Darwin Nunez was the name on everyone’s lips in the aftermath of Liverpool’s draw at Aston Villa, including his head coach. Arne Slot told the press what he thought was the Uruguayan’s biggest problem
Whilst Darwin Nunez wears a Red shirt we should all support him, yes he misses chances as all forwards do it’s part of the job, but he also scores, assists, & more importantly he wins us games. Some players need an “arm around them” Darwin appears to be one of them so let’s all get behind him & support the lad
When he's on the pitch, absolutely and I believe that has happened and will continue. Obviously as a journalist I have to take an analytical eye at things, and I feel like any criticism I've given is fair, and this show highlights the other issues as well. For the general fanbase, it's harder. The emotions of the game and a society where every thought must be documented means that it can feel like an avalanche against him at times, but I hope those in the dressing room can and will rally round him.
Good piece that, I agree with pretty much all of it.
Núñez is gone. We'd have obviously taken the money in January if we felt it wouldn't leave us short for the run-in. Frankly, if Dannsy wasn't still suffering with a back problem, I'd have just taken the opportunity to get rid of Darwin and secure the money. A bird in the hand...
The problem with our fanbase, and this probably applies to everyone else's, is that there is this wall of reluctance to criticise certain players, and then eventually the dam bursts and everyone piles in. And in terms of Darwin's Villa miss, which was actually Dom's fault for not shooting, unfortunately the pile-in is well underway. Some fans feel the need for a scapegoat when things go wrong, and just auto-rant at whoever the villain of the year is, rather than look at things game by game. At some point, Dom is likely to be thrown in the bin as well and then he'll feel the brunt of it. If you don't shoot there, Dom, when do you?
The problem we'll have this summer is turnover, by the looks of it. Trent is gone, hopefully. The worry is that Virg and Mo are too. Hopefully not. Chiesa has to go too. If it takes you six months to get fit, you're not a professional athlete. Darwin has to go. That's possibly five outs and they're not just any outs, two of those are going to be impossible to replace because they are arguably the best in the world in their positions/roles. So the much needed re-jig of the midfield is going to be hard to engineer and for all the weird calls to replace Robbo at LB, it's hard to identify a lower priority other than between the sticks.
Perhaps the worst situation of all is Ibou. I think he's down to a year in the summer? In a previous era, say a generation ago, the perceived wisdom was that you have to sell him. I don't think FSG think like that. They'd rather keep the player for (what may be) the last year.
Slot has made it crystal clear there that Jota is his first choice central forward. Given his preference for Diaz as back-up, even CurtisBobby, Darwin is just an emergency selection. I do have some sympathy for him, if he could have quintupled his salary. He's got a family.
One thing I don't like from Slot there is pretending not to know who Mark Lawrenson is. That's just snidey and totally uncalled for. You don't disrespect Liverpool legends like that. If you can't handle Talksport gobshitery, then don't listen to it. Who cares what Lawro says.
It's ridiculous how het up fans get about ex-players' rent-an-opinions, almost to the point where they actually hate them. Lawrenson. Carragher. Whelan. Stevie Nicol. Danny Murphy. Didi Hamann. All of them and more besides, objects of online vitriol for decades. Ingrates.
Whilst Darwin Nunez wears a Red shirt we should all support him, yes he misses chances as all forwards do it’s part of the job, but he also scores, assists, & more importantly he wins us games. Some players need an “arm around them” Darwin appears to be one of them so let’s all get behind him & support the lad
When he's on the pitch, absolutely and I believe that has happened and will continue. Obviously as a journalist I have to take an analytical eye at things, and I feel like any criticism I've given is fair, and this show highlights the other issues as well. For the general fanbase, it's harder. The emotions of the game and a society where every thought must be documented means that it can feel like an avalanche against him at times, but I hope those in the dressing room can and will rally round him.
Good piece that, I agree with pretty much all of it.
Núñez is gone. We'd have obviously taken the money in January if we felt it wouldn't leave us short for the run-in. Frankly, if Dannsy wasn't still suffering with a back problem, I'd have just taken the opportunity to get rid of Darwin and secure the money. A bird in the hand...
The problem with our fanbase, and this probably applies to everyone else's, is that there is this wall of reluctance to criticise certain players, and then eventually the dam bursts and everyone piles in. And in terms of Darwin's Villa miss, which was actually Dom's fault for not shooting, unfortunately the pile-in is well underway. Some fans feel the need for a scapegoat when things go wrong, and just auto-rant at whoever the villain of the year is, rather than look at things game by game. At some point, Dom is likely to be thrown in the bin as well and then he'll feel the brunt of it. If you don't shoot there, Dom, when do you?
The problem we'll have this summer is turnover, by the looks of it. Trent is gone, hopefully. The worry is that Virg and Mo are too. Hopefully not. Chiesa has to go too. If it takes you six months to get fit, you're not a professional athlete. Darwin has to go. That's possibly five outs and they're not just any outs, two of those are going to be impossible to replace because they are arguably the best in the world in their positions/roles. So the much needed re-jig of the midfield is going to be hard to engineer and for all the weird calls to replace Robbo at LB, it's hard to identify a lower priority other than between the sticks.
Perhaps the worst situation of all is Ibou. I think he's down to a year in the summer? In a previous era, say a generation ago, the perceived wisdom was that you have to sell him. I don't think FSG think like that. They'd rather keep the player for (what may be) the last year.
Slot has made it crystal clear there that Jota is his first choice central forward. Given his preference for Diaz as back-up, even CurtisBobby, Darwin is just an emergency selection. I do have some sympathy for him, if he could have quintupled his salary. He's got a family.
One thing I don't like from Slot there is pretending not to know who Mark Lawrenson is. That's just snidey and totally uncalled for. You don't disrespect Liverpool legends like that. If you can't handle Talksport gobshitery, then don't listen to it. Who cares what Lawro says.
It's ridiculous how het up fans get about ex-players' rent-an-opinions, almost to the point where they actually hate them. Lawrenson. Carragher. Whelan. Stevie Nicol. Danny Murphy. Didi Hamann. All of them and more besides, objects of online vitriol for decades. Ingrates.