Why are we so keen to copy Bournemouth? We´re Liverpool, even if we did get their manager.
I think Rayan and Minteh aren´t that similar. Rayan is more a goalscoring wide player, though it was his first season.
You make a fair point that Endrick might unbalance the attack (though he can cover up top), but he has an excellent passing game and would create for Isak no doubt. I think Isak thrives off much more than just crosses - having players who can slip him through or put it on a plate for him is important. Not just lumping it into the box.
I love him as a player and think if he gets regular playing time he’ll be one of the best in the world but Endrick takes a lot of Isak’s (and probably Barcola’s) shots if you play him of the right. The accepted wisdom is that you can’t have too many high volume shooters in the same team.
Minteh/Mbaye fits because need crosses to maximise Isak’s attributes and you don’t need them to necessarily score lots of goals to add value.
The issue I have with this is that we will probably only have 2, maybe 3 breaks of any consequence in most games. Beyond maybe 5 matches, we will play most of the games in the opposition half. Then there will be large periods of the game where we will try and pass the ball across the back and hope to catch them short or have our set up to pull the trigger to initiate an attack.
The pessimist in me can see a scenario where Rio and Minteh are allowed to overlap and attempt a cross - wilth the backdrop of defending the box because the quality of the ball will make it an easier place to defend - rather than expend resource on preventing a cross.
I think its common at a young age. For context only one player 21 or younger managed over 5 league goals last season - Junior Kroupi - and no one aged 21 or younger got over 5 league assists. I think its fair to assume that many of these players will get better as they get older. Minteh has more scope to improve than most as you have correctly identified he beats players easily so will get into these positions regularly.
One thing I’ve noticed is that some players stall when they reach the first team because the amount of coaching they receive drops dramatically. Many managers aren’t focusing on developing players anymore compared to youth team coaches. I don’t think we have that issue, Iraola looks like a proper coach.
You can develop both Rio and Minteh pretty easily. We have lots of game time available for both players.
It´s a fair point but then you can´t just be relying on Isak to score.
It´s actually what Gakpo does to be honest. He shoots a lot and creates nothing for Isak. For me the difference with Endrick is that he can see a pass very well. His vision and passing technique is very good and perhaps we can coach that side of his game to come out even more.
I do think you raise a fair point that perhaps we need somebody a bit more creative if Barcola is also going to be looking to score a lot. I think Minteh crosses reasonably well but his passing game isn´t very good. He´s not like Salah who could play with his head up and pass into the box when he wanted to.
However, 5 goals is quite a clever selection there as Rayan got exactly 5. Though he only played 15 games. His 1 in 3 goals ratio does kinda show that some young players are very productive. Kroupi with 13 of course.
The thing with young players is they tend to play fewer games too, but Minteh actually played 34, with his 3 goals. You can interpret him playing a lot of games positively of course.
It´s actually quite a short list of attacking players under 21. Estavao only got 2 goals and 2 assists but then he´s 18 and Minteh played treble his minutes with less than double his goals and assist.
The team has multiple ways to create chances though, gagenpressing, counter attacks, the quality is there to play through teams. It’s not just take-ons from wingers, but having fast wide players helps executing all of those things.
I want to believe but am am struggling. Speed isn’t everything. I’d prefer players with more situational awareness, a bit more method than madness. Speed is not everything, quickness of the mind is often times just as, if not more, important.
Clearly two teams with different formations, philosophies, patterns will platform their players differently, despite the fact that they both play football.
The most consequential players are not speed merchants. Rodri, Silva, Wharton, Anderson, any of our famed midfields of the past decade, none of them are particularly fast. Salah was probably the player that relied most on that but really none of the others, Mane, Firmino, Origi, etc. Speed is a tad over rated and a nice to have for me.
Maybe but if you put Yamal, for example, on the wing in either side he´d tear it up.
A great player is a great player.
Obviously your output can be impacted by the team and especially your teammates, but clearly some players can be productive at a young age in a few teams.
In my view, to play on the wing at the top level, speed is essential.
Obviously you can´t just be quick, but you will struggle without it. Full backs are quick and if you are dribbling past them you need that burst of speed to get past and ideally stay past them. Almost all good wide players are at least decently quick, except maybe Kvara.
In centre midfield speed isn´t so important. Would agree there. Midfield play is more with the brain and your passing and interplay. Though it is always nice to have.
From memory, I recalled Salah to be the one to use that aspect more. My impression was the Mane didn’t rely on his speed as much as Salah. Happy to be wrong as my point is, speed is a nice to have rather than anything that is defining or a sure bet to success.
Definitely agree with that; and especially for wingers, and even more so when you want players who can get the team up the pitch, take advantage of transitions - and you have Wirtz and Isak in the centre. I’d say it’s maybe the most important ability, together with a willingness to make runs in behind, to complement those two. Wirtz in particular.