Bobby

[rurikbird]

While we're all refreshing SCM, Echo and the Twitter feed waiting for more signings to hopefully take this summer from "meh" to "awesome," can we talk about Bobby Firmino and how good he's been so far this season? [but please, let's not make it pro or anti Brendan – it's about Firmino, not him] We paid £29M for Firmino 2 years ago, which by current prices is almost laughably low. Rodgers stuck him on the wing and for a while it seemed like this purchase was a waste of money – fans and pundits couldn't quite take an account of his rather unusual mix of qualities and to be fair they had a right to be concerned, because even when Roberto played in the middle, usually behind Benteke, he was maddeningly inconsistent: "good Firmino" one day, "bad Firmino" the next with seemingly no pattern to it.

Quite a change now, don't you think? Firmino is one of the more consistent players in the entire squad; if you look closely there are still shades of "good/bad Firmino" in some games, when his touch seems uncharacteristically sloppy and decision making casual, but even in those games (and they are becoming increasingly rare) his work-rate and desire mostly makes up for it. Other than that, he's as reliable as they come – work-rate and attitude always top-notch, his tactical intelligence is such that he is becoming Klopp's "deputy" on the pitch and the absolute key to our attack with his movement and passing. He is also (knock on wood) has been physically reliable, almost always available for selection and not easily tired despite a high-energy playing style, even when starting games twice a week. In a way – and I don't mean to knock on Coutinho here – he's been a polar opposite to Phil in some ways, who has been missing strings of games with injuries pretty regularly in his LFC career and needed the team to adjust in various ways to suit his qualities rather than adjusting his game to the team. You can see why Klopp trusts Firmino (and now also Mane and Matip) probably more than any player on this team.

Firmino's stats this season (all comps):

5 starts
3 goals (1 penalty)
3 assists

Going a bit beyond the stats, I think there has been probably only 2-3 goals this season where Firmino was not involved in the build-up; in a lot of them he was the one providing a key "secondary assist." He's in great form and I hope it continues – he just needs to find some better goal celebrations...

 

[Dreambeliever]

It was a lot of money at time but he's been a solid addition.

Needs to improve his finishing as we know and needs proper competition up top

 

[Woland]

Oh god, here we go

 

[Oncy]

Quite aside from the ludicrous 'Involved in the build up' 'secondary assist' stupidity I couldnt agree more.
Hes fucking brilliant and pound for pound up there with our best transfers in recent years.
Only probably Can, Coutinho and Mane look like better deals

 

[mark1975]

He's been great and I think he has become fairly crucial to how we play, his interchanging with the front three/four is what really helps pull the strings in attack.

I don't think he'll ever really have a huge goals impact (say 15 at best), but his assists and workrate both let that fall by the wayside. If we're getting 15 goals each from the front three and a shed load of assists, with added goals from Sturridge and Solanke, as well as the rest of the team, then that's pretty good going.

We definitely needed another/more goal threat and that's why we brought in two forwards in the Summer, in Salah and Solanke. So it was a problem that was clearly recognised and had been picked up on by a few posters on here (to much derision). It's probably why we're still after another to cover for Salah/Mane in the wide positions.

 

[Brizzle]

He's the key part in making our front three work so well. Salah and Mane will continue to flourish with Firmino in the middle of them. Excellent player and this season is going to raise his profile across supporters of other teams too.

 

[Fabio]

More mobile bergkamp

Can pass, finish, skillz. Complete forward who is perfect foil for our wingers

He's a blatant example of a perfect false 9

 

[mom]

He's boss. Was last season too. He's only gonna get more impressive with more quality around him.

 

[Oncy]

What he does brilliantly is drop off play, he drops really deep meaning every defense we have played has pushed right up the pitch enabling Mane and Salah (although Salah needs to improve in 1 on 1 situations as he wont always get 3 or 4 chances per game) to really exploit that space in behind to great effect.
The concern for me will be when we play at home against teams fighting for a point, who just wont play ball. Those two banks of four bastards. Firmino wont be as effective against them and thats where we need to have a plan B. A striker who can hold up the ball up top and also play on the shoulder of the defensive line.

We shouldnt be overly confident just yet about this plan A. Lets see it against Burnley and Stoke at Anfield

 

[Oliver Twist]

Great player who adds so much to our attack.

 

[Dreambeliever]

More mobile bergkamp

Can pass, finish, skillz. Complete forward who is perfect foil for our wingers

He's a blatant example of a perfect false 9

Bergkamp? Not having that at all.

He was sublime and way way ahead of Dwayne Dibbly.

 

[rurikbird]

Quite aside from the ludicrous 'Involved in the build up' 'secondary assist' stupidity I couldnt agree more.
Hes fucking brilliant and pound for pound up there with our best transfers in recent years.
Only probably Can, Coutinho and Mane look like better deals

If not for Firmino's through-ball for Mane, Can's first goal against Hoffenheim doesn't happen (minutes before, Mane missed a clean 1 on 1 from another Firmino through ball). Salah's goal on a rebound from Wijnaldum's shot against Watford doesn't happen. Sturridge's goal on Sunday doesn't happen, etc. It's not "stupidity," those were not routine 5-yard passes, but key involvement in the goal that's just not reflected in basic stats, hence "looking a bit beyond the stats."

