15 Feb 2015

Anfield Boost? Liverpool Chief reveals info about 'massive' deal; hints at transfer benefits for LFC...

Earlier this week, the Premier League announced a sickening new deal with BT and Sky Sports worth £5.1bn, and Liverpool Chief Tom Werner has hinted that the greed in the game - currently symbolised at Liverpool by Raheem Sterling - is only going to get worse.

The new deal means all Premier League clubs will receive a huge cash-influx, with the prize money for winning the Premier League reaching a whopping £150m+.

Responding to the deal, Werner told the Liverpool Echo:

“Certainly it is a massive TV deal. We understand there will be some pressure to pass that money on to not just the players but to invest in grassroots facilities and strengthen the FA. We’ll get into that as the weeks go by"

For Liverpool, this new deal puts Raheem Sterling in an even stronger bargaining position. With such a huge financial boost, his bloodsucking agent will inevitably argue that the club is in no position to reject the youngster's alleged £130k-a-week wage demands, and I have absolutely no doubt that the Reds will cave.

Werner notes there may be 'some pressure' to pass the money on to players, but that is a gargantuan understatement. The new deal simply perpetuates the risible culture of greed destroying the game, and Agents and players across the world will now be scrambling for a bigger piece of the pie.

Mark my words: when Sterling signs his new deal, he'll wait a year, and then he'll be pushing for another pay-rise to coincide with the start of the new £5bn deal. It's a vicious circle of self-interested avarice, but despite this rampant greed (and endlessly being fleeced) lemming-like fans will still lionise and deify their idols.

Werner states that he'll 'get into' how LFC will benefit from the deal, and the obvious hope is that the club will be in a better position to compete for elite players. Given the money floating around, though, there's an equal chance of Anfield being flooded with over-valued dross, something that has already blighted FSG's reign at the club.

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89 comments:

  1. This is a massively negative view of the good that's going on at the club at the moment. I agree the Sterling situation doesn't help anything, but it's articles such as this and others from the media that empowers it. Let's turn our attention to the brilliant form of Ibe instead, and how well the squad is playing regardless of key absences, and we may see some humility from our "star" players... To be honest, I was annoyed we didn't capitalise on Palace's form last night and get some goals flowing. Our goal difference is pretty poor, and we could do with the practise to improve that. While other sides start to worry about a backlog of fixtures, I think we should be embracing it! More time for new signings, who are starting to find form, more time for Sturridge to get match fit and HOPEFULLY a 360 degree turn in the forms of Mignolet, Balotelli and even Lovren...

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  2. It's easy to think that the players gaining from this deal would be construed as greed, but the reality is this, we watch football because of the 22 men on the field of play. If clubs are making extra money, why is it automatically stated that player greed will take over. Clubs are their players, it is the lure of superstar players at clubs that bring fans to the games, and buying the merchandise, and more importantly, making the club a viable business selling it's wears abroad... If this money isn't shared, fairly I might add, then the only beneficiaries are the suits.. So tell me why players are less deserving of a fair share of the spoils than the owners and shreholders.

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  3. sterling is symbolic of greed .......utter nonsense...he symbolic of getting the best deal for himself like every other employee in the world ,its not greed he didn't make the rules or set the pay scales that problem was started by the clubs ....This scenario is easy liverpool should offer him what they think he's worth and if he doesn't accept it sell him....

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  4. Henderson, Johnson are also negotiating contracts do they symbolise greed? And if so why not mention them. Gerrard didn't get the contract offer he wanted so he's go to L.A. Is that greed? If so, why not mention him, especially as he's the captain etc.
    don't know what the agenda with Stirling is but he's just the same as about 98% of players and try to get the best deal possible for himself, I get the impression that for some reason Stirling should only be able to accept what he's offered and be thankful for it.
    I'm afraid if you want to have the best players you're going to have to pay at some point, whether it's stirling or whoever and our owners continue to want to do things on the cheap. I accept this as we haven't got a rich sheik or Russian owner but I do tire of players and other clubs etc being labeled greedy when they ask for market value especially when we've done exactly that when selling both Suarez and Torres.

