Liverpool Banter Archive December 21 2015

21 Dec 2015 21:42:13
I know I'm going to get slated for this, and I'm actually confused myself because I think he's terrible myself. But I have a weird feeling that navas would be good at Liverpool. I don't understand why, he can't shoot, his crosses are average at best, he offers nothing defensively, he can make a bit of space out wide for himself but that's about it. He's been useless for seasons now, but I just have a funny feeling he'd be alright for us.

21 Dec 2015 22:09:50
Disagree, for years teams scouted him and the worry was his homesickness. Man City took a punt and it hasn't worked out.

21 Dec 2015 23:45:30
Naval? Really? Which Navas have you been watching because the one I've been watching hasn't been good enuff?

22 Dec 2015 06:23:54
You built a good case there for why he would be good at least! 😂.

21 Dec 2015 20:47:22
Ed and posters what do people think about Moreno going back to being a winger? Isn't that the position he started in at Sevilla? He's not the best defensively but he's fantastic going forward and clearly enjoys it, pretty sure he's created more chances than anyone at Liverpool this season I could be wrong on that though, it would give Brad smith a run in the team who is better defensively, it's just a thought but I do wince when he's defending but sure as hell wouldn't want to sell him.

{Ed001's Note - he can't cross though.}

21 Dec 2015 20:54:53
Really think we should focus on full backs that are good defenders and attacking is a plus. Flanagan is a perfect example, his strengths are tackling, tenaciousness and passion. He didn't get forward as often as Moreno did but chose his times well, sometimes running forward every time is too predictable and takes up space when the space is more important than the overlap.

21 Dec 2015 21:21:14
Totally agree Fencey about our FB's being defender's first. I always thought Steve Nichol was excellent at knowing when to attack and when to defend.

21 Dec 2015 21:47:47
ed001 I do think he worries teams with his pace, you mentioned previously about our FBs I reckon Brad smith and him would be excellent together down the left I would like to think Klopp and Buvac could find his best qualities and maximise them, I'm worried we are going to be too cut throat over the next two windows, I don't want to buy another left back when we've got flanno and Smith.

{Ed001's Note - I can understand the thinking, but I just don't think Moreno is the answer on the wings.}

21 Dec 2015 23:02:18
I know what you mean ed, Wilson can play there but he's not really ready yet is he.

21 Dec 2015 20:55:00
His pass to pick Ibe was one of the most matured assist I have seen from a full back.
He is no mere run and cut inside. He beats player, cut inside and then look for options to pick the player in the box. He has electric pace.

21 Dec 2015 19:18:45
How can city successfully play with no wingers and we can't? They can start with toure, de bruyne, fernando, Fernandinho and silva and score goals. Is it just the step up in quality of the likes of de bruyne and aguero?

21 Dec 2015 19:45:24
They have sublime attacking options and plenty goal scoring players in that team. Silva is on another level in the game while KDB shows adaptation is no big deal.

Their full backs are damn good going forward and help the front players Massively.

As you said, it's about quality and nothing more.

21 Dec 2015 20:37:16
Silva, Aguero and the pace of Sterling. Simple.

21 Dec 2015 18:28:00
Good evening Eds

Any update on Grujic please? Reports saying its a done deal? Nearly?

{Ed002's Note - I am not going to get in to any sort of update every few hours scenario. The transfer window is shut - there are no "done deals" until such time as it is open and the transfer is processed. Please stop asking the same things over and over.}

21 Dec 2015 19:09:04
Fair enough mate. Thank you.

21 Dec 2015 18:25:13
As I posted last week sometime ojo is now back at the club and playing in tonight's u21 game (not ITK just logic)

21 Dec 2015 20:19:28
Hope so, this kid is one of our best prospects and I certainly see him being part of the 1st team squad next season.
Klopp wants to look at him, and may give him, Rossiter etc some opportunities in the FA Cup.
Good luck to him, I for one hope he succeeds.

21 Dec 2015 22:05:13
Ended 0-0 Ojo coming back from injury so allowed to return for an under 21 game though loan is still in place and he hasn't been recalled as things stand. That's what the LFC site advises anyway.

