Liverpool banter 10

31 Aug 2026 13:05:58
Ed001 with Forest just signing the palace right wing back you think there is any chance we could get Ola Aina as a cheap stop gap for right back at this point I would take anyone over Frimpong.

{Ed001's Note - he is very injury prone

31 Aug 2026 14:23:13
And he is not good enuff, either imo.

31 Aug 2026 14:38:06
He's terrible. Watched him recently in a pre season friendly against Sporting and he was the worst player on the pitch. I couldn't believe he was making a living playing football.

31 Aug 2026 12:29:23
What does everyone think is more important:
1. Working with the squad to develop fitness, tactical cohesion and understanding, or
2. Buying new players coz we're short / weak at RW, RB, CDM...
Frankly with a new manager I believe 1) is by far the most important and will have most effect on end of season points. At present we are miles away from an Iraola team in each phase. Defensive transition/counter pressing looks poor to me, not coordinated or aggressive enough.

Offensive transition and attack is too often painfully slow with huge gaps between defence/midfield/attack so we never get the ball quickly to Wirtz and co. Defence is often exposed with highish line outpaced on quick counters.
Many of these factors totally predictable with a new heavy metal style being called for, but it will take time and patience...more so than no recruits coming into a system not yet in place.

31 Aug 2026 12:46:40
Surely it goes hand in hand?

We can't expect Iraola to work his magic with no right-wingers, for instance.

His football relies so heavily on wingers.

31 Aug 2026 12:58:14
Manager is most important for sure, so 1.

A world class manager can elevate the level of all players in the squad. Similarly, a poor manager can cause the team to lose faith and drop their heads, or start playing for themselves rather than the team, etc.



A manager can only do so much, though, at some point you have to recognise that certain players have hit their ceiling and have to go.

31 Aug 2026 13:04:07
It's like asking which is more important: 1. Feeding your baby or 2. Bathing your baby.

Obviously, 1 is more important, but you gotta do the other one too.

31 Aug 2026 13:17:38
1) In the past 12ish months we have spent circa £600 million on new players (people will continue to debate if they are good, bad, not what we needed etc), and without selling them all (or the ones we don't think are up to it), and starting again (who do we replace them with and would those players want to join us if they see us trying to sell everyone - also what do we do if someone we want rid of doesn't want to leave), we are where we are, so it's pretty much the only option for now.



I'm sure I'll get shot down with - we should have never bought Xyz, we should have bought a CDM, Guehi, Semenyo, etc, Hughes & Edwards bla bla - but none of that changes the reality of where we find ourselves presently and is a tad pointless - but I respect the rights for people to want to "express their frustrations" about it (bit embarrassing though).

Let's see what the next 24 hours brings and then we have no choice but option 1.

31 Aug 2026 13:24:46
In answer... Leicester...!!!

31 Aug 2026 13:57:32
It's a bit of both. A manager needs the right players. Our squad has gaps, but there is a lot of potential there: a frontline of Barcola, Isak, Wirtz and Munoz looks pretty formidable (plus Eki when he returns).

A key issue is that, after almost a decade of so much creativity coming from our fullbacks, we have none, and this puts the onus on our midfielders to create - which is tricky if your fullbacks aren't a threat.



Slot couldn't find a solution, and now AI is hoping to. I am sure he can get Kerkez back to his old self, but Frimpong might be harder to fix (based on his form with us).

31 Aug 2026 13:59:49
The thing is, LFC8, have we recruited a manager who can only play one way, so if he doesn't have the best players for his system in all positions he can't do his job?

If we have, then we've made a huge mistake appointing him.



It's the manager's job to tweak the system to get the best from the players he has at his disposal.

Iraola has some world class players at his disposal, if they don't suit his system he'll have to change the system. Simple.

31 Aug 2026 14:29:09
Rios, how do you know Iraola can play only one way?

Sure, he has his preferred way of playing, as every manager does and obv. will want to implement it as much as possible, does he not?

That does not mean he has only one way of playing. I do agree that it is his job to implement it and adapt when appropriate, but as much as we have some good players on our team (quite several, imo), Iraola will have to both adapt and get the players he wants.



Not just adapt.

After all, Klopp adapted and got the players he wanted. Iraola should be allowed to do the same; not just adapt.

31 Aug 2026 12:24:14.
Seen a few links to Estevao today. Without his injury, he would have been a dream signing, but hopefully that does not hamper him throughout his career if we sign him.

31 Aug 2026 13:04:51
High risk with those injuries.

31 Aug 2026 13:19:25
We ain't signing him, it took us a week to do a Barcola medical.

31 Aug 2026 13:28:05
Estevao would be an excellent signing for me. Won't score as many as people are used to, thanks to Salah, but is very creative and hard working, personally, I think he's much better than Rayan.

31 Aug 2026 14:11:03
Far too high a risk after that injury, ejecting not to have surgery on it, too, was a bad choice as well. He's going to be affected by that throughout his career. Would be foolish to waste money on someone who is effectively defective goods.

31 Aug 2026 14:30:15
I am baffled to hear that we are looking to get injured/injury prone players to come in, whereas, as a fan base, we have all been screaming for years to no longer sign such players.

