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Arsenal...

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The problem is that our open attacking style is perfect for arsenals' style of play. Plus our weakest area is their strongest....midfield. Rodgers would need to change his standard tactics and block up the midfield to nullify their strengths but i can't see him doing that. As a result i can't see anything apart from a draw at best but more likely a loss.
 
If Sakho is ready he goes straight in to nullify Giroud and the aerial threat (7 players from Arse have scored headed goals this season - more than any other team). I think Toure's error at WBA will see him dropped (though personally I'd prefer him to Skrtel as he is better on the ball and a better passer - we need to keep possession as much as possible). I am worried that Skrtel's shirt pulling and jumping on top of people will eventually concede a penalty though and against Arse and their pacy and tricky midfield it is a real concern.

Toure prefers the right and Sakho the left and that's what I'd play. I'd definitely bring Allen into midfield .. probably at the expense of Countinho, though that would be rough on him as he's played well the last couple of games.

Unfortunately there is no real option to Cisshoko at the moment, Kelly probably isn't a starting option.

------------------Mignolet-----------------
Flanagan---Toure--- Sakho---Cisshoko
--------------------Allen-----------------
-------------Hendo--Gerrard-----------
Sterling------------------------Suarez
------------------Studge-----------------

Toure over Skrtel?

Have you got a serious @the_khl style man crush going on?
 
If Sakho is ready he goes straight in to nullify Giroud and the aerial threat (7 players from Arse have scored headed goals this season - more than any other team). I think Toure's error at WBA will see him dropped (though personally I'd prefer him to Skrtel as he is better on the ball and a better passer - we need to keep possession as much as possible). I am worried that Skrtel's shirt pulling and jumping on top of people will eventually concede a penalty though and against Arse and their pacy and tricky midfield it is a real concern.

Toure prefers the right and Sakho the left and that's what I'd play. I'd definitely bring Allen into midfield .. probably at the expense of Countinho, though that would be rough on him as he's played well the last couple of games.

Unfortunately there is no real option to Cisshoko at the moment, Kelly probably isn't a starting option.

------------------Mignolet-----------------
Flanagan---Toure--- Sakho---Cisshoko
--------------------Allen-----------------
-------------Hendo--Gerrard-----------
Sterling------------------------Suarez
------------------Studge-----------------
hahahaah
Toure over Skrtel, mate the goal against WestBrom resulted from Skrtel's pass to coutinho and pls dont overrate this ball playing CB ability shit, that is why we have Gerrard and Hendo there. They must learn to fucking defend first... better passer hahahahah
 
We desperatly need to win the midfield battle.
Hendo and Allen infront of Stevie, pressing them high like we did at Spurs.
Really hope Sakho is back, but I'm guessing Toure will be fired up regardless for this one.
 
The problem is that our open attacking style is perfect for arsenals' style of play. Plus our weakest area is their strongest....midfield. Rodgers would need to change his standard tactics and block up the midfield to nullify their strengths but i can't see him doing that. As a result i can't see anything apart from a draw at best but more likely a loss.

If we play like we did against Everton - which was more counterattacking etc - it will cause Arsenal problems.
 
If we play like we did against Everton - which was more counterattacking etc - it will cause Arsenal problems.
yeah Studge running at Mert and Sterling can catch anyone from anywhere, suarez and coutinho, Gerrard can find one of them with a pass and Suarez/Hendo has enough pace to join them later to make 3 v 4 or 5 v 4 situation...frrrack we cracked it, yaaaaaaaaaay
 
How about against Spurs? City?

We cant call it a battle against Spurs and although we were quite unlucky to lose against City, we cant say we won the midfield battle. We still lost didnt we?
Id play same team as last 2 games, unlike what someone said above, we ve been quite good against Arsenal at home in the last few years. We have to be as clinical as vs Everton because we wont get many chances but a couple from SAS shoud be enough
 
We cant call it a battle against Spurs and although we were quite unlucky to lose against City, we cant say we won the midfield battle. We still lost didnt we?
Id play same team as last 2 games, unlike what someone said above, we ve been quite good against Arsenal at home in the last few years. We have to be as clinical as vs Everton because we wont get many chances but a couple from SAS shoud be enough

Your last sentence is key - if we were clinical against WBA, we walk out with a 2-0 win (Suarez one on one with Foster). If we're clinical against Arsenal - and we WILL create chances - we will fucking beat that trash.
 
Its easy though, we cant make any mistakes in games like this.
Hurts that we're top of the errors leading to goals table.
Thats a lot of points dropped.
 
