Liverpool FC Team Talk, Gossip, Rumours 2024/25

BorneTobyWilde · 17-07-2023 12:42PM

Joao Palhinha getting linked now. 40 games for Fulham last season.

Is he Liverpool level though

WH have bid 40 for him, paying with Rice Funds

Augme · 17-07-2023 12:46PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120862422#Comment_120862422

Our squad wasn't built on young players when we won everything. It was built on players in their mid to late 20s with one of two exceptions, mainly Trent.

Augme · 17-07-2023 12:49PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120862190#Comment_120862190

Klopp and the people who know a lot more told us all this tine last season that our midfield was fine and didn't need any improving. We all know how that worked out.

LuckyLloyd · 17-07-2023 01:52PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120862370#Comment_120862370

How quickly we forget

I’d say when they were all on the cusp of completing football a mere 14 months ago they were world class.

I bought into the idea of adding some younger dynamic players to our mix of proven experience. Instead we are set to jettison nearly all of our winners for young project players. This is a massive regressive step.

I can accept May 2022 as the high point for a while to come, that’s fine. But the suggestion that the last week is “exciting” is frankly bananas. This will be a long rebuild, and we’ve done loads of these over the years. Exciting they are not.

dmigsy · 17-07-2023 02:23PM

I think letting most of a stale midfield leave and replacing it with new faces is exciting. Thinking it is exciting is not the same as assuming only success will come from it. I would not be excited nor would I be expecting success if 2 of Thiago, Henderson and Fabinho were to start most games next season.

Fabinho's decline was sad to see, and unexpected. He may still come back to play really well. Turning down 40M would be a massive gamble on that though.

Henderson is 33. His game is built on athleticism. He might still be a useful squad player but he's no longer the absolute monster he was at his best.

We've had an incredible team for the past few years but it is time for a midfield rebuild now - buying Thiago was a mistake in hindsight IMO. Lovely player but it was an opportunity to add legs to the team. I'm excited to see Mac Allister and Szoboslai and how the club tries to replace Fabinho.

Widdensushi · 17-07-2023 02:26PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120862591#Comment_120862591

They learned from the mistake,it seems you would be happier if they didn't.

Augme · 17-07-2023 03:05PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120863195#Comment_120863195

Ultimately the mistake they made was assembling a a squad that wasnt good enough yo compete for a league title, the jury is very mich still out on whether they learnt from their mistake on that one.

Girly Gal · 17-07-2023 03:15PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120863195#Comment_120863195

Only time will tell if they really have learnt from their mistakes.

noodler · 17-07-2023 03:16PM

Five out and three in was always going to be a delicate balancing act.

Now we are looking at potential 7 out and still only have 2 in.

Even if we replace the bodies, there is a massive ask for them all to gel.

We have to get back into the CL at an absolute minimum. We can't afford another season out of it.

Ottoman_1000 · 17-07-2023 03:34PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120862422#Comment_120862422

While I agree a change is needed, stating our squad that won everything was built on young players is not really the case, If we go back to the 18/19 season when it all began to click. 2nd in the league with 97 points (that still hurts) and won the UCL and then going on to win the league the following season. Trent, Gomez a Robbo were the only players u25 and Robbo turned 25 that season. Ali and Fab were 25, Virgil and Winjadium 27, Hendo 28, Milner 32 and actually all of the front 3 were the same age at 26! These guys were in their prime and at the peak of their powers. Now the likes of Bajcetic and Lavia, if we go for him have obvious potential, but are miles away from the experience and physicality required to play in a Liverpool midfield under Klopp week in week out. By all means accept the 40m on offer for Fab as that’s a good deal, but if we are expecting the youth to fill his boots in the long term, then we’re in for a rough few years before any of those mentioned are up to the standard required.

