Non-Chelsea Transfer Pub

[Blues Forever 1,232]

Van Basten is hypocrite, when he managed Ajax they bought Miralem Sulejmani for €16,25m in 2008 which was the most expensive signing in their history back then.

[Vesper 30,182]

Alisson vs Oblak: a poster boy for the modern game up against a throwback to a previous era. Two of the world’s best go head to head

https://theathletic.com/1613157/2020/02/18/alisson-oblak-liverpool-atletico-goalkeeper/

Perhaps there is no position in football that has changed as much in recent years as that of the goalkeeper. While it was always important to have a reliable player in goal, their overall value within the squad often felt like it was overlooked in favour of other positions. There were exceptions of course but the majority of clubs believed their success wasn’t dependent on having a world-class goalkeeper. 

In the modern game a goalkeeper is far more involved as they are integrated into the shape of the team, nearly every single moment of the game, taking on much more of an all-encompassing role; crucial in both classic and modern ways. Shot-stopping and reflexes are as important as ever, but accurate distribution (over long and short distances), sweeping up behind the back line, and aggressive positioning are all just as vital. As a result of this massive paradigm shift, it’s never been more clear that in order to compete at the very top teams need to have a world-class goalkeeper.

On Tuesday, two of the best in the world, Liverpool’s Alisson and Atletico Madrid’s Jan Oblak will meet in the first leg of the Champions League last 16. There are few who personify a goalkeepers’ importance to their team over the past couple of years better than these two. Most interestingly, they’ve done so despite playing in tactical setups with contrasting styles and requirements being put on the goalkeeper. While they do share some similar characteristics in their skill-set, they are also uniquely different in their approach to goalkeeping.

In football, a team’s tactical system and the collection of players on the pitch is crucial to their team’s performance. Not only do the players need to have the technical skill-set to execute the game plan well, they also need to have the tactical acumen to process the game in front of them and play the ball into the necessary areas at exactly the right time. It’s one thing to understand this as a player and another entirely to actually carry it out on the field of play. This is especially true at the goalkeeper position.

Jurgen Klopp has built his Liverpool squad around a highly skilled and pacey attack that quickly pushes players forward into the opponent’s half in an attempt to overwhelm and suffocate the opposition with numerical advantages in the most vulnerable part of the field. In order for them to be as successful as they have it’s been vital for his goalkeeper to be fast and aggressive to close down the attackers, comfortable playing a high line (often 30+ yards from his goal), while also being an extra passing pivot when building up possession. 

Alisson’s skill-set perhaps makes him the poster child for the modern day goalkeeper. His ability to remain patient and in control with the ball at his feet as the chaos threatens to consume those around him is arguably his quintessential talent and vital for Liverpool and their build-up play. This allows him to receive and hold onto the ball in order to invite the press from the opposition and open up spaces for his team to exploit elsewhere on the pitch. 

Games can get frenetic, but a steadying presence at the back can help a team stay focused and composed, setting a foundation of belief and confidence that they can play out of even the most hectic situations. 

That skill, in addition to his incredible accuracy when playing the ball long helps stretch the field (which is the main objective of teams who play out from the back) and makes Liverpool incredibly hard to defend against. 

Alisson’s ability to play long balls accurately is an underrated trait we often don’t talk about that much with goalkeepers. It’s far more common to hear about passing ability in tight areas but it’s actually the accurate long balls (sometimes even just the threat of it being played) that puts pressure on the opposition, sparks fear and hesitation in the defenders, and inevitably opens up spaces short for the goalkeeper to pass into.

If the defence knows that the threat of the accurate long ball is there, teams will have to adjust, or risk leaving themselves exposed at the back. And no team enjoys running backward at full speed, trying to catch up to an attacker free on goal. Just ask Manchester United…

It was Alisson’s deadly long ball that punished United as they pushed their entire team forward in search of a late equaliser in their Premier League match at the end of January. You can visibly see the pain, panic and frustration on the United players faces as they attempt to catch Mohamed Salah. The non-verbal reactions from the players as the strike hits the back of the net say more than any words could about the dilemma that teams face when playing against Liverpool. 

