20 Feb 2017 19:21:07
The U23s unfortunately lost yesterday to bottom of the league Derby. The star players lile Ojo, Wilson and Woodburn weren't playing as I believe they were at the training camp in Spain with the first team. This meant that a realatively young, inexperienced side played. It was a 90th minute winner for Derby which is always very painful to lose but hopefully the boys can learn and improve from it.
A disappointing result all round and it pretty much confirms that we won't be winning the premier league 2 but it was an outside shot even before the game yesterday.
Next up is West Brom away on Tuesday 28th in the Premier League Cup which we are right in the mix for.
Believable10
Unbelievable0
21 Feb 2017 07:15:12
Thanks for the update mate đź‘Ť.
20 Feb 2017 18:24:27
Genuine question for everybody. Why are we soo keen to buy players for the squad, Isn't that the very thing we bash other teams for buying success? When we have the like of ward, gomez, TAA, ojo, woodburn, grujic and so on coming through, with the likes of matip, hendo, couts, firmino, and mane who are still young and very good players why are we desperate to spend heavy. the likes of carra, owen, mcmannaman, gerrard, fowler cost nothing we can produce again.
Believable2
Unbelievable10
20 Feb 2017 18:39:31
So your going to put pressure of the kids let them develop at there own time. This squad needs improving all we can do what we been doing and selling are best players and be happy finishing 7th. Instead of trying to win the league.
20 Feb 2017 19:19:16
The kids will never develop with crap players around them and being expected to carry our team. Also we don't have really any kids capable of stepping up in our real problem areas, that being at the back.
20 Feb 2017 20:24:03
Think biggest problem really is need players who improve our defence 1st and possible a pacey attacker. There just isn't someone in our youth team I think we could depend on next season and would probably be unfair to expect it of them.
Also think are a bit unlucky as those we were hoping to push on Ojo, Gomez, and grujic had big injury problems. Have to think if mane, Matip and Henderson broke their leg we'd be screwed! Personally think we need to make a decision on who's closest to first team and then try actually plan good loans for the others so they can develop or if too young use them in U23s.
Perfect example is ejaria, can see he plenty of talent but just look at his frame. Needs to develop before he can be expected to play in our league or TBH could end up getting injured badly.
20 Feb 2017 20:25:11
We aren't bashing other teams anymore. This isn't 90's mate. Football has moved on.
21 Feb 2017 10:57:40
Apart from Suso, what academy players have we not given chances to that performed at another big club?, and Suso might not have even been physical enough for PL.
21 Feb 2017 13:00:13
Ojo and Wilson were both given loan opportunities and neither pulled up trees. Why shouldn't we be looking at bringing in better younger players. It would be nice for the academy lads to come through and become regulars, but they have to perform better than the other players in the squad to do so. We have bought Origi into the squad at the expense of Jerome Sinclair. Joe Gomes instead of Lloyd Jones. Grujic instead of Brannigan. We bought allen de souse to replace Rossitor, why? Because they are deemed more likely to be future ist team players, and they are better, yet they are not ready to replace the players that have the spot in the team now. To compare Brandt, Dahoud and pulisic with any of our under 23's now is pretty silly.
21 Feb 2017 14:14:59
Ejaria is now injured, and will miss a few more weeks.
20 Feb 2017 17:56:26
As we have to move on 17,456 players before we can get one in please let that one be Mbappe. He would be superb down the left side. Nearest player I've seen to Henry.
Believable1
Unbelievable1
20 Feb 2017 18:18:02
Erm you mean a young winger with lots of potential and highly rated?
If only Ojo was foreign eh? he'd be a shoe in.
20 Feb 2017 18:41:11
Klopp has ready said he needs to be more direct. I don't get people who what's to see he kids now and put massive prussure on them let them develop.
20 Feb 2017 20:28:10
I think we've been a bit unfair playing a number of young lads in 2nd string sides in cup games all at the same time.
If we were to play one of them in the 1st team it would be far more beneficial to them and the club.
Woodburn really impressed when he is surrounded by better quality players as does TTA.
