20 Oct 2022 00:38:15
When we first signed thiago he was a luxury. We operated quite well without him. Now we are reliant on him for any creativity outside of the forward players and that has been lacking at times of late. Quite concerning. I’m starting to come around to Bellingham but the fact is unless he is lured by the romance of klopp/ kopites/ history (slim chance in this materialistic world) we stand very little chance of signing him.

When there were rumors a month or so ago about a keita-like deal happening I was excited but it feels like it’s not meant to be.

1.) 20 Oct 2022
20 Oct 2022 03:55:11
We totally lost what little control we had second half tonight when he went off. He's magical.

2.) 20 Oct 2022
20 Oct 2022 05:17:49
Bellingham is nothing similar to Thiago. One is a purest form of a playmaker and the other one is a hard hitting B2B. Thiago is like your Zidane, Ozil or Ronaldinho at the back. While most of the center mids pass the ball where they see, Thiago just turns with it ease. World class.

3.) 20 Oct 2022
20 Oct 2022 08:14:04
I disagree OP, I, don’t think Thiago was a luxury. I think he was meant as a key component but took longer than expected to ‘acclimatise’ and he wasn’t helped by a string of annoying injuries that had people like me (hands up and apologies for my misjudgement) that he was an expensive luxury which was wide of the mark.

4.) 20 Oct 2022
20 Oct 2022 08:24:46
Thiago can play a lot better than he has in the last few games. 6 out of 10 definitely no more atm.

5.) 20 Oct 2022
20 Oct 2022 08:30:38
Thiago is like Zidane, Ozil or Ronaldinho?
How?

6.) 20 Oct 2022
20 Oct 2022 08:42:33
Oh come did you just compare Thiago to Zidane and Ronaldinho there nothing alike at all with play Sykes maybe a slight drop of the shoulder and close control to beat a man but wow.

7.) 20 Oct 2022
20 Oct 2022 08:43:02
bellingham, or a player like him can extend Thiago's career.

8.) 20 Oct 2022
20 Oct 2022 09:41:15
I have read on here posters saying Thiago is the player Modric wishes he was. It’s just ridiculous to even compare Thiago to Zidane, Ronaldinho or Modric.

9.) 20 Oct 2022
20 Oct 2022 09:47:06
Agreed mark. Think he plays in a similar style to Modric but Modric is far better.

10.) 20 Oct 2022
20 Oct 2022 11:07:40
And there he goes again comparing a deep lying playmaker or CM like Thiago to an old school No. 10 in Zidane, Ozil and Ronaldinho. Another bonkers take. I am now convinced that Linders is Harry now.

As for us coping well without Thiago, when did that happen? Many people on here lament his absence when he isn't playing as we lack any form of control w/ o him in midfield so again, can the OP explain how we functioned well w/ o him? Also, how is Bellingham anything like Thiago?

11.) 20 Oct 2022
20 Oct 2022 11:35:42
Not sure why people keeps calling me “Harry”. Thiago is a cross breed or a deep playmaker and a Center mid. He would comfortably play alongside a proper DM like Zidane or Modric. Ozil is a playmaker again plays slightly ahead that’s all. They are all playmakers. Deep or front how does it matter?

12.) 20 Oct 2022
20 Oct 2022 13:04:46
Linders, both positions are played very differently since you play the DLP role in front of the defence while you play the No. 10 role further up the pitch in a free role with license to create and make things happen anywhere on the pitch. There is NO free role when you play the DLP role in front of the defence BUT I guess you know more than everybody else.

13.) 20 Oct 2022
20 Oct 2022 13:37:33
Although you have a point Oli you are not right with regards to their game.
If you play with two sitting DM who can’t pass to save their arse then your playmaker is played slightly ahead (Ozil is a prime example) . I have seen Thiago play in front of Alonso as a proper 8 and alongside Kimmich as a playmaker.

A normal midfield has three units
1. A DM
2. A B2B
3. A Playmaker

You could chose to play the playmaker anywhere.

14.) 20 Oct 2022
20 Oct 2022 16:32:20
Kimmich is a DM by trade who played at RB cos Thiago was CM alongside Goretzka at Bayern. He was moved back into the DM/ CM role with Goretzka after Thiago left a couple of seasons ago. He was NEVER a playmaker nor a no. 10 nor a DLP either cos Bayern play with mostly a double pivot in CM so bad analogy.

As for Thiago, he played mostly in a double pivot with Alonso or much later with Goretzka esp. during that season when Bayern won the CL in 19/ 20. Btw, no manager with any sense will play a double pivot with players who "can't pass the ball to save their lives". That is literally NOT a thing. No manager would ever do that, IMO.

And lastly, your "normal midfield" is NOT a thing either. The midfield setup you use depends on the system you have what you are trying to achieve on the pitch based on the opposition and what areas you can exploit. Nothing is set in stone as formations are flexible. Nice debate, tho.

15.) 20 Oct 2022
20 Oct 2022 18:00:13
So Zidane was a proper DM?
How on earth have you come up with that, Linders?

16.) 20 Oct 2022
20 Oct 2022 19:22:01
You got it wrong Rigsby, I was referring to the point that Zidane and Modric would work cool alongside a proper DM.

You do have some points there Oli. Thiago did play further up the field for Bayern when Xabi was truly pulling the strings form the deeper role. In that set up Alonso is your DLP and while Thiago is a class act his job was entirely different.
Thiago could also work extremely well alongside a proper DM. Like he was with Kimmich / Fabinho.

Thiago is a lot more than just a DLP ( apparently Jorginho is one) .

17.) 20 Oct 2022
20 Oct 2022 21:35:29
You got it wrong, LB.
You said a proper DM like Zidane.

18.) 20 Oct 2022
20 Oct 2022 23:09:56
Sounds like Harry alright. Nonsense after nonsense, followed by deflection and backtracking. But it must be said. Thiago is like Ronaldinho, Zidane and Ozil. That's comedy gold right there.