quote:
Fabinho - didn't expect him to become the undroppable player he has become. if he keeps playing like he has been he'll soon be considered one of, if not the best CDM in world football.

I don’t remember if I said it here but I definitely had reservations of him being an Emre Can type player

No hate on Emre, but as a DM there were way too many times where he’d get dribbled past too easily and leave our backline out to dry

That said, I still think Fabinho looks at his best when he’s got proper shutters to both sides to help cover ground because he’s just not blazing fast, but damn he just knows when to put in a tackle and how to clean things up to keep pressure on another team in their half. I think having two of him, h
Hendo or Gini is pretty much a necessity at this point and then throwing in Ox or Keita is a pretty damn good midfield to pair with our front 3

It’s not the same as City’s ball dominant midfield and attack, but ours has shown that they’ll likely still get the job done very effectively

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Posted by Girth Donor

Member since Apr 2011

3727 posts

Posted on 5/14/19 at 5:47 pm to TheZaba

Damir Skomina will be the ref for the CL final. Not a great record when he takes charge of our matches

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Posted by Riseupfromtherubble

You'll Never Walk Alone

Member since Jun 2011

38380 posts

Posted on 5/14/19 at 7:42 pm to TheZaba

I expect Naby to dominate next season. He looked like Leipzig Naby late in the season. Rakitic is still having nightmares

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Posted by SetTheMood

The Red Stick

Member since Jul 2012

3182 posts

Posted on 5/15/19 at 12:07 pm to TheZaba

quote:
It’s not the same as City’s ball dominant midfield and attack, but ours has shown that they’ll likely still get the job done very effectively

I agree with pretty much everything you said. Midway through the season I was lamenting how little offensive support (through goals, assists and key passes) we received from the MF, but as the season progressed that void was filled by Robbo and Trent.

A creative spark will definitely be available once Ox is back and Keita looked like everything had just clicked when he got hurt. Both of them having a full summer to rest and heal (I don't care what Guinea's coach says) should pay huge dividends next season.

Figuring Sturridge, Lallana, Mignolet, Clyne, and Moreno are definitely gone. Maybe Lovren or Matip, but Matip definitely played his way into a new deal (like Origi).

That leaves us needing young competition at LB/RB (one guy who can play both would be nice), and a versatile attacker. If both CBs stay, I can't see us bringing in another.

Front line (7 total): Salah, Mane, Firmino, Divock, Brewster, (new guy and Harry Wilson?)

MF (8 total): Fabinho, Henderson, Gini, Ox, Keita, Shaqiri, Milner, Grujic

Defense (8 total): Virgil, Matip, Lovren, Joe, Robbo, TAA, (2 additions, but its hard to say as Milner, Fabinho and Gini can all fill in if necessary)

Keepers (2 total): Alisson and Karius (I'd like to see him back)

That gets us to 25 senior squad players, unless we can still count TAA as a u21. That's a total of only 3 additions and pretty stout depth to mount an EPL, CL, FA Cup and League Cup challenge.

I'm praying for early Egypt and Senegal exits from AFcon...

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