& that's when you know your season is done.
Pre Match - Crystal Palace (h) - Mon - 20:00
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It's probably already been said, but the only real things to be happy about were Diaz and Elliotts individual performances, and the collective team effort after going a goal down. Trent had moments of quality, but it was an up and down performance. Thought Fabinho, Salah, Robertson and VVD were off It. Nunez was gash all night.
Gomez looked sharp enough to start the game, IMO. Had he done so I suspect we would have won. VVD and Phillips were on different wave lengths all night long.
Think we should consider dropping Fabinho for Henderson in the six. We just seem to keep the ball better with Hendo there, which might help the attack find some fluidity.
Lovey technique from Carvalho to nearly win in at the end.
Gomez looked sharp enough to start the game, IMO. Had he done so I suspect we would have won. VVD and Phillips were on different wave lengths all night long.
Think we should consider dropping Fabinho for Henderson in the six. We just seem to keep the ball better with Hendo there, which might help the attack find some fluidity.
Lovey technique from Carvalho to nearly win in at the end.
We definitely didn’t test Butland at all during that game - we could at least have tried a few basic general knowledge questions, maybe by email.
Darwin's only 23 and playing in his second competitive match for us. He'll get better.
As for Nat, everyone (well almost everyone) learnt that he isn't comfortable in a high line, and it wasn't the case that he was embarrassed himself tonight.
I am concerned about the midfield. I can't help but feel that this is the season an aging, one paced, workhorse midfield gets exposed against more athletically gifted opposition, but at least Harvey has started brightly and there is no reason why he should not keep his spot.
As for Nat, everyone (well almost everyone) learnt that he isn't comfortable in a high line, and it wasn't the case that he was embarrassed himself tonight.
I am concerned about the midfield. I can't help but feel that this is the season an aging, one paced, workhorse midfield gets exposed against more athletically gifted opposition, but at least Harvey has started brightly and there is no reason why he should not keep his spot.
Nothing naive about it. It's a red card in any league. He knew exactly what he did . If the shoe was on the other foot you'd be screaming headbutt all day long.
And we know that's not going to happen
If we have our best midfield out (Thiago, Fabs + either Elliott or Hendo, whichever one is on his game, and it's great we now have an option there) then that's not a workhorse midfield. Midfielders are rarely blessed with pace but with the ability to beat a man with footwork or run into space, all of those bar Hendo can do that, and do so regularly, Carvalho too if necessary.
Multiple injuries (10 FFS) mean that we haven't had the chance to play the midfield Klopp wants, otherwise we'd have 6/6 not 2/6. Thiago, Firmino, Jota, Ramsey, Konate, Matip, Ox, Jones and with Keita & Gomez just returned but only fit for the bench. That's a pretty dismal list to start the season and limiting in terms of tactical changes possible.
I dont know why but I'm just not disappointed at all.
Like sucks we lost but life moves on...
We lost? I must have switched off early !
I'm concerned rather than disappointed. We're going to face lots of teams who play the same way as Palace, and without Thiago in the team we seem to just run into players. I had hoped that with Nunez signed we'd be able to get him on the end of decent crosses but the supply line from Trent and Robbo is nowhere near what it was; especially with Robertson, who doesn't seem to be linking up well with anyone and isn't creating much.
Milner was fine - for a 36 year old he played really well, in fairness. Elliott worked his socks off and did some nice stuff, though he's still a couple of levels below a midfielder needs to be for us. Fabinho's form is worrying.
So yeah. Concerned primarily with the full backs and Fabinho. We have a lot of injuries in midfield, but when players regain fitness it's time for Keita and Curtis, in particular, to be stepping up.
Milner was fine - for a 36 year old he played really well, in fairness. Elliott worked his socks off and did some nice stuff, though he's still a couple of levels below a midfielder needs to be for us. Fabinho's form is worrying.
So yeah. Concerned primarily with the full backs and Fabinho. We have a lot of injuries in midfield, but when players regain fitness it's time for Keita and Curtis, in particular, to be stepping up.
Yes.
When you dont beat teams when you're competing with man city, it's a loss.
4 points behind man city having played relegation fodder and a team that will struggle to finish top 10.
I don't think we are blaming Klopp. It's the transfer market stance + squad planning that is a pressing concern (been on about this for sometime). Yes, Ramsay and Carvalho were signed but we do need players who can come in and do a job (consistently now) - esp. knowing the availability issues with the likes of Matip, Keita, Ox, Thiago. Gotta factor in the no. of games played last season + the intensity of the schedule cos of the WC at the end of the year too.
When you have to bring on a 36 yr old while chasing a game and
start him in the 2nd league game of the season + start a player who was supposed to be sold/loan out + have a 17 yr old who was playing U18 football last season as one of the two attacking options on the bench
as a title-challenging side, it's pretty underwhelming.
When you have to bring on a 36 yr old while chasing a game and
start him in the 2nd league game of the season + start a player who was supposed to be sold/loan out + have a 17 yr old who was playing U18 football last season as one of the two attacking options on the bench
as a title-challenging side, it's pretty underwhelming.
Robbo needs dropping for Tsimikas - even Klopp saw that during the game. He hasn't been hitting those highs for a while now and his crossing is a mile off what it was.
