Alert: OFFICIAL: Xherdan Shaqiri Career Deaththread AND Shaqiri Nutrider Thread

Hook him up with Pat Tomasulo to drum up interest in the last few broadcasts.

 

Oh please no!

 

You'll notice fingernails on a blackboard almost as much.

 

Still alive although watching fire offense may kill me. Fanaddict

 

Right now in rehab hope to be home to my computer soon using iphone.

 

Get well!

 

why are shaq's assist numbers all over the place based on source?

ESPN.com: 6 assists
MLS.com: 11
fbref.com: 7

 

Another brilliant game tonight. He’s the rug that really ties the room together.

 

I firmly believe this deflates his apparent value. I also believe we needed to see Duran and Kacper play together for a stretch to see how it could have worked out. Alas, we got a win though.

 

He must be reading his reviews. We never should have expected him to press and run for 90 minutes, or even 60 minutes. But he has a unique set of high quality skills, most of which were on display last night. Especially heartening is the rapport Shaqiri seems to be developing with Duràn. It's too late to affect the standings this season, but with a full off season and fewer distractions for them next season that relationship should bear fruit.

 

I think we bought at the peak of the Kacper market. He's a decent guy to have on your roster, but no team should expect him to be the guy. Is there a formation with Kacper, Duràn, and Shaqiri on the field that works any better than anything else Ezra has tried? That formation would require F. Navarro to play solo shielding the backline and both fullbacks to stay at home defending. And Mueller is not as effective defending as Torres (if we ever see Torres on the field).

 

Most anything would have been better than our inability to score combined with missing the playoffs. We simply had to find a way to attack with 5 players. If not for all 90, at least when we’re down and still have 30 minutes to go.

 

That last sentence is a big problem for Ezra.

 

My apologies if this includes anyone here, but a generation of fans seem to have been blinded by Klopp’s “gegenpress” thinking it either the only way to play, or at least the best. Watching too much shitty EPL. So when we finally get a highly skilled player but they don’t press, people think he’s lazy or sucks.

It’s mind numbing.

 

Yeah, well, that’s just like your opinion maaan.

I know this isn’t the optimism thread, but honestly, I think we keep Heitz and Ezra (obviously for Ezra, less so for Heitz) and we really start to cook if we get a solid 9 up top. Durán has been impressive, especially for his age, but I feel like he’s a few years away from being “that guy” if he has the ability to do it. Our defense is solid, our midfield running through Shaq can win balls, hold (especially with Gaston back) and press, we just need that finisher to put the ball in the back of the net. I know Shaq isn’t really here to score a ton of goals but I think he’d probably have a few more if opposing teams were scared enough of our attacker that they couldn’t try to suffocate Shaq in the midfield (which teams have been successful doing when Kacpar starts). I could honestly see Shaq putting up an MLS MVP-caliber season next year if we fill that gap in the off-season.

 

If we keep Heitz, it would seem he absolutely needs better local mentorship to help with our arcane rules. His eventual replacement.

 

Shaqiri WALKS when his team mates are running, or at least jogging to get into proper position.

Multiple times last night Shaqiri was so far behind the play that he was 10+yards behind Duran and the last defender...walking...pouting.

We earn/get a turnover and then we can't aggressively counter because he's off side and there is a mismatch of numbers that causes us to give the ball back, or pass back and give up leverage.

He doesn't need to be a full time presser, but he damn sure needs to up the work rate.

 

The third goal was a good example of him pressing to keep the defense off Duran. So we know he can make intelligent energetic runs but it’s also [not] the part to ask him to play.

I think we need another attacker in front of Shaqiri so he’s less committed going forward. I mean, with his size he really doesn’t need to be forward if he’s not taking a corner kick or free kick. I personally don’t think the run first mentality is good soccer. Hence, the EPL sucks.

EDIT: NOT the part to ask him to play. DOH!