Liverpool Banter Archive July 04 2017

 

Use our rumours form to send us liverpool transfer rumours.

04 Jul 2017 23:41:06
Interesting FACT (as Ed025 loves them so) .

If we buy VVD or Keita for >£40m, it will be the first time in over 20 years that our transfer record has not been held by a striker/ forward.

The last person who wasn't a forward player?

Yep, Phil Babb at £3.6m in 1994! Only a mere 1/ 20th of the potential VVD fee!

Believable5 Unbelievable0

05 Jul 2017 00:15:33
And only 1/ 100th the centre half.

Phil Babb should, even now thank 'The great Paul McGrath' every morning when he gets up for making him look the real deal as a centre half.
They played together in the 94 world cup in USA for the Rep. Of Ireland

We signed him shortly afterwards on the strength of that world cup.

Not our finest bit of business.

But What a player McGrath was.
If VVD is 70 mill. McGrath today would be worth 120 mill.
He was that good (when sober)


05 Jul 2017 00:29:49
Agree with you on McGrath, although you'd have to cover off the sobriety aspect and the dodgy knees.


05 Jul 2017 01:25:03
Our current CB's from the youngest to the senior members should be all locked into a dark room for a week and shown exactly how you play the game like he did, late in his career he had 2 very very bad knees but his determination, abilities, spacial awareness, positioning, ability to read the game, passing, tackling and that crazy way he would always manage to get a leg in the way anywhere on the pitch just at the last second after being turned by a really fast winger or CF and still not give away a silly free kick or penalty but almost always manage to save the day was absolutely amazing to watch. Yes he drank a lot but many many pros back then did drink quite heavily but put guys like him in his prime on the field against the likes of VVD or anyone else and he would put them to shame with his ability. Franco Baresi was another great to compare as well but in my opinion McGrath was and will always be the most underrated CB of all time he was that good.

LFC if you really want VVD that badly stop screwing around and cough up it's very rare these days when really top defenders are made available even if the price seems crazy. Yes LB/ RB are and should be priority but who would anyone start come August if you had
Klavan
Gomez
Matip
Lovren
VVD

For me it has to be Matip - VVD

Sell Klavan and lovren along with Clyne and Moreno.
LB I'm hearing is almost sorted Milner can cover on the right if we are desperate at least he's better than Clyne who I have never been a fan of personally.

I will probably be given out to now for some things I have said but it's an honest opinion.


05 Jul 2017 06:57:59
We need three players. CB, CM, and LB. Keita must be the CM and I don't know who the other two are!


05 Jul 2017 07:04:40
VVD is not worth 70m and that is why no one else wants him. Antonio Ruddiger is a better and more exp. CB than VVD and he went to Chelsea for half that so people should stop acting as if only VVD can play CB on this planet. That is patently false. There are others out there. Ed (I can't remember which) said we bis for Khoulibaly this summer but the bid was insufficient and had we made an improved bid, maybe something could happen, which shows that VVD is not the be all and end all for LFC.

I do agree that Clyne should be gone and Milner should play RB as he will be more effective there than at LB.


05 Jul 2017 12:21:57
Apparently, they're still trying to chip one of Babb's tezzers out of the post at the anny Road end when he collided with it!


05 Jul 2017 19:37:25
Brussels

You are not getting the point mate. No one is claiming VVD is worth £70 mill and I don't see anyone willing to pay that sum let alone us. Your manager loves him and the club is doing everything possible to get him! You should ask Mr Klopp on his preferred choice rather than having a dig at the club!


04 Jul 2017 22:14:17
Since Jürgen Klopp has joined LFC, in your opinion, would you say overall he has:

A. Not lived up to your expectations
B. Met your expectations
C. Surpassed your expectations.

Believable0 Unbelievable0

{Ed002's Note - Has he yet gotten a better win percentage than Brendan Rodgers?}

04 Jul 2017 22:35:22
Jury is still out for me. Love the guys passion. but like Ed002 rightly said his win rate is worse than Rodgers and we know where that got Brendan 🙈.


04 Jul 2017 22:41:25
Brendan had Suarez. sorry but he was just that good.


04 Jul 2017 22:45:24
Has he had brendans third shocking season yet.

His win percentage will blow brendans away after next season.


04 Jul 2017 22:27:34
So your expectation was for him to have a better win percentage than Rodgers Ed? 😉.


04 Jul 2017 22:40:06
Ed002, I am intrigued by how little you rate Klopp. I understand you are not a Liverpool fan is that right? When Rodgers left, I actually wanted Ancelotti, felt we needed to be stronger defensively and harder to beat. So much experience too. You may have covered this before but was he ever close to getting the job? And if in a world he had been given it do you expect a stronger Liverpool than what Klopp has put together. Thanks.


{Ed002's Note - It is nothing to do with how I rate Klopp. It is to do with a factual basis.}

04 Jul 2017 22:45:57
His win rate might not be better at this point, but I'm sure after 3 years his will well excede Rodgers, don't forget under Rodgers we had the 6-1 defeat to stoke, 1 win against top 4 oposition, I think we're building a more balanced and stronger squad now.


{Ed002's Note - Absolutely.}

04 Jul 2017 22:47:04
Interesting to compare BR without Suarez to Klopp.

My money would be on Klopp 😄.


{Ed002's Note - Any excuse for a BJ Ron. It is a real pity the truth doesn't come in to things.}

04 Jul 2017 22:53:28
He is 10x the manager Brendan was and like Redphil states, Brendan had Suarez, without Suarez he'd not have got half the wins he did, that's just the truth to the matter. Klopp is on another level compared to Rodgers, he took us to champions league without a Suarez, he's building a team and not having to rely on one man. Fact.


04 Jul 2017 22:54:35
Are we seriously comparing klopp to other managers already? Brendan Rodgers team got carried by Luis Suarez! FACT! Does that make rodgers a better manager than klopp? Let's hope klopp can find another Suarez (minus the dramas! ) In my opinion he has met expectations by getting us back into the champions league! Now its time for trophies!


{Ed025's Note - i wish people would stop putting..FACT..as though this makes it true..

04 Jul 2017 22:58:41
BJ? Anyway. Was anyone else in the Ancelotti boat? Don't get me wrong I like Klopp but just interested to hear and not to discuss bloody Naby Keita or Robertson for a change.


04 Jul 2017 23:02:35
Klopp hasn't done enough for me yet, but equally Ed002's constant bashing of him is a little boring.


{Ed002's Note - I am sure wuou will be happy to point out the bits that are not true.}

04 Jul 2017 23:07:09
Hes also made a european cup final and a another cup final while having a positive net spend and minimal amount players coming in. imagion wat he would have done with sterling suarez sturridge and gerrard coutinho henderson behind them like rodgers did that year. i think the end of this season is where we should really judge him.


04 Jul 2017 23:07:59
Ed002, I think we both know stats, such as win percentage, are not the full picture (truth) .

You're right though, I don't usually need an excuse 😛.


{Ed002's Note - Absolutely Ron - it is all horribly distorted to make Klopp look worse than he is.}

04 Jul 2017 23:00:11
for me it is B. win rate is irrelavent. We were like 7th or 8th when Brendan left and finished 4th is a big step forward.


04 Jul 2017 23:01:32
Liverpool are a more successful club than Everton FACT!

Is that not true, Ed025 petal?


{Ed025's Note - that depends on how you gauge success zeddicus, if we are talking about successfully integrating with the community and doing good deeds for the less fortunate in society then the answer is no mate...im not prepared to discuss other forms of success until i have contacted my legal team.. :)

04 Jul 2017 23:17:32
If it's all about win percentage without context bring back Benitez then.


04 Jul 2017 23:19:17
What a ridiculous amount of crap comes out at times, Rodgers had Suarez bla bla, he had a good player and used him properly, surrounded him with Sterling sturridge and we came closer than any manager in nearly 30 years to winning the league, if pep didn't have Messi would he have won as much? While I do think klopp is a better manager, what was Rodgers win rate when the little scumbag was suspended for continuing dragging our club through the mud, anyone know?


04 Jul 2017 23:21:08
lol zed, fact is fact, can't be more factual then that mate. haha!


04 Jul 2017 23:28:06
Klopp's Win ratio vs top 6 is outstanding. Some adjustment is clearly needed against teams that defend in depth. We started to see that ar the end of last season. 1st 11 stronger than Roger's overall. The depth behind the 1st 11 should now be being addressed.

Klopps transfers have, on the whole, been good with the less successful ones being inexpensive in today's market (Klavan, Caulker on loan) . Others (Karius, Grugic) could still come off. Klopp seems to involve youth players a bit more -TAA seems to be coming through, Woodburn also. Mignolet's goalkeeping has improved a lot. Finally the players seem to believe in him an play for him. With Rogers at the end, they seemed to have lost faith.

On the debit side with Klopp, the cup competitions were disappointing. It took too long to recover from our post Christmas slump. His use of substitutes could be better. The organisation at defensive set pieces is still poor and the shenanigans around player recruitment is embarassing.
For me there are more positives than negatives though. The momentum is forward. We achieved our minimum goals and are looking to improve further with ambitious signings.

As for Rogers, yes he had Suarez, but he also got the team playing well and deseves more credit than most on here are willing to give. Post Suarez he made the wrong decisions under pressure IMO. Roger's Champion's league campaign was woeful. I'm expecting better under Klopp.
In summary, Rogers almost got there, I expect Klopp to succeed given time.


04 Jul 2017 23:28:29
Klopp changed the style of play and at least in my opinion we are more consitent now.
There are a few factors that come into play though. How strong the other teams are, injuries of the players or just luck sometimes.

I think klopp developed something and we will see more progression next season. After all we have been top of the league at some point last year without having a goal scoring machine like Suarez or having a sturridge in his best form (not saying that as a excuse just a fact on the side)


04 Jul 2017 23:39:20
Klopp is our manager and we love him. And we believe (and hope) he's going to take us to greater heights.


05 Jul 2017 00:28:25
The Big Test is coming this year.

Our canpaign in the Champions league under Rodgers was at best disappointing and at worse embarrassing.

