Threads containing Ed001's recent posts.
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10 Sep 2024
10 Sep 2024 13:20:27
I’m trying here but I just don’t understand Ed1’s point of view. If Kelleher wants out is it not prudent to buy some competition/ cover for Alisson?
They obviously don’t think Jaros is ready to be that so they’ve bought the perceived best keeper at the euros and loaned him for a year until Kelleher leaves.
What’s the beef here?
It’s irrelevant that you think he’s not good with his feet, the club/ scouts obviously think he can do a job for us when Kelleher leaves and I’m all for that.
This is not me blindly defending the club I genuinely think they’ve done the right thing here if Kelleher wants out. Especially if they think Jaros isn’t ready or good enough.
{Ed001's Note - so buy a player that they clearly don't think is ready is a good thing if they are buying him because they don't think Jaros is ready? I just give up, I am done even bothering to give an opinion when someone comes along and tells me it is irrelevant. It is not worth my time and effort for some ignorant person to come along and dismiss any coherent argument with such stupid comments. If they thought Mamardashvili was good enough and ready, he would not be loaned out.
Last time I am bothering to even answer questions on here, Becker pecker you can answer them all from now on. You clearly think your opinion is worth more than anyone else's.}
10 Sep 2024 08:51:01
Ed.
I get your stance on signing Mamar just to make money. Can I play Devil's advocate without you hurting me?!
Is that not OK? If it doesn't disrupt the first team dressing room (Kweev wanted out anyway) and it generates cash which goes into the firrst team eventually, and the player still gets adequate development and training and first team games, isn't that a valid strategy? After all, what would the motivation be to generate more cash? For the owners to take some, yes, but if the club is generally wealthier, that makes us more powerful overall, yes? I'm not saying I agree - this isn't football manager - but I'm saying I kind of get it.
{Ed001's Note - but it doesn't generate more money to go back into the budget, it takes money away from the budget, that is then tied up for years. Along with the money and staff time used to liaise with the player. When eventually it is realised, it is not as valuable as it would have been initially anyway, as inflation renders every penny slightly less valuable. Along with that, if successful there will be a desire to simply reinvest it again to make more and so on. Look at Chelsea, there attempts to use this trading model are such a miserable failure that they are having to sell all their youth academy players as well. These kind of trading models are fine if you are say an individual with a definite plan to cash out at a specific point ie retirement. Otherwise it is just a completely inefficient waste of resources as player trading in general is by far the most inefficient use of club resources. The only model that works to increase revenue is improving performance on the pitch. Bigger stadiums, better training facilities etc feed into that, but buying players you don't even see as a future first team player does not. That is why Chelsea dropped away from the heights they hit early on. Man City, on the other hand have built everything around improving the team. Chelsea bought players to loan out, City just went and bought teams to feed into the main team. It was a similar level of investment made but which is succeeding?}
10 Sep 2024 10:21:32
The 'keeper could be a replacement for Alisson or Kelleher. The 'keeper could have been bought to be sold but can anyone say how much he will be sold for and say that inflation will render his value lower than the initial investment?
{Ed002's Note - Giorgi Mamardashvili was purchased to replace Alisson. Caoimhin Kelleher wants out still - and will look to leave in January. Both expect to be starters.}
10 Sep 2024 11:49:43
Hughes wanted to do Bournemoth a favour by loaning him out this or next season as there is no way he is ahead of Alisson. Or even C Kelleher potentially.
Silly decision in whichever way you to try to paint.
Ed01 is absolutely right on this one.
10 Sep 2024 13:20:27
I’m trying here but I just don’t understand Ed1’s point of view. If Kelleher wants out is it not prudent to buy some competition/ cover for Alisson?
They obviously don’t think Jaros is ready to be that so they’ve bought the perceived best keeper at the euros and loaned him for a year until Kelleher leaves.
What’s the beef here?
It’s irrelevant that you think he’s not good with his feet, the club/ scouts obviously think he can do a job for us when Kelleher leaves and I’m all for that.
This is not me blindly defending the club I genuinely think they’ve done the right thing here if Kelleher wants out. Especially if they think Jaros isn’t ready or good enough.
{Ed001's Note - so buy a player that they clearly don't think is ready is a good thing if they are buying him because they don't think Jaros is ready? I just give up, I am done even bothering to give an opinion when someone comes along and tells me it is irrelevant. It is not worth my time and effort for some ignorant person to come along and dismiss any coherent argument with such stupid comments. If they thought Mamardashvili was good enough and ready, he would not be loaned out.
Last time I am bothering to even answer questions on here, Becker pecker you can answer them all from now on. You clearly think your opinion is worth more than anyone else's.}
10 Sep 2024 14:00:55
Marma has shot stopping data putting him on par with Oblak.
Kelleher wants to go somewhere be a number 1. But NO other club has been near his LFC's overvaluation no for 3 years now.
Ali is only only committed "so far" until 2026.
