A mistake from Delph ruined what would've been a deserved clean sheet in the 1st leg against Tottenham.
We were in red hot form in the League.
The 2nd Leg v. Tottenham
Laporte was partnered with Kompany. We had the perfect start to the game, with a wonder goal to level the aggregate in the first 5 minutes.
Everyone knew we were a better team than Tottenham, but even they probably didn't envision going a goal down so quickly. We sucked the life out of them before the game even began... and then 5 minutes later...
Man City 1 - 2 Tottenham (1- 3 Agg)
Napoli are Facing Liverpool at Anfield. Last Match day of the CL group stage.
Napoli is ahead of Liverpool, So a draw would be enough for Napoli to go through.
after a quiet 30 minutes to start the game, suddenly...
Liverpool 1 - 0 Napoli
If that had been one of our defenders other than Laporte, they would have been crucified on here. As it's Koulibaly it'll be completely ignored because it doesn't suit the argument that he's the bestest of the bestest and doesn't make any mistakes ever.
The post in context was a piss take of other people who seemingly think Koulibaly or a world class CB is the answer to all our defensive problems while being able to end world poverty, end climate change, bring world peace and produce a vaccine for corona at the same time. The video posted just highlights how stupid any defender in the world can look when isolated 1 vs 1.Is this where I should post one of those "Great players humiliate other great players" youtube montages? Koulibaly got done by Salah, these things happen. Van Djik was made a fool by Mahrez letting in what should have been the 5th the other day, and he also got absolutely massacred by some Korean no-body at Salzburg earlier in the campaign. You will never find a defender that doesn't make mistakes or looks bad from time to time.
The thing is we got two big money defenders that consistently goes to shit every single time the circumstances isn't 100% ideal. They can't play together anymore, they had a decent run for a couple of months 3 years ago (Alexis Sanchez was still a decent player back then) but they have proven time and time again that they won't be able to hack it as a duo anymore. Now it has also come to the point that a 35 year old declining midfielder and a unfinished 19 year old is preferred over them.
Its long overdue we had two world-class centre-backs for the money we have spent. We finally got a taste for it in the run-in last year
The post in context was a piss take of other people who seemingly think Koulibaly or a world class CB is the answer to all our defensive problems while being able to end world poverty, end climate change, bring world peace and produce a vaccine for corona at the same time. The video posted just highlights how stupid any defender in the world can look when isolated 1 vs 1.
I’m sorry but I’m gonna disagree wholeheartedly with this. Otamendi’s tendency to go down on tackles (and failing) will happen irregardless of whatever system’s he’s playing in. Stones tendency to make unforced errors as well as getting outmuscled would happen in whatever defensive system.Otamendi would look top class in that Liverpool team instead of VVD. The intensity and aggression of their forwards and midfielders is unreal, it means the CB's have one job in 95% of games; to stop strikers getting in behind the defence.
At City we want our CB's not only to stop strikers getting in behind but we also expect them to be aggressive as part of our pressing which requires more tactical awareness, intelligence and decision making skills. That's why the players who succeed are players like Kompany, Laporte and Garcia. Even Fernandinho has the intelligence as a defensive midfielder to look very good at CB.
Stones and Otamendi are only capable when we're pressing with intensity and aggression and they only have one job to do. When our intensity and aggression levels drop, they're fucked because they suddenly have to engage their brain and for all intents and purposes they're lacking in that department compared to our expectation levels. They're both very good players and would be very good players in 99% of teams because they wouldn't be required to do as much decision making.
Most top teams, except the rags, don't set up like that though.
Liverpool focus on defensive solidarity first & create exclusively from the full-backs(and false 9).
So even in transitions or during counters, the LFC defense is rarely exposed as much as most top teams would be.
Van Dijk's a master at passive defending & has a good long ball, which is perfect for Klopp's style of play.
Be passive in transitions & within seconds he'll have numerous bodies around him to help deal with the threat.
The guy knows what his strength & weaknesses are.
How often do you see Liverpool's centre backs defending on the front door? Otamendi wouldn't be diving in as often because he wouldn't be left exposed as often. Likewise with Stones, he wouldn't get caught in no man's land as often because he would only have one job to do. They'd both still make mistakes because all defenders do; Kompany, Laporte, VVD, Koulibaly all make mistakes at times. To suggest the system is irrelevant is pretty strange to say the least, that's why nearly every poster on here understands the importance of being able to play in our high line, even if not everyone agrees on how best to do so.I’m sorry but I’m gonna disagree wholeheartedly with this. Otamendi’s tendency to go down on tackles (and failing) will happen irregardless of whatever system’s he’s playing in. Stones tendency to make unforced errors as well as getting outmuscled would happen in whatever defensive system.
