Ade's Thoughts - Mohamed Salah to LFC?

(20/12/13)

It's been awhile since I've done anything of this sort, so I apolgise beforehand for any grammatical errors and what not.

A bit of background first. Euro U21 a few years ago caught my attention due to at the time the core Basel players in the team - Shaqiri, Sommers and Xhaka. It was a group of players that I was confident would go onto big things.

Furthermore, while not religious myself in the slightest, factoring in my Islamic background, I've made friendships/acquaintances with a good few Muslim people. Muslims Egyptians too, and one or two being entirely soccer mad. Arguably more than myself! One of them was the first to bring Salah's name to my attention before the Olympics. After scoring 3 goals in 4 games for the Olympic team, he soon had earned himself a contract with Basel. This was soon after what many consider the gem of Swiss football and Basel, Shqiri had moved onto the soon to be treble winners that season, Bayern Munich. Not many if any could foresee Shqiri not just be replaced adequately, but being upgraded on. Mohamed Salah has done just that and is a firm fan favourite at St. Jakob Park stadium.

After Basel lost Xhaka and Shaqiri, admittedly I hadn't watched much if anything of Basel, but thanks to my pal, I had the low down on them and he was always full of praise for his fellow countryman.

My first proper I guess you can say 'scouting' of him was against Tottenham in Europa League quarter finals. I'm someone who prefers to take note of a player and make him/them the sole reason for my viewing, I find it easier to given an opinion on a player that way as you fully appreciate a player(s) doing that. Back to the game against Spurs. He tore them apart. Nothing more, nothing less. It was a mighty fine performance in which was capped off with a goal for his efforts. He gave Bale and co. a torrid time in both legs. His natural pace, pace on the ball, skill, first touch and all intelligence of moving into space as well as spotting a pass was there in abundance. Basel would eventually edge the Spurs on penalties and were outstanding in both games.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4E-eytnD24Y
(Europa League Quarter Finals, second leg vs. Spurs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KcwC2pWesK8
(Europa League Quarter Finals, first leg vs. Spurs)

Salah would do the same to Chelsea in the Semi Finals as well, but Chelsea's experience and class just edged them out and the Blues went on to beat Benfica in the final. For me, Salah stood out even more against Chelsea last season than against Spurs. If he was playing alongside a Mata and the like, he wouldn't have looked out of placed in the slightest.

It was from there, that I was entirely convinced by him and he became one of my targets for either Liverpool or Borussia Dortmund. My shortlist consisted of himself, Konoplyanka and Griezmann for reference sake. Numerous tweets over the past 10 months will confirm this. I'm still shocked to this day how no big club game in for any of them, the latter at least had the carrot of Champions League football in front of him.

Salah would eventually play against Chelsea again a few months later, this time in the Champions League and he'd shine once more, well, twice more in fact.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4IZOOOZVeE
(Champions League Group Stage vs Chelsea)

Overall, I think Salah's pace coupled with his intelligence off and on the ball is what makes him stand out. Typically quick players, you have the likes of Aaron Lennon for example who has all the pace in the world, but is quite frankly thick as shit to ever combine his talents into something bordering anywhere near consistency. Salah very much has an appreciation of those around him however, unlike the player he also replaced and whom I do rate as well, Shaqiri. Shaqiri's biggest flaw is this, the head down and run with the ball approach. Taking on too many players for the sake of it almost, only to run into a dead end. It's for this reason why many Basel fans consider Salah to be an upgrade on Shaqiri.

His main negative would be his strength for me, he is a slight figure, and despite being alright when holding the ball up, he'd need to bulk up a little for the grind of the EPL and it's defenders.

If he does go onto sign for Liverpool, it's a pretty exciting signing. He can play various positions if needed, whether that be wide or centrally, just off the striker. An attack consisting of Salah, Suarez and Sturridge with Coutinho as the CAM would be devastating. Not sure many teams could cope with it.

As for the fee, €15M is about right in my opinion. When I wanted him last summer, I had guessed a figure of €10M would get him.

Ade

#LFC #Salah #Liverpool #Basel

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