ES Soccer Thread

[SkinssRvA]

I was just watching the gerard slip again and, like i usually do when i get on youtube, i started clicking and went down a strange rabbit hole.  There's a series called "If a liverpool fan was a commentator" and I won't ruin it, but it's pretty damn funny.  Even if you're a pool fan, I promise 

[MisterPinstripe]

6 minutes ago, SkinssRvA said:

I was just watching the gerard slip again and, like i usually do when i get on youtube, i started clicking and went down a strange rabbit hole.  There's a series called "If a liverpool fan was a commentator" and I won't ruin it, but it's pretty damn funny.  Even if you're a pool fan, I promise 

Hahaha, "THATS A FOUL".

[Gibbs Hog Heaven]

Ok, now I'm home and have time, let's look at last nights absolute shambles. The worst we've played under Jürgen for me on an absolutely horrible night the match. Made even worse by not getting back the house until after 1 this AM thanks to a frigging rolling roadblock the M6 North. 5-10 MPH on a motorway (Interstate)  is NOT fun! Leicester's the worst place to get out of quick at the best of times without hitting that! 

Not really interested in getting into the future as there's still 12 games left this season which we're more than capable of bouncing through with double figure wins as much as this dire run continuing so it's pointless getting too despondent with talk of 'the top 4's gone/ we'll do well to make the Europa' et all when there's 36 points left to play for and the perfect antidote to last night coming Sat'day in an Arsenal side more schizophrenic and fragile than ourselves. What will be will be come May so no point stressing over things to come. 

So onto last night, starting with .....

Leicester and the difference to other recent loses/ games against similar opponents. 

Congratulations to the them. They were superb. To a man the Leicester fans outside after were saying that's by far and away the most up for a game and the hardest working they've been all year. There was always the fear of a bounce from all the criticism the players have received after what happened last Thursday. And that happened and then some. Even the DM's webbing in a 20 yard screamer. 

The big difference to the easy line of banding all other recent loses/ points dropped against back end of the table sides together with this was Leicester didn't sit back. We didn't come up against two deep lying blocks. Leicester had a real go from the off. The intensity was there for all to see with them blowing HARD by the hour mark from all the non-stop work they put in. They played off the front foot, were first into every challenge, and were on any red shirt like locusts. And then they hit Vardy, who chose yesterday to finally remember he's a striker, with quick balls over the top time and again. 

Completely different from what Swansea offered at Anfield recently. Or Hull the other week et all. 

I think we forget at times in the aftermath of a horrible loss when you've been utter ****e that the opposition is trying just as hard to beat you and deserve praise when they do. 

Leicester had their game of the season last night and fully deserved the win so full credit to them. 

Liverpool. 

Oh dear. Just WHERE do you start here? As well as Leicester played, they had ZERO opposition to really counter. L'pool were beyond shambolic in every phase of the game. 

Abysmal. Disgraceful. Abject. Passionless. Pathetic. Woeful. Effortless. Insert any derogatory adjective and it will fit for what we saw on the pitch last night. I won't single out any individuals as they were all as collectively ****e as each other. Matip was as bad as Lucas. Milner was as bad as Clyne. The two Brazilians as anonymous as each other etc etc. Not one of them you'd even rate a 6. 

One thing you KNEW was going to happen was it was going to be a big first 20 minutes. I wrote on that yesterday when the news of Henderson missing was confirmed. EVERYONE knew Leicester would respond and come out all guns blazing at home and be straight into everything. Everyone seemingly bar L'pool who yet again this season started at a snails pace. Outside of maybe Chelsea away and Tottenham when we stunned them two weeks back has this team started fast all year? From the minute Vardy went through Mané the opening seconds you just knew. The tone was set. Even before Leicester took the lead, Mignolet had already made a good stop from a simple ball down the middle. The tone was set. And as soon as the first goal went in you just wanted to go home. The most predictable result of the season from that point on. All self inflicted from the way they'd started again. Lads were getting off after an hour last night. And it was hard to blame them. 

Absolutely abject display. Both individually and collectively they showed absolutely nothing. No effort nor fight. 2nd best to every challenge. No creativity. They showed absolutely zilch in every aspect most all game. A complete and utter shambles that leaves you scratching your head as to why? You know just how unstoppable they can be when it all clicks. Even when we scored on 68 we barely threatened Schmeichel. 22 frigging minutes, against a team and crowd with the doubt of the season to that point, and L'pool badly struck a bat. Morgan and Huth are like 30 odd year olds who can barely run. Yet we never went directly at them or skinned them for pace. Absolutely inexcusable. Not one player ready to stand up and be counted to drag the others through. 

Absolutely disgrace from every last one out there. 

The manager. 

Klopp and his staff take their share of the blame too alongside the players. We're a collective when we win. We're a collective when we lose. 

