Shouldn't be news to anyone (reg Sakho)

[Modo]

Klopp confirmed what pretty much everyone already knew, that Sakho's time at Liverpool is over.



“Of course he is not involved in this (first team squad) but you ask again,” Klopp said irritably. “You should have know it before that he is not involved in this sentence, but then you try it to create a story.

“Now you know, I said it: he is not in these plans for the first team. The first team squad is here (at the training ground). You know all this. Do you really think I would have said Sakho will not be sold in winter? You don't have to check, you knew it before. Now you can use it as you want.

“Once again this actual first-team squad is in this dressing room, from this point of view nobody will be sold.”

West Bromwich Albion and Stoke City, both of whom attempted to sign Sakho on loan before the transfer deadline, retain an interest in the player.

Although Sakho’s wages, increased to £75,000 a week after he signed a new five-year contract with the Reds in September 2015, could hamper any potential permanent move away from Merseyside.
Liverpool look increasingly likely to take a hit on the £18m that former boss Brendan Rodgers paid Paris St Germain for the centre-back in September 2013 now that Klopp has unequivocally decided the player does not have a future.

Klopp went on to say that “nothing has changed” when subsequently asked if Sakho had edged closer to a first-team return.

 

[FreshRed]

Not sure I agree with Klopp on his Sakho decision, but I really like his ruthless and clear position. He has made his decision. Nothing more to discuss. Simple.

 

[RedStar]

Not sure I agree with Klopp on his Sakho decision, but I really like his ruthless and clear position. He has made his decision. Nothing more to discuss. Simple.

These things can make a manager look foolish. if we pick up an injury or two and get mauled with Lucas as a starting centre back it will look pretty dumb on Klopps part time have frozen out an experienced centre back.

If it was just about proving a point then fair enough I think he's made it at this stage. I'm not sure what more there is to gain from dealing with Sakho in this manner.

 

[The Nomad]

Whilst I feel an smidge of sorry towards Sakho, i can't help feel Klopp lost patience with him. All great managers have a ruthless, not for turning streak. They don't always get it right, but they follow through with their convictions.

 

[Rosco]

These things can make a manager look foolish. if we pick up an injury or two and get mauled with Lucas as a starting centre back it will look pretty dumb on Klopps part time have frozen out an experienced centre back.

If it was just about proving a point then fair enough I think he's made it at this stage. I'm not sure what more there is to gain from dealing with Sakho in this manner.

I agree in the main - its possible we might need him to step in at some point and freezing him out minimises any transfer value.

But, if Sakho has behaved unprofessionally then there's merit in freezing him out. It sets an example to what is a relatively young squad that there are standards that need to be met.

 

[mark1975]

I agree in the main - its possible we might need him to step in at some point and freezing him out minimises any transfer value.

But, if Sakho has behaved unprofessionally then there's merit in freezing him out. It sets an example to what is a relatively young squad that there are standards that need to be met.

It can also create divisions though. He seems fairly popular with his team mates. All this stuff is well and good when you're playing well, we saw it with Houllier and Rafa and their similar treatment of players, but when things start to go tits up on the pitch, that's when resentments surface.

 

[MomoWASright]

He took shit without telling the medical staff, then when on tour he was late for meals, flights and generally fucked about. When the manager wants professional and dedicated players he acted the complete opposite. No wonder he's been binned off.

 

[manwithnoname]

Is this treatment of Sakho entirely due to off-field issues?

I know that's the majority, but does anyone have an opinion about whether Klopp actually rates him?

I'm pretty sure that if Sakho was as good a player as Carragher or Hyypia or whoever, then this arctic relationship would be a bit warmer.

 

[mark1975]

Is this treatment of Sakho entirely due to off-field issues?

I know that's the majority, but does anyone have an opinion about whether Klopp actually rates him?

I'm pretty sure that if Sakho was as good a player as Carragher or Hyypia or whoever, then this arctic relationship would be a bit warmer.

I've always kinda felt this too, that it's all been a bit convenient and has played into Klopp's hands.

