A number 9 has to be the priority, and then a centreback as cover for the aging van Dijk and perma-cropped Konate. I've no idea who, though. Gyokeres and Gimenez (whooooooo) seem to be the most linked right now. Not sure about signing another striker from Portugal...
Chris Wood
I'm a twit
201 appearances in 8 years is a bit sad times for Matip.
Konaté's not tracking a whole lot better at 90 games in 3 seasons.
What does Slot play? The same sort of 4-3-3 or might we see a move towards the double pivot or whatever you call two more 'defensive' midfielders and a more No.10 type ahead of them?
He plays football that will see you back in 8th place where you belong.
Brilliant. I think it's probably worth noting that without a Russian billionaire laundering money through the club Chelsea were at best an upper mid-table team for the vast majority of their existence. So seems strange to say that the second most successful team in the league would be back in their place if they fell back to 8th.Originally Posted by Waffdon
Defence will be the priority I imagine. Goalscoring hasn't been a problem to the point where this is actually the 2nd highest goal total Liverpool have ever got in a season(surprised me too). Even when you compare to Arsenal who seemed to have bent almost everyone over since January, they're only at 5 more.
I think the problem is two-fold. Firstly the two CBs are being asked to do far too much without having an actual DM in front of them. Endo and Mac have covered it well, but it has showed up late in the season.
Then the next problem is the CB partner to Virgil is permanently unfit. Matip or Konate when fully fit are incredible. When they're half-baked you can see the games where they've just been a liability. Or just not there at all. Quansah has done very well considering his complete lack of experience before this season.
This leads to Virgil never being able to be rested because he always gets forced into playing. Then as the season goes on he too gets knackered and plays worse. He was imperious before Christmas then fell off towards the end of the season.
You also have to decide now if Trent is a RB or a CM. Interestingly to this tune the first player I've seen linked to us is one of his Feyenoord boys in Geertruida coming over with him.
As for outs I reckon we're in for a Salah saga again. I think the time is right for him to move on now, but we'll likely see Saudis lowballing us while promising him the world. It makes little difference to them if he signs to the Saudi league this year or next, so I think they'll choose the option where they don't pay us anything. Kelleher will surely want a starting gig somewhere and I suspect Sunday will be the last time we see Goe Jomez in a Liverpool shirt. I'm fully expecting the award of a penalty and him to be put on it, only to blast it into the kop.
Happy Friday brother
Have Liverpool ever been 'back in 8th place' for any sustained period? Their mean would be way higher surely.
Got to learn not to bite on that sort of stuff.
They were pretty wank for much of the post-Benitez era until Klopp came along. Also pretty rubbish in the early 90s. Not sure they would have back-to-back 8th'd since they weren't in the top division though.
Interestingly looking up Liverpool's historic league finishes, if they avoid defeat on Sunday this will be the only time they have finished in the 80s in terms of points under Klopp. 3 90+ totals and the rest in the 60s/70s. All or nothing.
I see the bald dutch manager population is confirmed to at least stay at present levels next season.
I would very much like Slot to avoid taking on Minteh. He had a lovely loan spell from us and scored 11 for Feyenoord. God knows where he'd fit into our midfield, though. Actually, he'd probably usurp Almiron. Assuming he isn't one of those deceitful legends who can only turn it on in the Netherlands. We've been stung by that phenomenon too many times.
Great to see man of the people Rishi Sunak at the game. In a hoodie no less.
With Sunak I've always got the impression he is probably a genuine Saints fan, but is so clumsy and awkward that he comes off as a fake one anyway.
If he were a real Saints fan we'd have had Lord Le Tissier as some sort of Truth Tsar by now.
Two boring play-off semi-finals seems unusual. You normally get at least one cracker.
The final normally is at least.
Have West Ham anything to play for tomorrow or is this final day a dead duck altogether?
I think your best hope on that is if there was some clause in the Declan Rice deal where they get another Ł10 million if Arsenal win the title.
Just remembered they've pushed Moyes too, so they'll surely be on the beach.
Hopefully West Ham troll Arsenal by going a goal or two up like Villa did the other year
Declan Rice is a huge e-defeat on my part. If I'm going to celebrate my (countless) e-victories I must also be magnanimous in my e-defeats.
Dunno if he would have been a better shout for player of the year but Foden cleaning up the personal awards feels very meh. Probably should be Saliba but it's very hard for defenders to ever get any sort of individual recognition.
COLD Palmer winning feels right. Foden does not. Saliba, Rice and Watkins all more deserving imo.
Foden has been quality but Palmer should obviously have won both but is what it is. Nobody has been better than him. Didn’t even get European football to stat pad his stats either
A million penalties helps I guess.
It's unusual for the player of the year award to go somewhere other than a player for a title contending club although there must be a certain paradox to them presumably both being up for both awards and winning one each.
I think even he was embarrassed when the writers gave their award to Scott Parker.
Giggs winning it after playing about 15 games was peak embarrassment, even if it was some sort of proxy lifetime achievement award. Ginola getting it on the back of a good goal against Barnsley also notable.
Famously don’t count towards goals. The fact he’s 9/9 is impressive as fuck. Majority in massive games too. Still has 18 goals in domestic football without them.
3 goals in the first 7 minutes of Hoffenheim-Bayern Munich (1-2). Kane still injured.
In a massively tinpot move Arsenal have decided to award the club goal of the month award to Jurrien Timber, who scored against Blackburn Under 23s
Forgot they had him. Should be tasty next season.
I'm a twit
Completely forgot he existed too. Did he get a chance at all when he was signed or was it an injury or something?
Blew his knee out in I think his debut.
Where's DeZerbi going? Bayern?
De Zerbi out of Brighton confirmed. Bayern? Juventus?
He walks into the United dugout at the end of Sunday's game in a real power move.
Seems a bit un-Bloom-like to let him walk away for nothing so maybe something has already been lined up. He's been linked with everyone over the past few months. Think somewhere in Italy is the most likely.
Let's collectively lol at Bayern for not even finishing 2nd (even if it doesn't mean anything).
It's not like Harry Kane to finish 3rd in a two horse race.
One horse race.
In fairness to Harry's decision, it just ended the same way he would've done at Spurs. Except now he's paid more money.
I'm a twit
Oxford winning the play offs is just the icing on the cake I needed for my season; Swindon's lowest finish since the end of regional leagues (1958?), owners confirmed shysters, 1,300 season tickets sold ahead of the new season (allegedly), waiting to be the next Reading and seemingly inevitable relegation from the football league next season. Fucking hate football.
That's really impressive, to be honest.
Bar Luton somehow winning about 20-0 and Man City somehow not winning (shudder), is there anything remotely interesting on the cards today?
Correct. Newcastle Chelsea and Spurs need to sort out the europa and conference places but they are separated by three point.
Aye, that's the only thing still in play. Newcastle have the goal difference, Chelsea have the points (and form) and United have ... erm .... the plan. Okay, Plan B in the sense they could qualify by winning the FA Cup.
Last edited by Shindig; 19-05-2024 at 12:31 PM.
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