Liverpool banter 7

28 Jul 2026 09:52:40
Hey, been lurking for a while and thought I would join in.

Would love these signings. (Assuming Gakpo leaves and one of Macca or Curt.)

Barcola, Rayan - Solid, Multi Dimensional, Resistant, Direct, good defensive work rate and both also strong in the air which is a plus.

Adam Wharton - Feel like he's got generational aspects in passing and tempo, will unlock Isak / Wirtz and can become world class with the right guidance. Could also be a positive influence on Curtis, leading to him releasing the ball earlier.

Ilya Zabarnyi - Reliable familiarity which along with Rayan and Kerkez helps bridge the initial tactical gap. Also the initial loan aspect is attractive.

Nmandi Collins - Can play across the back 4, a nice bonus, but looks strong at Lcb and could be good future proofing for Van Dijk.

These would be my minimum incomings. Any more would depend on outgoings and how certain players look in preseason I.e. Ramsay, Tsimikas, Nyoni, Morrison, Koumas etc. Chiesa for me sorts the Ekitike problem providing he can stay fit and also can be a 5th option on the wing incase Ngumoha's progress stagnates.

Will be very interesting to see who can make a strong enough impression. There seems to be a lot of potential in our youth ranks. Hopefully we can use this potential to bolster the squad before any babies are thrown out with the bathwater!

Godspeed. :)

28 Jul 2026 10:41:16
I actually agree with all of that. Don't know enough about Collins but I'd be happy with him if he's super versatile. Good window that.

28 Jul 2026 11:11:26
I've only ever seen Collins once and he looked shocking in the 5-1 defeat to us. Doesn't mean he's a bad player, I've just not seen enough of him to judge. Definitely the profile I'd be going after though (versatile RB/CB).

Barcola, I fully agree on. I also like Zabarnyi to be fair, but unsure if he'd come to us to be a back-up and I can't see us benching Van Dijk or paying £60m for Jacquet to sit on the bench.

Wharton is quality but I only think he'd work in our side if Gravenberch will play with more discipline like he did in 24/25. Rayan, I've just not seen enough of to justify the prices being quoted but if anyone has seen enough to make a good judgement call, it's Iraola.

Nice post overall, mate. Welcome.

28 Jul 2026 12:06:36
Everybody looked shocking in that game for Eintracht, MK, including Brown and Larsson, and both of those are excellent players. I don't know much about Collins myself besides him being a Liverpool fan.

28 Jul 2026 13:07:20
He's a Liverpool fan? Why didn't you say so! I'm sold. The German Scouser in our team!

28 Jul 2026 13:25:18
Think if Zabarnyi came it would be to start with Virgil. I know we paid big money for Jaquet, but surely it'd be an obligation to buy loan with Zabarnyi. One that wouldn't be much less than £60m, I'd imagine.

28 Jul 2026 13:49:14
Florian Musiala, the only way I could see us signing another starting CB is if the plan with Jacquet is to rotate him with Virgil. We did something similar with Konate as we phased out Matip. It didn't really work though and we often looked disjointed at the back in the 3 seasons they crossed over from 2021-2024.

As soon as Matip left and we went back to a settled CB partnership of Virgil and Konate, we won the league again in 24/25. I really hate rotating CB's.

It rarely ever works. Arsenal just won the league on the back of Saliba and Gabriel being absolute mainstays. It's okay to throw in a deputy when there is an injury, but actively rotating CB's through choice is a mental concept to me.

If next season is seen as a transitional year, then it is possibly worth gambling on defensive disruption, to ensure a smooth handover from Virgil to Jacquet. I think we can win the league though and give Virgil a big send off.

28 Jul 2026 14:38:08
Yeah, I think you rotate those 3 starting CDs.
VVD, Jacquet and another.

28 Jul 2026 09:43:28
How do you post photos?
From iPhone thanks

{Ed033's Note - You tap on Sightings at the top of the page, then use the upload form at the bottom of the page.

28 Jul 2026 08:21:38
Thanks for the pole Ed's, it's a resounding Rayan result and my preferred choice of available right wingers too.

Can we do another one for RB now as I see that as the next priority
Names mentioned from memory

Kayode
Ruggeri
Gertruida
Kounde
Ratiu
Read
Spence

{Ed033's Note -


Potential LFC RB

28 Jul 2026 08:55:30
Kayode has signed a new deal with Brentford and Spence is absolutely shocking. I'm very surprised they both have over 20% of the vote share.

