Curtis JONES: 2021/22

He’s been injured? He came back from the U21s injured, got that eye injury then got covid.

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If Klopp was unhappy with his attitude would he be starting ahead of Milner? Or Minamino?

Doubt it.

Think it’s often forgotten how young Jones is. The vast majority of the top midfielders you can think of now we not running bossing games at this age, and certainly not in the premier league.

He has stuff he needs to improve on, but who doesn’t? Fabinho plays 15% of games like he’s in quicksand, Henderson has had about 7 horrendous games this season and Thiago has given the ball away in front of our box about 10 times.

He’s doing well. 60 Liverpool appearances before you’re 21 is some going. He has a chance now to get a few more in over the next month with the absences in our midfield and front line.

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Yeah surprised to read some of this to be honest. He’s much better and a more effective player already at 20 than some players in the past who were older but still given the benefit of the doubt because of their age. Or perhaps because they weren’t english.

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:rofl: I actually wanted to write about his injuries and ended up completely ignoring that. I think the injuries, specially the eye issue, hurt him. He could have had more mins during that period.

Exactly. Like I said, we keep forgetting how good you have to be, even at this age, to be in contention for a place in one of the greatest teams in the world.

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He’s a quality player who suffers from Fodenillitis… The same uk media drool machine who is a year older than Curtis and really only this season stepped up to be a mainstay of the 1st team.

If Klopp had a word it was probably to remind him how fucking good he can be and to maybe just calm a little, he made such a difference to our midfield and needs to continue playing from now on, which I don’t doubt he will.

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In the cameo against Arsenal, he kept getting the ball and driving at players with pace and looked excellent, that is what ge needs to do he needs to commit and go past defenders. It us what we need in tge final and sometimes middle 3rd to break down a defensive shape

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100% it’s a huge part of what we have been lacking, but it does also highlight an area Jones needs to improve and that’s chosing the right times to take on a man and dribble, to make a first time pass, to make the overlap, to switch etc.

Whilst unfair to compare him to Thiago it serves a purpose here and that’s why Thiago is elite, he must be an absolute nightmare to play against because he varies his game so much and is a huge part of why he was brought in to help us “unlock” those low blocks…

All part of him learning as a youngster, and gametime is where you really hone those types of in-game decision making improvements.

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The beauty of Klopp’s man management. He Can be nice and cordial but when he knows that an issued challenge is needed to a player, he does it. I see Jones the same way I see Elliot, the reason why they are seen so highly is not because they are anywhere near a very high level in terms of skill yet but they have the will and attitude and confidence to play themselves relevant in games. I think Jones has that kind of I don’t want to lose mentality and fire and will take this challenge head on. Hope to see him the next youth graduate into a world class star for us.

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Good performance, particularly first half. The big thing he’s got going for him in this squad is that apart from Thiago he’s the one midfielder who looks at home playing on the left. Ox, Keita, Henderson can all do a job on that side but they are not as comfortable as Curtis. He has some Gini-like qualities in drawing players to him and then getting out of tight spaces. Quick feet. I think the reason JK has been hard on him lately is that he believes in him and wants to push him. He’s still learning so you can’t expect perfection. Consistency will come with experience.

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I dont think he has been hard on him has he? To me it looks like he recognises Curtis is talented and is giving him more of his time to help him achieve that.

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It’s unusual for JK to go public and say he’s not ‘100% happy’ with a player. Although he said a lot of nice things about him too. I’m just guessing but some players need an arm around the shoulder and some need the occasional kick up the arse. Maybe Curtis fits into the latter category.

For me, Klopp is asking Curtis to focus on the team game rather than his own game so much. Curtis is naturally a flair player, and with that comes a natural desire to use his skill to bypass opposition players. The issue that this can cause is it often leads to turnovers in possession, or the player ends up with their head down charging up the pitch into blind alleys.

We’ve seen Curtis being more thoughtful with the ball of late, so when we maybe expect a bit if skill to beat a man, he maybe opts for the safe pass, which frustrates us. But we are also seeing him apply his skill in such a way that it’s not just about beating a man, but about beating the man or holding the ball whilst progressing up the pitch as a team.

Over time I expect him to better combine the job he’s tasked with primarily, with the silky footwork and skill he has. High hopes he continues to grow in the team and becomes a key part of the team going forward.

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Klopp has used him a lot since he came back available. I’d say combining that with the statement of not 100% perfect means Klopp has extremely high expectations for Jones and wants him to keep going with his development, become the player Klopp believes he can be, instead of just accepting where he has got to and thinking that’s it,he’s made it. Let’s face it he’s a local, Academy developed player who is a good enough option and versatile enough to get game time in several positions for a top side like LFC. We ain’t exactly chumps you’ve got to have something about you to play for us these days. He’s on 61 appearances already. He could well look and go, “yeah that’ll do” and accept this is his role for the next 4,5,6 even 7 or 8 years and be satisfied with an OK career. I think Klopp sees more in him than that and really wants him to kick on.

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I took Klopp’s comments to mean Jones needs to be a bit more adventurous in the final third. When he first came into the side, that’s what he looked to do. Last year he developed a more Wijnaldum-esque style to his game, keeping it simple and trying to do a job for the team. He hasn’t quite found the right balance yet consistently, but we saw with the first leg against Arsenal he has more to his game in possession than just moving it on like Gini did.

For now I’ll take him dallying on the ball a bit too long and not being decisive has he can be final third. Those things will probably improve in time but the way he’s taking the ball in the midfield area, keeping it and moving it on has improved our midfield in these last couple of games.

The Leicester game is still fresh in the memory, not one of our midfielders could keep the ball to save their lives. We look quite a lot better with Jones in midfield instead of Milner, or Chamberlain when he’s played that side.

Good performance again last night. Another understated one, but one that helped the team.

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What I liked last night about him is the way he received the ball with a man on his back. He has that ability to beat a player with his first touch (or better to say, without a touch!), just use his body, give a little feint and then he’s off with the ball. With the body he has, being pretty tall for a naturally creative type of player, he should be developing a round game. I just took that talk with Klopp as probably a reminder to kick start his development again. Realistically, without Thiago, he should probably be our LCM starter. Klopp said last night that he does need a push here and there, that it would be good if he found new consistency without needing to “respond”.

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imagine trying to coach and motivate a millennial who’s making more in a week than some of us in a year…

I’m kidding, kinda. but seriously…

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Who, Salah?

Because Jones is not a millenial, he’s well into Gen Z territory.

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Millennial means anyone younger than me.

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Wait, so baby boomers too?

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