23 Nov 2018 15:53:56
Ed01 I noticed Edo2 has mentioned Liverpool making some questionable buys in Fabinho, Keita and Solanke.
What are your views on the 3 players to date. I personally do not think Solanke has any chance of making it at Liverpool, but I think it is early to judge the other 2 players as questionable buys. Thanks for any input.

{Ed001's Note - Solanke looks a poor buy, Keita has shown some questionable temperament so he has a lot to prove but Fabinho looks ideal for us imo.}

1.) 23 Nov 2018
23 Nov 2018 16:18:04
I personally think Solanke needs a couple of loan moves. He has the talent that's for sure. I think he should have gone up north to Rangers and built up his confidence playing in front of big crowds and scoring a few goals in the senior ranks. After which a loan to a mid table Premiership team to see if he can cut it. To leave him in the under 23's is a waste I personally feel. Just like we wasted Ward. We should have left him at Huddersfield for a year's experience in the Premiership and then judged him. From the players we have out on loan only Wilson looks like he stands any chance of making it. Grujic was meant to be playing well before his injury but I think both will struggle for any real game time.

2.) 23 Nov 2018
23 Nov 2018 16:38:53
I still think solanke has potential to add something different to the team. I thought he was effective end of last season against Brighton as a classic target 9 in the box allowing Firmino to drop deeper and create havoc as a no.10. Having a true 9 also meant Salah and Mane could create the width against a packed defense knowing someone dangerous was ready to pounce on a good cross.

Solanke is much better than Origi in the air and with time could become a physical presence in the box when that is required.

Keita I firmly believe will make it as he has the ability to press, great tackler and has ability to carry the ball and score goals. Still have high hopes for him.

Fabinho I really like too, just needs to get used to the system and pace of the league.

{Ed025's Note - is there anyone you dislike or dont have high hopes for SG?..

3.) 23 Nov 2018
23 Nov 2018 16:38:08
Thanks Ed01, has Keitas' temperament been a problem since arriving at Liverpool or do you mean when he was in Germany. Bit of a concern for Liverpool if he still has a bad attitude. Thanks.

{Ed001's Note - when he was in Germany. Don't worry.}

4.) 23 Nov 2018
23 Nov 2018 17:43:54
When Keita first come he showed glimpses of brilliance.
I don't know if he is slow coming back from knocks or whatever but more recently when he's been in the team all he does is give the ball away.

5.) 23 Nov 2018
23 Nov 2018 18:19:51
Keita will prove to be a top signing, some players just take a little longer to adapt that's all, he'll come good and when he does we're laughing. Imagine a fully in form Keita, Fabinho and Hendo? that's what I'm looking forward to and it's coming.

6.) 23 Nov 2018
23 Nov 2018 19:30:44
Keita to me will prove a great signing. Henderson can't string games together. Fabinho I haven't seen anything yet to suggest he should make the first 11. Fabinho looks slow and not strong enough for his size. Next season will be the best time to judge him.

{Ed001's Note - he is not slow, that is why he was able to play well at right back previously. Full backs need to have a fair bit of pace in the modern game.}

7.) 23 Nov 2018
23 Nov 2018 19:51:38
I still remember him from pre season (maybe in wasn't fit) pulling 2 caravans trying to chase the Man City youngsters. He looks one paced similar to Milner or Henderson.

8.) 23 Nov 2018
23 Nov 2018 20:25:23
You’d dare risk Fabinho at full back Ed?
He’d get skinned alive, for me.
Keita I have hopes for, he started so promisingly but then hasn’t lived up to that standard as yet.
Fabinho I’m really not sure of.
I know it’s very early but he doesn’t look any more mobile than Can, so far anyway.