Kounde having nearly 50% of the vote is no surprise though. He's the clear stand out.

28 Jul 2026 09:02:22
I think Acheampong should be on the list. AI has made it clear we're after a cb who can play rb.

28 Jul 2026 09:11:36
I would have voted if 'none of the above' was on the list.

28 Jul 2026 09:16:52
Arnau Martinez should be on there.

28 Jul 2026 09:28:01
Joel Ordonez?

28 Jul 2026 09:49:05
Mks, I picked Gertruida cos he is very versatile but like you, I thought Spence getting 20% of the vote was very strange cos that dud is absolute pants, man.

Kounde actually prefers playing CB as that is the position he played at Nantes and Sevilla earlier in his career, but cos he can't dislodge the actual CBs at Barca or in the French setup, RB is where his daily bread is for the moment.

28 Jul 2026 09:51:31
Where is "none of the above"?

28 Jul 2026 09:57:43
Spence is better than Frimpong and Bradley.

28 Jul 2026 10:06:55
Rome, I totally disagree on Bradley. He's a very good player. He just can't play more than 20 games a season apparently. Spence is nowhere near his level defensively or going forward. Spurs are pushing Spence out the door for Andy Robertson and Pedro Porro, so that should tell you what De Zerbi thinks of Spence. They'll be looking to capitilise on World Cup fever because they know it's only a matter of time before everyone realises he's pony.



I do agree Spence is probably better than Frimpong, but that's nothing to write home about. We should be lookin to sell as well. You need footballers in the Premier League, not just sprinters. We made the same mistake with Nathaniel Clyne and now Frimpong. Let's look for a RB who can actually play football and win a tackle that isn't a sliding recovery from behind.

28 Jul 2026 10:15:28
I haven't seen enough of Bradley, MK, to class him as a very good player. Moving forward, and I know he's still young, I'm not sure we can rely on him.

I voted for Kounde.

28 Jul 2026 10:30:55
@mks, Bradley is decent going forward, but is not very good defensively. He's rash and prone to receive the yellow card, gets caught out of position too regularly, and is obviously a constant injury risk, so is unreliable.

He's better than Frimpong but that would not be very hard. We require a top level RB without doubt or fail. Neither of those 2 are good enough for one reason or another. Unfortunately.

28 Jul 2026 10:55:57
Agree on Bradley living off that tackle in the Champions League, looks sus defensively, (not Trent sus), and is just good going forward.

28 Jul 2026 11:03:33
Shankly ghost, Bradley isn't the best defensively but he's much better at it than Spence.

Spence, for all the hype, wasn't even that good at the World Cup. Messi won the game for Argentina by moving out to the right wing and taking advantage of Spence not getting tight enough.

You always have to ask yourself why the professional managers think the way they do when so many of them come to the same conclusion. None of the last 3 Spurs managers fancied Spence.

He was only ever played out of necessity when all other options were injured. Postecoglou, Frank and De Zerbi all didn't want him.

On the flip side to that, Bradley was trusted by both Klopp and Slot, as well as Iraola saying the other day that he sees Bradley as the long term solution.

Bradley is definitely more comfortable attacking than he is defending, but Spence is useless at both. Being less useless than Frimpong doesn't make him a good signing.

28 Jul 2026 12:27:45
I don't know, really. I find Bradley and Spence to be around equal in all respects, both can be good (with emphasis on can be, because they aren't consistent) one on one defenders, but are not that good at defending in other respects. On the attacking end, maybe Bradley has a bit of an edge, but it's not a huge one.

Both like to carry the ball from deep, both can have questionable final product in the attacking third. Where Spence has the edge on Conor is pace, though, he really is very fast. All things considered, though, I'd hardly consider Spence to be an upgrade on Bradley.

{Ed001's Note - Spence is a rank awful defender, and he doesn't want to bother defending either. He will just stand and watch at times. Not a player anyone should be considering at this level.}

28 Jul 2026 13:12:23
PB, Spence definitely has questionable end product. He has 1 goal and 2 assists in 59 Premier League appearances, at 25 years old.

For reference, Connor Bradley has 1 goal and 7 assists in 45 appearances, at 23 years old.



That means Spence is close to a goal involvement every 20 games whilst Bradley is closer to a goal involvement every 5 or 6 games. Bradley is still miles better in terms of his end product despite being 2 years younger.

