Liverpool Banter
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06 May 2024 09:00:41
I do find football is nowhere near as entertaining or exciting as it used to be. I never thought I would say that being footy mad since a young lad. It’s a hard to watch and enjoy a game says something when the most boring team to watch Man City are the best around. Is it me getting grumpy in my old age or does anyone else feel the game they loved is gone?
1
06 May 2024 09:15:16
I’ll be honest I struggle to find time to watch Liverpool games let alone other teams.
Some posters seem to to watch Liverpool games more than once as well as every other game in every league in Europe.
Plus they seem to claim to watch other teams players closely as well which is mental if they are not in camera shot.
I’d imagine some wouldn’t pass a Jeremy Kyle lie detector test mind 😂.
1
06 May 2024 09:38:20
TBf I wouldn’t say it is only football - a lot of sports I used to like I’ve lost a lot of interest in, would say a bit of too technically played but also the judging / gov bodies etc are a huggge part of it for me.
Used to watch F1 but is rarely competitive and last time it was the gov body completely screwed LH (too the point think was even fired after) so stopped watching.
Similarly with boxing, countless amount of decisions by judges are baffling. Even if failed drugs test explain to me how one judge gave the Garcia fight a draw when one fighter was floored 3 times…. and that is even one of the less egregious decisions…. added to that unifications / the best fighting the best is a scarce rarity - just the best fighting someone not in top 5, so a wash. Only sport that has kept its entertainment is probably MMA - but oh well.
0
06 May 2024 07:35:14
Much better yesterday. 3 key things for me that changed our fortunes.
1) Trent back playing as an actual right back and holding the width.
2) Going back to the midfield that saw us playing our best football this season (Endo, Macca and Elliott) . If only we'd done it sooner instead of persisting with Jones and Szoboszlai who've just looked miles off it since coming back from injury.
3) Gakpo and Diaz interchanging throughout the game, so Gakpo was on the ball more in his preferred wider role and as a result looked arguably the best player on the pitch (along with Elliott) .
Went a bit to pot after the substitutions disrupted our flow but we'd already done the damage so it ultimately didn't matter. It's almost certainly too little too late this season (barring a quite spectacular implosion from both Arsenal and City) but hopefully we can end on something of a high by carrying this performance into the final 2 games.
2
06 May 2024 08:02:17
Mk I might be wrong but quickly glancing back over the season line ups it appears that yesterday was the first league game that Mac, Endo and Elliot have started together in midfield this season.
1
06 May 2024 08:27:42
JK23, possibly as a 3 because I think Macca was injured for a bit around February time, but they are the form players who carried us through that period of mass injuries January-March in my opinion. They and possibly Clark to a lesser extent are our only midfielders who I believe can say they have performed to their best this season. I really don't think we look solid with Jones and Szoboszlai in there, with Macca in the 6. They go too high and wide, and Macca isn't suited to being a lone 6 as it is, never mind when he has 40 square yards to cover on his own in the middle. Endo makes such a difference and I can't believe we dropped him in so many important games.
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06 May 2024 08:41:01
Double checked JK23, and you're not far wrong. They only actually started 1 game together I can see, which was the 5-1 win over Sparta Prague. However whilst skimming through, it seems to be quite noticeable how much better our results are when Macca/ Endo (this duo especially) or Macca/ Elliott or Elliott/ Endo have started together. Looks like the main reason they haven't played together often is due to rotation for Europa league games. Such a shame they've not played together more as a 3 because they dominated Spurs yesterday and that's 9 goals scored in the 2 games they've started together which say's it all really.
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06 May 2024 08:42:29
Mk cheers for the reply mate. I didn’t actually look at that stat to call you out. I looked at it yesterday before the game when the team was announced because my first thought was I couldn’t remember this midfield playing together. So thought I’d throw my 2p in that’s all to add discussion.
On Endo I’m not sure which games you mean when you say he was dropped. Our season seemed to derail when we went out of the fa cup against Utd and then after that we drew with Utd, lost to palace, Atalanta and Everton and drew with West Ham.
Of those 6 games Endo started 5 of them. Only game he didn’t start was the derby.
In regards to Clark mate I’ve hardly seen him this season to really judge. Think he’s played 87 mins in the league and then 150 mins across the other comps.
On Elliot yesterday though I thought he was fantastic and so was Gakpo. But I’ve got to call a spade a spade and those two haven’t always been fantastic when played this season. But in both’s defence they’re probably the ones (and Gomez) who have been shifted around the most position wise and then seem to be the ones that get sacrificed out of the starting 11.
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06 May 2024 09:10:22
Mk agree on the Endo and Mac call.
It’s been a bit of a nightmare getting them into the team together. Endo started very slowly and I’ll even admit after watching him live at home in the europa I wrote him off of which he’s undoubtedly proven me wrong. When Endo eventually got up to speed and came into the team it was Dece, her and Mac then picked up the injury that kept him out for a month.
