12 Dec 2014

Inside Info: Ex-FSG Lawyer makes shock claim about BR's future. Reveals details of 'breakdown' behind the scenes

Former FSG employee Mike Bernard has revealed some inside information about the future of Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers.

Bernard - who describes himself as a 'former employee of Fenway Sports Group and NESV' - posted the following on Twitter this week:

"FSG have had talks over the past 24 hours and will meet again following the Christmas run of games.

"It appeared FSG would back him until the end of the season but a breakdown behind the scenes may force a revaluation of the position.

"Depending on what happens over the Christmas period, it looks like it could be the end of the road for Brendan Rodgers"


Bernard has a photo of (what appears to be) an FSG board meeting as his profile picture, which suggests that his account is legitimate. If not, how did he get that picture? It's not available anywhere else on the net.

Additionally, Bernard offers the following bio information:

* FEB 2014: Left FSG to join Greenberg Traurig LLP as a Senior Contract Lawyer.
* 2011-2014: Senior Contract Lawyer responsible for player/staff contracts at LFC.
* 2009-2011: Responsible for player/staff contracts for the Boston Red Sox.

I called the Greenberg switchboard to check the veracity of the above claim, but the operator insisted that I'd have to email to get the information, which I've now done.

In the meantime, if this info is true, it simply hammers home the point that Rodgers is seemingly a dead man walking at Anfield, and if results don't improve over Christmas, he'll probably be gone in January.

As such, it's fair to say that this Sunday's game against Manchester United is possibly one of the most important of Rodgers' career.

Author:


90 comments:

  1. Nevergonnacrackthecode7:51 pm, December 12, 2014

    It makes sense to sack him by January
    this team cannot survive with Ricky and Balo up front
    we need a new striker soon like we needed Suarez in 2011
    But the new manager has to decide who he wants so he needs to come in atleast 10 days before the January window starts

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  2. Nice researches jaimie! Thanks for the update

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  3. Apparently the Mike Bernard account is a hoax.

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  4. Nevergonnacrackthecode7:53 pm, December 12, 2014

    Villas Boas really sticks out as a name
    he is realistic unlike Simeone and Klopp
    and unlike Rafa he fits the fsg profilio

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  5. Terry McDermotts perm7:54 pm, December 12, 2014

    Im sure nobody is surprised.

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  6. im amazed fans haven't seen this coming .....in what other industry can you blow 200m

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  7. AVB will not be joining LFC. It will be Rodgers all over again.

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  8. After the clueless fool Rodgers and his expensive bunch of spineless chokers, cowards and serial letdown merchants get thrashed by Man Ure (who are long ball garbage) and Arsenal, it will be Rodgers over and OUT!!!.

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  9. there are quality players in our squad but Rodgers can neither motivate or utilize them on an individual or team basis coupled with the fact that i wouldnt trust him to buy a pint of milk

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  10. Nevergonnacrackthecode8:02 pm, December 12, 2014

    One major difference
    AVB is a massive winner three trophies at Fc Porto
    Avb has the personality to attract top players like he did at spurs granted they all flopped but they were all highly rated


    He does not suck the medias as** as well ask neil ashton

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  11. its simeone for me .....the south american market is where the untapped talent is

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  12. Houllier and Rafa also blew a load of cash, just not at the same rate as Rodgers. It is absolutely insane how much money LFC have spent over the years and have not got a single EPL trophy to show for it.


    Bottomless pit.

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  13. Nevergonnacrackthecode8:03 pm, December 12, 2014

    There you go so we agree a new manager before January that can buy a striker

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  14. Nevergonnacrackthecode8:05 pm, December 12, 2014

    yeah but that is unrealistic
    think about it
    why would he leave a country where he has been all his life where he is a hero and living in sunny Madrid
    to go to England where he cant speak a word of English and he has to live in Liverpool

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  15. im neither of there biggest fans but at least we won something ......in this current set up we can neither score or defend its a shambles

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  16. Nevergonnacrackthecode8:08 pm, December 12, 2014

    The thing is us fans can recognize a bad signing from a mile away
    Downing,Aqualani, Adam,Balotelli,Carroll,Konchensky,Poulsen,Jovanovic, Coates,etc
    each one has there flaws and we saw right through it

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  17. Rafa won nothing in his last four seasons and were were just as bad until Kenny landed another League Cup.


