Yeah, well I did say before the Cheslea game that I hope we wrote pre-season off as an experiment. Once the serious stuff starts there's no time to faff about. I'd hate to see Robbo in a withdrawn role, that would cut off another of our main supply lines to the forwards.
How I would potentially go about this is the following (purely based on three principles) 1. there must be width 2. Play the best players 3. Achieve balance Alisson Trent Konate VVD Robertson Endo Macallister szoboszlai Diaz Salah Jota 4-2-2-2- Give diaz and szoboszlai the freedom. Push salah and jota on narrower as forwards Give macallister and endo the brghton blocker roles Give trent and robbo licence to push right up as wide full backs and stay wide Give vvd and konate the base to stick together and be partners. If a side wants to attack us they need to go do it from wide areas, not down the middle TBH i'm not that big a fan of gakpo
So, we think Endo is ready to starto? Or will he be off the bench again? One week enough to earn Klopp's trust? Although, I guess the Macca situation will somewhat force his hand regardless.
I was quitely pleased with endo when he came on. Looked to take the ball on the turn and progress us up the pitch, got about well, looked fairly strong. Caught a couple of times, but they did have an extra man. Promising rather than anything else.
Bajcetic was on the bench which is a good sign as well. Maybe too early to rush back with a start but hopefully means isn’t far from getting proper involved again. thiago back in training believe as well
it's a death match for 4th. chelsea need time to get their crappy act together. so by rights should be out of this before their single striker settles in or their baby cbs learn how to defend. etc. that leaves newcastle spurs, Liverpool and utd trailing in brightens wake for 4th place. newcastle are strong physically but meh. organised yes but I don't quite get that sense it's a lock. utd won't score enough. they've bought badly again imo and not improved at all. in fact they might even be worse. spurs can't defend. they might be very attacking and have a go but we will see how consistent they can be and use the no Europe to their advantage. we are an shambles at the moment. I don't understand how tactically it's so so poor. plenty of options there as a squad but it needs to come together. most of our issues seem self inflicted.
Thiago back in training. Thiago injured in training. Klopp spares Thiago training sessions so he is available for selection. Thiago injured in warm up session. Klopp spares Thiago training sessions and warm up sessions. Thiago has match fitness of road-killed badger. Klopp interview: "With the departure of Naby, we have some big, seldom-worn boots to seldom fill. Thiago is doing a great job as his replacement by not stepping up to the plate"
They've really lit up the league the last few seasons. Continue to do well after selling all their "best" players. It's been illuminating. I'd be highly surprised if they're in top 4 in May though. Newcastle potentially are a positional rival, bad time to be playing them with Macca out and midfield still not settled.
Top two is not settled yet, from end of December we have an idea who is going to win the league and the second position.
man city by 10 points Arsenal in 2nd everyone else is trailing in as a pile of crap all on top of each other as we all are in one form of trouble or another. But at least we are not everton
Don't write off Everton , they can still make the top four. If Lazarus can come back from the dead they stand a chance.
