22 Jul 2023 15:34:53
Hello Ed001, thanks for all you do. Just love picking your football brain. With regards to Thiago, should he stay or go, and if he should go (along with Hendo and Fabinho), how many more midfielders should we get with the two we just purchased? The reason i am asking is that despite our need for fresh legs and heads, we still need a mature leg or two who have the winning mentality, much like what Milner did for us when he came in.
Would it be wise to let Thiago go at this time when we are light onwinning history and who should be our new captain.
As much as i like VVD, i don't think he is assertive or loud enough. While Robertson may not be in the first 11 and besides he is a little too much of a street footballer who might not be able to calm heads when needed. Trent would have too much pressure of a new role, but to me might be the best option right now.

{Ed001's Note - I think Thiago should go regardless. I love him as a player, he seems like a lovely guy and is always wandering round town and will chat to randoms, but he just can not be relied upon to stay fit when it matters. That is far more of a problem than a lack of experience in a team which still has Alisson, Trent, van Dijk, Matip etc who have experience of winning everything. We are fine for experience imo.

The new captain will be Virgil but it should be Trent.}

1.) 22 Jul 2023
22 Jul 2023 16:48:32
Thanks Edoo1.Should be Trent but would be VVD.

2.) 22 Jul 2023
22 Jul 2023 16:49:36
Ed001 I love Thiago as well and out of him Henderson and Fabinho I would rather we keep him.
Am I right in thinking the op he had at the end of last season he was having trouble with that at the beginning of last season if so if that is now sorted hopefully he can stay fit.
I think the way he plays the game he probably has more longevity than the other 2 as well.
But if we can get some money for him as well and get a couple more midfielders in should be in a good place for the season all so we have taken a lot of very big earners of the wage bill can’t imagine we will be paying any of the new signings £200k a week like fabs Henderson and Thiago are all on around.

{Ed001's Note - he has never been known to stay fit in his career, so I wouldn't have any faith in his ability to do so now, unless he is a fringe player. We simply can't afford to have a fringe player on his wages. It would be insanity. Especially if, as it looks like we are, we return to the high press. Yes he can play it, but not at the level we are working to be at. So his only real use then would be to come on as a sub in games we are controlling to see them out. Again, far too high a wage for that role. It makes little sense, no matter how good he is, to keep him.}

3.) 22 Jul 2023
22 Jul 2023 17:02:25
Ed1. When you say the new captain will be VVD is that what you think or it’s already been decided? I also agree that Trent should be captain.

{Ed001's Note - that's what I think. I can't see Klopp picking anyone else. He is loyal and he will stand by Virgil and show faith in him. Understandable and could pay off massively if van Dijk gets back to his best.}

4.) 22 Jul 2023
22 Jul 2023 17:25:19
Hi ed1 so you believe the high press is coming back? God I hope so, we need heavy metal football again. I’d love VVD to get back to his best, ACLs are such a devastating injury hopefully he gets his head straight for the new season and kicks on with the new responsibility of captain.

{Ed001's Note - it does look like the press is back from the first outing. I really hope so. We are so much better when we apply the high press, it suits the club to be on the front foot. Certainly the pre-season has been set up to allow the players to build up their fitness to be able to press, so there is no excuses now if it doesn't happen.}

5.) 22 Jul 2023
22 Jul 2023 18:35:51
I don't see one ounce of captain in Trent. We truly lack leaders in our squad.
Whomever gets the armband I just hope it doesn't get in the way of good performances.

6.) 22 Jul 2023
22 Jul 2023 18:55:58
I see you say the high press is back although we aren't playing our old 443, what's your opinion on this system? I find it bizarre to have Salah so wide although I do think it wil help Nunez centrally. Also we never seemed to have a set right back, Bradley and Clark seemed to drift into there. Seems a bit over complicated for me and like we are copying pep.

7.) 22 Jul 2023
22 Jul 2023 19:45:14
Another troll masquerading as being negative. Must try harder mate ?.

8.) 22 Jul 2023
22 Jul 2023 21:36:36
I see Mac Allister as a future captain.

9.) 23 Jul 2023
23 Jul 2023 00:32:01
Szoboszla has captain stamped all over him at some point in the not too distant future.
Absolute class he is.

10.) 23 Jul 2023
23 Jul 2023 02:13:41
Agree with that Flash - he has the ‘aura’ about him that leaders have.

11.) 23 Jul 2023
23 Jul 2023 03:38:06
I would like to see Robbo as club captain.

12.) 23 Jul 2023
23 Jul 2023 04:23:59
I believe our press will be much better as our forwards will have a pre-season together which will help. Jota remaining fit will be a big help.

Klopp breaks this down really simple in his latest interview on the We are Liverpool Podcast where he describe the press as everyone being connected to shut down the opposition, not watching someone else press the ball hoping they'll win it. This was our biggest issue last year that also lead to how leaky we were at the back. We just were not in sync.

Regards Thiago the key is his fitness. He is under-rated in the pressing game and winning the ball back. But his fitness means he can't always show that. I'd be ok with him staying for the season because I think we need an older head in the midfield, but similar to Fabinho and Jordan, if an offer came in that was reasonable then it'd be hard to turn down.

13.) 23 Jul 2023
23 Jul 2023 08:31:49
Ed01 regarding Thiago and as you say, he has always had an inconsistent injury record so this is not surprising or should not be to those who knew him before he joined us.

Hence for me, I think he is going to b kept as a fringe player now even tho having a fringe player or a squad option on big wages is ridiculous economically but he may be kept cos Fab and Hendo are gone and we ain’t signing 3 mids, imo. That’s just too much to do at this point of the window.

{Ed001's Note - do you mean 3 more or one more to make 3?}

14.) 23 Jul 2023
23 Jul 2023 10:50:57
Sorry Ed, I meant 3 more should Thiago leave. That part is what I don’t see happening hence, I see him being kept.

{Ed001's Note - why would we need 3 more?}

15.) 23 Jul 2023
23 Jul 2023 14:43:44
Exactly my point, Ed. If Thiago leaves, we ain’t signing a 3rd one cos we may not need one.