Liverpool are reportedly planning a summer bid for Paris St. Germain attacker Javier Pastore, who is reportedly available for a cut-price transfer fee this summer.
In April, the Daily Express claimed that Pastore - nicknamed 'El Flaco' - is one of Liverpool's summer transfer 'targets', and according to The Guardian this week:
"Javier Pastore is linked with a move to Merseyside and...is understood to be available for a cut-price [deal] now that he’s entering the final year of his contract".
Some info about Pastore:
* Cost PSG €42m (!) in 2011.
* Current contract expires in 2016.
* 34 goals/39 assists in 182 games for PSG.
* Goal/assist every 2.5 games
* Last season: Admitted that the pressure of being at PSG affected his performances: "With the players that have come in, the pressure is no longer only on me. It's better for me to have less pressure. Other players have the burden. When the responsibility is shared it's better".
* Lionel Messi's assessment: "You can see he is tough, he's physically fit and he's going to go far, I am convinced of it. We played alongside each other [for Argentina] and we struck up a good understanding".
* Laurent Blanc recently sounded a note of caution over Pastore. He told reporters: "Javier is just so unpredictable. [He] does things that only talented players can do [but] he [also] does that can't be rationally explained. He can sometimes put the team at risk [and] I must tell him off as he is someone who needs that."
Manchester United legend Eric Cantona is a huge fan of Pastore, and in a recent interview, he made the following bold claim:
"The best player in the world, the most exciting player in the world, is Pastore. He's got something special. He's the most creative player in the world today. I love this kind of player."
Cantona is entitled to his opinion, but there is no objective evidence whatsoever to back up his claim that the Argentina is the 'best', most 'exciting', and/or most 'creative' player 'in the world'. Indeed, Pastore himself has refuted the Frenchman's claim:
"I thank him [Cantona] for his praise [but] I don't share his view. I don't compare myself with the best. Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are incredible players".
A cursory glance at the respective goals/assist stats of Ronaldo, Messi, and Pastore reveals the obvious truth: Pastore is very far from being the most 'creative' player in the world.
Back to reality: PSG are reportedly willing to sell Pastore for £25m, which is a comparatively reasonable price for the alleged 'best player in the world'.
However, Liverpool can (arguably) do better. Pastore's goals/assists ratio is nothing special, and I'd rather see the Reds spend less on the likes of Andriy Yarmolenko or Roberto Firmino, players with consistently superior creative stats.
Plus, with Gerrard leaving, any 'marquee' player who comes in will have to deal with pressure of being labelled 'Steven Gerrard's replacement', and based on his prior comments about dealing with 'pressure', Pastore is clearly not cut out for that.
Author: Jaimie K
In April, the Daily Express claimed that Pastore - nicknamed 'El Flaco' - is one of Liverpool's summer transfer 'targets', and according to The Guardian this week:
"Javier Pastore is linked with a move to Merseyside and...is understood to be available for a cut-price [deal] now that he’s entering the final year of his contract".
Some info about Pastore:
* Cost PSG €42m (!) in 2011.
* Current contract expires in 2016.
* 34 goals/39 assists in 182 games for PSG.
* Goal/assist every 2.5 games
* Last season: Admitted that the pressure of being at PSG affected his performances: "With the players that have come in, the pressure is no longer only on me. It's better for me to have less pressure. Other players have the burden. When the responsibility is shared it's better".
* Lionel Messi's assessment: "You can see he is tough, he's physically fit and he's going to go far, I am convinced of it. We played alongside each other [for Argentina] and we struck up a good understanding".
* Laurent Blanc recently sounded a note of caution over Pastore. He told reporters: "Javier is just so unpredictable. [He] does things that only talented players can do [but] he [also] does that can't be rationally explained. He can sometimes put the team at risk [and] I must tell him off as he is someone who needs that."
Manchester United legend Eric Cantona is a huge fan of Pastore, and in a recent interview, he made the following bold claim:
"The best player in the world, the most exciting player in the world, is Pastore. He's got something special. He's the most creative player in the world today. I love this kind of player."
Cantona is entitled to his opinion, but there is no objective evidence whatsoever to back up his claim that the Argentina is the 'best', most 'exciting', and/or most 'creative' player 'in the world'. Indeed, Pastore himself has refuted the Frenchman's claim:
"I thank him [Cantona] for his praise [but] I don't share his view. I don't compare myself with the best. Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are incredible players".
A cursory glance at the respective goals/assist stats of Ronaldo, Messi, and Pastore reveals the obvious truth: Pastore is very far from being the most 'creative' player in the world.
