Topic: The Push Square Football (Soccer) Thread

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.

Living in Formby you see a load of Liverpool players. Had drinks in the pub with Gerrard, Carroll, Johnson, Downing, Maxi, Henderson and Adam one night a few seasons ago (was funny as someone came into The Freshy and started bad mouthing Carroll, not realising he was stood right behind him. Got a right fright when he turned round, haha) and season before last my cousin and I were joined at the bar in The Grapes by Gerrard to watch Chelsea beat United 3-1 - he swore more than me and I swear a lot during football. Back in The Freshy during a quiz night I also was accidentally racist to Glen Johnson. He evil eyed me all night. But then he scored the next game so I like to think that's because of me. Hear West Ham are after him now, poor bastards.

At the risk of making myself sound a right ponce, footballers don't faze me as I've grown up seeing them, red and blue, all my life. Served Duncan Ferguson on my first day in my first job in a papershop, served Kenny Dalglish with his wife and (stunningly beautiful) daughter Kelly when I worked in a cinema. Sounds a cliche but you realise they're people. Plus, to me, footballers aren't celebrities anyway. Despite me idolising them I don't care about them. Now if David Bowie walked past I would turn into a gibbering wreck.

Only time I've ever freaked out is when I saw Fernando Morientes as he was my favourite ever player and we'd just signed him. I was like a kid at Christmas. Only time I've ever asked someone for an autograph. Nearly fanboyed when I was seeing a girl in Heswall and we were in a cafe and in walked Fowler, Rush, Barnes, McAteer and McManaman to do a podcast interview thing.

^ realise how much of a bellend parts of that makes me sound :') oh well.

@rastamadeus: That happens In Formby pal its the posh part of Liverpool. I've never been bothered by footballers but I've always seen them in a football or presentation capacity, Henderson was buying nappies for his kids he was right next to me, I kind of said scuse me - I think he thought I recognised him - but I was trying to get nappies myself and didn't even look at him to be fair - He looked up and there was this weird few seconds were I didn't know who he was and then it dawned on me. Bizarre but there you go. The most famous scouser I met was Dean Sullivan (jimmy corkhill) my mates dad used to drive him to the set. He lived in a pretty grim part of the Wirral down near to seacombe. And I don't think he slept with Fred the weatherman.

Anyways to get the thread back on track the Women's world cup was great wasn't it?

@rastamadeus: That happens In Formby pal its the posh part of Liverpool. I've never been bothered by footballers but I've always seen them in a football or presentation capacity, Henderson was buying nappies for his kids he was right next to me, I kind of said scuse me - I think he thought I recognised him - but I was trying to get nappies myself and didn't even look at him to be fair - He looked up and there was this weird few seconds were I didn't know who he was and then it dawned on me. Bizarre but there you go. The most famous scouser I met was Dean Sullivan (jimmy corkhill) my mates dad used to drive him to the set. He lived in a pretty grim part of the Wirral down near to seacombe. And I don't think he slept with Fred the weatherman.

Anyways to get the thread back on track the Women's world cup was great wasn't it?

Half of it's posh, I can assure you not all of it is. Especially where I am haha. Most famous scouser I've met is Ricky Tomlinson. I was so happy to realise he doesn't actually act, it's just him naturally. He's so loud too.

Women's World Cup has been marvellous I've thought. It's the first tournament in twenty years I've supported England as I've actually seen people showing pride, passion, belief, honour, commitment and desire with the three lions on their shirt. You don't get that from Rooney and co. The collective men's England team don't show anything other than a desire to get the game done and go home. Compare Fara Williams to Raheem Sterling and it's embarrassing. Really hope the good feeling carries into the league (bought a season ticket for Liverpool Ladies today for £15!) and the women's game continues to develop. Compare it now - around thirty years in - to how the men's game was at a similar age and it's miles ahead.

The only downside of this tournament is the final, after all the progress shown it feels a bit cheap and reverting to the old ways to see one side annihilate the other. Glad Japan are putting up a fight finally though.

Any chance a mod can change the title of this thread? There's no such thing as soccer - despite how hard the American's try and force it, the game is called football. It's called football in every single country in the world bar one. We don't call American football glorified rugby for pansies.

@rastamadeus: The reason soccer is there is because someone will see football and then start talking about NFL or college football. You should know that.

@Tasuki: Only an American though. As I said, every other country in the world calls it football so that is the name. If American's confuse football with a game were most of the time the ball is in your hand that's their fault. It's not like me starting a new thread about 'what's the best type of fag you've ever had' and then American's getting heated (or you editing it out) when here fag means cigarette because at least in that case the word has two different meanings. Soccer just doesn't exist. Plus the word has absolutely nothing to do with football and sounds horrible. May just seem like I'm nitpicking, maybe I am as it is 2am :')

Wildly off topic there, although technically it is about football so guess not. Back completely on topic, when did Xabi Alonso have a sex change and become American? Never seen him and Carli Lloyd in the same room and her third goal is pure Alonso. Not just the range and vision but the style of how she did it. Reminded me of the mercurial Spaniard.

@rastamadeus: Yeah well I don't want people complain that someone is derailing the thread by discussing how the 49ers are doing this week. Your just nitpicking get some sleep there pal.

And yes the other day I almost edited out "fag" the other day when someone was talking about cigarettes but then I caught myself.

@Tasuki: I think that was me pal - ive actually stopped smoking 🚬 for the last 6 days

I like both sports, my favourite NFL team is the 90s Cowboys team with Emmitt Smith and Troy Aikman. My favourite footy team is obviously Everton with Dixie Dean and Big Nev the best players.

Flash fantasy footy, pick 6 players. A Goaly, centre back, defensive back, central midfielder, winger and forward. Rule 1 - max of 2 players from any BPL team. Rule 2 - you can only pick a maximum of 3 same players as the person before you. Runs until game 6 of the Premier League....Go.._.Entrees in before the firt game of the season.

GK: Courtois
D: Koscielny
D: Clyne
M: Hazard
W: Silva
CF: Aguero

GK Courtois
CB Stones
RB Coleman
CM Fellaini
RW Walcott
CF Ings

@themcnoisy: You should spin this out as its own thread, my man. I'd be up for it.

Hmmm Sony is now offer Fox Soccer Now nationwide through its Vue service for 12.99 a month. Seriously tempted to try it out for my soccer fix.

@Tasuki the only league worth watching is the English premier league and the European Champions League