Arthur Melo
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Offering our only backup left back (and a very decent one), for an injury prone midfielder on loan that none of us had heard of this morning.
No, even we can't be that stupid. Can we?
No, even we can't be that stupid. Can we?
Liverpool look set to sign Brazilian midfielder Arthur Melo on a season loan deal on deadline day. We take a closer look at who the player who has earned praise from Messi in the past.
Arthur Melo
Age: 26
Born: Goiânia, Brazil
Height: 5′ 6″
Foot: Right
Positions: Midfield – Deep-lying playmaker
Previous clubs: Gremio, Barcelona, Juventus
A low centre of gravity, quick on the turn, very tidy in possession, able to play forward passes that break the lines and adept at keeping the ball when under pressure.
He is, what the analysts these days call ‘press resistant’ – able to wriggle out of tight spaces and hold off opposition players. His pass accuracy is often highly impressive.
He has a decent shot from the edge of the box, but it’s certainly not a main strength or prolific from distance.
Good positional awareness, able to receive the ball under pressure, beat a man and then play a killer pass. He’s more likely to play the pass before the assist, breaking the lines and playing others in.
He’s very, very similar to Thiago (more on that later) and plays in the same role as the Spaniard. It’s clear that Liverpool have sought a player to be able to rotate with the current No.6.
His strengths aren’t the only thing he has in common with Thiago, with his injury record the main concern.
Some – including Juventus fans on social media – have claimed he’s actually currently injured with an ankle issue, but journalists have scuppered those claims and say he is deemed fit, potentially even for Saturday’s Merseyside derby.
Last season he missed 13 Juventus games due to injury and nine the season before. He managed 31 appearances (all competitions) last season and 32 the season before.
So small, regular niggles. Again, like Thiago.
The other weakness is, according to Juve boss Max Allergi anyway, that he is arguably too comfortable on the ball.
“Sometimes he has to handle himself a little bit more, but he put in a great performance,” Allegri said last season, adding: “He has extraordinary technical abilities.”
Work rate will be a concern, but that’s possibly true of any signing for Jurgen Klopp. Perhaps a loan will ensure he’s keen to make an impression – and resurrect his career / fulfil his undoubted potential.
He is a player in that prime age range where Liverpool lack a midfielder at present. Curtis Jones at 21, the next oldest being Fabinho at 28.
Thiago.”
He writes that: “Arthur is one of the cleanest first and second phase passers in the sport. He’s so nimble, so agile, and so good with his passing. The press resistance and the circulatory but also progressive passing is a thing of beauty. His quality will be obvious straight away in a red shirt.”
Others have pointed out the similarities to Thiago too, and that would be sensible as Liverpool need somebody to rotate with and step in when the Spaniard is injured.
Earlier reports suggested Liverpool wanted somebody who can play the ‘Thiago role’ and also the holding midfield role, and Arthur can do both.
Xavi – in the words of Lionel Messi back in 2020 when Arthur signed for Barcelona.
“It surprised me,” Messi said. “The truth is that I did not know him a lot and, saving the similarities and comparisons, the truth is that he seemed [similar] to the style of game of Xavi: the one to want to always the ball, to play short, and not to lose it.”
He's not fit. Injury prone. Of course he's going to be injured when we need him.
It is what it is, but come on FFS. Let's not be put in this situation again.
Part of our success has been avoiding these kind of situations
On the plus side, you know Klopp could turn him into a magician.
It is what it is, but come on FFS. Let's not be put in this situation again.
Part of our success has been avoiding these kind of situations
On the plus side, you know Klopp could turn him into a magician.
The only thing I would say from watching his clips is that he seems to have that Gini ability to shield the ball, and spin on a sixpence.
Once upon a time Klopp went into the first game of the season down at Arsenal, with Gini and Lallana as deep midfielders. Both were able to turn defense to attack quickly and easily, by turning in tight spots on the pitch, this became a bit of a trait in Klopp's midfield for a few years until recently. When Thiago isn't there you really notice the lack of agility in midfield, which slows the game down. Neither Henderson or Fabinho are able to do it to the same degree, Henderson even less so. There's a balance to be found with what we already have, there's no "right or wrong" midfielder at the club, but we clearly lack balance and too often the ever presents in midfield have been too physically alike, even if they do have differing skillsets. Elliott has that agility about him too, so the balance is there. It's just finding the right mix of skillsets, experience and physique.
Once upon a time Klopp went into the first game of the season down at Arsenal, with Gini and Lallana as deep midfielders. Both were able to turn defense to attack quickly and easily, by turning in tight spots on the pitch, this became a bit of a trait in Klopp's midfield for a few years until recently. When Thiago isn't there you really notice the lack of agility in midfield, which slows the game down. Neither Henderson or Fabinho are able to do it to the same degree, Henderson even less so. There's a balance to be found with what we already have, there's no "right or wrong" midfielder at the club, but we clearly lack balance and too often the ever presents in midfield have been too physically alike, even if they do have differing skillsets. Elliott has that agility about him too, so the balance is there. It's just finding the right mix of skillsets, experience and physique.
Pointless signing if we don’t have an option to buy.
