Who actually sits there trying to come up with answers to questions most of us care not to ask?
Salah-ng, farewell, auf Wiedersehen, goodbye
- Thread starter Fabio
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I wouldn’t be opposed to him running over to the corner flag, wiping out a picture of Sergio Ramos, pulling his shirts down, squatting over the photo and taking an almighty great big dump on it.
I thought about making a new thread, but it's not really a new topic, but this could also fit in with the "how to you rebuild" thread and it's not meant as a negative post, just a realistic one.
HC posted this in the Pick 1 thread
I've come to the acceptance stage of the grief cycle, the noises in the media are that there is no movement in the contract saga. That being the case, just as there was life after Keegan, life after Dalglish, after Rush, Fowler, Torres and Suarez. There will be life after Salah. It appears from the outside looking in, that the contract in front of him is a take it or leave it one, and right now both sides are playing poker to see who blinks first.
I've made no secret in that we should always look to evolve our squad. You have seen the first shoots of that this year at the back, with Konate slowly be surely ramping up over Matip. I fully expect a role reversal next year where Konate plays more than Matip. The same approach should be taken up top, which we are seeing with Diaz and before that Jota with Firmino.
I've also thought it's more likely to be at least one of the fabled front 3 to depart this summer. Don't get me wrong, I'd love nothing more than to keep Salah, but I'm with the club one this one. Not at any cost.. We can get stronger without any one player.
I'd like to think that after many many years (and probably the first time in many of this forums age demographic memory), we are dining at the top table in terms of transfers, and it feels bloody good. We are consistently challenging both domestically and abroad. We have one of, if not (biasedly suggesting) the best manager in the world. 95% of players, unless they have a hatred for us, will want to join us. We should be taking advantage of that.
So, if Salah does want to move, as long as we reinvest wisely, I won't be dismayed like I was with other players who have left. Turn 1 chip into 2-3 chips which make us stronger? We saw how that worked with Coutinho. With our current leadership, it could easily happen again.
Turn Salah into say Tchouameni and Nunez, and still have change left over on the wages per week to bump Mane's contract. I wouldn't be too angry. I'd love Bellingham too, but he most likely isn't available this year.
But where does Salah go? We've seen rumours of PSG, for me that's unlikely due to Ramos being there for another season at least. The silence from Madrid and their mouthpieces (AS, Sport) is currently deafening. It's widely expected that Haaland goes to City, which leaves that door firmly ajar for a 'Galactico' type signing, especially with Bale off their books this summer. For me, this is his most likely destination if we do decide to move on this Summer.
HC posted this in the Pick 1 thread
I've come to the acceptance stage of the grief cycle, the noises in the media are that there is no movement in the contract saga. That being the case, just as there was life after Keegan, life after Dalglish, after Rush, Fowler, Torres and Suarez. There will be life after Salah. It appears from the outside looking in, that the contract in front of him is a take it or leave it one, and right now both sides are playing poker to see who blinks first.
I've made no secret in that we should always look to evolve our squad. You have seen the first shoots of that this year at the back, with Konate slowly be surely ramping up over Matip. I fully expect a role reversal next year where Konate plays more than Matip. The same approach should be taken up top, which we are seeing with Diaz and before that Jota with Firmino.
I've also thought it's more likely to be at least one of the fabled front 3 to depart this summer. Don't get me wrong, I'd love nothing more than to keep Salah, but I'm with the club one this one. Not at any cost.. We can get stronger without any one player.
I'd like to think that after many many years (and probably the first time in many of this forums age demographic memory), we are dining at the top table in terms of transfers, and it feels bloody good. We are consistently challenging both domestically and abroad. We have one of, if not (biasedly suggesting) the best manager in the world. 95% of players, unless they have a hatred for us, will want to join us. We should be taking advantage of that.
So, if Salah does want to move, as long as we reinvest wisely, I won't be dismayed like I was with other players who have left. Turn 1 chip into 2-3 chips which make us stronger? We saw how that worked with Coutinho. With our current leadership, it could easily happen again.
Turn Salah into say Tchouameni and Nunez, and still have change left over on the wages per week to bump Mane's contract. I wouldn't be too angry. I'd love Bellingham too, but he most likely isn't available this year.
But where does Salah go? We've seen rumours of PSG, for me that's unlikely due to Ramos being there for another season at least. The silence from Madrid and their mouthpieces (AS, Sport) is currently deafening. It's widely expected that Haaland goes to City, which leaves that door firmly ajar for a 'Galactico' type signing, especially with Bale off their books this summer. For me, this is his most likely destination if we do decide to move on this Summer.
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I think this is an excellent post.
We’ve made the most important contract renewal. That tied in with the wave of being involved with something special, and Salah’s huge drop off in outputs means we aren’t stressing over the will he/won’t we.
Should we sell him and get two more in plus renew Mané that will be amazing for squad progression.