    This club is about wasting money and watching other teams get ahead of us.

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  18. Nevergonnacrackthecode8:09 pm, December 12, 2014

    I think Balotelli and Bony will make a good partnership what do people think?

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  19. Suffice it to say, I can understand much better now why he is an "ex-FSG employee"

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  20. Nevergonnacrackthecode8:11 pm, December 12, 2014

    So lets get a manager with a proven record of signing good players
    so maybe not AVB


    any suggestions?


    Ronald Koeman done a fantastic job at Southampton
    Manuel Pellegrini?

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  21. He's a massive weener that's for sure

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  22. In fairness, the Balotelli and Coates ones are good signings in my book. Low risk moves for the price.


    The Charlie Adam one still boggles the mind. Fergie literally was mocking him about corners and Kenny still bought him.

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  23. It is twitter after all but where there is smoke you can be sure there is a fire.

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  24. Nevergonnacrackthecode8:15 pm, December 12, 2014

    Balotelli some were excited
    but the doubts remained , his attitude , his work rate so far those doubts have come true




    coates he was too slow for the pl




    I think in this summer though there was a large percentage in favor of signing Lallana,Can,Moreno,Lovren


    =

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  25. or a very expensive whos who of garbage players

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  26. i did enjoy his utd meltdown though

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  27. haha flopped is an understatement and your

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  28. Far from a meltdown. He was bang on the money.

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  29. Just heard the rumours that FSG wants to replace rodgers with diego simeone.......want a massive signing that would be which will lift the whole fans and expectation levels.....please make it happen FSG

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  30. Me too . Simeone no doubt about it for me. He could be taking english lessons for all we know lol why is it unrealistic? he has done the business in Spain so he may fancy a crack in the premier league!

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  31. I think it fair to say most have ....

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  32. Less than a week ago u said Rodgers was the right man then yesterday it was Hypia/ Lee. Less than an hour ago u said AVB and now changed ur mind since then. Lawrenson said Rodgers changes his team as often as he changes his socks- sound familiar

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  33. I think those doubts were justified but have been totally overblown. His workrate hasn't been perfect, but he's by no means been the same aloof player of yesteryear.


    And the Coates signing was coming off of his Copa America performance. He was up and coming, scored a great goal, and then was never heard from again basically.

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  34. We had Champions' League football, loads of cash to spend, an attractive football philosophy, yet we could not persuade the best players in the world to come to Anfield. Why can't we attract top players? Once FSG solve this conundrum, then we will be able to attract the quality that will bring us success.

    Whilst Rodgers must be given credit for what we achieved last year, I really do think that with him at the helm, we will continue to attract lesser players. FSG need to also modify their transfer market approach. How about for every potential star, we buy an established player of quality.

    No one can be blamed for fearing the worst. When next will we have Champions' League football and in excess of £100M to spend?

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  35. Neva gonna crack
    Neva gonna crack

    Neva gonna crack
    Neva gonna crack



    Neva gonna crack
    THE CODE!

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  36. what he done in his first 3 more than made up for that, 2 champions league finals, fa cup final, league cup final, world club cup final, european super cup, charity shield.. amazing return, his last seasons were blighted by the club changing hands and almost going bust, nobody could have done anything under hicks and gillettes nightmare regime where he was publicly humiliated most weeks, the cowboys slagging him in the press, "rawfa just isnt good enough,fergie said rawfa spent more than the rest of us he just bought bad players, rawfa lost the club and must be held accountable not us" yadayada, aswell as openly admitting trying to replace him with klinsman while he was still in the job! he worked wonders at the pool and would love him back, wont happen doe im afraid, cant see us going for top class.. the owners just cant pull it off imo, we all want simeone or klopp but cant see it myself, i wouldnt b surprised if we ended up with eddie fecking howe.. much more of an fsg move!

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  37. id like to replace my todger with that of an elephants doesnt mean its gonna happen :)

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  38. Do you mean 'attract lesser players' like ones for less money because they are just not top players?