So, disagree and they take there ball and go home? Might be time to just wrap it all up mates.
10 Sep 2024 13:59:29
Ed, I think a number of people expect Alisson to leave in the next year or two. This may be complete nonsense, and the recent comments by Alisson would suggest that, but I think people are looking at Mamardashvili and expecting that he’ll be our number one sooner rather than later, which is why your opinion about making money might be a bit confusing.
Regarding the matter’s readiness, I think people are comparing it to the Courtois situation when he went to Atletico for two years while Cech was kept until he really needed replacing. People are also looking at him and expecting him to be a definitive upgrade on Kelleher, so therefore definitely not a number two.
The trouble is, Alisson is probably the best goalkeeper of all time, and certainly the best of the modern era. While he is fit and happy to play for us, our expensive new recruit will have to wait. That could be years.
10 Sep 2024 14:48:19
I think that is Ed's point Lowe. His signing makes no sense if it is for a number 2 keeper as we already have Kelleher and Jaros who are good enough to be number 1 elsewhere, let alone number 2. Besides, he is ill-suited to play the way we do, with a keeper who sweeps up danger and sets us on quick counters, so it makes little sense that he is to be Allison's replacement even if Allison is to leave. And Allison has indicated that he has no plans to leave.
All in all, even though he is a good young keeper in his own right, we spent money in an area of the field where we didn't really need to when it could have been better used elsewhere. We're not flush with cash and £30m is not an insignificant amount of money.
10 Sep 2024 14:48:44
ED01 at first, I can only think that the club had an incling or feeling that Ali could leave in a season or two hence, they got Mamardashvili in early esp. since we all know Kellerher wants to go as soon as the opportunity presents itself and would have gone this summer had a suitable offer came so I could see what the club has done there.
Now all the above went to crap the moment Ali said after the Brentford game (I think) that he is happy here and wouldn't mind resigning. At that point, I no longer understood what was going on cos Ali ain't getting pushed out for Marmadashvili hence, I do not know what to believe anymore. Just my reading of the situation. Cheers, man.
10 Sep 2024 14:53:58
I apologise if I upset you Ed1 I did say at the start of my post that I’m really trying to understand where you’re coming from but I just don’t. I’m sorry if that upsets you.
It might just be that they do think Marm is ready to be a number 2 to Alisson but Kelleher is still there at the moment so we don’t need 2 number 2s at the club.
Kelleher obviously wants to leave so they’ve bought Marm to take over from him next season after his season long loan. Then if Ali does go he can have a go at being number 1. If Ali stays then he’s battling it out for the number 1 spot and we still have a decent number 2.
That makes sense to me and is exactly what the club have been criticised for not doing with VVD and Salah.
If I’m wrong then I’m wrong but it does make sense if they think Marm is the future after Ali decides to call it a day.
10 Sep 2024 15:53:13
Think is something that works in fifa and rarely in real life. Bit like loaning players rarely works out but there is the odd Harry Kane - why lottery likes to publicise winners.
10 Sep 2024 16:32:19
BP, we are going to have to see ho things shake out cos as my post on this thread shows, I have no idea what is going on or went on regarding this GK situation. Only time will tell so let's give it time.
Still happy that Ali is going to be here next season as well so that's a good thing, at least.
10 Sep 2024 17:46:16
We did not sign Mamardashvili to be #2. He didn’t sign to be #2 and I am pretty sure Alisson will not be offered a long term contract after 2026.
Neither will VVD, neither will Salah and I do not expect Trent to sign either.
It is not about money, it is about future planning. Edwards and co are damned if they do something to avoid getting shafted when contracts expire and damned when they don’t do anything.
Everyone thought Keegan was irreplaceable, how did that work out?
10 Sep 2024 20:45:40
I don’t think he’s signed to be a number 2 St Etienne but that doesn’t mean he won’t be. If Ali stays on then he’ll have to work tremendously hard to oust him.
If not then he’ll be a number 2. It’s the same as any position you need strength in depth so if the first choice gets a bit complacent they know there’s a quality replacement breathing down their neck.
We tend to think differently about goalkeepers but it’s the same premise. If Kelleher is going to leave then having Marm in the squad can only be a good thing surely?
{Ed025's Note - it would be if he was any good BP..
10 Sep 2024 21:29:52
He went on loan for a year so that our fans could learn his name.
10 Sep 2024 21:41:39
Alisson wipes the floor with everyone. We should be concentrating on keeping him at all costs.
10 Sep 2024 22:43:48
Ed25 according to Ed01, Mamardashvili is a brilliant GK. Ed01 said so himself on a recent thread (as I never saw him play at Valencia prior) and used the exact word "brilliant". He even said so in your last podcast.
Ed01 in fact, likened him to De Gea as in, a brilliant GK who is not very good with his feet to play the modern game hence, the way we play. That does not mean "he is not any good". Now if you have seen him play a fair bit and think he is not any good then please, share what your assessment is of him. Cheers.
