Welcome Takumi Minamino

[danperkins]

Think the thing about Mane is sometimes you forget just how good he is in the air too & I agree either side he's outstanding. Still not quite convinced on Minamino but obviously it would be more of a natural transition for the team if he replaced Bobby. A rest for Bobby and maybe a kick up the backside for him is what he needs & we have to give Minamino a chance at some point to see how good he is.

[greenturnip]

The guys in the BT studio last night (Rio, Owen and Crouchy) were purring about Firmino's first touch and bringing others into play etc. Are we resting him cos he's tired or dropping him cos he isn't doing enough? I guess if I were him I would ask.

[Exiled_red]

I understand people's views on how good Mane is down the left, but given that we have spent £45m on Jota I don't see him only playing when Mane (or even Salah) is injured or being rested. I think that there is going to be a bit more rotation and swapping around of roles within the front three. Jota seems to predominantly play down the left, Salah can play right or through the middle, Mane can play all three roles and Firmino and Minamino play through the middle. Mane is the most versatile and is probably the best in the air so if we were having a different type of forward line I would be interested to see how Jota-Mane-Salah would work out.

[baitman]

Mane on the left, him and robbo click together like lego.
Jota down the middle, with maybe mini as an advanced midfielder 10.

[Pablo]

The guys in the BT studio last night (Rio, Owen and Crouchy) were purring about Firmino's first touch and bringing others into play etc. Are we resting him cos he's tired or dropping him cos he isn't doing enough? I guess if I were him I would ask.

I'd be dropping him because he's not playing good enough. His levels had consistently dropped. Mainly it's the lack of goals, but I think it's now affecting his confidence and all around game. The rest of the squad need to be aware that if your levels drop, you're out.

Anyway I doubt Klopp agrees

[BobTheCharmer]

This lad is pretty **** isn't he. Big chance again tonight and he did **** all bar scoring at the end which var ****ed up for him. Maybe it's confidence or he's looked at the squad and thought how am I ever getting in that team. Jota has pissed all over his early preseason signs of progression. He does seem a nice lad but he's so lightweight, no pace, can't dribble, doesn't chase back. He's a passenger right now. Come on taki lad.

[baitman]

This lad is pretty **** isn't he. Big chance again tonight and he did **** all bar scoring at the end which var ****ed up for him. Maybe it's confidence or he's looked at the squad and thought how am I ever getting in that team. Jota has pissed all over his early preseason signs of progression. He does seem a nice lad but he's so lightweight, no pace, can't dribble, doesn't chase back. He's a passenger right now. Come on taki lad.

I dont think he's ****, but he looks **** scared and hesitant.
His youtube and highlights looked great, i thought we had spawned another bargain, but i wonder if he is not playing his relaxed natural game and is too fucused on sticking to the coached diagrams.

[Doc_Piptorious]

This lad is pretty **** isn't he. Big chance again tonight and he did **** all bar scoring at the end which var ****ed up for him. Maybe it's confidence or he's looked at the squad and thought how am I ever getting in that team. Jota has pissed all over his early preseason signs of progression. He does seem a nice lad but he's so lightweight, no pace, can't dribble, doesn't chase back. He's a passenger right now. Come on taki lad.

To be honest it is difficult to argue with the thrust of this post. He shows glimpses of excellent ball control, shows signs of being the maker of really intelligent runs and his work rate is pretty high, yet it tends to rarely pay off.

The one thing I think he has been really unlucky with is a lot of his game time, especially starts, have been as part of very inexperienced teams that simply do not have the same levels of cohesion or quality in depth to fall back upon that our best starting XI would have. Not really a great way to try to get used to a new team, city and country I imagine. His confidence must be taking a hit at times for the same reasons.

Drop him into a starting XI that contains nine or ten of our regulars and I think he would shine with players that can spot his runs or that are making runs for him to find with the ball.

However you could easily counter that and say, as you have, that Jota is in a new team and city yet hit the ground running. Jota does have the advantage of already being used to living in the UK but maybe it is also as simple as Jota being a much better player.

Do hope in a few months we are scratching our heads though and wondering how we ever thought he may not make it at Liverpool.

[Exiled_red]

I thought he was looking better at the end of last season and the start of this he really looked like he had started finding his feet. His game time has been limited and he had played alot of his minutes in weaker sides, he has also been the one who has often been shuffled into midfield which doesn't help. The problem for me is that I don't think he fits into our style of play. It's a shame that his goal was disallowed as that might have given him a confidence boost.

[Kenneth]

He seems like a like for like replacement for Lallana.

[Irishnev]

I dont think he's ****, but he looks **** scared and hesitant.
His youtube and highlights looked great, i thought we had spawned another bargain, but i wonder if he is not playing his relaxed natural game and is too fucused on sticking to the coached diagrams.

I have wondered this also

To be honest it is difficult to argue with the thrust of this post. He shows glimpses of excellent ball control, shows signs of being the maker of really intelligent runs and his work rate is pretty high, yet it tends to rarely pay off.

The one thing I think he has been really unlucky with is a lot of his game time, especially starts, have been as part of very inexperienced teams that simply do not have the same levels of cohesion or quality in depth to fall back upon that our best starting XI would have. Not really a great way to try to get used to a new team, city and country I imagine. His confidence must be taking a hit at times for the same reasons.

Drop him into a starting XI that contains nine or ten of our regulars and I think he would shine with players that can spot his runs or that are making runs for him to find with the ball.

However you could easily counter that and say, as you have, that Jota is in a new team and city yet hit the ground running. Jota does have the advantage of already being used to living in the UK but maybe it is also as simple as Jota being a much better player.

Do hope in a few months we are scratching our heads though and wondering how we ever thought he may not make it at Liverpool.

This is also surely a factor

One thing for sure he looks a shadow of the player who tormented us

[Exiled_red]

He seems like a like for like replacement for Lallana.

Nah, he's actually available for games

[danperkins]

He doesn't fit system, he looks so unsure of himself so uncomfortable. My opinion of him so far in a LFC shirt, if i'm honest..... pretty ****.

[Slinky Skills]

He gives away hundreds of free kicks I've noticed, constantly fouls players all over the park every time he plays, it's infuriating. I do think there's a player there but he's not going to dislodge anyone from that squad anytime soon.

[Zapater]

I'm not a fan of writing off players and generally think people are stupid for doing so. Maybe it's because I didn't see him play before he joined us (except for that now fabled performance which has gotten better everyday in Minamino folklore) so I don't know what he's capable of. I really don't see what his strengths are. Weak in possession, not a goalscorer, nor an assist maker, no physicality and so on. I struggle to think of anything redeeming. His workrate is okay, but I don't think that should qualify you to play football at elite level. Everyone is either a hard worker, a maverick or both. He doesn't have a Kuyt like workrate that you can justify sacrificing quality either. Weird signing.

Doesn't look like displacing anyone either. If he doesn't come right, the only good thing is with the low transfer fee is we'll still turn a profit. He has the right profile (nationality) that he's still heavily investable.