27 Jul 2023 08:58:51
If we Sign Lavia, then sound. In my opinion it will only be a great signing if Fabinho stays, for me, if Lavia is to be the new '6' him alone at 19 years of age, with the length of the season we have coming up and the amount of gamed is risky in my eyes. If fabinho goes, then in my opinion Lavia needs to come with another signing, more experienced and to share the work load. What's your thoughts?

1.) 27 Jul 2023
27 Jul 2023 09:35:52
If only we had a similar player who could rotate out and get the precious minutes they require. like Bajcetic! Lavia is more than experienced - pretty sure Bellingham will be starting for Madrid every game, no point buying players and not trusting them to do the job they're employed for.

2.) 27 Jul 2023
27 Jul 2023 09:38:20
Most people would agree with Lavia + 1 if Fabinho goes.

There've been a few discussions further down the boards that all agree on the same approach.

3.) 27 Jul 2023
27 Jul 2023 09:45:15
Have you forgotten about bajetic?

4.) 27 Jul 2023
27 Jul 2023 09:55:10
With both Lavia and Bajcetic in the squad, I'd risk it. Lavia has a full season in the EPL under his belt. Bajcetic has played 8 games with the seniors and trained with them all previous season long (although most in midfield that he has trained with are/ will be, gone - but how much does that affect fixed training drills and methods? ) . Rather than spend another 30-40 million on a DM, I'd rather address the CB and CM needs.

5.) 27 Jul 2023
27 Jul 2023 09:53:42
I would also like us to sign a more experienced 6 but the plan may be to share the role between lavia, macallister and bajcetic. I can't see us spending more on the midfield just because we've spent so much on midfielders already. I also worry about squad harmony with so many players coming in at once. I do believe macallister would be good in the 6 role as he's intelligent and disciplined but yeah, ideally an experienced 6 would come in.

6.) 27 Jul 2023
27 Jul 2023 09:54:21
Fabinho will almost certainly leave.

I don't subscribe to buying a lower ceiling stop gap experience guy to block Lavia and Bajcetic for a few years. We will have two of the most exciting DM prospects around. They are not going to develop as fast on the bench. And don't fool yourself to thinking and experienced guy is going to help them grow behind the scenes. The experience guy will slow their development by taking valuable game time.

Both have proven that they are not all at sea in prem level already. They were more than capable of mixing it and delivering good/ some great performances. Having them challenge each other is perfect in my opinion. They can both push each other to reach their ceilings. They will probably see it as good friendly competition too as both are young and will see good game time with the amount of games and neither will think they can't win the spot off the other even if one gains it.

I also think we are lowering our risk as we have two. If it's getting too much for one, play the other one for a while.

Honestly, i'm really confident this will work out big time.

Imagine when Brighton sold Bissouma a decided that Caicedo is only 19 and bought someone else.

Whatever you do when you make change has risk. I'd prefer to take the risk on these exciting young guns.

If Fabinho and Thiago go, I'd look to a versatile player like Thuram who can challenge all positions in midfield and not block Lavia/ Bajcetic.

{Ed077's Note - but Caicedo was already at the club, was coming into a settled midfield with experience, both as individuals and as a unit. Liverpool are likely losing tons of experience from their midfield at one go and so its going to be a bigger ask for any youngster to come into a new club, in a completely new midfield setup and deliver from minute one.

It is, for sure, going to be interesting to watch how it all goes in the LFC window this new season.

7.) 27 Jul 2023
27 Jul 2023 10:18:05
I buy both arguments here - don't block the development, but also we need experience.

I expect Thiago to go too, so I would go for someone like Kessie or Llorente who can cover a few midfield positions and provide valuable experience.

8.) 27 Jul 2023
27 Jul 2023 10:54:34
ED77, good point, pity we couldn't get him early like the Mcallister and Szobo, the only thing I would add to those wanting an older stop gap is how do we know that would work (looking at mentioned names) at least Lavia and Baj have played in the Prem.
Lets hope the new midfield performs like when we got a whole new forward line in Beardsley, Barnes and Aldridge.
Thinks we in for an up and down season myself, but with plenty of goals (both ends haha)

9.) 27 Jul 2023
27 Jul 2023 10:36:27
I'd like to see something similar to Cambiasso at Leicester. True professional at the end of his career coming in who knows they aren't playing every game and has a wealth of both playing and mentality experience to pass on. Unfortunately these players will now be going to Saudi for a massive payday.

