If Konate goes and Virg beginning to look dodgy plus Joes injury issues I could easily see the need for 3.
I agree. Arsenal have 3 injured centerbacks, but still started 4 centerbacks in their back line today. We have a centerback horribly out of form, but have no choice but to continue picking him.
As most on here will know, I have a friend who’s an agent and knows Anfield behind the scenes pretty well. I’m always careful not to reveal anything without his permission (for obvious reasons) and even if/when I do, nothing that will id him or the talent he’s working with. After last night’s debacle, when the WA group was all about who to sign, how to fix our problems, he dropped this insight: “Edwards and Hughes are under serious question. We are in the middle of a deal with Liverpool at the moment and they are so glacial in their approach compared to the other clubs we are speaking to.”* There was then other stuff he said, but his basic point was that since the exit of Klopp, Anfield has been very difficult to deal with, that they spend an age examining what the player had for breakfast when he was 7 and that more than Edwards and Hughes would like to admit, they have lost out on targets (Guehi being the most obvious) because of this glacial approach. The Ekitike transfer was well over a year in percolation. I suppose it sounds odd considering the number of players signed over the summer, but my friend has said that the word in the agent community is to strap in for a looooong ride for any incoming transfer. Good due diligence, obviously, but it does look like smart, quick execution is being sacrificed on the altar of that due diligence. * No idea, I didn’t ask and he didn’t reveal the who of this upcoming deal.
Yes and if we take a cold hard look at the squad its not just at cb where we need to add. At right back we have often injured Bradley and a light weight Frimpong who is possibly unsuited for that role in the more robust epl. At left back Robbo will need replacing if not this summer then probably the next.We need a better option than Endo as cover/partner for Grav in the 6 role. We need a quality replacement for Mo at rw and we've never replaced Diaz on the left. So plenty of work for Hughes and Co to get to grips with coz the team is a shadow of itself and an unbalanced shadow too. A top four finish is looking difficult given our current form. I'm hoping Jan sees us get at least one cb , a winger and a rb would be nice too but we'll see what happens.
I think that comparison is a bit warped by the fact that for a while now they've not signed FBs but CBs who can play both positions. gives them a lot of scope and bolsters their current Land Of The Giants approach.
Agree, but I think that’s also what we should be doing. It was a bit naive to think that we could field a team that does not have a true holding midfielder, has a number 9 and number 10 that don’t defend much, a right winger who doesn’t defend, and ALSO have two fullbacks whose only strength is bombing up and down the wing. Arsenal’s defenders know what their job is. It is to defend. City have also had great success with centerbacks at fullback. I think we really need some versatile defenders who can play both fullback and centerback. Guehi could be one.
Saudi club Al-Hilal are ready to launch a January bid for Liverpool's Egypt winger Mohamed Salah, 33. (S**) Liverpool have already lined up a replacement for Salah - Bournemouth's Ghana international forward Antoine Semenyo, 25. (Express) The Reds are understood to be relaxed about the situation regarding Salah, who is also being discussed by MLS side San Diego. (GiveMeSport) Liverpool and Barcelona have been told they can sign Brazil midfielder Ederson, 26, for £50m from Italian club Atalanta in the January transfer window. (Football Insider)
So how much would the Saudi’s pay for Salah in January? Getting his wages off the books alone would open up a ton of money. In the next two windows we are going to need 2 more wingers, at least 3 new defenders, and maybe a holding midfielder.
The 3 main things on my transfer wish list would be: 1) A replacement for Konate. 2). A left back whose really a centerback 3). A left winger who can also play on the right. It doesn’t have to be these players, but let’s imagine they are Guehi, Bastoni, and Semenyo. Then we can start to build a shape that fits the players in the side. A lineup of: Allison Frimpong Guehi Virgil Bastoni Szoboszlai Gravenberch Wirtz Ekitike Isak Semenyo But the shape really looks like: Allison Guehi Virgil Bastoni Szoboszlai Gravenberch Frimpong————-Wirtz—————-Semenyo Ekitike Isak I disagree with people who have said that Liverpool’s plan was to play 3 at the back with wingbacks. That is a system with 5 defenders that leaves you not good enough going forward. I think it makes way more sense to achieve the balance by having 1 attacking fullback, 1 winger, and 3 defenders committed to defunding. It then also allows Wirtz to play in his preferred position with the two strikers ahead of him and width on both sides. Unless he quickly rediscovers his form from last season, I wouldn’t be opposed to selling Mac Allister and replacing him with a more athletic player more suited for playing in the double pivot in front of the defense. This is likely Andy Robertson’s last season at Liverpool, so the new LB/CB would replace him in the squad.
yes - MacAllister has had a Fabinho level of drop. He was never the most athletic - but it's like he lost all mobility now.
Glad to help. Speaking of which, hows it going for Wirtz? Does he have more EPL goals & assists than you and I combined as yet? Asking for a friend.
How's the source for that article coming? Has the author made one up yet? Wirtz is playing much better lately - so I'm not sure what your point is? Has the entirety of his contract been fulfilled?
Silly boy! Haven’t you heard? Wirtz has joined Salah on the picket line outside Slot's office. See what you know!
Xabi Alonso's position at Real Madrid is under threat. He could be out of a job soon so I imagine the speculation about Slot's job will ramp up accordingly.
4 ? nah. (Guehi ) if we can swing it in Jan. And a replacement for Konate and Joe in the summer. Remember, Leoni is coming back
This a bit of a problematic observation - we sort of skirted around it by first trying to rely on Q, then hoping Gomez would be healthy, and then finally trying to get Leoni and Guehi. We only got Leoni, sold Q, and then lost out on Guehi coupled with Konate forgetting how to play and VVD starting to show his age.
Leoni is coming back NEXT year from a terrible injury. He will be 19 - we have no idea what his level is. To count on him is not a great idea.
So rumors are Alonso will be sacked if real lose to city that I'd take Alonso asap if real are stupid enough to side with the Vinicius, Valverde etc over their manager
Liverpool and Manchester City are closely monitoring 19-year-old RB Leipzig and Ivory Coast winger Yan Diomande. (Caughtoffside) Liverpool are planning to make a £38m bid for Galatasaray and Ivory Coast defender Wilfried Singo, 24. (Fotomac and Foot-Sur7 via SportWitness)
I've read us linked with those two also over the past dew weeks. Both are foreign so I'd expect a couple to head out the door if we buy them coz I thought we were at the max for non homegrowns. Would we instantly lose them to Afcon?