Liverpool 2016/17 - Performance and chat thread.

You made a comment that insinuated that we won't be in the title race with the two other most likely contenders. I made a post regarding why you won't be either. You fail in the bread and butter matches, and do game raising in other occations.

Actually in the 2nd part of last season, just when Klopp was finding his feet, we did win quite a few of our bread & butter league matches against the likes of Norwich, Villa, Palace, Stoke, Everton, Bournemouth, & Watford. We dropped points at Swansea & West Brom when Klopp fielded extremely weakened sides just prior to the Villarreal semi final tie, & the Europa League final against Seville. At home to Sunderland & Newcastle we were coasting in both games only to let 2 points slip by switching off in the 2nd half. Similar story away to Southampton when we lost despite being 2-0 up at half-time. So it's something of a myth that we struggle to break down & score against the so-called weaker opposition. We need to improve our concentration that's for sure. But I feel the Burnley result of a few weeks back will be the exception rather than the rule for us this season.
 
Looked to have more control of the game today when not giving it the full press compared to last year. Leicester were quite poor though, they had no control of the game or ball at any time at all. Some very nice footy from LFC in the attacking 1/3 certainly. Not just Phil biffing it into the crowd.

Bit worried, tbh. If you'd have got a LB & Jurgen hadn't have fallen out with your best CB, it might be really concerning. Chelsea should be interesting.
 
You also need to worry about Rooney failing to live with the quality around him.

Indeed. Mourinho needs to show - and quickly - that he's ruthless enough to drop the current captain-and-big-name and relegate him to the status of squad cover and domestic and EL cups player. Of course they'd be a big show-down with Rooney as a result - but that's a price worth paying.

The likes of Pochettino and Pep are ruthless in weeding out the weeds. Mourinho needs to show the same toughness.
 
Fingers crossed that he does a Lovren and alienates the manager before the tournament.
He has done already. The Cameroonian manager said he won't pick him because Matip wasn't interested in playing for them (the manager called him like 15 times before he bothered to answer) !
 
I want to see us perform like we did today against the likes of Swansea, Palace, West Brom etc. When we figure out how to do that I think we'll be a decent shout for top four.

We'll miss Mane and Matip when they go to the ACON in January.
I agree that Liverpool have to work out how to overcome the lesser lights of the league. Flat-track bullies win leagues, or at least come close.

However, watching Liverpool today it's becoming clear what Klopp is trying. It's not just a case of flooding the box with players, it's also about getting players to 'break lines' to overcome the 'low block'. In short, giving defensive formations a lot to think about.
 
Indeed. Mourinho needs to show - and quickly - that he's ruthless enough to drop the current captain-and-big-name and relegate him to the status of squad cover and domestic and EL cups player. Of course they'd be a big show-down with Rooney as a result - but that's a price worth paying.

The likes of Pochettino and Pep are ruthless in weeding out the weeds. Mourinho needs to show the same toughness.
Like with England, it's political with Rooney - his status, media standing and past glories make him almost unique in English football. The only player that comes close in terms of having this heavy baggage was Gerrard. He became tough to drop despite his fading influence. Rooney is a headache that Jose needs to tackle.
 
He has done already. The Cameroonian manager said he won't pick him because Matip wasn't interested in playing for them (the manager called him like 15 times before he bothered to answer) !
That's a relief for us. I wish Mane would do the same thing!
 
I agree that Liverpool have to work out how to overcome the lesser lights of the league. Flat-track bullies win leagues, or at least come close.

However, watching Liverpool today it's becoming clear what Klopp is trying. It's not just a case of flooding the box with players, it's also about getting players to 'break lines' to overcome the 'low block'. In short, giving defensive formations a lot to think about.
Yeah I certainly saw a lot of that today. Sturridge put in a very unselfish performance as well and I think gave more of a performance that Klopp wants from a lone striker. I think Wijanldum will be dropped for Chelsea with Can coming in to play alongside Henderson but it's hard to decide who misses out from Lallana, Firmino, Sturridge and Mane based on today if Coutinho's coming back in.
 
