Liverpool banter 2

01 May 2024 21:46:41
Greetings Ed001, Trust you are well. A question for you (and sorry if it puts you on the spot a bit) .

Mohammed Salah and Virgil Van Dijk. Sell this summer or extend for a year?

I have mixed feelings about both and actually can't decide.

Is it time to turn the page fully on our incredible trio of Salah, Firmino and Mane? I would say yes, for the sake of the remaining forwards on the team. Do you sell for the money? No, because 60-70 million doesn't guarantee you 20-25 goals per year, the way it used to.

I thought VVD had reached his plateau last year, but it turns out he was shaking off that lost year to injury and captaincy has raised his performances to a much higher playing level. So I would extend for another year. But then is it better to give a new head coach a clean slate to mold his team his way, starting off with the older players? Matip is leaving, and if VVD is sold, then you give Konate and Quansah a new partner on the left for the next foreseable 4-5 years? And let's not forget Gomez.

{Ed001's Note - depends on if we have replacements lined up. If so, sell. If not, then it is not an option. I would certainly expect us to be looking to phase them both out even if they stay.}

01 May 2024 23:45:37
Given it’s the last season of Mo’s current contract due you think that might have a bit more of an influence on any decision the club takes in his case?

Weighing up what his market value might be against the possible lack of a direct replacement? For me, I’d sell, but the club has been pretty conservative in letting players go in recent seasons, with the exception of Hendo and Fabs last year.

{Ed001's Note - yes, I expect contract situations will be taken into account in every case when it comes to deciding on players to sell.}

01 May 2024 23:46:15
I would sell Salah and keep VVD.

Virg still wants to be here, it doesn’t appear that Salah does, so let him go.

20-30 goals per season is what he HAS achieved, not necessarily what he WILL achieve next season.

02 May 2024 06:43:30
Sell Salah, keep VVD. VVD has off days, but when he is on it he's still one of the top 3 CB's in the league and wants to be here.
Salah is diminishing, replaceable and will still hold significant value.
Ed001 - lots of talk in the last few days about Salah wanting to stay and SA clubs not wanting to buy etc. do you reckon this is all posturing or do you think Salah will run his contract down?

{Ed001's Note - Salah has never been looking to move, he has always been happy in Liverpool, as is his family, and very settled. The reason why his agent goes round trying to get him ridiculous offers is because it is his job to explore potential offers and it would need to be a ludicrous offer for him to consider a move. This is not Salah chasing a move, it is his agent trying to get him one.

I can't say how he feels at this point in the season, but at the start of the season Salah felt he had plenty more left in the tank and was not interested in moving to a retirement league just yet. That might be being reconsidered though after the way his form died on him mid-season. I don't know though so can't say.}

02 May 2024 07:42:43
If a better player is available, replace the one you have.
Salah is contracted for another season. If we offer him an extension it should benefit both him and the club. He gets the security of another season and we can get a fee if he does go next summer.
I've just got a feeling that Salah wants to play football at the highest level for another season at least.

02 May 2024 08:45:01
I would keep Virgil because his high levels have returned this season, he plays every game, without him we look lost at the back, he's our captain and I feel as though he's got another few seasons in him. I would sell Salah if we get a big offer because it looks as though his powers are diminishing (might be too soon to say this confidently) we could use the money to buy a replacement but also because as we've seen salah is not one to sit on the bench or to accept not being the star and I feel this could cause the new manager some grief. The way he handled that scrap with Klopp makes me fear for the new guy.

02 May 2024 13:18:30
Van dyke has been great this season. Despite having more partners than a sheil rd brass. I doubt this would be a conversation if we managed to stay top of the league.

02 May 2024 15:18:24
Scouse john L8, I agree and having multiple partners has not helped him overall, as we are seeing now.

02 May 2024 21:07:22
VVD has dropped off his level a bit since his was maimed by Pickford. He’s still a very good defender and will be tough to replace.

Salah has lost his pace this season which is understandable given his game is all about strength and pace. You simply can’t sustain it over a certain age.

So if someone asked me to choose who to sell it would be Mo. Mo will command a bigger fee, will free up more wages (I assume) and has had a bigger drop in his game.

I have no idea what type of player and what system Slot will look to play, it may not be the same as Feyenoord. So he may feel there’s more value in keeping an ageing Salah than VVD.