Back to reality: PSG are reportedly willing to sell Pastore for £25m, which is a comparatively reasonable price for the alleged 'best player in the world'.
However, Liverpool can (arguably) do better. Pastore's goals/assists ratio is nothing special, and I'd rather see the Reds spend less on the likes of Andriy Yarmolenko or Roberto Firmino, players with consistently superior creative stats.
Plus, with Gerrard leaving, any 'marquee' player who comes in will have to deal with pressure of being labelled 'Steven Gerrard's replacement', and based on his prior comments about dealing with 'pressure', Pastore is clearly not cut out for that.
Author: Jaimie K
We need to sort out who our next manager will be first. We need to get rid of the committee second. Then we can talk about bringing in players with Pastore's talents. These players are playing in teams that qualify for Champions League football every year. Why would they want to come to us when we are in a bit of a mess right now.
ReplyDeleteThe signs are conflicting.
ReplyDeleteAnother period of transition is the last thing we need.
Another period of transition is exactly what we will get under Rodgers, so again, why stick?
ReplyDeleteSo Brendan Rogers failed by not keeping Suarez and by letting Sturridge get injured? I guess he is also responsible for the likes of Balotelli Borino and Lambert for failing to turn up at the races.. At the same time he is the one that gave opportunity to players who showed talent at other clubs yet when they came to Liverpool they failed to live up to the standard expected of them. All Brendan Rogers fault. Even if he did or didn't have a say about their purchases and contracts as the committee is boss! Now I have no control over anything that goes on at the club but I believe that if the owners bought some strikers that are capable of scoring goals for fun then the problems will be solved. I would also get the goalkeeper a makeover... he looks like a waif and can't kick the ball to a Liverpool player for toffee...... Apart from that lets get on with next season... again no other manager will win the title without a formidable strike force.... Barcelona have Messi, Neymar and Suarez and look at them...
ReplyDeleteGreat player, could be perfect
ReplyDeleteYou simply have a very low opinion of Rodgers, which subsequently raises your opinion of other managers.
ReplyDeleteSimply put, we disagree.
So if we hired De Boer, we'd then also have to hire a DOF.
ReplyDeleteIs that what you're saying?
That would be up to FSG but I am pretty sure that is what De Boer would want unlike Rodgers who rejected the idea.
ReplyDeleteI guess so.
ReplyDeleteIt was a massive shame we sacked Rafa. A bad patch for sure and some bad decisions but considering all that had gone on and all that he had done he deserved more time under new ownership. Perhaps if people had more patience we wouldn't have had so much transition over the years. Perhaps we would have had more time in the CL.
ReplyDeleteRafa had to go.
ReplyDeleteWhat on Earth makes you sure he "would want it"? Just because I have lived in a flat doesn't mean that I don't want to live in a house some day. Lets not presume to know peoples desires.
ReplyDeleteThank you
ReplyDeleteWell De Boer would not reject the idea so makes no difference really.
ReplyDeleteLets not presume to know what people will or won't do either. It's a good bet your right but you know nothing for sure. Perhaps he feels he has done enough to think he should have that power and if he were coming to Liverpool would want similar powers to Rodgers. It's guesswork.
ReplyDeleteWhy? Based on what? It's that kind of attitude that means we lost a manager who had won trophies (isn't that supposed to be important? ) and got Roy in. Rafa had been working and fighting against the cowboys for ages and things had gotten a bit bad but he deserved more loyalty than that. But suppose that isn't your forte.
ReplyDeleteBR should resign, as simple as that.
ReplyDeleteBut then everything would be simple which is not supposed to happen at LFC right?
ReplyDeletePeople got some nerves to still defend BR.
ReplyDeleteyeah, I only know what happens in Liverpool. how is he doing, any good?
ReplyDeleteFSG have approached De Boer before, his brother even confirmed it. It would most likely have been to work under a DOF as that was FSG's plan all along.
ReplyDeletePsg are about to lose Pastore, Cavani and Ibrahimovic?
ReplyDeletewell that counts me out
ReplyDeletemate you are late
ReplyDeleteIf BR stays put, we will have zero chance of ever challenging for top honours.
ReplyDeleteUndoubtedly
ReplyDeleteEnough said
ReplyDeletethe only marquees in liverpool this year will be the guiness one on st paddys day
ReplyDeleteDon't ever say that! No Roy, not again!
ReplyDeleteHe should commit seppuku. Would that be better?
ReplyDeleteI always do this.. A photo didn't make it through..
ReplyDeleteLike I say it would be a good bet but lets not presume. De Boar turned us down I do believe.
