Robbo & Tsimi

[rurikbird]

Don’t mean to lay into Robbo after a difficult game - Saka could give anyone a torrid time - but I think we’ve just about reached the point where Tsimikas and Robbo can be considered equally viable options for the LB role. You could say this season Tsimikas was responsible for a good share of the better performances from the LB position and you feel with consistent game time (which he’s now starting to get under Slot, unlike Klopp), there is not much to choose between them.

This thread is not for transfer speculation - we will probably sign another LB in one of the future transfer windows, but asuming Robbo and Tsimikas are our main LB options for the remainder of the season, how will you choose between them? Would it be basically each one playing 1 game a week, the way it’s been lately? Are there any specific types of games or situations one is better suited for than another?

 

[Dreambeliever]

Robbo starts every week bar resting and rotation. Play Kostas when it’s a less important game or Robbo is being asked to play 3 games in 6 days with tough opponents.

Robertson is still a brilliant left back who got roasted by the rest RW in world football.

 

[darkstarexodus]

Robbo had a tough one today and was rightfully subbed but I think he's still been pretty solid overall this season and a step above Tsimikas.

I do think this position is now a weak spot in our team though and we should have strengthened. Have said this for two years at least now.

 

[SummerOnions]

Today I felt Robbo was poor at the back but also didn't really get forward where I also saw Tsimi pushing up more.

Against city I would consider starting Kostas yeah

 

[Woland]

Trent was fucking shite until that ball in the 81st minute. Maybe if Robbo was still on we'd have got another one in the 95th

 

[Markeh]

so what has Joemez done to piss off Slot?

 

[StevieM]

I’m leaning towards giving Tsimi a run of starts and Robbo being the cover.

 

[rurikbird]

Robbo starts every week bar resting and rotation. Play Kostas when it’s a less important game or Robbo is being asked to play 3 games in 6 days with tough opponents.

Robertson is still a brilliant left back who got roasted by the rest RW in world football.

Yeah, but Tsimi played against Saka in the 2nd half and did better, providing more of an attackng threat! To be fair, Saka might have been a bit tired by then.

Added a poll.

 

[white-sox]

Tsimi

 

[Athens]

Those fecking Greeks

 

[mark1975]

Robbo's been on the decline for a few years tbf

 

[Stevesquash]

The place is there to be won.

Tsimi is the man jn possession now, but id also give jomez a go too - he was very good last year. Proper competition for the place should ensure top performances. (I voted other)

 

[Buddha]

If you’re going to try Gomez there I’d just as well like to see Bradley get a chance there (with Gomez as RB cover).

He’d have had the legs today to cover that Saka run.

 

[MomoWASright]

Gomez spazzed out last time he played left back.

Moving on Tsimikas and make Robbo back up should be high priority. Until we do that they need to alternate games.

 

[Shay_K]

It's a period of transition, I don't think Robbo is at the gates of the knackers yard yet but I do believe that Arne will be looking to build a new era with a younger FB.

 

[Dreambeliever]

Yeah, but Tsimi played against Saka in the 2nd half and did better, providing more of an attackng threat! To be fair, Saka might have been a bit tired by then.

Added a poll.

Ya for me the main point there is Saka was knackered in the second half and Arsenal went defensive.

 

[rurikbird]

If you’re going to try Gomez there I’d just as well like to see Bradley get a chance there (with Gomez as RB cover).

He’d have had the legs today to cover that Saka run.

I thought about Bradley too (either for him to play at LB or to move Trent there and Bradley at RB); however it must be said he hasn’t exactly covered himself in glory so far this season. Defensively, in particular, I remember a couple of times he was beaten 1 on 1 way too easily. If he’s not going to be more solid than Trent defensively, what’s the point?

He will need to build up good enough form to make all the positional changes worthwhile, otherwise Robbo and Tsimi playing in their natural positions would still be better options.

 

[rurikbird]

Trying to answer my own question from the OP, I think at this point you can safely say Tsimikas is a more dangerous crosser of the ball than Robbo. If we’re behind and need a goal, he’s probably the better option (+ his corners are good). Defensively both can be suspect at times; Tsimikas does have a tendency to start slower in games or take bad touches early before getting his feel for the ball. Many of their strong and week points overlap, so other than the above, it’s hard to say who is more suited to a specific situation.

 

[Modo]

Taimikas has always been a better crosser of the ball than Robbo.
He sucks at the rest.

 

[binomial]

Rotate between the 2 fuckers.

For some reason Arne’s decided to coach the attacking game out of Robbo and having him more narrow as an extra CB almost. Whatever it is, it’s shit because whatever he’s telling Kostas when he comes on, is clearly very different as he still has the license to roam up in support of Gakpo/Diaz.

 

[rurikbird]

Rotate between the 2 fuckers.

For some reason Arne’s decided to coach the attacking game out of Robbo and having him more narrow as an extra CB almost. Whatever it is, it’s shit because whatever he’s telling Kostas when he comes on, is clearly very different as he still has the license to roam up in support of Gakpo/Diaz.

Nah, it was just the threat of Saka in this game IMO. There were other games this season (like Wolves away) where Robbo happily went up and down the touchline and was quite active in attack. But yesterday after being done for Saka’s goal, he barely crossed the halfway line for the rest of the game.

 

[Squiggles]

The LB issue has bothered me for a while because we knew Robertson would decline at some point and then we have two players who are good rotation options but not good enough to start against the best. It's the standard Liverpool way of not being proactive enough and hoping everything will be alright. That said, Robbo has a poor day but I think it's too early to draw much into it at this Tsimi came on and did well, but it's not proof he's ready to be the first-choice LB. He's had plenty of horror shows, some not long ago. I think we have them on a level pegging, whoever is in form and fit starts. The issue does need looking at this summer without a doubt. I fear it won't if there are lots of other issues to resolve.

Is competing for Alphonso Davies completely unrealistic, or has Madrid sown him up already? If we offered him whatever we were prepared to pay Trent then I'd like to hope we'd be in with a shout.

 

[Donavan Ried]

We should be looking to sign Alphonso Davies at LB. Robbo not as good as it once was. Two three seasons ago Saka would have been in his pocket all game.. and tsimi was only ever back up to Robo

 

[tombrown]

ChatGPT, please take Squiggles post and summarise it into two short sentences, but add nothing new

 

[Mamma Mia]

ChatGPT, please take Squiggles post and summarise it into two short sentences, but add nothing new

 

[tombrown]

OK ChatGPT - time to retire, you're not as good as Donovan at it

 

[Donavan Ried]

OK ChatGPT - time to retire, you're not as good as Donovan at it

Or as good as me

 

[Buddha]

AI retire…read Donovan.

 

[Donavan Ried]

AI retire…read Donovan.

Or Donavan even

 

[Donavan Ried]

Since the per season I have been saying that we should buy him