Andoni Iraola

[SB]

Id say anything other than top 5 would be terrible.

But perhaps more important is find a system that works.

Id rather have a heroic failure than whatever the **** we were forced to watch last season.

The recruitment is the vital part for me. If we get him who he wants & we get a decent run without too many injuries I’d love to see the style of football we produce. I’m not expecting too much for his 1st season but I’d love to comfortably make top 4.

[BG1973]

That would be nice. Going to be tough though i think...we've got so much work to do in the market.

City
Arsenal
Scum
Chelsea
Villa

Bit scary the challenge ahead.

[Exiled_red]

CL football has to be the minimum, I assume the PL is in a good position for a 5th CL spot but doesn't it depend on performances of English sides in Europe next season.

I would hope we could do better than last season and at least mount some kind of title challenge in the 2nd hslf of the season.

[memzey]

I really don't know what my expectations of AI are. I think this is due to me thinking he is the wrong appointment. Under normal circumstances I'd say comfortable CL qualification, quarters of the UCL minimum and in the hunt for the title up to April or so. As much as I want to get on board the Iraola train I just can't see him doing that. Perhaps I should just be happy with an improvement in paying style and points total from last season? That would, at least, brighten the mood.

[red g]

That would be nice. Going to be tough though i think...we've got so much work to do in the market.

City
Arsenal
Scum
Chelsea
Villa

Bit scary the challenge ahead.

We say the same every season. City losing Pepe is massive and Carrick to be sacked by CHristmas.

[BigChief]

We say the same every season. City losing Pepe is massive and Carrick to be sacked by CHristmas.

[SB]

He speaks well & im excited for the season to get going. I think football is going to be fun again this season

https://video.liverpoolfc.com/playlists/67090fbe-174b-4861-ad2b-6ba0a6baa96e?videoID=10e72ad0-a0d9-436c-b95c-973769e57382

[SB]

I think he’ll tell Tsimikas to not do any more interviews based on this excerpt.

Tsimikas was among the players who returned for pre-season training a week early, and has already seen the tweaks new head coach Iraola is introducing as he imposes his style of play on the squad.

"We did some throw-ins, some build-ups and all these kinds of things; he likes the intensity in the training, everything is with the ball," he said. "He wants us to keep the ball, don’t lose the ball, and try to play good football.

"As I say, it’s very early, it is new for us, but all the players try to give absolutely everything to try to understand what exactly he wants and to do the right things inside the pitch."

https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/kostas-tsimikas-makes-strange-admission-34332128

[Exiled_red]

For me the biggest issue for the club at the moment is the lack of players - both quality and depth that IMO makes this a bigger summer/season for the suits than Iraola. If they don't get him the players we are going to have a **** season and that would be the case regardless of who the manager is

[frank the tank]

I think you are right. Even if we sign the 4 or so players that we need to add, then there will be murmurs of how it was too late to add them, just like Isak last year.

It might be difficult to judge Iraola next season until after Xmas.....by which time any chance of having a special season could be gone.

I think one big differentiator with Iraola compared with Slot might be his willingness to introduce young players. So maybe next season will be a success if the likes of Ngumoha, Nyoni, Leoni, Jacquet are fully established and one or two more are looking like they could be potentially first team options as well (like Will Wright, Chambers)

Would be brilliant if someone like Bajcetic could also add to the numbers of genuine squad options

[peterbread]

I think you are right. Even if we sign the 4 or so players that we need to add, then there will be murmurs of how it was too late to add them, just like Isak last year.

It might be difficult to judge Iraola next season until after Xmas.....by which time any chance of having a special season could be gone.

I think one big differentiator with Iraola compared with Slot might be his willingness to introduce young players. So maybe next season will be a success if the likes of Ngumoha, Nyoni, Leoni, Jacquet are fully established and one or two more are looking like they could be potentially first team options as well (like Will Wright, Chambers)

Would be brilliant if someone like Bajcetic could also add to the numbers of genuine squad options

He’s already talked about using everyone in the squad and has shown his trust and ability to develop young players. And to add the young players you mentioned getting more opportunities you can add Elliot and Endo to the list if they stay. While not the best they offer 100% commitment and have shown in the past that they are both capable of playing a role in the squad doing their jobs when called upon.

[frank the tank]

Yes it looks that way alright

There is a scenario where we sign only, say 2 more playere. And maybe that will be ok???

lets say we didnt sign anyone else right now, and were going into the first game of the season. A line up along the lines of

Becker

Frimpong Jacquet Virgil Kerkez

MacAllister Gravenberch szoboslai

Ngumoha isak wirtz


With options like Gakpo, Jones on the bench too

[Exiled_red]

Yes it looks that way alright

There is a scenario where we sign only, say 2 more playere. And maybe that will be ok???

lets say we didnt sign anyone else right now, and were going into the first game of the season. A line up along the lines of

Becker

Frimpong Jacquet Virgil Kerkez

MacAllister Gravenberch szoboslai

Ngumoha isak wirtz


With options like Gakpo, Jones on the bench too

Side looks ok on paper for a one off game, but we would be mad going into the season with that. Leoni is currently injured as is Bradley, so our only cover at CB and RB is an injury prone Gomez. Even asking Ngumoha to play half of all of our games is too much and the only other realistic option there is Elliott who lacks pace and is therefore a very different player (or Munoz?). Similarly I am not convinced Frimpong's ability or fitness are sufficient. Similarly there is no cover for Isak until Ekitike gets back, I feel that side is heavily reliant on him putting the ball in the net so we have to keep him fit and fresh, how do you do that with no other #9?


IMO we need at least 3 ideally 4 players to provide options or cover for those positions

[frank the tank]

Or maybe the "3" behind the "1" in our formation just rotate the **** out of it during a typical game???

Wirtz Szoboslai and Ngumoha all behind Isak. Wirtz moves between left and central, Dom moves between right and central and Rio moves between left and right........as does Munoz!!!. With the likes of Gakpo and Elliot thrown in there when needed too. And maybe Chiesa actually stays??

With Grav and Mac sitting in midfield 2. Backups being Jones and Nyoni as well as possibly Endo and maybe even Bajcetic.

Don't get me wrong, i think we need a top attacker, a very good central midfielder, a central defender and a right back. But i wouldn't be too surprised if we only signed say 2 of those.

Our season will depend a lot on how well last years signings settle though I think. Wirtz and Isak in a big way.

[Exiled_red]

For me we need at least a RW, another #9 and an experienced CB, as an absolute minimum, ideally a RB as well but I'd be more prepared to give Frimpong, Gomez, Jones and muddle through if necessary.

CB we have no options we need a safe fallback option if Jacquet and Leoni have a rough patch.

RW we have sod all options so that too is essential.

CF there is no way Isak is going to stay fit, look at the players we have and we are heavily reliant on him for goals, when he is injured/rested/rotated we need someone to come in. And good strikers who can put the ball in the net make the game easier and win you games whether you are playing well or badly.