09 Jan 2018 23:08:12
Question for ed01 if I may. I've seen you mentioning you expect one more arrival this month. Is it Keita?

{Ed001's Note - while both Keita and LFC would love that to happen, I would put that as the least likely to happen. RBL are very keen to keep him until the summer.}


1.) 10 Jan 2018
10 Jan 2018 04:25:59
So someone other than Lemar as well Ed? Ed002 told us not to hold our breath.

{Ed001's Note - I am holding out little to no hope of Lemar, but there are other options Klopp wants in that area, so it should be more like signing Salah instead of Brandt, rather than sitting tight and waiting for VVD.}


2.) 10 Jan 2018
10 Jan 2018 05:37:58
Any chance you could name the target ed?

{Ed001's Note - there is more than one option and I am pretty sure all of them have already been named on here numerous times.}


3.) 10 Jan 2018
10 Jan 2018 05:58:36
Who do you believe will come in ed?

{Ed001's Note - I don't know mate. I think we can rule out 4 of the players Klopp would most like in January though - Pulisic, Goretzka, Keita and Lemar. None of them look likely to move in January, as things stand. Goretzka looks to have his heart set on Bayern, Pulisic wants to stay put for now, RBL won't let Keita move early and Monaco are just asking more than I believe we are willing to pay right now for Lemar.}


4.) 10 Jan 2018
10 Jan 2018 05:49:21
Sorry I should rephrase who do you believe is the most probable we will get in .


5.) 10 Jan 2018
10 Jan 2018 06:28:01
So who does that then leave us with for January Ed? Brandt? Fekir?

I highly doubt Pulisic would come to us even if he wanted to leave BvB, the reason because I'm sure United would want him too and he's a boyhood United fan.

If we managed to get someone else in now, would we still return for Lemar or Pulisic in the summer anyway?

{Ed001's Note - Pulisic is not interested in who he supports when it comes to his career. He is very well advised, has a sensible head on his shoulders and extremely supportive parents. Pulisic's thinking is about what is best for his career, I fail to see how anyone could think that would be a United side with a manager who is unlikely to last much longer. I am not sure whether or not we would be the best option for him either. I fully expect him to stay at Dortmund for another season and then assess things as the season unfolds.

You are right, those are two potential names, though Ed0333 believes Fekir will be moving to Arsenal. It really is impossible to do any more than speculate until the club acts.

The club will reassess after the window and then decide who are the targets for the summer mate. I expect the priorities to be keeper and right back then though myself, unless we fail to sign a midfielder now.}


6.) 10 Jan 2018
10 Jan 2018 06:33:03
I think many Liverpool fans will be bitterly disappointed if there's no top notch midfielder coming in January.
Coutinho will be a massive loss and, if we were to subsequently go out of the CL earlier than may have been expected and fail to get top 4, there's £50 million down the swanny straight away.
Just pay the extra to bring Lemar if he will provide that midfield creativity that has been sadly lost with Coutinho's departure.
Otherwise it's the usual FSG tale of one step forward (VVD) followed by another backwards.


7.) 10 Jan 2018
10 Jan 2018 06:49:30
Those 4 names we can pretty much rule out ed are the ones mentioned daily. Other options being Ceballos, Draxler. Or maybe an alternative not mentioned on here before. We just need to be carefull don't we not to buy an expensive 3rd or 4th choice option that is the wrong option.


8.) 10 Jan 2018
10 Jan 2018 06:56:18
Juicer I wouldn't pin this on FSG at all. This is Klopp's decision, he decided to sell Coutinho and FSG backed him. If he decided to keep Coutinho until summer, they would have backed him. FSG wanted Klopp because they knew they could trust his judgment.


9.) 10 Jan 2018
10 Jan 2018 06:54:34
Thanks Ed,

I watched a Vice Media documentary on Pulisic last night and the kid really, really impresses me, and so do his parents (especially his mum, what a MILF) . Pulisic made the hard decision to move to a country with a completely different culture and language and instead of moaning and complaining, he rolled his sleeves up and got on with it, instead of bitching and moaning because he probably realised how lucky he was to have that kind of opportunity. He comes across as a very grounded kid.

