The Liverpool Thread

[Theatre of Dreams83]

Imo he's your most dangerous and consistent attacker by a mile atm. Absolutely nuts letting him go. Especially to a rival.

 

[dilakh2]

If unprofessional had a face this would be it. Let him pick the next manager and half **** the window and at the same time have him already working for his new club. I cant believe the club didn't put him on gardening leave. Explains this entire summer in a nutshell.

 

[Scouseinthehouse]

Recency bias and all despite having a poor season previously he is still a good player. We need numbers and he covers the entire front line. Baffling getting rid of him.

Edit: counter argument. We gave him a stupid insane contract and if we are being honest he is a great rotation option at the top end of the league but not good enough to take the next step and cement himself as one of the best. So getting silly money for him makes sense.

He can go F himself. Sideways!

 

[Scouseinthehouse]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2094339316809965915

Excellent. They are talking about him in Courtois terms in Belgium. Hopefully without the arrogance.

ANYTHING that sees the back of the Georgian dope is a massive

 

[Scouseinthehouse]

View attachment 706627

If unprofessional had a face this would be it. Let him pick the next manager and half **** the window and at the same time have him already working for his new club. I cant believe the club didn't put him on gardening leave. Explains this entire summer in a nutshell.

He can go F himself along with Gakpo dealing/ happy to go to them.

F the pair of the C!

 

[Scouseinthehouse]

Group including Jeff Bezos buys minority stake in Liverpool FC, with option to become controlling owner

The group that includes Jeff Bezos has an option to become the majority shareholder within the next year.

www.cnbc.com

To say this is bad is an understatement. FSG ain't no saints, but they've run the club as well as you could ask in this era of shady owners. It was always going to be on the cards once FSG shipped the idea of selling up a year or so ago, as so few people in the world have the funds to actually buy the club.

Didn’t get a chance to reply with the site down. But this was my response/ my views-

WAY too much is being focused on Bezos here in my humble.

Having digested this, and read a whole lot of bunkum over the last few weeks, along with delving into the main protagonists to try educate myself on them, here’s my thoughts on yesterday’s big confirmation of Fenway selling 30% of their stake in LFC.

A strategic, minority investment to continue to grow the football club. Right here, right now, nothing more. Nothing less.

NO change to the day-to-day running of the club. This isn’t a Utd scenario where Ratcliffe was handed the reigns and immediately went about binning the little guys who had sacrificed their lives to Utd. 3 new board members, one being the Indian figure head who did everything right by QPR his nigh on 2 decades there, as the many Rangers supporters who have paid glowing tributes to him testify to, is the sum total of any change within the football clubs structure. I don’t personally see there suddenly being a huge transfer kitty slapped in front of Iraola in coming windows. Nor would I ever want there to be if it came from private investment. (Or worse State backed investment. Shudder the thought.). We’ll still be run self sufficiently and spend within our means. The way it should be if you want sustained success.

What I do see is Fenway opening up doors to fantastic new market opportunities, behind major players within their own business’/ industries, to both grow commercial revenues even further into new Countries. And be at the forefront of the next evolution of individual club broadcasting and technology deals. And that is where the club, and ultimately the manager and team, reap the benefits.

It probably starts a slow exit for FSG in the long run. The new investors won’t want to just stick at 30% for ever after putting all that in. But I don’t foresee that being any time soon.

