Harvey Elliott

[frank the tank]

without a doubt it is one of the reasons we could let Shaq leave. One of the other reasons being Curtis Jones.

I was hoping that we would sign Saul from Atletico and certain that we would need a midfielder to replace Gini.

However, with Fabinho, Henderson, Thiago, Milner, Keita, Oxlade, Jones and now Elliot, we might be ok.

Big risk is that both Keita and Oxlade suffer an injury again. An ingrown toenail could potentially keep Keita out for a year (or until the day before the AFCON kicks off) so it is still a risk. However, in reality i think if Hendo and Fabinho stay relatively injury free then we might be ok. I say that because I think the likes of Jones and Elliot will no doubt benefit from Hendersons on-field coaching through games.

[baitman]

without a doubt it is one of the reasons we could let Shaq leave. One of the other reasons being Curtis Jones.

I was hoping that we would sign Saul from Atletico and certain that we would need a midfielder to replace Gini.

However, with Fabinho, Henderson, Thiago, Milner, Keita, Oxlade, Jones and now Elliot, we might be ok.

Big risk is that both Keita and Oxlade suffer an injury again. An ingrown toenail could potentially keep Keita out for a year (or until the day before the AFCON kicks off) so it is still a risk. However, in reality i think if Hendo and Fabinho stay relatively injury free then we might be ok. I say that because I think the likes of Jones and Elliot will no doubt benefit from Hendersons on-field coaching through games.

Its an impressive list of midfielders, but several of them are very injury prone or have limited minutes in their legs so reducing their availability...
Henderson, Thiago, Milner, Keita, Oxlade, are all iffy.
So much for strength in depth, but at least we are less likely to need henderson and fabinho to prop up our defence.

[frank the tank]

Its an impressive list of midfielders, but several of them are very injury prone or have limited minutes in their legs so reducing their availability...
Henderson, Thiago, Milner, Keita, Oxlade, are all iffy.
So much for strength in depth, but at least we are less likely to need henderson and fabinho to prop up our defence.

i think there is a lot of strength in depth. Last year was ridiculous in terms of injuries. Ended up with Fab and Hendo in defence and then they both got injured too.

[Exiled_red]

On paper it's a strong set of options, the problem is no one would be surprised if Ox and Keita missed 20 games each through injuries, Similarly if Henderson and Thiago missed 15 or so each. Milner can't play 2 games a week, we want to manage the minutes that youngsters such as Jones and Elliott get. If the injuries that we get are fairly spread out we should be fine, but if we get 2 or 3 at a similar time that could be problematic.

[greenturnip]

On paper it's a strong set of options, the problem is no one would be surprised if Ox and Keita missed 20 games each through injuries, Similarly if Henderson and Thiago missed 15 or so each. Milner can't play 2 games a week, we want to manage the minutes that youngsters such as Jones and Elliott get. If the injuries that we get are fairly spread out we should be fine, but if we get 2 or 3 at a similar time that could be problematic.

Yep - I think that's right. I guess the problem is if we buy someone and we don't get injuries we could have disgruntled players that disrupts the mood of the squad. Imagine if we bought Saul and he couldn't get in the team...So it's tricky.

[danperkins]

On paper it's a strong set of options, the problem is no one would be surprised if Ox and Keita missed 20 games each through injuries, Similarly if Henderson and Thiago missed 15 or so each. Milner can't play 2 games a week, we want to manage the minutes that youngsters such as Jones and Elliott get. If the injuries that we get are fairly spread out we should be fine, but if we get 2 or 3 at a similar time that could be problematic.

[Charly]

A positive for today... I thought he played a very mature game. Linked play really well. If our strikers had their shooting boots on it could have been a bit different.

[McDermotX]

Aye.....hard to argue the point given his experience, but there were a few occasions where I wished he had trusted himself a bit more and sought out a more direct approach as opposed to giving the ball to Salah repeatedly.

Overall though, very positive and might well have been under instruction with how he operated. Loved the little touches he made to relieve pressure and picking out his teammates. Fantastic energy as well.
Nothing to stop him weighing in with a few assists and goals this season.

[Venton]

Aye.....hard to argue the point given his experience, but there were a few occasions where I wished he had trusted himself a bit more and sought out a more direct approach as opposed to giving the ball to Salah repeatedly.

Overall though, very positive and might well have been under instruction with how he operated. Loved the little touches he made to relieve pressure and picking out his teammates. Fantastic energy as well.
Nothing to stop him weighing in with a few assists and goals this season.

I noticed that too, but it'll come with confidence as he progresses. He's clearly right up the pecking order now which is brilliant.

[Corndog]

Elliot is a huge talent but he won't be a first team regular. Jones who is also a talent got more mins last season because of our injury crisis. As soon as our mids got some fitness back Jones was whipped out of the team. Elliot may get a few mins here and there but I'd like to see him loaned out to a prem club this season.

Thoughts after today?

[RichC]

I noticed that too, but it'll come with confidence as he progresses. He's clearly right up the pecking order now which is brilliant.

Was very similar to Jones last season, you wonder if they’d been told to keep
It simple and look for the easy ball

[SB]

Thoughts after today?

Klopp showed faith in playing him against this experienced Chelsea side & Harvey showed everyone he deserved the opportunity. Life is good for the young man

[danperkins]

Thoughts after today?

Thought he was decent, good for him to get that experience. Do I think he will be a regular in the side? No. What it does show me though is that we are lacking another attacking option. We rely on Mo to get us out of trouble so often. Jota is a goal threat but Klopp just cannot get over starting Bobby. 2 in 2 and then dropped, must be very frustrating and Jota was poor when he came on too couldn't get into the game. As for Mane, I just don't really know what to say he was bloody awful.

We need more options to break down teams, it is the same issue as last season. Things aren't happening, we need a goal so who do we bring on? Ox is average, Minamino is average, Keita won't get you many goals or assists, Origi is useless. City have goals everywhere and really do well to spread them out over the side, United are stacked with attacking options and will have goals coming from everywhere. Chelsea have added Lukaku to get them more goals after they added Werner, Havertz & Ziyech last season to get them more goals. Obviously we don't have their spending power but surely we could have added to the ranks.

The lack of goals other areas is not a new concern and I really did think we would have addressed that and got another attacking option in & a replacement for Gini. Doesn't seem to be happening and we will have to rely on Mo again.

[Fredo]

Werner didn’t bring more goals to Chelsea last season, he pretty much has been a flop.

[SB]

Werner didn’t bring more goals to Chelsea last season, he pretty much has been a flop.

No argument on that but I think he meant they bought him last year to add goals, he didn’t so now they’ve bought Lukaku without selling Werner. Us having to sell before we buy is as frustrating as hell. We should buy what we need & not register those we don’t , like Origi & show him the door. It’s not like we’ve got £60m or 70m invested in Div is it. We’ve sold Shaq so there should be a place for an overseas player to bring in now if we’ve identified someone.