Text Size Adjuster: 18px 01 Sep 2026 02:26:01 In order to view all of today's banter, you may have to visit our Liverpool banter 2 to Liverpool banter 10 pages linked at the bottom of this page.
01 Sep 2026 00:38:50
Hughes has been a 2-year disaster show, emphasised more by his relationship with Edwards, who was a disaster of a reappointment.
We now need to seek a new, outside recruitment man with a proven record of upcoming players who then develop into stars.
The full-back issues and a lack of a striker will ruin our season.
Fair play to Barcola, signed for us despite the s*** show in the background.
Nothing to see today, I’m afraid.
2
01 Sep 2026 01:35:23
Really? Are you serious?
In the last 2 years we've won the league, signed the best player in Germany, the 2nd best striker in the Premier League, another excellent striker, the best left back in the Premier League, a right back who won the Bundesliga going unbeaten all season, the best young French CB from Ligue 1, the best young CB from Serie A, a former Barcelona captain and now one of the best wingers in world football.
In that time we've tragically lost a player, sold the likes of Nunez, Doak, Morton who most deemed not good enough, we've lost the scouser in the team because he fancied the bright lights of Madrid, we've lost our talisman and record Premier League goalscorer who's time was up and we lost Konate who again, most deemed not good enough.
Frimpong was injured for a lot of last season and was only really signed as backup to Bradley who we were all excited about but he got a serious injury, Leoni got a serious injury, Ekitike got a serious injury, Isak broke his leg, Ali has been in and out of the team with injuries.
We've now changed managers and the players are struggling to adapt immediately. Communication and cohesion isn't quite there but it will come.
I seriously think all the hate and doomsday scenarios are totally unnecessary. We are in a good place. When the players get that cohesion and we get players back from injury we will be a serious force to be reckoned with.
It was always going to be difficult moving on from Klopp. It was always going to be difficult transitioning from Salah, Mane, Bobby, Trent, Robbo, Virgil, Ali etc. to a new team and still stay as successful.
How do you replace Mo's goals? You won't find another wide forward like Mo so we've had to go a different way. We are transitioning from a false 9 model with 2 wide forwards and a solid, compact midfield to a proper 9 with a 10 and a more creative midfield with wingers staying wide and feeding the forwards.
We've needed to sign a whole different profile of player. We tried playing Salah and Gakpo as wingers with Isak or Ekitike through the middle and it didn't work. Just like it didn't work for Klopp when he tried it with Nunez.
I literally could go on forever but I hope you understand what I'm trying to say. We are nowhere near as bad as some of you think and have done some excellent business in the last couple of windows. We haven't reaped the rewards yet because we've been in between styles of play and haven't had the right profile of player and we've had a lot of injuries.
We will get there but we were never going to complete the squad in 1 or even 2 windows. We have a squad that, if Iraola gets them going, can seriously challenge for everything. I know many won't agree because all you can see are negatives but I honestly believe it.
Front line options consisting of Barcola, Isak, Ekitike, Wirtz, Gakpo, Munoz and Rio is absolutely frightening.
Yes we need Bradley back and Kerkez needs to step up but is it so impossible for that to happen?
Sorry this post wasn't meant to be this long and well done if you made it to the end but I needed to remind everyone of just what a good squad we are building here.
1
01 Sep 2026 02:00:18
Stepover
You’re entitled to your opinion and I have mine.
You do you and I will do me. 👍🏻
I hope your positivity pays off, mind you, but I am one of life’s realists.
I still stand by my statement. Our full backs are undoubtedly some of the worst in the Premier League.
Wirtz is now 14 months with the club and yet to show me anything that tells me he is top class. He is not.
The squad balance is poor. We win nothing this season.
0
01 Sep 2026 02:22:58 I wasn’t really aiming that at you, Hughes; your post just echoes most posts I read on here, so I replied to it with my own thoughts.