If I was a player, I wouldn't touch United with a ten-foot pole. I may sound biased but ever since Fergie retired they have IMO suffered from a vacuum of wisdom because they significantly relied on his wisdom when he controlled many aspects of their football operations, and they seem clueless without his full-time input; Woodward also seems like a bumbler. The biggest case in point has been their costly and underwhelming success in the transfer market since his retirement.

As for a January replacement, I can't remember the last time when it was such a mystery as to who Liverpool would bid for to fill a priority position.

{Ed001's Note - agreed mate, United are still suffering a post-Ferguson dip that needs to be sorted.}


10.) 10 Jan 2018
10 Jan 2018 07:18:21
I don't want it to be sorted Ed.

{Ed001's Note - I would be surprised if you did.}


11.) 10 Jan 2018
10 Jan 2018 07:32:24
SG, if you think that there would have been a £75 million + hole in the FSG coffers for the VVD signing without a balancing Coutinho departure, well. that's up to you.
This is the regime, remember, that left us with just one first team striker for half a season before they struck lucky on Sturridge.
Except that the stakes have now gone up significantly.
This is not an anti-FSG rant, just that they have form when it comes to these things.
Klopp does't hold the purse strings.


12.) 10 Jan 2018
10 Jan 2018 07:38:09
Out of interest Ed’s, looking at the dropped comment about united manager may be on way out soon, does what appears to be the stable and supported position Klopp has with the owners make it a bit easier to get players in. I know when retired players have been asked not knowing if the manager who signed you will still be there is a consideration for some.

{Ed001's Note - yes.}


13.) 10 Jan 2018
10 Jan 2018 07:47:23
Juicer what I believe is what Ed001 says - VVD was going to be signed in the summer regardless of if Coutinho left or stayed. If Coutinho rejected Barcelona then we still would have shelled out the 60 odd million for VVD.

{Ed001's Note - you are correct SG, VVD has nothing to do with Couts.}


14.) 10 Jan 2018
10 Jan 2018 08:03:33
This is also the 'regime' that's Paid vast sums for Salah mane lovren gini firmino Keita to name a few. I personally think they haven't done badly, and get an unfair rap from some fans.


15.) 10 Jan 2018
10 Jan 2018 08:21:46
I saw a brilliant tweet the other day that said this:

"Liverpool need to spend' Just lash £100m on whatever we can so we can get to the right end of that net spend table. That's what it's all about. Don't care if they're good. Just spend money. "

Really sums up the mindlessness of the FSG Out brigade, not that you are one of them Juicer.


16.) 10 Jan 2018
10 Jan 2018 08:31:05
SG / Ed001, your point is redundant though in that became clear all along that Coutinho would depart. There was always going to be a balance of finances.
Which is fair enough, that's fine.
But FSG's reign has been characterised by huge inconsistency and losing your star man (and he was, not Salah or Mane) and not quickly replacing him would be just up their street.


17.) 10 Jan 2018
10 Jan 2018 08:43:36
I would rather ensure we sign a player that fits the bill rather than simply sign a player that is available in Jan.


18.) 10 Jan 2018
10 Jan 2018 08:10:01
Ed 001
If Liverpool are to bring any players in a few that have caught my eye watching serie a
Milinkovic-Savic
He looks an unreal prospect potential to boss the midfield in the prem for next 8-10 years. I think this lad is mustard
Dries Mertens
Hard not to notice the lad he’s quick fast thinking has goals and assists in his game would be a real high quality addition to the team can also play various positions

What you think on them ed any chance of them?

{Ed001's Note - I wish mate. I wish.}


19.) 10 Jan 2018
10 Jan 2018 08:49:18
On FSG aswell people really are clueless when it comes to commenting on their ownership, unfortunately you have to look at the bigger picture of the tenure rather than simple cherry pick the bits that fit a point of view.

Keys elements here
1- saved us from going bust
2- improved the commercial deals
3- invested in the playing squad heavily
4- rebuilt the main stand
5 - grew the LFC brand and merchandising
6 - adopted a philosophy that allowed young players a path to the first team

That’s to name the keys things I can think off.

In short people need to open their eyes!


