23 Apr 2024 07:55:31
Ed001, with a new manager coming in, it could be an interesting summer regarding transfers. What positions would you strengthen and who would you move on?

My outgoings:
Matip - contract expired
Thiago - contract expired
Gravenberch - I know he’s only been here since the summer but he’s simply not good enough or doesn’t try hard enough.
Salah - I think now is the perfect time to move him on.
Diaz - sick to death of his fathers comments about him and his son dreaming of Barcelona or Madrid. Diaz has very fast feet but his end product is very inconsistent.
Tsimikas - I just don’t think he’s good enough.

Incomings:
CB - with matip leaving and Konate’s fitness issues, I think we definitely need a CB
Attacker - with salah almost certainly leaving and maybe Diaz, a versatile attacker who can play across the front 3 will be needed.
LB - Robertson isn’t getting any younger and Tsimikas isn’t good enough. Not sure if any of the kids such as Beck are ready to step up but if not, I think we definitely need another LB.

{Ed001's Note - Matip and Thiago have to go, can't stay fit so it would be crazy to give them a new deal.
I would take a good offer for Salah, but I wouldn't be pushing him out of the door.
Diaz, on the other hand, I too am sick to death of his dad's statements. I am more fed up of his lack of end product, people moan about Nunez, but Diaz is far worse for messing up opportunities.
Tsimikas I would probably keep because my worry is Robbo is ageing and I would want him to cover so Beck can get a run, then assess the left-back again next summer. I do believe Beck is the answer in that position though.
The other one who I would be considering selling is Jones. I like him a lot, on his game he is excellent, but he is always injured, so I would want to look at that and see what is the cause and maybe have to move him on.

Priority for me is a left-sided centre-back. Rotation option for Virgil and long-term replacement.
After that it would come down to who is available for the right price. I think Danns has the ability to push on and be an option in the centre forward position, so not sure we need one of those. Right-side though, that I do think we need to look for. We have options there, but no one has nailed down the place as an alternative to Salah.}

1.) 23 Apr 2024
23 Apr 2024 08:44:53
Interesting read that, ed001.

And who would you bring in? Including manager?

Keen to hear your opinion.

{Ed001's Note - manager I have no idea. There was only Alonso out there.

As for the defender, the ideal choice would be Bastoni but other than that it really depends on how the new man wants to play. I would probably look at Pavlovic though to be honest.

Kubo is the obvious choice on the right side of the attack, as he offers flexibility as well being able to play all over the front line.}

2.) 23 Apr 2024
23 Apr 2024 09:08:43
Thanks for the reply Ed001, I do agree aswell regarding Jones. He finally looked like he was nailing down his place in midfield earlier in the season but yet another injury has completely derailed his season and he has come back very rusty, back in his old habit of taking far too long on the ball and getting caught.

{Ed001's Note - it is a shame, I really want him to succeed but he has to stay fit.}

3.) 23 Apr 2024
23 Apr 2024 09:42:47
Ed, what are your thoughts on Thomas Frank?
My assessment of him is quite shallow but he’s done well wherever he’s gone and has plenty of wins to his name against top level opposition.
What would be the drawbacks here? If it’s not Alonso or Inzaghi, I’m picking Frank over every other name mentioned.

{Ed001's Note - he gets results by shithousery. His football is horrible and he has the team diving, playacting, niggly fouls, timewasting, that's his methodology. Not for me would I even consider him. That is not a tactical plan that can step up to top level as the players want to play football. He would be down with Allardyce for me.}

4.) 23 Apr 2024
23 Apr 2024 10:21:13
Tell you what Ed1, I can see your love for frank, it's shining through mate, almost like rons love for Nunez. Haha thanks for writing this mate, I don't have the time to read right now but will later on today.

{Ed001's Note - I actually quite like Frank, he seems a nice guy, but I wouldn't want to watch his football every week.}

5.) 23 Apr 2024
23 Apr 2024 10:25:51
Would love Eze for us.
Interesting times manager wise.

Looks like it’s going to be a Brendan Rodgers’s type of appointment unless someone with experience comes out of nowhere.

6.) 23 Apr 2024
23 Apr 2024 10:36:47
Kubo or Eze are great shouts.

7.) 23 Apr 2024
23 Apr 2024 10:38:04
What happen to Bakayoko Ed1? I remember how highly rated he is last season. But this season, it seems like his stock has fallen.

{Ed001's Note - I guess you mean Johan? There are a lot of Bakayokos! He is just 20, they go through peaks and troughs usually at that age.}

8.) 23 Apr 2024
23 Apr 2024 11:20:09
Ed1. I also don’t get why Diaz’s dad is talking. And when I say talking, I mean constantly talking. He is not even an agent in any capacity. If I was in Diaz’s shoes, I would be telling my father to zip it as it’s embarrassing all around.

