He had three injuries last year that were a week or longer in duration, one lasting six weeks. I didn't see detailed information listing when/how much but in youth team apparently was out a lot too.
There's been too much smoke for there not to be anything going on... the links with him have to be legit- who the real front runner is and whether we really do sign him is still a mystery at this point, as you say, it could be contingent on fabs leaving.
Thing is, with the loss of Hendo and Millie we're short of utility players to fill in positions when people are out with niggly injuries. If the DM is out, even if only for a couple of games, we're going to struggle a bit. Trent can go in midfield or RB, but I really don't see him as a DM like some seem to be suggesting. I don't think he has the discipline to hold the position.
This is part of the reason i feel Henderson was a bigger loss than Fabinho as fab was useful for one position but only one where as Henderson could "do a job" in any number . Second reason was Fab is going for £40m which is enough or at least nearly to replace him but the £12m for Henderson would only cover a kid or someone who has looked decent at a lower level .
Hendo wanted to go as would be but part players and getting great wages. Can’t have your captain wanting to leave, saying no and not expecting that to cause issues.
Given performances last year hard to say. Neither covered themselves in glory. £52m plus 340-400k a week in wages saved for a 29 and 33 year old whose form were declining is decent going.
Totally agree with everyone above there. Letting him go was the right decision, but as you say, it's the utility of the players that will be missed. Supposedly both our new midfielders are very versatile though.. and even several of our frontline can play midfield (not optimally)- TAA is definitely backup for DM (if not starting there). In my mind it's RB that is the issue... sure we've got Gomez (bad there); Tsimi can cover both sides (but not sure how good he is at RB); there's Bradley (again, not sure how good he is). We've got emergency-cover for RB, but no-one who is an obvious cover there now... especially if TAA is going to be more midfield.
Transfer window hasn’t shut yet. He also only covered 1 area in midfield so not like he filled in lots diff roles
Macca is more a like for like replacement for Hendo than of the other outgoing players imo; mainly plays B2B but can do a job at DM too. I know we didn't buy him to replace Hendo but it we get a DM to replace Fabinho then the same option as before is there still
I could also play all those positions.,. Doesn’t mean I do them well. He couldn’t play his actual position last year very well, let alone play him in any others
now, last year we finished 5th. let's be clear we were fairly poor and struggled to get about the park. fabinho put in 36 games, Henderson 35 and Elliott 32. thiago only delivered 18 and ox 9 and keita 8. milner gave us 31, most as sub. I would contend we never looked right in terms of shape, fitness or willingness to put a foot in. we actually ended the season with Jones who gave us 18 games and a run at the end. if we play this 3223 stuff again then 2 cms are sent miles up the park. 1. thiago is totally unsuited to playing advanced. he could sit on the bench and play 6 on occasion, no worse than sending milner on. IF he stays. 2. Szoboszlai replaces Henderson and frankly I thought Henderson was bang average. as the advance player so happy there. 3. we have Elliott and Jones to play advanced. ox is no loss there. 4. fabinho is the loss but he was absolutely shot through so if if we just have macallister play for him that imo is OK. if we buy then great. honestly we've lost very little here until fabinho goes imo. the player we would miss most is milner as he actually injected life into the side at time and that says it all. shocking.
Fabinho medical apparently done. Just formalities to go. Again another brilliant player and a key cog. For 1/2 years was arguably beat DM around. People will always talk about mascherano Alonso gerrard as our best midfield and individually think spot on. But in terms of output and important, that 3 of Gini fab Hendo went under the radar and were as important as anyone else
