The Liverpool Thread

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RhQQ said:
..... On another note, sorry I just don't see much in Wijnaldum as a CM to progress you to another level. Been thinking it for a little while now tbh, but kept it to myself. Keita or someone of that ilk shouldn't depend on whether Coutinho goes or not, you can upgrade on the Dutch fella who I forget is on the pitch so often. Ok, he may but in a lot of graft or whatever, but he literally never gets on the ball/stamps his marks on games.. he's supposed to be your CM?! .....
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You wouldn't be alone in that train of thought. A lot of Liverpool fans, particularly online, still question what Gini actually does and just what he brings to the team. When in truth he deserves FAR more recognition that he doesn't get from fans and pundits alike.

FWIW, having watched the vast majority of his games in Red up close, here's my view on Gini and just what he brings to the side:

He's had a real slow start to this season it's true but last year he was superb from his first game. He does all the grafting to allow the attacking 4/5 to really flourish. For someone that came with a reputation of being a typical #10 with the ego's they invariably carry, with Newcastle fans telling us 'he wasn't a team player/ would go missing away from home/ was lazy et all', he's been the most selfless player on both sides the vast majority of games we played last year. He's way stronger than I ever imagined he was when he signed. His passing and touch are typically Dutch sublime. He's always playing off the front foot and is on the turn when he receives the ball so space is already created. Get's forward brilliantly to support the attack. And his work rate is absolutely phenomenal. He allows Henderson, Can or whoever else is in there with him to bomb forward at times by just dropping in and doing the donkey work protecting them. Whilst having the knack to get forward himself and contribute. I think he finished with 6 goals and 7 or 8 assists his first year. Something like that? He's just a real tidy, top ability footballer who keeps everything ticking over.

I think the reason he's still going under the radar is you probably have to be at the match to fully appreciate what he does. You're not going to get him picked out on MOTD as a focus. He's strong in the tackle, keeps everything ticking over with his passing, his intelligence at always being open to receive and play is brilliant. He's this team's Ronnie Whelan. And just like Ronnie Whelan, he's going under appreciated by many who still say 'I don't know what Gini Wijnaldum does?' because he's not blamming them in from 20 yards or up there topping the assists list. But nobody protects the football better in that aesthetically lovely Dutch way. Not just protecting it and keeping it. But protecting it and going forward. The new, deeper role Klopp and co have devised for him has suited him completely down to the ground.

He's one of the most important cogs of all to me in this side and like the aforementioned Whelan, it's when he's not in the side that you suddenly realise and appreciate just what you're missing.
 
He does a fair amount of what you've described, plenty of graft, tidy technique, etc. but a lot of the times I've watched Liverpool, he hasn't got on the ball/got involved in the buildup near enough imo. Someone with that tidiness/technique needs to. You say he always offers himself, but there's times I don't see him touch the ball for maybe 6 or 7 mins, even when Liverpool have a fair amount of possession in these spells. He can be completely anonymous


Against Watford, never mind his own midfield compatriots, he completed less passes than Tom Cleverley and nearly half as few as Doucoure's.


Mignolet completed more passes than him in the CL midweek lol. He had the second least touches in the Liverpool team after Firmino (who's a CF, so expected), and despite his lack of possession, no Liverpool player lost the ball more.


Not even going to start on today, forgot he was on the pitch for large parts.


I'm not saying he's a bad player, he's a good tidy player, but he doesn't get on the ball/grab games by the balls half as much as he should be.


Admittedly it's only lately I've took the notion to watch him specifically, so I'll keep an eye out as the season progresses, but it'd need to be a big improvement to win me over. CM's are the heartbeat of the team, especially one that has his level of technique. He should getting on the ball a lot more, dictating play, linking midfield to attack, being the heartbeat. Not ball shy
 
And so it starts. Presume that streak of yellow will now clear up quick from your back Phil?


Seleção Brasileira‏ @BrazilStatFollow

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ESTADÃO:#Coutinho's entourage confirms he never had the will to not play for Liverpool but had to follow his representatives instructions.​

11:01 am - 21 Aug 2017

Seleção Brasileira‏ @BrazilStatFollow

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ESTADÃO:It is Barça that manipulated #Coutinho to threaten Liverpool of never playing again as a tactic to increase the deal's likelihood.


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Scouseinthehouse said:
And so it starts. Presume that streak of yellow will now clear up quick from your back Phil?


