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MattJ's rumours posts with other poster's replies to MattJ's rumours posts
01 May 2023 10:23:20
Morning all, sharing a little something I heard yesterday. Before I start, I do NOT claim to be someone in the know. But I was told yesterday by someone who knows someone that the Mac Allister deal is all but done and a favourable deal for Liverpool in the process. The same source told me about Gakpo in early to mid December. So maybe there is something in this. I REPEAT, I don't claim to be in the know, but after all, this is a rumour site so I'm simply posting a rumour. Don't shoot the messenger, but time will tell I guess.
1.) 01 May 2023 11:36:16
Cheers it’s what we like to read mate ??.
2.) 01 May 2023 11:37:15
Cheers for the rumour. I certainly hope it's true. Mac Allister is a great player and would be a massive upgrade on what we already have.
With him being only 24 also there's plenty of time for him to grow in the role and further develop on what is already an excellent player.
If it is true then hopefully your mate gives you a few more bits of info!
3.) 01 May 2023 12:08:57
Now that’s a rumour - nice.
4.) 01 May 2023 12:15:25
Tidy player, him. Not against it.
However, would prefer his teammate at Brighton. Even if it cost £30m more.
5.) 01 May 2023 12:29:16
Stranger, now that’s a rumour.
6.) 01 May 2023 12:35:15
FP, Caicedo is some player but his public declarations for teams make me uneasy, recently said always dreamt of Real Madrid! Think we are beyond being a stepping stone club now.
7.) 01 May 2023 13:10:43
Hope you’re right. Alexis Mac Allister is a class player and knows the league so no adjustment period required. Him and Manuel Ugarte as our midfield signings would be a perfect summer IMO, especially when you consider Stefan Bajcetic will be back. If we want to continue with Trent playing right back on paper but essentially being a midfielder we need class centre back signings to ensure that system works effectively.
8.) 01 May 2023 13:25:18
Him and J Bellingham, with Trent coming inside too from RB, wow that’ll be awesome midfield to watch.
9.) 01 May 2023 13:40:47
Lol Nunez Nunez - you’ll be surprised to hear that many players dream of playing for Barcelona or Real. I’m pretty sure many members of our squad had that dream too.
10.) 01 May 2023 13:49:59
As good as Caicedo is, the combined fees for MacAllister and Ugarte would make more sense than blowing nearly £100m on Caicedo.
11.) 01 May 2023 14:22:27
Caicedo would have a similar impact to that of Kante when he arrived at Chelsea. He should be no1 target.
12.) 01 May 2023 14:38:23
Get what you mean Pellican but we’re so short of quality and lacking in funds we have to be a bit more clever in what we do. If we’d have gradually replaced players over time then just signing Caicedo or Bellingham would be fine, but our midfield is absolutely shot to pieces and needs major remedial work to even be functional. Reality is players like Bellingham and even Caicedo are far beyond what we can afford, so it’s better to look at players in that next tier below, the likes or Ugarte and MacAllister, who have the ability to become absolutely top class players. It’s not ideal but cheapskatery and bad decisions have led us here.
13.) 01 May 2023 15:10:37
Agree VV that Ugarte and Mac Allister would be excellent additions. The other addition would need to have a bit of height and able to carry the ball up the pitch. Perhaps that is where Khephren and Gravenberch links are coming from.
14.) 01 May 2023 16:01:48
Nice, I hope so. Key for us is to get better at scouting and bring some gems in before they cost £100m.
15.) 01 May 2023 16:19:01
Scouting isn’t is the issue, HessleRed. It’s the decision making process that’s changed for the worse. Hopefully this gets rectified now.
16.) 01 May 2023 17:02:34
Perhaps FPF but they don't publicly declare it and disrespect their current team at every given opportunity, Caicedo is a bad egg but a brilliant player. Our ethos has always be to go for the good guys.
17.) 01 May 2023 17:23:08
As a few have said above Ugarte/ Thuram and MacAllister would be superb. Those 2 signings sort the midfield for about 5-8 years (with Bajcetic, Trent, Elliott and Jones) .
Would just need to sign a defender or 2 and next season would likely be a huge improvement.
18.) 01 May 2023 17:29:00
MK I'm not convinced that Elliott and Jones are good enough to compete w the top teams.
19.) 01 May 2023 18:09:20
Redflyer, you have to have back-ups mate!
