Topic: The Push Square Football (Soccer) Thread

I watched the entire USA vs. Australia match a couple nights ago, and I've followed a little bit of the rest as well. I'll mostly be keeping up with the United States though. The atmosphere was pretty awesome for our match, and we finished very well after starting slow. I'm excited to see us play Sweden later this week as that one should be very good.

Yeah I saw the highlights since I can't watch the games. They looked good from what I saw.

I saw the highlights for the US game and some of the England match. I thought our team did okay against France, but they seemed to be happy with containing the opposition rather than trying to actually win the match. I can't see us beating some of the bigger teams to be honest, but hopefully we can at least get out of the group.

Still hurtin, from that England proforma nice last World Cup huh Sammy.

With Both the women's world cup and Euro under 21s where do you see us reaching? Worried about the u21s with Stones out we look shaky at the back.

I'm no women's football expert (apart from the France left back Laure Boulleau) but from what I've seen England are gonna have a tough game tonight. They've never won a knock-out game before I think but I shall be watching.

Also no U21 expert but I think England have a chance of the last four, no higher though. The lack of Stones is massive - he may be over the park here but I absolutely love him - and Southgate doesn't seem to know what he's doing attack wise. We looked so poor until Ings came on up front.

Generally in any tournament I just watch for the football. I couldn't care less about England. I'm Scouse, not English and all that. I just want my players (Liverpool) to play well.

@BAMozzy I'd like a challenge system in place, I just don't know how it would work. If it ever comes in though it should be done a bit like tennis with Hawkeye. The manager of each team gets a set number but has to call it there and then. If they get the decision right they don't lose their go, if it's wrong they lose it. Problem is football is such an on the go sport even stopping briefly can ruin the game. Plus where do you draw the line? Do we have it for stuff in the box (handball, fouls, offside, etc) or everywhere? Another problem is some clubs and managers will just not want it coming in, Mourinho especially.

Then again, is there anything really wrong with what's working at the moment? When you get to see Neymar absolutely explode with his petulant, pathetic schoolboy sulking at that 'handball' it's pretty funny. Plus it allows fans, players, managers and clubs to carry on their delusions that they're all hated by the people in charge. And let's Mourinho carry on his "outrage" at Luis Garcia's "ghost goal."

The way I see the challenge system working is only the captain can ask the referee to review something - whether that's a handball in the box or a penalty decision (was it in or outside the box, was it a free kick or dive, was it this person or that person that should be carded - I know some players have been sent off in error - even the wrong player). I know football is an on-the-go sport but these incidents are shown multiple times on the Tele from various angles whilst the team surround the ref and argue the decision. If anything it will stop all that nonsense and allow the game to get on again much quicker. I doubt teams would argue about a corner or some free kick decisions - minor incidents - and I only think a captain can ask for a review.
An alternative is a video ref - someone who watches the match and helps the ref by providing additional information in these incidents. Knowing that they have extra eyes and the benefit of multiple angle replays, it would ensure that decisions are accurate and therefore you wouldn't need the challenges. We already have goal line technology so no more ghost goals or disputes there...

Can is impressing in the midfield for Germany u21's isn't he...

Its looking like a Germany clean sweep with u21's World cup and Womens too...

Where in Liverpool do you live? I used to live in Tuebrook at uni and work in Maghull I'm an Evertonian but not a crazy fan and dint mind Liverpool doing well. It was great for the City with the 2 champions league runs the place was buzzing. Hope we get a big ground share in the future - a 70,000 seater or something.

They discussed a ground share but it wasn't popular,as was a new stadium, so LFC opted to go for the upgrade and regeneration of Anfield

your right and with that Everton will be lucky to be battling mid table for the foreseeable at best.

@themcnoisy - I've been in favour of a ground share for years (from Formby myself). I've long thought it would be a fantastic idea, middle of Stanley Park - more or less between both grounds for those who don't know - 75,00-90,00 seater stadium. Constant sell out, great for gigs in the summer too, allow us to have European finals in the city.