{Ed025's Note - im basing it on what i have heard Oli and that is that he is a very good shot stopper but lacks the ability to play with his feet and is not very commanding in his box...the new Jordan Pickford by the sounds of it mate, thats why i say "IF hes any good" because its all really guess work up to now, i think it was you who was bigging up Karius when he signed for Lliverpool and he was hailed as the new Neuer...and look how that turned out, i think hes working at McDonalds or Burger King now....or should be.. :)
11 Sep 2024 01:07:17
Haven't read the entire thread but LFC8, has it pretty spot on. Alisson right now is untouchable, will probably be our number 1 for a minimum another 3 seasons and I'd dare to say even beyond that. He's showing no signs of any decline either and is the best in the world, in addition to that he loves it at Liverpool. People it seems were just happy to see we signed somebody new even though it didn't and probably never will benefit us.
He probably wasn't told he'd be number two, he won't be happy about that who would be? apparently he is good, he may be good but he's no Alisson. No keeper out there is anywhere near his level. If I'm the new keeper come that point (probably nearning the end of his contract) I'd be wanting out like Kelleher is. Can't blame them but it's the good position we're in when we have the best keeper in the world.
It's really simple, if you are good enough you will be number 1 if you aren't, you won't be. Kelleher and this other lad are good but will never be Alisson, as long as he is active he has that top dog spot. The other lads are good enough to move elsewhere and be number one so who can blame them if they did? their careers are too short to be playing second fiddle.
I'm not saying this lad is a bad signing but it made no sense to me from the off. When we needed other positions strenthening why in the world did we find it ok to strengthen or attempt to streghthen a position which isn't needed to be improved upon? again it makes no sense. Waste of money.
I am pretty confident in saying one thing, I believe we will lose money on him. We'll sell him for next to bugger all.
StEtienne, why do you think Alisson won't be offered a new contract? we'd be absolute fools not to offer him a new contract. I believe there's no debate about it - we 100% will. Your post is absolute nonsense, the entire post. Wake up. Have you heard the club are in talks at the minute about signing new contracts or did you miss that? Not heard anything about Trent's contract yet but they won't offer VVD and Salah one without offering Trent one.
11 Sep 2024 07:09:40
The best guy to sign to compete with Ali at similar level is Lev yeshin. "You don't know what its worth, not untill you loose it".
11 Sep 2024 08:13:01
Salah, what if Alisson doesn't want a new contract?
I know we are Liverpool and how could he not but he just might want to try playing elsewhere.
Like countless other players have.
11 Sep 2024 09:11:59
Rigsby, if he doesn't want a new contract then that's fair enough mate but going on his recent comments that isn't the case.
11 Sep 2024 09:33:15
What comments, Salah?
He said he'd his finish his contract or sign a new one, didn't he?
That doesn't say what his intentions are and why should he? Two years is a long time; especially in football.
11 Sep 2024 10:28:00
Imagine if he didn’t sign a contract and Kelleher wasn’t here - there would be a clamour for us to sign a wotld class goalkeeper, wouldn’t there.
10 Sep 2024
10 Sep 2024 03:36:13
ed1, I get that. what I meant is - an ed answers a question about why we signed this keeper with "to make money". I imagine the likes of FSGisfleecingus would get excited at that comment coming from an ed :D.
{Ed001's Note - ah yeah got you. That's simply because he is ignorant and does not understand reality.}
10 Sep 2024
10 Sep 2024 01:46:35
ed1 - I'm not sure fans will separate "to make money" from the owners mate.
{Ed001's Note - but the money does not go to FSG, it goes into LFC's coffers. Though I still think it is a mistake, I keep reading people saying prices are going up, but they went down this summer. The market always has lean years, when the main league boosting prices hits a low point. That is now, as the Prem teams are being affected so much by PSR. It is going to take a while to get through it, then it will gradually recover and creep up. It is likely to be years before it returns to the huge prices we have got used to. That is why no one else was there to buy the lad in the first place, there just isn't the money around at the moment. Speculation is always risky but especially when the market shows signs of a downturn.}
09 Sep 2024
09 Sep 2024 23:07:05
sheesh ed1, that's a good way to keep stoking the flames of the FSGhate brigade hahahahaha
I know the OP hasn't directed this at me but it's an open forum so my 2cents for what it's worth - it's a good move for a keeper performing well now and can get better. Whatever his strengths are can be enhanced and his work-ons can be developed. It's a good place to be in to have him come in next season, still have Ali for at least a season longer and other young guns in jaros et al coming through.
I do feel for Kelleher and just hope that the club have been as transparent with him as they were with Ali.
{Ed001's Note - it has nothing to do with FSG. This is on Edwards, Ward and Hughes.}
09 Sep 2024
09 Sep 2024 23:03:39
Interesting there ed. You don't don't see georgi as a good keeper?
