The person I feel sorry for is Joe Gomez. Two years ago when Liverpool won the PL he started 22 matches. This season, a fully fit Gomez has started just two. He's had his well documented injuries but has also suffered a loss of form and confidence - whereas once upon a time I didn't expect him to make basic mistakes he has now doing so on a regular basis. 

Gomez will be 25 next month and still has a good few years ahead of him. It is clear, however, that he is down the pecking order as a CB at Liverpool (started both PL games as TAA's replacement) and as that is his best position he needs to get away from there if he still nurtures hopes of international football. Konsa has done very well at Villa but Gomez is a better player and moving there would certainly be a viable option as would Newcastle - under two young Managers who know the game inside out though, perhaps, Eddie Howe might be able to help him more from the psychological side of things given how he has managed to bounce back from a career ending injury to become one of the best young English Managers.

Addick Addict said:

The person I feel sorry for is Joe Gomez. Two years ago when Liverpool won the PL he started 22 matches. This season, a fully fit Gomez has started just two. He's had his well documented injuries but has also suffered a loss of form and confidence - whereas once upon a time I didn't expect him to make basic mistakes he has now doing so on a regular basis. 

Gomez will be 25 next month and still has a good few years ahead of him. It is clear, however, that he is down the pecking order as a CB at Liverpool (started both PL games as TAA's replacement) and as that is his best position he needs to get away from there if he still nurtures hopes of international football. Konsa has done very well at Villa but Gomez is a better player and moving there would certainly be a viable option as would Newcastle - under two young Managers who know the game inside out though, perhaps, Eddie Howe might be able to help him more from the psychological side of things given how he has managed to bounce back from a career ending injury to become one of the best young English Managers.

Apparently they are looking for a new back up right back too.

I think he'll move on this summer.

Chris_from_Sidcup said:

North Lower Neil said:

Addick Addict said:

The person I feel sorry for is Joe Gomez. Two years ago when Liverpool won the PL he started 22 matches. This season, a fully fit Gomez has started just two. He's had his well documented injuries but has also suffered a loss of form and confidence - whereas once upon a time I didn't expect him to make basic mistakes he has now doing so on a regular basis. 

Gomez will be 25 next month and still has a good few years ahead of him. It is clear, however, that he is down the pecking order as a CB at Liverpool (started both PL games as TAA's replacement) and as that is his best position he needs to get away from there if he still nurtures hopes of international football. Konsa has done very well at Villa but Gomez is a better player and moving there would certainly be a viable option as would Newcastle - under two young Managers who know the game inside out though, perhaps, Eddie Howe might be able to help him more from the psychological side of things given how he has managed to bounce back from a career ending injury to become one of the best young English Managers.

Apparently they are looking for a new back up right back too.

I think he'll move on this summer.

Can't see too many top class right backs going there knowing they'll only ever play the occasional domestic cup game. 

Will likely have to be an up and coming youngster, maybe someone like Spence who's at Forest.

Maybe young, cheapish foreign option (like Tsimikas on the left), where back up in the PL is still a step up, especially financially.

It makes sense, those types of players can be back-up for a year or two then even if Liverpool then move them on, they probably make a profit from a midtable PL side.

There will be a queue of clubs around the block to sign Gomez. Newcastle would be my bet but at the stage he's at I'd like to see him playing abroad. The Italians would love his style. 

I streamed the Charlton/Cambridge game last night and could only admire the sheer ineptness and hopelessness of much of the football from both sides. It was enjoyable in a funny sort of way as I struggled to get my head around how 22 players who make a living from playing football could be so hopeless at it.

Having recorded the Liverpool/Man Utd game, I then watched that. (Definitely getting the cold shoulder from the wife this morning!) Watching Liverpool, I wondered if they were actually playing the same sport as Charlton until I realised Man Utd were as comically inept as Charlton! (even though their players are probably paid 20 times as much). 

There is hope for us yet!

Gravesend_Addick said:

Klopp has turned Liverpool into the best team in the world.....annoyingly. 

As for Utd, I've said it many times, but I just feel sad looking at what they've become. I was never a Utd fan, but admired how good they were. They dominated when I was growing up.

