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Henrikh Mkhitaryan - just a smokescreen

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His striking ability and capacity to arrive in the box at the right time looks at the level of Gerrard in his pomp. He won't have the rest, but then that would be too much to expect. Pacey looking too.
 
the_khl said:
He's positioned just behind the striker.

Look, we can give it all sorts of names, but he's extremely attacking-minded. Much more so than say Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard or even Paul Scholes, who in my opinion is the definition of goal scoring midfielders.

Hamlet isn't one as he's positioned so far up that he's either second striker or at best deep lying forward.

So to say he's scored 25 goals from midfield - or even as an attacking midfielder - is wrong.
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Funny, I seem to remember Gerrard being called an attacking midfielder when he played behind Torres during that season.

The guy is an attacking midfielder, he drops back with the play, and makes late runs, he plays practically the same way Gerrard did in 2009.
 
the_khl said:
He's positioned just behind the striker.

Look, we can give it all sorts of names, but he's extremely attacking-minded. Much more so than say Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard or even Paul Scholes, who in my opinion is the definition of goal scoring midfielders.

Hamlet isn't one as he's positioned so far up that he's either second striker or at best deep lying forward.

So to say he's scored 25 goals from midfield - or even as an attacking midfielder - is wrong.
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No it isn't. He plays as the middle of the three in Shaktar's 4-2-3-1, which is in effect the most advanced central midfielder. He's not a forward - he's said so himself. And he's being signed to play as the most advanced central midfielder for us. He's actually played games for both Armenia and Shaktar as a deeper central midfielder. He can move into space on the wings, the same as any decent attacking midfielder can, but his best position is the most advanced central midfielder, where he can have the most influence on the game. He's not a forward, nor will he be for us.
 
From one of the games I've seen him play. Especially his positioning on the second goal underlines that he's not in an attacking midfield position like the one Gerrard had in our team. He's playing further forward than that, used to hit teams on the counter.

 
Best Believe It said:
No it isn't. He plays as the middle of the three in Shaktar's 4-2-3-1, which is in effect the most advanced central midfielder. He's not a forward - he's said so himself. And he's being signed to play as the most advanced central midfielder for us. He's actually played games for both Armenia and Shaktar as a deeper central midfielder. He can move into space on the wings, the same as any decent attacking midfielder can, but his best position is the most advanced central midfielder, where he can have the most influence on the game. He's not a forward, nor will he be for us.
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How do you know where he is being bought in to play for us?

And his best position seems to be sat just slightly deeper than than the striker, looking to make late runs into the area.

It would make little sense to me if you are right, as he's no where near as tidy and neat on the ball as I would expect Rodgers to prefer in his player for the advanced AM role.
 
the_khl said:
How do you know where he is being bought in to play for us?

And his best position seems to be sat just slightly deeper than than the striker, looking to make late runs into the area.

It would make little sense to me if you are right, as he's no where near as tidy and neat on the ball as I would expect Rodgers to prefer in his player for the advanced AM role.
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I don't; but seeing as we're signing Atsu, Aspas, and have Coutinho - all of whom have played decent chunks of their career as wide forwards, and have Sturridge and Borini as central strikers (whilst Borini can play wider), there isn't any other logical place for him to play, given that a) he currently plays centrally and b) we are not well covered in the AM position, and Rodgers said ages ago that the No. 10 position was one of his main priorities this summer. There isn't anyone else that we're looking to sign that fits better into that position than Henrikh does. So whilst I don't know for sure, it's the most logical answer. Henrikh is right footed, which means he would be playing wide left if your theory is correct; the same place occupied by Coutinho. I very much doubt that Rodgers is looking to minimise Coutinho's playing time - even if it is a squad game - so one of those two is going to be the no. 10. My money's on Henrikh, considering how much we're paying for him and how important the position is, as far as Rodgers is concerned.

Plus there's the fact that almost every football writer who is passing comment on Henrikh says he's an attacking central midfielder.
 
Gerry_A_Trick said:
Has he been rumoured to sign with anyone else? Usually when they're not, we end up signing them
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Juve was quite interested. They seem to have been priced out of the move for now, but if they sell Vidal, I'm sure they'll come for Mkhitaryan.
 
Hamlet is his father's name, so it's not a middle name for him, but a patronymic. In Shakhtar players call him "Heno" (a form of Henrikh).
 
