I love this, it's a really good point. As an aside, something that has massively impressed and surprised me about Konate this season is how he's embraced that need to create. No, he's not peak Hansen, but if he's offered space he'll use it. If there's a killer pass on, he'll take it. So it's not even necessarily about having exceptional attacking skills but rather to have the bravery to try.
While Arne did name-drop Kerkez & seems to respect him, it feels like he positioned Ryan to help on the right flank moreso to manage the threat posed by Semenyo (vs. Kerkez). I think Trent / Ibou could've handled Kerkez over/underlapping a lesser winger w/o Ryan's extra attention.
It was a smart tactical decision by Arne, however, as Semenyo was THE threat. Semenyo is a game-changing threat for any opponent with his elite athleticism (like a taller/wider version of Mbappe). He combines that "off-the-charts" athleticism with above-average technical skills when he arrives in the final third, especially his howitzer of a shot with either foot.
You have to admire Kerkez' work-rate and attitude ... one of those players you root for. But he doesn't seem exceptional in any skill (technical, tactical or athletic); more of a good player in all facets with a great attitude. While that unfortunately describes an upgrade on Robbo & Kostas' current form, is it good value given that Bournemouth will ask for £40-45 million? Feels like a lot to pay for a player who will only complement an existing asset.
Here's hoping we target Ait Nouri or Gutiérrez who bring exceptional technical skills and, in the case of Gutiérrez, an exceptional tactical sense. It's those exceptional qualities that unbalance an opponent, like Semenyo can. Looking forward to your 'finding a LB' series as it's arguably our biggest need right now and a fun topic to analyze & debate.
We don't need a left back. Richard Hughes will likely have more than enough to worry about in the summer without wasting money trying to look for a very marginal gain (if any) at left back.
Reds whining about Robertson going downhill – because God supposedly takes a yard of pace off you when you wake up on your 30th birthday – and going on about us supposedly needing a left back must only watch our games down the left-hand side of the pitch if they haven't noticed that we've got the worst right back in world football from a defensive perspective. If he wasn't already leaving on a free in the summer, he should be top of the list of players to chuck in the bin. His 'performance' against Bournemouth wasn't even his worst this season yet I still ended up laughing at how bad he was. Just watch the Sky highlights, which doesn't even include the biggest laugh of all, when Kluivert breezed past him. Trent looked like someone doing Tai Chi in the park: I will turn my back on you and gracefully swing my arms, thus, while you run past me!
But okay, Robbo. He hasn't noticeably dropped any pace. It's one of the modern football fan's greatest mindless clichés that once you hit your 30th birthday, you haven't got long to live. Better start thinking how you want your assets distributed. Family? Maybe a wee bit for charity?
What Robbo does seem to be having problems with this season, is rash decision making, which is weird as you should get more composed as you get older. But it's fine margins. It may pass.
Kostas is also having a fine season, or was until he got injured. Having never ever looked Liverpool quality until the summer, he looked sharp pre-season and continued it onwards.
We're fine for left back. They both do their jobs, capably, most of the time. A non-priority.
Gravenberch was a strange choice of player for Slot to choose to combat the left side threat. Szoboszlai is the obvious choice, if only for his pace and willingness to continually up and back, which would allow him to track Kerkez. Anyway, we won so who cares. Analysing unspilt milk.
What was noticeable was how many of our players are prepared to get back in our half to close spaces down. Lucho. Dom. Even Mo Salah seems to have got the message. Doesn't tackle but.
We seem to have shifted away from the high press and are putting more focus on defending deep, which I'm more than happy with as our high press under Slot was rubbish. We were only committing 4 to it, which is easily navigated even by teams like Southampton. You go all-in or don't bother and I'll back Slot on the don't bother. I mean, when one of them is Salah, who makes no attempt to intervene, and has been getting away with murder for years, why bother?
As for Bournemouth players, I'd have to see more of Kerkez. He's built like a little bull, which reminds me of Emiliano Insua, which I'm unsure is good bad or neutral. Physically, he's a tick. Depends what Hughes and Slot want from their left back. Emphasis on physical v technical.
Semenyo doesn't strike me as a Liverpool player at all. Sure he's nicely two-footed and strong, but he feels more of a winger than a Sadio Mané who is going to grab you 15+ goals a season. He looks like a bulked-up Hudson-Odoi or Noni Madueke; more style than substance maybe?
I don't see Hughes as likely to go back to the well for the same player twice, but if he did go back to Bournemouth for a player I'd have fifty pence on it being the lad Huijsen at centre back.
