22 Jul 2024 16:35:50
Eds What's your opinion on Liverpool's transfer window? Do you genuinely believe that Slot wants to evaluate all his players during pre-season before making signings, or is Richard Hughes not as competent as we were led to believe? Or have the owners simply not provided enough funds for new signings and are spinning PR?
{Ed002's Note - Slot doesn't make the signings but he will want to have a look at players.}
22 Jul 2024 18:17:19
Are we really now at the stage where we have start doubting the words of a manager who has officially been in post less than 8 weeks? I mean if you think Slot is some sort of elaborate FSG stooge I don’t really know where you go from there!
22 Jul 2024 18:40:42
Biggest waste of money will be if we sign players who the manager doesn’t need and won’t play.
A bloated squad is often difficult to manage.
I think we need a few signings to freshen things up but not more than that.
There’s hardly been any transfer movement across the leagues. There’s plenty of time.
22 Jul 2024 18:52:51
The squad we currently have with, basically, the exception of the departed Matip, finished third in the PL last season. It actually doesn’t need a lot of fixing. Time for a bit of calm reflection.
22 Jul 2024 19:14:49
I love how folk are losing their minds on transfers because United have chucked £50m at an 18 year old with no PL experience and Arsenal are/ have chucked £40m at an Italian defender (not sure I've seen any successful Italian defenders over here) . I think some of us need to calm down a bit, I'd rather get the right players in TBH.
{Ed025's Note - i get that Johnny but even so it can be a little frustrating i feel when nothing seems to be happening mate, for me i would like the club to give a bit of an update even if its just that they have irons in the fire, no need to mention names just that they are considering their options and that Slot would be backed by the club in this transfer window, it would certainly put the supporters at ease ....and make our job a lot easier.. :)
22 Jul 2024 19:26:52
It's rare a team signs a player the manager doesn't want. The vast majority of teams around Europe operate on a model where the manager will say what he needs - for example a high energy pressing centre forward. The club and scouting team will then give him a list of x number of players who fit the profile and the manager will say which he prefers.
That seems to be the model we have now as well. It's always been rare managers control transfers. Only here in prem was that normal.
Managers don't expect to be at a club for 5 or 6 years and so plan short term. so managers are more likely to sign a 31 year old who will give instant results. clubs have to plan long term which is whthis model exists in the first place.
22 Jul 2024 19:47:10
Us and Fulham are the only 2 in the league not to bring anyone in. There’s loads of time but we need to strengthen and quite a bit. Our squad is miles off City’s or even what our own was 5 years ago.
22 Jul 2024 20:47:55
Nevada, Daniel levy has signed two players in Steven Begwijn and Jed Spence, both players that Jose and Conte did not want so this does happen esp. if you go all around Europe.
That being said, this is the same thing that happens all the time with some of our fans. They keep looking at what we do thru the prism of what other clubs do. That's just a recipe for disaster and conspiracy theories IMO, none of which are any a benefit to anyone. Not me, at least.
Clubs handle their business the way they see fit and esp. since transfers are very unpredictable and no matter what it looks like, there is nothing guaranteed. Just ask Spurs who a decade ago had Willian doing a medical and then boom, Chelsea made a bigger offer and he left the treatment table to sign for them. The club is doing the job they are doing and cos they are not giving us a blow by blow account in the media (That's Utd's wheel house, btw) does not mean nothing is being done. in fact, Ed02 has said repeatedly that the club are working on targets so we do know what they are doing.
22 Jul 2024 21:09:50
We are waiting to buy a few of the City squad for pennies when they get busted down to National League North.
22 Jul 2024 22:12:58
polecat, if that were to happen, knowing our rotten luck we’d end up with Grealish, Phillips and Walker.
22 Jul 2024 22:24:36
WDW how does it not need fixing? Are you happy with third? Being Madrid’s puppet? It’s posters like you that I have a massive issue with. Very happy just to have taken part. Unlucky to be third. You should strive for the top not be happy to be a loser!
22 Jul 2024 23:14:53
For me, the issue isn't the lack of transfers, it's the contract situations for Mo, VVD and Trent that is more pressing.
22 Jul 2024 23:15:11
I think it's good we are taking our time.
