PL 2017-2018 Thread
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Bit if strange one by Watford. They had been dung since Everton tried to pinch Silva, but I still think he's a good manager. Not sure who the new fella is so I can't say much about it.
It doesn't reflect well on Silva that he had his head turned and didn't seem to be able to get back to where he was before. Either that or the players knew he wanted out and thought 'what is the point', but his sacking does scream "panic".
It doesn't reflect well on Silva that he had his head turned and didn't seem to be able to get back to where he was before. Either that or the players knew he wanted out and thought 'what is the point', but his sacking does scream "panic".
Sigh.
Well that was absolutely as expected. Hump City and then lose to the worst team in the league. The most Liverpool thing to do. Especially as their goal was a horrible scrappy thing.
Swansea were piss poor. Putting 11 men in their own final third and hoping to get a lucky one on the break is straight out of the fat Sam book of "tactics". Saying that, even though they were piss Poor Swansea were still MILES MILES better than Liverpool. Swansea cud have ****ed off at HT and Liverpool still wouldn't have scored. The passing all game was woeful. The number of times the ball was put behind a runner, 10 yards in front of him, or fired at him at knee height was embarrassing. If this was a bad League one side you could maybe understand it, but these boys are all internationals. The pitch wasn't great but it wasn't 'bad'. If you can't pass accurately over 10 yards it's kinda hard to counter attack, or even string 10 passes together.
Then there was the choice of pass. It was always a 4 yard safety first pass. Every single time. How do you expect to break down a flat back 10 if the defenders all pass sideways, the midfield all pass back to the defence and the forwards first thought is to roll it back to the midfielder. :roll:
The LB passed to the left sided CB, who passed to the right sided CB who passed to the RB, who passed back to the right sided CB, who rolled it in to the CM, who passed it straight back to him so he could pass it to the left sided CB and we start again. LB pass to the ****ing RIGHT sided CB (or even the RB if it's open), it's a dam sight harder as defending side to shift over 20/40 yards in a few seconds than it is to do 5 yards, then another 5, then another 5 in a nice slow jog. Make them move and tire them out, that's the basics on how to open up a defensively minded team FFS.
It's a long time since I have seen a team so flat and so devoid of ideas as Liverpool were last night.
Not entirely surprised by the defeat, it's Liverpool, beating good teams and losing to shite teams is what they do. VERY pissed off with the performance though, that was horribly flat. It was as if they were playing a testimonial is was that bad.
Ps, if anyone is thinking "they missed Coutinho" you're giving Liverpool an easy excuse. That was sooooo poor last night even Messi/Maradona/Pele having the best game of their lives couldn't have rescued Liverpool.
Well that was absolutely as expected. Hump City and then lose to the worst team in the league. The most Liverpool thing to do. Especially as their goal was a horrible scrappy thing.
Swansea were piss poor. Putting 11 men in their own final third and hoping to get a lucky one on the break is straight out of the fat Sam book of "tactics". Saying that, even though they were piss Poor Swansea were still MILES MILES better than Liverpool. Swansea cud have ****ed off at HT and Liverpool still wouldn't have scored. The passing all game was woeful. The number of times the ball was put behind a runner, 10 yards in front of him, or fired at him at knee height was embarrassing. If this was a bad League one side you could maybe understand it, but these boys are all internationals. The pitch wasn't great but it wasn't 'bad'. If you can't pass accurately over 10 yards it's kinda hard to counter attack, or even string 10 passes together.
Then there was the choice of pass. It was always a 4 yard safety first pass. Every single time. How do you expect to break down a flat back 10 if the defenders all pass sideways, the midfield all pass back to the defence and the forwards first thought is to roll it back to the midfielder. :roll:
The LB passed to the left sided CB, who passed to the right sided CB who passed to the RB, who passed back to the right sided CB, who rolled it in to the CM, who passed it straight back to him so he could pass it to the left sided CB and we start again. LB pass to the ****ing RIGHT sided CB (or even the RB if it's open), it's a dam sight harder as defending side to shift over 20/40 yards in a few seconds than it is to do 5 yards, then another 5, then another 5 in a nice slow jog. Make them move and tire them out, that's the basics on how to open up a defensively minded team FFS.