Herr Onceared said:
That last volley is ridiculous.
Thats the first clip ive watched and although some of the goals are unspectacular, there is a lot to be said for a player who is just there.
Scholes and Lampard have made a career of it.
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There is.
They are unspectacular because, having timed his run to perfection all he had to do was put it past the keeper.

He didn't have to fly up in the air like a giant floating pig and turn upside down to volley or hammer the ball at goal 17 times from 30 yards.
 
The outcome of Liverpool's efforts to sign Shakhtar Donetsk's Henrikh Mkhitaryan - apparently their number one target this summer - will tell us much about the club's ambitions and its ability to realise them.

Mkhitaryan is exactly the kind of player Liverpool need to refine their approach on the pitch and define their "project" (sorry!) off of it. Brendan Rodgers says he's looking to add 20 goals to the side next season, and on the face of things, the free scoring Armenian midfielder certainly looks as if he could help out on that score. His 25-goal league tally in the Ukrainian Premier League from an advanced midfield role has drawn admiring glances from all over Europe. Mkhitaryan's performances for his national side have also caught the eye, and his 11 goals in 39 appearances have been instrumental in their gradual, but notable, rise out of minnow status.

In terms of Liverpool's "project", landing the Shakhtar player would provide much-needed credibility for the manager, the transfer committee and not least the owners. Much as the signings of Daniel Sturridge and Phillipe Coutinho gave cause for optimism since January, messrs Rodgers, Ayre, Henry and Werner - the public faces of the club - still need a few transfer market wins to consign last summer's embarrassment to history.

Talented, hungry and yet with something to prove, Mkhitaryan certainly fits the profile of the kind of player the Anfield hierarchy insist will revive the club's fortunes. His likely price tag will also send a message to the fans and the wider game that Liverpool aren't only in the market for Moneyball outliers and won't be afraid to spend big if the right player comes along.

In fact, should he sign, the deal will have many similarities with the arrival of Luis Suarez - the player he might actually be replacing - at the club. Whilst recognised as a burgeoning talent, scoring freely in the Eredivisie was not enough to convince the big guns to take a punt on the Uruguayan. Liverpool's gamble on that talent and the timing of their approach reaped rewards. Given the likely outlay on Mkhitaryan, and the club's general fiscal caution and relative weakness against the game's real big guns, they will need similar success on this occasion. In fact, whenever they dip into the £20 million plus market, the return on investment must be immediate for the same reasons.

Reports suggest that a deal is close, but with Liverpool not even commanding a Europa League place next season and the likes of PSG and Juve hovering, Reds fans will probably exercise a little caution. Realistically (the sensible amongst them will think), if the Armenian is as good as he appears to be, then why on earth he would be going to Liverpool?

Perhaps Liverpool have got their timing right again - taking advantage of the procrastination and dilly-dallying of others. Perhaps Liverpool's great history still resonates in the streets of Yerevan. Perhaps he sees the Premier League as a place where he can really test himself and improve - and Liverpool's is the only (most lucrative?) offer from that league on the table. Or maybe Mhkitaryan is simply impressed by the size of Brendan's dossier and shares Ian Ayre's love of hogs.

Whatever the reasons, should they get his signature on the dotted line, Liverpool will have made it clear they are here not just to play - but to compete as well. Should they fail, then the impact of the decline of recent seasons will be made plain.

Paul Little - follow him on Twitter
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@EPLStuff: Henrikh Mkhitaryan is set to travel to Liverpool tomorrow evening for personal talks and medical tests with LFC. [PanArmenian]

Excited if this signing happens.
 
Mystic said:
I thought he was meant to be having a medical yesterday, and then the day before that.
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I wouldn't be surprised if he'd passed and was just about to pose for a picture with Ian Ayre when the photographer pointed out that it was in fact the model skeleton from the physio's room.
 
kennyd said:
Armenia are shit. Therefore mickeyT is not that good. Easy really isn't it?
Thank fuck we're not in for the new George Weah from Liberia. Or Falcao from Colombia. Or Eto. Or Bale. Or Giggs. etc etc etc......What the fuck has someone's nationality got to do with it? You, my man, are a tool.
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Don't forget Hyypiä and Litmanen.
 
Shaktar hasn't heard from us at all.

So this seems like a smokescreen for our real targets then? Has it been confirmed we have even scouted this lad?
 
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