Darwin Nunez

[Insidious]

All true. But he's a striker who doesn't score enough goals.

Firmino didn't score loads.

Had that high productivity season of 17/18 when he got 15 League goals, but beyond that he was 12, then 9, then 9 again, then 5 (played less) and 11.

It didn't matter, because he got assists, pressed well and he facilitated play around him - covering ground and winning the ball.

Núñez got 9 in the League first season (Firmino only exceeded this twice) and 11 in the League last season.

So is Núñez as influential as Firmino? I'd happily say no - but I'd also acknowledge he is hasn't hit the traditional 27-29 sort of prime age either. If he can maintain current levels of effort and goals+assists per minute, consistently get up to 10-16 League goals per season, I'd say keep him. His fee probably influences how people feel about him.

Will he be THE central figurehead to build the side around? Probably not. He is a unique option though, high quality in work-rate and productivity - and availability, when we always complain about injury-prone players..in my book this is great and well worth keeping.

Lastly, it's worth bearing in mind Slot's system. Both Jota and Núñez have been getting less chances than Diaz and Salah have - we're currently not giving a lot of service to the central striker. If that changes, output (in terms of goals) may yet increase.

Aware I won't change anyone's minds though - and that's fine.

[Steveo]

This doesn't show up in the stats mate. If you know the game - you know the game. Darwin needs to evolve a new brain and an entirely new set of instincts to get close to Bobby.

Bobby was a one off. A tireless worker but blessed with unique vision & ability & the composure to enact it on the pitch.

[miller0863]

Think you’ve lost your way somewhat by bringing Bobby into it Sid, one of the most talented footballers to ever grace the shirt v Nunez.

Nunez does run around a lot a contributes in closing down and winning the ball back but he really does lack the basic touch, finish and most of all football brain to be what we need.

[jozza800]

Without wanting to speak for Sid, I dont think he's actually comparing the ability of Nunez and Bobby. I think you'd have to have literally zero clue about the game to think Bobby was anything other a genuis. And clearly Nunez is not...

However, like Bobby, Nunez is effective in other ways other than scoring goals. He's waspish, a nuisance, direct, wins a fair amount of headers and his output whilst not elite level is comparable to everyone of our recent forwards excluding Mo.

[Steveo]

Without wanting to speak for Sid, I dont think he's actually comparing the ability of Nunez and Bobby. I think you'd have to have literally zero clue about the game to think Bobby was anything other a genuis. And clearly Nunez is not...

However, like Bobby, Nunez is effective in other ways other than scoring goals. He's waspish, a nuisance, direct, wins a fair amount of headers and his output whilst not elite level is comparable to everyone of our recent forwards excluding Mo.

True - My posting of a Bobby video might make it look like Sid was comparing - he was really only making a point.. One about a lack of goals being weighed up v a benefit to the team.

I was just highlighting the fact that Bobby was far more than a player whose relative lack of goals was made up for because he "got assists, pressed well and he facilitated play around him - covering ground and winning the ball."

IF Nunez is to prove worthy of his HUGE fee... Then he needs to bring a similar level of benefit to the team as Bobby - who had game intelligence that was off the charts. There is a reason why the Kop labelled him as 'The best in the world'

[JockStrap]

Firmino didn't score loads.

Had that high productivity season of 17/18 when he got 15 League goals, but beyond that he was 12, then 9, then 9 again, then 5 (played less) and 11.

It didn't matter, because he got assists, pressed well and he facilitated play around him - covering ground and winning the ball.

Núñez got 9 in the League first season (Firmino only exceeded this twice) and 11 in the League last season.

So is Núñez as influential as Firmino? I'd happily say no - but I'd also acknowledge he is hasn't hit the traditional 27-29 sort of prime age either. If he can maintain current levels of effort and goals+assists per minute, consistently get up to 10-16 League goals per season, I'd say keep him. His fee probably influences how people feel about him.

Will he be THE central figurehead to build the side around? Probably not. He is a unique option though, high quality in work-rate and productivity - and availability, when we always complain about injury-prone players..in my book this is great and well worth keeping.

Lastly, it's worth bearing in mind Slot's system. Both Jota and Núñez have been getting less chances than Diaz and Salah have - we're currently not giving a lot of service to the central striker. If that changes, output (in terms of goals) may yet increase.

Aware I won't change anyone's minds though - and that's fine.

You won't change minds if you keep ignoring the central point, he's an out and out striker who doesn't score enough goals. Firmino was more like a number 10 who linked play brilliantly with Salah and Mane. The comparison with Nunez doesn't work. Nunez is a pure striker, like Origi, who is no longer here because he didn't score enough goals.

[Insidious]

Without wanting to speak for Sid, I dont think he's actually comparing the ability of Nunez and Bobby. I think you'd have to have literally zero clue about the game to think Bobby was anyth

There's been a few posts since I made mine - and I will likely attempt to address some of the points within them in a free moment in the coming days, but I'd just like to quickly thank you for "getting" that it isn't a direct comparison in that sense.

In the same way, if Núñez scores tonight (and Salah doesn't) I can quite rightly state in a moment of Núñez-boosting-delirium that "Núñez now has as many goals for Liverpool against Real Madrid as Mo Salah" without actually saying he is a player of quality.

[CCTV]

Firmino didn't score loads.

Had that high productivity season of 17/18 when he got 15 League goals, but beyond that he was 12, then 9, then 9 again, then 5 (played less) and 11.

It didn't matter, because he got assists, pressed well and he facilitated play around him - covering ground and winning the ball.

Núñez got 9 in the League first season (Firmino only exceeded this twice) and 11 in the League last season.

So is Núñez as influential as Firmino? I'd happily say no - but I'd also acknowledge he is hasn't hit the traditional 27-29 sort of prime age either. If he can maintain current levels of effort and goals+assists per minute, consistently get up to 10-16 League goals per season, I'd say keep him. His fee probably influences how people feel about him.

Will he be THE central figurehead to build the side around? Probably not. He is a unique option though, high quality in work-rate and productivity - and availability, when we always complain about injury-prone players..in my book this is great and well worth keeping.

Lastly, it's worth bearing in mind Slot's system. Both Jota and Núñez have been getting less chances than Diaz and Salah have - we're currently not giving a lot of service to the central striker. If that changes, output (in terms of goals) may yet increase.

Aware I won't change anyone's minds though - and that's fine.

Slot likes him, the meme of Darwin losing it and Slot mirroring him almost exactly is a good sign. Agree with your sentiments, although that 2nd last paragraph is plagiarism

[Nineteenx]

Nunez is like Gravenberch in a way, he has everything he needs to be a very top forward, he just needs ppl to help him out it all together

Gravenberch has had that & must continue working as hard as ever to improve

Now Slot needs to unlock Nunez’s potential

[miller0863]

Absolutely shocking