TAA is defo not on his game either but at least he provides 2-3 moments of brilliance per game. His defensive game is very worrying though, he seems to have gone backwards, yesterday he was a mile away from Zaha when he missed that open goal, he didn't even see him and deservedly got the evil eyes from Gomez.
Yeah, but we have 10 unavailable players, 9 for the game yesterday. There isnt a team in the league that wouldnt be affected by that. 3 CBs were out. Gomez and Hendo would have started if they didnt carry knocks.
I think we need a new midfielder as well before the deadline. But the injury crisis, albeit its a short term one, is pretty hard to plan against.
We’ve dropped 20% of the total we can drop all season after two games.
The entire world could see the difference in how we play when Thiago is fit versus when he's out. Th entire world knew Thiago would break down before the end of August
But we did . . . nothing.
The squad neglect and inability to keep the squad fresh is a big concern. Firmino's decline has been a shocker. Henderson isnt the same anymore. Milner is 36. Even Fabinho keeps putting in below par performances. Slightly worried this is going to turn into a Dortmund 2015 season.
But we did . . . nothing.
The squad neglect and inability to keep the squad fresh is a big concern. Firmino's decline has been a shocker. Henderson isnt the same anymore. Milner is 36. Even Fabinho keeps putting in below par performances. Slightly worried this is going to turn into a Dortmund 2015 season.
I wouldn’t got that far. I think we will be best of the rest but we won’t get close to city. We will be closer to third place than top.
We have long list of players injured and lost one of key talisman in Mane.
The players look tired, I saw Trent, he was looking like he was taking big breaths like a smoker who smokes 20 a day
The owners lack ambition on the field as it seems they operate a transfer policy of low net spend or close to it which hampers Klopp.
Now some of you have suggested we wait for Jude, so do you write this season off? The players are a year older, and it's showing.
Ideally we need a CM and a RW
The players look tired, I saw Trent, he was looking like he was taking big breaths like a smoker who smokes 20 a day
The owners lack ambition on the field as it seems they operate a transfer policy of low net spend or close to it which hampers Klopp.
Now some of you have suggested we wait for Jude, so do you write this season off? The players are a year older, and it's showing.
Ideally we need a CM and a RW
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It's not the first time we had loads of injuries - but we don't seem to learn anything from past experiences. It can be a vicious cycle - player rushed back from injuries or players can't get rested cos of the lack of options etc.
We have 4 games in the space of ~12 days over the next 2 weeks. Are we just going to bemoan about the injury situation (which in part had to do with the injury proneness of the players + our lack of depth in certain areas which remains unaddressed over the past transfer windows)?
Another concern is how, carrying on from the end of last season, we've become very predictable. The chances we create are half chances, and we end up relying on moments of magic, like Diaz last night. We seem to resort to giving it to Trent in the half space for him to hit and hope something into the box.
Average age of the squad is too high. Too many key players in their 30s - Alisson, Virgil, Matip, Thiago, Henderson, Milner, Salah, Firmino.
Fabinho and Robertson are both 28, and kinda look like they might be about to exit their primes in a year or two.
Effectively, that leaves us with just Trent, Konate, Diaz, Tsimikas and Darwin as players in the 23-28 age bracket. I'd include Keita and Ox in this bracket too, but they've been the major failures as signings - if they'd worked out like they were supposed to, much of this wouldn't have been a problem.
Jones, Elliott, Carvalho and Ramsey are too young (u-21) to be relied upon to play 40 games a season. That's where the squad building has been too slow. Ideally, we'd have had at least 3 more players in the 23-28 age bracket to carry the load. Instead, it's still pensioners like Thiago, Henderson and Milner lifting the heavy load and breaking their backs.
Fabinho and Robertson are both 28, and kinda look like they might be about to exit their primes in a year or two.
Effectively, that leaves us with just Trent, Konate, Diaz, Tsimikas and Darwin as players in the 23-28 age bracket. I'd include Keita and Ox in this bracket too, but they've been the major failures as signings - if they'd worked out like they were supposed to, much of this wouldn't have been a problem.
Jones, Elliott, Carvalho and Ramsey are too young (u-21) to be relied upon to play 40 games a season. That's where the squad building has been too slow. Ideally, we'd have had at least 3 more players in the 23-28 age bracket to carry the load. Instead, it's still pensioners like Thiago, Henderson and Milner lifting the heavy load and breaking their backs.
No, its quite clear that we've given up already (the fans).
I think we have learned a lot from previous history. Changing training routines, diets, rest and taking sport science to a World class level. Matip was injury free for a year with that approach. Henderson and Gomez sitting out yesterday because of the knocks they carry.
It doesnt change the fact that we should have signed a new midfielder and freshened up that area of the pitch as well.
Hopefully two draws and two points will make us dip into the transfer market for one more player.
I doubt Klopp and the players will give up, and I dont think its wise to do so after 2 games either.
I wont, and this place is obviously not the right forum for said attitude going forward.
Injuries are part of the game mate.
You either can handle them based on squad depth or you purchase players to accommodate for unforeseen realities.
I trust klopp but have no problem stating the obvious about squad depth and the desperate need since last year to strengthen our midfield.
Anyone get the feeling that mane was an even more important cog for this team than we realized?
Also, want pre-afcon mo back... hes still not right despite looking happy.
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