just a quick note: Chelsea fans won't be worried but they really should be a) CBs are no great shakes at all. We made it easy for them. b) james is a crock c) sanchez made a complete howler there v salah. he backed off and salah tapped it in. If that stood he would already be under pressure. d) jackson looks like the next abraham. Nothing wrong with that but cheslea fans won't give him time. e) their wingers/ forward options couldn't score desipte total dominanace for about 50mins of that game. f) their bench warmers coming on were pish. Lets fact it, we should have taken a beating there. We started well and they were rocky but once we dropped off they had it very easy but couldn't score. 900mil spend not a top 4 side and not even close.
This^ I thought while waiting for them to make their minds up - you can't give a pen for that, much as I'd love one.
Like klopp says, if any player ever jumps into his arms after being Subbed then he’ll be worried. Wasn’t a good look but he did nothing in second half and was prob more frustrated at his own performance more than anything else. Will just have to go score a couple next week to make up for it
Yeah. Commentator last night used the word "dissent", but I didn't see it like that at all. Simple frustration - with his own performance as you say, and/or the general way the game was going. Any normal person would interpret it as him wanting to be on the pitch to try and turn things round, but cheap journos have to try for the sensational all the time.
Thought the first 20 odd mins we looked really bright but the moment they gained a foothold in the game the midfield / defensive problems were there for all to see . Was pleased to see we finished the game strongly when the subs came on with Elliott looking particularly lively.
I thought this was interesting on the Beeb site: It's only one game of course, so too early to read too much into it perhaps.
Maybe also wanted to keep his run going of scoring in opening games and annoyed his chance was gone. Hopefully not foremost in his mind, but may have added to the frustration.
Either way, he's gonna have to get used to it because we have a ton a different attacking options and, as good as he is, it'll be horses for courses.
I would say over 12 months of different tactics, no cohesion, poor performances and our team still looking like they’ve hardly played together, would indicate that coaching is as big a issue as recruitment
you call it bashing the next guy. I call it trying to pin point what are the weak areas in this team. Not disputing that Robbo wasn’t helped but he was atrocious yesterday. Out of possession and in possession
there was a lot worse issues than robertson on his own. because he was on his own. what exactly do you want him to do against 2 or 3 players at times. BTW I am not saying he was even a 6/10 here. I'm saying he's on a hiding to nothing. Weaker areas: 1. Gakpo LCM. back hole there in terms of control of ball, clasoing down and tackling 2. Diaz. Again faded quickly in press, pulled to LCM and still didnt put a leg near james who he could help with 3. Macallister. players running off him constantly. Put in unfamiliar tactical requirement as h as playing ACM all preseason in klopps tactics. never closed sterling down in the half space. 4. Trent being incredibly sloppy and under hitting passes etc. 5. Salah not holding up one ball and getting us into the game. Not pressing after 20mins thats just off the top of my head. and I WAS screaming block a ****ing cross at robertson as james put in 6 in a row for their goal.
I referred to this as not one real yellow card during the game. given people far too much time and space . we half close and stand off and are too passive. put a foot in and if its a foul so be it. but if you are so afraid of being beaten or ran past that you don't get physical then you'll be making it real easy for these sides. we could easily have lost that game late on after letting a player run nearly the length of the pitch and set up a shot from a corner rather than just foul in the centre circle and take the yellow.
hard to judge based on cheslea issues at the same time but he looked eager and for me thats important.
Gakpo did a sneaky one I seem to remember. The only others were Robbo, and in particular, Konaté. The latter was skating on thin ice due to desperation and luckily none were given. Players like Lucas and Firmino were adept at preventing counter-attacks with a deliberate "mistimed" tackle and an innocent expression. Milner just buried anyone that came near him and somehow got away with it most of the time.
the prem refs are reverting to 80s. at this point you can actually get away with leg breakers. but seriously if you stand up and don't use your studs you can push, pull, drag and kick players all you like in a game. they have got so in love with the concept of degrees of force that if you don't slide in from miles with studs up you can get away with murder. standing 2 or 3 yards off the opponents and not actually engaging them is an issue if you are not just all sitting deep in shape. whje there's gaps for all the othe relaxers to run into and receive the ball then you are always on a hiding.
Interesting one about the refs. Clearly being instructed to let more go and let the game flow but when Enzo Fernandez made head contact with Diogo Jota right in front of the ref, that would have been a red card in the past.
