But that is not representative of the development that took place, which I describe.
Sorry but it is. As an illustration here are just the last six signings: Kyrgiakos, Ayala, Maxi Rodriguez, Sterling (a youth player then), Shelvey, Jovanovic.
But that is not representative of the development that took place, which I describe.
If we, the fans watching only matches, can pin point the problem that is the regression of our main midfield 3 especially Hendo and Fab, then how did Klopp and co. miss it?
If they didn't miss it, why would they prioritise Gakpo over a MF in Jan? We obviously had 40m to spend and they decided to blow it all on a forward. If we do not make the CL places that will be on the management team, at least a fair chunk of it.
Even Baj wasn't expected to make the step up so quickly. He did, we were fortunate. It could have been so much worse to be honest.
Can you remember Albert Riera?
Yeah, obviously we picked up some class under the radar signings early on with Alonso, Lil Luis and Reina, and it might be argued that it never got better than that. The biggest year in terms of quality signings for Rafa other than that was 2007 with Torres, Mascher (on loan with option), Babel (oops), and Yossi.Sorry but it is. As an illustration here are just the last six signings: Kyrgiakos, Ayala, Maxi Rodriguez, Sterling (a youth player then), Shelvey, Jovanovic.
Sorry but it is. As an illustration here are just the last six signings: Kyrgiakos, Ayala, Maxi Rodriguez, Sterling (a youth player then), Shelvey, Jovanovic.
I don't disagree with you perhaps they couldn't get the right candidate for the MF role in Jan. But the fact remains that it was a decision they took to go all in on that player/s and nobody else.I very much doubt they missed the problem in MF or prioritised Gakpo over a MF signing, though we did also need more up front with Mane gone and Jota injured. My bet is that Gakpo was a target they found they could afford whereas the MFs they wanted (and still want) weren't available or affordable. If you think they should instead have spent the money on a MF they didn't actually rate highly enough, I don't agree.
Yeah, obviously we picked up some class under the radar signings early on with Alonso, Lil Luis and Reina, and it might be argued that it never got better than that. The biggest year in terms of quality signings for Rafa other than that was 2007 with Torres, Mascher (on loan with option), Babel (oops), and Yossi.
Gomez is fucking awful and has made countless errors this season (and well beyond) whilst spreading panic around him…
And…
…we’ve been unbalanced, seemingly exhausted /traumatised by last season and collectively mediocre.
It’s a false dichotomy to say that statement 1 is simply scapegoating Gomez and ignoring statement 2.
I’m absolutely bewildered as to how Gomez consistently makes his way into our first 11 at the expense of others when he’s consistently giving away goal scoring opportunities because of his lack of concentration, fear or whatever it is. It’s the one thing I can’t fathom Klopp on. It’s been like this all season and there seems to be a collective aversion to calling Gomez out on his repetitive shitness - contrast with the magnification of any Trent error.
Just get him out of a starting spot at Cb. It won’t solve everything, but we’ll be giving away 2-3 less unforced errors leading to goalcoring chances per game.
Yeah, pretty fucking good alright.That's actually a great fucking window. Yossi was a perfect squad player and Babel, as disappointing as he was, still provided something, at least at the beginning
They both scored memorable goals that I can still remember too. Yossi's last minute winner against Fulham (was it?) in the league and Babel against Arsenal in Europe
I liked Benayoun’s ability to unlock low block teams (that Fulham goal was an example) which we had struggled with after we’d figured out how to beat the big teams.That's actually a great fucking window. Yossi was a perfect squad player and Babel, as disappointing as he was, still provided something, at least at the beginning
They both scored memorable goals that I can still remember too. Yossi's last minute winner against Fulham (was it?) in the league and Babel against Arsenal in Europe
Sorry but it is. As an illustration here are just the last six signings: Kyrgiakos, Ayala, Maxi Rodriguez, Sterling (a youth player then), Shelvey, Jovanovic.
I don't think we can use the signings during that phase of G&H as a basis. That was a really weird and toxic time.
Genuinely Gomez is irredeemable for me now. He's now in the Naby Keita camp of "just go" for me now. All the credit he built up in the bank from the title season has gone. Hes consistently making rash decisions when outside the box, and backing off horribly when inside the box. He always needed to be held by the hand by Virgil, but virgil can't do that any more. There's been zero progression in his ability, and i've no doubt thats down to the horrible injuries he's had.
He should have been the one to replace Virgil; the pace, the physique....but it's all for nothing