Only a few days to go now folks. Champions League final is only 4 days away. So are we getting excited yet? Or even nervous for that matter? Or both? Many fans and pundits label the Champions League final as the biggest game on the planet. I’m not really in a position to either confirm that or dispute it. Needless to say, even if it is or it isn’t, there’s no doubt that it is certainly a big game. A huge game. And without doubt, a game to get very, very excited about. So, are we getting excited yet? I know I am.
Are We Getting Excited Yet?
I was talking to a couple of fellow Liverpool fans in my local yesterday soon after the Championship Play Off Final between Aston Villa and Derby and we were debating Saturday coming. Without getting too bogged down in details of what we were talking about, we did conclude that irrespective of the result, we feel we are on the cusp of a bright, positive era.
It is hard not to be excited about not only Saturday, but beyond Saturday. It doesn’t seem that long ago when we used to stockpile the squad with a plethora of OK players in the £5m to £8m price bracket. I know the fees have since moved on to such an extent that you would be hard pressed to find a decent player in that price range. Unless your name is Andy Robertson that is.
Andy Robertson
By the way, on the subject of Andy Robertson, he wasn’t even an £8m signing really was he. If you remember, we sold Kevin Stewart to Hull for about the same fee around the same time. So, in effect, Robertson was a swap really and as such, didn’t really cost us anything.
Whatever happened to Kevin Stewart by the way? Is he still at Hull? I’ll have to check.
Are We Getting Excited Yet – Reasons To Be Cheerful
To ask the question again, are we getting excited yet? In answer to that, “yes” about Saturday and “yes” about the season(s) beyond Saturday. One other thing we discussed yesterday was the subject of potential signings. The subject of stockpiling £5m to £8m players was mentioned. And that many of those stockpiled players weren’t really up to it were they?
But we weren’t shopping in Harrods in those days were we. We weren’t exactly shopping in Aldi either (not dissing Aldi by the way – it’s a great store and we shop at Aldi), but we were not in a position to be particularly fussy in a lot of respects.
Today’s equivalent of a £5m to £8m player would probably be, say, £20m to £25m player. Will we be stockpiling a load of players in that price bracket this summer transfer window? I wouldn’t have thought so.
As a result of so many positive variables now being in place, we can – if we want – now regularly shop in Harrods. These positive variables include of course, our manager, coaching team, scouting staff, Mike Edwards and his team and great owners. It’s taken time but haven’t they proven to be great owners.
We have progressed so much off the field commercially since the days of Rick Parry and David Moores. Not criticising them necessarily by the way. Just stating a fact. These owners however have smashed it out of the park (no baseball pun intended!!!).
Memphis Depay
The recent rumours of the possibility of Memphis Depay signing after Saturday was discussed. A few comments of “not sure about that signing” were soon put in their place with the concluding comment of “if Klopp thinks he would be a good signing then that will do for us”.
How true is that last statement nowadays? Hands up, how many fans questioned the validity of us signing, say, Alex Oxlaide-Chamberlain? He got some really bad stick on the forums (but there again, who doesn’t. You know my thoughts on the forums).
Look at how he has improved and integrated. And look at how he seamlessly slots in. Not only The Ox though. The aforementioned Andy Robertson, or Gini Wijnaldum as well.
The point being and it is a well used and well worn phrase – “In Jurgen We Trust”
With the emergence of Rhian Brewster, Ki Jana Hoever, Adam Lewis, Bobby Duncan, Curtis Jones, Ben Woodburn to name just a few of the names of the talent bubbling under, the need to stockpile players in a certain price range is not necessary.
I’m not sure how much Depay would cost if we were to get him. But, whatever the fee for him or any other signings we make, should not be met by any eyebrow raising. We are now in a position to strengthen at the best time and to shop at Harrods. No more stock fillers to plug gaps.
Are we getting excited yet? Only you can answer whether you are of course. But if you’re not, then maybe you should be. It’s a good time to be a Liverpool fan at the moment. Let’s not carried away too much either though. After all, we haven’t won anything yet. Let’s hope Saturday puts that record straight. Do we deserve a trophy this season? I think so.
Come what may on Saturday, thanks Jurgen and the boys for a fantastic season so far. Fingers crossed we top it off with the biggest club footballing prize going.
Speak soon. YNWA!! JFT96!!
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