Official Liverpool FC Thread II

danfantastk32 · Post #561 » by **danfantastk32** » Thu Mar 6, 2025 4:50 am

MetalFingaz wrote:Alisson stood on his head tonight.

What a performance! One for history. Such a beast.

danfantastk32 · Post #562 » by **danfantastk32** » Sun Mar 9, 2025 7:08 pm

Now we just avoid the plague.....If we can muster 11 men each week, the title is ours.

KG Leonard · Post #563 » by **KG Leonard** » Sun Mar 9, 2025 8:28 pm

Yeah Arsenal was so tragic that they almost lost to Man Utd. This is getting embarrassing by Arsenal, how much they are points wise now.
I just hope LFC wins PSG with better actual performance.

danfantastk32 · Post #564 » by **danfantastk32** » Mon Mar 10, 2025 4:29 am

KG Leonard wrote:Yeah Arsenal was so tragic that they almost lost to Man Utd. This is getting embarrassing by Arsenal, how much they are points wise now.
I just hope LFC wins PSG with better actual performance.

Yeah...I will admit we were the weaker team this week. Sometimes it rolls that way. Hopeful that we impose our will this time...except score more points than they do! =0)

MetalFingaz · Post #565 » by **MetalFingaz** » Tue Mar 11, 2025 11:20 pm

Somehow, we have to go play a final on Sunday.

danfantastk32 · Post #566 » by **danfantastk32** » Wed Mar 12, 2025 1:17 am

It will be an interesting summer. We have a TON of moves to make.

1) Salah...will we even keep him? At this point, I'm pretty sure he wants a mega contract. Prob 3-4 years. The question is, can he get that elsewhere? Liverpool seem to be betting he can't. If he does resign.....how many more years of top, top quality is there?

2)VVD....see above. I think it's same. I feel like he's the most likely to stay, but again....how many more years can we rely on him?

3)TAA....feels like he's gone, no?

4)Allison...love the guy, but he'll be 33 very early into next season. If we don't give the spot to Kelleher, you gotta know he's gone. And rightfully so. He's too good to be sitting there. Will our new signing be the one to replace Allison in couple years?

5)Kelleher...see above. I would rather make him starter, than cross fingers and hope this new guy is the future. It would be really sad for me, as I love Allison....but IMO it's the smart thing to do. Otherwise, he's out.

6)Nunez...just doesn't get it done. I wanted it to work. I like the guy. But it's not gonna happen.

7)Diaz...was one of our best players last couple years. Did he lose a step? Did the league figure him out? Whatever it is...he's been almost silent this year. Completely null and void. We gotta figure that out.

8)Robertson...the wall hit him...like a wall! He's lost his step, and has become very mediocre. Another one that's beyond sad to see end. His backup Tsimikas is only decent....far from special. It's a position we gotta shore up.

9)Bradly - Endo - Elliot - Jones....group of guys here. I put these guys as the bench. Are they good enough to break into the starting squad...and if not, will they want to leave? Elliot seems to be safe (gets hurt alot though) but I think the rest will want to be starters soon/now, and I'm not sure they have it.

10) Jota...Jota is amazing....until he inevitably gets injured. If Jota is happy coming off the bench, then I'm ok with it. He certainly can't be counted on to be a starter.

11)Gakpo...not a huge fan of his. I think he's way too selfish. Prob not our leading concern...so maybe scratch him off this list.

12)Chiesa...prob gone. Should be. Not sure what we were thinking there....but he's very unhappy with his playing time/situation at Liverpool, and quite frankly....so am I....but for different reasons. Should be released/traded.

13)Our defense...VVD is getting really old. Konate makes some really 'derp' mistakes from time to time, but is quite a physical specimen. After that? I don't think we have anyone great, or even close to it. Gomez is "fine"...but we need some depth there. We can't keep puting VVD out there game after game. We need some guys who can be counted on to play some Prem games...the FA cup matches...and yes, some earlier CL matches.

So I dunno what's gonna happen. But we can't bring Robertson/Tsimikas out there next year. Same with Nunez. With Diaz out of form....where do goals come from if Salah leaves?? I guess we gotta wait to see how this all pans out....but resigning Salah and VVD does not solve our issues. Not even close.

Curious to see.

