Poll Gakpoll

[binomial]

But it's also pretty basic to look at a player and say " he looks shite".

I don't think anyone should have to compile a portfolio on a player to have an initial gut reaction. Hell, i even voted "too early to tell" and have posted in here that i think he'll be decent for us. I'm plenty calm about it, i just dislike people being told how to support their team/players

"Too early to tell" was the only correct answer given the poll was started 3 weeks after he joined.....Did anyone at least see any of him before he signed at the world cup? Or maybe in the Europa tie against Arsenal just before the WC? I saw a player in there in near enough all the games he played...fans just like to kneejerk and get on a players back just because they're not seeing out of that player what they want to see out that player I.e running as quick as Usain Bolt, scoring the numbers Messi did at Barca in his prime etc.

 

[Squiggles]

Those were two impressive finishes and it's showing more of his repertoire

First goal versus Everton - anticipated the opportunity as soon as Robertson broke the lines, simply stayed wide and backed Trent to deliver it on a plate, which he duly did. There were signs in this goal that he's realising what this team can do for him.

Second goal versus Newcastle - Arrives late into the box, giving Salah the eyes and anticipates a lovely chipped pass from Mo. Arriving so late and being on the move is what makes all the difference. Clinical first touch and finish. Similar to the goal above, you don't make that run unless you've got the awareness of your teammates ability.

Third Goal versus United - More akin to what he was known for at PSV, but I suspect often did that quality of pass he received from Roberson. It was the classic cut in and bend it to the far corner, but it provided some glimpse of his ball-striking ability and I reckon he could have banged it in blindfolded. .

Fourth Goal versus United. Started the move deep in our half, kept up with play and got on the end of Mo's return. There was no look up to check his position in relation to the goal, or the keepers movement. The situation had already played out in his mind long before and was able to instinctively chip that in at the tightest angle. Exciting stuff.

For me the takeaways there is that Gakpo is starting to learn the quality of supply he can expect to receive at Liverpool. His first touch and hold up play has been evident since day one, but as he's got more familiar with his his teammates his anticipation is improving. He's now seeing things ahead of time and putting himself best place to influence games. He's not blistering quick, but he's got enough to start moves and keep up with play. That's fine in the central role.

I've got a feeling that Gakpo is quietly going to become a very efficient player for us whilst keeping out of the lime-light. They'll be less extravagance than Bobby, and the pressing will be less intense, but that calmness he exudes will no doubt drive his finishing ability, and I'm sure the numbers will end up speaking for themselves.

 

[Hansern]

If people want everyone to withhold judgement on players until they've played X amount of games, then thats just fucking boring. Stop being boring

From now on everyone gets one game, the first one, and their performance in that game will determine whether or not they will be success.
The games that follow in the next few years doesn't count.

Regards,
SCM

 

[Fabio]

From now on everyone gets one game, the first one, and their performance in that game will determine whether or not they will be success.
The games that follow in the next few years doesn't count.

Regards,
SCM

Thank you. Finally some reason

 

[MomoWASright]

From now on everyone gets one game, the first one, and their performance in that game will determine whether or not they will be success.
The games that follow in the next few years doesn't count.

Regards,
SCM

This is the way.

 

[rurikbird]

Turns out we can have a shit midfield just as long as the front three and back four do their thing. No wonder we never buy any midfielders, we don't need them.

Do you work for FSG?

 

[MomoWASright]

Do you work for FSG?

Woland has always loved them.

 

[doctor_mac]

He isn't going to do the flicks in the box, but that third goal where he just gets the ball and springs the counter and finishes, that's how we work. He's tidy, rather than flashy, but his passing and ball retention are very impressive.

That dinked finish for the second wasn't tidy. It was pure gallus, as a Glaswegian might say. Bold, daring, marked by exquisite class.

 

[binomial]

That dinked finish for the second wasn't tidy. It was pure gallus, as a Glaswegian might say. Bold, daring, marked by exquisite class.

