It's Quiet 17 - Glory Thread

Coatigan said:
No, excluding kids.

There hasn't been a season when we haven't filled the 21 player quota. We generally struggle to fill the other 4 CT which makes 25, but with 21 always filled, we usually go with a 22-23 man squad. Plus kids. In the past, it had actually been a struggle finding room for the 21, if you remember the 'we can just leave carson out' etc discussions.

Currently, we have 18 out if 21, and 1 out of 4. 19 out of 25 in total, but for fairness 19 out of our typical 22, because we haven't gone 25 in years.

That is a squad of 3 down, not just to last year but to any year.

Even with a LB, it will still be a squad of 19 registered. 20 in total including CT.
Click to expand...

We had a very big and high quality squad when we won the domestic treble. We've reduced numbers whilst Liverpool have increased their strength in depth. They still have key players of course, but they do have options in every position in order to rotate and remain competitive. That showed in that they could play Southampton and win with a much changed team and rested so many successfully against Benfica in the 2nd leg and managed the draw to progress.

We were meanwhile getting down to bare bones against Atletico due to injuries and then our FA Cup team was much weaker and it told. Whilst we do have a better 2nd choice keeper, which was largely the reason we lost that game, the only way we are going to manage is if Pep does use the academy players. Klopp has had no problem throwing youngsters in, but Pep is still reluctant unless there's nothing to play for or it's the league cup against a weaker opponent.

With the 5 subs perhaps we're just going to see more shuffling of the pack. If the game is won after 60 minutes then we do have the option to take Cancelo and Walker off and put Ake at LB and Stones at RB or just put someone else in to see the game out and rest legs. Wilson Esbrand just has to get gametime though. With the WC we have to start strongly this season. And there will be a level of fatigue physically and mentally that we can't control from the WC that could hit us over the second half of the season. We went into a CL semi with Stones and Ferny playing a half each at RB. We can cope but it's inarguable we'd be better served with having a proper RB playing. Currently we have 4CBs of which 2 will have to be used as full back alternatives which is just unnecessary game time in a long season. Especially when it's likely all of our 6 defensive options will go to the WC.
 
The truth is we are a team in transition and will be for the next couple of years..Mahrez KdB Gundog Walker,, all reaching the end of their careers..new LB..is Pep staying or going ?? Excited by Haaland but how long will he stay ?? Probably the most nervous I have been for a few seasons..other teams seem to have gone for it this season in transfer market..barcodes will surely be up there soon enough too.. Whatever, CTID !!!!
 
Berts Neck said:
The truth is we are a team in transition and will be for the next couple of years..Mahrez KdB Gundog Walker,, all reaching the end of their careers..new LB..is Pep staying or going ?? Excited by Haaland but how long will he stay ?? Probably the most nervous I have been for a few seasons..other teams seem to have gone for it this season in transfer market..barcodes will surely be up there soon enough too.. Whatever, CTID !!!!
Click to expand...
Good points but I am sure we have not signed the world's best striker to finish 4th.
That said I have a lot of worries about this season.
 
The Colonel said:
Let’s judge the transfer activity at the end of the window.
Click to expand...

Even better would be to judge the transfer activity at the business end of the season or after that. Remember the end of last summer's transfer window? United fans thought they were going to challenge...

I'm completely relaxed even if we don't sign other players. We'll probably sign a FB, though, and may sign another player, too.
 
Berts Neck said:
The truth is we are a team in transition and will be for the next couple of years..Mahrez KdB Gundog Walker,, all reaching the end of their careers..new LB..is Pep staying or going ?? Excited by Haaland but how long will he stay ?? Probably the most nervous I have been for a few seasons..other teams seem to have gone for it this season in transfer market..barcodes will surely be up there soon enough too.. Whatever, CTID !!!!
Click to expand...

Liverpool have older players at CB, CM and Salah will be nearly 31 at the end of next season. Their squad is older than ours.
 
Last edited:
kun said:
How on earth anyone reads that and comes to the conclusion we definitely aren’t going to sign a left back is completely beyond me.
Click to expand...
To be fair he did also say we may have to wait until January window. I think it’s 50/50 whether we sign one this window. The lack of any links is making me feel we will go with what we’ve got
 
Berts Neck said:
The truth is we are a team in transition and will be for the next couple of years..Mahrez KdB Gundog Walker,, all reaching the end of their careers..new LB..is Pep staying or going ?? Excited by Haaland but how long will he stay ?? Probably the most nervous I have been for a few seasons..other teams seem to have gone for it this season in transfer market..barcodes will surely be up there soon enough too.. Whatever, CTID !!!!
Click to expand...

We're not in transition. Mahrez we have Palmer coming through and other options. Gundogan isn't a starter currently so can be replaced. Walker I'd have hoped we'd have cover for already, considering Cancelo is now a LB... it's a weakness in the squad but he's definitely replaceable. De Bruyne can't be replaced and we'll have to find a different way of playing but it's not something to worry about currently considering how long he has left.

A transition would be losing Pep. Or losing Dias, Rodri, De Bruyne and Foden in the same summer.

What we are currently is a very good squad that, through allowing players to leave when they want to, has created a major problem at full back. We can't go into this season with 6 defensive options. Wilson Esbrand currently has to play. He has to be coming on at LB after 60-70minutes and starting several games so that Cancelo can give Walker a rest on the right. That's far from ideal. Chelsea and Liverpool will change both of their full backs when games are won in the league and CL. Whilst it's a less important creative role in our side, it's still worrying to only have two natural full backs (I'm not convinced Wilson Esbrand will get used as much as I'd like to see). We needed a LB before Zinchenko left.
 
DMA's said:
To be fair he did also say we may have to wait until January window. I think it’s 50/50 whether we sign one this window. The lack of any links is making me feel we will go with what we’ve got
Click to expand...

Through selling Zinchenko we're clearly desperate and so prices will rise. We'll happily walk away rather than overpay but I can't see how a situation will arise whereby we can secure a full back at good value considering it's so obvious we're desperate! I don't see how the situation gets better in January though, where good business is possible but our situation could make us even more desperate.
 
we have done excellent business this summer with Haaland, Phillips, Alvarez & Ortega but this left back situation is truly baffling and the lack of chat around it is concerning as it seems we dont want a top class addition as we dont want to pay the money? Even the itk`s have gone quiet! lol
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Unread Posts

Don't have an account? Register now and see fewer ads!

SIGN UP
Back
Top