I've always thought we needed one (one that is better than Lucas), when we had decent options in that position we leaked less goals.
What do you think?
What do you think?
Do we need a DM?
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Yes
Definitely. I cannot understand why we are linked to only players like Dahoud, Zeilinski etc when our priority should be to get a DM. Arsenal bought Xhaka. Leicester's league title was helped greatly by Kante.
I don't know if Klopp intends to use Emre as DM or not, if he doesn't then we need someone strong to play there in front and in between of the two CBs. Like Mascherano did.
I don't know if Klopp intends to use Emre as DM or not, if he doesn't then we need someone strong to play there in front and in between of the two CBs. Like Mascherano did.
We do need one, but we won't be signing one. Klopp seems to have put his faith in Can for this.
If Lucas and Allen both go, we'll need one. Can is still learning his trade there and tries to play more box-to-box in style. He has all of the physical qualities and he's played in the backline too, but his biggest flaws are concentration and reading the game, which is pretty essential for a DM. I think if Lucas goes then we'll be in the market for one, or for an equally robust midfielder to sit alongside Can, allowing him to the do the roaming.
It's also worth mentioning that Grujic has played the DM role and has been compared alot to Matic.
It's also worth mentioning that Grujic has played the DM role and has been compared alot to Matic.
Grujic:
Standing at 6-foot-3-inches (1.90m), Grujić has been described as "tall, rangy, comfortable on the ball and with a good range of passing" and dubbed the 'new Matić' because of his likeness in both appearance and position to fellow Serbian defensive midfielder Nemanja Matić. He has also been compared to Premier League legends Yaya Touré and Patrick Vieira, with his large stature and athleticism making him "quick to reach both penalty areas without ever seeming to be reaching top speed"
Standing at 6-foot-3-inches (1.90m), Grujić has been described as "tall, rangy, comfortable on the ball and with a good range of passing" and dubbed the 'new Matić' because of his likeness in both appearance and position to fellow Serbian defensive midfielder Nemanja Matić. He has also been compared to Premier League legends Yaya Touré and Patrick Vieira, with his large stature and athleticism making him "quick to reach both penalty areas without ever seeming to be reaching top speed"
I agree we need one, but I'm not sure Klopp does. I get the impression he wants to play all-rounders in midfield rather than have a specialist DM sitting deep.
Yes. We've needed one for 5 years. Lucas is an awful player and Allen has never been good enough.
Who? Don't know, there's a few about, although the best ones are very expensive and also unlikely to join us.
Xhaka looked like a quality player, and Kante has also had a very good season. We need a player who can anchor our midfield, has some mobility and spite in him.
Who? Don't know, there's a few about, although the best ones are very expensive and also unlikely to join us.
Xhaka looked like a quality player, and Kante has also had a very good season. We need a player who can anchor our midfield, has some mobility and spite in him.
Actually I was disappointed with Xhaka in the Euros. I'm not saying Arsenal have bought a dud and he's probably better than Coquelin but IMO he didn't have a good tournament.
Yes. It's a fundamental requirement these days. So obvious it hurts.
Pass, tackle, run.........utopia
I think not having a good DM was the reason Rodgers was sacked. When Suarez left we didn't have anyone to score the goals and hide how terrible we were defensively.
It's much easier to find a good DM than a new Suarez so I hope Klopp doesn't make the same mistake. Like others have said, it is a vital position and I don't think Emre can play this role, he's more of a box to box type player. I also haven't seen enough of Grujic or know if he can fill this role.
We haven't replaced Mascherano since he left and even though it looks unlikely, I hope that Klopp will do it this summer.
It's much easier to find a good DM than a new Suarez so I hope Klopp doesn't make the same mistake. Like others have said, it is a vital position and I don't think Emre can play this role, he's more of a box to box type player. I also haven't seen enough of Grujic or know if he can fill this role.
We haven't replaced Mascherano since he left and even though it looks unlikely, I hope that Klopp will do it this summer.
Can we dispel the myth that Kante is a defensive midfielder. He's not. Take a look at the heat maps of Leicester and you'll see he's their central midfielder. His strength is his energy and ability to boss the centre of the park. He's not a holding midfielder that protects a back 4. That was Drinkwater.
