Liverpool Thread 2014/15

[jimharri]

80,000 seats? Haven't they removed around 25,000?

Down to 60k apparently;
http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/21889864

 

[blueinsa]

I have my doubts as to how good the Olympic stadium will be for football but i take the point its a gold mine for west ham. that said, you could pitch fucking tent in London and charge extortionate amounts to sit in the fucker.

 

[mancity dan]

This couldn't happen to nicer club. ;). Another unhappy bindipper.

Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel slams 'unacceptable' contract offer

• Martin Skrtel is reportedly uneasy with the contract on offer from Liverpool
• Defender believes deal put forward is offered to 'older' players
• Slovak defender posted Instagram image as he prepares for Euro qualifiers

By Elliott Bretland for MailOnline

Published: 00:11, 4 June 2015 | Updated: 08:17, 4 June 2015

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Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel has reportedly revealed he has not signed a new deal with the club as the current contract on offer is unacceptable.

The 30-year-old, who took to Instagram on Wednesday to share an image on the physio table preparing for Slovakia's Euro 2016 qualifier against Macedonia, is 'uneasy' with the current offer so did not sign it.

According to a report in his homeland, Skrtel is quoted claiming that the proposition Liverpool have put forward is usually only handed to 'older' players or those with injury struggles.

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Martin Skrtel took to Instagram on Wednesday as he prepares for Slovakia's upcoming Euro 2016 qualifiers

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Liverpool defender Skrtel has not signed a new deal as the current contract offer is 'unacceptable'

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MARTIN SKRTEL FACTFILE
Born: December 15, 1984

Career

Trencin (2001-2004)

Appearances: 44 Goals: 8

Zenit St Petersburg (2004-2008)

Appearances: 113 Goals: 5

Liverpool (2008-)

Appearances: 293 Goals: 17

The defender's contract talks with Liverpool hit a snag before the end of the season last month over a clause relating to the number of games he must play each season.

The central defender, who is one of the top earners at the club, was thought to be close to agreeing a new deal. His current contract expires in the summer of 2016.

Speaking to Slovakian publication Aktualne, Skrtel was quoted: 'It's unacceptable for me. I think that such contracts are offered to players who are much older than me or players who have had some health problems.

'The contract, which was presented to me, makes me uneasy, so I did not sign it.

'There has been some speculation about the interest of other clubs for my person, but they are currently being addressed.'

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Skrtel, pictured challenging Peter Crouch, claims the current offer is usually handed to much older players


Liverpool were confident of wrapping up the contract before the end of the season, but it’s understood Skrtel has to play a high number of games - possibly as many as 80 per cent - to qualify for his full salary.

The Merseyside club offered the Slovakia defender a three-year deal, with the option of another 12 months at the end of the term, if both parties are happy to renew at the end of the contract. Skrtel had been in talks with Liverpool chief executive Ian Ayre for several weeks over a new deal

While Skrtel's latest terms have proved to be a stumbling block, James Milner is set to sign for Liverpool after holding 'positive' talks with the Anfield club.

The Manchester City midfielder, available on a free transfer in the summer, is poised to sign a long-term contract in a major boost for Brendan Rodgers.

Milner, is also wanted by Arsenal, while a contract worth up to £165,000-a-week remains on the table at the Etihad Stadium.

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Manchester City midfield player James Milner is set to sign for Liverpool after holding 'positive talks'

Meanwhile, Liverpool forward Divock Origi expects to be challenging for the Premier League title ahead of his long-awaited arrival at Anfield.

The Belgium international was signed after an impressive World Cup last season before being loaned back to Ligue 1 club Lille. He will head to Merseyside with the club desperately in need of a goalscorer after the likes of Mario Balotelli and Rickie Lambert failed to make an impact.

Despite struggling for form this season, the 20-year-old believes Liverpool can finally reclaim the championship under the guidance of 'world class coach' Brendan Rodgers.

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New arrival Divock Origi insists Liverpool are good enough to win the Premier League title

Sky Sports, he said: 'I think Liverpool is a wonderful club that deserves to be at the top and to be honest with the players they have, with the quality they have, then they should be finishing at the top of the league.

'I'm very happy to be going there.

'Brendan Rodgers is a very good coach and he has proved that so it will be very exciting to work with a world class coach.'

