Naby Keita

[rudedog]

I'd agree with the rating 6 to 6.5 (tops). Which, I'll say again, is an improvement for him so he's heading in the right direction. I just don't think that's good enough for our midfield.

I do generally have a problem with the narrative that "there's clearly a talented player in there somewhere". I genuinely don't see how that assumption can be made given the performances he's given us so far. There MAY be a possibility that he'll come good with a decent run of games and luck with injuries, and you'd hope that he does for all our sakes, but there is no "clearly" about it - it can only be from youtube videos from when he was back in Germany, it certainly has been whilst he's been here with us.

He’s had a few MotM performances for us - not nearly enough for what we were expecting but to suggest he’s never been more than average is wrong. His problems have been constant injuries and always needing a run of games before getting up to speed.

[SB]

Yep, and no ones talking about him

I did in the match thread but no one commented

Great result to start the campaign & my only disappointment was the Ox. I thought he just didn’t turn up today & offered nothing. It’s disappointing as his PS form was pretty good & Klopp rewarded him for that & he didn’t take the chance imo. He won’t get many better chances to impress than today & with Hendo & Fab coming back & Elliot looking lively in his cameo he might not see much game time for a while.
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[Exiled_red]

Naby is always going to have his critics, even if he were to become a solid dependable player able to play week in week out (which to be fair I'd be happy with), that wouldn't be enough for some, because even then he still wouldn't be the player that we thought we'd signed.

On the other hand there are people who are so used to him being injured that if he comes in and puts a couple of decent performances in he's ''turned it around". I think whatever he does there is going to be this split of opi ion.

[SB]

Naby is always going to have his critics, even if he were to become a solid dependable player able to play week in week out (which to be fair I'd be happy with), that wouldn't be enough for some, because even then he still wouldn't be the player that we thought we'd signed.

On the other hand there are people who are so used to him being injured that if he comes in and puts a couple of decent performances in he's ''turned it around". I think whatever he does there is going to be this split of opi ion.

Yep it’s split alright

[Fivex]

Split of opi ion

[Mark79]

I'd agree with the rating 6 to 6.5 (tops). Which, I'll say again, is an improvement for him so he's heading in the right direction. I just don't think that's good enough for our midfield.

I do generally have a problem with the narrative that "there's clearly a talented player in there somewhere". I genuinely don't see how that assumption can be made given the performances he's given us so far. There MAY be a possibility that he'll come good with a decent run of games and luck with injuries, and you'd hope that he does for all our sakes, but there is no "clearly" about it - it can only be from youtube videos from when he was back in Germany, it certainly has been whilst he's been here with us.

It’s not an assumption though. It’s based on his actual performances for us. For someone who plays so infrequently, he is often one of our best midfield performers when he does play, and many of our best team performances over the past 18 to 24 months have come with him playing and that is clear.

It seems some will only be happy when he does an entire RB Leipzig compilation in one game.

[Harv]

I'd agree with the rating 6 to 6.5 (tops). Which, I'll say again, is an improvement for him so he's heading in the right direction. I just don't think that's good enough for our midfield.

I do generally have a problem with the narrative that "there's clearly a talented player in there somewhere". I genuinely don't see how that assumption can be made given the performances he's given us so far. There MAY be a possibility that he'll come good with a decent run of games and luck with injuries, and you'd hope that he does for all our sakes, but there is no "clearly" about it - it can only be from youtube videos from when he was back in Germany, it certainly has been whilst he's been here with us.

Well he's a very solid technical player, some of his touches, turns and control is up there with the best at the club and can be very creative, his little one-twos when around the box can unlock tight defenses. There was definitely a little stretch of games he had where you could see he was talented, scored a few goals and was creating chances...then got injured again playing in a potato field in Burkina Faso.

[BigChief]

I'm just glad he got through the whole game at full pace and there is no injury news next day. If he can just make 3 full months of games then we will see some great football from him.

Same with Ox actually.

[Fredo]

It's pretty stupid (and terribly boring) anyway to be talking about player x or player y after 1 game, especially the first game of the season.

Also, not too sure people understand the role of our midfielders in our team.

[Fosterbloke]

I think Keita did exactly what Klopp wanted him to and if Klopp were dishing out scores, it would be a 9/10.

[RedReet]

I'd agree with the rating 6 to 6.5 (tops). Which, I'll say again, is an improvement for him so he's heading in the right direction. I just don't think that's good enough for our midfield.

I do generally have a problem with the narrative that "there's clearly a talented player in there somewhere". I genuinely don't see how that assumption can be made given the performances he's given us so far. There MAY be a possibility that he'll come good with a decent run of games and luck with injuries, and you'd hope that he does for all our sakes, but there is no "clearly" about it - it can only be from youtube videos from when he was back in Germany, it certainly has been whilst he's been here with us.

My memory is ****, but off the back of the infamous Youtube vids he had me salivating in his first pre-season and I was so looking forward to him linking up with Mo with some of his quick, long passes (not the dribbling skills I was expecting.). He also finished that season quite well and scored a couple of goals in succession and looked like he'd kick on, before injury struck.

I also felt there was a spell last year (or maybe the year before) when most of our best performances had him involved (can just remember commenting, can't be arsed researching when) and also someone posted stats showing just how effective he was in the games played.

More importantly, when I'm not drunk (like last night) I like to keep an eye on Naby and I honestly believe he is a great player. We'll not get to see the rampaging Naby that we hoped we signed, but we don't need him in this system and if he can stay fit (he won't), he's a more than able replacement for Gini IMO.

[Fosterbloke]

At Leipzig he looked like the African Redondo with his loping runs and eye for a through ball.

[Harv]

It's pretty stupid (and terribly boring) anyway to be talking about player x or player y after 1 game, especially the first game of the season.

Also, not too sure people understand the role of our midfielders in our team.

might as well shut the forum down now then

[Fredo]

might as well shut the forum down now then

Not what I’m saying but some people can’t help but reopen these threads with non constructive comments.

I would far more understand them if it was after 3 or 4 games and none of these players had shown any hint of improvement or bringing something else to the plate.

[baitman]

Rated at a 6.5 he could've been our worst performer, yet he's dominating the conversation. Did anyone else score lower than 6.5?

Maybe oxlade.

Overall a poor performance from the midfield starters.
The midfield subs (fab and elliot) both probably had a better game (and in much less pitch time) than naby.