Had to laugh today when I heard Juve were putting together a £150m offer for Van Dijk, which suggests RM or Barca might come in with an even bigger offer.

 

Had to laugh today when I heard Juve were putting together a £150m offer for Van Dijk, which suggests RM or Barca might come in with an even bigger offer.
 

I can't see that going through

14 minutes ago, Brutos said:

Spurs 4 points behind with Villa away next we have United so unless we get our sh*t together they could be 1 point behind US when we play them.

We lost our 2 best players this summer. One to Real and one to long term injury. 

Inexpierenced manager and bringing in youth prospects. No new signings. For me there should be zero pressure on us to finish top 4, all the pressure is Spurs and United for they are supposed to be far in advanced of us for development. 

2 minutes ago, axman2526 said:

We lost our 2 best players this summer. One to Real and one to long term injury. 

Inexpierenced manager and bringing in youth prospects. No new signings. For me there should be zero pressure on us to finish top 4, all the pressure is Spurs and United for they are supposed to be far in advanced of us for development. 

agree. a top 4 finish was a distant dream back in July/early August. Frank's done well with young players and limited resources and we're not alone in being a team in transition.

1 minute ago, axman2526 said:

We lost our 2 best players this summer. One to Real and one to long term injury. 

Inexpierenced manager and bringing in youth prospects. No new signings. For me there should be zero pressure on us to finish top 4, all the pressure is Spurs and United for they are supposed to be far in advanced of us for development. 

The point is we have been in the position to nail it down but lost points to teams we simply shouldn't have. Whoever finishes top 4 will be the worst team to get there since the PL began. 

Our board had the option to help Frank and us but decided against it and that will have long term implications if we don't get 4th because the best players choose CL football and if one of our rivals get it then they have a huge advantage. 

All our own doing though and the imposters in suits can have no complaints 

13 minutes ago, carrickblue said:

unless you're a Liverpool fan, this Premier League season has got to be amongst the most uninspiring for years - with the scousers the sole exception. every other team is struggling for form

meh! 

Sheffield United fans are having a great time as well !

13 minutes ago, Chelsbear said:

The point is we have been in the position to nail it down but lost points to teams we simply shouldn't have. Whoever finishes top 4 will be the worst team to get there since the PL began. 

Our board had the option to help Frank and us but decided against it and that will have long term implications if we don't get 4th because the best players choose CL football and if one of our rivals get it then they have a huge advantage. 

All our own doing though and the imposters in suits can have no complaints 

We have CL football this season. Not seen any players, never mind best ones, picking us.

Think CL is overstated. If we pay enough they will come, if we dont they wont. 

Imo we have been vastly overachieving and would not be surprised if we finished middle of the table.

Personally do not care if we make top 4. We have done what I wanted to see us do. Give actual real chance to young players an we have seen that in Tammy, Mason, CHO, Tomori and James while Lamps has already worked out that Batman, Emerson and Kepa are not good enough and need to be replaced. 

It is the first steps in our rebuild.

Edited February 2, 20206 yr by axman2526

45 minutes ago, DidierDrogbalala said:

Sheffield United fans are having a great time as well !

As they should be. Their team is a joy to watch and I am a big fan of Chris Wilder. He is an excellent manager.

Edited February 2, 20206 yr by axman2526

60 points is the previous low mark for a team finishing 4th ... a record that could well be in danger this season ...

Quite surprised how much City have slipped vs their previous lofty standards ...

Edited February 2, 20206 yr by Sexyfootball

1 hour ago, DidierDrogbalala said:

Sheffield United fans are having a great time as well !

No offence to Sheffield Utd, but shows how poor the league has been when they are within 6 points off top four. It has been an abysmal showing for the supposedly "top" sides.

Don't get me wrong, I hope our rivals continue to stumble and we can get some traction in the latter stages of the season, but the inconsistency from every side below Liverpool is terrible. 

Man City have seemingly returned to their bottling job ways! They’re Spurs up their season more than the Spuds!

2 hours ago, axman2526 said:

We have CL football this season. Not seen any players, never mind best ones, picking us.

Think CL is overstated. If we pay enough they will come, if we dont they wont. 