As noted, I think too many people are getting caught up on Bezos in particular and making way more out of his involvement than they need to do. We need to ultimately know what his end game is, and just how big a sway he will have within this consortium? I’m not overly thrilled, to be kind, by his treatment of his employees in his specialised field. But then NO multi-billionaire ever gets to that position without some dirt on his hands. But on the face it, as of now, he’s in the background. The preverbal ‘passive investor’ with no direct seat on the board or major sway on ANYTHING within the football club. It’s the equally powerful and mega rich Mittal family from India, headed by British-Indian, Amit Bahtia, who is front and centre driving this. Which makes this much more palatable than the other way round and either Amazon’s Bezos, or Facie’s Saverin, fronting this group. HE needed their investment to make this work. And it’s pleasing to see he is the public figure head and main new man in the board. He does need to speak to supporters and make their intentions crystal clear like. But it’s at least reassuring this way and not the heinous involvement people are madly trying to spin off the Bezos angle. He, on the face of it, is a lad who just loves football and, you’d imagine, one day wants to finish what this starts with him owning and running Englands premier football club. It will be really interesting to hear from him directly and where he sees this going as he’s starting from a very popular standpoint given all the good you read about him. And he realised very quickly at QPR the importance of supporters and engaged regularly with them through his tenure. Which is another positive sign. I love that he fought hard to keep QPR’s prices down too. He’s been staunchly against ticket price hikes for supporters.

So nothing is really changing at the club any time soon. But the overall business has added leaders in fields the game is developing in to give them a great head start when that change comes around. Which will ultimately continue to grow revenue streams and, by association, the product on the pitch which everything is predicated to. Stability is key to everything and nothing is going to rock that in the immediate.

More of the same. But very exciting for the future as we continue to grow and expand.

Cautiously optimistic is where I am personally at with the news. We do need to hear from them directly on intentions. But everything on the face of it is very positive and being done the right way. My best advice would be keep it transparent by talking and engaging with us as, and you won’t go far wrong.

Right here, right now, Liverpool Football Club continues to be in the very best possible hands.

 

[dilakh2]

Didn’t get a chance to reply with the site down. But this was my response/ my views-

WAY too much is being focused on Bezos here in my humble.

Having digested this, and read a whole lot of bunkum over the last few weeks, along with delving into the main protagonists to try educate myself on them, here’s my thoughts on yesterday’s big confirmation of Fenway selling 30% of their stake in LFC.

A strategic, minority investment to continue to grow the football club. Right here, right now, nothing more. Nothing less.

NO change to the day-to-day running of the club. This isn’t a Utd scenario where Ratcliffe was handed the reigns and immediately went about binning the little guys who had sacrificed their lives to Utd. 3 new board members, one being the Indian figure head who did everything right by QPR his nigh on 2 decades there, as the many Rangers supporters who have paid glowing tributes to him testify to, is the sum total of any change within the football clubs structure. I don’t personally see there suddenly being a huge transfer kitty slapped in front of Iraola in coming windows. Nor would I ever want there to be if it came from private investment. (Or worse State backed investment. Shudder the thought.). We’ll still be run self sufficiently and spend within our means. The way it should be if you want sustained success.

What I do see is Fenway opening up doors to fantastic new market opportunities, behind major players within their own business’/ industries, to both grow commercial revenues even further into new Countries. And be at the forefront of the next evolution of individual club broadcasting and technology deals. And that is where the club, and ultimately the manager and team, reap the benefits.

It probably starts a slow exit for FSG in the long run. The new investors won’t want to just stick at 30% for ever after putting all that in. But I don’t foresee that being any time soon.

As noted, I think too many people are getting caught up on Bezos in particular and making way more out of his involvement than they need to do. We need to ultimately know what his end game is, and just how big a sway he will have within this consortium? I’m not overly thrilled, to be kind, by his treatment of his employees in his specialised field. But then NO multi-billionaire ever gets to that position without some dirt on his hands. But on the face it, as of now, he’s in the background. The preverbal ‘passive investor’ with no direct seat on the board or major sway on ANYTHING within the football club. It’s the equally powerful and mega rich Mittal family from India, headed by British-Indian, Amit Bahtia, who is front and centre driving this. Which makes this much more palatable than the other way round and either Amazon’s Bezos, or Facie’s Saverin, fronting this group. HE needed their investment to make this work. And it’s pleasing to see he is the public figure head and main new man in the board. He does need to speak to supporters and make their intentions crystal clear like. But it’s at least reassuring this way and not the heinous involvement people are madly trying to spin off the Bezos angle. He, on the face of it, is a lad who just loves football and, you’d imagine, one day wants to finish what this starts with him owning and running Englands premier football club. It will be really interesting to hear from him directly and where he sees this going as he’s starting from a very popular standpoint given all the good you read about him. And he realised very quickly at QPR the importance of supporters and engaged regularly with them through his tenure. Which is another positive sign. I love that he fought hard to keep QPR’s prices down too. He’s been staunchly against ticket price hikes for supporters.