20.) 10 Jan 2018
10 Jan 2018 09:18:45
I would rather we wait until the summer if who we really want isn't available now. Pointless signing a stop gap just to appease the fans. Get behind the club and the manager, they know a lot better than you.


21.) 10 Jan 2018
10 Jan 2018 09:29:41
Ed1, hope you don't mind me asking this question but you have suggested that the 4 'main' names are unlikely to come this month (although we know one of them is already coming at the end of the season - I'm guessing as Can's replacement) .

Say we sign one of the attainable players this month, do you still think we'll go back in for Lemar in the summer or does it depend on how well the aforementioned player does?

{Ed001's Note - there are too many ifs and buts, Lemar might move elsewhere in January, for one.}


22.) 10 Jan 2018
10 Jan 2018 08:59:55
Juicer don't argue with me, argue with ed001. He's the reliable all-knowing one and I'm just trusting what he says.


23.) 10 Jan 2018
10 Jan 2018 09:57:21
Dries Mertens is at the wrong end of his career for me, he’s 29 now, so there’s not many miles left in the tank. We’d be better looking at Insigne.


24.) 10 Jan 2018
10 Jan 2018 09:48:20
So ed001, cheers for all the info.
just to clarify, you believe our summer priorities to be a keeper, right back and a 'coutinho replacement' if one isn't found in January? (Don't mean to use that term it's just hard to bracket him) With the view that we atleast sign a midfielder in January? If that's the case I'd say that's smart management, gradually building a top quality squad and not rushing it for the sake of it (our biggest downfall in recent years) it's a shame that luck isn't going our way in terms of players we want being available when we require them, but it's satisfying to know we're not then just blowing it on someone else, and actually waiting for the guy we want unless other options are good enough! cheers.

{Ed001's Note - along those lines yes.}


25.) 10 Jan 2018
10 Jan 2018 10:05:08
I disagree withyou Juicer. Coutinho has never been our star player. It was Suarez when he joined, then we all spent most of the season praying Sturridge was fit, before Sterling stepped up to be our best player, and then when Sterling left Mane was signed and it is impossible to argue that he wasn't our best player last season because without him we were terrible, and then this season (i tend to disagree with Ed001 that Salah is our best player) Firmino has been our best player for me, despite Salah's goals taking all the plaudits.

Coutinho has always been inconsistent and possibly only our best player for a very brief spell in between Sterling leaving and Mane signing. Our squad was dreadful in that period though. Coutinho has always been one of our better players to be fair, and he scored goals in important games, but he wasn't our star player in my opinion. Just our most marketable because he did special things occasionally, that garnered a lot of attention.

{Ed001's Note - I wouldn't argue with Firmino, the Salah being the best player was more a tongue in cheek reply to the ridiculous comments of Coutinho being our best player, when he simply wasn't.}


26.) 10 Jan 2018
10 Jan 2018 10:08:10
Ed 001
Plant the seeds with klopp on savic and Mertens then mate
You say you wish ed but it’s it entirely unrealistic or is their a possibility in either 1?

{Ed001's Note - entirely unrealistic. Mertens is 30 (or thereabouts) and Napoli would still ask for 100m. Milinkovic-Savic is one of the top 10 midfielders in the world and would have the pick of anywhere he wants when he moves.}


27.) 10 Jan 2018
10 Jan 2018 10:09:14
JC23 and Firmane
FSG have also tried to screw fans out of higher price ticket sales, brought in a poor transfer committee, they haven't invested heavily at all, most money spent has come from selling our top players, the kit deal was a bad one and rushed and the stand will pay for itself at some point.
Now if they build on Anfield Rd to increase capacity which would be for the fans as I read a while back the Eds said there's not room for corporate boxes so not much money will be made from it and maybe buy top class talent instead of potential and average players then they might catch a break, for me they are very hit and miss, ill leave it for this window and summer for them to show there ambition in the trans market.

{Ed001's Note - most money has come from loans from FSG, not selling our top players. If you understood football finance, you would realise that we actually see very little of the transfer fees received.}


28.) 10 Jan 2018
10 Jan 2018 10:15:20
Regards to lemar don't you think it's worth just getting the player no matter the price like vvd though? Because if Arsenal get him this window people will go spare ha.


