29 Oct 2026 10:01:18
Great result. Good performance.
Nyoni looks ready now. Very good performance and looks a mini gravenberch when breaking the lines.
I hope the club signs a top DM in. January and a LB. I've no problem with Araujo and Bradley as the RB options.
I think the LB options are extremely weak for a massive football club. Kerkez is sub standard. I'd want a top LB to go straight into the first team.
29 Oct 2026 10:28:16
Agree on that, if we can sign a player who can be disciplined enough to sit in front of the defence would free up Wirtz or whoever plays 10 to roam more.
LB - agree I'd hoped that Andoni might have been able to coax the Bournemouth Kerkez back but it ain't happening - would be costly but Lewis Hall would be my pick there.
29 Oct 2026 12:09:05
Trey is everything Grav is not. Really impressed with him so far and can see why they trust the young lad.
As for transfers, at this moment in time I would be looking to secure Lamine Camara and Daniel Banjaqui in January, with Banjaqui being loaned back to Benfica for the remainder of the season ala Jacquet, avoiding an auction in the summer.
With Tsimikas out of contract, the LB is an obvious one. Sounds like Joaquin Seys is the frontrunner. Gomez will probably not be renewed, with Big Ron being signed. The rest for the summer depends on what our plans for Marmadashvilli, Gravenberch, Gakpo, MacAllister, Virg and Alisson will be.
29 Oct 2026 13:29:08
Agree with most said on this thread.
FPF, Banjaqui looks great, but I'm not sure I would prioritise him this year (Jan or summer) UNLESS Bradley's injury is potentially career ending (and I hope to go it's not for us and him personally).
LB, i agree we need someone. I used to think Tsimi would be fine as a backup for a couple of years or so, but seeing his performances so far this season, I was guilty of rose-tinted specs when he wasn't here last season. He's not the right level to be a starting LB for us (if Kerkez was injured) and whilst I understand Robbo's decision, I would have preferred to keep him for 1-2 more years as Kerkez could learn so much from him.
Camara would be my pick for Jan, and possibly a LB.
My gut feel, based on the fact that IKFA and a sprinkling of optimistic hope, is that we would extend Virg for 1 year, Ali for 1-2 years, Gakpo I would probably let go, ideally not to a competitor (unless we could do some pseudo swap deal for Semenyo or Minteh), so ideally overseas. I know Bayern had some tentative interest in him in the summer, that would suit and possibly brings Olise into the equation too.
If Alisson signs, I would sell Mamar, and have a group of GKs with Ali as the daddy, with Jaros and/or Pecsi and Luca being groomed as the likely LT successor.
Finally on the Grav/Macca question, based on current performances I would keep Macca and, certainly if AI wants to persist with a double pivot, sell Grav. A few moving parts here - Nyoni's progress and a recruitment of someone like Camara may mean we may decide to cash in on both. And there's obviously a contract to be negotiated with Macca.
29 Oct 2026 13:50:11
In an ideal world, Macca, Ali, Virg stay. find it a genuine shame Gomez's injuries, I think he's quality.
29 Oct 2026 14:33:47
if Kerkez got an ounce of support from Gakpo the left flank would look a lot better.
29 Oct 2026 14:52:43
Zedd, agree with most, but disagree on Conor Bradley. He's not good enough, never mind available enough. Banjaqui would be the replacement for Frimpong anyway and would challenge and probably take Bradley's place fairly quickly, he's that good.
I fear Alisson has set his heart on moving to Italy. Would love to keep him around for another year or two though as help young Brughmans settle in.
29 Oct 2026 15:00:52
Kerkez makes me nervous. Dunno why he just looks a bit frantic and error prone. I like Tsimikas but I don't think he is good enough to start inportant games.
Gravenberch is a head scratcher. He looks great sometimes but other times he is complete dross. He doesn't seem to have any discipline or want to cover defensively. He isn't a great tackler, as in he picks up cards often. I just think we could do better. Nyoni is better.
With Gakpo also, I just don't get him either.
He plays for himself. He is just as greedy if not more greedy than what Salah was. This frustrates me. He took his penalty well, and what about Gomez? Flipping buried that penalty. Shame his body can't cope with the demands of the league. He'd do well in Italy I am guessing.
Araujo is great. Hope we keep him and he keeps up that level of performance. I think it is lifting the rest of the teams performances.
29 Oct 2026 15:16:40
FPF
I would have no hesitation to sell Gakpo, Gravenberch, and release VVD and Gomez.
VVD is a legend bug definitely 2-3 levels below where he used to be.
Joe is a fantastic player on his day, but can't sustain it, and his injuries have plagued his career.
Gravenberch doesn't suit Iraola and needs selling.
Gakpo will move on, I hear he actually wanted it in the summer, it will happen.
MacAllister is a tricky one, I see him as a great squad player, no more, snc he thinks he is better than that.
I'm living the dream still that we will buy Camara and Sadiki both of whom deeply strengthen our team/squad.
Seys seems to be the flavour at LB can see that happening at some point but more likely next summer.
RB needs sorting as Big Ron will move to the centre and Bradley cannot be relied upon.
Loving the idea of Kayode joining but I see us moving for a RB in Jan.
29 Oct 2026 16:21:17
Shughes55 genuine question. Is the reason for getting rid of Gomez his injuries because you say he's a fantastic player on his day yet the reasons to get rid of Virg is his level of play? Because it sounds like you would gladly keep Joe if he didn't get the injuries yet advocate getting rid of Virg because of his levels of play.
That just seems mental to me.
29 Oct 2026 16:32:34
FPF, all about opinions mate. I think Conor can get to the level of being our no 1. Different to the way Trent played (and referring to the thread above this one, I do agree that the main reason for not wanting Trent back is that he doesn't fit our style of play, leaving the bitterness to one side), and a lot more direct, but that may suit AI.
However, equally, I may just be looking back through rose tinted specs at Bradley's performances (as I admitted to doing with Tsimi) as his injuries have meant that he never really got long enough, in a settled team with a settled manager, to make the position his own.
I really, really could see a future for Araujo at RB, though. Not sure it's what he or the management want, and he is a different style of RB again, much more defensive, understandably, but I posted a few weeks back that whereas under Klopp, Trent was the one who got forward more than Robbo (albeit Robbo also did his fair share when we had Fabs to step back) we could switch to the LB being more offensive and Ronnie being there with the 2 CBs to shore up our back line in case of fast breaks.
Will be interesting to see what transpires when AI gets his first 'proper' window in Jan (as I think he didn't want to make too many wholesale changes before he got a chance to assess the squad).