melia

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I find it amazing that, with all of the money involved in football, there isn’t more players found to be doping. My (probably wildly wrong) conspiracy theory is that appearance blocks are timed with doping cycles.

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I thought there were rumours of Bobby joining Ronaldo in Saudi, round World Cup time. Has that been ruled out now?

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Maybe having Konate in the three instead of Gomez makes the difference for Trent moving inside. I do recall, earlier in the season,Tifo saying that the gap between the right-sided two was too far when we’d lost the ball.

I think Klopp rates him. They seem very happy with each other.

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I’m choosing to believe that Bellingham has decided to hang on at Dortmund for another year because: a) he is enjoying it there and he is still improving; b) an extra year means less transfer money to Dortmund, meaning he can take more himself when he signs; and c) the extra year gives us the chance to show that this year’s non-qualification for the European Cup is an exception and that we are the right club for him. So, this year’s money goes on squad improvements, and next year’s goes on the icing. None of the above may be true but I don’t know for sure that it is false and I enjoy the hope it gives me.

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I’m gonna build on my “Arthur is a spy on the crocks” lie/speculation to add that he is trying, under orders from Jurgen, to get the rest of the squad onto a new juicing protocol because their current one makes them susceptible to injury. This switch has upset the medical and recruitment staff (you can only sign players who are happy to get on your juice, etc) that they have all decided to quit. Another Q drop coming the next time I’m bored.

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Jordan Henderson has joined the Liverpool charm offensive on Jude Bellingham by saying it would be “amazing” if the Borussia Dortmund midfielder ended up at Anfield and that whoever signs him will be “one lucky club”. Europe’s leading clubs are desperately vying to sign Henderson’s 19-year-old England midfield partner this summer with many expecting Bellingham to leave Dortmund for a British-record fee. The former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard heaped praise on Bellingham’s outstanding performances for England after the Euro 2024 qualifier victory over Ukraine, and Henderson revealed his hope they might be reunited at Anfield. “I just want him to be the best player he can be — of course, if it ended up being Liverpool that would be amazing,” Henderson said. “But it’s got to be right for him, and it’s going to be every club you can think of that will want him. “He has to think about himself and make sure he makes the right decision for his career. But there’s going to be one lucky club that will end up getting him, whether that is now or in a year or two it will be a lucky club.” Bellingham surpassed Wayne Rooney’s record as England’s most-capped teenager in competitive games after playing a leading role in the nation’s first away win against Italy since 1961 last week before helping to see off Ukraine at Wembley on Sunday. Bellingham also played every game for Gareth Southgate’s side in England’s run to the quarter-finals of the World Cup in Qatar, where he developed a strong bond with Henderson, the Liverpool captain. “His potential is through the roof, really,” Henderson said. “He can be as good as he wants to be — but he’s got the right mentality, which is the most important thing. “He is a really special player and I can’t believe his age and his mentality, how he applies himself to training and the games, everything. I’ve never seen it before, so I’m pretty confident that he’ll be a pretty good player for many years to come. “Honestly, I can’t believe his age, how mature he plays, how mature he is off the pitch, in the gym, training, everything, recovery day after the game. He is just dedicated to football. “He’s a special player, but I’ve said it before we just need to be careful not to apply too much pressure on him but let him play football. When you let him play football you can see what he does for Dortmund, you can see what he does here for England. “Every time he puts on an England shirt he grows and is getting better and better all the time. Of course there are things he can improve on and get better at — he’s only 19 — but the platform and the basis he has got he can go as high as he wants to.” Jürgen Klopp, the Liverpool manager, considers Bellingham a transformative player before a summer in which the German is planning a reboot in his squad. Manchester City and Real Madrid, said to be among the clubs leading the pursuit of Bellingham, have more financial power than Liverpool, who are also looking at making a move for Chelsea’s Mason Mount this summer. Chelsea also want to sign Bellingham but are aware other clubs are ahead of them — and they paid a British-record sum of £107 million to bring Enzo Fernández, the World Cup-winning Argentina midfielder, to Stamford Bridge in January. Bellingham, who has not ruled out remaining at Dortmund this summer, looked up to Gerrard when developing through the Birmingham City academy. In an interview with The Times last year, Bellingham said he had sent his father, Mark, a clip of Gerrard including him in a list of Europe’s top five midfielders. In an interview after the Ukraine match Gerrard told Bellingham he was further ahead in his development than he had been at the same age. “For one, he has a better body at 19,” Gerrard said. “I never had that power until 22 or 23, he’s more physically developed. He’s more confident on the ball. I’m not just being modest. He’s further on than where I was at the same age. He’s in a fantastic place and he needs to keep playing well.”

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