Desperation, much?

31 Aug 2026 12:08:54
What say you guys about Mudryk? A better gamble? Or do we stick with Sarr or Minteh?

31 Aug 2026 12:28:47
Most obvious troll post ever. I won't post what I'd like to say for fear of getting banned.

31 Aug 2026 12:37:22
He looked incredible on his debut against us. What a wasted career.

31 Aug 2026 13:05:21
Talking of wasted careers and unpopular opinions... I always thought Timo Werner would have been an absolute beast under Klopp. He lost his confidence at Chelsea and never looked the same.

31 Aug 2026 13:25:55
On paper, the best rw we’re linked with is currently Sarr, who offers more across the front 3. Minteh is younger and probably has higher potential, but if we wanted a player to make a quicker impact, it’s Sarr. I’d even take Pedro Neto at this point, but it doesn’t look like we’re genuinely interested, and a lot of these players are being priced out of moves.

I have no idea why we haven’t looked at any midfield options yet. It really does baffle me how we’ve persisted with the same midfield for 3 or so years now. Macca and Gakpo should have been moved on.

31 Aug 2026 15:21:37
Red, your troll game needs some serious work, mate.

31 Aug 2026 16:44:59
Haha, wasn't a troll, was really asking for opinions.

I remember his debut against us, and when he was playing in Moscow, I think. Or was it Shaktar Donesk? He was electric! Plays both wings and is available. Chelsea put him on transfer list.

31 Aug 2026 12:01:35
Liverpool agree deal to sign Djylian N'Guessan from Saint Etienne, joining 2027 medical to take place asap.

31 Aug 2026 12:24:37
One for the future M'Guessan.

31 Aug 2026 12:29:38
Champagne, Brown. 🤙

31 Aug 2026 12:29:45
Pleased about this, pretty sure Ed001 mentioned him last year as one for the future

31 Aug 2026 13:07:28
Hughes can't deal with adults so is chasing kids instead.

31 Aug 2026 13:23:58
Maybe that's why we were linked with Schjelderup and Asencio

Sorry.

31 Aug 2026 11:57:13
Has it been made official who will replace Hughes? I've searched and can't find anything.

{Ed001's Note - nothing official no.}

31 Aug 2026 12:26:02
Has the club even officially announced Hughes' departure yet?

{Ed001's Note - nope.}

31 Aug 2026 13:08:35
Looking forward to hearing your thoughts or a summary of this transfer window once it ends, Ed.

I can already imagine the expletives you'll be using for the two main people responsible for the mess we're in right now.

It honestly feels like we were scammed by Edwards and Hughes into believing they were some of the best in the business, when in reality, they're just two donkeys who somehow managed to convince everyone they knew what they were doing.

31 Aug 2026 13:21:00
The club will be bold to post an official Hughes departure on the socials. He will get destroyed and I'll be there for it.

31 Aug 2026 11:46:15
Just a thought but with Barcola taking our last overseas squad place, Marma is being moved on to free up space for a Mintah/Sarr type signing. 🤔

31 Aug 2026 11:39:44
I think we’d all agree letting Gakpo go without bringing in another winger would be madness, but personally I’d keep him regardless to cover Isak/wings until at least the Jan window. If others can say no to transfers that don’t suit, why can’t we?

Aside from the forwards I’m also concerned that our very attack minded FB’s and midfield are causing us problems on the counter.

Although I’m sure it won’t happen because Ai won’t switch things up last minute, I do wonder whether a change in formation might actually fit the current players better?

VVD, Jacquet and Aruajo as a back three would allow Kerkez and Frimpong (or Szobo) to push forward as wingbacks and create width, while Grav/Macca can control the midfield and Wirtz can play as a 10 in behind Barcola/Isak.

31 Aug 2026 11:52:15
Ireola does not play a 3, does he? Suppose we were always gonna hear calls for it with Alonso winning his first coupla games using it.

31 Aug 2026 12:04:01
Chelsea look worse defensively than we do.

31 Aug 2026 12:04:06
Frimpong is Championship level at best. He should
be pushing on for a move
to Stoke.

31 Aug 2026 12:13:52
He doesn't have the players to play his way, so he either has to adapt or coach his socks off to get everyone up to scratch.

31 Aug 2026 12:16:53
Flo, even when Klopp was here, there were still people clamouring for a back 3, even tho every man and his dog knew that Klopp never played a back 3 99% of the time at LFC.

Except for once away at Brighton, where we were missing guys and Gini and Can had to play next to Lovren in a back 3.

Not sure it has anything to do with Alonso and all that.

Same applies to Iraola, as you said. He doesn't play a back 3 and will not be doing that any time soon. Iraola has to look for solutions re: the FB's being a problem offensively and defensively. That is his job now.

31 Aug 2026 13:54:37
I agree he won't switch as it's too big a risk now, but it does seem it would suit the individual players better, which, to me, indicates a disconnect between coach & recruitment strategy.

31 Aug 2026 11:18:33
Gakpo outgoing - Sarr incoming.