Liverpool Banter

06 Sep 2026 08:29:12
I'd personally like us to get Jorg Schmadtke back as DOF. He's the best we've had at the club in that role. Comolli, Edwards, Hughes, Ward etc all left a lot to be desired. So it is a low bar to be fair, but he did a good job nonetheless.

Jorg was exceptional. Klopp told him what he wanted (a new midfield) and he made good sales for decent money (Henderson and Fabinho) then pulled off a full midfield rebuild in one summer without paying silly prices (Szoboszlai, Gravenberch, Endo and Mac Allister).

I think he's exactly the sort of DOF we need. Minimal interference. He'll ask Iraola what he needs and then go get it for him. I'm very ignorant of the DOF world though. It's so behind the scenes, it's hard to know who does what and whether they do a good job or not. I just like what Jorg did that summer a lot.

06 Sep 2026 07:39:02
{Ed's Note - EHL2020 has posted a new article entitled, SFA Youth Minutes Plan Feels Like a Quick Fix

05 Sep 2026 17:45:04
This might be a stupid or unpopular idea but I wonder if we should adopt the Ajax, Bayern or Barca model and get an ex-player as our next Sporting Director. For instance, Robbie Fowler or Steven Gerrard. They know the Club better than most and they know what it means to represent the Club.

They've come through the academy as well. These STC and other mercenaries just don't have that DNA and I wonder why we've never tried this ex-Liverpool player model. After all, Richard Hughes is an ex-player himself; Michael Emenalo too, and many others.
Let me know what you think about this.
YNWA

05 Sep 2026 18:37:18
Not in favour.

05 Sep 2026 18:42:07
I love the sentiment of it, but not sure if it would work.

05 Sep 2026 18:59:38
Good idea, if they are the best person for the job.

Otherwise it’s a “no”. Just get the best man or woman for the job.

{Ed666's Note - Fowler can’t even speak English last thing id want is his him negotiating 100 million pound transfers 😁

05 Sep 2026 19:03:56
I like the idea in part. The majority of sporting directors are ex-pros anyway. Ideally you would want somebody who's wise to the business of football and not just a club legend. If we were bringing in somebody who's inexperienced in that particular department, you would probably have to pair him up with an influential second in command who has a wealth of it. I can't imagine anything more appealing to potential targets than having a sit-down with Stevie G himself to tell you just how good he thinks you are and how much the club wants to sign you.

Can't see him being a negotiative mastermind, but you just ensure that he works very closely with his 2nd in command, but then you're sort of almost making the SD a figurehead role. Don't see Stevie being interested in that sort of a role at this age anyway. But I like the sentiment of the whole thing.

05 Sep 2026 19:17:08
Sounds like a terrible idea to me, sorry.
It’s a bit like when ex players who were amazing top of their game players are given management roles that they are just not qualified for. (See Gerrard, Lampard, Rooney etc.)
Being a top player doesn’t mean you’re going to automatically be a top manager, it’s a completely different set of skills. As is sporting director (or whatever it’s called these days).


I hope the club just looks out there and finds the best candidate who has all the right attributes and skills, who is already doing a great job somewhere who fancies a step up to a big club.
Happy to give the likes of Gerrard and Fowler jobs at the club that suit, but being a legend should never mean you get a job you’re never going to be good at.

05 Sep 2026 19:56:17
I don’t see PSG, Man City or Real Madrid saying, “You know what, let’s get an ex-player in to handle an important part of the club.” Just get the best person for the role, not Gerrard or Fowler simply because they’re club legends. I’m sure the soon to be new owners, the 1892 Consortium, would be thinking along the same lines.

The dream would be Luis Campos, but let’s be honest, that’s unlikely at best. Tiago Pinto would be a shout, and there are some very good sporting directors in the Bundesliga.



If we are going down the appointment from within route, then for me there is only one option, and that’s Pedro Marques. He appears to be doing a fantastic job in his current role, which I feel could potentially translate well into this vacant position. His skill set also seems to marry well with Andoni’s philosophy and his work with talented young players.

