It's the Isaac Success paradigm and I knowingly embrace it, as the alternative is just to accept all our players are crap. I know that it's highly unlikely João Pedro is going to come in, score ten goals and keep us up but it's the hope that he will that keeps me going!
All very reasonable points, hard to disagree with tbh. We've not got anything to be excited about. I suppose the ongoing malaise, whatever the reasons behind it, is causing me an existential crisis over my until now unwavering support for the club I've followed for 45 years. 'Why am I doing this?' is an increasingly frequent question, one that I asked myself when it came to season ticket renewal this year (wish I'd not bothered) and one I asked myself coming home from the Leeds match and again whilst stuck in the snarled up ring road traffic after Saturday's match. I don't want our owners to be billionaires (let alone any who are connected to human-rights abuses) but it seems that's the only way we'll progress. A good friend of mine is a Citeh fan but a few years ago decided he no longer wants to goes and see them. Fed up of the money-machine, bored of the weekly thumpings of other teams and the growing disconnect between the club and fans. He's now into watching non-league, below the conference, and really enjoying it. I'll always support Watford obviously but this idea is tempting.
If players want tickets for people who aren’t family, then they should be put in executive boxes and financed by their big wages. Simple as that. If there’s no availability or space, tough dice - your mates go without and better luck next time. There’s also enough people employed by the club to make sure scenes like those on Saturday don’t occur. Foster has to take accountability for this guys behaviour - as any of us would. I do have my doubts that Foster would have known where these seats were located and he probably just asked the player liaison officer to sort out tickets. Clearly there’s been a breakdown in very simple communication and sense. Foster has to take the flak, simple as that. There’s just no way that he didn’t know he was getting a high-profile Liverpool fan a ticket that was not in the designated area for away fans.
Yes. I strongly suspect that we have a tendency to over-value him. He is extremely talented, but is effectively under-performing for too many games. I do think, and have always thought, that he is badly in need of good coaching. I don't just mean being used in the right way on the pitch, although that is certainly pertinent, but his all-round game and thinking/game-reading needs to improve. Personally, I suspect that the constant roundabout of coaches, together with their remit of immediate results, precludes the chances of this happening (for all our players).
As I said in another thread, Newcastle have Saint Maximin already. Mega bucks or not, I doubt they will be handing us a fortune for Sarr given the one player they have already that could reasonably expect to be part of the revolution already plays in that position.
It 100% comes down to the roundabout of coaches, who go through a cycle of bringing in their own team, stabilising a sinking ship, building an identity, finding out what works and what doesn't work, gaining some positive momentum before a few bad results (or not given the payout) and wondering whether their jobs are in order. There's very little for 1 on 1 training, time to focus. Liverpool would be a great move for Sarr, a native brother, great facilities & staff coupled with decent enough game time given there's nobody else so he'll be sub #1. However, just an inkling, I don't think he has the IQ to make it to the very, very top. He's a fantastic athlete and a decent footballer.
Even when the identity seemed to be 'strangely run club who regularly manage to replace the head coach just in time to ensure they comfortable stay in the EPL', at least it was an identity of sorts. Now that the hierarchy can no longer manage that feat of alchemy, we are becoming what you have outlined. Identity-less, directionless, passionless. That can very quickly convert into 'pointless', with all its variegated meanings.
I genuinely think the best clubs have looked at Sarr - and most, if not all, have decided he’s worth nowhere near what we quote. Mainly based upon the fact that whenever an opposition team in the PL have concocted a plan to deal with him, it’s been successful. He’s only ever been fruitful in games where the opposition have treated him the same as our other 10 players. A player worth £50m can outsmart the plan the opposition have for him 9 times out of 10. Sarr may well get to that level - but I’d be shocked if anyone pays £50m for him as he’s still going to be somewhat of a project.
Didn't we sign Deulofeu on loan in January? Agreed with the general point though, and that was when we weren't quite so ****ed financially
We overpaid for him, simple as that. He's our best player by a country mile but has such gaping holes in his technique and awareness that make it unlikely he'll ever be at a top team. We might turn a profit on him if we can flog him to a Villa, Everton or Newcastle but it'll have to be soon as by the end of the season, he'll only have two years left on his contract.
Everyone seems convinced he’s leaving in the summer come what may. If we survive this season (doubtful I know), I don’t think it’s inconceivable that we try and extend his contract to get another year out of him. I don’t think he will be falling over himself to join the clubs you’ve listed particularly. And I don’t think Newcastle would want him anyway given they have ASM. Everton seem to be tightening their belts financially and Villa have got Leon Bailey.
I would chuckle if we cling onto Sarr for so long that we end up practically giving him away in the final year of his contract. We do business properly.
He would be mad to extend his contract with us. Already feels a little bit like a highly paid prisoner.
In the body of the article there are quotes from one or two sources close to the dressing room/hierarchy that express a similar response to it to a lot of fans.
I have no doubt there is because requests to get tickets for "away fans" previously have probably been rejected I suspect but this has slipped through. A lot of our players will know fans of big clubs and obviously have family members with such affiliations.
Let's be real, he won't go for the £50m we hope for (unless Newcastle go mental lol), but £35-40m isn't really that much to many Prem clubs
