Topic: Roberto Firmino

[SamLad]

Jurgen nailed it a while back - "He's the most underrated player in world football".

[Yorkykopite]

Jurgen nailed it a while back - "He's the most underrated player in world football".

It's a shame his last full game was against Watford because it was almost flawless. Watford found him unplayable, but perhaps people will say "Yes, he was great but it's only Watford."

I wonder if Jurgen will think like that though, when it comes to picking the team for Manchester City. We have an embarrassment of riches up front of course. But Bobby's ability to link the wings and the midfield with the attack might be priceless. For all the domination last night there were still too many balls bouncing off the shins of our forwards. We can't be having that at the Emptihad. I'd definitely start with Firmino (and any two others). 

[RyanBabel19]

Jurgen nailed it a while back - "He's the most underrated player in world football".

Absolutely, still criminally underrated by our own fans

[Egyptian36]

Our attack looks disconnected without him.

[AndyMuller]

Thought he would have got more minutes yesterday.

[Gods_Left_Boot]

Thought he would have got more minutes yesterday.

All our subs happened a bit later than I would've thought, but to be fair the 20 minutes after Sadio's goal were our best spell of the match, so it makes sense that Jürgen would want to wait a bit before making changes, given that we seemed to have found a balance.

[HeartAndSoul]

He'll start next Saturday. He's usually been crucial whenever we've had great results against City. He presses tremendously well against whoever their deepest midfielder is and usually harries them.

If Guardiola goes 4231 again next weekend wonder if we might double pivot it too with Thiago and Fabinho and have 4 out of the front 5 out there from the start.

[Clint Eastwood]

I thought it would have made more sense bringing Bobby on instead of Diaz. Jota was struggling with the stuff Bobby excels at. His tendency to drop back in to midfield and provide an extra body would have been handy. When he did come on, our attack had already lost momentum and we were using him as a target man for some reason.

I imagine Jurgen knows better than I do. Maybe he'll start in the cup, it will give them something different to deal with.

[Ray K]

We need Bobby to start the cup semi. First half yesterday our ball retention and pressing were quite poor, and there was a disconnect between our midfield and attack.  Bobby knits it all together, slows it down when needed, brings runners from midfield into the game, and is still the best presser out of our front 3. We were outnumbered in the middle of the park and won approximately zero second balls there the whole game. That's where Bob's galaxy brain works for us. We got some joy down the right side of our attack yesterday, but the middle was a no go zone.  I think if you asked Guardiola which Liverpool attacker he wouldn't want to see start at Wembley, he'd say Bobby.

I'd also start Naby ahead of Hendo, and bring Hendo on to close the game out, but I understand why he started Hendo yesterday.

[vivabobbygraham]

We need Bobby to start the cup semi. First half yesterday our ball retention and pressing were quite poor, and there was a disconnect between our midfield and attack.  Bobby knits it all together, slows it down when needed, brings runners from midfield into the game, and is still the best presser out of our front 3. We were outnumbered in the middle of the park and won approximately zero second balls there the whole game. That's where Bob's galaxy brain works for us. We got some joy down the right side of our attack yesterday, but the middle was a no go zone.  I think if you asked Guardiola which Liverpool attacker he wouldn't want to see start at Wembley, he'd say Bobby.

I'd also start Naby ahead of Hendo, and bring Hendo on to close the game out, but I understand why he started Hendo yesterday.

I wouldn't argue against any of that. We have many options and Bobby is in the mix big time.  The beauty of our next two games are the 5 subs. If Bobby is to play on Satdee, he needs some minutes against Benfica whether from the bench or as a starter.

[Ray K]

He might be my favourite player from this era. Certainly nobody else has given me that combination of pure joy and laugh out loud moments of the sheer audacity of his talent.

[Samie]

2 more goals needed for a century for us.

[jepovic]

He might be my favourite player from this era. Certainly nobody else has given me that combination of pure joy and laugh out loud moments of the sheer audacity of his talent.

Unique player.
He also has an unusal combination of amazing skills and selfishness. With a touch like that he could try to dribble and score at every little chance, and be quite relaxed in defense, but he's the opposite.
I love the reborn tap-in Firmino too though 

[kavah]

 

[Redwhiteandnotblue]

His goals to minutes ratio this season is incredible, isn't it?

