Liverpool Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread Summer 2014 - Mod Warning post #6893

Leverkusen played a 4-2-3-1 for the most part last season, occasionally a more 4-3-2-1 set up against better teams with a slower, more methodical possession style of football, not similar to tiki taka in anyway. It was reserved football under Sami Hypia which is one of the reasons Leverkusen fans were unhappy with Sami, especially at home where they were used to swashbuckling style of past Leverkusen teams. Lars Bender goes forward, Can sits. Can goes forward, Lars sits was the theme this past season in their midfield when they did play together usually, except for a time when Can had to cover at LB in which he did a decent job except against Man U in which he went missing defensively on numerous occasions. During the spell when Lars Bender was out to injury, he did get his chance as a box to box midfielder though and did very well.

Can is very much a jack of all trades player and this is a massive reason why Liverpool are signing him. While he isn't outstanding in any one area for the time being like Nuri Sahin is (specialist deep lying playmaker), it's quite obvious Can is far more mobile and athletic than him. When the game is stretched, he is at his best, the box to box style he was reknowned for when a youngster in the national youth team set up, similar to Ballack in his pomp for Bayer Leverkusen and Bayern Munich. It was the reason Bayern signed him up in the first place from Frankfurt. They saw a potential future Ballack. For the Under 21's, he's a box to box midfielder, if anyone would like to deem it simply as a central midfielder, be my guest. That's his best position. Box to box should be his future role. He's far more than a DM and deep lying playmaker.

If Liverpool sign him, he's not going to dislodge Gerrard next season. More than likely, he'll play on the left of the diamond midfield, assuming we're sticking with that. If it's a more three man midfield, Gerrard will continue to be the one as the deep lying playmaker with Can and Henderson being the legs at both ends of the pitch.

But yeah, it's thanks whoring. Nice choice of words btw.

3.47 is just one example of what he is capable and what I'd expect from him in Liverpool's current set up and not something I've seen from a deep lying playmaker.



As I've said before, and going by Rodgers comments pre-game vs Rovers, if he's signing him on the basis of being our young DM, I'll be disappointed as his game is nowhere near where we need it to be for a DM. I'm honestly of the opinion he's better of staying at Leverkusen for one or two more years before moving on, but as I eluded to two weeks ago and as Oats as mentioned, he is sketchy personality wise. Certainly a hot head. I'd love Geis at Mainz myself, again a name I've mentioned before and who is of similar age to Can. He is a specialist DM who's game is more mature, but I suppose it helps when your role is very much cemented in a team. Versatility is a strength for some as it is a weakness for many players.

edit - I do agree with Oats in parts, but I can somewhat understand the rational in signing him on the flip side too. There is potential there and if anyone is going to help him in developing that, it's Rodgers.

MARCA with another Suarez front page today saying offer of between €90-€100 million.

Operation Suarez is well and truly in full swing.

was inevitable I suppose and I ain't calling how it will be come end of Aug.