17 Apr 2023 14:21:36
Folks, Liverpool fan in peace - can I ask, there is talk of you guys needing to sell a few in order to balance FFP - who do you see being sold? Does this correspond as well with who you would like to be sold or do you see a surprise here?
I've said on the Liverpool pages that i'd like Mount but there is talk you guys want 70m for him and he wants something like over 250k a week. This would rule him out for me, shame though as he is a player I think would genuinely thrive under a Klopp system - well, the system we used to play, no idea wtf is going on this season, but the sooner Klopp gets his mojo back the better lol
Can I ask your thoughts on Potter? Seemed a good manager at Brighton and I was kinda disappointed he went to Chelsea as you never seem to give managers time - saying that he spent an absolute fortune and yous have been a shadow of yourselves this season
Was it too big a move too soon? Was he overrated or just like a kid in a sweet shop with a huge transfer kitty?
1.) 17 Apr 2023
17 Apr 2023 14:40:53
Bill, welcome to happy site. You are asking questions that from a fans point of view have either two many answers or none.
From those who didn’t want GP you will get an answer that fits your post’s description but from those fans who wanted the owners to stick with GP you wil get a completely different answer.
This site at the moment is it a bit like yours, lots of unhappy fans seeking quick fixes and some positive results.
My guess Klopp will still be your manager next season but your club wi have to invest heavily in players because as bad as we are yours is the worst
Liverpool team I’ve seen in many a long year.
My guess is you could well end up with two of our young players in your first team next season, if your club has the money to invest in players!
2.) 17 Apr 2023
17 Apr 2023 14:58:22
Hi Bill,
I don't think Potter was behind any of those signings in January. That seemed to be all the owners. Posters on here seem to be split – there were some who were against his appointment from the start and pretty happy when he got sacked. Others (myself included), thought he should be given time.
I was excited when he was appointed by the fact that the owners said they'd back him, as I'd followed his career up until that point and felt he would do a very good job – but again, saying you'll back him then going out and spending huge in January seemed ridiculous beyond belief. Perhaps Potter should have been more firm saying 'no' to the six signings we made – that might have be a weakness in his style in dealing with the owners. He's a process-based manager and clearly needed a few seasons, which realistically he was not going to get at Chelsea with the fans craving (and being used to) instant success. So the wisdom of appointing him in the first place, especially at the very start of the new ownership when everything was pretty up in the air around him, should probably be questioned.
RE: players we'll sell, I reckon a fair few will be out the door, although it's difficult to see how that's going to work exactly when we don't have a manager at the helm. Surely Lampard isn't going to be the one advising on that, and a new coach would want a preseason to look at the squad, so it's possible that we're going to be in a fairly similar situation come the start of next season. Clubs will know we can't ask astronomical fees as we need to clear the decks, so we might struggle to sell some of those we want gone.
I'm thinking Ziyech, Aubameyang, Pulisic will be nailed on departures, possibly Azpilicueta (though I'd hope he could stay on as a coach), Koulibaly, Gallagher, Mount (if he can't agree a new deal) . Kovacic could go, and perhaps David Datro Fofana on loan. I wouldn't be surprised if Mendy went, and hopefully we'll be able to sell Kepa and get in a decent keeper (though I'd think selling Kepa might be difficult, and getting an able replacement even harder) .
I hope that if Mount does leave he finds a club where he's appreciated. An excellent player on his day, although he's lost his way this last year and a half (perhaps to do with all the behind the scenes madness at the club) . He did still get player of the season last season, but he started poorly, so it's not difficult to see why some fans worry about his head. He seems to have lost the ability he had when he first came through to turn in on a sixpence and really run at defences – again not sure if it's injury-related or if he's just been unsettled by everything happening at the club, but he's looked a shadow of his best when he's played.
Really fine margins in such a competitive league as the PL, as you lot are seeing this year – incredible, really. It's a testament to the character of your fans that they generally stick behind the manager and the players. That must be nice. Although there do seem to be a few bad eggs in the Chelsea dressing room at the moment. It seems odd, because you'd expect the club would do their research on players' mentalities. but really it's also to do with poor long-term planning and a fairly scattergun approach in the transfer market for a number of years leading to players for multiple systems. Also, players are human, and want to form friendships and relationships just like in any other profession – must be weird to have a squad so big that they have to take turns in the dressing room. Not great for morale, really. And why buy Aubameyang when you're just about to sack Tuchel is just beyond me. Clown business. Ho hum.
Anyway, looking forward to next season, and it'll be interesting to see if Klopp can get your team playing again.
3.) 17 Apr 2023
17 Apr 2023 16:12:10
Hi Bill, the Eds have confirmed that many players will be moved on from Chelsea this summer, and I think we can reasonably guess that Aubameyang, Ziyech, Pulisic, CHO, Azpi and Kovacic will be house hunting fairly soon.