In addition to the more modern skill-set, Alisson is also a very good goalkeeper in the traditional sense. Last season he was one of two goalkeepers in the English top flight to boast a passing accuracy of more than 80% while also maintaining a save percentage above 70% (Manchester City’s Ederson was the other). This year both his passing accuracy and save percentage are well above 80%. His 87.23% save percentage this season is the best in the league by a fairly wide margin.  

Because of the nature of the way Liverpool play (they often hold possession for long periods of the game) it’s vital for their goalkeeper to be focused, tuned in, and come up with the big save when called upon. It’s not easy to go the majority of a match untested and then pull off the type of saves that Alisson does. It’s hard to explain how difficult this is to do and it’s certainly not a trait every goalkeeper possesses. On Saturday he came up big yet again against Norwich in a crucial moment of the match with the score at 0-0. Liverpool would go on to win 1-0.

 

These types of saves — in the most influential moments, when the game’s result hangs in the balance — are what Liverpool were missing for many years prior to Alisson’s arrival. He filled a dire need for the club, and has done so spectacularly. If it weren’t for his timely interventions during last season’s Champions League campaign it’s almost certain that Liverpool never would have ended up European champions. His tremendous stop against Napoli comes to mind. 

While Alisson is part of a group of goalkeepers who are constantly redefining what we thought a goalkeeper should, or even could be, Oblak’s play is similar to that of goalkeepers of the past. He is a bit more conservative and pragmatic in comparison, rarely moving out of position to make tackles, clearances or interceptions like many modern-day goalkeepers do. Instead, he elects to stay closer to his line, carefully picking and choosing the moments to leave his goal, often letting his defenders deal with balls deep into his box.

Diego Simeone has constructed one of the most organised and disciplined defensive teams on the globe, often forgoing numbers forward in favour of defensive security. In order for a team to defend as effectively as Atletico, each player — from the forwards to the goalkeeper — must fully buy into the system and execute his job with minimal lapses over 90 minutes and in every single game. The system would simply fall apart without this level of concentration and consistency. As goalkeeper, Oblak has been crucial to Atletico’s continued defensive success despite several personnel changes through the years. 

Oblak’s exceptional positioning and angle awareness is his greatest asset. There are many instances when you see a goalkeeper at full stretch and having to rely on their athleticism to make acrobatic saves; usually due to poor positioning. This very rarely ever happens to Oblak. The reason is down to his spatial awareness and innate ability to be in exactly the right place at the right time, anticipating the direction of the shot from the opposition. 

We often think of goalkeepers as reactive, since they are responding to the actions of the attackers in front of them. But proper positioning is what helps you become a proactive goalkeeper and able to think a few steps ahead of the play. 

This is vital because it means you are no longer a prisoner of the moment, scrambling to stay on top of everything you need to do — check your post, take one step to your right, get set, get back to your line, etc. — because it has become so ingrained in your psyche that you can execute your tasks almost subconsciously. This allows you to move your focus two or three steps ahead and anticipate the play unfolding before you.

Take his stop against Karim Benzema of Real Madrid from earlier this season as an example. It was the type of save that many goalkeepers would have struggled to get to, yet his timing and positioning make it appear almost ordinary.

 

As the ball is initially whipped into the centre of the box toward Benzema, Oblak is quick to realise that the Real striker will be the first to the ball and redirect it on target. Rather than get set in his starting position a few yards from goal he elected to take four rapid steps back to his goal-line and get set. There are two reasons he wanted to do this 1) because those extra steps backwards gave him additional time and space to make the save and 2) it allowed him to attack the ball at the necessary angle while creating a strong barrier to push it to safety. Had he failed to do either, we would potentially be looking at a goal against rather than a save.

By the time the ball was redirected on target Oblak was already in the optimum position to take one strong step to his left and fling his body toward the ball. Even though the Atletico No 1 claimed it was a routine save, it most certainly wasn’t.  

Additionally, Oblak is excellent in one-v-one situations, specifically in his use of the spread technique to thwart the opposition’s chances. It’s his positioning, patience, and anticipation, as well as his ability to close down the attacker astonishingly quickly, while sprawling to cover as much of the goal as possible, that helps him defend all possible shot directions and makes him extremely difficult to beat.

