Tuesday May 5:
Well this is interesting. Most transfer rumours can be dismissed as bollocks even in mortal times, but stories that come out while we’re in this mess are almost certainly just clickbait to keep the hits coming in when there’s no footy. There’s no substance to anything, just lots of ‘it is believed’ and ‘reports suggest’ and that kind of vague nonsense.
This one today is a little different though, as a former manager of Turkish keeper Ugurcan Cakir says: “Liverpool will sign Cakir at the end of the season. Trabzonspor will not say no to Liverpool’s offer.” He then added “I met with Ugurcan. He told me that Liverpool took care of him”. Of course that doesn’t mean it will happen as things can change, but that’s pretty definitive stuff in terms of us being interested at lest.
I’ve heard his name before as we’ve been linked with him regularly, but this would seem to confirm that something is definitely afoot. In theory it sounds great. He’s meant to be top drawer so he’ll therefore be a big upgrade on Adrian. The problem is this kind of two goalie set up just doesn’t work. I’ve played enough footy manager over the years to know that. Shit, I’m playing footy manager now during lockdown and I’m trying to juggle two brilliant 21 year old keepers. I’m telling you, you can’t keep a top keeper happy just by giving him cup games and you can’t rotate two keepers because they both end up getting pissed off and you have to choose between them.
That being said, we could maybe bring him in for a year and then sell him for a profit when he gets pissed off. Maybe that’s the way forward. Keep buying boss keepers to back up Alisson and sell them after a year. Maybe if we’d done that last summer we’d still be in the FA Cup and the Champions League.
Probably the hardest position to fill when building a squad is the back up keeper. If you have two goalkeepers of a similar level then you have no goalkeeper, because as soon as one of them fucks up there’s a clamour for the other to get a chance. Karius would never have had a sniff if Mignolet was top class. This still applies if they’re both really good though. Goalkeeping controversies do nobody any favours. You need a clear number one and the back up generally needs to be - and to accept that he is - inferior. If he’s too inferior though then you better hope you don’t need to call on him, otherwise you could be knocked out of two competitions in the space of a few days.
Meanwhile, Melwood has opened up for players who want to train on their own. Some have found it difficult to train at home so this is a good thing for them. When I heard this, the first thing that popped into my head was an image of Milner in a little tent camped outside the gates making sure he was the first one in.
Wednesday May 6:
Ok it’s your now weekly Stevie Nicol assessment. He’s been talking again and he’s not happy. He’s become embroiled in a war of words with our throw in coach. When I heard about this I assumed I’d be on the side of the throw in fella to be honest with you. Some of the mocking by old pros of what he’s brought to the table has irked me a bit. It seemed like they were completely dismissive of him but after reading this little exchange I think I’m coming down slightly on Nicol’s side.
Gronnemark said: "First of all, a guy like Steve Nicol or Andy Gray who also did it earlier, it's really clear for me to see that they have no knowledge around throw-ins. It's also clear for me to see that they're like stuck in the football world of 30-40 years ago where we were like drinking 10 pints the night before we had to play.
"Of course they had passion at that time but there are, not old, but there are some old players who haven't really been following modern football. I think the fans and social media have answered for me because a lot of people are calling them outdated, dinosaurs, so I don't have the need to call them that."
Nicol responded: "What an absolute load of nonsense [that] the game's moved on. Listen, I've spoken to players who have been in his sessions on the field, I've spoken to players that have been in his video sessions and sat for 40 minutes, and there wasn't one thing they said that they hadn't already been told.
"Listen yes, I'm sure this guy can teach a player to throw it harder or throw it longer with some technique, but the stuff about moves, it's been the same for moves. And this nonsense people talk about that 'the game's moved on'. Well, let me give you an example. The game's moved on in terms of full-backs for example. When I played, and certainly when I coached, a huge part of a full back’s responsibility was to cover his centre-back - that's not the case anymore. That's when you can say the game's moved on because it's completely different.
