Caicedo is a freaking beast. United had been dancing for Gakpo for the whole January. Liverpool then swooped in last minute and hijacked him. Chelsea had been dancing for Caicedo for the whole summer. Liverpool then swooped in last minute and hijacked him. Liverpool midfield and attack is one of the best in the league now. They are now definitely challenging for the premier league title. I’m angry and sad.
We struggled to replace Casemiro when he has been missing last season and Eriksen legs are gone after his injury. Both Casemiro and Eriksren will be 32 soon. We shouldn’t be relying upon them for the whole season. We need to sign Tchouameni this summer at any cost.
Panic is entertaining, even if it clouds the memory. Nothing in January pointed towards Liverpool ‘hi-jacking’ a United move on Gakpo. Rather, United not valuing according to Gakpo to what PSV wanted. United will not be relying on Eriksen this season. Casemiro and Mount will be first pick and we will have Eriksen and likely Amrabat as back ups.
What some people fail to acknowledge, is that building a new team for a manager is very different to rebuilding under an old manager. Klopp has already built a successful team (spending loads and taking time), he only needs to replace one or two per season, and can sell players coming from success - this allows for being more choosy and spending more per player, and leaving fewer holes. Ten Hag hd ten positions to improve coming to a non-successful team, you can’t spend 110m for one player then without leaving huge gaps in the team.
Rebuilding a team is much more than buing new players, though. Very few managers can do it, even when supported. Players tire of the relation, styles are found out, new solutions don’t work as anticipates. Klopp is one of the best of a generation, so can probably do it, but it’s no sure thing.
United were always going to have to build long and slow after the chaotic Woodward regime. Højlund will probably suit Ten Hagten times better than Galpo would have, but it will take time. Regardless, United were better than Liverpool in all competitions last year.