Should be interesting to see what kind of pretzel they twisted to get this by FFP.
Get something done, guys. Fabinho ain’t coming back.
Get something done, guys. Fabinho ain’t coming back.
Thought Chelsea looked really good … Enzo was fantastic. But they are going to struggle scoring goals.Tough opening the season by dropping to a mid table club.
The change was that transfer fees can only be amortized over the life of the contract up to 5 years. Boehly’s MLB accounting loophole has been closed, but he’s still free to hand out stupid long contacts.I thought FIFA/UEFA put a stop to Chelsea’s ridiculous long contracts strategy.
The more you think of it the more insane that contract is.Romano saying it’ll be for £250k/week and an 8/9 year deal for Caicedo at Chelsea. The West London Mets, ladies and gentlemen!
I'm pretty much here. I might swap out the Adams part for a "buy, loan back" deal with Andre if they really like him that much. Let his club keep him until they lose in Copa Libertadores or January or whatever. But they need someone in the back.At this point, if I'm in charge of recruitment at LFC, go out and get Lavia and Tyler Adams to be your 6's. I know Adams isn't a sexy signing and lacks, to a degree, the name recognition of some of the others who were reportedly available/targets, but he's got an engine and will do the work, and has a bit of an edge to him that LFC could use in their midfield. Find a reasonable CB option and close the transfer window.
Seriously. They also fucked around at the worst possible time (though I’m not sure they could have predicted how it went down).Liverpool fucked around, now they’re finding out.
For sure … I think Chelsea’s initial interest was a fallback in case their Caicedo deal fell through - bonus if it fucks over Liverpool if they have to fork out stupid money to sign him.Lavia just feels unnecessary for Chelsea and a bad move for the player. They aren't in Europe, they play a 4-2-3-1 type system with only two real CMs, and they have Enzo and Caicedo who will start every match plus Gallagher, Chukwumeka, and another highly rated 19-year-old in Andrey Santos. Arguably they could use a true backup DM but why exactly do they need to spend 60m pounds for a 19-year-old one?
But do they care much about the cost beyond the amortization years? Like, if he performs well during the next 5 seasons then they'll just have his (admittedly high) wages for the remainder. But they'll have taken their proverbial medicine and can likely ship him out if needed without lots of angst.The more you think of it the more insane that contract is.
It’s the term that’s nuts - 9 years for a holding midfielder - the most physically demanding position on the field. Did they learn nothing from watching Kante continually break down?
It also pollutes the whole market - if any transfer target gets a sniff of Chelsea interest - the Eye of Sauron if you will - their wage demands go through the roof.
To add to this, I believe that Julian Ward was credited with the legwork on both of the transfers thus far.For sure … I think Chelsea’s initial interest was a fallback in case their Caicedo deal fell through - bonus if it fucks over Liverpool if they have to fork out stupid money to sign him.
So, Schmadke’s reign has been a disaster … the initial signings were both via a release clause so no negotiations with the clubs required. Then came Lavia and the wheels fell off - they could have had him for £50m on reasonable wages weeks ago - done and dusted and bedded in. But noooooooo - they just had to dick around with multiple lowball offers - almost begging Chelsea to hijack the transfer.
And the Caicedo thing - supposedly this was a Billy Hogan initiative - in the initial story it was indicated he wanted to come - now it appears (Carragher) they never approached the player. Complete madness.
Bournemouth triggered the clause on Adams this afternoon.Tyler Adams? Not the same level as the other 2 but I’d be excited rooting for an American and then hope Bajcetic continues to improve
Between the Prem, Seria A, La Liga, the Bundesliga, League Un, the Eridivisie and the Portuguese League their must be 20-30 qualified number sixes plus half as many up and comers.Contracts mean nothing in this sport. And FFP doesn’t really exist. At least, I don’t believe it.
No clue where this club goes from here in this window. They may well be screwed. Klopp needs to tell JWH some hard truths while he’s there.
I’m in total agreement. Schmadtke has been truly awful at his job so far.Between the Prem, Seria A, La Liga, the Bundesliga, League Un, the Eridivisie and the Portuguese League their must be 20-30 qualified number sixes plus half as many up and comers.
It can’t be that hard to buy one of them. Christ, even a loan deal if the guy’s good.
I don’t necessarily blame Schmadtke. He has 3 month contract and, for whatever reason, Billy Hogan decided to hop into the Caicedo negotiations. (Isn’t Billy busy selling a minority stake in the club?). The whole operation is clearly a mess. Maybe Schmadtke is screwing up and making things worse - we can’t tell from outside. It’s a shit show at the fuck factory and they need to hire at least one adult to get the place in order.
