Liverpool FC

[horseplayer]

Balotelli seems a hell of a scapegoat for the rest of the time and the manager at present

[arbboy]

Balotelli seems a hell of a scapegoat for the rest of the time and the manager at present

He never puts a shift in.  In an average champions league team you can't have 1 guy who just doesn't fancy sticking it in at this level.  Will be amazed if he is still there after January.  Swopping his shirt at htime is a piss take as well.

[The Camel]

Balotelli seems a hell of a scapegoat for the rest of the time and the manager at present

He never puts a shift in.  In an average champions league team you can't have 1 guy who just doesn't fancy sticking it in at this level.  Will be amazed if he is still there after January.  Swopping his shirt at htime is a piss take as well.

Rodgers knew this when he signed him.

Why buy a player then moan about him when he is doing exactly what he's done everywhere else he has been.

[arbboy]

Balotelli seems a hell of a scapegoat for the rest of the time and the manager at present

He never puts a shift in.  In an average champions league team you can't have 1 guy who just doesn't fancy sticking it in at this level.  Will be amazed if he is still there after January.  Swopping his shirt at htime is a piss take as well.

Rodgers knew this when he signed him.

Why buy a player then moan about him when he is doing exactly what he's done everywhere else he has been.

Panic buy.  They had to buy someone to replace the biter when he left.   I totally agree with what you say.  He is running to form at Liverpool like he has everywhere else.

[kinboshi]

Balotelli seems a hell of a scapegoat for the rest of the time and the manager at present

He never puts a shift in.  In an average champions league team you can't have 1 guy who just doesn't fancy sticking it in at this level.  Will be amazed if he is still there after January.  Swopping his shirt at htime is a piss take as well.

Rodgers knew this when he signed him.

Why buy a player then moan about him when he is doing exactly what he's done everywhere else he has been.

Rodgers simply didn't want him.

Hopefully that means he's dropped for the weekend, and for the foreseeable future.  He simply isn't right for Liverpool (not sure who he's right for).  I'd sincerely hoped that he'd realise this was his last chance to show his potential and deliver where he's failed to do so in the past.  But he let me down on that score.

I don't want to see him in a Liverpool shirt again.  I don't mind him not scoring (I loved Crouch and supported him solidly, even though it took him 17 games to score his first goal for the club), but I do mind him not trying, his moping, his selfish play on the pitch, etc.  Don't mind his off-field antics, as long as he delivers where it counts.  He doesn't.

As for tonight, thought Liverpool played well for 20 minutes, then Ronaldo scored a world-class goal.  The next two were very preventable, and they killed the game off.  It was like watching a Championship side face a PL side in the cup (but not MK Dons v United, obviously).

[TheDazzler]

I think people are jumping the gun a little bit.
Pool are missing Suarez, that's obvious. But they are also missing Sturridge and that's huge. I think buying Balotelli was a mistake but an understandable one.
He was available for £16m and he is very naturally talented and Pool had a massive hole to fill. Unfortunately it looks like maybe he just doesn't have the mental strength to ever be a consistently top class player. But you'll just have to give him a chance. The season has only just started and if he gets games in his preferred position as a support striker in a front 2 and it still doesn't work, then you can think about getting rid.
You're struggling in the Champs League but you'd have to have expected that in your 1st season back. You can still qualify from the group. The league form has been patchy but you're ahead of your 2 real rivals for the 3rd/4th spot.

[arbboy]

I think people are jumping the gun a little bit.
Pool are missing Suarez, that's obvious. But they are also missing Sturridge and that's huge. I think buying Balotelli was a mistake but an understandable one.
He was available for £16m and he is very naturally talented and Pool had a massive hole to fill. Unfortunately it looks like maybe he just doesn't have the mental strength to ever be a consistently top class player. But you'll just have to give him a chance. The season has only just started and if he gets games in his preferred position as a support striker in a front 2 and it still doesn't work, then you can think about getting rid.
You're struggling in the Champs League but you'd have to have expected that in your 1st season back. You can still qualify from the group. The league form has been patchy but you're ahead of your 2 real rivals for the 3rd/4th spot.

Missing suarez and sturridge are both massive misses but the thing everyone forgets is Gerrard is so far past his best it's frightening.  You could even add Johnson to this list.  They are effectively missing 3 of their best players from 2 seasons ago.  On top of that have the total joker Mario to just make it 10 v 11 for many parts of the game effort wise.  On top of this the scousers have to play twice a week most weeks this season compared to once every week last season.  Going to be a long season chasing 4th spot.

[TheDazzler]

I think people are jumping the gun a little bit.
Pool are missing Suarez, that's obvious. But they are also missing Sturridge and that's huge. I think buying Balotelli was a mistake but an understandable one.
He was available for £16m and he is very naturally talented and Pool had a massive hole to fill. Unfortunately it looks like maybe he just doesn't have the mental strength to ever be a consistently top class player. But you'll just have to give him a chance. The season has only just started and if he gets games in his preferred position as a support striker in a front 2 and it still doesn't work, then you can think about getting rid.
You're struggling in the Champs League but you'd have to have expected that in your 1st season back. You can still qualify from the group. The league form has been patchy but you're ahead of your 2 real rivals for the 3rd/4th spot.

