Topic: Welcome to Liverpool Thiago Alcantara

[JackWard33]

Thought he was magnificent defensively today - constant work and harrying and was critical in keeping them penned in
He’ll never get credit for this side of the game but he’s fantastic without the ball

[DelTrotter]

We are awesome without him but he definitely takes our midfield and team up another level. Feels like when him and Fab are together we just have total control and domination of games.

[Syntexity]

He actually IS Brazilian

Not only that, he is the son of a Brazillian world cup winner

[Beninger]

Born in Italy to a top Brazilian player and plays for Spain. There’s a lot that goes into him as a player. Makes for a technical genius.

[Keith Lard]

Too performance again. The maestro

[DangerScouse]

Brilliant performance once again from him. What a player.

[Studgotelli]

Thought he was magnificent defensively today - constant work and harrying and was critical in keeping them penned in
He’ll never get credit for this side of the game but he’s fantastic without the ball

Agree great anticipation and timing today

[Funky_Gibbons]

Baller.

[bornandbRED]

Really put in a shift on the dirty side today. Credit where credit’s due -  he’s also possibly the most aesthetically pleasing player in the league. One of a remaining few like that in world footy.

[elsewhere]

I don't know what the heck happened in that miss, the ball went up and down a few times like ping pong.

[BassTunedToRed]

Thiago made 34 pressures against Wolves, the most by any player.

What's interesting about that is that Liverpool had 65% possession. If you adjust his figure to account for that, it's the equivalent of making 48.6 pressures if the possession was split 50/50.

That's more than any Red made in any match last season (Firmino home to Palace was top - 29 pressures, 69% possession = 46..

[Funky_Gibbons]

The goal came from him winning the ball back too didn’t it?

Such a classy player, contributing all over the pitch.

[Yorkykopite]

Possibly his best game in Red yet v Wolves. Just brilliant. Brilliant.

[the 92A]

Some players are so good that you get enjoyment just watching them control the ball and pass, he's balletic the way he addreses the ball, so brave hence he occasionally gets caught out by the pace of the game in the premiership but it's risk and reward and his football brain is adjusting every game. with Trent we have two outstanding playmakers in this team

[Hash91]

The last third of the season we saw him controlling games with Fabinho. He's doing it again now, slowly running games on his own and I think making Fabinho and Hendo's jobs easier. Long may it continue, we definitely win something with him as a constant in this team.

[Alan B'Stard]

But but but Carra said Thiago was too slow (after his 1st full game) for Klopps Liverpool??

[smutchin]

Aside from the goal, my favourite moment of the whole game was Thiago's little no-look backwards dink off his left foot, that lobbed the Wolves defence and landed right at Mane's feet, through on goal... Just a shame that Mane was fractionally offside.

Having a fully functioning midfield with him and Fabinho in tandem is making such a massive difference so far this season. And we've still got Keita, Curtis and Elliott to come back - I can see Elliott in particular becoming especially fruitful with those two behind him.

[killer-heels]

But but but Carra said Thiago was too slow (after his 1st full game) for Klopps Liverpool??

The one against Everton?

[BarryCrocker]

The Thiago Turn

[scatman]

He actually IS Brazilian

yeah i mean my last line actually says that...he's spanish but the son of Mazinho, his brother chose to play for Brazil.

[RedForeverTT]

But but but Carra said Thiago was too slow (after his 1st full game) for Klopps Liverpool??

It depends on the role. Thiago is slow but alongside Fab or Ox who could cover him then the situation isn’t too bad.

As long as we don’t start Milner and Henderson together with him in central midfield then pace isn’t a problem.

[PoetryInMotion]

It depends on the role. Thiago is slow but alongside Fab or Ox who could cover him then the situation isn’t too bad.

As long as we don’t start Milner and Henderson together with him in central midfield then pace isn’t a problem.

Thiago isn't slow for a midfielder. He is much faster than the likes of Alonso and Kroos.

[Suareznumber7]

But but but Carra said Thiago was too slow (after his 1st full game) for Klopps Liverpool??

Imagine his speed being something that you worry about after watching Thiago play. 

[tubby]

Thought he wasn't as influential as usual, Villa had a lot of quick, physical players in the middle who were snapping into him whenever he thought he had more time.  But I think there were a few players out there today who struggled a little compared to usual.

[Fromola]

Thiago makes us tick. Villa definitely targeted him.

[JackWard33]

Probably his worst game on the ball for a long while today... but he was excellent without it again

[markedasred]

Born in Italy to a top Brazilian player and plays for Spain. There’s a lot that goes into him as a player. Makes for a technical genius.

I'm starting to have my doubts about him now. My pointless hill to die on is that Liverpool should never buy Italian players. He must be playing the grandparent card to play for Spain.

[Fromola]

I'm starting to have my doubts about him now. My pointless hill to die on is that Liverpool should never buy Italian players. He must be playing the grandparent card to play for Spain.

We've never bought a decent one tbf.

[Samie]

Papa Mazinho was in the house. 

