are we fucking buying anyone or what like?

[King Binny]

The selling club always have more bargaining chips and mostly are in no rush to sell. Take Atalanta for example. 6th placed, 3 points off 3rd (the last spot for CL qualification. Young talent in Frank Kessie on a long term contract who can only get better. They have already reportedly rejected offers of £15m and €25 million from Everton and Chelsea respectively and are said to be holding out for €35m-€40m.

Both Dortmund and Leverkusen are still in CL and still in with a chance to finish in the top 4 and given how their squad were wrecked with injuries, they're unlikely to offload Pulisic and Brandt this transfer window since they are likely to encounter similar issues when trying to sign replacements.

Then there's the Russian League leaders Spartak Moscow (last won the title in 01/02) who are leading Zenit by 5 points. Promes with 6 goals and 7 assists contributed 50% of their league goals (26). For the player himself, there's a real chance of winning a title and his stock will surely rise further along with this achievement and continued good performances - won't be short of suitors.

Given how early Bundesliga clubs tend to make their signings, hopefully it's something we can learn/emulate (and I would've kind of expected Klopp to have an influence in terms of trying to get deals worked out over the last couple of months instead of scrambling through towards the end of the transfer window).

 

[Ryan]

I can't quite believe I'm doing this, but here goes anyway:


...
He's talking about a player like Owen (Arsenal cup final), Suarez, Gerrard (countless times) or Torres. One simple pass over the top, or burst through the lines and a nerveless finish, and a victory can be snatched from nowhere, undeserved.

All great teams have one or two of that sort of player.

That's what he thinks we lack, and he's got a point.

He's not saying that we don't have someone who can finish from a simple ball over the top, he's saying this:

a player with the ability to create a chance on their own and finish it off

Which is different, and which is bullshit. Of course we have players who can create something and finish; you don't score whatever fucking truckload we have this season by just being on the receiving end of a nice assist.

And another thing; the 'ball over the top to the striker that finishes' thing is worthless when you're playing against teams that have two banks of five stretched across the edge of their box.

 

[Gary25]

Would worry for the sanity of any Liverpool fan who thinks we don't need a player or two in. We've about a million games in the next month and as it stands we're well placed for a title challenge...surely an addition helps our cause on that?

We've looked a pretty tired squad to me this month

 

[Hansern]

Its a shame if none of our targets are available in January.
I guess Brandt/Pulisic are a big NO this month.

Signing someone for the short term isnt the answer either but the squad could need an addition.
If one of our central midfield targets are available then we should definetly move.
Our team looks completly different when Hendo is missing.

 

[6TimesaRed]

Its a shame if none of our targets are available in January.
I guess Brandt/Pulisic are a big NO this month.

Signing someone for the short term isnt the answer either but the squad could need an addition.
If one of our central midfield targets are available then we should definetly move.
Our team looks completly different when Hendo is missing.

People seem to forget just how key to our midfield he is..

I hate the Hendo bashers.. He is an important cog in our midfield, and has been for some time... Last season probably would have been more successful for us had he not been injured...

Poor fucker must hate it when we play Man City.. they are his jinx team.... he either gets suspended or injured...

 

[Dreambeliever]

He's not saying that we don't have someone who can finish from a simple ball over the top, he's saying this:



Which is different, and which is bullshit. Of course we have players who can create something and finish; you don't score whatever fucking truckload we have this season by just being on the receiving end of a nice assist.

And another thing; the 'ball over the top to the striker that finishes' thing is worthless when you're playing against teams that have two banks of five stretched across the edge of their box.

Ya it was super evident yesterday at Southampton that we are covered in the create and finish out of nothing department

 

[tombrown]

Would worry for the sanity of any Liverpool fan who thinks we've about a million games in the next month

 

[Modo]

We need another creative player. What a difference Coutinho made when he came on.
Lallana ain't got shit on him.

 

[Hansern]

Dont think we'll buy anyone, sadly. I can understand it if none of Klopps first choice targets are available. But the squad could need a quality addition or two.

 

[Ryan]

Ya it was super evident yesterday at Southampton that we are covered in the create and finish out of nothing department

If you're going to try and drive home your point on the basis of one data point, then I'm going to cave your fucking head in.

 

[Ryan]

Sturridge hasn't been that player / "happy and fit" for at least two years now.

