Topic: Welcome to Liverpool Thiago Alcantara

[farawayred]

Gah, I feel like we might be going round in circles with this. Like I said in my first post - I think he's an excellent player and our best midfielder. For the attributes that that graph measures he is elite.

So that is all great but doesn't mean he is beyond criticism for other areas of his game. My opinion is that there are times that he could make better decisions in terms of when to progress the ball vs when to let the rest of the team settle down and that there are times (not often but enough to be noticeable to me) where he gets a bit casual and gets caught out. Obviously no player is perfect but for me it is frustrating that a player of that talent and experience, in a team that is currently so brittle in terms of confidence, is making those kinds of decisions that put pressure back on us and releases the pressure we might be building on an opposition. The problem is that it is very hard to find a stat for that - apart from the one that says that he has played most of our league games in a season where we are lying 9th.

Re: stats. It's Alisson's fault, he played in every game this season and we are 10th.

[Sammy5IsAlive]

Hmmm, so does that apply to everyone in the squad/team?

Of course! Plenty of the squad has performed worse than him this season. But this thread is not about them.

I'd suggest that when you look at our squad/first team there are plenty of areas for improvement but no gaping holes in terms of experience/quality. For me the problem this season has been that the team as a whole has been brittle and disjointed. If we both agree that Thiago is probably our best/most important/most experienced at the highest level CM then surely it is a valid question to ask whether he could be doing something more/different to help the team play as a cohesive unit? I guess one way of putting it is that I'd be happier seeing him in the middleish of that graph but the rest of the team doing better than him smashing the individual stats in a team that is struggling.

[Draex]

The man is playing the piano whilst carrying it.. immense player.

https://twitter.com/lfctransferroom/status/1619301529386885121?s=61&t=Fol236Ooud4VAUpGZfjtXA

[harryc]

Another poor passing display today.

[StL-Dono]

In the running for our worst player today.  Lost track of how many unforced turnovers he had and struggling to remember any of his clever passes that reached one of our players. 

[will2003]

In the running for our worst player today.  Lost track of how many unforced turnovers he had and struggling to remember any of his clever passes that reached one of our players. 

Yep everything was in either opposite direction or behind people

[Big Dirk]

He’s been dragged down to the shite level of those around him.

[Schmidt]

He's played every game since the World Cup, looks like he needs a break but unfortunately we just haven't had an alternative.

[SamLad]

He's played every game since the World Cup, looks like he needs a break but unfortunately we just haven't had an alternative.

absolutely.  he's been doing great work recently, not surprising he's running out of gas.

[blacksun]

What that graph also tells me is if we put players like Caicedo and Rice next to him we'd be back to somewhere close to our best under Klopp

[Black Bull Nova]

I love watching Thiago, we do not know how lucky we are to have him, he (like Litmanen and Alonso was) is a level above what surrounds him but occasionally (less often than not) takes risks that do not come off.


We will not appreciate him till he's gone, unfortunately, because the team is playing poorly, he's not getting the credit he deserves. The fact he has remained fit this year is a rare plus.

[smurfinaus]

Hope we dont run him into the ground. Been our best CM by a mile (Bacjectic with honorable mention). Shouldnt have to be the one running around tackling passing harassing.Very lucky to have him and quite lucky he has been injury free so far.

[liverbloke]

I love watching Thiago, we do not know how lucky we are to have him, he (like Litmanen and Alonso was) is a level above what surrounds him but occasionally (less often than not) takes risks that do not come off.


We will not appreciate him till he's gone, unfortunately, because the team is playing poorly, he's not getting the credit he deserves. The fact he has remained fit this year is a rare plus.

every team needs a creative talented midfielder - they think outside the box (no pun intended) and see things that a 'pass and move' player would not

in midfield you should have work-horses ball-winners leaders and creatives - that's usually a winning formula

[cdav]

Seemingly getting by under the radar but what on earth was he doing for their 3rd goal? He half gets back then just stops and allows the runner free passage through to our goal

[harryc]

Starting to show his age in a athletic league where having legs in midfield is as important as the football brain.

[Coolie High]

Starting to show his age in a athletic league where having legs in midfield is as important as the football brain.

