BennyBlanco

If we can that those two players in it hasn’t been a bad window. It wouldn’t have been a great one but at least it gives us something resembling depth. Just don’t see it though. Glacially slow on all fronts of acquiring players.

If that’s the case then we’re fucked but I’ll be damned if Trafford is the only decent keeper we’ve scouted under the age of 23. If we’ve put all of our eggs in one basket and are unwilling to pay the fee then I’m sorry but this is 100% our scouting team or whoever identifies players fuck up.

Agreed. The level of risk aversion with Howes approach to players is borderline ridiculous. It’s like they all need to be the somewhat finished article and do exactly the job he needs them to do. But those are the type of player that go for a premium and who everyone else wants. Fuck me, do some actual scouting, find someone who could be a bit of a diamond in the rough and roll the dice.

And if I won the lottery last week I wouldn’t be up this scaffolding in the pissing down rain. “If” is doing too much heavy lifting there. We couldn’t convince two young players in a World Cup year that they would benefit from more minutes and playing under Howe for a team with (supposedly) massive ambitions. They chose Chelsea, being one of a number of players in that position and the money. We ain’t selling ourselves well enough offering a competitive package. That’s a problem.

True but it’s never been as slow as it is now. Absolutely zero sense of urgency.

This. Im surprised we weren’t all over the free agent market. There were some great little players in it this year. David and Gomes would have brought the squad on massively.

Id say yes it matters when most targets have a proven track record and therefore a large fee, too much competition and the end result is we don’t end up landing them and go into the new season too light.

Tbf I probably used the wrong word there. Unimaginative would fit better.

Being honest here, I’m gunna start wetting the bed somewhat. Wouldn’t be surprised if we just end up with Elanga and go into this season light as fuck. We’ll hear the usual noises about a “Saudi tax” and “PSR” restraints but really this has come down to glacial recruiting and unambitious targets. There’s also an element of us not paying the going rate. £40m for a young, proven, talented keeper like Trafford ain’t completely stupid money. He’s at the age where he could be between the sticks for the next 8-9 years at top level. Very short sighted to let this one go. As for the rest of the team that needs strengthening - the panic might just set in when Schar and Burn start collecting their pensions. But I don’t hold out much hope.

We are like the average bloke who inexplicably pulls a worldie only to be unable to get a bar on when he’s got her home. . . .

Probably the same protocol for any player who’s the subject of a bid/enquiry. Can say the same about longstaff as well.

Aye, at the rate Thora Hird used to glide up those stairs. . . .

Why is every journo assuming we are operating a “one in, one out” policy. Heaven forbid we actually want to build a squad. . .

I tend to use the rule that if you hear the club is “exploring” a move for anyone, chances are it’s been leaked to misdirect or is total made up bs.

It’s not a bad way to look at it. Can’t imagine Howe is happy with just the one RW in with all the extra games. . . . .

I mean, he’s probably put that in a better way than I could. You don’t sell him when we just don’t need to.

You’d think that would be that. Ah well, onto the next one

They do but they also have form for hacking other teams databases. Im sure they had to pay city compo not long ago. Media didn’t make a big deal of it, as it’s Liverpool.

More like BILGE

What I find hilarious is the angle that Liverpool have supposedly come in at. ”We like your player, we want your player and we’d like to name the price that you will sell him to us at - if you don’t then we won’t bother making an official bid and will buy someone worse”. Thats like me bellowing to the Mrs that Im going to throw it up her dirty passage and if she makes any moves of resistance then I’ll just have a wank in the sink instead.

An extreme example of the rules telling us to “know our place”. Heaven forbid another team fancies going for it. . . .

Equally as likely. They probably saw what was happening yday and thought “nope, that’s not going to happen to anyone apart from us. . . . .”

And in all honesty he probably does leave. But not yet.

If we get £140-£150m for him that unlocks the PSR conundrum for us and we can build an actual squad. We might to moneyball the fuck out of it to make up his goals in the margins but fuck it - it’s worth doing imho. I like Isak but there’s other young strikers out there.

From a purely selfish point of view I hope this is sorted before Thursday. Thursday is when I bury my nan, Thursday is also possibly the day that my family see their arse because I’m checking my phone whilst burying my nan.