12 Mar 2024 11:29:52
Hi Ed001. It looks like Michael Edwards may be coming back in some capacity. I know you’ve been critical of his work in his previous post and said you wouldn’t want him anywhere near the club again. Without knowing what his new role will entail yet, how do you feel about this and can he learn from previous mistakes?

{Ed001's Note - I wouldn't want him back if he was doing what he was doing before, no, but his role is going to be totally different now. He is an excellent analyst and very good at the role, but he was pushed into a senior management role he was not cut out for. Now he is back consulting as an analyst, I have absolutely no problem in him in that role. He is not going to be in a position where he has to make the decision, he will be analysing the options and putting them to others (I assume the club's board) to make the final decision. He won't be negotiating contracts, another thing which is just not his skillset. So I am very happy to have him back to provide his actual skillset and that is how it should be. Put people into roles that suit their abilities and they will prosper. It would be a bit like playing Virgil up front. Yes, he would do a job and he would give his all, but it is not a long term solution as it is not where his skillset is suited. That was what was happening with Edwards. But as an analyst, he is well suited.}

1.) 12 Mar 2024
12 Mar 2024 12:51:16
Thanks Ed001. Good to hear!

{Ed001's Note - oh bollox, it seems he consulted and created himself a role! CEO of Football? Wtf? That is insane. That requires the exact same skills that he failed to display in his previous role with us. I remember working at a company that brought in a consultant. After a month consulting he created himself a role on the board in effect running the company similar to a CEO. He brought in pay cuts, altered the shift pattern and all sorts of nonsense things. 6 months later the company was bankrupt. I really hope Edwards is not a similar level of error.}

2.) 12 Mar 2024
12 Mar 2024 13:05:06
Ed002, what are you thoughts on bringing Edwards back in this capacity and the proposed move for Richard Hughes? Do you think these appointments are positive moves for the club?

{Ed002's Note - Edwards has another venture so he is coming back to help restructure the football side - which has to be a good thing. I don't know Hughes, but he is well liked. Key will be getting the right coach now.}

3.) 12 Mar 2024
12 Mar 2024 13:20:33
Ed01. Hopefully the owners have seen and recognised the errors he made before and his new role will encompass his skill set rather than entrust him with a job that does not suit him and that would be to the detriment of the club. Fingers crossed I guess!

{Ed001's Note - fingers crossed.}

4.) 12 Mar 2024
12 Mar 2024 13:25:08
Others than the salaries and length of contracts, what decisions was Edwards getting wrong, Ed1? I was under the impression that he usually had very good judgement when it came to who came in, vouching for Firmino and Salah as examples.

Also a friend of mine was telling me that Klopp was the reason Edwards left as Klopp's authority kept growing within the club and he wanted to reward older players with long contracts with money no object for salaries, against Edwards' wishes. Apparently Keita and Thiago were signings Klopp really wanted and Edwards didn't want them as they strayed from the model. He also said the reason for Edwards leaving was that he felt that he didn't have much room to operate with Klopp's massive influence and the financial situation post-lockdown with a massive wage bill and the costs of a new training facility and a recent stadium expansion. I have no idea if any of that is actually true but I just wanted to put that to you for you to debunk at your leisure.

Furthermore it's interesting to see FSG so open about a multi-club model. Is Brazil still the most likely location? Cheers Ed, I appreciate I waffled a bit there.

{Ed001's Note - but he was the one in the position to stop all of that happening and instead he bottled it and bowed to Klopp. He needed to be a hard b***ard, someone who told Klopp no, but instead he buckled and let Klopp run it. That is why he should not be in management, he is too soft, too weak. He is the man to have in your ear, advising you on what to do, because he does have good judgement, I totally agree. But he is not the man to have at the top making the decisions, because he is not strong enough to stand his ground and do what he thinks is best.}

5.) 12 Mar 2024
12 Mar 2024 13:28:00
I thought Edwards was well regarded at the club ed01, was he not involved in finding transfer targets? Van dijk, Alison salah etc?
Was someone else in charge of that, I may have him confused with someone else at club.
Not being facetious Ed.

Thanks.

{Ed001's Note - that is not what I have a problem with. If that was the role he had been performing and only that, he would have been excellent. The problem was he was promoted over that and he was not the right choice. Too nice, too weak and allowed Klopp to take charge of things that were outside of Klopp's remit.}

6.) 12 Mar 2024
12 Mar 2024 14:23:19
I’ve just read he is going to be advising on the buying of another club? If he goes and gets us Xabi and maybe convince schmadtke to recommend us some more diamonds like endo that will do for me.

{Ed002's Note - Not advising - he has no experience of that. He will take responsibility for control over any investment or purchase of another side.}

7.) 12 Mar 2024
12 Mar 2024 14:29:47
Thanks ed02.

8.) 12 Mar 2024
12 Mar 2024 14:12:17
Cheers Ed. Out of interest, was it because of Klopp that he left?

