09 Apr 2024 10:18:49
Just heard an astonishing stat. In the two league matches against Manchester Utd (forget about the cup match where they were also abysmal but somehow we gave them four goals), we had 62 efforts on goal. That is a record for any team against any other single team in a season. And yet we scored just two goals across those approx 200 minutes.
Those stats will include a lot of long range or wild speculative shots. This in itself is problematic in
my opinion and talks to a scenario where a team is dominating but is unable to create really good chances (and misses the good ones) . I don't want to see another Gomez shot on goal this season; for a player who is regularly afforded so much space and time to move infield from left back, I find it incredible that he can't even hit the target. Surely he would practice and practice knowing he would be getting all these chances to shoot.
There seems to be some consensus that getting Jota back will be a big positive. I reckon he'd be going a goal a game and our top scorer if he hadn't been out for so long. On a lighter note, I never understood all of the Diogo "he contributes nothing other than goals" Jota criticism. Glad that the penny has dropped.
In the meantime, I would have our forwards + Szoboszlai doing additional training just working on 5 v 3 or 4 v 2 breaks against the reserves or youth defenders. Over and over and over again. Our execution in those situations has been shambolic. The wrong choice or wrong execution every time. Make them practice it until at least 9 out of 10 ends up in a goal. Look online and find the compilation of how many we've messed it up this season.
09 Apr 2024 10:47:52
My favourite ones on Jota are “he stinks up the place and shouldn’t start games and then also he’s our most clinical finisher and we miss him”
Those gems came from the same poster.
09 Apr 2024 11:03:47
I think Szobo has had a great first season so far but feels like he needs a break having been out injured for a while. Elliot to start in his position for the next game I'd say.
Similar for Bradley - been fantastic but I reckon get Robbo back on the left and shift Gomez over to the right untill TAA is ready to return.
And no, this isn't me slating the players, just think that a little shake-up is needed which might help get us over the line!
09 Apr 2024 11:07:26
I think some of it may be because our current group of forwards (Diaz, Gakpo, Jota, Nunez and Salah) have not spent enough time with each other in actual match time. We don't have a solid trio upfront in the same way that we used to field Mane, Firmino and Salah in their heyday. Remember how the media and the fans used to say "those 3 could find each other on the field with eyes blindfolded"? This season Diaz has been injured and affected by family circumstances, so in and out of the team. Gakpo has been benched very often. Jota has been injured, so in and out as well. Nunez has been in and out also. And Salah has probably had the longest time out of the team with injury, in his career with us. Then there is the fact that, aside from Salah and Diaz, Klopp has had Jota, Gakpo and Nunez shuffling back and forth between LW and CF all season long. It has positives but the major negative is that a player isn't given the chance to develop cosistency.
I also think Salah, Firmino, Mane, Origi and Minamino were a better skilled attack corp than the current one of Salah, Nunez, Jota, Gakpo and Diaz. Salah, Firmino and Mane were a phenomenal trio; history may show that they were possibly our best trio ever.
{Ed001's Note - I think we really could have done with Taki this season. I have no idea why Klopp barely played him as he always did well for us and was a goal threat. He is showing in France how potent he can be when given a run. I really liked Taki. He would run himself into the ground, not sure why Klopp didn't like him.}
09 Apr 2024 13:07:39
Ed001 call me cynical but I think taki was assigning to appeal to certain markets given he was so cheap.
Can't think of any other reason the club would buy him and not play him.
{Ed001's Note - I would say it is more likely that his personality was not the kind Klopp likes. He wants players to be forceful and full of belief in themselves. Taki is quiet and unassuming. Klopp wants them to be more brash I think.}
09 Apr 2024 16:47:03
Ed001, fully agree on Taki; I liked him very much. And really think that he would have thrived if he had gotten the same number of opportunities that Gakpo has gotten and has been getting (I'm referring to Gakpo being 5th choice, like Taki, and not specifically the positions they played) . We live in a time where all players love the limelight and the tv cameras on them; loving the public adulation; courting all the attention possible. Minamino's personality did not gel with that kind of ethos. I still remember the players forcingTaki to celebrate the UCL win with the fans in the stands.
I could never figure out why Klopp didn't play him more. I'd take a shy, timid and unassuming player who doesn't sky every shot he gets in front of goal, over a brash and confident player skying chance after chance in an important game, any day of the week. ?.
{Ed001's Note - me too, Taki was a quality player who worked hard no matter where he was playing. There was never any whining in the press, just got on with it. And he scored goals.}
09 Apr 2024 18:55:53
Aray “We live in a time where all players love the limelight and the tv cameras on them; loving the public adulation; courting all the attention possible”
Does that some any of our current squad up?
09 Apr 2024 19:28:47
Sorry Aray that’s probably come across Aggressive.
Meant as in do you believe that sums up any of our current squad. Personally I don’t see it so interested in your opinion if you do and which players.
09 Apr 2024 20:08:40
JK23, I was the one who said that he stinks up the joint apart from scoring and I was not the only one saying it. Even the Ed’s on their podcasts used to say that and Ed01 wanted him sold and said so on multiple occasions about 2/ 3 years ago.
In fact, many on here were saying he should be sold should Newcastle bid for him as it was rumoured at the time and I didn’t even want him sold cos yes, he is the most natural finisher we have and that is still the case. That did not remove from the fact that the guy used to play as if he had never seen a football before as he was SO poor on the ball back then 2 seasons ago.
This season, his all round game has improved massively and he is a much better and well rounded footballer and I’m all for that. Listen if you’re going to spout stuff about people then first off, say the name of who said what and don’t be a coward. Secondly, tell the whole truth rather than peddle half truths and lies just to sound funny, something you are relentlessly poor at cos you fail to realise that comedy is not and will never be your strength.
09 Apr 2024 20:20:44
Loved Taki to death when he was here. Shane it didn’t work out for him but to me, that had nothing to do with his talent and overall ability. Klopp messed him about and even he admitted it in public.
09 Apr 2024 20:41:24
Oil why so triggered. Not everything is about you.
Get yourself to an actual game of football and give your keyboard and wifi a rest.
You follow Liverpool like my mrs follows Eastenders.
I’ll try and do better with my banter. Maybe one day I’ll hit your levels and call Utds manager Seven Haag #topbants.
10 Apr 2024 11:21:28
JK23, I wasn't thinking of LFC or any of our players, when I wrote what you quoted. I was referring to professional footballers in general, within our current digital age in the entire range of sports and athletics where the emphasis is very much on sound bites and visuals or videos of players before and after events.
Lately, I have been seeing a lot of Van Dijk giving post match interviews. It's absolutely natural given that he is the Captain. The media seek him out, I'm sure, and he accepts to participate, too. And I'm also sure he likes it. To my mind, Taki my wouldn't like it or do it. That was my point.
10 Apr 2024 13:45:55
Cheers for the reply Aray. I kind of gathered that.
In fairness I’d say there’s actually less top level footballers in the limelight than there is out of it.
Just looking at the top 3 sides and apart from Grealish, Foden and Walker I can’t really pinpoint anyone else from City or even arsenal.