Florian Wirtz

[Kev0909]

Apparently up to Thursday (will have changed slightly since no doubt) Wirtz had created 66 chances from open play this season.

It would mean that only three players would have a higher tally than him in the top five European Leagues.

Lamine Yamal - 80
Kylian Mbappe - 79
Michael Olise - 68

That's ridiculously encouraging for a 22-year old who has every chance of getting better and could in time have a more clinical attacking unit ahead of him if we buy well.

it's almost like he's a good player...

who'd of thought it.

[JockStrap]

Apparently up to Thursday (will have changed slightly since no doubt) Wirtz had created 66 chances from open play this season.

It would mean that only three players would have a higher tally than him in the top five European Leagues.

Lamine Yamal - 80
Kylian Mbappe - 79
Michael Olise - 68

That's ridiculously encouraging for a 22-year old who has every chance of getting better and could in time have a more clinical attacking unit ahead of him if we buy well.

It is ridiculously good. The stats just back up what our eyes have been telling us. Wirtz is exceptional.

[Steveo]

Defo encouraging.. 'ridiculously encouraging'...? Not entirely sure of what that means.. but if it means ridiculously good.. for a fella of 22..? Not sure... Yamal is 18 don't forget?


Olise
Goals 13
Assists 25

Mbappe
Goals 38
Assists 5

Yamal
Goals 15
Assists 13

Wirtz
Goals 6
Assists 8

[miller0863]

He’s had a few good games but on the back of his best game he disappeared again on Saturday

[Steveo]

Yes - It was a shame too. My lad is a huge fan of his (Coutinho his idol) and was suggesting I would have to submit to the fact that Wirtz is the 'bestest thing since sliced bread'.. And to be fair he showed his superb ability in plenty of moments, just didn't quite come off.

It's frustrating because in the flesh it is EVEN more apparent that the guy is -technically speaking- streets ahead of most. He is 100% my kind of player. He can take the ball like Coutinho, he can find the space. He scares opponents into double marking. I dunno - maybe the transition to the Premier league is the biggest issue and next season he will fly. I do feel he needs to be paired with Hugo.. Those 2 have a huge amount of quality to bamboozle opponents..

He wasn't at it on Saturday night. We need to figure a way to get the best out of him.

[Red October]

He’s had a few good games but on the back of his best game he disappeared again on Saturday

Yes he did. As usual he showed great glimpses. There was one move where he was jinking in the right side of the box. Just great to watch. End product still a bit lacking but I would give him this season and see where we are. Thankfully the rest of the team played better at the weekend. His biggest frustration to me is when he gives the ball away needlessly in areas that can really hurt us. I would forgive him giving it away in the attacking third. But he tries little flicks and things in our half and puts us under massive pressure. We definitely need him to kick on next season. Otherwise then by all means judge him harshly. I do think he's been part of a dysfunctional team this year too which hasn't helped. Like Mo's best game was arguably on Saturday and the season is coming to a close. Even then he wasn't great and fluffed a lot of posession.

Also, worth bearing in mind that I remember fans being so frustrated with Szobo in his first season as he was very hot & cold. He's now possibly the first name on the teamsheet.

[Insidious]

He’s had a few good games but on the back of his best game he disappeared again on Saturday

Happens to the best of them to be fair - I had loosely compared Wirtz to Baggio before and Bobby B was culpable of quiet games and quiet spells - then you might get a sequence of games or moments where he sprang into life.

Even someone like Mane - a man who merits all praise we give him - used to have a lean spell for what felt like 8-12 games each season, before becoming Dynamite again.

The thing I'll be crossing fingers and toes for this season with Florian will be the timing - if we get some of his best performances in the upcoming run of games (Forest, West Ham, Wolves, Tottenham) and in our Champion's League matches, it'd be a big help.