Topic: Welcome to Liverpool Thiago Alcantara

[deFacto please, you bastards]

This is what I took from Sunday to be honest, If he doesnt need to take a touch he wont, hel just give it. I do think hell be be better suited to a
4-2-3-1 than a 4-3-3  but Im sure he will adapt. Klopp spoke about that he needs time to get used of our defensive set up which isnt a surprise.

He's played in both systems during his time at Bayern and Barca. he can play as an 8 and a 10 push comes to shove, but either as a 6 or 8 he's excellent.

[TheTeflonJohn]

Mate, he walked on after 1 session and within 5 mins was hitting 60 yard no lookers to Robbo's shoelaces.

2 weeks of training I'm expecting to split the ball through time-space to hit both our advancing full backs at the same time in some kind of Space Jam pincer movement.

Hiro Nakamura esque?

[Bioluminescence]

He looked like he'd played in this team and under this manager for years. Very much looking forward to what he can contribute to this team.

[deFacto please, you bastards]

Kloppo was so excited about signing him, he really couldn't contain his laughted and keep a straight face a week before when he was asked about him in the presser.

[dutchkop]

ِAlcantara debut vs chelsea
finally great passing skills at our midfielders 

http://youtu.be/tGI02p3TdGw

thanks for this.
Great player just starting out.
A few times he was trying to be a bit clever and gave the ball away on one of those occasions.

I was surprised at his athleticism, jumping for headers and speed over short distance.

I love the way he is looking for those incisive forward passes and I think our attackers and midfielders are going to love playing with him.

I say it again here - I think he is made up for our deep DCm role or one of the two in midfield 2. Fabinho may have his place in starting line up under threat. Fabinho maybe our 2nd best CB so I am all for Fab to play RCB for the bigger games and Joe to play in rotation role at CB

[deFacto please, you bastards]

He can play as an 8 just as well as a 6.

I can't wait to see Fabinho Thiago and Keita at least once

[CraigDS]

He can play as an 8 just as well as a 6.

I can't wait to see Fabinho Thiago and Keita at least once

Yeah I'm really wanting to see that, could be immense.

[Samie]

He can even play as a legit #10.

[Legoland]

He can even play as a legit #10.

Feel like he would receive less of the ball to circulate from there. I don't doubt that he can play it, but I think he might be more effective a bit deeper.

[Yorkykopite]

A few times he was trying to be a bit clever and gave the ball away on one of those occasions.

I hope he continues trying to be a bit clever. It would be awful if he started to restrict himself to the obvious stuff.

[rob1966]

I hope he continues trying to be a bit clever. It would be awful if he started to restrict himself to the obvious stuff.

Garcia used to get shit for trying clever stuff, I loved it as I want to see players trying special things. Luckily Klopp loves to see them try stuff too.

[Peabee]

I hope he continues trying to be a bit clever. It would be awful if he started to restrict himself to the obvious stuff.

Yep. He was looking to play forward whenever possible and pinging out passes so comfortably, with one touch, that would be difficult for other players with several touches.

[RedForeverTT]

Garcia used to get shit for trying clever stuff, I loved it as I want to see players trying special things. Luckily Klopp loves to see them try stuff too.

I like players who try to mix it a bit. Garcia has the ideas but lost the ball too much in the middle of the park and I think that was what infuriated Benitez. Luckily Thiago isn’t like that.

[Melbred]

We are getting a world class player in his prime years.

How far we've come.

[Knight]

Best goalie in the world, best CB in the world, best front 3 in the world and now the best CM in the world,. I cannot believe he plays for us. He's like silk in the middle of the pitch. He moves the ball so quickly it's going to make us even more impossible to play against. Imagine how knackered teams are going to be as we move them side to side at the speed Thiago is going to be able to facilitate AND whilst having to watch for his vertical passing. Can't wait to watch Ox (who will really benefit I suspect), Keita and Firmino begin to get fed down the middle of the pitch thanks to Thiago's progressive passing. And can't wait to see what Trent and Robo will do with the extra time and space they're given by Thiago's speed in the middle. 

[newterp]

Best goalie in the world, best CB in the world, best CM in the world, best front 3 in the world. I cannot believe he plays for us. He's like silk in the middle of the pitch. He moves the ball so quickly it's going to make us even more impossible to play against. Imagine how knackered teams are going to be as we move them side to side at the speed Thiago is going to be able to facilitate AND whilst having to watch for his vertical passing. Can't wait to watch Ox (who will really benefit I suspect), Keita and Firmino begin to get fed down the middle of the pitch thanks to Thiago's progressive passing. And can't wait to see what Trent and Robo will do with the extra time and space they're given by Thiago's speed in the middle. 

It will be fun when he decides to dribble as well.

