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The Chief's rumours posts with other poster's replies to The Chief's rumours posts

11 Apr 2023 21:09:20
Apparantly talksport have just announced that paul joyce has said that liverpool have called off thiere pursuit of bellingham due to the scale of the rebuild needed-they don't wish to spend that much on one player in the summer.

1.) 11 Apr 2023 22:42:05
This is the same Paul Joyce who denied the move for Alisson, then was adamant prior to Jota signing that our business was done, ditto prior to Darwin.
This is going to roll on for awhile, I wouldn’t pay too much heed to any journo’s. They’ve nothing football-related to write about for the rest of the season so it’s going to be dedicated to abject speculation, Robbie Fowler’s gold handicap and how to make spaghetti carbonara with Curtis Jones.

13 Mar 2022 18:48:49
Evening eds-Keita sems to be dividing opinion at the moment would you mind sharing a few thoughts-regarding salah do you think as this rumbles on city may enter the equation-they would probably pay him what he wants-the media would revel in that story.

{Ed002's Note - No. Manchester City have already agreed for a much younger versatile forward to join in the summer and have identified specific other targets already. Salah is not one of them. They may have been approached by his agent as he does the rounds but they will not bite.}

1.) 13 Mar 2022 19:27:51
Hello ed2. R u able to tell us who man city have lined up for summer? I take it it not kane r haaland going by how u described player.

{Ed002's Note - This is the Liverpool page but neither of those players have agreed to sign - just yet. I was referring to Julian Alvarez. But they have significant other changes coming.}

2.) 13 Mar 2022 20:06:14
Cheers.

3.) 13 Mar 2022 20:31:57
ed2, Do you know if there are other clubs that would meet Salah's wage demands? previously you'd mentioned Real madrid laughed his agent out of the room a couple years ago for about the same as what they are asking Liverpool to pay now.

I feel like we're the one club that would possibly pay whatever wages it is Salah and his agent are asking for. And also that Salah and his agent know it.

{Ed002's Note - In Europe I rather doubt it.}

4.) 13 Mar 2022 20:43:24
If Salah were to leave us and stay in the Prem man city don’t need him, Chelsea can’t afford him Utd no way that only leaves Newcastle.

5.) 13 Mar 2022 21:13:47
It’s Haaland going to City.

6.) 14 Mar 2022 09:09:38
Its not about needing the best player in the league, you can be sure if Chelsea or Man City thought there was a chance of taking him they would be straight in. The man has nearly double the goals of the nearest guy to him he's a phenomenon.

7.) 14 Mar 2022 17:47:36
He's got three more goals than Sadio if we don't count pens. Pay him 2 1/ 2 times as much?

8.) 14 Mar 2022 17:49:00
Same w Jota.

The Chief's banter posts with other poster's replies to The Chief's banter posts

03 Sep 2023 16:05:25
Eds 001 a Q if i may-how is the relationship between Klopp and Ljinders, does JK believe in him and his tatics, surely he can't just be going along with it for the sake of it.
Or has Klopps head bin turned because we've had a good run of results from the back end of last season.
His recruitment this summer has the hallmatks of players who can put a shift in similar to when we were pushing city-would Ljinders have had any influence in that aswell.

{Ed001's Note - their relationship is fine and Klopp is going along with it because it is bringing results. So long as the team continues to win, they will just tweak things like they did yesterday. Lijnders has influence in every aspect of the club right now, there have been things built at the training ground at his suggestion. According to Lijnders, pretty much everything these days at Liverpool is his idea and at his behest. I am not sure why he feels the need to do so many interviews to tell everyone how great he is.}

1.) 04 Sep 2023 07:14:33
Narcissistic behaviour - the constant need for external validation.

2.) 04 Sep 2023 07:59:41
Klopps the king of this castle. When he wants it to end or if he feels its not working he will change it.

It gets to a point with managers where they aren't the coaches. They're the figure head of a machine. Sure I read that fergie didn't go near the training pitch after about 2004/ 5. Just left it to the coaches and managed his players and club.

Right now we are sitting pretty after the first 4 games which, as you can see with Chelsea. They're some of rhe most important games to stay with the pack at the start.

We are playing some fantastic football. The players look reinvigorated. Whilst we are adapting to a new team bar mo in the front 6. New team mates and preferences. New relationships.

