Topic: Naby Keita Watch

[Adeemo]

Some nice contributions today. Often willing to drive forward and try to force something to happen. Liked that impossible little dinked header over some hairy arsed bastard who was coming in to challenge him, that was a real touch of class. Stay fit my man.

It was fantastic and didn’t even get a mention.

[Ratboy3G]

Fucking hell please still stay fit.

🤞

[number 168]

Perhaps it was my dodgy stream but he looked physically a bit bigger, more muscle on him. Her certainly had a few guys bounce off him and when he was given the usual unpunished challenge he seemed to get on with things no bother.

[LiamG]

Definitely needs to start every game possible from now until the end of the season, Him, Thiago and Fabinho could be the midfield to get us out of this mess

[darragh85]

thought he did well today. tried his best and showed for things in the second half which are good signs for his future.,

[amir87]

Definitely needs to start every game possible from now until the end of the season, Him, Thiago and Fabinho could be the midfield to get us out of this mess

Absolutely. With the likelihood of Gini leaving being about as predictable as his decision making on the pitch, and Milner looking like he's been dragged out of retirement for testimonials, I'd say the only competition Naby should have his Jones.

[mrantarctica]

Thought he played pretty well. He looked to get into the thick of things and overall was bright. Probably just lacking a bit of rhythm but after so long out this is hardly surprising. I hope he can get more starts and can stay fit!

[spider-neil]

Played well. Looked to get the ball forwards rather than side to side all the time.

[didi shamone]

Terrific cameo. Pure class and made of glass.
 I'd love to see him and Fab together regularly.

[rawcusk8]

Really good cameo, played a few lovely passes through that could have lead to goals. Can we pull him out of the National team?

[Funky_Gibbons]

We suddenly seem to have options.

[wemmick]

Please stay fit; please stay fit; please stay fit! He has come back in good form.

[SinceSixtyFive]

Naby is looking gooooood.

Lovely little cameo tonight. What a through ball to Origi that was.

[palimpsest]

We suddenly seem to have options.

Shhhh. Don't let Lady Luck hear you.

[MonsLibpool]

Giving Naby the ball is like depositing it in a bank. Unbelievable ball-retention skills.

[The Test]

After weeks of pessimism I'm right back to fantasising about how our midfield of Naby, Thiago and Stan will perform in the CL final....

[Bergersrightwingviews]

Bright performance that.  Plain for all to see what he offers when he is fit.

[Dave McCoy]

My only concern would be is then having him start against Wolves too many minutes already?  My thinking is that maybe his body can only take 90 minutes a week when played at a PL pace since he's never consistently stayed healthy before for whatever reason.

[JG6]

Bloody hell, he can be so good. If he can just stay fit we’ve got such a player on our hands. Balance, vision, great feet, low cente of gravity, pressing machine, just a super player. Let’s hope this is it now.

[Funky_Gibbons]

My only concern would be is then having him start against Wolves too many minutes already?  My thinking is that maybe his body can only take 90 minutes a week when played at a PL pace since he's never consistently stayed healthy before for whatever reason.

We have a three week break after Wolves.

[killer-heels]

We have a three week break after Wolves.

He will be on international duty.

[Funky_Gibbons]

He will be on international duty.

All the more reason to play him against Wolves, we probably won’t see him again for two months once he gets back from international games.

[Dave McCoy]

We have a three week break after Wolves.

I believe the club is going to prevent all non-Euro players from going anywhere this break but if not then I would assume he'll play 180 minutes on the 24th and 28th.  Naby hasn't played even 2000 minutes yet since his transfer here in a season.  That would just be 60% of the league games which equals out to about 1 match a week.  In my mind lets hit that plateau first before thinking he can play 3500 minutes which he's never even done in his career.

[Oldskoolcool]

Such a class act is our Keith. Silky, strong, great dribbling, that through ball for Origi was sublime too. Such a positive and progressive player, what was key about that passage of play for Mane's goal was the decisive one touch football, it is what we have missed for most of this season.

[farawayred]

I believe the club is going to prevent all non-Euro players from going anywhere this break but if not then I would assume he'll play 180 minutes on the 24th and 28th.  Naby hasn't played even 2000 minutes yet since his transfer here in a season.  That would just be 60% of the league games which equals out to about 1 match a week.  In my mind lets hit that plateau first before thinking he can play 3500 minutes which he's never even done in his career.

Preventing internationals to go to their countries is currently allowed only is said country has been imposed travel restrictions by England. Naby will go.

[jackh]

Preventing internationals to go to their countries is currently allowed only is said country has been imposed travel restrictions by England. Naby will go.

Good.  International football will be a regular part of his career and we can't just forever pretend it's not a thing or hope he won't be involved.

Hope he gets 30/60 minutes at the weekend, and a couple of international appearances - keep sharp, increase in confidence, and come back and contribute to whatever is yet to come this season.

[killer-heels]

I believe the club is going to prevent all non-Euro players from going anywhere this break but if not then I would assume he'll play 180 minutes on the 24th and 28th.  Naby hasn't played even 2000 minutes yet since his transfer here in a season.  That would just be 60% of the league games which equals out to about 1 match a week.  In my mind lets hit that plateau first before thinking he can play 3500 minutes which he's never even done in his career.

Jota apparently won’t be travelling.

[farawayred]

Good.  International football will be a regular part of his career and we can't just forever pretend it's not a thing or hope he won't be involved.

Hope he gets 30/60 minutes at the weekend, and a couple of international appearances - keep sharp, increase in confidence, and come back and contribute to whatever is yet to come this season.