    If Stirling stays I'll be happy if he goes lets get as much as we can and move on!!! Either way I won't be condemning him for doing something most people do. We all know players are paid too much Stirling didn't start this and it won't end with him so please change the record

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  5. Absolutely, great comment.

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  6. the fault lies with the club or clubs who offer the likes of glen johnson 120 g a week and pepe reina 100g a week ...is an injury plagued sturridge really worth 140 g a week amg gerrard has been average for 3 seasons but there is nothing average about the reported 150g a week he is on

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  7. If you pay someone what he's worth, then I have no issues, claiming greed and then banking all this cash yourself, then that is just hypocritical greed...Clubs are earning more, so it makes sense the players earn more.

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  8. the football worlds wages are so warped from reality its actually hard to judge what a player is worth ...All a player can do is look at the players around him and if they are payed more and not even in the team he will obviously want more than them that's just logic.

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  9. I think the real issue here is not plauers earning more money, but agents taking this as an opportunity to fleece clubs for more than their worth... Whatever happen to the days when agents took a 6% commission.. Now they can take whatever they want.. If we should do anything, it's regulate agents.

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  10. Like any other person, Sterling has every right to ensure he gets the best possible deal. And LFC, as an employer, has every right to decide if he is worth it.

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  11. You'll get no argument from me on that score.. My only thought would be a players career is so short, they are earning a lifetimes wage in a short period, and some may get injured and have a significantly shorter career.. Some may become managers or pundits, but most, football is all they can do.. On the scale of money in football, I think players should be entitled to earn as much as they can, and much like any other employee/boss relationship, thats open to negotiation...Good luck to em, and in no way am I going to criticise players for looking out for themselves and their families quality of life... Wages in football are just relative to the money available in football, and at any particular club depending an how good any player really is.

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  12. most agents though are also involved in managing sponsors and investing money and generally running a players life,if im honest in a free society its up to the players to conduct there financial affairs how they want, why have a dog and bark yourself .its easy to criticise agents but they are only there on the bequest of the player and i seem to remember liverpool using agents to unsettle players themselves in fact i think they where investigated over zieger the german wing back.

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  13. im all for liverpool playing hard ball with sterling but they need to be consistent or the lever they are using has no use.....they do look to be going in the right direction over contracts but it will take several seasons to balance out

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  14. Yep!, but thats a player paying his agent, I mean an agent taking a bigger fee than is reasonable from any deal negotiated between buying and selling team...But once again, I suppose agents are as entitled as any to earn as much as they can in a capatilist system..

    Now all Ineed to know is, where can I sign up as an agent, because Pro football is off the table for me...

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  15. Who'd be an owner? This new money is going to cause hell!

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  16. its seems like a great life i actually know a guy who is sports agent and hes actually a sound guy hes real funny but hes also real generous and will help anyone out if he can

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  17. Yeah, if we are not going to offer him what he is asking then another club will. He without a doubt has other offers on the table.


    As you say, it is either meeting his demands or selling him. We will get much more for him by making him sign a new contract so LFC know what they have to do.

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  18. If you have any kids, or are a kid, I suggest hitting him up for some work experience..

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  19. More short-sighted nonsense!! Ever heard the saying, "don't hate the player, hate the game!?!?" & a pay increase to 130k for a 3/4 year extension to his existing 2yr contract isn't bad business imo!

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  20. im older than him haha

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  21. thats why i cant understand the hoopla over the kid and he is a kid so more reason he will have a good agent...there isnt a 3rd option

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  22. I have seen this argument more times than I care to remember what I have never seen is a coherent argument about where the extra money should go or is football expected to sell itself for less than its worth in the market place?

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  23. It's as if there's a minimum mention of two posts per week on the subject.


    Nothing has changed in the past several weeks yet it's been constantly brought up.


    I'm not commenting on any more Sterling contract posts. It's a waste of everyone's time.

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  24. I stole it from futurama.

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  25. I am living proof that that is not the case.

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  26. I really do not know the details of Raheem's contract negotiations (he probably doesn't either) and neither I suspect do many others pontificating about them.


