Topic: LIVERPOOL TRANSFER THREAD - THE OLD (CRAP) THREAD THAT'S GOING IN THE BIN

[DonkeyWan]

We finished 3rd not 4th. We lost our 3 first team centre backs. One of whom happens to be the best defender in the world. If Klopp wanted Brewster, he'd still be here. And if you'd have told Klopp he'd still have the best players of his CL winning side 3 years later, he'd have been over the moon.

But you know all this...

And Liverpool is an aging team with limited depth and players prone to injury in key positions, with 2 CBs in their 30s coming back from long-term injuries.


But you know all this...

[Samie]

Virj just turned 30 about a month ago and unless it's a diffrent Joe Gomez then the one we have is just 24.

[67CherryRed]

with 2 CBs in their 30s

One's 29, one turned 30 about 3 weeks ago, but yeah lets take them out the back and shoot them, they're done.

[amir87]

Absolutely. The kind of signings we should be making in midfield (especially) and attack.

We still might...

[Agent99]

Fans fall for it every year. FSG have always said they will under promise and over deliver. Putting out articles saying we are not likely to buy anyone and then signing a Jota or a Thiago is their MO.

[rawcusk8]

Maybe wait till the window slams shut before the detailed posts about our lack of signings? We have over a month of the window left anything can happen. I’m not falling for the doom and gloom same old same headlines from the likes of Jones, Pearce and whoever else wants some clicks. For those with memories better than mine, is this what last summer was like? We ended up signing two very good players and I’m hopeful of the same. Reality is we’ve no idea what’s happening behind the scenes and I highly doubt the journos do too. We’ve got a brilliant squad it’s not like we need much, one or two signings are not beyond us.

Couple of questions from me;

How many youth players have we sold then regretted?
Why do some Rawkites hate players 30 or above?

[Schmidt]

What are Liverpool, Burnley? Buy to sell? Get rid of talent without ever giving it a chance if the price is right? Liverpool are the fifth richest club in the world and fans are poring over the books like Scrooge over a payday loan. There were plenty on here that had tipped Brewster to be the new Owen. He may never achieved squat in the game, but does anyone think he got a decent chance at Liverpool? I dunno, maybe Klopp didn't rate him, or maybe Klopp was given a choice over money for a player he wanted and money for a player who may or may not have come good.

There were plenty on here talking up Pacheco, and Suso, Wilson, Kent, Grujic, Ibe, Ilori, Hoever, the list goes on. If we were selling youth players and then regretting it 5 years later I'd understand but has that ever been the case?

I find it somewhat surreal that after a season where Liverpool dropped back to 4th (and only barely) largely because of injury to one key player, the fan base are happily accepting  another summer of underwhelming investment in the squad, simply because that one player, turning 30 and coming back from a career threatening injury only now, is back in training. What if there is a recurrence of his injury, or, as frequently happens in these cases, he picks up another related injury? We play the season with a crocked Matip, Gomez also just back from months out and an unknown 20 something?

So we just spent a big fee to remedy an area where we lacked depth last season due to a freak set of injuries, but we should be underwhelmed because he's an "unknown 20 something"? It sounds an awful lot to me like we had a weakness in the squad and we addressed it as soon as the window opened. We made a mess of the January window, I doubt you'll find many who disagree on that, but we now have four central defenders and none of them are clear backup players.

Meanwhile, just down the road, the team that passed Liverpool to finish second have been spending and investing again this summer. United's squad is now younger and deeper than Liverpool's.

That's all this really comes down to isn't it? The mancs are throwing money at their squad and we're not, even though they have decades on us in terms of growing their finances we should be matching their transfer spend, reality be damned.

You know what the fundamental problem here is, in this thread too? Denial.

The Liverpool fan base is indenial about what happened last season. We have come up with a convincing series of excuses as to why Liverpool failed and have persuaded ourselves that once certain events happen (everyone is back fit) that Liverpool will cheerfully leap back to the top of the table challenging City for the league with a 90 point haul.

That is mental. There were contributing factors to Liverpool's decline last season that were unique, yes, but they served to exacerbate existing problems. This summer was the summer to address those problems (actually, last summer was, but that is by-the-by). We addressed one, the sale of Lovren, that should have been addressed last year. But there are many others that need addressing, and we are putting it off to next year. Again.

We signed two starters last summer and added depth at left back while losing no one of note, and also brought Jones through. This summer we've strengthened our defense and still seem to be hunting for more players. Last season has been an excuse for people to stomp their feet and demand transfers, when in reality there's very little to read into our performances.

