The Footie Thread

[Bdill93]

It does, doesn't it. Initially I saw the increase in capacity and wondered if that was really justifiable. When you read the article it becomes so much more that that.

I know its funny to take the mick but credit to City, the Etihad is filling up most weeks now. They might not have the same noise levels as many others but the have bums on seats these days.

 

[Orikoru]

I said you competed, that wasn't a dig. Without Liverpool those few years would have been mega dull walkovers and you did a great job of giving them a run for their money, but in 15 years no one will remember how many times you came second.

And yeah you could recruit well, but I don't think you're going to achieve a miracle and be straight back in to the top 2.

I think you're making great points. Liverpool spent more than most, not as much as the top teams obviously, but recruited well and had a great team, but it's not sustainable unless you continue to spend. Their best players are mostly the wrong side of 30, bar the two full backs. Likes of Diaz and Gakpo are decent but I'm not sure they'll reach the heights of Salah and Mane.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

I know its funny to take the mick but credit to City, the Etihad is filling up most weeks now. They might not have the same noise levels as many others but the have bums on seats these days.

I wasn't digging about it not being full, City fans themselves are happy to make that comment . Even that is out of date though according to this comment "The average attendance at the Etihad this season has been 53,185, which is 96.7% of the stadium’s capacity of 55,017".

My point was more about spending £300m for an extra 5k seats. When you read the article you see it is about other things, hotel, improved facilities on match day and so on. The extra 5k is almost secondary.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

I said you competed, that wasn't a dig. Without Liverpool those few years would have been mega dull walkovers and you did a great job of giving them a run for their money, but in 15 years no one will remember how many times you came second.

And yeah you could recruit well, but I don't think you're going to achieve a miracle and be straight back in to the top 2.

Again no one knows what will happen - Arsenal went from 5th challenging for the title , Utd from 6th to 3rd , it’s completely unknown what will happen - we have had a poor season before and jumped back to challenge for the title. But no one knows

 

[Swango1980]

I think you're making great points. Liverpool spent more than most, not as much as the top teams obviously, but recruited well and had a great team, but it's not sustainable unless you continue to spend. Their best players are mostly the wrong side of 30, bar the two full backs. Likes of Diaz and Gakpo are decent but I'm not sure they'll reach the heights of Salah and Mane.

I think they probably won the lottery with Coutinho as well. PSG signing Neymar for a ridiculous sum of money probably benefited Liverpool more than anyone else. They certainly recruited well after that.

 

[Hobbit]

I’m comparing it to the other squad/team that’s been going at it over the last 5/6 years

How many of those other teams have been challenging over the previous 5 seasons

If the likes of Utd , Arsenal , etc have been challenging for titles over the last 5 years then they could be compared but they havent.

Good point LP, just who has been challenging City consistently over the last xx seasons? We could name few but even the challenge hasn’t blown City away. Are Arsenal the next Leicester? Was L’pool’s challenge in recent seasons a bigger version of Leicester?

Arsenal might, might, might hang on but I’m doubtful. L’pool might challenge next season but I’m not convinced their squad, even with a few additions will be anywhere near. Financially, a club needs to be matching City before I’ll be convinced there’s a realistic, long term challenge. Newcastle?

 

[IJames]

The club will buy players and sell players in the summer , it will be up to the recruitment team to make sure they are at the level needed

And i suspect the value of the club won’t change due to a poor season

I'm sure they will buy and sell! But the value of those sold will have dropped significantly - even if amortised - and purchases will need to be stars, so expensive! That'll mean either the club losing value or Fenway providing some capital - against their policy!

 

[Deleted member 15344]

I'm sure they will buy and sell! But the value of those sold will have dropped significantly - even if amortised - and purchases will need to be stars, so expensive! That'll mean either the club losing value or Fenway providing some capital - against their policy!

Why do they need to be “stars”

I have no doubt there are multiple players out that that won’t cost the earth

 

[Hobbit]

Why do they need to be “stars”

I have no doubt there are multiple players out that that won’t cost the earth

And one of those “don’t cost the earth” will become the next stars.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

And one of those “don’t cost the earth” will become the next stars.

Both Salah and De Bruyne were moved on by Chelsea for not being good enough. Whatever happened to them................. .

Not all stars are meteoric from day 1, they can and usually do evolve.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

And one of those “don’t cost the earth” will become the next stars.

Yep exactly. That’s the method the club prefer to go down - I can’t really think of many “stars” we bought , even the likes of VVD and Allison’s weren’t stars when they were bought


But many have turned into stars

 

[Swango1980]

Yep exactly. That’s the method the club prefer to go down - I can’t really think of many “stars” we bought , even the likes of VVD and Allison’s weren’t stars when they were bought


But many have turned into stars

Yes, they were not stars. That is why Liverpool only paid £75 million for VVD and £66.8 million for Allison

 

[Bdill93]

Yep exactly. That’s the method the club prefer to go down - I can’t really think of many “stars” we bought , even the likes of VVD and Allison’s weren’t stars when they were bought


But many have turned into stars

Yeah I'm having none of that. Record signing for a CB (at the time) is not a star signing?

 

[Hobbit]

Yep exactly. That’s the method the club prefer to go down - I can’t really think of many “stars” we bought , even the likes of VVD and Allison’s weren’t stars when they were bought


But many have turned into stars

Really? VVD & Allison not stars before they went to L’pool? Aye, right…

 

[Pin-seeker]

Yep exactly. That’s the method the club prefer to go down - I can’t really think of many “stars” we bought , even the likes of VVD and Allison’s weren’t stars when they were bought


But many have turned into stars

So you pay world record fees for players and they’re not stars?

 

[IJames]

Why do they need to be “stars”

I have no doubt there are multiple players out that that won’t cost the earth

Wouldn't need to be normally, but because of the situation they are in...! Not all need to be stars, but certainly a couple, to get back to where they belong quickly! The others should be at least potential stars!

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Really? VVD & Allison not stars before they went to L’pool? Aye, right…

No I don’t see them as stars when they were bought - very good players yes but everyone laughed at how much the club paid for both

A CB from “Southampton” and an Unknown GK who we recently smashed goals passed paying stupid amounts

But it will be down to peoples theory on what a star is - and certainly shouldn’t be judged by the price tag like some do

Jerry Maguire and Kepa certainly weren’t stats when they were bought for more

 

[clubchamp98]

That is defeating the object tactically of pushing the RB into midfield.

I've carefully watched City and Arsenal do this and the advantage of doing it is gaining an extra forward thinking midfielder and being able to get chalk on the wingers boots.

It does come with a risk of conceding goals but i think if done right, it will yeild greater results.

Yes if done right is correct.
but we’re not doing it right atm.
we have no pressure on the ball and teams are walking through us.
great going forward but we’re shocking at defending atm.

 

[clubchamp98]

Just watched the highlights of Liverpool Leeds.
No wonder nobody understands the handball rule.
VAR another mare there TAA that’s handball he moves his elbow to the ball.

great goals from reds but some very poor defending again that Leeds never took advantage of.

Delighted for Jotta as he looked a bit lost last few games.
Gakpo looks the real deal.
just need two class midfielders and we will be ok imo.

 

[pendodave]

No I don’t see them as stars when they were bought - very good players yes but everyone laughed at how much the club paid for both

A CB from “Southampton” and an Unknown GK who we recently smashed goals passed paying stupid amounts

Sometimes, when I'm not really expecting it, LP's version of reality still has the ability to make me spit my coffee out...