Richard Hughes, director of football

[Em City]

Just now, Barrington Womble said:

FSG checked out? When did they check in? 

 

When they appointed Klopp, then they checked right back out again.

[gkmacca]

Some hacks are still parroting the FSG claptrap. Here's Lewis Steele: 'it would be wrong to stick the knife into Liverpool for operating with a measured, quality-over-quantity approach'.

 

What Steele and Co are missing is that allowing a squad to crumble, with contracts left to run-out, senior players allowed to leave, several promising young players sold or hurried off on loan, whilst no new signings are made at all, is NOT 'measured'. It's gross mismanagement.

[Freddo]

If we can't get players in now, we've no chance next summer when as it stands we need to replace three big hitters. We'll have Diaz and Konate with 12 months left also. 

They'll say that's too much work for one window and we don't have the money as we didn't get fees for those lads. 

Excuse after excuse every single season. 

It's like they want to write seasons off, they did it under Jurgen, they'll do it now. 

 

[skend04]

This guy has stolen a wage for the time he's been here. I'm surprised that FSG haven't asked for their money back yet, the mingebags.

[Saucepan]

First thing he does on the transfer market is being taken for a ride by an agent, securing a lucrative deal for a player who had no intention of leaving his boyhood club.

 

Not a good look 

[John102]

7 minutes ago, Saucepan said:

First thing he does on the transfer market is being taken for a ride by an agent, securing a lucrative deal for a player who had no intention of leaving his boyhood club.

 

Not a good look 

Did you forget Yoro? We leaked we would be at the front of the queue, should he not go to Real, only to baulk when the price for this generational talent was more than an all day bus pass.

[lifetime fan]

1 hour ago, gkmacca said:

Some hacks are still parroting the FSG claptrap. Here's Lewis Steele: 'it would be wrong to stick the knife into Liverpool for operating with a measured, quality-over-quantity approach'.

 

What Steele and Co are missing is that allowing a squad to crumble, with contracts left to run-out, senior players allowed to leave, several promising young players sold or hurried off on loan, whilst no new signings are made at all, is NOT 'measured'. It's gross mismanagement.

Remember when Salah, Mane and Bobby were all left to get down to the last 12 months together, everyone said never again. 
 

And here we are. 

[gkmacca]

And after the inspirational season where the kids were celebrating being at a club that gives them the chance to progress, we are now seeing a succession of them posting messages suggesting they're on the way out. That's a weird kind of achievement - to throw away the best feel good factor the academy has ever had. You have to hand it to Hughes, his attention to detail is remarkable - there's no aspect of the club he's not managing to disenchant.

[Moo]

The club was a shambles before Klopp arrived and it'll go back to being a shambles now Klopp has left. FSG have been cheap bastards throughout, Klopp's genius papering over the cracks of that particular uncomfortable truth. 

Still, I'm looking forward to seeing what Slot can do and the start of a new season is always exciting. The rest of the hierarchy can continue to fuck right off as far as I'm concerned.

[luxury_scruff]

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5697740/2024/08/14/liverpool-risk-being-left-behind-by-busy-rivals-after-martin-zubimendi-snub/#

 

Liverpool risk being left behind by busy rivals after Martin Zubimendi snub

James Pearce

Arne Slot was sitting in Pittsburgh Steelers’ training complex at the start of Liverpool’s pre-season tour of the United States when the conversation turned to transfer business.

 

“We already have a good team I am happy with, but it would be a surprise for all of us if we don’t bring in any players,” he said. “That will probably happen in the end. We’re waiting for the right ones to sign.”

With just 16 days to go until the window shuts, the clock is ticking. Liverpool remain the only Premier League club not to strengthen their squad this summer and concern among the fanbase is growing.

Slot had expected Martin Zubimendi to be unveiled as the first signing of his Anfield reign this week, but those hopes lie in tatters after the Real Sociedad midfielder turned down a move.

 

It’s a huge blow. The Spain international had emerged as Liverpool’s top target as Slot sought a new No 6 to complement the group he inherited from Jurgen Klopp. Zubimendi would have provided an injection of quality into an area of weakness and securing his services would have been a major coup given he had previously snubbed interest from Bayern Munich, Barcelona and Arsenal.

 

The optics of missing out on his signature are not great for new sporting director Richard Hughes. The fallout underlines how the pressure and scrutiny at Liverpool are far removed from life at Bournemouth.

With no incomings and the futures of senior players Virgil van Dijk, Mohamed Salahand Trent Alexander-Arnold unresolved, the former Scotland international has not put his stamp on the job.

 

In truth, it is hard to see what more Hughes could have done to get the Zubimendi deal over the line.

Liverpool insist they had received assurances that the 25-year-old wanted to join them this summer. Hughes led the way on the background work that initially attracted the player and Slot provided the football blueprint that Zubimendi indicated he wanted to be part of. They pursued him because he was available and fitted the profile of what Slot wanted in a ball-playing No 6.