He's more of an old school shot stopper but he's definitely a good keeper. We have so many good passers who are comfortable on the ball it's not imperative in my opinion the keeper needs it. He will need to come off his line more though.
{Ed001's Note - when did I say I don't see him as a good goalkeeper? He is like de Gea - brilliant but ultimately useless at the modern game we play.}
09 Sep 2024 22:19:51
Ed001 - given your comments on the new keeper, I am interested in your views on why we have actually bought him?!
{Ed001's Note - to make money.}
09 Sep 2024 23:03:39
Interesting there ed. You don't don't see georgi as a good keeper?
He's more of an old school shot stopper but he's definitely a good keeper. We have so many good passers who are comfortable on the ball it's not imperative in my opinion the keeper needs it. He will need to come off his line more though.
{Ed001's Note - when did I say I don't see him as a good goalkeeper? He is like de Gea - brilliant but ultimately useless at the modern game we play.}
09 Sep 2024 23:07:05
sheesh ed1, that's a good way to keep stoking the flames of the FSGhate brigade hahahahaha
I know the OP hasn't directed this at me but it's an open forum so my 2cents for what it's worth - it's a good move for a keeper performing well now and can get better. Whatever his strengths are can be enhanced and his work-ons can be developed. It's a good place to be in to have him come in next season, still have Ali for at least a season longer and other young guns in jaros et al coming through.
I do feel for Kelleher and just hope that the club have been as transparent with him as they were with Ali.
{Ed001's Note - it has nothing to do with FSG. This is on Edwards, Ward and Hughes.}
10 Sep 2024 01:46:35
ed1 - I'm not sure fans will separate "to make money" from the owners mate.
{Ed001's Note - but the money does not go to FSG, it goes into LFC's coffers. Though I still think it is a mistake, I keep reading people saying prices are going up, but they went down this summer. The market always has lean years, when the main league boosting prices hits a low point. That is now, as the Prem teams are being affected so much by PSR. It is going to take a while to get through it, then it will gradually recover and creep up. It is likely to be years before it returns to the huge prices we have got used to. That is why no one else was there to buy the lad in the first place, there just isn't the money around at the moment. Speculation is always risky but especially when the market shows signs of a downturn.}
10 Sep 2024 03:36:13
ed1, I get that. what I meant is - an ed answers a question about why we signed this keeper with "to make money". I imagine the likes of FSGisfleecingus would get excited at that comment coming from an ed :D.
{Ed001's Note - ah yeah got you. That's simply because he is ignorant and does not understand reality.}
10 Sep 2024 15:41:42
Sorry ed, I was just asking the question, my original post did have the question mark. I don't like to put words in people's mouth which is why I asked if you thought he was a bad keeper. Perhaps I could have phrased it better.
09 Sep 2024 22:19:51
Ed001 - given your comments on the new keeper, I am interested in your views on why we have actually bought him?!
{Ed001's Note - to make money.}
09 Sep 2024 23:03:39
Interesting there ed. You don't don't see georgi as a good keeper?
He's more of an old school shot stopper but he's definitely a good keeper. We have so many good passers who are comfortable on the ball it's not imperative in my opinion the keeper needs it. He will need to come off his line more though.
{Ed001's Note - when did I say I don't see him as a good goalkeeper? He is like de Gea - brilliant but ultimately useless at the modern game we play.}
09 Sep 2024 23:07:05
sheesh ed1, that's a good way to keep stoking the flames of the FSGhate brigade hahahahaha
I know the OP hasn't directed this at me but it's an open forum so my 2cents for what it's worth - it's a good move for a keeper performing well now and can get better. Whatever his strengths are can be enhanced and his work-ons can be developed. It's a good place to be in to have him come in next season, still have Ali for at least a season longer and other young guns in jaros et al coming through.
I do feel for Kelleher and just hope that the club have been as transparent with him as they were with Ali.
{Ed001's Note - it has nothing to do with FSG. This is on Edwards, Ward and Hughes.}
10 Sep 2024 01:46:35
ed1 - I'm not sure fans will separate "to make money" from the owners mate.
{Ed001's Note - but the money does not go to FSG, it goes into LFC's coffers. Though I still think it is a mistake, I keep reading people saying prices are going up, but they went down this summer. The market always has lean years, when the main league boosting prices hits a low point. That is now, as the Prem teams are being affected so much by PSR. It is going to take a while to get through it, then it will gradually recover and creep up. It is likely to be years before it returns to the huge prices we have got used to. That is why no one else was there to buy the lad in the first place, there just isn't the money around at the moment. Speculation is always risky but especially when the market shows signs of a downturn.}
10 Sep 2024 03:36:13
ed1, I get that. what I meant is - an ed answers a question about why we signed this keeper with "to make money". I imagine the likes of FSGisfleecingus would get excited at that comment coming from an ed :D.
