SO it seems Liverpool are on the verge of signing Brazilian attacker Roberto Firmino. As a self-confessed football hipster, I’m punching the air/cat in delight.
At the time of writing, Sky Sports News are parading Liverpool’s agreement with Hoffenheim for the transfer of Firmino on their yellow ticker. It is a silly ticker these days, full of inaccuracies with the veil of coming from the mysterious ‘Sky sources’. However, this story makes me excited, so I’ve decided it’s true.
Let’s get this right first of all. I watch A LOT of Bundesliga. An unhealthy amount. It’s a league that has the perfect blend of Premier League style pace and Serie A style tactical subtlety, with a sprinkle of pep in there to ‘La Liga’ it up a bit. There also may be an addiction to the dulcet tones of Archie Rhind-Tutt, but that’s for another time.
I have therefore seen plenty of Firmino and his ways in the last two years, and by crikey he’s good at the kicky-ball thing.
It’s not just that the lad is super talented, that he’s been one of the most potent attacking talents in the Bundesliga since the age of 20, that he’s a bona-fide Brazilian, or that he’s (probably) Phil Coutinho’s bezzie mate.
It’s that he is a dynamic player who can be plonked into a Brendan Rodgers side and will likely make it better at goalscoring, and for some reason, Liverpool didn’t sign any of those last year and appeared to be going down the route of not doing it again this year.
All of a sudden, the Benteke links die out, Firmino and Bacca rumours kick in, and Liverpool appear to have finally remembered that 2013/14 happened.
Carlos Bacca was covered eloquently and enthusiastically on this week’s podcast, in particular by Martin Fitzgerald, which included talk from Melissa Reddy about how Bacca used to be a bus conductor and sold fish (not necessarily at the same time). It may be that he’s being targeted because Rodgers asked for a ‘selfish’ striker… ahem.
And just think how good it’ll be if he bites (or chews) someone. The headline writes itself.
He and Firmino make all the sense in the world when you take into account how and when Rodgers has had success in his three years at Liverpool. There has never been a time where his team has played better with a big man up top to hold the ball up. You put in fast, skilful attackers who can run in behind defences, and you finish second. You don’t, and you don’t, not even close.
It does raise somewhat of an eyebrow that the targets appear to have gone from Benteke to those two given how very different they are, and how you’d pretty much have to set your entire team up differently to accommodate the Belgian, not that he isn’t very talented, but you would like to think that there is a clear line of thinking in how Liverpool want to play, and not just going down a list of attackers based on their FIFA 15 rating.
As Liverpool fans we have often been underwhelmed by our club in the transfer market, especially in recent years. The money has been there, it has been well and truly spent on the likes of Charlie Adam, Stewart Downing, Andy Carroll, Iago Aspas, Luis Alberto, Dejan Lovren, Mario Balotelli… and an array of other expensive misses. It has been the sort of dealing that takes a steaming dump on the argument that having less money than those above us means resistance is futile.
It’s not been across the board disastrous, there have of course been some big success stories, but it could certainly have been better.
I’m going to stick my neck on the line here and say that a signing like Firmino is much more like it. Exactly the sort of signing Liverpool need to make to bridge that gap.
There has been a lot of excitement about the Twitter and forums about Firmino, and let’s be honest, it’s largely due to his stats (unless Hoffenheim games have far greater viewing figures than BT Sport lets on).
TAW PLAYER SPECIAL: Firmino reaction show
With that in mind, let’s take a look at some of those trouser tightening stats (based on the last two seasons and according to WhoScored.com):
- Firmino has scored 23 goals and assisted 21 in 66 appearances, largely from an attacking midfield role.
- Only Arjen Robben and Kevin de Bruyne gained a higher WhoScored average rating last season in whole Bundesliga (7.79)
- He has averaged almost 3 shots per game in that time (Raheem Sterling averaged 2 in same time)
- Average of 4.4 dribbles per game (Sterling averaged 2.9)
- Averaged 2.6 tackles per game (Sterling averaged 1.2)
- Average of 1 interception per game (Sterling averaged 0.6)
- Never went more than four games without a goal or assist last season (courtesy of @BassTunedToRed)
- Most successful tackles (81) and successful dribbles (139) than any attacking midfielder in Europe’s top five leagues last season
- He’s bloody good
Okay that last one isn’t strictly a stat, but he is. He’s a reason to get excited, and Liverpool fans have had precious few of those in recent times.
