01 Feb 2021 22:02:44
Kabak is a done deal!
Welcome Ozan, welcome Ben and welcome.
01 Feb 2021 22:31:54
Sorry hit send too early! Meant to also say welcome Liam, hope you do well in the U23s
And good luck Taki! Come back stronger and ready to challenge!
02 Feb 2021 07:55:54
Echo that, best of luck Taki. A great place to get some game time.
02 Feb 2021 09:57:51
I personally think that we have done some quality business on deadline day. We have brought in 2 strong, pacy defenders who are good with their feet and strong in the air at both ends of the pitch.
Kabak has the potential to be world class (let us all remember that he is only 20) and Davies looks solid (I have seen very little of him so I do not want to judge him based on his fee or his originating club/ league - I was underwhelmed when we signed Robbo and look at him now! ) .
Give them a month or so and I would not be surprised to see them partnering each other in central defence and allowing Fab and Hendo to move back into their true positions massively strengthening our midfield.
More importantly we did this for what is basically pocket change in todays transfer market!
I certainly don't agree with Merson that Liverpool are just 'bringing in some bodies' and that Kabak's agent should get a knighthood. You'd think that somebody who was lucky enough to be given a second chance following alcohol and cocaine addiction would not judge others quite so quickly!
02 Feb 2021 11:30:41
Couldn't agree with you more, Shipley. Merson and (to a lesser extent Lawrenson's) comments are just sensationalist and misguided - they need to justify their fees!
I'm more than happy. Kabak looked a really good prospect in the summer when we were first linked so I'm pleased to get him. Yes he had a disciplinary issue and it was a particularly disgusting one, but let's give him a small chance to prove it was a one off and he can grow.
I, along with almost everyone else on the boards, hadn't heard of Davies other than thinking he played at Spurs! However, all the ingredients are right - fairly quick, good age, experience in a tough league, leadership qualities, ball playing etc. And for an initial fee that's the same as the loan fee we got for Taki, its an absolute no brainer!
With the rest of the team (in their correct positions! ) around them I could definitely see them being our pairing for much of the rest of the season.
Interestingly, I can see Davies being integrated quicker - he just seems more mature and the leadership thing really shines through - possibly with Nat Phillips then competing with Kabak for the other spot.
Sadly, Matip needs to leave this summer and I wouldn't be averse to Phillips staying (if he was happy to do so) . If both Kabak and Davies kick on that could be our next tier of CBs done for a few years until the teenagers are ready. If they don't, little has been risked and we have kept our powder dry for the summer.
02 Feb 2021 12:18:17
Nat Phillips contract expires in June and I haven't seen anywhere of him being offered a new contract and with the new CB additions why would he sign one? I wouldn't be surprised if he might already have offers from other Premier League teams.
02 Feb 2021 12:30:15
Polecat, he's barely got a look in since the injuries but has looked pretty solid in the last 2 games - solid enough to have as 4th/ 5th choice.
In all likelihood, he's going to be leaving on a free, but based on the last couple of games I feel confident of him as a backup should this sort of situation arise again.
As to why he might want to stay - well let's see how he does over the 2nd half of the season. We have 3 relatively unknown quantities at CB and I'm interested to see how they pan out.
02 Feb 2021 12:33:51
Matip can run his contract down fabulous when fit great servant to the club champions league and premier league winner. Sad he can’t stay fit. Davies I think is a great piece of business not expensive panic move when players like mustafi and subotic are available the club haven’t panicked and brought in an Andy Carroll. They’ve gone out picked up a ball playing cb who lives local. So no great upturn there no great fee and for me I think people all too often over look that it’s a team game and playing with better players for a better coach will make you a better player. Training against salah mane Bobby everyday can’t hurt his development. In his career he’s only had the opportunity to play with players of championship level he wouldn’t have been asked or trained to keep the ball on the floor and pass into Thiago at Preston. So it is a great opportunity to show what he can do at a top club with world class footballers. At 25 this could be a great piece of business. If it only lasts 18 months they’ll make a profit. Minamino to saints great deal for all. Good player little of the prem pace needs game time. Kabak linked with in the summer young player with potential loan not a knee jerk reaction. It appears the days of bad business are over at anfield which I think can only be good in the long term for the club and the fans.