Summer Transfer Window 2017

[BlueToff]

It's a fair point. Teams can push up and squeeze play much more effectively when they aren't worried about a ball played in behind them - believe it or not, it's not the goals from Lukaku that I worry about losing (I think we'll spread those round with much less of an issue than many think), it's the pace and threat of being able to score on the break with a relatively innocuous ball played over the top or in behind. Bolasie's injury exacerbates the problem as he also gave us that option. Sandro is fairly quick, but not blisteringly quick, I do think a Demarai Gray or (whisper it quietly) Theo Walcott would be a big plus for us. Not being addressed this window though, it seems. We'll have to rely on Sandro and wait for Bolasie's return

I've stated my points about Gray above. I'd like him here but at the same time I think Lookman is a very similar player.

But yeh, I'd take Walcott too. I don't think we've got a chance of signing two players from Arsenal, though!

 

[beachy]

One issue we have that I will keep banging on about until we address it is left back.

I don't subscribe to the theory that Baines is done, in fact I think if we see Sigurdsson or Rooney playing in a kind of free role on the left of a front three, it will give Baines a new lease of life. Also Giroud would finally give him a proper target for his crosses that he hasn't had since Cahill and Fellaini. Further to that, as Eggs said earlier, he's at his best when linking with like-minded players because his passing and movement has always been good - Klaassen, Sigurdsson and Rooney should all help Baines this year.

But...

Baines is 33 in December and in a system where the only real width is coming from the full backs, I think it's absolutely crazy to be relying on him to be playing 50+ games. It's all well and good saying that the centre back that Koeman wants to sign will be comfortable at left back too, but I defy you to name me a single player at the top level who is a centre back but is also effective as an attacking full back in the final 3rd. I think it's mental. We've signed Martina to cover for Coleman as a natural right back, whilst having Kenny and (admittedly square peg in round hole) Holgate already, but we aren't planning to have similar cover for Baines.

Don't get it.

At worst we should be signing a stop-gap left back to give us the required cover, but ideally a left back in the Chilwell/Tierney/Shaw class and age bracket to push Baines and eventually take over from him in the next 12-18 months

Callum Connolly says hi.

 

[madden95]

I'd say three signings (which is what Ron has said as well).

- Playmaker (Gylfi)
- Striker (Giroud seems to be target no.1)
- CB/LB utility player

In an ideal world, yeh we'd add another forward player in with a bit more pace, but I'd rather see Lookman play first rather than us go and spend another £20m+ on Gray.

Yeah agree would like too see lookman get a go but he is young. gray seems slightly ahead in development at the minute. hopefully bolasie comes back firing.

 

[Hangleton]

It's a fair point. Teams can push up and squeeze play much more effectively when they aren't worried about a ball played in behind them - believe it or not, it's not the goals from Lukaku that I worry about losing (I think we'll spread those round with much less of an issue than many think), it's the pace and threat of being able to score on the break with a relatively innocuous ball played over the top or in behind. Bolasie's injury exacerbates the problem as he also gave us that option. Sandro is fairly quick, but not blisteringly quick, I do think a Demarai Gray or (whisper it quietly) Theo Walcott would be a big plus for us. Not being addressed this window though, it seems. We'll have to rely on Sandro and wait for Bolasie's return

Chelsea won the league last season without too much pace - Spurs finished second without much pace (Walker aside) hopefully our football throughout the team will have improved significantly enough to make pace a non issue.

 

[Brisan123]

The Pope wanted to see his files on promising youngsters or something...

Close the internet
Tommy wins it for the day

 

[Thomasc]

I know they say a domino effect will kick once a couple of moves happen, so lets see.

On the whole, as it stands, I am OK for now with the attack, though we obviously need 1 more in and that could do with being a very good, ready to go, straight into the first XI striker, as we cannot rely on Rooney all season IMO. No last minute Enner Valencia type deals, that would just depress everybody again.

The midfield is pretty sound if Gylfi comes in for Ross, still think McCarthy will go though and possibly Besic out on loan or sold as well as obviously Barkley, though would prefer the latter to stay and give us another option on the right hand side of attack.

The defence is still very much open to question. Williams looked very shaky last week, so if we are relying on him and an ageing Jags to be partner for Keane, then that does not really show much progression. Mori getting injured just about sums his Everton career up thus far and at a loss as to even keep him or not when fit.

The full backs - Baines is OK but getting older and isn't going to play every game and with talk of Connolly going out, Garbutt completely spent it seems, Galloway gone on loan then we surely need some more cover there or somebody with a view to being Baines successor.

As for right back, we need Seamus back ASAP, he is one of the best if not the best right back in the league, until then lets see what Koeman does with the tools he has at his disposal, with Kenny, Holgate and Cuco.

