Can the Enigma

[mark1975]

Can has been a strange player for me, he's looked capable of excellence at times, which has been overshadowed by indecisiveness, sluggish play and performances littered with inconsistency. Yet he still appeals to me as one of our few players capable of becoming a top class player.

Yesterday he seemed to be let off the leash and invigorated. Chasing everything, sharper, passing long and short with ease and crucially, more confident.

I don't think playing in defense helped, it exposed him to errors that can dent trust. I don't completely blame Rodgers for this, he played at centre half at previous clubs and at international level too, but I think most will agree that he's always been seen as a midfielder.

What type of midfielder though? His bursts forward suggest a box to box type, but this is often undone by an obvious lack of stamina and/or fitness. As a DM his lack of defensive instinct is often shown by his inability to hold position, to track runners or to break up the play.

So what does the future hold for him, and where? I think he's got the potential to be great and I think Klopp will instill confidence in him - being a fellow countryman helps too, surely. Anyone?

 

[leftpeg]

With good coaching I still think he's got what it takes to become a very good CB in a back four. There might be a degree of compromise in this because I think his stamina or lack thereof will prevent him from becoming a truly world class midfielder.

 

[Mors]

I'm not sure what sort of position he should play long term. He seems a jack of all trades master of none. I don't see anything in him currently that makes me think he'd be a Gerrard sort of attacking CM role, so maybe he'd be better of being converted into a destroyer DM that's good for a couple of goals a season but doesn't push forward too much.

 

[gkmacca]

I do agree about him. It's like looking at a distorting mirror - from one angle he looks great, from another poor, from another slow and big, from another quite sharp and powerful. Yesterday was promising. I think he does need to work on his fitness, and he does need coaching, but hopefully a run of games in a stable position will see him grow in confidence and belief.

 

[Hansern]

If yesterdays match is anything to go by, lack of stamina is surley not an issue.
He was chasing, running and fighting until the final whistle.

I think he can become an excellent player and be on of the two central midfielders in the 4-2-3-1.
Was very good in that position for Leverkusen aswell.

 

[davud graham]

I was pleasantly surprised by how much running he did yesterday. I presumed he might struggle fitness and stamina wise as he always seemed to for Rodgers. Who knows what the reason is and it's only one game so far but if he can keep it up then he looks far more promising to me than he did.
Maybe the instructions he was given were more specific than under Rodgers or his poistion was more clearly defined. Weird that Can looked much better yesterday but Coutinho looked far from comfortable.

 

[Modo]

I was pleasantly surprised by how much running he did yesterday. I presumed he might struggle fitness and stamina wise as he always seemed to for Rodgers. Who knows what the reason is and it's only one game so far but if he can keep it up then he looks far more promising to me than he did.
Maybe the instructions he was given were more specific than under Rodgers or his poistion was more clearly defined. Weird that Can looked much better yesterday but Coutinho looked far from comfortable.

Coutinho looks comfortable when Sturridge is on the pitch.
He needs players who can take the pressure off him and give him space.

 

[davud graham]

Coutinho looks comfortable when Sturridge is on the pitch.
He needs players who can take the pressure off him and give him space.

I thought he struggled as there were very limited options ahead of him. Either he needs a centre forward/forwards who make better runs (rather than Origi who is pretty static) or he needs to be picking the ball up 10 or 15 yards upfield.
At the moment he's getting the ball on the half way line and even if he beats his closest opponent he hasn't got the blinding pace to get away from them for long enough to do anything.

 

[Modo]

I thought he struggled as there were very limited options ahead of him. Either he needs a centre forward/forwards who make better runs (rather than Origi who is pretty static) or he needs to be picking the ball up 10 or 15 yards upfield.
At the moment he's getting the ball on the half way line and even if he beats his closest opponent he hasn't got the blinding pace to get away from them for long enough to do anything.

Yep Klopp said too. Coutinho is playing too deep

 

[Fallon]

He never is, and never was a center back. It's one of a few things I won't give Rodgers a break on, as it was so bloody obvious after a game or two. I think he'll end up capable of playing one or two positions, all in midfield, and long term I see him with a slightly classier/effective style similar to Henderson. Trying to pigeon hole him into attacker/defender will be where the problem comes.

 

[Sheik Yerbouti]

I think he'll be great with the right coaching. He must have something about him to be a German international

 

[Insignificance]

He never is, and never was a center back. It's one of a few things I won't give Rodgers a break on, as it was so bloody obvious after a game or two. I think he'll end up capable of playing one or two positions, all in midfield, and long term I see him with a slightly classier/effective style similar to Henderson. Trying to pigeon hole him into attacker/defender will be where the problem comes.