21 Dec 2015 17:39:56
{Ed's Note - We have posted a new article entitled, Liverpool Make Snapchat Error While Usain Bolt Has No Need To Fear Schweinsteiger

21 Dec 2015 17:23:24
This site gets pretty reactionary, three games ago we were title challengers, Yesterday I saw one poster suggest we should be prepared for a relegation scrap.

The current mood is that we don't have good enough players, I don't hold with that. Our players were awesome against City, they are good enough but we're not currently playing to their strengths. That's partly because we haven't got a settled team and partly because our manager is new and he's still learning.

If you were to compare us to Leicester I'd imagine the only players that would walk into our side are Mahrez and Vardy (and only Vardy because of Sturridge's injuries) . But Leicester are top and we're struggling, Ranieri has found the sweet spot that maximizes they're strengths, couple that with huge confidence and you have a team that is as close to 100% efficient as possible. The same thing happened to us two seasons ago, we didn't have the best squad but we had we found a system that almost swept us to the title.

'But Leicester have inspirational players carrying their team, we had Suarez two years ago, none of our players are that good! ' I hear you cry. Suarez was good but not special for 2 1/2 years before 13/14 and Vardy and Mahrez are currently doing things they've never done before. We have players that I believe can be that good, they just need the right system.

I'm not going to suggest a solution because frankly I haven't got a clue what that may be but I do believe that Klopp will find it. Maybe we need a 1 or 2 new players but we don't need wholesale changes, just a plan that works for us. That may not be the system that worked for Dortmund, it may be something completely different, Klopp just needs time to figure out exactly how to get the best out of this team. If he does it soon, we may yet make the CL places, if he doesn't then we'll have to wait another year.

{Ed002's Note - Certainly post of the day.)

21 Dec 2015 17:51:56
Post of the year.

21 Dec 2015 18:21:46
Great post and great attitude man! If more thought the same I believe that would also help the team allot as I believe it would take some of the pressure off the players.

21 Dec 2015 18:30:03
Have to say that at this moment in time a loss doesn't hurt me as much as it did under Rodgers simply because I think Klopp will learn from it, wheras you just knew that Rogers would just do exactly the same thing the next game. People hoping for miracles will be disappointed, but fingers crossed we will gradually evolve into a better team.

21 Dec 2015 18:43:15
What do you mean this site gets pretty reactionary? it is a banter site, it is supposed to be reactionary. What do you expect to see here, end of year reviews?

In any case check what pundits said after the game yesterday in every channel - Souness in Sky sport, the BBC sport guys, the Echo guys, everyone said we just don't have enough quality.

And I totally agree with them. Finding a good formation is only half a sentence, it should be a formation that work against certain style of play by the opposition. So ok, we were able to play well in two and half games against teams that played every open and weren't prepared to deal with our pressing of their defnders. But teams learned this and park the bus, as they do against Arsenal and city. Against this type of game you need certain qualities - creativity, accurate passing, accurate crossing, being physically strong to hold the ball under pressure, good finishing, pace, movement, you need to take your set pieces and know how to defend counters and set pieces. All the things that Arsenal have and we lack big time in many of these. Formation is not some kind of magic. You have the opposition against you, and you still have to create chances and score them. You need quality for them.

I don't think you can state that because of the City game we have quality for top 4. Stoke looked even better against City. Norwich looked quite good against United and second half against Everton. So what? For me arguments about us still being able to get CL and if not this season defenitly next, despite where we are in the table, where we finished last season and how poor we looked against so many teams recently (Palace, West Brom, Watford, Swansea, many of our EL games) - is nothing but arrogance. The fans of no other team around where we are in the table are talking about CL, other than Chelsea maybe but that is different because they won the league last year, so they indeed should still have the quality. It is the same arrogance that made some people here stating 2-3 weeks ago that we are title contenders and got agry when I said they are day dreaming. People ignore hwowe play or where we are in the table and just because our name is Liverpool mention top 4.

