First Name: Cody
Surname: Gakpo
Squad Number: 18
Position: Forward
D.O.B.: 07.05.1999.
Town of Birth: Eindhoven
Country of Birth: Netherlands
Nationality: Dutch
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2023/24: 53 games, 3017 mins, 16 goals and six assists
Cody Gakpo on conversations with Head Coach Arne Slot:
“Yeah, I spoke to him and obviously he sees me as a left winger. That’s how I think he sees me.”
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So, our new 6 then?
I tend to forget just how much power his shots can generate because he doesn’t often find himself in a good position to shoot.
I got the impression that Diaz is attacking the box more often this season, so I expect Gakpo to follow suit. I hope he gets more encouragement to have a run at his fullback, too - it’s not like he’s Ronaldinho but he’s got quite decent acceleration and that should help him skip past his marker more often than not.
I hope it will all come together for him eventually as he’s showing different qualities in different games but I always have the feeling he’s yet to learn how to consistently use them and use them all within the same time - if that makes sense.
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Two and a half months since the last comment in this thread… Talk about his form going under the radar! I really hope it continues because he’s such a kind and honest lad, a really likeable human being on top of being a good football player.
I used to wonder what kind of forward he’d become (at some point, it looked Liverpool had bought him as Firmino’s replacement) but it seems that Slot has permanently slotted him into that left wing role. Obviously, his numbers can further improve but I’m really encouraged by his aggression and restored confidence (he just isn’t afraid to run at his fullback anymore). He’s powerful, I’m sure that no fullback will relish the sight of Gakpo bearing down on him with the ball at his feet. That said, I also said that about defenders being scared when Nunez closed them down…
Positive, yeah.
Helps that a number of members of coaching staff know him well. Either as opponents or working with him, like Sipke.
It looks like he’s just happy being back in ‘his’ position and doing the best he can. No more little bit up top as a false #9, little bit as a wide forward, little bit as a #10.
In some critical situations, of course he can still do a job in other positions.
And now the combination of Gakpo’s and Diaz’s form compared to Nunez’s form and Jota’s fitness enabled us to find a way of fielding both Gakpo and Diaz.
If that ends up being our main attacking trio for this season, so be it. Long term, things can change again. If Diaz keeps producing this with improved numbers, we might have a situation with him, as he’s entering the final 2 years of his deal.
Gakpo will always be that type of player. Being so unusually tall for a winger, it’s not easy to be as explosive and a prolific dribbler all the time.
And his technique, first touch and stuff is really good, so he will have a lot of these moments when fans will want constant direct and wild stuff, but he will take time to set himself, etc.
His shooting is also quality though, either placing shots or going for power. He proved that at club and international level also.
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