If this is us now then imagine once we get started. Lots of trophies to be won this season.

3.) 04 Sep 2023 08:00:50
One thing I noticed yesterday Ed, it seems like Trent pick his time instead of inverting all the time. Maybe that is one way to optimized this inverted stuff. Most of his pass over the Villa defence when he is inverted is superb.

We all know he can do that. But there is moments especially in 1st half where there is so much space on the right side because no one is there. Its begging for someone to exploit that space.

4.) 04 Sep 2023 08:14:39
Every club evolves and so does the tactics and set up. its normal. klopp is not an idiot. if he is convinced hybrid is the way forwrard then that is it.

5.) 04 Sep 2023 08:29:39
He's angling for Klopp's job when Klopp goes.

Out of interest, has that worked at a top club since Bob Paisley?

6.) 04 Sep 2023 08:41:50
Indeed, HumbleKop. In fact, I'll do you one better. Sometimes when a situation arrives where a manager has been working closely with an assistant, it is no longer about whether the assistant is incompetent or is acting way above his pay grade.

It then, becomes about the manager and the assistant actually liking each other deeply as people and colleagues hence, they like working together and the relationship grows even closer. This could mean that the power of the assistant grows w/ o the manager even noticing it and it becomes a huge blind spot cos well, they really like each other. So at this point, Klopp may not even see Lijnders as arrogant gaining clout via him giving it the big 'uns in public every time he gets cos again, it's a blind spot.

7.) 04 Sep 2023 09:21:33
Something red I'm not 100% sure but I think Capello may have been on Sacchis coaching staff before replacing him as manager.

8.) 04 Sep 2023 09:27:29
Ljinders would probably say that be even chose fsg to own the club! and that it was him who gave ideas to Oppenheimer haha.

9.) 04 Sep 2023 10:10:10
One thing I've been thinking about Mr Intensity, is that at the end of the day it is The Normal One who is in charge. It's not as if Mr. Intensity is over ruling Klopp or undermining him.

So in that respect, I think it is more important to hink about how they are working together to achieve the results. whether they are using a system that we fans believe in or not, what is more important actually is how they are working together as a management team to iron out the kinks and get it right.

So far so good.

10.) 04 Sep 2023 09:39:07
The tweaks worked well yesterday. Particular impressed that when Joe slipped that Arnold was backthere with Matip to help.

Feels like we have more protected.

If it's varied with him also moving up wide sometimes it might work. I'm sceptical but let's see.

11.) 04 Sep 2023 10:46:12
I trust Klopp to know what he's doing. He's earned that with the long and successful career he has had.

If you think someone's pulling the wool over his eyes then you need to give your head a wobble.

We are talking about top 3 manager in world football.

Let's leave our moaning and critism to all the clubs we can talk about;

Chelsea spending a billion and looking likely to be a top ten team - how long do we give poch?

United and ten. Balling up another transfer market. how did we end up wjth szob and them mount without CL.

Artetas Havertz love - misplaced?

Tottenham without any kane hangover?

City looking unreal again. Do we think they're stronger.

I really just don't think we have anything to moan about and are now just finding anything. Best to leave rhe tactics to the only man responsible and just enjoy a fantastic Liverpool team. We've endured some dross! With all due respect to former players. Good god getting here hasn't been easy.

01 Sep 2023 10:40:03
Morning eds-thanks for your efforts as always, I quite like the look of the squad after the summer buisness. The tactics worry me a little bit but i've a feeling JK may now go back to his 433 high intesity press for some games.
What are your thoughts regarding buisness are we a happy bunch of reds
We go again as always.

1.) 01 Sep 2023 12:51:46
The squad looks good but it's the injuries again which will hamper us again. And no doubt it'll be the same ones.

2.) 01 Sep 2023 14:11:10
Magico1234, you can't plan for everything and you are only allowed 25 players in a registered PL squad. Injuries? It's part of sport. If we have them, we can only hope they are not too many and not in one area of the pitch. We have youth players who can do a job. We should use them.

3.) 01 Sep 2023 15:20:17
That's true Oli but we are carrying quite a number of players who are injury prone. Like Gomez, Matip, Konate, Thiago, and Jones. That's already 5 players whom you expect will miss games this season, with three of those being defenders. I would prefer we replace them with players who we can count on to keep fit, like Salah, Robertson, and TAA.

