Football news part Trois

[Steveo]

I think it's a fair comment.

It's hard to argue that the North West (and equally the North East, where I'm from) is a hard-sell compared to Madrid or London.

But I think we're givinng ourselves a chance. We're in a situation where we're able to offer 'everything else' to a player to maybe offset the lure of London / Madrid / Barca etc. We're competing at the very top end of the game at the moment and able to match most (if willing) in terms of transfer and wages.

Obviously this only lasts whilst we're at the top of the game. If we end up as a club back at pre-Klopp levels then we have zero-chance of keeping hold of decent players.

Owners well aware of it. Went massive this summer because they know full well, Klopp's charisma and star which is still written across the club won't last forever. Slot's a great coach but he won't hold that together long. He needs to be a super success on the pitch - like Paisley was, and even then - players won't have that bond with him that they had with Jurgen. We have seen many already show a lack of loyalty.


Get used to it.

[jozza800]

I think it's a fair comment.

It's hard to argue that the North West (and equally the North East, where I'm from) is a hard-sell compared to Madrid or London.

But I think we're givinng ourselves a chance. We're in a situation where we're able to offer 'everything else' to a player to maybe offset the lure of London / Madrid / Barca etc. We're competing at the very top end of the game at the moment and able to match most (if willing) in terms of transfer and wages.

Obviously this only lasts whilst we're at the top of the game. If we end up as a club back at pre-Klopp levels then we have zero-chance of keeping hold of decent players.

[Steveo]

If anyone is confused just see Zubimendi.. He didn't go the Arsenal because they're a better club - he went to Arsenal because they are in London. Few cities globally - and yes...even in Spain.. can compete with that.

For the record. I am not saying I would rather live in London - I hate the place, but I lived there most of my life already so I am prejudiced.. The point is - culturally London is one of the great global cities, there are only a handful.


This is why I have always been in favour of Liverpool FC BUSTING A GUT... having a much bigger and better stadium (an 80 or 90k Anfield) than southern rivals or even those down the East Lancs road.. Because IF we're honest. Unless a Shankly or a Klopp rocks up and kicks starts a legacy....we haven't got the cards... As a city Liverpool, lovely though it is..is like a village

[Steveo]

Below is a longer response I made put through Claude..


Alright mate, let's have a proper chat about this, because it's a good question and it's not about the size of the club – nobody in their right mind is questioning the sheer scale of Liverpool FC. This isn't about passion, history, or European nights at Anfield.

This is about geography, lifestyle, and the brutal reality of what a 24-year-old millionaire from, say, Brazil or France, wants for their life off the pitch.

Here’s the breakdown of why it's a different battle for a London club compared to one in Liverpool.

1. London Isn't Just a City, It's a "Super-City"
Think about the handful of true global hubs on the planet: New York, Paris, Tokyo... and London. A player living in London is already at one of the world's epicentres for culture, fashion, finance, and travel.

Anonymity and Lifestyle: In London, a superstar footballer is just another celebrity. They can go for a meal in Mayfair and be sitting next to a Hollywood actor, a world-famous musician, or a tech billionaire. They can blend in. In Liverpool, a city that lives and breathes football, a top player is a local god. That’s amazing, but it can also be an intense "goldfish bowl." Every trip to the Tesco in Formby is an event. For some players and their families, the relative anonymity of a vast metropolis is a huge bonus.

The "Partner Power" Factor: This is massive and often overlooked. Imagine you're the partner of a top player, you've moved to a new country, and you don't work. In London, your "day job" can be exploring world-class museums, Bond Street shopping, West End shows, and countless Michelin-star restaurants. It’s a destination city in its own right. While Liverpool has a fantastic, vibrant culture, it operates on a different scale. The non-footballing offer of London is a massive retention tool for the whole family.

2. The Travel and Logistics Argument
This is a purely practical point that makes a huge difference.

Gateway to the World: London Heathrow is arguably the most connected airport on Earth. For a South American player, getting a direct flight back to São Paulo or Buenos Aires is simple. For a European player, Paris, Milan, and Amsterdam are a stone's throw away. This makes visiting home, or having family visit them, incredibly easy. From Liverpool, that journey often requires a connection, adding hours and hassle. It sounds small, but for players who live thousands of miles from home, it matters.