Lets see how Klopps campaign matches up to the tactical uber manager that is 'Jock (pronounced Joke) Rodgers'


{Ed007's Note - Every English team's an embarrassment in the CL and has been for years. Spurs, Leicester, Arsenal and even mega-bucks Man City couldn't beat Brendan Rodgers team. Liverpool need to concentrate on winning in England before getting ideas above their station about challenging in Europe.}

04 Jul 2017 23:57:57
Just so the scumbag lovers know he's Liverpool results when the racist was suspended, first time 8 matches 4 wins 2 draws 2 losses, after his 10 game ban, 7 wins 2 draws 0 losses, his one game ban for giving fans the finger, 1 win, so from 19 games without Suarez liver won 13 drew 3 lost 3, not bad for a one man team, so complete bollix to the notion.


05 Jul 2017 00:47:46
That's a nice edited version of what I actually said.


05 Jul 2017 02:56:31
I'm saying it again. Since I've supported LFC they have had 7 managers. I'm 37, in my lifetime the Pittsburgh Steelers have had 3 coaches and won 6 Superbowls. They are widely regarded as a premier franchise. The continuity speaks volumes. The Steelers Way. The Steelers do not sack a head coach because the team underperformed in one or two years, we don't win Super Bowls every year, but they make the playoffs. LFC can not instill the values or way they want to operate by sacking managers after every 2 years. I'm not saying Klopp is perfect. And I admit he is my man crush. I am saying that he should be given time to get things right, if he falls off the wagon, then sack him.
Just my thoughts
Happy 4th
Matt in FL.


05 Jul 2017 06:37:35
this venture would have a point to it if we were comparing BR's finished liverpool resume with Klopp's finished liverpool resume. but obviously we can't. I just look at trends, and can people really argue that the club was spiralling downwards with no direction and identity in BR's final 18 months!? let's take stock after 2017-18 season!


05 Jul 2017 07:10:02
Great summary port red. Gives the lie to those who completely dismiss Rodgers, as does the performance of his Celtic side.


05 Jul 2017 07:10:15
BR is not in the same league with Klopp and this "win %" nonsense does not change that. Did BR make a European final and a domestic Cup final in his first 8 months on the job he came into midseason with a squad he did not choose? NO! End of discussion.


05 Jul 2017 07:34:48
This doesn't need to be an argument. Rodgers got a lot of things right and a lot of of things wrong but Klopp has come in and built on the foundations rodgers laid. Both of them contributed to where the club is now and we can be grateful for both.


05 Jul 2017 07:39:05
Since when is losing two cup finals something to be celebrated?


05 Jul 2017 08:39:01
Like klopp as a person, like the style of play if a little inflexible at times. But after his two seasons its a C- from me, should have won the European cup and should have at least won the carling cup.

Rodgers is not a no mark and he did some good things, but he is a smarmy liar with no loyalty to his suppposed friends who takes glory away from his players and blames them when it all goes tits up, that's why i dislike him not his managerial abilities. His achievements at celtic cannot be sniffed at despite some people trying to belittle it.

Would i trade rodgers for klopp, hell no he is our manager and i support him faluts and all of which he has a few. But which one of us can say they are perfect?

I firmly believe we will win the league with him if he is backed to bring in keita and vvd (or equivalent solid cb) . With salah in the squad we truely have balance now on both wings (inverted wingers) and a solid group of talented players. There is much to be optimistic about despite the lack of success so far.


05 Jul 2017 10:28:36
I wish benchmarking were as easy as taking one singular number to come to a relevant evaluation.


05 Jul 2017 11:08:47
Top comment stockified. A balanced scorecard is needed!


05 Jul 2017 11:16:05
There are so many factors to consider when comparing managers (players at their disposal, money at their disposal, quality of team when when taking over, quality of transfers, luck with injuries, quality of opposition, success in competitions i. e. amount of games played, etc, etc) that it is absolutely stupid and pointless to even bother!


05 Jul 2017 11:47:37
Putney, what foundations did BR lay? Getting thumped by Stoke 6-1 in 2015? Pissing the Suarez money into the wind and getting us duds like Balo, Moreno, Manquillo, Lambert? Giving Skrtel a new contract? Killing the team's confidence to the point that we were going nowhere fast under him? Trashing his own assistants and players in the media just to save face? Please, let us not rewrite history here as we were all there.

Did he get some things and some signings right? Of course BUT it took Klopp to come in and give us the Hendo, Can, Firmino, Lallana, Origi that we all know and love today and give us some of the best nights and games in LFC history and YES, got us to European final and the CC final, something BR knows NOTHING about as LFC manager.

Also, Keep in mind that these were the same players many of us wanted gone. But now, they are the spine of the team. BR did none of what you speak of and the rewards we are enjoying from these players now is ONLY the work of Klopp cos had BR had his way, near none of these players would still be here.

What he does in Celtic is to me, irrelevant. He can go undefeated for a decade in a piss poor league and I still would not care. Allegri has won the Serie A 4 straight seasons that it is no longer a big thing. His failures in the CL is what he's being judged on. Is he now in the same ranking as BR cos he won everything in Italy? Not a chance in any lifetime. Those are the facts.


05 Jul 2017 12:59:08
Neither Rogers or Klopp have been successful with Liverpool so i would say they are currently on par with each other. However, as far as entertainment value goes, i would rather watch amateur lawn bowls than sit through the mediocre dross that Brendon's sideways-passing eleven served up in his final season.
For that reason alone, i would prefer Jurgen all day long.


05 Jul 2017 13:25:59
Brussels, these foundations. Firmino, sturridge, ings, origi, coutinho, Can, Lallana, Clyne, Lovren, Gomez, Milner and Mignolet. That enough for you?


05 Jul 2017 13:56:50
Putney, again, what foundations are those? Read my post again and then we can discuss. The players you mentioned were the same players he trashed in the media incessantly, in order to save his own skin as nothing is ever his fault (just like Trump) . So by your analysis, he should be getting credit for players he himself, turned his back on when another manager was the one who got them to come good? The same ones that were going nowhere as a group under him until Klopp arrived and rescued their careers at LFC? Sorry, you nor BR do not get to have it both ways.

BR did nothing to help this "foundation" of players hence, the reason he was sacked and I will always thank FSG for ridding us of that arrogant and disloyal liar. BR chided these players in public and as Ed01 said, many of them were glad to see the back of him. BR does not get to claim credit for what he did not do. Klopp gave us the team we have now, BR already abandoned it hence, get NO credit for what Klopp has done with them. QED.


05 Jul 2017 14:24:02
Brussels, that would a good point if any of it were true.


04 Jul 2017 18:29:19
Ed you mantioned Koulibaly earlyer today. Not heard him mentioned much on here. Are we keeping a watch on him then and could we well return for him later in the window if we can't sort the mess out with you no who?

In your opinion is he an improvement and could we get him or would it be a hard one to get done?

Believable0 Unbelievable0

{Ed002's Note - Liverpool made a very low offer that was rejected. He plays for a club that play hardball over negotiations. We will have to wait and see but clearly he was seen as an alternate to van Dijk..}

04 Jul 2017 23:29:49
Napoli is know for their releas clausles and that they won't back of from their asking price (e. g. Higuain last year) so if we would go for him we would have to pay the price they are asking.


05 Jul 2017 07:12:42
But Crammie, the good thing is that even Napoli don't rate Khoulibaly, one of the best CB's in the Serie A, at 70m altho, I could be wrong cos I do not know his release clause and as you said, the Napoli owner De Laurentis is no joke. His thing is, "Pay the clause or go fly a kite".


05 Jul 2017 10:49:58
For me he is better player than VVD. Was watching roma against Napoli and the way he recovered against Salah pace was unreal. Excellent in the air, similar style of play to Baily from Manutd. Perfect fit with matip! Him and Keita would get us close.


05 Jul 2017 11:49:25
Spot on, Mandzo BUT judging by some of the posts on here, you would think the only CB that exists to mankind that can solve all our issues, is VVD hence, just pay what Saints want even if it is 100m.


05 Jul 2017 19:42:43
He is decent but poor on the ball. Looks a lot similar to Sakho!


04 Jul 2017 21:19:49
Why on earth are we not looking at Alfie Mawson from Swansea! He looks the real deal, is English and young! Please have a word eds.

Believable0 Unbelievable4

04 Jul 2017 21:57:44
Great in the air in both boxes and accomplished on the ball.

Just not sure he is all that defensively. He looked good for his first 6 months though.


04 Jul 2017 22:43:33
Because there's no one better and more affordable out there than vvd don't you know.


05 Jul 2017 07:14:05
Exactly, Supercan. People are making it as if if VVD is the only CB out there that can improve us. That is patently false. If that was the case, why are we looking at Khoulibaly of Napoli?


04 Jul 2017 21:13:59
I always spend a lot of time on twitter looking for liverpool news. I know twitter in general is a terrible source, i just wondered if anyone recommends any twitter accounts that do actually have a half decent strike rate or are even the slightest bit reliable?

Thanks

Liam.

Believable0 Unbelievable2

04 Jul 2017 21:46:19
The official Liverpool Football Club twitter page is quite reliable I think.


{Ed025's Note - no twitter page is reliable mate..

04 Jul 2017 22:02:19
None mate, I realised that place was not the place to go regarding transfers, just read on here daily, that'll give you all the information you need, you get the media speaking aload of nonsense daily for clickbait and twitter users just wanting more followers from speaking absolute rubbish.


{Ed025's Note - your right teabag..

04 Jul 2017 21:03:21
Im bored as hell. Any new rumours on Raul Gimenez, Gabriel Barbosa, Luan Vieira or Dalbert Henrique?

Believable0 Unbelievable2

{Ed025's Note - not at the moment smed, liverpool are playing their cards very tight to their chest mate..

04 Jul 2017 22:10:41
We are yet to tap any of them mate lol.


04 Jul 2017 22:26:07
Some more random names out of the hat, also Jimenez isn't good enough to get into Benfica's side ahead of Mitroglou and Jonas so let's sign him up and don't even get me started on Gabriel.


05 Jul 2017 07:15:39
If people even knew how poor Gabigol is along and what a stinking attitude he has, they would not even mention his name.


04 Jul 2017 20:56:19
If anyone of you out there have a left footed child out there that can kick a ball, get him to learn how to play left back and you'll be able to retire in 15 years time. :)

Believable10 Unbelievable0

04 Jul 2017 19:44:49
Hi Eds,

Apologies if this has been answered before, but what do you think about the proposed changes to football which were to be debated at Ifab?

Thanks.

