Liverpool Banter Archive June 28 2017

28 Jun 2017 21:58:44
Things have got way out of hand with Keita in my opinion. An essentially attacking midfielder who only scores 8 goals and creates 8 ONCE is quite simply not worth a mega money transfer.

I have admittedly not seen him live so maybe he is better than his highlights (that would be a first though) but seriously? €70m on a player with 1 season in a top class league? Would anybody pay that for Forsberg? Or Werner? Because in my opinion they probably had better seasons than Keita. However the media haven't drummed up a storm around them so they are not world class?

You can't go around slinging that kind of money on players who have proven so little. That is money you spend on proven world class players. We will end up in serious debt if we start making mega money gambles. You take gambles at £10-20m. I apologise in advance for anybody who has watched Keita extensively and can genuinely say they see real potential. It really does seem like some people are just getting caught up in a hype band wagon though.

This is just my opinion though guys, I just cannot justify that figure on a guy nobody had heard of 12 months ago.

28 Jun 2017 22:15:10
Mate do you really think it makes difference how much he will coast, or how much he has played in a top class league? at the end of the day it's what klopp thinks that matters.

28 Jun 2017 22:15:27
Err, an essentially attacking midfielder? MK, not that I have seen much of him, but he starts in a DM or CM position. I believe he is often operating in the Henderson/ Wijnaldum mould for them. If he comes (and that's a huge, Godzilla-esque IF), he will be taking Wijnaldum's position I guess.
The numbers are pretty great considering that; I think he had some set pieces in him too, but most impressive is his ability of athleti dribbling, sort of similar to what Mane does upfield.

28 Jun 2017 22:16:50
There's more to football than just scoring and assisting. Look at Kante, he's not exactly a goal machine or the assist king but he is probably the best midfielder in the league. Keita is similar to Kante just he can score and assist a fair few. In my opinion we should pay up to £60m for him (after looking at today's market) . It's a lot of money but £60m today is like £40m a couple of years back.
I encourage you to have a watch of him as every time I've seen him, I've been mightily impressed.

28 Jun 2017 22:30:33
I understand your concerns about spending big money on someone you don't think is proven. Seriously though mate how can you debate someone you have never even watched? Or sorry watched his highlights.
Ever since Ronaldo went to Madrid for silly money and ridiculous buy out clauses where put in place the going rate for players was always going to go up that's just life.

28 Jun 2017 23:07:57
DaRedMan you are absolutely right in my opinion.

29 Jun 2017 07:18:37
Kante cost £30m only 12 months ago.
Keita is not twice the player.

29 Jun 2017 07:43:55
Yes Ron and that's was the bargain of the decade!
Is keita twice the player of Andy Carroll? Yeah probably.

29 Jun 2017 08:08:54
There is a problem with an inflationary spiral in the game, the question is, do we compete and bring in top players and have a seat at the top table m, or do we gamble at the lower end and hope for the best. Just remember, we settled for the gamble option when we brought in Diouf, Diao and Cheyrou instead of Anelka and Duff or when we went for Pennant and Crouch instead of Dani Alves and there are plenty of other examples I could mention. Tell yourselves that Keita isn't good enough when he turns out for a rival team against us and makes the difference for them winning. 8 goals and 8 assists for a central midfielder in their first season in a new league is good going, not withstanding his defensive contribution as he puts himself about a fair bit. There is no question that he is good enough, the question is, can anyone realistically come up with another player who offers what he does for less money?

29 Jun 2017 09:48:09
Jacko, comparing NK to AC is a false equivalent that is illogical. MK is actually correct in his assessment and I have actually seen Keita play a few times for RBL. He is Kante but with better attacking (goals, assists and shooting ability) and passing ability. He is dynamic and would play the Wiji role if he came to us as IMO, that would be his best position next to Hendo/ Can in the B2B role.

Now, MK is correct that he is not worth his money being asked and RBL is only asking that amount cos they don't want to sell, which is normal. No one would be stupid enough to pay that money at this time which may explain why we are the only ones in for him. In fact, no one was going to pay the 50m we offered at first. People don't even ask why that is? Maybe cos he ain't worth it regardless of his immense talent. If Klopp wants to let himself get stripped naked by RBL then he should have at it BUT that does not mean that what many of us like MK and myself are saying, has no value.

