Topic: Roberto Firmino

[So… Howard Philips]

Brazil played better with him on the pitch. It’s baffling why their coach couldn’t see that.

Because he panders to egos/Brazilian press?

[Nessy76]

I think he was mainly being used as an impact sub, but at least he's coming home early and uninjured which helps Liverpool.

Early, uninjured and hungry for a trophy. Perfect.

[jillcwhomever]

Yes Bobby is a true team player unlike Neymar who is like the kid in the playground who thinks he's better than everyone else and goes on pointless dribbles to prove it.

Neymar actually created more for Brazil than anyone last night. I know it's popular at the moment to have a go at Neymar but let's get real.

[WhereAngelsPlay]

Neymar actually created more for Brazil than anyone last night. I know it's popular at the moment to have a go at Neymar but let's get real.

He is a greedy fucker,I know it's not cool to say that at the moment but lets get real.

[Gerry Attrick]

He is a greedy fucker,I know it's not cool to say that at the moment but lets get real.

So greedy he made 7 key passes last night. No other Brazilian attacker had more than 2. He should be more greedy for Brazil if anything. His teammates aren't at his level, so I'd have preferred him to be more aggressive in looking for the shot.

[Giono]

Fucking love Bobby.

Criminal that they started Jesus over him.

I’m really quite content that he keeps performing for us and gets ignored by the media and his NT etc. It keeps the neighbourhood bullies in Spain, Germany and Italy away.

[WhereAngelsPlay]

So greedy he made 7 key passes last night. No other Brazilian attacker had more than 2. He should be more greedy for Brazil if anything. His teammates aren't at his level, so I'd have preferred him to be more aggressive in looking for the shot.

7 key passes that led to fuck all and numerous runs into blind alleys when he could and should have passed.


His teammates weren't on his level 

[vagabond]

7 key passes that led to fuck all

That's not his fault though is it?

[Gerry Attrick]

7 key passes that led to fuck all and numerous runs into blind alleys when he could and should have passed.


His teammates weren't on his level 

Wait, what? You do realise that it's not his fault they led to nothing right? Unless you believe he's to blame for his teammates doing nothing with them.

Feel free to try and argue that Wilian and Gabriel Jesus are at the same level. Coutinho too was guilty of being way more greedy than Neymar. He tried to do his superman routine and smashed many shots against defenders.

[WhereAngelsPlay]

That's not his fault though is it?

It all boils down to what is considered a key pass,he likes to hold onto the ball and pass it such a way that the receiver then has to move it on,he did that so many times last night.


I get that he is a good player but he isn't as good as he and some others like to think he is.

I personally think that Neymar and Phil are too similar to play in the same team,granted it will work fine in some matches but not enough times for them to win a tourney,last night they were both slowing Brazils play down far too much.

[deFacto please, you bastards]

I'm still drunk 

Have a nice day

[JackWard33]

Wait, what? You do realise that it's not his fault they led to nothing right? Unless you believe he's to blame for his teammates doing nothing with them.

Feel free to try and argue that Wilian and Gabriel Jesus are at the same level. Coutinho too was guilty of being way more greedy than Neymar. He tried to do his superman routine and smashed many shots against defenders.

Yup.... Neymar was one of the best attackers in the World Cup if not the best but he’ll be remembered as a flop because he rolls around a lot and #narrative

[WhereAngelsPlay]

Hahahahahahahhaha, oh fuck me. He just had a season with 17 assists as a center forward and averages double digit assists per season at the club, but he's a greedy fucker alright.


Hahahahah

27 goals, 17 assists, yeah he's not as good as we think.


HAHAHHAHAHA.


Have a nice day

For PSG.

Bobby and Costa changed the game,Neymar let it pass him by.

I am just glad that Bobby is coming back home injury free and as hungry as the cookie monster.

[deFacto please, you bastards]

For PSG.

Bobby and Costa changed the game,Neymar let it pass him by.

I am just glad that Bobby is coming back home injury free and as hungry as the cookie monster.

