IRAOLA FACES TOUGH JANUARY DECISIONS + SPURS SELECTION DEBATE! Liverpool Latest Transfer News transcript

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Our signup offer gives you Surf SharkVPN for just over €2 per month and up to four months free. Why not scan the QR code on screen or use the link in the description to take advantage of this offer. What is up my friends? It's a brand new week, but as always, you're very welcome along to tonight's late night agenda. Obviously, we're going to talk about the Spurs game tomorrow night. It'll be interesting to see how strong both managers go.

I think Connor mentioned to me earlier on that the Zerby said he's going to make 11 changes. So, let's see what Andonnonni goes with. We'll talk about that. We'll talk about all the midfielder chat that's been doing the rounds over the past 24 hours. Two names have been mentioned stronger than any others and they are Lamine Kamar and Manu Kone. So to kick us off tonight, I thought I'd ask a poll question. Which one of those two midfield options would you prefer Liverpool to sign?

As well as that, we're going to talk about Anduka as he is now eligible for a work permit for the UK, which means if Liverpool so wish, they could bring him back in January. We'll talk about that, whether we should do it or not or leave him there at Levante for the remainder of the campaign. We'll give you the officials for the game against Bournemouth at the weekend. We'll talk about Andonni Areola's press conference.

We'll have a little take from Paul Merson on the situation with Florian Vvers and of course any other subjects that you guys would like to discuss. It's your show, right? Let's get into it. Uh, no more wasting money. Club already full of uh poor quality players. I don't know what that means with regards to these two players. Um, look, for me, I have a very clear preference which one I'd want to come into the football club, but I don't want to, you know, put my opinion out there just yet.

We're going to leave the poll go a bit longer, but I mean, let's look at the two options that are there and mention it and then of course we'll we'll talk about the prices of them. So we'll go through the reports today and as we mentioned in our earlier video. Uh today's report coming from the Liverpool Echo said that Liverpool have inquired about a move for Roma and France midfielder Manu Kone. According to Italian media outlet Tudo Marcado, Liverpool have asked about the Frenchman and could make a more determined move in the coming months.

Roma insisted and resisted a late push from Chelsea in the final hours of the transfer window, including an offer of just over 51 million pound. So that's kind of the numbers that we'd probably be looking at from Manu Kone, but remember they rejected that offer. So and with regard to Lamine Kamar, look, the interest there is is for everybody to know basically and uh numbers about 50 million euro, so maybe about 4041 million pound.

For me, there's a very clear and obvious candidate that I'd like to bring in. But of course, I want to know what you guys think. Uh Craig, Liverpool Academy lost one-0il. Dan with a good hour and Willight looked dangerous also like Brad Shaw. Uh and hope you see Chambers tomorrow. Well, thank you David on that one. I knew that they were playing of course and I knew Dan's got an hour, but I didn't know the result of the game, mate.

So, appreciate you letting me know on that one. And yeah, so for me, I'd have Chambers in my starting 11 for tomorrow night's game. Um, if you watched the preview, you would have seen I put him in at left back because, well, honestly, I agree with James Pierce. I'd rather give him the minutes than give them to Costas. I just think there's there's more sense to that. But it will be really interesting to see what he goes with.

But let's just get back to the transfer chat for a minute if I can. Another really interesting bit of transfer gossip that was doing the rounds today comes from Football Insider and they said that Liverpool could smash their transfer record to sign Bournemouth forward Ryan next summer. They go on to say the 20-year-old has the release clause that we spoke about, £130 million pound, which becomes active in January 2027, and Liverpool could choose to trigger it.

Now, look, I I don't think I'm speaking at a turn here to say that if you're going to have to maybe spend 130 million pound for Ryan, why not just try to go for a Lise? I mean, that would be the sensible play here for us. You know, a lease would cost a lot of money and I'm sure probably similar numbers to the Rayan release clause. But the only way Rayanne for me would be anyway sensible is if you got that price a lot lot lot lower than the release clause.

And I wouldn't be paying 130 million quid for Rayan at this point. I think you'd be just having your pants pulled down and it would quite frankly be ridiculous. So if you're to spend that level of dough, Michael would be clear for me. Um, if you could get Rayanne for somewhere in the 70 to 80 million pound bracket, maybe we have a different conversation. But if they're going to demand the release clause, I mean, it's just silly, isn't it, to talk about 130 million pound for a player with at that point next summer, 18 months experience in the Premier League.

Uh, Fields of Freedom said no chance Liverpool pay over 100 million for Ray, but he's not had a full season in the Prem. Well, he would have had a full season at that point because this is for next summer. But I think the point still stands, you know, 100 million pound seems astronomical um to pay for a player with limited experience. But then again, the transfer window, especially for right-sided attackers, is probably going to be nuts again.

So, let's wait and see. But I certainly hope we don't pay anything close to that. Like the player, I've been on record a few times as saying that, but you're in Michael Elise territory numbers there. And if Elise extends with Bayern Munich, then maybe this isn't an option. But if he doesn't, he'll have two years to run in his contract at the end of the season. And that's uh certainly a tempting one for clubs to start testing Bayern's resolve.

Uh Craig, thoughts on Kone as a player? So the Ka one would be one that would kind of bug me a little bit to be honest with you because we had a chance to sign him two years ago if my memor is right. Maybe it was a bit longer but I think it was two years ago and we didn't do it and we allowed him to move from the Bundesliga over to Syria where obviously he has come on and developed quite well. So it would be another one of those situations where as a fan I'm thinking we could have had this guy for a lot cheaper.

Why are we now looking to bring him in for maybe twice the price we could have had him for two years down the line? I guess you could push back and say he'd have gained more experience at that point and maybe his value would have gone up. Um what do I think of him as a player? I think he's okay, you know, but I don't want to I suppose I have to give you my answer now really, don't I? It's Lamin Camaro for me every day of the week.

Look, Lamine Kamar obviously isn't as big and physical as Manu Kone, but I just think he is a better player. So, it wouldn't even be a a coin toss for me. It would be clearly 80% I'd want Lamin Kamar, 20% I'd want Manu Kone. Um, so yeah, that's my take on it anyway. But, you know, it there must be something about the guy. If Chelsea are looking at him in there, Liverpool are looking at him in there and probably a few other clubs as well.

Uh, hey Craig, I think Manuka is a very good player, but his injury record is a concern. Well, Brian, I'm not even going to lie to you, my friend. I haven't got a Scooby-Doo, mate, what his injury record is like. But if it is in any way concerning, again, that's probably just another one in the against column, isn't it? Um, so yeah, if he has an injury or a sketchy injury record, coming to the Premier League is not going to make that any better, is it?

So, I'd probably again only just double down than my Lamin Camar thoughts. Uh, that meme guy said, "We don't need more 100 million plus players and we just need to get the 60 million range or lower to get the right players in depth in. We already have a stacked attack, an expensive attack." So, I hear you, but I'm still going for Michael Elisa if there's any option of it. Um, look, the way this would probably have to work would be Cody Gako would probably be revisited getting sold if you were going to look for Michael Elise and you'd probably get whatever you could get in for Gako at that point.

And look, I don't know what his market value would be next summer. Um, and offset that against Elise. But I do think if there's any chance to get Michael Elise, you'd be stupid not to do it as a football club because imagine that attack like we've spoken about Elise on the right with Victor Munas as an option. Barcola on the left with Rio was an option and then Hugo Eat and Isach through the middle. Now I know what you mean about the 100 million pound again, but I I don't know about like that.

That's an attack that gets you up off your seat. That that's an attack that puts the fear into opposition. Keen has very kindly sent me over his uh injury record and let's see what it's like. Um I mean in the last couple of years it's not too bad to be honest with you. I did miss 33 days with torn muscle fiber in 23 24 but he only missed four games in that one. uh couple of muscle fatigues, hamstring injury that he missed four games for um in the 2526 season.

But it's not awful for Manu Kone. Like it's not, you know, I've seen a lot worse, although I've seen a lot better as well. Uh Jay was good on ref watch. Derma is a joke. I agree, Curtis. And you know what? I I actually just watched the ref watch clip about maybe just over an hour ago and h yeah I found myself nodding along with with Jay both as as I often do to be fair when Jay's on there but Derek McAgher just ties himself in knots doesn't he trying to justify it like Dur Mcalliger basically came out and said that they got they they probably probably because he doesn't know obviously so they probably got distracted and focused too much on did Enzo Fernandez touch the ball but honestly I'm just fed up with the [ __ ] from Derek Mcallaggher and thief pro or ref pro or [ __ ] whatever they're called this week.

It's just stupid. Like it's a pretty clear and obvious decision to make. Anybody that has even a rudimentary understanding of football rules, let alone referees and var officials knew damn well that Martinez was being obstructed or was being distracted by Enzo Fernandez throwing himself at the ball ahead of him. And that's before we even get into the goalkeeper side of it. Um, I just don't think you can make an argument the way Derek McCaller did to try and almost appeal for sympathy.

And that's basically what he did, Curtis, isn't it? Like he basically just appealed for sympathy. And you're thinking, and as Jay rightly said, you know, in the days where there's no technology, absolutely, referees can get something wrong. No problem. But this is the downside for referees when VAR comes in because we're sold VAR as this thing that takes out these stupid decisions and then you see it not doing it and then you get excuses and that's not acceptable because anybody looking at that with any understanding of the game knows that he was interfering and knows that if Enzo Fernandez wasn't there or didn't make a play to try and touch the ball that Martinez puts that one behind or throws his right boot with it and clears it and there's no goal.

So to see Gallagher once again do what he always does, which is try and find a way to excuse referees of piss poor decision-m, I just don't have any sympathy for Curtis at this point, mate. And I don't think you do either by your comment. And uh damn right, we shouldn't have any. Right. So Lem Camaro looking at his injury record as well. uh biggest one he had was 2526 which was an ankle sprain which kept him out for 53 days and he missed 13 games uh both for his national team and for Monaco.

So you know he's got a pretty good injury record very little there. I mean in total he's missed what 15 games. So not too much there by way of an injury record for him and thank you Keen for sending them on. Uh Cell Endo Elliot and Shimikus. Well, the problem with that sentence before we get any further is um outside of Elliot, the other two were out of contract at the end of the season. So, you'll be just letting them go.

You won't be selling them unless you move them on in January. Uh get Leamine Kamara, Kone, Barios, and Balde if possible. Elise, I don't think we should smash our transfer record for Rayan. Uh we should try that for Elise. H Barios is an interesting one as well. you know, going off the reports from when we played Atletico, you know, there was a few things to say that Liverpool officials were, I think it was ITK Space uh posted it, say Liverpool officials were apparently impressed with his performance.

Um, so yeah, I I don't know if he's getable or not, but the names on your list are credible ones, my friend. Uh, I like Elise, but adding another 100 million player for me with incomp excuse me, incomplete and an unbalanced squad would be pure madness. uh midfield and fullback should be an absolute must. I agree by the way, but think of it slightly differently. So like let's say we go to next summer and Liverpool have an ability to net spend 100 million.