ReplyDeletefor me br has lost the team and the way the sterling saga is panning out just reinforces that point,i can only see things getting worse as there appears to be a lot unrest among the squad , being a manager at a big club is about managing egos as well as tactics and rogers cant appear to do either.
ReplyDeleteJK, when ever I post something here, it just vanishes for some reason. I'm pretty sure I'm well within the comment policy guidelines. :/
ReplyDeleteRafa was sacked before the new ownership.
ReplyDeleteI would say it's the collective effort of the group, the CEO/chief negotiator, transfer committee, manager and scouts (if there's any) that fails the club and all it's fans worldwide.
ReplyDeleteI think it's very hard for me to raise any creditable points since I don't know much about the technical aspects of the game and I don't have any access to any insider information. I have not even been to the city of Liverpool. I can only go as far as raising some questions.
Equipped with 120 mil pounds to begin with for season 14/15, did the group realise that right back is one position that needed attention? Was the group satisfied with Glen Johnson's performance at that position (12/13 - 36 games 1 goal 4 assists; 13/14 - 29 games 0 goal 2 assists; 14/15 - 19 games 0 goals 0 assists)? Assuming they were not satisfied, why did the group chose to sign a completely unknown 20-year old loanee from Atletico Madrid (poor Javier Manquillo) for the right back position whereas Newcastle (non-belittling) signed a full-fledged Dutch international in Daryl Janmaat? Or was the group that astute to see that the loanee boy is the next Lilian Thuram or Javier Zanetti in the making? Now assuming they were satisfied, what kind of ambition was the group having to be satisfied with a 100k/week right back/wing back that provided 1 goal 6 assists for 65 games in 2 seasons? Just a highlight, Jose Enrique provided 2 assists from 8 games during season 13/14. What kind of input was the group expecting from the right back/right wing back of the team actually?
So now almost a close to the season, is the group into searching for a new right back, a first-team regular right back? AGAIN? Is the manager capable of converting the already-vanished loanee or anyone not named Glen Johnson into a first-team regular? Will the group decide to offer the 54-capped English international in Glen Johnson (more than full-fledged I supposed) a 120k/week contract extension? Are there no better choice in the entire world based on collective factors such as player's availability, player's availability to LFC, wage demand and wage we could/should pay etc.? Will we eager fans see two instead of one young kiddo loanees this time for the right back position, in case the first one fades into obsurity? Is it a sin to move a living Anfield legend non other than Glen Johnson?
Man, I think I would not want to start asking questions about the other positions of the team, transfer targets, wages offered and team formations etc. I have been extremely long-winded with endless ramblings about the effectiveness, productivity and positivity about this unique combo of the group in many of my previous posts. At this rate going, I hope I can live to see LFC holding up the EPL crown proudly, by the average mortality rate I have about another 35-40 years to go.
Regarding your first point: People mention Liverpool's 'amazing' form that started in December, after the game they lost to Utd. However, that 'amazing' run was more luck than good football, in my opinion. Up to the Swansea game, just before they lost again to Utd, they played 21 matches in all competitions, winning 13, drawing 7 and losing 1. This looks quite impressive in paper, but when you look at the opposition, is not. Out of this 21 matches, only 2 were against top 4 teams, and 6 matches against top 10 teams. There are 4 matches against opposition from lower divisions, of which 2 were draws.
ReplyDeleteThe huge win against City you mentioned, came at a time when City went through terrible period. So these apparent good form was more due to the easy schedule, than good football.
The managerial issues need to be sorted first before ant speculation about the future can be made . Quite frankly Rodgers is history at LFC unless if Mr Henry and his friends have completely lost their way .save us from this shameful situation .
ReplyDeleteHe cannot manage his own ego let alone the squad.
ReplyDeleteWe could really do with Thiago Silva ;)
ReplyDeleteAnother freaking AM. when are we gonna get linked to a pure striker? That's what we need.
ReplyDeleteYeah..seppuku or harakiri...whatever takes him away from my beloved LFC.
ReplyDeleteLambert is staying.
ReplyDeleteI mean a striker that is actually known for scoring goals.
ReplyDeleteI know but I don't see a world class striker coming to Liverpool. Benteke is the best we can get but we might end up with Ings/Austin.
ReplyDeleteSuarez wasn't world class when came to us. We need to find someone on the verge.
ReplyDeleteThat's why the mention of Benteke
ReplyDeleteScored 5 goals this ligue 1 season. Last season he scored 1 all season and the season before he scored 4 goals in the ligue . He certainly doesn't score many for an attacking mid ? Another thing I noticed was last season he missed 9 games ? And this season he would of missed 9 games again if he plays in the last match of the season. I'm not sure if he's a bit injury prone ? Also after reading above what he said last season.