Growing up, I was brought into football the old fashioned scouse way - support one but want the other to come second in every competition or win it if we don't. I'm not old enough to have been in the city when we were the best two teams in England but I'd love to have that again. Besides Derby Day I always want Everton to do well as it's for the good of the city.

@BAMozzy - Can looks superb in the middle. Even the much-maligned Markovic has impressed in a couple of Serbia games by playing where he is best, left side of a front three. So annoying that they'll be back in defence next year. Well, until Rodgers is sacked come November 22nd after those away games are all done. God knows who we pissed off in the fixture list department.

Everton have got man city, Tottenham and Chelsea in a row then Liverpool, arsenal and man Utd In a row within the first 12 games. Dodgy fixture list this year. At least we will get a good showing on sky.

Stoke, Arsenal, Man United, Everton, Spurs, Chelsea, Man City - first seven away games. If we're in the top half of the table by the end of play against Man City then I will be amazed.

Seems Firmino is actually really coming to Liverpool. I'm so excited and terrified. We always mess things up so despite a fee and personal terms being agreed plus him saying he'll sign when Copa America is over I don't believe any of it. When he's outside Melwood with a scarf I'll cry with excitement. Wanted us to get him the last three seasons. Him, Danny S and Suarez would have been truly devastating the season before last.

Those away games tank. The top 4 are strengthening as well which doesn't bode well and with no Euro or world cup those teams will be strong. Can see Arsenal having a go this year, with Chelsea also doing well. If man Utd get Ramos I cant see you guys getting a top 4 place at all. But you never know. Rodgers is a good manager but Wenger, mourinho and van gaal are better and I can see Brenda getting the sack within 10 games.

Lets be honest every team will be recruiting this summer. Arsenal look like they will have Cech in goal and although getting older, is still world class., Utd have signed Depay and another world class player. City could end up with Sterling too. I can't say I am impressed with LFC's officially confirmed signings (apart from Firmino) so far but to a degree they make sense.

Ings is not that prolific (1 goal in 3 matches) but is tenacious, high work rate and young enough to improve. Reminds me a lot of Borini in play style but better technically. Bogdan is likely to fill the number 2 GK jersey and a step up (albeit small step up) from Brad Jones and with Ward (who signed a contract extension) still a few years away in terms of experience we needed a back-up - I would have preferred someone more capable of pushing Mignolet for the Number 1 slot. Gomez is a young CB and with Skrtel getting older, he is likely to be a star of the future. Milner still surprises me. In terms of 'football' I don't see him getting into the squad in a Central Midfield position and lets be honest, he hasn't exactly impressed much from here at City or in an International shirt. At LB or Left Wing Back, where he played most often for City, he did well. With Enrique likely to leave it gives us an option. I believe his versatility and more important his experience, work rate and professionalism (to replace Gerrards) are the main reason we bought him but given the choice, I can see Can and Henderson playing there with Coutinho. If we play with the 3 CB's and 2 Wing Back's, Milner could play on the left with maybe Clyne? on the right. Fimino is likely to play up front in Sturridges position until he returns and then switch to the role Suarez played. Its still early days in the Transfer Window - it still hasn't officially opened.

I know LFC's fixtures are on paper at least, very difficult. This could work to our advantage as the other teams may not be at full speed yet and if we don't drop too many points, the 2nd half is certainly better in our favour as all those teams have to come to Anfield. I really don't understand why Rodgers is getting so much stick. Up until last year, he could do no wrong. We lose Suarez and then just after the transfer window closed, we lost Sturridge too. At Christmas we were still in all cups and in with a top 4 chance. Sturridge was due to come back too. Gerrard announced his decision, Sterling's contract saga started and just after the transfer window closed again we lost Sturridge for the rest of the season. We still made it to 2 semi-finals and a European cup competition despite all of this. I would be disappointed to see Rodgers go so early as I doubt we will be out of the cups by then and lets not forget how many players he has brought on that were struggling or probably wouldn't have had the chances.

