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09 Apr 2025 20:59:15
Apparently something ain't right behind the scenes at Anfield.
Since the whole Trent - Real craziness during the international break, there has been a rumour floating about over a falling out. I have no idea who the other person or persons are involved. There is also a rumour of someone having a "word" with him outside of the club similar to what was supposed to have stopped Gerrard moving to Chelski.
Now I ain't saying Trent is staying but I believe there is more twists and turns to go with this one.
1.) 09 Apr 2025 21:50:29
How much of the "word" that was had with Gerrard in 2005 was something that actually happened, and how much is the sort of nonsense that's regularly made up around the city though? Particularly when it comes to local players of both clubs.
2.) 09 Apr 2025 22:02:22
TBF, there is bound to be a bit of angst associated with a prize asset refusing a contract and walking away without a transfer fee, couldn’t be otherwise. The root cause would not be the behaviour of either player or club since the international break, it is the negligence of the club in not tying TAA down to a long term contract 2 years ago. No one can blame him for going to RM, a lot of blame can be attributed to the bone headed performance of those responsible for player contracts.
3.) 09 Apr 2025 22:18:00
D-day, the bone headed performance of the person responsible for contracts appears to have tied down VVD and Mo. I don't blame Trent for going to RM, neither do I blame Julian Ward for not tieing down Trent to a new contract. He'd obviously made his mind up to join RM. In my humble opinion.
4.) 09 Apr 2025 22:19:31
Well said D-day.
5.) 09 Apr 2025 22:20:18
SR,
With Gerrard it was different because his wider family have links to that sort of person. Gerrard was also known for going to the kinda places these people would be. It was more believable with him, than it is with Trent as you don't see him doing the same sort of thing, more about the brand ain't he. Now as for him falling out with a person or persons, I wouldn't be surprised by that.
All the same its a rumour and nothing more.
6.) 09 Apr 2025 22:40:23
Honestly guys, can someone explain how a club “ties a player down 2 years ago”.
Kidnap their pets? Gun to the head? Blackmail?
If a player doesn’t want to sign how do you tie them down to a new contract?
7.) 09 Apr 2025 23:45:28
I sort of don't blame anyone for the Trent situation. That is him leaving on a free. Everyone seems to need to blame someone. But those blaming the club do you honestly believe Trent has not been offered a massive contract on numerous occasions, he's a local lad, has rare qualities that can win you games (granted a lack of some that lose the odd game too) and is still young. And then do we blame trent? Well nobody really blames him for wanting to go to Madrid. He's done it with Liverpool. Madrid is a once in a lifetime chance now too. And if he'd of signed a contract that meant Madrid would have to pay 150 million or so let's be honest they aren't going to do that.
8.) 10 Apr 2025 05:57:35
Rome, though signing hasn’t been confirmed yet, delaying negotiations until after 2/ 3 vitally important players have entered the final year of their contract is nothing other than bone headed (if memory serves me right TAA began in 2023, then stalled for a year when Ward/ others left the club) LFC are weeks away from their best three players walking, for free. You might think Ward/ LFC deserve kudos for getting it done, I think they were damn lucky they did, the cost alone of replacing those three would likely be hundreds of millions, on top of the other signings needed this summer. Of course they will need to be replaced in the coming years, but contract extensions would have allowed more longterm strategic planning for their replacement/ other signings. I can’t be the only one who thinks it was nuts that the club didn’t even begin negotiations until recently with Virg/ Mo.
9.) 10 Apr 2025 06:01:41
Kloppdog, do I honestly believe he hasn’t been offered a massive contract on numerous occasions? Yes, I would point to negotiations with Virg/ Mo not starting until recently as evidence of inertia in the club to negotiating contracts.
10.) 10 Apr 2025 07:52:33
D-day, as a supporter I honestly couldn't care less how long things have taken. I don't think Ward deserves kudos for hopefully getting things sorted, he is, after all, just doing his job. But neither have I been slagging him off. The same goes for Hughes. I will judge him after the summer window closes. It's yours and every other supporter's right to be annoyed, I'm not. I'm too busy looking forward to the next 8 weeks when we hopefully get back on our perch again.
11.) 10 Apr 2025 09:03:52
Simple truth is unless a gangster threatens to kill your family if you leave you can't stop a player leaving. There's literal laws which prevent you from controlling where they work.
12.) 10 Apr 2025 10:01:39
@D-day how do you know when the club attempted to start negotiations? How do you know that the club didn’t try to talk to the players two or even three years ago? You have no idea (like the rest of us) of what has gone on over the past 24 months. It’s your opinion that some sort of worst case scenario has played out and you are looking to blame the club for something that probably hasn’t happened. The club can’t make players either sign a new contract or even negotiate a new contract if they don’t want to and it’s also fair to say that all three players know their worth both to the club and in the market place. There is a possibility that by waiting to negotiate they might just have bargained their way to a better deal. In business terms they may have negotiated very well.
