Diogo Jota

[3 Stacks]

4 minutes ago, Daisy said:

I don't think FSG really care about winning either of the major cups. They would have bought a centre back in the summer if so. 

 

They will be happy with champions league qualification and ground extension in the news again. 

If they don't buy a CB in Jan, then they don't care about winning this season. But saying buying a top class player in Thiago, allowing Fabinho to play CB if needed, proves they don't want to win, is absurd. We're in a crisis situation now. We were not in the summer.

[Barrington Womble]

9 minutes ago, 3 Stacks said:

If they don't buy a CB in Jan, then they don't care about winning this season. But saying buying a top class player in Thiago, allowing Fabinho to play CB if needed, proves they don't want to win, is absurd. We're in a crisis situation now. We were not in the summer.

In 2014, we all knew the squad was thin and we needed players. They showed they absolutely didn't give 2 fucks about winning the league. 

 

Personally I think this season has been klopps choice, it was a back up left back or a 4th centre back. He chose the left back and make do and mend with fabinho. If he should have to make that choice is debatable, especially as matip and Gomez are such fucking flakes, but I think that was his call. 

[3 Stacks]

4 minutes ago, Barrington Womble said:

In 2014, we all knew the squad was thin and we needed players. They showed they absolutely didn't give 2 fucks about winning the league. 

 

Personally I think this season has been klopps choice, it was a back up left back or a 4th centre back. He chose the left back and make do and mend with fabinho. If he should have to make that choice is debatable, especially as matip and Gomez are such fucking flakes, but I think that was his call. 

At worst, it was maybe a miscalculation in squad building. Too big an emphasis on having big numbers and versatility in midfield instead of grabbing a specialist 4th choice CB. Don't think that speaks to anyone's ambition or will to win this summer when preparing for the season, though.

[Barrington Womble]

4 minutes ago, 3 Stacks said:

At worst, it was maybe a miscalculation in squad building. Too big an emphasis on having big numbers and versatility in midfield instead of grabbing a specialist 4th choice CB. Don't think that speaks to anyone's ambition or will to win this summer when preparing for the season, though.

Now or 2014? 

[3 Stacks]

16 minutes ago, Barrington Womble said:

Now or 2014? 

Now. I was arguing against our business this summer being proof FSG didn't want to win this season. I think it's quite obvious we stacked the midfield to use the versatility of players like Fabinho, Milner and Oxlade, and we added a top quality player in Thiago to add the depth when those 3 had to be placed elsewhere. It was an equivalent alternative to buying a 4th choice CB in terms of the numbers in the squad, so it's unfair to say that this was some shortcut and we didn't care about winning something this season.

 

If by 2014 you mean we didn't buy Salah or Konoplyanka then yeah, but that's a different story as it was in January. Not buying a CB this Jan would be a similar story, though, you're right.

[Barrington Womble]

11 minutes ago, 3 Stacks said:

Now. I was arguing against our business this summer being proof FSG didn't want to win this season. I think it's quite obvious we stacked the midfield to use the versatility of players like Fabinho, Milner and Oxlade, and we added a top quality player in Thiago to add the depth when those 3 had to be placed elsewhere. It was an equivalent alternative to buying a 4th choice CB in terms of the numbers in the squad, so it's unfair to say that this was some shortcut and we didn't care about winning something this season.

 

If by 2014 you mean we didn't buy Salah or Konoplyanka then yeah, but that's a different story as it was in January. Not buying a CB this Jan would be a similar story, though, you're right.

This year, I see the choice that was made. I understood it and expected it (from klopp as much as fsg) - and I'm ambivalent about it if it was genuinely the manager's choice and not just a money juggling exercise by fsg. For instance, burnley were willing to pay some fee.for Wilson that I can't recall now, something like 13 or 14m. If we'd have taken that instead of holding out for stupid money, we could perhaps had the money to do a like for like on lovren. But I think fsg have shown financial success always outweighs on pitch success. Sometimes those 2 things align, but if there's a choice between the 2 there's only one winner. We saw it in 2014. If it's different this January, it shows the power klopp has imo. 

[TheHowieLama]

52 minutes ago, Barrington Womble said:

 But I think fsg have shown financial success always outweighs on pitch success.

You have said that for years man - in that time we have won the CL, won the league and are World Champions. It is not by chance. So they must have made the right choice(s).