    I do not understand therefore what motivates people to demonise him above other players who are already earning more than him or those also in the midst of negotiations.


    A deal will be done that suits both parties or it won't and he will be sold for a huge profit. I don't feel sympathy. anger or jealousy.

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  27. Legs, mobility, energy and speed have absolutely nothing to do with playing as a defensive midfielder. It's all about reading the game and positioning. If you don't agree just think back to Didi Hamamn and how good he was.

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  28. Of course we needed another centre back, we conceded 50 goals last season. BR had to get someone in to address that and I like 99% of liverpool fans thought that Lovren would be a good buy. For some reason though I still think Lovren will come good. You also mentioned in an earlier post about the players you would buy, Robertson of hull and Montero at Swansea. I live near Hull and have friends who go watch them every week, they said that Robertson is average at best. Whilst Montero is not doing anything much at Swansea. We don't need a whole host of players, just ones that can come in and replace the ones that are most likely to leave such as Gerrard, Jones and Johnson.

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  29. Sterling thinks he's bigger than the club (imo). Sell him in the summer and let him warm the bench at real madrid. Young Jordan ibe will twice the player sterling is anyway, i couldn't give a dam if he stays or goes. Nothing but a money grabbing little shit (imo).

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  30. There are other examples, Coutinho accepted the first offer for the new contract.

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  31. For me the argument is simple, if I was in the same position what would I do?

    Honestly, I would get as much money as I could.

    In my working life I often negotiate my own wage (I am a contractor) and as such 9 times out of 10 will take the contract offering the most money.
    If it's okay for me to do this why not a footballer?

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  32. People seem to think Sterling is sitting in the negotiating room with Brendan, Ian Ayre and John Henry playing hardball. The reality is, Sterling has an agent whose job it is to get his clients (and himself) the best deal possible. The club want to pay him according to his age etc but his agent is basically saying - you're having a laugh, pay him his worth to the team which is fair enough. Ultimately don't hate the player, hate the game

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  33. How much will Sterling actually improve as a player, if you feel he can go to a higher level, pay him, if not, hello Madrid.

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  34. They really should funnel all that extra money to reducing ticket prices for the supporters.

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  35. They could start by paying some fucking tax.

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  36. You find it hard to do a money related article without mentioning Raheem Sterling and goal-kicking him in the bollock5.Change the record!
    You make it sound like he's responsible for destroying football.AllMightyReds summed it up perfectly.Don't hate the player hate the game.
    Football is already polluted.Mega rich owners have changed the landscape of football.Using personal wealth to elevate small clubs.Paying huge transfer fees and wages for players.
    Small clubs like Man City and Chelsea now eat at footballs elite table, instead of the dog bowl.Stupid TV deals have given other clubs the money to pay inflated fees for average players.Which pushes the going rate for quality up.This new TV deal is worth on average £10.2m a match.
    With so much money in this sport.Sterling is will be one of many who'll look to take advantage by trying to secure the best possible contract for their family.Wanting a deal that represents worth and importance to the club is not a cr2me.
    "Lemming-like fans will still lionise and deify their idols." You're showing frustration by insulting a large section of your readers.Categorising them as player worshipping sheep.
    Some Liverpool fans just don't share the view Sterling should be publicly beh4aded by an execution3r for negotiating hard over a big new contract.

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  37. If my Aunt had a dick, etc etc

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  38. F A cup draw tomorrow anyone at Anfield.

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  39. we are talking about the premiership 2015 not 6-8 years ago, football has become more physical and quicker over the years.


    And that is why Mascherano(30) and M Sissoko(30) at their peak when they played for us were awesome DM.


    If L Leiva(28) had energy, mobility, some pace and speed with him he would be as good as Fernandinho(28), Matic(26) and Schneiderlin(25) for sure but he is not because he does not cover the ground they do or have those key traits those three DM in the league have.

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  40. Robertson(20) is better than J Enrique(28) and will only get better over the years and offer moreno(22) some real class quality competition for his place.


