Liverpool banter 2

23 Apr 2024 10:24:00
It feels a bit like there are no really obvious candidates for a new manager. Not just from a Liverpool perspective, but if any other big club was looking for a new manager.

Even Alonso - despite his sensational season in Germany - is very early in his managerial career with limited experience.

Big names of a few years ago like Pochettino and Tuchel seem to have suffered damage to their reputations. Mourinho is yesterday's man. The wave of English players ending their playing careers and moving into management has slowed down (and none of them have had success) .

I know it's very data and analytics driven these days and that's different to the traditional approach of getting the biggest name with the best track record but there just doesn't seem to be so many all-time-great/ legend type of managers out there anymore. Maybe Ancelloti is the last of that generation still standing.

Zidane is out there. His track record is incredible because of those consecutive European Cup wins but I feel like it's hard to really judge him.

Klopp and Guardiola are the big silver-back gorillas of the last decade. Obviously neither is an option.

Who else is out there? I still rate Tuchel actually. There was a time when I saw him as a possible Klopp successor.

23 Apr 2024 10:59:56
Zidane only had success because he had the best squad and the most money. His teams played like a BTEC Simeone team, and if that’s the way we want to go, we might as well get Simeone as at least he can speak English and isn’t a personality vacuum, unlike Zidane.

As for Tuchel, he’s a serial failure, has failed in every job he’s ever had. Somehow manages to upset his players, tactically negative and one dimensional and he simply isn’t good enough or charismatic enough for the job. He’d be sacked in 18 months and be as popular as Hodgson.

I’m not hopeful that we’re going to employ anyone remotely competent given that names like Fonseca and Kovac are seriously in contention for the job.

23 Apr 2024 11:06:16
The more I think about it, the more I appreciate Emery as an outstanding manager. I very much doubt he'll leave villa this season, but his record of success is underappreciated I think.

I like look of Amorim, Slot, Will Still, the Porto guy who's name I can't spell, Terzic, Rose, Farioli and Hoenes as young, up and coming managers.

And Ten Hag.

{Ed001's Note - Emery is brilliant with no pressure, the minute there is pressure on him, then his teams' struggle. Perfect for a team like Villa, for now at least, but not ideal for a team which expects to challenge for trophies.}

23 Apr 2024 12:33:15
I think Marco Rose is someone who would be a safe option and hasn't been mentioned much yet. He has never stunk the place out at any of his jobs. He played under Klopp at Mainz, did good jobs at Salzburg and Gladbach, was unlucky to be sacked at Dortmund (they were 2nd) and has done fine at Leipzig (including winning the DFB Pokal) . I think the Dortmund and Leipzig jobs are harder than people realise as you're losing your best players every single year. He has a proven track-record developing young players and he plays pressing, energetic football.

{Ed002's Note - Marco Rose is not joining Liverpool.}

23 Apr 2024 12:56:36
Viktor: I wouldn't argue that Tuchel is a serial winner or the best manager around or anything like that, and I don't have a strong feeling that I would want him at Liverpool, but I don't think "serial failure" is an accurate representation, depending on how you measure success and failure.

Since 2016 he has won domestic cups in France and Germany, league titles in France and Germany, and the European Cup, European Super Cup and Club World Cup with Chelsea. The argument against that would be that any manager can win in France with PSG and with Bayern in Germany (he did also win the cup in Germany with Dortmund) but when we won the European Cup, Super Cup and Club World Cup in the same year under Klopp we hailed it as greatness. Tuchel did exactly the same.

23 Apr 2024 13:04:46
And that, Babbity is what makes Klopp so special. He broke that stranglehold that Bayern have. Which is why Alonso, Anorim and Slot stand out, because they’ve taken clubs who hadn’t won for a period of time, built them up, developed a style, won a title and in Slot and Amorim’s maintained them at the top. Slot was unlucky that C.V. hit as AZ were competing to win the title against Ajax and were level pegging when it was cancelled. There is a reason they’re the best candidates.

