Tony Barrett - Vulnerable Liverpool are mediocre - and they know it

This article is so spot on, so succint and well written that it really deserves its own post.  Whatever you think about what is going on right now, it is a perfectly written account of the massive chaos at the club and on the horizon.

Vulnerable Liverpool are mediocre - and they know it

Tony Barrett, May 19 2015


Not since buying Liverpool in October 2010 has Fenway Sports Group (FSG) endured such a chastening 72 hours. On Saturday, supporters at Anfield reacted with derision to the suggestion that the club are heading in the right direction. Then yesterday there was a vicious double whammy as Michel Platini confirmed that the Financial Fair Play rules which attracted John W. Henry to purchase the club are to be relaxed and Raheem Sterling’s camp made it known that the winger wishes to leave.

Liverpool are vulnerable right now. They are mediocre and everyone knows it. The reality is that those at the top end of the football industry have known it for some time, hence senior scouts from Manchester City and Chelsea becoming Anfield regulars this season in the knowledge that Liverpool’s best players are there for the taking in a way that they haven’t been for half a century.

For all the opprobrium – some of it just, some of it not – that will inevitably be showered on Sterling and his representative, Aidy Ward, following yesterday’s events, the reality is that it is Liverpool’s weakness that allows players and agents to act in the way that they are. One of the club’s first and most important responsibilities is to make it a place that players find difficult to leave and it would be absurd to claim that is the case.

With no Champions League football to offer, only one trophy (the League Cup) won in the past nine seasons, just three title challenges since 1991, a transfer policy that prioritises the future over the present and an inability to compete for top players, Liverpool are failing to keep their end of the bargain in terms of how a big club are supposed to behave. Expectations have been lowered, almost dumbed down, and if the supporters can recognise that so too can the players.

Thus far, the strongest argument that Liverpool have been able to muster in their attempts to convince Sterling to remain at the club is that it is the best place for his development at this stage of his career; not that if he remains at Anfield he can fulfil his ambitions, that success is around the corner or that they will pay him as much as others are willing to. It is an argument rooted in weakness and lacking in conviction.

It could also be argued that it is flawed given that Sterling, a creative player, has spent the past 12 months playing in a team without a forward. It is all well and good playing regular first-team football but doing so in a dysfunctional team that stymies your best qualities is hardly developmental.

The reality is that Liverpool’s problems – their failure to finish in the top four, their struggle to hold on to their best players, the lack of supporters’ faith in the club’s direction and the pressure that is building on the Anfield hierarchy – are symptoms of the same cause: a flawed transfer strategy that it is causing untold damage. Signing potential rather than proven talent is undermining everything that Liverpool are supposed to stand for. It has reached the stage where one of their better young players is not prepared to hang around to see if their inferior young players will improve.

For all the accusations that Sterling is going the wrong way about forcing a move (and many of these are wholly legitimate), Liverpool are at the mercy of the ambition of others because they are either unwilling or unable to match their rivals’ ambition. That situation is only likely to become more severe now that FFP is about to be watered down. As Henry himself conceded recently, without FFP it becomes “very difficult” for Liverpool to compete. The established football food chain, ordered according to owners’ wealth, leaves them exposed. Rival clubs, avaricious agents and even their own supporters know this only too well.

FSG’s model is failing. Whether that is because it is fundamentally flawed or poorly executed is a moot point but what is not in question is that Liverpool’s entire football operation is in need of urgent evaluation. Until the things that are going wrong are put right, then Raheem Sterling won’t be the last to believe the grass is greener elsewhere, he’ll just be one of a number in an ever lengthening line who view Liverpool Football Club as a stepping stone rather than a final destination.

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/sport/...cle4444751.ece

Yip not good times at all.

FSG got a lot to think about and sort out.

FSG either need to sell ASAP to owners with more immediate ambitions or re-evaluate their entire moneyball strategy i.e. chuck it out the window!

Agreed.

I've been saying this since I joined these forums. You cannot build for tomorrow in football because any potential super stars you develop will leave because you don't win anything. Tomorrow never comes in this sport, I just hope JWH realises this and either changes the policy or looks for a buyer for us.

great article...

...so right it hurts

Just like our season unravelled after the scum defeat it seems the business model is also unravelling.  It's hardly a surprise as many fans have been warning it wasn't a sustainable model for quite some time but they thought they could be clever and beat the stats that have shown for 25 years that the value of the squad and the wages paid determines where teams finish in the league.

For Businessmen who have made their billions from stats based investments it seems they've been very naive in the belief that they could buck the trend on the cheap.  Now that the FFP comfort blanket that they've been hiding behind for nearly 5 years has or is about to be pulled from under them, it leaves us in a very precarious position.

We don't have the money, the squad or strong enough leadership at the very top to stand on our two feet without FFP, they've just embarked on the stadium expansion at a time when the fans are readying themselves for mass boycott so they're not in a position to sell up and who the hell would buy us anyway, so we're stuck with them for the foreseeable future.

I hope to F**k they've got some sort of contingency plan in place but somehow I doubt it.

Worrying times

I fear what some of the guys have said is true, FSG either change their whole strategy or sell up.

Not sure why FFP rules are being relaxed though? Could it be the mafias of Russia and Middle East have finally got to Platini? Either way, that goes, we're f***ed for a while.

Rubbish. The same article (minus the soft drivel about Sterling) could have been written in the summer of 2013.

Shocking League finish. No Champions League. Nothing happening. No star players arriving..

Then Boom! One of the most incredible seasons of football! 2nd place. Champions League secured for the next season..

Worrying times

I fear what some of the guys have said is true, FSG either change their whole strategy or sell up.

Not sure why FFP rules are being relaxed though? Could it be the mafias of Russia and Middle East have finally got to Platini? Either way, that goes, we're f***ed for a while.

Serious question:

Why were we never bought by the Russian mafioso or oil barrens in the mid-east?

What was so attractive about Citeh and Chelsea compared to us?

Rubbish. The same article (minus the soft drivel about Sterling) could have been written in the summer of 2013.

Shocking League finish. No Champions League. Nothing happening. No star players arriving..

Then Boom! One of the most incredible seasons of football! 2nd place. Champions League secured for the next season..

Umm not really first season was always going to be a bedding in period with a new manager. No one expected us to challenge for the title or finish top 4 in Rodgers first season.

Last season Luis Suarez papered over the cracks in FSG's flawed transfer policy.