My bad mate, I thought you were talking about Bobby, not Neymar. Don't mind me, I'm still drunk 

[vagabond]

It all boils down to what is considered a key pass

Sure, but are you as suspicious of key pass figures for everybody? Unless you think statisticians are fudging their key pass definitions to give Neymar more glory?

[WhereAngelsPlay]

Sure, but are you as suspicious of key pass figures for everybody? Unless you think statisticians are fudging their key pass definitions to give Neymar more glory?

I watched all of his games during this WC.

[JackWard33]

From @oh_that_crab.  Neymar at World Cup:

2.87 Passing Value Added (2nd)

28 completed passes into the box (leads all players)

16 open play key passes (leads all players)

1.99 On Ball Progression Added
(leads all players)

59 touches in the box (leads all players)

19 completed dribbles (3rd)

[Eeyore]

It all boils down to what is considered a key pass,he likes to hold onto the ball and pass it such a way that the receiver then has to move it on,he did that so many times last night.


I get that he is a good player but he isn't as good as he and some others like to think he is.

I personally think that Neymar and Phil are too similar to play in the same team,granted it will work fine in some matches but not enough times for them to win a tourney,last night they were both slowing Brazils play down far too much.

From last night.

Neymar corner Silva hits post from 2 yards.
Neymar breaks down the right plays in Coutinho shoots wide.
Neymar plays in Bobby who shoots just over
Neymar shot brilliantly saved at the end.

He contributed massively.

[Dim Glas]

People are just disparaging Neymar cos he's a grade A dick.   But he's clearly Brazil's best player, and also clearly wasn't 100% fit. The problem wasn't him so much as it was some baffling decisions regards lineups. Yes, Bobby may well be a nice impact sub, but he's a beast of a player who could have and would have contributed from the start. Unlike Jesus. Brazil's loss though, LFC's gain, cos he'll not be too tired and will be even more hungry!

[BabuYagu]

Neymar's key passes are
'14 - Jesus in the 6 yard box(L). Shot blocked.
'51 - Coutinho outside the box(L). Shot blocked.
'61 - Costa inside the box (R). Shot saved.
'63 - Coutinho outside the box(C). Shot blocked.
'77 - Firmino inside the box (C/L). Shot missed.
'83 - Coutinho inside the box (C). Shot missed.
'93 - Firmino header from corner from about 9 yards (C). Shot missed.

So two of them were basically just giving the ball to Coutinho outside the box. The other 5 are all legitimate created chances. Completing a pass in the 6 yard box is an event raring that scoring a goal in football. It is the most well defended space on the pitch and the margins for error are tiny.

Anyway, ignoring all of this, I tend to use xa to tell me the value of chances being created. Because that is putting those Coutinho shots outside the box at 0,01 (i.e. you created nothing) and puts the pass he made for the Firmino goal at 0,92 (you created a chance that is an almost certain goal).

So his xA numbers the last 3 seasons are:-
Ligue 1 2017/18 xA/90 = 0,62
La Liga 2016/17 xA/90 = 0,36
La Liga 2015/16 xA/90 = 0,53

To put those numbers into perspective - De Bruyne, Coutinho and Ozil were the three highest in this metric in the Premier League last season all ranging between 0,38-0,39. 

[number 168]

Neymar actually created more for Brazil than anyone last night. I know it's popular at the moment to have a go at Neymar but let's get real.

I'm not saying he's no good, just that he can decide that he's so good that he can take them all on when a pass can sometimes be the better option.

[jillcwhomever]

I'm not saying he's no good, just that he can decide that he's so good that he can take them all on when a pass can sometimes be the better option.

Yes, that can happen sometimes its true. Look at what happened with Sadio with us last season as well, sometimes players can make the wrong decisions, Neymar is no different in that respect.

[BabuYagu]

Yes, that can happen sometimes its true. Look at what happened with Sadio with us last season as well, sometimes players can make the wrong decisions, Neymar is no different in that respect.

