20 May 2019 00:17:40
Evening Ed001, firstly just want to stay thanks to all the Eds for the work you put into this site, it's honestly a breath of fresh air and long may it continue. Secondly, I just had a thought and wanted to get your take - I saw a rumour that mentioned Shaqiri could be moved on this summer, didn't really think much of it but on second thoughts I think there could be a bigger chance than I initially thought. You've always said Shaqiri was bought as Fekir didn't happen but Fekir I think we can fairly assume was going to be bought for the starting 11 as an AM but Shaqiri isn't of that quality or consistent enough for that position even before you consider his work rate issues. I've really enjoyed him this season in thr first half he had a good run in the team and was quite effective off the bench but I'm starting to think it could be a clever move to move him on and get a top quality AM plus a player to cover the wide positions and be that impact sub. That could be Wilson or Camacho or we pick up another bargain and by the way I'm assuming that Lallana and Milner will leave. What are your thoughts Ed? Thanks.

{Ed001's Note - if the option is Wilson or Camacho, I would hold onto Shaqiri. As an impact sub he has been excellent and I am not convinced either of those would be anything but a step down.}

1.) 20 May 2019
20 May 2019 06:29:26
If we are serious about competing at the top level, we need to do better than a player like Shaqiri. He is inconsistent and doesn't seem to work as hard as other players. He is capable of moments of magic but does not produce them on a regular basis.
We have set the bar high this season and it would be a shame not to push on. Unfortunately, players such as Shaq, Sturridge and Llallana do not reproduce top form game after game in the same way the rest of the first team does. Whether it is because of injuries, laziness or lack of ability is irrelevant.

2.) 20 May 2019
20 May 2019 07:00:27
How much more serious than 97 league points and CL finalists do you want though?
If anything, points were lost further down the park, in the defensive areas as cover.
And, hopefully, that should be addressed.

Btw did we all see the stats that had Origi timed as Liverpool’s quickest player?
Didn’t see that one coming!

3.) 20 May 2019
20 May 2019 07:05:10
I think the reason they don’t produce top form game after game is because they are used as impact subs and never play any regular football.
You need regular football to maintain your match fitness.
There are many examples.

If you’re going to splash the cash on someone better than Shaq then you’d better be prepared to play them and not have them wasting their time on the bench. Otherwise they’ll just leave.

{Ed025's Note - your spot on ron..

4.) 20 May 2019
20 May 2019 08:38:21
Is Shaq really that bad? Surprised so many want to replace him to be honest. For 12 mil I think he might be bargain of the season, although just remembered Robbo's price, either way both have done well for me.

5.) 20 May 2019
20 May 2019 08:53:12
Juicer Points were lost further down the park. We had the best defence in the league.

The 0-0's did for us and a couple of 1-1's. Problem was Salah and Firmino stopped scoring and Klopp didn't trust anyone to give them a proper run when we needed it. Mane was like a one man attacking force nothing was coming from the other forwards or the midfield.

6.) 20 May 2019
20 May 2019 09:28:20
markp80, just how I see it as well. We had the best defence this season, but clean sheets only guarantee you a draw, the reamaining 2 points has to be won by scoring one more goal than the opponent, and we failed that at 8 occations i total, and one single time to many to win us the league. We need a quality AM to unlock the deep set teams, and coverage for LB, otherwise we are just fine I think. Wouldn't mind if one of the players in the squad proved to be the one, but I don't see who.

7.) 20 May 2019
20 May 2019 09:45:57
First time poster, thanks to the Eds for doing a great job all of the time!

I don't think we necessarily need another AM, a lot of last season panned out the way it did because the front three weren't able to score in only a few games, not even over a massive amount of time. I don't think Klopp wanted to take Salah out when his form dipped slightly as it might have killed his confidence and you could argue we didn't have much other choice, although I'd probably contest that given Origi's recent form. I don't think an AM would have changed that really. The last thing we want is another Coutinho trying to win the game from midfield when most of the time it doesn't go flying into the top corner and momentum is lost.

