Jordan Henderson

[MrMichael]

Totally agree, although like others I did find Gerrard's comments a bit worrying at the time.

Sure, but I wouldn't exactly view him as impartial, what with him not having been 100% happy with the offer that was made to him. Indeed looking at it now you'd have to say we did absolutely the right thing there too, waiting to see how he came back this season rather than just throwing him an extension on £200k/week at the end of last year when the media was busy telling us Gerrard could play the quarterback role for another 5 years at the top level.

[MrMichael]

I don't think it's common that clubs let their vice-captain's contract run down to 16 months though, and with Gerrard's comments regarding the contracts I think it's cause for concern, maybe not panic, but concern.

The fact we are having problems negotiating with Sterling will not go unnoticed as well and IMO we are in a delicate position since we can't offer consistent CL football, yet.

I think the club should place great emphasis on not letting contracts run down beyond the 24 months unless they intend to get rid or negotiate a short term contract. It can cause unrest in the squad, see Gerrard's comments.

Does it really look like there is unrest in the squad at the moment? I'd say anything but, and it certainly isn't effecting Henderson negatively.

No, it isn't common, but we really are not party to what is going on. If Henderson does not sign then yeah, big **** up and big problem, but if he does, as I'm personally quite sure he will, I don't think there's a real issue. I've never understood really the obsession with players in football getting new 5yr deals every 18 months, particularly when those contracts rarely mean anything if they want to move. Sure it makes some difference re. the fee if we sell, but we're hardly looking to sell Henderson any time soon.

As I said, FSG are far too money savvy to let an investment like Henderson leave unless his demands are utterly ridiculous and unsustainable. I trust their financial management in this sort of area completely until we have actual empirical evidence otherwise.

[The_weatherman]

Sure, but I wouldn't exactly view him as impartial, what with him not having been 100% happy with the offer that was made to him. Indeed looking at it now you'd have to say we did absolutely the right thing there too, waiting to see how he came back this season rather than just throwing him an extension on £200k/week at the end of last year when the media was busy telling us Gerrard could play the quarterback role for another 5 years at the top level.

It wasn't just the media though, Rodgers was talking Gerrard up and speaking of the need to keep IIRC.

[Kenneth]

I think the chances of him signing a new contract are approximately 100%

[MrMichael]

It wasn't just the media though, Rodgers was talking Gerrard up and speaking of the need to keep IIRC.

Rodgers says a lot of things for a lot of reasons, remember Jonjo and Adam Morgan? End of the day actions are what counts and the club, in my opinion anyway, has ended up with the timing of Gerrard's departure spot on.

[The_weatherman]

Does it really look like there is unrest in the squad at the moment? I'd say anything but, and it certainly isn't effecting Henderson negatively.

No, it isn't common, but we really are not party to what is going on. If Henderson does not sign then yeah, big **** up and big problem, but if he does, as I'm personally quite sure he will, I don't think there's a real issue. I've never understood really the obsession with players in football getting new 5yr deals every 18 months, particularly when those contracts rarely mean anything if they want to move. Sure it makes some difference re. the fee if we sell, but we're hardly looking to sell Henderson any time soon.

As I said, FSG are far too money savvy to let an investment like Henderson leave unless his demands are utterly ridiculous and unsustainable. I trust their financial management in this sort of area completely until we have actual empirical evidence otherwise.

I said can, not has. I think that it is a realistic scenario that contract negotations can lead to unrest, specially if it leads to the player leaving, but also if it drags out and if it becomes the norm that negotiations drag out.

I also believe that going into the summer with a top english midfielder whose contract has only 12 months left, would be a bad idea. City for one really could use a good english player and we are toying with fire a bit.

The Coutinho contract was also not concluded in a matter of weeks, it was first spoken of in the press in august when Rodgers said:“A new contract for Philippe is something we will look to do over the summer,”

The article also stated: Steven Gerrard, Jordan Henderson, Jon Flanagan and Suso are also among those expected to pen new deals over the coming months.

Of those, no-one signed a new deal.

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/liverpool-fc-set-reward-philippe-7562711

[RedReet]

Sure, but I wouldn't exactly view him as impartial, what with him not having been 100% happy with the offer that was made to him. Indeed looking at it now you'd have to say we did absolutely the right thing there too, waiting to see how he came back this season rather than just throwing him an extension on £200k/week at the end of last year when the media was busy telling us Gerrard could play the quarterback role for another 5 years at the top level.

Well the cynic in me suspects that is true and that Gerrard was smarting after his own contract negotiations, as that was certainly my initial reaction.

But the gullible side of me likes to think that Gerrard still does have the clubs best interest at heart and is genuinely worried about how negotiations are being handled and felt the need to publicise it, much like Rafa under G&H.

Probably a bit of both THB and that being said I am confident that agreements will be reached and I still trust FSG at the helm, so not sure why I’m talking so much ****.

