Topic: LIVERPOOL TRANSFER THREAD 2023 - archived discussions about what’s offensive

[Ravishing Rick Dude]

Roberto Firmino is on the verge of signing a contract extension at Liverpool. [florian plettenberg - sky germany]

Hallelujah!

[ScouserAtHeart]

That's a belter of a post. In the words of Terry Tibbs, I'm wawkin awa-ay...

More like Craig David no?

Edit: And Hazell got there first of course

[Historical Fool]

That's a belter of a post. In the words of Terry Tibbs, I'm wawkin awa-ay...

Craig DavidS

[JackWard33]

Kantes profile is very similar to Firminos in a different position
A post peak, once great who will be on high wages and whose body is clearly breaking down resulting in more and more injuries but whose profile will mean they have to be given minutes as their performances decline

[Dree]

I would let Firmino go (and try and sell Fabinho, and see if we could even let Henderson go to Sunderland or somewhere) if we’re really going to refresh. We have a lot of attackers especially now it looks like Elliott is definitely a winger. And he’s injured a lot of the time these days.

[LiamG]

I would let Firmino go (and try and sell Fabinho, and see if we could even let Henderson go to Sunderland or somewhere) if we’re really going to refresh. We have a lot of attackers especially now it looks like Elliott is definitely a winger. And he’s injured a lot of the time these days.

I think Fabinho has enough respect from fans to turn his form round, last seasons quadruple run has mentally drained a lot of our players, i honestly think some of the underperforming players will be much better next season

Henderson and Firmino will stay too

[LiamG]

Diaz (23) - Nunez (24) - Salah (31)
Carvalho (21) - Gakpo (24) - Jota (26) - Firmino (31) - Elliott (20)

Nunes (25) - Thiago (32) - Bellingham (20)
Jones (22)- Fabinho (29) - Bajcetic (18) - Henderson (33)

Robertson (29) - Van Dijk (32)- Konate (24)- TAA (24)
Tsimikas (27)- Matip (32) - Gomez (26) - Van den Berg (21) - Ramsay (20)

Alisson (30)
Kelleher (24)- Davies (19)

If we were to sign Nunes and Bellingham, This would be our squad and their ages at the beginning of next season, i'd honestly be happy with that, Plenty of depth with 7 midfielders - 8 With Elliott who can play there

i actually think we may go for someone to eventually replace Salah as well in the summer, not something many people are mentioning

Probably enough to then sign a CB, maybe a LB & midfielder the summer after?

[Zlen]

Croatian media saying Kovacic may be forced out of Chelsea. Would be all over him to be honest.

[Elzar]

Croatian media saying Kovacic may be forced out of Chelsea. Would be all over him to be honest.

Quality, but again just hampered by injuries constantly.

[killer-heels]

Croatian media saying Kovacic may be forced out of Chelsea. Would be all over him to be honest.

Injured a lot.

[JRed]

Injured a lot.

Perfect

[killer-heels]

Is there any club people can think of that has been destabilised so quickly? Maybe United in 2013? I cant think of an example where such a club has gone from being a model way of working, to a complete mess.

[amir87]

Is there any club people can think of that has been destabilised so quickly? Maybe United in 2013? I cant think of an example where such a club has gone from being a model way of working, to a complete mess.

Chelsea the year after they won it with Jose?

Granted, it was largely his doing but they ended up somewhere like 10th in the league from memory.

[killer-heels]

Chelsea the year after they won it with Jose?

Granted, it was largely his doing but they ended up somewhere like 10th in the league from memory.

Yeah but thats their team and having a bit of chaos is there thing. We have lost a CEO or whatever role Gordon did, Sporting director, some supposedly important nerds and a whole lot of stability has been lost.

[Always_A_Red]

Yeah but thats their team and having a bit of chaos is there thing. We have lost a CEO or whatever role Gordon did, Sporting director, some supposedly important nerds and a whole lot of stability has been lost.

But at least our assistant manager writes a cracking book!

