If you look back at where Thaigo has played a part for various clubs (exclude for barca early on) Barca: 2010/11 Champions played 10 league games CL winner 2011/12 2nd but cup winners and world club winners etc. 2012/13 Champions Bayern 2013/14 Champions & cup winner 2104/15 Champions 2015/16 Champions & cup winner 2016/17/ Champions 2017/18 Champions 2018/19 Champions & cup winner 2019/20 Champions & cup winner & CL winner Liveprool: 2020/21 - 3rd 24 games but injured when we were at top for our bad run and frankly came back in for alst 11 and propelled us forward again. to 3rd never mind the unlikely 4th! 2021/22 - well what will he do. He's only gone and improved us after christmas no end after taking an international break off and getting fit (he is aging) already has the League cup medal pocketed. Basically if this lad stays fit for the next 8 games Will he add another title to his list (or 3)? I think we have 5 really crucial men Alisson, VVD, Fabinho, Thaigo and Salah. The others like trent, robbo, matip, henderson, jota, mane are a wonderful 11 to have but if we keep the big 5 fit we have a real chance. Thiago strings it together for me.
Fantastic v Watford...............except for that weird bit in the second half where he nearly put Watford in trying to save a throw in their half Thiagos record speaks for itself..........high quality
He just oozes quality. On the ball guy is on another level to most other midfielders. I’d say de bruyne is his only equal when it comes to passing, and I think thiago out does him for short passing. Its the way he beats the lines, he gets midfielders turned. The ball into Jones stuck out v Watford, from half way line to just outside the area along the floor and totally taking out Watford forwards and midfielders. Then the first time ball into Robbos run into the box. He makes things look simple but they obviously aren’t because 90% of midfielders can’t do it and play those passes into peoples feet. Add in his ability to shift pass someone with a quick step over and shoulder drop. And his ability to win the ball back is also very good. Obviously doesn’t have the sheer pace and stamina like a Kante or Fabinho but he positions himself and when front 1v1 doesn’t get dribbled past often. I think he took a lot of unfair stick early in lfc career as a player that came in and played 100 pretty 5 yard passes a game. But I think that was 1, because that’s what our midfield did. They won the ball passes it simple and gave it to the forward or full backs to create. It took a while for him to get used to the team, and the team adapt to him. A spine of Alisson, Vvd, Fab and Thiago is as good as there is in world football, if not the very best.
his passing v watford was totally different like as if he's decided to shield the ball totally then play these ridiculous no look appearance passes that I don't know who he has the capability to just produce. If we keep him ift i think we won't lose very many in the run in. The question is can we win the two v city. massive games. hopefully he is on song.
I wish we'd got him a few years ago. He's on another level. The youngsters need to be paying full attention to him and learning and copying his every move - except the back passes
Thiago looks like the sort of player who'll stay in the game and become a coach. Not necessarily with us of course, but in the meantime he may well be having an influence on others because of that attitude.
He actually reminds me of Xabi Alonso, that his why one ex- United player was angry that United failed to sign him.
I said after the Watford game I wish he'd play like that more often. He does blow hot and cold a bit.
Tbf he's too quick thinking for some of them. His passing is exceptional. He sees where and to who the next pass is going, problem is, not every recipient is on his wave length. He got stripped a couple of times last night but generally he protects the ball well and as long as the minor errors aren't costly, I give him a bit of slack.
I have to agree. the issues started happening last night when the people who should have been moving for passes ahead stopped running or just were not interested in taking it in. We was figuring who to give it to that wouldn't **** up rather than picking the pass to advance. the whole passing and play slowed down into this holding pattern rather than killing Benfica off. the errors are par for course. Same as alisson. If you ask people to create and retain the ball then somewhere an error will lead to an issue in game. Theres a big difference between say a Carragher hoofing it out over the side-line 10/10 times or long or whatever and assuring you lose possession and a players who 95 times out of 100 get it right but get crucified for the 5/100 that might go a bit wrong. Its the old albert einstein myth isn't it? (He writes up the 9 times table on the board in a college and deliberately gets the last one wrong and all the students laugh at him but he says you never congratulated me for getting 9 of them right.) VVD kicked several out over the line and gave possession away playing zero risk football but nobody said hey VVD you are **** you keep giving the ball away. I have no issue with getting the team in shape and resetting personally. btw. If alisson makes one error suddenly they are sprinting at him trying to get more. I ask... hmm hang on. where are the options left and right gone. why is the now having to lump the thing long? wheres the full backs? wheres the cb options?
Konaté is good and will improve greatly under Klopp. His first thought is different to Matip though who always looks to advance the ball. Poor mistake last night reminds us of his inexperience. His position also makes his mistakes potentially costly (as with all the defence). As you say, several times players stopped running. You see a pass going forward and because it's out of screenshot you wonder who's it going to only to find the intended target stopped or wasn't expecting the pass. Every player on the field should be expecting a pass at any time. The more Thiago plays, the more the understanding will develop. We are due a few devastatingly good games.
Konate started well and TBH the ref let him off a lot but also didn't allow the diving to distract but as the game wore on the amount of fouls mounted and mounted. I think he lost his way a little and thats experience. he had the simplest clearance tbh, its an error but largely he did well.