I’m not fussed either way. It’s all a clean slate with me and the new manager needs space to craft a system and a team.

01 May 2024 16:28:49
Ed1 - do you think with a high pressing high energy style our players will regain their form? Or, are there more serious issues than just the tactics being employed and some regular players should be moved on?

{Ed001's Note - I think it will help, but it is not the only issue. Having a new head coach to impress will help and having the right tactics to suit the players. There are lots of things that will need to be right.}

01 May 2024 17:07:00
Slot does play high press but it is mainly a possession style unlike Klopp's gegenpressing which I think is the most attacking and energetic brand of football. Despite high intensity under Slot, it may not be equivalent to the intensity we saw in initial Klopp years. Slot also plays with inverted full backs. It is a tweaked Pep style football from what I have seen.

01 May 2024 17:56:11
Thanks Ed. I hope that push on next year - especially Darwin and szobo, I think they can really benefit from a more energetic style. They clearly have the potential and we need to get the best out of them. I don’t buy they’re not good enough - they were incredible at points in the season and we just need consistency.

01 May 2024 19:06:22
Yeah sanjit, pep linders tho :p.

01 May 2024 19:35:15
Edd001 does slot play inverted fullbacks?

{Ed001's Note - apparently so, yes.}

01 May 2024 19:46:16
Do u worry about the mentality/ bottle of our players ed1? I know u put a lot of blame on tactics, which I mostly agree with, but in saying that our players, almost all of them, fell apart when things got to nitty gritty towards end of season. i don't think I've ever seen a lfc team fall apart so badly, almost like we afraid.

{Ed001's Note - no, Klopp is leaving, the players were always going to lose focus the moment momentum went.}

01 May 2024 15:07:23
Ed1 and fellow reds here, one month left for Klopp as our manager. I want to ask you Ed1, if you could pick one signing as the best signing under Klopp reign, who could it be?

For me its between Alisson, Van Dijk and Salah. But I'm going to go with Alisson. Because of how hard it is to find a world class goalkeeper compared to a winger or a CB. Also because of how he can single handedly saves us many times and just how good he actually is.

{Ed001's Note - I think I would have to go with the same choice. Also because it was the moment when he showed that he can be ruthless when needed. Klopp had been intending to give Karius the chance to redeem himself, but Karius arsed about with his LK1 'brand' rather than working to improve. So Klopp immediately went out and bought Alisson, just before everyone else jumped into the market for a keeper. It ended up causing a ripple effect which led to a panic buy of Kepa for a record fee for a keeper by Chelsea as they had missed out on Ali. So it also helped weaken a rival as Kepa was terrible.}

01 May 2024 17:31:44
Favourite Liverpool player of all time is Alisson. I don't think many people, including some of our own supporters, realise how good he is. Best goalie I've seen in my lifetime.

{Ed025's Note - hes a great keeper AW but for me Clemence was probably better if only for his longevity mate, im afraid he would struggle to get in the top 20 of all time great overall Liverpool players though, maybe you are quite young and dont remember the likes of Kenny, Souness, Rush, Keegan, Fowler, Hansen, Neale, Hunt, StJohn, Kennedy, Case, McDermott....and many many more i could mention....i tell you what make that top 50.. :)

01 May 2024 18:06:39
For me the best signing was 4th choice Mo Salah. Take away his agent trying to get him to Madrid since the day and hour he arrived and his odd little hissy fit but what an incredible player, that can’t be denied. So consistent over his time at Liverpool, even this season when he has shown signs of slowing down, still pops up with 20 odd goals. Sure there are right wingers but like Salah? Pure gold.

01 May 2024 18:25:46
You are not Live supporter Ed25. In your neutral view, who do you think is Klopp best signing?

{Ed025's Note - its between VVD, Alisson and Salah mfahmee, the thing is that i dont know how much input Klopp actually had mate..

01 May 2024 18:32:03
The hardest thing is football is scoring goals so it has to be one season wonder 4th choice Salah.

01 May 2024 18:56:19
Ed025 you left out your favourite there. Firmino.

{Ed025's Note - hes not in my top 20 Walkon, nice fella though but underwhelming as a footballer for me mate.. :)

01 May 2024 18:59:53
I d go Allison also but I think mane is also in the conversation. We immediately jumped in standards when he joined too.