The term DM is a bit of a misnomer really. I don't know if people are referring to a holding midfielder, or a ball-winning defensive player.
For instance, in the Alonso-Masch partnership, Alonso played the deeper holding role whereas Masch did most of the ball-winning destructive work.
The term holding mid is therefore more useful I think. I think we already have our holding mid in Can.
It's up for debate if we need to pair him with a ball winner or not. I don't think so personally. I'd much rather have a passer in there alongside him. Someone who can hold his own physically in the PL of course.
For instance, in the Alonso-Masch partnership, Alonso played the deeper holding role whereas Masch did most of the ball-winning destructive work.
The term holding mid is therefore more useful I think. I think we already have our holding mid in Can.
It's up for debate if we need to pair him with a ball winner or not. I don't think so personally. I'd much rather have a passer in there alongside him. Someone who can hold his own physically in the PL of course.
I thought Rogers brought Allen for the DM role? What about the new kid Allan Souza, Klopp likes him so may be he is there to fill the vacuum?
I was quite impressed, although I will admit that he's not exactly the most mobile of players.
It was highlighted, after the Swiss played the French, how often he "switches off" and lets players in behind him. Good passer though and he'll be an upgrade on Coquelin.
Yeah, maybe I was a bit blinded by some vague Xabi Alonso similarities
We shall see. Hopefully he's terrible!
Agreed - he is more - he did a lot of running in advanced positions and like you say was excellent a controlling the center. I am kind of undecided on this issue because the DM position is like having an extra defender but obviously in front of the main defenders - what makes Kante different is that he is like a DM plus an Alonso, therefore provides greater input and impact to a game than your norma 100% DM.
As far as I'm concerned only @dmishra and @JohnnyRocket are on the right track in this thread. What do people mean when they say DM? Is it a Makelele/Mascherano (Lucas/Van Bommel/Casemiro/Obi Mikel/Wanyama etc) type who sits in front of the back 4 and is essentially a purely defensive specialist? Some managers love these kinds of players and consider them essential, others (like Klopp, Guardiola or Sir Alex) almost never use them. "Pure" DMs are useful for teams who have an overabundance of attacking players (think Real Madrid or Man City) and need one "water-carrier" and protector to balance out an otherwise unbalanced (and maybe somewhat defensively lazy) squad. Coaches who preach pressing in numbers and high-energy game typically have no need for defensive specialists in midfield.
Personally, I'm very happy with Can in his holding role – he needs to build up consistency, but otherwise he is exactly what we need and we can build the team around him. Having watched Xhaka in Germany in the past season, I would say it's a toss-up between the two of them who is better – Xhaka is more of a playmaker (although he is no Alonso), but Can is better at driving forward. My biggest concern with Xhaka was his bad temper – for somebody in such a key role in the team, it's inexcusable to keep getting petty yellow and red cards (I think he missed overall around 10 games through suspension in 3 seasons in the Bundesliga). Anyway, once Can firmly established himself in Klopp's plans (around mid-season), we seemed to lose all interest in Xhaka and instead started focusing on more advanced midfielders to partner Can, which is where we still are right now.
Personally, I'm very happy with Can in his holding role – he needs to build up consistency, but otherwise he is exactly what we need and we can build the team around him. Having watched Xhaka in Germany in the past season, I would say it's a toss-up between the two of them who is better – Xhaka is more of a playmaker (although he is no Alonso), but Can is better at driving forward. My biggest concern with Xhaka was his bad temper – for somebody in such a key role in the team, it's inexcusable to keep getting petty yellow and red cards (I think he missed overall around 10 games through suspension in 3 seasons in the Bundesliga). Anyway, once Can firmly established himself in Klopp's plans (around mid-season), we seemed to lose all interest in Xhaka and instead started focusing on more advanced midfielders to partner Can, which is where we still are right now.
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Agreed.
This could be Klopp's blind spot. ( all managers have one)
Let's hope it doesn't cost us.
Its too complicated for me. I was comfortable when the positions available were goalkeeper, center back, full back, midfielder, winger & striker; "sweeper" was the exotic extravagance.
My son talks about "deep lying forward" - isn't that just a midfielder?
There's too many options variations & subtleties now for old stuck in their ways fogies to keep up with. I'll have a false 13.
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