1.) 30 Oct 2017
30 Oct 2017 10:35:23
As requested KingKenny7, I've started a trio of articles which will review Liverpool's defensive unit. I had to break it down because there was just too much to say about this subject! Hope you enjoy mate, and thank you for the request.

2.) 30 Oct 2017
30 Oct 2017 11:00:28
Thanks Ed.
I live in hope that playing Migs rather than Ward is part of some big evil master plan by Klopp and it will all fall into place shortly and he will stump us all.

If he’s just protecting Ward from the fans then it’s quite sad that our fans act that way, we as a club will need to nurture our youngsters to keep up with higher spending clubs so we need to show patience.

If I was Klopp I would ban all players from all social media, it’s got to the point where it’s really counter productive, make the players interact with the fans at Melwood and certain events in person, (nobody would say all that sh@t to lovrens face for example) so the players know who they are playing for, who would put in a shift for them keyboard warriors after-all. Klopp should get on the crowds back if they give any of our players stick as well, he’s just about the only manager who could get away with sticking it to the fans as we saw when he criticised the early walkers.

I think people forget that having 40k people groaning at your every touch will effect you and your game no matter how professional or how highly paid you are, you only have to look at the difference in Wijnaldums home and away performances to see how a bit of support (or lack of) can effect you.

{Ed001's Note - well said, but this was not my article mate, the link is autoposted under my names is all.}

3.) 30 Oct 2017
30 Oct 2017 11:01:11
Another excellent article there, thanks to ed01 and MK for their efforts with these.

I can't help but think if so many others can see the situation with the goalkeepers so clearly, then why can't Jurgen Klopp? Is it negligence? Is it a blindspot? Or is he just too nervous to change and take the risk of it backfiring again the way it happened with Karius before?

4.) 30 Oct 2017
30 Oct 2017 11:22:31
Thanks CITB. I sadly think Klopp is trying to protect Ward and Karius. For as long as Mignolet is at the club, there will be a small section of fans who will call for him to be reinstated whenever the other lads make a mistake. For some reason he is still rated as a decent shot stopper, despite overwhelming evidence it is not true. A minority of the fans and the majority of the media are the root cause for these problems, but Klopp is the only person to blame for it not being rectified. He has the power to pick and back the best option. Whether that is Karius, or Ward, it certainly is not Mignolet.

And great post Mikey. Agree with everything you said. I'd love to see players banned from social media. Hopefully they are sensible enough not to read the comments though and just leave it to their PR guys or their agents. Nobody would have threatened Lovren to his face, because when you can see these guys close up, you remember they are human and have families.

5.) 30 Oct 2017
30 Oct 2017 11:35:40
Thanks MK, a good article again mate - I feel sorry for Ward, he must know he's the best option yet not getting games, it's an odd one but we can talk about that until we are blue in the face. I hope for his career and for Liverpool he gets his chance soon, but I'm fearful for him at this moment in time, he deserves to be playing and isn't, it has to be said, if I was in his shoes and didn't get a game soon, I'd want to move on. That is something I don't want to see.

Mikey I couldn't agree more, I think all players from every club shouldn't be allowed on social media, its nothing but poison.

6.) 30 Oct 2017
30 Oct 2017 12:07:49
Cheers Corleone. Worth reiterating that is only my opinion that Ward is the best option. If there is anyone who would prefer Karius, i would entertain that view because Ward hasn't really proven himself in a top 5 European league yet. He just has the best raw credentials in my opinion. Either Karius or Ward would be a definite upgrade on Mignolet though and i can see us losing both of them next summer if they don't get proper game time. I would have nightmares if we end up with Mignolet and Bogdan as the two first team keepers again!

7.) 30 Oct 2017
30 Oct 2017 12:28:00
You and me both mate.

To be honest yeah I'd like to see Ward in goal but even if it is Karius I'd still be happy, I'm not really bothered who out of the two get their chance as long as Migs is dropped I'm happy. Bogdan needs to be sold asap.

8.) 30 Oct 2017
30 Oct 2017 12:35:57
Really good again MK got to be an ed soon mate🤔.