{Ed001's Note - ah yeah got you. That's simply because he is ignorant and does not understand reality.}
10 Sep 2024 15:41:42
Sorry ed, I was just asking the question, my original post did have the question mark. I don't like to put words in people's mouth which is why I asked if you thought he was a bad keeper. Perhaps I could have phrased it better.
09 Sep 2024
09 Sep 2024 15:14:27
That said ed do you think marshmallow or what’s his name is good enough or will be good enough? Or do you expect when Allison does decide to move on, we go looking for someone else?
{Ed001's Note - from the footage I have seen, the new guy can't kick a ball and struggles to catch too - unless he vastly improves those areas, he is not suited to our game.}
09 Sep 2024 14:37:52
Edd001 have you heard kellehers comments yesterday about his position, him wanting to leave to become no 1 elsewhere and pointing out that club seems to have gone in another direction regarding the new goalie we bought. Very interesting. Did you ever think kelleher was good enough to take over from allison eventually?
{Ed001's Note - no, he never got the first team football to make the step up. He needs the regular game time to improve.}
09 Sep 2024 15:19:48
Last season he had 26 appearances for the first team.
Alot more experience gained than previous seasons.
I thought his performances were overall good, a few mistakes made but they were overshadowed by some excellent saves.
Only problem Kelleher has is A Becker.
09 Sep 2024 15:29:50
Really surprised he didn’t leave this summer to be honest. Says he wants first team football but won’t leave for it.
09 Sep 2024 15:14:27
That said ed do you think marshmallow or what’s his name is good enough or will be good enough? Or do you expect when Allison does decide to move on, we go looking for someone else?
{Ed001's Note - from the footage I have seen, the new guy can't kick a ball and struggles to catch too - unless he vastly improves those areas, he is not suited to our game.}
09 Sep 2024 16:41:13
Well Kelleher was the difference between Ireland losing 6-0 and losing 2-0 on Saturday. He'd play at basically any Premier League side apart from ourselves, Man City and maybe Spurs and Aston Villa. He'd walk into the team at Arsenal, Man U or Chelsea, for example.
Alisson is the best goalkeeper in the world. No one would displace him.
09 Sep 2024 16:45:09
I watch Valencia regularly Ed have for a long time as I developed a soft spot for them in the early/ mid 2000s. He’s a brilliant keeper. He’s the sole reason they weren’t relegated any of the last 2 seasons and if they stay up again it will be because of him. If he isn’t the Alisson replacement he will still end up playing every week at one of Europe elite clubs.
09 Sep 2024 16:47:08
I don't think it's Kelleher's fault that he didn't leave in the summer. If I recall correctly, there were a few offers for him but all of them were rejected by the club.
09 Sep 2024 17:04:45
Reguardless, think the bigger point is WHY are we signing a goalkeeper at 30 million when we have the best goalkeeper in the world?
09 Sep 2024 18:13:26
I said over a year ago that he looked a far better keeper than Ramsdale. For the life of me I don’t understand how Southampton forked out £25 million for him and not buy Kelleher instead. He’s not Allison but certainly better than Ramsdale.
{Ed014's Note - I thought I was reading the United page for a minute with all that my keepers better than your keeper bollox ?♂️?
Kelleher would walk into the Arsenal team ???????
09 Sep 2024 18:39:02
Perhaps because Kelleher wants to leave Mizer?
A couple of seasons back we had Adrian as our back up keeper and it cost us.
Kelleher is the best back up keeper we’ve had in my lifetime and Ali is the best keeper we’ve had since Clemence. It’s such an important position that we’ve struggled with since the 70s.
We had to rely heavily on Kelleher last season and thankfully he did well but he isn’t going to sit around on the bench forever.
Now we are all whinging that we’ve brought in more quality in the position?
I don’t get it?
09 Sep 2024 18:42:21
You couldn’t have been reading the United page Ed014 because their goalkeeper is an absolute donut mate ?.
{Ed014's Note - and that’s being polite about the clown! ?
09 Sep 2024 19:27:04
I think Kelleher is a perfectly capable goalkeeper but he's never looked good enough for a team that wants to win the biggest prizes. He's now stated he's been wanting to leave for a number of years and Liverpool have already signed his replacement. I don't understand what is confusing about this.
09 Sep 2024 19:48:12
We've got the best 'keeper in the world but it's a position we've struggled with since the 70s?
Are you being sarcastic again, BP? ?.
09 Sep 2024 20:18:37
Ed14, Ramsdale is not a good GK, Im sorry. Never rated him even way before he came to you. Now I know a lot of your fans love him for the season you guys challenged for the title in 22/ 23 out of nowhere. You know who else was like that and was loved? Simon Mignolet who many of us loved for the 13/ 14 season where we should have won the title. That's all emotional, IMO. When it came down to the brass tacks of actual goalkeeping tho, Mignolet was severely lacking. Ramsdale is the same, IMO.
