25 Oct 2024 22:18:46
@scousejohn “I get laughed at when I say macca is crap. Me mates think I’m a dope. ”
That’s because mac alister is not crap. And if you think he’s crap than you are a dope.
He rolls around the pitch a bit (like lots of Argentinian players do) but you cannot call him crap.
25 Oct 2024 22:26:33
I think it's all about systems as well.
Our best midfielder last season (Mac) hasn't quite got going this season and our worst midfielder (Grav) is this seasons best one. Who would have bet that happening.
Last seasons surprise package midfielder (Endo) doesn't get a look in because of the system.
I'd agree that Szob is a bigger worry because he has yet to be consistent in either system.
Hopefully all the players excel under Slot.
25 Oct 2024 22:40:18
Call him what I like Keith, crap.
25 Oct 2024 23:06:52
That's a pretty short list of players that played a winning part in a World Cup final that happen to be crap.
25 Oct 2024 23:41:47
I don't always agree with scouse john but he can say that about Mac, if that's how he feels. The same as posters can tell us how good he is.
It's a forum and we come here to exchange views and maybe poke fun at those with different ones. I think at times we get more defensive about our own opinions than we do our team and players though.
It is ok to disagree with each other, Redmen.
26 Oct 2024 01:01:18
I think endo will do enough in training to get more games as the season goes on. Just a feeling.
26 Oct 2024 06:59:13
Mac has started season slowly but he did last season as well. I think mac excellent player and I thought he had a very good game against leipzig. He is bit slow paced which can lead to problems defensively but he's been virtually ever present this season and we've best defensive record in league so he can't be that bad. In saying that I would like to see him played where szobo plays, his passing/ final ball would be v useful there.
26 Oct 2024 07:59:24
Dom S has been integral to the side this season, but there is no hollywood football on show from him, he is sacrificing his flair for graft, as instructed, and there is a reason he plays most games.
26 Oct 2024 08:13:19
@Vango Dom is the Nobby Stiles of his generation ?.
{Ed025's Note - or the new Tom Davies.. :)
26 Oct 2024 08:19:49
Mac does get clattered into a LOT. I doubt most of it is play acting. He maybe at times makes sure the ref knows but just watch how he gets at least one really bad foul against him every match. They do hurt, even if it looks like they shouldn't. When I used to play I've seen players have bones broke for challenges that looked pretty innocuous.
{Ed025's Note - or it could be that he is just a big fart or even a serial cheat Kopite?, my guess would be...both mate..
26 Oct 2024 08:24:39
I think szobos becoming the new Gini. Goes under the radar how much work he does for the team. Not saying his creative output couldn't be better but he's probably the player who has the most responsibility in terms of getting up and down the pitch and that no doubt has an affects on his composure because he's putting a shift in at both ends of the pitch.
26 Oct 2024 08:30:59
But you would say that 25 ha I watch every game mate an said to my mates about how he gets badly clattered at least once a match. Its the nature of the position, he's getting the ball in tight spaces in the middle of the park. Just watch next time were on an he gets smashed by someone who thinks they can get the ball off him or smash him because they're frustrated they can't.
{Ed025's Note - im afraid im from a different generation Kopite, i grew up with the likes of Norman Hunter, Souness, etc who took no prisoners mate, i know the game has changed a bit but most of them are big tarts nowadays, they actually get coached to cheat to gain advantage now and go down like they have been shot even when a challenge is innocuous, i watch the games as well and although i think Macca is talented he is such a big wuss that i cant take him seriously..
26 Oct 2024 08:55:33
I think there is the truth in both statements. Macca does get clattered into a lot but he also makes the most of each contact. I personally would prefer for him to not exaggerate the contact as much and just get on with the play.
{Ed025's Note - its in his DNA Drac..
26 Oct 2024 09:04:13
Just to clarify I’m not overly concerned about Szob either.
I think tactically we are playing a different brand to last season and it’s going to take players different time to adapt etc.
Szob out of possession has been a beast. Nunez had accolades last week for making 7 tackles and Szobs defensive work is great every week.
