27 Mar 2026 00:21:22
Strange how the DM position again appears to be being overlooked. For me that’s the one glaring position that’s needed addressing since Fab left. Grav is OK at best, an absolute passenger more often than not and definitely doesn’t give you any confidence as a 'shield.' Even in the title-winning season, he was good rather than anything stand out. Anderson is definitely what we need, or a South American leg-breaker type. Someone with a bit of bite and presence.
Our need for actual wingers with pace is obviously evident, but the DM position is just as important if not more for me. Olise is decent, but definitely no Mo replacement. I see him more on the level of Eze rather than a game-changing superstar. A Rb required, 2 wingers, an experienced defender, potentially back up lb.
Will be interesting to see how the money is spent, I’ve got a feeling Mo's position and Wharton will be our budget, then whatever we can get dependant on outgoings.
I know everything is just rumours and largely nonsense at the moment, but who we are being linked with isn’t giving me much excitement or confidence that we will be challenging for the title next season. I think Anderson and someone like Joao Gomes as a minimum would just start building towards what we actually need. I don’t mind McAllister as much as people seem to on here, but his mobility is definitely an issue. Any two of Mac, Jones and Grav I’d have no problem in leaving.
I’d be more excited by hungry lesser knowns coming in, Valverde is probably the only big name I’d be excited about, 0 chance of that though.
27 Mar 2026 07:12:50
Well, Grav was exceptional last season, and like many of his peers, he's been that passenger you've described. Let's wait until we get a real manager in, aye.
27 Mar 2026 07:30:15
Definitely agree as regards a physical defensive minded midfielder with legs. Would solve a good portion of our many problems, I reckon.
27 Mar 2026 07:45:41
I think we need to go back to working class midfield.
With someone like Dom who can sprinkle magic dust over the game, we'd be covered by having another Gini/Hendo/Milner in the engine room.
I think that player is Anderson. I'd bring in him and Wharton.
Midfield group of Dom, Grav, Anderson, Wharton, Jones and Nyoni would do for me.
27 Mar 2026 08:18:40
We should get Ederson of Atlanta and/or Baleba from Brighton.
LB get Tsimi back as backup in place of Robbo.
Replace Gapko and Salah with Diomande and Bowen.
Chiesa with Elliot.
Guetrida also to cover across defence and DM.
N.Willams as RB cover.
27 Mar 2026 08:19:40
Unfortunate thing (also great cuz he is a brilliant player) is Grav's new contract which essentially means he has to start. 280,000 a week is not sitting on the bench. He was the one area I felt we could have improved in midfield with someone like Anderson, Baleba or Ederson. Grav to rotate then. He is a very good player, just not what we need.
Not a specialist at anything really. That's what we need now.
Then again,
I think if it was Xabi to come in, I reckon he'd go to the 3-4-2-1 we saw at Leverkusen.
The profile of player we have is absolutely tailor made for it. Ironically, there would not be as much of a need for a specialist 6 as a double pivot with 3cbs should suffice.
27 Mar 2026 08:25:41
Mac & Jones would be first out the door for me, Mac has fallen off massively and Jones is a nothing footballer. Both can be easily improved upon.
27 Mar 2026 08:46:31
Grav doesn't have enough strings to his bow to be a top class midfielder. He can occasionally turn a man and drive through midfield, but he doesn't even do that consistently.
27 Mar 2026 09:27:54
Gomes and Andre from Wolves would be ideal, although both going elsewhere. Alonso wanted Stiller at Madrid, so he may want him with us as well. Ederson, I agree, is good, and only one year left on his deal come the summer. I also like Alex Scott from Bournemouth.
27 Mar 2026 09:31:41
Just get Grav to play in the role he played last season.
It's Mac you want to replace with someone less top heavy.
27 Mar 2026 09:39:52
I think asking him to go forward has made him and the team look worse. Sure, he's not the type of 6 some people want, but I think going back to that could still make the team far better overall. I'm not against another 6, but some games I'd like last season Grav in that position.
27 Mar 2026 09:46:12
I don't think Grav will ever be the long term solution for DM, as I don't think he has the mentality for the position. He has the physical and technical attributes, but he's not got the desire or aggression to be the DM we clearly need.
27 Mar 2026 09:54:09
Looking at the posts above, all of the names people want replacing all won the title last season but are now crap. Don't buy it. Macca is not a 6, Grav is not an 8, we saw both like that under Klopp. Last season Grav 6, Macca 8, worked well, so why change it????? Maybe someone trying to prove a point??? Mo should've been played closer to the box, yes his legs are going so use him to get the best of what's left, but no.
For me, terrible management. Fitness levels down, tactics completely wrong for the players available, refusing to change, then when we do and play better/win, change back again. What a cock up.