Florian Wirtz - Welcome to LFC

[RedReet]

That we are now somewhat unbalanced with Wirtz in the team was entirely predictable. I'm not saying we can't figure this out but it will take some figuring out before we see the best of him or of us with him in the team. FWIW, I thought he played well against Bournemouth but couldn't find his feet at all against Newcastle. I don't expect there to be many more games this season like the one we had last night but it is what it is. I remain fascinated to see what the coaching staff come up with.

It's impossible to draw any concrete conclusions at this stage.

So far we've had to contend with Konate playing like he's been drugged, Virg doing the same against Palace, Kerkez looking well off the pace, losing both RB's, not having our main DM for 2/3's of the games, MacAllister struggling for fitness and our best player (Mo) falling well short of his usual standards. There is a lot going on there to be able to conclude that playing Wirtz AM is teh reason we are conceding goals.

It's also worth nothing that Wirtz has been off the pitch when half our PL goals have been conceded and even if you factor in pre-season, the two main matches, Milan and Bilbao, Wirtz was off the pitch for 4 of those goals.

In terms of tactics, Slot has been pitch perfect since he arrived. He clearly has a plan for how he wants to set up with Wirtz playing AM, so let's have the opportunity to hit our stride before we decide what is and what isn't working.

[peterbread]

Sunday will be his day
MOTM performance

[RedReet]

Del

[RedReet]

Del

[Doc_Piptorious]

I'm getting some echoes of Peter Beardsley when he first came. Took him a while to get settled.
Not worried that Wirtz won't adapt and we'll see much more from him as the season progresses.

[Paul12]

I'm getting some echoes of Peter Beardsley when he first came. Took him a while to get settled. ...

For the record, Beardsley had played in the top division in England 150 times before he joined us.

[memzey]

One of the things I'm concerned about is the potential for destabilization if we start Wirtz in the 10 role instead of Dom. No doubt he can bring some extra creativity and goal threat but what about all the running Dom does for Salah? I know Wirtz is stellar at winning the ball back in the final third but the work Dom does is something a bit different and I don't expect Wirtz to offer the same. If he plays on the left, then he's reinforcing our strongest position, which will mean one or two first team quality players missing out. He's a good player but we need a pattern of play that makes us better with him, rather than just having a better player on the pitch.

Do we need him to though? Szobo didn't start plenty of big games last year and we coped fine without him. Palace away (w), Arsenal away (d), Madrid home (w) Villa home (w), Newcastle away (d), West Ham away (5-0), United home (d).

Wirtz could easily be the difference from getting 1 point against a stubborn Forest and 6 next year.

I wouldn't want to sacrifice defensive stability in order to chase a few more goals, when we are already the country's leading scorers by miles. This is my concern, that we'd become unbalanced as a result, even in some of the games you mention.

We shall see I suppose.

Wirtz out.

Yes. Exactly this.

These are my actual thoughts on the matter:

He’s obviously a very good player I just can’t see where he fits into our current system without a defensive compromise or overload in the LW position. That might mean we are going to be happy to compromise in that way or change the system. Given the fact that we pissed the league last year by scoring the most goals of any team, I didn’t think we needed to weaken the defence to score more goals or radically change our system. Arne and the spreadsheet boys have probably got a plan to address this, they certainly deserve the benefit of the doubt, it just isn’t obvious to me how they will do it. I look forward with interest to finding out.

PS- WIRTZ OUT!!!!

That we are now somewhat unbalanced with Wirtz in the team was entirely predictable. I'm not saying we can't figure this out but it will take some figuring out before we see the best of him or of us with him in the team. FWIW, I thought he played well against Bournemouth but couldn't find his feet at all against Newcastle. I don't expect there to be many more games this season like the one we had last night but it is what it is. I remain fascinated to see what the coaching staff come up with.

[Corndog]

Every player is different in how they settle. He’s supposedly a bit quieter off the pitch so might still be settling in to life away from Germany and getting to know his team mates.