Just just throw it out there as a number and I don't know what the actual number would be. So if you were to sell a midfielder, so whether that's Graham Burch, Mallister, whomever the club feel, maybe they could move on, that would go a long way to sorting out the midfield signing. Then the right back signing. Look, yes, we're probably going to have to dip into the market there somewhat um to get another right back in.

Or you can do the obvious thing, sell and bring in a right back. Then you go to the attack and like I said, you're probably seeing a forward getting moved on and probably somebody like a gakbo would probably generate you maybe half the money for a lease. So you could still do the things we're talking about doing um and go for a lease and but I do understand the point of course I totally understand the point of maybe not wanting to throw another 100 million at it.

Um, I do get that, but I look at it from the point of view of I want the best in every position. And if the best in this sense, at least it's going to cost 100 million quid or upwards of 100 million quid, so be it. Uh, Stevie Boy said, "Let's get Champions League football first before we start getting excited about uh I think you meant to write Elise and the Oliver." Of course. Yeah, 100%. and we're just having a conversation because I guess we're talking about midfielders and it naturally lend towards next uh summer.

But you're right, of course we have to get Champions League football. No Champions League football makes next summer's transfer business a lot more difficult to do, especially if you're looking to attract the bigname players. Um, ironically, I guess if we didn't get Champions League next season, it might lead to us having to look down a level or two. Um, and I'm not saying Elise is the only option either. I'm sure there are other options that can be looked at for the right hand side, but you know, if we're being honest and talk about best fit for the position, you know, he's probably it has Premier League experience.

Obviously, has great experience now with France and with Bayern Munich. He'd still only be 25 next summer, so plenty of time ahead of him as well. Uh, but, you know, I can't get away from it. That is the dream for me on the right. Uh, Corbin said, "Do you think Alise is possible?" Not if he signs a new contract with Bayern unless there's a release clause in it. You know, at the end of this season, he'd have two years to go and then Bayern are into somewhat tricky territory because when he's got two years to go, any fee after that summer, so January or the following summer, the fee starts going down for Bayern more and more and more and more.

And then if he gets to one year to go, that fee probably gets cut in half. So they'd be under a bit of pressure. So, I guess it'll come down to whether Elise negotiates to stay at Byron or not. And if he does, I think he can just draw a line through that one and move on. But if he doesn't, I think there'll be a race for a signature next summer. Uh, Issa Judah said, "Bournews has uh to be a must-win. We have City after." Well, we've got the whole international break in between the two, so you know, let's bear that in mind as well.

Uh, few bits of good news actually from the press conference today. Joe Gomez training and will be in contention tomorrow for, you know, at least a place in the squad. So, that's some good news. Um, other than that, I mean, I don't really know what to expect from the team selection tomorrow night. I had a stab at it with my, you know, predicted 11. And I think if my memory is right, my 11 was Georgie in goal, which again was confirmed by Andonni is something he's going to do tomorrow.

I would have a who did I have a right back? [ __ ] Who did I put in a right back in my game in my team actually? I can't even how the [ __ ] did I put I think I put Frim Pong in at right back to be honest and then I went to Rojo and uh Jac is the center backs Chambers as the left back a midfield double pivot of Mallister and Neoni and then I went for so the 10 um right hand side I went for Victor Munos left hand side Rio and Gamoa and Gak both were middle.

I think that was the uh that was the 11. I guess that is it 4-0 now to leads. Oh my days. Yeah. So leads were were 3-0 up at half time just as I was coming in. Um I think a brace from Calvert Lewen. Certainly one from Calvert Lewen, but uh yeah, that's not great, is it for for uh Newcastle fans getting absolutely whooped 4-0 there by Leads. Uh, Craig, what do you think about Michael Oliver as the referee for Bournemouth?

I'm always nervous when Michael Oliver is involved in any game of football with Liverpool to be honest because, you know, I've got some bad memories. Uh, so just in case you aren't aware, here is the officials for the game. Michael Oliver is the referee. His assistant referees are going to be Stuart Burton, James Minewearing, fourth official, Simon Hooper, Craig Pawson is on VAR, and Lee Betts. But I think scrutiny is going to be on Michael Oliver and his officials because we've seen the mess that was made h at Old Trafford for the game with Manchester City and United.

So, you know, hopefully they'll be uh they'll be focused because, you know, the Premier League doesn't need more obvious mistakes in it. And Bournemouth uh yeah, that could be an interesting game one way or the other. The good thing for me is we play on Tuesday, so then you you do have enough time to kind of rest up and be ready then for the 2 p.m. kickoff on Sunday. H Adam said, "Prediction, we sign the lease and Byron sign Ryan." Maybe.

Yeah, maybe. Um, if they can afford Ryan, and I mean that sincerely because I don't know, you know, they're not going to want to. I would imagine, sorry, I'm I'm sort of thinking out loud as I'm as I'm talking to you. Excuse me. Um, I would imagine that if everyone knew Elise was going to leave Bayern and they came looking for a Rayan, well, they're probably going to quote them a number pretty close to the number that they're getting for a lease because they'd know they have the money.

So, that'll be another interesting dynamic in it, looking at the potential replacements if they do have to move a lease on. Um, ideally, if you're being really clever about it in your man or your Bayern Munich, you'd want to try and get that in early. Maybe get something agreed before the end of the season, something even in January, and then give yourself a bit more breathing room to start to look for an Elise replacement.

Because if you did it all in one summer, yeah, it's going to be tough because clubs are going to know you have money. Uh John K said, "I may be living in the past, but I believe when our club scouts observed Rush, Ronny Wheel, Craig Johnson, etc., they knew what type of player they wanted and the player they observed fitted. So for me, look, these days it's a bit mad, isn't it? Like you've got obviously the oldfashioned scouting system.

Then you've got all the data and all the other metrics to look at. Then you've got to look at the human side of it. I remember a really interesting piece I read from Melissa Reddi when we were looking at Roberto Firmino. And I remember in Melissa's piece, she said that Liverpool not only looked at Roberto Firmino numerous times playing for Hoffenheim, they looked at him playing in different weather conditions as well to see if that impacted him in any which way.

Um yeah, so it does sometimes I have to admit mate, I do feel football can be overly complicated at times and you wonder sometimes there's too much faith put into the data side of things and you know some things maybe you can't measure. Um, so you'd want hopefully a happy marriage of both options there between the the data and the oldfashioned scouting. Uh, what's Elise said contract situation? Two years to go at the end of this uh this season.

So if he signs an extension between now and the end of the season, you know, that probably puts uh puts pay to that unless there's a release close in it. But at the end of this current campaign, he'd have two years left on his buying deal. Uh Danny, how are you, bro? 22 months as a member, my friend. Thank you. Said, uh, I think we'll have a good season. Need a CDM, though. We definitely do. We definitely need a midfielder, and I hope we get it sorted in January.

You know, at least it's somewhat promising now that we're starting to see names and links being thrown around. So, fingers crossed, you know, there's some uh there's some truth to these and we see some action for January. Uh Lucy said, "Craig, it's important to for us to make sure we sign the right player profiles for how we need to play. Verts needs to be picked out uh early between the lines. Dom and Ryan aren't that aren't doing that enough.

Excuse [clears throat] me." Um I get what you mean, but the DM wouldn't really be the one I'd be looking to be playing those balls up forward to him or the deeper line midfielder, but I do understand what you mean. and onverts actually since you brought him up Lucy I want to read out uh a quote from Paul Merson about it and he said I'm a big fan of him I think he's a special player but it isn't working it just isn't working I don't know how long they can wait um and you know Carrager I think said something similar a while back but I'm really interested though is it verts that's the issue or is it the fact we're playing with a number 10 that's the issue that's the thing that I think I' I'd love to get a bit of a definitive answer on cuz I'm of the mindset that I'm open-minded to both.

I certainly am saying Vertz is the problem. I think I'd probably lean more towards the system and playing with a 10 being the issue rather than it solely being Furry and Vertz, which is why I said I'd like to see Solight try in the number 10 role tomorrow night. Um because if Dom came in, we looked smoother and things clicked and worked a bit better. I think that would maybe add a bit more weight to the conversation that verts maybe is a bigger issue than I'm thinking that he is in the system.

Uh Coleman said, "Crago looking skinny." Not skinny. No, we won't go skinny, but I'll I'll take the compliment of dropping a few pounds, mate. Appreciate that one. Uh which I certainly have. Um but long way to go, but I appreciate you looking out for me and saying something nice, mate. Thank you. Right, let's keep going. Uh Dylan, how are you my man? Dylan Karan said, "Hey, Craig, hope you're well, bro." Thank you. I'm not too bad, my friend.

I hope you are as well. Is there any truth to the Baldi links and also possible if Elise signs a contract that we go for both Minta and Rayan instead if Gakbone Kasa leaves? So, I really don't think we should think about a replacement for Kasa in any way, shape, or form if he leaves. I think that's what Lewis Kumas pretty much is. So for me, you're going to look at one right-hand side player. Um whether it's Ma, whether it's Rayan, whether it's Gak or whether it's Elise, time will tell.

Um and maybe availability will tell. For the answer to Balde, the interest is sincere. I did manage to find that much out. He is certainly a name that Liverpool are considering, but I can't tell you whether that will lead to Liverpool making making a bid or not. Now, today we'd seen a number put around which we hadn't got yesterday when we spoke. Uh this coming from Yordi Gil uh from Sport which is a Spanish publication said in recent hours Liverpool's name has emerged as a possible destination for Alejandro Balde and Don Areola would report repeatedly or reportedly consider his signing an interesting option especially if it represents a good market opportunity.

He's included in Hanzi Flick squads but isn't getting any playing time putting him in the shop window ahead of January. Baldday's contract runs until 2028 with a 1 billion euro release clause, but his market value could be around4 million euro. During the summer, he was linked with major clubs such as Manchester United and Inter Milan. So, you know, if we work off that that maybe 40 million euro was a jumping off point for Bald's valuation, it's certainly in the realistic numbers. you know, you want somebody in there and I don't want to talk about him or anybody coming in maybe as a backup to Milos Kirk.

I think if he was coming in, we're talking about competition for places and whoever settles the best, you know, gets the role. But I think at 40 million euro, you know, it's credible. That's about what 33 million pound something like that. Um, so not astronomical. Um, but then again, you're not really going to bring in much money unless you're able to move cost us on for what it would be pittance in January really. >> [sighs] >> Uh, I challenge you to come to my house.

Yeah. No, my mommy always told me not to talk to strangers, especially ones that invite me to their house. Um, yeah, I challenge anybody to go to your house, you freak. Um, yeah. You know, if the house is as bad as you smell from here, I'll pass, mate. I'm all right. Thanks. You know, usually when I go to people's houses these days, it's a bit more luxurious than the [ __ ] hole I imagine that you live in, bro. But, uh, all good.

You tried to bait me. You didn't get me to cry bite on it as much as you wanted to, but it's okay. Just keep sending me free money and I'll keep smiling. I'll tell you what, send me a hundred quid super chat and I'll come to your house. I'm definitely not lying. You send the super chat and I'll do the coming to your house. I mean, I've come in your house a few times, but you'll have to ask your mother about that one.