[DonkeyWan]

One's 29, one turned 30 about 3 weeks ago, but yeah lets take them out the back and shoot them, they're done.

Matip turns 30 8 August.

[Dim Glas]

Last summer same type of articles. Unlikely to do any business, not likely to sign Thiago, not going to happen unless Gini leaves same summer, etc....

I love how they don’t even ask the journos to pace the articles, just have them land the same time!

[Kopenhagen]

I love how they don’t even ask the journos to pace the articles, just have them land the same time!

The journalists think they have a scoop, too. 

[afc tukrish]

I love how they don’t even ask the journos to pace the articles, just have them land the same time!

Pace articles don't count...

[Dim Glas]

The journalists think they have a scoop, too. 

they are even more gullible than some of us here 

[gazzam1963]

What are Liverpool, Burnley? Buy to sell? Get rid of talent without ever giving it a chance if the price is right? Liverpool are the fifth richest club in the world and fans are poring over the books like Scrooge over a payday loan. There were plenty on here that had tipped Brewster to be the new Owen. He may never achieved squat in the game, but does anyone think he got a decent chance at Liverpool? I dunno, maybe Klopp didn't rate him, or maybe Klopp was given a choice over money for a player he wanted and money for a player who may or may not have come good.

I find it somewhat surreal that after a season where Liverpool dropped back to 4th (and only barely) largely because of injury to one key player, the fan base are happily accepting  another summer of underwhelming investment in the squad, simply because that one player, turning 30 and coming back from a career threatening injury only now, is back in training. What if there is a recurrence of his injury, or, as frequently happens in these cases, he picks up another related injury? We play the season with a crocked Matip, Gomez also just back from months out and an unknown 20 something?

Meanwhile, just down the road, the team that passed Liverpool to finish second have been spending and investing again this summer. United's squad is now younger and deeper than Liverpool's.

You know what the fundamental problem here is, in this thread too? Denial.

The Liverpool fan base is indenial about what happened last season. We have come up with a convincing series of excuses as to why Liverpool failed and have persuaded ourselves that once certain events happen (everyone is back fit) that Liverpool will cheerfully leap back to the top of the table challenging City for the league with a 90 point haul.

That is mental. There were contributing factors to Liverpool's decline last season that were unique, yes, but they served to exacerbate existing problems. This summer was the summer to address those problems (actually, last summer was, but that is by-the-by). We addressed one, the sale of Lovren, that should have been addressed last year. But there are many others that need addressing, and we are putting it off to next year. Again.

You do know we actually came third two points ahead of the CL winners and it was a bit more than one injury to a key player

[deFacto please, you bastards]

You lot do realize that CB's tend to play long past their 30th birthday, and most of the top class ones have done it at a high level still. I mean there are endless amounts of examples with this.

This infatuation with the age 30 is really fascinating within our lot. I could even somewhat understand it when it's used in regards midfielders and attacking players but christ on a bike, they don't fall of the face of the earth as soon as they hit 30.

One injury wasn't the reason we had a season like we did, does this need to be even said anymore? It's multiple reasons, that just happened to be the leading domino of crap that would follow.

[jepovic]

No signing of any club will come close to us getting VVD back. Varane has nothing on him.

[Clint Eastwood]

I’m not too concerned about our defence. I’m apprehensive about whether we’ll see Virgil and Gomez back to their usual standards any time soon, but they should have many more years left in them. I’m hopeful that Konate will be a good signing and I can’t think of many clubs in Europe who have a group of CBs better than Virgil, Gomez, Matip, Konate.

My concern is midfield and attack. Replacing Gini seems obvious. Upgrading on Origi, likewise.

[Dim Glas]

You do know we actually came third two points ahead of the CL winners and it was a bit more than one injury to a key player

DW makes good points, but I was surprised to see him trot out the ‘injury to one key player’ line. Especially as things where still going rather well after the ‘one key player’ was injuried.  Our dramatic drop happened after going down to 0 central defenders and as a result saw our midfield decimated to make up for that loss, plus then losing key midfielders to injury too, and that drop lasted about 2 and a half months.

I do get the frustrations many feel  though, and I agree with the theory - that it’s a shame the club is seemingly treading water and plugging some gaps with the squad rather than trying to push on - as hard as that is though granted. But it isn’t news to any of us how things work at Liverpool re signings, so I’ve long given up on getting wound up by it!

[Hazell]

You lot do realize that CB's tend to play long past their 30th birthday, and most of the top class ones have done it at a high level still. I mean there are endless amounts of examples with this.

