04 May 2023 10:01:10
Starting to think Nunez should be moved on this summer, the fact that his English is still non existent nearly a year in doesn't provide me enough confidence in his commitment as well as his footballing IQ not being up to scratch - He's actually not got a bad goal/ assist return this season so value should be high and and hopefully recoup some of the 65mil up front payment while other clauses will not have been met and can no longer be activated if he were to move on.
just as well I ain't DOF as i'd be half tempted to offer a straight swap for Rafael Leao. The fact he is on his last year of his contract will mean Milan can't risk losing an asset like that for nothing - and his English is extremely good so that would clear one obstacle.
What are peoples opinion when watching Nunez?
04 May 2023 10:15:38
Nunez will be flying next season!
04 May 2023 10:23:41
I think we should keep Nunez. He's undoubtedly raw, as proven by his performances all season, but I think he will turn into a star.
His physical attributes alone are a standout and he often gets into good positions. His return is also promising averaging a goal involvement every 120 minutes or so.
He's a player that relies on confidence hugely and there's no doubt that's been lacking slightly this season. It's a case of sticking with him and ensuring we support him, at Benfica he was hit or miss in his first season and then absolutely exploded in his second. I think he himself has eluded to this. With a pre-season under his belt and all of the talent around him I'm absolutely sure he will thrive and become hugely important for us.
What he needs however is the fans to get behind him. There's no doubt he's working hard in training and on the pitch he gives it his all. That's all you can ask for really!
04 May 2023 10:45:01
You try learning a new language between working and looking after your family. Let's see will you master it in less than a year. Give the lad a break.
04 May 2023 10:46:48
Even if we toss aside the Liverpool way of giving players time to prove themselves, from a footballung standpoint, given that we won't be able to recoup anything more than 40mn, I would very happily keep him for atleast one more season.
Also, I think he has a LOT of potential and can be truly world class with the physical attributes he has got. At the same time though, I agree he is FAR from the finished product right now. But for the time being, at the very least he offers a decent Plan B.
04 May 2023 11:11:51
I think he deserves another season at least, but I am progressively becoming more worried about him.
The Gakpo signing came out of a number of factors, but I think most of all it had dawned on Klopp that he desperately needed a centre forward who had an adequate skill set on the ball. They were the first real alarm bells where Nunez is concerned.
I wouldn’t be surprised if it was around that time when Klopp told Ljinders to stick his ideas up his bum. The Nunez signing appeared to be one pushed by Klopp and his staff, with little to no thought put into it.
We massively overpaid for an incredibly raw player. As time goes on, I feel more and more like he’s the profile of player that Everton fans glorify.
An ‘agent of chaos’? Basically someone who puts themselves about a bit but has no real quality on the ball. He doesn’t aim for the corner of the goal, for one. The one thing a big number nine should be able to do best isn’t even something he is competent at.
His passing is poor, on the same level as if not worse than Jota’s, and the same goes for his touch. He doesn’t have the technical proficiency to be a hold up man, and doesn’t have the finishing ability for the manager to look beyond his all round play, hence the Gakpo signing.
He does have an incredible amount of pace to burn, which has meant he has mostly played on the wing, . Unfortunately, his technical ability let's him down there as well.
In terms of planning, we knew he was raw and we knew he mostly liked to operate in the left side channel, not down the middle in the way Haaland or Kane do. We already had Diaz, Jota and Carvalho, but we signed him anyway for silly money. We quickly found that he had the skill set for neither centre forward or left wing, and now we have no idea what to do with him.
I find it hard to believe that this would have happened 4 or 5 years ago, when the process of signing players was meticulous and logical. The recent comments from Klopp, the signing of Gakpo and his team selections seem to indicate that he knows it may have been a mistake.
There is still hope for Nunez, as he certainly has something about him. However, his skill set is a total mismatch for a team of our ambition. I desperately want to believe he can come good, but in order to do that, a lot needs to happen.
He needs to go from a very poor finisher to an above average one, one that actually has the composure to try and aim for the bloody corner. He has to become at least somewhat competent on the ball, and reach a level where he can hold his own against his team mates. He needs to learn how to press properly and in cooperation with his team mates, as well as learn English to a competent degree, something which must be a serious hinderance as I feel Klopp would not mention it otherwise.
