Liverpool transfers in/out and rumours 22/23 + Contracts

[Insidious]

You might have a point except for one glaring omission....How many midfielders did we lose?
To my recollection:

James Milner,
Naby Keita
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
Jordan Henderson
Fabinho

That's before we mention Bobby - who was interwoven with all 5 when they shared the pitch.

Do the numbers (of midfielders) matter particularly when the accumulative minutes in certain areas are so low?

Not speaking to your whole list, but the likes of Ox and Keita for example.

I don't think for example (going into next season) that we need to "replace" the accumulative minutes of Thiago Alcantara's 23/24 contribution when they could be absorbed by players who need more game time.

[Insidious]

You mention Sepp Van Den Berg has a possible replacement if we need a defender, You should know hes going to be sold,at the right price, since hes been on loan for years and years. then you go on about you think we need a defender., which is it??

Regarding "which is it" - not everything is binary. We don't have to pick one.

Sepp is a potential candidate for squad use if he isn't sold and if is to a standard Arne is happy with - we don't know his (Arne's) stance yet. He has experience at both centre-back and right-back AND we don't know if the Manager rates him, so due to these factors he is a bit of a unique one - even if a centre-back came in for example we might like the option of another utility player. Gomez showed last season how handy they are - Milner often did too.

Also the option Sepp could also be sold and the money reinvested into a centre-back, which I would also be happy with. I don't have to pick one.

However I get the impression you want to nail down my stance on things, so with that in mind, if you MADE me pick, I personally am probably slightly more inclined to sell Sepp and reinvest the money - but I am happy either way.

Would I like another centre-back to come in? Yes, I would like another centre-back to come in. I would however (if we are BUYING) be looking at someone top drawer (automatic partner / eventual replacement for Van Dijk) whereas if we are "only" after a depth option, I'd promote from within. I see little point in spending upwards of £30m let's say for depth when we tend to have talented youngsters around - the big bucks are for upgrading the starting XI which would be my current priority.

Again, for the sake of clarity (aware I am prattling a bit here, but am trying to be concise) - I have 3 positions I want to see strengthened in the near-future.

- Right-sided forward.
- Defensive midfield area (I'd lean towards a Busquets type more than a Mascherano type, but either could work - just want real quality in front of the defence)
- Centre-back

I will also say that of those 3 positions, that's probably the order of importance I would place on them. Salah's age, contract situation and our lack of depth should he be injured mean we are vulnerable on that side and not particularly "future-proofed" as I call it, whereas with centre-back, despite my desire to keep improving it, we have Gomez, Konate and Quansah all under 30 as options, which is a healthier position overall to my mind.

I hope that has answered your question.

[Steveo]

Do the numbers (of midfielders) matter particularly when the accumulative minutes in certain areas are so low?

Not speaking to your whole list, but the likes of Ox and Keita for example.

I don't think for example (going into next season) that we need to "replace" the accumulative minutes of Thiago Alcantara's 23/24 contribution when they could be absorbed by players who need more game time.

"accumulative minutes".

Good lord.

The number 4 was used to highlight our rediness to bring in players. We let 5 go and brought in 4. This is AFTER the Caicedo/Lavia debacle too..The fact the "accumulative minutes" of some was woeful has nothing to do with that Sid.

You must surely know that? Are you simply trying at every turn to negate the fact we have shyte profiteering owners who don't care a jot about this club beyond its ability to be used as collateral? Leverage to further their empire building.

[Kev0909]

"accumulative minutes".

Good lord.

The number 4 was used to highlight our rediness to bring in players. We let 5 go and brought in 4. This is AFTER the Caicedo/Lavia debacle too..The fact the "accumulative minutes" of some was woeful has nothing to do with that Sid.

You must surely know that? Are you simply trying at every turn to negate the fact we have shyte profiteering owners who don't care a jot about this club beyond its ability to be used as collateral? Leverage to further their empire building.

of courseee it is, there's a reason he talks to birds they agree

love u sid

[Insidious]

"accumulative minutes".

Good lord.

The number 4 was used to highlight our rediness to bring in players. We let 5 go and brought in 4. This is AFTER the Caicedo/Lavia debacle too..The fact the "accumulative minutes" of some was woeful has nothing to do with that Sid.

You must surely know that? Are you simply trying at every turn to negate the fact we have shyte profiteering owners who don't care a jot about this club beyond its ability to be used as collateral? Leverage to further their empire building.