20.) 01 May 2023 18:10:56
Red flyer, Jones is looking good with the run of games he’s getting, I think there’s trust in him and he knows it which I believe is beneficial to him, obviously 1 swallow doesn’t make a summer, but there’s been a marked improvement with him lately. Elliot, he’s good technically, other people more knowledgeable than I could tell u his best position possibly, FC is the player I wonder about, he was on the bench last match.
21.) 01 May 2023 19:04:24
I would have no problem with us targeting Caicedo even with his recent antics trying to leave Brighton. It’s no different to what VVD or Mane did at Southampton and both of them became legends, the latter even came with a reputation of serious baggage and turned out to be one of the most reliable, professional and outright decent human beings to have worn a red shirt recently. Players are ambitious, don’t let that ambition sometimes over spilling make you think they are bad people cus that’s all they are. People just as capable of making mistakes as any of us.
22.) 01 May 2023 19:46:58
Cheers Matt. Appreciate the rumour.
He Could be the new Jordan Henderson.
23.) 01 May 2023 20:51:11
Bang bang. Up to four messenger kills.
24.) 01 May 2023 21:17:03
Isn’t macallister valued at 70/ 80m? Maybe more.
{Ed002's Note - Liverpool don’t have any agreement for Mac Allister - just an interest as has been explained.}
25.) 01 May 2023 21:33:35
Thanks mattJ.
26.) 01 May 2023 23:49:30
It’s such a shame that a really good, dare I say old school, rumour gets smashed to bits.
Can we not just have one thread that doesn’t feel the need to compare the potential signing with the same list of the usual suspects or start banging on about made up finances?
27.) 02 May 2023 01:37:37
At last, a good old fashioned rumour. Cheers!
Mac Allister would be a good signing, too. But there have been comments about Harvey and Curtis not being good enough. I wonder how many of us knew of Mac Allister's level of talent when he was 20 years old. I've been a big doubter of Curtis Jones, but he's coming along pretty well now. Harvey is a pup. I'm prepared to give him time.
28.) 02 May 2023 11:06:39
Hi Brother Kevin, would be a useful addition too. Very good at zonal defending and man marking.
29.) 02 May 2023 23:07:45
If Fabinho isn't leaving then I can't see us going for Ugarte (who i think Ed2 said would be going for about 70mill) and personally Id prefer the money being spent on another position. A midfielder such as Mac would certainly make Fab's job easier and see him play much better - particularly if Bajectic comes back unaffected by his injury and pushes him.
MattJ's banter posts with other poster's replies to MattJ's banter posts
13 Apr 2023 07:44:08
Away from all the Bellingham and FSG stuff. I'd be interested to hear posters and Ed's opinions on Darwin Nunez and his first season. For me I think he has struggled in a struggling team. His one on ones aren't great to be fair, but much better when he doesn't have to think about it. Instinctive goals such as versus Real Madrid and Newcastle away for example. I think he'll fair better through the middle with Diaz back in the team and a more combative, energetic midfield behind him next season. He loves scoring goals for Liverpool, I think we can see that, he certainly likes to get involved as much as possible and doesn't get affected when he misses big chances. I'd give him a 6.5 out of 10 for this season, but hopeful that next season he really shows us what he can do and why we bought him. Thoughts anyone?
1.) 13 Apr 2023 09:13:58
I like him, he’s taking some time to settle in, learn the lingo etc. I would like to see him in the 9 instead of wide, which is where I expect him to play when Diaz is fully fit.
That does then beg the question, does Darwin start at 9 or does he stick with Gapko?
2.) 13 Apr 2023 09:25:37
I think if we switched to a narrower front 3 with Nunez Gakpo and Diaz all inter switching we will be on fire, the midfield 3 behind them will be key, it needs 2 high energy, quick tempo, good passing pressers and 1 with an eye to create, cover for the fullbacks and another quick CB next to Konate and we aren't far off being back at the top.
3.) 13 Apr 2023 09:34:00
He's a striker, not a winger. Put him in the position we paid so much money to play him in. Haaland would look rubbish out wide as well.
4.) 13 Apr 2023 09:43:33
Currently on initial showings I really don’t see what Gakpo offers the team maybe he needs an off season to settle in.