[The_weatherman]

Rodgers says a lot of things for a lot of reasons, remember Jonjo and Adam Morgan? End of the day actions are what counts and the club, in my opinion anyway, has ended up with the timing of Gerrard's departure spot on.

I think the timing of Gerrard's departure is a bit of an accident, they intended to keep him longer and offer a contract, until everyone realized that he couldn't be a starter anymore.

[MrMichael]

I said can, not has. I think that it is a realistic scenario that contract negotations can lead to unrest, specially if it leads to the player leaving, but also if it drags out and if it becomes the norm that negotiations drag out.

I also believe that going into the summer with a top english midfielder whose contract has only 12 months left, would be a bad idea. City for one really could use a good english player and we are toying with fire a bit.

I don't see how can is at all relevant is it obviously hasn't

It would only be a bad idea if he has no intention of signing a new contract. And if he has no intention then it wouldn't matter when we offered it to him. For all we know this has been discussed with him and everything agreed in principle but if we get CL he gets a particular bonus so all sides are happy to wait.

He won't sign for City, I'd bet almost anything on that.

[The_weatherman]

I don't see how can is at all relevant is it obviously hasn't

It would only be a bad idea if he has no intention of signing a new contract. And if he has no intention then it wouldn't matter when we offered it to him. For all we know this has been discussed with him and everything agreed in principle but if we get CL he gets a particular bonus so all sides are happy to wait.

He won't sign for City, I'd bet almost anything on that.

I always try to cover possibilities, if you are not one step ahead you are one step behind.

I just feel we are not handling these things well. We intended to offer contracts after the summer and the only one we tied up was Coutinho, Suso left, Flanagan, Sterling and Henderson are left and Johnson if the club wants to keep him.

I don't think it's likely that Henderson goes, but we can't take him for granted. Didn't we do that to an extent with Owen and McManaman?

[dom9]

if you are not one step ahead you are one step behind.

It's quite possible to be level too.

[MrMichael]

Thing is though mate, when on the outside looking in, and the glass is pretty frosted too, we don't actually have adequate info or understanding to be one step ahead. For all we know Ayre and Henderson would burst out in laughter reading these last few pages.

Sterling still has 2+ years left, his agent just wants an early rise. Flanno I guess is a fitness thing with this injury or he has silly demands (and don't forget 18 months ago he was nowhere near the first team), Suso wanted football and I don't think we thought he would make it in this league either, and Johnson apparently was offered a new deal but on about 1/3 of his current one (too right too).

As I said before, I just don't see the evidence, or find it very believable, that FSG do not know what they are doing with finances etc and will let valuable assets go for nothing unless they have no choice.

Owen and McManaman were both very different cases. Owen in particular blatantly misled the club, and Macca iirc was pissed off we tried to sell him the previous year.

[The_weatherman]

It's quite possible to be level too.

Oh, do **** off I'm not going to argue with you about that, it's just a saying!

[dom9]

Oh, do **** off I'm not going to argue with you about that, it's just a saying!

I'm not arguing with anyone.

But I am saying that things are rarely black and white. Opaque at best, even if you're in the thick of it. I agree with what MrM says.

Anyway, as we were.

[The_weatherman]

Thing is though mate, when on the outside looking in, and the glass is pretty frosted too, we don't actually have adequate info or understanding to be one step ahead. For all we know Ayre and Henderson would burst out in laughter reading these last few pages.

Sterling still has 2+ years left, his agent just wants an early rise. Flanno I guess is a fitness thing with this injury or he has silly demands (and don't forget 18 months ago he was nowhere near the first team), Suso wanted football and I don't think we thought he would make it in this league either, and Johnson apparently was offered a new deal but on about 1/3 of his current one (too right too).

As I said before, I just don't see the evidence, or find it very believable, that FSG do not know what they are doing with finances etc and will let valuable assets go for nothing unless they have no choice.

Owen and McManaman were both very different cases. Owen in particular blatantly misled the club, and Macca iirc was pissed off we tried to sell him the previous year.

Maybe, it's quite possible that Ayre is on top of everything and it's all cool, I know that it's likely and even more likely than what I'm saying. It's just I think there are certain indications that it's possible that things are not going well regarding contracts.

First: The article from last august said that the club prioritized new signings then over contract negotiations. Fine, but we're approaching another summer, what will be prioritized?

Second: Coutinho's contract was spoken of in August and Rodgers said they'd be looking at it over the summer, it was signed in february.

Third: Henderson is entering his final year.

Fourth: Negotiations for Raheem are taking long and he's getting paid less than almost everyone on the first XI, in fact he may very well be the lowest paid XI member by far.

Fifth: Gerrard's comments.

Sixth: I'm kinda running out things to mention so I'm clutching at straws by now, but Flanagan is also running out and the common theme in all the negotiations are that players are asking for too much money. Is it entirely possible that we are being stingy?