Georginio Wijnaldum

[Liverpool]

Just watching bits of the match back again. Surely the £25m we spent on this guy would've been far better spent on a decent left back?

or used the Benteke on money on Kante. Then instead of Geroge Williams bought loads of random **** hot south americans for a laugh

[Catrin]

he seems to be lacking a little bit of confidence, Lallana would have been clearly onside for that second goal if Wijnaldum hadn't hesitated for a split second before passing. Maybe he needs a little time to settle and feel at home.

[redmike65]

We all wondered about his likely role in the squad, I don't think we'll know until Can is fit and playing regularly

[Doc_Piptorious]

We all wondered about his likely role in the squad, I don't think we'll know until Can is fit and playing regularly

Yeah I think that is a very valid point. At PSV he played some of his best stuff when Strootman had a set CM partner and Wijnaldum was allowed to play further forward in one of the Advanced CM, AM , or wide roles.


Even at Newcastle his most effective games (in terms of assists/goals/key passes) seems to occur when there were two CMs in the team who did a lot of the shielding and deeper play allowing Wijnaldum to link play further forward and it freed him up to join attacks with late runs from midfield.


There is definitely a good player in him, but that good player is a bit of a Lampard style player for me and by that I mean a lot of his better play (when on form) goes unnoticed as it tends to be quick and simple transitions or a sudden popping up out of nowhere to get a goal.


I think if we are going to go with three in the centre from our current squad then he would play better in a trio with Can, and Henderson than he would in a trio that contains himself, Henderson, and Lallana.

[vlahka]

What ever happened to just buying players with sensible names.

[Buzzo]

What ever happened to just buying players with sensible names.

Man U killed that off by spending £20m on Phil Jones.

[vlahka]

Man U killed that off by spending £20m on Phil Jones.

Thanks UTD

[el matador]

I was pretty harsh on him yesterday and that wasn't fair for someone who hasn't played 5 games for us yet.

Once he settles in and adds 15 goals a season to his game I'm sure his role will become clearer. He's good technically and has a decent engine so lets just see how things develop but I was definitely off yesterday in my criticism of him.

[Phoenix07]

He was OK yesterday, but the thing is, we have him, Lallana and Henderson learning new roles in our team, and I think that's a concern, depending on how long they take.

Henderson and Lallana have been with us for a number of years, so it's just a case of them learning tactical requirements.

Wijnaldum has only just moved to the club, is learning a new role, and settling in. I know his fee was excessive, but I think once Can is back in the side, things will become much clearer in terms of what to expect from Wijnaldum.

[Kenneth]

From Klopp's comments about him liking him for years it suggests to me that he was a bit of a pet signing for Klopp, someone with the right attitude who Klopp thinks has the potential to step up. Klopp's Borini if you like. Happy to give him that one, we'll see how it goes.

[Maxiedge]

Wasn't Wijnaldum top scorer in Dutch league before he joined Newcastle? Just goes to show, he's got more in his locker.

Edit: no he wasn't but he did get 40 goals in 109 games...

[cream]

Without Can our midfield is pretty crap. Once Can is back, he'll play as the DM with two from Henderson/Lallana/Gini ahead of him, that'd be a lot better. Infact, I wouldn't mind seeing Coutinho as one of the two and aother Mane type on the left.

[redmike65]

God I wish Klopp would discover the joy of a diamond based formation

Clyne--Lovren--Matip--Milner
-------------Can
-------Hendo--Coutinho
-----------Firmino
--------Mane---Origi

Shadow side

------------Karius
Clyne--Lovren--Klavan--Moreno
------------Lucas
-------Grujic--Wijanldum
----------Lallana
-----Sturridge--Ings

What **** happens if Clyne gets injured?

[danperkins]

Without Can our midfield is pretty crap. Once Can is back, he'll play as the DM with two from Henderson/Lallana/Gini ahead of him, that'd be a lot better. Infact, I wouldn't mind seeing Coutinho as one of the two and aother Mane type on the left.

[MrMichael]

He's the invisible man. Grujic couldn't be any more ineffective.

This was the problem at Newcastle. He ended the season with a good goal return on paper but the number of games he was completely anonymous in was far too high. Tidy and inoffensive compared to some of the shambles around him, but he was by no means influential on many games at all.

This is a different environment & manager and he certainly isn't terrible but unlike Mane, with whom it has been instantly obvious what he was bought to bring to the team, Wijnaldum does have me scratching my head a bit.

On the other hand, at least he's not Sissoko