30 Jun 2017 14:07:50
MK

And how many Deep lying CM has scored more than him. Comparing his stats to Strikers and Wingers are ridiculous. He has had more impact in one season than all three of Hendo, Wiji and Can combined.

30 Jun 2017 14:11:45
@Ron
Kante would cost £100mill this summer Fact! Price is generally very high this summer compared to last and it will continue to grow!

30 Jun 2017 17:40:50
Comparing prices of one player to another is essentially pointless in this day and age. is pogba 100 times better than any player signed for 1 million no it's completely irrelevant though. There are way too many factors for each transfer. For a start wasn't kante due to a clause in the contract and him wanting to leave? Also how much would it take to buy him this summer would Chelsea even sell for 100 million pound?

I digress, back to keita he is a seriously big talent don't anybody doubt that. Also forsberg very inconsistent but top top dead balls. actually a little surprised keita only had 8 assists as his balls through a needle is spectacular.

As I said somewhere above I don't think it's a player we overly need but I don't think anyone could be dissapointed if he did come!

28 Jun 2017 17:23:36
Afternoon all, just thought I would say I really hope we stick to what we said about ending interest in VVD and make naby keita the priority, I would even go as far as paying €70m because he is exactly what we need. Although I am being told our interest in him is slowly but shorely drifting away for now, maybe until next summer. Obviously getting a left back and centre back would improve our defence but it will not end all problems we have at the back so I would look for a cheaper more realistic option than VVD.

28 Jun 2017 18:05:06
Please explain why we need Keita, because in my head he seems like a luxury signing, or Marquee or whatever they call it.

28 Jun 2017 17:56:33
The defence is the priority!

28 Jun 2017 18:01:47
We are stacked with CM's but short on CB's. Fact.

28 Jun 2017 18:52:53
Not sure we should spend €70m on a player who has had 1 good season, which was also a season in which he discovered he had an underlying heart condition.

No idea how serious the heart thing is, but either way he is not worth anymore than £30m until he at least repeats last season. Chelsea signed Kante for £30m after the season of his career, but nobody sane would've paid more than that because he was still at risk of being a one season wonder.

Massive gamble if you ask me to blow so much money on Keita. That kind of money could land most players in world football.

28 Jun 2017 20:06:25
First of all I never once said don't get any centre backs, I just said go for cheaper more realistic options than VVD. Second of all have any of you actually watch enough of keita to think he isn't a priority for us? He is in my opinion better than Kante and non of our midfielders have them qualitys. The whole point of my original post was in a nut shell not to waste time or money on VVD (if soton will even sell him to us that is) when we can cover center back and left back with the money we would spend on VVD. In keitas case if we don't get him this window there is a strong chance he would go to Bayern Munich, city or Chelsea when the price drops but me personally would splash the extra 15m to make sure he is our player and not wait to see how things go next summer. The fact u say €70m is a waist and we could get more or less anyone for that price is funny because we would have to pay £70m for VVD and he clearly is not worth that price tag.

28 Jun 2017 20:23:43
Ei think it's hilarious that some people think keita is worth no more than 30m but the same people would like us to pay 70m for VVD or even 100m for mbappe 🙈.

28 Jun 2017 20:27:43
£60m on a proper centre midfielder who would improve our starting 11 or £30 on a player who is neither a centre midfielder nor a decent winger and is a bench player at best. We're in the position we always are every summer, we don't invest in top players while those around us do, we settle for lower quality players, because, well it's a bit cheaper, and then we wonder why we fall short every time. The last top class player we had at the club was Suarez and the club only bought him cause he was cheap due to his baggage. We are at a crossroads here, do we buy top players and pay what it costs, or do we buy mediocrity for less and risk a finish outside of the top four, because you can be sure that United, City, Chelsea and even Arsenal won't think twice about deals like these and then settle for the likes of Gibson or Oxlade Chamberlain if they were strengthening the starting positions in Central Defence of Central Midfield.

28 Jun 2017 20:30:18
We might have to end up paying way more for VVD than the figures which are being thrown around.

Soton have made it clear that he is not for sale.

28 Jun 2017 21:19:30
Joe treble, you should probably read the posts before running your mouth buddy.

Ask any poster on here if I think VVD is worth £70m 😂 I have made it quite clear i don't think he is worth it!

