Personally I'd say this is the most level 3-0 game I've ever seen, all throughout the match threats were coming from both sides, the difference was Sporting Lisbon could put them away.
I agree. They had 3 chances to score in the first half and scored 2. Keeper should have done a little better with the second though, as there was only one way the ball was ever gonna go. Didn't see the second half, but I gather we had a handful of opportunities.
Here is my view. 1. they took us apart in midfield for most of the game. meaning that in the first half shelvey was disasterous and suso didn't get what he was being asked to do. we took over breifly i nthe second half when adjoran came on but then they tactically switched to 5 in midifled and cut us off again. 2. we are very naive. The formation of 4-2-3-1 is not got by most of the players yet. the kids are used to 4-4-2... niether sterling nor silva worked back to make the extra men in midfield to control that area. they played like classic wingers who didn't defend much. morgan was isolated up top on his own and doens't play that way much 3. a few of our players are very unimpressive but a few were head and shoulders above them.. sterling and wisdom... adjoran was brillinat ans suso only came alive when he came on. 4. This is about learning and those boys need to internalise the fact that you can't just bully part timers in the english set up and think you are it. they need to learn the formation quickly and work as a unit together better. The issue is the players on hsow were too far apart and the midifeld really didn't function.
I was really dissapointed with the result but I suppose it's early days and it just wouldn't be Liverpool if we didn't make it hard for ourselves.
I was really disappointed in the first half performance. Sporting Lisbon kids kept possession brilliant, the passing and movement was crisp. We struggled, our passing was terrible, midfield was static (apart from Sterling and Silva) and Morgan was isolated. I expected more from Shelvey, I've seen him in the first team where he looks composed and assured, and I also seen him play at youth team level where is head and shoulders above the rest. This was a real chance to show his ability and he didn't look interested. I'll put it down to nerves of it being the first match and they showed fantastic attitude in the second half where they tried to take the game to the opposition (Suso and Adorjan both should have scored on either side of half time). Performers McGiveron - solid in defence and likes to keep and pass the ball. However, his passing was often wayward and gave the ball away plenty of times. Wisdom - strong and solid and quick Sterling - caused a number of problems for the right back Adorjan - composed on the ball and kept possession well Jack Robinson - really like this kid, strong in the challenge and has a strong mentality
Wisdom, Sterling, Suso, Adorjan, Silva and (at times) Morgan all looked good to me and I think all will break through.
I agree, latent talent is not the issue, naive play and lack of preparation... this is the firs ttime that team played togehte rin that formation.. all the preseason stuff the club website bombards us with and yet i know that team was radically different in make up and formation than either the u18s or the reserves that went to ireland... not a very auspicious start but if they lose to man city the lisbon demolishing them is unsuprising. If we improve as the season goes on in the formations and mehtods that the first team use AND learn from each match about how to work harder we'll see the benefit. I mean pacheco here is a prime example... he's never elarned to work harder than the guy next to him, he didn't look very up for it with the breif chances he got with the seniors... shelvey looks the same.