 

Money wasn’t an issue. According to Liverpool sources familiar with the discussions — who spoke on condition of anonymity due to commercial sensitivities — the club’s owner Fenway Sports Group had given the green light to Liverpool paying his €60million (£51.3m; $65.6m) buyout clause. They knew that trying to negotiate was pointless given Real Sociedad’s unwillingness to sell.

 

But senior Anfield figures were so cautious when reports about Liverpool’s interest surfaced last week because they knew that Real Sociedad would launch a charm offensive to convince him to stay.

 

A homegrown hero trying to leave a Basque club is a big deal. Zubimendi grew up in the city of San Sebastian and joined Real Sociedad’s youth ranks at the age of 12. His bond with the club’s fanbase is strong.

 

The longer Zubimendi spent pondering his future, the more Liverpool feared he would change his mind. Confirmation that he was going to stay loyal to Real Sociedad was relayed to Hughes on Monday, with sources at the club — who also spoke on condition of anonymity — suggesting that the pull of his hometown team and remaining near his friends and family was decisive.

 

There are echoes of Steven Gerrard in 2005 when he signalled his intention to leave Liverpool for rivals Chelsea, but ultimately could not bring himself to cut his ties with his boyhood club and ended up penning a new contract at Anfield.

 

It is not the first time Liverpool have been thwarted after a long-running pursuit of a holding midfielder.

Two years ago, they missed out on Aurelien Tchouameni when he opted to sign for Real Madrid after leaving Monaco. Last summer, they tried and failed to land the Chelsea-bound duo of Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia during a window when they sold Fabinho and Jordan Henderson. The difference this time with Zubimendi was that they weren’t beaten to the punch by a rival club.

So where do they turn from here?

 

Liverpool have played down talk of pursuing an alternative to Zubimendi as they don’t believe a suitable Plan B is on the market.

 

With Michael Edwards back as FSG’s CEO of football you can rule out panic buys as the deadline nears. His reign as sporting director between 2016 and 2022 was notable for ignoring outside noise and only bringing in players he felt would add significant value. You won’t see an Arthur Melo-type loan deal being sanctioned on his watch.

 

When Liverpool missed out on signing Leicester City’s Ben Chilwell in 2016, they waited 12 months before signing Andy Robertson from Hull City, with James Milnerspending a season at left-back. When the initial pursuit of Van Dijk from Southampton collapsed in the summer of 2017, they stuck with what they had (despite the clamour to buy another centre-back) and, belatedly, got their man six months later.

 

However, on other occasions quickly pivoting to another name on the club’s shortlist after being turned down has brought great rewards. Klopp had wanted Mario Gotze and Julian Brandt before ending up with Sadio Mane and Salah. Last summer, they turned their attention to Dominik Szoboszlai after Mason Mount indicated he wanted to move to Old Trafford and there are no regrets on that front.

Maybe Liverpool simply don’t want to show their hand post-Zubimendi. After all, when selling clubs know you are desperate, prices tend to shoot up.

There has been much to admire about Slot’s first pre-season — he has quickly got his ideas across, star names look refreshed and energised, their attacking fluency in the friendlies has been eye-catching, and, crucially, they have avoided injury setbacks.

 

However, that position in front of the back four remains a real concern. Wataru Endowas always a stop-gap when he arrived from Stuttgart for £16million a year ago. He exceeded expectations last season but is struggling to adapt to Slot’s possession-based approach and has slipped down the pecking order.

 

Ryan Gravenberch has shown signs of promise since being preferred in that deeper role but the Dutchman still has much to prove after a mixed first season at Anfield. Curtis Jones, Alexis MacAllister and Szoboszlai are more effective further forward, while it would be wrong to expect too much from 17-year-old Trey Nyoni as he continues his development.

The importance of Rodri to Manchester City and Declan Rice to Arsenal underlines the value of having a dynamic, specialist No 6. So, too, does the contribution of Fabinho at his peak to Liverpool’s greatest triumphs under Klopp.

 

“We should make some signings based on how long the season will go,” said Van Dijk following Sunday’s 4-1 friendly win over Sevilla at Anfield. “They’re working behind the scenes and I’m fully convinced and trust in the club that they will do the right thing and get the best possible squad to compete in every competition that we are in.”

 

Players as well as supporters are waiting for reinforcements to arrive to fuel the belief that they can maintain a challenge for the biggest trophies.

Signing someone of Zubimendi’s calibre would have solved a key issue and provided the perfect lift going into Saturday’s Premier League opener at Ipswich Town. Now Liverpool must reassess because the need for a new No 6 is glaring.

 

If you stand still when rivals are strengthening, you risk getting left behind.

[Anubis]

If money was no object, the minute he agreed to join we should have lpushed to arrange payment of the buyout clause. This ocntradicts other reports that we were, in fact, haggling over payment structure.

