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There was an article in the Echo or Mirror I think that explained the amount of money Liverpool are losing at the moment. The players are still taking home their wages (around 100m a year) but with no gate income and having to pay back part of the 130m to the TV companies you can see the problem. At roughly 3m a game, if next season is to be played behind closed doors you’re looking at a loss of 100m that would not of been factored in. Chelsea will have a similar wage bill and obviously a similar lack of income but Liverpool’s problem is that the owners have exactly the same problem in the States with Boston Red Sox. They are hemorrhaging money badly.
There’s talk of no signings at all at Anfield for next season. All speculation at this stage of course.
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28-30 is still a good age, in fact it’s probably regarded as a strikers and midfielders peak age. And do we need to sell just to get money back? If we win a few more leagues and a couple of Champions Leagues then would it be worth hanging onto those 3 into their 30s?
Aguero, Lewandowski, Messi, Suarez, Immobile, Ronaldo, Aubameyang, Benzema, Vardy (didnt realise he was so old!), Mertens are all still top players and aged 30 or over yet their clubs have not seen the need to sell them. They are still performing at the very top level.
I’m not trying to argue my case here just curious for people’s opinions and what I wrote is not necessarily mine.
I agree I can’t see them all hitting 30 or 32 or whatever and Klopp (or whoever is in charge) replaces all 3 at once. I would think understudies with potential that are gradually phased in would be a better bet. But not top superstars sitting on the bench waiting 3 years, as I’ve explained I do not see that as a realistic option. Unless of course one of them goes for big money then #mbappe2020 or whatever year it is might be on!
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No one can compare to the legend of Balotelli! But Paxton made some valid points above.
Here’s a bit of a long read about his issues. Think it’s from the end of last year but still valid.
He’s clearly talented but looks like he could be close to throwing all that talent away. He needs a change and maybe there’s a manager out there that could still get the best out of him.
https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2806752-the-trouble-with-barcelonas-wayward-star-ousmane-dembele
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For Dortmund he was great. Quick, skilful, can use both feet and very direct. He had a few off field issues, like the time he trashed his rented house. The problem with that is that his landlord was a certain Jürgen Klopp!
For Barca he has had a lot of injury problems and never really settled. I’ve heard they are desperate to get rid of him but he wants to stay. His wage would be an issue.
A little snippet of his time at Dortmund:
I know youtube clips can even make Phil Jones look like a footballer but it shows what style he plays.
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I should of added that this whole no 1 striker thing works both ways. Say Werner was ok coming knowing he would not be automatic choice (and he made noises that suggested he would) then he would take up the status of a regular squad member. I cannot see Liverpool agreeing to pay him a wage that was not only above the norm for a regular squad member but also higher than star players Salah and Mane, ones he is would be in effect their deputy. But he can get the squad status and the wage he desires at Chelsea who also will probably play in the Champions League. If we did pay him 200k for being a squad member it could unbalance the whole pay structure at the club.
Regarding their age they are coming up to that critical point when we can still get huge money for them just before their abilities start to decline. From what I’ve read none of them are going at the end of this season but I can see that next year that could be different. Apparently, and this is just from a “in the know” internet kinda guy, that Salah still dreams of being the Real Madrid poster boy. His agent apparently approached Madrid last year with stupid demands and was laughed out of the meeting (it’s not unusual for top player’s agents to approach top teams even when no transfer is likely). I could see him making that move in a years time and we would still get mega bucks for him.
For the immediate future I could see Dembele make a loan with view to buy. His stock has fallen massively so he might be more open to a move as understudy, and whilst he has problems I think Klopp still highly rates him. Or somewhat more unlikely and more expensive would be Havertz. Maybe a purchase with a loan back deal so that he joins and takes Firmino’s place in a years time.
Firmino is a bit of one off type of player. There’s not many of his type around but he hasn’t been as effective this season as previous. Is it a time to cash in? If Havertz can probe to be able to play that role, and he has a few times but remember he is only 20 still, then he could be the man next year.
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I have had numerous discussions on here and TT about the difficulties of getting additional top quality in and the arguments are nearly always the same. He will get minutes it’s a long season, our front three could get injured, we can change formation etc etc. But these are always situations after the player has arrived, retrospective of the transfer. My arguement is preemptive of the transfer, as in he wouldn’t sign in the first place. Why would he when he can go to chelsea and be number one? He needs to be number one at a club, he is Germany’s top striker. At Liverpool he wouldn’t be.