Our midfield doesn't lack creativity we have just changed how we play since we had him and we probably have more strength in depth than we realise albeit with some bad luck with Naby at the very end, although I don't think that really cost us overall - we still won all of those games!

Last season was freakish. The amount of luck that both us and City got was amazing (VVD against the Everton crossbar, Kompany pinging one into the top corner against Leicester when 99 other times it ends up out of the stadium, the Mahrez penalty miss, Mbappe not making it 4-0 at the Nou Camp, Aguero millimetres offside against Spurs etc etc. ) . It's all tiny fractions and in any other season 97 points would have walked the title too.

We just need to keep going the same way. Yes another striker and some back-ups to certain positions would be nice, but they have to be good enough for our style of play in both attacking and defensive roles but also prepared to be parked on the bench when needs be, without throwing toys out of the pram.

I really believe that once we get over the line with one trophy others will follow. City need to replace Kompany now too, so even if they buy top quality (which they will), that player will need time to gel fully. If we play the same way next season, I don't think City will be able to keep up. Hopefully a CL victory will start the ball rolling followed by spanking City in the charity shield.

8.) 20 May 2019
20 May 2019 10:03:55
Welcome Steve.

Smed I agree a fb and attacking midfielder would do me fine unless sales occur that we need to replace. I too would love the am to come from within be it OX and or Keita but am not 100% confident.

The am has to also cover the front 3. The 3 can't play every week and when they lose form they have to be dropped/ rested. It's not healthy knowing you will play every game regardless of form.

9.) 20 May 2019
20 May 2019 10:17:41
Be interesting to see stats on goals scored by us/ City from midfield players this season to see if that is as big an issue as we think. I do agree that we lack a bit of guile from some of our midfield play but would expect AOC to come back and deliver that next season. Not 100% convinced we need spend a lot of money there unless someone truly excellent becomes available.

10.) 20 May 2019
20 May 2019 12:53:07
I'd like to see us go for a top class winger to cover Mane/ Salah and hopefully one also able to play AM but that's a bonus rather than a necessity. We already have Ox coming back and Keita capable in the attacking roles, but we lack cover in the wide positions. Origi has done an excellent job out wide this season, but if Sturridge goes, he'll be needed to cover CF more often.

If we find that player, then (and only then) can we afford to let go of Shaqiri IMO.

11.) 21 May 2019
21 May 2019 13:51:38
If we just continue to buy players who are better than the ones we already have we will continue to improve.
The recruiting as been very good the last 3 yrs and continuity is the key. We do not need that many buys this summer, but I for one think if we can afford to upgrade a Sturridge Lallana, Moreno, Mignolet we should do so.

Remember the two trophies that we didn't compete in this season was down to our squad depth not being good enough against Premier league opposition.
We have massively improved under Klopp from a team who have gone from getting in to top 4 by having no games in Europe, to a squad who can go to the final games in the two major competitions we play for.

We should not stand still, if we can improve on the 4 players above with either what we have in our academy or players out on loan then I am all for it, but if we can afford to go out and buy a player who will challenge Mane, Bobby and Mo for a starting place, why not?

As for replacing Shaq I would say that it should be the manager who decides that.
He did have a dip in form and we don't know what he was doing in training.
At the end of the day he has quality but does he graft enough?
Working hard should be the first priority for any professional who wants to play every game. Henderson Milner are always around the match day squads because they can be trusted to put a shift in.
I think we should always be looking to strengthen the team, or squad in areas of weakness.

I was always saying Mignolet and Karius weren't good enough. We replaced them with a guy who wins the golden glove in his first season.
I have been a season ticket older since the mid seventies and have seen great teams and not so great, but this group of players are the best we have had since 1990.
Let's hope we win the trophy their endeavour this season deserves.
Come on you reds.