13.) 10 Apr 2025 11:07:31
Ron Keague . that an easy one to answer . if he doesn't sign . u sell him. if he digs his heels in, you never ever play him. clubs have got to take control back from these greedy pizz takers.
14.) 10 Apr 2025 11:11:41
If the 2 key ones stay it’s a win, win. We don’t have close to replacements thus far for them and, despite age, they are world class! Trent has a world class attribute we know, but his whole game is far from world class and I don’t believe it will become that with Madrid. He’s a good lad he’s been a decent servant and I wish him well whilst I hopefully can delight at the retention I personally wanted. Both of these guys are also team first and after all it’s a team game.
15.) 10 Apr 2025 11:16:18
People have to understand players hold all the cards and
their agents advise them on everything. The club can offer the player mega contracts but if their heads are turned then the club can only leave their offer on the table all the convincing in the world will do no good . Real Madrid have this down to a fine art they get the top players by telling them to run their contracts down it seems every season they get a new player on this out of contract scam that's why they need investigating as a club they sold their training ground to the local council who then gave it back to them for free and people have a go at city they have been at it for years backed by the king of Spain?
16.) 10 Apr 2025 12:38:42
Seems like a nice way to treat fellow humans Strom, maybe you could kidnap their first born too.
17.) 10 Apr 2025 17:25:59
D-day,
Some valid points. I do believe he has been offered a contract and "negotiated" it ?. Also on the other 2, it has never been about the money per se with them but the length of contract. We have a policy for players over 30 and that needed to be broken for them to get the deal they want.
18.) 10 Apr 2025 21:20:29
Stromsgodset:
So you “sell the player”.
Against his will? You’re back to the initial problem, but now you also have to force another club to buy an unhappy player at a premium price.
Remember Michael Owen? £8m for him from Real Madrid.
You just have to accept it, players decide their own futures and the clubs have to suck it up.
19.) 10 Apr 2025 21:58:03
D-day, coming close to an agreement doesn't mean negotiations have just started. Yes we know virg and mo came out and said they haven't spoke to anyone at the start of the year. Their agents will have though. But also as said by someone above those two are very different to trent. A lot of fans would have been happy to take Saudis money for Salah last season. Now he's had another good year he's untouchable again. Same with Virg. They are at an age where it's probably okay for a club to question giving them a massive contract. They are now paying solely for their performances to stay at the very top level for a few more years, the contract won't protect market value, their next move if they move on will be for free. Another reason trent will likely have been offered that big contract.
20.) 10 Apr 2025 23:18:55
The biggest thing in the timing of these contracts surely had to be Klopp announcing he was leaving last summer. They must of been having conversations about extending before his announcement, all the upheaval and not knowing how it was going to play out must of contributed to the situation we are in. It certainly would if I was one of the 3. If trent goes fair play to him he's won everything, can you really knock him. I know where I'd rather spend my days off. But the grass isn't always greener plenty of careers eaten up at the bernabue.
19 Oct 2024 12:53:55
I see Paul Joyce has said those Marca headlines are incorrect.
Trent ain't leaving ?.
1.) 19 Oct 2024 12:58:01
There is a scenario where Madrid sign Frimpong and Trent stays at Anfield if rumours are to be believed.
2.) 19 Oct 2024 15:15:03
Sounds ideal to me that Stuie.
3.) 19 Oct 2024 19:05:21
Is there a scenario where Liverpool might be talking to Trent’s age net or even Trent himself do we think?
4.) 19 Oct 2024 19:45:16
Well my mate who lives near Mike Alexander still maintains Trent is not going anywhere.
5.) 19 Oct 2024 19:57:23
That's recent though Ron. Mike would have said for the past year that Trent wanted to go.
6.) 19 Oct 2024 20:10:36
Apparently not Kenco.
7.) 20 Oct 2024 08:02:19
Whose Mike alexander?
8.) 20 Oct 2024 09:48:11
All 3 amigos are staying and we're winning the league.
9.) 20 Oct 2024 13:45:08
There are infinite scenarios. We could let Trent go to Madrid for free then pay £100m to get him back.
Pogba United anyone? ?.
10.) 20 Oct 2024 15:11:11
Trent’s dad - Mike Alexander.
11.) 20 Oct 2024 19:31:52
That's good news then ron. Don't think he will leave myself.
12.) 20 Oct 2024 21:56:13
@LiverpoolFC8 aren’t there just the two scenarios? He goes or he stays. From a fan’s perspective he is either here next season or he isn’t.
13.) 21 Oct 2024 09:06:44
@WDW - No there are only 2 outcomes but there are infinite scenarios.