Missing suarez and sturridge are both massive misses but the thing everyone forgets is Gerrard is so far past his best it's frightening.  They are effectively missing 3 of their best players from 2 seasons ago.  On top of that have the total joker Mario to just make it 10 v 11 for many parts of the game effort wise.  On top of this the scousers have to play twice a week most weeks this season compared to once every week last season.  Going to be a long season chasing 4th spot.

I agree with all that.
I also don't think they'll get 4th spot but it'll be close. I also think that not having Balotelli at all would be better as I think Lambert would give you more but there are bright spots.
Henderson is really progressing well. Where was Sterling 2 years ago? Sterling 2 years ago wasn't the player he is now. Can and Markovic might turn out to be decent, we'll have to see.

[The Camel]

I think people are jumping the gun a little bit.
Pool are missing Suarez, that's obvious. But they are also missing Sturridge and that's huge. I think buying Balotelli was a mistake but an understandable one.
He was available for £16m and he is very naturally talented and Pool had a massive hole to fill. Unfortunately it looks like maybe he just doesn't have the mental strength to ever be a consistently top class player. But you'll just have to give him a chance. The season has only just started and if he gets games in his preferred position as a support striker in a front 2 and it still doesn't work, then you can think about getting rid.
You're struggling in the Champs League but you'd have to have expected that in your 1st season back. You can still qualify from the group. The league form has been patchy but you're ahead of your 2 real rivals for the 3rd/4th spot.

Remy was turned down for half what Liverpool paid for Mario.

He's lightning fast, skilful and got a decent footballing brain.

Might not work as hard as Suarez, but a much more similar player to him than Mario is.

[Kmac84]

Arb are you clearing up on this you pretty much predicted how this would go afterthe world cup.

[kinboshi]

I think people are jumping the gun a little bit.
Pool are missing Suarez, that's obvious. But they are also missing Sturridge and that's huge. I think buying Balotelli was a mistake but an understandable one.
He was available for £16m and he is very naturally talented and Pool had a massive hole to fill. Unfortunately it looks like maybe he just doesn't have the mental strength to ever be a consistently top class player. But you'll just have to give him a chance. The season has only just started and if he gets games in his preferred position as a support striker in a front 2 and it still doesn't work, then you can think about getting rid.
You're struggling in the Champs League but you'd have to have expected that in your 1st season back. You can still qualify from the group. The league form has been patchy but you're ahead of your 2 real rivals for the 3rd/4th spot.

Missing suarez and sturridge are both massive misses but the thing everyone forgets is Gerrard is so far past his best it's frightening.  They are effectively missing 3 of their best players from 2 seasons ago.  On top of that have the total joker Mario to just make it 10 v 11 for many parts of the game effort wise.  On top of this the scousers have to play twice a week most weeks this season compared to once every week last season.  Going to be a long season chasing 4th spot.

I agree with all that.
I also don't think they'll get 4th spot but it'll be close. I also think that not having Balotelli at all would be better as I think Lambert would give you more but there are bright spots.
Henderson is really progressing well. Where was Sterling 2 years ago? Sterling 2 years ago wasn't the player he is now. Can and Markovic might turn out to be decent, we'll have to see.

Two years ago, Sterling was 17 years old.

[arbboy]

Arb are you clearing up on this you pretty much predicted how this would go afterthe world cup.

It's hardly rocket science though is it. I can't remember what i said after the world cup.  I have several largish positions opposing the scousers in the top 4 in different ways ante post but nothing major.

[The Camel]

I think people are jumping the gun a little bit.
Pool are missing Suarez, that's obvious. But they are also missing Sturridge and that's huge. I think buying Balotelli was a mistake but an understandable one.
He was available for £16m and he is very naturally talented and Pool had a massive hole to fill. Unfortunately it looks like maybe he just doesn't have the mental strength to ever be a consistently top class player. But you'll just have to give him a chance. The season has only just started and if he gets games in his preferred position as a support striker in a front 2 and it still doesn't work, then you can think about getting rid.
You're struggling in the Champs League but you'd have to have expected that in your 1st season back. You can still qualify from the group. The league form has been patchy but you're ahead of your 2 real rivals for the 3rd/4th spot.

Missing suarez and sturridge are both massive misses but the thing everyone forgets is Gerrard is so far past his best it's frightening.  They are effectively missing 3 of their best players from 2 seasons ago.  On top of that have the total joker Mario to just make it 10 v 11 for many parts of the game effort wise.  On top of this the scousers have to play twice a week most weeks this season compared to once every week last season.  Going to be a long season chasing 4th spot.

