Author Topic: 2018 League position prediction.. with Keith, VvD or without... (Read 32525 times)

Liver-Land · « **on:** July 23, 2017, 05:32:28 am »

I thought it would be interesting to see how we feel the impact of Keita and Van Dijk inclusion in our current team would effect our predicted final position in May next year...

My guess.

Without either... 4th
With VvD only... 4th (but a few more points)
With Keita only.. 3rd
With both...........2nd

What do you think wide awakers??

rickardinho1 · « **Reply #1 on:** July 23, 2017, 06:32:26 am »

With no more signings we're going to be quite short, particularly considering how stretched the squad was last season without European football.

With no more additions, I'd say 4th, or 5th with another injury season like last.

AddIng no CB (i.e. stick with Gomez as 4th CB) but adding a CM (eg. Ox) I'd say 3rd. It's not so much due to Ox's quality but the fact that he (or another CM) would keep everyone else fresher.

Add no CM but add a CB, probably 3rd as well.

Add either Keita or Van Dijk, 2nd or 3rd.

Adding both Keita and Van Dijk - on top of Salah, Robertson, and Solanke would make us title favourites, though you could make a strong case for City, Spurs, or Chelsea as well. United and Arsenal clearly on the outside though.

It's all if's, but's, and maybe's at the moment though, and with over 5 weeks to go in the window a lot can change.

SwordInYourGut · « **Reply #2 on:** July 23, 2017, 08:45:15 am »

With Keith and big Dijk: 1st
With only Keith: 1st
With only van Dijk: 1st
Without either: 3rd

sms1986 · « **Reply #3 on:** July 23, 2017, 11:03:58 am »

Both of them, I would say very strong title challengers and we'll finish first or second.
One of them would still improve us a lot, so strong title challengers and finish first, second or third.
Without either, I think we're still a very good team and we barely left the top four last season, so I think without AFCON and a bit more luck, we can finish first, second or third.

PIPA23 · « **Reply #4 on:** July 23, 2017, 11:14:51 am »

we still have to adress our defence.... Robertson won´t save it... we need VVD to have a core CB to build on... we need goals and have no true CF...

i say the next season we will end in top 4 again... since we have CL and other competitions... we need to get our main targets and perhaps this thread should have been created after the transfer window is closed to have better idea about the squad...

SandyShore · « **Reply #5 on:** July 23, 2017, 11:59:40 am »

Hard to see us finishing ahead of the likes of Chelsea and City who finished ahead of us and once again strengthened in the market and still looking to do further business. We sign Van Djik and Kieta that would change things but we are dealing with 2 clubs refusing to sell to us.
As it stands possible top 4 but 15-20 points off 1st.

Suareznumber7 · « **Reply #6 on:** July 23, 2017, 01:55:37 pm »

3rd with or without them.

newterp · « **Reply #7 on:** July 23, 2017, 01:59:43 pm »

Keith - I love it.

invader_gir · « **Reply #8 on:** July 23, 2017, 02:13:14 pm »

Quote from: SandyShore on July 23, 2017, 11:59:40 am

Hard to see us finishing ahead of the likes of Chelsea and City who finished ahead of us and once again strengthened in the market and still looking to do further business. We sign Van Djik and Kieta that would change things but we are dealing with 2 clubs refusing to sell to us.
As it stands possible top 4 but 15-20 points off 1st.

I still expect City to be shitty and I think United will be closer to Title winners than City will be this season. I expect a 3rd place finish with Spurs imploding with injury since they failed to improve their squad by much. Chelsea, United Liverpool, Spurs/City and Arsenal.

With both of them we can actually have a better challenge for that top 2 spot but i think we need one more season to be a stronger challenger for the title, but I feel with Klopp we are moving in the right direction.

Chief Brody · « **Reply #9 on:** July 23, 2017, 03:52:45 pm »

5th

Regardless

Yorkykopite · « **Reply #10 on:** July 23, 2017, 04:50:20 pm »

Champions.

With VvD, 2nd

With VvD and Keita, 16th.

dangerpuss · « **Reply #11 on:** July 23, 2017, 04:54:32 pm »

2nd with current squad. 1st with VVD and Naby.

That's with avoiding too many serious injuries.

We proved last year that our best eleven is as good as anyone else's.

