Both would be too much (as in lack of pace), I think.
Well, having Grav and Dom, who are both quick, hasnĀ“t helped much in my humble opinion aha
2 Likes
True, some of our current players are too quick for their general quality and the good of our team.
No wonder Macca was like āhow do these two midfield deserters get new contracts and I donātā 
I thought you liked players that tackled. Oh well just a myth .
Itās going to be interesting to see what happens with the midfield. I can understand Maccaās viewpoint, feeling somewhat overlooked as he watched Szobo and Grav get new deals. From the clubās perspective itās fair to say we canāt do everything at once, but that still communicated something to Macca as he was the third priority of the three.
So on balance I suspect he will be off, perhaps as soon as January, with Camara coming in to replace him (not an exact like for like).
I might be barking up the wrong tree, and he might sign a new deal and stay for the duration. But to my mind it looks like it will head for a parting of ways.
In the meantime, I can live with any outcome so long as everyone is professional and gives their all in a Liverpool shirt. And to be fair to Macca, on the early evidence of the season so far, he is doing his job. He is a good player and if he stays for the long term, great! But the writing appears to be on the wall, for me.
2 Likes
I think it makes total sense that the club is waiting. He is coming off a poor season and heās the oldest of the three. They want to be certain he still has some legs before committing to an extension. Heās had a great start to the season so there is every reason to believe he will be offered a new contract if he performs well this season. I suppose those talks will start in January if that happens. If not, then he may be sold. Iād be hesitant to swap Macca for Camara in January if Macca is playing well. It will take some time for Camara to get up to speed. Iād rather bring him in in January and then sell Macca in the summer if thatās how it goes. Yes, weāll get a lower fee but it will allow for a smooter transition.
4 Likes
None of our midfield had a half decent saison last year.
Our weakest outside of Endo is Gravenberch imo. However if nothing improve need to replace all of them.
It then comes down to planning. Iād prefer to keep Macca and Szoboszlai at the start of the transition than Gravenberch and Szoboszlai.
Luckily we have Nyoni who could cover the cracks.
Until he plays and we descend on himā¦
1 Like
Your thinking of the wrong person.
I have no contact with our players and certainly havenāt descended on any of them and have no wish to.
Fixed. Meant to say we, not youā¦
Nyoniās reaction to being descended on by Flobs:
3 Likes
I must admit since weāve been blessed with Klopps 4-3-3 (1-2 midfield) for almost a decade I really struggle to enjoy most other setups even if we win.
That was domination, lots of control and I loved how we were able to defend most attacks with one fullback, one CB and the holding midfielder while the other 7 outfield player could focus on attack.
1 Like
And even if I try to āacceptā the double pivot I donāt think Iraola uses the right approach for it and most importantly I donāt think we have the right players for it.
And no, I donāt think a 19 year old who had two good games in preseason is the solution.
1 Like
As much as we tend to see these things in separate segments of the team, theyāre instead interconnected parts and in ways that we donāt always recognize.
One thing Iām at least happy with is that weāre getting stronger defensively.
Allison error apart, we gave up nothing dangerous.
Tactical evolution and personnel issues: I get why we had to change from the 2019-2020 model. We didnāt have the players any more.
Virgil got assaulted. Joe kept getting injuries and they lost their incredible recovery pace. There began a steady decline in the physical output by Gini, Hendo, Fab.
Keita didnāt work because of constant injuries. I loved Thiago but the fit was never quite right. He was a creator in a pressing midfieldā¦.maybe a younger Thiago, but we couldnāt have afforded that version of him.
Soā¦.what are we now? A pressing team? A possession team? Something in between? Feels like we have a confused muddle of players that fit each type of ethos.
2 Likes
We have lost a lot of creativity, that isnāt just the loss off Bobby, Mo and Sadio, it is the loss of 2 wide full backs with exceptional delivery, even Hendo could cross a ball and hit a long pass, whilst big Virg seems to have lost that long diagonal he used to play.
The 3 grafting midfielders just wouldnāt work with the players we now have due to the lack of creativity in other areas.
4 Likes
Pretty sure he can still do it but he chooses not to because maybe he doesnāt trust the new guys to use it productively yet.
And we donāt have any inverted right winger any more (for now)
But we still have pace when Munoz is out there and can still easily run in behind
1 Like
For 3 hyper grafting midfielders to work you would have to have three elite pressers up front and a pacy and strong centre back duo.
We have neither