"Throw-ins aren't any different. Yes this guy can make you throw it longer or faster, yeah I can see that. And if you've got the money to splash out on a throw-in coach then good luck to you, on you go. But don't tell me he's doing anything that we weren't trying to do 30 years ago. I'm sorry, not having it."
I reckon he’s probably right there. Saying “Nicol knows nothing about throw ins” was pretty insulting really, considering he took them for virtually his entire career and played under Paisley, Fagan and Dalglish. Having some one trick pony nerd throwing shade at him like that doesn’t sit well with me, but I understand why he’d want to hit back to defend himself.
It was good to see Nicol explaining his reasoning for once though rather than just scoffing “a throw in coach!! What a load of old bollocks. What next, a goal kick specialist!”. It’s not so much about doing it differently now, I just think that maybe they’re spending more time working on it and so bringing this fella in is a good thing because that’s his area of expertise. If we needed one, I’d have a corner specialist too, but apparently that’s something that Pete Krawietz does very well so we don’t need one.
Thursday May 7:
Happy Barcelona day! It’s mad to look at where we are right now. Imagine if on this morning 12 months ago, someone told you that we’d beat Barca 4-0 without Salah and Firmino. That Divock Origi would become an Anfield legend and scorer of one of the most iconic goals in club history and the commentary line “Corner taken quickly Origiiiiiiiii” would make my boy Steve Hunter famous the world over. Or that we’d become European Champions and then take the league by storm the following year. Imagine if someone said we’d be TWENTY FIVE points clear in March and just two wins short of winning the title. And then everything goes tits up because some fella in China eats a fucking bat and the world goes into lockdown.
I often dwell on things like this. Things happen and I’ll think “no-one would ever have believed this if someone had suggested it a year ago”. You just never know what’s around the corner. I don’t really know where I’m going with this, I’m just thinking out loud really. Makes you think though, what will the world look like 12 months from now? Fucking hell, after what’s happened since we beat Barca I don’t think anything would shock me now.
Will we even be playing in 12 months? It’s hard to envisage a scenario where we aren’t, (there’s so much money at stake and money talks) but you just never know. Especially when there’s talk of players not wanting to come back because of the danger to them and their families. Reports today reckon some club doctors have voiced concerns about football returning next month. No surprise that Villa and West Ham were the most vocal. It’s sad to see the brazen self interest from some clubs but it’s entirely predictable, especially in the case of West Ham and their tory ownership. I want them to go down even more than I hope Villa go, and you know how much I hate Villa.
It’s doing my head in now. I read today that there are some concerns about potential law suits if a player or a player’s family member were to die from covid. Are supermarkets or delivery companies also worried about lawsuits? If a supermarket worker infects his nan and she dies, are they entitled to sue the supermarket? No, so how is football any different? Because it's "non-essential" work I suppose. Non-essential work that pays millions while your average Joe is still having to risk illness to make minimum wage.
Friday May 8:
Robbo and Milner gave their take on the top five British sitcoms and they were funnier than half of the shows on the shortlist. Only Fools came out on top, which was a massive relief as if they’d have picked anything else I’d have lost all respect for them. Robbo said he would have had ’Still Game’ in his personal list but he couldn’t justify it as top five all time. Presumably because hardly anyone outside of Scotland watches it. It’s their loss as it should have been top three as it’s fucking great. If you haven’t seen it then you need to. It’s on Netflix. You can thank me later.
Anyway, while I wouldn’t agree with the rest of their choices I’m fine with the rest of their list because as long as Del Boy and Rodders are on top then anything else is just down to personal preference. It’s like when fools try to claim the Sopranos isn’t the greatest TV show ever. It is, and it’s so far ahead of anything else I don’t even need to justify why it’s the best. So just shut up and stop trying to be ‘edgy’ and ‘different’. Sopranos deniers are the same kind of vermin who will try and tell you that Paul Scholes is the best midfielder of his generation. They’re cut from the same cloth. Oooh look at me and my edgy opinions, bucking the trend and showing what an individual thinker I am. Fuck off.