05 Sep 2026 20:36:34
No. Unless it was Jurgen. 👀

05 Sep 2026 20:45:25
Remember it was Jurgen who chose to buy Nunez and Keita?

05 Sep 2026 20:45:38
I’d consider Milner.

Seems pretty intelligent, probably a good judge of a player. Knows the Premier League.

There are some players I think could do it. Gerrard and Fowler would not be on my list.
Thiago possibly.

I think Milner could do it.

Ultimately, I stick to my original thought - just get the best man or woman for the job. It’s an important job.

{Ed666's Note - That’s a great shout Ron. He speaks two languages fully (English & Spanish) is articulate, intelligent, level headed, cool as a cucumber and like you say would be a proper asset in any negotiation.

05 Sep 2026 21:46:51
If there are any Viz readers on this forum, surely the only man capable of taking this important role who has the necessary gravitas, experience and knowledge is former Leeds United & Scotland frontman, Arthur Graham.

{Ed666's Note - I’m ashamed to admit I know who Arthur Graham is..Jeez I’m old…thanks for that trip down memory lane Victor

05 Sep 2026 22:54:11
Definitely in favour of someone like Milner. He may not be the best person for the job right now (lack of experience) but if it is his passion (which I'm not sure of - does he want to become a manager?) then I would be all for it.

I think the key prerequisite, in an ideal world, is that they are a Liverpool fan first and foremost - that would go a long way IMHO.

{Ed666's Note - How would being a Liverpool fan make a difference in persuading an owner or sporting director of another club to take less money for a player or give us favorable payment terms?

05 Sep 2026 23:09:57
Well that would rule Milner out as I think he’s a Leeds fan. 🤔

06 Sep 2026 00:00:33
I'm fully up for this idea. DOF in name not in the money side. Why could the DOF not be the first lead person to sit in on a deal but not lead? Works well in other industries!! Kenny used to do it at Blackburn and Keegan did it for Newcastle, selling the club the passion of the club with a legend like Stevie G can help.

Why not, I'm sure these ex players would love to help the next generation come through. In fact I'm surprised it's not a set role! Great idea

{Ed666's Note - i think what most players care about is net income and not if Robbie Fowler or Steven Gerrard is sitting across the table.

06 Sep 2026 00:40:47
666, it's the romantic in me. I'd love for all of our staff to be Liverpool fans - the longer term ones, not the players necessarily (as our friend used to say, they are just transient employees) but the rest.

I know it's unlikely, but I'm painting an ideal here!

{Ed666's Note - I hear you Kate but the romance went out of football with the advent of the Premier League. I remember before the Premier league I could go to visit my uncle and auntie in Sheffield. Sheffield United would be playing Liverpool at home and I could rock up to the ground at 2pm and buy a ticket a a decent price no problem. Impossible to do that now. I love me a some idealism but I’m afraid I’m gonna have to pee in your chips with a dose of reality.

06 Sep 2026 01:29:06
Milner is a great shout, although I can't help thinking he'd be better on the training ground than on the phone. Whoever he works for after he hangs up his boots is gonna be getting a gem of a man.

{Ed666's Note - I concur Stone Age. Milner would be equally as good in the boardroom and the training pitch .

06 Sep 2026 02:44:54
I appreciate the responses from all of you. Some guys here are stuck on the idea of Stevie G and hung up on that, but I think you're missing the point or the argument I'm trying to make.
Again this is all banter, so nobody needs to feel offended. I mentioned Stevie G as a case in point because I remember reading that he used to help recruit players those days, if memory serves me right. Anyway, the point is folks like Marc Overmars and Edwin Van Der Saar have done this kind of stuff for their club and it has worked well, I believe. Deco too. Edu too. There's probably some training involved, even though I have no idea if it's like doing badges or something. My point is if we start to groom some sharp ex-players who remain part of the game and have that level of intelligence, who says this can't work, at least on paper? Take James Milner for example, or Nat Phillips, who I believe or heard was going to attend an Ivy League school in the US before deciding to play full-time.

