Topic: Naby Keita Watch

[MonsLibpool]

That sounds a bit fanboyish

LOL

[ScottScott]

There's a player in there as he's shown on many occasions but the fitness has killed his career here. I'd offer him a new deal personally as I think he's a good option for the squad and the less we have to do next summer the better (finding 3 new starting quality CMs will be almost impossible)

Start him tomorrow definitely. Fab/Keita/Elliott should absolutely dominate them

[The Final Third]

Jurgen Klopp insists Naby Keita won’t be sold before transfer deadline

Selling Naby now and not replacing him?  No, that is not possible. It is not the plan. We are done. A player can go and we don’t replace him? No. Naby will not go but if he would, which he will not do, there would be a replacement of course.

https://theathletic.com/3526463/2022/08/21/jurgen-klopp-naby-keita-liverpool/

[Schmohawk]

I guess that means Jude is not coming this summer.

[Anfield14]

There's a player in there as he's shown on many occasions but the fitness has killed his career here. I'd offer him a new deal personally as I think he's a good option for the squad and the less we have to do next summer the better (finding 3 new starting quality CMs will be almost impossible)

Start him tomorrow definitely. Fab/Keita/Elliott should absolutely dominate them

I think he’s a luxury and don’t share your view that midfield  “should absolutely dominate” he has ability but in my opinion his tactical awareness and positioning can be quite poor.

[AlphaDelta]

I would liken him to a modern day Harry Kewell. His arrival seemed to be an integral part of the jigsaw and had the fans absolutely buzzing. Why not? He'd lit up the Bundesliga with his performances, just as Harry did at Leeds.

Just like Harry though, injury after injury plus a few invisible performances, had the fans running out of patience. Kewell did have a bit of a resurgence (who can forget that derby goal), so who knows what will happen with Naby.

[Knight]

I should have a template list for this I’ve said it so many times… he’s been very good for us (aside from a couple of poor performances) when he’s been on the pitch. The issue with him has been availability, not performance.

[Fromola]

I would liken him to a modern day Harry Kewell. His arrival seemed to be an integral part of the jigsaw and had the fans absolutely buzzing. Why not? He'd lit up the Bundesliga with his performances, just as Harry did at Leeds.

Just like Harry though, injury after injury plus a few invisible performances, had the fans running out of patience. Kewell did have a bit of a resurgence (who can forget that derby goal), so who knows what will happen with Naby.

And Kewell was a good player for us when he was actually fit which is overlooked or not remembered. Had a good first season in what was the end days for Houllier and a declining team at the time. If we'd signed him the year before instead of Diouf - for example - he might have had a more transformative effect.

Injury ravaged first season under Rafa culminating in Istanbul. 05/06 he was really good. It was after that he he barely played and with money tight his wages were a drain. I think he picked up a bad injury at the World Cup or something.

Perhaps in hindsight if Keita had came here a year earlier rather than stayed at Leipzig that extra year it may have worked better for him. Think for example of the run Ox had in the side in 17/18 after Coutinho left and was doing really well, that could have been Keita.

[LallanaInPyjamas]

I should have a template list for this I’ve said it so many times… he’s been very good for us (aside from a couple of poor performances) when he’s been on the pitch. The issue with him has been availability, not performance.

He was available for the vast majority of last season and only started 19 league games, and didn't start the CL final despite Thiago and Fabinho having one fully working leg.

[mrantarctica]

He was available for the vast majority of last season and only started 19 league games, and didn't start the CL final despite Thiago and Fabinho having one fully working leg.

In some respects I can see the point you're making but I think it also overlooks the fact that Hendo, Thiago and Fabinho were available for an extended run towards the end of last season and were in fine form, so weren't going to get displaced by Naby.

Time will tell whether the manager trusts him. I think Naby needs to be a bit better tactically with his positioning and closing down passing lanes and players, as well as his involvement in the press. No doubt about his gliding qualities on the ball, but like Ox I don't think he brings enough security in the middle to get a lot of minutes. Hopefully we will see a fit and in-form Naby against Utd and hopefully he can really kick on this season.

[JasonF]

He was available for the vast majority of last season and only started 19 league games, and didn't start the CL final despite Thiago and Fabinho having one fully working leg.

Thiago started 5 games more than him last season. Pretty clear Thiago and Keita were being rotated, with Thiago first choice of the two. It's not surprising Thiago got the nod for the CL final, though with his injury in the warm up Keita probably should have started.

His availability last season was good. Possibly because of the rotation. He's only missed 5 match day squads in the last 9 months, one with illness, two were League Cup games during AFCON, one an early round of the FA Cup with a weakened side (Ox, Jones, Tsimikas, Origi etc played). So that's 1 game missed through injury since early December.

He's been available and he's played almost as much as Thiago in 2022 who I think most would agree is one of the first names on the team sheet when fit. Making out he's not trusted to play is wide of the mark.

[spider-neil]

I think he’s a luxury and don’t share your view that midfield  “should absolutely dominate” he has ability but in my opinion his tactical awareness and positioning can be quite poor.

Keita is in the top 90 percentile for tackles and interceptions so your opinion doesn't tally with the facts. 

[spider-neil]

Thiago started 5 games more than him last season. Pretty clear Thiago and Keita were being rotated, with Thiago first choice of the two. It's not surprising Thiago got the nod for the CL final, though with his injury in the warm up Keita probably should have started.

His availability last season was good. Possibly because of the rotation. He's only missed 5 match day squads in the last 9 months, one with illness, two were League Cup games during AFCON, one an early round of the FA Cup with a weakened side (Ox, Jones, Tsimikas, Origi etc played). So that's 1 game missed through injury since early December.