So nothing is really changing at the club any time soon. But the overall business has added leaders in fields the game is developing in to give them a great head start when that change comes around. Which will ultimately continue to grow revenue streams and, by association, the product on the pitch which everything is predicated to. Stability is key to everything and nothing is going to rock that in the immediate.

More of the same. But very exciting for the future as we continue to grow and expand.

Cautiously optimistic is where I am personally at with the news. We do need to hear from them directly on intentions. But everything on the face of it is very positive and being done the right way. My best advice would be keep it transparent by talking and engaging with us as, and you won’t go far wrong.

Right here, right now, Liverpool Football Club continues to be in the very best possible hands.

Agreed. Obviously with hindsight we cant say with certainty how it will end up. However, reading more about Bhatia and how he operates it does seem in line with what is expected. Personally for me and especially the way this summer has gone and the past year and the indecisiveness FSG have shown I think they've run their course. I just dont like Bezos and what he stands for and would want him as far away from the club as possible but we'll see how it unfolds.

 

[Scouseinthehouse]

Imo he's your most dangerous and consistent attacker by a mile atm. Absolutely nuts letting him go. Especially to a rival.

He’s been far from that for a long time. Aside from him not fitting/ having the right profile for an Iraola winger. And you can’t keep a player who wants away.

Gakpo going I have no issue with. He was in danger of losing his place over the course of this season to Rio and his development. Now he’s totally out of the picture with Barcola. Can’t force a vet. international regular to stay when he rightly feels he should be a main man at this stage of his career.

But not to THEM! It should be written in stone we don’t deal with either Manc club. Not least one that has cheated us out of titles. Ferguson knew. He told us to go F ourselves over Heinze when he was begging to join.

Disgraceful this from both the club and Gakpo to think it’s sound to deal/ go to City. Both should know FAR better.

There’s lines you NEVER cross.

Disgraceful this.

F him! F Hughes!

Hope he gets the Trent treatment when we play City in a month or so’s time.

 

[Scouseinthehouse]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2094377080716689600

We’re gonna’ be boss in 5 years time ……

Just not this season.

 

[Scouseinthehouse]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2094378073483280427

 

[Scouseinthehouse]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2094409683398164852

 

[Scouseinthehouse]

Although I believe this has been agreed for a good few weeks now, bar the finer details and waiting for PSG to get all their ducks in order, I cannot begin to express how hyped I am to finally get this over the line. The signing of the summer window in the PL and then some. I honestly don’t think people who haven’t regularly watched/ delved deep into Barcola, realise just what an outstanding, game changing talent he is. Which we’ll delve into here somewhat and dispel a few myths and fears going around …..

Sounds proper mad to even write this when you are talking such mind boggling amounts of money. But in the context of the current market, and football living in a bubble all of its own unlike most any other industry in life, £ 120 million max. total for Barcola is an absolute coup. In a market where, to use two examples, Brighto have currently priced the, in comparison, average Minteh out of a move by valuing him, whilst injured, at around £ 80 million. And Anthony Gordon £ 70 million, paying £ 120 million max. total for the far more talented and productive Barcola is an absolute steal! Heck, Morgan Rogers, a year older, has had nothing like the career to date of Barcola. And Chelsea have just dropped £ 117 million on him this summer! Love it or hate it, that is the market. And it will be even worse in another summer windows time.

