It isn’t his on the ball stuff that is the issue it is his physicality and off the ball.
He has had quite a few hamstring injuries so high intensity could be an aggaravator.
But players in the past have overcome these injuries, especially if it is related to growth.
Hopefully, all the incomings, and outgoings will be sorted well before the season starts. We need the squad get used to each other from the start.
Wheeling and dealings:
Out:
Salah
Robbo
Konate
Gakpo (£45m)
Mac Allister (£50m)
Gravenberch (£40m)
Gomez (£10m)
Returns:
Elliott
Tsimikas
Ins:
Kayode
Van Hecke or Bastoni
Baleba
Fernandez
Rayan
Godts
Death, taxes… and @Kopstar shilling for Bastoni 
I didn’t really know where to reply without derailing a few threads, so I’ll take it here if you don’t mind.
This is an interesting idea, although from watching Bournemouth, I got the impression that Iraola really, really likes his wide players to have pace. With that in mind, I don’t think Wirtz’ impact would be ideal off the left but that might be my limited vision talking.
On the other hand, it would be very difficult to play Wirtz and Szoboszlai in the same XI unless one of them is shifted to one of the flanks… In that case, it’s Wirtz who goes to the left, with hope he can replicate his performances for Germany.
As for the midfielders, in his latest article, Paul Joyce suggested that Liverpool were open to selling both Jones (which would be a damn shame in my opinion) and Mac Allister. Given that Endo probably isn’t suited to Iraola’s tactics, I don’t know if it would make sense to sell the three, give Nyoni a more frequent role (yes, please, this is what we all want to see) and buy two midfielders - unless Elliott gets a redemption arc that is unseen even in comics books.
Ngumoha to get more minutes, Gakpo to cover for Isak, new starting right winger to arrive, new right back to arrive (I’d love Kayode, though I’m sure people could suggest other good options), Frimpong to primarily cover for the right wing and step in at right back when needed.
And then the small matter of new starting centre back… We’re looking at four or five new players, quite likely four new starters…
Was thinking about the midfield that it really depends on who we want to pair our new player/s with and which existing players we want to play/how to setup.
I want a ball playing Cm and a more defensive Cm to play behind Wirtz. But in that scenario Wharton and then somebody more mobile or more of a Fabinho type?
If we bring in just one player, is it to play next to Grav or next to Dom, or are we playing Grav, Dom and one new player, in which case we are moving our 100 mil plus no10 out of position?
If it´s one player next to Grav and Wirtz ahead, what does that player need to be able to do? If it´s one player next to Dom and Wirtz ahead, do they need something different?
Are we moving Wirtz to the left (would help with cover) but in my view means he´s out of position.
Lot of questions posed by our midfield.
That is a way too generalised statement. You could say “control of midfield” then i do agree. Playing through midfield depends on the situation and the opposition. Sometimes playing through midfield can leave you vulnerable to counterattacks.
Plus having only a central method of ball progression makes you ripe for getting attacked down the middle.
Kang-in Lee
I´m not sure it is. If you look at the teams who have won time and time again for the last decade or so, it´s true.
There´s no team that relies on full backs for all their forward play for example or a workmanlike midfield. Can work occasionally but for sustained success?
I didn´t say it has to ALWAYS go through the centre. We´re talking in general here. I´m not sure how it makes you any more open to counter attacks though. Interested to hear your logic.
Indeed. I have the same questions. And no answers.
When Slot was in charge, I thought the midfield three would require two yard dogs behind Wirtz, because of how the team was structured without the ball - or not structured, depending on how you see it.
Now, if Iraola is more about having a collective/compact press rather than what I’d describe as the broken press Slot prefers, maybe this changes things?
I’m unsure about the combination of Gravenberch and Szoboszlai, but will Iraola see it differently? The club already gave Gravenberch the big contract, and Iraola has mentioned he likes players who can drive forward with the ball, so I’m guessing he’ll be a starter.
I feel the answer to all of our questions so far could be Elliot Anderson, but he seems very City bound, so where’s the fun in that.
Wirtz though..say he ends up out on the left. Looking at how Bournemouth attacked this season, with lots of triangles and combinations down their left side, and Truffert steaming forward at every opportunity.. Milos Kerkez says hello.
Say we then have Szobo operating from that 10 position, another Hungarian who loves to run, and should be technical and clever enough to combine with Wirtz. In that type of scenario, does Wirtz starting from the left make sense? Like for the national team, with a left back always overlapping and players in the middle to combine with?