I think because of his stature it's always harder for that type of player to come across as "flashy"...but what exactly is flashy these days? I certainly don't look at Richarlison or Antony as flashy that's for sure....pair of clowns.

Exquisite is certainly a great adjective to describe that goal, both his goals really.....I'd go with mesmerising...very few players could finish that, he pulled it off with ease.

 

[My_Blood_Bleeds_Red]

Nah he’s bang average.

 

[Hansern]

That dinked finish for the second wasn't tidy. It was pure gallus, as a Glaswegian might say. Bold, daring, marked by exquisite class.

Coutinhoesque finish from the game at Old Trafford.

 

[King Binny]

 

[localny]

Ah it was rash to write him off. This isn't the Roy Hodgson era. You can have some faith in our folks

 

[mwake]

19 people : "No he's shite'. Hang your heads in utter shame :

• momoWASboss
• Wet WetDreambeliever
• moron
• peterhague
• KopRed
• River23
• Markeh
• SaRed
• peekay
• Rafiagra
• Halmeister
• gene hughes
• My_Blood_Bleeds_Red
• Aidan O' Neill
• PoetryinMotion69
• Molby's Dick
• Irishanfield
• Red7
• Dutch

 

[MomoWASright]

Shame on you trying to shame the big dog.

 

[doctor_mac]

Shame on you trying to shame the big dog.

The Big Dog atones with his match threads. Where is the atonement from the others? There must be weeping, self abasement, flagellation and gnashing of teeth! Except for Gene who is still waiting for Markovic to come good. He knoweth not what he doeth.

 

[Hyena]

There no atonement without a naked walk of shame.

 

[MomoWASright]

The Big Dog atones with his match threads. Where is the atonement from the others? There must be weeping, self abasement, flagellation and gnashing of teeth! Except for Gene who is still waiting for Markovic to come good. He knoweth not what he doeth.

This bringer of the title shouldn’t need to atone for anything.

 

[rurikbird]

That fucking Pep Lijnders bought us another dud…

 

[StevieM]

You have similar sample sizes of bad and good games. Which one is more indicative of his future performances because we all know players can have little purple patches?

He came in and done absolutely nothing of note for the first 3 or 4 games. History will tell us that those who can play for us hit the ground running. You can tell they have “it”. From day 1 you knew Salah, Mané, Jota, Diaz, Suarez, Torres, Owen, Fowler had the balls to play for us. Cody looked like a rabbit caught in the headlights.

Equally, out of the current team, Robertson, Fabinho, Firmino & Henderson didn’t look great at first either - the first two took months before they got close to playing regularly.

Plenty of players sparkled in their first couple of games then turned to shit.

He looks like a level headed, even gawky type of guy that exudes quiet confidence rather than flash “look at me” sort - it doesn’t even look kike he has any prison tatts!!!!

I doubt he’ll start cosplaying as a pirate or get his photo taken hugging a massive fish any time soon.

 

[Squiggles]

 

[StevieM]

This is the way.

Yeah, I suppose there’s merit in calling everyone shite to start off with.

Less boring, I suppose - do we have any players that aren’t shite anymore?

Everyone’s shite except for Badgertits and maybe Alisson when he’s not dropping clangers.

Maybe Melo too… since no-one’s ever seen him play - if he actually still exists that is.

Maybe Thiago v34.0, or whatever clone version we’re on to now, will be good.

 

[juniormember]

Equally, out of the current team, Robertson, Fabinho, Firmino & Henderson didn’t look great at first either - the first two took months before they got close to playing regularly.

Plenty of players sparkled in their first couple of games then turned to shit.

He looks like a level headed, even gawky type of guy that exudes quiet confidence rather than flash “look at me” sort - it doesn’t even look kike he has any prison tatts!!!!

I doubt he’ll start cosplaying as a pirate or get his photo taken hugging a massive fish any time soon.

He definitely didn’t exude quiet confidence at first. That first goal of his completely changed his confidence level both in that game and all the other games since.
There’s a chance he might be a bit fragile mentally, or maybe it was just a case of his first massive move abroad into a new team which was a shock to his system.
Either way he is looking great!