You can argue about number two all you like as there’s no definitive answer there. The Wire, Breaking Bad, whatever. All great shows, but they aren’t the Sopranos. Just like none of the comedies Robbo and Milner were choosing between are in the same league as Only Fools. Some things just aren’t up for debate. Jordan being the best basketball player, Ali being the greatest, the Sopranos being king of all TV shows and Livin’ on a Prayer being the number one song of all time.
Saturday May 9:
Ol Big Bird Joel has been talking about the Barca game and this bit jumped out at me because it describes perfectly just why we’ve had so many of those amazing nights at Anfield when players seem to perform at superhuman levels.
“We were getting more and more speed with the game. With every goal, everybody became greedier - the whole stands, the players on the bench, the players on the pitch, it was crazy. Everyone became quicker, did everything better.”
That’s what people don’t get. The mocking about how opposition players aren’t going to be intimidated by the Anfield atmosphere. It isn’t about that. Some are, some aren’t, but it’s not about the opposition. It isn’t the noise that scares them, it’s the effect the noise has on OUR players that terrifies them. Barcelona players have no doubt played in louder stadiums than Anfield but I doubt they’ve ever come up against a group of players so energised by a crowd. That’s why Anfield is special. It can elevates our players to levels they’ve never been before.
Speaking of Barca though, reports now claim they are willing to accept £70m for Coutinho. Yeah good luck with that. Ain’t no-one paying that for li’l Phil after the couple of years he’s had. I hope we’re lying in the weeds though, waiting for the price to drop to £40m before saying “yeah go on, we’ll take a punt on him”.
Also today, Mbappe is said to be willing to sign a new deal with PSG but only if there’s a gentleman’s agreement that allows him to leave for a certain price should the right club come calling. Buy out clauses are illegal in France so it would have to be an unofficial agreement. He’s got two years left on his current deal so I can’t fathom why he wants a new deal with a release agreement. Why not just see out the current contract and then make a decision? Of course this could all be bollocks designed to get clicks in a time when there’s no footy.
Klopp has been talking to BT and as usual it’s great stuff. When asked what the first thing he will do is when restrictions are lifted, he said: "Probably something that isn't allowed still. Honestly, I would like to give them (his players) a proper hug! It's long ago since I saw them, I like them a lot. That would be cool, but probably not allowed! So we will leave that until later.”
He was asked if he could sign one former Reds legend who would it be: "Stevie, that's easy! But he'd have to fight for his place. The funny thing is we have lived for four-and-a-half years in the same town and I've never seen him before. Since the lockdown, I've seen him six or seven times. I go for a dog walk or a run or whatever, and he has a walk with the family, so we've seen each other more often than all the time together before! The other day I was on the phone with Gerard Houllier when I saw Stevie“.
Oh you just know how that went!
Klopp: “Hey Gerard, never guess who is waving at me right now. Stevie!!”
Houllier: “I discovered him at the Academy you know. Steve Heighway didn't even know who he was. I plucked him out of nowhere and made him a star”.
Ah good old GH. I had some hostility towards him at the end and for a little while after he left, but time is a great healer and I’d love to meet him one day and just give him a big hug, the crazy bastard.
Back to Klopp and his statement about wanting to sign Gerrard though. It’s a great question and it’s something as fans we’ll often discuss, but having Klopp himself answer it was pretty cool. I think I’d pick Stevie as well because he’s one of only a few legends who I think would even get in this team. We’ve had so many great players but how many of them are a good fit for Klopp’s current set up? And of those who are, how many would beat out the current incumbent?
