Bueller? Bueller? Bueller? - LFC Transfer Thread - SUMMER 2023

Suss · Feb 1, 2023

I have no problem with Firmino returning, although I would love to know the plan. When we signed Darwin, there was a lot of talk (from Klopp) about a different way of playing, and how Darwin will play the centerforward role very differently from Firmino. At that time it looked like we were moving away from Bobby.

Well now Bobby is staying. Gakpo has come in, and instead of playing on the left wing like he did for PSV, he seems to be employed in the Firmino role. Darwin is spending most of his time on the left. Has the club abandoned their plan of moving away from the false 9 Firmino role? Are we instead grooming Gakpo into the new Firmino? Is Darwin now just meant to be the new Mane? Is there a plan or are we just making it up as we go along?

newterp · Feb 1, 2023

Suss said: ↑

Firmino to sign a new contract.

News #Firmino: As reported he is on verge to extend at #LFC as his agent confirms at Sky. Decision soon. Usually he wanted to sign a new contract until 2025. @SkySportDE 🇧🇷 pic.twitter.com/z58wFyK6cx
— Florian Plettenberg (@Plettigoal) February 1, 2023

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there are pros and cons to this.

the cons being that we better not have lost more transfer money.

speker · Feb 1, 2023

newterp said: ↑

there are pros and cons to this.

the cons being that we better not have lost more transfer money.
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Yeah it's not like FSG are filling our boots with cash.

I wouldn't expect Bobby to be starting too much any more but he'd certainly be a good experienced forward coming off the bench. Having said that IF the plan is to go into full rebuild mode what does this do for Carvalho? I would have thought the Bobby role might suit him better than midfield and we seem well stocked on the left so I'm not sure where he fits in.

el-capitano · Feb 1, 2023

Carra says "don't panic"

“In terms of transfers, I can understand the frustrations of Liverpool fans when they see other clubs spending left, right, and center, and because Liverpool are not bringing someone in, it almost looks like they have given up on that fight for the top four.

“But what I would never want my club to be, which is what they were when I was a player, is a little bit scattergun, panicking at different times, whereas Liverpool over the last four or five years have been a model that other clubs around Europe have wanted to follow.

“And what they do not do is panic in the transfer market, and I think Jurgen Klopp has shown that before when he has had really successful buys that he has brought in, like Virgil van Dijk, who he waited for before bringing in.”
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https://www.caughtoffside.com/2023/...gher-makes-exciting-liverpool-transfer-claim/

Suss · Feb 1, 2023

speker said: ↑

Yeah it's not like FSG are filling our boots with cash.

I wouldn't expect Bobby to be starting too much any more but he'd certainly be a good experienced forward coming off the bench. Having said that IF the plan is to go into full rebuild mode what does this do for Carvalho? I would have thought the Bobby role might suit him better than midfield and we seem well stocked on the left so I'm not sure where he fits in.
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Perhaps the plan is to play with 4 “forwards”? And have two center mids play alongside each other in front of the back four. When everyone is fit Salah, Darwin, Diaz, Jota, Gakpo, Firmino, Elliott, Carvalho can all be classified as forwards. Why have so many of them without trying to get 4 on the pitch at once? The problem is that most of them have not been available. Maybe this is why a forward was prioritized over a midfielder this window? It will be interesting to see what happens when we start getting forwards back fit.

bayred · Feb 1, 2023

el-capitano said: ↑

Carra says "don't panic"

https://www.caughtoffside.com/2023/...gher-makes-exciting-liverpool-transfer-claim/
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Is Tomkins giving Carra his talking points now?

hubbabubba · Feb 2, 2023

Suss said: ↑

I have no problem with Firmino returning, although I would love to know the plan. When we signed Darwin, there was a lot of talk (from Klopp) about a different way of playing, and how Darwin will play the centerforward role very differently from Firmino. At that time it looked like we were moving away from Bobby.

Well now Bobby is staying. Gakpo has come in, and instead of playing on the left wing like he did for PSV, he seems to be employed in the Firmino role. Darwin is spending most of his time on the left. Has the club abandoned their plan of moving away from the false 9 Firmino role? Are we instead grooming Gakpo into the new Firmino? Is Darwin now just meant to be the new Mane? Is there a plan or are we just making it up as we go along?
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I think we're seeing the team managers panicking and playing people wherever they can instead of where they should be playing.

So my vote is for them making it up as they go along.

LiverpoolFanatic · Feb 2, 2023

hubbabubba said: ↑

I think we're seeing the team managers panicking and playing people wherever they can instead of where they should be playing.

So my vote is for them making it up as they go along.
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Klopp playing Hendo and Fabinho at CB comes to mind.

Suss · Feb 2, 2023

LiverpoolFanatic said: ↑

Klopp playing Hendo and Fabinho at CB comes to mind.
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I think we are one injury away from Fabinho playing centerback again.

The reason Fabinho at centerback was a disaster was because of the negative effect it had on the midfield. He was actually a very good centerback. Fabinho and Matip centerback partnership had us top of the league at Christmas.

