Liverpool Rumours Archive August 01 2018

01 Aug 2018 12:58:01
Everyone is saying any trophy would do but I think only the league or CL trophy would make us the top club we know we are. Uf the 2nd string win the FA cup or League cup then great. But its just my opinion that the CL and League should be the main target. Whether we win it or not but be close enough to be able to. Just my view.

{Ed002's Note - The owners want the league - hence the efforts to try to buy it.}

01 Aug 2018 13:02:44
Ed, my fear is that when/ if liverpool do win the league, the owners would pull a Monaco and profit off of the "big" players. I hope I'm wrong, but it kind of has that feel. They didn't do that with the Red Sox instead they kept the spending going, but I'm not sure they would do that with Liverpool.

{Ed002's Note - I don't think the owners have any intention of doing that Stone.}

01 Aug 2018 13:02:49
If you can’t beat them, join them.

01 Aug 2018 13:17:04
Ok ed thank you for the reply. Have a great day.

01 Aug 2018 14:19:19
Because no one else tries to buy it.

{Ed002's Note - Nobody else has been as unsuccessful as Liverpool in trying to buy it.}

01 Aug 2018 14:19:25
Our players aren't big enough, nor were they cheap enough, to win the league and then sell them all to make a huge profit. They'd make far more money by keeping a winning team together, building on it and continuing to win.

01 Aug 2018 14:49:03
But still trying to buy it none the less! which in turn means other teams like ourselves have to spend big to keep up. unless you think things like Leicester winning the league are going to become the norm.

01 Aug 2018 14:58:20
I was going to jump on Ed's comment and say our net spend isn't high compared to the rest of the top six but did a bit of research first.

The following numbers are net spend averages over the last 3 years, 6 years and 9 years (usual caveat around accuracy of information available) .

Liverpool £47m, £40m, £37m
City £132m, £111m, £82m
United £105m, £94m, £75m
Spurs -£15m, -£3m, -£2m
Chelsea £42m, £28m, £44m
Arsenal £51m, £49m, £31m

Interpret as you like, but we really do need to improve our return on player investment!

{Ed002's Note - Net spend is only part of the story - what about the £27M spent on agent fees last year, what about the £79M spent on payments for players purchased in previous years. It is best you all avoid the finances.}

01 Aug 2018 15:04:52
Fair points - the average fan like myself doesn't see the full picture on finances (incoming as well as outgoing) .

Still, what we can see is that we do now have a very good starting 11 as well as strength and depth in the squad.
Add to that a manager that inspires the players and fans and there's reason to be excited!

01 Aug 2018 15:08:31
Appreciate the reply ed002, but it's impossible this day and age to ignore finances even if you wanted to. Net spend, wages, transfer fees are bandied about on Sky Sports every other game, in all the paper headlines, spouted when you listen to any conversation in a pub and they're especially all over social media.

I know you say you don't watch much football or read the headlines etc but it's impossible to avoid. I actually find the clarification on here very useful (though I appreciate you get dogs abuse for it when you do speak about finances)

{Ed002's Note - If you use the figures you hear in the media you will all simply end up being misled.}

01 Aug 2018 15:16:54
to be fair, the 'payments payed for players purchased in previous years' is inclusive in the total sum we are presented with, its just the break down of payments that we aren't familiar with.

agent fees shouldn't be paid by the club; the club don't employ them. its bonkers.

{Ed002's Note - You might want to steer well clear of the finances.}

01 Aug 2018 15:24:13
and this is why ED steers clear from finances, you simply haven't got a clue so stop jumping on the cash thing.

01 Aug 2018 16:23:05
Every team spends on agent fees aswell, not exckusive to l8verpool.

01 Aug 2018 16:26:18
There are many ways to win a league. Unfortunately it has not worked out for us. It's true Chelsea were a mid table side until roman as where city until the sheikh. So as they say if you can't beat them join them.

01 Aug 2018 16:34:11
So much for freedom of speech eh?! I posted a legitimate comment earlier but (un) surprisingly Ed002 decided against posting it up!
It seems I must have hit a nerve.

{Ed001's Note - it was me who deleted your pointless personal dig. Go away.}

01 Aug 2018 17:51:11
I think I’m recent times under FSG, yes we’ve spent big to an extent. Go back to the early 90’s, whilst United moves forward, Martin Edwards providing Fergie big funds, along with two floatations on the stock exchange. Money invested into the team and the re build of Old Trafford. During the same period, Moore’s and Parry held us back.

Wenger was given big funds, we all know about chelsea and now City . In between this, we had Hicks and Gillwt that nearly took us down.

People don’t realise how good our owners have been.

01 Aug 2018 19:02:15
I've bet on us winning everything, fiver on each cup, doubles, triples and the quadruple, come June I'm up 13,000 can't wait.

Also got Moaninio to be gone by Xmas, happy days! 😁.

01 Aug 2018 19:45:21
Drogie

Whilst Edwards was backing Fergie and buying players- it’s not as if we weren’t.