This season that flawed transfer policy has fully revealed itself in a season of complete failure on all fronts.

What was so attractive about Citeh and Chelsea compared to us?

Real estate value in the most expensive area of London for Chelsea and an already built stadium with plenty of room for expansion in City's case.

The next thing we will hear is that Fenway are selling out to Hicks and Gillette.  Fenway have been found wanting and it does not look like there is a way out for them

Real estate value in the most expensive area of London for Chelsea and an already built stadium with plenty of room for expansion in City's case.

Thanks. I had an idea about the Man.C case, though was never sure.

The Chelsea one for me is interesting, isn't Abramovich the first owner to plough (or come near to) to Billion pound barrier mark, spending? With that kind of spending, how is the real estate of Stamford Bridge such a draw for him?

Chelsea are worth more now as a club after his heavy investment, surely; as opposed to the dirt the foundations are built on. 

Rubbish. The same article (minus the soft drivel about Sterling) could have been written in the summer of 2013.

Shocking League finish. No Champions League. Nothing happening. No star players arriving..

Then Boom! One of the most incredible seasons of football! 2nd place. Champions League secured for the next season..

If you really believe the article is rubbish then you are burying your head in the sand mate.

We need to Sheikh Khalifa interested again. Remember he was interested in buying the club in 2010.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/402899-sheikh-khalifa-in-negotiations-for-a-complete-liverpool-fc-take-over


Whatever, we need to get the Yanks out.

Serious question:

Why were we never bought by the Russian mafioso or oil barrens in the mid-east?

What was so attractive about Citeh and Chelsea compared to us?

Abramovich was really looking to buy Spurs until he flew over Stamford Bridge.

City had a new stadium that didn't need paying for.

Question should be why did Parry and Moores F**k the Dubai lot round so much.

Rubbish. The same article (minus the soft drivel about Sterling) could have been written in the summer of 2013.

Shocking League finish. No Champions League. Nothing happening. No star players arriving..

Then Boom! One of the most incredible seasons of football! 2nd place. Champions League secured for the next season..

The one reporter that won't write scurrilous sh*t about the club.

Tony Barrett cares just as much about LFC as you or me.

We need to Sheikh Khalifa interested again. Remember he was interested in buying the club in 2010.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/402899-sheikh-khalifa-in-negotiations-for-a-complete-liverpool-fc-take-over


Whatever, we need to get the Yanks out.

Not sure a Sheikh is the answer.

Would you want Anfield renamed to the Abu Dabia Arena? A team full of mercenaries? A historic club losing its identity?

If FSG are willing to be lot more flexible with their transfer policy and be ambitious enough to bring in at least one world class player every season then we will be in much better position as a club.

The ball is in their court to prove they have real ambitions for this club. We will know in the next month or two if they mean business or are just leaching off the clubs profits.

Abramovich was really looking to buy Spurs until he flew over Stamford Bridge.

City had a new stadium that didn't need paying for.

Question should be why did Parry and Moores F**k the Dubai lot round so much.

Still wish he'd have bought Jordan instead.
Thanks Bernie for talking him out of that, not.

Rubbish. The same article (minus the soft drivel about Sterling) could have been written in the summer of 2013.

Shocking League finish. No Champions League. Nothing happening. No star players arriving..

Then Boom! One of the most incredible seasons of football! 2nd place. Champions League secured for the next season..

So where's next season's Suarez and Strurridge going to come from?
That season didn't just magically appear.
LFC were 3rd in the form table for most of the 2nd half of the previous season,
thanks to the arrival of Sturridge and Coutinho in the previous January.

We didn't buy anyone last January, and our form has grinded to halt.

Still wish he'd have bought Jordan instead.
Thanks Bernie for talking him out of that, not.

 

Didn't know he was interested in Jordan.

Thanks. I had an idea about the Man.C case, though was never sure.

The Chelsea one for me is interesting, isn't Abramovich the first owner to plough (or come near to) to Billion pound barrier mark, spending? With that kind of spending, how is the real estate of Stamford Bridge such a draw for him?

Chelsea are worth more now as a club after his heavy investment, surely; as opposed to the dirt the foundations are built on. 

But they need to move to get a bigger stadium so the value of "the dirt" then becomes real estate value.

The one reporter that won't write scurrilous sh*t about the club.

Tony Barrett cares just as much about LFC as you or me.

Doesn't make his opinion the same though. 

It is easy to write about negatives. It is easy to be critical. That article could easily have been written before the 13/14 season too.

Things are bad at the moment. It has been a shocking season. But, not all because of the reasons Tony implies. Significantly, we've had injuries, Gerrard leaving, and Sterling throwing his toys out of the pram.

The transfer policy is hugely frustrating, and in many ways wrong. I'd love a top signing as much as the next man, and I wish they would change that. But, I don't see it as bad as others do. If our players had bothered to put in any effort, we could have walked away from this season with a trophy and a top 4 finish. We were undefeated in 2015 and set for 2nd place... until they all decided to pack it in.

If our players had bothered to put in any effort, we could have walked away from this season with a trophy and a top 4 finish. We were undefeated in 2015 and set for 2nd place... until they all decided to pack it in.

So what do you put that down to then Dan?

So what do you put that down to then Dan?

It doesnt matter what way you want to spin it, its owners fault, its managers fault, the fact is they were heading for a trophy and top 4 while being well paid to do there job, nothing should have diverted them from that nothing. The players are getting away very lightly in all this. Soft as sh*te in the head thats why we didnt get top 4 or win a cup our squad are mentally weak if they let any off field activities divert them from there job.

At this point as far as Im concerned they can all do one, the owners the manager the players the camera waving fans with there halfy half scarves, everyone thats ruined this club.   

It doesnt matter what way you want to spin it, its owners fault, its managers fault, the fact is they were heading for a trophy and top 4 while being well paid to do there job, nothing should have diverted them from that nothing. The players are getting away very lightly in all this. Soft as sh*te in the head thats why we didnt get top 4 or win a cup our squad are mentally weak if they let any off field activities divert them from there job.

At this point as far as Im concerned they can all do one, the owners the manager the players the camera waving fans with there halfy half scarves, everyone thats ruined this club.   

They maybe are getting away with it lightly Brian but a winning mentality is instilled by the Manager, not the owners, nor the players themselves. 

"One of the club’s first and most important responsibilities is to make it a place that players find difficult to leave and it would be absurd to claim that is the case."

Absolutely. Need to hold onto our talent, not sell it onto rivals.

