01 Jun 2021 16:16:14
Hello Ed001, I'm sure you have done this already but I couldn't find it using the search function. Could you please share your thoughts on konate as a player? Strengths and weaknesses.

{Ed001's Note - I have added him to the player profiles list as well but a quick overview is that he is quick and strong, good in the air, very good positionally in a back 3 (never seen him play in a 4), good timing but his main strength is probably his technique on the ball. He is exceptional for a defender, not far off VVD on the ball, in terms of first touch and quality of his passing. It is good enough for him to play full-back and wing-back with ease, which these days is akin to midfield play, rather than being a defender who just supports attacks.

Weaknesses are that I would worry about him as part of a back 4, as I don't know how often he has played in one. It might take time for him to learn to play in one. Also, the amount of time out injured is a worry, though the medical dept seem happy with that so we just have to hope they have got it right. I would also say he can be a little rash, but he is young and again, playing in a back 3 allows you to take more chances, so it is difficult to be sure if that is how he would play in a 4.

I have to say, if I had been given a blank cheque and told to sign a centre-back last summer or this summer, it would have been Konate I would have chosen as a pure centre-back. He is the most promising around imo and am delighted we have signed him. The last player we signed who I had as first choice over any other option was Alisson, so hopefully he will do as well as him!}

01 Jun 2021 16:51:37
Hahahah, ed01, I haven't posted in a while, but cheers mate, your thoughts always cheer me up!
Do you have any blank check suggestions for midfield and attack (presuming none of the holy trio leave? )

01 Jun 2021 17:18:41
Ed001 mate I believe that your curse is now broken. How many players did you recommend have we now got?

{Ed001's Note - the curse is broken and we are winning things, coincidence? I think not! ;-)

Fabs, Hendo, Alisson and Bobby, so 4 I think. Though I would have recommended Thiago if I had thought there was any chance of him coming before we got him.

As for who I would recommend in midfield and attack, attack is easy, Raphinha, he can play Bielsaball, so he would slot in perfectly with us. Midfield would be Bissouma, Cavaminga, Bellingham or Saul, any of those would be brilliant I think.}

01 Jun 2021 17:29:59
Keep recommending Ed001 mate.

{Ed001's Note - if only Kante was in reach! Now that would be the dream signing.}

01 Jun 2021 18:01:00
Ed1. You’re on a role it seems. If we end up getting Bissouma this summer I would be ecstatic. However, If we end up getting Bellingham next summer, you will no longer be known as Ed1. Instead you will be renamed the second coming of Christ.

{Ed001's Note - Bellingham would be an incredible signing though I think, for him the best thing would be to stay in Germany a couple more seasons to develop before coming back or maybe trying his hand in Spain. And he is that good that he can think in those terms.}

01 Jun 2021 17:35:45
It’s sunny outside and we have signed the CB Ed001 wanted.
Happy days.
Just need a new midfielder and a forward.
We want our parade next season.

01 Jun 2021 19:54:37
Ed001 that’s funny as today at work I said if I could sign any midfielder in the world it would be Jude, what a talent he is.

01 Jun 2021 21:27:04
Square Tomato. Good to see you about. Bellingham would be my pick as well. Mature, quality already and has the attitude and potential to achieve it all. Tell Gomez to have a word 😉. On a serious note though, hope Gomez is doing well and send on the regards of the Liverpool forum community.

01 Jun 2021 18:08:31
Ed001, if the dream happened somehow. how would you invision Kante would fit in the current Liverpool set up? Would you see him sat with Fabinho?

{Ed001's Note - he doesn't sit. Fabs sits and Kante you just let loose to do what he does. The problem Chelsea have had over the last couple of years was restricting him. Let him loose and there is no one even close to his brilliance in central midfield.}

01 Jun 2021 18:37:12
Any chance of you predicting who is going to sign Naby🤷‍♂️.

{Ed001's Note - maybe we could send him on loan to Blackpool?}

01 Jun 2021 18:39:29
Thanks Ed001. Great read. Appreciate it.

{Ed001's Note - thanks DS.}

01 Jun 2021 19:36:05
Ed01, don’t stop proposing cos you’re killing it, man. As for the players you proposed and apart from Bellingham and Camavinga who I have not seen play, I would love all of them at LFC. Raphinha and Bissouma alone this season, would be insane.

As for Konate, I remember having a discussion with you regarding both Upamecano and Konate and I preferred Upamecano cos well, he seemed better cos he was getting all the hype. But you then said that it was Konate that would b your pick and that Upamecano just got the hype. That was a couple of years ago. Who knew, right? Well, you did. Oh out of curiosity, would you have signed Konate shed of Ruben Dias, then?

{Ed001's Note - I would have signed Konate ahead of Dias for us, because we need a partner for VVD. Dias is more of a VVD of his own, which is why he is such a good fit for Citeh, as they needed the leader at the back after losing Kompany.}

01 Jun 2021 20:32:08
Ed1 do you see us playing 3 at the back next season?

{Ed001's Note - I doubt it, we struggle to get two fit centre-backs out, I can't see us getting 3 out!}

01 Jun 2021 23:19:14
Ed001, if somehow we pulled a worldie and got Kante (dream land), how would you see him fit in the current liverpool side? Sat next to Fabinho, or a LCM?

Interesting to see hear your thoughts.

{Ed001's Note - ahead of Fabs with freedom to go where he wants. Not left, not right, central but with no shackles.}

02 Jun 2021 07:34:19
Thanks for the response, Ed001.

I guess the difficult question is, who do you leave out of midfield for kante? Would Hendo still get the nod?

Thanks

Joey123Red.

{Ed001's Note - Hendo is not going to be able to play every game anyway, so he will have to miss out at times, Kante can't play every game either, not at his best. So there would have to be some rotation.}