And the thing is whilst we say we need new signings, we also already have first team starting calibre players playing in the positions we think we need to sign players for.
We want a left-sided CB. fine, so find a starting calibre player who has the attitude to come in and play behind VVD.
We want a RW. fine, so find a starting calibre RW who has the attitude to come in and play behind Mo
We want a starting calibre CDM. fine, we have Endo and a young Bacjetic to grow in that role. Arguably I would say CDM is the position where we could bring in a starting calibre player but it's not without its complications as we have current options.
So all in all, I think taking a measured approach to the market is the right approach and especially given Slot is brand new and is still getting to the grips with the current squad at his disposal.
it would be absolutely reckless to throw money around at this and that player while the bulk of our first team haven't even returned to the club.
23 Jul 2024 00:10:37
The closer we get to the start of the season the more expensive it will be to buy better players and no clubs will be willing to part with the better players when the season is just about to start, it’s understandable to want to wait until major tournaments have ended but to do nothing seems a silly risk.
So if we get to the week before kick off and no business has been done, it either means we will engage in a silly supermarket sweep dash of dross, where we can look forward to more Balotelli’s/ Caulker’s/ Kabak’s or we are doing as has been suggested by James Pearce, that there will be no business being done. In either of those two scenarios there’s no way we’d be title challengers as the squad have already been shown as not having the quality to challenge for the title. Best we can hope for is 3rd or 4th and hope for a cup run. It’s not like we haven’t been here before is it…. I’d hope if we’re going to do business it’ll be in the next two weeks because if it’s any closer to the kick off or after, then we will be priced out of the market.
23 Jul 2024 00:44:35
Oli I didn't say it doesn't happen I said it's rare. Roman bought sheva when Jose didn't want him as well.
But clubs don't do it often it's exceptionally rare when you consider how many transfer happen per season and how many are against the manager wishes.
23 Jul 2024 05:59:15
@Mark, where did I sai was was happy with third? What I was saying is that we have a very good squad indeed. it doesn’t need wholesale changes. It needs probably two players who are already to be first team starters and possibly another two squad players (one of whom will be 2nd or 3rd choice goalie) . Stop projecting.
23 Jul 2024 06:28:11
This is what Pearce really said. “Liverpool are considering defensive options after the free-agent departure of long-serving Joel Matip. As well as a centre-back, a holding midfielder and an attacking wide player have also been discussed. However, considering they have a youthful squad that’s packed with potential, this was never going to be a busy summer in terms of incomings, ” James Pearce reported for The Athletic.
“Much depends on who steps up during pre-season and what gaps still need to be filled as Slot assesses the squad he inherited. ”.
23 Jul 2024 06:47:20
I think Slot is assessing the squad to see what might need to be done. ". supermarket sweep dash of dross. ". LMAO. Fantastic.
23 Jul 2024 07:00:40
WDW you said we finished third and it doesn’t really need fixing. In reality we punched above our weight last season and looked off the quality of Arsenal and City. I’m unsure why F$G don’t invest in the couple of real quality players we need to help us compete. It’s like England and Southgate, we all knew the problem was him, in our case we all know we need another CB and a world class destroyer in midfield.
23 Jul 2024 07:09:51
I feel truly sorry for the fans who will suffer hardship if we "don't win the transfer window".
{Ed025's Note - love it Flash..
23 Jul 2024 07:38:41
I don’t particularly think we did punch above our weight last season. We were right in it for much of the season and then had a bad period which cost us dearly.
Ironically it wasn’t a world class destroyer or another centre back that saw us fail in that period. We couldn’t take our chances. No world class destroyer or another cb would have helped us beat palace at anfield. Or why we failed to beat United despite having 28 shots on goal at old Trafford.
When the bubble burst last season (fa cup defeat) that was pretty much it. The spark had gone and it was clear that Klopp magic was waning - the Everton defeat being a prime example of that.
Objectively we have a very good squad and WDW was right - it doesn’t need a lot fixing. As both Frode and WDW it probably needs two players to come into that mix. That’s not a significant change and it isn’t worth the hysteria that we haven’t done anything with over a half the window still to go.
23 Jul 2024 07:21:37
Act in haste, repent at leisure.
We’re working on targets, no rush.
