IncREDible Recruitment

I know we have an incredible manager who deserves all the credit in the world for the awamzing team he has created, an unbelievable style of play and the constant improvement of the players he is working with however, it's important to take stock of the incredible work that has been done with our transfers during his tenure. When you look at the list of arrivals below (and i'm not too interested in net-spend or any of that stuff) the amount of absolute hits is out of this world. Klopp, Michael Edwards and the whole scouting department deserve all the credit in the world.

It’s not just the way they have identified the right players, The big hitting transfers have been supplemented brilliantly with shrewd signings such as Matip, Shaqiri, Minamino and the ultimate bargaining n Robertson.

Just run through the list below and it's not hard to see why we're sitting top of the league. I can't recall may clubs being as consistently successful in the market over a similar period.

2016-17
Marko Grujic – Red Star Belgrade – From Loan. 6/10 - Has not broken through at LFC but performing well abroad, signed a new contract and likely to be sold at a profit if he isn't retained at LFC long-term.
Joel Matip – Schalke – Free. 8/10 - Injury problems but form this season proves he was an absolute bargain coming in as a free transfer.
Loris Karius – Mainz – £4.7m. 5/10 - Possibly the ONLY 'SWing and Miss' during Klopp's tenure at the club. 
Sadio Mane – Southampton – £30m. - 10/10 an absolute belter of a signing and now one of the best players in the world. Possibly our best player.
Ragnar Klavan – Augbsurg – £4.2m. 6.5/10 - Didn't pull up any trees but was a value for money signing in Klopps first couple of seasons and a steady contributor.
Alex Manninger – Free Contract. Back-up who didn't play beyond pre-season so not worthy of a score.
Georginio Wijnaldum – Newcastle – £23m - 8/10 - Probably seen as a no-thrills signing when he first came in, his form has improved year on year and is now one of the first names on the team-sheet and plays in most of our biggest games.

2017-18
Mohamed Salah – Roma – £36.9m - 10/10. What a belter of a signing. The first season at the club was as good as anything we've ever seen in a Red Shirt including Suarez in 2013-14. Hasn't hit the same giddy heights in seasons 2 and 3 but a guaranteed 22-25 goals a season and equally as important to this side as Mane.
Dominic Solanke – Chelsea – Tribunal fee TBD - 8/10. Not because of what he did for us but the daylight robbery of AFC Bournemouth (i'm not sure i'd buy from us again! Jordon Ibe, Brad Smith and now Solanke!-a great example of how a string of poor signings can land you in trouble)
Andrew Robertson – Hull City – £8m - 10/10. What a fookin buy this was. Arguably Europe's best left back and we got him for Marcus Stewart, a couple of quid and a packet of crisps haha!
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain – Arsenal – £35m - 8/10. Could be higher if not for the injuries. Very talented player who has looked the part when he's fit and also a leader in the dressing room. 
Virgil van Dijk – Southampton – £75m - 10/10. The world's best centre-back. Credit the owners and the club for throwing big money at our position of most need. This was a big change in transfer policy and critical to our current success.

2018-19
Fabinho – Monaco – £39m - 9/10. Cracking signing, he sat and learned for 2 months and is now arguably the best DM in the EPL along with Fernandinho and Kante.
Naby Keita – RB Leipzig – £52.75m - 7/10. Injuries have blighted his progress/contribution but we can all see the talent he has if only he can stay injury free.
Xherdan Shaqiri – Stoke – £13.75m - 7/10. Some excellent contributions early last season, then he disappeared for a long spell before returngin to play a key role in our Champions League Semi-Final Miracle win over Barca. Has more to give if he can just keep himself off the treatment table. Still a bargain at that price. More clever business.
Alisson – Roma – £65m - 10/10 - Like VVD, the club spent biggest on the biggest area of need. AGain it raised a few eyebrows but he has been worth every penny and is arguably the best keeper in the EPL along with Ederson at City.