Yes and no. I'd agree with everything you said if this was the first, or an isolated injury occurrence. We were VERY patient with his comeback, now Guinea has to show the same approach. If he goes and they use him sparingly, then great. If not, the problem will be ours, not Guinea's.

[afc tukrish]

The look on his face as Jurgen lifted him clear off the ground in a hug after the first goal was spectacular...

[jedimaster]

Naby's dribbles from central midfield to the edge of the box are EXACTLY what we have been missing with a midfield who only ever pass sideways or backwards or out to the wings. If he stays fit we have a world beater. Even if he only starts 10 games a season he is still worth a place in our squad.

[number 168]

Naby's dribbles from central midfield to the edge of the box are EXACTLY what we have been missing with a midfield who only ever pass sideways or backwards or out to the wings. If he stays fit we have a world beater. Even if he only starts 10 games a season he is still worth a place in our squad.

I hope he would play more than 10 games but I know what you mean. What also marks him out as different to our other midfielders is his speed of thought, he sees a pass quickly and more often than not moves to offer himself if there is a chance of a return, or just to give the player another option. He is great to watch.

[thekitkatshuffler]

Naby's dribbles from central midfield to the edge of the box are EXACTLY what we have been missing with a midfield who only ever pass sideways or backwards or out to the wings. If he stays fit we have a world beater. Even if he only starts 10 games a season he is still worth a place in our squad.

God bless the remaining blind optimists.

[killer-heels]

Naby's dribbles from central midfield to the edge of the box are EXACTLY what we have been missing with a midfield who only ever pass sideways or backwards or out to the wings. If he stays fit we have a world beater. Even if he only starts 10 games a season he is still worth a place in our squad.

No way. 10 starts a season would be pitiful.

[spider-neil]

No way. 10 starts a season would be pitiful.

I'm pretty sure the poster means in the league. 10 starts in a 38 game season is okay. You'd also expect him to start some domestic cup games. I won't be presumptuous and talk about Europe.

[mrantarctica]

Naby's dribbles from central midfield to the edge of the box are EXACTLY what we have been missing with a midfield who only ever pass sideways or backwards or out to the wings. If he stays fit we have a world beater. Even if he only starts 10 games a season he is still worth a place in our squad.

can't say I agree with this one. He is a very good player but to be honest he hasn't been deciding matches on his own when he has played and been fit. Probably the only two players I'd say are that good (even for just 10 starts a season) would have been Stevie G and Suarez at their prime.

That being said, there's a cracking player in there if he can just stay fit and play more consistently. That's why we paid what we paid. Someone mentioned it earlier that having had an extended recovery, he looks a bit stronger and more confident. I'm hoping this mean he'll have a pretty good run with regard to injuries from this point on.

[killer-heels]

I'm pretty sure the poster means in the league. 10 starts in a 38 game season is okay. You'd also expect him to start some domestic cup games. I won't be presumptuous and talk about Europe.

Its still not good. Im sure i read when he signed he was on the £100k a week mark and with two years left on his contract thats not the basis for extending his terms.

He is a fantastic player but we need to get him in a position where he is fit to start at least around 20-25 league games. That should be the basis for most players.

[spider-neil]

Its still not good. Im sure i read when he signed he was on the £100k a week mark and with two years left on his contract thats not the basis for extending his terms.

He is a fantastic player but we need to get him in a position where he is fit to start at least around 20-25 league games. That should be the basis for most players.

The reason I say 10 starts in the league is due to rotation rather than unavailability.  You'd expect the captain to start the majority of league games he is available for (leadership). I'd expect Fabinho to start the majority of league game he is available for because it is inarguable he is our best (only) out and out holding midfielder. That would leave one position which potentially will be heavily rotated.

[jedimaster]

The reason I say 10 starts in the league is due to rotation rather than unavailability.  You'd expect the captain to start the majority of league games he is available for (leadership). I'd expect Fabinho to start the majority of league game he is available for because it is inarguable he is our best (only) out and out holding midfielder. That would leave one position which potentially will be heavily rotated.

Absolutely, 10 league starts is what I meant. If we could get him starting 1/3 of the games and being involved in another 1/3, I would take that, although obviously you want all your players available as much as possible. Naby has a skillset that nobody else in the squad has and that is hard to find. He is the type of player who could miss a couple of months and then come back and turn a CL quarter final on it's head.

Fabinho for me is the only midfielder I would have starting every game he is available for. All our other midfielders I would rotate depending upon the type of game.

[spider-neil]

Absolutely, 10 league starts is what I meant. If we could get him starting 1/3 of the games and being involved in another 1/3, I would take that, although obviously you want all your players available as much as possible. Naby has a skillset that nobody else in the squad has and that is hard to find. He is the type of player who could miss a couple of months and then come back and turn a CL quarter final on it's head.

Fabinho for me is the only midfielder I would have starting every game he is available for. All our other midfielders I would rotate depending upon the type of game.

A fitness expert said in a podcast that given his age and accumulation of injuries we shouldn't be looking to play Henderson more than one game a week and if we make Europe (likely UEFA) I'd want that one game a week to be in the league. So you may see more Keita in Europe (if we qualify) than the league.

[jedimaster]

A fitness expert said in a podcast that given his age and accumulation of injuries we shouldn't be looking to play Henderson more than one game a week and if we make Europe (likely UEFA) I'd want that one game a week to be in the league. So you may see more Keita in Europe (if we qualify) than the league.

Keita and Thiago both seem more suited to Europe than the PL. If and when we get back in the CL I would love to see us start a big CL knockout game with Fabinho/Keita/Thiago in midfield, I would fancy our chances against anyone.