[AngryOfTuebrook]

18 hours ago, Alex_K said:

Are Phillips & Williams really that bad? We've looked fine whenever they've played so far. Bigger concern imo is the full backs being exhausted + goals drying out further forward. Jota/Thiago + loss of full back cover enormous problem. That said Kelleher has -- touch wood -- solved the Adrian problem, which was the biggest existing issue at the club when Alisson is injured.

The front three were all wading through porridge against Fulham.  With Jota out of the picture were really short of options to give them the rest they so obviously need. 

(Got to say, I'm fucked off with Origi. He's not got the talent to compete with those three, but at least I'd expect him to put a shift in when he comes on.)

[Megadrive Man]

 

1 hour ago, Barrington Womble said:

In 2014, we all knew the squad was thin and we needed players. They showed they absolutely didn't give 2 fucks about winning the league. 

 

Personally I think this season has been klopps choice, it was a back up left back or a 4th centre back. He chose the left back and make do and mend with fabinho. If he should have to make that choice is debatable, especially as matip and Gomez are such fucking flakes, but I think that was his call. 

 

I was more than happy with the squad we had at the start of the season. Klopp has spoken before about VVD and how he will play through the pain barrier if necessary, so he was expecting a season of VVD with Gomez, then Matip and Fabinho to fill in as 3rd or 4th choice. The signing of Thiago potentially meant that Fabinho wouldn't start as many games this year, so we sort of needed him to get more game time in a different position. 

 

Its amazing that we are where we are considering the injuries we've had. 

 

I don't think we will sign anyone in January as I don't think we've budgeted for it. Its frustrating because we could win the league and have a good go at the Champions league, but this will hold us back significantly.   

 

[Guest Alex_K]

2 minutes ago, AngryofTuebrook said:

The front three were all wading through porridge against Fulham.  With Jota out of the picture were really short of options to give them the rest they so obviously need. 

(Got to say, I'm fucked off with Origi. He's not got the talent to compete with those three, but at least I'd expect him to put a shift in when he comes on.)

Origi is a weird one. Really high IQ individual; does not seem to give a fuck. What a horrible regression from him since the Kiev season (and that -- in terms of general play -- was a regression on the season before that ..). Terrified we will just keep getting blunter & blunter in attack in the absence of options & creativity in the middle. Could really fuck us vs Spurs & Palace (thankfully the former is at Anfield).

 

 

[Guest Alex_K]

2 minutes ago, MegadriveMan said:

 

 

I was more than happy with the squad we had at the start of the season. Klopp has spoken before about VVD and how he will play through the pain barrier if necessary, so he was expecting a season of VVD with Gomez, then Matip and Fabinho to fill in as 3rd or 4th choice. The signing of Thiago potentially meant that Fabinho wouldn't start as many games this year, so we sort of needed him to get more game time in a different position. 

 

Its amazing that we are where we are considering the injuries we've had. 

 

I don't think we will sign anyone in January as I don't think we've budgeted for it. Its frustrating because we could win the league and have a good go at the Champions league, but this will hold us back significantly.   

 

Our squad is the best in the league, I'm certain of that. This level of injuries simultaneously cannot be legislated for. Like, 100-1 odds. Even greater when you look at some of the players who are injured but have been spotless for years (Van Dijk; TAA; Jota).

[Megadrive Man]

7 minutes ago, Alex_K said:

Origi is a weird one. Really high IQ individual; does not seem to give a fuck. What a horrible regression from him since the Kiev season (and that -- in terms of general play -- was a regression on the season before that ..). Terrified we will just keep getting blunter & blunter in attack in the absence of options & creativity in the middle. Could really fuck us vs Spurs & Palace (thankfully the former is at Anfield).

 

 

Its always been his way. He's had some real high points in his career, but has had plenty of games where he's been worse than useless.  We should have moved him on after the Champions League final really, it maybe says a lot about his mentality that he was happy to stay here as a backup than push on to try and make a name for himself, the way that Danny Ings has at Southampton. 

[Crazy Dave]

7 minutes ago, MegadriveMan said:

Its always been his way. He's had some real high points in his career, but has had plenty of games where he's been worse than useless.  We should have moved him on after the Champions League final really, it maybe says a lot about his mentality that he was happy to stay here as a backup than push on to try and make a name for himself, the way that Danny Ings has at Southampton. 

Hate having a go at Divvy after 2019 but have to agree with this. I think we were all slightly surprised he signed a new contract that summer because he knew that he was going to be rooted to the bench whatever happened. It does make you wonder about his mentality when he seems content just to sit on the bench every week. He really needs to move on for the sake of his career. His form since that Everton game last December has been horrific - he seems to have forgotten how to play football. it's like playing with 10 men when he's on the pitch. 

