either way.

    You have a point about Man City being a bit unpredictable, but they seem to get their results at home. It's a big ask to win there.
    I think Kompany is a fine defender and wouldn't expect him to go missing against us. Balotelli getting sent off would surely help us, but unfortunately Man City found a club insane enough to take him off their books. Well, lets hope they are to busy with themselves when we visit them, but I wouldn't put my mortgage on us getting something from that match. Player by player they are way ahead of us.

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  178. True, very true, they are hard at home. They have a similar belief to Man United, in terms of always being a goal threat, regardless of how bad they play. Looks like Javi Garcia is going to play at CB tonight, alongside Lescott (the Serbian fellow is on the bench). Played there a fair bit for Benfica. Might watch the game tonight, or at least bits of it. QPR have TWO KEEPERS on the bench!

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  179. Two things. First me reckons Assaidi is a Liverpool player and will feature as an impact sub. Sahin was bad business though preventing Arsenal signing him was clearly in the Reds favour. Sahin would have filled the hole left by Nasri's departure.
    Coutinho does seem diminutive in stature yet Suarez is no giant, Allen, Lucas, Borini are similar in build. The point being that diminutive players can and do give teams an advantage... Only if they have exeptional ability. Barcelona have championed Cryuffs philosophy of diminutive player and just look at their success .
    Coutinho certainly has ability and falls into the technically gifted category while I'm afraid Lucas, Allen and Borini are decidedly average. Allen cost a exorbitant fee, Coutinho cost half that fee and presents a lesser gamble. There is no bad news here, Inter are in financial dire straits and sold on an exeptional talent. Two word sour grapes.

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  180. I have to admit I'm as nervous about this one as I was about Sturridge. Even more so actually. So I hope I'm even more so wrong this time too :-)

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  181. Tottenham wanted Suarez.
    Liverpool(Benitez era) and Arsenal wanted Mata.
    Chelsea and United was fighting for Torres one year before we got him.

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  182. Redknapp may have had some new tactics in mind with his two keepers on the bench. Seems the one he started did the trick, though. Lets hope our keeper manages to keep a clean sheet against them, too.

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  183. There's a difference between being conservative and passing judgement before a player has even kicked a ball for us.

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  184. Who went to Madrid for a big fee? Realistically what superstars are we going to sign? We can either gamble on young players with a great potential, or pay over the odds for average Premier League players. At least the Coutinho transfer can be seen as a sign that the club are abandoning their 'young English' policy which can only be a good thing.

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  185. And Oldham wouldn't be 19th in League one.

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  186. Aye, there sure is a wee bit (sorry, was watching a bit of Braveheart:) ) of difference between being conservative and passing judgment before a ball is kicked, just like there is bit of difference between doubting him ("doubters" as the fella above put it) and passing judgment before a ball is kicked. Bit of difference between being a "doubter" and writing a player off. I am doubting him and am a doubter, certainly when someone brings in Ronaldo and 'special' in occasion, I'm like 'easy tiger, calm down'. Been there, done it and got the t-shirt with Le Tallec, this hype circus. I don't see the importance of having a truckload of raging Inter fans on forums hyping him up, as there were a truckload of fans who thought Tallec would become something special when we got him. So I don't give much weight to that sort of hyperbole, regardless of whether their so-called faith will be justified in the long run.

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  187. I'm not concerned by his frame, the question is whether he has the heart.

    It is hard to tell before buying someone, but you can gauge this. Ferguson manages to do it all the time. Maybe his team isn't the prettiest (relative to how consistently successful United are) but they always have the best mentality and resilience.

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  188. I don't take Prozac, don't need it but, judging by some of your doom and gloom posts on here, maybe you shoulf try it.

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  189. BR is still crap salesman regardless of who he signed.

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  190. Jaime...this guy remind me of young Deco...what do u thinks?
     

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  191. It's not something his players necessarily have but it is what he demands. Act up at Man U and you can leave. There are no second chances. Ask Van Nistelrooy, Stam and Beckham. That's the way it should be at Liverpool as well. One shush and you're gone. No talks and oh now I understand I have to put in some effort when I'm at Liverpool. You're told so the first time you walk though the door and you're never told again. If you forget, only for a second, you can f off.

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  192. I find it amazing that you can categorically claim that he's not going to be a good player when you know nothing about him. At least give him a chance, its fans like you that give modern football its bad name, constant knee-jerk reactions leading to managers being sacked players losing confidence etc. If the rest of the footballing world thought like you we wouldn't have a sport anymore. You should go and support Chelski, you'd fit in there

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  193. i was going to post something along those lines but did not bother  :-)

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  194. Are you even a Liverpool fan?
    Your posts remind me of the liverpool fan on 606 back when Houllier was in charge that called for him to be sacked after winning the Carling Cup against Birmingham.. Spoken with a heavy Mancunian accent and ridiculous to the point of being stupid!

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  195. am not against the sign them young policy,but if thats our goal lets sign the best young ones eg hazzard erikson ,but we dont compete for these either 

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  196. god can you not come up with anything better you sad man

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