Klopp not big into his stop gaps, would be surprised if he adds unless another injury...big ask for Matip and a lesser extent Gomez to remain fit though
Define stop gap? Alisson for 6 weeks was never an option, 2 CB's for the season and one of them not Virgil is a different ball game. If we can get a recently retired Klavan type then we should do it, Matip is made of crisps.
I wonder would he have enough confidence to bring in Rhys William's. Big lack of experience though.,.. There isnt a hope matip or Gomez wont be injured soon. Maybe even both of them at the same time Then what?- 2 midfielders at CB, hendo & fab ??! If we have have aspirations of a trophy this season we need to buy a CB in january & I would've said that whether VVD was injured or not..
Letting Lovren go and not replacing him was a big risk and a bad decision imo. It was highly likely Matip or Gomez would get injured. Injuries have happened and now our only fit CB is Gomez. 1 fit CB.
I think it was blatently obvious that we needed to buy a capable and experienced CB, and said it serval times, coming into the last transfer window and during it - my posts and the response from a few on here, are all there to be viewed. Buying a new CB should have been treated as a higher priority, if we'd limited funds to spend. It was a bad decision not to buy for this position and one that I really fear that we'll pay the price for.
Which one of Thiago and Jota would you have sacrificed to buy a third or 4th choice CB? Because in reality that's what we're talking about,and when I say reality mate,that means Klopp rates Gomez far higher than you do so it would have been a 3rd or 4th choice CB coming in.
To clarify,I'm not saying you'd be wrong to sacrifice one of those players for a CB,even before Van Dijk got injured. I wouldn't have,but its a perfectly reasonable position to take.
I'll put the mockers on him here but people need to realise Gomez does not break down. Broke his ankle v Burnley at Christmas 2018 and was poxed a couple of times early on in career but I see a fit and reliable defender.
He's stepped up really well last 3 games after a shaky start to the season. I'd have liked if we had replaced Lovren but not a hope instead of Thiago or Jota. Van Dijk being injured is a huge blow and one that was unexpected given how bullet proof he's been for us. I'd like if we signed a CB in January, mainly because Matip picks up a lot of injuries. The chances are though unless we sign one who turns out to be top class the new signing could be 4th choice next season.
People's opinion on Gomez is mixed. I value him, I rate him above Matip. But considering both of them are injury prone, I would have signed a CB before either Thiago or Jota. Hopefully the success of Fabinho at CB and Thiago & Jota in their positions proves me wrong. Easy to say now when Van Dijk is injured I know, but having Matip and Gomez as 2 of the 3 CBs meant we'd most likely be short at some stage throughout the season (which I did say previously).
The only issue I have with his ground game is his recovery pace - not that its poor - quite the opposite in fact, its just he seems to have to use it a bit more than I'm comfortable with. Granted hes still young for a CB and maybe another couple of seasons playing with VVD will imnprove his positional sense so that his pace is an added extra rather than a get out of jail free card. Whats folks opinion on Gomez's ability in the air? Personally I think he's rather weak. I dont think he won a single header in the first half against Sheffield United, and in the second half, a lot of his Won headers seemed to go straight up in the air. For a CB he always strikes me as "stringy" rather than the brick shithouse type and consequently gets bullied in the air a bit.
Think his weakest part is his heading , his passing is as good as anyone else but I’d live see him winning a lot more headers than he is at present . Plus his awareness needs improvement Thought he was much better in the second half v Sheffield United at present he needs a commanding CB beside him as he starts to improve
I'd definitely be inclined to play Matip in the PL rather than CL. Sheffield Utd unsettled us by nothing more than hoofing it and getting their bodies in front of Gomez and Fab. It was too easy, thankfully we seemed to address it at halftime but thats the immediate future anyway. West Ham will hoof it at every opportunity, if Antonio is fit he could cause problems if Matip isn't available.
David Alaba is going to be a free this summer and had turned down Bayern’s third attempt to sign a new contract LCB seems to be his new role now at Bayern even though a fabulous LB and DM , if it’s a possibility on a Bosman it surely had to be considered, presently on about £8m a year at Bayern
Spot on bud , Fantastic Lb and Dm as well , his reading of the game is like having Thiago at CB , two players who see and read the game at another level to most, both who can bring the ball out from our defensive zone comfortably and pick sides apart . Interesting option , would be perfect in Jan