We bought some utter cr*p and had a revolving door in the bootroom trying to live up to 80s and 90s. To say we were “held back” as a tad far-fetched. Yes- we know about Moores antics when we were sold but we were buying players like Nicky Tanner, Mark Walters, David Speedie and Istvan Kozma where we had the reputation to stop attract the top names.

01 Aug 2018 19:54:33
I think its better to spend big to try and win than to spend big merely to keep up, which is the type of big we've been used to for years and years. These recent couple of window's signings really are in league with the big boy signings rather than the next tier down, which is what we have done previously.

01 Aug 2018 21:00:46
Depressing to think how many poor signings we have made over the entire premier league era.

{Ed025's Note - can liverpool fans be depressed about anything?..really??, you want to try wearing the rest ours shoes mate...your spoiled rotten..

01 Aug 2018 21:31:11
Oh god. Are we on the have a dig at the Ed’s roundabout again?

Seriously guys. They are a fountain of knowledge and excellent people that run this site for us, be respectful or bugger off!

As fans we have nothing to moan about, we have a really exciting team and a really exciting season ahead. Let’s just be excited and enjoy it!

{Ed025's Note - well said kd..

01 Aug 2018 21:33:21
I'm depressed that I'll never know what true bitterness is ;)

{Ed025's Note - if you dont win a trophy this season you will bardzo...i will bloody make sure of it mate.. :)

01 Aug 2018 21:38:47
Well said, Ed025!
We definitely have been spoiled over the last half a century.
I started following my beloved Reds in ‘81 and during that great era, if we didn’t win the title (or more) one season, then I was confident we’d win it the next, that’s how good we had it.
I used to laugh at Utds’ predicament at not winning the League for 26 odd years back then, so I must take ownership of our barren run for roughly the same amount of time!
We are well and truly back and on a Golden path at the moment. Each season we must keep the momentum going as we all know what happens when you rest in your laurels! : after 2005 and 2014.
YNWA.

{Ed025's Note - spoilt rotten redstorm, and the way i see it you have a team that could possibly take you there again mate..

01 Aug 2018 21:49:43
Ha! I wouldn't expect anything less mate. We'll be close I'm sure, I genuinely just hope we're in the mix. Too many years of false dawns to throw too much hope at actually success. I bet your heart bleeds.

{Ed025's Note - it really does mate.. :)

01 Aug 2018 21:54:47
And RedStorm I think we were all labelled “glory hunters” back then.
We weren’t hunting it- it just came along. Every May!

01 Aug 2018 22:02:14
Doest all teams have agent fee, and staged payments on other purchases. Just net spend is surely, if not accurate, a good guide.

01 Aug 2018 22:56:06
Point taken Agerdoo regarding our buys back then but what you have to remember, Fergie was given serious funds by Edwards. They were signing big names and started to break records, Gary Pallister for one back in the 90’s

Moore’s held us back for years, way before we were sold. Whilst we stood still, United were starting to roll with commercial deals, they floated the club twice, 91 and 96, they moved forward, expanding the stadium. Sorry matey big that’s the hard truth.

01 Aug 2018 23:07:55
You can’t “buy the league” otherwise City would win every year.
We are buying the players who can help us win the league. 🤝.

{Ed0333's Note - And City would have got away with it if it weren’t for those meddling scousers!

02 Aug 2018 00:11:45
Thing is redphil that agents fees are not set, nor are they the only thing that is paid towards a transfer. Ed002 put up a summary of a lot of the costs that go into a transfer a while back, and there are undoubtedly a lot more costs involved (Can't scout players in Spain without getting a plane) .

I remember reading somewhere, might have been Ed002 again, that we spent more on agents fees last year than any other club in the world. Might be true, might not. Does suggest why ed002 would use it as an example though.

02 Aug 2018 03:23:49
while we're trying to win the title, I was thinking it'd be good to buy some players who have done it before. Not saying it's THE solution, but I think have seasoned vets who are used to winning things is always handy to have in the team.

02 Aug 2018 00:18:13
Ed25, when you say we possibly have a team that will take us back to the glory days, I think I'd possibly want to change that to "we have a manager who could us back to the glory days" - he's an enigma in my opinion. Yes the team is very good, but I think he's the catalyst and has breathed life into the club again. Just hope these new expensive signings we've made turn out well!

{Ed025's Note - i cant disagree with that adam, im a massive klopp fan mate..

02 Aug 2018 09:51:32
Phil one of the eds gave an insightfull post a while ago about what additional costs are involved in transfers and it makes net spend irrelevant as non of these factors are taken into account only sell for x buy for y if you can search for the post it's an interesting read.

02 Aug 2018 12:44:29
I don’t get the negative connotations around us trying to buy the league. This is what every team does or tries to. Even Leicester did it albeit shrewdly. I’m proud of our club putting down a marker and going out and spending the money to get who we believe are the best players. We’ve had to watch others smash transfer records so we’ll done to all in LFC for progress made this summer.

02 Aug 2018 11:58:52
I think we could count Leeds Utd as being less successful than us in trying to buy the league ed 02.