It still doesn’t answer what player type the guy next to Gravenberch should be. Is there a budget version of Elliot Anderson?
Is that Hinshelwood?
Of course the answer had to be found in the form of one of Brighton’s FM regens. How could I not see it.
Good points.
Agree on Anderson being the best midfielder we could sign for all eventualities. He can pass and drive forward and he plays with real purpose. If we can´t get a Salah replacement of top quality lets spend that 100 mil on Anderson.
Also think you´re right we might get a tune out of Kerkez with Wirtz in front of him and not Gakpo.
The bit that worries me would be Dom in the 10, who I think has no creativity or guile, and I don´t see what the point of Gravenberch would be if we have Anderson who can drive forward.
To be honest, I am not sure how Gravenberch fits in at all. Dom and Grav gives zero midfield creativity so the third guy would have to be like Wharton, but then does Grav offer the defensive protection?
I’m watching for news on Szobo’s contract. He is hitting the two year marker. In recent times we have let a few of them exit on a free (all with different circumstances so no need to argue each one individually!) but the point is, a prime operator like Szobo will surely be offered a new deal and if he doesn’t sign, could an expensive sale be an unexpected twist even this summer?
I’m not wanting him out the door, but it is something to watch.
As things stand I would buy:
Diomande
Bowen
Schlotterbeck
Wharton
Palestra
Or similar.
Would take him in a heartbeat, though I’d imagine they’d be demanding crazy money.
It normally lasts for about 5 years. Icardi, Lautaro Martinez, currently in year 4 of Bastoni 
Wharton is the big question for me. Is he the best passer in the league? He’s so good at knowing what to do before he receives the ball, particularly the forward options. He seems to usually have a solution ready, and can turn defence into attack so fast.
However..is he the right guy next to Gravenberch? I have no idea whatsoever.
I take your point on Szoboszlai. If this was in a different league I’d probably not pick him as the 10, but the PL seems to have such a high demand when it comes to the physical side of the game. And the fundamentals of Iraola’s game also leans into this. So I wouldn’t have him there to get on the ball and create magic, but rather be the guy from the title winning season, with more goals. Try to be our Fermin Lopez, which means doing all the selfless running, getting into the box, being a threat from outside the box.
And I’m thinking about the overall balance. Say we get that raw 1v1 threat I personally think we desperately need, and he plays right wing. Then we have Wirtz, Isak and Gravenberch as the players the club have now committed to going forward the next years.
Who fills the holes around those players?
We’re not getting any closer are we.. unless the answer is Jack Hinshelwood..
If anything I’m more concerned about getting in squad depth than anything if we are to play Iraola all-action style football, with the inevtiable injuries that tends to produce. Last season our bench looked as weedy as any club - serious lack of depth. That can’t happen next season, so if we can just get in three quality players and maybe three decent players I would be happy because Iraola has a track record of taking those kind of players and turning them into good ones. We need the numbers badly.
He might be because he can sit while Grav gets forward but being totally honest I dont really rate Gravenberch and I´d replace him. But on Wharton I think he´s undoubtedly the best passer and I don´t just mean in a technical sense. He spots the rights passes, he plays it quickly, first time, he passes through the lines, his choice of pass is the best. He is as good as it gets for a midfielder getting your attackers on the ball in good areas, which I think is massive.
My doubts around Wharton are more around intensity. One thing I love about Anderson is that he is constantly in motion. Sometimes I feel Wharton will pass it and just admire his pass. But in general I think Wharton (if not Anderson) is the best midfielder in Europe we could buy. Players like him are very rare and in my view players like Grav and Dom who run a lot but cant really pass or sit and protect, are ten a penny.
It does but look at Bruno Fernandes. He´s so so creative and he´s not strong or quick particularly. I think the case for Dom is more if we don´t sign what I would consider the right midfielders and we have two all rounders behind him rather than two specialists. A ball player and a proper defensive midfielder would negate the need for Dom´s running in my view but two runners would probably need a third so it all flows.
I think you´re spot on about Dom if he is to play that position. It´s got to be about goals and graft. For me it´s not enough but that would be his role.
Yeah I dont know, good point. As I said, Grav as an all rounder but master of nothing creates issues because who do you pair that with? Anyone defensive and you struggle to get the ball forward well without relying on your defence to do it, and anyone who is a pass master you will be less solid at the back.
