26 Jul 2024 19:19:52
I think an outstanding DM would would solve so many of our defensive issues and really help with ball retention if that’s Slots tactic - just imagine Rodri in our team last year, nothing against Endo as I rate him- it’s just that’s the area that the ‘next level’ DM can improve us and at the same time help Quansa and extend VVDs career, as they’d be under less pressure.
No idea if we want one or who we could/ might get, but it’s the key to a great team in mho, eg; Gerrard, Keane, Robson, Reid, Souness, McMahon, Viera, Rodri, et al.
26 Jul 2024 19:52:01
I keep seeing people say we need a defensive midfielder but who exactly? Who is the defensive midfielder that is world class defensively whilst also being good enough on the ball for a team that has the majority of possession in 90% of the games they play?
26 Jul 2024 20:16:41
You’ve drunk Viktor’s Koolade then.
26 Jul 2024 20:45:37
Rather let Bajectic develop under Endo. I think Endo continues to be quite underrated on here. He's a solid player with better vision and passing range than he's given credit for.
26 Jul 2024 21:15:55
Thunderbird 2, you ain't never lied. We hear the same thing all the time. "Oh, A Rodri type player is who we need", "We should be looking to bring in a top class, athletic, and bruising DM who is great on the ball to come in and . " etc. Does the latter exist or do we have to create him in a lab somwhere?
So since there is only one Rodri (or Rice), maybe we should actually start coming up actual names of these human beings at the DM position we can get that can do all this "Rodri" or "Rice" type stuff so we can discuss the topic a lot deeper. Now wee can always create our own model of DM that can do all this stuff in a lab somewhere in Siberia somewhere. That would be nice.
26 Jul 2024 21:22:28
The best hybrid type of centre midfielder who can play defensive midfielder is Ederson from Atalanta, defensively strong, great on the ball, mobile and physically strong, but that’s not going to happen.
We’ll either recruit extremely badly with someone like Kimmich or Rabiot or we’ll stick with what we have, in either case we’re not title contenders.
26 Jul 2024 21:40:24
Considering last season was Endo’s first in England I thought he did really well.
{Ed025's Note - i would say...relatively well Ron..
26 Jul 2024 22:46:57
2 seasons ago after the quadruple season we were in a similar boat. Lots of fans wanted the midfield improved and the fans that didn’t said that we’ve just competed for a quadruple so we didn’t need signings and we all know what happened next.
I’m not saying history will repeat itself but there’s also no guarantee that just because we were 3rd last season does it mean we will be competing next.
This is a huge step up for Slot and I’ve seen loads say that he has a track record for improving players but I’d argue there’s more evidence out there of Klopp improving and getting more out of players.
Slots 100% got my backing and I think it’s going to take him time to make his mark on this league which is a league that Klopp only won once in 9 years. And that’s despite him being regarded as the best manager in the world by many.
26 Jul 2024 23:05:29
Hard to suggest a player when we don’t actually know the Style of play we’re going to be using. But after tonight, we will have an idea.
27 Jul 2024 02:08:11
Just realised this when re-reading the post again but how did you list Gerrard as a "next level" DM? We were extremely open when we played him there and our strategy then was to outscore the opponent. He is a great player but a DM he is not.
27 Jul 2024 06:36:30
Varela would be a fine addition, would love to see an Argentinian spine through the middle of our team.
27 Jul 2024 10:24:07
Nonsense Ed Endo was excellent in most games and was arguably our best signing last year. I’d go for Mac personally, but Endo was fantastic and went toe to toe with some of the best in our games.
{Ed025's Note - he done ok for me FK nothing special but never let the team down, lets not go overboard though mate he is a stopgap and for a team who are looking to challenge for major honours he is not the answer im afraid, we all see what we want to see i suppose and thats fine by me..
27 Jul 2024 12:26:10
Rubbish Dracred, Gerrard played deep a number of times for Liverpool successfully. It was also a fruitful period there when he played for England.