2019-20
Sepp van den Berg – PEC Zwolle – £1.3m. Too early to score given his age. At that price it's no money at all.
Harvey Elliott – Fulham – Tribunal TBD. - Similarly for Elliott it's still early but this looks like a really clever piece of business. Very talented lad who looks like he will make the grade.
Adrian – West Ham – Free Transfer. 9/10 - Fantastic business. Stood in superbly for Allisson the first 2 months of the season and reliable again in recent outings. 2 goal-keepers we can trust! Sh*t I don't think we've had that since Clemence and Grobbelar shared a dressing room for a season or 2 in the 80's!
Takumi Minamino – Salzburg – £7.25m - Early doors but this looks like another canny piece of business and i'll stick my neck out and call it an 8/10 already.

I know we have an incredible manager who deserves all the credit in the world for the awamzing team he has created, an unbelievable style of play and the constant improvement of the players he is working with however, it's important to take stock of the incredible work that has been done with our transfers during his tenure. When you look at the list of arrivals below (and i'm not too interested in net-spend or any of that stuff) the amount of absolute hits is out of this world. Klopp, Michael Edwards and the whole scouting department deserve all the credit in the world.

It’s not just the way they have identified the right players, The big hitting transfers have been supplemented brilliantly with shrewd signings such as Matip, Shaqiri, Minamino and the ultimate bargaining n Robertson.

Just run through the list below and it's not hard to see why we're sitting top of the league. I can't recall may clubs being as consistently successful in the market over a similar period.

2016-17
Marko Grujic – Red Star Belgrade – From Loan. 6/10 - Has not broken through at LFC but performing well abroad, signed a new contract and likely to be sold at a profit if he isn't retained at LFC long-term.
Joel Matip – Schalke – Free. 8/10 - Injury problems but form this season proves he was an absolute bargain coming in as a free transfer.
Loris Karius – Mainz – £4.7m. 5/10 - Possibly the ONLY 'SWing and Miss' during Klopp's tenure at the club. 
Sadio Mane – Southampton – £30m. - 10/10 an absolute belter of a signing and now one of the best players in the world. Possibly our best player.
Ragnar Klavan – Augbsurg – £4.2m. 6.5/10 - Didn't pull up any trees but was a value for money signing in Klopps first couple of seasons and a steady contributor.
Alex Manninger – Free Contract. Back-up who didn't play beyond pre-season so not worthy of a score.
Georginio Wijnaldum – Newcastle – £23m - 8/10 - Probably seen as a no-thrills signing when he first came in, his form has improved year on year and is now one of the first names on the team-sheet and plays in most of our biggest games.

2017-18
Mohamed Salah – Roma – £36.9m - 10/10. What a belter of a signing. The first season at the club was as good as anything we've ever seen in a Red Shirt including Suarez in 2013-14. Hasn't hit the same giddy heights in seasons 2 and 3 but a guaranteed 22-25 goals a season and equally as important to this side as Mane.
Dominic Solanke – Chelsea – Tribunal fee TBD - 8/10. Not because of what he did for us but the daylight robbery of AFC Bournemouth (i'm not sure i'd buy from us again! Jordon Ibe, Brad Smith and now Solanke!-a great example of how a string of poor signings can land you in trouble)
Andrew Robertson – Hull City – £8m - 10/10. What a fookin buy this was. Arguably Europe's best left back and we got him for Marcus Stewart, a couple of quid and a packet of crisps haha!
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain – Arsenal – £35m - 8/10. Could be higher if not for the injuries. Very talented player who has looked the part when he's fit and also a leader in the dressing room. 
Virgil van Dijk – Southampton – £75m - 10/10. The world's best centre-back. Credit the owners and the club for throwing big money at our position of most need. This was a big change in transfer policy and critical to our current success.

2018-19
Fabinho – Monaco – £39m - 9/10. Cracking signing, he sat and learned for 2 months and is now arguably the best DM in the EPL along with Fernandinho and Kante.
Naby Keita – RB Leipzig – £52.75m - 7/10. Injuries have blighted his progress/contribution but we can all see the talent he has if only he can stay injury free.
Xherdan Shaqiri – Stoke – £13.75m - 7/10. Some excellent contributions early last season, then he disappeared for a long spell before returngin to play a key role in our Champions League Semi-Final Miracle win over Barca. Has more to give if he can just keep himself off the treatment table. Still a bargain at that price. More clever business.
Alisson – Roma – £65m - 10/10 - Like VVD, the club spent biggest on the biggest area of need. AGain it raised a few eyebrows but he has been worth every penny and is arguably the best keeper in the EPL along with Ederson at City.