He’s not match fit for most teams, let alone ours, taking into account how hard we train pre season to ensure we can get as many lovely injuries in nice and early.
So by the time he’s fit, if we haven’t broken him by then, we may get a few good games before the World Cup break. By which time most of our players should be back.
As for tsimikas going the other way. Why sell our current best left back?
He’s not match fit for most teams, let alone ours, taking into account how hard we train pre season to ensure we can get as many lovely injuries in nice and early.
So by the time he’s fit, if we haven’t broken him by then, we may get a few good games before the World Cup break. By which time most of our players should be back.
As for tsimikas going the other way. Why sell our current best left back?
He'd only walk back into this team because we have no midfielders available. It's a moot point, he was often maligned at the best of times by our fans, we're now over a year down the line with him having played not much football and with not much success, having already had his best days at Liverpool behind him.
Was checking out his stats and noticed
- he's 3cm shorter than Lisandro Martinez (175cm)
- didn't seem to feature in any friendly games, last match recorded was May 2022 (on as a 84th min sub)
Dunno bro. I’d have him just behind Fabs and Thiago now that Hendo is getting on. Elliot is firmly cementing himself in the starting line up mind you.
Oh shit really? Poor guy.
Just cos I recall reading how Conte seems to care about size (http://sixcrazyminutes.com/threads/top-4-rivals-transfers-and-discussion.187207/page-34#post-2157070) 😛
Something I’ve learned with transfers is no matter how shit the player is there will always be people telling you they’re good and being hyped about it.
The worst is these enigma or flawed players, if you can just coax the talent out of him / if you can just keep him fit… if it were that simple they wouldn’t be in this position.
The worst is these enigma or flawed players, if you can just coax the talent out of him / if you can just keep him fit… if it were that simple they wouldn’t be in this position.
Well, at least expectations are under control...
There had been suggestions that Arthur, Liverpool’s imminent new loan signing, was currently out injured, but those claims have now been allayed by a journalist who says the midfielder is “physically 100%.”
The Reds made their move to sign the Brazilian in the early hours of deadline day, with the player jetting in for a medical in the morning.
The former Barcelona midfielder is expected to be announced as a Liverpool player in the coming hours, adding some much-needed cover to Jurgen Klopp‘s ranks in the middle of the park.
After missing out on first-choice target Aurelien Tchouameni to Real Madrid earlier this summer, Klopp had been reluctant to sign an alternative this summer, claiming the club would only move for “the right player” if and when they became available.
However, an injury to Jordan Henderson in the second half of the victory over Newcastle looks to have forced Liverpool’s hand.
After news had emerged that Arthur was on his way to the club, there were some claims that the Brazilian was currently sidelined by an injury himself.
However, European football journalist Guillem Balague has shed some light on the situation, and says Liverpool’s imminent new addition is fully fit as things stand.
He also explained why Arthur is excited by the opportunity to join Liverpool, after a difficult spell under Max Allegri in Turin.
“At Juventus it didn’t really work,” Balague said in a video posted on his Twitter.
“The system of Allegri and style of Allegri didn’t suit him, but he feels, now that he’s 100% physically well, that he could adapt to the Premier League quickly and that’s something we’ll have to see, because the pace of the Premier League is completely different to Serie A.
He also reckons Klopp will understand his game much better than Allegri, so the player is really looking forward to coming to Liverpool.”
Balague believes Arthur can be “a good addition” to the Liverpool squad at a time where they are in desperate need of reinforcements.
He does, however, acknowledge that the Brazilian will need to adjust to the Premier League as quickly as possible.
“A great addition, unoriginal thinking from Liverpool to get him, but good addition to their midfield,” Balague added.
“My only concern is how long it will take him to adapt to the pace of the Premier League.”
Time will tell, but at least he’s not injured!
It seems like you want to question the pronoun I have chosen to use.
[article]
The Brazilian midfielder was heavily linked with a move to Arsenal back in January and has reportedly been pursued by other Premier League sides in recent weeks, however, a new report from UOL has outlined that Arthur's €6million (£5.1m) salary put off many potential suitors.
Juventus offered the 26-year-old's services to numerous clubs in recent days, including Arsenal, Lyon, Roma, Rennes, Sporting Lisbon and Valencia. But none were willing to take on Arthur's wages for the season.
Despite hesitation elsewhere, Liverpool have now made a decisive move and emerged as Arthur's most likely destination, with reports claiming that the former Gremio man is poised to undergo a medical at Anfield on Thursday afternoon.
[/article]
The Brazilian midfielder was heavily linked with a move to Arsenal back in January and has reportedly been pursued by other Premier League sides in recent weeks, however, a new report from UOL has outlined that Arthur's €6million (£5.1m) salary put off many potential suitors.
Juventus offered the 26-year-old's services to numerous clubs in recent days, including Arsenal, Lyon, Roma, Rennes, Sporting Lisbon and Valencia. But none were willing to take on Arthur's wages for the season.
Despite hesitation elsewhere, Liverpool have now made a decisive move and emerged as Arthur's most likely destination, with reports claiming that the former Gremio man is poised to undergo a medical at Anfield on Thursday afternoon.
[/article]
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