Would love to see him get a couple of goals and assists to boost him.
{Ed025's Note - you see thats where we differ JK, if a player is playing crap i say he is playing crap and dont make excuses for them mate..its an honesty thing with me..
26 Oct 2024 09:09:23
How many careers did those players and those bad challenges end though? We can talk about the good old days but it can still be painful to get clattered into. Not saying players don't make the most of it but Mac is on the recieving end of some bad ones that will hurt. Its the players who act like the spurs players v kudus the other day or the ones that do 12 rolls on the floor when they go down that wind me up, Mac doesn't act like that.
{Ed025's Note - im afraid he does Kopite, you might not want to admit it but im afraid he does mate..
26 Oct 2024 09:12:36
If you don't exaggerate a bit though drac, then the ref doesn't give it. Refs are so poor they can't get it right a lot of the even with the assistance of video with 94 angles of an incident.
{Ed025's Note - so you admit that hes a cheat then?..
26 Oct 2024 09:19:37
So you don't take into account how much work a player has put in for the team to give leeway for creative output 25? If Szobo was allowed to just stand around up top near the striker he would no doubt have better attacking number but he puts a shift in at both ends an has been important in terms of filling gaps defensively pressing the ball to force the other team into mistakes. there's a reason slot picks him and a reason we're top of the league with him playing every match.
{Ed025's Note - im not saying hes not a grafter Kopite but hes certainly not doing the things he was when he first came mate, yes he runs around a lot but for me its "busy doing nothing" and i think hes better than that, no composure and shooting like hes wearing 2 left boots suggests to me that hes not comfortable in the role he has been asked to perform mate, i could be wrong...but that would be a first.. :)
26 Oct 2024 09:23:20
He doesn't do pirouettes on the floor though 25 and its not cheating to make sure the ref knows youve been fouled, if you have actually been fouled.
{Ed025's Note - he does though mate, you all moan when the likes of Kane, Grealish and Richarlison do it Kopite..."people who live in glass houses"and all that..
26 Oct 2024 09:32:43
Ed0025 that’s fair enough mate.
Personally I don’t think it’s possible for a team to be at the top of the league at this level with a crap player playing week in week out.
Some of the players aren’t playing to their maximum potential but they certainly aren’t crap and that goes for the other PL teams players who are playing week in week out at City, Arsenal and Villa.
Forest are the exception where it could be said that their players are currently playing at their maximum potential or even over performing.
I won’t even get into the diving debate as it frustrates me so much and it’s players at every club doing it.
I played a local derby last weekend in a game that can be quite spicy and one of the opposition players did the worst dive ever and was then told by his own players to get up and stop being embarrassing (I’ve removed the swearing ?) Thought this grown bloke was going to cry. Brilliantly his manager then actually subbed him off.
{Ed025's Note - yeah JK maybe "crap" was the wrong term but you know what i mean, not playing as well as he could possibly..
26 Oct 2024 09:40:28
I think ed25 the way the game has gone if u feel contact u have to make the most of it to ensure u get free kick, because the opposition will. I don't like that but it too far gone at this stage to not do it imo. This thing of falling to ground holding your head r faking injury turns my stomach and var should be getting involved when it clear nothing has happened.
But if I managing a team and my striker goes by a defender who catches him, I'm telling my striker to go down . Not a statement that I proud of but it truth.
{Ed025's Note - i just dont like cheating Digger in any form, you seem to be condoning it mate and thats half of the problem..
26 Oct 2024 10:15:17
If I'm shown a video of Mac doing 3 or 4 rolls along the floor once he's been fouled I will stand corrected but I cannot recall him doing that. On szobo, people including our own fans used to say the same about Gini an when he wasn't in the team it was noticed how much we missed him. Not even saying Szobo couldn't contribute more in attack but I do give leeway considering how much he helps in other areas. I'm looking forward to seeing Elliott in that position when he's back as I think he'll help in games like the forest one when we need that cuteness to break a team down. Whatever we're doing is working at the moment though as we've won every game apart from one under slot so I'm not going to be too harsh on any of the players, they've all played their part.
