21 Aug 2018 14:34:14
Ed01 if you're around, i read your match report and where lallana is concerned, completely agree, he had a really good season for us a couple of years back and has looked off the pace ever since, I don't see how he is above a lot of our reserves at present, do you believe he can recapture his form of a few years back, I would personally like to see him resurrect his career in a mid table team and give more game time to others. He seems to be a nice enough lad around the squad but with the improvements we've made, I just seem to have a bad feeling every time he comes on as a sub, it seems our attacking game breaks down and he doesn't offer much in his defensive game. Also, do you feel Klopp see's something we don't as Klopp seems to be a big fan.

{Ed001's Note - no, I would get rid because I am sick of his pronouncements to the press about what he is going to do. They are always followed up by him playing crap for a while. He needs to shut up.}

1.) 21 Aug 2018
21 Aug 2018 14:56:12
He does seem to love to see his words in print.

{Ed001's Note - it drives me mad, never talk about what you will do, talk about what you have done. If you haven't done anything, then keep it shut. He never stops jabbering on. He should let his football do the talking for him, because he has the talent to do so.}

2.) 21 Aug 2018
21 Aug 2018 15:10:31
Don't under estimate lallana. I don't know what he is saying to the press. But I agree he needs to shut up and focus on his game. He is now fully fit and a decent player to bring on. He had no effect on the cl final but he was way off match sharpness.

He has had much more than 1 good season and when he came on yesterday we didn't suddenly get worse. We even scored. He has something different to a lot of players. He can go round a man and is an intelligent player. I hope the ox is not going to be forgotten the way Lallana has been forgotton. Klopp is not playing him out of charity. Reserve player? Based on what? A few below fitness level performances.

He has been a match winner for us many times and has played for England a lot. We have a lot of games this year and are going to need all our experienced players.

3.) 21 Aug 2018
21 Aug 2018 15:26:19
Given he’s player that relies so heavily on movement and interlinking play, he really needs be playing regularly with the team to build intuitive relationships and be at his most effective IMO (otherwise be just holds the ball way too long while he figures out where everyone is) . The problem is I’m not sure he’s not good enough to to be a guaranteed starter anymore, and I’d much rather see Shaqiri off the bench so agree with you Ed.

The awful mouthing off to the press is so annoying as well. No need to speak about what you’re going to do before you’ve done it.

4.) 21 Aug 2018
21 Aug 2018 15:47:32
Shaqiri has played 2 friendlies, lallana got us into the champions league. I know what you mean about him needing to build intuitive relationships with the players around him but players don't just play one match a week, they train together all week.

The level at Liverpool has definitely gone up and I still think lallana is good enough.

5.) 21 Aug 2018
21 Aug 2018 16:07:33
Robbie, agree 100%! Short memories on here sometimes. Lallana has given this club a lot. He has a contract with the club which he will honour and continue to give us all as he has done since he joined.

A big favourite of Klopps and the boys too. A very good player t be bringing on off the bench at present.

{Ed0333's Note - Quantify exactly what Lalana has ‘given’ this club please?

6.) 21 Aug 2018
21 Aug 2018 16:23:26
Everything needs to be seen within context. Lallana was an important player for Southampton for that particular team, as he was for our team during Klopp's first year. My recollection of him for that season is made up mostly of pressing effectively but blunting most attacks with countless Cruyff turns and dilly-dallying with the ball (hardly what you want from your AM is it? ) . That season you would read the words "headless chicken" almost daily over here (in regards to either him or Milner or both) . I don't doubt his effort, nor his work rate, but the team has evolved and moved on. I have nothing agianst him, and I am sure he is a thorough professional, but I don't see the place he has in this particular team, in LFC's current context.

As far as the OX is concerned, I think LFC fans have to be given more credit than that. He turned many doubters into believers and he is genuinely well liked (my opinion based on what i read on these pages) . And if he continues giving his all after he comes back, then i don't see why he will be forgotten. Look at how well Danny Ings was treated by LFC fans. The man did not even start 10 first team games in his 3 years with us, but everyone had nothing but sympathy and gratitude for his efforts. I see no reason the Ox will be treated differently. And Ox is different from Lallana simply because he fits in within the current context, while I believe Lallana does not. If you can't see how Ox's direct style of play fits in so much better than Lallana's indecisive doodling with the ball, not much I can say.

7.) 21 Aug 2018
21 Aug 2018 16:32:35
I am surpised shaq wasnt given an opportunity yesterday.

8.) 21 Aug 2018
21 Aug 2018 16:39:00
I’d rather give any chances to Shaqiri as he hasn’t had a fair shot yet - course he hasn’t it’s only been two games - my point being is Lallana has had years and produced half a season, Shaqiri can produce more if given game time.
I hope he doesn’t get pissed off before we get busy and still puts in effort.