Once they all click together he’ll be brilliant. The signs are there with the link up with Ekitike. Let them work on things and soon enough he’ll be ripping teams open.

I don’t get this size thing either he’s not some tiny thin stick out there. It’s more the pace and aggression he’s not used to yet. He’s shown he’s fighting and winning the ball back defensively which is one of his better qualities so far.

I also think it’s the pace because he was tearing it up in pre season and now the prem games have come and the pace and aggression has gone up a notch

[peterbread]

Every player is different in how they settle. He’s supposedly a bit quieter off the pitch so might still be settling in to life away from Germany and getting to know his team mates.

Once they all click together he’ll be brilliant. The signs are there with the link up with Ekitike. Let them work on things and soon enough he’ll be ripping teams open.

I don’t get this size thing either he’s not some tiny thin stick out there. It’s more the pace and aggression he’s not used to yet. He’s shown he’s fighting and winning the ball back defensively which is one of his better qualities so far.

[Mark3]

He’d probably have liked to have made more impact in his first two league games by his high standards but I don’t think the issue is to do with his role not functioning in the team or his physicality.

Watching him, it seems like there are a few times where he’s had the ball pinched or an attempt at a mazy dribble quickly snuffed out at the very last moment. It looks like that split second faster pace of the prem means he can’t quite get a way with things as easily as the Bundesliga.

I wouldn’t be worried though, that’s something he will adapt to.

I'm getting some echoes of Peter Beardsley when he first came. Took him a while to get settled.
Not worried that Wirtz won't adapt and we'll see much more from him as the season progresses.

[Corndog]

Early days, but I dont think he quite fits the system. Klopp never used this kind of player. He always wanted a Wijnaldum/Dom type player, and i think we can see why. Wirtz probably needs to bulk up a bit. The alternative his plays in one if the front 3 roles (I thought he was going to play as false 9 whem we bought him). Otherwise I think he will have to be used to rotation and playing against less physical sides until he bulk up.

He certainly has the attributes to make it. I think the price tag comes with expectations, but Id rather have Dom start and bring him on with Rio and run the defence to death in the last quarter.

I think the game showed Jones isnt the man for high intensity games either

He’d probably have liked to have made more impact in his first two league games by his high standards but I don’t think the issue is to do with his role not functioning in the team or his physicality.

Watching him, it seems like there are a few times where he’s had the ball pinched or an attempt at a mazy dribble quickly snuffed out at the very last moment. It looks like that split second faster pace of the prem means he can’t quite get a way with things as easily as the Bundesliga.

I wouldn’t be worried though, that’s something he will adapt to.

[Charly]

Early days, but I dont think he quite fits the system. Klopp never used this kind of player. He always wanted a Wijnaldum/Dom type player, and i think we can see why. Wirtz probably needs to bulk up a bit. The alternative his plays in one if the front 3 roles (I thought he was going to play as false 9 whem we bought him). Otherwise I think he will have to be used to rotation and playing against less physical sides until he bulk up.

He certainly has the attributes to make it. I think the price tag comes with expectations, but Id rather have Dom start and bring him on with Rio and run the defence to death in the last quarter.

I think the game showed Jones isnt the man for high intensity games either

[danperkins]

Szob is the engine in the team, no chance he drops out imo

[Irishnev]

Not the game to judge him on, was like playing crazy gang era Wimbledon with 50k fans.

I noticed he made a lot of useful runs first half but wasn’t getting the ball, then nobody was getting the ball when Newcastle took to the skies.

Formation doesn’t look quite right yet.

I’m not worried about him but the shape needs practice

Equally with Kerkez, his role seems v different to what saw make the TotY, he seems to be holding in a 3 as opposed to getting wide. V odd but we’ve not had the chance to get our full midfield fit.

People who think Szozbo drops out must be seeing something different to me. He’s the dynamo of the side and is a must starter with Mac, Grav was more like second half of last season form. Teams know to sit off him so he can’t spin and drive away, having said that we looked much better in transition last night

[BG1973]

Ditto.. although he hasn't had chance to shine yet you can see the quality.. love the weight of his passing.