23 Apr 2024 13:30:17
RR, I would say that Tuchel is a serial failure. Sacked by Chelsea, sacked by PSG and Bayern have said thanks but no thanks, at all those clubs he had almost unlimited resources but they were all absolutely terrible to watch. His “achievement” at Chelsea was meaningless as Klopp could have done the same with that squad and those resources, but Tuchel with our resources couldn’t because he has to have unlimited funds to be remotely effective, this has been shown repeatedly, how many league titles at Dortmund?

The league titles he won were one horse races. Even Nico Kovac won a league title in Germany with Bayern and he’s absolutely hopeless too. If Tuchel was as good as you think he is RR, he’d have won the title at a cantor this year. He’s second rate at best, nothing but a journeyman failure.

Quite frankly that man has no business at Anfield and isn’t welcome.

23 Apr 2024 14:06:10
@VV - you don’t speak for everybody within the club or those that support the club. Your last sentence speaks volumes about you.

23 Apr 2024 14:47:52
Tuchel is toxic as heck, man. And the footie he plays is or can be a bit dire to watch. Us getting him would smack of absolute desperation, IMO so I hope we stay well away from him.

As for who is out there, there aren't any very good to great options out there so at the end of the day, we will prolly get the best of a pretty lean bunch.

23 Apr 2024 15:05:22
Please no Simeone for LFC. we can have anyone else. it doesn't matter

his teams are the worst lot ever. esp AM and their style of play.

23 Apr 2024 15:09:44
Some of us have higher standards than others, WDW, I expect you’d be happy if we employed Roy Hodgson or Brendan Rodgers again.

Tuchel is not of the required standard, definitely not of the required character and the fact he’s an ex Chelsea manager alone should remove him from list as he doesn’t fit the ethos of the club. Same goes for Mourinho.

23 Apr 2024 15:25:24
I'm with VV on this. Tuchel would be bad choice as manager. Has shown to be extremely average and his team always plays dire football. It's no wonder that Bayern wants rid of him as well. He should definitely be doing better with them given the resources they have but being second by a long way just shows how limited he is. He did win trophies at Chelsea though but the football was terrible under him. Also has shown to be combative and not a pleasant person to work with. We'll just be setting ourselves back if we appoint him.

23 Apr 2024 15:53:19
I think Alonso was the stand out Fans choice and then it was Amorim.

So its pretty clear that certain sections of the fan base are going to end up upset or not happy when the mystery person is eventually announced.

After all Edwards has been quoted as saying they will go for a brave choice over a popular one.

23 Apr 2024 16:11:07
I don't think anyone coming from the Portuguese or Dutch leagues is a safe option, Viktor. They made AVB and Ten Hag look like geniuses. De Boer and van Bronckhurst also killed it in the Eredivisie. Even Steve McLaren won the title with Twente for the first and only time in their history. Unless they do something truly special like Mourinho winning the Champions League with Porto, it is always a massive risk.

23 Apr 2024 18:03:09
With VV, as well. Tuchel is absolute poison.

23 Apr 2024 18:04:37
VV - I don't have a strong view on Tuchel as Liverpool manager. Just saying I still rate him, which is just an opinion. And I'm not sure how you get to "if Tuchel was as good as you think he is", when I haven't expressed an opinion on how good I think he is.

My main point was to query your absurd, in my opinion, assertion that a manager who has won at least one trophy at every one of the clubs he has worked at, including league titles in two different countries plus a European Cup, is a "serial failure". The point about it being easy to win the league title with PSG or Bayern is valid but, again, that doesn't equate to serial failure. And whilst Bayern won't win the league this season due to a once-in-a-lifetime brilliant season by Alonso's Leverkusen, remember that Bayern are still in the Champions League semi finals having knocked out the team that is top of the Premier League. Even if you don't like Tuchel the person or think he has a track record for falling out with clubs - which if true is a good reason not to want him as manager - labelling him a serial failure is not credible.

23 Apr 2024 09:22:37
Not long after klopp made his announcement I had a small wager on Gary O’Neil being announced as the new manager! I’d definitely prefer him to a lot of the names being touted about, I’d rather give him a couple of seasons and potentially wait for xabi, I 100% understand his decision to stay at Bayern and admire the loyalty he is showing, guaranteed next season will be far more difficult than this. I can see Edward’s and the new S. D going for an up and coming British manager with premier league experience.

