@Livvy thanks for posting. I like reading those, there’s usually some interesting insights in terms of either individual players or tactical things to look out for. This on Jota was maybe some info to consider when we ponder over contract situations and possible transfers:
“Diogo is not a typical Portuguese winger who receives the ball in his feet and creates dis-organisation with dribbles from outside. Diogo is vertical, a second striker in the box, a pure Liverpool winger. He smells the goal, is technically on high level. Especially with our passing game we need Diogo’s movements in behind the last line.”
It’s not a black and white thing of course, but it tells us something about how they see him and how they mainly want to use him.
I think it’s telling that they consider those characteristics “a pure Liverpool winger”. We may actually end up seeing Minamino out wide more often, and to me, it sheds a light into why Origi is rarely played up top, but instead more on the wings. We are probably looking to our “wingers” providing that goal threat rather than the strikers, meaning that Ox makes good sense as the false 9, since it’s really about creating space and knitting the play together (and occasionally hitting one).
It makes me wonder whether we’ll see this style evolve again over the next few years, once our machines in Mané and Salah inevitably reach the end of their career with us. Jota while rather similar to them isn’t quite the same stylistically either, so I’m looking forward to how everything changes.
100% on the bolded bit, this has been the case for a long time now, ever since we sold Coutinho. Before that as well, but even more clearly since then. And I feel it’s getting overlooked at times in the debates about a new striker, benching/selling Firmino and stuff like that.
Whether people like it or not, he’s a huge piece in the machinery and most likely will continue to be until the whole setup of the front line is changed at a fairly fundamental level i.e. with a different combination of player types. Or until we get someone else who does what he does, which is to provide a natural balance to the wingers - who are much better facing forward, as close to goal as possible.
Jota fits so well because of those characteristics Lijnders mentions, I’d argue you could just replace his name with Mo in that bit I quoted. Very much in a similar mould.
What you say about the evolution though, that’s the big question isn’t it. I’m going off topic here, but say we’re in the conversation for Mbappe and manage to sign him; surely the direction we then take gets dictated by having him, and to a lesser degree Jota? And who is then the third (and maybe fourth) player in that new front line, to maximise and balance out having those two players? Do we just keep playing a front three with the false 9? Questions…
The thing with Ox and Keita is that they are essential direct ball carriers that create the space (for others) by attracting defenders - which is a good thing as it offers something that neither of the other midfielders do that well. As a bonus they are also occasionally able to hit one and be a goal threat - Ox more so. Aside from their most critical flaw, i.e. the general lack of availability, I never get the impression that they knit/create/build attacks particularly well, This is where Firmino is streets ahead. He not only carries the ball really well, he can be as direct as Ox and Keita and additionally sees the team around him far better. The closest I see to Firmino in our team currently is actually Curtis. He has the ability to hold the ball, occasionally beat a man and he is quite aware of his team mates. One last point of similarity is that both have really good close ball control, which neither Keita or Ox seem to possess to the same extent.
“Jurgen even had the idea to spice it up with a penalty challenge after the fifth 1,000m,” Lijnders revealed. “The idea was if you shoot and miss you have to do 2x1,000 extra, but if you score it’s done, and if you don’t take the chance, you have to do only 1x1,000 more.
“Sadio, Trent, Milner and Neco [Williams] missed, but everybody took the chance. Then, you saw some team players; Ox immediately ran with Trent; Mo went to help Sadio; Robbo and Diogo went with Neco. These things make us coaches smile.”
Rather focus on this and us having a great pre-season than signing another player. 10 times more important.
Yes, Lijnders mentioned it in the diary, now that the Brazilians join the camp they’re sending some youth players home. Job done for them - for now at least.
Probably indicates the view of our youth players though. Clarkson seems to be fancied over Cain. I used to think quality wise very similar but obviously one is liked more than another. Gordon being kept shows he is one for the future even with his age.