    Or lesser players as in one's who are worth high ££'s but are off the boil and need re-invigorating and better whole team set up to get the best out of them.......like sturridge or couthinho?


    Or do you mean we cannot attract players worth £40 -£50 mill+ because of Brendan?


    Sometimes it really is a question of 'chicken and egg' - most successful managers had to get through and win things with 'lesser players' before they became sought after and attractive to elite footballers.


    Pep Guardiola and his stint at Barcelona managing the best players on the planet is a rarity and a lucky break since he could probably get away with learning decisions without having to pay too high a price because any one of the players on the field would have gotten him 'out of jail' - plus he was a legend there and fans would have blames the players as much as him and the players knew it.

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  39. You know I finally get it- rattle of thunder bolts of lightning and THE CODE

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  40. But this guy has left the club.


    He finished with us in Feb 2014.


    How does he still have access to inside information - that's dangerous as he has no accountability to anyone there. FSG need to fill that hole/gap quickly - very unprofessional......


    And before big weekend game it shows a lack of solidarity.........unless we can spin it to blame red-nose ferguson again somehow.......maybe he's up to his mind-games again.......

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  41. Rafa won a champions league with half a team of nobodies.

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  42. Unfortunately there is problems getting visas for untapped South American talent.

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  43. Take your pick. Players like Aspas, Alberto and Borini are just not good enough for a club that want to regularly challenge for honours. As for Sturridge and Coutinho, they are players that I like, but there are usually reasons why they were available on the cheap, in much the same way that Balotelli was bought for less than one would expect. Sturridge is injury prone and Coutinho is inconsistent.

    Whilst I accept that every manager has to start somewhere. LFC can ill afford to maintain their current approach if they wish to return to the top table any time soon. Particularly in a league that is one of the most competitive in the world. Hoping to replicate what Alex Ferguson did or what managers such as Klopp and Simeone are doing is failing to accept the reality of the present day EPL.

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  44. I pretty much think its a cert that Rodgers head has been on the chopping block for a while.
    I think lack of suitable replacements will buy him time, i hope he can turn it around just to upset Logan.

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  45. Yep, first three players are pretty blatant in their skill limit.
    That was an 'age' when Brendan was showing his insecurities as a young manager and bringing in players he hoped to influence and 'bringon' esp. Borini who he thought would perform and big him up in the dressing room - I agree with all that.


    Geezer, our proximity to the 'top table' and our perception of it is what worries me......


    We do not have the resources to compete by picking up £30, 40, 50 or 60mill talent - look at Man u, they bought a guy for £50 mill and still are struggling with the rest of the field.


    We have to accept where we are - it's really the first step to recovery - much like getting over a trauma like grief or injury - acceptance....


    Then we have to somehow move on from the uncomfortable nature of what has to be done even though it makes you and I cringe to think of it, we have no choice - we don't have that 198o-90's momentum any more.
    So...we have to build and be patient - let the team grow together and get to know each other - the skill is there in the young players its just raw.
    Unlike the 'gelling' that's happening at West Ham, that also took time, but the players are not young and Song is on loan....and they will get found out cos their level of talent is a step below what's required to stay there.


    A study came out today that we are all major hooked on pharmaceutical drugs - I mean MAJOR! - and there is a very good reason for it.... its called - 'the quick fix' - and we all want it - but its way more elusive than we think.


    You think you're close - even think you've got it - and its gone - its an expert in illusion and escape.


    I don't know what the answer is but something has to change and doing the same thing again and again and expecting a different result is called insanity.


    So whether insanity means ditching managers for supposed saviours or sticking with managers who've lost the plot totally.........I'll say this ........ I don't think Brendan's lost the whole plot......not just yet anyway.......

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  46. People like Tony Barrett and James Pearce are not always reliable. They may have close connections to the club, but those close connections will often feed them disinformation for the sake of secrecy. Rodgers' job completely safe at the moment? Pffft. That's absurd.

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  47. I will stop supporting the club if we sign AVB. Just joking. But seriously.

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  48. Do understand the challenges that come with an elephant's cock?
    An extra leg on your trousers, the scraped skin from it dragging behind while you're running, unless you drape it over your shoulder, and then there's the getting used to shagging someone from a distance of three feet - all the while trying to stay concious as ALL the blood in your body ends up in your todger.


