Well realistically, I think we’re all hoping for next season’s first choice midfield to be Thiago plus two new players. That’s a 20% change in the outfield players all in one area of the pitch. We’ve got two new lads up top who are still settling in and not at their best yet. You start chucking out Mo, Gomez, Henderson and Trent along with those we know are leaving already, it’s a whole lot of a new team to sort.
And realistically, 12 months ago most of these lads were pretty good. They haven’t all lost their legs and heads simultaneously. There was and remains the basis of a very good squad. One that is no doubt playing poorly and whose confidence is shot but they haven’t all become shit over night to the point where we need a summer of 12 out and 8 in.
hence why I don’t see the need for wholesale change
my outgoings listed above constitute £598,000/week in wages, 6 players. That should free up enough salary for two midfielders and free up some space on the team list for one or two scouted young players who can bridge that age gap to keep player rotation happening.
Looking at Gvardiol, if we decide to let Phillips leave.
keeping an eye on kids like these:
Thiago Almada
Lucas Dias
Cisse Sandra
I think we need to make some wholesale changes in the squad. But most of the departures are fringe players and unlikely to cause any disruption in the squad dynamics. Adrian, Ox, Keita, Milner, and Firmino have expiring contracts and none of them offer any sustainable or substantial value for a renewal.
In addition, I would like us to sell Kelleher, Gomez, Nat, Rhys, and Fabinho. If we consider his form over the last two seasons, Fabinho is clearly in decline. Also, his age doesn’t make him suitable as a long-term prospect.
@Mascot Matip is older and has only one year left in his contract. It’s unlikely that anyone would interested to sign him for a fee this summer when they can get him for free in the next one. Also, he is a better CB than Joe. Gomez is younger and more likely to attract offers. Yes he is versatile but he will be blocking the progress of Ramsay.
Clearly there will be outgoings, and most likely it will extend beyond contract expirations.
How much is anyone’s guess.
Two factors to consider at that point will be change management considerations, or bedding in, as is being said above. And another key consideration will be budget.
If we have more money rather than less, it will be a catalyst to building the new team that is already starting to emerge. If we have less money, it will be careful and continued renewal, though even at that point, it will be disappointing if we fail to sign two starting quality midfielders.
I’d just love to see us be good at selling again.
Whether that’s getting rid of players at the right moment for good money or one or two lads who are squad players moving on even though they could contribute. We’ve always done it well but recently more and more contracts are expiring rather than. Is getting fees OR players levels are dropping.
I think my ideal window, on top of the lads whose contracts are expiring, would be to shift Kostas, Fabinho, Matip, Philips and Jones for something like £95mill. But it becomes a lot of work to replace on top of the other lads too.
But it’s three who hardly play yet hold some value and 2 who would be valuable to another club but probably need a change of surroundings. Not sure it hurts us other than pure numbers.
So really we’re in general agreement, it’s just I’d rather keep Gomez and you’d keep Matip and actively look to move on Fabinho.
I’d not be against selling Fabinho at the right price, I just don’t see us getting an offer that makes it worthwhile having to bring in a third CM in the summer. Of course if someone offered us £40m that’d make it a problem worth having perhaps.
Someone homegrown or someone who can play more than one position. Ideally both of those things.
I like him. I think he’s a great backup left back. But we hardly play our backup left back and he takes up a non homegrown spot in the squad so might as well get someone to fill the role who offers an extra benefit. And I think we could get a good fee for him.
You want legs you say? There is a reason our medical department is in upheaval because some could not accept the ethical side of things but now I can leak the secret… Presenting our legs in midfield… The next gen midfielder.
Ifti, I’d keep Milly but move him into a coaching role. He could still make the occasional appearance in the domestic cups, but the club should sponsor him while he takes his badges. He will be an excellent coach imo and I want us to benefit from that.
There are positions a player can cover, but then also how well, their styles, etc. Hard to find David Alabas for not a lot of money right and left.
Sometimes it’s better not to try and be too smart and rather keep what we have. Especially with the “problem” we have on the right side. A relatively underperforming Trent, Ramsay who can’t get himself fit yet and Milner who is not a long term option. A player like that could be more useful on the right side.
We still have to see what is Klopp’s plan going forward, but I don’t think we will change drastically how we use our full backs. In that case, I don’t want Robbo’s backup to be an “Ake” type of player. If it’s a different “Tsimikas”, then that would be better.
We could play in theory from game to game which one of the RB/LB stays more and which one goes forward more. We do that sometimes (especially against top sides), but Robbo mainly still goes forward more than Trent. City and Arsenal do it differently that we do.
I think Tsimi, apart from his first season of 7 games when he couldn’t get himself fit and ready, can be relatively happy with how much he’s played. 26 games last season and 20 so far this season, meaning he’ll probably exceed that number.
I see the idea, he will be 27 at the end of the season, only 2 years younger than Robbo, who doesn’t look like dropping yet. Tsimi might be willing at some point to go somewhere where he’s first choice.
So I’m not against the scenario, but it wouldn’t be something I’d seek this summer. My priority would be still to continue with Tsimi.
What problem on the right side? Milner and Gomez have filled in there more than adequately.
Klopp was reluctant to drop Robertson even when he was performing very badly. If we had the equivalent of Tsimikas on the right hand side I doubt we’d have seen much of him this season despite Trent’s form.