DutchRed · « **Reply #12 on:** July 23, 2017, 05:34:57 pm »

We'll finish 12th and bring out a DVD because we got a famous point at Goodison.

killer-heels · « **Reply #13 on:** July 23, 2017, 05:38:21 pm »

4th with the current squad, 1st or 2nd with a couple of improvements.

SerbianScouser · « **Reply #14 on:** July 23, 2017, 05:43:04 pm »

We only need VVD to win the league. Praying that we get him.

Jurgen is destined to win the league with us and now just may be the time to do it.

goalspaytherent · « **Reply #15 on:** July 23, 2017, 05:45:58 pm »

Think 4th as it stands ....with Wes Morgan , I reckon 2nd

JackWard33 · « **Reply #16 on:** July 23, 2017, 06:12:33 pm »

Top 6

TepidT2O · « **Reply #17 on:** July 23, 2017, 06:16:03 pm »

Quote from: JackWard33 on July 23, 2017, 06:12:33 pm

Top 6

Sensible...

JackWard33 · « **Reply #18 on:** July 23, 2017, 06:23:35 pm »

Quote from: I'm not paying... but may be shaving on July 23, 2017, 06:16:03 pm

Sensible...

Only thing Im confident of at the moment. A lot of ins and outs still to happen here and at other clubs and they'll be 6 good teams so who knows ....

Red-Dread · « **Reply #19 on:** July 23, 2017, 06:24:01 pm »

Without either: 4th (Without either and Phil leaves..5th)

With only van Dijk: 2nd

With only Keita: 3rd

With Keita and van Dijk: 2nd (challenge all the way for 1st though)

Djozer · « **Reply #20 on:** July 23, 2017, 06:34:10 pm »

1st to 3rd if we get both.

2nd to 4th if we get just one.

Otherwise, don't know but somewhere above Everton...
I think a lot may depend on who we aim for and/or get as alternatives if one or both deals fall through, which I think is likely.

I'm not saying we need any extra players to get top four (obviously I'd hope we finish higher but I think consolidation is the main focus) as I think we have a very good first team as things stand - we looked unbeatable at times last season before injuries and fatigue set in. I would, however, feel a lot happier if we got at least another centre half in and there's obviously space for a midfielder, though I'm not sure how pressing the need is there.

Linudden · « **Reply #21 on:** July 23, 2017, 06:56:05 pm »

Neither: 4th
Either: 3rd
Both: 3rd

So… Howard Philips · « **Reply #22 on:** July 23, 2017, 07:04:36 pm »

Quote from: Linudden on July 23, 2017, 06:56:05 pm

Neither: 4th
Either: 3rd
Both: 3rd

Difficult to say with 5 weeks until the window slams shut and Sky dance a jig.

vivabobbygraham · « **Reply #23 on:** July 23, 2017, 07:55:22 pm »

markedasred · « **Reply #24 on:** July 23, 2017, 07:56:55 pm »

We've already won the Premier League cup, without these fancy overpriced prima donnas. If you mean the English one, I do believe top four is an achievement when six good teams are spending like crazy, and could all be in the running. Somewhere in the top 3 would be great. I think we have the best manager and strike force. Ours will be some of the most exciting football in the league again, and as I have correctly predicted several years in a row, we will get goals from all over the team. Last season we may even have had the most scorers in our squad. I know we will get a player or two more, and the prospect of the season is mouthwatering.

Something Else · « **Reply #25 on:** July 23, 2017, 08:00:02 pm »

With current squad I reckon 4th.

With Dirk Keita, Dirk Van Dyke and keeping hold of Can and Coutinho we can challenge for the title

LallanaInPyjamas · « **Reply #26 on:** July 24, 2017, 12:52:48 am »

I think this year we would have to be delighted with consolidating our top four status, getting out of the group stage of the CL and winning a cup regardless of who we do or don't sign between now and the end of August. Even the former combined with one of the other two achievements would be a successful season if not one to celebrate particularly.

A title challenge could happen of course; none of us expected one in 13-14. But while we have some very good attacking players, I don't see a Suarez to catapult us to one. Given City's spending spree, Chelsea's winning mentality and Spurs still having that extra year of playing together (plus the best striker in the league which always helps), you'd have to make us 4th favourites at best, perhaps even 5th or 6th should we fail to land Keita and van Dijk.

