I don’t think he used it well. And I had certain reservations at the time when we bought him also. Liked him in the past, but that was also a long time ago football wise.
I’d bite their hands off if we can get such a profit, but I don’t think we will.
Give me your two XI’s then how you’d have it next season?
https://x.com/LewisBower2021/status/2048716542498537841
I wonder if this lad will have an impact on club’s transfer plans in the summer. It would be great to have another academy lad in the squad - maybe in Chiesa’s place of the utility forward? Looks like someone who might thrive in a central role, though, really nice technical ability with an eye for a pass.
I wouldn’t necessarily alter transfer plans for him but I’ll be disappointed if he isn’t given a chance to stay around the squad, at least until after the FA Cup 3rd round in January.
How does it stack up talent/readiness wise, ignoring injury among…
finishes as the top scorer in both the league and all competitions with an impressive 14 season goals.
No player has scored more league goals in a season since Transfermarkt began taking records in 2009.
Suprised by this. No one has scored more than 14 goals in the u21 league/other comps in almost 20 years? How many games do they play? I know u21 is not junior football but I always thought the likes of Fowler and Owen etc consistently broke records as they were coming throuhg the ranks and would have presumed some developing player from some club since 2009 would have also torn it up at u21 level? Perhaps someone with some insight can explain?
In my opinion
If you are good enough to be scoring regularly at that level you’re usually either splitting time with the 1st team or being sent out on loan. This season we changed our perspective at academy level to make winning games slightly more important and allow players to dominate where possible.
Is that way its always been RE gordon or more a reflection of how little football he has played during these key developmental years?
Something like this (although obviously room to mix and match, and do different things in different games.)
Considerations
Lack of football. He’s very talented and has played at the highest level outside of Liverpool but he’s played a handful of games in last three years, his window is probably closed here. I just hope he can have a full season injury free.
Fair enough, I respect your opinion, even if I disagree on some points or am suspicious of some things how they would function together.
Do you have any wishes or names for those 3 wingers you’d bring in?
I personally don’t see us continuing with Elliott, from both camps. We’ll probably want a certain fee and I don’t see him being motivated enough to return battling for a spot with the calibre of players he’d have ahead of him (doesn’t mean he’d be Wirtz’s straight backup, could be more players ahead).
And Ekitike is surely alive! We could be without him for half of next season or whatever, but we cannot forget him. He will surely return at some point with years on his contract and the question will be what sort of level he will be able to produce.
While Slot pursues a passing team, 3/4 of our backline are shit passers, and Grav and Szobo are also shit passers. Given that Konate and Kerkez will mostly be starters next year, while Grav just signed a big deal and Szobo is maybe the future vice captain, the easiest solution is to buy a fucking elite passing RB—not necessarily a traditional RB—or somehow convince Jones to play full-time there. That is the easiest step to enhance this team, and I will be very disappointed if Bradley or Frimpong continues to be considered as the first-choice RB.
Unpopular opinion - Szoboszlai is expendable. I’d get rid of him if we can get a good price and it means bringing in someone with more control to midfield.
Agreed. If we could get 40m for Alexis and 70m for Dom and we brought in midfielders that could add control alongside Curtis and Flo then we’d be stronger. I’d love to see a proper 4-4-2 with Flo behind Alex and Hugo and Cody and Rio as backup.
Matty will be coming for you!
Interesting shout. I’ve shifted to thinking Macca is expendable, if it means another midfielder who is more robust and gives us more control. Not sure I’d go as far as Szobo, but I sort of see what you mean. I made the comment the other day that Szobo reminds me of Gerrard in that he pops up all over the pitch. Somewhere along the way Rafa honed Gerrard’s efforts and more focus was added to his game, which saw a great player become truly world class.
I’m not saying Szobo has Gerrard’s ability - who does? But I see a similarity in the way Dom currently plays and a younger Stevie, and we need more control and solidity in the middle. Whether or not that will come from a change in personnel or better coaching under a new man - probably a bit of both - remains to be seen.
The Gerrard cf is a good one. The key thing is that he hasn’t shown control/tactical discipline that we really need. TBF to Dom, that is at least partly down to Arne and being played all over the place but if a new manager comes in and sees that what Dom is best at is not what he wants then I’d support a renewal.
I understand why some make comparisons to Gerrard - the athleticism, and the technique when striking the ball. But that’s where it ends.
Szoboszlai can’t do half the stuff Gerrard could, stylistically and quality wise there is a massive gulf.
Szoboszlai can’t play football like this. He’s a straight lines player, moments here and there. Gerrard could do so much more.
I remember John Aldridge had to be banned from picking Gerrard as man of the match on Radio City because he literally got it every week.
Gerrard’s vision is on another planet. Imagine Szobo with Bruno’s vision, it would still be worse than Gerrard. And don’t be fooled by Szobo’s work rate either, he’s a hard runner, but far from great defensively.
I agree Szobo is far from unsellable, but I think we’ll have another huge turnover next year, so he’s still a very valuable member. But he’s surely closer to Henderson or Milner than Gerrard, maybe more handsome.