EPL - Matchweek 19

[Savant]

Easily

I’m very curious if a (REDACTED) can win a BDO considering who the voters are

 

[Duchene2MacKinnon]

I’m very curious if a (REDACTED) can win a BDO considering who the voters are

?

 

[Savant]

?

I’lil DM you

 

[PeteWorrell]

Still half a season left

What a selfish player.

 

[Savant]

What a selfish player.

Glad someone else heard that today too. How ridiculous

 

[JeffreyLFC]

Under FSG ownership Liverpool have had the most dominant run they've had in 3-4 decades and some fans are complaining about them.

They replaced an elite manager and every thought they'd struggle but instead they've got a 9 point (maybe 6 after tomorrow) lead over the closest title challenger at New Years.

Ridiculous levels of whining and entitlement.

The issue is not about winning it's about backing the team when they needed a push. So missed opportunities over thr years especially with the front 3 they had. Anyway I am glad they won everything but it still give my a sour taste in my mouth, what if?
I have no doubt that LFC could have won even more with the team they built and yes going against juggernaut like Man City is never going to be easy and yes they have made formidable appointment and yes there are way worse ownership.

The question was, offer Salah anything he wants. I agree but it's all in the hand of FSG. If they manage to sign them all, kudos heck if they manage to sign 2 out 3 it would be good but the key is will they do that? I am still very worry about it. So FSG pleave prove me wrong.

 

[Wee Baby Seamus]

FSG are the reason why Liverpool look like this right now, rather than like United did in 2013 or Arsenal in 2018. They supported Klopp building a squad and apparatus which would outlive him. I cannot conceive of seeing this Liverpool side, in its first post-Klopp year, and getting petulant about the ownership group.

 

[Epictetus]

They hire the smartest football people they can find to run the club and make football decisions for them and they stay out of the way. That alone is better than 90% of owners.

 

[Live in the Now]

I don't think there's anything wrong with wanting the owners to not Jerry Reinsdorf the team. But I will wait for something to actually happen before getting mad about it.

 

[Chimaera]

I don't think there's anything wrong with wanting the owners to not Jerry Reinsdorf the team. But I will wait for something to actually happen before getting mad about it.

I guess. There’s a world where owners just light money on fire to buy all the players.

That isn’t this set of owners, so, for that sure, I guess one can get fussy. They also are after profits and would sell anything not nailed down if they thought it significantly improved the bottom line.

However, I remember the lean years. The cheap skate owners. Spade in the ground and all that. I look at the sport washing. The lighting money on fire up the road in United while the owners loot the club. Now the new bozo.

Liverpool won things. Big things, under FSG. They’re financially sound. They worked out how to retool Anfield. New training ground. Smart people running the club. Liverpool among some of the biggest clubs in the world, doing it with less budget than their league competitors. When they’ve made a big misstep off the pitch, they’ve corrected it. Transitioned from a legendary manager and seem to have gotten out of the way for smart people to make the choice.

Sure, the transfer silly mess won’t be amazing. There’s not going to be a window where they get all the stars. That’s ok. That’s not the clubs DNA.

 

[hockey20000]

depressing to be a tottenham fan this season lol. need a miracle to win the league cup semi. bravo to liverpool this year though they are fun to watch

 

[JeffreyLFC]

Sure, the transfer silly mess won’t be amazing. There’s not going to be a window where they get all the stars. That’s ok. That’s not the clubs DNA.

Believe me long time ago I resigned myself that LFC will not target the highly priced players (and I am good with that especially after the Nunez + Keita debacle). What is worrying is the succession plan and depth of the team. I think the depth is razor thin after the obvious starters, especially defensively. I am thankful that we developed internally players like : Kelleher, Quansah, Bradley and Morton. They are the one providing the depth at the moment so LFC do not have to go on the transfer market. That being said, I have yet to figure out what is the long term plan for this team, last summer they got a backup goalkeeper and cheap injury prone forward.

I do not want them to start purchasing every young player that breath in the market like Chelsea but maybe just maybe one top young talent per year to have at least a better succession plan. They are now in an envious position in term of standing+ revenues but they never fully take advantage of it, which happened in 2020 and 2022 when they dropped due to having an aging squad and lack of depth at defense and midfield. All of this was self inflicted because they lacked investment in the team and stayed loyal to declining players.

Let's assume that all of VVD, Salah and TAA does not re-sign for next year, who are their heir apparent in the squad? Bradley for TAA? Sure, still very young. For Salah though it's pretty grim, Chiesa? Elliott? And for VVD it's even worse: Quansah and then... Diallo?

I know a lot of people think we need a defensive midfielder but I disagree I think Endo+Morton are more than good enough but defensively (CB/LB) they are one VVD injury away from dropping massively in the standing. They need to have more depth, not even mentioning Robertson whose qualities has dropped off massively this year. Konaté is injury prone, Gomez also has been having issue staying fit. They got rid of Matip but never replaced him.

These are my biggest worry for the team right now, the lack of succesion for their star players and the lack of depth defensively. Otherwise they have everything in their hand to get the players needed. No financial fair play issue or lack of CL or even albatross contract (maybe Chiesa) but then the new direction purchased him, ffs and good coaching + facilities.

 

[bluesfan94]

Believe me long time ago I resigned myself that LFC will not target the highly priced players

This is such a silly concept given that they set the record for GK transfer, for defender transfer, and were willing to spend 100M on Caicedo.