ReplyDeleteI'm just not sure he's the movement guy we need. When I see him, visions of AC and Lukaku dance in my head...and not well.
ReplyDeleteI agree Yarmolenko would be my prefered choice between him and Firmino over Pastore as he can vanish from a game far to often for my liking and Yarmolenko's goalscoring and assists are far superior 18 goals and 21 assists this season, the league he plays in is not prem standard but he has done it on an international level scoring 19 in 49 international games and thats some going for a winger. His price is quoted at around the £18-£20 million mark and I believe he could be a realistic target and score and assist far more than Sterling. Either way we are in serious need of an injection of quality within the squad, we need a Right Back, Right Winger, Defensive Mid and maybe another Centre Mid, a Left Winger, a Striker, Goalkeeper and maybe even another Centre Back and at least 3 of these players need to be top class if we are going to get into the top four next season and I wonder if Rodgers has the transfer nouse to get the players we need in.
ReplyDeleteAgreed. Signing him would be a pinhead move.
ReplyDeleteIt's the thursday games that bother. Win or lose you are tired for the weekend game, especially those long trips like the one to Besiktas (the week that we had our last best performance against city). And with us just 3-4 more players to be added this summer, our squad (most of whom are meh on current evidence) won't be able to handle both. Thus diminishing our position in the league.
ReplyDeleteHe admitted the pressure of being at psg effected his performance? He said the players that came in lessoned the burden on him which meant that was a good thing because it was less pressure on him right ???hell take one look at our team and think it will all be on him if he joined . Theirs no Saurez anymore
ReplyDeletealso some people are saying he cant hold on to our best players....who?..... suarez is the only one we've lost....
ReplyDeleteIf we can't compete in EPL and EL, why should we bother qualifying for CL? Ane with 3-4 players we sure can.
ReplyDeleteYes BR is responsible for not replacing Suarez with 100mn transfer kitty.
ReplyDeleteYes BR is responsible for depending on Sturridge despite his injury record.
Yes BR is responsible for Borini and Lambert not performing as both performed relatively well in other clubs and they were also BR's signing. Balotelli might not be his signing but even he had a good record before coming to Liverpool.
And BR does have a say at transfers and he himself admitted it.
Its very easy to say that we need a striker to score goals for fun and problem solved. Why do we even need BR then? It's his job to sort out the attack and defense which he has failed to do so. BR is simply incapable.
Benteke is more mobile then people give him credit for. if you just see the replay of lfc vs avfc at Anfield last year...you will understand what i am saying. Benteke is very good.
ReplyDeletePS: Lukaku is good too. He had two great season before this and Everton really struggled as a team this season. Lukaku is mobile too. I would take him.
Totally agree Lambert couldn't be more less suited to the way Rodgers plays, Borini works hard but with very little output and Balotelli just seems like he can't be arsed. I look at it this way Benteke cost VIlla around £12m, Bony cost Swansea around £12m, Sevilla paid around £6m for Bacca now lets looks at it this way Borini £11m, Balotelli £16m, Lambert £4m or near enough so Bony, Benteke and Bacca cost near the same as Borini, Lambert and Balotelli. Baffles the mind really!
ReplyDeleteHe'll get less mobile over time. He's a natural big guy...like Balo. I want speed...speed of foot...speed of vision...speed of release....speed of dribbling.
ReplyDeleteInteresting developments on the award night...
ReplyDeleteI know. I meant deserved to see out the old owners and have time with the new ones.
ReplyDeleteHappy for Phil.
ReplyDeleteSorry but a number of your points are wrong.
ReplyDeleteFailure to attract top players is not solely his doing.
We have no won anything of note for 10 years. BR has only been manager for 3 years.
Why should any of those players you have mentioned want to join a club who have not won a major trophy for 10 years?
Sorry but this is not just aimed at yourself to but many Liverpool fans who still seem to think we are a still a major club in Europe, yet alone England.
History counts for very little these days. What matters is what in you won in the last few years, are in consistently in the CL and money money money.
We fail at all three. If you are a Costa, Sanchez, Di Maira, Falcao, or any other top player, why should you join a team that has not won any major trophy in 10 years, has a hardly been in the CL for the past 5 years when you can join the reigning PL champions, a team who are in the CL every year and earn twice the money?
The team was going downhill as there was problems with investing. He made massive mistakes with buying some players and selling Alonso but he was still a top manager. He tinkered but so does every manager. Look at Pep recently, Ancelloti etc it doesn't always work out but sometimes it does. How short a memory so you have forgetting what he won with us.