    Lovren(25) will come good and is a good defender, but he was never a £20M CB. More £12-£14M


    Montero(25) has just come back from Injury and he is a better player than L Markovic(20)


    The £20M spent on L Markovic(20) B Rodgers could have and should have brought in Y Bolaise(25) Of Crystal Palace, J Montero(25) Of Swansea and L Remy(27) for that.


    Ibe(19) looks better than Markovic(20) at the moment and will only get better with confidence so that means that £20M on Markovic(20) should have been used elsewhere.

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  41. The morale is this: If you want the people at the top in any business to stop being paid ridiculous wages then the masses at the bottom need to stop the cycle of profit. This power is always in the hands of the people. If you think its wrong then stop paying for tv and tickets. If everyone did, then wages and ticket prices would plummet but If you keep buying tv and tickets then people at the top will benefit, simple really.

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  42. Maybe you miss read my intentions. Unless im mistaken this is a fan page for exchanging views on Liverpool football club. I'm putting forward an opinion and raised points for you to challenge. You've ignored them and taken it personally. If I've hurt your feelings I sincerely apologize :)

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  43. Top, top comment.


    It's actually a compliment to the guy that Berlusconi called him a cancer.

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  44. It's enough to warrant a genuine sweat at the end of the day, I'm sure.

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  45. Oh hey look I upvoted twice.


    Next: the world!

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  46. Jaimie, it's called economics. Get used to it.

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  47. To be honest, I think a lot of people in England *have* stopped following football, at least the premier league kind. Kids these days aren't interested in the way they used to be. The grounds aren't always full, as they were 10 or 20 years ago. You get a lot of tourists and sightseers at the big clubs. There's no atmosphere, no real excitement. The premier league is supported by its following by the international TV audience, which is a bit unmanageable. It's a weird time for football in England, but it won't last forever. That audience will move on in time. I wonder what will be left?

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  48. Brilliant post

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  49. Totally agree. The Germans seem to have a good grasp of the fan experience, their tickets are far more affordable and relationships between clubs and fans are by and large very good so it's no surprise they have the highest attendance rates in Europe.
    I really hope this new TV deal will put pressure on clubs to lower ticket prices. Personally I think there should be a cap on how much clubs can charge for a standard ticket. Charge what you want for corporate hospitality but standard entry can not exceed 25 quid or something like that. Furthermore I think it should be cheaper for away fans as the cost of travel in the UK is so high

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  50. It's a business now, the good old days of it just being about the football have long gone. There is a lot of money flowing into the game and the clubs should get their share as well as the players, but so should the fans. Whether one player or another is greedy is subjective, the reality is that people will try to get the best deal possible for themselves bearing all factors in mind. From my own perspective it's not all about money whatever I do, but to some people all that masters is money, people are different.

    It's simply up to the club to decide what they want from the player, and what the player wants from the club. Regarding Sterling, it's important for the club to secure a long term contract with him as that makes him more valuable when (not if) the likes of Real come calling. If the club have decided his attitude has been poor during these negotiations then they will probably sell him and make their money back and wave him goodbye with a grin. Other players will step up or step in, better or worse, who knows.

    Sterling is a key player, but players come and go and if they don't have their heart in the job then they should go. Only he knows that. Some of us may not like his or any other player's clamour to get even more money, but the reality is you can't really blame them for it, they are a product of the system, they are divorced from our sense of reality.

    I just wish the clubs and the FA would pass on a good portion of the revenue to the fans by regulating ticket and kit prices, and insist that some live matches are shown on the free channels. Share with everyone rather than just the few.....too much to ask for I know.

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  51. Is it really up to the players to decide these things? Clubs, the FA and the TV networks themselves are the real power players here. If there is more money floating around then surely the players, the ones actually producing the product that is going on sale, are entitled to their fair share. Otherwise where does the money go? Back into the pockets of owners? To the TV networks themselves?


    If fans are to be protected then it's up to the clubs to reduce ticket prices and merchandising costs when these new TV deals are put into place. If that means that there is less money to go to players then they should understand that. But if the clubs continue to pull massive revenues and increase ticket prices regardless then the players and their agents will continue to press for their fair share. That's completely normal and it's naive to expect anything different.


