Liverpool banter 10

04 Jun 2026 04:37:31
Make or break season for Bajetic. Think he is Basque too so Iraola will probably consider him and he can save us considerable money as we have seen some talent in him. If he could just remain fit I think he solves the DM issue for us.

04 Jun 2026 08:07:36
Really? He has failed every loan he has been on since having his mini breakthrough years ago. Injured all the time and has a crap attitude. How could he ever be the solution to anything?

{Ed078's Note - he showed great promise for a while. If he can sort out his attitude and approach, then there is still potential there.

04 Jun 2026 08:27:23
He's apparently got over some injuries and has bulked up. He's in the last year of his contract, so I think he will stay, and if he is rubbish, will be let go.

04 Jun 2026 09:00:30
Bajectics time has come and gone. Move on.

04 Jun 2026 09:32:28
We've been talking about Baj for about 4 years now. It's not happening at Liverpool, I don't see it.

04 Jun 2026 12:46:33
Bajcetic aint Basque, but Galician, a Celta Vigo academy product. Dad is a former Yugoslavian midfielder, so he still could play international football for Serbia in the future.

Anyhow, agree he could be useful for Iraola with his versatility and all, but he'll need to work really hard and show some promise early on if he's ever going to get another contract at Liverpool...

04 Jun 2026 10:45:05
Ed78, he needs to start by being punctual because being late to meetings and all that, is not a good look.

{Ed078's Note - very true

04 Jun 2026 00:37:34
Pretty key comments by Konate tonight. There is no way any coach could have recovered that dressing room. Slot had to be moved on, but I think it is fair to say that our season would have been different without the Jota tragedy.

It's not an excuse, just the painful reality of what happened, and how it blew apart the team.

04 Jun 2026 05:47:38
Maybe. But put aside the football for a moment, an effective leader rallies a group around a shared vision and a pathway. They set the standards and find ways to include everyone - no matter their role - even more so in times of crisis.

The death of the Jotas and the recruitment gambles definitely put Slot in a hole last summer, but, judged purely by his leadership qualities, he failed pretty miserably. He is not a bad guy, but his footballing vision was flawed. He clearly had trouble plotting a pathway tactically for the players, and reducing intensity - for whatever supposed sports science reason - inevitably lowered day to day standards.

Perhaps more so, his doubling down on a small group and completely alienating fringe players likely robbed him of the camaraderie, support and accountability that would have helped motivate and carry the squad through tough moments.

I agree the tragedy rocked the team, but disagree that nobody else could have recovered it. He was dealt a terrible hand and handled it very professionally at the time, but he also showed he was unable to adapt when things didn't work and ultimately couldn't be the kind of leader we need.

04 Jun 2026 06:23:15
It hurt to read Konate's comments. On a human side, especially for him, I can understand why he's had such a poor season. Maybe somewhere different is what he needs, as Liverpool has too many reminders. YNWA.

04 Jun 2026 07:35:54
I can understand the issues with grieving over Jota's death, but that's not a single season problem.

Grief isn't a straight line, it's cyclical. So, the players are very likely to have the same issue again this year and next year. So, if grief is the cause of our bad performances, we better be prepared to be poor for a couple of years.



In my professional opinion (I'm a targeted sports psychologist), it definitely contributed to things, but we shouldn't use it as a crutch to mask failings. The problems don't get resolved when you do that.

04 Jun 2026 08:12:48
Everyone with their expert comments in how players should experience grief. Great!

04 Jun 2026 08:12:53
It would have been different under Jurgen!
Maybe better, maybe worse,
but definitely different.

04 Jun 2026 09:05:18
Grief hits people differently. These guys spend so much time together, it's going to not be a short term thing. My wife lost her dad 5 years ago, he was only 49. She can go months with being fine, and then on certain days it'll hit her like a train.

Little moments or things that happen flick a switch in her head as she thinks about him and it just floods back.

People are different, and nobody should be commenting on how people should deal with it.

04 Jun 2026 09:12:37
Each player and member of staff will deal with grief differently. In Konate's case, he's admitted he struggled and then, immediately after Jota's passing, he got the news that his dad was seriously ill. It's a lot for any man, never mind a man in his mid 20s in a foreign country.

I feel for him, and thank him for the good times.

04 Jun 2026 09:03:07
Where's VV with his belief that Konate was a narcissistic psychopath and should have shaped up or shipped out?