Mignolet is the type of GK who will cost you a goal at the start of the game and then keep you in the game with a brilliant save, all in the same game. Just like Ramsdale. Sorry, you can't trust these guys if you're trying to be essentially perfect to win a title vs City you know, like we did. Cheers, man.
{Ed014's Note - Ramsdale isn’t our keeper Oli so all a little irrelevant mate.
He himself admitted he can’t concentrate for 90 minutes which kind of did his own legs, he was however streets ahead of Mignolet.
More than happy with Raya and Kelleher wouldn’t walk past him into our starting 11, he’s a decent number 2 who could have a career away from you, just a shame they didn’t let him leave.
09 Sep 2024 17:25:22
I actually think Kelleher is a better stopper than Ederson, but Ederson adds so much value to City through his footwork. I really hope kelleher ets a good move somewhere and is able to consistently show how good he is. Really love the guy.
09 Sep 2024 21:04:08
Until we signed Ali Rigsby. Again I thought that went without saying but obviously not.
Has the general IQ on this site dropped or something? I don’t remember ever having spell things out as much as I have recently.
09 Sep 2024 22:18:41
It could well have dropped, Pecker.
When you say since the 70s, you mean the years that you think we struggled in? Are you not including the 80s, the decade we dominated English football and won a couple of European Cups or did we do that despite struggling with our goalkeepers? Are you not including the Pepe Reina years? He was a top class goalkeeper. Do you think he struggled for us?
Dudek was ok and won trophies with us. He wasn't Alisson or Reina's level but we didn't really struggle because of him.
09 Sep 2024 22:41:59
I can't speak for the 80’s but I started supporting Liverpool in the early 90’s when Bruce Grobbelar was Gk and was by then throwing out suspiciously poor performances.
David James followed and Im sure he can't be put down as a particularly great success as he was given the nickname ‘calamity James’ before being replaced by Sander Westerveld. Tony Warner should probably get a mention here as he played a few games when James was injured or particularly out of form.
Westerveld was a decent keeper and had one pretty good season but sadly loss of confidence or something else and he was soon replaced by Jerzy Dudek, who again looked like he could establish himself as first choice for years to come before that performance against Man Utd took not only his confidence but everyone else's in him.
Benitez first brought Chris Kirkland to the club as a young goalie, along with a very young Scott Carson but injuries meant Kirkland just couldn't get a run of games in the first team and one or two dodgy goals conceded did for Carson.
Then we have probably the second best goalkeeper of my time supporting Liverpool. Pepe Reina. Loved Reina, great shot stopper, great facing penalties, surprisingly good command of his area for a goalkeeper on the short side of 6 ft and not bad with his feet.
He was however pretty erratic and had a habit of rushing out of his area when not needed and a penchant for costly errors.
I may be forgetting someone here but I feel that next up is Simon Mignolet who was a good shot stopper and pretty terrible everywhere else as a top level goalkeeper and after him, last, and perhaps least is poor Loris Karius. I don't think much needs to be said about him.
So after that retrospective, Im inclined to agree that at least since the start of the 90’s, all the way up to Alisson, goalkeeper is definitely a position that Liverpool have struggled with. There have been players who have looked capable as number one’s and I think Reina of all of them is the only one who was secure in his spot for more than a season or two at most.
The club should be looking to keep Ali as long as they possibly can.
09 Sep 2024 23:09:40
Jerzy was a great keeper but unfortunately international tournament with Poland wrecked his confidence when he had a disastrous game and the coach just kept playing him and it got worse and worse, by the time he came back he was ruined.
09 Sep 2024 23:45:50
@Mizer, CK wants to leave. - he has said as much on and off for a couple of years now. He, and seemingly the club, doesn’t believe he has a future at the club.
In 2018, when he was 25 years old we signed Ali for around £66m.
In 2026 Ali’s contract will be up and chances are we will possibly / probably need a successor, and given the ever spiralling transfer costs, it is not unreasonable to expect we wouldn’t get much change out of £100m for a world class keeper.
Coincidentally, in 2026, Marmalade will be 25. He seems to have a growing reputation as an excellent prospect and gad a very promising Euro Championships in the summer. I take the point that he has a way to go in his development and going back to Valencia on loan now under the watchful eye of out goalkeeping coaching staff gives us time to particularly work on the relatively weaker elements of his game.
As I say, we paid £30m for a goalkeeper in 2024 when we might (probably) have needed to pay @ £100m in 2026. It seems that opportunistic is a dirty word but I think that’s the case here. We have taken proactive steps to preemptively address a potential risk before it becomes a problem both financially and squad strength. Just as an example - a lot of people desperately wanted us to buy a midfielder this summer and we couldn’t get one because the only one we went after turned us down. Could well have been the same outcome with the need for a top notch keeper in 2026.
09 Sep 2024 23:52:40
Semi, FYi, Houllier bought Kirkland. Kirkland and Dudek signed at the same time (same day IiRC) which was a bit odd!