{Ed002's Note - There are a small number of Saudi Arabian teams buying players - there will be plenty left for Liverpool. Stop whining.}

10.) 27 Jul 2023
27 Jul 2023 10:36:30
I agree with original post. We need 2 to replace fab and hendo (We was looking for 1 before these two left the club) . If that’s lavia plus a versatile midfielder, who can competently do the 6 role, then great. Bajčetić Is a great prospect and should be used sparingly. Imagine how things would turn out if Lavia got injured and all we had for backup was a young lad (who is injured himself) who had to start 40+ games. I don’t buy in to moving first team starters out of their best positions (Trent or Mac) to cover other positions.

11.) 27 Jul 2023
27 Jul 2023 10:46:19
It’s a big ask to go into the season relying on two teenagers as the primary and rotating CDM. I get the point about playing time and development, but to me that’s in the context of other experienced players. They’re going to have to be relied upon to set the tone for the team defensively, mentally prepare week in week out, drive the team forward from the back. It’s a huge ask. I just think it’s a big ask and not as simple as just slotting a couple kids with good fifa stats and expect them to do the job.

12.) 27 Jul 2023
27 Jul 2023 12:20:11
These are not just a couple of kids though. They are special. Give them the responsibility and I'm sure that faith will be repaid.

13.) 27 Jul 2023
27 Jul 2023 12:49:18
I really liked the look of Baj in the left or right midfield role last season.

He only featured twice as Dm last season. The fact he can play multiple midfield roles is great detriment to him.

Same as Trent I suppose. He’s played 2 pre season games as Dm but he’s more than capable of playing the other midfield role as well.

Similar to the forwards having players who can play a multiple of positions in midfield to a high
Standard will put us in good stead.

14.) 27 Jul 2023
27 Jul 2023 12:55:21
With the senior exits, it's the perfect time for Virgil, Robbo, Alisson, Thiago, Mo and Trent to step up and guide the younger guys.

Plus, Klopp is the culture setter. He knows what to do.

15.) 27 Jul 2023
27 Jul 2023 10:38:45
Caicedo is in no different position to Bajcetic in my opinion. I think longer term it would be far better not to buy a stop gap now and let Lavia and Bajcetic fight for the spot.

These guys are so talented. That's what is giving me comfort. I'd roll with them to be honest. They are both already ready to deliver good performances.

I was hoping to keep Henderson for his experience and club knowledge but I'm not so up for buying it in.

If we are looking at experience guy, I d like it to be Llorente as he can cover about six outfield positions and is super duper fast. He is also an excellent player. That would be my guy. He can move about so as not to block anyone.

Completely agree though Ed. This is one interesting window for us. It's full on rebuild now if you count last few windows. New team forming.

16.) 27 Jul 2023
27 Jul 2023 11:30:03
We could of course get Kalvin Phillips as our experienced pro as he has bags of PL experience.

*dives under the couch*

Seriously though, are there any other more experienced midfielders with recent PL time that could be available without breaking the bank, as you do raise a good point John Wigan that it will always be a bit of a risk that Kessie or Llorente (or Thuram or Kone etc) will adapt quickly and we don't want to risk a slow start.

By the same token, we will have Jones, Mac Allister, Lavia (hopefully), Elliot and Trent who already have that experience.

Would appreciate Ed077's view as you guys got Casemeiro into a similar role and I can't remember how long he took to adapt to the PL?

17.) 27 Jul 2023
27 Jul 2023 15:07:52
Zeddicus, Casemiro got going pretty quickly iirc.

18.) 27 Jul 2023
27 Jul 2023 17:17:20
Ed002 I do believe if an end of career cambiasso was available now that a Saudi club would want him. Just stating an opinion not exactly whinging.

{Ed002's Note - There are pkenty if end of career players Liverpool can sign up.}

19.) 27 Jul 2023
27 Jul 2023 19:25:35
Spot on, FlyPelicanFly. When things like this happen, you can either see it as an obstacle or an opportunity. The choice is yours, at the end of the day. So I agree with you that tho losing this much experience almost at once is not ideal, it is also an opportunity for other guys to step up and provide that leadership with a new energy, enthusiasm and a new voice esp. since we are in a rebuild and going into a new phase of things.

But if we keep moaning and getting all apprehensicve about the unknown and not concentrating the energy on the positive side then, an obstacle it shall definitely be moving forward. Like I said, the choice is yours or ours in this case.