Midfield

[Alex]

For me the plan originally was for the likes of Keita and Ox people that age along with Fabinho to be the regulars by now with the likes of Henderson having his minutes managed. The problem was that they weren't reliable and/or up to it, and that has been evident for a number of years, but we never rectified that situation (by getting rid and replacing them) either because we couldn't move them on or because we continued to believe that they would come good, or hope that someone like Jones would have stepped up to fill the gap.

The Fabinho situation was rather unexpected at this stage and has undoubtedly made matters worse, but the rest of it was entirely foreseeable, which makes it all the more frustrating.

Totally agree with you here.

[Charly]

We were already a midfielder short when Gini left, so I never saw him as being replaced by Thiago, who was more cultured but less energetic. A great addition to the squad, but Id say much less of a Klopp player. Big, strong and energetic are the key attributes for our midfield. And the discipline to press in the correct manner.

[Doc_Piptorious]

We were already a midfielder short when Gini left, so I never saw him as being replaced by Thiago, who was more cultured but less energetic. A great addition to the squad, but Id say much less of a Klopp player. Big, strong and energetic are the key attributes for our midfield. And the discipline to press in the correct manner.

Which is why someone like Thuram at Nice would have been a decent option imo.

Fast, good at break up play, strong, 6'3 or 6'4 in height, good dribbler on the ball and youngish. Was rumoured to be available for about 25m to 30m

Kone is another that could play in a similar role for a similar price.

Laimar would have been a physically smaller (though not small) version of those two.


Sabitzer would bring a lot of the same qualities.


Would love a Barella or Tonali, but you might get Kone and Thuram with a bit left over for the price of Barella.

Then again you might almost get Barella and one of Kone/Thuram for the price of Bellingham.

Then add maybe someone like Mason Mount on a free in the summer. God things are bad when I am open to Mount joining.

[rudedog]

I think Jones has been the disappointment, I have a feeling that we didn’t bring in that extra midfielder when Gini left as we saw more involvement from Jones.

Maybe due to injuries but he just hasn’t kicked on.

[Alex]

Jones 100% hasnt kicked on like they hoped. But that cant be how you run a squad? Hoping youth prospects make it to the first team?

Seems like he was obviously not the elite level standard in the summer. So not replacing him between then and now is another big whiff for me.

[Alex]

So as it stands. We only want to really keep Thiago, Henderson, Bajectec and thats it? So its actually 3 new players we need in there. Bellingham, Nunes and one other? Thats the fat end of £200m easily there.

[rudedog]

Jones 100% hasnt kicked on like they hoped. But that cant be how you run a squad? Hoping youth prospects make it to the first team?

Seems like he was obviously not the elite level standard in the summer. So not replacing him between then and now is another big whiff for me.

He wasn’t a youth prospect then though, the 20/21 season he played 34 games for us.

[Kenneth]

Assuming Jones, who has no discernible stand out qualities, would go on to become a regular in a title challenging team was a hell of an assumption if true.

Seems like Fredo syndrome is spreading within the club. Copied from the Curtis Jones thread..

Shades of Zidane with this lad when he’s on song. His ball control and the way he moves with it is effortless.

[poorscousertommy]

When is Arthur due back?!

[Assassin]

When is Arthur due back?!

……end of the season to Juve

[spud_gun]

Assuming Jones, who has no discernible stand out qualities, would go on to become a regular in a title challenging team was a hell of an assumption if true.

Seems like Fredo syndrome is spreading within the club. Copied from the Curtis Jones thread..

**** the internet and 'hot takes'

[poorscousertommy]

……end of the season to Juve

[Doc_Piptorious]

When is Arthur due back?!

Never struck me at the time but how did we end up with Arthur given Juve were trying to loan out lots of players.

Arthur, if he was fit, I think would have been a good understudy to Thiago and allowed us to manage minutes.

However Juve also loaned out Zakaria - Who is big, fast, physical, tall, able to break up play and carry the ball up field, plays in both the DM and CM roles and he can play in the CB position and I think is able to cover at RB.

They then this window loaned out McKennie who by all accounts is a midfielder who is good defensively, hard working and that can play anywhere across the centre.

So us as a team that likes hard working midfielders who cover lots of ground, that track back, that cover when full backs go forward and that press well instead go for the one that does those things the least.


Then Sabitzer is up for loan, and he does all those things plus a fair bit more on top and we are not even linked to a him for a loan move.


Fairly low risk in each case given they would have been loan deals.

[Mark79]

Pretty sure we were reported as trying for Denis Zakaria, but he chose Chelsea’s offer instead.

If someone wants to pass that on to Jaco for me

[red g]

Never struck me at the time but how did we end up with Arthur given Juve were trying to loan out lots of players.

Arthur, if he was fit, I think would have been a good understudy to Thiago and allowed us to manage minutes.

However Juve also loaned out Zakaria - Who is big, fast, physical, tall, able to break up play and carry the ball up field, plays in both the DM and CM roles and he can play in the CB position and I think is able to cover at RB.

They then this window loaned out McKennie who by all accounts is a midfielder who is good defensively, hard working and that can play anywhere across the centre.

So us as a team that likes hard working midfielders who cover lots of ground, that track back, that cover when full backs go forward and that press well instead go for the one that does those things the least.


Then Sabitzer is up for loan, and he does all those things plus a fair bit more on top and we are not even linked to a him for a loan move.


Fairly low risk in each case given they would have been loan deals.

Houssem Aouar, Carraso, Isco and SAul Niguez were all offered to United as well. I haven;t folllowed there careers but all players we were linked with once......who maybe all **** now, But they need to give up football if they are not better than some of our present team.