Topic: Takumi Minamino

[Son of Spion]

I just saw his goal. 

Loved the way his movement put the Chelsea defender on his arse before he slotted home.

[LiamG]

Yeh I think he is a player that thrives on space. He isn't the quickest and struggles physically but give him space and he has quality.

Something not a lot of teams give us

[Pistolero]

Terrific goal...few more of them and he'll return to our ranks brimming with confidence....

[spider-neil]

Mission accomplished Agent Minamino.

[zadoktBeast]

Yeh I think he is a player that thrives on space. He isn't the quickest and struggles physically but give him space and he has quality.

He might need a bodyguard, but IMO he's actually very good at passing and one-two's in tight spaces. His goals against the low-blocks of Arteta (Tapas Tony Pulis) and Hodgson's Palace indicate this.

One thing that he does which i LOVE and which i wish all our players did more of, is the Dummy Shot. It's such an underrated and effective skill

[pathetic]

Nice start for him at Southampton. Was disappointed he didn't start more games for us after that Palace goal, especially since Origi has been practically useless for some time now. Couldn't get my head round that decision. Hope to see him back here next summer.

[Dubred]

Hopefully this loan is more a project to boost his self confidence cause as a player with potential I think he's great and has a lot to offer.

If it is Project Confidence.......its working so far!

[PaulF]

He might need a bodyguard, but IMO he's actually very good at passing and one-two's in tight spaces. His goals against the low-blocks of Arteta (Tapas Tony Pulis) and Hodgson's Palace indicate this.

One thing that he does which i LOVE and which i wish all our players did more of, is the Dummy Shot. It's such an underrated and effective skill

The Dummy shot is the younger brother of the no-look goal.

[Tobelius]

I'm always half expecting to never see any of our loanees in a Liverpool kit again,hopefully some of this batch can come back and make it.

Good to see Taki doing well at Soton with the minutes he's getting there.

[Scottymuser]

I'm always half expecting to never see any of our loanees in a Liverpool kit again,hopefully some of this batch can come back and make it.

Good to see Taki doing well at Soton with the minutes he's getting there.

Seems like he has fallen well down the pecking order at Saints now - anyone know why?  He had a good start (2 goals in 3 games starting), but since then was not in the squad 1 time, started 3 (coming off in each game), came off the bench once, and was left on the bench 4 times, with 0 impact in any of the 4 games he did play

When I looked at the matches, it looks like they prefered to play Redmond on the left and Walcott on the right  - the matches Taki started were when Walcott (and Armstrong) were injured, and as soon as Walcott got back fit, they went straight back to him and Redmond, and Ings and Adams up front.

[Bend It Like Aurelio]

Seems like he has fallen well down the pecking order at Saints now - anyone know why?  He had a good start (2 goals in 3 games starting), but since then was not in the squad 1 time, started 3 (coming off in each game), came off the bench once, and was left on the bench 4 times, with 0 impact in any of the 4 games he did play

When I looked at the matches, it looks like they prefered to play Redmond on the left and Walcott on the right  - the matches Taki started were when Walcott (and Armstrong) were injured, and as soon as Walcott got back fit, they went straight back to him and Redmond, and Ings and Adams up front.

Because supposedly he lit a fire under an underperforming Nathan Redmond. Not going to play a loanee over an incumbent, you can almost think that Hassenhuttl did the loan for this purpose.

[farawayred]

Because supposedly he lit a fire under an underperforming Nathan Redmond. Not going to play a loanee over an incumbent, you can almost think that Hassenhuttl did the loan for this purpose.

I haven't followed Taki but you're saying that he wasn't able to displace Redmond at Southampton? I think that should be within his abilities, so now I'm somewhat worried. I didn't see him as being bought because he's cheap, but because of his potential. I'm really hoping that he will come good next season.

[Bend It Like Aurelio]

I haven't followed Taki but you're saying that he wasn't able to displace Redmond at Southampton? I think that should be within his abilities, so now I'm somewhat worried. I didn't see him as being bought because he's cheap, but because of his potential. I'm really hoping that he will come good next season.