[Ronnie Whelan]

28 minutes ago, Daisy said:

I don't think FSG really care about winning either of the major cups. They would have bought a centre back in the summer if so. 

 

They will be happy with champions league qualification and ground extension in the news again. 

I think they are very astute business people. They know they have a top class product and winning helps that. Think we will buy but I would be shocked if it was an expensive player. Probably a Tsimikas type signing.

 

 

 

 

[Guest Alex_K]

5 hours ago, MegadriveMan said:

Its always been his way. He's had some real high points in his career, but has had plenty of games where he's been worse than useless.  We should have moved him on after the Champions League final really, it maybe says a lot about his mentality that he was happy to stay here as a backup than push on to try and make a name for himself, the way that Danny Ings has at Southampton. 

Firmino was 'joking' about him being lazy recently; wouldn't be surprised if his heart's just not really in the game & its just a job. Who knows.

[Rick Sanchez C-137]

5 hours ago, Alex_K said:

Firmino was 'joking' about him being lazy recently; wouldn't be surprised if his heart's just not really in the game & its just a job. Who knows.

 

In fairness, I don't know how the fringe players stay motivated. Training 100% and playing 1-5%? You see how fucked off Trent, Mane, Salah are with being subbed off for 10 minutes.

[VERBAL DIARRHEA]

You are paid well to be ready to play, motivation enough for me. Needs shifting.

[Barrington Womble]

On 14/12/2020 at 19:43, TheHowieLama said:

You have said that for years man - in that time we have won the CL, won the league and are World Champions. It is not by chance. So they must have made the right choice(s).

That's down to klopps brilliance doing it despite them, not because of them. 

[TheHowieLama]

1 minute ago, Barrington Womble said:

That's down to klopps brilliance doing it despite them, not because of them. 

They chose Klopp.

[Barrington Womble]

8 minutes ago, TheHowieLama said:

They chose Klopp.

I didn't say they didn't. I just said I think financial success is more important than footballing success..you appear to think that if I'm right  they'd sabotage the team by appointing a shit manager. They've without doubt hired the best manager they could. It doesn't mean increasing the capital worth of the club is not more is not more important to them than cups. 

[coachpotato]

Many thought we were taking a chance with the squad before the season started, basing any success on us not having too many injuries, particularly to the centre backs, and Matip and Gomez in particular.

Well we’ve had all our chickens come home to roost and the way the front three are currently playing, it wouldn’t surprise me to see at least one of them end up with a significant injury, they look tired and that’s not a good way to stay injury free.

We are still at the top though and given that things have become worse than expected, I would like to think that some serious thought has gone in to getting a replacement centre back at the very least. Preferably someone of note, given that we can’t carry on with both alternatives to Van Dijk being made of tinsel.

[TheHowieLama]

31 minutes ago, Barrington Womble said:

I didn't say they didn't. I just said I think financial success is more important than footballing success..you appear to think that if I'm right  they'd sabotage the team by appointing a shit manager. They've without doubt hired the best manager they could. It doesn't mean increasing the capital worth of the club is not more is not more important to them than cups. 

Baz - they have won everywhere they went - MLB, NASCAR and LFC, it is not cuz they are lucky. On Klopp, they had the pick of the best available managers in the world and chose wisely. TBH if Klopp left tomorrow they would probably have a greater pull.

[3 Stacks]

That's the thing. In terms of businessmen  who buy these sports teams as investments, they're about as competent and good at understanding the sports they are involved in as it gets.

[Barrington Womble]

30 minutes ago, TheHowieLama said:

Baz - they have won everywhere they went - MLB, NASCAR and LFC, it is not cuz they are lucky. On Klopp, they had the pick of the best available managers in the world and chose wisely. TBH if Klopp left tomorrow they would probably have a greater pull.

I dont think that disputes my point. And they'd still take profit over trophies. Trophies and money are not mutually exclusive. But if given a choice to risk money or sporting reward, they won't risk money. 

[TheHowieLama]

4 minutes ago, Barrington Womble said:

I dont think that disputes my point. And they'd still take profit over trophies. Trophies and money are not mutually exclusive. But if given a choice to risk money or sporting reward, they won't risk money. 

Given the fact they have won everything in site what are you basing this on?

 

A hunch?