Having someone good enough where we could rest Virg would be a big deal I think
Having someone good enough where we could rest Virg would be a big deal I think
Huijsen / any incoming defender knows VVD is playing 95% of games if fit and Konate is hard to shift too. If I was a young player, I wouldn't want to wait two years for VVD to retire when I could be playing regularly elsewhere.
I don’t disagree, but I think a lot would depend on what Slot has to say to the prospect. Slot seems quite direct and trustworthy. If he told me that he had a plan and I would get game time, I think I would believe him. I doubt he promised anything of the sort to our squadies.If I were a young player looking for minutes, I would be cautious about joining us after seeing how Slot has utilized his squad or young players.
Us: "Hi - we won't pay you as much as the other club clubs, but first of all - are you a dickhead ?"I think we have a strong pitch. Just depends what he wants really
During Klopp's era, we missed out on some big names but i don't regret missing out any one of them.Us: "Hi - we won't pay you as much as the other club clubs, but first of all - are you a dickhead ?"
Player: "No - I am not - ok so not the same money so why should I join you ?"
Us: "Well if you are really good for 3 years in the hardest league in Europe - its likely RM or Barca will want you"
Player: "OK - where do I sign ?"
We actually did well NOT getting those players, especially Tchoumaini. I like been surprised like 2 seasons ago when we got Mac, Grav, Szobo, and EndoDuring Klopp's era, we missed out on some big names but i don't regret missing out any one of them.
Jude went for £120m and £400k a week.
Moises £115m but £40m more than he should be
Lavia, he is making Naby look like Wolverine.
We need to be sensible, as we need to strengthen in more than one area.
It’s such players that I’m looking forward to seeing not the “usual suspects” who tend to be overpriced anyway..We actually did well NOT getting those players, especially Tchoumaini. I like been surprised like 2 seasons ago when we got Mac, Grav, Szobo, and Endo
“Van Dijk’s priority was always to remain with Liverpool and that was matched by their ambition which is expected to be underlined by their summer transfer plans. They have saved money in the last couple of windows so their finances are in good shape to add a striker for example and we do expect Darwin Nunez to leave. To strengthen at left back, like a Milos Kerkez for example but that would require one of Robertson or Tsimikas to leave. A centre half to arrive - they like Dean Huijsen, let’s see what happens with Konate’s contract… and maybe more to do on what is expected to be a busy summer at Anfield.”
View: https://x.com/AnfieldSector/status/1913608591912665262
i’ve been wondering recently if we see salah through the middle in the next 2 seasons for many of the reasons you’ve outlined.I noticed Arne Slot speak about how crucial 1v1 battles out wide are in modern football and he highlighted the PSG game.
A game in which we lost all four 1 v 1 battles:
Mendy came out on top against Salah.
Hakimi came out on top against Diaz.
Barcola/Doue came out out on top against TAA.
Kvara came out on top on top against Robbo.
This is why we hardly created a thing across both legs, but Villa, who are worse than us overall, did find some success going forward against PSG. Scoring and creating chances.
Rogers, Rashford, McGinn won some duels out wide against Hakimi/Mendy. Where they lost the game was Hakimi and Mendy also won duels going foward themselves with late runs. Kvara and Doue won duels in the first leg against their full backs.
Next season, I don't see Salah winning many 1v1 duels against any really athletic full back, with concentration (for his off the ball running). In fact, a bit like against Fulham's Robinson, we'll have to take the risk of allowing Salah to cheat defensively and stay forward.
On the other side of the pitch, as much as I like Gakpo, I think we still need a dominant 1v1 attacker capable of dribbling past people with ease. Sell Diaz and bring in some like Kudus/Gittens.
As for the CF, I was watching Isak today and midweek. He's good potentially world class, but he's not worth 150m. The money he's worth (85-90m), Newcastle wouldn't accept, so I hope we're looking at alternative options now in Cunha (depending on his pressing stats)/Pedro/Etitike. I see us going for a multifunctional pressing CF, similar to Dembele/Bobby F, than an outright number 9. Again, it's something in Arne's press conference which gave me that impression when asked about what type of forward we're after. (paraphrase) "One that works incredibly hard".