4.) 01 Sep 2023 17:06:42
Dracred, I agree even tho, I don't think Jones is injury-prone. He just seems to pick up knocks in the worst situations, IMO. Now if what you say is the case then, manage them very well by calibrating the training load to suit the player for the most part. Rotate the squad better, manage their minutes better and recruit better with due deligence. Mate, there are solutions to this cos clearly, you cannot sell all of them in one go.

The whole injury stuff doesn't bother me cos that is the way life goes. The solutions are there as well an an academy at your disposal. Use them.

05 Jul 2023 17:45:13
Eds a wonderful post about Armstrong i didn't want it to end-thanks.

{Ed001's Note - thank you Chief!}

1.) 05 Jul 2023 19:23:46
Just got round to reading this properly now Tris, saw it was a long one and wanted to give it the time it deserved and not rush through it. So glad I did, outstanding piece of writing. Can't imagine how long it took to research and write, but honestly worth every second. Incredibly interesting and brilliantly written, nice one mate.

{Ed001's Note - that actually made me blush. Thank you RC!}

2.) 05 Jul 2023 19:37:08
Great 01 ??. is it shareable?

{Ed001's Note - I assume so, I am not sure what you mean though.}

3.) 05 Jul 2023 20:07:53
Chopping hell, that must have taken an age to research and write, and an elegant read I must add. Nice one mate. The end just goes to show life really is not fair, but then who ever said it should be!

{Ed001's Note - thank you mate.}

02 Jul 2023 11:27:52
Eds why are people constantly obsessed that FSG have no money, as a fan as far as i can see they have released funds for infrastructure and squad development when necessary. I agree with MK fans need to stop and think about just how much Fsg have spent over the last 2 years. The constant moaning for a 'marquee'singning is laughable really, i'm not so sure that JK will be sat in his office thinking that he can't compete, i think he's quietly confindent he's assembling a decent group. He knows what he needs eds, he's been down this road before. From a personal point of view I hope he gives the Europa league a right good go, there's always a good feeling around the place when we go deep in european competition.
We go again 2morra.

{Ed025's Note - im with you chief, i think its a bit of a "spoilt brat" scenario myself mate..

1.) 02 Jul 2023 11:46:12
I just think that the average fan (myself included) have limited to no understanding of how transfers work in real life outside of football manager. But the issue becomes when the people who don't realize this or don't accept it, become the loudest voices on here.

2.) 02 Jul 2023 11:55:01
I think fans are well within their rights to love FSG, be sat on the fence and not be to bothered with FSG or be unhappy with then.

On the grand scheme of things I doubt John Henry makes decisions based on fans opinions or they keep him up at night and not a single opinion has any bearing on the club.

I doubt John Henry is sat at the dinner table saying Linda put the cheque book away the LFC posters are happy with what we’ve done or f##k we best spend some money as Harry is kicking off on the banter page again.

The beauty of opinions is they can all be different.

3.) 02 Jul 2023 12:12:54
The Chief - you might get a job at the club if you keep that up :)

FSG get a 6/ 10 as owners. They are definitely not the best or the worst out there. They have practically admitted that they need a new model to continue to compete by formalising the investment/ sale process. Therefore, I don't think we need to be overprotective of them either.

Klopp got a 2/ 10 last season. An absolute stinker by all accounts. He misjudged the squad, recruitment, the fitness, the coaching and tactics all season. By the tone in the final weeks of the close season and his actions so far in the market, he knows it.

Somewhere along the line, after winning the league, something changed. We got stuck between two recruitment models. It looks like there has been a realisation of that and we're trying to get back to what served us well between 2017-2020.

I look forward to seeing where we are come the start of the season.

4.) 02 Jul 2023 12:13:42
Chief it can be quite strange reading it so often because like you say FSG have invested so heavily. Net spend is often bandied about but they've rebuilt nearly every stand at Anfield now, rebuilt the training centre, then bought back the old one for the womens team, and redeveloped the surrounding areas of the stadium. Infrastructure improvements were long overdue and can't be ignored after years of H&G breaking promises.

Commercially they're putting us back on the map too with record sponsorship deals. The Nike deal in particular was a huge leap forward thanks to the clever clause that gives us a % of sales on top of selling them the rights to produce it.