Not only have I not even posted about Mbappe who I a) think is an over hyped youngster with nothing more than good potential and b) think is massively over priced. I also think in Salah we signed a more first team ready player.

Remember when Martial was the next Thierry Henry 2 years ago before he became second fiddle to Lingard?

What is with people wanting to blow hundreds of millions on players after 1 good season. That is what got us into a mess before when we signed Clyne, Lovren, Moreno, Mignolet, Lallana, Downing, Carroll and God knows who else. Just chill, let the guys prove they are worth that kind of money, then move. Players with only 1 good season to their name are risks and their price should reflect that. Their price should not be approaching world record figures!

28 Jun 2017 21:32:17
Hansens I fully agree mate, I think oxlade will just fill the void of Lucas and although I like Lucas I think oxlade is a upgrade.

28 Jun 2017 22:17:50
I don't see Oxlade as an upgrade because he can't actually play centre midfield. All he is is an impact sub if we're losing. You wouldn't want him on to hold on to a lead or to see a game out.

28 Jun 2017 22:28:18
Thing is MK, Keita hasn't just come from nowhere or is a one season wonder. He's had two very very good seasons at RB Salzburg before where he was consistently their best player, he's transitioned to a tougher league competing against better players easily. And having watched a fair bit of Bundesliga I can tell you, he's the real deal. He gets up and down the pitch well, he's got a great range of passing, a great long range shot, he puts the boot in, reads the game well and makes a lot of interceptions plus he's got good positional sense.

29 Jun 2017 00:46:14
I respect you as a poster MK but seriously you rate the Ox yet turn you're nose down on Mbappe who in his one proper season as a first teamer has done more than the ox has in 5 or 6 years. The kid is better than just 'good' potential, I mean he is already turning up in important games in the CL and scoring 27 goals at the age of 18 more than Martial has in two seasons at UTD. to say he is a special talent is an understatement.

29 Jun 2017 10:03:54
Mk is right on the money. I have never rated VVD so he is definitely not worth the 70m being thrown around. Mbappe is a very talented youngster but 100m? That is just madness. The great Ronaldo was terrorizing the whole of Europe and South America at that Age for Barcelona and Brazil and he was not worth 100m even tho, to me he was. Mbappe was not even better than Messi at that age cos Messi was winning the U20 WC at that age and broke into the Barcelona starting 11 with the giants like Eto'o, Iniesta and the great Ronnie.

As for Keita, his talent is immense BUT a 70m player, he is definitely not esp. after one good season in a top league in Europe (sorry but the Austrian league is a non-starter) . That is just crazy and RBL put that amount on him as they don't want to sell and NK is deep down, not interested in leaving them either. We are clearly barking up the wrong tree here, guys. Take a hint!

People should stop fawning on one season wonders and wait till their proven. If they are proven and then are worth more then, we can go for them, as MK said. We need to stop this right now. Salah was signed for the amount we paid cos he is a proven entity in Italy and in the CL. Those are the players we need.

As for the Ox, my disagreements with MK on that issue are well documented.

28 Jun 2017 15:16:57
Joe Gomez loan to Brighton then ed? I guess we will need a CB this window now mate?

{Ed002's Note - It means he will never come back if you buy to replace loan players.}

28 Jun 2017 17:57:29
Matip lovren klavan and new CB this year, next year matip lovren new CB and Gomez with klavan leaving?

28 Jun 2017 20:03:13
Exactly Fencey.

Ed002 being a bit short sighted I think.

28 Jun 2017 20:28:49
Big risk if you ask me. Unless the club are sure they can bring in a high quality centre back we'll be left well short.

28 Jun 2017 22:14:13
If the loan is confirmed, then it's definite that we will see 1 or 2 CB's come in. Otherwise, as has been said, it's big risk to say the least. I'm not sure Lucas can be asked to stick around and play second fiddle for another season. The man has paid his dues with the club and let the man go, if he wants to go.

I'm just hoping there's some activity, in the background, going on in regards to CB's and we'll find out on the day the players show up for their medicals. But these prices of 50-60-70 million for competent players really makes me wonder what the hell is going on.

28 Jun 2017 18:04:32
Now youve said that ed, I can't think of one player that we have loaned out that has come back and played again or regular for us. Shame as I rate Gomez.

