30 May 2018 01:45:35
5 GOLD STARS, only just seen your reply regarding Fabinho but it's way down the pages now.

You are correct that he hasn't made the Brazil squad, but for me, being selected for your national team is not a barometer of a players abilities. Brazil play Gabriel Jesus ahead of Firmino and in my opinion anybody who thinks Jesus is better than Firmino knows less about football than Piers Morgan! Lucas never made their national team either even when they clearly needed a player of his ilk (7-1 cough cough), yet they continually pick the most over rated centre back in Europe; David Luiz. It is a fair enough concern though by the way, but I hope I've eased your mind on that issue.

With regards to me calling Fabinho World class, I'll forget that term for the sake of debate because it is too subjective. Instead I'll elaborate on what I consider to be world class. I think Fabinho is in the top 10 defensive midfielders in world football. I know other people's criteria differs though so I won't argue over whether he is or isn't. It is too subjective and we'd go around in circles! For me though, there are not 10 more DM's who are better than him which prompted me to lavish that level of praise on him. I am very excited about this signing. I've wanted the player for at least 18 months even when I thought he was United-bound. Seeing all the "Welcome to Manchester" videos online gradually disappear has been a thing of comical mastery 😂

As I said before, my other pipe dream signing is Oblak so if that happened by some miracle, I'll go mental.

1.) 30 May 2018
30 May 2018 06:11:18
I can’t recall seeing such a positive reaction to a signing across the whole fan base for ages
I think we all probably needed this after Saturday which highlighted the need for more options and upgrades to our midfield.
This signing along with Keita and hopefully a couple more - Allison and Fekir- and the squad is really looking stronger with some good options and flexibility to play different formations and you never know Klopp might make some substitutions before the 80 minute mark 😉.

2.) 30 May 2018
30 May 2018 06:15:20
My two cents

He is a very good player and very crucial player to us. We have offensive midfielders playing the defensive roles all these years and now we have a genuine defensive midfielder to play the deeper role. So in that regard it’s a great signing.
The lad will help us massively against teams that go long and direct football. He is positionslly very sound.

3.) 30 May 2018
30 May 2018 07:14:37
Doesn't Nike still pick the Brazil team these days?

4.) 30 May 2018
30 May 2018 08:49:16
Who was their striker at the last WC? That's the only response needed there. was it Fred? And wasn't Elano still in the squad and getting games ahead of coutinho at the time?

5.) 30 May 2018
30 May 2018 09:36:05
The key is does Fabinho make our team, and a our squad, better? The answer is a resounding yes. So long as we keep strengthening our first XI and squad we will grow stronger, Fabinho is a good addition in my opinion.

6.) 30 May 2018
30 May 2018 09:39:59
Not having a go MK, just find it hard to believe he is world class but not going to the World Cup. Like I said earlier, I like a lot of what you post and if you think that highly of him then I am thrilled we have his services.
As for your GK choice, I really can’t see that happening, although it would be great. I personally would pay the price for Allisson of Rome. £80m is the figure being thrown around today and is a massive amount of money, but. it sorts out our GK problem for the next ten years and GKs win or lose you games. You can have the best team in the world but a few keeper clangers in a final and you win nothing. Pay the money quick or he will push for Madrid and then no amount of money in the world will turn his head.

7.) 30 May 2018
30 May 2018 10:30:45
5GS, no worries mate, i wasn't offended. Just wanted to adewuately answer your wueation mate. Alisson would be my second choice. He is probably more suited to our style of play, but he is still marginally error prone.

Oblak is the best keeper in the world for me though. When you watch Atletico, their defence takes a lot of plaudits but the way he relieves the pressure by claiming crosses and free kicks he has no right to catch is incredible. His shot stopping is the best on the planet. His distribution is fantastic. The only doubts are over his ability to sweep up behind a high defensive line but I'd like to think a 25 year old keeper with his reading of the game could run 18-25 yards and just boot it into touch!

As you say, it'll never happen though. Nor will Alisson in my opinion. I'm pretty sure we'll sign Jack Butland to be honest. We can dream though!

8.) 30 May 2018
30 May 2018 10:44:32
I would be happy to try the £80m in a suitcase at athletico first before trying it at Rome. Can’t see either happening to be honest, like you said.

9.) 30 May 2018
30 May 2018 11:23:00
Once in a blue Moon I'll agree with Harry, and since it was a New Moon yesterday, I have to say he's right. We have been taking AM's and CM's and adding defensive duties to their roles, which is fine actually because it is Klopp's football philosophy. But just ahead of the back 4, I will always prefer a defensive player who can attack, rather than an offensive player who can defend. It still meets Klopp's multi-skill diktat.

In terms of Fabinho's non inclusion in the Brazil national team, I think it's a non issue. Simply because, not only does Nike have a say (as has been mentioned here already) but that team selection is riddled with political motives such as regional representation requirements, popularity of players with the fans, and even popularity with politicians and ex-players. And once in a while you'll get Brazilian Divas (Neymar being the current one) who exercise their influence. The manager rarely has that total control that we see with EPL and European teams (don't get me wrong I absolutely adore the Brazilian national team) . It's just a complete mess and the best players don't always end up representing their country.

10.) 30 May 2018
30 May 2018 12:34:01
To follow on fellaini and januzaj are in Belgium's squad but naingollan is not. I'm willing to bet any man u fan in the world would trade fellaini for naingollan.

Is there an actual reason naingollan isn't in that squad by the way?