ReplyDeleteRaga had a team.with the third or fourth highest wage bill and squad. He didn't win the title bit it was a hard title to win. Chelsea had to buy it by increasing spending to humongous amounts.
I honestly wonder how long Klopp would get with our fans. Beggars belief.
Failure to stick to a formation.
ReplyDeleteI cant believe it. BR is criticised for sticking to a formation and then criticised for changing it.
I actually like the fact that we are a team that can adapt. Roy Hodgson is constantly lambasted because he only ever plays one way, you can not have it both ways,
Beneteke is as injury prone as Sturridge.spending 30mil on a player to give Sturridge somebody to talk to is well beyond brain-dead.might as well pay the asking price for Falcao as well.
ReplyDeleteI agree...30mn is a lot but I would take him for around 20mn.
ReplyDeleteCan he speak english?
ReplyDeletePlease don't call him Phil? He is a happy passionate Brazilian, Phil sounds like a boring frowned Englishman with a pocket watch.. Though I like those..
ReplyDeleteHow about Raheem- his representatives got what they wanted- he got booed, perfect for them..
Suarez wasn't all speed, was he? We need fair players and someone who can not only score but linkup with other attackers as well.
ReplyDeleteThe Chelsea game..
ReplyDeleteSome people seem to have difficult remembering that game. We were not throwing everything at them.
We were in compete control of the game, we had them in their own half. The ball that was played to Gerrard was a simple ball.. he slipped.
You make are making out like we were throwing every player we had in the box.
If we had sat back like you said and Chelsea scored via a deadball situation you would be complaining that we shouldn't of sat back.
It was just one of those things, accept it and move on
Please don't call him Phil? He is a happy passionate Brazilian, Phil sounds like a b o ring frowned Englishman with a pocket watch.. Though I like those..
ReplyDeleteHow about Raheem- his representatives got what they wanted- he got bo oed, perfect for them..
trying to get past moderation..
Failure in the transfer market.
ReplyDeleteYes he has made some mistakes but every manager does. I actually think we have a very good squad and are a only a couple of players from being able to really challenging for 4th.
The issue is not with the players we have but more how BR is utilising them.
I have asked this question a few times now, Do you believe another manager could of done better with the squad of players we have, I believe yes, hence why I believe he should go, but not because the players are bad.
Rafa set us back years. He had his chance, people need to move on.
ReplyDeleteA lot of Rodgers good displays this year have come through luck where players are injured or suspended and his hand has been forced,I'm sorry ghost but I just can't see direction either on or off the pitch,all Ivan see is a scatter gun transfer policy and a manger whose ego won't allow him to change tactics
ReplyDeleteI wrote as I do not know (do you?)..... Even if he did or didn't have a say about their purchases and contracts as the committee is boss! Not very funny pun either.....
ReplyDeleteYou believe that FSG will sell the club if BR stays, really?
ReplyDeleteMaybe FSG are the kind of owners who do not believe in swapping managers every couple of years, how many clubs become successful switching managers every few years?
I may want him gone, but I at least I do not come up with crazy conspiracy theory's.
The problem is the marquee players we need aren't gonna come.LFC promise marquee players & will bring over rated players like Milner who aren't capable of moving us forward.fans want players like Messi & is completely unrealistic.unfortunately are best bet is potential for the future.not a short term solution & has it's own issues but remains are only realistic solution unless fsg now change their tactics and invest huge sums of money now ffp rules are gonna be relaxed.
ReplyDeleteThink 15 would be my limit with the wage demands & time spent in phsio room.
ReplyDeleteYet last season he change tactics and everybody applauded him, yet now it is wrong?
ReplyDeleteCan't have it both ways.
Like you I sometimes find his tactics way off base but I do not want him sacked because of it.
Rafa used to drive me crazy with his ultra defensive tactics, the same tactics that lost us the league to Utd but I did not want him sacked over it.
It was the Everton game where the die cast …...took the pace off and invited them on .....unforgivable
ReplyDeleteI agree but he specifically mentioned the Chelsea game.
ReplyDeleteI stand by my use of Phil. It is, after all, my birth name, and I have grown quite fond of it.
ReplyDeleteDidn't watch, but saw the results. Would be interested to see the booing.
Well that is it then you have it all done and dusted. You know exactly what goes on from owner down to the tea lady at Anfield. I guess you believe it was Brendan Rogers who slipped and let Chelsea score as well. It was his fault Steven Gerrard never won the title... So who shall we bring in next to manage the team without any decent strikers? Of coursed it is easy to say we need strikers who score for fun because it is true. Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteI think you'll find everyone here knows everything. Me being the exception: I know very little. Very little, indeed.
