Consider yourself lucky. He reminds me of Wesley Crusher.
Thomas Lemar
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#10 has always been his best position - and when/if Coutinho leaves he should probably take over the actual #10 as well.
Reposting something I wrote in the Lemar thread this summer:
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Lemar is a playmaker, not an outright winger, although he can play and be very effective on the wing. His idol is Iniesta, and there are many similarities to their game (but some differences too – more on that later).
Strengths:
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This season he does seem to have gone off the boil, which might give Klopp some concern. Obviously he has less quality around him now, which sometimes forces him to come too deep to start attacking moves. But I also saw some games where he looked alarmingly one-footed - something that was not noticeable before - and he is forcing the game too much now, perhaps burdened by the responsibility as one of the team's few remaining leaders. Body language looks determined, but frustrated. I think he will thrive again in an environment where he is just one of the multiple attacking threats and can go back to playing his natural game of interchanging positions and finding space between the lines.
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Lemar is a playmaker, not an outright winger, although he can play and be very effective on the wing. His idol is Iniesta, and there are many similarities to their game (but some differences too – more on that later).
Strengths:
- A wand-like left foot. He can really put the ball on a plate, his trademark pass is a soft-ish curved ball that can range from a long pass to a cross to a delicate chip, but is always easy for the striker to control and hard to intercept. This is the primary reason his assist stats are so damn good.
- Beating a player 1 on 1. He doesn't typically go on long mazy runs, but he can reliably beat almost any defender 1 on 1 on both sides to make enough space for a cross or a pass. Acceleration over short distance is excellent.
- Tactical intelligence. This is the part you can't really see from highlights – he's a real playmaker by disposition and a keen student of the game. His vision for the pass is excellent and his movement to find space is very intelligent, especially for such a young player; actually the way he roams to find pockets of space between the lines reminds me of a younger Sturridge.
- Goal-scoring. Unlike his idol Iniesta, Lemar is a menace in front of goal – 9 league goals last season (14 in all comps). He scores a variety of goals, but a few of them were long-range strikes where he guides the ball seemingly at will to where GK can't reach it.
- Set-pieces. His left-foot delivery from any set piece situation is absolutely lethal and he's scored a few direct free-kicks as well. Has all the potential to be one of the best set-piece specialists in the game.
- Slight build. Also a bit like Sturridge, he avoids physical duels, finding spaces in between defenders rather than challenging them directly. Obviously he won't be much help defensively in physical battles, although his work-rate is good and he is not lazy – just doesn't have the build to win those battles.
- One-footedness has been mentioned as a weakness, but I don't buy it – it's not that his right foot is bad and he can certainly dribble to both sides, but it's just that the left foot is so awesome, so why not use it? It's like saying Messi or Robben is one-footed.
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This season he does seem to have gone off the boil, which might give Klopp some concern. Obviously he has less quality around him now, which sometimes forces him to come too deep to start attacking moves. But I also saw some games where he looked alarmingly one-footed - something that was not noticeable before - and he is forcing the game too much now, perhaps burdened by the responsibility as one of the team's few remaining leaders. Body language looks determined, but frustrated. I think he will thrive again in an environment where he is just one of the multiple attacking threats and can go back to playing his natural game of interchanging positions and finding space between the lines.
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What do you think of Nabil El Fakhr. From a few videos he seems a more of Coutinho replacement than Lemar
Nabil El Zhar.?
He has already scored once against The Ev, for Lyon, sign him up immediately.
He looked a cracking player in that game too.
I think this is his breakout season though so whether this is a temporary run of form or an elevation to a higher level is yet to be determined.
He is definitely a player worth keeping an eye on.
I don't think that would concern Klopp in the slightest. If a player has already demonstrated potential then to the contrary I think Klopp would find that alluring, to bring him back to his best and develop that potential.
I don't mean any kind big change - Firmino has already played this role this season with Salah ahead of him when we have the ball, but Bobby still would be the furthest man forward when we need to press or fight for high balls. Essentially we're talking about the same thing - someone like Lemar to replace Coutinho on the left, Mane on the right and Salah and Firmino in the middle/anywhere they please. My only point was that Bobby might have even wider grin if he's wearing #10 on the back of his shirt.
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Haven't been following him, sorry.
How do you know we haven't done just that? You can't announce it while the other negotiations are continuing. Wait and see.
We've appaz been talking to Monaco for a few weeks already. Its probably close to being done. Klopp said a sale wouldnt happen without replacements in place.
I really hope we've all but done this deal. Losing Cuntyo is a real loss. I loved watching him play, in truth.
When did he say that?
I also enjoyed our best player.
Well, we've got Salah!
Several times last summer. Klopp has the final say in the Coutinho deal, and I'm guessing he wont accept this without someone lined up
I had Firmino and Salah ahead of him in the best player stakes. Firmino first name on the team sheet for me mate
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