The on topic thread

[jd2010]

To be fair they had similar records over the last two seasons.

Firmino is the real star though. No better performing player in the PL than him since the start of 2016. Real world class potential long term.

Yeah but one was a few years younger with clearly more upside in him which he has shown this season. People wrote him off as if hed reached his peak at 22

 

[Zidane98]

Who was writing either of them off? Benteke was clearly the better player last season. Lukaku this season. Unfortunately for Benteke he is at he wrong club go suit his style. He'll bang the goals in elsewhere if he gets a move.

 

[jd2010]

Again the clearly the better player LOLs

They've had similar records going into this season. With one being younger with more room to improve. How anyone could not see that going into the season is beyond me

 

[SM]

Who was writing either of them off? Benteke was clearly the better player last season. Lukaku this season. Unfortunately for Benteke he is at he wrong club go suit his style. He'll bang the goals in elsewhere if he gets a move.

Not sure how Benteke was better last season when he was injured for half of it.

But yes I was one of the ones saying Benteke was equal to Lukau due to equal stats over their last few seasons. Benteke only starting something like 12 games hasn't helped him.

 

[Zidane98]

Again the clearly the better player LOLs

They've had similar records going into this season. With one being younger with more room to improve. How anyone could not see that going into the season is beyond me

Not sure how you comprehend Benteke being better last season as being the better player overall. I don't think anyone said Benteke was better at all. I guess some people hear what they want to hear.

 

[jd2010]

Not sure how you comprehend Benteke being better last season as being the better player overall. I don't think anyone said Benteke was better at all. I guess some people hear what they want to hear.

13 goals v 10 for a guy 24 compared to 21 isn't better. My expectation for a 24 year old striker is definitely higher than that a 21 year old regardless of him being a physical beast at that age

 

[Zidane98]

13 goals v 10 for a guy 24 compared to 21 isn't better. My expectation for a 24 year old striker is definitely higher than that a 21 year old regardless of him being a physical beast at that age

You can't say a 21 year old will always develop more than a 24 year old.

By that reckoning you would have written Vardy off completely by age 25. Some players are late bloomers, some peak early. We may be seeing the best of Lukaku right now.

But saying a 21 year old will always develop more than a 24 year old is just plain wrong.

 

[FAITH]

last hope of keeping lfc down is gone:

Liverpool chief executive Ian Ayre has announced that he is to leave the club in May 2017.
The 52-year-old insists he isn’t leaving as a result of the recent season ticket price protests. In fact owners Fenway Sports Group (FSG) even asked him to reconsider leaving.
Explaining his decision, Ayre said: “It’s probably the most difficult decision I’ve made, certainly in my professional career.
“It was a difficult decision to come here because I knew the size of the task here at Liverpool and it’s an even more difficult decision to make in leaving.
“But if you care about the club – which I do – and you have so much invested in the club, not just having worked here but through your family and your time as a supporter, then you need to do what you feel is right for the club as well as yourself.
“I feel the timing and the level of commitment that is required, this is the right time and I hope that people see that given the sort of notice I have given to the owners is a mark of respect to them and to the football club.
“I made this decision over the Christmas and New Year period and had a conversation in early January with the owners. So from a timing perspective that’s completely wrong (to claim he’s been pushed as a result of the protests).
“And secondly I think if you can run a football club like Liverpool, and you’re going to be involved as I’ve been for nine years so far, you can’t bend and fall on certain individual issues, albeit that some of them are significant, because there’s been plenty of them in my tenure.
“Part of being a CEO, not just of Liverpool but of any business, is to be strong in difficult times and make difficult decisions and perform through that and bring your team along with you.
“I think of all of that was achieved, so there’s no correlation between the announcement and the ticketing issue.”