With those two, though, I'd feel much more confident of achieving great things. Its not just those two's qualities (which are clearly massive and ones we are lacking) but the knock on affect of being able to count on a group of 16-18 top quality players throughout the season (as opposed to the 12-14 we had last season). As the squad stands it very much feels like we'd be forced into putting all of our eggs in the bread and butter basket of league football once again.

As much as Keita looks a potential world beater, I think van Dijk would have a bigger impact in terms of making or breaking our season because he brings Lovren and Matip's qualities into one player, and I feel we'd actually be able to get by with our current midfield whereas the thought of having to rely on Klavan or Gomez in any meaningful game drives me insane.

Kuks · « **Reply #27 on:** July 24, 2017, 08:55:30 am »

With our squad as it stands: Probably 5th or 6th. Can't see us topping the teams above us while United have strengthened considerably just with Lukaku

With Keita or VVD: Pushing for 4th I'd imagine

With both: Pushing top 2

a bit of a laugh · « **Reply #28 on:** July 24, 2017, 09:29:18 am »

Neither: 6th
With VVD: 2nd
With Keita: 3rd
With both: 2nd

redk84 · « **Reply #29 on:** July 24, 2017, 09:29:37 am »

We have to improve on or stay 4th.

If we fall short of that and it is due to our transfers then that is Klopp and the recruitment team's fault...

That is what I think now and what I have thought before even close season......this is to be a journey under Klopp with him building a team to challenge for the title. We broke into top 4....now we must maintain it with all the same pressures as we would have in any other season with Europe.

Then the step after is winning the damned thing

SoftSouthernScouser · « **Reply #30 on:** July 24, 2017, 09:35:35 am »

5th regardless at the minute. We need more players simply for the size of the campaign we've got coming up. If we get injuries to any key players I can't see this season going as successfully as last. Look at the strength of other teams around us currently.

Bergersrightwingviews · « **Reply #31 on:** July 24, 2017, 10:09:37 am »

Won't bother with other permutations because I am convinced we won't get either.

5th. We barely scraped 4th this year, Man Utd and Arsenal have improved and I think our squad will really struggle to cope with both the league and Champions League. What is the plan if Henderson gets an injury that puts him out for a month for example? Even worse, what happens if Matip is out for a month upwards?

Imagine we have to go to Chelsea on the Saturday and then we are away to a team in the CL on the Wednesday and both Henderson and Matip are unable to play in either. Are we all happy with relying on Lovren, Gomez and Klavan for those games? Is Grujic ready to step in and play a significant chunk of either of those games or is it all down to Wini and Can to play the less attacking roles in the 3?

clinical · « **Reply #32 on:** July 24, 2017, 11:14:24 am »

With Keith and VVD 1st

With VVD only 4th

with Keith only 4th

With neither 6th.

With no more signings 7th

Pistolero · « **Reply #33 on:** July 24, 2017, 11:49:54 am »

Keita's a non-starter and Van Dijk is still at the wishful thinking stage....so as it stands, top 4 would be quite an achievement....

bird_lfc · « **Reply #34 on:** July 24, 2017, 11:55:17 am »

Top 4 and a cup, please. We exist to win things.

koptommy93 · « **Reply #35 on:** July 24, 2017, 11:58:13 am »

5th I reckon

AshLFC · « **Reply #36 on:** July 24, 2017, 01:04:23 pm »

Quote from: Kuks on July 24, 2017, 08:55:30 am

With our squad as it stands: Probably 5th or 6th. Can't see us topping the teams above us while United have strengthened considerably just with Lukaku

With Keita or VVD: Pushing for 4th I'd imagine

With both: Pushing top 2

Aren't they just replacing Ibra with Lukaku? I'm not sure its such a considerable upgrade?

Clint Eastwood · « **Reply #37 on:** July 24, 2017, 01:09:25 pm »

Neither: 5th
VvD: 4th
Keita: 3rd
Both: 8th (I reckon they'll hate each other and ruin the squad harmony)

Alf · « **Reply #38 on:** July 24, 2017, 01:30:54 pm »

3rd regardless.

Rysoph76 · « **Reply #39 on:** July 24, 2017, 01:36:22 pm »

Neither 4th
Just VdV 2nd
Just Keith 3rd
Both 2nd