04 Jun 2026 09:36:50
One of the only pure moments of catharsis and beauty in our terrible season was Ibou scoring the last goal in his first game back from compassionate leave. That celebration with the players huddling around him and all of us rooting for him crystallized what it means to support this club, I think. I lost my own father last year and that amplified the power of that moment several times over for me. I hope his comments last night give pause to folks who have treated his dip in performances like some sort of moral failing over the last year.

It's fine to say that he hasn't been as good as he was, and it didn't help that we had no cover at center half so Slot couldn't take him out the firing line, but some of the stuff directed towards him on here has been quite cruel, and read even worse in hindsight given the circumstances he had to reckon with.



He didn't have the best of seasons this year, but the suggestion that he was a net negative and liability in the team was carried by Virgil for years and got an inflated opinion for himself touting his services to Madrid is one I cannot agree with at all. I think he was on the overall balance of things a very good player who did his fair share getting us another title, made me laugh with his interactions with team mates and interviews off the pitch, and whom I have fond memories of now that he's gone.

04 Jun 2026 10:01:46
I think Jota's death has been used as an excuse this season by players n some fans. We have all lost ppl a lot closer than a team mate, no matter how much he was liked. Does that mean the team can't run, fight, pass for a whole season? To me, we missed Jota in the team, he always scored goals.

In fact, out of everyone in the team, if we had a one on one we'd want Jota to be that man. It was incredibly sad what happened to one of our more likeable players, but we can't put this dire season at the root problem for this season woes. That just my opinion.

04 Jun 2026 10:53:04
Strom, I agree with your post and have said it before. The tragedy that befell Jota is not an excuse for the absolute horrendous behaviour of the team, led by the manager and all his flaws that were laid out for all to see.

If anything, as a leader, Slot handled the aftermath very well, but he should have made sure that the standards of performances and accountability of himself, his players to themselves and Jota's memory should have been paramount. He could have motivated them to play and give everything the same way Jota would have were he still with them.



Sadly, Slot is not a leader, has no motivational skills, people nor man-management skills at all and showed now and again the propensity to lie, deflect, distort, and gaslight us with arrogance, hubris and stubbornness.

Did Jota cause him to be all of these things? Again, let's stop with Jota's passing as an excuse for such a dire season. It is really angering me, right now.

04 Jun 2026 11:16:36
How did this become a huge debate about Jota's death as an excuse and Slot's weakness as a leader again? The original post was about Konate's comments last night about dealing with grief, depression and anxiety about his dad's health. Not sure what you have to be angry about when it comes to that, Oli, nobody is making excuses (monstersouness explicitly said 'it is not an excuse' in his original post), you're just getting yourself worked up with your fixation about what a bad job Slot was doing, even after he has gone.



If every mention, even by the players (Robbo last week and Konate yesterday), of Jota's death and how much it affected them leads us all to some paranoia spiral about people using it as an excuse again, I don't really know what to say.

04 Jun 2026 11:18:58
I agree with Strom, people lose work colleagues who they see 5 or more days a week and may have worked with them for years.
So, I agree, the players, in my opinion, have lent on this.

04 Jun 2026 11:26:03
Great post that, Welshxavi.

04 Jun 2026 11:32:42
PB, The original comment was it blew the team apart n no coach could recover the dressing room. That's excuses to me n there is no paranoia spiral just because ppl don't agree with you.

04 Jun 2026 17:37:13
Stroms, Patrick articulated it better than I did. I was clumsily pointing out that the tragedy wrecked the dressing room, we lost momentum and belief as a result, and Slot didn't have the tools to recover the situation.

As I said, it's not an excuse - just context for the ghastly season the club endured.

03 Jun 2026 23:30:39.
Big decisions over some of the youth in the squad this summer. Maybe time to move some on with future buy-back clauses inserted.
Beck
McConnell
Koumas
Stephenson
Bajcetic
Davies
Danns
Ramsay
Scanlon
Gordon.

04 Jun 2026 00:02:51
The only one I'd keep would be Danns.

04 Jun 2026 00:38:47
Danns won't make it at Liverpool.
The only one I'd keep is McConnell as a squad player, the rest can go.

04 Jun 2026 01:26:37
McConnell won't make it at Liverpool.
The only one I'd keep is Danns as a squad player, the rest can go.

04 Jun 2026 01:56:47
I have an uneasy feeling that injuries mean Danns won't hit the necessary heights.
McConnell is hard working, and looks like he might be good enough to be a squad player.
Badger and Koumas maybe - at least either try them in pres-season and then make a decision or loan out.

