Liverpool Rumours Member Posts
WYred's Profile
Current Avatar:
WYred's Posts and Other Poster's Replies To WYred's Posts
To WYred's last 5 rumours posts
To WYred's last 5 banter posts
To WYred's last 5 rumour replies
To WYred's last 5 banter replies
WYred's rumours posts with other poster's replies to WYred's rumours posts
31 May 2022 12:43:15
Ed002, just seen a rumour that PSG might be interested in Keita, any legs to it or would his past indiscretions rule out a move anyway?
{Ed002's Note - It seems unlikely to me but their new DoF is working hard to refine their targets.}
1.) 31 May 2022 13:39:27
Is that new DoF Mbappe, Ed002?
2.) 31 May 2022 13:53:07
Please be true. He is ideal for the French league.
3.) 31 May 2022 14:05:43
The new DoF will probably have to run it past Mbappe first lol 😂.
4.) 31 May 2022 14:12:20
Plz be true.
{Ed0666's Note - 2 hopes Bob & no…
21 May 2022 15:39:27
Ed002, sorry if this has been asked already today. It looks like mbappe is staying in Paris, with Haaland at City could this open the door for Salah to get his wish and be back of interest for real?
{Ed002's Note - It is possible but right now it seems unlikely. Real Madrid have other options they have been working on but they have to deal with a balancing act that sees departing wide players and bringing in younger players as they work to keep wages down. They could keep just two of their wingers, add replacements and improve on their striking options and some will argue that might be money better spent.
1.) 21 May 2022 18:01:41
When Real get Edwards and change their MO, it is going to be tough to ever be first choice for any player.
2.) 22 May 2022 01:20:54
I agree Edwards leaving is going to be a huge loss, let's hope his successor learn from him well.
{Ed001's Note - why do people rave about Edwards? What has he done that is so special? He doesn't pick transfer targets, he has ended up having to overpay on every target due to the terms we could offer. The wage bill has risen massively under him and he struggled to offload surplus players due to our wages for fringe players being so high. Not sure what is so special about him that has made Liverpool fans rave so much about him.}
3.) 22 May 2022 08:51:04
Never looked at edwards like that ed1 it doesn’t make him look good at all.
{Ed001's Note - it is not all his fault. He had to overpay for targets as the club was hamstrung with a lack of upfront cash to pay, so had to agree to pay more over the term of payment to get the deals done. But that then meant we had even less cash for the next deal. Hence why we are left paying off lots of deals that are already done, such as for Jota.}
4.) 22 May 2022 12:16:13
Cheers ed1 great answer as always.
{Ed001's Note - very welcome mate. It is a difficult one, he was working with one hand sort of tied behind his back, so difficult to judge him, but what he did was hardly earth shattering. He seems to have rode the Klopp-bandwagon, rather than being a key component of it, imo.}
5.) 22 May 2022 19:10:47
Ed001, I think a lot of people are impressed with the amounts he got for the sale of some of our players - Coutinho, Brad Smith, Jordon Ibe, Dominic Solanke, Rhian Brewster, Mamadou Sakho and others. I agree that some of the purchases from the view of amounts, terms and agents' fees have been quite high.
20 Jul 2021 16:50:50
No space in the 22 for Harry Wilson or Neco, I'm guessing both are nearing moves. No nat either so he may be closer to the door.
1.) 20 Jul 2021 16:59:18
Neither Wilson nor Williams have unpacked their suitcases yet.
2.) 20 Jul 2021 17:21:49
Wilson and Williams only arrived yesterday. Kelleher and Phillips not involved either so are both out the door?
3.) 20 Jul 2021 17:42:26
Karius playing so he's our number 1 now.
4.) 20 Jul 2021 18:40:05
I forgot that they were at the euros so came back late. Its been a long day! Either way I'd still expect wilson to be gone by season start.
5.) 20 Jul 2021 18:01:04
Waste of time even starting the season. 1-1 with weed wacker fc and losing to Stuttgart. If we don't sign Oblak, Pavard, Kante, Mbappe and Haaland among others then we'll never get top 4.
6.) 20 Jul 2021 21:07:25
The sad thing is OMM is that there are probably fans posting pretty much that on Tw@tter and won't be joking either.
7.) 20 Jul 2021 21:43:45
I think you mean ‘people’ rather than ‘fans’ Flash.
8.) 20 Jul 2021 22:05:22
100% Flash. I'd call them idiots though not fans.
9.) 20 Jul 2021 18:01:04
Waste of time even starting the season. 1-1 with weed wacker fc and losing to Stuttgart. If we don't sign Oblak, Pavard, Kante, Mbappe and Haaland among others then we'll never get top 4.
01 Feb 2021 21:32:05
Anything in the minimino to saints rumour ed002?
{Ed002's Note - H was offered to a number of sides.}
16 Sep 2020 11:25:36
So apparently Brewster is off to Shef United, I think this is a great deal for all parties personally.
The lad needs to be playing week in week out for a couple of seasons if he is to hit his potential. We get money in now to invest in players that Klopp feels can help now rather than helping in 3-4 years time.
If it works out we will likely have first refusal, the player may be willing to come back as we have allowed him to leave for his benefit. If it doesn’t we have pocketed some cash for someone that hasn’t developed as hoped at the height of his value.
It is smart business all round in my opinion and if there is a buy back figure it will likely be lower than his perceived value in a few years time. And he is working under wilder who will keep him on the straight and narrow.
I am a huge fan of his but if he stuck around is he even going to make the bench? And that just isn’t good for his development.
{Ed025's Note - your spot on WYred mate..
1.) 16 Sep 2020 11:40:37
Do we have any idea what kind of fee we may be likely to get? What was Liverpools valuation of him?
{Ed025's Note - not at the moment snoots, it will be getting thrashed out as we speak mate..
2.) 16 Sep 2020 11:49:28
Ah, well we Usualy get decent fees, I know it's random but if we could get enough together to bid for patson daka, he looks a good prospect could take game time off our front three I think.
{Ed025's Note - i think if money is available snoots then thiago will be one to be coming in mate..
3.) 16 Sep 2020 11:52:54
We would never buy him back. we need to take that myth away. Let's wish the kid has a stellar career at Sheffield or beyond. At least we aren't making any fake promises to the lad.
