03 Jan 2023 08:43:39
I'll be interested to hear Ed01's take on our current situation. I remember him staying positive at the beginning of the season, when we didn't get off to the best of starts. I've said on this site, for a while, that I think this side has run its course. What has surprised me is the speed of the decline. There isn't a quick fix to our problems, such as the signing of Bellingham, though most of us would love that. I just believe that we have had the best out of the nucleus of the side which brought us so much success. Obviously Mane and Wijnaldum have moved on, but I don't think that VVD, Fabinho, Henderson, Firmino and Salah will consistently reach the levels they was once at. It was always said that we didn't have the best squad but our starting 11 was better than anyone's, this is no longer the case, sadly. Historically, when a side is going through this type of transition, you look at the new blood that's coming through and look at players such as Elliott and Carvalho. I fully appreciate that it's very early days for both of them, but I'm not convinced about either of them. I don't wish to single them out, but at times such as this we look for a ray of light in our youngsters and at this minute I'm not getting it.

This is a long drawn out post and I offer no solutions to our problems. The worrying thing is, at this moment in time, Klopp doesn't seem to be able to fix them either.

1.) 03 Jan 2023
03 Jan 2023 08:49:53
Do you really think in this planet only Bellingham could improve our midfield ?????????. I can name you 25 central midfielders around Europe who would walk into our midfield right now ????.

2.) 03 Jan 2023
03 Jan 2023 08:53:56
Carvalho is a number 10. A wrong signing again showing how utterly incompetent the board is when it comes to planning. The kid has no place in our current system.
Elliot is again a misfit. He is neither a midfielder nor w winger and Klopp doesn’t know where to play him.

{Ed025's Note - im putting your name forward as the next manager enzo, you seem to have all the answers mate.. :)

3.) 03 Jan 2023
03 Jan 2023 09:09:00
I remember Ed001 commenting before the WC about Ljinders having a greater influence and us moving away from intensive pressing to a more ‘controlling” style as a result of that.
Bits of what Carra was saying last night, but more nuanced and at least 2 months ago.
Sorry if I’ve misinterpreted what you said Tris.

4.) 03 Jan 2023
03 Jan 2023 09:10:25
Enzo, I never said only Bellingham could improve our midfield. Why all the laughing emojis?

5.) 03 Jan 2023
03 Jan 2023 09:14:51
Not all Ed025, but some ??. Elliot doesn’t fit in with any one the three positions in midfield, it’s clear as a daylight. The kid doesn’t have the pace or name to replace Salah. So Klopp is simply shoning him there.
Carvalho should have simply ignored our call. He has no place in a 4-3-3. Everyone can see it.

{Ed025's Note - they are young lads enzo and are ones for the future mate..

6.) 03 Jan 2023
03 Jan 2023 09:19:43
Sorry Rome, I thought you are in “we only sign the right player” group ??.
They have let the prime years or VVD, Salah and Allison to go away without investing in the squad. History wouldn’t be kind to them.

7.) 03 Jan 2023
03 Jan 2023 09:22:22
Well said Rome, though I do think the likes of Elliot and carvallho need time. I’m surprised you don’t have the answers mate, there’s quite a few on here that clearly do, especially when it comes to FSG lol.

8.) 03 Jan 2023
03 Jan 2023 09:01:24
Liverpool have conceded 51 big chances this season, according to Opta. That is more than twice as many as the five teams above them in the Premier League table. Massive issue.

9.) 03 Jan 2023
03 Jan 2023 09:46:30
Oh good, Harry's back. Just what we needed right now.

10.) 03 Jan 2023
03 Jan 2023 09:50:25
Hiya Drogie. You are right about Elliott and Carvalho needing time and no one wants them to come good more than me.

Finger pointing and blaming is a constant when it comes to supporters. FSG and Lijnders seem to be copping all the flak at the minute. Always been the way. I remember Phil Neal always getting the blame, whenever we lost, even if he'd had a good game!

No matter what, I'll be at the next game singing myself hoarse.

11.) 03 Jan 2023
03 Jan 2023 09:52:07
How do you define youngster?

Anybody in their teens could be a decade away from their peak. If you take those in the team who likely aren’t yet in their prime let’s have a look:

Konate 23
Gakpo 23
Elliott 19
Ramsay 19
Diaz 25
Jones 21
Nunez 23
Carvalho 20
Trent 24
Kelleher 24

Go further into the academy and pick a handful of prospects:

Bajcetic - 18
Doak - 17
Musiałowski - 19

how many of the above would you not want in or around the squad?

12.) 03 Jan 2023
03 Jan 2023 10:07:34
Harry alert ?.

13.) 03 Jan 2023
03 Jan 2023 10:08:24
I love the assumptions that there can only be one possible solution to any given problem within the club. What utter rubbish.

I thought the banter page was a place to banter and bounce ideas off each other? We all have our opinions about certain players and how they play, however valid they may be.

There will always be a consensus of opinion, and there will be cliques but it doesn’t make either of these any more right than someone standing alone saying Carvalho doesn’t fit in our current team setup (he doesn’t but that is Klopp’s problem to resolve) or Elliott is too slow (he is, so he will need to think quicker than anyone else, Sheringham didn’t do too badly) .

The massive problems are chances conceded and the age and fragility of our midfield. But don’t worry Jude will solve both problems … he won’t and I don’t expect us to sign him.

14.) 03 Jan 2023
03 Jan 2023 10:19:23
Good post, StEtienne. Agree with all of it, though hope you're wrong about Bellingham.

15.) 03 Jan 2023
03 Jan 2023 10:59:37
Id still say its injuries and availability problems that kill our season.
We can't seem to put together a team that can have a run of 10 games.
That kills the season for us. For ex ox starting last 3 games is just not what is required.
There is no tuning in the squad as we have to keep changing because of the injuries.
You can't just chop and change and expect consistency and klopps uncertain decision making doesn’t help either
Matip and robbo were our best players last two games and we change them in order to rest? Not best decisions in hindsight.

16.) 03 Jan 2023
03 Jan 2023 11:07:22
Carvalho can clearly play as a 10 or left sided attacker, his problem is his age and the gash we have behind him in midfield, he has big potential, Elliott i agree is one where his lack of pace is a worry but on the ball he is good, just lacks the confidence to take it on himself, the best of the lot is Jones, both on the ball and vision wise, but he has the worse injuries going.

17.) 03 Jan 2023
03 Jan 2023 11:17:37
Yep, SR. You and others called it. Harry is back again to gratify us with his “wisdom” fir the year 2023. Notice he didn’t show up here when we won 4 in a row. Now, he’s back. Happy New Year to you, btw.

18.) 03 Jan 2023
03 Jan 2023 11:38:57
What's wrong with signing the right players? What's the alternative? Signing the wrong ones?
Who or what are the right players is a different matter. I'd sooner we wait and sign the right players rather than sign the wrong ones to keep the fans happy.

19.) 03 Jan 2023
03 Jan 2023 12:40:46
Enzo, Carvalho can easily play as a 10 in a 4 3 3. And I think he should. Regardless of his age.

20.) 03 Jan 2023
03 Jan 2023 13:54:52
Rigsby, I get that BUT this was a true position of need that had been postponed for so long due to this very point do I think we should have bucked thatchers esp since we had to panic buy Arthur (who could be the wrong player) when Hendo got injured. I just think we should have gotten one in since the level of urgency was so high. Not sure that matters anyway due to the new style we are playing which is sucking the life out of me, for real.