Run between the lines and do what?
Because his goal record isn´t particularly impressive and he doesn´t create much for others.
However bad Wirtz is right now, Szoboslai isn´t really the long term answer either.
I said similar in the match thread about his struggles. He´s not too slow a runner or even weak to do what he wants. He is just reacting very slowly, with no conviction and no zip or zest in his game.
David Silva was slower and weaker but he´s still be schooling teams now, I have no doubt. Odegaard isn´t exactly a physical beast.
Its so fun coming and reading all the bullshit of why Wirtz isn’t a waste of a shirt. It won’t be long before its the grass is too green or the ball is too round.
I didn’t expect anything of the sort to be honest. Just to get a decent, hard-working lad who obviously has talent in spades.
He hasn’t disappointed me so far. I think he delivers exactly what he was promising.
Things will eventually get better for him re goals and assists, but that is the least of my concerns right now, as long as others are there to score goals and make assists.
If that’s what you expected it’s fair enough. But for 116m we need more than someone who is hardworking.
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Years ago I had a conversation with JJ Okocha about his EPL experience.
He said it takes time to mentally adapt to the “frenzy” of the league.
Then- “suddenly it slows down for you, and your technique begins to dominate”.
I have no fears for Wirtz, even if I get frustrated in the moment.
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It’s looked like to me he’s been playing further up than a 10, him and Isak have pretty much been a strike partnership so in my mind people trying to make an argument that Dom should be there instead doesn’t make sense.
If Ekitike was fit I think his place in the team would be under threat, as it is I can’t see him getting dropped any time soon. Not really the time to make any massive judgements on him regardless given we are less than 10 games into a new managers reign and not a lot has clicked for the attacking unit as of yet.
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The big elephant in the room is whether Ekitike can get back to his pre-injury form. Wirtz does need him back in good form, since they are a good duo.
I am afraid that the jury will be out by this winter, if not next summer. I don’t think any of the club’s leadership will tolerate 2 underperforming seasons - that’s what happened with Nunez before him.
Wirtz’s overall ability and attitude are not in question, unlike what happened with Nunez.
The chances of the club looking to offload him in the summer are close to inexistent, unless a ridiculous offer comes in for him.
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He offers more than only hard work already… It’s not that I don’t expect him to improve further down the line, it’s just that I’m happy with what he offers right now. 
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I know different teams and circumstances but Cherki does both at City. He’s scoring and creating chances as well. He’s not the fastest, nor the biggest, nor the strongest. He’s just crazy skilled and brave enough to express himself.
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Yes, for half the price.
What Cherki is doing is what we should expect from Wirtz, at least.
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Quarter.
Ouch.
Either way, we know he is capable, even at Liverpool, of much better than we have seen in these first games. Big issue that Iraola needs to work on to get him confident and with some swagger again.
The grass is greener over at Shitty, for the moment!
He presses but he doesnt finish the job with a challenge. He just stands there. Seen this a number of times. Almost like he’s too polite.
I know pressing is important but honestly his pressing is the least of our worries. Well, if anything he is doing it too much.
We simply have to get him flowing (pun intended) on the ball. We have to get him on the ball a lot and we have to get that confidence and swagger to his game back when he has the ball. Otherwise he will not be enough to justify his place here long term. We know he can do it.
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Just wondering in Bayer where he scores his goals from, more outside the box or does he make late runs into the box and score them. Would be interesting challenge for the coaching team to not just coach Wirtz into a system that works but overall, making 11 players play as part of a dominating machine rather than just 11 very good players. That’s why we keep referencing back to Klopp.
Wirtz is of course on the radar in this early season but the more important question for Iraola regardless of any specific player is finding that system where everyone works in tandem
I see some on socials saying that the space he got in the Bundesliga isnt there in the Premier League so he will struggle.