Squad construction - and the future.

[dicko1969]

Could be family issues back home in brazil too.
When alisson lost his dad, he was heart broken for a few months.
You see the stress effects his face .

[Kev0909]

So pretty much every player has some personal issues atm?

It's not just fabinho is it

[Steveo]

A squad that hadn’t been refreshed with senior first team options - dragged itself through 63 games in mentality monster fashion… almost winning the lot, gaining the 2 domestic cups after ET on pens while missing out by a whisker on the big prizes. Almost made history but got kicked in the balls.

That is a killer physically and psychologically. What’s left with legs to run - is the young and inexperienced. The likes of Elliott and Carvalho. Even Diaz - wasted with injury now - imo after playing too many games without any acclimatisation to the stresses and strains of this league. Came in and was operating at 100% from word go.

Terrible pre season… with Mané out - Nunez in… that’s a massive change to the front line too.

Trent - Robbo look less than half their former selves.

Yes the main 11 are on the floor.

[dicko1969]

So pretty much every player has some personal issues atm?

It's not just fabinho is it

Sure, but flying back to Brazil is a bit tougher than going to Sunderland to see the family.

Not easy to have a family situation and be
10 000 km away.

These people that play for the are actually human , you do realise that .... ?

[dicko1969]

A squad that hadn’t been refreshed with senior first team options - dragged itself through 63 games in mentality monster fashion… almost winning the lot, gaining the 2 domestic cups after ET on pens while missing out by a whisker on the big prizes. Almost made history but got kicked in the balls.

That is a killer physically and psychologically. What’s left with legs to run - is the young and inexperienced. The likes of Elliott and Carvalho. Even Diaz - wasted with injury now - imo after playing too many games without any acclimatisation to the stresses and strains of this league. Came in and was operating at 100% from word go.

Terrible pre season… with Mané out - Nunez in… that’s a massive change to the front line too.

Trent - Robbo look less than half their former selves.

Yes the main 11 are on the floor.

Terrible preseason is an understatement.
It was a joke.
The players arrived back Monday, flew to Singapore the Tuesday 10 000km+
Then played x3 stupid games , 3 sides 30 mins each.
That was a pathetic preseason .
Compare the summer of 2019 , Liverpool had a perfect preseason.
Much more organised, thorough, and eased back in to the new season.

Klopp has said , about 8 months ago.
He complained or simply stated; these boys play too much football with no break.
Soon you'll want them to play 12 months a year.
Which is ineffective what has happened.

[Steveo]

Agreed..


Bills to pay.. commitments to make for maximising merchandising revenue generation etc.. Owners treating the club like a farmer milking an old cow.

[teesred]

I doubt the new baby is helping any.

I know he has been out-of-form for a while but we have no idea what is going on behind the scenes - wife could have had difficult trimesters for example and he might have been wrecking his head about her the last few months, negatively effecting sleep etc etc

That doesn't cover all of his periods of not being at his best or some of his decision-making during his time year, just making the point that we never know what folks are dealing with.

Didn't know they had a baby. I reckon it'll look just like a tiny version of Fab.
Like one of those babyfied iPhone picture apps.

[Insidious]

Didn't know they had a baby. I reckon it'll look just like a tiny version of Fab.
Like one of those babyfied iPhone picture apps.

Don't know how I missed this first time around but has given me a chuckle so thank you!

If Florian Plettenberg's claim about Firmino is correct (https://twitter.com/Plettigoal/status/1631618577894703105?s=20) then we will see more come off the wage bill.

Ox, Keita and Firmino departing would free up £420,000-per-week in wages - and there may be more yet.

As much as players departing can create problems, there is opportunity to be had as well.

[teesred]

420k a week. Wow.
That's some saving for 2 of 3 players who are contributing jack shit. That's two players incoming on a major wedge.

[Insidious]

420k a week. Wow.
That's some saving for 2 of 3 players who are contributing jack shit. That's two players incoming on a major wedge.

Well exactly - this is one area where I talk about us making better use of available resources or "finding" money - and this is before we look at contracts that will expire next season too that we know COULD come off the bill in time.

Thiago and Matip for example are good players, but do I think that by the time the 23/24 season is over we will be able to make better long-term use of their combined wages on younger/fitter players for our future? Probably!