Vaarwel Gini

[Brizzle]

I think we've played him into the ground this season, and starting changing his role in the 'system'. For holland he is expressive and a threat. For us he has always played a very specific role in a system, and done it very well and importantly. This season we've moved him around a lot and now are leaning on him to be the leader on the pitch, which he clearly isn't. Maybe he's a good lad in training, but he's weak as shit as a leader on the pitch and we are worse off because of it.

 

[RedStar]

In fairness , very few in the squad dont look shagged

Mane looks dead on his feet, Gini struggles to make a pass over 10 yards, bobby likewise is struggling big time.

Its only the Iron bru tonics Robbo slurps that gives him his energy levels and milner likewise maintains levels beyond his age but he's clearly a machine

Robbo and Gini have been well and truly run into the ground. If Gini starts against Utd it will be his 47th game of the season. That's about 20 games more than Hendo and Thiago. People are going way overboard with the hate, he's a very good player who has run himself ragged over multiple season while clowns like Ox Shaq and Keita have done nothing.

I hope we give Robbo a break after the Utd game because he's shattered. Let Tsimikas have a run and see what he can do, if he's shit so be it but it would be better to know now and cut him loose then carry him through another season as Ben Davies type untouchable and force Robbo to do another 50 game season

 

[Whaddapie]

Gini's been a warrior for this team for years now, and for the first half of the season, was a monster for us... At times, as all of his mates got injured around him, he was just about all that kept us from falling apart long before we did.

He doesn't suddenly not care... He's fucking knackered, and has nothing left in the tank. Some of the criticism here is way, way over the line for somebody who was so important to all of our recent success. He's been brilliant for us for the vast majority of his time here, doing unsexy, largely unheralded work as others get the glory. He's been 'team first' from day one, and we've reaped the benefits of that... At a time when our two "world-class" attackers, who most everybody claims are amoungst our greatest ever players can barely bring themselves to look at each other when on the pitch, that kind of selflessness and humility is both welcomed and needed.

I'll always love the bloke and I'm sorry he's leaving us - Anybody who doesn't think we'll miss him - a fully recharged him - when next season begins is mental.

 

[Judge Jules]

There was a time, old pal, when I'd have agreed 100% with that and I still do agree with quite a lot of it, but sorry - I baulk at the bit about selflessness and humility given the games he's played over his contract negotiations. I actually don't have a problem with a player leaving if he makes no bones about the fact that he wants more money and thinks he can get it elsewhere. I definitely do, however, have a problem with a player who goes for that reason while also saying he'll be "devastated if he leaves". It smacks of McMoneyman's antics back in the day and, for all Gini's excellence as a player, AFAIC it blots his copybook good and proper as a person.

 

[Whaddapie]

There was a time, old pal, when I'd have agreed 100% with that and I still do agree with quite a lot of it, but sorry - I baulk at the bit about selflessness and humility given the games he's played over his contract negotiations. I actually don't have a problem with a player leaving if he makes no bones about the fact that he wants more money and thinks he can get it elsewhere. I definitely do, however, have a problem with a player who goes for that reason while also saying he'll be "devastated if he leaves". It smacks of McMoneyman's antics back in the day and, for all Gini's excellence as a player, AFAIC it blots his copybook good and proper as a person.

I hate it when people that I like are wrong, mate... 😉

All I need him to do is give 100% on the pitch. The rest is the business that our sport has turned into. I think it's unfair to judge his character based only on him playing the game that all pros must do, at this stage of his career... Also, I think that he may well be devastated to leave - I wouldn't be surprised if he'd wanted to end his career here, and hoped that we'd value his services at the price he set them at. We didn't, so he's off - He's not been disrespectful, he's not stopped trying, he's just leaving.

It happens. The wanker you reference did it differently. So did his little buddy. Those pricks, I have no time for. Gini is not doing what they did, and I think you're being unfair on him here.

 

[Judge Jules]

Let's agree to differ, mo chara. Like I said, I don't blame a player for going after the money, but we take different views about what I see as a disconnect between his words and his actions. If he's not "devastated" enough by the prospect of leaving to accept £90,000 a week to stay, for me that word rings rather hollow.

Peace.

 

[Whaddapie]

Let's agree to differ, mo chara. Like I said, I don't blame a player for going after the money, but we take different views about what I see as a disconnect between his words and his actions. If he's not "devastated" enough by the prospect of leaving to accept £90,000 a week to stay, for me that word rings rather hollow.

Peace.

J - If you were negotiating a contract to stay at a company you've been working for, very happily, for several years, but when you sat down with them, they came in with an offer far lower than you felt you were worth, wouldn't you then look around to find another company that would pay you what you felt you were worth? And couldn't you simultaneously feel devastated that you had to do so, 'coz you really wanted to stay..?

