Liverpool FC Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours 2018

Firmino & Lallana for #10ish for rest of season should Phil really want to leave.
It seems like he wants out and the club/Klopp might facilitate that. Such is life, pity etc etc but LFC is far bigger than Phil c.

retalivity

Rumple Stillson wrote: »

If Coutinho believes he's played his last game for Liverpool and subsequently refuses to play for the rest of the season, what benefit is there to keeping him?

Let him rot til the summer, then offer him to madrid/psg/bayern for 80m!

Rumple Stillson

retalivity wrote: »

Let him rot til the summer, then offer him to madrid/psg/bayern for 80m!

Hey, go the whole hog, keep him til he's 30 and his contract runs out.

ricero

If coutinho does go this window then i reckon the van dijk deal was probably funded by his exit

Utopia Parkway

Imagine the ****storm if we missed out on CL qualification by a point or two. It would all be pinned on letting Coutinho leave in January. You could practically deduct next season's CL money from Coutinho's transfer fee.

Really would be a huge risk to take by the club. I think the fans are resigned to him leaving in the Summer and would accept it but it could easily go very badly if he leaves in January and things don't work out.

Agent Coulson

Rumple Stillson wrote: »

Hey, go the whole hog, keep him til he's 30 and his contract runs out.

Putting him on gardening leave would cost £24m in wages to to **** him and Barca over!

The club has wasted that alone on Markovic.


Worth it!

Agent Coulson

Agent Coulson wrote: »

Putting him on gardening leave would cost £24m in wages to to **** him and Barca over!

The club has wasted that alone on Markovic.


Worth it!

Well in addition to the wages you mention one must consider that he then walks on a free. Total cost a tad more than £24m all considered.

5starpool

Rumple Stillson wrote: »

Lemar is CL tied no?

No. Here are the rules.

A club may register a maximum of three new eligible players for the knockout stage. Such registration must be completed by midnight CET on 2 February 2016.

One player from the above quota of three can have been fielded in a group stage by another club in the current season, provided that the player has not been fielded:

In the same competition for another club; OR
For another club that is currently in the same competition (applies specifically to third-placed UEFA Champions League teams joining the UEFA Europa League)
One or more players from the above quota of three can be registered even if they have been fielded by another club in the first, second or third qualifying round, and/or play-offs of the UEFA Champions League or UEFA Europa League.

NukaCola

Agent Coulson wrote: »

Putting him on gardening leave would cost £24m in wages to to **** him and Barca over!

The club has wasted that alone on Markovic.


Worth it!

FSG paid 300M for LFC. No club is in a position to turn down approx half that for 1 player. Unfortunately......

NukaCola

Lemar......is he the answer? Thought he was more of a wide player?

brevity

If he wants to go and Liverpool can get a decent price and a suitable replacement then sell him.

I don't see any issue with wanting him to leave. Its nothing personal, it's just business.

Rumple Stillson

5starpool wrote: »

No. Here are the rules.

A club may register a maximum of three new eligible players for the knockout stage. Such registration must be completed by midnight CET on 2 February 2016.

One player from the above quota of three can have been fielded in a group stage by another club in the current season, provided that the player has not been fielded:

In the same competition for another club; OR
For another club that is currently in the same competition (applies specifically to third-placed UEFA Champions League teams joining the UEFA Europa League)
One or more players from the above quota of three can be registered even if they have been fielded by another club in the first, second or third qualifying round, and/or play-offs of the UEFA Champions League or UEFA Europa League.

Well they should have Lemar in a Liverpool shirt before Coutinho goes. I could stomach that. Would still be a massive blow but somewhat softened.

Irishmale0399

Would love to see Liverpool sell him to PSG for 60 million plus Draxler....just to piss off Barca

Osmosis Jones

NukaCola wrote: »

Lemar......is he the answer? Thought he was more of a wide player?

He's a LW that can play central sometimes, basically what Coutinho's done for us the past year or so. As much as we say he's a midfielder Coutinho plays most often and at his best on the left.

Rumple Stillson

Osmosis Jones wrote: »

He's a LW that can play central sometimes, basically what Coutinho's done for us the past year or so. As much as we say he's a midfielder Coutinho plays most often and at his best on the left.

You'd like to think with Oxlade finding form and Lallana back, we wouldn't be short in the midfield 3. Having an alternative to Mane and Salah is critical though.

Osmosis Jones

Rumple Stillson wrote: »

You'd like to think with Oxlade finding form and Lallana back, we wouldn't be short in the midfield 3. Having an alternative to Mane and Salah is critical though.

