24 Apr 2017 09:31:53
Didn't Palace beat Chelsea the other week? Think we're going overboard again.
We will finish top four. Support.
24 Apr 2017 09:39:20
Hope so but we need Lallana and Sturridge back asap . Now we need other teams to drop points.
24 Apr 2017 09:50:05
Sturridge severely missed yesterday. It was his game. His movement and the only striker I genuinely believe who has that magic to score out from nothing. A fit Sturridge would easily open up any tight defense. Origi is no way in his class.
What would Lallana do when there is no space for him to do usual turn and move?
24 Apr 2017 10:15:30
Harry he's good in tight spaces that opens up the game. And he can get on the half turn.
24 Apr 2017 10:31:10
But harry he is not fit is he? Or are you going to blame klopp for that too?
24 Apr 2017 10:33:40
I have seen him struggle against teams who sit back and defend. He lacks pace and directness something that will help you to skip past players ( Mane ) . We had Coutinho all day to open up and he tried his best.
There was absolutely no movement up and also on the side and Lallana is a lower grade of Coutinho. There was no need to press as well coz we dominated the possession. We lacked width and pace on the flanks and unfortunately that's not Lallana's cup of tea.
I would have thrown in Harry Wilson on the left and I don't know who could play on the right but Firmino is not a RW either. We never stretched their backline coz we play so narrow and Lallana is no help in such situation.
It is an area the manager has failed to address by not adding players in Jan / not trusting the academy.
24 Apr 2017 11:16:25
Harry you're missing the point a bit - Llalana in the side and Can would have been sitting deep and directing play from the back while Llalana would have been all over the pitch and in the box on a regular basis.
He's clearly no Mane (who's pace is invaluable to unlocking stubborn defenses), but a Can/ Llalana/ Gini midfield is far more attacking and creative than Lucas/ Can/ Gini.
24 Apr 2017 11:50:20
Sorry but Lallana would not of made the slightest bit of difference yetserday. He isn't good enough to open up defences, he needs Mane to take defenders out of the game to give Lallana space to run into otherwise he just becomes another one of the pass it sideways brigade, the only difference is Lallana will add in a Cruyff turn before passing or losing possession.
24 Apr 2017 11:50:32
I respect your view Zimbo but for a team that had nearly 70% of the ball wouldn't miss an ACM at the very least. He wouldn't have made any difference as he too need space to make a half circle or even a full turn which there wasn't any. It's a myth that Lallana opens up defense which simply does not. Take out the hard core running from him and he is bang average which he was until 6 months ago. Coutinho is enough to pull any strings from the midfield. You just don't need Lallana.
I mean people shouting at clyne for not providing any width are asking for Lallana is a contradiction. Lallana would never provide any width while that's the only way you break a china wall infront of you!
I agree Can dropping into the middle as Benteke was easily skipping Lucas for fun but you forget Can goes to sleep when you need to mark someone. He is poaitonally inept to play the holding role in the first place.
Wijnaldum was a distaster and rightly should have taken up the Lallana role yesterday which he did not.
The point is Palace had no intention to press us nor wanting the ball hence we had tons of possession without doing anything with it. They maintained the shape and we always struggle against teams who makes a good shape at the back. No wonder the only goal came from a free kick and the chance for Can came from someone hitting the byline and crossing into the box.
I don't think Lallana would anything on the above attribute.
A winger would have made the difference as his pace will stretch their full back and will hit the byline consistently which will open up space in the middle for Wiji / Can or even Coutinho slot into.
Lallana plays through middle as well Coutinho!
24 Apr 2017 14:38:59
UEFALona, I think we both said more or less the same thing there Harry lol.
24 Apr 2017 15:23:58
Please don't start this.
Sturridge was and is not the abswer.
He wouldn't of had that 'magic'.
He hasn't all season. Just don't build it up thay when he returns he will bring us all the goals we need. Or that if klopp sells him he made a mistake.
24 Apr 2017 15:34:22
Some fair points made, but I do think Llalana is better in the box than Can and we had a few chances that went begging, especially the one he missed that Wijnaldum teed him up on. He seems better and arriving late in the box but maybe that's just me.
Actually on one of my other posts I actually agreed with your comment on Couts, and given limited options on the bench I would have dropped Coutinho into midfield and put on another winger.