Its obvious that Balotelli wasn't Rodgers decision and he was injured quite a bit too. Personally I have more animosity and blame to the 'transfer committee' and Ayre in particular - the amount of times his 'negotiations' have failed is unreal. I know Salah didn't work out for Chelsea but they came in and offered the full amount up front where as Ayre was offering £3m less but that £3m in add-ons and this is just one example! Every negotiation that failed is because of a few million which Ayre offers in Add-ons but the others want now. Say a player has a perceived value of £20m, Ayre approaches with £15m which is accepted to begin negotiations and then says we will pay you £12m now and £3m in add-ons that have no guarantee of being paid and then wonders why we lose out to other teams that step in with £15m up front - They get a £20m player for £15m and we end up picking up 'scraps' that Brendan Rodgers may not have wanted but has to work with. Mike Marsh was responsible for training and building up the team work (obviously lacking last season) and Pascoe was the assistant. We don't know what went on behind closed doors but those 2 are now gone - maybe they were responsible for the signing of Balotelli in the committee...

In terms of those players currently linked - Firmino (likely to sign soon after medical and work permit) Illarramendi (easily better than Lucas/Allen), Kovacic (highly talented creative young player), Bacca (experienced goal scorer), Rondon (another experience goal scorer), Clyne/Digne (talented RB's - a problem area for us) etc you would think we have a good chance of Silverware as well as challenging for that Top 4 position - even after a shaky start... What we don't need is upheaval after 10 matches - a new manager coming in to work with a team he hasn't picked etc. If Rodgers is to go, you need to think about that in March so a new manager has time to look at the players, see how they respond etc and then has Summer to rebuild ready for the next.

If LFC ever have a basketball team....

Can't see Sterling ever scoring a goal like this...

Think your bit on Milner is very harsh. He's impressed on every single appearance for Manchester City. Their boss did not want him to leave and their fans all wished him the best on leaving - that doesn't happen to bad players. Is he a Stevie G replacement, yes and no. No as in nobody can replace him as he was a phenomenal players, one of the best midfielders ever. Yes as in for the last three seasons he's been utter gash, no Liverpool fan has wanted to say it but it's true. It's his fault as much as Rodgers that we lost so many games last season (and the title the year before) in that he just can't play the role he was given. As soon as I saw him in midfield against Villa in the FA Cup I knew we'd lose. Their midfield was young and fast, they left him for dead, overran us and made us look amateurish. It happened every time we played him there sadly. It's no coincidence our best form came without him in the side. From that point of view Milner can replace him as he's an experienced older head who's been there and won almost all. He's ahead of Firmino for me as our signing of the summer so far in what he will bring to our players.

Ings is potential rather than finished product. He's a good striker though who will thrive if we play the sort of football we did in 13/14, as will Firmino. If we can get a South American forward and play in that sort of way again we could be potentially lethal on the counter. Sadly we'll probably start playing 6-3-1 with Ings, Firmino, Sturridge and Coutinho in defence.

Bogdan is an odd one. There's nothing wrong with him at all. He's an impressive keeper truth be told, but he's not going to really push Mingolet for the number one jersey. I'm not against this signing but I would have liked someone to challenge him more. He is a MASSIVE step up from Brad Jones, but that isn't saying much. A lump of coal would be a step up. Did you see him play for us? Dear God... the first he let in against Arsenal he watches go past him, land and nestle into the net and then dives to save it. Complete turnip.

Gomez is another for the future. A lot of football people are saying he could be very good and he looks it, but we don't half have a bad record with signing good young defenders and seeing them waste away (Hobbs, Paletta, Antwi, Mavinga, Ayala, Whitbread, Mikel San Jose, Wilson, Coates, Ilori(?)). He reminds me a bit of John Stones at Everton and if he's half as good as him already he'll be great. Would love to see him in Red but ain't gonna happen.

