Should we have prioritised a CB signing over Thiago?

I’d argue at the time Jota was more of a luxury than Thiago, and less of an urgent need. We were missing something in the middle and Gini’s contract wasn’t sorted. And no one could have known our front 3 would be in such poor form. In an ideal world we’d have signed all 3 and really should have the funds to do so (or could’ve sold a few to bring in the funds).

 

I don't think we'd have had to splash a massive amount of money on a defender, we could or should have bought another defender as a back up option. Someone on relatively low wages, someone who would be happy to be in a rotational system. Lovren was a liability at times but **** me we're screaming for him right now.

I mean it doesn't take a genius to work out the past records on the injury front for Matip and Gomez to surmise that they were going to be fine health wise for a whole season. We should have known that they would break down at some point, but I just think that Klopp and co weren't expecting VVD to go down also, so possibly thought that if they did, they could juggle things around and maybe have a Fab/VVD partnership to get us through the worst.

What pisses me off, is the fact that we're in this situation, and nothing is even getting done about it to try limit the damage. Even a loan deal for a senior defender to fill a hole. We also could have offered that Arsenal defender who has just been released a short term contract to fill the hole, and it wouldn't cost us any transfer fees if it is coming down to lack of funds, even that isn't being considered.

 

I don't think so but we should never have let Lovren leave without having someone lined up to replace him.

 

imo, no.

But we should have found someone as per opinion above.

Tsimikas buy was needed (not that he's been fit)
we couldn't let a buy like thiago go. 5mil? thats a great up front deal
Jota? I would argue we have needed that for 2 years even though great fitness and a lit of luck carried us through (I would wonder what we could have won more like a cup or two on top if we had more options)

We did well in the summer.

Lovren left and Ki, we used the money to get a LB everyone wanted.

Could we have sold phillips for small money and tried to get another Klavan? maybe. Could we have sold grujic? maybe.

But did we get offers for these players? I am not sure. Not a lot of money out there it seems.

Anyway we don't know what the real story, but I am sure that if we could just get someone in now and keep matip ift we would improve as we go.

 

Thiago is the kind of player that was too good to pass up on. He's obviously our most talented midfielder. Didi's criticisms are just bizarre too. "He slows our play down" is a baffling critique given Wijnaldum takes 6 or 7 touches most of the time before moving the ball on. Thiago has also looked good in pretty much every appearance for us. It's a bad take from Didi.

Our issue is that we gambled on the fitness of our centerbacks which was odd considering all 3 have documented injury records and now we're paying the price for that. It is what it is.

Being honest, I'd offer Sokratis a short term deal. We've got nothing to lose with it.

 

sokratis is a very slow player and an eager and hard worker which means he dives in. If he were the ONLY option possible why not. But there has to be SOMEONE in germany that could fit the bill surely.

 

Board aren't spending a penny by all accounts. It's a freebie or nothing it seems. Doubt we'll bring anyone in.

 

Wes Morgan on loan do ya?

 

I still hold out some hope. There could just be a late deal as a selling club links in the face of the financial situation, or i could be rocking in a corner making this up while beating my head against a padded wall. only time will tell.

 

If the board have hinted that there isn't any money available then I would guess a short term contract with no money exchanged between clubs is probably the next best option. Williams isn't exactly a fast runner, but with Sokratis least we get valuable experience rather than a slow inexperienced defender, like shown against United.

 

Unforgivable

 

In hindsight maybe, but honestly the opportunity to sign Thiago was too good to pass up. This was a signing to push us over the top and turn the screw on the league.

Ultimately we needed a 4th choice defender as backup. But I don’t think anyone expected us on not to replace Lovren with a Klaven type signing until the summer came and passed. Of course Fabinho can do a great job there but it was poor from Klopp/the owners not to buy.

What’s worse is even now we’re not looking to fill that void on a short term deal. The owners seriously need to look at the bigger picture. If we don’t make top 4, surely they miss out on loads of revenue and all the hard work put in is thrown to waste.

We have a young and ageing team at the same time. We’ve got loads of young players with quality but likewise a lot of our key players (midfield and front 3) are coming toward the end of their peak. These players will need to be slowly replaced, and missing out on top 4 will hurt us.

 

Thiago of course we should've got hi.. You never pass him up, and he is the type of player we were lacking and you want to add if you want to keep developing a team that defies being found out. He's been unfortunate with injury & covid, probably needs a bit of time in to get used to the pace but has finally been fit enough at a tough point. Couldn't have predicted two season ending injuries to both VVD & Gomez, but a CB in addition should've been on the agenda.

 

Probably not predicted the injuries, mainly to VVD, but we should have known the history of injuries that Matip and Gomez regularly have over a season. But I guess we thought we'd be fine with VVD/Gomez/Matip/Williams/Phillips with 4 players vying for one position and partnering VVD. I also think they would have planned for a injury to either Matip or Gomez but that wouldn't harm us as we would have sufficient cover to jump in, I just don't think they planned for the 3 main defenders being out for a long duration.

 

I know Gomez has suffered a few big injuries, but he hasn't had any recurrent muscle issues, he's nothing like the same category as Matip. It's hard to have a go at the club for expecting him to be more available, because three of his 4 big injuries - the ACL, the ankle issues that kept him out of Kiev & Euro 2018 & the most recent one all originated on England duty!

The only injury he's had that can be traced to us was the fracture and that was him being tackled into an advertising hoarding. Lad must live under a ladder.

It's unfortunate though, you can't rely on him because of those issues we again can't be sure how he'll return.

 

Look we just had to wait to get the next vvd, that's all.

Warnock has been raving about Davies on sky.

 

Here's what Klopp has to say about Matip's injury...

Jürgen Klopp confirms Joel Matip injury diagnosis

Confirming that Matip had to get rushed back as soon as he was available which will have contributed to his muscle issues this year. This injury just sheer bad luck. He's a brilliant player, another if only.

 

I think they have been hiding a damaged ankle all along and at least some of these "knocks" are them trying to get it half way right. like the back spasm excuse for one game he went off at HT.

It sounds like he's finally done them and needed an op.

 

But we dont get injuries...


Has there ever been a team have its entire senior CB quota (albeit only 3 players) have season ending injuries before? Unreal