25 Jul 2024 07:34:24
Good morning Ed002,
As people on here are using their imagination and have started to add their own stories which has some what taking away from the factual information the Ed's provided. Could I ask some questions to bring back some normality? Apologies to all as I do not mean to offend, we have twitter for "ITK's".
Also if you are busy please ignore this post.
In your opinion do you still believe we will move for Anthony Gordon considering Eddie Howe has stated that he is now happy? It's very hard to see anyone paying the money for Diaz other than Saudi do if they rely on each other then that could be an issue?
I believe we will make a couple of signings and they may be left field but I think Inácio and Ederson be it the later somewhat hopeful.
If you had to guess who would you think Liverpool will move for?
I know you are not psychic and it's been almost impossible to read this Liverpool recruitment policy but I would value your opinion.
Thank you for your time Ed002.
{Ed002's Note - I would not be surprised by further discussions for Gordon.
I am really not interested in guessing at all.}
25 Jul 2024 10:25:50
Hi All,
Imo, no chance the Club will move for more than one wide striker this summer. If any of Neto, Kubo, Bakayoko, etc. is negotiated, Gordon won't get signed (costly, NUFC won't sell to us now as they are all sorted with the sustainability rules) .
Even if Diaz leaves, we still have 3 senior strikers.
Only if we let 2 attackers go, then we'll be more concerned.
I'd be happy if we sign 3 - CB, DM and right winger.
Plus some cover for LB would be good to have for luxury.
25 Jul 2024 10:43:42
We scored a lot of goals last season, but, debatably Jota aside, we don’t have a goal scoring centre forward. I say Jota aside as he appears to be prone to niggling injuries (lifestyle choices? ) that make him unreliable.
25 Jul 2024 10:43:54
The information coming out of actual journalists and not Twitter ITK’s is that there’s unlikely to be any significant transfer business being done. Andy Hunter at the Guardian has said that Richard Hughes and the recruitment team are happy with the squad and see no issues. James Pearce (I get that he comes in for some stick, but he’s a better source than the fat lad from Bolton or the KFC worker from Leicester) at The Athletic has said that from what understands there’ll be little or no business being carried out. Chris Bascombe at the Telegraph has gone as far as to say the club sees no reason to bring in a number 6 as there is a feeling that Jones or Szoboszlai could adequately play there (which feels contrary to reason, logic and reality) and that he expects little or no business. Just waiting for the Paul Joyce dagger now.
25 Jul 2024 11:29:57
Yet the club are actively looking at targets. These journo’s are no where near the club when it comes to transfers, we’ve seen this over the last few years.
25 Jul 2024 12:00:33
Let’s just wait and see. Journalists are external to the internal workings of the club, just like us fans, even though journalists and fans approach the subject from a slightly different angle.
Like I said yesterday we were contenders for about 95% of the season just gone. We weren’t far off and that was with a group of players who were together for their first season and who will improve (or rather who have the potential to improve) .
Personally, based on absolutely no factual evidence, I think we will sign two or probably three first team squad players with perhaps one or two of them actually being (close to) starters.
25 Jul 2024 12:06:22
If the above is correct then we need to have low expectation of the season.
VVD is not what he once was and while still class he needs a top class partner for us to succeed. Gomez and konate are not consistently fit enough and JQ is not ready yet.
We need a better LB back up this was evident last season with robbos injury issues.
If trent signs I think we are fine on the right
Stevie wonder can see we need a cdm Endo has done a job but he's not good enough for us to realistically challenge.
We also don't have any leadership in the middle of the park.
If salad won't sign I would get rid he wasn't at his best last season and I don't think his head will be in the right place if he knows he's leaving. Gakpo and Diaz don't get enough goals and we don't know if slott is going to play to dsrwins strengths and kets be fair he's not been looking like a 20 goal a season man so if we are not careful we could find ourselves struggling up front. If we don't recruit I can't see us being top 4.
25 Jul 2024 12:39:47
WDW we were contentenders for closer to 80% if the season than 95%, the draw away at United then the dismal home defeat to Palace a week later ended our title challenge. We are still very away from winning the league, you can’t gift soft goals and be as weak through midfield as we are. I’m expecting very little in the way of transfers happening and if by some miracle we do, I’m not expecting them to be transformative in the way that van Dijk, Alisson and Fabinho were, as the closer we leave it to the start of the league or deadline day, the more difficult and expensive it is to sign the better players.
25 Jul 2024 12:59:58
The only players we should be buying are ones that improve the starting 11, it’s that simple.
25 Jul 2024 13:02:26
In all honesty, challenging for honours this season is going to be very difficult, with or without new players.
New coaches, new manager, new to the premier league, new tactics/ formations, new philosophy.
I don’t think a few new players will make it that much easier. It’s going to be tough.
I’m pretty calm about the squad, I think we essentially have a squad of new players and getting cohesion and consistency is going to be tougher for us.
25 Jul 2024 13:26:29
Someone is going to replace Matip, surely, especially considering SVDB is adamant about leaving.
Salah's replacement needs time to bed in.
Dm is an interesting one being as Endo, Bajetic, Jones and Alexis can play there, and Baj will want to be playing as regularly as he can/ is sensible for a young lad fresh off the back of a serious injury.
Tsimi is not a good enough back up/ challenger for Robbo.
Kelleher needs replacing.
Diaz clearly wants to goto somewhere hot.
All of this means we are bound to buy some players (imo)
25 Jul 2024 09:09:42
Greetings, Ed002,
Is Kubo the top option or is Kudus in the picture if Liverpool sell Salah this window?
{Ed002's Note - Kubo and Bakayoko- nothing to do with Kudus at all.}
25 Jul 2024 09:35:25
No problem at all Ed002,
Have a good day ??.
25 Jul 2024 18:42:20
If we’re not actively looking at replenishments then it’ll be a long season. I’m not saying we’re going to perform terribly, but if our goal is to be on the periphery of the top four then that’s what we may get. I feel the challenge for top four will narrow again next season and I thought we punched above our weight at times last season. It’s a game of narrow margins and hopefully I’m wrong.
25 Jul 2024 22:06:32
We conceded too many goals and didn’t score enough. We need to improve in all areas if we want to win the major trophies.
{Ed025's Note - the change of manager will help mark, no inverted fullback malarkey will shore up the defence i imagine mate..
25 Jul 2024 22:50:15
I am still haunted by that Everton defeat. A few new players who can stand up and be counted are very much needed imo. Hope you are keeping well ed.
{Ed025's Note -im good thanks Mark, we played well in the derby and you were pretty poor to be honest mate, one of those games where we wanted it more than you i would say but that doesn,t happen very often, just one of those days..