29.) 10 Jan 2018
10 Jan 2018 10:54:16
The juicer, coutinho may have been our 'star player'' but a star player isn't necesseraly the best player, in my eyes the star of the team is the most well known for his qualities, On the other hand, the best player is who actually performs the best over a season, or however you bracket your timeline. Firmino is arguably our best player, but not our star player. yet.


30.) 10 Jan 2018
10 Jan 2018 11:09:37
Not that I'm disagreeing with you MK, but you could argue that being the most marketable is exactly what being the star player is. Best player however, that's a different story. Adam Bogdan all the way.


31.) 10 Jan 2018
10 Jan 2018 11:31:14
Wrong Lancaster just wrong!

Kit deal at the time was a leading deal if I remember correctly yes people had achieved better since but that's the way it goes we will look to do better on our next deal and that could be equal or better than other, then the games continues again.

The stand may pay for itself over time yes but who paid for it in the first place?

Ticket prices yes they did hike them and then reduced them and acknowledged the error, name another club that has done that when they have raised their ticket prices?

As Ed has pointed your view on the transfer spend is way off without FSG we would not be in a position to invest the monies we have/ do.


32.) 10 Jan 2018
10 Jan 2018 12:55:08
JC23
The eds have said the kit deal was a poor one but also if we were doing better on the pitch we would get a bigger deal, most of the FSG money is loans so the money the club is getting from tv, sponsorship etc is paying back the loans I imagine? So FSG are putting money in but getting big interest back? Not sure if that sounds right Eds? Transfer fees are paid over time so like a bank its just all numbers that is rarely physically there, as I have said FSG have been hit and miss but as a club with ambition for big trophies it needs big players and we have been short of that when in the last 10 years we have only had 2 real teams capable of winning the prem and just as we faltered we got rid of our best players instead of building 08/ 09/ 10 was an unbelievable team, im hoping we can start to look at top level players an actually get them, its ok saying oh we tried for so and so but couldn't get him, im looking forward to seeing who we bring in and hope its not a case of we end with a low net spend as per, we have coutinho fee so should use that and then some, its ok saying monies from transfers don't work like that but without inside knowledge its how it looks to most fans, figures aren't just made up so they must be in the ball park of what gets reported, as for we wouldn't be in the position to spend money if it weren't for fsg isn't true, if they weren't asking ridiculous amounts for the club we could get a owner who would invest more, as I said many times before they are hit and miss but I don't think they have the means to take the club to the next level of City, Chelsea or PSG to say, we certainly have the fan base to rival these but not the finance.

{Ed001's Note - the 'eds' have said no such thing. Ed002 has said it is. Just Ed002. The kit deal is not the best in terms of money but it gives us much more exposure than adidas or Nike would have done.}


33.) 10 Jan 2018
10 Jan 2018 13:16:23
Perhaps we are back in for Konoplyanka 😂.


34.) 10 Jan 2018
10 Jan 2018 14:42:06
You can take the horse to water but you can't make it drink.


35.) 10 Jan 2018
10 Jan 2018 16:05:21
And this is why we can't talk money on here. People like Juicer and LancasterRed have the cognitive thinking ability of our dear friends the mancs.


36.) 10 Jan 2018
10 Jan 2018 08:26:21
Its a 'regime' that has also received vast sums from player sales Firmane, installed a transfer committee that recruited poorly and has also tried to screw fans for more ticket money, its been very hit and miss from the owners.

{Ed002's Note - The owners don't get the money from transfers. Where do you get these stupid ideas from?}


37.) 10 Jan 2018
10 Jan 2018 17:32:34
Sorry, Lancaster. I must correct you there.

Regime needs no inverted commas. The comma goes before Firmane and a full stop goes afterwards, followed by a capital letter on the word 'installed'. Once again, there should be a full stop after the word 'money' and another capital letter on the word 'it's'. That being said, the content is awful too.

F-.


38.) 10 Jan 2018
10 Jan 2018 17:39:15
I know, I know. Someone will tell me my grammar was incorrect as well. It was a joke. :)