Topic: Takumi Minamino

[The G in Gerrard]

If we get to the final then yes I would be desperate for us to win it.

However I wouldn't want us to risk any of our big hitters for the two semi-finals. Which pretty much sums up the level of the competition. Look at the stick Rodgers has received for playing a strong team and getting injuries against us.

Would you play Taki in the final?

[Vinay]

Should we play Takumi in the next game, against Chelsea? This is the more pertinent question....

[Eeyore]

Would you play Taki in the final?

I would play our best 11 in the final. So barring injuries or COVID then Taki would be miles away from starting. I would say if everyone is fit then he is at best 5th choice but probably 6th choice for the front three and even further away from getting an 8 role.

[LiamG]

This is a perfect example of the popularity nonsense.

Why would any rational Liverpool fan want Taki involved in a Cup Final against a likely full strength Chelsea or Spurs side. The only way it is going to happen is if we have a horrendous injury crisis. Is that what people really want.

This all kicked off on the 4th of September when I suggested that Taki getting injured for Japan wasn't a great loss because he was miles away from the starting 11 and probably wouldn't be starting any League games unless we had an injury crisis. Guess what I was right and the posters telling us that Taki was on the cusp of a breakthrough were wrong.

It is the same sentiment that had people suggesting that the likes of Virgil and Matip would have to prove they were better than Nat Phillips.

You don't think he deserves a place in the cup teams?

[Eeyore]

You don't think he deserves a place in the cup teams?

In a final against a full strength Chelsea or Spurs side. No.

[Fromola]

No the mistake I made was trying to have a rational debate about a player's attributes and weaknesses in a player thread. Should have just realised they are nothing but a popularity contest on RAWK. You make a point about how a player isn't really suited to our system and that means you hate the player. It is bizarre.

This is a perfect example of the popularity nonsense.

Why would any rational Liverpool fan want Taki involved in a Cup Final against a likely full strength Chelsea or Spurs side. The only way it is going to happen is if we have a horrendous injury crisis. Is that what people really want.

This all kicked off on the 4th of September when I suggested that Taki getting injured for Japan wasn't a great loss because he was miles away from the starting 11 and probably wouldn't be starting any League games unless we had an injury crisis. Guess what I was right and the posters telling us that Taki was on the cusp of a breakthrough were wrong.

It is the same sentiment that had people suggesting that the likes of Virgil and Matip would have to prove they were better than Nat Phillips.

If we get through there'll be a big argument over whether to keep Kelleher in for the final.

[Gerry Attrick]

If we get through there'll be a big argument over whether to keep Kelleher in for the final.

That argument starts and ends with "No"

[classycarra]

That argument starts and ends with "No"

Yep

Not to mention, it's already been demonstrated. Allison started the dead rubber in Milan when a couple of million was on the line - can't imagine that having a trophy on the line would be deemed less important by Klopp

[harleydanger]

But, player development vs minor minor trophy.....

[Hidegkuti]

Anyone have any idea why he wasn’t in the squad today…?

[Eeyore]

Anyone have any idea why he wasn’t in the squad today…?

He is injured mate.

[smurfinaus]

Any idea how long he will be out for?

[mallin9]

As someone who really wants to see him do well…..that was rough

[bradders1011]

Don't want to kneejerk but that was the worst performance I've ever seen in a red shirt, and I've seen Christian Poulsen.

[tubby]

That chance was harder than it looked on the bounce but he struggled tonight, really struggled.

[Chakan]

That chance was harder than it looked on the bounce but he struggled tonight, really struggled.

He has so much time, he literally could have taken it down and walked it into the net.

[Barneylfc∗]

That chance was harder than it looked on the bounce but he struggled tonight, really struggled.

Get over the ball and side foot it. Horrendous effort from him. Not saying it was easy but he made it a whole lot harder

[Legoland]

Don't want to kneejerk but that was the worst performance I've ever seen in a red shirt, and I've seen Christian Poulsen.

Nah that is kneejerk.

He was off it for sure. But that was not worse than Poulsen/Konchesky/Spearing.

[killer-heels]

That chance was harder than it looked on the bounce but he struggled tonight, really struggled.

It was but he had a bit more time.

Plus he kept trying some weird volley/lofted pass thing on the edge of the box.

He just really is a poor player. Id rather we have tried Gordon with Jota on the left.

[RyanBabel19]

Poor miss, really poor, not sure why he hit it on the stretch instead of lining up with it and just side footing it in.

