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rurikbird

rurikbird

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Oxlade-Chamberlain every touch vs. Southampton (video not embeddable)

After an anonymous 45 minutes on a wing vs Chelsea, this was more like the Ox we know and love – all-action display, diligent tracking back, sharp and quick passing and generally playing with a lot of swag, particularly in the 2nd half. We badly missed this kind of player last season; I'm looking forward to seeing him restore his good understanding with Salah in particular. At his best, he can produce almost the same kind of energy and work-rate as Hendo at RCM, but with quite a bit more attacking threat. I was sure Hendo starts vs Arsenal, but now I feel it's a toss-up.

Klopp on his performance:
Oxlade-Chamberlain, who began his career at the Saints, made his first Premier League appearance since April 2018. The England international impressed and Klopp was quick to heap praise on the 26-year-old.
“Brilliant,” Klopp said. “It was different, he was outstandingly good. "The 45 minutes on Wednesday we can now say they helped for sure. He felt the intensity and knew he was ready for it. We had to make changes and it was important in the centre of the park especially that we were really there, ready for all these long runs and decisive things. It was good to have these opportunities, and Ox was obviously not bad today.”
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Ox's post-match interview (well worth watching):
 
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When he's match sharp he has the ability to transform our midfield. I want to keep playing him there for now.
 
binomial said:
You'd think this would be our midfield as their all Klopp signings yet he still favours Brendan's long lost sons Hendo and Milner
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Well, mainly because they've never all been fit at the same time, but also, whilst they undoubtedly look perfect on paper, it's probably lacking a bit of leadership, and industry, two qualities that should never be underated, but always are by fans.
 
Re-watching that I'm surprised at his involvement. Far greater than I remembered. I love it when we have players with great control (Gini & Keita too for example). It makes a great difference in retaining possession and creation. And on that note again Ox played a couple of defence splitting balls (which he also did vs Chelsea which people didn't seem to notice). Those will pay off in the long run. We should be playing Ox or Keita every game. Hopefully we'll not see the Millie/Hendo/Gini midfield again.
 
Mystic said:
Well, mainly because they've never all been fit at the same time, but also, whilst they undoubtedly look perfect on paper, it's probably lacking a bit of leadership, and industry, two qualities that should never be underated, but always are by fans.
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Yeah much as I love those players as individuals it seems far too attacking for most games. Fabs at the base and one from Hendo/Millie/Gini and one from Keita or Ox for their creativity. At least we have decent options in midfield now even if at least two are always injured !
 
Mystic said:
I live for the dream that is a Fabinho, Keita and Ox midfield.
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Agreed - if everyone is fit I think this is his dream midfield and I can't wait for the day it happens. The closest we can get to that now would be Fabs, Gini, Ox which i'd love to see on Saturday.
 
Millie/Hendo/Gini is klopps preferred players for the big games. The workhorse midfield works with our attack.

Unless ox / kieta improve their defensive game, which may still short of what's required.
 
rurikbird said:
Oxlade-Chamberlain every touch vs. Southampton (video not embeddable)

After an anonymous 45 minutes on a wing vs Chelsea, this was more like the Ox we know and love – all-action display, diligent tracking back, sharp and quick passing and generally playing with a lot of swag, particularly in the 2nd half. We badly missed this kind of player last season; I'm looking forward to seeing him restore his good understanding with Salah in particular. At his best, he can produce almost the same kind of energy and work-rate as Hendo at RCM, but with quite a bit more attacking threat. I was sure Hendo starts vs Arsenal, but now I feel it's a toss-up.

Klopp on his performance:


Ox's post-match interview (well worth watching):
Click to expand...



I dont think its a toss up, Hendo starts against Arsenal. Ox was better on Saturday than midweek but he was still very obviously struggling with sharpness, there were a number of times he played a heavy touch or over ran the ball. I think it will be 3 or 4 weeks before hes near his peak condition.
 
I was thinking. Why are we seemingly unable to play through midfield these days? Everything seems to be long balls up to Mo and Sadio, if it's not through Bobby. I think it's clear that we do lack world class quality in the midfield area. Players who don't accept a ball effortlessly under pressure.I'm talking top, top technical players like KDB and Silva.

I'd argue that our front 3 and back 4 are the best in the league. At worse, 2nd. Same with our GK.

We don't have anyone on the same technical level of quality in midfield. Millie, Gini and Hendo are good. But not world class. Same with the Ox, Lallana and Keita, although they are better.

If only we had a Gerrard/KDB type in the squad.

A midfielder who could run, dribble, tackle, has imagination, can control a ball in tight spaces, pass well both short and long, have varied delivery, cross wickedly from the half space, shoot from distance cleanly, was powerful, had vision, and could contribute goals and assists.

Oh wait.. we actually do.. and he's playing RB.

