I can't afford to go anymore and have to settle for getting my lad a ticket now and then so that he can go at least.
I've been to games in the past in the hope of buying a ticket in the Albert, Sollly or the Park on the day at face value, as the kick off nears you say to yourself you're prepared to pay a few extra quid to a tout over the odds because you're becoming more desperate. The club charging £77 for tickets is legalised corporate ticket touting because there'll always be someone who can't get a cheaper ticket willing to pay over the odds because of desperation to see the match.
Best deal i ever got off a tout was not for footyballon but for a gig by QOTSA, gig had jus started support act on me and a mate got 2 ticks for £40 (for both, not each) ... dunno what he'd been smokin'
I think they have got everything right except player recruitment. (And apparently ticket pricing it seems). As many have said the current structure is not weighted to supplying the immediate first team squad. I've said before that I didn't mind 5 years ago as it would take at least five years to implement a solid youth and scouting policy..both to supply the first team and earn money on those not succeeding through that far. Looking at it it doesn't seem to be working...is it the staff? I also understood that in the beginning we didn't have huge transfer pots so had to target players carefully and yes take gambles. There were also outside pressures from players being attracted to superclubs before we had got to trophy success to keep them here. But I say again...we have followed many a midtable club in selling our best players for huge sums and replacing them with midtable players.. I'm not just talking about PL players but can someone list the players we got home and abroad that didn't come from midtable or at best teams not winning leagues? We spent a huge amount of money over this time simply to fill, then refill our team with squad players. Who was blamed? The coaching staff. Well Klopp is showing that you can not coach excellence from mediocrity...you can not coach bottle and fight from sheep. So, back to a 3 year plan and hopefully Klopp is indeed in charge of filling his own team (obviously with assistance from the best recruiters we can hire) The kitty may not be City or PSG size but it's bigger than most in Europe..there is no excuse for the average players continuing to flow into our club for silly money. Klopps first 5 signings will indicate who is in control and if any lessons have been learned by FSG. As for January window...I'm glad we didn't buy. I want the next 4 months with this shower to really hammer home to the owners how poor their recruitment team...most of whom have survived, really are!
Since Rafa was sacked Liverpool have spent close to £200m on players from Mid table Premier League clubs. That's why we are where we are.
FSG have made mistakes. I hope they have learned from them and we turn a corner. The intention re. spending has been right, but the execution terrible. I also don't like how they see players as investments with a financial return. The only return players should give are assists, goals and/or clean sheets.
Hopefully not lol... For all the hilarious accusations by manc supporters that we have our Kloppite glasses on..we all realise he is not magic...he's just a very good coach with an attractive reputation...all important. But the club changed the coaching staff bar head coach at the start of last summer...then bought a lot of mediocrity yet again...then they fired the head coach and brought in one the world including those mancs considered one of the best...4 months on and the team is funny enough still mediocre. They really need to be considering just how good the rest of the recruitment team is before buying another player...Klopp and his coaching staff can not do it alone and nor should he have to. He also can not do it with one hand behind his back which is what happened to BR..doesn't matter if he would have had any more success than he did...the lack of clarity and direction was still put on him and his coaching team.
With the Fair Play rules the days of Arab or Russian oligarchs taking over the club and spending billions have gone. With the Fair Play in mind I think FSG have built a sustainable business model. We have built on the commercial side and we're expanding capacity at Anfield. All what remains is a sustainable period of qualification for and participation in the latter knockout stages of The CL to bring more revenue into the club and attract better overseas players. Unfortunately with the exception of Suarez, Coutinho and Sturridge our so called marquee signings have not been successful (yet). I think the transfer committee should replaced by a DoF. The DoF has to be an experienced manager with a track record of success not like Comolli. I'd prefer someone of the calibre of Ottmar Hitzfeld, assuming of course he'll get along with Klopp (put their Dortmund v Bayern loyalties aside). Rafa used his knowledge of the Spanish speaking football teams to bring in a lot of players. He even had King Kenny scouting Suarez. Klopps and Hitzfelds experience of the German league which attracts talent from eastern and central European leagues and beyond could make them scout some really good talent at a lesser price than in the EPL.
FairPlay is effectively over now. And PSG and City will prove that this summer with outlays of over £150m each. It was one of the reasons FSG invested in the prem, so its removal poses questions for their future. Not sure they will be happy with having to commit to always spending tens of millions each summer to simply keep up with the top 4
Well, we'll have to be the best of the chasing pack and be content with CL qualification by the occasional 4th place and winning the UEL until we're rich enough to sustain a regular CL spot. Look at Leicester, a breath of fresh air. The game needs them to succeed.
FFP is bullshit and is on the way out already, it doesn't work. The idea was to stop mega rich clubs getting further ahead but since they can generate cash through other means, ie sponsoring themselves, it doesn't work. Man City got punished for breach and has it affected them spending huge amounts? Answer is a simple no. FSG has brought us into the 21st Century where the commercial side is concerned but with new TV deal coming in its only going to make a small difference to the rest of the league. When clubs like Stoke are able to spend £18m on a single player, English clubs can afford to spend. Its not the commercial side thats worrying, its where the money is spent.
How many players is that? Can't see it being many. Migs, Enrique, Clyne, Lovren, Toure, Allen, Hendo, Milner, Lallana, Benteke, Ings, Studge, Downing, Carroll, Adam and Bellamy. Have I missed anyone?