All I'm saying is that it's possible, mate. Especially for this bloke, IMHO... If Emre Can or the like said it, I'd agree with you 100%. But most of the lads on THIS team seem like they love it here, like it's not JUST where they work, and I especially think that of Gini.

 

[Judge Jules]

Mate, since you ask the question, the honest answer is that, after pushing them as far as I could, in the end I'd stay. Money's important, of course it is, but in the circs.as you describe them I wouldn't "let the best drive out the good" and leave a situation in which I was already getting a decent wedge and everything else was that much to my liking. It might be different if I'd had kids to provide for (just to add I hope yours are fine) but even then I'm not sure.

That said, I do take the points in your second para.and I don't wish ill on the guy. Though I might if we play them in Europe one day and he sticks it to us. 😉

 

[mwake]

Robbo and Gini have been well and truly run into the ground. If Gini starts against Utd it will be his 47th game of the season. That's about 20 games more than Hendo and Thiago. People are going way overboard with the hate, he's a very good player who has run himself ragged over multiple season while clowns like Ox Shaq and Keita have done nothing.

I hope we give Robbo a break after the Utd game because he's shattered. Let Tsimikas have a run and see what he can do, if he's shit so be it but it would be better to know now and cut him loose then carry him through another season as Ben Davies type untouchable and force Robbo to do another 50 game season

Agreed with your post, people seem short sighted and fickle about our players this season...

Example

Mane didn't didn't score for three games, the fans say: "He's shit and we should sell him"

Mane scores, but plays pretty much similar to the games where he didn't score, the fans say: "I've always rated Mane".

Gini is a solid player and without him this season we would be even worse. Gini has never really been a game changing player, He's like the engineer in star trek, you don't see him front and centre but you sure as hell need him and notice him when he isn't there. Agreed Gini is probably exhausted and knackered as is Robertson. People forget how demanding Klopps tactics are.

 

[Frogfish]

Mate, since you ask the question, the honest answer is that, after pushing them as far as I could, in the end I'd stay. Money's important, of course it is, but in the circs.as you describe them I wouldn't "let the best drive out the good" and leave a situation in which I was already getting a decent wedge and everything else was that much to my liking. It might be different if I'd had kids to provide for (just to add I hope yours are fine) but even then I'm not sure.

That said, I do take the points in your second para.and I don't wish ill on the guy. Though I might if we play them in Europe one day and he sticks it to us. 😉

J - If you were negotiating a contract to stay at a company you've been working for, very happily, for several years, but when you sat down with them, they came in with an offer far lower than you felt you were worth, wouldn't you then look around to find another company that would pay you what you felt you were worth? And couldn't you simultaneously feel devastated that you had to do so, 'coz you really wanted to stay..?

All I'm saying is that it's possible, mate. Especially for this bloke, IMHO... If Emre Can or the like said it, I'd agree with you 100%. But most of the lads on THIS team seem like they love it here, like it's not JUST where they work, and I especially think that of Gini.

TBH I've never really understood it when people talk about loyalty and staying, or taking a lower wage, for the club/team. The club would cut them loose in an instant if a better player came along and neither are the club in it as a charity, it's business pure and simple and players have their own lives to lead and priorities in their lives. If the club could get away with paying them £1,000 a week then they would do, it's only where the game is today with investment and sponsorship that salaries have skyrocketed.

Many people seem to think that working in a factory or office or hospital or MacDonald's, is somehow different to being a football player. Sure they may love playing the game and are idolised by some but there are many things in life that rate way above the club they play for, and that goes doubly for anyone not from the city. I may hate it when a player I like leaves but I find it very tough to begrudge him anything, ditto anybody moving on from any of the aforementioned jobs.

 

[tombrown]

If I had any football talent, I would play for Liverpool for beer & chip money,

Problem is, I would spend it on beer & chips and end up fat & crap

 

[Whaddapie]

If I had any football talent, I would play for Liverpool for beer & chip money,

Problem is, I would spend it on beer & chips and end up fat & crap

Used to have an ongoing row with a mate of mine, growing up, who insisted that, were I good enough to play for Liverpool, that I'd see it all as a business and I'd play for the scum or the blueshite, if they came in for me and offered to pay me more... he said that we fans have blinders on for our team, that no pros do.

I told him that SOME pros do, and that were I good enough that the scum wanted me, then LFC should also want me too, and as long as I could make a living playing for them, I WOULD play for them for less. I'd only do it for LFC, but I would do it...

He called me an idiot. Often. I mean, he's not wrong, but not because of my stance on this topic.

