rgk_lfc

Not quite sure what is happening but they are aggressively pursuing youth transfers. Eddie Beach and Tyler Dibling from Southampton, Omari Hutchinson from Arsenal, Zak Sturge from Brighton, Slonina from MLS. Some of these are decent money transfers. Carney for 20 million, Slonina for 12-15 million.

It got really childish also the final year he was with us. Started addressing Michael Edwards as Eddie or something like that, a name which Edwards hated being called. The bizarre part is Rodgers is an excellent coach. His weakness is identifying players and scouting. If he had focused on coaching the players and tactics, and let Edwards do his job, he probably would have been in the job longer. Anyways, this has nothing to do with Maddison. Sorry for the thread hijack.

Interesting to learn that. He hated Michael Edwards at LFC. Used his media mates to ramp up the pressure against LFC transfer committee. Tried to get them replaced but FSG stood firm on that aspect. It got really weird his penultimate season when he started playing Edwards signings out of their position to make them look bad - Firmino at right wing, Emre Can at right back. I really rate Rodgers football acumen. But it is interesting to see that the same issues are continuing.

I don't have a lot of info about the way you do transfers, but from afar, I am seeing a lot of similarity to the way we rebuilt in the Edwards Klopp era. I will not be surprised if the playbook is the same for the most part given that Howe and Edwards are very close friends. The big part of the principle was choosing the right profile players - who can develop and be good enough to contribute in the first 11 or squad in the later stages of the CL at the right price and the right wages. Bruno, Botman, Trippier, Pope - all fall within that category. I believe that young French striker whom you targeted but signed for PSG fall within that profile. As fans it can be frustrating as we want progress now. LFC did walk away from several deals when the purchasing clubs asking price was higher than what Edwards valued the player or when the players agent hiked up the wages. At the same time, if LFC transfer committee identified a player and the player is willing to come, they are willing to wait. Van Dijk, Konate, Keita were players whom the club chased over multiple transfer windows to get it done. With my limited to zero information about Newcastle transfers, extrapolating from how Edwards built the LFC squad, my best guess is that your transfer committee is trying their level best to sign several "Bruno, Botman" profile players at the right price and wage. By the way, it is also difficult to sign players with that profile just before the world cup as developing players who have guaranteed playing time at their current clubs generally don't want to take the risk of moving just before the world cup.

They have submitted a bid for the ox also.

I read somewhere, not 100% sure of the reliability of the source, that Delap was considered Sancho level talent. Not a bad strategy by Southampton, by the way. Targeting City and Chelsea youngsters.

Isn't this kid supposed to be super talented?

Exactly. I know he is getting old but he is one of the most important players in the PL over the last 5 to 8 years. When he is on song, his team - Leicester, Chelsea or France- win the big ones. The two major managerial failures for Chelsea - Lampard and Sarri - I would say the primary reason is their inability to use Kante. Magnificent footballer.

Vieira deserves a lot of credit for their style of play and approach last season. They were impressive. But I think the signings are more due to the structure the owners have put in. They had tried to move away from a traditional way of running things after Sam Allardyce but then De Boer ended up being a disaster. My understanding is that they appointed Hodgson as a manager but were changing the structure in the background focusing on talented youngsters in the championship and other clubs. Again not trying to put down Vieira's impact which was huge. But I highly doubt as the manager of NYCFC and Nice he was tracking players like Olise and Geuhi in the championship.

Palace have been making good moves in the last few years. Not sure if it is all about Viera. I think their owners are building a good setup like Leicester, Brighton, Liverpool, and Newcastle.

We sold Neco Williams for 16-17 million, Dominic Solanke and Rhian Brewster for over 20 million. Joe Gomez is now on a long term contract. If we are selling him, it wont be for anything less than 50 million.

It is relatively common for European managers to spend a week or two at other clubs when they don't have a job. Just to learn new tactics, ideas on coaching, fitness, scouting players etc. I remember Poch stating he spent a week with Rafa at Inter or at Madrid. Looks like Klopp spent time at Porto or Benfica between Dortmund and Liverpool jobs. He always speaks highly about the footballing culture in Portugal. Rafa has been very open about the time he spent at Milan and Bayern. I think once he was fired from Inter, he spent a week at Arsenal. Which might explain the Hayden signing. Some of the more modern British progressive coaches seem to be following suit.

