Frank Grimes
Full Member
Fekir is nailed for Liverpool, it's basically a done deal.
It's a reflection of How mourinho wants to play, what qualities he seems most important, and his little care of footballing aesthetics on the pitch. Presence over creative and penetrative spark seems to be his way and if one values those qualities more, than the most creative and penetrative spark won't like to work with him as he does not get the best out of them by what we have seen for 2 years now.
Instead of spending 100 m on SMS he could have bought two play makers in Fekir and Jorginho instead for the same money which I think would have been better suited to an attacking brand of football with more willingness to quicken the attacking transition and play make and create which would have got the best out of our superb attacking potential but it seems the physique , creativity and presence of SMS is what he values more over a more fluid attacking way. He seems to be building a tactically functional defensively astute defensive reactive counter attacking side like one of those Italian teams are known for who are very efficient but not very fluid and a great spectacle who will take the initiative upon themselves to win the game but wait for the opponents to make mistakes and pounce on it. But as we have seen this season when the opponents gives the ball away and play the same against Mourinho's side the team has struggled to break them down with lack of movement and quality final ball in final third with slow attacking transition which seems to be the biggest hurdle if Mourinho wants to win the Epl next season.
I've only seen Fabinho and Fekir a few times, but the hope/expectation with Keita is that there is a legit chance that he will come in and basically be the best midfielder in the league after De Bruyne.Can someone explain to me why Fabinho Keita and Fekir is so good? Are they really good enough for a title winning squad?
Exactly my point. Our tactics were mainly to create through width but our terrible wing plays through ineffective fullbacks and attackers playing out of position create the perception you have. Look at the shit crosses from Valencia, Martial, Rashford, Mata, etc. Most of them would drift inward due to lack of abilities. As for our central attackers, Lingard, Pogba, Matic simply do not excel in tight spaces and quick one-twos. Try looking at how we play one touch football outside the box, and compare to other teams. There is a serious lack of quality and hence i felt Fekir would go a long way towards improving our attack. If Mata and Lingard can play for JM, Fekir can do everything better compared to them.Sometimes i think people watch different games. We play wide? Since when? W
Only Rashford ever plays with width no one else does and thats not consistent. Most of our wide players are either strikers or no10s. Bizzare.
Stats may back that up but it's not an impression I have when watching us, I guess that's why people get so irate about our attacking play because our route to goal isn't obvious and it is as others have said it's a 'if it happens it happens' approach. I can think of more goals from crosses last season than I can through the middle thoughMost of our play is through the middle. That's is without doubt.
Most teams don't have a natural No 10. Madrid, Barca, At Madrid, City, Juve. Don't see why it's so necessary. Most teams also don't have natural wingers. Fullbacks are the new wide men.
Really cant see that happening tbh, that would mean he's better than the likes of Silva, Kante and depending on your interpretation of their role the likes of Eriksen and Alli (and I'm purposefully not mentioning (although I just have) Matic and Pogba)I've only seen Fabinho and Fekir a few times, but the hope/expectation with Keita is that there is a legit chance that he will come in and basically be the best midfielder in the league after De Bruyne.
I am not sure Silva can keep up this level. But yeah, I think he can be better than Kante and duke it out with the likes of Eriksen and (assuming he plays to his talent) Pogba.Really cant see that happening tbh, that would mean he's better than the likes of Silva, Kante and depending on your interpretation of their role the likes of Eriksen and Alli (and I'm purposefully not mentioning (although I just have) Matic and Pogba)
I agree with you in some sense and i think we're circling around the same point but from different angles. However, I'd put forward the opposite impression really. We mostly try to play through the middle but because we don't have that creater or link player (as you say) then it ends up with our fullbacks crossing it as the last option too often.Exactly my point. Our tactics were mainly to create through width but our terrible wing plays through ineffective fullbacks and attackers playing out of position create the perception you have. Look at the shit crosses from Valencia, Martial, Rashford, Mata, etc. Most of them would drift inward due to lack of abilities. As for our central attackers, Lingard, Pogba, Matic simply do not excel in tight spaces and quick one-twos. Try looking at how we play one touch football outside the box, and compare to other teams. There is a serious lack of quality and hence i felt Fekir would go a long way towards improving our attack. If Mata and Lingard can play for JM, Fekir can do everything better compared to them.
