I’m really not sure what he’s supposed to bring to that Liverpool side. He has energy, but that’s about it.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain | Set to miss the 2018/19 season
- Thread starter Gandalf Greyhame
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik @Rood and Imran @Annihilate Now! start with the good news by celebrating Manchester United Women's emphatic FA Cup win over Spurs at Wembley and the future of manager Marc Skinner.
Then it's the bad news and the ever worsening form of our Men with losses to Arsenal and Palace.
Finally the main debate - ETH Out now or keep him until the end of the season - if not longer. Are you Team Nik or Team Imran?
If he's still starting for them next season, they've had a bad summer.
I think he could have been a better player if he'd not stuck around at Arsenal for so long.
I think he could have been a better player if he'd not stuck around at Arsenal for so long.
Just standard overrated English player - have good engine, pace and work rate but nothing else - remind me of Walcott, Barkley, Henderson etc.
If you talking about overall game intelligence Lingard is better.
If you talking about overall game intelligence Lingard is better.
Haha, totally agree. He's been kind of better under Klopp, but as you said, a bang average overrated English player that will flop at the WC.
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Lallana too, think he'd have posed more problems for us yesterday if he'd started.
He has the weirdest career progression arc. He was not bad as a winger so the switch to CM seems completely unnecessary.
Are people surprised by Ox's performance yesterday?
He has great games like the ones against Ac Milan, United at home (Think Park scored the winner and RVP gave Wenger the dirtiest look when Oxwas substituted) and Chelsea.
Other times he's either injured or blows hot and cold. He doesn't score or assist enough to be a forward.
Klopp can say what he likes about teaching Ox his system but the guy doesn't understand how to be a central midfielder. Not a world class one anyway.
In a way almost none of our midfielders understand the midfield role except El neny and to an extent Xhaka, who has no idea where to position himself at times. But Ox was the chief offender. His best position is in the forward line
His kick and run style of play would be great for a wing back role so its clear why Chelsea wanted him, but the defensive side of his game is lacking so that is why I don't think he's a central midfielder. As a wing back he has 3 center backs and a DM covering for him defensively so its not as big of a problem. When he's in midfield however, that lack of defensive nous hurts him, it also takes away from his attacking game.
Its ironic that his idol is Gerrard and he wants to be just like him, when Gerrard couldn't play in midfield either.
He has great games like the ones against Ac Milan, United at home (Think Park scored the winner and RVP gave Wenger the dirtiest look when Oxwas substituted) and Chelsea.
Other times he's either injured or blows hot and cold. He doesn't score or assist enough to be a forward.
Klopp can say what he likes about teaching Ox his system but the guy doesn't understand how to be a central midfielder. Not a world class one anyway.
In a way almost none of our midfielders understand the midfield role except El neny and to an extent Xhaka, who has no idea where to position himself at times. But Ox was the chief offender. His best position is in the forward line
His kick and run style of play would be great for a wing back role so its clear why Chelsea wanted him, but the defensive side of his game is lacking so that is why I don't think he's a central midfielder. As a wing back he has 3 center backs and a DM covering for him defensively so its not as big of a problem. When he's in midfield however, that lack of defensive nous hurts him, it also takes away from his attacking game.
Its ironic that his idol is Gerrard and he wants to be just like him, when Gerrard couldn't play in midfield either.
He's a decent player. Good athlete. Will do well when the team is doing well. He's a bit in a grey area of not really being special enough for a top team but perhaps too good for the likes of Everton and Leicester. He's a decent squad player for 1 of the top sides and that's his level
Transformed himself into a midfield player like Moussa Dembele.
The goal he scored last night was the best of the bunch. Wouldn't mind him here.
The goal he scored last night was the best of the bunch. Wouldn't mind him here.
Played well last night but think this is jumping the gun. One ray of sunshine doesn’t make a summer.
He has been perfoming really well since his move. Whether he can maintain that next season is a different story.
Credits where it deserves. From a frustrating Arsenal player into an exciting midfielder.
Its too early. He's still a work in progress though he did the right thing leaving Wenger.
I may not have seen as much of him as yourself, but the games I’ve seen (apart from last night) he’s been very average. Even the last posts in this thread is about SM bossing him.