28 Jul 2026 13:14:16
I didn't say anything about wanting Spence, MKS. I did say, however, that we need a top level RB. I, like you, don't think Spence fits the profile for that. Neither does Bradley. Nor Frimpong.

28 Jul 2026 13:50:02
We agree then, Shankly, because I also want us to sign a RB. Kounde. 🙏

28 Jul 2026 13:46:00
" I find Bradley and Spence to be around equal in all respects, "

PB, this tells me you clearly have not watched both players play. Bradley was League 1 POTY with Bolton. When he came on under Klopp, he was amazing esp. vs City and at Wembley in that EFL final for the ages. The kid made the likes of Mbappe and Vini jnr eat grass in the CL at Anfield, as well as many other games.

Injuries have slowed him down, clearly and that was/is always an issue with him even before Klopp gave him his chances. That does not remove from his quality. I remember people saying that were Trent to go (which he did), we have Bradley so we're good. It is the injuries that have changed the notion about him, imo. Spence is not a patch on him, personally.

Now Spence on the other hand, is as Ed01 has described. Abject and awful who couldn't be arsed to defend.

28 Jul 2026 14:33:45
Bradley wasn't League 1 POTY with Bolton.
He was their POTY but not League 1's.

28 Jul 2026 14:40:15
Ahh 'none of the above' from an 80's classic with Richard Pryor and John Candy. 👍

28 Jul 2026 15:05:05
I'm pretty sure I have seen Bradley play, I was excited as anybody else when he broke through and I bought an away kit with his name and number on the back. I remember ed001 saying he expected great things from him and he was the best thing to come out of the academy since Trent.

He has only really shown flashes since then, generally he has been okay with some outstanding performances in the Madrid games, but he has a lot of faults with his game too, even discounting the injuries. Not saying that he won't get there, clearly he is a super talented footballer, but sometimes he tends to play right back like a central midfielder plays right back.

28 Jul 2026 16:02:24
I get the reference there, Ron Keague. Classic film.

28 Jul 2026 16:03:26
Rigsby, why let a fact get in the way of spinning a yarn.

I don't want Spence, but I disagree that he's as bad as folk on here are making out, including Ed01. I've also never bought into the view that Bradley is that good. Jury is still out for me. The jury have come back regards to Frimpong. Get rid, he's a waste of space.

As I've said, Kounde for me.

28 Jul 2026 17:46:09
I actually think Kayode was the one but as one of the posters says, it's difficult now he has extended.
My preference is Kounde and he is versatile too.

28 Jul 2026 04:35:06
Let's just sit back now that PSG has rejected the bid or whatever.

We need a CB and RB and I think we have attackers.
If Sunderland game showed us something it's that we lack defenders not attackers.

Koumas Morrison Chiesa Elliott Frimpong are enough for cover to Gackpo Rio Isak Wirtz and Ekitike.

We absolutely have no RB apart from Ramsay atm and that defense is bleak with no Gomez and Leoni.
We just have 2 starting CBs; one is coming from long term injury and hasn't had a game for us and the other is 35 who will miss most of preseason!!

This is nuts.

Drop this RW and attacker shenanigans. We don't even want to test this bizzare market. Get reinforcements for defense.
Even with backup attack we can score goals but we cannot start the season with Frimpong at RB and just two half ready CBs. We will be out of any race by game week 10!!!

28 Jul 2026 08:30:45
I agree, I said the other day that we're desperate at the RB position and that is where our focus should be. In my mind that is the one position where we don't have a decent player (Bradley - I don't rate and is always injured, Frinpong - not really his position, Ramsey - never actually seen him play).

28 Jul 2026 08:37:15
There's something in what you're saying, Wirtz. Although we do need a right wing specialist.

We need to get your namesake firing. We can't have another modest season from him at over £100m, same with Isak. They should be like two new players for Iraola.

With the right back, I see fans calling for Frimpong, or even untested youth players to be given a go. Some of which have failed in their loans to lower league clubs.

There are so many better right backs in the prem than what we have. It should have been easy to address.

Centre back is a bit different, as we've bought Jacquet for big money. He's probably been promised a lot of game time, which makes finding another CB of the right calibre more difficult without spending big again. Senesi was probably a miss.

28 Jul 2026 08:46:03
I agree we need a right back, but there is no way Koumas, Morrison, Chiesa, Elliott, Frimpong are good enough back up to challenge for titles, and Ekitike is out until at least January.