Anyway, Spurs next. I fully expect us to go through to the final. Then the rare pleasure of seeing one or two of the young lads against Plymouth. Hopefully eleven. Be nice to see Jimmy Macca again; maybe the blistering pace of Mabaya at right back; Dannsy if he's still here. But not Nallo. Amara No no no no no, as he's known in our house. Makes Billy Calamity look like Alan Hansen.
Then the not so small matter of the derby. The big one. The probable season-defining game. Victory takes us effectively ten points clear. A platform. I've decided that if our points lead is equal to our remaining games, it's then going to take some sort of catastrophe to not win it. While a Goodison victory doesn't get us to the 'points lead = games remaining' formula, it would get us to a stage where we could possibly reach it before the Villa game? We'd just need to follow up a derby win by matching Arsenal over the next block of four; three of them at Anfield.
We do need a left-back. Robertson has been our weakest link on a number of occasions this season without offering the same upside in possession as Trent. He’s conceded penalties and red cards as well. And his best years are behind him. You absolutely sign his successor sooner rather than later.
100%. I think the rash decisions are partly down to a slight physical decline, too. No, you don't instantly lose your pace at 30 but even a tiny physical decline can cause serious problems if that was your biggest asset in the first place. Like with Henderson, a slight loss of stamina and it seemed like his level dropped down completely. It didn't really, but his unreal stamina masked a lot of (relative) issues that had always been there when playing at the very highest level. Salah is obviously having a fantastic season but there are also a lot of tactical sacrifices being made to compensate for his declining physicality. And once these things start, the one thing you can absolutely 100% bet on is that they will not improve, which is also why 'pay him what he wants' in terms of Salah is footballing stupidity of the highest order, and not something our management team will countenance. Nor would Paisley have, for that matter.
Kerkez gives me legitimately Hun energy!!! But seriously though, how many sprints did he make in that game? There was one late in the game where he had to have broken his top speed. He’s an excellent talent and honestly he has to be the one. Is he Josh?
I love this, it's a really good point. As an aside, something that has massively impressed and surprised me about Konate this season is how he's embraced that need to create. No, he's not peak Hansen, but if he's offered space he'll use it. If there's a killer pass on, he'll take it. So it's not even necessarily about having exceptional attacking skills but rather to have the bravery to try.
While Arne did name-drop Kerkez & seems to respect him, it feels like he positioned Ryan to help on the right flank moreso to manage the threat posed by Semenyo (vs. Kerkez). I think Trent / Ibou could've handled Kerkez over/underlapping a lesser winger w/o Ryan's extra attention.
It was a smart tactical decision by Arne, however, as Semenyo was THE threat. Semenyo is a game-changing threat for any opponent with his elite athleticism (like a taller/wider version of Mbappe). He combines that "off-the-charts" athleticism with above-average technical skills when he arrives in the final third, especially his howitzer of a shot with either foot.
You have to admire Kerkez' work-rate and attitude ... one of those players you root for. But he doesn't seem exceptional in any skill (technical, tactical or athletic); more of a good player in all facets with a great attitude. While that unfortunately describes an upgrade on Robbo & Kostas' current form, is it good value given that Bournemouth will ask for £40-45 million? Feels like a lot to pay for a player who will only complement an existing asset.
Here's hoping we target Ait Nouri or Gutiérrez who bring exceptional technical skills and, in the case of Gutiérrez, an exceptional tactical sense. It's those exceptional qualities that unbalance an opponent, like Semenyo can. Looking forward to your 'finding a LB' series as it's arguably our biggest need right now and a fun topic to analyze & debate.
Loved this piece! I hadn't noticed the Gravenberch tweak during the game. I am beginning to see Slot as a hybrid of Rafa Benitez and Klopp...
Love the videos mate! Keep up the good work.
Finally, I see someone not obsessing about Hato kinda profile.
I like the idea Miguel more than Kerkez. Might be cheaper too.
We don't need a left back. Richard Hughes will likely have more than enough to worry about in the summer without wasting money trying to look for a very marginal gain (if any) at left back.