23 Apr 2024 09:27:25
Xabi will be going Real Madrid so we would be waiting a long long time am afraid!

23 Apr 2024 10:04:44
He hasn’t done anything at Bournemouth or Wolves. Easy pass surely.

23 Apr 2024 10:05:17
Of the managers we've been linked with who working in premiership at min, de zerbi, frank etc i would pick o neill ahead of them as well.

23 Apr 2024 10:09:07
The prpblem is the structure, Amirom wants to be involved in the transfer dealing and Edwards and Hughes wouldn't allow it, Plus there is a 30 mill euros in compensation and I doubt FSG have an interest in paying that sum.

23 Apr 2024 10:15:51
I'm getting worrying vibes that it might be De Zerbi you know. If Amorim is being courted by West Ham as the media are suggesting then it sounds to me like we aren't actively pursuing him (IMO no-one with any sense would even speak to WH if Liverpool wanted a chat) .

23 Apr 2024 10:23:56
No idea or inside knowledge obviously but if Liverpool don’t give Amorim the kind of role he wants and west ham does, then why would he continue with us?

23 Apr 2024 10:47:01
Simple answer Faith - compromise. If a manager prefers WH to Liverpool purely because of the underlying management structure then good luck to him, he's on a hiding to nothing there with no CL football and zero chance of winning anything in the next 5 years. Moyes deserves the freedom of London for winning the trophy last season.

23 Apr 2024 11:34:48
Onekiss- how much better at wolves or Bournemouth do you think klopp or guardiola would have done?

23 Apr 2024 11:21:15
Sounds a bit high horse to me.
It’s a tough job to be in if you put aside a fundamental part of how you want to manage.
Much better to walk away and take another project.

23 Apr 2024 11:51:32
Digger10, that is a VERY low bar though.

I think that’s an irrelevant point Jaydee, Klopp was hired because going down the Brendan Rodgers route failed spectacularly, so we appointed the best man for the job who had not only a track record of actual success and winning titles, but doing so as the underdog. Due respect to O’Neill but managing Bournemouth, Wolves and our U23’s isn’t really comparable.

23 Apr 2024 12:26:29
Viktorvaughn - had the players under Rodgers not bottled at the final stage like we appear to be doing again this year then klopp has only won one more title than Rodgers did in almost a decade of being manager.

23 Apr 2024 12:33:38
Jaydee, Wolves and Bournemouth went from mid table to mid table under O’Neill. Howe done better at Bournemouth and Nuno done better at Wolves and neither of them should be getting a Liverpool job. Pep and Klopp are two of the greatest managers of course they’d have done better there. We’ve tried these types of managers with Rodgers and Hodgson before. We need someone who knows how to win titles.

23 Apr 2024 13:03:29
Onekiss - just for clarity let me make it crystal clear I’m not hoping for o’Niel as our next manager I’m saying it’s plausible, your last statement is flawed however as all of houlier Benitez daglish souness Hodgson and Rodgers have also won titles, and in the last 32 years only houllier Benitez and Rodgers have managed to finish second, Klopps done one better once.
Exited to see who we get and whoever it will be will get my 100% support but it’s clear nobody has a clue who it will be at this stage which seems to be the Edward’s way.

23 Apr 2024 13:05:07
What about Andoni Iraola?

I wonder who recruited him at Bournemouth!?!

23 Apr 2024 13:12:05
Jaydee, I can’t remember us winning a title under Rodgers.

Klopp has also won a champions league, world club championship and every other trophy possible. He’s also been up against a club owned by a nation state with unlimited funds and been competitive, we’ve missed out by fine margins.

Rodgers had one good year and he still failed in that one good year. We literally fell apart and Rodgers was shown for the fraud he is when Suarez left.

Replacing a bonafide world class manager with a mid table manager on the basis of potential and who hasn’t won anything is a ridiculous risk which will likely go horribly wrong and take years to recover from.

