Topic: Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain

[God's Left Peg]

Him and Lallana in midfield is something I am eagerly looking to seeing on the pitch

Plus Keita

Be like a team of duracell bunnies

[princeoftherocks]

I love it when a plan comes together

[Phil M]

That's I think his best game for us by far in terms of impact and overall contribution and influence over 90 mins.

Topped off by the post interview with Phil. Seems a top bloke and a terrific player who could be huge for us second half of the season.

[RedGreen]

Plus Keita

Be like a team of duracell bunnies

Oh, yeah - Nobby, Lallana and AlOx-Chambo hunting in packs  Can't wait! Custom made for Gegenpressing...

[Sammy5IsAlive]

He's still a way off the finished article and not quite on the same wavelength as the rest of the attack but you can see it starting to come together for him.

Really impressed with the interview as well obviously. Whilst I've never had any complaints about effort/commitment I think it's a fair criticism that over the last couple of years we've sometimes missed that little bit of edge/attitude to go with it. AOC seems to have that little bit of spark to him that I think will stand us in good stead.

[Flaccido Dongingo]

quickly becoming one of the first names on our teamsheet.

somebody mentioned armband in the future.

imo, very possible.

Let's not put the cart before the horse now lad.

[Doc Red]

Really like his early angled crosses that drift to the near/far post.
He'll be picking up a few assists once everyone starts anticipating the cross.
Now he just has to maintain consistency, and hopefully work on his shooting.

[West Cork Red]

Will do absolute wonders for his confidence

[ScubaSteve]

Played well at the weekend....the best moment for me was the sliding challenge he made then picked himself up to run with the ball all in one movement to create that chance that hit the post.

Not a massive advocate of his but he’s slowly proving me wrong

[killer-heels]

For me he was better in the 8 position than either Wijnaldum, Can or even Coutinho. Could make that position his own if Lallana takes long to get into form.

[LallanaInPyjamas]

His end product undoubtedly needs to improve but we look a more balanced side when he's in it. The issue with the 'Fab Four' (ugh) all playing together is we very much become 4-2-4; the gap between midfield and attack is too large at times. Stop Coutinho, and you stop the source.

Oxlade obviously isn't as creative as Phil but he provides more defensive stability while having the pace and ability to join the front three and make a difference when he does.

[Roger Federer]

His end product undoubtedly needs to improve but we look a more balanced side when he's in it. The issue with the 'Fab Four' (ugh) all playing together is we very much become 4-2-4; the gap between midfield and attack is too large at times. Stop Coutinho, and you stop the source.

Oxlade obviously isn't as creative as Phil but he provides more defensive stability while having the pace and ability to join the front three and make a difference when he does.

Agree. Might sound stupid but I wouldn’t be against rotating the four attacking players in the three forward roles only and keep Coutinho away from midfield unless we have a few injuries.

Lallana and Oxlade (plus Wijnaldum/Can/Milner as cover) as number 8’s sound good to me, next season we get Keita as well.

[The Test]

Lallana and Oxlade (plus Wijnaldum/Can/Milner as cover) as number 8’s sound good to me, next season we get Keita as well.

II wrote the same thing in the Lallana thread. And this from Klopp...

“He is on a very good way,” Klopp told the club’s official website this week. “But he has so much potential it’s unbelievable what he still [doesn’t] show. It’s only just the beginning and I really like it, I really like it. He’s like a wonderful package, I can only say. Hopefully he stays fit, that’s the most important thing.”

You can tell klopp's really excited to be able to work with this player and mould him.

[B0151?]

If he can fully get in tune with our pressing and so on then he is going to be some asset going forward. We've seen moments of that explosiveness he has and it's made it obvious why Klopp wanted him.

Interesting to see Klopp talk on how important it is that he contributes more in the final third as well.

"If you are a big signing, everyone expects you on the pitch immediately and you have to perform immediately, but it is difficult. I was happy with him from the first day about his involvement, and attitude and since then he has become more and more a Liverpool player.

"He is really fit and looks in really good shape. He has played in different positions, the biggest potential he has is to being involved in goalscoring situations more, he has it in himself, but he was not asked too much of this in the past (at Arsenal).

"Here, if he is on the pitch he needs to be involved in those situations. It is good, but I see a lot of space for improvement. He is a good lad, I'm really happy to have him around."

[Dim Glas]

If he can fully get in tune with our pressing and so on then he is going to be some asset going forward. We've seen moments of that explosiveness he has and it's made it obvious why Klopp wanted him.