It wasn’t, Laporte was the alternative to Van Dijk, Laporte is better for us than van dijk, injury apart. Not gettind Van Dijk has no relevance to us.In hindsight one of the club's worst ever mistakes not paying whatever it took to get van dijk. But, can't look back, let's hope we're not frightened to pay what it takes to get Koulibaly, otherwise the wank defending and errors will continue and this fantastic group of attacking players won't win as much as they deserve because of stupid mistakes at the back.
Need to finally sort the centre back position out once and for all, or get used to seeing shithouse teams in red lifting trophies. Pay the fees, get Koulibaly in.
Stones & Otamendi(TOTS) looked world class in 17/18 when the pressing & aggression from the front 6 was at its peak.
1) Who was our best CB this season? (out of a bad bunch admittedly)
2) Laporte won 43 of his first 50 PL games with Stones & Otamendi as the main partners. Can he be the leader of our backline next season?
3) If(hypothetical scenario) we can guarantee that Laporte goes a full season with no injuries, Do we still need to buy an "experienced leader at CB"?
4) in 12 months, could Garcia possibly improve at the same rate as Foden?
It's quite nice being able to look at things in perspective, agree with parts of your post and disagree with other parts and formulate my own opinion. You on the other hand will find it very difficult to locate anywhere I have disagreed with the last bit of your post, however in an attempt to justify your stupidity you'll post it anyway, pretty sad really.It must be tiring having a know-it-all, me against the world attitude to life.
It's not much of a piss take either when Koulibaly is clearly a better defensive option than every other player we have barring Laporte.
I'm having a discussion my friend. I like to know the reasoning behind people's Opinions.I don't know why you're getting so worked up in this thread when you've already said you know "100%" who our CB signing is and it's not Koulibaly?
It's quite nice being able to look at things in perspective, agree with parts of your post and disagree with other parts and formulate my own opinion. You on the other hand will find it very difficult to locate anywhere I have disagreed with the last bit of your post, however in an attempt to justify your stupidity you'll post it anyway, pretty sad really.
How, unless you’re involved in the transfers at the club, could you be that certain that we aren’t in for him?I'm having a discussion my friend. I like to know the reasoning behind people's Opinions.
Koulibaly is not getting signed by Man City. We don't have to worry about that.
I'm interested in knowing why people think he is the sole answer to our defense problems.
You might want to read the previous 168 pages, if you think the general consensus is anything other than Koulibaly being the lord and saviour, then nobody can help you.You've tried to justify your own opinions by taking the piss out of things that nobody said. Ever.
I'd say that's pretty sad.
A blagger cares not for these semantics.How, unless you’re involved in the transfers at the club, could you be that certain that we aren’t in for him?
Yeah because Otamendi and Stones have been world beaters for Argentina and England?How often do you see Liverpool's centre backs defending on the front door? Otamendi wouldn't be diving in as often because he wouldn't be left exposed as often. Likewise with Stones, he wouldn't get caught in no man's land as often because he would only have one job to do. They'd both still make mistakes because all defenders do; Kompany, Laporte, VVD, Koulibaly all make mistakes at times. To suggest the system is irrelevant is pretty strange to say the least, that's why nearly every poster on here understands the importance of being able to play in our high line, even if not everyone agrees on how best to do so.
A mistake from Delph ruined what would've been a deserved clean sheet in the 1st leg against Tottenham.
We were in red hot form in the League.
The 2nd Leg v. Tottenham
Laporte was partnered with Kompany. We had the perfect start to the game, with a wonder goal to level the aggregate in the first 5 minutes.
Everyone knew we were a better team than Tottenham, but even they probably didn't envision going a goal down so quickly. We sucked the life out of them before the game even began... and then 5 minutes later...
Man City 1 - 2 Tottenham (1- 3 Agg)
Napoli are Facing Liverpool at Anfield. Last Match day of the CL group stage.
Napoli is ahead of Liverpool, So a draw would be enough for Napoli to go through.
after a quiet 30 minutes to start the game, suddenly...
Liverpool 1 - 0 Napoli
The post in context was a piss take of other people who seemingly think Koulibaly or a world class CB is the answer to all our defensive problems while being able to end world poverty, end climate change, bring world peace and produce a vaccine for corona at the same time. The video posted just highlights how stupid any defender in the world can look when isolated 1 vs 1.