09 Apr 2024 20:03:35
Evening Fellas, been reading this forum for a while now, some great content and people in here, the Eds Knowledge is also very much appreciated.
Just a message to see all your thoughts on next season and what awaits the Football club, regarding players out/ players in and for now the most likely, new Manager, Ruben Amorim.
If Amorim is to be the new Manager he has big boots to fill but in my opinion he looks capable enough, and brave to take on such a job following from a huge figure that is Klopp, so he has my respect already.
Curious though as to what formation he will play, currently looks like a 3 4 3 at Sporting, and can that work at Liverpool with the current squad we have?
For me, " maybe I will get some stick " but if he is to use that formation that could mean that a few players are to be sold, for example would Diaz fit in? Robertson? Even Trent?,
Obviously they're great players and massive in their own right, but for me I don't see a left wingback in Robertson, that's more suited to Tsimikas in my opinion, also with Bradley playing the way he is ( special talent ) I'd say he's absolutely nailed on as a right wing back. Regarding Diaz I think he is just a natural winger and loves to hug the sideline too much and I think he would be out of place and wasted.
Interesting few months ahead, and personally I see this to be the end of Salah unfortunately, with the club looking likely they won't offer him a new deal, or maybe he wouldn't take one anyway, I personally see this season his last. My feelings is we will need a left sided Centre back l, and I do think Inscio will follow Amorim, with us being previously " linked " I see it happening. I think we possibly need a versatile forward and maybe a defensive midfielder. Endo is great and Bajcetic looks to be coming back so who knows, I suppose only the new manager knows and we will have to see.
Sorry for the long message, but thought I'd get your opinions on next season and introduce myself.
Cheers
Kevin.
09 Apr 2024 20:53:41
good post Kevin, it all depends on what formation the new manager uses , didn't klopp favour one set up but used 433 so it could be that he works around the the players he has.
09 Apr 2024 20:56:30
I like forward to a refresh to be honest. Especially his approach and the way he sets up his teams.
09 Apr 2024 21:23:12
If he goes with the 343 formation I think we need 2 x cbs in summer due to konate inability to stay fit and vvd age, can't expect him to continue to play game in game out at 33 and we will have champ league football next season so will need strong team out in that. After that i think it will depend on departures.
09 Apr 2024 21:50:47
I think with a 3-4-3 we could easily have Trent bring more advanced on the right and may even see Szob pushed forward as part of the front 3.
For me I would think in this formation the width would come from the 2 wide players of the 4 meaning all of the front 3 would require the technical ability to play within the width if the area and in tight spaces.
09 Apr 2024 21:54:41
No need to apologise for the length of the post Kevin. I personally enjoyed reading it. In regards to Klopp. I love the guy and thank him for everything he has done. And want him to get the best send off possible by winning the league and Europa. A true legend in every sense. But I’m with Mizer, in that I’m looking forward to the 3-4-3 formation and a move away from the 4-3-3. And just excited for a fresh approach.
I’ll be honest. I would be shocked if Inacio doesn’t follow Amorim to our club as we need a LCB anyways. And don’t be surprised if Amorim brings two centre backs with him in Inacio and Ousmane Diomande. Both are young with a high ceiling and importantly both are performing well and understand his system. I say two centre backs is a possibility because Konate struggles to stay fit all season. And we need to plan for VVD leaving either next summer (2025), or the summer after next (2026). Quansah is the perfect replacement for VVD as the central centre back in Amorim’s system. Inacio and Diomande can be our LCB and RCB respectively for the next 10 years.
Trent and Robbo would suit Amorim’s formation down to the ground (see thread further down) . Ait-Nouri might be brought in, which would see him and Robbo rotate. Trent can rotate with Bradley on the opposite flank. Amorim’s system sees two midfielders at the base of the team. One is a playmaker that can orchestrate from deep but often pushes forward in advance spaces further up the field. This position is tailor made for Mac Allister. When this happens the central centre back (VVD) pushes forward into that midfield space they vacate alongside the DM (Bajcetic or Endo) to form a two man midfield. Too many intricacies in Amorim’s system, which is why he is known as being exceptional tactically. I think Salah and Diaz are gone this summer and if that’s the case I would like and expect Amorim to bring a finisher with him, ideally Gyökeres. But I guess we will see how everything unfolds over the next few months.
