04 Aug 2017 17:20:51
Ed can you tell us were we are please with regards to AOC. Has there been anything recent in terms of contact or was he only seen as a back up option?

{Ed001's Note - no, he was only ever an option if he decided to leave Arsenal we would make him an offer. He has not made that decision yet.}

1.) 04 Aug 2017
04 Aug 2017 18:03:14
Ok mate fair enough. I guess im clutching at straws now with the Lallana news. We are short of numbers in midfield with no arrivals seemingly likely.

2.) 04 Aug 2017
04 Aug 2017 18:07:21
Hi eds I have a question. Bare in mind I know very little of how transfers work, my question may sound stupid to you. What say do players have in transfers? For example moreno to watford. If both clubs agree a fee and it all looks set can moreno turn round and say "no, I don't want to play for watford"?

{Ed002's Note - Sure, he has no obligation to sign a contract at all.}

3.) 04 Aug 2017
04 Aug 2017 18:47:31
I see how people may assume AOC would be logical to replace Lallana, ( as he can play wide or central)
However I am not sure how we are short of numbers?
Can, Hendo, Gini, Grujic, Milner and Coutinho. Not to mention the youngsters. chirivella, Ejaria, Woodburn has been played deeper, Ojo has experience in midfield as well as TAA. I'm not sure we're short.

4.) 04 Aug 2017
04 Aug 2017 20:10:22
A player can keep turning down moves then? I thought this must be the case but just wondered. Ultimately it is in a players best interest to move somewhere he will get games. Especially if he has a desire to play for his national team.
Cheers eds.

5.) 04 Aug 2017
04 Aug 2017 20:34:36
B26.
Chirivella is now out on loan with Willem II, but still a valid point. We have options in midfield.

6.) 04 Aug 2017
04 Aug 2017 20:46:04
Fully agree B26. The midfield is loaded, poor team if we between can, hendo, Gini, coutinho, grujic and Woodburn we can't manage an injury to one player.

7.) 04 Aug 2017
04 Aug 2017 21:57:28
For argument sake, take coutinio out. Say he goes. The with lallana out for 3 months. Say then that henderson gets a knock, our midfield starts looking pretty thin. Of course if Phil stays of course we can handle one injury. I'd be pretty chuffed if we didn't pick up a few more. He's undoubtedly one of our best players and he'll be missed, massive cog missing from our engine.

8.) 04 Aug 2017
04 Aug 2017 23:05:07
That is a lot of "ifs and buts" Superred. How's this for another one.
IF we sign AOC, IF we don't sell Couts, IF Hendo stays fit, and IF Lallana comes back early as Klopp has eluded to with his recoveries from previous injuries, then do you expect Can to sign a new contract with all of that in his way AND the fact it's pretty obvious we will go again for if we are indeed defeated this summer?
You see you can't keep adding and adding for ifs and buts.
The Ed's were saying similar when the site was going crazy in January due to ACON when people were expecting a £35mil plus signing because mane was missing for 3 weeks.

9.) 04 Aug 2017
04 Aug 2017 23:33:39
Jeepers, let's just say that every midfielder gets an injury, we're looking pretty thin aren't we?

10.) 04 Aug 2017
04 Aug 2017 23:39:50
The only way Coutinho leaving even makes sense is if you can replace him with a player that will get you similar numbers (unlikely) and get an upgrade elsewhere on the pitch. I would much prefer he stay the extra year wins us some trophies and we take our time to find a replacement (brandt? ) next season.

11.) 05 Aug 2017
05 Aug 2017 00:05:34
Lallana injury is a blow but let's not forget that his spot is being taken by Couts this year.

12.) 05 Aug 2017
05 Aug 2017 01:12:25
Sirshanks, Coutinho will be a Barcelona player by the end of the week. Our season is finished.

{Ed001's Note - our season is not finished. Do you know anything about football? Some of you lot are just embarrassing.}

13.) 05 Aug 2017
05 Aug 2017 02:56:45
I know it's ifs and buts but isn't that what you take into consideration when making plans? I'm only pointing out that our squad isn't quite busting at the seams that the earlier post suggests. I know we have quite a lot of midfielders but if Phil goes and with lallana out for a while we no where near as strong as we looked last week.

14.) 05 Aug 2017
05 Aug 2017 11:41:26
Frankly, you should pls, stop posting cos you are sounding very childish at the moment.

15.) 05 Aug 2017
05 Aug 2017 18:26:36
I think our midfield in the squad for today's game is not as strong as I hoped it would be at this point of pre season. The "ifs" and "buts" have already happened. Only can and gini are senior first team regulars. It's fine for a friendly and will give youngsters much needed experience but if we were up against a wily chelsea or man utd side I would be a little concerned. I genuinely believe our first 11 are the best in the league but I think this situation shows us we are still not as strong (in terms of depth) as we could be. Saying that, if grujic takes the bull by the horns this season then that changes things a little. Good luck to him and Kent and the other youngsters today.

16.) 05 Aug 2017
05 Aug 2017 22:25:27
Sorry Superred but we will have to agree to disagree. In your words "lallana is a massive cog missing" and if we sell coutinho who I'd say is our best player, you are not happy with our team?
Please tell me which team in world football would not be weaker without their "midfield cog" and "best player"?
Ridiculous. do you think we have unlimited squad places?

17.) 06 Aug 2017
06 Aug 2017 18:01:24
Im not sure I understand B26? We are much weaker without lallana and coutinio. Of course, I agree. When counting our midfielders I forgot about Milner. With him back in our midfield then we still look pretty strong there. I would still like to see us pick up another midfielder though. There are going to be times when we have players out with injury and with lallana already sidelined for 2/ 3 months we already look to be lacking a bit of attacking potency. We want to win the league, yes? We need depth. If we could find a versatile player who can play all over the top of the park, all the better. Our squad is fantastic, two players away from challengers on all fronts. Imo.