[Skeeve]

Diaz (23) - Nunez (24) - Salah (31)
Carvalho (21) - Gakpo (24) - Jota (26) - Firmino (31) - Elliott (20)

Nunes (25) - Thiago (32) - Bellingham (20)
Jones (22)- Fabinho (29) - Bajcetic (18) - Henderson (33)

Robertson (29) - Van Dijk (32)- Konate (24)- TAA (24)
Tsimikas (27)- Matip (32) - Gomez (26) - Van den Berg (21) - Ramsay (20)

Alisson (30)
Kelleher (24)- Davies (19)

If we were to sign Nunes and Bellingham, This would be our squad and their ages at the beginning of next season, i'd honestly be happy with that, Plenty of depth with 7 midfielders - 8 With Elliott who can play there

i actually think we may go for someone to eventually replace Salah as well in the summer, not something many people are mentioning

Probably enough to then sign a CB, maybe a LB & midfielder the summer after?

Not convinced by that starting midfield at all, none of them seem like they have enough defensive awareness to really suit the 6 and if Thiago is going to continue to start then we would also need a higher energy option than Nunes as the other starter too. A better combination would be moving Jones on, not signing Nunes and either bringing in an actual 6 or making both non-Bellingham signings 6/8 types who could share the DM role as needed.

I doubt we'd be looking at an eventual Salah replacement in the summer either, besides him we already have 4 starter-level players, 2 youngsters who will be given the chance to stake a claim along with an experienced backup in Firmino. It seems more likely that Summer '24 would be the earliest we would make another attacking signing, unless we end up with sportswashers as new owners and they want to make a splash with a big name signing.

Outside of midfielders, CB seems the most likely place we will spend in the summer, starting succession planning on that area with one eye on VVD's form once he no longer has a broken down midfield in front of him to determine the urgency of that need, but it probably starting with one of Matip or Gomez moving on while we bring in somebody else. LB seems like it would be a position where we wouldn't need to rush and mroe likely to be another summer '24 position.

[Dree]

I think Fabinho has enough respect from fans to turn his form round, last seasons quadruple run has mentally drained a lot of our players, i honestly think some of the underperforming players will be much better next season

Henderson and Firmino will stay too

Keeping all the older underperforming players is part of the problem though right? In Henderson’s case definitely he’s physically gone and I’d be surprised if he ever got that back.

[DelTrotter]

Cannot see that happening at all. Someone doesn’t go from being as loyal as he is to getting rid of a million. Not by choice anyway. It’s far more likely we carry on as we are.

Yep, our best hope of letting a few go is they want to do a Mane and have a new challenge. Otherwise it seems like we'll try and renew anyone who's played a decent part in our success until they retire.

[Simplexity]

Why would Bellingham join us as we finish 6th? It also seems like we are at the end of our "cycle" and it may take years before we are a functional outfit again, why would Bellingham waste his time here for that when he can just go to City and win right now?

[killer-heels]

Why would Bellingham join us as we finish 6th? It also seems like we are at the end of our "cycle" and it may take years before we are a functional outfit again, why would Bellingham waste his time here for that when he can just go to City and win right now?

We still have a lot of good players though, they are not all over the hill, players like Konate, Trent, Alisson, Robertson, Van Dijk, Jota, Salah, Diaz are all top quality. We can make this turn around pretty quick if we get some decisions right. If we do that then 18 months and we could challenge for the league again.

The issue is we have wasted one whole season. If people think this is the transition season then they are wrong. That will be next season.

[amir87]

Even if next season is going to be a transition season we need to get our house in order pretty sharpish.

New owners/investment, a Sporting Director and some additional analytical sport is crucial before we get anywhere close to the Summer window opening.

If the current shambles continues into the Summer then I'd be surprised if there's much movement beyond 1 or 2 signings, whether that's Bellingham or not. We need to go big in turning this squad over and I have very little faith it will happen under the current ownership and recruitment structure. 

[Ma Vie en Rouge]

We still have a lot of good players though, they are not all over the hill, players like Konate, Trent, Alisson, Robertson, Van Dijk, Jota, Salah, Diaz are all top quality. We can make this turn around pretty quick if we get some decisions right. If we do that then 18 months and we could challenge for the league again.