Reds whining about Robertson going downhill – because God supposedly takes a yard of pace off you when you wake up on your 30th birthday – and going on about us supposedly needing a left back must only watch our games down the left-hand side of the pitch if they haven't noticed that we've got the worst right back in world football from a defensive perspective. If he wasn't already leaving on a free in the summer, he should be top of the list of players to chuck in the bin. His 'performance' against Bournemouth wasn't even his worst this season yet I still ended up laughing at how bad he was. Just watch the Sky highlights, which doesn't even include the biggest laugh of all, when Kluivert breezed past him. Trent looked like someone doing Tai Chi in the park: I will turn my back on you and gracefully swing my arms, thus, while you run past me!
But okay, Robbo. He hasn't noticeably dropped any pace. It's one of the modern football fan's greatest mindless clichés that once you hit your 30th birthday, you haven't got long to live. Better start thinking how you want your assets distributed. Family? Maybe a wee bit for charity?
What Robbo does seem to be having problems with this season, is rash decision making, which is weird as you should get more composed as you get older. But it's fine margins. It may pass.
Kostas is also having a fine season, or was until he got injured. Having never ever looked Liverpool quality until the summer, he looked sharp pre-season and continued it onwards.
We're fine for left back. They both do their jobs, capably, most of the time. A non-priority.
Gravenberch was a strange choice of player for Slot to choose to combat the left side threat. Szoboszlai is the obvious choice, if only for his pace and willingness to continually up and back, which would allow him to track Kerkez. Anyway, we won so who cares. Analysing unspilt milk.
What was noticeable was how many of our players are prepared to get back in our half to close spaces down. Lucho. Dom. Even Mo Salah seems to have got the message. Doesn't tackle but.
We seem to have shifted away from the high press and are putting more focus on defending deep, which I'm more than happy with as our high press under Slot was rubbish. We were only committing 4 to it, which is easily navigated even by teams like Southampton. You go all-in or don't bother and I'll back Slot on the don't bother. I mean, when one of them is Salah, who makes no attempt to intervene, and has been getting away with murder for years, why bother?
As for Bournemouth players, I'd have to see more of Kerkez. He's built like a little bull, which reminds me of Emiliano Insua, which I'm unsure is good bad or neutral. Physically, he's a tick. Depends what Hughes and Slot want from their left back. Emphasis on physical v technical.
Semenyo doesn't strike me as a Liverpool player at all. Sure he's nicely two-footed and strong, but he feels more of a winger than a Sadio Mané who is going to grab you 15+ goals a season. He looks like a bulked-up Hudson-Odoi or Noni Madueke; more style than substance maybe?
I don't see Hughes as likely to go back to the well for the same player twice, but if he did go back to Bournemouth for a player I'd have fifty pence on it being the lad Huijsen at centre back.
Anyway, Spurs next. I fully expect us to go through to the final. Then the rare pleasure of seeing one or two of the young lads against Plymouth. Hopefully eleven. Be nice to see Jimmy Macca again; maybe the blistering pace of Mabaya at right back; Dannsy if he's still here. But not Nallo. Amara No no no no no, as he's known in our house. Makes Billy Calamity look like Alan Hansen.
Then the not so small matter of the derby. The big one. The probable season-defining game. Victory takes us effectively ten points clear. A platform. I've decided that if our points lead is equal to our remaining games, it's then going to take some sort of catastrophe to not win it. While a Goodison victory doesn't get us to the 'points lead = games remaining' formula, it would get us to a stage where we could possibly reach it before the Villa game? We'd just need to follow up a derby win by matching Arsenal over the next block of four; three of them at Anfield.
We do need a left-back. Robertson has been our weakest link on a number of occasions this season without offering the same upside in possession as Trent. He’s conceded penalties and red cards as well. And his best years are behind him. You absolutely sign his successor sooner rather than later.
100%. I think the rash decisions are partly down to a slight physical decline, too. No, you don't instantly lose your pace at 30 but even a tiny physical decline can cause serious problems if that was your biggest asset in the first place. Like with Henderson, a slight loss of stamina and it seemed like his level dropped down completely. It didn't really, but his unreal stamina masked a lot of (relative) issues that had always been there when playing at the very highest level. Salah is obviously having a fantastic season but there are also a lot of tactical sacrifices being made to compensate for his declining physicality. And once these things start, the one thing you can absolutely 100% bet on is that they will not improve, which is also why 'pay him what he wants' in terms of Salah is footballing stupidity of the highest order, and not something our management team will countenance. Nor would Paisley have, for that matter.
Kerkez gives me legitimately Hun energy!!! But seriously though, how many sprints did he make in that game? There was one late in the game where he had to have broken his top speed. He’s an excellent talent and honestly he has to be the one. Is he Josh?
We all know the derby is going to finish 0-0!