I have no problem with all 3 going, we will recover,but it’s never good when 3 first team players go in one season. The biggest loss I think is VVD, then Salah and Trent after him. We do have the cover of Bradley for Trent which eases that transition although a fee for Trent would have been nice. Salah goals and assists are irreplaceable for 1 individual but as has been seen when he is out we still score and assist enough as others step up.
Replacing the authority and reliance? of VVD is going to be difficult. He, in my opinion, was our most important piece 7/8 yrs ago, and still is today.
5 Likes
Yeah, I think a perspective that is under weighted in these discussions is how much of what we currently expect from them will be lost to us even if they stay. In one way or another we have to replace what they will soon (already in mo’s case?) not be able to deliver, and in some ways that may be easier if one or more of them isnt here so that we properly make room for the next guy.
The above doesnt apply to Trent, and likely doesnt apply to virgil yet, but would before the end of whatever extension he’d sign if he stayed. It may well already apply to Mo.
4 Likes
Exactly. And re Virg, he looked awful in the first half and something I hadn’t seen from him before. If more performances like that are ahead then yes, he may cross that rubicon sooner rather than later. I think Mo is already at that point that we need to augment him even if he stays.
For me it’s more the leadership and benchmark constantly set by Mo and Virgil which would be tough to replace at once.
3 Likes
Yeah, watching Virg in the 1st half I thought his legs had gone as I haven’t seen him ever look that bad. Thankfully he was imperious 2nd half, phew!
If he stays we need some cover just to give him a break both mentally and physically.
2 Likes
I think some of this, I know from my point of view, isn’t criticism of Mo, it is more criticism of Arne, which also seems laughable as he has us 12 points clear lol.
But, I and others seem to feel that Mo is like any other player and needs to be brought off earlier in some games and also rested more when it isn’t going right for him.
My whole ethos in footy whether playing or coaching is that all players need to have to fight for their place in the team and if standards or individual performances falter then another steps in to help the team.
We are a TEAM first and foremost and what is best for the TEAM is paramount, Btw the team isn’t just 11 players it is the whole squad.
I look at Szob on Wednesday, he was pretty poor in possession and I was thinking that Elliott should have come on, however, Szob then made a couple of lung busting recovery runs to help stem a couple of porential Everton breaks, which Harvey wouldn’t have had the pace for. Nothing is black and white, but what Szob did with his effort and pace, made up for what he was lacking in possession and benefitted the team.
1 Like
But Virg was imperious 2nd half
1 Like
1 Like
Depends.
Family first or looking after the family is often the terms used to disguise greed.
How much do these guys really need on top of the millions. And they all want more the older they get.
No way should they get an increase at LFC now but to be fair it could be about length of contract. Virgil is my pick of the 3 that we should keep.
On the other hand I get the family angle if they wish to return home, young kids, schooling etc. Rare when at peak contract though. Funny that.
4 Likes
IMO the combination of the contract situation + crashing out of the CL plays a big part in the recent slump of form for Mo and Virgil.
Before that I think they were both on course to be favorites to win the Ball D’Or but they know after crashing out so early they won’t get close. Surely their last chance.
2 Likes
Anyone think Mo has signed and that has led to the drop in form?
1 Like
That wouldn’t make sense to me.
2 Likes
I don’t think so.
Once upon a time, I believed it might’ve been the case, but his tears against PSG after our Champions League exit suggested to me he genuinely felt it might’ve been his last UCL game under the lights at Anfield.
I believe Salah desperately wants to stay, but whether there’s more stuff in the data flagging up about his performances that’s impacting what we offer, I don’t know.
He hasn’t been great in terms of performances anyway, but when he produces in moments, it’s sensational, and he’s done it so often this season. Now those moments have dried up recently, it can be painful at times. I do think he has the ability to cause havoc in more central areas, but I don’t think we’ll ever see that experiment happen with us. I do caveat all this with the form of our other attackers in terms of output, which hasn’t helped whatsoever, and if they were showing more in terms of goals, assists, and penetrative play, it’d give the opposition more to focus on. I also think if there more frequent runs from midfield, it would help with our overall play, and giving Salah more space.
2 Likes
if anything it should work the other way. He should be flying if he has signed a new deal
2 Likes
I think the lack of a Right Back in the last few games has really affected him.
Im hoping Bradley starts v West ham and if he does I think you’ll see a different Mo.
Jones done well v Everton and im sure he would do OK v West Ham if playing there but he shouldnt be playing RB away from home when you come under a bit more pressure - at home we will be on front foot so wont be tested so much.
4 Likes
It’s happened in the past with him.
It happened this time last year with virtually the whole team. I actually can’t remember one player playing well from March to May, and not a lot of them have covered themselves in glory over the last two months as well. Could be fatigue, I guess, both physical and mental.
3 Likes
Actually it was just April.
We got 7 from 3 games in March and 7 from 3 games in May.
The two draws were Villa and Man City.
3 Likes
Haha @Nikola
2 Likes