I think it'd be more prudent to plan around the Sturridge of today than the Sturridge of yesteryear.

This. Absolutely this.

 

[manwithnoname]

One is better than none, or, more usually, several that prove the exact *opposite* to the point he is trying to make.

So it's a step in the right direction.

 

[Dreambeliever]

If you're going to try and drive home your point on the basis of one data point, then I'm going to cave your fucking head in.

It's based on everything I've seen this season, the last game just reiterated the point.

Regardless of your opinion of me or your urges to cave my head in surely you can see we are severely limited when we weren't playing well as a team and have even just a couple of players out?

We were crying out for someone to produce a bit of magic out of nothing because we were creating f*ck all as a unit, which happens to any team but that's where your match winners come in. We didn't have anyone until Coutinho came on and we could do with having another option.

 

[beejay]

Off the top of my head I can recall goals out of nothing from Coutinho, Mane, Henderson and Origi this season. Sturridge is always capable of a worldie and Firmino has ridiculous skills so he is a match winner on his day as well.

We score team goals with lots of contributors but maybe not enough set pieces.

None of that is our main problem, the fact is we cough up too many goals and don't have a solid enough base.

 

[737Max]

Is there anyone on a bosman worth signing a pre-contract with?

Thought the Shalke left back looked pretty good.

When did Matip sign for us?

 

[binomial]

Is there anyone on a bosman worth signing a pre-contract with?

Thought the Shalke left back looked pretty good.

When did Matip sign for us?

Juve looking to bring him in this window for 4m euros...we signed Matip in early March on a pre contract...of course made official on 1st July.

 

[Ryan]

It's based on everything I've seen this season, the last game just reiterated the point.

Regardless of your opinion of me or your urges to cave my head in surely you can see we are severely limited when we weren't playing well as a team and have even just a couple of players out?

We were crying out for someone to produce a bit of magic out of nothing because we were creating f*ck all as a unit, which happens to any team but that's where your match winners come in. We didn't have anyone until Coutinho came on and we could do with having another option.

As I keep telling you dreamy, a team that has scored more goals than any side in England is not "severely limited" in an attacking sense, or "crying out for someone to produce a bit of magic out of nothing".

 

[mark1975]

It's hugely dependant on all of the functioning parts in the system being available though. The two most potent and creative players we have are Coutinho and Mane, the players who play well alongside them are a shadow of that without them. As shown by trying to rely on them consistently - we can't. We have good players, but we've found a system that's great at its best as a unit, but with players who are not so reliable individually. We need more players who can produce moments of genuine class, regularly.

It's stupid to think we can't improve on what have, class will tell over the course of the season. Our progression has been good, but there are obvious areas where we can improve too.

 

[Dreambeliever]

As I keep telling you dreamy, a team that has scored more goals than any side in England is not "severely limited" in an attacking sense, or "crying out for someone to produce a bit of magic out of nothing".

Scoring 4 or 5 against some sides and then failing to break down the likes of Southampton shows that its a selective stat that doesn't tell the whole story.

Chelsea are the perfect example, they may not have scored as many but they have those special players who can unlock a dogged defence that our 'wonderful attack' can't seem to open up.

It's happening more and more in the last few months but if you want to keep on ignoring this obvious trend go ahead.

We struggled in attack against Southampton, Sunderland, and Everton which is 3 of our last 6 opponents (Plymouth not withstanding as it was the kids)

We don't have the team that was scoring more than any other side anymore, Coutinho has injured and is easing back in, Mane is away, Henderson injured.

Our squad is too thin to cope with any kind of injuries or suspensions.

We have no like for like replacements for any of those three.

And that's not even discussing the deteriorating form of Firmio and Origi.

 

[StevieM]

Scoring 4 or 5 against some sides and then failing to break down the likes of Southampton shows that its a selective stat that doesn't tell the whole story.

Chelsea are the perfect example, they may not have scored as many but they have those special players who can unlock a dogged defence that our 'wonderful attack' can't seem to open up.

It's happening more and more in the last few months but if you want to keep on ignoring this obvious trend go ahead.

We struggled in attack against Southampton, Sunderland, and Everton which is 3 of our last 6 opponents (Plymouth not withstanding as it was the kids)

We don't have the team that was scoring more than any other side anymore, Coutinho has injured and is easing back in, Mane is away, Henderson injured.