9.) 30 Oct 2017
30 Oct 2017 12:49:42
Superb article MK mate, look forward to parts 2+3, imo the day klopp signed karius and recalled ward, both mignolet and bogdan should have been sold, karius could do with working with his old coach as ours does not inspire confidence, one question for you MK mate we both know we have superb young goalkeepers at the club do you like me worry as to what will happen to them once achterburg gets his claws into them. Thank you so much for responding to my request and for taking the time to write these articles.

10.) 30 Oct 2017
30 Oct 2017 12:57:01
as long as Migs is dropped I'm happy
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What nonsense, and this is not aimed at one poster I know there is a whole lynch mob including ed with the same simpleton mentality that Mignolet is the cause of defensive problem, this is not the case. To simply say put Ward in goal and everything is hunky-dory is just plain rubbish, last time Ward was in goal, he had little to do except pick up the ball from the back of his own net twice.

11.) 30 Oct 2017
30 Oct 2017 13:12:17
Really good article, thought ed001 had written it. Looking forward to part 2, mk.

12.) 30 Oct 2017
30 Oct 2017 13:44:31
Cheers longthing76 haha.

13.) 30 Oct 2017
30 Oct 2017 14:12:52
Kk7, I've wanted Valero back for years mate. Achterburg seems a nice bloke but I've seen no evidence that suggests he improves players. Mignolet was never great, but he is worse at Liverpool than he was at Sunderland. That is a concern. Though Achterburg has shown signs he's improving and he's a very willing learner so fingers crossed he improves, so the players can improve. Thank you for reading though mate, and thanks again for the request.

Thank you, zpecialzone. That is a compliment!

Roy, I'm not saying nor have i implied that Mignolet is the only reason for our poor defence. As you will find out in part 2 and 3, i am not making Mignolet the sole culprit. You are sadly in denial if you can't see he is a problem though. Your comments RE Ward also suggest that is the only game you've seen him play. I watched him pushing 30 times for the academy, and 5 times last season and he is a better keeper than Mignolet purely on his ability to catch a cross. He also wasn't bad at all against Leicester. No keeper would've stopped their goals and he did everything expected of him, with a handful of excellent claims to boot.

Mignolet is a nice bloke mate, and if he stepped down a level he'd probably be one of the better keepers there, but he is not good enough for the level we are at or aspire to get to. We need a keeper to match the likes of De Gea, Courtois and Lloris. Mignolet will never do that. Karius and Ward haven't had the chance to show us if they could, but if they can't we need to be ruthless with them too. Persevering with the same problem players who has been costing us points for 4 years will not rectify anything though. Try something new, reassess in the summer, and then act accordingly. At the minute, Klopp is giving himself nothing to reassess.

14.) 30 Oct 2017
30 Oct 2017 14:46:33
In all honesty what was the premier league doing when Tottenham snapped up Hugo Lloris? A genuine world class keeper who came without no Huss or fuss, how did they manage to bag such a keeper?

15.) 30 Oct 2017
30 Oct 2017 14:47:58
Yeah a fair article mk. I am right in thinking mk wrote the GK review posted under ed01 name?

The way the fans turned on karius (and the media) it's not surprising that ward has been protected. I didn't know he was an academy product, he goes way up in my opinion for that! I still really like karius although I have hardly seen ward play. I saw a clip of karius training in Hong Kong in the summer and the guy was awesome (not my favourite word but it fits) and I thought at the time "how is this guy not playing" I think we will regret it if we move karius on as I think he is going to become an elite keeper.

I think the GK situation is the main problem at the club. I think the defencecould start to work as a unit if we stuck with five players each week.

Right now that would be

Karius

Gomes matip lovren moreno .

I understand ward fits the high line better but karius is young enough to learn.

16.) 30 Oct 2017
30 Oct 2017 14:52:21
MK, I 've seen enough of Ward to know how decent he is, the game against Leicester we had 80% possession, yet he conceded 2 goals, and yes maybe he could do little to prevent them, the fact is we conceded 2 in a game we had near enough total control, this is how bad our defensive setup.

"We need a keeper to match the likes of De Gea, Courtois and Lloris"
Ward and Karius are n't in that category either, people that see them train day in day out will tell you that . Look Klopp is not keeping Mingo in goal for the fun of it, he is still his number one because there is no one better, to get the likes of De Gea etc, you need to spend loads of Money, something the owners will hesitate to do on a goal keeper

MK, not sure how long you've been visiting this site, but few years back when we were about to buy Simon, that same lynch mob that is after him now, were posting the same criticism against Pepe Riena, and tio them Simon was a much better replacement, a great shot stopper, calm head etc etc .

