The Liverpool FC Thread VII

I'm as big a Liverpool fan as any but you can't proclaim we've done any better in holding onto our best players then they have. I think we've lost several of our best players and that's why we're in the position we are now, just like them. The only difference is the manner in which they've lost their players has been more spectacular and over the top, I mean losing their two best and key players in one summer is hard to take. I don't think we lost Alonso because we didn't seem good enough for him (that season we almost won the league), he went because he didn't think he was being treated as a key player with all the Barry rumours. Mashcerano and Torres are probably the most obvious players who left us as a direct result of our results, Torres just worked out well for us in the end.

And why point out ALL the players that have left them? You could do that with any club. It's irrelevant.

Both clubs have two really bad points about them, Liverpool have already been out of the champions league for a couple of seasons already so missing out on another season will clearly make prospective signings apprehensive and most aren't willing to give up time in their careers to join a ''project'' as AVB puts it. While Arsenal, just do the same exact thing every damn season. The fact that Cesc and Nasri ''escaped'' I think is the reason why they can't get superstar signings, those players will look at the departure of Cesc/Nasri and think damn, do I wanna sign up for that? And well Arsenals love affair with money.

I just don't agree with Arsenal fans that believe they are so much better than us just because their four points ahead of us in the league. That means absolutely nothing. Neither of us can feel ''above'' the other because we are basically in the exact same position, I think if we finish the season strongly and play to our capabilties we can do better than them but then they would say the same thing.

Adebayor - On the other hand, Spurs lose against United and Arsenal beat Liverpool. We are then 4 points behind them and could easily finish 3rd.

Toure - Not really, he was instrumental at Arsenal but hasn't really replicated his form for Arsenal. I agree with the Yaya point. Shall I mention his drugs' ban?

Nasri - I actually think United will win the title due to their experience.

Clichy - That's clearly clutching at straws. He isn't starting every game and I'm sure he'd want to be the first name on the teamsheet.

2008-9 - Liverpool finished 2nd
(Mascherano and Alonso leave in the summer)
2009-10 - Liverpol finished 8th (disastrous season)
2010-11 - Liverpool finished 6th (disastrous season)
2011-12 - Liverpool are currently 7th and could finish there.


From title challengers to finishing 8th. Clear decline there fella.


Hleb - A disastrous career move, who's he playing for now?



Henry - Had already hit his peak and was a fantastic servant for AFC. I think he went to Barca to win the CL and succeeding in doing so. Still loves the club and is an Arsenal legend with a statue outside the stadium. Let's not forget that he could replace Arsene as Manager.

Fabregas - May have stayed if he won a trophy but it's fine margins at the end of the day. Left for his hometown team who also happen to be the best team in the world. Special circumstances.

Flamini - He hasn't exactly set the world on fire at Milan. But yeah, we should have kept hold of him.

Diarra - See above.

Vieira - It's not like he had the luxury of a choice choice between Arsenal and City. Arsenal didn't even offer him a coaching role which was a bad decision so it makes sense that he went to City. He'll be back in the future, along with Bergkamp, Pires and Henry. Coaching staff perhaps? I can see it happening.

Pointing out that we've lost a small handful of our best players in our most difficult period in how long? Easily over 20 years, if not closer to like 50+

Compared to Arsenal who have lost a LOT of promising players, which if they were at Arsenal now, they'd probably be title challengers. And that's down to lack of ambition of the part of the club.

I know what you mean but I remember when Torres left I just kept thinking, i'm not sad about him, the player, leaving because he's been out of it for a while now (but everyone gave him exscuses and said it was because he was playing in a poor Liverpool team) i'm sad that this must make Liverpool look so bad. It's like yeah one season we finish 7th and the very next we lose Fernando Torres, a kop hero. And then all those rumours around Pepe Reina and Gerrard in the summer. It was devastating and the worst timing. But in the end I thought the club made up for it by splashing out 35m on Carroll and 23 on Suarez to make sure we didn't look like a selling club, it also showed intent and ambition which is true, Arsenals board just don't seem to have. I'd be feeling really bleak about the future if we had their owners who only put their hands in their pockets after 8 - 2. I am confident in our owners I really am.

And yet we managed to keep hold of Reina and Gerrard. I can't see any player who the club wants to keep, wanting to leave in the summer.

I know what you mean but I remember when Torres left I just kept thinking, i'm not sad about him, the player, leaving because he's been out of it for a while now (but everyone gave him exscuses and said it was because he was playing in a poor Liverpool team) i'm sad that this must make Liverpool look so bad. It's like yeah one season we finish 7th and the very next we lose Fernando Torres, a kop hero. And then all those rumours around Pepe Reina and Gerrard in the summer. It was devastating and the worst timing. But in the end I thought the club made up for it by splashing out 35m on Carroll and 23 on Suarez to make sure we didn't look like a selling club, it also showed intent and ambition which is true, Arsenals board just don't seem to have. I'd be feeling really bleak about the future if we had their owners who only put their hands in their pockets after 8 - 2. I am confident in our owners I really am.

That's because the only actual stars we have are Suarez, Gerrard and Reina. Maybe you could say Agger.

Gerrards not happening.

Reina I don't think has anywhere better to go. Anything else would be more of a sideways move then an upwards one, but I think if this was all the season amounted to. A Carling Cup win and 7th place, and a better option came forward he would gladly take it. We saw when times got hard he was willing to move to Arsenal, it was the owners that stopped it. But i'm not really worried about this because I don't think there's much calling for a seasoned goalkeeper right now. Plus Pepe would cost A LOT. Shouldn't his contract be ending soon? He's been here since 2006 or has he signed an extension along the way? I really don't know but I don't trust him ever since I read that extract in his autobiography.

Aggers made of glass.

And after all the club has done for Suarez and this being his only full season, I doubt he'd leave but I think if Barca/Madrid made a serious calling, he'd want it. He's 25 already. Club wouldn't sell though if we couldn't get an adequate replacement.

You never really know with these things though do you.
Hope you're right though!

I hope you realise that we spent £75m last summer. The departures may have acted as a smokescreen but it's still decent investment if you consider where we finished. It's just that Cesc and Nasri were huge losses, but if you look at the table we're still doing alright. Another comparison? You spent £100m and are 7th currently. I can see us signing at least four players this summer too and getting rid of dead weight. You make it seem as if LFC are in a better position than us, you really aren't. Take a look at our young players and van Persie.

And we won't sign any players this summer? I think our owners have shown that they will back Kenny when neccessary, unlike your owners.

And we won't sign any players this summer? I think our owners have shown that they will back Kenny when neccessary, unlike your owners.

I think we'll easily invest at least 50mil net into the squad.

I think we'll easily invest at least 50mil net into the squad.

Depends on what sort of profits the club forecast they'll make this season - esp given FFP is coming into play.

Who would you like to see?

Depends on what sort of profits the club forecast they'll make this season - esp given FFP is coming into play.

FFP won't really hinder transfers I think because the fees get spread out over a certain amount of years. It's main purpose is to stop clubs having wage bills which they can't afford. As long as their wage bill is below revenue it should be fine.

But if they are intending to spend at least £50m net, those type of players will command £100k a week+ wage. Which adds over £5m a year to the annual wage bill per player. There turnover last year was £173, so one more player earning £100k+ a week adds about 3% to the wage/turnover ratio (which is already above 60% I believe).

But I think Aurelio, Maxi and Aquilani could be off there books in the summer. Maybe even Kuyt.

Parker England captain? Wtf is going on there. Gives Stevie further incentive to quit England.