Pretty much this. Martial waits to be pressured by a player just so he can dribble past him because that's what he does, Rashford either makes the wrong pass/shot or runs the ball out of play. Lingard is surprisingly selfish when given space and tries to score worldies all the time. Mata kills almost every counter attack he is involved in by shifting to his left foot and passing sideways instead of running into space or making a through ball.Our one twos and quick passing happens at the final third in front of a packed defence because we basically let the opposition get back into position rather than hitting hard on the counter. Has happened for the past 3-4 seasons
Because Mourinho is interested in established stars only. If, and when, Fekir shines at WC Mourinho becomes interested. I just hope Liverpool has nabbed him up before that.Why are we not interested in this guy? This is the kind of player the fans are screaming for. Great energy, great skills, good passer, good dribbler, fair long distance shot, leadership, just the right age and available for me is clearly a no brainer.
I just dont know why it seems Liverpool is the only team interested in him, and for 60 millions is a steal. In my opinion he is way better and more complete than Milinković-Savić. I think if we dont sign him and he ends in liverpool he probably will become one of the best players in the league.
Yeah just like Delot who is even younger and less experienced than Fekir.Because Mourinho is interested in established stars only. If, and when, Fekir shines at WC Mourinho becomes interested. I just hope Liverpool has nabbed him up before that.
And Lindelof. And Bailly. Neither have shone at a World Cup. Both were younger than Fekir when signed.Yeah just like Delot who is even younger and less experienced than Fekir.
Yep but to name a few recent ones and the load more in the past. These out and out fabrications about him have gone beyond tiresome.And Lindelof. And Bailly. Neither have shone at a World Cup. Both were younger than Fekir when signed.
We try to put the majority of our play through the middle, but we invariably end up just pissing around unable to break through the defence and we eventually end up going wide to try to get around it.Stats may back that up but it's not an impression I have when watching us, I guess that's why people get so irate about our attacking play because our route to goal isn't obvious and it is as others have said it's a 'if it happens it happens' approach. I can think of more goals from crosses last season than I can through the middle though
Totally agree. It is the thing I feared about Mourinho taking over, tryin gto adapt our club to his style rather than the other way round and prove himself a brilliant manager. What you write kind of explains why probably the best time he has had in management I would say, was at Inter, he is made for Italian football.It's a reflection of How mourinho wants to play, what qualities he seems most important, and his little care of footballing aesthetics on the pitch. Presence over creative and penetrative spark seems to be his way and if one values those qualities more, than the most creative and penetrative spark won't like to work with him as he does not get the best out of them by what we have seen for 2 years now.
Instead of spending 100 m on SMS he could have bought two play makers in Fekir and Jorginho instead for the same money which I think would have been better suited to an attacking brand of football with more willingness to quicken the attacking transition and play make and create which would have got the best out of our superb attacking potential but it seems the physique , creativity and presence of SMS is what he values more over a more fluid attacking way. He seems to be building a tactically functional defensively astute defensive reactive counter attacking side like one of those Italian teams are known for who are very efficient but not very fluid and a great spectacle who will take the initiative upon themselves to win the game but wait for the opponents to make mistakes and pounce on it. But as we have seen this season when the opponents gives the ball away and play the same against Mourinho's side the team has struggled to break them down with lack of movement and quality final ball in final third with slow attacking transition which seems to be the biggest hurdle if Mourinho wants to win the Epl next season.
We basically don't have any of those (above average ones at least)Most of our play is through the middle. That's is without doubt.
Most teams don't have a natural No 10. Madrid, Barca, At Madrid, City, Juve. Don't see why it's so necessary. Most teams also don't have natural wingers. Fullbacks are the new wide men.
Keita is the only net player. Fabinho is a Can replacement, while Fekir (if he comes) is a Coutinho replacement.Looks like he is on his way to Liverpool to tie up the move today, according to F365.
So that's Fekir, Keita, Fabinho in midfield.
