Yeah, but his name’s Peace, so he’s obviously a hippie:
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Also Madrid will eventually take him off us on a free. No thanks.
The latest news is that Real are willing to re-negotiate the clause(s) (which was Como’s aim) in order to let him have another (and final) season on loan there.
I also don’t see enough room here for him.
Two good signings already this summer in Jacquet and Munoz. It looks like we are working hard to sign Diomande too. That trio would represent a great start if we could do it.
Then what else would I like to see?
A midfielder, probably a defensive one. Bouaddi would be the pick for me. He has a lot to his game. If not him, maybe Sangare, possibly Camara, or possibly even Kone, if rumors are right that Roma need to do some business pronto to avoid FFP trouble.
Then I’d like to see a right back. I’m not overly fussed on spending a king’s ransom, but we need someone solid and dependable, while Bradley hopefully comes back to fitness and form to challenge. I’m not sure how Iraola will see Frimpong. Arguably he could be the right back. There are question marks for me, but most of them looked bad last season so I’m willing to extend the benefit of the doubt.
I’d also like to see us sign a central defender. I can’t wait to see what Jacquet and Leoni can do, and for all I know, this season might be the genesis of them forming a partnership that will serve us for years to come, as Van Dijk helps to bring them through. But it still feels a bit vulnerable there. I’d like us to sign someone experienced, and obviously more reliable than Gomez in terms of fitness. They need not be a high end player if we think our youngsters are going to come through and boss it, but we do need more depth that is dependable from the off.
Then finally I’d like to see us continue to be opportunistic, which will mean signing some highly talented youngsters, and maybe even a big player like a Barcola, if circumstances align and say Gakpo leaves for a tidy sum.
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I like the thinking here. The midfielder profile is interesting to me. What profile will give us the balance we need? Do we need a creative, progressive passer (Wharton), provide more cover for our back line (Sangare type), a versatile all-arounder, or something else? It will be very interesting to see who stays/goes and who we bring in (if any).
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both the first two in my opinion.
The only thing we have is the creative player, which is wirtz
Agree last season we looked like we missed an out and out defensive midfielder, but I see that more as someone to come on to protect a lead than a starter ie a fit and able Endo replacement. The two in midfield need to be much more solid than we were last season, but the players we have are more than capable than that. For me it’s a Grav- Szobo midfield with Wirtz ahead. Jones and Mac are great players to have pushing to break into that. I don’t think the players mentioned are really better than any of those 5. I’d happily have Scott or Wharton at the club, both have a lot of talent but neither would be a guaranteed starter. I saw Scott play a few times at Bristol City and he was used as a number 10, ‘he’s better than Foden’ was the firm belief of the fans (prob had a point!). He’s been coached into playing deeper and has done well with it, but I have my doubts that he could keep Grav, Szobo, Mac or Jones out of the team. Endo was perfect for us, someone to come on and do a job when needed, not going to ruffle any feathers when on the bench, I’d take the same again.
For me a Grav and Szobo midfield isn´t very good and I would be a bit disappointed if they were our main two.
Might be okay if we buy really good players elsewhere.
Yeah, them two at the base (behind let’s say Wirtz at #10) doesn’t seem to be a good fit to me at all.
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I think maybe you could get away with one of them and a better passer like Wharton while they basically run around, but I think we´d be even better with a controlling player on the ball and a player who is more solid with better defensive instincts than Grav.
That would give us the best platform to play with Wirtz and co. Seems a bit harsh but jack of all trades probably arent the way.
Felix Nmecha has a €80m release clause for next year.
I don’t think they would have given Gravenberch all the money without thinking he should be a starter though. Having a player on 250k ++ per week on the bench doesn’t sound like FSG.
And Szoboszlai seems like a ready made midfielder for Iraola. So, even though they perhaps don’t seem like a perfect combination, it’s also difficult to see them not getting picked. Which is why I was initially thinking Szobo might be used in the 10 position.
Then there’s obviously the question about a new contract for him as well. It’s not unreasonable for him to ask for 300k per week, based on the Gravenberch contract. How will that affect things?
Edit: Do we think it ends with Szobo getting sold?
It ends with Szobo leaving on a free
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Very fair points.
But then it seems like FSG have spent a lot of money on Wirtz and two very exciting strikers and then are not giving them the midfield to get the best from them. Which also seems a bit incongruent
I´m also not sure about what Iraola will do with his system and midfield. Being at Liverpool with our options in Europe is quite different to at Bournemouth with their budget.
This 100%
I hope we go for our old 4-3-3 with one DM and two #8s
Yeah, it’s all up in the air. Lots of questions, and too long to wait for answers.
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Could be saying I want the same thing as you as I am not too sure what makes somebody an 8 now, but I´d go for a DM and CM with Wirtz in front of them
Basically Masch, Alonso and Gerrard in front in terms of roles.
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I’ll try to engage with this, as I have mixed thoughts. On the one hand, Szobo is a very good player and arguably our best midfielder. So keep, give him a bumper new deal.
On the other hand, if he won’t sign a new deal - and let’s assume it’s a generous offer from us - then I would sell. (Bearing in mind the player has a lot of agency over the direction of his own career).
He has two years left on his deal. I really don’t want to see more talent leave the club on a free, especially talent that is at peak age (old players who have given us many years of top class service are slightly different, I can live with them going on a free, even if I’d rather get some sort of fee).
But it’s the peak age, top performers we have to get more proactive with - I’m not sure how, but whatever levers we have at our disposal to prevent them leaving on a free should be exploited.
If Dom won’t sign a new deal I would sell and reinvest the dough. He’s a very good player, but it won’t be beyond Iraola to successfully replace him and even find better balance for the midfield.
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In theory something like this:
Alisson
Bradley Jacquet VvD Kerkez
Gravenberch
Szoboszlai Wirtz
Diomande Ekitike Muñoz
Bradley Jacquet VvD Kerkez
Gravenberch
Szoboszlai Wirtz
Diomande Ekitike Muñoz
A bit like:
Alisson
Trent Matip VvD Robertson
Fabinho
Henderson Coutinho
Salah Firmino Mané
Trent Matip VvD Robertson
Fabinho
Henderson Coutinho
Salah Firmino Mané
Not that the second 11 ever played together like that. 
For me there aren’t that many decisions to make, Iraola is going to have to work with what he has to a large extent. When everyone is fit for me the team sheet writes itself baring the vacancy at RW.
……..…….Allison……….
Bradley..Jaquet..VVD…Kerkez
……..Szobo….Grav…….
………….Wirtz……………..
Diomonde?…Isak…..Ekitike
Obvs with three of those in the midst of long term injury’s there are some concerns going into the new season. But for me if you have deputies like Gakpo, Frimpong, Gomez, you trust them to fill in when the time comes.