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Jose dropped Cech for Courtois tbh and it is not like had exactly had to "earn it". It is just that age is on his side. Azpilicueta has improved significantly during his time here but out of the two, Luis is just a more natural LB and we invested a lot of money for him so sooner rather than later I would hope he cements that LB position and he was excellent at Atletico. It is not like he is a risk if we play him but in either this Swansea game or Schalke one I would hope to see Luis play at least one of them.

As much as I appreciate Azpilicueta's performances at LB, when Luis cements his place at LB I really think we are going to see how much of an improvement he adds in that position. Especially going forward. His defensive game is very solid as well.

Looks a very promising footballer but let's be realistic here, he would be a fool to join us unless he values money a priority over his football career.

Moral of the story: Don't believe everything you read! Have you heard LVG say he does not want him? As far as I know he has not. Daily Fail!

I liked him a lot. We had our disagreements on a lot of issues. Especially Lukaku. But that is what is great about this forum. It would be boring if everyone agreed. I can see why he came across aggressively but I am utterly disappointed he has been banned. I think he was one of the best posters around. I will miss him. There is not a place to discuss this so that is why I felt I should mention it here. Part of me hopes that the mods reverse their decision. Please Regarding the game I hope Costa is fit. With the form he is in I want him to carry on playing and add to his goal tally. Swansea cannot be underestimated. Both of us are the only teams with 100% records. Just want this week to get out the way so I can get back to the enjoyment of PL football. You appreciate how much you love PL football when the international break is on.

No Walcott is best on the wings. He wants to play CF but he is more suited on the wings. Sterling may be overhyped but is it justified? Yes. He has been brilliant for Liverpool and was pivotal in their team last season. Pirlo obviously rates his performance for England highly as well. Made a nice compliment for him btw

No. Sterling has more to his game than Walcott. You have not watched him closely if you believe that. He is versatile for a start. He started of as a winger and while he done very well there he has excelled even more in the no.10 role. Sterling has great balance, has an eye for a pass and scores and makes goals. There is a reason why Liverpool/England fans and manager place great emphasis on him. Many want Sterling in the no.10 role for England in future matches. Before Sterling was criticised for his lack of finishing touch but he has added goals to his game. Fact is that right now there is no teenager imo that you can say is better Sterling right now. He is England's best talent and Liverpool are fortunate they picked him up for peanuts.

They are all exciting youngsters. Matsmour has real potential from what I hear but right now we can not even compare him to Sterling when he is still a rookie with little first team experience if any. The others are all exciting but the only established ones in their first team from the ones you have picked are Kovacic and Meyer and right now they are not even close to Sterling's level of ability. Sterling has an adbundance of talent, it is quite scary.

What is LOL about that. Alright come on now. I am going to call you out on this. Based on performances which teenager would you currently say is better than Sterling right now? You said LOL like it is a ludicrous statement when it is not.

I am not a fanboy. I must admit though that I do like him but I appreciate he has flaws. I just find it ironic that when we had him out on loan, most people were stating if we had him we probably would win the title but because he chose to leave, people seem to be picking on him and slating him for any opportunity. I mean it is 3 games gone in the season and I already see comments in his thread about how he has shown he is not good enough, we were right to sell. How can people make these judgements after 3 games? I am not just talking about people commenting on his flaws but the extreme levels to which people slate him is quite OTT. BTW James I was not directing you. I was just making the point that every game where Lukaku does not perform you see numerous amount of people waiting to jump on his back and while I accept he has a lot of flaws I also think people need to give him time. At the end of the day he scores goals.

It annoys me that people are so quick to get back on his back when he is only 21. I don't really want to continue about him myself but I doubt he will be benched for Eto'o. Eto'o is a very good option but will be more rotation. It will only take a few games for Lukaku to start scoring again. Lukaku is highly rated by Martinez and there is a reason he broke the club's transfer record for him. I doubt he will be dropped because I am sure he will pick up form soon.

Costa has one bad game: "Must be Spain's system. He is not 100% match fit. He worked hard for the team at least. Had no service". Lukaku has one bad game: "Overrated. Mouth too big for his boots. Shows why he could never play for a big club like us. His performance proved he has no high ceiling". The double standards are ridiculous. I don't read anything into Costa's performance tonight but because Lukaku has started off not at his best this season the overreaction to him is just ludicrous

I do think he will get that spot quite easily because there is no one like him in that role. Part of the reason why I think Shaw went United and United offerd him lucrative wages was based on he would be a first team starter. I think time will show that I was proved right anyway.

Blind will be exposed at that position, that is my point. He has all the technical abilities but is very slow. If he comes up against speedy wingers he will be chasing grass. But his technical abilities are suited to a DM in the PL. I don't think United are paying Shaw around £100k p/w to be on the bench. If you look at United's first 3 fixtues, I would not say they are missing a Blind type player at LWB. But they are certainly missing a Shaw type of player. Once they get Shaw there I think they will be better balanced. Trust me on this, Blind will play with Ander or like I was saying just in front of the defence.

