Luis Diaz

[My_Blood_Bleeds_Red]

Did someone ask me for a scouting report recently? Anyway, here are some of my thoughts on Diaz.

Overall, he is very much in the mould of what we think of as a "Klopp winger" or wing-forward; I can't think of many players, other than Mane himself, who fit that role on the LW better. He is very quick, technically excellent and gets in goal-scoring positions. He scores a variety of goals and from what I've seen, he is a calm and clean finisher. He enjoys the intensity of the game, tracks back and presses well. He exaggerates contact sometimes, as many players in Portugal do, but nothing too egregious - in other words he doesn't seem like a cunt.

Two things I've picked up recently from watching him in games as opposed to highlights, is that he is pretty good at holding up the ball and that his ability to time a pass is actually superb. When Porto are defending deep, he is usually their most advanced player, much like Salah is for us, and a lot of times has to fight to receive the pass under pressure and use his dribbling skills to protect the ball until reinforcements arrive. There was one moment, I think from a recent game against Benfica, where he did exactly that and slowed the game down, keeping 2 or 3 defenders at bay, waiting and waiting until the precise moment his teammate was about to run into space and found him with the laser-like pass. It's was just superb timing and execution and I can remember several moments like this. Highlight reels tend to emphasize goals and dribbling, but I think passing and awareness of teammates is his underrated strength and in terms of the ability to execute a pass he would be an improvement over Mane. That said, his crossing is nothing special and I don't think Klopp will rely on that part of his toolkit too much.

I'm not sure I can find a perfect example of a player to compare him to, but one name I thought of is Angel de Maria. Diaz seems to have better goal-scoring numbers than Di Maria so far and hopefully that trend will continue, but the similarity is that they are both technically superb players who are also selfless and very team-oriented. You can also perhaps make a comparison to his compatriot Juan Cuadrado in terms of energy and intensity on the wing, although I think Diaz has a lot more attacking nous.

Thinking about how Diaz would fit in this Liverpool team, left-wing seems like by far the most natural position. I already mentioned that Diaz kind of plays a Salah role for his current team, so if we were to imagine him in Mane's place in the front 3, I think he would have to shuttle back and forth a lot more than he does currently, to match Mane's defensive output – that would be something he would need to adjust to. Also, while he does make some outside-in runs playing for Porto, a lot of times he seems simply stationed on the LW and waiting until the ball finds him – in Klopp's system he will have to make a lot more and more varied runs without the ball; I am sure he will enjoy it, but he'll probably need time to build up stamina for that kind of intensity and work for 95 minutes. On the positive side, making more runs will mean that he will be found in space more often, whereas currently he is often surrounded by 2 defenders by the time he gets the ball on the wing, which can be frustrating if that's almost the only situation your teammates can get the ball to you.

I also think it's not completely beyond the realm of possibility to imagine Diaz playing an attacking CM role in Klopp's system – if Ox can do it, I don't see why Diaz couldn't and maybe his ability to thread through a final ball will get more use this way. I don't see him as CF or a RWF in Klopp's system, so I don't think he can be a direct Salah replacement. In summary, Diaz looks like a very natural fit to the way we play and while he will need to make a few adjustments for Klopp's system, all of these potential adjustments seem to dovetail perfectly with the natural tendencies of his game. The one possible concern I have is whether with his seemingly humble personality and upbringing he will be psychologically ready for the kind of iconic status and media attention that being a star player for Liverpool will surely bring. Sometimes that can make players go into their shell; hopefully he'll have enough grounded and low-key characters around to help him feel at home and show the full extent of his talent.

Angel de Maria ? Hmm

I was thinking more of a Colombian Robben.

 

[mom]

Gerrard was overrated. There, I said it.

Silly silly thought. Erase from your mind at once.

 

[Hansern]

I think a front 4 of Mane, Jota, Diaz and Salah is probably more viable than the one with Firmino. I think Klopp will experiment with that as well as simply rotating the front 3 with Diaz on the left and Mane either on the bench or through the middle.

Do you think a Diaz - Mane - Salah could work?

 

[StevieM]

What ever happened to DB?
I never thought I'd say this ... but I sort of miss him

*adds tombrown to the Sacrificial List for when we need a Title Challenge boost*

 

[RedStar]

Do you think a Diaz - Mane - Salah could work?

 

[Red rose]

not sure this is real . Looks like a hotel room 😀 all sorts going round
Edit; it does say , possible . Which makes me suspect haha

 

[Red Mullet]

What ever happened to DB?
I never thought I'd say this ... but I sort of miss him

He got replaced by DR.

