03 Sep 2023 08:33:04
Ed001 if Salah where to leave who are the top 3 players you would like us to try and sign to replace him in the squad. I like Michael Olise I think Diaz could solve the problem for the time being with Jota Nunez and Gakpo all capable of covering the left side.

{Ed001's Note - Diaz would not be anywhere near the right for me, I would rather try Gakpo there if we have to shift someone or Szobo. Top 3 I don't know, maybe Bakayoko would be there. I have to be honest I can't think of anyone off the top of my head. I wouldn't go near Olise personally.}

1.) 03 Sep 2023
03 Sep 2023 09:07:29
Saka has potential. Have to say though, I don’t watch an awful lot of footy, other than us, these days so there may be a few up and coming young players that I’ve not seen.

2.) 03 Sep 2023
03 Sep 2023 09:12:32
We’ve seen Diaz play on the right for us before and he looked like terrible. I’d play Szobo there and replace him in midfield with someone like Valverde.

3.) 03 Sep 2023
03 Sep 2023 09:30:41
We forget Harvey elliot is 20.

And we have diaz, nunez, jota and gakpo.

Plus a frightening talented forward thinking midfield.

That's without considering someone like doak. I think at some point this season we will see us start a few times without Mo.

I'm more worried about the defence, personally.

Could do with 2 cbs (lcb and rcb) and a rb. Need top of the range and that might be mo money.

4.) 03 Sep 2023
03 Sep 2023 09:45:36
Szobo is not a winger, so I don’t understand the curiosity of playing him at RW. Can we actually buy a RW to replace a RW?

5.) 03 Sep 2023
03 Sep 2023 09:59:02
No idea on who should replace Salah it’s an impossible job. We knew the bids were coming so we should have prepared better.

6.) 03 Sep 2023
03 Sep 2023 10:00:16
I disagree regarding Szobo playing wide. The midfield is already sorted and we still have the potential of Andre in Jan so Valverde is not needed. Most importantly, why would it make sense to play a CM who is blossoming at CM right now at least, to play as a wide forward? Seriously, how? By doing that, you are essentially weakening two positions, at once IMO.

For me, no need to shift anyone anywhere except of course it is to do a job or in drastic situations like playing with 10 men at Newcastle. We should play players in the positions that suit them and where they have a chance to blossom and produce based on their skill set. Salah will go and we should get a wide forward that plays the position well and has the skill set to produce in our system. And per Ed02, Klopp wants Leroy Sane. May not be my cup of tea but at least, he plays on the right and he is left-footed just like Salah. Just my opinion.

7.) 03 Sep 2023
03 Sep 2023 10:16:11
Ignoring transfers a while and I like Longthings suggestion above long term if it could be done.

Let's talk only what we do till January and likely next summer without our great number 11 should the unthinkable happen.

Diaz is electric on left. I would also be inclined to keep him there.

We have to replace Salah a goal threat. For me that is Nunez up front. With Diaz and Nunez, that lightning pace threat in behind and goal threat is there.

For me I would be loathe to take Szobozlai out of the midfield right now. I think we would weaken that area too much.

The dynamic of the forward line that we be known for so long dramatically changes with Nunez up top. Essentially Nunez is Salah, Diaz is Mane and there's a spot for a playmaker all be it on the right instead of central now. I'm not sure who will win out for spot but I would be inclined to give Elliott first go. He has started the season really brightly and he has the skills to fulfill that role in the team. I don't think Gakpo or Jota or Diaz will be the long term solution out right. Szobozlai might be but I don't want to do that right now. Elliott is a really strong candidate as long term. I personally would like to see how it works.


Selling Salah means we are not realistically in title race this year and that we are committing to full on rebuild. Massive risk in my view and still hoping it doesn't happen. Top four is extremely likely with Salah in the team. Without it'smuch riskier.

If someone promised me Valverde, Ignacio and Dacoure for Salah then yes. That sounds good. But Jorg is not at the right level and who knows if we get the right DOF and Sporting director. I have no trust in how the club is being run right now to make this big decision.

What I guess I'm saying is if a 200 million offer did end up coming in then it's probably the right decision in the right hands.

My issue is club is not in the right hands right now. Risk is too great. We need the champions league football next year. And Salah gives us a great chance of that.

8.) 03 Sep 2023
03 Sep 2023 10:28:59
@Markp, if it’s an impossible job how would knowing about the situation earlier impact what the club could / can do? Genuine questuon.

9.) 03 Sep 2023
03 Sep 2023 10:44:57
So the club is at fault because somebody put in a bid for Salah?
How do you prepare better for a club making a bid? Make sure the fax machime has paper in it?
Very bizarre take on things.

10.) 03 Sep 2023
03 Sep 2023 10:46:55
It's amusing to see posters falling over themselves to spend the money we don't have.

11.) 03 Sep 2023
03 Sep 2023 11:01:52
Agree with Ed 1 Diaz does suit the right for me szob, Elliot and doak until we can sign someone but I’d take 200 million only for salah.

12.) 03 Sep 2023
03 Sep 2023 11:20:01
If he was to leave which I don’t want, I’d have to get raph Leao. Change the formation and go with him.

{Ed002's Note - Liverpool has no interest in him.}

13.) 03 Sep 2023
03 Sep 2023 11:34:38
All hypothetical of course but I’d set the entire team up around Darwin and Lucho as a pair. They could produce huge numbers as a duo with suppliers we have. While both are quick, they are also very physical, good in the air and have a good goalscoring instinct.

How about a 4222 so we can still have the box but with Trent back in a RB-only role?

14.) 03 Sep 2023
03 Sep 2023 11:34:53
Exactly @Oli. Why on earth Would we shift Szobo to RW when he is doing a fine job in the middle of park. If a RW departs then simply buy a new RW.

15.) 03 Sep 2023
03 Sep 2023 11:48:49
I'd take a serious look at Raphinha of Barcelona.

16.) 03 Sep 2023
03 Sep 2023 12:07:57
@markp08 "we should have prepared better".

I'd hazard a guess we have prepared / are preparing. Szoboszlai, Elliot, Doak are all part of the picture.

When we sold Coutinho, we bought VVD to address the weakest area. I wouldn't bank on spending the Salah money on the RW position.

17.) 03 Sep 2023
03 Sep 2023 10:20:47
Never watch Bakayoko play. Have you seen him play Ed? Seen him rated highly though. One of the Ed mentioned Sporting's Marcus Edwards.

{Ed001's Note - I have seen him a little and he was very dangerous. I have not seen Edwards play at all so can't comment on him.}

18.) 03 Sep 2023
03 Sep 2023 23:49:29
Why is 200m some sort of magic number? The Saudi’s offered 235m for Mbappe who politely declined.

The Saudi’s want Salah - we don’t want / have to sell.

The Saudi’s want Salah as their poster boy and to show they are serious. Then show us how serious you are - make an offer of £300m / £400m.

I hope Mo has his best season ever for us - the better he plays the more his worth to both us and the Saudis.

If it were me I wouldn’t even entertain them until next summer. a polite ‘no thank you’ until next July.