Georginio Wijnaldum

[Lecter]

I don't get why people seize on comments like this. Saying someone is 'like' a certain player (Whelan, Gerrard etc) does not mean they are as good as them.

It means they have a similar playing style or role.

Hes nothing like Whelan though but do carry on

[Buzzo]

Ronnie Whelan was more a holding player / ball winner

I know, I remember..! Just.

OK, to be clear, the reason I say this is when I was about 14/15 when I used to watch Liverpool with Whelan and he was not the type of player that I appreciated as a kid, he was pretty unglamorous and not a guy who took many plaudits compared to the rest of the team only as I got older did and played and understood the game better did I appreciate him.

Given the feedback on Wijnaldum I was watching him closely on Sat, and I thought he was really effective in helping control the game nipping in to pick up the ball, keeping it moving and good under pressure. His knowledge of when to go forward and when to stick back is similarly good.

So, the comparison is that I think Wijnaldum is having an influence on how we control the match and it is going unheralded, he's been a lot better than has been mentioned and he is so far similarly unheralded.

[Lecter]

I know, I remember..! Just.

OK, to be clear, the reason I say this is when I was about 14/15 when I used to watch Liverpool with Whelan and he was not the type of player that I appreciated as a kid, he was pretty unglamorous and not a guy who took many plaudits compared to the rest of the team only as I got older did and played and understood the game better did I appreciate him.

Given the feedback on Wijnaldum I was watching him closely on Sat, and I thought he was really effective in helping control the game nipping in to pick up the ball, keeping it moving and good under pressure. His knowledge of when to go forward and when to stick back is similarly good.

So, the comparison is that I think Wijnaldum is having an influence on how we control the match and it is going unheralded, he's been a lot better than has been mentioned and he is so far similarly unheralded.

Not convinced about any of that myself

[Fosterbloke]

Hes nothing like Whelan though but do carry on

Sure! You seized upon the comparison to Whelan as an equal, not that he's not the same kind of player.

But do carry on..

[Lecter]

Sure! You seized upon the comparison to Whelan as an equal, not that he's not the same kind of player.

But do carry on..

I seized on more than that, hes neither his equal nor is he even vaguely the same type of player

The only similarities are that he is A) a footballer B) he plays for Liverpool and C) he wears No.5

Other than that they are nothing alike either in quality or style of play

[baitman]

i have just been refreshing my memory by reading ronnie [pickering] whelan wiki page.

he took over from ray kennedy on the left and later moved inside when we signed john barnes.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronnie_Whelan

http://www.bobpaisley.com/article/614

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2Mf602qkdY"]100 Players Who Shook The Kop - #30 - Ronnie Whelan - YouTube[/ame]

[Lecter]

i have just been refreshing my memory by reading ronnie [pickering] whelan wiki page.

he took over from ray kennedy on the left and later moved inside when we signed john barnes.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronnie_Whelan

Yes he did start on the left in 82 when he deposed Ray Kennedy. I remember him being quite frequently injured with Nicol and Beglin often filling in for him

When he moved inside he played the deeper role in central midfield with McMahon pushed into the more attacking role

That to me was when he was at his best and I still maintain one of the reasons we lost the 88 Cup Final was because of his absence

He was one of my favourite players during the 2nd half of the 80's

[Buzzo]

Not convinced about any of that myself

We shall see I guess. Some of the facts are undeniable though (my memory, age, PoV etc) some less so.

[labourRed]

Midfield is one of those positons that takes time to adjust to. I think he's a very capable player and isn't something i'm overly concerned about.

It will be very interesting to see how Henderson and Can (expected starters) handle Kante/Matip. That's a different proposition entirely to Leicester's exposed midfield.

[Oberon]

I think we can lay to rest the away performance disapearing act label

[Fredo]

He's excellent.

[Kenneth]

Solid

[Reece]

He's no Ronnie Whelan.

[el matador]

He's getting better with every match. Just need some goals from him now but his workrate is very good.

Chelsea aren't a team who leave open spaces so he didn't have a lot opportunities to run in behind but his effort cannot be faulted. His passing also looked sharper today.

[SB]

Impressive start to his Liverpool career so far. Solid is a good description as he's not flashy & doesn't always catch your eye but you need players like that in your side.