02 Mar 2017 15:02:27
I'm interested to know if the consensus is that Firmino should be playing up front. The argument for him is that his style of play is crucial to our game plan, the argument against is that he doesn't score enough goals for a number 9.

I'd love to see him and Couts in the Lallana / Wiji positions behind a specialist striker (Origi / Studge/ new striker) with Mane on the right and youth/ new winger on the left. Where do you guys think Bobby should play?

1.) 02 Mar 2017
02 Mar 2017 16:08:30
A lot of people will disagree but i just don't get it with him to be honest. I thought this season he would kick on and apply his talents better, utilising his good touch and movement and translating that into creativity, assists and goals.

Alas, that is not the case. Ever since the robbery and drunk driving incidents he has been awful.

He has two positives, good touch and good movement as well as work rate. But does he score enough goals? No. Is he fast? No. Can he take players on and use audacious skill? No. Does he set players up? No.

In all honesty i don't think he is that great and, if he really is unsettled in the same way that di maria was for united, he should leave.

2.) 02 Mar 2017
02 Mar 2017 16:27:08
I think Firmino is a good option as the number 9 against the bigger sides but when we play teams that park the bus and counter, his contribution is nullified. It has to be said that his form has been very poor since the turn of the year like the team.

3.) 02 Mar 2017
02 Mar 2017 16:27:52
Yes, spot on.

We can't fault him for the work rate and it suits Klopp's style.

But he doesn't have the quality/ instincts of a striker and that is obvious to see. Really appreciate him for his hard work but it comes at a cost. Not enough goals and no starting place for Origi/ Sturridge.

But again Sturridge has become like a luxury player. So best thing for him and club is to part ways and it is obvious.

Cheers.

4.) 02 Mar 2017
02 Mar 2017 16:33:44
At the start of the season I thought we would struggle without an obvious goal scoring striker. a fluid front line of Couts, Lallana, mane, bobby et all is exciting but no substitute to a recognised striker.

5.) 02 Mar 2017
02 Mar 2017 16:38:05
That's our problem though loads of number tens and not much else. Klopp today hinting at a major reshuffle in the summer. It's needed.

6.) 02 Mar 2017
02 Mar 2017 17:18:18
Sorry but if you don't think Firmino is skilful, you aren't watching Liverpool. Some of his audacious flicks make him the player he is.
The player you are describing however is Dirk Kuyt.

7.) 02 Mar 2017
02 Mar 2017 19:18:28
I don't rate him one bit, He's shown flashes and perhaps he's in the wrong position I'm not sure, but from what i've seen I don't see how he benefits us, I'd personally prefer Origi given a consistent run down the middle with Couts and Mane either side, And someone said he's been awful since the police business, Id fully agree.

8.) 02 Mar 2017
02 Mar 2017 19:36:55
He has 2 positives, good touch, good movement and good work rate. Sorry AW, that made me chuckle.

9.) 02 Mar 2017
02 Mar 2017 20:03:43
You are correct WelshBoy.

He is upgrade to Kuyt. Same or little less on the work rate (we can't fault him) but much better overall skill.

However that is not resulting into goals for himself or for the team in spite of his relentless pressing.

So it begs the question -

Firminio type or Sturridge type player (style of play)

Who can give you better return at the end of day?

Cheers.

10.) 02 Mar 2017
02 Mar 2017 22:13:15
I don't think our goal scoring has been the cause of our problems.

11.) 02 Mar 2017
02 Mar 2017 22:30:42
Hi Ron,

Aren't we saying we are able to score if the opposition play a open game (attack us) and when they park bus by having everyone back, we can't seem to open them up at all.

Also if you see our record against higher placed teams in the league is good and it is abysmal against the bottom scrappers?

Why is Chelsea, MU or Spurs don't have problems against 15 to 20th placed teams most of the times?

Cheers.

12.) 03 Mar 2017
03 Mar 2017 00:02:04
You can chuckle all you want but if you want to see his deficiencies then just look at any of the games we've ballsed up in this season, where he has either gone missing or missed a million chances. The 0-0 at southampton comes to mind.

As for his use of skill, he does one nutmeg once every 3 months. In fact he seems to score a goal every 3 months. He just isn't audacious or brash enough with the talent he has. If you want a truly skilful player then i'd point you in the direction of suarez during his time with us, even mane and coutinho take on more players in one game than firmino does all season.