28 Jul 2026 09:15:50
Definitely need a first team rb, Bradley is forever injured, and is he really that great?

28 Jul 2026 09:25:01
We are in desperate need of an attacker, Harry.

If Gakpo leaves (which looks very likely), our attack would most likely be Isak, Wirtz, Munoz and Szoboszlai. If any of them got injured, we'd only have the following back-up options:
1. Rio - very young and quite predictable.
2. Chiesa - impact sub/rotation option at best.
3. Koumas - totally untested at this level.
4. Morrison - totally untested at this level.
5. Elliott - hasn't played properly for over a year.

I'm all for giving youth a chance, but rotation is important in attacking areas. Forwards and attacking midfielders typically go through patches of good and bad form. You also need options on the bench to come on and change the game. It's not like your midfield or your defence where you need things to be settled.

In fact, making changes or substitutions in midfield or defence is usually just disruptive. On top of all that though, Iraola will have our frontline pressing like they're possessed by angry demons, so it's very likely they'll be blowing by the 60-70th minute.

I fully agree we need a RB because last year we used 6 different players there (Bradley, Frimpong, Endo, Jones, Szoboszlai and Gomez) and none of them fill me with confidence. It's not an "either/or" situation for me though. We need both. Barcola is the statement signing who can change games. You will not get any argument from me that RB is important though, and I'm baffled there isn't more noise about Kounde, but remaining patient for now.

28 Jul 2026 09:53:33
Exactly, MKS. This is not an either/or thing. Both positions need help and need actual starting material. The guys we have at RB and RW are those who can fill in here and there, not those you wanna put your bets on as starters.

If we can get both, then sound.

If we can't, then we are gonna have to make do in the position we couldn't get the signing in. It will all depend on which position you can do without a true starter and thereby, do it "by committee", if you like.

28 Jul 2026 10:12:46
We need all of them, RW, CB, RB, they're all equally important in a sense. I would say RB is the most critical, but we have the money, purchasing a RW won't stop us getting a RB, what will stop us is the club thinking Frimpong & Bradley are adequate as is.

28 Jul 2026 10:33:01
Hopefully Irola realizes quickly that Frimpong is not the answer, Chewy.

28 Jul 2026 11:20:33
Mad how opinions differ, ppl saying we desperately need a RB or striker, but I think we need to strengthen the midfield. I don't have much faith in Grav, Macallister, Jones, Endo to see us over the line this season.

28 Jul 2026 07:52:02
Ed001 Do you see us signing a RW player even after if we land Barcola (LW) Or do you see us going with Rio and Munez for that position.

{Ed001's Note - it is entirely possible that Barcola ends up as the RW. We are trying to do business, but this window has been a challenging one, not helped by the club being in the middle of a changeover in executive staff involved in transfers. It does seem unlikely we can get two wingers in now, but there is still time.}

28 Jul 2026 09:28:30
Ed001, I think Man City, Chelsea and Spurs blowing up the market hasn't helped either. Anderson at £116m, Rogers at £117m and Tonali at £100m is absolutely mental.

£100m+ signings used to be reserved for players considered to be elite. We probably didn't help that ourselves by paying £100m for Wirtz and £125m for Isak last summer, although at least they came with a bit of genuine pedigree unlike the ones who've moved for 9 figure fees this summer.

28 Jul 2026 09:55:13
Ed01 after Munoz, I do not see another two coming in esp. since we have a serious issue at RB with no one as a true starter.

For me, it's going to have to be Barcola and an RB and even that, is not a sure thing.

28 Jul 2026 03:30:23
Hope Arsenal have deep pockets, Vini looking for 525k per week...

28 Jul 2026 07:19:31
I could be completely wrong, but I feel like Vini Jr will flop in the Prem. I get Robinho vibes. I don't think he'll like the climate or the physicality. Sort of guy who will be playing in gloves in December-February.

He's also got a massive ego and is very outspoken off the pitch. When you're at Real Madrid and half the media are behind you, that's probably gone under the radar a bit.

In England, and especially at Arsenal, who everyone loves to mock, he's going to get torn to pieces. He'll probably be getting booed in every stadium within 6 months for saying that Roast Dinners are over rated, and it rains too much.

{Ed001's Note - John Barnes played in gloves and tights most of the winter, never stopped him succeeding.}

28 Jul 2026 07:56:26
Alison Becker plays with gloves between December and February. He hasn't worked out too badly for us.