14.) 21 Oct 2024 19:41:51
9 Oct 2024 12:58:01
There is a scenario where Madrid sign Frimpong and Trent stays at Anfield if rumours are to be believed.
stuie_boy
I hope that's exactly what happens. But Frimpong is under contract until 2028, according to what I've read, unlike Trent.
A friend of mine who works with Trent's dad saw him on Sunday. He usually tells him the true state of play regarding TAA. Waiting to hear if he has anything to report.
15.) 22 Oct 2024 07:12:52
So Trent staying is not a scenario then @Shipley?
16.) 22 Oct 2024 09:07:59
WDW: it is one scenario but not one of two, as you had posted earlier.
For example, Trent could decide to go and play for Man City when his contract expires. Or PSG. Or take the Saudi petro-dollar. Unlikely, I know but all scenarios.
Hence the earlier posters “outcome” correction.
17.) 23 Oct 2024 21:05:20
@StE, I take your point but given you / we don’t know the situation the multiple scenarios are just speculation. As it stands from the point of view of fans of the club there are only two scenarios - TAA plays at Liverpool next season, or he doesn’t. Just my view of the world.
13 Aug 2024 16:39:24
People need to calm down, you can tell its silly season and the fifa fans are on holidays by all the new random usernames, who sound like a baby who has dropped his rattle because someone rejected us. Boo hoo ?.
Anyway 2 things I've heard.
Zumbimendi wanted to come but rejected us because the club wanted him to pay the buyout clause. He wouldn't do that due to his loyalty to the club. That to me leaves anyone involved in the deal blameless. There is nothing that can be done there and fair play to the lad. Loyalty is rare thing nowadays. With that and the "we won't be looking at alternative" rumour. For me, I don't see any of the other DM's we are being linked with, of that level or of that skill set. So why would we settle for less. This also doesn't mean we won't sign anyone else as other positions who be looked at.
Secondly, both Virgil and Trent will sign contract extensions before the end of the window.
This is just something I have been told and I'm just passing it on.
1.) 13 Aug 2024 16:50:29
When the club hasn't signed a single player for 11 and a half months, I can see why some have kicked off. Anyway, still time to pull a rabbit or two out of Hughes' hat.
2.) 13 Aug 2024 17:10:34
Not signing someone for 11.5 months sounds kinda terrible until you realise that for 8.5 of those months, the transfer window was shut and we couldn't have signed anyone anyway ;)
3.) 13 Aug 2024 17:11:22
I do agree, in the sense, that there’s no point in getting wound up and emotional at transfers, as it doesn’t change anything.
But, equally, I do see some of the points being made as valid. Liverpool haven’t come across great this transfer window. It’s looking like a bit of a disasterclass, It’s all been left very late, and there’s a lot of uncertainty about, especially involving VVD, TAA and even to some degree, Salah. Let alone Diaz, Gomez, Robertson, and Sepp VBD, Doaks, Philips, Bajcetic, Williams and Kelleher etc. We’ve even had interest or bids for Gravenberch, Endo and Nunez didn’t look at all interested the other day, which could be concerning. I can’t remember a time where we had no idea about the futures of so many players going into a season, virtually half the squad.
And in what’s a highly competitive League, it doesn’t take much to fall outside of those Top 4 places. We have previous when acting desperately late in the market, so again, I do get the concern that the club may make rash decisions now. People are unhappy about the Gordon links (I’m actually excited about those), and now names like Rabiot are being thrown about.
Personally I’d be happy with the contract renewals being sorted, and dependant on who leaves, maybe Gordon and a CB coming in. I’d wait for DM and RW until at least January as the names being handed about now would (IMO) be very underwhelming signings, and in some cases ridiculously expensive too.
4.) 13 Aug 2024 17:13:27
Hopefully not a Rabbiot he pulls out!
5.) 13 Aug 2024 17:14:46
I hope they pull a Rabiot out the hat just so I can see the over reaction on here.
6.) 13 Aug 2024 17:09:29
FSGenius. This is a new era, new people at the club in key positions. Last season to me is irrelevant. Granted we have not bought anyone yet, there is still time tho. I also don't lay the blame souly at Hughes feet, if Slot doesn't want to sign anyone. Do you want him to go behind his back as sign someone? That would cause way too many issues haha.
7.) 13 Aug 2024 17:41:42
Thefields - I'm not kicking off; but I can understand why people are. Time will tell, but from the outside owners seem content to fall behind Arsenal; I'd argue LFC should be ambitious to seriously challenge for EPL/ UCL. Let's hope that this external perception isn't really what's going on, and the masterplan comes good.
8.) 13 Aug 2024 17:54:37
I understand that there truly are few available, and not majorly overpriced players that can improve our first 11, and also that waiting for the right ones is better than the CFC scattergun approach.