We are blessed to have the strike force we have but it also makes getting top quality additions very difficult, none want to come to be second choice. A young player with bags of potential that is hungry to prove himself would be my suggestion for a transfer.
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We had a protest in Cologne yesterday. 3 or 4 thousand. Most people sitting in groups upto 6 or so with a few beers and a couple of meters space around them. #Blacklivesmatter banners, anti-Trump banners, people honking their car horns, was wonderful to see.
There’s been protests about racism before but not on this scale around the World that I can remember. I’m not sure people intended these to happen at this time, it just happened. The reason was that feeling reached a point that couldn’t be contained any longer due to recent events. People have had enough. I don’t think asking millions of people to delay their protest due to Coronavirus was ever going to work to be honest.
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Good point CM.
Read an article recently about Bayern Munich and how the potential purchases of Leroy Sane and Havertz could lead to them playing something similar to how Klopp does at Liverpool. We all know Sane has with his extreme pace (combined with Gnarby on the other the article mentions) but it was the role of Havertz that was interesting. It suggested that he could play a Firmino type role due to his high game intelligence and work rate. Firmino as we can all probably remember played as a AMC in Germany for Hoffenheim, the same position Havertz currently plays for Leverkusen. Having said that I just did a little research and he has played 7 times as a striker this season and scored 7 goals from that position.
The problem for Liverpool is that he is very much wanted by Bayern.
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” If someone comes in and proves just as good if not better than one of our front 3, then surely Klopp will play him?”
This is the thing, Werner wouldn’t be better. Sure sometimes one of our front three have an off game but everyone does, even the likes of Messi and Ronaldo, and we pass comments like “it would of been better to have Werner come on” with the benefit of hindsight. But Werner is not of the overall class of Mane, Salah and Firmino, he would not be coming over to step into one of their places, he would come as back up.
We have already one of the best strike forces in the World. There are few players that could improve it, perhaps Mbappe for Mane or Salah. Sancho perhaps if you consider his potential. To replace Firmino? Very difficult as his role is very unique. Messi a few years ago sure (although he was more of a right inside forward), perhaps Suarez a season or two ago. I don’t see that Werner could do it personally.
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“This constant talk you now hear that “oh, but we couldn’t guarantee Werner the minutes”…I’m sorry, but that’s part and parcel of keeping the side at the top – nobody should be thought of as irreplaceable in our current line up or untouchable.”
There’s a couple of factors that need to be considered.
Werner made a lot of noise that indicated he wanted to come here but to be honest I’m not convinced. He is 24 and an established German international, but is he as good as Mane, Salah or Firmino? No he isn’t. So would he want to come to sit on the bench most games or be “plan B”? It’s not about some players being irreplaceable it’s about if some would come and not be first choice. Werner will be no 1 striker at Chelsea, he wouldn’t at Liverpool. And yes our front 3 are 28 but so what? They still have a couple of years at the top. I cannot see a top international player come over and wait two years before they are seen as no 1 choice.
We could change our tactics to accommodate Werner with our 3 attackers but I would point to the league table and ask why would we?
The second point is financial. I am not sure how the pandemic has affected the footballing money world but maybe 50m is actually back to being a lot of money. Plus the reported 225k or whatever a week wages which would put him as Liverpool’s top earner then you can see it probably didn’t make sense for a player that wouldn’t actually be a first team player.
Of course everything changes if one of our 3 get sold but despite a few Mane to Madrid rumours I don’t think that will happen this year.
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You’re right Mak the agent did say that. I think it has something to do with those huge wages! Barca are still looking to offload him so you never know, maybe a loan with split wage payment might happen.
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Werner is a good player. He plays at an intensity that would suit Klopp’s team. But where would he play?
At RBL he prodomitaly plays as part of a front two alongside either Schick or Poulsen (they play a 3-4-1-2). Despite being blessed with loads of pace that you’d think means he plays on the shoulder of the last defender he has actually been the deeper of the strikers. Not sure if that means he plays as a 10, they have Olmo and Forsberg that play that role, but certainly a bit more withdrawn than the other stiker. But does that mean he can play the Firmino role? There’s no real evidence that he could, or any that says he wouldn’t be able to adapt either. He has the work rate so will press no problem like Bobby but has he the guile and skill of our Brazilian, or the ability to drag defenders out of position at the right time?
