According to Reds' boss Brendan Rodgers, Liverpool's league season is all but over, and the FA Cup is the only thing left to fight for. With seven league games to go, that's clearly nonsense, but he's right about one thing: it's 'very, very important' to get a result against Blackburn Rovers, and after two damaging defeats in a row, a third loss in a row doesn't bear thinking about.
Team news:
* Gerrard, Can, and Skrtel suspended for the game.
* Balotelli fit and available for selection after missing the last game.
With three key players suspended for the game, Rodgers doesn't have many options to change things around, but it's probable that he'll make at least one changes: Lovren in for Toure, and Johnson/Manquillo in for Markovic. Both players had poor games against Arsenal, and they're likely to pay the price.
After the Arsenal debacle, Rodgers insisted that teams 'haven't worked out' the 343 system, so given his stubbornness, he'll probably stick to the formation to make a point. As such, I expect to see the following line-up:
-------------------- Mignolet
---- Johnson ----------- Lovren --------- Sakho
-- Manquillo ---- Lucas ---- Hendo ---- Moreno
------------- Sterling -- Coutinho
------------------- Sturridge
In my view, Moreno, Allen, and Sterling [combined cost/worth: £53m) should also be dropped.
* Every time Moreno plays these days he seems to be responsible for liverpool conceding a goal. HIs concentration lapses are proving costly, and he's slowing moving into 'transfer mistake' territory.
* Sterling has only one goal in ten games, and none in the last seven. When it comes to the crunch, he is AWOL, and right now, he's contributing very little to the team. Plus, his mind is clearly elsewhere, and for me, he doesn't deserve a place in the team.
* The Allen/Lucas partnership is a non-starter. It doesn't work, so it should be permanently retired.
I'd like to see the following line-up:
-------------------- Mignolet
---- Flanagan ------- Lovren --------- Sakho
-- Manquillo ---- Lucas ---- Hendo ---- Johnson
------------- Balotelli -- Coutinho
------------------- Sturridge
In his column for the Liverpool Echo today, Reds legend John Aldridge warned that losing to Blackburn will be a 'disaster', and urged the Reds' players to stand up and be counted. He mused:
"It’s a tricky little trip, going up to Blackburn. They’ll have seen our last two games and will think they might be able to take us. We have to stand up big and strong for this one, and show what we’re made of".
Defeat is unthinkable, and if Liverpool put in another poor performance, it'll be a strong indication that Rodgers is struggling to keep the squad onside, which may another nail in his Anfield coffin.
It'll be a tough game, but if the players are on top of their game, it should be a comfortable win.
My prediction: 2:2 (Liverpool to win on penalties)
Author: Jaimie K
Team news:
* Gerrard, Can, and Skrtel suspended for the game.
* Balotelli fit and available for selection after missing the last game.
With three key players suspended for the game, Rodgers doesn't have many options to change things around, but it's probable that he'll make at least one changes: Lovren in for Toure, and Johnson/Manquillo in for Markovic. Both players had poor games against Arsenal, and they're likely to pay the price.
After the Arsenal debacle, Rodgers insisted that teams 'haven't worked out' the 343 system, so given his stubbornness, he'll probably stick to the formation to make a point. As such, I expect to see the following line-up:
-------------------- Mignolet
---- Johnson ----------- Lovren --------- Sakho
-- Manquillo ---- Lucas ---- Hendo ---- Moreno
------------- Sterling -- Coutinho
------------------- Sturridge
In my view, Moreno, Allen, and Sterling [combined cost/worth: £53m) should also be dropped.
* Every time Moreno plays these days he seems to be responsible for liverpool conceding a goal. HIs concentration lapses are proving costly, and he's slowing moving into 'transfer mistake' territory.
* Sterling has only one goal in ten games, and none in the last seven. When it comes to the crunch, he is AWOL, and right now, he's contributing very little to the team. Plus, his mind is clearly elsewhere, and for me, he doesn't deserve a place in the team.
* The Allen/Lucas partnership is a non-starter. It doesn't work, so it should be permanently retired.