[Hazell]

2 more goals needed for a century for us.

Yes! Desperate for it to happen with winners in the next two games

[KurtVerbose]

He's truly fabulous.

[MonsLibpool]

2 more goals needed for a century for us.

Not bad for a "defensive" striker.

[Ravishing Rick Dude]

Sometimes we forget how special Bobby is. So glad he scored.

[blamski]

Winning games is great. Winning games where Bobby scores is even better.

[So… Howard Philips]

Winning games is great. Winning games where Bobby scores is even better.

Just a pity we didn’t win then.

[Yorkykopite]

He's our in-form forward at the moment. His first touch is so good, whereas the other four in attack it's all a bit erratic. I'd play him until his legs dropped off.

[jckliew]

LOVE THE BOB!

[Knight]

I think that’s jumping the gun, to be honest.

You patently don’t rate Fabinho as highly as the manager. And I wouldn’t read too much into his appearance numbers this season - loss of form and fitness don’t mean he’s over the hill. And as the old adage goes, form is temporary, class is permanent.

I’d of thought the definition of a squad player was all about the number of minutes he plays. He wasn’t subbed at 60 minutes this eve which means he won’t start on Sunday. Neither will Keita because he wasn’t either. I happen to agree with the calls for him to start against City, particularly if it’s the same midfield as on Sunday. But I’m just tracking what the manager is doing in terms of managing minutes. And at the moment it’s pretty easy to predict lineups according to how minutes in the games before are managed. So last week loads of people said Jota wouldn’t start, but he was obviously going to after not starting against Benefica.

[M4tt]

Seems crazy for me to write this, but my unpopular opinion is that our best front 3 is still Bobby, Mo and Sadio.

[Knight]

Seems crazy for me to write this, but my unpopular opinion is that our best front 3 is still Bobby, Mo and Sadio.

Jota’s goal scoring is so absurd that it’s pretty hard to leave him out. But yes, in some ways Firmino in the middle makes so much sense given the way we play.

[jckliew]

Jota’s goal scoring is so absurd that it’s pretty hard to leave him out. But yes, in some ways Firmino in the middle makes so much sense given the way we play.

Bob's in the middle because we do not have good ball playing midfielders apart from Thiago. If we could sort that out before Bob retires, that would be good.

[andy07]

When Bobby is on fire he is not only lethal in front of goal but makes everyone around him 10% better.  I trust the boss to make the right choices and with 12 huge matches ahead of us we will need the whole first team squad to play a part.

[Ycuzz]

Believe there was someone on here who said it, (apologies, cant remember who - and, paraphrasing); if you love football, you love Bobby Firmino.

And thats pretty much all there is to it.

[Red Cactii]

Big-game Bobby strikes again

[PoetryInMotion]

What a player!

[MD1990]

His goal to mins this season would be interesting.
He has 11 goals this season. Not at all bad considering what he brings to the team

[farawayred]

Two more goals and bobby will reach the 100 mark, right?

[Kalito]

Two more goals and bobby will reach the 100 mark, right?

That's correct.

Would so love him to bag a couple more this season.

[Peabee]

His goal to mins this season would be interesting.
He has 11 goals this season. Not at all bad considering what he brings to the team

Every 62 minutes in the CL and 176 mins in the league.

[Johnny Aldridge]

He has to start. He has that energy and hunger that we need up front. Not saying Salah’s playing bad, but there’s a difference in energy between the two right now that has to be used.

[Alan_X]

Locked for the day

[King Kenny 7]

Making a case for Bobby starting agin Chelsea.

Put him in the middle with Mane on the left and Salah on the right.




Lets see how the muscle memory kicks in for 60 or so.


Keeping the faith!

[Bobinhood]

Think hes going to come on at some point and mess with them completely.

[farawayred]

Think hes going to come on at some point and mess with them completely.

In that case, he should start. He best suits Mane and Salah's game. Swap him for Jota on 60 min and one of Salah/Mane for Diaz if need be. But that scenario seems less potent than starting with Jota / Mane / Salah or Diaz / Mane / Salah, so I doubt that Bobby will start especially after a lengthy spell out.