Believable0 Unbelievable2

{Ed025's Note - load of crap if you ask me taurus..30 minutes each half! whats that all about?..just leave it as it is..

04 Jul 2017 20:21:28
It's like when governments try to micro-manage the economy. they just mess it up even more.


04 Jul 2017 20:47:57
Does 30 min halves mean players get 30% less pay :)


04 Jul 2017 21:25:03
More importantly does it mean the fans pay 30% less?


{Ed025's Note - i cant see it mate can you?..

04 Jul 2017 21:28:27
I like the 30 min each half proposal haha. They would stop the clock when the balls go out so we'd see more football, and less of Mourinho teams taking 30 seconds on a throw in to wind the clock down.


{Ed025's Note - good point MK.. :)

04 Jul 2017 21:53:06
i read about it and kind of like it. its a 30 minute clock each half half and the clock stops everytime the ball is out of play. its suppose to get rid of time wasting as it would have no effect anymore. they worked out if you cut out all the stoppages during a football match, you actually get less than 60 minutes of actual football.

matches would still take about 90 mins but there will always be 60 mins of football in play. teams will no longer time waste as there's would be absolute no point . morinho could be out of a job. still it would be a weird change. it could also be exciting and add a new dimension to football. i can imagine how intense it would be knowing the exact seconds you have left to score a goal.


{Ed025's Note - its american football for me ryan stop start all game, not for me mate..

04 Jul 2017 21:57:52
Given an average match has been shown to be LESS than 60 minutes of game time, I am in support of more football per match. Plus a reduction in feigning injuries and timewasting as they would be literally not wasting time seems great to me.


04 Jul 2017 22:15:58
Ed025. Love your presence on these pages and usually agree with you, however I believe you're mistaken on this occasion. Why would the game be more stop start than it already is? We already have problems with timewasting, which this proposal is an attempt to solve. It's at least worth a trial. The only negative I can see is that some sides are going to try and use stoppages to take a breather. Which may extend the stoppages.
Some of the other proposals, like dribbling direct from a free kick are attempts to keep the flow of the game.
It's inevitable that many will oppose change, I believe some of the changes at least deserve consideration.


{Ed025's Note - im too long in the tooth for all that malarkey andy, its great as it is for me so why try to fix something thats not broken?, but maybe its just me being an old fuddy duddy mate..

04 Jul 2017 22:41:45
Pointless. 1 goal in the first 15 mins of second half and you xab just defend for 15 ibstead of 30.

Be so boring. Mourinho would dominate for all eternity.

I like the self pass rule though. So if there's a foul, the player can just touch it himself and keep running, will stop time wasting free kicks and tactical fouls.


04 Jul 2017 23:06:27
Your spot on there ed.
When the world cup was in America in 1994 the yanks wanted to change the 2 halves into 4 quarters for ad breaks.

Sky would do similar with the above proposals, everytime the ball went out of play there would be an ad.

Thats why they love cricket as after every few overs the have ads.

If they did bring in the 60minute match it would turn into a game of set pieces and drills.

Please leave well enough alone.
The refs just need to punish timewasters by leaving the injured player off the pitch for as long as he was on the ground.


04 Jul 2017 23:20:26
This idea has been floating around in my mind ever since 2013/ 2014 seasons Chelski match. If the average play time is 1hr, then make it minimum playing time.


05 Jul 2017 07:20:59
Have players treated on the pitch whilst play goes on. Only stop for serious injuries.


05 Jul 2017 07:16:53
How is it pointless, Supermane, when we currently only get around 26 - 28 minutes per half of active play at present? The clock stops when the ball goes out.


04 Jul 2017 19:50:00
Have read a reports of Palace baulking at an asking price of £30m for Sakho, and I actually don't blame them. We seem to constantly put too high a valuation on players that we're actively trying to get rid of, and end up free transferring them following a loan, à la Balotelli. I thought we were pretty damn lucky to get £30m for Benteke.

Personally, I don't see how the club value Sakho at £30m, he's 27 now, and hasn't really improved much, in my opinion, since he joined us aged 23. I think he is a good defender, albeit rather shaky on the ball, but not earth shattering. Moreover, regardless of his ability, it's also pretty much common knowledge that Klopp has frozen him out of the Liverpool team, which surely means that it's also common knowledge that we're actively trying to get rid of him; So I'd say it's a pretty bizarre position, to be demanding other clubs pay a premium for a player that we are refusing to include in our own squad.

I understand that the club want to recoup as much money as they can for him, but we got him for £18m, and he's had an inconsistent spell in the premier league, as well as aged 4 years. Don't see how this equates to a £30m valuation.

Believable4 Unbelievable5

{Ed025's Note - you make some valid points there mate..

04 Jul 2017 20:02:22
The current market is the only reason 30 million is being quoted. Suppose it depends just how much klopp wants him gone. It really is quite a strange one given that he was a firm favourite before preseason last year. I know sakho is going 100% but we'd have to let other clubs believe there is a chance of a reconciliation with klopp. Stranger things have happened. Did he bang klopps wife or something?


{Ed025's Note - i hope not kopdog, you know what they say...once you have had a bit of sak theres no going back.. :)

04 Jul 2017 20:06:50
RedHustle, you do make some very valid points in a stagnant market, BUT the market is not stagnant in fact its superheating right now due to the additional TV money etc.

We're constantly challenged by the fact that, say, todays £50m is £25m from 2 years ago etc.

I do think £30m is racy, but we must compare him to other movers in the market, not his price 4 years ago.

Is he worth the same as Michael Keane? If not, then not far off, imo.


04 Jul 2017 20:15:19
1. Coz we brought him for £20 mill

2. He is actually a good defender

3. Some terrible players have moved clubs for around £20- £30 mill.

4. The club need to recoup as much as possible to balance the funding of incomings.


04 Jul 2017 20:41:19
He was also part of the reason they didn't go down.


04 Jul 2017 20:49:43
The longer he stays the longer we pay his wages, knock 5 million off his asking price and let him try rebuild his career.


04 Jul 2017 21:21:47
If VVD is 70million then sakho is not more than half the player. in current market for a proven French international it's a good price.


04 Jul 2017 23:04:54
Sakho plays centre half and could easily have 10 years left of his career.

It differs from manager to manager what they see in and how they man manage each player.

like at Palace who were at the time desperate to get big Sam in to keep them up. Sakhos style and dominance suited his requirements .

Big Sam had nothing but praise for Sakho, and rightly so as he was immense for them.

I have to say that as much as I respect Klopps right to pick his own players, I think he could easily have given Sahko another chance,
6 months in the reserves is long enough a punishment ESPECIALLY as we were suffering with injuries in that position at the time.

This would have helped the club and at the same time put Sakho in the shop window to attract clubs to buy him.

With all this latest klopp nonsense of illegal approaches and tapping up players, along with the handling of Sakho I get the feeling that Klopp may need to look at tbe bigger picture and put the clubs interwst before his own ego.

He banished Sakho for unprofessional conduct WHILE LATELY, BY HIS OWN ACTIONS ALONE HAS BROUGHT THE CLUBS NAME INTO DISREPUTE.

I wonder what is German for what's good for the goose is . ?


04 Jul 2017 23:04:57
Everton have paid £30m for Keane. I don't see the issue of our valuation of Sakho when he is a better defender!


05 Jul 2017 07:52:35
It's just a starting point and palace and Liverpool are playing the game. In a month or so they'll pay around 23 million for him.


04 Jul 2017 19:13:04
Dear ed002 and ed001 seeing that we are linked with Robertson. How do you rate him? Do you think he can improve our team if we sign him?

Believable0 Unbelievable0

{Ed001's Note - I have answered this question a hundred times now, he can cross with his left, so won't keep cutting back on his right, so he would be a minor improvement.}

04 Jul 2017 19:43:18
That is about where the improvement ends, I'm afraid.


04 Jul 2017 19:55:33
I've seen plenty of Robertson since his Dundee Utd days and I've seen him in the flesh a couple of times playing for Scotland. If he does sign for us I'd be happy, for what I can see we'd be getting a relatively young player in a position that needs strengthening. He has international experience and premier league experience . He also comes across as being very grounded and looking to improve as a player which I'm sure he would under Klopp.


04 Jul 2017 20:45:32
Considering we're in the champions league we need better then Roberson but I will trust Klopp on this one.


04 Jul 2017 21:19:18
Look Robertson isn't top draw but he is a better defender than alonso at Chelsea and they did OK.


{Ed025's Note - no hes not ace..

04 Jul 2017 22:03:06
Hull had the worst defense in the league last season compared to Chelsea who had the best, how are people coming up with rubbish Robertson better than Alonso!


{Ed025's Note - search me mate..

04 Jul 2017 22:01:27
Imagine we play Barcelona in CL: Messi v Robertson. Not pretty. However if he wears the shirt I'll back him and hope Klopp can take him up a level or ten.


04 Jul 2017 22:06:19
Sorry Ed25 should have put imo. Btw I'm talking about his defensive side to his game you watch Alison next season, awful.


{Ed025's Note - chelsea play a different system ace and hes an integral part of that mate..

04 Jul 2017 19:13:27
Read a artical on Keita and it said that keita could join us on dead line day surly it not go on that long all the way up to that day YNWA.

Believable0 Unbelievable0

04 Jul 2017 19:27:15
Jonny, I read the same article - a link from the Echo if I'm not much mistaken?

Its making assumptions on the basis that the chap with final say at RBL was in the same role at RBS in 2014 when Mane moved to Saints. And the Mane move dragged out until deadline day.

Purely supposition and guesswork based on another player 3 years ago.


04 Jul 2017 19:46:51
There was another article allegedly stating that there were supposed to be "showdown" talks btw NK and RBL. Well, it has been reported in Bild that such talks never happened and were never even scheduled. Moral of the story? There's a lot of guesswork going on here with no one really knowing what is happening. Result? Keita is not coming IMO, and I for one, am glad. We have issues elsewhere in the team that need to be addressed.


04 Jul 2017 18:46:39
So just a quick recap, teams around us Arsenal, Man City and Everton have strengthened with top quality signings. Securing their top transfer targets and solving weak problem areas.

We've signed third choice winger and not addresses LB - which may now also be our third choice. Good to see CL football and loads of TV money have really stepped us up a gear. Glad we've taken long strides from Rodgers and the transfer committee with Ayre, to Klopp and the new set of lacklustre FSG have supported him with.

