• Log InLog In
  • Register
Liquid`
Team Liquid Liquipedia
EDT 00:20
CEST 06:20
KST 13:20
  • Home
  • Forum
  • Calendar
  • Streams
  • Liquipedia
  • Features
  • Store
  • EPT
  • TL+
  • StarCraft 2
  • Brood War
  • Smash
  • Heroes
  • Counter-Strike
  • Overwatch
  • Liquibet
  • Fantasy StarCraft
  • TLPD
  • StarCraft 2
  • Brood War
  • Blogs
Forum Sidebar
Events/Features
News
Featured News
[ASL22] Ro8 Preview: In A Tizzy7[ASL22] Ro16 Preview: Holy Diver5[ASL22] Ro16 Preview: Rough Waters10[ASL22] Ro24 Preview: Siren's Call8[ASL22] Ro24 Preview: Summer's End9
Community News
Weekly Cups (Sep 13-20): herO scores triple1BSL Season 235Weekly Cups (Sep 7-12): SHIN, ByuN, MaxPax double down1StarCraft open world shooter announced at BlizzCon101Weekly Cups (Aug 30-Sep 7): herO thrives amid growing schism10
StarCraft 2
General
How do you feel about the StarCraft shooter announcement at BlizzCon 2026? Blizzard Classic Cup @ BlizzCon 2026 - $100k prize pool The Death of Cheese: From a Professional Cheeser Weekly Cups (Sep 13-20): herO scores triple Balance hotfix patch 5.0.16b (July 16)
Tourneys
2026 GSTL Announcement Sparkling Tuna Cup - Weekly Open Tournament RSL Revival: Season 6 - Qualifiers and Main Event RSL goes to London! 2026 Offline Finals Nov 21-22 SC2 AI Tournament 2026 Fall
Strategy
[H] ZvP Mid-Late Game: Stalkers Collossi HT
Custom Maps
Nexus Wars 2021 GUIDE [M] (2) Industrial Park
External Content
Mutation # 544 Double Trouble The PondCast: SC2 News & Results Mutation # 543 Enhanced Defenses Mutation # 542 The Ascended
Brood War
General
new ranked ladder hack? Bot on ladder New 3v3 BGH Ladder (and more) on ShieldBattery! [ASL22] Ro8 Preview: In A Tizzy an AI researcher's take on the ladder bot
Tourneys
[ASL22] Ro8 Day 2 [ASL22] Ro8 Day 1 [IPSL] IPSL is Back With Winter 26-27! [BSL23] SM: Ret vs TerrOr -> DragOn vs StRyKeR
Strategy
Cliff Jump Revisited (1 in a 1000 strategy) Replay Review Process - What do you do? Simple Questions, Simple Answers Odyssey Mineral Stack Saturation
Other Games
General Games
Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne Nintendo Switch Thread Stormgate/Frost Giant Megathread EVE Corporation Diablo IV
Dota 2
Dota 2 Champions League Season 3 Begins April 25! Official 'what is Dota anymore' discussion
League of Legends
[TL LoL EUW IHs] Teemo shall perish
Heroes of the Storm
Heroes of the Storm 2.0
Hearthstone
Deck construction bug
TL Mafia
TL Mafia Community Thread
Community
General
US Politics Mega-thread Artificial Intelligence Thread Things Aren’t Peaceful in Palestine All you football fans (soccer)! Russo-Ukrainian War Thread
Fan Clubs
MarineLorD Fan Club The Creator Fan Club The ShoWTimE Fan Club
Media & Entertainment
Movie Discussion! [Manga] One Piece Diablo Animated Series on Netflix
Sports
Football (Soccer) Thread TeamLiquid Health and Fitness Initiative For 2023 MLB/Baseball 2023
World Cup 2022
Tech Support
Computer Build, Upgrade & Buying Resource Thread
TL Community
Recent Gifted Posts
Blogs
Gaming Intensity, Problemati…
TrAiDoS
38 yo Retired SWE loo…
PurE)Rabbit-SF
Can Bots Beat Pros?? Starcr…
namkraft
[meme] I finally understa…
LUCKY_NOOB
Regacy Esports:Our Goa…
regacyesports
Dreaming of BW patches (mod…
c3rberUs
Customize Sidebar...

