22 May 2021 09:15:52
I hear a lot on this site about Bissouma being the player people want us to sign. I have only seen him in a couple of games and his passing looks very Gini like. He doesn't score or assist at all so are people thinking he will be cover for Fabs? Maybe the lad has massive potential in the box to box role but I have my doubts about him technically at the highest level. Is he better that Ndidi for example?

If we are only signing one midfielder surely it needs to be someone who can effect the top end of the pitch as well.

1.) 22 May 2021
22 May 2021 09:33:27
Sigh.

For the billionth time, we have several midfielders that can play in advanced roles adding goals - hendo is more than capable, it's probably Jones' best position, Shaq and chamberlain would love to do it.

We don't have someone doing that for tactical reasons, not because we don't have bodies. Our front 3 and our 2 FBs are the players dedicated to be the ones creating and scoring the vast majority of our goals with our midfield 3 winning the ball, recycling it back into attacking positions and arriving from deep when the opportunities arise.

Buying a midfielder dedicated to scoring and assisting goals would mean one of two things - either we are changing the underlying tactical setup of our game, or that player will be changing his preferred role. Either way, it's not likely to happen and people who can do what our team already does but better see both more likely and more useful, whatever Gary Neville and his lazy mates on sky say.

2.) 22 May 2021
22 May 2021 10:16:41
Yet the same people say they wouldn’t sign Kane if they had the opportunity as he’s never won Spurs anything.

3.) 22 May 2021
22 May 2021 10:38:54
100% agree hijkle, we already have goalscoring midfielders on our books and Klopp does not trust them 80% of the time. Come next season Jones will still be here, Ox may still be here as well, Elliott will be returning and most importantly of all i think that Firmino will continue to play and flourish in a deeper role, maybe even as a number 10 in a 4231.

Our midfielders are very rarely the most advanced players on the pitch for a reason. Instead of demanding more goals from them, i think Trent and Robbo should actually be working on their goalscoring, as they’re the ones that are consistently in forward positions.

4.) 22 May 2021
22 May 2021 11:12:57
Klopp prefers our midfielders to be tactically disciplined and protect the fullbacks getting foward etc to attacking and goal getting ability. I am sure Klopp would love to have midfields that do both but such players are few and far between. KDB is the best at this and it far easier to get hold of someone defensively aware and hard working that we can coach to be slightly better offensively than it is to teach someone attacking minded to be defensively aware and consistent. IMO the closest we have to this is the Ox. Really hope he can maintain fitness, get back to form and get on the team sheet.

5.) 22 May 2021
22 May 2021 11:34:35
Never mind this AM nonsense, if Gini does leave and with Henderson and Milner increasingly getting injuries on a semi regular basis, I’d prefer a box to box / versatile midfielder who can bring pace and energy to the team, as well as put his foot in.
Bissouma definitely ticks the boxes.
I think that there’s going to be a lot of competition for his signature however, and no doubt the price will go up and up.
CL football next season would be a big draw though.

6.) 22 May 2021
22 May 2021 11:37:53
Sigh, who said anything about a midfielder dedicated to scoring and assisting goals? We need the player that OX was 3 years ago, not the bit part player he is now. And I 100% disagree we have currently no midfield player who is capable of effecting the top end of the pitch when we need them on a regular basis.

If Mane leaves then the remaining front 3 look likely to get around 45 goals leaving around 35 goals to get. The midfield will have to get their share. The current midfield will get about 6 between them all.

7.) 22 May 2021
22 May 2021 11:38:16
You can't deny that Mark makes a fair point. Bissouma wouldn't be in our best starting XI because he doesn't offer anything that Fabinho or Henderson can't offer to a higher level. Thiago replaces Gini. Bissouma would be good as competition and to replace Milner a season before he retires as he can also cover right back and left back. He's a utility player and a very good midfield destroyer. He is not going to score or create double figures though. He's just not that kind of player.

Jones, Elliott and even Firmino are the players we have who i think could thrive as goal scoring midfielders. Oxlade-Chamberlain too if he can stay fit. I'm okay with signing Bissouma but i don't think he transforms our team. He does allow us to rest Fabinho without having to play Henderson in the holding role though, where he is wasted.

8.) 22 May 2021
22 May 2021 11:43:18
Bissouma has a passing range far better than wijnaldum who can’t pass a ball further than 20 yards and it’s always along the ground. Technically bissouma is also very good but he doesn’t use his body to protect the ball in the same way Gini does in my opinion gini is the best at doing this. Gini regularly bursts forward with the ball and beats a player or two with that burst but then he stops dead, turns and passes backwards or sideways and I don’t believe bissouma is limited in the same way he spreads the play he bursts past players he out manoeuvres players he can drop the shoulder and take the ball on the back foot similar to gini but the key difference is bissouma is far better defensively making more tackles more interceptions. He’s a very tidy footballer and so is Gini btw but we’ve seen ginis peak he’s never going to add range to his passing or be as smart in the tackles as bissouma who also seems to have the same work rate in his legs.

9.) 22 May 2021
22 May 2021 12:00:13
I see us buying 2 CB's and 1 attacker, if we can sell a few more players we may be more active in the market but expect 3 transfers this summer.

10.) 22 May 2021
22 May 2021 12:13:45
With Keita, Gini, Ox, Grujic, Shaq possibly moving on, we should be looking to add 2 midfielders - Bissouma can be one and we can look for a more attacking mid for out second signing.

hjikle, I disagree. Yes, the Ox and Shaq are attacking mids but the reason they are not in the team is because of either injuries or poor form. They are nowhere near the level of someone like De Bruyne or Fernandes. Jones is still young.