4.) 16 Sep 2020 12:08:33
Harry, why wouldn't we buy him back if he proved good enough and there was a position available for him? Truth is none of know what the future holds but do dismiss that we could potentially buy him back seems crazy to me.
5.) 16 Sep 2020 12:08:45
Stop leading us down the garden path ed, I am at me whits end with the thiago buisness.
{Ed025's Note - hes the one jurgen wants mate, i would have thought cover for the front 3 myself but its hard to argue with mr klopp..
6.) 16 Sep 2020 12:28:27
The Lad is good today But he is a proper center forward, something we don't play with. Brewster like Danny Ings is a very good striker. This sale has nothing to do with him needs to prove a thing.
7.) 16 Sep 2020 12:43:44
It’s kinda strange that we let a homegrown out to get Thiago where we are well stocked in midfield unless we are pushing Fab as backup for CB and Gini as CDM.
However, with Brewster going, the cards will be shifting around for movements.
8.) 16 Sep 2020 12:43:53
But harry that's how we play today, in 3-4 years we may have an entirely different system.
9.) 16 Sep 2020 12:54:45
WYred
Sheffield might sell him next summer or maybe in two years, we don't know. Not sure what the clauses are but if there are clauses then the price also decreases. We are not looking at 3-4 years for sure.
10.) 16 Sep 2020 13:30:21
Whilst I wish he stayed, fair enough. If he isn't getting game time and playing every few games for at least 45 mins and starting cup games, I don't blame him. I do think it's a weird transfer as he's HG and looked an absolute baller, played very well for Swansea. I just hope we have a buy back clause in, because if he ends up scoring double digits for SU this season, I'd love him back, we definitely need cover for the front 3, and Ox/ Shaq/ Origi haven't been doing it for me. I would have preferred selling Origi to Villa and keep Brewster, mainly for HG benefit. Oh well, hope he has a great career at SU! Wilder is a good coach and I'm sure he'll do well there.
11.) 16 Sep 2020 19:53:32
Don’t forget about our Japanese pocket rocket! I’d say we are doing well if Brewster leaves and Thiago comes in. Cover for the front three looks like Minamino - ox- Origi- Shaq. That doesn’t look too bad does it? It’s looking possible that Sarr could be added to the mix. That would make a pretty decent window for us!
{Ed025's Note - that cover for the front 3 looks very very weak to me redman, the only one who looks half decent to me would be minamino mate, the other 3 would do well to get a game for rochdale..
12.) 17 Sep 2020 04:22:51
If a deal includes any sort of a buy back that would make him a valuable future option and we get 20 or 25mil income now it can only make sense as it's a risk with very little chance of causing us regret. If you asked me would I prefer thiago in our team for next 2 or 3 years or Brewster I'd 100% say thiago. If the buy back option looks good value compared to his future progression then we could nab a potential bargain when Firmino is no longer our no.9. To receive 20+ for a player yet to play in premier league and only 6months first team involvement at championship level would be silly to turn down. He could either be a solanke or an ings. We would love to have a situation where ings could be re signed at a good price or else be satisfied that we got paid well for solanke and never seek to bring back. Sheffield Utd will know that they can't guarantee to be in a position of strenght in a few years where they could expect to demand much higher fees for him than maybe 30 or 40mil potential buy back fee. The likes of pogba and sancho going on to become so valuable when let go for so little must have frustrated United and city but negotiating with those top clubs made it unlikely they would agree to a buy back where as with sheff Utd it could work out for both parties. Ed are you aware if the likes of iheanacho or moise kean for example were let move with something similar in their contracts as big clubs letting hot prospects leave must want to consider the possibility of future success. Madrid have done this with carvajal, morata and recently hakimi all becoming twice their value over 12 months. Didn't bayern bring gnabry from Bremen at cut price? I'm not 100% sure on that one. Are there many notable big players who were used in that way?
{Ed0666's Note - What I want for Xmas is for you to start using paragraphs in you’re posts.
WYred's banter posts with other poster's replies to WYred's banter posts
06 Jul 2024 18:25:46
Avoiding the obvious problem of Southgate what’s peoples opinions on Kane?
I think he wants to play as a ten, which he can do, problem is there is no one ahead of him or looking to stretch the team. It means the opposition can push up, and makes the midfield congested. But because our play is so slow, it becomes really easy to deal with and leaves us with drab football.
I’m not saying we need to play it over the top all the time, but you need that threat as it keeps the defenders on their toes.
1.) 06 Jul 2024 18:50:30
He just wants to stroll around and have that captains armband. What do you mean play as 10. The guy can’t walk let alone run. Utterly useless.
2.) 06 Jul 2024 20:14:37
He's about as useful as tits on a pig, play Toney instead he'd frighten the crap out of these slack jawed Spaniards.
{Ed014's Note - Kane is utter garbage.
3.) 06 Jul 2024 21:43:23
Iron man, David Cameron begs to differ.
4.) 06 Jul 2024 22:14:01
It's hard to reconcile what I see of Kane on the pitch for England this past few weeks (where he looks a League One striker at best) vs. the guy who's 134 goals in his last 4 seasons at club level. Is he just a flat track bully who pads his stats with goals against comparatively poor teams? Is he tired? Does he not suit the system? Is he finished at top level?
I dunno.
5.) 06 Jul 2024 22:16:55
Kane was finished when Spurs sold him. He’s absolutely rinsed. Age has caught up with him.
6.) 06 Jul 2024 22:49:57
The problem is Kane and Bellingham know that no matter how they play they will never be dropped. If we had a manager with any semblance of a spine he would drop the pair of them to let them know that strolling around the pitch, backing out of challenges is just not good enough.
At the moment England are scraping through in spite of Southgate and not because of him.
{Ed025's Note - spot on BP..
7.) 06 Jul 2024 23:03:24
Stuie, that’s the most under rated comment I’ve ever seen on here. I just laughed so hard I snorted like a pig!
8.) 06 Jul 2024 23:16:37
Kane has never been quick but he can hardly move in these Euros.
He was even taken off just before the penalty shootout. We need more mobility up top.
9.) 06 Jul 2024 23:51:24
That was a shocking display from Kane tonight. He was literally walking round the pitch out of position and the only reason he was subbed is because he fell in the dugout and couldn’t get back out! He honestly looks finished at this level.
10.) 07 Jul 2024 00:18:51
Kane has been one of the most over rated goal hangers of his generation. On a really, really, really good day he is a average and if he hadn’t been ‘one of their own’ for the London press he wouldn’t have been anywhere near the England team.