Then you get to investment in the team and they went out and got one of the top 5 managers in the world for a start. But they've backed him too. Even when huge wages or agent fees were required to get a deal done or keep hold of a player. Look at all the £25m+ signings Klopp has made through the years!
2016
Mane - £35m
Gini - £25m
2017
Ox - £35m
Salah - £35m
2018
Virgil - £75m
Alisson £60m
Fabinho - £40m
Keita - £55m
2020
Jota - £45m
Thiago - £25m
2021
Konate - £35m
2022
Diaz - £50m
Nunez - £85m
2023
Gakpo - £45m
Mac Allister - £35m
Szoboszlai - £60m

I know City, United, Chelsea and Arsenal spend more but who actually cares? That's on them for being irresponsible and wasting money on so many average players. How many of those i listed above didn't work out? Maybe we've spent less because FSG did such a good job at putting the right people in place to work efficiently and not take 3 attempts to get the right player? Would people have preferred £50m on Mendy, £50m on White, £50m on Wan-Bissaka or £8m on Robertson? Call me crazy but overall i like how we do business under Klopp/ FSG and it has won us 7 trophies in 7 seasons.

{Ed025's Note - spot on MK..

5.) 02 Jul 2023 12:38:30
You can also be irresponsible by not doing the necessary business too.

In 2021, everyone and their dog knew that going into a season with only Virgil, Gomez and Matip at centreback would likely result in a mess. And so it came to be. Fortunately for us, Arsenal, Spurs and Chelsea were so bad that we got 3rd by default and bagged a CL spot.

And last summer, everyone and their dog knew that our midfield was was lacking energy and physicality. We decided to gamble on it anyway and ended up with the worst season of football under Klopp. Let me remind you that our 3rd game of the season at Old Trafford has Elliott, Henderson and Milner starting in midfield. Might I add that we also chose to do nothing in January to fix it when we could have with 24+ PL games and Real Madrid ties in CL left to play.

That's two avoidably bad seasons in three.

You are right that we are not frivolous like other clubs but we take a different type of risk through non-action - which can be costly - as it proved by us dropping out of the CL for a season.

6.) 02 Jul 2023 13:16:05
I think fans are frustrated the club cannot invest as much as the fans would like in terms of purchasing players, but reading reports and what has been said here there seems to have been far, far too much given out in terms of wages

I think i read our wages were something like the 3rd highest in the league, which is plain ridiculous

And therein lies the difficulty with 'net spend' that so many are obsessed with. Yes, in terms of transfer fees paid vs those received we would be in the bottom half of the table. Yet in terms of wages paid and agent fees paid we are near the top of the table - and that right there is why we do not have the money to compete more in terms of transfer budgets

FSG have been decent owners overall, made mistakes but have seen investments in the ground and training facilities - as fans we just focus on transfers, but those in charge of our transfers have vastly overpaid in wages and fees leaving us where we are.

7.) 02 Jul 2023 13:21:18
You might not care if City, United, Chelsea or Arsenal spend more MK but say it like you’re talking for the whole site. I would guess it would be a pretty even split either way in my OPINION ??.

8.) 02 Jul 2023 13:22:26
Bill mate, over the last 6-7 seasons we have been the 2nd most successful club in English football.

Just on that note shouldn’t we be near the top for wages. If we don’t pay the players the wages they believe they deserve after bringing trophies, more sponsors, prize money etc to the club then unfortunately someone else will.

9.) 02 Jul 2023 13:31:28
OP, you make very good points. As for me and I’ve always said this, as long as the club is in a financially stable situation first and foremost and we spend money on the right players then, I’m good overall. This is cos I never want to see my club be on the brink of administration again and that goes for anyone who bought us at that time. FSG or whoever.

Also I do not subscribe to this binary argument of whatever goes on great at the club, it’s Klopp. Whatever goes bad (which includes Klopp catching a cold), it’s FSG’s fault. Sorry, that will never fly with me esp since it is patently false.

When FSG make good decisions or mistakes which they have, hold them to account/ praise them. If Klopp makes mistakes then, the same should happen to him. But what we have here is many in the fan base berating FSG for Klopp’s own admitted mistakes or for things they are not even involved in or tell outright lies about them (we have some here who do that often) in a bid to make them look bad so Klopp can look good. Again, ain’t going to fly with me cos I do not belong to a cult where I swear allegiance to one man. We are run the way we are run by our owners, end of. If people don’t like it, go get your money right and make them an offer they can’t refuse.

