2021/22 Season Report Card - Roberto Firmino

As you say, a difficult one to assess because although the stats show he got 11 goals in 35 appearances (including 5 in 7 in the CL), it feels like he barely played, and it's hard to recall any key moments from him. It felt like he had been usurped by first Diogo and then Sadio for that centre forward role. It's hard to know if Bobby still has a lot to offer because it really feels like the team is evolving from the heady days of that brilliant attacking triumvirate of which Bobby was a key figure. Our attacks have a slightly different shape about them. Still, if he can provide a few more moments where he celebrates with those pearly whites and capoiera kicks, that's no bad thing for us.

Can't argue with much there but it's a bit strange that he's only averaged a 7.6 over the five graded seasons when you consider how instrumental he has been. 

I thought that too. But Klopp's first season he was promising. His second season he was fucking brilliant, and it's been a gradual decline ever since.

I would say that his job is harder than Sadio and Mo's though. He's the one who has to get the ball with his back to goal, under pressure, and then not give it away. He also deliberately holds onto it and tries to lure defenders in so he can slip away from them. That's risky and it will result in a lot of conceded possession. When he's right on it he's brilliant, but when he isn't he's going to lose the ball a shitload because of the nature of his role and his style of play.

7 is generous IMO, as even Taki had a better season than Bobby. I reckon we’ll see a better season from him next year, when he gets more games in his natural position. 

10 hours ago, aRdja said:

7 is generous IMO, as even Taki had a better season than Bobby. I reckon we’ll see a better season from him next year, when he gets more games in his natural position. 

Maybe it was generous. It was hard though as he missed loads of games and it never felt like he ever really got going, yet his goal return was good when he was on the pitch. Tricky one to judge. There were times when I really thought the old Bobby was coming back. Then he'd give the ball away three times in five minutes and I was cursing him again.

I think next season is going to be make or break for him and for the likes of Curtis , Gomez and Harvey. I expect he'll get a few chances to show he can still perform and it's up to him to prove that we should be extending his contract. 

Class is permanent, but has to be consistently shown in a team as good as ours and Bobby was showing a few too many absent minded decisions when he played last season. Few too many poor passes and lackadaisical control mixed in with moments of brilliance. We don’t know what’s going on behind the scenes and how the club see his future, but he didn’t play as many games as in previous seasons, partly through injuries, and perhaps he needs (needed?) a run of games to get some proper form back, but it’s becoming increasingly obvious that the triumvirate are being split up and superseded so it’s doubtful he’ll get the opportunity now.

I expect it’ll end amicably with Bobby, as he seems to be the sort of person who wouldn’t want it otherwise and Klopp wouldn’t want it contentious either.

Hopefully he’ll be used more this season with the 5 subs rule and I would love to see him back to more like the talented player he is.

I never thought that his lack of goals was a problem, when in those few years three of four years ago when he played really well and contributed everywhere else.  It's been downhill ever since though, and flattering to deceive once or twice a season before become a liability again is just not good enough.  I think no matter where he goes, he'll be regarded as a luxury player, and there aren't many clubs in the PL that can afford one of them. 

The lack of goals wasn't a problem when he was playing at his best and Sadio and Mo were scoring loads. When Bobby's form started to fluctuate people then tend to focus on the lack of goals more. 

I'm really curious about what we're going to see from his next year. Probably more of the same, but there's a small part of me that suspects he might have a renaissance and get back to being the old Bobby again. 

Bobby is a very good footballer, but football is littered with players who look decent when young, have 2 or 3 good years where you think they could be world class and then just tail off. I feel Bobby is one of them and people would probably be more critical of him if he didn't work so hard and come across so likable. And we maybe overate him a little bit as he's ours - I'd have him before Gabriel jesus I think (putting aside their age anyway), but I'm sure he's played less for Brazil than him and he'll probably play less than Richarlison within a year or two. 

I think if he stays may largely depend on the impact carvalho has. If Carvalho really looks ready for this season and finds a position that works for him, I think we will probably let Bobby go. As central player he's probably behind Jota and Nunez now.