My two gripes with him last night: 

The slow start. YET AGAIN! He's talking after how frustrating it was to see them start slow and he doesn't want that. Well neither do we mate but that's what we've had since frigging August! I get pacing yourselves into a game and being the far fitter side in rhythm late on. But games get won in this league early and we're conceding the initiative FAR too often. 

Pre game/ in-game management. Change things. I'm 100% down with sticking to our philosophy. All the talk of 'Plan A' and not having a 'Plan B' is fluff. If you truly believe in what you do, what's tried and tested and proven to work, and the players are fully confident to stick to it then you're gonna' win more often that you lose. Ask Pep his career. But when you're lacking a key player in the captain and you know Can brings nothing like Henderson does to the table, tweak things. Tweak the formation slightly to compensate his lack of a quick mind. Lucas is having a nightmare, make the change at half time. Which in fairness he'd say he did with the switch to 3 and wing backs but take a lad who's suffering off and bring your recognised centre half on. As ****e as Klaven's been recently he couldn't of been any worse. 

I don't really blame him for starting Lucas BTW. The options just aren't there. Klaven's been garbage as mentioned. And with Lovren out who do you play? No doubt Joe Gomez would of come in if he hadn't been out so long but he's still regaining match fitness and form which have both been up and down the 23's since the initial adrenalin boost of his comeback after so long out. And I get playing the higher line. Vardy's been absolutely abysmal this season. Lucas was outstanding against Tottenham. Matip dropping off is no slouch. You want to press the issue. It's how we play. (Or at least normally do. None of that was in evidence last night.). Plus with no Henderson, he's a lad (Lucas) who is sound on the ball and can step up into midfield with it like Matip. But when you see Vardy's suddenly playing like he's high on every drug known to man, ****ING ADJUST and compensate! 

Where I do feel for him is how his preparation all turned late in the break. You prepare hard for facing the piss poor Leicester of this year under Ranieri. Only to have him sacked the Thursday before and no idea they were going to complete change everything they've done of late to go back to last years formation/ version. Then he loses a key player in Henderson who is absolutely vital to this side. (61.5 % win percentage with him in the side verses him out.). With nobody to bring in of the same standard. 

And you can't legislate for every single player having a collective stinker. I don't think I've seen our front 5/6 as bad as that collectively since well back into last season. Bad decisions. Confidence seeping out of them leading to too many touches and nobody even daring to get forward in numbers. Nobody willing to take a man on. Take a shot. Nothing. ALL of them frustratingly having an off day. As much as you prepare your team, when that happens you're at a loss as a coach and Jürgen was as frustrated as anyone the touchline that everything he wants from this team just wasn't happening. 


All in all just a horribly ****e day at the office that, to take nothing away from a really good Leicester display, L'pool brought upon themselves yet again with things that are easily avoidable. 

But it's past. Arsenal Saturday with the bonus of a Sat'day tea-time KO. Everyone nicely bevvied and up for a great atmosphere to get this back on track. 

LONG way to go yet this season. 

Up the Reds!

 

Hail. 

[Gibbs Hog Heaven]

Well that's one of the strangest things to not happen in January. 

Liverpool news: PSG interest in Daniel Sturridge was turned down - Goal.com

 

Hail. 

[Gibbs Hog Heaven]

That's our (God willing) future manager: 

 

 

Hail. 

[Gibbs Hog Heaven]

Liverpool target Leipzig’s dynamo Keita to energise midfield - Goal.com

Never so much as heard of this lad, let alone seen him play, but he reads as the perfect back-up to Henderson. 

Need to try catch some Lepzig games before the seasons done out of pure interest.

 

Hail. 

[Old Bay]

Two games under Mowbray and 4 points.  Looking positive, but who knows with this club.  Tough task facing 2nd place Brighton & Hove Albion this weekend.  I would be happy with a point.

 

I think Craig Conway would be a good captain for Rovers (or Charlie Mulgrew, but he has injury issues), but I think Jason Lowe got it when Hanley left because he was the longest tenured player and came up through the academy.  

[RichmondRedskin88]

On 3/1/2017 at 10:16 AM, Gibbs Hog Heaven said:

Liverpool target Leipzig’s dynamo Keita to energise midfield - Goal.com

Never so much as heard of this lad, let alone seen him play, but he reads as the perfect back-up to Henderson. 

Need to try catch some Lepzig games before the seasons done out of pure interest.

 

Hail. 

 

 

I dont see Bayern snooping. I think we're looking for a winger and back up striker. Isco or Hazard would be a fun grab though.  The attack would be awesome.  I wouldn't mind a workhorse like Sanchez.

[Gibbs Hog Heaven]

I hadn't realised that the Wrap lads had put this out as free show. (Thought it was just on the subscription so I couldn't share it.) This is an absolutely brilliant listen with a fascinating top sports psychologist. Mainly Klopp-centric. But in relation to the similarity's between what he's doing at Anfield and what Pep adhered to at Barca. With a Hell of a lot of interest for general football fans. Lots of Pep/ Barca snippets. One of the best hour 20 minutes I've listened to in ages. Top class stuff. Some of the stuff on Pep and how he weaded out top class players like Eto, Ronaldinho, Zlatan et all who didn't fit the behavioural culture at Barca and a clubs whole cultural identity that underpins everything is something else. 

