07 Aug 2026 14:33:41
Can we go looking for the next Rodri instead of wasting most of this window on Barcola. I could care less if we sign or don't sign Barcola. He's not making a huge difference to the team.
We've the weakest midfield in the top 6 as it stands. There's Sobosli who's a guaranteed starter, and honestly the rest could fight it out for the other spots. There's little difference in quality.
07 Aug 2026 16:24:33
Sobosli, is that our new right back?
07 Aug 2026 16:38:32
The midfield we currently have won the league, it's not the weakest midfield in the top 6. Midfield is the least of our worries right now.
07 Aug 2026 16:54:24
Absolutely, Fifth Element. I honestly don't know what people have been watching.
07 Aug 2026 17:04:07
Fifth Element basically skipped the whole season and the last 3 months of the winning season.
Also, forgets players' age and doesn't play at their best.
It's like, just forget that we got battered this last year and we're lucky to be top 5.
07 Aug 2026 17:08:17
I'm even more worried. If the rumours of Gakpo, Mcallister, Elliot, Jones and Chiesa wanting out or being surplus to requirements, then we need serious incomings. Add the injuries to Ekitike, Bradley and Gomez's injury record to that, and I'm worried we've been so quiet in the window.
07 Aug 2026 17:14:31
I also skipped over Spurs finishing 17th last season and signing a midfielder that got relegated and one whose fans were happy to see the back of.
I also skipped over Manchester United only finishing in the top 5 because they were out of every other competition.
I also skipped over Chelsea, who finished 10th, 5 places behind Liverpool.
Also, what about their ages? Szoboszlai is 25, Gravenberch 24, Mac Allister 27, all either at or coming into their prime footballing ages.
We have far more glaring issues to address. Signing a midfielder is like changing your car's tires when it has no engine.
07 Aug 2026 17:30:37
If Barcola makes the right adjustments, he does have the ability to make a massive difference to our team. His speed and skill are a huge add to the attack.
With some added composure in front of goal and good application to defensive work, he could be a superstar.
Hopefully, Iraola can add the final pieces to his game, as well as the added maturity that sometimes comes with age.
07 Aug 2026 18:09:47
Nuance, eh?
We have an imbalanced midfield mix. Our only DM, bought in as a stop gap three years ago, can't run and made one Premier League start last season.
Saying that midfield won the league does not change that fact that it is imbalanced.
And if anyone wants to bring up the purple patch of 3 months that Gravenberch had as a DM from Aug to Nov 2024, I will be out on the front lawn waiting for you.
07 Aug 2026 18:10:09
Not many next Rodri's out there.
07 Aug 2026 18:17:48
Midfield players so far have cornered the PL market:
Rogers AM, £117 million Villa to Chelsea Buns! 7 year contract?
Anderson £116 mill to the Filth/Cheats.
Tonali £93 million Newcastle to Spuds,
Fernandes £85 million West Ham to Spuds.
Santos = Chelsea reserves to Man Utd circa £50 million. Take that 50 away from Rogers fee, and it reduces the £117 to £67 mill for Rogers. If we get rid of Jones and Mac Allister, we will be in the market also for badly needed midfielders with the above war chest. It seems a Pressing problem! Excuse the pun?
Guimares yet to move £85 million, has LFC/Cheats stopped that one?
So far it's midfield players with the highest PL transfer.
Rodri going to Barca according to the morning papers, £70 million. Pray to God he does. Guardiola failed totally to replace KDB. Maresca has no chance of replacing Rodri like for like.
Maresca got the sack from Chelsea last season after losing 6 PL games on the bounce. He's a dead man walking! Haaland to PSG a strong rumour in Paris?
It looks like Arsenal again, sadly, unless the FSG Cavalry arrives before the summer window closes?
07 Aug 2026 18:23:20
FlyPelicanFly, no one is saying our midfield is perfect, but it is the least of our problems right now.
Nuance, eh?
07 Aug 2026 18:29:14
Forgot to add:
This coming season will be remembered for 9 new managers at PL clubs, Arteta longest serving at circa 5 and a half years?
Arne Slot, a Coach who has won the PL and is unemployed, not among the Nine, one wonders why?
07 Aug 2026 18:54:26
Fifth Element, I would argue it's a priority.
Our midfield was bypassed at will, we had no clear CDM since Grav decided that wasn't for him. I would say the lack of any meaningful midfield, bar szob, was at the root of our issues.
Our vacant CB positions are clearly the other big issue, then probably the RB position. If you're going to use a youth player, I'd rather it was on the wing than at CB.
07 Aug 2026 18:58:57
The argument that "this midfield won the league" is as stupid as it gets, firstly that was over 15 months ago and isn't relevant, other sides have not only caught up, but they've passed us by. It's almost the same as the imbeciles round these parts who said we didn't need to replace Lovren before the 20/21 season or the same ones who said we didn't need to bring in fresh legs in midfield before 22/23, who were wrong then and are wrong now,
Secondly, that group of midfielders is the lazuest, softest, weakest, tackle shy group of pansies around. They were bullied almost every game last season and there's no reason to think it'll be any different this season. None of Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Szoboszlai, or Jones fancy getting their boots dirty or sticking the boot in and they're not the kind of midfielders who can out technique the opposition either as they don't have the skill or brains. They're the worst of all worlds.
We've never adequately replaced Fabinho and it'll be a problem again this season.
Like it or not, centre midfield is one of the most important parts of the pitch and ours is not fit for purpose. Most, if not all teams fancy playing against us because they're neither a threat going forward and they offer no defensive nous or fight.
07 Aug 2026 19:18:05
No offence, Ron, but posts like this make me laugh.
It's like saying give me the 6 numbers (or whatever) so that I can win the lottery.
Rodri is a good player.
But quality players like that are not in abundance and if any similar ones are around, could we even get them.
Yes we'd all like a few signings, but for me, I'm just looking forward to see over the season, what Iraola can do.
07 Aug 2026 20:40:06
Defence starts from the front, and if they aren't set up properly then the actual defenders or midfielders have no chance. The fact that we weren't set up properly last year was a bigger issue than any particular player or position. I very much doubt that Grav decided a particular position "wasn't for him", DeanW, he would have played where he was instructed to.