Had to find the vid to answer the question of how many times in a row we should be favorites to win the league
Pretenders to the throne.
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I think we wont accumulate close to the same amount of points next year, and I think city, Chelsea and united are all going to be stronger.
I can't casually look past any of them. Just as the 25 point lead thing was a joke for city, it won't mean anything for us.
We need reinforcements.
I can't casually look past any of them. Just as the 25 point lead thing was a joke for city, it won't mean anything for us.
We need reinforcements.
Even City fans be asking you, have you ever seen him playing at all, let alone play left centre-half. Hahahaha.
That’s where I’m at too.
I don’t expect a repeat of this season or last. We are standing still and other teams are improving. That’s not how you stay at the top.
City are losing some very dependable squad depth in Fernandinho, David Silva & Sane (when fit). There is a lot of risk hoping that Rodri & Foden are able to put in a full season's worth of top performances, but who plays after those three? Bernardo is better deployed further up the pitch, same with Mahrez. Will be interesting to see if they splash the cash.
Chelsea have brought in some world class players to an already improving squad. If they find a system that works they have all the right ingredients to title challenge.
United look reformed, and the combo of Bruno & Pogba looks good but I wonder how it will perform under pressure when fans return. Still - they'll be up there.
Similar to the above - in order to better defend our 'throne' we need to bring in some more squad depth, especially with Clyne (who even to his perma-injured credit played v well in the United game when called upon), Lallana & Milner all likely to leave. There needs to be better options for left back, DM and a pacey wide forward. Hopefully we are going to find that Minamino can adequately rotate with Firmino which would be very useful for the front three's overall sharing of the load, but we need someone who can replace Mane or Salah.
Chelsea have brought in some world class players to an already improving squad. If they find a system that works they have all the right ingredients to title challenge.
United look reformed, and the combo of Bruno & Pogba looks good but I wonder how it will perform under pressure when fans return. Still - they'll be up there.
Similar to the above - in order to better defend our 'throne' we need to bring in some more squad depth, especially with Clyne (who even to his perma-injured credit played v well in the United game when called upon), Lallana & Milner all likely to leave. There needs to be better options for left back, DM and a pacey wide forward. Hopefully we are going to find that Minamino can adequately rotate with Firmino which would be very useful for the front three's overall sharing of the load, but we need someone who can replace Mane or Salah.
Milner's signed a contract extension till 2022, so he's not leaving. He'll do a job wherever you put him, but given how crucial our full-backs are to our attacking play, I'm not comfortable relying on him as our main backup LB. He's getting slower, and just can't bomb up and down the way we want our fullbacks to.
I think Curtis Jones will be a very effective replacement for Lallana. He's easily our most ready prospect, and I think I'd trust him to start playing regular games in our midfield from next season.
Really the only additions we need are:
1. A young energetic left back to back up Robbo. Saka would be perfect if we could somehow snag him. Helps that he's versatile enough to play a few different positions.
2. A high quality pacy attacker. This is the only crying need. With Werner going to Chelsea, I'd be quite worried if the likes of Mbappe, Sancho, Haaland, Osimhen, Malen, Gabriel Veron, Kaio Jorge, Sarr all end up at rival clubs. These are going to be some of the top attackers in Europe over the next 5-7 years, and it doesn't bode well if they're ALL going to our competitors. Try and get at least one of them.
3. 4th choice CB if Lovren leaves. Frankly, if Lovren wants to stay, I'd have no problems. He gets an irrational amount of hatred here, but as a 4th choice CB, he's adequate. Especially when the long term plan is to groom Hoever.
I think Curtis Jones will be a very effective replacement for Lallana. He's easily our most ready prospect, and I think I'd trust him to start playing regular games in our midfield from next season.
Really the only additions we need are:
1. A young energetic left back to back up Robbo. Saka would be perfect if we could somehow snag him. Helps that he's versatile enough to play a few different positions.
2. A high quality pacy attacker. This is the only crying need. With Werner going to Chelsea, I'd be quite worried if the likes of Mbappe, Sancho, Haaland, Osimhen, Malen, Gabriel Veron, Kaio Jorge, Sarr all end up at rival clubs. These are going to be some of the top attackers in Europe over the next 5-7 years, and it doesn't bode well if they're ALL going to our competitors. Try and get at least one of them.
3. 4th choice CB if Lovren leaves. Frankly, if Lovren wants to stay, I'd have no problems. He gets an irrational amount of hatred here, but as a 4th choice CB, he's adequate. Especially when the long term plan is to groom Hoever.
