The BigFooty Liverpool Army

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craigos

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I would like to see him start when the heat is on and see if he holds up as well, maybe Klopp think he is better coming on when the pace is out of the game and has a little more time. I would think he has to be close to starting this weekend.
 

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Cooldude

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It'd be great to see Pirlo get a few starts to see if he can hang onto his Anfield career, he's more than earnt it

Plus he seems to be the only bloke in midfield who can pass over 5 yards nowadays
 
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Speaking as someone who has never played a game of soccer in his life

Would fullback be one of the hardest positions to play nowadays? There's a lot of expectation to get forward and create as well as defend. Not to heap excuses on him, and I'd rather have someone who defends first and attacks second, but perhaps like WC2022 suggests, we should temper expectations.
It's not as hard as central midfield. You have to attack and defend but the ability to run repeatedly is pretty easy, so long as you can spend the time getting fit and have serviceable speed. Midfield should be box-to-box and you have to be wary of everything around you and think quickly as there often isn't an easy out option.

The job defensively for an FB is generally to channel players wide where you will stop them putting in an effective cross. If they run in-field that's where your DM/s should step in, because if you follow them, you create space for the opposition's overlap. DMs provide insurance in the same way as you hope your CBs can stop attackers from scoring if you apply pressure to the crosser.

FBs also have the advantage of the line being nearby, limiting the area and unpredictability of the area they have to manage and giving them an easy out for kicking the ball when under too much pressure or simply wanting to slow things down/re-structure. Going forward, you also have the advantage of the line being at your side, so you know an opposition player isn't about to come at you from your blind side. You can also often observe the whole field from your corner of it and consequently choose to cut infield, run the line, rake a pass, etc with relative confidence. For those reasons, it's a great place to blood youth.

However, the key factor in all this, is knowing when to run forward/overlap/jockey/dive-in/etc. It's an instinctive role and stuffing up leaves your side exposed on their flank and often leaking goals. So it's easy to look bad; and it's easy to look great in one aspect while failing all the others. As it stands, a lot of our FBs have a particular strength (Smith's crossing, JoGo's defense, Moreno's speed) and so it is a 'hard' role for them to impress in all areas. But Can is in a similar conundrum. He doesn't have one stand-out strength (other than his looks) and potentially could master all areas. Central MFs or CBs can save them, but if not the wrath will fall upon you for not doing your job. Hence why this thread is so manic-depressive about him.

And that's without getting into the unique challenge of playing up forward where the punishment for error isn't as immediate, but your time on the ball is limited and your immediate opposition freely belt the ball into touch...
 
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jod23

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Yeah full back is definitely a very hard one nowadays, asked to do everything

Back when I played I was Dion Dublin who could also play midfield, never shit enough to play full back
I think the reason why there are no good full backs anymore is that growing up, nobody dreams about playing at RB. Full backs are failed wingers. So most are defensively suspect.

All kids want to be flying wingers, central midfielders or strikers.
 

jod23

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Need to play the depth/kids. Not sure who plays at right back since Flanno played more than he should have + Clyne and Randall are injured. Could possibly be Enrique?

Predicted Team

Benteke
Ojo-Teixiera-Ibe
Allen-Stewart
Smith-Caulker-Lovren-Flanagan
Ward

Subs: Bogdan, Ilori, Enrique, Chirivella, Brannagan, Kent, Sinclair
****, I should have read on. Hahah.
 

jod23

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Pretty sure Gladbach said his going nowhere this window, as the Arse-and-all are into him too...

Stoke fan tries to distract Lucas...

******* lol at the guy in full Stoke gear waving his hands, then he just stares at where the ball is going, hoping it goes wide. Then you can see the disappointment on his face. Jog on mate. :D
 
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