Mcfaggen

I'm convinced there's something to the Clyne story that isn't public knowledge. I just can't compute why we'd make that decision from a footballing point of view. A bit like Buvac, I suspect we'll never quite know, but I am prepared to believe that it's Klopps decision entirely. And I doubt he's the type to spill the story.

When was the last time (or even how often has) the three team promoted we’re the three teams relegated? If that became the norm I could see it as a possible option.

I think in that regard, they've been quite clever and patient. The Main Stand will effectively pay for itself in a few more years, and I don't think it will have impacted on Transfer Funds. I suspect that is why the Anfield Road End is going a bit slower than originally anticipated. Moves to make Anfield a multi-purpose venue and perhaps an under-estimate of demand on their behalf means they've gone back to the drawing board to ensure that it enables better concert capability & possibly a middle tier for the Corps (as there is still demand even after the Main Stand) means that it'll have a better pay back window. If it can pay for itself in a similar kind of timeframe as the Main Stand, Transfer Funds may well continue to be unimpacted by the redevelopment. I think that's good stewardship. As El Rojo said, they get the big stuff right more often than not. It's the little things - possibly due to not being football people - that they've screwed up on more often. Not my image, some dodgy goalposts on the far end, and likely a big screen instead of a Liver Bird... but there are suggestions this is being considered.

This. When they say there's so much money riding on the decision, the folks mostly impacted are already multi-millionaires... It's a game of mistakes, the drama & unpredictability is what makes it great. That it's essentially the same game at the top level as it is at the bottom is the great equaliser. It's what has made it the global game. I'm all for raising standards, but not at the expense of creating a different game.

Would Klopp be tempted to a back three of Matip - VVD - Fabinho with Milner and Robbo as wing backs? Might provide a bit more cover against Zaha. He's dabbled with back three's rather than really gone with them, but is it a case of needs must given the defensive injuries?

35?! Bloody hell, shoe in for the Nivea gig then.

Bit of a Work Horse. Could he be a Bobby back up with his tracking back? Not as good a footballer obviously, so not sure he adds value in breaking down the parked buses.

In fairness, the three gigs at Anfield have sold out in pretty decent time, so clearly there's a demand for that sort of thing in the city. Liverpool have approval presently for six, but in a residential area, they could probably do a few more given where the dock is (provided transport & that is actually dealt with). So as a new revenue stream for them that makes sense. But it probably doesn't make up the short fall, else it'll become a gig venue with occasional sports.

I've never spent any time looking into the Academy / Youth Systems but surely it's not quite as bad as the bit in bold? Do we not educate our youth players? Do they not gain academic qualifications in the system? Do we not provide life coaching around things like money, legal & practical advice? When kids are asked to leave do we not provide a support package or something to help them with the move? It would seem remarkable that we're not helping these kids grow beyond their ability to kick a ball?! Wilson seems to be playing in different positions in the CHampionship? Where does he fit in to our first XI when his chance comes?

The Manchester City defence in that Southampton game was definitely on edge, and lets be honest, that was against Southampton. There are goals there for us for sure. Fernandinho got bit of a battering too, having only come back from injury, so he's probably rusty... if Milly is about, I'd leave one on him early - assuming he plays. I suspect both teams will score, it'll be a matter of character after that. I think we have more in truth.

I think what it perhaps points to is having a plan and then working to it. Which I think agrees with your point, to a degree. Klopp saw something in Andy Robertson that fitted the way he wanted to play football that, frankly, probably no one outside of the club saw. "Buying Robertson from relegated Hull for £8m?!" was probably on every mind going... but it worked and £8m was the cost of getting those parts into the plan. Everton could have bought him for the same money (and how many would have laughed) but he could have looked bang average there because of how they play. With Virgil it was £75m (or thereabouts). With Allison, it was £56m or whatever. With Trent it was zip. Matip was also free and Gomez (admittedly a Brendan signing) was three or four million? Having a big price tag only delivers quality if it's well used. Pogba has a big price tag and wasn't well used, or managed at all by the looks of it by Mourihno. Slapping the cash on the table only goes so far if you know what you're buying. Some times it's obvious what the player brings - Allison, Virgil - but plenty of times, it's not always - Robertson, Shaqiri, Milner even - to the plan. Klopp knows what he wants and he then gets what he wants, not a square peg for a round hole... and it bloody well works.

