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23 Jul 2017 20:43:00
Hi ed,

Have you had any indication as to who the alternatives are to Keita that LFC may consider? Surely there's a contingency plan of some sorts.

Thanks.

{Ed002's Note - I gave a list of those that the club has been interested in the other day - but most have moved on. You need to think seriously about whether or not the club just buy for the sake of it (to appease the fans) or has a structured approach to regeneration - where they buy the players they need.}

1.) 23 Jul 2017 23:10:42
Granted ed. Absolutely.

But

We haven't just identified keita. but a cm.

Similar to a pacey winger, mane wasn't first choice. Another winger. brandt, got salah. Wij. Robertson.

I'm hoping that it's the cm we have decided on, because in my opinion it's where games are won and lost and it is certainly not our stronger point.

Just don't want to go for someone completely below keita, hopefully it's someone similar.

2.) 24 Jul 2017 00:43:26
Midfield is easily our strongest area of the pitch?

3.) 24 Jul 2017 02:13:22
our midfield is deceptively (and arugably) our weakest link. they press well, link attack etc but they often leave the defense stranded and with the opposition flooding our box. Matip said it himself about the way we play not making it easy on our defenders. I think we have good pieces there, but I do believe our defense would benefit from out midfield being amore compact and connected unit. adding quality depth will help that and having guys who can come in and out with dropping the levels will help.

4.) 24 Jul 2017 06:18:18
Opponents waltz through our midfield without a care in the world. I agree with Faithinworks.

{Ed001's Note - that's because of the way we play, it will always be like that unless we had 3 Kantes in there, who could press and get back.}

5.) 24 Jul 2017 10:28:24
so we need 9 midfielders then ed001? haha.

{Ed001's Note - could be.}

6.) 24 Jul 2017 11:30:38
Exactly eds. Brazil were always famous for saying "okay we concede 1 we score 3" we can't have everything. Top class defenders will help with leaking goals. World class keeper too. Karius looked unreal in training! Hope he gets the nod this season.

7.) 24 Jul 2017 14:11:53
Agree with Ed - if you look at the tougher games we played last year with more balanced possession (e. g. Man City, Man Utd, Tottenham) our defense actually looked pretty good, largely because our midfield won the midfield battles and providing meaningful cover.

It's against the lower teams where we look shaky because our midfield and FBs both push up the pitch, leaving our CBS exposed on the break (not to mention set pieces) . so IMO our midfield isn't the problem, it's the way we play.

I do think Klopp has this figured out though - look at the way we were far more balanced in possession during the latter stages of last season. We scored less, but conceded far less, and put together a relatively consistent run.

I would not be surprised to see a more conservative/ balanced approach this year against the so-called weaker sides, and also to see a 4-2-3-1 come out from time to time.

8.) 24 Jul 2017 22:55:32
Our defence only let in 8 goals in the last 12 games. Only Spurs matched that. We were showing signs of actually knowing how to defend. But also because Lovren and Matip both stayed fit. And Mignolet was absolutely brilliant.

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28 Aug 2017 15:47:23
Ed001,

From what you're seeing/ hearing about Keita and Lemar, are you happy?

Cheers.

{Ed001's Note - I haven't seen enough of either player to judge them. What I saw of Lemar was not good, but everyone has off days and he is young.}

1.) 28 Aug 2017 16:22:27
Ed001, I watch far too much football according to my wife and as a result, I can confirm that having seen Lemar in both the champions league and Ligue 1, he's very much a quality player. He can play on the wing or as a number eight or ten. Good range of passing, thunderbastard of a long range shot and he can whip a decent ball in. Keita and Lemar (possibly) on the same day is a really big deal.

2.) 28 Aug 2017 16:24:34
Lemar is very good player. Let's not fool ourself into thinking he is on cou level but close. his numbers are similar to cou but in a weaker league. he is young, fast, with a good eye for pass and he can carry the ball. Dead balls also his strenght. He is lw and cam and he likes to interchange and play in fluid system. Rated by all coaches that had him, forcing his way into France national team and for some best monaco player last season wenger first target (dont know why they didn't pay asking price ) . he will be just fine!

3.) 28 Aug 2017 16:22:27
Ed001, I watch far too much football according to my wife and as a result, I can confirm that having seen Lemar in both the champions league and Ligue 1, he's very much a quality player. He can play on the wing or as a number eight or ten. Good range of passing, thunderbastard of a long range shot and he can whip a decent ball in. Keita and Lemar (possibly) on the same day is a really big deal.

{Ed001's Note - I was looking forward to watching him in the Champions League, but he was poor in the games I saw. I never got to watch him in the league as it clashes with Prem games.}

4.) 28 Aug 2017 16:23:21
I'd have to disagree and say Lemar was fantastic in Europe last season for Monaco.

