What are everyone's first impressions of Origi now we have seen him in a few pre-season games? He's taken a bit of criticism from Lawrenson and Fowler during commentary and interviews on the tour, much of it on the money for my book. The main criticism has been about his instincts in the box ie. that he has looked quite flat footed, slow to react to what might happen, not attacking the right spaces when crosses come into the box. He was played in with a lovely through ball (from Henderson I think) in the last game and one on one with the keeper and he looked pretty lost (in stark contrast to Ings In the previous game) and fluffed the chance. He looks like he has plenty to offer outside of the box but a real project to turn him into a genuine goal threat in the EPL. I'm hoping they Robbie god work with him for a few sessions. Personally I was a bit miffed that Ings has seen less minutes than Origi on this tour, I would have liked to have seen more of the lad.
Think the natural striking instinct thing was highlighted again in the game vs Malaysia. I think it's Lallana's shot which comes back off the keeper, and there's Origi standing flat footed metres away. Obviously Origi is not Suarez, but had that been Luis in that situation, I imagine he would have already been on the move, anticipating a rebound, as soon as he saw the Liverpool player about to take a shot. You can see Henderson giving out to Origi telling him exactly that. You have to follow up shots, especially against poor keepers. This is pretty simple Sunday league stuff.
Divock looks like he has plenty of natural technical ability, good physical attributes, the key, at least insofar as I can make out from the few times we've seen him, is that he may need to work on the mental side of his game the most.
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