I just see this as a criticism of taking risks in football.

You have moments like Salah skinning the entire Spurs or Watford team several times in the box to score. But if on his 5th twist or turn he gets tackled, then he is trying to do to much there and should try fucking passing the ball at some point instead of doing it all on his own.

The same with those cute flicks and passes in tight spaces. Brilliant when they come off. Fucking pointless when they don't.

[Rush 82]

Bobby thread.

Keep it on topic.

[SlowRap]

From @oh_that_crab.  Neymar at World Cup:

2.87 Passing Value Added (2nd)

28 completed passes into the box (leads all players)

16 open play key passes (leads all players)

1.99 On Ball Progression Added
(leads all players)

59 touches in the box (leads all players)

19 completed dribbles (3rd)

Add to the fact he's coming back off a serious injury which I think is overlooked by many

[jillcwhomever]

I just see this as a criticism of taking risks in football.

You have moments like Salah skinning the entire Spurs or Watford team several times in the box to score. But if on his 5th twist or turn he gets tackled, then he is trying to do to much there and should try fucking passing the ball at some point instead of doing it all on his own.

The same with those cute flicks and passes in tight spaces. Brilliant when they come off. Fucking pointless when they don't.

That is true too, I much prefer a player takes risks then plays safe when there is an opportunity to attack, but as you say it has to be done at the right moment.

[RedForeverTT]

Bobby is the one that hold our attacks together. I remember seeing Mane and Salah without Firmino and our fluid attack just breaks down like floppy limbs without a brain behind it.

Maybe it wasn't that obvious in the Brazil team but when they get Firmino involved instead of keep passing the ball to Neymar, their team played better.

[Too early for flapjacks?]

Bobby is the one that hold our attacks together. I remember seeing Mane and Salah without Firmino and our fluid attack just breaks down like floppy limbs without a brain behind it.

Maybe it wasn't that obvious in the Brazil team but when they get Firmino involved instead of keep passing the ball to Neymar, their team played better.

Solanke vs Brighton says hello.

[El Lobo]

Solanke vs Brighton says hello.

Did Firmino not play against Brighton?

[Too early for flapjacks?]

My mistake.  It was the front 3 plus Solanke.

[na fir dearg]

Yup.... Neymar was one of the best attackers in the World Cup if not the best but he’ll be remembered as a flop because he rolls around a lot and #narrative

delighted for him

[[new username under construction]]

What do we think of his 'new' song? If it's not been covered?

[xbugawugax]

delighted for him

when will he be back?

pictures of VVD and Gini at melwood doing laps already circulating.

[sms1986]

when will he be back?

pictures of VVD and Gini at melwood doing laps already circulating.

If they had gotten to the final he wasn't expected to be back until a week before the first game of the season, so that would have been the first week of August. He'll probably be back late July now, I think.

[BabuYagu]

If they had gotten to the final he wasn't expected to be back until a week before the first game of the season, so that would have been the first week of August. He'll probably be back late July now, I think.

I think I heard them say during the Chester game that all the players have been told to report back 3 weeks after their last involvement with their international sides.

This would mean players who get to the final would only return on 5 August - which would be the week before the first game of the season. So if that is true for Bobby, I guess that means he returns on/around the 27 July. Salah will be returning around the 16th July. Sadio on the 19th.

Our final pre-season game before we travel to the US is the 19th. Which coincides with something else they said about how Salah & Sadio would be on the US tour.

[Lycan]

Oh Bobby you daft sod.

https://twitter.com/AnfieldHQ/status/1018439605169815553

[steingmo]

classy

[CraigDS]

Should be concentrating on his football rather than dying his fucking hair. Can't even get into a side that goes out the WC at the quarters.

[sms1986]

Oh Bobby you daft sod.

https://twitter.com/AnfieldHQ/status/1018439605169815553

Is he trying to make his hair as white as his teeth?

[Lycan]

I thinks it's a message. "Go get Dybala". Or it could be "Forget Dybala, you've got me".