Yeah I certainly saw a lot of that today. Sturridge put in a very unselfish performance as well and I think gave more of a performance that Klopp wants from a lone striker. I think Wijanldum will be dropped for Chelsea with Can coming in to play alongside Henderson but it's hard to decide who misses out from Lallana, Firmino, Sturridge and Mane based on today if Coutinho's coming back in.

Yep. Very good today, was surprised by how much Sturridge managed to put aside his selfish tendencies.
 
Oh fecking jog on. Both would be playing Rooney if they were managing United.

You must be joking. Poch would play a 4-2-3-1, very likely:

----- Sneiderlinn - Herrera
Rashford - Pogba - Martial
---------- Zlatan

Rooney would be lucky to make it onto the subs bench. He's a fading striker, who doesn't cut it as a CM and wanders all over the shop (including deep) too much to be an effective AM.
 
"The likes of Pochettino and Pep" :lol: :lol:

The likes of me and Pep have our hair shaved very short. IMO Mourinho would do well to get with the program.
 
Indeed. Mourinho needs to show - and quickly - that he's ruthless enough to drop the current captain-and-big-name and relegate him to the status of squad cover and domestic and EL cups player. Of course they'd be a big show-down with Rooney as a result - but that's a price worth paying.

The likes of Pochettino and Pep are ruthless in weeding out the weeds. Mourinho needs to show the same toughness.

Who did Pochettino show the door to?
 
Yeah I certainly saw a lot of that today. Sturridge put in a very unselfish performance as well and I think gave more of a performance that Klopp wants from a lone striker. I think Wijanldum will be dropped for Chelsea with Can coming in to play alongside Henderson but it's hard to decide who misses out from Lallana, Firmino, Sturridge and Mane based on today if Coutinho's coming back in.
I would be surprised if Can came straight back in, Klopp tends to put them on th bench first and maybe give them a run-out. Also Henderson has been very good for the last two games, he was excellent in fact yesterday ( a superb first time ball for our second goal and great cover for Milner at LB), so there is no urgent need to move him upfield and bring in Can, it could still happen though. Wijnaldum is doing a job he's not really suited to but his fine control is seeing him operate as a steady, if unspectacular, fulcrum. It was noticeable how in the 2nd half yesterday Klopp was encouraging him to get forward more.

I'm not at all sure that Coutinho is an automatic starter for the match at Chelsea. The front 4 were so good yesterday and, without Coutinho blasting 27 shots at goal, had time to create openings. Coutinho needs to learn to control that now oh so predictable instinct to get everything onto his right foot for the shot. He has far more options ahead of him this season and he needs to learn to better utilise them.

Lallana has been an inspiration at the point of the CM and there is no way Klopp is going to drop him, Mane or Firmino (those are his 3 favourites for the way they follow his tactics and press) so it comes down to Coutinho or Sturridge and I'd not move Firmino forward as he looks a far better player on the left than he does in the centre or even on the right.

Karius for Mignolet ? Coutinho for Sturridge ? Can for Wijnaldum ? Moreno for Milner ? Some big calls to be made for Chelsea on Friday.
 
Only saw he first half and Liverpool payed very well. Leicester look a shadow of themselves. Could even counter attack with purpose and I haven't seen the ball given away as cheaply as Leicester did, in a very long time.
 
Only saw he first half and Liverpool payed very well. Leicester look a shadow of themselves. Could even counter attack with purpose and I haven't seen the ball given away as cheaply as Leicester did, in a very long time.

Apart from us against City yesterday.
 
You must be joking. Poch would play a 4-2-3-1, very likely:

----- Sneiderlinn - Herrera
Rashford - Pogba - Martial
---------- Zlatan

Rooney would be lucky to make it onto the subs bench. He's a fading striker, who doesn't cut it as a CM and wanders all over the shop (including deep) too much to be an effective AM.
You're wrong. Rooney clearly has priviliges at United and no manager is gonna be ruthless enough to come in and drop him off the bat. Whether thats because of his contract or because they don't want the media backlash, I dunno.

But if Mourinho didn't do it, no one will.
 
To be honest, Anfield looks like an 80s VHS player that was trying a bit too hard to look cool.

More revenue, though... Can't moan.

You were at the game?

