12 Aug 2017 15:02:03
Am I the only one who is growing more and more concerned by Joel Matip?
I know Lovren gets a lot of slack, and rightfully so, but I think Matip is just as culpable. The guy never looks assured on the ball, is slow and tentative in challenges and loses track of the ball so often when he is running back to his goal.
I know Matip came for a free, so good business there, but what has the guy actually done. Maybe his lack of consistency is down to constant injuries, and, oh boy, does he have a lot of them, but to be honest I don't see any qualities in the guy. I've never seen a centre back make such slow, sluggish challenges before, the fact that no one has been talking about it makes me think that I am the only one who is seeing and am therefore being paranoid. But it happened so many times today, he looks so uncomfortable, never talks or communicates to anyone, and his only positive trait is that he can pass the ball a little better than Lovren.
Is that seriously all Matip offers!?!? A centre back must be able to defend, first and foremost, and I don't think he can.
I would be happy for Matip to be a squad rotation player but he is actually starter. Why!?!? When is Klopp going to realise that the back four, with any combination, is weak and without a leader. No one talks.
Seriously, how many times are we going to have to score three or four bloody goals just to ensure a point or a narrow win. Something has to change, the fact Klopp has not recognised this in his two years here is seriously mind-boggling.
Anyway, let's hope we improve Tuesday. Otherwise, we will have no Champions League to look forward and that will cause ripple throughout this website and Liverpool.
12 Aug 2017 15:11:07
He started really well for us vs spurs last year, we then went on a decent streak of good performances in defence with him at the heart of it. Who knows what happened since? Even Klavan looked good vs Arsenal, Lovren looked good for Southampton before we bought him. What is the issue, defenders join Liverpool on merit and slowly forget how to be defenders. Tony Pullis could take this same set of defenders and make us hard to beat. It is all about coaching, likewise we can sign all of tottenhams defenders and we would still conceed double the amount they did last season.
12 Aug 2017 15:11:55
I agree on most parts about MatIp, he can't seem to kick the football properly either. Club foot technique lol but he seems to add some sort of threat on offensive corners and brings the ball out of defense well at times but I think he and Lovren need to be replaced if we want success at the highest level.
12 Aug 2017 15:15:51
I was never a fan to be honest! Caveat emptor Ed002?
{Ed002's Note - I think the pick of the lot is Sakho but Klopp is never going to go back. Matip fall in to the OK category with Lovren - but little more than that.}
12 Aug 2017 15:26:45
Sakho is our best defender by a country mile but obviously Klopp wants to be God. For once, can't he put his own ego aside and give Sakho another chance?
Managers like Klopp and BR make me dream about the days of Rafa tbh.
12 Aug 2017 15:59:04
He and Lovren need to be come leaders, grow a backbone and marshal that defence. That is my problem with both of them. They did well together today overall as they were able to keep Okaka quiet after his goal and snuff out Gray completely. It is in the critical situations (during set-pieces) is where they need to become dominant and I'm afraid they are not. Also, I think the set up defensively is not helping them. I don't know if we play man or zonal marking or mixed but regardless, opposing players are still scoring unchallenged. Something needs to be done there cos you can by VVD, Varane, Toby, Ramos or Kompany at CB but if you put Bobbie inside the six to defend a bigger player coming from deep. you will always concede.