I'd like to see the following line-up:
-------------------- Mignolet
---- Flanagan ------- Lovren --------- Sakho
-- Manquillo ---- Lucas ---- Hendo ---- Johnson
------------- Balotelli -- Coutinho
------------------- Sturridge
In his column for the Liverpool Echo today, Reds legend John Aldridge warned that losing to Blackburn will be a 'disaster', and urged the Reds' players to stand up and be counted. He mused:
"It’s a tricky little trip, going up to Blackburn. They’ll have seen our last two games and will think they might be able to take us. We have to stand up big and strong for this one, and show what we’re made of".
Defeat is unthinkable, and if Liverpool put in another poor performance, it'll be a strong indication that Rodgers is struggling to keep the squad onside, which may another nail in his Anfield coffin.
It'll be a tough game, but if the players are on top of their game, it should be a comfortable win.
My prediction: 2:2 (Liverpool to win on penalties)
Author: Jaimie K
You say Can is suspended for this game, but then post him in your lineups... oops? :D
ReplyDeleteI suspect Flanno is nearing fitness. He did play in the charity game, and while it was just a friendly with a bunch of aging guys, it was still a game. Perhaps not ready for Blackburn, but soon I hope.
It is excellent and thanks for posting it. The chap has it to a tee.
ReplyDeleteThey all had more then two good seasons at a high level
ReplyDeleteespecially daglish
Rush was a teen and a exceptional one
Ings is 23
But it's time to realize the truth..sorry, i don't think Rodgers is the answer. He's had enough. Let's stop deceiving our selves with young manager and young players ..hope I'm wrong
ReplyDeleteAgree!
ReplyDeleteJust read somewhere Rafa is leaving Napoli in summer when it was assumed he'd sign for a long term deal........
ReplyDeleteIs he jumping ship or has he had a word in his ear about something he's been dreaming about for ages.......
Don't jump down my throat guys I'm just asking opinion.......
Look at napoli's position in the serie A and you'll have your answer
ReplyDeleteIngs will not win us trophies and like Lallana and other players from teams who finish below us will either take two seasons to get going or be a total flop. Lallana = £25m = stay clear of player from teams who finish below us. The list is endless of those who have flopped.
ReplyDeleteHe's a decent player there's no doubt about that but if code says he's gonna be crap next year then that's the way it's gonna be.this guy knows everything! !
ReplyDeletePleasure and fully agree. Very well written piece and pretty much says how it is and what needs to be done!
ReplyDeleteI have seen it in various web site and if br end up signing this player it would be unforgivable. Enough is enough
ReplyDeleteI would prefer another manager if FSG are going to sack Rodgers, which I really hope they don't.
ReplyDeleteNo time for emotional comebacks anymore, we need a league title. So there are better options.
I think his head is already turned anyway, so sell him, preferably abroad, for the right price. The club is in control and that little, spoiled brat.
ReplyDeleteNapoli are getting rid of him cause he is not going to do much better than what he already has.
ReplyDeleteYou can be rest assured he will not manage at LFC again.
Those of you who know to descifre text speak- what is AWOL?
ReplyDeleteSo with Can suspended now Lovren will have a chance to claw his way back into the team.
ReplyDeleteThe first thing that needs to be done is 3 at the back needs to be binned. If Flanagan is fit then he needs to play so my team would be
Mignolet
Flanno Lovren Sakho Moreno
Hendo Lucas Allen
Coutinho
Sterling Sturidge
Blackburn will be licking their lips if Rodgers stick to the plan which was found out many weeks ago.
Absent without official leave.
ReplyDeleteFlanno coming back, and coming back good would be some light after too much dark..
ReplyDeleteCheers.. Though the question was actually a little bit of sniping..
ReplyDeleteGood line up Logan.
ReplyDeleteThat was a nice one after reading Jamie's rules;)
ReplyDeleteMarkovic should get another chance as attacker..
ReplyDeleteFor shits and giggles.
ReplyDeleteWe have to pick our best team. Blacburn are waiting and will do what ever they have to make us lose.
ReplyDeleteRest Sterling. It would be beneficiary on many accounts. And I always argued he is best as a power sub with his speed being his biggest quality..
ReplyDeleteYeah, now it is just question of will he see it as sniping or banter.. Or see it at all..
ReplyDeleteThanks for your insight. I assume mind reading is going well for you. What's it like being a billionaire?
