Florian Wirtz

[Insidious]

Is he really sid? Thought we paid over 100m for Voronin the 2nd

I didn't know he had talent!

Yes he is absolutely a massive talent.

That doesn't mean he will succeed here of course - sometimes players are at the right club at the right time, or with the right Manager at the right time, or play within the right playing style at the right time - and sometimes they don't.

Or indeed some lads have enormous potential, but never fulfil it - or bloom late, or are better suited to certain Leagues, or are on fire for a couple of years before tailing off, or are injury-prone....etc etc etc

Aquilani was rated ridiculously highly in Italy as being the next big thing as a Trequartista, featured in footie ads etc over there - never really happens for him. De Bruyne labelled a flop at Chelsea, goes onto be one of the best mids the League has seen. Coutinho was absolutely Dynamite but for too short a spell. Balotelli had everything to be a top striker in terms of physique, touch, ball-striking but his temperament (understandable given his background) wasn't suited.

Wirtz is absolutely quality from a talent perspective. Guarantees absolutely nothing though.

He is on a 5-year deal - that's a 60-month spell. If you were to pin me to a prediction (if he stays long enough) I can see him being a slow-burner for 18 months but then being pretty Boss for the remaining 42 months - and I'd happily take that.

I'm a Wirtz-believer, though I totally understand why others aren't right now.

[Kev0909]

Nah you're lying Wirtz did nothing in germany and was a nobody

It's basically signing Pepe (The arsenal pepe) But even worse!

no wonder leverkusen wanted rid

lolz

[Steveo]

As miller said - Wirtz isn’t getting anywhere near the levels Coutinho was at for a numbers of years, he doesn’t have those tools. If you’re accepting of that - you won’t be too disappointed.

He has quality - that’s not in doubt - the question is how much and when will it shine? I am well aware that it takes time for many players - See Robert Pires… but most show something, as yet - I’m sorry -unless you have a low bar technically speaking - you won’t have seen anything worthy of even half the fee.

But he is 22, and he will get better than he has been thus far… Of that I am confident, But I am equally confident that he was massively overpriced... at least at his current level. You never know - in 2 years we might be saying he was a snip… That’s football

[Kev0909]

Seems like we're in a endless loop and it's pretty boring hopefully we have something else to talk about soon

Hence my sarcastic reply's

Look, he didn't get them stats in germany and didn't play how he did and wasn't valued over 100m for no reason he'll come good at some point, not exactly helping when gakpo is the most threatining forward for christ sake

Also it's a bit of a weird buy considering how direct and boring the prem is getting, is there any room or a place for Wirtz to fit in with that style? there's no good passing or good football anymore.

[Steveo]

The bigger problem - and it isn’t helping Florian - is the one where you can’t see the plan. That might be great in the longer term - Slot and co might have blind sided everyone with a new concept. And that would take plenty of time to bear fruit with so many new players in one hit.

I said it before - he will almost certainly have been earmarked for deployment in a similar role to Coutinho - but tailored more to link up. Ghosting in and utilising his almost Alonso-like vision and ability further forward - instead of a Coutts-like dribble and strike. But I dunno - it’s evolving as we speak and he may even end up occupying Salah’s position in a totally different setup.

[Kev0909]

The bigger problem - and it isn’t helping Florian - is the one where you can’t see the plan. That might be great in the longer term - Slot and co might have blind sided everyone with a new concept. And that would take plenty of time to bear fruit with so many new players in one hit.

I said it before - he will almost certainly have been earmarked for deployment in a similar role to Coutinho - but tailored more to link up. Ghosting in and utilising his almost Alonso-like vision and ability further forward - instead of a Coutts-like dribble and strike. But I dunno - it’s evolving as we speak and he may even end up occupying Salah’s position in a totally different setup.

I'm expecting a good performance against Frankfurt from him, no excuses

Isak

Gakpo Wirtz Chiesa

If isak & wirtz have dune fuck all, off at half time, ekiteke and Szob in (Unless Szob plays at RB) then whoever.

Slot needs to start being ruthless, if it ain't working or same shit different game, change at HT

Salah can come off the bench and hopefully do well, i'm hoping and praying this is the game we score a few, start clicking a little and turn things around, it's amazing what a win does sometimes

[jr81]

Florian Wirtz said one of the main reasons he opted to join Liverpool instead of Bayern Munich or Man City last summer was the detailed tactical plan Slot had laid out to him when they first met face to face to discuss his possible move from Bayer Leverkusen.

This is from Wirtz. So there should be a plan for him. But right now, there doesn't look to be one. He is in and out, he is through the middle or the left. No clear plan yet. It's almost like slot doesn't know what to do with the new squad.