Saying all this, in addition to bring 1-2 aulity players in January I do think we should change our thinking. We should approach games as the underdog, even in Anfield against teams that are not the big teams. let other teams have the possesion and try to counter. It will not take us towards top 4 but can keep us midtable. If we will continue do what we are doing, we will finish bottom half.

21 Dec 2015 20:28:06
This team has won nothing and neither has Leicester City.
We got 3 points vs Manchester City not a European Cup.
We're going nowhere fast with these players and I can't wait for Klopp to get his own team. Exciting future for this football club.

21 Dec 2015 20:39:57
The players are what they have always been. Some have the ability to be top class, many are still young and learning, some are hard workers who have the odd really good game but are prone to too many brain farts too often. This isn't a title winning squad and is only a top 4 squad because this season's premiership is a case of who loses the least not who wins the most. If that story of not wanting to buy in January due to giving people a chance is true then I hope that means he wants to see what he hasn't had a chance to, e. g. the fringe younger players. Because as things stand you know what you'll get from players like Milner, Skrtel, Mignolet etc and while the "also rans" have improved so much this squad won't win things.

21 Dec 2015 23:53:33
Muscat, your post is brilliant. Bravo, sir!

21 Dec 2015 13:47:29
One thing I believe is a huge problem in our team is a lack of commitment: skrtel clearly decided he didn't fancy it at the weekend after being bullied for the time he was on the pitch, Moreno avoids every potential collision unless he's trying to hurt someone (like at the weekend), firmino has been dreadful and shirks every challenge, coutinho and lallana the same. Personally I can't wait to see flanno back and adding some crunch what he lacks in ability he makes up for in aspects like this. I was very impressed with hendo and can at the weekend but they were the only players a case could be made for origi and sakho too who unlike skrtel handled the physicality well but not so much some of the other aspects on his first game back.

21 Dec 2015 14:28:46
Sam I agree with you, the problem we have is that we have too many of the same players, and a big strong in your face team will always cause us problems, we need to replace these small players with bigger lads who will fight for our team and our fans,
I was not impressed with most ot the team yesterday, they gave up the fight way to easy, and we really do need about four players, goalie, centre back who is fast and a big heart, another emre can in midfield and a fast winger cum striker,
think we all saw in the last 3/4 games who needs to be benched and sold,
sad to say it, but if we really want top four, then we have to act fast,
anyway, think we need 2/3 transfer windows, so that probably means top four will be out of reach this season .

21 Dec 2015 14:48:38
Can was shocking all game, how many needles fouls did he give away? Problem is if the players concentrated on standing onside more than offside then that is a foot in the right direction. Least we will win something this year the most off sides in a game! Firmino has been a disappointment so far but do we jump on his back or support him? Benteke came on and didn't have a single shot all game but we support him and not jump on his back that's what we do at Liverpool Football Club we support the lads who wear the red shirt not attack.

21 Dec 2015 15:12:43
I'd like to know why exactly you think Flanno would even get a look into this team? You're a poor judge of player if you think he'd touch Moreno's position.

21 Dec 2015 16:11:45
nobodys position is untouchable currently in our team.

21 Dec 2015 17:47:01
To all of you who said sakho was the best cent half at the club hang yr heads he was woefull yesterday.

{Ed001's Note - one game after an injury lay off and you are writing him off? Sad. I think you should hang your head in shame if anyone.}

21 Dec 2015 16:01:55
Flanno has not kicked a ball in over an year. I am not sure y people think he would replace Clyne next week.

21 Dec 2015 13:02:13
Not starting anything just pointing out after 8 games Klopp has an identical record to Rodgers albeit with a better group of player that the nose had.

21 Dec 2015 13:11:46
I haven't explained that very well, in fact I've done an awful job of explaining it. I meant better frame of mind, we are going from great wins to awful performances.

21 Dec 2015 13:15:49
Rodgers had a whole pre-season. He also signed a few players of his own and it cannot be underestimated how important it is to have players you chose.