10.) 02 Jul 2023 13:40:31
I think we should stop clear of crediting for the infrastructure. They loaned the money to the club, the club paid for the stands so it’s risk free, in turn it will increase revenue and massively increase the asset value.

Nothing wrong with that by the way, it’s shrewd and sensible business. But it’s nothing more than, they didn’t do us a favour and we don’t need to be grateful for it.

11.) 02 Jul 2023 14:14:42
Irish Rover, every one is entitled to their opinion. I didn't speak on behalf of this site or anyone else, I spoke on behalf of myself. You're quite welcome to disagree and think freely but I'm not going to stop giving my own opinion just incase others get upset. I backed up my argument with the facts.

If anybody wants to argue the toss bring it on. I love debate, and FSG have made mistakes such as the Super League fiasco and trying to trademark "Liverpool". But just as you might find it strange that i like FSG as owners, I'm allowed to find it strange that others think they stop us from spending money. Especially when there is so much evidence to the contrary.

12.) 02 Jul 2023 14:40:14
Thomas194, I agree with you overall. For me, the infrastructure investment was key to putting our club into the 21st century, if you like and that is very important as well when you are trying to attract players cos state of the art installations are a thing. Hence, I do not care how the finances came about provided it was done and I’m happy they thought if it.

Owners loan money to clubs all the time so nothing ground breaking here and like you I agree, it’s a business investment so no thanks required and pretty sure J W Henry and his FSG bros. is expecting thank you cards any time soon.

13.) 02 Jul 2023 14:49:38
"They didn't do us a favour"

I've been thinking about it and it seems like modern fans expect owners to keep giving out "favours" to us. From lending us money and writing off loans to putting in obscene amounts of money into the club for transfers.

In my opinion, FSG have been trying to get us to run on a self-sufficient model as that was what they expected most clubs to do due to FFP. Unfortunately, that has not been happening with the influx of state owned clubs, many of which have bent the rules as far back as they can without breaking them outright.

We have, all things considered, been run very sensibly and responsibly. Our marketing has improved, infrastructure has/ is currently being improved, and our playing squad has been challenging fairly consistently. They may have brought us as far as they can and looking at the footballing climate now, a change may be needed to compete with the state-owned clubs. But that doesn't mean that they have been bad owners.

14.) 02 Jul 2023 16:01:30
Oli, agreed. Also worth noting that as and when they do decide to sell up, it will be a very easy position for a new owner to come into with absolutely no mess to clear up and no immediate emergencies

Dracred. I never said I expected favours from them, I was simply making the point that too many people act like that is what they have provided. In truth, it is the likes of James Pearce and other pseudo-intelligent journalists creeping round the owners that has turned me off, rather than anything the ownership have done wrong themselves.

15.) 02 Jul 2023 16:10:37
Sorry Thomas, didn't mean to imply that you expected favours from our owners. I agree completely with what you initially wrote actually. My previous post was just an unrelated thought I had based on what you said about our owners and doing us favours.

16.) 02 Jul 2023 17:40:24
Spot on, MKS. Brilliantly put, too. Like you, I do not care which club spends money nor how they spend nor how much they spend cos it has no impact on me nor what LFC does.

We handle our business the way we know how and even fans of these rival clubs, actually admire the way we do business for the most part too. Speak your mind, bro. All day. Everyday.

17.) 02 Jul 2023 17:46:56
Well, somebody out there is definitely due some thanks, even though we can debate about whom for the next decade. Why? Because 7000 new fans in the expanded new Anfield stand can watch a game live if they wish to. An option that was not previously available to them earlier.

18.) 02 Jul 2023 18:29:48
Would have been perfect if 7k of them went to fans with 50% season tickets (28 year wait) and 50% general sale.

Not sure 40% of them going to corporate is in the best interest for fans.

19.) 03 Jul 2023 10:27:33
But that's my point JK, I get with our success etc we could be very attractive to the best players out there and as such our wages paid would be near the top as we recruit such talents

But, the issue is we are not recruiting the Mbappes and Bellinghams of the market so why have our wages increased so dramatically?