Imo we have been vastly overachieving and would not be surprised if we finished middle of the table.

Personally do not care if we make top 4. We have done what I wanted to see us do. Give actual real chance to young players an we have seen that in Tammy, Mason, CHO, Tomori and James while Lamps has already worked out that Batman, Emerson and Kepa are not good enough and need to be replaced. 

It is the first steps in our rebuild.

sadly I think you're touching on a truth here - seems most pro footballers just want the big bucks and winning really does come second. they're all paid so much in the top flight the bonus of winning something is merely that, doesn't seem to be the prime motivation for too many players  

22 minutes ago, carrickblue said:

sadly I think you're touching on a truth here - seems most pro footballers just want the big bucks and winning really does come second. they're all paid so much in the top flight the bonus of winning something is merely that, doesn't seem to be the prime motivation for too many players  

Agreed. There are still some the success matters most to, others playing in a certain country or league, others for the team they supported as a boy etc.

But CL qualification, come on think about it. Let's say someone with the wealth of a Bill Gates decides to buy Burnley and figueres out a way to bring vast money to them and avoid FFP penalties (ala PSG). 

Burnley is a sh*t hole but "Bill" is willing to pay the biggest wages and transfer fees. No way Burnley make top 4 this season but he is willing to spend big on making a dream 11 over 1, maybe 2 windows. You think it will bother players they go 1 season with no CL football? Maybe 2 seasons?

From Oblak to Haaland and everyone in between they would come if "Bill" tripled their wages.

So it is for us. Dont make top 4? big deal, if Roman invests enough dosh the likes of Sancho, Werner or whoever else will come. Only the obvious exceptions like Liverpool players or Messi would not.

some more good banter found on twitter

 

Liverpool will fall probably harder than Man City, probably not next season but the season after that, I don't see them being capable of playing on this high level for so long.

5 hours ago, Chelsbear said:

Our board had the option to help Frank and us but decided against it and that will have long term implications if we don't get 4th because the best players choose CL football and if one of our rivals get it then they have a huge advantage. 

Far too many good players have given up CL football in recent years, it's no way as impossible as people make out.

When it comes to our chances of signing players I think our chances hinge on who else is interested more than what tournament we're playing in. Take Sancho for example, if United pipped us to 4th and it's between us or them, I'm relitevely confident we'll be able to sell him on the long term project with his best pals and point to the circus United have been post Fergie and he'll see the bigger picture. However if Real, Barca or even as much as I hate to say it Liverpool show serious intent on signing him I won't fancy our chances even if we win the CL.

1 hour ago, Argo said:

Far too many good players have given up CL football in recent years, it's no way as impossible as people make out.

When it comes to our chances of signing players I think our chances hinge on who else is interested more than what tournament we're playing in. Take Sancho for example, if United pipped us to 4th and it's between us or them, I'm relitevely confident we'll be able to sell him on the long term project with his best pals and point to the circus United have been post Fergie and he'll see the bigger picture. However if Real, Barca or even as much as I hate to say it Liverpool show serious intent on signing him I won't fancy our chances even if we win the CL.

To be fair we have never been on a serious position where most players would pick us over Barca or Real. Most of the time clubs stand no chance against them.

So how many do we think the Liverpool kids will beat strawberry town by? I reckon 4-0

I guess VAR is in use and likes the Liverpool kids as much as the first team. Strawberry goal disallowed for offside. Correct call to be fair.

wonder if we can keep a clean sheet against LIverpool's U23s

12 minutes ago, carrickblue said:

wonder if we can keep a clean sheet against LIverpool's U23s

Will be their main players most likely, and no, no team in England can stand up to them at the mo. May as well play our under 23 team.

Well think our best hope of a trophy is now gone, but would rather face the best in the 5th round than in the final and lose.

I know Shrewsbury are a league one team playing against a Premier League team, but it was a team full of kids, that is an embarrassing defeat for them.

Hi, LFC fan here, before you all roll eyes and jump on, actually wanted to put some positive notes on the conversation/worries you have above (CL qualie/development as a team/going backwards)

Speaking from relatively recent experience... 