Yeah that and we've also played a sort of 442 lately, whenever the "Fab 4" start it tends to be Salah and Firmino up front, Coutinho left and Mane right, with some combination of two of Henderson/Can/Wijnaldum/Milner/Ox in midfield.

Agent Coulson

Coutinho out Sturridge out Markovic out Flanagan fired we could have €200m budget this window and £400k in wages to play with.


Might just about be able to sign Neymar.

NukaCola

NukaCola wrote: »

Lemar......is he the answer? Thought he was more of a wide player?

Osmosis Jones wrote: »

He's a LW that can play central sometimes, basically what Coutinho's done for us the past year or so. As much as we say he's a midfielder Coutinho plays most often and at his best on the left.

Mmmmmm .......... I reckon we might find it easier to strengthen the front 3 with a Lemar type player.

Getting a#10 like Phil who also excels in the front 3 when he has played there for us would be mission nigh on impossible IMO.

Phil is a unique talent in that dual respect IMO ......

BorneTobyWilde

133m is too little for a player like Coutinho considering the length of his contract. You'd have to put him in top 7 players in the world.
150m the least we should be asking for. I dunno where Barca are getting the money, they spent the Naymar money.

54and56

LiamoSail wrote: »

The difficulty is that whatever rule is applied to John Flanagan should also be applied to any other player at the club. Would Coutinho be sacked? VVD? Sarah? Obviously not, just as Suarez wasn't when he would and should have been in any other industry. For this reason I'd suggest that while I would support his sacking, it would also be a huge contradiction

Really depends on what's in his contract as players are typically employed via their own Ltd Co's rather than standard "employees". If the service contact LFC have with JF Football Ltd states that the contract can be immediately terminated should any of X, Y or Z events occur (typically things like bankruptcy, taking illegal drugs, being convicted of a crime etc) then the contract for Mr Flanagan's services can be terminated without compensation.

PL football players are not standard employee and are therefore not treated like a normal employee would be. they get paid extraordinary amounts to perform their services in accordance with their contract and in exchange they give up certain rights a normal employee would typically but not always have.

My bet is the club will have to wait until he is formally convicted and a criminal record is created (regardless of his guilty plea) before they can start the process or terminating his contract.

On a human level it does seem a massive price to pay for making a single (assuming it is) drunken mistake but they are the rules of the game he signed up to and let's not forget there's a woman who was assaulted here.

In situations like this it's not unheard of for agents/solicitors to try and get their arms around the situation once the initial dust settles and get both the victim and the assaulter to agree a hymn sheet where he admits he has a ________ (insert your preference for drugs/alcohol/anger/stress) problem, that he is eternally sorry for what he did and is going to seek professional help etc etc and she declares that whilst what he did deserves to be punished she loves him for better or worse (particularly if they have kids together), believes he is committed to getting the help he needs and is prepared to give him another chance etc.

I personally don't think such a narrative is right but when there is potentially a pile of money at stake, even if all he can do is play Championship football for another 8-9 years, then money and financial security often wins out.

Regardless of how the PR machine ramps up Flanno has now got a label/reputation which will follow him for the rest of his life and the victim has had a traumatising experience which could scar her for life and that should never be forgotten.

Lose lose all round.

ERG89

brevity wrote:

If he wants to go and Liverpool can get a decent price and a suitable replacement then sell him.

That's the thing what club is going to sell a good player in January other than PSG balancing their books.
If it is Lanzini well....<insert "Hello Darkness My Old Friend" gif>

Rumple Stillson

ERG89 wrote: »

That's the thing what club is going to sell a good player in January other than PSG balancing their books.
If it is Lanzini well....

Done.

54and56

ricero wrote: »

And if we did end up failing to qualify for champions league then the knives will be out for FSG.

What does this hyperbolic language achieve? Does anyone really think there will be some form of uprising if FSG sell a player who doesn't want to play for the club any more?

If Coutinho didn't want to leave FSG wouldn't be looking to sell him and who can seriously blame a guy for wanting to improve his career? That's what VVD is doing by joining us. It's all part of the game and the only way to mitigate it is to build a really strong squad that can withstand the loss of a single (albeit best) player and start winning serious trophies so players won't so easily want to leave us.

Agent Coulson

James, where does the £125m figure come from ? Surely that’s well below Coutinho’s value in this market ?

Hi Rob. Been told it would have to be in excess of that amount for them to consider it. I think it's tricky to say what his true market value is. He only wants Barca.

https://twitter.com/jamespearceecho/status/948241567072051207

Osmosis Jones

We'd never be able to replace Coutinho with a player of his quality, there aren't any players like him available, but Lemar is also 4 years younger than him. Draxler's also a popular shout.

rossie1977

Osmosis Jones wrote: »

We'd never be able to replace Coutinho with a player of his quality, there aren't any players like him available, but Lemar is also 4 years younger than him. Draxler's also a popular shout.