I would hasten to add, though, mate, you are not a realist. You are a pessimist. Realism is very often used to excuse pessimism.
It’s about how you perceive reality. I look at our reality and I’m excited. I look at the players we’ve signed and see bags of talent. I know it hasn’t clicked yet, but I’m sure it will.
You look at our reality and see problems. You see negativity. You see that the team isn’t performing as you’d like, and you can’t see it getting any better.
From my point of view it’s much more likely that we will get better than not. There’s too much talent in our squad for that not to happen. We are building a team to get the best from Wirtz and Isak and we will. And when we do it will be a joy to behold.
01 Sep 2026 00:22:13
A day to go but very hard to see how we bring any suitable reinforcements in time. An abysmal window from those running the club, leaving a paper thin squad with serious gaps, and serious question marks over its ability to maintain enough fit players in key positions. Can’t believe we took so long to appoint a new manager, then utterly failed to back him in the market. We’re a great club at generating revenue, but are seemingly unwilling to actually spend that revenue when and where it is needed.
I do think Iraola is the right person - but the club have sold him horribly short, and I think it will be a tough ask to get a Champions League spot with so many weaknesses in the squad. Perhaps a lack of ambition from owners who already have their exit strategy lined up.
2
01 Sep 2026 00:48:39
Agree! I think most people are realistic and understand that the market was a little bit bonkers, but to strengthen the squad in key areas when there were (are i.e. Camara) affordable options is just downright criminal.
From what I've seen, Araujo is a great player who could succeed VVD as the senior CB to partner Jacquet and Leoni. He has a wonderful pass and he has barely put a foot wrong. I think he gets more game time and, if Frimpong continues to perform poorly, then Jacquet/Araujo go to CB.
I know it is early in the season but this seems like a good decision. I also think Wirtz and Szobo both play in the same starting team. You can't have one out.
In terms of transfers, I think we need one midfielder. Camara or Kone. It's going to be a very interesting season.
Lewis Hall
Michael Kayode
Felix Nmecha
Enzo Le Fee
Kevin Schade
Brahim Diaz
Franculino Dju
1
31 Aug 2026 23:16:18
Football Manager in a nutshell...
2
31 Aug 2026 23:41:05
And our transition into Spurs will be complete.
3
31 Aug 2026 23:42:34
Couldn't be any less realistic.
I guess you take the title of the King of Wishful Thinking.
1
01 Sep 2026 00:12:20
No offence, but if we ever get access to Santa, and I suspect we very much will at some point, you are not the first person to speak, Casey.
While your encyclopedic knowledge of football players became evident the moment you mentioned Franculino Dju, I can't help but feel Kvarshelia should be the first name on the list ahead of Lewis Hall.
Since Santa is giving us 7 players, I'd rather fix the full backs with Nuno Mendes and Hakami. You might have heard of them. 😀
2
01 Sep 2026 00:29:45
Might as well put the whole PSG list on there.
Seems like a pretty good team.
We could even do a Real Madrid and sign them all on a free!
31 Aug 2026 21:59:27
Wondering if we will challenge Arsenal for Malick Fofana.
1
31 Aug 2026 22:14:06
For what? Aren't we stuffed on the left? A midfielder would make my day but clearly ain't gonna happen.
2
31 Aug 2026 22:22:03
Well we do need another left winger.
5
31 Aug 2026 22:39:28
FSG failed this window, all we needed was a Number 6 to give us that Fort Knox.
4
31 Aug 2026 22:40:27
Why would we try for Fofana when he’s another left winger???
1
31 Aug 2026 23:15:35
But, but, but if we corner the market in left wingers, we can hold all clubs to ransom and then sell them all for a massive profit in Jan.
At least that's what I used to do on Championship Manager.
They'll get grumpy not playing, but if you upgrade your club psychologist, then they'll be A-OK!
3
31 Aug 2026 23:22:45
We should just do it to see if we can delay it long enough so they can't do it :D.