2019-20
Sepp van den Berg – PEC Zwolle – £1.3m. Too early to score given his age. At that price it's no money at all.
Harvey Elliott – Fulham – Tribunal TBD. - Similarly for Elliott it's still early but this looks like a really clever piece of business. Very talented lad who looks like he will make the grade.
Adrian – West Ham – Free Transfer. 9/10 - Fantastic business. Stood in superbly for Allisson the first 2 months of the season and reliable again in recent outings. 2 goal-keepers we can trust! Sh*t I don't think we've had that since Clemence and Grobbelar shared a dressing room for a season or 2 in the 80's!
Takumi Minamino – Salzburg – £7.25m - Early doors but this looks like another canny piece of business and i'll stick my neck out and call it an 8/10 already.

Scottbot speaks truth!

Just to add, not only his form this season but in the Champions League closing stages last season, Matip played a big part in making sure Liverpool won it for a 6th time. He was good in his first year as well before getting injured. Maybe our most underrated player.

Good OP but giving Karius a 5 was about 4 points too high!

Good OP but giving Karius a 5 was about 4 points too high!

Is the score based on money spent vs money gained or resealable value?

Would explain the Solanke score. Otherwise I agree with you.

Is the score based on money spent vs money gained or resealable value?

Would explain the Solanke score. Otherwise I agree with you.

I think the club paid 4/5 million for Solanke and then sold him on to Bournemouth for 18 million 18 months later. Purely a score for turning such a profit for a lad who probably won’t make it in the top tier of English football.

Good OP but giving Karius a 5 was about 4 points too high!

Haha yeah I was being kind, could quite easily have given a 2/10 here! Tbh he was not a lot of money was he? 7-8 million so that lessens the damage a touch although we’ll never get over his champions league performance.

Since klopp & Edwards we have been amazing in transfer market. But also success breeds success.

Since klopp & Edwards we have been amazing in transfer market. But also success breeds success.

It certainly does but it helps if every player you buy either improves your starting 11 or adds genuine competitions for places and squad depth! Just about every signing the pair have made have done that. It's extraordinary when you when you break it down.

Since klopp & Edwards we have been amazing in transfer market. But also success breeds success.

Agree,I think Edwards has been a revelation in all fairness and has to take a fair chunk of the praise also.

Certainly created an incREDible squad of players, for this great team of ours !

Breaking the bank for key targeted areas, aligned with smart signings elsewhere, has transformed the club.
Lining up players , not panic buying, that fit a coherent plan.
The joys of the right people in place over the long term.

This is a golden age for LFC.

Regarding Karius, he was one of the most highly rated young 'keepers in Germany and by all accounts played well over there, so I'm not sure it was an "error" as such, more a young player thrust into the bigtime before he was mentally ready.
He made mistakes, and they got to him, affecting his confidence.
The CL final effectively broke him.

On the other hand, we've all seen Alisson make howlers, but he doesn't dwell on them. He tries to make sure he doesn't do it again, but they don't affect his confidence.
It might be because he was a bit older coming in, it might be because he is 100% sure of his ability, it might be the arrogance that the best players have, but the biggest difference between Karius and Alisson is between the ears, like so much else in football.

Fantastic opening post.  The thing is that we have bought so well and sold fringe players for such a good price that it must frighten top clubs to buy from us.   We have only lost 1 player that could be considered world class when he played for us and in return we got the best defender in the history of the game and the best goalie in the world.  Lets say if Real, Barca or City had an opportunity they would be daft to buy one of our better players. 

Buying from the best team in the world isn't cheap, but the way we utilise the money they would make us significantly stronger.  Surely with the record we have our rivals whether in England or in Europe will be scared to buy our super stars as it would probably make us stronger and these are jigsaw pieces in our puzzle that do not necessarily fit elsewhere.  Obviously we would want to keep our best players, but when you look at the list in the opening post and the list of departures we have our rivals snookered.

