Pre Season Thread

[Tribute]

Moreno and Manquillo will undoubtedly strengthen at the back. Reus would be a bonus, but still think unlikely.

We should take anything we can for Johnson - he's absolutely woeful and has been for 2 seasons.

Need that other quality striker... but I'm not sure Bony is the answer - pity about Remy as I think he could have been a quality signing.

[Chris]

Was a decent work out and we were the better side for most of it, frustrating to see the same mistakes repeated though (Hello Martin!).

[PTP]

haven't seen the match/didn't even know we were playing utd in a final for something till this morning.

but i've heard the result, so i am guessing people are going mental and panicking etc ?

[RichC]

Yup, pretty much.

[BigChief]

Got back from the US on the weekend and hoped to catch up on sleep. But lay awake until 5am last night. Typical. Gave me the opportunity to catch the second half (was trying to get to the sleep first half).

Apparently we were all over them first half with our reknown pressing game. But second half it was like we were playing in mud. Lambert barely had energy to run off the pitch when he was subbed. Our full backs (GJ and Kelly) just literally gave up tracking back. Sterling couldn't move and looked ripe to pull a muscle.

I heard we had a morning training session, must have killed us. If manure think this victory is a defining moment then I hope they take that "Moyes Charity Shield" attitude into the season. Anders Herrera (Whorera?) is the biggest pile of poo this side of Fellaini.

[The_weatherman]

haven't seen the match/didn't even know we were playing utd in a final for something till this morning.

but i've heard the result, so i am guessing people are going mental and panicking etc ?

Maybe not panicking but many feel a new striker is an absoulute must. The top four will be very difficult, let alone with only two strikers.

[The_weatherman]

Only saw about 30 minutes of the match, but I think that LVG system might be difficult for them. When we pressed them early on we had practically one vs one and they had some diffucult moments. If we had our stongest team against them, and not tired, I think they'd have a harder time against our front three or four. Arsenal could also be an awkward opponent for them.

[brightred]

Maybe not panicking but many feel a new striker is an absoulute must. The top four will be very difficult, let alone with only two strikers.

I'm thinking two strikers.

Or a striker and Reus!

[kingfunk]

If we don't sign another striker we are doomed, not just a striker, a striker that can score goals from time to time!

[loki]

Had a great time at the game despite the ****e second half and result. Clear as day that Coutinho and Sterling were the most talented guys on that field. Sure we need fullbacks and a striker but I thought Mignolet was absolutely shocking. His distribution is terrible and put us time and time again in bad position. Wish Reina would get a shot

[Daffy Duck]

United were **** for the entire time, the whole thing about LVG's halftime inspirational change of team morale is bull**** because they got battered even worse for the first 10 minutes of the 2nd half. Then they scored twice in two minutes out of NOTHING and it all fell apart.

We need a striker, and a complete defensive reset. Both full backs were **** yesterday, CB's slightly less so. Hope we're working on a deal besides the two Spaniard full backs, because it is essential.

[Bender]

Utd champions of pre-season friendlies

[G]

United were **** for the entire time, the whole thing about LVG's halftime inspirational change of team morale is bull**** because they got battered even worse for the first 10 minutes of the 2nd half. Then they scored twice in two minutes out of NOTHING and it all fell apart.

We need a striker, and a complete defensive reset. Both full backs were **** yesterday, CB's slightly less so. Hope we're working on a deal besides the two Spaniard full backs, because it is essential.

Haven't seen it but overall throughout the pre season we've been giving goals away cheaply(some bad luck involved) and not scoring any from our strikers. Hopefully Lovern and the two full backs can add some solidity to the back and we get a new striker in along with getting sturridge fit and on form. We have tough games at the start, a slow start will not be helpful.

