Diego Llorente

[Jaydog]

Was trying to think of the Arsenal CB who retired a season or 2 ago. He said the mental pressure made the game impossible to enjoy. He dreaded game day. Felt very sick before games. That’s probably Llorente atm. His heads totally gone.
Mertesacker. It was him.

[VinnysTattoo]

He physically looks like a new born Giraffe at the moment and that impression only gets reinforced when he makes a mistake or two. It then seems his head goes and he goes on a downward spiral.

Right from the off I thought he was struggling with the pace of the Premiership. He doesn’t seem to have adapted particularly well since those first days.

I definitely think he needs a break for a few games but will JM trust Cooper’s fitness?

[Tyzy]

Apart from the odd game he's been a liability since we signed him.

[Clacton White]

I don't get it with Llorente . It was only I think around December/January last season we were waiting for him to come back and all defensive woes would be over . What has happened to him ? Why is his form now so disastrous ? Right now on current firm and from at back end if last season when he came back is his form so different to before ? He is now a liability and you despair whenever he is near the first team , yet a while ago it was so different . It's like two different players .Confidence is shot , timing is shot , never in right place at right time or just generally playing badly . Just don't get it .....just look back to around page 11 or so on this thread , he was almost the first name on the team sheet ......but now though

[The Subhuman]

Apart from the odd game he's been a liability since we signed him.

Not true imo, he struggles with positioning when playing on the left and other issues. That affects his confidence...

When he arrived we were told he couldn't play left and that's not changed.. He was lauded here his first season, he's played well at other times but he needs to play on the right side... but first and foremost he needs a break, and wait for Koch to get injured or suspended..

[Leeds1000]

I must admit i have not watched the game back and may have been swayed by his Maldini cross field pass early in the first half, but for me Koch was worse at Brentford. He just wasn't himself, evident by the clumsy tackle for the free kick and his attempt at the header that played their man onside. If most of the scoring opportunities are coming down the right who's to blame? I do think Llorente's character is a bit suspect tho. He doesn't seem a player who oozes defensive confidence like say a Dunk for instance, looks erratic when under pressure.

[weasel]

I must admit i have not watched the game back and may have been swayed by his Maldini cross field pass early in the first half, but for me Koch was worse at Brentford. He just wasn't himself, evident by the clumsy tackle for the free kick and his attempt at the header that played their man onside. If most of the scoring opportunities are coming down the right who's to blame? I do think Llorente's character is a bit suspect tho. He doesn't seem a player who oozes defensive confidence like say a Dunk for instance, looks erratic when under pressure.

I felt Koch was just as bad on Saturday. I also think a large part of Llorente's problems are caused from having to play on the left of centre where he isn't comfortable. I have gone into this previously, at great length, as it is a subject I am very familiar having played several years at centreback playing on both the left and right of a 2 and of a 3. As well as the positioning, way you have yo show a player, tackling with the wrong foot it can also affect the player when they have possession. If for example Llorente wanted to hit a crossfield ball from right to left he can do that on the right of centre, the same ball played from left of centre is going out of play, likewise if he wanted to knock a ball down the right touchline he can't playing on the left as that ball will simply be down the centre of the field. Also if he wants to bring the ball out of defence he would want to be moving left to right so the ball is on his right, playing left of centre if he is to do that he is far likelier to be taking the ball into a congested area of the pitch than into space. He wouldn't want to be bringing the ball out and moving towards the left touchline as he is then having to pass or clear using his left foot.

They may seem trivial things to people who haven't played the position but they are all bits that can affect your whole game and confidence. I thought, and mentioned at the time, that him playing right of centre v Barnsley in the cup was a huge selection mistake by Marsch as it upset the continuity of him getting used to playing left of centreback. Koch should have played right of centre next to Cooper in that game.

LLorente's best performances came in his first season for us when he had a long run in the side with Cooper next to him. Put this combination back together and Llorente should look a lot better.

[Kennyb41]

We're not talking square pegs in round holes again re - Our defence again are we.

Could it be possible we look a shambles when this is forced upon the manager, tut tut.

[danhirons]

I felt Koch was just as bad on Saturday. I also think a large part of Llorente's problems are caused from having to play on the left of centre where he isn't comfortable. I have gone into this previously, at great length, as it is a subject I am very familiar having played several years at centreback playing on both the left and right of a 2 and of a 3. As well as the positioning, way you have yo show a player, tackling with the wrong foot it can also affect the player when they have possession. If for example Llorente wanted to hit a crossfield ball from right to left he can do that on the right of centre, the same ball played from left of centre is going out of play, likewise if he wanted to knock a ball down the right touchline he can't playing on the left as that ball will simply be down the centre of the field. Also if he wants to bring the ball out of defence he would want to be moving left to right so the ball is on his right, playing left of centre if he is to do that he is far likelier to be taking the ball into a congested area of the pitch than into space. He wouldn't want to be bringing the ball out and moving towards the left touchline as he is then having to pass or clear using his left foot.

They may seem trivial things to people who haven't played the position but they are all bits that can affect your whole game and confidence. I thought, and mentioned at the time, that him playing right of centre v Barnsley in the cup was a huge selection mistake by Marsch as it upset the continuity of him getting used to playing left of centreback. Koch should have played right of centre next to Cooper in that game.

LLorente's best performances came in his first season for us when he had a long run in the side with Cooper next to him. Put this combination back together and Llorente should look a lot better.

You clearly have a lot of personal experience and feelings on this...which I don't! But I swear a LOT of right footed centre backs play in the left centre back position without any issues...and so for this reason alone I don't think it can be blamed on this. Maybe if his passing was a bit inaccurate or tackles a bit weaker...maybe it has a small impact, but there's no excuse for massive mistakes etc. imo.

