Something very interesting is happening. Our strategy for this winter transfer window was to recruit upcoming CB talents, resulting in three confirmed U21 signings - Ndukwe (17), Ndiaye (18), Adekoya (19) - and one first team signing in Jacquet (20). I’d also include Leoni in this topic.
While the investments in the academy are commendable, they seem to mainly correct past failures that resulted in not one academy CB being promoted to first team since Quansah’s debut in August 2023, a time equal to four transfer windows.
Leoni (26m + add-ons) and Jacquet (55m + add-ons) are high potential signings with high fees and high risks attached. Neither of them has PL nor CL experience and both are signed many years before the typical CB peak performance age (27-31).
I’d be very interested to know which insights the suits got that landed them on this strategy. Maybe the preference for younger talents instead of player closer to their prime stems from the upcoming regulations regarding squad cost ratio. Younger players command lower wages thereby it could be a mean to decrease the wage bill long term. As the summer has shown Liverpool are not bothered by high transfer fees. Wild speculation, but could this also be related to SSR which includes an annual Liquidity Test whose calculation includes 40% of the club’s squad market value (as opposed to its book value) as a liquid asset. I could not find a definition of market value on the PL website, but I assume the transfer fee is a decisive factor. (ref.: https://www.premierleague.com/en/news/4467022/new-premier-league-financial-system-explained)
Interesting that the players we have are more suited to a back 3 with 2 strikers and wing backs instead of wingers. Could it be preparation for Alonso?
I enjoyed your series on Scouting Centre Backs, and this is a great follow-up. Once again, your article provides excellent detail on Jacquet and how Liverpool is moving forward with their recruitment, along with lots of smiles! Many thanks!
Centre backs don't really get rotated. You really want to keep the pairing most games.
JJ obviously replaces Ibou.
Gomez third centre back, and a promising/youngster centre back for the 4th slot, so Leoni, which given how injury-prone Gomez is might end up the other way round.
What the club really needs, given Gomez, is a genuine 5th choice centre back in the academy that can come in in an emergency and do a job (so not Amaro NoNoNo!!!). Maybe the Austrian lad. I might put his photo up on my wall. Looks like he's just scored the biggest weed deal in history, and then smoked one container of it all by himself.
Van Hecke's not for us. Different system, different tempo. Won't want to sit on the bench.
I've got a feeling about Cresswell, but he'll want to play, not get splinters in his arse.
Josh, wondering how he compares against Yoro’s time in France? We were told Yoro was the elite young centre back in Europe when United signed him but he’s hardly been great, although he’s been in poor United sides.
Exciting times! Let’s hope leoni can get back to his best and then we may just have one of the best pairings for a decade.
Would hope and expect that in trying to maintain balance as regards age and experience, the club either extend konates contract or secure van hecke/schlotterbeck come the summer.
As you have said before, in trying to replace what Trent could do from defence, and identifying CBs to share the load, maybe schlotterbeck is the way to go.
"Jacquet was posting a [aerial duel] win rate of over 70 per cent"
I'd love to see a source for that. So far only seen that number with no attributable source. Whereas Fotmob have it down as low as 43%. Unless Fotmob are wildly wrong, or someone has pulled a figure from somewhere and falsely attributed it to Fotmob. It does look suspiciously like the Guehi number. Maybe someone got confused.
Not arsed about the passing. Never needed Glenn Hoddle at centre back, never will.
If his aerial stats genuinely are over 70%, we should be on a winner. Any casual look at the ubiquitous 8-minute scouting video and you can see how quick he is and strong in the 'duel'.
"On guard!"
What these videos never show is whether the player has the slightest ability to play offside. Never seen a clip of a player standing in line, arm raised in the style of Tony Adams. Maybe cos that sort of clip wouldn't go with the drum n bass or speed garage or whatever shite it is.
But JJ looks like he would be exactly what we need if we want to play a high line, the Ibou role, or the early Ibou role, able to carry out his own job but also cover Trent's sorry arse as well, defending an entire quarter of the pitch all on his own. Superman.
I'll be absolutely gutted to see Ibou go, love the lad, but sadly it looks like he's off.
–––
Three at the back, my arse.
Shithouse formation that is, for the likes of Gareth Southgate, not Liverpool Football Club.
I've only just gotten over Roy Evans playing it.
No serious football club plays three at the back. Not us, not Real Madrid, not Barcelona, not Bayern, not 115 FC, and not The Arse.
Our footie is as dire as it's been in 50 years without making it even worse by adding a CB in.
No. Nay. Never.