Firstly buying 'names' isn't the be all and end all.  I don't mean this to be patronising, and been there many times over the last decade or so, when i've been the same and you're worried you're going to get trumped for x, y or z.  Actually whats much more important is having a good scouting team, an identity on the pitch which is attractive to players, and some patience to build. 

Robertson is the prime example, most LFC fans were pretty underwhelmed, let alone oppo fans, but our scouting team and 'sporting department' had clearly done their homework, clearly seen he had the energy and skills to fit into a style of play, and room to improve as well.  squad/first team improved..

Then waiting for the right players, when discussing VVD the conversation always seems to centre on his cost, he was always going to be good etc, but what impressed me about my club on that, was having identified him (and then ballsed up in approaches in the summer), we waited, we didn't let the money burn a hole in the pocket, and make rash decisions, Klopp just thought balls to it, we'll just have to carry on with Keegan-ball trying to score more than the oppo for another few months and we'll go and get our man in the next window.

I see parrallels with your striker options, it's ballsy, don't get me wrong, and maybe not the same situation, but feels like it from the outside, why burn a big pile of cash on a short term 'name' on loan or even worse a 2 year contract, when it could be damaging to the dressing room, could use up much needed wageroll for the actual target you want etc..

Anyways.. TL:DR by now I expect, but out of all the teams in 'transition' at the moment, I think you're in the best shape, whether you get 4th or not, and city aside, as they'll just splash cash anyway, but Frank is driving a real identity of play on the pitch, your young lads, who'll be the lynch-pins of your team in 21/22/23 etc are getting invaluable game time and experience (parallels here with TAA), and just buying ready made players isn't, I think, where you as a club need to be now, it'll take a season or two longer, but with the youngsters developing and young coach building something, you have the chance to build something special rather than a quick flash in the pan season.

just my thoughts anyway..

Edited February 5, 20206 yr by Sunshine

24 minutes ago, Sunshine said:

Hi, LFC fan here, before you all roll eyes and jump on, actually wanted to put some positive notes on the conversation/worries you have above (CL qualie/development as a team/going backwards)

Speaking from relatively recent experience... 

Firstly buying 'names' isn't the be all and end all.  I don't mean this to be patronising, and been there many times over the last decade or so, when i've been the same and you're worried you're going to get trumped for x, y or z.  Actually whats much more important is having a good scouting team, an identity on the pitch which is attractive to players, and some patience to build. 

Robertson is the prime example, most LFC fans were pretty underwhelmed, let alone oppo fans, but our scouting team and 'sporting department' had clearly done their homework, clearly seen he had the energy and skills to fit into a style of play, and room to improve as well.  squad/first team improved..

Then waiting for the right players, when discussing VVD the conversation always seems to centre on his cost, he was always going to be good etc, but what impressed me about my club on that, was having identified him (and then ballsed up in approaches in the summer), we waited, we didn't let the money burn a hole in the pocket, and make rash decisions, Klopp just thought balls to it, we'll just have to carry on with Keegan-ball trying to score more than the oppo for another few months and we'll go and get our man in the next window.

I see parrallels with your striker options, it's ballsy, don't get me wrong, and maybe not the same situation, but feels like it from the outside, why burn a big pile of cash on a short term 'name' on loan or even worse a 2 year contract, when it could be damaging to the dressing room, could use up much needed wageroll for the actual target you want etc..

Anyways.. TL:DR by now I expect, but out of all the teams in 'transition' at the moment, I think you're in the best shape, whether you get 4th or not, and city aside, as they'll just splash cash anyway, but Frank is driving a real identity of play on the pitch, your young lads, who'll be the lynch-pins of your team in 21/22/23 etc are getting invaluable game time and experience (parallels here with TAA), and just buying ready made players isn't, I think, where you as a club need to be now, it'll take a season or two longer, but with the youngsters developing and young coach building something, you have the chance to build something special rather than a quick flash in the pan season.

just my thoughts anyway..

Is our hopes too mate, and we are enjoying the progress our young players are making.

 

Though we will still be pretty unhappy when your first team shows up in the cup and trounces us lol.