I stopped reading opinion columns from a lot of journalists from The Guardian because of the increasing amount of what I perceived as not so innocent barbs that were directed at Liverpool or Klopp in particular. I’ve also toned town on reading Ronay’s columns, even though I liked his Shakespearean brand of cynicism. There are only so many negative comments directed at Liverpool that I can take.
That said, I did read this article because you went through the trouble of posting it and I can’t find anything important that I disagree on. A rebuild was needed with or without Salah extending his deal. Not even the Premier League title could mask that.
Whatever the money is that MO will be paid, to me, is just the trade-off for keeping him (an asset) on the books of LFC, without losing him for zilch this summer.
Whether the ink was dry, or still wet from his signature, I have a feeling that Edwards is already engineering his next step of moving MO on in the next 12 - 18months. Not only will LFC recuperate the wage aspect paid out during this period, but also a bonus on top… something we would not have received if he left in the summer.
Two things spring to mind. Firstly, we keep the services of MO until he is phased out by the revamping AS will be doing. Secondly, While it would be hopeful MO can continue in good form for an entire two year stint, the odds are not great this happens… and when/if his form drops below being picked for the first 11, the fans, media and MO himself will know father time has arrived with his taxi. Which brings about the 12-18 month stint to move him on and recover all monies…
Which we all knew anyway, rendering the article pointless.
It’s only there so that Ronay can have his usual dig at Liverpool: yes, you’re going to win the title and you’ve secured Salah’s contract, but you still need a rebuild.
It’s quite a vacuous article though, lots of non-footballing reasons for why Mo should have had a new contract and not putting any reasoning as to why or where the rebuild is needed.
If you don’t see it or agree with it, I’m fine with that. My personal opinion is that it’s a little tone deaf.
Club extends itself to star player, offers a new deal, highest in our history. He is worth it, in the climate, no problem there. That’s up to the budget holders.
And how Mo spends his money is his decision, of course it is, so I’m just a fan passing comment on a football forum.
He turns up for the contract signing wearing a $950k watch. It just seems a bit too bling, like something Cristiano Ronaldo would do. I would prefer to see Liverpool footballers be a little more understated. I don’t expect the players to wear a Casio watch and drive a Ford, but there are degrees. I haven’t mapped it out or anything like that, but to my mind this is a little tone deaf as it is an ostentatious display of wealth at the moment he signs his deal. Again, not a hill I’ll die on, just looks a bit ugh to me. Blingy. Consumeristic.
Not a protracted argument I’ll get into. This post about sums up my view.
I’m not commenting on the color of the watch. I’d rather the players, especially the senior ones, were a little more discreet in flashing their wealth.
We should all be happy we get another couple of years to enjoy one of our greatest ever players, rather than speculating on unpleasant scenarios and moaning about watches.
Btw, I never got the whole watch thing. One of the great advantages of mobile phones is the end of the necessity to carry a bloody clock around on your wrist.