01 May 2024 19:07:22
Matip has to be up there considering he was a free.

{Ed025's Note - if he was free...you were robbed Amorin.. :)

01 May 2024 19:22:47
Allison, Salah, VVD and Fabinho for me. All 4 of those equally. Ali, VVD and Fabinho gave us that solid platform for the rest to thrive. Great defences win titles. If you’re not solid at the back then you’re very very unlikely to win titles.

01 May 2024 20:08:53
Klopp had some input into VVD signing for Liverpool, they had a cosy up on the big dipper. VVD for me because he is the one we will miss the most. With Allison out and Mo not playing well we still ended up 3 points clear with 7 games to go.

01 May 2024 20:16:18
Alisson easy for me.
VVD and Salah not a million miles behind though.

01 May 2024 19:59:13
Im more the same age group as ED025, some amazing players over my lifetime. Sometimes forget just how good we have been. So hard to say best plater overall, but best keeper has to be Clemence. A keeper ahead of his time, Ali runs him a close second. Best Manager, PAISLEY always.

01 May 2024 20:36:26
Best keepers? Surely smeichal or van Der sar have to be up there also, bad spelling sorry.

01 May 2024 19:54:44
Ed025 you listed a load of great players there mate but no Barnes. Was that an oversight or do you not rate him?

{Ed025's Note - a bit of a brain fart im afraid Baz, right near the top of that list for me mate and one of the most skillful players i have ever seen mate..

01 May 2024 21:03:16
Alisson for me not only fantastic keeper but a humble lead by example kind of character in the dressing room and that for me is part of why Liverpool has had an amazing run since he arrived
The assist against United and the top corner finish in the dying minutes are bonuses but his ability with his hands make him one of my favourites.

01 May 2024 21:11:35
Mohammed Salah for me. Year in and year out, consistently was available to play, scored that minimum 20 goals a year, broke LFC records regularly and is just a serious professional always at work. Recent touchline hissy fit aside. Alisson and VVD are very serious contenders but just half a step behind Salah, for me.

01 May 2024 21:38:14
Vvd for me. the 1 player when he is out or not at his best we cannot make any attempt to replace.
Weve lost ali+ salah at different times threw the years but we got bye OK. When vvd out or plays below his best we allover the place defensively.

01 May 2024 22:45:35
Rodgers signed Firminho.
Any of the four of Alisson, VVD, Mane or Salah, for me.
Robertson has been outstanding value for what he cost, too.

01 May 2024 23:43:19
I’m with Digger - Virgil Van Dijk.

He’s what you call “a multiplier”. His presence improves all the players around him.
He gives more confidence to the fullbacks to roam forward. He allows the team to go full tilt on the high press. He gives confidence to all the other defenders and the goal keeper and is a calming influence.

We went from ”good team” to genuine challengers when we bought Virgil.

Salah is a brilliant player but Virgil made the difference to the team.

01 May 2024 23:53:03
Great shout about Robbo @Rigsby.

I’d go for Ali as the best ‘signing’ and Robbo as the ‘best value for money’ signing.

If you talk about the previous manger his best signing was Bobby and his best value for money signing (quite possibly in the club’s history) was Millie. Despite the fact Brendan was / is a self promoting tool he did have his moments.

02 May 2024 01:28:45
I mean does Salah even count as a Klopp signing? Yeah he signed off on it but he wanted Brandt and 2 others instead.

02 May 2024 07:56:42
Yes, Salah counts as a Klopp signing, fuser.

02 May 2024 08:00:58
This Salah is not Klopp signing is not much of a discussion is it? There is no way to know that if Brandt who Klopp want did come, he will not turn Brandt into a world class player. Plus Klopp have the final say on who we sign right, it mean that Salah will not happen if Klopp doesn't approve it.

02 May 2024 08:48:55
Another vote for Virgil.

02 May 2024 21:13:04
VVD and Alisson were demonstrable game changers.
We won the lot when we signed them.

01 May 2024 11:53:13


Nevada has written an article entitled, A quick fix to solve Liverpool's long-term problem?

01 May 2024 15:20:26
Really interesting read that, Nevada. Psychologically, football is such a hard sport. Because you don’t just let yourself down, or even your team mates, but millions of fans globally. It’s so well followed that it makes international headlines if you miss a sitter in a close game in the Premier League.