ReplyDeleteSterling right now is our biggest threat. Sturridge is not in form either but always seem to have a way of getting a goal so playing Markovic who does not know if he is a winger, striker or a defender with the way he has been shunted around on the pitch is not a guarantee of goals.
ReplyDeleteTrust me, Jaimie sees everything that goes on here.
ReplyDeleteNot a fan of Moreno, always make mistake when we need the team to be solid.
ReplyDeleteI like Flanno but i don't know where he is fitness wise, if he's ready i'd rather see us go with him at LB Manquillo at RB to have a more solid back 4.
The rest of the team pretty much pick itself so agree with you with the rest (even though i feel Sterling should feel that he is not essential and give balo a chance with Sturridge)
Excatly, so give him a game against a lesser side and tell him that he is a winger or a ss.
ReplyDeleteThere are loads of writers for sure. Dave writes both for AI and EPL Index. I don't mind when he sticks to stats. Can't stand the man though.
ReplyDeleteRead the article on TIA. Lists out many faults whilst having the outcome that it would not be a good idea to sack him. Objectively.
442 diamond, Markovic, Baloteli, Sturidge/Lambert on top.
ReplyDeleteManquillo most likely will not play for us again considering how far he is down the pecking order. We will most likely cancel his loan at the end of the season.
ReplyDeleteFlanno played in the Cara vs Stevie match in the first half so he has got to be fit. Moreno over Johnson and Enrique any day of the week.
could be wrong but without top 4 at the end of the season i feel Rodgers could be on his way regardless of the FA cup.
ReplyDeleteIf it's the case FSG would surely go after someone that have experienced success, don't know who it could be though
Doubt they can find a better solution. He is staying..
ReplyDeleteHe has hardly been a goal threat. We are going to need goals otherwise Blackburn will show us how it is done.
ReplyDeleteHe spent what 150 minutes as an attacker? One of the games he had more freedom he was MoM, there is enough goal threat in him for Blackburn. No disrespect, but there is a reason they are down there..
ReplyDeleteI recommend you check for dog hair allergy first. You wouldn't want any unexpected swelling.
ReplyDeleteZidane: We know who Raheem Sterling is, and of course we are monitoring him as a player.
ReplyDeleteThan he plays it down a bit with 'we are monitoring all young prospects', but that is some smoke...
The way Henderson scored his penalty, I'd probably downplay our chances from the spot.
ReplyDeleteMadrid's interest in Sterling is not a secret.
ReplyDeleteAs I said it's better if we make an exchange deal (involving Isco, perhaps) out of it.
ReplyDeleteSo why were we so mediocre against them at Anfield?
ReplyDeleteDoubt they'll make a concrete offer though
ReplyDeleteAfter Allen,s last two poor games , surely he cannot play again .
ReplyDeleteWhy would they not if they want him?
ReplyDeleteHe said all the best young players in the world a couple of times too. So Raheem gets awards for it, one of the best players I have ever seen thinks it. But Rodgers is a divy for saying it, he is no good and it won't be a loss if he goes.
ReplyDeleteFor what they would be getting he would be too expensive.
ReplyDeleteI suspect it's only monitoring, they really are not missing the quality which Sterling might offer.
ReplyDeleteAt that moment I realized how calm was I when we shoot penalties, and that I will never be that calm again..
ReplyDeleteWe have no choice as there is nobody else unless Rodgers has the ball to give Rossiter another chance who IMO should have had more opportunities than what he has so far.
ReplyDeleteBale?
ReplyDeleteBale is light years ahead mate.
ReplyDeleteLooking at Moreno's 2 last match would be enough of a reason to give him a time out of the spotlight, Sure i prefer him to Johnson/Enrique too but loosing this could spell the end of BR at Liverpool.
ReplyDeleteManquillo out of the team could be with the fact that we played 3 at back, we saw what happens when we played with a back four and offensive FB earlier this season.
Rodgers will probably still play Moreno though but with a back four i'm just not convinced it would be the best solution.
Regarding the best you've seen- it has to be between Zidane and Ronaldinho?
ReplyDeleteManquillo has been out of the team for a while now.
ReplyDeleteHenderson, Markovic, Lallana and Sterling have been our RWB's. Square pegs round holes...
If Allen is the best we have left ,then how the h### will Liverpool ever win anything ??
