comment by פlǝuƃɥᴉs (U19365)
posted about 5 hours ago
comment by Happy Pranks 2021 FF JA LFC Champion(U22336)
posted 2 hours, 14 minutes ago
https://gaming.uefa.com/en/uefaeuro2020fantasyfootball/create-team

This looks to be it.
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Anybody made a league yet?
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Crack on lad

The Netherlands have always played a pressing style at international level. Argentine under Bielsa played this way, Spain under Aragones and Germany in the last 13 years.

England have a buffoon as a manager who doesn't have a clue about tactics, movement drills or pressing drills. The guy is basically a joke, a clown and the sooner they get rid of him the better.

The 5 at the back which he plays doesnt have a numerical advantage in the centre of the pitch as his wing backs play more defensively. He would play 2 in the centre which means his team would be dominated in midfield. The Netherlands are an average team and they still dominated England in midfield.

The clown doesn't coach attacking paterns. Give it to Harry or Sterling and hope for the better.

When I watch Leeds I see the hand of the coach. Once the opposition midfield is beaten by the pass between the lines you see that's the trigger for their wide players to make inside runs.

If Trent is not selected I hope he loses all the games.

Mane Man how come the Dutch did not call up Botman for the Euros?

Comment deleted by Site Moderator

I don't think playing 3 at the back is the problem. It's arguably the best selection given the CB options.

Maguire got a £80m move based on his performances in a back 3...that's why he's been iffy for Utd.

It's the style of play that's underwhelming. At the world cup, it was definitely the right call given the state of the team but there should definitely be some progression by now however it seems Southgate is sticking with what worked, which will ultimately be his downfall. How many times it's been proven that if you stand still in football, you regress. Spain & Germany being the biggest teams in recent memory.

Godfrey---Stones---Maguire
is actually pretty good if the system works. Then Chilwell & Trent on either side. Again on paper looking like one of the best defences in Europe.

Is Henderson going to make the Euros? It's going to difficult to replace him in that midfield.

Comment deleted by Site Moderator

I genuinely think that's down to Kane massively bringing out the side of him that can link play in the final 3rd like he's prime David Silva (yes I know I'm exaggerating)

Moreno video is still cracking me up

Joyce as spoken. Konate expected to be done within the next 48hrs.

£36m fee is actually very good for us.

Widely reported the clause has been triggered now.

A back three probably is the best fit for our defenders, but the problem is we don't want to play to our defenders strengths when they are not as good as what our attacking players are. Our attacking players could threaten the life out of most every team at the Euro's, whereas I think even with our strongest defensive structure out, teams would still feel encouraged to beat it.

Unfortunately in some ways, we are stuck between making our defence as strong as possible whilst supplementing our attacking players. But I'd certainly go for the attacking players and aim to win games rather than making games tighter and hoping our quality comes through in the final third.

I've heard the word balance used and whilst that is true, the way we set up will also impact the way the opposition sets up as well and with all of our attacking players being as good as they are with the ball and without it, I think teams would prefer to contain our threat rather than attack our vulnerability. Playing in the way that most top sides usually do.

From the Athletic today...

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Signing an elite centre-back has long since been the priority for Liverpool this summer.

It’s the area of Jurgen Klopp’s squad that most desperately needs reinforcing after a season blighted by a defensive injury crisis.

The Athletic revealed in March that Liverpool were planning to sign RB Leipzig’s Ibrahima Konate and, barring any late hitches, the France Under-21 international will become their first arrival of the summer window.

Liverpool are prepared to trigger his release clause of £35 million, which has to be paid in one lump sum rather than instalments. The Bundesliga club are resigned to losing Konate, who has attracted interest from across Europe.

Klopp views the 22-year-old as having all the qualities required to compete for the right to partner Vigil van Dijk at the heart of his back four. At 6ft 4in, he’s aerially dominant but also comfortable with the ball at his feet. His pace is ideally suited to Liverpool’s high-line style.

Liverpool also considered the merits of Villarreal’s Pau Torres and Duje Caleta-Car of Marseille but view Konate, who has made nearly 100 appearances for Leipzig in all competitions since arriving from French side Sochaux in 2017, as the more complete package with the greater long-term potential.