{Ed025's Note - you are doing very well Kopite no doubt about that, but you always have to look to improve mate otherwise things can go stale very quickly, perspective is the name of the game and like with Gini people only remember the good games but forget that for 50% of the time he contributed very little, but its ok to wear those red tinted glasses occasionally..
26 Oct 2024 10:33:20
Its easy to overlook what players like gini did in terms of coverning for robbo to allow him to go forward. Many times things like this stop teams even attenptimg to attack the space he's covering but how can that be measured? If he's quietly going about his business and it results in a positive outcome for the team without showing in any statistical figures them I'm happy with that if that's what the manager is asking and can see on the pitch.
26 Oct 2024 10:21:18
Its not cheating though 25, if the player stays on their feet but stumbles stopping them from getting to the ball or getting a shot away its a foul and the ref should give it but they don't unfortunately so the player needs to go down. It is s**t but to single a player out who does take a fair few whacks per game us unfair. You have 7 foot centre backs who go down from the slightest touch on the back an it gets given so someone getting it from all angles in midfield shouldn't get that much schtick.
{Ed025's Note - when you say its not cheating Kopite...it really IS, yes its a physical sport but if you are not up to it then try synchronized swimming, hes not the only one of course but hes right up there with the best, its a shame really because he is a very good footballer mate, my advice to him would be...man up you little pussy and stop acting like a 10 year old girl, if someone whacks you you whack them back not roll over crying into your gymslip..
26 Oct 2024 10:32:40
The fact that a number of fans have pointed out that Macca ‘makes sure that the ref sees’ is enough to show that it’s a problem. If players at other clubs are accused of diving / cheating then the same standards should be applied to our players. Oddly, given he supports Everton, Ed25 is right. ?.
{Ed025's Note - im always right WDW.. :)
26 Oct 2024 11:30:08
I'm not saying Mac does it any more than any other player WDW, its just the focus is on Mac so I'm saying its unfair to single him out. I actually think he gets a good whack more than anyone in our team in most games. I've only noticed people saying it about Mac since that Argentina game where the whole team where at it apparently but I didn't watch it so I'm just going by what I've seen said about it.
If you give someone a whack back 25, that's the foul that the ref picks up on and gives a card for so you can't do that nowadays.
26 Oct 2024 11:37:09
I have never been overly impressed with Konate and Diaz. Yet under Slot, they’ve easily been 2 of our best players! ?.
26 Oct 2024 11:42:09
Mac Allister is a tidy little footballer with a good footballing brain, not got the greatest pace but that hasn't stopped plenty before him being good midfielders.
He does stop, drop and roll like he’s on fire an awful lot though. Not many players out there that don't anymore, sadly.
26 Oct 2024 11:50:09
Regarding Mac Alister - good player - not sure he's totally suited to the formation / tactics - has not got the pace or defensive awareness to play the deep role, nor the pace for the attacking pressing midfielder and can be by-passed in both positions far too easily.
Regarding Szoboszlai - does have the pace and all the attributes for the high pressing midfielder - we just need to see him hit some form, needs to contribute with more assists/ goals - seems to always pass the responsibility to someone else. does a lot of running around without much end product.
26 Oct 2024 12:03:49
Maybe Mac should get out of the way more or move the ball quicker.
Szob does work hard and so he should. Given his position and the type of player he is, it's the least we should expect. He doesn't have Nobby Stiles' good looks either but I'll let that go.
26 Oct 2024 11:40:26
And you're not always right 25, you said Grav was a terrible player so that's at least one thing you've been wrong about ?.
{Ed025's Note - i was actually right at the time Kopite...he was awful at the time of publication you must agree, now he is doing well so i will say hes a very good player because things change in football mate...which makes me spot on again.. :)
26 Oct 2024 12:34:03
I do wonder if Szobos form in front of goal is to do with him second guessing himself as to when to shoot due to us wanting to work the ball closer to goal. We know he can score a banger but he's maybe been told not to shoot if a pass is on or from outside the box resulting in him passing up the opportunity to shoot or takinng a bit too long to decide what to do resulting in the opportunity passing.