'Most of all it is important to be at a good club where people believe in you and where you feel good and at Liverpool I had a really good feeling and they have experience of working with young players.

'It's always nice to play with good players.



Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3110185/Liverpool-defender-Martin-Skrtel-slams-unacceptable-contract-offer.html#ixzz3c4wGPCLE
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[everythingchangesbutblue]

Will anyone be surprised at how much Milners stock will rise overnight now he's signed for the dippers? No doubt he will start most matches for England now too. The spin will be that liverpool have took one of our players even though his role would have been greatly reduced. Still, a good signing for them methinks.

 

[mat]

Will anyone be surprised at how much Milners stock will rise overnight now he's signed for the dippers? No doubt he will start most matches for England now too. The spin will be that liverpool have took one of our players even though his role would have been greatly reduced. Still, a good signing for them methinks.

He'll become an instant England Legend on July 1st. The talent we've seen for years will be finally recognised and City beaten with a stick by Brenda and the sycophantic dippers in the press corp.

 

[mat]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/32974539

James Milner: Liverpool sign Man City's Mr Dependable
James Milner is experienced, durable, versatile... and boring.

Once the Premier League's youngest goalscorer, he burst onto the scene but hard work and diligence have provided the somewhat rare cocktail of success and a quiet career since.

A man for all seasons, a man managers want in the trenches with them, why is Milner one of the Premier League's most reliable characters and have Manchester City been foolish to let him join Liverpool?

Reliable is boring, boring is funny
Milner is no-nonsense personified. If he were an invention, he'd be something practical like a toothbrush rather than anything glitzy or glamorous.

One spoof text conversation with Yaya Toure on the 'Boring James Milner' account received 2,000 re-tweets

And his frill-free aura on the pitch has been noted, leading to a 'boring' tag fuelled by a hugely popular spoof Twitter account - 'Boring James Milner'.

Its 397,000 followers include journalists, players and fans, and they are treated to tweets on Milner's supposed ironing, washing and shopping habits.

"Joe Hart invited me to his barbecue today but I couldn't make it as I had just put a 40°c wash on and that takes at least two hours to finish,"read one tweet which was re-tweeted 596 times.

Roberto Mancini (140,000), Danny Ings (51,000) and heavyweight boxer Anthony Joshua (239,000) are just three sporting figures with fewer followers than the witty account.

Milner acted in 'boring James Milner' character for a Manchester City video in 2014

And Milner is more than aware of the traction it has gained, so much so he slipped into 'boring' character in a club video over Christmas, analysing presents including a nine-inch shovel for leaves.

There is a chance Milner could play alongside Mario Balotelli next season. Boring James Milner will have plenty to say about that.

The real James Milner has tried to work out if the creator of 'Boring James Milner' is someone he knows

Value - tried, tested and with more to come
"If you've never tried it, you can't miss it," Milner has said on alcohol.

If you need a player to drive the bus home while others indulge in celebrations, Milner - a life-long teetotal - is your man.

A hard trainer, aware of his diet, the Leeds-born midfielder is a solid family car in a league packed with Ferraris.

A lot for your money...
Milner has moved for a total of £29.6m during his career and 520 outings for top-flight clubs mean he has cost an average £57,000 per appearance.

Mario Balotelli has made 179 appearances for Manchester City, Liverpool, AC Milan and Inter Milan at a cost of £330,000 a game.

He has amassed experience - 520 games for Leeds, Swindon, Aston Villa, Newcastle and Manchester City - but will leave the Etihad for free.

The offer seems a steal for Liverpool and with a head-down, studious mentality and ability to play across midfield or even at full-back, Milner's availability was somewhat puzzling.

Manuel Pellegrini has said of his ex-charge: "There are players who are better technically yes, quicker players, yes. Players who head the ball better, yes. But show me one who does all the things Milner does well. There isn't one."

But British fans are a strange phenomenon, wired to love the mavericks - George Best, Paul Gascoigne, Eric Cantona. Milner is a man who colours inside the lines and his ability may well always be downplayed in favour of talk of work ethic.

His industrious, flair-free image maybe made the howls of laughter as Lionel Messi nutmegged him at the Nou Camp in March louder than they would have been for anyone else.

