What's happened to Gomez, is it really since that City game? I really rated him a year or so back but he seems to have declined hugely for some reason where he looks unrecognisable. Hope Virgil recovers well from this. You don't like to see any player get an injury like that and it makes the league worse with a player like that missing. Know how it feels with him specifically too as I'm certain his last big injury cost us a trophy.
I think so. We always had hopes for him, especially with that pace and ability on the ball. I often called for him to play DM too - I'm sure he could cut it in a quarterback role. Of all our defenders, nobody developed faster than Joe after the arrival of Virgil (except Robbo, perhaps). Conversely, as Virgil's form tanked too after the lockdown, so did his, imo.
Koulibaly in January? If our season isn't already over by then, do we have a choice not to pay what Napoli are asking? I say this as someone who gritted my teeth and accepted what the club was saying over the Werner business and all that, but as they're rolling FFP over for two seasons, hadn't we better pay now and sell later from a position of strength?
I don't agree with retrospective changes to laws to be honest. Something needs to be done to allow further punishments for reckless challenges though, especially if players have been involved in these types of issues before. In October 2010 Nigel De Jong jumped into the side of Hatem Ben Arfa for us, breaking both his tibia and fibula. He had plenty of formers for this type of offence and his punishment was... nothing... not even a yellow card. The FA looked into it and his punishment was again nothing at all. His own national team manager dropped him for the challenge saying it was "wild and unnecessary. He went in way too hard".
Perhaps he's one of those who needs a great partner to perform to a high level. Need him to step up now, find out what people are about in a time of crisis and all that. Don't think this finishes your title chances either. There's no outstanding team in the league this season compared to the last 3 imo and you've got the attack to outscore teams. Probably need Allison back though. Gonna be a close one for the league this year I reckon, potentially between a few clubs too. No one is getting 95+ anyway.
Wasn't it him who studded Iniesta in the chest in the WC final that year? That was a filthy challenge too.
It appears Thiago is OK and Allison will be back sooner than expected. Good luck Virg, you are a great player and a great person. Looking forward to seeing him back next season
It was, he was a disgrace. Everyone remembers the WC final, when he did it to us it was worse but it was just Newcastle though so hey ho. There's no reason at all to not try and have a panel over-viewing violent play (irrespective of whether the ball is in play or dead ball, etc) and announce they will be putting in stronger punishments. Repeat offenders getting longer punishments.
Its hard to say how much I disagree with the entire of this statement. Joe has been exceptional for 90% of the last 2 seasons, but now he's ****e.
Someone of that ilk. We can't argue we need somebody now, and we're just going to have to pile it on the credit card. If that means we can't afford both Mbappe AND Sancho next year, then so be it.
Our recent defensive issues are inclusive of Van Dijk. He was there when Villa pit 7 past us. We need a general sorting it the **** out at the back, got too complacent.
At the risk of being tedious (not that has ever stopped me before) the ball in play malarkey is completely bogus. I can post Rule 12 again - there is no distinction between serious foul play and violent conduct: both come under the category of 'misconduct', and therefore can be disciplined wither the game is in play or not. That is not to say Prickford should be retrospectively punished - he shouldn't. VAR should have done that at the time, and had every right to do so, offside or not. It would be preposterous to punish Prickford now, and just an arse-covering exercise from the FA and PGMOL to obscure that their product is only as good as the ineptly trained morons they put in charge of it.
Yeah, I said this too. Another reason we needed another CB. Virgil became undroppable because he was so good. He stayed undroppable because the rest of the team got **** at the same time he did.
Maybe it is time to do what they do in Rugby where a player can be cited for serious foul play or dangerous play if it was not picked up by the referee during the game. Nobody wants to witness the type of play we saw yesterday where players careers are put at risk by wild challenges that have no place in football. For the type of challenge Richarleson perpetrated, a ban of 12 matches would be in order as well as a hefty fine. Let’s not forget that a football pitch is subject to the law of the land and it is not unknown for a footballer to be changed for assault rinsing from serious and dangerous foul play.
Do you think that this could be case of not freshening up the squad when needed. We've been fair quite in the market for a number of windows, does complacency set in? Is it the reason champions usually bring people in regardless, just to bring in a bit of a fresh wind as well as competition.
Be careful what you wish for - what if Mane had fractured Ederson's skull or broke his neck with that challenge he was sent off for? It's simply an outrage that Prickford wasn't sent off and banned accordingly under the rules and officials on duty yesterday, but I'm not for extending punishments based upon the injuries inflicted. remember Son and Gomes last year - a straightforward yellow card was dementedly upgraded to a straight red because, and this is the words used by the officials on the day , it caused a major injury. Rightly, it was overturned the following Monday morning. And all that said, when Holgate violently shoved Bobby into the stands some time back (and that really could have caused injury to the player and spectators) they didn't retrospectively punish him anyway because he made up some bogus racism horseshit allegations to deflect from it.
This is the thing Donga. Bad tackles, mistimed tackles, bad injuries are part and parcel of the game. But it’s the tackles which are just so reckless are the ones that’s need a severe punishment for. Look at Pickford and Richarlison and neither were anywhere near the ball, and their foot was knee high. Whether it’s with intent or accidental, it’s pure recklessness and can end careers.
We're a damn good team when we're on form - nobody gets 97 and 99 points in consecutive seasons if they're not. But the great Liverpool teams in the past bought top players in each season, often leaving them in the reserves for a season or two like Terry McDermott, just so the first eleven knew there were hungry players in the reserves waiting to take their place.
