02 Sep 2017 15:01:10
I been thinking about us signing the ox and him maybe picking up a central role. I think it's a great signing and although we have a lot of good cms (with more coming next year) but we struggle to break down stubborn defences. Coutinio is key to breaking defences down not only because he can pick a pass but because hd can beat a man. Ox's ability to go past a player or two is going to be massive when it comes to breaking these defences down and I think that is part of the reason klopp wanted him so badly.

1.) 02 Sep 2017
02 Sep 2017 15:13:33
And of course his pace, power and passing is perfect for the counter attacking football. His versatility is massive too.

2.) 02 Sep 2017
02 Sep 2017 16:03:06
Klopp was quoted the other day as saying that the Ox is a player who takes risks. It says it all. He thinks his current midfield options are all too 'careful' in possession and it's hard to disagree. Although we appreciate what Hendersons all around game and leadership, amongst other fans he has a reputation of being a bit crab like. His job isn't to risk possession in his defence, but it has become increasingly rare for him to actually plays an incisive forward pass. It is a hangover from the Rodgers era where he coached them all to pass the opposition to death and as the saying goes, old habits die hard. Can, Henderson and Lallana are all guilty of going sideways when there is a forward pass on. Gini seems more willing to take risks and that wis reflected by how many goals he created from through balls last season, but i think he lacks the explosiveness that Chamberlain has to hurt teams sitting deep.

I'd argue that Can, Gini and Hendo are all better central midfielders in terms of what they do than the Ox is currently, but he just offers something different. He is far more direct and that is something we lack badly when teams sit in. We just end up passing it across the pitch looking for a gap, when you sometimes need someone to just make their own gap. Chamberlains crossing is also better than anyone else in our squad except maybe Salah and Robertson. Delivery from wide areas is something we have struggled with since the likes of Gerrard.

One thing i have noticed from Klopps summer spending is that all the new signings are geared towards breaking down teams parking the bus. Solanke is a big power house who wants to attack balls into the box, and Salah, Robertson and Chamberlain are all dangerous in wide areas with their whipped crosses. Then you have Keita on his way next season who can literally dribble his way through two banks of 4 and go round the goal keeper just to rub salt into the wounds. Teams won't be able to sit back soon and when they realise they need to cone out and play, we'll just murder them in behind instead.

Klopp knows what we struggled with last season going forward and i don't see it being an issue this time around. I just hope he gets the set piece defending right in training and then i see us as genuine title contenders.

3.) 02 Sep 2017
02 Sep 2017 16:31:05
Find it hard to disagree with this post. A well thought out, reasoned contribution. 👍🏻.

4.) 02 Sep 2017
02 Sep 2017 16:51:15
I agree with most of it but wijnaldum is not a creative player for me, he is more likely to thrive on balls played to him when arriving late in the box.

5.) 02 Sep 2017
02 Sep 2017 16:11:31
While it is safe to say he divides opinion on here (but then again, who doesn't), I believe there is some amount of versatility in his game that makes him a good option off the bench if we are starting our strongest team. His pace, power and always wanting to push the ball off in front of him makes him more suited for wing play though.

6.) 02 Sep 2017
02 Sep 2017 17:17:21
Love it MK.

7.) 02 Sep 2017
02 Sep 2017 17:57:45
MK, now you are talking sense. Whether I agree or not is not the issue. Your argument for Ox has been wierd and illogical all summer long IMO BUT this is the first time you have ever made a very intelligent case for his arrival to LFC. Next time you want to make a case for a player to come to LFC, start with this kind of post as it makes total sense.

8.) 02 Sep 2017
02 Sep 2017 18:10:17
I agree Trevor. Gini is not a natural playmaker. He is a midfield goal scorer, kind of like what Lampard was. He is more mobile and less clinical than Lamps, but their styles are very similar.

I don't think creativity from deep is historically a feature to Gini's game, but he certainly created more than the other midfielders last season. I think not ever being coached by Rodgers is a big reason for that. He wasn't focused on keeping possession so when a difficult chance to play someone in arised, he gambled on the pass coming off more often than Hendo or Lallana did. Klopp will have them all firing this season though. We'll be lethal!

9.) 02 Sep 2017
02 Sep 2017 18:34:53
You did miss out the fact that Keita would have tackled someone to get the ball to dribble through those two banks of four MK 😜.

10.) 02 Sep 2017
02 Sep 2017 18:49:55
MK Scouser, do u ever go out?! Lol your essays on here must take up a lot of your time! Lol good on ya but get out lad! Lol.