Think it’s fair to say any kind of medium to long term loss of Bobby will justify a lot of the calls this summer for another attacking option to be added.
Firmino went off injured, Mane was having a stinker, they were down to ten for a half and even then there was little expectation that Minamino might come on, as has been the case in the previous two games.
Two centre backs and three centre mids on the bench meant Origi wasn’t even in the squad. That left Jota was our only viable option off the bench for up top.
Don’t hold out much hope but would seriously like us to push for another attacking option this window and do all we can to find a new home for Div and Taki if they’re just going to be spare parts.
A month out would still mean five games, albeit one of those being the league cup tie against Norwich, now we’re hitting the two a week time of the season when you want to be able to rotate and keep players fresh.
It might not be that bad but the point remains, an injury to one of those four, or when the AFCON rolls around leaves us looking short on quality options compared to rivals.
Haven’t seen today’s game but saw comments that we’re playing too narrow with Elliot, Trent and Salah all tucking in. I wonder if it makes sense then to switch Mane and Salah to open up the pitch.
But why would you take your best goal scoring option and move him away from the position he has been prolific. As for Trent tucking in he doesn’t normally it seemed to be a tactic to allow Salah to get more at Alonso which didn’t work.
I thought Trent had been doing that in the other games this season too? As for Salah, I thought he had played on the left at his other clubs and still scored goals. Wasn’t thinking of it as a permanent switch, just throwing it out there as an option of we have too many players taking up similar spaces on the pitch.
Salah, Trent and Elliott is probably our strongest and most effective link up on the pitch at the moment. When Trent goes inside Elliott pops wide, it’s been working fine.
I’d love to see a 6ft1 version of Jota, preferably right-footed, coming here. Good movement and shooting yet still have sufficient height to take advantage of crosses and set pieces.
I don’t think we will, but it would be hilarious after these months of handwringing from the twitterati if we brought in a top level talent on deadline day
I thought Alonso was their best player. I also consider him to be one of the best LB in the world. we make jokes about VvD having world class strikers in his pocket, and Robbo definitely owned Messi on the return leg…but Alonso definitely shut down Salah on Saturday
If the stories about Edwards are true, and he steps down next May, then this could be the last window he signs anyone as we don’t look to bring players in during the Winter window…
