Liverpool 2014/15 | WARNING: Contains strong amounts of Scouse nonsense
- Thread starter Wumminator
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik @Rood and Imran @Annihilate Now! start with the good news by celebrating Manchester United Women's emphatic FA Cup win over Spurs at Wembley and the future of manager Marc Skinner.
Then it's the bad news and the ever worsening form of our Men with losses to Arsenal and Palace.
Finally the main debate - ETH Out now or keep him until the end of the season - if not longer. Are you Team Nik or Team Imran?
All officially announced now.
I've only seen him a couple of times but he looked very good, I have to say. Tricky, very fast little player. Not a bad buy at all by the looks of it. What's the reported fee again?
£20m.
We should get Zlatan too then. That'll make the league certain.
Maddock just said we are looking for another 4 or 5 players. #Highrollers. 
Hopefully they're actually good players. We didn't even need so many players so it's a pretty concerning policy. I'd rather have a few real top quality players than a lot of decent but overpriced squad players.
I suppose assuming left back, centre half and back up goalie maybe. Maybe another striker.
Top notch CB would be money well spent, I think.
Given his current options, how do you lads reckon Rodgers will line up next season? I can see Markovic in a three up front w/ Sturridge in the middle, sort of the Suarez role.
Stevie G? He's getting on a bit. To what extent will Rodgers depend on him?
Given his current options, how do you lads reckon Rodgers will line up next season? I can see Markovic in a three up front w/ Sturridge in the middle, sort of the Suarez role.
Stevie G? He's getting on a bit. To what extent will Rodgers depend on him?
That's gonna depend a lot on how Can does, I wager.
Though I wouldn't be surprised to see Henderson given some outings in that role either.
Aye - I forgot about Can. Could be a decent buy, that. But isn't he more of an allround (box-to-box type) midfielder, less of a holder?
Fully expect Liverpool to stretch the money too thinly on too many players.
Won't be in top 4 next season.
Won't be in top 4 next season.
As long as Gerrard is protected from having to do the leg work he can sit deep and influence the pace of the game to some extent. He had a poor World Cup and made a big mistake against Chelsea but that shouldn't cloud out the fact he had his best season in 5 years having been given less overall responsibility by Rodgers. He's far more contained now, which serves his game well as a 34 year old.
Markovic is either really shy or the most boring person in the world. I'm not sure which at the moment.
Don't you mean #poundstretchers?Maddock just said we are looking for another 4 or 5 players. #Highrollers.
I wonder if they'll make the same mistake they've made in the past in buying four or five prospects rather than one or two top class players for the same money who can win you a tight game.
If I was them I'd identify a top CB and make that a priority. Yes they probably need two CBs but one really high quality one would make a big difference for them IMO.
I think they'll make top four next season but the extra CL games will have an impact. There will also probably be an effect of teams expecting them to come out of the traps at 500 miles per hour and so they may have to mix their game plan up a bit or risk a lot of bus parking being used against them. Lastly, they will miss Suarez. The guy was unplayable at times and they don't have another player who does that for them yet. They might buy one still of course.
If I was them I'd identify a top CB and make that a priority. Yes they probably need two CBs but one really high quality one would make a big difference for them IMO.
I think they'll make top four next season but the extra CL games will have an impact. There will also probably be an effect of teams expecting them to come out of the traps at 500 miles per hour and so they may have to mix their game plan up a bit or risk a lot of bus parking being used against them. Lastly, they will miss Suarez. The guy was unplayable at times and they don't have another player who does that for them yet. They might buy one still of course.
I can't see it. United will take their place in the top 4 and Liverpool will finish 6th.
My (manc) boss just compared Markovic unfavourably to Bebe.
Sometimes, the basis for debate is stifled before it can even take off.
Sometimes, the basis for debate is stifled before it can even take off.
I think what Rodgers is looking for is someone with the energy and skill to be a box-to-box midfielder to develop the discipline to play in the holding role.
Which is why I also wouldn't be surprised to see Henderson given a shot at the role at some point.
£60m for 4 players isn't too thin is it?
Gerrard and Henderson firm fixtures in the midfield. Allen understudying Hendo, Can understudying Gerrrard.
Lallana/Coutinho alternating for the more creative, but still disciplined midfield role.
Markovic and Sterling, plus the extra guy I expect to see brought in, alternating on the wings or in more free creative roles. Expect Jordon Ibe to see some gametime there too. Coutinho and Lallana could be used in those roles as well.
Sturridge up front, Lambert understudy/plan B.
