Dude, what is happening to Liverpool? We do need a Plan B striker. And I think Firmino needs a rest, he just hasn't been himself lately.
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Dude, what is happening to Liverpool? We do need a Plan B striker. And I think Firmino needs a rest, he just hasn't been himself lately.
Read my latest IWL blog entry! An Ode To Rule Breaking
It's getting more and more frustrating to watch..Originally Posted by Raza
As you say no plan B. Why do we trot out the same formation every game? When playing against teams who put 8 or more players on the edge of their own box, do you really need 4 defenders and 2 defensive minded midfielders?
On current form the only player that should be safe for the next game would be Mane. All the rest could do with a benching. Problem is that there's no one to take their places. In-form and healthy the first 11 is good enough for a top-4 finish. But that doesn't happen over a full season. There's always dips and injuries and then the squad needs to be stronger.
i would settle for 2nd place and the FA Cup
Good article about Chelsea building a huge lead by crushing all competition outside the top 5. A draw with Swansea is the only time they dropped points in those 16 games. LCFC did much the same last season, and Chelsea again before that. Liverpool, on the other hand, have the best record against the top-6 mini league, but have already dropped 18 points to teams further down the table. Very compelling statistical case for the big games not meaning nearly as much as they are made out to be. Championships are built on those cold, rainy days in Hull and Burnley.
https://www.theguardian.com/football...y-title-rivals
It makes sense. 6 teams in the top 6, 14 in the rest of the league.
Read my latest IWL blog entry! An Ode To Rule Breaking
It's always been that way, really. Back in the day when it was two points for a win you could get away with drawing many of those away games, but now it has to be a win.
For example, when Manchester United were racking up titles, they were winning most of those dreary mid-week away games. I seem to remember a lot of scores such as: Anytown 0 Man. Utd 1 (Cantona, 67 mins). Arsenal were often the better side when they played United, but Arsenal didn't accumulate as many points in the bread-and-butter games.
Over-rotation of players can also be a factor. Lesser sides often raise their game against the big boys. If you rest too many players expecting a routine win, you can come unstuck. You might not lose, but you might drop two points. It's one of the good things about the Premiership - no easy ride.
At the bottom of the league, however, you stand a fair chance of survival if you beat the teams around you.
What a win! Sadio is gold, gold, gold.
Read my latest IWL blog entry! An Ode To Rule Breaking
Great to see Gini back in for Can. Can might have a lot of good qualities but he destroys our tempo. He sometimes looks good if you only watch him but the effect on the movement of those around him is devastating plus he gives opposition time to find their shape.
The difference today was stark. Spurs were constantly moved around and cut through before they could recover. Recruitment has to be system-based this summer.
I think we started our best 11 today. Yes, that includes Lucas at CB. Can's got a problem with position. He now seems to want to play forward, but he's not that quick, he's not that dynamic, and he can't shoot. He's played as a fullback, a center back, and a defensive mid his entire career.
Wijnaldum came through today; he was quick, smart, and at it. We need that Wij every match.
It was a top down complete performance. I still say, though, that we need a Giroud-type player and a Kante-type player in the summer and then we can win the title.
Read my latest IWL blog entry! An Ode To Rule Breaking
Yeah, there's something that you see time and time again when Can picks up the ball from deep which contrasts with Henderson or Gini. Hendo (since Hendo is more often starting a move from Can's deeper position) gets it and passes it- often one-touch- to one of the breaking players around him. Can takes a touch, takes another looks up to find that the runners are opening up too much distance from him, lumbers forward to close the gap, gets closed down or runs into a (by now) organised defense. Meanwhile, the runners have checked their runs and all now have markers on them.
I'm amazed that Klopp has persisted with this.
And all this is before talking about how much quicker and smarter Gini is when closing opposition players down.
Kante would be great but I'd worry that a Giroud-type would encourage our unfortunate habit of abandoning our system when confidence drops and resorting to hopeful crosses. Besides, we've been there with Benteke. Klopp doesn't seem to want to coach a Plan B.
Last edited by GaryF; Feb 12, 2017 at 05:46 AM.
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