They represent critical deficiencies in footballing IQ, which aren’t things you can generally fix over one summer. I like the lad and he is good entertainment value, but I have serious, serious concerns.
04 May 2023 11:25:02
Agree with woolback here. His performances recently have been worrying. He seems to lack the intelligence to play in our pressing system which makes me think he was a lijnders signing from the start.
The lad has incredible raw ability so if anyone can get turn him into a superstar it’s Klopp! Let’s get behind him for another season and see how he does, hopefully he has the drive to spend this summer learning the press, runs to make and how to link play better so he can be a big asset for us next season.
04 May 2023 11:31:50
Once he masters the lingo he will fly, coaching must be hard especially when you can’t join in the banter. I reckon he going to be in same class as drogba.
04 May 2023 11:33:47
Spunked a load of dough on potential, I'd give him till January to learn how to decipher between a red shirt and a blue shirt and the fact that the guy in green is a goalkeeper and the dude in black is a ref, must be difficult being a footballer.
{Ed025's Note - but he has learned at least one thing iron man, how to dive when hes not touched, so thats a start mate.. :)
04 May 2023 11:49:30
Both Thierry Henri and Drogba were given time……
Just saying mate.
04 May 2023 12:33:55
Keep him and coach the raw bits. Isn't that the point of football?
As I see it, he is a forward that thrives on service and a functional team around him. The service to our forwards this season has ranged from hoof to hospital pass.
He will score a lot of goals for us as a no9 if we can become a functional team again.
04 May 2023 12:40:16
We’ve got enough to sort out in the summer without selling nunez and finding a good replacement. I have no problem with him.
04 May 2023 12:55:02
Does raise some concerns about the coaching. I remember when Torres arrived he said Rafa and his staff when into huge detail with him about when and where to make his runs, how to position his body etc. The language barrier may be a problem with that as well but it is definitely something Nunez would benefit from.
One thing I am baffled at, and maybe it's just me being naive. We have signed a few Spanish and Portuguese speaking players over the last couple of years, they seem to take a bit longer to learn English than lads from other parts of the world. Why would we not hire a really good professional interpreter?
04 May 2023 12:56:24
Shot accuracy better than Salah in his first season in a team that has suffered lots of injuries, give him another full preseason in a confident team with a few additions in midfield and as everyone says a better handle on the language (can you imagine learning English and having Henderson shouting in your ear) he will be fine. He has proven to be better season 2 versus season 1 - support the lad - our forward line is awesome with 5 quality players with TAA pinging balls left right and centre.
04 May 2023 13:04:49
He’s a sub. I said this months ago.
The problem is not Nunez, the problem is we spent £80m on a substitute.
Diaz Gakpo Salah are the main 3.
04 May 2023 13:22:24
Nunez has done more in his one season than Lewandowski did in his first 18 months under Klopp at Dortmund. He is going nowhere.
{Ed025's Note - oh i see oli, you are now comparing nunez to Lewandowski?, you do have a point mate...they both have 2 legs and a head i suppose..
04 May 2023 13:33:51
At least you didn’t claim Nunez was headless Ed! I think he’ll come good, strange season this one what with the World Cup in the middle, shirt pre-seasons etc, and also not helped by injuries to him and the other strikers, plus a poor midfield. Blimey, just writing that list, what a lousy season ?. Anyway, I think with a more settled side and some time to properly develop a new attacking system he’ll be okay. He also wasn’t helped by that ridiculous red card against Palace at the start of the season. Let’s not forget he netted against City in the charity shield and Fulham on the opening day and they ruined his own start to the season with a moment of stupidity.
04 May 2023 13:57:47
What is the actual point of some of you on here . Nunez is raw and makes mistakes and yeah he does miss some good opportunities but come on the lad will be a massive hit for our team . I think he’s actually being managed very well . The lad is a goal scorer and a hard worker he will come good . It’s only his 3rd season in Europe . Once he settles and the team around him does he will be a quality player . Forget price tags they have nothing to do with the fans just support the team.
04 May 2023 14:20:53
Ridiculous post imo. He's barely had a season in a red shirt. He will be quality next season. Give the lad a chance. He's not really had a proper run in the team. Look at his record before he came to us. Sometimes I do worry about our 'fans' Just sums up our throw away society. He will come good, don't you worry.