11.) 07 Jul 2024 00:45:16
I think that’s a bit harsh WDW you don’t score the amount of goals Kane has at the top level if you’re average on a good day.
I can’t stand the guy but I have to give credit where it’s due.
One thing I will say is he had a Spurs team set up to create chances for him and as far as he’s concerned that’s just how he wants it. He won’t allow anyone else to steal his limelight and has shown he’ll betray his own kids to claim the glory.
He stole a tap in off Palmer today because his greed knows no bounds. He couldn’t give a toss about the team as long as he gets the goals.
He’s one of those players that will score goals but overall he makes the team worse.
12.) 07 Jul 2024 08:28:32
I'll take one laugh MK, it's one more than I usually get!
13.) 07 Jul 2024 12:42:22
I don’t think Kane is garbage, but he doesn’t fit our system in anyway. He’d have been great in that German team who would have played to his strengths. I think Watkins is more suited who has a bit of pace and runs in behind. Even so, he should be trying harder than he is.
14.) 07 Jul 2024 13:41:24
He's clearly not fit and needs to be dropped for Toney, but it won't happen. Southgate loves injured players and those that haven't played a professional game in 4 months. What a joke.
15.) 07 Jul 2024 18:03:28
If you could take Kanye’s instinct for scoring and somehow, bolt it onto Nunez’s work rate and ability to cause the collie wobbles in opposition defences you’d have a genuine world class striker., which, as it stands, neither of them are.
26 Jun 2024 12:27:17
Is it just me or is internation football at it's lowest point?
Maybe I am getting old but I grew up watching the Ronaldo (the original! ), Ronaldinho, Figo, Zidanes of the world. Players with star quality and legends of the sport.
There just seems something missing from the current crop of players. Obviously we all want to win, but above all I want to be entertained. Footballers of the past looked like they enjoyed the game, they saw it as an immense privilege to play the game we all love. Now they act is if they have just finished a shift at the local Morrisons. The players have become robots who seem scared to make a mistake due to the backlash they will get from media and fans alike. It’s turned into a chore for most of them, at least that is the impression I get
90/ 00's international football always felt like the pinnacle of the sport, the very best going toe to toe, whereas now I think the prem/ champions league quality has overtaken it. Maybe that's half the issue, teams are basically world 11's with unlimited resources (to a degree) and would beat most international teams off the park.
1.) 26 Jun 2024 13:03:32
Couldn’t agree more WYred, where’s the great Dutch, Brazilians Germans ect…and it’s just not international teams, the premier league is the same also. Remember Thierry Henry, bergkamp gerrard, drogba ect…. there are zero players of any character anymore. Winning for your country used to be the pinnacle for players and watching this euros I’ve only see ally seen Austria Germany and Portugal who look like they’re playing for the country’s. Forget England, we must have some of the most overrated players in world football. For all those going we have an amazing squad and this is our best chance……the current crop are not a patch on what we’ve had the last 30 ish years.
2.) 26 Jun 2024 13:55:40
I would say the game is much more tactically oriented now, and it’s not as though there aren’t any superstars left in the game, it’s more that the coaches have become the real center of attention with how they set out to nullify the other team and try to exploit spaces in their pressing patterns and defensive structures, and create situations where their best attacking players can be isolated in mismatches to create chances. The dominance of pep positional ball in Europe of course makes things very stale, but it seems like there are either weird new variations of this kind of play (motta, Alonso, slot, nagelsmann) or entirely different ways of playing (diniz, spalletti, gasperini) .
Players are mostly part of a successful tactical system now, rather than being given free rein to do what they want. And when they do receive the license to do that, it might not turn out entirely well in regard to the success of the team and the reception of the player among fans at large, the epochal contrast between Ronaldinho and neymar for example is illustrative I think.
Of course if people are less interested in the tactical side of the game, it can seem quite dull, I mean the likes of de zerbi and conte even advocated automating patterns of play so players mechanically know what to do when any eventuality transpires.
3.) 26 Jun 2024 14:11:04
I would also argue that it's not the players who are scared, they're instructed to play that way for the most part, the dominant style of elite football in europe (that is, Pep ball), is actually quite conservative because it's rather focussed on not being caught out when you lose the ball.
This is why Klopp ball, even the newest Ljinders-ised variant, is quite different, and why there is discernibly less 'control' in and out of possession, because Klopp ball seems to me to be about playing the odds with our risky passing game and chaotic movement up front with the forwards interchanging, assuming that our passers and forwards have the quality to consistently create and finish (and for the most part, this does work) . But also, it takes the chance that we'll get caught out in transition and Virgil and Ali can mop up the mess (and for a long time, this also seemed to work) .
What I mean is that if the coach has a structure that is fundamentally risk-averse, then the players themselves will naturally be risk-averse. If you look at some of the most fun to watch teams of the last few years, take Hansi Flick's Bayern for example, they were pretty much a mess tactically but they won everything, partly because their players were so good and at the peak of their powers and could outperform an xG that was already significant, but also because players like Davies could cover a ridiculous amount of ground with record speed to bail them out when things went wrong (just like Virgil for us) and Kimmich was there frantically putting out fires as well. Flick's system was basically about betting that Bayern's players were better than the other players, and their defenders were athletic enough to rescue things when rubbish would potentially hit the fan. In that way, maybe Flick's Bayern is a kind of throwback to what you guys are nostalgic for lol.
4.) 26 Jun 2024 14:23:53
Flick relies on having the very best players. As he’s about find out, Barcelona really don’t have very many who fall under that description.
5.) 26 Jun 2024 14:38:43
I think the CL is bigger now.
And we can regularly watch the best players in the world playing in that and the European leagues that are more accessible.
6.) 26 Jun 2024 15:04:02
I just realised the original post was about international football so my whole spiel was largely nonsense on the wrong subject lol. Sorry about that.
As for international football, coaches have less time to work on tactics with players who are all drilled playing different styles for different coaches and serving different roles within those styles. For them to then have to adapt to a different way of playing in intermittent breaks without really building much rhythm is difficult to say the least, and usually the coaches just cobble something haphazard together.