See, I love this. This is fun to me. Uh, by the way, I don't actually, when I say that, you'll have to ask your mother about it, I don't mean that in a disrespectful way to somebody's mother. I'm more having a pop of the person, you know? I always have respect for Irish mammies. Uh, and this person is with a euro. So, I'd say, yeah, but I think we've all come in your house, haven't we? Boom. [sighs] You cheap [ __ ] with your one quid super chat.

Come on now. You're gonna have to pony up a bit more though than that, bro. A quid. I mean, I'm worth more than a quid. Uh David said, "Evening Craig, bro, and community. I'm frustrated like everybody else, but we need a little bit of uh practice with the manager and team to bet in." I mean, I I'm chill, David, about the situation. Like, I was like I said, I was frustrated and pissed off on uh on Saturday after the game, but you know, that's gone.

Like I said, I got it out of my system on Saturday night in the late night agenda when I was chatting to you guys, you know, I I run through like I basically grieve David when we lose or we don't win a game of football and I work through it quite quickly, but um yeah, I'm agree like it is going to be some ups and downs. H it was just a little bit disappointing I think because you know we'd seen a better performance against Atleti.

We turned it round. The vibe was good. Fulham were coming in with with no real, you know, form at all in the Premier League and it just felt a little bit underwhelming. But I certainly have patience and agree with what you're saying. I just think I just do have a concern about the balance of midfield and that that can't go away at this moment in time, Dave, until we see, you know, until we see it fixing itself or until we see a balance in there that just looks a little bit better.

But I promise you, mate, I definitely am of the mindset that and needs time. No problem with that whatsoever. Uh Keen said, "Your mal jokes are always just a fictional male, never actually mean their literal mother." Yeah, of course. Yeah, I hope people understand that because God almighty, of course, I respect people's actual mothers, but I'm dealing with a troll called Uncle Fester is the name. So, it's a fictional mother in my head.

H cuz you know, I don't know the person, don't know the real situation. But God, I'd never respect disrespect somebody's mother in person or if I knew who they were, you know, that would just be that would just be wrong. But fictional mothers, yes, we'll disrespect them all the time as a bit of a laugh, especially if people come in to disrespect us. Uh, and your M jokes are just, you know, an Irish staple. We all grew up at your M jokes.

I'm sure it was the same in the UK, wherever you guys are from. Uh, Craig, anything that Arsenal thing around Rio? I mean, I'm sure they're interested, right? because, you know, they do have a space on the left side of their attack that they tried to fill with Venicius Jr. I mean, I'm I'm still [ __ ] laughing about that one. The fact that they thought they were really going to get him. Um, but no, I don't think I don't think we've gotten to be concerned about, you know, Rio is supposed to be pretty close to signing a new deal with Liverpool after he turned 18.

So, fingers crossed, you know, that that one gets unveiled or we get information on it soon. Um, but I have no doubt Arsenal would be interested in the same way Bayern Munich could be interested and um, yeah, lots of other teams would be interested, but you know, Rio knows that he has a future here at Liverpool and you know, I think he signs the New Deal. Uh, did you watch the Ryan Garcia fight? Oh, yes, I did. Um, he was brilliant.

There's nothing else to say to it. Like Connor Ben was found out for skipping the levels. And, you know, I like Connor Ben. I I don't have anything against Connor Ben. Um I don't like what he did to Eddie Herm, but look, business is business. And uh but he was found out. There's no getting away from it. Like he hadn't really been tested properly at the levels. And there's a reason why people go through fight for area titles, British titles, European titles, Commonwealth titles, and then go on, you know, to fight for worlds.

And he skipped those levels. And you know, the question was, could he make the jump up to fight somebody like Ryan Garcia? And he tried and he failed. Um, there's no shame losing to somebody like Ryan Garcia, who's an absolutely unbelievable fighter and his hand speed is is ridiculous. But, you know, I guess the big question now is for Connor Ben, what does he do next? You know, does he look for the trilogy with Eubank?

Uh, does he go maybe try and go to middleweight and try and call out Aaron McKenna? Maybe something like that. Um, does he fight Jack Cadar perhaps? That's that's the question I would have next. But, you know, Ryan Garcia was just scintillatingly good. It was it was a near faultless performance from him. Absolutely brilliant. And uh yeah, I I thought it would go a bit longer to be honest with you than the second round like it did, but I have to say like the speed of that right hand that knocked him down.

I mean it was it was super impressive. It almost reminds me the hand speed of air Khan back in the day, but I I would say Ryan Garcia probably has a bit bit more to him than air Khan. Uh Cal said, "Hi mate, you good?" Yes, thank you sir. I'm not too bad. Uh I think there's a situation where Dom is a better 10 for ESAC and Flo is a better 10 for Hugo systemwise. Uh systemwise, yeah, that that could make sense, you know, and hopefully we get to find that out at some point because that is the good thing about Dom.

We're using him as an eight now, but I think we all know he'd be a good fit in the 10 as well. And like we say about any other position, Cal, you know, Florians, even in gray form, you can't play every single game. So you are going to have to rotate and change around and you know why not have a look at them in that position just to see. Uh Ben says he isn't fighting at that weight again. He's probably right. You know he was up at 168 and then I think he what he fought 160.

Um was it 160 or was it 157? I can't remember if they found a catch weight or not when he fought um Eubank, but he probably 154 might be his natural weight. Maybe go up half a stone. I don't think he needs to necessarily go up to uh to 160. I'd like to see him at 154, but then again, I don't know what he's like trying to make the weight or what he walks around at naturally. I think I think he did he put up a post he was 178 or something um on the day after hydrating.

That's like hydrating 30 pound that's that's a lot like which shows you how depleted he was. So uh yeah we can wait and see what happens with him but you know Garcia was brilliant. Uh I agree Craig. I think uh time will tell uh before we can all truly make a verdict on whether Ber is going to succeed and it will probably involve a bit of experimenting from. Yeah look we all want him to succeed Lucy. Of course we do. you know, I wouldn't mind just dropping him into the left side of a midfield three at the minute and seeing if he can do something from there.

Um because, you know, we're talking about experimenting with different things. So why not go to a 4-33, have Dom on the right side, h Vertz on the left side with Mallister or Neoni or Gravenbert or whomever in the middle and just give it a run and see if it happens because you know if we're still having the same issues or it still isn't working out then, you know, we can have a different conversation, but at least we'd have given it a look.

H I think somebody else said it was their birthday tomorrow. Uh movie lover, happy birthday tomorrow, my friend. Hope you have a wonderful day. Uh Keen said, "I just hope he give birth the tools he needs to be a success. I'd hate to always think what if about flow instead of knowing it didn't work on his own merit." And that's what I'm struggling with, Keen, at the minute, mate. To be honest, I don't know. I don't know what the issue is with Berts.

Like I know the things I see him doing wrong and I know the things I see him doing right, but I don't know if if it's the other players not being on the same wavelength as him or if he's just not doing the right things. It's uh it it is a tough one to figure out, but you know, how much longer if we continue to be a bit lopsided in midfield, how much longer you continue with that um experiment or not even an experiment with that methodology going forward.

Um I think the pressure now feels like is starting to be ramped up as well in the media around Vert. you know, you got Merson talking about it, you had uh Neville talking about it, you had Carragher talking about it, obviously Liverpool fans and opposition fans talking about it. So, um I certainly don't want to add to the pressure on Verz's shoulders, but you can't ignore this and just stick our fingers in your ears as well.

And I do wonder at times, are we striking the right balance as a fan base between trying to be patient and understanding and being delusional? And I don't know which one we are at the minute. You know, some people will say to you, and even if I' have conversations with opposition fans or, you know, people from other walks of life, some of them will say to you, it's just not good enough. And some of them will say to you, it's the system.

So, I'm kind of unsure where I'm at with it all. But I just know we're not looking right in midfield. Uh, would vert fit in a 4-3-3 system? I I don't know is the honest answer, but I'd like to see him off the left of a 4-33 system to at least have under Areola. I mean, to at least have a better, you know, a better uh menu to look at and think, okay, well, we've seen him in the 10, bit sketchy there. Let's have a look at him in the left side of midfield.

So, you know, we only find out, I guess, by having a look. Uh Craig, I think some players aren't on the same page. Uh Verts, he's been unlucky. Yeah, look, there's no denying he's been unlucky in certain situations. You know, like we've talked about before, a couple of nearly assists, a goal that was ruled out, but the thing that when I talk about Vert, and I can only speak about my own viewpoint, the thing that I'm being annoyed about at the minute is the passing.

The passing and being brushed off the ball. If I was to say they're the two biggest critiques I have of Verts. So, his positions and stuff like that, um, I've no issues with him setting up people or assists. I think that'll come. But, it's the it's the slackness and the passing that's pissing me off more than anything, the simple little balls that he's just misjudging. You know, they're the things that you would expect to come naturally to him.

So, for me, there would be the ones at the top of my list of concerns. [snorts] Uh, Craig, I know you wouldn't approve of hate towards Richard Hughes, but sorry, I hate what he's done to my club. It's got nothing to do with hating him. Like, I you're disappointed in his time here, and that's absolutely fine. Like, I'm really pissed off with his time here as well. And again, what I've said so many times is it's not so much the business that Richard Hughes did, it's the business that he didn't do that leaves a sour taste in the mouth.

Um, but ultimately I can't get away from blaming the owners. I'm sorry. I just can't because a sporting director will do what a sporting director does and will come in and try whatever. But who makes these appointments? Who makes the final decision? Who will let him come in knowing that he only wants to be here three years? Who has gone through four, five, six different sporting directors over the last seven or eight years?

These are the things that piss me off about FSG. So yes, sporting director failed and yes, the Smatka situation was hit and miss, but ultimately these are this is on the owners. They make these appointments. It's their football club. So that's where my blame lies. Again, that's just my opinion on it. I speak to other people who have a very different opinion and think it's solely on him. But I think the owners allowed it to happen.

The owners allowed him to keep back in slot. These are things that for me are just warning signs. And again, you know, things I dislike about FSG. If I if I could wish for one thing over the next 12 months, it would be that FSG sell up the min the majority of their shares or that we have 8092 Holdings being the ones that have control of the club and make the day-to-day operations because right now it feels like FSG are half in half out have you know seemingly lost a little bit of interest in what we're doing um and certainly don't feel as sharp and as cutthroat as I think sometimes we need to be.

Uh Craig, we should give the lineup time to build understanding even though poor performances keep picking form. Uh could constant changes stop the team from clicking? I mean, it's tough to try and strike the balance, Coleman, isn't it? Because what you've said absolutely makes sense. And in an ideal world, yeah, you let them figure it out. But at the same time, it's a results business. And we're a club that wants to be at the top end of the table and we're a club that wants to be challenging for honors.

So we have less margin for wiggle room. And and that's I guess the unfortunate part in all of this is how much damage can we absorb with disjointed performances before it becomes a real problem for the club and maybe costs a chunk of money down the line. H tough balancing act. Um, but yeah, it's right like it will be up and down and in theory you'd say yes, let them play it out. But you got to remember like league table matters.