It's a long time since I have seen a team so flat and so devoid of ideas as Liverpool were last night.
Not entirely surprised by the defeat, it's Liverpool, beating good teams and losing to shite teams is what they do. VERY pissed off with the performance though, that was horribly flat. It was as if they were playing a testimonial is was that bad.
Ps, if anyone is thinking "they missed Coutinho" you're giving Liverpool an easy excuse. That was sooooo poor last night even Messi/Maradona/Pele having the best game of their lives couldn't have rescued Liverpool.
Would you believe it, Arsenal fluke another cup final. Why can't Chelsea ever play like that against Spurs, or for that matter any other team :lol: Strange that VAR was available yet they didn't use it for Chelsea's disallowed goal, his foot certainly looked on-side in the replay so was at least worth a second look.
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I was pissing myself when Arsenal equalised, was like the goals I used to see playing Sunday league. Brilliant entertainment. :lol: Chelsea were so poor the second half, how can that side be so devoid of ideas going forward in a game like that.
This is classic Wenger has a good patch and gets a new contract.
This is classic Wenger has a good patch and gets a new contract.
Chelsea aren't in a great run of form at the minute. They would need to snap out of that soon or Barcelona will rip them a new one.
Not really sure ANY of their summer signings have improved the team. Morata, I never understood. They doubled Real Madrid's money on him and in the 1 season Real had him he played about 12 games, and wasn't exactly prolific. Hardly replacement for Costa. Zappa-whatshisface looks no more than ok, Bakayoko looks a downgrade on what they had and they there's Ross Barkley. 94th minute of cup semi final, your team need a goal to go through (on away goals), they win a corner. You get to take it. Do you A) aim for the danger area where all your team including the keeper are, or do you B) hit it STRAIGHT at the first man without a Chelsea player near him!?
Needless to say he picked B.
I just don't get how a professional football can NOT take a corner. Even if you don't practice them specifically, you do practice ehhh kicking a ball, so just kick it into the danger area. You know, that area where all your team mates are stood.
Chelsea were poor last night, as were Arsenal, but that corner right at the end really ****ed me off. It's a pet peeve of mine how many corners hit the first man. It really isn't that difficult. FFS I could do a better job and I'm a bloody hockey player!
Not really sure ANY of their summer signings have improved the team. Morata, I never understood. They doubled Real Madrid's money on him and in the 1 season Real had him he played about 12 games, and wasn't exactly prolific. Hardly replacement for Costa. Zappa-whatshisface looks no more than ok, Bakayoko looks a downgrade on what they had and they there's Ross Barkley. 94th minute of cup semi final, your team need a goal to go through (on away goals), they win a corner. You get to take it. Do you A) aim for the danger area where all your team including the keeper are, or do you B) hit it STRAIGHT at the first man without a Chelsea player near him!?
Needless to say he picked B.
I just don't get how a professional football can NOT take a corner. Even if you don't practice them specifically, you do practice ehhh kicking a ball, so just kick it into the danger area. You know, that area where all your team mates are stood.
Chelsea were poor last night, as were Arsenal, but that corner right at the end really ****ed me off. It's a pet peeve of mine how many corners hit the first man. It really isn't that difficult. FFS I could do a better job and I'm a bloody hockey player!
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Yeah I agree with the corners thing, their not whipped in like they used to be. I remember my Dad saying this about 10 years ago and thinking he was talking nonsense, but now I agree with him.
Chelsea loosing Costa was a big mistake and although I think it's a disgrace the way Chelsea treat their managers, Conte hasn't helped himself with the way he dealt with the Costa situation. Now they are scratching around inquiring about Peter Crouch!
Chelsea loosing Costa was a big mistake and although I think it's a disgrace the way Chelsea treat their managers, Conte hasn't helped himself with the way he dealt with the Costa situation. Now they are scratching around inquiring about Peter Crouch!
I blame Conte for the Costa thing. He bloody txt Costa telling him he wasn't in his plans. :roll:
I'd love to know who he was planning to play up front, cos whoever it was, Costa would have been more use than them this season.
I'd love to know who he was planning to play up front, cos whoever it was, Costa would have been more use than them this season.