"just three title challenges since 1991"

One of these under BR

"It could also be argued that it is flawed given that Sterling, a creative player, has spent the past 12 months playing in a team without a forward. It is all well and good playing regular first-team football but doing so in a dysfunctional team that stymies your best qualities is hardly developmental."

Could see coming last summer when we didn't sign decent striker. That is FIXABLE.

"Signing potential rather than proven talent is undermining everything that Liverpool are supposed to stand for"

Completely agree. And is what most people defending BR are saying.


Still think BR should be made the scapegoat?

Can't bring myself to even read it, I'll get too upset

1 trophy in 9 years.   

4 Managers in 9 years 

3 different owners in 9 years 

Theres your problem right there.

One of Barrett's key points, which is spot on, is the signing of potential vs proven quality. The big question, though, is who -- or what -- is scuppering deals for the likes of Sanchez. Because it's not as if we haven't been in for big players besides potential, we just never seem to pursue them hard enough and bring them to the club.

One of Barrett's key points, which is spot on, is the signing of potential vs proven quality. The big question, though, is who -- or what -- is scuppering deals for the likes of Sanchez. Because it's not as if we haven't been in for big players besides potential, we just never seem to pursue them hard enough and bring them to the club.

I'm just readng we've lost out to Spurs for Konoplyanka too

I'm just readng we've lost out to Spurs for Konoplyanka too

That adds fuel to the rumour the owners put a transfer ban in place last November.

Even missing out on free transfer targets now. Very worrying times indeed.

Serious question:

Why were we never bought by the Russian mafioso or oil barrens in the mid-east?

What was so attractive about Citeh and Chelsea compared to us?

Serious answer:

If you knew your history  DIC were seriously in for us but Moores and Parry got impatient with DIC's Due Diligence .

That is something every responsible business does if entering into negotiations , business or at that time a proposed purchase of LFC.

Enter the Dallas Cowboy and his Canadian mate who gave Rothschild's telephone number to Parry on the back of an envelope and ... eh voila ...a verbal reference on Hansel and Gretel  was given.



The rest my friend is history.




Konoplyanka link :  http://metro.co.uk/2015/05/20/tottenham-agree-transfer-deal-for-liverpool-target-yevhen-konoplyanka-5206245/

Still wish he'd have bought Jordan instead.
Thanks Bernie for talking him out of that, not.

Everything Bernie Eccelstone touches, he fucks up.

I remember the DIC negotiations way back, and it was Mihir Bose - chief sports correspondent at The Telegraph in 06/07 - who wrote an article stating that DIC would sell the club for a profit within a few years of buying it.

DIC denied this, Moores read the article and wasn't so keen anymore, so ended up selling to Hicks and Gillett.

The sad thing is, if that article was true, it surely wouldn't have been anywhere near as bad as what Hicks and Gillett did.

Basically the culmination of F**k ups and failures over the last 9 years is down to two men - Parry and Moores. Not only were they incompetent owners, but they saved their worst trick for last.

Jesus thats Grim reading. True though.

Ah man thats ruined my day.

I remember the DIC negotiations way back, and it was Mihir Bose - chief sports correspondent at The Telegraph in 06/07 - who wrote an article stating that DIC would sell the club for a profit within a few years of buying it.

DIC denied this, Moores read the article and wasn't so keen anymore, so ended up selling to Hicks and Gillett.

The sad thing is, if that article was true, it surely wouldn't have been anywhere near as bad as what Hicks and Gillett did.

Basically the culmination of F**k ups and failures over the last 9 years is down to two men - Parry and Moores. Not only were they incompetent owners, but they saved their worst trick for last.

They had an exit strategy written into their very comprehensive plans, which if activated, would be after 7 years at the club.
This was mistaken for them wanting to sell up after 7 years. (or some dodgy PR basically lying about the 7 year thing)
Then h&g offered more money, and moores accepted their "deal" which put a few more millions in his bank and kept Parry in a job (something DIC wouldn't guarantee).

Nice of Tony Barrett to catch up with his LFCReds reading - good to see he takes notice of what the forum football fans think.   

They maybe are getting away with it lightly Brian but a winning mentality is instilled by the Manager, not the owners, nor the players themselves. 

A manager can improve a winning mentality of course he can but if the players haven't got it instilled in them no manager will get it out of them. That mentality is a self bred thing if you haven't got one it simply means you don't give a door about being the best or second best or worst

Not sure a Sheikh is the answer.

Would you want Anfield renamed to the Abu Dabia Arena? A team full of mercenaries? A historic club losing its identity?

If FSG are willing to be lot more flexible with their transfer policy and be ambitious enough to bring in at least one world class player every season then we will be in much better position as a club.

The ball is in their court to prove they have real ambitions for this club. We will know in the next month or two if they mean business or are just leaching off the clubs profits.

I personally fail to see how a rich sheikh and true Liverpool fan has to be mutually exclusive.  Liverpool is a world reknown club... some of those rich sheikhs just might prefer us to other teams.  So he wants to buy us and inject a billion dollars to make us tick.  This money to me shows his commitment... regardless of the business end of things. 

Also to the mercenaries comment.  We may think we are immune to this but mercenaries is modern life now.  best players go to play with other best players to win silverware.  Do you think for a second that should a team like barca fall... say all their players have to go a couple years without silverware.. take a modest pay cut that they will stick around?

FSG's business model in theory is sound but in real life there is too many variables.  I agree with the comment 'tomorrow never comes'.  also, this business model is a mid table business model when the other top clubs will spend whatever it takes to win.

Indeed David Moores and Pr*ck Parry are responsible for the troubles we have suffered over the last few years.

Moores walked way with £70 odd million and Parry is Chairman of the Betting Integrity Board (Integrity? If ever there was somebody in wrong job, there he is.)

The stupid pair broke their word to DIC and we now see the result.

Next Bonfire night perhaps we should burn effigies of Moores and Parry.

Not sure a Sheikh is the answer.

Would you want Anfield renamed to the Abu Dabia Arena? A team full of mercenaries? A historic club losing its identity?

If FSG are willing to be lot more flexible with their transfer policy and be ambitious enough to bring in at least one world class player every season then we will be in much better position as a club.

The ball is in their court to prove they have real ambitions for this club. We will know in the next month or two if they mean business or are just leaching off the clubs profits.

