Letting Go
Is Andy Robertson for sale?
For as long as I’ve known, the left-back spot has always been a problem at Anfield. I grew up watching the likes of Ashley Cole and Patrice Evra represent our biggest Premier League rivals. I mean, even Everton had Leighton Baines.
John Arne Riise held the Liverpool torch for a while. And his highlight reel remains pretty incredible. But he wasn’t quite as great as legend suggests. Fábio Aurélio was cool, but always injured. Alberto Moreno was tragically born without a brain. And I’d rather not write about José Enrique.
Andy Robertson changed everything on Merseyside. For eight years, we’ve witnessed constant availability. We’ve benefited from attacking threat combined with defensive endeavour. A champion with Liverpool. An honorary Scouser.
But with that comes a degree of sentiment. Perhaps too much.
Signing Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez is great. The idea of losing players? Not so much. And that was clear to see when news emerged over the weekend regarding Robertson’s uncertain future.
The Scot is linked with a move to Atletico Madrid. He’s interested. And Richard Hughes doesn’t seem to be against selling him, either. This is a welcome change, despite our obvious emotional attachment to the player.
I’ve loved Robertson. But he’s 31 years old now. He’s definitely in the post-peak phase of his career. He’s a relatively big earner. And Liverpool are about to sign a left-back who started 38 out of 38 in the Premier League last season.
Sure, I’d prefer to lose Kostas Tsimikas and keep Robertson as a support act until his contract expires in 12 months, but you can’t have everything. And this post isn’t about Robertson per se. It’s about sales. The art of letting go.
After so many exaggerated goodbyes to second-string players over the past few years, we need to normalise squad turnover again. Remember, the Fenway Sports Group approach in the transfer market essentially rewards the sporting director for selling well.
A 31-year old player on the verge of being demoted to the bench is a sellable asset, no doubt about it. You want his presence and experience in and around the place, I get it. But you said that about Jordan Henderson.
Jürgen Klopp was great for FSG. His gift was transforming players from good to great. Working with raw materials and getting the most from them. Klopp didn’t want the finished article, no. He wanted to cut the diamond himself.
The ex-Liverpool boss allowed the Reds to invest in potential. It was his job to turn that potential into product, and he was successful because of his special way with people. Klopp believed in the human. The footballer came second.
But that’s perhaps what eventually fostered conflict behind the scenes at Anfield, with Klopp generally in opposition to treating players like stocks. The German was basically getting asked to sell his kids. A family environment, until you’re no longer good enough. Brutal, but that’s FSG.
And if I’m honest, I’m into it. It’s a cold means of operating. But it’s how John Henry has delivered success throughout his career. You can read about that stuff in my book, Data Game. While traders made investment decisions based on innocent gut feelings, Henry was leaning on sober algorithms.
This is why Arne Slot is a head coach, not a manager. That’s an early attempt to avoid conflict in the future. Slot’s opinion matters, of course. But his job is to coach the players and deliver as many trophies as possible. Not build the squad.
In March, I recorded an episode of my podcast and titled it Sell Everyone. A month later, I recorded another called No, Really, Sell Everyone. I was joking back then. Well, kinda. I was half joking. Quarter joking.
My point at the time was every player in the squad — within reason — has a price, especially those aged 28 and over. You can’t sell everyone at once, of course, but turnover is normal and healthy providing you replace well.
The approach to Luis Díaz has been expert so far. Not for sale, but he’s 28 with two years left on his contract and unlikely to improve from here, so yes you can have him if you fancy handing over everything you own.
Tsimikas, Joe Gomez, Federico Chiesa, Diogo Jota and Darwin Núñez are included in that. Ibrahima Konaté because of his ongoing refusal to extend his expiring contract. Jarell Quansah because of his bad first season under Slot. Harvey Elliott because of his market value and lack of minutes.
Growing attached to players as likeable as Robertson happens. That’s part of the reason why we pick a club to support. But moving forward, with Slot installed as a head coach and Michael Edwards now placed at the top of the organisation, expect Liverpool to be colder than ever.
From 2010 to 2015, we witnessed FSG learning how to walk in the world of football. The painful genesis years. Lots of mistakes. Lots of learning curves. It was all about experiencing a new sport for the first time. Kindergarten.
From 2015 to 2024, we got down to business. No more amateur hour. It was time to apply the lessons that had been taught. A fresh start with a generational manager, a capable team of suits to support him, and a data-fuelled approach to scouting that was finally ready to deliver.
What we’re seeing now is the new era. The final boss. Pure unadulterated efficiency. One mistake is too many. The cold-blooded suits make the decisions. No room for sentiment. No deadwood. It’s nothing personal.
Liverpool is the world’s most emotional club. You'll Never Walk Alone. This Means More. But peel back the layers of our modern football operation, and you’ll find nothing but logic and reason. A place for the emotionally detached.
The mantra of 'no player is bigger than the club' very much applies. And for any business to succeed, you need to employ the best, whether it's the players (in their right positions), the coach or manager or the management team behind the scenes. Importantly, you also need to trust their decisions...that's why they are employed. FSG are astute business people and while some won't like their decisions or approach, their success to date gives them enough credit to continue this strategy. In fact, I'm buzzing for the next season and hopefully a sustained period of dominance.
Do you think there’s a extent to which too much turnover, especially involving senior players in the leadership team, can become harmful to squad dynamics? Or do we reckon fresh faces will benefit us in the long run?
Great content as always Josh 👍