re: OFFICIAL Liverpool FC 2014-2015 Season Long Thread

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I know Im probably in the minority here

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I have summarised the main points of the webchat:

The effect of our early CL exit on potential earnings:

Not getting through our CL group cost us £3m in prize money from UEFA (excluding the extra money which more games in the competition would have brought in).

Getting through the last 16 into the quarters would have brought in another £4m.

LFC will have made around £23m from being back in the CL, they would have hoped that figure to have been considerably over £30m.
Whether we will stick with the 3421 formation against Arsenal:
If Rodgers is bold on Sunday and goes for it he'll stick with 3-4-2-1. But I'm sure in the back of his mind he will be wary of making the game too open when Arsenal have such quality going forward.


On Sakho's immediate future and whether he'll play more regularly:

With Lovren's groin problem, it's likely that Sakho will get a rare start against Arsenal. Then it's up to him to show he deserves to hold down a place.


On reports of Liverpool looking at goalkeepers to sign and January transfers in general:

Liverpool are certainly in the market for a new keeper. Rodgers wanted greater cover for Mignolet last summer but missed out on Vorm and McCarthy.

I'm told there is no truth in speculation that LFC will sign Ochoa. The club were offered him for nothing last summer and declined so it would be odd if six months on they decided to pay £3m for him.

*Ideally, Rodgers would like a keeper and a striker in January. But it all depends on cost/availability. Selling Borini would boost the kitty.


On rumours of the reviewing of our transfer strategy:

Not that I know of. FSG have always been into buying young talent with potential and trusting the manager to help take that player to the next level.

I can't see Liverpool suddenly deciding to splash out £50m/£60m on an established star name.


On our loan players and their futures at Liverpool:

I don't think we'll ever see Aspas back at Anfield

It's highly unlikely Alberto will force his way back into the plans

The big one for me is Jordon Ibe. I've always been massively impressed by him. He has all the tools to be a huge star. I honestly think he could be as good as Sterling or even better. I'm sure this season will do him the world of good and I'm excited about seeing his development when he returns to Anfield in 2015.


On whether Lovren is the answer to our defensive problems:

When Lovren signed I thought it was great business. He had a fine season for Southampton and looked to be exactly what Liverpool needed. But 6 months on he's been a big disappointment.

He looks like a bag of nerves and his positional play is all over the shop. He was supposed to the leader and organiser at the back but he's been rash and spread panic.

What I'd say is that he's clearly a lot better than he has shown us so far this season. I wouldn't write him off yet and with the club having paid £20m for him he will certainly get more opportunities to put the torrid start to his Anfield career behind him.

In terms of the best back four? If everyone was fit and available at the moment I'd have: Flanagan, Skrtel, Toure, Moreno


On why Rodgers can't organise a solid defence:

It's a long-running issue and the frustration is that it's the basics which Liverpool have failed to do defensively so often this season.

I asked Rodgers about the possibility of appointing a defensive coach recently but he dismissed the idea. He said he had all the staff he needed already on board to put things right.

When you're an attacking side, you are always going to be more vulnerable at the other end but the vast majority of goals conceded so far this season have been down to sloppy, individual errors.


On potential transfer funds in January:

There is money to spend but not a great deal. The idea was always to do vast majority of business last summer. Selling Borini should boost the pot.


On the returns of Suso and Flanagan:

Flanno due back in mid Jan

Suso still recovering from groin op


On whether Liverpool could've/should've done more when attempting to sign Alexis Sanchez:

I think they should have done more to get him. ie. put pressure on Barca and/or offer Sanchez more £££


And finally, the answer we'd all been waiting for, James' favourite McDonald's branch:

The 24-hour one on the outskirts of Sofia. I had to hurdle two fences and cross a dual carriageway just to get there from my hotel. I then had to walk through the drivethru to order and a lot of pointing and gesturing followed before the lovely Bulgarian lady realised I was after a large Big Mac deal with a side order of nuggets (it had been a long night).

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