Murdoch's Hate Comic has linked us with Kristian Thorstvedt Well this just writes itself, doesn't it?
That's worse than playing an actual second choice striker, far worse in fact. We don't have anyone good enough to play the false nine role anyway. It seems you want us to try and play like Pool or City despite the fact we don't have the players to do so.
I just don’t see it, I’m afraid. I don’t think we have the player to play that position and it requires coaching entirely different attacking patterns, when we can barely even say we’re getting one right. And ironically the player who would be best suited to the role is the one for whom the system you’re suggesting would be compensating for in his absence. I’d suggest that getting really good at one thing and then having a backup for the key man who can do some of the most important things is a more efficient and attainable approach than trying to coach an entirely different formation and style of play just to compensate for losing one forward.
I think we should have offered a braver fee much earlier if we really wanted him. Like with Traore I can get over missing out but what we are showing in intent is a big concern for me…our behaviour pattern in transfer windows…always has been but I guess more so right now because we have everything including an elite manager but we have a baulking chairman so we have a massive problem imo. maybe Liverpool only nabbed him because they were getting desperate to make a big signing so as soon as they saw us get a bit serious they thought they will get in and make him their marquee as he was already interested in them. Had we gone in earlier they may have been more relaxed and possibly concentrating on other targets…it’s possible imo.
Kulusevski? Damn, I'm going to have to dig up my writeup on him from three weeks ago... ...right, here we go Doesn't have the straight line speed of Adama Traore, but he has a yard of acceleration and the control to glide through players in a Dembele-like fashion, but more importantly has the passing to pick out a defence-splitting ball (and these things called "assists") coupled with workrate when we don't have the ball I think it might have been DH who compared him to a Lamela/Eriksen hybrid
Never seen this Kulusevski lad play, but I’m willing to go out on a limb as say he’ll be ****e. Stinks of another average 2nd, 3rd, 4th choice target that we’ll be struggling to shift in a couple of years. Just looking into recent acquisitions, gollini is crap, Gil is probably going out on loan already, and we wanted traore as an upgrade on a RB we’ve only just signed… and that’s just 3 of the most recent ones.
I would say of the teams i know who have played a false 9: Barcelona - It's messi, an incredible ball playing midfielder and incredible flying wingbacks who were excellent attacking City - same as barca except their false 9 isn't as great. Had aguero before Liverpool - the only team with a midfield like yours (hard working, not creative) but their wingers in mane and salah are far better than son and moura. What really makes them tick is that VVD can ping the ball anywhere he likes and robertson and trent are brilliant going forward (trents a liability at the back) which i don't think any of your fullbacks compare
As I said, a week ago signing him would've been a lift as we'd have been adding a creative player to our ranks while also freshening up the roster, and also assuaged any fears of seeing Adama Traore's calves bomb down the flanks and provide nothing of value But the Diaz interest now makes him feel like a downgrade, even though Kulusevski's name has not only been linked with us since before the window even opened, but we were first linked with him when he was at Parma in 2019-20
Mane isn’t better than Son. City still have Jesus who can play as a striker (although he’s not that good)
mane vs son is debateable. horses for courses. Salah vs son isn't a debate In any case it was the comparison of the mane salah duo vs son moura
Yeah their duo is better no doubt. But add in Kane vs Firmino and is their trio really that much better? Liverpool’s most important players after Salah are the wing backs and Van Dijk.
Moura really lets the side down of the trio. 4 years ago with eriksen i'd argue as good and with poch. Since then, no chances and i think it shows with how consistent and well liverpool play. Yes their defence is better but not only do they concede less, they score more. It's been a while since the spurs have front 3 have been feared. Son and Kane last season did well up to a point. You can say firmino (now jota really) isn't great but he enables the two and also chips him with his fair share. slightly different positions but mouras goals and assists vs firmino Moura Firmino
I think Lucas is our weak link, good player but not a great one. I'd also say Jota's better than Firmino. There's Kane and Salah who are world class. Then Son, Mane and Jota as the very, very good/ almost world class players. Lucas I'd say is a good player, brilliant squad player but not a brilliant starter. Similar to Firmino, albeit he works/ worked very well in that false nine role to allow Mane and Salah to shine but is rightfully now second choice to Jota.
in any case, i think the point was playing a false 9 when kane isn't available which is what PS was suggesting. You don't have liverpools wingers or liverpools fbs