James Milner is likely to be a terrific addition, and Danny Ings has already shown a great attitude and could well be a star of the future, but neither really give you that belly fizz. Firmino gives you the belly fizz.
His acquisition, or even the fact that Liverpool are trying to sign a player in his position, might just set off some alarm bells for one Adam Lallana. The former Southampton player has carved a niche since his move of being the player you always forget when you’re trying to predict matchday squads. Not strictly his fault, he’s been very unlucky with injuries, and his numbers are pretty good in isolation, but he is yet to make a mark that puts him in the centre of the Liverpool first team. Firmino’s potential addition means that this coming season is very much sink or swim for Lallana.
If you’re struggling to see in your mind’s eye what kind of player Firmino is, just think of a more Brazilian version of Clint Dempsey, except much better at football and probably rapping. He finds himself in the right areas running from deep, and ‘smells of goals’, as Dunga put it. He may have said ‘smells of girls’, I’m not sure what his marital status is, but either way he scores a lot.
Dare I say it, this deal has an element of the Luis Suarez purchase about it. Not for one second am I suggesting that the Brazilian will get to those stupid levels of useful here, but he’s a similar age, he’s South American, has massively impressed after arriving in Europe, and is seeing Liverpool as the next big step in his career. Who knows, perhaps we could be selling him to Barcelona for a £50m profit in four years’ time.
Again, it’s not just the brilliance that Firmino should bring to the team with him, it’s what this signing represents. It represents a move that people thought Liverpool incapable of. It’s a leap, an apparently well-researched leap. It represents Liverpool trying to do something about finishing sixth, and not signing players who will keep that as ‘par’.
Assuming the deal goes through — and everything suggests it will — it may well just be the first of some big moves from the Reds in the next few weeks. With interest in Nathaniel Clyne still apparently there, incessant rumours from well placed sources that Bacca and/or Salomon Rondon could be next on the list, and the entire Italian media insistent that Mateo Kovacic is on his way to Anfield (did someone say ‘saga’?) Rodgers could have plenty to work with when he returns next month. High numbers of incomings is often seen as a problem, but ideally a high level of quality will overcome any other issues.
Firmino is 23, is apparently ready to sign the best years of his career to Liverpool Football Club with a five-year contract (hint hint, Raheem) and is currently impressing at the Copa America (what open goal?). This is a big deal, and most important of all, it gives sad, fickle, droopy-faced dimwits like myself who were walking the streets asking strangers if I could borrow some hope for next season as I was fresh out, a slap in the face and a reason to look forward.
Right that should just about cover it. If I haven’t ensured that the transfer will fall through then I’ve most certainly guaranteed that Firmino turns out to be pap. You’re welcome.
Will the Brazilian be a failure at Anfield?
For me? No.
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I think this is the first thing I’ve read or heard by someone who has an opinion of him based on actually watching him. I like what I’ve read.
Get him on that Roof for a picture pronto before someone hijacks the deal.
Agreed. Surely they can take the promo pics in Chile?
They have.
Yet another reason why I’m glad we have Coutinho playing for us.
I imagine Coutinho’s praise for Rogers would have been influential. But isn’t it lovely the club is back to doing business on the quiet?
Here here
From the Echo: “Helped by a ringing endorsement of life at Anfield from Firmino’s Brazilian team-mate Philippe Coutinho, personal terms were quickly agreed on a five-year contract. A buoyant Firmino was ready to sign on the dotted line.”
Perhaps reading too much into it, but it doesn’t sound like Rodgers is a dead man walking as far as the squad goes.
Perfect signing IMO – can cover for Sturridge upfront when he’s injured, can play as a twin striker when he’s back, works well with Coutinho (as currently doing for Brazil) but can also cover for him as creator if he ever gets injured. Only negative is potentially for Llalana but if he hits form as well a 4-2-3-1 of Firmino, Coutinho and Llalana behind Sturridge would be great fun to watch – with Ibe, Markovic, Ings and Origi still on the bench!
I’ve been hiding under the bedsheets since that game that I can’t bear to mention. Is it safe to come out now?
I’m gonna go to bed now, wake up in a few hours, turn on the telly and see this meff in a feckin’ Spurs shirt aren’t I?