    Sterling seems to have a pretty good agent. That means he's good at his job i.e. getting a top contract for his player. The reality is that Liverpool ARE prepared to pay him more, so in fact he was right to hold out for a better offer. If Liverpool ultimately offer him a better wage then he would have been a fool to accept the lesser one. His agent knew that, he knew that if he held out then the club would come back with a better offer. That's just good negotiation, nothing more. You can call it greed if you like but at any level of money it's simply human nature to want your share of profits, to get as much as you can.


    I don't like the notion that players seem to be cashing in on fans having to fork out money that often they don't have. I more don't like the idea that some fans are priced out of the game. It happens with rugby too, where ticket prices are so obscene that the good old days of a family of 4 having a nice day out are long gone. But it's not up to the players to fix this problem, it's up to the clubs and the associations.


    I think you should re-focus your efforts in this regard and start aiming your criticism back at the club. Ticket prices are on the up and merchandise is priced at obscene levels. If we put pressure on the club and do it in a public fashion then they'll need to respond. Players will then be in a tough position as any negotiating they do will directly be seen to be taking money away from fans. If the club is seen to be trying to reduce per-fan costs but use player wages as an excuse then the pressure goes back on the players and they will feel it. I honestly think that's the best way to go about this.

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  52. It's not that easy just to go out a get a player like matic. The way your rhyming off players it sounds like you playing fifa 2015.and if his head was turned it was probably because he was sat on the bench.

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  53. JK has been creating straw men fan groups for a long time. Back in the day we were part of the "Benitez cult". More recently we were "Suarez worshippers". He likes to assume that people's opinions slot them neatly into a box by which they can be labelled and then summarily dismissed and he has always refused to admit that this is ever insulting.

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  54. I don't see that football has changed that much in the last few years and sissoko was never awesome. .

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  55. this league getting sick .........call the doctor very quick.........

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  56. The agent can only ADVICE the player what to do at the end of the day its his decision to sign or not , clearly if 100k plus add on's is not enough from a club that has HELPED you get to where you are to day then IT IS PURE GREED .

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  57. What the EPL does not want is a La Liga situation where 2 clubs get all the money .

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  58. Maybe so ,but International TV audience is massive and growing at an alarming rate

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  59. There's absolutely nothing wrong with your previous post, so no need to apologise to anyone.

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  60. Yes, right. Just absolve players of all responsibility for their rampant greed. No wonder the game is in the toilet with apologists like you giving these overpaid primadonnas a pass.

    Clearly, you must also believe that Sterling never discusses anything with his agent, and never directs him to do anything. So, when his agent is in negotiations, he is acting totally independently of Sterling's wishes; in fact, Sterling has no idea what's going on; it's all the nasty agent pushing for more money...

    An agent is an *employee* of the player, not vice-versa. Sterling pays his agent to do a job for him, and like Lawyers and their clients, every decision/strategy is discussed.

    The Agent will have gone to Sterling and said 'LFC are offering X', at which point, Sterling will either accept, or reject.

    Sterling has reportedly rejected LFC's offer of £100k, and he will have directed his Agent to push for more money.

    Of course, the agent has a vested interest, so he'll encourage his client to go for more, but at the end of the day, Sterling knows exactly what he's doing; he's not the naive babe in the woods you and others make him out to be.

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  61. Spot on Jaimie , This business of always blaming the agent is a lot of hogwash .
    I suppose Gerrard's agent told him to go to LA Galaxy?

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  62. Markovic the new Pires (at least from a looks point of view)

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  63. You guys live in a 'normal' country- democracy on a very high level. Why there hasn't been a -day with no supporters- or something like that on an EPL match is beyond me.. Maybe it is hard to do with Liverpool or manu stadium where probably at least half of the people are big shots and tourists, but Burnley or Leicester vs one of the big teams? You have away fans with big percentage of tickets and another big percentage of local people that would (I guess) be willing to buy tickets and stay out of the stadium to protest against high ticket prices. imagine half empty(or more) stadium for that kind of a match that would be broadcasted worldwide, surely a powerful message...

