27 May 2024 23:11:50
Be interested to hear other posters view on this. Assuming we play a double 6 with Trent moving into midfield and another all round midfielder comes in, Mac Allister and Elliott playing mostly as the 10. Were does gravenberch fit in, I think he's got the skill set to develop into a very good back to Gakpo on the left up top?
27 May 2024 23:31:36
Not sure I agree with that. His close control and agility limit him ability to play left wing.
He’s a ball winning midfielder.
27 May 2024 23:33:59
I think macalister and trent make sense at 6 with the passing ability and ranges of distance, koop and szob at ten both have outrageous long shot ability which is quite mouth watering, gravenberch I visualise to be a back up rotation player with jones Elliot ends morton carvalho bajeyic.
28 May 2024 02:11:16
You're seeing more in the lad then I am mate, unfortunately. I just don't see him working out for us.
28 May 2024 03:00:10
He will play RB and invert to be one of the pivots. That is how Slot plays. He is the dream RB for him. I donot see him moving into mf.
28 May 2024 03:28:08
He seems more focused going forward than defending and seems capable of going past players. I believe he is also reasonably composed in front of goal. I know he’s not doing enough yet but I think his potential ability is high. I think he could end up being Like a lesser Stevie g.
28 May 2024 04:00:51
Hi sanjit. You may be right about Trent but I genuinely believe the balance of the team would be better with Trent playing as one of a double 6 and Bradley playing at RB he’s going to be way too good to be on the bench.
28 May 2024 07:34:26
I'm not quite sure where grav will fit in but we do have to remember we in champ league this year and there a minimum of 8 games in group stage possibly 10 so are squad will be needed. Even tho we well stocked in midfield we ended up playing gomez at 6 last season due to injuries and that was with us in europa league where group was v weak, champ league will all be tough games I would imagine, no gimmes.
28 May 2024 07:44:05
I should copy and paste this! I don't see Trent playing in midfield as double pivot, whatever that means, or in any other position other than right back. With regards to Gravenberch, I don't see a future with us in the long term, or medium term, come to that.
28 May 2024 08:24:16
Colonel, TAA and MAC at number 6 is nothing more than an open invitation to run at our defence. Neither of them are defensive minded midfielders and doesn’t fix the problems from last year. If Slot tries that he’ll find out that hard way that you don’t win titles without a strong top class centre midfielder.
28 May 2024 09:19:41
If we play a double pivot i'd have Mac aand more defensively mided player, not Endo though. Shouldnt be starting. let trent ccompete with bradley.
28 May 2024 09:40:41
Agree with you on that, June nkunku.
28 May 2024 09:53:17
Given we don't really know what Slot will want to do when he gets his hand on this squad of players, we can only speculate. Klopp played with a double-pivot at Dortmund too. Ours is a different squad to Feyenoord, in a different league with different qualities.
We can however look at the overall balance of the squad and say:
1) We need a defensive midfielder that can cover the ground
2) We need to replace Matip
3) We need a left-footed defender that can progress the ball
4) We need another speedy wide forward given Salah's declining long pace
5) We might need to replace Kelleher if he goes.
If we can sort those things out, then Slot will have everything he needs to play with almost any tactical setup.
As for Trent - I'll stand by the opinion that he should be play RB and be asked to invert on instruction rather than as he feels.
And Gravenberch - a strange signing for me. If we do choose to invest in his development, he needs to start by unlocking some aggression. Without that he will fail.
28 May 2024 10:04:39
Agree with everything you've said there, FPF. Regards to Kelleher replacement, I read this morning that we're linked with Trafford. Hope there's no truth in that. I know he's young, but I wouldn't want him filling in for Alisson, given his performances for Burnley last season.
28 May 2024 10:20:00
Cheers, Rome1977.
I haven't seen Trafford enough but when I have seen him he reminded me of Kelleher a lot with his footwork. So I can see why they might look at him from that point of view.
