Joël Matip

[Irishnev]

Not sure how close to being a top striker he is as this is his break out season, but the traits/qualities you mentioned there are a pretty good description of Belotti

£££££££££££

Maybe Dirk Kuyt could give us a couple of seasons

[Norbs]

I think, if we keep Sturridge we have to get rid of Origi or Ings, I want a new striker in, a top striker who is also fast and direct but capable of dropping deep and creating but also a hard worker who can press all game and a good header of the ball and real poacher in the box. Now go fetch him Klopp.

If Coutinho continues to play in midfield then his game intelligence and quality will make Origi look and perform far better. Origi had a lethal foot on him, he just doesn't have the decision making when playing one to one.

I think Sturridge needs to feel his career is back on track and then the injuries will disappear. Getting quality service and he'll thrive again

[The_weatherman]

Not sure how close to being a top striker he is as this is his break out season, but the traits/qualities you mentioned there are a pretty good description of Belotti

I was just listing every trait I thought there was, didn't imagine there was a players who ticked all the boxes But now I want to see more Belotti!


Well apart from Suarez

[Doc_Piptorious]

I was just listing every trait I thought there was, didn't imagine there was a players who ticked all the boxes But now I want to see more Belotti!


Well apart from Suarez

Belotti would play in a similar way to Firmino but would be more physical and more free scoring.

And he seems to be able to play equally well regardless of whether he is a long target man, working as a duo, or in a from three.

[RedReet]

I'd keep Sturridge and Origi with Woodburn and Ings as back up and consider Mane more centrally too. He is our best player in close combat and he likes to cut in suggesting that he's not as comfortable out wide. In fact he's wasted out wide. Unfortunately it looks like it's Firmino that sits it out when all are fit

Eh???

Will have to read this later when I'm sobered up. At the minute I'm seeing that Mané isn't a good winger and Firmino is being ditched. I'm clearly missing something.

[Fosterbloke]

Eh???

Will have to read this later when I'm sobered up. At the minute I'm seeing that Mané isn't a good winger and Firmino is being ditched. I'm clearly missing something.

If you remember that it's in a thread for Joel Matip!

[frank the tank]

but i don't think Matip can play as a striker.....

[Roboklopp]

I'm sure the progressive geniuses that are Fat Sam & Moaning Mourinho would beg to differ.

[RedReet]

Anyone have the stats for matches when Matip and Lovren played together last season?

[Doc_Piptorious]

Anyone have the stats for matches when Matip and Lovren played together last season?

First search I did brought these numbers up, might not be spot on though

They started 13 games together.


8 wins and 5 draws.


22 goals scored by us and 11 conceded



Edit: Those are only up until into April. Will try to find ones for the end of the season.

[RedReet]

First search I did brought these numbers up, might not be spot on though

They started 13 games together.


8 wins and 5 draws.


22 goals scored by us and 11 conceded



Edit: Those are only up until into April. Will try to find ones for the end of the season.

4 wins and clean sheets to finish off the season too, so when fit our defence wasn't just as bad as made out. I thought we definitely lost a couple with them playing though as I remember during the season when it was pointed out we were unbeaten when they played, we lost shortly after. I could have made that up though or a draw maybe felt like a defeat.

[Doc_Piptorious]

4 wins and clean sheets to finish off the season too, so when fit our defence wasn't just as bad as made out. I thought we definitely lost a couple with them playing though as I remember during the season when it was pointed out we were unbeaten when they played, we lost shortly after. I could have made that up though or a draw maybe felt like a defeat.

The only problem I have with them as a pairing is how often one or the other is out injured. When fit and played together they work well.


Seem to remember Sakho and Lovern having a pretty good record when played together as well.

[Exiled_red]

The only problem I have with them as a pairing is how often one or the other is out injured. When fit and played together they work well.


Seem to remember Sakho and Lovern having a pretty good record when played together as well.

I think that a large part of an effective defensive unit is the having good players that are used to playing together and knowing one anothers game.

[RedReet]

The only problem I have with them as a pairing is how often one or the other is out injured. When fit and played together they work well.


Seem to remember Sakho and Lovern having a pretty good record when played together as well.

Definitely. Been a problem for some time for us, getting a settled CB pairing. Unfortunately for us, our most reliable CB since the Sami/Carra days has been Skrtel and even he had his injury problems in the earlier years.

It was actually Sami's comments this week that had me wondering about their record as he doesn't think a new CB is essential, even though he rates VVD highly.

[Exiled_red]

If you look at the best partnerships we have had they have tended to involve players who stay fit for long periods, Sami Hyypia and Jamie Carragher hardly ever missed a game. Ok, Carragher was out for a year with a broken leg but never had little injuries, like the likes of Sakho, Agger, Lovren, Skrtel etc who would play 10 games and be out for a couple of weeks/months.

I think the defenders we have are good players and are capable of forming a good defensive unit when they are fit, but to be challenging for the title we need that CB partnership to be playing together for 90%+ of our games. And based on recent records I am not sure that will be possible with the players that we have.