Any concerns about Konate’s injury record have already been alleviated by medical tests. He’s currently fully fit and preparing to face Holland in the quarter-finals of the Under-21 European Championship on Monday.

Liverpool will certainly be better stocked in the centre-back department than they were a year ago, when the decision not to replace Dejan Lovren following his departure to Zenit Saint Peterburg backfired.

Van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip all then suffered serious injuries, which limited them to just 22 league appearances combined in 2020-21.

That trio are on course to return to the fold during different stages of pre-season, with Gomez the most advanced in terms of his rehabilitation. Klopp’s squad are due to report back for training on Monday, July 12 — the day after the European Championship final.

van-dijk
Van Dijk’s return will be a huge boost to Liverpool next season (Photo: Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Liverpool’s outstanding form in the final two months of the season — they took 26 points out of the last 30 on offer to finish third in the Premier League — was partly inspired by Fabinho’s return to his usual holding midfield role. There’s a determination to ensure they have sufficient depth in future so he’s not required to play as a makeshift centre-back again in 2021-22.

Ozan Kabak moved out of his house in Formby on Monday and said his goodbyes, after being informed Liverpool won’t trigger their option to buy him for £18 million following the end of his loan spell from German club Schalke.

The Turkey international was a stop-gap solution after arriving on deadline day at the end of the winter window.

He performed well after a difficult start and hoped he had done enough to earn a permanent move to Anfield. However, the decision to pursue Konate – coupled with the progress made by Nathaniel Phillips and Rhys Williams – meant committing the funds required to keep Kabak wouldn’t have made sense.

Ben Davies didn’t play a single minute after his move from Championship club Preston North End for an initial fee of £500,000 midway through the season. The 25-year-old defender has been told that Klopp sees parallels with how Andrew Robertson needed months to adjust to the team’s style of play when he arrived from Hull City in the summer of 2017.

Liverpool aren’t currently looking to off-load Davies, who will be assessed along with Phillips and Williams in pre-season before decisions on their futures are made. Much will depend on what kind of shape Van Dijk, Gomez and Matip are in, and whether they are properly fit to start the new campaign when it kicks off on August 14.

Phillips and Williams considerably enhanced their reputations with their form over the run-in, when Kabak and Davies were both injured.

Whether Liverpool need to sign a back-up goalkeeper this summer will hinge on whether Adrian decides to sign a new contract.

The club are keen to retain the services of the popular Spaniard, whose current deal expires at the end of next month. Adrian, who has offers to return to his homeland, is considering his options and talks are ongoing.

Caoimhin Kelleher climbed above Adrian in the pecking order over the course of this season, and the 22-year-old will be rewarded with a new contract in the coming months to reflects his status as the club’s No 2.

A new deal for first-choice keeper Alisson will also be a priority for sporting director Michael Edwards when the Brazilian returns to Merseyside after playing for his country in the Copa America this summer. His stock has never been higher and Liverpool want to ensure he’s tied down long beyond the end of his current contract in summer 2024, and on improved terms.

Contract extensions were on hold during the pandemic as the financial impact took its toll but those matters will start to be addressed later this summer. Jordan Henderson, Van Dijk, Roberto Firmino, Fabinho, Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane all have two years remaining on their deals.

In terms of his full-backs, Klopp is content with Kostas Tsimikas and Neco Williams as back-ups for Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Tsimikas has endured a difficult first season following his £11.75 million move from Olympiakos as he struggled for both form and fitness. However, there’s a belief he will be better equipped to ease the burden on Robertson in 2021-22. The Scotland captain started all 38 Premier League games this season, with Tsimikas making just two brief substitute appearances in the top flight. Klopp also has James Milner and Gomez, who can both play full-back if required.

It remains to be seen how Klopp will fill the void created by Georginio Wijnaldum’s emotional exit following the expiration of his contract. Like Robertson, Wijnaldum didn’t miss a league game all season and Klopp’s warm tribute to the Dutch midfielder underlined how much he is going to be missed, on and off the field.

Senior Anfield sources have indicated that signing a replacement for Wijnaldum is not regarded as a necessity. They point to Henderson’s imminent return to fitness and the fact that academy graduate Curtis Jones is expected to have a bigger role in 2021-22.

