The Footie Thread

[Hobbit]

100% a penalty and a sending off for me.
This game showed a lot for me also.
Lukaku will bully weak defenders but disappeared today especially 2nd half.
Mount is pure quality.
Liverpool won’t be in the top 3
AA is never a right back
Matip is not good enough for Liverpool.
Klopp has no confidence in his subs,he needed to change things and didn’t.
Chelsea will be contenders

Definitely a pen and, under the interpretation of the current rules, a sending off.
Lukaku should bully defenders, its his job. He lacked support once Chelsea went to 10 men.
Mount is class.
Liverpool will be 3rd, behind City and Chelsea.
AA is class in the role and style asked of him.
Matip is average. Good enough but wońt set the world on fire.
Klopp plays Klopp´s way. It works. 2nd best manager behind Pep.

 

[pokerjoke]

Trent is one heck of a right back. Best in his position. Personally, I'd have liked him to play wider today. But he was clearly told to come inside with Salah and Elliott.

Matip is superb. You don't start for Liverpool in CL finals if you're not. You also don't keep Gomez out of the team if you're not. What did he do wrong today?

Subs? Klopp always uses his subs late on. Has done all the time he's been here. I don't really like it - I wanted Thiago on at HT. We also had to make a sub in the first half. That always delays subs in case of further injuries. To say he doesn't like the bench is hilarious.

AA best in his position now that’s funny.
Gets caught up field way too often,if Chelsea’s final ball in the first half hour was better it could have been 3.0.
Now some say Klopp wants him to play that way,well that says something about Klopps nievity.
Bielsa is the same,so attack minded buts forgets defense,class teams attack these spaces.

Matip is better than Gomez and imo Gomez is definitely not good enough.
Matip is better but IMO not good enough,it’s my opinion.

As someone said Liverpool were easy to defend against because it was all in front of them,you needed width down the right against Alonso and the Ox was available.
Even the commentary was saying they needed width.
Not in the top 3 for me,maybe even 5th

 

[Swango1980]

AA is a decent crosser of the ball. That is about his only talent. I've never watched him and thought he is a good defender. I doubt any left wingers ever fear coming up against him.

 

[Cherry13]

Matip is superb. You don't start for Liverpool in CL finals if you're not.

Djimi Traore??

I think Matip is ok, obviously better alongside VVD (who wouldn’t be) but superb isn’t a word I’d use to describe him.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Trent is one heck of a right back. Best in his position. Personally, I'd have liked him to play wider today. But he was clearly told to come inside with Salah and Elliott.

Matip is superb. You don't start for Liverpool in CL finals if you're not. You also don't keep Gomez out of the team if you're not. What did he do wrong today?

Subs? Klopp always uses his subs late on. Has done all the time he's been here. I don't really like it - I wanted Thiago on at HT. We also had to make a sub in the first half. That always delays subs in case of further injuries. To say he doesn't like the bench is hilarious.

Amazing how players that helped Liverpool walk the league suddenly become not that good

Matip is quality , shame about his injury issues

TAA is just world class

it was two points dropped today - wasn’t very fluid for long enough.

VVD is easing himself in and was excellent as was Elliot , Fabinho and Matip

Good game - was a penalty and whilst the red was harsh I guess it’s correct

 

[Billysboots]

Trent is one heck of a right back. Best in his position.

I’m sure I’m not alone when I say I disagree. He is a great wing back, because of what he brings Liverpool in an attacking sense, but best in his position as a right back? A good number of my Liverpool supporting mates say he is nowhere near as good defensively as other right backs.

He needs to be on the right of a back five, not four.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

I’m sure I’m not alone when I say I disagree. He is a great wing back, because of what he brings Liverpool in an attacking sense, but best in his position as a right back? A good number of my Liverpool supporting mates say he is nowhere near as good defensively as other right backs.

He needs to be on the right of a back five, not four.

I believe the defensive stats showed him to be above all the other England right backs

he is a solid defender as well - not many get passed him and his positioning has improved a lot of the last couple of seasons - tonight if anything he wasnt great on the ball

 

[pokerjoke]

Amazing how players that helped Liverpool walk the league suddenly become not that good

Matip is quality , shame about his injury issues

TAA is just world class

it was two points dropped today - wasn’t very fluid for long enough.

VVD is easing himself in and was excellent as was Elliot , Fabinho and Matip

Good game - was a penalty and whilst the red was harsh I guess it’s correct

You walked the league because it was the weakest PL ever.

AA world class? at what?
Crossing the ball yes
Nowhere near as a right back,if he could defend and get forward he would be very good.
If he was world class he would have made the Euros squad easy,even Gareth sees he not an out and out quality RB

 

[pokerjoke]

I believe the defensive stats showed him to be above all the other England right backs

he is a solid defender as well - not many get passed him and his positioning has improved a lot of the last couple of seasons - tonight if anything he wasnt great on the ball

Take your blinkers off Phil your watching a totally different game.
His positioning is nowhere near good enough on numerous occasions.