 

[King Binny]

 

[doctor_mac]

There’s a chance he might be a bit fragile mentally, or maybe it was just a case of his first massive move abroad into a new team which was a shock to his system.

Either way he is looking great!

The latter, surely! But it isn't just that it was a new move, because of injuries he was parachuted straight into a team that was struggling badly at both ends of the pitch. He was played in a completely new position. He looked like he didn't know what he was meant to be doing. That wasn't down to a fragile confidence. It was because he literally had no idea what he was meant to be doing, and that was entirely understandable.

I said all this during the time. Not trying to be a smartarse about it, but it seemed clear he had been handed a poisoned chalice at the start. If Klopp had any alternatives he would have played them, I suppose, but he was literally a warm body that needed to be thrown in.

 

[juniormember]

The latter, surely! But it isn't just that it was a new move, because of injuries he was parachuted straight into a team that was struggling badly at both ends of the pitch. He was played in a completely new position. He looked like he didn't know what he was meant to be doing. That wasn't down to a fragile confidence. It was because he literally had no idea what he was meant to be doing, and that was entirely understandable.

I said all this during the time. Not trying to be a smartarse about it, but it seemed clear he had been handed a poisoned chalice at the start. If Klopp had any alternatives he would have played them, I suppose, but he was literally a warm body that needed to be thrown in.

I don't disagree with any of that. I was specifically talking about the 'quiet confidence' thing.
Stick someone like a 25 year-old Suarez in any forward or midfield position that he's never played, and he'd still try all sorts of tricks and shit-housery and be exactly the same as he would be in his favoured position. Wasn't the case for Gakpo.
But I don't care. Loving him right now!

 

[MomoWASright]

Equally, out of the current team, Robertson, Fabinho, Firmino & Henderson didn’t look great at first either - the first two took months before they got close to playing regularly.

Plenty of players sparkled in their first couple of games then turned to shit.

He looks like a level headed, even gawky type of guy that exudes quiet confidence rather than flash “look at me” sort - it doesn’t even look kike he has any prison tatts!!!!

I doubt he’ll start cosplaying as a pirate or get his photo taken hugging a massive fish any time soon.

Yeah, I suppose there’s merit in calling everyone shite to start off with.

Less boring, I suppose - do we have any players that aren’t shite anymore?

Everyone’s shite except for Badgertits and maybe Alisson when he’s not dropping clangers.

Maybe Melo too… since no-one’s ever seen him play - if he actually still exists that is.

Maybe Thiago v34.0, or whatever clone version we’re on to now, will be good.

It took 3 games before the he’s shite calls to come out. He’d done nothing of note during those games. Not a decent tackle, beat a man, show some real pace or quiet confidence. Nothing. If he is mentally fragile then he won’t be a long term player here.

My list specifically looked at forward’s because that’s the position where you need to have the most self belief. Those you’ve added didn’t have 3 opening games where they did nothing of note. You could see them trying to get stuck in or doing something.

We have a long list of really good to exceptional players here. So it’s not a case of everyone is shite. They are a group who have started burning through the credits they had built up but can still contribute to this side. Gakpo came with zero credits in the bank and played in a position which we are well stocked when we have bigger issues. He was seen as the wrong signing at the wrong time.

 

[juniormember]

But turns out, he might have been the right signing at the right time.

 

[MomoWASright]

But turns out, he might have been the right signing at the right time.

Our midfield woes haven’t disappeared so it could still be seen as the wrong time. If he stays up top long term he could be the right player who we should’ve signed earlier or in the summer.

Is the thread reactionary? Yes. Unjustified? I don’t think so.

 

[localny]

Once he got that first goal he really exploded as a player. From the Eredivisie to the PL, he likely need that lift to feel he was good enough for the jump.

Some players are like that. Calling him brutal so early was knee jerk and thus not the brightest. He'll go through peaks and valleys for sure. I hope the Muppet Show won't come out again as soon as he has a bad patch.