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We have a problem in midfield, change is needed.


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On 03/01/2022 at 13:50, Alex_K said:

We only need a forward for a couple of weeks of the year. Ok a 5th would be nice but Jota/Salah/Mane/Firmino is fine - it’s certainly not the reason we have been overran frequently against good opposition this season. Curtis Jones is crap (amusingly was down-voted for that on the basis of a few strikes - he’s one paced and can’t defend); Oxlade is very poor; the rest are constant sick notes. But the club didn’t bring in a strong midfielder - so as was plain when we played Chelsea in Aug & City in Oct we won’t win the league because of it. Thiago to be honest should only ever have been considered a luxury player to help us in Europe - he’s never been fit for a domestic season anywhere, ever. He’s similar to what De Bruyne is for City now - a top class luxury player who can’t be relied upon to be fit.

...and again.

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45 minutes ago, aRdja said:

In fairness, Curtis Jones looks a talented footballer but nowhere near ready to be starting for us IMO. Best thing for him is a loan stint at the likes of Villa, Newcastle, etc. 

 

IMO, Curtis Jones isn’t a central midfielder. I liked when he was in a front 3 in the FA Cup a couple of seasons ago so he could be a bit of a maverick.

 

I don’t think playing him midfields suites him - he’s got to be too disciplined and can’t be as off the cuff.

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1 hour ago, Scott_M said:

 

IMO, Curtis Jones isn’t a central midfielder. I liked when he was in a front 3 in the FA Cup a couple of seasons ago so he could be a bit of a maverick.

 

I don’t think playing him midfields suites him - he’s got to be too disciplined and can’t be as off the cuff.

I think not unlike Coutinho his best position is wither AMC or AML in a 4-2-3-1. We don’t play that formation anymore, haven’t since 2018/19, so he’s been asked to play CM or FWL. The unfortunate thing for him is at present he isn’t good about to warrant a change in system, so either he adapts or he don’t play. 

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1 minute ago, aRdja said:

I think not unlike Coutinho his best position is wither AMC or AML in a 4-2-3-1. We don’t play that formation anymore, not since 2018/19, so he’s been asked to play CM or FWL, the unfortunate thing is at present he isn’t good about h to warrant a change in system so either he adapts or he don’t play. 


I can’t remember him playing wide in the past couple of seasons, not since the Shewsbury game at their place (he scored). From memory, he’s been used reasonably exclusively on the left of a midfield 3. 
 

I’d like to see him move back to the front 3 while Mane and Salah are away.
 

I think he’d do a better job of the false 9 than Ox as well. 

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Guest Alex_K
7 hours ago, Total Longo said:

He's patently not "crap" though.

Hey, if you want to be the simpleton that thinks he’s remotely good enough for a competitive Liverpool side, that’s on you. Just remember who told you first.

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1 hour ago, Alex_K said:

Hey, if you want to be the simpleton that thinks he’s remotely good enough for a competitive Liverpool side, that’s on you. Just remember who told you first.

I think he has the talent but only time will tell. Elliott seems to be getting all the plaudits after a handfull of games but Jones has turned in more decent performances so far. 

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It's an interesting discussion this one.  When Jones got into the team, he looked a real prospect, he was allowed to express himself with the ball, and he looked to have all the technique and creativity needed to be a real star.  Since then, he seems to play within himself (ooer) - whether that is under orders, and he's prioritising retention of possession over everything else, we'll never know, but his adventurous play seems to have been nipped in the bud, and he doesn't look quite the same player.

 

Elliot, however, appeared not to be constrained in quite the same way, and while his use of the ball was usually intelligent, he was given more licence to take more risks.  Maybe it's the staggered 8 formation.

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It's fucking mental. It was only a couple of months back when people were talking about his announcement on the European stage v Porto. As I said at the time, that performance won't make him world class, but neither does being injured for a couple of months make him useless. The lad has a high bar as we saw against Porto. We just need to see that 4 in 5 games. He has more chance of doing that playing for klopp than he does being stuck out on loan playing for some middle of the road manager. 

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On 06/01/2022 at 05:25, aRdja said:

In fairness, Curtis Jones looks a talented footballer but nowhere near ready to be starting for us IMO. Best thing for him is a loan stint at the likes of Villa, Newcastle, etc. 

 

19 minutes ago, Barrington Womble said:

 The lad has a high bar as we saw against Porto. We just need to see that 4 in 5 games. He has more chance of doing that playing for klopp than he does being stuck out on loan playing for some middle of the road manager. 

 

 

Ooh, burn.

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6 hours ago, Barrington Womble said:

It's fucking mental. It was only a couple of months back when people were talking about his announcement on the European stage v Porto. As I said at the time, that performance won't make him world class, but neither does being injured for a couple of months make him useless. The lad has a high bar as we saw against Porto. We just need to see that 4 in 5 games. He has more chance of doing that playing for klopp than he does being stuck out on loan playing for some middle of the road manager. 

This is the crux of it though isn’t it. He’s not consistent enough yet and we’re not in a position to give him a leeway for the benefit of his development as a footballers. I don’t think anyone here is saying he’s not talented. 

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