29 Aug 2022 19:07:27
Ed002 with Matip returning from injury do you think Sepp van den Berg and Nat Phillips will be allowed to leave now before deadline day. If so ed any ideas on where they might end up.
Thanks Ed for all your info over the window especially with all the crap you get every window.

{Ed002's Note - Nathaniel Phillips (CB) Bournemouth would like a deal, but at the right price. West Ham and Newcastle have previously been interested but he would not be a first choice for either. A loan may be possible.
Sepp van den Berg (CB) Will get another loan - and perhaps Schalke will be an attractive option. Blackburn are keen. Fear is he goes to Germany and does not get game time.}

29 Aug 2022 20:09:21
Let’s hope both get the opportunity to develop elsewhere. Phillips could stay if he would be happy to be 4th choice and move Matip on but can’t see it happening. Sell the lad for what he’s worth. Sepp definitely needs a loan with guaranteed game time as he is one for the future first team squad I reckon.

29 Aug 2022 20:31:29
Matip is miles better than Phillips.

29 Aug 2022 20:20:43
Thanks Ed a loan to Germany would be great for Sepp if he does get the game time hopefully he is good enough. As for Nat I hope he gets his transfer to Bournemouth I don’t get why so many people want him to stay over Matip as his nowhere near his level he did great for us when we had all are injuries but he is not too 4 level so hope he gets his move so his career does not stall for the next 6 months.

29 Aug 2022 21:23:54
Unfortunately when Phillips plays our whole tactics change, because he is not good enough with ball, Matip is twice the player Phillips is.

29 Aug 2022 21:42:46
Nate Phillips would suit almost any team that doesn't play a high line. He has shown that when he gets a run of games his is a competent player and not as poor as some are suggesting.
People forget that in "that" season he saved LFCs ass on a number of occasions and help get us to 3rd.

29 Aug 2022 22:12:58
big Nat and high line do not go together, see Palace game, otherwise he is a really good defender, but yes Matip is the better, Nat, for game time should get a loan deal.

30 Aug 2022 06:53:36
Sepp will be some player in a couple of years, I think schalke would be great for him. Would love to see him have two seasons of regular football at a good level and then come back and potentially get a starting/ rotational place.

30 Aug 2022 08:24:35
Wasn't Gomez also skinned in the high line against Utd?

30 Aug 2022 09:13:37
Unbelievable that some people are advocating keeping Phillips and getting rid of Matip. Do they understand football, or even watch it? Phillips no better than mid table or Championship class.

30 Aug 2022 10:22:59
Here we go, Phillips out on loan season after season until we get no money for him and leaves on a free.

30 Aug 2022 10:35:45
Loans have a fee, so in essence Nat could go on loan, his wages get paid by the loan club and a fee for the loan, so it may not be a bad option if he’s not really going to get minutes with us.

30 Aug 2022 11:33:26
Over the last 12 months Matip has been 1st choice (based on game time) alongside Vvd.

Would be strange to move on a first choice to keep a 5th choice that played Championship football.

Phillips has a strong following and is almost going into Origi / Bobby poster boy territory.

{Ed001's Note - the reason I would suggest it is because Konate and Gomez are younger and for the future. VVD is the number one so it can't be him. Konate has clearly been bought to take Matip's place long term, so why not move him into the position now? But then you have Matip on a high wage as 3rd/4th choice, which is pointless. That is the thinking behind moving him on but keeping Nat, who is on a low wage and very capable of being 4th choice. It then frees up funds for others.}

30 Aug 2022 12:30:23
Ed001 I actually think that will be the evolution of the squad where Gomez and Konate will eventually become the first choices but I also believe Matip will be kept on until his contract expires and then released due to keeping him is more value than a few that he would bring in.

Bobby is similar. Apart from Salah he is our 2nd highest paid forward but could be argued he’s 4th or 5th choice when everyone’s fit. But he’s of far more value to the squad being kept than a low fee sale.

{Ed001's Note - I agree that will be what will happen, but for me I think we should have been looking to move Matip on now. We have been far too loyal to players when we need to be ruthless.}

30 Aug 2022 12:30:46
And Matip is injured every season and Phillips isn’t so we are paying wages for someone who can actually play.

{Ed001's Note - that is the issue for me, Matip cannot be relied upon.}

30 Aug 2022 12:48:44
There is higher interest in Phillips than Matip and being younger and english will get a better fee. Feel that Phillips will leave maybe in Jan or next summer with Matip staying till end of contract.

30 Aug 2022 13:04:26
WarMachine despite Matips injuries over the last 6 years he’s probably played 100 more first team games than Phillips in the same time.

So one of them is definitely getting paid to play games and it’s not Phillips.

30 Aug 2022 13:12:21
Ed001 do you think Bobby is in a similar boat as well mate?

Very high wages and same age as Matip whilst could be argued Nunez and Jota could be ahead of him in pecking order. Plus he had a lot of injuries last season. We moved on Origi and Mino who were both younger and on lower wages.

{Ed001's Note - yes, it doesn't make sense to me. I know Bobby is brilliant when at it, but you can't pay back up players the big money.}

30 Aug 2022 13:25:01
Ed001 I suppose the issue is when these players sign the contracts their not back up players at the time.

We could find ourselves in a predicament in a couple of years where Salah could be a back up player on 370k a week. Not saying that’s going to happen but there’s no guarantee that it won’t happen either.

Cheers for your time this morning mate.

{Ed001's Note - that's why you need to be ruthless when they do become back ups. You have to look to move them on as you bring in their replacements. We have not been doing that.}

30 Aug 2022 13:34:56
JK23 very short sided view I’m afraid.

30 Aug 2022 14:00:41
WarMachine I’m not sure how it’s a short sided view? It was your view that he gets paid but isn’t available to play and I simply replied that he’s actually played more ??‍♂️.

30 Aug 2022 15:04:17
You are looking back, I’m looking forward.

30 Aug 2022 15:19:39
Warmachine you said Matip is injured every season. That’s clearly looking back.

Gentleman’s bet Matip plays more minutes than Phillips in the first team this season. Can’t be looking more forward than that.