09 Apr 2024 21:57:42
Genuine question bit did Pep play the same system at Bayern and Barcelona as he does now at City.
I’m quite excited to see what the new manager brings to the team next season as far as ideas, selection and formation to but I don’t think it will be a forgone conclusion that it will necessarily be the formation he used prior.
We have an extremely talented squad here who we know can play 433 or 4231 so would it be an unnecessary change that could hinder the squad or will it be a change that takes us to another level.
I suppose only time will tell.
09 Apr 2024 21:59:48
Very true Digger - Although I'd like to see Sepp back, him and Quansah could learn a trick or 2 from Virgil, I'd be happy with Virgil, Konate, Gomez, Quansah and Sepp, with the additional Left sided Cb, wether that will be Inacio remains to be seen.
09 Apr 2024 23:03:06
Maybe Amorim is playing 343 because of the players at his disposal at Sporting requiring him to do so to get the best out of the team.
Yes maybe it's his preference as well. But if he is a manager who knows only one formation, then I don't think such manager is good enough for big clubs.
What I'm saying is, seems he is the priority target now, so I think he's capable enough (in the club's eyes) to adapt.
09 Apr 2024 23:09:57
Btw, I don't know why I am having this impression that great managers don't bring in players they used to manage from the clubs they managed prior. I could be wrong on this though.
But often I noticed the managers people are hyping on, they usually brought in same players from their previous clubs, and usually these managers ended up aren't doing that well in their current clubs.
09 Apr 2024 23:38:49
Trying to second guess what a new manager might do is a bit odd - we haven’t appointed one yet and to be honest if you went back to last November very, very few people now offering their opinions on his skills and capabilities wouldn’t have been able to pick him out of a police line-up.
10 Apr 2024 00:24:02
West Derby. I say this respectfully because this has happened before with you and projecting your limited knowledge on European football onto others. Just because you don’t watch football outside of the Premier League doesn’t mean others don’t.
Now if you were to ask me about football in the Championship and below. Or even the French League, I personally wouldn’t have the foggiest. A number of posters in here would though. Same goes for any other leagues across Europe.
Also, last time I checked this was a football forum. And on football forums, people usually discuss who is widely reported as the new incoming manager. Not to mention their thoughts on the style of football they would bring, potential players coming in and potential players going out. I find it odd that you find that odd… ?♂️.
10 Apr 2024 01:46:06
Good post mate, keep them coming :) .
10 Apr 2024 03:34:47
@Alonso, sorry I seemed to have touched a nerve. I haven’t ever said that people don’t have a right to express their opinion, however non/ ill informed. As an aside, given everybody has the right to express their opinion surely that extends to me too?
Couple of questions - how do you know I don’t watch any football outside of the PL? It just so happens that on this particular point, your assumption upon which you based your opinion is factually incorrect.
Second question, how many Sporting games have you watched this year? And were they all on social media. I try not to read too much into a game if I’m watching it from 10,000 - 12,000 miles away as you don’t get the big picture (pun intended) .
Of course you can think and say what you like about Amorim, as you rightly say it’s a football forum and people can express their opinions. No problem with that at all, the problem for some comes when someone has a different opinion, apparently.
10 Apr 2024 06:51:26
Alonso
Maybe big Seb Coates will make a return.
10 Apr 2024 09:34:00
@Irish. Haha love it. He does score spectacular over head kicks though. Shame they are spaced out once every 8 years or so.
@West Derby. You would think you work for the tv licence company with the amount of times you question posters on what they watch. And the touched a nerve line is honestly played out mate. Anyways, loosen up and try not to get so uptight on posters “trying to second guess what a new manager might do”. Because you might see that a lot on a football forum ?.
10 Apr 2024 10:24:47
Allison.