Just wanted to share that Rafa has form for helping out former clubs in terms of sharing his opinion and scouting reports on players. Suarez was one of the players Rafa's team scouted and tracked. When we were thinking of signing him, our transfer committee did reach out to Rafa, according to folks in the know, and he did share a lot of information. Bascombe also mentioned it once I believe. Coutinho was another player with whom Liverpool consulted with Rafa. This was Damien Commoli, our first DOF under FSG on Rafa's role on the Coutinho transfer: "We didn't even know he was that good - it was difficult to watch him play because he was never playing at Inter. We knew about him, we knew he was good, but it was only when Rafa said he's going to be world-class. When somebody like Rafa says a thing about a player like this, you listen." Basically our scout reached out to Rafa on advice. He pretty much gave them all the information and background on Coutinho told LFC that you are going to regret it if you miss out on this transfer. Don't think of it as Rafa undermining Howe or Ashworth. Like Howe or Klopp or Ashworth or Julian Ward could just call Rafa up and ask for his opinion on players and he is the type to share all he knows. There is also the rumour that after your season in the championship, we reached out to Rafa regarding Lascelles. Rafa told us to stay the f*** away as he needs him. Out of respect to Rafa, we moved on to other targets. Again rumours only, not confirmed.

I am also surprised he is staying. But at the same time I am very happy. He is quality when fit. I am suspecting he might have a release clause which activates if he plays less than a certain amount of games or something like that. We had that with Origi.

Reminds me a bit of Ox - obviously talented, technically excellent, but hasn't really progressed last few years due to injuries and the same reasons you identified for Dele Alli.

I liked watching him play but I highly doubt he is regaining anything close to acceptable PL performances even under a manager who rates him. I think it is now close to 4 or 5 years when he displayed that form. In the PL, it is difficult to catch up when you have been "mentally and physically" away for so long. From the point of view of Newcastle taking a punt on him, I dont think it is worth it. You are far too professional of an outfit under Howe and Ashworth. If you are looking at an "attacking project" for Howe, I am sure there are far better young talents in Europe and the championship for Howe to invest his time on developing.

No way was FSG approving 300k plus salary for two players in their thirties - too much of a gamble. But once Mane left, it made sense for us to extend Salah's contract at an agreeable wage for both parties. I feel that another reason why this got pushed over the line was Salah agreeing to a three year contract. Originally he wanted a four or five year extension which again FSG would not have been willing to do.

Matip is better at protecting the right hand side when TAA goes on his attacking runs. Pace is not that big of an issue in defenders if your goalkeeper is quick of the line to snuff out danger. Also, VAR gets offside calls correct more than often. So more than pace, the ability to stick to an offside line is more important. Counterpressing managers like Klopp, Howe don't worry about playing a high line with slower defenders thanks to VAR.

I don't watch a lot of European football. So no clue how good or bad Nunez is. But from what I have read from insiders and journos, there is the feeling inside Liverpool, that clever managers - Conte, Pep, Howe (you gave us a good game), Ancelotti, Tuchel - have figured out how to stop the attack. Lampard's Everton also gave us a good game till the breakthrough goal. We are a bit predictable - there is deep cross from our fullbacks, Salah/Mane either take it to their other foot and cross or their stronger foot and take a shot. Firmino added the cuteness in our attack but he is loosing form or getting old or has fitness issues. The three finals we played in - we could have played for 10000 minutes and I doubt we would have scored. So I think this signing is Klopp evolving the attack to add a different dimension. Regarding Salah and Mane. No doubt they will be a big loss. But our transfer committee has been clear that we cannot afford their 400k plus wage demands. They deserve it, no doubt about it. We maybe able to pay them what they want. But we cannot afford the resulting wage inflation - 400K plus will become the benchmark when Jota, Diaz, VVD, Allison negotiate their next contracts. We refused to cross the line with Gini and Can and it seems we are adopting the same with Salah and Mane and Firmino. They seem to be ok letting players go on a free than tie them down to contracts on wages which they think is unaffordable. Whether that is smart, we don't know. But they have earned the trust based on the way they have conducted transfers over the last few years. FSG are very clear that they do not want any expense on the club record which can result in financial issues. They are ok going above board for transfer fees - Allison, VVD, and now Nunez (if it works out). But they are very strict about ensuring wages are within a certain percentage of revenue.