04 May 2023 15:02:08
Gilldoll get a grip! I’m sure his family will cope well for a couple of hours a day in a big mansion or out n about in the Lamborghini going shopping god love them!
He’s not a normal joe soap working on the site and then a few hours in lidl after that to make bread!
Some stuff on here goes beyond words!
04 May 2023 15:10:55
Hasn't he scored like 15 goals already this season?
Not bad from a player that hardly plays or isn't as good as some of these posts would suggest lol - the talent is there, needs to be more composed when finishing as he seems to snatch at chances more than i'd like but he'll learn, isn't that what coaching is all about? I mean you sign young players you see potential in and coach and train them to fit the system you play?
I think he'll be a cracker for us - language barrier is tough, but we have other Spanish speaking players in the squad to help him.
04 May 2023 15:22:24
Posters are giving their opinions. It does worry me that he has got worse as the season has gone on. The lad needs to work his nuts off in pre season and start the next season at full tilt. Confidence has gone atm.
04 May 2023 15:29:31
Ridiculous post. He’s only been here a season. We gave Jota 2 seasons before we started criticising his touch and link up play and started the calls to sell him.
These posts are at least 12 months early ?.
04 May 2023 13:40:21
What are you thought on Nunez so far Ed1? Tbh i think he's done well considering it his 1st season, playing in underperform team, going back and forth as a winger and striker and knowing little to no english at all. His goal and assists return is not bad tbh.
{Ed001's Note - I like him and think he has something about him. I think he has a really bright future ahead of him.}
04 May 2023 17:08:32
In which position?
04 May 2023 18:00:29
Shearer is sure that Nunez has all that it takes to be top level.
His attitude to learning the language may alude to Naby sized problems if not addressed soon enough.
The issue I have with Nunez are that I'm not 100% that the things he doesn't appear good at can be learnt. Here's hoping.
04 May 2023 18:04:02
When we say Nunez hasn’t played a lot he’s made like 41 appearances and has the 8 highest minutes for us in the league. Not using it as tool to criticise him as I don’t think he’s been poor whilst he’s not been great. He’s had plenty of poor games and plenty of promising moments.
I for one am looking forward to seeing him next season.
One thing I’d add is if we’re trying to close a game out then we band have him and Jota in the front 3 at the same time. They pair together are like a pinball machine.
04 May 2023 19:51:05
I think we should buy all or new players on July the 1st - that way we can sell them before the transfer window closes if they don’t look any good in the pre-season friendlies……
Leave Nunez alone, he has had one season, learning the language, getting used to a different style / styles of playing, playing in a team that has been, to be charitable, inconsistent, carrying the expectations associated with the big fee, replacing Sadio and comparisons with Haaland. he’ll be fine next season.
I appreciate with Naby and Ox going and Curtis looking like he might be starting to live up to his potential and TAA looking a likely candidate for midfield that our stocks are running low on potential whipping boys - hopefully we will still have Thiago and Matip to whine about but I think it’s a bit early to add Nunez to the list - perhaps stick with Jota as the ‘player most likely’ (if only he’d stop scoring goals) .
04 May 2023 20:32:07
I raised this a few days ago and the majority of replies took what I was saying the wrong way.
I love Nunez and supported while loads of people here said he was a headless chook. But, my worry for him is that his strengths shoe-horn him to be a player for specific needs. i. e., when we need to be direct and have space to run in behind.
Gakpo and Jota are the more natural fit at #9 for how we play that position on a regular basis AND they both have the technical ability to be effective on the wing with the ball at their feet and run in behind.
Nunez's real strength is in his drive and passion to get in behind the lines and chase the ball. When he plays on the left wing he can obviously chase a ball, but we've all seen that he doesn't currently possess the technical ability that the others do.
So whilst I love Nunez and believe he can be a big player for any club, my worry is that his footballing strengths have limited use given the way we play. And having spent the amount of money we did on him, I don't think it's good enough that he sit on the bench as a luxury player to bring on in certain situations.
If there is an attacking player I'd sell this summer then it would be Nunez. And I'd be looking to repurpose those funds towards bringing in an attacker to succeed Mo.
04 May 2023 22:59:51
Jay Dub Red how do you know how many hours a day he's learning English? I bet you wouldn't master Portuguese in 9 months.