[jckliew]

Papa Mazinho was in the house. 

[Jon2lfc]

I'm starting to have my doubts about him now. My pointless hill to die on is that Liverpool should never buy Italian players. He must be playing the grandparent card to play for Spain.

Isn't his mum Italian?
His dad's deffo Brazilian.
He only plays for Spain cos he lived there long enough.

A bit like the Canadians Rusedski and Lennox represented Britain.

Or a bit like Diego Costa. He's a Brazilian who plays for Spain.

[scatman]

Isn't his mum Italian?
His dad's deffo Brazilian.
He only plays for Spain cos he lived there long enough.

A bit like the Canadians Rusedski and Lennox represented Britain.

Or a bit like Diego Costa. He's a Brazilian who plays for Spain.

His parents are both Brazilian, was born in Italy and like you say lived in Spain most of his life so chose to represent Spain. So he's not Italian so marky can rest at ease

[Ghost Town]

His parents are both Brazilian, was born in Italy and like you say lived in Spain most of his life so chose to represent Spain. So he's not Italian so marky can rest at ease

This is all about classifying intent, though. You can call him Italian or Spanish or Brazilian depending upon which classifying approach you are taking. It's a quirk that regularly affects immigrants, emigrants, ex-pats and itinerants the world over

[xbugawugax]

his off the ball play really impresses me. didn't know he was that good off the ball as he was on it.

as for the comments on him being slow, think he is intelligent enough that his first few steps ahead of the opposition.

pretty much perfect balance in midfield with fab and hendo beside him.

[Doc Red]

Isn't his mum Italian?
His dad's deffo Brazilian.
He only plays for Spain cos he lived there long enough.

A bit like the Canadians Rusedski and Lennox represented Britain.

Or a bit like Diego Costa. He's a Brazilian who plays for Spain.

Not really like Diego Costa. Diego Costa was born and raised in Brazil and moved to Europe when he was 18. Thiago was born in Italy, then lived in Brazil until he was 5, shifted back to Spain and lived there until he was 10, returned to Brazil for 4 years and returned again to Spain until his shift to Germany. Quite a mixed cultural experience at such a young age.

[Jon2lfc]

Not really like Diego Costa. Diego Costa was born and raised in Brazil and moved to Europe when he was 18. Thiago was born in Italy, then lived in Brazil until he was 5, shifted back to Spain and lived there until he was 10, returned to Brazil for 4 years and returned again to Spain until his shift to Germany. Quite a mixed cultural experience at such a young age.

Cool.

I wonder what his mother-tongue would be then..
And what language he thinks in and is most comfortable with.

I'm presuming, based on what you said, that he's probably fluent in Portuguese (due to Brazil experience and his Brazilian parents), and also fluent in Spanish.
He looks like an intelligent guy so he's probably got a good grasp in German from his time there. Plus we know he's got good English from his interviews.
I'm guessing his Italiano is pants though.

Ciao.

[plura]

Cool.

I wonder what his mother-tongue would be then..
And what language he thinks in and is most comfortable with.

I'm presuming, based on what you said, that he's probably fluent in Portuguese (due to Brazil experience and his Brazilian parents), and also fluent in Spanish.
He looks like an intelligent guy so he's probably got a good grasp in German from his time there. Plus we know he's got good English from his interviews.
I'm guessing his Italiano is pants though.

Ciao.

I think he did a farewell video when leaving Bayern in what sounded like very good German so I am sure he's got that down too. The more languages you speak the easier it gets to make connections and learn a new one, but also to mix them up in your head at times

[redgriffin73]

Cool.

I wonder what his mother-tongue would be then..
And what language he thinks in and is most comfortable with.

I'm presuming, based on what you said, that he's probably fluent in Portuguese (due to Brazil experience and his Brazilian parents), and also fluent in Spanish.
He looks like an intelligent guy so he's probably got a good grasp in German from his time there. Plus we know he's got good English from his interviews.
I'm guessing his Italiano is pants though.

Ciao.

Also his wife is from Barcelona and she has said before she speaks Catalan at home to the kids, and he speaks Portuguese to them.

[Gerry Attrick]

Let’s face it, Thiago is the kind of fella that can do everything. Probably could learn Russian within about a month.

[Jon2lfc]

Also his wife is from Barcelona and she has said before she speaks Catalan at home to the kids, and he speaks Portuguese to them.

The plot thickens!

Let's throw in Catalan too!
A-ha! So my theory was right then. He's most comfortable in Portuguese

I've heard that Portuguese and Spanish are kinda mutually intelligible. Wonder if Catalan is closer or further than Spanish in this regard.

I know a smattering of Spanish and I find that I can follow Portuguese a little too. Guess I'm in the same club as our Spanish and Portuguese/Brazilian lads who always used to socialise together due to 'similarity' in lingo... and maybe vibe/culture...?

I've heard Italian is also related to Spanish and Portuguese.. but it seems to be just a little further away. Maybe it's the accent..


In other news... he's quite a good footballer.