Is the Palace CB 50m better than SVDB, for example?
If Ederson and Varella are not suitable because of personal preferences/ price/ availability, what can we do but wait and use what we have.
Players like Jones, Grav and Nyoni have a great opportunity, and this is how stars can be born .
9.) 13 Aug 2024 17:57:47
More chance of pulling a hare out of his hole. jokes aside, i still believe the club are looking at other 6s.
10.) 13 Aug 2024 18:06:31
The fields, " if slot doesn't want to sign anyone " the man literally said last week he expects a few signings. Most people don't expect buying for the sake of it. We want the areas addressed that need addressing. Even our captain vvd is saying we need to strengthening. Letting 3 months go buy to try get business done in the last 3 weeks is not looking very bright at this time. Hopefully it gets rectified in the next 3 weeks .
11.) 13 Aug 2024 18:08:08
I really don't think people need to calm down, our approach in the transfer window has left us in a bottle neck and any transfers now will ne pure panic and whatever we can get and not actually the right players like the manager and recruitment team keep telling us they are waiting for. Not only have all the teams we are in direct completion improved thier squads we have actively lost players we used last season.
I would be surprised if any of the players needing renewals actually signed up as why would they if this is the clubs attitude.
We are in a woefully poor possition and in my opinion have no chance of competi g in any competition this season. I hope I am wrong and i hope the club have been working on some good signings and plan b signings in the background because if not we will not be in Europe next season and it will only become more difficult from there.
If you think we are fine with the squad we have you are in for a shock.
12.) 13 Aug 2024 18:14:02
Hughes has three weeks to prove his worth in my opinion.
You say Trent and Virg will sign contracts by the end of the transfer season. Fine . I look forward to it.
My faith in Hughes is low I won't lie. Certainly not a guy who strikes with speed and precision. I'm not even talking about Zubimendi. That can happen.
We certainly need a six to improve the first 11. So I hoping that was just a little joke to throw others off our targets.
We should in my opinion have Trents contract sorted by now. Let's see.
Rabiot is not what we need. We have players like him.
Didn't like Hughes when he spoke in his first press conference either.
The man has a big three weeks ahead of him. If his ask of Slot is to deliver more than one of our greatest ever managers with a similar squad then I'd sack him on September 1st.
Personal opinion, it strikes me that he is in over his head.
13.) 13 Aug 2024 18:19:53
The problem is SolidState77, spending the season blooding newcomers isn't going to win you games. and Jones has had plenty of time, and whilst decent, isn't going to be a world beater (unless his performances change a lot) .
players like nyoni etc should be out on loan.
14.) 13 Aug 2024 18:21:03
Personally I'd rather Trent and VVD sign new contracts than get in another signing. They are the top priority.
I might be absolutely mad but I honestly don't think we need to buy anyone.
We have so many options in CM right now, many of whom will massively improve with game time and coaching from Slot for his system.
We also have a load of CBs and very good cover for every single position except natural RW cover. Jota is excellent there and if Doak stays, I'm more than happy to see him progress.
It's a marathon not a sprint, missing out on trophies this season may result in 3 the following season if players like Bajcetic, Nyoni, Doak etc get game time and become the stars for the future.
15.) 13 Aug 2024 18:39:28
Skezza, Trent and both signing should be a given and should have happened months ago. The club’s ineptitude leading to you even thinking that would be a successful window shows how badly we have got it wrong.
I just can’t grasp that they cannot sort the contracts while also looking at players and making offers. Wish I could get paid millions to do one thing at a time and not even do that very well.
16.) 13 Aug 2024 19:04:45
I’ll be honest Trent, Vvd and Salah all signing new contracts would please me right now along with Alisson committing for a few more seasons.
Last season whilst Mo might not have been at his blistering best he still out scored and assisted everyone else.
If you look at his stats from the last 3 seasons and don’t put a name or age next to them then we would be vying to sign said player.
17.) 13 Aug 2024 20:00:23
Hughes is way out of his depth. We are acting like Man Utd.
18.) 13 Aug 2024 20:51:26
I think there’s two sides. One is that we waited until August due to a completely new coaching and back room staff and they wanted to fully assess the squad and the gaps. that's fine.
On the other side, the contracts should’ve been sorted ages ago. Trent has to stay that’s a given. The other two I wouldn’t be surprised if they only offered short term deals or let them run down. But if they do that, they should be signing replacements now, so we are ready to go when they leave.
On new signings, a left footed centre back and a DM are such glaring holes. Robertson isn’t what he once was and will only decline, plus Slot plays one attacking and one defensive fullback. He doesn’t really fit in. Virg is in his last few years. Clearly we've been scouting that sort of player as well. And this rubbish that we can’t find a better DM than what we’ve got. Did no one watch last season? We were consistently run through in midfield and 1-0 down 17 times in the league alone.