28 Jun 2017 16:50:06
Eds. are you ruling out the Keita to Liverpool link and possible transfer? There's still time for the transfer to happen and if as claimed Keita has a release clause which is less than what Leipzip are asking surely it makes sense for them to sell this window than next summer? Of course transfer fees are crazy but in my view, best to spend money on two quality players than buying mediocrity at a lower cost. Surely, FSG have the learnt the lesson by now? Appreciate your views as always.

{Ed001's Note - release clauses are not relevant. It is unlikely he will move, they do not need the money but they do need to hold onto their best players to move forward. Unless Keita indicates a desire to leave, I expect him to stay.}

28 Jun 2017 14:41:19
Eds I have a question, how many of you guys are still here from the days where you used to rate the chances of a player signing from 0-10 i can't even remember what year that was, all i remember it was when we were signing marveux (spelling? ) .

{Ed001's Note - I have no idea to be honest who was here then, probably 4 or 5 though.}

28 Jun 2017 14:47:51
Hi Daindan I do remember those days I don't post very often but I have been following for a long time. Didn't he fail a medical with us?

28 Jun 2017 15:22:47
Yeh i remember them days. and ken agueros lucky pants haha.

28 Jun 2017 15:50:13
Wasn't Marveaux the player who read the posts here and was taken aback by the amount of abuse against him? I may be mistaken here.
And yes I do remember the rating days. I think it stopped because people would get too hung up on them and get abusive.

28 Jun 2017 19:14:55
Yes. I remember it clearly. Sylvain Marveaux. I don't recall him having failed a medical but he had a long history of dodgy knees. He signed with someone else and then that's the last we heard of him.

28 Jun 2017 22:29:09
I remember I used to enjoy Blair Mayne's posts.

28 Jun 2017 14:11:42
Eds do you take much from Southampton recent insistence that they are keeping hold of VVD or do you think that's just a price driving statement if not who do you see as a viable option for us if klopp wants a player of VVD quality and stature surely his options are limited.

{Ed002's Note - I refer to the statement rom LFC about him.}

28 Jun 2017 13:31:12
Ed01 Thanks for the great work u r doing and providing us with valuable information i have a question for u who u really believe we will sign after the drama has gone in Full backs, centre half

Thanks and waiting for y reply.

{Ed001's Note - I expect Robertson to be honest. Not my choice, but that is who I think we will end up with.}

28 Jun 2017 13:48:09
Jonas Hector.

28 Jun 2017 14:02:24
I hope for the same.

28 Jun 2017 14:02:36
We should've fought for Kolasinac. He will be the best left back to move clubs this summer in my opinion (unless Sandro or Alaba move) and Arsenal got him on a free!

In an ideal world Bertrand would be an attainable target but what with out strained relationship with the Saints, I think we can kiss good bye to that.

I would be satisfied with Robertson as I think he is a good young player, but there were better options 2 months ago. We just didn't explore them, or if we did the club has made mistakes to end up probably signing an only decent player when we got CL football and should be signing a great player. I am not overly bothered by Mendy or Gaya though. I don't think either are worth the amount they would cost. Robertson is just as good as them defensively and marginally worse going forward, but won't cost an arm and a leg.

It's not my money? Erm, yes it is. All the money in the game comes from the fans in one way or another and I would rather see it invested wisely than burned on Johnny Foreigner because he has a fancy name.

I like Rons suggestion though. Hector is a great player. Can attack and defend to a good level which is very rare in todays game for a full/ wing back.

28 Jun 2017 14:06:08
Have to agree with you ron think he would be better defensively.

28 Jun 2017 14:44:09
Everyone slagging off Robertson and creaming themselves over the thought of signing Mendy or Gaya, but absolutely nobody knows how any player from abroad will settle and adapt to the Prem.
Just look at Moreno, everyone was over the moon that we signed him and not Bertrand and look how that one turned out.
I'm not saying I want us to sign Robertson but Johnny Foreigner isn't always guaranteed to be better than someone who is a decent, proven Prem player.

28 Jun 2017 15:11:18
Hector would be great - with Salah and Mane on the wings the pressure to buy an attacking fullback is less urgent IMO (witness how much we created from the right with Mane there, despite Clyne) and I think having someone like Hector who's solid defensively would really help out the CBs, and he's no slouch going forward either.

