Agree. But I think Celtic are also in the screwed camp! Which pleased my Rangers supporting friend!
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The 2017-2018 Football Thread
- Thread starter Lord Blackadder
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As rumored Barca have signed Dembélé for a huge sum, £97m with add-ons.
Now, this probably takes the pressure off Liverpool to sell Phil Coutinho, but it leaves us with a big question as to his current mindset and attitude.
I don't care whether Liverpool lost the chance to sell a player for over 100 million, we couldn't replace him at any price in the current market, and we need him. But if he has become "unsettled" it could place us in the same situation Liverpool placed Southampton - star player goes on strike, relationship with club probably irreparably damaged.
Liverpool may end up selling him next summer as a result of the fallout from this tug of war, and probably for less than the £100m+ Barca offered. But I still think it was the correct move - otherwise Liverpool have no way of building a better squad. You must be able to keep your best players.
Now, this probably takes the pressure off Liverpool to sell Phil Coutinho, but it leaves us with a big question as to his current mindset and attitude.
I don't care whether Liverpool lost the chance to sell a player for over 100 million, we couldn't replace him at any price in the current market, and we need him. But if he has become "unsettled" it could place us in the same situation Liverpool placed Southampton - star player goes on strike, relationship with club probably irreparably damaged.
Liverpool may end up selling him next summer as a result of the fallout from this tug of war, and probably for less than the £100m+ Barca offered. But I still think it was the correct move - otherwise Liverpool have no way of building a better squad. You must be able to keep your best players.
Your best players are the ones that want to play for you.
Not the ones with the talent who just stir up the dressing room.
I think Klopp is both clever enough to make a convincing argument to Coutinho as to why his future lies with Liverpool this season on the one hand, and ruthless enough to jettison him the moment he believes the player has mentally checked out on the other.
It would be a huge shame if Coutinho's time here ended on such a sour note, but the fans have virtually no control over that. It's up to the suits and Klopp on the one hand and Phil and his agent on the other.
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Man City with a pretty lucky win and a rather comical and utterly needless sending off at the end.
Five minutes of added time declared, Sterling scored in the seventh minute of added time, sent off a minute later and the game finally ended in the eleventh minute of added time.
Five minutes of added time declared, Sterling scored in the seventh minute of added time, sent off a minute later and the game finally ended in the eleventh minute of added time.
Have just been reading about it.
A winning goal in the 97th, or was it the 99th minute?
Man City deserved the result, but the manner of achieving it still required a slice of luck, with double the declared time added on.
It's Bilic vs Rafa in the sack race, and Bilic seems the more likely winner at the
moment.
moment.
Think you might be right. Huddersfield up next. I think that's a must win game.
the fans came on the pitch. sterling didn't go up in the stands. maybe they will rescind the red card.
A four-nil debacle. Disgraceful, incompetent, comically inept stuff from The Gunners. Actually, in a word, awful.
All credit to Liverpool.
But, good grief, Arsenal, sometimes you are simply excruciatingly embarrassing to claim, let alone watch, or support.
Wenger will probably regret signing an extension if he actually cares as much as he says he does. Things will only get worse as i fear its the continuation of a descent into mediocrity. The players aren't playing for him and are looking over the fence to get a move. Who in their right mind will want to sign for this club and play with those players.
Liverpool whilst good weren't that good. They were made to look like Real Madrid. The game plan was stupendously simple. Apply some pressure, win the ball, lob it to Salah and Mane. Rinse repeat. Job done.
Its a shame really, so much potential and yet they're the laughing stock of Europe. Always mocked before games and always prove their critics right in the end.
Where is the pride to defend your club. None.
Liverpool whilst good weren't that good. They were made to look like Real Madrid. The game plan was stupendously simple. Apply some pressure, win the ball, lob it to Salah and Mane. Rinse repeat. Job done.
Its a shame really, so much potential and yet they're the laughing stock of Europe. Always mocked before games and always prove their critics right in the end.
Where is the pride to defend your club. None.
Unlikely - pretty much the only time a yellow is ever rescinded is in cases of the wrong player being booked.
A good friend of mine, who has been following Arsenal since before Wenger's time, has recently told me he's finally given up on them. His enthusiasm has been in decline for a while now but Wenger's staying at the club for this season was the last straw for him.
Liverpool had a great match, showing all of their strengths to full advantage while Arsenal - already a team Klopp likes to play against - had an utterly ghastly day at the office. This is pretty much as bad as I've ever seen them. Liverpool's defensive weaknesses were never tested by Arsenal, allowing the Reds to concentrate on pressing and running at Arsenal, with predictable results.
Salah, despite being the Liverpool's current record signing, actually seems a bargain given today's market. He is fitting well into Klopp's system and between he, Mané, and Firmino Liverpool have a front line that even the best teams will fear to face.
Odd descision by Klopp to drop Mignolet for Karius (he claims Mignolet was "rested"); apparently he is trying to maintain a competition between the two?
To say my Arsenal friends are upset is an under statement! Liverpool fans are happy.
Liverpool have come an agreement with RB Liepzeig to buy Naby Keïta...next summer.
Under the deal, Liverpool will activate his £48m release clause at the end of the current season, though exactly how much he will ultimately cost is not yet entirely clear. Rumor has it that RB want to be paid a premium for making the deal with Liverpool now.
Still no word on Virgil van Dijk - a transfer to Liverpool is still theoretically possible, though if it happens the fee will surely be astonishingly high. Maybe Klopp can just make up with Mamadou Sakho?
I am OK with the idea of selling Coutinho if he really wants to go, but only if, like Keïta, the deal is done next summer. The club need time to plan for a replacement, or at least for Keïta to arrive. I would be angry, though not shocked, if the suits cave in at the prospect of a nine-figure fee and sell him now.
Under the deal, Liverpool will activate his £48m release clause at the end of the current season, though exactly how much he will ultimately cost is not yet entirely clear. Rumor has it that RB want to be paid a premium for making the deal with Liverpool now.
Still no word on Virgil van Dijk - a transfer to Liverpool is still theoretically possible, though if it happens the fee will surely be astonishingly high. Maybe Klopp can just make up with Mamadou Sakho?
I am OK with the idea of selling Coutinho if he really wants to go, but only if, like Keïta, the deal is done next summer. The club need time to plan for a replacement, or at least for Keïta to arrive. I would be angry, though not shocked, if the suits cave in at the prospect of a nine-figure fee and sell him now.
Oxalade Chamberlain joins Liverpool for £35m after turning down a 180k/w deal. Another one that Wenger put his 'faith/loyalty' in over the years has now abandoned him at the earliest opportunity. Exit door open for Wilshere. Kieran Gibbs also off to West Brom. The so-called English core has been dismantled. Speaking of West Brom, Krychowiak also on his way. Pulis slowly building a good team there.
Also Gabriel off to Valencia. Mustafi off to Inter on loan. Alexis with one-leg out.
The exodus continues.
Also Gabriel off to Valencia. Mustafi off to Inter on loan. Alexis with one-leg out.
The exodus continues.
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Whatever about Arsenal's trials and tribulations, (and they are not insignificant), I can't say that some of those players would be terribly impressive as role models.
Klopp has said very nice things about the Ox, but in my experience he's a fast dribbler with little in the way of an end product. Arsenal supporters I know don't really rate him too highly. He's good for depth (something Liverpool badly needed to build) but he won't start in the current squad when everyone is healthy, especially if Klopp intends to play him in the midfield.
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