27 Mar 2025 14:16:56
Ed001, do you think konate will sign new contract?
{Ed001's Note - probably not.}
27 Mar 2025 14:56:15
Have to sell him this summer is he doesent sign. can't let him go fo free aswell.
27 Mar 2025 15:19:45
Sell him, way too injury prone for me and has a mistake in him too.
£50-60m to PSG is good business.
27 Mar 2025 14:53:15
Sold in the summer Ed, do you think?
{Ed001's Note - another that should have been sorted or sold last summer. They have to sort it one way or the other this summer. If he hasn't signed a new deal, they will have to sell him.}
27 Mar 2025 14:55:49
Am quite shocked at that answer eds1. What is your reason for thinking that mate?
{Ed001's Note - because it should have all been done by now.}
27 Mar 2025 14:58:37
What it is with us having difficulties to get players to sign extension you think Ed? The peoples in charge is incompetent? The clubs are trying to lower wages bill and not offering the wages players think they deserve etc?
{Ed001's Note - incompetence, mainly. They would sell otherwise when the player has not signed a new deal.}
27 Mar 2025 15:38:28
The canteen food must be rubbish to say so many don’t want to stay ??.
27 Mar 2025 15:07:56
Ed001 - why don't you think he will?
{Ed001's Note - he would have done so already I believe.}
27 Mar 2025 15:28:59
Ed can I just ask, what is going on behind the scenes? Why do we struggle to sign our contracted players up all of a sudden? I've seen a lot about how its RH's fault and then the clarity that renewing contracts are JW's remit, but surely the stewardship of the club is the responsibility of the owners and not the figures mentioned. TAA walking away for nothing and Salah and VVD being able to do the same is nothing short of a deraliction of duty.
We never have high volume windows. The last I remember would be under King Kenny: Downing, Adam, Henderson etc or the JS window under Klopp. It seems there is a reticence to have windows with multiple incomings, from this ownership group.
For clairty and before I am accused of wanting shiny new toys, that isn't what I am saying at all. I am querying how we are in the position where the spine of our team is 1 foot out the door. Question marks over Konate, Diaz re contracts (added to the 3 expiring players) . Upgrades needed with regard to Robbo, Jota Nunez, Chiesa, a number 6 required - before we replace the RB, CB and RW that look to be walking away.
On a budget and with more than half the team that needs replacing, the idea of a big Isak purchase is fanciful. Similar to Bellingham, we need to spread the funds to so many positions. What a mess.
{Ed001's Note - you also have to remember both back up keepers, Jaros and Kelleher are out of contract in the summer as well. The problem is that the wrong person was promoted (Edwards) who made a mess of the contract situation, with the interference of Klopp making it difficult admittedly. But it was still his remit and he messed it up, but we were partially rescued by the Sauds a couple of seasons ago. The problem is that no lessons have been learnt, players allowed to run down contracts, then the regime change put everything on hold for a few months, only for the new regime to fail to do anything to fix things. We have people who were damn good in their roles, so they got given promotions to completely different roles that they are not good at. That is where it goes wrong, as often happens.
All we can do is hope they learn and get better in their roles over time. People usually do.}
27 Mar 2025 16:15:38
Sell Konate and bring in Huijsen and Hato.
What you think Ed :D.
{Ed001's Note - only makes sense if Virgil is going rather than Konate. If Konate goes, we need a right-sided centre-back.}
27 Mar 2025 16:17:10
Replacing top class centre backs isn’t easy as there is very slim pickings out there (and I’m not talking about the guy who was in Blazing Saddles) . Thing is, if you can’t persuade your own best players to sign new contracts to stay, it becomes difficult to attract top players to join as they’ll want assurances on the direction the club is going and its ambitions to compete with the best.
27 Mar 2025 16:39:09
What an absolute disgrace and shambles weather it be Jurgen, Edwards or whoever we as fans will be the ones left to support our trying to get in the top 4 side! We as a support group have blind loyalty to our club but this whole way it has come about is appalling. Why do we mess things up just as we get to the top!?!
Keeping your eye on the ball as owners also should have been a top priority so they are to blame aswell.
If we have success next season it sounds via ed1 as if it will be down to luck and the hope that slot can pull something out of his ring piece.
I of course will celebrate the glory and have been there through the really bad times does anyone learn any lessons?
Ed1 how would you sort all this mess out next season?
Thanks.
{Ed001's Note - I am not sure it is possible to sort it out in one season. First thing is to tie down VVD and Mo to give us time to sort out the rest. Then we are going to have to look at Chambers and Beck to fill the left-sided berth. We have to look to use internal options where possible as we need to buy the best possible to fill the gaps that will be left.
The key thing is that Slot will have to make use of the squad he has, he can't just leave players sat on the sidelines and lose out on trophies again. This season was a free hit and we have missed out on getting extra trophies that would have given us more money to spend next season.
Then we have to really look at what is the most important positions to fill and prioritise. For me, that is a centre-forward. If that means every penny gets spent on Isak (for example), leaving nothing else left in the budget, it is better that then to buy three players who are not good enough to top up the squad.}
27 Mar 2025 16:43:19
Who could we replace him with. We’ve yet to replace Matip ?.