We always kick our transfer work down the road and since 2020 have been reactive, rather than proactive like the best teams. We’ve won one league title in 34 years and we can’t find anyone to improve the first XI? We don’t need loads and have a great squad, but just a few top class signings would’ve put us bang in the mix.
{Ed001's Note - did you watch last season? We weren't run through in midfield, teams bypassed it and hit the space where the full-backs should have been. That was not the fault of any DM, but down to tactics.}
19.) 13 Aug 2024 20:55:34
Genuine question and based on you saying this more than once in the last few days - how are we ‘acting like Man Utd’? I honestly don’t understand what you mean.
20.) 13 Aug 2024 22:12:03
WDW, I think people just say a whole new bunch of stuff without actually checking with reality confirmation.
21.) 14 Aug 2024 00:50:17
Thought by now people understood that in Spain it is the player or a representative of the player who pays the release clause. The money, of course, comes from the buying club but is paid over to La Liga by the player. Sorry, if this was said already, just responding to the OP.
22.) 14 Aug 2024 01:39:29
I think we owe Real Betis a lesson in how to play footy the next time we play them.
23.) 14 Aug 2024 06:05:10
I’ll be more worried if new people come into important positions within the club management and immediately start signing left right center. They just need abit of time to access wat we already hv.
24.) 14 Aug 2024 07:11:36
Honestly, I have a problem with the Zubimendi explanation.
What kind of agents do these guys have? Are they pre-school kids who play with unicorns and eat candy floss all day?
This is his career, you get one shot at your football career. The idea that he doesn’t want to leave RS because he doesn’t want to pay the release clause is fanciful.
I mean who agreed to the release clause being in there? Surely the agent and Zubimendi agreed to the original contract? Why not leave the release clause out if he had no intention of ever using it.
Release clause is a damage limitation exercise by the club to save face.
Just be honest, he didn’t want to come.
{Ed001's Note - release clauses are required by law in Spain Ron.}
06 Aug 2024 17:33:16
On the supposed "identified no 6" rumours.
Apparently it is more of an Alonso style no 6. No names tho, just it is most likely not to be ones that have been reported since Ormstein said what he did. Priority is shifting Endo and couple of other midfielders first, be it on loan or sold.
Makes sense to me this tbh. Going off what I have seen in pre season, the style of play Slot wants us to play. Appears more in line with that type of player, hence why we only seen Endo for 60 mins. I like this ruthless streak Slot seems to have ?.
1.) 06 Aug 2024 17:50:15
Someone not one person guessed/ named previously in true Eddie style.
Who are the MF going to be then.
New/ Alexis and.
2.) 06 Aug 2024 18:08:36
This won’t be popular with VV but I think it may end up being Koopmeiners.
3.) 06 Aug 2024 18:09:47
What Ornstein said was “It is worth keeping an eye on that situation this week, with Liverpool pursuing a specialist No 6 from outside of the Premier League. ”
So I think that rules out Koopmeiners, Rabiot and Kimmich.
4.) 06 Aug 2024 18:11:39
Whats wrong with Koopmeiners? I think he would be a solid versatile addition. Looks far more polished than Ederson from what I've seen.
5.) 06 Aug 2024 18:23:19
Vango, I can guesss haha.
MacCalister, Jones, Szoboszlai, Elliot, Morton, Bajcetic and the new midfielder.
Endo sold and other youngsters loaned/ sold.
As for the incoming, maybe someone like Tchouameni. He seems like the type of profile we are after (Que Ed1 or 2 telling me it ain't happening ?)
6.) 06 Aug 2024 18:24:53
Koopmeiners isn’t a specialist number 6. He’s a box to box/ attacking number 8, so he’d be another square peg in a round hole. Ederson is more of a specialist than Koopmeiners in that position, given that the key word here is “specialist”.
Besides, I reckon Koopmeiners will end up at Juve. He doesn’t particularly want to leave Italy (is on record as saying his missus wants to stay out there and she’s not at all keen on moving to England) and he’s also rumoured to only want to go to Juve in any case.
7.) 06 Aug 2024 18:29:19
Ederson or Rabiot in 1 report. Ederson, Zubimendi or Berge in another. Not seen anybody mentioning Koopmeiners. Guess we’ll just have to see (if there is even any truth in the rumour in the first place) .
8.) 06 Aug 2024 18:32:09
Or better yet, Ornstein could have just said nothing at all cos that is essentially what he said.
9.) 06 Aug 2024 19:37:22
Ederson or Zubimendi.
10.) 06 Aug 2024 19:44:30
Shipley, it’s United who are interested in Berge, thankfully. Shocking player and thankfully Rabiot has no interest in joining us and it appears we’ve no interest in him.
