03 Mar 2024 10:16:48
Ed1 what do you think our strongest midfield is if all our players are fit and why would you pick them. We have Clark, McConnell, Slob, Trent, Jones, Mac, Enzo, Tiago and Elliott. My midfield would be Enzo, Mac and Sloby.
{Ed001's Note - Endo, Jones, Szoboszlai. I like Mac Allister but Jones makes us play better and Endo is better defensively. It is very close between him and Jones though and it is an either or. Trent needs games in there before he can be included as being part of the strongest midfield. I do think he will become the best of the lot sitting in front of the defence though.}
03 Mar 2024 11:07:06
Not to mention Bajčetić coming back next season too and Gravenberch coming into form just before his injury! I also think Tyler Morton has it in him to be good Premier League player, even if in all likelihood it's sadly not with us. Let's not forgot our latest midfield find too in Joe Gomez (kidding, although he definitely hasn't let us down there) .
For what it's worth, in my opinion our strongest three at the moment are Endo, Mac and Jones (if Jones or Macca could get used to the right side, which I'm sure they would) . My mind does seem to change constantly at the minute because we have so many options, which can only be a good thing!
It feels like the midfield has gone from real problem position to ridiculously strong strength in depth in the space of half a season, which just shows how incredible a job Klopp and everyone running the club is doing. He's leaving us in such a strong position - the future looks very bright!
03 Mar 2024 11:49:23
If all fit and firing then it’s Sob, Baj and Mac for me. I am not sure if Jones could have controlled that midfield yesterday like Mac did.
03 Mar 2024 11:01:47
Ed01, I think Curtis alongside Endo and Mac10 is a very good midfield as that was the one we were using and iwas working a treat before Curtis got injured at the tim.
Hence, I do not see Macca and CJ as an either/ or (not saying you meant that) as we can and have seen them playing together and it was very effective. As for Trent in midfield permanently, I'm going to have to see what happens with that one, Im afraid.
{Ed001's Note - sorry I disagree, when they play together Jones and Mac don't work as well imo. Szobo alongside either is a much better combination as he breaks the lines with his forward running, while both Mac Allister and Jones don't do that enough. Gravenberch is similar to Szobo in that respect, but nowhere near as good.}
03 Mar 2024 12:30:13
I prefer McConell to Bajectic, the way Mccconnel spray passes to final third in league cup final is impressive.
03 Mar 2024 12:43:11
I'm sorry but Bajectic is in our midfield if everyone is fit, no matter his age. I saw enough in the 5/ 6 months he played that he has it. And if Alonso is to be our manager and if I were a betting man I would say he will feature heavily as one of our 6’s in the first team. As for the other midfielders it’s tricky because it will depend on the opposition. Szobo is a star in the making. Put him as a 10 and with a run of games watch him replicate his performances for RB and his country. Our formation with the new manager could be 4-3-3. But if it’s 3-4-2-1 then I see Bajectic as one of the 6’s. I believe Trent will be trained as the other 6 which I’m sure many will have an opinion on. But with a good coach (Alonso) he can be trained. I mean look what he has done with some of the players with not even a 1/ 4 of his talent or experience. They will rotate with Endo and another 6 whoever that may be, as there is McConnel and Morton coming back from loan.
Bradley will play RWB and rotate with Frimpong if reports are to be believed. Robbo will play LWB and go back to his 2018 days of bombing forward. I would have him rotate with Owen Beck. Beck deserves a run in the team. Szobo can then play in the position that plays to his strengths in one of the two 10 roles. Again, if reports are to be believe and Alonso accepts the job he will most definitely bring Wirtz with him. Nothing has to be added there because Wirtz is already functioning at an exceptional level with the potential to be world class considering he is only 20 years old. Our first choice 10’s would be a toss up between Wirtz, Szobo and Mac Allister for the two positions. Those 10’s can rotate with Elliott, Jones and Gravenberch seeing as we will be competing in the League, Champions League, FA Cup and Carabao Cup. Having said all that we will definitely need to go into the market to bring in a LCB.
03 Mar 2024 12:46:13
I find it bizarre that some would include Baj as their first choice DM when he hasl literally played less than a handful of games in that position (maybe as little as 2 ?) Each to their own tho, it’s all about opinions ?.
Mine is Szobo, Mac and Endo. Extremely tough on Jones who has had a great season so far too.
03 Mar 2024 12:50:09
Endo is nailed on. The rest on Form.
03 Mar 2024 12:52:23
For me, if we were playing in a final tomorrow and everyone was fit (not counting bajcetic here) it would be Mac behind Jones and big Dom.
03 Mar 2024 12:59:37
Endo, Jones and Szobo for me right now but Macca is excellent. Teams can't get out with that first choice midfield.