ReplyDeleteOrigi..
ReplyDeleteTo clarify, Eric's first point that I was responding to was regarding last year's title run.
ReplyDeletePeople have different opinions. It is pleasing that not everyone has the same as you! Life would be so boring..... Get over it!
ReplyDeleteRight and you can?
ReplyDeleteNow you are being even more stupid!
ReplyDeleteSome people think hiring a top manager will solve all of our problems, I was one of them yet deep down I know it will not solve all of our problems.
ReplyDeleteYes the team might play better, then again they may not, there are no guarantees. I do not believe that a top manager means we will automatically be able to compete with the likes of Man City, Man Utd, Arsenal and Chelsea as well as other top clubs around Europe.
We still haven't won anything for 10 years, still not in the CL, still can't offer more in wages.
You then have the problem that like every manager he will want his own team, his own players and you will be looking at another x number of years rebuilding.
If he doesn't work then what?
I know I sound like I am contradicting myself and to a point I am. I want him gone because of how badly we have ended this season, because he hasn't kicked sterling in touch and his insistence playing players out of position and completely disregarding others.
Yet I am very hesitant of going though another rebuilding phase. I do not want Liverpool to because a club that changes its managers every few years and become another Spurs as it simply does not work.
I am genuine torn.
What is your point?
ReplyDeleteAre Chelsea lucky they won the league because they won against lesser teams?
You can only beat what is put in front of you.
I can not believe some people are now saying that we are lucky to win games because they were easy.
Utter rubbish.
ouch, easy..
ReplyDeleteMaybe because as will most things in life there is no guarantee that any of those managers will do any better and in 3 years time we will just be back to were we have started from.
ReplyDeleteYes BR's time is up.BUT.who do people think could replace saurez /Gerrard.the money was available but counted for nothing.anyone remember the Sanchez fiasco.LFC tried & failed & that's with champions league on offer.every single 1 of us can draw up a list of players we want but realistically do you honestly believe they want to come.Man Utd land players like Maria without champions league.this speaks volumes as to how LFC is seen on the world stage.accept it people & move on.it hurts less & makes it far less frustrating.now go back & draw up a list of players we can challenge for & might actually come.
ReplyDeleteThis deal won't happen,we need to start being realistic and if in honest if we did get him could Rodgers utilize his talent and ego ,I very much doubt it
ReplyDeleteYes
ReplyDeleteIn the end Rafa went at the right time but at least we won something ,I just can't see Rodgers winning anything I'm all for attractive play but what I can't stand is a team which shows no effort
ReplyDeleteI know because BR said it himself about having a say in the transfers. Some people are just too stupid to realize it.
ReplyDeleteThank You.
ReplyDeleteI think Pastore has been used primarily as a CM for PSG this season, ad I've seen some very exciting individual play/skill from is that resulting in goals, from himself and others.... I think when given the freedom to play, he is a very good player...
ReplyDeleteWin against United and we are one point behind.
ReplyDeleteBut we didn't win, we didn't come close.
Top four sides are top four for a reason. We took 5 from 24 available points.
Even last season against the then top three we took 6 from 18 vs Chelsea, City and Arsenal.
Even then Unite slipped up so many times after beating us but we took 1 point from 9 vs Hull, West broom, Palace.
Another year?
Is it because of his track record of winning silver and a consistent high finish?
During Rafa's time here Brendan left Watford and Reading, one via P45 and one via mutual consent,
WTF is he even doing in L4?
He lost me when we were playing Fulham away and before the game he sought to manage expectation by saying "Fulham are notoriously strong at Craven Cottage" (Look it up). Same year they went down I think.
ReplyDeleteFootball is a universal language.
ReplyDeleteWe need to move quickly by getting klopp in asap so we can start to attract big name proven players as players wikk want to come if klopp is in place
ReplyDeleteRafa signed Mascherano, Kuyt, Torres at his prime. Alonso, Reina and Agger at their best. Had added to and made the chore of a great team. I'm not calling for him to be reinstated just that those calling for his head were short sighted and ignorant to what he had to put up with. He had his faults as does every manager. It's idiocy ro say he set us back years. Not use what team.you wee seeing before he arrived.
ReplyDeleteHe tried with all his mightto rid himself of Borini, but Brini refused to take the hint, Lambert was brought in for situations like Chelsea last season, when plan A fails.... Balotelli, well the less said abput Balotelli the better, but suffice it to say, he wasn't exactly happy to sign him.....The buck stops with Rodgers "and " the players...Rodgers can't effect the game as much as you would like to believe from the side lines save subs and tactical change.. If players are playing sh1te, there isn't much he can do to change that...
