I think we're all reading too much into this game. Imo wholesale changes rarely - if ever - work. I don't think there's much point in evaluating players on the basis of that game. Roll on the derby, and let's hope it takes the nasty taste away.
I didn't pick out any individual players specifically for that reason. An adaptation of the old headmaster's collective admonishment line fits here 'you let yourselves down, you let the team down, you let the fans down'. We move on.
that was especially the case in the first half. Indeed, I think Jota barely touched the ball until the 85th minute, and that was after he'd dropped back to accommodate Darwin.
We played more-or-less the same side against PSV, but I don't think the reaction has been the same because the kids played quite well in Holland and there wasn't anything at stake. Anyway, blessing in disguise as we'd have been away to City in the next round (Goldbridge fuming at all the easy draws City have been getting for the past decade - has he only just noticed), so we wouldn't have been able to play the kids again in the next round, and we'd be risking our senior squad right in the middle of CL and Prem games.
This has been a bewildering thread to read. I'm not arsed we've gone out, but I'm furious that the players weren't arsed? I'd ask the question if chesia or elliot had played an absolute blinder, do you think they'd start the next match? No, salah and szobozlai are starting. The manager by his team selection has shown that this is very much a secondary consideration so why pull your bollocks off for something that will be forgotten about i a couple if weeks.
We had eight internationals in that starting line-up. Okay, Gomez went off early doors, but we brought on another international late in the game in darwin. Much has been said about how bang-average the juniors were, but we have every right to be concerned over players who should be ready to step into the first eleven should there be inevitable injuries and fatigue, especially when we now embark on 5 games in 15 days. No problem with the side Slot put out, or going out of the Cup, but that performance was abysmal.
Clearly no-one cared enough. That isn't to say they just walked through it, but it shows that at the highest level that extra 1 or 2% effort makes all the difference. We've seen it before in games that are seemingly foregone conclusions, a slight easing off the gas and you can come unstuck. Like I said earlier, we're just over-thinking it imo. Normal service will be resumed.
I think your confusing quality with motivation. We could have had our first 11 playing, but as can be seen by the reaction on here, if nobody is that arsed, it's going to be a poor performance. Plymouth defended very well, on mass. Some if their players looked ready to go to war for the result. Our players looked like they'd be happier going to bed. I think the critism is a bit over the top, when looking at the game dispationatly.
You are right. I do think slot will have looked at that and added a few notes to his opinions on players though.
Slot saying jones would have played but wasn’t feeling well. Nunez also had a kid 2 days before and was in Spain hence his inclusion only from the bench and Gomez obviously going off injured.
I don’t know, maybe you should because you are a professional footballer, that you earn a big salary for playing, that the fans rightly expect anyone who pulls on that shirt to give their all or maybe it’s just me
I see your point, and I agree to an extent - I just think the easing off is a subconscious one. We didn't have motivators on the pitch to overcome that, whether Slot could have done more at half time I don't know. I think the attitude was that we are a better side and just have to keep plugging away and it will come good. It was only in the last 10 or 15 minutes that some players seemed to come to life. It's not the first time we've seen this happen.
Had to do a double take, then I thought nah, Klopp's got more class than that ...... white plastic carrier bag, tsk, tsk.