Its easy though, we cant make any mistakes in games like this.
Hurts that we're top of the errors leading to goals table.
Thats a lot of points dropped.
But it gives an obvious area for the manager & coaching staff to focus on to improve our points tally, to ensure retaining our title next season is easier than winning it this season
 
hahahaah
Toure over Skrtel, mate the goal against WestBrom resulted from Skrtel's pass to coutinho and pls dont overrate this ball playing CB ability shit, that is why we have Gerrard and Hendo there. They must learn to fucking defend first... better passer hahahahah

You're a bigger idiot than I thought 🙄
 
If Sakho is ready he goes straight in to nullify Giroud and the aerial threat (7 players from Arse have scored headed goals this season - more than any other team). I think Toure's error at WBA will see him dropped (though personally I'd prefer him to Skrtel as he is better on the ball and a better passer - we need to keep possession as much as possible). I am worried that Skrtel's shirt pulling and jumping on top of people will eventually concede a penalty though and against Arse and their pacy and tricky midfield it is a real concern.

Toure prefers the right and Sakho the left and that's what I'd play. I'd definitely bring Allen into midfield .. probably at the expense of Countinho, though that would be rough on him as he's played well the last couple of games.

Unfortunately there is no real option to Cisshoko at the moment, Kelly probably isn't a starting option.

------------------Mignolet-----------------
Flanagan---Toure--- Sakho---Cisshoko
--------------------Allen-----------------
-------------Hendo--Gerrard-----------
Sterling------------------------Suarez
------------------Studge-----------------
,
Toure ahead of Skrtel? You're having a laugh, surely?
 
I just think that's out of touch. Fitness and fatigue are more than 60% a state of mind. The majority of players out there are fit in an elite sense. What separates them, what enables one to cover the ground after 65 minutes is the mental strength.

We've played Suarez and others constantly for an extended period. They're not physically exhausted but the mental effort to get themselves up for every game will leave anybody jaded and that makes them tired.

When you do get jaded then it takes something special to spark you again - a match against Arsenal certainly qualifies. The natural response is to preserve yourself for that, to focus on it.

I'm not saying this is definitely what happened but I'd defy anyone to tell me we didn't look slower, tired or jaded against West Brom.

Sent from my HTC One XL


Wouldn't a 4-0 tonking of Everton also qualify?

They have looked jaded recently. I think you agreed with me when I said that in a previous thread a few weeks back, but as you say, you want to see a response to that and the Everton game should've served as the perfect platform from which to kick on. Instead it was followed by a limp performance that is just not acceptable at this stage of the season for a team with our ambitions.
 
I get pessimism and we all know that our team in not invincible, but for fucks sake this "we won't win" / "no way we can win the title" bullshit is pathetic.

Beating Arsenal is difficult. Winning the league is an enormous ask. Istanbul was impossible.


Is it?

The likelihood of us winning the title is very small, to the point that it's not really worth talking about as a real possibility in my opinion. Yeah, anything can happen (though as you know the league is very different than a single match of football so Istanbul is not a good example to draw on) and if you wanna be a dreamer and carry on with the all bravado and posturing, fine, but there is no need to come down on people who are basically just calling it like it is.

This isn't Anfield on match day and there are no rival fans to put in their place or whatever - it's surely a place where you can just be honest about your team.
 
,
Toure ahead of Skrtel? You're having a laugh, surely?

No. I'm not a Skrtel fan (I prefer Toure). His constant fouling costs us FKs in dangerous areas and will cost us a penalty - probably in a big match when he's under more pressure, his distribution is weaker (than Toure), his passing is weaker but his tackling is stronger. You can pick the attributes you prefer. Toure was getting all the plaudits early season on here, now Skrtel has had a run in the team the tide has turned, short memories.

Take a look at the MoM from the fans' websites (inc. 6SM), there's nothing in it so it comes down to personal preference.

One thing it is important to note though is that Toure has stood in for players in both the LCB and RCM positions as well as RB, he is a far more versatile player. Whereas Skrtel almost always plays in his one and only RCB slot. Had Toure always been played in his preferred slot (also RCB) then his points total below would probably be even higher.

3. Skrtel..............................3MOM.......... ......1x2nd..........3x3rd.................... ....................... ..21 points
4. Toure..............................2MOM........... .....3x2nd......................................... ........................19
 
No. I'm not a Skrtel fan (I prefer Toure). His constant fouling costs us FKs in dangerous areas and will cost us a penalty - probably in a big match when he's under more pressure, his distribution is weaker (than Toure), his passing is weaker but his tackling is stronger. You can pick the attributes you prefer. Toure was getting all the plaudits early season on here, now Skrtel has had a run in the team the tide has turned, short memories.

Take a look at the MoM from the fans' websites (inc. 6SM), there's nothing in it so it comes down to personal preference.