I don't think we need "strengthening" per se, but every great team needs a refresh at some point. It's humanly impossible to maintain the kind of focus and consistency we've been seeing for the past 2 seasons, while burning through the same fuel. However, I firmly believe that the enforced COVID break and the absence of Euros, national team matches and AFCON has bought this squad unexpected time to recharge and the confidence boost of being champions will carry us through some many tough games next season.
It's a good thing that several key players have not yet reached their full potential in Liverpool: Trent is still improving (and will start to be pushed and challenged by Neco), Ox only recently returned to the pre-injury levels, same goes for Fabinho and who knows, maybe there is still hope for Keita to fulfill his potential here. Minamino should fully adapt by next season and give Firmino a quality back-up he's been lacking for years. The rest of key players like Alisson, Van Dijk, Robbo, Hendo, Gini and the front 3 should be squarely at the peak of their career and I don't expect any drop-off in performance just yet. All of them, given this unexpected 2-month break with their families, seem to be refreshed and eager to play as much football as possible, so I don't think significant changes to the squad are required at this point.
I would focus on fixing 2-3 fringe issues: an experienced natural goal-scorer capable of stepping in for Salah and Mane to replace what we lost with Sturridge and possibly upgrade on Origi, a back-up for Robbo and possibly a Lovren replacement. We don't need to spend big money to address all 3; with smart recruitment selling the likes of Shaqiri, Wilson and a few others should raise all the money we need. Then next summer will be the time to spend on bringing in some big talents like Sancho or Havertz, depending on our situation and who is still available. At least that's how I see it at the moment.
It's a good thing that several key players have not yet reached their full potential in Liverpool: Trent is still improving (and will start to be pushed and challenged by Neco), Ox only recently returned to the pre-injury levels, same goes for Fabinho and who knows, maybe there is still hope for Keita to fulfill his potential here. Minamino should fully adapt by next season and give Firmino a quality back-up he's been lacking for years. The rest of key players like Alisson, Van Dijk, Robbo, Hendo, Gini and the front 3 should be squarely at the peak of their career and I don't expect any drop-off in performance just yet. All of them, given this unexpected 2-month break with their families, seem to be refreshed and eager to play as much football as possible, so I don't think significant changes to the squad are required at this point.
I would focus on fixing 2-3 fringe issues: an experienced natural goal-scorer capable of stepping in for Salah and Mane to replace what we lost with Sturridge and possibly upgrade on Origi, a back-up for Robbo and possibly a Lovren replacement. We don't need to spend big money to address all 3; with smart recruitment selling the likes of Shaqiri, Wilson and a few others should raise all the money we need. Then next summer will be the time to spend on bringing in some big talents like Sancho or Havertz, depending on our situation and who is still available. At least that's how I see it at the moment.
If we don't make any big signings I'm confident we'd be ok next season, but it's the problems we'd be storing up down the line I'd worry about.
Henderson, Mane, Salah, Firmino, Wijnaldum, even Van Dijk will probably all have to be replaced in the next 4 or 5 years. Maybe even sooner for the forwards.
You'd want to get at least a couple of those done this summer, ideally.
Henderson, Mane, Salah, Firmino, Wijnaldum, even Van Dijk will probably all have to be replaced in the next 4 or 5 years. Maybe even sooner for the forwards.
You'd want to get at least a couple of those done this summer, ideally.
With all the squads as they stand now, I'm confident we can win the PL next season though mental fatigue could be an issue after 3 seasons pushing through the PL and CL.
Of course if City bring in 2-3 top players or United do the same or Chelsea do indeed get Havetz (sp.) then I may not be as confident and it would be much closer than the below.
Even as it stands it's going to be much closer between 4 teams:
Liverpool +5 pts
Chelsea 0
City -2 pts (aging squad and irreplaceable players - within their current squad)
United - 5 pts
Of course if City bring in 2-3 top players or United do the same or Chelsea do indeed get Havetz (sp.) then I may not be as confident and it would be much closer than the below.
Even as it stands it's going to be much closer between 4 teams:
Liverpool +5 pts
Chelsea 0
City -2 pts (aging squad and irreplaceable players - within their current squad)
United - 5 pts
The reason we need to strengthen is that we suffered through some knife edge games because our players were tired. Those players are older now, and the general purpose cover in milner is really old.
We were also a bit lucky with injuries.
Watching some of the season reviews and every game we won at the last second was very dramatic, and laudable but this team didn't dominate a lot of games. It's easy to think in retrospect but there were plenty of stinkers that we pulled out of the fire. That won't always happen, and we can make our lives easier.
We were also a bit lucky with injuries.
