Luis Diaz Player Thread (F)

Next season between 15/20 I think.

That's just against your lot Keith. 

That's just against your lot Keith. 

Yeah in your dreams maybe.  Don’t think he will score more than 20 in the league though in my opinion. Still a great return though if it is between 15/20.

Very excited for him to be the main man on the left next season, gonna blow us away I think, only a matter of time before he’s hitting the target regularly from those chances.

Watched the friendly against Leipzig yesterday and noticed something that has been in the back of my mind for a little while. I understand that he is a type of winger different to those we have. With Jota and Salah being very direct wingers who like to make runs towards the goal without the ball, Diaz is a bit of the opposite. He likes to run with the ball at his feet. This is really good because it gives us something different, frees up some space for the players around him and opens up avenues of play that Jota and Salah will usually not open up for you.

However, I noticed that he tends to keep the ball at his feet a little bit too long. Often, a couple of players will make runs to open up options for him, but he'll take an unnecessary extra touch on the ball or go for the extra dribble and by then his options are no longer there or he dispossessed. Its the same for his shooting.

Of course, me saying this those not mean I think he is bad player or anything like that. I think he needs to sharpen his decision making because at the moment he's not bringing to fruition a lot of the runs and dribbles he makes. Often Firmino and Salah were open around him (yesterday but also during the season), mainly because of the combination of space he creates via his run and them recognizing that and making their own runs but he ends up neither passing or shooting and he slows it down again giving the opposition time to adjust and close down those spaces he and his teammates had just opened up.

Watched the friendly against Leipzig yesterday and noticed something that has been in the back of my mind for a little while. I understand that he is a type of winger different to those we have. With Jota and Salah being very direct wingers who like to make runs towards the goal without the ball, Diaz is a bit of the opposite. He likes to run with the ball at his feet. This is really good because it gives us something different, frees up some space for the players around him and opens up avenues of play that Jota and Salah will usually not open up for you.

However, I noticed that he tends to keep the ball at his feet a little bit too long. Often, a couple of players will make runs to open up options for him, but he'll take an unnecessary extra touch on the ball or go for the extra dribble and by then his options are no longer there or he dispossessed. Its the same for his shooting.

Of course, me saying this those not mean I think he is bad player or anything like that. I think he needs to sharpen his decision making because at the moment he's not bringing to fruition a lot of the runs and dribbles he makes. Often Firmino and Salah were open around him (yesterday but also during the season), mainly because of the combination of space he creates via his run and them recognizing that and making their own runs but he ends up neither passing or shooting and he slows it down again giving the opposition time to adjust and close down those spaces he and his teammates had just opened up.

IMO that's very similar to what Mane did the last few years. You take the good with bad. Especially when you have guys that's bring you a different element and are as dynamic as the two I just mentioned. Like Mane, he seems to press his ass off without the ball, and that's invaluable

IMO that's very similar to what Mane did the last few years. You take the good with bad. Especially when you have guys that's bring you a different element and are as dynamic as the two I just mentioned. Like Mane, he seems to press his ass off without the ball, and that's invaluable

I agree and like I said I don't think he's bad or that he shouldn't start. However, I think his decisions making needs to start improving a bit if we are to see goals out of him on a regular basis.

With that said, the lad has literally been here for half a season and has hit the ground running, he has plenty of time to improve. I'm pretty sure he's one of the players who the benefits of a full preseason will be the biggest for.

What a goal, well done.

He was everywhere. Keep it up. You will be needed heavily the next three games.

Most people watching the game, including me, would have taken him of at half time.
Very good goal, he's a quality player.

yeah, the haters were nauseating

https://twitter.com/LFC/status/1559313996871712768

Most people watching the game, including me, would have taken him of at half time.
Very good goal, he's a quality player.

I wouldn't.

Was in the ground and the tracking back in the first half was superb. Type of spade work Kuyt used to get lauded for.

Absolutely superb goal too.

I wouldn't.

Was in the ground and the tracking back in the first half was superb. Type of spade work Kuyt used to get lauded for.

Absolutely superb goal too.

The Dirk comparison is bang on regards his work rate. Pressing and tracking back is first class.

Most people watching the game, including me, would have taken him of at half time.
Very good goal, he's a quality player.

And replace with who?

Like him as a player but he is just not being utilised as he should. Too many times he’s fighting just to hang on to the ball and make a backwards pass. Constantly receiving it on the touchline with his back to goal. Don’t see him anywhere near enough facing down the full back.

Not sure what the answer is… Is it the player or the system? Salah plays wide as well but he also gets in behind. How are we not getting this down the left hand side? Is it the understanding with Robbo? The goal he scored last week was a piece of magic from him but can’t expect him to be doing that every week.

He's just not doing it for us. He tries so hard but he doesn't really imprint himself on the wing and cause terror.

I think of wingers of the past like Mane, Hazard, Robben, Ronaldo (first time around), Son etc and they caused/cause terror on their side of the pitch. Diaz seems to stutter a lot and doesn't bring that impact we need at this level.

I think he's an excellent option to have but I don't think he should be starting. Problem is we have no one to replace him with. Jota is ineffective on the wing and is also going through his own barren run.

Edit* just read 7kingkenny7's post in the match thread and it makes sense what he's said. He needs a midfielder on his side that can link up with him. He looks very isolated.

Huffed and puffed again today.

Was hoping he'd come up with something remarkable like last week but nope, that didn't happen!

He's just not doing it for us. He tries so hard but he doesn't really imprint himself on the wing and cause terror.

I think of wingers of the past like Mane, Hazard, Robben, Ronaldo (first time around), Son etc and they caused/cause terror on their side of the pitch. Diaz seems to stutter a lot and doesn't bring that impact we need at this level.

I think he's an excellent option to have but I don't think he should be starting. Problem is we have no one to replace him with. Jota is ineffective on the wing and is also going through his own barren run.

Edit* just read 7kingkenny7's post in the match thread and it makes sense what he's said. He needs a midfielder on his side that can link up with him. He looks very isolated.

7KK7's point is a great one.

He does look like at times he's trying to do everything on his own while simultaneously doing not much effective work.

There's not a much link up and cohesion on the other side as well and for me this season smacks of just putting players into a system we have that doesn't really fit or work instead of drilling into a system that gets the best out of the players we have now.

Diaz is very much not Sadio Mane. Totally different players.

I think he is our best player so far this season. If we can start dominating the middle of the park again he could do his thing a bit further up the pitch. At the moment we hit it to him early because he runs at the opposition and gets us on the front foot. But he's picking the ball up miles from the box.

Well done Diazler, what a cool player we bought, well done kidda.

Probably my fav player right now. Energetic, direct, and has fantastic ability. Right now, he looks like our most dangerous player.

Maybe Luis tries too hard sometimes, I am not sure, but well done for his perfomance against Bournemouth yesterday, with two excellently taken goals !

Has a lot of work to do if he's going to be a star at this club.

Game of inches, his wicked shot hit's the inside of the bar and stays out, how the f**k is that possible? Could have had another worldie on his resume.