The Footie Thread

[GG26]

We are going down. The defence has been a shambles all season and the team confidence is rock bottom. When the first goal went in we all knew there was no way back and for the first time that I can remember we didn’t even attempt to get behind them after that. From 15 to 45 minutes I don’t think that we entered the Liverpool box once.

 

[Aztecs27]

Well, for Everton and Forest fans......it's in our own hands now, 2 games to go. Based on the season so far, it's as much as we could ask for.

If you’d have given me this exact scenario back in July, I’d have bitten your hand off. If you lose to wolves early doors Sat a point against the Gooners will see us clear. The city ground will be absolutely bouncing on Saturday night (and I’m gutted I can’t be there). I really really hope we can get the job done, as I don’t think I can take going to Palace on the final day needing something.

 

[Billysboots]

We are going down. The defence has been a shambles all season and the team confidence is rock bottom. When the first goal went in we all knew there was no way back and for the first time that I can remember we didn’t even attempt to get behind them after that. From 15 to 45 minutes I don’t think that we entered the Liverpool box once.

It pains me to say it, as I have family and friends in Leicestershire and many are Foxes fans, but over the course of the season they probably deserve it.

The big issue for them has been players in key positions who simply aren’t good enough. You cannot let a proven ‘keeper like Schmeichel go and then rely on two Championship standard replacements. I don’t care that Ward is an international - he simply doesn’t have Premier League pedigree. Neither does Iversen.

And in Wout Faes they have a centre half who is the closest thing I have seen to a headless chicken in years. Every time I have seen him he has been all over the place, last night being no exception. Having made a hash of the long ball leading to Liverpool’s first, he was then chasing shadows until it was tucked away.

Their form has been wretched all season so, I’m afraid, they are totally deserving of their current position in the table.

 

[Aztecs27]

Current form table....
Forest vs. Arsenal on Sat is really right in the balance

 

[Bdill93]

View attachment 47759

Current form table....
Forest vs. Arsenal on Sat is really right in the balance

Its a great time to play them. Now playing for absolutely nothing! Biggest bottle job of the league I've seen

Do you reckon we can do a job at Liverpool away? We need to!

 

[Aztecs27]

Its a great time to play them. Now playing for absolutely nothing! Biggest bottle job of the league I've seen

Do you reckon we can do a job at Liverpool away? We need to!

We could have beaten them with 19% possession mate had we not defended set pieces like a Sunday league team...They're definitely beatable.

 

[hairball_89]

Its a great time to play them. Now playing for absolutely nothing! Biggest bottle job of the league I've seen

Do you reckon we can do a job at Liverpool away? We need to!

Can you beat us? Absolutely. Will you? If we can carry on this run of performances, no. If we suddenly start playing like the we’ve forgotten what sport we’re playing? Easily!

And can everyone please stop picking on Wout Faes! For a while he was out top scorer this year!

 

[Bdill93]

Can you beat us? Absolutely. Will you? If we can carry on this run of performances, no. If we suddenly start playing like the we’ve forgotten what sport we’re playing? Easily!

And can everyone please stop picking on Wout Faes! For a while he was out top scorer this year!

I don't think you're giving us much credit to be fair, no one has scored more than 1 past us since the 18th Feb home or away....

I'm not saying we're going to beat you, but all runs have to come to an end at some point......

 

[Orikoru]

Now that TAA is playing in midfield, anyone else think that Liverpool are missing some width on the right? When they go forward, there is plenty of space just begging for someone to go on a run down the wing but no one is making the run

I don't watch the games, but people keep mentioning about Trent playing midfield, then I check their line-up and he's listed at right-back as always. What's the deal here?

 

[Deleted member 15344]

I don't watch the games, but people keep mentioning about Trent playing midfield, then I check their line-up and he's listed at right-back as always. What's the deal here?

He is playing as an inverted full back , when we have the ball he moves into midfield and plays as a deep lying midfielder spraying the passes around - his is creating from the middle of the park instead of just going up and down the right flank

When he does move inside one of the midfielders ( mainly Henderson ) moves out to the right hand side to help create the space and also provide width

But it’s a roaming role , he still moves back across to the right back space. It’s almost like playing 3 at the back at times

 

[Orikoru]

He is playing as an inverted full back , when we have the ball he moves into midfield and plays as a deep lying midfielder spraying the passes around - his is creating from the middle of the park instead of just going up and down the right flank

When he does move inside one of the midfielders ( mainly Henderson ) moves out to the right hand side to help create the space and also provide width

But it’s a roaming role , he still moves back across to the right back space. It’s almost like playing 3 at the back at times

Ah ok. So you've nicked City's tactics then. I guess if you can't beat 'em join 'em.

It would make decent sense just to play him on the right of the midfield 3 anyway, where Beckham used to thrive, and just buy a top class right back who can defend. Kills two birds with one stone since your midfield needs upgrading anyway.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Ah ok. So you've nicked City's tactics then. I guess if you can't beat 'em join 'em.

It would make decent sense just to play him on the right of the midfield 3 anyway, where Beckham used to thrive, and just buy a top class right back who can defend. Kills two birds with one stone since your midfield needs upgrading anyway.

They won’t be bringing in a right back and moving him them permanently and he isn’t just playing on the right of the midfield three - when he moves in he is fluid that he moves across to the left as well , wherever he can get on the ball.

 

[Orikoru]

They won’t be bringing in a right back and moving him them permanently and he isn’t just playing on the right of the midfield three - when he moves in he is fluid that he moves across to the left as well , wherever he can get on the ball.

I understood. I just meant that's quite a niche tactic just to get something out of him, you might be better off just playing him in midfield in the first place. Given that half your midfielders are past it now.

 

[hairball_89]

I understood. I just meant that's quite a niche tactic just to get something out of him, you might be better off just playing him in midfield in the first place. Given that half your midfielders are past it now.

And the other half are before it...

The best way to describe what Klopp has done with Trent is essentially what an under 9s coach does with a player who should be playing in the u12s - "Go on kid, the others can muck about around you, you just do whatever you fancy and we'll pick up the mess" except most of the time the team is better than the local u9s!

 

[chrisd]

I’m not sure I’d criticise Rashford for that. He’s playing his natural game. Haaland is playing his natural game, as is Kane. Can any of them change, and if they do will they be playing to their weaknesses? Rhetorical questions maybe but valid?

Jimmy Greaves played his own natural game and hardly left the opposition penalty area - not a bad player was he !

 

[Deleted member 18121]

I understood. I just meant that's quite a niche tactic just to get something out of him, you might be better off just playing him in midfield in the first place. Given that half your midfielders are past it now.

This is where I'm at with my thinking now.... I'd rather we bought a decent right back this summer and then just played TAA in midfield

 

[clubchamp98]

This is where I'm at with my thinking now.... I'd rather we bought a decent right back this summer and then just played TAA in midfield

Totally agree.
His biggest weakness is defending. So take that pressure off him.
so just don’t put him there
get a right back that can first and foremost defend if he can also push forward when nessesary
that’s a bonus.

 

[BrianM]

Sunderland poor tonight, yet they looked really good in the first leg.

 

[BrianM]

Got to think that whoever wins tomorrow night between City and Madrid will win the final.
Inter don't look like they carry enough to beat either in my opinion, though never say never!!

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Sunderland poor tonight, yet they looked really good in the first leg.

They had a load of possession in the second half, passed it around very slickly, but barely got in Luton's penalty area. No threat at all.

Luton weren't pretty but are physically strong. Always a threat at corners and set pieces.