horsechoker
The Caf's Roy Keane.
Averages 3.6 xGNot great not terrible.
Averages 3.6 xGNot great not terrible.
Teams with star wide forwards usually want a hard working CF who can occupy and disrupt defenders, create space for the others to exploit, and play just enough to fit into the team.I agree he's not bad, but Real? He wouldn't get anywhere near their team.
stats are part of an argument but not the be all to end all.Nunez has been one of the best attackers in England this year. The guy has 31 goal involvements (one every 79 minutes) across all competitions and is a huge pain in the ass to play against with his physicality and constant running. He's about as good as Firmino's top level already and has room to go higher at 24. Where the rebuild hasn't gone well is the rest of the attack, as Gakpo is poor, Diaz is always injured and isn't a reliable scorer, and Jota is a great scorer but can't stay healthy and doesn't have the all around game of either Mane or Salah even when fit.
People are so attached to the idea of Nunez as a donkey or a bust but that's just not reality at this point. Unfortunately he's a really really good player and I can only hope Barcelona or Real Madrid come calling in the next couple years with their distinct attractiveness to South Americans (he'd actually be a great foil for Mbappe/Vini, willing to put in the hard yards but also capable of scoring and setting them up).
They need him to be peak Mane/Salah, and he is a long way off that. He looks terrible in a number of big games and I don’t think he is a good foil for anyone.Nunez has been one of the best attackers in England this year. The guy has 31 goal involvements (one every 79 minutes) across all competitions and is a huge pain in the ass to play against with his physicality and constant running. He's about as good as Firmino's top level already and has room to go higher at 24. Where the rebuild hasn't gone well is the rest of the attack, as Gakpo is poor, Diaz is always injured and isn't a reliable scorer, and Jota is a great scorer but can't stay healthy and doesn't have the all around game of either Mane or Salah even when fit.
People are so attached to the idea of Nunez as a donkey or a bust but that's just not reality at this point. Unfortunately he's a really really good player and I can only hope Barcelona or Real Madrid come calling in the next couple years with their distinct attractiveness to South Americans (he'd actually be a great foil for Mbappe/Vini, willing to put in the hard yards but also capable of scoring and setting them up).
He was a nuisance though and had the header too and the chance you refer to. I think there's a player in there actually but rough around the edgesSurely not? He botched a brilliant chance to kill the game then handed Rashford the equaliser almost immediately after
Endproduct = Goals, assists and goal threat.End product? He's a fairly shite finisher and the chaos he brings is for both sides.
A lesson in overusing stats i think. Firmino was far more effective at bringing others into play and provided a threat himself against big teams due to his superior ability. Nunez is little worry to a solid defence, his technique isnt good enough and being quick and strong only gets you so far. He hasn't done anything against a top 6 rival yet.Endproduct = Goals, assists and goal threat.
Firmino averaged on 0,63 xGi/90 (expected direct goalinvolvements per 90 minutes) and never had more than 22 goal involvements in a single PL season for Liverpool despite starting every match when fit for several seasons. He averaged a goal contribution every 143 minutes for Liverpool.
Darwin has averaged on 1,11 xGi/90 for Liverpool and despite horrible finishing for them has averaged a goal contribution every 113 minutes (trending in the positive direction)
He is a nightmare to defend against and plays with an intensity you rarely if ever see.
We have no idea in fairness.You say all of that and yet they could genuinely have won four trophies this season if they'd have beaten us yesterday.
It's not exactly post Fergie levels of messing up a rebuild is it.
Relax. Liverpool is the only team that is in contention of winning a quadruble as early as September. It happens every season - "Look, they are still competing in four tournaments" - yeah, we've hardly kicked a ball... Happens every year. Klopp has 1 PL title and one CL title; he shouldn't be mentioned amongst the greatest PL managers - the top is Ferguson, then there is an argument on Mourinho, Wenger and Pep for the remainding spots in a top three.We have no idea in fairness.
Had it not been for a Nani red card, we were in with a great chance of a league & CL double in SAF’s final season.