[Yozza]

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/soccer-dirty-tackle/liverpool-s-international-champions-cup-trophy-drought-continues-with-loss-to-man-united-030716419.html

Liverpool's International Champions Cup trophy drought continues with loss to Man United



Steven Gerrard recently said that between Liverpool letting the Premier League title slip away at the end of last season and England's embarrassment at the World Cup, he has endured the worst three months of his life. And now, with Liverpool losing 3-1 to rivals Manchester United in the final of the International Champions Cup — the oldest U.S. based club competition founded in 2013 — Gerrard's devastation has reached a new low.

Much has been made about Liverpool's 24-year Premier League title drought, but they have never won the International Champions Cup in the entirety of the club's history. After failing to qualify/not bothering to enter in the inaugural edition of the tournament last year, Liverpool finished atop Group B with two wins and a draw to reach the final against Man United in Miami.

In front of a crowd that would have overflowed from a much smaller stadium, Liverpool got out to an early lead when Gerrard converted a penalty in the 14th minute. But in the second half, Man United mounted a comeback that will surely go down as one of the greatest in summer exhibition cup final history when Wayne Rooney and Juan Mata scored within two minutes of each other and 21-year-old Jesse Lingard added a third goal in the 88th minute.

Rooney, who captained Man United, was named both Man of the Match and Player of the Tournament, which will surely drive up his transfer value at least £3-4. And new boss Louis van Gaal has now won the first trophy available to him since joining Man United after the World Cup, matching the high standard set by predecessor David Moyes, who won the Community Shield last season.

The heartbreak of this loss was clearly evident on the faces of the Liverpool players as they trudged off the pitch laughing and joking with the opposition. When they sold Luis Suarez to Barcelona, critics asked whether they would have enough fire power left to win the International Champions Cup and the answer is now clear.

The Reds must now try to focus on a long Premier League campaign and a return to the UEFA Champions League — a backwater competition that copied off of the Champions Cup's name two decades before it existed — before they can take another crack at finally ending their ICC sorrow. Man United, meanwhile, will remember this night for minutes to come.

[Carras_Shin_Pads]

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/soccer...030716419.html

Liverpool's International Champions Cup trophy drought continues with loss to Man United



Steven Gerrard recently said that between Liverpool letting the Premier League title slip away at the end of last season and England's embarrassment at the World Cup, he has endured the worst three months of his life. And now, with Liverpool losing 3-1 to rivals Manchester United in the final of the International Champions Cup — the oldest U.S. based club competition founded in 2013 — Gerrard's devastation has reached a new low.

Much has been made about Liverpool's 24-year Premier League title drought, but they have never won the International Champions Cup in the entirety of the club's history. After failing to qualify/not bothering to enter in the inaugural edition of the tournament last year, Liverpool finished atop Group B with two wins and a draw to reach the final against Man United in Miami.

In front of a crowd that would have overflowed from a much smaller stadium, Liverpool got out to an early lead when Gerrard converted a penalty in the 14th minute. But in the second half, Man United mounted a comeback that will surely go down as one of the greatest in summer exhibition cup final history when Wayne Rooney and Juan Mata scored within two minutes of each other and 21-year-old Jesse Lingard added a third goal in the 88th minute.

Rooney, who captained Man United, was named both Man of the Match and Player of the Tournament, which will surely drive up his transfer value at least £3-4. And new boss Louis van Gaal has now won the first trophy available to him since joining Man United after the World Cup, matching the high standard set by predecessor David Moyes, who won the Community Shield last season.

The heartbreak of this loss was clearly evident on the faces of the Liverpool players as they trudged off the pitch laughing and joking with the opposition. When they sold Luis Suarez to Barcelona, critics asked whether they would have enough fire power left to win the International Champions Cup and the answer is now clear.

The Reds must now try to focus on a long Premier League campaign and a return to the UEFA Champions League — a backwater competition that copied off of the Champions Cup's name two decades before it existed — before they can take another crack at finally ending their ICC sorrow. Man United, meanwhile, will remember this night for minutes to come.

This is brilliant