5.) 13 Apr 2023 09:55:49
I remember Salah missing a lot of 1 on 1’s in his first season as well. Not comparing just saying.
6.) 13 Apr 2023 10:12:52
I’d like to see 2 energetic, combative mids. Diaz left, salah right, gakpo in behind Nunez.
7.) 13 Apr 2023 10:35:17
His chance on Sunday summed him up! Seems a great guy, full of effort but has missed far too many huge chances this season, chances that would have won us the game. Has to go down as a poor buy for the money paid so far and his touch and link up play has also been atrocious. Some of the things he DOES do right shows there's a player in there somewhere, let's hope he catches fire next season.
8.) 13 Apr 2023 12:25:50
I never judge any player on their first season as there is so many variables to deal with such as a new country, language, new club, new players and family settling in. He’s also come into a team with very low confidence and form.
I hope he kicks on next season.
9.) 13 Apr 2023 16:16:02
I think Gakpo could easily be turned into an AM he has the skill set for that and also leave us needing just 2 new MFs. I don't know how happy he would be with that of course.
Nunez just needs to settle down and not try bust the net with each shot.
10.) 13 Apr 2023 20:18:26
If Darwin has scored 14 goals (and counting) and 6 assists (or so) in a struggling team in all comps then that can only bode well for him when the team gets back on it's feet with the right personel around him. IMO, I think we have missed Luis Diaz a ton this season whose energy, effort and ability on the ball have not helped us nor Darwin so if we get him back fit, get the mid's we need to come in and do the job, this will free him and the other forwards to go do damage, IMO. Here's to hoping we can do the right business come this summer's TW.
11.) 13 Apr 2023 22:05:35
I think if you take a look at Suarez first season there was a hard working player who set up chances for other while also missing many big chances. His shot coversion in his first year was about 5% (Darwin is similar) but every year Suarez got better and better.
There are similarities in their tenacity and willingness to run and try and create space and chances. I think season 2 will see a big increase in Darwin's goals. But he has not had a bad season, he creates a lot of chances for himself and others and already had a good number of assists to his name.
People go on about his big chances missed but plenty of players have been similar including Salah and haaland.
He's come into a misfiring team where just about everyone is poor. Give him another season in a better team and we'll have a better idea then.
28 Dec 2022 10:59:30
After every match, many news outlets give player ratings. So I thought, with everything going on in terms of new ownership, what would posters rate FSG out of 10?
For me, given where we were when they came in I think they've been really good. From the brink of administration to (at the time) signing the world's most expensive goalkeeper and Centre half, attracting one of the top 5 coaches in the world, redeveloping Anfield with a certain degree of craft, state of the art training facilities, won everything there is to be won and even now as they approach a potential sale can point to spending circa £150 million (subject to Gakpo) in the last calendar year on a new front three. Yes there were mistakes, Comolli, Furlough and Superleague to name few, but they get 8.5 out of ten for me.
1.) 28 Dec 2022 11:35:03
8.5 seems fair to me too. They’ve turned the club around on many fronts and appear to have done so in a reasonably sustainable way too if I might add. They couldn’t have appointed a better manager and their model of ownership might have churned our very different results if they hadn’t put Jurgen in charge, but they deserve huge credit for getting him into the post.
Their miss steps with the fans have been infrequent but huge when that have have made them, otherwise I’d give them a 9-9.5 to be honest.
2.) 28 Dec 2022 11:41:20
Great question. I was going to say 8 out of 10. But 8.5 can’t really be argued with.
3.) 28 Dec 2022 11:55:11
They aren’t bad owners saved us from the brink and look what they brought us!
A 9 for me because they’ve tried we’ve competed with the oligarchs and they understand u need deep pockets for that fight and they are willing to sell the club to let us grow more!
They did make some mistakes super league etc but they brought us klopp and silver ware!
I’ll always be thankful to FSG!
4.) 28 Dec 2022 11:59:16
I think they’ve been great owners. Bringing in Klopp warrants that kind of response.
8s are warranted, but the treatment of King Kenny drops them to a 7.5 for me. Everyone makes mistakes, and they tried to make up for it somewhat, so I’ll be fair. I realize had they not done that, we may not be where we are. But - if anyone deserved patience, it’s the King.