13.) 03 Mar 2017
02 Mar 2017 23:05:00
Too many attacking players leaving poor Henderson to break up the counter? No wonder we are conceding plenty!

14.) 03 Mar 2017
02 Mar 2017 23:29:16
Anonymous, a bit harsh on the fella. Why are you giving up on him so soon? We are all frustrated with the team right now BUT let's not throw the baby out with the bath water. Firmino is a wonderful player who is a nightmare for CB's which is why he eats them up alive cos CB's don't want to deal with the energy and determination he has to chase them down.

The dud is simply relentless and skill wise, very few in the PL are better at than him with the ball at his feet. Now, does he score enough goals? No. Can he improve there? Yes. But to say, he should leave is over the top, man. If we can get a striker who can doo all that he does AND score goals then he is welcome here. Till then, just be patient with him.

15.) 03 Mar 2017
02 Mar 2017 23:32:53
Got to honest here, how Klopp can justify playing Firmino week in week out is beyond me. He has been awful for months.

I don't know where his future lies because he can't play anywhere else because he's even worse than he is when he's up top.

16.) 03 Mar 2017
02 Mar 2017 23:36:26
I really like Firmino. He works hard, chips in with goals and his movement makes space for others. I agree he isn't creating as many goals as we would like but who do we have for him to create for? It is only really Mane moving for him. He is definitely skillful though. Probably the most skillful player we have ever had at the club in terms of audacious turns, skill moves and flicks! Even Suarez for all his ability wasn't as much of a show-man as Firmino. He just powered past people or nutmegged them! Suarez's audacity was in some of the goals and assists he attempted.

However, Firmino is in terrible form right now for sure and even at his best he is not a goal scorer. He would be absolutely perfect just behind a striker or even alongside a more natural poacher to make runs he can find. Basically as a second striker. Pining for a Lacazette, Aubameyang or Aguero is just pipe dreams though. Klopp took Lewandowski from obscurity. He took Aubameyang from nowhere. Even his original main man Lucas Barrios came from relatively nowhere. Historically he has never signed a household name. His record signings are Reus, Mkhitaryan, Gini and Mane. None of whom were really big names at the time he took them on.

Whatever Striker he signs they need to be hard working team players. That is why he likes Origi; work rate. Nobody can tell me Origi has more quality than Sturridge. He just puts in more of a shift! Arguably that is Klopp's Achilles heel as a coach. He puts a lot of emphasis on hard running to the point where it is almost more important than actual ability. Ideally, maybe Ings can get and stay fit because he would actually be the perfect player for Klopp. He has the ability and the work rate to match it.

17.) 03 Mar 2017
02 Mar 2017 23:48:55
I would take a kuyt over firminio anyday. If kuyt had gotten to play upfront as many times as firminio he would of shone. However his work rate was superb. and I doubt you would find any supporter, even a manc to say he wasn't 1 of the premiership biggest grafters. And to be honest he still is for feyernord.

18.) 03 Mar 2017
02 Mar 2017 23:23:07
He brings more to the game than being a striker. What he does naturally suits Klopp's style whereas what Sturridge brings naturally doesn't.

But whether he is worth 29 million is another question

Maybe if he had a Costa or Suarez alongside him as a front 2 it'd be better but them 2 would improve any player.

19.) 03 Mar 2017
03 Mar 2017 01:48:40
Is no player safe?
Firmino has been one of our best players this season. He had struggled when he has zero service. Every player has gone missing at some stage this season, where was Mane against Leicester?
Firmino would be 3rd from bottom of my list of players who need replacing.

20.) 03 Mar 2017
03 Mar 2017 08:30:31
Firmino has had no service the ball keeps getting lumped up to him. It's not going to stick. It's no coincidence that his form is bad ATM who's isn't that's in the side? He needs ball to feet and players to make runs. We're having a really bad patch and not playing with confidence and with short quick passing which is where he shines. One twos and flicks to bring others into play. While I agree he's not a natural finisher the pockets he creates by going deep and the amount of times he wins the ball back high up the pitch is integral to our good play. Can't believe people on here saying he's not v good? If we did play a striker up top then I wouldn't mind trying him in lallanas position because I think he's better and offers more bite in the tackle.

21.) 03 Mar 2017
03 Mar 2017 09:38:58
And are you telling me a striker who also scores more goals, is faster, taller, stronger and assits other players wouldn't do better? I really do feel people have developed the same complex they had with joe allen and only look and the minority of positives to his game rather than the glaring deficiencies.

