18 May 2023 08:06:16
Hi Eds,
With this unbeaten run coinciding with Trent in midfield it seems to have helped improve both Fabinho and Jones. Am assuming Trent will continue in midfield next season so we'd have 7, Trent, Fab, Jones, Henderson, Thiago, Elliot and Bajetic, so do you think we actually need another midfielder and if so, who would you hope for?
Thanks,

{Ed001's Note - hope? Obviously Bellingham. But I think we probably need a Rabiot or similar type more. If not him and that extra experience that we are losing with Milner, I would rather give the likes of Morton a go than settle for anything less than a Bellingham or similar top class player.}

1.) 18 May 2023
18 May 2023 08:43:30
We can't fall into this trap again, we said we had 8 midfielders this season. Problem is; the vast majority were injury prone, not very good, not even really midfielders, or all of the above.

2.) 18 May 2023
18 May 2023 09:10:29
I still think we need one more agressive ball winner in the group. A mobile one. Ugarte would be a good pickup.

Jones and Bajectic are now vital. If both are down, midfield lacks energy again. Both have experienced injuries. Someone like Ugarte would add a third high energy player to the mix and you could play all three together. Good luck getting time on the ball with those three.

Then please lordy, Gavridol. I know there's little to no chance but I'm still hoping for a miracle.

3.) 18 May 2023
18 May 2023 09:56:32
If we can't r won't go for top class additions don't go at all. Don't go for a player like mount as we have jones/ elliott/ carvalho who similar and have every bit as high, maybe higher, ceiling than. Go for a caicedo, somebody who we don't have anybody like. Personally wouldn't go for rabiot either.

4.) 18 May 2023
18 May 2023 08:26:56
Ed001, Morton and Jones is why we should be putting all our funds into Bellingham instead of a couple of lesser players.

{Ed001's Note - I agree.}

5.) 18 May 2023
18 May 2023 08:35:33
Interesting Ed. What are your expectations for next season? A title challenge or top 4 challenge?

{Ed001's Note - expectations? I don't have any. This sport has long since ended that as you always find yourself completely surprised by something. Best just to enjoy the ride and hope for the best.}

6.) 18 May 2023
18 May 2023 09:16:48
I’m with you Ed 1
I don’t think we need the 3 midfielders people want even I got sucked in to thinking that way . I think this formation change has changed the clubs thinking it has got to have anyway .
A holding midfielder
And a soon to be superstar That dictates play.

7.) 18 May 2023
18 May 2023 09:23:06
Ed, do you think going into the season with the above 7 midfield options is enough? With Trent dropping in there and the fact Jones as well as Bajetic and Elliot are going to be options do you think or see us bringing in more than one midfielder?

{Ed001's Note - 7 should be plenty as you are forgetting the likes of Morton.}

8.) 18 May 2023
18 May 2023 10:42:38
OP, you can attribute our upturn in form to a lot of other things and not just Trent. C Jones is killing it. Konate is fully fit and is becoming a defensive stalwart, VVD has had his head screwed on right and so on. Just my take.

That said, we need at least 2 mid's to come in this summer as potential starters, IMO. That has to happen. As for who that is? Well, we will have to see with MacAlister, Mount and others being linked.

9.) 18 May 2023
18 May 2023 11:21:30
I'd be ok with 7 + Morton. But the reality is that Fabinho, Thiago and Henderson will each spend plenty of time on the sidelines.

10.) 18 May 2023
18 May 2023 11:37:46
How good has morton been with Blackburn? I watched him a couple of times and he was technically good but wanted a lot of time on the ball and was slow releasing it and a bit wild with the challenges. We are going up against a godzilla in citeh and other teams who will be better than last season and champions league money we can't afford to be relying on youngsters with hardly any Premier league experience e. g morton, Bradley, bajetic, without easing them in as understudies to quality 1st teamers.

11.) 18 May 2023
18 May 2023 11:21:30
I'd be ok with 7 + Morton. But the reality is that Fabinho, Thiago and Henderson will each spend plenty of time on the sidelines.

12.) 18 May 2023
18 May 2023 11:57:35
If we don’t improve the midfield we’ll do as badly next season as we have this season.

13.) 18 May 2023
18 May 2023 12:37:50
The box midfield we're playing requires two no.6's (DM) and two no.8/ 10's (CM/ AM) .

DM we have Fabinho, Morton, Bajcetic, Thiago and now Trent. That's 4-5 options which i think is enough for 2 positions. If Fabinho or Thiago leave then i think we should replace them but if they stay I am okay with those options. The likes of Thuram, Rabiot, Nunes, Amrabat, Ugarte, Neves, Gravenberch etc have been linked but none of them appear to be priorities because we have enough bodies in there for now. If players leave obviously that changes things. If Thiago left you want more of a Nunes/ Rabiot type whereas if Fabinho left you'd want more of a Neves/ Amrabat type.

CM/ AM we only really have Hendo and Jones. Elliott can play there but looks better on the RW as understudy to Salah. So that is only 2-3 options for 2 positions which isn't enough. Carvalho could be in that category but he will probably leave on loan. So for me, we need 2 players here to give us 4 or 5 options. Mount and MacAllister both fit the mould. High energy players who will press without the ball and contribute in the final third with it.