Interesting to see Klopp talk on how important it is that he contributes more in the final third as well.

Yeah those comments about contributing more in the final 3rd where an interesting insight - about how he was at Arsenal, that pretty much all their attacking play there went through Özil and Sanchez so maybe other players where not relied on so much, but at Liverpool it's on the shoulders of far more players to contribute in that way. 

I'm sure it's been quite a learning curve for AOC coming from there to Liverpool, having worked so long for just one manager at Arsenal, and now adapting to a totally different way of playing and of course training, he's doing really well now though, and the potential of the player is massive.

[Claude Cat]

Looking forward to seeing him play all the time now. Getting better and better.

[harleydanger]

Didn’t want him signed, I never rated him, but I’m happy to say I’ve changed my mind. Quality addition.

[88_RED]

Deserves a start after his last performance.. Seems the sort of player who goes from strength to strength when the confidence is flowing..

[robb95]

I remember we was after him but ended up at arsenal. I rated him loads but after a couple of seasons, he didn't look any good. The past few seasons he's been very mediocre. I was 50 50 when he signed, made up he's now showing the talent he was promising.
Bring a lot of balance to the team right across the midfield. Hope he does well tonight.

[newterp]

Had a couple of nice runs while in there - but didn’t have all that long to make a difference.

[mallin9]

Some things didn't come off today but he's improving with every minute to my untrained eye. Love how alive to the ball he and other recent signings are (Robertson, solanke come to my mind at the second)

He also handles leading interview questions well

[RyanBabel19]

Won't get brought up much but that was an incredible finish, touch under pressure then the little flick up off the thigh and lifting it over the keeper from that position

Made it look a lot easier than it is

[stara]

One more and he will break his personal record "goals scored per season". Klopp effect in full force.

[MrGrumpy]

Deserves another start.

[WaterfordRed]

Good performance, good goal.

[Redcap]

Kept going even at 4-0 and got his reward. What a finish.

[Fordy]

Top draw again.

[Xabi Gerrard]

Another really interesting post match interview from him. Very self critical and not happy at all with his performance. I like that - he's clearly got a massive drive to maximise his potential which will benefit us. Got the makings of a proper fucking player and he's got the mentality and manager to get there.

[Zee_26]

Didn't seem all too pleased with his performance in his post match interview. Still looking to improve and contribute more to the team. Really good attitude and great to see.

[Haggis36]

Didn't think he was great tonight compared to recent performances - did a lot of work off the ball but wasn't really involved enough I don't think. That said, even off-colour he was still a level above anyone in the Swansea team, and that's what you need for rotating the team. Really neat little finish and persistence for his goal too.

I like him a lot.

[Purple Red]

Love his workrate. Delighted he got his goal at Anfield.

[bornandbRED]

Can see him becoming the golden boy with fans.

[PoetryInMotion]

Brilliant finish that! Took me by surprise the way he controlled and lifted it.

[So… Howard Philips]

Didn't think he was great tonight compared to recent performances - did a lot of work off the ball but wasn't really involved enough I don't think. That said, even off-colour he was still a level above anyone in the Swansea team, and that's what you need for rotating the team. Really neat little finish and persistence for his goal too.

I like him a lot.

In his post match interview he was brutally honest about his performance and wants to improve.

You can't beat a bit of honesty and to top it all he didn't give up.

[gerrardisgod]

Outstanding off the ball. Always impresses me in that regard.

Game intelligence.

[PhaseOfPlay]

I'd say he's enjoying himself a lot more here, than he did at Arsenal in his latter seasons. I think he knows that - rotation aside - if he runs his balls off for Klopp, Klopp will find a place for him on the team, especially in midfield. He hasn't shirked the workrate once since he signed.

[vicar]

Thought he did well today. Worked hard, was the reason that Bobby got that great chance at the end of the first half, chasing and harrying.
Deserved that goal.

[GIPPO77]

Have to say, I wasn’t  sure why we signed him,however he has become a really good addition.

[Dim Glas]

Outstanding off the ball. Always impresses me in that regard.

Game intelligence.

Intelligent on and off the pitch! He's a breath of fresh air to listen to actually, comes across very well in interviews, good humour and self deprecating too. He's fit in nicely here and it's only the start for him. He stagnated at Arsenal - not the only one either, so he's playing catch up in a way, but he's really catching up now!

[Fairytale of 2005]

Have to say, I wasn’t  sure why we signed him,however he has become a really good addition.

Agreed, I'm warming to him.