Put in a sneaky offer for Sanchez

rgace

It is obviously a lot of money but I see no reason why Barca wouldn't offer the same again in the Summer, he is our best player and could be the difference between qualifying for or even winning the CL...how much is that worth?

BorneTobyWilde

How many times has Firmino and Coutinho assisted each other, when we lose Coutinho, Firmino will suffer.

Utopia Parkway

rgace wrote: »

It is obviously a lot of money but I see no reason why Barca wouldn't offer the same again in the Summer, he is our best player and could be the difference between qualifying for or even winning the CL...how much is that worth?

Seems the logical way to do it. He only wants to go to Barcelona but they don't really need him until the Summer. An agreement that he will be sold to them in the Summer seems the best way to do it but Phil seems keen to leave asap for whatever reason.

Pity we have to endure another tedious transfer saga though. Really hate them.

murpho999

Agent Coulson wrote: »

So basically for the sh1t season we having by all accounts we are 6 points and 13 goals better off than this time last season?

Just wondering how you work this out?

Last season after 22 games we had 45 points and scored 51 goals in the league as opposed to 44 points and 50 goals today.

You can check the table here but select date as 21/01/17 to see status after 22 games.

Am I missing something?

HandsomeBob

Osmosis Jones wrote: »

We'd never be able to replace Coutinho with a player of his quality, there aren't any players like him available, but Lemar is also 4 years younger than him. Draxler's also a popular shout.

Wouldn't say he's as irreplaceable as say, Suarez, but it's always going to be difficult replacing such a player. Part of the problem is that he's really the only type of player we have that can perform the role with aplomb. Lallana has always been admirable but if we sell the Count and ask him to fill in while we attempt to purchase a replacement, we're in trouble.

The truth is that our midfield is imbalanced and has been for quite awhile in terms of the duties they can each perform.

Charlie19

Think we'll have to bring Luis Alberto home to replace Phill;), Isn't he doing well in Italy.

Agent Coulson

murpho999 wrote: »

Just wondering how you work this out?

Last season after 22 games we had 45 points and scored 51 goals in the league as opposed to 44 points and 50 goals today.

You can check the table here but select date as 21/01/17 to see status after 22 games.

Am I missing something?

The post directly above that one!

Agent Coulson

Charlie19 wrote: »

Think we'll have to bring Luis Alberto home to replace Phill;), Isn't he doing well in Italy.

Suso :pac:

davyboy1975

Need to sign up Sessegnon, kid is top quality especially from an attacking sense

Charlie19

Suso 5 goals and 3 assists. Ranked 30th.
Alberto 5 goals and 7 assists. Ranked 2nd.

I didn't realise how well Alberto was doing:)

https://www.whoscored.com/Regions/108/Tournaments/5/Seasons/6974/Stages/15404/PlayerStatistics/Italy-Serie-A-2017-2018

Agent Coulson

There is a scoring machine in Spain worth a punt....Aspas/

murpho999

murpho999 wrote: »

Just wondering how you work this out?

Last season after 22 games we had 45 points and scored 51 goals in the league as opposed to 44 points and 50 goals today.

You can check the table here but select date as 21/01/17 to see status after 22 games.

Am I missing something?

Here's the rationale .......... https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=105709589&postcount=2419

murpho999

Agent Coulson wrote: »

The post directly above that one!

Ok , get it now, didn't realise you were responding to that.

rob316

We just can't sell our best player midway through the season it makes no sense. It sends out a worse message than selling last summer. If we do a deal for a lower amount now securing a summer move id be much happier. He's absolutely crucial to our top 4 chances, could be worth £50m plus in revenue alone.

brevity

Ramadan Sobhi from Stoke is a rumour floating around.

Agent Coulson

I won't get shocked at any player we sign Klopp's hit rate is near prefect on the players he has brought in.



If he thinks Joe Nobody from FC Sh1t Club will do a job for him sign away.

Harry Palmr

*sign all the Egyptians* Sounds like an odd link, can't recall him from the game v Liverpool.

54and56

rob316 wrote: »

We just can't sell our best player midway through the season it makes no sense. It sends out a worse message than selling last summer. If we do a deal for a lower amount now securing a summer move id be much happier. He's absolutely crucial to our top 4 chances, could be worth £50m plus in revenue alone.