Our squad is too thin to cope with any kind of injuries or suspensions.

We have no like for like replacements for any of those three.

And that's not even discussing the deteriorating form of Firmio and Origi.

Dreamie, it isn't happening more and more in the last few months.

We've failed to score 5 times in matches this season - at Burnley in the 2nd game of the season, against Plymouth in the FA Cup when the kids played, against Man Utd when they played a 10-0-0 formation and.... wait for it, you'll like this.... both times we've played So'ton st St Mary's.

You talk of players who can score from nothing st Chelsea - we've already that we have players like that.

When those players are injured or out of form st Chelsea, they to struggle.

So we buy a superstar player who can unlock the tightest defences all by himself.

Who is this player? Is he available to be purchased by us in the next 2 weeks? Is he likely to want to join us? What position does he play? What does that mean for players like Mane, Coutinho, Firmino, etc - are they dropped permanently for this new player so as he can unlock defences by himself?

 

[Portly]

Who is this player? Is he available to be purchased by us in the next 2 weeks? Is he likely to want to join us? What position does he play? What does that mean for players like Mane, Coutinho, Firmino, etc - are they dropped permanently for this new player so as he can unlock defences by himself?

There is such a player . . . . Roy Race of Melchester Rovers. Our people should be tapping him up.

 

[Ryan]

Dreamie, it isn't happening more and more in the last few months.

We've failed to score 5 times in matches this season - at Burnley in the 2nd game of the season, against Plymouth in the FA Cup when the kids played, against Man Utd when they played a 10-0-0 formation and.... wait for it, you'll like this.... both times we've played So'ton st St Mary's.

You talk of players who can score from nothing st Chelsea - we've already that we have players like that.

When those players are injured or out of form st Chelsea, they to struggle.

So we buy a superstar player who can unlock the tightest defences all by himself.

Who is this player? Is he available to be purchased by us in the next 2 weeks? Is he likely to want to join us? What position does he play? What does that mean for players like Mane, Coutinho, Firmino, etc - are they dropped permanently for this new player so as he can unlock defences by himself?

Yeah, but Dreamy doesn't want facts or logic, as they conflate with his opinion.

 

[Ryan]

Scoring 4 or 5 against some sides and then failing to break down the likes of Southampton shows that its a selective stat that doesn't tell the whole story.

Chelsea are the perfect example, they may not have scored as many but they have those special players who can unlock a dogged defence that our 'wonderful attack' can't seem to open up.

So let me get this straight:

Chelsea are the "perfect example" of what you're trying to say because (and I paraphrase) 'they score LESS goals than us, but that's irrelevant because they have special attacking players who can unlock defences'

I'm loathe to try and interpret what a "dogged defence" means to you, but on the basis of your short-term memory, I'll assume for the sake of ending this discussion that you mean defences like Southampton's. i.e. sit deep, banks of 5, limiting space. So in theory, teams like; Everton, Hull, Sunderland, West Brom, Leicester, Middlesbrough?

Teams that we've averaged over 3 goals per game against this season Dreamy.

Or if your interpretation is the higher end of "dogged defences" like Man City, Chelsea themselves, Arsenal, etc. I'll refute this by telling you that those are teams we've beaten.

You are talking complete fucking shit Dreamy.

 

[Dreambeliever]

Dreamie, it isn't happening more and more in the last few months.

We've failed to score 5 times in matches this season - at Burnley in the 2nd game of the season, against Plymouth in the FA Cup when the kids played, against Man Utd when they played a 10-0-0 formation and.... wait for it, you'll like this.... both times we've played So'ton st St Mary's.

You talk of players who can score from nothing st Chelsea - we've already that we have players like that.

When those players are injured or out of form st Chelsea, they to struggle.

So we buy a superstar player who can unlock the tightest defences all by himself.

Who is this player? Is he available to be purchased by us in the next 2 weeks? Is he likely to want to join us? What position does he play? What does that mean for players like Mane, Coutinho, Firmino, etc - are they dropped permanently for this new player so as he can unlock defences by himself?

Whether we get that player, who he is etc is a different debate. The question is do we need him.

The answer so far from Ryan and yourself is no while for its a resounding yes.