The issue is we have wasted one whole season. If people think this is the transition season then they are wrong. That will be next season.

Perhaps, but I don't think it will be as bad as this season. We'll surely regain a sense of direction and some fresh blood will bring us new desire and momentum. If not, we really will be utterly adrift, and I don't think Jurgen (or the fans) will stand for that.

[has gone odd]

We are led to believe that Ward will leave to spend time with family. However, some of the lesser known and more technical staff leaving, is it know they have they gone to rivals? Seems like if you cant beat them, destroy them from within could be another tactic.

[Simplexity]

We still have a lot of good players though, they are not all over the hill, players like Konate, Trent, Alisson, Robertson, Van Dijk, Jota, Salah, Diaz are all top quality. We can make this turn around pretty quick if we get some decisions right. If we do that then 18 months and we could challenge for the league again.

The issue is we have wasted one whole season. If people think this is the transition season then they are wrong. That will be next season.

We still have good players obviously but most of them are fading forces. Salah, VVD, Thiago, Robertson have all clearly seen their best days. I just think it will be a significantly longer time before we are relevant again. Especially as FSG has engaged a holding pattern, just keep things ticking over. Dont see how you win with that.

[killer-heels]

We still have good players obviously but most of them are fading forces. Salah, VVD, Thiago, Robertson have all clearly seen their best days. I just think it will be a significantly longer time before we are relevant again. Especially as FSG has engaged a holding pattern, just keep things ticking over. Dont see how you win with that.

Yes but its not like Alisson, Trent, Konate, Diaz, Jota are all shite, then we have some talent outside of that with Nunez, Elliott etc. We still have a lot of good players and some real top quality ones. Of course we do have to invest in some more better players but there still is more than enough talent in there and a lot more than at the end of Rafa and Brendan's tenure.

[Machae]

Why would Bellingham join us as we finish 6th? It also seems like we are at the end of our "cycle" and it may take years before we are a functional outfit again, why would Bellingham waste his time here for that when he can just go to City and win right now?

The appeal would still be there, but I'd want assurances that Liverpools ambitions matches mine (Bellinghams), because as an outsider, the situation seems pretty chaotic at the moment

[Nobby Reserve]

Roberto Firmino is on the verge of signing a contract extension at Liverpool. [florian plettenberg - sky germany]

"will be like a new signing"

[Ma Vie en Rouge]

The appeal would still be there, but I'd want assurances that Liverpools ambitions matches mine (Bellinghams), because as an outsider, the situation seems pretty chaotic at the moment

Maybe we're telling him "but look, we've fucked an entire season in the hope of getting you", and he likes the sound of that kind of madness?

[Ma Vie en Rouge]

"will be like a new signing"

"Can play all along the forward line and as an attacking midfielder. Liverpool feel that Firmino gives them several players in one and will not be looking for reinforcements because they would struggle to get in the team."

[Red-Soldier]

Is there any club people can think of that has been destabilised so quickly? Maybe United in 2013? I cant think of an example where such a club has gone from being a model way of working, to a complete mess.

Was thinking the Manc 2013, but their squad was on it's last legs before they won the title, Van Persie got them over the line that year, but they were always going to sink like a stone.  Especially when the manager retired.

[Flaccido Dongingo]

Hallelujah!

Was our top scorer prior to his injury.

[clinical]

Croatian media saying Kovacic may be forced out of Chelsea. Would be all over him to be honest.

Watch them inexplicably get massive fees for all their unwanted players. Will be nothing dodgy about that whatsoever.

[HeartAndSoul]

We still have good players obviously but most of them are fading forces. Salah, VVD, Thiago, Robertson have all clearly seen their best days. I just think it will be a significantly longer time before we are relevant again. Especially as FSG has engaged a holding pattern, just keep things ticking over. Dont see how you win with that.

Salah hasn’t been the same since the AFCON. That’s over a year now. The amount of 120 minutes he played in that tournament definitely destroyed his body. Everyone thought a break in the summer and a World Cup break would sort it out, but he’s just not been the same. Same could be said about VVD form.

[Pistolero]

"Can play all along the forward line and as an attacking midfielder. Liverpool feel that Firmino gives them several players in one and will not be looking for reinforcements because they would struggle to get in the team."