04 Jun 2026 02:21:31
Hopefully they all go well.
I'd like to see Beck, McConnell, Koumas, Stephenson, and Danns push through.

04 Jun 2026 06:26:04
I can remember when Danns made his first start and it wasn't good, and most on here said he wasn't anywhere near starting a game. Since then he's had major injuries, it seems to be the baj syndrome. People remember the sub appearances as good, but forget the not so good.

04 Jun 2026 06:29:37
So I don't think. Danns makes it, possibly a loan, but I think Wright will surprise a few.

04 Jun 2026 06:37:56
Why keep any?

04 Jun 2026 06:56:12
I think Bolton are after Stevenson. Would be a good move for him.

04 Jun 2026 06:56:45
Bajcetic, under a Spanish manager playing high intensity footy, might surprise us if he can stay injury free.

04 Jun 2026 07:40:30
I like McConnell, very controlled and tidy player.

04 Jun 2026 10:54:50
Indeed, Bill. I was gutted when Slot pushed McConnell out. He was great under Klopp as well, so I hope he gets a chance.

03 Jun 2026 21:14:44.
I see Darwin Nunez has mutually terminated his contract at Al Hilal. Free agent this summer - would you take him back and could Iraola get a tune out of him where Klopp couldn't?

04 Jun 2026 00:39:39
No way.

04 Jun 2026 00:52:05
Why are people obsessed about Nunez coming back? Were you all desperate for Ngog to come back a decade ago as well?

04 Jun 2026 02:15:18
I still believe Ngog will make it, Babbity. Are you telling me he won't?

04 Jun 2026 04:08:20
Why do some LFC supporters always want to go back and not forward?

04 Jun 2026 06:10:35
As free transfer, hell yes.

04 Jun 2026 06:30:07
Are his wages free too?

It's a "no" from me.

04 Jun 2026 06:33:13
Ah, another player who left and people want back, maybe we should not sell anyone so we don't pine to get them back.

04 Jun 2026 06:37:26
Time's a healer, ey folks? He was the most frustrating player I can remember at Liverpool. The ingredients were all there but he is nowhere near prem level IMO.

The amount of chances he missed, and the amount he was caught offside.

It's a hard pass for me.

04 Jun 2026 06:57:49
Playing football is a lot like making love to a beautiful woman.... Inches make all of the difference.

The season before his last, I think Nunez became the record holder for hitting the woodwork in a season. If those strikes had been a couple of inches to the left, right or whatever, we would all be hailing him as a deadly striker.

04 Jun 2026 07:10:51
F*** no.

04 Jun 2026 07:40:37
Just to hijack the thread a little, my mate is a Ross County fan, and he claims David Ngog is the worst player he's ever seen play for them. That's Ross County who are now in the Scottish 3rd Division.

How is it possible for someone to regress so badly over the course of a career?

04 Jun 2026 09:04:12
Nunez = no way. He was bad enough the first time round.

04 Jun 2026 09:49:03
He is going to Spain or Italy even if we want him, which we don't. 🤟

04 Jun 2026 10:16:29
I'd give him a 6 month trial to cover the Ekitike injury. I still think that he could be a monster in the right setup.

04 Jun 2026 10:56:18
The more pressing question that needs to be asked is: Why would Darwin even come back here with all the abuse he endured when he was here?

03 Jun 2026 20:56:19
Best signing since 1990, please? Hyppia was pretty great, but out of Ali, Robbo, Hendo, Mo, Virgil etc?

For me, Ali and Virgil stopped us being soft in defence, but Henderson was the unstoppable force. Like Keegan, he had his limits, but he broke them - and made damn sure every player did the same.

03 Jun 2026 21:13:08
Surely has to be Salah. I remember the outcry when we paid £35m for a "Chelsea reject". I believe my own words were to the tune of 'he's a good player but his touch is so heavy that he's too reliant on his pace'.

Even after his first season, he was called a one season wonder.

Our Mo has been shovelling humble pie down anybody and everybody's throats for 8 years.

03 Jun 2026 21:18:38
I can't look past Andy Robertson, me Monster. £8m from Hull City 😂. When you factor everything in, I don't think that can be beaten.

03 Jun 2026 21:20:54
It'd be Torres for me, I was only a kid at school and couldn't believe a top player with his choice of clubs was coming to us. Those first few seasons he was untouchable.

