ECHO Comment: "Fears of Witch-hunt Against Liverpool FC"

[Steve0]

I'm sorry but I've been watching Keita for three seasons now and he's a class act. Plays the game like nobody I've seen before. He's also one of the fastest midfield dribblers I've ever seen so not sure why you think he's slow (other than due to who he's signed for).

Good news is that he'll probably be at Barcelona or Real Madrid within three seasons.

Who would you say the other fast midfield dribblers are?

 

[Borussin]

Anyone kept an eye on Keita at Leipzig this season? I've watched him a few times and he has all the hallmarks of a Koeman signing. I cant believe they've thrown £48M at that lad. Liverpool have been sold a pup. He seems to take an age carrying the ball from midfield to attack and he'll be slaughtered in the PL for needing the space and time afforded him over there. Obviously the erratic Can will go and he'll take his place, so they wont notice the difference too much. But they really should be looking for better than him. This is a cautionary tale in not buying a season in advance.

Keita is a really good player. I am sorry to see him leave the Bundesliga, but not sorry to see him leave RB Leipzig because he is their best player, and I am a big fan of a few of their players.

He is a very unique midfielder, and I have no idea where he will be playing for Liverpool, but I would guess he will be a box to box type, as limiting his play to just number 8 or just a number 6 takes something away from him. His strengths in defense is the amazing number of tackles and interceptions he will make. And his strength in attack is that he can dribble, and make key passes and always looks to move the ball forward as quickly as possible. Plus he can score a few goals.

I think he had his head turned as has not be so effective this year, but he is still putting in some very good performances. He is a little monster of a player. He has very good technique and technical ability and should be able to adapt to a new league as he goes along.

 

[indieman1]

Their situation is far more perilous than folk would have you believe.

I'd still swap theirs for ours in a heartbeat

 

[USABlue]

Keita is a really good player. I am sorry to see him leave the Bundesliga, but not sorry to see him leave RB Leipzig because he is their best player, and I am a big fan of a few of their players.

He is a very unique midfielder, and I have no idea where he will be playing for Liverpool, but I would guess he will be a box to box type, as limiting his play to just number 8 or just a number 6 takes something away from him. His strengths in defense is the amazing number of tackles and interceptions he will make. And his strength in attack is that he can dribble, and make key passes and always looks to move the ball forward as quickly as possible. Plus he can score a few goals.

I think he had his head turned as has not be so effective this year, but he is still putting in some very good performances. He is a little monster of a player. He has very good technique and technical ability and should be able to adapt to a new league as he goes along.

While you're here, mind giving your views on Pulisic?

 

[Borussin]

While you're here, mind giving your views on Pulisic?

He's great

But seriously, yes, a hugely talented young player, hard to believe he is only 19, he plays like (and looks like!) he's already a seasoned professional.

Actually this season I will say he has not been quite as good as last season, maybe a 'sophomore slump' as they say in the US? But he still has played consistently - both left and right wing. He has all the talent in the world, pace, skill, power, intelligence, he can pass and is a decent dribbler, and can score.

I think as he goes on in his career he could very well end up playing more as a '10' than on the wing. I know he has played more central role for the US team, than he has for us. He is a fun player to watch that is for sure.

 

[f.t.r.s]

Anyone kept an eye on Keita at Leipzig this season? I've watched him a few times and he has all the hallmarks of a Koeman signing. I cant believe they've thrown £48M at that lad. Liverpool have been sold a pup. He seems to take an age carrying the ball from midfield to attack and he'll be slaughtered in the PL for needing the space and time afforded him over there. Obviously the erratic Can will go and he'll take his place, so they wont notice the difference too much. But they really should be looking for better than him. This is a cautionary tale in not buying a season in advance.

more like £60+ mill wasnt it?

 

[longers]

Saw him in a couple of matches and he’s looked good. He’s had a pretty good season it seems although not as good as his previous one which is to be expected given he’s already got his big move. He will improve them considerably in one of their weakest areas. They are building a good side, I just hope they never sort out their goalie and defensive issues.