Seems I don't.

Ox and Keita just about got over the 600-minute mark combined in the Premier League for 22/23 - there wasn't a lot needing "replaced" - but we still went ahead and got players in.

Midfield required acquisitions and acquisitions came. I see little to complain about. Net improvement on the squad in terms of availability x ability for me whilst still leaving room for players that need to continue their development, such as Jones, Elliott, Gravenberch, Bajcetic.

[justme]

Only reason Edwards was brought back is to save money on wheeling and dealing. Thats why Virgil will be offered a deal with less money.. Klopp wanted Wijnaludm to stay but Edwards didnt want it and it took us at least 3 seasons to replace him .
Theres no way Henderson would have got the deal he did with Edwards in control of the purse strings.
Virgil should be given the same wages hes on. Because hes obviously our best defender., But MONEY comes first.

[jozza800]

You might have a point except for one glaring omission....How many midfielders did we lose?
To my recollection:

James Milner,
Naby Keita
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
Jordan Henderson
Fabinho

That's before we mention Bobby - who was interwoven with all 5 when they shared the pitch.

Replacing players is part and parcel of building squads. Selling/Releasing players doesn't negate the fact that the 4 were brought in.

And Bobby was replaced by Nunez.

All 5 (6 if you insist on including Bobby for some reason) were sold or released for a grand total of roughly £55m. With only 2 of the 6 players bringing in said fee.

The 5 'replacements' were brought in for a combined £225m (approx).

Not exactly scrimping by. No Coutinho Money.

This is part of the reason why I get irritated by the 'spend some money' brigade. Look at the squad of players we have and it is littered with £30/40m/50m+ players with a few cheapos thrown in. Look at the players we've released in the last few years. Ox, Keita, Bobby, Wij, Thiago just off the top of my head - there's £150m worth of signings just released for nothing.

We don't always get the right players (which is a different argument) but money is spent.

[Insidious]

Only reason Edwards was brought back is to save money on wheeling and dealing. Thats why Virgil will be offered a deal with less money.

IF Virgil is offered less money, it will likely be to reflect what he may be able to bring to the club in future, ie that he is likely past his peak and thus won't be contributing to quite the same extent week-in, week-out and thus is "worth" less - though personally I'd be inclined to reward his years of service with an increase, within reason.

We've spent plenty of money keeping him here. He is about to enter his eighth (?) season with us (his first was half a season, but still) - when you think how long players like Torres or Suarez for example lasted here (neither completed 4 full seasons) then it's difficult to say we haven't invested in players - however we seemingly prioritise the wage bill to keep the squad together as opposed to making loads of additions.

Like I said in another thread, people applauded Arsenal for spending £400m more than us over a 3-year period on transfer fees, conveniently ignoring that over the same period we spent £450m more than them on wages - the narrative was "Arsenal outspent Liverpool" over that that spell.

[justme]

IF Virgil is offered less money, it will likely be to reflect what he may be able to bring to the club in future, ie that he is likely past his peak and thus won't be contributing to quite the same extent week-in, week-out and thus is "worth" less - though personally I'd be inclined to reward his years of service with an increase, within reason.

We've spent plenty of money keeping him here. He is about to enter his eighth (?) season with us (his first was half a season, but still) - when you think how long players like Torres or Suarez for example lasted here (neither completed 4 full seasons) then it's difficult to say we haven't invested in players - however we seemingly prioritise the wage bill to keep the squad together as opposed to making loads of additions.

Like I said in another thread, people applauded Arsenal for spending £400m more than us over a 3-year period on transfer fees, conveniently ignoring that over the same period we spent £450m more than them on wages - the narrative was "Arsenal outspent Liverpool" over that that spell.

so they are telling Virgil hes not worth the same amount of money? they are guessing hes a busted flush?? why are you protecting these greedy fuckers? You do realize the money they are saving on wages IS NOT BEING SPENT ON PLAYERS? where is the sodding money?? wheres the 100 million that was put down for Caicedo?. and over 18 million we have saved in wages?? where is the money we get for being in the champions league??

[justme]

Every single deal we do is all about MONEY. we don't sign players who are slightly over the value we place on them and we don't sell players for less than the price we place on them. The club expect 25 million for Kelleher.. and 20 million for Berg.. no club is gonna pay that.. in the long run we end up losing money over contracts. so fking stupid this is..