Do people agree (more or less) with my assessment? And thoughts? Anyone have thoughts on what's happened with Diaz? I think it's been a major reason we haven't been really great this year. If he'd been poppin like the last couple years before....I think we're a trebble-winner. I feel like we've been pretty good about spending the last few years. We got incredibly lucky when the Saudi league swooped in, and massively overpaid for a couple of our older guys. We should be able to spend a pretty penny this offseason, IMO. If we can't...someone aughta take a peek at the books. But even if we can/do.....we have some real issues.

Lastly...VVD is 33. He will be 34 before the season starts (or right as it does). Salah is 32. Can we trust these guys to keep us a top-tier team for another 3 years? 2 years? - Major questions

Baseline81 · Post #567 » by **Baseline81** » Thu Mar 13, 2025 1:29 pm

I've continually come across journalists commenting on what we might win this year, and one from the Athletic stating that after being knocked out of the champions league and their pursuit of a treble ending, this Liverpool team will have to win the League Cup if they want to avoid the disappointment of only winning the premier league this season.

Let that sink in. The "disappointment of only winning the premier league".

This insistence that Liverpool have to win multiple trophies each season is absolutely doing my head in. It's been the case for about three or four years now. It's ridiculous. As if this team actually has the squad capable of continually competing on all four fronts. This isn't a team built on manufactured revenue where it can drop a couple of hundred million whenever things go wrong. This is a team built on scraps thrown to the coaches each transfer window, and then asked to produce a four course meal every season. It's completely absurd.

Post #568 » by **Shaazzam** » Thu Mar 13, 2025 5:03 pm

Baseline81 wrote:I've continually come across journalists commenting on what we might win this year, and one from the Athletic stating that after being knocked out of the champions league and their pursuit of a treble ending, this Liverpool team will have to win the League Cup if they want to avoid the disappointment of only winning the premier league this season.

Let that sink in. The "disappointment of only winning the premier league".

This insistence that Liverpool have to win multiple trophies each season is absolutely doing my head in. It's been the case for about three or four years now. It's ridiculous. As if this team actually has the squad capable of continually competing on all four fronts. This isn't a team built on manufactured revenue where it can drop a couple of hundred million whenever things go wrong. This is a team built on scraps thrown to the coaches each transfer window, and then asked to produce a four course meal every season. It's completely absurd.

That's so absurd. It speaks to the refusal to acknowledge the success that other's have and imposing some sort of insane outside standards. **** off stupid media.

Winning the League is gargantuan. Anything else is gravy.

MetalFingaz · Post #569 » by **MetalFingaz** » Thu Mar 13, 2025 5:32 pm

Part of this, I think, is that Liverpool have about 3 more points through 29 matches played this year compared to last year. We're not, in absolute terms, a much better team, we just don't lose all the games others have. It's nonsensical to think we're a juggernaut that should win every competition.

To Dan's point above, there's about 5 or 6 positions we'd need to really strengthen to get to that level.

danfantastk32 · Post #570 » by **danfantastk32** » Thu Mar 13, 2025 6:19 pm

Shaazzam wrote:Winning the League is gargantuan. Anything else is gravy.

1000%

KG Leonard · Post #571 » by **KG Leonard** » Thu Mar 13, 2025 6:31 pm

This is the reason I hate clubs like City, Chelsea & PSG during Messi/Mbappe era.
Teams owned by countries that spend fantasy amounts on transfers and make up income that doesn't exist. Fans & the Media are used to that economic level. They can't respect normal clubs winning the PL and the crazy expectations of the triple or quadruple is BS. Sure expect that from City when they had bigger wage budget than the Yankees. Liverpool is having brilliant season with new coach with zero transfers!

Post #572 » by **Shaazzam** » Thu Mar 13, 2025 7:03 pm

and **** me for defending you guys in any way

LOSE EVERYTHING lolol

MetalFingaz · Post #573 » by **MetalFingaz** » Thu Mar 13, 2025 8:33 pm

Shaazzam wrote:and **** me for defending you guys in any way
LOSE EVERYTHING lolol

Cheers

Oh and belated congratulations on defending your "2-2 draw with Liverpool" title this year. Hopefully the purse includes the Glazers f***ing off.

danfantastk32 · Post #574 » by **danfantastk32** » Sun Mar 16, 2025 8:01 pm

Grats to Newcastle. Nice to see them finally get a trophy. Grats to the fans.

