Media season previews

[rednotdead]

These are now starting to pop up.

Here's The Guardian which has us coming 5th
https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2017/aug/04/premier-league-2017-18-preview-liverpool?CMP=share_btn_tw

 

 

Liverpool are blessed with pace, attacking prowess, stability and a balanced squad. Whether they will have the required quality in central midfield and defence, however, may rest on breaking the resolve of Southampton and RB Leipzig.

 

And StatsBomb have us coming 3rd in their analytics-based preview

http://statsbomb.com/2017/08/liverpool-201718-season-preview/

 

 

If I’ve learnt anything while sifting through the data for this preview, it’s that Manchester City should be strong favourites for the title this coming season.

 

Can Liverpool challenge them, while also competing in Europe? At present, I’d side with no given that the depth issues of last season have yet to be addressed and the remaining questions marks in terms of the defense.

 

And Football 365 has us coming sixth

http://www.football365.com/news/premier-league-previews-201718-liverpool-to-finish-sixth

 

 

Given the probable improvement of the two Manchester clubs, it will be far more difficult for Liverpool to retain their top-four place than it was to earn it. Klopp’s team suffered with fatigue last season despite playing only 47 matches in all competitions, and only 15 from the beginning of February onwards. Reach the Champions League group stage this season, and they will surpass that total even if they are eliminated from both domestic cup competitions at the first hurdle. This season will push this squad to the limit.

 

And Thommo has us coming third on Sky Sports

http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11669/10969996/liverpool-201718-season-preview-will-klopp-deliver-a-trophy

[Hightown Phil]

The probably improvement of a team we finished below?

 

How's that work?

[Maldini]

You have to love them downplaying the fatigue when we had a ridiculous schedule over January when half of our squad was injured.

[Jarg Armani]

If we get VVD and Keita and hang on to Coutinho I will disagree with those analyses. As these things are still in the balance there's not much to argue with.

 

It's a key moment, right now.

[Chewie]

think we are worryingly light at the moment and not unreasonable to see why people fear that we might not cope with the demands of premier league and european football.

 

Squad: 

Keeper: Mignolet, Karius, Ward

 

Right back: Clyne, TAA

Left Back: Milner, Robertson, Moreno

Utility Full Back Cover: Gomez, Flanagan

 

Centre-Back: Matip, Lovren, Klavan, Gomez

 

Midfield: Henderson, Can, Wijnaldum, Grujic

Attacking Midfield: Lallana, Coutinho

(cover: Woodburn, Ejaria, Kent)

 

Attack: Mane, Salah, Firmino, Sturridge, Origi, (Coutinho), Salanke, Ings

 

every now and again when I think our squad is ok I write it down and think

- we are lacking quality at fullback (hoping that TAA has an even bigger breakthrough season)

 

- we are chronic at centre half - we need VVD and am confident he is coming

 

- we are definitely light in midfield

 

- we are relying on Coutinho to be available either as an 8 or an 11 when he can't be rotated between both without burnout.. 

 

from these last two observations we can see why Klopp has made such a fuss of Keita as he can cover both ... 

 

As it stands, from that list I only count 16 players who could be counted on as first teamers (Mig, Karius, Clyne, Milner, Matip, Lovren, Henderson, Can, Wijnaldum, Lallana, Coutinho, Mane, Salah, Firmino, Sturridge, Origi - everyone else is backup / cover and we can only play one of the two goalies). We are light at the moment.. 

[Stanley Leisure]

think we are worryingly light at the moment and not unreasonable to see why people fear that we might not cope with the demands of premier league and european football.

 

Squad: 

Keeper: Mignolet, Karius, Ward

 

Right back: Clyne, TAA

Left Back: Milner, Robertson, Moreno

Utility Full Back Cover: Gomez, Flanagan

 

Centre-Back: Matip, Lovren, Klavan, Gomez

 

Midfield: Henderson, Can, Wijnaldum, Grujic

Attacking Midfield: Lallana, Coutinho

(cover: Woodburn, Ejaria, Kent)

 

Attack: Mane, Salah, Firmino, Sturridge, Origi, (Coutinho), Salanke, Ings

 

every now and again when I think our squad is ok I write it down and think

- we are lacking quality at fullback (hoping that TAA has an even bigger breakthrough season)

 

- we are chronic at centre half - we need VVD and am confident he is coming

 

- we are definitely light in midfield

 

- we are relying on Coutinho to be available either as an 8 or an 11 when he can't be rotated between both without burnout.. 

 

from these last two observations we can see why Klopp has made such a fuss of Keita as he can cover both ... 

