Liverpool FC - Pre-season

What a season. Hopefully same again next season. Fingers crossed

6 Likes

I do hope so…I don’t like all this change…it worries me that new players need time to integrate and will they fit in…I know I sound like an old lady…well I suppose this is true…but it does unsettle me…

2 Likes

For me, it feels like a new series of your favourite TV show when there are a load of new cast members and you wonder how they are going to fit in.

As long as the opening scene isn’t Roy Hodgson emerging from a shower, declaring that the last 15 seasons were all a dream, I think we will be fine.

6 Likes

Mods, do something about this. There’s no need for this sort of imagery on here :face_savoring_food:

5 Likes

So far we’re yet to sell much of last season’s starting eleven, or the immediate core around it, so i dont think we are forced to play the new players from day one if they dont appear to be ready.

That may change of course over the summer :see_no_evil_monkey:

1 Like

There has been significant turnover in the coaching stuff too.

I won’t be surprised if there are some hiccups, at least in the beginning of the season.

1 Like

1 Like

That looks about right, or possibly the same back 7 then Mo and Wirtz in a 2 behind a new striker? With the width coming from the fullbacks who will bomb forward, and as they do, Grav will tuck in to give us three at the back.

It is going to be a heck of a season.

2 Likes

I think it goes without saying that this preseason will be unlike others.

They are meant to starting on Tuesday, but I suspect Slot will just want to get them together and make sure they have whatever support they need.

I can imagine a football squad operates well as a support network, but for most of the lads this will be the first time that one of their friends and contemporaries has died.

No doubt the club will ensure that there is counselling for whoever needs it, but it’s going to be an odd few games for everyone.

9 Likes

I know we’ve said it in Jest but this is probably Arne Slot’s biggest test.

6 Likes

The first group of Arne Slotā€˜s squad were scheduled to attend the club’s AXA training complex on Friday for the opening round of physical tests after their summer break.

However, the PA news agency understands that has been postponed.

2 Likes

Totally understandable. A lot of the lads are in Portugal for the ceremony. They need time to process all of this, and the actual training will probably start sometime next week.

4 Likes
4 Likes

Sparing a moments thoughts for all those at the club having to park their grieving and sadness to have the kind of practical discussions that have to follow things like this.

There are the public and immediate things like how it changes pre-season plans, transfer business and ensuring players and staff have the support they need.

But there will be loads of smaller but no less uncomfortable conversations too. Do you remove him from any of the kit launch materials already produced? When do you remove related merch from stores, take his profile off the website, remove things from lockers? What do you do with his space in the changing rooms?

All these discussions will have to be had and handled with the utmost care to ensure things are done the right way. It’s incredibly tough on all those involved because it requires emotions to be set aside at a time when things are still very raw.

11 Likes

I think the best thing for them is to get them together and get them doing something together. The emotional support network will flow from that.

I suspect that there are a few transfers incoming and outgoing in the next few days, so that will have to be handled tactfully as well.

5 Likes

It’s also going to an incredibly weird start for the likes of Wirtz, Kerkez, Frimpong and Mamardashvili. New lads coming into the dressing room for the first time, keen to get to know new teammates and stuck into pre-season ready to make their mark.

Will be hard for them coming in under these circumstances. Ultimately life goes on and everyone will eventually go back to business as usual but the first couple weeks will be hard, then again when we reach that first game of the season.

7 Likes

It’s going really hard for Kerkez and Mara.

At least Frimpong has those friendship groups from the national team and he has Wirtz as does Wirtz.

5 Likes

Kerkez has Szoboszlai to help.

3 Likes

Ah yeah I forgot that connection.

2 Likes
2 Likes