02 Aug 2018 09:25:02
I think it’s time to come out now Ed25. We know it, you know it. it’s time to be brave and break the news to your family you’re a closet Liverpool supporter!

{Ed025's Note - how very dare you SG, Im a football fan who thinks liverpool are a very good side but evertonians are born mate and being a true scouser i was always destined to support the peoples club..

01 Aug 2018 07:36:46
LFC Football whispers of the day:

Mignolet - Barcelona looking for no. 2 to Ter Stegen with Cillessen looking to move.

Karius - On Bayer Leverkusen shortlist to replace Bernd Leno

Origi - Besiktas, Valencia and Watford interested

Ojo - Middlesbrough interested

Ings - Palace and watford interested.

01 Aug 2018 08:56:46
Everyone is interested but no one is buying.

01 Aug 2018 09:26:32
To be fair, The Red One, the top 3 'outs' are wanted (mainly) by teams who's transfer window is open until 31 August (or thereabouts) .

Most squads have only just got back together again, so I'd imagine a lot of managers what to review what they have before going into the transfer market.

I'd expect the next week to be rather busy!

01 Aug 2018 09:51:39
I hope you’re right Zeddicus, there’s a lot of dead wood dare I say Lallana as one (Go in hit me with the thumbs down people) 😉.

01 Aug 2018 09:57:43
I think you'll get the thumbs down for "dead wood" more so than for throwing Lallana into the mix!

We should have a bit of respect here, boys.

01 Aug 2018 11:04:57
I gave him the thumbs down for the Lallana comment personally.

01 Aug 2018 17:43:53
Same. I don’t see what people’s problem with Lallana is.

{Ed025's Note - he is slow, injury prone and goes missing in games for me westwood, a bit lightweight as well but besides that a very good player.. :)

01 Aug 2018 19:53:41
Surprised your bitters haven't put a bid in for him then ed025.

{Ed025's Note - we have enough prima-donnas marshy the last thing we need is another one mate, he should go on the scrap heap with the likes of ings, mignolet, karius, origi, ojo, grujic, clyne and moreno, sell the lot or swap them for a twix..

01 Aug 2018 20:04:56
I don't see a problem with using "dead wood". If you are reshaping or renovating a tree, the first thing you do is remove the three Ds. The wood which is dead, diseased or dying. That is how to strengthen the tree long term. It's not disrespectful, it's a metaphor. let's not paint it as anything more than that. This is how we all destroy abstract thinking, end up wearing grey, not saying anything other than what is written in the government approved manual and lose the will to live.

01 Aug 2018 23:12:17
Players are not “dead wood” though are they? They’re not dead, they still have a function. Dead wood doesn’t.
They are still useful to the squad, they can still play football.

“Fringe players” is more respectful.

Lallana is a very talented footballer 🤝.

{Ed0333's Note - No doubt Lalana has talent as a footballer but I agree with Ed’s 025 he’s on the outside looking in with the team where assembling and we should get rid while he is of value.

01 Aug 2018 23:20:51
Lallana is not dead wood. people have short memories of how good he was before his injury. out of sight out of mind. he's going to have a part to play this season and all you lot who think he's crap will eat your words.

{Ed0333's Note - I disagree I think he’s gonna fade away into obscurity

02 Aug 2018 00:52:12
Or you could just find a new metaphor and not make yourself out to be an ass when talking about OUR players.

01 Aug 2018 22:46:37
Those 9 you mention ed025 I reckon would still spank your lot!

{Ed025's Note - nah marshy, dont get me wrong we are not great but we are talking perennial underachievers here mate, of course you cant have all worldies in your squad but most of that lot need a new start...at accrington or somewhere..

02 Aug 2018 19:34:46
Or you could not just be an ass about metaphors you don't understand. It wasnt my metaphor anyway. It's all about what's useful to the tree, you can use the dead, diseased and dying branches if you like to hang off them or grow fruit, but they're likely to break under the pressure or not grow any fruit. It's a metaphor. Stop just getting offended on other peoples behalf about stuff none of you do gooder, keyboard warrior, personality vacuum numpties actually understand.

03 Aug 2018 07:16:35
Its all well and good saying get rid of these players, but what if our first teamers get injured? Let’s take Lallana and Moreno as examples. If we sell them and say Keita and Robertson get injured, what then? Will Milner return to LB or do people prefer Wiji coming in to Lallana? Neither players are world beaters by any stretch, but we need to remember that Lallana was one of the first names in the team sheet the year before last and was arguably England’s most important player at that time also. Also easy to forget that Moreno had vastly improved last year before he got injured and Robbo took his spot. So shall we get rid of these players who can come in and do a job when we have no-one to replace them with? Doesn’t make sense to me. We will want better than them in time certainly, but we should sell them when we have better players for our first 11 to replace the current first teamers (Robbo and Keita) who then drop to the bench in the place of the current squad cover players (Moreno and Lallana) . That’s how you build and improve. Besides all this said I can see Lallana especially having a bigger role than some may think this year, especially with Fekir unlikely and the Ox out. I look foward to seeing him back at his best and hope he proves the doubters wrong.