Like you say Ed all players have off games but over the course of the season he was fantastic and just as Salah and Mane have settled in and excel in our system, I can see Lemar doing the exact same. A very good fit
For our side! 👍🏼.

{Ed001's Note - I only watched a couple of their games and he was terrible in those. I was very disappointed as I was only watching them to see what he was like.}

5.) 28 Aug 2017 16:50:45
Lemar is fantastic ed, even dennis is saying he's good.

20 Aug 2017 19:55:40
Is it just me or is Gerrard being a pundit quite a big conflict of interest? He seems to be discussing more than he should considering he's an employee of the club.

1.) 20 Aug 2017 21:21:16
Its one or the other really.

We discussed this before he came back to the club.

Stevie should knock the punditry work and learn his trade as a coach.

In all reality he has landed a post that probably more experienced and qualified people would give their right bollock to land.

5 years behind the scenes, learning how to get the best out of young players, then see what happens.

2.) 20 Aug 2017 21:38:01
To be fair, alongside King Kenny, Stevie G is god to LFC so I personally think he can do what he likes. He is a great Role model and what every Liverpool player should aspire to, so I say crack on mate, do what you like, say what you like and if we end up in a mess this season if couts does go and there is any truth that Klopp will follow, Stevie G for gaffer to bring back the Glory days!

3.) 20 Aug 2017 21:46:47
Yes it's just you mate.

4.) 20 Aug 2017 23:11:28
Stevie G is no role model. He was a fantastic player but it was all about him, and still is it seems. He should just keep his gob shut and concentrate on being a coach.

5.) 21 Aug 2017 00:21:02
The less said, The less to mend.

09 Aug 2017 23:09:36
Ed001, sorry if you've already answered this mate.

How good do you think Coutinho is? Pretty subjective question I know, but I'm struggling to gage how bad it'd be if he went!

Cheers.

{Ed001's Note - he makes us tick mate. It is not just because of what he does, but the way opponents treat him that he is important to us. With him on the pitch, 2 or 3 opposition players are constantly distracted watching him, trying to stay near enough to challenge him when he gets the ball. That creates more space, even if only one of them actually does the closing down at a time, the others are distracted and are more likely to let our players run off the back of them.

People moan he goes missing sometimes, but he is still causing problems for the opposition simply by being there.}

1.) 10 Aug 2017 05:58:09
Couldn't agree more, and his ability to turn and wriggle out of tackles and run into the space between the lines causes havoc. Defences can't afford drop back and give him a free shot from distance, but if they step up if leaves space in behind for others. Look at his wriggle out of the tackle and release vs. Herta, and also how his receiving the ball vs. Leicester immediately created panic in the CBs to step up, leaving space in behind for Salah to run into and score.

For all their talent, our other midfielders don't create that sort of fear and panic that leads to the opposition abandoning their defensive patterns.

{Ed001's Note - exactly mate, there are very few players that inspire that kind of fear in other players, when you have one it changes things. The key is having a team around them that can exploit it.}

2.) 10 Aug 2017 06:29:25
With the pace in our team now mainly with mane and salah I have a feeling that teans will have to sit deep, even more so then last year, we will need his creativity and quick thinking more then ever. I also believe can can be a big player for us this year (maybe grujic too) for their ability to beat a man or 2 from midfield and score.

3.) 10 Aug 2017 06:33:50
And we have more options in the team to exploit it this season with both salah and mane with their pace and movement not to mention the already good link up with firmino, if we manage to keep him he could be even better this season.

4.) 10 Aug 2017 07:00:20
Its very simple actually. Keep Coutinho and we see the very best of Mane and Salah. If we sell him, we may never know how good Mane and Salah can actually be. Coutinho is one player who reads a forwards' game better than most and will pick out their runs between defences at every opportunity. The same cannot be said about our other midfielders who rely more on their workrate to boss the midfield.

5.) 10 Aug 2017 08:33:27
If count stays and plays through the middle this season then I believe he would go missing less (as previously stated by Ed) and would probably have his best ever season with us. It's far easier for opposition to close the space down In the channels and count doesn't have the pace to alter that. Through the middle he would be at the heart of more or less every attack and would get far more ball and space to do his damage with.

6.) 10 Aug 2017 09:47:13
Spot on, Ed. Those who say Cou is inconsistent or drifts in and out of games clearly don't watch him closely and the impact he has on the way the opposition play us. Some say that "mane is our best player", Rubbish! W/ o Cou pulling the strings in behind, there is no Mane. Which is why we signed Salah on the left side so Cou can have both him, Mane and Bobby to play with. If we sell him now, good luck picking the locks of parked buses as non of our CM's can do wehat he can creatively on the pitch. He must not be sold this summer at any price.

{Ed001's Note - he works so well with Firmino, it is joy to watch those two link up.}

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