Believable3 Unbelievable20

04 Jul 2017 19:07:06
100% agree
the club have had all season to find a left back. forced milner to play there - this is a professional club -one of the biggest in the world, and they can't find a left back

what does that tell you about the staff. how the clubs operates. its an average club riding on a famous name

i guarantee - klopp will say in the press "oh we have quality we are good enough bla bla. and then the same problems will happen in december and january.


04 Jul 2017 19:07:42
Day 4 of the transfer window.

Nice summary, I think things will change before September 😄.


04 Jul 2017 19:15:07
Cry me a river,

The city goalkeeper is an unknown quantity and remains to be seen if he's a good signing. Bernardo silva whilst quality, I don't see it as an area they needed to strengthen necessarily with Sane and De Bruyne on the wings.

Arsenal have literally just signed lacazette today, good signing no doubt.

Utd have only signed one player so far who is yet again an unknown quantity.

Everton have made some decent signings but nothing to make me think it can battle for top 4.

Calling Salah 3rd choice in such a derogatory way is bang out of order too. Mane was our 2nd choice last year and look how that turned out?

Don't be such a tart and wait until the window is open before having a whine will you?


{Ed025's Note - the window has been open for 4 days mate..

04 Jul 2017 19:18:06
I agree we are taking too long over our transfers and it's annoying seeing other teams address their weaknesses whilst we can't conduct transfers properly.


04 Jul 2017 19:22:55
Agree on LB, but as Ron said, its day 4 of Transfer Window.

Other than Brandt, who has less experience anyway, who else was before Salah?


04 Jul 2017 19:26:03
Sorry ed25, meant wait until it's shut!


{Ed025's Note - oh ok mate..

04 Jul 2017 19:46:24
Post of the day 87 red.


{Ed025's Note - it was good farno...except the bit about everton of course.. :)

04 Jul 2017 19:51:29
The OP needs to stop moaning and calling Salah a third choice winger, is just offensive. Does the OP know that Brandt is less experienced and inferior IMO, to Salah? Does he know that Brandt did not come to us cos he thought he wouldn't make the starting 11 and chose to stay at Bayer to hone his game and help them back into the CL. The TW is open for 4 days and you are already moaning. Take a chill pill and relax. it's the summer, after all.


04 Jul 2017 20:25:35
For me our 3rd choice winger was better than our first choice. Salah over brandt for me. More end product and more experience. Far safer bet. Time will tell of course.

I am concerned with lb. Not so much rb as I think milner will do a brilliant job there. With arnold challenging him big time. Robertson is not the answer for me. Hector has to be looked at imo. His end product is excellent and defensively he is not useless which is good for a fullback these days.


04 Jul 2017 21:24:49
Sorry have I missed something. have man city bought a new back four yet. have utd bought zlatan replacement yet. have spurs or Chelsea improved their squads yet.


04 Jul 2017 18:16:14
Keeping up with Van Dijk and furniture theme, I think LFC have skeletons in the closet.

Believable0 Unbelievable0

{Ed025's Note - they have a whole bleedin graveyard HL9!.. :)

04 Jul 2017 18:37:02
At least we have trophies in the cabinet Ed025 ;)


{Ed025's Note - yeah but you cant really see them past the cobwebs AG.. :)

04 Jul 2017 19:10:32
Not Skeletons.

Carcasses. 😎.


04 Jul 2017 19:27:51
You feeling hungry Ron?


04 Jul 2017 18:12:27
I don't know about everyone else but it seems we have become an embarrassment when it comes to our transfer dealings.

Low balling clubs with pathetically low bids. Then demanding a ridiculous fee for moreno. Tapping up players left right and centre.

I wouldn't blame any club for not wanting to deal with us in the future.

Believable3 Unbelievable12

04 Jul 2017 18:46:45
Seriously guys, come on, take a breath.

1) Tapping up - no excuse, manager should be sanctioned, written warning, end of story.
2) low balling and asking too much - how many years have we been moaning that player X is not worth Y. e. g. "We overpaid for Firmino". Along similar lines, how many times do we hear how the club has lost money on players who have been sold for low sums.

The club cannot win sometimes. The facts are, if you're selling to a "bigger club" (measured by me as illustrious past, huge budget or currently successful) then you can ask for more for your players - Saints selling to us, RBL selling Keita. If you are selling to a smaller club you are generally trying to offload unwanted players and have to accept the club will lose money.
I preferred it when fees were "undisclosed" as it led to less hysteria - and it is hysteria!

Fans these days are too demanding - they want all their favourite players signed for a pittance - usually unbalancing the squad - none of their favourites sold, all of their fringe players offloaded for a kings ransom, all of their favourite youth players to come through, unwanted youth players sold with a buy back clause if they succeed, the club to make money and be whiter than white.

Something has got to give, I think we need to be more patient and realistic as a fanbase.


{Ed025's Note - amen to that ron..

04 Jul 2017 19:10:24
Ron we have embarrassed ourselves numerous times with offers for player like our previous attempt to sign Salah before he moved to Chelsea.

It's not the fans that are demanding it's our transfer committee, wanting to pay pittance for our top targets and looking for kings ransome for fringe/ unwanted players like moreno and sakho.


04 Jul 2017 19:40:29
Totally agree with Ron. If we sign Keita for £70 million people will think the club have gone mad. But if we only bid £60 million and lose out on him we will classed as low ballers. let's just let the club do its work behind the scenes and support the project. YNWA.


04 Jul 2017 19:48:17
Spot on as usual ron.


04 Jul 2017 19:57:03
Spot on, Ron. If a club quotes us a price, we will bid what we think is right at first, knowing fully well that we will prolly meet somewhere in the middle. That is how a negotiation happens, in general. I have no issues with us doing that as the "Just pay the fee" brigade seem unable to grasp how negotiations work as there is more than just a transfer fee to be negotiated. They seem to just want to have it both ways as if this is FIFA Manager 2018. If Klopp wants the player, the club will get him the player like we did for Salah. As for the tapping up issues, my feelings are well documented.


04 Jul 2017 18:06:05
Hey Ed's,
Can't really find it anywhere but IF Keita were to sign for us would he then be able to play CL for us?

Thanks.

Believable0 Unbelievable0

{Ed025's Note - i cant see why not mate..

04 Jul 2017 19:04:54
Isn't he going to the AFCON, Ed025?


{Ed025's Note - in 2019 ra..

04 Jul 2017 19:11:43
Player registrations with respect to the size of the squad perhaps?

IF he signed, I think he would be a priority in most squads and someone else would miss out.


04 Jul 2017 19:35:30
Thanks mate. I think I got some things confused with the other stories on RBL and CL.


04 Jul 2017 20:41:06
We all know that Ed025. Guess the cynicism went over everyone's head (s) .


{Ed025's Note - i like that ra..

04 Jul 2017 16:29:45
Hi Ed002, thanks for all your input.

From what you say it almost seems like tapping is a systematic strategy employed by the club to drive prices down. If so then this is even worse than the manager bumbling along tapping one player after next of his own accord.

I understand we don't want to be too specific about LFC for libel reasons but are footy clubs historically known to use tapping systematically and if yes what's the biggest punishment they have received (if any)?

Or have I misunderstood totally and the decision to tap is made spontaneously for some other reason?

Thanks again!

Believable0 Unbelievable1

{Ed002's Note - I don't think it is a club strategy. It was only one person who briefed a few choice members of the press.}

04 Jul 2017 17:21:39
Eds 002 do you think klopp is in danger of losing his job over his tapping up antics?


{Ed002's Note - No but he is embarrassing the club and making things difficult for the owners.}

04 Jul 2017 18:16:12
Who was that person?


{Ed002's Note - Klopp.}

04 Jul 2017 15:23:34
Ed001,
I asked a couple of months ago about the opinion of the goalkeepers at the club and you told me to ask again. So have you found out anything?
Thanks to all the eds for the wonderful work you all put in, we're very lucky to have all this information.

Believable1 Unbelievable0

{Ed001's Note - right now nothing has changed, the club is going to have a look at them all in preseason, Klopp will have a chat with them and decisions will be made. Right now Migs is 1, Karius 2 and Ward 3.}

04 Jul 2017 17:57:14
Thanks ed!


04 Jul 2017 15:49:24
First post but long time reader. I don't know whether he will sign but VVD wants to. It was close a few weeks ago as was speaking to the guy who fitted his kitchen in Southampton. A month ago kitchen fitter went up to Liverpool area to quote for new kitchen in potential new house. We might have blown it but it was on 100%.

Believable1 Unbelievable1

{Ed025's Note - yeah but can he play as part of a unit rodger?.. :)

04 Jul 2017 15:58:00
You're on fire Ed025, question is will he be able to extract himself from Saints or have we been hob-bled by our tapping up?


{Ed025's Note - good stuff zeddicus..

04 Jul 2017 17:04:33
I think we should throw everything at completing this signing including the kitchen sink 😉.


{Ed025's Note - love it hendo, i think he can be integrated quite easily mate as hes top drawer..

04 Jul 2017 17:10:31
True. I think we're going to have to shelve that transfer for now. Not to worry, we have a few others on the back burner. We wouldn't want anyone to be frozen out would we.


{Ed025's Note - razor sharp indeed.. :)

04 Jul 2017 18:06:09
Think it's time the poison chalice is shoved in the dishwasher and put in a dusty cupboard.


04 Jul 2017 18:49:00
Ed025 on fire?

If you can't stand the heat, get out the .


{Ed025's Note - crematorium?.. :)

04 Jul 2017 18:50:03
Have we tabled a bid yet or is it still being prepared?


{Ed025's Note - all good MK..

04 Jul 2017 18:59:48
Sounds like more tapping up to me.


{Ed025's Note - i think thats why they pulled the plug mate.. :)

04 Jul 2017 19:08:05
He's not coming as we TAPped him up and are lucky not to be in hot water over it. talking of taps, someone also went and LEAKED information to the press to unsettle certain players which again is wrong! Let's just pull the plug on the whole deal I say!