At this point, Fabinho will not be missed from the midfield. Maybe a change of position is what he needs? Or we just might find out that he is incapable of playing anywhere on the pitch at the moment.

bayred · Feb 2, 2023

In all fairness to the coaching staff, its hard to imagine a plan for dealing with all the holes in the squad allover the outfield. They are doing the best they can given a very bad situation.

Lemmyfaith · Feb 2, 2023

Suss said: ↑

Perhaps the plan is to play with 4 “forwards”? And have two center mids play alongside each other in front of the back four. When everyone is fit Salah, Darwin, Diaz, Jota, Gakpo, Firmino, Elliott, Carvalho can all be classified as forwards. Why have so many of them without trying to get 4 on the pitch at once? The problem is that most of them have not been available. Maybe this is why a forward was prioritized over a midfielder this window? It will be interesting to see what happens when we start getting forwards back fit.
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Lol, I would try it now for one game at least. Darwin on the left because he is more dynamic, Doak on the right, he takes on players more than Salah at the moment, then Salah and Cody up front.

B.A. · Feb 2, 2023

Time to abolish the transfer window?

https://www.espn.com/soccer/blog-so...s-chaos-for-clubs-and-a-playground-for-agents

Wingtips1 · Feb 2, 2023

el-capitano said: ↑

Carra says "don't panic"

https://www.caughtoffside.com/2023/...gher-makes-exciting-liverpool-transfer-claim/
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4 or 5 years ago we spent money soundly and clubs emulated us.
What club would want to follow our current model?

zaqualung · Feb 2, 2023

Suss said: ↑

I have no problem with Firmino returning, although I would love to know the plan. When we signed Darwin, there was a lot of talk (from Klopp) about a different way of playing, and how Darwin will play the centerforward role very differently from Firmino. At that time it looked like we were moving away from Bobby.

Well now Bobby is staying. Gakpo has come in, and instead of playing on the left wing like he did for PSV, he seems to be employed in the Firmino role. Darwin is spending most of his time on the left. Has the club abandoned their plan of moving away from the false 9 Firmino role? Are we instead grooming Gakpo into the new Firmino? Is Darwin now just meant to be the new Mane? Is there a plan or are we just making it up as we go along?
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Not crazy at all, that idea..... He was pretty good there in the thick of it - not so much at chasing back after the high line got crossed ...

Wingtips1 · Feb 2, 2023

https://www.thisisanfield.com/2023/...y-as-liverpool-women-make-5-january-signings/
The women made 5 signings...

newterp · Feb 3, 2023

Not a great read about the rudderless ship -

Liverpool: How Jurgen Klopp's Reds have been hurt on the pitch by a 'brain drain' off it | Football News | Sky Sports

speker · Feb 3, 2023

When Melissa Reddy is sounding the alarm bells then I think we all should pay attention. Something clearly seems to have happened behind the scenes to trigger such a exodus of so many important background personnel . These ppl all had their roles to play in our recent successes .

newterp · Feb 3, 2023

speker said: ↑

When Melissa Reddy is sounding the alarm bells then I think we all should pay attention. Something clearly seems to have happened behind the scenes to trigger such a exodus of so many important background personnel . These ppl all had their roles to play in our recent successes .
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obviously there is an element of finger-pointing now going on - but the overall point is that its not good and we are truly in a mess.

LiverpoolFanatic · Feb 3, 2023

That was a depressing read.

hubbabubba · Feb 3, 2023

newterp said: ↑

Not a great read about the rudderless ship -

Liverpool: How Jurgen Klopp's Reds have been hurt on the pitch by a 'brain drain' off it | Football News | Sky Sports
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LOL, just linked to this in another thread...

hubbabubba · Feb 3, 2023

Actually, the really disturbing part of the article is what is NOT in it. Namely, any discussion of the ownership (outside of Mike Gordon). A big black hole in the middle of that article is what the owners think/feel about the situation... they appear completely disengaged.

bayred · Feb 3, 2023

Yup the elephant in the room. Really hope something is done (sale, please) while its still salvageable.

Suss · Feb 3, 2023

The only thing that we have to hang onto is Jurgen Klopp. He signed a new contract because he is committed to a rebuild. He must have been given some assurances for him to continue with the project. I also don’t think that Klopp would be on board with a sports washing project. My level of concern is very high. It would increase exponentially if Klopp were no longer steering the ship.

Red Bird · Feb 3, 2023

newterp said: ↑

Not a great read about the rudderless ship -

Liverpool: How Jurgen Klopp's Reds have been hurt on the pitch by a 'brain drain' off it | Football News | Sky Sports
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Pretty much what most of us have been thinking, although one has to be be careful with only gearing one side of the argument— remember Rodgers’s hatchet job against Edwards? Whatever is happening, it’s not just stingy owners’ being the issue. Depressing times.

bayred · Feb 3, 2023

I see the owners as the source of our recent problems, but I wouldn't characterize them negatively, as stingy. It's that their business model no longer works given the way the top end of the Premiership has changed, and they full well know it. So, re-investing in a sports business whose economics better align with their investment model makes sense. But shutting off player investments as they explore a sale is definitely a destructive way to go imo.