 

[BlueToff]

why arent we in for Ineacho?

a) he's not that good

b) he's not the type of striker we want

c) City want a buy-back clause

 

[toffeeblue9]

Callum Connolly says hi.

He's a right-footed player who is more comfortable at right back, but has played more football at left back because of Kenny and others who were only comfortable on the right

Plus Koeman relegated him back to training with the U23s (along with Dowell) last week and there's rumours that he has been discussed as part of the Sigurdsson deal in some form

Put those together and I don't think Koeman sees him as 2nd choice left back - reckon we'd see Barry or Martina there before Connolly gets a game

 

[davek]

Neymar will be a PSG player sooner rather than later.

That's going to blow this window wide open.

For one, Coutinho will almost certainly be a Barca player by September and Liverpool will likely spend that money on VVD, but it leaves a big gulf for them to fill.

Secondly, it probably stems any stories of Sanchez going to PSG, which indicates that really, there's only teams in the Premier League that he would move to... And if Arsenal refuse to sell...

#WelcomeOlivier

I dont think Coutinho will be missed that much, and I'm a big admirer of his play. Lallana was still Liverpool's most innovative player last season and Solanka will slot into a creative role too. The addition of more pace with Salah is also ominous.

I still expect them to bring in a top European slotter.

They'll have less onfield gelling/rebuilding to do this season and look a more settled unit. They should grab another top four spot

 

[toffeeblue9]

Chelsea won the league last season without too much pace - Spurs finished second without much pace (Walker aside) hopefully our football throughout the team will have improved significantly enough to make pace a non issue.

Yeah, you don't need pace, but it's certainly helpful

 

[BlueToff]

I dont think Coutinho will be missed that much, and I'm a big admirer of his play. Lallana was still Liverpool's most innovative player last season and Solanka will slot into a creative role too. The addition of more pace with Salah is also ominous.

I still expect them to bring in a top European slotter.

They'll have less onfield gelling/rebuilding to do this season and look a more settled unit. They should grab another top four spot

Solanke isn't creative at all Dave.

They'll miss Coutinho if Klopp was building his entire team around him. I agree though, if he has a modicum of sense he will just change their style a bit.

We'll see on that.

I'm 99% certain they haven't got the money they think they have. Certainly not enough to spend £150m on two players - even with selling Coutinho - imo.

Aubameyang would be the only one they could reasonably attract though and of course if they did get him it'd be ominous.

 

[BlueToff]

Yeah, you don't need pace, but it's certainly helpful

We do have it though.

Koeman messed up last week by playing a CF out wide rather than just putting Lookman there from the off, imo.

 

[Foot Long Hot Dog]

I dont think Coutinho will be missed that much, and I'm a big admirer of his play. Lallana was still Liverpool's most innovative player last season and Solanka will slot into a creative role too. The addition of more pace with Salah is also ominous.

I still expect them to bring in a top European slotter.

They'll have less onfield gelling/rebuilding to do this season and look a more settled unit. They should grab another top four spot

Coutinho is a match winner for them, and bagged 13 goals last season, he can be relatively quiet for long periods but then ping one in the top corner out of nothing, he's also key to the movement of their wide attacking players as he creates space and plays off them. Solanke isn't a creative player.

Their window has so far been a complete car crash. With them botching their approach for VvD and being blanked over Keita.

They're playing well in pre season, but they did exactly the same last year, and were out on their feet by Christmas due to Klopp running them into the floor. That was without European football, and so I fully expect them to start like a train and derail before the leaves have fallen #standard.

 

[davek]

Solanke isn't creative at all Dave.

They'll miss Coutinho if Klopp was building his entire team around him. I agree though, if he has a modicum of sense he will just change their style a bit.

We'll see on that.

I'm 99% certain they haven't got the money they think they have. Certainly not enough to spend £150m on two players - even with selling Coutinho - imo.

Aubameyang would be the only one they could reasonably attract though and of course if they did get him it'd be ominous.

It's how he'll be used at Liverpool: playing just behind an out and out striker. He can create.

 

[davek]

Coutinho is a match winner for them, and bagged 13 goals last season, he can be relatively quiet for long periods but then ping one in the top corner out of nothing, he's also key to the movement of their wide attacking players as he creates space and plays off them. Solanke isn't a creative player.

Their window has so far been a complete car crash. With them botching their approach for VvD and being blanked over Keita.

They're playing well in pre season, but they did exactly the same last year, and were out on their feet by Christmas due to Klopp running them into the floor. That was without European football, and so I fully expect them to start like a train and derail before the leaves have fallen #standard.

...erm, they "derailed" into 4th spot and the CL.