01 May 2023 18:28:52
Ed001 what do you make of Curtis Jones run in the side seems to coincide with more improvements from the midfield. Personally think there is quite a good player in there so hoping he can really push on and save some money in the transfer market
Up the pool.

{Ed001's Note - I like Jones, the issue with him is injuries always seem to hit just as he gets a good run of form going. I know a lot of people have some kind of dislike of him, even ignoring every bit of good piece of defensive work he does to claim he does none. Personally though, I think he is a good prospect, but he needs this run to continue and not be stopped once more by injury. For me he can perform a similar role to Thiago, though in a completely different way, for the team.}

1.) 01 May 2023
01 May 2023 18:42:24
Completely agree Ed. So happy he’s finally getting the opportunity to show what he can do, hopefully he can start most of the games from now til the end of the season.

{Ed001's Note - I am hoping he will make the position his own now for the rest of the season, then go away over the summer and work on his game to ensure he keeps it next season too.}

2.) 01 May 2023
01 May 2023 18:49:02
Yeah I agree if he can steer clear of injuries it definitely helps his progression in the team. I also like he is a local lad which helps our identity if you know what I mean and shows academy prospects that there is a pathway to the first team.

{Ed001's Note - that is a bonus. Especially that the club has stuck with him through injury. That helps when the next generation of youngsters are deciding which club to join as their parents will see that as giving their son the best chance of making it.}

3.) 01 May 2023
01 May 2023 18:54:53
Do we think if Curtis keeps up the performances then it’s one less midfielder required in the summer?

{Ed001's Note - I never thought we needed as many as others anyway. I would rather have space for youngsters to get game time than buy like Rodgers did to ensure that we never have to use any.}

4.) 01 May 2023
01 May 2023 19:00:17
I reckon Elliot's place is more in question than CJ's, once new players come in, simply due to the system's Klopp plays.
Rumours of Thiago going back to FCB kicking around too.

5.) 01 May 2023
01 May 2023 19:08:57
Ed001 how many signings you think we need for the summer and what positions?

Also interested to hear on your outs as well mate.

{Ed001's Note - well the outs would decide the number of ins really.

We have 4 centre-backs that we could really do with replacing with more reliable players. Phillips is fine as 4th choice, but no more than that. Personally I would look to offload Matip, lovely guy, good on the ball but not a good defender and injury prone. No need to replace him though as that would leave us with 4. I think we have to look to replace VVD while he has value, though I don't expect it to happen. So 2 out 1 in from defence, as I would stand pat on full-backs and only buy to replace anyone who wants to go.

Midfield we have the option to put Trent there if we keep Bradley in the squad (which I would have done this season). Added to Jones hopefully finally getting going and the emergence of Bajcetic, I think we only need, and I emphasis need, to get one player who strengthens the team. Getting rid of Ox and Keita leaves us no weaker and if either of Thiago or Fabinho left, then they would need replacing too. Other than that, I think we only really actually need just one quality player to transform the team.

Up front we don't really need additions, if anything we need to clear space, even with Firmino leaving. I know Jota has done well lately, but he is still best as an impact sub and is paid far too much for that role, so his place has to be under threat as he would raise funds for the midfield/centre-back addition we need. Or the other option would be to sell Salah, but as he is pretty much our only right-sided attacker other than Doak, that makes little sense.

I don't think we need the major surgery some think, we just need to get it right with what we have and buy quality. If the funds are there for another midfielder, then great, but I think the team has shown over and over again when injuries have hit in recent years that we can trust kids to fill in gaps. That is the bare minimum I am talking about, but we need to make some space in the squad first before we can do much anyway.}

6.) 01 May 2023
01 May 2023 19:17:06
I'd happily let Thiago go back to Barcelona TBH RushysBugle. I get that he's a great player but I just don't think he's worked out for us at all (I know some here would disagree) and that's not his fault really, it's the system we play (or did play) . Jones - going off the last few games anyway - looks better suited to our preferred style, let's hope it works out long term because that's a huge amount of money saved for other positions of it does.

I'm torn on Elliot - he looks a good player but everytime I see mention of him replacing Salah eventually I have to think that I'm just not seeing that right now. He's young, let's see how it goes.

7.) 01 May 2023
01 May 2023 19:38:32
johnnyr1970 I agree on all points. Elliot looks best suited to different tactics, and maybe even a different league.

8.) 01 May 2023
01 May 2023 19:43:05
Part of the problem for me. He’s had his full season chance, they all have. Wether it be injures/ form/ or their legs.
Not good enough, he wouldn’t get near City, Arsenal, Newcastle, Man Utd midfields and he isn’t good enough for ours IMO.

9.) 01 May 2023
01 May 2023 19:56:42
2 top midfielders and a top CB then replace any outgoing eg Kelleher, Tsimikas etc.