 

[peekay]

J - If you were negotiating a contract to stay at a company you've been working for, very happily, for several years, but when you sat down with them, they came in with an offer far lower than you felt you were worth, wouldn't you then look around to find another company that would pay you what you felt you were worth? And couldn't you simultaneously feel devastated that you had to do so, 'coz you really wanted to stay..?

All I'm saying is that it's possible, mate. Especially for this bloke, IMHO... If Emre Can or the like said it, I'd agree with you 100%. But most of the lads on THIS team seem like they love it here, like it's not JUST where they work, and I especially think that of Gini.

I don't think you can compare negotiations at our salary level to negotiations when you make 100k per week.

In the case of Gini, I think it is a combination of several factors.

He does like our club, family is here, feels settled here, likes the coaching staff, etc. At the same time, he wants to maximize his earning. I don't think he loves us so much that he will be willing to compromise too much on earnings. And our management too likes him and his contribution but doesn't like him so much that they are willing to go out of the way to accommodate his salary demands.

At the back of his mind, he might also be wanting to experience other places - Spain, Italy - train under different managers etc. Particularly Barcelona with a manager who also rates him a lot, lower tax rate. Also in some of these places he might be able to pad up his medal cabinet.

He definitely would not be in the top 3 players whom I wish would leave our club in the summer. But I think agreeing to his salary demands and handing out a new long contract with the level of performance he has shown this season is a risk. It might very well be that he is knackered, but we cant risk it.

 

[RedStar]

I don't think you can compare negotiations at our salary level to negotiations when you make 100k per week.

In the case of Gini, I think it is a combination of several factors.

He does like our club, family is here, feels settled here, likes the coaching staff, etc. At the same time, he wants to maximize his earning. I don't think he loves us so much that he will be willing to compromise too much on earnings. And our management too likes him and his contribution but doesn't like him so much that they are willing to go out of the way to accommodate his salary demands.

At the back of his mind, he might also be wanting to experience other places - Spain, Italy - train under different managers etc. Particularly Barcelona with a manager who also rates him a lot, lower tax rate. Also in some of these places he might be able to pad up his medal cabinet.

He definitely would not be in the top 3 players whom I wish would leave our club in the summer. But I think agreeing to his salary demands and handing out a new long contract with the level of performance he has shown this season is a risk. It might very well be that he is knackered, but we cant risk it.

Based on the level of performances we've seen this season, hardly any of our players are worth a new contract.

 

[peekay]

Based on the level of performances we've seen this season, hardly any of our players are worth a new contract.

True that.

 

[Hyena]

TBH I've never really understood it when people talk about loyalty and staying, or taking a lower wage, for the club/team. The club would cut them loose in an instant if a better player came along and neither are the club in it as a charity, it's business pure and simple and players have their own lives to lead and priorities in their lives. If the club could get away with paying them £1,000 a week then they would do, it's only where the game is today with investment and sponsorship that salaries have skyrocketed.

Many people seem to think that working in a factory or office or hospital or MacDonald's, is somehow different to being a football player. Sure they may love playing the game and are idolised by some but there are many things in life that rate way above the club they play for, and that goes doubly for anyone not from the city. I may hate it when a player I like leaves but I find it very tough to begrudge him anything, ditto anybody moving on from any of the aforementioned jobs.

Absolutely.

For us, it's all a nice story.

For players, it's their career, and their life.

 

[Grjt2]

Absolutely.

For us, it's all a nice story.

For players, it's their career, and their life.

I couldn’t disagree more - and I know it’s not logical or reasonable.

I expect them to really commit to the cause and feel it at an emotional level - it’s why I love to see the local lads come through, and those with real passion for the club like Robertson. It’s also why you desperately want players like Elliott to succeed (lifelong Liverpool fan, dad stood on the Kop etc) because you know it will mean as much to them as it does to you. Obv there’s a tipping point, and at a certain level of talent you just go “couldn’t give a fuck if he’s a bona fide Manc, he’s brilliant, get him in the team” but the icing on the cake for me is definitely when you get a sense that beyond the money and the celebrity lifestyle, the club has got to them at a deeper level

 

[King Binny]

[article]The agent of Liverpool midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum has appeared to confirm that the player will leave the club at the end of his contract this season.

The Netherlands international is out of contract at Anfield on 30 June and has theoretically been free to speak to other clubs from the beginning of January.

The 30-year-old has been utilised heavily by Reds boss Jurgen Klopp this season - featuring in 46 matches - but it appears his five-year stint at the club is at an end.

Wijnaldum’s agent Humphry Nijman has given an interview in Germany whereby he has reinforced the prospect of the central midfielder moving on as a free transfer this summer, amid rumours that Bayern Munich may be interested in a deal.

The former Newcastle United player has previously been heavily linked with a move to Barcelona, which would reunite him with former Netherlands boss Ronald Koeman.