I'm not sure if it was him being good or Trent being a bit off, but in the first half, they definitely went at our right wing and had a bit of joy there. I was thinking back to the 13/14 season and it was the Southampton game away where I think it all broke out publically in the stands... I think it's a bit early just yet, but if we get through the City game, the next wee run of games looks winnable. Still six clear at the end of January and I might just be tipped into it. Until then, City are the team to beat. Agree, first half particularly was odd... sloppy with the ball but went in at half time well, and deservedly ahead.

I was at the Chelsea v Bournemouth game this evening on a freebie. David Brooks for Bournemouth was superb throughout. Good first touch, sharp turn on the ball, has a tackle, good energy. Only 21. Chelsea were pretty uninspiring, scoring a streaky goal off the back of a blatant foul by Luiz to win the ball. Some of the decisions were full blown home team gimmies. Possible penalty for Bournemouth referees but no VAR decision apparently. Looked a penalty in real time/naked eye/to my bias.

Fanta for the Keepers

I had Lozano in my World Cup draft before he had those two good games... On the subject of transfers, if Jurgen called a conference & unveiled Joe Cole, I’d trust Jurgen to have made the right call. Knows what he’s at does Jurgen.

You have to win the LEAGUE via the playoffs to qualify for the tournament finals. GROUP winners qualify for the playoffs. The playoffs are in June next year. Regular qualification starts in March & finishes in November. So you’d know you’ve qualified after 3 or 4 games. As would the other teams in your group. Still 5 or 6 games to play. Its pretty ugly.

yes, one position per League as I understand it.

There is no Promotion from the Top Division and no Relegation from the Bottom Division. But other wise it's a League Ladder. All the nations are separated into four Leagues - imaginatively named A, B, C & D. These Leagues are then split into four Groups.My understanding is that the bottom team in each group gets relegated to the next LEAGUE down. Winners of Groups get promoted to the next LEAGUE up. Note this is Leagues & not Groups. Winners of the groups also go into play offs, which offer the opportunity to be crowned LEAGUE winner but also, controversially, qualification to Euro 2020. Note that the winner of League D's play off (the minnows of Europe) will qualify for the next European Championships! Present League D group leaders are: Georgia (already won their group actually), Belarus, Kosovo & FYR Macedonia... So if England finish bottom they'll end up in League B next time around, which will mean they'll be playing with the likes of (as of today) Austria, Bosnia, Denmark, Rep of Ireland (could be relegated on Monday I believe). Northern Ireland were relegated last night from League B to League C without playing a 'Nations League' Game as they were in a group of 3. Scotland could be promoted to League B & potentially face England. So much less glamorous for England in the group phase, but you'd expect them to come up against other big teams in the play offs. Germany could be Relegated too so England could end up playing them in a League B Play Off Final to qualify for the next tournament. See present places here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/nations-league/table That means next time out England, if relegated, could have a much easier pathway to qualifying for whatever tournament it's a pathway for... e.g. if they were in a group with Austria & Israel, you'd expect them to win that & go to the play offs for the automatic spot in the tournament (say Euro 2024, or maybe World Cup 2022?). Less glamorous but means that the entire qualification process could be done before the actual qualifiers happen! Which is the next foible... Euro 2020 Qualification starts next year... the Nations League Play Offs are next June... so you play the first couple of rounds of Qualification, qualify in the summer of 2019 and then all subsequent qualifiers for the Euros are dead rubbers if you've qualified... that's got to be about 8 qualifiers over Autumn 2019. It's bizarre. Sorry for the long reply, hopefully I've kept that simple to follow.

Agree. Indeed, it'll probably be a world wide circus, you could easily see games in the US or Australia - and they might sell out quite a few.

Was it the World Cup in Germany where the BBC offered matches without commentary on the Red Button. Rumour was they jettisoned it after complaints from Motson & co. because it was so popular.

My username has nothing to do to do with mine or anyone’s sexual orientation.

Doesn't the R stand for Royal though?

Wait, south of the border?

Is that linked to what was wrong with him previously? Seems a bit nuts that with the resources City have they'd rush anyone back, even one like De Bruyne.