Xherdan Shaqiri
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Ha true.
I can *actually* picture him in a red Adidas leotard.
Armstrong?
Haha, the perils of predictive text
Italian journo for Sky. When he says its on its on. Has the best contacts around and has been the first one to call a lot of transfers.
Dont tell Ross
LFC target Xherdan Shaqiri blows hot and cold on World Cup debut
The 22-year-old Switzerland star is being heavily linked with a move to Anfield from Bayern Munich this summer, and Henry Jackson (@OnFootballTweet) assesses how he fared in his side’s World Cup opener against Ecuador on Sunday.
#450658982 / gettyimages.com
Sunday’s World Cup showdown between Switzerland and Ecuador in Brasilia saw one of Liverpool’s major summer transfer targets take to the pitch to showcase his talents for the first time.
Xherdan Shaqiri, the star player of a talented Swiss team, has been tipped to secure a move to the Reds this summer by numerous sources in recent weeks, with the Daily Starreporting that talks are underway between Liverpool and the winger’s current club, Bayern Munich.
With Reds fans all over the world watching with keen interest to see how their potential new signing would perform, how did he fare on his World Cup debut?
(All statistics via Squawka and WhoScored)
Strengths
Although Shaqiri didn’t exactly set the world alight with his performance, he is a player who always looks a threat with the ball at his feet.
He started on the right-hand side, in a 4-2-3-1 formation, and his ability to drift inside onto his dangerous left foot was evident throughout. Fast, tricky and as strong as an ox, despite his diminutive frame, it’s easy to see how he’d suit Liverpool’s attacking style.
As is the norm with so many attacking players these days, Shaqiri was far from stuck in one position, and often popped up in the ‘number 10′ role and on the left. This versatility and fluency would certainly appeal to Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers.
The Bayern man created four chances for his teammates against Ecuador, and whereas some wide men can often be too reliant on pace rather than technique, Shaqiri clearly has both.
He had a passing accuracy of 89 per cent, including four key passes, which when you consider how often he gets the ball in tight areas, further highlights his technical excellence.
Weaknesses
#450660152 / gettyimages.com
If Sunday showed one thing it’s that Shaqiri is still very much a work in progress. He has many attributes, but can also be hugely frustrating to watch at the same time.
His crossing, in particular, was very disappointing. He delivered the ball from out wide on eight occasions, and the majority of his efforts were both overhit and lacking in thought. He was removed from set piece duty such was his inconsistency.
Similarly, despite a couple of reasonable efforts, his shooting was erratic. A terrific chance fell his way at a key point in the second-half, but a lack of composure saw him slice the ball into the side-netting.
Arguably Shaqiri’s biggest weakness is his defensive work, and it left a lot to be desired against the South American’s.
Too often he failed to track back and help out right-back Stephan Lichtsteiner, and in the first-half, in particular, his lack of work-rate played a part in Switzerland being outplayed and overrun.
World-class wingers such as Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery- Shaqiri has struggled to usurp either of them in the Bayern team this season- have shown in recent times how important it is to work hard and do your defensive duties, and Shaqiri needs to take a leaf out of their book in that respect.
He made just one tackle in the whole game, and that resulted in a foul.
A poor work-rate is something that Rodgers simply doesn’t allow in his attacking players- the likes of Daniel Sturridge and Philippe Coutinho have improved vastly in that respect under the Northern Irishman- and if Shaqiri does make the move to Anfield, it is an aspect of his game that must develop significantly.
Conclusion
There can be no doubting that Shaqiri is a very talented footballer, and one who has the potential to become world-class in years to come. At this current time, however, he lacks consistency and maturity.
His decision-making at key times must improve, as must his work-rate, if he is to fulfil his potential.
Rodgers thrives in improving young players, with Sturridge, Coutinho, Raheem Sterling and Jon Flanagan all perfect examples of this over the last 12 months, and he would be equally enthusiastic about improving a player of Shaqiri’s ability.
Despite a fairly uninspiring World Cup debut, he would be a terrific long-term acquisition by the Reds. He would frustrate at times, but with age and regular first-team football he will get better and better.
The 22-year-old Switzerland star is being heavily linked with a move to Anfield from Bayern Munich this summer, and Henry Jackson (@OnFootballTweet) assesses how he fared in his side’s World Cup opener against Ecuador on Sunday.
#450658982 / gettyimages.com
Sunday’s World Cup showdown between Switzerland and Ecuador in Brasilia saw one of Liverpool’s major summer transfer targets take to the pitch to showcase his talents for the first time.
Xherdan Shaqiri, the star player of a talented Swiss team, has been tipped to secure a move to the Reds this summer by numerous sources in recent weeks, with the Daily Starreporting that talks are underway between Liverpool and the winger’s current club, Bayern Munich.
With Reds fans all over the world watching with keen interest to see how their potential new signing would perform, how did he fare on his World Cup debut?
(All statistics via Squawka and WhoScored)
Strengths
Although Shaqiri didn’t exactly set the world alight with his performance, he is a player who always looks a threat with the ball at his feet.
He started on the right-hand side, in a 4-2-3-1 formation, and his ability to drift inside onto his dangerous left foot was evident throughout. Fast, tricky and as strong as an ox, despite his diminutive frame, it’s easy to see how he’d suit Liverpool’s attacking style.