Except he has goals and/or assists against all 5 of the traditional top 5 (City, Arsenal, Chelsea, Man United and Spurs)A lesson in overusing stats i think. Firmino was far more effective at bringing others into play and provided a threat himself against big teams due to his superior ability. Nunez is little worry to a solid defence, his technique isnt good enough and being quick and strong only gets you so far. He hasn't done anything against a top 6 rival yet.
What?Still more reliable than Salah has been in the past two seasons IMO. If he somehow manages to improve his composure Liverpool will have a Ballon D'or contender. Until then...
That's .... honestly much better than I expected.He has 18 goals and 13 assists in all all competitions. He's not exactly pleasing on the eye and struggles against tougher opposition, but his numbers have been decent.
Batshit crazyWhat?
Do you really think Salah has been playing that good? He was a fantastic player for all that counts, but he is far from his career peak.What?
Pretty sure that's not the part he was laughing aboutDo you really think Salah has been playing that good? He was a fantastic player for all that counts, but he is far from his career peak.
Football is all about goals and assists. If (and a big if here, because he is still far from it) Nuñez managed to get more composed he would score a lot of goals. Andy Carrol could barely score a goal for Liverpool for all the comparisons made here.Pretty sure that's not the part he was laughing about
Sums him up well.He is a huge threat who is massively erratic. 2 big ones yesterday when he missed that one at the back post on his left foot when all he had to do was pull it back for a simple tap in. I would also say the moment when Willie misread the flight of the ball and let him in down the left was really poor from him, should never be allowing a tackle to be made that does not result in a foul there.
Looks like he'd have the voice of an American stonerwill be voiced by eddie murphy in the animated liverpool series
“Shrek and Nunez… on another big adventure!”will be voiced by eddie murphy in the animated liverpool series
Never in a million years would Klopp take Nunez over the years of Firminho he had. Regardless of what stats suggest. He was the perfect Klopp player and would still be perfect for him now.Except he has goals and/or assists against all 5 of the traditional top 5 (City, Arsenal, Chelsea, Man United and Spurs)
So let's go into the stats again then, as I still think stats are more accurate than gutfeeling:
Firmino against the traditional top 5 and against the big teams in Europe (Bayern, BVB, RM, Atleti, Barca, Napoli, Inter, PSG):
33 goals and 16 assists in 113 games vs. all these top teams (including 11 goals and 3 assists in 18 games vs. his favourite Arsenal)
0,29 goals/game and 0,43 goals+assists/game.
Darwin vs. top defenses: traditional top 5 and against the big teams in Europe (Bayern, RM, Barca, Napoli, Liverpool):
11 goals and 5 assists in 32 games
0,34 goals/game and 0,50 goals+assists/game.
Who do you think has the highest assistratio or expected assists between the two?
Firmino for Liverpool: 0,22xA/90 and 0,24 assists/90
Darwin for Liverpool: 0,29xA/90 and 0,27 assists/90
Again, totally different players with very different qualities. One very direct and stretches teams while the other falls deep and brings others into play. You like one type of player others like the other type of player. Teams can have use for both types and both types can be equally important for a team, but it's hard to say who's the better player because they have so different skillsets and roles in a team.
Nunez has elite movement and instincts for a goalscorer. If he learns to keep his cool and improve his finishing he'll be WC.
Hahahahaha Salah is phenomenal, Nunez is a joke the amount of chances he misses. You have to be on a wind upStill more reliable than Salah has been in the past two seasons IMO. If he somehow manages to improve his composure Liverpool will have a Ballon D'or contender. Until then...
Salah is one of world's best players, and I am not sure Nunez is even top5 Liverpool's players. You seriously overrate Nunez.Do you really think Salah has been playing that good? He was a fantastic player for all that counts, but he is far from his career peak.
Still more reliable than Salah has been in the past two seasons IMO. If he somehow manages to improve his composure Liverpool will have a Ballon D'or contender. Until then...