 

[Blender]

This is such a silly concept given that they set the record for GK transfer, for defender transfer, and were willing to spend 100M on Caicedo.

Yea their bid was about the same as what Chelsea offered in transfer fees.

 

[JeffreyLFC]

This is such a silly concept given that they set the record for GK transfer, for defender transfer, and were willing to spend 100M on Caicedo.

Sure then look at the net spend over the last fee years and they are near middle of the league. Well below the other top 6 clubs.

They sold Coutinho which funded their purchase of Alisson and VVD. It's quite clear they have been operating on selling before buying, that's their MO. They got Nunez because they sold Mane. They bidded for Caicedo because they sold Fabinho and Henderson.
Also on Caicedo, they did bid but never offered similar amount to any other player since then. That being said, as I said prior, I do not care about 'marquee' signing, I just want decent depth especially if you want to compete on all fronts. They are lacking that.

FSG have always (and still claim) they won't indebt the club to purchase players and will spend within their mean. I do not expect them to turn around and bid 100M on a new player unless they have a sale.

I mean good they were willing to bid 60M for Zubi and missed.
They bidded 115M for Caicedo and missed, so let me ask you were did this money go? They basically spend 20M for Endo + 40M for Gravenberch after the failed attemp at Caicedo, still 55M short, maybe that was the money for Zubimendi they never used?

The issue I have is that they have the money available but they refuse to spend unless they get the right profile. Fair enough but if they miss the title by a single point or winning a trophy because of injury because they did not have a good deal available it's a bit pathetic. The one thing I like about Arteta Arsenal is that he is constantly looking at improving his team even when they already have a good team. They always want more depth. Even now, with Saka injured I am pretty confident you will see them dip in the market to continue compete.

 

[bluesfan94]

Sure then look at the net spend over the last fee years and they are near middle of the league. Well below the other top 6 clubs.

Net spend has nothing to do with whether they will or won't target big dollar players.

Also on Caicedo, they did bid but never offered similar amount to any other player since then.

There's been two windows since then.

 

[hatterson]

"LFC will not target the highly priced players"

> Is presented with 3 examples of targeting highly priced players

Response:

 

[JeffreyLFC]

Net spend has nothing to do with whether they will or won't target big dollar players.

There's been two windows since then.

Okay, in these two windows now look at what the other big 6 spend compared to LFC.

With FSG, I am in the camp that I will believe it when I see it.

It's also funny because they have purchased some incredible players during the winter window. Suarez, Coutinho, Sturridge, VVD, Diaz, Gakpo.

 

[JeffreyLFC]

"LFC will not target the highly priced players"

> Is presented with 3 examples of targeting highly priced players

Response:

I will repeat. I am fine with then not targeting the highly priced player (I am not FSG/LFC and it's quite obvious they were stupid at throwing the fee for Nunez) if you want to praise them for that go ahead I won't, it's stupid. I simply want them to target player who add depth and young players that could succeed to the the star players we already have. They can even target south american, african or asian players, they pay millions of pounds in their scouting department. Use them.

Just another note while everybody is praising FSG. They missed on Lavia because they refused to offer 60M for him to Southampton and were trying to save on the fee for a few millions just to turn around and offer 115M Caicedo and then still missed on both players. Quite an incredible achievement on them.

Same with Zubimendi, going public for their interest in the player just for him to refuse. How pathetic you have to be to get burn like that.

Thank god they are having a succesful season. One thing for sure, they are good at appointing a manager I will give them that.

 

[bluesfan94]

Okay, in these two windows now look at what the other big 6 spend compared to LFC.

With FSG, I am in the camp that I will believe it when I see it.

It's also funny because they have purchased some incredible players during the winter window. Suarez, Coutinho, Sturridge, VVD, Diaz, Gakpo.

Liverpool choosing not to bid on certain players in two windows, one winter, one summer, is not the same as Liverpool will not target big dollar players.

 

[JeffreyLFC]

Liverpool choosing not to bid on certain players in two windows, one winter, one summer, is not the same as Liverpool will not target big dollar players.

Sure but as I have said, it's always sell to buy. They do not target highly priced players unless they sell their players before hand.

 

[Savant]

It’s a combination of net spend and being picky. There are pros and cons.

 

[hatterson]

It’s a combination of net spend and being picky. There are pros and cons.

Just like comments on their ownership overall.

Saying they won't be (consistently) among the world leaders in transfer expenditure and wages is fine and accurate. But that's not remotely the same as saying they'll never target highly priced players.

Saying they're not the best owners in the sport is fine but it's not remotely the same as whining about them being awful owners.

 

[Savant]

Just like comments on their ownership overall.

Saying they won't be (consistently) among the world leaders in transfer expenditure and wages is fine and accurate. But that's not remotely the same as saying they'll never target highly priced players.

Saying they're not the best owners in the sport is fine but it's not remotely the same as whining about them being awful owners.

Correct. I think it’s fair to say that on big purchases they have more levels that need to be pushed compared to others. And that they need to/choose to be “opportunistic” for lack of a better word. But no, we don’t ignore big players. FSG aren’t perfect but they get more right then they get wrong. A lot of fans think it’s easy

 

[Wee Baby Seamus]

Maresca you coward play Acheampong instead of Disaster