Principal owner John W. Henry, chairman Tom Werner and president Mike Gordon said: “Ian advised us of his intention to step down as CEO a few months ago.
“We asked him on several occasions to take some time to reconsider his decision, but have been unable to convince him to remain as CEO beyond May 2017. We will at some point in the near future begin identifying and recruiting a worthy successor to continue to build on the outstanding foundations which have been laid by Ian.
“Under his leadership, we have seen Liverpool transform from a club that was on the brink of bankruptcy, to one which today enjoys strong financial and operational health.
“Stability is a commodity often under-valued in sporting organisations, but it has been a fundamental hallmark of Ian’s time in charge. Liverpool will reap the benefits of his outstanding work for many years to come.
“We have always found Ian to be dedicated, honest, passionate and committed to doing the right thing for the long-term interests of the football club. These fit with our own values as owners and we owe him greatly for the personal sacrifices he has made for the club.
“It is typical of the person he is, once again, Ian is putting the club ahead of his own interest in wanting to announce his decision 15 months before he steps down. This now provides us with plenty of time and space to find a suitable successor.
“There will continue to be important milestones for Liverpool over the next 15 months, not least the completion of the redevelopment at Anfield stadium, and we are grateful that Ian will continue his leadership through to May 2017.”

 

[SM]

last hope of keeping lfc down is gone:

Liverpool chief executive Ian Ayre has announced that he is to leave the club in May 2017.
The 52-year-old insists he isn’t leaving as a result of the recent season ticket price protests. In fact owners Fenway Sports Group (FSG) even asked him to reconsider leaving.
Explaining his decision, Ayre said: “It’s probably the most difficult decision I’ve made, certainly in my professional career.
“It was a difficult decision to come here because I knew the size of the task here at Liverpool and it’s an even more difficult decision to make in leaving.
“But if you care about the club – which I do – and you have so much invested in the club, not just having worked here but through your family and your time as a supporter, then you need to do what you feel is right for the club as well as yourself.
“I feel the timing and the level of commitment that is required, this is the right time and I hope that people see that given the sort of notice I have given to the owners is a mark of respect to them and to the football club.
“I made this decision over the Christmas and New Year period and had a conversation in early January with the owners. So from a timing perspective that’s completely wrong (to claim he’s been pushed as a result of the protests).
“And secondly I think if you can run a football club like Liverpool, and you’re going to be involved as I’ve been for nine years so far, you can’t bend and fall on certain individual issues, albeit that some of them are significant, because there’s been plenty of them in my tenure.
“Part of being a CEO, not just of Liverpool but of any business, is to be strong in difficult times and make difficult decisions and perform through that and bring your team along with you.
“I think of all of that was achieved, so there’s no correlation between the announcement and the ticketing issue.”

Principal owner John W. Henry, chairman Tom Werner and president Mike Gordon said: “Ian advised us of his intention to step down as CEO a few months ago.
“We asked him on several occasions to take some time to reconsider his decision, but have been unable to convince him to remain as CEO beyond May 2017. We will at some point in the near future begin identifying and recruiting a worthy successor to continue to build on the outstanding foundations which have been laid by Ian.
“Under his leadership, we have seen Liverpool transform from a club that was on the brink of bankruptcy, to one which today enjoys strong financial and operational health.
“Stability is a commodity often under-valued in sporting organisations, but it has been a fundamental hallmark of Ian’s time in charge. Liverpool will reap the benefits of his outstanding work for many years to come.
“We have always found Ian to be dedicated, honest, passionate and committed to doing the right thing for the long-term interests of the football club. These fit with our own values as owners and we owe him greatly for the personal sacrifices he has made for the club.
“It is typical of the person he is, once again, Ian is putting the club ahead of his own interest in wanting to announce his decision 15 months before he steps down. This now provides us with plenty of time and space to find a suitable successor.
“There will continue to be important milestones for Liverpool over the next 15 months, not least the completion of the redevelopment at Anfield stadium, and we are grateful that Ian will continue his leadership through to May 2017.”

Possibly your longest ever post and it's all C+P.

 

[FAITH]

Possibly your longest ever post and it's all C+P.

its a statement from the lfc site clearly I didn't write it lol

 

[SM]

its a statement from the lfc site clearly I didn't write it lol

Do you know what C+P means?

 

[jd2010]

You can't say a 21 year old will always develop more than a 24 year old.

By that reckoning you would have written Vardy off completely by age 25. Some players are late bloomers, some peak early. We may be seeing the best of Lukaku right now.

But saying a 21 year old will always develop more than a 24 year old is just plain wrong.

Never said always. Just more often than not a player showing as much at 21 as a 24 year old will develop more.