But WTF?!!?! Another one of those "so close...but no cigar" days for Liverpool. Good thing I could care less about the carbao cup, or whatever it's called.

Baseline81 · Post #575 » by **Baseline81** » Mon Mar 17, 2025 1:30 pm

What worries me is the squad is showing the similar signs as this time last year. To me, the players are beginning to tail off, whether that's due to Slot's lack of rotation or the depth in general.

danfantastk32 · Post #576 » by **danfantastk32** » Mon Mar 17, 2025 4:11 pm

Baseline81 wrote:What worries me is the squad is showing the similar signs as this time last year. To me, the players are beginning to tail off, whether that's due to Slot's lack of rotation or the depth in general.

I have to admit that I don't watch enough of other teams to tell if this is a "soccer thing" with the schedules, and what not? There certainly are a ton of games.....especially if you're going deep into all these competitions on a yearly basis. But I don't know. It certainly doesn't seem like it.

I liked Klopp's aggressive Gen Pressing style...but I could certainly see tha it drained these guys by late Jan. So I was hopeful that Slots new style (still presses, but not like before) would fix that. And let's not forget....we had a spell there late-mid season last year, where we had to play a ton of youth for about month. Injuries and int-duty kept guys out, and our young guys really came through....only to see our regular squad return, and really pitter to the finish line.

I used to accuse Klopp of not taking the "lesser" competition seriously. I HATED all the draws against teams we should have smashed. Cost us a title or two, imo. But I don't know honestly. This has been a thing for a while now...some seasons worse than others. So while age might play a little role now with some guys....it certainly didn't years past. And if it was Klopp's pressing...why so this year? And if it was seasonal fatigue....why then the sluggish finish last year, when almost all our starters got a good 3-4 week rest?

It's a head scratcher, no doubt. Certainly frustrating.

I think this current iteration of Liverpool (let's call it the VVD - Salah Liverpool squad) might be closing this year. If not, it's really only got another year or two. And while it's been an amazing 6-7 years...and truth be told...we've done some amazing sh**, there's a real lack of trophy's IMO compared to what "could have been"....and maybe even what "should have been". Yes...we had to be the 2nd best team during the "Man $ity years" ....so I get it to a point. But damn....we let some things slip through our fingers a few times, and I gotta feel that this team will look back with a ton of pride (and deservedly so) ......but there's a few moments I think they'd like back. Let's pray like hell we don't blow this prem title....but even with it, I think this current squad shoulda placed a few other trophies in their cabinet.

But hey...it is what it is, I guess. We'll see. Let's get the prem, and all else will be forgiven =0)

Baseline81 · Post #577 » by **Baseline81** » Tue Mar 25, 2025 1:42 pm

As expected, TAA appears off to Real Madrid. LFC will now be in the market for not only a LB but also a RB as well.

Baseline81 · Post #578 » by **Baseline81** » Thu Mar 27, 2025 4:58 pm

Now that TAA is off Real Madrid, it's no surprise we're hearing contract talks with Salah and van Dijk have ramped up. There was never a world where all three came back on improved wages. The thought of a RB collecting over 200K a week was simply too much to bear for FSG.

KG Leonard · Post #579 » by **KG Leonard** » Fri Mar 28, 2025 11:21 am

I hope mostly toxic X fans are hating on TAA for leaving. I understand the disappointment of losing the vice Captain that is world class player, local hero.

Still i will have zero respect for LFC fans who doesn't respect the loyalty of a six year old boy who has spent 19-20 years working for his local football team. Loyalty works both ways. Those years, time spent for Trent doesn't magically vanish because he changed his employer.

KG Leonard · Post #580 » by **KG Leonard** » Fri Mar 28, 2025 11:26 am

Baseline81 wrote:Now that TAA is off Real Madrid, it's no surprise we're hearing contract talks with Salah and van Dijk have ramped up. There was never a world where all three came back on improved wages. The thought of a RB collecting over 200K a week was simply too much to bear for FSG.

Trent isn't a regular RB, he is a dozen assist or so from top 10 list in PL history, that's Salah ranking....
87 assist in 350 games is better than most creative midfielders, forwards. Salah, the midfield 3 will suffer without his creativity. Liverpool has to replace thier true playmaker alongside Salah. The Cup final showed how easy Trent makes it for Salah compared to traditional RB...