[Insidious]

Florian Wirtz said one of the main reasons he opted to join Liverpool instead of Bayern Munich or Man City last summer was the detailed tactical plan Slot had laid out to him when they first met face to face to discuss his possible move from Bayer Leverkusen.

This is from Wirtz. So there should be a plan for him. But right now, there doesn't look to be one. He is in and out, he is through the middle or the left. No clear plan yet. It's almost like slot doesn't know what to do with the new squad.

Wirtz operates best having come from a central position (or sometimes from wide) and into the left half-space.

Isak likes to get into the box utilising the corridor of the left half-space.

Ekitike likes to get into the box utilising the corridor of the left half-space.

Gakpo likes to stick to the touchline until he gets closer to the final third, then tries to cut inside into the left half-space.

Mac Allister, when he joins the attack, will often do so via the corridor of the left half-space.

It's going to take us (namely Slot) a while to make some tweaks that can allow enough width (ideally from Kerkez) to open up the centre and the left half-space to accommodate some of our player's needs.

I do think a Diamond is one option for us - Kev touched on this as well - but I'm quietly confident we'll arrive on a workable set-up if Slot gathers the testicular fortitude to stop Salah being a first-name-on-the-team-sheer player to begin to address things.

[Red October]

I'm expecting a good performance against Frankfurt from him, no excuses

Isak

Gakpo Wirtz Chiesa

If isak & wirtz have dune fuck all, off at half time, ekiteke and Szob in (Unless Szob plays at RB) then whoever.

Slot needs to start being ruthless, if it ain't working or same shit different game, change at HT

Salah can come off the bench and hopefully do well, i'm hoping and praying this is the game we score a few, start clicking a little and turn things around, it's amazing what a win does sometimes

Hope you're right Kev. They were a bit unlucky not to at least get a draw on Sunday to be fair. Remember the season we hit the post loads of time when Kenny was back as manager? The next season Suarez just clicked and scored loads. Let's hope something similar happens this season. I would start Ekitike for Isak though.

[jr81]

Wirtz operates best having come from a central position (or sometimes from wide) and into the left half-space.

Isak likes to get into the box utilising the corridor of the left half-space.

Ekitike likes to get into the box utilising the corridor of the left half-space.

Gakpo likes to stick to the touchline until he gets closer to the final third, then tries to cut inside into the left half-space.

Mac Allister, when he joins the attack, will often do so via the corridor of the left half-space.

It's going to take us (namely Slot) a while to make some tweaks that can allow enough width (ideally from Kerkez) to open up the centre and the left half-space to accommodate some of our player's needs.

I do think a Diamond is one option for us - Kev touched on this as well - but I'm quietly confident we'll arrive on a workable set-up if Slot gathers the testicular fortitude to stop Salah being a first-name-on-the-team-sheer player to begin to address things.

So, slot hasn't a clue what to do with all these players because they all like to operate in the left spaces. Yet apparently had a clear plan that convinced Wirtz to join? So has he abandoned that plan?

We don't seem to have a clear idea of play. Slot needs to work this out sooner rather that later. The next 3 Premier league games are big for us.

[Insidious]

So, slot hasn't a clue what to do with all these players because they all like to operate in the left spaces. Yet apparently had a clear plan that convinced Wirtz to join? So has he abandoned that plan?

Don't think he has abandoned what he had lined up for Wirtz - I just think the transfer committee have ended up taking a couple of opportunities with players where they're "too good not to sign them" and getting the balance and on-pitch chemistry right with passing lanes and runs on the left-hand side is going to take a little while.

Do think it will come though, but it might be a case of us being a 6/10 or 7/10 team for a while before it really clicks.

[Kev0909]

Well happy with him tonight, could've got a assist or 2 more if it wasn't for the finishing

only player with a point to prove that's done it a bit though.

Dissapointed with isak....tonight was the night......

[miller0863]

Sid!! You back in civilisation mate?

[justme]

How we played in the second half is how he needs to start games in the first half. much quicker when hes in possession, hes being caught too easily right now

[Insidious]

Sid!! You back in civilisation mate?

Well, I'm off that island at least - Boatman was able to grab us on Monday morning in the end and I ended up doing a half-day of work for my clients after I got Home (quick Cuppa and a bit of toast first) rather than miss out totally - so in that sense, absolutely - and having my bed and central heating etc.....bliss. I did love the experience overall and will 100% be going back, but nice to have comforts for sure.

Suspect I have one of my "thought vomit" essay type posts in me within the coming days then probably dip out of the forum for some weeks again - but Home comforts and 5-1 victories are nice. So glad I didn't have to watch that one at the weekend!

Hope all is well with you miller - and indeed everyone else.