Girly Gal · 17-07-2023 03:46PM

Five out and 3 in is fine, as 3 of the 5 contributed virtually nothing last season (Keita, Ox & Arthur 🤣). Plus Jones playing more and the likes of Bajcetic and possibly Morton would account for Milner's contribution. So Mac Allister and Sobo actually make us stronger, and offset Fabinho somewhat, if Henderson and/or Thiago go ( I presume they make up the 7, personally don't see both going), we would definitely need another midfielder, preferably a DM, I think we need a DM even if both Henderson and Thiago stay. If we do sign a DM who can play in the first team straight away, then I wouldn't mind both Henderson and Thiago leaving. Without Henderson and Thiago that would leave us with;

Mac Allister, Sobo, new DM, Jones, Elliott, Bajcetic and Morton with Trent also an option. I think one of Henderson or Thiago will stay ( possibly both), a DM is likely to be the only additional midfield signing. We also need to sign a defender who can ideally cover CB and RB.

mosstin · 17-07-2023 03:47PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120863025#Comment_120863025

It isn't about forgetting. It's about recognising what you see and what the underlying figures tell us. Fabinho, Henderson and Thiago contributed little last season, Henderson probably the best of the 3 and he's 32.

The Saudis are offering big money to take Fabinho off our hands, more than what he's worth if reports are to be believed. We'll probably get a fee for Henderson too. Thiago seems to miss more than he plays these days. None of them are physically up to a long PL season so why not cash in why we can?

We were overrun repeatedly last season, especially away from home. I'm not remotely suggesting that Lavia stem that tide on his own but with Szobo and MacAllister already on board, In pretty certain we won't be letting players go without having zoned in on their replacements. It may go tits up, sure, but isn't that itself more exciting than watching the dross served up for the majority of last season? It's a yes for me.

JimboJones99 · 17-07-2023 03:54PM

A major problem with all this is that regardless of whether it is a good deal or not, any replacements for Fab and Hendo will effectively miss the most important part of preseason and will be struggle to get up to speed and understand exactly what Klopp will want from them tactically.

awec · 17-07-2023 03:55PM

TBH our midfield was so bad last year I'd be fine with any or all of them leaving, once we're signing good replacements.

I don't feel particularly strongly that we need to keep any of them, none of them are irreplaceable at this stage. Obviously not forgetting what they've given the club.

I think Fabinho is the one I really struggle with for a reason to keep him. He was just hopeless all of last season. If we could get half decent coin for him we'd be mad not to take it.

antimatterx · 17-07-2023 03:56PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120863424#Comment_120863424

It might be bodies out, but Ox, Keita, and Arthur might as well have not been there.

rob316 · 17-07-2023 03:56PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120863025#Comment_120863025

The problem is we haven't added any young player to the winners. Before this summer who was the last midfielder we bought? Thiago in 2020, its simply not enough spent on rejuvenating Klopps engine room. As I stated already the experienced winners in midfield were the issue last season, burnt out. Is it ideal they all go in one summer? No its not but there is enough experience in the rest of the squad to cope and we will never get offered more for Fabinho and Henderson. Reality is we aren't an oil club, we need money to reinvest.

brevity · 17-07-2023 05:10PM

The club left it too late to manage the transition correctly.

It's not Fabinhio's or Hendersons fault that they cannot run anymore. It's the clubs fault. They needed support and they didn't get any.

They may not have the legs, but they would have been important in the dressing room. Senior players who could explain something or help out if new players were struggling.

The Saudi bids have thrown a spanner in the works imo. Klopp would have wanted to keep them and maybe add a new player...

machiavellianme · 17-07-2023 06:22PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120863804#Comment_120863804

I've heard this important in the dressing room nonsense for weeks now. We need a dynamic, athletic and intelligent team of footballers, particularly in midfield. It's klopps job to be vocal in the dressing room, not Fabinho's. Jordan might have said a bit more, as club captain, but there's plenty of other senior players there to fill that gap. These players are on over 100k per week, they should be able to play to the managers vision and we shouldn't be paying anyone for the sake of having a leader in the dressing room. Defences and Goals win games, not the lads gossiping in the dressing room.

