11 Aug 2016 04:17:59
Does Klopp work on a strict budget that he can't go over? Or is it a matter of if he wants to, he (or his people) can phone up fsg and get an extra 5-10 mil to get a target (say dahoud) over the line? Asking because there's so much chatter in the press (I know they are trying to sell their content so maybe this point is irrelevant) and frequently it's reported that the difference in price is relatively not that large (Chilwell for example) . I would think that if Klopp REALLY wanted somebody he could pick up the phone for a bit more cash. Or maybe that's not the case.

Any response you could give Eds would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

{Ed001's Note - the transfer budget is on a case by case basis, there is no strict amount.}


1.) 11 Aug 2016
11 Aug 2016 04:59:15
'Our people' make valuations and don't seem to budge. Look at this situation during this current window and see if they're right or wrong.

We looked at Chilwell who has played about 2 games in the prem and has been unable to shift Fuchs. He looks a prospect. For this Leicester wanted at least £10m.

This was during a time we had a bid and sold Ibe for £15m, who could be classed as a bigger prospect and has over two seasons of first team game time in the prem.

We valued 2 games Chilwell at £7m, no small price hey. After selling Ibe for £15m would you feel Chilwell is worth at least £10m or walk away and look elsewhere? I think we shouldn't be mugged off so much with transfers like we used to be, so this time I agree. How is 2 games Chilwell worth close to Ibe? Positions might be different, but ibe's place up front is classed as more attractive, higher profile for sales of shirts and a game changer. LB isn't that.

{Ed001's Note - why are you talking about two games? Is that the stupidity you want transfers based on how many games a player has played? This was the kind of idiotic thinking that got Geoff Twentyman driven out of the club over the signing of a teenage Ian Rush! You base values on the quality of the player, not how many games they have played, or perhaps you think Tom Cleverley is a 40m player? I mean he has played regularly, even as a teenager....

Chilwell has been excellent, he was highly recommended by stats guys, Klopp's best mate at his loan club Huddersfield and all the scouts. Leicester didn't want to sell him cheap as they see him as the future of the position at their club, and were only willing to sell him at all as he was really keen to join us. Oh yeah, that's another thing, he wanted to join us, not another Prem team, us. We were his chosen move, so you know he has the desire to play for us, as well as being highly rated.

We, since deciding we wouldn't pay 'over the odds' to sign the left back we desperately needed, went and did exactly that for 3 players we did not desperately need in Grujic, Mane and Wijnaldum. That is more idiotic thinking by the club. Priority positions are what you pay over the odds for, not ones you don't need desperately. Then the club wonders why it has not won the league for so many years! They haven't a clue what they are doing. There is no intelligent, well thought out strategy or planning at the club.}


2.) 11 Aug 2016
11 Aug 2016 06:43:41
The Chilwell scenario is made all the worse since there is such a lack of quality left-backs available elsewhere. We should have stumped up the extra few million regardless of our valuation if he was so well-recommended. If we end up paying more dosh for a worse fullback then we are really on a downward spiral with transfers.


3.) 11 Aug 2016
11 Aug 2016 06:46:11
They would probably pay it if Chilwell is another attacking midfielder ed001!

{Ed001's Note - exactly, there is a belief that defensive players are less valuable so less should be paid for them. It should come down to their importance to the team.}


4.) 11 Aug 2016
11 Aug 2016 07:06:05
Completely agree with you Ed

After years of charting a rudderless course between success and failure, it is about time to sort out the mess off-field.


5.) 11 Aug 2016
11 Aug 2016 07:54:35
I know Chilwell has signed a new contract but can't we go back in for him. I know it would cost more but that's our doing.


6.) 11 Aug 2016
11 Aug 2016 08:09:28
Bang on ed001!



If you can see it and many fans can see it, my question is, why is there no intelligent strategy or plan at the club? Without naming names, who is responsible for this and how much influence, if any, would klipperty have in this part of the club?

Also who or what needs to be changed?

Of course name names if you want ;)

Appreciate any reply and all the eds hardwork!

{Ed001's Note - it is above Klopp, it comes from the top down. Ayre is probably the main culprit, to be honest.}


7.) 11 Aug 2016
11 Aug 2016 08:11:06
Leicester won't sell him now. Our best chance was before he became an established first team player and before he signed a longer contract.