My season ticket is sat opposite the new stand, it's fantastic.
And the area is getting re-developed too, it is already overall looking so much better.

As for the game, we played well - thought we might have thrown it away when we conceded though, Matip looked very cool and composed.
Need to get Karius in goal.
 
Mane looks such an exciting player by the way.

Yeah, fits the team too, doesn't he?

<worries more>

Lovren is back in Fri, you'd have thought. Otherwise Jurgen should go unchanged apart from resting Milner maybe, too many games in what is not his position might be unwise at this early stage of the season. (((Albie))) in, just to freshen it up a little bit.
 
Indeed. Mourinho needs to show - and quickly - that he's ruthless enough to drop the current captain-and-big-name and relegate him to the status of squad cover and domestic and EL cups player. Of course they'd be a big show-down with Rooney as a result - but that's a price worth paying.

The likes of Pochettino and Pep are ruthless in weeding out the weeds. Mourinho needs to show the same toughness.

Adebayor, Bentaleb, Townsend, Paulinho, Capoue, Lennon, Stambouli and others

The sheer state of your lunacy is closing in on worrying levels.

Do you see any clear difference between Rooney and the legends and giants of the game that you mentioned up there? Or does things like this just fly you by? I mean, I'm not sure Mourinho would ever dare to flog a true legend and great like Stambouli, never mind the world beater Capoue. Not sure if Pep would have dared either tbf, even though he and Pep are two peas from the same pod, apparently.

But to answer the only sane part of your post, yes Rooney needs fecking off, and fast. Thing is Mourinho will have the support of the old guard which is controlled by SAF, and by the fans - most of us have wanted him gone for going on two years now. Actually demoting Rooney to a bit part player will earn Mourinho credit with the fans, not risk alienating us.
 
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You're wrong. Rooney clearly has priviliges at United and no manager is gonna be ruthless enough to come in and drop him off the bat. Whether thats because of his contract or because they don't want the media backlash, I dunno.

But if Mourinho didn't do it, no one will.

Mourinho may now feel hamstrung because of the internal ructions at Chelski when he was their manager. Pochettino has no such inhibitions. He has ruthlessly cut out the deadwood from Spurs over the last 2 seasons and transformed the squad.

Rooney is disrupting the shape of United, just as he does for England. Poch would chop him out.
 
The sheer state of your lunacy is closing in on worrying levels.

Do you see any clear difference between Rooney and the legends and giants of the game that you mentioned up there? Or does things like this just fly you by? I mean, I'm not sure Mourinho would ever dare to flog a true legend and great like Stambouli, never mind the world beater Capoue. Not sure if Pep would have dared either tbf, even though he and Pep is two peas from the same pod, apparently.

But to answer the only sane part of your post, yes Rooney needs fecking off, and fast. Thing is Mourinho will have the support of the old guard which is controlled by SAF, and by the fans - most of us have wanted him gone for going on two years now. Actually demoting Rooney to a bit part player will earn Mourinho credit where the fans, not risk alienating us.

Of course there's a difference in degree between axing Rooney and axing the players I mentioned. But it shows that Poch is ruthless,and there is no good reason to suppose this trait would fail if it came to Rooney.

Anyhow, this is a Liverpool thread, so I won't comment further on Rooney here.
 
I want to know who the "and others" are. How insignificant must they be that they can't even be named along with the likes of Stambouli and Bentaleb?
 
Moved this to the appropriate thread.

ps: Your defence sucks.
 
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Mourinho benched Terry. I genuinely think that Mourinho is biding his time and giving Rooney enough rope to hang himself with, which he probably will do a stellar job with up until christmas. Mourinho as you mention probably has the ructions at Chelski on his mind, and he don't want to shake things up too bad in the beginning. The reasons for why I think Rooney's days are numbered are many:

- The sponsorship, public face thing is now sorted with Pogba, the emergence of Rashford (local lad and all that), and to some degree Zlatan.
- We got more personality and presence in the dressing room and on the pitch than before. Rooney can no longer be the schoolyard bully. This was perfectly examplified with Rooney lining up like a school boy asking to take a freekick, and Zlatan just told him straight up that he was taking it, so Rooney could jog on.
- The fans are now all but convinced that Rooney is holding us back.
- The players which Rooney wielded a lot of influence over and the old guard is all but gone, with the exception of Carrick. Pogba, Zlatan, Mkhi and the others hasn't grown up at the club with Rooney being the Alma Mater.
- The behind the scenes power wielders like SAF and probably Sir Bobby is fed up by Rooney, as shown by SAF trying to flog him a few years ago.
- His performances on a weekly basis just adds fuel to the fire in each and every of my points above.

