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Ragnarrrr

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rurikbird

rurikbird

Part of the Furniture
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Let's see how he does in competitive games, but so far by every indication he looks like a really smart purchase from Klopp. Like others have noted, he does have some resemblance to Hyypia's playing style, being both no-nonsense and kind of elegant at the same time – is that a Scando/Northern European thing? Surely he won't be as dominant in the air as the big Finn (6'1 compared to 6'4). I feel a lot calmer about our CB options now that he is in the team.

Let's hope we see Matip soon and see what he brings to this team.
 
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The CB combination needs solidifying and developing of course as we have two new arrivals. However Matip undoubtedly looks to be a massive upgrade on any of the incumbents from last season (inc. Skrtel) and once they are fit (a bit unusual to have 3-4 injured at one time) then there is decent back-up too.

Ragnar is fulfilling Klopp's forecast that he is not here only to be #4 on the CB list. Very solid and excellent at reading the game, he lacks pace though and I do wish he was an inch or two taller.
 
Height doesn't worry me so much. If his timing, judgement and spring are good, it doesn't matter he's an inch or two shorter. For me, those things matter at least as much as height. I've seen loads of big defenders (and strikers) who might as well have been five inches shorter for all their height helped them, because they'd get caught flatfooted far too often as the crosses came in. I was very impressed with this guy yesterday. It's the only pre-season game I've managed to see, so I'm not going to get over-excited about anything at this stage, but, as you said, for a bit of a 'panic buy,' he looks very classy. He reads the game very well indeed.
 
gkmacca said:
Height doesn't worry me so much. If his timing, judgement and spring are good, it doesn't matter he's an inch or two shorter. For me, those things matter at least as much as height. I've seen loads of big defenders (and strikers) who might as well have been five inches shorter for all their height helped them, because they'd get caught flatfooted far too often as the crosses came in. I was very impressed with this guy yesterday. It's the only pre-season game I've managed to see, so I'm not going to get over-excited about anything at this stage, but, as you said, for a bit of a 'panic buy,' he looks very classy. He reads the game very well indeed.
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His height is pretty good – I'm not "worried" about it – but I just think had he been 3 inches taller and with the same reading of the game, maybe he could have been as dominant in the air as Sami. That's especially useful in attacking on corners, where Sami was king (35 career goals for us).

Our CB heights and goal totals:

Matip 195cm – 34 career goals (club football only)
Lovren 188cm – 11 career goals
Gomez 188cm – 0 career goals
Klavan 187cm – 15 career goals
Sakho 187cm – 10 career goals
 
I want CBs who can defend. Goals are a bonus. Besides which, I still don't regard it as any straight match between height and goal threat. Terry isn't that tall - same height as Ragnar? - but he's the highest scoring defender in the league.
 
Quality centre backs who can read the game well should theoretically always be a threat when attacking corners for the same reasons that they can be in the right place to block runs.

Whilst I don't think your CB's scoring should be the first requirement, if you have one who can score regularly from corners it can be a huge bonus over a full season.
 
Ragnar certainly can defend. His positioning is excellent and he reads the game brilliantly.
Very composed and has really added something to the team.
 
I'm a big fan. I said in the other thread he reminds me a little Hyppia. Just his languid no panic approach. Early days yet of course but what I have seen of him so far - He is going to be aces.
 
If we're going to compare (although he's hardly started!) I'd say he's more reminiscent of Thompson. Hansen preferred being partnered by Thompson over Lawrenson because of his calmness, his reading of the game and his anticipation.
 
He's a cool enough character to have already worked out what an untrustworthy idiot Moreno is.
 
By virtue of not being part of that shambles of defense we had last season he should automatically be first choice until he proves otherwise.
 
He's been very good, very calm, doesn't get involved in scraps, pulling shirts, rash tackles.
 
Pleasantly surprised about how good he's actually been. I'd like to see him develop a partnership with Matip. I think in terms of potential, that looks the best partnership on paper. Lovren 3rd CB and (a fit) Gomez as 4th. Sahko we will probably sell within the next year.

Having said that, it'd be interesting if Klopp looked to use Ragnar at LB (in a similar way that Chelsea use Ivanovic)? I wonder if he can still play there (as he's done previously in his career).
 
ibromurph said:
Pleasantly surprised about how good he's actually been. I'd like to see him develop a partnership with Matip. I think in terms of potential, that looks the best partnership on paper. Lovren 3rd CB and (a fit) Gomez as 4th. Sahko we will probably sell within the next year.

Having said that, it'd be interesting if Klopp looked to use Ragnar at LB (in a similar way that Chelsea use Ivanovic)? I wonder if he can still play there (as he's done previously in his career).
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Doubt it - we would have seen him at LB at least once during the pre-season if it was the case. Plus Klopp's full-backs are usually more attack oriented than, say, Chelsea's - he is far more likely to use a midfielder at FB than a CB there.
 
rurikbird said:
Doubt it - we would have seen him at LB at least once during the pre-season if it was the case. Plus Klopp's full-backs are usually more attack oriented than, say, Chelsea's - he is far more likely to use a midfielder at FB than a CB there.
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Except we have been short CBs since he joined.
 
gkmacca said:
If we're going to compare (although he's hardly started!) I'd say he's more reminiscent of Thompson. Hansen preferred being partnered by Thompson over Lawrenson because of his calmness, his reading of the game and his anticipation.
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Wow. Things must have gone mightily downhill since Thommo finished playing then.

On a related issue, was it just me or did I really see Jocky look daggers at Lawrenson from time to time during Lawrenson's stint on MOTD?
 
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