28 Jul 2026 08:06:34
Bobby used to wear gloves in winter playing for us.

28 Jul 2026 08:13:32
He would want 500k per week After tax, not happening at Arsenal, just agents trying to get him better arm contract.

28 Jul 2026 08:40:48
I think he needs a better leg too, 1jj.

28 Jul 2026 09:02:32
Pure contract renewal shenanigans which benefit Vini and Arsenal. Similar to the whole Tchouameni renewal story a few weeks back.

28 Jul 2026 09:31:22
It winds me up when Liverpool players do it too, don't worry about that! It was the only thing I didn't like about Bobby.

It's the same in Sunday league now too. Everyone's wearing gloves, snoods, under shirts, grip socks, shinpads the size of credit cards, pink boots etc.

Utter woke nonsense!

28 Jul 2026 09:49:56
Jari, doesn't Alisson always play wearing gloves!?

28 Jul 2026 09:57:57
Why are you so bothered about it, MK? lol.

28 Jul 2026 09:59:34
MKS, what are you on about? Players have been doing that for decades. I wore glove, inner shirts, winter hats etc. while playing in the coldest area in France. Many of us did esp. Africans.

There is nothing "Woke" about it. No one even cared about any of that except if you got made fun of here and there.

Again, What's "Woke" about that.

Seriously, I'm starting to wonder if people even understand the history of that word and the real meaning behind it and why it was coined.

28 Jul 2026 10:08:20
I don't know, to be honest, Salah. I guess I'm just old and grumpy now. My back hurts and I've started lawn care.

28 Jul 2026 12:32:22
2shoes, I have a hunch that the joke went slightly above your head.

28 Jul 2026 11:23:48
OliRed, it mainly makes me laugh at people because in my opinion if you're cold on a football pitch, unless it's sub zero, you're not running enough. I'm equally bemused by people training in tracksuit bottoms and jackets.

Maybe I'm at that age now where I'm becoming a dinosaur. You wouldn't catch me dead wearing layers in the UK whilst playing football though. It's not cold enough here, and on the very rare occasion it does get cold enough to justify it, the whole country grinds to a halt anyway and training/games get cancelled.

The "woke" thing was just a joke by the way. I'm saying all this very much tongue in cheek. Ed025's misery and generational discrimination is rubbing off on me I guess.

{Ed025's Note - i happen to think you are right MK, If the players want to be warmer then run a bit more you lazy sods...thats what i used to do mate..

28 Jul 2026 03:10:05
Not LFC related but I see Chelsea are interested in signing Japanese player Kazuyoshi Miura.

28 Jul 2026 06:16:18
Better off with Kawasaki, much better engine.

28 Jul 2026 06:47:18
He should go to Hamburger SV.

28 Jul 2026 07:33:55
At this stage, it's probably quicker to just confirm the players Chelsea aren't interested in.

I wonder if that poster who was singing Chelsea's praises the other day, about how decisive they are in the market, is jealous of Henderson and Welbeck? Just imagine the fume if we signed two injury prone players in their mid 30's.

{Ed001's Note - we don't need their experience to help lead our young players though. They do. They are trying to fix the mistakes made previously by giving the kids some true professionals to look up to and work with and learn from. It is a sensible move with the squad they have, while for us it would be pointless.}

28 Jul 2026 08:08:53
Chelsea buying some experienced heads, having just bought young guys previously, seems a good idea for them. Plus, it's one of the sticks they've been beaten with on here for a long time that they only buy kids. Think they'll be much better this season. Let's hope Hendo celebrates a little more cautiously though if they win anything.

28 Jul 2026 08:51:53
Ed001, that's a very fair argument and I'm sure they'll be good in the dressing room. I'm just not sure they'll contribute much on the pitch though. Hendo looked on his last legs towards the back end of last season and Welbeck can barely play 30-60 minutes a week. I just feel like they could've found some players closer to the 28-32 years old bracket who can give them experience and also still be more effective when required to play.

There doesn't seem to be much in-between for Chelsea. They either want 18-23 year olds or 35+ year olds!

{Ed001's Note - Hendo was good for Brentford last season.}

28 Jul 2026 09:44:02
He was at the start Ed001, but I know a Brentford fan and he got progressively more frustrated with Hendo as the season went on.

In the first half of the season he started 15/19 Premier League games. In the second half he only started 7/19 due to injury struggles and poor form.

I'm not sure Chelsea are getting a player who will contribute much at all on the pitch. I mean for a start he's coming in with a broken arm!