[lifetime fan]

1 minute ago, Anubis said:

If money was no object, the minute he agreed to join we should have lpushed to arrange payment of the buyout clause. This ocntradicts other reports that we were, in fact, haggling over payment structure.

Pearce admits in the article he’s reporting what he was told to. 

[Bjornebye]

I think Hughes needs to watch this 

 

 

 

[Bjornebye]

Annoying thing is though, if we do go for an alternative (and we need to) we’ll probably end up getting fleeced because the selling club will know we’re desperate. 
 

I promised myself I wouldn’t and I HATE myself for bringing him up but Klopp would have closed Zubimendi. One FaceTime call a big smile and he’d have been on that plane faster than a rabbit gets fucked 

[The wanderer]

2 hours ago, gkmacca said:

Some hacks are still parroting the FSG claptrap. Here's Lewis Steele: 'it would be wrong to stick the knife into Liverpool for operating with a measured, quality-over-quantity approach'.

 

What Steele and Co are missing is that allowing a squad to crumble, with contracts left to run-out, senior players allowed to leave, several promising young players sold or hurried off on loan, whilst no new signings are made at all, is NOT 'measured'. It's gross mismanagement.

I was fuckin gobsmacked when I read that this morning.

[Elite]

I was looking forward to this season and had high hopes as the team are playing well in pre-season (doesn't mean it'll translate) and I like what I've seen of Slot so far but I feel FSG are hanging him out to dry already. They really need to fuck off and sell us to somebody that wants us to win and not just be an asset on their portfolio.

[The wanderer]

Make of this what you will.

 

[Pete]

8 minutes ago, Elite said:

I was looking forward to this season and had high hopes as the team are playing well in pre-season (doesn't mean it'll translate) and I like what I've seen of Slot so far but I feel FSG are hanging him out to dry already. They really need to fuck off and sell us to somebody that wants us to win and not just be an asset on their portfolio.

Who? There's the billion dollar question. Pretty much everyone on here is against an oil state buying us, so unless we get our own Odd Boehley (shudder), who actually is out there to buy us & is willing spend the money needed to keep us competitive?   I'm not trying to defend FSG at all.  I like some of the things they've done. disliked a fair few things they've done. I just don't see who there is to buy us and stick to the principles we believe in. 

 

[Juniper]

Must be a piss easy Job being on our transfer committee 

 

Identify a player who’s already hard to get, talk to him for a bit, haggle unrealistically to buy some time, player backs out or joins another club they were always going to sign for. 

 

Put your feet up for another 12 months as there’s no plan b or that they don’t seem capable of working on more than one deal at the time, leak it to the press that no one else of quality is available… etc

 

Rinse and repeat 

[Bobby Hundreds]

We won the league cup last year and people think you can improve on that! Every single player is the best in the world in their position they just need to do quick thinking forward facing redondos and who knows... FA Cup final maybe.

[Pidge]

3 hours ago, Saucepan said:

First thing he does on the transfer market is being taken for a ride by an agent, securing a lucrative deal for a player who had no intention of leaving his boyhood club.

 

Not a good look 

 

Has he signed a new contract?

[joe_fishfish]

1 hour ago, The wanderer said:

Make of this what you will.

 

Exequiel Palacios - injury record makes Jota look like Salah

Ederson - looked amazing for Atalanta but more of a destroyer than a deep lying playmaker, also I doubt he'd be good outside of Atalanta's system

Hjulmand - bit of a clogger

Varela - definitely a deep lying playmaker but is worse defensively than Jorginho

Wharton - would cost £100m+

 

Let's get them all.

[The wanderer]

10 minutes ago, joe_fishfish said:

Exequiel Palacios - injury record makes Jota look like Salah

Ederson - looked amazing for Atalanta but more of a destroyer than a deep lying playmaker, also I doubt he'd be good outside of Atalanta's system

Hjulmand - bit of a clogger

Varela - definitely a deep lying playmaker but is worse defensively than Jorginho

Wharton - would cost £100m+

 

Let's get them all.

Like I said make of it what you will . 

[Trojan1892]

There’s no one any good available it’ll be fine……

 

We’ll just play players out of position instead, it’ll work out great.

Then bet your house on Endo getting booked every time he plays, winner winner chicken dinner.

 

[Barrington Womble]

There's no plan B, because there was no plan A. They went in for zubimendi because he didn't want to join, same as caciedo last season. It's just a big stunt. Do people really think after 2 summers looking for someone in this position, the team with the greatest depth of knowledge in world football can only come up with Endo, some kid who doesn't want to leave Spain, some kid who city fucked off and had only won about 3 professional games of football and the lad who'd have cost 110m and never wanted to come here? All the knowledge, data and scouting and that's all they can find? Get to fuck. They just don't want to spend. They have zero ambition and are going through a process of clearing the decks on klopp's highly paid squad to trim the squad down and make it younger and cheaper.