Ayre is very good at what he does at the club and should be left to it - sorting out sponsorship deals. He's not a player signer and shouldn't be used as one.
Marsh and Pascoe aren't on the fabled committee - they've been used as scapegoats by Rodgers, much like Balotelli has. Rodgers for me has burnt his bridges with the club now and I want him out. I'll support him as he is at the club I love but I am not happy with anything he does, especially the cowardly way he lets others be punished for his mistakes. Same goes for the committee.

Little bit on the others...

Arsenal - Cech is a huge signing (God knows why Mourinho would let him go to a rival) but is he going to make their defence concentrate for a whole ninety minutes and give them a proper defensive midfield leader? Nope. They need that sorted and a genuine great striker as Giroud is just not that. Can see them getting third again.

United - you may laugh but I honestly see them struggling this year. People bang on about LVG's track record but only because it's what they've been told. Look at it properly. Second season things start to mess up. He really isn't all that - a man who can take Bayern (in a one league team at the time) to fourth and take Barca (two league team) to third isn't what United need. LVG is basically what Rodgers will be like in his 60s, gets big jobs, initially impresses and then things start to go drastically wrong. They'll be fighting for fourth with us and probably Spurs, hopefully Southampton again too.

When I said Milner hasn't impressed - I was referring to when he plays in a central midfield role - a role he rarely played at City but often impressed as a Left Wing Back or Left midfielder. Seeing that friendly with England when he played in Midfield with Henderson also failed to impress. Personally I think from a footballing perspective, he is more likely to impress at LFC on the left wing back than playing in a central midfield role. His versatility though would mean that if Can or Henderson (or maybe Illarramendi if the rumours are true) are unavailable then he would be an adequate replacement. In terms of experience, professionalism, work rate and an example to all - the traits Gerrard had before his departure, then this is a great signing and those traits are why he is looked on fondly by City and their fans. He gets on and does his job tirelessly and never complains about where he is utilised or even if he warms the bench for most of the season. Its that attitude and experience that will be invaluable - particularly to the younger players and on the training field/changing room. Both Ings and Firminio are similar in age and both have a 1 in 3 goal ratio - although most of Firmino's are at a higher level. Firmino though plays in more varied positions and has a much higher assist count. Its not just the 'goals' though but the quality of those and as both Ings and Firmino are young, both have great potential but I think Firmino is a much better signing because of the creative and exciting spark he can bring as well as the difference in quality, control and flair too. For Brazil his strike rate is higher (1 in 2), in terms of dribbles and take-ons he was 4th overall in the whole of Europe and more successful (albeit slightly) than Messi - a lot higher than Neymar. From my perspective, I can't wait to watch him play. I know Ings is more about the work rate and nothing fancy but in all the matches I have seen, inc those u21 England matches, I am not overly impressed. Same with Milner - a good buy overall and a solid, reliable performer but not someone I would pay to watch - I know teams need a Milner!

This article may also help show why I am more excited by Firmino too

Ings for me could be brilliant. He's never going to be a world superstar but he already seems to get the club and you can see he's not just here for money. He generally gets Liverpool and is saying everything right. In a relegation fodder team he impressed. Only time will tell what he'd be like with players levels above that but I think his game is set right for us if we go back to the counter-attacking lightning play.

Seen Jordan Henderson in Costco today, he was right next to me didn't even realise until he went passed on the next aisle and was talking to his wife. Funny. Met John Barnes earlier in the year too I actually talked to him. But the best footy players ive met are;
Kevin Keegan - met him at an Anglian home improvements award party. He came out of the toilet before his motivational talk when I was going in and got a photo with him at the toilet entrance. There's more to that tale though Keegan is a top top bloke.

Jan Molby - In the Rose and Crown in Wallasey 15 years ago I went into the urinal and Jan molby had a pee next to me. I got stage fright. Lol.