Personally, i'd love us to sign a quality RB and move Trent into AM for an extended period.

Forget Keita (who lacks ball striking abilities; more like a Kante with through balls), and forget AOC (powerful runner but lacks the passing and crossing ability), and forget Hendo (lacks a great first touch, vision, imagination, power and the crossing ability).


I think Trent if given the chance in midfield would be at a 10 goal, 15 assists type midfielder in the league. I am starting to think he's wasted at RB, when there are so many other players in world football that could do that role for a fraction of the cost it would take to buy world class AM instead. Especially when we have a player with all the necessary tools to be one already.
 
ibromurph said:
I was thinking.

Why are we seemingly unable to play through midfield. And it's clear that we do lack world class quality there still.

I'm talk top, top technical players like KDB and Silva.

I'd argue that our front 3 and back 4 are the best in the league. At worse, 2nd. Same with our GK.

We don't have anyone on the same technical level of quality in midfield. Millie, Gini and Hendo are good. But not world class. Same with the Ox, Lallana and Keita, although they are better.

If only we had a Gerrard/KDB type in the squad.

A midfielder who could run, dribble, tackle, imagination, control a ball in tight spaces, pass short and long, have varied delivery, cross wickedly from the half space, shoot from distance cleanly, was powerful, had vision, and could contribute goals and assists.

Oh wait.. we actually do.. and he's playing RB.

Personally, i'd love us to sign a quality RB and move Trent into AM for an extended period.

Forget Keita (who lacks ball striking abilities; more like a Kante with through balls), and forget AOC (powerful runner but lacks the passing and crossing ability), and forget Hendo (lacks a great first touch, vision, imagination, power and the crossing ability).


I think Trent if given the chance in midfield would be at a 10 goal, 15 assists type midfielder in the league. I am starting to think he's wasted at RB, when there are so many other players in world football that could do that role for a fraction of the cost it would take to buy world class AM instead. Especially when we have a player with all the necessary tools to be one already.
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Trent wouldn't be any different than Keita and Ox who are both very direct players. Although I agree that it would be interesting to see him in midfield.
Also, yes we do lack that little creative player behind the striker.
I'm not sure if we need one because Firmino does drop deep, but a "Coutinho" would have been nice. We do have Shaq as well, who plays in that position for the Swiss.
 
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RedStar said:
I dont think its a toss up, Hendo starts against Arsenal. Ox was better on Saturday than midweek but he was still very obviously struggling with sharpness, there were a number of times he played a heavy touch or over ran the ball. I think it will be 3 or 4 weeks before hes near his peak condition.
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Honestly if Rurik's link above shows Ox's every touch (and I think it does) then your memory of his 'heavy touch' or 'ran over the ball' doesn't bear out. Please rewatch and let us know what you think. My memory was also way off until I watched it again. I would prefer him starting over Hendo - but Klopp's not going to let that happen.
 
Modo said:
Trent wouldn't be any different than Keita and Ox who are both very direct players. Although I agree that Trent would be interesting to see him in midfield.
Also, yes we do lack that little creative player behind the striker.
I'm not sure if we need one because Firmino does drop deep, but a "Coutinho" would have been nice. We do have Shaq as well, who plays in that position for the Swiss.
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From the PL I'd choose Maddison or Neves. Which one would depend on where you place your priorities.
 
Frogfish said:
Honestly if Rurik's link above shows Ox's every touch (and I think it does) then your memory of his 'heavy touch' or 'ran over the ball' doesn't bear out. Please rewatch and let us know what you think. My memory was also way off until I watched it again. I would prefer him starting over Hendo - but Klopp's not going to let that happen.
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I rewatched it, he did have a number of loose touches in the first half an hour. Maybe not as bad as I thought watching in real time but I think the Arsenal game will be played at a much higher tempo and I dont think hes sharp enough yet. Id start Henderson ahead of him, let him come off the bench for 30 minutes when his key attributes will be more useful and he will get more space against tired legs.
 
I thought we were shit against So’ton - particularly in midfield.

Although, to be fair, I did fall asleep at half time and miss most of the 2nd half.
 
hmmmmm1 said:
Millie/Hendo/Gini is klopps preferred players for the big games. The workhorse midfield works with our attack.

Unless ox / kieta improve their defensive game, which may still short of what's required.
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I’m hoping people aren’t equating a lack of creativity with being defensively sound. Seems to me got got beaten more often than we won with that lot in midfield.
 
binomial said:
You'd think this would be our midfield as their all Klopp signings yet he still favours Brendan's long lost sons Hendo and Milner
Click to expand...

I think in this league there is always a place for the likes of Hendo and a Milner in midfield - mainly because you need a bit of aggression, I mean you cannot see any of those players put in a tackle like Milner did on Messi, and that faggot Neymar.
 
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