{Ed001's Note - I don't know sorry. It would make sense from his point of view, if he felt he was being ignored.}

9.) 12 Mar 2024
12 Mar 2024 14:49:22
From personal experience, people learn and grow into their roles. Someone who didn't seem a Senior management material back then, may be very different 2 years hence. Everyone need not be a born leader, there are many things people learn in due course.

10.) 12 Mar 2024
12 Mar 2024 15:02:30
Michael Edwards has been named FSG CEO of football. He will resign from Ludonautics on the 1st of June and replaces Mike Gordon in charge of Liverpool. He will appoint Richard Hughes as Sporting Director. Add will assist in recruiting Klopp’s successor and help identify and manage a 2nd club. The 2nd club was crucial in him coming back to the club.

I for one am happy with the appointment. More than happy and Richard Hughes is meant to be a tough negotiator. If Michael Edwards can get Alonso to join we are well on our way to a good future post Klopp.

11.) 12 Mar 2024
12 Mar 2024 16:30:23
If we agree that Edwards has a good eye for talent and building footballing structures you'd like to think he would do the same in a wider role, including putting the right personalities and skills around him to cover his weaknesses.

12.) 12 Mar 2024
12 Mar 2024 16:52:44
With Edwards we endured our most successful period in 30 odd years. VVD, Alisson, Salah, Fabinho…
speaks for itself.

13.) 12 Mar 2024
12 Mar 2024 17:26:57
It's reported that both Chelsea and Man U approached Edwards for a CEO of Football role at their respective clubs, so to me that shows that he is both highly regarded and able to do a job. Time will tell obviously, but it seems there will be some major restructuring done behind the scenes, will certainly be interesting.

14.) 12 Mar 2024
12 Mar 2024 19:35:32
Ed025 - good news
The other club could be Everton!

{Ed025's Note - if someone called Edwards was buying us Paisley....it would be Eddie the Eagle i imagine mate..

15.) 12 Mar 2024
12 Mar 2024 21:09:03
I don’t think any of us truly know what his previous role entailed or what responsibilities he will have in his new role but FSG know him well and obviously trust him implicitly as they have moved heaven and earth to get him back in.

Time will tell but one thing I do know is that FSG are no mugs so if they think he’s the best man to move us forward they are probably right.

16.) 13 Mar 2024
13 Mar 2024 07:35:32
Spot on Peckers.

17.) 13 Mar 2024
13 Mar 2024 07:56:57
LFCDas - that’s a good shout mate, we shouldn’t pigeon-hold people based on the negative things from a certain point in time. And actually perhaps part of the new role is both sides reflecting on the past and finding a better way to move forward

Who knows really. I mean we did a lot of winning when he was here. Anyways, overall I like that he is back and there is also a director of football too. I’d expect the director of football has more of the direct work with the manager anyways.

18.) 13 Mar 2024
13 Mar 2024 08:41:23
Could the reason Klopp is going be because he knew Edwards was coming back?

Just a random thought!

19.) 13 Mar 2024
13 Mar 2024 11:03:45
Whilst I see the restructure as positive what I don’t want them to do is appoint a “yes” person as manager. Vital that they get a strong manager in with their own views and vision too.

20.) 13 Mar 2024
13 Mar 2024 11:47:04
It’s always a possibility KBL along with countless other possibilities including the reason he told us he’s leaving.

I’m happy to take him at face value and accept that he’s tired. The reality is there’s probably loads of different reasons but all add up to him feeling drained and wanting a break.

Trying to pick the bones out of it is pointless.

21.) 13 Mar 2024
13 Mar 2024 14:54:11
Look at photos from the day Klopp joined and photos of him now. He's been with us for 9 years but he looks like he's aged 20. It's a high pressure job, so it's not surprising. If he says he's leaving because he's tired, I'm inclined to believe it. There may be other personal reasons but then it's none of my business. The man came, delivered, and now wants to go. I have only gratitude for him.

22.) 13 Mar 2024
13 Mar 2024 15:09:30
Spot on, BP. I take Klopp at his word that he needs a break and needs to learn how to live life outside of football. Why? Cos I have no way of proving if that is true or not.

So rather than make stories and create inuendos out of pixie dust, I'll hold on to Klopp's word until the facts as we know them, change. If they don't then, "Trying to pick the bones out of it, is pointless".

23.) 13 Mar 2024
13 Mar 2024 09:14:39
Ed25, if you could put your money on the next Liv manager after Klopp, who do you think it will be?

{Ed025's Note - i think Alonso is nailed on mfahmee..

24.) 13 Mar 2024
13 Mar 2024 16:39:35
Ed25 taking the p. again ??????.

{Ed025's Note - im actually serious mate..

25.) 13 Mar 2024
13 Mar 2024 17:16:34
After the past couple of days Ed25, i don't think you have a serious bone in your body!

{Ed025's Note - I do JLC….but it’s a funny bone.. ?

26.) 13 Mar 2024
13 Mar 2024 17:38:56
I don't know whether you are joking or serious Ed25. Knowing you, it could be both.

{Ed025's Note - deadly serious mate..

27.) 13 Mar 2024
13 Mar 2024 17:47:31
I think you misspelled bone Ed25.you forgot the "r" ?.