The Liverpool Club Thread. **No Spoilers**

[BaZ87]

When did i say our trials for an offside rule were from IFAB? I think you've imagined that part. We did them at Middlesbrough academy.

Of course age has a bearing, how does a 22 year redefine a position when legends like Lahm or Zanetti would be picked before him?

You didn't say they were from IFAB but as the rulemakers it's they that decide on any changes to the rules of the game. If you're saying you done them off the cuff on your coaching course it's even less believable. You'd have thought coaching courses would have concentrated on coaching, not trialling changes to rules.

I'm not sure I understand your last sentence. Whether x or y are better fullbacks than Trent, how does that change the fact that Trent is playing the role in a way we've not seen before? Football evolves and we see different systems and ways certain positions are played. It doesn't mean they're better or worse. It's like different fashions in different eras. 30 years ago a fullback was an out and out defender, we've seen that change over time with Trent the latest player to take it to another level. That's not to say that in 20 years time it won't have reverted back to a more conservative style.

 

[BaZ87]

No, it wasn't on a coaching course.

Playing a role we've not seen before? Klopp's fullback are outlets to the way Liverpool play, he likes exploiting the wing area. You're basically saying, because a fullback gets the ball a lot, and kinda looks like a playmaker, then that's redefining the position. There have been endless lists of teams that use the fullbacks as outlets, Rinus Michels teams did that 30/40 years ago.

Ok, I'm fairly sure you said it was. And who said anything about outlets? I've said that we've seen that loads over the years. Trent's an attacking outlet plus is/was the main creative influence on our side.

Anyway, some natural straying off topic is ok but we are now going way off topic and I don't want to upset rob so I shall leave it there.

 

[BaZ87]

For what it's worth, if we want balance on this, TAA's career at Liverpool has been in sides that have scored 78, 84, 89, 85 and 68 league goals

So considerably less than Barca. Alves took set-plays too btw, just not as good as Trent's obviously. And Trent got 4x the assists in a side scoring approx 2x as many goals so still far better

 

[BaZ87]

How many assists did he get last season? You cannot really judge Trent compared to his peers till his careers finished.

Teams adapt and learn how to counter Trent. He will need to adapt his game over time.

What I am trying to say is as teams start to figure out Klopp Trent's output will reduce. This is just normal. Trent's success is not just his talent but also how Klopp plays.

I've compared what he's already done and doing - assisting and influencing games from fullback like we've not before. Whether that changes in future years won't change what he's already done

 

[BaZ87]

No but it will indicate that the style of play is what has given him the huge stats and the impact of that rather than then the player himself.

The same style of play, in terms of attacking freedom for their fullbacks, that pretty much every elite side has used over the past 10-15 years?

 

[BaZ87]

Trent signed a new deal today. Alisson, Fab, VVD, Salah and Robertson all likely to follow in the coming weeks/months.

 

[BaZ87]

Planning on heading up for a friendly on sunday with the kids. Just wondering if anyone has an suggestions for parking, how legit are the drives you can book on the likes of JustPark? as im with kids between 6 and 9, id prefer not too long a walk (15 mins).

Cheers.

I've never bothered with any parking apps (not when going to Anfield anyway). There's a little industrial estate on Belmont Road that's used as a car park on match days or the North Liverpool Academy (rear entrance off Breckfield Road) - they're my go two. Teh academy is the better/safer of the two but it's a bigger pain in the backside when it comes to leaving. As long as you're not in a massive rush on the way out then I'd park there if I were you.

 

[BaZ87]

And now Alisson's signed his new deal, until 2027. Who will be next? Mo, VVD or Robbo?

 

[BaZ87]

Klopp doesn't seem to think it's too bad saying he could even be back before the International break, which would mean just 2 games out. Even if he's back after the International break, it's only 3 games.

 

[BaZ87]

The guy is a colossus. It might take a few weeks to get up and running but he'll be back to his best and he was so far ahead of every other CB on the planet that even if he only gets back to 80%, he'll still be the best in the world. CB's in general and particularly VVD will find it far easier to play at a high level into their 30's than high energy cm's. Giving Wijnaldum, a player who's whole game is built around his energy and running power in midfield, a contract until he's 35(?) is a whole different ball game to the best CB on the planet that barely breaks out of a jog for 90% of the game.