That's why nations that have a lot of players playing in the same league or for the few dominant teams within that league often look a lot more organised (you would think the Netherlands would be an example of this since they are pioneers of a national style of football), or, similarly, you can have a team like Brazil that either has a Pep-like positional system that is forcibly imposed on them in an unnatural way and consequently look awkward and uncomfortable (like Dunga did), or play a more organic almost street football style that is more in keeping with what they all did growing up or playing futsal etcetera.
7.) 26 Jun 2024 15:10:17
It was a pretty poor appointment, VV, flick already proved that when he didn't have the same personnel in key positions in the German team that things were going to be a lot more difficult. Flick's Bayern were a super direct and athletic team that went upfield vertically very fast and pressed high up the pitch, maybe one can say that there are similarities with Klopp in that regard. Barcelona's DNA is pretty much the opposite of that, and they're not exactly blessed with players who run back and forth for 90 minutes or athletes in midfield, either.
8.) 26 Jun 2024 15:45:48
WYred, it's not just you. For those of us like me who grew up on watching int'l football esp. in the late 80's on to now, the standards have been deteriorating for decades now. The players just don't look fit and committed at times cos there's too much money in league footie (and esp. in CL footie, as Rigsby said) . Just look at Jude for England.
I think cos since everything is synchronised to fit the European league season, players often arrive tired or not real fit for such comps. hence, the pace is off, the lack of commitment is there and these lead to poor footie standards. Even tho there is the off comp. that is a good watch, like the last two WC tournaments WC Brazil and Russia which I enjoyed.
9.) 26 Jun 2024 17:03:43
This was my point reguarding Bellingham being the best in the world for some. There's nowhere near the quality there was years ago. You had truly worldclass players sprinkled throughout many top sides. The real Madrid team that just won the champions league isn't a patch on the Ronaldo/ alonso side. This generation of players are a level or two of the previous generation and these English players are massively overhyoed.
{Ed025's Note - or could it be that the standard of the players around them has gone up MIZER so they are not as stand out as they used to be?, just a point mate..
10.) 26 Jun 2024 17:43:41
What’s gone are the characters., the likes of Stan Bowles, Rod Marsh and the like. They had immense natural talent but also had a laugh about the game too. Football, as a game, certainly in England started to die with Sky and the Premier League. Just look at the state of the garbage in Germany - England topped the group with 5pts and scored - wait for it - one goal. as a source of entertainment, watching England is a distant s3cong to watching paint dry and the really sad thing is the Southgate doesn’t even understand what the (major) problem is.
{Ed025's Note - yeah im with you WDW, its all too serious and money orientated mate, and seriously less fun, mind you the internet doesn,t help when you get trolls abusing players and other supporters, i know i might sound like a auld arse but its not what it used to be..
11.) 26 Jun 2024 18:15:52
There's definitely less character generally amongst the players, but it's the one thing that Robbo and Nunez don't exactly lack.
International football is sterile. People who are paying hundreds for tickets are being fleeced as far as showing of quality football and entertainment goes the majority of the time.
12.) 26 Jun 2024 18:22:24
the standards have dropped. Bellingham wouldn’t take Platts place. Or the 3 golden boys ( gerrard, lampard scholes) honestly I don’t think he’d take carricks place either.
{Ed001's Note - Platt was not half the player Bellingham is, in fact he was barely half a player.}
13.) 26 Jun 2024 19:05:23
Blimey, Bellingham is 20, has just won the CL, La Liga and was the player of the year there and people are knocking him!
14.) 26 Jun 2024 19:52:30
Im with you. Before wingers went at the defenders or sprint past em, while nowadays they just pass around The ball until someone messes up or lose track. Bring back the neymar, ronaldhino type of players not just robots.
15.) 26 Jun 2024 20:34:15
@ed1: i liked platt from what I remember of him.
@Rigsby: I’m not knocking him the question was “ has the standards of international footy dropped? ” Which led to comparisons. I was comparing him.
16.) 26 Jun 2024 21:03:40
For me it a bit of a combo of all the above, world class labelled players who are just really good, standards of all players has improved and fitness levels more evenly matched than before. Much more structure and organisation to the ‘lesser’ teams. Fear of losing (esp in Eng case) rather than going for the win and you rarely see a player smile unless a goal goes in, its too business like for me. That’s why watching Ronaldinho was so good, apart from the lob of Seaman! he played with a smile on his face to go with the Extraordinary talent. Firmino did that a lot as well, played with a smile, maybe just to show off his whiter than white gnashers ?.
Also before international management was the pinnacle of a managers career- not so much anymore.
But on the glass half full side, rarely if ever, am sure someone will correct me, did a team smash qualification then go on to win a major tournament. The best teams usually start slow, players protect them selves from injury and needless bookings from tackles do just enough to get through to knock outs then play improves. Hoping this is the case for Eng and the tournament?.
{Ed025's Note - nah KNG, England are just shoite mate..
17.) 26 Jun 2024 21:11:24
I think when I were a lad, these international tournaments were the only chance we had to see the worlds best players - Socrates, Zico, Maradona, Van Basten, Platini - players from all over the world.
However, now you see them in the premier league.
There’s less excitement, less mystery. We’ve seen these players every week. The only ones we haven’t seen in the PL have been seen on satellite TV.
{Ed025's Note - fair point that Ron..
18.) 26 Jun 2024 22:03:46
I'm not sure if the overall standard of international football has gone down, but what I do know for sure is that the big gulf that used to exist between the traditional powerhouses (Brazil, Germany, Italy, France etc etc) and the rest of the World, has greatly reduced. Football is far more "democratized" than it ever was before. Further proof is that players, for example, from Africa, South America, the USA, South Korea and Japan are common place now in all the major leagues. And this accumulation of experience does rub off on their national teams.
So maybe it's not so much all of international football going down, but rather the top teams not standing out so much because the others have caught up a bit and you don't notice the greater difference any more, that there used to be in the past.
19.) 27 Jun 2024 00:29:41
I wonder if the 'coaching badges' are partially to blame. It seems to be that all coaches these days are taught the same thing.
How much of the courses is based on what the most successful teams in the past have done - Catenaccio, Total Football, Long Ball, Tippy-Tappy, Heavy Metal, High pressure, low block, Counter Attack, Wingless Wonders, Sweepers, Libero's, Dogs of War (that's for you Ed 25), Pass and Move, False 9's, 442, 433, 4231, 343, The diamond etc.
20.) 27 Jun 2024 00:52:18
Fair enough, john.
