The reality is nobody in Europe wanted either and both are late bloomers. Both are championship buys that have flourished in the prem. And good on them. If lfc bought a nobody for 400K we'd all go mad I bet. Mahrez or no...
We are not actually sure that is the case tbf mate. I have tended to blame Rodgers but there is the committee. Lack of transparency is an issue - then you have the scouts and negotiators who as far as I am ware are still there (obviously Ayre).
For every Mahrez and Vardy there are hundreds of similar deals that either flop or go as expected. The odd few that actually pay off very rarely get to the levels those two have.
Edwards is the worst of the lot that's why. He knows even less about football than Rodgers. This is the fella who's emailing the hierarchy on a daily basis with his "expert match analysis" and "player performance" statistics. This is the guy who's CV contains spending 6 years at Portsmouth during their descent into oblivion, then a couple of years at Spurs feeding Comolli "data". He's a shyster...a spiv...a computer nerd who wouldn't know a football if it hit him in the face. He uses phrases such as "goal expectancy" during his cosy chats with the hierarchy whilst sitting in his air conditioned office playing Football Manager...meanwhile the club sacks the proper scouts like Mel Johnson who incidentally recommended both Ibe and Delli Ali (who we could have got for buttons at the time...unfortunately Edwards "computer said no"). Him, Fallows, Ayre et al are blaggers of the highest order. Rodgers was their man because he wanted to be just like them. They have set up a "ties and blazers old boys" mentality around the club and the sooner Klopp takes a sledgehammer to the lot of them the better. Imagine for a moment Shanks walking in and looking at this squad and then the people who threw it together. He'd hound them out of the club quicker than you can say " Benteke is having a fabulous game". On the football side the club is an shambles. On the business side they've done so amazingly well that next season will be my first in TWO DECADES without a season ticket because they are whacking the prices up AGAIN (despite the massive hike in TV money and the wage bill slashing that's apparently occurred). If they don't sort the committee ****wits out then we are in danger of wasting the talents of one of the best coaches in Europe. Either give him a knowledgeable DoF he can work with or put some people on the committee who actually understand the game. Hardly ****ing rocket science.
well said billy just hope klopp does have the balls to stand up to the owners, and he doesn't go the same way rafa did if he does.
LFC wouldn't have been chasing them, that's the point. You've instead either massively overpaid for domestic players who'd had a good season or 2, or gone into the European market and massive overpaid for the likes of Firmino and Markovic. All of which means that those tasked with the recruitment have largely failed, and imo should have been canned for it. Rodgers was, but the others haven't been. FSG can take the responsibility for that, however, it's their money, so therefore their choice. I suspect Klopp won't accept buying players to 'plug gaps', he's going to want players that improve your starting XI, which is should always be the prime objective when spending big on established players. If they're not markedly better than what you've already got, what's the point in making a huge financial outlay? The young players that you take as 'prospects' are always a gamble and therefore you should not be paying £20m for example i.e. Markovic.
I was looking at our squad list last night and its frankly alot larger than we claim, there are 24 'senior' players and that doesn't include Ibe, or Gomez. So I don't believe we should be looking at Plugging gaps anyway, as with that amount of players there shouldn't be gaps to plug. Unfortunately its difficult to cover for long term injuries like Ings and Gomez or chronic sick note Sturridge. I always believed that plugging gaps was a job for your u21s, it gives them chance to play 1st team and prove what they're worth and now and then a few might break through. I think this is Klopps thinking in recalling the loans, which was one of Rodgers massive failings. The belief he had to have a 'squad' to win, so meant he had to buy in bulk to pad out.
I'll still go the odd game but the latest hike is just one too many (as it's just not necessary). The new TV money is huge, ridiculously so in fact and to shunt the price up the very season the new deal starts is a kick in the balls really. To be honest the ground is a pretty soleless place these days. It's a long way from the experience I grew up with (some for the better in fairness but it's sanitised to say the least). I'll miss it of course but the club will survive eh...in fact given what I spend in the ground on a match day I'm certain they will be financially better off without me there More money for Edwards and co to spunk up the wall
I feel the same way about it at my club mate. I know we've discussed atmosphere etc before, and I whole heartedly agree. Most PL grounds these days are sanitised and it's nothing like what it was years ago. I've missed a few games this season (last night being one). Due to work commitments largely, but also partly because I couldn't be bothered going the extra mile to get there. I think I'm not going to renew either, and go back to 'pay as you go', and maybe take in a few more aways instead (which I always enjoy more).
When I used to go with my lad it was still a great atmosphere, he's been a few times over the last few seasons and says the same that it's dead and that the away fans are the loudest. He turned down a ticket this season, he simply didn't want to do the round trip for what he got out of it.
Meh....they'll be better off without us sitting there grumbling about "the old days" Maybe we're a pair of jinxers anyway.... You know what will happen...we'll give up our tickets, both clubs get super rich owners who slash season ticket prices in half whilst bringing in the world's best talent....and then you won't be able to get a ticket for love nor money
Liverpool fans urged to support Anfield walkout in ticket price protest "Supporters asked to walk out on 77 minutes of Saturday's home game against Sunderland" “Sunderland at home on Saturday, the first stage of many planned protests against the club in regards to the ticket prices at Anfield for the 2016/17 season. “LFC think it’s acceptable to make more money than ever before from supporters. £2million more. “That means price rises for many. £77 match tickets and £1,029 season tickets." “Big increases for some, a few frozen and others get a tiny bit off. The club still make more. “Don’t think it’s OK because yours is OK. “Who will get the next increases do you think? “Every week we get right behind the team. “Now supporters need to get behind each other. “Let’s make sure the owners know this is unacceptable. “On 77 minutes, leave your seat and walk out. Tell your mates and family. Tell the people around you. Tell them why. “Walk out on 77 minutes and show you care. “Love the team – Hate the prices. #WalkOutOn77.” http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/liverpool-fans-urged-support-anfield-10834775
The problem @Page_Moss_Kopite is that a lot who go are not regulars. A lot are tourists who do not even really support Liverpool or are people who buy one off and travel up (like myself). Due to the price even locals buy when they can/want to as opposed to being season ticket holders. Very few will walk out at 77 minutes if they've paid a one-off ticket. I hope they do, mind. I would.
Given the ****e we've been served up lately I'd rather we all walked out on 27 I usually need a piss about then anyway so I could go on the way out