European qualification matters and we're going to have to at some point make some uncomfortable choices if it doesn't start working. Uh, is Flow really that bad for all this talk? So again, I feel like people are thinking I'm calling flow out, which I'm absolutely not. But the honest answer is I don't know. For me, it's like I've said many times. I think it's the system and not the player. That's what all I can keep saying is for me the 4231 isn't working.

And that's why I've said stick in the 10 and we'll see. We'll see very [ __ ] quickly if it's the player of the system. And if Dom starts playing in the 10 and the same imbalance is there, then we have our answer. Um, but I I firmly believe at this point 4-33 should be the way forward. Or, you know, if he wants to persist with it, well then make damn sure you get a center midfielder in in January and put them into the team to get the balance.

But, you know, I'm not saying that he can't find a better balance. Give Noni a go alongside Mallister. Uh, mix it up a little bit. try and find the pair in there that do the things that you want them to do. Both getting into the opposition penalty area and of course stopping the counters and finding the balance. So the honest answer is no. I don't think it's all on verts. I don't think it is at all. But I'm struggling to figure out how much of his underperformances are impacting us and how much of it is just overblown.

Uh Stevie Boy said, "Is it me or each time Liverpool have a bad performance, it's always verts the problem?" 100%. He's the scapegoat this year. It was Gakbo last year and it was been Jones and others before. Every season, Stevie Boy, there's a new scapegoat and this year it's Vertz. And it's a horrible position to be in because when things go right for the club and we win a game, he's not getting the praise for it, is he?

But when we lose a game, you bet your ass that people are coming from. And that's unfair. I I have no doubt in my mind that that's unfair because we didn't not be Fulham because of Florian Verts. We didn't not we didn't beat Fulham because we were [ __ ] and that was, you know, seven of the 11 players. So, it's unfortunate that he gets it in the neck, but he's an easy target now because opposition fans are in from the media are starting to talk about him.

And I think at times our own fan base let opposition fans get in their head about it. Um, and the irony in all of this is I'm I'm the lad that's defended him a lot of the time. Um, so yeah, he's the scapegoat. That's the word I would use. No other way to phrase it is he's been scapegoed anytime we're po we're poor even if there are many others around him that hasn't been playing well enough. He's just the easy one to people to have a dig at at the minute.

Uh David said I never understand how we got rid of Robbo. I think that to get the answer to that question we'd need to know what Robbo was thinking. So, you know, was it a case that the club said to Andy Robertson, "Look, we don't mind extending you. You're still going to be probably behind Kirz and the pecking order. Uh, we can't guarantee you 40 games a year." Or was it the club said, you know, we we don't want to give you an extension.

We we think, you know, now's the right time to say goodbye because then, you know, it's hard to know. like if Robbo's not hearing from the club that they want to keep him, well then of course he has to start looking elsewhere and figure out the rest of his career. Um so without knowing what Robbo was told and where Robbo's head was at, it's really difficult to talk about why it happened. But I do agree ideally we'd be sitting here talking about Andy Robertson and not Costas in the squad.

Uh Craig tiredness hurts our whole system, but shouldn't take the blame for poor recruitment. How much should adapt to lack of depth without abandoning the football we hired him for? I mean, can we can we park up the tiredness stuff because that that I'm not buying that at all. That's garbage as far as I'm concerned. We're four league games into a new season. So, the idea of talking about fatigue, I'm not having it at this minute.

It's stupid. Um, and that's not a dig at you, mate. I've just seen this thrown around quite a bit. I'm sorry that it's just not good enough. These are professional athletes. This isn't you and me running around playing a game on a Wednesday and a game on a Saturday. These are well looked after, well nourished, well um massaged, well pamed athletes. Am I supposed to believe that they can't do 65 70 minutes um on a Wednesday and then on a Saturday?

I don't buy it. I just don't buy it because you know straight away the center backs aren't going to be fatigued. The goalkeeper is not going to be fatigued. Isn't going to be fatigued. So then we're talking about what seven other players and five of them you could take off at 70 minutes if you need to make changes. So I just don't buy the fatigue excuse. I think it's a lazy lazy way to let them off the hook. Uh did you see the Oasis gig at Slain next year are going 180 to 500?

Yeah, I've seen the prices for a lot of the gigs to be fair and uh they are on the high side. Like I registered, you know, today to try and, you know, see if I'm lucky enough to get the opportunity to get some tickets myself. And uh yeah, the 501 tickets for slain, I believe, are seated ones, reserved seats in um a seated compound, I think they said, something like that. But yeah, it's expensive. There's no denying it. >> [snorts] >> Uh, Chaba said, "Uh, last game isn't logical at all.

Areola said it too. It was a fluke where problem squad the last game was just a fluke." I I don't Maybe there's a misunderstanding of the word fluke here or something, but a fluke means unlucky. Do you mean an anomaly or a rarity or something? because it wasn't a fluke. You know, last game was just unacceptable. That's the only word to use for it. So, other teams are able to, you know, play midweek and still go and win their games.

So, why weren't we? It was just unacceptable. The intensity levels were piss poor. Um, yeah, just wasn't good enough. That's that's the Let's be like, I don't have time for nicities here. We're talking about football team that should be winning these games and not beating Fulham Mahome. There's just no other word for that other than unacceptable. Uh Mark said does put the graft in. He's just not shown his quality enough.

I was expecting magic, not a hard worker. And I was expecting the same Mark. I was expecting him to be the guy that helps unpick the low blocks and little balls around the corner, you know, maybe getting a shot away from the edge of the box. Um, so I I like you, Mark, I don't have any issues around his work rate. The guy works hard, but you didn't pay 116 million quid for a hard worker. You paid it for the guy and craft to, you know, make a difference.

And, um, as of yet, we haven't seen that to the fullest. Now, like anybody else, you know, I know it's his second year, but he's working with Areola a short time. So, you do have to take that into account as well. Uh, Craig, is it just me vers been quite poor at shooting recently? I think as a team, one thing that I've noticed about us Coleman is we have a lot of shots that get blocked. And I don't know if we're just trying to shoot from stupid positions or in stupid situations, but we do have a lot of shots that get blocked.

Uh Cal, people don't see the works does off the ball and Graphy puts the uh without way more goals and assists from the uh becomes an excuse me an expensive James Milner. Yeah, exactly. Like I think we all acknowledge the hard work. At least I hope so because that shouldn't be up for debate, Cal. You know, the hard work is there. But like we said, you signed this guy not for the hard work. Yes, you signed him for the counter pressing.

That's part of why you would have brought him in, but you ultimately signed him to help unpick low blocks and be a difference maker and, you know, connect attacks. And so far, we haven't seen that enough. But that is so far like for me end of the season is when I think about whether Vertz has done well enough or not. Not now. Now we're talking about should he be in the starting 11 or not. And that's a fair conversation, but the idea of selling them or moving them on, I'm nowhere near that yet.

Uh, our midfield are too nice and weak. I would say you could probably expand that past just the midfield. I think as a team we're not snide enough um and not street wise enough. I just I just think that's that's a given at this moment in time. Um and for Dominic Suslide to have lost as many jewels as he did against Fulham, that's again not great because you think of Dom as being you know a fairly physical type of player like and you know he was just lightweight against Fulham.

Just was brushed off the ball way too easily. Um, yeah. Look, I'm hoping that tomorrow we get a better performance. We can park up all this [ __ ] and we can look ahead to the game against Bournemouth because the best way to forget about a bad performance is by going out and putting in a good performance and picking up a win. And we have a chance to do that tomorrow. But I think the problem comes like if we were to get knocked out tomorrow, that puts pressure on because that's another competition then that'll be out the window and we're not winning the Premier League this year.

So that's that's out the window. then you're left to hopefully Champions League or FA Cup. So, I do think tomorrow becomes a an important day for us and we have to get through this tie. Whether it's penalties or whether it's in the 90 minutes, we have to get the win. Uh Freddy said, "Craig, I hope you're well. Thanks for making the content you do since it makes me happy." Oh, it's a pleasure. It's a pleasure, mate. I'm I'm, you know, I love coming on here and chatting with you guys.

Uh I'm excited for tomorrow as well. You know, another game is always good and you know, then it's Sunday for the game against Bournemouth. But uh let me just check in on our poll and ask which midfield signing would you prefer? We asked, is it Manu Kone or Lamine Kamar? And with 77% of the vote, Lamine Kamar is the one that uh you guys think would be the better fit. And I absolutely agree. Lame Kamar all day for me.

So, here's a question for you. If I was to say, let's park up Florian Verz for a minute and just put his name to the side. What other players do you think need to pull up their socks or improve in the short term? Who else? Like, obviously to kick it off, I'd say Grain Burch. He'd be one that hasn't been good enough this season. Kirk maybe another one that hasn't been good enough. So, who for you do you think hasn't really lived up to their hype this season or the their potential this season outside of uh of Vert?

Martin said MKA really I don't know Martin I have to push back on that one a bit mate. Maka has been one of the better players this season. Definitely for me our best midfielder this season. So yeah, last season I'd be with you on Alexis Mallister but this season I think he stepped up again. Uh B man Blitz said Kirk. Gravenbur for Dean. Uh Martin said Maka. Keane said or Leona said Kirks. Gravenbur for David. Uh Kevin John as well went for Gravenbur.

Uh Dean said Kirk. Uh Dom in there a little bit as well. Dom Graven Birch. Friong. Kirk for Craig Adams. Uh Dom Kirks. Grav. I've given up on Frim Pong. He's not getting any better, said Kino. H Dom for MCW72. Frim pong for Michael. Uh that meme guy said Graphenberg, Kirk and Frim Pong, but he is a flop. Uh Dom Grain Burch, David and Phil. H the whole team said Coleman. Um Grav, hate to say it. Kirk for Christina. Uh Esac for Gary Jeff.

Graphenberg's Kirk Fong uh all brain dead said LFC child or was it childhood sorry uh sell yeah let me ask that question I better rewrite that actually. So, [snorts] should we sell Frim Pong? Up to you whether you think it should be January, end of season, doesn't really matter. Should we sell Frim Pong? I don't even need to wait on this one. For me, 100% yes. Forever, yes. Sell them right now. Sell them tomorrow if at all possible.

It's just not going to work out. And I don't say this because I have something against them. I've said I've been open about this from the very start. I think it was a stupid signing for us. I don't understand the logic behind it. It feels like another one of these lazy one player that can cover three or four spots at 70% or 60% but can't do anything um at 100% cuz he doesn't fit in the way we play. So, it's an easy yes for me to sell Ron.

Um 100% feel it's uh it's the right one. H thanks Craig. I feel honored you my comment. Oh, my pleasure. Always like I I try to you know you got it's your show as I always say to you when I start so I'll have my few notes I need to get through but ultimately I want to know your opinions because you know we're having a chat and uh [gasps] with Frim Pong you do feel bad like because it's never nice to sit here and say we should sell X or we should sell Y.