The first time we ever played three centre backs was against Spurs at White Hart Lane. Either Kenny or Yozzer was the manager. People's heads exploded and they were busy ripping out the barriers in the Park Lane End and erecting a gallows to hang the manager. Three centre backs was worse than plastic pitches. Heresy. A capital offence if ever there was one.
Great piece as usual, but I have to quibble with one thing: Guehi is not quite a giant, but we were really close to signing him. I guess he's good in the air for his size, in a back 3 at least, and of course he has the ball-playing. I guess that's another reason why you prioritised build-up skills when you did the CB scouting series.
Back 3 suspicion is interesting, as it could be a way to help extend VVD's career span at the elite level as he ages. Would also make sense if the speculation is right and Xabi Alonso is joining in the summer. Who knows, but fun to speculate
On Guehi, that’s kinda my point tbh. We moved for him on the final day of the summer window and basically put forward a take-it-or-leave-it offer. And when that collapsed, we seemingly had no interest in resolving the issue ahead of January.
In other words, Liverpool were interested, but not *that* interested. More of a market opportunity than a player we truly loved imo.
Fair enough! I think we dodged a bit of a bullet there anyway, serious doubts about how short he is, which seems like a crucial attribute to be an elite club's CB in this new Premier League meta of set-piece attrition.
Meanwhile, this Jacquet lad has an impressive stride, even when bringing the ball out the back in your gif. He looks like he could have that Konate 'channel protector' job in future. Looks very promising
Also, I just listened to the pod segment with Andrew Beasley where you explain this same thing, haha, sorry you had to repeat yourself here
Just more of a general preference tbh. You can only pick ten outfielders and three kinda have to be centre-backs, the least dangerous players. And you have to buy more of them. Recruiting wing-backs can be difficult, too. And those players end up having to finish moves. I’d rather those chances fall to forwards.
Something very interesting is happening. Our strategy for this winter transfer window was to recruit upcoming CB talents, resulting in three confirmed U21 signings - Ndukwe (17), Ndiaye (18), Adekoya (19) - and one first team signing in Jacquet (20). I’d also include Leoni in this topic.
While the investments in the academy are commendable, they seem to mainly correct past failures that resulted in not one academy CB being promoted to first team since Quansah’s debut in August 2023, a time equal to four transfer windows.
Leoni (26m + add-ons) and Jacquet (55m + add-ons) are high potential signings with high fees and high risks attached. Neither of them has PL nor CL experience and both are signed many years before the typical CB peak performance age (27-31).
I’d be very interested to know which insights the suits got that landed them on this strategy. Maybe the preference for younger talents instead of player closer to their prime stems from the upcoming regulations regarding squad cost ratio. Younger players command lower wages thereby it could be a mean to decrease the wage bill long term. As the summer has shown Liverpool are not bothered by high transfer fees. Wild speculation, but could this also be related to SSR which includes an annual Liquidity Test whose calculation includes 40% of the club’s squad market value (as opposed to its book value) as a liquid asset. I could not find a definition of market value on the PL website, but I assume the transfer fee is a decisive factor. (ref.: https://www.premierleague.com/en/news/4467022/new-premier-league-financial-system-explained)
Marshmallow article aging like fine wine. 😍
Hysterical folks online are quiet today…
Interesting that the players we have are more suited to a back 3 with 2 strikers and wing backs instead of wingers. Could it be preparation for Alonso?
Or Amorim? (Just kidding)
Nice
I enjoyed your series on Scouting Centre Backs, and this is a great follow-up. Once again, your article provides excellent detail on Jacquet and how Liverpool is moving forward with their recruitment, along with lots of smiles! Many thanks!
we still need another centre back for the summer who would your ideal player be mine van heckke
I like Schlotterbeck too. But he’s left footed. Van Hecke right footed. Depends what’s going on with Virgil and Konate.
We don't really. Realistically.
Centre backs don't really get rotated. You really want to keep the pairing most games.
JJ obviously replaces Ibou.
Gomez third centre back, and a promising/youngster centre back for the 4th slot, so Leoni, which given how injury-prone Gomez is might end up the other way round.
What the club really needs, given Gomez, is a genuine 5th choice centre back in the academy that can come in in an emergency and do a job (so not Amaro NoNoNo!!!). Maybe the Austrian lad. I might put his photo up on my wall. Looks like he's just scored the biggest weed deal in history, and then smoked one container of it all by himself.
Van Hecke's not for us. Different system, different tempo. Won't want to sit on the bench.
I've got a feeling about Cresswell, but he'll want to play, not get splinters in his arse.