ReplyDeleteThe second best player in the prem at the time. Scored 26 goals, most from distance. He scored 22 goals last season and is on 27 this. He is fast, athletic and strong. I would love him for us.
ReplyDeleteA bit one footed though.
Well it contains some truths but BR gets the blame for everything that went wrong but no credit for the good run which was just luck apparently.
ReplyDeleteAnd the way to put everything right and get the side performing as it should is surprisingly simple..... get rid of BR.
Great analysis and a comprehensive plan to put it all right. What more could you ask for?
For skill on the ball, for sure.
ReplyDeleteArsenal were amazing if you haven't noticed, and Lazar is not capable(or suposed to) lift us from our shity form) If you look again, he had a fine halftime- and that pass was 8 inches from Sterling which means it lacked a % of accuracy or had a % of strenght too much. The decision was absolutely right, by the way, and I doubt Sterling wouldn't just hit the gk..
ReplyDeleteReally ? can see Ancelotti leaving RM if they don't win CL or la liga (which look likely) and he's quite the established manager.
ReplyDeleteEven though Klopp had a bad season he still did well in Europe and have a good record at finding findings gems.
Not saying we'll get either one but there's better solution and FSG don't like failure.
I would say Allen is a decent squad player but yes, when you have Ings to look forward too then yes it is highly unlikely that we will win anything under Rodgers.
ReplyDeleteWell they have caught a cold just lately
ReplyDeleteKlop signed new deal. Ancelotti won one in two years, even at Real, I think it will be enough.
ReplyDeleteI felt the pass was not as bad as people say. Sterling looked a bit flat footed to me, like he had just stopped or was changing direction or something. Totally wasn't expecting it despite making the run.
ReplyDeleteCost the same if not more than Ronaldo?
ReplyDeleteWhy would they not want to take Sterling who is earning peanuts and his contract ends in 2017. Not going to cost them more than £30m I reckon.
What Sterling is, is our most important, consistent, effective and *valuable* player and I suspect he wants his wages to reflect that. 150 is too much but 120 is probably about right in today's market
ReplyDeleteSquare holes in round pegs? What does that mean?
ReplyDeleteYeah, thought so too, but people told me I am crazy.. And he could've tried to slide in?
ReplyDeleteAllen decent against bottom half ,Man U and Arsenal made him look silly !
ReplyDeletenot if we play with a back four which you suggest yourself (surely Henderson, Markovic, lallana or Sterling won't play fullback).
ReplyDeleteSakho is the perfect exemple that it's not unlikely to happen, don't know how much be he spends quite a while away from the team and now he's surely the first defender you'll pick.
Than Maldini and Nesta as defenders..
ReplyDeleteWe spent 15 million on Allen and you do not do that for a squad player. He will not get a game in any of the other top teams.
ReplyDeleteFSG have not been sitting back and twiddling their thumbs. Anyone who believes Rodgers is safe need to take a reality check.
ReplyDeleteAncelotti has a CV wich would put most other managers to shame. We would be very fortunate if we can have him as our manager.
ReplyDeleteI think he would cost more. That is why I am convinced he would go nowhere. £30m doesn't make sense for us as we will have to pay that straight back out to get someone of equal talent. And pay them the wages Sterling wants.
ReplyDeleteBale shouldn't be costing more than Ronaldo but as a AI visitor you must be aware of the Tomkins times football inflation?
If we get away with Can we could bring on Skrtel and Gerrard in the second half.
ReplyDeleteWe as a club of our stature should not be worried about paying fifteen million for squad players. Regardless of what you think of Allen this should be accepted.
ReplyDeletewell we hoped he could excell, so.. Brendan being as inexperienced he was and knowing he will have to deal with much higher profile players when he comes, and knowing he is supposed to bring even better players took the best he had in his old team midfield thinking it might work again. I can't blame him..
ReplyDeleteHe should have shot at the at that moment. The point I was annoyed about is Markovic is too scared to take initiative and this is a guy we spent 20 mil on. If that was Sturridge or Gerrard, that would be in the net. Similarly, Lallana cannot score in crunch games when we spent 25 mil on him. We spent big on these guys and they are not delivering when we need them to.
ReplyDeleteIt's a term that's around a lot longer than mobile phones let alone texting.