{Ed025's Note - i like it welsh.. :)

04 Jul 2017 15:23:01
Would like to join this striker debate. Do we need one or dont? I think some people are underastimating bobby, he is becoming really really good and intelligent striker. I expect him to explode this season he has 20 goals in him easily. By the looks of things Studger is here to stay and im very happy for that especially for our cl matches. And then there is Origi. Lot of us forgot how unplayable he was before his injury against Everton. Read somewhere that wasnt easy injury and he needs this preseason to come back on 100%. He was scoring for fun that month 5 goals in 4 matches, was our best player in that match too when he got injured. He deaserves time he is so talented and it will pay off to us. there are not many better strikers out there trust me :)

Believable5 Unbelievable0

04 Jul 2017 15:48:34
Mandzo, of all of the positions in our first 11 that need improving, I would put striker at the bottom of the list (probably alongside wingers now we have Salah and Mane for our first 11).

That's not to say that someone like Auba would not be an improvement, but if resources are limited, I think we would do better spending the money elsewhere. Now let me think, LB seems a decent place to start!

I think we possess a number of different striking options across Bobby, Studge, Origi and now Solanke. Don;t know much about Solanke as yet, but all of the other 3 have different, and potentially complimentary, attributes. Bobby has the ultimate press, albeit his striking isn't the best. He would work well with either of the other 2 should Klopp fancy 2 up top in certain games.

Origi is the ultimate athlete, and his finishing is improving. I agree with Adam's post yesterday in that I was initially unimpressed with him, but he has certainly grown on me as the ultimate go to/ squad forward who will put in a shift across the front line and is starting to score some important goals too. I like Adam's comparison to Soloman Kalou.

Studge is the ultimate finisher, but made of glass in the last few seasons and not the greatest at tracking back. One to unlock stubborn defences with a bit of magic and would, and has, linked up very well with Bobby when they've been on together.

Greater priorities in our first 11 right now, imo.


{Ed025's Note - you paint a very rosy picture of your attacking prowess zeddicus, its a pity most of them cant hit a bulls arse with a banjo really.. :)

04 Jul 2017 15:59:38
There was I with my reasoned argument and you burst my balloon with your acerbic one liner, my toffee-nosed friend!

I doff my cap, sir!


{Ed025's Note - its all in good spirit zeddicus, taking the rise is fair game in my book mate for both sides, my generation dont really get upset by it as we have thick skin, the youth of today have thick heads and dont really appreciate it.. :)

04 Jul 2017 16:48:01
Don't forget ings.


04 Jul 2017 17:19:49
No we do not "need" a striker.
We do need a LB and CB.


04 Jul 2017 20:01:28
The OP is correct. We don't need a striker as goals is not our problem. It is keeping them out. We know Ed25 is not enamored with Origi. However, how come he scores for fun and is always unplayable vs your mob? And if he is unplayable vs your mob (which he always is) and you call him mediocre, what does that make your mob, then?


{Ed025's Note - mob!..how dare you.. :) look brussels that is just a personal opinion of mine about bambi on ice, he played against us for wolfsburg and never got a kick, i know he has scored against us but niasse scored against your mob but it still does not make him thierry henry, take off the red specs mate he is a championship player at best, but listen if you want to believe he is the second coming then thats fine by me..

04 Jul 2017 14:37:57
Sorry Ed01,02,25, Bored as hell without any transfer activity to keep me occupied. Just for Banter if you could sign any one premier league player right now who would it be and why? My choice right now would have to be Kante for obvious reasons, wins the ball and turns defence in attack very quickly. Close second choice would be Dele Alli, kid will be playing for Barcelona or Real Madrid soon the way he keeps improving every year. Anyone else got a shout?

Believable0 Unbelievable0

{Ed002's Note - Bellerin would be an excellent addition to the Liverpool side. But they have no interest of course.}

04 Jul 2017 14:47:58
DDG for me. An absolutely fantastic goalkeeper and for me in the top 3 goalkeepers in the world.


04 Jul 2017 14:47:58
DDG for me. An absolutely fantastic goalkeeper and for me in the top 3 goalkeepers in the world.


04 Jul 2017 14:58:40
Kante for me, then we have can and kante in midfield.


04 Jul 2017 15:06:14
Agree on De Gea probably the best keeper in the league the last few years apart from Courtois.


04 Jul 2017 15:07:19
Why Bellerin Ed? What do you think he would bring? Watching Arsenal last season I wasnt very impressed by him.


{Ed002's Note - He is a very good player. Barcelona were impressed enough to want him.}

04 Jul 2017 15:33:10
Tough question. No surprise that my immediate thought was centerback and VD IMO is the best in the league. For Liverpool I think Kante isn't a perfect fit. Best available player right now is Sanchez although Arsenal will take a 50 mill loss before selling him to a rival club.


04 Jul 2017 16:04:31
Azpilicueta for me. Very solid hard working player and can play on both sides.


04 Jul 2017 16:40:39
Kev De Bruyne for me. 👍.


04 Jul 2017 16:47:31
Aguero.


04 Jul 2017 16:57:09
Naby Keita.


04 Jul 2017 17:21:50
VVD or Harry Kane.


04 Jul 2017 18:09:59
Naby Kieta hands down! Will bring back Souness, Class!


04 Jul 2017 18:50:36
"if you could sign any one premier league player right now"

Keita is not a premier league player right now 😎.


04 Jul 2017 20:02:40
Sanchez.


04 Jul 2017 14:08:53
Any news/ infos on Cresswell? Last week it was rumoured that we were interested in Mendy, Robertson and Cresswell and all i read about here is only on Robertson.

Cresswell played for Liverpool before and seems like a decent LB.

Believable1 Unbelievable1

{Ed002's Note - Try the search engine.}

04 Jul 2017 14:52:58
He played for Liverpool before? When? Liverpool babies? Or you mean he played IN Liverpool?


04 Jul 2017 15:26:09
Jurgen: He dropped out at 16 i believe so at least on a youth level he played for lfc.


04 Jul 2017 15:35:43
He's never played FOR Liverpool, but he was born in the area and went through the youth ranks at Tranmere.

I do agree he would be a good alternative, if Mendy or Bertrand (my first choices, probably Bertrand more as I've actually seen him play! ) aren't realistic.


04 Jul 2017 15:38:14
He had trials for Liverpool. No wait sorry, he was on trial in Liverpool.


04 Jul 2017 15:55:06
Actually, to be fair to the OP, the did (according to an Independent article) play for Liverpool youth for 2 years before being released aged 15, when he joined Tranmere. Apparently he was devastated as Liverpool were his childhood club.


04 Jul 2017 16:50:23
he was good at tranmere. so was dale jennings though.


04 Jul 2017 13:17:59
Their seems to be a clear split between the for and against camps about spending big on VVD and Keita. I'm of the opinion that bringing in those 2, albeit for extremely large fees would not only be a good thing but a great thing. My reasoning is thus, if we had those players last season im of the opinion we would have pushed chelsea all the way for the league if not surpassing them. Chelsea were excellent last season, offensively and defensively, yet they are chasing defenders and a striker that will most likely end up costing around £200M should they get them. Those players, like VVD and Keita, are not worth the prices that will be eventually paid, but as is our problem, the clubs don't want to sell, so if you want to improve your team then you have to pay silly fees. Im not comparing us financially to Chelsea but they are our rivals as are City, Utd, Arsenal and Spurs, and with the money going around in football today that's the way transfer fees are going. As has been stated, I think we have a pretty good midfield but its not the best, so to improve it will cost a lot of money. For ages most on here have been calling for quality over quantity. Sadly these days that's what quality players are going for and im guessing its only going to get worse. Before last season if anyone had paid £50M for Kante, they would have ridiculed by everyone, im guessing now you couldn't buy him for double that. Let the abuse begin.

Believable7 Unbelievable0

{Ed002's Note - Chelsea did not pay anything like £50M for Kante.}

04 Jul 2017 13:31:03
I know that Ed, that was just an example of transfer fees and how things can work out for you as well as cost you.


04 Jul 2017 15:45:12
Kante would get that kind of fee now. Keita is worth that kind of fee now. 100 million on the squad these days is not "THAT" much really. Personally I feel Liverpool fans would scream with joy if we invested that intently on the first team because we all feel this is the start of something special with Klopp at the helm, new additions to the stadium and the players we have at this moment excited about the challenge. Hopefully someone at the club realizes our mistakes, smooths things over a bit with the clubs we are dealing with and we can get 2 out of 3 of our top targets instead of wasting half the money on unproven talent. And just for fun let me say I would break the bank for Gelson Martins!


04 Jul 2017 13:10:48
Ed's, in light of our continued transfer shenanigans and our inevitable transfer ban. Do you think we will get a director of football someday? Who would make that decision and would you support it? I for one would be very happy especially if they oversaw all transfers because klopp seems to be clueless. How one goes into a season with the defense we had last year is mind boggling. And, this season, not making it a top priority (I say this since we have signed a forward winger and are looking at a midfielder) is.

Believable0 Unbelievable3

{Ed002's Note - No ban will come without complaints but with one sat on file with the PL and RBL getting pissed off more could follow. Liverpool recently appointed someone in to that position (Sporting Director) but decided on someone with what I consider inappropriate experience. However, Liverpool has revamped in the past three years from top to bottom but yet Klopp is still getting an easy ride and the transfer windows are far from successful and they should get a proper Director of Football in (not taking the advice of anyone who suggests Damien Comolli would be a good idea).}

04 Jul 2017 14:00:00
I don't understand how fans can be so negative on signings before the season starts or the window shuts! We have not even returned to pre season training and you are calling the window a failure? How do you know if Klopp has prioritised signings in order or is it that some deals take longer to work through than others?


04 Jul 2017 17:14:18
I'm going based on the last three windows where we have had issues that continually do not get addressed. We also know our areas of weakness (lb, cb, rb) and none of our links have anything to do with these or we've completely botched (vvd) . You can make the argument that everything is being kept quiet and Messiah klopp is working behind he scenes, but that would be counter to everything we've seen this far. Nothing is kept secret. So pending a major reversal, yes this window will be a failure if we do not address our most critical issues. Midfield (keita) shouldn't even be a priority right now (unless we know coutinho is leaving or Henderson is done) vvd for 70 million is laughable. And we seem to have very speculative. links to a lb or rb, let alone one that is fitting of a team trying to compete in the champions league or win the league, or even stay in top 4. Don get me wrong, klopp is a likable character, but he definitely has his failings and transfers are one of his. And transfers are pretty critical.


