06 Aug 2026 11:07:18
Ed1, you have any idea if any of the youngsters manage to impress Iraola during the pre season? I've not watch a single pre season games, but have seen a lot of good comments on Nyoni.
{Ed001's Note - I don't mate sorry.}
06 Aug 2026 11:35:19
These next games will tell us a lot about who he rates once we have all the World Cup players back.
Could see Nyoni starting first game of the season potentially or coming off the bench. Depends on what Gravy shows Andoni.
06 Aug 2026 11:50:57
I get the impression that Chambers has impressed and I wonder (hope) he will be considered as an alternative lb option. It will be great to start bleeding through some youth again. I also have high hopes of Nyoni. He has certainly grown and now looks physically strong enough to be considered an option and squad player.
06 Aug 2026 11:51:53
Ndukwe, Kouamas, Nyoni are the main 3 and Chambers has done a very good job filling in at CB when needed.
06 Aug 2026 11:53:47
I can see Nyoni starting next to Grav for the opener. With transfers moving at snail pace, I wouldn't be surprised to see Wirtz or Szobo covering on one of the wings, with the other in midfield alongside Nyoni & Grav.
I'm not sure that there is much point in guessing yet, though.
We don't know who will come in (Barcola?, Mbaye?, Wharton?) or, indeed, who will leave (Macca?, Gakpo?, Curtis?). Will any new signings be up-to-speed in time? I think we will know more after these upcoming Anfield friendlies on what kind of lineup Iraola is likely to put out for the opener.
06 Aug 2026 12:18:00
All of them have acquitted themselves pretty well in the grand scheme of things.
Nyoni and Ndukwe the clear standouts.
Rio was very rusty but looked better in the last game. The quality of the pitches won't help his dribbling.
Shout out to Koumas and Chambers for showing their desire to force their way into the gaffer's reckoning.
Abe is really really young. Ndiaye is very raw. Morrison struggled to get into games, though I did like his RB covering effort in the last game. Wright did ok in the few minutes he got. Scanlon has loads of pace but lacks the technical skills. Sonnie-Lambie didn't really have enough minutes to show anything.
06 Aug 2026 12:43:27
I don't understand this viewpoint of Szob starting on the wings. He is our best player. Why would we move him out to the wings, especially when Ai wants pace and directness out wide - I think both he and Ai, with their recent comments, have made it clear he will be in midfield.
Barring injury, I reckon our line up vs Newcastle will be (4-2-3-1)
Isak
Barcola, Wirtz, Rio/Munoz
Szob and Grav
Kerkez, VVD, Jacquet, new signing
Alison.
06 Aug 2026 12:49:51
I don't think Wharton will come in now, unless Jones/Macca leave. We had the whole summer to do the deal. He didn't go to the WC either.
06 Aug 2026 13:42:53
It's a possible need rather than a preference, @MOT. You have Barcola and 'new signing' in your lineup, which would be great, but I can't see any players not already signed by now starting that first game. Barcola doesn't even start his pre-season until next week, and the start of the season is rapidly approaching.
Hopefully Munoz can get up to speed by then, but he only started his pre-season this week, so we will need to see how his injury that he had at the World Cup reacts. Same goes for Jacquet. He hasn't been fit enough to play any pre-season games as yet, so we will have to see.