ReplyDeleteBut why could we not play Manquillo at RWB when Moreno was playing at LWB?
ReplyDeleteJust shows how utterly wasteful we have been in the transfer market this season. Lallana RWB? What because we had to change the formation he has to play there and be out of his depth playing there too like Henderson vs Arsenal?
You've put me down, hard.. Thinking of editing that now..
ReplyDeleteIt is always better to pass it than to shoot in those situations. The guy next to you just has to hit the target, you have to beat the keeper. Of course, when you miss the pass...
ReplyDeleteIt has been around even before tin cans and string were invented.
ReplyDeleteLet them all leave? Yup, let's get rid of every talented player we've got for having the audacity to want parity with what they could earn elsewhere. We'll wind up in the Championship but at least we won't have any mercenaries.
ReplyDeleteDo you really think we'll be able to replace Hendo for less than 100k a week? Sterling for less than 100-150k a week? Well we could but not with equal or better quality.
Ultimately football sold its soul a long time ago. Now you either compete financially or fade into mediocrity
Last time i checked contract in football doesn't mean much.
ReplyDeleteApparently Real were in a crisis and Ancelotti harshly criticized not so long ago while they were only 1 point from the top, not winning anything 1 season would be hard for them (he has just arrived so that's unlikely but still)
Again it was just exemple that there's solution to replace BR.
Haven't even mentioned De Boer because i'm not a fan but he's used to work with youngsters and have won a few trophies in holland
Hmm not a good pass and Sterling had to keep on side as Markovic slowed before passing rather than shooting. Good decsion but poor execution
ReplyDeleteIt should be a comfortable win 2-2 ?
ReplyDeleteHe is the best we can do right now. At least he does not sulk like Balo, Johnson and all these other overpaid Prima donna's.
ReplyDeleteContracts don't mean much with players, but not many managers extend theirs and get sold, right? And he won't be sacked- why would they sign a new contract, so they would have to give him more money? And besides he already fckd the season, so.. And Real situation changes from week to week, twice, so yeah, he could get fired,and he would be a great solution. Debour is not better.
ReplyDeleteExactly
ReplyDeleteBale is 25. Was he as good at 20?
ReplyDeletebecause being to defensive as a WB put a lot of pressure on your team and make it harder to get the ball out like we saw against Arsenal.
ReplyDeleteI talked about lallana/henderson as WB because you mentionned it to say that Manquillo was way behind in the pecking order at that position, i say that going back to back four like you mentionned would make it more likely for Manquillo to be picked.
So Van Gaal does it as well
ReplyDeleteplayed
Adnan Januzaj
Jese lingard
Juan Mata
Di Maria
Rooney
Ashley Young
all at wing back this year
yet you say you want a manager like him
Everyone makes out they know what players are thinking or feeling so I will have a go too. Markovic doesn't seem to have settled as easily as other players. The lads who came from Soto know each other and know English. Can seems to be a big character and speaks decent English I think. Moreno has a bunch of Spanish and Spanish speaking lads to help him settle but Markovic doesn't have this.
ReplyDeleteIn the weeks leading up to this game there was all this talk about Sterling. He is basically one of our most high profile players but has been getting loads of stick from lots of quarters. Markovic is in that position, looks up and sees Sterling. In one moment he can help a colleague silence some critics and he will show himself to be unselfish and could engratiate himself more in the team. It is split second stuff, he is in two minds. He slightly miss hits the ball as Sterling is flat footed.
Markovic didn't shoot because he was trying to make a friend. Now isn't that nice. Now that story may not have been true but we don't know. We don't know if he was scared, bored or indifferent. I prefer to just judge what I see and hope for the best. I'm positive like that.
"Square pegs in round holes" is another one he repeats relentlessly
ReplyDeleteDidn't AVB just extended his contract before going to Chelsea ? (actually asking because i think he did but not sure) if the club wanted him and Klopp agreed to come it wouldn't change anything that he signed a new contract imo
ReplyDeleteHe is a different kind of fella, he wouldn't fcuk them, for sure..
ReplyDeleteDon't know about AVB..
Who cares what Van Gaal does? They hammered us irrespective and they are third in the league. We are talking LFC not UTD.
ReplyDeleteManquillo has has vanished from the squad. Not even making the bench. He is not going to be picked. It is that simple.
