Do you think that his passing skill already improved ?

Ok, its confirmed, AFCON will be moved to summer on year 2019

http://www.espnfcasia.com/african-nations-...ratified-by-caf

Sign Naby Keita already then!

I am not sure, Hendo pretty much did quite a lot of long range passing during international game, but not so much when he played for us.

But due to this is a friendly game, I have my doubt, as its may be the Palace playing too leisurely, give opportunity to our forward to run, making the long range pass looks good.

Come on, I thought he played quite a number of beautiful and successful over the top passes in the early of last season (16/17)? Before teams start to park the bus that's it.

Certainly the man to play the deepest mid role, even if he might need someone to partner him for better defensive protection

Chill chill, I said not so much, doesn't mean he doesn't do it at all. He did made some impressive long range pass, but I see he did that more during international game.

And yea, if we can get another solid midfielder to partner him, it would be damn nice.

the difference is hendo had more space to do those crosses.
in a proper match...i doubt he'll be given that much space.

Exactly what I meant, because Palace is playing too leisurely, its just a friendly after all.

I'm chilling lar. Just dont think he is improved in that aspect. Can't be improving when all he did was recovering from foot injury I think?

hendo has done some amazing passes during a full season la.
just nowadays we prefer to run opponents to death by building an olympic sprint team...
i still say we need a 20-goal striker who can actually play at least 30 games a season.

Reportedly "tabled 66million", they remained not bulging.

It's one very important position that we seriously lack for many years (on A regular basis)

Looks like we will look elsewhere for bargains 98$

66m is our second bid which got rejected.

I think LFC will make a last and final offer.

Dont think we have been lacking in that role actually. Also not entirely sold that he is what we need now, especially at the amount being thrown around in the media.

For that amount of money we should really be looking at a world class player who would instantly lift us up a level. But as things are, looks like just a meager upgrade on Wijnaldum, whom has done well - not excellent, just well.

If it's 40-50m, I'll say sign him now. A gamble still worthy to take

i think we might have options & its a welcomed option. He may not be worth as much as Leipzig believes he is. but to me if Kloop sees the need for improvement, I do think it is or as an worthy option/upgrade.

It a long season. we don't want a repeat we had to huff & puff barely making into last 4. If it gives us a chance shot at the title, why not sure though we are probably another 1-2 season to be serious title contender (& i mean regular basis)

Salah face like: what the hell is goin on here??

True enough, just that personally I have reservations that he is an answer (note, not "the") to our problems from last season. I'd rather see the money goes toward the depth, especially for back up to Mane & Salah. Origi & Strurridge arent from the same cut.

But that's just me. And if Keita goes thru the door, I'll happily take it too. Especially since Klopp is keen on him.

Depth can be achieved through 2 solutions. Buying players for the bench or buying better players and push the current first 11 onto the bench. I very much prefer the 2nd option and that's what most big clubs do. Keita I would say is easily better than both Wijnaldum and Lallana. Remember how we sorely missed Lallana multiple times last season? We still don't have an answer for that.

We cant really be sure that the underlined part is correct, as much as we would like to believe it. I also find it tough to believe he would be a big upgrade on them - well, maybe it would be for Wij and his sideway passes but not for Lallana.

I think Klopp has shifted the goalpost slightly about mitigating the effects of Lallana's absence last season. It looks like Cout would be moved infield to play at 10 or close to that and Lallana would be the primary back up. So it's about 5 - Hendo, Can, Wij, Lallana, Grujic battle for 2 starting spots alongside Cout. Quantity is there; quality is arguable, so as I said, I'm not complaining if we do land Keita, just that the price looks silly, even if the whole market has been.

nonono just plain no...
lala is completely out of depth when he plays centrally...
he's still better at his preferred position out on the wings.