9.) 21 Aug 2018
21 Aug 2018 16:39:54
I think he is a good option when a team is trying to park the bus and you'll have a lot of the ball around there box

In these situations he is defentily better then wijnaldum who likes to play sideways passes

And I think teams will try sit back a lot this season.

10.) 21 Aug 2018
21 Aug 2018 17:00:59
Ar ay, lallana doesn't seem to fit in with the context for this Liverpool side because he has been out for a long time with injury and we have not seen him at his best for well over a year.

The ox's brilliant performances are still fresh in the memory but Adam lallana was probably playing better before his injury than the ox was before his. Lallana is a classic klopp type player so how he doesn't "fit in with the context" I don't understand.

Once we have a brilliant season, sadly without Alex, maybe challenging for the league, maybe winning it, after a season of blistering performances from keita, fabhino, Henderson, maybe lallana then the same comment about context and lallana will be applied to the ox. We will have moved on.

Now I firmly believe the ox will be back, starting games for Liverpool. I was glad when we signed him, and he was better than expected and I think he has the ability to come back. It won't happen straight away, he will need to build his match fitness. I also think lallana will get back to starting games for Liverpool and playing well. I'd bet on it.

Lallana had three good seasons under his belt before getting injured. One brilliant season and it has all been forgotten. He is a reserve player in some people's minds. The ox had a really good half season and I think it will be forgotten. You can't say you don't forget as that is the nature of forgetting. You don't choose to and you can't predict it. You can have an opinion based on other cases, such as lallana being forgotten and predict the same will happen to the current acm who is out with a serious injury, aoc.

I hope lallana proves his doubters wrong and I hope the ox gets back quickly and comes back strong. Because they are Liverpool players and i love Liverpool and want them to do well.

That said, lallana needs to do his talking on the pitch. Prove it.

11.) 21 Aug 2018
21 Aug 2018 17:07:49
Perfect summary ArAy. Lallana is a decent player and he did a crucial job for us when Klopp first came in, but we’ve evolved to a much more direct style of play and I think Ox is the future along with Keita.

12.) 21 Aug 2018
21 Aug 2018 17:16:32
And Danny ings is different. He joined after a great season with Burnley and barely kicked a ball before suffering an awful injury, then it happened again. You'd need a Stone heart not feel for the lad.

But at the end of the day we sold him. (and he looks amazing, better than I ever thought he was)

I'm not slating Liverpool fans, most haven't forgotten lallana. All fans are the same, from all teams, especially the younger fans, it's the instant gratification culture, it breeds short memories.

13.) 21 Aug 2018
21 Aug 2018 17:21:38
Liverpool are direct on the counter but we are far from just a counter attacking team. Lallana has a part to play, he has the ability to open up defences.

In a team you don't have just one type of player of course. Nor two types or three. Lallana has a quality to his game. He is a fantastic player.

14.) 21 Aug 2018
21 Aug 2018 19:36:25
He is far from a fantastic player. Last night he was in 20 yards of pass and should of driven forward, but instead does what he always does a turn and pass it square. He is offering nothing at the moment.

15.) 21 Aug 2018
21 Aug 2018 19:46:18
Robbie, Lallana has always had a gob on him. The lad with his talent, should be bossing guys in midfield. Why? My dad (ex-footballer at a decent amateur level) used to tell me that a two footed player is the MOST dangerous player on the pitch cos he is the MOST unpredictable. Lallana is way too talented due to him being two-footed BUGT he seems to just talk much more than he plays. Lallana again, should just shut his trap and get it done where it matters, ON THE PITCH.

You say people have short memories cos we are slating him while forgetting that he contributed to us getting in to the CL THREE seasons ago. That makes no sense. News Flash: We are WAY ahead of that LFC team and btw he was NOT the only one who did his part. Bobbie, Hendo, Cou, Can, Wiji, even Migs and of course, Mane did their bits as well.

Now look at what Mane, Wiji, Hendo, and Bobbie have become now esp. Bobbie and Mane now bordering on world class and Hendo becoming a true leader of men. They are much better players than they were back then. Maybe if Lallana could just shut his gob for 5 seconds and focuses on his job instead of talking about what he will do on the pitch (we don't really know cos he NEVER plays), he would prolly improve himself like the others have.

{Ed0333's Note - fabulous post that mate. I was outraged when Lalana played before shaquiri or Sturridge but we trust in Klopp. Hopefully he let him have a few minutes so clubs realize he’s actually fit and put in a bid for him.

