We can either get a very good first team or squad depth. We definitely can´t get both, either financially or relying on our nous to get every transfer right.
I´d opt for the former if possible and relying on youth but your option may work well too, espcially if no Salah replacement stands out. Spend big on CM, left wing, maybe CB and buy decent RB and RW, and then spend big on RW in future years when a standout candidate exists.
I guess a strength of Iraola’s setup at Bournemouth was that - similarly to Klopp - he didn’t need absolute top class players in midfield to make it work. He had a lot of functional players like Adams, Cook, Christie, and then this season at least a high level jack of all trades type in Alex Scott, another player I like.
Different at Liverpool, I guess, because of the approach of most opposition teams
It’ll be very interesting to see what sort of midfielders we get seriously linked with, and what happens to the ones we have. Is it possible a better pressing system can have a Lazarus effect on Mac Allister? I think all those big spaces made it look like we needed athletic monsters like Anderson and Declan Rice in there to survive, and I think Mac in particular got shafted by this.
Yeah that is true for Bournemouth but honestly I think if that´s his expectation at Liverpool he will be in for a nasty shock.
He´s a smart guy though. I think he will know that it´s a different challenge and as Klopp did, try evolve and get that Thiago type. He will have to figure out how to open teams up when they sit in front of us.
Yep I agree. I think who we bring in there will tell us a lot about what he wants to do with us. Also true. MAc did look unfit but perhaps a better system for him would cover that up
I wouldn’t get rid of Mac and I agree that under a better system Iraola could get the best out of him again. Worth being patient.
This was fun, thanks for sharing the link!
In the spirit of the game, like they do it on TAW, I added one player, Victor Munoz from Osasuna. And I couldn’t find Ngumoah on the squad list, so I added him as well.
pft…lightweight.
gonna throw a name out there we should consider… Dani Pacheco.
No, Jones is the player we should hold on to; if we are looking at midfield changes, and funding a player in with sales, Alexis should be first out the door every time. Keeping him while letting go of Curtis would be madness.
I wouldn’t look so strictly at everything Iraola did at Bournemouth (especially in terms of types of players, positions and formations or structures) and just imagining what we would need go get closest to that.
He might still play what basically looks closest to a 4-2-3-1. We’ll see.
Recently, they’ve been playing the asymmetrical version of it, their RB tucking in more with the LB pushing up, allowing Kroupi to play inside left, which meant their RW playing a bit wider. Here, it could be Wirtz (used in two positions, inside left or single #10). Kroupi and him are different players of course.
On Scott, Iraola spoke about how his convertion to a #6 player. Not necessarily a single pivot #6, but he used the term in English “lone six”. Which he could be also in a double pivot. Said how a few years ago if someone told him he’d be having Alex Scott in that role, he would say it’s dangerous. But today, he is (or was) so comfortable with him there.
There is a lot of work here to improve our off the ball phases (and not only of course, but that is the priority and surely was a big reason to go for Iraola). But even if we do shift to man to man all over the pitch or a combination of that with zonal, our deeper midfield will surely have different requirements than at Bournemouth. That said, he doesn’t necessarily strike me as someone who’s theoretical idea isn’t for a club like Liverpool to strive being a protagonist side as often as possible.
Just have to be a bit patient and see how we build a team into a functional one in all phases of the game and then also what’s our squad like on September 1st.
Well, the whole squad are “new signings” for Iraola, but here goes. Trying to be realistic and don’t want to see as much turnover as last summer, but knowing there are major gaps to fill.
Obvious needs are wingers/wide forwards, right back, and midfield steel, depth, and creativity.
Back to front:
GK- one more year of Alisson, don’t see any movement here, except that I’m so far not sold on Mama as the long term replacement.
Fullback- Kerkez should flourish, and Greek Scouser is fine enough as backup. Will be very interested to see how Iraola uses Frimpong. Bradley, I think, would be an excellent Iraola player but his injury was a horrific one not just a “simple ACL” and could be career ending or altering. My targets would be Livramento or Kayode, both PL proven, and both capable of playing either RB or LB.
CB- supposedly we’re not prioritizing, but feels like we’re a little light. Senesi would’ve made sense as a stop gap, but he’s off to Spurs. Probably last year for Virg but never know. Jacquet should be ready to go. Leoni, again, young and don’t know how and when he’ll come back from the ACL. Would keep Joe Go unless he wants out. Van Hecke seems an obvious Iraola type CB, but the asking price seems ridiculous for 1 yr left on contract. I’d be targeting Schlotterbeck as Virgil’s long term successor. Right age, tons of experience, left footed and has the right qualities.
Midfield- Build around Szobo, Grav, Jones, and maybe Harvey (I’m counting Wirtz as one of the 3 in 4231). Mac just looks like his legs are gone, couldn’t cope with Slot ball this year so can’t imagine him having the engine for Iraola’s style. If we pick anyone off Bournemouth, I’d like it to be Alex Scott, someone who already know how to run Iraola’s system in the middle. Wharton seems like he’d be a dream signing for his passing, though he’s been playing for a counter attacking side, and the question will be how he fares against the low block that Liverpool so often face (and think we still will face at times under Iraola).
Forwards/wingers: Losing Salah and presume Chiesa, Hugo will be out most (if not all) of the season. Leaves Gakpo, Rio, Wirtz, Isak, and maybe Frimpong depending on how Iraola sees him. Seems like Diomande is the obvious dream signing, but if he opts for PSG then Barcola is the obvious plan B (assuming that he checks out on the character front that’s been mentioned). Would take Bowen as an experienced squad member, at a reasonable price. Rayan would be one more shout, as apparently his release clause isn’t yet in effect this summer, but really doubt Bournemouth would sell.
Livramento
Schlotterbeck
Wharton
Alex Scott
Diomande/Barcola
Bowen
Livramento is a great shout.
Could cover at left back too occasionally.
For CB, Luka Vušković
He does look good but at only 19 do we want another young kid there?
I think he’s ahead of all the young ones we have. And he has played in a better league than any of the ones we have plus his ceiling is very very high. You won’t get a centre back of his quality very often. I’m talking true successor to VVD
@Zoran says he’s the real deal but he, if I remember correctly, also posted quotes from Vušković where he said that he would be staying with Tottenham regardless of what happened in their relegation battle. I thought that was fantastic attitude from the lad, can’t see him leaving now that he’s had a full season out on loan in a good league and Tottenham have secured PL football.
Yeah, I wasn’t able to follow everything in detail recently, but I’ve heard a few days ago that he will probably be part of Tottenham next season. De Zerbi wants him and the player likes that idea and style as his next step.
Spurs sign Senesi on a free. Just looked at their squad and they’ve got a shit ton of CBs and they also want Van Hecke. Romero, Danso, Van de Ven, Dragusin, Vuskovic and Takai.
Yeah, currently it seems like a lot of action in their CB area. Maybe some will leave.
Yeah I know what you are saying. It´s true he could be our next Van Dijk, although maybe not in the next 3 years.
I think the Jacquet signing was pretty odd considering we already signed Leoni, we knew Van Dijk is getting on a bit and we probably expected Konate and/or Gomez to leave.
That Ayyoub Bouaddi kid looks really good in midfield. Quick feet, moves the ball quickly, positive. Exactly what we need for the more technical aspects (would still a DM type) but again, he´s not even 20.
Same with Smit. I´d want to bring them to the club but we need players who can step up right now.
Some reports Arsenal have had a substantial bid for him turned down already. I dont have a strong take on his ability to step up and be worth that money, but is absolutely lovely to watch