Florian Wirtz - Welcome to LFC

[BigChief]

He's different class.

Up there with Pacheco.

[Buzzo]

Every time he gets the ball he looks to make something happen.

I reckon he’s only at about 70-75% of his potential right now. When he is fully confident and integrated with the other signings he is going to tear it up.

The link up with Hugo on both goals was immense.

[Exiled_red]

For me there are 2 problems with him or the way we use him, firstly he seems to have a better football brain than anyone in the squad, the problem with that is that no-one else knows what he is trying to do or are too slow to react to it so the moves aren't there.

The second is where we play him the idea of him playing in midfield which was the initial plan would have seen more players ahead of him to play in, playing him further forward means there aren't as many runners ahead of him to play in reducing his effectiveness

[baitman]

For me there are 2 problems with him or the way we use him, firstly he seems to have a better football brain than anyone in the squad, the problem with that is that no-one else knows what he is trying to do or are too slow to react to it so the moves aren't there.

The second is where we play him the idea of him playing in midfield which was the initial plan would have seen more players ahead of him to play in, playing him further forward means there aren't as many runners ahead of him to play in reducing his effectiveness

In a "normal" front three the players are like three individuals who only come together in the very final moment of an attack. This has made us so easy to defend against.
Although salah has carried our attack he has often done this mostly solo.
It's not since we had salah, mane and firmino all being able to come closer together that we have had a more dynamic, unpredictable force.
If wirtz and ekitike play closer together they can dribble and as they are closed down they can play in their attacking partner. Additional support play from midfield and wings to mop up second balls and maintain the attack will put further pressure on defences.

[Catrin]

Could Wirtz do a similar role to Bobby Firmino? He has the skills, and then some. It would allow for a high-energy, combative midfield. In the Gini/Hendo/Fabinho vein?

[baitman]

Could Wirtz do a similar role to Bobby Firmino? He has the skills, and then some. It would allow for a high-energy, combative midfield. In the Gini/Hendo/Fabinho vein?

[Doc_Piptorious]

Could Wirtz do a similar role to Bobby Firmino? He has the skills, and then some. It would allow for a high-energy, combative midfield. In the Gini/Hendo/Fabinho vein?

He probably could do a comparable job, but not sure we need a false nine given with have two nines at the club now.

Think the Bobby role was the perfect foil for when you are expecting your wide men to be your main threat and goal getters (not to mention being your pace guys) as Bobby would link both flanks and switch play to them.

Unless I am misinunderstanding you and you are suggesting Wirtz be a classic ten behind the two Nines. A more narrow attack but one more capable of operating that way thanks to the close control and finishing of all three in it.

[BG1973]

He probably could do a comparable job, but not sure we need a false nine given with have two nines at the club now.

Think the Bobby role was the perfect foil for when you are expecting your wide men to be your main threat and goal getters (not to mention being your pace guys) as Bobby would link both flanks and switch play to them.

Unless I am misinunderstanding you and you are suggesting Wirtz be a classic ten behind the two Nines. A more narrow attack but one more capable of operating that way thanks to the close control and finishing of all three in it.

Ekitike on the left, another on the right.

In theory it could work but Bobby was stronger and when our front 3 was at its peak..a better player than Witrz is now.

[ronanm]

Ekitike on the left, another on the right.

In theory it could work but Bobby was stronger and when our front 3 was at its peak..a better player than Witrz is now.

And faster.. Wirtz isn't very fast

[rudedog]

And faster.. Wirtz isn't very fast

Firmino wasn’t particularly quick either, I’d say they are similar.

[frank the tank]

Would love to know what role was sold to him when lfc pitched the 'project' to him.

I am guessing that it was either #10 or advanced #8. Purely based on his first few games for us. Right now I think it might make sense to play him left - or at the tip of a 442 diamond.

[Catrin]

He probably could do a comparable job, but not sure we need a false nine given with have two nines at the club now.

Think the Bobby role was the perfect foil for when you are expecting your wide men to be your main threat and goal getters (not to mention being your pace guys) as Bobby would link both flanks and switch play to them.

Unless I am misinunderstanding you and you are suggesting Wirtz be a classic ten behind the two Nines. A more narrow attack but one more capable of operating that way thanks to the close control and finishing of all three in it.

I was thinking about how to accommodate a player like him in the team without weakening the midfield physically when the premier league has become more scrappy. Also, Bobby used to drop deep and create an extra man in midfield, and if a defender followed him it created a space for Mo or Sadio to move into. It would need Hugo or Isak to play on the right though, or Mo’s replacement.

[Doc_Piptorious]

I was thinking about how to accommodate a player like him in the team without weakening the midfield physically when the premier league has become more scrappy. Also, Bobby used to drop deep and create an extra man in midfield, and if a defender followed him it created a space for Mo or Sadio to move into. It would need Hugo or Isak to play on the right though, or Mo’s replacement.

You could just go three upfront but the three would be


----ST-------ST----
---------AM-------



or



--------ST-------
----LAM----RAM


Basically the narrow attacking trio I suggested yesterday that, depending on transition, would switch between the first and second one.

And when the team is attacking and pressing high it goes to the first one with a CM joining the AM and the RB going into the RW slot and a second CM going into a LM position.


LB then stays deeper with the two CBs in case of a counter.


Then when we are defending deep, the Am could drop into the midfield, a CM could go into the DM spot and the two upfront would stay with one as the ST and one (Ekitike) going deeper like a CF or WAM so he is ready to be part of any quyick counter.

[memzey]

I think a narrow 4-4-2 diamond with Wirtz as the 10 and the width coming from the fullbacks has a lot going for it. Not least of which it allows Ekitike, Isak, Wirtz and Szlob to all be on the field at the same time in their (broadly) preferred positions. The big draw back to this formation is that it does not accommodate Mo, unless it's as a rotation option for a striker.

[frank the tank]

I think a narrow 4-4-2 diamond with Wirtz as the 10 and the width coming from the fullbacks has a lot going for it. Not least of which it allows Ekitike, Isak, Wirtz and Szlob to all be on the field at the same time in their (broadly) preferred positions. The big draw back to this formation is that it does not accommodate Mo, unless it's as a rotation option for a striker.

Yeah I can see that as well......have been saying it for a while. Against the low block teams, I would change that to a narrow 442.....gravenberch and macca central, wirtz LAM and Dom RAM with 2 forwards in front of them - ekitike and isak maybe but with salah and option there too. With kerkez and frimpong providing width, I think that works tbh but it relies on Macca and Grave being very disciplined.