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1 hour ago, Conjo said:

 

Giving a lot of credit there to the poorest german national team we've seen the last 20-25 years.


Thats a very arrogant take. Imagine you are a German.

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51 minutes ago, Zero said:


Thats a very arrogant take. Imagine you are a German.

It’s not arrogant to suggest that Germany has the weakest side it’s had in a long time - I think Conjo was actually being generous - it’s possibly the worst Germany side since the 1940s.  Performance in international tournaments supports the statement.  In the sixty years after West Germany’s win in the 1954 WC (das wunder von Bern) Germany (or West Germany) never once failed to make it out of the group stage, and only once didn’t make at least the QF.  In fact, the made 50% of the finals between 1954 and 2014 (when of course they won it again).  After 2014, they exited at the group stage at both WCs - despite getting out of the groups never being easier due to the bloated nature of modern WCs.  So the Germany of the last decade are historically shite in comparison to what went before.

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5 hours ago, Conjo said:

 

Giving a lot of credit there to the poorest german national team we've seen the last 20-25 years.


True, although even if they make the knockouts and go out early, he will be given time off after the tournament, I'm sure it's usually around 2 weeks minimum which will take us well into July and may only have about 2 weeks with the team in pre-season as a result.

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11 hours ago, Smal said:

 

I think we've seen earlier in the season that his technical ceiling is actually very high. His touch and the weight of his passing was genuinely top level. Since mid/late November his form has not really been there. Confidence (being rotated out of the team, some poor games, sunderland og, missing a pen, being reffed unfairly) is something that we need to get back into him. 

 

I love him

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Said at the time it was a mistake to drop him when Wissa returned. But I get Howe thought he was getting guaranteed PL goals from Wissa. 
 

We’re now in the Gordon CM world because of pressing ability, so I suppose Eddie needs to decide if that kind of forward is essential to us going forward. 

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That video shows he plays almost exclusively with his back to goal,it's his natural game playing people in with his clever feet,weight of pass,and vision. The follow up runs into the box to get on the end of things is what needs work on, I think Eddie may know this.He alludes to it every time he's asked [emoji38]

And what is this shite about building a team around one player that keeps popping up,where does that happen ?

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33 minutes ago, AyeDubbleYoo said:

I think it’s more a fan term to refer to a very important player TBH. I don’t think it refers to any actual thing in management. 

 

Not so sure about that.  Would it not be more the perception that you would be buying or playing players that suit that particular player or would help get the best out of them?  Playing a certain style of football to suit?  Making it so the team funnel the ball or chances to said player.  Make unselfish runs to create the space they need and then whatever else.  I guess it could also mean that the player you have built the team around.  Could also act as a force multiplier for others and elevate them at the same time.

 

I think we were clearly set up to get everything we could out of Isak and massively played to his strengths.  Possibly to the detriment of others, at times.  The team certainly felt like it was built around him, last season.  Even if that is a bit of a cliche and possibly a throwaway phrase in some instances.  

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18 hours ago, Fak said:

What does it actually mean to "build a team around" someone?


I think of it as making compromises, adaptations and compensations in certain positions to get the best out of a certain highly gifted and match winning player.

That player has to be Ben Arfa levels of talent though imo, for instance he's so good you don't ask him to track back and instead put a highly defensively minded full back behind him. The rest of the team then focuses on getting him the ball in 1 on 1 situations. Liverpool were a bit like this with Salah for a while, choosing a striker like Firmino who was less concerned about scoring, more concerned about creating space for Salah to move into and exploit.

 

 

Edited by Infinitely Content

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15 hours ago, samptime29 said:

Tbf if he ends up with 13-14 goals its not a disaster. Think some people are going a bit OTT. Plenty to work on of course, not saying there aren't issues. Clearly a talented player. Might be that he clicks in 2nd season. 

 

 

I don't think there's much doubt he's a good player, the question would be whether he's good in our system, or even English football itself. 

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15 hours ago, Weezertron said:

We’ve got about 10 senior players that I keep reading need a pre-season. 
 

This isnt about Nick, and not to over simplify it but does every team in the league have players who are shit all season cause they missed a preseason?

 

I can name one such team. 11 Appearances, 1 Goal, 1 Assist, and 1 Broken Leg. Had almost the exact time in preseason as Nick did (as I recall). Course Liverpool can afford these mistakes and to be patient.

