26 May 2017 03:02:45
Don't understand why Brandt is demanding these assurances of regular game time. When you're a young player who leaves for a big club in the champions league, the prospect of time on the bench is just a risk you need to be willing to take. If he's so concerned with playing every week then perhaps he should stay at Leverkusen for a little while longer.
Don't get me wrong, I'd love to have him here, but I reckon he's a little naive.
26 May 2017 04:41:54
Naive?
He wants what is best for him, what is wrong with that?
A large number of young footballers go to big clubs, for big money, and are never given an opportunity. Before long, what was once touted as unlimited potential becomes a story of what might have been or could have been. Then they leave, never re-find that ability that made them so desirable and play a lower league of football then they would have perhaps wanted.
So no, I don't think Brandt is being naive. In fact, I think he is being very smart. He is considering all possible avenues, weighing the pros and cons, requesting assurances that if he was to make the step up to a bigger team that he would receive regular playing time. Nothing wrong with that. I would be far more concerned if Brandt wanted more money, that would show he is extrinsically motivated. More a mercenary for hire than a footballer who plays because of his love and passion for the game.
Brandt has ability, we all recognise that. But ability can only take you so far. The rest comes down to opportunity and dedication. Brandt clearly cares about the first, let's see in a few years time whether his ability will match his commitment to his craft.
26 May 2017 06:32:41
Players who demand playing time are insecure which is not a good trait.
If you're good enough, you'll play. If you're not good enough you will be dropped.
If a player can't deal with this reality then move on to the next target.
{Ed001's Note - not necessarily. It depends on the player. Brandt is simply saying why would I want to move to join you and be a squad player, when I can stay here play first team football on a regular basis and develop. It is not like the old days when there was a good reserve system to bring players through, nowadays there is only really first team football.}
26 May 2017 06:36:13
Mate, there's a big difference between asking for regular opportunities and asking to be in the starting team virtually every week. Brandt will get enough opportunities, but on top of that, he wants to be guaranteed a consistent starting place.
Obviously, he is searching for what is the best for him, but he should be more realistic. Big clubs in the Champions League find it hard to make such assurances to 21-year-old players with potential. He needs to accept that if he wants to move to a big club, he'll need to fight his way into a mainstay role. He's not exactly in the best bargaining position to make those demands.
Hopefully, Liverpool can have a discussion with Brandt and convince him with the idea of coming to Liverpool for regular playing opportunities with the aim of cementing a starting role in the near future.
{Ed001's Note - why should he be more realistic? He is in no rush to move, so why not just stay where he is or go somewhere he will get guaranteed game time and develop his game?}
26 May 2017 06:51:16
If you want guaranteed game time then don't go to a big champions league club, it's that simple. When you consider a big champions league club, accept the risk of not playing virtually every game.
I know he's in no rush move, I'm not saying that he must leave Leverkusen - I said that if he wants to play every game, then stay at Leverkusen or go somewhere else that it is a certainty. But asking for the same assurances from Liverpool just seems like a waste of time to me, accept the Liverpool opportunity for what it is - an opportunity to play regularly and potentially cement himself into the starting team.
{Ed001's Note - but you are saying he should be realistic and I don't see where you get this idea he is not being realistic. He is not the one pushing for a move to Liverpool, Liverpool are chasing him. Why does he have to change his requirements to suit us, when we are the ones wanting him, not him wanting us? People really need to get those blinkers off before making comments.}
26 May 2017 07:54:30
He is 20 years old with a very bright future. He's not wanting game time assurances because he believes he should be first choice, more that he may not reach his potential without enough game time right now.
I'd much rather that attitude than coming for the money and nothing else.
26 May 2017 08:15:59
Is it looking like we're going to offer him the assurances he wants ed? Or are we going to move on to someone else?
{Ed002's Note - We don't know but one side needs to change their stance.}
26 May 2017 09:23:09
Because nowhere he can go will really offer guarenteed playing time.
All yoy xan do is buy him and hope he one is good enough and two works hard enough.
Klopp needs him players to run throufh brick walls. What if he offers thia playing time and brandt thinks he doeant have to work hard?
Steer clear if brandts in the right 🤔.