It is what it is. Redmond has noticeably picked up his game once Minamino arrived. He’s still got no end product, but if we aren’t interested in selling to Soton, then why would Hassenhuttl play Taki over him? They’ve got nothing to play for anymore.

[Scottymuser]

I haven't followed Taki but you're saying that he wasn't able to displace Redmond at Southampton? I think that should be within his abilities, so now I'm somewhat worried. I didn't see him as being bought because he's cheap, but because of his potential. I'm really hoping that he will come good next season.

It's more he hasn't been out and out first choice, and they have been rotating their front 2 and 2 wingers a lot - with when fit, Redmond prefered to Taki on the LW (and Walcott on the RW), but equally both Tella and Djenepo have been prefered to Taki 2 or 3 times - other than the Leics game where Taki played RW and Tella LW (Adams/Redmond up front, Walcott was being rested)

[Scottymuser]

I have actually crunched the numbers, so we can see how many minutes each of their attacking options have played (not including Armstrong even though he played 2  games as a makeshift winger, as he is nominally a CM) before the Liverpool game:

• Redmond - played 756 mins, 2 goals, 2 assists - GA every 189 mins
• Adams - played 648 mins, 3 goals, 0 assists - GA every 216 mins
• Ings - played 598 mins, 3 goals, 1 assists - GA every 150 mins
• Minamino - played 457 mins, 2 goals, 0 assists - GA every 229 mins
• Djenepo - played 374 mins, 0 goals or assists
• Tella - played 301 mins, 0 goals or assists
• Theo - played 186 mins, 0 goals, 2 assists - GA every 93 mins

So as this shows, he has basically been their 4th choice, and been their 4th best productivity wise too, and its been rotating him Djenepo and Tella largely (Theo's 186 mins came in the previous 3 games after a 3 month injury, which is why his pure numbers are low) - but Djenepo and Tella have done nothing with the ball (which questions why they have on occasion been prefered to him).  However, as I said, the majoritry of his minutes came in the first 5 games he was there he played 316 mins of his 457 mins, with 141 in the next 6 (not including us, where he couldn't play)

[killer-heels]

Saints fans are not that keen on him. Wonder if we loan him out again next season to someone like Norwich?

[mickeydocs]

Saints fans are not that keen on him. Wonder if we loan him out again next season to someone like Norwich?

Why not sell him?
Good player but is struggling in the premier league.

[Pistolero]

Saints fans are not that keen on him. Wonder if we loan him out again next season to someone like Norwich?

They know fuckall....for me he's shown enough glimpses of his talent to remain with us and given some opportunities in a real season

[PeterTheRed ...]

I think that Minamino will be back with us next season ...

[MD1990]

I think that Minamino will be back with us next season ...

if he is he will barely play.
Maybe in the Europa. He isnt good enough for us.

We are holding onto to squad players far too long. Klopp is far too loyal to some players

[newterp]

I think that Minamino will be back with us next season ...

He probably will be. And we should be prepared for him to still struggle next season as well.

[thekitkatshuffler]

They know fuckall....for me he's shown enough glimpses of his talent to remain with us and given some opportunities in a real season

Naby and Takumi: The Glimpse Brothers! - tour tickets on sale now.

[PeterTheRed ...]

He probably will be. And we should be prepared for him to still struggle next season as well.

It will be interesting to see him on a full strength team, with Van Dijk and Gomez in central defence, Trent and Robbo as fullbacks, and Fabinho, Henderson and Thiago in midfield. I think thay he could be effective against a low block defence, deputizing for Salah, Mane and Jota in the wide attacking positions, when required ...

[mickeydocs]

It will be interesting to see him on a full strength team, with Van Dijk and Gomez in central defence, Trent and Robbo as fullbacks, and Fabinho, Henderson and Thiago in midfield. I think thay he could be effective against a low block defence, deputizing for Salah, Mane and Jota in the wide attacking positions, when required ...

