rgk_lfc

Not sure why we are not looking at Gyokeres. Honestly, I am clueless about players other than those playing for Liverpool. We are linked to Ekitike, though. That link might have some truth to it. Edwards and the data nerds are running the show now. Staveley recruited some background Liverpool data nerds and performance analysts to your club. So, the fact that you were strongly linked to Ekitike in the past means that there is a good chance our data team is looking at the same information. I know we were looking at Bottman and Guimares, but you moved faster. In general, I know that when elite talent becomes available, Edwards and his team drop everything, focus on that player, go all in, and then figure out what the team needs with the remaining money. We did that with Van Dijk. We are currently doing that with Wirtz. We need a striker more than an attacking midfielder who operates in the left and center channels, but when Wirtz became available, they went all in. That is the message in the press. I guess we will get Kerkez, Frimpong, and Wirtz over the line, look at sales, and decide what to do about the striker position.

Chelsea are leading the race for Ekitike. They have an agreement with Emegha, who will join next summer from Strasbourg. Outside of Jackson, there are two other young strikers he will have to compete with. I don't want to criticize how they do things at Chelsea as it works for them, but it would be a mental decision for any young footballer to join them in the way they do things. Can you seriously rule out them purchasing another two young strikers by the end of next summer outside of the four they will have if all of their signings go through? You will play atleast 50 games next season. Isak wont start all of them. Even if Isak remains injury free throughout the season, Delap will organically get 10-15 games to start. Then you add the injuries and niggles to Isak. There are games in which Howe may prefer adding on two strikers. There are atleast six clubs in the PL, including Everton; Delap should consider joining before Chelsea. Good luck to him. I like him as a player.

When he was at Portsmouth, Edwards had created a database of prospective players and their profiles in a CD. Harry Redknapp complained he was not able to get it to work. Turns out Harry was using the audio CD player in his car to try to get player information.

Klopp wanted Gotze, Edwards pushed for Mane. Klopp wanted Brandt, Edwards pushed for Salah. Klopp has been effusive in praising Edwards and his role in securing those two and other signings. The disagreement between Edwards and Klopp was over contract extensions to Henderson and Gini. Klopp won one of those battle. Edwards won the other. In public there has been no animosity between Klopp and Edwards. Julian Wards took over after Edwards and he was definitely overruled with Klopp influence and our recruitment suffered. There is no way Klopp stepped down due to that. He had too much credit in the bank. My impression is that both Klopp and Edwards stepped away as they were burned out and needed a break. Edwards is not the CEO by the way. Billy Hogan is the CEO. Edwards is the chief executive of Football operations. Mitchell and Ashworth are solid pros and great appointments. The big difference between Edwards and them is that Edwards rarely goes in front of the press and seeks the spotlight. I highly doubt half of you can identify Edwards in a group photo of random people. There is a big element of self promotion going on with Mitchell and Ashworth which does not work well with the managers. The transfer committee led by Edwards was an object of ridicule for a long time in the English press with even Rodger’s briefing against it. Edwards did not use the press. He shut up and did his job. I don’t think I have seen a single photo of Edwards with the PL trophy or the celebrations even though he has been the single most important reason why we have been so successful. Everything started from him.

A couple of thoughts from an LFC fan, if you give a damn, that is Trent might lack defensive nous, but he is a unique talent, as TCD posts above. Salah and TAA were an attacking force to reckon with. With fully red-tinted glasses on, I believe they were on par with any PL right-hand side from an attacking perspective. At least I don't remember any other pair doing it day in and day out consistently for six to eight years. So, he will be a massive loss for us, no doubt about it. The fact that he was a local boy who came through the academy stings a bit more. I believe he will do very well in La Liga. He will be pinging balls to Mbappe, Vini, and Bellingham from the deep and racking up assists against most teams. At the highest level, say against Barcelona or in the CL against Bayern and PSG, I wonder how they will fare with four defensively weak players—Mbappe, Vini, Bellingham, and TAA. Most modern great teams accommodate a maximum of one. Historically, Madrid has been kind to attacking fullbacks who are defensively not the strongest - Carlos, Marcelo. We will see how TAA measures up against those. The one positive thing is that FSG has assembled the old data team—Edwards, Graham, Ward—and added Hughes. Slot has shown himself to be a tactically solid and adaptable coach. This is a big loss for us, but I think we have the right background team to find solutions.

Hakimi, Carvajaal, Vasquez, Nacho, Sarabia, Saul Niguez—their academy is not bad. However, they haven't produced anyone at Messi, Yamaal, or, for that matter, Pedri, or Gavi level in ages.

Congratulations!!! Howe tactically outclasses Slot on this day. Your players outfought us and wanted it more. The best team in the tournament won. Enjoy this day, week, and month !!!!

My understanding is that Amorim wanted more control on transfers. Arne Slott official title is head coach of Liverpool and not manager. As long as Edwards is at Liverpool, we will not be letting managers dictate transfers. We will see how that experiment shapes up.

I read a news article that summarized Mitchell's interview. I don't think he said anything wrong, but I wonder why your backroom staff is talking to the media so much. Edwards has been at LFC for over ten years now. I don't remember a single media interview or press conference he gave. When he left, he wrote a letter to the fans on the LFC website. When he returned, it was announced on our official website, and there was no welcome-back interview or anything. He got about doing his job. Hughes was present at the press conference introducing Arne Slott, but he was there to introduce Arne and tell everyone to direct all questions regarding signings to him. After that, we have not heard from Hughes either.

Agree. Add Mount to that list. Would not have paid the price they paid for most of the signings, but that is a young squad with potential.

I agree slightly with your point. Rice is a great player, but he lacks the passing ability and the ability to set the tempo that is critical at the highest level. He is no Kante from the defensive point of view and is no Jorginho/Pirlo from a press resistance and setting-the-tempo point of view. He is a very good player in his own right. Pirlo, at his peak, would look lost in Southgate ball. Rice was not the reason England lost today. It is all on Southgate.

Spain was stunned by the equalizer. I couldn't believe England's tactics after that. Handed the initiative right back to Spain.

By the way, kudos to Walker and Shaw for neutralizing Spain's threat on the wings.

There is a false equivalence when comparing Rafa's systems and Southgate's. Yes, both are defensive, but they could not be more different in terms of sophistication and strategy. Rafa's systems were about making the whole punch above the sum of its parts. Southgate's system, as of now, is anything but that.

India is playing Pakistan? Which sport?