11 Aug 2023 07:23:33
Looks like Calcedo going to Liverpool for a massive fee. They basically bought Brighton's midfield and should be really good this year.

Its going to be a really tough league as most top teams have really improved.

We need 2 more signings imo by the looks of what everyone else is doing. DCM and CB and maybe a loan deal for an additional striker.

1.) 11 Aug 2023
11 Aug 2023 07:53:20
Hopefully it makes for some really good watching this season. It could possibly be one of the most entertaining seasons this year.

Currently I have City, Arsenal and Liverpool to finish above Utd this year.

2.) 11 Aug 2023
11 Aug 2023 07:53:53
110m is a huge outlay for caicedo, considering what west ham got alvarez for, and the fees being touted for amrabat. Most Liverpool fans i speak to say they’re crying out for a decent cb, not brightons midfield. I’m not so sure Liverpool will have as good a season as you think, after 2-3 transfer windows maybe but they’re a bit at sea at the moment.

3.) 11 Aug 2023
11 Aug 2023 08:35:41
That screams of panic stations at Liverpool!

4.) 11 Aug 2023
11 Aug 2023 08:39:50
Jürgen Klopp on Manchester United signing Paul Pogba for €105m in 2016: “The day that this is football, then I'm not in a job anymore.

Other clubs can spend more money and collect top players. I want to do it differently. I would even do it differently if I had that money. ”

Today, Jürgen Klopp signs Caicedo for €127m.

Turned down the opportunity to sign Bellingham as he was “too expensive” only to spend an extra twenty million on Caicedo.

Absolute joke of a man.

5.) 11 Aug 2023
11 Aug 2023 09:10:49
Bellingham wanted Madrid. Its going to be great viewing seeing how everyone plays given the massive outlay. I think the transfer fees are madness even though good players but not worth these numbers.

If anyone thinks city is running away with it, think again. i said this a few weeks ago, city will not win the league.

6.) 11 Aug 2023
11 Aug 2023 09:13:20
Caicedo will be a great player for Liverpool no doubt. At the price paid he'll never be considered a bargain or a savvy purchase. I'm struggling to think of a better midfielder than Caicedo in the EPL who doesn't already play for a top 6 side.

The reality for Liverpool though is they needed a new midfield. This summer they've lost Henderson, Fabinho, Keita, AOC, and Milner. With rumours that Thiago may leave as well (even if he stays he's the wrong side of 30 and Haas injury issues) .

They unfortunately need to refresh pretty much most of the squad around the same time. Last year they sorted the forward line, bringing in Diaz, Nunez and Gakpo. This year is the midfield, with Mac Allister, Szoboszlai and now Caicedo.

I expect the defence rebuild will be next summer, where they could do with at least 1 CB and a couple of full backs.

How well Liverpool do this season will depend on how quickly the new midfield can settle and protect the relatively poor defence.

From that perspective it makes a lot of sense to sign Caicedo to join his former teammate Mac Allister. As they will already have a connection and know how to play with eachother. That should speed up the settling process.

The league this year will be interesting.

City look the strongest, but have lost key players in Gundogan and Mahrez. Will they still have the same hunger and drive after winning the treble.

Arsenal in theory should be stronger, a young team with more experience. Plus they've added Raya, Timber, Rice and Havertz. However, changing keepers could could disruption in defence, I'm not sure Timber was a necessary signing. Does he really improve on White or Saliba? While potentially changing two of the three starting midfield might take some time to click into gear. It's not a given that Arsenal will improve on last season's showing.

We have strengthened in all our major weaknesses from last season, if they can settle quickly and be successful signings then we should improve. However, that is an if. While we still have weak points in the squad in terms of quality in depth. Injuries to key players at pinch points in the year could derail our season.

Newcastle have made some good signings, but relied heavily on a small core group of players last season. Can Howe extract similar performances while rotating more and fitting in European games?

Liverpool have had a massive turn over in midfield. How they adapt and protect the weak defence will play the dominant role in how Liverpool's season pans out.

Spurs have a bright new manager, but will be losing Kane. How they replace him will determine whether they challenge for European places or drop down to mid-table.

Chelsea look like they are building an exciting young team, while Pochettino might be the ideal manager to take that team forward. However, they have a lot of ground to make up and will have to adapt to the physical demands of Pochettino. Although without European football that might be easier.

I wouldn't discount Villa from surprising a few people. Pau Torres, Tielemans and Mousa Diaby are great signings added to a good group of players. Watkins has looked immense since Emery took over. I expect Villa to challenge for the European places, probably leapfrogging Spurs now Kane is departing.

All that said, anything can happen. Teams we expect to improve can regress, while teams we don't expect can have a great season. Who expected Brighton to actually improve after losing Potter last season?