He's been available and he's played almost as much as Thiago in 2022 who I think most would agree is one of the first names on the team sheet when fit. Making out he's not trusted to play is wide of the mark.

Exactly.

[newterp]

I think he’s a luxury and don’t share your view that midfield  “should absolutely dominate” he has ability but in my opinion his tactical awareness and positioning can be quite poor.

This is incorrect.

[ScubaSteve]

Would defo start him for this one

Hendo - Fab - Keita

[Anfield14]

This is incorrect.

Well it’s my opinion….

[Anfield14]

Keita is in the top 90 percentile for tackles and interceptions so your opinion doesn't tally with the facts. 

My opinion is something I have formed over watching him, honestly couldn’t give a shiny shit what the percentile for tackles and interceptions says. 

Lots of blind love in here and heaven forbid if anyone has an opinion.

[Scottymuser]

That sounds a bit fanboyish

He was MOTM, that is not exagerrating or being "fanboyish" - and arguably the single best midfield performance for us since Stevie G in his pomp.

[JasonF]

He was MOTM, that is not exagerrating or being "fanboyish" - and arguably the single best midfield performance for us since Stevie G in his pomp.

I think they were joking. MonsLibpool made two consecutive posts in here, one calling people who are supportive of Naby 'fanboys' followed by another saying he should start against Man Utd.

[number 168]

My opinion is something I have formed over watching him, honestly couldn’t give a shiny shit what the percentile for tackles and interceptions says. 

Lots of blind love in here and heaven forbid if anyone has an opinion.

I go to all home games and as many aways as I can and I rate Naby highly. Your view might have held some water in his early days as he tried to adapt to the way Jurgen wanted him to play, which was different to his Leipzig days. Now he is often the trigger to press and holds his position really well. Only my opinion based on watching him on the pitch and not through a tv director's idea on what is worth seeing.

[newterp]

Well it’s my opinion….

My opinion is something I have formed over watching him, honestly couldn’t give a shiny shit what the percentile for tackles and interceptions says. 

Lots of blind love in here and heaven forbid if anyone has an opinion.

See the neat part about opinions is that they can be perfectly wrong. And yours is.

No one is stopping you from having one - not in the least!

Just understand that you can be called out on it as well.

[jackh]

My opinion is something I have formed over watching him, honestly couldn’t give a shiny shit what the percentile for tackles and interceptions says. 

Lots of blind love in here and heaven forbid if anyone has an opinion

Isn't that blind...I don't know...dislike/disapproval though? Rejecting objective fact in favour of subjective opinion.

If he's doing the the business in terms of tackles & interceptions, I'm not really fussed what your or my opinion is on how it looks or whatever.

[Linudden]

Keïta hasn't been a success but at the same time no flop either. He's been treading that line between the two, scoring some important goals and looking quite lively a lot of times when he has played. I quickly realized after his arrival that the hype was overblown but that he would be a useful squad member at the same time. The issue mainly is he can't really stay fit and thus it's hard to ask for more money than he currently earns. It makes absolutely no sense letting him go before the window closes though, he's a borderline top-four calibre midfield player when he's around and there could still be time to work a new contract out if he earns it with proper perfomances on the pitch.

[SamLad]

I think they were joking. MonsLibpool made two consecutive posts in here, one calling people who are supportive of Naby 'fanboys' followed by another saying he should start against Man Utd.

I was under the impression that English isn't Mons' first lnaguage.

if that's the case maybe the nuance of "fanboy" eludes him?

[MonsLibpool]

I was under the impression that English isn't Mons' first lnaguage.

if that's the case maybe the nuance of "fanboy" eludes him?

He's a good player and he performed well there last season. What I don't agree with is calling posters names if they have doubts about him like I already said.

[Wool]

Not even in the squad tonight.. Klopp said he was back so that’s a weird one.

[tubby]

Either off or injured. Again.

[nayia2002]

I think that's the end of his lfc career

[JasonF]

The training ground witch got him Klopp says.

[Samie]

That's him done at LFC me thinks.

[Chakan]

Put a fork in him, he's not even in the squad for tonight, so much for "starting"

[harryc]

Get Rid what’s the point.

[JasonF]

I think that's the end of his lfc career

That's him done at LFC me thinks.

Why would it be though? First injury for 9 months. We don't even know what it is or how long it'll be.

[Zlen]

That's him done at LFC me thinks.

Yep. Gone. Midfield depleted - not even in squad. Will probably be some mystery illness.

[Samie]

Why would it be though? First injury for 9 months. We don't even know what it is or how long it'll be.

Mate, he can't stay fit long enough to become consistently good for us.  We basically need 2 Gini's but a bit more technically gifted.

[Crosby Nick]

I’d say at this point it’s more likely there’s a deal rumbling behind the scenes and Klopp is just saying he’s out. Dunno, time will tell I guess.

[disgraced cake]

Finished here.

[rafathegaffa83]

I’d say at this point it’s more likely there’s a deal rumbling behind the scenes and Klopp is just saying he’s out. Dunno, time will tell I guess.

Wouldn't surprise me in the least

[Samie]

https://twitter.com/_pauljoyce/status/1561776884970651650

Naby Keita absent through injury for Liverpool.

[tubby]

I’d say at this point it’s more likely there’s a deal rumbling behind the scenes and Klopp is just saying he’s out. Dunno, time will tell I guess.

That's my feeling too.  Or he was on the bench again and got in a huff about it.