That’s harsh on Isak. He was the 2nd best CF after Haaland in the league. He didn’t get a preseason and is currently injured. He will be just fine.
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I don’t think that is a problem, and the two of them alternating 60/30 splits is ideal. There is also the option of Ekitke doing bits off the left.
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That’s why I think we could sign 1 winger instead of 2, if Salah is leaving.
And then we could combine playing with 2 “classic” wingers, 1 or 0 (depending also on who’s up top, if it’s a front 1 or 2).
But first let’s see who is our head coach.
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Why must we only play 1? Why can we not play both up front together?
We’ve got a number of talent young strikers coming through the academy, so there is no reason to play both if that is what Arne wants to do going forward.
Didn’t know where to post this, but since it’s an attacking element, gonna put it here.
Wanted to have a quick look at the stats of other penalty takers, apart from Salah. He will probably remain our first choice while he’s here and then next season we’re gonna need a new one. Of course, there could be new players and some of the current other ones might leave.
I’m only taking into account their total senior careers.
Mac Allister: 12-1 (2-0 for Liverpool) = 92.3%
Szoboszlai: 19-2 (1-1 for Liverpool) = 90.4%
Isak: 19-6 = 76%
Gakpo: 9-1 = 90%
Wirtz: 6-2 = 75%
Endo: 7-0 = 100%
Chiesa: 2-1 = 66%
Ekitike: 2-3 = 40%
80% is generally viewed as a limit under which you shouldn’t be.
Guess the new taker could be one of from the top 3 on the list, though that also has to do with who will be a regular starter and that is connected with some other topics…
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There you go, one rare similarity between Ekitike and Torres.
They’re not for penalties.
(Torres was 30-12, 71.4%).
I suppose this is one of those specialisms that will need to be honed on the training pitch. Given that there are only two that have taken them for us (outside of shoot-outs) there isn’t much data there, but the Endo figure is interesting.
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Of course, the new taker means also added homework, analysing opponent’s goalkeepers, etc. Some want that responsibility, some don’t.
There is interesting things to be taken out of even smaller simple stats like this, then there’s also technique, variety, mentality, penalties in big moments, etc.
Endo’s stats are there simply to respect him. His penalties were all taken from 2012 to 2015, 4 of which in Japan’s second tier. Possibly won’t be here next season and even if he is, highly unlikely that he’d be a regular starter.
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Maca has always been solid. Of course, he may not be on the pitch as much moving forward…or even at all if we move him on.