Naby Keita

[Shaggy]

Maybe, but I think they know he gives us something very different (see Pep quote) and I'm fairly sure that's what they want from him, for the most part.

[RedReet]

Definitely think it's a negotiating tactic for Gini, similar to Arsenal when they let Walcott play CF until he signed a new contract.

When Fab is back in midfield, I expect Keita to be dropped and Gini to continue in the attacking role.

[Zapater]

It's also worth noting he played right of centre in both games. Last season he played the on the left side for the majority. Wonder what the reasoning behind that is.

[Irishnev]

It's also worth noting he played right of centre in both games. Last season he played the on the left side for the majority. Wonder what the reasoning behind that is.

I genuinely think people are overthinking this - the guys have a role to fulfill and they go and do it. With Hendo playing deepest both games Klopp would analyse the threat from the flanks - Werner the most obvious off the left hence he wanted Gini who is more reliable defensively to play that side.

I don’t think Gini would demand anything and Klopp certainly wouldn’t tolerate that. When the game opened up he got forward more as there was a lot of space his side

[RedReet]

I genuinely think people are overthinking this - the guys have a role to fulfill and they go and do it. With Hendo playing deepest both games Klopp would analyse the threat from the flanks - Werner the most obvious off the left hence he wanted Gini who is more reliable defensively to play that side.

I don’t think Gini would demand anything and Klopp certainly wouldn’t tolerate that. When the game opened up he got forward more as there was a lot of space his side

I'll hold my hands up, I'm on a mini protest in work, so got more spare time.

Admittedly I'm putting 2 and 2 together, but the only reason I can think Gini hasn't signed a new contract is over his role in the team. He seems happy at the club, we are obviously happy with him and I'm sure money isn't an issue, so what else could there be? Obviously 2 games is a small sample size, but genuinely, what would be your guess for the contract stalemate?

And the point of my original post was about Naby, who I really want to stay, so I'll forewarn you that I'll be closely analysing his performances all season.

[Irishnev]

I'll hold my hands up, I'm on a mini protest in work, so got more spare time.

Admittedly I'm putting 2 and 2 together, but the only reason I can think Gini hasn't signed a new contract is over his role in the team. He seems happy at the club, we are obviously happy with him and I'm sure money isn't an issue, so what else could there be? Obviously 2 games is a small sample size, but genuinely, what would be your guess for the contract stalemate?

And the point of my original post was about Naby, who I really want to stay, so I'll forewarn you that I'll be closely analysing his performances all season.

I would money and length of contract are an issue - rumors he is on about £90k which is much less than other regulars and he supposedly wanted a 4 year deal.

[RedReet]

I would money and length of contract are an issue - rumors he is on about £90k which is much less than other regulars and he supposedly wanted a 4 year deal.

Considering this should have been sorted over a year ago, if not before, I can't imagine a 4 year contract being an issue. Likewise when we were handing out big pay rises to all his teammates ("more important than new signings"), seems odd that we'd go cheap on one of the most important players.

But if that's what's being reported, who am I to argue? Just seems very unusual and not at all consistent with how the club has been run recently.

Just hoping he gets a goal in this new attacking role against Arsenal.

[Mark79]

The Naby we are seeing now is not the Naby who used to play for Leipzig. He has had to adapt his game and is not playing with more maturity. He has to learn when he can move into those gaps and help the attack. Against Chelsea, I thought he was told to hold his position. Also, I think we are managing his game time (plays around 60mins). Talks of him not living up to what was expected and that we could sell him at the end of the season are a bit ludicrous IMO. Yes, his contract will have two years left but we've done this before, given time to players, especially to someone who is still 25.

Naby was given a role against Chelsea and he performed it really well.
He pressed the life out of them and shut their midfield down. He had a very good game.

But people think he’s underperforming or even needs selling because he’s not doing Coutinho things every time he plays

He was excellent during the the restart and again on Sunday.

[Charly]

Our midfielders perform a role for the team, so should be judged on that basis. Keita has played very well since the lockdown. His job isnt to beat 4 players and pop it in the net. Thats not how we play

[RedReet]

Our midfielders perform a role for the team, so should be judged on that basis. Keita has played very well since the lockdown. His job isnt to beat 4 players and pop it in the net. Thats not how we play

But that's why he was signed. As Shaggy posted the other day...

"Naby is in a really good way. What a boy! He makes our build-up play completely different, creates unpredictability. He's an important player and hopefully we can use him."

Him and Fekir (I think) were supposed to add creativity to our midfield, but the Fekir deal fell though and Naby got a bad injury in the first few weeks. Because of this Klopp had to find 'soultions within the squad' and this was when Trent and Robbo stepped up to be our main playmakers, with the midfield primarily there to control the game and provide cover.

That has been very successful for us, but there is still a lack of creativity in midfield at times which is why we signed Thiago and there is still a role for a player to beat 4 players and pop it in the net, which is why Ox is still considered an important player for Klopp.

If Naby is being moulded into a more defensive minded player as we've seen with the like of Gini and Hendo, that's fine. I imagine he'll be excellent at it if he stays fit. But I disagree that there isn't a role for the Leipzig Naby in our team and personally I'll be disappointed if we never see that version of him properly in a red shirt.

[Mark79]

But that's why he was signed. As Shaggy posted the other day...

"Naby is in a really good way. What a boy! He makes our build-up play completely different, creates unpredictability. He's an important player and hopefully we can use him."

Him and Fekir (I think) were supposed to add creativity to our midfield, but the Fekir deal fell though and Naby got a bad injury in the first few weeks. Because of this Klopp had to find 'soultions within the squad' and this was when Trent and Robbo stepped up to be our main playmakers, with the midfield primarily there to control the game and provide cover.

That has been very successful for us, but there is still a lack of creativity in midfield at times which is why we signed Thiago and there is still a role for a player to beat 4 players and pop it in the net, which is why Ox is still considered an important player for Klopp.

If Naby is being moulded into a more defensive minded player as we've seen with the like of Gini and Hendo, that's fine. I imagine he'll be excellent at it if he stays fit. But I disagree that there isn't a role for the Leipzig Naby in our team and personally I'll be disappointed if we never see that version of him properly in a red shirt.

We were seeing that Naby during the restart games.

He was asked to perform a different role in this particular game, there’s nothing yet to suggest that he’s being converted full time.

[RedReet]

We were seeing that Naby during the restart games.

He was asked to perform a different role in this particular game, there’s nothing yet to suggest that he’s being converted full time.

Oh I know, he was very good post restart.

But in the context of this conversation that he might be converted (my premature suggestion I'm aware) because there is no role for such a creative player, I disagree with.

[Mark79]

Oh I know, he was very good post restart.

But in the context of this conversation that he might be converted (my premature suggestion I'm aware) because there is no role for such a creative player, I disagree with.

[BobTheCharmer]

He dribbles fairly well but when running in a straight line towards goal, it's like his feet are in quick sand. Very strange.

[Mark79]

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