There seems to be a lot of talk about ‘heads’ on Twitter in regard to Liverpool signing 23-year-old full back Andy Robertson from Liverpool.
Depending on who you listen to, heads have either ‘fell off’ or need a ‘wobble’ over the transfer of the Glaswegian, but why?
For me, the main reason there is so much frustration and angst flying around at the mere thought of the Robertson deal, is down to the failure (so far) to get either of the big-name, big-money signings of Virgil van Dijk or Naby Keita over the line to placate the slavering Twitter hordes.
Bored adolescents on their school holidays were expecting to get ‘Virgil 4’ or ‘Keita 8’ on their spanking-new luminous orange replica third kits by now, huge £60m+ transfers that signalled the Reds are coming back over the hill. But instead, they are getting…Andrew Robertson from East Renfrewshire, via Hull City Tigers?
Twitter: @LFC Andy Robertson to Liverpool?why go for a player from Hull which got relegated?I dont think thats a good move!!No offense! (@shamzn78)
Twitter: Can’t believe where gonna sign Andy Robertson, he’ll probably be our last signing Aswel knowing us, (@AdamLees_8)
Twitter: @JamesPearceEcho @LFC_NEW5 ffs I know ur doing ur job but pls just give us not news ps Andy Robertson is not good news would rather Moreno (@ynwa8763)
Judging by some of the Twitter tantrums, more than a few fidget spinners have been smashed in anger recently. Rather Alberto Moreno, who has proven conclusively that, whilst an excellent athlete, he is nowhere near Liverpool standard? ‘Ok m8’.
So, “is Robertson Liverpool standard then?” I hear you ask. Well, we won’t know until he gets here, will we?
In my opinion, it’s a solid enough signing. In a market where Kyle Walker costs £50m and Benjamin Mendy from Monaco wants £200k a week; £8m for a talented, young, international (so what if it’s Scotland!) is a snip, really.
It’s just a shame his name is Robertson rather than ‘Robertinho’ and he doesn’t become The World’s Best Left Back if you buy him on Football Manager.
Liverpool, and Klopp, currently have two main issues with playing James Milner at left-back; his tendency to cut inside on his favoured right foot all the time which kills attacking momentum, and the fact he was dribbled past more than three times as much as counterpart Nathaniel Clyne on the other flank last season.
Robertson, at the very least, is a natural left-footer. He is also pacy (with the ball at his feet too) and loves an overlap, adding a dimension that Milner rarely offers due to being right-footed.
The Scot scored one goal and returned four assists last season, pretty good numbers in a Hull team that only hit the back of the net a paltry 37 times all season. Milner, for comparison, netted seven times (all penalties) and also grabbed four assists, but in a Liverpool side that scored more than double the number of goals.
Regular Hull watchers rate Robertson’s delivery from the flanks as one of his strengths too but suggest his main area of weakness is in regard to his defensive duties. I’ve seen him compared to a ‘better Moreno’, in that he relishes the attacking side of the game but still has some learning to do in his own half of the pitch, where he is occasionally caught out of position.
Such a weakness in a full back is not a dealbreaker by any means and undoubtedly, given the length of time Jurgen has been tracking Robertson for, he feels any deficiencies can be worked on and improved with coaching, and man hugs.
To put it simply, Robertson fits Klopp’s system. He comes with little risk at such a reasonable fee, and given Moreno will be departing soon, left-back is an area of need. With other massive deals in the works, Klopp can let Robertson and Milner duke it out this season as he addresses our other needs, and review the position if necessary next summer.
What’s not to like really, other than that Robertson isn’t Brazilian or French and costing a sum to rival Britain’s Brexit bill?
Nothing to get your fidget spinners in a twist about!