Ugarte/ Caideo and Mount/ Barella for midfield
Gvaridol is my CB choice but the 2 youngsters (forgotten their names) at Benfica and Sporting could be better alternatives.

10.) 01 May 2023
01 May 2023 20:14:12
I think it's either one of Salah or Elliott, they both play the same position, and when they do play in the same starting 11 Salah always seems to be restricted, I would keep Elliott but maybe when Salah needs a rest then bring Harvey on.

11.) 01 May 2023
01 May 2023 21:47:33
I think it will be Doak who will be Salah's natural successor and not Elliott. We're a couple of years away from that yet, but that's how I see it happening.

12.) 01 May 2023
01 May 2023 21:16:46
Disagree with Ed01 here unusually. I think our midfield is very poor and need 2-3 quality additions, perhaps two starters and one up and coming talent. I totally agree the next area is defence, and I’d buy at least one player as Ed says. Up front we look good though I’d replace Firmino with another option, perhaps a young talent with promise. RB and LB as well as GK no changes.

13.) 01 May 2023
01 May 2023 21:37:59
Cheers Ed. I think the Physio’s and S&C teams would have their work cut out next season keeping Konate and Gomez fit and Phillips could be the most active 4th choice centre half in the league.

On the forwards we’ve had 6 (senior) available for the 2nd half of the season and with 5 suns and injuries all have had plenty of minutes. I think going from 6 to 4 could leave us thin.

Personally I think we need 2 new midfielders in. I’m guessing just from what you’ve said in the past would it be Bellingham as your choice for the 1 to Come in.

{Ed001's Note - we wouldn't go to 4 forwards. We still have Carvalho and Doak to fill the back up slots.}

14.) 01 May 2023
01 May 2023 22:09:24
fully agree ed1. been saying this for a few months, a major rebuild is absolutely the last thing we need, especially in the midfield.

The idea that 3-4 new midfielders would arrive in the summer and they would be the miracle 3-4 midfielders who walk in and magically contribute immediately is a pipe dream. We already have a bloated squad, especially in the midfield, thanks to Edwards and Ward. So just reassessing the actual need will be good.

Ed1 - I dream that somehow Klopp and co come to this realization and change their mind on blowing the funds on Bellingham and just going for him. I'd much rather we brought him in that 2 or 3 new midfielders for the same price.

{Ed001's Note - I am with you on that. Bellingham makes more sense than ever.}

15.) 02 May 2023
02 May 2023 01:36:31
So a likely summer is two midfielders, a centre-back, a forward if Jota or Salah leaves and a back-up keeper.

16.) 02 May 2023
02 May 2023 07:28:37
Changing too few players means we’re in danger of being stuck with the stale coaching and psychological performances.

I think the player churn is needed this time, unless we are radically changing the coaching staff.

{Ed001's Note - I don't think so at all, that suggests everything else is equal as well, which it isn't. For instance, there has already been a completely different plan of action drawn up for pre-season. Yes we will go on an Asian trip again, but this time they will spend a couple of weeks putting in the hard yards first and getting their baseline fitness up and going on what would otherwise be a low intensity week to allow bodies to recover ahead of more hard work. That is where it starts.

Last season the pre-season was a complete mess and we never recovered from it. They look to have absorbed the lessons from it and are working with a plan that should work much better.}

17.) 02 May 2023
02 May 2023 07:41:09
I think the defence is the biggest concern and a first choice CB is essential. It’d cost a fortune but Gvardiol and Bellingham would improve the team to such a degree that a 200mil+ outlay for the pair would be the best piece of business. Obviously it is extremely unlikely but that sort of quality would be akin to when Van Dijk and Alisson joined in quick succession, and would massively upgrade the first team. We can but dream.

18.) 02 May 2023
02 May 2023 08:18:36
Ed, I hope you’re right.

That Dubai camp post World Cup did nothing to enhance the season. So too the fortnight breaks we had in the season achieved no improvements in either fitness or tactics.

In fact I’ve unashamedly moaned about more time on the training pitch appearing to make us worse for a couple of years haha.

So forgive my scelticism that a better pre-season will have us ready to challenge.

{Ed001's Note - let's just hope so. It could hardly make us worse anyway.}

19.) 02 May 2023
02 May 2023 08:36:53
We live in hope.

20.) 02 May 2023
02 May 2023 10:43:15
I'd love to see that Seano - Bellingham and Gvardiol, tbh I'd like Ndicka on a free as well and then we could sell a couple as well

I'd def sell Matip while we can - great player but injuries playing too much a factor these days.

21.) 02 May 2023
02 May 2023 11:35:32
Nice rundown, Ed01. For me, 3 players or 4 at the very max depending on who leaves and with a very good preseason, we should be ready to go but we will need to start fast regardless of the schedule cos top 4 is going to be a dog fight next season.