A lot of the conversation has indeed been around FFP and a common link in the media has been drawn from that to the academy. I don't actually know how accurate this is, but the reporting has basically been centred around the argument that selling academy players represents 'pure profit' on the balance sheet, so players like Gallagher, RLC, Mount, CHO, Chalobah and Colwill are oft mentioned as potential sales. Coupled with the astronomical spending and it isn't hard to see why academy players/ graduates and reporters alike are making this connection. I assume this wouldn't have been reported if not true, but I don't have time to look into the rules of FFP or Chelsea's books to check for myself.
I'd suggest that the Mount story has picked up most traction because he will only have a year left on his deal once this season finishes. However the media briefings, while pessimistic, do tend to agree that both the club and Mount himself want to carry on together. So take from that what you will.
I'd personally prefer an approach that moves on almost all the players bought last summer in addition to those I have listed at the start, as unlikely as that is. Koulibaly, Cucurella and Sterling have not been good signings and in my opinion we should take our medicine and learn from it. I'd cave to Mount's demands (not that I know what they are) and treat it as an exception because he should have been signed to a new deal already anyway. Colwill and Maatsen could be promoted into the first team squad, and we could focus on the 3 key positions that, in my opinion, really need strengthening: GK, DM and ST. In terms of any surprises, Havertz could be one, although that may not come as much of a surprise depending on who you ask.
Finally re Potter. He was hamstrung by coming in mid-season, having a huge squad, terrible injuries plus the disrupted season. However the results made for dire reading. You can argue it either way, but given how late in the season it is, I would have kept him until the summer and decided then. I don't think it is a coincidence that Potter was sacked almost immediately after Naglesmann became available.
{Ed002's Note - It is unrelated to the spending this season and the issue with Mount relates to his desire for wages the club see as unreasonable.}
4.) 17 Apr 2023
17 Apr 2023 16:51:31
Bill, it’s completely different what is happening at Liverpool as compared to Chelsea, it is a bloody embarrassment at Chelsea. Chelsea have spent £600m ( if Liverpool had spent that, I bet they would be in the mess that Chelsea are atm) Chelsea fans have their head in their hands over this. Liverpool are going through a bad time due to football related matters. Old Father Time, loss of form, and loss of key personnel. Mane should never have been sold but he wanted to go. The midfield is aging and needs replaced. Salah has either ran his race as a world star (& defenses are in to him) or he comes back and scores 20 a season. Both are possibilities. I never ever felt that Van Dijk was all that. It didn’t bother me if he was in or out V Chelsea. He needs a real tough guy next to him, and so he is potentially for me a weak link, but I don’t see him being dropped. Both full backs are erratic and are causing Klopp a selection problem. They are either brilliant or awful. Ultimately, I don’t get the feeling that Liverpool will be challenging for the title next season. (but you are the Liverpool fan so you’ll know better ) The heartache for Chelsea fans is that we know Chelsea still need a CB, still need a HM and still desperately need a CF! I think they also need a GK. Now, from what I have seen/ heard/ read there is no one coming through from Cobham that can do that. That means another visit to the market and probably requires another £200m! That simply cannot happen. The finances don’t stack and FFP would shut the club down. As for selling players, Pulisic and Ziyech definitely, might get £25m for Pulisic from a German club. Ziyech, zero, zilch. Mendy £20m from a foreign club? Loftus Cheek £20m from a Palace/ Fulham.
CG (who I personally would keep) £30-35m from a Newcastle. PEA nothing. N’Golo undisclosed (£25m? ) . Possibly, but not nailed on £100m to the club for that lot ( IF they are lucky)
5.) 17 Apr 2023
17 Apr 2023 17:29:58
Edw, I disagree with your assertion that the fans craved instance success we were not coming from a lower level of expectation like say Newcastle or Brighton. Most fans knew it would be a fight to get into the top four. What the fans did not expect is a team that was 3rd in PL, quarter finals of CL and in two domestic finals last season to end up 9 points above the relegation dogfight playing absolutely crap football. Emery has shown how a good coach can turn things around in a short period of time.
RBD, when you cave in as an exception it becomes a rule. We are not talking about Mbappe or Haaland.
6.) 17 Apr 2023
17 Apr 2023 18:15:51
EdW and RBD, I agree with the majority of both your posts.
Stephen, I’m pleased you will not be negotiating the sale of our any Chelsea player.
Jimbo, fans who wanted GP out had a valid right to demand his sacking. Obviously fans who wanted him to stay had equal valid rights. I wouldn’t have expected fans to have an immediate succession plan when GP was sacked during a season, after all it’s not their job to think of likely consequences.