And Hendo already has a contract until he's 33, just one year younger than this contract takes VVD to. I really do not understand anybody that's getting worked up about Hendo's situation.

 

[BaZ87]

Robertson shared a picture of himself back outside running. I'd imagine we won't rush him back for this weekend but it's looking good for the Chelsea game.

 

[BaZ87]

Robertson's signed a new 5 year contract today. With Hendo's deal looking imminent it's just Mo and Mane left to tie down to new deals.

 

[BaZ87]

I'm stunned that Mark is disappointed by this news. The man (partly) responsible for us not signing as many players might leave and you're unhappy @Mark1989?

The reports are that the club are still hoping to persuade him to stay but in theory it shouldn't be a massive blow if he were to. He's the guy that oversees it but we have a very detailed process place regarding recruitment, contract renewals etc, with lots of experts working alongside him. It shouldn't fall apart if he were to leave.

Makes me wonder if he’s been pushing for signings along with Klopp and being overruled by FSG and has had enough? I wonder where he will end up? Most clubs would love to have him.

I wondered how long it would take for somebody to come out with one of these mad conspiracy theories. Watch Klopp's pre match press-conference for the Chelsea game. When he was asked about transfers (specifically Wijnaldum replacements), he gave a very detailed answer and made it very clear that he wouldn't sign a player just for the sake of it and if and when the club identify the player they want, they will sign them.

 

[BaZ87]

Oh I don’t mean just anyone, Klopp identified targets to Edwards who then started making enquiries, we were told the price or conditions and FSG said no way.

I don't believe that process is at all how things work at Liverpool. Edwards has moved into the position he has because he is 100% aligned with the owernships philosophy regarding identifying undervalued (and to be clear, undervalued doesn't mean cheap) players through analytics. He wouldn't negotiate for a player who was overvalued and I'm sure if he (and Klopp of course) identified a player that they believed added to the side then John Henry isn't going to disagree with them.

From day 1 under FSG, we've never worked to set budgets. That's not to say that money is no object but if the club has wanted a player then money has been made available for them however those signings have to fit into the overall approach to transfers and the biggest reason why we've been successful is that we've been very selective over who we sign. The high threshold we have means we don't make huge numbers of signings but when we sign somebody, they're more often than not successful.

 

[BaZ87]

Cause I believe the lack of actual spends is FSG not Edwards, Edwards is an employee like Klopp he doesn't have direct access to funds, Edwards will have a budget he has to negotiate with that FSG dictate.

Klopp was lying in his press-conference on Friday then.

 

[BaZ87]

Not surprised that a deal was eventually agreed but slightly surprised that the club have done it so quickly. I'd have thought they would have wanted to wait and assess the situation over the next 6-12 months before committing to a 4 year deal. I can only assume that they've reached a compromise, structuring the deal in a way that rewards Hendo the more he's available or plays in his latter years.

 

[BaZ87]

That's the club protecting his value. Suspect he'll hang around as emergency cover until January then be loaned out.

 

[BaZ87]

What's Liverpool's wage structure? As of the last set of published accounts our wage bill was the 5th biggest in world football, only behind Barca, PSG, City and Real. I strongly suspect that once image rights & bonuses are factored in, Salah is already earning around the £300k mark per week.

Liverpool have done an amazing job at convincing the press and wider public that we're paying our players with magic beans but it's just not true.

 

[BaZ87]

Elliott suffered a fracture dislocation of his ankle which he's had surgery on today. The club aren't putting a timescale on his recovery but are confident that he'll be back this season:

https://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/first-team/443363-harvey-elliott-undergoes-successful-ankle-surgery

 

[BaZ87]

Highest PL wages depends which outlet you read

Or you can just look at clubs audited accounts which tells you exactly how much they're paying. No rumour or speculation, just facts.

For the 19/20 season, City paid out £351m, Liverpool £325m, Utd £284m and Chelsea £283m. Utd's wage bill was down due to not being in the CL - they do quarterly accounts (3 of which for last season have been released) and their wage bill for last season was tracking for £320m+ again. We'll find out Liverpool, City's and Chelsea's wages for last season sometime between now and March.