I agree with all that.
I also don't think they'll get 4th spot but it'll be close. I also think that not having Balotelli at all would be better as I think Lambert would give you more but there are bright spots.
Henderson is really progressing well. Where was Sterling 2 years ago? Sterling 2 years ago wasn't the player he is now. Can and Markovic might turn out to be decent, we'll have to see.

Gerrard now reminds me of Ray Lewis in his last season at Baltimore.

All the other players having work extra hard to cover for the inabilities of the superstar on the team.

[TheDazzler]

I think people are jumping the gun a little bit.
Pool are missing Suarez, that's obvious. But they are also missing Sturridge and that's huge. I think buying Balotelli was a mistake but an understandable one.
He was available for £16m and he is very naturally talented and Pool had a massive hole to fill. Unfortunately it looks like maybe he just doesn't have the mental strength to ever be a consistently top class player. But you'll just have to give him a chance. The season has only just started and if he gets games in his preferred position as a support striker in a front 2 and it still doesn't work, then you can think about getting rid.
You're struggling in the Champs League but you'd have to have expected that in your 1st season back. You can still qualify from the group. The league form has been patchy but you're ahead of your 2 real rivals for the 3rd/4th spot.

Missing suarez and sturridge are both massive misses but the thing everyone forgets is Gerrard is so far past his best it's frightening.  They are effectively missing 3 of their best players from 2 seasons ago.  On top of that have the total joker Mario to just make it 10 v 11 for many parts of the game effort wise.  On top of this the scousers have to play twice a week most weeks this season compared to once every week last season.  Going to be a long season chasing 4th spot.

I agree with all that.
I also don't think they'll get 4th spot but it'll be close. I also think that not having Balotelli at all would be better as I think Lambert would give you more but there are bright spots.
Henderson is really progressing well. Where was Sterling 2 years ago? Sterling 2 years ago wasn't the player he is now. Can and Markovic might turn out to be decent, we'll have to see.

Two years ago, Sterling was 17 years old.

Yeah I know, I meant to say Sturridge wasn't the player he is now, 2 years ago. And regarding Arbboys point that that are down 3 players from 2 years ago, I was saying that Sterling wasn't there either 2 years ago.

Remy was turned down for half what Liverpool paid for Mario.

He's lightning fast, skilful and got a decent footballing brain.

Might not work as hard as Suarez, but a much more similar player to him than Mario is.

They were going to sign Remy but he failed a medical.
Also isn't Remy a little too similar to Sturridge? I think Balotelli is a better footballing style fit to play with Sturridge, although as I said, I'm not a fan of his.
This is a problem I think United have with Falcao and RVP. They both like to take up the same positions which was very evident in the game against Everton.

[arbboy]

I think people are jumping the gun a little bit.
Pool are missing Suarez, that's obvious. But they are also missing Sturridge and that's huge. I think buying Balotelli was a mistake but an understandable one.
He was available for £16m and he is very naturally talented and Pool had a massive hole to fill. Unfortunately it looks like maybe he just doesn't have the mental strength to ever be a consistently top class player. But you'll just have to give him a chance. The season has only just started and if he gets games in his preferred position as a support striker in a front 2 and it still doesn't work, then you can think about getting rid.
You're struggling in the Champs League but you'd have to have expected that in your 1st season back. You can still qualify from the group. The league form has been patchy but you're ahead of your 2 real rivals for the 3rd/4th spot.

Missing suarez and sturridge are both massive misses but the thing everyone forgets is Gerrard is so far past his best it's frightening.  They are effectively missing 3 of their best players from 2 seasons ago.  On top of that have the total joker Mario to just make it 10 v 11 for many parts of the game effort wise.  On top of this the scousers have to play twice a week most weeks this season compared to once every week last season.  Going to be a long season chasing 4th spot.

I agree with all that.
I also don't think they'll get 4th spot but it'll be close. I also think that not having Balotelli at all would be better as I think Lambert would give you more but there are bright spots.
Henderson is really progressing well. Where was Sterling 2 years ago? Sterling 2 years ago wasn't the player he is now. Can and Markovic might turn out to be decent, we'll have to see.

Two years ago, Sterling was 17 years old.

Yeah I know, I meant to say Sturridge wasn't the player he is now, 2 years ago. And regarding Arbboys point that that are down 3 players from 2 years ago, I was saying that Sterling wasn't there either 2 years ago.

Remy was turned down for half what Liverpool paid for Mario.

He's lightning fast, skilful and got a decent footballing brain.

Might not work as hard as Suarez, but a much more similar player to him than Mario is.

They were going to sign Remy but he failed a medical.
Also isn't Remy a little too similar to Sturridge? I think Balotelli is a better footballing style fit to play with Sturridge, although as I said, I'm not a fan of his.
This is a problem I think United have with Falcao and RVP. They both like to take up the same positions which was very evident in the game against Everton.

Sure i agree Sterling balances it up somewhat but i feel he is in danger of being overhyped too soon relative to what he has produced on the pitch over a decent sample.  ie he is hardly a straight swap replacement for Gerrard 2 years ago consistency wise.  He might turn out to be but that is still unknown.