Liverpool Banter 2

20 Aug 2026 18:40:39
I swear Minteh is out injured for 2-3 months? We had plenty of time to target him before he picked up that injury too, allowing Iraola to at least work with him in pre season training, yet we go for him when he is out injured? If this doesn't scream of panic, then I don't know what does. We have 10 days of the window left, and we're resorting to this.

I must admit, I am not a big fan of Minteh, to me he is exceedingly average, but there was a time to get him, now is not it. No idea what is going on. Not particularly enthused by the price for Barcola, but do like the player. No idea who Mbaye even is, so can't see anything to that.

We have ambled for quite a while, starting to fear Iraola is going to have to get very creative. Alisson and Van Dijk on the last year of their contracts too, so going to have to replace both next window, in addition to strengthening what should have been strengthened this season. That is an awful lot of work.

A lot of people saying FSG don't want to spend, knowing they will sell the club in a year, but that makes no sense to me. Liverpool spend what they generate, not what FSG pump in, so FSG don't lose any of their own money. How would that benefit FSG to leave Liverpool at a weaker point, rather than in a position of power.

This window has been a joke. Love Koumas, McConnell, and Nyoni, but would any of them get into a Prem team?? Letting Jones go without a replacement feels like playing with fire. Hughes, Edwards have let us down majorly and will not feel the repercussions because they are already off somewhere else, or have an agreement to be elsewhere in a matter of weeks. Yet, we allowed them to be in a position to sort out our issues, despite knowing they were negotiating elsewhere, in the short term.

So many mistakes, and it feels like it could really set us back.

20 Aug 2026 19:38:01
Wasn't Minteh mentioned as an alternative to Diomande way back in June? Doesn't sound like panic to me, sounds like part of the plan.

20 Aug 2026 19:44:14
Minteh was also touted as potential replacement for Salah when we didn't know if he would re-sign or not. Seems to me like we've extensively scouted him.

{Ed025's Note - you also extensively scouted Naby Keita Nevada..

20 Aug 2026 20:01:53
But why wait to bid till he was injured within the last week and out for apparently 3 months? Absolutely boggling.

20 Aug 2026 20:05:50
I for one have been sick and tired of scrolling past the Miteh post after post the whole transfer window.

Why don't we look at someone like Barcola? Has he even been mentioned?

20 Aug 2026 18:24:38
Why are we bidding 50 mill for a winger who’s injured for 2 months?
I’m sorry but if we are bidding for Minteh that says to me the Barcola deal is anything but done.
Minteh’s numbers are way below average.
I have a feeling u may see us bidding for a few other wingers now.

20 Aug 2026 19:44:03
Hughes should have gone with Edwards last October. We should have had at least 2 midfielders in by now and Salah's replacement.

20 Aug 2026 20:48:47
Ron, if you had your pick, who would the 2 incomings be, and which 2 would you get rid of? Realistically speaking.

20 Aug 2026 18:09:21
Minteh is a strange one Ed don't you think? Given he is out injured until November/December and his goals and assists over last 2 seasons are not great at all. It seems like a bit desperate at this stage?

{Ed001's Note - I am not a fan, his striking technique is poor which is why he is so inconsistent.}

20 Aug 2026 19:53:08
Yeh I'm with Ron, tell it as it is.

20 Aug 2026 17:52:30
When ManC sell both Silvinio and Marmoush. They may test water with BarCola.
The quality winger pool is low and dry.

20 Aug 2026 18:34:33
Is that your opinion, Bhav?

20 Aug 2026 20:30:39
He doesn't want to be behind Doue, Dembele and Kvaradona so he'll move to City to be behind Doku, Haaland and Semenyo.

20 Aug 2026 17:44:16
In regards to Yakuba Minteh, his percentile stats are great if we are looking for a right winger that can feed good balls into the box for Isak and Ekitike. Granted Minteh is not a big goal threat himself.
Some of his stats are,
Key passes 90th %
Crosses attempted 97 %
Successful crosses 95 %
Dribbles attempted 97 %
Successful Dribbles 98 %

0 % being god awful and 99 % being amongst the best in the league for those not familiar with percentile stats.


I would take him as an Mbaye alternative all day.

20 Aug 2026 18:44:56
He's a good player already, and at just 22 years old, will only get better. On top of the positives you've already highlighted, he also works extremely hard in the press and tracking back.

An Iraola-type player for sure.

It's frustrating that he is injured, but it's only a short term one. If he is who the scouts have identified, then we shouldn't be put off by something so trivial.

20 Aug 2026 18:53:49
I just don't see it. He's all pace and zero end product. It's all well and good being able to fit into what Iraola wants from his wingers, but at the important end of the field in front of goal he is extremely erratic. I'd avoid if we can.

20 Aug 2026 19:04:11
Minteh has a high ceiling, AI would get the best out of him. Would far prefer Minteh over Maybe... exciting signing if we get him.

20 Aug 2026 19:08:21
Yeah I'm all for Minteh over Mbaye. Still young, ticks a lot of boxes. Finishing can be worked on. Most importantly he's Premier League proven. Obviously, the injury isn't ideal, but if the price is good. What is the injury, anyone know?

20 Aug 2026 19:09:57
Employing a load of nerds who obsess over spreadsheets and haven't got a clue about football is what got us into this mess in the first place. There are thousands of different stats to the point I'm sure Stewart Downing and Sebastian Leto were in the top percentile for something.

I'd like a sporting director who watches the game and doesn't identify the 2nd coming of Yannick Bolasie as our Mo Salah replacement.