28 Jun 2017 17:25:11
I'm with you MK. If Robertson is the guy we get then, I guess we have to get with the programme and hope Klopp can hlp him.

28 Jun 2017 12:35:58
Ed01/ 02 I have learnt a lot from you about the football club I love so much and how it is run since I joined this page. I am deeply ashamed of how my club is being run. First I learned from Ed01 about the way we treat charities. We pride ourselves on calling the club a family yet we turn away anyone in seek of help? What happened to You'll Never Walk Alone? I then learned from Ed02 that the club is actively tapping up players nearly every window. How those leading the club think it is okay to treat other clubs this way is despicable. And how we could be so stupid and try tap up a youth player and then in the end leave him and his family in financial turmoil when found out it shows how much care we have for youth players. When the clubs starts treating its players like people instead of assets then we may see change. Anyway to my question eds, do you think something will be done and who do you hold responsible? Werner? Klopp? Henry? Ayre?

{Ed001's Note - I hold them all responsible, they are all accountable for their actions, as well as many others within the club. I doubt anything will change, other than it being hidden better in future, sadly.}

28 Jun 2017 13:55:20
Welcome to modern football. You wanted an international brand and financial force. You got it now!

{Ed001's Note - I never wanted any such thing.}

28 Jun 2017 15:03:39
It's not anything new. It's been going on for a long time and Liverpool has had a bad reputation in business for about as long as I've known people in football (roughly 13 years or so) .
It's also not something restricted to just Liverpool I know of a few clubs who do all the same things, they are just better at keeping it quiet than we are. They also don't present themselves as bastions of honesty on truth like we often do.

28 Jun 2017 17:37:32
We should stop the "everybody does it" argument as it is a false argument and a poor excuse at deflection. Cos everybody jumps off a cliff does not mean we should do it either. We need to stop this tapping up nonsense once and for all cos it is killing us big time.

Several clubs don't even want to deal with us anymore like Fiorentina, Fulham, Udinese, Inter and prolly the Saints. The FA also have us in their sight now cos another one of these tapping up crap will get us a transfer ban (we already have one with the academy players) and then, all the "everybody does it" crap will be a poor excuse for a reason, just as it is now.

28 Jun 2017 12:07:10
The continued link to Ox I won't mind the player to come in but personally I would like us to look at Ward-Prowse admittedly we have some bridges to build at saints but looks a cracking player, great delivery from a dead ball aswell and prem experience. I would have a look down that avenue before the Ox but no doubt would be much more expensive!

28 Jun 2017 11:49:33
What do the eds think of lucus moura?

{Ed001's Note - not good enough, very fast but lacks end product.}

28 Jun 2017 12:25:50
I think he looks decent. He is still young and has plenty of experience in one of europs Top leagues and champions league. Could be a nice signing but i doubt it will happen. 3 Wingers would mean we can rotate a lot but we can't buy 1.000 players this summer just for squad depht reasons.

28 Jun 2017 17:39:38
Crammie, he's been at PSG for 4 seasons now and still not good enough. Maybe this explains why he is not interested in moving either as he love Paris as well cos he rejected Utd to go there in 2012 from Sao Paolo.

28 Jun 2017 11:32:21
Probably get a lot of hate for this. Defoe is available. If his wage demands aren't too ridiculous I don't think it's a bad shout. A one year contract to cover our squad and likely injuries, Ings could go on loan to get match fit. I know he has his deficiencies but he gets goals and could prove an asset and a short term fix. Unsure of his attitude but with his experience would he not be good for the youngsters also?

Let the abuse begin.

28 Jun 2017 11:48:02
He's at bmouth.

28 Jun 2017 11:50:31
We don't need more strikers we have Firmino, Sturridge, Origi, Ings, Solanke, Woodburn and Brewster. We only play with one striker we should be trying to move the ones on we don't need not buying more in. Sturridge should be sold as much as I would like to see him get over his injury issues I can't see it happening. Ings should leave out on loan and get some game time he has had a long lay off with injuries. Woodburn and Brewster should be given chances in the cup when available. Solanke was player of the U20 World Cup that is a big honour and shows he has what it takes to challenge for a first team place. that's leave us with Firmino, Origi and Solanke as our main Strikers.