He has played on the left but that was done versus Munich to nullify their wide players, something he did rather well at. So he could cover Mane I’m sure, but I doubt to anywhere near Mane’s level. He might even be less effective than a specialist winger/inside forward.
In an ideal World I would take Mbappe first, then Sancho, then Dembele, then Werner. The finances for Mbappe are astronomical so I think that will remain just a dream for us LFC fans. I heard that the cost of Sancho is also very very high so I would rule that out too. I think Dembele is actually a player we could go for. Two footed, can play on either wing so can cover both Mane and Salah. He has issues at Barca both injury and attitude but he is still a player Klopp admires. If we get him on a loan with option to buy for something like 40-50m then I think this would be our best bit of business this summer. And Barca may take such a low deal as they desperate for cash at the moment. He is on high wages at Barca at 230k which would put him above Mane and Salah so that could be a problem.
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To be honest it might just be Sky have the option to turn on crowd noise rather than it being in the stadium. I’ve not actually watched it much myself as I don’t have the Bundesliga Sky package, I only watched a little of the free to air games when they first started.
But I do like the cardboard cut outs, especially with the money going to local charities.
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I thought they already did that Sean. BMG have cardboard cut out of fans that cost 19EUR donation to local charities and I think they play crowd noise also. Think that’s been a great idea.
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You can’t just pull out the goals scored stat to determine who is a good striker or not. If we do then Chris Wood, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Teemu Pukki and of course the man Tammy himself are all better strikers than Firmino.
I don’t think anyone is saying Abraham is rubbish just that he isn’t good enough (yet at least) to be the main striker of a top team. Hence why Chelsea have almost signed Werner, but that doesn’t mean Abraham’s Chelsea career is over.
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Ed a couple of years ago every top team were chasing those 3 like they are with Sancho now. Think you’re being a tad optimistic to be honest. Isn’t Willian leaving on a free? You’ll end up with him.
Agree regarding Abraham. I actually said something similar when he was actually banging in the goals. He looked good, I just couldn’t see him making the step up to great or World Class. But he has time very much on his side.
Chelsea seem to be putting together a good squad capable of challenging if Werner signs. I think up front was their weak point along with goal keeper.
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I think that despite the obvious lack of atmosphere the restart of the Bundesliga has been deemed to be a success. The quality and commitment on show has been pretty good and certainly better than nothing at all.
Shame about Werner if as expected he signs for Chelsea. Good player. His style would suit Klopp’s ideas but not sure on the shape of the team. He is primarily a CF but not a Firmino type (who is??). I think he would best suit our team in the Mane position coming off the left with pace and an eye for a goal. But would Germany’s no 1 striker sign to be a wingers understudy? Despite all the noise he apparently made I’m not entirely convinced.
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If he signs for Chelsea, and it looks like he will, it will be a very exciting signing for them. No signing is ever guaranteed to be a success but this lad has everything in his locker to be one in the Premier League. He will probably miss a fair amount of chances but because of his speed and movement he will probably be in positions that others strikers wouldn’t be able to be. He also works very hard off the ball too. He has scored 75 goals in 125 apperances for RBL which shows he is definatly a goal scorer.
Going to Chelsea works well for both parties, he will be the main man there and Chelsea will get a young but experienced (29 caps and 11 goals for Germany) focal point for their attack that they have needed.
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Sorry City fans had to put this here. Apologies to anyone that has seen it, it’s not new, but I don’t think it was intended to be seen by match going proper City fans.
If you’ve not seen it enjoy, it’s totally cringetastic, but remember it’s just a bit of banter! I like to think Adlab is one of the old guys at the table that shout Hooray!
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The quarantine is an odd one. The rest of Europe are starting to open up their borders and encourage tourism whilst keeping to the certain guidelines and the UK imposes a 14 day quarantine for all visitors. The question is why now? Why not in March? As Mikus says it’s an absolute shambles.
Speaking of borders opening up I’m off to Portugal for a couple of weeks from the 17th June and am looking forward to some time on the beach. Will probably miss Liverpool’s title winning game, unless I can bride my better half with the promise of champagne or something.
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