 

[FoxForceFive]

Yeah, but so very few players get to be that good (amongst the best in the game) whilst having an unprofessional attitude in training, lifestyle etc. Didi is the last example I can think of for us.

As such it's a calculated decision in some ways. If one of your staff had great figures but you had to give them a warning for something, then they continued to fuck up in the following weeks instead of getting their head down & working you'd be angling to dismiss them. Not so easy to do on football but that's basically what's happening.

As momowasboss mentioned too, it's important to set an example for the younger players in the squad who theoretically are more likely to take the piss or have the temptation to do so.

 

[Hansern]

He was told this summer that he needed to leave on loan to get some playing time. When he decided against that, it shouldnt come as a surprise to him that he wouldnt feature at all, or be "frozen" out.

He might be popular amongst some fans and players but you just cant have that disruptive nature in the squad.
I doubt Klopp is proving a point at this stage either. He's just not in his first team plans. The point was made this summer.

I do have some sympathy for Sakho regarding the ban. Missed the EL final and the EC in France, but he's not really helped himself with the stunts he's pulled after that.

Bette for him and for us if he leaves in January.

 

[manwithnoname]

You mean he had an obvious opportunity to show everyone who is boss, and make an example of out of a player he didn't rate anyway?

I'm not sure Klopp needed to do that, so I'm unsure.

Oh well, I've never liked him anyway, but if I was one one of his many fans, who rated him as our best defender and a possible future captain, I'd be a bit more upset about it

 

[redhorizon2]

Sakhr has had literally a handful of good games but most of the time he has looked a liability. He is slow and ponderous and often getting caught out by faster and more agile attacking players.
I hope come summer we get our fee back from him. And to the club hierarchy, don't loan to the Italians.

 

[Hansern]

Sakho’s situation shows another side. It underlines that for all the affection shown towards his players, Klopp isn’t a man to be crossed. He’s single minded and, when necessary, he’s ruthless.

The France international has discovered to his cost that if you break the rules and challenge Klopp’s authority then there is only one winner. It’s his way or the highway.

It was April 20 when Sakho made the last of his 80 appearances for the Reds. He scored in the 4-0 rout of Everton - a week after also netting in the miraculous fightback against Borussia Dortmund.

From that glorious high, things quickly unravelled. His world was turned upside down a few days later when he learned that UEFA were accusing him of a doping offence.

A damaging three-month saga ended with him being cleared in July but only after he had missed the Europa League final and Euro 2016 in his homeland as he served a provisional ban.

WADA’s case against him was so full of holes it was rightly thrown out but Sakho had tested positive for a substance called Higanamine – a compound found in a fat burner that Liverpool didn’t know he was taking.

All players are regularly warned they must not take anything without first consulting club medical staff. It all could have been avoided.

Sakho still had the chance to make amends in pre-season but he frittered it away with his antics at the Reds’ California training base. He was sent home for repeatedly breaking club rules as he riled the manager with his attitude.

Accusing the player of a lack of respect, Klopp revealed that Sakho was late for the team flight, late for a team meal and had failed to turn up to a treatment session.

Mamadou Sakho of Liverpool during a training session at Melwood Training Ground on September 18, 2016 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Klopp: Origi is in the perfect shape to grasp his chance for Liverpool
Klopp prides himself on the team ethic and spirit and simply wouldn’t tolerate anyone damaging that.

The manager concluded that Sakho simply wasn’t worth all the hassle. With Joel Matip brought in to partner Dejan Lovren, and with Ragnar Klavan and Lucas Leiva as back-up, Klopp was happy with his centre-back options.

There was no way back for Sakho. He struggled to accept that initially, ignoring Klopp’s advice to go out on loan before the window shut in early September. Since then his daily routine has involved a session with the kids at the Academy. It’s a sorry state of affairs.

In January he will accept defeat and move on in a bid to relaunch a stagnating career. He should be full of regrets about what he’s thrown away.

His story should act as a warning to others that under Klopp nobody is bigger than the team.

 

[Rosco]

Is this treatment of Sakho entirely due to off-field issues?