As for formation, I think we'll see plenty. Could be 4-3-3 with Coutinho/Lallana in the midfield three with Sterling/Markovic on the flanks. Could be 4-2-3-1 with Coutinho/Lallana pushed up a bit behind the striker. Could be a diamond with Sterling at the tip of midfield, Coutinho/Lallana behind with Henderson and Gerrard at the bottom of it and Markovic and Sturridge up top. Could even be a straight 4-4-2 with Sterling and Coutinho/Lallana on the flanks and Markovic and Sturridge up top.
I'd be surprised if we play with anything other than four at the back for more than a game or two, but the rest is up for grabs. We've got some delightfully versatile players available to us.
I can see Henderson doing a Ramsey-lite and adding real end product to his game. He gets about the pitch really well and can push into good positions due to his fitness, so if he is able to develop his composure then he will become a very effective player.
If he and Coutinho can find their shooting boots this season, we'll be laughing. They wasted a ton of good shots last season.
How many times have you seen Markovic play? Bebe had a better season than him last year (not saying Bebe is better as I haven't seen Markovic play).
I mostly take exception to any sort of comparison with Bebe.
Agreed. Ramsey was the same for a while, he would find himself in great positions but would squander the chances. But then it clicked for him and now he's a danger when he's near the goals... I can definitely see Henderson improve in this regard as he has no problem with getting himself into dangerous positions.
In all fairness, Bebe was better than Markovic last season.
He scored 14 goals for a team in the relegation spots, and from the left wing. A lot of Portuguese people wanted him in the World Cup squad.
He's improved a lot since he played with us.
Was he?
That's true. While we had goals all over the park the midfielders need to step up. Gerrard's finishing has always been a strong point but his opportunities in front of goal mainly came from the penalty spot or free kicks so his open play scoring days are mostly behind him.
27 games, 14 goals from the left last year playing for a side in the relegation spots.
26 games, 5 goals from the left for the best team in the country for Markovic last year.
Both played mostly off the left. Bebe was statistically better than Markovic last year.
Barrett saying we bid £8m for Davies on Monday. The Telegraph are saying Swansea want £12m.
Hah. That's gas.
I guess Bebe's stats are pretty good. Although looking at the stats Benfica's goals were spread around the team with only 1 player in their whole squad scoring more than Bebe last season. The fact that Markovic was prominent in a championship winning team suggests he did have a strong season even if the bare stats aren't quite as glowing. He was also chosen in the EL team of the season, I think.
Will Rodgers keep playing the diamond next season? Or was that more to accommodate both Sturridge and Suarez?
I reckon Liverpool may have done very well with the likes of Markovic and Can - but they're both very young, not necessrily players who will make a huge impact right away.
In terms of qualifying for the CL I guess ideally they should be looking at getting a heavy hitter in, someone to - sort of - replace Suarez as the main attacking force. But that ain't easy.
In terms of qualifying for the CL I guess ideally they should be looking at getting a heavy hitter in, someone to - sort of - replace Suarez as the main attacking force. But that ain't easy.
I think he decided on a game by game basis depending on the opponents.
It'll be interesting to see Rodgers tactics with the increased games this year. Last season he showed a lot of variety in his attacking formations. He was helped in that regard by only playing once a week more or less til Xmas and by having a very small squad, particularly in midfield and attack where he used the same 8 players all season. Those formations and variations dont happen by accident, you have to work at them on the pitch and in conversation.
However this season he wont have that free time, up til Xmas anyway, and he'll have a bunch of new players to bed in too. We may see a bit less variation as he tries to get people settled into a plan A.
I honestly don't know, I reckon he may adapt to the situation/opposition etc
It will be interesting to see where Lallana and Markovic play - must admit I had Lallana nailed on for the problem left attacking position, but although Markovic can play in a few positions he has said yesterday his favoured is also the left side.
Add to that Sterling, Coutinho and everyone else it's hard to say at the moment.
@B20 post earlier sums it up, Ibe is also worth considering as assuming he doesn't go out on loan anywhere it will be good to see him in the first team squad, he has real pace, quite strong and direct. He would be a great option from the bench.
As a club we have lacked that bit of midfield flair, which the likes of Arsenal have had in abundance, however we certainly seem to have plenty of that now.
Gerrard (Can/Henderson) - Henderson (Can)
Lallana (Coutinho)
Sterling (Coutinho) - Sturridge - Markovic (Lallana)
Plenty of options. I'd be worried about the DM role, though - and the potential lack of goals beyond Sturridge's contribution.Lallana (Coutinho)
Sterling (Coutinho) - Sturridge - Markovic (Lallana)
What's the deal with Lucas, by the way? As a pure DM he isn't bad - not sure I'd sell him if I were Rodgers. Is it injuries? Or something else?