Topic: Luis Díaz (Luis Fernando Díaz Marulanda)

[MBL?]

It's more complicated. Wages matter more than fees, you could make a profit but end up losing more money later.
You have a player who will get 100k weekly from other teams because of his qauilty. You can keep him for the next two years even as a squad player at his peak years for a low salary. Why would you throw this because of 20m max ( the difference between selling him now or with one year left on his contract), it doesn't make sense.

It all depends on who they would eye up to replace and how much it would cost. They'd have to have someone in mind for them to even consider selling.

[Garlic Red]

Selling him would be stupid.

You don't sell a player with his qualities who is under contract for the next 3 years on such low salary.
Even if you want to bring a better player, you increase Diaz salary a little bit and make him a squad player then sell him with one year left on his contract. You gain nothing from selling him now, if he was on a huge salary it's a different story but he is not.

But what if, for arguments sake, PSG have contacted his agents and said there’s a big signing fee and potentially £300k per week available for him? Name any large figure but let’s just say he’s been offered a figure that’s really enticing. His agent is looking at our squad, who plays the most minutes? Who makes the most starts? He could at least make an argument he should be considered in the top 4-5 earners at the club given he’s about to enter his peak. Paying him wouldn’t be an issue like, I’m all for rewarding players who deliver on the pitch for us, but he’s at peak value now and you can bring in a big fee and avoid paying him, it makes sense if we could back ourselves to spend that money and salary elsewhere. I’m not sure “just keeping him” on the same salary is an option nor would a minor pay rise. Yes he’s under contract but it means fuck all really once he sounds out a move potentially giving him a huge pay rise.

[Persephone]

If he’s off, good luck to him. I think he’s a class player but if we’re going to use the left sided player like we’ve used Diaz, I think we’d be better off looking for one that can cut in and play a killer ball better than he can. If we decide we want more of a Mane type it would be interesting to see who we go for.

Kvara would obviously be high on a lot of lists. I know he’s injury prone but Neto is such a good player I’m convinced he’s going to be world class. We’ve been burned by so many injury prone players but I’m ready to be burnt again. If we decide to go for more of a forward I’d love Leao but fear his inconsistency would drive us nuts.

Neto is made of uncooked pasta, he can barely make through a few months of just league football, imagine needing to compete in 4 competitions. Nope sorry he's not worth the risk and the expense, we need to stop throwing money down injury pits.

[Garlic Red]

Neto is made of uncooked pasta, he can barely make through a few months of just league football, imagine needing to compete in 4 competitions. Nope sorry he's not worth the risk and the expense, we need to stop throwing money down injury pits.

I know, I know. But how many potentially world class players are there with 100-150 career games in England?

For me, the players we’ve signed from Premier League clubs/with PL experience have mostly been unbelievable signings. Mane, Salah, VVD, Jota, Mac Allister, Robbo and Gini were some of our best work and only Robbo didn’t hit the ground running. I can’t argue against his injury record, but I think we really need to look within the league if we’re to replace Diaz and/or Mo for at least one of the players we sign. I think he’s the best ‘available’ player but his injury record can’t be ignored. If it could be factored into the fee I’d be happy to see us try.

[Zlen]

It doesn't matter if Neto is the best available player. He should not even be considered. The guy played 55 games in total in the past 3 seasons. I would expect close to that in a single single season from any Liverpool player. As for Lucho, I think he is replaceable but I would only sell him for insane money. Mostly because we need less drama and more stability in a transitional period for the club.

[newterp]

Neto is made of uncooked pasta, he can barely make through a few months of just league football, imagine needing to compete in 4 competitions. Nope sorry he's not worth the risk and the expense, we need to stop throwing money down injury pits.

wouldn't it be overcooked pasta? it falls apart and/or is mush?

