Some good loan players may become available in January? Cahill at Chelsea? Need some characters around, been missing for a number of years.
I expected a heavy defeat today, so in some ways I am pleased it wasn’t worse than 3-0. Positives for me were, as I said before, the attacking intent of Redmond, Targett, and Højbjerg. However, I would be happy never to see Wesley Hoedt playing for Saints again, and Lemina is only safe when accompanied by both Romeu and Højbjerg. If he has the ball too much, he will inevitably gift the opposition the ball in our half. Redmond playing on the right worked fine with Targett on the left but Bertrand really missed having someone to work with once Matty went off. Above all, though, we need a leader in defence, as there is no organisation there. Zonal marking just isn’t working, and we are being undone almost at will with every set piece. Bednarek is obviously one for the future, but we desperately need Yoshida to replace Hoedt for now.
All of the above. Missed Ings (obviously), and Mo El. IMO we aren't THAT bad. Liverpool will win the league this year. And maybe the Champions League. It really is their year IMO.
Regarding our defensive frailties, I did raise concerns over Hughes ability to improve us, in that department, in the past. I based my opinion on the way Stoke’s very strong, resilient and organised defence became increasingly weaker, less resilient and less well organised, over the seasons following the departure of Pulis. I had a debate with my Stoke mate, regarding this two seasons ago, so it is a concern for me that he won’t know how to fix it. However, in Hughes’ defence (no not that one), he had no say in the signing of Hoedt, as he was already here, and how much say did he have in the signing of Vestergaard. The question remains. How poor are Stephens, Yoshida and Bednarek, in training, that Hoedt is picked over all of them. Or, as FLT, has already suggested, reference Yoshida, is it a Hughes personality thing?
Were Hoedt and Lemina solely black box recruitments or did Pellegrino have any input into their signing for us?...
Liverpool are away to Chelsea next Saturday, and home to City on 6th October. Those games will give us a clue as to whether they are up to it. They do look scarily good, but so do Chelsea and City.
If Sparky selects Hoedt and Lemina to start in the next match I will have to begin to question his judgement a bit.
Not so sure about Chelsea, think they will end up pretty far behind City and Liverpool. Hoping City can do it again
I would like Liverpool to win it , just to make a change . Not happy with some previous transfers obviously and the attitude of some former players , but that’s who I would like to win the PL this year .