I saw Moreno and Mingers were due to start for Liverpool and handed the missus the remote and told her she could watch whatever she wanted. I can honestly say "New Girl" is utter ****ing drivel. But still better than watching those two ****ing failed abortions "playing" for Liverpool.
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Spurs were outstanding last night and Man Utd were poor. I don't understand why Van Gaal sold Evans and kept Phill Jones, where is the logic their?! Also why have we gone through another transfer window without selling Fellaini?
Shame Man City are playing so well could have been 4 or 5 teams in the title race this season.
Shame Man City are playing so well could have been 4 or 5 teams in the title race this season.
Spuds were good aye, Utd were poor though.
Fingers crossed Spuds have a stinker on Sunday. It's the least they could do seeing Pool bent over for them last time.
Fellaini, injured or was the sub subbed? Jose says injured but Fellaini didn't look it and I didn't see him struggle or signal to the bench.
Fingers crossed Spuds have a stinker on Sunday. It's the least they could do seeing Pool bent over for them last time.
Fellaini, injured or was the sub subbed? Jose says injured but Fellaini didn't look it and I didn't see him struggle or signal to the bench.
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Apparently Fellaini has done his knee again. Should be a good game Liverpool v Spurs.
What's happened to Swansea, their flying. :shock:
What's happened to Swansea, their flying. :shock:
Great display against Utd but Spurs have a poor record against Liverpool in recent years (and not so recent :lol: ) I'm still not convinced we'll make top 4, a far cry from last season. I can't decide if Spurs are worse this season or if City (obviously), Utd, Chelsea and Liverpool are even better.
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I think if Harry Kane stays fit Spurs will make top 4, at the moment I can see Chelsea missing out. Sounds a bit silly, but with what's going on with Conte I can see him getting sacked before March the way it's going. The Chelsea team are always on the edge for me and when it goes well they are brilliant, but when it goes the other way everything inplodes.
When you think Chelsea have won 2 out of the last 3 titles, finished 10th in between. Their gonna end up like England, no descent manager will want the job.
When you think Chelsea have won 2 out of the last 3 titles, finished 10th in between. Their gonna end up like England, no descent manager will want the job.
edd_jedi said:
It's both. Spuds aren't quite hitting the heights they hit last year, at least not consistently, plus City, Utd, Pool and Chelsea have improved, to varying degrees.
Sad to think 1 of those sides is going to miss out on CL footy (unless they win it whilst finishing 5th) yet Arsenal have a very decent shot of sneaking in via the backdoor of the Europa League. Albeit in true Arsenal style they'll **** that up.
theforceuk said:
Chelsea are a weird club. Champions, 10th, Champions, also rans, in consecutive seasons. Most other clubs at least display a degree of consistency. Though as a Liverpool fan, I'd settle for two titles in four years! ****, I'd settle for one..............in 20 years! :lol:
I think a lot of the blame lies with Chelsea's transfer dealings over the summer. As I've said before, none of the signings they have made have improved the side. Quite the opposite. A good few look to have actually weakened the side. Conte takes a fair chunk of the blame for Costa leaving. Texting him to say he didn't figure in his plans was right up there in the Parthenon of bright ideas alongside telling the missus she needs to lose weight and messing with Vladimir Putin. But replacing him with Morata never looked like a great move. The boy was abit part player for Real the year before and you doubled what they paid for him!? HOW had his valued doubled by hardly playing!? Selling Matic was daft. Especially when he was replaced by Danny Drinkwater and yer boy from Monaco, Baba-yaka-yoko, whatever he's called, neither of them have looked any more than squad players, and that's generous. All whilst over at OT Matic has continued to look the class act he is. Zapaterro is no better than bang average. Ditto Rudiger. Baba Rahman has been so good he's been packed off on loan already. Then there's Ross Barkley and Oliver Giroud. The first one is a pure gamble. If he comes good it's money well spent, if not, they look daft. A fair chunk of money spent on "potential". I can see that either being brilliant business or Barkley will join the ranks of young players who never fulfilled their potential and will be the answer to a quiz question in 3 years. Giroud has me scratching my head though. Yes, they needed a striker, but is picking the 3rd or 4th choice striker from the sixth placed team in your league really strengthening your attacking options!? FFS they could have loaned Sturridge. He's better. Ok, he's not fit for more than 2 games a month, but they only play with 1 striker and Morata is their main man.