28 Jun 2017 11:59:07
I would take defoe all day long. We should have snapped him up years ago. But yeah if we are going to go with the strikers we have at the min. Which I think we will. Defoe would be brilliant as a back up. Much like when Fowler came back, if he would be happy to be our super sub that is.

28 Jun 2017 12:06:08
Higgins, no abuse as the concept of this makes sense. Also a chance for our youngsters like Solanke and Origi to learn via training. IN an ideal world, the older player then ends up on the coaching staff in years to come. A scenario like Gary Mac could be win-win-win for older player, club and younger players.

The only 'however' is that I don't think Defoe specifically actually works with our style of play. I may be mistaken (correct me if I'm wrong as I've not really watched Defoe over the years) but he isn't a pressing player? Nor particularly interchangeable, as our front line of Salah, Mane and Firmino would be. Therefore, if we need to change our style of play to accommodate him, it may not work out.

28 Jun 2017 12:37:47
Nailed on for Bournemouth.

28 Jun 2017 09:57:04
I love Klopp . Us reds love Klopp . That is all . Tap into he's love people . In Klopp we trust ♥️.

28 Jun 2017 10:13:03
I love Klopp as well BUT he needs to clean up his act cos the things Ed02 has revealed about him (tapping players up is only one of several issues the Ed revealed) are very worrisome to me and should be equally worrisome to any LFC fan.

28 Jun 2017 10:46:31
Im not worried about it one bit. It's what he gets the players doing on the pitch is what matters to me. What's done is done.

28 Jun 2017 11:33:10
So I guess it's "the end justifies the means" then?!
Does nobody care about the poor kids family who got screwed?
If it happened to you. would you still love the club and manager?
Don't get me wrong, I love this club, but after what edd002 said about the kids family, it seriously got me thinking and questioning, is a club that acts this way, worth my undying love and adoration?

28 Jun 2017 12:13:36
I don't really get the tapping up problem. There are a lot of players who say "Yes im constantly in contact with club x or manager x". Why is it such a huge problem now?

Im not really sure how speaking with one person is or could be illegal in any way. AND as far as it got reported, the FA didn't find any evidence or not enough evidence, that Klopp or the Club did something wrong. Everyone needs to calm down.

{Ed001's Note - morals are non-existent in your world then? I am sick of this moronic justification of us lowering ourselves to the level of scum like Real Madrid. LFC used to stand for something, but the fans have lost sight of what it means.}

28 Jun 2017 12:34:33
Ed001: it has nothing to do with morals. As far as i can tell managers and clubs get in contact with you monitoring your situation at a club.
When i played in the youth bundesliga there where a few clubs that stayed in contact with my parents (obv i was underage) and talked about my future and possible transfers.

It is nothing new and everybody does that.

{Ed001's Note - again that is morals. If you can't understand that, please do not try and correct me, because you are simply wrong. Your morals differ from mine. I believe in being better than others, not the same corrupt scum. You seem to think it is ok to be like the scum, and justify it because they all do it. You obviously do not get it and I fear for this world because so few people do.}

28 Jun 2017 12:55:50
Next thing you know we will be calling Lance Armstrong a true champion because everybody was juicing!

{Ed001's Note - exactly.}

28 Jun 2017 13:02:27
The ruin of the world is falling to other people's standards rather than trying to raise them to yours.

We should strive to do what's right, not what we can get away with.

28 Jun 2017 13:54:20
I've got to be honest. I don't really see the problem with "tapping up" except for in extreme cases when clubs take it too far. I think we took it too far with Van Dijk with the whole meeting in Blackpool and leaks to the press.

However I don't see the issue with clubs making contact with players to see if they would be interested in joining them and making them a personal offer. To expect this not to happen and for clubs to not make any contact or offer to a player until they have the permission of their club kind of reminds me of the old-fashioned not asking a girl if she wants to marry out until you have her father's permission.

These are grown adults in employment. They can make up their own minds. If another club has persuaded a player to come and join them, it is up to the club they are with to persuade them to stay. Football is a very public industry so a lot of the time you are going to know if big clubs are interested in a player.

It has happened with players we have owned and we have done it ourselves in the past. I have complained about it happening in neither of these cases.