20 Aug 2026 19:31:32
Mk, you're a hard read. Every player is very good to you.

20 Aug 2026 19:35:30
Chicken Staff, those nerds identified VVD, Salah, Bobby, Mane, Robertson.

20 Aug 2026 20:14:16
Not sure what makes you say that, Ron Funk. I think what you'll find is I'm just not a drama queen who thinks that you can get to the very top of professional football without having any positive aspects to your game. I give balanced views by commenting on a player's strengths and weaknesses, rather than hyperbole either way.

Take it or leave it, mate.

As an aspiring optimist, I try to focus on what players (and people in general) do well, rather than what they don't. Minteh is a good player for a 22 year old. If he was 26-28 and still lacking in end product, my views would be quite different on us signing him.

20 Aug 2026 20:32:40
Those nerds also identified Borini, Manquillo, Aspas, Ilori, Sakho, Markovic, Lovren, Moreno, Balotelli, Lambert, Keita, Moses and Cissokho. I think we have Klopp to thank for plenty.

20 Aug 2026 17:38:03
Looking forward to the season starting, who do you guys think starts alongside VVD?

20 Aug 2026 18:35:40
It may be Araujo for the first game, but I would expect Jacquet to be his regular partner, the only reason he may not be in the first game is whether the medical team want a bit longer on his shoulder injury recovery.

20 Aug 2026 18:40:19
Jacquet was bought, Araujo is a loan - that may be the answer. However, Jacquet is still likely not fully fit.

20 Aug 2026 18:40:50
Jacquet.

20 Aug 2026 18:48:52
Araujo.

20 Aug 2026 19:51:39
Jacquet for me. Played 45 last week, a full week until Newcastle. He'll be fine. Not as if Newcastle are going to be fully fit either. No player in the league will.

20 Aug 2026 16:49:45
It's getting tense and exciting... The rumours are still coming through and I truly believe, the 'done deals' won't be too far behind (too slow in lots of people's minds but we're not talking about 20-30 million pound spends any longer, so we need to 'calm your skin' and wait for the pen on paper - it takes time!).

Few things to think about:

1 - We'll definitely be fitter this season. ✅

2 - The press will definitely be higher and quicker. ✅

3 - We'll get players through the door before the window shuts to freshen us up. ✅

4 - We'll love the new tactics (but it might take a little while for us to get up to speed with them). ✅


And for all you doom and gloom merchants:

Remember this - If you worry you die and if you don't worry, you die, so why worry?

20 Aug 2026 17:31:05
I'm worried about worrying now in case I die, very worrying!

20 Aug 2026 18:17:20
I'd also like to see fans show less emotion.

After all it's only a game.

20 Aug 2026 17:09:17
Yakubah Minteh then. Nobody would have guessed that. Although he has scored 10 goals in the last 2 seasons and is out injured until October. So congratulations if you didn’t guess that, you are sane. Unlike our sporting director.

20 Aug 2026 17:16:30
Over to you, @Ris mate.

20 Aug 2026 17:31:59
Smokescreen.

20 Aug 2026 17:48:52
Oh, please, God, no.

{Ed025's Note - his name should be...Minty..

20 Aug 2026 18:24:04
I guessed it weeks ago. 😂

20 Aug 2026 19:20:10
I'm glad you admitted it was a guess, Robbie. 😂

20 Aug 2026 14:26:45
Anyone think AI will use Gakpo as a right footed RW, get to the byline and whip balls in for Isak and Wirtz coming into box late?

20 Aug 2026 16:17:24
I think that, unless we specifically recruit a RW (probably a left footed one), then I think AI will use Barcola, Gakpo, Munoz, Rio, Koumas as a fluid group across RW/LW and through the middle if Isak picks up an injury.



Interesting to see AI's interpretation of wingers in the coming season. Inverted wingers were very much a feature of the Klopp era, but with Isak/Ekitike as dedicated strikers, will it differ under Iraola?

20 Aug 2026 16:31:17
Don't think so. Gakpo is an inside forward. I can't see him hitting the byline, beating his man, and whipping the balls.

20 Aug 2026 16:34:12
Gakpo is not that type of player. He is at his best arriving at the back post to score/finish moves or cut in for a shot.

20 Aug 2026 16:38:01
When would he be able to get his 10 shots a game away? Bloke would be miserable out there. 😂

20 Aug 2026 16:43:21
Possibly if we don't bring in a RW, but primarily I see Gakpo rotating with Isak and Barcola. I think Iraola himself is yet to decide on what exactly will happen on the right, obviously he has ideas, but he'll have to see who actually performs out there.

20 Aug 2026 16:52:39
Gakpo has been our best player last few games, hope we don't sell and Iraola can get him back to 17 goals a season plus player.

20 Aug 2026 17:15:14
I don't think so. He's never really been used there. I suspect Rio and Munoz will be used there, and there's probably also credence in the Minteh bid, so that could be the medium term solution to the rw gap.

I think if Barcola comes in, and Minteh, there's a big chance Cody leaves.

20 Aug 2026 17:23:21
Frimpong would be the most likely if Rio and Munoz can't play, I imagine. Still need to get someone in!

20 Aug 2026 17:38:16
We tried Gakpo, Diaz on rw for a while when Salah was at AFCON... they were both terrible there. It's a no from me.

20 Aug 2026 17:44:31
I wonder where De Zerbi will use him?

20 Aug 2026 18:14:32
If Iraola is so good at improving every player, then surely a player who has 39 league goals and assists the last 3 seasons is worth keeping to be improved.