Perhaps if we have to go on XG for past games the one he should want to replay is the third CL final. I don’t think that team fails to score in that match twice.
In truth we fell apart at and after Old Trafford. Our defending lacked cohesion. But to put it in perspective if we had conceded our season average of 36 goals, since Klopp arrived, we would have still finished behind City by a point.
I think we have focused a lot on our finishing. And rightly so. But its overlooked how average our defending has been. I do wonder what we achieved from selling Fabinho and buying Endo bar the £££ difference. I thought he did a great job but couldn't Fab have done the same with Macca and Szoboszlai either side?
Cheers. It's an interesting question re Fabinho. He looked so far off the pace last season that it's hard for me to think it would've worked as well, though the younger legs would obviously have helped. I think once £40m was on the table, he was inevitably leaving!
Its a fair point though after a 63 game season, less pre-season and then playing with two other slow midfielders he had his work cut out. Klopp gave him too much to do! But I agree we had to take the money.
I do think we will buy a new six and add some physicality and tackling ability in that space. Palhinha could be a good choice as Bajcetic slips in and I can see us picking him up for £50m. He is a terrific player who would add much needed steel that Rice and Rodri add. I think we should have signed him last summer, even sacrificing Gravenberch if need be.
I think we would be taking a risk relying in Bajcetic after such a long lay off. Maybe he needs easing back in. Plus I think we can generate enough in sales to get an injection of steel and speed to make that 4-2-3-1 really exciting and potentially challenge again next season.
In terms of major departures it would be Salah, Nunez and Endo (though you could keep him if the rosta allows). Then fringe players like Carvalho, Morton, Phillips and Sepp. That should raise at least £170-180m and free up enough on the rosta and wage bill for new signings, with FSG adding in a further £50-75m on top.
I would go out and buy Palhinha (Fulham), Bakayoko (PSV), Gimenez (Feyenoord) and Rayan Ait-Nouri (Wolves). In a 4-2-3-1 a first XI (where you can easily interchange, new players to the PL, Gimenez and Bakayoko to ease them in):
"In terms of major departures it would be Salah, Nunez and Endo (though you could keep him if the rosta allows). Then fringe players like Carvalho, Morton, Phillips and Sepp. That should raise at least £170-180m and free up enough on the rosta and wage bill for new signings, with FSG adding in a further £50-75m on top."
I can't see that much churn myself, though of course it's all guesswork with a potential new formation and different people pulling the transfer strings.
Agree. I have the sense that despite the erratic finishing of the offense, the real problem was the difensive function (of the whole team ). Too many mistakes. Too many easily conceded goals .
Perhaps if we have to go on XG for past games the one he should want to replay is the third CL final. I don’t think that team fails to score in that match twice.
Yep, Courtois saved 2.5 xG on target that night, his career best performance in the FBRef database.
Another great piece, thanks Beez.
In truth we fell apart at and after Old Trafford. Our defending lacked cohesion. But to put it in perspective if we had conceded our season average of 36 goals, since Klopp arrived, we would have still finished behind City by a point.
I think we have focused a lot on our finishing. And rightly so. But its overlooked how average our defending has been. I do wonder what we achieved from selling Fabinho and buying Endo bar the £££ difference. I thought he did a great job but couldn't Fab have done the same with Macca and Szoboszlai either side?
Cheers. It's an interesting question re Fabinho. He looked so far off the pace last season that it's hard for me to think it would've worked as well, though the younger legs would obviously have helped. I think once £40m was on the table, he was inevitably leaving!
Its a fair point though after a 63 game season, less pre-season and then playing with two other slow midfielders he had his work cut out. Klopp gave him too much to do! But I agree we had to take the money.
I do think we will buy a new six and add some physicality and tackling ability in that space. Palhinha could be a good choice as Bajcetic slips in and I can see us picking him up for £50m. He is a terrific player who would add much needed steel that Rice and Rodri add. I think we should have signed him last summer, even sacrificing Gravenberch if need be.
Yeah I hope Bajcetic is the answer. I wonder if they'll persist with Endo for one more year while Stefan gets up to pace.
I think we would be taking a risk relying in Bajcetic after such a long lay off. Maybe he needs easing back in. Plus I think we can generate enough in sales to get an injection of steel and speed to make that 4-2-3-1 really exciting and potentially challenge again next season.
In terms of major departures it would be Salah, Nunez and Endo (though you could keep him if the rosta allows). Then fringe players like Carvalho, Morton, Phillips and Sepp. That should raise at least £170-180m and free up enough on the rosta and wage bill for new signings, with FSG adding in a further £50-75m on top.
I would go out and buy Palhinha (Fulham), Bakayoko (PSV), Gimenez (Feyenoord) and Rayan Ait-Nouri (Wolves). In a 4-2-3-1 a first XI (where you can easily interchange, new players to the PL, Gimenez and Bakayoko to ease them in):
Allison
Ait-Nouri*
Van Dijk
Konate
Trent
Palhinha*
Mac Allister
Diaz
Szoboszlai
Bakayoko*
Gimenez*
------------------Second XI
Kelleher
Robertson
Quansah
Gomez
Bradley
Bajcetic
Gravenberch
Jones
Elliott
Gakpo
Jota
------------ Others:
Adrian
Ramsey
Beck
Tsimikas
Endo
McConnell
Gordon
Clark
Doak
Danns
"In terms of major departures it would be Salah, Nunez and Endo (though you could keep him if the rosta allows). Then fringe players like Carvalho, Morton, Phillips and Sepp. That should raise at least £170-180m and free up enough on the rosta and wage bill for new signings, with FSG adding in a further £50-75m on top."
I can't see that much churn myself, though of course it's all guesswork with a potential new formation and different people pulling the transfer strings.
Agree. I have the sense that despite the erratic finishing of the offense, the real problem was the difensive function (of the whole team ). Too many mistakes. Too many easily conceded goals .