It's not it's not nice like you don't feel good saying it and doing it but ultimately you know we're in this to win. We're not here to make friends with these people. we're here to win and I just don't think that Jeremy Frimong is is a good fit for the way that we play. You know, in another system, absolutely, maybe at Chelsea, maybe, you know, going back to somebody who plays with a three at the back and a five in midfield, but for us, I just um I just don't think it's ever going to work out.

And uh I don't like him as a right winger. I don't like him as a right back. Uh, I had one game in preseason, the last one I think, where I felt a bit optimistic about him, but then it went straight back to underwhelming. And I feel like I always have to caveat it and say, "But he seems like a lovely guy, always a positive energy, you know, always smiling, but that's not going to help you in football games." So, if we're talking about Richard Hughes poor business, that would be one of the few I would actually push forward as being a poor bit of business from Richard Hughes.

Uh Moldor said, "Give Vert a proper six and uh he'll get better. He's showing lots of effort, but um that but that out him out of possession or put him out of possession. I think he meant to say position a lot uh to be impactful 10." But again, are we not back to blaming everybody else there Moldor? Because like whether we have a number six or not on the squad, he should still be able to pick out a pass. It's not like we're saying Vertz isn't getting the ball here.

We are like he is getting the ball. So the number six part to me only comes in when we're defending as the balance. That's what we're talking about. I don't see a number six changing how he gets the ball or how often he gets the ball. He's had the ball. He's just not been using it well enough. And that's my problem with him is his passing range has just been off. His timing has been off. Um, yeah, for me it's not really a positional thing with where he's setting up, although I do think him and Isach are competing for the same space at times.

Uh, Craig, if you've seen the photos of Leoni and Hugo, Leone is a beast. H looking like Superman after growing his hair out. He's a big dude. Yeah, he is. He is a big lump of a young lad. And um, yeah, we've got we've got some great depth at center back for the future. Actually, while we're talking about center backs, let's talk about young Andua because now that he's made an appearance for Levante, uh, having made it against Barcelona on Sunday, and Duka is eligible for a UK work permit and would be available for Liverpool in January should they wish to recall him.

That came from the echo. So now, Enduka is somebody who uh we could bring back if we wanted to in January. you know what the club decide to do. I think you know we'll have to wait and see for now but um at least it's good knowing that that's now boxed off and if Liverpool want to he can get the work permit in the future. Uh Craig I would go for Kamar and Balde in January then in the summer go for Rayan. Well I would agree with your comment but in the summer go for Alisa would be what I would say.

Unless you can get Rayan at 70 million quid, 75 million quid, then maybe it's a different conversation. But if we're just wanting the best for the position, I think Elise is the best. But Rayan is a very credible option as well. Uh we need to take Vert the firing line, get him training hard, get him in the gym, and slowly feed him into the team. I think that's sensible, Kevin. I guess the problem then comes with let's say we did take him out of the team and we started to win and we maybe looked a little bit better that probably makes it even worse then for Vertz because then it's you know you were in no doubt that maybe that was the issue.

Uh but then again look you'd have an answer as well wouldn't you? So [snorts] uh do you reckon Chelsea take a shot at signing vers in the future if we plan to move him on? I would like to think that Liverpool wouldn't sell somebody of that ilk to a Premier League rival. You would like to think that if they were looking to sell verts, getting him out of the Premier League would be, you know, far more ideal than selling them to a rival because there, you know, if he starts working in the Premier League with another club, that's a weird look as well.

Whereas at least if you went to the Bundesliga or over La Liga or Syria A or whoever else, you know, it wouldn't uh you might just be able to make the argument in your mind that perhaps it was the league then. Um but that's probably me just being a [ __ ] to be honest. Uh Lem Kamar Sara. Well, Sara's gone to Brenford, so I guess that option's off the table. Um but either one of them would have been a really good option for us.

And there were two names that we'd spoken about quite a bit as well. >> [snorts] >> Uh do you think it's possible we signed Frim Pong and Verts thinking if slot won't work we'll go for Jabi Alonzo know what he do with them cusen no because we could have had Alonzo but we knew Alonzo was going to Chelsea and we didn't make the play and Jay they gave him the guarantees that apparently we weren't willing to give him about controlling the football side of things.

So yeah I don't think that was we bought him at all. I don't I don't know actually why we bought Fong. That's the honest answer. Uh, every season there's a scapegoat. Vert's turn. There is 100%, David. You're not wrong. And you know, you can go back through the seasons, look at your old chats or whatever, and you'll see them. There is definitely one every season. Um, and what really pisses me off about it, David, is we can be five minutes into a watch along and I will see Vertslander already five minutes into the game.

I actually think I called it out during the game against Fulham that we were a few minutes in and people were already blaming him for us not being ahead like five minutes into the game. It's mad. Uh we were going to sell Gako to City. So selling verts the price is right to Chelsea. The club won't say no. I mean it's a little bit different to be fair because Gakpo ain't going to go on to win a balandor potentially. So, you know, the club are willing to sell gakpo because they believe that they could get better in there.

Um, and because they wanted to use that money for somebody else, you know, they were trying to get in a right-sided attacker. So, I think it's a different conversation versus selling them to Chelsea. That's just my take on it, but, you know, we won't ever know, will we, until we see if it happens or not. [snorts] Uh, I think Elise going to Liverpool is a delusion, Craig. Elise is not going to leave almost Champions League finalist Byron with fans that love him.

If swap deal, we might need to add on 50 million. Look, I'm not saying it's nailed on, not at all. But I know that the new investors are ambitious and want to look at Elise. I can't speak to what Elise wants to do. I haven't got a clue. Maybe he's really happy in the Bundesliga. Maybe he wants to stay there. Maybe he wants something in Spain. Maybe he wants to come back to the Prem. I don't know. But I know you have to ask, right?

So, it could be delusional. I'm more than open to that. But you have to find out because if we're being really honest about it, I would have said us signing Vert was delusional before we did it, you know, before, you know, we were really linked there and we started moving from I would have thought we were mad to talk about that Barca at the price we did, you know, would you would you believe two years ago Liverpool would would do that.

So, you know, I don't see why it's any more or less delusional than anybody else. If he's going to leave Bayern, where is he going? I don't believe he can go to Madrid because they've signed um Diamande for the right hand side and I don't think they have a space or the budget. Then you can look at Barson. He ain't getting your mal spot is he? So, you know, that's another one that probably ruled out. Then you've got Atleti, maybe Paris Sanain, I don't know.

And Premier League. So if you move somewhere, there's only a handful of clubs that could realistically afford them. [snorts] Uh I agree with you with Sina Lee in 27 along with Kamar and Balde. Well, I I would hope Freddy to get a midfielder in in January because I I think if we don't get somebody in in January, this could be a long season for us if we persist with a 42-31 without a proper um defensive minded or deepline player.

Uh if all else fails with Fong and Ver then we have a way out of loading them to Chelsea and Alonzo would come calling for them as they uh play great under the Alonzo system at Byron. But that's not how am I saying this? Um we don't know how they'd operate in the Premier League. All we know is in Germany in that system they did well. But it doesn't necessarily mean that with a similar system in the Premier League, they're going to do well because we don't really know if it's the league or the system because Vertz is still operating as a 10 for Liverpool as he would in the same system or in even a different system, excuse me, in the same league.

So, I don't know like there's so many hypotheticals in this conversation that the only way we'll ever find out is if it happens and hopefully we don't have to see it happen because hopefully he's success at Liverpool. And also, yeah, as Keen said, Chelsea have Morgan Rogers and Chelsea have Cole Palmer. Uh, I don't see them coming back in for another number 10 to to come in there at the type of level that would be needed for Vertz.

Uh, should we play Vertz as a winger? I'm pretty sure he used to play as a winger before center or before uh center attacker midfielder doesn't work. Maybe strike shifting like gakpo. No. Um, sorry. No, because we already had no pace on the wings and that cost us an hour after going and buying pace. So, you know, if we have to have a conversation of do we have to keep moving other players out of position to get something at a vert is the problem.

Like if that's where we're going to with this, then Vertz is the issue because the wingers aren't the issues. So, I'm not taking out Barcoola to suddenly stick Verz in the left wing when he doesn't have the pace to take his man on one-on-one. It's just madness. Why not just give him the left side of a midfield three? It's far easier than taking Barcola or somebody else out of position because then again, we did this before.

There's a knock on impact everywhere if you start moving people out of position. [snorts] Uh, have you seen the hilarious Alise interview after Bayern's Champions League match on Wednesday? I didn't see the interview, but I did see him holding was it a player of the match award or something and looking like somebody pissed in his cornflakes? Uh, how am I today? I'm good, Freddy. I'm good. And who do you think we'll get in the January 2027 window?

I'm hoping a midfielder and a right back, Freddy. That's the dream. Um, you know, I'm open-minded to who they are, but at the very least, we have to get a midfielder. Uh, Craig, we get Ka and please, I met him at 2022 World Cup. Great guy inside my dad's shirt. I mean, I'm very happy that he's a nice guy inside your dad's shirt, but you know, that doesn't make any difference to me about whether we signed him or not. Um, I I still think Lamine Kamar is a better fit for us, the Manu Kone.

Look, it's lovely to hear that he was very polite and your yourself and your dad met him and he signed the shirt, but you know, I want the the right fit for Liverpool and um for me, well, look, it doesn't matter what I think. It matters what the manager wants. And if the manager wants Manu Kone, then I hope he gets Manu Ka. If the manager wants Leamine Camaro, I hope he gets him. If the manager wants Warton, I hope he gets him.

I just want Andonni to have the squad and the players that he thinks can play his system. >> [snorts] >> Right. So, tomorrow, what we thinking on the team, lads? Do you expect wholesale changes in this game tomorrow or does the result against Fulham maybe ratchet up the pressure a little bit? Oh, it actually seen that apparently Carrick's starting to come under pressure now as well. Who would have thought that Carrick would [ __ ] the bed in year two?

It's almost as if the rest of the world tried to tell Manchester United not to do the very thing they said they weren't going to do and then went and did. They just don't learn their lessons. And it's it's nuts. It's absolutely nuts to look at. Like shock horror. All of a sudden now more pressure on his shoulders. Champions League football two games a week and all of a sudden United are looking a pale imitation of themselves last year.

Who would have thought? I I I said it. You can go back and check 50 streams on here, whether it was Shaneo coming in, Gaz coming in, or whomever. I said over and over again, I can't believe they did it. I cannot believe they fell into that trap of giving character deal. It's just nuts. But they did it again. [snorts] H I think we should get Josh King from Fulham. He's a really good player. I mentioned that when we were going to play for him that he was definitely one to keep an eye on and uh yeah, he was picking up some lovely pockets of space um and and really impacting us in a negative way in that game.

So, I agree. He's a very good player. Uh whether we should sign him or not, I don't know, but he is a good player. Uh would the team benefit playing at a quicker pace? Well, that's what we're trying to do. You know, I think one of the things I I did take from Andoni's press conference was that he was speaking about we were playing from deep against Fulham. We weren't willing the ball as high up the pitch as he wanted.

