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| Huge gamble by Liverpool and Klopp; from ESPN.com by DAVE USHER | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Feb 1 2018, 09:05 PM (100 Views) | |
| Rushiestache | Feb 1 2018, 09:05 PM Post #1 |
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By Dave Usher Jurgen Klopp gambles with Liverpool's short-term future with transfer policy As expected, it was a quiet end to the January transfer window for Liverpool. That was in stark contrast to the blockbuster way it began, of course. Supporters' spirits had soared as the window opened and Virgil van Dijk arrived from Southampton in a £75 million deal that made him the world's most expensive defender. The emotional high quickly turned to a low as Philippe Coutinho was sold to Barcelona for £142m less than a week later. Still, having received the third-highest transfer fee of all time, Liverpool were well positioned to bring in a couple of new faces to aid in their push for a top-four finish and an unlikely, but not impossible, crack at winning the Champions League. Liverpool had months to plan for Coutinho's departure, so supporters naturally assumed there must have a been a plan when he was sold. But it turns out there wasn't. Or more accurately, whatever plan they had could not be implemented until the summer, when the targets Jurgen Klopp has identified should be more attainable. Attempts were made to persuade RB Leipzig to allow Naby Keita's summer transfer to be brought forward, but -- unlike Liverpool -- the German club were unwilling to part with their prized asset midseason. In addition to losing Coutinho, Klopp weakened his squad still further by allowing Marko Grujic and Daniel Sturridge to go out on loan. With Grujic, it was at least understandable. He's a young talent who needs to play if he's to fulfil his potential. He was struggling to even make the bench for Liverpool but even so, he might have been needed in the second half of the season because Liverpool's squad is getting dangerously small, with midfield a particular area of weakness. At least Klopp can point to the long-term gain in Grujic going out and gaining valuable experience. What benefit is there to Liverpool in allowing Sturridge to join West Brom? Philippe Coutinho waves to fans from Camp Nou pitch after completing move to Barcelona Philippe Coutinho was sold to Barcelona, but Liverpool did not buy a replacement. Sturridge's considerable salary is off the books for a few months, so there is that, but on the football side of things it appears the only parties to benefit from this deal are West Brom, Gareth Southgate and Sturridge himself, who will now hope to play enough football to secure his place in England's World Cup squad this summer. Sturridge was no longer first choice and had again missed a lot of games due to injury, but Liverpool's bench looked an awful lot stronger with him there than it does now. And what happens when Roberto Firmino needs a rest, or if -- heaven forbid -- he gets injured? Danny Ings has gone from being unable to get anywhere near the match-day squad a few weeks ago to suddenly being the No.1 attacking alternative. Ings has a tremendous work ethic and before his injury problems looked like he could be an important player for the club, but his last goal was in October 2015. Dominic Solanke is next in line, and he is even more unproven. The 20-year-old showed some promise early in the season but is yet to score since his summer arrival from Chelsea. The lack of depth at centre-forward is undoubtedly a concern, as is the absence of suitable cover for Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is the only natural fit to play in those wide attacking positions, but that in turn would leave a hole in a midfield that now lacks goals and creativity due to Coutinho's departure and Adam Lallana's ongoing injury problems. Given the paucity of wide attackers in the squad, it was a little surprising to see Harry Wilson join Wigan Athletic on loan. The Welsh youngster has been in sensational form for the under-23s and has plundered 42 goals since the beginning of last season from the same right-wing position Salah occupies in the first team. Naby Keita Jurgen Klopp tried to land Naby Keita ahead of schedule, but RB Leipzig did not play ball. That hasn't been enough for Wilson to force his way into the senior setup, but he was there in reserve if needed and his exit leaves an already thin area of the squad looking even worse. Klopp has taken a massive gamble this month, both in his lack of recruitment but also with the willingness he has shown in letting players leave without replacements. Liverpool's squad contains only 21 outfield players, one of whom (Nathaniel Clyne) has yet to play this season and is nowhere near a return. Then there's Lallana, who missed the first five months of the season and made only a couple of starts before breaking down injured again. He's vitally important, but sadly he can't be relied upon. With a full squad available, Liverpool should have enough to secure their objective of a top-four finish, but the decisions taken by Klopp this window have left the Reds extremely vulnerable if they were to lose one or two players to injury between now and May. Supporters can argue all they like about whether the stance Klopp has taken this month is right or wrong, and time will be the judge of that. One thing nobody can accuse the German of, however, is lacking the courage of his convictions. Dave Usher is one of ESPN's Liverpool bloggers and the founder of LFC fanzine and website The Liverpool Way. Follow him on Twitter: @theliverpoolway. ************************************************************************************************************ Well written article and puts things clearly in perspective. It's abundantly clear that 1. FSG only decided to authorise Van Dijk's purchase because they knew they'd bank double that amount from Coutinho's immediate sale. FSG spending their own money to the tune of 75million???? More chance of aliens landing on the White House and saying they've come to watch the Red Sox. 2. There were no further plans to strengthen, in fact if anything the objective it seems was to save on and reduce the overall weekly wages of the squad - The departure of Sturridge was the key , saving on almost close to 3M on his wages alone for the rest of the season. 