BTW, the Manc lad here, Damian Hughes ..... If you've not read any of his books, do. He's riveting reading and completely open your mind up. 

Seriously, make a brew and take a listen. You WON'T regret it. Fascinating stuff. 

https://audioboom.com/posts/5627117-the-anfield-wrap-jurgen-klopp-s-thinking-games

 

Hail. 

[Gibbs Hog Heaven]

Klopp: Liverpool will have the spending power to land top talent this summer - Liverpool Echo

FSG OUT!

 

Hail. 

[Gibbs Hog Heaven]

Well that was worth hanging on for before starting this match day. 

Don't normally comment on the U-18's, but they've just rounded off the regular season in style by handing by far and away the best group at this age level in the Country, Manchester City, their first defeat of the season 2-0. Soaked up a lot of pressure but a dug in with a great team performance against a side that will doubtless win it all the Champions playoff group we now both progress to as well as being a shoe-in to beat Stoke the Youth Cup semis. 

With Stevie Gerrard giving the pre and H/T team talk for the first time as he expands on the coaching trail. 

Historic day all round. 

Now to take care of an Arsenal side even more fragile and schizophrenic than ourselves. See you back in the top 4 later on. 

Up the Reds!

 

Hail. 

[MisterPinstripe]

Yes! United drew, which puts them I  striking range. Of course we still need to beat Spurs but....

[Gibbs Hog Heaven]

5 minutes ago, MisterPinstripe said:

Yes! United drew, which puts them I  striking range. Of course we still need to beat Spurs but....

 

They are bang average. How people are getting carried away by the VERY misleading table is beyond me. 

 

That's 7 home draws the last 11 at home. 17 games unbeaten and NEVER left 6th. Tells you all you need to know about Utd and how many points they've dropped. Not a top 4 threat at all. 

 

Hail. 

[MisterPinstripe]

16 minutes ago, Gibbs Hog Heaven said:

 

They are bang average. How people are getting carried away by the VERY misleading table is beyond me. 

 

That's 7 home draws the last 11 at home. 17 games unbeaten and NEVER left 6th. Tells you all you need to know about Utd and how many points they've dropped. Not a top 4 threat at all. 

 

Hail. 

They would be in a lot of trouble without Ibra.

[FanboyOf91]

 

Wenger waves the white flag.

[JWB]

2 hours ago, MisterPinstripe said:

They would be in a lot of trouble without Ibra.

 

Wouldn't be surprised if he gets a red from the FA after throwing elbows today. Granted I think it was good on him to do so, but still.

Edited March 4, 2017 by JWB

[FanboyOf91]

game over lol

 

#WengerOut

 

Edited March 4, 2017 by FanboyOf91

[FanboyOf91]

 

[Est.1974]

Wenger is done after that. Game Over.

[FrFan]

 

[MisterPinstripe]

Going to be strange to see Arsenal without Wenger. Wonder what they will look like. I'm assuming they will mover on.

Edited March 5, 2017 by MisterPinstripe

[FrFan]

6 hours ago, MisterPinstripe said:

Going to be strange to see Arsenal without Wenger. Wonder what they will look like. I'm assuming they will mover on.

Probably some sort of Augean stables clean up ala NY Jets

[SkinssRvA]

Too bad for Sunderland so far.  Have deserved a goal, even with all the possession in favor of City.  

[Gibbs Hog Heaven]

Mad busy weekend so never got the chance to run down the match. Save to say an absolutely super team performance from back to front. Complete domination. The little tweak in formation to more a 4-2-1-3, dropping Wijnaldum back alongside Can, helped out Emre immeasurably. Thought that was one of the most complete games he's played for this club. Never had any doubt about the top 4 regardless of the injury fuelled last few month horrendous dip. Hopefully now this is the start of another long run. 

 

But I wanted to post this. Not from a Lennon POV. Can't see him ever being any more than MLS standard. Just figured you'd all be happy with the US winning something regardless of the level: 

 

http://www.thisisanfield.com/2017/03/liverpool-striker-brooks-lennon-helps-united-states-concacaf-u20-championship-glory/

 

Hail. 

Edited March 6, 2017 by Gibbs Hog Heaven

[MisterPinstripe]

Well the loss was expect but still unfortunate. Couldnt control the midfield enough through out the day but this game also just continues to show why we need a new keeper, which I have said since before the season started. The first Kane goal was a really well struck ball, but he was rather far out and there were no players in the way, Robles should have been able to parry that away. And the second goal I also put on Robles, though obviously Schnederlin played a part by losing it. Robles should have never rolled it out to him with so many Spurs players around him, bad decision that resulted in a goal.