17 Jan 2023 21:54:37
Bajetic is looking very promising indeed just needs to get stronger when he does wow! I believe bajetic keita and thiago is our current best midfield, if we aren't signing anyone make the most of the young quality players doak, bajetic, even nat Phillips . Salah needs serious competion for his place an we only have doak but I believe in him to step in.

1.) 17 Jan 2023
17 Jan 2023 22:00:41
Keita?

2.) 17 Jan 2023
17 Jan 2023 22:10:02
After 1 game you've decided this is the best midfield? Ok.

3.) 17 Jan 2023
17 Jan 2023 22:15:55
Keita? Not a chance.
I agree about Bajcetic, though. I thought he was the best of the younger players but Elliott will get all the plaudits.

4.) 17 Jan 2023
17 Jan 2023 22:31:26
Agreed Rigsby but Elliot deserves the plaudits scored a brilliant goal and played very well with his link up play and ran himself into the ground.

5.) 17 Jan 2023
17 Jan 2023 22:36:53
Yeah I would say fab thiago an bajetic but fabihno seems to have lost something. Keita unfortunately is the next best midfielder if playing well contributes in transactions and pressing and our win record with him in the team shows his importance, although he can't be trusted to play consistently and needs to go .

6.) 17 Jan 2023
17 Jan 2023 22:42:00
Elliot deserves a fair bit of praise though zRigsby - he is only a youngster and has out in a fair old shift in terms of appearances this season and it only seems like yesterday that people were saying he is turning out to be disappointing (same with Carvalho too) .

7.) 17 Jan 2023
17 Jan 2023 22:59:51
Some people will not change their mind on Keita no matter what he does. For me he’s by no means perfect but he stays compact and presses at the right times. There was one run where he gave up before getting to the ball so I do get the frustration with him because he looks lazy at times but positionally as a midfield player he is very good. Has to start for me.
There were a few times today when they tried to pass through the midfield lines and because of the position he was in he blocked and we had a break. He’s not the answer but will do a job and allow the midfield to be closer together which will help us defensively.
He also plays the ball quick, short and simple most of the time which allows us to keep possession. I worry about his fitness and durability but given a run in the side of hope that would improve.
Bajcetic showed today that he could be a great player, so composed on the ball and picked the right options. Not scared to stick a foot in either.
Thiago was much better too today he seemed to have an extra spring in his step. I just want him to quicken up his play and today was much better. Get the ball, head up, see the pass, play it. He winds me up no end when he ignores the easy progressive pass and tries the Hollywood ball which very rarely comes off. Today was much better from him though he got his tackles in a kept the ball moving.
Elliott is sooo much better further forward. I know he played off the front in a 5 man midfield pretty much but having Keita behind and inside him allowed him to have a much higher starting position and he showed us what he can do.
Much more to come I think from these kids, a very positive outing tonight and showed us that all is not lost.

8.) 18 Jan 2023
18 Jan 2023 00:51:00
Sorry Becker but the amount of times Harvey sprinted past a ambling keita to get back defending had me pulling what's left of my hair out, keita has stacked his retirement fund on our money and is now a busted flush as a footballer.

9.) 18 Jan 2023
18 Jan 2023 00:55:21
I'm not saying Elliott doesn't deserve the plaudits. His goal ensured that, it was the key moment of the match and the pundits have to find an angle.
It was his turn tonight and all credit to him for taking the shot on especially when confidence is low.
The first goal was very important tonight.

10.) 18 Jan 2023
18 Jan 2023 02:11:13
@Rigsby, absolutely mate. Wasn’t suggesting in any way that you were belittling Elliot’s performance, more a case of him being appreciated by those amongst us who have been underwhelmed by his efforts of late.

11.) 18 Jan 2023
18 Jan 2023 08:07:46
Morning all reds and Ed’s. It’s nice waking up after a good performance. Very proud of our youngsters, they have a very bright future with us.
I’m still worried about the energy our older players bring though. Thiago being one played better with energy around him but keita for me was the one weak link. Imagine if we had a top midfielder in his place last night.
My question is though realistically who? Who would be everyone’s choice to command our midfield and more importantly who could we realistically get? I think Bellingham may end up in Madrid. I’m thinking Rice would be superb for us and could be more realistic, although I doubt West Ham would do business in this window.
What’s everyone’s thoughts on him?

12.) 18 Jan 2023
18 Jan 2023 08:31:23
You're ok, WDW.
I have been critical of Elliott and Caravalho. Maybe less so of them than having to rely on them.
I still wince when we went into the derby with them both in a midfield three. I wind up my brother-in-law, a Blue, that we got a draw when we were there for the taking with kids in midfield.

13.) 18 Jan 2023
18 Jan 2023 08:46:37
IDLLK exactly as I said some people won’t change mind on Keita and you are obviously one of them. I’m sure there was a time or times that Elliott ran back past Keita but I can’t remember them. I do remember Keita being in the full back area quite a bit especially towards the end, tackling in midfield and linking with the forwards.
The Keita narrative is so flawed I can’t tell you. All these people saying he doesn’t try, he’s robbing our money etc. etc. yet the best manager in world football has kept him in the squad. If you believe recent reports he’s even been offered a new contract.
Are you all saying that you know better than Klopp who sees and talks to him on a daily basis?

{Ed001's Note - so you want people to change their mind on a malingerer based on one game after years of him crapping out of everything? As for new deal, why has he not signed one then?

As for Klopp, he would not be the best manager in the world if he didn't use all the tools at his disposal just because he wants to replace one of them.}

14.) 18 Jan 2023
18 Jan 2023 13:03:18
Beckers, Keita has been stealing a living since he arrived here and I would know cos like many of us, we all saw how great he was for RBL before he came to us. There is nothing flawed about the so called "Keita narrative". Watch the games yourself. He pulls out of challenges, can't be arsed to get back whereas we have older players like Hendo and Thiago or younger players like Baj and Elliott or Carvalho sprinting back while he just jugs behind them.

I mean, the guy could not be arsed to do the most basic thing for a professional athlete and keep himself fit, for heaven's sake. That's all on him. He is one of the reason we cannot get a new midfielder cos he cost too much and NOBODY would sign him cos he was caught driving without a license and it's on his record so work permit issues have arrived.

And one last thing. We all moan about Fab's, Milly's and Hendo's legs being gone. Just maybe had this geezer been arsed as to keep himself fit for selection most of the time, he would have been able to help save their legs and extended their careers by actually being an option than them having to go to the well every time just to cover for his "injuries". Just saying.