03 Jun 2026 21:34:32
I'd have loved Torres in a Klopp team.

03 Jun 2026 21:38:09
That's a really hard one.
For taking the team to the next level - VVD/Ali.
Leadership and drive - Henderson.
Monster numbers - Salah obviously.
Undoubted quality - Suarez (I know what people say about his person and that's correct, but as a footballer he's up there with the best ever to wear the shirt).

Best overall signing though? For me it has to be Milner.

Free transfer, leadership, drive, leadership, professionalism, consistent quality output in multiple positions, never complained, always worked hard, trained hard, gave everything every game. I've never been so underwhelmed by a signing announcement to then be proven so utterly wrong. I miss him in the team more than most other players I've watched over the years.

03 Jun 2026 21:40:28
Out of that list? Andy Robbo, hands down. For that fee to the outside world, he was never supposed to turn out the way he did. No freaking way.

Credit to him, Klopp and the fans, for the career he had. Awesome stuff.

03 Jun 2026 21:53:47
Gary Mac!

03 Jun 2026 21:56:28
Totally forgot about Suarez, and also Coutinho. Suarez was some signing from a Dutch team. Possibly the most force of nature player I have seen at Anfield. But a total you know what.

It's a tie between Robbo and Hendo for me. Just because they are both such likeable people. Mo and Virgil a close second.

03 Jun 2026 22:02:46
Bobby Firmino

The glue to all the magic.

03 Jun 2026 22:11:33
In terms of pure value, i.e., the outlay (adjusted for the time period) vs. the length and quality of service, it has to be Hyypia or Robbo.

I'd put Salah 3rd.

03 Jun 2026 22:16:18
Pound for pound, The Egyptian King, Mohamed Salah.

Robbo probably next.

03 Jun 2026 22:32:55
I'm with MK, for me it's Salah. He's one of the greatest and deserves to be in the discussion with Rush, Dalglish, Keegan, Barnes, etc as the greats.

03 Jun 2026 22:45:13
Suarez was a force of nature. Nearly dragged us to a title... most exciting player we'd signed in 20 years... but then we signed Salah. Gotta be Salah.

03 Jun 2026 22:54:05
Was Gary Mac a free signing? If so, it's hard to separate him from Matip and Milner. Mac possibly gets my vote from that trio. Matip a close second. Milner a great servant, but did not have a similar defining impact.

03 Jun 2026 23:00:48
Bobby Firmino.

03 Jun 2026 23:16:54
Unpopular opinion: As good as he was, Gary Mac was only here for 2 seasons and the 2nd season he only started 18 games.

Being brutally honest about it, I think Matip & Milner did more for the club, considering how much longer they were here for.

03 Jun 2026 23:23:17
Origi my favourite just for all the moments he gave us. The funniest last min winner against Everton I'll ever see, two goals against Barca in a semi final and scoring the killer goal to win us the Champions League.

In terms of scoring important goals in the big games that matter, don't get a better CV than that. Not bad for 10million.

03 Jun 2026 23:38:26
Torres for me... We were at the point when of all the big signings went to other teams, when we got him he was brilliant for us, gutted when he left us esp to Chelsea.... plus he had a great song, Liverpool's number 9.

03 Jun 2026 23:55:42
Interesting that no one has Alonso as a suggestion - for all the love of him as a potential manager.

Truth be told, under Rafa he never flourished under us. A beautiful player, but was better after he left. Rafa had a midfield of Alonso, Mascherano and Stevie G, with Torres upfront.

I think we underachieved under Rafa.

04 Jun 2026 00:04:37
Salah number 1 and Robbo 2 for what they bought to the team, considering price. Financially, Coutinho is hard to top. Was, I think, £8m, quality on the pitch and sold for insane profit.

04 Jun 2026 01:59:09
I have issues with him, but Gerard should be in the conversation as best signing since 1990.

{Ed078's Note - signing?

04 Jun 2026 02:23:10
So many factors, but I'll lump in for Coutinho.

Unheralded signing, who grew into a huge player for us, but then ultimately became the key piece that kicked off our trophy-laden run with his departure.

:)

{Ed078's Note - I think as a complete surprise at how good he was, though a bit of a scum bag, hard to go past Suarez. I remember Gerrard being interviewed and saying how shocked he was at a couple of training sessions that they'd managed to get him.

04 Jun 2026 05:13:51
Mane for me.
He was the first Klopp signing that started the transformation.
Salah had better numbers, but Sadio was unplayable.