3. How This Affects the "Real Madrid Lure"
Now, let's tie this all back to keeping a player from the clutches of Madrid.

When Real Madrid come calling for a player at Liverpool, they are selling two things:

The legendary club, the white shirt, the Bernabéu.

The city of Madrid: a massive, sun-drenched European capital with a Latin culture.

For a player in Liverpool, the jump from the city of Liverpool to the city of Madrid is a massive lifestyle upgrade (in terms of weather and cultural familiarity for many). The whole package is incredibly tempting. It's a move from an intense, proud, but smaller northern English city to a global capital.

When Real Madrid come calling for a player at a top London club, the lifestyle argument is much weaker. The player is already living in a global super-city. They already have the luxury lifestyle, the anonymity, and the world on their doorstep.

The conversation shifts. The jump from London to Madrid becomes less of a total life-changer and more of a sideways move in lifestyle terms. Yes, you get the sun, but you lose the unique pull of London. The decision then becomes more purely about the footballing project, the manager, and the contract. The city of London acts as a powerful "anchor," making the overall offer from Madrid less overwhelmingly attractive.

So, in short: It's not that Liverpool as a club has less pull. It's that London as a city can compete with Madrid on a lifestyle level in a way that Liverpool, for all its own unique and brilliant advantages, finds much harder to do. London provides a powerful non-footballing reason for a player to stay put.

[Kev0909]

I'd say you can't discount the reality that keeping a player in Liverpool is harder than doing so in London. Not sure the club can be blamed for that.

I don't buy this theory, how many players have said about it's because of the city i've joined XyZ or staying here ???

They're multi-millionaires for christ sake, they can travel wherever they want, and when they've finished there short career- worlds there oyster..... I don't think they're that bothered when they're making the money they're on

It's not exactly hard to travel

[Steveo]

I'd say you can't discount the reality that keeping a player in Liverpool is harder than doing so in London. Not sure the club can be blamed for that.

[Kev0909]

William Saliba has committed to signing a new contract at Arsenal, reports The Athletic's David Ornstein.

Shame konate won't .... guess real will get konate on a free not Saliba

why are we fucking mugs

[RedMagic]

We're at home to Crystal Palace in the fourth round of the league cup.

[RedMagic]

VVD should have won the award in 2019 but 'the money men' made sure that Messi was given the award despite the fact that VVD was clearly the more influential player for both club and country that year. Messi finished 7 points ahead of VVD (who were both around 400 points ahead of Ronaldo) despite the fact that 69 voters had VVD as their top pick, 7 more than Messi.

There's more money to be made by giving a player like Messi the award than there is in giving it to a defender irrespective of how much the latter may deserve it. Post the World Cup a member of the voting committee admitted that he was 'cajoled' into voting for Messi despite he and everyone else knowing that James Rodriguez was the best player at that tournament.

[sydenham red]

Not exclusively but most of the winners prob won their domestic league and CL in same season. We haven't done that since the 80s. Still the anti English league bias remains within UEFA too, a close call will always go with the European based player.

[Red October]

Wonder if a liverpool player will win Ballon d'Or in the next 50 years?

if salah can't win it and come 4th, who can ?

Quite ironic they mainly focus on champions league yet..... forget about the best league in the world, England.

Salah really should have won it the year he scored 44 goals in all comps!

[Kev0909]

Wonder if a liverpool player will win Ballon d'Or in the next 50 years?

if salah can't win it and come 4th, who can ?

Quite ironic they mainly focus on champions league yet..... forget about the best league in the world, England.

[justme]

Its ok. its natural to think that way with someone so young.. It crosses all our minds.. like you say very sad for his family and people who knew him personally..

[miller0863]

Yeah I shouldn’t be speculating really, very sad for his family and friends

[justme]

Or an heart attack. stress can lead to all kinds of issues. what ever the cause.. Sad for anyone to die so young.