And a worse squad? Not sure wbout that. Think I'd take Suarez, Sterling, Agger, Reina, Carragher and Gerrard back. Plus he had Henderson and Glen Johnson before he went to total ****.

Rodgers took a good squad that needed a handful of changes and managed to make it into an average squad.

Let's not forget Suarez hit about 25 goals in Rodgers first season. That's probably more than all the strikers Klopp has will finish the season with combined.

21 Dec 2015 13:36:22
But wins against Chelsea and Man City. Completely different circumstances and situation. You can't compare the two. But now that Klopps' honeymoon period is over, I think we'll see how good he really is. I still think that this season is far from over for us, but if we keep wasting opportunities to move up the table, then it will be another end of season mediocre mid table league position for us. Yesterdays performance was completely shocking and unacceptable. But a win against Leicester (will be difficult, if not impossible) all will be forgotten and the feel good factor will be back.

21 Dec 2015 15:07:41
Some potentially interesting context. At the start of the season I did a projected points curve based on the difficulty of the fixtures. I did it because I wanted some evidence to defend Rodgers from the difficult run of early games (I'll always be sad it didn't work out with him) .

To be on target for 70 points this season (my minimum line) Rodgers needed to get 16 points from his first 8 games, as mentioned above he only got 12 (75%) . Continuing the system Klopp needed just 14.3 points from his 9 games, he's also underperformed with only 12 points but that's 84% of his target so he is doing slightly better.

My system was fairly rudimentary but still suggests we've improved under Klopp (if only a smidgen) . I also said that we should ignore Klopps performance till after Christmas. I suspect that percentage will go up in the second half of the season.

21 Dec 2015 16:07:06
We have improved by 9% isn't it Muscat?

21 Dec 2015 12:23:48
Are we actively looking to sell anyone in January?

{Ed002's Note - The club cannot simply keep adding players to the squad and will be aware that there is interest in Sakho and, perhaps one or two others. But little planning can be done for January with clubs reluctant to sell. The summer is more likely.}

21 Dec 2015 15:19:12
Are you insinuating that we're going to bin off our best defender ed002? Perhaps you meant to say skittles.

{Ed002's Note - All I am telling you is that there is interest in Sakho - as I have explained before. I have no idea what "bin off" means.}

21 Dec 2015 11:09:11
Hi Eds, hope you're all set for Christmas? It has been interesting reading the views on here today and I can't disagree with many of them.

I was wondering about composure and passing though. I read and watched the video about the machine Dortmund had which whizzed balls at the player and they then had to control it quickly and pass into the required net. It cost a few million pounds but I was wondering if you knew whether the club were considering this as a training tool and if, in your opinion, it would help towards better composure and decision making under pressure.

Many thanks.

{Ed001's Note - yes the club, at Klopp's request, are looking to get one. Yes it does help. Also, we need it if you ask me.}

21 Dec 2015 11:45:23
Do Barcelona have one or Ajax what about all the great passing teams. Absolutely not on anyone's case on this site but shouldn't they be able to coach like that with drills and such? Are we saying we have this great coach who needs a machine to do it for him?

I get the game evolves and technology plays a big part, but if shanks was brought back now I don't think he would need one.

21 Dec 2015 13:01:01
A few million? For one million I'll get the ads together and we'll set up some goals on stilts and run around chucking balls at players!

21 Dec 2015 13:23:43
Cheers Ed, looks great and a lot of fun too. It can only help.

I would love a go myself but have a feeling my young daughters would be better at it than me! Chuckle!

21 Dec 2015 15:52:57
I am sure that it was mentioned on here that Shanks had his version of this very technology back in the day.

21 Dec 2015 20:43:04
If you think Shanks or Paisley would not have one then you are mistaken.

{Ed001's Note - one of the things Shanks and Paisley did was look for the latest tech to enhance players.}

22 Dec 2015 00:18:50
I'm too young for the shanks and Paisley error sadly. But I've read a lot about them and from what i can tell they liked looking at innovative ways to improve players correct me if i'm wrong sure Ed001 will know! Was it called the sweatbox, like a box of boards the players would rebound the balls off? Something like that think PileDriver is referring to that also!