04 Jul 2017 13:09:26
Hi eds if you have a chance can you give us the low down on what is happening behind the scenes currently. I. E. Everton have got their business done and dusted but as we currently stand we hear that we are interested in said player but no offers are forthcoming etc. Such as it doesn't look like we will get Mendy so why not try wrap up Robertson if that is preferred option asap incase someone else swoops for him. What would our head of recruitment be doing from day to day when nothing seems in tge pipeline currently?

Believable0 Unbelievable2

{Ed002's Note - Liverpool as you are well aware are still interested in players. You are too impatient but I accept given the transfer window has now been open for four days Liverpool should have made many, many more signings by now.}

04 Jul 2017 14:55:29
Not what i was getting at ed002. I just wanted to know what is happening in backround currently. As we hear none of that.


{Ed002's Note - It will be the same as all clubs. There will be meetings with agents and solicitors, there will be meetings with other clubs, people will be preparing for the pre-season, people will be talking with the police and the council, people will be working on the stadium - day to day stuff.}

04 Jul 2017 15:58:17
Thanks for response.


{Ed002's Note - You are welcome.}

04 Jul 2017 23:02:52
So needlessly sarcastic again. Zzzzz.


{Ed002's Note - You are making yourself to be the embarrassing wanker we wish your father was. Try sucking it up and not constantly being a damp patch.}

04 Jul 2017 12:59:11
I want to share my opinion on the Keita interest.

I have seen many different opinions on here, some people have a single minded adoration for the player, while others have questioned his fee and his place in the squad. The most absurd thing I read is that he might be a replacement for Coutinho, which makes little sense.

With regards to his place in the squad, I am convinced like most people he is more than just an option and will be a starter.

Last season Klopp was forced to play a 3 man midfield because the players in the squad aren't able to play as a 2. That limits us to a few formations, and makes us slightly predictable. From his time in Dortmund Klopp prefers a 2 man holding midfield, where the two players alternate from attacking to holding positions. Currently we only have Henderson and Can who are able to play this position properly. Wijnaldum can play along side Can or Henderson, but not with anyone else.

With all due respect, I don't think Lucas/ Stewart are good enough and Grujic based on the games last year is not ready yet. I also would not want to see Coutinho playing in a midfield 3 where he has to track back into our box like Lallana and Gini were doing last season. With the pace/ quality we now have upfront, a 2 man holding midfield putting defense first would not be the worst idea.

That puts us in a position where Can or Henderson has to play in every game, which is not sustainable. As shown this year when Hendo was injured and Can was in poor form but still played. What Keita gives us is 4 first team players to play in a 2 man midfield and 6 first team players to play in a 3 man midfield without a massive drop in quality. In my opinion that is as important as having, for example 2 lbs or 4 Cbs.

Finally I don't like to talk about fees, and I do believe £70m is a lot of money. However at his age and with his ability I do think Keita is worth up to that amount. The alternative is buying an average/ good player who has a main strength in either attacking or defending for around £40m. With Keita you get a genuinely balanced player who can do both at a very high level, in both areas he matches and exceeds midfielders playing in the top leagues. Just as Kante is mentioned as being worth 2 players on the pitch, Keita can be the same for us with his work rate and even more so as he is superior in an attacking sense.

I think that does makes buying Keita a priority, along with a LB and a CB. The only doubt here is convincing RBL.

Believable11 Unbelievable0

04 Jul 2017 13:17:04
Absolutely spot on. I did mention what happens when we buy him. We wil have 2 players for 4 positions which is a madantory considering our injury records and intense training regime.
Can / Hendo - Holding
Wiji / Kieta - CM
Coutinho / Lallana - ACM.
This is a balanced team in my view. You are playing 4 completions and I could see at least 3 among those injured at the same time frame. Rather than spending £40 mill on an attacker and £30 mill on a DM, you buy one player with the full package.


04 Jul 2017 15:16:20
really agree with this post it was nice stuff to read. I think Keita is midfielder most similar to Luka Modric, and that he could be instrumental in starting of our attacks and feeding our pacey wingers and attacking players, as he is so unpredictable. Hendo and Can are our long ball midfielders and good destroyers and we have options with lallana gini and cou. for example mane is injured salah takes rw place cou can shift left we have lallana as a midfielder. even when 2 or 3 front players are injured our options would still be very good!


04 Jul 2017 15:40:12
Spot on Reus. We can't just lump players into 3 buckets of "defenders", "midfielders" and "attackers", but we need to look at the particular nuances of Klopp's preferred formations and what holes we have. Doesn't mean I would de-prioritise a LB, for example, but I can see how Keita would be a very valuable addition and improve our first 11 (which is the most important thing to me, not money) .

Now, I have to have a lie down because I do believe I just agreed with Harry!


04 Jul 2017 17:03:32
Sums it up nicely, thanks for that. 👍.


04 Jul 2017 12:45:15
ed002 how did the grateful dead gig go you attended? not Liverpool related I know but I was just curious, you need a break from the whole vvd, kieta, left back, new striker, tapping up merry go round we are currently on, hope you are well, safe travels pal.

Believable3 Unbelievable1

{Ed002's Note - It was very good KK thanks.}

04 Jul 2017 12:05:32
What's everyone else's thoughts and eds? I think we need a world class striker who will score week in week out. Sturridge is not always fit. Ings has been out for 2 years. Origi not good enough as a regular goal scorer. Firminho not a regular CF and solanke unproven. Rather then spending 70mil according to reports on keita, you could have afforded morata or lacazette! We are over run in midfield, not forgetting we have woodburn and Wilson we want to try and bring through aswell.

Believable1 Unbelievable6

04 Jul 2017 12:30:56
I think the only one available at this point who is not rumoured to have almost signed the deal is Aubameyang. But Auba will only leave Dortmund, as far as i know, for Madrid, Milan or Paris.

We have to accept, that we are not one of europes top clubs anymore. World Class players will most likely go to Real, Barca, Paris, Bayern, City/ Chelsea instead of us so signing a world class player/ strikes is easier said then done.


04 Jul 2017 12:31:48
Same applies on the striker front! We are over run there as well. You can't keep adding players without moving someone out. We have 5 strikers at the club and the club is not looking to move anyone. We only plays one up top which means 4 players warms the bench.
A midfielder is a different proposition to a striker. Keita will alle life easy for Firmino and Co as well his pattern Emre Can. Klopp is spot on choosing Keita.


04 Jul 2017 11:28:41
Hi Eds, apologies if you have gone over this recently. I know you say we have missed our first choice LB and that's why we're looking at Robertson, but can you refresh my memory - who was first choice? Pereira? Mendy? And what was the reason for us not getting them/ going after them. I don't understand how we can be willing to stump at 60m for VVD or Keita when the position that arguably requires attention is not made the priority.

Again, apologies if you've answered this question but I hadn't seen anything confirmed, since the window open, about who was our first choice LB target.

Believable1 Unbelievable0

{Ed025's Note - it was mendy if my memory serves me right hans..

04 Jul 2017 12:06:27
Liverpool don't want to spend that big on a LB. hence we are reluctant to pay the asking price for Mendy. Moreover the club need to move out Moreno first before bringing in someone. Klopp is happy with James Milner and he might bring in a cover or a younger player preferably Robertson.
Clyne is not moving hence no RB is arriving.


04 Jul 2017 12:50:51
Thanks for your valid information Harry. did klopp tell you he's happy with Milner at lb though? How do you know all this?


04 Jul 2017 13:02:30
Welsh

I can't see another reason in buying a young player from Hull. Do you mate?


04 Jul 2017 13:13:16
Harry, the young player (Robertson) is 23 same as Mendy. Robertson will be brought in view of being in the starting 11 not milner understudy. We are talking about Robertson (23) not Sessegnon (17).


04 Jul 2017 11:25:54
Away from home for work this week sitting in hotel and have brought myself to watch ESPN press pass. They are debating the pros and cons of reducing the game to 60 minutes, and Stevie Nicol has literally just said that this would disadvantage the likes of Celtics playing against Barcelona because Celtics needs to be able to waste time to win. He was actually making a serious points.

I mean I guess it's because football is played many different ways but surely this point is the worst of all haha anyway what do others think about this? For me it seems like we pay more for football these days but we don't necessarily get any more out of the game, what do you guys think?

Believable0 Unbelievable1

04 Jul 2017 11:46:38
Put into consideration the wages of players and staff. they'd be getting paid ridiculous wages at unders 12s time length. its a no on my end.


04 Jul 2017 12:24:25
This change would also mean the amateurs/ sunday league teams will only play 60 mins aswell. I don't know how much amateur football you guy watch but a lot of teams win the league or games because they have more power towards the 80th min and can still press.

60min games is a change nobody needs/ wants. I don't even know why a sports outlet talks about that but i guess its because they are american (at least i think so) and the MLS is not that nice to watch and 60 min is enough for them.


{Ed002's Note - You misunderstand. What they mean is 60 minutes of playing time.}

04 Jul 2017 12:30:58
Human, you may have misunderstood the concept. The match length would barely change (it may even be longer) . Instead of 90 minutes covering both play and stoppages it would be 60 minutes of just play. The idea is to stop time wasting.


04 Jul 2017 12:47:15
Steve Nicol not the sharpest of tools, surely a shorter game would help the likes of Celtic- less time to hold out. The longer you play a team like Barcelona the more chances they will have to score.


04 Jul 2017 12:53:57
60 mins of ball in play then? Clock stopped whenever it's dead?


04 Jul 2017 13:18:03
Yes Welch that would be my assumption. I suppose like American sports where the clock basically stops most times that the ball is dead. if it can be applied consistently then I really think I could be worth a look. Would be really interesting to see it tested at an age grade tournaments and I think for the fun of it I might sit there with a stopwatch the next time I watch a match.


04 Jul 2017 13:48:17
That's what is being proposed, Welsh.
I believe also that the half only ends when the ball is off the field of play.
It seems fairer to me.


04 Jul 2017 10:27:59
Greetings from Lanzarote Eds hope everything is good with u all quick question when does preseason start we all know Klopp likes to have all his players on board both old and new for preseason so IMO I would expect whatever transfer business we will undertake to be done in the next week or so, do u expect this to be the case or am I completely off the mark.
Cheers.

Believable1 Unbelievable0

{Ed001's Note - this week they are back in.}

04 Jul 2017 11:48:19
Cheers Ed for the quick response.

Do u expect whatever transfers to be done swiftly to incorporate them into the group asap for preseason.