Also, just because we haven't played with attacking mids in the last few years doesn't mean that the future will be the same as well. Klopp has shown on multiple occassions that he is willing to change styles as and when he sees fit.

11.) 22 May 2021
22 May 2021 12:21:16
The problem is I don't see where bissouma starts for us unless we sell 5 midfielders already on our books.
40 million is a little too much. He has had only one great season but his team are still 16th. Good player but not for me not for that money. If brighton in for exchanges then maybe. We can give them ox +20 and keita on a one year loan.

12.) 22 May 2021
22 May 2021 12:22:39
Mark, or maybe you should actually watch Bisouma extensively like many of us have and then make your own judgment. You mentioned him in the same breath as Ndidi which tells me, you need to do your research. I have watched Bisouma play for the past two years and he is the real deal and keeps improving everytime I watch him, it seems.

He plays all three CM positions efficiently. He plays the 8 or b2b role brilliantly and can play the DM role as well. He played DM at Anfield this season and was absolutely brilliant. As for saying we need a goal scoring midfielder, as Ed02 would say, “Done to death”.

13.) 22 May 2021
22 May 2021 13:16:15
Only point I would like to add about the lad is his energy. He covers a ton of ground and can press the ball. As our midfield has aged with Milner, Henderson and Thiago I think it's his legs, his energy that Klopp is after. Imo I think he would make a good signing.

14.) 22 May 2021
22 May 2021 13:33:12
Chaps, mostly re the top of thread posts. Can't believe first reply began "sigh", and talking of billionth time. Even more amazed at the "we have tons of midfielders able to play advanced roles and score goals ". Wow, as much as we love hendo, gini and co. look at the absolutely woeful stats since countinho left re: goals from midfield.
This season more than most has proved how totally reliant we are on Mo and Sadio (and Bobby to a lesser degree) . We are crying out for goals from midfield and to add that won't detract one bit from the way we play.
We get bodies into the box, well how about looking at a midfielder or 2 who can finish for a change?

We need more goals from all over the team and this takes the weight off Mo and Sadio's shoulders. God knows I'm no fan of fernandes but imagine what old Freddie Mercury there, could add to our team? And another weapon against those teams that sit back. no brainer.

15.) 22 May 2021
22 May 2021 14:16:28
Wouldnt want Bruno anywhere near our team. I’m not fooled by all his stats. They are often used to mask the flaws in his game, IMO. First off, the guy goes missing in big games. See our win last week apart from his “goal”. Then, The guy’s is terrible at ball retention and loses the ball way too much and even after that, he starts sulking if he thinks he has been fouled and most of all, starts walking when he loses it. A midfielder who cannot retain the ball? Not for my club.

I saw a game (I think vs Palace) where he lost the ball 20 times in the first half. Sorry, if you are losing the ball that many times in the first half then, you are playing for the other team so no thanks.

Also the freedom he has at Utd to screw up as much as he does, won’t happen here cos we play a more controlled and structured system where passengers (which he often is during games) need not apply. Again, don’t let the numbers fool you. Even many Utd fans are not fooled by them.

16.) 22 May 2021
22 May 2021 16:30:39
Wouldn't want a player in the team who screams like a young girl every time somebody tackles him or brushes against him in the penalty area.

{Ed014's Note - he’s loathsome, can’t stand the bloke, ratty whining little girl.

17.) 22 May 2021
22 May 2021 17:23:49
It’s embarrassing the way he goes down. But let’s not pretend our players stay on their feet when there’s minimal contact as well. Would love to see a way this could be forced out of the game.

18.) 22 May 2021
22 May 2021 17:12:36
That’s unfair on little girls Ed. I’m sure my three year old daughter would smack the sh*t out of Fernandes and she’s made of far tougher stuff than that bellend.

{Ed014's Note - fair point mate, it was harsh on them, just can’t stand watching his antics, it’s just embarrassing!

19.) 22 May 2021
22 May 2021 18:09:38
I have no time for him either Ed014.He tries to dish it out but he can't take it. As the vet said when he had his hand up the dogs ass"You can give it but you sure as hell can't take it"😁.

{Ed014's Note - 🤣🤣 100% mate, just a really dislikeable bloke.

20.) 22 May 2021
22 May 2021 18:12:14
Klopp rotates the midfield regularly and someone like Bissouma, who is so versatile, would play a lot of games.
I’m not sure that, as far as the midfield goes, there is a “best team”.
It depends on who we are playing and what other games are close at hand.
Klopp likes Ox too, I think he’ll stay. The lad looks back to fitness again and he about provides the best goal threat from deeper.
I don’t know what’s happened with the physio side of things this season, we went from being the most durable to the most vulnerable to injuries? Weird.

21.) 22 May 2021
22 May 2021 20:19:57
OIi I have absolutely no interest to watch Bissouma extensively. It took all my energy to watch LFC this season. As I said I have limited knowledge of the lad if you believe he is brilliant in the number 8 role I take your word for it. To me if we sign one midfielder it shouldn’t be him as he won’t improve the first 11 IMO. If we somehow sign 2 midfielders I am all for the lad coming in to add the much needed energy. Bastion, quality name mate.

22.) 23 May 2021
23 May 2021 03:55:40
Brunco Fernandes seems like he's spilling over with self-importance. Loves to hear the sound of his own voice in the media.

{Ed0666's Note - Am I the only person that doesent think Bruno is great at football?