I'm unsure I'd put the players to blame, we needed to stretch the play, have trent and robertson pull wide left and right, get salah and mane inside the area. Instead we played very narrow, our best goal scorer stuck on the right wing. I'm unsure what the thinking was in all honesty. For the last ten we could gave put virg as number 9 and bombarded their area, Instead we just looped ball after ball forward hoping for a lucky break.
I was as disappointed as anyone on the day, but I think perhaps too much is being read into it. Most teams struggle against a resolutely packed defence, and Chelsea are very good at it. Lots of teams take that approach, but Chavs also have the quality of players to carry it out effectively. I agree with Milk above that the red card may well have worked against us in that their sole ambition after it was not to concede again, (Though I don't agree we need Coutinho - he was so frustrating at times). Anyway, on another day it happens differently and one goes in. Because we failed to break them down once doesn't mean we'll fail every time.
Very disappointing second half from us. We looked stale and out of ideas. For me, the issue was the lack of balance in our team. For most of this year, Mane and Robbo have stunk up the left side (from an attacking perspective) and the same happened again. Not only that, Klopp decided to shoe horn Hendo in that left side role, a role which he has hardly ever played, and ultimately struggled. He kept coming across to the right which then made us even narrower. This isn't Hendo's fault but Klopp decision picking him there. I know the quality of opposition was massively difference but the first two games with Kostas, Naby and Mane gave us attacking threat down that left side for the first time this year. We could attack down both flanks which helped us stretch the play and vary our attacks. Bobby came off early and Jota came on but after that, we had no real options left to come in - another damning indictment on our recruitment / transfer window.
I still think elliott as a midfielder would be far better on the left not the right. As a midfielder it opens up a lot more passing channels to him but also doesn't negate him getting central to shoot anyway. As a right winger sure, hes left footed and the cut inside **** is ideal these days.
We’re 3 games in and I’ve seen enough already to see that we will be decent enough, injuries allowing, to mount something of a challenge. Chelsea will be similar. I will say though that imo City will win it by 10 clear points again this season. Then it’s us, chavs and Utd for slots 2-4. I expect an outside challenge to those three to come from Everton and Leicester and maybe even Spurs now they are keeping Kane.
Given we haven't made anymore signings, I'm assuming the club think our squad is very good thus we should be winning the PL and CL. Anything less is a failure. No more excuses.
I dont see a lot of that myself: a) city lost to spurs in their only real game. two 5-0 drubbings of a **** arsenal and a terrible Norwich side can disguise that loss. I don't see city dominating as a lot of good teams can probably get at them if they try. b) cheslea are very much challengers as they are hard to score against and packed with talent. the manager knows what he is at. they will be right in there. c) we are fitter than last year but a lot of the same old issues are there. Mane still looks the same, fitter but just not the same player he was 2 seasons ago. Midfield is an issue and trent needs to decide if hes a CM or right side player. If we keep fit i would ssya will will be closer but not sure yet its enough. If we beat leeds well that says in a high intensity one on one type game we came out on top. d) Man utd can't be counted out. they are only getting going so heopfully they don't get on a roll. e) everton, having a nice time right now but we've seen that before, they have issues to resolve still and no money to do so. not near 4th f) spurs. people are ignoring nuno. a top class coach imo and he has produced 3 1-0s without really needing kane. one beating city. the other 2 are easy games but it has to be said if he gets on a roll and kane steps up to drive for a move and a golden boot 4th is possible. g) Leicester, not overly impressive so far. Few injuries but i have the feeling this is a difficult season starter while rodgers find the right "motivation" for his players again. 2 5ths in a row should be motivation but the fa cup win seems to have topped a lot of their ambitions. Theres a top 6 there rather than a top 4 again and that could prove critical. We need to beat all of these sides while a cheslea or city or utd might just not have it as hard. Every point counts now.
I think Elliott on the right is fine. Allows him to come inside to leave space but he also seems fine going on the outside with his right foot. However my only concern would be, Trent seems to be under instructions to come inside more this season. Again absolutely fine, but in that case you’d think you’d want a right footed CM that side who is more natural to drift wider otherwise you have both Elliott and TAA coming inside, as well as Salah and you lose all kind of width, unless that’s what klopp wants? I think with hindsight, in second half moving Elliott to the left could have been a good option. We needed to stretch chelsea and if he’d gone to the left and held wide, along with Robbo and mane it could have pulled chelsea midfield and defence and potentially created more room in the middle or for switch of play (one thing didn’t see at all in second half was any kind of long switches to get chelsea shuffling across). But i think it’s clear klopp wants eliott on that right hand side, even spoke of the link up with Salah and TAA being great. Just does negate henderson a bit although I do expect him to move back over there when Thiago is fully fit and we play Thiago fab Hendo midfield.
As it has been the last three years. We're good enough to challenge, just need injuries to be on the light side and we're challengers. Totally agree. Not worried about lack of transfers. Depth would be nice, but we've got the first XI.
we’re not that far apart really, City by 10 is the main difference. Plus you’d never accept any Everton potential…which is fair enough
Yes you are right that trent does seem to be under instruction but then if youve no right footed CM or RW then you close off half the pitch. I personally would perfer elliott on the left where he can shape a pass forward to mane or robertson on the over lap better than anything ive seen form him to slaah or trent but also he is passing with his strong foot to his inside CM and back to vvd. V cheslea VVD LCB right footed Henderson LCM, right footed Mane LF right footed thats an issue right there. Only the full backs are actually playing on their strong sides in theory.
it was enough to win the CL and then the league wasn’t it? It’s only an issue if the quality isn’t there.
well wijnaldum was playing off the left and mane was a lot better. At this point we have Elliott at RCM and Henderson LCM so that for me doesn't work. Swap them and it suddenly looks better in my mind.
depends what you want the player to do. A left footer, playing on the right, and vice versa, has a different range of passes in his bag than if he was playing down the left. Klopp knows what he wants so I’ll trust his judgement. ps. Wasn’t Gini right footed?
For the left side, Naby and Thiago are the only ones who can play there (haven't seen Elliot in that role to judge). For the right side, Thiago, Hendo and now Elliot all look good there. For DM, only Fabinho can play the role but I suspect Hendo may rotate.