You can't have it both ways, Baz, you're either rich and successful or you're not (on both counts). The identity of the club is what the supporters make of it, not what some owner makes and in regards to stadium renaming, the 'City of Manchester Stadium' or the 'Emirates Stadium' where both newly built stadia without the iconic history associated with Anfield. I doubt very much they would have renamed Maine Road or Highbury for the same reasons. The stadium called 'Anfield' is as much a part of our history as the kop or the cups or the league titles or 'You'll never walk alone' and there would be no commercial sense in renaming it.  It's synonyms with Liverpool F.C.

Nice of Tony Barrett to catch up with his LFCReds reading - good to see he takes notice of what the forum football fans think.   

 

A manager can improve a winning mentality of course he can but if the players haven't got it instilled in them no manager will get it out of them. That mentality is a self bred thing if you haven't got one it simply means you don't give a door about being the best or second best or worst

I disagree mate sorry.  Attitudes, good and bad, rub off on the people around you, look at the Suarez effect last season and look at the players that are still here.

When you have a Manager who's more concerned with giving Stevie a good send off at Stamford Bridge rather than winning the game what's that saying to the rest of the squad?  When players are saying "the result was irrelevant" after the CP game because it was Stevies Day, that's not a winning mentality.

No wonder Stevie was steaming mad afterwards, he knows what it takes to be successful at this Club and turning an end of season game, where a win still gave us hope of CL qualification , into a glorified testimonial for him must have rankled him big time and rightly so.

All this crap with Raheem, how many of you have heard Brendan, or any of the so called media "experts", or any of our current or ex players when asked about the situation have said "he should stay because it's a great place to win trophies?"  Not F***ing one of them, they all say "he should stay because it's a great place for him to develop!!"

Well whoop di F***ing doo, we have a great coach who can develop young talent, when we should have a great coach that wins stuff.  We have a losers mentality all through the Club!  Weak Owners!  Weak Senior Management!  Weak players!  It filters down from the top until there's no point even trying.  Even us fans are beaten before a game kicks off, before the transfer window opens, before the season's started, before a new player kicks a ball.

Yesterday Rush was screaming for DiC, today I'm wanting some balls, some F***ing leadership from somewhere within the Club so that I can be reassured that they want us to start winning again.

I disagree mate sorry.  Attitudes, good and bad, rub off on the people around you, look at the Suarez effect last season and look at the players that are still here.

When you have a Manager who's more concerned with giving Stevie a good send off at Stamford Bridge rather than winning the game what's that saying to the rest of the squad?  When players are saying "the result was irrelevant" after the CP game because it was Stevies Day, that's not a winning mentality.

No wonder Stevie was steaming mad afterwards, he knows what it takes to be successful at this Club and turning an end of season game, where a win still gave us hope of CL qualification , into a glorified testimonial for him must have rankled him big time and rightly so.

All this crap with Raheem, how many of you have heard Brendan, or any of the so called media "experts", or any of our current or ex players when asked about the situation have said "he should stay because it's a great place to win trophies?"  Not f**king one of them, they all say "he should stay because it's a great place for him to develop!!"

Well whoop di f**king doo, we have a great coach who can develop young talent, when we should have a great coach that wins stuff.  We have a losers mentality all through the Club!  Weak Owners!  Weak Senior Management!  Weak players!  It filters down from the top until there's no point even trying.  Even us fans are beaten before a game kicks off, before the transfer window opens, before the season's started, before a new player kicks a ball.

Yesterday Rush was screaming for DiC, today I'm wanting some balls, some f**king leadership from somewhere within the Club so that I can be reassured that they want us to start winning again.

Nail on the head.

When you have a Manager who's more concerned with giving Stevie a good send off at Stamford Bridge rather than winning the game what's that saying to the rest of the squad?  When players are saying "the result was irrelevant" after the CP game because it was Stevies Day, that's not a winning mentality.

To be honest I've found the whole Gerrard farewell tour tedious at times - I think it's a bit disrespectful to supporters paying full whack for games.  Fair enough playing against Palace but on form he simply hasn't deserved to play practically all the time he hasn't been injured or suspended.  He's got one of the worst records of any of our players this season in terms of results when he plays.

http://www.anfield-online.co.uk/stats/lfc-player-influence.html

To be honest I've found the whole Gerrard farewell tour tedious at times - I think it's a bit disrespectful to supporters paying full whack for games.  Fair enough playing against Palace but on form he simply hasn't deserved to play practically all the time he hasn't been injured or suspended.  He's got one of the worst records of any of our players this season in terms of results when he plays.

http://www.anfield-online.co.uk/stats/lfc-player-influence.html

I agree JD.  It's great that we're a sentimental bunch, shows we have a heart, but there's no room for sentiment in elite sport.  No wonder most of the players have seemed on their jollies the last few games, sentiment and the need to give Stevie a nice send off took over the need to win 

How did it go back in the 70's and 80's? I was a child so I never looked into all transfer links and what players could of came. Was it similar in some way back then? I know we broke records with signings at times but was it more of a case that we developed rather than bought ready made prodigies?

I disagree mate sorry.  Attitudes, good and bad, rub off on the people around you, look at the Suarez effect last season and look at the players that are still here.

When you have a Manager who's more concerned with giving Stevie a good send off at Stamford Bridge rather than winning the game what's that saying to the rest of the squad? When players are saying "the result was irrelevant" after the CP game because it was Stevies Day, that's not a winning mentality.

No wonder Stevie was steaming mad afterwards, he knows what it takes to be successful at this Club and turning an end of season game, where a win still gave us hope of CL qualification , into a glorified testimonial for him must have rankled him big time and rightly so.

All this crap with Raheem, how many of you have heard Brendan, or any of the so called media "experts", or any of our current or ex players when asked about the situation have said "he should stay because it's a great place to win trophies?"  Not f**king one of them, they all say "he should stay because it's a great place for him to develop!!"

Well whoop di f**king doo, we have a great coach who can develop young talent, when we should have a great coach that wins stuff.  We have a losers mentality all through the Club!  Weak Owners!  Weak Senior Management!  Weak players!  It filters down from the top until there's no point even trying.  Even us fans are beaten before a game kicks off, before the transfer window opens, before the season's started, before a new player kicks a ball.

Yesterday Rush was screaming for DiC, today I'm wanting some balls, some f**king leadership from somewhere within the Club so that I can be reassured that they want us to start winning again.

We've still got our passion Debs .

It's great that we're a sentimental bunch, shows we have a heart, but there's no room for sentiment in elite sport. 