23 Jul 2024 08:36:25
@Frode, I’m honestly not sure we punched above our weight. I would agree if we for off to a rip roaring couple of months and then faded into mid-table but that wasn’t the case. We have performed at a very consistent level with the exception of the season before last for about 5 or 6 years. We finished third because that was were we deserved to be. City and Arsenal (possibly) were better than us but not by much and Klopp actually said that our performance against City in the PL was the best we had played against them and that we dominated them.
As I said to @Mark, we are not the finished article and the nucleus of this group is probably about 2 or 3 years away from reaching its peak. We need to add to it, not start doubting and dismantling it.
As one of our managers said … ‘Believe and it will happen’.
Just my opinion.
23 Jul 2024 08:49:37
@Nevada, Ironically I think it was the case that Klopp didn’t want Salah, if my aging memory is correct. I think he was third choice and Klopp came out later to say how surprised he had been by Mo.
On a separate note - It’s one of those strange things in life (well two really) that people forget that the manager does not make the decision about a transfer and that FSG do not provide finances for transfers.
23 Jul 2024 10:04:07
@Markp, I almost forgot to add that the ones I ‘have a massive issue with’ are the ones who’s purpose seems to be to come on here talking complete negative sh*te about the team, the squad and the club whenever the club seems to ignore their idiotic opinions. Just saying.
23 Jul 2024 10:10:35
Everyone keeping on about our manager. We don't have a manager we have a head coach.
They're different roles. i've took many shots to the head when younger but I am sure Mr slot has stated that he will train to the best of his ability anyone the club add to the staff. He has very limited input into the buying of players. As I said I've had lots of head shots and the brain don't work as well as others but that's how I understand it.
23 Jul 2024 11:35:30
The squad does look really good and we weren't that far off last season.
However it is Klopps squad and Slot will need to get more out of it than what Klopp could do last season which is no mean feat as most LFC fans believed Klopp was the best manager in the world.
Our youngsters will be older so we will expect them to step up more but at the same time so will our old guard and we hope that Salah, VVD, Alison, Endo and Robbo can at least maintain their levels.
Getting top 4 is going to be tough as everyone around us is trying to strengthen and i predict City and Arsenal to be the main title contenders again.
Personally I believe we will finish 3rd next season but it might be a tricky season overall.
Lots of positives going into this season but we also have the below issues unresolved
3 of arguably our best/ most important players have 11 months left of their contract.
Nunez still has this International Investigation going on above his head and could end up with a ban
Diaz dad is telling anyone who will listen his son wants to go to Spain
Rumours that the Saudi's are circling Alison and he could be open to the move.
Either way the season starts in 3 and a half weeks so looking forward to what it brings.
23 Jul 2024 11:36:15
Nevada, I know that you didn't say that neither did I say it happens all the time. Or maybe I wasn't clear enuff. My point was that players being signed against the manager's will is not as rare as you think and that it happens a lot more around Europe, IMO.
23 Jul 2024 13:26:18
Hang on guys. Because we finished third last season if we don’t add anyone soon that means we’ll only finish third again. Or possibly even worse!
If only football were that simple eh?
These short minded viewpoints really make me laugh and show a complete lack of understanding of how football actually works when real human being play it instead on pixels on a screen.
23 Jul 2024 13:53:46
Whatever title you want to give him - Slot picks the team.
If he doesn’t fancy a player, train him all day long, but if you’re not going to pick him then it’s a waste and their value will depreciate.
23 Jul 2024 14:33:50
In fairness if people believe we will come third then that's their belief and opinion.
Some people said City wouldn't win the league in March because they can't win titles when they are chasing, look how that turned out.
Its hardly a lack of understanding of how football works.
23 Jul 2024 20:47:41
We have a very good squad with a great mix of ability, experience and youthful talent. I personally believe the team we have is very capable of challenging on all fronts and we were until the wheels came off early spring. I put that down however to poor tactics.
Slot has a reputation for getting the best out of his players, something I personally don't think Pep (Not Klopp, we abandoned his style and coaching approach years ago) managed to do last year.
I would completely understand if we didn't sign anyone to be honest, although I do think a left CB and left sided Trent style player for the LB/ DM position would be useful in Slots set up.