16.) 21 Aug 2018
21 Aug 2018 20:12:44
Yeah good post, but it wasn't 3 years ago it was the season before last. Lallana has offered nothing lately I agree but it's been two matches and he didn't start either. I think he will get there. The team has moved on of course but lallana wasn't dropped because he wasn't good enough, he was injured. Judging him on his performances since his injury isn't a fair shout as he hasn't been fit. That isn't an excuse it's a fact.

He was one of our best players before his injury and I think that has to come into consideration.

17.) 21 Aug 2018
21 Aug 2018 20:59:24
Robbie, I meant to say 2 seasons ago BUT notwithstanding, look at how far we and the players I mentioned have come. I agree that he has been injured HOWEVER players coming off an injury mostly focus on getting back to where they were instead of mouthing off to the media about what they would do when they play (we don't see it cos he does not play) .

The fact of the matter is that Lallana needs to keep his head down, get better on the pitch and do his talking there cos mind you, this is NOT 16/ 17 where we did not know if we could get top 4 or not. This is 18/ 19 where many are expecting LFC to get at City and the LFC team he flourished in NO LONGER EXISTS. The team we have now is on another planet in comparison (even tho several players from that team are in this one BUT have UPPED their game) and he had better shut his mouth, UP his game and get with the NEW programme OR be left in the dust. It's his choice.

18.) 21 Aug 2018
21 Aug 2018 21:13:19
Lallana was at his best just before he got injured. Couldn't agree more Eds1 in fact I think my Mrs has an illness called Lallana syndrome where she talks what she is going to do but n never does it, harsh I know.

19.) 21 Aug 2018
21 Aug 2018 22:08:07
I totally agree brover. I'm pretty sure no one give a solitary f##k what lallana says if he isn't playing well. We don't want to hear it, we want the form of early 16/ 17 season back.

If he can get back to that level he definitely has something to offer this team. He's good at nicking the ball but in recent performances, once he has nicked it he is just playing a safe square pass. When one of his biggest assets in this klopp team is the ability to nick the ball and start an attack.

I also think he is at that age where the legs just start to show the first signs of slipping. Pace was never his game but it must effect his game. He can beat players. I think he may have to readjust a little.

Look, I don't think he is the saviour of Liverpool or anything. But comments like "lallana is at reserve level" are just not true. I think he plays better when he starts. He is good at the explosive starts klopp demands. I don't think he is an impact player, but that's really only based on his performances since the injury as he was nearly always a starter before.

20.) 22 Aug 2018
22 Aug 2018 00:33:02
Robbie I don't know what lallana your talking about because the Lapland that's playing now is too slow holds the ball for too long and tries too many touches. Our game has moved on from there it's too fast for him, he doesn't suit our game game now were are now one touch football and direct. We now have better players on the bench shaquiri, sturridge, even hendo who are more direct. I think he need to be moved on for the sake of his career because it after stagnating now. It's only my opinion if he stays u will support him if he goes best of luck to him .

{Ed0333's Note - who will pay good money for a 30 year plus injury prone player whose on a downward trajectoary?

21.) 22 Aug 2018
22 Aug 2018 02:38:21
I think lovren does thensame and we kinda usually loose after lovren says something like we can win, we are not afraid of anyone etc😅😅.

22.) 22 Aug 2018
22 Aug 2018 08:43:43
Lallana has basically been left standing whilst the squad has evolved and improved. He was a better player at the beginning of Klopp's tenure - that may of been down to the lack of quality in the squad at that time making him look good, he may have simply been a better player at that time - but there is no doubt that, at this moment in time, he is not really good enough. The fact he loves talking himself up to the press is an added annoyance but I could take that if he was putting in consistently good performances. I suspect he may have been shipped out already had it not been for the severity of Oxlaide's injury.

23.) 22 Aug 2018
22 Aug 2018 10:49:58
Ed033 fortunately I’m not in to discarding players at the drop of a hat.

Quantify what he has given the club?

Years of service as a player with no trouble, scored goals, created chances, pressed well and worked hard even in the Rodgers days.

He trains hard and well (not many players do), great member of the squad who all the staff and players get on with.

Good technical player, who (bar man city) is one of the best midfield players coming off bench in the premier league as a subsotute right now so has an important role still to play.

Persoanlly I don’t buy into this discarding of players mentality that some have. Lalllana is still coming back from an injury heavy season last year and obviously in Klopps opinion deserves to be given game time (hence his choice) .

Shaqiri is the new shiny toy.

That’s my view.

{Ed0333's Note - I appreciate your sentiments but don’t concur mate. Just because he trains hard, has not given us any trouble doesn’t mean he should be in the squad. I feel lalanna is not suited to our system and we can’t afford any passengers. I’m not even sure the last time he pressed, scored a goal or created a chance. I would give lalanas place to Curtis Jones as I feel he is just as good momentarily.