The Liverpool Club Thread. **No Spoilers**

[Tombstone]

I said a while back it wouldn't surprise me if we didn't make any signings until the last week of the summer window or even January.

Yeah I wouldnt be surprised if we dont sign anyone til January, I'd think that Slot would want anyone who is coming in the summer to come in before the season is underway rather than after the ball is rolling. If that was to be the case, then theres only just under 3 weeks to go and doesnt appear to be much traction going on with anything.

(It actually wouldnt even surprise me if we didnt sign anyone in January either and we waited until next summer and Slots first season to be over before changing the team up)

 

[Slogan]

Richard Hughes did say that August would be the time in which the transfer market starts getting more active and when you consider that the players are now on their holidays from their respective international tournaments, that does seem to make sense in terms of a timeline.

It isn't ideal from an integration point of view for the new manager but I just hope the above isn't used an excuse for not getting any business done from August until the close of the window. Whilst we haven't been living on a shoestring budget in recent years, there has been undeniable negligence in our transfer dealings and it has hampered some of our seasons as a direct result. There's a continuation of a basic style of play but in order for Slot to properly implement it, it's inevitable that there will be important / significant players in the squad that just don't fit into that ethos.

 

[HACO]

The Zubimendi situation is embarrassing. Third year in a row that we're missing out on our DM targets, and just like two seasons ago it looks like we're not going to have a plan B either.

I can't see how anyone could spin this as anything other than complete lack of ambition, and settling for mediocrity. I doubt they could keep all three TAA, VVD and Salah this season after this, wouldn't be surprised if we lose all three of them next year for free.

 

[C Kent]

Embarrassing how? The guy has turned down Bayern Munich, Arsenal, Man Utd and Barca in recent seasons, we got further along than any of them and ultimately the draw of his hometown club proved to strong. Stop reading twitter and negative engagement farmers.

 

[HACO]

Embarrassing how? The guy has turned down Bayern Munich, Arsenal, Man Utd and Barca in recent seasons, we got further along than any of them and ultimately the draw of his hometown club proved to strong. Stop reading twitter and negative engagement farmers.

You don’t always get the player, that’s fine. What’s embarrassing is waiting until 3 days before the start of the season with no signings (or contracts for our main stars), hoping for one big signing, and not getting it, and then giving up on any other targets. Exact same pattern as the last 2 years with DM targets.

They should have pushed for him long ago, and got a decision much earlier, and moved to the next target if/when it didn’t work. We’ve tried and failed to sign a top first team DM three seasons in a row now, that’s a pattern for repeated failure, let’s see if we get another Arthur Melo this year too!

 

[C Kent]

a long time ago? You mean during the euro's when hitting players up isnt allowed?

 

[MissChief]

You don’t always get the player, that’s fine. What’s embarrassing is waiting until 3 days before the start of the season with no signings (or contracts for our main stars), hoping for one big signing, and not getting it, and then giving up on any other targets. Exact same pattern as the last 2 years with DM targets.

They should have pushed for him long ago, and got a decision much earlier, and moved to the next target if/when it didn’t work. We’ve tried and failed to sign a top first team DM three seasons in a row now, that’s a pattern for repeated failure, let’s see if we get another Arthur Melo this year too!

I’m sure Slot would have been involved in these decisions and likely will have told those making the decisions that he wanted to view the squad first, to see what he has before deciding what he needed. The guys doing the analysis and scouting would have had a decently long list of players in pretty much all positions and when Slot finally said what he thought he needed then the wheels would be set in motion pretty quickly. That Zubi decided to stay after, I believe, giving his verbal agreement isn’t on Slot or the board.

 

[HACO]

a long time ago? You mean during the euro's when hitting players up isnt allowed?

Euro final was a month ago. We are literally the only team in PL without a single singing this window.

I’m sure Slot would have been involved in these decisions and likely will have told those making the decisions that he wanted to view the squad first, to see what he has before deciding what he needed. The guys doing the analysis and scouting would have had a decently long list of players in pretty much all positions and when Slot finally said what he thought he needed then the wheels would be set in motion pretty quickly. That Zubi decided to stay after, I believe, giving his verbal agreement isn’t on Slot or the board.

What we needed was obvious, that’s why every year we try and fail to sign DMs. If this is a priority then we should have already moved to a backup choice for DM, we should have linked with others etc however as all media reports have shown this isn’t the case, we are not signing another and simply gave up, as we did in previous years.

I’d be happy to be proven wrong but this happens every single year. We pick our target, we fail to get them to agree for whatever reason, we give up until we freak out in the last couple of week and make a short-term decision. The pattern is too obvious to ignore.

 

[C Kent]

Euro final was a month ago.

Teams are literally just starting to wrap player transfers up for those that were involved in the euros!! By all accounts he gave his word to move about a 7-10 days ago, and then had a change of mind over teh weekend. What else are we supposed to do under the circumstances?