ReplyDeleteShouldn't be any drama in a 2-2 with penalties.
ReplyDeleteRafa alienated a lot of players, often with no good reason. Alonso? Benayoun? Praise or criticise as and when it is justified is surely the most sensible approach.
ReplyDeleteThe scenario you describe of how you want the club to be might make you happy but we will never compete as a top club with the policies you suggest
Jaimie knows what he is doing. He finally understands his power. If we lose it is because he said we would win on pens.
ReplyDeleteWho let the dogs out? Woof woof woof...
ReplyDeleteYeah comfortable with Balotelli fighting Henderson to take the first one. Sterling refusing to take one at all and Henderson stepping up to take the critical penalty.
ReplyDeleteAnd Lovren 'accidentally bumping into the post in the 120th to avoid the possibility..
ReplyDeletewell never said he would, said with Moreno's awfull form i'd rather see him and Flanno (if fit enough) at full back if we play with a back four.
ReplyDeleteBut then Maybe Moreno is a better LB as he has been playing LWB? I really do not want to see Enrique anywhere near the starting eleven and Johnson is pretty much on holiday now too. He is always at walking pace when he plays especially now when he knows he is leaving at the end of the season.
ReplyDeleteSterling is all about pace. You make it sound as he's regularly saving Liverpool's as5. And YES bale WAS better at 20.
ReplyDeletePFA Players' Player of the Year: 2010-2011
PFA Team of the Year : 2010-2011
Scored a hattrick against reigning UCL champions Inter at San Siro. Remember Maicon career destruction?
Now what Sterling has achieved? his first goal in NT?
Maybe you did not understand the question.
ReplyDeleteWas Bale at 20 as good as he is now at 25?
Obviously no, but the point is he WAS Superior to Sterling at 20 and He IS superior to Sterling at 25, All Sterling has is pace, not physical strength whatsoever. He has regressed from the last season you know, I don't recall Bale ever going below his previous seasons.
ReplyDeleteBale was a LB at 20 and Spurs eventually converted him into a forward because of his pace.
ReplyDeleteSterling has been expected to score lots of goals for LFC this season because Rodgers believd Balotelli and Lambert were going to fill the Suarez void so to suggest that Sterling has regressed at 20 years of age quite simply is incorrect.
Don't get me wrong, Sterling is a fantastic player. Just he's not as big as his hype and do not expect him to one day score 20 or assist as many in BPL like Bale did. He's simply not that exceptional. And, frankly now is the best time to sell him while his value is high and he's as over-hyped as hell.
ReplyDeleteLiverpool have already competed as a top club with the policies I've suggested. What I've described is the LFC of the 60s, 70s, and 80s (plus, the Benitez era, when Liverpool won the Champions League).
ReplyDeleteIt is possible, and it will return at some stage.
Well, of course he needs to settle and I am not blaming him for not settling in and being nervous. it is only natural for this to happen. My point is that we spent so much money on him without taking all this into account. If we spend that much on a player, we should expect immediate results and the fact that he needs to settle means that we should not have spent as much. If we had a Shaqiri in our team to deliver and allow Markovic to settle then no problem but his purchase used up vital funds.
ReplyDeleteYes, I believe that Henderson and Sterling are easily replaceable. These are not world-beaters we're talking about. Henderson is lauded, but he's merely performing at the level a player of his age/stature should be achieving. He does not exceed any expectations; he just does what he's supposed to do. The reason (IMO) Hendo is so revered is down to his massive improvement, but his first season was so irretrievably poor that any improvement after that will look amazing.
ReplyDeleteAnd Sterling will not be missed at all. The only thing about him that needs to be replaced is his goals/assist ratio, and it's ludicrous to suggest (generally - not you in particular) that won't be able to find a player capable of scoring a goal every 5.5 games.
What else does Sterling bring to the table? Practically nothing, and that's evident in the last ten games, where's he's contributed just one solitary goal.
Some will argue that he'll become a Gareth Bale-type success in the future, but it's equally possible he'll go the route of Sean Wright Phillips, Aaron Lennon, or even Scott Sinclair.
And saying the Liverpool will 'end up in the Championship' is just a hysterical overreaction.
Possibly, but don't tell the authorities!!
ReplyDeleteI don't think he'd believe you!!