04 Jun 2026 06:24:54
Milner for me - big names win big games - hardworking, no-nonsense and adaptable squad members win titles.

04 Jun 2026 06:36:43
Hendo for me. Bodgers wanted him out and he stayed and became a fantastic captain, brilliant drive and work rate, and dragged players through games, if only we had a captain like that now.

04 Jun 2026 06:39:38
Milner was the best Bosman.
Coutinho was the best "sale". 😁
Klopp didn't win big titles until he signed Alisson and Virgil.
Suarez caused too many problems for us.

I can't look past Salah. For excitement, sometimes wonder, he was unparalleled. He did it season after season and was almost unplayable. I'm giving my vote to Salah. 2nd place Salad and Sarah come third. 😁

04 Jun 2026 06:39:45
Mane for me, as he was the first major Klopp signing and the first tie we (in my lifetime) ever had a proper electric winger. I think this signing set the blueprint for print for what was to come. I also loved Mane as a player, terrific finisher, tenacious, fast and strong. He would bully defenders and beat them 1-1 with ease.

04 Jun 2026 07:21:02
Virgil for me. Key signing in Klopp eta imo, without him u win nothing. What Cantona done for Utd, Vvd done for us, albeit at opposite ends of pitch.

04 Jun 2026 08:34:25
Looking from a slightly different angle, I might suggest Coutinho, signed for £8.5m, and leads to Alisson and Van Dijk.

04 Jun 2026 09:06:12
Mo Salah. Exceptional. No one else comes close.

04 Jun 2026 09:27:34
Salah all the way for me. Followed by Firmino. And then Vvd (people have forgotten what an immediate impact he made and has continued to make).

04 Jun 2026 10:58:41
The fact that there are so many players to choose from just shows, regardless of what one thinks about our recruitment habits, how many absolutely outstanding players we were able to sign that provided really great value to our club.

03 Jun 2026
New image uploaded to the
Liverpool Player Sightings page entitled, Not the first person I expected to bump into at a cybersecurity conference I went to yesterday!

Click picture for larger image

03 Jun 2026 20:49:47
Heskey?

03 Jun 2026 20:58:50
He did shut down a few defences back in the day, alright.

03 Jun 2026 20:59:00
Depends which one you are, OP.

The one on the right could be Jay Spearing?

😉😂

03 Jun 2026 21:38:21
Or Spike Hulshoff, I always think he's the double of Spearing.

03 Jun 2026 21:58:16
Or Mane on the left if he has been eating a huge amount of pies. And grown a bit.

03 Jun 2026 22:29:39
I can't believe you think I look like Jay Spearing! Though I do see it. 🤣

Yeah, it's Heskey.

03 Jun 2026 22:50:05
Actually, Spearing was on our roster a couple of years ago.

So maybe Jay Spearing's Dad!

😂

03 Jun 2026 23:11:13
So, it's Mane on the left? After eating Heskey?

04 Jun 2026 06:41:00
I didn't recognise Heskey in account that he's still standing. For a big lad he used to fall over a lot.

04 Jun 2026 06:41:24
It is clearly Heskey. He looks nothing like Mane. It is like saying the one on the right looks like Gerrard. 😅

04 Jun 2026 12:50:57
Zeddicus, I'll have you know that I'm old enough to be Jay Spearing's grandad!

03 Jun 2026 18:57:42
I'm interested in which player most would go for.
I'm concerned Barcolla will be too lightweight for the Premier League. I honestly don't understand why he's rated so high.

On Dionandi he looks more equipped, physically stronger.

I would prefer a prem proven guy as I see it as an important to have that experience.

Is Barcolla expensive cos he's from PSG?

03 Jun 2026 19:33:12
No one really knows the fee for Barcola, but I'd presume it to be £70m. He can play across the front three, is young, a French international, and his goals and assists since being at PSG are good.

Personally, for the same price I'd go for Rayan, although we would have to be quick as Bournemouth want him to sign a new deal with a £120m release clause in 2027.

03 Jun 2026 19:45:13
Henry was considered a lightweight risk for Arsenal at the time. Had underperformed at overseas club previously. Did ok at Arsenal, I think?

Also, Salah was not a world beater at Chelsea, and ended up at Roma - where he did ok.



Some of these lauded youngsters only take off at our club. The energy of the fans can make them explode, but we do need that matchday vibe to return.

