Florian Wirtz

[Maradona37]

Liverpool are looking at the team who had a marvelous first half of the season, then full off thanks to lack of depth, when they faced their only true elite in-form time of the season, they lost decisively in all key areas, but the result was kind. A penalty loss.

I think they realised the next step is depth in quality to stay at the top throughout the season.

Now is 150m for Wirtz a necessary signing? Well on one hand, if they have the cash to spend and to go all out on their targets, then I guess why not. They assessed he is the best option. Sure they could quite literally get Cherki at a third of that fee, amortization and all, who is not a third of the player. But he isn't playing the off the ball system that Wirtz will, and offensively he is less robotic which may not suit Slot as much.

If after all this investment they don't retain the EPL and go further in the CL it is a failure, for sure. Atleast in the short term. I think even @Temptation would admit that.

Fair enough. Good, well considered post.

I have to think more about this and maybe reconsider - admittedly my sample size of watching him is relatively small, and I am still thinking of guys like Havertz and Sancho, who to be fair didn't look as talented as Wirtz and aren't even really similar players really.

I might change my mind about him before the season starts. I think the reasonable view is not to say he will flop or be the second coming of De Bruyne, but to give him some time to acclimatise to their team and the league. It doesn't do anyone any favours - least of all Liverpool - if people rave over a strong start, or insult over a poor one. He needs to be judged long term i.e. over the length of time he is there. Too often we see players judged in moments or individual seasons (Rashford is a prime culprit for this) when what you want is the kind of consistency Salah has showed.

Make no mistake, Wirtz needs to make a Salah type impact (not necessarily in G/A as he's a link player and playmaker predominantly) and be the key player in that team alongside Salah. If he doesn't you know the knives will be out, questioning his fee.

I feel they've overspent and made a rod for their own back. Football fans are obsessed with how much players cost, but I suppose Edwards and Slot will argue if they have the money and he does well, what difference does it make if they spend 150 m or 90m? If it isn't impacting them financially as a club and their ability to buy other players too.

But like you say - in fans' eyes, with the kind of investment they are making, even if they do well collectively and Wirtz on an individual basis, anything other than retaining the PL and CL semis (minimum) will be looked at as a failure.

The good news for Liverpool is he's gonna be there for a while I would expect so there's always the season after, and the season after.

 

[Maradona37]

He's not a 150m player obviously.

But he'll be a 100m. For them.

He'll be a hit.

Yeah they have overspent but he should still do well. The thing is with the fee fans expect 'best player in the league' standard and I am not sure he will be that.

Porque mentioned Cherki above and I forgot to speak about him. I think Cherki actually has more ability than Wirtz, but as Porque says, Wirtz fits more into Liverpool's style than Cherki maybe.

 

[Don Juan Laporta Estruch]

He will be a hit in the EPL, because let's face it, the EPL is pretty much a pub league and not much difficult to score in than the Buli is.

But at 150m you expect a player to make the difference in Top end UCL fixtures against the likes of Real, Barca and PSG.

Are we going to be watching him being the main guy in a win against that sort of calibre? Absolutely no chance.

And that's why this signing is already a bit of a dud, and there is not getting away from it.

 

[Maradona37]

He will be a hit in the EPL, because let's face it, the EPL is pretty much a pub league and not much difficult to score in than the Buli is.

But at 150m you expect a player to make the difference in Top end UCL fixtures against the likes of Real, Barca and PSG.

Are we going to be watching him being the main guy in a win against that sort of calibre? Absolutely no chance.

And that's why this signing is already a bit of a dud, and there is not getting away from it.

Yeah he doesn't scream the kind of guy who will be the main man against the likes of Real, Barca and PSG. I just don't see that in him. He can play well against them but I don't see him running the show against all those teams. Even De Bruyne didn't do that (despite what Temptation claims).

However, you never know in football. But I'd be surprised if he and they dominate Europe (or the PL too, for that matter).

I think Man City will be back PL-wise, providing Guardiola stays a bit longer and finds his hunger again.

 

[jamrock]

Yeah they have overspent but he should still do well. The thing is with the fee fans expect 'best player in the league' standard and I am not sure he will be that.

Porque mentioned Cherki above and I forgot to speak about him. I think Cherki actually has more ability than Wirtz, but as Porque says, Wirtz fits more into Liverpool's style than Cherki maybe.

The Cherki hype is getting a bit out of hand.

Wirtz is better than Cherki is all aspects of the game.

Cherki is a player that gets subbed off 60 minutes, because he was doing more harm than go to his team chances of winning the the game.

He's talented on the ball, not so great off it.

 

[Maradona37]

The Cherki hype is getting a bit out of hand.

Wirtz is better than Cherki is all aspects of the game.

Cherki is a player that gets subbed off 60 minutes, because he was doing more harm than go to his team chances of winning the the game.

He's talented on the ball, not so great off it.

You might be right, I would like to see more of both to decide. I will this season I suppose.

Other people seen more of both than me, just like the look of Cherki myself. But, as always, I respect your views as I agree with you on plenty stuff.

 

[vuji_31]

The Cherki hype is getting a bit out of hand.

Wirtz is better than Cherki is all aspects of the game.

Cherki is a player that gets subbed off 60 minutes, because he was doing more harm than go to his team chances of winning the the game.

He's talented on the ball, not so great off it.

I belive Cherki is more talented player, his dribbling, skills and vision is on another level.

Problem is with his head.

 

[jamrock]

I belive Cherki is more talented player, his dribbling, skills and vision is on another level.

Problem is with his head.

Than wirtz?

I don't see that, but even then, talent alone isn't enough.

 

[Don Juan Laporta Estruch]

I belive Cherki is more talented player, his dribbling, skills and vision is on another level.

Problem is with his head.

Yup. That's the problem. Best comparison for Cherki is Hatem Ben Arfa.

Infact Ben Arfa was much more talented than Cherki. And that will be the level Cherki gets to in his career. Ben Arfa level.

Never good enough for a top club. Always a tier below. ( Newcastle, Lille, Rennes, Nice etc ).

 

[Maradona37]

It's gonna be interesting to watch how some of these lads do new to the PL anyway (and the others moving within the league, like Mbeumo and Cunha).

Hopefully we see plenty good football next season.

 

[Porque]

Yeah they have overspent but he should still do well. The thing is with the fee fans expect 'best player in the league' standard and I am not sure he will be that.

Porque mentioned Cherki above and I forgot to speak about him. I think Cherki actually has more ability than Wirtz, but as Porque says, Wirtz fits more into Liverpool's style than Cherki maybe.

Cherki is a freestyler with immense attacking creatively. Hopefully Pep doesn't curtail it.

Wirtz is probably the "best" system player 10 that has emerged recently.

It's a case of what you want. And that's just in possession.

Going on a tangent here, watched Villarreal at the Promesas U13 tournament and was shocked at what's happening in Spanish football. They are so drilled that when teams sat off of them, they didn't no what to do. No player drove into space, but just stayed playing their anally drilled passing triangles.

The curse of the modern football drone development. But out of those drones, as a say, Wirtz is probably at the top of the pile at 10.

 

[vuji_31]

We will see, bet Cherki will suprise many people how good is he

 

[vegitot]

As the most expensive player in history of EPL, the expection is huge. KDB's level is what 150m should be. Or at least same impact like Bellingham last season.

 

[topt]

Pool paid double his true value. City got the better deal in Cherki for sure.

he is worth 140 per transfermarkt

 

[topt]

I belive Cherki is more talented player, his dribbling, skills and vision is on another level.

Problem is with his head.

just no, not to mention he is very slow; Cherki will flop hard