I've gone back and forth on this, Madrid are the type of team who will bid for a player to get them a year early and keep them out of a bidding war on a free transfer.
I’m onboard with the “not at any cost” thing too but it’s just another sad reminder of how important money is in football, unless you’re City. It would be a massive ask to compete with them next year if we lose Salah and they gain that big blonde goon.
Nunez looks great though, like a young Uruguayan Harry Kane. That’d ease the pain alright.
Nunez looks great though, like a young Uruguayan Harry Kane. That’d ease the pain alright.
That's assuming they want him and are willing to pay a massive premium. Has there been any indication that that is the case?
I'm not sure they'll be quite so keen after getting so badly burned by Hazard.
Everything points to them wanting Mbappe and (if possible) Haaland.
Depends if they want a free run at him, it wouldn't be more than Coutinho money, but it'd be substantial (and even more likely if Haaland signs for City and Mbappe stays at PSG). The rumours have always been Madrid are interested, but it's gone awfully quiet of late, too quiet.
Ha - True.
Yeah M'Bappe will be staying at PSG because Real can't match their offer. Haaland is off to City (again because of the £). Real must be looking for options but they aren't desperate with Benzema in the form of his life, likely winning La liga by a record number of points and maybe even a CL final.
are we even sure he’s dead?
The good one where Liverpool win the quad and Putin shoots himself twice in the head
The biggest problem I have with talk of selling Mo, is that the targets that get mentioned, Nunez, Bellingham, Touchmeni…. None of them play in the position Mo would vacate l.
It’s already our biggest area of concern, as far as I’m concerned, we have multiple cover elsewhere, but not on the right - Diaz & Mane can play there, but they’re not as effective.
Ideally his sale would fund two players who would compete for the right-sided attacking role.
Raphina & Sarr are the most commonly mentioned - but I’m not sure they’re good enough.
Saka is clearly the one… but not sure he’s attainable.
Does Bowen play on the right?
It’s already our biggest area of concern, as far as I’m concerned, we have multiple cover elsewhere, but not on the right - Diaz & Mane can play there, but they’re not as effective.
Ideally his sale would fund two players who would compete for the right-sided attacking role.
Raphina & Sarr are the most commonly mentioned - but I’m not sure they’re good enough.
Saka is clearly the one… but not sure he’s attainable.
Does Bowen play on the right?
Yes, Bowen plays in Mo's position and I think he said something about trying to imitate Salah's movement – he could be a replacement position-wise, but boy, those would be HUGE shoes to fill. Saka would be amazing, but he is not a direct replacement – I think of Saka as more of a Mane and Martinelli as a Salah type. Raphinha is also more of a creator/ball carrier; he seems quite similar to Diaz actually.
Seems like Lewandowski is leaving Bayern – I could potentially see him following Thiago's footsteps as he clearly would love to work with Klopp again and challenge himself by playing in England too. That could be a rather decent Firmino/Origi replacement if it happens.
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Lewandowski will be 34 in August - surely he’s not going to have the legs for the Premier League and a Klopp press.
Surely it’ll be the Paris retirement home for him.
Miroslav Klose, Jurgen Klinsmann, Luis Suarez and other forwards of that ilk remained effective in their mid 30's – strikers who always relied on football intelligence and decision-making rather than pace. Lewandowski is one of the most intelligent players around; I think he still has a couple of years at the top in him.
Not in a Klopp team/system.
Klopp is more flexible than people give him credit for. He played and won with a striker who at the peak of his powers probably ran less than Lewandowski does now (Lucas Barrios). Don't forget how effectively he used Sturridge towards the end of his career with us as well, when he could barely move but still knew how to finish.
Would be curious if @King Binny could somehow unearth Lewandowski's distance covered or pressing stats, especially in comparison to his earlier seasons or to Firmino, let's say.
UPD: From what I could find without Binny-level research skills, last season Lewandowski was 24th player in the Bundesliga in total distance covered, ahead of the likes of Nkunku, Haaland, Wirtz and Gnabry. It seems they calculate total rather than per 90 though, so it might be misleading. He's also #42 in sprints and #60 in "intensive runs," whatever that means (Bellingham is top 3 or 4 in both BTW).
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I don’t disagree with most of that - but none of those top players performed in a Klopp team in the EPL and at the age of 34.
Pace is essential - it’s among the biggest criticisms of Bobby - despite his intelligence and ability.
Im sure Lewandowski does have a few years left in him - maybe even at another EPL team where the sort of pressing we do is so intense.
I could definitely see Newcastle having a punt, maybe even Utd if they’re stupid enough
Sure, if he’s replacing the Origi role to fill in for a few games here and there - but he won’t and he’ll want fairly high wages.
Great player and all that - but not one for us.
Thanks. The difference in pressure and tackling is staggering.
Ouch.
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