Liverpool 2014-15: Now Is Time On Merseyside When We Dance

[DLew On Roids]

Will Coates return to anchor the back four?
 
Is Suso the new Sterling?
 
Fabio Borini: Can he save Liverpool from relegation to the Europa League?
 
Who's uglier: Daniel Agger or Martin Skrtel?
 
How much time does Mamadou Sakho spend getting his hair done?
 
Does Jon Flanagan have skin cancer?
 
What tires more quickly: Glen Johnson or a Carrottop routine?
 
Does Tiago Ilori actually exist?
 
So many questions.

 

[SoxFanInCali]

If Liverpool win it next season, then clearly I was a jinx starting the thread all these years.
 
The team will play a friendly against Shamrock Rovers in Dublin tomorrow.  The main attraction will be the debut of next season's away kit.  It's rumored to be bright yellow.  Given what Warrior have come up with the last couple of years...I am afraid.
 
Tickets for the friendly against Roma at Fenway go on sale Friday.  I am considering hanging around Boston for a few days after the bash for this.  Who else is planning on going?

 

[JayMags71]

I'm going. It will be a family outing for us, though.

 

[swiftaw]

If Liverpool win it next season, then clearly I was a jinx starting the thread all these years.
 
The team will play a friendly against Shamrock Rovers in Dublin tomorrow.  The main attraction will be the debut of next season's away kit.  It's rumored to be bright yellow.  Given what Warrior have come up with the last couple of years...I am afraid.
 
Tickets for the friendly against Roma at Fenway go on sale Friday.  I am considering hanging around Boston for a few days after the bash for this.  Who else is planning on going?

It is bright yellow, and the third kit is black with some red: http://www.historicalkits.co.uk/Liverpool/Liverpool-change-kits.html

 

[soxfan121]

Will Coates return to anchor the back four?
 
Is Suso the new Sterling?
 
Fabio Borini: Can he save Liverpool from relegation to the Europa League?
 
Who's uglier: Daniel Agger or Martin Skrtel?
 
How much time does Mamadou Sakho spend getting his hair done?
 
Does Jon Flanagan have skin cancer?
 
What tires more quickly: Glen Johnson or a Carrottop routine?
 
Does Tiago Ilori actually exist?
 
So many questions.

 
I assume it is just coincidence that the answers to your first four questions are: No, No, No, Skrtel(!)
 
Which would be a good thread title at some point, given how often it gets posted. 

 

[PedroSpecialK]

I don't mind the new aways or 3rds:
 
From the above link - away:
 

 
3rd: 
 

 
 
Then again anything without Duck Hunt pixellation would've been a step up

 

[SoxFanInCali]

The away kit looks almost exactly like the 06-07 aways, except without the Adidas 3 stripes.
 
I think the 3rd kit would look better if they got rid of the red diagonal stripe, but it's not horrible.  As PSK said, there really was nowhere to go but up.

 

[Conigliaro's Potential]

So many questions.

 
And you didn't even ask the big one: will Suarez still be at Liverpool next year? (And if he's not, how big a blow will that be?)

 

[Nick Kaufman]

And if he's not, how big a blow will that be?
 

Huger than the Apprentice, Sunday on NBC!

 

[SoxFanInPdx]

I like the Lallana talk, but at 26 years old he doesn't seem like an FSG type of signing. 
 
Honestly, with having Champions League we should be setting our sights higher. I'd love it if we put in a bid for Isco. He just missed out on the World Cup due to rotting away on Real Madrid's bench and I think he could be had. At 22 with his skill and pace, he would be a fantastic addition for Rodgers. 

 

[5050HindSight]

For some reason I thought the Fenway pre-sale already happened, but apparently it begins today at noon. So I think I'm going to go.
 
Is anyone here looking for tickets? I might be able to get a few extra.

 

[Gunfighter 09]

I don't mind the new aways or 3rds:
 
From the above link - away:
 

 
3rd: 
 

 
 
Then again anything without Duck Hunt pixellation would've been a step up

These are both really well done.

 

[DLew On Roids]

Looks like Stephen Sama, centre-half of the future, has a future at Bochum.

 

[SoxFanInCali]

Liverpool will be in pot 3 for the Champions League draw.  It looks like the run to the Europa semis in 09-10 kept us out of pot 4. 
 