    All these things came to me in a collective tsunami of thought as I sat in the plastic surgeon's waiting room - that was just before I panicked and legged it........

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  49. If Collymore is right then I'm not surprised. Henry doesn't have the same attachment to Rodgers like Ayre does, hence why Ayre would be convincing Henry not to sack Rodgers. Henry is a big ruthless boss living on the other side of the Atlantic, who only sees Rodgers a couple of times a year. Ayre is based on Liverpool, seeing Rodgers almost every day, forging a personal relationship with him in the process.

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  50. Who makes a picture of a board meeting their profile pic hahaha. Methinks the gentleman doth protest too much.

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  51. Also, Mike Bernard mentions that Rodgers and the Committee don't see eye-to-eye over signings. This makes sense to me, since I was told by a source myself that Rodgers himself never really wanted Sakho, NOR Balotelli. Both of them were 'committee signings' that Rodgers apprehensively approved.

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  52. Aha. This is interesting news for me. Where's Phil? He was making a similar point on a different thread yesterday.

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  53. Thats a real possibility with Sakho as i got the feeling Rodgers was never a fan Balotelli i am not so sure.

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  54. Yeah, Phil was having an argument about it yesterday with Pete. They were both right. Pete was right because Rodgers gives the 'all clear', and Phil was right because the Committee handpick a lot of the players and kind of hold a gun to his head.

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  55. Was I the only one who supported Rafa's 'rant' and applauded him for having the cojones to say what everyone was thinking?

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  56. I love Rodgers and don't want him to go, but if Simeone could come in as a glorified assistant and bring Arda Turan with him... I know; I know.

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  57. I was actually talking with Jaimie about publishing my own regular guest 'gossip' articles, based on information I get from my source. My source did some work for LFC around when FSG took over as an outsourced physiotherapy advisor. He was just recently working with QPR, but he and his colleagues got the shits with them (particularly to do with Sandro) and left.

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  58. I really want him to earn a spot on the flag.

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  59. Ah okay. If this Bernard person is right then I think it's a bit unfair for only Rodgers and some scouts to take the fall for decisions made in large part by the CEO and other senior figures. Even more unfair to expect him to mold a winning team with players he doesn't really want.

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  60. That sounds good Nick something different around here there is always plenty of goss surrounding Liverpool especially ATM.

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  61. Yeah...Jaimie never got back to me about it, but he did seem pretty keen for it. Maybe next Summer window...

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  62. Count me in im all for it.

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  63. I can tell you that Rodgers was banking on 14 million from Sunderland for Borini to buy a class striker. My source has a big feeling he wanted to buy Higuain. I think Falcao was a late idea. As for Reus, we never actually approached him...we approached BVB for a figure and that's as far as it got.

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  64. Rogers stated that was in conversation with owners in last 24hrs in press conference. Fsg are not fans they are owners who have seen their asset lose millions this weekalong with poor performances most of season.i think the fsg board of directors would be neglegent if they werent concerned with situation.i really think if it goes pearshaped in a big game like utd the end might be near for rogers

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  65. Sorry to butt in.... but why didn't Borini go then?


    That's a flippin good price.....

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  66. Because Borini wouldn't budge. Is it any wonder why he's usually out of the squad? Rodgers is furious with him.

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  67. I mean, who wouldn't want that level of commitment?, arrogance?, misguided sense of self? I don't know which one is more appropriate for young Mr Borini......

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  68. He could be engineering a return to Italy...

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  69. Do you think Sunderland would have made it difficult for him to have springboarded from there?


    I mean if he wanted to engineer then why not from a position of strength where one is scoring and producing good clean football like when he was there before.......or is that not how it works?

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  70. To be honest I'm not sure. That was my own guess.

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  71. I had the feeling Borini set a cat amongst the pigeons refusing to move that really p#ssed me off all good stuff Nick and sounds definitely credible.

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  72. Well, FSG have to decide whether Rodgers can take us forward or not. I'm yet to be convinced. I don't believe our current form is te basis on which to sack him.Two of the biggest concerns I have about him are his activity in the transfer market and the general inability of his teams to defend - these are issues that he has failed to address over time and despite repeated opportunities.