As is the norm with so many attacking players these days, Shaqiri was far from stuck in one position, and often popped up in the ‘number 10′ role and on the left. This versatility and fluency would certainly appeal to Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers.
The Bayern man created four chances for his teammates against Ecuador, and whereas some wide men can often be too reliant on pace rather than technique, Shaqiri clearly has both.
He had a passing accuracy of 89 per cent, including four key passes, which when you consider how often he gets the ball in tight areas, further highlights his technical excellence.
Weaknesses
#450660152 / gettyimages.com
If Sunday showed one thing it’s that Shaqiri is still very much a work in progress. He has many attributes, but can also be hugely frustrating to watch at the same time.
His crossing, in particular, was very disappointing. He delivered the ball from out wide on eight occasions, and the majority of his efforts were both overhit and lacking in thought. He was removed from set piece duty such was his inconsistency.
Similarly, despite a couple of reasonable efforts, his shooting was erratic. A terrific chance fell his way at a key point in the second-half, but a lack of composure saw him slice the ball into the side-netting.
Arguably Shaqiri’s biggest weakness is his defensive work, and it left a lot to be desired against the South American’s.
Too often he failed to track back and help out right-back Stephan Lichtsteiner, and in the first-half, in particular, his lack of work-rate played a part in Switzerland being outplayed and overrun.
World-class wingers such as Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery- Shaqiri has struggled to usurp either of them in the Bayern team this season- have shown in recent times how important it is to work hard and do your defensive duties, and Shaqiri needs to take a leaf out of their book in that respect.
He made just one tackle in the whole game, and that resulted in a foul.
A poor work-rate is something that Rodgers simply doesn’t allow in his attacking players- the likes of Daniel Sturridge and Philippe Coutinho have improved vastly in that respect under the Northern Irishman- and if Shaqiri does make the move to Anfield, it is an aspect of his game that must develop significantly.
Conclusion
There can be no doubting that Shaqiri is a very talented footballer, and one who has the potential to become world-class in years to come. At this current time, however, he lacks consistency and maturity.
His decision-making at key times must improve, as must his work-rate, if he is to fulfil his potential.
Rodgers thrives in improving young players, with Sturridge, Coutinho, Raheem Sterling and Jon Flanagan all perfect examples of this over the last 12 months, and he would be equally enthusiastic about improving a player of Shaqiri’s ability.
Despite a fairly uninspiring World Cup debut, he would be a terrific long-term acquisition by the Reds. He would frustrate at times, but with age and regular first-team football he will get better and better.
A Swiss acquaintance of mine, not a Liverpool fan but someone who wants to see Shaqiri develop for Switzerland's sake, is enthusiastic about the prospect of his coming to us. He thinks Shaqiri is certainly good enough and reckons playing regularly at a high level will improve him further.
[article]When a player wins a man of the match award at the World Cup, he's usually showered with a mixture of adulation and congratulations by the media.
"Do you really think you deserved to be man of the match?" was the first question directed to Shaqiri in his news conference after Switzerland's 2-1 win over Ecuador on Sunday.
Shaqiri looked taken aback at first. He then let out a little laugh.
"That's an excellent joke," he said.
But the questioner, a member of the German press, wasn't laughing.
"I think I did a great match today," Shaqiri added. "Others had to decide on this award. I am very proud to receive the award."
It was hardly one of Shaqiri's best displays, but the same can be said of the rest of his Switzerland teammates after a sub-par performance against Ecuador that was rescued by substitute Haris Seferovic's last-gasp winner.[/article]
"Do you really think you deserved to be man of the match?" was the first question directed to Shaqiri in his news conference after Switzerland's 2-1 win over Ecuador on Sunday.
Shaqiri looked taken aback at first. He then let out a little laugh.
"That's an excellent joke," he said.
But the questioner, a member of the German press, wasn't laughing.
"I think I did a great match today," Shaqiri added. "Others had to decide on this award. I am very proud to receive the award."
It was hardly one of Shaqiri's best displays, but the same can be said of the rest of his Switzerland teammates after a sub-par performance against Ecuador that was rescued by substitute Haris Seferovic's last-gasp winner.[/article]
Why not? He's young and versatile, and those seem to be Rodgers' two main criteria - provided of course the player's skill level is high enough, and I don't think there's much doubt about that in this case.
He didn't have a great match at all, he was allright, put a few nice crosses in along with a few other decent bits but it was far from great, great was Robben the other night.
I think sitting on the bench for Munich most weeks isn't helping him in the slightest.
He just looked so unsharpened and lackadaisical yesterday.
Whenever I seen him at Basel he was a bundle of energy with skill and pace to burn.
He looks in need of first team football and at the right price he would still be a great option.
He just looked so unsharpened and lackadaisical yesterday.
Whenever I seen him at Basel he was a bundle of energy with skill and pace to burn.
He looks in need of first team football and at the right price he would still be a great option.
His consistency might improve with age and game time though.
Coutinho is similar he'd produce a 9 one week then followed by a 5.
If either of them could produce the 8s and 9s on a more consistent basis then they would be both top notch footballers.
Everyone needs a great WC. 😉
Nah some people just deserve any 'ol shithouse. Especially some of those with a Sir before their name.
Side of the road will do
A daily occurrence over here. Side of the road, bushes, bus shelters, motorway emergency lanes .. you name it.
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