23 Apr 2024 13:31:06
Iraola, guess we’re looking to consolidate that mid table position next year then.

23 Apr 2024 13:46:50
It's alright talking about getting managers with titles behind them and all the rest but once alonso decided to stay at leverkusan i don't think the list of managers available is too great. In fact its decidedly average the pool available. Amorion seemed next best but I'd say 90% of lfc fans didn't know who he was 6 months ago. Slot the same.
Always going to be an outrageous task to replace klopp anyway but at this minute in time there ain't much about.

23 Apr 2024 14:55:00
What mid table position, Vik?
We are second.

23 Apr 2024 14:57:53
@ViktorVaughan Seems to have been turned down for the LFC Sporting Director role.

Richard Hughes and his gigabytes of of analysis might be better qualified.

23 Apr 2024 07:55:31
Ed001, with a new manager coming in, it could be an interesting summer regarding transfers. What positions would you strengthen and who would you move on?

My outgoings:
Matip - contract expired
Thiago - contract expired
Gravenberch - I know he’s only been here since the summer but he’s simply not good enough or doesn’t try hard enough.
Salah - I think now is the perfect time to move him on.
Diaz - sick to death of his fathers comments about him and his son dreaming of Barcelona or Madrid. Diaz has very fast feet but his end product is very inconsistent.
Tsimikas - I just don’t think he’s good enough.

Incomings:
CB - with matip leaving and Konate’s fitness issues, I think we definitely need a CB
Attacker - with salah almost certainly leaving and maybe Diaz, a versatile attacker who can play across the front 3 will be needed.
LB - Robertson isn’t getting any younger and Tsimikas isn’t good enough. Not sure if any of the kids such as Beck are ready to step up but if not, I think we definitely need another LB.

{Ed001's Note - Matip and Thiago have to go, can't stay fit so it would be crazy to give them a new deal.
I would take a good offer for Salah, but I wouldn't be pushing him out of the door.
Diaz, on the other hand, I too am sick to death of his dad's statements. I am more fed up of his lack of end product, people moan about Nunez, but Diaz is far worse for messing up opportunities.
Tsimikas I would probably keep because my worry is Robbo is ageing and I would want him to cover so Beck can get a run, then assess the left-back again next summer. I do believe Beck is the answer in that position though.
The other one who I would be considering selling is Jones. I like him a lot, on his game he is excellent, but he is always injured, so I would want to look at that and see what is the cause and maybe have to move him on.

Priority for me is a left-sided centre-back. Rotation option for Virgil and long-term replacement.
After that it would come down to who is available for the right price. I think Danns has the ability to push on and be an option in the centre forward position, so not sure we need one of those. Right-side though, that I do think we need to look for. We have options there, but no one has nailed down the place as an alternative to Salah.}

23 Apr 2024 08:44:53
Interesting read that, ed001.

And who would you bring in? Including manager?

Keen to hear your opinion.

{Ed001's Note - manager I have no idea. There was only Alonso out there.

As for the defender, the ideal choice would be Bastoni but other than that it really depends on how the new man wants to play. I would probably look at Pavlovic though to be honest.

Kubo is the obvious choice on the right side of the attack, as he offers flexibility as well being able to play all over the front line.}

23 Apr 2024 09:08:43
Thanks for the reply Ed001, I do agree aswell regarding Jones. He finally looked like he was nailing down his place in midfield earlier in the season but yet another injury has completely derailed his season and he has come back very rusty, back in his old habit of taking far too long on the ball and getting caught.

{Ed001's Note - it is a shame, I really want him to succeed but he has to stay fit.}

23 Apr 2024 09:42:47
Ed, what are your thoughts on Thomas Frank?
My assessment of him is quite shallow but he’s done well wherever he’s gone and has plenty of wins to his name against top level opposition.
What would be the drawbacks here? If it’s not Alonso or Inzaghi, I’m picking Frank over every other name mentioned.

{Ed001's Note - he gets results by shithousery. His football is horrible and he has the team diving, playacting, niggly fouls, timewasting, that's his methodology. Not for me would I even consider him. That is not a tactical plan that can step up to top level as the players want to play football. He would be down with Allardyce for me.}

23 Apr 2024 10:21:13
Tell you what Ed1, I can see your love for frank, it's shining through mate, almost like rons love for Nunez. Haha thanks for writing this mate, I don't have the time to read right now but will later on today.

