23 Apr 2023 18:03:26
{Ed's Note - NOTSOZIPPY has posted a new article entitled, Observation of The Liverpool v Nottingham Forest Game

1.) 24 Apr 2023
23 Apr 2023 23:29:16
Well that was a depressing read.
Stuff about transfer window and how disappointing it’ll be was a bit over the top in my opinion.
We’re surely getting at least two centre mids, a centre back and maybe one more (who know where) .
Kephren Thuram, gravenberch, ndicka and timber would be good and from what I’ve read on here achievable and within our budget.

2.) 24 Apr 2023
24 Apr 2023 05:41:04
The defence is the biggest issue for me. We didn’t press as much again yesterday which is the midfields biggest strength, so when they don’t do it they look poor. Proven time and time again this season then when he press he’s we do well. Unbelievably annoying we don’t do it all the time like we used to and when Klopp is now even saying we need to be.
Defence reminds me of having Agger, Skrtel and Lovren at the back. All good players but seem suspect when the ball is in the air and bouncing around the area. VVD’s biggest strength was reducing the amount of time this happened by just being brilliant at clearing lines and this seems to have diminished showing just how reliant we were on his consistent brilliance. Issue is he’s still our best defender so what can you do? If we press hard all game it helps him and the whole defence out.
I think the summer will sort us out but one world class CB has to be the priority for me.

3.) 24 Apr 2023
24 Apr 2023 09:47:08
I actually think konate is our best player, vvd has lost it since he came back from his injury. Yes konate has made mistakes but vvd seems to have a mistake in him every time the ball his hit long by the opposition.

4.) 24 Apr 2023
24 Apr 2023 10:58:31
Do we really need as many as you claim though?

I mean a right back - I thought the fella from Leverkusen maybe myself, but in fairness Gomez can play there, might do him good to get a bit of game time, Ramsey should be back, Bradley as well doing well on loan - obviously we still gave Trent too, but a move to midfield may be a possibility

CB, Ndicka on a free, if possible, would be a great addition

Cm, look midfield is the big one. Personally, I believe it is a cdm that is by far the most important so definitely a new signing there. In cm, I haven't gave up on Bellingham but we do need at least 1 there

A cdm and a cm - with Fabinho likely sold then, still leaves Bacjetic, Elliott, Jones, Thiago and Henderson for the last midfield shout - depending on the signings we could certainly be a lot stronger then, and that is only 3 signings, one of which is a free transfer.

5.) 24 Apr 2023
24 Apr 2023 12:26:31
It's a dull end to what has been a nightmare season. I feel NOTSOZIPPY's pain.

Do I think we can fix this and get back on the glory trail?
Yes.

But, it's requires making a deeper cut than I fear the club is willing to admit.

There's both a physical decay and tactical malaise that needs to be remedied. We need to face up to both or else any action this summer will be a half measure.

Bill, I agree that we don't need to buy a right-back. Ramsey and Bradley should be given a chance in pre-season. However, I may disagree with you on the number of midfielders - I think we need 3 in as banking on the fitness of players like Thiago, Henderson, Curtis would be repeating previous mistakes.

While I like the lad, Elliott is not a midfielder. Finally, making any kind of bet on a very young Bajcetic would also be another gamble.

Two seasons in three have been disasters as a result of squad gambles. It's better to have a grumpy extra midfielder that can't get a look in than experiencing a third bad season in four - that would make things untenable for Klopp.

6.) 24 Apr 2023
24 Apr 2023 13:45:49
I get you FPF, maybe 3 midfielders in is what is required - I just don't want to limit opportunities for the young ones coming through - I mean Bacjetic has done well, but should Morton and Clarkson not get chances too?

I honestly think Henderson's minutes will be more managed next season - the question there is who will captain the side?

I like Elliott, he has done well enough in midfield to get more opportunities for me, though I'd like to see him and/ or Doak used more to rest Salah from time to time

Thiago has been one of our better midfielders this season but injuries have been an issue - he is worth keeping though imo

Jones, I like tbh, nice to see youngsters coming through but really needs to stay injury free and get a run of games to actually prove himself

Like I said, I get that others maybe think we need 3 midfielders, but I do not want to close the door on those I've mentioned getting opportunities to prove themselves- I mean a new cm and cdm plus one of Hendo, Bacjetic, Elliott, Jones, Thiago, Clarkson or Morton would be enough would it not?

That's 9 midfielders for 3 spots. The 2 new ones can't (or shouldn't) play every game, so we have options then don't we?

7.) 24 Apr 2023
24 Apr 2023 14:25:41
Bill - you have to decide on whether you want to challenge the monster clubs at the top of give more youth a chance. You cannot have both in this new reality whereby we have to compete with the nouveau riche.

Klopp has always promoted the promising youth players to train with the seniors when deserved. He's also always given them chances in pre-season and cup games. I don't see any evidence of youth being overlooked or blocked by incomings since Klopp arrived. The ones that are good enough will get their chances and the ones that aren't will be sold.

If Doak and Bajcetic are as good as we all think, then they'll make it no matter who we sign. Also remember, not all new signings have to be Liverpool lifers - we can sell too. If one midfielder we sign this summer isn't as good as we thought, we can sell him. Shouldn't be something we worry about too much.

As for Clarkson and Morton. I don't think they are good enough. Perhaps Morton could be a useful squad player but I am sure he'll want more than that. He may even end up being useful at CB. Clarkson is just too small to become a regular PL midfielder, I fear - like many of our academy products often are.

As for Hendo's minutes being managed - we will see about that. Personally, I don't think number of minutes are the issue. He's fit enough and could probably run about for 90+5 minutes once a week no problem. The really issue I fear is that his body doesn't allow him to change direction anymore and therefore renders him useless as a midfielder off the ball. He can only run in straight lines now.

8.) 24 Apr 2023
24 Apr 2023 18:21:04
I would argue we only need 2 midfielders and that’s because Keita and Ox have barely played/ contributed this season. We’ve basically played with all the midfielders except those 2.
So in terms of available midfielders, we’d still be 2 up, and only need to pair the newbies with one of Elliot, Jones, Bajcetic, Hendo and Fab.

9.) 24 Apr 2023
24 Apr 2023 22:20:51
My view is that we need a CB to cover the probable sale of Matip. Van den Berg or Quansah can be brought back in from loan but it's a risk (being dependent on them) I wouldn't take. Ndicka looks ideal to me.

In midfield, I would say we need 3 for sure to replace Ox, Keita and Milner . And we shouldn't be looking for their immediate replacements. We should be looking for 3 players who'll take up their places in the squad, but actually replace the remaining midfielders still with us; so 3 better players than Hendo, Thiago, Bajcetic, Fabinho, and Elliott. So they fight it out and the bottom 3 of these 5 players take the place of Ox, Keita and Milner on the bench. That's the only way I know how to improve the midfield we have, and avoid the same old, same old. If Bellingham doesn't happen, then a starting midfield of Thuram, Mac Allister, Bajcetic and (TAA coming up to midfield when we are in possession) looks mighty interesting to me.

10.) 25 Apr 2023
25 Apr 2023 01:42:41
I'm with Bill on this. I think 2 CMs and 1 CB is the minimum that we should go for this summer. Anything more would be dependent on outgoings.

I would rather see our youth players be given a chance to become squad players. Bradley, Morton, and Quansah deserves to be in and around the first team to show what they can do. What then is the purpose of oyr Youth team and academy if we are reluctant to use them to cover for injuries? Even Doak and Bajcetic got their chance because of injuries to the first team. Buying excessive players would just block their path into the team next season.