So, we were having to almost play further to get to their goal. And that's the whole philosophy behind what he wants to do is win the ball high up the pitch or as high up the pitch as possible. And, you know, it's not rocket science then less time between less distance between yourself and the opposition goal. So, it was interesting to hear him talk about the fact that he he thought we were just getting the ball too deep h and having, you know, a little bit too much to go through and we weren't able to hurt for him.

Uh, should look at Rio Kadines and Dway for right back and left back. Yeah, I don't mind, mate. Like, Dway was a name that was mentioned in the summer. Um, Strasburg is at the Heizac. Um, I don't know. Yeah, I'm open to it. I'm open to any solution for either side as long as they're ones that the manager wants to bring in. So whether it's Baldday, whether it's somebody else, I don't mind as long as we get someone in.

Uh, what do you think happens with Allison? Well, apparently he's not getting a new deal. That's what was doing the rounds yesterday or the day before. Um, what I want to happen is a new deal because I'm not ready yet to uh to admit that Georgie is good enough. I don't think he is yet. Uh, young young Luca Burmans and Armen Py still very young and would they be ready to come in at the end of this season to be number one.

Ideally, he'd like another year or two before he'd have to put them in. Um, so for me, if you I could pick right now, my option would be give Allison a new deal, but I can only tell you what was reported by I think Football Insider and they said that Liverpool won't be giving him a new deal. So, if that's true, I'm concerned about that as well. Uh, when is Leoni back? Don't know. Don't know. I don't know if anybody can give you an exact time frame on when he's back.

That's the honest answer. Um, my aim for him would probably be Halloween sometime around then, maybe November. But then after that, it's building up fitness, getting back in with match sharpness and and who knows how long that'll take. Same with Echitik. I mean, it's going to take a long time for Hugo Eat to get back to the Hugo Eat that he was because that is a very, very, very serious injury that he had and you know, it takes some coming back from.

So, I think we're gonna have to be patient with Hugo when he comes back as well and not be unrealistic in our expectations. Uh, Matt Denley said, "I think this is a transition period, but one that was not properly backed in the summer window, so hopefully we see something in January." I think that's fair. Yeah, I think that's more than fair, mate. Um, so just to put my cards on the table, I wasn't pissed off on Saturday because we drew a Fulham.

I was pissed off on Saturday because the way we drew a Fulham, we just didn't show up. And that's what annoyed me. I don't mind some disjointed performances or some rocky results or the occasionally messy goal we concede or whatever, but I do mind a lack of fight and I'll never accept that from a Liverpool team ever. That should be bare minimum that you go out there and you put the hard yards in and you match the intensity of your opponents and you win your jewels.

And we didn't do that and that's what wound me up about Fulham. If we drew that game because we conceded a sloppy goal and we found an equalizer or something, but you know, we were knocking on the door and playing well, okay, that happens. But we were awful, awful. And that just felt like such a comedown from what we thought was going to happen. And so for me, that's why I was annoyed against Fulham. It wasn't the result cuz draws are going to happen, you know, up and down results are going to happen.

But it was just so so weak. That's the word I would use to describe it. Weak all over the park. How do you win? What is it? Four out of 17 jewels or four out of 13 jewels? Some pathetic amount in midfield. That's just not good enough. Uh could you imagine how much Elise would cost in today's market? Well, he's have two years to go on his deal. So, [clears throat] I don't know is the honest answer, but I do know if let's say he said to Byron, I'm not signing a new deal.

If Byron didn't sell him next summer, then the valuation's going as the months go by. So, it's almost if he's not going to sign a new deal, in everyone's interest to sell him then because, you know, you might as well get the most money you can from rather than keeping them and selling with one year to go in his deal and and taking a hit on that. You know, you'd want to bring in the peak value you can and two years to go on a contract is is the time to get that.

So, like I said, it'll come down to whether he agrees an extension there or not. If he does, I think it's game over. Uh, Delicate Sunlight said, "Against Spurs, we should look to ticky tacka press, fast, high press, and play aggressively." What the [ __ ] is ticky tacka press? Tickytack is about winning the ball, moving it quickly, short passes, incisive passes, moving in patterns. A counter press is a counter press, and you press as a unit.

And I I think ticky tacket that's just a nonsensical word. Um aggressively versatile counterattacking which we didn't have against we just did press like you're over complicating it. I sorry you're just over complicating it. You we just need to press as a unit. Simple as that. Press as a unit. Win the ball back as high up the pitch as possible and uh and just just hurt them. And the only one that was really pressing properly or even trying to was Vertz. the ESAC.

I haven't seen anywhere near enough yet of a press from him and I don't know how you guys feel about that. I've mentioned a few times I've seen them block passing channels by stepping in, but not enough of a press. Um, do you know I have to be honest though and say I actually don't know about the wingers and the press. I I don't actually have a recollection of whether they're pressing enough. I feel they're defending enough.

I I was really pleased with the amount of work Barcola was getting through defensively as well, but I'd be a liar if I told you of a recollection about whether they press well or not. I don't. And sorry again. I know that sounded assholy of me the way I said it. I just I I just this habit of trying to just get to the point. Um, and I agree the counter pressing and the pressing wasn't good enough. But I don't think we need to over complicate the conversation.

Just we just aren't pressing well enough as a team. Um, and if you don't do that press properly, you get played around. And if you get played around, you get exposed. And we got exposed a few times. Again, how many times do we see either the likes of Calvin Bassie, Anthony Robinson, or somebody from their midfield just having acres of space and just being too easy to play around. Um, so that's what I meant to say. Sorry.

Uh, David said, "We should start playing 4-33. What do you think?" I've been screaming for that for a few weeks now, David. Yeah. And play Vertz as the left side of a 4-33 and play Dom on the right side with either Macka, Graham Burch, or Neoli as the center player. Um, that I'd like to see that just to see because then we'd know if if it is the system like if we looked a bit more assured and maybe Vertz was getting a bit more involved.

I think then at least we could go, okay, then it's the system. Um, you know, maybe this is just me trying to rule something out rather than rule something in, but I agree. Uh, Itachi said, "Imagine Elise doing Elise things at Anfield." I just I don't even need to think about him doing Elise things. I just have to think about looking at the team sheet. Itachi seeing Barcola on the left, Hugo or Isisak through the middle and Elise on the right with verts in midfielder in the 10.

Oh. [sighs and gasps] Oh god. Does things a man that does thinking about that like it would be it would be filth honestly quite frankly it would just be filth if no other word for it. Uh, do you think Neon will be given a chance against Spurs? I think the best way I can answer that is I'll be annoyed if he's not given a start against Spurs. Um, because he should have one. He should get one. Uh, so yeah, I want him to play.

I don't see a valid reason for him not to play. So yeah, play him. Uh, have you picked your 11 for tomorrow? I have. Let me quick I'll run through it for you. The preview went out last night, by the way. So, if you haven't had a chance, it is up on the channel, but I'll run through it for you. I know I have it here somewhere. [snorts] One second. I sent it to Connor. So, yeah. So my Spurs 11 prediction is Mammardashi, Frim Pong at right back, Jac and Ajo at center backs, Chambers at left back, Neon and Mallister in the double pivot, Suslai in the 10, I have Rio on the left, Kumas on the right, and Gakbush with the middle.

I think earlier on I said Munos on the right, but I actually have Kumas on the right. So yeah again Mammard Philly Trim Pong Jac Ajo and Chambers midfield duo of Neon and Mallister so the 10 Rio on the left Kumas on the right and Gakut through the middle that's what uh that's what I would start with tomorrow because I think that gives us a mix and then you can have some of the big hitters on the bench. Uh Dr. Jab said Craig I think we're not utilizing Leone at all.

He's such a talent and although he's young, he's beyond his years. Um I agree. Sorry, I'll finish your comment. A few extra bottles of fuel a day and he's ready. I agree, mate. 100%. Always been a fan of Trainon. Silky footballer. Never looks out of place. You know, while he does need to maybe pack on a bit more muscle, he has grown and he is, you know, filling out a bit. And uh yeah, I'm all for it. I think he's a wonderful footballer and I'm so happy that the club have kept them around.

I hope he genuinely gets the Curtis Jones minutes that we'd all hope for. And tomorrow should be an easy one to play him in. Uh is the news about Enamoa being wanted by Arsenal. True probably, but you know, wanting something and being able to get it are two very different things. Like um yeah, so I was going to make a crass analogy there, but there's no need. They can want him all they want, but he's a Liverpool player and he's about to sign the new contract with Liverpool.

So, yeah, I've no doubt they're probably interested in him. Same way Bayern were interested in him, but you know, I don't think he's going anywhere. Uh, I don't think Lamine Kamar is an upgrade from Mallister as of recent performances. I do think should target a progressive line break in midfield to replace. I would put him in and sell graff if he doesn't book up his ideas in all honesty. Like I'm not thinking about Kamar as a replacement for anybody.

I'm thinking about Camaro as a solution to the problem we have and who's pushed out of the team after that. You know, tough [ __ ] I don't really care as long as the team gets a better balance. Um I know that sounds again blunt, but it's my honest feeling about it. we need to get what we need to get for us and I don't think it's a line breaker that we need because can be the line breaker. I think it's the uh I think it's the Camara type press resistance style profile that we need and um you know Mallish has been brilliant.

I have no doubt agreeing with you on that one. He's been really really good this season. I hope the club give him an extension especially if he continues to play that he does. But um yeah, Kamar to me is is the profile we need. But again, my opinion doesn't really matter. It's what Andon Areola wants that matters. So, should we sell Fong is the poll question that is open at the minute, and we'll touch back on that one in a little bit.

I'll leave it open for a bit longer. Uh, Kamar can be Maka's rotation. Yeah. And the only um Yeah, exactly. I just think he's I just think he's the right one. But you know, I'm open-minded to a lot of midfield op like whether it is Manu Kone, great. I just as long as we solve the problem who it is, I don't mind. Uh LFC Cleid said, uh or LFC Lid, excuse me. Uh Trey will get a chance tomorrow and I' have no doubt he will look good, but he defines beef up a bit if he wants to impose himself regularly.

Yeah, but he's a young kid. Like he will fill out naturally as well as of course, you know, packing on some muscle and stuff. But he's a good footballer. I'm so happy we brought him in from Leicester City because from the very first time I seen him step onto the pitch, I've been impressed. Do you think Frimpon's transfer was just us making sure Berts had a mate in it first day? I mean, I have to believe no because it would be the most pathetic thing I've ever heard in professional football if that was the reason we did it.

I mean that sincerely. There's no haha chuckle joke coming here. If that was even thought about as being part of a reason, we should be laughed at. Um, yeah, cuz you know, it's not helped him out much, has it? It's not really helped them settle in any quicker. Uh, and I I can't bring myself to think about it being true. It's something that I've been asked quite a bit on here, but I I I want to believe it isn't true because God, if it's true, it's embarrassing.