{Ed001's Note - I actually quite like Frank, he seems a nice guy, but I wouldn't want to watch his football every week.}

23 Apr 2024 10:25:51
Would love Eze for us.
Interesting times manager wise.

Looks like it’s going to be a Brendan Rodgers’s type of appointment unless someone with experience comes out of nowhere.

23 Apr 2024 10:36:47
Kubo or Eze are great shouts.

23 Apr 2024 10:38:04
What happen to Bakayoko Ed1? I remember how highly rated he is last season. But this season, it seems like his stock has fallen.

{Ed001's Note - I guess you mean Johan? There are a lot of Bakayokos! He is just 20, they go through peaks and troughs usually at that age.}

23 Apr 2024 11:20:09
Ed1. I also don’t get why Diaz’s dad is talking. And when I say talking, I mean constantly talking. He is not even an agent in any capacity. If I was in Diaz’s shoes, I would be telling my father to zip it as it’s embarrassing all around.

On the managerial front, I have 3 questions:

1. As far as you’re aware is Amorim, who was just behind Alonso as my 2nd choice, now completely off?
2. Richard Hughes is apparently a big fan of De Zerbi. Do you now see him being appointed?
3. I have long resigned to the fact Alonso is not coming after his announcement. Do you think he could do a U turn or has that ship completely sailed.

I have a feeling we are going to appoint De Zerbi, who I’ll be honest is not my favoured choice at all. Not for the way his team plays, because his brand of football prior to this season was breath taking and quite possibly the best in Europe. But more so for his very combative personality, which could go one of two ways.

{Ed002's Note - 1. He cannot be completely ruled out. Ruben Amorim (C) Manchester United may still offer an option - another option will be Liverpool, but he knows he was not first choice - but I think they will still try for him with Alonso not interested and I think he would be a good choice and a good fit, but persuading him to leave Sporting may be difficult.

I understand that there was no clear understanding between the club and his agent regarding the scope of his responsibilities and Liverpool will need to be flexible – critically over the squad – another with an issue that targets are still Fallows, Hunter and Klopp derived and a whole new structure being put in place. Do not rule out Barcelona but Deco has a preferred option whilst the board want to persuade Xavi to stay or to move quicky for Amorim.

If needs force the situation and given the likely link between the club and Sporting, Chelsea may start pushing having spoken with Amorim before. West Ham spoke with his agent and Sporting to allow them to talk directly to Amorim, but it would seem an unlikely move for me and probably not one he would be keen on but they will offer him control over targets and will offer him much more than Moyes gets in salary.

They have a project to sell but, for me, will likely need to revert to the other potential replacements for Moyes that they have identified. Newcastle may offer a wildcard option and will pay the termination clause and the cost of terminating his staff but they again will not be an attractive option. Bayern Munich may also see Amorin as an option as they too struggle but he is not currently top-of-the-list for them as they are likely to revise their approach now.

2. Roberto de Zerbi (C) Brighton would fight to keep him but another who will certainly be discussed by Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Liverpool and Manchester United with Jim Ratcliffe having a very serious interest in him. A minor issue exists in the €15M cost of Brighton releasing him.

Additionally, there are termination clauses for all of his staff. Deco has de Zerbi as his preferred option for Barcelona which he has shared with Yuste and Laporte but it will not be Deco's decision and they can perhaps be excluded. Not top of Chelsea's list, but on the list. Likely first choice for Bayern Munich now but if they cannot sign him they have a Plan B.

An interesting option might be Manchester City when the job becomes available. He has said he is not interested in the Liverpool job but they could look to trying to persuade him to make the move as they struggle to bring in preferred options. Brighton are actively looking for a replacement and fear he will depart.

3. Xabi Alonso (C) A popular choice for clubs and having a great season at Bayer Leverkusen, but very inexperienced, although there will be interest in him from Liverpool, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Chelsea and Manchester United, I would discount all but Liverpool and Bayern Munich.

Has made no secret of a desire to follow Ancelotti at Real Madrid - but that won't be until 2026 so they can be discounted at this time although he has the support of Carlo Ancelotti. Manchester City may provide an option in 2025 and don’t rule out a move. Klopp has endorsed both Alonso and Nagelsmann for the Liverpool job – but neither is available this summer.