This infatuation with the age 30 is really fascinating within our lot. I could even somewhat understand it when it's used in regards midfielders and attacking players but christ on a bike, they don't fall of the face of the earth as soon as they hit 30.

One injury wasn't the reason we had a season like we did, does this need to be even said anymore? It's multiple reasons, that just happened to be the leading domino of crap that would follow.

It's my favourite. When I used to play Championship Manager I used to bin off players as soon as they hit 30. I think I've mellowed somewhat though, I mean, I'd still keep the likes of Van Dijk, Matip, Thiago, Henderson and Firmino, I think they're still pretty decent.

[FowlerLegend]

What are Liverpool, Burnley? Buy to sell? Get rid of talent without ever giving it a chance if the price is right? Liverpool are the fifth richest club in the world and fans are poring over the books like Scrooge over a payday loan. There were plenty on here that had tipped Brewster to be the new Owen. He may never achieved squat in the game, but does anyone think he got a decent chance at Liverpool? I dunno, maybe Klopp didn't rate him, or maybe Klopp was given a choice over money for a player he wanted and money for a player who may or may not have come good.

I find it somewhat surreal that after a season where Liverpool dropped back to 4th (and only barely) largely because of injury to one key player, the fan base are happily accepting  another summer of underwhelming investment in the squad, simply because that one player, turning 30 and coming back from a career threatening injury only now, is back in training. What if there is a recurrence of his injury, or, as frequently happens in these cases, he picks up another related injury? We play the season with a crocked Matip, Gomez also just back from months out and an unknown 20 something?

Meanwhile, just down the road, the team that passed Liverpool to finish second have been spending and investing again this summer. United's squad is now younger and deeper than Liverpool's.

You know what the fundamental problem here is, in this thread too? Denial.

The Liverpool fan base is indenial about what happened last season. We have come up with a convincing series of excuses as to why Liverpool failed and have persuaded ourselves that once certain events happen (everyone is back fit) that Liverpool will cheerfully leap back to the top of the table challenging City for the league with a 90 point haul.

That is mental. There were contributing factors to Liverpool's decline last season that were unique, yes, but they served to exacerbate existing problems. This summer was the summer to address those problems (actually, last summer was, but that is by-the-by). We addressed one, the sale of Lovren, that should have been addressed last year. But there are many others that need addressing, and we are putting it off to next year. Again.

If we are still in this position in a month's time then I would agree with all of this.
Van Dijk playing an entire season without injury is a big risk. Gomez coming back from his second major injury, Joel made of chocolate. Hendo picking up more injuries. Naby and the Ox with bad injuries. Sadio way off form. Loads of issues to deal with to ensure we are competitive.
But that's the thing. Aside from Sancho I don't think any really big moves have taken place that we would be in for. I didn't really think Malen was ready or Daka.
We are also selling players. Who knows, by tomorrow both Shaqiri and Origi could be out of the door. Why would we be taking hits on players and not receiving the money until next year (Wilson and Grujic) unless we were lining up buys? Surely we would just loan them and get more money for them next summer.
The market is pretty unique this summer due to the pandemic and some clubs you would expect to be more and more desperate as the summer goes on - French clubs, Barca. The best time to buy off them is later in the window surely? In which case its good for us to be saying at this point "well we can wait until next summer, no rush"
I think we are probably waiting to see what happens with Pedri for example and then will move on if that looks a no go. Whatever, I think we will do business but it will be as late as we can to get the best deal for players.

[disgraced cake]

Mane and Salah will have to be taken out back and put down too, sadly. Both are past 28 now and all their pace goals (the only ones they can score) will all dry up. Shame, really.

[deFacto please, you bastards]

Frustrations are fine, its understandable, but lets not cherry pick facts how it suits one's individual argument. One bloody injury it was not.

To suggest otherwise is incredibly ridiculous with all due respect, there were some good points made but that's just terrible.

[Kenny's Jacket]

We were 3rd.

This is the 3rd different poster who thinks we finished 4th, baffing

[deFacto please, you bastards]

This is the 3rd different poster who thinks we finished 4th, baffing

and 5 points behind 2nd place with all said problems

[Tobelius]

Think we'll at least sign a midfielder to replace Gini along with more minutes to Jones,over a month to go and i think for example Barcelona might be desperate by then.

It'll be terrible for some of us when Chelsea and Abu Dhabi really start flexing their financial muscle judging by the reaction to United buying a couple of good players.

[Hazell]

This is the 3rd different poster who thinks we finished 4th, baffing

But the team who surpassed us came second so...