27 Mar 2025 17:10:21
Ed don't you feel konate is waiting for vvd to be signed up before signing himself? Think he's after a move away myself also. But just wondering. Wheels have well and truelly fallen off here by looks of it. Well be stuck with the players we wanted rid of and the ones we want to keep going. What next alli asking to leave?
{Ed001's Note - I think he wants a PSG move to be honest.}
27 Mar 2025 17:42:48
Is there any sense that Klopp leaving as and when he did, being by then pretty much in control of transfers, apart from getting his buddy in as a temporary sporting director of sorts for 6 months. Left a vacuum of sorts, and with Slot having assumingly different player requirements and need to evaluate the squad himself, plus new director of football and sporting director coming in/ back has exaggerated the contract problem we have, not making a defence of the new recruitment team or the old, and re TAA VDD and Salah there still no real excuse letting it come to this. more so TAA, I can understand the other two being in their 30’s more tricky contract to agree lentgh wise…. but with Klopp going and Slot coming in, it must of had some impact on the expiring contract mess…. I must admit I like Konate would like him to stay, unless its him who wants to go. But whatever and whoever caused this situation I bet they are in dreamland if we win the league which may take the attention off the contract inaction……a big summer ahead regardless I guess,
{Ed001's Note - I think you are spot on. The issue is that, other than Virgil and Mo, the rest should have already been all sorted before Klopp announced he was leaving.}
27 Mar 2025 18:53:10
Klopp realized that with FSG IN CHARGE he could not take Liverpool any further.
27 Mar 2025 19:22:29
I think Virgil could not be offended a deal to early because of his injury he was looking like he was struggling to get over it. Then with Mo his age and position you only have to look at Mane to not rush into deals because players can age quickly. Most of this contract situation is down to Klopp and wanting more power then leaving before his contract expired FSG can’t be blamed for backing Klopp who did not take the year out he so badly needed I think he got offered his job he had now and liked the idea of being more than a manager what fits perfectly with Pep get the job he did and ruling himself out of the Liverpool job that he was being lined up for. As for Trent I think he has had this planned for at least 2 years. Konate’s dream move has always been PSG what I can’t knock him for it’s his hometown club shame Trent does not feel the same.
27 Mar 2025 19:35:29
Ed- on the right sided centre back topic have we looked at anyone in particular or anyone you’d look to. Feel like a lot of the names we’ve been linked with in the past are left side as long term Virgil replacements like Hicanpie, Guehi, Huijsen etc.
{Ed001's Note - I know we had a look at Zabarnyi (or however it is spelt) this season, but it is only a recent thing that we have begun to really look seriously at the position. Quansah was seen as being capable of being first choice ahead of this season.}
27 Mar 2025 19:51:30
Edd001 but carragher is constantly repeating fsg have this model " about age, wages etc. what is he talking about. He speaks like we run this perfect machine regarding players and contracts. You are correct to regarding the Saudis. Carragher is in for a gonk this summer. If we sell noone we're not spending over 100 million. I also would take isak as the only signing.
{Ed001's Note - ignore Carragher, it is better that way.}
27 Mar 2025 20:03:16
I don’t think Quansah is at the level to be first choice. I think you need one of him or Gomez as 4th choice then 3 top players ahead of them.
{Ed001's Note - I agree with you and it seems the club does too.}
27 Mar 2025 20:35:44
OneKiss, I could see either Gomez or Quansah going. Previously I would have said Quansah, but he's shown a bit of flexibility in being able to cover RB well (despite the pelters, I think he's done well! ) so it comes down to who is in demand, imo. Quansah may just end up being kept given Joe's injury record in the past and age.
27 Mar 2025 20:47:16
Only Liverpool could walk the league and still be in crisis. Next year we could be first or tenth.
28 Mar 2025 11:35:13
Would be it not be feasible that Konate is waiting to see what VVD is offered/ agrees to before he signs up to any new contract?
I’m talking monetarily.
28 Mar 2025 13:58:36
For those kicking the club/ management team/ owners for not renewing contracts. Are you naïve enough to think the club haven't offered terms to all these players? In Trent's case, do you not think Real had him tapped up 18 months ago? If you are a top player why would you sign a contract 2 years out? You wouldn't, you would let it run down to see what your options are. Madrid's business model is now to identify talent 2 years out, tap them up and take them on a free. Their transfer fund is tied up in the stadium. Case in point Konate, I guarantee he is already aware that PSG/ Madrid whoever are interested in him, especially if they can get him on a free. So he sits tight runs the contract down. Worst case scenario is he signs a new one on great terms, best case he moves to Madrid on a free transfer with a hefty signing on fee and pay packet boosted by the lack of a transfer fee. The club can do very little. Sell him a year out? What if he doesn't want to leave. What if he turns down any move that's not Madrid/ PSG? Ok then we'll stick him in the reserves. Brilliant we'll keep our asset and pay him every week for no output for us and then lose him on a free. It's football guys, that's all it is.
29 Mar 2025 09:44:57
@Mark - I think it’s some of the fans in crisis rather than the club. If you go back to this time last year Jurgen was on his way out, the team had hit 5he wall and things were bleak. 12 months later we are top of the league but the entire first team squad is about to leave and things look bleak again. It’s enough to make one sceptical.