I have to admit, I'm a little worried this could be their year finally.
We have a LOT of work to do in the market to get our MF options sorted.
They just finished 4th, 25 points off the pace. City look pretty unassailable going in to next season.Looks like he is on his way to Liverpool to tie up the move today, according to F365.
So that's Fekir, Keita, Fabinho in midfield.
I have to admit, I'm a little worried this could be their year finally.
We have a LOT of work to do in the market to get our MF options sorted.
They need Salah to have another season like the previous campaign. As brilliant as he is I can't see that happening.Looks like he is on his way to Liverpool to tie up the move today, according to F365.
So that's Fekir, Keita, Fabinho in midfield.
I have to admit, I'm a little worried this could be their year finally.
We have a LOT of work to do in the market to get our MF options sorted.
You're assuming all 3 will both adapt to the prem and gel with one another in a relatively short timeframe. Not to mention making 3 additions to one area of the pitch is a risk in itself, potentially causing disharmony amongst current personnel and upsetting the rhythm the team built over the course of last season. Nothing is a given in football.Looks like he is on his way to Liverpool to tie up the move today, according to F365.
So that's Fekir, Keita, Fabinho in midfield.
I have to admit, I'm a little worried this could be their year finally.
We have a LOT of work to do in the market to get our MF options sorted.
This. I think City will comfortably win it again next season.They just finished 4th, 25 points off the pace. City look pretty unassailable going in to next season.
FWIW I think 2nd place is very much up for grabs - not much seperating United/Liverpool/Spurs in my view, might depend on who does what this summer.This. I think City will comfortably win it again next season.
Any player who Liverpool look at signing is flavour of the month here. It's a scientific fact!Am I the only one who thinks the guy spends more time on the deck than on his feet?? So frustrating to watch,
Reminds me so much of Depay, plays a bit like Hazard but lacks the finishing touch.
Has a long long way to go to be the finished article, but he seems to be the flavour of the month for the Cafe for some reason!
He does go down easy but, in fairness, he has had such a horrible injury and because he's one of the best players in the league the opposition go in on him as such, so I think it's understandable.Am I the only one who thinks the guy spends more time on the deck than on his feet?? So frustrating to watch,
Reminds me so much of Depay, plays a bit like Hazard but lacks the finishing touch.
Has a long long way to go to be the finished article, but he seems to be the flavour of the month for the Cafe for some reason!
Fekir is apparently the Coutinho replacement and that they definitely need as they do lack his creativity with their current midfielders especially in games where teams sit deep against themThe problem as far as Liverpool go is that none of these signings actually do anything at all to address the issues they have with their team/squad.
Fabinho and Fekir are just replacing people that have left, which obviously you need to do, but from what I've seen of Fabinho he isn't going to be a significant upgrade. Fekir I know nothing about which is strange if he is apparently so good. Keita will need time to bed in I think...especially if you're signing two other midfielders from over seas at the same time. It's actually a pretty big risk as there is going to be a teething period even if they all live up to expectations in the long run.
Meanwhile, what was costing Liverpool games last year i.e. the inability to not leak goals whenever the opposition cross the half way line, and the inability to score them when the opposition don't cross the halfway line, is being helped in no way at all.
What they need is better defenders/defensive players, and a striker or someone to give them a different option when they can't get in behind the opposition. Something that allows them to win the games they didn't this season. They're not going to out do Manchester City by just trying to get better at what they're already good at. They already win basically every game where they're allowed to play to their strengths.
It adresses some of the problems. Midfield is a big issue. We still need a centreback and goalie, but it's not like we get plus points for sorting them in the right order over the summer.The problem as far as Liverpool go is that none of these signings actually do anything at all to address the issues they have with their team/squad.
Fabinho and Fekir are just replacing people that have left, which obviously you need to do, but from what I've seen of Fabinho he isn't going to be a significant upgrade. Fekir I know nothing about which is strange if he is apparently so good. Keita will need time to bed in I think...especially if you're signing two other midfielders from over seas at the same time. It's actually a pretty big risk as there is going to be a teething period even if they all live up to expectations in the long run.