We are overpaying in contracts given and renewed and the amount we pay in Agent fees are ridiculous - this is why we cannot spend more in the actual transfer market

Such failings lie with with the likes of Edwards and are a reason why we are not more competitive in the transfer market - we simply cannot afford to compete in the higher end of the market, though given our success, we should be able to

That being said, signing the likes of Salah, Mane, McAllister et al for yhe fees we paid is fantastic - we get so many transfers right with due diligence and scouting, it would be nice to address those failings too and actually have the opportunity to go for Gvardiol or Bellingham etc.

20.) 03 Jul 2023 18:01:41
Fair comment Bill.

04 Jun 2023 13:47:57
Eds do you expect VVD to return to his high level next season if the midfield is strengthened, do you feel he was exposed to many times last season with the frailties of the midfield or has he maybe slightly regressed.
I personaly think he'll return to form if the team as a unit are back 'on it'.

{Ed001's Note - I don't think he can get back to where he was, he has lost his aura and that will never come back.}

1.) 04 Jun 2023 14:10:44
I think it was his aura that largely made the team what it was. The confidence spread through all the other players on the pitch, it gave them the freedom to play without fear. That has completely gone and I don’t think we’ll get back the levels we were at until we find someone else who can provide that stability.

2.) 04 Jun 2023 14:36:44
Yeah it’s a shame really. Think he has lost some pace which doesn’t help him as he doesn’t read the game very well and tends to switch off and with the lack of
Pace it doesn’t help him.

3.) 04 Jun 2023 14:41:00
Actually liked his performances at the end of the season, happy to do things like putting it out for a throw if he had to. Know that sounds silly but still think the only thing stopping Virg from still being the best is his attitude. Might not be the athlete he used to be but can compensate for that through brains. Hope this season can be a wake up call for him and a few others.

4.) 04 Jun 2023 16:06:13
Hope a good rest and preseason helps him regain something.

5.) 04 Jun 2023 16:19:47
Virgil's don't grow on trees. He's a one-off. There's plenty there for him to work on, if he is hungry enough. He was much better in the last 10 games.

He might benefit from adding a bit more muscle as he's much leaner than pre-injury Virg. A bit of extra strength and muscle might help his own confidence which was lacking in parts of the season.

Yes, Saliba has had a good season but other than that there's no player that can make a Virg level impact on a defence - Gvardiol included.

We just need to establish some control of the space on the football pitch again and we'll be much much better. And Virg will benefit from that.

6.) 04 Jun 2023 16:42:05
I think his demise has been massively over exaggerated. With the forward line and midfield defending the way they have for large periods of the season he was left so exposed I think even Maldini would’ve looked like Harry Maguire!

Playing the high line means a lot of running back towards your own goal which he has always dealt with really well. Normally though he’d only have to do it 4 or 5 times a game, this season it’s more like 10-15 times a game.

He was just knackered! Once the team is defending properly it will give him more time to recover between sprints which will allow him to defend properly and the aura will return.

7.) 04 Jun 2023 17:11:19
Blame Pickford for that horrific tackle could have killed the boy! 25 going to love me for that ?.

8.) 04 Jun 2023 18:24:28
And it's this kind of discussion that sickens me when you think that Pickford got away with that challenge. It's unacceptable. If it was an accident then fine but it was a deliberate - and bad - foul which caused a serious injury, he should have got a 10 game ban for it, as should any player who does the same.

9.) 04 Jun 2023 19:39:09
Virgil won't ever be the same. Lost 2 yards of pace. He never looked out of second gear before now he's getting out sprinted. Can't say he was knackered he's a professional and elite athlete.

10.) 04 Jun 2023 20:01:53
Players peak. Once they pass their peak then it’s one way. However, I don’t think Virgil can’t improve on last season. He’ll get better as Beckers Pecker says.

He’s still in the top 5 central defenders in the premier league. It’s a difficult league to defend in but he still excels in my opinion.

He may not reach previous highs but he’s still one of the best there is.

11.) 04 Jun 2023 20:10:46
Jude N, that is what I thought of VVD as well. That said since he has lost his aura then, I think he has to knuckle down and start actually doing his job as in, actually defending rather than pointing to this or that team mate or moaning in the wind when we concede and part of the issue is his fault.