Benteke and Lukaku are very similar players so will be interesting to see who progresses further. At 21 and 24 they were close. Now at 22 and 25 the younger player has surpassed. Maybe Benteke will go on with it once he leaves Liverpool or he could start stagnating. His next move is massive for him if he is any chance to be Belgium's starting striker

 

[Zidane98]

FWIW IMO Lukaku would struggle in our pressing system. It's just not suited to big men & over paying for Tekkers has worked out badly for both Villa & LFC.

 

[Ratts of Tobruk]

Yeah but one was a few years younger with clearly more upside in him which he has shown this season. People wrote him off as if hed reached his peak at 22

By "People" I think you mean "Chelsea".

Lukaku > Benteke, but that whole 'goals before 23' thing can be misleading. Speed of thought and legs is a huge aspect for strikers. The fact someone scores a lot when young and then tails off isn't unsurprising. That's why the players who go on to be great later in their career are more often seen as 'Legends'. Sure you can claim Owen/R9/whoever are crocked by being overplayed young, but only a few players like CR7 and man-of-the-moment Vardy seem to maintain their pace. Most players lose a yard or two, and to continue to be world-beaters is more impressive to fans, probably because they play football themselves and are jealous of the young kids who can sprint to paper over their lack of skill.

 

[ADL9798]

last hope of keeping lfc down is gone:

Liverpool chief executive Ian Ayre has announced that he is to leave the club in May 2017.
The 52-year-old insists he isn’t leaving as a result of the recent season ticket price protests. In fact owners Fenway Sports Group (FSG) even asked him to reconsider leaving.
Explaining his decision, Ayre said: “It’s probably the most difficult decision I’ve made, certainly in my professional career.
“It was a difficult decision to come here because I knew the size of the task here at Liverpool and it’s an even more difficult decision to make in leaving.
“But if you care about the club – which I do – and you have so much invested in the club, not just having worked here but through your family and your time as a supporter, then you need to do what you feel is right for the club as well as yourself.
“I feel the timing and the level of commitment that is required, this is the right time and I hope that people see that given the sort of notice I have given to the owners is a mark of respect to them and to the football club.
“I made this decision over the Christmas and New Year period and had a conversation in early January with the owners. So from a timing perspective that’s completely wrong (to claim he’s been pushed as a result of the protests).
“And secondly I think if you can run a football club like Liverpool, and you’re going to be involved as I’ve been for nine years so far, you can’t bend and fall on certain individual issues, albeit that some of them are significant, because there’s been plenty of them in my tenure.
“Part of being a CEO, not just of Liverpool but of any business, is to be strong in difficult times and make difficult decisions and perform through that and bring your team along with you.
“I think of all of that was achieved, so there’s no correlation between the announcement and the ticketing issue.”

Principal owner John W. Henry, chairman Tom Werner and president Mike Gordon said: “Ian advised us of his intention to step down as CEO a few months ago.
“We asked him on several occasions to take some time to reconsider his decision, but have been unable to convince him to remain as CEO beyond May 2017. We will at some point in the near future begin identifying and recruiting a worthy successor to continue to build on the outstanding foundations which have been laid by Ian.
“Under his leadership, we have seen Liverpool transform from a club that was on the brink of bankruptcy, to one which today enjoys strong financial and operational health.
“Stability is a commodity often under-valued in sporting organisations, but it has been a fundamental hallmark of Ian’s time in charge. Liverpool will reap the benefits of his outstanding work for many years to come.
“We have always found Ian to be dedicated, honest, passionate and committed to doing the right thing for the long-term interests of the football club. These fit with our own values as owners and we owe him greatly for the personal sacrifices he has made for the club.
“It is typical of the person he is, once again, Ian is putting the club ahead of his own interest in wanting to announce his decision 15 months before he steps down. This now provides us with plenty of time and space to find a suitable successor.
“There will continue to be important milestones for Liverpool over the next 15 months, not least the completion of the redevelopment at Anfield stadium, and we are grateful that Ian will continue his leadership through to May 2017.”

1 and a half more years of that Wally? Gahhhhhh.

 

[FAITH]

1 and a half more years of that Wally? Gahhhhhh.

still light at the end of the tunnel.
how bout the comment lol

 

[FAITH]

Do you know what C+P means?

dont get the point of your post?

 

[SM]

dont get the point of your post?

Never mind.

 

[jd2010]

By "People" I think you mean "Chelsea".