Thanks.


{Ed001's Note - that was certainly the plan.}

04 Jul 2017 13:07:10
Do u think this has changed due to us missing out on our no 1 targets through no one's fault but our own and as a result of our stupidy and arrogance we now have to revert to our 2nd and 3rd choices which will take even more time to push through sorry if u have gone through this already ed .


{Ed002's Note - Right now none of the four targets that Klopp briefed the press on has materialised. One was likely not achievable at all. The others were all unsettled and illegally tapped up and are not looking easy pickings any more. So Liverpool still needs to add players - obviously Salah replaces Brandt and there is interest in Robertson.}

04 Jul 2017 13:48:39
Sound eds do u believe that the addition of just Salah and Robertson will be enough to keep us up there in the top 4 and a good run in Europe if we get there . Seems IMO we are been left behind while others are strengthening with serious players which could increase the gap between us and the top 4 this season . Not saying Salah is not a good player but septical on Robertson someone obviously sees something in him that I don't. I hate getting into money but surly with outs and a net spend of 7 million in the last 3 windows we should have the cash to buy some quality if we don't mess things up again . Thanks for the replies, time and understanding last question for the day cheers.


{Ed002's Note - No, Liverpool are looking at bringing in additional players - you know that.}

04 Jul 2017 14:43:13
Cheers 👍.


04 Jul 2017 11:05:10
ReetRed is now the Ed on our liverpool-banter.co.uk site, if you want to say hello to him. More posts are now going onto the that Liverpool Banter site.

Believable5 Unbelievable0

04 Jul 2017 12:18:34
So yeah thanks to the Eds for giving me this opportunity. Really looking forward to it. Hopefully we can get some traffic going there.


04 Jul 2017 12:33:21
So it's official, Reet to manage some of the most notorious posters on Earth! 😎.


04 Jul 2017 12:46:14
You're very much welcome there Harry.


{Ed001's Note - oh yes please!}

04 Jul 2017 13:25:40
I remembered you were once an Ed right, Reet? Past couple of years maybe. Temporarily or something like that?


04 Jul 2017 13:39:23
Yes I was. Same page actually. Got busy with stuff so had to leave the thing.
And don't worry Ed001 Harry is still yours.


{Ed001's Note - argh.}

04 Jul 2017 10:45:32
Happy Independence Day to the owners. MLGA.

Believable7 Unbelievable0

Stoke City Season Review

04 Jul 2017 10:36:55
{Ed's Note - We have posted a new article entitled, Stoke City Season Review

Believable4 Unbelievable0

04 Jul 2017 09:55:30
..................

Believable0 Unbelievable0

{Ed002's Note - Stop sending in repeat posts.}

04 Jul 2017 10:07:56
He is clearly ignorant to be fair.


04 Jul 2017 10:18:23
Your on fire this morning Irish haha.


04 Jul 2017 09:54:30
There is a sense of inevitability that Keita will be at Liverpool next season but I want to nail my colours to the mast and say that I’d be happier if we didn’t sign him. If he does come and turns out to be brilliant you can all refer to this post to point out how I know nothing but here’s my reasoning.

1. I don’t think we need him. From our current squad I expect Couts, Hendo and Lallana to play more than our other midfielders and I don’t see Keita as a significant upgrade on any of them. Is he as creative as Couts, as tenacious as Lallana or as controlled as Hendo? People talk about improving the squad but you don’t spend £70m on improving the squad, you spend it on improving the first 11 and I don’t think Keita will do that, certainly not significantly. Liverpool’s problems are not in midfield, they’re in defence and I can’t see the logic in buying a first choice midfielder whilst chasing after second choice defenders.

2. He’s too expensive. There have been lots of posts about how it’s not our money so we shouldn’t worry about it but that’s ridiculous, in a world where money talks we should all have opinions on how Liverpool spends its money, it’s one of the key drivers of success in the modern game. £70m is absurd and I doubt we’re even getting value for money at £50m. Even if he is worth it since when have we been a club that operates at that financial level? There are too many stories of clubs that overstretched financially chasing success and suffering the consequences, it would be a disaster if that happened to Liverpool.

3. I’m just not excited. By all accounts Keita had a very good season last year but there’s almost no buzz around his name. I had never heard of him before the rumours started and I expect the same can be said for most who read this post. Apparently he came second in the Bundesliga player of the season vote but we give too much regard to these things, just like Karius has never been the second best keeper in Germany I have no doubt that Keita is not the second best player there either. The biggest tell is that there’s no one else chasing him, if he was as good as we’ve been led to believe then City, Utd and Arsenal should be clawing over each other to sign him but they’re not. I’m reminded of signing Markovic, where we spent big on potential that no one else valued and got burnt for it.

TLDR, I don’t think Keita will significantly improve the first team, I don’t think he’s value for money and I’m concerned about the ramifications if he’s not as good as we hope he is. We should pass on this one.

Believable3 Unbelievable15

04 Jul 2017 10:17:42
Hi Putney, I agree with most of what you say, but I just can't help but think that we will be selling more than we think, so maybe will be collecting more money to offset signings. I know this sounds obvious but as the Eds keep saying we can't keep adding players!


04 Jul 2017 10:23:28
Putney, I agree with parts of your post. On your third point, I disagree that he being voted the second best player in the Bundesliga, just like Karius was voted second best GK, is insignificant. Just cos Karius made two mistakes in 10 measly games, proves absolutely nothing as he needs time to settle and that like it or not, will take time.

As for Keita, I agree with everything you said bar the part that he would not get into the team. He will get chances as he is very dynamic, a Kante with more attacking ability, if you like. Whether he is better than Wij or Lallana is another story. He will need time to settle as well if he came.

I just don't think he is worth the money. Like you, I didn't think he was worth the 50m initially quoted as he is (whether his fan boys like it or not) unproven in Europe and RBL only put a 70m price on him as they don't wanna sell, not cos he is worth it. What his fan boys can't answer is why a presumable 70m player has not a soul looking at him bar LFC?

People say, don't worry about the money. Really? I was not in a coma when we almost went bust in 2010 but maybe some people on here are and that's good for them. But I want to know why we are spending ridiculous cash on a like it or not, one season wonder when we have no history of ever doing so in the past. Either way IMO, we should just stay away from this deal cos we will be stripped naked if we go down this road.


04 Jul 2017 10:51:22
Just a thought gini might get pushed further up to lw were he played for the toon.


04 Jul 2017 11:00:54
Jamesy, Couts will already be further up the pitch so don't know where Wij woulf fit in there really.


04 Jul 2017 11:02:46
great way to support klopp, any one else you'd prefer he didn't sign so we can stifle what he's trying to do? if he thinks that its an integral price of the puzzle then get behind him regardless of the cost. if the club can't afford to pay it they won't.


04 Jul 2017 11:09:10
I think the mistake we always mistake is in highlighting all the reasons why we shouldn't sign a player. from the 3 games I've seen of Keita he brings energy, creativity and versatility to that midfield. he could play either lallana or gini's box to box midfield role linking the mid-attack and would be as adept to playing the presumed Coutinho role as an advanced midfielder.

We need to remember that the bulk of the regular starting XI are players that Klopp inherited. He is continuing to embed his philosophy in the squad and build their resilience (physically / mentally) to implement his methods. Bringing in players like Mane and Gini, and potentially Keita are the pieces who have the skill-set already to implement his style. You need to bring those players in if you can.

From the little I've seen, I would say his skill-set is a perfect fit for how Klopp wants us to play. Money or notoriety with other clubs? don't care!


04 Jul 2017 11:11:21
PutneyRed

I'm very excited about the prospect of us signing Keita and I think he'll make a huge impact if we manage to sign him.
Lots of ex footballers like Didi Hamaan and others, as well as football writers, who watch him play week in and week out in the Bundesliga have nothing but praise for him.
Jurgen Klopp knows what he's doing, and I honestly think Keita is another quality player with huge talent. and still only 22 years old.


{Ed025's Note - when you say klopp knows what hes doing....

04 Jul 2017 11:25:11
Wasn't he arsenals main transfer target but he was only moving for champions league which ruled them out when they did not qualify? Could be wrong but there certainly is/ was interest in him from big teams. others have been put off by the asking price hoping to sign him at a later stage possibly for a lower fee.

The problem with this from Liverpool's point if we waited and next year were competing say with Barcelona and Bayern at a lower price it won't matter as realistically we won't get him. just my opinion but I think our thinking is if we don't cough up now and pay what others won't we may never get him rightly or wrongly.


04 Jul 2017 12:04:23
Swish, I do enjoy responses like yours. Twisting my post to make it an attack on Klopp is an impressive feat. I doth my cap to you.


04 Jul 2017 12:17:12
Just a bit of fun Putney but I think if the coach thinks He's worth the cost then why fight it? No doubt he's a good player but I for one don't have knowledge to know how klopp intends to use him- nobody does but we've had a weak squad for years. Players like this puts us on a level playing field to compete on more fronts. That can only be a good thing.


04 Jul 2017 15:27:50
You are blatantly wrong on all the three fronts.

1. He is better than all except Coutinho, but then He is different to Coutinho. He will compliment Coutinho and will dictate the from the middle of the park. Lallana is just a pressing midfielder. He has 0 vision in picking players. He offers nothing when there is no space for him to turn or move.
He is better than both Henderson and Wijnaldum.
Henderson can't pass. He is so conservative with his passing that we rely too much on Matip to bring the ball out from deep.
The team struggled in the absence of Coutinho ( with all others on the pitch )

Kieta is a playmaker unlike a B2B midfielder who could only win the ball back for you and hand it to a better midfielder to pick the player ahead!


04 Jul 2017 15:28:59
I doubt the owners are stupid/ naive enough to put themselves and our club in a similar financial position to what we were in under H+G. If we can't realisticly afford him he wouldn't be an option

Personally I don't think he's worth 70m, and I don't think the club will pay anything close to 70m.
But if they did, the money would be there because it's available and who cares.


04 Jul 2017 09:48:45
Hello ed1, what alternatives to vvd would you personally like Liverpool to pursue? I haven't seen much of Manolas or Koulibailly so not sure if they're an upgrade on what we have. Romagnoli looks good though and he's left sided.