 

[Jayo10]

Salah hasn’t been the same since the AFCON. That’s over a year now. The amount of 120 minutes he played in that tournament definitely destroyed his body. Everyone thought a break in the summer and a World Cup break would sort it out, but he’s just not been the same. Same could be said about VVD form.

Its known in medical circles within sport as problematic these days, how elite athletes keep themselves ticking over during periods of off season. Back in the day you had the likes of Razor Ruddock and the like binging during time off (and time on actually) and coming back to melwood a stone or 2 overweight which was a problem.

Nowadays these guys go on holiday and bring their own coaches to keep them ticking over, and this is independent of the club. You wonder is there any merit in simply getting a full rest before going again. Nobody wants to miss a beat when they return nowadays and it could be to their detriment.

[Geezer08]

We still have good players obviously but most of them are fading forces. Salah, VVD, Thiago, Robertson have all clearly seen their best days. I just think it will be a significantly longer time before we are relevant again. Especially as FSG has engaged a holding pattern, just keep things ticking over. Dont see how you win with that.

Thats my take on it as well, it will take a while 2-3 years for us to be relevant again. We carry a lot of fading players and have a good group of potential world class players. Jota, Diaz, Alisson, Nunez, Konate however they are all injury-prone and will be difficult to keep if we are not in CL/top 4 contention for a few seasons.

[jizzspunk]

Salah hasn’t been the same since the AFCON. That’s over a year now. The amount of 120 minutes he played in that tournament definitely destroyed his body. Everyone thought a break in the summer and a World Cup break would sort it out, but he’s just not been the same. Same could be said about VVD form.

Destroyed his body 🤣🤣....what a load of crap

[DonkeyWan]

I think part of the problem is that there are a lot of question marks over the younger players in the squad, as much as it is an issue with older players

Goalkeepers

                  1. Alisson
                  13. Adrian
62. Caoimhin Kelleher

Defenders

2. Joe Gomez
                  4. Virgil van Dijk
5. Ibrahima Konate
21. Kostas Tsimikas
22. Calvin Ramsay
                    26. Andy Robertson
                    32. Joel Matip
46. Rhys Williams
47. Nat Phillips
66. Trent Alexander-Arnold

Midfielders

              3. Fabinho
              6. Thiago
              7. James Milner
8. Naby Keita
              14. Jordan Henderson
              15. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
17. Curtis Jones
19. Harvey Elliott
28. Fabio Carvalho
29. Arthur
43. Stefan Bajcetic

Forwards

              9. Roberto Firmino
             11. Mohamed Salah
18. Cody Gakpo
20. Diogo Jota
23. Luis Diaz
27. Darwin Nunez

As you can see, there are 12 players who are 29 or over. They make up the core of the side,  but only because those pushing them from behind are not really dislodging them. Only Jota, Diaz and Konate would be considered first choice, the rest only playing when they are being rested, or they are injured. So, not only have those aging players to be replaced, but they have to be replaced by first team players.

[Crosby Nick]

Is there any club people can think of that has been destabilised so quickly? Maybe United in 2013? I cant think of an example where such a club has gone from being a model way of working, to a complete mess.

Leeds didn’t win a single away game the season after they won the league. Not sure where they finished but it was bottom half.

Blackburn got gradually worse after winning the league in 95 and were relegated by 99. So we have something to aim for.

[rob1966]

Is there any club people can think of that has been destabilised so quickly? Maybe United in 2013? I cant think of an example where such a club has gone from being a model way of working, to a complete mess.

Leeds didn’t win a single away game the season after they won the league. Not sure where they finished but it was bottom half.

Blackburn got gradually worse after winning the league in 95 and were relegated by 99. So we have something to aim for.

Yes - us in 1991. We finished 2nd, 7pts off Arsenal, but likely would have won the league if Kenny hadn't resigned, 6th the next season and the squad torn to shreds and 30 years to win it again

Big difference now is we still have a core of quality players, we've quality coming through and the Boss isn't going to be signing players like Mark Walters, Dean Saunders and Torben Piecknik