ReplyDeleteWe can but dream...
ReplyDeletebiffa bacon.
ReplyDeleteDon't say that Bob, you are very special, too us all!...
ReplyDeleteI've read some of the comments saying Rogers should be given another season which I am struggling to understand, if he stays another season he will continue to take the club backwards. The owners decided to give him a shot at it but for me it hasn't worked out, he is not a manager good enough to manage a club of Liverpool's stature. There are rumours Jurgen Klopp is going to Real Madrid next season and as much as i love Rafa I'm not sure he is the answer either and with few other candidates out there sadly I think we may be stuck with him.
ReplyDeleteI'm the nerve-iest around...
ReplyDeleteB R is a nice guy and his heart is in the right place but he is trying to please all the people all of the time - not top drawer
ReplyDeleteNext Manager Decision first - all else on hold - John Henry - over to you mate - have you sacked Tom Werner yet - USELESS
ReplyDeleteHello RAY..
ReplyDeleteAre you sure, I can't understand half of what's written here.
ReplyDeleteAnd the comment of the month goes to...
ReplyDeleteI would like to thank ...........
ReplyDeleteOh well, that makes me feel a lot better....... we are where we deserve to be.........can`t wait to pay for next seasons tickets then...
ReplyDeleteOr a marquee signing either.....
ReplyDeleteYou would have a job working out which camera he would be talking to as well
ReplyDelete#SackTheChairman
ReplyDeleteWe should try and get that Suarez fella.....he would fit right in to our team......
ReplyDelete*loud booing noises*
ReplyDeleteBut if he can't affect the game...thenn
ReplyDeletebut if he
ReplyDeleteWasn't it Bill and Bob the ones who sacked Rafa, and brought in Woy.
ReplyDeleteDoesn't matter who.. That's just his stance...
ReplyDeleteWho promised marquee players? Who? When?
ReplyDeleteThere's a difference between a journalist making up a story, or someone saying something on the internet, and an institution making a promise.
Not from what i've seen this season, everyone seems to think last season was the real BR and although i don't agree with those who suggest it was all down to Suarez once he decided to leave transfer dealing were always going to be key, sadly this is when we saw the real BR!!
ReplyDeleteExplain, why is it "shameful"?
ReplyDeleteThanks Shaun for your post.
ReplyDeleteI agree BR needs to be given credit for improving LFC from the negative spiral post Rafa's last year, and also the low point that was Hodgson.
However, we are all violently agreeing that had BR parked the bus against Chelsea, and won the EPL last year, he could have been the worst manager for a couple of years, and ALL would have been forgiven - even by the likes of me who are acutely analytical/critical.
But he did not. And much like many of his other faults, he has not made the best of the opportunities both presented to him and of his own making,
Much like you, I would like to see someone be given a good go (5 years or greater). However, previous incumbents or his peers have won something in the first 3 years given hope for years 4+. By NOT winning anything, BR cannot provide either the evidence or hope to be retained, if we can find an upgrade.
Therefore, I do believe we should be able to secure a Klopp/Rafa upgrade in May and need to move forward collectively.
What an arrogant remark.
ReplyDeleteBlimey, you maybe should read my post again , The point I made was that one of Rodgers' FAILINGS is his inability to win key matches.
ReplyDeleteThe point was that had he been better at just ONE specific match both last season (Chelsea) and this season (Utd) then we could well have won the PL last season and been top 4 this season.
ALL teams lose to smaller clubs in the PL.
I was making a point about NOT losing the KEY ones
excuses excuses
ReplyDeleteAnd we won the same percentage of games during that time.
ReplyDeleteNah, it was all Suarez. He also made all 31 of Sturridge and Sterling's goals and told Stevie where to place his pennos
i agree we need to be realistic about who we stand a chance of signing and FSG's policy has an effect but there have been many players we could have gone for with the £200m+ Rodgers has spent. Bony cost Swansea £12m and was a calculated risk as he was smashing them in left right and centre for Vitesse in Holland, Reportedly Aston Villa took a punt on Benteke for £8m (£12m with add-ons) QPR Charlie Austin £4m, Sevilla Carlos Bacca £8m to name but a few examples, All of these players where scoring goals for fun before they signed for their respective clubs and Rodgers wen't and signed strikers without a proven goalscoring record for fees not that disimilar and goals are what strikers are all about.
ReplyDeleteAnd now he should come back.
ReplyDeleteWerent challenging for the league? What about the season we came second?
ReplyDeleteOk. I'll stop.