Part of the reason we haven't won the title for a quarter of a century. Carragher or Gerrard would never have got those type of send-offs under Paisley, he simply wouldn't allow it. He would have identified their replacements long before they had left the club and then they would be quietly ushered out. Nowadays we have Carragher and Gerrard leaving and then deciding "right who do we get to replace them!!"

How did it go back in the 70's and 80's? I was a child so I never looked into all transfer links and what players could of came. Was it similar in some way back then? I know we broke records with signings at times but was it more of a case that we developed rather than bought ready made prodigies?

We bought players that we're good enough and ready-made for the first-team, then some that would spend a season or two in the reserves before breaking through depending on age. We did occasionally buy players we thought would be potential next best thing and all that, funny most of them ended up suffering long-term injuries or simply never made it, with the odd exception here and there.

Once things start spiralling downwards, the rot is very hard to stop, The problem is how low can the club go, very difficult times ahead tbh.

Part of the reason we haven't won the title for a quarter of a century. Carragher or Gerrard would never have got those type of send-offs under Paisley, he simply wouldn't allow it. He would have identified their replacements long before they had left the club and then they would be quietly ushered out. Nowadays we have Carragher and Gerrard leaving and then deciding "right who do we get to replace them!!"

Exactly right mate.

Part of the reason we haven't won the title for a quarter of a century. Carragher or Gerrard would never have got those type of send-offs under Paisley, he simply wouldn't allow it. He would have identified their replacements long before they had left the club and then they would be quietly ushered out. Nowadays we have Carragher and Gerrard leaving and then deciding "right who do we get to replace them!!"

We bought players that we're good enough and ready-made for the first-team, then some that would spend a season or two in the reserves before breaking through depending on age. We did occasionally buy players we thought would be potential next best thing and all that, funny most of them ended up suffering long-term injuries or simply never made it, with the odd exception here and there.

Rafa did try his best to replace both but obviously it cost him.

Cute from Carra on Sterling but forgets his own conduct during Benitez final seasons.

Question should be why did Parry and Moores F**k the Dubai lot round so much.

They got extra dosh on their shares to sell to the cowboys and pissed away a generation of supporters .

Part of the reason we haven't won the title for a quarter of a century. Carragher or Gerrard would never have got those type of send-offs under Paisley, he simply wouldn't allow it.

Or Shanks. Like what happened with Ian St John.

Some people like to pretend the 'Liverpool way' is all about loyalty.

It used to be about a ruthless loyalty to winning and players were there to serve the machine.

If Stevie G had gone to Chavs when he had the chance, he would have a bunch of medals right now on the mantlepiece. He decided to stay and was incredibly loyal to the club and the fans. Would people seriously deny him a lap round the pitch after nearly two decades of service?  The fans WANTED to show their appreciation.

And, GUARANTEE that if,  BR had 'clamped down' and he had not had such a sendoff, the same people would be berating BR et al for exactly that. He just can't do a F***ing thing right in some people's eyes.

We generally finish the season strong. SG's long goodbye has been a distraction, but results since the Utd game have NOT been good enough. He has to take a chunk of responsibility for that. Had we been at the races, we could still have pipped Manure. Big factor though is that Sterling's form has completely tanked - and as one of ONLY two or three guys that make ANYTHING F***ing happen in the final 3rd, that's had a big impact on the performances.

Would people seriously deny him a lap round the pitch after nearly two decades of service?

Who is saying they wanted to deny him a lap round the pitch?

I agree JD.  It's great that we're a sentimental bunch, shows we have a heart, but there's no room for sentiment in elite sport.  No wonder most of the players have seemed on their jollies the last few games, sentiment and the need to give Stevie a nice send off took over the need to win 

The issue is that its a double edged sword Deb...you and JD say that yet people scream as too why we did not offer him a contract earlier in the Summer and kept him here.

The guy is a legend but he is not all of a sudden going to turn 25 again and improve

So which is it  Brendan has been playing him when in fact he has performed poorly and should not of been or the club fu**ed up by not signing him early and giving him a long term contract with from what I understand he wanted guaranteed playing times.

Can't have both ways.

The issue is that its a double edged sword Deb...you and JD say that yet people scream as too why we did not offer him a contract earlier in the Summer and kept him here.

The guy is a legend but he is not all of a sudden going to turn 25 again and improve

So which is it  Brendan has been playing him when in fact he has performed poorly and should not of been or the club fu**ed up by not signing him early and giving him a long term contract with from what I understand he wanted guaranteed playing times.

Can't have both ways.

Someone on here, I can't remember who or when it was, posted that how Brendan dealt with Stevies decline and retirement could decide his future at the Club.  I'm guessing it was before he said he was leaving, it could even have been before we hit our unbelievable form of last season but anyway they recognised that it could cause problems if the Manager didn't show the "required" respect in phasing Stevie out of the team.

Ironically it's his determination to play him in every game possible, to the detriment of everything that could cost him his job.  The vast majority on here recognised very early this season, if not parts of last or even the one before that playing Stevie for 90 minutes of every game was not the way to go and also believed we should have been planning and playing for next season when he's not here.

I'm not saying he should never have played, that's just stupid but sentimentality on Brendans part has got in the way of winning and I think I know what most supporters would prefer.

Someone on here, I can't remember who or when it was, posted that how Brendan dealt with Stevies decline and retirement could decide his future at the Club.  I'm guessing it was before he said he was leaving, it could even have been before we hit our unbelievable form of last season but anyway they recognised that it could cause problems if the Manager didn't show the "required" respect in phasing Stevie out of the team.

Ironically it's his determination to play him in every game possible, to the detriment of everything that could cost him his job.  The vast majority on here recognised very early this season, if not parts of last or even the one before that playing Stevie for 90 minutes of every game was not the way to go and also believed we should have been planning and playing for next season when he's not here.

I'm not saying he should never have played, that's just stupid but sentimentality on Brendans part has got in the way of winning and I think I know what most supporters would prefer.

Good points as always Deb

Or Shanks. Like what happened with Ian St John.

Paisley learnt massively from that though, Barry Endean, Watford and all that. Up until then Shanks had shown a bit too much loyalty to the old guard. That soon changed. That's why I mentioned Paisley, he was after all on the coaching team and saw what happened and that only served to make us more successful.

Serious question:

Why were we never bought by the Russian mafioso or oil barrens in the mid-east?

What was so attractive about Citeh and Chelsea compared to us?

