I think it was a reaction to having no striker and too many auxilary sort of attacking players. It was an unbalanced squad and with Goretxa injred for long periods they ended with some strange XIs.
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Dutch spine
Virg
Gravy
Gakpo
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Ah yes, that tried and tested winning formula - a dutch spine
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Fuck it, Iām excited by this one. Got the physical traits, got the skills, just looks like one who needs the right arm around him to get the best from him and weāve got just the manager for that.
Feels like a really good blend of options in midfield now and can see him playing in a couple of different roles in that unit.
As rebuilds go youāve got to admire the work thatās been done. Younger, fitter, more robust, more skillful but still some steel and hard running in there too. Genuine competition in the middle of the park, something weāve so rarely had during Kloppās time.
The fact weāve wanted him for a while and that seems to be coming from Klopp as much as anyone hopefully shuts up a few of those who moan about JĆ¼rgen not getting what he wants from the owners.
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You know when I really got on board? As soon as the Palinha new broke and I feared this would be scuppered as a result.
Im such a fickle bitch at times.
But gives ammunition to those who complain that Klopp should not be involved in picking our targets.
Thereās less of those types and theyāve probably got more of a point.
But itās not an out of thin air signing, weāve had an interest for a while so hopefully the nerds were also on board at the time too.
Sell him and sack the scouts, backroom staff and the board - I see heās not smiling in one photo.
https://twitter.com/DaveOCKOP/status/1697735172840436098?t=nyAPopCLGAaE6xm3jA0Ejg&s=09
Gravenberch family 
.
Doesnāt Ryanās Dad look like Ainsley Harriet!
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I agree, and I think thereās a lot of flexibility there.
If we need a DM, we have Endo for those specific situations. Otherwise we have a list of midfielders who can play box to box, with also different options depending on the opposition.
More technical passers: Thiago, Baj
Athletic box to box sprinters: Szobo, Mac
Dribblers: Jones, Gravy, Elliot
And a lot of flexibility in between that. They can all run fast (except Thiago), and theyāre all technically sound (some more than others). I had trouble boxing quite a few of these into categories too ā Szobo and Mac are really all around great and Jones has good passing as well.
Iām pretty confident in our options.
Iād also like to add that I hope to see Gravenberch and Jones together controlling a midfield, just so someone can say theyāve put, say, KdB in Gravy Jonesā locker.
So, chairs are the new lean?
Follow up thoughts, do the players get to choose the chair, or does the club assign them one? If so, how do they choose? Why do Grav and Endo look so intense, Mac so relaxed and Szobo as if heās about to launch into some easy-listening karaoke down at the local?
Mac has farted and knows Endo has to sit in the chair next
This kid has the ceiling of a stud midfielder.
Hopefully he can reach his potential under Klopp.
YNWA Ryan, welcome to the Reds family!
Dunno what youāre going on about mate. Netherlands produces some of the most talented players in the world. We have three now with Van Dijk, Gakpo, and Gravenberch.
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That picture makes me feel so out of touch with world football. 3-4 years ago I am confident I would have a reasonable knowledge of most players worth 30/40M even if they didnt play in the PL. Today its only MacAllister who I was familiar with and thats only at a high level.
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You donāt play enough football manager. Just about anyone who has recently would know especially Gravenberch and Szoboszlai as top wonderkids to sign. MacAllister is obviously well known for being part of the Brighton Duo that embarrassed us last season. I canāt blame you for missing Endo Wataru though. I feel like most people did, even the āfootball punditsā.
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This explains a lot.