I think he's scored a lot of goals by cheating and staying forward and not having to win 1 v 1 duels too much, as their FB is out of position. It's intelligent play, and he's been very clinical, so it's been worth the extra defensive work from Ryan and Szobo.To be fair, Salah has won his individual duels against plenty of full-backs in the PL and CL this season. He has gone off the boil since February, but still I would say more often than not he had come out on top (at least from the point of view of most reasonable neutral fans - many LFC fans seem to judge Mo by a harsher metric).
I don’t think we need to worry about the RWF position just yet, particilarly if he has an overlapping full-back who will help him next season.
I wondered if he could play the 10 role, but I'm not sure whether he could receive the ball between the lines as well, or press as effectively as Slot's 10 is required to press.i’ve been wondering recently if we see salah through the middle in the next 2 seasons for many of the reasons you’ve outlined.
Good point about Gakpo but we definitely need a better winger. When Salah is not firing and Gakpo is out we have little threat up front, that's blatantly obvious.I noticed Arne Slot speak about how crucial 1v1 battles out wide are in modern football and he highlighted the PSG game.
A game in which we lost all four 1 v 1 battles:
Mendy came out on top against Salah.
Hakimi came out on top against Diaz.
Barcola/Doue came out out on top against TAA.
Kvara came out on top on top against Robbo.
This is why we hardly created a thing across both legs, but Villa, who are worse than us overall, did find some success going forward against PSG. Scoring and creating chances.
Rogers, Rashford, McGinn won some duels out wide against Hakimi/Mendy. Where they lost the game was Hakimi and Mendy also won duels going foward themselves with late runs. Kvara and Doue won duels in the first leg against their full backs.
Next season, I don't see Salah winning many 1v1 duels against any really athletic full back, with concentration (for his off the ball running). In fact, a bit like against Fulham's Robinson, we'll have to take the risk of allowing Salah to cheat defensively and stay forward.
On the other side of the pitch, as much as I like Gakpo, I think we still need a dominant 1v1 attacker capable of dribbling past people with ease. Sell Diaz and bring in some like Kudus/Gittens.
As for the CF, I was watching Isak today and midweek. He's good potentially world class, but he's not worth 150m. The money he's worth (85-90m), Newcastle wouldn't accept, so I hope we're looking at alternative options now in Cunha (depending on his pressing stats)/Pedro/Etitike. I see us going for a multifunctional pressing CF, similar to Dembele/Bobby F, than an outright number 9. Again, it's something in Arne's press conference which gave me that impression when asked about what type of forward we're after. (paraphrase) "One that works incredibly hard".
If I were a young player looking for minutes, I would be cautious about joining us after seeing how Slot has utilized his squad or young players.
Where does this notion of Ibou not resigning come from?Neither do I, fee is good.
The one reason I disagree about the “managing minutes” thing is - yuu generally don’t want to chop and change your CB’s - that’s the one area you want to try and get 2 playing together as much as possible.
That and, I’m not sure his good Huijsen is on the right side.
Additionally - Konate isn’t signing a new long term contract to get his minutes managed.
Now, if we’re selling Konate because we don’t think he’ll re-sign, so we want to cash in and we think Huijsen can drop in beside Virgil, then that’s a plan at least - and Konate would likely fund the Huijsen fee.
Of course, Huijsen might back himself to force his way into the team, who knows.
60 games???You'd like to think he's smarter than that. He knows Van Dijk is coming to the end of the road and will potentially be gone in 2 years time, what a time to learn from the best by playing alongside him. Konate still seems to have niggly injury problems and then there's JoGo. There'll be easily 60 plus games next season to play, so more than enough.
Ideally if we progress in cups60 games???
It’s been a case of Schrödinger’s match selections this season. Next season Slot shouldn’t have any excuses for not rotating more. Especially with his own players coming in.Ideally if we progress in cups
I know you disagree, but we do exist to win trophies, and hopefully this summer we strengthen enough and next season slot rotates more effectively
My only concern is whether slot sees konate as his long term CB. We know he likes both CBs comfortable on the ball and that originally he wanted quansah to start ahead of konate because he's better on the ball. Just quansah was so bad he got subbed. We aren't rich enough to pay 50m for a bench warmer. So if we pay the 50m I see konate as 3rd choice.We do, but even so the notion is based on Konate's reported request for a jump in wages from £80,000 to £200,000 a week, which the club is not going to give him. I rate him too and hope he does sign a new deal, but against that background it remains an open question at the moment.