Liverpool (A) PL - Post Game

[NLW Blue]

Back on topic !

Doku played well when he came on, even Lee Dixon commented that he had Alexander-Arnold on toast, but oh I wish he had a left foot to cross the ball with. The number of times he got into good crossing positions and then checked back on to his right foot.

 

[StillBluessinceHydeRoad]

We lost 2-0 at Anfield and I admit that Liverpool were comfortably the better team. In fact after 15 minutes I would have settled for a 2-0 defeat because it looked as though it was going to be much worse but we did improve considerably, even though the scousers did seem more concerned with giving nothing away in the second half. Nevertheless we have got one draw out of our last seven games and yesterday, at times we were dreadful. Both goals were the result of mistakes that I thought City had eliminated in the 90s. A misplaced (5 yard?!) pass put Salah through, though he chose to belt it over the bar rather than roll it across to a team mate for a tap in and there were other examples especially in those early, near disastrous, stages.

And yet explaining this doesn't seem too difficult (though doing something about it quickly might be). Ake was starting for the first time this season, Dias had trained once in the last ... Akanji is trying to recover from injury, KdB has hardly played all season and could only manage 10 minutes for Phil who looked all in. Grealish was only able to manage 10 minutes. The only ray of light was that Doku managed 30 minutes and looked very good and Savinho did a half hour as well and certainly added a bit of threat. But yesterday it seemed that yet again Pep was without the spine of the team and was trying to find eleven walking wounded he could put on the pitch to cobble together 90 minutes. A team which looks mightily impressive on paper is simply not in good condition.

That mental fatigue and physical shortcoming doesn't explain away some of the awful mistakes but with the rustiness that results it does go some way. And along with the age of many of our lads it may go all the way. Kyle seems to have been struggling with injury back into last season and his greatest asset, his pace, seems to have deserted him, temporarily or permanently, and he is now of an age where he cannot play every week. KdB needs support and cannot be an automatic starter. Gundo seems to have trouble with the pace of the game and at his age it's no wonder. I remember when Ali Bernarbia had similar problems and had to come on when the game had slowed down: Gundo appeared to be unable to cope with Liverpool's fast start or with their early pressing. And, of course, we haven't got Rodri at all this season, and we all know our only Ballon d'r winner. I am glad that Pep wants to carry out a squad revamp - and I hope it begins in January. Several times we have been told that Pep "has lost it" or "So-and-so has got Pep's number." I didn't believe it then and I certainly don't believe it now.

 

[manimanc]

You have completely made a narrative up just to justify being an absolute cock womble. You are a happy clapper who thinks current day form is ok because we was once shite. Small time and weak mentality for me and that is ok too. We have the best manager in the game, some of the best players in the world and are really well run. I am more than content with not winning the league, I expected it and thought 5 in a row would be insane. What isn't acceptable is the level of performance which has been served up and our worst form for decades. I will continue to support my team and cheer them on, just as I have for over 30 years, I will happily call out shit half arsed performances though. You don't have to like it, but we part with the same money and are both entitled to our view point. I don't go to games and boo, I might come on here to vent amongst City fans but clearly that isn't allowed which makes this board pointless. I was on here long before you, long before the takeover. I am not entitled, I just have expectations, expectations set by our club and losing every week and deserving to lose doesn't meet them. If your mindset is still in the 90s then that's on you.

What part of "this team has come to the end of it's cycle" don't you get?
This is Peps first year in charge, it's 16/17 all over again with the added extra of needing a new midfield. We haven't got the legs in the middle anymore but I don't need to point that out to someone like you because you label it as us being shit. Fair comment, everyone has their own opinions but I like to look at the bigger picture instead of having a hissy fit everytime we lose.

I don't want to be pedantic but I joined in 2010. You joined in 2024. I'd say that makes me being on here before you and not the other way round.

That is unless, shock horror, you've been banned off here before and rejoined under a new name.

Well knock me down with a feather.

