With Liverpool being linked with a move for Newcastle and Holland midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum, I thought I’d try and learn more about him from somebody who has watched him every week.
I spoke to Daniel Olsen of Newcastle 360 to get more information on Liverpool’s potential new arrival.
What kind of player has Gini been for you in the past year?
Gini has been extremely hot and cold. Good form at home, invisible away, it’s been very odd, but you sense that it might have something to do with his mentality. Good when things are good, bad when things are bad.
What is his preferred position or does he do equally well in several positions?
He works best as an attacking midfielder or centrally. He isn’t a winger, but he’s a very intelligent player so he can work across the middle. He’s great at getting those seconds balls and he’s great in a period of transition during a counter. He’s in there when there are goals to be had and he positions himself quite well.
What are his strengths?
His strengths are his awareness, positioning, and intelligence. His actions on the ball are quick, he picks his passes well and he’s got decent pace. If Gini plays well, the team plays well. His actions in the role are very influential on how the rest of the team plays. Although he’s not especially vocal or things like that.
What areas of his game do you think he needs to improve?
He needs to improve his consistency, first and foremost. Now there may be several reasons for his hot and cold season; McClaren’s use of him, it was his first season in the PL, the general form of the team etc., but his talent is undoubted, if Klopp can get him going, then you’ve got yourself a fantastic midfielder .His mentality is also a worry for me but mentality and consistency often go hand in hand. He’s a very fit player so it’s not about physicality.
I for one still can’t believe how a football club with the size of Newcastle won’t be playing in the PL in the upcoming season. However, in a team who failed to perform, how did Gini handle the pressure of a relegation battle?
We’re all shaking our heads about relegation, but we’ve got plenty of reasons to have high hopes about the future. Gini simply didn’t handle relegation well at all in my view. We’re back with his mentality on this. Good when things are good, bad when they’re bad, which in turn doesn’t really make him captain material either. But as for all players, it’s something I suppose you learn from and will put him in stronger stead in the future.
As opposed to Moussa Sissoko, who talks about other clubs and how he wants to leave, Gini has been quiet, has had one or two comments where he’s said he needs to think about his future but has acted as a pro otherwise.
With your knowledge of Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp, how do you think Gini would fit in at Liverpool and could you see him as a starter come the first match of the season?
Klopp likes hard workers due to his pressing style. With that in mind and from what we’ve seen, he has a bit to do on Wijnaldum’s work ethic. This again goes hand in hand with his hot and cold season. Gini is a smart player, he knows where to put himself in various stages of the play but I think he needs to learn to press harder and play for a few months in Klopp’s system before he properly gets firing.
If he goes to LFC and has had his pre-season with us, he’ll have some catching up to do. Gini isn’t a bullying type player, but I reckon once he properly gets rolling, he’ll have a pivotal role in your team and he’ll add plenty of goals from midfield.
It looks like Liverpool are willing to pay £20m for Gigi, do you think he’s worth that much?
As for his worth, he came to NUFC for £14.5m. It was his first season in the Premier League, he’s a regular international and he added 11 goals and five assists in 38 games. He also has four years left on his contract and Rafa Benitez wants him to stay. I think £20m isn’t enough, a minimum of £25m I think is perfectly acceptable for Newcastle to demand, but it’s being reported that they are holding out for £27m.
Interest seems genuine at this point, but it depends on how badly Klopp wants him. Spurs are said to have pulled out due to the fee. If you want him, you’ll have to pay for him. Personally, I’d keep him, so I’m with Rafa on this!
