Manure (A)

[Hansern]

If we are to get anything from this then the pre match thread has to be started by someone with a positive stat so far, me.

Not holding much hope for this, as our high backline against those long balls and Rashford. Yikes, my stomach hurts already.

Anyway, the team:

Alisson
Trent Phillips Kabak Robertson
Fabinho Thiago
Mane Jones Jota
Salah

 

[Raz]

If we are to get anything from this then the pre match thread has to be started by someone with a positive stat so far, me.

Not holding much hope for this, as our high backline against those long balls and Rashford. Yikes, my stomach hurts already.

Anyway, the team:

Alisson
Trent Phillips Kabak Robertson
Fabinho Thiago
Mane Jones Jota
Salah

This is one I definitely won’t be watching. A spanking incoming!

 

[Holle]

If we are to get anything from this then the pre match thread has to be started by someone with a positive stat so far, me.

Not holding much hope for this, as our high backline against those long balls and Rashford. Yikes, my stomach hurts already.

Anyway, the team:

Alisson
Trent Phillips Kabak Robertson
Fabinho Thiago
Mane Jones Jota
Salah

I like the team.

Mainly because Firmino and Wijnaldum aren‘t in it.

 

[Frogfish]

As soon as I saw this thread my eyes went straight to the poster ! You can imagine the exhale of breath when I saw it wasn't Dreamie.

 

[Modo]

3-0
To Man U that is.

 

[Bradley]

It's hard to hold much hope for this one.

But by the time the match comes around, I'll be predicting that we'll dish out a humbling.

We won't.

 

[My_Blood_Bleeds_Red]

7-0 whitewash

 

[Brizzle]

I think we'll dick them.

-----------Alisson-----------
TAA--Nat--Kabak--Robbo
----------Fabinho------------
------Thiago---Jones------
Salah---Bobby---Mane

Mane won't get benched as Klopp is too loyal, but I think Jota will get benched which might be a good thing if it means we have one of the 4 attackers able to come on to change a game.

Fabs NEEDS to be back in DM. If he isn't we aren't winning this. Not sure who we give the armband without Gini - maybe someone who can play a Captain's performance - Mo? Fabs? Trent?

 

[My_Blood_Bleeds_Red]

We’re so gonna get mauled.

 

[MomoWASright]

I think we'll dick them.

-----------Alisson-----------
TAA--Nat--Kabak--Robbo
----------Fabinho------------
------Thiago---Jones------
Salah---Bobby---Mane

Mane won't get benched as Klopp is too loyal, but I think Jota will get benched which might be a good thing if it means we have one of the 4 attackers able to come on to change a game.

Fabs NEEDS to be back in DM. If he isn't we aren't winning this. Not sure who we give the armband without Gini - maybe someone who can play a Captain's performance - Mo? Fabs? Trent?

Give it to Mo. Our season really came off the rails when he wasn’t made captain.

 

[Halmeister]

We're gonna shit our undies like we always do at Old Trafford. 2 or 3 nil to United.

 

[Frogfish]

-----------Alisson-----------
TAA--Nat--Kabak--Robbo
----------Fabinho------------
------Thiago---Milner------
Salah---Bobby---Mane

Very very tempted to drop Mane for Jota. As much as I love Mane he's been dogshit for ages, and not just his shooting. Whereas Jota OTOH ...

 

[Modo]

Jota hasn't been great these last two game. Is trying too hard and kinda forcing it.

 

[Frogfish]

Jota hasn't been great these last two game. Is trying too hard and kinda forcing it.

He's been great for a while now, and not just for us but for Portugal too. Everybody can have a game where it doesn't go for you ... Mane has now had months of them. Sorry but for me Jota looks far more likely to score than Mane (who'll now go and get a hat trick vs United) !

 

[Modo]

He's been great for a while now, and not just for us but for Portugal too. Everybody can have a game where it doesn't go for you ... Mane has now had months of them. Sorry but for me Jota looks far more likely to score than Mane (who'll now go and get a hat trick vs United) !

I'm not saying that he shouldn't start, just stating that he seems to have caught whatever bug the other three have.

 

[JohnnyRocket]

I sort of feel with Mane that we need to do what United did with Giggs, and start changing his role in the side a bit, as he gets on in years.

His skill set is a whole lot more than just a winger. If Klopp ever switched to a 4-2-3-1 e could be great in the no.10 spot.

 

[Modo]

I sort of feel with Mane that we need to do what United did with Giggs, and start changing his role in the side a bit, as he gets on in years.

His skill set is a whole lot more than just a winger. If Klopp ever switched to a 4-2-3-1 e could be great in the no.10 spot.

Would he? You have to be a really good passer to play in that position and Mané unfortunately isn't. He kinda lacks the awareness to play there too.

 

[Frogfish]

This game is going to suit us much better than playing against teams happy to concede 70% possession. I can see Mo, Mane and hopefully Jota getting solid chances on the break. If Philips is back and Fabs returns to midfield ... the game could go any way, 2-1, 1-1, 2-2, 1-2. Whatever the result I can see it being very close with hard luck stories on both sides.