We are literally the only team in PL without a single singing this window.

And?

 

[MissChief]

Euro final was a month ago. We are literally the only team in PL without a single singing this window.



What we needed was obvious, that’s why every year we try and fail to sign DMs. If this is a priority then we should have already moved to a backup choice for DM, we should have linked with others etc however as all media reports have shown this isn’t the case, we are not signing another and simply gave up, as we did in previous years.

I’d be happy to be proven wrong but this happens every single year. We pick our target, we fail to get them to agree for whatever reason, we give up until we freak out in the last couple of week and make a short-term decision. The pattern is too obvious to ignore.

Alexis Mac was signed within the first week of the window last summer if my memory serves. I also dislike the hate Endo gets. His price belied his stats as one of the best players in the Bundesliga. He joined and shored up our defensive back line and we were markedly worse off without him when he was away on international duty that most fans couldn’t wait for him to return!

 

[HACO]

Teams are literally just starting to wrap player transfers up for those that were involved in the euros!! By all accounts he gave his word to move about a 7-10 days ago, and then had a change of mind over teh weekend. What else are we supposed to do under the circumstances?

Continue with other alternatives until the player is signed, as you would expect any “top” club to do.

And?

Goes back to what I said. Shows a lack of ambition for the club.

While we finished 9 points from the top last year, and lost the best manager we’ve had in the PL era, as our rivals have all strengthened, we’ve decided whatever we have is good enough, this is nothing more than the club settling for a maybe-top-4-if-we’re-lucky target.

Alexis Mac was signed within the first week of the window last summer if my memory serves. I also dislike the hate Endo gets. His price belied his stats as one of the best players in the Bundesliga. He joined and shored up our defensive back line and we were markedly worse off without him when he was away on international duty that most fans couldn’t wait for him to return!

Of course Macca was great business, and Endo was the short-term late August signing after failing to secure our main targets, who ended up being very good especially given the price. But if we are to compete for the title, we need significant improvements, everyone knows this and we shouldn’t pretend otherwise.

 

[BaZ87]

Continue with other alternatives until the player is signed, as you would expect any “top” club to do.



Goes back to what I said. Shows a lack of ambition for the club.

While we finished 9 points from the top last year, and lost the best manager we’ve had in the PL era, as our rivals have all strengthened, we’ve decided whatever we have is good enough, this is nothing more than the club settling for a maybe-top-4-if-we’re-lucky target.



Of course Macca was great business, and Endo was the short-term late August signing after failing to secure our main targets, who ended up being very good especially given the price. But if we are to compete for the title, we need significant improvements, everyone knows this and we shouldn’t pretend otherwise.

The issue I have with posts like this is you have this assumption that spending money equals strengthening. It is of course why Chelsea have done so well in the last 2 years.....oh wait. Spending money on the wrong players is easy but it won't improve the side, I'm sorry to tell you this. It would be far easier for the club to go out and spend £40m on somebody the recruitment team don't think is good enough than not to spend at all - it would shut you and the 14 year olds on twitter up for a start but we'd have blown that money and it would make actually improving the side harder in the long run.

You talk about us pursuing alternatives to Zubimendi but I assume you understand that suitable alternatives need to be available? Or are we coming back to my first point where you just want us to sign anybody because you believe that buying the wrong player somehow helps? You mention a lack of ambition but if Zubimendi doesn't **** the bed at the last minute would the club have shown ambition?

The club are clearly trying to improve the side but they also have a very different approach to what you want and Chelsea have shown which is just to sign anybody and everybody. This isn't something new. It's the same approach the club have had for 10 years - if they're not convinced they have the right, long term option then they won't spend for the sake of it unless they're desperate. Every summer the same fans act shocked and offended by this despite the fact that this transfer strategy has coincided with the clubs most successful period in modern history.

 

[C Kent]

Continue with other alternatives until the player is signed, as you would expect any “top” club to do.

You think clubs work on multiple deals for the same position at the same time? Who would have been the 'alternatives' in your opinion?

Sounds like you want us to spend money for the sake of spending money. How's that worked out for the likes of Chelsea or man utd in the past?

 

[Mark1989]

Said it in transfer thread but I am abit worried it’s clear we need a defensive mid and a centre back at bare minimum.

If we don’t opt for a centre back then Sepp needs a chance

Regarding defensive mid imo if we opt not to sign then we cannot let Bajectic go out on loan as rumoured

 

[BaZ87]

Said it in transfer thread but I am abit worried it’s clear we need a defensive mid and a centre back at bare minimum.