When Mac returned Endo was at the Asian games for a month so it wasn’t until February that both started games together regularly which saw us go on a 7 game unbeaten run in the league.
Both haven’t been great mind in the poor run we then saw recently and I thought both were ok yesterday and not spectacular.
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06 May 2024 09:18:18
Or did we play better yesterday as pressure off? Didn't get to see game myself due to family get together so can't comment on game but according to reports and what i read here we played much better.
0
06 May 2024 09:19:16
Playing it forward quicker helped a tonne.
Less playing around at the back. The defence and the midfield seemed eager to get the ball moving up the pitch. Big difference from last few games.
1
06 May 2024 09:20:30
JK23, no worries mate I worded it badly anyway. I meant they've been our best 3 midfielders rather than them as a unit and your point was correct so nothing to dispute! I hadn't even considered how many they'd actually started together, I just knew I'd found us better to watch in the periods those 3 were playing more minutes.
With Endo mate it's more taking him off early in games recently (although dropping him in the derby was madness) . The guy did 120 in a Cup final and didn't falter once so subbing him after 60/ 70 minutes most weeks of late is baffling for me. As you say, he did play in our last 6 games but his minutes were very fractured.
Against United he was hooked on 69 minutes and they took complete control of the game eventually going 2-1 up. Elliott came on and salvaged something by winning a penalty.
At Palace he was taken of at HT but to be honest everyone was poor that day. Not having his security in midfield in the 2nd half didn't help though as it clearly hampers Mac Allisters game when he doesn't have Endo giving him more freedom, and Macca is our key to unlocking low blocks.
Yesterday vs Spurs he was hooked on 65 minutes with us 4-0 up and we lost control again and conceded twice. Luckily the lead was unassailable!
Against West Ham he was hooked on 79 minutes with us in the lead and looking more likely to extend the lead than to lose it. Not long after he was subbed they scored to make it 2-2.
Our only comfortable win in the last 6 games where it didn't feel like we were having to do any desperate defending at any point was the 3-1 vs Fulham and it is not a surprise to me that Endo played 90 minutes in that game.
To compare, in our 7 league games between Endo coming back from the Asian Cup and our United collapse he started 5 of those games and played the full 90 minutes in all of his starts. We won 4 of them and drew 1 against Man City. In fact every defeat we've had in the league this season Endo has played 45 minutes or less! He's such a key player for us that I'd be sending him out onto the pitch in plaster if I had to! The guy is a machine. I still can't comprehend people wanting to replace him next season when he's arguably our player of the season.
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06 May 2024 09:21:25
Jones and Szobo, before their injuries, were solid and I thought deserved their minutes. Jones looked very natural in midfield and for a period of time, I thought he was our best CM, especially since Macca was still finding his feet back then. I do agree that they have not been great since they came back from their respective injuries but then again, no one from the team did during that period.
1
06 May 2024 09:40:57
Dracred, Jones and Szobo started the season very well but I think Szobo got figured out and needs to adapt to cope with English football, and Jones fell apart again with injuries and just never found his form.
Both players haven't played well arguably this calendar year. I don't think they can complain if they don't start again this season. Even Gravenberch has done more in recent weeks and to be honest, I wrote him off before he even pulled on a red shirt, but whilst others have faded away this season, he's got better and better. So hold my hands up there, because he might turn into a decent player for us if that trajectory continues.
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06 May 2024 09:43:29
Agree about Endo MK but just wish he had a bit more pace over the 1st 10 yards. If he had that he’d be the perfect platform for Mac and to protect the defence.
Since Endo found his feet he’s the perfect out ball from defence or keeper to break the press. Opposition close him down and he invariably plays it simple to a fullback or occasionally wriggles free, leaving Mac or the wingers available for the killer out ball. But if he had that burst of speed he’d be the perfect CDM for this team.
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06 May 2024 09:44:59
Digger, I'd like to think the players won't give up on the league until it is mathematically impossible so if they were playing without pressure, that's damning of their mentality this season! You could be right though mate.
Davey, I really liked that about the performance. I think having Robbo and Trent back and coming back to being fully fit will help a lot. They both progress the ball very quickly either with Trent's passing range or Robbo's forward runs. Throw in that Elliott and Gakpo also likes to travel with the ball and are very direct and it all came together in that first hour of the game. Shame it fell apart towards the end but I think that epitomised our season really!
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06 May 2024 01:29:00
Konate
Genuine question here for the Eds or anyone.
Why is Klopp starting Quansah over Konate?
I've been so impressed with Quansah, young lad who has come in and done an incredible job for us. I know he's made a few mistakes but that's to be expected with his age.