What other top club in the world justifies the selection of their centre forward because they work hard and make good runs? You make him sound like a glorified shane long. Other top clubs have centre forwards that get stuck in pull goals out of nowhere when the chips are down. Firmino is a luxury player who, like joe allen, only contributes when the rest of the team is playing well.

Also, i didn't say we should sell him, although i should have known better to make a comment like that and it not to get jumped upon. My point simply is that im sick of players without personality or heart. Running round like a headless chicken for me is not heart, prioritising perfecting your smile and instagram account is not heart. That comes from looking at yourself, and the team around you, and pushing yourself and your colleagues to be better and improve, which firmino has not done in the almost 2 seasons he has been here, despite being at peak age. I'm willing to give him more time if klopp believes he deserves it but, if he is unsettled and wants to go to psg or whatever then he can, get someone in with a bit of passion, i won't be upset as he is replacable.

22.) 03 Mar 2017
03 Mar 2017 14:49:35
First of all, the older fans will know how important Kuyt was to our team, he was a great player week in week out, I do like Firmino, and he should stay, but he does go missing in games and gives the ball away far to easily, maybe he needs a break, and take the subs bench for a week or two, to wake him up .

23.) 03 Mar 2017
03 Mar 2017 14:15:35
Firmino is bloody good but he cannot play anywhere else which is a worry. At the same time some demand a world class striker coz Firmino isn't clinical enough.
Not sure what happens with Firmino if we sign a new striker. A bench role probably?

24.) 03 Mar 2017
03 Mar 2017 14:35:48
It doesn't matter what his name is or what he brings. If he is leading the line then he should score at least 20 every season. Hard work is not the only criteria to play as a striker.

25.) 03 Mar 2017
03 Mar 2017 15:05:02
Reswills

He is absolutely terrible out wide left or right. He is at his best in between defenders where he makes space for runs. His movement in and around the 6 yard box is his best attribute. But he is not a natural striker hence he miss infinite chances! He can't function as a winger and never would be one. He has no pace what so ever.

The reality is we can't shift him from up top and that is an issue given his goals return is very poor to consider him as a striker. He works hard but that's not a mandatory to be a world class striker. He isn't a striker in the first place!

26.) 03 Mar 2017
03 Mar 2017 14:37:38
for the last few months Booby's been pretty much up front on his own and has had very little support, Mane away on AFCON duty then when back spending too much time dropping deep or too wide, Coutinho out injured then struggling for form and like Mane dropping very deep to get the ball.

Lallana suffering from a massive drop in form and being asked to play a position we know he's struggled with (replacing Mane) whilst he's been with us the moment, Sturridge always going wide or deep and playing outside of the box, Origi being played sporadically and struggling for form.

Personally think in order to get the best out of Bobby we need to switch to 4-4-2 and bring in a deadly finisher who plays predominantly in the box, Bobby is a perfect No10 and yes he can pay the lone role and can do a great job leading the line, but if the rest of the team aren't backing him up then he's next to useless.

27.) 03 Mar 2017
03 Mar 2017 16:04:22
Bloody hell.

Are any of our players good enough?!

Because if we're now saying Firmimo isn't up to it then essentially nobody we have is. I agree he has been poor since the turn of the year but newsflash so has everyone. Not one players has had a good 2017.

28.) 03 Mar 2017
03 Mar 2017 19:44:26
Good player, simply not a striker. Yes we have generally been playin better with him as the number 9. But he's number 10 in my view all day long. Him and lallana coutinho should be competing for those one/ two spots in the midfield and play proper wingers and strikers in their natural position.

29.) 03 Mar 2017
03 Mar 2017 19:56:02
I agree with you there, Scarface. Puzzled Red, none of our players are safe anymore even those who have performed for us earlier in the season and/ or are still giving their all for the cause. If a physical and skilful beast like Bobby is not safe then, might as well sell everyone cos nobody in the LFC team can do what Bobbie can week in, week out with his skill, physicality, movement and energy.

None! Yet some of these fans are still pining for Studge to start games without naming one reason why he should start ahead of Firmino or Origi. What has happened to some of the fans of this great club?

30.) 05 Mar 2017
04 Mar 2017 23:57:45
Just wouldn't get anywhere near a place in that team.

He was a compromise signing as was Voronin.
The club was nearly bankrupted.