{Ed001's Note - I give up. Morals are dead. If you can't play by the rules then don't play the game and this kind of moronic justification is sickening. Cheating is not ok and if you think it is then you are no better than Lance Armstrong. No one needs to tap up a player. It is not asking them if they are interested or you would just ask their agent ffs. If you are having to speak to them personally, then there is a problem.}

28 Jun 2017 14:23:34
If the rules state you have to speak to the player's club before speaking to the player, why can't all clubs do it, it's not rocket science? I want our club to do like I do and do things properly!

28 Jun 2017 15:10:22
Rufusthered: To put it in context, would you be ok with some guy chatting up your missus and seeing if she's interested in ditching you?
The rules state that you can only talk with a player after a fee has been agreed with his club (unless he has 6 months remaining) whether it happens a lot or not (it does) is irrelevant - nobody should be doing it.

28 Jun 2017 17:49:27
Rufusthered and Crammie, "If you stand for nothing, you will fall for anything". That was a line from Dr Dre in his song Been There, Done That. Do you know how and why Trump got elected? It is because of people who hold the same views and lack any moral standing like you, have decimated the American way of life. There is no more common decency, empathy and regard for principles anymore and it is killing the U. S day by day. It was a failure of America's moral values and institutions that got us the worst president in the country's history. I propose that you both, desist from having such views and lack of regard for morals or you will be part of the problem that tapping up is, except of course, you are both fine with the immorals that is infesting the game.

27 Jun 2017 23:54:35
Hi Ed002. I don't see how you can compare Conte and Klopp's acheivements. Both are vastly different projects. Chelsea had a league winning team when Conte took over and also addedt Kante, who had just inspired Leicester to their first title. Klopp on the other hand inherited a team that was still recovering from the loss of Suarez and Sterling and Rodger's mismanagement.

{Ed002's Note - No, Chelsea were mid table when Conte took over.}

28 Jun 2017 09:24:26
Kante signing for Chelsea after winning the title with Leicester and Conte changing things to play to his players strength was the main reason Chelsea were worthy winners last season.

28 Jun 2017 12:13:26
In case u forgot Chelsea didn't start the season well but conte changed to a back 3 got the best outta his players. The key in the Chelsea team is hazard when he plays well different class.

28 Jun 2017 12:40:22
At the first international break there were rumours going around that Conte would be fired record quick last year.

28 Jun 2017 12:47:19
Interesting question really in who screwed up most and least last year. Conte must be said to have screwed up least, although it did look a bit wobbly for the first few weeks. But, he had a title winning squad. Spurs overperformed more than anyone.

IMO, pep probably did worst out of the top 6, followed by Wenger. They both really should have done better. Next worse, Mourinho. Europa saved his bacon, but in fairness he won it. Would have been a disaster for Utd as a club if he hadn't won it and got into CL.

So my order of managers who screwed up last season, in ascending order is :

Poch
Conte
klopp
Mou
Wenger
Pep.

28 Jun 2017 09:44:44
Conte did a great job winning the league, you could argue he had the bulk of a title winning team plus adding Kante meant all the pieces where there, he just had to make the team gel and quickly, which he did, very well.
You could also argue they where mid table ed002 but they where vastly underachieving and having a complete meltdown, credit goes to Conte for turning that mess around.
I've seen your critisism of Klopp recently ed002 and sadly I agree with most of it, his behaviour has been less than acceptable, he's getting away with it though because he is breathing new life and a sense of hope through the club and has got the team playing quite well, I doubt he would get away with it if he was anybody else, I hope he gets a good slap on the wrists and wins us the league this season.
One more thing ed002, please keep it up, despite the haters, a good dose of reality is needed on here from someone not under Klopps spell haha.

28 Jun 2017 10:29:34
Come on Ed002, yes Chelsea may well have finished in mid-table, but the quality of the squad did not make them a mid-table team, they finished mid-table because some of the squad put in below par performances to get Mourinho sacked. Calling Chelsea a mid-table team before Conte took over is the equivalent to saying Barcelona are not one of the top teams in the world because they didn't win La Liga last season!

{Ed002's Note - I didn't call them a "mid table team", they wer in MID TABLE. So how about Ranieri then?}

28 Jun 2017 11:35:53
No offence here Ed2 but the team was full of quality and merely didn't want to play for Mourinho because of issues that happened earlier on in the season. Was a much easier team to fix than that of which Klopp inherited.