However, the emergence of young midfielders Pedri and Ilaix Moriba in the first-team squad at the Camp Nou this summer - coupled with the club’s financial problems - may make that deal unfeasible.

Bayern may be emerging as an alternate destination for the player, who could be in high demand across Europe this summer.

Nijman told the SPORT1 podcast Meine Bayern-Woche , in quotes carried by the Liverpool Echo: “Wijnaldum is a free transfer and it keeps all options open.

“FC Bayern is a great club. If you are interested in them, please do not hesitate to talk to us.”

Wijnaldum initially starred in the Dutch Eredivisie with both Feyenoord and PSV Eindhoven before joining Newcastle in 2015.

However, despite netting 11 goals in 40 appearances for the Magpies, his contribution was not enough to save his side from relegation, and he joined Liverpool the following year.

Wijnaldum has scored 22 goals across 232 appearances for the Merseyside giants.[/article]

 

[MomoWASright]

Not arsed. He’s a waste of a place in the starting eleven.

 

[Fabio]

This is the longest, most drawn out load of fuck ever.

Just drop him until he fucks off

 

[dmishra]

I wonder if this allows for a shift to a 4-2-3-1 long term. Klopp inherited a team under Rodgers which had players suited to a 4-3-3 and he built the side in that mould.

Klopp's Dortmund formation was a 4-2-3-1, and many of our midfielders are originally bred in the 4-2-3-1 setup. Fabinho, Thiago and Keita are all players who'd play better in a double pivot I think. There's also the fact that Firmino is no longer effective in the false 9 role, and may re-invent himself as a deeper no. 10 or even the third midfielder. If you come to think of it, there's no reason Firmino can't be very effective as even the third midfielder in a 4-3-3. Although struggling to score, he's still a pressing monster, very capable of handling himself physically and has good close control.

Let's say we see something like this:

---------------------Thiago/Keita---------Fabinho/Henderson
-----------------------------------Firmino/Jones
--------------Salah---------------Jota----------Mane


Then you just get another forward like Malen or Bailey or Jonathan David who can play across the front 3. That obviates the need to buy a new midfielder to replace Gini.

 

[Holle]

Is the useless fucker still here??

 

[darkstarexodus]

Clearly we need to get this thread to 100 pages for the (free) transfer to go through.

 

[My_Blood_Bleeds_Red]

He can bring that ‘one of the world’s best midfielder’ Thiago along with him too.

 

[RedStar]

I wonder if this allows for a shift to a 4-2-3-1 long term. Klopp inherited a team under Rodgers which had players suited to a 4-3-3 and he built the side in that mould.

Klopp's Dortmund formation was a 4-2-3-1, and many of our midfielders are originally bred in the 4-2-3-1 setup. Fabinho, Thiago and Keita are all players who'd play better in a double pivot I think. There's also the fact that Firmino is no longer effective in the false 9 role, and may re-invent himself as a deeper no. 10 or even the third midfielder. If you come to think of it, there's no reason Firmino can't be very effective as even the third midfielder in a 4-3-3. Although struggling to score, he's still a pressing monster, very capable of handling himself physically and has good close control.

Let's say we see something like this:

---------------------Thiago/Keita---------Fabinho/Henderson
-----------------------------------Firmino/Jones
--------------Salah---------------Jota----------Mane


Then you just get another forward like Malen or Bailey or Jonathan David who can play across the front 3. That obviates the need to buy a new midfielder to replace Gini.

How many of the pre Klopp era players are left? Henderson and Firmino are the only 2 first teamers I can think of. My assumption was that Thiago was signed to shift the midfield formation but given we got devastated injuries before he'd really got a chance it may have been shelved.

 

[Grjt2]

Not to be petty, but as Gini is deffo leaving on a free and we’re very much an outside chance for CL qualification, Shouldn’t we be sacking him off and letting Jones / Ox/ one of these much heralded midfield kids get some games?

Making him captain (as the squads 4th leader) is logical, but still winds me up too

 

[Judge Jules]

For me that would depend on whether one thinks including him will make an appreciable difference to our chances of CL qualification. IMO the importance of that is such that I'd want us to be giving ourselves the best chance we can of making it, however much of an outside chance it may be.

 

[darkstarexodus]

For me that would depend on whether one thinks including him will make an appreciable difference to our chances of CL qualification. IMO the importance of that is such that I'd want us to be giving ourselves the best chance we can of making it, however much of an outside chance it may be.

This.
If we lose against United or any of the subsequent matches, we are probably without a chance and then can consider squad changes and experience.

Until then, the 11 that are most likely to get three points.

 

[King Binny]

 

[King Binny]

Made a bigger impact than I thought he would when we signed him. Thanks Gini!