Josh, wondering how he compares against Yoro’s time in France? We were told Yoro was the elite young centre back in Europe when United signed him but he’s hardly been great, although he’s been in poor United sides.
It’s a good question. I’m not sure personally. Yoro was two years younger. I’d argue Jacquet has more of a physical edge.
Exciting times! Let’s hope leoni can get back to his best and then we may just have one of the best pairings for a decade.
Would hope and expect that in trying to maintain balance as regards age and experience, the club either extend konates contract or secure van hecke/schlotterbeck come the summer.
As you have said before, in trying to replace what Trent could do from defence, and identifying CBs to share the load, maybe schlotterbeck is the way to go.
"Jacquet was posting a [aerial duel] win rate of over 70 per cent"
I'd love to see a source for that. So far only seen that number with no attributable source. Whereas Fotmob have it down as low as 43%. Unless Fotmob are wildly wrong, or someone has pulled a figure from somewhere and falsely attributed it to Fotmob. It does look suspiciously like the Guehi number. Maybe someone got confused.
Not arsed about the passing. Never needed Glenn Hoddle at centre back, never will.
If his aerial stats genuinely are over 70%, we should be on a winner. Any casual look at the ubiquitous 8-minute scouting video and you can see how quick he is and strong in the 'duel'.
"On guard!"
What these videos never show is whether the player has the slightest ability to play offside. Never seen a clip of a player standing in line, arm raised in the style of Tony Adams. Maybe cos that sort of clip wouldn't go with the drum n bass or speed garage or whatever shite it is.
But JJ looks like he would be exactly what we need if we want to play a high line, the Ibou role, or the early Ibou role, able to carry out his own job but also cover Trent's sorry arse as well, defending an entire quarter of the pitch all on his own. Superman.
I'll be absolutely gutted to see Ibou go, love the lad, but sadly it looks like he's off.
–––
Three at the back, my arse.
Shithouse formation that is, for the likes of Gareth Southgate, not Liverpool Football Club.
I've only just gotten over Roy Evans playing it.
No serious football club plays three at the back. Not us, not Real Madrid, not Barcelona, not Bayern, not 115 FC, and not The Arse.
Our footie is as dire as it's been in 50 years without making it even worse by adding a CB in.
No. Nay. Never.
The first time we ever played three centre backs was against Spurs at White Hart Lane. Either Kenny or Yozzer was the manager. People's heads exploded and they were busy ripping out the barriers in the Park Lane End and erecting a gallows to hang the manager. Three centre backs was worse than plastic pitches. Heresy. A capital offence if ever there was one.
Then we won the game.
https://x.com/optaanalyst/status/2018453466168070156
Hope that's right then.
I bet someone's using the Guehi 40-odd percent and passing it off as JJ's Fotmob.
A little known fact, Rhys Williams had THE best aerial duels %age THAT season.
So we're signing the new Rhys Williams, or the new Ibou. Hopefully the latter.
Sad what's happened, or not happened, for Rhys Williams. Hero for a half season.
Oh well. I expect I'll get over it. One day...
Great piece as usual, but I have to quibble with one thing: Guehi is not quite a giant, but we were really close to signing him. I guess he's good in the air for his size, in a back 3 at least, and of course he has the ball-playing. I guess that's another reason why you prioritised build-up skills when you did the CB scouting series.
Back 3 suspicion is interesting, as it could be a way to help extend VVD's career span at the elite level as he ages. Would also make sense if the speculation is right and Xabi Alonso is joining in the summer. Who knows, but fun to speculate
On Guehi, that’s kinda my point tbh. We moved for him on the final day of the summer window and basically put forward a take-it-or-leave-it offer. And when that collapsed, we seemingly had no interest in resolving the issue ahead of January.
In other words, Liverpool were interested, but not *that* interested. More of a market opportunity than a player we truly loved imo.
Fair enough! I think we dodged a bit of a bullet there anyway, serious doubts about how short he is, which seems like a crucial attribute to be an elite club's CB in this new Premier League meta of set-piece attrition.
Meanwhile, this Jacquet lad has an impressive stride, even when bringing the ball out the back in your gif. He looks like he could have that Konate 'channel protector' job in future. Looks very promising
Also, I just listened to the pod segment with Andrew Beasley where you explain this same thing, haha, sorry you had to repeat yourself here
Why don't you want us to go the back 3 route, Josh?
Just more of a general preference tbh. You can only pick ten outfielders and three kinda have to be centre-backs, the least dangerous players. And you have to buy more of them. Recruiting wing-backs can be difficult, too. And those players end up having to finish moves. I’d rather those chances fall to forwards.