8.) 11 Aug 2016
11 Aug 2016 08:21:49
Ed001, in relation to your point that "There is no intelligent, well thought out strategy or planning at the club" (which I agree with and have alluded to in my previous posts about a need for a really good DOF or similar), I wanted to ask you something. Who is making the really essential decisions at the club? The ones that are responsible for charting of the course for the club in the medium and long term? Is it Gordon or is it Ayre? Is Gordon one of those laid-back minority shareholders who are only a presence but don't get involved too much, or is he a hands-on guy? Is it Ayre who's pulling the important strings that have future consequences? Thanks for the reply in advance.

{Ed001's Note - Gordon now.}


9.) 11 Aug 2016
11 Aug 2016 08:37:03
Thanks Ed001. And can I ask you if you have an opinion on Gordon? (I understand if you decline to answer ) .

{Ed001's Note - still learning the difference between football and other business. It will be a while before he can be judged.}


10.) 11 Aug 2016
11 Aug 2016 10:13:32
Never said he wasn't good enough? But their valuation of £10m after playing two games, regardless of who believes one day he could become a great player, £10m is too high. In the same week we sold Ibe for £15m. Is Ibe who has also been tipped for lofty heights, has played and proven himself in prem games over two season plus, worth just £5m more?

I'm using current market, two U21 English players, both tipped for the top. One has 2 games and proven nothing compared to the other. £10m was too high. I agree with the £7m.

It's easy to spend other people's money. The other sighing a you mention Ed. Grujic was £5m. Half the fee of Chilwell, but has played a part in winning a league title, not two games after the fact. Neither Mane or GW were over priced. Look at the prices paid during this window, the current market.

We did the right thing in standing our ground, he didn't exactly hold off signing a new deal, so hardly showed his desire to join us.

{Ed001's Note - sorry but it is stupidity to base valuation on number of games played. Clueless. Stop wasting time talking about money and valuations when you have no idea at all. Grujic's signing fee and wages were far higher than they should have been, while Chilwell was happy to take much less. Just give it up because you are just making yourself look foolish.}


11.) 11 Aug 2016
11 Aug 2016 10:18:42
Hi Ed01,

Just going back to a point you made on overpaying and getting 3 un needed players in Grujic, Mane and Wijnaldum.
I agree on the whole but slightly disagree on some points though;

1. Mane, undoubtly costly but looking at transfers since, is it?, also I really think we needed this type of player.

2. Grujic, probably agree not really required, but didn't think we excessively overpayed on him, and he does look good and if we didn't act somebody else may have snapped him up?

3. Wijnaldum, This the one I saw as the most strange! I would agree we overpayed and was he needed? I also didn't think so but on reflection we don't score enough from midfield so hopefully he will do this.

I am not disagreeing that left back shouldn't have been priority and I was gutted that we didn't pay the extra for Chilwell, but I am hoping that the 3 mentioned all improve the team this year.

Cheers Ed and Good Luck in Spain, but I've heard Harry has just bought a Villa near the place where you are going haha!

{Ed001's Note - 1. We did overpay, which we needed to go to get him, and he has improved the team, but it was not a priority need. We had tricky wingers, the likes of Kent, Ojo and Ibe, so it was not desperate like a left back is.

2. I like him and glad we signed him, but we overpaid massively on wages etc to get a work permit for him.

3. I do not get this signing at all.

The issue was though that we should have paid what it takes for a left back first, not an attacking mid. If we had £20+m to spend on him, why not get the left back first?

I think Harry is banned from Spain after stalking Kovacic....}


12.) 11 Aug 2016
11 Aug 2016 10:28:49
Ed001 you could not have summed up the Chilwell fiasco better. We need a LB so go out and get one even if it's a couple of million over. I do like Ian Ayre but his specialty is on the commercial side of the game and I believe he has done a fantastic job. This fiasco can never happen again folk's.

{Ed001's Note - it is not like it was ridiculous amounts of money that we don't have either. That is why it bugs me. It makes the whole club look stupid to refuse to pay £10m for one player and then go out and spend £25m on someone we don't need.}


13.) 11 Aug 2016
11 Aug 2016 11:09:10
Hi Ed001. Ok I don't disagree with your comments and knowing the amount of abuse you must get daily, I don't want to come across I'm arguing for the sake of it - it's just opinions.

It may well be foolish to compare fees etc and i agree £10m to solve a problem position which is high priority isn't a lot at all. I do however believe Chilwell was overpriced. Whether you see it the same or not, using the current window to gage prices and valuations or comparing one to another is just what a lot of fans do. I see Mane as better business now Bolasie is going for £25m-£30m, maybe I'm the only one doing that?

I doubt I'll see Ibe sold at £15m and Chilwell being valued at £10m as a reasonable price. Nice to have a bit of harmless banter on the subject.