Konate. Vvd. Gomez
Taa. Macalister. Slob. Robertson.
Salah. Nunez. Diaz
Looks good to me ?.
10 Apr 2024 10:48:32
Great debate. Honestly, I have no idea about Amorim and his football philosophy. Also, no idea if he would want to implement a 343 here in the Premier League.
I would say that the squad we have is pretty versatile already and is playing a number of different systems in game.
I was a big fan of getting a left footed CB last summer but that was because I had foolishly lost a lot of confidence in Virgil after the horror season (for everyone) .
I do think we need a new CB but I'd be looking at Leny Yoro. In fact, if we could make only one signing this summer, Yoro would be it. He's the natural successor to Virgil in my opinion.
Sounds like PSG and Real are clear favourites for him though.
It might sound mad, and I think someone else mentioned it here. I could see Trent playing as a third CB - left or right. don't shoot me!
10 Apr 2024 10:51:50
Amorim could play using a 3421 (with the wing-backs providing the width) :
1st string:
Alisson
Konate VVD Inacio?
Bradley Macca Trent Robbo
Elliott Szoboszlai
Nunez
2nd string:
Kelleher
Gomez Quansah Chambers
Diaz Endo Grav Tsimikas
Jones Gakpo
Jota
Assuming we sell Salah. And will probably sign 1 or 2 more, which I haven't accounted for.
10 Apr 2024 12:58:09
Alison
Kounate vvd inacio
Trent macca bajetic robbo
Salah nunez wirtz
Or aside from my dreams ?
Alisson
Kounate vvd gomez
Trent macca bajetic robbo
Salah nunez diaz
Either way look pretty good, hopefully can adapt quickly to the new manager, as much as I'll miss klopp, im still excited to see how it goes with amorim if he is to be the new manager.
10 Apr 2024 15:14:05
couple of very good teams there, great to see Baj Btrainin no sure on wirtz and Salah could be gone.
10 Apr 2024 16:19:38
Wirtz is a brilliant player kop that, we won't get him as he'd cost too much unfortunately.
10 Apr 2024 22:59:01
Wirtz is a brilliant player but yes he will cost too much plus I think that he will stay at his club another season for sure.
11 Apr 2024 00:15:43
@Alonso, genuine question, does Amorim have them set up as 3-4-3 because of the players he has in the squad or does he prefer that particular formation?
Given the squad at Liverpool do you think he will play 3-4-3 if he takes over and how do you think that will impact the squad’s perception of their worth to the club or do you think it might lead to an entirely new formation? I ask because I notice that you have been a staunch advocate for a good five or six weeks now.
11 Apr 2024 09:01:48
@West Derby. Good question mate. He does favour the 3-4-3 formation, and has been using it for a number of years now. Admittedly, I have only started watching games from the Portuguese league on a weekly basis since the start of this season. Specifically Benfica, Sporting and Porto. Same goes for the German league, which was helped by their games now being shown live on Sky. But what I do know is he has used it prior to this season with great success.
I have been adamant in that he will use it here, but we do have a talented squad so he could adapt. I could be wrong but if he does tweak his formation I don’t see the 4-3-3 formation being used. It’s a tough one, because he could go in a completely different direction with us due to a number of standout talented players in our squad.
Someone who I think could play a major role in the system he will use is Trent. He could easily go back to right wing back and then the 3-4-3 can be implemented, with a few additions. Or he might put him in midfield in the 3-4-3 formation. Or he might put him in midfield in a completely different formation. Mac Allister is probably the most suited to his current formation. So, he might build the team around him instead. If he is about to sign as reported, I’m sure he has the system in mind and what players he would like to bring in to implement it. Saying that, I would like to see Elliott play more games though as I really like the kid.
10 Apr 2024 22:44:46
Like JK says, did Pep play the same at Bayern as he has at City? No he has changed. I’d say Amorim will play horses for courses too as he’s a very bright talented manager, pragmatism is a good thing. Even Klopp changed his heavy metal football a bit to meet the demands of the league. If we’ve bagged Amorim then we’ve got the best we can get.