One thing it is important to note though is that Toure has stood in for players in both the LCB and RCM positions as well as RB, he is a far more versatile player. Whereas Skrtel almost always plays in his one and only RCB slot. Had Toure always been played in his preferred slot (also RCB) then his points total below would probably be even higher.

3. Skrtel..............................3MOM.......... ......1x2nd..........3x3rd.................... ....................... ..21 points
4. Toure..............................2MOM........... .....3x2nd......................................... ........................19

you can sing Toure all day long, but Skrtel is way ahead of toure as a defender, I dont like to use the stats but Toure's passing accuracy is just 85% where as Skrtel's 91%. The goal we scored against WestBrom came from Skrtel's pass to Coutinho. Skrtel is better interceptor, better at tackling. People are still thinking it is the same old Skrtel, well he has improved a lot, even at his passing. How many times Toure went ahead with the ball against Baggies and lost the ball!!!!! Toure might have been a better in the start of the season but now its Skrtel.
Well the only thing I can agree or also worried about Skrtel, is, his box antics in our D, I dont which day it might cost us a penalty.
 
@Frogfish, what are you on about with "now Skrtel has had a run in the team"? He's been pretty much a mainstay all season and, largely, excellent. Toure started very well but has been inconsistent since getting injured, is much slower, taught Skrtel how to pull the opponents shirt and not as good in the air. He's a better organizer and, despite the stats, a better passer IMO but no way has he done enough to replace Skrtel.

Sent from my HTC One XL
 
Liverpool Echo reporting Agger and Sakho to miss Arsenal game.

Big fat Kolo to play again then. He seems a great guy does Kolo and he's put in some really solid performances this season, but i shit bricks every time he's in the starting 11.
 
you can sing Toure all day long, but Skrtel is way ahead of toure as a defender, I dont like to use the stats but Toure's passing accuracy is just 85% where as Skrtel's 91%. The goal we scored against WestBrom came from Skrtel's pass to Coutinho. Skrtel is better interceptor, better at tackling. People are still thinking it is the same old Skrtel, well he has improved a lot, even at his passing. How many times Toure went ahead with the ball against Baggies and lost the ball!!!!! Toure might have been a better in the start of the season but now its Skrtel.
Well the only thing I can agree or also worried about Skrtel, is, his box antics in our D, I dont which day it might cost us a penalty.


Stop using a single incident to prove a case. It's ridiculous. Skrtel's passing stat is better because he rarely does anything but pass it to the player closest to him while Toure tries to bring it out (and against WBA frequently nobody showed - there was even a time Toure was ringing his hands because of it). Passing stats are notorious for being misleading, it's why forwards' stats are far lower than a defenders. And you can dismiss Toure all day long but even the fans rate him highly as the MoM votes show. You have your favourite - I have mine.
 
No. I'm not a Skrtel fan (I prefer Toure). His constant fouling costs us FKs in dangerous areas and will cost us a penalty

I think this part depends on what sort of opponents he's up against. Often, it's the strong, physical striker that causes him to make these stupid mistakes. The WBA game is a good example - IMO he was very good in that game until Anichebe came in. Then he quickly gave away 2 free kicks for climbing all over the striker to win headers (one was harsh, the other wasn't).
 
@Frogfish, what are you on about with "now Skrtel has had a run in the team"? He's been pretty much a mainstay all season and, largely, excellent. Toure started very well but has been inconsistent since getting injured, is much slower, taught Skrtel how to pull the opponents shirt and not as good in the air. He's a better organizer and, despite the stats, a better passer IMO but no way has he done enough to replace Skrtel.

Sent from my HTC One XL

Run : That's what I meant, after last season. There are pros and cons to both players, as you point out. He's not a better passer, in any shape or form (unless passing the ball sideways or 5 yards 50 times a match or lumping it downfield - he's doing this rather less of late, coaching I suspect - is considered 'better'). He's better in the air for sure - and with Sakho out he has to play for that feature alone. However it's BS to say Toure taught Skrtel how to pull shirts - he's been doing it for years. Actually I was wrong on the tackling too - Skrtel has given away 2 or more FKs 6 times this season whereas Toure only once. On the balance of strengths and weaknesses I prefer Toure & Sakho as a partnership. In your opinion Skrtel is a better player however that isn't as clearcut as you would have us believe.
 
Mate, go back to the match threads on early games. We were commenting consistently that Toure was practically pulling the shirt off opponents and it was only a matter of time before there was a pen or he was sent.

Skrtel is just as guilty but this one-eyed concept of it being a Skrtel problem is naive at best.

As I said before I think Toure is a better passer of the football. He's also a better organiser but those are the only two attributes in which he finishes ahead of Skrtel - certainly not enough to justify him ahead of Martin. Not by a long way.

Sent from my HTC One XL
 
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