The case for Thiago
It’s this years summer transfer rumour that just won’t go away. From almost as soon as we played our final game, we’ve been strongly linked with Thiago Alcantara and with the Bayern midfielder reported to have told his team mates he’s moving to LFC, let’s take a look at what he would add to Klopp’s all conquering side.
The silence over Gini’s contract situation is deafening and with new Barca boss Ronald Koeman a big admirer of the Dutchman, it could well be that his future and that of Thiago’s are intrinsically linked this summer. On paper, they’re not an exact like for like but that may be no bad thing.
Tactical evolution
In Klopp’s first couple of seasons, we witnessed the heavy metal football associated with his Dortmund team – press until you drop, frantic football. Since we signed Van Dijk however and followed that up with the signings of Alisson and Fabinho, our game has evolved to include much more control and possession than we had previously. A patience was introduced to our game that we hadn’t had before in our blood and thunder approach.
Enter Thiago. A deep lying playmaker who’s passing range easily surpasses anyone else in our team. A player who’s game is about controlled possession, probing forward passing and defence splitting through balls. He brings something different to our midfield and also allows for other tactical changes, both in defence and attack.
Defence
Thiago’s ability to play anywhere in the midfield but primarily as a six, would allow Fabinho to drop into CB as cover for a season. It may be Klopp feels that the likes of Sepp may be ready in a year’s time and doesn’t want to sign someone to block the path of any of our promising youngsters. To that end, a stop gap season with Fabinho as CB cover, may prove to ultimately be a shrewd move.
Attack
Following on from a conversation I was having with Stu on the previous thread, Rhian Brewster has returned from his loan at Swansea with renewed vigour and rumour has it, he’s now moved ahead of Origi in the pecking order but if that’s the case, where does he fit in our current set up? The false nine role is one of the most tactically complex systems you can employ and from what I’ve seen of him, that really isn’t his skill set. I don’t see him as being quick or tricky enough to play out wide so that leaves him as an out and out centre forward, if we’re to play to his strengths and not try and shoehorn him into a position he isn’t really suited to.
To that end, in games where teams are likely to show little ambition in attacking us, we could switch to a 4-2-3-1 with Thiago and Fabinho/Hendo, playing behind our usual front three, with Brewster leading the line.
Greg mentioned he thought it would be a defensive formation but against lesser teams, it wouldn’t be. Our CB’s are so high they’re on the halfway line, the two midfielders sniffing out any danger as well as joining in the attacks, leaving a front four with very little defensive responsibility. I believe this could help us break down the bus parking teams that we often struggle against, yet City seem to be able to smash five past with ease.
Summary
It’s a yes for me then on the Thiago signing. I’ve often bemoaned the quality of our midfield passing but in Thiago, we would have a pass master in the team that we’ve not seen the like of since Xabi. He allows us to be more tactically flexible and he’s a serial winner. The only downside I can see to this transfer is his injury record, which I admit makes for worrying reading. Purely in terms of the player though, I think he would be a quality addition to the squad.
Let’s hear your thoughts then. Thiago – Yay or nay?
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