I've always wondered that mate, it's a real head scratcher.

Also the irony - the last time we actually replaced someone with someone better was when Comolli was DOF!!

Torres out, Suarez in

Can't have both ways.

I never said he deserved another contract. I don't think too many on here did. Maybe the media and twitter banged on about it. 

Also the irony - the last time we actually replaced someone with someone better was when Comolli was DOF!!

Even Carroll helped us win a semi final! Add up Balotelli Aspas Lambert Borini.

I never said he deserved another contract. I don't think too many on here did. Maybe the media and twitter banged on about it. 

Did not say you JD, the majority of the discussion the past month on the forum in regards to SG leaving for the Galaxy was how we as a club fu**ed up badly by not offering him a contract early so he would not go .....the reason we did not offer it early was because we were forcing him out in an effort to reduce wages.

Does not matter anymore.

I've always wondered that mate, it's a real head scratcher.

It is - as handy as City and Chelsea's infrastructure were in adding to their attractiveness, Liverpool FC is a marketing dream for any owner, so I would have thought that would offset any benefit that City and Chelsea had.

We can describe FSG flaws in many different ways but it means the same thing. Engaging a rookie manager that is far from ready for the job, through no fault of BR and transfer policies that becomes more bizarre by the day, one which is punting on young potentials and sells them when the time and price is right and no serious intentions of  buying talents. Transfer committee and policies becomes so loose that no one will take responsibility for the failed signings.
5 years is long enough, FSG is simply the architect of their own downfall. It would be better for them to cash out while they can.
I can't see it any other way how they can get out of the mess that they have created.

Nice of Tony Barrett to catch up with his LFCReds reading - good to see he takes notice of what the forum football fans think.   

I was thinking that you know and I'm pretty sure I wrote something nearly exact to his closing line regarding us being a stepping stone and not a final destination. It'll be coincidence I'm sure but definitely wrote something very similar.

I was thinking that you know and I'm pretty sure I wrote something nearly exact to his closing line regarding us being a stepping stone and not a final destination. It'll be coincidence I'm sure but definitely wrote something very similar.

Look at the players who have left and gone on to better things Alonso.Mashc,torres (yes even him) Arbeloa and now Suarez.
~It would be difficult to argue otherwise you can go back to Macca and then Owen. In the last 20 plus years only when Rafa had us doing so well in Europe did look attractive to players. We now dont pay top money in transfers or wages and cant command CL football its a hard pill to swallow but since Athens 2007 we have been in decline as a force in world football.

Look at the players who have left and gone on to better things Alonso.Mashc,torres (yes even him) Arbeloa and now Suarez.
~It would be difficult to argue otherwise you can go back to Macca and then Owen. In the last 20 plus years only when Rafa had us doing so well in Europe did look attractive to players. We now dont pay top money in transfers or wages and cant command CL football its a hard pill to swallow but since Athens 2007 we have been in decline as a force in world football.

Exactly when the 1st Yanks took over mate. And now FSG, who I still think are 10 times better, but are learning about the football world and trying to compete on the cheap compared to our rivals.

We can describe FSG flaws in many different ways but it means the same thing. Engaging a rookie manager that is far from ready for the job, through no fault of BR and transfer policies that becomes more bizarre by the day, one which is punting on young potentials and sells them when the timely and price is right and no serious intentions of  buying talents. Transfer committee and policies becomes so loose that no one will take respondibility for the failed signings.
5 years is long enough, FSG is simply the architect of their own downfall. It would be better for them to cash out while they can.
I can't see it any other way how they can get out of the mess that they have created.

Perhaps the rookie coach philosophy works in Baseball at the top level I don't know, but I don't think it is working here.

ok. we have had rookie coaches over the years, like Fagan, paisley & dalglish, but they all were at the lcub for years as assistants, coaches or players which is totally different to moving around from club to club learning your trade.

Perhaps the rookie coach philosophy works in Baseball at the top level I don't know, but I don't think it is working here.

ok. we have had rookie coaches over the years, like Fagan, paisley & dalglish, but they all were at the lcub for years as assistants, coaches or players which is totally different to moving around from club to club learning your trade.

Agreed. Fagan, Paisley, Dalglish came through the rank and file as players and managers and worked under successful managers before them. They have seen what worked and what don't, moreso what worked and make sure it gets done better. Now, we have a BR which, in the eyes of FSG is a young and upcoming manager. But a club of the size of LFC, a bright and upcoming manager is simply not good enough. It has to be one that has gone through the grind as a player and/or manager, where high standards were set and targets achieved.

What puzzles me till today is why BR was chosen by FSG to lead the club when he does not possess the credentials to it in the first place. Either FSG are too naive not to realise that or that they have something at the back of their mind.

Sacking KK and having a rookie manager next is something I can't fathom.   

Sacking KK and having a rookie manager next is something I can't fathom.   

Brendan speaks the same Corporate language as JH and TW they understand each other Kenny is a football man JH and TW still havent got a clue about football so when the famous Dossier was produced they couldnt help but be impressed.
If Brendan does go and I am not a fan I shudder at the thought of who they might bring in next.

As i said before. Liverpool fans are losing the plot because now Man City and Chelsea have money. It's pushed us out of the Top 4.

I dont think trying to out buy a Russian Billionaire and some Arab Trillionaires is going to solve this problem.

A measured, calm, fiscally responsible approach is what's needed.

The good news is Arsenal are losing an aging manager pretty soon and they will struggle to replace him.

If we can remain calm and not eff up our finances we can take advantage of this.

Liverpool fans are losing the plot because now Man City and Chelsea have money. It's pushed us out of the Top 4.

We had £100million+ to spend on players and wasted virtually all of it, spending more than both Chavs and Citeh...

As i said before. Liverpool fans are losing the plot because now Man City and Chelsea have money. It's pushed us out of the Top 4.

I dont think trying to out buy a Russian Billionaire and some Arab Trillionaires is going to solve this problem.

A measured, calm, fiscally responsible approach is what's needed.

The good news is Arsenal are losing an aging manager pretty soon and they will struggle to replace him.

If we can remain calm and not eff up our finances we can take advantage of this.

So why have we only won one trophy in 9 years 10 by next season long before City had money etc.
We had a Club built on good foundations we had just won the CL followed by the FA cup and top 4 . We sold our soul to the devil and this is the price we are paying. The fans are all at each others throats the boardroom at anfield is like a vipers nest and the owners are like puppetmaster pulling string from afar its as far removed from Shankly's vision as could be possible.
I cant see how we can ever get back to the heady heights in 2005=2007

Not f**king one of them, they all say "he should stay because it's a great place for him to develop!!"