Believable0 Unbelievable0

{Ed001's Note - I wouldn't. I would rather we bought full backs this season.}

04 Jul 2017 10:24:30
Spot on, Ed. VVD will not solve our glaring issues at FB and by the way, CB is not where we need the most upgrade. It is at both FB positions.


04 Jul 2017 11:07:46
didnt Ed (dont know how it was exactly) say that we didn't look into buying a CB just VVD? I think with matip, lovren, Klavan, Gomez our CB are allright.


04 Jul 2017 11:46:51
If it was up to me, I'd sign a new RB, LB and a CB.


04 Jul 2017 12:29:59
CB is our biggest problem by a mile, Matip is good but Lovren is not CL level and has been found out on so many occasions and our defensive problems will continue as long as he is first choice. Yes we need a new LB but how many goals last year can you say Milner was largely responsible for conceding? Compare that with Lovren and it's blatantly obvious that we need a new CB as our priority whatever the cost.

A natural left footed LB will help our offensive game hugely but going forward wasn't our biggest issue last year, conceding stupid goals due to basic defending errors was and as much as a new LB is important, a CB has to be the priority for me.


04 Jul 2017 09:45:32
Hi Ed1

Im a bit confused with liverpools current recuritment drive! Why are we looking at keita and VVD when we need a left back as priority?

Do we really need another midfielder and CB when we have gomez sitting in the wings?

I thought the priority would be fill the postitions we are weak in that have no real youth players to fill the gap, we are screaming for a LB so why are we looking to spend 140 mill on an average defender and a midfielder we could get cheaper in 12 months! it makes no sense, i thought klopp coming in might have sense to address the issues in the side then look for improvements if they were required, but we just seem to be going mad and looking to bid ridiculous prices to show were still a big club?

Lets get who we need in and concentrate on that first, the likes of everton, man utd are doing it just reminds me of rodgers with the suarez money buying players we don't require in positions we are fully loaded in?

Believable2 Unbelievable1

{Ed001's Note - I have no idea mate, it makes little sense to me either. We should be getting the priority positions done first, worry about the rest later.}

04 Jul 2017 10:08:10
I'm so chuft we signed salah but we didn't absolutely need him. I am also surprised we didn't sign what we needed first. God forbid we miss out and don't get a LB.


04 Jul 2017 10:25:11
Beats me too, Ed.


04 Jul 2017 10:28:35
Hi Eds, Question to mainly Ed01, I know you have reservations on Robertson, like a few others on here, and I don't confess to watching him much. My question is do you think he looked ordinary because who he had playing with him and the more pressure he was under, therefore do you think he could improve in our current side (more attacking options to choose) or has he not the basics? As he seems the most likely I would be glad to hear anybodys comments? Ta.


{Ed001's Note - he was under less pressure there than he would be at Liverpool, so it is certainly not that. His problem is not just that he tends to fluff his lines when the pressure is on, it is that he is very positionally suspect. While most full backs are these days, that is still an issue for me. If he was contributing more going forward, then you can put up with him being a little ropey defensively, but Robertson's crossing is very hit and miss. Sometimes his delivery is good, he will hit a succession of good crosses that are let down by the forwards. However, he will then make a complete hash of the next bunch of crosses he attempts. It is not even simple things that are wrong, it is not that he is running too fast and so slices a cross, which is something that can be easily worked on. It is that he gets distracted by anyone closing him down, or by looking up and not then returning his focus to the ball etc. That is why he goes to pieces under pressure as he loses his focus on what he is doing.

That seems to me to be something that would be very difficult to fix. Top class players need to be able to play the ball without focusing on it. They should be able to look up and still hit the ball cleanly to the player they have spotted. I am not sure he has the ability to do so.}

04 Jul 2017 11:30:26
On his crossing Ed could be a confidence in players around you type of thing.

As you say he can pick good crosses that are let down by forwards that can play on the mind that maybe you need to do more with the next crosses leading to poorer ones.

Confidence in players around you is a big thing for me prime example being cbs and keeper a good keeper that the defence has confidence in makes a huge difference to how freely you can play. maybe I've stretched that a bit here for the lads crossing troubles although I haven't seen enough to overly comment.


04 Jul 2017 11:55:39
Thanks, I think haha, Ed01.


{Ed001's Note - welcome.}

04 Jul 2017 06:03:10
Hi Ed002,
I hope Liverpool won't spend silly money on Keita. I think that a quality LB is much more needed than a midfielder. I wish they would look for a ST. Is there any movement in that area possible? And I would rather see Origi than Sturridge do. I hope LFC will do good bussiness this window. Thanks for all the news Eds.

Believable0 Unbelievable3

{Ed002's Note - Right now Tom Liverpool has Firmino, Sturridge, Origi, Ings and Solanke - which is probably more than they need for one position.}

04 Jul 2017 08:53:17
As of yesterday i have read that we are still interested in Luan and also shown interested in that mexican guy from Benfica.

Imo we should sell Sturridge (should sell for 30-35mio) and loan Ings so he can get some kind of form back after his injurys. We would have Firmino as our primary striker and Origi as backup and Solanke could play in the cup games to get experience.


{Ed002's Note - Luan is in discussions with another club. I have explained the difficulties of him signing before - so I would put him out of your mind.}

04 Jul 2017 11:06:09
Is that an English club eds.


{Ed002's Note - No but there was an enquiry from Spurs.}

04 Jul 2017 08:17:02
Morning Ed001

Im sorry to ask but its regarding VVD. You have said there are plenty of people within the club that still think a deal will be reached. My question is has there been any follow up contact/ conversations or enquiry made since we issued our club statement? The progress that was agreed and in place for the player would that have all been scrapped or does it still stand to a degree?

Also my last question is, as its looking like we will have to pay megga money 60-70M for Keita does this have any impact on any deal for VVD. Im just thinking of the finances involved to secure both players, would probably be beyond the clubs reach?

As always appreciate any info you can give.

Believable0 Unbelievable0

{Ed001's Note - I don't know, it would only be conjecture. Yes the financial implications would be large.}

04 Jul 2017 07:27:03
I really don't get why we price our players the way we do. What kind of arrogance makes us think we can sell players we haven't played all season at huge prices. Can see sakho spending another season on loan or in the reserves.

Believable3 Unbelievable6

04 Jul 2017 07:46:12
The same kind of arrogance that has led to bad blood between Liverpool and a few other clubs over tapping up I would imagine. The financial bubble football is in also means that clubs loose perspective on actual value of assets like players, summed up with balls out stupidity.


04 Jul 2017 10:29:45
Spot on, HBR. We act as if we are as successful as both Real Madrid and Barcelona who tap up players like no tmrw and when push comes to shove, they just pay the money and move on. We also try to ask for crazy fees for players other clubs know were on the transfer list and are not good enough, as if these other clubs don't know that these players are of very little value to us. We can't do any that and the hubris by which we act in the TW is shocking and flat out nonsensical. I suppose we won't learn until we get a transfer ban (regarding tapping up) and maybe only then, will things change.


04 Jul 2017 07:03:59
In regards to Julian Brandt, a player I really wished we could have signed. When he says he wants assurances over first team football, does he mean starting every match? Surely if you play well you would be there, in the starting line up regardless of the price tag. It really boggles my mind when footballers say this. If you don't play well, the manager isn't going to play you. Simple.

Believable0 Unbelievable0

04 Jul 2017 07:15:56
When fit he should be playing. Isn't that what Emre Can is asking for? Julian Brandt is an excellent player and one of my fav upcoming young talent. The lad is a young David's Silva or KDB in the making.


04 Jul 2017 07:26:50
Benny, Brandt gave an interview recently as to why he did not move to us. He said that (I'm paraphrasing) he did not feel that he was ready to make the jump to a big club at this time. He said he still needed to hone his game a bit more and going to a club where he may not start every game (esp. with Couts out wide left and Mane wide right) would be detrimental to his development and a chance to make the German team for Russia and only constant starts can get him that, something he would get at Bayer but according to him, not at LFC.

Saying he wanted assurances of playing time was just a smokescreen as that altho not strange, was a wierd demand from him. I credit his candidness and honesty as I prefer that than someone who knows he's in over his head YET still comes here and flops big time.


04 Jul 2017 07:29:16
Feel the same way about him. But don't you think that if a player isn't playing well he should continue to feature in the starting 11 just because he's fit?


04 Jul 2017 07:53:27
He made the right decision IMO. He plays in a team that he fits in. He has the right support system around him. Makes no sense to leave for Liverpool in a critical year. New team, new environment, time to settle. and he would've missed out on the World Cup, especially considering how talented Germany's squad is.


04 Jul 2017 08:25:53
Brussels: Also Brandt said that he wants to help Leverkusen get back to where they belong (they had a terrible season last year) . He will probally go to Bayern next Summer as they haven't made any big sinings on the wing this summer and Robben/ Ribery getting to old to play 90min.


{Ed002's Note - They already had the replacements for Ribery and Robben. The interest in Brandt comes from one of those leaving.}

04 Jul 2017 09:05:16
Ed002: Im not sure who you are talking about. As far as i know they only have Gnabry, Coman and Costa as backups with Costa likely to leave and Gnabry likely to be loaned to Hoffenheim. Even if they keep Costa and Gnabry that's still just 3 replecements for 2 positions. Also Bayern cooled their interest in sanchez and it is rumoured in the german media that brandt has allready agreed to go to Bayern next summer.


{Ed002's Note - You are on the wrong page. Brandt is not moving to Liverpool regardless of what Klopp has said to him for reasons I have explained over and over. My post is very clear.}

04 Jul 2017 11:52:22
He could have gone with a transfer and been loaned back for a season.
I think his decision is multi-factorial. I think he's expecting a bigger fee to come in after the World Cup.


03 Jul 2017 22:02:21
Eds could you do (or has one been done) a player profile for Kieta?

I really don't know much about him and would value your input.

Believable0 Unbelievable0

{Ed001's Note - I have never seen him play, that I remember, so it would be difficult for me to do any kind of player profile of him.}

04 Jul 2017 09:25:03
He's basically what pogba should be. im a regular bundesliga viewer and him werner and dembele are the next best players in the world. Like seriously, If we signed all three I'd wet myself but o chance of that. I also think goretzka is a shout after overcoming his knee problems. Meyer was in and out of the schalke team but his talent I'd undeniable. Sort of a young gotze if you will.


 
Change Consent