I'm happy with the decision to field the kids and for Klopp to stay away.
I do however feel sorry for Shrewsbury as between the combination of TV money and gate receipt being lower this could have made a big difference to them.
I think this is actually an opportunity for Liverpool to completely turn the agenda and media/public opinion around by saying:
1) We were doing this out of principle to protect the players (as they have done).
2) We recognise the impact this has on the Shrews.
3) We'd like to arrange a friendly game where they get the gate in July.
All the players from the Euros would be missing, its an easy journey (ironically for the kids again) but I think it could be a real PR coup.
I don't really think we
need do anything for Shrewsbury.
It's difficult to feel sorry for them. Their average gate this season in 6,409. The could have drawn the likes of Northampton, Brentford, Barnsley, Oxford, Hull, Millwall or Tranmere, but no, they drew the European and World Champions. They pulled in a capacity crowd of over 9,500 and didn't care that Salah and Co were not playing because they wanted to knock the current best club in the world out of the cup. They had their big chance to make their own history on their own patch in front of their own fans, and to also earn themselves what turned out to be a big payday away to Chelsea in the next round. They blew it, and only scraped a replay due to poor refereeing that gave a penalty for a foul outside the box.
The FA completely messed up so the replay came smack bang in the winter break. Having said that, even if it hadn't, ticket prices would have been slashed anyway. I mean hard pressed fans aren't going to fork out for an FA Cup replay against L1 opposition if the prices are similar to Premier League prices. As it turned out, the price structure guaranteed a virtual full house of 52,399. Not bad for a side that only got a reply in the first place due to a major mistake by the officials.
Anyway, they bring their team of seasoned pro's to Anfield, knowing full well they are playing against kids with an average age of less than 20. They know full well they have a bumper payday at Chelsea if they win. They had more fans in the away end than bother to turn up at their home matches yet, they blew it.
What more do they want?
I do understand that the smaller clubs need to make hay whilst the sun shines. I do fully understand that every quid counts, so with that in mind I think any above and beyond gesture towards Shrewsbury would be gratefully accepted and appreciated if it were to happen, but the fact remains, we owe them nothing.
Also, I don't for a minute think any such gesture would turn media/public opinion. The ones pushing the 'big bad wolf' narrative
want to see bad in everything we do or don't do. All they would do in the face of any gesture from Liverpool is make out the club were somehow shamed into it and somehow feel guilt over something they have no guilt over.
