The problem with Keita is that for whatever reason, blame aside, he is not available for a high percentage of the requirement… That is the problem with him… No-one doubting his ability…
Looking at his signing another way…
a) If he has cost LFC £50m initially
b) If his availability has plummeted to 25% of requirement…
c) Then surely, it is the same as saying, on paper, he has actually cost us £200m…!!!
No player is worth that surely
Perhaps because he’s plays so little and is inconsistent when he does.
I can not remember a stellar performance from him just little sparks that don’t amount to much.
It’s a shame because there is probably a footballer in there somewhere however we just can not keep waiting to see just in case.
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If you read what @Sweeting said in context, then you’ll realise that it was in comparison to Ox, who hasn’t exactly been a star here either. It’s a very valid comparison, and I still do think that for the two of them it’s been mainly bad luck with injuries, rather than something that is necessarily very long-term.
We used to have problems with Henderson’s availability as well, albeit with plantar fascitis, which meant that he could still play through it without worsening it that much. Not sure what you can do about muscle or bone injuries.
Thankfully, the fanbase doesn’t make the footballing decisions, because as good as I think the pair of them are, or as poor as some of the rest of the fanbase think they are, the management team will probably have much better insight and expertise to make a decision regarding them. All I can say is that I just hope that the two of them stay healthy if they do remain with us, and just dominate the league next season.
I’m nowhere near ready to give up on Keita. He’s a very special player.
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Of course I read what was written in context and replied to a specific part not the general post. I thought that was clear and in context to what was written, no?
I posted in another thread about us having 3 players (didn’t say so there but I was inferring to Keita, AOC and Matip) something has to give there what ever their potential when fit is. Neither Keita or AOC have been consistent when performing. Surely even our coaches can see that, no?
That’s hardly exclusive to Keita, at least here. Thiago of all people was getting pilloried when the team wasn’t winning. And Oxlade-Chamberlain is very much in the same boat as Keita as far as the level of criticism thrown at him is concerned. I don’t think I read a positive comment about him before the Burnley game when he got on the scoresheet.
Can’t speak of other posters, but I’m just as annoyed with AOC as I’m with Naby.
Both are very talented players and both have played well (sometimes very well too), in patches. But the overriding fact is, both are very injury-prone and are unlikely to be consistent contributors in the future.
I’m angry that they contribute fuck all and I will be sad to see either of them leave.
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I’m not angry with the players; after all, they do not go about deliberately getting themselves injured (well, one would hope not).
I’m angry at the Guinean Football Federation, who keep playing Naby when he’s palpably unfit; don’t think there’s anyone we can blame for Ox’s woes.
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OK, let’s put it this way; I’m angry that they haven’t/couldn’t play regularly. I’m angry that we have missed so much from these two excellent players.
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Shit fucking song.
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Well he caught COVID last time so I guess it’s major progress.
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“Naby is a very sensitive guy who has to feel completely comfortable in his environment in order to perform well," the Leipzig defender told Goal and SPOX . "You have to take special care of him, talk to him a lot. He needed breaks from time to time, when he was with us.
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So not big club material. Who would have guessed?
Sounds like a scouting flaw to me, stats don’t tell all.
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I think the quality is there. And you can’t see the mentality aspect without working closely with him. I think it was a fair gamble (and one that might work out yet) and for every Mane there will be a Naby.
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Yes at times I see the quality but a good scout can get a grasp of mentality (some clubs even get in trouble with the formulas they use to judge players).
This type of stuff is a concern to me. I think we have got some transfers wrong because we haven’t investigated player mentality properly, Origi is an example imo, and has been a problem even before Klopp.
Personally I would prefer to sign a Nat Phillips who would destroy Old Toilet with his head than give up than someone who’s ‘too’ sensitive even if more talented.
The problem is the EPL demands it I don’t think the bundesliga does (it’s far more technical and tactical imo) so whenever we go for bundesliga I get nervous.
Oh! and you do realise that scouts and club officials can talk to people. It really isn’t black magic. Coaches from youth academies have often very big mouths.
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I get what you are saying. However, there will always be certain amount of uncertainty in dealing with the human element of a system, I’m referring to the scouts and analysts here. His four seasons at Salzburg and Leipzig definitely didn’t raise any red-flag, though the step-up to Liverpool was definitely a big one.
As for Origi, I think he was decent up until this season. He was a back-up and he did his best in that role. It was this (20/21) season that he totally lost any hunger to play football.
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I hear what you are saying, but Liverpool are renown for going deeper into character, motivation and background than any other club. Regardless of where we end up with Naby, I don’t it is fair to criticise the clubs general diligence on this.
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Perhaps I shouldn’t have said ‘investigated player mentality sufficiently’ but said we didn’t put sufficient weight on player mentality.
I do feel particularly Naby was an ‘experiment’ in the sense he ticked all the technical, statistic and stylistic boxes and the mental side was ‘pushed’ to one side.
The reason I feel that is how Edwards went out of his way to indicate that statistically Naby was doing all the right things for us yet imo he wasn’t being efficace.
It happens and yes at times you take a risk or punt on someone (In Naby’s case we have also been unfortuneate in taking on AOC over the same period which has increased exasperation and this is an injury problem rather than anything else. Still I never got to appreciate Naby, for me he never fitted.
Origi is an example i know better, his mentality was exposed at Lille yet he ticked all the technical boxes etc.
@Iftikhar we did get some snippets of Keita’s mentality when he reportedly clattered his captain in training (what was that all about? Sensitivity?).
Sorry but this is all nonsense yet again. Origi was a young player with bags of potential when we bought him. Not realising potential happens to loads of players.
Naby when he plays is excellent (Real Madrid aside). If you are questioning his mentality, are you saying his injuries are in his mind? If you said he was injury prone I would agree.
Bundesliga more tactical and technical? pfft. Terrible to watch. All kick and rush apart from a couple of teams. Like watching football in the park.
Oops 
man!