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On the day that Sadio Mane leaves Liverpool for Bayern Munich, how should fans feel about the departure of a legend"
I DON?T like it when Liverpool players leave.
I don?t just mean players like Fernando Torres or Luis Suarez. I mean all of them. They?ve either not quite made the cut or we?ve become too small for them. It feels like a tiny defeat. Something, a plan or some sort, has failed.
The matter of departure is also a factor. The two named above went under a cloud or, at the very least, grumbles of miscontent while Michael Owen and Steve McManaman tarnished their names by running down their contracts to the club?s detriment. Fantastic players, both, but there?ll always be a burn attached to their memory.
I never took to Suarez, though he might be the greatest player I?ve ever seen, so his departure only worried me in terms of what he left behind. The league was so close in 2013-14 and we needed to build around him to take us to the next step as he was clearly the catalyst of that campaign, but once he was gone it was all over.
Daniel Sturridge was unreliable in terms of injury, Philippe Coutinho and Raheem Sterling too inexperienced to carry us and Steven Gerrard was only getting older. Suarez was the central pillar of Liverpool in 2014, but a World Cup bite and an open letter later we were starting from scratch again.
But all players have to leave some time. I was eight when Kevin Keegan packed his bags and dubious after-shave and headed to Germany, and I was in my 30s when Robbie Fowler made the almost inevitable move to Leeds. Both departures saddened me but I?m like that. I?m worried about Neco Williams going somewhere shit, for his sake and ours. I hate it when players leave.
But Sadio Mane" Sadio feels right. Right but sad.
A small gloat here. It?s the summer of 2016 and I?m recording a Gutter show with Rob. I?m asked about possible new signings. I?m not great at calling things like this but there?s a remit to be filled so I take a plunge and tell him that we should be looking at Gini Wijnaldum at Newcastle and Sadio Mane from Southampton.
A month later and I think I?ve cracked it. I know everything about players, positions, tactics, strategies, finance and metrics. Me and Jurgen Klopp are on the same page. Maybe I could sit next to him on the bench.
I?ve never called anything so correctly before or since.
Sometimes you can just tell who will fit as a Liverpool player. Sadio was quick, focused, nimble and ever hungry for a goal. His was a signature that mattered. He had already scored three against us ? a goal in 39 seconds in a League Cup tie and two in a game we were 2-0 up (we lost) ? and was clearly going places.
Then came Arsenal. Of all his 120 Liverpool goals he never bettered his first. The confidence, the swagger and outright ability on show was frightening. Most players would be happy to lay the ball off ...
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