You just need to create room for stuff like this first and then see how it works. Many of these current DoF or Sporting Directors are ex-pros or ex-players anyways. I'm just hypothesising that there may be some kind of X-factor when they have some kind of root at Anfield rather than transplants and mercenaries like the STC and others. I'm not saying you MUST be an ex-Red to be a good LFC Sporting Director, but after enduring STC and Edwards, I don't know what's so wrong in bringing a figurehead in who has the gravitas and can surround themselves with smart folks to make some collective decisions in the best interest of the club.
Personally, I'm not confident in Ward or any of these current guys in the club like Woodfine taking over because it just feels like the vestiges of an evil regime, so I'm all for a fresh start and radical thinking.
Anyway, thanks for sharing your thoughts everyone.

{Ed666's Note - I would go for the Bournemouth guy Pinto or the Eintracht fell Hardung I think his name is. I know either of these are unlikely for different reasons. My only solitude is that Gordan will be making this decision and he seems to be the type of man that takes on advice from experienced footballing heads and make decisions for the good of LFC. The next transfer window is poignant and the one in the summer is critical for our future

But Noski I see your point with regards ex players being stellar sporting directors case in point Van Der Sar & Overmars who are highly regarded. But I still maintain that most players are swayed by net salary and not reputations unless it’s a manager like Klopp or a Pep are involved then you might have a decision to make as a player.

Great post tho mate.

06 Sep 2026 03:28:39
Ex player or not, just get the person with the right skillset for the job. The ex-pros who you think are doing well are doing well because they have the skillset and connections. That they’re ex-pros is just one part of it.

I wouldn’t prioritize a candidate being an ex-pro for that role at all.

06 Sep 2026 05:41:38
There are many examples of this; Edu used to do it, and indeed STC is an ex-player (just not LFC).

It also works in NFL, with quite a few ex-players becoming General Manager (who makes all the decisions on budget, contract renewals, roster cuts and additions). The team I support.

Their GM was actually cut by the Bears as a new player; now he’s their GM and doing a pretty decent job - better than the last few GMs who weren’t ex-players and were terrible.
I guess my problem with a legendary ex-player or ex-manager doing it would be the risk of them harming their legacy.

06 Sep 2026 00:41:21
Its got to be ed1. He'd still need to run the site. But i'm sure he could take a few mins and run the club dealings better than that muppet

06 Sep 2026 08:22:39
As much as I love Gerrard, imagine him negotiating some transfers. He's not exactly Mr Personality.

06 Sep 2026 08:24:49
I see Martin Skrtel is currently a sporting director somewhere. When you mentioned Frankfurt, I noticed Albert Riera is now the head coach.

I’m sure the club will promote from within but the new owners may have other ideas.

05 Sep 2026 12:19:04
I love AI comments on Isak. Basically saying he is demanding that he works harder for the team. That is what we all demand… I have a great feeling about AI!

05 Sep 2026 12:47:42
He’s the breath of fresh air we needed, just like Klopp was. Arne and Rogers both overachieved in their first season and thought they were the smartest manager in the Premier League. They got found out.

Klopp and Iraola keep it simple and it starts with damn-hard work in training.

05 Sep 2026 14:53:01
Ron, I thought Rodgers' first season was dire.

05 Sep 2026 16:56:43
Quite right, Lofty. I just have erased his first season from my memory. 😁 Doesn’t take much these days

05 Sep 2026 21:43:08
Rodgers only had 6 good months in the 3 or so years he was with us.

05 Sep 2026 11:25:13
Great game yesterday reds.

Araujo really impressed. Agree with ed001 - that looked like the VVD we've desperately needed.

I don't understand the scapegoating of Wirtz. Steve Nicol is going on about how it's time for Wirtz to be dropped. It wasn't his best game yesterday but even so - he is so crucial to our attack. He is a pressing machine and offers so much that none of our other players can offer. It would be lunacy to drop him.

05 Sep 2026 12:02:57
I don’t think it’s scapegoating, I hardly ever agree with Steve Nichols but I do with his opinion on Wirtz. I honestly don’t think he is crucial to our attack; we don’t seem weaker without him yet. Every attacking opportunity he had yesterday he was offside, reminded me of Nunez. He always seems to go for the most simple pass that slows play down; he can never seem to beat his man on a 1 on 1 either.

