Florian Wirtz

[ianlfc]

Another poor performance from him, he gives the ball away far too often. His only hope is a run in the champions league were he seems to play alot better.
It's just not happening in the Premier league when we need him.

[Kev0909]

Terrible 2nd half, but the guys behind him not helping either.

Poor all round. that's me not defending him but VVD cost us bigtime today, Gakpo and salah useless, Maca has a coke addiction .... I could go on

[Insidious]

Another poor performance from him, he gives the ball away far too often. His only hope is a run in the champions league were he seems to play alot better.
It's just not happening in the Premier league when we need him.

He does concede possession - but the creative attempts are absolutely there for me - there were 2 or 3 passes today where, if they're read properly by the fella he's supplying, we're absolutely through on goal.

His biggest crime for me today amongst much of the good he tried to create was an opportunity where he needs to bend it into the bottom corner using the Bournemouth defender as a shield (so the keeper sees it late) and instead he passed to.....I believe it was Jones.

Oh well - next game and all that.

[LFC-DPG]

Yep, his footballing brain is 3 steps ahead of the players in front and often plays a pass expecting more intelligent runs.

He’d be better suited at Bayern, Madrid or Barca.

[JockStrap]

Ekitike seems to be able to read his game ok. Don't think the problem is Wirtz.

[LFC-DPG]

Agree, it’s a shame he only got 30mins today

We play a lot better with those 2 on the pitch together

[miller0863]

Good players, never mind supposed World Class players, do not need their team mates to make them look good.

And is it his brain being 3 moves ahead when he over hits a straight ball by 40 yards or continually just gives it straight to the opposition??

He looked good in Germany he is nowhere near world class

[Insidious]

Yep, his footballing brain is 3 steps ahead of the players in front and often plays a pass expecting more intelligent runs.

He’d be better suited at Bayern, Madrid or Barca.

As far as I'm concerned, Wirtz and Ekitike need to be on the pitch together as often as possible (within obvious data science and fitness restrictions) and we need to be looking at acquiring players to compliment them. We'll obviously see (in time) what can happen with Isak.

[JockStrap]

Agree, it’s a shame he only got 30mins today

We play a lot better with those 2 on the pitch together

For sure. I reckon Ekitike gets on the end of some of those passes, especially in the first half. Mo is just too slow now.

All ifs and buts.

[teesred]

Was there a reason given for why Ekitike didn't start?
Surely Skot didn't think Gakpo was a better option, he must have had a slight injury or illness maybe.

[justme]

Was there a reason given for why Ekitike didn't start?
Surely Skot didn't think Gakpo was a better option, he must have had a slight injury or illness maybe.

I've no idea where Gakpo played and Wirtz today. Neither a number 9 or wide of a 3. No forward at all. just a load of moving players and nothing on the end of the play

[JockStrap]

Was there a reason given for why Ekitike didn't start?
Surely Skot didn't think Gakpo was a better option, he must have had a slight injury or illness maybe.

Managing his game time. He's not long back from injury and has played a lot recently. And we have a lot of games coming up.

Can understand why he did it. I reckon Mo needs a rest more than Ekitike now.

[fiordearg]

The current 4-2-3-1 with the personnel we have stifles Wirtz. He should be in the mould of David Silva or Foden but he's often occupying the same spaces as Dominik. The right side is often empty or occupied by Salah which at the moment is the same thing. The 4-2-2-2 on Wednesday was more fluid and suitable for our. Attack

[jozza800]

He wasn't at his best today but it's scary to think how few chances we'd create without him in the team! We'd be left with Ekitike trying to beat half the opposition on his own and Dom shooting from 30 yards every 30 mins!

[miller0863]

We’ve scored 5 goals in the last two, how many did Wirtz make of those?
Szoboszlai is scoring and creating more