Great OP,
I think the owners deserve a little more credit than the get too, they seen how Jürgen worked at BvB and convinced themselves that he was their man, but I bet even they didn’t think he’d be this good,

The jigsaw is almost complete, however, it will never be finished there will always be more parts to add, and each part will be a perfect fit, I think we have come to the stage where we have the best run club off the pitch, from JWH, down to the tea ladies, and are becoming the best club on the planet off it,

Everyone at the club sing from the same song sheet, their is no Us & Them bullshit, no egotistical maniacs, only Mentality Monsters,

Jürgen is building a dynasty, his infectious positivity runs thick throughout the club, i wasn’t  around then but it’s clear to see that Shanks had  the same effect all those years ago when all this started, the similarities are there to see, to emphasise this I’m Using one of the great man’s quotes.....

...”The Socialism I believe in is not really politics, it is a way of living, it is humanity,
     I believe the only way to live and be truly successful is by collective effort, everyone helping each other,and everyone sharing the rewards at the end of the day,
 That might be asking a lot, but it’s the way I see football and the way I see life”


 I think Jürgen has the same methodology, he wants everyone working at the same level, no airs or graces, everyone in it together as one, everyone has the same goal, and it goes from the very top to the very bottom, whether your J W Henry or the fella who sweeps the terraces, ok someone has to sign the cheque’s but you get my meaning.


YNWA

Jimmy Johnson who was coach of the Super Bowl winning Dallas Cowboys in the 90's put it like this.
If nobody cares who gets the praise then there will be plenty of praise enough for everyone.

And we still have, though probably not called it any more, a 'transfer committee'.

And we still have, though probably not called it any more, a 'transfer committee'.

Good point. So what is the difference of late?

Is it Jürgen having veto power that Brendan or Roy didn't have?

Is it getting the full analytics team in place and using their data more effecively?

Has there been some other change in the makeup of the committee - maybe whoever pushed for Andy Carroll, Christian Benteke and Mario Balotelli, etc.?

Sure this area has been vastly improved for us but why do you all think this is so?

Good point. So what is the difference of late?

Is it Jürgen having veto power that Brendan or Roy didn't have?

Is it getting the full analytics team in place and using their data more effecively?

Has there been some other change in the makeup of the committee - maybe whoever pushed for Andy Carroll, Christian Benteke and Mario Balotelli, etc.?

Sure this area has been vastly improved for us but why do you all think this is so?

The difference?

Rodgers agreed to buy Firmino, then couldn't work out where to play him.

Klopp saw Firmino was here, and his eyes lit up, because he knew exactly how to get the best out of him.

Judgement, and real collegiate collaboration.

The difference?

Rodgers agreed to buy Firmino, then couldn't work out where to play him.

Klopp saw Firmino was here, and his eyes lit up, because he knew exactly how to get the best out of him.

Judgement, and real collegiate collaboration.

Fair enough about Bobby, and every other point of excellence surrounding Jürgen, but I like this latter part especially, with all parties working on the same page using a combination of types of data and not just what some agent whispers to some manager or director of football or some favor someone with money owes someone as a basis for making transfer decisions.

Fair enough about Bobby, and every other point of excellence surrounding Jürgen, but I like this latter part especially, with all parties working on the same page using a combination of types of data and not just what some agent whispers to some manager or director of football or some favor someone with money owes someone as a basis for making transfer decisions.

Remember the story about Salah?

Klopp wasn't sure, thought he was not strong enough, the "committee" showed him stats, video, different metrics, Klopp says "OK, we get him".

That's how it's supposed to work, and IMO is a big reason for our success; everybody at the club is pulling in the same direction.

Just leaving this here to spark some further debate on this topic - no views on it either way - please don't abuse me !

https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/liverpool-paid-man-city-1m-16957707

Klopp has and still is building an incredible dynasty and empire!

All signing has contributed very well except Karius!

