Topic: LIVERPOOL TRANSFER THREAD

[Waterpistol]

So it’s potentially looking like 

IN

Darwin
Ramsay
Carvalho

OUT
Origi
Mane
Ox
Taki
Neco Williams
Phillips


Would everyone be happy with that, or would that leave us a bit short?

Definitely not happy with that. The midfield needs upgrading badly. I think we'll get one in still.

[SamLad]

Klopp and Van Dijk tapped up the player

SSSHHHHHHHHH!!

Actually you hear very little about tapping up these days.  Why is that?

[So… Howard Philips]

SSSHHHHHHHHH!!

Actually you hear very little about tapping up these days.  Why is that?

Was a trip on the dodgems involved ?

[sminp]

With the wages we've offered it will definitely be a budget airline he chooses. None of this fancy private jet nonsense.

I didn’t seriously think he’d be on that flight, I was just playing along with the original suggestion.

[PoetryInMotion]

Keita hasn't proven he can play consistently well despite the last season?

He started 14 PL games last season.

[PeterTheRed ...]

SSSHHHHHHHHH!!

Actually you hear very little about tapping up these days.  Why is that?

Probably because it is pretty much allowed. Bayern Munich have been tapping up Mane quite openly, and we don't seem to have a problem with that, as long as they pay our asking price ...

[Haggis36]

You forgot Keita. Thiago/Keita already rotate for one spot.

True, but in Keita's best season here by a long way in terms of fitness, they started 31 league games combined. We were actually pretty lucky their injuries dove-tailed so nicely last season - they missed 9 and 12 league games but only 3 of those occasions overlapped.

Most of our dropped points last season came when we were unable to field any combo of 3 of our 4 best midfielders - in the 10 games we dropped points, in only 2 of them would you say we were fielding a "first-choice" midfield and one of them was the hardest game of the season (City away, with the other being Spurs at home). I mean it's ridiculous that you need to be near-perfect across a season and get 90+ points to win the league, but it is what it is, and we're dealing with small margins.

Outside of the core four, the others options just aren't the same level/fit. And I'd have no concerns with that whatsoever if any of Henderson, Thiago or Keita were reliable fitness-wise. If anything, I'd think we could reduce the number of players we have in midfield - four genuinely top class players for three positions is on the face of it very good. But as it turns out, all of our best midfielders have unreliable fitness. Some seasons we'll be lucky. Some we won't. I'm not saying we need to have 6 world-class players in there, but I think we should be looking for someone in the middle ground of "top-class, but made of biscuits" and "consistently fit, but unproven at the top level".

[Thé_Ḓárk_P̌áşşéngér]

I didn’t seriously think he’d be on that flight, I was just playing along with the original suggestion.

I can assure you that the original suggestion was written very much tongue in cheek also, although one or two seem to have taken me seriously. Obviously the club will just strap him underneath a flock of homing pigeons they've taken over there on the first team bus.

[spider-neil]

He started 14 PL games last season.

And was available for selection for more as well as playing CL games.

[67CherryRed]

And was available for selection for more as well as playing CL games.

But he wasn't one of the first names on the team sheet. He never has been, he never will be. He's a 'steady' player (when he plays) but for the price we paid I don't think anyone can argue that he hasn't under delivered.

[PoetryInMotion]

And was available for selection for more as well as playing CL games.

That's why I said he wasn't able to show consistency. He was either injured, not picked, or played decently in certain games. Only one or two games were of a really high standard.

Starting 14 PL games for whatever reason doesn't bode well any way you look at it.

[spider-neil]

But he wasn't one of the first names on the team sheet. He never has been, he never will be. He's a 'steady' player (when he plays) but for the price we paid I don't think anyone can argue that he hasn't under delivered.

Get over the price it's been paid and is in the past. The coaching staff and FSG are going to offer him a new contract so they are obviously okay with his contribution.

[Passmaster Molby]

I would still like another top quality central midfielder to finalise the squad for this coming season. It’s a long slog and we need lots of quality players to rotate in the engine room, so the ability to rotate in that central midfield will be key for us.

[spider-neil]

That's why I said he wasn't able to show consistency. He was either injured, not picked, or played decently in certain games. Only one or two games were of a really high standard.

Starting 14 PL games for whatever reason doesn't bode well any way you look at it.

Only one or two games were of high standard? Bull. Shit.
I don't know why you're so fixated with the 14 starts. He should have started more games and players like Henderson and Fabinho should have played less hence why they were knackered in the run-in.

[Redman78]

But he wasn't one of the first names on the team sheet. He never has been, he never will be. He's a 'steady' player (when he plays) but for the price we paid I don't think anyone can argue that he hasn't under delivered.