There’s not too many in my opinion. Rushy is great but would Salah and Mane function as well with him instead of Bobby? Same argument goes against Fowler too. Kenny might be able to do Bobby’s job as well or better I suppose, so I won’t argue with anyone over that. Jocky would be a serious contender too, while Souness over Hendo / Fabinho is a no brainer for some, but I was too young to really remember him so I can’t make that call. McMahon as one of the box to box midfielders would be interesting, but not ahead of Gerrard.
Suarez is the best player I’ve ever seen and would walk into ANY team, but he wanted to join Arsenal so fuck him. I’m not taking him over Bobby even if he is the better player. I’d definitely find a place for Barnes, probably at the expense of Salah, but even that’s a difficult call given the numbers Mo has put up since he arrived. It’s an interesting discussion I think, unless you’re Klopp in which case it’s an open and shut case.
In other ‘news’ today, Chelsea re now favourites to sign Timo Werner. Good, let them have him.
Sunday May 10:
So Brighton, the team most vocally against ‘operation restart’ or whatever it’s called, now say three of their playing staff have covid. Unnamed members of their playing staff. So while I wouldn’t accuse them of making this up, it is all a little convenient isn’t it? It could be three youth team players, or three bench players. Doesn’t really matter anyway. Players will get it, just like people in every other occupation will. Is that enough reason to not bring football back? Are supermarkets closing down because members of staff get it?
The government are now telling people to go back to work (“if they can”, whatever that means) and while I don’t personally agree with ending the lockdown this early, if that’s how it is and people are trying to get back to some kind of normality, then why would the group who are probably the least at risk out of anyone (in terms of being fit, healthy and having access to testing and top class medical care) be any different? There’s talk of the Bundesliga restart being shelved too because Dynamo Dresden players have tested positive.
I don’t get this argument at all. Maybe I’m missing something and if anyone can set me straight then please do, but why should footballers be pampered more than the rest of society?
Monday May 11:
Not really sure what to make of that announcement today. It didn’t really tell us anything we didn’t know. The clubs would like to play the season to its conclusion, but only if they’re all happy with the arrangements to do so. Perhaps the demands from the TV companies to have their money partially refunded even if the games take place is going to force some hands. It feels like things are going to get very messy as there is no ideal solution here that keeps everyone happy.
Some clubs don’t want neutral grounds used, while the police don’t want teams having home games because they’re worried fans will congregate. Maybe I’m being naive here, but I don’t think that’s going to be an issue. Why would you hang around outside a stadium when you can’t see the game? Just ensure all the pubs around the ground are closed and there’s no problem.
I read somewhere that crowds are not expected back at games until January. Personally I think that’s ambitious, but who knows really. Depends on how bad the second wave is I suppose. Or if there’s a third one. I don’t a clue what I’m talking about really, which puts me in the same boat as the government and most people in authority.
The TV companies aren’t getting their money’s worth even if the games go ahead. Neutral grounds, no fans, it’s not what they signed up for is it? I’ve seen it suggested that in order to keep the fans at home all games should be shown on BBC or ITV. Nice idea, except Sky and BT aren’t going to go for that, even if it is just the games they aren’t showing. Compromise will be needed on all sides, but when it comes to money, the big hitters really don’t like compromising.
Fuck knows how this is all going to play out.
Today’s bullshit transfer rumour is Ndombele at Spurs. We’re said to be ready to battle Barcelona for him. So many reasons why this is complete nonsense. The main one being that he’d be about ninth choice if we signed him, and we’re not spending £45m on a ninth choice midfielder even in normal times, so there’s zero chance of us doing it when there’s no money coming in. Barca may well be in for him though. They like a Spurs flop at Camp Nou. Remember they signed that Paulinho bum?
It’s mad how every now and again Madrid or Barca do something that’s the footballers equivalent of make a wish. Remember Madrid bought Gravesen from Everton? And that shit French full back from West Ham too. I reckon there’s some arl fellas in their boardroom’s making bets like in Trading Places. We might just get a decent fee for Lovren yet you know.
…..and that was the week that was
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