Watching some of the season reviews and every game we won at the last second was very dramatic, and laudable but this team didn't dominate a lot of games. It's easy to think in retrospect but there were plenty of stinkers that we pulled out of the fire. That won't always happen, and we can make our lives easier.
Utd are very much in form. Get a favourable fixture list and they could build up a head of steam leading them to really challenge.........
......for the top 6
......for the top 6
Hate to say it but I think Man U will be challenging next season. If they can keep Pogba, and build on the team they've got, they can definitely do it.
Greenwood looks like a star in the making.
Martial looks revitalised.
Rashford just got back from a long injury lay off but he'll start performing at his best soon enough.
Then there's Fernandes who has been a superb acquisition so far.
So their attack is sorted. Their only weakness is their defence. Can't say anything bad about Wan-Bissaka but the three others aren't top class imo. It's scary to see them playing with confidence.
I hope none of the Manchester teams manage to get Koulibaly.
Greenwood looks like a star in the making.
Martial looks revitalised.
Rashford just got back from a long injury lay off but he'll start performing at his best soon enough.
Then there's Fernandes who has been a superb acquisition so far.
So their attack is sorted. Their only weakness is their defence. Can't say anything bad about Wan-Bissaka but the three others aren't top class imo. It's scary to see them playing with confidence.
I hope none of the Manchester teams manage to get Koulibaly.
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United have some challenges yet.
Teenwolf has morphed into something like an italian keeper with sweatpants who misses his mama.
Pogba is diva and a rotten egg.
Martial is a lazy baby and not as half as good as he thinks.
Their manager is a petulant little weasel.
He used to be a Liverpool fan, but now he puts on an evident and embarrassing pretense of hating everything Liverpool.
He adopted everything he is from Slur, because he didn't have the confidence to be his own man.
Rashford and Fernandez are top.
Greenwood looks a real talent.
Teenwolf has morphed into something like an italian keeper with sweatpants who misses his mama.
Pogba is diva and a rotten egg.
Martial is a lazy baby and not as half as good as he thinks.
Their manager is a petulant little weasel.
He used to be a Liverpool fan, but now he puts on an evident and embarrassing pretense of hating everything Liverpool.
He adopted everything he is from Slur, because he didn't have the confidence to be his own man.
Rashford and Fernandez are top.
Greenwood looks a real talent.
Titles aren't won by teams with defensive issues no matter how good their attack (and theirs isn't better than ours or City's or likely even Chelsea's) - we know that more than most.
I'm sticking with us and City to battle it out for the title with United & Chelsea ca. 10 pts back fighting for 3rd.
If they brought in someone like Koulibaly that would solve a lot of their problems at the back but not all of them.
If they don't bolster their defence properly, I expect them to finish ten to fifteen points behind next season's title winners.
Though they may flatter themselves with a title challenge in the first half of the season
If they don't bolster their defence properly, I expect them to finish ten to fifteen points behind next season's title winners.
Though they may flatter themselves with a title challenge in the first half of the season
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Not a chance UTD will be anywhere near the title come May next year.
They don’t have the mentality and one sensational signing won’t change that.
They don’t have the mentality and one sensational signing won’t change that.
That Greenwood is really a special talent, though.
If they got Sancho as well...
I mean, they're not going to win it next year, but they'd have a truly brilliant attack for the next decade. They'd be back challenging sooner or later.
They have bags of pace up front, and Fernandes looks like a special player. That said, both Rashford and Martial have been threatening to break out into the world class category for a few years now, but haven't quite yet managed. I think they probably need a really good manager to take them to the next level.
Thankfully, de Gea has regressed massively, and they still have a weak spine in their CBs and CMs.
Thankfully, de Gea has regressed massively, and they still have a weak spine in their CBs and CMs.
It's amazing how Solskjaer always seems to do exactly well enough to keep his job without ever looking like a top manager.
It's great. That's the one thing holding them back.
It's great. That's the one thing holding them back.
They also aren't won by players doing whatever they want on the pitch with no proper direction and style of play. United needs to beat the likes of Leicester first before they can dream to win the title.
A rotation of successively shite managers and players should do it.
@Rosco had an interesting theory on keepers when they hit a certain age. Can't remember if it applies to De Gea, though.
I wouldn't do it justice though since I can only half remember it.
I think he just doesn’t want to be there. The issue is nobody will give him a contract anywhere near like the one he is on. Basically, I don’t think he’s motivated and doesn’t give a shit.
Weird thought, didn't Casillas and Reina both go shit in their late 20's too? Maybe it's a Spanish goalie thing?
Rosco had it more to do with their build, I think?
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