17.) 30 Oct 2017
30 Oct 2017 15:09:53
What I don’t understand is the idea of the keepers needing protection. If the jeering gets to them that much then maybe they are not mentally strong enough to play for a top team. De Gea took dogs abuse from Utd fans and really hell from the press but he has been strong enough to battle through.
If Klopp doesn’t feel Karius or Ward are strong enough then he Must sell them and buy players he thinks are strong enough. He cannot continue with such a poor keeper in nets because he’s afraid of the other two getting hurt, they are not children they are grown men. Either play them and see what happens or sell one in January and buy a replacement.
This is the most ridiculous situation regarding goalkeepers I’ve ever seen in football.
Give Ward a chance till end of season, sink or swim, he’s not 17 years old, give him the chance to take ownership of the goalkeeper position for his club and stop mollycoddling him and Karius.
That’s my opinion.

18.) 30 Oct 2017
30 Oct 2017 15:16:52
Whatever happened to sander westerveld? He wasn't too bad for an unknown. Reins was brilliant, no ideas why he was replaced unless he wanted to go.

Roy makes sense when he says mugs is not picked for the fun of it. He must look the best gk in training?

{Ed001's Note - Reina kept asking for a move. Migs is not the best in training or in games which is why the situation is bizarre.}

19.) 30 Oct 2017
30 Oct 2017 15:37:14
I agree Roy. Our defence in that game was shambolic. Ward was not at fault for that though. The second goal was an absolute world that came from a throw in. I also agree that Ward and Karius are not at that level. The difference is though, they have potential but haven't had a chance to improve with us. Mignolet has had chance after chance and repeatedly let us down. I'd rather try something new, than just accept mediocrity.

I remember seeing the mob after Reina by the way. However i recall it being about his attitude? He tried to throw us under a bus by moving to Barcelona, and then when his move fell through and we'd already replaced him, he started slagging the club off publically and playing innocent. I am not sure anyone thought Reina needed replacing on the grounds of his ability. His head got turned. I like many others hoped Mignolet would improve at a bigger club, but never really expected him to be better than Reina. Reina was class, but his head was in Barcelona.

Completely agree McGoveb. If Klopp genuinely believes Mignolet is the best (which i doubt) then he needs to replace all 3 keepers because that's a damning verdict on the state of the situation. If however he is trying to protect anyone from criticism, i again agree with you that players shouldn't need that. I highly doubt Ward or Karius would refuse to play if picked. Lovren got death threats last week and he still showed up against Huddersfield, prepared to play. The situation is very, very messy. We can all see change is needed, and hopefully Klopp has a solution in mind. Touch wood!

{Ed001's Note - nobody wanted Reina out on ability. Most people were gutted he wanted out.}

20.) 30 Oct 2017
30 Oct 2017 15:50:50
I did indeed write it Super red. I don't think Ward suits the high line better. Karius is probably a better sweeper keeper. However we tend to concede a lot of set pieces by scything down opposition playing on the counter attack, or giving away cheap corners. Ward is more comfortable dealing with balls into the box. Either player is more suited to our game than Mignolet, but I'm not sure Karius will help our set piece issue. Remember he did break is hand punching someone in the head, whilst trying to get the ball! His kicking is good, he is great in one on ones, and he is a good shot stopper. But when a high ball is put in the box, he is as nervy as Mignolet to be honest. Ward just needs to improve his focus. I think he gets too comfortable when the ball is outside his box and that can lead to him taking up the wrong position, or misjudging the flight of a shot. As soon as it is sent into the box though, Ward is a great young keeper.

None of our keepers are without a major weakness to be honest. I just feel as though Ward's weakness would be the least exposed. How many goals from distance do we concede? I can only think of Sane against Man City this season. Plus, Ward may have worked on this flaw in the last 2 years.

Really can't hurt to give him or Karius a run of games though! Can it?

