Yeah, I’ll just add, they actually overpaid both for Mane and Salah, also Firmino at that time, considering their status at that very time etc. Those were big sums for players of their CV.
I doubt even many Liverpool supporters believed they would go on to reach the heights and performance levels they managed to achieve later on.
I wouldn’t say they overpaid for either Salah or Mane tbh.
Both were young and had interesting profiles with at least good potential/possible high ceilings
But clubs like Man City and Chelsea don’t have to balance the books.
Both Liverpool and Man City have done well in the transfer market but Liverpool have spent a lot less.
And he liked this too.
Think this links I’m with what @sevchenko was saying the match day thread. His earlier tweet probably stems from as much frustration than anything else.
Can’t say I blame him for that at all either tbh
We were hearing all tournament about how pressure isn’t something that exists in his universe. I can’t believe he wasn’t in the first 5, or reportedly 8 takers?!
I think the wheels will fall off for Southgate now. You’d imagine some of the players will be frustrated with his rotational approach and lack of desire to let the players take a bit more risk
On the plus side he now has no other choice to not be more positive at the World Cup. If we win his methods are fully vindicated and players like Grealish have no reason to complain about a lack of game time.
That changes now thankfully!
I see him doubling down if anything.
Especially if we get another easy draw.
Jack was not trusted by Southgate since the beginning
Yeah I think he might be a bit of a one trick pony here. His approach was methodical, supposedly looking at the types of teams that often win tournaments coming to the conclusion this is how to do it. I can’t imagine he’s going to take all that research and just bin it off for sexy football.
I’m not expecting my international coach to be a master tactician but I would be surprised if his methods were more effective next time around (even if tbf they were more effective than in 2018).
I’m guessing we’ve seen his peak but the next tournament is relatively close so we’ll see.
It’s a bit of a shame, because in a twisted way I didn’t want him totally found out until he ended up at a competitor club and messed them up.
I hope Southgate’s adoration of Saka and desire to make Saka a recognisable entity, doesn’t back fire with this one instance.
Aston Villa have played this well.
They bought replacements, knowing full well Grealish was going, got their business done and have made a good profit.
Yeah overall after the first season relegation escape this business will ensure them PL status for a long time now.
Important for a club like that after those few seasons away that it didn’t turn into a Leeds situation.
Great deal for them
Bailey and Buendia is good business. Probably kept an open dialogue with City and told them we’ll sell you him once we’ve signed our replacements.
Well, you can’t replace somebody like Grealish but you can try to replace his output. Think they’ve done as well as they could.
The best AM in the league going to the best team in the league.
If they can sign Kane then it would be inexcusable for them to not win the league again this year. Tbh, it would be inexcusable to not win the CL as well. 2 out of the 4 trophies would be the bare minimum .
Unreal starting XI.
What idiots. They should sell first and worry about replacements later like we do. Fucking amateurs