 

[4LEX]

I'd be worried if I was a Liverpool fan judging on today. Chelsea dominated the first half and should've been 2-3 up. Freak handball, red card, penalty and game changed. The second half looked like Liverpool of last season. Neat, tidy but slow and resorting to slinging in crosses with no target. Nothing of note on the bench to change things or improve the attack.

That side doesn't finish Top 3 unless a signing or two comes in. The owners invested in the side, got the results, trophies and are now happy to run it on a budget. Even Arsenal have spent more in the last few years.

Some silly comments on individual players though. Of course TAA is world class. Reece James looks a better mix of defensive class and attacking quality though.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

I'd be worried if I was a Liverpool fan judging on today. Chelsea dominated the first half and should've been 2-3 up. Freak handball, red card, penalty and game changed. The second half looked like Liverpool of last season. Neat, tidy but slow and resorting to slinging in crosses with no target. Nothing of note on the bench to change things or improve the attack.

That side doesn't finish Top 3 unless a signing or two comes in. The owners invested in the side, got the results, trophies and are now happy to run it on a budget. Even Arsenal have spent more in the last few years.

Some silly comments on individual players though. Of course TAA is world class. Reece James looks a better mix of defensive class and attacking quality though.

Whilst Chelsea prob shaded the first half a touch there is no chance they should have been 3 up - not sure how often Alisson was stretched to make too many saves.

So far City have dropped points , Utd dropped points , now Liverpool and Chelsea have dropped points - long way to go yet

The owners are doing the same as they always have done - nothing has changed , the club spends the money it makes and it’s not always about the money that’s spent - UTD over the last 9 years since a Taggert left are proof of that

 

[pokerjoke]

I'd be worried if I was a Liverpool fan judging on today. Chelsea dominated the first half and should've been 2-3 up. Freak handball, red card, penalty and game changed. The second half looked like Liverpool of last season. Neat, tidy but slow and resorting to slinging in crosses with no target. Nothing of note on the bench to change things or improve the attack.

That side doesn't finish Top 3 unless a signing or two comes in. The owners invested in the side, got the results, trophies and are now happy to run it on a budget. Even Arsenal have spent more in the last few years.

Some silly comments on individual players though. Of course TAA is world class. Reece James looks a better mix of defensive class and attacking quality though.

Certainly agree with your first statement.

AA is a right back that is his position.
He’s not a world class RB
Great going forward,great crosser,takes a wicked set play.
But world class at his main position? not for me.
Certainly not a silly comment.

 

[pokerjoke]

Whilst Chelsea prob shaded the first half a touch there is no chance they should have been 3 up - not sure how often Alisson was stretched to make too many saves.

So far City have dropped points , Utd dropped points , now Liverpool and Chelsea have dropped points

The owners are doing the same as they always have done - nothing has changed , the club spends the money it makes and it’s not always about the money that’s spent - UTD over the last 9 years since a Taggert left are proof of that

Back to calling Sir Alex names again
So childish

 

[hairball_89]

I'd be worried if I was a Liverpool fan judging on today. Chelsea dominated the first half and should've been 2-3 up. Freak handball, red card, penalty and game changed. The second half looked like Liverpool of last season. Neat, tidy but slow and resorting to slinging in crosses with no target. Nothing of note on the bench to change things or improve the attack.

That side doesn't finish Top 3 unless a signing or two comes in. The owners invested in the side, got the results, trophies and are now happy to run it on a budget. Even Arsenal have spent more in the last few years.

Some silly comments on individual players though. Of course TAA is world class. Reece James looks a better mix of defensive class and attacking quality though.

Absolutely not worried at all. This Chelsea team are brilliant. Between us, them, City and United (if all their signings gel, and it looks positive for them on that front) it's going to be a heck of a league. I'm more than happy with the owners filling the gaping hole that was centre back last year and tying down players who are in the top 3-5 in their position in world football - Allison, Fabinho, Robertson, Trent, Van Dijk - to longer contracts.

Bringing players in this season was always going to be difficult with the likes of Shaqiri (now gone to Lyon) and Origi on massive wages, comparable to what they'd get elsewhere, and no space for non-homegrown players. It's very easy to say "they need to bring someone in", but while I'd agree in that I'd like another forward and a player like Bissouma from Brighton (if not actually him!) there's currently no room in the squad. And it's bloody hard to sell players on big wages, as United, Arsenal, Chelsea etc have all shown.

You said nothing of note on the bench, but I'd say Kelleher, Konate, Gomez, Tsimikas, Ox, Keita, Thiago, Minamino, Jota is the strongest bench we've had in years. Clearly Thiago is a wonderful footballer. He's been one of the best midfielders in the game for the best part of a decade. Jota has been brilliant for us, and were it not for the Bobby injury in the first half I'm sure we'd have been playing with "all four" up top for a chunk of the 2nd half. Ox, Keita, Gomez - all in the same boat for me, that is they need games. Keita started the season brilliantly, but Fabinho was always gonna come back in today.

So yea, not worried. Will we win the league? No idea. Can we? I absolutely think we can. Yes. But so can a number of other clubs.