 

[Dreambeliever]

So let me get this straight:

Chelsea are the "perfect example" of what you're trying to say because (and I paraphrase) 'they score LESS goals than us, but that's irrelevant because they have special attacking players who can unlock defences'

I'm loathe to try and interpret what a "dogged defence" means to you, but on the basis of your short-term memory, I'll assume for the sake of ending this discussion that you mean defences like Southampton's. i.e. sit deep, banks of 5, limiting space. So in theory, teams like; Everton, Hull, Sunderland, West Brom, Leicester, Middlesbrough?

Teams that we've averaged over 3 goals per game against this season Dreamy.

Or if your interpretation is the higher end of "dogged defences" like Man City, Chelsea themselves, Arsenal, etc. I'll refute this by telling you that those are teams we've beaten.

You are talking complete fucking shit Dreamy.

To clarify I'm talking about the defenses we have struggled to break down or create many chances against. Nearly every team we have played have sat deep, some have been more effective than others and in those games we lacked a creative spark to change the game.

 

[bkwitche2]

Payet anyone?

Highly doubt he would come and with his recent attitude at West Ham, not sure I would want him.

That said if he came in and felt a title was there to be won, he could probably string together a very good second half of the season and be a decent bet to sell on for at least what we paid.

 

[Ryan]

To clarify I'm talking about the defenses we have struggled to break down or create many chances against. Nearly every team we have played have sat deep, some have been more effective than others and in those games we lacked a creative spark to change the game.

No, to clarify; you have no point. You've just made an array of opinionated soundbites, and when pressed on actual detail or facts - you've come back with "teams" and "times".

You're like a fucking shitter version of Donald Trump.

 

[Leo]

Dreamie, it isn't happening more and more in the last few months.

We've failed to score 5 times in matches this season - at Burnley in the 2nd game of the season, against Plymouth in the FA Cup when the kids played, against Man Utd when they played a 10-0-0 formation and.... wait for it, you'll like this.... both times we've played So'ton st St Mary's.

You talk of players who can score from nothing st Chelsea - we've already that we have players like that.

When those players are injured or out of form st Chelsea, they to struggle.

So we buy a superstar player who can unlock the tightest defences all by himself.

Who is this player? Is he available to be purchased by us in the next 2 weeks? Is he likely to want to join us? What position does he play? What does that mean for players like Mane, Coutinho, Firmino, etc - are they dropped permanently for this new player so as he can unlock defences by himself?

Is that player Jermaine Defoe?

 

[Gary25]

Jurgen Klopp is unlikely to strengthen his squad in January. #lfc (Paul Joyce)

Same year same old fucking shit

 

[mark1975]

Dreamie, it isn't happening more and more in the last few months.

We've failed to score 5 times in matches this season - at Burnley in the 2nd game of the season, against Plymouth in the FA Cup when the kids played, against Man Utd when they played a 10-0-0 formation and.... wait for it, you'll like this.... both times we've played So'ton st St Mary's.

You talk of players who can score from nothing st Chelsea - we've already that we have players like that.

When those players are injured or out of form st Chelsea, they to struggle.

So we buy a superstar player who can unlock the tightest defences all by himself.

Who is this player? Is he available to be purchased by us in the next 2 weeks? Is he likely to want to join us? What position does he play? What does that mean for players like Mane, Coutinho, Firmino, etc - are they dropped permanently for this new player so as he can unlock defences by himself?

In the longer term we WILL buy another quality attacker though. We won't do it in January, but we will in the Summer, because in the grander scheme of things, it is a problem that's occasionally re-surfacing. Whether it's through a lack of depth, or the fact that a few of the players we have only function well when our better players are available, either way, we do need that extra bit of match winning quality to push us the final yard.

So if we do buy someone in the Summer, we needed that extra quality, no? Firmino has been poor since Coutinho went out the team, and we saw how toothless we were even moreso against Southampton, without Mane. We should always strive to be better than we are, so if that means we bring someone in who will push for a place beyond the current lot, then we should. For all of their quality this season, I don't think Firmino and Lallana are completely unshiftable - and we'll have injuries etc to contend with too, anyway. At the moment when we look to the bench we've got Origi who has done exceptionally well but is still relatively raw, and Daniel Sturridge who has declined at an alarming rate. Beyond that, there's nothing but reserve players to come into the midfield and attacking positions, while Lucas and Can don't look like the answers either, Lucas clearly isn't and Can has struggled under Klopp. At fullback too we have paper thin competition. These are the areas where we're falling short, on real quality within the squad.