Karius whilst had a mare still helped us reach a CL final and did ok

Not just the signings, who we really haven't paid anywhere near over the odds for, but the money we've been getting in for players like

Ibe 15M
Solanke 19M
Ings 20M
Cou 142M

we've completely transformed how we do business.


 

Just leaving this here to spark some further debate on this topic - no views on it either way - please don't abuse me !

https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/liverpool-paid-man-city-1m-16957707

From 2013.

Meaningless.

So far, its been near perfect recruitment.
But, this needs to keep happening for us to be a force. We won't bank roll a side city or psg style so intelligence is and has been key for us

Karius aside that's an astonishing list.

When you look at the list of arrivals below (and i'm not too interested in net-spend or any of that stuff) the amount of absolute hits is out of this world. Klopp, Michael Edwards and the whole scouting department deserve all the credit in the world.

Just run through the list below

Grujic : Fail
Matip: Hit
Karius: Fail
Mane: Hit
Klavan: Fail
Manninger: Fail
Wijnaldum: Hit
Salah: Hit
Solanke: Fail
Robbo: Hit
Ox: Hit
VVD: Hit
Fabinho: Hit
Keita: Jury Out
Shaq: Jury Out
Alisson: Hit
Van Den Berg: Jury Out
Adrian: Hit
Minamino: Jury Out

Like all coaches, there is a mixed bag in recruitment, though most signings recently have worked out. Those with Jury Out status, are either players who are injury prone or not here long enough to decide if they will make it or not. Some like Grujic or Karius struggled to make the grade, and then there's others like Solanke who will never make the grade at any level.

We all know how valuable Robbo is, yet it took 6 months to establish himself in the team, while the other left back was chucking goals and points away every week. He almost got Jürgen sacked, because people decided that after two years in charge, we were stagnating under him and called for a change. You don't hear a word out of them now. Anyway, the rival full back got injured at home to Spartak Moscow, and Robbo finally had a chance to establish himself, which he took with both hands. And the rest is history.

Grujic : Fail
Matip: Hit
Karius: Fail
Mane: Hit
Klavan: Fail
Manninger: Fail
Wijnaldum: Hit
Salah: Hit
Solanke: Fail
Robbo: Hit
Ox: Hit
VVD: Hit
Fabinho: Hit
Keita: Jury Out
Shaq: Jury Out
Alisson: Hit
Van Den Berg: Jury Out
Adrian: Hit
Minamino: Jury Out

Like all coaches, there is a mixed bag in recruitment, though most signings recently have worked out. Those with Jury Out status, are either players who are injury prone or not here long enough to decide if they will make it or not. Some like Grujic or Karius struggled to make the grade, and then there's others like Solanke who will never make the grade at any level.

We all know how valuable Robbo is, yet it took 6 months to establish himself in the team, while the other left back was chucking goals and points away every week. He almost got Jürgen sacked, because people decided that after two years in charge, we were stagnating under him and called for a change. You don't hear a word out of them now. Anyway, the rival full back got injured at home to Spartak Moscow, and Robbo finally had a chance to establish himself, which he took with both hands. And the rest is history.

Some mad shouts here - when did Jürgen almost get sacked?

I think the 'Fails' you've listed are a bit unfair too as you need to look at the context

Grujic: Certainly hasn't broken into the first team but has been absolutely tearing it up for Hertha Berlin the last year and a half - If we sell him, we'll certainly make a good profit

Karius: Fail - Yes, definitely

Klavan: - Wouldn't call Klavan a fail, everyone knew he wasn't going to set the world alight. Signed him for a couple of million and did a decent enough job for a couple of years (a la Kyrigiakos)

Manninger: 39 years of age - Signed as a 3rd choice GK on a free with a view to offer his experience to the younger goalkeepers, can't really call him a fail as nothing was expected of him. Like calling Lonergan a failure

Solanke: Another free transfer so cost us zilch in terms of a fee. Definitely not good enough to wear the shirt but we got £20M for him a year later, terrific business and worth signing him for the profit alone

Some mad shouts here - when did Jürgen almost get sacked?