 

[ColchesterFC]

Absolutely not worried at all. This Chelsea team are brilliant. Between us, them, City and United (if all their signings gel, and it looks positive for them on that front) it's going to be a heck of a league. I'm more than happy with the owners filling the gaping hole that was centre back last year and tying down players who are in the top 3-5 in their position in world football - Allison, Fabinho, Robertson, Trent, Van Dijk - to longer contracts.

Just to pick up on that one point, wasn't the gaping hole at centre back only due to being incredibly unlucky with injuries to players in that one position? With all your centre backs fit and playing was that really a problem position or could the money have been better spent on strengthening other areas of the team? Any club would have struggled last season if they had lost their best 4 centre backs out injured all at the same time, whether that was Man City, Chelsea, Liverpool or any other team.

 

[hairball_89]

Just to pick up on that one point, wasn't the gaping hole at centre back only due to being incredibly unlucky with injuries to players in that one position? With all your centre backs fit and playing was that really a problem position or could the money have been better spent on strengthening other areas of the team? Any club would have struggled last season if they had lost their best 4 centre backs out injured all at the same time, whether that was Man City, Chelsea, Liverpool or any other team.

Yes. 3 centre backs was a risk. I said myself that I'd take 3 centre backs, with Fabinho filling in if he needed to if that meant Thiago came in and we got cover at left back, which we did in Tsimikas. Clearly, that didn't work out like any Liverpool fan wanted and with it went the whole way the team sets up. But getting in a 4th centre back was definitely a priority this summer. I can't think of another team who have gone into a season with so few. What I've seen of Konate, he looks great. He looked brilliant in pre-season... but then everyone does!

 

[ColchesterFC]

Yes. 3 centre backs was a risk. I said myself that I'd take 3 centre backs, with Fabinho filling in if he needed to if that meant Thiago came in and we got cover at left back, which we did in Tsimikas. Clearly, that didn't work out like any Liverpool fan wanted and with it went the whole way the team sets up. But getting in a 4th centre back was definitely a priority this summer. I can't think of another team who have gone into a season with so few. What I've seen of Konate, he looks great. He looked brilliant in pre-season... but then everyone does!

I wasn't doubting Konate as a player, more as to whether he was what you most needed or whether there were other areas that were more important to be strengthened. The question was more whether you could've gone with 3 centre backs + Fabinho if needed and Neco Williams/Nat Phillips as a back up and spent the money elsewhere in the team.

 

[hairball_89]

I wasn't doubting Konate as a player, more as to whether he was what you most needed or whether there were other areas that were more important to be strengthened. The question was more whether you could've gone with 3 centre backs + Fabinho if needed and Neco Williams/Nat Phillips as a back up and spent the money elsewhere in the team.

Well, yes. We could have. But I think they were always going to buy one, because nobody really knew how Van Dijk and Gomez were going to come back from their injuries. Matip's was a little different, but not buying and then Van Dijk (especially) not being ready for the season would have been awful planning.

As I said in my longer post, I'd like a forward. I like the look of Minamino, but I don't think he's quite got it. Someone else in the mould of Jota, who absolutely hit the ground running, can play across the front 3 and longer term challenge them. But I have no idea who that is. Overall, I'm super happy with the balance of the squad, yes you can pick holes if you try hard enough but in the grand scheme of things we're in a bloody good position.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

I wasn't doubting Konate as a player, more as to whether he was what you most needed or whether there were other areas that were more important to be strengthened. The question was more whether you could've gone with 3 centre backs + Fabinho if needed and Neco Williams/Nat Phillips as a back up and spent the money elsewhere in the team.

The plan was always to replace Lovren with a young CB - they looked at some guy at Braga last summer but was a bit too step in price , Klopp liked Kabak and was getting glowing reviews from Klopps mate Wagner and but Edwards and his team really liked Konate but had to wait until his release clause was active and didn’t want to lose out on him

I had a feeling that they would have also looked to bring in a forward if they could move on Origi but its proving tricky at the moment

 

[ColchesterFC]

Well, yes. We could have. But I think they were always going to buy one, because nobody really knew how Van Dijk and Gomez were going to come back from their injuries. Matip's was a little different, but not buying and then Van Dijk (especially) not being ready for the season would have been awful planning.

As I said in my longer post, I'd like a forward. I like the look of Minamino, but I don't think he's quite got it. Someone else in the mould of Jota, who absolutely hit the ground running, can play across the front 3 and longer term challenge them. But I have no idea who that is. Overall, I'm super happy with the balance of the squad, yes you can pick holes if you try hard enough but in the grand scheme of things we're in a bloody good position.

I don't disagree with you in terms of being in a good position. Chelsea are looking good, Man City could've done with an Aguero replacement but will still be strong and Man Utd could be challengers if Ole gets it right. As a neutral I've got my fingers crossed that those four drop points and take points off each other during the season to keep it interesting for as long as possible. I think the three I've mentioned, plus Liverpool, will be the top 4 at the end of the season in whatever order, let's just hope for a close title race.