 

[Frogfish]

I sort of feel with Mane that we need to do what United did with Giggs, and start changing his role in the side a bit, as he gets on in years.

His skill set is a whole lot more than just a winger. If Klopp ever switched to a 4-2-3-1 e could be great in the no.10 spot.

Except he's a shit passer. Pace, trickery, getting in behind ... not really the skills of a #10. It's telling Klopp only plays him on the left or right and very rarely anywhere else.

 

[JohnnyRocket]

Would he? You have to be a really good passer to play in that position and Mané unfortunately isn't. He kinda lacks the awareness to play there too.

I feel like we often desperately need a ball carrier from midfield to add a different dimension to our game. And just because he's in that role doesnt mean he needs to act like a typical no. 10 creative midfielder. I don't think Klopp even wants that type of player in the team.

*edit - but yes, I'm willing to concede Mane probably doesnt have the vision or passing for the role.

 

[Modo]

I feel like we often desperately need a ball carrier from midfield to add a different dimension to our game. And just because he's in that role doesnt mean he needs to act like a typical no. 10 creative midfielder. I don't think Klopp even wants that type of player in the team.

He kinda had that type of player in Dortmund. Götze, Reus etc.

 

[JohnnyRocket]

He kinda had that type of player in Dortmund. Götze, Reus etc.

That is true. But from day one here he's stuck to this idea of 3 hard working mobile midfielders, two wide forwards as the goal threat, and the drifting "false 9". This hasnt ever really allowed a proper no.10 in the side.

The Dortmund 4-2-3-1 allowed for the Gotze type player. It will be interesting to see what he does with the system he's built. Dismantle and implement a new style, or stick with it. He strikes me a somewhat stubborn, so I expect more of the same.

 

[Modo]

That is true. But from day one here he's stuck to this idea of 3 hard working mobile midfielders, two wide forwards as the goal threat, and the drifting "false 9". This hasnt ever really allowed a proper no.10 in the side.

The Dortmund 4-2-3-1 allowed for the Gotze type player. It will be interesting to see what he does with the system he's built. Dismantle and implement a new style, or stick with it. He strikes me a somewhat stubborn, so I expect more of the same.

But is it really how Klopp imagined it? I think Klopp adapted his philosophy to the players he had.
In Dortmund he always had an out and out striker.
When Coutinho was around we had a great quartet for 6 months and Klopp wasn't looking to get rid of Coutinho.
Keita was thought of as this missing link in midfield, but he's barely stayed alive since he joined.
Rearranging players wouldn't make a difference right now. We need Philips back in defence, Fabs in midfield with Hendo and Gini in Barca.

 

[JohnnyRocket]

But is it really how Klopp imagined it? I think Klopp adapted his philosophy to the players he had.
In Dortmund he always had an out and out striker.
When Coutinho was around we had a great quartet for 6 months and Klopp wasn't looking to get rid of Coutinho.
Keita was thought of this missing link in midfield, but he's barely stayed alive since he joined.
Rearranging players wouldn't make a difference right now. We need Philips back in defence, Fabs in midfield with Hendo and [bcolor=#ffff00]Gini in Barca.[/bcolor]

This would honestly solve many of our problems

 

[tomasjj]

Jota hasn't been great these last two game. Is trying too hard and kinda forcing it.

Yes, time to come from the bench and score a couple rather.

 

[RedStar]

It's hard to justify including the likes of Mané, Firmino and Robbo. They all look completely fucked after about 30 mins. But with the exception of Jota for Mané we have no choice, somehow we've managed to build a really weak squad with awful cover in lots of positions. And it's not caused by freak injuries either, we just haven't strengthened key areas for years while accumulating more and more midfielders.

3-1 to Utd, their midfield has got way too much pace and power for Thiago and Gini. Rashford is going to be camped in Trents blind spot for 90 mins. We are a shambles that's just waiting for the season to end. 4th is long gone and we couldn't give a fuck about Europa.

Our only remaining hope this season is Salahs ego keeping him in the golden boot chase.

 

[JohnnyRocket]

You do wonder what was the point of Tsimikas and Davies

Robbo's been knackered for ages, and Tsimikas still can't get a look in

 

[Raz]

You do wonder what was the point of Tsimikas and Davies

Robbo's been knackered for ages, and Tsimikas still can't get a look in

There is no point to them.... they are obviously fucking shit. Fabs gets pushed back to CB whilst Davies sits on the bench and you know damn well if Robbo was injured who would play left back, and it ain’t the Greek!

 

[Dreambeliever]

Strange game.
Their faint title chase is over.
Our top 4 hopes are running on fumes.

Giving them a spanking in their own back yard would certainly lift the spirits.

Leicester have three very tough last games.
Not inconceivable they lose all three and drop the 9 pts we’d need them to. Hard to see us winning our last 5 but let’s start with this game and keep our hopes alive.
Jones please!

 

[RedStar]

When was the last time we won 5 league games in a row?