5.) 28 Dec 2022 12:21:23
I’ll be generous and give them 6.5, counting in the treatment of Dalglish, failing to properly invest in the squad when we were at the top, the botched super league, the whole Evra saga, the bungled furloughing of staff and the super league stuff. Still, the bar was fairly low after Hicks and Gillet.
6.) 28 Dec 2022 12:47:54
5, Got the club on the cheap and have run it on the cheap since, could easily send us under so not well run, more worried about what they can get out of the club rather than put in what was required, had the squad to go on and dominate and decided to stick and run down an aging team, did well commercial wise and with the stadium but should of sold after the CL win.
7.) 28 Dec 2022 13:07:26
On club stewardship 10
On income growth 8
On footballing decisions 7
On fan relationship 7
On local area value 6.
8.) 28 Dec 2022 13:12:19
8 sounds about right to me. The overwhelming achievement for me is the expansion of the stadium and the unified training facility. It will pay small and slow dividends over decades and decades. And, of course, hiring Klopp and giving him the reins to run the team as per his abilities.
9.) 28 Dec 2022 13:45:38
5. Everyone went on about not winning the league for 30 years they were here for a third of it. We’d have won a lot more if they didn’t penny pinch.
10.) 28 Dec 2022 13:49:40
9/ 10 considering what else is/ has been available. We are about to move into football manager mode, which will bring some joy, whilst also adding some contradictions to the values of the club, at which point some may be longing for what we have under FSG.
If FSG spend big on the right players now, and go out with a bang, they will have concluded a monumental turnaround of the club, leaving us in rude health.
Hopefully the new owners will continue to work with the same methodologies around coaching and scouting/ buying, whilst being able to take a few extra risks on some cheaper players before they go for huge money (like Fernandz) .
11.) 28 Dec 2022 13:51:21
That’s 7.6 as a mean average FPF ?
Yes, 8.5 sounds fair to me also.
The positives far outweigh the negatives - ground redevelopment, new training facility, Klopp and team, income streams, some great players and the holy grail, PL title.
Not bad really. And I was a fairly ardent critic in their early days.
12.) 28 Dec 2022 15:23:07
7 out of 10 for me. They took too many years to get their act together, on the pitch at least. Poor managers until Klopp came in.
13.) 28 Dec 2022 15:57:12
We’ve been runner up in the league twice by a point and amassing 90+ points both times. Lost 2 CL finals and a carabao cup final too. This can’t be laid at FSG’s door for “penny pinching”.
People are so ungrateful. Yes they’ve been here for a third of our title drought but do you remember the shambles of a team we had when they took over?
14.) 28 Dec 2022 16:20:27
6. Masterstroke appointing klopp which there tenure will always be a success from.
Lack of transfer pot compared to other prem teams who don't qualify for champ league regularly or at all is my prob with them.
15.) 28 Dec 2022 16:21:28
Its a tricky one. They have done some wonderful things for the club, especially when we were on the brink of administration under H&G.
They have taken us back to the top of European football and redeveloped Anfield.
But they have also had a few blunders as well. Treatment of Dalglish, trying to trademark "Liverpool", the Super League and "Transforming Fans in to Customers" line when they increased the ticket prices.
I think a 7/10 is fair.
16.) 28 Dec 2022 17:30:59
8, they seem to listen, they learn from their mistakes, Klopp, modernized the club, took us back to the top, got a thing for Linda Pizzuti. Downside that awful Gilet .
17.) 28 Dec 2022 18:21:30
10/ 10 for me. They brought the title and CL back home and let’s be honest before they arrived we were a million miles away from that.
They don’t have the luxury of being backed by an entire country so it’s ridiculous to compare their spending to other top premier league clubs.
They have brought the holy grail to Anfield on a business model that has worked regardless of how much they’ve spent.
A huge success story.
18.) 28 Dec 2022 18:50:50
5 out of 10.
The positives - rescued us from liquidation, invested in the stadium and the training facilities. However, the investment in the stadium is common sense, with an extra 10-15,000 seats it’s guaranteed income from them. Additionally they’ve improved Liverpool on a marketing front.
However, I refuse to live through blind loyalty because they saved us from Hicks and Gillette. They got the club at an amazing price.