Website Feedback

Closed Threads



Active: 7761 users

2022 - 2023 Football Thread - Page 136

Forum Index > Sports
Post a Reply
Prev 1 134 135 136 137 138 151 Next
New Thread! Sneirac has delivered!
KobraKay
Profile Joined March 2010
Portugal4386 Posts
June 18 2023 14:43 GMT
#2701
On June 18 2023 23:07 Pandemona wrote:
From what i have seen i see Nkunku as a hazard like player and Kai needed to play off a striker, he got that chance with Lukaku and still rarely scored that season as well.

Kai is a good player without a position, he could potentially play as a 10 and maybe the Arsenal system will help him with the high 8 role he will play but im not sure. He also is struggling to find a position in the Germany set up as well.

Next season we are going with strikers and then Nkunku as 10. Kai isn't a striker so he would be competing for that spot with Nkunku so that why he might see himself not playing as much. He didn't play there before because we didn't have any striker and our silly coaches kept putting him there lol.


Yeah I see what you mean. But its just that to me Nkunku is not on par....but hey i've been wrong a lot before so what do I know.
CJ Fighting! (--.--)
sharkie
Profile Blog Joined April 2012
Austria18749 Posts
June 18 2023 15:41 GMT
#2702
Havertz is definitely better than nkunku yeah but frenchies are the latest craze atm hehe

Havertz is a generational talent for Germany imo and they should build a team around him if not gundogan
Pandemona *
Profile Blog Joined March 2011
Charlie Sheens House51493 Posts
June 18 2023 17:18 GMT
#2703
Well for the last 2 years the team under Flick was with Kai and they haven't done much have they. But yeah we shall see.
ModeratorTeam Liquid Football Thread Guru! - Chelsea FC ♥
WombaT
Profile Blog Joined May 2010
Northern Ireland27387 Posts
June 18 2023 17:19 GMT
#2704
On June 19 2023 00:41 sharkie wrote:
Havertz is definitely better than nkunku yeah but frenchies are the latest craze atm hehe

Havertz is a generational talent for Germany imo and they should build a team around him if not gundogan

He’s a generational talent few seem to know what to do with.

His ceiling may be higher, equally I can see Nkunku being more effective and hit the ground running given you don’t really need to build a whole team around him.

I hope somebody does crack the puzzle as he’s clearly a very classy operator with a pretty unique toolkit
'You'll always be the cuddly marsupial of my heart, despite the inherent flaws of your ancestry' - Squat
TL+ Member
sharkie
Profile Blog Joined April 2012
Austria18749 Posts
June 18 2023 17:27 GMT
#2705
On June 19 2023 02:18 Pandemona wrote:
Well for the last 2 years the team under Flick was with Kai and they haven't done much have they. But yeah we shall see.


Yeah but thats because Flick didnt build the team around him.
Flick keeps trying to build the team around Kimmich
Mafe
Profile Joined February 2011
Germany5966 Posts
June 18 2023 19:54 GMT
#2706
On June 18 2023 05:49 Hildegard wrote:
Germany hasn't had a real striker since Klose. Ever since he retired, Germany has had huge problems against teams that park the bus. Against teams like Spain, that go for possession, too, Germany is much stronger.

Fwiw, Klose was in some way past his prime in 2014 and might not have played all that much had Gomez not missed out on the tournament due to injuries. Iirc before the tournament Gomez missing out was seen as a major dent to the hopes of the team.

