You mean like Pope, Tarkowski and Cork from the current Burnley side? How many bench players have LFC had who hardly play for us but still get called up for England? Has that even ever happened? At least recently? If anything you’ve got to be outstanding for LFC to get the kind of recognition “alright” United, Chelsea and Arsenal players get.
These are arguments as to why we need to add another top class new CB along with Konate to VvD, Gomez and Matip not why we need to keep Phillips.
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Money money money.
Yeah, I’m sure Klopp’s preference is to keep Nat as fifth choice, given the current condition of the main three.
However this isn’t just what the club wants, it’s also about what Nat wants. His stock will never be higher than it is right now.
There is still a wildcard here in Ben Davies. Klopp has said the settling in required has echoes of Andy Robbo (I remember similar ‘does he even exist’ type stuff being said about him in his first few months). I would rule him out just yet.
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Apparently he already stated that he wants to fight for a a place next season.
He’s not beating VvD, Matip, Gomez or Konate under any circumstances other than injuries. Its like Spearing wanting to fight for a place if we’d still had Gerrard, Mascherano, Alonso and Sissoko when really he wasn’t even good enough for the midfield that followed.
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[quote=“AnfieldRdDreamer, post:789, topic:1129, full:true”]
[quote=“Thomas1195, post:788, topic:1129”]
Apparently he already stated that he wants to fight for a a place next season.
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He’s not beating VvD, Matip, Gomez or Konate under any circumstances other than injuries. Its like Spearing wanting to fight for a place if we’d still had Gerrard, Mascherano, Alonso and Sissoko when really he wasn’t even good enough for the midfield that followed.
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Can’t knock his attitude though eh…
Maybe a bit of positivity would do some good in the dressing room…
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The more he plays the sooner his “true” level will be figured out. He not good enough to start for Burnley.
Best thing he can do for his career is keep his head down and try not to play again for as long as possible. Players become superstars is people’s minds when they haven’t seen them in a while.
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True but wouldn’t it be best to take a move now whilst he has a good reputation on a nice fat (for him and most definitely Joe Bloggs on the street) wage for a guaranteed 4 years or something whilst he can? Probably earn more in that period than he could hope to in a full career if he stays here on his current wages and then eventually slips away into obscurity in a few years! He won’t get this window of opportunity again.
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I think this situation is clear, If Klopp says to Nat we need you for at least 1 more year he stays. He’s obviously been enjoying it, has created a good situation for himself. He can be sure Klopp won’t let him down and he will get some games in cups and stuff. He get’s to stay where he’s happy and staves off the decission for another year.
Then if the club say to him Burnley have offered us a bumber return we think you should seriously concider it Nat would than seriously concider it. In such a situation he wouldn’t get guarantees from Klopp.That’s how I think these things work.
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fuck thats Harsh…
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Phillips may be able to get a Prem move this summer, I seriously doubt he’ll play enough next season (unless something has gone seriously wrong) for Prem clubs to still be Interested next summer. Memories are short in football.
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And unfair.
Its hard isnt it, i remember having a argument in the forums about what we should be looking for in a centre back. And i said Klopp much prefers centre backs who can play the ball from the back and keep the ball in rotation. So mainly saying that our style of football prefers speed, ball control , defending and passing over aerial ability and traditional defender skills. And someone argued aerial ability and traditional defending should be the priority over being a ball playing centre back.
Modern football however does not favour players like this nowadays. you need to be able to contribute to the attack and thats what Virgil and Joe Gomez has been doing more or less since they have partnered together. Nat Phillips is a fine centre back in the traditional sense, but for Liverpool which Jurgens style is to play from the back and rotate the ball from back to front, Nat is not ideal for that kind of role. Argument could be made if he can maybe fit in with a 3 Centre back role? Not sure, but i do say we owe him a proper move and he deserves to be looked after whether his future is with us or not.
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It’s not an either or situation it’s both aspects being a requirement for Klopp. Look at the serious CB signings he’s made (ignoring the cheap/emergency ones like Kabak loan, Klavan, Caulker loan and Davies cheap deal). VvD, Matip and Konate all have both sides to their games. Matip maybe missing the physical side. But all fast, aerially dominant, defensively solid, ball-playing CBs.
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The only thing missing from Nat’s game is pace. Problem for him is that it’s kind of an essential ingredient in a Klopp team for any CB with pretensions of becoming a long term fixture.
He’ll do well in a lower PL/upper Championship team that doesn’t play a high line and his stock will never ever be higher than it is right now. Good time for him to make the next move in his career but equally I’d be delighted to see him stay with us for at least one more year given everything he’s done for us this season.
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@ me when he’s a regular PL starter and I’ll retract. He’s a low level Championship player.
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I think we can often overrate these players.
Remember Kevin Stewart? I remember there were similar talks about him and on paper you’d say he maybe had an better chance than Nat.
But look at where he’s now (released by Hull and at Blackpool on an 18-month contract with 2 appearances, probably Critch knows him well), or in general post-Liverpool. Probably not even close to the predicted level back then when he did a decent job for us for 20 games or so.
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I dont think thats really fair, if Tarkowski and Connor Coady cane make careers and be prem starters. Nat is more than able and capable to be a prem starter.
The overriding factor for Klopps preferences I think comes down to the players attitude to working, improving and ‘fitting in’.
Konaté is a prime example, has problems judging ball flight (not so good in the air), anticipation which he has worked on and improved then Concentration and long passes which he is willing to work on.
So for Klopp I think seeing Nats improvement and willingness to progress and ‘fit in’ were winners. (The confidence playing had on Nat was enormous what he was doing at the end of the season was levels above what he was doing at the start). (particularly his ball control and moving the ball on improved immensely (though technically he is still below Rhys)).
So I think Klopp is happy to continue with Nat as cover the questions are what ‘the club feels’ and what Nat feels is best for them.