03 Mar 2024 13:18:27
If we talking about right now. Endo is there without a doubt. Mac Allister is ahead of Jones and Szobo would be on the right of the 3 midfielders. Jones has been very good this season but Mac Allister has that touch of class that is currently not there in Jones. That’s not to downplay Jones but for me it’s just the truth.
03 Mar 2024 13:37:18
These days with 5 subs, it's a first 16 rather than 11. We need minimum 6 quality midfielders for a match day. And, there needs to be enough variation to handle oppositions with different strengths, formations and tactics. If teams play a low block, do we need Endo or can we play someone more offensive as the 6?
My only concern with the current midfield squad is the defensive/ offensive balance. Endo is our only proper DM/ 6. While others can play there, it's not natural. Perhaps this explains why Gomez is getting a run as the DM/ 6. It'll be great to have Bajčetić back!
Interesting to see if they go out and get a versatile DM/ CM in the summer, as has been alluded to.
03 Mar 2024 13:46:53
I’m with Rover on this one, including Bajectic in Our best midfield is a little brave, not only has he missed a lot of football but he’s been growing, who knows what kind of footballer he’s going to be when he’s back.
For me it’s Endo, szob and Jones, although macca and Jones are neck and neck for me, both similar but also bring slightly different things to the midfield.
It’s going to be very interesting watching Trent convert to a 6 though, that’s if he does anyway. Let’s assume Alonso comes in the summer, there’s going to be some casualties somewhere.
03 Mar 2024 13:01:24
Ed01, I can see your reasoning. I guess it's a case of what the manager wnats when everyone is fit and what currently works. I know Klopp wants his mids (or one of them at least) to be able to break the lines like Szobo, just like Ox did brilliantly till that fateful day vs Roma in the CL. However, Klopp is showing that he can apt and play a different midfield (with Jones and/ ador Macca) and still make us tick. Im here for it, honestly.
03 Mar 2024 13:59:32
Hard to pick because our midfield is full of quality. I expect a lot of rotation to be going on when everyone's fit. Who starts? God knows, it goes on who's playing the best at the current time for me. If someone puts in a bad performance put another on. We have that option and we have plenty of quality to be able to do it. When of course everyone is fit.
03 Mar 2024 14:13:51
Szobo endo mac for me at min.
03 Mar 2024 14:35:39
Endo is a strange one for me, i love the guy and his performances in matches like the final was immense and i appreciate what he does. but the other side of that is that he is literally the epitome of a "2nd touch is a tackle"player. I know most won't agree. He puts in a shift and was a bargain, but i can see City targeting him next week. that's why for me even though he lacks endo's defensive nous, mac starts at No.6 if we have everyone fit.
03 Mar 2024 14:50:08
Currently I agree with those 3 Digger. But imo Baj will break into that 3 next season.
03 Mar 2024 15:17:56
With you Mark08 mate. Mac, Endo and Szobo for now but Bajectic will be a main player next season and for seasons to come.
03 Mar 2024 15:18:05
Baj has played more games as the left or right 8 than he has at Dm for the first team.
Best game I seen him play was Wolves home last season with Fab at Dm. Lad was excellent that night.
03 Mar 2024 15:38:18
Love to see us try a 3 man back line to jam extra cm in think we are good enough to get away with it with endo dropping in when we lose ball.
03 Mar 2024 18:17:50
Baj played well in a poor run for us, but people are implying he was like prime Kante. He needs a full season before this romanticism can accurately assessed. Endo on current form has to play, he’s been our most consistent midfielder. Mac has a touch of class and I’d go Szob. Jones was in the form of his life but is made of glass.
03 Mar 2024 19:10:07
Mac has to be first name on the team sheet.
03 Mar 2024 21:47:56
Maybe it should be a 4 in midfield. I sometimes wonder if a 3 works up yop. It appears to me in some matches one of the 3 does little or is given little ball to do anything with. Maybe the extra man in midfield gives us more control. A old term, win the midfield win the match.
03 Mar 2024 22:14:47
Jones is above them all on the ball. It's very hard for you to take the ball of him. Looks super comfortable with the ball, he's physically very strong and technically superb. Trent with the ball is probably the best. Ball to feet, Jones is ahead of all of them.
04 Mar 2024 07:02:56
Jones has had a good season so far when he’s been available but he’s only actually started 12 of 27 league games which is 68% of games he’s not started in a league campaign we are currently top.
04 Mar 2024 13:02:04
Our best combination in terms of performance was with Macca playing at 6 with Dom on the right and Curtis on the left.
When Endo broke into the team he has been doing a better job at 6 than Macca did, but Macca has been playing a lot better since moving to 8. Question is which two of the three Dom, Curtis or Macca gets the nod if and when all three are fit?
Perhaps the solution would be 4 -2 - 3 - 1
Ali,
Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson
TAA, Endo
Salah Szobsozlai and 1 from Mac Alister / Jones / Diaz or Gakpo
Nunez
Nice problem to have though.,
05 Mar 2024 00:01:40
Baj is better than prime Kante.