Bayern Munich offered a serious option but again they are having to look to other options inkling a Plan B that will see an interim Head Coach for a year. Having won the league this season it would likely make it very difficult for him to leave Leverkusen and there would be significant pressure to stay.

His agent Inaki Ibanez has said that multiple clubs are enquiring and that clubs need to work with Bayer Leverkusen, who Liverpool have approached to ask permission to speak directly with Alonso but he will stay for now looking at a future role in Madrid when Carlo Ancelotti departs in 2026.}

23 Apr 2024 11:17:59
Agree with most of that especially the Diaz part I get so frustrated with the amount of times he runs into trouble and holds it too long. Nunez gets, but Diaz is more frustrating for me.
I'd keep Jones personally.

23 Apr 2024 12:43:53
I think Diaz's dad is especially disrespectful given the support the club showed his family during their hour of need just this season. He's also there at every game wanting photos with everyone. The next day he's talking about his son leaving. Talk about a cheek.

I don't think we need to replace Diaz if he leaves. He has zero end product. Just give extra minutes to Elliott, Clark, Doak and others.

23 Apr 2024 12:54:38
Ed2. Cheers for the detailed response. Much appreciated.

23 Apr 2024 07:39:01
{Ed's Note - Ed001 has posted a new article entitled, Fulham v Liverpool - A Quick Liverpool Perspective

23 Apr 2024 08:13:44
A good read again ed001. What are your thoughts on Diaz? Do you feel that a different system might make him more productive in terms of goals or do you think it's time to move him on? Personally I'd sell him and use Gakpo on that side.

{Ed001's Note - I would get rid, the disrespect his dad has shown the club is ridiculous. I love watching Diaz play, but he simply does not offer enough end product.}

23 Apr 2024 08:41:27
The figures mentioned for Diaz are mad. I'd sell him for half of what I've read (media talk? ) .
He keeps trying but he doesn't do en for me.

23 Apr 2024 09:20:35
Agree with ed1 excellent player but lacks an end product. And for all the club has done for Diaz and his dad a little bit of respect goes a long way, pity he’s forgotten about that in his push for his son to play in Spain.

23 Apr 2024 10:17:30
Can he be an excellent forward player if he lacks an end product?
I don't think he can.

23 Apr 2024 10:42:11
Ed1 about Gakpo I was wondering what his best position actually was. he been played in too many positions n has looked lost, but on the left he seems a lot better. can see the confidence growing when played there. last 4 games he's been one of our better players.

{Ed001's Note - left is defo where he was at his best before we signed him, so it is little surprise he has looked better there with a run of games.}

22 Apr 2024 21:43:41
ED01 - how important do you think the name is, of who we appoint next? Klopp had that special aura about him and was a known quantity. How much do players join because of the club itself or due to who the manager is? I'm sure we could give a less known manager like Arne Slot a chance and we'd still be able to attract top players. Although, I genuinely believe we have the players to do well after Klopp has gone.

{Ed001's Note - the name is irrelevant, I know some players joined because of Klopp, but that was because he sold the club to them, not because of his name. Those same players would not have joined Klopp at say Forest or West Ham.}

23 Apr 2024 06:54:49
It reinforces the original post then, Klopp has a bigger pull than any other the other candidates. We’re finished.

{Ed025's Note - its the end of the world as we know it.. :)

23 Apr 2024 07:39:02
FSG hit a jackpot with klopp and that won't be the case again. Edwards and Hughes are scrapping the barrel at the moment. The Name is relevant to me becasue Hodgson and Rodgers got jack arsenal while they were here.

23 Apr 2024 08:02:11
If the name is Southgate then it’s important. But in a worrying way.

{Ed025's Note - personally i think he would be a great choice JK.. :)

23 Apr 2024 08:48:16
"We're doomed. doomed I tells ye".
Before we know it Everton will be in a better position on and off the pitch, eh?

23 Apr 2024 11:06:51
Is that a joke ED25?

{Ed025's Note - me making jokes Mfahmee?, now would i do that mate?.. :)

22 Apr 2024 18:56:31
I'd go for Slot

Absolute machine.

