Thiago Alcantara

[BigChief]

Wouldn't be such a disaster if Keita and/or Jones were reliable to stay fit (feck Ox). I don't believe for a second that we won't sign a midfielder this window, even if it's a loan first. Henderson, Milner and Fab just can't carry us, end of. If we can see it then so can Klopp and Ljinders x 1000.

[red g]

Wouldn't be such a disaster if Keita and/or Jones were reliable to stay fit (feck Ox). I don't believe for a second that we won't sign a midfielder this window, even if it's a loan first. Henderson, Milner and Fab just can't carry us, end of. If we can see it then so can Klopp and Ljinders x 1000.

I hope we wouldnt want them to either!!! About an uninspiring 3 in midfield we can field.

[baitman]

Thiago, brilliant but too often unavailable. Jones, not quite good enough and often unavailable. Keita, not good enough and mostly unavailable. Oxlade, was a crock before he left arsenal and always will be. Henderson, the odd good game but on the decline. Milner, has been always willing but we need better.
Other than fabinho we are mostly going to rely on elliot and carvalho, both very decent young talents but we'd be mugs to think that is the way to win a title.

[Pablo]

6 weeks out and another few to get back to match sharpness. So that's about 8 weeks and he will get injured again. ****ed without him. Ah this is so predictable, nothing we haven't seen several times with him and the other usuals. Fabulous PLAYER nobody even close to his ability.

I'm sure I got **** for talking about his injury history when we signed him and here we are... again !!!! So frustrating.

A a turd we can't flush?

[Doc_Piptorious]

A a turd we can't flush?

[danperkins]

A a turd we can't flush?

don't start that again, some people will spontaneously combust with outrage.

[danperkins]

Thiago, brilliant but too often unavailable. Jones, not quite good enough and often unavailable. Keita, not good enough and mostly unavailable. Oxlade, was a crock before he left arsenal and always will be. Henderson, the odd good game but on the decline. Milner, has been always willing but we need better.
Other than fabinho we are mostly going to rely on elliot and carvalho, both very decent young talents but we'd be mugs to think that is the way to win a title.

Fixtures aren't too horrendous with Thiago out but sure I thought Fulham was a given too. The problem is this will keep on happening unfortunately. We have a brilliant team stacked in defence and up top, just that midfield area that is the weak spot.

[Doc_Piptorious]

don't start that again, some people will spontaneously combust with outrage.

You are allowed say my name. I'm not Candyman...........or am I???????

[Exiled_red]

6 weeks out and another few to get back to match sharpness. So that's about 8 weeks and he will get injured again. ****ed without him. Ah this is so predictable, nothing we haven't seen several times with him and the other usuals. Fabulous PLAYER nobody even close to his ability.

I'm sure I got **** for talking about his injury history when we signed him and here we are... again !!!! So frustrating.

6 weeks takes us to the end of September, if he takes a couple of weeks after that to get up to speed he'll only be available for about a month before the season stops for the WC

[Doc_Piptorious]

6 weeks takes us to the end of September, if he takes a couple of weeks after that to get up to speed he'll only be available for about a month before the season stops for the WC

Thiago is not the problem though. You know with Thiago you are going to get maybe 25 league games and whatever number of CL and cup games a season.

The problem is the lack of reliable cover in depth.


We don't even need someone that can play like Thiago as cover, just some guys who we know can come in and play to a level that the team unit does not break down in the middle when we have one or two of the starters unavailable.

It's where a guy like Laimer would come in handy imo. He is not a better playmaker than Thiago, he is not a better DM than Fabinho, but he is a very solid all rounder who can play in a number of roles, he presses very well, is mobile, great stamina and can play as a pivot or part of a double pivot.

Someone like him coming in to be our fourth/fifth choice would make sense to me as he would get plenty of minutes as he could cover any of the CM roles.

Would take him and Barella (or another of starter quality coming in between now and next summer over getting Bellingham tbh.

Get a starter and close to starter in, let Chamberlain go, let Milner retire next summer and make a decision on whether to extend Keita's contract or not.


Would give us Fabinho, Thiago, Barella, Laimer, maybe Keita, Henderson, Jones, and Elliot. Suddenly we have two guys in there that reduce the average age and improve the mobility, aggression and pressing.


Swap Laimer for someone like Nunes if one likes.

Hell go with Nkunku and Laimer if we want to get with a more attacking option as the starter option and we think Firmino might leave next summer.

[Mark79]

6 weeks would take us to the international window. So would be start of October before he played for us again. Would still be 8 PL games and 4 CL games before the WC break though. Still a big amount of games to have him back in rotation for.

[Tribute]

6 weeks would take us to the international window. So would be start of October before he played for us again. Would still be 8 PL games and 4 CL games before the WC break though. Still a big amount of games to have him back in rotation for.

...that's only if we're taking the 6 weeks as gospel. We've seen with him and Keita before that the first number usually doubled is more realistic. Unfortunately.

[danperkins]

You are allowed say my name. I'm not Candyman...........or am I???????

[danperkins]

6 weeks takes us to the end of September, if he takes a couple of weeks after that to get up to speed he'll only be available for about a month before the season stops for the WC

Ughhh depressing stuff. Young lads and going to have to step up and try bring some creativity and craft into that midfield. Big ask when you want to challenge Man City for the league.

[baitman]

VW have just released a Taigo (close enough). Will need breakdown cover