Match Thread: Liverpool v Crystal Palace

[Steveo]

Kev gets worked up but he cares about the team and the apparent problems we seem to be facing despite the blistering summer narrative. You tried to suggest Rio can sit in for Diaz and we are in better shape

Jozza - that’s ridiculous mate.. Is it possible… yes potentially but the kid really doesn’t need that type of pressure - he is 16 FFS. If we even try to use him to that degree we are mentalists not mentality monsters.

I’m the one who told you all about Rio - some suggested I was jumping the gun… I’ve seen him first hand for Chelsea many times - oh and he is absolute magic… but he is still a boy and not a very big one either. You must be on the wind up suggesting he can replicate Luis this season.

[miller0863]

I thought you were jumping the gun to be fair, having watched him in the youth side.

It’s only in this pre season that I fully appreciated his full potential.

[Steveo]

Yep and you are right but I do worry he will be put in too soon. Has ruined so many potentially great players. He need to be nurtured - a rare gem of a player

[jozza800]

Come on, was that really what I was saying?

Should we get Isak (still a big if tbf) then we'll have a better set of forwards this season than we did last season.

We've replaced Kelleher
We've replaced Trent
We've upgraded on Robbo
We've upgraded on Szobo
We've upgraded on Diogo

If we get Isak we'll have upgraded on Nunez

We still need a center half.

Wirtz is the wild card that will allow us to 'get away' with not having 6 forwards.

[Steveo]

Fair enough but I guess when it’s seen listed as you did it - reads like we should expect Rio to eclipse Luis this season. Be great if he did but being realistic there is little to no chance of that happening

[Steveo]

Playing devils advocate…

We also have no replacement for Quansah - who despite being short at the top level was much needed to stand in… we have an older Virgil - an older Salah - Konate who - has never impressed me too much likely to walk in May (could question his commitment)…. I don’t see where we have upgraded on Diogo???? please explain. - and we have lost our second most potent threat in Diaz.

We have replaced Trent with a more attacking minded player who looks as likely to be targeted the other way. We have upgraded our left back position and added - at huge cost - Wirtz - who looks pure class - but as yet a little low on tangible end product.. As for Kelleher - yes we have added Marmadashvili… Looks a
good deal but time will tell.

How are we stronger than this time last year

[teesred]

I personally think by the end of the window another forward and centre back will be added. I'm certain of it but not who they'll be obviously.
If it's Isak and Guehi I don't think anyone can say we aren't stronger. It'd be a much better looking squad overall.
Still light in midfield but we were never getting everything we wanted.
If those two mentioned come in it's hard to argue that we've had a better window at any point.

[Steveo]

I would say almost everyone would agree provided we get a top class striker - and that’s not just another forward. Again we need a top class CB - not just another CB

This is the point. It all looks great until you actually look at what we have lost and we have lost a lot 2 summers running.

[jozza800]

Playing devils advocate…

We also have no replacement for Quansah - who despite being short at the top level was much needed to stand in… we have an older Virgil - an older Salah - Konate who - has never impressed me too much likely to walk in May (could question his commitment)…. I don’t see where we have upgraded on Diogo???? please explain. - and we have lost our second most potent threat in Diaz.

We have replaced Trent with a more attacking minded player who looks as likely to be targeted the other way. We have upgraded our left back position and added - at huge cost - Wirtz - who looks pure class - but as yet a little low on tangible end product.. As for Kelleher - yes we have added Marmadashvili… Looks a
good deal but time will tell.

How are we stronger than this time last year

Like any transfer, you just never know. But I can only base opinions on from what I have seen from previous seasons and this pre season.

Marmadashvelli looks more than an adequate replacement for Kelleher.

Frimpong may be more offensive but he's also far more dynamic and has the speed and desire to recover in situations.

Kerkez was arguably the best left back in the country and looks like a ready made replacement for Robbo.

Wirtz had 25+ goal contributions last season, which if he gets anywhere near that this season he'll have massively eclipsed all of our midfielders.

Ekitike will hopefully improve on Diogo by simply being fit more often. Although raw, it looks like he gets into good positions.

However, as both yourself and Tees have said, if we don't bring top end players both at the back and up top then no, we probably won't be as strong as last season.

[jozza800]

Again, it obviously hinges on us signing Isak but I'd wager that

Salah
Isak
Gakpo
Ekitike
Chiesa
Rio

Would score more goals than

Salah
Nunez
Diaz
Gakpo
Jota
Chiesa

Especially when you add Wirtz into the mix!

I think we'll be far more potent this season.