What I wonder about is how long Mourinho will bide his time for. Hopefully not too long. A lot will depend on Martial hitting form again, Mkhi starting to produce and Rashford convincing on the right flank.

Not sure if you included Giggs in that, but with him no longer on the coaching staff that is another reason.

EDIT: Genuinely thought I was in the Rooney thread :lol:.

But on Liverpool, will the camera angle be a permanent thing with the new stand? Lots of people were complaining about it and it did look further away on my stream, albeit a bit of a grainy one.
 
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Indeed. Mourinho needs to show - and quickly - that he's ruthless enough to drop the current captain-and-big-name and relegate him to the status of squad cover and domestic and EL cups player. Of course they'd be a big show-down with Rooney as a result - but that's a price worth paying.

The likes of Pochettino and Pep are ruthless in weeding out the weeds. Mourinho needs to show the same toughness.

These two should not be in a sentence, that's one.
Secondly, Potchettino has achieved NOTHING in football, he has not coached a player of Rooney's caliber.
Mourinho, the one who dropped Casillas (Madrid's most powerful player) needs to emulate Potchettino in showing ruthlessness.
I see what the past 3 seasons have done to you rival fans. In due time, things will be reset & you'll take a back seat, as it should be.
 
@Rafateria Henderson's game by numbers below:

His last two league games have probably been his best performances since Klopp came in. We'll see if he can continue to develop in that role or not.
 
But on Liverpool, will the camera angle be a permanent thing with the new stand? Lots of people were complaining about it and it did look further away on my stream, albeit a bit of a grainy one.

I guess so, the camera angle has always come from the main stand - the issue now is it is massive. Doubt it will change.

I was at the game and have only watched the goals on TV since, it does look much further away but that is purely because it is.

@Rafateria Henderson's game by numbers below:

His last two league games have probably been his best performances since Klopp came in. We'll see if he can continue to develop in that role or not.


He was struggling with injury most of last season, so his performances were likely to improve now he is fully fit.
 
I guess so, the camera angle has always come from the main stand - the issue now is it is massive. Doubt it will change.

I was at the game and have only watched the goals on TV since, it does look much further away but that is purely because it is.



He was struggling with injury most of last season, so his performances were likely to improve now he is fully fit.
As the game wore on yesterday I think I grew to like the new camera angle. I liked having a larger view of what's happening on the pitch.

On Henderson yeah he had his fair share of injury problems last year but I was concerned with having him as our holding midfielder, as I didn't think he had what is needed for that role. I've always considered him a decent box to box midfielder at his best as the most advanced in a three man midfield. The Spurs and Leicester games have shown promise for him though in a deeper role.
 
As the game wore on yesterday I think I grew to like the new camera angle. I liked having a larger view of what's happening on the pitch.

On Henderson yeah he had his fair share of injury problems last year but I was concerned with having him as our holding midfielder, as I didn't think he had what is needed for that role. I've always considered him a decent box to box midfielder at his best as the most advanced in a three man midfield. The Spurs and Leicester games have shown promise for him though in a deeper role.

Yep, I think he's looking much better now than he was ... definitely a player for Liverpool to keep as part of their top 4 ambitions.
 
These two should not be in a sentence, that's one.
Secondly, Potchettino has achieved NOTHING in football, he has not coached a player of Rooney's caliber.
Mourinho, the one who dropped Casillas (Madrid's most powerful player) needs to emulate Potchettino in showing ruthlessness.
I see what the past 3 seasons have done to you rival fans. In due time, things will be reset & you'll take a back seat, as it should be.
Ah, 3 seasons. Pretty much Mou's limit at any club. Will the reset be reset once he leaves?