11.) 06 Aug 2024 18:44:20
Why didn’t Ornstein just say who it is. ??♂️.
12.) 06 Aug 2024 21:07:13
If I could have my pick it would be zubimendi talented plays exactly the role we need him for and is a super nice chap too. Well the last part is what a colleague tells me but I've no reason to think it's a lie.
13.) 06 Aug 2024 21:50:11
Why do people keep inc Morton? There is no chance he will get game time for Liverpool.
14.) 06 Aug 2024 22:51:33
No grav or Toni in the list either.
15.) 06 Aug 2024 22:55:15
Why does everyone seem to be okay with Endo being sold after 1 season. I thought he was quite good last season.
If midfielders are sold to make room, sell one that was less important.
16.) 07 Aug 2024 00:02:51
If we sign a 6 and he does his ACL in his first match (hypothetical as I wouldn’t wish an injury on anybody) we are going to look a bit silly if we’ve sold Endo, if we do, indeed, sell him.
17.) 07 Aug 2024 00:24:30
Because he's making it all up, Longthing. He's no idea what's really happening, and that makes him sound "in the know". It's a safe bet too. The entire football world knows we need a 6.
18.) 07 Aug 2024 01:38:00
Ornstein doesn't know who we're signing until Ed002 tells this site first . then he tweets it.
19.) 07 Aug 2024 16:35:34
John L8, I forgit Grav off the list. I was wondering why I only had 7 minds.
Dbav, don't get mw wrong. I like Endo as a player, he just doesn't suit the style of play Slot wants. Hence why we only he seen hik for 60 mins in pre season.
Mark, he will get game time. We are in 4 competitions and play a game every 3 days between Septemeber and February.
05 Aug 2024 14:04:28
So before the US tour, I mentioned a couple of things I was told. This has not changed. Trent will sign a new contract, that doesn't mean he will be staying long term tho. We won't see any movement on incomings until next week and over the next week you will see movement around outgoings.
I have been told, if Gordon happens. It won't be until toward the end of the window. They want to see what happens from his side and if he agitates for the move.
1.) 06 Aug 2024 02:13:59
I wondered when that would get a mention - TAA signs a new contract with a release clause of £100m plus.
I’d offer Mo a three year deal too, so he has a final pay day and stick in an appropriate release clause if the Saudi’s wish to come calling. I think Mo’s general fitness will last another 3 years (I see he won the pre-season physical tests a La Millie) and I can see him being a regular starter for the foreseeable future. So we can have our cake and eat it, so to speak.
Thefields's banter posts with other poster's replies to Thefields's banter posts
18 Apr 2025 09:45:53
I was having a conversation with a mate about the No 10 role (if you can call it that) in the team.
Szobo is the current holder of that place. He for me is not what we need in there, with the current players jn the squad it should be Macca or Elliot that play there. They are far superiour in the role and drop Szobo back alongside Grav. The problem is Slot prefers to play Szobo or Jones there, this for me is because of other players and they become a cog in the machine. There have been games this season I have been screaming at the TV or at the ground to bring Elliot on as he has that magic to unlock things but no he doesn't come on.
So the question is do we need a Szobo or Jones in there as a cog or do we need Elliot or someone else that's a bit of a maverick?
1.) 18 Apr 2025 10:07:24
Slot doesn’t rate Elliot. He’s going to be moved on. He never really plays.
2.) 18 Apr 2025 10:10:28
Ideally He would like a prime Coutinho to play in there. Who can dribble past players centrally and bang one top corner. The absolute vintage Philippe Coutinho who absolutely ripped some of the best defensive midfielders for fun. Unfortunately neither Szobo nor Jones or even Elliot comes anywhere close to him.
Odegard is a decent shout. But other than him I haven’t seen anyone in the league who can play that role with perfection.
He also likes two at the base. Both comfortable in receiving the ball from keeper / defender under pressure and can turn on with it. That’s why he doesn’t play Endo in there.
A midfield of Fabinho / Gravenberch / Coutinho.
Szobozalai must be an engine but possession football necessarily doesn’t need an engine. Xavi / Iniesta / Busquets.
3.) 18 Apr 2025 10:13:34
Szob has had a very good season, but like others I’m not sure what his best position is, or where he's played for previous clubs or internationally. General view is that Mac should be the 10 with Szob deeper but two top class coaches have now played them the other way around. It’s probably because Szob hasn’t got the discipline to play deep, but is great at pressing further up the field. I don’t think we have the solution in the squad, which is a more physical centre mid. We could then rotate Szob and Mac at 10 depending on opposition.
4.) 18 Apr 2025 10:23:21
Szob presses from the front and all across the field in a way Slot likes in that role and that he won’t get from Macca.
5.) 18 Apr 2025 10:26:04
All I know is that Szob was badly missed when he was out injured.