21 Feb 2017 08:58:37
We do have some talented players such as TTA but in the main we still fall short as proven in their own leagues let alone being thrown in at the deep end against Plymouth and Wolves for example. I agree with Dermot we would be better served starting with half the senior players supporting our youth players. Their education from that experience is surely more enriched.
21 Feb 2017 14:15:01
The u23 set up does not really prepare the young lads of any club properly for life in the first team.
I know the intention is to have a larger pool of younger talent playing regularly with a few senior pros who are recovering from injury or having discipline issues.
but I think the old reserve or B. team set up was better
Where the balance of youth and experience could be more flexible and the young lads were playing against and training with seasoned pros week after week.
20 Feb 2017 08:01:41
{Ed's Note - We have posted a new article entitled, World's Best Centre Backs?
Believable4
Unbelievable0
20 Feb 2017 08:54:05
My critique of the list is that it says it is being picked on this seasons form, so are unable to have Matip or Bailly as choices because of injuries etc. But Romagnoli was picked on potential and Fonte was picked on past season form. Having said that, i would love to have any one of those players to partner Matip next season.
20 Feb 2017 09:07:46
Thanks for the write up mate, great read. Interesting to see Jerome Boateng, Varane and Thiago Silva were omitted.
{Ed001's Note - Boateng has been injured every time I have seen Bayern play, Thiago Silva is not that good and Varane has not played regularly enough to progress.}
20 Feb 2017 11:23:37
Interesting read ed001 thanks.
Hopefully Matip is on that list of yours sooner rather than later, we need a strong defence so badly.
20 Feb 2017 12:08:30
Boss read ed, thanks a lot for that.
Any chance you can do more on other positions at all (CMs, FBs, CAMs etc. )
Only when you get time obviously; don't wanna be too pushy!
Incidentally, what's your opinion on Scott Dann?
Not saying for one moment he should be on this list at all, just think he could be a good option for us?
I know he's not world class, but think he is an out and out defender and alongside a good ball playing CB like Matip, we could be on to something?
Scores a few, is a Scouser/ Red and probably wouldn't be too expensive either?
{Ed001's Note - yes mate, I will try and do these inbetween other things. Might take a while but I will carry on doing them, with left backs next to do.
As for Dann, he reminds me a lot of Jose Fonte, severely underrated and someone who makes his team mates better. Remember he even made that donkey Roger Johnson look top quality? Excellent defender, a few years back, but he lost what little pace he had and is a midtable Prem player now, imo. Still he is a good example of what can come from being patient after a long term injury, as he took a few years to come back from it.}
20 Feb 2017 13:26:37
Spot on ed, it's much appreciated.
Definitely share your opinion on Scott Dann. Haha, exactly yeah!
Probably is a bit past it for us to be honest though yeah, although maybe a good stop gap while Gomez gets back to the level we expect of him?
On a separate note, what do you think of Oriel Romeu? Not 100% convinced we need a dedicated DM under Klopp (plus we have Stewart, who I like), but I like the look of what I've seen from Romeu.
Certainly makes Vin Dijk look better (along with Fonte, when he was there) .
Imagine the uproar if we went for ANOTHER Southampton player though?!
{Ed001's Note - I think it is just too late for Dann, we should have signed him years ago, before his injury, when we had the chance. Wasted opportunity imo.
I really liked Romeu at Chelsea to be honest, he has something about him, he had a dip in his level, as all youngsters do, but now is growing again as a player as he matures. Not sure he is what we need though.}
20 Feb 2017 13:43:09
Probably right on Dann, yeah.
Same here; liked Romeu years ago and then lost track of him really. But looking quality this year and a big part of what makes Saints tick when they play well, in my opinion.
Yeah, I'm not 100 on whether we need that specific player either, but he would be a good option if Klopp does thing it's a position he'd like to strengthen?
20 Feb 2017 13:47:40
First time poster but have been following this site since the days of the proposed DIC takeover. Great read Ed001, always look forward to hearing your views on players. It'd be very interesting to see similar reviews done for all the positions!
