Fair play to Saints' second 11 against our third 11 - they bossed the first 40 minutes. The kids did well though and did all the right things. McConnell looked utterly twatted when they took him off, bless him. I've heard loads and loads of talk from the family in Liverpool who watch reserve games about Danns, but I don't want to get carried away like some of us did over Brewster (okay, I deffo did). Pleasing to see Joe put in yet another shift in the no6 role I've been baying for him to be tried out in. In fairness, he looked like he'd never played there before in the first half! Elliott brought lots of energy, but sometimes lost possession too early - but again, another shift by a 'senior' player. Quansah sound, especially when Konate came on and switched places with him so that he could nullify that rapid winger's pace. Kelleher immense again. Clarke is maturing before our eyes. Hope we don't loan all these kids out in the summer.
Liverpool's Premier League fixture away at Everton has been postponed. The Reds' advancement to the quarter-finals of the Emirates FA Cup means the Merseyside derby at Goodison Park, originally set for March 17, will now be rescheduled. A new date for the match will be announced in due course. Everton v Liverpool in Premier League postponed - Liverpool FC
Thought Southampton were really good. 2nd half we improved and controlled it a bit more. Clarke was excellent of the kids.
If we look at things like this: First team: Alisson Trent Konate VVD Robertson Szoboszlai Endo Macallister Salah Nunez Diaz Second team (swap round how you like guys) Kelleher Bradley Gomez Quansah Tsimikas (assumes matip is gone) Elliott Gravenberch Jones (yes this is weak defensively but assumes morton)) Doak Jota Gakpo (not even including Carvalho here) third team Pitaluga/Davies Ramsay nallo Chambers Beck Mcconnell Bajcetic Clark (not even putting nyoni here) Gordon Danns Koumas This third team needs to be getting games and we are looking at 3 players in every position so some should go on loan when we actually have CL football (hopefully) not europa. I'd see this as a potential loan list Pitaluga to a league club. (he is now on loan in Ireland and they have a summer league so the standard isn't bad at all if he plays) Ramsay - if fit we can get him a championship club he needs games now. Beck - If we have two fit LBs. Then his chances would be limited. He's done very well so far so is likely going to be loaned again McConnell IMO will struggle to get enough time. I think a loan here might be no harm Morton/Bajcetic - one will have to go again. We can't get enough games for both. Doak - i feel he needs games to develop his vision. Gordon - He's been out a long time and is not fit but over the summe ri'd be thinking he is one to loan for short term Chambers - he can be a good cb if he gets more games too. carvalho - again someone we need to think of as harry wilson lite. Morton hasn't had a chance with us it'll be interesting to see what we do.
he kept it going all game. quietly effect and more effective when macca came on. I just felt that first half the side was not shutting any lanes off and Southampton had it far to easy to get out and a run on our cbs. we got lucky imo but there you go.
I thought he played well last night, slow at first but he grew into it. No one's instantly perfect. He was much better than when he's at RB. And Donga was right to agree with me
He didn't offer much protection and was a bit lazy getting back at times but that could be said of a few players, and I don't just mean last night. Our midfielders (bar Endo) all do it. I think, given time, Joe could be very good in that role. Realism is, it was a stop gap
Tbf Jurgen even touched on it that we barely have any time to train between games. They're pretty much having to learn new positions on the fly which is why there have been periods in both games this past week where we've looked like a bit of a mess.
Same thought first half he was awful. When kelleher had the ball he dropped back into back 3 in fab type role but then offered zero protection on the counter. Klopp said our press first half was shocking and that prob didn’t help but you’d think as the senior player and being a defender he’d be more inclined to hold a bit, especially after the first 10-15 mins where 2/3 passes were cutting out our whole midfield. Second half he was better but we also had more control so were less counters. He did a job but he’s a defender, let him defend. He’s no better than what we have in that area and not like he’s 20 and could learn the role.
One thing I didn't like, and they're not the only team who do it, is the way their no.23 boxed Kelleher in on every corner. He had his back to him and was bent over with his backside pushing him and at one point had his two arms out behind him holding Kelleher making him completely immobile. That's not allowed. Bearing in mind the amount of corners they had, he did really well not to concede.
I'm so happy for Gomez that after a career marred by injury he's finally getting to show what he can do. However, I don't think he was effective as a DM at all. He got better when we started to control the game, but that's because we were controlling the game and he wasn't needed as much in his defensive role. It wasn't good, and no disrespect to Saints, but a better side would have punished us there. Endo may be a space-filler until we bring in a younger model, but he knows his job. Joe was as bad as Trent in that position, imo.
Maybe, I said earlier that he might get better. I'm just commenting on what I saw, not what I expect in the future. He also had a group of young inexperienced lads along with him. Those lads are great, and I look forward to seeing more of them, but their naivete showed a little at times. There was too much space behind the midfield and in front of the defence. Endo took some time to get used to the PL, and he's slow as a rainy Sunday afternoon, but he makes up for it in positional and tactical nous imo. He gets caught in possession a bit more than I'd like, but he's getting better at shrugging it off now. The balance of the team is so much better with him in it.
I don't think we'll get to see Gomez develop at DM, it was just a stop gap. He does seem to be talking up Milners role though The youngsters were great. I didn't agree with Danns getting MOTM though, think it was more a sentimental token by Ally #strikersunion #supporttheyoungster. Danns did well but seems a little static (out of possession) imo, probably a bit harsh considering it's only his third game and probably not got 90mins under his belt yet. I was more impressed by Clark; he was all over the place trying to get involved, make things happen and general take control of the game. I like the look of McDonnell too although he has a very weird body type
BTW, is it just me, or does anyone else feel like any entity that owns a club (or any entity owned by another entity that owns a club in the competition) should not be a title-sponsor of any competition that club competes in. I am in no way saying that they're trying to influence the cup behind the scenes, but it just doesn't "look good" and hints at impropriety.