In defense of Dempsey: 23 goals in his final season at Fulham. If Firmino can produce like that for us, I’ll be pleased.
Very happy, was screaming for us to buy him last season instead of Lallana
Hope we aren’t playing him at false 9 though or striker or wherever, different cattle of fish playing a new player in the English league who isn’t a centre forward by trade
Therefore, buy Bacca, would be insane if we buy him too
I can’t speak for anyone else, but this signing (now confirmed) gives me hope for next season providing we sign a starting forward. We’ll probably see Sterling moved on now too, I’m guessing a similar deal, of “up to” based on performances.
“For me? No” – i see what you did there.. haha..
one top drawer signing and look how much the mood has changed.. no idea why we didn’t do this last year.. but that’s history now..
just shows how important it is to get in there and do the deal without “faffing” around.. not even 1 July yet and with the addition of Firmino our transfer business looking like we are on a mission.
reach for the stars and all that.. better late than..
I want to back up what Daves saying, I’ve seen a lot of the lad play in the bundasliga on bt sport and he’s a terrific signing just what we need! I was genuinely punching the air driving into work this morning hearing we’ve got this deal done and beat off the mancs for his signature. If we can get bacca and rondon done aswell this summer the attacking options next season of sturridge,origi,firmino,lallana,Phil countinho,markovic,bacca,rondon and sterling if he stays is GOALS GOALS GOALS!
I like it! Business done quickly and as quietly as you can these days, now for a striker.
Definately a signing that makes everything else look a lot better. To all those speculating as to whether the links with all thes other players are just a ploy to get Villa to drop their price for Benteke, you’re probably correct.
Signing Benteke at 20 mill/ Sign Bacca or Rondon at 20 mill, what do you think FSG would do? These players raw attributes are very similar. None of them is much better at passing or dribbling than the others, none is much faster than the others and I doubt Bacca was better at 24 than the other two. It kinda makes more sense in my mind. Plus now there seems to be potential for goals coming from elsewhere on the pitch it takes the heat off of whichever striker is brought in.
Infact, I think theres a possibility that bringing in another striker will be put on hold for a while to see if what we currently have is workable. The fact is, bringing in another striker kind of makes Danny Ings a pointless acquirement.
I don’t watch a lot of Bundesliga – well, any, actually – but I’m ready to commit to the prevailing view that this is ace. For all the reasons Dave outlines, and in particular the kick up the arse it gives everyone.
However, unless Brendan fancies his chances at turning Firmino into a Luis-style goal machine, then surely the effect of this signing is only going to be optimised if we sign Bacca (or someone very similar)? Sure, Sturridge could be the man here as well, but we cannot rely on him staying injury-free and Ings and Origi are ones for the future. I really hope we get Bacca as he seems to have a bit of devilment about him and he definitely knows where the goal is. Otherwise we’ll have about half a dozen players who can paint pretty pictures in midfield but who are a little bit shy about banging the ball into the net.
Secondly, as Dave has pointed out, we’ve already got Coutinho, so where exactly is Lallana going to fit in to all this? I’m not suggesting he should be starting ahead of a £29m signing, but we now have at least three ‘number 10’ players and we saw what happened last year when people are consistently played out of position – it doesn’t really work.
Finally, while I still maintain LFC should keep him no matter what, doesn’t the signing of Firmino actually make it more likely that Raheem in on the way out?
Finally, finally, I’d still like Masch to come back, a decent centre-half, Clyne, and whatever the newest, most popular Lego is for Christmas….
Seems committee, might of learned after not being proactive enough on Sanchez, LFC Reps are at the Copa making all kinds of move, (maybe Ayre has donned the speedos, Wenger style) and taking care of the German end too, even while tournament is still ongoing, which has susprised and impressed Me.
Before club gives themselves a pat on the back, this type of transfer should be mandatory, our rivals will also strengthen from a position of greater strength, due to our haphazzard strategy of last year.
Dave as you watch a lot of Bundesliga ( I watch a lot of bunda), How do you rate P’E’A’ he is younger than Bacca, is he gettable considering Reds German links?
If Firmino is counted as Forward is He, Ings, Origi enough to get by, till Studge returns? if play 433 can add Ibe, Lazar and Lallana to that mix. Seems only way to ensure bases covered is to overload in case Sturridge never returns to the striker he was.
With this new found assertiveness of the committee, I would like to think someone is in Lacazette and Agent’s ear trying to exploit the impasse.get Captain Sakho on the case.