{Ed001's Note - I am not objecting to you saying it is too much, I am disagreeing with your ridiculous decision to base that judgement on the number of games he has played. That is Rick Parry logic and why we are a mess.}


14.) 11 Aug 2016
11 Aug 2016 11:09:53
Gordon's alive? Dispatch war rocket Ajax.


15.) 11 Aug 2016
11 Aug 2016 11:12:53
Fair do's Ed.

You do realise Harry has several names, so will have different passports and disguises, a bit like Mr Benn!

{Ed001's Note - good point.}


16.) 11 Aug 2016
11 Aug 2016 12:36:30
Yeah, don't want to be labelled a Rick Parry haha. Maybe I'm phrasing what I mean wrong. I don't see 1/ 2 games as not good enough, if we had a player in the U23 squad with no games but was doing well, I wouldn't say don't play him not good enough yet.

I was using the game time as a comparison to a similar category player in Ibe and the fact the £10m is overpriced due to his game time not showing this potential. Had he played 10 games and been part of winning that title, showed a bit of why he could be valued at £10m. Looking at what Ibe has achieved and games played, as experience in young players is important at this level, he is worth only £5m more? That can't be right and if so then walking away at £7m is the right thing to do.

He could well become a £50m LB, but right now he isn't a £10m player.


17.) 11 Aug 2016
11 Aug 2016 12:36:30
Yeah, don't want to be labelled a Rick Parry haha. Maybe I'm phrasing what I mean wrong. I don't see 1/ 2 games as not good enough, if we had a player in the U23 squad with no games but was doing well, I wouldn't say don't play him not good enough yet.

I was using the game time as a comparison to a similar category player in Ibe and the fact the £10m is overpriced due to his game time not showing this potential. Had he played 10 games and been part of winning that title, showed a bit of why he could be valued at £10m. Looking at what Ibe has achieved and games played, as experience in young players is important at this level, he is worth only £5m more? That can't be right and if so then walking away at £7m is the right thing to do.

He could well become a £50m LB, but right now he isn't a £10m player.


18.) 11 Aug 2016
11 Aug 2016 13:01:36
I agree Ed, Chilwell was a staggering decision in light of two things

1) if we'd been offered swapping Ibe for a decent LB and 5mln in the pocket at the start of the window, who in their right mind would have turned it down. 15mln for a player failing to impress made 10mln for another talented youngster in a position we desperately needed look like a bargain

2) why save 10mln on Chilwell who we needed badly and spend 25mln in Wijnaldum when we could have played Llalana, Grujic, Stewart, Brannagan as an alternative. I have high hopes for Wijnaldum but really not a critical piece of business and not exactly cheap

I hope we fix this still. maybe when Benteke goes well endorse spending on a new incoming.


19.) 11 Aug 2016
11 Aug 2016 13:22:25
There is no logic at all to the club not paying the 3m extra based on their assertion that he is overpriced. Then we go out and spend 25m on an even more overpriced player. Nevermind the fact he is also decidedly average and not a priority.

The only logical conclusion is that they see moreno as the main left back and they viewed chillwell as just back up/ competition hence the unwillingness to pay the extra. But the same could arguably be said of wijnaldum who will be back up to hendo and can et al, so it makes even less sense.

Therefore the only logical conclusion we can come to is that the decision makers are just mentally impaired in some way.

However while it is vexing i will refrain from daubing abuse on the walls of anfield and setting effigies alight outside the ground. for now 😊.


20.) 11 Aug 2016
11 Aug 2016 13:27:59
Maxx, you are having the wrong discussion. The thing is that you pay for potential and quality that you perceive the player has and based on what the scouts have seen of him through their due diligence, and not based on the amount of games he has played. Bolasie has played a lot of games yet he is awful, inconsistent, no skill, to technical ability and no end product. Do you want him here? I don`t. City paidd huge fees for Gabriel Jesus after watching him play in the Brazilian league and think based on his potential, he is worth 27m, not based on how many games he played. Playing games helps of course but that is not the argument nor the discussion we or the Ed is having. Ed is saying that the LB position was a need and Chilwell came highly recommended, not because he had played x amount of games, but because his skill set fit in well with what Klopp wants. Why did we not just pay the 10m (pocket change really) for a player we truly needed and who wanted to play for us yet paid 25m for a player (who I didn`t want here) we didn`t need? That is the question that you still have not answered. The idea that we were right to walk away would have made sense if we already had a more than capable LB and needed Chilwell for cover BUT that is not the case here and using Ibe as an example is again a false argument and a false equivalence. So again, your point does not apply here.