 

[Oncy]

Bergkamp? Not having that at all.

He was sublime and way way ahead of Dwayne Dibbly.

You do know he played for Arsenal not United?

 

[Fabio]

What he does brilliantly is drop off play, he drops really deep meaning every defense we have played has pushed right up the pitch enabling Mane and Salah (although Salah needs to improve in 1 on 1 situations as he wont always get 3 or 4 chances per game) to really exploit that space in behind to great effect.
The concern for me will be when we play at home against teams fighting for a point, who just wont play ball. Those two banks of four bastards. Firmino wont be as effective against them and thats where we need to have a plan B. A striker who can hold up the ball up top and also play on the shoulder of the defensive line.

We shouldnt be overly confident just yet about this plan A. Lets see it against Burnley and Stoke at Anfield

Big dom solanke

Done

 

[Rosco]

If he just takes the easy chances that come his way he's perfect.

He's playing brilliantly at the moment

 

[Jerry Laser]

Slowly becoming my fave player....

Partly because of those goofy teeth & celebrations.... but also because of his awesomeness when he turns it on.

That volley end of last season a case in point.... quality!

 

[Dreambeliever]

You do know he played for Arsenal not United?

Ya doesn't fit well with that theory at all does it?

It's almost as if it's a load hoop.

Bergkamp was amazing to watch, a dirty nasty bastard but amazing.

 

[rurikbird]

Bergkamp was one of the most technically sublime players of modern era, alongside Totti and Roberto Baggio – I wouldn't compare Firmino to him. (Also Bobby's work-rate is better than those 3 put together)

 

[juniormember]

If not for Firmino's through-ball for Mane, Can's first goal against Hoffenheim doesn't happen (minutes before, Mane missed a clean 1 on 1 from another Firmino through ball). Salah's goal on a rebound from Wijnaldum's shot against Watford doesn't happen. Sturridge's goal on Sunday doesn't happen, etc. It's not "stupidity," those were not routine 5-yard passes, but key involvement in the goal that's just not reflected in basic stats, hence "looking a bit beyond the stats."

Yup.

 

[ILD]

I think he's great. Nice to see he is getting the recognition he deserves. A perfect foil for Mane and Salah so far this season. If he goes off the boil we have Sturridge and Solanke to mix it up with talk of a new striker potentially coming in to compete.

 

[Fabio]

Bergkamp was one of the most technically sublime players of modern era, alongside Totti and Roberto Baggio – I wouldn't compare Firmino to him. Bobby's work-rate is also better than those 3 put together.

Technique wise he may not be there yet, but his touch, close control and shielding of the ball certainly isn't as far off as others seem to suggest

 

[LeTallecWiz]

fucking flabby melt.
Bin him.

 

[Brizzle]

What he does brilliantly is drop off play, he drops really deep meaning every defense we have played has pushed right up the pitch enabling Mane and Salah (although Salah needs to improve in 1 on 1 situations as he wont always get 3 or 4 chances per game) to really exploit that space in behind to great effect.
The concern for me will be when we play at home against teams fighting for a point, who just wont play ball. Those two banks of four bastards. Firmino wont be as effective against them and thats where we need to have a plan B. A striker who can hold up the ball up top and also play on the shoulder of the defensive line.

We shouldnt be overly confident just yet about this plan A. Lets see it against Burnley and Stoke at Anfield

I think part of that will be the emergence of Gini & Can being more willing to attack and make runs between the midfield & defence. They were both on fire against Arsenal and seeing more of that movement against a packed defence will be key.

 

[Hansern]

He's boss. Seems to have stepped up even more this season and is an integral part of the team and how we play.
Lets hope his productivity is as high as now throughout the season.

Good news that it was reported that we're offering him a new contract.

 

[Frogfish]

Bergkamp was one of the most technically sublime players of modern era, alongside Totti and Roberto Baggio – I wouldn't compare Firmino to him. (Also Bobby's work-rate is better than those 3 put together)

Didn't Totti regularly have the highest ave. distance run in Serie A ?

 

[Woland]

I thought this topic might be about a trillion quid bid from Bayern Munich or something.

I suppose we better get used to the fact that next summer is going to be about Bobby and Mane the same way this summer has been about Phil.

 

[Hansern]

We've won the Premier league and Champions league by then, so it should be a bit easier to deal with at least.

 

[Woland]

It's why if I hear a manager say 5 year plan again I'll have to glass them. You get three years in and the squad gets dismantled. Try and win everything this year, coz next year everything changes again.

 

[leftpeg]

After his first few months I remember posting something about him being good at everything without being outstanding at anything. It's fair to say he's improved all areas of his game and his contribution to the team now is immense. Whether you call it our first 11, strongest 11 or whatever, Bobby Firmino is in it without question.

 

[ibromurph]

He's actually a terrific player but just a sometimes frustrating forward (in that he's not in the box when you want him). But with the way we play, it doesn't matter so much.

If he improved his finishing though, he would easily bag 20-25 goals a season and along with his usual 10-15 assists.