But that doesnt change anything about the current situation. And while obviously an out-and-out striker would be a major asset, I dont think that is (or at least has been in qatar) the only issue. Against japan in particular, but really in all 3 games at the world cup, if the whole team had converted their chances into goals at just a slightly below regular rate, this striker problem would be just a minor inconvenience instead of a footballing existential crisis.
{CC}StealthBlue
Profile Blog Joined January 2003
United States41117 Posts
June 19 2023 00:33 GMT
#2707
"Smokey, this is not 'Nam, this is bowling. There are rules."
RKC
Profile Joined June 2012
2848 Posts
Last Edited: 2023-06-19 11:18:20
June 19 2023 11:05 GMT
#2708
Whilst the meta has evolved in recent years, a traditional no 9 is definitely a key to success at the highest level. The main difference is that the no 9 has to be more dynamic. Able to be patient and efficient enough to score goals with half chances and minimal touches. But also flexible enough to drop deep, hold up play, and make runs to open up space. In modern football, every role requires technical ability (including keepers and defenders). Being a goal poacher is not enough. Gone are the days of Inzaghis and Shearers.

Today, the ideal no 9 needs to be a complete forward. Elite players like CR7, Benzema, Haaland, Zlatan, Lewandowski, and maybe even Mbappe (the 'maybe' is not to diminish his quality but because his qualities are more rounded, like Messi). And a notch below, players like Kane, Salah and Chiesa. For some reason, not many players seem to want to develop into this role. Maybe it's just too small of a pool and high of risk? Statistically, a player has a better chance of earning a spot in a team by playing wide roles or central midfield. It's just a theory, but maybe pragmatism even at the grassroots is the main cause of shortage of world class strikers/forwards.
gg no re thx
evilfatsh1t
Profile Joined October 2010
Australia8925 Posts
Last Edited: 2023-06-19 16:43:12
June 19 2023 16:39 GMT
#2709
haaland to me isnt the modern day "perfect" no. 9.
hes actually way more old fashioned in the way he plays but his finishing is just so lethal that he makes up for his shortages. if his finishing was on par with say, lukaku, he would be literally no different to lukaku. haaland isnt good at dropping deep nor is he as good as benzema/lewandowski/zlatan/kane at involving himself in build up. hes a pure finisher

its probably one of the reasons why i wouldnt put my vote on haaland for ballon dor or why i would actually rate mbappe above him. there are a number of players who are far better rounded than haaland.
RvB
Profile Blog Joined December 2010
Netherlands6322 Posts
Last Edited: 2023-06-20 06:19:47
June 20 2023 06:19 GMT
#2710
The shortage of world class strikers is because it is the hardest position in the field. Almost every kid dreams to be a forward but hardly anyone makes it. You also do not really need a world class striker on a national team to win. Klose was good but never world-class on a club level.
sharkie
Profile Blog Joined April 2012
Austria18749 Posts
June 20 2023 06:21 GMT
#2711
On June 20 2023 15:19 RvB wrote:
The shortage of world class strikers is because it is the hardest position in the field. Almost every kid dreams to be a forward but hardly anyone makes it. You also do not really need a world class striker on a national team to win. Klose was good but never world-class on a club level.


Klose definitely was world class in the national team though. He held up play, was a very good link-up and scored lots of goals. If Gomez had been Germany's striker in 2014 they wouldnt have won the world cup
RKC
Profile Joined June 2012
2848 Posts
Last Edited: 2023-06-20 09:28:28
June 20 2023 09:23 GMT
#2712
David Villa was also pivotal to Spain's success in the WC and Euros.

Lautaro Martinez is phenomenal for Inter past few seasons plus this season. His dip in form at the WC was rather unfortunate and anomalous. Surprising not many clubs are courting him. Way better than Lukaku. A great forward ala Suarez.

Of course, Haaland isn't at the level of CR7 or Mbappe. But he definitely has the talent in terms of technical attribute. It's just that coaches prefer to take advantage of his built and physicality by playing up him far upfront behind enemy lines. He's a level above Inzaghi and Shearer for sure. He's very much like Zlatan.
gg no re thx
RvB
Profile Blog Joined December 2010
Netherlands6322 Posts
June 20 2023 09:32 GMT
#2713
On June 20 2023 15:21 sharkie wrote:
Show nested quote +
On June 20 2023 15:19 RvB wrote:
The shortage of world class strikers is because it is the hardest position in the field. Almost every kid dreams to be a forward but hardly anyone makes it. You also do not really need a world class striker on a national team to win. Klose was good but never world-class on a club level.