26 May 2017 09:23:10
Robin, you keep referencing a big champions league club if you are speaking about Liverpool you need to back up a little we Ain't a big champions league club we are trying to rebuild our reputation and try and become a force again, 2 seasons out of 8 in the champions league is not big club material be realistic, Brandt is doing the smart thing he wants to know he has the opportunity to start every week and is not blocked by Couts which if we revert back to the 4-3-3 he is unless Klopp moves him I agree with the lad if we don't play him week in week out he should stay at Bayern he is only 20 years old have another good season and more will come calling for him.
26 May 2017 10:19:50
Just to be pedantic Kloppers it's not Bayern but Bayer. The club was started as the works team for Bayer the German chemical and pharmaceutical company.
26 May 2017 11:04:02
Ah I see thank you for the correction Redplanet.
26 May 2017 11:11:09
Brandt is right. Where is Markovic guys? We screwed up his career.
26 May 2017 11:30:52
Kinda see both sides really. Brandt doesn't want to stagnate on the bench, he wants to be playing and developing. I guess we would like a player who fights for their place and constantly puts the effort in, rather than getting complacent because no one is challenging for their position. Klopp is always going to play his best options. If one of our kids is given a chance and has a great run of games, they will get played ahead of Brandt, responsibility is on both parties to give chances and put the effort in. I don't see how any guarantees can be given from either side. However, I doubt it is as black and white as it seems, I'm sure a conversation between LFC and Brandt will go a long way.
26 May 2017 11:41:01
Brandt's attitude is refreshing. The guy could easily make more money elsewhere, but he'd rather stay at Leverkusen and play regular football. There are countless examples of young players going to big clubs, getting benched and having their careers stifled. I have no complaints about his stance, but I hope an agreement can be reached.
26 May 2017 11:54:37
To be fair I like his attitude. he is 20 years old and at an important crossroads in his career. one would assume he has still got massive improvement left in him so he could become a absolute worldy.
He could stay where he is and carry on performing as he is, and his demand and the quality of clubs looking at him would increase.
He could come to us with no assurances and stagnate (for example markovic) .
Or he could go to a different club and still improve and develop his undoubted potential.
I for one have more respect for players who want to play week in week out on less money than I do for the Delphs and bonys of this world.
26 May 2017 12:55:07
The lad has the right idea - most important to his development is game time right now and you only need to see how Markovic, Delph and numerous others have disappeared, not necessarily through their own fault but never really having had much of a chance.
The smartest thing is to be patient, so asking assurances of the side you move is a positive sign of his maturity and recognising where he is in his development- not a negative.
Whether we have the confidence to back that is our call.
26 May 2017 14:20:49
No. In one sense I admire his attitude of wanting highly frequent football to develop himself. But in another sense, I also hate his attitude. I don't care if Liverpool is chasing him or he's chasing Liverpool. Irrelevant fluff. You're a 21 year old and one of the world's biggest clubs just made you a decent offer of at least regular enough football to provide a chance of cementing yourself, evidenced by how much Klopp admires and wants the kid, and how much of a void exists on the left flank. Liverpool can't absolutely guarantee what he wants, so accept the offer for what it is, and take it or leave it. If you wanna go to Liverpool, show some balls and back yourself to cement a place in the starting side.
26 May 2017 17:35:12
Robin, you do know that we came to Brandt and Brandt did not come to us, right? He is in no hurry to move but is willing to provided he can get opportunities to play and develop, which is what we all want. He is 20 years old and is being realistic and putting all the cards on the table about what he wants.
He himself knows that if he does not use the opportunities he's given wisely and someone else takes his spot, he will have to be benched and work hard to get it back. That is football and if you think Brandt does not know that then, you are not giving him enough credit. He knows there are NO guarantees in football and Klopp will not keep playing him even when he is crap. Ask Coutinho vs Burnley.
I like his attitude and sincerity and NO, we are not a big CL club so really, we have no demands to make on this matter as we want him and he is open to the move but not chumping at the bit to come here. Both those points have to be recognized.
27 May 2017 10:17:50
We are a big UCL club N Red. We are Liverpool, and we'll be challenging for the EPL next season.
I am indeed aware that Liverpool approached Brandt. But Brandt is obviously interested. So it's going both ways.