by ethanr » Sun Jan 07, 2018 12:10 am
Coutinho leaving is tough to handle. I understand the frustration from everybody, but I still think the owners and Klopp have done everything they can to keep him. We have to consider the fact that Coutinho wanted out, and was refusing the play. At the end of the Summer, and now at the beginning of the transfer window he was refusing to play, we just masked it with an injury to keep the drama out of it as best as possible. I'm sure Klopp and the owners worked it out with him in the Summer that we'd listen to offers in January if he gave his all once the window closed, and he still had to keep up his performance to Barca would still want him.
The owners went all out in the summer for VVD, and had to step back because of the tapping up, but made sure we got our guy. Completing deals before the window even opens with both him and Keita is very smart- we have the player at the beginning of the window (in VVD case, not Keita), and we stop a bidding war from forming, which was going to happen with city interested in VVD, and Barca trying to drive the price of Keita up on us.
They also attempted to get a replacement for Coutinho already, and I suspect we will put a lot of effort in to doing so this window. They've shown they're willing to put the money down to get the players Klopp wants.
Coutinho was forgiven because he was playing well, but I don't believe for a second that he didn't bring a somewhat poisonous atmosphere to the locker room. He wanted out, and refused to play. The players knew it. Why do they want to play with somebody who doesn't want to be a part of their team? It also sends the wrong message to players we're trying to sign. Lemar may dream of playing at Barca too- we have no control over that. If he sees us holding Coutinho hostage, he won't come here, or will refuse unless there's a buy out in his contract. It's the same way they've treated Can- he'd probably sign a deal, but wanted a low buy-out clause. The club stood firm that we're not doing that, and it sets the proper precedent going forward. Very few of the best players in the world would want to come to Liverpool and stay forever if we didn't start competing for the League and CL consistently, so we're going to have to deal with that while we continue to progress (which we have done over the last few years).
It'll be interesting to see who we go after. I still believe FSG have been fantastic owners, and dealt with everything the last couple years as well as they possibly could have. If the £104 up front rumor is true, I won't be happy about that unless the add-ons are very realistic, and likely to be realized within the next year or two. If we don't push hard to sign somebody during this window, I won't be thrilled either, tho it is hard to get the best players in January. I'd also be devastated if Coutinho leaving had the same effect that Suarez leaving did. I don't believe it will tho, as we were pretty close to a 1-man team when he left, and at least now we've got a few more world-class players. This will be a great opportunity for somebody to step up.
DESPITE THE FACT I LIVE IN CALIFORNIA...