He’s virtually perfected the sprawling technique and the understanding of when is the correct moment/situation to do it. He keeps himself big without exposing too much of the net under his arms and between his legs, to the extent that I’m not sure there is a better goalkeeper in the world in breakaway situations. A stable force in goal is a crucial element for a team that relies so heavily on defensive discipline. Over and over, Oblak comes up big when the opposition manages to breach Atletico’s back line. His triple save against Bayern Leverkusen from 2017 stands out. 

The way he plays the game and moves as he traverses his goalmouth is eerily reminiscent of another goalkeeping great, Gianluigi Buffon, and the type of keeper that appears to be a dying breed. His continued success at playing a way that is now the outlier rather than the norm, and potentially even being the best goalkeeper in the world while doing so, is incredible.

What makes the position so fascinating is there are several different ways to play it and get the same result. It would be wrong to say that one way is better than the other because each goalkeeper has their own strengths, weaknesses, preferences and comforts that help them be as effective and successful as they are.

While both Alisson and Oblak fit their team perfectly, there are no guarantees that they would be able to adapt to the contrasting philosophies were they ever to switch teams. It takes a very specific type of goalkeeper to fit into each system.

In Alisson and Oblak we are witnessing two of the best goalkeepers in the world. The fact that they have reached these heights while playing in different leagues and systems with various demands and expectations being put on them is simply remarkable. As two masters of their craft face one another in the Champions League last 16, just enjoy it. 

[nono 791]

Is the Athletic worth subscribing to ? Seems like they have some good articles. 

[Special Juan 28,141]

Oblak is a quality keeper, I wanted him here before Tibo.

[Jase 43,479]

 

[Blues Forever 1,232]

23 minutes ago, Jason said:

 

I want Bayern to get him first, i don't want to see Liverpool become stronger.

[killer1257 3,282]

 

I would rather see Harvetz there than Sancho.
But Harvertz still would be an amazing signing for their midfield, if he gets more consistent.

Gesendet von meinem SM-G920F mit Tapatalk

[Blues Forever 1,232]

5 minutes ago, killer1257 said:

I would rather see Harvetz there than Sancho.
But Harvertz still would be an amazing signing for their midfield, if he gets more consistent.

Gesendet von meinem SM-G920F mit Tapatalk
 

I want Havertz badly, too bad we don't have any space left for AM or RW since we have Ziyech, Mount, RLC, and CHO.

[Vesper 30,182]

5 hours ago, Blues Forever said:

I want Havertz badly, too bad we don't have any space left for AM or RW since we have Ziyech, Mount, RLC, and CHO.

100m reasons why he ain't coming

Grealish would be better for the EPL anyway IMHO, even if he is 3 years and 9 months older

plus he will be 30 or £40m or so cheaper more than likely

he is a beast and has that captain's mentality of never say die

IF we do not go for Sancho, then surely Grealish has to be in the mix

Mount is dogshit as a creative, and no Sancho means Ziyech is mostly at RW as opposed to AMF

there are no guarantees that RLC will be the same player he was last season when next season starts

it may well take him all of next year to fully recover and claw his way back to form

his injury was truly massive, far worse than CHO's

I also can see RLC as a more trad CMF at times as well, or a box to box hybrid

[NikkiCFC 8,324]

Like I said before Liverpool will take one of the German boys. Werner or Havertz. 

United are only competition for Sancho. 

But we are linked with SMS still and I can't see us buying two 100m players. 

[Jase 43,479]

What a joke!

And Barcelona really haven't got a clue on how to build a cohesive squad. They are just randomly buying players and hoping it'll all come together somehow. 

[ZAPHOD2319 4,818]

That is bullshit. Why have a transfer window?

[Vesper 30,182]

3 hours ago, Jason said:

What a joke!