6.) 18 Apr 2025 10:27:17
Maybe we need to drop our preconceptions of what a number 10 is supposed to do and rather consider instead what slot needs a player in that position to do?
Szoboszlai not being able to affect the game on the ball as much as we want in the 10 position doesn't simply have to do with his own capacity to do so, it also has to do with everybody else in the team and the workload he has to shoulder because of the way the rest of the team presses or not.
Szoboszlai covers a lot of ground jumping into passing lanes and pressing, but he also has to do more sometimes because our press, especially from the front, isn't as cohesive as we would like sometimes.
I also feel like we haven't really worked out how we want that right side to operate sometimes, earlier in the season his interplay with Salah with szoboszlai overlapping or under lapping and salah occupying the half space while szoboszlai made runs into the box or vice versa was fantastic, later in the season sometimes I don't know what Dom is being instructed to do because he runs down a blind alley on the right or passes the ball forward into a space that nobody is in. He does this so often that it has to be an instruction, I'm not exactly sure what they are working on in training though.
I feel like this season we have been given a much clearer idea of the kind of player Dom can be in this system, and he hasn't always given us the performance we know he is capable of, but also I sometimes feel like it might be helpful to examine how he is playing in the context of how the rest of the system is working, especially our off the ball structure and the spaces Dom has to fill in or not, and whether his performance could improve if we fixed tactical issues in the season to come. I'm quite confident that we will see a much more consistent Dom next year when the system is tweaked and the accent can be shifted slightly to being able to showcase his attacking play rather than his defensive play, which as we know is already at a pretty much elite level. His signature move at present is sprinting from one part of the pitch to the other to close somebody down or cover a vacated space, hopefully next year he does those lungbusting runs to get on the end of passes in the box.
7.) 18 Apr 2025 11:14:15
I’d love to see a more creative number 10 in there. Personally I don’t see that as Elliot. I think he’s a good player but I’d love to see a top top class 10.
Slot so far seems to think differently though and is reluctant to use others away from Szob.
Interesting to see what he does in summer for next season or whether he continues with Szob being his man there.
8.) 18 Apr 2025 11:24:30
szoboszlai Certainly does cover a lot of ground during the game, never stops running and pressing. I’d like him to create and score more than he does. I see we are linked with Morgan Rogers…. can’t see us getting him but him and xavi Simon’s type player are more of flair players who possibly create/ score more than Dom.
9.) 18 Apr 2025 11:29:04
Won’t happen but Wirtz of Leverkusen would be perfect fit.
10.) 18 Apr 2025 11:29:46
It's most likely that Szobo gets picked because Salah and Trent need compensating for. There's also an argument that because we don't play with a defensive midfielder, we need his recovery runs.
If we had a more orthodox right back and a defensive midfielder, perhaps someone like Harvey Elliott or another more creative player could be accommodated in the starting line-up.
It will be interesting to see what Slot wants to change in midfield.
11.) 18 Apr 2025 11:36:53
Two of the best "Number 10s" I've seen were Roberto Baggio and Denis Bergkamp. Imagine what a play of their talents would be worth these days. Obviously Maradona was the best in that position but he was pure individual brilliance. As for our team i would like to see Elliot given a go but sadly it doesn't look like it's going to happen .
12.) 18 Apr 2025 12:01:15
I second that @RedJones. But Wirtz would most likely end up at Bayern or Manchester city.
You could also add David Silva in that list @Bigbaz.
13.) 18 Apr 2025 12:26:22
I don’t think Harvey will leave.
14.) 18 Apr 2025 13:20:48
Elliott's problem is his size and his speed. Seriously if he was a few inches taller, 15 pounds heavier and had that little bit more explosiveness he would be nailed on for that position for the next ten years. I think he is an excellent player, great vision and one of the players in our squad who can hit a ball cleanly and with power outside the box. I would love him to stay and for Arne to give him a chance after another preseason to show what he can do.
15.) 18 Apr 2025 13:27:11
Size and weight have very little to do with it. David Silva wasn’t exactly big in any shape or form.
16.) 18 Apr 2025 14:48:52
Jan molby was faster than Elliot, decent player but not Liverpool quality unfortunately.
17.) 18 Apr 2025 18:07:16
Bash szobo getting a bashing this week.
18.) 18 Apr 2025 20:06:24
The other thing to consider is that the players around Szobo are very direct. Szobo would benefit from players linking up around him, creating angles, 1-2s etc. he’s that kind of player.
19.) 18 Apr 2025 20:48:54
Macca is the weak part of our midfield not Szobo. Grab Szobo and a forward thinking midfielder should be the three. I am hoping Real Madrid still want Macca tbh. Get the cash and buy someone good.
01 Jan 2025 17:02:44
In regards to Trent, I think calm heads are needed. I understand the Madrid PR machine is in full effect but the reality is they are just peddling nothing.
