I ****ing don't City, with the home leg first, is the worst possible scenario for us. In a one off night game at Goodison then I'd have given us a chance, but over 2 legs with the second being at the Etihad, I don't give us a prayer tbh. Stoke will provide stern opposition, but they'll fall short over 2 legs imo.
I think the keeper didn't have a great game but some of the finishing was top class - low, hard and quite close the body. I was a fan of caulker - think he was talented but he was awful last night.
Agree on Caulker, Absolutely awful, wouldn't look out of place with the skates in the basement. A few on our board have been saying Stek should of done better with a couple of goals, I couldn't really tell from where I was sat and I can't bring myself to watch the 'highlights' just yet so would you say he should of saved a couple of them ? (Not that it would of made any real difference to the result)
Koeman is supposed to be a clever coach but yet didn't work out the best way to "counter the counters." In the end his team had run out ideas. Whilst in the first 20 minutes they were on their game, in the last 20 or 30 minutes, they were just passing it around, not sure what to do (reminding us of a certain team a few miles from us, playing for another dutchman!).
Sturridge's second he'll be disappointed with, as it squirmed underneath his body. Yes, it was fired close to him, but a good keeper saves that imo. I thought his positioning in general was poor throughout. His angles were all wrong.
Agree you got the hardest possible draw outcome and we got the easiest on paper too. I hope we see a Merseyside final but I can't see you guys beating Man City over two legs tbh. also, Stoke are a bogey team for us.
Under Mancini we owned them, but since the arrival of Pellegrini we've had regular spankings by them. Our current style of play isn't suited to playing the likes of City, as we're never going to 'out football' them. We need to play kick and rush like you lot did
Fair enough yeah Sturridges goals were other end to me so really couldn't see them. People have noted before about his angles as well though I've never really noticed as much. Can't complain too much really though as he is our backup GK so he isn't going be top notch.
First one, angle was against Sturridge so 50/50, second one went under his body... But did seem like t skipped off the turf and Sturridge was only 8tards out. 3rd, no real chance. 4th, no real chance just a top strike from Origi. 5th no chance, shot defending by VVD 6th again no chance, was just an awesome cross. In my opinion...
I didn't catch the start of the game so missed their goal [still haven't seen it]. For a team that's not played together we did alright didn't we? But who was that Sturridge who scored 2 goals, name sounds familiar but couldn't quite place him [Will they ever get over Lovren? Boos and two special songs ....]
Ilori has constant injuries unfortunately. But Markovic would be thriving I reckon. How about Balotelli?
He's a funny lad is Ilori.. Looked to have bags of potential when playing in the u21 champs this summer.. Comes back, gets injured and before that, couldn't get into one of the worst Villa sides in living memory.. We have Joe Gomez, I'm hoping he could be our John Stones, boy's got power, pace, good on the ball.. could be Sakho's partner next season! If Skrtel and Lovern aren't moved on, then Ilori would be, at best be 5th choice CB, me thinks he's off this summer Wisdom has looked decent but again, if he came back, he be a backup RB at best but we have Flanno, hopefully fit then, to backup Clyne, could be another that leaves this summer. Markovic could (should) be one of the loan guys that has a future, have hopes Klopp could work wonders with him...
That is only to expected and I think they're justified in their actions too. However, I don't think it was fair to do it to Lallana. Time is a great healer though. We would have never have accepted Torres' return (playing for someone else) once upon a time, don't think many would be too bothered now.