I think the 'Fails' you've listed are a bit unfair too as you need to look at the context

Grujic: Certainly hasn't broken into the first team but has been absolutely tearing it up for Hertha Berlin the last year and a half - If we sell him, we'll certainly make a good profit

Karius: Fail - Yes, definitely

Klavan: - Wouldn't call Klavan a fail, everyone knew he wasn't going to set the world alight. Signed him for a couple of million and did a decent enough job for a couple of years (a la Kyrigiakos)

Manninger: 39 years of age - Signed as a 3rd choice GK on a free with a view to offer his experience to the younger goalkeepers, can't really call him a fail as nothing was expected of him. Like calling Lonergan a failure

Solanke: Another free transfer so cost us zilch in terms of a fee. Definitely not good enough to wear the shirt but we got £20M for him a year later, terrific business and worth signing him for the profit alone

Don't know if you were here then, but there used to be a couple of tag team wums who started the "debate" about Klopp getting sacked if he didn't win a trophy by "X date".
They got ripped to shreds, and fu**ed off (and rightly so).
The other beaut was when they started saying  we didn't score enough goals, which was bizarre since even a cursory look, showed we were scoring more goals than the season before.

The forum is a much better place without them, only one wum left and most just ignore him.

Back to the players, Grujic has always looked like he could be an absolute beast if he continued his develoment (the key here) and as you say, has been tearing it up on loan.

I agree, it's all about context.
Like in the Brewster thread; young kid, bad injury, feeling his way back. A loan was the right move for him. Let the lad get some rhythm back (as Klopp would say)

Don't know if you were here then, but there used to be a couple of tag team wums who started the "debate" about Klopp getting sacked if he didn't win a trophy by "X date".
They got ripped to shreds, and fu**ed off (and rightly so).
The other beaut was when they started saying  we didn't score enough goals, which was bizarre since even a cursory look, showed we were scoring more goals than the season before.

The forum is a much better place without them, only one wum left and most just ignore him.

Back to the players, Grujic has always looked like he could be an absolute beast if he continued his develoment (the key here) and as you say, has been tearing it up on loan.

I agree, it's all about context.
Like in the Brewster thread; young kid, bad injury, feeling his way back. A loan was the right move for him. Let the lad get some rhythm back (as Klopp would say)

Bed-wetters everywhere, some people just love a moan. I remember one of Rafa's sides being booed off after we drew to West Ham at home about 10 years ago (Baring in mind the point actually took us ahead of Man United & to the top of the table)

We've improved massively every single season under Klopp which is incredible & I can't ever remember a team making such a consistent upward trajectory like this one has. If anybody wasn't able to see that (even in the early days) then they're an idiot.

One thing I do worry about, if this season ends the way we've started it, there'll be nowhere else to go & we will have more or less reached the ceiling. If we do end up going on a little bad run in the future, or drop a few points all of the whoppers will come back out of the woodwork. The amazing thing this season is that we've been basically perfect so there isn't a single straw for the arseholes to clutch at. I'm cringing thinking about the inevitable point where for a period, our level might drop slightly, and all of the Twitter gobshites etc crawl back out of their holes

Bed-wetters everywhere, some people just love a moan. I remember one of Rafa's sides being booed off after we drew to West Ham at home about 10 years ago (Baring in mind the point actually took us ahead of Man United & to the top of the table)

We've improved massively every single season under Klopp which is incredible & I can't ever remember a team making such a consistent upward trajectory like this one has. If anybody wasn't able to see that (even in the early days) then they're an idiot.

One thing I do worry about, if this season ends the way we've started it, there'll be nowhere else to go & we will have more or less reached the ceiling. If we do end up going on a little bad run in the future, or drop a few points all of the whoppers will come back out of the woodwork. The amazing thing this season is that we've been basically perfect so there isn't a single straw for the arseholes to clutch at. I'm cringing thinking about the inevitable point where for a period, our level might drop slightly, and all of the Twitter gobshites etc crawl back out of their holes

I agree.

Any sensible person would understand that once you reach the summit, there's nowhere else to go, but I'd like to think we'll keep challenging for trophies.

My son has social media (I don't) and he's shown me some tw*ts already moaning because "we won't win the CL this year because we concentrated on the league".
I can't even begin to understand that level of stupidity.

