I would hope your arsehole's tight. The alternative doesn't bear thinking about, with regard to both you and Keita.
Liverpool - 2017/18
- Thread starter Rafateria
- Start date
As for Keita's defensive performances this season : he's averaging 3.1 tackles per match, 2.3 interceptions and 0.6 clearances. He's also has an 82.2% passing success rate, has scored 5 goals and has 1 assist and 5 MOTM performances in his 21 appearances. He's also in Who Scored's team of the BL season so far. Outstanding figures in anyone's book. So much for some people here claiming he's not been performing to previous heights.
Wait, that came out wrong
I meant Keita is NOT a defensive-minded midfielder, but my arsehole very much is
He's more Pogba than Matic
I wouldn't. Way too much for a defender. I'd get De Vrij on a free and go for Giminez instead. As for a GK, apparently, PSG has told Trapp that he can go. Would definitely be an upgrade on Mignolet and Karius.
I also think I'm of the minority that does not want Van Dijk for that price to Liverpool. Sure he will be an upgrade on what we have; however, we can go and buy two defenders for that price.
You can still pick up De Vrij on a free after you spend that money on Van Dijk you know? In fact you should. Now as for spending that money on VD, that's another matter. But hey, Klopp wants him and only him...
Having high tackling and interceptions does not necessarily mean being a strong defensive player, many pure defensive midfielders don't have high numbers because they rely more on positioning and patrolling a deeper area of the pitch rather than winning the ball all over the pitch. Keita is a B2B and therefore covers a lot of ground and wins the ball all over the pitch, therefore you can expect him to have high numbers, but 'that doesn't mean he's a defensive midfielder or can be expected to play as one (Diego Demme is the starting defensive midfielder for Leipzig and has lower stats). What would be better to look at are heatmaps to see where the person plays.
Holding a deeper role requires a lot of concentration and discipline and I don't think Keita has that. You can't depend on him to be your pure DM as he'l be inclined to move forward and join the attack, if you manage to convince him to not move from the DM position then you're actually losing half his ability as a midfielder.
Keita definitely shouldn't be seen as a one stop solution to Liverpool's defensive problems in midfield, they should definitely still look to sign a DM (Henderson can be that deep lying playmaker, but he's not high quality).
Who's that Keita fellow, excuse my ignorance?
You missed my point I think. I know very well that Keita is a B2B and not a DM .. and Klopp doesn't use a DM at Liverpool anyway (and has said that he won't). Therefore we need midfielders who can still contribute to the defence, as well as attack, without being an out and out defensive midfielder, and that contribution can come anywhere on the pitch, not necessarily right in front of the back 4. Hence my pointing out his defensive stats.
Hendo is about done in my book. He can't play more than once a week and his injuries are going to see him sidelined as often as not. Maybe we can get Ruben Neves as the playmaker.
Thanks for your assessment though .... it just underlines everything I've seen and read to date.
Van Dijk may fix nothing. The Liverpool front six system exposes the defenders IMO.
Can't see that changing much all while Klopp is manager.
I'm also not convinced any of the current Liverpool defenders would form a good partnership with him.
Can't see that changing much all while Klopp is manager.
I'm also not convinced any of the current Liverpool defenders would form a good partnership with him.
Naby Keita, playing for Leipzig, joining Liverpool in the summer.
Good CM, much better than the shit Liverpool have right now.
Thanks. Somehow I thought he's a winger or something.
Liverpool should copy City's playing style, not end to end or basketball style. Play Coutinho ini a deeper role. Maybe that could solve their defensive problem a bit.
Have to disagree with Klopp, one of the main reasons his system worked at Dortmund was because he had Sven Bender sitting deep protecting his back 4. That allowed his attack minded system to work in the Bundesliga and Europe.
If he doesn't deploy a DM or atleast a deep lying playmaker alongside a B2B then he won't ever find the defensive stability he requires, no matter how many great CB's he may sign. I don't see much differences between how Klopp's Dortmund played compared to today's Liverpool. Therefore he needs one defensively capable player to be sitting in-front of the back 4 to protect them from counter attacks, if not a pure DM like Bender, then at least a Carrick type player.
Since he has signed a premier B2B in Keita, I think it would be better to have a technically sound defensive playmaker (or techincally sound DM like Busquests/Weigl) since without one, they will lack a player who can build from the back like Gundogan did. That's one area they especially lack, a player who can help bring calm in the midfield when they are under pressure after surrendering a lead.