No one other than Trent and those close to him know what's going on. So until the club or Trent come out and say he is either staying or going, then I for one ain't worried about the situation and won't be listening to the drivel that is being peddled.
That being said, I have always maintained he stays and I still fully believe that.
1.) 01 Jan 2025 17:40:51
I’ve read a few articles saying we’ve got plenty of headroom on the financial side, but then also read conflicting articles that we’re making losses and effectively have to sell to buy (or lose wages before we commit to new players or new contracts) . Makes it really difficult to know what we can afford to pay the big three.
The reality is likely to be that we can’t compete with RM and others because of their tax and other advantages, so I can’t see Trent staying but hopefully we keep the other two. Diaz is important at the moment and due a contract, and we’re likely to need to give Grav a rise as he’s played so well this season. Tough to balance it all.
2.) 01 Jan 2025 17:58:38
We haven’t signed a player for the first 11 in 3 transfer windows JS. I’m sure there’s money.
3.) 01 Jan 2025 18:23:14
It’s 2 windows surely? We signed Macca, Grav and Szob all 18 months ago. We’ve had last Jan and summer just gone since then.
4.) 01 Jan 2025 18:43:17
Was great business to get those three done in one window. If we could get a couple of new defenders LB and RB, swap out Nunez for an upgrade, maybe Endo upgrade in CM, and tie up Diaz, Konate, Grav, Mo and VVD in this and the next window that’s likely to be as good as we could possibly do and would set us up through until the next TV deal in 2027/ 28.
5.) 01 Jan 2025 19:08:33
Never let the truth get in the way of a good whinge Shaq.
6.) 01 Jan 2025 19:41:28
We also tried to get Lavia and Caicedo for a record amount. Would we have bid that much if there was no money left?
Even if there is nothing left, it will be much cheaper to increase VVD, Salah, Trent and Konate's wages than have to buy new players at their level.
7.) 01 Jan 2025 20:40:40
We signed Cody in Jan 23 as well, so 2023 we spent quite a lot overall. All turned out to be good signings. We do seem to buy in batches and then have a few quiet windows.
8.) 01 Jan 2025 21:33:09
In the words of someone now sadly departed, ‘this is why we don’t talk about finances’.
Being football fans were probably best sticking to the team for the next match, players and the way the team plays.
I hope this isn’t taken as me trying to shut down conversations or opinions in any way, I’m sure there will be a lot of discussion about the alleged amounts that players / signings will be and what their wages will be and it’s sort of fun, at least for a little while, if you don’t take it seriously - especially if the source is ‘hearing bits and pieces’.
9.) 02 Jan 2025 02:10:21
In fairness we are making record gate profits. Never has the club had this many fans coming into the stadium on match day paying these ticket prices.
10.) 02 Jan 2025 12:44:46
@Flash, this is why the late, Great Ed02 always advised to never talk about money/ finace of any type on this forum.
15 Apr 2025 15:28:06
My mates son has been doing some work on Trents Ma's house and she told him he ain't happy and not to believe everything you read ?.
10 Apr 2025 17:25:59
D-day,
Some valid points. I do believe he has been offered a contract and "negotiated" it ?. Also on the other 2, it has never been about the money per se with them but the length of contract. We have a policy for players over 30 and that needed to be broken for them to get the deal they want.
09 Apr 2025 22:20:18
SR,
With Gerrard it was different because his wider family have links to that sort of person. Gerrard was also known for going to the kinda places these people would be. It was more believable with him, than it is with Trent as you don't see him doing the same sort of thing, more about the brand ain't he. Now as for him falling out with a person or persons, I wouldn't be surprised by that.
All the same its a rumour and nothing more.
28 Dec 2024 13:02:32
He definitely looks and acts like one Ed25 hahau.
28 Dec 2024 12:52:03
Spanish newspaper says it so, so it must be gospel.
British journalist (NJ) with links to the club, says his preferred option is to stay at the club. Must be lies.
As for Carra, over 700 appearances and won everything apart from the big one. Yeah some rat behaviour off the field just like Gerrard, who you all lord over. So yeah club legend for me.
{Ed025's Note - cart horse who punched above his weight for me..
18 Apr 2025 09:51:40
I'm sorry but Elliot is better and has a far higher ceilling, plus Cherki only turns up in the big games.
18 Apr 2025 09:50:20
Exactly the type of RB we should be targeting if Trent leaves, which I'm still in the camp of he won't leave. Cheap transfer fee and wages for a rotation option with Bradley as he is the future 1st choice RB imo. We don't need a frimpong, who I think is pants to stop his progress.
01 Jan 2025 16:57:03
Frimpong is a hard pass for me, he is not good enough and especially when we have Trent and Connor at RB.