Naby Keita

Because they both do the same thing. Keita is even more attack minded than Pogba. If we play a 2 man CM which we do very often it's an extremely unbalanced combination. You'd have to have Pogba sit in behind which is a waste.

We most often play with a 3-man midfield though. Not 2-man. We only played 4-2-3-1 for a couple of months in January-Feb, then reverted to 4-3-3 again. Also people said the same about Pogba-Herrera duo, but worked out alright. If you don't try out these things in training you can't rule them out out of hand. Have you seen the system RBL play and where Keita plays? He's one of the of the deepest 2 CMs they play.
 
If we play a 3 man midfield him, Pogba and Herrera would have enough between them defensively, we wouldn't need a specialist DM.

The workrate and intensity of that midfield trio :drool:

They would be extremely hard to defend and attack against.
 
We most often play with a 3-man midfield though. Not 2-man. We only played 4-2-3-1 for a couple of months in January-Feb, then reverted to 4-3-3 again. Also people said the same about Pogba-Herrera duo, but worked out alright. If you don't try out these things in training you can't rule them out out of hand. Have you seen the system RBL play and where Keita plays? He's one of the of the deepest 2 CMs they play.

Not true. We started the season of playing a 2 man midfield and didn't really change that until about October. Since then we've chopped and changed but we've probably on the whole played more league games with 2 CM's than 3.

Keita starts deep to utilize his best asset, his ability to run with the ball. All his best work is done in attacking areas.
 
Not really. The best way I could describe Keita is Kante who can attack. He is immense at getting the ball forward, but also has that engine and drive Kante possesses. He is a top, top prospect and my muppet signing, it's a shame we don't seem to be looking at him.
In this case we have to drop Herrera and partner him with Pogba in a 4-2-3-1?
 
Liverpool are after him apparently, willing to pay £50 million. Not sure he's worth that.
 
We should be after him, he is very good player and also very good goal threat from midfield.
 
I think he is going to prove himself to be one of the elite midfielders next season. I doubt Red Bull will sell this summer.
 
No. He's a poor mans Barkley at this stage. Massively overrated and nowhere near good enough for us.

He is not. He is very good CM and sort of poor man's Vidal.
 
No. He's a poor mans Barkley at this stage. Massively overrated and nowhere near good enough for us.
Given Barkley is not really all that anyway you two have very conflicting views.
 
He is not. He is very good CM and sort of poor man's Vidal.

Vidal is a more all rounded player. Keita's main strength is the ability to dribble with the ball. There's nothing else with his game that's worth getting excited about.

Given Barkley is not really all that anyway you two have very conflicting views.

Yeah I don't rate Barkley either. Players like Barkley and Keita might be a lot more appealing if we didn't have Pogba. But we do and he can do everything they can and a lot more besides. Keita wouldn't even start for us.
 
Vidal is a more all rounded player. Keita's main strength is the ability to dribble with the ball. There's nothing else with his game that's worth getting excited about.
Yeah I don't rate Barkley either. Players like Barkley and Keita might be a lot more appealing if we didn't have Pogba. But we do and he can do everything they can and a lot more besides. Keita wouldn't even start for us.

You are completely ignoring the strongest part of Keita's game right now his defensive ability. He is a great ball winner and after winning the ball he was able to immediately start the attack. A completely different player than Barkley who does not defend at all.
 
Vidal is a more all rounded player. Keita's main strength is the ability to dribble with the ball. There's nothing else with his game that's worth getting excited about.

Yeah I don't rate Barkley either. Players like Barkley and Keita might be a lot more appealing if we didn't have Pogba. But we do and he can do everything they can and a lot more besides. Keita wouldn't even start for us.

Keita is proper box to box player, strong in attack and defense, not to forget he scores goals too. Nothing like Barkely at all.
 
You are completely ignoring the strongest part of Keita's game right now his defensive ability

That is definitely not his strongest part. Not even close. Just last week Bayern shat all over him and it wasn't the first time.
 
That is definitely not his strongest part. Not even close. Just last week Bayern shat all over him and it wasn't the first time.

Those were some of the only matches he struggled in this season. And Bayern are a much better side so it should be expected.
 
And Red Bull Salzburg have done a good job signing players in France they signed Saido Mane, Naby Keita and Dayot Upamecano from the lower leagues of France.
 
Haven't seen him play much but from what you guys are trying to say, it looks like he'll be perfect for us in the future. How is he defensively? Cos if he has to play with Herrera and Pogba, he needs to be better defensively than both.
 
Red Bull will not go down easily when it comes to other clubs snapping up their players.. They are looking to buy not sell..
 
I don't get the comparisons to Kante to be honest. He looks like an attacking player, capable of carrying the ball up the field, with good shooting ability.
 
I don't get the comparisons to Kante to be honest. He looks like an attacking player, capable of carrying the ball up the field, with good shooting ability.

He offers the same energy and drive Kante does, but it's true he is more of an attacking minded player. He's Kante who can attack. I'm a big fan of Keita, would be gutted to see him go to Liverpool. Very good talent
 
Could be the 8 that gets into the box for us. Looks like he relies a lot on his pace rather than technical ability which isn't bad. In Liverpools style of play he could be devastating.
 
Could be the 8 that gets into the box for us. Looks like he relies a lot on his pace rather than technical ability which isn't bad. In Liverpool's style of play he could be devastating.
Really? in most of the games I've seen he relies on his close control and dribbling to escape pressure and is almost Gundogan like in that regard. He is very good at turning. He would suit Liverpool to a T as their midfield has noone that is press resistant. His decision in the final third needs to be ironed out but that will improve especially because Klopp uses specific patterns.
 
Would be surprised to see him leave Red Bull, who can turn down any sort of financial bid they want, and can pay him better wages than Liverpool can.
 
Because they both do the same thing. Keita is even more attack minded than Pogba. If we play a 2 man CM which we do very often it's an extremely unbalanced combination. You'd have to have Pogba sit in behind which is a waste.

Only the #10 are more attack minded than Pogba