16 Jul 2015 10:02:04
Would love it if the interest in Menez is true. He is a very skillful and hard working forward who creates as much as he scores. A front 3 of Firmino, Menez and Coutinho would be devastating. I'd put them down to get at least 40-50 goals between them.
Sadly I think it's a manufactured story. The movement that front 3 would offer would just be impossible to deal with though.
One thing I would say though, Menez is not a 20 goal a season striker. He scored 16 last year which looks good on the face of it but 8 of them were from the spot. Having said that though, I'd say we're in need if a new penalty taker with Gerrard leaving.
I think he's a perfect fit myself.
16 Jul 2015 10:20:38
EMS.
We did try last season with Countinho, lallana and Sterling uptop, Linking and interchanging.
All they did was to pass and make the crowd look WOW, We did not score goals and for that you need an out and out striker.
Menez is very much similar to Countinho and Firmino.
We should leave the creativity to them and need a physical presence inside the 6 yard box to put the ball back in the net.
There is no another Suarez out there. eEither its a typical creator or a CF.
16 Jul 2015 10:23:22
Menez started playing regularly as a stiker last season at Milan,before he played as a winger.So his goalscoring exploits are decent.I would be happy if the club actually considers him.
He fits our style of play.And Since Milan are buying stikers I think we can bring him,if we lose our primary target.But again he scored in patches and he has some attitude issues,so it can be a gamble.
16 Jul 2015 10:50:26
EMS actually in those 8 penalties 5 were given for the fouls made on him.So he could have scored 13 goals from open play.Anyways the major thing is he has everything in his arsenal skills,movement,passing,dribbling,finishing from both his feet.Just he was not consistent and I didn't watch Serie A regularly to know the exact reason.If anyone has any idea,it would be great for them to give their opinion.Also Eds what is your opinion?
Thanks.
16 Jul 2015 10:53:05
EG, the biggest problem we had last season was that Sterling and Coutinho both drop deeper to run at people and that Sterling can't shoot. Lallana was also injured too frequently to get into any rhythm. So we had nobody regularly looking to run in behind or get into the box. Firmino and Menez are both far more suited to playing in a front 3 than Sterling though. They both look to get into the box all the time.
As Indian Scouser says, Menez did actually play as an out and out striker last season anyway and it was arguably the best season of his career.
Those 3 players to me look very similar in style to the Barcelona front 3; albeit with less quality. You have the hardworking power in Firmino (Suarez), the blistering pace and skill of Menez (Messi) and the skill and flair of Coutinho (Neymar). Like I say, it's certainly not as good as Barca's frontline in terms of quality, but style wise the evidence is there that an interchangeable front 3 can be devastating to play against.
16 Jul 2015 10:25:22
Firmino can do the same role can't he?!
16 Jul 2015 10:37:51
What is the point of Liverpool wasting money buying another striker if he's not a major improvement on what we already have? Benteke is a very good, proven premier league striker. If we cannot get a striker in Benteke's bracket OR better I'd say don't buy and give Ings/Origi/Firmino the vote of confidence.
16 Jul 2015 11:07:16
Remember what happened with the last striker from Milan with a good goal scoring record that we bought? :)
I don't think Menez is what we need. I would like a simple out and out 20+ goal a season striker who doesn't want to go near the wing.
I am always wary of buying from Italy.
16 Jul 2015 11:25:40
EMS
Exactly why we need a top class CM behind Countinhom and Firmino, Else both would drop deep to pick the player and often gets marked out.
A passing midfielder would psuh the attacers upfront and we would have mobility in the front three, All we need is a presence inside the 6 yard box and Benteke is all about it.
Beneteke could also shoot from way outside 30 yards with ease.
Menez is very much similar to Firmono and would block the way of Firmino and Countinho when they move forward.
We need someone inside the box and that's where Benteke comes into the picture.
Exactly the prblem at Arsenal they have abundance of Artist who could create, But no player to put the ball in the back of net.
16 Jul 2015 12:02:38
Bobatron Balotelli is a different class.Menez is completely different from Balotelli in terms of playing style.
Menez is a striker whereas Firmino excels in Second stiker or midfield positions.We already have plenty of passing midfielders like
Hendo,Milner,Coutinho,Teixeira,Lallana.What we lacked was a striker who could create space for others to exploit and who could stretch the defence and exploit the space behind defence by making runs.Hence signing Menez will make sense.Arsenal felt the importance of CDM and GK.In striking department they need another one so that they cannot solely depend on Giroud.
16 Jul 2015 12:26:25
I'd kill for Liverpool to have the "problems" arsenal have, Harry .
16 Jul 2015 12:08:37
I'll repeat this once and once only EG.
Menez now plays as an out and out striker! Firmino isn't even close to a similar player. He is all about craft and clever movement. Menez is more about pace, skill etc. He's incredibly direct and always attacks the penalty area. You seem to be recalling the Menez of AS Roma. He is a different player now.
16 Jul 2015 12:51:44
Good thing Menez is not a striker then. He is a wide forward, had attitude issues at some point in his career.
16 Jul 2015 13:07:29
I see my smiley face was lost a little in translation
16 Jul 2015 13:22:20
Spot on, EG. Menez will not get you the goals you need to compete for the top 4. Kane scored a hatful YET Tottenham only finished in fifth so what will Menez who`s never been a striker, give you?. In fact, He only started playing the position last season after playing out wide for years with Monaco, Roma and PSG. We have enuff players of his ilk. We need a striker who can finish the multitude of chances we create and if Benteke is the guy (per the Daily Mail, we will activate his release clause any day now) then let`s go for him and forget all these other names who won`t improve us that much. Oh and by the way, we still have Studge to return.
16 Jul 2015 14:31:43
bobatron, good point on wanting a striker who wants to stay in the box.