Georginio 'Gini' Wijnaldum - The Dutch Lion

He's a very versatile player. In Holland he's played as an attacking midfielder, winger and he spent his last two seasons at PSV as a central midfielder (though he dealt with injury much of his time there). He definitely likes to have the freedom to move forward and get in on the attacking play so no one would really mistake him for a holding or overly defensive midfielder. His best role in general, IMO, has generally been ACM or more of an attack minded CM in a midfield 3.

As for what kind of player he is...he's got great off the ball movement, a good touch, he can turn and create space with a quick burst as well and has great composure in front of goal. His passing can be a little too safe at times, and he's a decent dribbler. Defensively he doesn't always put in the work but he can run a lot and I think that will develop under Klopp.

As far as the summer signigns go he's been the most disappointing so far in the short time. Still don't understand the signing as I already said when we were just linked with him.

Don't call me James wrote:As far as the summer signigns go he's been the most disappointing so far in the short time. Still don't understand the signing as I already said when we were just linked with him.

yeah I agree but he is being asked to play a different roll under klopp so it might take him a bit of time to settle.

Yeah, never understood why we signed him, he didn't even look that good for Newcastle. In fact, if we signed a Newcastle player it should have been Sissoko.

Not really sure why people are whining about this signing. He's been fine in his first few games, and his assist for our go-ahead goal against Arsenal was very nice. He's also much better than Sissoko. If we get a real holder than can distribute the ball and he's given a bit more freedom he'll have an even bigger impact, but right now our midfield in general is very unbalanced.

Curtinho wrote:Not really sure why people are whining about this signing. He's been fine in his first few games , and his assist for our go-ahead goal against Arsenal was very nice. He's also much better than Sissoko. If we get a real holder than can distribute the ball and he's given a bit more freedom he'll have an even bigger impact, but right now our midfield in general is very unbalanced.

Curtinho wrote:Not really sure why people are whining about this signing. He's been fine in his first few games, and his assist for our go-ahead goal against Arsenal was very nice. He's also much better than Sissoko. If we get a real holder than can distribute the ball and he's given a bit more freedom he'll have an even bigger impact, but right now our midfield in general is very unbalanced.

He's been totally average & Sissoko's much better than him.

As evidenced by their contributions on the same team last year, obviously.

Anyway, nobody in our midfield has looked good so far because the midfield is a mess moreso than the individual abilities of any of our midfielders. It's silly to pick out Wijnaldum as a 'bad signing' 3 games into his tenure when the midfield is as it is. He has lots of great qualities but playing a midfield of Henderson/Lallana/Wijnaldum is not going to work.

Scores against Greece and has been very lively so far. See how good he can be when given a bit of freedom to go forward rather than acting as a 'controller' type in midfield? Klopp needs to be watching this.

Curtinho wrote:Scores against Greece and has been very lively so far. See how good he can be when given a bit of freedom to go forward rather than acting as a 'controller' type in midfield? Klopp needs to be watching this.

the problem is with all the forward players we have there is no room for him to play forward more.

Unique wrote:

Curtinho wrote:Scores against Greece and has been very lively so far. See how good he can be when given a bit of freedom to go forward rather than acting as a 'controller' type in midfield? Klopp needs to be watching this.

the problem is with all the forward players we have there is no room for him to play forward more.

I don't mean as a forward. I mean as a midfielder that breaks forward while in possession. He's an expert at getting into the box and either capping off or creating opportunities in transition. His off the ball movement and composure are absolutely fantastic. The problem is that, if you watch our games, it's almost like he's been instructed to sit back and be more of a controller type with Lallana having a more free role to go forward and it's a misuse of his abilities.

Curtinho wrote:

Unique wrote:

Curtinho wrote:Scores against Greece and has been very lively so far. See how good he can be when given a bit of freedom to go forward rather than acting as a 'controller' type in midfield? Klopp needs to be watching this.

the problem is with all the forward players we have there is no room for him to play forward more.

I don't mean as a forward. I mean as a midfielder that breaks forward while in possession. He's an expert at getting into the box and either capping off or creating opportunities in transition. His off the ball movement and composure are absolutely fantastic. The problem is that, if you watch our games, it's almost like he's been instructed to sit back and be more of a controller type with Lallana having a more free role to go forward and it's a misuse of his abilities.

i think that's what the other lads were talking about when they said he was a strange signing.

It's a great signing for Klopp's style if he's used as he should be. The problem is that right now the midfield is not balanced and because of it Wijnaldum is filling a role that he's still pretty good at but is a waste of his true talents. We'll see how things develop if Can can become a dominating defensive midfielder behind Wijnaldum and then someone like Dahoud or Ceballos is signed. It would give Wijnaldum the freedom he needs affect our offence.

If he stays at Liverpool, I dont think his future will be in the attacking part of the pitch. It seems like Klopp will try to mould him into more of a CM, that would suit to his style.

CADM

More like ACM as opposed to CAM.

CD2AM

Sri wrote:CD2AM

sri be a sport and join up to my predictor game

This lad has racked up 5 goals and 10 assists, with a game to go.

iftikhar wrote:This lad has racked up 5 goals and 10 assists, with a game to go.

not bad tbh

either he needs to improve massively next season or we need someone who will improve our MF few folds compared to now.

Would Hendo, lallana and Cou work? With Can and Wiji as back ups?

No it wont, both Lallana and Cou are not midfielders. So both of them together is bad idea specially considering the physicality of the league.

tbh I think gini turned out to be a very important player for us this season. scored some big goals and performed well in some big and very important games for us this season.

6 goals and 11 assists.

Majority of those 6 goals are either huge game moments or goals against top 4 opposition.

What a team member to have.

Nishankly wrote:6 goals and 11 assists.

Majority of those 6 goals are either huge game moments or goals against top 4 opposition.

What a team member to have.

not to have a dig at pogba again but they are the sort of goals/performances you would expect from him for the money he cost tbh.