On the managerial front, I have 3 questions:

1. As far as you’re aware is Amorim, who was just behind Alonso as my 2nd choice, now completely off?
2. Richard Hughes is apparently a big fan of De Zerbi. Do you now see him being appointed?
3. I have long resigned to the fact Alonso is not coming after his announcement. Do you think he could do a U turn or has that ship completely sailed.

I have a feeling we are going to appoint De Zerbi, who I’ll be honest is not my favoured choice at all. Not for the way his team plays, because his brand of football prior to this season was breath taking and quite possibly the best in Europe. But more so for his very combative personality, which could go one of two ways.

{Ed002's Note - 1. He cannot be completely ruled out. Ruben Amorim (C) Manchester United may still offer an option - another option will be Liverpool, but he knows he was not first choice - but I think they will still try for him with Alonso not interested and I think he would be a good choice and a good fit, but persuading him to leave Sporting may be difficult.

I understand that there was no clear understanding between the club and his agent regarding the scope of his responsibilities and Liverpool will need to be flexible – critically over the squad – another with an issue that targets are still Fallows, Hunter and Klopp derived and a whole new structure being put in place. Do not rule out Barcelona but Deco has a preferred option whilst the board want to persuade Xavi to stay or to move quicky for Amorim.

If needs force the situation and given the likely link between the club and Sporting, Chelsea may start pushing having spoken with Amorim before. West Ham spoke with his agent and Sporting to allow them to talk directly to Amorim, but it would seem an unlikely move for me and probably not one he would be keen on but they will offer him control over targets and will offer him much more than Moyes gets in salary.

They have a project to sell but, for me, will likely need to revert to the other potential replacements for Moyes that they have identified. Newcastle may offer a wildcard option and will pay the termination clause and the cost of terminating his staff but they again will not be an attractive option. Bayern Munich may also see Amorin as an option as they too struggle but he is not currently top-of-the-list for them as they are likely to revise their approach now.

2. Roberto de Zerbi (C) Brighton would fight to keep him but another who will certainly be discussed by Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Liverpool and Manchester United with Jim Ratcliffe having a very serious interest in him. A minor issue exists in the €15M cost of Brighton releasing him.

Additionally, there are termination clauses for all of his staff. Deco has de Zerbi as his preferred option for Barcelona which he has shared with Yuste and Laporte but it will not be Deco's decision and they can perhaps be excluded. Not top of Chelsea's list, but on the list. Likely first choice for Bayern Munich now but if they cannot sign him they have a Plan B.

An interesting option might be Manchester City when the job becomes available. He has said he is not interested in the Liverpool job but they could look to trying to persuade him to make the move as they struggle to bring in preferred options. Brighton are actively looking for a replacement and fear he will depart.

3. Xabi Alonso (C) A popular choice for clubs and having a great season at Bayer Leverkusen, but very inexperienced, although there will be interest in him from Liverpool, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Chelsea and Manchester United, I would discount all but Liverpool and Bayern Munich.

Has made no secret of a desire to follow Ancelotti at Real Madrid - but that won't be until 2026 so they can be discounted at this time although he has the support of Carlo Ancelotti. Manchester City may provide an option in 2025 and don’t rule out a move. Klopp has endorsed both Alonso and Nagelsmann for the Liverpool job – but neither is available this summer.

Bayern Munich offered a serious option but again they are having to look to other options inkling a Plan B that will see an interim Head Coach for a year. Having won the league this season it would likely make it very difficult for him to leave Leverkusen and there would be significant pressure to stay.

His agent Inaki Ibanez has said that multiple clubs are enquiring and that clubs need to work with Bayer Leverkusen, who Liverpool have approached to ask permission to speak directly with Alonso but he will stay for now looking at a future role in Madrid when Carlo Ancelotti departs in 2026.}

9.) 23 Apr 2024
23 Apr 2024 11:17:59
Agree with most of that especially the Diaz part I get so frustrated with the amount of times he runs into trouble and holds it too long. Nunez gets, but Diaz is more frustrating for me.
I'd keep Jones personally.

10.) 23 Apr 2024
23 Apr 2024 12:43:53
I think Diaz's dad is especially disrespectful given the support the club showed his family during their hour of need just this season. He's also there at every game wanting photos with everyone. The next day he's talking about his son leaving. Talk about a cheek.

I don't think we need to replace Diaz if he leaves. He has zero end product. Just give extra minutes to Elliott, Clark, Doak and others.

11.) 23 Apr 2024
23 Apr 2024 12:54:38
Ed2. Cheers for the detailed response. Much appreciated.