Basically Trebz it's what I have stated as well. Maybe, you disagree with the "feeder" word? Will springboard be an acceptable word?
What this means is that when players join the club, they join having other clubs in their minds. You don't see such frequent sales from other English clubs such as City, United or Chelsea (reason could be money, CL footy, trophies etc..). I think there was an article on the Nytimes (by Rory Smith) recently that LFC is seen as a "springboard" by the South American players to Madrid and Barca. All our club gets when we sign such players is a half hearted commitment to the cause. Granted they don't have the affinity to the club like a Gerrard or a Fowler. But, there are your Aggers and Hyppias too. As a fan you grow to love these players, start singing their names only to realise that they don't give a F**k about you. One can argue that it's the club that a fan should love and not the players. But, isn't the club made up of these players? Don't these players make the club?
And, we can't condone this behaviour as the behaviour of a petulant child and shrug it off. OK, the player has dreams. So, does the club. You can't put in the transfer request a day before the start of a season. Klopp had repeatedly said during the pre season that there will be no outgoing transfers of key players. I am sure he would have come up with that statement after having multiple conversations with all the key players. And, to your point that Coutinho will be replaced - agree, eventually, he will be replaced. But, if we let the player dictate terms here then this new player who replaced Coutinho on the field will replace his behaviour off the field too. I believe that there is always a way to say Goodbye in amicable terms. And, players need to be mindful of the fact and respect the club and fans that make them what they are in the world of football.
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