And of course, when we do win the league, it'll bring more plastic glory hunters out with the inevitable whining.

We are a totally different club now in transfers since 3-4 years ago.  it does seem as if we take charge of the transfer deal rather than panic buying to fill a gap.

Long may this continue.

YNWA

I agree.

Any sensible person would understand that once you reach the summit, there's nowhere else to go, but I'd like to think we'll keep challenging for trophies.

My son has social media (I don't) and he's shown me some tw*ts already moaning because "we won't win the CL this year because we concentrated on the league".
I can't even begin to understand that level of stupidity.

And of course, when we do win the league, it'll bring more plastic glory hunters out with the inevitable whining.

Oh yeah I'm sure we'll still be challenging for trophies for a good while from now, it seems as though the foundations have been laid well enough to do so. I'm just talking about maybe having a bad run here & there, or maybe one season falling slightly short of one of these near-impossible points tallys which ourselves and City have had the last few seasons. The first sign of imperfection and they will be straight out of the traps

And yeah, social media is a cesspit mate. Anybody with half a brain would be able to realize that we have a better chance of winning the Champions League this season than we did the last, as domestically, we have potential to take our foot off the gas in a couple of months if the league is wrapped up

Oh yeah I'm sure we'll still be challenging for trophies for a good while from now, it seems as though the foundations have been laid well enough to do so. I'm just talking about maybe having a bad run here & there, or maybe one season falling slightly short of one of these near-impossible points tallys which ourselves and City have had the last few seasons. The first sign of imperfection and they will be straight out of the traps

And yeah, social media is a cesspit mate. Anybody with half a brain would be able to realize that we have a better chance of winning the Champions League this season than we did the last, as domestically, we have potential to take our foot off the gas in a couple of months if the league is wrapped up

I just don't understand the mentality.

If a Liverpool fan can't enjoy the ride, maybe football's not the game for them.

We've had a lot more thin than thick for 30 years, and what we're doing now is incredible.
I have absolutely no doubt Klopp has plans for the next 4/5 years, and the scary thing is, we're going to get better.

The players we have now show the difference between BR and Klopp (although to be fair, BR said recently that he's perhaps not the best judge of a player. I know it was said half tongue in cheek, but I reckon he meant it).

It'll be interesting to see who Klopp brings in over the next couple of seasons.

I just don't understand the mentality.

If a Liverpool fan can't enjoy the ride, maybe football's not the game for them.

We've had a lot more thin than thick for 30 years, and what we're doing now is incredible.
I have absolutely no doubt Klopp has plans for the next 4/5 years, and the scary thing is, we're going to get better.

The players we have now show the difference between BR and Klopp (although to be fair, BR said recently that he's perhaps not the best judge of a player. I know it was said half tongue in cheek, but I reckon he meant it).

It'll be interesting to see who Klopp brings in over the next couple of seasons.

Looking forward to the next few years

Looking forward to the next few years

 

Depends on how much money FSG leaves us,no?  Red Sox need a new manager.

Don't know if you were here then, but there used to be a couple of tag team wums who started the "debate" about Klopp getting sacked if he didn't win a trophy by "X date".
They got ripped to shreds, and fu**ed off (and rightly so).
The other beaut was when they started saying  we didn't score enough goals, which was bizarre since even a cursory look, showed we were scoring more goals than the season before.

The forum is a much better place without them, only one wum left and most just ignore him.

Back to the players, Grujic has always looked like he could be an absolute beast if he continued his development (the key here) and as you say, has been tearing it up on loan.

I agree, it's all about context.
Like in the Brewster thread; young kid, bad injury, feeling his way back. A loan was the right move for him. Let the lad get some rhythm back (as Klopp would say)

Remember the Klopp out tag team discussion. Different days here now (except maybe in match threads when we're 0-0 after 25 minutes  ).

I agree.

Any sensible person would understand that once you reach the summit, there's nowhere else to go, but I'd like to think we'll keep challenging for trophies.

