Poll What's our problem?
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I'm struggling to only pick two. I went for squad depth and lack of pace in attack but it could easily have been the defence or midfield or even clinical finishing in attack.
Main weakness this season has been the defence. but that's not just the back 4, that's defending as a team. We're happy to win the ball back in the final 3rd, but as soon as they get near our goal we're falling all over the place and letting get in on the keeper, then the keepers are just falling over half arsed.
I really hate to say it but would have been great to have benteke to bring on last night.
Spot fucking on.
..or Andy Carroll.
I blame the midfield and the lack of quality in the squad.
I don't think I'm alone in thinking that our midfield isn't offering us enough. It's just so fucking pedestrian at times.
We haven't got a decent enough DM.
We haven't got a creative outlet.
All we have are a bunch of short passing CM who run a lot.
Remember when we had players in midfield with defined roles? Who could actually do what they were supposed to do?
Remember Mascherano and Alonso?
During their counter attack yesterday, the one they got the goal from, I kept screaming fucking foul someone!!!
Why the hell didn't Wijnaldum just suplex their player?
I don't think I'm alone in thinking that our midfield isn't offering us enough. It's just so fucking pedestrian at times.
We haven't got a decent enough DM.
We haven't got a creative outlet.
All we have are a bunch of short passing CM who run a lot.
Remember when we had players in midfield with defined roles? Who could actually do what they were supposed to do?
Remember Mascherano and Alonso?
During their counter attack yesterday, the one they got the goal from, I kept screaming fucking foul someone!!!
Why the hell didn't Wijnaldum just suplex their player?
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Matip, Lovren, Henderson, Can, Goalies, Lallana, Sturridge and Origi can all be very good on their day, but are they consistent enough to play week in week out for a team that wants to win the Premiership?
Maybe I am a bit harsh on some of them here as they've also had very good runs this season, I am just not sure these players would get anywhere near the teams we like to compare ourselves too - at least I don't think any of them would hold down a starting spot. And on current form some of them wouldn't even be on our rivals bench.
Don't get me wrong I wouldn't really mind any of the above in a big, competitive squad but too many of them do not have the required level of standards - at least not of yet - to be relied upon over the course of the season. Matip and Henderson and to some extent Lallana might be good enough with the right players around them, I don't know, but at least on current form (+1 month) none of them have impressed. Rather the contrary.
So for me it's actually an option 9 - lack of quality players in the squad. For me as it stands it's only Coutinho, Firmino, Mané, Milner and to some extent Clyne (though I believe he's a bit to one-dimensional) that's top players just shy of the world class bracket (some of them will get there in time).
All this again leads to same conclusion so many of us seem to agree upon, we are lacking at least two quality players - in defense and midfield and perhaps also a quality striker. Mané coming back will help us a lot in that department, but we don't have enough depth in the squad when it comes to quality.
I am still quietly optimistic about Klopp's project, even though we won't win it this year, a top 4 finish would still be deemed a success and a great step in the right direction. But we arguably have to continue to add quality if we are to finally reach our goal and get back at the top of the Premiership any time soon.
Maybe I am a bit harsh on some of them here as they've also had very good runs this season, I am just not sure these players would get anywhere near the teams we like to compare ourselves too - at least I don't think any of them would hold down a starting spot. And on current form some of them wouldn't even be on our rivals bench.
Don't get me wrong I wouldn't really mind any of the above in a big, competitive squad but too many of them do not have the required level of standards - at least not of yet - to be relied upon over the course of the season. Matip and Henderson and to some extent Lallana might be good enough with the right players around them, I don't know, but at least on current form (+1 month) none of them have impressed. Rather the contrary.
So for me it's actually an option 9 - lack of quality players in the squad. For me as it stands it's only Coutinho, Firmino, Mané, Milner and to some extent Clyne (though I believe he's a bit to one-dimensional) that's top players just shy of the world class bracket (some of them will get there in time).
All this again leads to same conclusion so many of us seem to agree upon, we are lacking at least two quality players - in defense and midfield and perhaps also a quality striker. Mané coming back will help us a lot in that department, but we don't have enough depth in the squad when it comes to quality.
I am still quietly optimistic about Klopp's project, even though we won't win it this year, a top 4 finish would still be deemed a success and a great step in the right direction. But we arguably have to continue to add quality if we are to finally reach our goal and get back at the top of the Premiership any time soon.
The mentality that runs through the club is that of oh dear if we lose. I don't see many winners, I see a Lucas, a Lallana, whoever. Unless we win things we won't get better. That said, I'd happily give klopp another 2 seasons regardless, but I did have a dream about him walking mid season so let's hope that doesn't happen
It's 6 out of those 7
And it's not as if it hasn't been mentioned and discussed at length already, although it's telling that it becomes more widely accepted once the inevitable downturn in results and performances occurs
And it's not as if it hasn't been mentioned and discussed at length already, although it's telling that it becomes more widely accepted once the inevitable downturn in results and performances occurs
Lack of clinical finishing is a large part of our problem. It's caught up with us now because we're not scoring at all, but even when we were, and becoming the leagues leading scorers, I always felt that we were not finishing nearly enough of the chances we were creating.
Last night, ( and I don't give a fuck whether Southampton deserved their overall win or not) we had three great second half chances ( all created by great play) and we fucked up all three.
Last night, ( and I don't give a fuck whether Southampton deserved their overall win or not) we had three great second half chances ( all created by great play) and we fucked up all three.