[BGwhite]

He could help himself by playing the very simple pass instead of trying to be Johan Cruyff. These fkn defenders all think they're summat special . FKN KISS !!

Sent from my moto g(9) plus using Tapatalk

[weasel]

You clearly have a lot of personal experience and feelings on this...which I don't! But I swear a LOT of right footed centre backs play in the left centre back position without any issues...and so for this reason alone I don't think it can be blamed on this. Maybe if his passing was a bit inaccurate or tackles a bit weaker...maybe it has a small impact, but there's no excuse for massive mistakes etc. imo.

Some can, some can't. I was comfortable enough playing on the left of centre as I was able to tackle with my left foot. However would much rather be clearing or passing with my right foot, I wasn't awful with my left foot but much more consistent with my right, given time I would look to put the ball on my right but also had times where I would in the natural way of bringing the ball out of defence be putting the ball on my left which then meant I would be more likely to hoof it (sometimes slicing it out of play) than trying to pass.

I would imagine Bielsa had done lots of research into this which is why he always wanted a left footed player on the left of centre.

This is not me saying that Llorente is a brilliant centre back etc. I just like to find logical reasons why a player dips below his normal form and for me I think Llorente will be better (maybe not brilliant) when he plays right of centre and Cooper (or Struyjk) is playing left of centre.

[Cjay]

Playing left side clearly won't help but plenty of right footed cbs do it.

Personally I think a decent Premier League cb should be fine either side.

Adam Webster plays left side for Brighton.

Ruben Dias plays left side for Man City.when needed.

Marc Guehi plays left side for Palace.

A decent right footed cb should adapt.

Just think Llorente doesn't have the skillet for the Premier League.

He is slow in body and mind, not strong enough, and playing left side just makes it even worse.

[weasel]

Playing left side clearly won't help but plenty of right footed cbs do it.

Personally I think a decent Premier League cb should be fine either side.

Adam Webster plays left side for Brighton.

Ruben Dias plays left side for Man City.when needed.

Marc Guehi plays left side for Palace.

A decent right footed cb should adapt.

Just think Llorente doesn't have the skillet for the Premier League.

He is slow in body and mind, not strong enough, and playing left side just makes it even worse.

Those comparisons are irrelevant as they may all be far more comfortable using their left peg than Llorente. Llorente wasn't bought to play left of centre and I doubt he said to them when he was being signed I am happy to play left or right of centre. If you look at the time he was bought we had Cooper and Struyjk to play left and had Koch to play right so it made sense to sign Llorente as a right sided centreback.

Saying a decent right footed cb should adapt is naive, you can't suddenly become loads better with your weaker foot.

I do think Llorente has some deficiences in terms of suitability to the premier league, mainly the physical side of things. Is he comfortable on the ball and able to bring it out, generally yes and this was a key part to what Bielsa wanted as a centreback.

[andrewjohnsmith]

Lllorente has a good left foot. Seem him ping plenty of long passes with his left. So it's not that.

His mistake against Everton for the goal was on the right side of the field. And at least two I can recall against Brentford were.

It's not his feet. It's his concentration

[Leeds1000]

I felt Koch was just as bad on Saturday. I also think a large part of Llorente's problems are caused from having to play on the left of centre where he isn't comfortable. I have gone into this previously, at great length, as it is a subject I am very familiar having played several years at centreback playing on both the left and right of a 2 and of a 3. As well as the positioning, way you have yo show a player, tackling with the wrong foot it can also affect the player when they have possession. If for example Llorente wanted to hit a crossfield ball from right to left he can do that on the right of centre, the same ball played from left of centre is going out of play, likewise if he wanted to knock a ball down the right touchline he can't playing on the left as that ball will simply be down the centre of the field. Also if he wants to bring the ball out of defence he would want to be moving left to right so the ball is on his right, playing left of centre if he is to do that he is far likelier to be taking the ball into a congested area of the pitch than into space. He wouldn't want to be bringing the ball out and moving towards the left touchline as he is then having to pass or clear using his left foot.

They may seem trivial things to people who haven't played the position but they are all bits that can affect your whole game and confidence. I thought, and mentioned at the time, that him playing right of centre v Barnsley in the cup was a huge selection mistake by Marsch as it upset the continuity of him getting used to playing left of centreback. Koch should have played right of centre next to Cooper in that game.

LLorente's best performances came in his first season for us when he had a long run in the side with Cooper next to him. Put this combination back together and Llorente should look a lot better.

He did hit a cracking left to right pass early in the first half with his right foot, and then tried it later on in the second half and put it out of play. He did the same against Everton over hit his passes early on in the game. After that great defensive showing by the team against Chelski the old deficiencies do seem to be slipping back. Unfortunately for Llorente his mistakes are often crucial which over shadows some of his better work.

I agree he played his best football coming back into the team in that first season back on the right with Cooper. You felt a tangible difference with him coming back into the side.... he's never reached that level since unfortunately. There is no doubting his technical ability with the ball altho he always seems rushed in the PL. I genuinely think his game would be better suited in La Liga where its supposed to be less physical?

I did say at the end of the Everton game he looked leggy. I would take him out for the next if Coops is fit enough. All the noises sound like that's what will happen. Coops solid enough and reads the game well but runs in quicksand.

[Cjay]

Oh good

He looked good at one point tbf but been a long time and he certainly hasn't earned this new contract.

Cheaper than buying a new player I suppose

[1964white]

Why am I not surprised?

[Cjay]

Why am I not surprised?

With his age and form it makes little sense.

Especially if it isnt on reduced wages (it won't be because he would refuse).

Our defence has been a shambles for years and yet we keep the same cbs

[1964white]

It would seem we are preparing ourselves for the championship.

[hector]

It would seem we are preparing ourselves for the championship.

You know.... that was my first thought on reading this news too......