He has played plenty of games in full strength teams with us. He was mostly anonymous.

[deFacto please, you bastards]

He's not good enough physically for this league.

[PeterTheRed ...]

He has played plenty of games in full strength teams with us. He was mostly anonymous.

First six months at a new club, in a new league and country, cut in two by a big pause due to the lockdown. No proper pre-season. Followed by a season full of injuries to crucial players. Like I said, it will be interesting to see him on a full strength team, with a proper pre-season, in normal circumstances. Only then we will know if he is good enough to be our 6th attacking option ...

[afc tukrish]

Naby and Takumi: The Glimpse Brothers! - tour tickets on sale now.

I like both players, but this was still quite funny...

[Pistolero]

First six months at a new club, in a new league and country, cut in two by a big pause due to the lockdown. No proper pre-season. Followed by a season full of injuries to crucial players. Like I said, it will be interesting to see him on a full strength team, with a proper pre-season, in normal circumstances. Only then we will know if he is good enough to be our 6th attacking option ...

A concise, accurate summary of his LFC career thus far...and exactly where I am with him...

[rob1966]

A concise, accurate summary of his LFC career thus far...and exactly where I am with him...

Amazing the amount who forget he'd just moved to a new country just in time for the world to go to shit. Those of us who have lived here all our lives struggled like fuck, imagine being here for only 8 weeks?

[Drinks Sangria]

Does anyone know if he can speak German?

Must be difficult for the lad, it's notoriously hard for speakers of Ryukyuan or Kanji-script languages to learn Germanic languages (and vice-versa to an even greater extent), so it's another thing on top of all the other issues with looking to settle in during a pandemic in a new country, with an additional mongrel (English) language to try and learn. If he knows German it will be a bit easier for him. 

[Ravishing Rick Dude]

Does anyone know if he can speak German?

Must be difficult for the lad, it's notoriously hard for speakers of Ryukyuan or Kanji-script languages to learn Germanic languages (and vice-versa to an even greater extent), so it's another thing on top of all the other issues with looking to settle in during a pandemic in a new country, with an additional mongrel (English) language to try and learn. If he knows German it will be a bit easier for him.

I think he's fluent in German. I remember watching some videos when he joined, he was speaking with Klopp in German.

[rocco]

I think that Minamino will be back with us next season ...

Personally don’t think he will , from the defensive side of his game don’t think he suits what Klopp requires

[Romford_Red]

Can we please take into account that footballers are people.

A foreign player coming to a new country is hard enough as they have to settle in (to life here) and that will undoubtedly affect their football. Come into a new country and not be able to go out and build any kind of life because of lockdowns and such? That has got to be really bloody hard on someone. I can't see how that would NOT impact a person. That's got to have an effect on your football.

[tubby]

I'd be interested in keeping him if we change formation next season and play with a 10, but otherwise I just don't see where he fits in to our current formation.

[pathetic]

I think we're playing him too forward to be effective for us. I seem him more of a something between and 8 and a 10 rather than a false 9. Not sure he'll get another chance here but I was disappointed that Origi was preferred to stay here instead of him.

[Davidbowie]

His old manager at Salzburg will be in charge at RB Leipzig next season and was a very big supporter of Minamino. I wonder whether he might come in for him and take him to Leipzig..

[MonsLibpool]

I think we're playing him too forward to be effective for us. I seem him more of a something between and 8 and a 10 rather than a false 9. Not sure he'll get another chance here but I was disappointed that Origi was preferred to stay here instead of him.

He played in midfield against Brighton and was AWFUL.

[CraigDS]

He played in midfield against Brighton and was AWFUL.

I mean judging any player from one game would be silly.

[MonsLibpool]

I mean judging any player from one game would be silly.

But we can judge him based on all the games he played. Too timid, weak and constantly ignored by his teammates. Just like playing with 10 men.

[CraigDS]

But we can judge him based on all the games he played.

Well not really in a deeper position you can't, which was the point you replied to.