He needs to take responsibility for his performances and actually work a lot harder and improve his play rather than relying on just his natural ability cos thet's all gone now. Strikers ain't scared of him nor are they scared of taking him on and actually bullying him. Just my opinion.

12.) 04 Jun 2023 20:13:18
I think the problem is more likely in his head rather than his fitness. I don’t think he has been the same since the injury. If we are building for the future I think he’d be one of the first players I’d look at replacing.

13.) 04 Jun 2023 20:24:35
A more mobile midfield in front of him will undoubtedly help the cb pairing and also fullbacks. no doubt the injury took its toll mentally though. Still the best cb in premier league I reckon.

14.) 04 Jun 2023 20:36:50
He's still a top player I wouldn't be looking to replace him for at least one more season. Just not the player he was.

15.) 04 Jun 2023 21:36:00
It's not entirely coincidental that VVD's form during the last 10 games improved when the whole team was playing better too, is it? Obviously it's not, so much will depend on how much protection he is getting from the midfield, how much better we are playing as a team. Let's see how our new players contribute. But I do think that Klopp has to move away from the idea that VVD is still a 50-60 game player still. He needs to be backed up and rested far more often than before.

16.) 04 Jun 2023 21:55:18
Great take Beckers. a lot of people judge football without ever having played and don't account for things like sprints/ recovery etc so its refreshing to see a realistic opinion.

17.) 04 Jun 2023 21:58:07
Still our best defender for me. Hopefully the rest and a quality pre season will bring his spark back.

18.) 04 Jun 2023 23:34:14
Mark agreed and from what Virgil said makes sense. Lost his pace for me but like to see him not be so passive. Virgil was in a league of his own before his injury still one of the top CBs in the PL.

19.) 05 Jun 2023 00:02:35
Thanks Slimz I am speaking from personal experience having played as a right wing back for many years. The times I didn’t track a runner properly wasn’t because I was being lazy or couldn’t be bothered it was because I’d just done a high intensity sprint and my legs physically couldn’t carry me!

Our forward line has always done a great job defensively but that changed this season due to a change in personnel and tactics but more because of the injuries to Diaz and Jota.

That had a knock on effect to the midfield as they had to do some defending that the forwards would normally do which meant they had to run more often but even more importantly it stopped them being close enough to each other so they had to run further.

This then meant that the opposition midfield had more time to pick passes in behind us which in turn meant that the defenders had to run a lot more.

They are human beings no matter how fit they are they can’t sprint 40-50 meters at 100% intensity time after time for 90 minutes. Virgin is a big lad too and as you see with heavyweight boxers the bigger you are the more quickly you tire and the longer it takes you to recover.

I think some people think of it as a game of FIFA and expect these guys to run and run all day long without getting tired. Life isn’t like that unfortunately.

20.) 05 Jun 2023 10:33:15
It's a really good point Beckers. Someone said above that you probably have to have played football to fully understand it, and they're correct. I always think the same when you see a forwards heel clipped ever so slightly and the commentator (who normally ranges from a bloke poached off Robot Wars to a slow defender who played 40 years ago) starts saying he went down easily. As if they understand how easy it is to knock you off balance at full tilt when you're actually a speedy winger running on your toes with the ball at your feet!

I also play mainly as a winger/ wing back and you're bang on. It's funny at Sunday league because if you're losing at half time it's always the 20 stone centre back who as he is sparking up a cigarette starts moaning that none of the healthy athletic lads are tracking back. Well I tell you what Big Kev, you play right wing and show me how it's done yeah? ? you're right though Beckers, It's bloody hard if you're back to backing high intensity sprints, and it only gets worse later in the game if it keeps happening.

21.) 05 Jun 2023 17:08:40
I think it’s criminal that Vvd at 31 is getting out sprinted by younger forwards on the pitch a few times over the season.

When we bought him off Saints we over paid to his agent that he would never ever lose a Running race on the pitch. I hope we’ve kept the receipt.

22.) 05 Jun 2023 17:45:32
I think when he is confidant of the team around him we will see the old Virg, he was let down time and time again by the midfield. Yes he had a bad season but when one part of the engine is broken the other parts have to work harder. Players make choices they would not normally expect to have to make and get caught out of position or lose possession. I think a revitalised midfield will be super helpful in getting Virg back.

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