Ferguson must watch on in disbelief at what they've become 

I just don't get this.

Surely, in the years they dominated, you must have known loads of Man Utd "supporters" who had scarcely ever been to a game but did go on a work meeting in Manchester once who went on and on about what a great team they were. I worked with one and he seriously drove me mad. The morning after they won the Champions League was one of the worst of my life!   

So many plastic fans who just used supporting United as evidence of their superiority. 

And as we speak, Utd at the forefront of trying to ensure UEFA changes the qualification criteria for the Champions League so they can still qualify for it even if finishing outside the top 4.

And then there was Ferguson. Great manager no argument but the way he intimidated match officials and no-one ever did anything about it was ludicrous.  

I now thoroughly enjoy watching Utd get tonked by the likes of Liverpool and Man city. It is wonderful. Long may it continue!

It's the money Utd waste that amazes me. They have one of the highest wage bills in world football. Clearly a case of some of the most overpaid players in the history of the game. 

AllHailTheHen said:

It's the money Utd waste that amazes me. They have one of the highest wage bills in world football. Clearly a case of some of the most overpaid players in the history of the game. 

Complete mismanagement. Look at Eric Bailly, he'd played 16 league games in the 2 seasons before this one. Clearly not good enough. What did they do at the end of last season........gave him a new year 3 year deal.

Lingard clearly wasn't wanted by the club, loaned out last year. What did they do at the end of last season? Triggered a deal to keep him 1 more year.

Just wasting money.

North Lower Neil said:

Chris_from_Sidcup said:

AllHailTheHen said:

It's the money Utd waste that amazes me. They have one of the highest wage bills in world football. Clearly a case of some of the most overpaid players in the history of the game. 

Complete mismanagement. Look at Eric Bailly, he'd played 16 league games in the 2 seasons before this one. Clearly not good enough. What did they do at the end of last season........gave him a new year 3 year deal.

Lingard clearly wasn't wanted by the club, loaned out last year. What did they do at the end of last season? Triggered a deal to keep him 1 more year.

Just wasting money.

They were hoping West Ham would pay them for Lingard, and they probably would have if United had set a realistic price.

Instead United asked for £25m, West Ham laughed, and United paid another £5m of wages over the year!  So badly managed.

I know Liverpool are top of their game at the moment, but as an example look at them selling players and how much they got for Ibe, Solanke etc without half the fuss.

And even then a few months later (in January) they effectively blocked Lingard moving to Newcastle by asking for a crazy 12m loan fee. Good luck with that.

Could've agreed a token 3-4m fee on top of saving his wages, instead they get nothing and have to pay him another 2m in wages.

North Lower Neil said:

Chris_from_Sidcup said:

Looks as though City have won the race to sign Haaland, and they've also announced that Julian Alvarez (the current south american player of the year) will join them in the summer from River Plate. He was originally going to join after the Argentinian season finished in October but City have paid 1.5m extra to get him sooner. Two incredible attacking talents, aged 21 & 22. No wonder there are new rumours that Guardiola might extend his contract.

I'd expect this means one or both of Sterling and Jesus moves on.

Sterling is out of contract in 2023 I think so may well be this summer City move him on while they can still get a good fee from Newcastle, Tottenham or whoever.

The value of Sterling is likely to decline in the next year...

North Lower Neil said:

Had anyone else completely forgotten that United finished above Liverpool last year or was it just me?

I know that Liverpool had no fit centre backs half the season but still surprised me.

Seems almost unbelievable now. Why was Ole sacked again?!

cafcnick1992 said:

North Lower Neil said:

Had anyone else completely forgotten that United finished above Liverpool last year or was it just me?

I know that Liverpool had no fit centre backs half the season but still surprised me.

Seems almost unbelievable now. Why was Ole sacked again?!

Did even worse v Liverpool!

Jimmy Floyd Saddlebags complaining how Lukaku lacked desire in the game.

Talk about pot & kettle!

That fat arsed twat stole a living doing piss all for us in his final year.

It does my nut in when all these ex-pros act all high & mighty.