26 Oct 2024 12:57:03
Macca possibly playing crap does not mean he is a crap player. Sorry, that's not a thing, IMO. Maybe he is having a slow start to the season or the system is exposing his defensive side of his game that may need some work. But to say he is a crap player? Sorry, that's just some OTT stuff I will not agree with.
26 Oct 2024 13:36:38
When we signed the captain of Hungary, I wasn't expecting him to be told when to shoot and when not to shoot. Surely it's a natural thing. Remembering him on the edge of United's six yard box and not getting a shot away, that can't be down to anyone else.
26 Oct 2024 14:43:27
Thats a glaring one rigsby but there's been times it opens up for him an he tries a pass that doesn't come off instead of hitting it. Players are told not to shoot from outside the box nowadays, its all about percentages, which is sad cos we all like seeing a screamer go in. The united one nay have been a combination of being told not to shoot from distance, look for a pass to someone in a better position and losing confidence in front if goal because of second guessing himself. I personally think players should shoot if it opens up because even if it doesn't go in it males the defender second fuess what the player will do snd can open up space for a pass when they're closed down.
26 Oct 2024 15:16:06
It’s interesting really, I think Klopp was a lot of heart, determination and passion, but not ruthless enough. I think Slot is much more of a thinker and more ruthless. He will make changes and doesn’t look like he has favourites who keep playing despite delivering little. I think Klopp’s weaknesses held us back in the latter years of his time with us, too loyal and didn’t refresh the real quick enough.
26 Oct 2024 17:51:10
Going off at another tangent, we have TAA, Dom and Macca possibly playing in positions they aren’t best suited in, just imagine if they all did, we would likely be top of the PL ?.
26 Oct 2024 18:32:47
If Slot tells Joe Gomez not to shoot from outside of the box, I could understand. But do people really think that he's telling the captain of Hungary to stop shooting from outside the box and 'get his numbers up'? Numbers in terms of goals, that is. Are we just looking for excuses for Szob just not playing well and in doing so making the manager look like a fool?
If Slot or Klopp told Salah to stop shooting, he'd tell them where to go ?.
26 Oct 2024 20:38:29
They do though rigsby, that's why we see less and less bangers every season. Its all about working the ball into the box. Might not have anything to do with why szobo hasn't scored the chsnces he's had or took the opportunities he's had to shoot like but just a thought because he's never previously been shy of shooting from distance.
26 Oct 2024 16:05:38
Ed 025, I don’t like it when you insult 10 year old girls. My daughter, who isn’t even 3, when she falls, she just gets up and gets on with her stuff. A lot of football players could take an example to that.
{Ed025's Note - it cracks me up baker, they will be playing in tutu,s next you mark my word mate.. :)
27 Oct 2024 05:09:11
Ed25 it's not cheating, if it were the referees would issue more yellow cards. In today's game chopping someone down like sounness is cheating, which is why it gets a red card.
You might not like the way the game is but it's not accurate to say it's cheating.
{Ed025's Note - it is cheating Nevada, simulation and trying to gain advantage by exaggeration is cheating in my book mate, its cheating the ref, your opponents and the general public and the punishment should be stronger imo..
27 Oct 2024 06:01:45
You've said before that big hand Pickford is at same level or better than as Alisson Ed25. So clearly you're not always right.
{Ed025's Note - sometimes i say things tongue in cheek mfahmee to get a response, and its up to you to decide if im serious or not mate...but i am pretty perfect.. :)
27 Oct 2024 12:31:31
Synchronised swimming is a physically demanding sport.
27 Oct 2024 16:27:21
Sobz looks like he’s got the “ yips” regards shooting. Seems to have lost confidence. Everything else about his game has been very good.
27 Oct 2024 21:47:27
Ed025, you are greatly under appreciated by those with literal minds ?.