21.) 30 Oct 2017
30 Oct 2017 15:57:58
I was honestly shocked to hear migs has been here only four years! It seems like ten! It does doesn't it? He isn't good enough. I think we are the only team in the top six to have a keeper who isn't an international number 1. I've never liked him, dunno why? He has done some good things for us and for that I'm grateful, I haven't forgotten last seasons late form but he is not good enough to take us to ucl final or top of the league come June. If we had beaten spurs we would be sitting in third right now. If migs had not come for that first goal we could well have nicked a win. I'm not the sort of fan who turns on a player after one bad mistake or one poor result so you can't put me in that category Jurgen. I am fed up with defending migs, it has become impossible to defend him anyway. He simply has to be dropped. He is losing us games and ergo me sleep. So what if Ward or Karius come in and make mistakes, it is already happening. At least they would be gaining experience.

I could see migs doing quite well for a bottom half team where his shot stopping ability will be tested more but to have him in a team that wants to win the league is mental. Sorry Simon.

22.) 30 Oct 2017
30 Oct 2017 16:07:55
Perhaps it's about timing. Bringing a new player in at gk, a position that is constantly exposed, week in week out is not ideal.

23.) 30 Oct 2017
30 Oct 2017 16:12:45
Hugo Lloris is a decent goalkeeper but he is not world class in my opinion, often he will let very easy shots past him. World class goalkeepers are De Gea, Courtouis, Oblak, Neuer. Lloris is not close to that bracket imo.

24.) 30 Oct 2017
30 Oct 2017 16:45:06
{Ed001's Note - nobody wanted Reina out on ability. Most people were gutted he wanted out. }
=======================
You need to get the search engine working probably on this site. From what I remember, many including your good self, were accusing Pepe of being a liability on corners and crosses and it was time for him to go.


{Ed001's Note - Reina kept asking for a move. Migs is not the best in training or in games which is why the situation is bizarre. }
==============
Sorry but its your statement that is bizarre, are you suggesting Klopp have not the club best interest at the forefront and sticking with Migs for some personal reasons . I can assure if you willing to listen, according to the daily numbers, Migs is our best options with the defensive setup we currently can have.

{Ed001's Note - or perhaps I should just ignore trolls like you making up lies? Reina was never the same after Valero left, but the reason people wanted him out, including me, were the issues behind the scenes. You are the only one making accusations. It was time for him to go because he had acted exactly like Coutinho. You would do better to get a grip and stop rewriting history to suit your agenda. I know you want to think you knew better, but you don't.

Nothing is bizarre in my statement. You are making up stuff again. No one said Klopp does not think it is in the club's best interests, just that I don't understand why he thinks it is. It could be that he thinks it best serves squad harmony to keep Migs in the team because he was such a whiny get when dropped, but that is just a guess as I do not know.

As for numbers, there are no such numbers except nonsense ones of no value to anyone with understanding of stats. You cannot have such a small sample size and draw conclusions from it, which is why stats do not work properly in football, unlike baseball. The sample sizes are too small to rule out anomalies. Migs is not the best option, no one truly believes that bar you and you clearly live in a fantasy world where people were not screaming at the club for letting Reina go. Which they were, as most people were disgusted he was allowed to leave.}

25.) 30 Oct 2017
30 Oct 2017 19:49:34
Well said Ed001 mate.

26.) 31 Oct 2017
31 Oct 2017 09:31:56
Brilliant assessment of all three gas, ED. I agree with you on Karius and his problem with handling shots. I would note that he was just recovering from a broken hand as well so that may have affected him as well. To me based on our playing style, he is more suitable to it and is the best option we have at least under Klopp even tho his ball handling needs more work. I do not think it is a coincidence that the defense is more composed and sure whenever Karius plays as he never seems to have anything to do. Same for Ward so giving either one a shot throughout the season would definitely b an improvement on the hapless Migs.

The good thing about either glad is that their faults are easily coachable as they are fundamentally sound already. Can't say the same for Migs cos he is crap from top to bottom. Both need experience at this level and that can only come from playing regularly. I do agree that fans seem to be unable to forgive Karius for some shameful reason and they will continue to get on his back regardless of how well he may play so I can understand why Klopp does not wanna put him back in regularly as if he makes a mistake, we might as well sell him cos he won't b able to come back from that.

27.) 31 Oct 2017
31 Oct 2017 10:59:38
Great article MK.