I honestly think Gakpo in the 10 would offer a lot more. Maybe if Wirtz wasn’t a 100m+ signing then there wouldn’t be as much outrage, but unfortunately for that much you have to offer more and he just simply isn’t.

05 Sep 2026 12:17:42
Wirtz was bad last night, but what I like is he’s still making things happen. Had Isak held his run by a split second, Wirtz would’ve come away with an excellent assist. Also Wirtz had two decent efforts on goal; one laid off by Jacquet was saved and another laid off by Don was deflected for a corner.

Last season, when Wirtz was bad it was really bad as he was anonymous and not involved. Last night he still had an involvement/effect on the game despite playing badly.



Salah used to have a lot of bad games too, but he’d still pop up with moments where he’d score or assist. Wirtz needs to reach that level where even when he plays badly, he can still affect the scoreline. Because players in that mould who try to make things happen are always going to lose possession a lot, or get caught out of position defensively, therefore some days they’ll be frustrating. Salah made it worth the risk with his output, Wirtz just has to do the same.

05 Sep 2026 12:29:54
Wirtz had one of those games. His touch was off.

But if he puts in the same effort going forward, those Goals and Assists will rack up. That’s the kind of energy we need from him. He put a proper shift in.

{Ed025's Note - hmmm..

05 Sep 2026 12:33:53
@MK how long do you give him realistically? He’s been here for a good while now and there hasn’t really been drastic improvement. Isak and Gakpo were so bad under Slot but now they seem to have found their rhythm. Jacquet and Araujo seem as though they have played with this team for years.

Munoz is like the regen of Dirk Kuyt with his energy and is also so direct and has hit the ground running as well it seems. I can’t see a new version of Wirtz just yet and I’m not too sure why that is. I’m interested to hear from the fellow reds: when do you come to your conclusion about a player?

05 Sep 2026 12:37:17
Some tight ref decisions have gone against him (not complaining, right decisions) in the last couple of games. He could have had a goal and an assist. He is doing the right things most of the time. I think he just needs a bit of confidence.

05 Sep 2026 12:43:12
It’s weird how we pick up on different things.

The first goal happened because of the press initiated by Wirtz, shutting off half the field for the initial pass. It was supported by Mac Allister and it led to Kerkez winning the ball back and getting it to Gakpo.

The much maligned Wirtz, Mac Allister and Kerkez were responsible for initiating that goal.

Iraola could have scripted the movement.

Wirtz had lots of lovely little touches, creating space, moving defenders. At times it was Firmino-esque.

It made my heart leap when he played that beautiful little touch to Barcola, setting him off in acres of space. So clever, “so Firmino”.

{Ed025's Note - hmmmm..

05 Sep 2026 12:59:11
Don’t worry about Wirtz chaps - it’s actually all my fault... I put him in my FPL team instead of Gakpo, so I take full responsibility for his form, and Cody’s.

I’ve realised the error in my judgement so will be transferring him out for GW4 so brace yourselves for a hat-trick next game.

05 Sep 2026 13:00:39
I think he’s been crap, but having watched the upturn in other players' performances I’d give AI til Christmas to see if he can get him firing. Then we can judge.

05 Sep 2026 13:42:29
Wirtz was fine. Nothing special but played his part in the team performance and system.

He might be the main man next time. It's like everyone needs to be the star in the performance for some people. It was a 6/10 for Wirtz. It's nothing to drop him for. He could be 8/10 next game.

{Ed025's Note - or he could be a 3/10 like last night Davey?..

05 Sep 2026 14:06:28
Ed025 you're killing me your 'hmmm' replies, it says so much 🤣

{Ed025's Note - i dont want to upset folk MOT, i have this terrible habit of telling the truth mate...bursting peoples bubbles is not really my style.. :)

05 Sep 2026 14:13:34
Isak was a definite 1/10 first 2 games. Then boom.

Wirtz wasn't all that noticeable last night. One dangerous giveaway at the edge of our box, although a lot of players were behind him to deal with it. One assist that was just offside. I didn't see stats, but he definitely recovered the ball a few times.