7.) 17 Apr 2023
17 Apr 2023 18:47:06
Tom, fans have equal rights to have opinions about the coach but not sure we can demand anything; fans vocal disapproval of coaches is part of the game : this is not lawn tennis: it’s up to the board to make those decisions. You know my position on the appointment of Potter but I expected him to last until the end of the season. To my mind, GP appeared to be very stressed at the end and didn’t appear to be coping with the pressure. It probably was the right thing for him to end it when they did and £13 million in your bank account and sunning yourself in the Seychelles is a good way to recuperate.
8.) 17 Apr 2023
17 Apr 2023 19:12:41
I have no idea what he will eventually get as a severance payment but good luck to him. If I was him I think I would make best use of Easter for a family holiday.
I’m not sure what the lawn tennis analogy is all about but ho hum.
I’m am sure that the toxic abuse within the ground and on social media played some part in our owners making the decision to part ways with GP.
Just me guessing but I think the appointment of Lamps was partly in the hope of getting some fans back onside.
I assume mate mate is referring to a German being our next manager and not Havertz starting tomorrow night but the debate then is should a new manager come in before the end of the season? I guess it would be like him having two pre-seasons.
9.) 17 Apr 2023
17 Apr 2023 20:40:15
Tom, you well know what I meant about lawn tennis! Whether we like it or not football fans will vocalise their displeasure at coaches: whether or not the owners were influenced by that- who knows- maybe they recognised they had made a big mistake. Potter’s severance payout has been well reported by many different sources.
10.) 17 Apr 2023
17 Apr 2023 21:31:21
I wouldn’t have a clue about the amount payable to GP and I don’t believe much that’s printed in the rags. As far as I’m concerned it can remain a private matter but I’m sure he will get what he is entitled to under the terms of his contract and as I have already said good luck to him.
As I always say the grass isn’t always greener!
11.) 18 Apr 2023
18 Apr 2023 09:31:30
Tom, GP’s payoff can’t remain private it will have to be disclosed in the club’s accounts as do all liabilities.
12.) 18 Apr 2023
18 Apr 2023 10:45:46
Thanks for the replies lads
Personally, I really like Potter and am sad it hasn't worked out for him.
Yous have signed far too many players tbh, it's always hard to integrate that many in a team at once and despite the money spent, still lacking in a couple of key positions. Was that Potter or, the new management?
Awk for us it's wild, we're so inconsistent this season I don't think it would have mattered if we'd spent 600m in the summer. Klopp needs to sort out the tactics for me - we look good when we play a high pressing, high tempo game, like we always used to but how often do we do that?
I can definitely see a few Chelsea players leaving some won't worry fans but some, the likes of Mount for example, might be harder to take.
One of the replies mentioned academy and youth players - Chelsea have by far the best set up in this so you always have a few good options there. Few clubs us include I think, sniffing round the young cb Colwill
Again for us, form has just went off a cliff this season and is radically different from one game to the next - both clubs have big jobs to fo this summer, best of luck the rest of the season lads.
13.) 18 Apr 2023
18 Apr 2023 11:13:36
Jimbo, I said “as far as I’m concerned”. I have very little interest. I’m not obsessed with the financial arrangements of our club, others may be and can be but I’m not. I just wish him luck.
14.) 18 Apr 2023
18 Apr 2023 11:55:08
Good luck Bill. See you next season.
15.) 18 Apr 2023
18 Apr 2023 16:51:29
Tom, I am not obsessed with money. The financial stability of the club is important if we are going to be successful in the future. The reality is: we have paid out large sums to managers who have not cut the mustard: overpaid for certain players who are on substantial contracts and have had no impact: have recorded substantial losses in the last two financial years :must be sailing close to the wind as far as FPP is concerned and no CL next season. We don’t live in La La Land.
16.) 18 Apr 2023
18 Apr 2023 18:33:44
Jimbo, I’m not sure what part of “I’m not concerned” or “very little interest” you don’t understand.
The ins and outs of FFP I will leave to the experts, the wages of players is something both parties agree on and transfer fees are about need and valuation.
I trust the club and although I am able to read a balance sheet or understand accounts I’m not an accountant.
I have a long history of negotiating fixed term contracts and mitigating them and it’s my experience that you rarely find to many that are the same in every detail but I am not a solicitor.
Others may feel the need to travel into that world but I don’t.
La La land I will leave to others thanks and I will just focus on a player’s ability and the club’s success.
17.) 18 Apr 2023
18 Apr 2023 19:13:26
Tom, you may not be interested or concerned but others are. As I said the financial position of the club is integral to the club having success in the future.
On a separate note, strange lineup tonight, hopefully their is a cunning plan.
18.) 18 Apr 2023
18 Apr 2023 19:35:08
It doesn’t mater much what the lineup is.
If we lose it will because Lamps is an “idiot” or maybe the players reacting negatively to the owners dressing room chat.
If we win it will because Lamps got lucky or maybe the players reacted positively to the owners chat.
Just more large JD’s will make me happy tonight.