 

0_GettyImages-2245463437.jpg

 

 

Edited by DC Magpie

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He's in his 2nd top-flight season, 1st season in a new league, and has just turned 24. Both the team and the player will need to adapt, but he's clearly absolute class, he'll be fine. The fact that he's able to contribute out of position to cover the loss of Bruno is a positive, not a stick to beat him with. Very confident he'll be a regular starter upfront for us, either as the main man or playing deeper off a main striker.

 

 

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4 hours ago, LiquidAK said:

He's in his 2nd top-flight season, 1st season in a new league, and has just turned 24. Both the team and the player will need to adapt, but he's clearly absolute class, he'll be fine. The fact that he's able to contribute out of position to cover the loss of Bruno is a positive, not a stick to beat him with. Very confident he'll be a regular starter upfront for us, either as the main man or playing deeper off a main striker.

 

 

Only way he leads the line for us going forward is if Howe abandons his high press tactics. Not going to happen imo. It’s no coincidence the upturn in performances have been with Gordon up front. 
 

I still cannot fathom why we bought this guy? Yes he’s clearly a talented footballer but he’s a million miles from what Howe wants as his striker. Wissa I can understand  all be it has turned out a compete disaster signing (no told you so from me!). 
 

I 100% believe Woltemade was a panic buy. Let’s just hope with the time on the training ground over the summer he can work out this puzzle? I don’t have much faith mind considering it’s World Cup year and Woltemade will be away with Germany.

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5 hours ago, LiquidAK said:

He's in his 2nd top-flight season, 1st season in a new league, and has just turned 24. Both the team and the player will need to adapt, but he's clearly absolute class, he'll be fine. The fact that he's able to contribute out of position to cover the loss of Bruno is a positive, not a stick to beat him with. Very confident he'll be a regular starter upfront for us, either as the main man or playing deeper off a main striker.

 

 

 

Aye.

 

I'm not his biggest fan but a 15 goal season in his first season of new, significantly harder league with new teamates, tactics and no pre season is an excellent foundation to build on tbf

 

If Osula had been having this season there'd be far more positivity surrounding him than there is around Woltemade.

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Bobby Robson ‘built a team around’ an ageing Shearer - he added pace in the form of Bellamy and Robert along with Dyer who was already there.  KK did the same with Cole, who effectively was fed as part of a front five.

 

’Building a team around’ a forward is hardly a fan-led idea.  Howe did that with Isak - we played to his strengths, which is all it really means.  
 

The team isn’t set up to play to Woltemade’s strengths - which is what opens up the question about whether we ‘build a team around him’ i.e. sell the players we have and replace them with players better suited to provide him with the best support and adapt our style of play, or we sell him and replace him with a player who better fits how we play at present.  

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5 hours ago, Thumbheed said:

 

Aye.

 

I'm not his biggest fan but a 15 goal season in his first season of new, significantly harder league with new teamates, tactics and no pre season is an excellent foundation to build on tbf

 

If Osula had been having this season there'd be far more positivity surrounding him than there is around Woltemade.

It’s all relative, though - Osula cost a fraction of Woltemade’s fee, and if he’d turned out to be good it would’ve been a cheap gamble that paid off. 

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1 hour ago, TheBrownBottle said:

It’s all relative, though - Osula cost a fraction of Woltemade’s fee, and if he’d turned out to be good it would’ve been a cheap gamble that paid off. 

 

That was my point, he's burdened more by the price tag than he is output.

 

 

Edited by Thumbheed

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3 hours ago, TheBrownBottle said:

Bobby Robson ‘built a team around’ an ageing Shearer - he added pace in the form of Bellamy and Robert along with Dyer who was already there.  KK did the same with Cole, who effectively was fed as part of a front five.

 

’Building a team around’ a forward is hardly a fan-led idea.  Howe did that with Isak - we played to his strengths, which is all it really means.  
 

The team isn’t set up to play to Woltemade’s strengths - which is what opens up the question about whether we ‘build a team around him’ i.e. sell the players we have and replace them with players better suited to provide him with the best support and adapt our style of play, or we sell him and replace him with a player who better fits how we play at present.  

 

I think there's an argument that we already have a lot of what is needed to service Big Nick, it just needs a bit of time to come together.

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One thing is pretty certain.

Whenever he does leave, and I hope it's not for a few years, he'll be a better player for having experienced the intensity, pace and power in the PL.

Whenever he does leave he'll be a better player for having been coached by Edward Howe.

Nothing has been ideal about his, or Wissa's transfer schedule. Lateness of arrival and no time, from day 1, to be Howe'd

 

It'll evolve.

 

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