09 Sep 2024 23:53:10
Semi - Houllier signed Kirkland, not Rafa. On the same day we signed Dudek no less. Westerveld later said they signed both cos something came up in Dudek's medical and so we opted to sign Kirkland instead. But the club was already too advanced in the Dudek deal to back out and thus we ended up signing both of them. With how badly run the club was at the time, that could well be true.
Kirkland got a run under Houllier when Dudek started making errors in his 2nd season, but then he got injured.
Rafa instated Kirkland as 1st choice for a while when he arrived. But then Kirland got injured again. Carson was bought as a backup with potential to improve when Kirkland got injured. He's still on the books at Man City, I think.
Reina at his peak had one bad game a season (FA Cup final. Game against Everton the following season. The Arsenal CL game in 07/ 08) which was kind of odd, but he did far more good than bad and was one of the best keepers in the league. After Rafa and Xavi Valero left, he didn't get on well with Mike Kelly and Jon Achterberg and his form dropped. Then there was the whole thing whereby Barcelona told his Dad they'd sign him and turned his head, but then Valdez extended his contract so they lost interest in Reina.
Even in that state he was miles better than Mignoletagoalinagain though. Really didn't understand that signing. Fair enough we needed a keeper, but surely there were better options available than Mignolet? He had an 18 month run where he'd concede from the first half decent shot against him.
09 Sep 2024 22:08:46
Ed014 the bigger point is whyba 30 million goalkeeper was bought when we have allison. Allison has another 4 years atleast in him at the top. Allison is the best in the world.
{Ed014's Note - and from what I read Tris doesn’t rate him that much, somewhat crazy!
09 Sep 2024 22:33:12
Ed14, I know Ramsdale is no longer your GK and no, he is not streets ahead of Mignolet either so let's not go overboard here. They are the same level but we can disagree on that.
As for Kellerher, he is more than a decent GK in terms of his talent, IMO. Had he gone to a team say 2 years ago that plays the way we play, he would have been way better than he is now which is already very good for a guy that does not play enuff to hone his talent. Kellerher more than held his own in Alisson's absence last season and won us another trophy, as well.
I hope he will go next season as he would have one more year left on his deal and bless his heart. I think will surprise a lot of people who think he can't hack it on his own, forgetting that he has shown he can do the business. And most importantly, just cos he is sitting behind literally the best at his position on the planet.
{Ed014's Note - nowhere near the same level ??
Just for your info I prefer Edison?
10 Sep 2024 06:16:29
Why wouldn’t you prefer Edison? He invented the light bulb.
10 Sep 2024 09:56:02
Edison and Kellerher ?.
08 Sep 2024
08 Sep 2024 14:05:23
Interesting times ahead ed1. Much appreciated.
{Ed001's Note - always a pleasure saloe.}
08 Sep 2024
08 Sep 2024 13:07:40
Really ed1? Player prices dropping and an end to the madness? Wouldn’t that be something?
{Ed001's Note - I doubt there will ever be an end to the madness but the new financial regs just require everyone to take a step back and adjust. It will probably get even crazier with deals done just to stay within PSR, like were done early in the window this time and then everything calming for the rest of the window. What it will mean is that making a profit through trading is going to be very difficult to do, very few clubs are likely to have spare capital to spend. Deals will be more creative, which is not to the benefit of those teams looking to make money via player trading. It could take 5 years, or more, to settle down and begin to rebuild prices again. It has happened before, when Serie A's scandals killed their league financially, the prices dropped for a few years. Back then the market was underpinned by Serie A's spending, in recent years it has been the English Prem which has propped up the market with money flowing out of it. The new regs have meant that most teams will need time to adjust, but particularly in the Prem. That will almost certainly see prices dip markedly for a while as the Prem will not be throwing money around.}
08 Sep 2024
08 Sep 2024 12:15:41
Edd001, that goalkeeper is apparently a worldie in the making according to many posters on this site when i brought that up. Allison is the best about and has atleast 4 years in him imo. You get him tied down unless he does plan to leave next year.
{Ed001's Note - Alisson has always been clear that he is happy in Liverpool. Even if not, there is plenty of options within the club that suit the style of play. It makes no sense to go buy one who doesn't, no matter how comparatively cheap he is, especially as the market is dropping. Player values are falling, so it is not a good time for speculative purchases.}
08 Sep 2024
08 Sep 2024 04:11:42
@DAPred and others (as ever including the anxious @Mark) may I ask you a couple of genuine question s?
Why do contracts have to be settled in summer? There is 5 months to negotiate a contract prior to the beginning of ‘open season’ next January and in particular at a time (in the summer) when a new group in both the front and back office were bedding in, and, in particular, at a time when the new coach was assessing the players who were already here - who he wanted to keep and those who he was happy to release?
