14 Apr 2026 14:33:08
There's several positions that need addressed this summer within the first team.
I would personally prioritize midfield. Dom has shown consistently he has the quality and needed attributes needed for the Premier League.
Macca and Grav are not the right gravy for me. Ryan tracked back for more effectively last season and won many more duels. I can't believe the money the lads now on. Ryan's overall game is average. He's not a great passer. He's not great physically and he doesn't have real pace. I'd hope he's reverted back to his positional obligations next season that made him look like a good player. If not, the likes of Alonso or Enrique would not have him in the team because if he's not a hard working 6 and doing his job, he offers little else in another midfield position.
Macca, little needs said. He's more suited to La Liga or the Italian league. The Premier League is leaving behind players like Macca. Falling over all the time to get a foul because you're getting overrun continuously.
I think our midfield is dreadful. Regardless of slots "tactics" Macca and Gravenberch have done very little this season. I would also mention Jones. There's moments in matches he couldn't be bothered to track back and he's not for me. Another one waiting for a crazy increase.
The squad needs a real cleanse and refresh.
14 Apr 2026 15:21:23
I think you are a wee bit harsh on Grav. While he hasn't shown similar form to last year, imo he's being asked to do a different role.
The fact that he had Trent at right back, who played that full back inverted role when he often stepped into midfield helping the midfield out, passing forward and covering between the lines.
This season he doesn't know who's playing full back, anyone of five and none of them has Trent's range of passing. He also has an under performing Macca next to him, or Mr pass 5 yard, I am not tracking back or making a tackle, Jones.
{Ed025's Note - sometimes you just have to be honest CG...he has been a total waste of space this season mate..
14 Apr 2026 15:27:22
We need a starting RW, RB and CDM. Then we need to add to the squad depth.
14 Apr 2026 15:47:11
Macca and Grav each have specific things that they are good at and things that they are bad at. The problem this year is they have been playing in a structure that doesn't necessarily maximise what they are good at and mask what they are bad at. Macca gets exposed because he's being asked to cover lots of space; he's just not that kind of player, even though he tries to put himself about and cover ground. Grav is not the kind of player to play a delicious through ball or hit a 40 yard switch pass or really do anything too creative passing through the lines because that's not his game.
When defenders get tight to him and press, though, he's probably the best midfielder in the Premier League at leaving them for dead and carrying the ball. Why he's the one given license to go forward and Macca is the one marooned on an island is anyone's guess, though.
In the right structure, both are top players. In Europe, when the spacing has been better and Macca isn't stranded having to chase the game in transition, Macca has looked like the player of the last two seasons.
{Ed025's Note - i must be watching different games to you PB..
14 Apr 2026 16:25:00
Ed025, taking your waste of space comment (I don't agree, but it's all about opinions), I don't think you'd say he was a waste of space last season, in fact I think you'd concede he was one of the reasons we won the league?
So many of our players are looking a lot poorer than last season. Some of them are due to aging (Salah, VVD and Robbo perhaps? ) but others are due to how/where they are being played.
I believe that Grav is one of them. So I certainly wouldn't exit him, but wait to see how he is played under the new manager.
This season, Grav is looking more like the player in his first season when Klopp was playing him more advanced. I don't know why Slot changed his position from last year.
{Ed025's Note - he has been awful for me Zed, offered very little and im not talking about him being out of position..im talking about basic things like stray passes, missed tackles, poor heading and lack of pace, i think he may be suffering from..cant be arsed syndrome mate..
14 Apr 2026 16:40:05
Ed25, you cannot be that dismissive of actual, real circumstances and context. Grave has been poor, I get it but the same goes for "Insert player here" this seasons as well. Therefore
If Grav is being played in a position diff. from the one he thrived in last season then, you can't just ignore/dismiss that more than pertinent factor (mongst others, btw) just and say (with no context), "Let's just call a spade a spade" spiel. That's just being dismissive for no reason.
Grav is playing further forward this season in a position that he struggled in mightily under Klopp the first season he arrived here already. It was Slot himself who turned him into a DM where he excelled and won Young Player Of the Year award, helping us to a title while outplaying actual DM's in Caicedo, for ex.
Wait, Slot saw all that and then said, "You know what? i'm going to play this kid in the same position he struggled in the season before last and he will defo. shine". Yeah, that happened.
Man literally "fixed" what was never broken to begin with and then, leaves us wide open at the back in defensive transition. And you wonder why people want this guy gone.
{Ed025's Note - look i get you want to make excuses for him mate, but not being able to make a five yard pass or tackle an opponent or win a header has nothing at all to do with what position he is playing..
14 Apr 2026 17:16:47
Mac Allister and Gravenberch have both been terrible. The crazy thing about both of them, Szobozlai and Jones, is that what qualities they do have would all be strengthened and enhanced playing in a double pivot with a proper number 6. We are and have been absolutely crying out for one for 3 years now.
14 Apr 2026 17:02:59
Your watching through blue tinted glasses Ed.
Grav will be fie with a settled right back and soebody who can defend next to him.
{Ed025's Note - thats your opinion CG, i only deal in facts mate..
14 Apr 2026 17:46:34
Completely agree with Ron funk and Ed's on this szob is the only midfielder worth his wages, The midfield is a mess. Grav either stays back or upgrade on him. Macca can go, when we are going through a tough run of games we need character and fight he seems to have neither, worse player this season along with konate, but that midfield offers zero help the back 4. Macca? he's too busy diving and I also agree he's more suited to Spanish or Italian football.
Jones is just jones, never going to be anything special, lucky to still be here after the years he suffered from injuries here and there .people say he's a good squad player, but seriously WHAT does he bring to the team? Should have been sold by now.
All that said the managers tactics have been seriously dreadful this season, the forward line have all struggles really through that midfield, has as the defence
14 Apr 2026 17:55:07
He's been rubbish this season. That's being generous.
14 Apr 2026 18:55:29
Grav has been less effective than last season. There is no doubt about that. He's clearly been asked to do a different job in a different formation. Last year, when he was glued to the centre and got quick ball, freed himself and moved on, a lot of our attacks started with him, but last year we had Diaz and a Mo who wanted to play forward.
Grav has sadly been reduced to playing tictac football with the FB's to try and free them forward, but the new lads aren't good enough for that, maybe next season.
There was one game this season, where it looked like Macca got pissed at the tactics and spent 90 mins scowling at Grav to stay central. Think it was the Athleti game.
14 Apr 2026 18:32:58
Calling him a waste of space seems a bit harsh, Ed25. Other than that, I agree with everything you said. Personally, for me, Gravenberch has been really disappointing this season. It makes me worry that we just gave him a new high-wage contract and he's started to play badly.
{Ed025's Note - compared to last season i think i am right Mfahmee, he has fell of a cliff mate..
14 Apr 2026 22:55:27
What excuses? You seem to think that anyone that adds facts with actual/some type of context to their view points is suddenly making excuses just cos they used actual evidence to argue your points? Oh, and which player hasn't fallen off a cliff this season? I'll wait.