They’ve made some dyer decisions through the C.V. and via off field antics with season ticket pricing and the super league. Bottom line for me is how the team performs on the pitch. I don’t subscribe to this “we brought Klopp in” nonsense. They would be poor owners if they hadn’t tried. They don’t invest in the team year on year as they should. That’s what it takes to maintain title challenges. We’ve punched with Klopp and for me they’ve hung him out to dry with the lack of activity. This isn’t me asking for Mbappe, but healthy investment and refreshment of the squad to maintain standards. How they failed to support Brendan Rodgers with transfers is telling of their ownership. He’s never in Klopp’s league, but we sold Suarez and they would only sanction a cheap replacement which turned out to be Balotelli who is one of the worst signings ever at this club.
Time to go FSG.
19.) 28 Dec 2022 23:34:10
9/ 10 for me, if it hadn't been for LFC over the last 5 yrs the premiership would have been the most boring league in Europe after Germany and France.
I don't know where we are ffp, but I do know unless FSG start sponsoring the main stand for 300mill a year they can't keep digging into their pockets for superstars.
Personally I think klopps rebuilding of the team is really taking shape nicely.
20.) 29 Dec 2022 07:23:30
9.5, Took us from where we were, new training ground, half a new stadium, brought in Klopp, won the league, won every trophy, improved commerical. Supporters on the board. Made a few mistakes, but have backed down and listened. Maybe I'm the only one under the illusion they are people and people make mistakes. Some of the expectations, judgement, lack of forgiveness and appreciation here, i feel sorry for your wives/ husbands.
21.) 29 Dec 2022 09:44:05
Normally I wouldn’t rate owners. I’d prefer a world where I didn’t know how they were. In my time as an LFC supported though, I like most, have only known 3 owners. The Moores, of which in my time at least I witnessed the decline of the greatest club in the land (yes I am aware we also were the best under them, but I wasn’t around to see that) . Then came G&H how literally almost put us into administration through their greed, and then FSG, under whose tenure we have won every trophy that can be won. Fine not the Europa League but we won the CL so hey ho. People can say it’s Klopp and I agree, but they hired him. As owners and with all top management you take the stick for the things they have done wrong just as well as the plaudits for the things that go right. 10/ 10 for me. If they sell us to the LFC fan Sheik it might get cranked up to 11!
28 Feb 2024 22:56:46
Teamtalk is utter garbage, they make stuff up on a daily basis.
09 Jun 2023 16:01:29
WDW, I think we agree in the main, but as for 1jj, I’m probably one of the older readers here, if that helps you. This site is all about opinion, this season we were so exposed in midfield that our defence leaked goals. Only when we started playing Bajcetic did things improve. I know the four midfielders you reference barely played and therein is the issue. We rotated the usual players, Henderson, Thiago and Fabinho plus Elliott and Milner on occasion and the results, performances and final league position speaks for itself. I think we need 3 midfielders, and I believe we are actively looking at 3.
09 Jun 2023 07:09:50
Facts don’t lie with your post WDW, but the reality is we have lost 4 first team midfielders at the season end with another 3, Thiago, Henderson and Fabinho past their prime. With the emergence of Arsenal and Newcastle, combined with an improved Utd, Liverpool have to respond differently. I expect at least 2 or 3 new midfielders this window, with the emphasis on the right player at the right price.
02 Feb 2023 12:44:59
Thanks Ed 02. That’s an example of what makes this site way way better than anything else out there. Terrific!
26 Dec 2023 21:36:32
It’s all about opinion I guess, first disallowed goal tonight was never a foul, just look at the Burnley players reaction when the ball went in tells you everything, He had his hands on his head rather than look at the referee to bail him out. Second disallowed goal should have stood, Salah pushed into an offside position whilst blocking the keeper’s view, he didn’t choose to be there, he was pushed. VAR in its current state is ruining football for me over and over again. We won, but that tells half the story.
30 Aug 2023 08:38:47
Excellent!
09 Aug 2023 11:59:20
Making such comparisons is ludicrous OneKiss.
09 Aug 2023 10:26:11
Add to that Paul Konchesky. It should serve as reminder of how bad things were and be grateful for what we have now.
10 Jul 2023 19:05:39
He has been an excellent captain and an even better role model. From the clubs perspective money talks I guess, if a really good offer for a 30 plus player comes in I think they would take it and use the money to invest in a younger player. The squad still has bags of players with experience of winning things such as Mo, Ali, VVD and Trent. Time will tell, but he has been fantastic for us (given what we paid for him) .