SCM transfer policy to get rid whenever a poster has peaked. So far DR has replaced him in that position quite well.

 

[StevieM]

Maybe Dreamie jinxed himself for a change.

 

[Dirty Sanchez]

I think dreamie finally got tired of being called a bellend by all the other bellends on here.

 

[Bradley]

#Announce @Dreambeliever

 

[StevieM]

I think dreamie finally got tired of being called a bellend by all the other bellends on here.

He’s waiting till we sign Ryan Fraser before returning to tell us he was right all along.

 

[King Binny]

 

[Squiggles]

Some insight from a Porto fan

He was first scoured by Valderrama as a child - the Colombian afro dude who got his balls grabbed on the pitch

 

[Red rose]

 

[dogboy]

Right, I'm sick of the sight of him now. Next please.

 

[The Nomad]

 

[tomasjj]

this excites me

i was hoping for a midfielder though

 

[beejay]

Joyce now reporting that our medical team are on the way to S America and will run the medical over 2 days before Columbia's next game on Tuesday but he is not expected on Merseyside until end next week due to visa complications. On £90k a week he says

 

[King Binny]

[article]

There’s been multiple claims in the Portuguese press in recent days which have stated why Luis Diaz hasn’t signed for Tottenham Hotspur this month.

Spurs’ initial approach was rejected, yet it was thought the Premier League either came forward with a new offer, or showed their willingness to do so.

Whilst the player’s desire to move elsewhere has been important, it’s not the only reason Antonio Conte’s club have failed to bring the Colombian in.

Friday saw reports which stated Tottenham’s payment terms simply weren’t as good as those offered by Liverpool, and Saturday’s edition of Record explains the Reds are paying the whole fee over a period of less than two years.

That’s crucial for FC Porto’s troublesome finances.

Record also explain that Jorge Mendes being involved in Tottenham’s approach caused problems, and created ‘friction between agents’.

The agent is said to have presented the idea of signing Diaz to Fabio Paratici, however, Porto had already given the player’s agents, specifically Raul Costa, the mandate to sell him to an English side.

Therefore, the club would have been faced with paying two lots of 10% of the deal to different agents, taking 20% of the value away.

And that made it an impossible deal to do.
[/article]

 

[rurikbird]

Do you think a Diaz - Mane - Salah could work?

I don't see why not; almost any combination should be possible, but for me the most exciting possibility is having all 4 of them (with one of Jota or Firmino up front) on the pitch at the same time. Good luck defending against this kind of skill and pace coming at you from all directions.

 

[Mystic]

He's an ugly cunt ain't he

 

[The Nomad]

He's an ugly cunt ain't he

But he's our ugly cunt.

 

[rurikbird]

Angel de Maria ? Hmm

I was thinking more of a Colombian Robben.

Here's an interesting observation about different types of attackers:


From what I've seen, Diaz is closer to the Mane/Ribery type.

 

[The Nomad]

Here's an interesting observation about different types of attackers:


From what I've seen, Diaz is closer to the Mane/Ribery type.

He's definitely been compared to Robben more than Ribery from everything I've read over the last day or so.

 

[bluebell]

With Mane and Salah not having a winter break, I wonder if they'll be able to come back later, Diaz as cover?

 

[Markeh]

He's an ugly cunt ain't he

i didn’t want to say it but he’s lucky he’s good at football

 

[Red Bird]

How times change!

Spurs once trumped Liverpool for Willian’s signature (only to be bushwhacked by Chelsea, of course.) Also rinsed us in that Robbie Keane transfer (how mad was that?)

 

[Bradley]

How times change!

Spurs once trumped Liverpool for Willian’s signature (only to be bushwhacked by Chelsea, of course.) Also rinsed us in that Robbie Keane transfer (how mad was that?)

Still sure that selling Keane cost us the league that year..... despite having no recollection of what happened that season or where we finished.

 

[rurikbird]

He's definitely been compared to Robben more than Ribery from everything I've read over the last day or so.

I don’t know, I might be wrong, but doesn’t seem like a useful comparison to me. Robben was exceptional at doing one thing; I didn’t notice any similar pattern with Diaz - he is a lot more varied and creative.

BTW I think Saka and Martinelli is another example of a well-balanced pair of wingers. Arsenal will do well if they can keep both for many years and add quality pieces around them.

 

[Brizzle]

Announce Diaz