I know that's the majority, but does anyone have an opinion about whether Klopp actually rates him?

I'm pretty sure that if Sakho was as good a player as Carragher or Hyypia or whoever, then this arctic relationship would be a bit warmer.

He's clearly not a great player, so its easier.

But i wonder whether we'd be a bit better defensively with him in there with Matip.

Its probably only a marginal improvement at best.

 

[Rosco]

It can also create divisions though. He seems fairly popular with his team mates. All this stuff is well and good when you're playing well, we saw it with Houllier and Rafa and their similar treatment of players, but when things start to go tits up on the pitch, that's when resentments surface.

But they seemed to do it regularly - I'm not a fan of doing it a lot for the reasons you've outlined.

Doing it once is fine, but you need to be thorough when looking at new signings to ensure you don't sign anyone else like him.

 

[keniget]

Is it really all down to be late for a couple of events on pre-season?

A little bit odd if so. There must be surely be more to it.

We were always going to lose money selling him but the price is surely rock bottom now?

 

[Modo]

Is it really all down to be late for a couple of events on pre-season?

A little bit odd if so. There must be surely be more to it.

We were always going to lose money selling him but the price is surely rock bottom now?

The wank factor can not be disregarded.

 

[manwithnoname]

Is it really all down to be late for a couple of events on pre-season?

A little bit odd if so. There must be surely be more to it.

We were always going to lose money selling him but the price is surely rock bottom now?

Taking a fat burning supplement without telling your own club probably didn't help either

What a way for a future Liverpool Captain and Kop cult hero to end his Anfield career

 

[manwithnoname]

But they seemed to do it regularly - I'm not a fan of doing it a lot for the reasons you've outlined.

Doing it once is fine, but you need to be thorough when looking at new signings to ensure you don't sign anyone else like him.

He always seemed a bit of a thick cunt, getting the arse at PSG and that time he left Anfield in a strop before Klopp was here

But as for signing 'anyone like him' there's a Cantona or Bellamy for every 10 Balotellis or Sakhos, so sometimes it is worth the risk

 

[Hansern]

So whats a realistc fee then, 6-8 mill £?
If its to Milan or Inter it will be a loan first obviously.

 

[Modo]

So whats a realistc fee then, 6-8 mill £?
If its to Milan or Inter it will be a loan first obviously.

Depends on the demand. You want a decent defender you pay up. However, if only one club is interested it could mean a fee below £10 million.
Luckily for us, there's a few teams in the premiership looking to add to their defence.

I'd be happy with a £15 million price tag.

 

[Hansern]

I doubt we'll get that much. I'd be extremely happy if its over 10 mill £.

Everyone knows we want rid though, will effect the fee, and he's on massive wages i presume.

 

[Modo]

I doubt we'll get that much. I'd be extremely happy if its over 10 mill £.

Everyone knows we want rid though, will effect the fee, and he's on massive wages i presume.

75k

 

[Judge Jules]

Is this treatment of Sakho entirely due to off-field issues?

I know that's the majority, but does anyone have an opinion about whether Klopp actually rates him?

I'm pretty sure that if Sakho was as good a player as Carragher or Hyypia or whoever, then this arctic relationship would be a bit warmer.

I'm pretty sure Klopp had some complimentary things to say about Sakho as a player in his (Klopp's) early days here, though he may have revised his opinion downwards based on what he's seen since. However, Sakho would have needed to be another Hyypiä to persuade Klopp to hold on to him after the kind of behaviour described in that article above, and (though I rate him more highly than some on here when he's at his best) he's nowhere near that.

 

[Dreambeliever]

Fuck him, he isn't good enough and Lucas has shown he is more than capable of stepping in

 

[Mosely]

I don't watch the PR shit normally but there was a moment during that Alcatraz visit, that I did see, when Sakho interrupts Klopp speaking to camera and, just for a moment, you could tell Klopp wanted to give him a slap.
I'm ambivalent at best about this really. He's decent cover and has the odd blinding game but you just know there's a Traore back heeled own goal in there somewhere, waiting to come out.