Uh, have a feeling letting Gra have a feeling Grav could leave, not Macka. Look, I'm very much a believer in form and who's playing well. And Mack is playing like he's earning a new contract. Grain is playing like a man who got a new contract and doesn't feel as much pressure. But that's very simplistic of me as a fan to say without knowing the ins and outs of any of their day-to-day lives, training, anything like that.

All I know is Graphenber hasn't been good enough this season yet. and um with the wages that he's on that's concerning. So that could be a problem selling them as well for what it's worth because if you have to sell them is anybody else going to give them the what are we paying them lads 250 a week something like that is it 230 250 a week for grain birch like we're all all of our you know eyebrows were raised when we seen the wages him and Gakpo were were rumored to be getting um they definitely seemed high to us when we talked about them at the time and you know anybody looking to buy You know who else is going to give him that money?

I'd be surprised. Ke 277,000 a week for the love of God. Like honestly, like jokes aside and all, who the [ __ ] said that? Like who who signed off on that? Like that is goshery of the highest order. 277,000 great British pounds per week. That's That makes my head melt. That's ridiculous. That's ridiculous. Like remember what Virgil had to do to get that? Had to be the best defender in the world at one point to get near that.

Um yeah, that's just another thing I hate Richard Hughes for now to be honest with you. That's because it just feels so excessive. Like you mean to tell me there wasn't a conversation to be had at 200 grand or 220 grand? Like yeah I just I don't know it. Whoever signed off on that's an idiot because even if he's playing well he's not worth 277,000 a week. Like that's just ridiculous. Like I don't know, maybe I'm wrong on this, but like it just feels ridiculous.

Uh J Bob Sad said, "Van Dijk only got 200k. Allison never got 150k and both delivered at least 300k." Uh well, Virgil is on the close to 300k now to be fair. And I think Allison's on about 180, I think. But um again, what did they have to do to get there? And you know, like you said, J Bob, they had to earn that. And I don't mean like earn it by doing a few nice little spins. I mean earn it by delivering Champions Leagues and you know, a league title.

And yes, Graphenbur delivered a league title. But are any of us going to sit here and say he was one of the main reasons why we won a league title where we would have definitely said that about Allison and Virgil. And like I said, you know, this was Virgil who probably robbed of a balandor as well. So, you know, no doubt he earned those wages as did Allison Becker. They are the best in modern times in their positions at the football club.

Would Ryan Graphenber the top 10 midfielders at the football club in the last 10 years? Genuine question. Would he be top 10 midfielders that have been playing for Liverpool in the past 10 or 15 years? I don't think he would, you know, or he'd be quite low down the list. Uh Craig, is it a bit odd for an input of so much money from an incoming entity to have so little fanfare disclosure for the future? It's certainly concerning that we haven't been given a little bit more indication of what the plan is.

But what's more concerning to me at the minute, mate, is the idea that FSG are the ones choosing the new sporting director because they might not be involved in the process or in the day-to-day running of things in 12 months time, but the sporting director is somebody we might be stuck with. And I fear that they're going to um give somebody the role from within by promoting them again. And I think we should have a a bit of a clearing of the decks and bring in somebody from the outside.

But yeah, like the whole thing feels a bit weird. Like initially we heard there was talk of a minor investment, then there was 30%, then the lads of the Athletic said they think it was going to be 8 to 10% and then we find out that it's nearly 40% or 38% or whatever it is. So there hasn't been much communication to the fan base on any of it, let alone talking about what the aims and plans are. uh you'd hope that that's going to come soon, but it is a bit unnerving that we haven't heard anything about it yet really.

Now, of course, they have to wait for it to be ratified and all that kind of stuff, but you still, you know, you would want a bit more input from it. So, this is a bit concerning, right? Um Anfield sector just posted this and they said points in the Premier League since December 2025. Liverpool have had 45 points. League United have had 44 points. That shows you how bad we've been in the Premier League um over that period that we're one point ahead of what Legion United would have been.

So yeah, not great. Uh Craig Anfield is becoming a library and fans are leaving early. Do you know I I I feel very awkward about ever having a conversation about atmosphere at Anfield because I just get wound up by it because I'm fed up of tourist slash nonseason ticket holders being blamed whenever there's a poor atmosphere. Like there isn't I don't know 32,000 season tickets or something. I don't know what it is, but there's a certainly a fair amount of season tickets in there.

And where are they when people are slagging off the the tourists or the non-locals for the [ __ ] atmosphere? Um because my experience of going to games, most of the moaning that I hear has a bit of a scouse twang to it. Um but I I just I get pissed off with it. Like I'm I'm fed up of the lazy excuse being used all the time. Oh yeah, we're brilliant us. It's the tourists and the non-locals coming in. [ __ ] you. That's just not true.

It's just not true. Yes, a subsection of them are part of the issue. A small subsection of them, but what about the rest of them that are there? The season where where's their noise? Cuz you know, you would hear if there was 30,000 people in one area of the ground or, you know, being vocal and the rest weren't. I just think it's just a lazy way to take digs at non-locals and I hate it. In the same way I hate people taking digs at locals.

I just think if we want to have the conversation around Anfield atmosphere, we need to have it fairly and not just go to the scapegoating part again, which is just [ __ ] because it's ultimately always the same thing. Tourists problem, non-ourists no problem. But that's just not true. The problem is all around. And the problem for me and one thing I I would like to see more of I don't know how you do it by the way but I think f friends groups should be able to get together in there.

You know if you've got people dotted around all over the place fair enough like but you do need sections to get this singing going get the atmosphere going. But for and I always try to be fair about this when I talk about it. I don't think bad atmospheres have really anything to do with where you're from. I think it's the game. If the game's flat and the fans, no matter where they're from, have nothing to get behind, they're not going to be able to create an atmosphere.

Like, you could have had 61,000 Scousers in there for the Fulham game, but what the team were putting out on the pitch, nobody's going to be able to get behind that. Nobody's going to be able to have a rockous atmosphere with that. So, that's why I say I hate having this conversation because it always ends up in a division with one side looking to blame here, another side looking to blame there. And I think ultimately sometimes it's to do with the time of the kickoff, sometimes it's to do with the pattern of the game, sometimes it's to do with many other factors.

Um, but I think what we would all agree is when Anfield's on it, you know, because you're telling me that on a Champions League night there isn't a load of tourists in there as well. Of course there is. But it's a Champions League night. The lights are on, the music's playing, it's a bigger game. You know, some of this stuff isn't rocket science. It's just lazy ways to take digs of people and make people feel superior.

And that leads into everything I hate about I can only speak from our fan base cuz I'm sure it's a problem at other clubs, but I don't like the scapegoating. I don't like it. You know, if we want to have these conversations, we need to have them openly and not from a defensive position and not from a position where we try a lazy way to just ridicule others or feel better than others. That's not going to fix it. Uh, I would like to know Virgil is still getting all the lads together to make sure they're all working together and forgetting about anything behind the scenes.

I would imagine he is to be fair, but like look at last season as an example. Everyone knew what to say. You know, Virgil knew what to say in every interview. Dom knew what to say in every interview. But what you're saying and what you're doing are, you know, different things. And the performances last year were [ __ ] And whatever way you want to try and dress that up, it doesn't matter. The words about everyone having to they're words.

Less words, more action that you're talking on the pitch. Uh Freddy said, Craig, you're an inspiration since I've got autism myself. Uh and I'm a goalkeeper as well. Well, from a fellow uh person with autism and a fellow former goalkeeper, h thank you, Freddy. Um, you know, I I don't like to ever talk about my autism that much because it doesn't change anything. It's just a little part of who I am and, you know, maybe explains a couple of things in my life, but it's never a pro or con to dictate anything for me.

Um, to me it was just more of learning about an understanding of why I feel certain things in certain moments. And that was a big help for me when I found out that I I had I was autistic or have Asperers in particular. Um, it just really helped me understand my anxiety a little bit more because, you know, I spent so many years going to psychiatrists and psychologists and therapy sessions and maybe I'm naive here, but you you think when you sit down and you speak with a psychologist or a psychiatrist and you're talking about your your anxiety and your mental health, you always hope that there's a Eureka moment that they can pinpoint something in your childhood or something in your development that was the root cause of all of this.

And having been through years of all of that and never having that Eureka moment, being diagnosed as having asperes was my Eureka moment because then I understood that my anxiety was just wired into me. It's just a part of who I am. And all the therapy in the world isn't going to remove that from my DNA and who I am and how I'm wired. So when I understood that, it felt like a weight lifted off my shoulders and my anxiety has been a lot better.

It's not fixed, but it's been better. And I understand in those moments why I'm feeling that way. It isn't because of a trauma that I suffered in the past or anything. It's just because it's part of who I am. Uh would be boss if he became the cop versus the Annie Road end like how it used to be many moons ago. I love that. Yeah. Look, I've been at Anfield for both sides of this. I've been in Anfield for spine tingling incredible moments of the fans just lifting the roof and I've been there at times when it's been really flat as well.

Uh Craig, if we recruited players who make each other better or players who each need team built around them, uh which partnerships gives you the most confidence in the squad makes sense? I'm going to try and answer the question a little bit differently, Coleman. So, I'm going to talk about the relationships that have to work on the pitch. And for me, the relationships that have to work are fullbacks and wingers. I think they have to help each other out.

So, you need a good relationship both flanks. In the way that we're playing at the minute, excuse me, you'd want your number 10 and your striker to have that relationship. Obviously, your two central midfielders and your two center backs both have to have good relationships because if one midfield goes, the other one has to learn to sit and cover the position. Same with a center back. If somebody shifts across left or shift across right, their partner needs to come across one space and fill in that gap.

So, I think it's just more about building those relationships on the pitch rather than saying that uh players were bought wrongly or whatever, if you get where I'm coming from. Um, I do feel our recruitment felt scattergun, you know, like I felt like particularly last summer when we, sorry, not the summer just gone, the big summer before that, it just felt like we were reeling off names that people wanted rather than logical signings that complement each other.

That that's the way I felt at that time. Like somebody wanted ESAC, somebody wanted Verts. Was there a real conversation? you would imagine there would have been about how they'd fit together, but I don't, how do I say this without sounding like I don't like them, I don't want them. I don't understand the ESAC signing. I don't understand it based off everybody else that we have and the profile of wingers that we have.

I don't feel like we were I don't feel like the players we had and have naturally know what to do to get the most out of ESAC. I'm not saying Isak isn't a good center forward. He clearly is. And I'm not saying that you can't make it work with Isac. But I am saying that when we signed him, it just it almost felt like somebody had a determination to sign Isach and come hell or high water was happening. And you know, did we really have the wide players to get the most out of him?

You know, if you look at it purely from the point of view of you want the goal burden taken away because Salah's leaving and you wanted to share it around a bit, I think that's a bit simplistic because you still have to be able to get Isac to be scoring those goals. And I don't think the players that we've had, the fullbacks and the wide players yet have really been able to be on the same wavelength with them or find the the right uh service to give them.