 

As it stands, from that list I only count 16 players who could be counted on as first teamers (Mig, Karius, Clyne, Milner, Matip, Lovren, Henderson, Can, Wijnaldum, Lallana, Coutinho, Mane, Salah, Firmino, Sturridge, Origi - everyone else is backup / cover and we can only play one of the two goalies). We are light at the moment.. 

 

 

In conclusion.

[Bailo]

Don't see why there's so much confidence in the Mancs improving and so much pessimism about our form going into this year.

[Dan]

Don't see why there's so much confidence in the Mancs improving and so much pessimism about our form going into this year.

I can understand the doubts about us. We haven't addressed the key weaknesses in our team and don't look like doing so either.

[Begbie]

CB is the key when you list out the squad

 

And keeper (ducks)

[Cheesecake]

The number of games doesn't become an issue if you use the League Cup and perhaps rounds 3/4/5 of the FA Cup only for those that are not the 14 best players at the club. The names not scored out below should be good enough to progress beyond the early rounds in both domestic cup competitions. Only involve those scored out in the event we get to a domestic cup semi.

 

Mignolet, Karius, Ward

 

Clyne, TAA, Milner, Robertson, Moreno , Flanagan

 

Matip, Lovren, Klavan, Gomez

 

Henderson, Can, Wijnaldum, Grujic

Lallana, Coutinho Woodburn, Ejaria, Kent

 

Mane, Salah, Firmino, Sturridge, Origi, Salanke, Ings

Edited August 4, 2017 by DPD1973

[rednotdead]

As we are, outside chance of the top 4

Add in VVD, a very good chance of top 4 and may be more

Add in VVD and Keita, genuine title contenders

As we are but lose Coutinho, relegation certs

[Maldini]

All of our rivals have areas where they're weak on numbers as well though. I think the only areas we need reinforcement are CB and CM and we could definitely get away without a CM given the flexibility of Can and Wijnaldum.

As we are, outside chance of the top 4

Add in VVD, a very good chance of top 4 and may be more

Add in VVD and Keita, genuine title contenders

As we are but lose Coutinho, relegation certs

What has anyone below us done to catch up? What have the teams above us done to leap further ahead?

[The_Adder]

Sign Keita and VVD and I'd have us challenging for the title.

 

Without them I think we could end up anywhere between 3rd and 6th. 

[Chewie]

Don't see why there's so much confidence in the Mancs improving and so much pessimism about our form going into this year.

I'm not pessimistic at all about our form.. I'm hugely optimistic that we could be very, very good this year. What none of us wants (obviously) is to be so close to be being great and then to have that undermined by a lack of depth that means we just can't sustain it over the course of the season. 

 

If Henderson and Can both have niggles we are left with Grujic and Gini to hold the midfield together. even if they are both not injured at the same time, it is the toll of not being able to use a bigger squad that will eventually take its toll. Even when Lucas was there we were short in midfield and replacing him with Grujic doesn't guarantee we will be stronger. 

 

Right now I'd say we are 3 players short of being a really strong squad and only 3 injuries away from being a worryingly weak squad... 

[Maldini]

Grujic is more of an attacking midfielder, you wouldn't want him sitting

[Case]

Four Four Two (probably printed a month or more ago) has us sixth.

[The_Adder]

Grujic is more of an attacking midfielder, you wouldn't want him sitting

 

Henderson, Can and Gini (played there in pre season) seems enough for that one role.

 

But we still look light espesh with the Lallana injury. 

[PhilM]

All of our rivals have areas where they're weak on numbers as well though. I think the only areas we need reinforcement are CB and CM and we could definitely get away without a CM given the flexibility of Can and Wijnaldum.

 

What has anyone below us done to catch up? What have the teams above us done to leap further ahead?

 

Manchester United have bought the Premier League's second top scorer and a defensive midfielder who will allow Pogba to slack off his defensive duties with less damage to the team.

 

City have replaced their horrendous goalkeeper and fullbacks with better ones (although I'm just assuming that Ederson is better).

 

Arsenal have bought a very prolific centre forward and so far kept hold of Sanchez.

 

Everton have replaced half of their squad with better players.

[Jarg Armani]

Everton are s***e and will be relegated.

[Maldini]

Manchester United have bought the Premier League's second top scorer and a defensive midfielder who will allow Pogba to slack off his defensive duties with less damage to the team.

 

City have replaced their horrendous goalkeeper and fullbacks with better ones (although I'm just assuming that Ederson is better).

 

Arsenal have bought a very prolific centre forward and so far kept hold of Sanchez.

 

Everton have replaced half of their squad with better players.

United replaced their top scorer with an inferior player and still haven't addressed their creativity or pace problems. They've added players in areas they were already strong.

