Welcome Takumi Minamino

[Roboklopp]

Dirk Kuyt, now there’s a name I’ve not thought about in a while that brings a smile to my face. Wonder how a prime Kuyt would fit in today- great work rate, team ethic and versatility but maybe lacks the ball control or speed for now. He’d defo be a better option than Mini, Derek or poor old Cube.

[greenturnip]

He needs to beef up so he can keep the ball when challenged or draw the foul - like Gini does so magnificently.

[Shaggy]

I've still no idea where he's supposed to fit into the team. I did think back up for Bobby but not so sure now.

[RedReet]

I've still no idea where he's supposed to fit into the team. I did think back up for Bobby but not so sure now.

His start isn't too dissimilar to Bobby in that we don't seem to know where to play him or how to get the best out of him.

I still hold high hopes.

[Tribute]

I've still no idea where he's supposed to fit into the team. I did think back up for Bobby but not so sure now.

...similar. Thought he'd be like for like replacement but I think he's more suited to sitting in the hole behind the front three and threading little passes in behind defences. He's a smart thinker when he's on it, trouble is that's a rarity at the moment.

Agree with others, he's currently too lightweight to play CM and doesn't seem to have a role, he kinda just chases everything and ends up giving away cheap free kicks.

[wiw]

I think all of his problems are in his mind. If there's a manager who can fix that then it's surely Klopp, but it will take time. Getting a bit of a Naby vibe though - is it just not going to happen? I hope it will!

[danperkins]

Lightweight, slow and zero confidence.

[Doc_Piptorious]

Lightweight, slow and zero confidence.

Think if the latter could somehow be boosted and then bolstered, the other two would soon fade. Only issue is how to sort the confdence side of things when we are carrying so many injuries with the knock on effect being that players still settling do not get the comfort blanket of having the main senior players around them on the pitch.


Klopp has shown that he likes to blood a player slowly at times and allow them a settling in period where they gradually get used to the settled starting regulars, the style of play and what is expected of each player.

Fabinho, Robertson, and Chamberlain would be the obvious examples of players who were given the slowly slowly approach despite two of them already having plenty of UK playing experience before joining us. However we also had the luxury at the time of having pretty much a full or close to full squad available for most of their gradual introductions into the first team.

Even Jota, who has hit the ground running in some style, did have the benefit of getting game time earlier this season when we had more of our senior players fit and playing so he more often than not was slotting into a team and maybe more crucially a part of the team that had settled, and experienced top class players around him.

Minamino on the other hand tends to get game time against senior teams whilst surrounded by other players who like him rarely play together against senior opposition and who most likely rarely get much game time together as a unit behind the scenes as well.


And after mentioning behind the scenes, there lies the one area that none of us can say how he is doing. It could well be that his performances on the pitch are being replicated on the training ground and he is simply not forcing his way into Klopp's plans more often for starts in the EPL and important CL games.

[BG1973]

He has no power.. be that pace or physicality. And not technically good enough to overcome those quite large obstacles


Okay squad player but I imagine he will be gone in a year.

[McDermotX]

Not a massive investment relatively speaking of course, which needs to said, but he is struggling a wee bit. Not an easy move for him you'd suspect though. New fella in, new country....BANG....society and football shutdown.....Project Restart.....mini-preseason....New Season etc
The confidence is a huge component in how a player can evolve, and he does seem desperately short of it. Very hard to pick out his qualities when only showing here and there, and, like yesterday, in and out of the game with no real fixed role apparent.

Always going to be a squad member, but its the squad of one of the best teams in club football and every one of the players needs to be able to step up and contribute, especially given our current absences.

[baitman]

[ame="https://youtu.be/D61Ug0Bi6Pw"]Best of Takumi Minamino 2019/20 | Goals & Assists - YouTube[/ame]

[Buzzo]

A real pisser for him that the goal was (for some reason) ruled out.

A CL winner would have been great for his confidence. The look on his face when he saw the flag summed up his frustrations.

[danperkins]

Think if the latter could somehow be boosted and then bolstered, the other two would soon fade. Only issue is how to sort the confdence side of things when we are carrying so many injuries with the knock on effect being that players still settling do not get the comfort blanket of having the main senior players around them on the pitch.


Klopp has shown that he likes to blood a player slowly at times and allow them a settling in period where they gradually get used to the settled starting regulars, the style of play and what is expected of each player.

Fabinho, Robertson, and Chamberlain would be the obvious examples of players who were given the slowly slowly approach despite two of them already having plenty of UK playing experience before joining us. However we also had the luxury at the time of having pretty much a full or close to full squad available for most of their gradual introductions into the first team.

Even Jota, who has hit the ground running in some style, did have the benefit of getting game time earlier this season when we had more of our senior players fit and playing so he more often than not was slotting into a team and maybe more crucially a part of the team that had settled, and experienced top class players around him.

Minamino on the other hand tends to get game time against senior teams whilst surrounded by other players who like him rarely play together against senior opposition and who most likely rarely get much game time together as a unit behind the scenes as well.


And after mentioning behind the scenes, there lies the one area that none of us can say how he is doing. It could well be that his performances on the pitch are being replicated on the training ground and he is simply not forcing his way into Klopp's plans more often for starts in the EPL and important CL games.

Yeah it's a tough one to gauge. On the one hand it's very hard, to play a few mins here and then and be expected to play at a high level & on the other hand you do need to take your chances and show the manager what you can do. For me, that takes hunger and drive and something that really seems to be lacking in Minamino.

Some players just cannot handle the pace and physicality of a Klopp side & the premier league and just won't make it, whereas others take time and are a slow burner. He just looks a little lost at the moment, I feel sorry for him. It was a small investment I suppose so less risk than likes of Keita as that was such a big outlay. We'll get that fee back for him no problem, not sure we'd get that money back for Keita though.

[Assassin]

Not a massive investment relatively speaking of course, which needs to said, but he is struggling a wee bit. Not an easy move for him you'd suspect though. New fella in, new country....BANG....society and football shutdown.....Project Restart.....mini-preseason....New Season etc
The confidence is a huge component in how a player can evolve, and he does seem desperately short of it. Very hard to pick out his qualities when only showing here and there, and, like yesterday, in and out of the game with no real fixed role apparent.

Always going to be a squad member, but its the squad of one of the best teams in club football and every one of the players needs to be able to step up and contribute, especially given our current absences.

From Sushi to Scouse......one hell of a culture shock

[Montana]

The biggest frustration with Minamino is the amount of 50-50s he loses. Pretty much all of them or he gives away a foul. Really lightweight from what I've seen so far for PL and easily knocked off the ball.

Expected better in the CL at least but he's not getting close to delivering although unlucky with VAR last night.

Needs big improvement in 2nd half of the season if he's got a future here. Elliott looks much better and he's only 17!