Possible opponents from pot 1: Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Benfica, Atletico Madrid, FC Porto (if they win their playoff).
Possible opponents from pot 2: Schalke, Borussia Dortmund, Juventus, Paris Saint-Germain, Shakhtar Donetsk, FC Basel, Zenit St Petersburg (if they win their playoff).
 
If that doesn't sound like enough fun, Roma and Monaco will be lurking in pot 4.  This could potentially be a brutal welcome back to Europe.

 

[fletcherpost]

So do Arsenal Chelsea and Man U go straight into pot one and City in Pot Two?

Sorry was autopiloting when I wrote the above, don't mean to offend Man U fans on this forum. I'll refrain from deletion to prove I am Unpontifflike and humanly fallible

 

[teddykgb]

fletch you've been killing it the last week.  That post in the Arsenal thread before it was locked was amazing.

 

[JayMags71]

Well, this can't be good.

Luis Suárez's World Cup for Uruguay in doubt after knee injury

The 27-year-old Liverpool striker had an MRI scan on Wednesday which revealed damage to the meniscus in the knee, with the team doctor deciding surgery was necessary. Liverpool, meanwhile, are awaiting an update from their own medical staff.

 

[Conigliaro's Potential]

It could be great for Liverpool if it keeps Real Madrid from poaching him...

 

[JayMags71]

 

[Mighty Joe Young]

Brendan Rodgers re-ups with a new 4 year deal ..

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/may/26/liverpool-manager-brendan-rodgers-new-deal

This should keep any covetous eyes away for a couple of years anyways.

 

[candylandriots]

Liverpool looking into Crystal Palace's Yannick Bolasie

 

[DLew On Roids]

The Liverpool Offside repeats Marca's reportthat Liverpool and Sevilla are close to a deal sending 21-YO Spanish international left back Alberto Moreno to Anfield for 20 million plus Suso.

 

[MiracleOfO2704]

In the car, but talksport in the UK is saying Ricky Lambert is on his way to Liverpool.

Silly season!

 

[cjdmadcow]

I must admit that Lambert wasn't the first name I expected to sign from Southampton. 
 
He's a local, was in the Liverpool system as a kid and at £4M then he's a good backup as long as he doesn't expect to take everyday time out of Sturridge.
 
Not sure why Rickie would agree to this but I expect the situation at Southampton in the next few weeks to resemble the last few hours of the Titanic, so a return home could be the lure.

 

[fletcherpost]

Yea i was thinking the same thing; Carling Cup and Burnley away, he may get playing time. A fifteen minute run out when they're 3-0 up at home in an EPL match. And £4M is not a huge outlay.

 

[MiracleOfO2704]

Crazier than even going for Lambert is this article from the Mirror claiming Liverpool are still in for both Lallana AND Lovran as well.

 

[PedroSpecialK]

To be honest, I think he'd figure in even more than the odd Cup match, and for good reason.
 
By year's end Suarez was burned out IMO, so having a proven EPL striker like Lambert as cover who can step in at opportune times is crucial. He could play at home to poor sides, as one of two strikers in an early CL match, and in cup matches without a significant downgrade in ability (glaring at you, Aspas).
 
If Liverpool sell Suarez and don't get another striker, then...

 

[DLew On Roids]

He also gives them a Plan B when the tornado of small, fast attackers can't break down a defense.

It seems like smart depth move, and a chance for Lambert to come home for the next (likely last) phase of his career. Pretty cool for him.

 

[Morgan's Magic Snowplow]

I was just looking at Lambert's wikipedia page and he has a truly amazing footballing story - booted from the Liverpool youth system at 15, booted from the Blackpool youth system at 18, a short stint working in a beetroot factory looking for some other chance, then working his way up slowly through the ranks. He didn't even play as high as the Championship until he was 29-years-old but he ends up making a great run as one of the best players in the Championship for a few seasons and then as a respectable Premier League goalscorer for another couple. Going home to his boyhood club in Liverpool (and probably cashing in a tiny bit) seems like a great way to cap off an underdog career that he clearly earned the hard way at every step.

 

[fletcherpost]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/27371960
 
"Liverpool have made a final offer of £25m for Southampton midfielder Adam Lallana.
The Reds want to complete the deal swiftly or they will consider moving on to alternative transfer targets."
 
I Like that they're being agressive in terms of wanting to get a yea o nae on this move. This was the BBC's write up on Lallana's performance yesterday v Peru.
 
