I am a little unsure also and agree with us having Bradley who offers, for me, a better all round alternative.
My reasoning is that our weakness and perceived vulnerability by the opposition is down our RHS and they focus their attacks in accordance.
Therefore, having Mo, who doesn’t track back as per Slot’s instructions and Frimpong on that side, who is offensively minded and doesn’t, according to stats look the best defensively, provides me with cause for concern.
Hopefully the defensive stats are down to his current teams use of him as a wingback rather than in a conventional RB position and if he does play for us those stats can be improved upon.
Most football statisticians say that defensive stats are the hardest to interpret due to how teams setup, high press, low block, mid block etc. and how much possession they have.
I’m also unsure about buying an RB who doesn’t play at RB. If we are buying him to eventually replace Mo, then OK. But I hope he doesn’t deprive Bradley of a deserved place.
If we do buy him then I suppose it would be too much to ask for his song to be based on this ditty from The Goons. I can hear it now, ‘Frimpong, Frimpong, Frimpong, Frimpong tiddle aye po’.
I agree that if players don’t perform, any price is a lost price. I also think that we need to improve our lineup more than worry about depth right now.
But we have a track record of buying players and then using them differently from their previous roles: Ox, Gini, Szobo, Gravenberch… And all of Frimpong’s weak points wouldn’t have been unknown to our scouting team, but it also depends on how Slot wants to build. I think he has some ideas we don’t know about, and I think we could play very differently next season.
My opinion would be if we go for Frimpong, we will require changes elsewhere in the backline. Most likely to be in the profile of our new left back.
Could see us going for a Hato type of left back who would push us into a more of a back three in possession and therefore shifting Virgil into the middle (allowing him to use his ball playing ability whilst also protecting his legs as he ages).
Would not be my first choice signing but I’d back the decision makers as they rarely get these things wrong.
True, but like I said, in some of those cases we changed a player role because he didn’t impress from the start. Also, it’s different when midfielders change roles in midfield and when Frimpong might be asked (or as some fans imagine) to go from RB to RW and vice versa in a short space of time. The reports keep suggesting that he will be viewed mainly as a RB (celebrating flexibility is wonderful, but we must have a primary idea how this will work, on which both Liverpool and Frimpong are possibly about to agree), so hopefully it will work, whoever next season wins that starting shirt, Bradley or him. Wish both of them the best of luck with injuries.
Everyone seemed to agree we needed more pace in the side. Well here you go, this lad has speed to burn. Looking forward to have two fullbacks bombing up and down, it’s going to be great!
This one seems to have legs, for all the mentioned reasons:
-homegrown
-can cover anywhere up/down the right side
-pace
-experienced but at peak age
-fit with team culture
-reasonable price
Don’t anticipate Slot to change systems but rather player to adapt, but…
IF we were ever to try 3 at the back, and if rumors come to fruition, this would look frightening:
I think it will be a combination of the two (which applies to any signing we make this summer).
I think Slot changed the teams playing style (compared to Klopp’s) but also adapted his own vision to fit the squad we had. I anticipate our playing style to continue to change under Slot into his own vision. Any signings that come in will have a place in that vision, whether playing the same position/style they currently play, or something different.
are sniffing around.