Second question - would you agree that it is possible for the club to have a succession plan in place prior to discussions with players coming off contract (rather like Marmalade as the long term replacement for Ali? )
{Ed001's Note - better questions would be -
1. Why wasn't it done a year ago or more, in the case of Trent? The fact they left it until the final year is imbecilic. It is all very well saying there is months before anyone can make an offer, but that is not the point. The point is that now the power has all gone to the players. You have no recourse to sell if they choose not to sign. It has backed the club into a corner, which is when you lose out financially as a good agent will screw you for more on the deal or you end up having to lose them without getting any recompense. Either way, the only one who loses it is the club itself.
2. Why on earth does anyone think that the keeper we have signed is a replacement for Ali? Why did we even need one when he was not intending to leave and we already have 2 (maybe even 3 or 4) potential replacements? Why did we not sign one that is suited to the way we play if he genuinely was to be a replacement for Ali?}
08 Sep 2024
08 Sep 2024 00:19:46
Ed1, once again an excellent read. It's why I love reading your articles because you go into pretty much every single detail, there's just too much dross on the internet mate which aren't even worthy of being called an article. As a writer yourself you must see it more then the average person how lazy people are on the internet which I'm almost certain most people just bloody copy and paste.
The extensive research you do doesn't go unnoticed and is very much appreciated. I always learn something or multiple things new reading these.
Absolutely fantastic mate, thank you.
{Ed001's Note - you are right, almost everything is just a copy and paste of an original article. It reminds me of when I was at school and didn't bother to do my homework, so me mate would do his on computer and just do two versions, slightly changing one for me. All because he didn't want me to get kicked out of the class and be left on his own!}
07 Sep 2024
07 Sep 2024 13:28:21
Just for a bit of fun would you do a review of Roy Evans 1st squad/ season please?
{Ed001's Note - Roy Evans and the Spice Boys are already on the list for articles mate. So yeah no worries I will just add that into it.}
07 Sep 2024 13:03:42
Ed001 you around mate?
{Ed001's Note - no Bazza, not around if you are asking!}
07 Sep 2024 13:28:21
Just for a bit of fun would you do a review of Roy Evans 1st squad/ season please?
{Ed001's Note - Roy Evans and the Spice Boys are already on the list for articles mate. So yeah no worries I will just add that into it.}
07 Sep 2024 15:28:36
Perfect thank you.
07 Sep 2024 15:50:22
Loved the Roy Evans era. Disappointed that he wasn't given the support he needed above him. Bergkamp, Desailly, Sheringham were players he really wanted. Giving him Paul Ince as a cure for the soft centre was the beginning of his end.
07 Sep 2024 16:25:17
Didn't he want batistuta aswel?
08 Sep 2024 10:06:24
And Batigol was open to coming apparently.
07 Sep 2024 13:03:42
Ed001 you around mate?
{Ed001's Note - no Bazza, not around if you are asking!}
07 Sep 2024 13:28:21
Just for a bit of fun would you do a review of Roy Evans 1st squad/ season please?
{Ed001's Note - Roy Evans and the Spice Boys are already on the list for articles mate. So yeah no worries I will just add that into it.}
07 Sep 2024 15:28:36
Perfect thank you.
07 Sep 2024 15:50:22
Loved the Roy Evans era. Disappointed that he wasn't given the support he needed above him. Bergkamp, Desailly, Sheringham were players he really wanted. Giving him Paul Ince as a cure for the soft centre was the beginning of his end.
07 Sep 2024 16:25:17
Didn't he want batistuta aswel?
08 Sep 2024 10:06:24
And Batigol was open to coming apparently.
07 Sep 2024
07 Sep 2024 12:04:56
Lol ed1 a gobsmacking story isn't it mate, I bet it was interesting doing more research on it. Will read this later on when I'm free. Cheers mate.
{Ed001's Note - it was actually really difficult to research as there was so little out there other than just repeating the same bits. I basically read the same story over and over from different sites, almost exactly the same, but none of them expanded on the main bits apart from Bleacher Report. I am not normally a big fan of BR, but they did stellar work to track his family down and flesh out the story a bit.}
07 Sep 2024
07 Sep 2024 11:41:25
Ha mad story that ED001 . crazy how it got away with . Souness playing it down how he got duped but bet ya you it still kills him. shocked that Harry Redknapp never fell for it with the amount of player turnovers he's had . Reminds me a bit of that con man who ended up conning Thierry Henrys wife out of a few quid .
{Ed001's Note - you know what they say - can't kid a kidder. 'Arry is a conman, he knew a con when he heard it.}
07 Sep 2024
07 Sep 2024 11:41:25
Ha mad story that ED001 . crazy how it got away with . Souness playing it down how he got duped but bet ya you it still kills him. shocked that Harry Redknapp never fell for it with the amount of player turnovers he's had . Reminds me a bit of that con man who ended up conning Thierry Henrys wife out of a few quid .
{Ed001's Note - you know what they say - can't kid a kidder. 'Arry is a conman, he knew a con when he heard it.}