Konate, a French international, possible injury issues, has been rotated with mid week games. Should have played more Premier League games with his physicality, as Ed.001 suggested, with Quansah in Europe.
Without Matip and with Gomez essentially being L/ R back cover, we have gone through the season with basically 3 centre backs.
However, we haven't played since West Ham, over a week since our last game. Why is Quansah above Konate?
0
{Ed001's Note - because he is better on the ball.}
2
06 May 2024 03:35:31
I think Quansah has played amazingly well thus far. His first season of top flight football and he does not look out of place at all. In fact, I dare say that he has played his way from being 5th choice CB to being 2nd/ 3rd choice. If he was playing for another club, we were all be putting his name forward as a potential signing for us. He does have his faults but he is going from strength to strength and if he keeps clear of injuries, I can definitely see him as our long-term CB.
I love Konate but his injuries are a concern. Especially so for CBs where partnership is so important. It's no surprise that Arsenal have been playing well when they have an assured CB partnership of Gabriel and Saliba. Maybe that's something that we need to look into after the season ends - who our 1st choice would be moving forward instead of rotating between Quansah and Konate.
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06 May 2024 06:46:01
My personal feeling is that our defence has suffered massively through the level of rotation that Klopp has insisted on. Pick your favoured CB partnership and play it as often as you possibly/ reasonably can. Only then will we tighten up how many goals we concede.
I get Konate has injury options but how can he possibly build form and momentum being in and out of the team.
0
06 May 2024 06:55:10
Changingofthegvardiol (reference to rival player in username? )
Konate doesn’t deserve to start. He is unfit to be a starting center back at any club because he can’t keep himself in good shape or injury-free for a reasonable length of time. It’s absolutely not good enough from both him and our medical team.
Let Quansah be the starting CB alongside Virgil and see if Konate has it within him to win his place back. He is a better player (at the moment) than Quansah, but good CB partnerships are rarely about the quality of individuals solely.
2
06 May 2024 07:24:46
Quansah plays because he's better in every aspect other than recovery pace and 1v1 defending. His positioning is better, he can actually head the ball in the intended direction, he reads the game better, he carries the ball forward better, he has a better passing range, he is less rash when stepping out to meet the ball, he actually wins headers at set pieces instead of shirking responsibility and leaving them all the Virgil etc. I really think Quansah is the best player we've produced since Trent and I highly doubt he's going anywhere short or long term.
Konate for me does not justify a starting role. To be honest he is near impossible to beat 1v1 but there's not much else good to his game. He's not a CB you win major titles with in my opinion because he doesn't have a football brain or composure. We need to be ruthless if we want to progress and he was a £36m mistake. Why on earth did we sign an injury prone CB who played in a back 3?
Quansah arguably has too much composure and sometimes he just needs to get rid or play the easier pass, but that is a learnable thing. You can't really coach a lot of things Konate is lacking so he'll never be elite. It would not surprise me if Slot pushes Konate out within 12 months, because he is more possession orientated than Klopp, and Konate is not a player you want to be giving the ball to under pressure.
Gomez probably won't be far behind either as he's even slower and less aware on the ball. His laziness also let Spurs back into the game last night. Robbo had Kulusevski and Johnson on toast and within minutes of coming on Gomez let them in behind from a simple straight pass, to square for a tap in. Average defenders have been allowed to fester in our squad for far too long because Virgil has carried them, but he's too old to do that now and he needs to be able to focus on his own game because he is struggling. He needs some bloody help. Matip has been his only half decent partner throughout Klopp's tenure and he's about as robust as a poppadum.
2
06 May 2024 08:25:39
Konate is a better player, at the moment, IF he stays fit.
0
{Ed025's Note - i dont know about that Rome, DCL played him like a second hand fiddle in the derby mate..
0
06 May 2024 08:50:05
Ed025, he get's bullied a lot for such a big man. Seen him get brushed aside by a few too many players to be honest. One that always sticks in my mind was Brentford last season. Mbuemo just shrugged him off like he was an u16.
On the flip side though I've also seen him completely dominate players who rely on speed because he's so quick and good at getting his body across in 1v1 situations. I reckon if we played a back 3 and he was defending against pace instead of physicality, he'd thrive. But we don't so for me we need to take off the red tinted specs and see him for what he is. He's not much better than Lovren or Sakho were. He's not even any use as a back up player because of his fitness issues. You want your back ups to be readily available. I think he'll get a chance to impress Slot, but I can't see a manager who wants his teams to keep the ball selecting Konate regularly.
Be interesting to see if Sepp Van den Berg has improved out on loan. I saw a thread the other day where some Bundesliga fans were saying VdB's in the top 10 CB's in Germany and makes loads of great clearances, but no idea how Mainz play, or if his strengths are transferable to how Slot will want to play.
