Topic: Brazilian Porn Review Topic (Warning: may contain Wijnaldum)

[Giono]

Defensively rock solid against Brighton.

[SerbianScouser]

Remember when he was written off with utmost certainty as a CM for Liverpool after only his second game for the club? Good times.

[ac]

Gini is far to conservative in his passing particularly when face with a low block team- his constant chewing of the ball before tamely laying it off was driving me mad first half v brighton, he needs to be far more assertive in those games. Saying that, his ability in tight spaces and in retaining the ball plus his John Barnes like strength makes him a much better option than Henderson. Gini plus someone more creative like fabinho is a must going forward

[Prof]

Gini is far to conservative in his passing particularly when face with a low block team- his constant chewing of the ball before tamely laying it off was driving me mad first half v brighton, he needs to be far more assertive in those games. Saying that, his ability in tight spaces and in retaining the ball plus his John Barnes like strength makes him a much better option than Henderson. Gini plus someone more creative like fabinho is a must going forward

I know while you'll feel like this, but a big part of why we've been effective this season against the low block is because we're not giving the ball away in the wrong places.

Controlling the game is about being patient in possession working situations where we have a two on one or a skillful player in a bit of space in a key area of the pitch.  The sideways pass changes the angles of attack and makes the defensive screen shift.  This requires a lot of concentration by the opposition and tires them out.  The more it's done and the longer the game goes on the more likely they will leave an opportunity to exploit.

Being more dynamic and/or assertive is fine in the right areas but giving the ball away at the wrong time is something to avoid.  Getting this balance right more often has been the most significant part of our growth this season.

[PhaseOfPlay]

I know while you'll feel like this, but a big part of why we've been effective this season against the low block is because we're not giving the ball away in the wrong places.

Controlling the game is about being patient in possession working situations where we have a two on one or a skillful player in a bit of space in a key area of the pitch.  The sideways pass changes the angles of attack and makes the defensive screen shift.  This requires a lot of concentration by the opposition and tires them out.  The more it's done and the longer the game goes on the more likely they will leave an opportunity to exploit.

Being more dynamic and/or assertive is fine in the right areas but giving the ball away at the wrong time is something to avoid.  Getting this balance right more often has been the most significant part of our growth this season.

Said this in the midfield thread:


I said it before, and I mean it in a positive way, but he's a taller, stronger Joe Allen. Every passing team needs a player who knows how to keep the ball moving and keep possession ticking over. He's the "quiet man" of the midfield. A bit of a Callaghan, I think. Same goal return as well.

He's not spectacular, but he's not supposed to be. He's the oil that makes the engine run smooth.

[jepovic]

Gini is far to conservative in his passing particularly when face with a low block team- his constant chewing of the ball before tamely laying it off was driving me mad first half v brighton, he needs to be far more assertive in those games. Saying that, his ability in tight spaces and in retaining the ball plus his John Barnes like strength makes him a much better option than Henderson. Gini plus someone more creative like fabinho is a must going forward

Agree completely, and Henderson was more active with the ball. When we play as slowly as we did in first half, Brighton don't even have to work very hard. There's no need to press Gini and Henderson, since they never play threatening passes, dribble or shoot. This has been an issue for a long time obviously, hence the money spent on midfielders this summer. In another thread there was a comparison with unsung heroes like Fernandinho, but I don't think City would be very good with 2 or 3 Fernandinho in midfield.

[Agent99]

Sky interviewers are such twats. One just asked Gini if we are going to win the league. How the fuck would he know you bellend.

[Giono]

Is he injured or could he start against Pallace?

[88_RED]

Will be assessed along with TAA..
I wouldn't be surprised if neither start to be honest..
We can just about manage at the moment..

[TheDUtchRedKop]

We real missed him against, Crystal Palace today

[newterp]

We real missed him against, Crystal Palace today

Yeah we did.

[Messiah]

Gini's tactical intelligence was really missed yesterday. I think if he played we would not have conceded that first goal. Gini would not have over committed on that press and left the midfield bare.

[God's Left Peg]

Gini's tactical intelligence was really missed yesterday. I think if he played we would not have conceded that first goal. Gini would not have over committed on that press and left the midfield bare.

This fella is part of our spine now and we lack control when he's missing.

[spider-neil]

Gini's tactical intelligence was really missed yesterday. I think if he played we would not have conceded that first goal. Gini would not have over committed on that press and left the midfield bare.

This.

[Giono]

Gini's tactical intelligence was really missed yesterday. I think if he played we would not have conceded that first goal. Gini would not have over committed on that press and left the midfield bare.

Unfortunately there is no stat for that... except that we conceded 3 goals at anfield in a season where we concede very little.

[red vinyl]

Its a long run in now and il take a dodgy 3 points against anyone to be honest. Im hoping he is back for our next league game and Bayern. Im not up to press on the injury and hoping it a minor one.