If we don’t opt for a centre back then Sepp needs a chance

Regarding defensive mid imo if we opt not to sign then we cannot let Bajectic go out on loan as rumoured

I'm not sure exactly what you mean by giving van den Berg a chance? If you simply mean keeping him as a 5th CB then I'd agree but he won't be more than that. In VVD, Konate, Quansah and Gomez we've got enough quality there, you just would like a bit more cover due to Quansah's relative inexperience and Ibou's proneness to pick up the odd niggle. Long term we need to be planning for life after VVD but van den Berg isn't that.

As for Bajcetic, it's a difficult one. After 18 months out injured he needs to have a season of regular football, which he's not going to get this season for us however we'd probably be a midfielder short if we let him go without anybody coming in.

 

[Mark1989]

I'm not sure exactly what you mean by giving van den Berg a chance? If you simply mean keeping him as a 5th CB then I'd agree but he won't be more than that. In VVD, Konate, Quansah and Gomez we've got enough quality there, you just would like a bit more cover due to Quansah's relative inexperience and Ibou's proneness to pick up the odd niggle. Long term we need to be planning for life after VVD but van den Berg isn't that.

As for Bajcetic, it's a difficult one. After 18 months out injured he needs to have a season of regular football, which he's not going to get this season for us however we'd probably be a midfielder short if we let him go without anybody coming in.

I think Bajcetic could get game time with us if we don’t rely on Mac or Sobo as a number 6.

Quansah has been brilliant so he will of course play

I’m thinking Sepp would play because of Konate little niggles he picks up. As you point out if he goes and and Konate gets his niggles we seem short.

I just think we’re risking it abit this time around.

Ive not watched all pre season games but from what I’ve read Endo hasn’t done so well with Slot style but he took awhile to settle for Klopp. However if Slot already feels Endo isn’t gonna suit then we have to get some one in

 

[MissChief]

I think Bajcetic could get game time with us if we don’t rely on Mac or Sobo as a number 6.

Quansah has been brilliant so he will of course play

I’m thinking Sepp would play because of Konate little niggles he picks up. As you point out if he goes and and Konate gets his niggles we seem short.

I just think we’re risking it abit this time around.

Ive not watched all pre season games but from what I’ve read Endo hasn’t done so well with Slot style but he took awhile to settle for Klopp. However if Slot already feels Endo isn’t gonna suit then we have to get some one in

Slot seems to think we're OK with Grav, Alexis or even Jones as well as Endo or Bajcetic covering. Not sure we will get someone now.

 

[C Kent]

Slot seems to think we're OK with Grav, Alexis or even Jones as well as Endo or Bajcetic covering. Not sure we will get someone now.

The biggest issue last season with Mac Allister as the '6' was he was often left alone and exposed with how Klopp set up his midfield. Given Arne plays with 2 in the middle that shouldn't be a problem.

 

[BaZ87]

I think Bajcetic could get game time with us if we don’t rely on Mac or Sobo as a number 6.

Quansah has been brilliant so he will of course play

I’m thinking Sepp would play because of Konate little niggles he picks up. As you point out if he goes and and Konate gets his niggles we seem short.

I just think we’re risking it abit this time around.

Ive not watched all pre season games but from what I’ve read Endo hasn’t done so well with Slot style but he took awhile to settle for Klopp. However if Slot already feels Endo isn’t gonna suit then we have to get some one in

I'm a bit cautious to keep mentioning a 6 because it's starting to confuse how we're actually going to play (at least from what we saw in pre-season). We'll play with 2 sitting midfielders and 1 advanced midfielder. Although some of our midfielders can and at times will play in both roles, to simplify things I look at it as Elliott and Szobo as your main 2 for the advanced midfield position and then Jones, Mac Allister, Gravenberch, Endo and Bajcetic for the 2 deeper roles. Bajcetic will get some game time I have no doubt but not enough. Mac Allister, Jones and Gravenberch are all ahead of him right now for those 2 sitting roles.

As for van den Berg, he's only playing in emergencies. As I said, I'd like a 5th CB in case of emergencies so I'd be comfortable with him hanging around but he's unlikely to feature.

 

[MissChief]

I'm a bit cautious to keep mentioning a 6 because it's starting to confuse how we're actually going to play (at least from what we saw in pre-season). We'll play with 2 sitting midfielders and 1 advanced midfielder. Although some of our midfielders can and at times will play in both roles, to simplify things I look at it as Elliott and Szobo as your main 2 for the advanced midfield position and then Jones, Mac Allister, Gravenberch, Endo and Bajcetic for the 2 deeper roles. Bajcetic will get some game time I have no doubt but not enough. Mac Allister, Jones and Gravenberch are all ahead of him right now for those 2 sitting roles.

As for van den Berg, he's only playing in emergencies. As I said, I'd like a 5th CB in case of emergencies so I'd be comfortable with him hanging around but he's unlikely to feature.

VDB will likely play cup games and perhaps a few League games against lower opposition. There have been no solid rumours about him leaving but he is well regarded in Germany so offers may come in soon. I think Slot will be happy to have him as cover if he stays.