Liverpool Discussion posts 2

12 May 2024 10:22:42
Hi Ed,

It's been a while, I hope you're well!
It's a shame as a Liverpool supporter we couldn't send Jurgen Klopp off in the best way.
Man city just win everything these last 8 years. Only lost the title once to Liverpool.

Looking at the players they're buying, they look unstoppable and with Pep at the helm. They have amazing youth players coming through.
Do you rate Liverpool young players coming through? We've had a lot of 17, 18, 19 yr olds play this season. Not playing UCL has allowed these kids to get more game time and do very well.

Would love to get yours thoughts on Arne Slot.
Jurgen will be missed ?

Kind regards
Tommy T.

{Ed001's Note - Bradley, Beck and Danns look ready for more involvement. McConnell looks like he needs to get more time to allow him to relax and fit in. The others look like they need a regular run of games to be able to make it, whether on loan or because of injuries to the team again. They don't look ready to just jump straight in and play regularly though without a few struggles as they learn like the 4 I mentioned do.}

12 May 2024 11:18:30
I think this is the best crop to come out the academy since the late 1990-98, Ed001. Back when Mcmanaman, Fowler, Owen, Carragher and Gerrard all came through. I do think Bradley, Quansah, Bajcetic and Elliott are the standouts myself. But the likes of Beck, Koumas, Clark, Gordon, Danns, Doak and McConnell are players who even if they don’t make it here, you can see them going and doing well elsewhere at a good level. Shoutout Jaros as well who is probably going to win the Austrian league with Sturm Graz. Could be a solid Kelleher replacement if he moves on for first team football.

After having Trent, Jones and Kelleher come through in the last 6 years, it’s nice to see the next batch looking even more impressive.

12 May 2024 15:12:52
I am personally excited about Chambers too. He didn't really impress when playing for us this season, but whenever I have watched him otherwise he seems really good. A solid player all round with a good brain, good engine, good technically.

12 May 2024 15:22:20
I always get really excited about youth players coming through and love it when they make it with us. Really hoping we give the likes of those mentioned above a chance and I would add Sepp Van De Berg and Carvalho into the mix.

11 May 2024 18:52:43
Sorry Eds, not LFC related but congrats to Bologna and T. Motta for qualifying for the champions league. My wife is from Bologna so I have casually followed them for the past two decades. Just an incredible accomplishment for such a small market club who, for the most part, measures success by simply remaining in series A. Forza Bologna.

12 May 2024 12:16:25
Always great to see underdogs do well, good luck to them mate. Saw it last night and thought it was bloody fantastic, good for them.

11 May 2024 18:11:06
My daughter’s partner’s brother is a taxi driver and picked Nunez up the other day. After a few questions, Nunez let it be known he was heading to Barcelona next season. Apparently he also gave said taxi driver a pair of boots. This is genuinely info passed on to me. However, I am aware that the taxi driver is a bluenose and apparently a compulsive liar, so it does bring the validity of this info into question. Personally, I think it’s definitely true!

Cheers.

11 May 2024 23:59:08
Barca are in as much financial poop as Everton. Barcelona can’t afford him and don’t have any players worth taking in part exchange. Nunez will be a Liverpool player next season.

12 May 2024 09:35:20
Cheers Greggers. What size, make were the boots?

12 May 2024 09:39:04
Cheers again Greggers, it’s great to read an old style rumour.

I love the idea of Nunez getting in to a cab and the cabbie saying “Where to mate? ”

Nunez: Look, I just want it to be known I’m going to Barcelona next season

Cabbie: Barcelona? I haven’t got a passport on me and my shift finishes in a few hours.

Nunez: OK how about I give you a pair of old boots?

12 May 2024 11:03:26
Old pair of predators with the floppy tongue. Impulsive buy at a car boot but Darwin realised the stench wasn’t worth the nostalgia.

Cheers.

12 May 2024 15:23:35
Lols that's a good one. Even if he wants to leave he's not going anywhere for less than £50M and Barcelona couldn't afford a bag of crisps at the minute.

11 May 2024 10:36:16
Hi ed 2

With the surprise announcement that Julian Ward has taken up a position with FSG, can we be more confident of sustained success and challenging for honours over the coming years? For me the biggest concern post Klopp is we go back to those hodgson/ dodgers type times which I can't begin to imagine. Also do we know what Klopp intends to do next will he leave football management or does he intend to take the Germany job in the coming years? Thanks for your insights!

{Ed002's Note - The owners want the club to be successful and part of a multi-club set up involving initially, perhaps a French side and certainly a MLS side.

