The Liverpool FC Thread XVII

Arguably Klopp/the club were fairly ruthless in letting Gini Wijnaldum leave on a free and selling Sadio Mane to Bayern? In both cases, it would've been much easier to have given them new contracts (and fans would've been happy). Although Klopp did say he wanted to keep both so maybe it was just the club being ruthless.

Out of the current squad, who should've been bombed out? We've had a few like Origi who hadn't been sold (mostly because our valuations were never met) but Klopp was able to use them in the squad until they left. We'll see Ox and Keita leave this summer. Milner possibly goes too. Milner may have just been kept on for being a professional/leader but also because he's homegrown and was better to keep than have no one? I think we're around the 17 non-HG player limit (although we could move Adrian on).

But we're talking about fairly fringe players who wouldn't have sold for much (often due to injury problems) and much more spend to replace in the squad. Nevermind all the work needed to bring a new squad player up to scratch in terms of tactical understanding etc.

Ruthless in letting two of your best performing players at the time leave? Makes a lot of sense. Even if Mess doesn't agree with Mane to Bayern at the time he was your best performer, similarly letting Wijnaldum go when you needed midfielders and not buying midfielders hoping Jones, Keita and Elliot come good is what has led you to this situation.

Fact is Keita has been an absolutely poor signing for you. 60M for Keita is a worse deal than United buying Pogba. Then you add the fact you bought Chamberlain for 35M when his contract was expiring, essentially Ross Barkley deal but worse.

Out of current squad I can think of at least 5 people. The people ****ging off fabinho are clowns, he's bad but he's doing 3 midfielders jobs defensively at times.

Keita, Salah(form was falling off a cliff last 6 months, bit like Torres), Milner, Chamberlain, Jones as a start. Also you may call them fringe players but they're playing much more than a fringe player should be playing when fit. Gomez also potentially is on fraud watch but as 4th choice backup he's decent enough.

Personally I'd get rid of Elliot, another average British midfielder that's there to fill up the numbers and are lacking in physical and/or technical attributes to play in the top of the PL but gets away with it because he's young, So many of these types who've played in the big 6, Winks, Cleverley, Gilmour, Wilshere(post injury), Barkley, Ramsey, Gallagher, Jones, Rodwell.

Milner can go because it’ll force other players to take responsibility. Henderson will turn 33 at the end of the season and should basically become the “new James Milner”.



Elliott can become a world class player. I heard he played left-wing against Chelsea. Completely wrong role for him. He should be playing right wing or the right of a midfield three.

The names you mentioned is where Curtis Jones should be. Seen that guy at the Manchester Arena watching Liam Smith Chris Eubank Jr after the Chelsea draw. Pretty sure he put more effort into his outfit than the 15 minutes he was on the pitch on Saturday morning.



You’re trying to be sarcastic but he’s actually a really good player. Just being played out of position. He is better than Smith-Rowe for example.

Remember he is playing in a team low in confidence so as he is 19 and because of some of his actions off the pitch he is an easy target. I remember last season before his injury when the team was full of confidence he was playing fine as the right central midfielder of a midfield 3 and people were raving about him after his performance against Chelsea that season.

He’s probably Liverpool’s best young talent right now.

Milner can go because it’ll force other players to take responsibility. Henderson will turn 33 at the end of the season and should basically become the “new James Milner”.



Elliott can become a world class player. I heard he played left-wing against Chelsea. Completely wrong role for him. He should be playing right wing or the right of a midfield three.

The names you mentioned is where Curtis Jones should be. Seen that guy at the Manchester Arena watching Liam Smith Chris Eubank Jr after the Chelsea draw. Pretty sure he put more effort into his outfit than the 15 minutes he was on the pitch on Saturday morning.



You’re trying to be sarcastic but he’s actually a really good player. Just being played out of position. He is better than Smith-Rowe for example.

Remember he is playing in a team low in confidence so as he is 19 and because of some of his actions off the pitch he is an easy target. I remember last season before his injury when the team was full of confidence he was playing fine as the right central midfielder of a midfield 3 and people were raving about him after his performance against Chelsea that season.

He’s probably Liverpool’s best young talent right now.

Elliott needs a run in the right of a front 3, problem is Salah isn't getting dropped so he is put in the right of the midfield 3, problem is that Elliott isn't a midfielder and the midfield as a whole is too trash to make up for his shortcomings as a midfielder. He could do well in the number 10 position but again, midfield isn't good enough to accomodate a number 10 and Klopp generally doesn't play with a number 10 anyway, last time he did Brighton away happened.

I dont particularly rate ESR.

ESR is levels above Elliot.

Arsenal have about 10 players <22 better than Elliot. Peak times at LFC.

All 10 Arsenal players will become the next Jack Wilshere.

Also comparing a 19 yr old Elliott against 22 year olds is a bit unfair. Huge stage of development for any player.

Wilshere is clear of any of your young midfielders that have come through the last 20 years not named Gerrard

What happened to all those Chelsea youngsters that were going to become the next big thing? I know a bunch were sold for hugely inflated fees and I imagine Gallagher (to Crystal Palace) will be the next one. Lampard's Chelsea managerial legacy already in the bin.

Do you think we'll just see Lampard in the pundit studio from now on? Can't see him given another top manager job any time soon..

All 10 Arsenal players will become the next Jack Wilshere.

Also comparing a 19 yr old Elliott against 22 year olds is a bit unfair. Huge stage of development for any player.

JW was one of the most naturally gifted midfielders I've ever seen. Terribly unlucky with injuries of course but what a talent.

Elliot will probably play 46 games a season for the rest of his career until 35. Notice I said 46 not 38, because he is a Championship talent.

That is a lot of games, not many people get to have those careers.

Tbf if he wants to play in the championship he doesn't even have to go far, he only needs to go a few miles down the road!!

Thoughts on Gakpo? He's played in a handful of games so probably unfair to judge.

Also seems out of position with Nunez/Firmino injured. Don't think he's played as the main striker before.

Milner can go because it’ll force other players to take responsibility. Henderson will turn 33 at the end of the season and should basically become the “new James Milner”.



Elliott can become a world class player. I heard he played left-wing against Chelsea. Completely wrong role for him. He should be playing right wing or the right of a midfield three.

The names you mentioned is where Curtis Jones should be. Seen that guy at the Manchester Arena watching Liam Smith Chris Eubank Jr after the Chelsea draw. Pretty sure he put more effort into his outfit than the 15 minutes he was on the pitch on Saturday morning.



You’re trying to be sarcastic but he’s actually a really good player. Just being played out of position. He is better than Smith-Rowe for example.

Remember he is playing in a team low in confidence so as he is 19 and because of some of his actions off the pitch he is an easy target. I remember last season before his injury when the team was full of confidence he was playing fine as the right central midfielder of a midfield 3 and people were raving about him after his performance against Chelsea that season.

He’s probably Liverpool’s best young talent right now.