Conte is off back to coach Italy in the summer anyway, so it won't matter. His replacement will probably win the league next year before ****ing it all up and leaving the year after.
Phew what a game. Would have taken a draw before the match so can't complain, if either team deserved to win it was Spurs. I'm sure Liverpool fans will be upset about two late penalties but the dubious one was missed and the second was clear cut. The first Liverpool goal was one of the biggest gifts I've seen, what was Dier thinking.
I don't know, but Dier's made more than a few cock ups this season. It's doubly annoying as overall Spurs deserved to win the game with more possession, shots, shots on target and corners than Liverpool, so to gift them an early easy goal is infuriating. Mind you, Wanyama's goal was amazing, and Salah's second was good too (although helped by an extremely fortuitous ricochet, is must be said), Kane's first penalty miss was very uncharacteristic, but he made amends with the second after Lamela had the back of his thigh hacked. A draw's certainly better than a defeat, but it should have been more.
So that's the United & Liverpool games down in Spurs' 'tough' run of games... Now roll on the Arse, when we'll destroy them at Wembley as payback for the away fluke earlier this season! :-D
So that's the United & Liverpool games down in Spurs' 'tough' run of games... Now roll on the Arse, when we'll destroy them at Wembley as payback for the away fluke earlier this season! :-D
It's not just Dier, Spurs have a history of questionable defending. I've never been keen on Rose or Walker for the same reason, they should have been wingers not defenders. I get the impression zero time is spent on defending on the Spurs training ground. It's all about the counter attack and high pressing.
**** me. What in the name of good **** was that!?
I don't even know where to start.
Fair do's to spuds they murdeed Liverpool in the second half. Had pool won that it was daylight robbery, plain and simple. I dunno WTF happened at HT but Liverpool were abysmal in the second half. Whatever Poch did/said clearly woked. Whatever Jurgen did/said most definitely did not.
As for the pens. Both pissed me off. Both were soft, sorry Edd. First one, was offside. Ok Lovern touched it so Kane isn't offside by the letter of the law. BUT lovern only played the ball cos Kane (more on both of those two later) was stood there. By my understanding that's ehh influencing play and ehhh......Offside. No!? Seriously, where is the flaw in the logic. He influenced play when offside so the flag should have gone up. He got an advantage from being offisde so surely the offside should stand? Genuine question, where am I wrong there?
The second pen, looked stonewall from one angle, but look at this replay.
https://twitter.com/davidmc1888/status/960218552426008576?s=09
Where is the contact? Yes, there is a little contact but **** me, if you're gonna go down that line whereby any contact entitles a player to dive and thus a penalty to be given, then football is no longer a contact sport, i don't wanna watch it, and games are gonna end 8-8.
Take nothing away from Spuds, as I said at the start they destroyed Pool in the second half and I could have had no arguments if they had got all 3 pts. But those pens were both woefully soft for me.
As for individuals,
Salah, scored a gift and great individual goal, but other than that he was piss poor. He had two glorious chances to play in team mates in the first half and ****ed them both. For the rest of the game he gave the ball away and generally picked the wrong option. Mane and Firminio were no better, but they didn't score two.
Lovern. Dear god man, the ball is coming straight at you. All you have to do is hoof it away. You know, like any person with two legs and less than 6 pints in them, would have managed quite easily. But, no. You fall over. Not only that, but you touch it meaning kane is then entitled to play it (tho i still think he shud have been flagged). Had he fallen over and missed it, Kane was offside. No pen. That's not the first time he has done something like that, falling over and costing Pool a goal. I can picture the last incident, the ball was crossed from the side and he fell over and let someone, possibly Arsenal tap in and that started one of many collapses. Not sure why Klopp picked him over Matip but the fact he isn't good enough isn't news to anyone.
