I will reserve judgement until the window has closed and Pedro has played half a dozen games. I was very happy when it looked like we were getting him but have had other thoughts since. LvG has suggested he lost interest in him (who knows if true) but then the only other team that did show interest was Chelsea, at the price quoted I would have expected quite a few bidders.
You say that more would be interested but when you look at his record and trophy list he was never going to go to anyone and he could pick who he wants to go to. Alot of teams wouldn't interest him and of the ones that would there are players in the position he plays in.
Who knows but I saw enough to say he's fully fit and ready to go and worse exactly what Utd needed. If Utd can produce better without spending 10mil on bale fine but I think it's a huge error of judgement I think the true story is Utd got wind the player had another suitor and they made up the we pulled out **** to save face. That's what I think and I reckon he's on a freaking shed load of cash and that's why early links to lfc and arsenal were never on.
Can't see that happening Of course he is fully fit, he has just done a complete pre-season with Barca and played 3 cup games in just over a week. If it turns out we are not In for anybody else and he continues the form he had at Barca I will be royally pissed.
He will.... He will rip up the midtable clubs by the look of it. Moto did a piece with him and Willian and honestly.... I didn't expect him to improve them but he looked after a week like he played there for 5 years... can only get better. Pedro hazard Willian. ... if they put pogba beside matic.... hmmmm scary ****
I don't agree on the Ibe / Lallana stuff, I think neither deserve to retain the shirt but I'm sure at least one of them will. I've already said the team against Arsenal needs to be compact, tight and hard working, not sure where Ibe fits in to that when Coutinho and Benteke are going to be picked ahead of him. I don't particularly want to see Lallana playing but I think he will and his grafting will help. We need to push their FBs back somehow too though and Lallana won't do that, Ibe would. Maybe we'll all get a surprise and we'll switch things around and play both Can and Firmino... Migs Clyne - Skrtel - Lovren - Gomez Can Milner - - - - - Hendo Coutinho Benteke - Firmino
I understand Gez's point to some extent but we must also apply context to the performances. As MITO says, Lallana and Ibe have both struggled this season and both should not be starting - but one is more experienced and in the 'prime' of this careers, and the other is 19 years old. Lallana really has no excuses and his price tag does need to come into question - not necessarily to judge him on, but more of an indictment on the recruitment process. For £25m, we should have got someone who is far better. Now, the same applies to Markovic - for £20m, we should have got someone who was able to contribute a lot more than he has. However, he is only 20, moving to a new country and adapting to a new league. His potential is off the charts - ask/read coach/scout reports and this guy is highly rated. We bought potential.
I've no issue with that team. I just think firmino has not been ready to play and thats why at least one of the two aforementioned have been playing. That would be my team and it was day one when i said this is our best 11. the only difference i had was making it a 433 with fimrino right and coutinho left. I think this 11 is head and shoulders our best 11 and that included sahko and moreno
Never good to have a player injured but it does mean that Firmino probably starts in place of him and that means no headless chicken running around the pitch. A front 3 of Coutinho, Bentekkers and Firmino gets me excited lets hope it goes well and Rodgers sticks with it.
