And Jacquet.
And Iraola.
And half the teenage CBs in Europe.
And it’s early July with a World Cup on so some business was going to be slow.
It’s not perfect but the most important signing this summer will be Iraola. Irrespective of who we buy our season depends on him getting more from all of those who were here last season.
I meant in talking about keeping him.
As another poster mentioned. A 1 title in 2 seasons result is fantastic. So no, there is no “of course”.
If backing the reigning title winning manager for one whole season is the cost for maintaining our dignity and respect as a club then that was a cost I fully applaud.
Slot was backed until a season-end review. And he was deemed the wrong person to bring us forward. But he was treated with the respect he deserved.
And after Jota’s death, we are continuing to pay his salary to his family; that has a cost too. Is it amateurish then as well?
Yes, games were hard to watch last season. Yes, there was a cost but we were able to maintain our pride as a club by keeping our conduct an edge above the rest.
I’m not saying that every manager deserves this… but after the title he deserved a little bit of respite.
You’re talking about Ian Graham.
The mistake with Slot would have been keeping him to start next season.
Lot of people very black and white on this but for me he did the job we needed which was to move on from Klopp. He did that and brought us a title and a poor season. But any manager you hire that wins you a league title is never an error.
Yeah I meant it was evidently becoming an error in keeping him.
Also learning from the error of Rodgers, then again we may never know if Klopp was always willing to come and had said as much.
No he didn’t deserve a chance the spell upto Christmas was absolutely abysmal losing 3 nil and 4 - 1 at home to Forest and PSV should have been the end coupled in with 8 defeats in 11 games. Bringing up Jota in a discussion where he hasn’t been mentioned is the lowest of the low.
Ah, I stand corrected, Ian is indeed the owner, but I believe that Edwards was heavily involved with setting up the company.
I absolutely believe this was written by James Pearce and Simon Hughes and not Michael Edwards. No siree..
I do feel a fair bit of what was put out by Slot was Edwards and Gordon took the decision.
Bit of whinge bag piece that so I wouldn’t be surprised if you are right - but Simon Hughes does seem to like to have a go at FSG whenever he can.
Sign some players Richard you work shy fool
Whoever ends up as Sporting Director is going to have a lot of contract renewals or sales to do once Andoni has had chance to decide who he wants to keep:
No major obvious need to tie down there unless Elliott and Jones become vital maybe VVD.
Rest I expect will leave anyhow
I don’t think any of those are considered must keep.
In some cases the club have shaped their contracts to end next summer (Alisson & Virgil). Although, if Virgil is again ever present and performs well, another extension can’t be ruled out. That probably wouldn’t be done until nearer half way through the season.
Gomez and Kostas look to be here to help fill out gaps otherwise would have already left. I suspect the same may be true of Endo given the current market prices to buy in and how little he and the other two cost the club (and how little they would probably bring in if sold).
Woodman and Davies are useful squad options who you can see the appeal of keeping but equally allowed to move on to make space for some of the younger keepers coming through (or they may simply want to leave for regular playing time). They are probably used to signing deals to stay as their existing deals are almost over.
The club have made an offer to Curtis and presumably hope to keep him.
The club are probably open to offers for Ramsey, Bajcetic and Elliott, with I imagine the latter as having the best shot at getting a new contract (but still probably unlikely?).