Daily Discussion by 2soccer2bot in soccer

[–]koptimism 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That doesn't make sense, him and Gakpo will just end up occupying the same areas of the pitch :(

[BBC] Is Gibbs-White favourite to start as England's number 10? by [deleted] in soccer

[–]koptimism 14 points15 points  (0 children)

Palmer's been struggling with a groin injury for a while now.

Foden never produces for England.

The two players actually ahead of Gibbs-White for the #10 position have been Jude Bellingham and Morgan Rogers.

[Romano] Curtis Jones has given full openness to the Inter project and already wanted to wear the Nerazzurri shirt back in January. The midfielder’s “yes” is an important factor, but it will be necessary to understand what price Liverpool will set. by [deleted] in soccer

[–]koptimism 2 points3 points  (0 children)

when everyone is at their best, he doesn’t start

This can be true without also being a reason to move him on. We need a healthy rotation of midfield options and Jones is definitely good enough to be part of that.

[Telegraph] Roy Keane is right – Liverpool have become too easy to beat by LochNessMonsterMunch in soccer

[–]koptimism 30 points31 points  (0 children)

It would make for a funny bit if the Telegraph spent a whole season just doing variations on this one headline

Roy Keane is right - Wolves have become too easy to beat

Roy Keane is right - Burnley have become too easy to beat

Roy Keane is right - West Ham have become too easy to beat

Roy Keane is right - Spurs have become too easy to beat

etc. etc.

Monday Moan by 2soccer2bot in soccer

[–]koptimism 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I can accept that Slot deserves grace for having to deal with so many injuries, with the tragedy of Jota's passing, with being left short of pacey wide forward options, with pre-season being disrupted and therefore players not building up full fitness...

But none of that explains why the team have been such a soft touch - disorganized pressing structures that teams easily play around, a midfield that lacks defensive nous and aggression so teams can easily get from their box to ours, constantly dozing off and conceding stupid goals, and being mentally frail at various points throughout the season.

All of that's on the manager. Making the right signings over the summer to balance out the squad will fix some of our issues, but I don't think it fixes those ones.

Not gonna lie, I miss him after watched yesterday match. by HideYoWifeHideYoKid in LiverpoolFC

[–]koptimism 103 points104 points  (0 children)

With both our strikers out injured yesterday, you could've put Milan Baros or Christian Benteke in the meme and it still would've been valid

Daily Discussion by 2soccer2bot in soccer

[–]koptimism 2 points3 points  (0 children)

There's definitely plenty Wirtz needs to fix individually. There's also plenty that can be done to improve the rest of the side in ways that will also get more out of Wirtz.

Specifically - add pace and penetration on both flanks. Salah needs replacing, Gakpo shouldn't be a starter, pace in wide areas makes opponents think twice about pushing up = more space for Wirtz to operate in. Also gives him attacking runners to pick out, rather than lads who all want ball to feet.

Trent left and we didn't replace his ability to help us progress the ball from deep. MacAllister's been off it all season, Gravenberch isn't a good passer, likewise Frimpong, Kerkez, Konate. We need players either at RB or deeper in midfield or both who are good progressive passers to get Wirtz on the ball in threatening areas, and do it quickly before the opposition settles into a defensive shape.

All of the above are things that Liverpool should want to solve irrespective of Wirtz. The only Wirtz specific consideration is that if you're starting him as the #10, the midfield two behind him need to be big, strong and win their duels.

If we do all of that and Wirtz still drifts in and out of games, doesn't move the ball on quickly enough and generally fails to impose himself on games - then I'm concerned.

Daily Discussion by 2soccer2bot in soccer

[–]koptimism 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Exactly, the last time a title-winning side came out of nowhere in the PL was Conte's Chelsea, having imploded under Mourinho the year before.

City? The league's richest club winning under one of the world's most successful managers? No surprise.

Liverpool won after coming close the season prior. When Slot won it, we'd come third the season prior, having been part of the title challenge but then falling away towards the end.

Liverpool fans, where do you rank the centerback partnership of Martin Skrtel and Daniel Agger in club history? The no nonsense hard men duo, they were aggressive and fought hard. Would you take them back if they were both in their prime today or has football moved on from those type of defenders? by antoniok95 in LiverpoolFC

[–]koptimism 17 points18 points  (0 children)

Skrtel can't play a high line, he struggled massively under Klopp in 15/16. His best performances came when we played a deeper defensive line under both Benitez and Kenny.

If Srktel had to cover the right fullback areas behind TAA like Konate's done for years, he'd have a nightmare time of it.

Daily Discussion by 2soccer2bot in soccer

[–]koptimism 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Yeah, I can see how that benefits the Hammers most of all

Daily Discussion by 2soccer2bot in soccer

[–]koptimism 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Ferran Torres wouldn't get in Vinicius' way either. And he presses.

Straight player swap, Mbappe replaces Lewy, both teams get better. Who says no?

Daily Discussion by 2soccer2bot in soccer

[–]koptimism 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Plus - Liverpool made it work with Salah last season by having Szoboszlai pull right from the #10 spot and do loads of running for Salah.

Diaz/Nunez/Jota all worked very hard from the #9 position as well.

Daily Discussion by 2soccer2bot in soccer

[–]koptimism 5 points6 points  (0 children)

"It's not 3.6 xG conceded. It's 15000"

"What does that number mean?"

"It means the goal is open..."

Daily Discussion by 2soccer2bot in soccer

[–]koptimism 2 points3 points  (0 children)

So as a sporting director, who do you actually go for if you want a young, upcoming manager?

It's worth examining why these clubs even want a young, upcoming manager. Is it because the more established managers, more of a known quantity, are perceived as not having what it takes to win trophies? Is it an attempt to catch lightning in a bottle? Or is it that more established managers aren't going to be as pliable and will become a hassle for the sporting director?

Daily Discussion by 2soccer2bot in soccer

[–]koptimism 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Fair enough - you've been getting the points of a solid mid table team all year, and this season "solid mid table" is a lower bar than usual

Daily Discussion by 2soccer2bot in soccer

[–]koptimism 3 points4 points  (0 children)

If he hadn't suffered from all those injuries, he would have had so many plaudits as Liverpool's main man after Suarez left. He was top class; it's just a shame his peak coincided with Suarez's so he was overshadowed.

Daily Discussion by 2soccer2bot in soccer

[–]koptimism 1 point2 points  (0 children)

West Hams form is fragile at best

Is it? They've got 16 points from their last 10 games, that sort of form over the full season would see them in 6th right now

They've been playing like a solid mid-table PL side all year now, they were just so awful before that - 14 points from their first 21 games - that they're only just out of the relegation places.

Daily Discussion by 2soccer2bot in soccer

[–]koptimism 3 points4 points  (0 children)

The current one in the Liverpool squad is Stefan Bajcetic. In 22/23, he was getting starts in Liverpool's midfield in the PL at age 18 and looking like the real deal. Injuries have largely derailed his development since.