23 Feb 2024 13:25:53
Ed:001 what are your thoughts for Sunday's final, and bearing in mind the last 2 went to penalty's, what if anything would you do different this time around?
The 4-1 game albeit it was at anfield should be the blue print imo, but I do understand that each game is different.
{Ed001's Note - I just think we have to make sure to take the game to them. They can't be allowed to build confidence. Get at them and give them no time to breath, treat it like a league match and go full intensity.}
23 Feb 2024 14:45:14
Totally agree let’s overwhelm them
Up the pool.
23 Feb 2024 15:11:01
"I just think we have to make sure to take the game to them. "
My sentiments, exactly. Let's go at them like we did at Anfield from the off.
23 Feb 2024 16:43:05
Very hard to go full intensity on that Wembley pitch.
23 Feb 2024 17:14:48
It has to be full intensity with the quality we have missing.
23 Feb 2024 18:58:03
@Markp, can you explain what you mean? I honestly don’t understand what you are saying. Intensity is a mental thing, an approach to a situation. I’ve already seen VVD’s comments about being very, very proud to be leading the team out at Wembley so, so far, it seems the motivation isn’t going to be a problem for him.
23 Feb 2024 19:25:15
You obviously won’t be able to press them all over the pitch like we often do at home. Klopp talks about intensity when he talks about his full throttle game. We will just have to be selective when we press and when we try to control the game. The mentality can’t be questioned as was seen v Luton. I.
23 Feb 2024 20:05:57
Play like we did first half against Man City in the FA Cup semi a few years ago. I think that’s the best we’ve played at Wembley under Jurgan
We’re not usually ourselves in finals and let chunks of the game pass us by. That’s what I’d try to avoid this time around, try to really use the energy of Bradley/ Robbo.
23 Feb 2024 20:30:29
We don’t usually keep the ball well enough in the finals hopefully that will change.
24 Feb 2024 01:19:15
To be honest I think it’s pretty damned inconvenient that the opposition teams raise their game in finals. I know it’s probably a case of them thinking that they might as well give it a good crack seeing as how it’s a final and probably their biggest game of the season, but it’s a bit cheeky eh? Trying to put us off our game - it’s totally unacceptable.
24 Feb 2024 08:58:45
Mark, we played City off the park in the FA Cup semi final vs City in '21/ 22 at Wembley in the first 60 mins and essentially ended the game in the first half with 3 goals, one of which Mane pressed the GK into scoring. You can even add parts of the FA Cup final vs Chelsea to the mix so the intensity narrative on the Wembley pitch does not hold water esp. at Wembley, my guy.
Also regarding us not keeping the ball in finals again, I don't know what that means. We are not a possession team basically even tho we can keep the ball well in games whenever required. We keep the ball when we have to. We are fundamentally a pressing team and we press instinctively whenever the situation warrants it. Again, I don't get your point here, tbh.
24 Feb 2024 11:43:50
It means not wasting the ball. Actually passing it to a team mate. We have been very wasteful in recent finals. Maybe 4 years ago for half a game we were good but that’s not our norm in a final.
Hopefully today we will play to our potential.
24 Feb 2024 21:01:19
@Mark, games that have happened in the past up to and including the Luton game have no direct bearing on what will happen in the next game. Different opponent, different challenge - tactics, set-up, focus on opponents strengths and weaknesses. Of course if we have players in top form that usually has a bearing on team selection but equally we may bring players in to combat specific perceived threats from opposition players or set-up.
It’s probably also worth bearing in mind that finals are special occasions, that they are must win and bring different pressures. There’s an element of ‘not losing’ rather than ‘going all out to win’. That’s what happened in the Chelsea finals a couple of years ago. Hopefully, as has been said, we try and clear our minds and just get stuck into them. If we do we win.