You can only beat what’s in front of you.
The likes of England and Belgium have played opposition who aren’t much better than Senegal and Ecuador. In fact I’d say Iran and US are worse. Yet their players aren’t delivering as expected.
Cody Gakpo | OFFICIAL: Liverpool player
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik and Imran discuss a horrific month of December and a depressing FOUR defeats in a row - the latest coming against Wolves and Newcastle.
They discuss how much blame is on Ruben Amorim and rank our squad against other Premier League teams.
Do we have any chance of avoiding defeat at Anfield?
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The likes of England and Belgium have played opposition who aren’t much better than Senegal and Ecuador. In fact I’d say Iran and US are worse. Yet their players aren’t delivering as expected.
There's usually at least two of those in the group stages though. (But of course the Netherlands were lucky to draw Qatar here.)
I don’t care if he wins the golden boot, he’s not good enough for Utd.
It's a valid concern still. Yes he's dominant in the Eredivisie but he's entering his prime years, he's not some young player really. People treat him as such but you see people mention teenagers and then say him - it's not an even comparison. There's a lot of rawness to his game, even though he's played a lot of football and isn't that young. That to me says it's just here to stay. I just don't see someone who would be successful at United in him. Give him space and he can whip a good ball in or finish well, but other than that? Not much to his game IMO.
Is he a no.9 or is he a player that will fit the role of a no.9 in our team?
If he's coming to play LW and occasionally up front I'd rather not bother as it would appear to be another Rashford and we are desperate for an actual no.9 rather than another LW
If he's coming to play LW and occasionally up front I'd rather not bother as it would appear to be another Rashford and we are desperate for an actual no.9 rather than another LW
Fecking hell, 23 ain’t young anymore?!
Gives me Ollie Watkins vibes for some reason. I hope I’m wrong. I don’t think his lead forward quality.
All good points. I guess there aren't really any quality #9s available? It's even been hard to get a prospect in, look what happened with Sesko. There aren't many left field options either, not now Toney is facing a ban. So, we try and get Choupo-Moting on a short term deal? Go back in for Arnautovic?!
EtH might be looking to use Gakpo in a false 9ish system, like he did with Tadic at Ajax. A front 4 of Rashford, Gakpo, Fernandes and Antony (with Sancho and Martial thrown in) would offer goals and cause any team's defence a few problems, you'd think...
Gakpo would probably also be better cover at #10 than VdB currently is...
Honestly, I'm not convinced it's worth it either, but I can see why it might work.
Eh, for an attacker? It's at the age where you should start hitting your prime really. It's young, but you aren't a young player where you expect loads of development from then on. Just refinement at that point from what he is.Fecking hell, 23 ain’t young anymore?!
In this tournament he is drifting everywhere. Predominantly on left. I can see him playing #9 if given that role. Need to see his hold up play though.
As it stands right now he isn't a #9.
That doesn't neccesarily mean we shouldn't sign him though. We do need a proper #9, but it might be we'd plan on getting that #9 in the summer and just making do with Martial/Rashford/Gakpo up front until the end of the season. Which isn't ideal, but is understable if the CFs we really want aren't available until the summer.
The question for me is if we assume we'll be starting next season with a new #9, do we still want Gakpo? And it might be that we do, depending on what we see as his long-term position. Or indeed how much faith ETH actually has in someone like Sancho, say.
Completely hypothetical but let's say we started next season with these attacking options:
CF: New CF, Martial
LW: Rashford, Gakpo, Garnacho
RW: Antony, Sancho, Elanga
It doesn't particularly seem like overkill to me, especially with a few of those players being able to play in different positions.
He scores.. But his overall game is average.
Am I convinced he's a future striking superstar? No. Do I even think he's got world class potential in that position? Maybe. I don't even think he's guaranteed to be a success for us. But I'll take him.
But we'd still need an actual striker in the summer.
But we'd still need an actual striker in the summer.
Maybe ETH doesn't want a proper 9/ doesn't think there's anyone worth pursuing so he's going for Gakpo. We've seen City/ Liverpool dominate without one, since Gakpo can play even as a number 10, maybe he'll function as a false 9, I trust ETH knows his tactics.
With every game, his asking price will be increasing. Soon it will be impossible
Of course that's overkill. Rashford is going to play the vast majority of games as would our new No 9. 8 players for 3 positions.
Martial and Sancho are going to get the hump as it is never mind stickkng in another LW in and removing that option for them.
Garnacho and Elanga would barely play a minute.
Ironically he'd be class for us up top right now.
There just aren't any RVN's out there I'm afraid.
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Found the worst take here.
Yeah, I'd definitely take Watkins in Jan ( I know it's not happening). He is pacy, runs in behind, good hold up play.
I can only imagine how people would have ridiculed Thierry Henry here, after his first 6 months at Arsenal.
Anyone who wouldn't jump at the opportunity to have Gakpo for the rest of the season probably doesn't fully appreciate our inability to score enough goals to get top 4.
You would sign a 27 year old player who doesn't score goals ? 30 goals in 92 matches for Villa and that's who you want to solve our goalscoring problems ?
Like he deserves more then that.
They'll get him at a bargain too like they do normally with these kind of players...
Cue the outrage!!! I bet he’s now considered another world class talent the club have let slip through their fingers now that Liverpool are in the frame?
We have a perfect saying for Gakpo at this world cup; vlag op een modderschuit.
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Strikers are more than just goal scorers now. 1 in 3 isn't exactly tragic for the other offer the ball stuff he offers too.
Anyway, Villa have hardly been a top class side recently either?
The point is, we have a half fit Martial and Rashford as our striking options. We can't go turning out noses up to decent players.
Plenty of other clubs will be alerted to him now, that’s what a breakout tournament will do. We won’t get the relatively free run at him we would have done in the summer.
Interresting to see some Man Utd supporters still doubt Gakpo’s qualities whilst being over the moon with Antony.
Those who have their doubts due to the left wing position being packed i can understand. Those who can not see anything special in Gakpo probably choose useless tricks and drama over decisive actions.
just can’t understand that…..
27,28 is prime for an attacker usually
Yeah, they have Jota, Salah, Firmino, Nunez, Diaz and Carvalho. Unless Klopp sees him as advanced no8....
I dunno, they seem to have bought Darwin in order to play 4-2-3-1 and this would give them Gapko and Elliot as 10s (Elliot backing up Salah too), Diaz and Carvalho at LW and Nunez and Jota up top as Firmino ages out of the squad and becomes 3rd choice at #9 and #10 which is probably what you want from him. 8 attackers for 4 spots is about right since Elliot and Carvalho are young and Salah and Firmino could use a bit more rest.
Antony is brazilian and flashy, and he already plays for United, not that weird that United fans rate him higher
I personally prefer Gakpo, but I really violently dislike Antony so Im not the most impartial source
Hits the ball so well
Yup, like Nunez, big bargain.
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