28 Jul 2026 10:02:15
" It is a sensible move with the squad they have, while for us it would be pointless."

This is the point I was making on that thread, MKS. Chelsea need older heads. We don't. We have experienced professionals and winners still in our team and the youngsters we have grew up looking up to our legends (like Hendo) while in their pomp before they left.

Like Ed said, it would be pointless.

28 Jul 2026 11:24:39
I just think it's a bad choice from Chelsea, Oli. I understand their need for experience and professionalism, but I do think you can find a player who offers that under the age of 35/36.

28 Jul 2026 12:33:20
I feel sad that everybody in this thread seems to have missed the joke that was made in the original post. BTW, King Kazu just scored his first goal in a few years, absolute legend.

27 Jul 2026 19:44:17
Eds can we have a vote on the RW preferred please

Rayan
El Mala
Minteh
Rodrygo
Nusa
Pardo

If there are any I missed please add.

Diomande now removed and Olise too

{Ed033's Note -


LFC RW poll

27 Jul 2026 20:26:26
El Mala and Pardo are mainly strikers. Nusa is a LW, and Rodrygo is injured until January and would prefer to play LW.

So between Minteh and Rayan, I prefer the latter.

27 Jul 2026 20:28:46
I'd want to sign Rayan, but would Bournemouth actually let him go?

{Ed025's Note - at a price..

27 Jul 2026 20:43:01
What about Conceicao?

27 Jul 2026 21:03:11
Conceicao is small, weak and no end product Zed. He'd get battered around worse than Katie Price's clopper.

{Ed025's Note - love it VV..

27 Jul 2026 21:59:07
Sounds like Couts when we bought him, Vik.

27 Jul 2026 22:00:23
You seem to have a very good knowledge of every player's strengths and weaknesses, Vv (mainly weaknesses). It's very impressive. You must watch every game of every league and memorise how each player performs. More importantly, though, could you explain what a "clopper" is? I'm intrigued.

27 Jul 2026 22:05:16
Vik's real name is Statto.

27 Jul 2026 22:16:20
Zed, I was on a plane with Statto a few years back when he was on TV with Baddiel n Skinner, he looked shy, so I never bothered him much.

27 Jul 2026 22:27:00
You should have called him Vik, Strom, he would've got really animated and started dissing everyone!

27 Jul 2026 22:30:23
Signed and managed by Andoni before, no brainer?

Stick to what ye know, not what you don't know!

27 Jul 2026 22:54:53
Coutinho is a giant compared to Conceicao, who is barely 5'5". He really is weedy & lightweight. We already lack physicality without adding the Portuguese PeeWee Herman.

Also, Coutinho was 20 when we signed him and it was a signing for potential.

Conceicao is 23, turning 24, and he is about as good as he's going to get. 3 goals & 5 assists are a pretty rubbish end product for a first choice winger.

27 Jul 2026 23:17:25
Not to mention, he can't even put up numbers in Serie A, never mind the Prem, I've no idea why he's even part of the conversation.

Kopite, you don't have to watch every game to know 5'5" is small. And his stats will tell you the end product is lacking.

27 Jul 2026 23:50:55
I agree, Chewy, and I'd be surprised if we're genuinely interested in him. I have seen negative comments about various players on a good few of VV's posts, though. I do also find his posts funny at times.

28 Jul 2026 00:31:29
What do you mean, Kopite? Viks our COO (Chief Optimism Officer).

28 Jul 2026 03:36:23
Vik, are you really saying that because someone is small they can't be a good player?

Messi, Maradona, Aguero, Baresi, Canavaro, Kante... Just to name a few, but there are genuinely tons more undersized players who were successful despite size.

One thing people forget is, when you're small, your centre of gravity is low, so you're actually quite tough to dispossess.



I've watched a lot of Conceicao, and while I do think he might struggle to adapt to the pace of the Premier League, I don't think he'd struggle physically.

28 Jul 2026 07:50:18
Agreed, Nevada. Some people use such basic metrics to dismiss players they're never actually watched. Kante was 5ft6 and is probably one of the best midfielders in Premier League history. Zola was also 5ft6 and he smashed it in the Prem in an era where you could tackle at knee height. Aaron Lennon was also 5ft5 and he had a long career in the Premier League playing the same position as Conceicao, despite being nowhere near as good technically.