Lovren, Agger, Sakho and others neither looked like a defender in Rodgers system. .. so using that as evidence is not accurate.

 

[Frogfish]

I do agree about him. It's like looking at a distorting mirror - from one angle he looks great, from another poor, from another slow and big, from another quite sharp and powerful. Yesterday was promising. I think he does need to work on his fitness, and he does need coaching, but hopefully a run of games in a stable position will see him grow in confidence and belief.

The question is what position and who is he going to push out of the team this season ? By next season the competition could be tougher still.

 

[Gary25]

I think he's shite.

 

[Judge Jules]

The question is what position and who is he going to push out of the team this season ? By next season the competition could be tougher still.

Same position as he played yesterday, surely. He isn't a defender, he's a midfielder and it's no coincidence that he had his best game for ages there. Let's see how he goes between now and New Year, when decisions will have to be made about targets for January.

 

[Skullflower]

Can the enigma what?

 

[hmmmmm1]

When he keeps it simple he is good.

 

[My_Blood_Bleeds_Red]

Yeah but that flick though.....

 

[gareth_thomas]

Surely he could do with losing a few Kg's. He is built like a Rugby or American Football player. It's obviously muscle but when does it become counterproductive? I can't think of many attacking minded midfielders as bulky as him.. Toure at his peak springs to mind..(he's much bigger now) Zidane was big...but not as bulky...

Anyone know where to find stats on weight n height for top class midfielders?

 

[My_Blood_Bleeds_Red]

He's not even the top 20 fattest players so please chill everyone.

 

[My_Blood_Bleeds_Red]

https://uk.sports.yahoo.com/news/pr...g-to-bmi-readings-145255067.html?soc_src=copy

 

[rurikbird]

What type of midfielder though? His bursts forward suggest a box to box type, but this is often undone by an obvious lack of stamina and/or fitness. As a DM his lack of defensive instinct is often shown by his inability to hold position, to track runners or to break up the play.

So what does the future hold for him, and where? I think he's got the potential to be great and I think Klopp will instill confidence in him - being a fellow countryman helps too, surely. Anyone?

Somehow whenever he played in midfield under Rodgers, he looked phlegmatic. He would never press consistently. Is it possible that Klopp, with his successful experience of working with Turkish/German players, unlocked something psychological in him that Rodgers couldn't? Emre looked a completely different player on Saturday, a born box-to-box midfielder and uncompromising fighter. He will still make mistakes, I'm sure, but his effort level suddenly went from 60% to 105%. We're going to have a hell of a player if he keeps this up.

 

[tombrown]

Can the enigma what?

unwrap itself from the conundrum and get outside of the riddle

 

[manwithnoname]

Somehow whenever he played in midfield under Rodgers, he looked phlegmatic. He would never press consistently. Is it possible that Klopp, with his successful experience of working with Turkish/German players, unlocked something psychological in him that Rodgers couldn't? Emre looked a completely different player on Saturday, a born box-to-box midfielder and uncompromising fighter. He will still make mistakes, I'm sure, but his effort level suddenly went from 60% to 105%. We're going to have a hell of a player if he keeps this up.

I do appreciate effort, and certainly noted Can's increase in work rate, but it rather begs the question why he didn't feel the need to do it beforehand. He plays for Liverpool, that shouldn't be something that he requires reminding of.


And my biggest issue with him is he's all furious noise and not much else. Doesn't know when ti release the ball, doesn't create anything, doesn't score, doesn't dictate anything in CM.


He has so much to improve.

 

[Oncy]

Hes no Shelvey.

 

[Skullflower]

has can ever scored a goal for fuck's sake?

 

[manwithnoname]

Hes no Shelvey.

Hmm, true.

I think the idea of him is sadly far better than the reality: he's got boss hair!; he's GERMAN; Bayern Munich everyone! Bayern Munich; just like Yaya Toure isn't he?; He's such a big, powerful presence, box-to-box; he'll be the next Gerrard if he's played in his proper position; Klopp will make him the greatest ever.

So far, I've seen nothing.

 

[cloggypop]

Joachim Low has seen something.

 

[Oncy]

Injuries to a few of his starters.

 

[manwithnoname]

Joachim Low has seen something.

His hair is pretty unmissable.

But as far as blind associations with nationality go, I'm all for more Germans in the team. Babbel and Hamann were awesome.