Klose definitely was world class in the national team though. He held up play, was a very good link-up and scored lots of goals. If Gomez had been Germany's striker in 2014 they wouldnt have won the world cup

yeah Klose always overperformed for the national team. Same with Podolski. Somehow they were always able to show their best for Germany.
Liquid`Drone
Profile Joined September 2002
Norway28894 Posts
June 20 2023 11:59 GMT
#2714
I think zlatan with speed and a tad less score impossible goals is a great description of haaland. His goal against dortmund this season could have been scored by exactly one other player, zlatan, and nobody else.
Moderator
RKC
Profile Joined June 2012
2848 Posts
Last Edited: 2023-06-20 13:21:22
June 20 2023 13:18 GMT
#2715
Exactly, Haaland scores impossible goals out of half chances and nothing. That's the hallmark of a modern no 9.

Ironically, Pep couldn't get along with Zlatan but can somehow get Haaland to click into his tiki-taka setup. Maybe Haaland is still young and hasn't develop the ruthless selfishness that comes almost naturally from all elite no 9 like Zlatan and CR7. Or maybe Haaland has this special Zen-like patience and resilience (eg doesn't mind not touching the ball for long stretches and doesn't scream at teammates for a pass). Although he may not have scored or contributed directly much in the FA Cup and CL final, his sheer presence and threat in the final third opens up space for other players to score instead. He's the missing piece of the puzzle that Man City has been lacking all these past seasons since Aguero aged and left (but don't get me wrong, the other stars like Gundagon, Rodri, de Bruyne, Stones, Ederson, etc equally played a major role in the treble).
gg no re thx
WombaT
Profile Blog Joined May 2010
Northern Ireland27387 Posts
June 20 2023 13:53 GMT
#2716
Bit harsh on Shearer lad! Otherwise yeah agreed
'You'll always be the cuddly marsupial of my heart, despite the inherent flaws of your ancestry' - Squat
TL+ Member
Hildegard
Profile Blog Joined November 2012
Germany348 Posts
June 20 2023 14:47 GMT
#2717
On June 19 2023 04:54 Mafe wrote:
Show nested quote +
On June 18 2023 05:49 Hildegard wrote:
Germany hasn't had a real striker since Klose. Ever since he retired, Germany has had huge problems against teams that park the bus. Against teams like Spain, that go for possession, too, Germany is much stronger.

Fwiw, Klose was in some way past his prime in 2014 and might not have played all that much had Gomez not missed out on the tournament due to injuries. Iirc before the tournament Gomez missing out was seen as a major dent to the hopes of the team.

But that doesnt change anything about the current situation. And while obviously an out-and-out striker would be a major asset, I dont think that is (or at least has been in qatar) the only issue. Against japan in particular, but really in all 3 games at the world cup, if the whole team had converted their chances into goals at just a slightly below regular rate, this striker problem would be just a minor inconvenience instead of a footballing existential crisis.


While I agree that Klose was nowhere near the level of Messi, Ronaldo, Haaland or Mbappé, he scored 16 world cup goals in 24 matches (13 in 26 for Messi), which is the very definition of world class. National teams aren't on the same level as clubs for obvious reasons, but the world cup is the biggest stage, maybe in all of sports and culture combined.

My hope for Germany is that Moukoko will become our future number 9, but he needs more playtime.
tl.net humour: https://www.kurtvonmeier.com/blog-1/2018/1/14/on-audio-alan-watts-and-g-spencer-brown-discuss-laws-of-form
Liquid`Drone
Profile Joined September 2002
Norway28894 Posts
June 20 2023 14:56 GMT
#2718
Klose is one of very, very few strikers who has more goals per game for NT than club teams over a large sample size. I'm sure they exist but I literally can't think of anybody else.
Moderator
sharkie
Profile Blog Joined April 2012
Austria18749 Posts
June 20 2023 16:09 GMT
#2719
On June 20 2023 23:56 Liquid`Drone wrote:
Klose is one of very, very few strikers who has more goals per game for NT than club teams over a large sample size. I'm sure they exist but I literally can't think of anybody else.