Does anyone here think Klopp or FSG actually want to sell Coutinho? I'm fairly sure they don't but Barca and Coutinho are agitating for it. There's no point in anyone getting pi$$ed off with what Barca are doing as they are free to do whatever they wish and the reality is if they (or anyone else) really wants something of course they are going todo anything they can short of breaking some actual laws or rules they are bound by to get what they want. That's just life and there's no point being upset by it.

Which leaves Coutinho.

If he said to Barca that he wanted to see out the season with Liverpool but would be open to joining them next season Barca wouldn't waste their time agitating for him to move but the fact is (based on the circumstantial evidence of sudden hard to prove "injuries" and handed in transfer requests etc) that Coutinho wants to join them ASAP and Barca are therefore encouraged to keep going.

If we're looking for a villain of the piece here Coutinho is the only one who remotely fits the bill as it is within his gift to either cool the transfer talk or fan the flames and he's choosing the latter............ for a 2nd time.

Having been told he's not getting his transfer in the summer he sulked for a couple of weeks (with a bad back) but then got over it, got his head down and has been 100% professional since.

If FSG block his move again it would be logical for him to try something other than being 100% professional this time round as it clearly didn't pay dividends last time.

That would be my main concern this time round.

If he's turned down for a transfer will he throw more sickies (is he throwing one already?) and will he just coast through games minding himself for the WC? If he was a fringe player for Brazil we could probably rely on the fact he'd have to stay in form right up to the end of the season but he's not. He's proved himself to the Brazil management team and if he takes it easy for the rest of the season they won't change their mind about his qualities, in fact they may be secretly happy to have a relatively fresh player joining them for pre WC training.

All of which begs the question "How would things pan out for LFC if he throws a sulk for the remainder of the season?"

Would Klopp pick a player who doesn't want to play for him and isn't prepared to give 100%? Would Klopp allow a player with a bad attitude to stay in the squad or would he end up training by himself? Who if anyone would benefit from such a scenario?

The worst outcome here is that we deny Coutinho a move to Barca, he throws a sulk (as behaving well in the first half of the season clearly didn't secure him a move), he is sent to Coventry by Klopp (not the transfer he was hoping for :P) and in June we have zero leverage over Barca as it's clear he only wants to sign for them and they wait us out until the final 24 hours of the window when we are faced with the option of another 6 months of paying his wages to train by himself or take what they are prepared to pay.

As I said earlier I don't blame Coutinho for wanting to move to Barca at all and for the reasons I have outlined above I believe FSG have an obligation to play this hand to the best advantage of the club. That will likely boil down to assessing the risk of the worst case scenario happening and making the best decision possible with imperfect information available to them at which time internet warriors with no skin in the game who never have to make any actual decisions with serious financial consequences will jump off the fence and call FSG all kinds of derogatory names for being useless and terrible owners blah blah blah and round and round we will go.

murpho999

Ballague now tweeting that Barcelona will offer €110m up front and €40m with add ons.

To be honest I think Liverpool should learn from Southampton and the VVD deal. Name a price of between €150-175m up front and small attainable add ons ( not stupid ones like winning the Balon D'or) and tell Barcelona to take or leave it.

If they really want him they will pay it and that would cushion the blow of selling him and I would not blame FSG for selling him.

As good as he is , I don't think he's as big a blow as losing an at peak Torres or Suarez because of squad depth and Keita on the way plus whatever summer acquisitions come.

BorneTobyWilde

110.00 euro LOL
So basically around 95m pound .WTF
Liverpool have a history of selling very cheaply and spending too much when buying. We hold all the cards. If it leaves for less than 150m they got a bargain.

Knex*

He's the Joyce/Pearce/Reddy Barca equivalent

https://twitter.com/Marsallorente/status/948262767542325248

Negotiations between Barça and Liverpool for Coutinho are well advanced. The transfer would cost €160m (€120m fixed + €40m variables) and could be closed this coming week. Personal agreement reached between Coutinho and Barcelona in the summer still stands.

I think he's gone, something I never would have believed a week ago tbh. I think that deal is too cheap too, considering its Euro also.

murpho999

BorneTobyWilde wrote: »

110.00 euro LOL
So basically around 95m pound .WTF
Liverpool have a history of selling very cheaply and spending too much when buying. We hold all the cards. If it leaves for less than 150m they got a bargain.

Yes, but that's how negotiations start.

S. Goodspeed

Just rewatching the Burnley goals on MOTD... I admit that I am overly critical of Mignolet but does anyone else think he could have done better for their goal? He runs / ambles after the ball rather than diving towards the only part of the goal where the ball could actually go. It’s obviously impossible to say for sure but i would fancy DDG to get across and save that.

Harry Palmr

https://twitter.com/Ozzywessi/status/948238979014578176