Thuram at the rumoured 13M is a bargain. However, we have to think about our needs. We seem stocked in midfield, and if there is room for a signing, it surely has to be a defensive midfielder, ideally someone to go right to the top of the class and be a mainstay in the side.
We can do better at protecting the defence with our positioning, being switched on, and taking care of the ball better. There are system things to improve.
But the biggest improvement in protecting the defence is personnel. I think we need an elite defensive midfielder.
If I look at the two teams ahead of us that we want to overhaul, they have Rice and Rodri. I think our current midfield balance is off, and we need someone like that in there.
I agree there are much bigger priorities. If its something that can get done without much difficulty I can see a reason to move for another CM to add into the rotation but it canāt take away from the need to get the more important signings in as well.
Beyond that, I do see a gap between us and what the top two teams have in their sides, and it is an elite defensive midfielder.
Arguably Slot might solve it with what is already here, and perhaps the thinking is that Bajcetic is going to be so good that he is worth waiting for. But to my mind, we probably need to sign someone to go straight to the top of the class now. Everything behind that man, and in front for that matter, will have permission to improve as the balance will be corrected.
Iāve been coaching junior teams for nearly 40 years and I have a term I use. I call certain players migrating ducks. That is because no matter where you play them on the park, they always end up in their same natural position. They always seem to come from two positions. CB and DM. They either are those players or they are not. Very specialised positions.
Yeah, I think thereās too much expectation on Bajcetic. He needs to develop at his own pace and not be thrust into the glare of being first choice DM for a title chasing team.
He may, or may not be a great player for us, but itās certainly too early to say, especially after such a long injury break.
Same goes for Doak and Gordon btw.
Rice has played probably half his games this season as an 8 with a non-elite āDMā backing him up.
The hill I will happily die on is that lots of fans use the āour DM isnt good enoughā as a crutch when things arenāt going as hoped, especially because the player they have in mind, who can tackle like Masch and use the ball like Xabi, doesnt exist.
If weāre looking at Slot potentially using a 4231 system here, Iād actually be happy with the double-pivot being a defensively sound but mainly energetic Mac and a strong ball-carrier guy like Thuram - in this scenario Iām assuming Dom is acting as the no10 ahead of themā¦
Yeah. Also worth noting how poised and responsible Jones was in the role in the Euros for England last summer. I know even top level U21 international football is not the Prem, but itās still a decent marker. I also think there is a general tendency among fans to overlook the defensive contributions of players in direct proportion to how creative they are. While we definitely had holes this season, the individual defensive statistics of players like Dom and Mac were actually incredibly good. Our issues werent because we āneed a bit of steel, someone who can put their foot inā. It was coordination of our defensive effort.
Relatively frequently this season Iāve thought that itās not prime Fabās qualities weāve missed, itās prime Hendoās. Someone just really alert to the fact that theyāre a midfielder but theyāre gonna need to do loads of covering for the right back.
There was one monent in the Villa game where I watched Endo take about three seconds to realise he was gonna need to be the one to cover in that channel. Mac Allister for all his good work this season never quite had that figured out whether he played 6 or right sided 8.
Iām adamant that training and tactics is what fixes that though rather than signing the fifth most valuable DM on the market, who actually isnāt really a needle mover.
I hear you. He has had Partey or Jorginho behind him to allow him to use his (legitimate?) stamina and get forward more. Weāve seen plenty of that too.
I am definitely saying we can tighten up the shop with the existing personnel. Perhaps that is what Slot will do. I think we also need to add a defensive midfielder.
I see the need for a central defender, a winger, a defensive midfielder and possibly a left back, although Iām not sure how good Owen Beck is. If he is another Bradley-level player, Iād rather he got his chance to see if he could be the solution after Robbo.
When I say defensive midfielder, I definitely donāt mean some limited grock who can only put his foot in. If anyone wants to get near this Liverpool team, they need to be a good player, first and foremost.
If we are considering a new DM, we need one with good recovery speed as well as what we have already mentioned but I it is the coaching and defensive shape and attitude that needs the most attention.
Another good deep dive from Redmen TV in the link below
The insight on the impact of our defensive changes was fascinating. I dont think anyone would have thought those players, specifically Tsimi, would make up our best line up and so you have to put a lot of weight on the idea of consistency/familiarity
If I were going to make any changes, it would be to ditch that high press in the opponent third after the first burst. get your butt back into position and try to read the play instead of reacting to it.
We got lit up so many times because our midfielders were ball-chasing like dogs instead of using tactical nousā¦
In a high press you are only chasing the ball if you are late. A well executed high press is proactive. Itās about closing off all the good passes for the man on the ball so there are only bad ones left that sooner than later result in them giving it back to you. The problem is not with the strategy but the execution
I just donāt think Edwards would have come back unless he had a large amount of control over the transfers. Doubt he came back just to sit on his hands.
Wouldnāt be shocked to see some big moves. Especially those who are inefficient and poor statistically (although data wonāt be the only factor of course).
I think someone like Nunez might be in a bit of trouble as from what Iāve read about Slot and the more controlled possession based approach he takes might not be a very good match for his strengths.
With all the backroom moves we have to do I wouldnāt be surprised if we just ripped a few more things up and rejuvenated the playing squad too. Will be interesting summer I think.