Already one of the best and most sought after wingers on the planet at 23-years-old. With his ceiling not yet reached. Ridiculous experience both at club and International level for someone so young. Being a double European Cup, Super Cup, and Intercontinental Cup winner, along with a slew of domestic silverware in France. Coming off a superb World Cup. With the skill set of the picture perfect Iraola winger. Who stands comparison with anyone statically and sits in the top percentile of most analytical brackets.

Without even kicking a ball in the PL, he is the de-facto best left winger in the league, at least on paper, from most every metric. Who walks into most every major clubs starting XI. Just unfortunately for him, both with PSG and the French National side, he has had to face fierce competition from well arguably the most talented pairings in World football. Losing minutes to Dembélé, Doué, Kvaratskhelia, Olise and co is nothing to be ashamed of for any player. And makes the readily thrown around nonsense of him being a ‘PSG reject/ Not good enough to start for them’ et al just that. Utter nonsense.

Some stats to dispel the myth that he isn’t in the elite bracket/ can’t play the right hand side etc:

As has been witnessed pre-season, Iraola’s sides are based around winning the ball back high, then the super quick transition into all out attack at speed. Barcola isn’t just a prefect fit for that. He’s got the same, transformative skill set for the forward corp, that van Dijk had for the back end. Virgil was bought to play a certain way to make Jurgen’s system complete. This lad is the same for Iraola’s rapid counters. Nobody has more pace. He ranked as the 4th fastest player in all of Europes top 5 leagues last season at 32.7 km/ hour. When Barcola turns on the afterburners, he’s GONE!!!!! A lot of foreign players look fast before they come to England. Then find the mad pace here is too much for them. This lad is PL rapid! His direct runs in behind the defence are at an elite level. More often than not leading to him being through one-on-one. He’s great at arcing those runs too, out to in. Wirtz will have a fieldday slipping balls through to him between FB and CH. His off the ball movement and runs are second to none. Which fits Iraola’s style perfectly. Statistically he’s the best winger in Europe at stretching defences. In the top percentile across the Continent for received through balls and progressive receptions. And he’s quick to get his shot away. 4.5 shots every 100 touches last season. The highest among PSG’s squad. His dribbling could improve at times. Quick feet and decent ball manipulation. But it’s more the pace and ability to change direction at top speed where defenders can’t. He only completes 46% of his dribble attempts across his career so there is room to improve there. He also loves to get to the byline as well and cut ball back. And he’s a very willing creator too as evidenced the WC with no player the whole tournament attempting more line breaking passes forward than him. And off the ball, he grafts and presses relentlessly.

So let’s recap-

He ticks four things Liverpool desperately needed going into this season:

- Someone who can stretch the defence and make consistent vertical runs to receive the ball.
- Elite speed. Adding much needed pace over the top.
- A winger who will look to create chances for his teammates and go down the byline.
- Hard grafting and very good at pressing in the final third. (Ranks top five in Ligue 1 for possessions won in the final third (1.20 per 90).

And as much as most of his career has been on the left, he’s equally adept on the right. He’s played 37 times on the right through his career with 7 goals and 5 assists. (LW: 113 Games. 32 Goals/ 32 Assists| LM: 2 Games| CF: 22 Games. 9 Goals/ 2 Assists.). For all people say he isn’t a RW, it’s interesting to note Barcola has played 2841 minutes of his senior career as a RW. And he has averaged 0.63 goal contributions from 0.58 xA + xG. Outperforming the metrics. So, he could be an option on the right as well. Playing into the versatility that Iraola has openly said he wants from all his wide-men to be able to play either flank.

Barcola has averaged 0.76 G/As per 90 minutes in 148 games for PSG. That’s very impressive, elite numbers in anyone’s book.