Well whoop di f**king doo, we have a great coach who can develop young talent, when we should have a great coach that wins stuff.  We have a losers mentality all through the Club!  Weak Owners!  Weak Senior Management!  Weak players!  It filters down from the top until there's no point even trying.  Even us fans are beaten before a game kicks off, before the transfer window opens, before the season's started, before a new player kicks a ball.

Yesterday Rush was screaming for DiC, today I'm wanting some balls, some f**king leadership from somewhere within the Club so that I can be reassured that they want us to start winning again.

Absolutely spot on.

I said when stevie handed in his notice... there is no spine, no belief, no control, no ambition at all in this team.

Very worrying times at the min.

How do we solve it. Simply put.... Money... and LOTS of it.

As i said before. Liverpool fans are losing the plot because now Man City and Chelsea have money. It's pushed us out of the Top 4.

I dont think trying to out buy a Russian Billionaire and some Arab Trillionaires is going to solve this problem.

A measured, calm, fiscally responsible approach is what's needed.

The good news is Arsenal are losing an aging manager pretty soon and they will struggle to replace him.

If we can remain calm and not eff up our finances we can take advantage of this.

Arsenal lose Wenger and they will replace him with quality. They are filthy rich.

We are 5th in the league and like it or not, thats where we belong.

Money, ambition and belief are needed. We have none of the 3.

Why were we never bought by the Russian mafioso or oil barrens in the mid-east?

 

So why have we only won one trophy in 9 years 10 by next season long before City had money etc.
We had a Club built on good foundations we had just won the CL followed by the FA cup and top 4 . We sold our soul to the devil and this is the price we are paying. The fans are all at each others throats the boardroom at anfield is like a vipers nest and the owners are like puppetmaster pulling string from afar its as far removed from Shankly's vision as could be possible.
I cant see how we can ever get back to the heady heights in 2005=2007

What really happened was after we won the CL, we had a great season in 08/09 but underperformed for a season and a half, timed with new shady owners. We imploded and hounded out our great manager because of the medias obsession with 'player body language' and getting an English Manager at a big club.

We had £100million+ to spend on players and wasted virtually all of it, spending more than both Chavs and Citeh...

We can afford the 'upfront fee'. But we cant afford the squad full of 120k+ a week players. This is the reality we are in. No point in going back to fantasy land. We have a stadium that holds 45 thousand. There are only but a few revenue streams when it comes to football. We are at a lower level financially than City, PSG, Madrid, Barca, Chelsea. I mean, you can manipulate the number for any arguement u want to make. Throw in a straw man here and there. But its a much happier place when u live in reality. These are straight fackts

We are where we are and we can compete. But we have to do so in a particular way. Im ok with that. Have fun complaining that we arent owned by Abu Dabi

We can afford the 'upfront fee'. But we cant afford the squad full of 120k+ a week players. This is the reality we are in. No point in going back to fantasy land. We have a stadium that holds 45 thousand. There are only but a few revenue streams when it comes to football. We are at a lower level financially than City, PSG, Madrid, Barca, Chelsea. I mean, you can manipulate the number for any arguement u want to make. Throw in a straw man here and there. But its a much happier place when u live in reality. These are straight fackts

We are where we are and we can compete. But we have to do so in a particular way. Im ok with that. Have fun complaining that we arent owned by Abu Dabi

We have targeted the right areas but as usual the wrong players, I don't know why we have a scouting team who quite obviously know jack sh*t about Europe and S.America.

We have wasted our money on mediocre PL proven players when that money would have gone much further outside of the PL and probably lower wages.

e can afford the 'upfront fee'. But we cant afford the squad full of 120k+ a week players. This is the reality we are in. No point in going back to fantasy land This is the reality we are in. No point in going back to fantasy land. We have a stadium that holds 45 thousand. There are only but a few revenue streams when it comes to football. We are at a lower level financially than City, PSG, Madrid, Barca, Chelsea. I mean, you can manipulate the number for any arguement u want to make. Throw in a straw man here and there. But its a much happier place when u live in reality. These are straight fackts

We are where we are and we can compete. But we have to do so in a particular way. Im ok with that. Have fun complaining that we arent owned by Abu Dabi

How is it fantasy land? We had Suarez off the wage bill who was on a massive wage, Pepe who was on a big wage plus other player sales. Also the majority of transfer payments are spread out over a number of years; the length of contract signed usually. It's rare a transfer fee, particularly a large one, will be paid in full so we could easily have afforded top players.

I'm not manipulating anything. City have been hit by FFP and were only allowed to spend around £40million, PSG were unable to sign Di Maria because they were essentially on the brink of the FFP. There is more restriction now and Chelsea even have limits, they have a smaller stadium than us (and we are having ours expanded so it's a bigger difference) and owners are only allowed to put in so much now to balance things. It isn't all about spending mega bucks, it's about spending it wisely. We signed Luis Suarez for around £20million, Alonso £10million and Pepe £6million and then Coutinho for £8million. It's all about signing the right players which is something we as a club are massively getting wrong lately.

I haven't been complaining we aren't owned by anyone else so I don't know where you have got that from...

You're clutching at straws mate.

We had £100million+ to spend on players and wasted virtually all of it, spending more than both Chavs and Citeh...

*cough cough, Rafa, cough* "net" spend?

*cough cough, Rafa, cough* "net" spend?

Can't remember off the top of my head and without going too much off topic; His Net Spend of about £60-70mill over 6 years?

Can't remember off the top of my head and without going too much off topic; His Net Spend of about £60-70mill over 6 years?

Some people seem to forget the decline was down to the cowboys, not Rafa. 2007/08 season was a step forward, progression with big signings, but what happened in the next 2 seasons really screwed us over.

2008/09
Net spend: £2.5m

2009/10
Net spend: £10,000

Finishing top 4 regularly & CL KO stages, oh... and selling players too and still end up with no money to buy players. How the f**k is a manager suppose to compete on a regularly basis when he can not get his first, second or even third choice players? Ridiculous.

Can't remember off the top of my head and without going too much off topic; His Net Spend of about £60-70mill over 6 years?

Just saying, BR doesn't get the same excuse for 'net' spending like Rafa did, that's all.

