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That was the Week that Was (Aug 19-23 2024)

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Monday Aug 19:

 

Branthwaite’s odds on joining us were slashed right down to 1/2 last night after a load of bets were placed in Merseyside bookies at the weekend. I’ve said for ages we should go for him but I don’t believe this for a second. The time to do it was when they needed cash to meet the PSR deadline. There was a slight possibility they might entertain the idea back then due to not having a choice, but if we went in for him now they’d laugh us out of the building.

 

With Van den Berg and Gomez both looking to get out this month and probably bringing in something in the region of £70m combined, I’d happily chuck that whole amount Everton’s way to test their resolve. We know they’d rather fail PSR than do business with us, but I’d still do it anyway just to see what their reaction was. But then my priority is winning trophies and not reporting back to Boston with how much money I’ve brought in by thinning out the squad and not giving new contracts.

 

Also today, some weird cryptic shit from the Sociedad president about how Zubimendi might actually decide to go before the window. Some have taken that to mean we’re still in for him, but there was a report the other day that City had made a move for him, so that seems more likely. Although you’d have to be an idiot to join City while they have this case hanging over them. Anyone joining them surely has to have some sort of release clause just in case.

 

Harvey Blair is up for sale now. No real issue with this as he’s 20 now and never really shown anything to even hint that he might make it here. He did well in pre-season but not THAT well where he looked like he could hold down a place in the squad. So selling him would make sense, except we’re getting rid of so many that the squad behind the squad is being decimated. Blair would have been a good option for the early rounds of the league cup, but who’s going to play in those games now? Slot either has to go strong, or he has to go ridiculously weak. There’s no middle ground anymore as all the 18-20 year olds at the club will be playing somewhere else this season and probably beyond.

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Code

First time I heard the name Harvey Blair earlier this summer I thought it was a nickname for Harvey Elliott, and I was thinking its really strange we want to let him go now.

 

I’ve never heard about this Blair guy before about a month ago, why are people suddenly talking about him?

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Arnaud

Thanks Dave, as good as usual. Funny stuff about Rafa. Worrying stuff about the new policy to get rid of the kids though. 
 

it’s weird how Slot hardly uses his bench.

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dave u
19 hours ago, Code said:

First time I heard the name Harvey Blair earlier this summer I thought it was a nickname for Harvey Elliott, and I was thinking its really strange we want to let him go now.

 

I’ve never heard about this Blair guy before about a month ago, why are people suddenly talking about him?

 

I didn't know people were talking about him?

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Code
5 hours ago, dave u said:

 

I didn't know people were talking about him?


Before July I did not even know this guy existed, so when I say talked about I mean several different posters have posted about him this summer.

 

He’s been mentioned in the Youth team/Cup thread down the years, but Ive not really paid attention to that one, but did a search for his name right now, and found that info. 

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Supremolad

Gave myself a bit of a break from Liverpool related stuff (including this forum) after the previous season ended. Renewed my TLW sub a few days ago and reading this article by Dave has already made it worthwhile. Fantastic writing all through.

 

And I'm even more pleased that someone else sees Michael Edwards and the stat nerd guys for who they are - regular "numbers" people who rode up high off the genius of Klopp and had their reputation enhanced by the brilliance of the manager. But we still have so many fans who worship in the cult of Edwards, even now. Baffling.

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Megadrive Man

Really good read that.

 

Interesting that you made the exact same observation as me on Rafa, and I didn't even know that it was originally two hours long, but I'm not at all surprised! I still have a huge amount of affection for him mostly as Istanbul 2005 was one of the best nights of my life, but I hope he retires now. He won't though!

 

The news about Bajcetic and Ali is very worrying. 

It seems like we're going down an even more data driven path than before. 

When you consider that the data nerds didn't want us to keep the likes of Henderson and Milner, and Klopp had to fight to keep both of them because he recognised that they had attributes that the data doesn't show, I think it will inevitably start to backfire. 

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terry symes

Just got round to listening to the Rafa Stick to Football and my God what a car crash it was! The most bizarre bit was when he was asked about Gerrard playing centre mid, and how he maybe wasn't the best tactically. Rafa started talking about Steve Maclaren coming to him for advice, as he didn't think Gerrard and Lampard could play there together.. The next breath Rafa's gone off on a tangent about trying to sign Vidic but he wanted to to go to Utd and how we couldn't compete with other teams financially and that players' wives preferred Manchester because it has an international airport and London for the shopping! I genuinely thought i'd accidentally fast forwarded the pod. It was fucking bizarre and so awkward how Carra had to keep getting him back on track.

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