SBF: Some Thoughts

1. I was able to attend matches in January. While clapping the team off during the very disappointing Villa match, I was told to fuck off by fans sitting in front of me.
   
   If the team wasn’t giving it’s all, the response would be, at least, understandable. But even just watching the game while looking at your phone, you can see the guys are giving their all. We can’t be tying games like that, but I’m putting that on the sheer number of games and injuries we’ve acquired over the past couple months.
   
2. I think our fan base isn’t helping us right now. We’ve got to do better as fa. Sure, social media is social media, but I think the general mood around the club is down on what should be a galvanizing effort from these guys. We, as fans, have got to do a better job.
3. This summer will see these players leave:
   • Zinchenko
   • Tierney
   • Jorginho
   • Partey
   • Sterling and Neto will leave from their loans, Jesus won’t come back till late into the year if he ever plays for us again and Trossard and Kiwor are maybes. Who knows if Tomiyasu is even real anymore.

We need:

1. 2 forwards (at least)
2. A center midfielder ( most likely 2)
3. A couple defenders
4. A Goalkeeper

That’s at least 6-7 players. That’s almost a full rebuild. We also have 6 players on loan that I don’t think will be coming back to the full team.

The recruitment is going to be incredibly tricky this summer. This is complicated by the massive need for numbers in the forward line. No one knows our PSR but I’m afraid we might be in for a long summer of a lot of rumors and a lot of churn.

4. But my god, do we need a forward right now. The imaginary 30 goal a year striker probably isn’t out there, but another competent body in the forward line would be great. Versatility across the forward line would be a massive plus. I’m thinking a Wissa instead of an Isak (who we shouldn’t even be thinking about by now).

Havertz is going to get hurt. Especially if he keeps playing this much. We knew it was going to happen to Saka and Odegaard. It did this year. If we lose Havertz’s within the next month I think you can chalk off what little hope we have for the league, full stop.

5. I’m not convinced the Newcastle tie in the league cup is over. If we can get one in the first half I think the pressure of wanting to win something will get to them. We just have to get one.  

6. Man City in two weeks is huge. We get a win at home and one at Wolves, I still think we have an outside shot. We lose and I think even the little hope I have of the league is probably done.

7. Our defensive ability will serve us well in the champions league. If our backline can get healthy and our forward line isn’t just 3 guys we have a good chance of upsetting some teams. We just have to get lucky on a draw. Good thing we’ve been oh so lucky this year!
   
8. While much of the talk this year is that there’s no one flying away with it, I think that’s a bit disrespectful to the work that Liverpool are doing. These guys are grinding away results. When two draws are seen as a blip, you can’t seriously say they aren’t flying away with it.