Widdensushi · 17-07-2023 06:46PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120864002#Comment_120864002

Try 200k a week,varies from where you read it but generally accepted Salah, vvd, Thiago are the three top earners, with fabinho and Henderson in the next two or three, expensive pep talks for sure for players with reducing game time.

~Rebel~ · 17-07-2023 06:58PM

Ah in fairness, a good captain is fairly huge to creating a winning mentality and atmosphere, and Hendo is clearly better than most at this. Gerrard was an amazing player, but Henderson's the best captain we've had in decades.

And of course players shouldn't need these extra sources of motivation, but the reality is that they do. Hendo's athleticism on the pitch isn't quite what it was - still grand as long as he's rested where possible - but when he's on the field his influence constantly talking and dictating to the other players during the game is clearly very valuable. He's constantly reinforcing Klopp's plan and mentality in-game in a way Klopp can't do from the sideline. It's notable the England team brought him back into the starting 11 during the World Cup, and how that totally changed the cohesion in the middle as he drove everyone to do the right things in the right moments, and kept the pressure up.

He should be getting phased out bit by bit for sure, but losing him overnight would be a real blow.

noodler · 17-07-2023 07:26PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120864002#Comment_120864002

Easy to say but Hendo is the only one I think of that has had the ability to change the performances of others on a regular basis over the last few years.

noodler · 17-07-2023 07:31PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120863563#Comment_120863563

Ok let's cut through it so.

We have Sobo, Mac, Thiago as first choice if Hendo and Fab leave.

We need three other decent midfielders and realistically at least one of those I'd say has to be a starter. That's assuming you consider Jones a genuine option which I didn't until April/May. So we need to sign at least two new midfielders and time is running out.

That's just the buying/selling process.

Integration/ loss of the others is the next problem.

We're repeating the same old point now I know but one thing that strikes me is alot of people who were anti FSG for their spending are now Uber confident that there is no downside to losing Fab or Hendo because they will be replaced. I doubt well replace them for the 50m reported 40m plus 10m).

Damien360 · 17-07-2023 07:34PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120864224#Comment_120864224

That is true of every single season for Henderson except the last one. He was poor. Not Fab poor but just not good enough. I'll say it again, next season if he stays, will be a Milner 2.0 role. There to fill a gap.

We had far too many passengers in the club who continued to be present due to club/fan loyalty. This is a serious cull, far beyond what I imagined we would do. Just need to use the new cash and bring in a true DM.

martyos121 · 17-07-2023 07:55PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120864224#Comment_120864224

I’d argue that’s untrue.

Adrian had an uncanny ability to affect the performances of the defenders in front of him, just not for the better.

Fitz* · 17-07-2023 08:04PM

Some whispers that Liverpool have asked Bournemouth to reverse the fixture in GW2 and play it away instead of Anfield.

This would tie in with the email the club sent out today saying that the members tickets sales would be delayed by 2 weeks. My impression of that was that the construction of the new stand is running behind and they can't commit to selling tickets for seats that might not be there.

giveitholly · 17-07-2023 08:17PM

Lads we are going to win the fooking lot....

Maybe not next season

brevity · 17-07-2023 08:18PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120864002#Comment_120864002

If it was that easy every club would be competing for trophies.

Every single ex player has said that you need experience and "old heads" to get you through the season.

If Arsenal had that I think they would have won the league.

While there is a lot of experience still at the club and Klopp is still there, I do feel that losing Fabinhio and Hendo will not help the team in the long run.

It could be mitigated by new signings but if it's Lavia and Batecic for DM then I'd be concerned

awec · 17-07-2023 08:36PM

Barella would be near the top of my list of players to go and get if Fabinho does leave.

A few years older than our current signings, and just about to hit his peak. Very experience in the Champions League, has played in a final. Established Italian international, Euro 2020 winner.

He's a work horse and versatile, IMO would be the sort of midfield general we need.