 

[thismeansfour]

What part of "this team has come to the end of it's cycle" don't you get?
This is Peps first year in charge, it's 16/17 all over again with the added extra of needing a new midfield. We haven't got the legs in the middle anymore but I don't need to point that out to someone like you because you label it as us being shit. Fair comment, everyone has their own opinions but I like to look at the bigger picture instead of having a hissy fit everytime we lose.

I don't want to be pedantic but I joined in 2010. You joined in 2024. I'd say that makes me being on here before you and not the other way round.

That is unless, shock horror, you've been banned off here before and rejoined under a new name.

Well knock me down with a feather.

It has come to the end of its cycle but why wasn't we better prepared? Why have we allowed quality players to leave, and bring in not ready replacements? Whilst a cycle can run its course why is it ok to go from champions to scrambling for a top 4 position? We are shit, our form has been horrible and even as we was scraping by in results, Wolves, Brentford, Southampton, Fulham etc. We pride ourselves on being the best run club which I think we are, if that's the case why are we happy losing a year? I never get this process of if a team isn't at it, they need a whole year off? We are consistently crap at the moment and deservedly losing. The bigger picture is we will come good, we will be back with a bang next year and hopefully recruit a lot better. That doesn't help with the here and now or do we have to just ignore it and so oh well, see you all next year. What is the purpose of this board if we cannot discuss City and share different opinions,

 

[Northerndave]

This could get a bit kinky!

I'm disappointed that there is no mention of a ball-gag for the complete look

 

[Millwallawayveteran1988]

He’s an exciting player no doubt, Savinho too, they can get you off your seat in anticipation, but there’s very rarely any end product, a decent cross that finds an attacker, or a goal. They’re both young, so hopefully both will improve.

There is no end product from any of our players currently so it’s a risk worth taking.

 

[Kirkstall Blue]

I think we’ve got a plan:) don’t know what it is but I’m so used to winning I’ll take a few blips. :)

 

[manimanc]

It has come to the end of its cycle but why wasn't we better prepared? Why have we allowed quality players to leave, and bring in not ready replacements? Whilst a cycle can run its course why is it ok to go from champions to scrambling for a top 4 position? We are shit, our form has been horrible and even as we was scraping by in results, Wolves, Brentford, Southampton, Fulham etc. We pride ourselves on being the best run club which I think we are, if that's the case why are we happy losing a year? I never get this process of if a team isn't at it, they need a whole year off? We are consistently crap at the moment and deservedly losing. The bigger picture is we will come good, we will be back with a bang next year and hopefully recruit a lot better. That doesn't help with the here and now or do we have to just ignore it and so oh well, see you all next year. What is the purpose of this board if we cannot discuss City and share different opinions,

It isn't a case of ignoring it, we have to take our medicine and just crack on. Injuries have hit us hard, we've been kind of lucky over the years with them but this season it has bit us on the bum and some.
I'm not saying we should have a year off but this season everything has come on top at the same time and we're in this whirlpool and can't escape. Every top team has had some kind of drop off after reaching the top of the pile, ours has took four years to happen but it's happening. I can take a defeat with ease nowadays but in the early days of our success it knocked me sideways and hurt more because we wasn't the finished article and yes I maybe got slightly entitled as a fan and thought we should be brushing teams aside. Gladly I grown out of it. This run we're on yes it's confusing and it stings but when I look at the bigger picture I think to myself no biggie, football goes in cycles, it's happened to the red mardarse clubs and now it's starting to happen again with us. We just got on through the season, see what the end brings and blitz it next year.

 

[Blue Tooth]

At least we have a target now. Haul in the biggest lead ever and then sing 'You're getting sacked in the morning to Slot when we muller them at home to go back in front. Ya gotta dream.

 

[ChicagoBlue]

But somebody else has to win the title,

The list of my worst nightmare club winning the title runs deep, but I think Arsenal are 3rd or 4th of pain

If The Arse can win it, so can we!