Apparently Renato Sanches is off to Liverpool

We're overstacked in midfield already.

If anything we could do with a forward to cover during the AFCON thingy.

comment by Jadon The King Sancho (U10026)
posted 28 minutes ago
comment by Tiddles (U17634)
posted 8 minutes ago
Yeah i think that will happen. They also want Moriba from Barca too apparently.

But even just Lukaku, that’s the winner imo. People often judge the most successful window on how many good signings are made, but often that’s a detriment. Getting one player that solves the biggest hole in your squad can have a bigger impact than what Villa have done.
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Yeah can be the case. Chelsea last season vs City as another example. Everyone said Chelsea had the best transfer window but they ended being worse.
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FA cup runners up Champions league winners and top four, i think we did ok

and thats without a solid goalscorer, KTBFFH

comment by Sir Bob's Back......For this week at least (U3823)
posted 1 hour, 29 minutes ago

We're overstacked in midfield already.

If anything we could do with a forward to cover during the AFCON thingy.

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Yeah numbers v quality tho

And injury prone numbers at that

No, overstacked with quality players, and other than Keita and ox none are really injury prone.

your midfield contains

Fabinho - quality
Thiago - quality overseas, now over 30, questionable injury record and yet to prove in PL
Henderson - wrong side of 30 with injuries mounting and always has been a workhorse, not quality
Milner - 35, workhorse, not quality
Keita - sick note
AOC - Sick note
curtis Jones - kid, unproven
Harvey Elliot - see above

so you really think a midfield battery of one out and out proven PL star is overstocked with quality??

sure Thiago might prove himself here next year, and Henderson may avoid injuries and continue being the water carrier, but overstocked with quality?

pull. the. other. one.

Liverpool's midfield under Klopp has always been more functional than flare and that has been very effective.

Think letting Wijnaldum go was a mistake, he fitted that functional role very nicely and now the 1st choice is presumably Hendo/Fabinho/Thiago which is a bit of an uncertain line-up given their age/injuries/performances to date.

I like the look of Curtis Jones, looks very handy in the middle third of the pitch

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Comment deleted by Site Moderator

In terms of actual signings its United by quite a distance.

Overall however its difficult to say as we have been really poor in terms of getting rid of players. So many deadwood that simply needs shifting yet look like they are going to on the books for another year.

Villa and Leicesters signings look excellent especially if Leicester get Vestergaard for around 15m

I fell into the trap of thinking the Liverpool midfield was average too for a while. However, they were top class at what they were tasked to do to make the XI as good as possible. They protected the defence and allowed the full back to bomb forward.

We should really have learnt by now that football is all about chemistry and the collective.

That's why I don't have issues with Ole using players like McT and Fred in the midfield two. My only issue is that I don't think they're quite good enough on the ball. If they improve that aspect then who knows? We rarely lose when both play but we do draw too many games.

Probably Chelsea.

Definitely Chelsea

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No-one I don’t think. It’s the only position I thought they needed though, they’ve retained strength elsewhere. Some of the other teams I still think have gaps in their squads.

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comment by meltonblue (U10617)
posted 16 minutes ago
No-one I don’t think. It’s the only position I thought they needed though, they’ve retained strength elsewhere. Some of the other teams I still think have gaps in their squads.
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I think you could make a case for cb, particularly if they have plans of moving to a back four.

Their defence improved immensely once Tuchel came in, but it remains to be seen if Rudiger and Christensen have what it takes to perform at a level of consistency needed to win the league, and whether Azpi and Thiago Silva will still have it in their old legs to do the same.

Agree about United, I just think they’re still missing a midfielder.

Agree with you too Darren. Really looking forward to this season, it’s a shame most teams are going to be undercooked again from a lack of a preseason to begin with.

Having said that, they could probably do with more in attack than just a cf. Not sure they can rely on just Lukaku over 38 games, as the rest look so flakey.

Yeah should be a good season. I think City might have a slow start which should make things more interesting. With a few players out and some tough fixtures it seems unlikely City will just run away with it early doors.

I’m definitely expecting a slow start.

Chelsea, I’m expecting at least one of their front line to click more and contribute more goals this season. Wouldn’t be the surprise of the century if they didn’t but they created enough chances last season you’d think it would come eventually.

comment by meltonblue (U10617)
posted 29 seconds ago
I’m definitely expecting a slow start.

Chelsea, I’m expecting at least one of their front line to click more and contribute more goals this season. Wouldn’t be the surprise of the century if they didn’t but they created enough chances last season you’d think it would come eventually.
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Havertz was looking much sharper by the end of the season, even ignoring the CL final. So I'm expecting him to have a much better year. With Werner, it's just a case of if he gets into the team and if he can get a couple of early goals to boost his confidence. Mount will likely continue to improve too

I think they’ll get more goals, shouldn’t be hard they only scored 58 last season, but I think their attack is better on paper than it is on the pitch. They’ve all got room for improvement, but unless a few others really step up I’m not sure Lukaku will be enough to win the league.

Look at Liverpool with Mane and Firmino’s form dropping off massively. I know defence was a problem, but their reliance on Salah really killed them last season.

Chelsea’s defence under Tuchel is excellent so adding goals to clean sheets, even if it’s just another goal a game should have them right up there. Will be interesting to see if they get Kounde too.

Fabinho, Henderson and Thiago is as good a midfield as anywhere in Europe.