 

City have spent £130m on full backs and only one of them (Mendy) is really good. They still haven't signed any CBs despite their only decent one working as a part-time yacht funder for America's leading sports surgeons. Their keeper looks very flappy from what I've seen of him in pre-season. I think they've improved marginally but still have the same doubts about their defence and they might take time to settle.

 

Arsenal are all over the shop. Their two best attacking players want out and they've signed hardly anyone apart from Kolasanic who looks good and Lacazette who looks like a good finisher but I'd have doubts about how he'll work in the PL, he looks like an old school poacher in a league that doesn't really suit them anymore for the top teams.

 

Everton have signed a load of lads who are good signings for them but wouldn't get a fame at any of the teams above them. Their whole squad looks sloooooooow as well bar Calvert-Lewin and Lookman.

 

I don't think anyone has done any business that should worry us yet.

[RBM]

Don't think any of them are unreasonable calls

[Chewie]

Henderson, Can and Gini (played there in pre season) seems enough for that one role.

 

But we still look light espesh with the Lallana injury.

Yup...but reckon those players will be covering two roles in the middle, not just the number 6 role

[Earl Hafler]

United replaced their top scorer with an inferior player and still haven't addressed their creativity or pace problems. They've added players in areas they were already strong.

City have spent £130m on full backs and only one of them (Mendy) is really good. They still haven't signed any CBs despite their only decent one working as a part-time yacht funder for America's leading sports surgeons. Their keeper looks very flappy from what I've seen of him in pre-season. I think they've improved marginally but still have the same doubts about their defence and they might take time to settle.

Arsenal are all over the shop. Their two best attacking players want out and they've signed hardly anyone apart from Kolasanic who looks good and Lacazette who looks like a good finisher but I'd have doubts about how he'll work in the PL, he looks like an old school poacher in a league that doesn't really suit them anymore for the top teams.

Everton have signed a load of lads who are good signings for them but wouldn't get a fame at any of the teams above them. Their whole squad looks sloooooooow as well bar Calvert-Lewin and Lookman.

I don't think anyone has done any business that should worry us yet.

The worst about our rivals, the best about ourselves. Does it ever transpire that way ?

[Case]

All of our rivals have areas where they're weak on numbers as well though. I think the only areas we need reinforcement are CB and CM and we could definitely get away without a CM given the flexibility of Can and Wijnaldum.

 

What has anyone below us done to catch up? What have the teams above us done to leap further ahead?

I know you've mentioned this a couple of times, Maldini, but while I believe we have strengthened, many of our rivals certainly have in key areas too, imo

 

Utd were better in the final weeks of the season without Ibra (who they will probably retain anyway). Lukaku is younger, fitter, faster, more mobile. Clearly not as good, but he fits their end of season model much better than Rashford (also class backup). Matip will free up Herrera and Pogba. Central Defence was strong anyway, Shaw now fit looks good.

 

Chelsea have signed well in m/f, got good centre back cover in Rudiger. Morata is likely an upgrade on Costa. Might even get VVD.

 

Can't deny City have addressed their glaring weaknesses at FB/WB. Silva along with Gundogan (fit soon), Jesus relatively new as well, keeper an unknown.

 

Who the feck knows with Spurs and Arsenal. Everton seem to play in stop motion.

 

The test can feck off.

[Maldini]

I know you've mentioned this a couple of times, Maldini, but while I believe we have strengthened, many of our rivals certainly have in key areas too, imo

 

Utd were better in the final weeks of the season without Ibra (who they will probably retain anyway). Lukaku is younger, fitter, faster, more mobile. Clearly not as good, but he fits their end of season model much better than Rashford (also class backup). Matip will free up Herrera and Pogba. Central Defence was strong anyway, Shaw now fit looks good.

 

Chelsea have signed well in m/f, got good centre back cover in Rudiger. Morata is likely an upgrade on Costa. Might even get VVD.

 

Can't deny City have addressed their glaring weaknesses at FB/WB. Silva along with Gundogan (fit soon), Jesus relatively new as well, keeper an unknown.

 

Who the feck knows with Spurs and Arsenal. Everton seem to play in stop motion.

 

The test can feck off.

I don't think there's a top team there aren't questions about including ourselves obviously. I understand people being pessimistic cos it's us and we get no luck but I think fans of other teams will probably have the same doubts as us (bar the two Manc clubs because of their deeply ingrained entitlement)

 

I think it's a big leap to say Morata will be better than Costa by the way. 24 and never been first choice for anyone. I'm not sure he's even started 20 league games for anyone in a season. Costa dragged them through a lot of games in the early part of their season when it mattered the most. Losing him is massive.