[Bread]

I'd be hesitant to move Diaz on, to be honest. Currently, I think he's the only one of our forwards at the moment that defenders are actively scared of. He's the guy capable of driving us 40 yards up the pitch by himself, which can shift the momentum of a game whenever we're under the cosh. It's a valuable trait. Defenders are too scared to put a tackle in because of what he can do to them if you give him an inch.

[Draex]

Really wish he’d beat a man, he’s like a crab comes deep, runs in the middle and passes to the right back. Fucking have a go.

[mattD]

His father can continue putting him in the shop window for Barca and Madrid as far as I'm concerned. If we're getting big money for him, I'd take it because he's no Mane that's for sure. He's a good player, but we need world class.

He's also part of the reason our counters are so poor, he's just not quick enough with the ball and by time he's made a decision, the opposition are already getting back into comfortable positions. Manes are hard to come by for sure, but I don't know, somebody with a similar profile to Mane would be good. Incisive, cuts inside, creates havoc, zonal marking excellent, comes back deep always in the right place adding bodies into midfield. Maybe football's moved on to a wider players like Diaz and maybe I'm just pining for the old days... but there has to be players out there who can just generally link up and be quicker in attack.

[DHRED]

Really wish he’d beat a man, he’s like a crab comes deep, runs in the middle and passes to the right back. Fucking have a go.

He was electrifying when he first arrived

He has regressed from that significantly.

[MonsLibpool]

He was electrifying when he first arrived

He has regressed from that significantly.

He's still the same player we signed. Then the question mark was whether he could improve his numbers and that's still the case now. He's just no longer an unknown quantity.

[Clint Eastwood]

I said in a different thread that he's a lot of noise and effort but not much result. Superb technique and you can't fault his workrate, but he hardly ever seems like a threat - doesn't stretch the back line, questionable decision making, average passing and finishing.

Selling him would make a lot of sense this summer, but we've ended up in a position where we are inundated with CF's and two wingers (one of which is a regressing Salah).

[collytum]

Might work well as a winger in a 442 with 2 good strikers in the box, but trying to replicate what mane offered is a hard task for anyone. We were spoilt with mane, Firmino and Salah in their prime, I doubt we will ever see anything as good again

[RedSince86]

PSG and £75 million.

Yes please.

[jepovic]

I thought he would thrive against a man-man defense, being able to isolate and beat his man more easily than against a zone defense, but he looked completely lost.

Great talent, but still a bit frustrating to watch.

[mullyred94]

Starting to remind me of Luis Garcia.

Easy on the eye and theres a player in there just not sure his brain and feet are in sync at times.

[Boaty McBoatface]

Never gave Robinson a moment's rest. He should start on the right when Mo doesn't.

[Buster Gonad]

Thought he was good on the right. Mo will start there against the bitters I'd assume.

[mullyred94]

One of my mates banging on about how underrated he is, better than Salah & Nunez.

Best our best player this season.

Am I blind or is he right?

[Bread]

Quite liked him on the right, to be honest. Robinson absolutely couldn't contain him, and it offered something a little bit different.

[slotmachine]

The thing that Diaz has that cant be measured with fucking data or a graph is that thing that beats under your chest and the south american winners mentality. The number of times he made 40-50 yard sprints to close that Robinson down who is fast as fuck down that left they are the things that Mo sadly cant do no more. Also sent that Robinson for the echo a few times in the first half. He will fucking wreck Ashley Young again on Wednesday.

[MonsLibpool]

His hold up play was very good. Kept roasting Robinson to buy us time. Very good workrate too.

[Mr Dilkington]

The thing that Diaz has that cant be measured with fucking data or a graph is that thing that beats under your chest and the south american winners mentality. The number of times he made 40-50 yard sprints to close that Robinson down who is fast as fuck down that left they are the things that Mo sadly cant do no more. Also sent that Robinson for the echo a few times in the first half. He will fucking wreck Ashley Young again on Wednesday.

