Very similar situation with us and Robertson where the scouting team were very keen but Klopp was ambivalent but signed off the transfer and that turned out not too bad .
I’m glad the club are signing players for the long term. Only worry is the amount of game time he will get under Conte. It’s looking like he will be battling with at least 2 other players for 1 spot.
I can definitely see one leaving. Possibly both if Lucas is permanently converted to a RWB. Emerson ain’t a RWB and Doherty has had one good month in two years at the club. Pushing Lucas deeper appeals to me too. Not only do I think he has good attributes for the role but also makes it easier to accommodate another wing forward or an attacking mid who can shift out wide.
Robbo didn't really have that problem as the encumbent LB was Moreno who while a good fella was the most brainless footballer i ever had the misfortune to witness . I always compared watching him play to watching a golden retriever chasing a balloon round a field .
I’d rather watch a golden retriever chase a balloon round the pitch than see Harry Winks try kicking a football.
The Torygraph claim that Leicester need to sell to buy How does £10m for all those penalties Jamie Vardy cons out of officials every season sound?
I would be happy with Barnes and/or Maddison. Both HG, Barnes didn't have a great season with injuries but the season before looked a real handful. End of the season Maddison was the most inform CAM in the league. Not only can he create and pick a pass he can also score.
A year ago Tielemans would've been a gimme, but now we have Bentancur playing in the same role he's not as necessary Would've been bloody necessary in 2019 when Hitchen alerted Poch to his availability, mind...
Doherty not only bought into Conte's plans, he adapted his game and implemented it well. Personally, I would keep. (Could never imagine me saying that before March!)
I really rated Tielemans, however a few times last season it looked like he completely downed tools. I think it was against Forest he lost the ball and made no effort to track back. Not sure how he would be the right fit for Conte.
I read an interview where he said he wanted CL football but over the summer reports say he wants to go to Arsenal...just seems hell bent on leaving Leicester tbh. Would rather we get players who actually want to play for Conte
This feels similar to when people were saying look how good Winks was against Real Madrid and Barcelona when trying to mask over his countless poor games. Can't allow smaller positives to overshadow much larger negatives. And it also has to be said, look at the teams Doherty played well against in his purple patch: Leeds - relegation candidate Everton - relegation candidate Utd - poorest Utd side in yonks, lost that game too Brighton - decent side West Ham - rival, good time to be good Newcastle - relegation candidate Villa - just above relegation candidate, injured early on
I would keep Doherty, not only was he won of our better players before he got injured. He also seems really popular amongst the squad. Emerson will never be the RWB Conte wants him to be. Spence has lots of talent but he has very little end product, happy to see Doherty be the first choice and playing Spence in cup games until his final delivery improves.
This is the point, he absolutely got the system that Conte wants to play. He has to be given the opportunity to see if he can continue this form going into the new season
Tielemans is a good player but I feel we need a more attacking creative type wether that be a number 10 or a wide forward. Regarding Doherty I would definitely keep, yes it took him an age to get going, he was shocking for ages but it finally looked like it had clicked with him and he was understanding Contes requirements for a WB. His fitness improved and he was getting goals and assists before that il fated Villa game.