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  64. So you would instruct your agent not to push it when negotiations begin if you were a pro footballer?
    Have you ever heard of somebody complaining when injustice does him favours? Budha did it allegedly, but only allegedly...
    It is preety naive from you to expect Raheem to have that kind of awareness not to ask for more money and to ask for tickets prices to be reduced- you and others going to Anfield and buying scarves should. Than see which players are supporting you and divide them into groups of greedy and not greedy. At the moment there are not many in the second group. I am sure Flanno adores this club, and that his contracts haven't been so dificult, but if he becomes regular soon he'll be demanding a lot more, and why shouldn't he.
    There is so much wrong in football today, and everybody will try to fix what concernes him the most. My point is that you supporters should do more for yourselves, and protest more radically for merchendize and ticket prices demanding from players to help you, not just call them greedy when they try to get themselves the most money they can which is in human nature...

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  65. And you know it was the first, and that if it was that he thought he could get more but didn't do it?

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  66. As I alluded to before, I'm not condoning the money in football but the players aren't in control of that, the clubs are. Players are only worth what someone is willing to pay. If there was a salary cap in place you might see some more loyalty but not until then. It's not Sterling's fault he could earn 200k a week at Chelsea or Madrid or whoever. It's their fault, they set the market value, Sterling pays an agent to ensure he gets his market value because football us a cut throat business and he's just a child.
    I don't know where you're getting your facts about him rejecting a 130k a week deal but I did notice you've ignored the fact Henderson said he and Sterling were happy to wait until the summer to sign new seals. Ultimately he wants a salary competitive with what he could earn elsewhere, just like the rest of us

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  67. I think we have Joke Scouting department and transfer committee and have for the last decade.Over last ten years for every class quality player we have signed there is 7 or 8 average dead wood players we brought into club.


    Until we regularly start making champions league year in year out and challenging for the league, the best players in the world we cannot attract.


    But there are still many top class footballers out there, i do not play fifa to tough. I just know my football as watch it too much and have played it for many years at YTS with Fulham U18's and at semi pro level for 7 years after was released by Fulham.


    Sissoko(25) is better than J Allen(24 and J Henderson(24) that is why the likes of Arsenal, Monaco and PSG are after him also.


    The top class players are not yet in the world class category, but if we brought them to club and regularly made champions league year in year out.


    The likes of J Montero(25) and Y Bolaise(25) would ruin the best full backs in world football one vs one in games and show the world how good they really are on the top stage.

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  68. Then you must not be watching the same football every body else is watching:


    S Gerrard(34) struggles to dictate games because he does not have the energy, legs, mobility, pace or speed he had 6-7 years ago. But he is still the best centre midfielder we have at club


    Energy, mobility, pace and speed are key traits needed in world football and especially in premiership the fastest league in the world where you have no time on ball at all.

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  69. Berlusconi - the yard stick by which moral standards are judged!

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  70. Gerrard is our best central midfielder? I don't know what games you're watching! As good as he has been his best days are behind him.lucas, henderson and can have been streets ahead!!!Lucas might not be the most mobile but he knows how to read the game which is much more important! Carragher wasn't mobile and lacked pace and wasn't a big powerful defender but because he could read the game so well he was one of the top central defenders in Europe.

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  71. Sad but that's the reality of things and it will not get better. Entertainment always makes money and pays well.


    Someone like Will Smith can make $20M per film easily...
    Basketball, Baseball and NFL in America make billions and players earn a lot more than footballers, eventually it will catch up.

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  72. But it was not dragged in the media for 6 months, not even for 6 days. Maybe i'm not informed like you who lives in England?

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  73. nowhere near England, my point is that maybe he got what he thought is the best possible offer..

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  74. Now a few footballers might be in trouble if they start taxing that - though I should be due a good rebate

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  75. Unfortunately a company has to maximise profits by law or the Directors can be held accountable.