01 May 2024 18:33:20
Totally agree, the amount of times teams turn up and “expect” to win against either out of form teams or teams lower in the league or go ahead by 2 or three goals and “switch off” has always intrigued me.

01 May 2024 19:36:47
I've been doing this professionally for a few years now since switching from being a radiographer, I'm lucky enough that I've worked in bubdesliga, serie a and b, NHL and with a few track and field athletes.

Sport is littered with highly talented athletes who end up wasting that talent because psychologically they just weren't at the right level

I did get hired by an NFL team for a few months but that was an utter waste of time and I left very quickly. People viewed me like a witch doctor in that sport which is a shame because that is the sport with the worst mental health problems in my opinion. That and tennis.

02 May 2024 05:11:52
I think if you we’re putting a label on the attribute lacking it would be “composure” for both Nunez and Diaz, who seem to really struggle with the key chances they should score, and “awareness/ vision” for Salah, who though gets into good positions often fails to pick out a team mate on an even better one in favor of a shot. Attributes I would argue Mane was better in than all those mentioned. I know he’d lost his spark a little in the last season with us, but Mane’s skill set just hasn’t been replaced yet. The psychological aspect is fascinating though, I do wonder why it’s still not given the level of brevity it so clearly deserves in professional sport.

02 May 2024 15:30:14
"The psychologist in me says that the data suggests our strikers struggle with high pressure chances as they score more goals with low quality chances where they are not expected to score. This coincides with the fact that chances in the box are cramped chances that need to be snatched quickly and our strikers just can't do that at the moment. "

Nevada, this is so critical. Nunez esp., struggles with this and that partly is due to him lacking composure and calmness in front of goal and another one, is due to the type of abuse he gets from people who want him to fail at all costs esp. those in the media who give him NO grace at all when things don't come off for him. Then he, just lashes at things in 1 v 1 situations with so much panic in his approach play and touch cos he thinks if he misses, the sky will fall on him. It's tough.

Now can you coach composure? I don' know if you can cos either you got it or you don't. Look at Divock. IMO, the guy has ice in his veins in high pressure moments. Doesn't panic. Just takes the chance with the coolness of a polar bear's toe nails. Why? Cos his his laid back nature. As for Darwin, we may not be able to coach composure like Divock has. However, we can coach him up on how to take chances by recreating phases of play in training for him to recognise in games and then, finish the chances that way. Just a suggestion.

03 May 2024 00:24:08
If only we had a player that could regularly score 20 goals a season.
We could try to sell him to try and raise some money.
I hope that it wouldn't be another Divock Origi though. When was he ever a good finisher?

01 May 2024 06:54:50
If Klopp turns out to be a modern era shanks in terms of the way he turned the club around then we can only hope that Arne is the next Bob.

But how likely is that?

Well let's look at where we are. If we win our last three games that will leave us on 84 points (and I get that looks unlikely right now but go with me) . Unbelievably despite how dire this season appears to be ending that would be Klopp's fourth highest points total in his 9 year tenure.

Statistically 84 points would also be a very good performance historically. In the last 28 seasons (38 game seasons) 84 points would have won the league in 7 seasons. It would have seen you finish second in 21 of those years.

It would leave us 17 points better off than last year. City would only be 2 points better off and Arsenal 5 points better off.

Now I am as gutted as everybody else about how the season has panned out but I do believe when you look at it objectively Arne is picking the team up in quite a good place. Yes there are issues but compare it to the state of the club when Klopp took over. In Rodger's last full season we were 25 points behind the winner. In Klopps season we were 21 points behind. If we finish on 84 we would at most be 7 behind.

And we can all think of a list as long as our arm about things that could have gone better this year.

So given where we are, how close we are and how much room for improvement there is (both defensively and offensively) I think we have reason to be cautiously optimistic that Arne could take us to the next step.

01 May 2024 08:56:37
The club was in a far better position when Klopp took over than when Shankly did. Shankly rebuilt the club, really.

Ever the pessimist, I think Slot has a huge job to maintain where we are never mind take us to the next step.
We are where we are because of Klopp, really. And because we are a fairly well run club but we don't talk about finances so I won't go any further about that 😂.
If Slot is another Klopp, that's brilliant but it's highly unlikely.