David Platt is the second best hairdresser on Coronation Street. Maria obviously takes the golden scissors but Audrey is past it, in my book.
Have a look at Platty's highlights on YouTube.
21.) 27 Jun 2024 07:02:16
I think football has become tactically over complicated at the very top. It works at club level because you have a minimum of 40 weeks a year to work on things in training and can buy 11 player to suit a specific system. At international level you just don’t have the time to perfect complex systems with inverted full backs, false 9’s, double pivots etc.
So I think the national teams with the best players trying to pull that off are struggling against teams like Austria, Georgia, Switzerland etc who are combining a simple system with hard work off the ball and one or two star players on the break when they win it back. The only time in recent years we’ve seen a national team sustain any success was when Spain had half the Barcelona team and Germany had half the Bayern Munich team. So they could just carry those tactics across and had players coached and capable to pull it off.
Just how I see it of course. I don’t think the big countries have worse players. I just think they need to get back to basics.
18 May 2024 18:45:54
Tomorrow will be a bizarre day. I have been watching Liverpool for 20 odd years and I don't remember anyone leaving where there seemed such emotion tied to it. Gerrard did to an extent but not too this level. I think that’s because it was on the cards due to performance and age.
Even though it’s been announced for 3-4 months, it still seems such a shock.
His tenure is littered with moments that just the players names can bring back some terrific memories.
Lallana
Lovren
Origi (x at least three! )
Alisson
Salah
And the list could go on.
Klopp will be judged by other fans by his record, which maybe is light for the size of the club. But when you consider where we were, the long wait we were experiencing and the team we had. That’s before you put city in the equation which only time will show the impact of their charges.
The journey is one we will reminisce about for decades and hopefully his legacy will be the foundation he has laid for slot and future managers. Again only time will answer that.
But for now, we need to enjoy the last game, give the man the best send off possible and see where out future goes from here.
At the end of the day, we only feel this sadness due to the highs he has taken to and I can confirm I am now 100% a believer.
1.) 18 May 2024 20:04:22
I’m just grateful that he was our manager. He brought the pride back. But for 115 FC and their unique accounting methods, Klopp would have more titles, but that doesn’t throw shade on what he achieved, but for Klopp, 115 FC would be making it seem even more of a farmers league than it’s becoming.
2.) 18 May 2024 21:57:00
People look at trophies as the be all and end all.
We were dormant for years. Then Juergen came. Kaboom!
3.) 18 May 2024 22:57:43
I’m quite cool about it, maybe because I’m older.
Probably Kenny leaving was the most shocking and disappointing move for me. No-one wanted him to leave, everyone was upset. Everyone understood his decision.
After that, nothing is quite as emotional.
Of course I’m grateful for Jurgen and will never forget his achievements, but he’s leaving at the right time.
4.) 19 May 2024 00:21:57
Totally agree! Yeah if anyone think his achievements are light by comparing his to that golden era decades ago, ok I won't argue a single bit.
For me, I'm comparing his achievements to the era of H&G, so for me, he is a legend!
Good bye and thank you so much, Klopp.
5.) 19 May 2024 01:05:01
The time is right because Klopp has said it is. He needs a break and he deserves one but time will tell how it will affect the club. It had to happen one day though.
Tomorrow will be emotional because he is an emotional and likeable bloke. I guarantee that he will get emotional and that affect a lot of us. He's been more than just a manager. He massively bought into this club and it was like we had a fan, no different to the rest of us, managing the club.
If he wasn't so likeable and good at his job tomorrow wouldn't be so difficult.
Anyway, I'll put my big boys pants on, gulp several times and chop some onions for tea just before the end of the game.
6.) 19 May 2024 01:51:15
The best thing is that even though City will win the league tomorrow, no one will care because it will all be about Klopp. That will hurt pep’s fragile ego.
7.) 19 May 2024 03:28:50
Agreed Ron.
Great post WY.
One of them for me, I'm gutted we're here but it was always going to happen wasn't it? I just hope we can continue doing well. I also hope Klopp can just enjoy life for a while and relax, he's put everything in - good luck to the legend he is. An incredible person and an incredible manager, one which will be talked about long after us lot are gone.
8.) 19 May 2024 07:01:46
See I personally don’t get this trophy talk. Sometimes you have to look beyond that, especially when your competition has been the Man City juggernaut.
In 9 years Klopp took Liverpool to three champions league finals and won one.
Ferguson got to four in 27 years and won 2.
Wenger got to one champions league final in 22 years and lost.
Pep has only taken that monster of a City team to 2 finals and won one.
Also, Klopp finished second, twice, on more points than either Man Utd or Arsenal ever achieved under either of their legendary managers.
Yes, he could, potentially should, have won more trophies but he took a team that was nowhere, spent less than all his contemporaries and took that team from nowhere to win the lot.
9.) 19 May 2024 07:08:34
Shanks set the tone - he showed the fans the dream and brought it to life. He understood people and he was attuned to the city and the city took him to heart.
Great people followed him with King Kenny perhaps the most shining example. A brilliant footballer but much more a fine human being who did so much for the community, in times of horrendous adversity.
All the best keepers of the dreams have had the quality of understanding people, of empathy with them and an ability to inspire them and not just in a football sense.
Jurgen stands with the best of the ‘dream keepers’, a great footballing mind but far more a great human being too. As @WY said, we are sad because we will miss the joy he has brought us. Anything but the ‘normal one’.
Thank you Jurgen. You will be greatly missed but will always be remembered fondly.
10.) 19 May 2024 09:48:50
Guys as someone told me, "Do not be sad that it has ended. Be glad that it happened". From this point, I cannot see my LFC world without Klopp in it. It feels so weird now cos of how he has impacted me as a fan and personally, as a human being. Wometimes when I listen to him speak about footie, his ethos to it and life in general, I feel he is talking to me directly. Some of his quotes will stay with me forever. That's how much he impacted me, personally.
Therefore, I agree with the boys who say it's not all about the trophies even tho, they are great to have. Managers have won more than Klopp YET will NEVER be as impactful to the fan base, the city and the lives of it's people the way Klopp has an all 3 clubs he has managed. Imagine being reverred and loved to the bones at 3 diff. clubs, cities and fan bases as Klopp currently is. Wenger, Pep, Carlo, Jose, etc. will NEVER have this.