You can measure that with data 

[Shankly998]

He's a good player but he's not at Mane's level nor do I think he'll get there given he's already in the prime of his career. I wouldn't be looking to sell him as he gives quality depth on the left unless we got a really big offer for him we have more pressing priorities than looking to upgrade on Diaz.

[Elzar]

Quite liked him on the right, to be honest. Robinson absolutely couldn't contain him, and it offered something a little bit different.

Better option there than Jota I think if it's those 2 and Nunez/Gakpo on the pitch. He was good vs Arsenal in the cup when he moved there too, still direct and willing to make the diagonal runs.

[Wild Romany Boy]

He's a good player but he's not at Mane's level nor do I think he'll get there given he's already in the prime of his career. I wouldn't be looking to sell him as he gives quality depth on the left unless we got a really big offer for him we have more pressing priorities than looking to upgrade on Diaz.

How many, realistically, have been on Mane's level though? In my view, probably 2 or 3 with us, I'd say a handful across the premier league era.

As you say, selling Diaz isn't a priority. If he touches Mane levels once in a while, whilst keeping this form in general, I'd be very happy.

[JP!]

How many, realistically, have been on Mane's level though? In my view, probably 2 or 3 with us, I'd say a handful across the premier league era.

Definitely not many, his first 4 seasons output was phenomenal.

Strangely though I think that's what people remember as he was pretty crap by his standards in 20/21 (as were most) and spent most of his last year playing through the middle rather than out wide.

Diaz's output isn't at that first four seasons level but I cant think of many players that would have been. What he hasn't really had is a massive dip in form, largely because his play style almost means he can scrap something out, goal or assist, even when he's not playing too well.

[jedimaster]

Quite liked him on the right, to be honest. Robinson absolutely couldn't contain him, and it offered something a little bit different.

Right now he is offering more on the right than Mo. A lot more.

[danm77]

Right now he is offering more on the right than Mo. A lot more.

Play Diaz on the right, Mo in the middle and Jota on the left.

[Hestoic]

Quite liked him on the right, to be honest. Robinson absolutely couldn't contain him, and it offered something a little bit different.

Agreed. Thought he put in a great shift.

[slotmachine]

You can measure that with data 

 
Mane 2016-2021 was the greatest winger in our history edges John Barnes 1987-1991 for me. Fanbase shouldnt be comparing Diaz to Sadio that's unfair. There is no one in the world who we could sign who is on Mane's 2016-2021 level. Vinicious Jr could match Sadio's output but he wouldnt match his workrate, physicality, aggression and teamwork.

Diaz is great and he is just entering his prime years and is a very good in house option to replace Mo on the right.

[Yorkykopite]

He was very effective one the right on Sunday. Several times he cut a path into the middle of the pitch and was able to open interesting angles to Jota and Gakpo by doing so. The speed with which he escaped from the right back when he did this was all the more impressive for being apparently effortless. I'd like to see that triangle again on the right - Trent, Harvey and Diaz. It was Harvey more than Trent who kept using the space that opened up each time Diaz came inside. But you wonder what Trent might do with it too.

[thaddeus]

Quite liked him on the right, to be honest. Robinson absolutely couldn't contain him, and it offered something a little bit different.

Which was interesting in itself as Robinson always handles Mo really well, probably about the best left back in the league at doing so.  It got to the point that a good few people on here were touting Robinson as somebody we should look to sign.

When Mo came on against a presumably tiring Robinson he again got no change out of him.

[PaulF]

Play Diaz on the right, Mo in the middle and Jota on the left.

Diaz on the right of , Jota on the left. Stuck in the middle with Mo.

[lgvkarlos]

One man army

[MD1990]

yeah we better not sell him

[Irishred1]

Been superb tonight

[lgvkarlos]

yeah we better not sell him

Only player with a clue of what to do on the pitch.

[DHRED]

Only man who hasn’t looked cowardly out there tonight.

[Draex]

Only player with a clue of what to do on the pitch.

Until he gets in front of goal