03 Jun 2026 19:45:46
Yeah Rayan for me too.

03 Jun 2026 20:12:33
Barcola is class. Last season he put up similar numbers to what Olise has this season, and nobody would hesitate to go for Olise. Even though Olise actually is proven to struggle in the Prem with the intensity, suffering recurring muscle injuries.



If Barcola is an option, we simply have to go for him. If he chooses to go somewhere else, so be it. But it would be negligent to not even try, in my opinion.

03 Jun 2026 20:29:39
I've only seen Barcola a few times and nah, not for me.

03 Jun 2026 20:49:04
Who has the data on Barcola's finishing? I do not think of clinical finishing the times I have seen him play (and just not the final).

03 Jun 2026 20:51:46
I'm not that way inclined chrisymate, but I expect with his hair making him look like a young Jamie Redknapp, Alex Scott would win that vote.

03 Jun 2026 21:02:11
Mk scouser, I really enjoy reading your posts and analysis of our games. In fact, we see the game in quite a similar way. However, saying that we must sign Barcola. Unless I didn't spot the dark humour you are famous for, I seriously disagree with you on Barcola. I've posted my thoughts on him before.

He's the worst, talentless, waste of time player. He can't tackle, pass, shoot, head, track back or forward, tackles himself, and has a terrible goal per chance conversion rate. I called him the French Gakpo. Actually, he's David Ngog Mark 2 with a mix of Joe Cole. Avoid this donkey at all costs.

{Ed025's Note - i take it you are not his press officer then KK..

03 Jun 2026 21:20:30
Is there no interest in Jarrod Bowen anymore? I think he would be a very shrewd addition, prem proven and would be much more cost effective, since Diamonde or Barcola would cost £70m+ each, so one of them plus Bowen would probably be more sensible. We need some experience in this team. I'd go as far as to say we might need 3 forwards coming in with Gakpo, Chiesa leaving alongside Salah. But, if we are to keep Elliot, I guess that can make up for going for 2 top forwards instead of 3.

Isak, Ekitike and Rio are the only ones I'd keep if I'm Iraola. Gakpo would generate a decent fee and I don't rate him as anything more than a decent rotation/squad player, I'm not sure what anyone sees in him being a starter. If he's wanting to leave, I'll happily take the money for him because he's not a starter, not in a million years. Chiesa just needs a fresh start, him alongside Endo were completely misused by Slot so I just think it's best for them to finish their careers elsewhere.

03 Jun 2026 21:48:22
King Kev, I'm not saying we must sign him, just that it would be negligent to not even at least have a conversation with him and his agent.

Last year he got 21 goals and 21 assists. However, Kvaratskhelia signed for PSG in January 2025 and that was the beginning of Barcola's drop off. Barcola is at his best on the LW and he found himself shunted over to RW where he is less effective. This year he found himself dropping gradually behind Doue at RW as well.

The Barcola who started the 24/25 season on the LW is an elite player. Unfortunately for him Kvaratskhelia is probably the best player of this new generation and he happens to play in Barcola's preferred position.

He was still putting up decent numbers until Doue pushed him out the team; another absolutely fantastic talent by the way.

Barcola would be a mega upgrade on Gakpo on the LW and could 'replace' Salah as our star man through which we can channel our attacks. I think your assessment is not just harsh, but totally wrong. However, it's a subjective matter to judge footballers, so you are well entitled to disagree with me on this topic, mate. If Barcola ends up at Arsenal, I hope you are right about him and I am wrong!

03 Jun 2026 23:00:13
Nice post MK.

04 Jun 2026 06:48:58
25/26 season league 29 starts -11 goals, no ass.
24/25 season 34 starts 14 goals -10 assists.

04 Jun 2026 06:50:17
Barcola stats, forget to header the stats.

04 Jun 2026 09:00:27
Fat wallet, those are incorrect stats.

In 24/25 he started 27 Ligue 1 games.
In 25/26 he started 21 Ligue 1 games.

More important is the minutes in all competitions, though. He played about 3900 minutes in 24/25. In 25/26 he only played about 2900 minutes. A near 25% drop in game time.
Also, in 24/25 he made 44 appearances at LW as per Transfermarkt, whereas in 25/26 he only made 30 appearances at LW.

So close to a 33% drop in appearances in his preferred position.

What you have posted is not Ligue 1 starts; it is Ligue 1 appearances. An appearance is a huge difference to a start and is also totally misguiding in terms of the number of minutes he lost in all competitions, especially in his preferred position.

