Its funny how football works out, one a teenager picked up for 7 million pounds from a second division side in france another a teenager picked up from southampton for a similar amount if not more, whose career has been wrecked by injuries.The lad from france is 20 years and the englishman is 26 years.
I watched Ox plod in the liverpool midfield on Wednesday and waited for yesterdays game to see if maybe his return to fitness will amount to any change in his game. Apparently he has improved under Klopp. If that is true then I am a double patty burger.
When Ox left for Liverpool in the last year of his contract for close to 40 million pounds, I had mixed feelings.I wasnt hurt like when Cesc left or recently when Wilshere left.I just felt things could have been different. But like Barkley at Chelsea, you wonder about these dynamic injury prone midfielders who you just know will never be consistent despite the hype around them. Gerrard is a once off and it would be nice if english midfielders tried to control games more and use their minds than this roy of the rovers stuff.
I was sold on Guendouzi last season despite the mistakes. a 19 year old who never hides and has his kind of talent will always have my support. In a deep play maker role this season, the kid has shown calmness on the ball and the ability to adapt his game.
Its all great being pro-english and giving local players a chance, but it isnt a very smart idea if you want to win the big prizes in the domestic game and we lost a lot by sticking with the likes of Walcott,Ox,Ramsey, Wilshere,Welbeck.
I wish Ox all the best, maybe he will prove me wrong and become a good player under Klopp but Im of the opinion liverpool is a team way above his level and he is a midtable player. Maybe it could have been different without the injuries but i have my doubts.
Guendouzi or Ox
posted on 18/8/19
On Guendouzi though. He has quietly just turned into a regular first team starter now. Was classy yesterday, no one really picked up on it because it's the norm now.
He ain't perfect, would really like to see him influence the game more further forward at times. He certainly has the ability.
posted on 18/8/19
comment by Tu Meke Mesut - Better Call Raul (U3732)
posted 7 minutes ago
Was kind of gutted when Ox left. Great character, phenomenal dribbler. Couldn't blame him after Wenger kept shifting him to RWB.
Having said that, his injuries were an issue. Every time he'd find form for us, he'd get a big injury. He'd come back from the injury, take his sweet time getting back to the form he had, then just get another big injury. We did well to get £35-40M.
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It's strange that he hated playing at RWB and wanted to play in central midfield. He had his most consistent run for us from RWB. He has some good qualities to play CM, but I always thought there was a certain nous and discipline and awareness he lacked to be playing in such a vital area.
posted on 18/8/19
Don't think it's strange he hated it, even if that was his best run of form for us.
Wenger insisted one day he'll play his favoured position in CM, and only played him there a few times in 7 years. You'd have to think Klopp promising him a central role was a big reason why he left.
posted on 18/8/19
comment by Tu Meke Mesut - Better Call Raul (U3732)
posted 7 minutes ago
On Guendouzi though. He has quietly just turned into a regular first team starter now. Was classy yesterday, no one really picked up on it because it's the norm now.
He ain't perfect, would really like to see him influence the game more further forward at times. He certainly has the ability.
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Guendouzzi does a decent job as an old-fashioned No.6. A tough job that still requires us to find him at least 2 solid partners over the next couple of seasons.
He collects the ball from the defence, and always offers relief whenever our other midfielders and wide players want to maintain possession.
His abilities as a "midfield pivot" (hate that term) are also priceless, now that all our attacking play goes through the wings. Almost every ball we switch from either flank when attacking inevitably passes through him.
I find it very unfair to further judge his attacking contributions, especially with the gaping "Bermuda Triangle" that Emery has created between our midfield and attack. The lad can't possibly patrol an entire midfield on his own, can he?
What we need is a proper No.8 to sit in front of him and pick out our attacking players.
Auba_________Laca_________Pepe/Mkhi?
_____________Ceballos_______
_______Guendouzi________Torreira
posted on 18/8/19
comment by Gillespie Road. (U18361)
posted 12 minutes ago
comment by Tu Meke Mesut- Better Call Raul (U3732)
posted 7 minutes ago
On Guendouzi though. He has quietly just turned into a regular first team starter now. Was classy yesterday, no one really picked up on it because it's the norm now.
He ain't perfect, would really like to see him influence the game more further forward at times. He certainly has the ability.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Guendouzzi does a decent job as an old-fashioned No.6. A tough job that still requires us to find him at least 2 solid partners over the next couple of seasons.
He collects the ball from the defence, and always offers relief whenever our other midfielders and wide players want to maintain possession.
His abilities as a "midfield pivot" (hate that term) are also priceless, now that all our attacking play goes through the wings. Almost every ball we switch from either flank when attacking inevitably passes through him.
I find it very unfair to further judge his attacking contributions, especially with the gaping "Bermuda Triangle" that Emery has created between our midfield and attack. The lad can't possibly patrol an entire midfield on his own, can he?
What we need is a proper No.8 to sit in front of him and pick out our attacking players.
Auba_________Laca_________Pepe/Mkhi?
_____________Ceballos_______
_______Guendouzi________Torreira
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I would be happy with that, although I feel 3 at the back will suit us more with Luiz in the team.
posted on 18/8/19
I've always liked AOC. He is many things, but a CM he ain't.
No first touch, no close control, and he plays with his eyes down.
You always get the impression that he will always need about 2 extra seconds to bring a ball under control, or make a decision.
He is better suited to doing the grunt work either side of a proper ball-holding CM, or either side of a striker imo. Much more space and time to be found there.
posted on 18/8/19
comment by Gillespie Road. (U18361)
posted 1 hour ago
I've always liked AOC. He is many things, but a CM he ain't.
No first touch, no close control, and he plays with his eyes down.
You always get the impression that he will always need about 2 extra seconds to bring a ball under control, or make a decision.
He is better suited to doing the grunt work either side of a proper ball-holding CM, or either side of a striker imo. Much more space and time to be found there.
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This.
posted on 18/8/19
I always thought he'd be great as an explosive no. 10.
posted on 19/8/19
Ox could have developed into a world class RWB but his injuries and desire to play centrally means we'll never know
Wish him well but think Liverpool fans will looking forward to him returning from injury more often than seeing him play
posted on 19/8/19
He does better as a CM for us than when he is part of the attack.