Pre Match - Brighton (A) - Sun 14:00

[StevieM]

On current form Curtis is definitely our second best midfielder behind Szoba.

We needed a good DM more than anything but Szoba makes the error palatable when we have Curtis on the pitch as they are both effective from box to box making the job almost easy enough for MacA. Gravenberch is also quite good from box to box but Fabinho is missed.

Or is Mac A’s ball progression through the press making the “box to box” midfielders look good - or would Mac A be better deployed in a part of the pitch where, you know, the opposition don’t press as much so he could be more press-resistant.

So many possibilities.

 

[moron]

Or is Mac A’s ball progression through the press making the “box to box” midfielders look good - or would Mac A be better deployed in a part of the pitch where, you know, the opposition don’t press as much so he could be more press-resistant.

So many possibilities.

It all depends on what Klopp wants and how he trusts most, I personally think with Curtis - he is a more goal scoring threat when he gets to the final third than any of the other midfielders. But he has also gained a lot of experiencing in that 6 position having played for England U21 during the summer. You are correct regarding Mac playing in a more progressive role where he is not pressed so much. What Szob provides is the high energy level, I think it's clear though that to win this league - you need an effective 6 - me personally - would aim for a Manu Kone, but it seems we have our eyes on Andre - and the only thing I will say on that is if Andre's abilities will translate well into our league. The frustration I feel is that we are honestly one player - just that one player away from being complete right now. Everyone goes on about a LCB - but the truth is we only leak goals because unlike the teams above us we - don't have that intelligent DM in front of our defence. This is the first time under Klopp where we almost have ALL the player types we need.

Regarding Mac - I think of him as the facilitator (an offensive one) to the number 8's on the pitch - I can't quite describe it, but he is somewhere in between where he helps the 6 and supports the 8 making the overall team effective in transitions. I don't know what the fuck you call that - but it's the type of player you need most definitely against low block teams, and against those types of teams you don't need a specialist 6.

 

[StevieM]

It all depends on what Klopp wants and how he trusts most, I personally think with Curtis - he is a more goal scoring threat when he gets to the final third than any of the other midfielders. But he has also gained a lot of experiencing in that 6 position having played for England U21 during the summer. You are correct regarding Mac playing in a more progressive role where he is not pressed so much. What Szob provides is the high energy level, I think it's clear though that to win this league - you need an effective 6 - me personally - would aim for a Manu Kone, but it seems we have our eyes on Andre - and the only thing I will say on that is if Andre's abilities will translate well into our league. The frustration I feel is that we are honestly one player - just that one player away from being complete right now. Everyone goes on about a LCB - but the truth is we only leak goals because unlike the teams above us we - don't have that intelligent DM in front of our defence. This is the first time under Klopp where we almost have ALL the player types we need.

Regarding Mac - I think of him as the facilitator (an offensive one) to the number 8's on the pitch - I can't quite describe it, but he is somewhere in between where he helps the 6 and supports the 8 making the overall team effective in transitions. I don't know what the fuck you call that - but it's the type of player you need most definitely against low block teams, and against those types of teams you don't need a specialist 6.

I kind of agree with you - I can see us signing someone like Andre - there’s a certain logic to it.

In this Klopp midfield… which would be Version 3.0 or 4.0, the important thing in midfield positions is press resistance, ball retention, ball progression, pressing and creativity - so we keep the ball, move it through their lines and feed a good attacking unit that’s got loads to f goals in it.

I’m not sold on having a pure destroyer in midfield - one of Andre’s keep attributes seems to be progressing the ball from deep very effectively by breaking through their lines carrying the ball - you got Trent who can ping it long and accurate.

Mac A is adjusting to the deeper role because we need him there, but he’ll play in a more forward role at sone point - he’s the one that can play in all 3 midfield positions.

 

[moron]

I kind of agree with you - I can see us signing someone like Andre - there’s a certain logic to it.

In this Klopp midfield… which would be Version 3.0 or 4.0, the important thing in midfield positions is press resistance, ball retention, ball progression, pressing and creativity - so we keep the ball, move it through their lines and feed a good attacking unit that’s got loads to f goals in it.

I’m not sold on having a pure destroyer in midfield - one of Andre’s keep attributes seems to be progressing the ball from deep very effectively by breaking through their lines carrying the ball - you got Trent who can ping it long and accurate.

Mac A is adjusting to the deeper role because we need him there, but he’ll play in a more forward role at sone point - he’s the one that can play in all 3 midfield positions.

I can tell you I am 100% on that not being sold on having a pure destroyer. I hate those players - the fact that we have to spend like over even 10M on a guy whose job is just really to ... "Kick the fucking ball away" or has no ability to do anything with it that progresses play just does my head in. I always think those types of players are risky to have as they tend to be overly aggressive with a high liklihood of getting sent off when playing against tricky wingers etc. I don't know much about Andre other than the clips I have seen, and again not sure his talent would translate here in the PL, but would not Kone - if he starts getting back to regular time for his current club - present a less riskier option ?

 

[StevieM]

I can tell you I am 100% on that not being sold on having a pure destroyer. I hate those players - the fact that we have to spend like over even 10M on a guy whose job is just really to ... "Kick the fucking ball away" or has no ability to do anything with it that progresses play just does my head in. I always think those types of players are risky to have as they tend to be overly aggressive with a high liklihood of getting sent off when playing against tricky wingers etc. I don't know much about Andre other than the clips I have seen, and again not sure his talent would translate here in the PL, but would not Kone - if he starts getting back to regular time for his current club - present a less riskier option ?

Kone’s injuries are a worry.

 

[moron]

Kone’s injuries are a worry.

We can always pull off another Fekir

 

[Judge Jules]

How does one define "pure destroyer" anyway? Masher was and still is often described in those terms, but Stevie and Alonso would not have been as effective as they were at that time without him relieving them of loads of defensive covering which they'd otherwise have had to do. Someone that good at the midfield grunt work is unquestionably progressing play by freeing up more skilful players to do their stuff without having to worry about the gaps they might be leaving. Besides, a player who "has no ability to do anything that progresses play" would never get on LFC's radar in the first place.

 

[aquaman4]

If klopp sees Mac Allister in the xabi Alonso type deep laying play maker then we need the other midfielders to do more leg work and cover the spaces further up the midfield but not to far up so as the space is more tight like the Mascherano and Sissoko roles .