Looking for positives, we have been third best this season and City will have their abdication to deal with before not too long, hopefully and Arsenal are a couple of seasons of development in front of us. If we continue to grow then would could narrow the gap but we need a spine like the one Arsenal is starting to finally grow again. If we could get a quality centre half, midfielder and another forward we could make the next step.

01 May 2024 09:49:35
Unfortunately there will never be another Paisley. The greatest manager of all time in my opinion
Up the pool.

01 May 2024 10:03:49
Completely different eras. You simply can’t compare football in the 60s to football today.

Back then any team could win the league, they didn’t need to be the richest club because clubs were much closer together in terms of finances.

In that sense it was easier for Shanks as the gap he needed to bridge wasn’t so big.

In another sense, because clubs were so close in terms of finance it was tougher because the league was so competitive with even the league winners losing regularly.

Today, all you need to do is beat City. End of story. They have by far the best squad because they have had by far the most money for 15 years and have been allowed to spend it as they wish.

That makes it harder because the gap from 8th place to City is huge. You simply can’t lose more than 3 or 4 games a season if you want to finish above them.

In another sense it’s easier because you only have to beat one team.

Either way, football has changed so much it’s futile to try to compare the era of Shanks and Paisley to Klopp and Slot. What will be will be.

01 May 2024 10:30:46
I look at things from a different angle. For personal reasons I dislike the American sports style of management structure. Edwards the boss, then a sports director and a football coach equivalent to a school P. E. Teacher. Not to forget managers for the dinner ladies and the tea swindle. Perhaps this structure will be very successful?
I prefer the old school style of a Klopp, Dalglish, Benitez, Paisley and finally the man who built the bedrock. Bill Shankly.
My way of looking at things. I have dealt with American style management that wants yes men and not strong minded independent types. They like their system.
I like Xabi Alonso and Ruebin Amorim because of my Sporting CP connections.
Good luck anyway. The world of football is changing.

01 May 2024 10:56:34
‘Yes men’ is such a silly and emotionally charged word, Yuri, at least in my opinion.

Everything that is good about humanity, all of its successes, have come from cooperation and teamwork. It is the key to everything.

Klopp understood that, at least initially, and was happy to delegate responsibility to all kinds of experts. Sports scientists, coaches, data analysts, even throw in coaches.

This attention to detail delivered our success, but has been gradually eroded over the last four seasons. Returning to this approach, as far as i am concerned, is crucial.

Furthermore, I think you’re fetishising the myth of the big strong man, the inspirational leader, a god like figure. Such myths are just that, myths. It subscribes to ‘The Great Man’ theory of history, which is critiqued and understood to be bogus by most modern day scholars.

Within the old Liverpool set up, there was a reliance on cooperation and delegation. The Boot Room wasn’t famous for no reason. It was never just Shanks or Paisley, but Fagan, Moran and senior players like Dalglish. Geoff Twentyman was one of the greatest scouts to ever do it and was vital to our success. Further afield, much has been written about Ferguson and his cooperation with David Gill, as well as his consistent rotation of coaches to bring in fresh ideas.

It’s not that the days of The Manager are gone, it’s that they never really existed. It’s the kind of mythologising that paints certain world leaders as totemic, god like figures, completely untouched by external influence, when the reality was very different. I think it is naive and slightly dangerous to boot.

Structures built on cooperation are not full of Yes Men, they are the opposite by definition. Discussion, scrutiny and more democratic decision making are a positive thing. The true Yes Men are working under leaders that don’t share any of the power, and don’t want their decisions challenged. That is the opposite of what this so called ‘American Style Management’ is trying to achieve.

01 May 2024 11:00:09
I should point out that I know you can’t compare like for like and nor was I trying. The comparison was simply that a period of great success followed a period of growth and change in attitudes.

01 May 2024 11:24:14
The original boot room were a collective - they all had a voice. They were generally very knowledgeable but also had specialist areas. They were different characters - Shanks was messianic, Sir Bob was ruthless, Uncle Joe was self effacing and so on. I witter on about the sum of the whole being greater than the sum of the parts and that was never more true than the original boot room and that is acknowledging that each of them was brilliant in their own way.

