1.) 03 Nov 2017
03 Nov 2017 08:00:02
Excellent Ed001, thank you mate, made a great read.

{Ed001's Note - thank you mate.}


2.) 03 Nov 2017
03 Nov 2017 08:13:56
Great article Ed. Only thing I'd add is the much more new role, the advanced ball winner. Players who score and create goals, but are mainly there to win possession back high up the pitch.

Radja Naingollan's role is a prime example. In fact, how Naingollan is used for Roma just behind their frontline is exactly how I'd like to see Henderson playing for us. Using his tenacity to turnover possession for us on the edge of the final third, but also to score and create goals quickly before the opposition can get back into shape (as we saw when he took the ball off of Harry Kane and sent Mo Salah clean through in the space of 3 seconds! )

I'm not sure if this has become s regular thing yet in Europe (it's definitely not in the Prem), but i personally think it is an inspired tactic devised by Luciano Spalletti last season that will go on to become the future of the attacking role. Spalletti is a bit of a visionary, but as a Roma fan i'm slightly biased 😂 There are just too many advantages to winning the ball back in the opposition half. To some extent, Fellaini actually does this for United i suppose, but as you say that isn't the main reason he is there.

Great article though. Thoroughly enjoyed reading all of these. You should do one on the different types of forward too? Winger, inverted forward, second striker, target man, poacher, false 9 etc. I'd really enjoy reading that!

{Ed001's Note - Naingollan is no longer playing that role behind the strikers and he was more intended as a fill in until a proper No 10 was available mate. He was not supposed to be there to win possession, but to create and score goals. It was more of a bonus his ability to win back possession high up the pitch.

Why on earth would any Liverpool fan follow Roma? They are vile, like Lazio but instead of racism they just like to stab and viciously attack in large gangs small children, women and old men. You might want to read up about the 1984 European Cup final, and the way they carried on that night.}


3.) 03 Nov 2017
03 Nov 2017 08:45:22
Spalletti has left now though Ed. I think if he'd stayed, Naingollan would've been the birth of a new type of attacking mid. It still might be something that becomes more frequent going forward though as it was a catalyst for Roma having a great season. I know it was a bodge job initially, but it was so successful i think Spalletti would've stuck with it if he'd not been tempted away by money.

I am not old enough to remember any of that Ed. I was only born in '94. My reasoning is pretty innocent and simple though. Totti and De Rossi were two of my favourite players growing up. They both epitomise the phrase 'one club man' but were also world class players. For an Italian to refuse Juventus and both Milan sides, is remarkable. Down the years they have been great to watch. I honestly did not know about all of that stuff and i will read up on it over the weekend, but Roma will probably always be my favourite team on the continent. I've been following them since about 2010 now. If they ever played Liverpool, there would be no debate, i want Liverpool to smash them off the park. But I'd love to see them win Serie A.

Are Roma fans still like that do you know? Or have things improved since '84? I only ask because speaking to older generation fans of other clubs, I've been called scum for supporting Liverpool, whose fans I'm told are the worst in Europe. Yet I've never seen any evidence of that in my life time.

{Ed001's Note - people are talking crap. there has only ever been one major incident involving Liverpool fans in Europe, which was the sad incidents in Heysels. A lot of that was carried over from the previous final when Roma fans had been attacking all and sundry. Roma, on the other hand, still regularly are involved with stabbings and mass incidents of violence. It is a shame because the club itself is not a problem, just a large element of their fans. They have an excellent social media program under Paul, which will hopefully lead to change as they attract a different type of fan. His videos for player unveilings etc are superb.}


4.) 03 Nov 2017
03 Nov 2017 08:53:48
I agree, if you could do one on the forwards Ed001 mate that'd be great :)

I remember the 84 cup final, absolutely disgraceful from the Roma fans, problem is, they are still as bad.

{Ed001's Note - I have added that to my to do list.}


5.) 03 Nov 2017
03 Nov 2017 08:56:56
Ed001 and MK I’m really enjoying your recent articles, very insightful and provides something entirely different to what is currently being written in the rags.

With the expected outgoings of Can and Couts and confirmed incoming of Keita next summer. Who would your ideal midfield three be in line with current squad and realistic targets and which role would they play? Obviously each game might suggest a bit of rotation it might not be as straight forward as just three names and three roles.

{Ed001's Note - I would bring in a holding mid to play behind Henderson and Keita.}


6.) 03 Nov 2017
03 Nov 2017 09:13:20
Mk this is not bashing hendo even though I am not a huge fan. But you want someone who can tackle and dribble past players. Keita would do that job for us. Just have to be patient and wait in him to arrive.


7.) 03 Nov 2017
03 Nov 2017 09:09:55
Someone my Dad knows was there in the middle the Heysel disaster and said Liverpool fans acted in retaliation, not that he agreed with it. He said they were being pelted with missiles from the Italian fans, and the Italian police had been beating Liverpool fans up all day, which carried into the ground. They then did nothing to stop the attack, which led to a retaliation and I'd rather not repeat what he saw after that. These boards aren't the place. Long story short though, the Liverpool fans were being targeted in a foreign country and received no protection. He finished his recollection with a quite harrowing quote, "If you back a dog into a corner, you will get bitten. The dog will be blamed, but it is as much your fault as the dogs. " A real sad night for football and a massive shame we were involved in it.

I hope the Roma fans do learn if that is the case Ed. Football has moved on from gang violence, though i accept Italian football is lagging behind a lot of Europe in some ways.

Those player unveilings were absolute class though. If you haven't seen the video they did to announce Kolarov, watch it! Funniest thing i have ever seen on the internet.

{Ed001's Note - aye Paul is a genius, though he is very modest about it.}


8.) 03 Nov 2017
03 Nov 2017 09:12:33
Appreciated Ed001 - Thanks! Have a good day mate.

{Ed001's Note - pleasure mate, might be a while before I get round to it.}


9.) 03 Nov 2017
03 Nov 2017 09:21:40
I completely agree with Ed001, ToonRed.

I would love for us to sign Obiang to sit behind Hendo and Keita, but would be equally happy with any of the guys i listed in my article on the subject. Ndidi, Camacho, N'Zonzi etc. No idea who is being looked at, but Ed002 has said Obiang won't be happening. He has different sources to Ed001 though so I'm still holding out hope for Obiang 😂

Having Henderson press high up the pitch will make our press miles more effective. He is one of the best in the game at pressing players into mistakes and shepherding them down blind alleys. It is his main strength. Keita will just run the show from what I've seen. I wouldn't mind betting that he will be involved in the build up of at least half of our goals once he has signed. At RBL, everything goes through him. Whether it's a direct run which opens up space as players scramble to stop him, or one of his incisive passes in behind, he is just lethal when he gets on the ball.

All we need to have a superb balanced midfield, is a defensive midfielder to mop up counter attacks and give our other players more freedom to take risks.

{Ed001's Note - I think Ed002 is correct though, as we missed our opportunity, though he wants out.}


10.) 03 Nov 2017
03 Nov 2017 09:46:36
Be a shame that Ed. Do you know if anyone else has been looked at recently? Or is it still too far off January to tell?

Dendoncker must surely be attainable? Anderlecht look certain to drop out of European football entirely. Though he'll be cup tied for the CL. Without any European football, Anderlecht have nothing really to play for as they will walk the Belgian league regardless of who they sell.

It is difficult to buy mid-season though. We should have some cash to spend though because i can't see Coutinho still being a Liverpool player by February 1st.

{Ed001's Note - we can register one player whose team drops out, so we could register him. I doubt he will be an option though. It is still a long way from January.}