However, would he want to go an sit on the bench at Liverpool at this stage of his career?
28 May 2024 10:45:09
I’d take Trafford as a Kelleher replacement. Homegrown and still a good young keeper. Wouldn’t want him as first choice, but as back up he’s similar in level to Ortega, Ramsdale etc.
We’re incredibly lucky to have a keeper as good as Kelleher as back up. It’s unlikely to happen again for some time at any Prem club because top keepers don’t move to sit on the bench. Kelleher just happened to come through our academy, but it’s only a matter of time before he looks at his situation a realises he deserves more.
28 May 2024 11:05:02
Have to disagree with you, MKS. He's no where near the level of Ortega or Ramsdale. He's like a crisp when it comes to the physical stuff, from what I've seen, and he lost his place in the Burnley side because of it. Maybe he will improve, and I'm sure he will, but given the injuries Alisson had this year, I wouldn't want Trafford anywhere near our first team.
28 May 2024 11:10:45
Reference the OG question, Macca played his best footy in a double pivot, so I think he would be best there alongside Trent as first choice pairing. I think Gravenberch provide rotation and cover to Mac as role rather than something further forward. Although I do think he could play 10, I reckon we have many better players.
All up in the air though isn't it. Certainly exciting and I'm looking forward to seeing how we line up and play.
28 May 2024 11:57:35
It was said the other day that Real are trying to persuade Trents agent into him running down his contract to move there.
Any idea what position Real see Trent in with their interest.
Is it Right Back or Midfield or both?
28 May 2024 12:14:16
Yes I know vikyor but that is how Arne plays he don’t have tradition defensive midfielder but has 3 players saying back in the back line not 2 so maybe we have more cover that way? In possession t makes my mouth salivate.
28 May 2024 14:08:14
He's very good playing out from the back though Rome and also still incredibly young for a keeper at 21 years old. With better players and coaches to learn from in training, and also less pressure on his goal when he does play, I think you'd see a lot less mistakes from him. The raw ability is there to see, and he's one of the best penalty stoppers I've seen in a long time.
It's a fair point though mate, as Trafford's not ready to be starting regularly and Alisson is quite unreliable in terms of fitness.
{Ed077's Note - Kelleher to Trafford is a big downgrade I'd say. Surely one of the young academy lads is half decent such that you don't have to throw money for Trafford
28 May 2024 15:25:26
MKS like Rome1977! and Ed77, Trafford is nowhere near Kellerher's ability and him being homegrown and all that doesn't do much for me if the kid cannot step in the way Kellerher has been.
Now I don't know who we can get BUT I've seen Trafford and he is relentlessly awful. there are other very good options out there we can get and sorry, they don't have to be English or homegrown cos you can be all that and still be crap, which Trafford is.
28 May 2024 16:09:03
When we talk about players being a ‘pivot’ can somebody explain to me what that actually means? Genuine question.
28 May 2024 16:38:38
WDW3, I'm with you, mate. Just more gobbledygook, jargon. However, having read up on it, when it comes to the "double pivot" it's requiring of tackling, winning headers, winning second balls and controlling the tempo of play, to name but a few. Basically being a midfielder! This rules Trent and Mac Allister ever being a "double pivot". In my humble opinion of course.
28 May 2024 19:57:22
A 'pivot' is the jargon term used to describe players in the zone between where defence usually lines up and the midfield. Klopp's 433 used a single pivot i. e fabinho splitting the CB's to create space through the midfield and provide options outside at the same time, with more traditional midfielders in Hendo and Gini ahead of him.
A double pivot is two players in that role instead of one, although Slot typically doesn't have these players as out and out defensive players. More progressive ball carriers and pace setters. Perfect role for Macca and Grav in my opinion. Potentially Trent as I have said above but he would need to tone down the long range passing. Slots teams don't tend to do much of thatz unless of course he's simply never had someone with Trents vision and ability before. I'm very excited to see.