01 May 2024 11:12:38
Bob was a trophy machine. There’s no chance.

01 May 2024 11:13:42
I thought it was a good post Wassa. Agreed fully. Can’t deny that the last 4 seasons have flattered to receive at times, and at others just been simply woeful compared to the bar this group set themselves. However the first 5 seasons the job Klopp did was a remarkable turnaround. In fact pre-Klopp, our last 4 seasons would’ve been looked on as successful. He’s raised the bar so high that 4th, 2nd, 5th and 3rd place finishes with an FA Cup and two League Cups is now seen as under achievement. That would’ve been lauded as excellent in the first 10-15 years of this century. Klopp’s leaving us in a great position. The side he took over had won 1 League Cup under King Kenny in 9 years! Hats off to Klopp, regardless of whether he peaked in 2020. The drop off since hasn’t been so severe that it’s not recoverable. Slot is coming in to a very strong foundation.

01 May 2024 11:16:39
Not sure there can ever be another Paisley in this current era at LFC. As far as winning is concerened, he was an absolute one-off esp. at the time, IMO. Fergie couldn't hold a candle to him and a lot of the Utd fans know it.

Also remember, we were on top when Paisley took over and he took us up another couple of levels within his tenure that we were effectively the best team on the planet with the league and CL titles to back that up and then some.

If Slot even comes close to what Klopp has achived which is massive, he would have already sealed his own legacy as a legendary LFC manager. Here's to hoping he can do that.

01 May 2024 11:25:55
Anonymous Woolback
I don't live in your perfect world but you are definitely entitled to your opinion. When that is denied we are all in trouble. Unfortunately the world appears to be heading that way?
I have dealt with plenty of 'Yes-Men'. Cooperation should be mutual and not imposed. Take the Independent free thinkers from history and not much is less. You speak a bit like management-man yourself or an academic liberal.
Different views are important. Whomever takes over from Juergen Klopp will have an extremely difficult task. Things should continue for a bit because of his legacy. Then who knows?
Would Citeh be as good without Guardiola?

01 May 2024 11:48:20
Excellent post wassa.

01 May 2024 16:00:18
Slot is not having to do a rebuild job. It’s started. It’s sorting out the defence and looking at the attack, with a defensive midfielder also crucial. MacAllister has been a great signing. Hopefully he will get the best out of Szobo.

01 May 2024 16:53:18
Well some are saying no chance, but as fans we can at least hope so! Why not?
Good post Wassa.

02 May 2024 05:13:30
I think if we want Slot to do we’ll we need to give him time, patience, and a clean slate. Drawing comparisons with Paisley isn’t going to help.

{Ed025's Note - how there is even a comparison to Bob amazes me Seano, Slot has not even managed a Lverpool side yet mate ffs..

02 May 2024 09:26:29
Walkon, without googling it to be certain I’m pretty sure firmino was a Brendan Rodgers signing.

02 May 2024 09:28:39
I’d go with mane or Fabinho as being right up there, we’ve looked absolutely toothless in both midfield and attacki since they departed, for maybe 2 seasons Fabinho was undoubtedly the best defensive midfielder on the planet.

30 Apr 2024 23:23:14
Repp, who played in the 1974 and 1978 World Cup finals for Holland (it was a great team, by the way), is quoted on Talk Sport website as saying that Slot can win the Premiership in his first season. I am not saying we will, but what a great endorsement of Slot by a very-good former player.

01 May 2024 08:51:43
That would be absolutely marvellous if Mr Slot could do this. A few managers if I recall correctly won the league at the 1st attempt.
If he does win the league how many people will put the praise on klopp though?

01 May 2024 09:54:40
Managing at Feyernoord is nothing like Liverpool. He had much less competitive teams, virtually no pressure and no egos to deal with.

I wish him the best, but it's a huge gamble. Although, to be fair, every option was.

01 May 2024 09:59:13
If we win the League next season people can praise whoever they want!
If we don't, I won't blame Johnny Rep.
He was ok in Pirates of the Caribbean and Donnie Brasco but I don't know what his football knowledge is like.

01 May 2024 11:20:16
Come on, GHIATI9. Never heard the guy speak for years if not decades and now, he's talking? He could have given a full endorsement of Slot (like many have done) without speaking such nonsense. Not arsed about such statements cos even Repp himself knows that ain't going to happen.

01 May 2024 15:02:04
Stop all the negativity! We like it or not, a new era is on the way, and we should embrace it with all trepidation but not doom and gloom.