Pep Guardiola's reaction to Lionel Messi's trickery on James Milner was shared prolifically on social media

Typically professional, Milner got up, blocked out the laughs and ploughed on. Managers line up to talk of his professionalism and it would appear his career has much more distance to cover.

As creative as David Silva
Milner won over the vast majority of City fans as a player whose honesty is admirable, even with the quality signings their owner's Abu Dhabi money has brought.

His average of covering 11.7km a match last season was only bettered by George Boyd of Burnley (12.06km) and matched by Arsenal's Mathieu Flamini (11.7km).

But industry was far from all the England international delivered, with five league goals - his best return in a City shirt - and seven assists - as many as David Silva - also served up.

Household chores and problems are often a focus on the Boring James Milner Twitter account

Milner's contribution to Manchester City's season was unquestionable and Manuel Pellegrini's side won 66% of the 18 games in which he started but only 60% when he did not.

But the sporadic starts perhaps underlines why Milner has left for free. His desire to play more, having started just 89 of a possible 190 league games at City, has proven too much for the lure of any new deal.

'An A-star person'
England manager Fabio Capello once called James Milner "my future" but his former Newcastle boss Graeme Souness was less complimentary, telling media: "Newcastle won't win anything with a team of James Milners".

Much water has passed under the bridge since then but 53 England caps, two Premier League titles, an FA Cup and the 2010 Young Player of the Year award perhaps shows Capello was right to be bullish on Milner's chances.

One Liverpool fan page asked fans if Milner would be a good signing, and 628 said yes to 173 who voted no

Some opportunistic Manchester City fans see his exit as the chance to buy bigger, better, more glitz, more sparkle. But the man ex-Newcastle boss Glenn Roeder called "an A-star person" will be missed by some.

"Milner is a top pro and I wish the rest of football had his attitude to his job and life outside of football," wrote a fan on ManCityfans.net.

"It's hard to leave him out," added Pellegrini. "Respect, commitment and performance level. You leave him on the bench and he's absolutely furious but watch him during the game, encouraging, shouting, supporting. And in the next training session he kills himself."

The Chilean claims to be Milner's "number-one fan" but may need to now join Twitter and follow a certain account if he is to be reminded of their time as Manchester City colleagues.

 

[superseiyan]

So Milner? What can you tell us about him?

Center midfielder or wide in the attacking third?

Can he step up and lift others when not around other stars? Obviously he'll be around less quality here than he was with you.

With Rodgers you never know where he'll play though. If he'd been on the team this season I imagine he'd have seen some shifts at full-back and at striker.

This is not a bad signing at all (provided it's not our only signing)--but seems he's being signed as a starter, not as a squad player.

150K per week which is interesting given Sterling's demands--maybe it's really about this "pay structure" for better or worse. That makes Milner the 2nd highest earner at the club, maybe even the joint top--Sturridge is getting about that too and this is twice what Coutinho's making.

 

[CityFan94]

Offering a poor contract to their best CB just sums Liverpool up.

If Milner does go there, where does he play? Centre midfield with Henderson?

That partnership would lack the technical ability to be very good. Both full of energy, but not great technically.

 

[gordondaviesmoustache]

So Milner? What can you tell us about him?

He's a bit boring.

 

[Richard]

So Milner? What can you tell us about him?

Center midfielder or wide in the attacking third?

Can he step up and lift others when not around other stars? Obviously he'll be around less quality here than he was with you.

With Rodgers you never know where he'll play though. If he'd been on the team this season I imagine he'd have seen some shifts at full-back and at striker.

This is not a bad signing at all (provided it's not our only signing)--but seems he's being signed as a starter, not as a squad player.

150K per week which is interesting given Sterling's demands--maybe it's really about this "pay structure" for better or worse. That makes Milner the 2nd highest earner at the club, maybe even the joint top--Sturridge is getting about that too and this is twice what Coutinho's making.

I think a large part of the move is down to the fact that Milner wants to play in central midfield, something that, being frank, he isn't good enough to do at City. Especially not in a two man midfield, as we saw at times this season.

You could never doubt his work rate and he was always one of the more vocal ones when it came to encouraging on the pitch, but he did lack quality at times. Like I say, his game relies on his workrate and at 29, I wonder whether this will catch up with him some time soon.

A better player than some people think, but also not as good as others think. If that makes any sense.

All in all a good signing for you.