Think the Dembele comparisons are excessive
He has improved a lot since his move and he was right to leave Arsenal. Not sure how good he is though - still yet to be convinced.
Both Ox and Dembele are flawed in a top midfield. Ox is ridiculously direct and notches up goals and assists while Dembele can 'boss' midfield with skill and strength, but minus the stats.
Neither does enough to make that midfield place their own.
Neither does enough to make that midfield place their own.
It's fairly damning on Wenger though how much Ox seems to have improved in little more than 6 months away from Arsenal. Like the final thing Wenger was renowned for being stripped away.
Dembele? No. He's playing well but let's not go over the top. Dembele is Spurs' best player.
He has been performing reasonably well since maybe December. Not since his move.
Eh, he's had these kind of flash in the pan performances for us as well. I'll start getting excited when he produces at this level for a consistent period of time. His shooting is one aspect that has definitely improved, for Arsenal he always seemed to hit the woodwork. Though that could be attributed to experience more than coaching.
This season for Liverpool
37 games
1800 minutes
5 goals
6 assists
Last season
45 games
2500 minutes
6 goals
11 assists
Though half the goals came against Reading and Nott. Forest.
37 games
1800 minutes
5 goals
6 assists
Last season
45 games
2500 minutes
6 goals
11 assists
Though half the goals came against Reading and Nott. Forest.
I knew at least somebody would over rate him because of that goal last night.
He’s playing better than what he was at Arsenal but that’s about it.
He’s playing better than what he was at Arsenal but that’s about it.
Dembele's important but not their best, Kane is their best player.
Dembele? No. He's playing well but let's not go over the top. Dembele is Spurs' best player.
Apparently, the Spurs players themselves believe Dembele is their best player.
When he's on his game he can boss a midfield at any level to be fair.
A very Klopp-player. Great engine and speed. Have quite high hopes for him and think that a midfield of him, Keita and one more could potentially be pretty damn good.
He's actually a very decent player tbh. Not that bad at all.
Why are you laughing? He clearly playing that Dembele role. The spark at midfield who runs, dribble, and carry the ball from the deep. Much like Dembele for me.
Dembele? No. He's playing well but let's not go over the top. Dembele is Spurs' best player.
He is not as good as Dembele for now, but he has the potential. Only good things for England.
Decent player and Klopp has done well with him! Not as good as our Jesse though.
Don’t see a similarity to Dembélé at all tbh apart from the fact they both play in midfield.
Seems to be only playing well against City only. He's been bang average in other matches whenever I've seen them.
Think he works well in their system. He seems to play pretty wide for a central midfielder, covers the space Salah vacates when he's the furthest up the pitch. Not sure he would flourish in many other teams but works well for them.
He needs to be far more consistent. Last night was really good but he’s been anonymous in other games since we signed him.
He’s been a useful squad player.
He’s been a useful squad player.
Sort of like a Mezzala.
He lacks the football brain you'd attribute with the very best midfielders. That is something you don't need in a game that questions your technical ability rather than your ability to see things and that's a department he certainly isn't lacking in. There was a time yesterday when he was driving towards the defence and Firminho was clean through and it was a relatively simple pass, and he didn't make it. Those sort of situations are costly and he needs to sort that out.
He's nothing like Dembele. The fact you're even mentioning him in the same breath as one of the best midfielders in the world at the moment is laughable. Yes, he played well against City but so did Milner and Henderson and they're hardly anything special.
Wait which Dembele are we talking about?
I never said he is on par with Dembele now, just saying his role now is similar. The qualities are there minus the maturity of Dembele.List down what Dembele is good at vs Oxlade in midfield. Not really a bad comparison.
EDIT:
If you even have a bit of football knowledge just compare this:
Minute 2:49 in Ox's video. If there is no similarities of his driving run with Dembele, I don't know what you're laughing about.
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Their facial hair is very similar
No, ta. They're not similar at all, apart from being midfielders.
List down what Dembele is good at vs Oxlade in midfield. Not really a bad comparison.
Chamberlain isn't good at all that much as a midfielder, great at being a winger and scores some bangers though!