I'm just going to enjoy it, and I advise you do the same! Either way, the team needs a refresh; we've been playing really badly the last couple of games, so let's sow up this season and this era and move to the next.
Say whatever you like but there were very few options available anyway for a manager to replace Klopp, so l3ts stop longing for what's not practical. Ed002 made a good call on Slot and that's good enough for me. For now. Support your team!

01 May 2024 16:01:02
Let’s get behind Slot and give him all the support he deserves.

01 May 2024 18:41:17
This season hasn't finished yet 😏⚽️✌.

{Ed025's Note - you may be in the minority there i think Laddie mate.. :)

01 May 2024 23:56:56
It might start again at the weekend if we win and Arsenal and City were to lose. We’d need a good supply of tablets for next week if that were the case 😀.

30 Apr 2024 20:54:22
Hi Ed 01
Can I have your opinion mate, I like what you think for next year with Trent, szobo, beck, . If we sell Diaz and mo and bring in top quality centre back and forward, do you think we need a commanding centre mid like rice or rodri to compete with arsenal and city?
Personally I think we do but would appreciate your view.
Thanks.

{Ed001's Note - it would help, but there are other ways to play that would mean it wouldn't necessarily be needed. It is the easy solution though to improve midfield. But who is there out there?}

30 Apr 2024 23:28:48
Surely koopmeiners would be top of the list considering his past with slot?

As another poster said he's not the best defensively nor is Trent macca or szob so do we need a specialist 6 or not?

Twitter seems to think the young Dutch 6 at feyenoord is the next best thing but that would be a massive risk.

01 May 2024 06:46:49
Ed1, we all can see how Rice has transform Arsenal into legit title contender or how the likes of Alisson, Van Dijk or Salah has transform us into contender since they coming to our club. Do you see any player out there that can do that for us for next season? It doesn't have to be any positions, just player that can elevate our squad to the next level.

{Ed001's Note - not that we could get, no. I am sure there are some out there, but I can't think of any.}

01 May 2024 07:11:35
Perhaps Romeo lavia, see if he wants to play for a decent team😄 . Thanks for your reply.

01 May 2024 07:34:26
I always felt that we should've went all out for rice 2-3 years ago, he was the transformative signing we needed in that area of pitch.
Would've added physical strength+size, leadership, availability virtually always, a v v good footballer and could cover if need me all 3 positions in midfield and also cb. used to premier league so no problem adapting either.
U should be going for a player like that when your on top of the tree, like utd done buying keane after they won there 1st league in years
Unfortunately as ed1 says I can't think of anybody able to.

01 May 2024 08:34:34
Ed1, I guess getting the right tactics is the way to go. Tactics that will suits our first eleven as a whole and not just something to suit one player. So I say scrap the inverted full back tactic is one. My only concern is, I've seen report that Slot also play with inverted RB with Gertruida. I'm worried it will be the same as we have now.

{Ed001's Note - from what I have been told, Slot is very much a proponent of the inverted full-back.}

01 May 2024 08:55:25
With rice in our team I feel we would be sitting top of the league and heading to the eufa cup final.
Was gutted he went to Arsenal.
For me he's made a big difference to that Arsenal team.

01 May 2024 10:06:58
If Rice joined us Negative you’d just slate him the same way you slate all of our players and you’d be saying we should’ve signed Guimaraes instead.

01 May 2024 10:33:05
The inverted full back could work if your defenders can defend and get back into position, surely?
Our problems are VVD and TAA are both quite languid -for want of a better word- and Robertson still likes to get forward a lot.
We just need to be more defensively focussed and keep the ball further up the field when the fullback inverts.

01 May 2024 11:21:21
Yes, he is Ed01. Also, Slot loves wingers like kids love candy.

{Ed001's Note - ugh. The inverted full-back, a solution to a problem that never existed and which creates a brand new set of problems.}

01 May 2024 13:30:15
Would he have been the one putting the ball in the back of the net, because let's not forget, that has been the problem with Liverpool these last few games.

01 May 2024 14:37:47
I hate the inverted full back. We are so lopsided no width whatsoever on the right so we can't stretch teams. It seems wo easy to defend and your relying on trent playing a 1 in 100 pass to make it worth it. If we want trent in the middle so badly play him there and get a fullback who doesn't mind getting chalk on his boots because salah and elliot should be closer to the goal imo.