The problem last night was actually too often trying to play the ball through central attacking positions.... not enough getting crosses in the box. The times we looked threatening were when we were out wide and got crosses in from the by line....
We need to play with more width than trying to tippy tappy through the centre of teams all the time.
Also the amount of times we give the ball away is bloody frustraing aswell..... GRRRRRR
We need to play with more width than trying to tippy tappy through the centre of teams all the time.
Also the amount of times we give the ball away is bloody frustraing aswell..... GRRRRRR
Most title charges are built on a great defence and/or a great attack, and we don't have either.
I think out of all the legit problems listed (I don't see the manager as a problem at this minute and time), I think the easiest one to fix is the attack (and pace, and midfield) by buying a pacy goal-scoring midfielder. Obviously Mane returning will alleviate some of these problems, but we need more variety in attack.
I think defence requires at least 1 new player (Lovren isn't good enough, Matip has been injured quite a bit, and a new left back might also be useful) plus a keeper and maybe even a new more defensively orientated midfielder.
A lot of these problems could be hidden if we had one world class player in almost any position, but we don't have any. Coutinho is our best player, and he's been getting better every year but at the moment he's not a Gerrard, Suarez, De Gea, etc. etc.
I think out of all the legit problems listed (I don't see the manager as a problem at this minute and time), I think the easiest one to fix is the attack (and pace, and midfield) by buying a pacy goal-scoring midfielder. Obviously Mane returning will alleviate some of these problems, but we need more variety in attack.
I think defence requires at least 1 new player (Lovren isn't good enough, Matip has been injured quite a bit, and a new left back might also be useful) plus a keeper and maybe even a new more defensively orientated midfielder.
A lot of these problems could be hidden if we had one world class player in almost any position, but we don't have any. Coutinho is our best player, and he's been getting better every year but at the moment he's not a Gerrard, Suarez, De Gea, etc. etc.
More width? We had an incredible amount of the ball out wide, and didn't do anything with it, bar two chances for Sturridge
We dont get in early crosses. We go back and forth across Saints defence, just get the fucking ball in sometimes....
And dont get me started on Milners corners, they were the same shite every time.
Don't be ridiculous, that would me a 'Plan B'.
Maybe this post is better suited in this thread that the other one. Dunno.
Anyway, scoring 3 against Bournemouth, 2 against West Ham, 2 against Sunderland and 2 against Swansea should be enough to beat those teams. Scoring in those game wasn't the problem. Our defense/keeper left us down.
I do agree that we could have done with a Mane clone while he was away but I presume Klopp felt we'd 'survive' with Coutinho coming back and Sturridge supposedly fit to play. We missed a handful of chances (Gini, Frimino) against United and Sturridge fluffed his lines last night. I missed the Swansea game but the highlights informed me we were once again pathetic at the back. We are slow and stale at times in Midfield with Can stinking the place out lately. We need to get back to Gini, Henderson, Lallana, Coutinho, Frimino, Mane asap and put a string of wins together. Oh and fingers crossed Matip can install a bit of normality at the back.
Anyway, scoring 3 against Bournemouth, 2 against West Ham, 2 against Sunderland and 2 against Swansea should be enough to beat those teams. Scoring in those game wasn't the problem. Our defense/keeper left us down.
I do agree that we could have done with a Mane clone while he was away but I presume Klopp felt we'd 'survive' with Coutinho coming back and Sturridge supposedly fit to play. We missed a handful of chances (Gini, Frimino) against United and Sturridge fluffed his lines last night. I missed the Swansea game but the highlights informed me we were once again pathetic at the back. We are slow and stale at times in Midfield with Can stinking the place out lately. We need to get back to Gini, Henderson, Lallana, Coutinho, Frimino, Mane asap and put a string of wins together. Oh and fingers crossed Matip can install a bit of normality at the back.
In a 4-3-3 like ours, the role of the wide forward is a very specific and unique one. Its quite hard to find the right players for this role, because you need the pace, goal threat and directness, combined with the creativity of an attacking midfielder.
Mane is probably the only player in our squad who is suited to play wide forward.
Mane is probably the only player in our squad who is suited to play wide forward.
Yes, I think so too. I wonder what happened with Quincy Promes, why did this potential "Mane clone" deal not work out (at least not yet)? Press seems to think Brandt is Klopp's #1 target (which is excellent, since I'm a fan too), but this means we won't get reinforcements in this area until summer.
My concern about that is that we'll need to sign about 7 players in the summer at this rate. If we make a bold assumption that we'll be in a European competition next year, and that Klopp will still want us to play a high intensity style, we'll need a lot of reinforcements because at the moment there are too many positions in the team which suffer from a huge drop in quality when the first choice isn't available. Any of the forward positions, any of the midfield positions and left back. That's 7 players that need to be either as good as the players currently or, ideally, better. An awful lot of money to spend unless the youngsters are in a position to step up.
No idea where to post this without starting a new thread - which it doesn't deserve :
PL winning odds with current and predicted points.
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Chelsea (3447) 55 86 77.9%
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Arsenal (3485) 47 78 10.5%
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Tottenham Hotspur (3272) 46 76 5.9%
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Liverpool (3209) 45 74 2.8%
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Manchester City (3416) 43 74 2.3%
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Manchester United (3308) 41 71 0.6%
Source - http://www.euroclubindex.com/asp/leagueodds.asp
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Source - http://www.euroclubindex.com/asp/leagueodds.asp
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