Brendan speaks the same Corporate language as JH and TW they understand each other Kenny is a football man JH and TW still havent got a clue about football so when the famous Dossier was produced they couldnt help but be impressed.
If Brendan does go and I am not a fan I shudder at the thought of who they might bring in next.

"Brendan speaks the same Corporate language as JH and TW"
That's it, both are "hand in glove"
I can't bear to think who might that be the FSG is going to bring in next. Their choice seems to be getting from bad to worse simply because they can't distinguish between a proven manager and a rookie.

Someone on here, I can't remember who or when it was, posted that how Brendan dealt with Stevies decline and retirement could decide his future at the Club.  I'm guessing it was before he said he was leaving, it could even have been before we hit our unbelievable form of last season but anyway they recognised that it could cause problems if the Manager didn't show the "required" respect in phasing Stevie out of the team.

Ironically it's his determination to play him in every game possible, to the detriment of everything that could cost him his job.  The vast majority on here recognised very early this season, if not parts of last or even the one before that playing Stevie for 90 minutes of every game was not the way to go and also believed we should have been planning and playing for next season when he's not here.

I'm not saying he should never have played, that's just stupid but sentimentality on Brendans part has got in the way of winning and I think I know what most supporters would prefer.

It was meeeee.....woooo, I love life's magical little moments like this. Can't believe you remembered this post from 7 months ago Reddebs, we've just connected, yea baby!

http://www.lfcreds.com/reds/index.php/topic,45358.msg1696003.html#msg1696003

We've become the west ham of the north west.

I remember the DIC negotiations way back, and it was Mihir Bose - chief sports correspondent at The Telegraph in 06/07 - who wrote an article stating that DIC would sell the club for a profit within a few years of buying it.

DIC denied this, Moores read the article and wasn't so keen anymore, so ended up selling to Hicks and Gillett.

The sad thing is, if that article was true, it surely wouldn't have been anywhere near as bad as what Hicks and Gillett did.

Basically the culmination of F**k ups and failures over the last 9 years is down to two men - Parry and Moores. Not only were they incompetent owners, but they saved their worst trick for last.

Yeah Mihir Bose a manc loving c**t as well.

Funny how that dropped into a BBC reporters lap isn't it?

DIC would of got rid of Parry and G & H offered more money to Moores for his shares than DIC offered, so no wonder Moores accepted their offer plus that rather cringy and didn't even last that long Life President title!!

We've become the west ham of the north west.

Or better still, as Newcastle fans exasperate since Sunday "we've become the Liverpool of the north east!".

Or better still, as Newcastle fans exasperate "we've become the Liverpool of the north east!".

Hahahahahaha

Yeah but without the history or the trophies!!

They maybe are getting away with it lightly Brian but a winning mentality is instilled by the Manager, not the owners, nor the players themselves. 

Exactly Debs.

We had £100million+ to spend on players and wasted virtually all of it, spending more than both Chavs and Citeh...

It wont come round again any time soon.
Luis was a lottery win for the club and the "Committee" was entrusted with those funds plus much more.

It was a committee who designed a camel.

Our signings turned out to be poor this season. It doesn't mean they will be poor next season though.

Moreno - You can see he has attacking ability, bags of pace, enthusiastic and energetic. He needs to toughen up and improve on his defending. But he has a year experience in English football now and surely he will be better next season?

Lallana - He came and was injured straight away. Missed the start of the season. Whenever he was brought into the team he seemed to pick an injury up again. I also think he has been played out of position too much. A fine footballer on his day though. Get him fit and play him centre mid next season, it will be like having a new signing.

Balotelli - I read yesterday that his agent said he isn't going anywhere. Determined to prove a point maybe? Prove everybody wrong? He can't be any worse anyway. If danny can get F***ing fit then we might eventually see the partnership we didn't get to see this season.

Origi - Haven't seen enough of him to judge because he wasn't bloody here! But he will offer us something different next season anyway. He has bags of pace and that's something we haven't had this season.

Lovren - He has clearly struggled and probably looked at as our worst signing but I think three other players have gotten away with a lot of the blame here.  Skrtel was every bit as bad as Lovren was when we were playing with two centre halves. Skrtel got away with it because he has been here years and we know that he can be a solid defender when he wants to be. Lovren was signed for 20m and we expected much better. When we went to three at the back, it was Lovren who got dropped but it could have easily been Skrtel. Mignolet causes havoc amongst our back line which can't have helped Lovren at all. Mignolet only picked up form 3/4 into the season.  And finally Stevie playing in front of the back four is a disaster too, he isn't a DM, and playing 2 centre halves leaves them exposed. With Migs more steady and Lucas sitting in front of the back four, he will have more cover and perform better.

Can - a good season at RCB but hoping he pushes further forward next season and turns into that dominating box to box midfielder we desperately lack. 

Markovic - We spend a bomb on him but he has hardly been seen since. We even brought Ibe back from Derby. But whenever I've seen him play I've always felt the lad has talent but he lacks bottle. He doesn't want to know in a 50-50 tackle and when he is within range of goal he would rather pass than shoot. Anybody remember the square pass at Arsenal to Sterling? Anybody else would have just buried it.  Maybe it is a similar situation with Moreno. A young lad who has a years experience in England under his belt now. I expect him to feature far more next season though and be much more confident. Again, he would be like a new signing if he gets a grip, we've hardly seen him!

Lambert - expect him to go to a newly promoted club.

Just get Sterling, Borini, Allen and players like that out and bring in 2-3 quality forwards. Easier said than done but we aren't as sh*t as we have been this season. Our players aren't and Brendan isn't either.   We will be up there next season.

As much as we might slate Barret, he has a certain point, we're in danger of becoming a very mediocre team who occasionally get a good run to get into CL (aka Spurs?).

I still maintain we're not that far off challenging, it all depends on the transfer business we do this summer again, which is in our hands (i.e. FSG, BR, TC).

                                Migs

New RB          Skrtl           Sakho (or new CB)          Moreno


         Hendo                  Can                          Milner

                  Lallana                                Coutinho
                              Studge / Top Striker


With Origi, Markovic, Lucas, Ibe, Toure, Manquillo, Sinclair and Yesil on the bench, and Flanno to come back, we'd have enough depth. We can then sell Sterling, Balo, Borini, Lambert, Lovren and Enrique to fund the top striker and a top CB. Surely we have the finances and muscle to spend some cash on that striker, which might I add is not Ings.