[The Test]

Looking forward to our biannual games against Napoli in the CL this year. They’re going to be very different.

[deFacto please, you bastards]

Looking forward to our biannual games against Napoli in the CL this year. They’re going to be very different.

Napoli aren't in the CL.

[sinnermichael]

https://youtu.be/YYC24NxbTHA

[PeterTheRed ...]

It feels so nice that we can sign players of this level. Thiago is probably the best passer we've had since Xabi Alonso.

[Legoland]

Want to see Atletico try and park the bus against us with him in midfield now.

[USCouse]

Garcia used to get shit for trying clever stuff, I loved it as I want to see players trying special things. Luckily Klopp loves to see them try stuff too.

I can't remember which video it was, but VVD was joking/chastising one of the other players to "take risk, man!" during one of those trivia recordings.  You can tell that is an ingrained principle in the club to take appropriate risk on the pitch when the players see opportunity.  That is not a saying that tends to be innate/internally developed and then outwardly propagated - tells me that Klopp & management have imposed this.

[JackWard33]

Just watched his compilation from the game LFC have put out...

Umm.... The pass through the midfield to Salah where he couldve taken an easy square pass to Fab that the tactics guys drool over did he..... did he ‘no look’ it ??!!

[Ravishing Rick Dude]

https://youtu.be/ERvtIGNl79c

Watching this, feels like he played for 200minutes in that game and not 45minutes!

He's really someone who wants to be involved and to dictate the game, and not to hide. That requires a lot of courage. That's what you want, players with balls!

[Samie]

Just watched his compilation from the game LFC have put out...

Umm.... The pass through the midfield to Salah where he couldve taken an easy square pass to Fab that the tactics guys drool over did he..... did he ‘no look’ it ??!!

Yes.

No look assist for a no look goal from Bobby is a must.

[rossipersempre]

I hope he continues trying to be a bit clever. It would be awful if he started to restrict himself to the obvious stuff.

I don't even see it as "trying to be a bit clever". Almost as if he's simply probing the opposition for weaknesses and processing that information for the next time he gets the ball.

[JC the Messiah]

Best goalie in the world, best CB in the world, best front 3 in the world and now the best CM in the world,. I cannot believe he plays for us. He's like silk in the middle of the pitch. He moves the ball so quickly it's going to make us even more impossible to play against. Imagine how knackered teams are going to be as we move them side to side at the speed Thiago is going to be able to facilitate AND whilst having to watch for his vertical passing. Can't wait to watch Ox (who will really benefit I suspect), Keita and Firmino begin to get fed down the middle of the pitch thanks to Thiago's progressive passing. And can't wait to see what Trent and Robo will do with the extra time and space they're given by Thiago's speed in the middle. 

Think Gini will appreciate him a lot as well.  Going to give him a new lease of life and a chance to play in a more advanced role.

[dotheoffski]

This guy is so sublime, the game seems to pause when he gets the ball, he seems to have so much time yet he is in fact speeding up play with his ridiculous first time passes.  It's so nice to have Xabi type player back in the team.

[RedForeverTT]

https://youtu.be/YYC24NxbTHA

Someone needs to get him longer trousers. Its like he was trying to walk in a flood.

[newterp]

So there were definitely more than a few times where the pass didn't go where I thought it was going to - as in a wow that was unexcepted.

[mallin9]

We are getting a world class player in his prime years.

How far we've come.

well said

but joe cole on a free, some might say that's the peak

[Redcap]

Someone else might have said it, but Michael Cox's analysis of Thiago's performance in The Athletic is good reading.

[Ghost Town]

but joe cole on a free, some might say that's the peak

but not the peak flow meter

[gamble]

I remember when alonso came here and stood out as a “Rolls Royce of a footballer”. I don’t even know how to describe what Thiago could be, he is so much more faster as well as being technically gifted

[Schmidt]

I knew he was a very good player but it was weird seeing him come into a team that has just won the league at a canter, at half time after we've dominated for 45 minutes without him, and immediately become the focal point with all of our play going through him.

[Redcap]

Too soon to suggest he might be a future manager of Liverpool?

[him_15]

We have been crying for a creative midfielder for years and now we finally have one, a world-class one.

[ThisIsMickey]

So what happened to the Gini or Thiago argument? Both on the pitch at the same time.

Just found out Gini has the most shots for Liverpool against Chelsea, hopefully with Thiago signing we'll get to see more of his attacking side

[Redcap]

Just found out Gini has the most shots for Liverpool against Chelsea, hopefully with Thiago signing we'll get to see more of his attacking side

I expect it'd come as a function of teams trying to shut down our wingbacks more. They may leave more gaps centrally, which a master passer like Thiago will pick up.

[Passmaster Molby]

Molby - Alonso - Thiago

The Passmaster succession continues.......