0
01 Sep 2026 00:39:33
I think the idea is to buy all the left wingers then everyone needs to play two right wingers and every single team will be weak on the left.
1
01 Sep 2026 00:32:59
Our midfield is more like Barbara Knox, Rax.
31 Aug 2026 21:43:12
With all the negativity of a show this transfer window has been, I just hope it comes with blessings in the form of Nyoni showing everyone how good he is and becoming a regular in our midfield.
31 Aug 2026 20:58:57
Surely we must be looking at bringing in 1-2 midfielders? Eds do you know if we are actually pursuing any? With only Grav, Mac, Szob, Wirtz, trey and Endo surely we are 1-2 short? I know I know RTP's. We need midfielders and a RB before the end of the window but reading the posts it doesn't look likely.
1
{Ed001's Note - very unlikely.}
1
31 Aug 2026 22:08:42
I've said before and will say it again, McGinn of Villa surely must be worth a shout.
2
31 Aug 2026 22:11:56
McConnell, so 7 players for 3 places in midfield.
RB looks light, but I guess Gomes is still seen as cover until Bradley is fit.
3
31 Aug 2026 22:12:13
McConnell also seems to be highly rated and has been on the bench so far this season.
0
31 Aug 2026 22:29:33
Hunter64, just an FYI, McGinn is 31 years old. Soon he’ll be retiring and focusing on his career in voice acting for Family Guy.
2
31 Aug 2026 22:59:49
McConnell is championship standard. I don't think he will be on the bench once a player returns from injury. It was Preston who wanted him on loan.
2
31 Aug 2026 23:13:04
McGinn runs about two miles per hour and is all heart, no real action. Decent on his day, but I'd rather have brought Hendo back.
0
31 Aug 2026 23:16:19
MKS - "Excellent" *steeples fingers*.
0
01 Sep 2026 01:39:35
I really don't see McConnell adding much to this team.
31 Aug 2026 20:32:18
I don’t know if we will or won’t be signing anymore players.
The right attack position for what has been on offer and for the price, am glad we are not signing anyone this window.
I would think two cm would be better and play Szoboszlai wide right.
Then a right back loan or permanent signing there has got to be someone available who is better than Frimpong.
3
31 Aug 2026 21:34:50
With 24 hours to go, yeah?
1
31 Aug 2026 21:41:49
As I pointed out this morning, Dom's stats at Leipzig playing rw are fantastic. I'd like to see him rw with Nyoni and Grav in the middle.
5
31 Aug 2026 21:46:09
I agree, Grino. Would prefer we didn't sign any further players than panic buy. Also glad Gakpo is staying. Not sure why he gets pelters at times; can play either side and through the middle.
1
31 Aug 2026 21:48:33
Turning down 85m for Gakpo because we couldn't sign a RW when we knew Salah was leaving 6 months ago is awful. He'll probably go to Spurs in January for about 50m and we'll try to get Minteh then when he's fit.
5
31 Aug 2026 22:03:02
Richard Hughes is spinning a lot of plates and has to think of Al Hilal too.
3
31 Aug 2026 22:15:07
We have looked at quality RWers all window and either they said no or the clubs said no. That’s how it works in the real world. Munoz will do for now with backup from Gakpo and Kumas.
0
31 Aug 2026 22:32:54
We could have signed Mbaye months ago for a reasonable fee.
1
31 Aug 2026 23:17:08
There's a reason that a lot of clubs are turning away from Mbaye, apparently.
0
31 Aug 2026 23:57:26
Grav is not a 6; teams have found him out. He obviously doesn't want the role. We don't have anyone capable of this position for the season.
Yet many players are available for the position, yes without Premier League experience, but would do better than our current midfield line-up.
Which is, as we can see, woeful, just like our opponents do.
Is there anyone above Hughes who can override his last days of existence? 🤔
{Ed001's Note - very unlikely.}