[AndyMuller]

Let’s not listen to our players on recommendations on who to sign next time eh?

[LallanaInPyjamas]

Don't want to kneejerk but that was the worst performance I've ever seen in a red shirt, and I've seen Christian Poulsen.

That is definitely knee-jerking. Milner, Henderson and Robertson were all miles worse.

The difference, of course, is those three all have far more credit in the bank (although it feels a long time since any of them were consistently good). Minamino's Liverpool future may rest on next week's return leg, if he even starts. Time is running out for him - at least it should be - and he's not alone.

[Barneylfc∗]

It was but he had a bit more time.

Plus he kept trying some weird volley/lofted pass thing on the edge of the box.

He just really is a poor player. Id rather we have tried Gordon with Jota on the left.

I hate jumping on the bandwagon, but I honestly don't see the point in him.

[Caligula?]

There's a player in there somewhere but unfortunately it's not for a side with title ambitions. He'd be brilliant in the Championship for a promotion chasing side or a mid-table Bundesliga side like Hertha Berlin but he simply isn't what's required at this level and never will be.

[RedForeverTT]

It was but he had a bit more time.

Plus he kept trying some weird volley/lofted pass thing on the edge of the box.

He just really is a poor player. Id rather we have tried Gordon with Jota on the left.

I was so full of excitement when he joined. I have to concede his just isn't good enough.

[Shankly998]

The guy is a £7m player from the Austrian league so its to be expected that he's not amazing. Really shows our lack our depth when compared to Man City or Chelsea that this is the level of our backups.

[Fordy]

Just not happening. I was shocked he stayed on for 90 mins.

[MonsLibpool]

There's a player in there somewhere but unfortunately it's not for a side with title ambitions. He'd be brilliant in the Championship for a promotion chasing side or a mid-table Bundesliga side like Hertha Berlin but he simply isn't what's required at this level and never will be.

I said the same thing a year ago but RAWK fanboys came out with typical responses. I won't say anything because they may say that I have an agenda against him . There is no point being harsh on him because he cost £7m and came in as a squad player.

[bradders1011]

I didn't mean it, I was being light-hearted.

Really want him to succeed because you can see how exciting he can be, but sadly I just don't think he's up to it. He'll go and tear up the Eredivisie.

[Caligula?]

I said the same thing a year ago but RAWK fanboys came out with typical responses. I won't say anything because they may say that I have an agenda against him .

I'm not sure when you made your assessment but you were probably slated for writing him off too early.

That time has passed though. He's been here two years and has shown absolutely nothing. Not good enough is an understatement.

[AndyMuller]

He wasn’t even good enough at Southampton when we sent him there was he?

[RyanBabel19]

Did well in the games to get us here so credit to the lad for taking the chances he has had, wasn’t good enough tonight though

[Passmaster Molby]

He just isn’t good enough for us unfortunately.

[StL-Dono]

Poor miss, really poor, not sure why he hit it on the stretch instead of lining up with it and just side footing it in.

Sort of like Gordon did against STFC.  Brought it under possession, took a look, side-footed past the keeper... 

[Gerry Attrick]

Guess we've got to hope he gets fed up of barely playing and accepts a lesser contract elsewhere because I wouldn't want to be offering him half of whatever he's earning at Liverpool. He's so out of his depth.

[gemofabird]

We'll still be here talking about him in 5 years time not being good enough, as it will cost our business too much to sell him and buy a decent replacement

[RyanBabel19]

Sort of like Gordon did against STFC.  Brought it under possession, took a look, side-footed past the keeper... 

Not even necessary IMO mate, he shaped up wrong and it was there to be hit first time, he just didn’t line himself up with the dropping ball. Only saw it once from the correct angle but it looked like when a keeper bends down to scoop the balk up and doesn’t get his body behind the ball so it rolls up his arm or to his side

[Haggis36]

Feel for him, he's out of his depth and hasn't really shown any signs of being Liverpool quality in two years.

Low cost punt, didn't work out. We move on.

[rawcusk8]

We’ve known for a while he’s not at the level we require but he wasn’t our worst player tonight, he just happened to miss a golden chance. No way should he be playing out wide, he just doesn’t have the tools to be a threat. It was a  cheap gamble we took, it’s not worked.

[bornandbRED]

We came into this season with the knowledge we’d have him playing as first choice in January. And still pretended we were putting ourselves in the best position to challenge for the title…