The team at the top of the league have a midfielder in Xhaka who isn’t any faster or mobile or athletic than Thiago, the team 2nd in the league have Rodri who while probably physically stronger is even slower than Thiago and again far from the most mobile, should I go on? He is not the problem.

[Kalito]

This lad is the least of our problems.

[Smudge]

Are his days numbered? Unbeaten since he's been out. Need legs in the midfield, he doesn't have them. Is next season his last?

[Machae]

Are his days numbered? Unbeaten since he's been out. Need legs in the midfield, he doesn't have them. Is next season his last?

Still had the best stats for the club (if not one of the best in the Premier League). With better players, he'd be even better than he is now

[Funky_Gibbons]

Are his days numbered? Unbeaten since he's been out. Need legs in the midfield, he doesn't have them. Is next season his last?

Diaz off too I reckon based on that.

Didn't realise he played against Madrid.

[JackWard33]

Are his days numbered? Unbeaten since he's been out. Need legs in the midfield, he doesn't have them. Is next season his last?

Everyone’s days are numbered … only a matter of time before we all return to stardust

[KurtVerbose]

It's just a question of balance. With Fab performing Thiago will look much better. Look how Harvey looked at the weekend with both Henderson and Fab performing well. Harvey had also been written off by many on here.

Wolves, Thiago had Bajcetic and an awful Keita.

Brighton he had Fab and Henderson.

Brentford he had an underperforming Fab and Harvey.

I'd also add, our pressing from the front 3 is also much improved.

[Knight]

Are his days numbered? Unbeaten since he's been out. Need legs in the midfield, he doesn't have them. Is next season his last?

On the contrary, if we can get him back fit with 2 other functional midfielders and a forward line which seems to be coming together a bit, we'll probably walk top 4. He definitely had a rough game or two before getting injured but statistically he's been very good all season. The only one doing defensive work quite a lot of the time, and also progressing the ball effectively.

[MonsLibpool]

We missed his ability to play through pressure in both legs.

[Coolie High]

We missed his ability to play through pressure in both legs.

Yet some people would say his the problem, complete jokers,  players that great on the ball are always invaluable at the top level as we saw today.

[KloppCorn]

We play better with out him apparently

[Kashinoda]

To be fair it's not like he was the one player missing, we played with 2 midfielders and one is a 37 year old backup.

[MonsLibpool]

To be fair it's not like he was the one player missing, we played with 2 midfielders and one is a 37 year old backup.

He was a big miss though. Our turnovers cost us in the first leg and we were safe in the second to avoid getting done on the counter. He brings a balance because he can play difficult passes with a good success rate

[Coolie High]

To be fair it's not like he was the one player missing, we played with 2 midfielders and one is a 37 year old backup.

The midfielders missing don't make much of a difference.

[didi shamone]

We certainly missed his quick passes but he's an ageing injury prone player and not one for the future. Hope he plays a part in the run in though.

[farawayred]

Next to zero creativity in midfield without this man, in stark contrast to Real, who are not flying either...

[hide5seek]

We missed his ability to play through pressure in both legs.

He wouldn't have changed the results. Look at the season, he's bee here for most of it. Didi was right.

[MonsLibpool]

He wouldn't have changed the results. Look at the season, he's bee here for most of it. Didi was right.

Some of the goals we conceded in the first leg came from giving it away cheaply. His press resistance would have helped. It did in 2021. He didn't start but we looked better after he come on.

[Syntexity]

Cant wait to see this guy on the field again. Such a wonderful player. Does the hard work, puts his body on the line and he can do magic with the ball too. Seems such a wonderful person off the pitch and you can see that he really goes into games creating a togetheness with his teammates.

If there is anyone who can play and also help set standards in the same manner as Milner, its him. He is good with languages as well    Should be offering this man an extended contract in my view and sign someone so his minutes can be managed a bit more to hopefully avoid injuries.

[Armchair expert]

It wouldn’t be Liverpool if two players who have suffered more than most are now back and trying to injure each other



 

[Yorkykopite]

Is he back? God, I hope so.

[Ravishing Rick Dude]

Wrap him up in cotton candy!

[A Red Abroad]

Wrap him up in cotton candy!

Hmmm? Bit sticky maybe?

[smurfinaus]

If we had a more solid performing midfield the man would shine. But we don't. Cant expect him to do everything. Injuries aside...

[Kopenhagen]

Cheat code footballer.