Agreed, he can't be relied upon with any surety in the crunch games. I  like Jones and Elliott but they're very much prospects, definitely think we could do with another accomplished midfielder.

[T.Mills]

Get over the price it's been paid and is in the past. The coaching staff and FSG are going to offer him a new contract so they are obviously okay with his contribution.

Any mention of Keita criticism and Spider-Neil comes swinging in, webs a blazing! 

[PeterTheRed ...]

Klopp loves Naby. We have offered him a contract extension, that he will most likely accept. He will be here for some time. It is better to discuss him in his own thread, than in the transfer thread ...

[Persephone]

Agreed, he can't be relied upon with any surety in the crunch games. I  like Jones and Elliott but they're very much prospects, definitely think we could do with another accomplished midfielder.

It's an absolute must. We are too easily played through the middle because we have no pace there. A mobile midfielder who is able to withstand being pressed is needed. I have no idea who that player is, but it's what is required to enable us to challenge City again.

[spider-neil]

Agreed, he can't be relied upon with any surety in the crunch games. I  like Jones and Elliott but they're very much prospects, definitely think we could do with another accomplished midfielder.

Ridiculous considering he started two Cup finals and the CL semi-final. Oh, you meant 'other' crunch games.

[Mister Flip Flop]

We lost the title due to a lack of reliable midfielders, in my opinion. We need to bring in someone else unless Klopp thinks Jones and Elliott can be used in big moments.

 

We didn't lose any title. We are up against a club that is cheating, in fact they are proven cheats.

[WhereAngelsPlay]

We lost the title due to a lack of reliable midfielders, in my opinion. We need to bring in someone else unless Klopp thinks Jones and Elliott can be used in big moments.

Elliott,you on about that kid who took his chance and kept his place ?

As for losing the title due to lack of midfielders 

[Sarge]

Naby's game stats are fantastic btw.

[Flaccido Dongingo]

We didn't lose any title. We are up against a club that is cheating, in fact they are proven cheats.

You can't really be critical of this Liverpool team, but we had a slight wobble at the end of the year, due to missing players through injury and COVID-19, were we drew a few games and had that horror show away to Leicester, but the whole squad are phenomenal, and when you're up against serial cheats, and the reluctance of the footballing authorities to properly sanction them.

Points deductions are the only way going forward to punish Sportswashing Oil teams.

[Sarge]

I'd have Ruben Neves at the club in a heartbeat.

[Fromola]

Klopp loves Naby. We have offered him a contract extension, that he will most likely accept. He will be here for some time. It is better to discuss him in his own thread, than in the transfer thread ...

He loves all his players but he's never been a regular first XI player when everyone is fit. Fabinho and Henderson always have been, Gini always was, Thiago is.

Ridiculous considering he started two Cup finals and the CL semi-final. Oh, you meant 'other' crunch games.

Only because of injury. He was named on the bench for the League Cup final originally and we were missing Fabinho in the FA Cup final. Naby was first midfielder off in both finals as well with subs.

[Fromola]

We didn't lose any title. We are up against a club that is cheating, in fact they are proven cheats.

So we need to be perfect to win the league, that's the problem. You can't have a single weakness.

[AmanShah21]

Stats help give context, it hard to remember everything that happens in a game, you can miss stuff etc. Also if you Mane a better pass/Ball retention then Diaz, idk what say.

Diaz was still relatively raw in the 6 months but always looks a threat. My unpopular opinion is that mane lost a small amount of that burst pace that he initially had which made him less likely to go 1-on-1 as often as he used to against his fullback and beat him successfully. The shift to center allowed him to use his ball retrntion and strength better and made him more threatening. Diaz will get better next season once he has a full pre-season and starts being able to play more minutes at his peak tempo (thought he looked gassed at the hour mark in most games). I expect to see him go up a level this season on his actual output. Nunez this season is going to need patience too. Dont think he'll start many before the world cup, but with 5 subs he'll probably get minutes every single game. My biggest concern is still resolution on Mo's deal because that'll become a distraction every week it isnt resolved once the season starts.

[PeterTheRed ...]

He loves all his players but he's never been a regular first XI player when everyone is fit. Fabinho and Henderson always have been, Gini always was, Thiago is.

You can only field 11 players at a time. When called upon, Keita has performed, even in the big games. People really need to start appreaciating our squad players ...

[newterp]

I'd have Ruben Neves at the club in a heartbeat.

Why? He's slow as can be. Wouldn't add much to our midfield - maybe an occasional long-distance shot.

[Sarge]

Why? He's slow as can be. Wouldn't add much to our midfield - maybe an occasional long-distance shot.