03 Jun 2026 18:00:07
Would Vlahovic on a free be worth the punt in wages?

03 Jun 2026 18:40:28
In a word, no pal failed to do anything significant in a much weaker league.

03 Jun 2026 18:55:13
I honestly think we have the resources we need in the striker position, as long as Iraola plays with a lone striker. At least enough cover until Ekitike comes back.

Isak as No 1 choice.

Gakpo, Wirtz and Chiesa have all played up front for us, or could.

Will Wright and Lewis Koumas, from our less established players, could both provide further depth and cover.



Not all of the cover players need to be at the same level as the 1st choice, and I think the initial 3 players I have suggested would certainly negate a need to bring in someone unfamiliar with the league and/or team for 6ms on probably quite high (additional) wages.

03 Jun 2026 19:00:13
Zeddicus, do you watch Redmen TV? They're doing a Director of Football challenge, which is nothing but a bit of fun. The latest guy, Ste, would strongly disagree with you. :)

03 Jun 2026 19:15:39
Imagine Manchester United away, Isak is injured and Chiesa, Wright or Koumas are starting up front. Koumas couldn't even get in the Hull City team, and don't get me started on Chiesa.

03 Jun 2026 19:28:05
Dann getting and staying fit would be a bonus.

03 Jun 2026 19:52:45
No, we can't get any more Slow players in my opinion. We're maxed out on Sloths, Slugs and Snails.

03 Jun 2026 20:09:06
What about Alexis MacCaterpillar, LFC8?

03 Jun 2026 20:33:08
😂 I like that Rigsby

He links up well with Ryan Grandad'berch in midfield.

03 Jun 2026 21:33:34
Until we get a proper coach/man manager, we won't improve. Hopefully the incoming manager has this and is given time to implement his methods.

03 Jun 2026 21:42:11
Totally forgot about him, as in Vlahovic.

03 Jun 2026 23:22:09
OliRed, he only appeared on my radar when I saw he's leaving on a free.

03 Jun 2026 23:43:14
The way I see it, we cannot go into the new season with only Isak as the fit #9. Potentially, Gakpo becomes the hybrid who can play across the front line, but that would depend on the rise of Rio and whoever else we buy for the left.

I would actually be ok with that scenario if we do manage to bring in 2 wingers.

04 Jun 2026 02:49:01
Since we're talking about wingers and Juve, I guess it's time to put Yildiz to Liverpool energy into the universe. They will never sell him, but a man can dream, a front 3 of Yildiz, Isak, Diomande with Rio and Gakpo getting rotated through when needed is tissue worthy.

03 Jun 2026 16:38:57
I think / hope Harvey Elliott and Curtis Jones will be given a LFC lifeline by Iraola.

At last summer’s Under-21 Euros, Harvey got player of the tournament playing alongside Alex Scott.

03 Jun 2026 18:35:29
The tournament where you don't have to be under 21. Jones is 25, for goodness sake. He's not improving.

03 Jun 2026 19:02:12
@WD40, No one improved or played well last season, mate! Curtis Jones is unlikely to improve, filling in at right back! Look what Iraola did with Marcus Tavernier etc! It's virtually impossible to have a match-day squad full of expensive superstars, home-grown status is valuable and gives you leeway elsewhere when building a squad.

03 Jun 2026 19:30:21
For me, Jones was better than McCallister and Gravenberch this season and should have played more.

{Ed025's Note - yeah, but you thought Slot was the second coming FM.. :)

03 Jun 2026 20:52:36
Ed025 with a screamer from 30 yards out! 🤣

{Ed025's Note - if someone leaves the door open Chewy...it would be rude not to walk right through it mate.. :)

03 Jun 2026 21:31:47
So did most of us in his first season, Ed025

{Ed025's Note - my dad once told me Zed...never trust a bald man with a dutch accent...and how right he was.. :)

03 Jun 2026 21:43:19
Oh Ed25, I see what you did there, you sly dog.

By all means, don't stop now. Keep them receipts coming.

{Ed025's Note - i cant help myself at times Oli.. :)

03 Jun 2026 23:44:28
25 - That's a shame mate, I thought you actually read and interpreted what people were writing. FM, like me, never made the case Slot was the second coming
We just didn't throw out toys out the cot like sooky bubbas and call him all sorts of really mature names.

04 Jun 2026 05:04:49
FIW, and everyone clapped!