Always look forward to reading a detailed review/ answer from Ed001/ 002! Keep up the great work, it's much appreciated!
{Ed002's Note - Thanks Dave.}
20 Feb 2017 13:48:51
Like Sokratis of BVB as well. Looked solid and dominant whenever I have seen him play. Subotic before his injury problems was a total beast too. Pepe is not too bad either (antics aside of course)
20 Feb 2017 13:49:28
How is Skrtel not in this list Ed001! Clearly you are still bitter about his departure ;)
Quicker than Ronaldo, more skillful than Messi, reads the game better than Beckenbaur, passes with more accuracy Paul Scoles, and has less hair than Phil Mitchell.
Absolutely world class.
20 Feb 2017 15:05:51
Was talking to my cousin earlier about who we need. I mentioned Romeu if Stewart and Lucas were to move on. Every time I see him play his is immense, wins his battles every time and just does what he's there to do!
20 Feb 2017 15:32:18
Yeah, think he's really good too. And definitely a good shout if either, or both, of those leave.
Just don't think Klopp wants a DM in all honesty though.
Hendo plays deepest for us now and even that isn't what you'd call a traditional DM.
I would like to see us revert to a 4-2-3-1 for the tougher opposition though, with Hendo next to someone in the 2. Think it'd give us an extra bit of needed stability. If the partner for this couldn't be Stewart (don't see why not personally? ), then would love us to get Romeu.
This set up wouldn't actually be any less attacking either; Couts, Lallana, Mane and Firmino could all still start in the front 4 positions.
It would just mean no Wiji (or Can), but they could play against the 'lesser' teams in a 4-3-3, like usual?
Stewart would be perfect, as seems happy to be a squad player and is good enough, in my opinion.
But as mentioned before, if Klopp doesn't fully trust him, maybe someone else should be targeted?
Whether or not Romeu (or anyone else, for that matter) would be willing to just be a squad player though, is up for debate?
However, with European football and hopefully good runs in both domestic cups, there should be enough game time to please everyone?
Just a thought.
20 Feb 2017 16:33:54
I agree with your analysis Mane but not when to deploy it.
I think the 4-3-3 is perfect against better opposition because the front 3 creates a very effective high press, with the three mobile midfielders pouncing on any loose passes and therefore creating turnover possession high up the pitch that we often score goals off. It works best against teams that come out and play and with relatively even possession stats, with recent Tottenham match a perfect example.
Where 4-3-3 struggles IMO is against the "weaker sides" who nullify the high press by foregoing possession and sitting deep.
With a 4-3-3 setup that means for most of the match the majority of our players are sitting in or around their box (including our fullbacks who sit really high to create width) and we're left playing the ball around the back using our CBs and Hendo. When we turn over possession in that situation, we are often exposed to a 3 on 3 with only Hendo and our CBs facing a fast break with the opposition having the majority of the pitch to run into. Burnley is a classic example where we had most of the possession, created few chances and got stung in exactly this way, and Hull is another.
Against those sides that choose to sit deep, I think a 4-2-3-1 would be perfect, allowing us to use our 2 midfielders to dictate play in a double pivot, our forwards and fullbacks to have the confidence to push forward, and our CBs to sit in behind to provide cover.
20 Feb 2017 19:35:30
Conte should be high up the pitch considering he has made the entire team looks good. Little surprised you put Koscielny down in the list. For me he is one of Wenger's best signing and arguably the best player at Arsenal. He is terrific in reading the game and his passing is sublime. Hardly seen anyone shutting him down in the league. Aldervield is excellent atm. Godin is decent the way they play and is would be exposed playing a high line. Koulibaly is excellent in fact the best in the world right now. He is a beast at Napoli and I seriously think he will end up at Chelsea. The rest are good.
I would love Monalas at Liverpool the way we play he is perfect.
20 Feb 2017 20:15:43
He may be a good option to come in and help Hendo out at the base of midfield.
23 Feb 2017 07:12:52
super stuff, thanks Ed.
{Ed001's Note - thank you Ore.}