"Another composed performance that suggested Lallana - who created more Premier League chances than any other Englishman last season - is at home on the international stage. Brilliant two-footed, slaloming run in the first half that led to Sturridge shooting wide. More of England's attacking play went through the Southampton captain in the second half before he was replaced by Milner."

 

[Morgan's Magic Snowplow]

 

[SoxFanInPdx]

Well, Can appears to be on his way. 
 
Here's a good article about him. Very exciting transfer.
 
 
http://www.vavel.com/en/international-football/germany-bundesliga/356837-emrecanliverpool.html?c=0

 

[PedroSpecialK]

Pretty excited for Can's arrival. Hopeful that they can lock up Moreno as well, though it looks like Lallana is less likely without a formal transfer request.
 
Also, as a part of this move, the buy-back clause for summer '15 that Bayern held has been eliminated in exchange for €2m.
 
That is to say, they
 
Can't
 
buy him back.
 

 

[DLew On Roids]

Conor Dowley's scouting report on Can reminds me of a certain club captain:
 

 Charges at defenders with the ball

 Not flashy in the short passing game, but loves the long ball

 Good in the air for a midfielder (hopefully he keeps the elbows down)

 Sometimes lacks positional awareness

 Can get wound up
 
I guess only time will tell if he has a knack for banging them in in injury time.  The major difference seems to be that he's playing DM from the start of his career, not as it winds down.  

 

[SoxFanInCali]

While we were all watching US-Ghana, the boss decided to check out the Red Sox game.
 

 

[JayMags71]

Is the blonde the future ex-Mrs. Rodgers # 2?

 

[soxfan121]

She kinda looks like Brendan farted.

 

[Morgan's Magic Snowplow]

She kinda looks like Brendan farted.

 
He does have that "casually lifting one cheek and maybe nobody notices" tilt.

 

[soxfan121]

Guy on the right is also has the makings of the stink face.

 

[DLew On Roids]

Is the blonde the future ex-Mrs. Rodgers # 2?

 
Man, I hope so.
 
Oh, you were talking about Brendan.

 

[SoxFanInCali]

With England out so early, I wonder if some of the regulars will make it to Boston for the friendly at Fenway.  I doubt many would play much, if at all, but I was originally expecting most of them to not even make the trip.

 

[BigPapiLumber Co.]

Assuming Suarez isn't in La Liga next season, does the Premier League have jurisdiction to suspend him?

 

[Vinho Tinto]

Assuming Suarez isn't in La Liga next season, does the Premier League have jurisdiction to suspend him?

 
 FIFA can impose a suspension that leagues around the world would adhere to. 

 

[Morgan's Magic Snowplow]

 
 FIFA can impose a suspension that leagues around the world would adhere to. 

 
Is there actual precedent for FIFA doing something like that (suspending a player in his domestic league for on-field actions in an international)?

 

[JayMags71]

https://twitter.com/geofflemonsport/status/481492585702121472

 

[Vinho Tinto]

 
Is there actual precedent for FIFA doing something like that (suspending a player in his domestic league for on-field actions in an international)?

 
Joao Pinto was suspended for six months for punching a ref in the nuts at the 2002 World Cup. He could not play for Sporting, or any club, until his suspension was done. 

 

[Morgan's Magic Snowplow]

Joao Pinto was suspended for six months for punching a ref in the nuts at the 2002 World Cup. He could not play for Sporting, or any club, until his suspension was done.

Wow, that's certainly pretty strong precedent. Biting probably isn't viewed quite as negatively as assaulting a referee but given Suarez' multiple offenses then maybe we will see a significant suspension. Liverpool have a pretty rough start to the fixture list from the looks of it (Soton, @City, @Spurs, Villa, @West Ham, Everton) so even a relatively short suspension could hurt.

 

[67YAZ]

In a matter if moments I went from, "I hope Liverpool can hold out and not sell" to "I wonder how much this hurts his value?"

 

[CPT Neuron]

How much worse is this than the Nigel DeJong kung fu style ninja kick in the last World Cup?  I know there is a multiplicity of offenses at play here, but how much worse can this be compared to that?

 

[PedroSpecialK]

How much worse is this than the Nigel DeJong kung fu style ninja kick in the last World Cup?  I know there is a multiplicity of offenses at play here, but how much worse can this be compared to that?

 

 
De Jong hadn't blatantly kung fu'd a guy twice in the past 5 seasons