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  76. Fernandinho is average pal, even City fans can't believe they paid so much for him. As for the Hamamn, remember that game I think it was the Champions league final when Kaka who was as quick as anyone about was running the game? Yeah Rafa put on the slow, cumbersome Hamamn and who then put in a masterclass on how to play defensive midfield, completely nullifying Kaka in the second half. Ten years ago players like Henry, Owen and Ronaldo was in their prime and the main attribute was the pace they had, so to say the game is quicker now is not right, as for the physical side, the game is becoming almost non contact so it's definately not getting more physical. I'm pretty sure it's not worse now than when the likes of Vinny Jones played.

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  77. The Germans, compred to the rest of Europe seem to have good grasp on a lot of thing not only soccer

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  78. Cos you've been neutered?

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  79. Might as well 'ave been ;-(

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  80. Gerrard(34) may not have the energy, legs, mobility or pace he had 6-7 years ago. But if he is given time and space on ball he kills teams, he is the one midfielder teams try to stop playing as he offers team so much with his class and quality passing range.


    Carragher(37) was top class defender, but if he had good composure,pace and speed he would of been Regular England international instead he was an England bench warmer.

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  81. im joking m8 and if im honest it makes me laugh when someone has a pop at me its all good fun

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  82. Fernandinho(28) average are you on drugs? He is an DM Midfielder without him in side Yaya Toure(31) would not have the license to go forward and anielate teams.


    When Man city are at their best these Seven key players are playing in side and injury and suspension free whilst at their best:


    J Hart(27) GK V Kompany(28) CB


    Fernandinho(29) DM Yaya Toure(31) CM


    S Nasri(27) CM/AM/ LW D Silva(29) AM/ LW/RW


    S Aguero(26) FD


    But J Hart(27) , V Kompany(28) and Fernandinho(28) are their defensive shield that keep things in check.

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  83. This guy is a massive dickhead who thinks he knows a lot about football. And look everyone he mentioned their age. Just stick with ur football manager game and stop saying non sense. I know this is a site for fans to post their opinions. But please not yours

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  84. I find it hard to agree with any of the points you're trying to make.also I know what age all these players are so you don't need to write it down every time you spell their name. .

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  85. As someone else posted it seems your definition of what a top class player is seem to differ quite a lot to what other people think.

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  86. The age thing is habit i am used to put playing ages in brackets. The points are the blatant truth, if S Gerrard(34) had the energy, mobility, pace and speed he had 6- 7 years ago the likes of Allen(24) and Henderson(24) would not even come close.


    L Leiva(28) is the best defensive midfielder we have had at club for last four seasons, so he is the best of what we have. But L Leiva(28) lacks energy. mobility, pace and speed to cover ground like these top class DM enforcers : Bender(25), Busquets(26), Fernandinho(29),Gustavo(27), Imbula(22),Martinez(27), Mascherano(30) Matic(26), Matuidi(27) and Schneiderlin(25).


    And he should be replaced in the summer by these two younger mobile DM's who can compete with one another at club for the next 3-5 years competing and covering one another if injured or suspended.


    1: L Bender(25) Of Bayer Leverkusen or M Schneiderlin(25) Of Southampton


    2: G Imbula(22) Of Marseille

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  87. They are not world class players yet but:


    Berahino(21) is a top class striker player for a small club who do not create enough chances for him or he would score 20-30 goals a season every season with top class attackers creating for him.


    Y Bolaise(25) Of Crystal Palace and J Montero(25) both are top class wingers playing for clubs they are stepping stones for, both those players could anielate the best full backs in world football one vs one game in game out if they were given the chance to show case their talent on the biggest stage at better club.


    L Bender(25) or M Schneiderlin(25) are mobile, tall, athletic , quick top class defensive midfielders who in the next two years will hit their peak.

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  88. Just because you say something doesn't make it true! It seems to me that you want to completely change the squad again.it makes no sense to do that after all the changes we made over the summer and we already have a good squad.if we can get 2 or 3 real quality players in, we can challenge for the league next season. We already have some real quality young players coming through.on another note you keep referring to lucas lack of pace enengy and mobility but as I have already said, like Carragher (and as someone said in a reply to you earlier, didi hamann) he reads the game so well he can get away with not being super quick.they are lots of fast athletic players out there but that doesn't make them good players.and one final point.if lucas does leave we already have a potential world class replacement in Emre Can.

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