Podolski?
Liquid`Drone
Profile Joined September 2002
Norway28894 Posts
Last Edited: 2023-06-20 16:50:08
June 20 2023 16:49 GMT
#2720
Podolski is close, his average with koln beats nt handily but he was worse at bayern. However for bayern his average play time pee game was only about 50 minutes, so I think per minute he scored more there. If you look at the four clubs he played the most for then he had a better ratio for clubs than national team overall, but yeah, it's pretty close, so good suggestion.
Moderator
Prev 1 134 135 136 137 138 151 Next
Please log in or register to reply.
Live Events Refresh
Next event in 5h 40m
[ Submit Event ]
Live Streams
Refresh
StarCraft 2
WinterStarcraft521
RuFF_SC2 226
EnDerr 18
StarCraft: Brood War
Rain 3030
GuemChi 1720
Icarus 4
Dota 2
NeuroSwarm179
League of Legends
JimRising 761
Counter-Strike
m0e_tv485
taco 409
Heroes of the Storm
Trikslyr0
Other Games
summit1g10727
PiGStarcraft497
C9.Mang0400
Maynarde149
Livibee101
Mew2King46
Organizations
Other Games
gamesdonequick1110
BasetradeTV52
[ Show 15 non-featured ]
StarCraft 2
• Hupsaiya 104
• mYiSmile16
• practicex 6
• AfreecaTV YouTube
• intothetv
• Kozan
• IndyKCrew
• Migwel
StarCraft: Brood War
• Pr0nogo 5
• BSLYoutube
• STPLYoutube
• ZZZeroYoutube
Dota 2
• masondota21700
League of Legends
• Rush1011
• Stunt398
Upcoming Events
Sparkling Tuna Cup
5h 40m
Afreeca Starleague
5h 40m
Light vs EffOrt
OSC
7h 40m
PiGosaur Cup
19h 40m
Kung Fu Cup
1d 6h
The PondCast
2 days
Replay Cast
2 days
Korean StarCraft League
3 days
CranKy Ducklings
4 days
GSL
5 days
[ Show More ]
Yamato Cup
5 days
Replay Cast
5 days
Afreeca Starleague
6 days
WardiTV Weekly
6 days
Liquipedia Results

Completed

Super Anchor Qualifying S3
Blizzard Classic Cup 2026
Big Dog Cup 2026 Div 1

Ongoing

ASL Season 22
CSL 2026 AUTUMN (S22)
Acropolis #5
Acropolis #5 - GSA
Calamity Invitational
Logitech G Play Connect 2026
SL StarSeries Fall 2026
FISSURE Playground #3
BLAST Open Fall 2026
Esports World Cup 2026
BLAST Bounty Summer 2026
BLAST Bounty Summer Qual
Stake Ranked Episode 3
XSE Pro League 2026

Upcoming

Acropolis #5 - GSB
Acropolis #5 - GSC
BSL Season 23
SC4ALL II: Brood War
BSL 23: Non-Korean Championship
HSC XXX
Stellar Fest 2: Lunar Cup
SC4ALL II: StarCraft II
Kung Fu Cup 2026 Grand Finals
RSL Offline Finals
Copium Cup
PGL Major Singapore 2026
Stake Ranked Episode 6
BLAST Rivals Fall 2026
IEM Beijing 2026
Stake Ranked Episode 5
PGL Masters Bucharest 2026
1win Private Club #2
Thunderpick World Champ. '26
ESL Pro League Season 24
Stake Ranked Episode 4
1win Private Club #1
TLPD

1. ByuN
2. TY
3. Dark
4. Solar
5. Stats
6. Nerchio
7. sOs
8. soO
9. INnoVation
10. Elazer
1. Rain
2. Flash
3. EffOrt
4. Last
5. Bisu
6. Soulkey
7. Mini
8. Sharp
Sidebar Settings...

Advertising | Privacy Policy | Terms Of Use | Contact Us

Original banner artwork: Jim Warren
The contents of this webpage are copyright © 2026 TLnet. All Rights Reserved.