09 Jan 2019 17:16:33
Just for anyone who hasn't seen, Nicolo Barella has been heavily linked to us throughout the day across various media platforms including the independent, who I've found to be one of the least appalling.

Thought I'd pass it on seeing as he was mentioned as an option in the Sharkopod. He'd want first team opportunities though so you sense it would mean the end of someone in the current crop if he were to sign.

Probably one to look out for in the summer.

1.) 09 Jan 2019
09 Jan 2019 18:02:30
Cheers Adam, haven't seen him play but supposed to be highly rated. Centre mid isn't he?
Hope your well mate would love to see you writing a few more articles for us in the future if you have the time!

2.) 09 Jan 2019
09 Jan 2019 18:35:12
Yeah centre mid mate. Plays a lot like Kante in some ways. Box to box, great at winning possession back, deceptively good dribbler and passer, strong for his size etc. Reads play brilliantly for his age as well and can hit them from range; though he's not prolific. I've read he's good at set pieces but I've only watched him 4 or 5 times vs Roma over the years and it wasn't something I noticed.

There are some flaws though. He doesn't get many direct assists looking at his stats but that's arguably just not his game. The most relevant/ worrying issue though, is he can be really over aggressive and he needs to calm down at times. For instance, he missed the game against Roma earlier this season due to a red card suspension and he is the only player I've ever seen who gets booked more than Clyne for needless fouls.

He's a good player and still only 21. Would be fantastic alongside Fabinho or Gini in a 4-2-3-1. You'd back him in 1 vs 1 defending situations especially, and he would get 3-5 goals a season from deep.

3.) 09 Jan 2019
09 Jan 2019 18:57:36
Sounds like he could be a good addition all right, I wonder who he would come in place for is all as it seems we are stockpiling these sort of midfielders. Personally I would prefer a number 10 who could also cover the wide positions but I trust in the club to make the right decision.

4.) 09 Jan 2019
09 Jan 2019 19:19:57
Good dribbler, passer, strong for his size and has an aggressive streak. wasn't Naby supposed to bring all of that?! Hope the lad can get a good run of games under his belt and settle and show us what he's really all about!

5.) 09 Jan 2019
09 Jan 2019 19:26:15
I think we need to revolutionise the midfield a bit to be honest. Since Buvac left, Klopp has changed the style of play. Subtle, but different. I don't think it suits Lallana, Milner, Keita or Henderson very well as midfielders. They are all great in a high press but much less effective at controlling a game with possession and/ or game management. Fabinho and Wijnaldum are the only midfielders who look natural in the midfield this season.

I would hazard a guess that Keita was a player recommended by Buvac? Luckily for Keita it seems like he could suit an attacking role in Klopp's more conservative new system (either on the left or behind Salah) . I think Milner, Lallana and Hendo may all become redundant as time goes on though.

Everyone who's been a regular on here will know how much I've supported Henderson, sometimes almost blindly, but I think the team is moving on, sadly. I'd give Hendo another season or two but I think Milner and Lallana are gone by August 2019.

Klopp could easily turn around tomorrow and change his philosophy again though so it's all a bit unpredictable and yet here I am trying to predict it 😂.

6.) 09 Jan 2019
09 Jan 2019 19:33:29
Centre midfielder, plugs a hole in the squad then 🤔.

{Ed002's Note - He has been of sustained interest to Klipperty going back a nymber of months - I have mentioned him before - but as you say not a position where Liverpool are short.}

7.) 09 Jan 2019
09 Jan 2019 20:01:36
As you implied Ron, room would need to be made if we were to move for Barella.

I think the main issue for some of our players is in how we defend now. With Buvac behind the tactics, we defended by constantly pressuring the ball high up the pitch. Henderson, Lallana, Milner and Keita are all brilliant at getting in the face of players and pressing them into mistakes. We drop off teams out of possession now though and invite them to come at us for large periods at a time. We only seem to press in certain moments of the game. That is fine for players like Fabinho or Wijnaldum who have the legs to cope and can produce expertly timed tackles when needed. None of the other 4 can defend when people run at them though so they end up getting bypassed for large periods of the game.

I'd be interested to hear other people's opinions though. Does anyone else think Lallana, Henderson and Milner have key roles to play still in our future? Because I just don't see where they fit in with this season's newfound style of play. I'm not fully convinced Keita will work out either. Maybe I'm just being harsh or pessimistic 😂.

8.) 09 Jan 2019
09 Jan 2019 21:11:44
Id say Lallana knows he needs to look elsewhere for game time. Kloop clearly still respects Milner but it wouldn't surprise me if he chooses to go elsewhere too (I know he is tough as boots but his age is starting to catchup to him) . Hendo has looked much better recently when he is playing as part of a double pivot - more willing to take risks, make runs forward etc. The change in defensive tactics in some ways has helped him (as the breaks in intensity seem to have helped him keep up with the play and his game control actually is important in the new style) . But again it wouldn't surprise me if he chooses to go - much will depend on how much game time he sees for the rest of the season.

9.) 09 Jan 2019
09 Jan 2019 22:11:20
Has everyone written off the Ox?

I’m fine with the club scouting players in areas we are well stocked, but perhaps we need to be looking at more fullbacks, central defenders, goalkeepers and strikers i. e. every position except central midfield 😄.

10.) 09 Jan 2019
09 Jan 2019 23:26:43
Fair point on Hendo, phil_LFC. He's not looked bad by his own standards, thinking about it. Just not at the same lebel as Fabinho.

I see Ox as more of an attacker to be honest Ron. In the same bracket as Shaqiri. In between a midfielder and a forward. Definitely not writing him off though! I'm hoping he can come back with a bang.

11.) 10 Jan 2019
10 Jan 2019 03:17:25
I'm convinced keita will reach the top bracket of player in the game, seems a confidence player and klopps the man to get the best out of him, he came with a huge reputation for a player of his age and expected to have an instant impact, adapting to the prem is usually tough but he's shown in glimpses that he has serious quality, time will tell but i believe he will become the player we were expecting.

12.) 10 Jan 2019
10 Jan 2019 03:53:05
Is Keita not a more attacking player? I thought his role in Germany was a more offensive one who broke up play higher up the pitch and started attacks?

13.) 10 Jan 2019
10 Jan 2019 08:04:19
To be honest I don't think there's much between Fab and Hendo when playing as a double pivot. The only thing I've noticed is Fab takes more chances with the ball, but can also be prone to giving it away with a sloppy pass, you don't see that from Hendo, which is important as the deepest midfielder, just ask Milner.

Hendo already changed his game from right midfield when he came in, to box to box, to a number 6. I dare say if they asked him to play RB he could, I don't put anything past him now. I'm probably bias, but he's in a similar vein to Lucas, you'll all miss him if he's no longer there.