And Barcelona really haven't got a clue on how to build a cohesive squad. They are just randomly buying players and hoping it'll all come together somehow. 

utter rot!!!

so sick of these cunts running riot and wilfully breaking hard and set rules

[Blues Forever 1,232]

Blame La Liga for making this rules: "La Liga rules allow clubs to apply to make new signings outside the transfer window if a player is ruled out for more than five months, and the clubs may only sign a new signings from La Liga or Segunda division". 

 

[Jase 43,479]

 

[Superblue 6,372]

23 hours ago, Blues Forever said:

Blame La Liga for making this rules: "La Liga rules allow clubs to apply to make new signings outside the transfer window if a player is ruled out for more than five months, and the clubs may only sign a new signings from La Liga or Segunda division". 

 

What makes a mockery of this is because Leganes couldn't stop the move as Barca activated the release clause, Leganes then asked for dispensation to sign a replacement but were refused.

It's a huge flaw in their thought process with this.

[Vesper 30,182]

Alphonso Davies epitomises Bayern Munich evolution with dominant display against Chelsea

Chelsea 0-3 Bayern Munich: The Canadian youngster shone down the left as Hans-Dieter Flick’s side all but secured a Champions League quarter-final place

https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/european/chelsea-vs-bayern-munich-alphonso-davies-champions-league-a9359281.html

The game is changing and Alphonso Davies epitomises the way in which Bayern Munich have rapidly evolved since the departure of Niko Kovac. The Canadian youngster is thriving from left-back, rather than at left-back, under Hans-Dieter Flick and Chelsea were the latest side to feel the force of the youngster in a dominant 3-0 win for the Bundesliga champions, which sees them all  but through to the Champions League quarter-finals.

The 19-year-old ensures Bayern’s asymmetrical shape works perfectly, even if it takes a few minutes to decipher where all the pieces fit on the pitch. In essence he is a positionless player, able to roam free and wreak havoc. Except he doesn’t neglect his defensive duties like many luxury players, his searing pace allows him to stretch the pitch and always recover. 

Mason Mount discovered just how quickly your window of opportunity closes when up against Davies. The England midfielder had quickly left his mark on his opponent with a nasty challenge on his ankle, yet Davies quickly removed the grimace from his face and began to own the left flank, denying Mount any joy on the night.
Davies extinguished a first-half opening as Mount raced through on goal. First to stagger Mount’s progress towards goal after catching him easily, then imposing his strength to shield the ball away from his opponent and allow his side to reset from a goal kick to the glee of the travelling supporters in the Shed End.

A gifted dribbler, the former Vancouver Whitecaps starlet is equally adept at punching the ball down field and collecting it on the other side. The one-two routinely undid Frank Lampard’s side throughout Wednesday’s night’s lesson at the hands of the Bavarians. 

Initially part of a back four, Flick’s side routinely sent Davies into Chelsea‘s half, even occupying a position beyond right winger Kingsley Coman. Benjamin Pavard tucked inside to form a back three, but the Frenchman is not neglected and is more adventurous than, say, Eric Abidal, who balanced Barcelona’s back line for years when Dani Alves stormed forward.

Davies was roommates with Chelsea youngster Fikayo Tomori during their time in the Canadian youth set-up and has made great strides since making the leap to the Bundesliga just over a year ago for £9 million.

 

snip

[ZAPHOD2319 4,818]

Our loan army is going to get much smaller.

 

https://www.football.london/premier-league/fifa-transfer-rule-law-loans-17827727

[LAM09 7,056]

Our loan army is going to get much smaller.
 
https://www.football.london/premier-league/fifa-transfer-rule-law-loans-17827727

I guess players will just be loaned within this country instead.

[OhForAGreavsie 6,075]

On 20/02/2020 at 2:18 PM, Blues Forever said:

Blame La Liga for making this rules: "La Liga rules allow clubs to apply to make new signings outside the transfer window if a player is ruled out for more than five months, and the clubs may only sign a new signings from La Liga or Segunda division". 

 

We have to assume this is OK with fifa else it wouldn't be happening but surely any player signed in such circumstances should be restricted to representing his new club in domestic football only. Else this gives Spanish clubs an unfair advantage in uefa or fifa competitions. Does anyone know if there is such a restriction?