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Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 6,054
1st Team Squad
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1st Team Squad
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 6,054 |
It seems it's the 3 year (ish) cycle rule. It's very difficult for any team to perform at peak level for more than 2-3 seasons - esp teams that play high intensity, high octane football. Some players get older/slower; some lose the hunger; some stop listening to the manager... it's just natural.
It will happen to us after this season I suspect. If we win the league, most players will have won the CL and the Title. How many will want to try that again and again? Esp the overseas players... I suspect quite a few will want the next challenege - in Spain or Italy.
The club may also decide to cash in on Mane or Salah in order to refresh the team and also because of the change to the timing of African Nations Cup.
So enjoy every moment of this season whilst it lasts. There is so much in what you say which is so true Mighty. But above all of that I think the hunger of the fans will keep it stoked up and burning for a long time. The inevitable happens as players get older so you have to keep the plans fluid for incoming players. We only seem to buy players of a certain age because who wants to lose them at 27/28 for nothing having given them pots of money since 20/21. Losing Suarez, Coutinho to the money clubs and Gerrard, Carragher to retirement over a 5 year period was always going to be difficult but what a transformation we have seen. I am not so sure City will find that same resolve in the period where they lose Silva, Kompany, Fernandinho and possibly Aguero in the same time span. I agree that we may lose Salah or Mane but we will pick up another player for Klopp to improve and take us to yet another level. Can you just imagine him getting Mbappe and making him better? I think we bought Minamino for cover and to replace one of the front if we sell, we also have the likes of Elliott coming through, who looks like he could be ready in a few years.
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Joined: May 2012
Posts: 3,060
Under 23 Player
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Under 23 Player
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 3,060 |
I can definitely see one of Mane or Salah going (more likely Salah imo) and if we get good money for him and replace with quality I think we’ll be alright. Someone young like Sancho that we can get a lot of years out of would be good.
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Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 6,054
1st Team Squad
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1st Team Squad
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 6,054 |
I can definitely see one of Mane or Salah going (more likely Salah imo) and if we get good money for him and replace with quality I think we’ll be alright. Someone young like Sancho that we can get a lot of years out of would be good. I just cannot see us spending huge money (£100+million) on someone like Sancho who is only 19, I guess it depends on what we get for someone like Salah, we spent big on VvD, but that was with the inflated money we got for Coutinho. I can see us bringing in someone who Klopp can work on and mould, he does like doing that.
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Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 269
Under 16 Player
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Under 16 Player
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 269 |
For me the main thing is that we are now able to win games that we were drawing last season and grind out games.
City are obviously missing Laporte, who arguably is of same importance as VVD to us (as they only have 2 reliable CBs excluding Otamendi who Pep doesnt trust), but I think the even bigger reason is Pep's refusal to play football anyway other than his passing the ball into the net philosophy.
If you watch us, quite often we go very direct with a long ball down the channel or over the top when mane or salah makes diagonal infield runs. City always insists on playing out from the back and in their certain way, which makes them easier to prepare against. Together with their defence sucking in Laporte's absence, this has caused them to drop points.
I think City on their day still play better football than us (although we are good ourselves), but I'd happily trade the pretty passing for results and trophies
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Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 1,542
Under 23 Player
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Under 23 Player
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 1,542 |
FSG have set their stall out pretty well and I think teams know if they're going to prise our top players away, it's going to cost them big big money. I can't see Salah going for less than £150m and it's a happy team, no-one's forcing a move through.
We're also not reliant on any one player so I'd more than trust Klopp with £150m.
Firmino keeps suprising me just how good he is. The perfect foil for Mane/Salah either side. He's a joy to watch when he's on form.
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Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 5,936
1st Team Squad
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1st Team Squad
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 5,936 |
I’d disagree that City play better than us now. They are fairly one dimensional trying to pass the ball into the net or the occasional shot. Liverpool have more offensive weapons now which is why we have been so potent. Teams don’t know how to combat us because we have so many different outlets to play.
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 22,926
Liverpool Legend
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Liverpool Legend
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 22,926 |
I’d disagree that City play better than us now. They are fairly one dimensional trying to pass the ball into the net or the occasional shot. Liverpool have more offensive weapons now which is why we have been so potent. Teams don’t know how to combat us because we have so many different outlets to play. I would rather say City plays better attacking football than us but are nowhere near our defensive football, therefore as a whole, we are better than them to win games. They are like us when we almost won the league under Rodgers or even in Klopp's first full season, but football is not only about attack it's about the right balance.
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Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 3,746
Under 23 Player
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Under 23 Player
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 3,746 |
I’d disagree that City play better than us now. They are fairly one dimensional trying to pass the ball into the net or the occasional shot. Liverpool have more offensive weapons now which is why we have been so potent. Teams don’t know how to combat us because we have so many different outlets to play. I would rather say City plays better attacking football than us but are nowhere near our defensive football, therefore as a whole, we are better than them to win games. They are like us when we almost won the league under Rodgers or even in Klopp's first full season, but football is not only about attack it's about the right balance. Totally agree. I miss those games under Rodgers in a way. We were playing breathtaking stuff in attack. Probably better than we are now but look how we manage games now. Even when we are not playing well we don't look like getting beaten.
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Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 6,054
1st Team Squad
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1st Team Squad
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 6,054 |
I’d disagree that City play better than us now. They are fairly one dimensional trying to pass the ball into the net or the occasional shot. Liverpool have more offensive weapons now which is why we have been so potent. Teams don’t know how to combat us because we have so many different outlets to play. I would rather say City plays better attacking football than us but are nowhere near our defensive football, therefore as a whole, we are better than them to win games. They are like us when we almost won the league under Rodgers or even in Klopp's first full season, but football is not only about attack it's about the right balance. Totally agree. I miss those games under Rodgers in a way. We were playing breathtaking stuff in attack. Probably better than we are now but look how we manage games now. Even when we are not playing well we don't look like getting beaten. Similar to Fergys teams, always dogged at the back and gave little away, knowing a piece of magic from the likes of Giggs/Van Nistelrooy/Scholes could win them the game and they would hold out, strong teams defensively will always win a league compared to a flamboyant high scoring team that concedes allot. Rodgers team was great to watch, but I always had that nagging feeling that they could not hold out and kill off games, which you need to do to win leagues.
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Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 5,936
1st Team Squad
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1st Team Squad
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 5,936 |
City's play is easy on the eye but they have no plan B.
Liverpool are much more potent on set pieces.
Liverpool are much more potent from the wings with Robbo and TAA's crossing.
Liverpool can play it through the middle with the likes of Bobby's link up play.
Liverpool can go over the top with many players now in the team able to hit accurate exocet passes from distance...Alisson, VVD, Gomez, TAA, Robbo, Hendo, Fabinho, Ox and I've even been impressed with some of Lovren's passing long this season.
Alisson is now the supreme ball playing Keeper, much better than Ederson.
Liverpool are a much better, dangerous attacking outfit than Man City are, they have more ways to win.
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