Some of the rumors (mostly Jamie Carragher somewhat hinting at this) are that without Edwards/Ward that it's not really a true partnership anymore and Klopp runs the whole thing now.I don’t necessarily blame Schmadtke. He has 3 month contract and, for whatever reason, Billy Hogan decided to hop into the Caicedo negotiations. (Isn’t Billy busy selling a minority stake in the club?). The whole operation is clearly a mess. Maybe Schmadtke is screwing up and making things worse - we can’t tell from outside. It’s a shit show at the fuck factory and they need to hire at least one adult to get the place in order.
Since he’s 30, did Endo score a hat trick against Koln or was it Wolfsburg?You all disrespecting Schmadtke and here he is finding the #6…ok, a #6…
Romano reports Liverpool have made a bid for Stuttgart’s Endō. He’s 30. He’s squad captain and has played 2900 minutes for three season running. But yeah…I don’t even know what Liverpool are doing anymore.
I think Oliver Kahn was in goal.Since he’s 30, did Endo score a hat trick against Koln or was it Wolfsburg?
But is Hendo…er, Endō is the new backup, that makes Bajcetic the starter? Who Liverpool have spent all summer treating as the back up while offering £45m-£111m for a starter in front of him?Seems appropriate. The last week has felt like an Endo up the you-know-where.
I really hope this is a depth signing and not our answer for the starting 6. If it’s a depth signing, what is there not to like? Positional flexibility, captain, progressive passer who was among league leaders in interceptions.
I am assuming the starter is still out there to be purchased at DM and CB. This would just be the depth signing to back up both positions so they can sell Nat. If this is it, no bueno indeed.But is Hendo…er, Endō is the new backup, that makes Bajcetic the starter? Who Liverpool have spent all summer treating as the back up while offering £45m-£111m for a starter in front of him?
Tweets don’t embed anymore, but Romano has given the “here we go” on this one - €18m and medical tomorrow. It is good depth, shades of Klavan, who ended up being worth all of his fee (£4m, 53 appearances).I am assuming the starter is still out there to be purchased at DM and CB. This would just be the depth signing to back up both positions so they can sell Nat. If this is it, no bueno indeed.
Aside: they do embed if you change the x.com back to twitter.com in the linkTweets don’t embed anymore, but Romano has given the “here we go” on this one - €18m and medical tomorrow. It is good depth, shades of Klavan, who ended up being worth all of his fee (£4m, 53 appearances).
It's not weird. The answer is money, however it seems taboo for players to say they moved for money (see every player signed by the Saudis) so they make up weird fake reasons.Yeah that is where I’m confused. If he went to almost any other team in the world I’d completely get it. But to go to Chelsea makes the whole thing even weirder
Well, of course. But I did lose any sympathy for Lavia for how LFC may have treated him. He felt Liverpool prioritized Caicedo over him so he….went to the team that signed Caicedo to rot on the bench behind him?It's not weird. The answer is money, however it seems taboo for players to say they moved for money (see every player signed by the Saudis) so they make up weird fake reasons.
I think they offered him higher weekly wages than what Liverpool had ever offered (and would offer).Well, of course. But I did lose any sympathy for Lavia for how LFC may have treated him. He felt Liverpool prioritized Caicedo over him so he….went to the team that signed Caicedo to rot on the bench behind him?
Fair bit of noise about Amrabat as well. Is he a pure 6 or more of a hybrid?The primary target now is Chieck Doucore. Let's hope they can get it done quickly before Chelsea signs him
Hybrid 6/8 or even more an 8, as I understand. Good player.Fair bit of noise about Amrabat as well. Is he a pure 6 or more of a hybrid?
Yep - agree completely. But the Lavia pursuit was kind of weird anyway. They originally targeted him as Fabinho’s understudy. Plan B had him as Fabinho’s replacement.I think they offered him higher weekly wages than what Liverpool had ever offered (and would offer).
The real mistake was screwing around and putting in 3 bids that had no chance of being accepted and letting it drag out to get to the point where Chelsea could swoop in
I would have to think the price tag for him is going to minimum 60 million, and should be more. Which isn't a bad flip for Palace since they bought him for 28, and added Jefferson Lerma on a free.The primary target now is Chieck Doucore. Let's hope they can get it done quickly before Chelsea signs him