re: tOfficial Liverpool 2017/2018 Thread: “Upgrades Incoming Edition: A Great Season!”

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Some of you guys are freaking the F out. Team was obviously unsettled with wind out of our sails because of F-ing Coutinho. Playing away, on opening day and nearly pulling it off, looking like shite most of the game isn't that big of a deal. Defense is concerning, but get a grip if you're surprised by that. We've signed no one and still had Lovren and Moreno out there. Just have to get the attitude right and a home win should do wonders. Regardless of what happens with Cou, we will challenge for silverware this season. Title? Doubtful but top 4 and a decent run in the Champs League pending draw would suffice. I expect Man U and City to be far and away the favorites if Cou goes and we don't sign anyone else. Look at their squads, As shitty as Man U was last year, that won't happen again under Mourinho. They looked terrifying today. As for Hendo, most jeckyl and hide player ever. One game looks like a 1 man dynamo the next just totally lost and out of place. It's bizarre and I can't put my finger on it. Still can't decide if Can is good enough. In reality, we needed Keita, Coutinho, VdV and probably a top shelf striker to be considered a true title threat.

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Freaking out? Maybe. But game 1 and we see the exact same defensive issues we've needed to fix for 5 years, and its a bit frustrating. There are plenty of legitimate reasons to be concerned. And bringing Robertson in hasn't exactly inspired confidence that there will be any reason to improve the rest of the season. He's not known for his defensive abilities.

Add to that we have 4(!) midfielders available right for a string of incredibly important games which are coming fast and furious, plus an emergency Milner fill in (and Milner is terrible at CM) and there's plenty of reason for concern. One injury and we have Grujic starting a CL play off game. Think about that. How many competitive minutes has Grujic played in the last year? A couple hundred?

Zero improvement on defense means it could be very difficult to make top 4 again. As you say - ManU has improved. So has Arsenal (assuming they keep Sanchez). Do you think we'll overtake Chelsea and Spurs to keep that top 4 spot, all with additional games, a leaky defense and zero midfield depth? There is plenty of reason for concern, and the club brought it on themselves by having some of their mouthpieces talk about how much money would be available this off-season and letting them run with reports of Klopps Blackpool meetings, etc.

Its not a "freak out", its a reality based assessment that our biggest issues have not been addressed by either better players or a better system. Same shite, different season.

It's infuriating. Guy is valued around 35 million, we should've pursued him from the get go in addition to Keita, not as an alternative. He's a better player right now than Henderson and Can.

Grujic can and should play. He's 21. It's not like he's 17 or 18.

Put him in there and see what happens, he's got all the tools to step up and make an impact, given the opportunity.

Exactly so not sure why that's even surprising to anyone.

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but from what I've read he has some major foot problems, and has stated in the past that he needs to play in warmer climates because of this

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Seri suffers from chilblains ... its painful and itchy swellings on the skin when the weather is cold. Not sure how controllable it is...

We don't have anyone in the squad with his passing range.. For ~£35mm... That would be a deal in this market...

He is a little light weight..

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As for Hendo, most jeckyl and hide player ever. One game looks like a 1 man dynamo the next just totally lost and out of place. It's bizarre and I can't put my finger on it.

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I think part of it is him learning a new position... Thats a tough one to play and he's not a "natural" back there... I like Hendo, but not sure where his future lies...

I want a DM... that shouldn't be too hard to ask... but none of our managers seem to like to play with one or they want to convert a player... Seeing Carvalho going to West Ham is fricking depressing...

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How can Can not learn that position?

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He doesn't have the discipline.

I agree we need a DM and have needed one for a while. A real good DM would go a long way into protecting that weak arse back 4.

Anybody hear ever see the British TV Show 'Black Mirror'? Did you see the 'White Christmas' episode (with Jon Hamm)?

That's me with Coutinho. I have him 'blocked'.

Game day boys!

Its a big one - hoping we play hard, get an away goal (or 3!), and stay healthy.

Our biggest game in a couple of years, maybe longer.

As for VVD - I don't doubt that they would prefer to not sell to us (and rather to Chelsea) but there's likely a dollar amount difference in that preference and these leaks may be trying to exploit that. If Chelsea offers 55m and we offer 70m, they may feel that they can go with us. But all things being equal, they won't accept our bid.

I'll stand by earlier comments about FSG and the people they employ - but one my foundational beliefs about incompetence is that when someone/something is incompetent, it'll be apparent over and over because they can't hid that fact.