Harry Kane. Pet peve here. He isn't the first and won't be the last, but when he went down for the pen (very little contact there, he played for it, but then most forwards these days are expected to do that so...) he could quite easily have hurdled that challenege and then hey presto he rolls it into an open net from 6 yards. Surely someone of his class has a lot less chance of missing that than missing a penalty? He scores that and Pool implode and Spurs win. As I said, I'm not picking on him, so many players do it. I just don't get the fall over and pass up an open goal in favour of a penalty with a keeper to beat. Fair enough if the player is, to use a bit of Norn Iron slang "taken out at the roots" but he wasn't. He could have riden that challenge easily.
I've said it before, and i'll say it again, is there a worse team in world football at seeing out a game than Liverpool?
Only when they lead by 5, or 3 with five minutes to go do I actually believe they have won. Sometimes a bit of Rafa-esque setting up shop and playing out time would be a blessed relief.
I don't even know where to start.
Fair do's to spuds they murdeed Liverpool in the second half. Had pool won that it was daylight robbery, plain and simple. I dunno WTF happened at HT but Liverpool were abysmal in the second half. Whatever Poch did/said clearly woked. Whatever Jurgen did/said most definitely did not.
As for the pens. Both pissed me off. Both were soft, sorry Edd. First one, was offside. Ok Lovern touched it so Kane isn't offside by the letter of the law. BUT lovern only played the ball cos Kane (more on both of those two later) was stood there. By my understanding that's ehh influencing play and ehhh......Offside. No!? Seriously, where is the flaw in the logic. He influenced play when offside so the flag should have gone up. He got an advantage from being offisde so surely the offside should stand? Genuine question, where am I wrong there?
The second pen, looked stonewall from one angle, but look at this replay.
https://twitter.com/davidmc1888/status/960218552426008576?s=09
Where is the contact? Yes, there is a little contact but **** me, if you're gonna go down that line whereby any contact entitles a player to dive and thus a penalty to be given, then football is no longer a contact sport, i don't wanna watch it, and games are gonna end 8-8.
Take nothing away from Spuds, as I said at the start they destroyed Pool in the second half and I could have had no arguments if they had got all 3 pts. But those pens were both woefully soft for me.
As for individuals,
Salah, scored a gift and great individual goal, but other than that he was piss poor. He had two glorious chances to play in team mates in the first half and ****ed them both. For the rest of the game he gave the ball away and generally picked the wrong option. Mane and Firminio were no better, but they didn't score two.
Lovern. Dear god man, the ball is coming straight at you. All you have to do is hoof it away. You know, like any person with two legs and less than 6 pints in them, would have managed quite easily. But, no. You fall over. Not only that, but you touch it meaning kane is then entitled to play it (tho i still think he shud have been flagged). Had he fallen over and missed it, Kane was offside. No pen. That's not the first time he has done something like that, falling over and costing Pool a goal. I can picture the last incident, the ball was crossed from the side and he fell over and let someone, possibly Arsenal tap in and that started one of many collapses. Not sure why Klopp picked him over Matip but the fact he isn't good enough isn't news to anyone.
Harry Kane. Pet peve here. He isn't the first and won't be the last, but when he went down for the pen (very little contact there, he played for it, but then most forwards these days are expected to do that so...) he could quite easily have hurdled that challenege and then hey presto he rolls it into an open net from 6 yards. Surely someone of his class has a lot less chance of missing that than missing a penalty? He scores that and Pool implode and Spurs win. As I said, I'm not picking on him, so many players do it. I just don't get the fall over and pass up an open goal in favour of a penalty with a keeper to beat. Fair enough if the player is, to use a bit of Norn Iron slang "taken out at the roots" but he wasn't. He could have riden that challenge easily.
I've said it before, and i'll say it again, is there a worse team in world football at seeing out a game than Liverpool?
Only when they lead by 5, or 3 with five minutes to go do I actually believe they have won. Sometimes a bit of Rafa-esque setting up shop and playing out time would be a blessed relief.
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I don't understand that offside decision for the first penalty, as soon as the ball was played forward Kane was offside and the flag should have gone up and play stop's at that point, that's it. How often do you see players coming from an offside position to challenge the ball, the other player gets a touch then the attacker wins the ball and the offside flag goes up, all the time. Ridiculously **** reason by the ref in the studio.
Anyway great game, for a moment I thought Liverpool were going to win 1-0. That will be the day.
Anyway great game, for a moment I thought Liverpool were going to win 1-0. That will be the day.