    I agree we can't routinely spend £50M on players, but that's not necessary. What I don't like the idea of, is spending £25M on Lallana and £20M on Lovren. Let's not forget that when we were originally linked with the latter, he cost only £8.5M. Neither are worth what we paid and neither were 'must buy' players. In buying them, we bolstered a competitor's resources dramatically (for unexceptional players). Furthermore, £45M can buy a whole lot of player in this time of inflated transfer fees, The money was there, it just shouldn't have been spread so thinly.

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  73. Thats what you get with committees along with a lot of politics i always believed an advisement board would have been more apt.

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  74. You nailed it and theres no way any Italian club will pay 14 mill pounds so hes winding down his contract.

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  75. Just a quick question for those among us who are more experienced with this forum - do posts that are waiting approval just disappear into cyber space?
    Or does one get an email telling you off a bit and don't do it again like.....

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  76. I get you man, about the defense and some of the transfers.
    But, I do look at the defense and think, especially this year, we had a new left back, right back and one centre back playing games with one main-stay, skrtl - who's been there a while.


    However, with no energy pushing the ball into opposition half and keeping them on the backfoot courtesy of, in my opinion, Balotelli, - the defense, in consequence, has been knocked of its confidence from the start.
    It was a bold move from Brendan to do that and had it worked, boy oh boy, we'd have been lauding him for his Rhino-tough decision making and saying what a bold leader he is......


    What a shame its backfired

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  77. No they just disappear until they're approved. Sometimes the moderating system picks up random words it doesn't like...

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  78. Well I'm still hoping that Balotelli will come good. I don't expect him to be as prolific as Sturridge, but surely he can only improve. We should see a general improvement in the team's level once Sturridge returns, but that's a lot of pressure for one man to shoulder.


    Adding to your point about the lack of energy, ever since the likes of Alonso and Mascerano moved on, our midfield has been inadequate. Whilst Lovren's performances for us have been poor, apparently he's started to complain about the lack of protection from midfield. He needs to sort his performance level out, but he's got a point.

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  79. Hey thanks Nick,


    I guess I shouldn't have used the slang for a male member when in context with an elephant's!


    You'll get it if the post ever gets approved :-)

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  80. If he gets sold for 17- 18 mill euros and scores lads of goals his price will increase. And in Italy they are used much smaller fees for far better players.

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  81. Yeah, he'll leave City for us when we sign Messi or Ronaldo

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  82. Yup agreed. It all seems a bit unhealthy. It's a bit like a racing driver not being allowed to set up his own car.

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  83. It's not too difficult if you can withstand the blood loss and can sew a bit

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  84. I never get this few more games to save his career stuff. Either you believe your manager is good enough or you dont. Its not a magic trick that fails sometimes and succeeds some more. It would also be very fickle to sack him based on this season. If they do they should do so based on his overall performance. I can imagine they told him before the summer that his transfers should work this time. I can even believe they said they would evaluate this in december. But if that's the case there can be no doubt. Not even if we beat Man U and Arsenal this month.

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  85. This guy posts some controversial stuff. Scroll down through his twitter account and one of the biggest claims is that Rodgers is having signings pushed on him by the committee. JK, that's very much in contradiction with what you've said yourself on a number of occasions. Now either this guy has genuine information or he doesn't, he's either to be trusted or he isn't. I think we need to get to the bottom of who he is, where he's getting his information from and how accurate it really is. It's certainly possible that's it's just a hacked account and some over-zealous LFC fan is having a bit of fun and getting himself some followers, but then again who's to say it's not genuine? I'm not sure either way.

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  86. I'd be careful, anyone with a mind to investigate wouldn't find it too hard to work out who you are talking about and he could get in trouble for it.

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  87. He already has plans to leave Atletico in the summer, why another country would be out of the question I don't know, Moyes never left england till now. Brendan much like AVB has attracted highly rated players, so the above comment is flawed...AVB I a joke, and will always be seen as a failure in England.

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  88. What's that saying? "A camel is a horse designed by a committee".

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