Klopp taught us a lot of things. He taught us to believe in ourselves again. To let the past go rather than carry it on our backs like we had been doing for 25 plus years. To dream big, Play big and WIN big. And when we got knocked down, Klopp taught us how to get back on that saddle and kept going and trying till we won again. This is Klopp's legacy, one that transcends football and trophies. This is what Klopp means to me.
But for now we celebrate you Jurgen, and your family esp. Queen Ulla herself, who was gracious enuff to share you with us for all these 9 years.
You will NEVER be forgotten.
08 Apr 2024 12:15:47
I am going to remain positive in this run in, I always prefer us chasing then being out in front. The pressure is off a little and hopefully that will reflect in how they play. We all know we should of won that in the first half but just weren’t clinical enough, with Ali Jota and Trent all due back soon I think that is a massive boost in itself.
As for who we are chasing, Arsenal have by far the toughest run in, and play a spurs team who would like nothing more then to spoil the party. Then there are city, where on paper it’s only spurs who should cause them problems.
For me, if we win our last 7 it’s ours but if we don’t and lose it to Arsenal on GD, we only have ourselves to blame!
1.) 08 Apr 2024 12:39:23
I only see City winning. They have by far the easiest fixtures and the experience of winning titles. I reckon Arsenal and Liverpool will drop points, whereas I see City winning their remaining 7 matches.
2.) 08 Apr 2024 12:42:17
Arsenal may well have the toughest run-in, but as of this moment they are the form team and the best-coached team in the league. Klopp is a better manager than Arteta, but Arsenal are organized, structured and clinical, everything we are not. We are reliant on individual quality and determination to win games, while Arsenal are systematically taking opponents apart. I thought they looked every bit as good as City in the Etihad game, the only thing they lack is the sheer quality of the three or four elite players from City and Liverpool.
3.) 08 Apr 2024 12:43:42
Spot on, WYred. Arsenal's difficult run starts now with the PL/ CL games coming up. I have seen a lot of their fans saying they want to do the PL/ CL double. Well guess what, fellas? HERE'S YOUR CHANCE.
If they get through it then, fair play to them and they win the title. But keep in mind that while we play Palace, Fulham, Everton and WH, Spurs play Chelsea, Wolves, Villa and Spurs (not in any order) . And if you add CL quarters and semis to the above then, that's what awaits them.
For us, we got diff. issues. We need to up it massively and fing upper gears to go esp. up front REAL quick and with our players coming back like Ali, Trent and Jota esp., that will only help us here. We shall see what happens. On to Atalanta.
4.) 08 Apr 2024 12:44:03
It's a busy Monday at work, but I still feel so deflated by that game yesterday. Snatched a draw from a deserved win even though we were by far, the better team. And that's twice against this same team. But that's football.
I'm still positive. We will win.
5.) 08 Apr 2024 12:47:34
I mentioned yesterday on the discussion page, I think whichever team loses a match will be out the race. The standard is currently that high. I think the draw yesterday was our one mistake we we could make, we have to win the remaining games if we are to win the title I feel.
I think arsenal have a draw left in them but I see city winning every match now. Arsenal and City have been swatting teams aside with ease the last few weeks, even the expected banana skins. Fair play to arsenal, everyone wrote them off saying they wouldn't last pass Christmas but here we are.
6.) 08 Apr 2024 13:39:40
Lowe, they are the form team. But 1 thing I meant to add is, that one question mark that remains over Arsenal is if they lose any of rice, Saliba or Gabriel to injury over the coming weeks. I don’t know whether they have the depth to cover if one got injured. Especially with the pressure and tough run in they have.
We are as every bit as good as city or Arsenal, we have to just up our conversion rate. I’d be far more worried if we weren’t making the chances.
Kelleher has done wonders in Ali’s absence but I think having him back shores us up at the back and adding another attacker in Jota means we have at least one difference maker off the bench. Plus trent adds options if we have to chase games. He’ll no doubt start but being able to add him in midfield if the situation requires could be huge.
Plenty of twists to come and luckily football isn’t played on paper.
7.) 08 Apr 2024 14:00:55
WYred - Games are running out and Arsenal keep winning them. I might suggest it is us who are more likely to suffer further injuries than Arsenal. We can’t even keep our centre-backs and goalkeeper fit.
8.) 08 Apr 2024 14:52:34
We'll win the 7 games and win the league. We mitent have Citys experience in terms of WINNING leagues but we have experience in having to win EVERY week, week after week, we've just been unlucky to be up against such a good team. Arsenal have neither are about to start a manic set of fixtures which will require their best players in every game. let's see how they cope with that. All this while we seem to be getting back to full strength at just the right time.
9.) 08 Apr 2024 15:32:34
Doesn’t matter how much experience we have if you can’t put away the chances created.
10.) 08 Apr 2024 15:34:50
Lowel, I have a diff. take re: Arsenal. So all things are going for them since the turn of the year and hats off to them. However, they have NOT had to deal with the level and types of adversity (injuries galore, bad ref decisions and poor finishing) that we have had to deal with. They're yet to have things not go their way in-game. Like it would be interesting to see how they would have recovered if they were in our position last night. We know that the last time this happened vs WH at home when things did not go their way, they lost.
There is a huge possibility with that brutal schedule they have, for things to go wrong in-game or for some injury adversity to happen in-game and that will be a test for them. Lik I have said, let us see what happens with that brutal schedule they have cos some adversity is coming their way, IMO.
11.) 08 Apr 2024 18:32:56
No more points dropped and its get done, arsenal will drop points.
12.) 08 Apr 2024 18:45:01
I just hope that we don't lose the title on goal difference, cus if we do I can see us suing PGMOL for dis allowing Diaz goal at Tottenham.
13.) 08 Apr 2024 19:29:43
I’d love us to sue PGMOL into bankruptcy and make Coward Webb personally liable too.
14.) 08 Apr 2024 23:09:19
We will drop more points and our form away is not great. Arsenal or city. I would say city but their injuries is piling up and hence give the edge to arsenal. We will finish 3rd imo.
15.) 09 Apr 2024 01:25:05
I believe we will win the title on the last day of the season, it's already been amazing effort by all involved so why not with all of our help try to get them over the line.
10 Aug 2023 07:49:29
Personally I am not too fussed about Lavia, don't get me wrong, I think he has a high ceiling, but I think we already have a promising young DM in Bajectic. I would rather go for someone a bit older that can slot straight in and leave the opportunity open for Bajectic to take in a few years.