Laporta has previously approached Jurgen Klopp through Marc Kosicke and would likely enquire again for next summer but it does not seem likely anything will happen, particularly as there is a language problem. That of course can be addressed over the next year whilst he sits in his Spanish hogar. Klopp wants time off although the role of German National coach role would allow him a lot more time away from the pressure of the week-to-week game. I expect the DFB to approach Klopp in the first instance to see how he feels about perhaps replacing Nagelsmann in the summer of 2026 after the World Cup in North America. A wildcard would be Bayern Munich but the timing will not be right for Klopp although they are considering an interim coach for next season and that might fit well for Klopp. Bayern have failed in finding a coach who will accept their terms but I suspect a deal can be struck with Hansi Flick with a get out clause of some kind for the summer of 2025 - when they will move for either Klopp or Guardiola.}

11 May 2024 11:45:55
That is interesting read Ed2. I thought Bayern intention to go with interim manager for a year or two because of Sebastian Hoeness will take over once he is ready. Never thought that they will move for Klopp or Guardiola again.

{Ed002's Note - He has a contract that runs to 2027 and will have plenty of time to move there later given he is only 40.}

11 May 2024 19:14:03
I'm confused that Bayern would even want Guardiola again, seeing as he is considered a big reasons as to why, as a nation, Germany have struggled to produce on the big stage. I know that sounds mad, but hear me out.

When Pep came in, it caused a rethink of Germany's approach to their brand and style of football, they went away from using their physical attributes to dominate the opposition to slow, methodical passing.

Germany lost their identity because of Pep, and have never really recovered from it. What's more, Pep took over a Bayern team that had just won the treble, the Champions League included in that, and, despite being in such an advantageous position, Pep never managed to win another Champions league during his time at Bayern. In fact, I don't think it is unfair to say he regressed them, when you consider what they were before he took over, to what he left them as.

I remember Schweinsteiger and a few others talking about this, and it made for very interesting reading. The media don't like to promote it, though, as it does not add up to the illusion that Pep Guardiola is the best manager of all time, past and present.

13 May 2024 06:19:49
Germany made large changes to their training setup after their dismal showing at Euros 2000. These changes led to them winning the 2014 WC. Pep didn't start coaching Bayern until 2013 so think its a bit harsh to blame him for the fact they now suck at national level. i reckon a closer look needs to happen at their youth setup now. Apparently something like 1.5 million boys play soccer U14 but that drops alarmingly to 400k at U15 level. Perhaps kids are dropping out because its no longer fun. Players like Schweinsteiger also think the youngsters are too coddled (everything is taken care of for them) and so aren't learning resilience (the hallmark of traditional german teams) . Coupled with the lack of a pathway for youngsters to get into the bundesliga (in 2020 playing time of U23 players in bundesliga was only 6%) and the terrible state that Lowe left the national team in and it might explain why they are now suffering the effects.

11 May 2024 08:37:53
Morning Ed002,

I'm reading lots regarding Wards's return being linked to Klopp leaving, obviously Edwards is back, is it purely coincidental?

Did Klopp work under a sporting director etc at Dortmund?

I'm really hoping you can shed some light on this for me ed002

Cheers
Drogie.

{Ed002's Note - Klopp is not leaving because of Ward. Ward will have the role across FSG footballing assets (they want to buy in to other clubs). Klopp worked under Michael Zorc at Dortmund.}

10 May 2024 23:29:43
Question for Ed 2. How would you expect the prospective multi club idea to be leveraged? Do you see liverpool as the collateral for buying other clubs?

{Ed002's Note - Liverpool won't be buying other clubs, the owners will look to buy other clubs.}

11 May 2024 15:01:11
Thanks for the response ed2 but not quite what I was getting at. do you see the purchase of other clubs being underwritten by liverpools value, ie loans, or via independent options?

{Ed002's Note - Up to now everything has been handled via loans. But it is not Liverpool looking to do this, it is FSG. Perhaps their new Saudi friends will help out?}

10 May 2024 22:01:39
Evening Ed001.

Hope you're well pal!

What's your thoughts on the the structure within the club?

Edwards back, Ward back, Hughes and Pedro Marques.

Cheers
Drogie.

{Ed001's Note - it seems strange to me to bring back two people who achieved nothing until Klopp arrived, and then put them in roles well above their usual positions anyway. Jobs for the boys it feels like.}

11 May 2024 08:35:54
Well put Ed001.

11 May 2024 11:48:30
It does feels like Edwards is giving jobs for his friends. Don't know how that will work out for the future though. Although it doesn't seem both will involve directly with Liverpool. That seems to be Hughes job.