ReplyDeleteHenderson 100k, Sterling 110k, Pedro 90 k. guess who i will choose
ReplyDeleteAs a Boro fan I'd like to say that firstly Ben Gibson is not 19, he is 22 (born January 1993).
ReplyDeleteAlso he has worked his way up the leagues having played for York city, Plymouth argyle & Tranmere before becoming a part of Boros first team.
He signed a five year contract last summer,he loves the Boro & his uncle is Steve Gibson our chairman. He's been phenomenal for us both at the backend of last season going on an 8 game unbeaten run and also this season where we have conceded the least goals in the league (32). It's only in recent weeks that we've conceded a good few goals after our manager aitor karanka has played more experienced centre backs instead.
£10million would be a loss for us. Give him a couple of years consistently playing in the first team and top pl teams will be sniffing around with bids of £15-20million. If he did join Liverpool or Man City his career would stall and basically ruin his career by not playing him often. He deserves to be playing regular football after his performances this year. You'd like to think that every pl club would try to bring through more English talent but at the bigger clubs you don't give yourself the time to bring a good few through because the owners want instant success. Our academy has always been very good and serves us well as we will always use it for our first team. Adam Johnson our best player at the time went to man city for £7m, played quite well when given the chance but got squeezed out by the managers buying foreign superstar footballers. Look at Southampton aswell (the club who went on a firesale & were meant to get relegated) currently 7th I think and look at the players they've brought through ward prowse, clyne, lallana, shaw. I just wish more ignored the big clubs and stayed playing week in week out for their current teams because their careers would go further.
A simple check of Soccerbase reveals the truth. Six goals in nine games up to 25th September. Seven goals in thirteen games up to 19th October. Ten goals in eighteen games up to 10th November, which is more than he'd managed this season. Sorry, but the figures simply do not support the "slow start" argument.
ReplyDeleteHad he featured in more games as a starter instead of an injured Michu then no doubt his figures would have been even better. Hard to score many in the league when you're coming on as sub.
how can you pay coutinho 70k (and satisfied) and then sterling want 100k plus?Henderson has not convince me yet as a future captain or a 100k a week player
ReplyDeleteAnd who are we going to replace him with? Someone better?
ReplyDeleteLAMBERT
ReplyDeleteAny player in the position Markovic was in should be expected to make the simple pass and a teammate put the ball into an empty net. Any p,ayer who took a shot at that point is either an idiot or their team is 5 up and they are on a hatrick.
ReplyDeleteMarko's pass was shit. Nothing more to it.
I'm starting to feel a bit sorry for Moreno. I bet when he arrived he thought he was going to be playing in a back 4.
ReplyDeleteI don't think our defensive players get enough support from BR in terms of drilling the back 4/5, and so every so often a new name crops up as being the defensive liability when in fact, the whole unit are not being given the best chance of success.
HELL YES
ReplyDeleteBut look at the summer transfer window as a whole.
ReplyDeleteAlmost £120m and not one player who could walk into the team straight away and make an immediate impact.
Balotelli can be regarded as a 'big name signing' you have to just stop and think how f**** bad the money was spent this season after finishing 2nd last season and having CL on offer.
Who in their right f****** are going to give Rodgers/the committee another cent to spend?
Oh wait a minute, FSG did not make a single penny available in January and I had people arguing with me till they were blue in the face that FSG would.
Rodgers is not on thin ice anymore, he is drowning.
"I had people arguing with me till they were blue in the face that FSG would"
ReplyDeletePeople such as?
Oh do not let me mention any names. They know who they are.
ReplyDeleteIt is highly doubtful that we will replace Sterling with a player of the same quality when looking back at the last 3 transfer windows while the current managerial setup is in place.
ReplyDeleteAgree, that's why I would prefer player exchange deal. Our transfer committee cant be trusted with more funds.
ReplyDeleteAt last a draw prediction from JK, I'm feeling more confident for the win now ;)
ReplyDeleteI don't want BR out, but if he did go then maybe Frank De Boer would be a sensible and realistic target.