Think we should defo look at Aubameyang too. Can play anywhere across the front 3, extremely quick and mobile and should be available for a similar price as Bacca. Only 26 too.
I like Aubameyang, his lethal pace would be terrific in front of Coutinho and Firmino, but he’s never really been a particularly natural finisher. Misses a lot of one v ones. Also if the Telegraph are to be believed Dortmund are asking for close to £30m for him. If it’s him for 30 or Bacca for 20, I’d go with Bacca. The Colombian seems more gnarly as well. I like gnarly.
Five signings and we’re still a week away from the opening of the summer transfer window. One marquee player, one proven veteran, one backup, two prospects. I don’t know about others, but it’s plain as day to me that something has significantly changed for the better in the back rooms of Melwood.
The four signings preceding Firmino aren’t of the bedazzling sort, but three of them (Milner, Ings, Bogdan) are most certainly upgrades over what we currently have at the club. Milner and Ings won’t wow us, but together they could add 6-10 points on the table for us. I personally don’t feel that upgrading on Mignolet is at all a priority this summer, and there’s no doubt in my mind that Bogdan is an upgrade on Jones by some distance. Gomez, we’ll see, very few of us know anything about him.
As for Firmino, he’ll win us some games, that’s for sure, but he’ll also need time to bed in, similar to Suarez. He’s incredibly versatile so I hope BR doesn’t read that as an opportunity to play him at LWB, but he can fill in for Studge, Coutinho, and more than ably stand in for the (probably) soon-to-part Sterling. For those who don’t know him that well, Firmino has Suarez-like tenacity and is probably one of the best defending forward players around, so we’ll reap those rewards.
I’m seeing balance all over the club being restored. The buys we’ve made and the speed at which we’ve done them make sense, the radio silence from Melwood makes sense, letting go of dead wood in players AND staff makes sense. Let’s see if it all translates on the pitch.
He’s basically a footballer who has perfectly married the Brazilian and German style of football: has the flair and the tricks, but also the pressing off the ball and the ability to play a more give and go fast paced direct style
Totally unfounded conspiracy theory time, just for kicks:
Did Firmino’s decision to join have anything to do with Ian Ayre telling him that he would actually be coached by the incoming Jurgen Klopp?
He’s gonna be the new assistant mgr, breathing right down Brendan’s neck, don’t fuck up at Stoke again or auf weidersein..
If the bridge isn’t completely burnt I’d go for Loic Remy. As should have been done last year.
Sitting in my car, waiting for my wife to come out from work, when an agitated man rapped on the window. ‘Have you heard the news???’
‘What news?’
Hesitates…slightly uncertain…’Erm…awesome number plate, mate!’ (My registration plate is YNWA-01).
‘Ah, that news!!!’ ‘ Yes, I’m absolutely stoked (bad word choice, instantly regretted.)’
Animated and delirious discussion ensued about how we’ll go in the CL in 2016…
The glass is three-quarters full. Not scared of playing at Anfield any more??! Come and get your arses kicked!! Luis Mark 11 is coming!!!
Without spending too much money, none of which is mine, we could see Firmino, Bacca, Illaramendi, Clyne, and Milner all walk into the first team. Serious competition for places, too.
If Sterling goes, I’d spend other people’s money on shoving a fat wad of cash in the mouth of the Lyon president before walking back through the door carrying Lacazette over my shoulder. Even if every penny of the 50M was spent, did we not just improve the squad?
But can be do if on a wet Saturday in August in stoke?
I do feel that, overall, people are praising our transfer activity a little much, a little early. Similar things were said last year “this is now a squad that can compete on all fronts” etc.
In the end, nobody can guarantee success. But in the last two years the transfer activity was uninspiring, to say the least. The signing of Firmino signals an intent, and at this point that’s good enough for me.
Wow, Kev. I feel like endorsing your comment. First time for everything :)
I was of the opinion that the Benteke thing was a ‘drop shoulder ‘ to distract the rest.
But then I think of Milner… why? Why?
I’m glad we have apparently signed some one decent. But I’m concerned it may have been a second choice!!!
The point being: this transfer committee are fuckwits.
Firmino, Clyne and Milner are very good signings and should strenthen our starting 11 no end..But as long as BR is in charge, it will not matter who we sign! Peace out