3. Among all the premier league clubs, Liverpool is the only club to have ended the transfer window with a net profit - please bear in mind that this is supposedly a club fighting for the biggest trophies . Whilst the likes of Chelski, Arse, Citeh, Scum and even little old Rottenham brought in reinforcements, we've brought in only a defender *paid for by a sale* and are dependent on Ings, Solanke and all the other 'goalscorers' to provide us depth and game changing quality from the bench. Yes we're CURRENTLY in the conversation for Top 4, but a few injuries /suspensions / loss of form to key players and we're up the creek without so much as a wooden spoon , never mind a paddle. |
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| DickWhiteog | Feb 1 2018, 09:22 PM Post #2 |
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What does Dave Usher know about football , Everything is copacetic . No worries we are 3rd in the league and making huge profits what more could a Reds fan want I ask you? As long as we get top 4 and CL next year trophies mean F A. Way to Go Reds. |
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Veritas Vos Liberabit - John 8:32 for all those affected by Hillsborough | |
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| Rushiestache | Feb 1 2018, 09:30 PM Post #3 |
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Hardly written in stone though is it DWOG? With Citeh all but winning the title, there are 5 clubs fighting for 3 spots - Even 4th might not be enough actually, bearing in mind that there is a possibility of an English club other than us winning the CL and Arsenal the EL , that means the CL and EL winners will qualify for next season's CL with the 4th placed team in the league missing out. But as you say, every Red supporter's ambition is 'money in the bank ' and profits galore... so everything else means F.A |
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| Snigger | Feb 1 2018, 09:46 PM Post #4 |
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I can't help thinking the writer's been reading some Threads on Kop This and regurgitated it. Good on him nonetheless, many are they who seem to be playing catch up now or is that ketchup? Any which it is, it remains Red and is sauce.
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THE ABOVE CONTRIBUTION IS SIMPLY AN OPINION. I AM NOT LOOKING TO BITTERLY ARGUE OR FALL OUT BUT RATHER MATURELY DEBATE MATTERS SHOULD IT DIFFER FROM YOURS FOOD IS HABIT FORMING !!! | |
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| Snigger | Feb 1 2018, 09:48 PM Post #5 |
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Shouldn't that be Kopacetic?
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THE ABOVE CONTRIBUTION IS SIMPLY AN OPINION. I AM NOT LOOKING TO BITTERLY ARGUE OR FALL OUT BUT RATHER MATURELY DEBATE MATTERS SHOULD IT DIFFER FROM YOURS FOOD IS HABIT FORMING !!! | |
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| Rushiestache | Feb 1 2018, 09:51 PM Post #6 |
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Things Could very well turn out septic , if the gamble doesn't pay off.. |
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| chalky the red | Feb 1 2018, 09:58 PM Post #7 |
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It's a gamble to ,not buy a player, equally it's a gamble every time we buy a player. Im glad klopp seems to be taking a calm measured approach to transfers, under some previous managers transfers seemed to be haphazard |
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"There are no real gods , only those that believe gods are real" Unknown | |
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| Hollywood | Feb 1 2018, 10:04 PM Post #8 |
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I just farted and it came out a bit wet. That is what reading this thread reminds me of. |
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Platform 2015 "parks, if i want to say anything constructive i wont use this forum mate." A Classic Kop Talk Posting | |
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| DickWhiteog | Feb 1 2018, 10:35 PM Post #9 |
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I could not give a shit !! |
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Veritas Vos Liberabit - John 8:32 for all those affected by Hillsborough | |
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| Aussiepool | Feb 1 2018, 11:46 PM Post #10 |
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There’s only 13 league matches to go so hardly much of a risk in finishing the Season with a smaller squad. Out of both domestic Cups as well and let’s see how far they could go in the CL. Man City with injuries to Jesus Gabriel , Sane now also are only a Aguero injury away from having zero strikers , Arsenal has no CM back ups etc. Not surprised Klopp and FSG refused to pull the trigger now on a Coutinho replacement. Yes , it is risky but it helps that all the clubs around us are imploding themselves a bit with losses.Top 4 was always the goal from the start with or without Coutinho. |
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| Hollywood | Feb 2 2018, 03:48 AM Post #11 |
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Touché or is that tushy? |
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Platform 2015 "parks, if i want to say anything constructive i wont use this forum mate." A Classic Kop Talk Posting | |
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