Marginal gains. Two words which excite managers, and turn supporters cold. When I was coaching with Brisbane Roar, we knew those marginal gains, no matter how small, could add up to some significant improvements.
I moved the dugouts closer to the pitch so I could be closer to the officials…and they could, shall we say, get the wisdom of my opinions. We also made sure the opposition players had to warm up in front of our fans.
I put up some huge pictures of our team outside the away dressing room, to try and get an image inside our opponents’ heads that we were a huge team. Those things seem trivial, but there were many of them, and together the gains can be significant.
With Liverpool and Manchester City, I truly believe they’ve spent into the hundreds of millions on what will be perceived by their managers and coaching staff as relatively marginal gains. Before you start laughing, let me explain.
Erling Haaland’s arrival has made Manchester City appear more formidable, no doubt. But let’s be honest here, they’re already massive favourites to win the title, after securing 93 points, and 99 goals in becoming Champions.
With the best will in the world he’s not been bought (for well in excess of £100m if we take into account the agent fees and other things), to significantly improve on last season. How can you? No, he’s been brought in to make a difference in one or two of the biggest matches.
(
Getty Images)
Where have City fallen just short in recent seasons? Not in the Premier League. They’ve been to the Champions League final and fallen at the last hurdle. Perhaps even more cruelly, they were denied in the semis when they battered Real Madrid last season.
Look at their record. Three quarter finals, a semi and a final under Pep Guardiola. But no trophy. It’s always about those small gains, and in City’s case, that final step, that final small gain has proven so difficult in Europe.
So spending that much on a marginal gain with Haaland doesn’t sound so stupid in that context. If he proves the difference between losing to Real Madrid after battering them, or winning comfortably as they should have done, then it’s worth it.
There are only a handful of games in any season when City and Liverpool struggle, and their two striker signings have been bought with those games in mind, believe me. What is that gain then? Well, I’m a big advocate of playing a number nine, even in their fluid formations. Of course, I would say that, wouldn’t I…?!
HAVE YOUR SAY! Do you agree with Robbie? Let us know in the comments section
(
Getty Images)
But bear with me. Look at Liverpool now, and City for Pep’s entire tenure. Teams pack defences, they crowd space, and when you have a false nine, it can sometimes be easier to defend against, because it’s easier to mark when everything is in front of you.
We’ve only seen a couple of games each from Haaland and Darwin Nunez, but one thing is clear: both bring in that ability to run in behind, to stretch defences. And that becomes a defender’s nightmare. Now they can’t just block defend low. Haaland stretches defences, and if they go with him, it gives Kevin De Bruyne space to do his worst.
Looking at Liverpool, I think that is why Jurgen Klopp decided to let Sadio Mane leave and bring in Nunez.
Jurgen examines everything, he knows what works, and what needs adjusting. Look at the three finals they played in. They were pretty clearly the best team in all three of those games…but didn’t score a single goal.
(
Getty Images)
So for all the threat of Mohamed Salah and Mane, they were thwarted by top, top sides in Chelsea and Real Madrid, who were prepared to defend deep and try to frustrate them. And it worked. Madrid were appalling against Liverpool, no ambition, never came out, had two serious attempts on goal, played on the break for about three minutes of the 90. Yet they won.
Liverpool had the most shots on goal ever in the history of the Champions League final, yet couldn’t score. And for me, that explains the signing of Nunez.
I’m a massive fan of Mane. I was so sad to see him go, but the fact is, Klopp couldn’t keep both this summer, and he’s made the calculation that with Salah staying, and Diaz playing on the left in Mane’s position, he could try to find a marginal game in his attack.
We’ve already seen Nunez make a difference in his first two games. And yeah, Liverpool didn’t win at Fulham – Klopp will be absolutely furious about that, for sure – but they have another dimension now. When he truly clicks with the rest of the team, Liverpool can play so many different ways.
And most crucially, just like City, they will have a real goalscorer who can make a difference in those massive games which define seasons. It’s about evolution, and both clubs have done that this summer. It will be fascinating to see which of Nunez and Haaland offers the most significant gain.
