19 Jul 2018 11:27:05
Hey Eds and everyone,

Not the biggest poster on here but read a lot and have to also shout out to MK Scouser for some of your recent articles too - great reading!

Assuming we get Allison in I think we can all agree it will be an amazing window. My question lies more on your opinions around the impact signing multiple players can have on a team (i. e. before they gel etc), and just when your thoughts on when too many signings can actually cause a team's progression to plateau? Spurs come to mind when bought loads after selling Bale.

I'm not suggesting this is the case with our window, just with a few key signings it got me thinking that the spine of the team may look different so will we see a transition effect whilst they get used to Klopps way or will he bleed them in slowly.

My thoughts (not that they are worth anything) is that Klopp will (and should) gradually bleed them into the 1st eleven (i. e. not start the season with all of them in the team necessarily), so they can learn the team way. History also suggests he would do this with some players (maybe not Allison for obvious reasons), but I remember with Ox for example he was keen for him to learn how we play and improve fitness etc.

Would be great to hear your thoughts on how you would approach it if you were Klopp?

{Ed002's Note - It has typically been an excuse for Liverpool supporters when they fail to win anything - year of transition.}


1.) 19 Jul 2018
19 Jul 2018 11:39:50
Ed's thanks for your response, and I certainly believe it's a poor excuse or basically a smokescreen excuse for the real reason. Embarrassing to use that as a blame for poor performance solely - so i wasn't going to use it ;)

Would be interested to hear though (in general) if you think there is a potential for teams to suffer at all if they didn't manage the integration properly - i. e. don't change half of the starting 11 overnight.

I would think that transition isn't an excuse in this case, if anything if the results aren't there because everyone is new, then the fault lies more at the manager for not managing the situation and integrations properly over time.

{Ed002's Note - I had forgotten about "smokescreens" - that is something else exclusive to Liverpool supporters.}


2.) 19 Jul 2018
19 Jul 2018 12:03:17
With the exception of Becker, we have no need to start any of our new signings if management takes the opinion that they have not fully integrated with the squad and it's style/ tactics. Whether or not you believe this sort of thing to be a problem, with our new signings this window it would be a problem of our own making.


3.) 19 Jul 2018
19 Jul 2018 12:07:50
Cheers mate. Appreciate that.

I reckon Keita and Alisson will be straight in the starting XI as regulars from day one. Fabinho I suspect will be slowly introduced. I'm basing this prediction on Klopp's comments. He noted that Keita was really effective in the system because he played a similar style at Leipzig, but suggested that Fabinho might need longer to adapt. Shaqiri is not likely to be a regular unless there is an early injury.


4.) 19 Jul 2018
19 Jul 2018 12:25:29
No excuses this season with the squad we now have, should be going the distance with City for the title and another good run in Champions League.


5.) 19 Jul 2018
19 Jul 2018 12:38:28
I'd say Fabinho and Keita are starting midfielders v West Ham, probably along with Milner. Attackers unchanged, no new face in the back line, and Alisson in goal.

Should Fekir come (or Vida) they will surely be in preseason mode, along with Hendo and Lovren for most of august.

Can't see a problem, can't see an excuse for dropping points.


6.) 19 Jul 2018
19 Jul 2018 13:30:51
I think Alisson, Keita and Fabinho will all get straight into the squad.

Of the regular midfield starters last season, Can has left, Ox is out injured long term, Lallana is coming back from injury and could still leave so we are only looking at Milner, Wijnaldum and Henderson.

Milner and Wijnaldum went missing in games far too often last season. They had some great games in the Champions league but over the 38 PL games they were inconsistent. They make great squad players but as starters we have better, especially now.

Henderson is generally good every game and as our captain its hard to say if he would be taken out of the team. But he also struggles with injury and Plantar Facitis is not easily recovered from. In order to recover properly you need to rest the foot completely and as a premier league footballer long periods of rest are not often available.

So I can see Both Fabinho and Keita being thrown in, and if Fekir comes he most likely will start too.


7.) 19 Jul 2018
19 Jul 2018 12:13:36
Ed002, are you suggesting that “year of transition” is just a smokescreen because the club has unveiled too many players at once? 😉.