Thiago also belatedly flourished after a tough start in English football following his summer move from Bayern Munich and should be more influential next season. Klopp has already declared that he intends to keep faith with Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. Despite ongoing speculation, The Athletic understands that Brighton & Hove Albion’s Yves Bissouma is not a target.

Further new arrivals after the expected signing of Konate will be influenced by how much is generated from player sales.

Another attacker will be required if, as expected, Divock Origi and Xherdan Shaqiri depart. There’s also a decision to be made on the future of Takumi Minamino, whose half-season loan at Southampton petered out after a bright start.

Origi’s place in Anfield folklore is secure given the iconic moments he’s given supporters over the years but he needs to pursue a new challenge after scoring just once in 17 appearances in 2020-21. The Belgium international, who has previously attracted interest from Wolverhampton Wanderers, is valued at around £20 million.

Sporting director Edwards has a reputation for negotiating bumper fees for unwanted fringe players but the financial impact of COVID-19 will make that more difficult this summer.

Liverpool will listen to offers for Harry Wilson and Marko Grujic following the completion of their loans at Cardiff City and Porto respectively. They are each valued at around £15 million.

Loris Karius, Sheyi Ojo, Ben Woodburn, Liam Millar and Taiwo Awoniyi could also be sold.

Awoniyi is the most valuable of that quintet after recently being granted a UK work permit. The 23-year-old striker has spent the past six years out on loan at a number of clubs across Europe, most recently Union Berlin. Fulham, West Bromwich Albion and Stoke City have already shown interest in the Nigerian. Liverpool would sell for around £8 million.

Liverpool don’t envisage any more high-profile exits. Klopp is planning for next season with Mane and Salah both still on board. Talk of trying to prise either Kylian Mbappe away from Paris Saint-Germain or Jadon Sancho from Borussia Dortmund has been dismissed by senior club sources.

Klopp’s attack will be bolstered in pre-season by the return of Harvey Elliott. The teenager enjoyed a highly productive season-long loan at Blackburn Rovers in the Championship, where he scored seven goals and registered 11 assists.

Elliott will get opportunities in the warm-up matches in July when the squad will be depleted by players being granted three weeks off following their commitments at the Euros and Copa America. He is determined to use that time to convince Klopp that he can help Liverpool challenge for glory in 2021-22 rather than be loaned out again.

With key personnel returning from long-term injuries and belief restored after a morale-boosting end to the season, Klopp is largely content with what he’s got. “Little adjustments” was how he has described what’s required in the transfer market.

Once negotiations with Konate’s representatives are completed, the young Frenchman should be the first new face through the door.

A couple more are likely to follow him in, but it won’t be a busy summer regarding incomings at Liverpool.

100 appearances in 4 years. He'll fit right in

Transfermarkt says 95 for RBL

Looks like this season he was injured up until Feb and just never got in the team afterwards. I guess King Julian didn't want to disrupt the team in a pivotal part of the season though.

Basically what we've been saying regarding the rest of the squad.

Depends on the departures. We're pretty stacked if you think about it. Too many injury prone players though.

So we still plan to keep Ben Davies

I think Davies and/or Phillips will be kept for emergencies only probably up until January or next summer at the very latest. Providing all goes well with Van Djik, Gomez, Matip and Konate.

Melissa Reddy on the other hand says that Ben Davies is unlikely to remain on Merseyside.

I really don’t know whether to believe Pearce anymore at all, a lot of what he says turns out to complete horseshit. He’s also saying we have zero interest in signing Bissouma. Again, I don’t believe that at all.

Melissa is more hooked up than James tbf.

Joyce & Melissa are your only go-to people for the inside scoop.

Melissa has a direct line to Klopp

The Athletic is pretty good, especially when it comes to ITK stuff.

Not Pearce though. Most of the stuff in his article has been paper talk for months.

comment by Alisson Becker, Liverpool's Number 9 (U3979)
posted less than a minute ago
The Athletic is pretty good, especially when it comes to ITK stuff.
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Ornstein maybe. The rest are guess work merchants

comment by (K̇ash) I'm the Mané - Free Palestine 🇵🇸 (U1108)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by Alisson Becker, Liverpool's Number 9 (U3979)
posted less than a minute ago
The Athletic is pretty good, especially when it comes to ITK stuff.
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Ornstein maybe. The rest are guess work merchants
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They broke Konate in the first place if I remember rightly.