0
{Ed025's Note - i would tend to agree MK, i dont think he is the best against a robust forward but he does well in some areas and is comfortable going forward mate, but as you highlight his injury record will always hold him back, decent enough back up but if Slot brings in his own guys he could struggle..
0
06 May 2024 08:53:32
Totally agree with that, Ed. He was absolutely useless that night. Quansah, if he keeps his head down, will save us a fortune and will become a better player.
0
{Ed025's Note - i like Quansah Rome and think he is only going to get better, i just hope Slot gives him the chance mate because he looks a bit special to me..
1
06 May 2024 09:19:18
Konate is a player that needs a run of games to get his form. Unfortunately poor performances and injuries are stopping that from happening.
Quansah Deserves that starting place and has been brilliant.
0
06 May 2024 09:24:43
Unfortunately konate sijust to injury prone, can't get a relationship built up At centre of defence as he can't put any sort of run of games together at all. if he willing to stay as 3rd r 4th choice id keep him but if not id sell him if we could. Excellent player no doubt but just to injury prone, here 3 seasons now and they've all been more r less the same, stop- start.
0
05 May 2024 21:57:06
Did anyone see ang give klopp a baggy in the tunnel? Good gear he said 😂.
2
05 May 2024 23:21:29
🤣🤣 He certainly gave him something in the tunnel before kick off anyway. We never seem to have any width so, maybe he gave him a winger?
1
05 May 2024 20:20:05
Good day Eds and Reds, concerning the match today it was a joy to watch except the last fifteen minutes of the game, but what I observed is that the players look well up for the game (maybe due to the long rest we had), but to me it is not a coincidence that we played well today without having any mid-week fixture to contend with.
I'm not saying the players are not capable, but it has been a long journey from the beginning of the season trying to shuttle between competitions, to me that resulted in our decline, though I'm disappointed the way the end of the season has played out but I couldn't be more proud of them (players).what I will say is bring on next season, because I can't wait to see a fresh start from the players and the new manager,all the same thanks to the gaffer (klopp) for what he has done to the club and the city, you will surely be missed, once a legend always a legend jurgen.
1
05 May 2024 21:37:08
I had a great day!
Elliott was boss.
Quansah cool as a cucumber.
Gakpo had a good game.
Mac Allister was gash.
But seeing the return of Bajcetic (who was also totally off the pace) was a joy. He’s a big part of our future - trust me.
2
05 May 2024 21:45:39
Trent playing as an actual right back made the world of difference.
5
05 May 2024 21:53:13
Midweek games are to be expected at a club like Liverpool.
It's also a quandary keeping players fresh and asking them to play heavy metal football. You sprint at the end of the marathon not throughout it.
1
{Ed014's Note - you should tell that to the marathon world record holder whose average speed during the race is 13.1mph
2
05 May 2024 21:54:36
Robertson. World class that guy.
2
05 May 2024 21:58:20
Bajcetic was absolutely shocking, should have made that sub with 10 mins to go in hindsight. Not his fault at all but yeah well off match fitness. Can’t wait to see him next season after a summer of finding his feet.
3
05 May 2024 22:26:06
Glad you guys had a geat day out. Saw the game and frankly, we were brilliant all game till the changes were rung in and we lost our way. All in all in terms of chances created, we deserved the win and Spurs only got in when we rung in the changes hence, the tempo cooled down a bit.
1
06 May 2024 08:45:42
@1985Mickey, Baj has to start somewhere and a game we are winning easily is not the worst way to make a comeback. Next time out he should have benefitted from getting the time yesterday.
0
05 May 2024 22:58:02
Ed014, I reckon I can sprint at 13.1 mph. But not for 26 miles.
0
{Ed014's Note - I’d love to see you give it ago! 😂
0
05 May 2024 16:11:44
Just seen the news about Bernard Hill terribly sad our Yosser gone but not forgotten fly high mate will always remember High Park street and the afraid you'll be terrified in a minute line stuck with me cause it resonated tears in me eyes we lost another good man today.
10
05 May 2024 20:16:14
He was alright for a Manc!
Boys from the Blackstuff is a classic and one of the best things ever shown on TV. He was brilliant as Yosser. There was a lot of sadness and despair in it but Yosser's story is the one that most people remember.
It's funny how so many people associate Scousers with Yosser when he played the part mostly in his own Manc accent.
RIP Bernard.
3
05 May 2024 20:51:02
Sad news. when he was sat next to Souness saying “you look like me” RIP yosser lad.
3
05 May 2024 23:08:00
“I’m desperate, Father”
“Call me Dan”
“I’m desperate, Dan”
Brilliant drama series that hit the nail on the head in horrible times.
RIP Yosser and thank you for the memories Bernard.
4
05 May 2024
New image uploaded to the
Liverpool Player Sightings page entitled, Referee carrying Arsenal?
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