Seleção Brasileira‏ @BrazilStatFollow

More

ESTADÃO:#Coutinho's entourage confirms he never had the will to not play for Liverpool but had to follow his representatives instructions.​

11:01 am - 21 Aug 2017

Seleção Brasileira‏ @BrazilStatFollow

More

ESTADÃO:It is Barça that manipulated #Coutinho to threaten Liverpool of never playing again as a tactic to increase the deal's likelihood.


​
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has the deadline not passed that barca gave you?
 
That said, can't have too much sympathy for Liverpool, theyve not been saints themselves with their business with Southampton. Everyone involved in here could learn a thing or two from this...
 
This is true. But at least Southampton have had the summer and longer to get adequate replacements in and not have a request dropped on them the eve of the season.

That's where Phil's sullied himself to me. The manner of how he's gone around this. No issue with him wanting to go Barcelona. But to drop it the day before the season started ..... And at that, to do it in a gutless way after training and email it in ..... regardless of any bad advice he was taking or not, very shoddy how he's handled it all. He's Neymar's bezzie. Be very naive to think he didn't know this was on the cards through the summer before PSG finally made their move.

You'll support him as it's what we do and it'd be totally counter productive not to. But he's lost a heck of a lot of respect with many.
 
Grow a pair Phil. Can't even be arsed skitting yer now.

AWWWW MAN! Beer-Sheva have gone! Still never been to Israel **** it! And Rijeka which would have been boss. DEFO want Leipzig from pot 4 now.(Provided no Bayern pot 1.). Least Sevilla's a nice option pot 2.

Mixed night.
 
Mike. said:
That said, can't have too much sympathy for Liverpool, theyve not been saints themselves with their business with Southampton. Everyone involved in here could learn a thing or two from this...
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But you can't compare this to VVD saga. Southampton have had whole summer to deal with it.

I have zero problem when players try to force a move, but only a complete manchild does it so late in the window. End of the day football is like any other job, grown *** man can't just throw a tantrum and stop showing up, you need to give your employer time to lineup a replacement.
 
Just woken up and buzzing already for tonight's game.

Anfield, under the lights, on a big European night. NO place like it. And we won't play a bigger or more important game of football all season with what's at stake later. IMPERATIVE we're in tomorrow tea-times draw on so many levels. Not being is just not an option.

To all intents and purposes, last weeks fantastic win in Germany should see L'pool as good as qualified already. But these are a real tidy outfit and this won't be an easy game by any stretch of the imagination. We'll have to work our behinds off for everything and any team that's reached this stage, with all that's at stake, deserves our utmost respect. Not least one as good as these who came within a game of finishing 3rd last year in the Bundesliga and automatically qualifying for the groups.

Just adds that the absolute unadulterated excitement among Hoffenheim fans at both being in Europe for the first time in their 118 year existence, with the perfect bonus of pulling the 5 time European Champions to boot; lead to their 2,700 tickets being sold in no time. So having them in the City this week is brilliant and should add to a bouncing atmosphere.

Champions League footie. NO competition bigger.

Up the European Royalty Reds!


 
Bujakaa said:
Some small talks are that we might be interested in Ings as Wood left the building.
How is the lad, surely he is not in Klopps plans as you too much players up front, also how has been his health?
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Not a chance of that happening. And he's nowhere near ready to be thinking about league footie right now. He's had one 45 minute and one 70 minute run-out the ressi's this year after being out for so long. His return will be monitored here and he'll be brought back slowly.
 
Bujakaa said:
Some small talks are that we might be interested in Ings as Wood left the building.
How is the lad, surely he is not in Klopps plans as you too much players up front, also how has been his health?
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Only just back from injury I reckon. Be a big risk imo. Seen your close to signing Gestede this morning and yesterday. For about 7m
 
Scouseinthehouse said:
This is true. But at least Southampton have had the summer and longer to get adequate replacements in and not have a request dropped on them the eve of the season.

That's where Phil's sullied himself to me. The manner of how he's gone around this. No issue with him wanting to go Barcelona. But to drop it the day before the season started ..... And at that, to do it in a gutless way after training and email it in ..... regardless of any bad advice he was taking or not, very shoddy how he's handled it all. He's Neymar's bezzie. Be very naive to think he didn't know this was on the cards through the summer before PSG finally made their move.

You'll support him as it's what we do and it'd be totally counter productive not to. But he's lost a heck of a lot of respect with many.
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Liverpool and Coutinho knew this was coming before Neymar decided to leave. Coutinho was pretty spineless and Liverpool didn't communicate with him, and showed with VVD that they didn't have too many scruples themselves, doesn't take much for a bunch of agents to do the same. He's simply tried to press his advantage. Though being "injured" is cowardly
 
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