The Liverpool FC Thread XIV

Wow thought it was all rumour but Guardian running an article on it

The Liverpool defender Mamadou Sakho has been handed a Euro 2016 lifeline after Uefa chose not to extend his suspension from football after a positive drugs test.

However, Uefa has decided not to extend that suspension, which is due to expire on Saturday, as they have launched their own investigation into whether the fat-burning substance the centre-back took should even be on the banned list.

Uefa said in a statement: “The 30-day provisional suspension ends today. The chairman of the control, ethics and disciplinary body decided not to extend it. The player would thus be free to play as from tomorrow. A decision on the case will be made within the next few days.”

As a result the case against Sakho remains on file pending those investigations but with his suspension lifted he is technically available for selection by national team boss Didier Deschamps, with national teams having until 31 May to submit their final squads for this summer’s tournament in France.

Sakho submitted his defence to Uefa’s disciplinary committee on Monday and as part of that his legal team questioned whether the substance in the supplement should even be on the prohibited list given some apparent scientific evidence on its effects.

Rather than set a date for a hearing to consider the defender’s case Uefa has instead ordered their own disciplinary body to first look into whether the substance should even be on the Wada list.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/may/28/mamadou-sakho-no-further-doping-ban

Good news that.

Are people excited for next season? Tbh I'm not atm..

Why not?

We've signed a keeper, CB and it looks like we're pursuing LBs.

Personally if we can buy a LB and CM, that's all we'd "need". Anything else would just be a luxury. I think it would be nice to upgrade going forward if we have money left over (I.e: Götze to replace Lallana - although that's very unlikely now).

Are people excited for next season? Tbh I'm not atm..

Yes very much so. Since Benitez's last season in charge I think next season is the one I've felt most confident about. I was never 100% convinced about Woy, Kenny or Rodgers and the title challenge under Rodgers came out of the blue. The following season I was more pessimistic since we had sold Suarez.

I don't see us selling any of our best/key players this summer and Klopp is the biggest name we've had since Rafa joined in 2004. I think we'll have a much more coherent summer and Klopp will be able to attract options higher up his want list.

On top of that, with Leicester just having won the league, why can't we next season?! With no European football, Klopp will be able to focus 100% on the league too so we'll see our best 11-16 players on a consistent basis.

Yeah, it's not too difficult to watch Man City in the Champions League nowadays actually. People who are wondering about the credibility of people saying Dahoud is great; have you got anything better to do than question internet forum posters on which footballers they like?

Wasn't aimed at you specifically, I just don't know where he has sprang from considering I had literally never heard his name spoken by a commentator/podcast or written by a journalist/commenter/poster until the season ended.

He seems to have come from nowhere and it's decided that he's now worth over £45,000,000. It's just odd.

Yes you do make some very good points, I am slightly more optimistic now! However, I hope the squad performs well on there own, without as it seemed towards the end the season carried by the atmosphere and by the enthusiasm of Klopp. If that happens and we begin well, I can see us doing very well this year.
Lets just hope the recruitment is good this year in comparison to the dross we have seen in seasons gone by. Also kind of gutted im going uni this year so won't be able to go to as many matches as I'd like to, but still up the reds!

Mane is a real link according to Joyce. I'd be happy with him coming in. Takes an absurd number of shots in the penalty area, presses really well, and is a great direct dribbler. Still room for another attacker of sufficient quality (ie Gotze) but I'd be fine with Mane as our new wide option.

Hopefully the Dahoud link still has legs. He's utter class and much more refined than Zielinski. After that, we need a left back, and then we're good to go. Chilwell is the only active link but hopefully Klopp just goes for the obvious in Hector.