24 Aug 2026 19:05:05
Hi all, I said a few things on live chat about Wirtz and Isak. It turns out I agreed with Gary bloody Neville (without knowing), I’m absolutely mortified and can only apologise.
24 Aug 2026 19:44:33
I did the same, JB. I'd switched off straight after full time, then saw the clip of him today. I'm truly sorry.
24 Aug 2026 20:15:13
I'm not ashamed to say I agree with him on this matter.
24 Aug 2026 20:25:12
I don't think it's fair to lump Wirtz in with Isak.
Wirtz is nearly 5 years younger, was new to the league/country, and he actually contributed last season. 7 goals and 10 assists in all competitions. He has shown steady progress and the price tag may look like it was poor value, but he didn't decide his price. Had we signed him for £50m, I don't think the scrutiny would be anywhere near as forensic. I think a major part of the problem with Wirtz is the midfield balance hasn't been sorted out behind him, and that means when he takes risks and gives it away, we get exposed on the counter and he gets wrongly blamed.
You want your no.10 taking risks.
Isak, on the other hand, has been woeful. He has had injury after injury and even when he has been fit he's just looked scared to get stuck in. Even if we'd paid £25m for him, it would feel like we'd been ripped off. I'm still holding on to hope that he will come good, but right now he's been a 1/10 signing and Wirtz has probably been more like a 6/10. The issue with Wirtz is if you pay £100-116m, you expect a 10/10 signing, quite rightly.
That's how I see it anyway. I don't think you can lump them together. It's night and day.
24 Aug 2026 20:27:34
Carra did a talk on Sky and it's hard not to agree.
Wingers won't fix shipping goals.
24 Aug 2026 20:35:47
I agree, MK - but can only see Wirtz working in front of a more solid Mf 3. As soon as Isak is injured for half a season, he'll get his turn.
24 Aug 2026 20:40:31
Isak's been awful and Wirtz has been totally underwhelming.
I still hold high hopes for both.
24 Aug 2026 20:51:07
St John & Hunt
Keegan & Toshack
Dalglish & Rush
Beardsley & Aldridge
Fowler & Owen
Owen & Heskey
Torres & Gerrard
Suarez & Gerrard
Salah & Mane
They are the Twin strikers/Striker/false number 9 that this most successful ever English Club in History has had, Isak and Wirtz have got to at least equal the above if this club is to carry on being successful, the standards have always been the highest of anybody, and they must continue, the above show it can and must be done, this club has never accepted second best, if ye not good enough, out ye go, harsh but football waits for no one!
24 Aug 2026 20:56:16
They've been as bad as each other. You could argue Isak had the small matter recovering from a broken leg as an excuse.
24 Aug 2026 20:58:16
I agree, MK. Isak is far worse for us. He barely gets involved.
One of the solutions I think of to make the team gel is to drop Isak and play Szoboszlai up top as a false nine. I think Szoboszlai's energy will freak the defence into mistakes or just boot it.
I fancy Wirtz playing behind that energy to play better.
And solidify the midfield a bit.
I always fancy us to score a goal or two regardless and it could give Isak a kick up the bum.
If it looks poor, sub Wirtz later on and put Isak up top and put Szobo in the 10.
Right now if I look at all the players and which one to drop out of everyone to balance the team it's Isak for me.
Having said that, only one game was played and it is probably too early to do something so drastic. But I think this is an option if Isak keeps going the way he is going.
At least Wirtz shows us moments every game. Isak is showing us absolutely nothing. He barely touches the ball some games. One thing about Szoboszlai playing up there is he will get on the ball and get after the ball. And he'll get more chances to shoot.
Like I said before, theory is one thing and reality is another, so it is something that could show up issues elsewhere, but I'm keeping this one in my mind if Isak keeps going the way he is going.
24 Aug 2026 21:20:36
Let's wait and see what Wirtz and Isak are like 10 games into the season. If still not performing, they will deserve stick. Wirtz has been v disappointing since signing, no 2 ways about it, but the talent is there.
Isak, I would cut more slack as he broke his leg from an awful tackle during last season, and it wrecked his season completely. Next few games will tell the tale better than the Newcastle game.
24 Aug 2026 22:15:36
I don't agree that wingers don't help with stopping goals. It's a team game, and our best teams defended from the front.
But it's also that we don't have enough pace or quality in our forward line to play different ways.
Players to run in behind, to stretch the pitch. Teams don't have to worry about our counter attack anymore, with better, faster forwards, defenders and midfielders can leave the responsibility of scoring goals to them more.
24 Aug 2026 22:18:46
007, At the moment it looks like:
Isak & Wirtz
Diouf & Baros
Balotelli & Lambert.