{Ed002's Note - And Ranieri then?}

28 Jun 2017 11:38:27
Conte did very well in his first season but he did add 110 million worth of players ( kante, luiz, Alonso and batshauyi) to a league winning squad that had massively under performed the prior season. KLopp did very well to get us where he has, if we spend big then the expectation has to go up though.

28 Jun 2017 12:52:14
I don't really want to dwell too much on other teams, but I disagree that Chelsea were a mid-table team when Conte took over. Chelsea had finished in the top 4 every season since 2002/ 3 when Conte took over, except for the blip in the prior season, including winning the title 3 times in that run. Chelsea were a top 4 team that had one bad season when Conte took over, and he has won the title with a large number of the players who previously finished mid table.

Liverpool, much as I hate to admit it, were a upper-mid table team when Klopp took over, other than a 'blip' in 18 months earlier when they finished 2nd. We all know we have never won the premier league.

I maintain that Klopp's challenge in bringing the title to Liverpool is more difficult than Conte's in bringing the title back to Chelsea.

{Ed002's Note - Ranieri then.}

28 Jun 2017 14:13:33
Yep, Klopps task is certainly easier than Ranieri's.

28 Jun 2017 15:14:14
I'm not sure that Ranieri position and Conte are comparable at all - just like conte and Klopp. Or anyone and anyone. They are completely different teams with different non-playing staff, playing staff, environments budgets etc
It's like comparing how gerrard played for Liverpool and how zidane played for Madrid. You can only draw cause and effect from comparisons if the conditions of the comparisons were largely the same - they are not.

28 Jun 2017 15:50:55
More fool on FSG I say for believing Klopp's interview statement that he could win the league with the current squad. Who hasn't bu**shitted in an interview to get the job? The squad was clearly way behind competition, so very naive. I think he's done ok, but he's no miracle worker.

{Ed002's Note - The celebration of failure continues.}

29 Jun 2017 00:13:01
I didn't forget that Chelsea changed their style after 3 games.
That is why I said Conte changing things to suit his players.
It was a great decision but brave as well. Hazard did play well but he was far from the only reason that they were successful.

You don't notice the effect Kante has on the team until he is not there.
He'd walk into any team in Europe.

28 Jun 2017 19:05:30
saying that he's done ok is not celebrating anything Ed. If anyone's mrs said that the other half was 'ok' in bed you wouldn't be getting the balloons out would you? 😂.

{Ed002's Note - I wouldn't as I don't, unlike you, have any thoughts about how good men are in bed.}

27 Jun 2017 17:24:59
Ed002, Wanted your opinion please if you beleive we will look to sign a alternative CB this Summer or perhaps stick with what we have now?

{Ed002's Note - After Klopp lied to Gomez and then illegally approached van Dijk I have no idea what his plans are. I suspect he will continue to look for alternates ad his first choices aren't joining.}

28 Jun 2017 10:29:35
I thought there were similarities to Widji's deal though Ed where the agent approached us as he wants to sign for Liverpool.

Thought that's what was stated by one of the eds on here.

{Ed001's Note - that is not similar, as it was not done with the blessing of the club, unfortunately. Newcastle knew and approved the Wijnaldum approach, Saints knew nothing about us talking with VVD and especially talking to the player and not just his agent.}

27 Jun 2017 21:32:32
Hi Ed1 a future blog/ article from you, the pros and cons of having a collegiate system (similar to NFL) in the premier league?

{Ed001's Note - nice idea that one, I have added it to my to do list. Good timing as I have been talking to a few people involved in the NBA and NFL recently.}

28 Jun 2017 08:07:15
What page will they usually go on that type of article? I don't always find them very easily is all.

{Ed001's Note - they go on the football-news-views.co.uk site.}

28 Jun 2017 13:07:18
ED1 your kingdom stretches out to the NBA and the NFL as well haha, lemme know when it drops, how long is your to do list now mate?

{Ed001's Note - I like to keep up with as many sports as possible, a lot of the stuff is related, such as fitness. For instance, San Antonio Spurs employ an ex-Liverpool staff member. There is a fair amount of stuff in each sport that is relevant to footie. My to do list is down to about 150 articles now!}