If we win it early, then there are other targets in the league to go for. Points, unbeaten record etc. And the following year, we want to equal that title record  that we haven't held for 10 years, and then hold it outright the following year. So even though we're looking way down the line, there are still targets to go after.

What we don't want to do is the boom or bust cycle, where we reach the summit, then hurtle down the cliff. We will need to strengthen the squad again next year, and further down the line. We didn't do that the last time we won the league and we've all seen the consequences in the years since. We can't allow that to happen again.

Just leaving this here to spark some further debate on this topic - no views on it either way - please don't abuse me !

https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/liverpool-paid-man-city-1m-16957707

So we've got better hackers than City too! Get the F**k in!!

Remember the Klopp out tag team discussion. Different days here now (except maybe in match threads when we're 0-0 after 25 minutes  ).

The height of that would of been when Gravy Tits, Benteke and Palace last delivered a defeat to us at Anfield, at that point fans weren't sure whether he was a tactical genius or just a fist-pumping motivator.

If we win it early, then there are other targets in the league to go for. Points, unbeaten record etc. And the following year, we want to equal that title record  that we haven't held for 10 years, and then hold it outright the following year. So even though we're looking way down the line, there are still targets to go after.

If we keep up with a substantial lead in the league by March I think we will start to focus a little more attention to the Champions League and FA Cup (assuming we make it to the 5th round of FA Cup and QF of UCL) which could increase the likely-hood of dropping points in the league. The chance for winning a treble does not come often and this would provide a great opportunity given the lead we have in the league. Exciting times for supporters that is for sure.

Remember the Klopp out tag team discussion. Different days here now (except maybe in match threads when we're 0-0 after 25 minutes  ).

I cant remember who t was but they suggested that Shane Long was the answer. It still makes my head wobble

I cant remember who t was but they suggested that Shane Long was the answer. It still makes my head wobble

We've always had cranks like that supporting us!

Remember before Rafa was appointed and some fans thought Curbishley or O'Neil was the answer.

We've always had cranks like that supporting us!

Remember before Rafa was appointed and some fans thought Curbishley or O'Neil was the answer.

their was quite a clamour for O'Neil as I remember. Even now in this year of years some feel it necessary to question everything Jürgen does and when we do have an off day they will be waiting with the claws sharpened .

their was quite a clamour for O'Neil as I remember. Even now in this year of years some feel it necessary to question everything Jürgen does and when we do have an off day they will be waiting with the claws sharpened .

Either nerves or some people are just never happy.

Remember there being rumours about O'Neill for a good year or two before we eventually got Rafa

At the time he wasn't that bad of a shout considering what he'd done at Leicester & Celtic.

'Curbs' would have been heavy though haha

Remember there being rumours about O'Neill for a good year or two before we eventually got Rafa

At the time he wasn't that bad of a shout considering what he'd done at Leicester & Celtic.

'Curbs' would have been heavy though haha

you would think so but somehow we ended up with Roy which is still something of a mystery

Grujic : Fail
Matip: Hit
Karius: Fail
Mane: Hit
Klavan: Fail
Manninger: Fail
Wijnaldum: Hit
Salah: Hit
Solanke: Fail
Robbo: Hit
Ox: Hit
VVD: Hit
Fabinho: Hit
Keita: Jury Out
Shaq: Jury Out
Alisson: Hit
Van Den Berg: Jury Out
Adrian: Hit
Minamino: Jury Out

Like all coaches, there is a mixed bag in recruitment, though most signings recently have worked out. Those with Jury Out status, are either players who are injury prone or not here long enough to decide if they will make it or not. Some like Grujic or Karius struggled to make the grade, and then there's others like Solanke who will never make the grade at any level.

We all know how valuable Robbo is, yet it took 6 months to establish himself in the team, while the other left back was chucking goals and points away every week. He almost got Jürgen sacked, because people decided that after two years in charge, we were stagnating under him and called for a change. You don't hear a word out of them now. Anyway, the rival full back got injured at home to Spartak Moscow, and Robbo finally had a chance to establish himself, which he took with both hands. And the rest is history.

are you on some weird Medication Minamino has just played over an hour and you think the Jury is out Kieta and Shaq have been hampered by injury