Can pick a pass, loves a tackle, good engine, can smack a ball. Good player or are we looking for a pretty dancing clown

[AmanShah21]

He loves all his players but he's never been a regular first XI player when everyone is fit. Fabinho and Henderson always have been, Gini always was, Thiago is.

Only because of injury. He was named on the bench for the League Cup final originally.

Naby was clearly the 4th choice in midfield and performed well consistently. Still has the odd bad game but looks much more like the lad we thought we'd signed albeit only after 4 seasons. I think he deserves a new deal at the minute as we plan for the midfield revamp in coming windows. Elliot and Jones will get more minutes and Milner can still do a job there in a pinch. Throw in possibly Carvalho and there's decent depth there if not extraordinary and is not an immediate concern.

The way we are buying though seens like we are moving towards a 4-2-3-1. We havent really soent much on midfielders with Fabinho being the last significant purchase in that position while we have now have quite a few number 10-ish players. I can easily see us slowly moving towards the double pivot with more attack players on the field to break the park the bus teams.

[Lynndenberries]

Elliott,you on about that kid who took his chance and kept his place ?

As for losing the title due to lack of midfielders 

I think he will be great, but he started the first three matches of the season, got injured, came back, and barely featured after that.

Go look at the games we dropped points in. Brentford, Brighton, West Ham, City (H), and Spurs (A) were all matches we couldn’t feature three of our top four midfielders and it showed. Brentford, Brighton, and West Ham were particularly poor performances.

[RedG13]

Diaz was still relatively raw in the 6 months but always looks a threat. My unpopular opinion is that mane lost a small amount of that burst pace that he initially had which made him less likely to go 1-on-1 as often as he used to against his fullback and beat him successfully. The shift to center allowed him to use his ball retrntion and strength better and made him more threatening. Diaz will get better next season once he has a full pre-season and starts being able to play more minutes at his peak tempo (thought he looked gassed at the hour mark in most games). I expect to see him go up a level this season on his actual output. Nunez this season is going to need patience too. Dont think he'll start many before the world cup, but with 5 subs he'll probably get minutes every single game. My biggest concern is still resolution on Mo's deal because that'll become a distraction every week it isnt resolved once the season starts.

I agree on the Diaz part. Nunez is Salah replacement likely a year early it feels like. We should have patience on Nunez getting up to speed though. He may more of an Impact sub then a starter right away.

[Lynndenberries]

We didn't lose any title. We are up against a club that is cheating, in fact they are proven cheats.

Frame it however you want, we got second in the league. I’m not here to argue the merits (or lack thereof) of City’s financials. The fact is they’re our competition whether we like it or not.

[Samie]

Frame it however you want, we got second in the league. I’m not here to argue the merits (or lack thereof) of City’s financials. The fact is they’re our competition whether we like it or not.

They were 14 points ahead of us in January. It would've been the mother of all collapses if they lost. we didn't lose it.

[AmanShah21]

I agree on the Diaz part. Nunez is Salah replacement likely a year early it feels like. We should have patience on Nunez getting up to speed though. He may more of an Impact sub then a starter right away.

I cant see Nunez playing on the right. We need a left footed attacker if Mo leaves. nunez prefers coming in off the left. Diaz more likely to play on the right than Nunez when Mo isnt available. Personally think Mo signs the contract before the season starts and Kaide/Harvey fill in for the cups and get time to develop.

[Fromola]

They were 14 points ahead of us in January. It would've been the mother of all collapses if they lost. we didn't lose it.

A lot of points were dropped when we were struggling with key absences in midfield.

[RedG13]

I cant see Nunez playing on the right. We need a left footed attacker if Mo leaves. nunez prefers coming in off the left. Diaz more likely to play on the right than Nunez when Mo isnt available. Personally think Mo signs the contract before the season starts and Kaide/Harvey fill in for the cups and get time to develop.

Salah is the 9 in the system even though he on the right. Adjusting the system for a more central 9 with Nunez/Jota. Carvalho/Elliott/Keita/Jones can all play the 10 and the 7 spot that would replace salah. Carvalho the Firmino replacement but with a central 9. Then Elliott/Keita/?
Whenever Mo leaves would be a good idea to get another lefty also.

[Sarge]

A lot of points were dropped when we were struggling with key absences in midfield.

Yes and that is not a squad problem but an injury problem, see previous season as example.

[Knight]

You forgot Keita. Thiago/Keita already rotate for one spot. Jones/Elliott being healthier they can rotate with each other more. Henderson can play some advanced role and also help rotate with Fabinho.
Having 5 subs and the current medical team doing a very managing the fitness.

Thiago and Keita do not rotate for one spot. It’s far more accurate to say Keita and Henderson rotate for one spot.