Yes was.....5 years ago Stevie, we've seen 3 years of crap from him at CB since and we've moved on from Joe at CB. Bench and kept for cover/rotation only.
Look who Amorim plays as his 2 behind Gyokeres, Edwards/Trincao/Paulinho/Goncalves......they're all very different players to Mac/Szobo (especially Mac) and other than Goncalves who I think has always been a #10 anyway, the others have converted from wingers....think Paulinho was even his main man up top before they signed Gyokeres.
It's not really 3 up top tucking in though, Szobo can play the right attacking side like he does for Hungary. I've always seen Jota as more of an inside forward anyway, that left attacking side would suit him to a T.......heck I even see Diaz/Gakpo being more than capable because they've shown that versatility of dropping deep/getting involved centrally to make things happen.
Do you see Mac being able to get double figures for goals? He's forming a brilliant partnership with Endo, why would you want to break that up? Endo will still be there beside him being the 1 dropping deepest, doing most of the recoveries and breaking up of play and it wouldn't stop Mac being influential and showing his class on the ball like he's currently doing.
No mate - we’ve seen 3 years of injuries and inconsistent game time. He’s a player that needs a few games and then needs to play consistently to get into his groove. He’s only played at CB a couple of times this season and been fine.
He’d fit better as a CB in a 3 than as a WB.
Mac isn’t sitting beside Endo - he’s been playing further forward lately - we have a FB inverting that sits beside Endo. It’s no surprise that he’s looked great further forward and his scoring has increased. When he’s deep, he’s replacing Endo, not partnering him.
He could and probably will both replace and partner Endo in that deep roll - in the same way that Trent almost always is the inverting option from FB and actually has partnered Endo or Mac in the deep roll.
What you’re likely to see, with a fixed double pivot, is Endo, Mac & Trent being the 3 most used options there, with Mac likely playing further forward more often and Bradley at RWB more often. Trent would be the part of the double pivot used, as he is now, to moved the ball more directly to the forwards when we want to hit quickly. If we’re being more patient, then Trent would likely be the one to move up the field if the central CB steps up into the double pivot.
If Mac plays in that forward role, then yes, I think he will reach double figures in a season - particularly if he’s taking penalties instead of Salah - he reached that last season for Brighton.
At the minute he’s more reliable at scoring than Dom and I could see CJ & Harvey playing in those roles too and it would also suit Carvalho & Clark - none of those would suit the deeper roles or WB positions.
Gakpo & Jota will likely be cover for Darwin and options along with the attacking midfielders for the inside forward/20’s depending on how Amorim wants to set up.
There’s options there, but Amorim’s system is clearly combining the 2 wider attacking positions and 2 attacking midfield positions in Klopp’s team into 2 positions - that’s how we’re getting a fixed double pivot & 3 at the back.
That means Mac, Dom, CJ, Harvey, Gravy, Gakpo, Jota, Diaz & Mo are, in essence all competing for 2 positions (granted, I wouldn’t think Gravy is suited there at all). A few of them can play in other areas but if we’re saying Darwin & Endo are considered regular starters, that only leaves the 2nd double pivot DM role as open.
That’s a lot of players either not playing regularly or needing to be moved on.l and replaced with a couple of new players more suited to the system.