ReplyDeleteStop sticking up for a absolutely inept manager.
ReplyDeleteI suppose his sacking by Watford & Reading was down to some mysterious transfer committee too ?
There's only Liverpool who could appoint a manager with NO yes NO track record either as a player OR a manager
One trophy from 2006 is all we won. He didn't have Man City as a powerhouse and benefitted from a team already with a long CL pedigree from its previous 15 years.
ReplyDeleteHe had a World Class spine in his team. Reina. Mascherano. Alonso. Gerrard. Torres. ALL at the peak of their powers. A solid, unflinching back line inc Carra Hypia and Skrtyl. Fairy dust from Luis Garcia. Real's current right back Arbeloa .
Did he get even as close as we did last year to winning the PL?
NOPE.
Great Cup manager. probably as good as Jose in that regard. But PL? should have won it easily with that quality
I'm sure you and Stan can work something out. Maybe he will stop defending BR when you stop being a short-sighted fan prone to knee-jerk reactions.
ReplyDeletePastore n milner would be good transfers..so would Vidal..but if sterling wants to leave let him do so for not less than £40mil and use the money from his sale to buy lacazette..also bring in kjaer..lovren seems to be our main defensive issue so he needs to be replaced...he alongside sterling balotelli Lambert borini Johnson and Jones can leave
ReplyDeleteDo you live in a world where football managers are either good or bad from the start to the finish of their careers?
ReplyDeleteThat's not the same one I live in, the one widely known by its charming nickname, "planet earth". What's yours called?
BR is losing the dressing room, he's not the expert man manager that he's made out to be. I'm sorry to say this, but he's kind of lost Gerrard as well. Gerrard only praises Rodgers because he loves Liverpool and it's in the club's best interests to do so. It's the same reason why Agger didn't make a huge fuss when he left back to Denmark, but we all know of the obvious discontent between himself and BR. Rodgers is an average man manager, bad at handling every aspect of recruitment, unable to formulate a long term winning formula, a big game bottler, and says constant idiotic things in the press.
ReplyDeleteLiverpool's failure this year is purely down to one man, and it's a massive cop-out to excuse Rodgers' failure with Sturridge's injury. There was a golden opportunity to keep ahead of United, and he f***ing squandered it.
Totally agree Rodgers has had 3 seasons but he seems out of his depth managing LFC, the players and the expectations that come with the club. Granted we nearly won the league last season and Suarez leaving and Sturridge's injuries haven't helped but he failed to address the key issues in the squad and fill the void left by Suarez or bring in a midfield general to toughen us up a bit in the middle of the park so we regressed. Southampton for example must go laughing all the way to the bank when Rodgers comes knocking and look at the job Koeman is doing at Southampton with the money he's been given. Rodgers has proven he can't be trusted with the clubs cash and neither can the puppets around him in getting it sorted out. Rodgers is good at boosting the youngsters confidence and plays an attractive style of football but the downside to his style of management is players get to bigheaded and we become a bit predictable teams just bully us in midfield or shut up shop and Rodgers doesn't know how to resolve the problem.
ReplyDeleteA top manager would have got us into the top 4.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.blindreligion.com/fsg-sack-rodgers/
ReplyDeleteA little bit too crazy for me but maybe there is somebody that could shine some light on this.
And I appreciate you taking the time to respond to me.
ReplyDeleteFor one, I do hold Rodgers accountable as part of the transfer committee. But I don't hold him solely accountable in that regard. Obviously our largest failure was replacing Suarez's goals in any way. Simply put, we didn't.
As it relates to your points:
1. I think that may be the strategy this summer. We don't need to buy players for depth as we did that last summer. In my opinion, we need 3 players:
- A striker (in addition to Origi and Ings)
- A central/holding midfielder
- A winger
Wages shouldn't be an issue since at least two huge earners aren't coming back (Stevie & Glen)
The rest of the positions should be filled by younger players to get them experience. I also think we need to have one squad for Europa/Domestic Cups (to grant experience for the younger players) and one squad for the Prem.
2. I agree. Though I don't think there should be any money left over.
3. I don't mind the tinkering. I actually mind the stubbornness to stick with something for too long that isn't suited to the players' strengths.
4. Making us hard to break down - our defensive record starting in mid-December is actually pretty good. I don't think we're exactly scaring the opposition, but we were much better defensively overall in the 2015 half.
5. I think we should always be playing to win so I can't say playing for a draw is the way to go. But I think you're on the right track in terms of one point is better than none.
6. Anfield was a fortress last year.
7. I agree wholeheartedly. Not necessarily the Scousers getting first looks, but in general I think the younger players need to play more.