Some nice touches. Nothing special for sure, but played his part in a good first half team performance. 6/10 for me. Nothing to rave about. Nothing to drop him specifically for, although Iraola will need to rotate from time to time anyway.

05 Sep 2026 14:22:02
Better put, it was a bit of a nothing performance from Wirtz, but he still contributed to the team performance. He did his team work. He is capable of more and hopefully we start to see that through the coming games.

05 Sep 2026 14:57:14
Wirtz last night was poor. Biggest concern was his lack of physicality. Absolutely he does a lot of running and pressing, but with little reward. Way too many times he gifts possession away, and what is most frustrating is he does the difficult pass and completes it but then gives away a 5-yard pass.

Thought he had turned a corner after the last match, where I was impressed with his breaking into the box and, dare I say, aggression, but unfortunately he was back to his average self last night.

05 Sep 2026 15:06:55
I think that's a good assessment to be fair, Downey. I will be hoping he plays like he did last match also. Good call that he needs to clean up his simple work (passes, tackles etc.) also. Completely agree. That is something he needs to do as it affects his confidence and takes the eye away from the good stuff he does.

I'm still thinking there's a top player in there. I agree though with our assessment. Hopefully next game we see that Isak-like jump in level. And hopefully Isak plays to the same level. It would be nice to see them both play well in the same game. 😀

05 Sep 2026 15:18:51
Our players need to learn to stay inside. Wirtz would have two assists this season if they did, and we would have 7 points instead of 5.

{Ed666's Note - if our players stayed inside surely we wouldn’t win any games?

05 Sep 2026 18:45:52
Haha, sometimes I wish they had stayed inside. But not this weekend.

Sorry, I meant onside obviously (and damned autocorrect tried to undo me again!!)

05 Sep 2026 18:49:59
Maybe Wirtz and Gakpo can rotate wide left/10 in game to get out of each other's way (at least until Barcola is cemented as the wide left forward).

05 Sep 2026 21:50:12
RedHorizon, one season and 3 games is not a good while. The hyperbole needs to end.

If you are impatient with players, that is not their problem, cos as long as the manager is happy to have them, none of that matters. Also, one game cannot make a player/team turn the corner unless you are looking for false dawns for the most part.

As for Wirtz, he and the rest of the players should continue to improve. His touch was off but he never stops hiding, never stops trying to make things happen. As for Stevie Nicol, he has had a bee in his bonnet for Wirtz since he got here. Had the same for Szobo as well till we won the title.

Not arsed about what such scapegoaters think.

05 Sep 2026 14:10:34
3/10 Ed? I must be watching a different game mate.

{Ed025's Note - I was being very generous I think TJ..

05 Sep 2026 18:15:31
Looked like a competition winner last night. Am I right Ed025? Couldn't trap a bag of sand and my two year old could have held on to the ball better. He definitely needs to sit a few out.

Very poor last night I'm afraid. Don't know what game others were watching. i'm praying he becomes the player we all want him to be. Maybe will suit UCL footy better?

{Ed025's Note - I’m as disappointed as the rest of you Jimble. I thought he would be great player mate but he has been very poor..

05 Sep 2026 18:58:44
Bursting bubbles is exactly your style Ed25.

Thats actually what will be engraved in your tombstone 🤣🤣🤣🤣

{Ed025's Note - actually JLC I am a bit of a nark mate so it might have..”who the bleedin hell are you looking at” mate 🤣..

06 Sep 2026 03:34:44
The thing with Wirtz is that he probably needs more about him to dominate in the Prem like he did in Bundesliga, and how’d you expect someone of his price tag to do.

He doesn’t seem to have the grit and that dogged determination to fight through these games. Like Suarez and Bobby were like street fighters, also a bit more solid build than Wirtz.



Whereas Wirtz plays every bit like the petite body type he has.

I’m still hopeful as I see the nice touches and how he can unlock a defense for us. Just needs more of those moments to make the other bad moments seem not as impactful.

He’s also been quite unlucky with G/As this season and last season.