When I go on holiday and need to rent a car, I don’t really give two shits what car I get, so long as it works and can fit the number of travellers that are going. If I am however looking to purchase a car, I am much much more careful about the little details and that it ticks all the boxes of what I am looking for.
We went onto the market as we’ve had injuries. We didn’t find the perfect player otherwise we would have bought him and not loaned. We found instead a player on loan that is not perfect but that will tick 70% of the boxes we need in the short term ,ie 12 months, until our real target comes in. He fit our requirements the best from what was available, and it didn’t require us to sign perhaps a slightly more useful player than Arthur on a 4 year contract that we feel isn’t the right choice over the long term.
TL;DR:
The club feels that if the correct player isn’t on the market, then loaning a lesser player is a better option than signing a slightly better player onto a long term contract that still doesn’t fit the bill. I am in agreement with the club.
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I think it’s very easy for one to fall into the trap of thinking one knows sufficiently what one is talking about…
Seems to be more prominent the more a person has to be public-facing…
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We must also bear in mind… With Jordan now injured, we have NO cover for Fabinho.!
Can this guy do a Mascherano type role I wonder…
Anyway, it is still a ‘try before you buy’ scenario but I do really hope he hits the ground running and helps our cause
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A departure in January for Keita doesn’t seem wildly improbable. A new contract seems unlikely, and Keita has not struck me as the type who will give his all once he has signed a pre-commitment for a Bosman. Having Melo as an option for more time in the back end of the season allows for a lot more flexibility.
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Yeah it’s a bit concerning, especially when considering that the PL is far more physical and demanding than La Liga or Serie A.
Let’s hope for the best though, as said previously, there is not much to lose with such a deal from our perspective. Worst case, he brings nothing and it’s as if we hadn’t signed anyone, or he manages to stay fit and then who knows, he might be able to help us a lot.
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This is a very interesting read
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We were approaching those two situations as responses to different needs so it doesnt make that much sense to expect the two players to be comparable.
Tchouameni was pursued at a time when Klopp was happy with his immediate term options, but saw an opportunity to land a highly prized player who evolves us to where we want to be next year and beyond.
Klopp changed his mind about his current group right around the time the stories about Naby being unhappy started circulating followed almost immediately by a largely unexplained absence they are now talking about as being long term. That was exacerbated by Hendo’s subsequent injury.
That means we need to view this singing in terms of how it replaces what Naby and Hendo bring to the team rather than what Tchey would have. Like you, I have pointed out that we seem to have lacked energy, and now with Hendo out that seems even more of a gap. I think it’s reasonable to question whether Athur can reasonably replace that, and that doesnt seem to be his game. So why him then? Well, as outsiders are often very myopic about identifying the problem to solve for our team where the people who are in charge may not view the situation the same. There are definitely aspects of his game you can see as fitting the bill for what Klopp wants out of the more responsible of his 8s - offers a good passing option that is constanrly backing up play and someone who plays well facing the opposition goal. While that may not be what we identified as the need that has to be filled, it’s likely Klopp doesnt see it the same way.
The more I think about it the more it makes sense as a move to bolster our ability to play the Thagocentric game we’ve developed into, albeit while only being able to use that fucker 60% of the time
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For me it’s pretty simple. When our inevitable midfield injuries reoccur, do we want Milner starting alongside Hendo again, or Melo? Let’s give the lad a chance.
(Love Milner btw but his best days are well behind him and only want to see him as a last 15min enforcer nowadays)
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Not sure if the following from reddit analysis been posted before. I also watched a clip discussing Melo’s “weakness” as a DM. However, the poster’s “deep dive” to the player’s stat does not paint such a bleak picture (at least that’s we all are hoping for.)
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I get where you’re coming from but I guess what I’m saying is we were looking at one type of player if we did a permanent deal but when going down the loan route it’s a very different type.
The news of Keita’s muscle injury and absence perhaps means this deal makes more sense. Also, if he’s not going to sign a new deal then I can’t see Klopp making huge use of him unless he has too. In that sense he’s no more likely to be here next season than Arthur so there’s no commitment or loyalty to either of them.
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I have a strong feeling that Klopp will use his famous “Kloppomagic” to turn the stranded “Juve reject” into fine player for us. There is certainly still enough of the former Gremio talent left that maybe only needs a little push of self-confidence, joy of playing and lots of Klopp hugs etc to retrieve again. Wouldn’t surprise me at all tbf.
From what I’ve heard today Klopp sees a lot more in Arthur than we might think atm.
I am now somehow really excited to see how this develops tbh.
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Record £1.9bn spent as most of UK lurch into fuel poverty. I know we’re part of it but glad we’re not the same extent as Chelsea and United…throwing £200m at the wall and hoping something sticks
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Classic low risk signing. Clearly has huge upside potential…. Will most likely be meh, invisible, or injured, but has the talent to be a great player.
If not, like Kabak - thanks for the effort and filling a hole and good luck at your next club with very little lost.
I’m totally hyped about this guy (Melo, not the one in the GIF above), then again, I was hyped about Ryan Babel too.
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Don’t worry; I remember reading an article in FourFourTwo that said Babel was going to be the signing of the season.
Never read it since.
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