[snorts] Uh, Bman Blitz said, "Uh, Craig, love you. Help me through rough times. Thanks, mate. I promise you this every time somebody is kind enough to say that to me." Internally, I beam with pride. Um, and I feel so humbled by it because I don't think of that at all when I'm on here. I think of you guys helping me and what you've done for me, but I never I'm never arrogant enough to think anything I say or do helps people.

I hope to make you feel like you belong. I hope to make you feel comfortable. That definitely is is a name. But to hear, you know, and I'm fortunate enough that a lot of people have said it to me, but it never does it make you feel loved and it never doesn't make you feel really grateful for someone saying it. So, thank you. It really means a lot. And I I hope the things are better for you now. And I mean that sincerely.

Uh Carbon, uh, hey Craig, feeling bad about my college team down 4-0 for the season. uh got nine games left and feel like I'm losing uh the team and trying to be a better coach, but something uh sometimes guys just don't fight. I get it, mate. Look, I've never gotten into coaching to any high level or anything, but I do understand the mindset of trying to figure it all out and feel like maybe you're being let down by other people.

Um I just hope that the time is there for the creases to be ironed out. Um but failing in one time in one moment doesn't make you a failure. So even if it doesn't work out with this college situation doesn't mean you're a failure. Um you look at success stories of people and they've had many failures in their lives. [ __ ] I've had plenty before this channel, you know, brought my life to a better place and, you know, ease my financial burden a bit.

And anybody I know that's had success, very few of them come from the first. The ones that tend to have success are the ones that don't take the knockbacks as a sign they're not good enough. They take them as learning experiences, build from it, grow from it. Um, because I truly do believe that every setback in life, you can learn something from that, about yourself and about the situation. And I feel I'm equipped now to be able to do this because I feel like I'm more stable as a person and I feel like I've got more life experience and a bit more compassion than I would have had years ago.

So if this channel had 30-year-old Craig sitting here, this channel isn't where it is now. It just isn't. You know, I'm at the point in my life where this is right for me and it works for me. So, what I'm trying to say to you in a long-winded kind of way is don't get yourself down about it. Don't think you're a loser. Don't think you, you know, you're not good enough. You know, it's a learning experience. Look at how many coaches have been fired from jobs in the Premier League or another and gone on to do great things.

So, learn what you can from it. Be as honest with yourself as you can in your own assessments. Don't hide away from the tough conversations, but don't beat yourself up either. Uh, Irish boy said, "It's chill chat tonight." Uh, yeah, I love it. I love these nights where we can have a little conversation, you know, and it's it's a bit quieter and we can have a a more in-depth, you know, chat with each other. I love it.

Uh, what do you believe Liverpool need to achieve or accomplish to get back the identity we once had as a club? It's so difficult because you have to admit that Klopp's a unicorn. like you have to start from the point of view of he was probably a once in a generation manager. So if you're chasing that again, I think we're we're never going to get there. But we can still have good nights, good days, good teams, good squads, good moments.

And I think and can bring some of that back. What we need is [snorts] I mean a few different things come into my head. We need continuity because I think it's so important in football to have that continuity and that is, you know, both in the executive side of things and the coaching side of things and in the playing staff side of things. I think Mourinho's on record as saying that the biggest thing he managed to do to win part of that Champions League was keep that Porto team together in the years building up to it where everybody knew they had good players.

And I'm actually in the middle watching the Ronald Inho documentary at the minute on Netflix. And one thing that stood out to me about the Ronaldo time at Barcelona was the love he felt, the appreciation he felt, the togetherness he felt at that club. Um, and sometimes these things come naturally. Sometimes they can be engineered. But we have a great fan base. We have a great stadium. We've got great players. We just need to find a way to relieve some of the pressure to let people flourish and play be their best.

Um, but embrace the embrace the the challenge because it is just that it's a challenge right now. We need to embrace it and not hide away from it. Um, I'd much rather we try to do the right things, make mistakes than just go back to uh the lazy like I hated seeing us dropping back and defending a bit deeper at times this season in a few games. I hated seeing some of the old habits creeping in. And I hated seeing the heads drop and the body language because Klopp that was never the way.

But you could be 3-0 down with Klo as coach and we're all believing we're turning it around. And the players most importantly believe we're turning it around. So Areola needs to fill them players full of belief. Make them feel a 100 foot tall. Make them feel like they run through brick walls. Make them feel like it doesn't matter who they play against as a unit, as a team together. looking at the guy left, looking at the guy right, making sure that those people are doing their job and that you can trust in them.

Honestly, you'd be surprised. You know, the the best thing Klopp ever did for us was make us a team and that was it, a team. We didn't have the best players. We had some great players, but there were teams with better players, but they weren't better teams. And and I loved reading all of those things that, you know, players said, he made me feel like I could do anything. He was standing on the sideline celebrating, fist pumping a challenge.

I think Oxley Chamberlain said that that's gold dust. Like that's that's the great. Like that's that's if you could [ __ ] bottle that. Like uh Grizzly, thank you, bro, for gifting memberships. Sorry, I just seen that pop up there now. Very kind of you, sir. Thank you very much. Right, folks. Again, if I can ask you a greedy little favor, uh, if you can hit that like button for me, and of course, if you haven't subscribed, I'd love you to do that as well.

Uh, from doubters to believers, that quote from CL made us believe, and it's true. Like I'm not one for for these type of cheesy catchphrases a lot of the time like this means more was absolute bollocks but doubters the believers is is true and it wasn't smooth sailing like let's remember that Klopp called the fans out at times and there were things you know it wasn't all great but he got us there and he made us believe and he didn't make us delusional he made us actually believe and when you believe in yourself and what you're doing and you feel like you belong and you feel like you're loved and you feel like you're trusted, human beings can do and achieve marvelous things [snorts] and you know when I think it was John W.

Henry or Mike Gore, somebody at FSG said that Jurgen Klopp could come out of football and walk into a Fortune 500 business and be a manager in that business and be a successful one. And normally I would go but I believe it because with Jurgen he's a leader and he will lead a team and he will lead a group and he will make people confident and he will give them belief and he will back them and he will go to bath for them.

So I actually believe they're right. He could do anything and he'd be great at it because he's a force of nature and people want to do things for him. People want to play for him. People want to make him happy. People want that club hug. Uh Chris said, "I think Vertz is running around all over the place closing people down when he wins the ball back. Passing is rushed and he makes an accurate passes." I think that's probably a decent assessment of what's happening with him.

It's certainly not from a lack of effort. You know, we're not sitting here talking about Verts being lazy. So, I think you're on the right track. Uh, do you think if Alonzo had been appointed as head coach our situation Liverpool would have been better? Um, I don't know. Like because that would be me basically saying that Areola hasn't been good enough and I'm nowhere near saying that yet. Um, and like at Chelsea you they've lost games as well.

So it's not like he's gone in there. They're sitting top of the league with Chelsea and you know they're undoubtedly brilliant. like defensively they're conceding a shitload of goals as well at Chelsea. So that's a concern. Um so I really don't know what would have happened if Alonzo came in but I do know we have on Donnie and I believe in him and I don't say that as an empty sentence. I really do believe in this manager but I also firmly wholeheartedly believe he hasn't got the squad that he needs because he just and I don't mean he hasn't got enough good players.

I mean, he hasn't got enough players. You know, players, yes, they want them to be of a certain quality, but he just hasn't got enough. He can't rotate. He can't do what he needs to do. You almost need two complete 11s when you're going to compete in as many competitions and play at the level he wants us to play at fitness-wise and we're pressing. He doesn't have it. Uh Coleman said, "Craig, when we struggle to create, how much is poor passing and how much is poor movement?

Are we too quick to blame whoever has the ball? It depends where you receive the ball. Like the way Andonni wants us to play is to win the ball as close to the opposition goal as possible and move it quickly and directly attack. He doesn't want the opposition team being able to get back into defensive shape. And that is sort of where Klo comes from as well. Um Michel Beelsa again like I remember telling you guys about a story.

There was a goalkeeper, I think it was over in the Argentinian league or something that was playing for Aello Elsa and he was getting pelters from the crowd because every goal kick, every time he had the ball in his hands, he was booting the ball and it was going out of play for throwins down near the corner flag all the time. And only after the game or in an interview afterwards, people said to him, "What was going on there?" And he said, "That's what I was told to do." Because Marello Bels Elsa knew that if we could turn over possession and win a throw in and win the ball back high up the pitch, the odds of doing that is higher than a goal kick leading to something because, you know, so he told me put the ball out, put it out far up the pitch and then let's press like animals and win the ball back up there when they're taking the throw in and we're closer to their goal.

Sometimes we overcomplicate football and I feel like in the modern day it can be over complicated at times, but ultimately it's not rocket science, is it? But if you win the ball back further up the pitch, you've less distance between yourself and your opposition's goal. And if you can take the ball off them when they're trying to attack, like I said, catch players out of position, maybe their fullbacks are starting to push higher up the pitch.

That's the aim here. And that's what the manager wants to do. And then even when we do get the ball in midfield or we get the ball in our center backs, he wants to play it forward quickly. Doesn't want little pass one, two, three. He wants that ball direct straight into the channels over the top before they get a chance to set themselves. Uh, how's the Lego going? I haven't got it yet. I only ordered it yesterday, so it hasn't arrived yet, but uh yeah, it'll be uh it'll be on display as soon as it's made.

It'll be on the table, right? Uh any thoughts? Klopp's tactical similarity to Iola unlocked verts as a 10. Hard to say because Klopp didn't really utilize a 10 that much. I know that Coutinho was here when he came in, but his system more often than not, you know, he wouldn't buy a 10. So, yeah, I don't know. Like, and Donnie plays with 10 if you look at the system that he played at Bournemouth, but he had two midfielders that he knew could fulfill the role in the way he wanted them to in um in Alex Scott and uh uh the the guy the American guy, sorry, I can't think of his name at the minute. um in the middle of the park that could do the job from sorry who what is his name again Tyler Adams right so we're nearly at a thousand votes if you haven't voted yet the question that we're asking is should we sell Jeremy Frimong let me know what you think on that one we're nearly at a thousand votes uh do you think Spurs will give us tough times or the same Spurs >> [snorts] >> Yeah, it's a hard one to answer actually cuz I have no idea what way either team are going to look out there.

But I think in any day of the week, the best Liverpool beats the best Spurs. So, I'm hopeful going into the game tomorrow. But until we see the starting 11s, it's really hard to know how confident to feel or not. I think we are one vote away now. Yeah, there we go. Thousand votes up and 83% of the So, 830 people from the 1,00 people said yes, we should sell Frim Pong. 17% said no. Um, if you did vote no, just in the last couple of minutes.

Curiosity is getting the better of me here. So, if you did vote no, what was the reason for no? H is it that you still think he'd come good, or are you worried we wouldn't get another right back in? I'd like to know your thinking on it. Uh would you break the bank for Lamine Camaro and Alex Scott? So when we start talking about Alex Scott, I think we have to start talking about selling a midfielder then because Leamine Camaro would be coming in to give us a different profile than we have.

Whereas if you're talking about bringing Alex Scott in as well, I think you'd have to sacrifice somebody else.