Lukaku > Benteke, but that whole 'goals before 23' thing can be misleading. Speed of thought and legs is a huge aspect for strikers. The fact someone scores a lot when young and then tails off isn't unsurprising. That's why the players who go on to be great later in their career are more often seen as 'Legends'. Sure you can claim Owen/R9/whoever are crocked by being overplayed young, but only a few players like CR7 and man-of-the-moment Vardy seem to maintain their pace. Most players lose a yard or two, and to continue to be world-beaters is more impressive to fans, probably because they play football themselves and are jealous of the young kids who can sprint to paper over their lack of skill.

I don't think lukaku gets most his goals because of speed. He is an explosive player but unless he gets some bad injuries and ends up out of shape there really isn't reason why he'd lose that sheer power. He was a mountain of a "man" at 19 and he should still be that at 30. His natural ability is quite underrated I still think. Probably doesn't look aesthetic as some but his ball control is great too.

I for one hope he sticks around in England for most his career he could finish his career as one of the great imo

 

[Zidane98]

He's not the sort of player that Spanish teams are after. If he leaves Everton Man United / PSG are the most likely suitors you'd think.

 

[jd2010]

Hopefully Mou goes to Man U and he doesn't end up there. He'd be just the striker they need

 

[chef]

By "People" I think you mean "Chelsea".

Lukaku > Benteke, but that whole 'goals before 23' thing can be misleading. Speed of thought and legs is a huge aspect for strikers. The fact someone scores a lot when young and then tails off isn't unsurprising. That's why the players who go on to be great later in their career are more often seen as 'Legends'. Sure you can claim Owen/R9/whoever are crocked by being overplayed young, but only a few players like CR7 and man-of-the-moment Vardy seem to maintain their pace. Most players lose a yard or two, and to continue to be world-beaters is more impressive to fans, probably because they play football themselves and are jealous of the young kids who can sprint to paper over their lack of skill.

Not Chelsea, Mourinho

 

[Cruyff14]

By "People" I think you mean "Chelsea".

Lukaku > Benteke, but that whole 'goals before 23' thing can be misleading. Speed of thought and legs is a huge aspect for strikers. The fact someone scores a lot when young and then tails off isn't unsurprising. That's why the players who go on to be great later in their career are more often seen as 'Legends'. Sure you can claim Owen/R9/whoever are crocked by being overplayed young, but only a few players like CR7 and man-of-the-moment Vardy seem to maintain their pace. Most players lose a yard or two, and to continue to be world-beaters is more impressive to fans, probably because they play football themselves and are jealous of the young kids who can sprint to paper over their lack of skill.

Er, R9 was not crocked. He was brilliant at Madrid after completely transforming the way he played.

 

[Ratts of Tobruk]

Not Chelsea, Mourinho

Chelsea have form. They did exactly the same thing with Sturridge, where they let a player go who had looked very good on loan.

Er, R9 was not crocked. He was brilliant at Madrid after completely transforming the way he played.

I guess your problem is the word choice? Seeing as you just said:

Like I've said, R9 is better than Messi for me in many categories. Would have been the greatest footballer ever if he wasn't injured.

I don't think lukaku gets most his goals because of speed. He is an explosive player but unless he gets some bad injuries and ends up out of shape there really isn't reason why he'd lose that sheer power. He was a mountain of a "man" at 19 and he should still be that at 30. His natural ability is quite underrated I still think. Probably doesn't look aesthetic as some but his ball control is great too.

I for one hope he sticks around in England for most his career he could finish his career as one of the great imo

Not because of speed. But once you lose a little bit of that speed of decision-making it can hinder your ability to beat a defender or to make up for a slight mis-control. And I think you underrate the amount of people who don't underrate his natural ability.

 

[Cruyff14]

Chelsea have form. They did exactly the same thing with Sturridge, where they let a player go who had looked very good on loan.

I guess your problem is the word choice? Seeing as you just said:


Not because of speed. But once you lose a little bit of that speed of decision-making it can hinder your ability to beat a defender or to make up for a slight mis-control. And I think you underrate the amount of people who don't underrate his natural ability.

Well no, not really. Because he would have continued at such a high level and not missed two years through injury. Still an all time great though.

At 18 he was destroying teams by himself. He had 3 WPOTY by 21. It is insane.

FTR I rate Lukaku very highly.