Conceicao does lack end product right now, though. That was a very fair statement and it's not a guaranteed success if we did sign him, as a result. He needs to add more goals to his game. However, he's 23 years old. Most wingers at that age need to add more goals to their game. If he was 26-28 and still only scoring 4-8 goals a season, I'd be steering well clear of him.

As it is, he's young and would come relatively cheap compared to many other RW options on the market right now.

Some players add more than just goals, though. I fully get that certain wingers if they're not scoring goals just don't offer any threat; Gakpo is a prime example. Conceicao is not one of those players, though. He's great at committing defenders to create overloads, he's very good at creating chances and he's also very good at gaining territory.

I'd pesonally prefer Neto or Minteh if we're targeting this profile of player, but Conceicao is a good player and his height doesn't change that. Frimpong has maybe scared people, but he's not weak because he's small, he's weak because he's weak.

28 Jul 2026 08:44:01
Peter Beardsley? Most unlikely looking footballer ever. Proper player. And loved on both sides of Stanley Park.

{Ed025's Note - he really was StEA..

28 Jul 2026 08:59:30
I reckon Vic is a Football Manager fan, and researches players in real life when they catch his eye in the game. I do it. I'm positive I'm not the only one!

As for Conceicao, I have to agree with Vik. I've caught a few Juve games over the last couple of seasons, and I just don't see a player that would thrive in EPL. He's not the weakest 5'5 player in the world, but he doesn't have the skillset (other than raw pace) that could off-balance the impact of being that lightweight in one of the most athletic leagues in the world.



If it's not Barcola for the RW, then Rayan, Ferran Torres or a younger player to split minutes with Rio (who would benefit from a season on the right, in my opinion) would be my shout.

28 Jul 2026 09:36:10
StEA, it's just madness to dismiss a player purely on height. Anyone who's watched Conceicao will know that he's deceptively good at shielding the ball from much bigger defenders, and has a low centre of gravity that makes him hard to knock off the ball. In fact, I reckon if you go and read any scout report written about Conceicao they'll reference this as a strength because it's so impressive to see a player so small hold off and just bounce off of players so much bigger.



Maradonna was also 5ft5, by the way, and in his era you could tackle at hip height!

28 Jul 2026 10:05:41
Zed, Conceicao is nothing like Coutinho, be it in physical stature or ability when we signed him.

27 Jul 2026 18:40:44
Chelsea leading the race to sign Hendo, surely he'd be a great backup and mentor at the club for us. Are we not in for him?

27 Jul 2026 18:57:54
Hendo and Welbeck? Are they starting a walking football team as a side project?

27 Jul 2026 19:23:06
Gotta be favourites for the title if they get that deal done.

27 Jul 2026 20:00:51
MKS, I heard Fabinho is also on their list so that walking football team you speak of could be a thing at Chelsea.

@Crabby, why would we need him to be a mentor right now? He was here for over a decade, with a 10-year tenure where he was a great captain, leader, and role model.

Not sure we need him to come and do what he already did before cos we still have Ali, VVD, or even Tsimikas in the team.

Also, if we are looking to the future with new leaders, then why are we looking to leaders of the past?

Tbh, I don't get the substance of your post.

27 Jul 2026 20:08:37
Henderson coming back, I feel, would undermine the next generation of leaders. He's too much of a personality.

Let Szoboszlai, Alisson and Virgil lead us into next season, please. New leaders are only born when a vacuum of leadership exists.

{Ed025's Note - plus hes crap anyway..

27 Jul 2026 20:15:21
I just feel, with the likes of Mo and Robbo gone, there could be a drop in some backroom leadership. I'm purely speculating, I'm sure it's all good, but from what I heard in the England camp, he was the backroom mentor to just about everyone there.

27 Jul 2026 20:39:12
Chelsea in talks with Jan Molby. Salary demands are no problem as he's being paid in beer. Next to sign David 'not so' Speedie anymore! I know I'm showing my age.

27 Jul 2026 21:36:53
Watching what Chelsea do off the pitch is always entertaining.

27 Jul 2026 22:01:11
I think Alonso is playing Championship Manager.

There used to be a challenge in the game to a) start an entire team of teenagers and b) start an entire team of over 35s.

They've clearly already got teenagers coming out of their ears, but the over 35s they are struggling with.



However, given their teenagers are on 20 year contracts, they should be fine starting a team of over 35s in the 2043-44 season.

28 Jul 2026 09:01:53
Top post Zed, that was gold!