[Dave McCoy]

Thanks for the constructive response - It’s not ‘basically the same team’ - since then, we’ve only added two players who have had any sort of impact for the first team. A few have left and a few have regressed. How is that sustainable? You need to plan for the future. We need to transition gradually if we want to stay competitive.

I'm sorry but it's just ridiculous.  Two seasons removed from winning the CL, one season removed from winning the PL and Klopp thought the squad should be completely different by now?  There's no constructive response to crazy.

I'd quote Donkey's post here but it's even worse and probably just a waste of time even engaging with.  The season is thankfully 2 weeks away.

[LallanaInPyjamas]

It has been a frustrating summer for Jürgen Klopp. He has been told he must sell before he can buy and those departures are taking longer than expected. With Liverpool keen to shift Xherdan Shaqiri and Divock Origi, another attacker will be required before the new season. Versatility will be important and for that reason Dani Olmo fits in perfectly for Liverpool. Capable of playing a variety of positions in midfield and attack, he could solve a lot of problems for the team. He has the workrate to match, ranking second in Europe’s top five leagues for most possession won in the attacking third (41).

https://www.theguardian.com/football/who-scored-blog/2021/jul/29/premier-league-transfer-target-club-summer-window

Olmo is a great shout because he covers midfield and centre forward in one foul swoop (he's decent from the left too). FSG save some money, our fan base get another signing, win win!

Always thought he was decent but my word he was absolutely unreal against Italy; there's a ceiling there which Leipzig have barely scratched the surface of imo.

[royhendo]

I find it somewhat surreal that after a season where Liverpool dropped back to 4th (and only barely) largely because of injury to one key player…

Nah. You’ve lost me now. We had a preposterous volume of injuries to key players last season. One of them was (for me) the best player in the league, fair enough, but there was far more to last season than Pickford’s assault.

Do you know we underperformed our own XG during that spell of consecutive losses by around the same as we outperformed it at our peak? Flip the story round and you could say we managed to find a way to hit league winning form without those key players being available.

I do think we’ll sign a player or two but even if we didn’t we’d be in a far stronger position than last year - the only intangible is Wijnaldum’s absence.

[Machae]

I'm not sure what everyone's arguing over anymore. Can we just ban pointless articles that just adds fuel to the fire.

[Samie]

Do you like Sailing mate?

[Machae]

Do you like Sailing mate?

Only when I travel with my friend Richard Parker

[Hazell]

Only when I travel with my friend Richard Parker

That's too highbrow a reference for this thread.

[Sangria]

Olmo is a great shout because he covers midfield and centre forward in one foul swoop

Is a foul swoop something like when a seagull dive bombs you with birdshit?

[Clint Eastwood]

I'm sorry but it's just ridiculous.  Two seasons removed from winning the CL, one season removed from winning the PL and Klopp thought the squad should be completely different by now?  There's no constructive response to crazy.

I'd quote Donkey's post here but it's even worse and probably just a waste of time even engaging with.  The season is thankfully 2 weeks away.

No point discussing with you further if that’s what you’re inferring from what I’ve said.

Not once did I say the squad should have been overhauled. You’ve clearly not bothered thinking about what I’ve said before throwing your ‘some people should get a hobby’ post out there

I know many are still feeling the effects of the last decade or so when we’ve lost our best players to the likes of Barcelona, Madrid, but we need to stop thinking like underdogs and just being thankful that no one has left. You build on what you have. Like City have every summer, and what Chelsea are going to do after their CL win.

[Sangria]

Only when I travel with my friend Richard Parker

Funnily enough, apparent even to commentators at the time, the same bizarre fate befell both a fictional Richard Parker and an RL Richard Parker.

[Sarge]

I find it somewhat surreal that after a season where Liverpool dropped back to 4th

3rd actually.

[Machae]

Its like an echo chamber in here

[Sarge]

Did i miss anything today, no?

[G Richards]

DW makes some reasonable points, and there are one or two legitimate grounds for concern... but when someone over eggs the pudding it is easier to dismiss everything they say at that point.

For me, the main issue is the team is starting to get old together. Now, they aren't on their last legs, and they have a few more years at peak, and we do have some younger players. But succession planning, along the lines of what we have seen with Konate, needs to happen in midfield and attack too.

But even as things stand now, to my mind we look pretty darn good, and we will give that title a good run.

Redbird investment was designed to help us invest at similar to pre-covid levels. Bringing Konate in looks to be it. Now we generate funds, and space in the squad, through sales. Progress has been made on that front, with more to come. Ideally it will bring in enough for two signings of the sort of level and potential of Konate, only for midfield and attack.

We are a well run machine. Room to improve a little, definitely; but hardly time for panic. 

[Lone Star Red]