Meanwhile, what was costing Liverpool games last year i.e. the inability to not leak goals whenever the opposition cross the half way line, and the inability to score them when the opposition don't cross the halfway line, is being helped in no way at all.
What they need is better defenders/defensive players, and a striker or someone to give them a different option when they can't get in behind the opposition. Something that allows them to win the games they didn't this season. They're not going to out do Manchester City by just trying to get better at what they're already good at. They already win basically every game where they're allowed to play to their strengths.
Yep, and similarly with United with LB+RW being our biggest concerns yet it seems like Fred (a CM) and Dalot (RB) will get done first.It adresses some of the problems. Midfield is a big issue. We still need a centreback and goalie, but it's not like we get plus points for sorting them in the right order over the summer.
I think they've been a better team since he left. It's put more onus on Salah and Mane and that suits how Klopp has them play. Before they would almost use Coutinho as a comfort blanket in games. The problem is they have nothing to replace the front three with if any of them aren't there, and nothing to give them an alternative in games they find difficult...and if Fekir is a replacement for someone who's already left, that wont change that. At best he's going to be a less good version of Coutinho.Fekir is apparently the Coutinho replacement and that they definitely need as they do lack his creativity with their current midfielders especially in games where teams sit deep against them
You need a forward player. You do need a centreback (probably still two) and a goalie too but I just don't think you'll try and get either. Maybe a keeper after the CL final. They way you play though, you can't really get away with having decent/above average defenders like some teams can. You need very good ones, and there just aren't that many of them. either that or you basically need to stop teams from being able to attack you, but then you're back to the problem of too often not being able to break them down when they don't.It adresses some of the problems. Midfield is a big issue. We still need a centreback and goalie, but it's not like we get plus points for sorting them in the right order over the summer.
Good post and well summarised. Someone like Fekir will help against teams that sit deep, he is a link to the attack from midfield that has been missing since Coutinho left. We dont and probably wont have a Lukaka or Kane type player but we will carry more of a great from midfield which we haven’t in previous season. We didn’t win a single game last season, lest one of the front 3 scored!The problem as far as Liverpool go is that none of these signings actually do anything at all to address the issues they have with their team/squad.
Fabinho and Fekir are just replacing people that have left, which obviously you need to do, but from what I've seen of Fabinho he isn't going to be a significant upgrade. Fekir I know nothing about which is strange if he is apparently so good. Keita will need time to bed in I think...especially if you're signing two other midfielders from over seas at the same time. It's actually a pretty big risk as there is going to be a teething period even if they all live up to expectations in the long run.
Meanwhile, what was costing Liverpool games last year i.e. the inability to not leak goals whenever the opposition cross the half way line, and the inability to score them when the opposition don't cross the halfway line, is being helped in no way at all.
What they need is better defenders/defensive players, and a striker or someone to give them a different option when they can't get in behind the opposition. Something that allows them to win the games they didn't this season. They're not going to out do Manchester City by just trying to get better at what they're already good at. They already win basically every game where they're allowed to play to their strengths.
Our defence isn’t as bad as you’re making it out to be. We need one CB and a goalkeeper but we’ve improved a lot in that department over the last six months.The problem as far as Liverpool go is that none of these signings actually do anything at all to address the issues they have with their team/squad.
Fabinho and Fekir are just replacing people that have left, which obviously you need to do, but from what I've seen of Fabinho he isn't going to be a significant upgrade. Fekir I know nothing about which is strange if he is apparently so good. Keita will need time to bed in I think...especially if you're signing two other midfielders from over seas at the same time. It's actually a pretty big risk as there is going to be a teething period even if they all live up to expectations in the long run.
Meanwhile, what was costing Liverpool games last year i.e. the inability to not leak goals whenever the opposition cross the half way line, and the inability to score them when the opposition don't cross the halfway line, is being helped in no way at all.
What they need is better defenders/defensive players, and a striker or someone to give them a different option when they can't get in behind the opposition. Something that allows them to win the games they didn't this season. They're not going to out do Manchester City by just trying to get better at what they're already good at. They already win basically every game where they're allowed to play to their strengths.