I think it would help. You look at some teams like Barcelona and Munich they can pass that ball at such space in such tight areas and Pool make a lot of sloppy passes at highspeed which is needed really to help open up against the teams who are happy to defend and look to score off set pieces and counters. If we can't abuse crosses a few nice 1-2's in behind would be nice!

Hope we can secure that machine!

{Ed007's Note - Google Dortmund Footbonaut to see it in action. I can't embed videos using my tablet, sorry.}

21 Dec 2015 09:06:02
Hi eds, was wondering if you could list the right and left backs that you rate the most in the world? Thanks.

{Ed001's Note - I have added that to the list to work on for an article mate, should get round to working on it in the next few days hopefully.}

21 Dec 2015 09:30:47
Oh okay, thanks Ed001.

{Ed001's Note - you are welcome mate.}

21 Dec 2015 09:44:06
My favourites just in the Prem are:
Fuchs, Bellerin, Azpilicueta, Bertrand, Walker, Abdi, Janmaat, Clichy and Smith (the Bournemouth one) .

If we were to sign a right back and a left back in January I'd sign Janmaat and Bertrand as I believe they would be attainable and vastly improve our side. However I don't see either signing as the money isn't there to improve both positions as well as the glaring issues all over the pitch.

{Ed001's Note - Janmaat can't defend and is not much better going forward, why would you want him? Bertrand would present the same problem as Clyne, he is not as good as the Saints system makes him look.}

21 Dec 2015 10:03:23
Just in context Ed. They're the two best fullbacks in the Premiership that we could tempt to leave their clubs. I'd prefer Fuchs and Bellerin but that clearly won't happen as they are in title contending sides.

21 Dec 2015 10:04:42
Janmaat isn't actually that bad this year btw Ed. Dunno if you've had a chance to watch the Geordies but he's been their only consistent defender.

{Ed001's Note - I have watched them a lot, and every time he is caught out of position and hopeless. Not sure what on earth you are talking about to be honest, he has been at fault on almost every goal they conceded.}

21 Dec 2015 10:25:47
I'll agree to disagree Ed. I think he'd improve our team personally and is a realistic option for a January transfer. Remember what you said about Finnan? I see that potential in Janmaat.

{Ed001's Note - Finnan could defend and tried. Janmaat does neither most of the time. There is a huge difference. Janmaat is a specialist right back, Finnan was a converted winger. There is nothing like the potential in Janmaat to even be close to Finnan and it is a massive insult to Finnan to say it.}

21 Dec 2015 10:37:01
Like I said Ed, I'll agree to disagree. Football is an opinions game and we won't always see eye to eye haha.

21 Dec 2015 14:17:20
Would put shaw ahead of a lot of them, clichy, janmaat, and walker for example. My dads a spurs fan, he can't stand walker. Smith has impressed but he probably wouldn't have even played if mings was fit. Zabaleta has to be up there when fit, if not the best in my eyes.

21 Dec 2015 09:03:49
As I said here before, when we are bad we are really poor. I have seen Everton in their last three games which they didn't win including the one they lost to Leicester, poor results but thre is a lot of hope there with how they go forward with Lukaku and Deulofeu. And their defence is not bad either jsut needs some sorting.

With us there is so little hope and so much frustration. Yes, I know Klopp can fix it in 2-3 years, but its annoying to give up the season in Decemeber. I just cannot see us getting anywhere with this squad.

we lack in so many areas - pace, accuracy in passes, crosses, strong and quick defenders, Physicality across the pitch (other than Benteke), GKs, penetration, taking (and defending) corners and free kicks. New signings always do worse than in their original teams, no one (other than Suarez) seems to 'suit our style', no decent wingers, poor creativity and movement in the final third, awful final ball in the final third (did anyone notice how many offsides we had yesterday? and not closed ones either, clear deep offsides), poor finishing. No value for money with the players we buy (and this is the understatment of the century) . Our only class player is always injured.

