Topic: Cody Mathès Gakpo

[Dim Glas]

He'll become the new whipping boy because he doesnt do fancy things and does the basic stuff really really well. He is consistent in his performances and you can see he is an unselfish team player. Thats what you need to replace Bobby. A lad who does the legwork so that the wide players can score. For the price, he is an absolute gem. He'll do great for us but will forever be underrated by the fanbase because he wont be scoring 30 goals every season.
He's already got more league goals than Diaz last season and I can see him making that false 9 role his own because the other lads are not nearly as grafting as him.

not by the fans who matter - those who actually support, and know their stuff! Plenty of players who may not be that ‘flashy’ are massively appreciated by those fans.  What gobshites on Twitter or those who stray in here say is of zero consequence.

[B0151?]

Maybe I'm overhyping it but I loved his assist to Salah. Not the easiest ball to control but is so cool and lays it perfectly off to Salah.

From what I've seen he's a very cool customer in the box. I think he'll be big for us, can see him popping up in big games with that composure and making a difference.

[DangerScouse]

He'll become the new whipping boy because he doesnt do fancy things and does the basic stuff really really well. He is consistent in his performances and you can see he is an unselfish team player. Thats what you need to replace Bobby. A lad who does the legwork so that the wide players can score. For the price, he is an absolute gem. He'll do great for us but will forever be underrated by the fanbase because he wont be scoring 30 goals every season.
He's already got more league goals than Diaz last season and I can see him making that false 9 role his own because the other lads are not nearly as grafting as him.

Sure there were people here on his back after 3 games, thankfully those idiots are largely in the minority

[WhereAngelsPlay]

Sure there were people here on his back after 3 games, thankfully those idiots are largely in the minority

There were people using the transfer as a stick to hit the boss with & not just a few times either,one of them constantly posted the same shit time and time again,never anything positive and never after a win not even after the 2 Uniteds hammerings

[WhereAngelsPlay]

Maybe I'm overhyping it but I loved his assist to Salah. Not the easiest ball to control but is so cool and lays it perfectly off to Salah.

From what I've seen he's a very cool customer in the box. I think he'll be big for us, can see him popping up in big games with that composure and making a difference.

I enjoyed that,had not intention of being greedy and put it on a plate for the great man.

[Crosby Nick]

Is that 5 League goals he has now?

[SamLad]

Is that 5 League goals he has now?

he has 5 total so far ... all PL?

[Johnny Aldridge]

That was his first assist last night.

Yeah thanks for correcting that, fat thumbs hit 3 instead of 1.

[aussie_ox]

Thought when he first signed he was gonna flop badly but is turning into class.  I love his runs from deep, seems to burst through and can be difficult to stop physically (the oil barons did this by fouling him repeatedly and getting away with a clear 2nd yellow).

[FLRed67]

Cody will form the spine of the team, along with Ali and Ibou, and A.N. Other in midfield.

There is no forward in the Premier League remotely like him.

Closest is probably Son. But Cody's footballing intelligence, skill set and ceiling are all higher.

[A-Bomb]

Maybe I'm overhyping it but I loved his assist to Salah. Not the easiest ball to control but is so cool and lays it perfectly off to Salah.

Reminded me a little bit of the Teddy Sheringham one to Shearer in Euro 96 vs the Dutch. Think Gakpo had more pressure on him in this one too.

[sattapaartridge]

He's the new Dennis Bergkamp.

I dont say that lightly, but cautiously. Bergkamp was always aware where Wright and Henry were, and with skill he would also bang in goals from anywhere. If Gakpo can get upto 80-90% of the quality of Bergkamp, he'll be a hell of a player.

[Dim Glas]

woah! Let’s not get carried away though 

[Samie]

I agree, he gives me Zico vibes.

[tubby]

He'll become the new whipping boy because he doesnt do fancy things and does the basic stuff really really well. He is consistent in his performances and you can see he is an unselfish team player. Thats what you need to replace Bobby. A lad who does the legwork so that the wide players can score. For the price, he is an absolute gem. He'll do great for us but will forever be underrated by the fanbase because he wont be scoring 30 goals every season.
He's already got more league goals than Diaz last season and I can see him making that false 9 role his own because the other lads are not nearly as grafting as him.

I think this is missing the point a little.  The reason people weren't convinced about him was because he wasn't comparing favourably to Firmino.  He currently still doesn't get involved anywhere near as much as Bobby and doesn't work as hard (but who does?).  I think he's getting better and more used to the false 9 role, but it isn't that people were expecting a superstar.

[jepovic]

I think this is missing the point a little.  The reason people weren't convinced about him was because he wasn't comparing favourably to Firmino.  He currently still doesn't get involved anywhere near as much as Bobby and doesn't work as hard (but who does?).  I think he's getting better and more used to the false 9 role, but it isn't that people were expecting a superstar.

And Bobby also got tons of criticism over the years, because he's not a traditional striker. He was never scoring enough.
I sometimes think Bobby would have been more appreciated if Klopp presented our team as a 442 diamond.

[tubby]

I think as well, one of the key things is Nunez getting moved out wide to accommodate Gakpo.  Nunez is already practically a cult hero here and everyone wants to see him as the central striker, so bringing someone less dynamic and mad has frustrated a few, even if the team is better for it.