 

[Steve0]

He's great

But seriously, yes, a hugely talented young player, hard to believe he is only 19, he plays like (and looks like!) he's already a seasoned professional.

Actually this season I will say he has not been quite as good as last season, maybe a 'sophomore slump' as they say in the US? But he still has played consistently - both left and right wing. He has all the talent in the world, pace, skill, power, intelligence, he can pass and is a decent dribbler, and can score.

I think as he goes on in his career he could very well end up playing more as a '10' than on the wing. I know he has played more central role for the US team, than he has for us. He is a fun player to watch that is for sure.

Why do you think so many Bundesliga stars fail in England?

 

[Steve0]

Saw him in a couple of matches and he’s looked good. He’s had a pretty good season it seems although not as good as his previous one which is to be expected given he’s already got his big move. He will improve them considerably in one of their weakest areas. They are building a good side, I just hope they never sort out their goalie and defensive issues.

He's worse than Can imo.

 

[Borussin]

Why do you think so many Bundesliga stars fail in England?

Are there more failures than from other leagues? I don’t keep up well enough to know the numbers!

Sane, Son, Firmino, De Bruyne, Gundogan, these guys seem to be doing really well. Gross, Okazaki. Arnautovic, Can, Matip, all these players seem to do fine too. I know, Xhaka is terrible for Arsenal and Mkhi drives everyone mad (he did that in the Bundesliga too by the way), but I am not so sure if players from the Bundesliga struggle so much more than other leagues. I would have to look into it more. I am sure there are other players currently in the Premier league who came from the Bundesliga, but I would have to go through team squads, those are just some of the obvious ones I can think of now.

 

[swright1990]

Who would you say the other fast midfield dribblers are?

I wouldn't say anybody else is as fast, like I said he is unique. He dribbles the ball like a little number 10 rather than an 8 or a 6.

The player I would compare him to the most is Dembele, from Spurs, but their dribbling technique is completely different. The point is they both look to move the ball forward as quickly as possible. Keita is miles better defensively though.

Vidal is a good comparison when he was in his prime and Pogba can also play that role albeit through size and strength rather than agility.

 

[swright1990]

Why do you think so many Bundesliga stars fail in England?

Apart from Arsenal players I can't think of any Bundesliga flops? Kagawa perhaps.

 

[davek]

I'm sorry but I've been watching Keita for three seasons now and he's a class act. Plays the game like nobody I've seen before. He's also one of the fastest midfield dribblers I've ever seen so not sure why you think he's slow (other than due to who he's signed for).

Good news is that he'll probably be at Barcelona or Real Madrid within three seasons.

Even in the Bundesliga it's been commented he's had a huge drop off in form this season. Cant say what he was like in previous seasons as I only took an interest when LFC bought him.

He will be mullered in this league. He's supposed to be box-to-box and I can say right now with something close to certainty that he'll flop in the PL.

 

[davek]

Might be the pressure, knowing he's going to be scrutinised but the bits I've seen of him he's looked mediocre to say the least.

I watched him on Saturday against Dortmund. He looked bang average with a few errant passes thrown in. I was staggered that his performance was considered to have been MOM material.

 

[davek]

Keita is a really good player. I am sorry to see him leave the Bundesliga, but not sorry to see him leave RB Leipzig because he is their best player, and I am a big fan of a few of their players.

He is a very unique midfielder, and I have no idea where he will be playing for Liverpool, but I would guess he will be a box to box type, as limiting his play to just number 8 or just a number 6 takes something away from him. His strengths in defense is the amazing number of tackles and interceptions he will make. And his strength in attack is that he can dribble, and make key passes and always looks to move the ball forward as quickly as possible. Plus he can score a few goals.

I think he had his head turned as has not be so effective this year, but he is still putting in some very good performances. He is a little monster of a player. He has very good technique and technical ability and should be able to adapt to a new league as he goes along.

I enjoy the Bundesliga. The atmosphere sounds special and the standard of play in certain positions like GK and CBs is up there. But the PL will be a harsh environment for Keita. There's no way a player can be all those things you describe here. Someone like Pogba cant be the influence he was in Italy in this league, for example, and he is a way bigger talent than Keita.