How do you change all this without getting rid of more than half of the team? Does anyone see any a realistic hope for the second half of this season? I try to be optimistic and in the Xmas spirit but struggle to. We seemed a sick team under BR, now we look like a sick team after the most promising drug in the market (Klopp) lost its curing impact. Depressing.

21 Dec 2015 09:33:18
Everton's Full backs could cross the ball brilliantly as does Deulofeu. Their midfield is weak, But they don't try anything silly through the middle. Its always through the flanks which is their biggest strength. Barkley is goal scoring player.

21 Dec 2015 12:43:24
When we play on the flanks it's the most depressing thing. We just seem to go from left to right, right to left very slowly trying to open up teams through the middle and very rarely create opportunities through the middle anyway, unless it's an interception or a mistake from opposing teams defenders. On the flanks we seem to just get in the final third and completely forget the basic rules of crossing a ball in with quality and packing the box full of 3-4 players. Clyne is shocking to be fair, I understood we needed a right back when Johnson left but I never rated clyne and it's even worse now. Moreno, is decent going forward but no movement in the box, and benteke seems to want balls on a plate rather than position himself in dangerous areas. Moreno, shocking defensively. So really what it calls out for is to go back to a traditional formation of having wingers that not only take on their man but cross balls in to a packed box. Then we would be so suspect defensively down the wings. Most of the goals we concede are either crosses from wide areas, corners, or our goalkeepers.

I can't believe for the life of me how we can't do basic things like defend and take proper corners. How we can't cross decent balls into the box. The things we do seem to practice, we are also toothless at. Unfortunately, now we don't have a Gerrard or a Torres, or a Suarez to dig us out when we are shite. We are mediocre.

22 Dec 2015 00:25:17
It's been a problem for a while when going down the flanks we can't get good balls in and if a decent ball does go in usually only one player in the box. It's frustrating to watch. Hopefully it can be sorted.

Obviously we are happier playing against teams who are more open, but really when teams park the bus i wish we could resort to pinging it down the wing putting the ball in and looking deadly and being able to get 1-2 goals from it and making these teams either start playing and look to open them up or sit back and carry on being battered but it's not happening atm.

Would be very interesting to see if we could sort this. That said really Ibe and Moreno i guess only really hit the byline and cross, Clyne also but also not great imo at putting a ball in.

21 Dec 2015 08:31:28
We clearly need a quality GK, an adept CB, strong and gifted CM, pacey wide man and replacement for Benteke who is not going to fit in no matter what Klopp tries.

It is disturbing to know how much money has been spent on this squad recently and the lack of quality and variety on the pitch.

Can, Hendo, Coutinho and Sakho are the players who I feel we should build around. I would add Sturridge but we cannot rely on him with being injury prone. Buying a new starting eleven also will not be the answer. Selling on those who are not up for the job is not going to be an easy task for Klopp. We also have a loads of players on loan who will either also be moved on or maybe given a chance. Our squad is completely stretched. Adding more players without offloading first is a recipe for disaster. To rebuild the squad is going to take time and the broom needs to sweep clean first before we can rebuild.

Now with Skrtel out we only have two fit CB's. Believe there will be more leadership with both Sakho and Toure on the pitch but whether our situation will change defensively is yet to be seen. Injuries have plagued us this season too. Klopp is juggling the squad and the players as Ed001 suggested are struggling with fitness etc.

Klopp has it all to do and has a mammoth task ahead of him. There is no quick fix here.

21 Dec 2015 08:54:22
I'm not sure about building around Coutinho. If we don't get CL football then he will leave. You can be sure of that. Henderson, Can and Sakho are 3 massive players for us going forward though. I think in time Ibe, Origi and Firmino will be too.

I'd love to believe that Coutinho is going nowhere but I just don't see him staying if we finish.

21 Dec 2015 07:25:58
Hey eds01. I have been reading about David Thompson and realised that he was a huge huge talent-- more of a cultured cm. why didn't he make it at Liverpool?

Thanks and keep up the good work 😃.