{Ed025's Note - love it mate..

22 Apr 2024 19:38:33
Not sure he’s worth the gamble personally.

22 Apr 2024 19:41:30
We'll have hit the Jackpot if we go for Slot.

{Ed025's Note - nice one Taurus...i hope he gets the job just for the jokes mate.. :)

22 Apr 2024 19:44:57
Haha brilliant gents.

I think we’ve hit the jackpot with this one.

22 Apr 2024 19:53:21
I’d press hold on this one.

22 Apr 2024 19:55:59
Taurus you beat me to the punch there mate.

22 Apr 2024 20:23:28
There'll be some japes about his name if he does sign.
Aaaah, metal slots and some strimmer wire. Nudge nudge wink wink, I've got a pocketful of pretty green.

22 Apr 2024 20:29:16
Imagine if we got Slot and Toney. That would be a match made in Vegas.

22 Apr 2024 21:19:08
Would be we have to sign sterling and cash.

{Ed025's Note - and with Gravenbirch...that would be 3 lemons in a row JK.. :)

22 Apr 2024 21:23:17
Arne will be back.

{Ed025's Note - good stuff Ron..

22 Apr 2024 21:39:02
Time to hold your plumbs lads it looks like we're in bandit country.

22 Apr 2024 21:49:48
I think Arne will Slot right in at Liverpool.

23 Apr 2024 01:23:43
Surely with Slot sterling and cash we’d finally be able to afford Mbappe and to clone prime Dalglish.

23 Apr 2024 06:59:33
Good choice imo, Slot would fit right in.

23 Apr 2024 07:32:49
Going backwards if we do get slot. lol might as well just get back Rodger’s or Rafa. 🤣 be back to a medicore team.

23 Apr 2024 08:21:52
We weren't mediocre under Rafa.
I wish we had one of the midfields we had under him. I reckon we'd win the League this season with the likes Gerrard, Alonso, Mascherano and Sissoko.
Rafa was up against Ferguson though. Like Klopp is up against Guardiola.

22 Apr 2024 18:25:37
In defence of Nunez, the team have been taking one too many touches of the ball. Nunez is on his way and is caught offside because one pass or one touch too many has put him in the position of being offside. We do not play the lad correctly, we do not use his pace to his advantage.

22 Apr 2024 18:52:59
Remember the roy Keane quote about haalands all round game being that of a league 2 players? It's like Nunez is the opposite.

He's strong, fast, can dribble well and has bags of strength and stamina but his shooting and general play in the final third is worse than league 2 standard.

You should at least be hitting the target or making a pass as a principal and I don't think mentally you can teach composure you either have it or you don't.

Not knocking the guy he works tremendously hard and is a loveable bloke but if we want to be winning premier leagues and big cups he can't be relied on.

22 Apr 2024 19:30:20
Three paragraphs criticizing Nunez then saying not knocking the guy, brilliant 😂.

22 Apr 2024 19:19:41
I like Nunez but he’s more bullet proof than a Kevlar vest.

Yes not every time he’s offside might not be his fault but he has to take some accountability as well.

Yesterday one of his offsides was from Sakah’s first time touch pass so you can’t get any quicker ball release than that.

The other forwards manage to time their runs regardless of how quick we’re playing it.

Nunez has been offside 41 times this season with the next highest being Salah at 18 and Diaz at 17.

22 Apr 2024 19:43:00
Salah not Sakah. Bloody phone.

22 Apr 2024 20:16:03
I think you’ll find JK that Nunez had made the run to take the pass before the ball went to Salah. The fact that the ball went via Salah and not directly through to Nunez meant he’d run offside.

I think in general we’ve started to take too many touches as if no one wants to take risks with the ball. It normally means that everything closes up in front of the player with the ball and he has to go sideways or backwards to keep possession.

If we started popping it around at pace then Nunez wouldn’t be offside half as much. He’ll always get caught offside occasionally because he likes to run in behind but we need to be much quicker in all aspects of our play to get the best out of him.