We are terrible at progression planning for our youngsters and we have to let them have the opportunity to prove they are good enough.
50m when you have limited resources is a huge risk and surely there is better value out there. Although the market seems to have taken another leap forward in terms of prices this year.
We have missed out on targets before and found, arguably better replacements, salah is the perfect example.
So let's not panic just yet, we need to let the dust settle and then we can review it and see if it was a good/ bad window when it closes.
1.) 10 Aug 2023 08:15:40
Klopp wants Lavia and the club has been in dialogue with Southamption for a month now.
{Ed002's Note - No they haven't.}
2.) 10 Aug 2023 08:25:56
The debate is no longer about Lavia, you could replace his name with anyone and it wouldn’t change anything.
It has moved on to wider concerns about how the club is run and why we have seemingly refused to strengthen and rebuild the way we should be doing.
The Klopp-FSG dynamic as it stands has reached a miserable, underachieving end - you cannot pair Klopp’s sentimentality with FSG’s acquisition model, nor can you pair Klopp’s 2023 style of play with FSG’s miserly (tbh, downright atrocious) spending levels.
The club is a rudderless ship above Klopp’s level, and is a few departures from being an absolute dumpster fire.
3.) 10 Aug 2023 08:32:12
If there is better value out there why haven’t we A, spotted it and B, gone after it?
4.) 10 Aug 2023 08:48:56
I agree. But, the lack of signings is extremely worrisome. I check in 3 times a day thinking surely today! But i will reserve my judgement for when the window closes.
5.) 10 Aug 2023 08:51:50
Don’t be so reasonable that won’t go down with the cancel kids on here ?
Now watch the irony of the incoming comments.
6.) 10 Aug 2023 08:54:08
What a rubbish window we’re having yet again.
Self destruct mode.
7.) 10 Aug 2023 08:56:13
I’ll reserve my judgement for now. We should have had other deals in the bag for preseason. Shocking club management as usual.
8.) 10 Aug 2023 09:06:19
On that note ED02. what exactly was the club doing all these weeks? Klopp wanted all his signings to be on board before the pre season here were are ready for the new season in less than 72 hours.
As per your info, The club is struggling to offer anything for a center back and all our targets are moving elsewhere. Where do we go from here?
{Ed002's Note - As I explained, the club did approach his representative to see if he would be open to a move and then they approached his club to enquire after terms and what they were asking. After that they carried on talking to his representatives and then made a low ball offer to test the waters. Southampton have made it clear what they want and are unhappy with being screwed around - hence discussions with Joe Shields at Chelsea and Manchester City. As to where next, the first discussion will be about another offer and whether the club have the stomach for getting involved in an auctio; next might be to fill the other midfield vacancy - perhaps Gravenberch. Then look to DM options if they lose out on Lavia. Liverpool stepped back from Thuram but could look again; but the price will hurt them. I don't know of any interest in Dewsbury Hall from Liverpool but perhaps Tyler Adams will enter the thoughts - albeit he now has permission to discuss terms with another club. Amrabat has gone has an option. Adding a versatile player like Gravenberch or Thuram first means that there will be cover for DM.}
9.) 10 Aug 2023 09:36:09
Brilliant info Ed02. Doubt Thuram would be any cheaper to Lavia, if that was the case he would have been signed months ago. And he is not even remotely a DM. Gravenberch is not a DM either. Kone won't happen and we screwed Sporting over Ugarte.
If klopp wants Lavia give it him. Its that simple. why screw around. We priced out Nat Philips who hasn't kcied a football for over two years for three windows and here we want Southampton to budge their asking price. Hillarious.
Anything on Defenders ED02. It seems we are very quiet on that front. We need an LCB and a good one else we are finishing midtable again
Thanks again ED02.
{Ed002's Note - Thuram plays regularly as a DM player. Gravenberch has also played as a DM player. You maybe want to try and think about not trying to trash prospective Liverpool players. Nothing has changed regarding defenders.}
10.) 10 Aug 2023 09:37:56
If Lavia isn’t happening any idea of who is next on our list of alternatives or is it a case of the current squad is what we’re going to go with.
{Ed002's Note - As I mentioned, for me I think the next move will be to add another midfield player who is versatile and can play at DM if needs br - Gravenberch is a good fit for that, is well priced, and is available with Liverpool having shown an interest. I think Tyler Adams would be a good option and even though he has permission to speak with another club, Liverpool could consider him. I am not sure the club would be willing to go back to look at Varela (in talks for a move elsewhere where a WP would not be an issue) or Florentino Luis (buy out clause is huge). Llorente is no longer an option. As I mentioned, Andre Trincade was recommended to Liverpool as Fabinho cover a couple of years ago, but he is not a realistic option before January now - and even then it is complicated. Kalvin Phillips will likely stay for now unless Manchester City look to a replacement.}
11.) 10 Aug 2023 09:38:19
Lavia doesn't do anything Bajcetic/ Morton can't do so doesn't even improve our squad, let alone best XI. So looks like Todd might save us with his blank cheque book!
Hopefully we move on to Gravenberch now, who probably does improve the team as he's actually more experienced than Baj and Morton. I don't rate him further forward though as his first touch isn't consistent enough to operate with his back to the opposition but when he's facing the play he's a good young player who would slot in well next to Trent in the 3-box-3 system we're hell bent on persevering with.
12.) 10 Aug 2023 09:48:36
Kalvin Phillips still being considered Ed002?
Cheers.
{Ed002's Note - Manchester City want an upgrade but were shocked at the price of their first choice so for now, or at least until they find someone else, I expect him to stay there.}
13.) 10 Aug 2023 09:59:09
personally looking forward to Lavia securing a move to somewhere, anywhere. just get the saga over with so we can move on and get this season going! I hate that the window is still open after the season starts, let's get the business done and then just play!
14.) 10 Aug 2023 10:09:44
Thanks Ed002, if Man City offer for Lavia do they get 20% of their money back (sell on clause)?
Makes a difference to their offer.
{Ed002's Note - They can invoke a £40M buy back clause if he is for sale next year or take 20% of any sale to another side - so if Liverpool buy Lavia for £50M, £10M goes to Manchester City. Meaning Southampton still get their £40M. The same happened with Livramento, although a much larger cut went to Chelsea. Additionally, development club payments need to be made in both cases.}
15.) 10 Aug 2023 10:27:55
Cheers Ed002 great reply and really appreciate.