Another slight madly thrown at him is it’s easy playing for the dominant team in one of the weaker big 5 European Leagues. His complete Champions League Career record, which is basically 30 career 90’s since his first CL game in 2023/24, and he’s been exceptionally strong in all the areas you’d want. His non-penalty goal xG is in the 95th percentile. As elite as it gets. Meaning he is consistently getting into great positions to take shots. Which is the key difference in how clubs use analytics to the fan layman’s eye goals/ assists numbers. Why Darwin Nunez consistently scores highly when you look at him analytically. He’s consistently getting into great scoring positions. Barcola’s non-penalty goal xG shots is 0.15. Which is ridiculously high. But the thing that kettles fans heads is he has only scored 6 times the CL. From a total xG of 10.77. But then his post xG stats (what’s happened after the great chance), is 10.55. And his post xG shot map are mainly all suggesting he could make a salient argument that he’s done all he can by consistently being in position and taking the shot. Just the goalie has mad a great save.

Consistently on Europe’s highest stage, he is a big ball carrier, big dribbler, big creator, mad presser, who gets in lots of shots from really great positions. Along with stretching the pitch and consistently getting in behind the defence. Many of the traits of 2 of Jurgen’s best wingers …..

His one season in Paris he was the main man, 2024/25, he had 42 G/A through 64 games. 21 goals. 21 assists.

Heck, although he only scored 13 times last year, he still had the top xG per 90, across Europes top 5 leagues, at 0.5. (Players that played 1,500 minutes at least.).

And the even better part is, even with all his top level experience at just 23, he’s still got a few more levels to go under a coach like Iraola who will utilise his unique skillset to the max.

Massively transformative, best in class wide addition who fits Andoniball like a glove. Iraola, who likes his teams pressing and winning the ball high. Then quick, fast, vertical transitions. Taking risks with line breaking passes.

Equating to Bournemouth in the PL last season/ Barcola last season:

Bournemouth attempted the
the most through passes/
Barcola was in the very
highest, 99th percentile,
across Europes top 5 leagues
for received through balls and
progressive receptions.
Bournemouth were 2nd for
most long passes attempted/
Barcola was the joint 5th
fastest player in last season’s
CL at 36.7 km/hour.
Bournemouth were 4th
highest in progressive press/
Barcola was around the top in
France for possession won in
the final third.

And who, as mad as it is to write this a second time, is an absolute coup at £ 120 million max. total for the next iteration of Liverpool Football Club.

If you wanted a Mo Salah replacement, albeit maybe the opposite side, you honestly couldn’t have done ANY better this summer, than this fella’.

Welcome to the best club in the World Bradley lad. The centre-piece stage you’ve been craving is now yours.

Pleasure to have you as a Red.

 

[dilakh2]

God I hope youre right Scouse. Not going to act like ive watched him in depth like you have but ill take ya word on it. More importantly he fits what we require in the team.

 

[Anthony]

What's that now?? €750 million since Klopp left?
J.esus!!!

 

[Scouseinthehouse]

What's that now?? €750 million since Klopp left?
J.esus!!!

If only it was anything like that net wise.

 

[Scouseinthehouse]

God I hope youre right Scouse. Not going to act like ive watched him in depth like you have but ill take ya word on it. More importantly he fits what we require in the team.

If they sit pat now and don’t add a midfielder at least, it defeats the whole F object.

 

[Scouseinthehouse]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2094454254199087535

This is beyond farcical now.

Sums up the entire window.

 

[dilakh2]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2094454254199087535

This is beyond farcical now.

Sums up the entire window.

Was going to comment on your post about a need for a midfielder but yeah we have a sporting director who should be on gardening leave and FSG who look like they've washed their hands until the change of ownership next year. It's a shame because im convinced you give Iraola the tools he could have us more than competing at the top. However, he's used to working without much and being hamstrung so we'll see.

 

[Scouseinthehouse]

Was going to comment on your post about a need for a midfielder but yeah we have a sporting director who should be on gardening leave and FSG who look like they've washed their hands until the change of ownership next year. It's a shame because im convinced you give Iraola the tools he could have us more than competing at the top. However, he's used to working without much and being hamstrung so we'll see.

Big January hopefully by someone running a proper window.

 

[Theatre of Dreams83]

Shambles of a window tbh.