Florian Wirtz - Welcome to LFC

[RedReet]

Del

[RedReet]

It means making a big sacrifice for our off the ball shape though and breaking up what was arguably our strongest unit last season. Perhaps for some games though, depending on the opposition.

Left sided 10 (with Kerkez providing the width) allows Wirtz to operate in the same part of the pitch as he does for Leverkusen and Germany.

Does it though? His defensive numbers are strong, so it's not like we are dropping Matt LeTissier in there.

I definitely see him playing some games there, especially if we let Diaz go, but I'd be surprised if the idea behind buying him was to replace Gakpo. The fact that Slot mentioned Szobo getting more goals and assists and the fact that any time we were chasing a game, he just threw on more forwards, makes me think we'll see a much more attacking line up next year, with him part of the midfield 3. False 9 I can see too, but the fact that Wirtz specifically mentioned about being put off by Kompany's plans for using him again makes me think he'll play more centrally, to be more involved.

[Mark79]

Does it though? His defensive numbers are strong, so it's not like we are dropping Matt LeTissier in there.

I definitely see him playing some games there, especially if we let Diaz go, but I'd be surprised if the idea behind buying him was to replace Gakpo. The fact that Slot mentioned Szobo getting more goals and assists and the fact that any time we were chasing a game, he just threw on more forwards, makes me think we'll see a much more attacking line up next year, with him part of the midfield 3. False 9 I can see too, but the fact that Wirtz specifically mentioned about being put off by Kompany's plans for using him again makes me think he'll play more centrally, to be more involved.

We’re not bringing him in to ask him to provide the off the ball industry Dom does and do Salah’s defending for him. So if Wirtz replaces him in the midfield 3, then yes, there’s a massive concession being made there.

[kemm1]

Barnes was my first “love” as a Liverpool player but he wasn’t the star he became when we signed him…. Wirtz had every big club in Europe after him. If we had signed Laudrup as we were supposed to it might have been similar

Barnes was a major star back, society back then was just very reluctant to admit it.

[kemm1]

With wirtz and kerkez likely coming in along with frimpong, not having a single English or even British player will likely become a regular thing with the exception of games jones may start.

I thought Frimpong counted in the British quota?

[kemm1]

We’re not bringing him in to ask him to provide the off the ball industry Dom does and do Salah’s defending for him. So if Wirtz replaces him in the midfield 3, then yes, there’s a massive concession being made there.

I suppose we will defend through ball retention and constant offensive pressure. Keep them on the back foot.

[RedReet]

We’re not bringing him in to ask him to provide the off the ball industry Dom does and do Salah’s defending for him. So if Wirtz replaces him in the midfield 3, then yes, there’s a massive concession being made there.

But that's sort of the point, he isn't the same player, it will be a different way of playing. He's apparently a very effective and intelligent presser, so who's to say how much weaker we'll be as a unit, especially if he brings more control to our overall play? None of us seen Grav slotting in at DM this time last year and if suggested, I'm sure we'd have heard similar arguments, doesn't work hard enough, can't cover for Trent etc. Found it interesting when we went down to 10 last year (against Fulham?), that Slot sacrificed the middle and overloaded the final 3rd, to try and control the game there. Could we see something along those lines going forward?

[Mark79]

But that's sort of the point, he isn't the same player, it will be a different way of playing. He's apparently a very effective and intelligent presser, so who's to say how much weaker we'll be as a unit, especially if he brings more control to our overall play? None of us seen Grav slotting in at DM this time last year and if suggested, I'm sure we'd have heard similar arguments, doesn't work hard enough, can't cover for Trent etc. Found it interesting when we went down to 10 last year (against Fulham?), that Slot sacrificed the middle and overloaded the final 3rd, to try and control the game there. Could we see something along those lines going forward?

But that was a game where we reacted to the game state, trailing and a man down. We surely don’t want to go into every game choosing to concede the midfield like that?

Who knows, we’ll find out. I think the left sided 10 makes more sense, all things considered. Keeps him in the area of the pitch he’s been playing for club and country, ties in with the incoming fullback profiles, allows us to keep our midfield which was so effective last season.

[RedReet]

But that was a game where we reacted to the game state, trailing and a man down. We surely don’t want to go into every game choosing to concede the midfield like that?

Who knows, we’ll find out. I think the left sided 10 makes more sense, all things considered. Keeps him in the area of the pitch he’s been playing for club and country, ties in with the incoming fullback profiles, allows us to keep our midfield which was so effective last season.

I just meant control the game more in the final 3rd, not go gung go 415 from KO. But yes, time will tell, you are probably right on his position, I'm just talking **** killing time in airport

[peterbread]

This is from an article Buzzo posted the other day

Wirtz has been deemed one of the best attacking midfielders in the world and, together with his young age, that profile costs money. Liverpool will benefit from the best years of his career and, in return, they are gaining not only an attacker but also a first defender. In the Bundesliga last season, only BayernÂ’s Michael Olise (37 times) won possession more than WirtzÂ’s 35 in the final third, which demonstrates his willingness to press.

[Mark79]

I just meant control the game more in the final 3rd, not go gung go 415 from KO. But yes, time will tell, you are probably right on his position, I'm just talking **** killing time in airport

Whatever it turns out to be, Florian obviously approves and Slot has already shown he knows what he’s doing, so we’re free to sit back and talk ****

[Exiled_red]

I thought Frimpong counted in the British quota?

He counts as HG but it's not quite the same, there are a few English players on the fringes, Jones, Gomez Quansah etc but none who you feel would be regular starters

[Irishnev]

I thought Frimpong counted in the British quota?

Yep, home grown from his time at City

[Sus]

I thought Frimpong counted in the British quota?

He might count as homegrown but he’s Dutch so can’t be British?

[Norbs]

This is from an article Buzzo posted the other day

Wirtz has been deemed one of the best attacking midfielders in the world and, together with his young age, that profile costs money. Liverpool will benefit from the best years of his career and, in return, they are gaining not only an attacker but also a first defender. In the Bundesliga last season, only BayernÂ’s Michael Olise (37 times) won possession more than WirtzÂ’s 35 in the final third, which demonstrates his willingness to press.

It'd be interesting to see the comparison between Olise and Wirtz. Olise was pretty good in the PL but not deemed a world beater