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We will most likely sign a DM in the summer once Can leaves.
Agreed. A solid DM alongside Keita and hopefully Van Dijk behind them would do us a world of good.
Flanagan charged with assault. Crazy to think it was only just over a year ago he captained Liverpool in a PL game.
He could have carved out a decent career as the 2nd-choice-local-lad who might not be quite good enough, but nonetheless good enough as a backup fullback due to being local. Klopp was on board with him when he came as well. He's pissed his career up the wall by basically always being pissed though.
The championship beckons from here.
Sad. It has to be tough for players in a small city where they can't really avoid dickhead fans, especially those of a rival team. Not sure what happened here, just a general comment. Not that I have much sympathy for players earning far more than they ever should (here I go on my nurses, doctors, preaching gig again).
Why did we not go for Sadio Mane or Salah? Proper wingers that can score as well.
If liverpool keep coutinho, while adding Keita and van Dijk, ouch!
If liverpool keep coutinho, while adding Keita and van Dijk, ouch!
So what you're saying is, next year is their year?
As long as they don't get injured. I put them favorites to finish second after City.
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Paulinhos comments - http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/spor...verpools-philippe-coutinho-told-wont-14085158
I've always maintained that it's our fault if we can't match his ambitions and provide him with a side capable of winning big trophies, he's been here long enough and seen us squander summer after summer.
But feck me surely it's a bit much for a player to speak that brazenly about the move.
I've always maintained that it's our fault if we can't match his ambitions and provide him with a side capable of winning big trophies, he's been here long enough and seen us squander summer after summer.
But feck me surely it's a bit much for a player to speak that brazenly about the move.
We're only halfway through this season for god sake
Telegraph reporting Van Dijk is done for £75m.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/football...-agree-world-record-75m-deal-virgil-van-dijk/
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/football...-agree-world-record-75m-deal-virgil-van-dijk/
Just earlier today I read that a move to City was all but done. Fantastic news if true, even if the price is absolutely insane. With Keita coming next summer we could end up having a pretty decent first XI.
Like feck you are spending that and the Keita fee without the sale of Coutinho already factored in.
It's breaking all over Twitter that the move to LFC is done. Marks a huge change in our transfer policy in that we're actually signing quality players at premium fees rather than cheap youngsters. Considering the signings of Salah and Keita too, I don't praise them often but FSG finally deserve some props.
yeah that's bad. And might explain the high fee for Van Dijk
Klopp: We won't go over 40 mil for VVD.
Lovren: Boss, I am fit to play next game.
Klopp: Okay, 75 mil then.
Joyce and Pearce both announced VVD to Liverpool. Undergone medical. Official on 1st January.
Sky just reported deal agreed for vvd - £75m
Surely Coutinho will go to cover the cost of Keita and VVD?
If they dont stop conceding Klopp is going to look a massive mug.
Why? They were both in the pipeline last Summer when Lemar was supposedly the Coutinho replacement. It's not even half the purported 150m+ we had to spend without selling.
Nah. We had budgeted for both at a time before barca registered any interest. Our net spend for the past two seasons is 26m. We have loads sitting in the bank right now.
edit: still think coutinho will be sold mind. But not related to those two.
BREAKING news on Sky. Van Dyke to Liverpool agreed for 75mil!!!
Mixed feelings about van Dijk going to Liverpool. Wasn't overly enthused about the prospect of City signing him for £60m+ but at the same time he will improve Liverpool's defence. Could be serious title challengers next season, although it's still going to require some more spending in addition to adequately replacing Coutinho.
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You think Coutinho will stay?
It’s not just Coutinho they might have to replace, if Salah keeps performing at such a high level but they don’t win anything his head is also bound to be turned if Barca, Real etc... come calling.
Same for the other 2 of the ‘fab 4’.
By signing VvD, Klopp now has to follow it up by plugging their defence and winning a major trophy. Let’s not also forget that defenders who play well for Southampton don’t necessarily carry that level to Liverpool...
Same for the other 2 of the ‘fab 4’.
By signing VvD, Klopp now has to follow it up by plugging their defence and winning a major trophy. Let’s not also forget that defenders who play well for Southampton don’t necessarily carry that level to Liverpool...
Or stay as we are showing a bit more ambition ?
Anyway .
This signing if it's 100% confirmed is a little step towards us sorting out our defensive weirdness. A good solid DM in the Matic / Mascherno mould is needed to take another little step.