I'd be happy with:
DM: Trent, Fabinho, Nunes, Bajcetic, Morton
CM/ AM: MacAllister, Mount, Jones, Hendo, Elliott.

{Ed002's Note - You can forget a number of players you mention.}

14.) 18 May 2023
18 May 2023 12:58:26
Tbh lads, all the focus is on midfield and rightly so given the issues we have had but I think we need a quality cb too

Gvardiol or someone of similar ilk would be ideal, Ndicka is on a free - one poster compared him to Konate when we first signed him, so surely that would be a good bit of business? I think we need to sell Matip and then let Phillips go so he can develop a career - nice lad, would love to see him first choice cb in a team

Midfield: the formation tweak looks to have steadied things - Trent playing next to Fabinho means he is not trying to cover the entire midfield himself and looks a lot better as a result. Also, Curtis Jones is playing so well - gets back and does the dirty part of the role, has the energy to constantly compete, but with Trent sitting with Fabinho he has the freedom to support the attack and, imo, this let's him play his best game

I know some of the posters are complaining about injury prone players but with Keita and Ox leaving, we are losing the main two culprits in this

Thiago and Henderson will miss a few games - Fabinho? Honestly, i'm not sure of his exact absence record?

That would leave:
- Trent in his inverted role - doesn't miss many games
- Fabinho/ Bacjetic rotating in the 6 role
- New signing/ Jones
- Hendo/ Thiago/ Elliott
- Morton and Clarkson as well

On paper that looks enough does it not? I think, even if Fabinho does miss a few games, with him and Bacjetic covering we should be ok - especially if Trent is sitting beside them

Hopefully Jones stays injury free as he is doing really well and I would love to see how he develops if he can sustain this type of form for a full season. I have him rotating with a new signing but if he stays fit, then him or Elliott could potentially rotate for the more attacking midfielder supporting the forwards and Thiago and Henderson can rotate in depending on fitness and experience needed - their minutes could be better managed to hopefully see the best out of them as well then?

That would be just one new signing in midfield and, like I said, I would love us to get Gvardiol and Ndicka. I mean reports are Gvardiol is keen and Ndicka is on a free so would this not be doable?

That would be what 90m for Gvardiol?, Ndicka on a free and say MacAllister at 70m = 160m. Add the sales of Matip and Phillips for say even 10m each and that brings that figure down to 140m - surely that is doable?

15.) 18 May 2023
18 May 2023 13:53:52
Yeah no worries Ed002. I saw your post yesterday that Nunes, Gravenberch, Mount, MacAllister and Sucic were perhaps the most realistically attainable midfielders. I like them all except Gravenberch who i think has too heavy a touch to cope in the Premier League. I hope we can sign 2 or 3 of them ??

Bill, that looks at least 1 new signing short to me. I hope we learn our lesson. We've looked really light in midfield this season so the key for me would be to replace the injury prone players with players that will be more available. Klopp publically bemoaned his inability to rotate resulting in more injuries to those having to play too much. I really don't think its sensible to let go of Arthur, Milner, Ox, Keita and Carvalho and only sign one player. Morton and Clarkson had good loans at lower levels but not enough to leave the fate of an entire season up to them and what would most likely be an out of form Mason Mount returning from hip surgery. The way I see it, Mount and MacAllister are the first choice replacements for players the club has already announced will leave and then any other signing hinges on who else leaves the club. I agree with you about the need for a CB but that will surely depend on a few of the 6 options we have there leaving permanently; e. g. Matip, Williams and Phillips. Same as a DM only makes sense if Thiago or Fabinho go. A GK only makes sense if Kelleher goes. And so on. Firmino has already been replaced by Gakpo so we probably don't need another ST.

{Ed002's Note - I don't recall a post saying that yesterday.}

16.) 18 May 2023
18 May 2023 15:28:42
I must've been another Editor then Ed002! There was a question i read early this morning from a poster asking who would be good and realistic signings and I definitely saw an answer written in red to the effect of:
GK: Bart Verbruggen is one to watch
CB: Ndicka
DM: Gravenberch or Nunes
AM: Mount, MacAllister or Sucic
RW/ LW: not needed

Unless I've gone completely mad or misread it! ?.

{Ed002's Note - I recall now, sorry. Since then Ndicka can likely be struck off that list as I understand a meeting this lunchtime has changed things.}

17.) 18 May 2023
18 May 2023 15:36:27
Ahhh no worries Ed002. I understand things change really quickly and appreciate all your information nonetheless. Your input makes this site what it is!

{Ed002's Note - Thanks.}

18.) 18 May 2023
18 May 2023 16:29:23
Ed02, Do you have the minutes of said lunchtime meeting by any chance or is that a bridge too far?

Okay, Im joking, of course.

{Ed002's Note - I spoke with someone involved.}

19.) 18 May 2023
18 May 2023 17:45:13
Mind if we ask where ndicka is off to eds? Please of course.

{Ed002's Note - There is a verbal agreement to join Roma, although he did have a better offer from elsewhere.

20.) 18 May 2023
18 May 2023 20:31:22
Great info again thanks ed2.