Funny thing is United have started Mata every game this season so far but either way they have riches in attack so that is understandable. Shaw on the other hand has been offered huge wages etc to join United. United did not just buy him for his potential. If you lot really think Blind or Rojo will be the starting LB/LWB over Shaw you have no idea. Shaw is key to that 3-5-2 formation if LVG persists with it. In a league like the PL you need pace at fullback. Shaw offers LVG exactly what he wants from the WB role. Rojo has been bought to play as a CB and Blind DM like I said. Time will tell but I am sure most pundits, United fans and LVG knows himself that Shaw will get that place when he returns.

LVG later said that Shaw has been training fantastically and recently praised him as an "example to the dressing room". Yes, he played their in the WC. But his main position is a DM. It is good for LVG that he is versatile because he can play numerous positions but one thing he lacks is pace. He operates best from a DM and I am sure that is where LVG plans on playing him. I am 100% sure on that. I expect to see him as the DC/DM in front of Rojo and Evans in a 3-5-2 formation. They did not spend £32m on Shaw to be a sub. Shaw will be a starter for sure.

Rojo has been bought to play as a CB though. That is his main position. Blind is a DM who can play LB but is very slow. Rojo will play LB or LWB if Shaw is injured or playing really bad and the same applies to Blind. Blind is a very good technical player who can do a good shift at LB but in the PL if he he is played at LB he will get caught our for pace. I don't think they would have spent that much for Shaw to be on the bench. I think is more or less got that LWB spot when he returns.

When Shaw is back from injury he will take that LWB back spot quite easily. Even if they revert to 4 at the back he will get that LB spot quite easily as well imo.

They probably finished higher than us because they did not have the distraction of Europe but the fact is they are a top 4 team. They are not a mid-table tea. It is that simple. Time will tell how the loss of Suarez and addition of Europe affects them but as it is they are a top 4 team. Fact. Yes, Oscar's pressing may suit Liverpool's pressing but he still would not be a guaranteed starter imo. While he could do a job in CM, he does not have the natural composure, balance and passing skills required of a very good CM. That is why he would not walk into Liverpool's team. NO. Let's no go there. I like Sterling a lot and yeah I support him on a bit more because he is Jamaican but that is nothing to do with why I think he is better than Oscar. I just think he is. Sterling makes assists, has great balance/strength, his passing is quite impressive, brilliant pace, acceleration and dribbling and seems to get better every game whereas I cannot say the same about Oscar. He only cemented his place into Liverpool's first 11 around late December and got into double figures. While Oscar has good defensive work rate, his general attacking play is not that good.

You are going off topic. You made the point that it was laughable for people to say Coutinho was better than Oscar when he can not even get into a mid-table team. Well first that is rubbish because they are not a mid-table team and secondly I disagree because like I was saying there is no guarantee that Oscar would get into Liverpool's team either. Coutinho was very effective last season in that CM role tbh. He struggled against big teams but against smaller teams he done well in that position. Sterling may not make our 11 but same way you could say Oscar would not make Liverpool's team. Not because he is a bad player but where does he fit in. FWIW I would have Sterling over Oscar. For the record I don't think Coutinho is better than Oscar. I am just making the point that just because Coutinho does not get into Liverpool, that does not mean he is a worse player than Oscar because Oscar would not be a guaranteed starter on the team sheet at Liverpool himself. We are better than Liverpool and yes Oscar might get into us but that does not mean he will get into inferior teams such as Arsenal and Liverpool.

LOL, you are completely off it. Oscar does not score enough goals for a start. So wrong.... and Oscar is not a natural CM. Come on wake up. He would get starts like Coutinho but he would not be no guaranteed starter. Sterling has been excellent for Liverpool since moving in the no.10 role and if you think Oscar would replace him there you are completely wrong. But yes, Oscar would not take over Henderson, Sterling or Sturridge. Fact.

And what is the reason David Luiz could not get into our team then? But guess what he could get into Brazil and most other teams in the world. And yes, Oscar would not get into Liverpool's team. Whose place would he take? Not Sturrdige. Not Sterling. Not Balotelli. Whose place would he take? Either way my point is you can't judge that one player is better than another because that certain player could not get into the team.

Coutinho has not lost his place at Liverpool. He will be rotated there. IMO Oscar would not get into Liverpool's team as well as they have Sterling in the diamond role. Coutinho plays as the LCM for Liverpool but has more of an advanced role. Pointless argument.

I have to literally give this transfer window a rating of 10/10. We identify our targets and get them sorted rather than faff around like Arsenal. They went into panic mode and spent £16m on Welbeck where we got a better striker in Remy for basically half that price. We have spent what we have sold and done excellent business. Selling Luiz for £50m, getting rid of Torres (finally), sold Lukaku for £28m and got a more complete and much better striker in Costa for only £4m more. One thing we lacked last season was creativity from midfield and we have sorted that problem with the addition of Fabregas. His contribution in such a short space of time is evident. Already leading the assists and displaying his sublime passing range. We got another quality LB in who has not even made his first official start yet but it shows the quality of depth we have in our team. Literally a perfect job down by our manager/board with the transfer dealings this summer which is replicated in Jason's post above. We have got an excellent centre forward and a perfect back up or alternative plan in Remy when we want to kill of games with the use of his pace. Rival fans are shaking in trepidation and envy of how good our team is going to be this season which is why most people believe we will win the title. Excellent job done by board/manager

This is hilarious