7.) 11 Aug 2023
11 Aug 2023 09:40:18
I think he is a very good player, whether the money is or isn't too much is a moot point for me, if he performs then it doesn't matter too much. My issue with Liverpool or rather for Liverpool is there formation right now with three at the back with the wide players and 2 of the three CB steuggling.

8.) 11 Aug 2023
11 Aug 2023 09:43:53
Risk of Liverpool protests, it's easier for FSG to make one statement signing to keep the kids in line. When backed into a corner they do things like this.

Onto the cost. £166m on 2 of Brighton and Hove Albion's midfield. Very high, £226m on a new midfield. On paper it's better than their midfield last season. Let's see what it's like in practice this season.

There was a net spend comparison lately between Klopp and EtH which made its way around. Be interested to see the final outcome of that after United sell £100m worth of players and Liverpool spend £100m.

9.) 11 Aug 2023
11 Aug 2023 09:45:43
It's silly money but it's irrelevant to any of us. We wouldn't be as bothered if it wasn't for Sky glorifying transfers with their inflated fees.

Liverpool will be much stronger with their upgraded midfield, and they have great depth up top.

Defence is where they're weakest, with the vastly overrated TAA, and other defenders in bad form last season. They will be good to watch this season because of this, I can see some high scoring days like the Liverpool team of the 90's.

I wouldn't worry about what Klopp says! He was right about the Pogba signing, and he is a great manager. But he's also a walking contradiction. If he isn't tapping players up, he's contradicting himself and making nonsense excuses.

10.) 11 Aug 2023
11 Aug 2023 10:04:26
Makes Lavia look like a bargain at a mere £48m.
Chelsea and Liverpool have completely rebuilt their midfields.

11.) 11 Aug 2023
11 Aug 2023 10:11:03
Will be a very good signing and with the new midfield 3, along with Nunez, salah, gapko and Diaz up top, they will be right in the mix again this year. I have them second.
They’ll still all say they never spend money though.

12.) 11 Aug 2023
11 Aug 2023 10:22:46
Liverpool raiding Brighton is like Southhampton all over again. not all of those signings worked, and they seem to forget that if you sign a lot of players from a 6-10 placed team you are likely just to become a 6-10 placed team. With all of the pomp around how big a club Liverpool is. It's a shame their academy doesn't seem to be able to produce a stream of players that can work through to the first team. but I guess that is the result of the pressure to perform without the patience from the fans that rebuilding a team takes time.
United under Ten haag seem to have got the balance right with this. Eventually. if they won't make the first team at 18-20 sell them and promote the ones that will whilst keeping buy back and sell- ons so there is room to bring them back if they develop.

{Ed001's Note - but didn't buying those players from Southampton end up with a Premier League title and a Club World Cup, a European Champions League, an FA Cup and a League Cup? Or does van Dijk not count because it doesn't suit your strange thinking? Buying two players from a lesser team and surrounding them with better players already in your team does not turn you into a 6-10 placed team in any realistic world.}

13.) 11 Aug 2023
11 Aug 2023 10:42:51
Allana, nathaniel clyne, and ox didn't work out as much as expected. My post was more about the fact they haven't brought players through instead of taking them from another team that is performing well for a season or two. Those trophies were also one or two good seasons not a steady platform that was built on through progression from within.

14.) 11 Aug 2023
11 Aug 2023 11:56:25
⁴
How can you say Liverpool didn't build steadily. Look were they were befire Klopp and in his first season, they got better until they coukd compete, hopefully its what Ten Hag is doing now! Amd he is doing through buying in plyers and ckearing rubbish out which is what Klopp did. If he has players good enough in the a academy he is using them, TAA and Elliott being the two. So far Ten Hag has bought through Garnacho in his first season.

I don't think many 18 to 20 year olds are ready for too level football and i don't think we are selling thw ones that aren't read either. I think we are remocing ones that we do t think will ever make it. Thise we have a chance we keep and loan or integrate then slowly. Pretty much what most other teams do.

They build a team that took it to a very giod City operation for three years. Liverpools team got old fast.

It remains to be seen how they will play this season, there has been a lot of citicism quite rightky for their setuo thus far. TAA whonis a wnderful footballer is perhaos bot being used right and the back 3 looks ropey. They look vulnerabke out wide and need to solve these issues to challenge.

I think they three midfielders are all excellent sognings and once the settle down probably over the second half of the season we will see aome dominant performances.

15.) 11 Aug 2023
11 Aug 2023 12:15:17
Sounds like he's turned Liverpool down as he wants to go to Chelsea.

16.) 11 Aug 2023
11 Aug 2023 12:58:44
Yes got the Liverpool lads in the WhatsApp group going from gloating to spewing venom in a 3 hour period there.

17.) 11 Aug 2023
11 Aug 2023 16:19:14
Amd to be fair to Klopp he in his prsss conference said he was arong in what he said about transfer fees. But at the time he akso didn't know the Saudi woukd start rhrowing money about. I imagine a few teams have got fees and or wages freed hey never expected too tbia year.