So if this was the plan what was with the pursuit of Tchouameni?
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In my opinion itās simply because we considered him to be the best player on the market. We wouldnāt have Nunez if we had Tchouameni, and instead Carvalho would be Firmino and Jotaās backup in a forward role.
Instead now Carvalho will play in midfield primarily, and we were happy to let the how the transfer window went dictate how we use Carvalho and Elliott. The way itās shook out theyāll be midfielders who can cover forward roles, rather than forwards who can play in midfield.
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9.4312 exactly. Thatās the right amount, isnāt it?
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How many times was he mentioned in Pepās book? This is the new standard.
There is no index so itās hard to tell 
Sorry but I just canāt agree. Theres no way Mane goes along with Taki and Divock and the only addition to our forward line is a 19 year old with no PL or CL experience who largely played as a number 10 last season. Even with Diaz arriving in January that just seems like not enough.
Weāve also potentially come out this window with a net spend close to zero if we get Ā£10m for Phillips. So why would the aim be to leave us feeling like we need one more in either area?
I suspect the plan was Tchouameni this summer because they knew Bellingham was going nowhere and now itās make do so all eggs can go into the Bellingham basket for next summer. It just seems an unnecessary risk, just like going into a season with three centre backs was. We may get away with it or it could be extremely costly.
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What midfielder, that fits the profile we require is currently available?
If the player was there we would probably have signed him, as we now know Klopp is all about THE player rather than any player.
Regarding the midfield situation we have the first choice 3 and a fairly significant number to replace them.
In addition to this I think we have serious alternatives. I know there wonāt be a lot of agreement on this thoughā¦but Ramsay signing may be significant as it may allow TAA to move forward if required. Also, Gomez signing a new deal will be based on the premise that he will actually play a bit.
He may cover at RB or as I mentioned before (and met disagreement!!) Matip may be seen as a DM if really neccessary. This is in the nuclear event of Fabinho, Hendo and Milner being absent.
Thiago maybe a DM choice as well if required.
I think we are covered by having players that Klopp wants, not players that fill in occasionally.
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Well, the situation cannot be compared to starting the season with 3 centre-backs. 3 CBs meant we only had one senior alternative for two positions + Fab as an emergency option. It is like having 5 midfielders altogether for 3 spots (without an emergency option and possibility to play with 2 midfielders). Now, we have Fab, Hendo, Millie, Thiago, Keita, Jones, Elliott and Ox (8 midfielders) for three positions + Carvalho as an emergency option in midfield (I still think he will be mostly used in attack) + young players (Bajcetic) for cup games. We can also switch to 4-2-3-1 or 4-2-2-2 formation if needed.
Last season, when we had a supposed midfield crisis, we always had at least three senior midfielders fit to start and at least one (maybe not fully fit) on the bench. Considering we had Elliott out for more than half a season already. What about now? Even with Ox, Jones and Keita out, we have 5 midfielders + Carvalho for three spots in the next 2 PL games (and Keita is only ill so will probably return for the next game). I am pretty sure both Elliott and Millie will play against Fulham (at least off the bench).
Besides, I do not think there is a midfielder on the market that is better and more suited to Kloppās system than what we already have as our 5th-7th options. So yes, we will be all right.
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Again I just donāt think itās appreciated yet just how good Carvalho is. Itās not a risk Iām any way, shape or form to let him be a primary backup on the Frontline or in midfield.
It wonāt take him long to show it, heās one of the best young players in world football - right up there with the likes of Bellingham, Pedri etc who no one would bat an eye lid at being first team players.
You can say Iām carried away with Carvalho but it wonāt take long for him to prove it. Iām all in on him and I believe the club are too.
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thats good enough for me.
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Do you have a view on how good Carney Chukwuemeka is? Especially interested given Chelsea paid 20m for him vs 5 odd for Carvalho.
Wasnāt Carvalho out of contract?
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Heās an elite talent, but had a year left on his contract and as @mattyhurst says Carvalho was on a free (we paid a fee to avoid a tribunal). Iād say they are comparable talent wise but different skillsets.
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Very excited for him too. But he plays a very different midfield role to how our midfield three typically play. As a wide forward or a 10 in a 4-2-3-1 then I could fully see him getting games now worries. As an 8 in our system, Iām not sure weāre going to want to drop him in there right away.
Again, itās not a dig at the quality of these young players. Itās more a concern about the durability of others leading to us having to over rely on young players who are still some way off the finished article.
Chukwuemeka is a fantastic player but I think Chelsea is the wrong club to develop him.
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Why werenāt we in for him - any ideas?
I believe it only had weeks to run when we signed him but we agreed a transfer fee rather than go to tribunal for signing a young player. I expect that agreement was in everyoneās interests.
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Yup probably the difference between 5/20m
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We will never know for 100% but we clearly have the squad the group are happy with and are now able to take a longer term perspective on our potential targets. That means our players are bought to not necessarily fill an immediate gap but to reflect more medium term planning. That means players who are pursued, especially young ones, dont necessarily reflect a perceived current weakness in the position he plays, and a failure to land him doesnt require we immediately pursue an alternative.
What it seems to me is we know we will need to soon evolve the midfield and had earmarked Bellingham and him as two of the top options. As neither are needed right now our strategy in landing one is a bit different than it was with Nunez, because with Maneās exit we knew we needed a replacement. As such we were willing to go in deeper for Nunez than we were with a young CM because the latter is not yet needed. In that position weāre still in a watchful waiting phase - identifying targets and monitoring the market to see if there are advantageous conditions arising that would allow us to land one at a decent price. If we cant then weāll still bide our time and continue that until we reach a window where we view the need as immediate and at that point we will go to the wall for the singing we want (probably next summer).
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