12 Jul 2021 11:37:58
how you going eds. If you have the time could you please give your thoughts on konate as a player? don't like watching youtube videos because they make everyone look good. What are his main strengths and weaknesses?


All the way from Australia here, hope you guys are all safe with the C.V. situation.

{Ed001's Note - his main strengths are pace and power, he is very quick and very strong, there won't be many who will bully him.

Weaknesses are his injury history, that is a worry. But also I have only seen him play in a back 3, I don't know how often he has played as part of a 4, it might be he needs time to adapt. The positional requirements are different, as are the disciplinary needs of the position. A back 3 centre-back has an extra man on the cover, so can commit themselves to challenges which would be rash in a back 4, which is probably the main weakness he has. Only time will tell if he is just rash or if he has been rash due to the system they played.}

1.) 12 Jul 2021
12 Jul 2021 12:38:41
Excellent analysis Ed, having watched him a bit if fully agree there. Can be slightly lapse positionally and uses his pace to recover position while a positive to have in the back locker not ideal as a go to as obviously you would prefer better positioning in the first place. As you said aswell this could get exposed a lot more in a 2 CB partnership rather than a 3. Again though he might have been allowed or possibly even encouraged to play this way while in a 3. Hopefully he has the intelligence and work ethic to learn and adapt to a new system. Because if he does he has all of the qualities to excel in our system but it will come down to him learning and working simply. Would be preferable to ease him in but that may not happen with all of our CBs coming back from injuries.

{Ed001's Note - he is only young and so should be able to learn and adapt. He had been playing a fair bit as a full-back/wing-back, so that might also have affected his way of playing.}

2.) 12 Jul 2021
12 Jul 2021 12:44:06
Should be interesting to see how he develops, Ed001 would you consider him as the “ideal “ upgrade Klopp has been craving for? Not sure about Joes physical attributes, but his a big boy with plenty of pace in his tank.

{Ed001's Note - I don't think there is an ideal centre-back out there to be honest. We got the best already in van Dijk and even he has trouble with keeping his focus at times. Maybe it is more about giving Virgil something to focus on, as he was at his best when he was having to shepherd Gomez through games. Once Gomez started to play well, Virgil seemed to lose a bit of concentration. Taking a player with all the potential to be a great but in need of guidance could be a masterstroke to get van Dijk back to his incredible best. A couple of years of Gomez improving and Konate being guided by Virgil could make for a solid defence.}

3.) 12 Jul 2021
12 Jul 2021 12:49:56
How much of an impact do you think playing potentially with VVD will have Ed? Many people have commented that whoever plays next to him looks a better player and I think having someone like him along side you to almost coach you on what you should be doing is invaluable learning.

{Ed001's Note - I am not convinced that whoever plays next to him looks a better player, Gomez and Matip defo improved and made themselves better players. In part due to van Dijk's guidance, but I don't think it was playing next to him that made them look better. Quite the opposite as every forward will play on whoever plays alongside Virgil as they know that there is very little chance of getting any change out of him. That means they have to learn quickly to become better players.}

4.) 12 Jul 2021
12 Jul 2021 14:01:56
Must admit, I never saw that coming. Could definitely turn out be that “masterstroke “ you mentioned, either way, we have 2 promising CB on our hands.

5.) 12 Jul 2021
12 Jul 2021 13:48:15
Reading what you’ve said there Ed about VVD almost coaching his defensive partners through games, makes me wonder if he will end up being a very good coach/ manager himself when he gives up playing.

{Ed001's Note - maybe, it is one thing talking a partner through a game and a different one watching from the sidelines though. On the pitch you are positioning relative to each other most of the time.}

6.) 12 Jul 2021
12 Jul 2021 14:10:34
Spot on, Ed. VVD does have an impact on how Big Joe and Matip have plaed and have certainly looked better next to him BUT these players were already very good players when we signed them. Sometimes, they may just have needed to have someone do most of the other stuff they are not good at (leadership, taking charge of things etc. ) while they just focused on actually doing the jobs they are good at and adapting while at it. That's why striking a great CB partnership is never based on the individual ability of each player. It is due to how each one "completes" the other, so to speak. I mean, just check out Bonucci and Chielini. Just my take.

7.) 12 Jul 2021
12 Jul 2021 14:31:08
Sorry Ed think I was misinterpreted, didn't mean looked a better player in terms of smoke and mirrors. Should have said became a better player due to having him being able to almost first hand coach them through games. You have essentially answered in the above post anyway that not only does the partner to VVD benefit but also VVD potentially benefits by keeping him in a state of mind where he needs to remain focused. Appreciate the responses anyway, have a good one mate!

{Ed001's Note - no worries mate, glad to have the chat.}

8.) 12 Jul 2021
12 Jul 2021 16:36:44
I think vvd could turn nat philips into an absolute beast. He has the passion and heart. And with vvd he will learn awareness. He is already superb with his heading.
But it will never come to be. Sigh!

9.) 13 Jul 2021
13 Jul 2021 19:27:49
Akira, Phillips is more than likely getting sold IF he wants first team footie which he has earned BUT won’t be getting if he stayed.