16.) 10 Aug 2023 10:34:52
I think we'll sign Lavia and Chelsea will sign Caceido or Adams or even both.
17.) 10 Aug 2023 10:46:47
Lavia doesn't offer more than Bajcetic/ Morton? Prefer Gravenberch to Lavia?
MK, I love your hot takes. Up there with your Neves, Rabiot Mount midfield dream.
18.) 10 Aug 2023 10:49:12
Faith, my money would be on Lavia going to Chelsea to warm the bench with the last generational teenage midfielder they signed for big money after he had 5 good games (Chukwumeka) .
{Ed002's Note - The posts are getting more and more embarrassing.}
19.) 10 Aug 2023 11:11:01
I just say it as i see it Ed002. I've been consistent about Lavia throughout even when Liverpool looked favourites. He's not a £50m player for me and its a huge gamble to pay it and hope he will be.
{Ed002's Note - It is going to be even more embarrassing for those who thought him "world class" yeasterday and a worthless waster today if the transfer to Liverpool goes through.}
20.) 10 Aug 2023 11:32:08
Has anybody called him a worthless waster Ed002? Far as i've seen i have been his biggest critic on this site and all i've said is he's good for his age but not worth anything like £50m. He's a £10m player in my mind. No better than Carvalho was when we signed him last summer, or Gomez in 2015, or Origi in 2014. I don't agree with signing teenagers with half a good season for that sort of money, and i don't think my opinion is unreasonable. For £50m i expect a player with at least 2 or 3 years of evidence behind them at relatively good level. If he on and does well at either Chelsea or Liverpool I'll admit i was wrong.
FPF, i never said Rabiot, Mount or Neves were my dream midfield. You're making things up which is very crass and disingenuous of you. Mount i said to steer well clear of and Neves/ Rabiot i said would be good choices from the players available and in our price range. Neves did disappoint me moving to Saudi though, as at his age that shows a huge lack of ambition. Regards Lavia, what has he done to suggest he's better than our own young midfielders? He had about 5 good games last season. Similar to Bajcetic last year and Morton the year before.
{Ed002's Note - Huge amount of abuse about him has been deleted this morning.}
21.) 10 Aug 2023 11:55:57
Well said Ed002. Lavia is what klopp wants clearly, and at 19 has potential for him to progress. Obviously at 19, barring a few exceptions to the rule, must players at that age are raw and still learning their trade.
At this time we have no DM, or at least with no experience. Bajetic is also young, has the makings of a great player but is injured and also needs competition.
Baz.
22.) 10 Aug 2023 12:32:15
Fair enough Ed002, and that's disappointing to hear. He doesn't deserve abuse.
{Ed002's Note - I agree.}
23.) 10 Aug 2023 14:03:39
It’s hard to tell bajetics best position though. He did well covering fabs, but was probably even better when he played further forward. Promising talent for sure but not yet clear where he’s best position is.
14 Aug 2023 19:18:38
We are going with a spider keeper this year and using Ali in DM, he is excited by the switch in position and can't wait to showcase it against Bournemouth. He was willing to move to Chelsea but after they got two shiny new ones he was no longer interested in the 15 year contract they were willing to offer.
14 Aug 2023 19:18:38
We are going with a spider keeper this year and using Ali in DM, he is excited by the switch in position and can't wait to showcase it against Bournemouth. He was willing to move to Chelsea but after they got two shiny new ones he was no longer interested in the 15 year contract they were willing to offer.
14 Aug 2023 10:54:48
If true, and then he does end up picking chelsea, it would be an awful look for the negotiating team.
Caicedo was worth a shot, and we would have got the go ahead from the agent (at least I expect so) to go after that deal. Imo, that's just football and you move on.
However, if you wanted a player for £45m, moved on to someone over twice as much, to move back to the oringal player for 15m more, and still don't secure the player because he prefers Chelsea. It would definitley leave a sour taste in the mouth and really put the pressure on the powers that be.
Alternativley, we get the player for £60m and still look a bit foolish for not just paying the £50m they originally asked for.
As I have said in a previous post, there is a scenario where both Liverpool and Chelsea overpay on their targets by about 15m because they each got involved in the other deal instead of just biting the bullet and accepting the selling clubs terms. I. e. 50m for lavia or 100m for Caicedo.
13 Aug 2023 18:21:24
I presume the payment structure needs to be considered when some players are deemed too expensive.
2 players may be 50 or 60m each. But one club may want the bulk of the 50m upfront whilst the other is happy to have it over a couple of years. Any clubs budget will vary depending on the cash they have on the initial outlay and it will then impact other signings.
12 Aug 2023 21:16:33
I thought this length of contract was banned or have I mis-interpreted the rules?
10 Jul 2024 22:39:58
Personally feel he has got away with one again. Time and time again he gets figured out mid game and has no answer. The Dutch were poor tonight and a great striker's goal has seen it through.
I might be being harsh on him, but I just don’t rate him at all. But having said all that there is hope that they might just get over the line on Sunday.
30 Jun 2024 18:03:37
Doesn’t matter who is in the side, with Southgate in charge it’s meaningless. We will play exactly the same expecting a different result.
25 Jun 2024 21:37:56
You could offer this to insomnia patients, it’s so bad I’d prefer to watch big Sam football, at least you know how he sets teams up. How Southgate gets so little heat for serving this up is beyond me.
22 Jun 2024 17:00:24
The Netherlands offside was subjective, but the English refs took the usual 5 mins to have a discussion about it. Personally I would of given it offside, but I can see why people think he didn’t interfere.
As for the semi automated offsides, they work great. I have noticed there is sometime a little delay in the viewer seeing the image though.
17 Jun 2024 13:02:33
We are back in the same situation as the golden generation, plenty of very good players, but with a manager who shoe horns players in as they feel they can't leave them out.
Trent is a very good footballer, and I'd personally have him at RB over walker. I am not Walkers biggest fan and I think his pace hides a lot of deficienies in his game.
But once you make a decision that Walker is your RB then unfortunatley Trent doesn't start.
International football isn't just picking your best 11 players, throwning them on a pitch and expect them to win games. You need to decide how you wish to play (i. e. southgate turgid football) and then pick the players that best suit it.