27 Dec 2022 07:31:59
Moving away from this Gakpo signing excitement, do you see improvement in our overall game in the last few games ED1? Klopp has say that we work out on our pressure and intesity stuff while in Dubai training camp.

Do you see enough in these last few games that we have revert back to our succesful style of play compared to this early season games.

{Ed001's Note - I have been avoiding watching as we kept losing when I watched. If I get a chance I will watch a recording of it later. I really don't enjoy not being able to watch, I don't know how I used to cope only having radio to listen to in the days before the internet.}

1.) 27 Dec 2022
27 Dec 2022 08:10:19
Or just watching ceefax ed1.

{Ed001's Note - I could never get a clear enough signal through the aerial (which was basically a piece of wire tied to the radiator to use that to get a better pic) to use teletext. Plus my TV screen was smaller than a modern phone. I don't know how I used to watch TV on it. The one thing I do remember was that every show was always taking place behind a snow blizzard!}

2.) 27 Dec 2022
27 Dec 2022 08:55:02
That doesn't sound fun at all ED1. But if it works, you might need to skip all our match this season.

One thing i hope for is for Konate to replace Matip when he comeback and permanently. No more chopping and changing at CB for me.

We look so dodgy when Matip is in the team. Its almost like we are certain to concede whenever he is playing.

{Ed001's Note - I always get slaughtered for saying Matip can't defend, so I am not going to say anything more on that subject.}

3.) 27 Dec 2022
27 Dec 2022 09:10:24
Thought Matip was very poor yesterday. His positioning was off, going for balls he would never get, balls in behind him. They seemed to be targeting him as the weak link. Improved slightly second half.

4.) 27 Dec 2022
27 Dec 2022 09:16:52
I thought Villa outplayed us for large parts yesterday. Both teams missed lots of chances and it could have easily finished 10-9 to either team.

5.) 27 Dec 2022
27 Dec 2022 09:42:23
Matip is a very good ball playing defender. Possibly the best in the league at passing and coming out from the back but defensively he is suspect. He'd be good in a back 3 I reckon. Klopp needs to get konate in there ASAP.

6.) 27 Dec 2022
27 Dec 2022 09:56:47
It wasn’t the defence that was at fault yesterday, Villa cut through us at will. The midfield were all over the place, we actually got a lot more control when the substitutions were made.

7.) 27 Dec 2022
27 Dec 2022 10:24:18
Matip was awful yesterday. VVD was thankfully in one of his overdrive man of the match moods, covering matip constantly and covering both matip and Trent at others. Check out vvd reaction to villa first goal. He must be pulling his hair out playing next to such inept defenders who crumble at slightest bit of pressure. Then when Thiago tired (every game at 60 mins) and Elliot came on, the problems started down the left too with no one stopping the Villa crosses. We still don’t have the right balance in the team and unless Klopp sorts that out the games will continue in the same way with teams have multiple clear cut chances and us relying on them missing and out scoring them. unfortunately thiago is a liability in a 3 midfield as is Elliot.

8.) 27 Dec 2022
27 Dec 2022 11:04:45
Konate should be first choice CB next season at the rate he is progressing, VVD second choice based more on past performance than recent form, Matip looks good when we are winning but age, injury susceptibility and not being a good defender doesn’t warrant him a starting spot and Joe, who I would love to succeed seems to have major confidence issues particularly when playing at CB. Our central defence will be our next big challenge when we have bought Jude, Enzo and Declan.

9.) 27 Dec 2022
27 Dec 2022 11:41:26
WM73, how did you judge Elliott in a midfield 3, when he played as a LW yesterday? The hate for the lad is astonishing. He's just 19, and is so good on the ball. His defensive nous is only going to improve with experience. Everyone needs to remember that he was a RW all through hos youth, so he doesn't have the natural defensive/ covering tendencies of a midfielder, yet. As for Thiago, I think he does his fair amount of defensive work. Obviously he's no Wijnaldum in terms of the field coverage, but then he's so much better on the ball. You got to take the pros with the cons. Right now though, playing Thiago and Elliott together does leave us a bit open. But I am sure, it would improve over time.

10.) 27 Dec 2022
27 Dec 2022 11:41:26
WM73, how did you judge Elliott in a midfield 3, when he played as a LW yesterday? The hate for the lad is astonishing. He's just 19, and is so good on the ball. His defensive nous is only going to improve with experience. Everyone needs to remember that he was a RW all through hos youth, so he doesn't have the natural defensive/ covering tendencies of a midfielder, yet. As for Thiago, I think he does his fair amount of defensive work. Obviously he's no Wijnaldum in terms of the field coverage, but then he's so much better on the ball. You got to take the pros with the cons. Right now though, playing Thiago and Elliott together does leave us a bit open. But I am sure, it would improve over time.

11.) 27 Dec 2022
27 Dec 2022 13:12:01
No hate from me, I just don’t think he can play in a midfield 3 and I’m not sure where he fits in a Klopp first eleven if Klopp favours playing 4, 3, 3. Especially now Gakpo has signed I think it impacts Carvalho, Elliot and Ox chances of playing. When he came on it looked to me like he was sitting in front of Robbo, Keita was no where to be seen so might have been him at fault but elliots defending wasn’t great. I think he needs to play top of a diamond 4 in midfield given his passing ability and ability to protect the ball. I’m worried Klopp puts square pegs in round holes which impacts the confidence of the players. However we need different players for different tactics and Elliot def has possession and passing skills. I think I’ve seen enough of him now to think he’s not quick enough to be in the attacking front 3 and not a good enough defender to be in midfield 3 so I do wonder where that leave’s the lad. Carvalho I think will cover left attack and now Gakpo has joined where does that leave him given we have so many left sided attackers. I guess to play in cups and cover injuries.

12.) 27 Dec 2022
27 Dec 2022 13:58:10
It’s because we play players like Milner, who is finished, or Gomez, who hasn’t been the same since his injury. And also because the midfield has no legs and can’t press anymore. If we give Madrid even a quarter of the chances we gave Villa, we can say goodbye to the Champions League too.