[Andy82lfc]

Criminal how he's not talked about more to be honest. As lots have mentioned he was clearly missed or it was just a massive coincidence in his first? PL game out this season we conceded more at home than ever before. Pretty obvious why his one of Klopps first names on the team sheet.

Was there any update if he is in full training now?

[Giono]

We had only conceded 3 goals at home all season before Pallace.


Gini is startng to be recognised by some pundits.

[farawayred]

I reckon he's next in line for a new deal come this summer, his contract expires in 2021.

https://www.thisisanfield.com/2019/01/heres-when-every-liverpool-fc-first-team-players-contract-expires/

[Redcap]

https://statsbomb.com/2019/01/the-rise-of-press-resistant-midfielders/

Really good article about press resistant midfielders that gives Gini a plug. There's a superb bit of analysis of the evolution of tactics from 2011-present there, a microcosm of which is the rise of players like Gini.

I don't know that I agree with the author that Gini isn't as good as Dembele, but it's nice that he's getting some recognition which he wasn't before.

[Giono]

Thought he was our best player against LCFC. 100+ passes with 97% accuracy. Defensively he was covering for a few weak links and for the forward runs of Matip, Hendo etc.

[red vinyl]

I agree,he was our best player by miles. He actually looked the only player on it,a lot of sub par performances last night.

[AndyMuller]

One man midfield when Fabinho doesn't start.

[red vinyl]

Correct Andy,its games like this on a dodgy suface our flair players struggled. The pitch was a leveller but Gini always does the basics well and puts in a shift week in week out.

[Wool]

Yup, he was our best player last night. He did well to cover for Keita and Shaq.

[RainbowFlick]

There were a few times you could visibly seeing him trying to organise the midfield and tell Keita/Shaq where to go. Also liked that he gave Robbo a telling off.

Loved when he turned on the after burners and killed one of their counters, too.

[Giono]

We have multiple captains on this team.

[theMilkman]

Think he's been the biggest miss. We look so much less secure in midfield without him.

[jillcwhomever]

We missed both him and Hendo I know its a controversial thing to claim but Hendo leads us in matches of this nature.

[Giono]

Had to do some boring work today, so I thought I'd tune into talkshight. Something I do rarely. They were discussing player of the season nominees and included Gini on their list (VVD and Robbo too). That shocked me. He is supposed to be under tha radar...

[LallanaInPyjamas]

I thought Fabinho missed him hugely last night, and Wijnaldum missed Fabinho hugely last Wednesday until he was brought on. Together they control that midfield and lay a solid platform.

You look at our convincing performances this season and the vast majority have been with those two in central midfield. Physicality, press-resistance, and crucially the ability to move through the gears with the ball at their feet. There's a balance in their passing too: Wijnaldum keeps things ticking side-to-side whilst Fabinho brings more verticality. Our other midfielders - particularly Henderson when he is on form - can replicate some of these attributes, but they simply aren't as complete midfielders nor are they as balanced as a partnership.

[Giono]

Can't argue with that. Interesting points.

Our poor spell has coincided with Gini being absent. I include Pallace, where we doubled our goals conceded at home for the season.

Man City's poor patch coincided with Frnandinho being out. They play differently, but he and Gini are both intelligent players filling holes and linking play intelligently. That is hard to quantify except in the W/L/D stats.

[farawayred]

Can't argue with that. Interesting points.

Our poor spell has coincided with Gini being absent. I include Pallace, where we doubled our goals conceded at home for the season.

Man City's poor patch coincided with Frnandinho being out. They play differently, but he and Gini are both intelligent players filling holes and linking play intelligently. That is hard to quantify except in the W/L/D stats.

I think of this as being half the story. The other half was Trent and Gomez being injured and unavailable for the RB spot. We had Millie and Hendo playing there, where either one of them could have minimized the deficiency of a midfield without Gini. I believe that if Trent was available, we would have had better performances (not as good as when Gini is there, but better nonetheless).

[Giono]

I think of this as being half the story. The other half was Trent and Gomez being injured and unavailable for the RB spot. We had Millie and Hendo playing there, where either one of them could have minimized the deficiency of a midfield without Gini. I believe that if Trent was available, we would have had better performances (not as good as when Gini is there, but better nonetheless).

Makes loads of sense. Robbing Peter  to pay Paul. Hopefully for the homestretch we have Hendo, Gini, Fabinho available.

[rebel23]

We have really missed him!

[afc tukrish]

We have really missed him!

Like so much of his play, above understated comment captures the essence...

We have missed him. Simple as that...

[Zoomers]

Wrap him in cotton wool

[Wool]

What a difference he makes to the side.

[Ravishing Rick Dude]

He's the brain of our midfield.

[jepovic]

Great game. Ive been missing these runs forward in many games this season, but tonight he really took responsibility. Playing behind Salah gives him some space, and now he really exploited it