{Ed001's Note - Thommo played mostly wide and suffered so many injuries it was hard for him to ever get settled in. It is hard to judge if he really was that huge of a talent (he certainly wasn't huge in terms of height!), because he suffered from injuries so badly. He looked promising, but no more than that from what I remember of him.}

21 Dec 2015 09:28:40
David from what I've seen of him speaking on YouTube says his and Gerrards emergence at the same time didn't help.
He said he couldn't blame managers for not picking him ahead of SG and it would be a risk to play 2 20 year old mids. He seemed very humble any way and just happy to have put on an lfc shirt. Search on YouTube and you should see his interviews.

{Ed001's Note - he always seemed a decent enough lad, but he never helped himself with a tendency to pick up silly cards. That did make it more difficult to take the risk. His work ethic was excellent, he was always running around trying to put his foot in, but he needed sometimes to just calm down and relax.}

21 Dec 2015 05:59:00
Hey ed001

It's clear that our team struggles to cope with physically imposing teams- they are too submissive. They remind of my friendly dog who gets rear-ended by his mates at the local dog park.

What do we do to solve this glaring issue with physicality? Do we need to fix the physical size of our team, or the amount of bite in the team's personality? i. e. do we buy bigger, stronger players, or buy more aggressive players, or tell our current players to grow a pair?

{Ed001's Note - for me it seems to be a lack of aggression, which could be fixed by more aggression, size doesn't really influence it. Partly it will improve when the players increase their fitness through the training, so they can get closer to their opponents. Secondly we still need to move the ball quicker, so that physical teams are unable to get close to bully our players. Wear them out with quick movement. Players like Xabi Alonso had aggression without being big and strong and he is very rarely bullied physically because teams can't swarm him due to his quality on the ball. That is what we need to do more than just go down the Pulis/Allardyce route.}

21 Dec 2015 06:31:20
Agree Ed, it's about wanting it more in defence, and having the confidence and skill to move the ball around faster when in possession. how many times were we forced to punt the ball in the air against Watford because they were in our face and we had no other option, playing to their aerial strengths not ours.

{Ed001's Note - exactly, Watford were just really up for it and were moving the ball so quickly forward that they gave us no time to settle. They were excellent yesterday. They have looked better and better as the season goes on, and Capoue looks like the player Spurs thought they were getting. I still don't understand why they sold him.}

21 Dec 2015 07:57:56
I agree with all your points. Sometimes, as Neville used to say on Monday with Carra, you need to earn the right to play and get yourself stuck into the physical grind. Instead, players like Moreno were guilty of sh! te like leaning backwards and poking his foot into challenges so he could flick the ball to himself. It was pathetic!

Our skill on the ball at the moment is atrocious. Every time they're under the most remote pressure, they look flustered and panic. They had zero confidence in what they were doing. Meanwhile, players like Alonso are assertive, assured and composed on the ball. You watch him and you feel like it's impossible for him to be dispossessed.

21 Dec 2015 06:28:39
Our midfield gets overrun, especially when the opposition break and counter us. We are late at challenges which leads to yellow cards and fee kicks.
Lucad - 5+
Can - 5+
Milner - 5+
That's one of the worst disciplinary midfield in the league.
It's not about physicality alone. It's more positional awareness of being precisely at making challenges.

21 Dec 2015 08:21:03
Nick

It requires quality of the highest standard. We don't have that Alonso quality in the middle. Someone who is calms and composed on the ball. All we have player similar like BULL running towards a brick wall and hit with their head expecting it to break.

Masch - Alonso - Gerrard
Three different played with three different attitude.
A hard tackler alongside one the finest passér of the ball behind a Goal scoring machine.

Lucas - Can - Henderson
One dimensional football with very little creativity and knowledge. Poor tackling abilities and No passing abilities.
With No goals in between.

21 Dec 2015 04:32:52
Anybody still prefers Bogdab over Mignolet? :)

Wonder if the problem 8s with the GK coach.

Maybe it's simplistic but I'm assuming catching 10000 crosses in training will translate to some improvement in-yame.

Actually that's not a bad idea since we stink at taking corners too - 10000 corners taken in training and 10000 attempted catches. win-win? Haa.