Yes, I remember reading that article at the time Suffolk and it has been a very curious situation. We paid around £3m for Sitti, but he's never made the breakthrough his technical abilities would suggest. Partly it's because the squad has moved on so rapidly with players like Leitner, Trybull and Stieperman falling behind the pace and Sitti is the latest to be overtaken by that.
It certainly has the desired criteria of at least 2 players at every position and in 6 of those it's at least 3 and even more impressive is the quality in depth, as the Bournemouth game showed. We're at last building match fitness as well and let's hope for no injuries from international duties as we could have 14 players called up by their countries. Times certainly have moved on!
More even, when you consider some players can play (to an extent) in more than one position. Cantwell, Tzolis, Rashica, Dowell can all play left, right or CAM. Sargent can play left or right as well as up top. Mclean and Gilmour, whilst not as good, could drop deep if we needed. All the RBs can play LB as well as Sørensen. We have plenty of options. I'm just gutted we have to wait ages for the next game now!
Yes, it was a bit too complicated taking in the 'can also play at...' factors, but some of those could be very important. Sargent's ability to play WR, for example, could be a key factor given his Buendia like defensive skills, which Cantwell lacks much of the time. That Placheta has had a go at playing WB is also intriguing and Bali Mumba's versatility is also impressive. As Paddy Davitt points out, the new players give "Farke the chance of real tactical flexibility to his base formation he could only dream about two seasons ago." That could be the real success of this window's dealings.
I see your concern that Normann might see himself more as a box-to-boxer. It could get crowded at the front. We'll have wait and see.
I don't think this has posted before. It's a long but interesting write-up about why Pool didn't keep Kabak. https://www.liverpool.com/liverpool.../liverpool-ozan-kabak-transfer-price-21057850
Doom Goblin and Doom Elf will have to accept that Webber and his team have done the best they can with the finances of the club. We have a much, stronger quad than last time with minimal risk. It may still take time to gel, but with the addition of a DM, Gibson has chance to play in his proper position. Sorenson also has someone to learn off and challenge. Each position has genuine competition. I remember Webber at the beginning of the transfer window talking about the financial impact of covid on European football and how we would try and use that to our advantage to punch above our weight and I think we have. Farke - over to you to use this team and break the upward swing of the Yoyo P.S. I wonder if there is a youth international out there we will sign and loan straight back to their club if they are cash strapped before the end of the window
I'm more than satisfied with our recruitment no doom from me. If I'm being ultra picky I'm not sure our striker options will be enough to trouble many teams at this level, but Premier league quality strikers don't go for less than £20m with enormous wages. No thanks . The attacking midfielders will have to chip Inn with some goals and maybe a few from other areas . I'm quietly confident there will be 3 ****ter sides than us and we certainly won't panic and change managers if things get bumpy...
Window closed for us, thankfully. Really closes at 6am tomorrow for me so I now will not have to wait up all night to find out what is happening. Mind you, if I wake up tomorrow morning and find we have sold Max or Todd it will be less pleasing. But I can't see SW sanctioning a move short of an exceptional offer.
As much as I rate Cantwell, given the incomings, I think we could deal with losing him now. Not so much with Aarons. Lose him and we'll regret it I think.
Agree that we can afford to loose Cantwell with little / no impact on squad. Of the 2 I would definately prefer to loose Cantwell
Agreed, we must keep Aarons but Todd, if we got a sumptuous offer for him could go as I think our options in that position are more flexible and varied.
Well the club all hope Idah is that player (or Sargent) but I really want Idah to have a breakthrough season and really push Pukki and preferably rip the starting berth out of his hands
This will be a very key element. Two years ago we had Pukki encountering the PL for the first time with only Drmic and a very young Idah for competition. Both Sargent and a more experienced Idah will now provide real competition up front. Those two can also play on the flanks, allowing us to play two strikers without changing the formation and that could also make a big difference on the goal front.
As per my earlier post, I agree about that. But to pursue the military analogy, the charge of the Light Brigade at Balaclava was not a disaster for want of stronger horses or sharper sabres. It was tactical madness on the part of those conducting the battle...........