22 Apr 2024 20:38:51
Well I’m glad that’s been cleared up. 41 times it’s been the passers fault.

I’m probably going to stop going to live matches now and wait to be told with “I think you’ll find” on here to bring me fully up to speed.

22 Apr 2024 20:44:52
Sometimes it might be too many passes. Sometimes it's because his timing is off. Sometimes it's because he's looking right across the line but still runs offside despite being faster than 99% of defenders. I remember people saying he was very raw when he came. He's still v raw now unfortunately. Its frustrating because when he came on against Newcastle and scored those 2 clinical goals I thought yes here we go. But it hasn't really happened unfortunately. I love his enthusiasm, his fight and how unpredictable he is but he needs to score more for the amount of good chances he gets it's as simple as that.

22 Apr 2024 20:45:38
I agree, our all round play is slow, way too slow. Too much sideways and backwards, it’s painful to watch sometimes and so boring.

It is something that has been going on all season but we are now at the business end of the season and don’t seem to be able to shift up two gears when needed.

Luckily Fulham were on their holidays yesterday. Everton will be a cauldron and I hope we’re ready.

22 Apr 2024 21:44:01
All great forwards go through periods of gobbling up lots of chances. Difference with Nunez is it is not the exception, but the rule. Even when the likes of Haaland, Salah, or prime Mane have missed chances, you can usually see what they were trying to do. Nunez doesn't have a clue.

You can argue that this doesn't matter due to the net benefit he brings to the team, but we are starting to see there is only so far you can persist with that type of player. For all that he brings to our play, his incompetence in front of goal is mentally damaging to our own players and lifts the oppositions. It has now become 'a thing'. Nunez begins to miss one or two sitters and everybody's heads go, players and fans alike.

I don't think that is something that everyone else needs to change, it is on him to stop burning everybody's heads out. I feel that he gives encouragement to the opposition and has become detrimental to the confidence and momentum of our team. He makes it almost impossible to control football matches and I think the very least that he needs is a spell coming off the bench. In the longer term, I am not sure he can be relied upon to lead the line for a top side.

Almost two years here and he hasn't had one single commanding, dominant performance where everything goes well for him. Just splitters and false starts, a late goal here, an assist there. For as much as he puts himself about, I just don't feel it is enough.

22 Apr 2024 22:00:28
Hit a nerve JK?

I think you’ll find that I did say he will get caught offside anyway because he likes to run in behind. Any player that plays on the shoulder of the last defender is bound to be caught offside more than a player who comes deep. It’s logical.

We do pass the ball slowly, anyone with any sense can see that. That doesn’t mean and nor did I suggest that it’s the passers fault every time.

Why can’t it just be a bit of both rather than just hammering the lad every time he gets caught offside? In the instance you mentioned there was a straight pass on to Nunez so he makes the run but the ball is played to Salah first who then plays it first time but by this time he’s run offside. I was just correcting your obvious misjudgement of the situation.

He’s not perfect by any stretch but there are way too many fans these days that choose to focus on any negative aspect of a player rather than looking at his positive attributes. It’s the world we live in unfortunately.

22 Apr 2024 22:48:09
Not at all.

I’ve hardly hammered him. I regularly praise the lad as well as the rest of the players.

You always seem to be correcting people on here.

“I was just correcting your obvious misjudgement of the situation” I doubt you could get any more condescending if you tried.

23 Apr 2024 00:33:26
Just being honest about his game but the Nunez fan club seems any criticism of his game a vendetta. Nunez is fine if we want to compete with spurs and co for top four to win the league we need better.

23 Apr 2024 03:19:58
I think if we are being honest with ourselves then we can admit that Nunez is a very good player, but he isn’t a world class player and will likely never be. He isn’t composed enough, nor deadly enough, but that doesn’t mean he can’t be an effective player for us - simply means we need to play a system and players that spreads the goals around (which we do to be fair) .

23 Apr 2024 08:31:50
Amorin, no one is saying Nunez is above criticism but you're comparing your analysis of him to Keane's daft analysis of Haaland 😂.
Keane gets very emotional sometimes. That is part of his appeal but it also means he comes out with stuff like he did about Haaland and like he did about de Gea and Maguire when United got beat against Spurs, I think.