Not a player transfer, we have recruited the head of recruitment at Aberdeen, Russ Richardson. @ManDoon at some point mentioned they were doing innovative stuff in player recruitment and development? Russ is going to be number 2 scout for us below Dave Fallows and Barry Hunter, who are the chief scouts, and will focus exclusively on UK based player recruitment. We are also linked with Calvin Ramsay, Aberdeen's 18 year old right back for 4 million.

I don't think people dislike Lampard as a person. I personally liked and respected him as a player. I feel that people are criticizing what he represents.

Owen was one of my heros growing up. He also taught me that footballers were in general vacuous, selfish human beings and do not waste any time attaching any sort of connection with them. Not so well thought of by LFC fans is an understatement. He tried to engineer a move back to us. If not for Rafa who remained steadfast that he wanted Torres, Owen would have been back at LFC. One of the reasons for the tension growing between Rafa and the Carra and Gerrard was that he did not bring their mate back to LFC. After his disgraceful stay at yours, he then joins Man United. And then acts with absolute incredulity when LFC fans give him pelters.

In a couple of years time, you will be in the CL. You will have an opportunity to play them. You will look at your squad, Eddie Howe's tactics, Madrid's not so good squad and think - you know what, nothing to worry here. First half will go along as you expected. You will lead 2-0. In the half time, there will be a lot of posts wondering what the fuss is all about. Second half will start and suddenly unexplainable things will happen - their right back will do a scissor kick ending in the top corner. Before you know it, you will be 2-4. They have a cosmic force of attraction towards that CL trophy which no other club has. Their mentality in this competition is the best there is. They could play their B team and you cant write that team off. Second, I presume all of you believe that referees favor big 6 in the PL, including us. I am not going to argue that and I agree. But you aint seen referees favoring a side until you play Madrid. It is like the refs believe the natural order of things involves Madrid winning the competition and it is their role to ensure so. Every arm, shoulder from their side to us, refs will be signaling for us to get up. Slightest touch on their players and the rolling starts and the yellow card come out. Their player will kung fu tackle Bruno and potentially break his shoulder. Ref "Football is a contact sport mate". Casemiro will use his studs and create a gash on Bruno's leg and Bruno will get a yellow card. I am not talking from jealously or frustration here. Their reputation and mentality in such games is unmatched. And they have earned it.

I agree. I remember in 2013, when Bayern defeated Dortmund in the final. There was a lot of tension before the final as it was like a Bundesliga final, Bayern had just poached Gotze and announced it before the final, etc. Once Bayern won, Heynckes forbade his players to celebrate until Dortmund players had left the pitch. He actually spent more time with the Dortmund players and Klopp than his own players. In the press conference, he said something along the lines of (I am paraphrasing from memory) "I know what it is to loose finals. I don't get any joy in celebrating in front of players and fans who are hurting. " It reflected a humility, an empathy, something I feel is missing from leaders nowadays in all walks of life. Ancelotti I feel is a bit of the same. Old school, as you said.

Agreed. I always got the feeling that he is a downright nice person who tries to do the right thing which is also a philosophy in itself. In 2005, when he lost the CL final to us, he was incredibly gracious, spent time with all of our players, congratulated each and every one of them. In 2007, when he defeated us, it was the same, spent time consoling our players than just celebrating. As a boss of Everton, he never tried to up the angst against us. During COVID lockdown, when Allison's dad passed away and Allison couldn't travel to Brazil, was among the first outside of LFC to reach out to Allison.