{Ed001's Note - I didn't say that, I said he played there in the past.}

9.) 23 Nov 2018
23 Nov 2018 22:03:43
How fickle us fans are (me included), rating players after a handful of games. Keita has barely played due to injury, Fabinho hasn’t pulled up any trees but hasn’t put a foot wrong in the games he’s played and looks to have started to settle. I think had Salah not come in and had the debut season he did we wouldn’t have that high bench mark to compare them to. I for one still think fab and Keita will prove to be very good signings.

10.) 23 Nov 2018
23 Nov 2018 22:22:27
I don't really get the immobility comments. He's a big guy, but he gets around the pitch well and looks comfortable with the ball. I would suggest he's been the better of him and Keita, but i have no doubt Naby will smash it after a run of games.

11.) 23 Nov 2018
23 Nov 2018 23:30:08
Keita will be a star and fabinho is starting to show glimpses of the player we expected. solanke for me I just don't think will ever make the breakthrough to the first team on a consistent basis. I hate to say it but I don't rate him at all. i really hope I'm wrong but I never am. ask the wife.

12.) 23 Nov 2018
23 Nov 2018 23:53:45
I can see Solanke's career trajectory being similar to Harry Kane's, and it might well take a number of loans before it clicks. I hope so anyway! I just hope he is still with us. You'll have to wait 6 years for me to be proven right though.

Markp08- you should read Ed001's article on Fabinho. You keep saying it yourself- he *looks* slow, but he's actually not, it's his running style.

13.) 24 Nov 2018
24 Nov 2018 03:37:27
I’d agree that the bar has been set high for Fabinho, partly by Salah last season, but also by his counterparts in our rivals teams - specifically Fernandinho and Kante / Jorginho.
You may think that’s unfair, and you may have a point, but that’s the harsh reality.
He was bought for the First XI of a team challenging for the league title and European Cup.
Fabinho doesn’t start for me, at present, it’s Hendo / Milner or Keita / Wijnaldum.
He’s currently 5th choice by my reckoning, if the others are fit.
If Ox was fit, he’d be 6th choice. Or, to put it another way, I’d rather have Hendo or Wijnaldum at the base.
And that wasn’t what I was wanting to say back in August.
We’ll see what happens though, he’s not a write-off by any means but got a lot of convincing to do?

14.) 24 Nov 2018
24 Nov 2018 07:05:12
I don’t see Solanke ever breaking into the Liverpool first team as a regular. I also don’t see how anyone can say he’s better than Origi in the air. Origi bullied Borussia Dortmund and Matts Hummels in the air and has scored some great headed goals - something Solanke struggles with (scoring goals) .
I think he will be sold to a team like West Brom and ditching Origi in favour of Solanke looks like it’s thrown his LFC career down the pan.

Not worried by Fabinho or Keita - give them a season to settle in 👍.

15.) 24 Nov 2018
24 Nov 2018 07:48:51
to use Jorginho as a comparison is slightly unfair yes he’s moved to a new country but he’s also followed a manager who he’s played under for about 4 so knows his style inside out. You say Hendo starts I think we sometimes forget how his career at Anfield started and now he’s club captain.

16.) 24 Nov 2018
24 Nov 2018 13:10:12
Excuse me but did I miss something? How long has Fab and Keita been here that suddenly they are being called a flop or questionable signings? Also, people may say that Fab is being judged harshly based on how his team mates have slotted in nicely or how some players at our rivals have bedded in nicely. Sorry, I don't understand any of that.

Football is not a one size fits all sport nor are it's outcomes equal in all ways. It takes more or less time for players to get going depending on the situation and circumstances and anyone with any type of knowledge of football knows or should know this so why are people acting as if those same rules don't apply to Fab and Naby? Let me remind people that it took Ilkay Gundogan SIX months to get to grips with Klopp's system at BVB so let that sink in.

People seem to forget that it took Salah a while to settle in and become the beast he is now and took Ox, Robbo even longer so again, where's the beef? . Please, let us not cede to panic and impatience and cynicism. Let the boys develop and support them through their progression and surely, they will pan out fine. Why? They were great players before they came to us.