Football News: Liverpool FC Needs a Massive Restructuring Next Season
Gave myself a day to try and compartmentalise everything that happened yesterday. The Liverpool FC performance overall was so lacklustre that I am honestly staggered by it. In a match that required heart, desire and a plan, we seemed to come with nothing. We arrived simply because we had no choice, and played with the purpose of getting to the final whistle. Nothing else.
Next season needs a massive restructure, from coaching staff to player personnel. Jurgen Klopp will get one more season to right the ship he is currently sinking. However, in the event he can't, I believe we need to start looking now for possible alternatives. I have no confidence that this malaise will not continue into next season, none at all.
In terms of playing staff next season, this is who I would keep, loan and sell:
Goalkeepers - Keep: Alisson, Pitagula, Davies.
Goalkeepers - Sell or out of contract: Kelleher, Adrian.
Right Back - Keep: (New Signing), Bradley
Right Back - Loan: Ramsay
Centre Back - Keep: (New Signing: Hopefully Kim Min-Jae), (New Signing), Konate, Gomez.
Centre Back - Sell: Van Dijk, Matip, Phillips, Rhys Williams.
Left Back - Keep: Robertson, Tsimikas.
Centre Midfield - Keep: (New Signing), (New Signing), Trent, Henderson, Bajcetic, Elliott.
Centre Midfield - Sell or out of contract: Ox, Keita, Milner, Thiago, Fabinho, Jones.
Centre Midfield - Loan: Morton (To a Prem club) .
Right Wing - Keep: (New Signing), Doak.
Right Wing - Sell: Salah.
Left Wing - Keep: Diaz, Nunez.
Left Wing - Loan: Carvalho.
Striker - Keep: Gakpo, (New Signing) .
Striker - Sell or out of contract: Jota, Firmino.
Yes, I know this won't happen. Yes, I know I am selling some of our best players. However, we need to sell them now while they still hold decent value. Through reputation alone, they would command decent fees. Players like Van Dijk, Salah have been a major component for our success under Klopp, but they are not those players anymore. Sentimentality must be left to the wayside and decisive action taken.
Honestly, I would not mind if, next season, we finish 6th to 8th. As long as I can see that we are building towards the future. Creating a new team, a new system that will bear fruit. A team that plays with a purpose, with heart and desire.
The team we have currently is comprised of scattered remnants. On one hand with have old players whose legs are either gone or sidelined due to injury. On the other, teenagers who we are expecting to fill the numerous gaps in midfield. Gaps which Klopp failed to recognise till it was too late.
Our wage bill is massive, far too high to be acceptable for the lacklustre / poor performances we have seen on a regular basis this season. That has to come down, significantly. Especially when you consider the lack of Champions League money.
Yes, I know this is drastic. Yes, I know I am signing 7 players in one season and selling far more. But, for me, there needs to be a clearly defined turning point. This summer is that point. When Klopp's first era came to an end, and his second came into being. Of course, there may be no turning point if Klopp maintains his current trajectory.
Doubt many will agree, but we need to gut this group. The coaching staff are not exempt from this. We need professionals that know how to manage each individuals workload. The entire fitness, strength and conditioning staff need to be cleared and suitable options hired. We can not maintain this level of incompetence. The numerous injuries is the responsibility of our coaching staff, not medical, in my opinion. This is negligence of the highest order and has to be stopped.
By all means disagree, call me naive and stupid. But, many of us said these same things at the beginning of the season and we were told, "Go to sleep. We're going to win the treble. You know nothing. Don't go supporting us when we win the league. Clueless fan."
Well, guess we were right.
Written by LFC-S MANGO March 16 2023 23:38:26
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