GaryLifo
Liverpool's Secret Weapon.
An arrogant man got a timely lesson in not being a fecking arrogant cnut today. The way that prick was strutting into our box at corners was nausiating.
I think this is coaching actually. Klopp prefers letting attackers shot clean but with bad angles than risk deflections. It's not just VVD who does this all of liverpool's defenders doAnyways, yes he's great at those 1 vs 1 situations but his lack of closing down and getting tight is quite poor. He 'gets away' with it because Liverpool don't get attacked a lot and him slowing a player means, it allows his team mates to counter press/close the space, so it doesn't get punished as much. As I mentioned though, his shot blocking in the penalty box today was Lindelof-esque; really passive and non-committal.
I'm not talking about scoring threat though, i'm talking about overall contribution. Goals are the most important, sure, but even here none of the others really beats him. And then you look at his ability in build up and playmaking and he plays a different sport from the others
Agreed. But he’s also not among the very best CBs the PL has seen as often touted (mostly by Liverpool fans). Might make the fag end of a top 5/7.He trusts his athleticism to get him close enough to bother the shot and close down angles and trusts his gk to take care of closing the other angle. It's defence by playing the odds, which on the whole is pretty smart. Occasionally the striker will hit it perfect and score a worldie - like Lautaro Martinez at Anfield - but the majority of the time it works, and is mucj less riskier than committing to a challenge. Especially so when he has Alisson behind him.
He's genuinely one of the best 1vs1 defenders ever, on the ball at least
He's got 52 career goals which is quite decent, more than I expected actually but Terry had 68 career goals.
Steve Bruce scored over 100 goals, he was a better player than both.
I think lee Dixon is in love with him.
I wasn't old enough to see Bruce, so couldn't possibly comment.
Edit; I checked his wiki. He scored 19 goals in one season was he your emergency striker that season or something?
Dixon struggled all game to hide his bias. Absolute bellend.I think lee Dixon is in love with him.
This./Dixon struggled all game to hide his bias. Absolute bellend.
I like to think that after making that comment last time, Keane ripping into him has put him off saying that again.Agreed. But he’s also not among the very best CBs the PL has seen as often touted (mostly by Liverpool fans). Might make the fag end of a top 5/7.
Surprised he didn’t come out with a bitch ass “only one team played / was happy” comment.
I think this is coaching actually. Klopp prefers letting attackers shot clean but with bad angles than risk deflections. It's not just VVD who does this all of liverpool's defenders do
I do think that is a huge component of an elite level defender vs one that is not. Harder to do these days with a lot more fouls being called, but I absolutely think mad lad level behavior made attacking players think twice about going towards the likes of a Stam or Ramos. Thats probably they lean(ed) into the bad boy act.VVD is interesting as players seem to avoid foot races or trying to take him on, which I just find strange. Players at least attemp, once, to take on Walker before giving up - VVD has an aura of invincibility more than actual ability.
What on earth is mad lad level behaviour? And nobody was scared to have a go at Ramos as he was always heroics first and good defending second. Good leadership / big moments / all round footballer but grossly overrated as a defender. Teams were probably more afraid of a thuggish tackle or a headed goal from him than any supposedly immense defending.I do think that is a huge component of an elite level defender vs one that is not. Harder to do these days with a lot more fouls being called, but I absolutely think mad lad level behavior made attacking players think twice about going towards the likes of a Stam or Ramos. Thats probably they lean(ed) into the bad boy act.
Thank you for both answering your own question and supporting what I said.What on earth is mad lad level behaviour? And nobody was scared to have a go at Ramos as he was always heroics first and good defending second. Good leadership / big moments / all round footballer but grossly overrated as a defender. Teams were probably more afraid of a thuggish tackle or a headed goal from him than any supposedly immense defending.
Scored 8 penalties in that season 90/91 - he only missed one penalty for Utd as the penalty taker ....... then Eric came along !I wasn't old enough to see Bruce, so couldn't possibly comment.
Edit; I checked his wiki. He scored 19 goals in one season was he your emergency striker that season or something?
The interview after the 0-0 confirmed it but you can already tell from his body language in every single game that this prick is insanely arrogant and buys every bit of the smoke that has been blown up his arse for his two major trophy wins in 7 years.An arrogant man got a timely lesson in not being a fecking arrogant cnut today. The way that prick was strutting into our box at corners was nausiating.
I think this is coaching actually. Klopp prefers letting attackers shot clean but with bad angles than risk deflections. It's not just VVD who does this all of liverpool's defenders do
I did read about it in the athletic but I don't remember if it was a journalist extrapolating from the way they defended or if there were actual quotes from the coaching staffHave you read or heard about this anywhere? Would be interesting to see.
Crosses, yeah, shots, not so sure. And he's the only one of their defenders who does this. So either they are coached, or they specifically scout for defenders who don't try to block shots?You wouldn't say the same about Robertson, who throws himself into crosses/shots to the point where he handballed it twice yesterday!
I did read about it in the athletic but I don't remember if it was a journalist extrapolating from the way they defended or if there were actual quotes from the coaching staff
Crosses, yeah, shots, not so sure. And he's the only one of their defenders who does this. So either they are coached, or they specifically scout for defenders who don't try to block shots?
Have you read or heard about this anywhere? Would be interesting to see. Otherwise, it's bit of a convenient excuse to basically justify why their central defenders are bad at making blocks or getting tight. You wouldn't say the same about Robertson, who throws himself into crosses/shots to the point where he handballed it twice yesterday! Maybe the answer is that they just are not that type of player and it's bit of a weakness?
There's Martinez level throwing themselves at everything and then Lindelof/VVD/Gomez level of doing much of a nothing. Martinez needs to do what he does because of his lack of size but because of his agility and reading of the game, he's brilliant at this. However, there can be a middle ground.
You've been awfully quiet these past couple of days lad. As a 'neutral', I'd have thought you'd have thoroughly enjoyed yesterday's 7 goal thriller.Brilliant brilliant performance. Absolute colossus of a Centre Back.
Has it all. One of the most complete Centre Backs you'll ever see.
Calm, clutch and a great leader. Just has that invincible aura around him. That presence cannot be replaced.
One of the very best I have seen.
Yeah I wouldn't call it an error by any means but I'd have thought because it was Bruno he might back himself to close him. If it was Rashford/Garnacho I'd completely get it.Feels like a stretch to hold him accountable there. Despite the outcome, I think his instincts are right - not to dive in to protect the space behind and to slow up the break to allow others to get back.
Aura defending. Which was massively exposed when teams decided to target him and run him ragged. I think he’s kinda benefiting from them having Quansah (who to his credit has been doing very well) and Bradley alongside him because quite frankly if you’re a forward you’re going to be targeting them rather than VVD.Has a fear factor about him that allows him to coast through games.
Nobody really has a go at him.
Yeah, in protecting the space I meant more the runners from midfield who Bruno could lay in. So if Van Dijk jumps forward, while they accelerate from the other direction, he’s out of the game.Yeah I wouldn't call it an error by any means but I'd have thought because it was Bruno he might back himself to close him. If it was Rashford/Garnacho I'd completely get it.
Feels like a stretch to hold him accountable there. Despite the outcome, I think his instincts are right - not to dive in to protect the space behind and to slow up the break to allow others to get back.