ReplyDeleteEven before Leave was invented
ReplyDeleteAt some point i had blamed rodgers but then discovered it was just frustration of the results .. Come to think of it, rodgers is a good manager and i hope he stays. You can blame him all he wants but think of it this way. Last year he created asystem thatbrought the best of all players .. The diamond flrmation was brilliant, and he did so with a squad of no depth. Now a new season and he brought in new players, all of who were great for their clubs last season .. Lovren lallana markovic even lambert and balotelli who's a special case last minute signing. Is it his fault that they did not perform ? Or they were taking longer time to adapt with his system. Ofcourse he lost his two best strikers equal of 50 goals and now nobody has more than 6 goals which is funny honestly. He did his thinking and came up with another system that worked well .. You say he should have done it earlier but really how ? He needed to give them time to adapt to his old system before moving on to another. He showed that he is very tactical .. Even against united he switched things up but can you blame rodgers that gerrard decided to get red ? Or that we started against arsenal so bad and lacked faith ? Or that sterling can't finish yet demands 150k ? I stand by rodgers but i want liverpool to go handle their transfers better .. Not all promising talent but we need experienced players too .. We may not be a top team but with what we got and circumstances surrounding the club we proved we have what it takes ..
ReplyDeleteYour point about not drilling the defence enough may have some merit I think, even though we went how many? games in row keeping a clean sheet.
ReplyDeleteI wanted Colin Pascoe to go or take a sideways move and for Steve Clarke to come in as assistant but that ship sailed
Thats just silly logic.... at one point every tea, was below us, but we still had to buy their players... and their players still contributed to the trophy cabinet... Ings is a goal scorer, and he's 22yrs old.... Lallana has been injured too often to get a decent run of games together, so how could he get his form back, and a decent run of games to prove himself... We can't judge him on so little... For every player that flops, 3 succeed...
ReplyDeleteThe 60's 70's and 80's aren't comparable with today's game, plus I think if you look at the transfers and wages of Liverpool during our dominant years that they'll have been at the high end of the scale, if not the highest.
ReplyDeleteIf you refuse to compete with wages then you'll either be overlooked or seen as a stepping stone by top players. That is not how you go about sustainable success.
As for Rafa, the wages he was able to sanction were supremely higher than what the club are currently offering
Dagleish came from Celtic.. not exactly the high level your talking of.. Barnes from Watford... Kuyt from Feyenoord... I have been warned not to enable you... so I'm going to stop now...
ReplyDeleteYou must be a wind up merchant. The way you write these posts with so many inaccuracies in relation to geography and race must mean they aren't genuine.
ReplyDeleteIt's like Prince Philip and Alf Garnett rolled into one. Is that the code? An anagram of Prince Philip and Alf Garnett. I'm going to try a few variations now. I may have cracked it. .....
Why??
ReplyDeleteI disagree.
ReplyDeleteI think we were still after Sanchez after we bought Mrkovic. I may be wrong but i reports are to believed we still looked to get Shaqiri in Jan even after having Markovic so I think the funds were still there. He is a very young lad with little experience here. I get the feeling we were buying the player we think he can be rather than the one he is.
ReplyDeleteAs for all the stuff I said about settling in, it was just potential context to a a situation where we don't know Markovic's thoughts. His pass to Sterling may or may not have been about fear. It may, like most of our thoughts had more depth than that. I don't know. I think it was the right choice. But that's probably because I make that pass in fifa.
Go mid not LFC quality period.
ReplyDeletePersonally I would very much like to see Sturridge and Balotelli both start. Play Balo as the second striker just behind Studge with Coutinho in the 10. Probably won't happen though. Balotelli will probably continue to be squandered, 16 million worth of misused, misdeployed, and misutilised talent.
ReplyDeleteNot at twenty he didn't. Bale was nowhere near Sterling's level at 20, he was in and out of the Spurs team as a left back. They lost something like the first 35 games he featured in
ReplyDeleteI wish BR would stop going on about winning the FA Cup and how it would turn our season around, does he actually think we can beat Arsenal in a cup final. Demolish Blackburn and Villa who are both pretty crap and then I might listen to this BS.
ReplyDeleteSadly agreed.
ReplyDeleteYou should post more often as I find myself agreeing with you when you do.
. Rossister every day of the week for me.Allen is useless. not only is he useless, he also cause panic to the team. It's funny seeing Allen contesting for an Aerial ball..meanwhile, Allen is a midset
ReplyDelete