[SamLad]

where does it say that whoever takes Bobby's role has to be a carbon-copy replica of Bobby?  AFAIK that person doesn't exist.

let's just enjoy the skills Cody brings us and stop saying "but he's not Bobby".

[tubby]

where does it say that whoever takes Bobby's role has to be a carbon-copy replica of Bobby?  AFAIK that person doesn't exist.

let's just enjoy the skills Cody brings us and stop saying "but he's not Bobby".

Sure, but players will always be compared with who they replace, especially if they're playing the same position.  For what it's worth, I think Gapko is a better finisher than Bobby and will get more goals.  Bobby could be pretty erratic in front of goal and is a streaky goalscorer, but Gakpo looks a consistently calm finisher.

[Schmidt]

where does it say that whoever takes Bobby's role has to be a carbon-copy replica of Bobby?  AFAIK that person doesn't exist.

let's just enjoy the skills Cody brings us and stop saying "but he's not Bobby".

I don't think anyone has been saying that. The concern has been that we're trying to use him as a player that presses from the front and links play, yet he does tend to go missing for long periods which is something you can typically accept from a finisher but not someone in his role. Go through our recent matches and he does tend to consistently have the fewest touches of anyone. That said, I think his numbers are improving a little.

As tubby pointed out it hasn't helped that we seemed to spend months integrating Nunez only for Gakpo to displace him immediately, despite the effectiveness of our attack seeming to decline as a result. I think this was also compounded by the fact that we had every chance of sneaking into the top four since the new year, only for our attack to suddenly become very blunt, resulting in us probably missing out now.

[xbugawugax]

bobby is just bobby. his style and role is pretty unique to his skillset

now is the time for cody to adapt and shine.

like mentioned, love the pass to salah for the goal. really reminds us of what a false 9 can bring into the game

the fact that he has stepped into a disjointed squad and have quite a decent output shows that hopefully next year we just might see his G/A go up a bit further once there is a settled midfield and he gets used to playing with diaz, nunez and gakpo. Reminder that our front 4 is also not really settled yet with injuries and poor form.

[A-Bomb]

bobby is just bobby. his style and role is pretty unique to his skillset

Absolutely, Gakpo is clearly more direct and uses his physicality whereas Bobby was more nuanced and creative.

[Giono]

I like his patience on the ball and his ability to hang onto it and draw defenders before releasing it to a team-mate. I'm looking forward to his development with us. He is an intelligent player that will only get better.

[DangerScouse]

Thought when he first signed he was gonna flop badly but is turning into class.  I love his runs from deep, seems to burst through and can be difficult to stop physically (the oil barons did this by fouling him repeatedly and getting away with a clear 2nd yellow).

There's a lesson to be learnt there!

[newterp]

There's a lesson to be learnt there!

"He's proved me wrong"

[LifelongRed, Sussex]

He’s fine and will only get better.  To perform the way he has in an dysfunctional team needing a rebuild, shows his talent.   In 6 months time, if the club get centre midfield right, the remaining critics will be wooed too.

[Keith Lard]

I’ve honestly been so impressed with Gakpo. Came into a bad situation and shown an attitude of a complete winner. If there’s one thing we’ve all surely learnt over the last few years, a successful Liverpool team is built on a winning attitude and team ethic.

That aside, I also think he’s an excellent player that will only get better and better. We snagged a bargain there from PSV, no two ways about it. He will play for us for many many years, and his journey at LFC will be a fun one to follow.

[redbyrdz]

Absolutely, Gakpo is clearly more direct and uses his physicality whereas Bobby was more nuanced and creative.

He's obviously playing a role similar to Bobby, but some of his work in midfield reminded me of Gerrard.

[Scottymuser]

He’s fine and will only get better.  To perform the way he has in an dysfunctional team needing a rebuild, shows his talent.   In 6 months time, if the club get centre midfield right, the remaining critics will be wooed too.

I've said this before - but against the sorts of teams who play negatively, defend with 10 men back, etc - I'd have Gakpo play in the midfield, behind Salah/Diaz/Nunez - he is far more creative than any of our other midfield options we have, and his work rate is more than any of our other forwards so i don't think we'll lose defensive shape playing him instead of eg. Hendo.

[MonsLibpool]

I love the fact that he stepped up when we were a goal. That's the only doubt I had about him. Fantastic strike from a fantastic player at a key point of the game.

[tubby]

He was excellent tonight, can see why he's got that central spot.

[Egyptian36]

For anyone who said he is average or wanted us to miss on the opportunity to get him for this low price please watch another sport, football isn't for you.

[Chakan]

Did very well today.

[jepovic]

Really good, even aside from the goal. Involved in most of our attacks, by linking up and finding space.
MOTM, easily

[Ghost Town]

For anyone who said he is average or wanted us to miss on the opportunity to get him for this low price please watch another sport, football isn't for you.

Heh heh. Indeed. Smartarse wannabe know-it-alls always get it wrong

[Dim Glas]

West Ham got Gakpo’d!

He’s great.

[naYoRHa2b]

He's making that position his own.

[DelTrotter]

He's class, settled in very nicely. Would like to see him on free kicks too.

[RyanBabel19]

Yet again... remember when his link up play wasn't great and there was no point in his signing me either

Fucking class and so calm on the ball. A joy to watch

[Gods_Left_Boot]

Brilliant all around performance, on top of a vital goal. Really making that Bobby role his own.