Match Thread Cup Final - Newcastle (Anfield South) - Sun 16:30
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No matter what we say/call/want/dream of, it's not going to be a complete overhaul - and neither should it be, just take a look at the table FFS. So many people have reverted to panic mode it's unreal!
It doesn't matter WHAT we looked like winning all those games, fact is it worked and we are by FAR the top scorers in the PL (by 16 now). It would be crazy to take that team apart instead of strengthening it.
VvD and Mo. will both sign extensions. If we are to believe @tombrown (and he wasn't just pissed) then Trent will again too (TBH this would and wouldn't be a surprise - would because I thought RM was a done deal, wouldn't because there aren't many reasonable options aside from RM that would be more attractive than us).
If that happens then we are looking at LB (bye and thanks Tsimi), a Zubi-like midfielder, a replacement for Nunez (hello Saudi) and maybe maybe a younger CB to replace Gomez and possibly the same for Jota ( if Danns isn't up to it - I like him though and he's Jota-like in some ways). That's 5 and even that seems too much in reality. However it would make us the strongest squad in the PL again for next season. In which case it would be us, Arse and 115 (if they are not relegated) fighting it out again.
That took you a while.
Nothing yesterday took away from mo ... hes still a top notch player and club legend and he still is unable to provide the goods in finals for Liverpool...
As for needing help ... if i compare Stevie in Istanbul (and the opposition) to salah yesterday, the help is frustrating... you want your best player to be his best regardless in the most high pressure games. Do you think salah was close to his best yest? Were you surprised ?
let's win the league at least ... that will still mean this is a succsssful season
Playing a full strength side and being slow starters at home against Southampton was the fucking stupid thing.
I don't have a problem keeping hold of Jota if he's a squad option. I mean, I think he's done, but I agree there's a limit to how many we can sign in one go. We absolutely need to overhaul the attack though and build a new front three. New striker, new LW, both starters. We'll also need a new LB and I'm not 100% convinced about Szobo - though it might be one of those situations where at the beginning of next season he's suddenly shit hot; he's obviously a quality player, the question is whether he fits. So three starters, then potentially backups for AM, RB, RW and CB. If there is a young striker we can afford so we can bin Jota I'd do this. I know we're looking good for the title, but we've done so by being a consistently good team. We need significant changes if we want to be a great team.
What I found interesting was that Slot didn't trot out the usual 'we'll see what opportunities they are' line when asked about transfers a month ago, he was much more assertive that we would be strengthening in the summer. For that reason I'm a bit more optimistic.
We definitely need two new attackers, so I'm not adverse to keeping one from Nunez, Diaz or Jota, just to keep up the numbers, but it'd be nice to see what Chiesa can now do for the rest of the season.
As for the rest - probably more than is doable but we need two fullbacks, a young centre half, a DM and Slot needs to start using his squad!
Firstly - I never said we should go full strength in the FA Cup - that’s a figment of your imagination - I said we should have played a bit of a stronger team against Plymouth and give fringe players playing time.
So, no Dreamy, I still disagree with your desire to have us lose cup games.
90% of our first teamers played no part in the FA Cup this season.
Here’s a list of players with zero minutes in the FA Cup:
Allison
Robbo
Konate
Virgil
Gravy
Macca
CJ
Mo
Gakpo
You can add to that the players who played less than 90 mins :
Trent
Gomez
Bradley
Dom
Morton
And Diaz played bang on 90 mins.
So it’s, whatever you want to call it, misleading, inaccurate or just plain bullshit to suggest that our participation in the FA Cup negatively impacted our season.
We would not be any better or worse off in the league and the “weekend off” we had made no difference.
Now if you want to take a different view - you could say that dropping out curtailed the minutes that Slot had for players like Endo, Jota, Chiesa, Harvey & Quansah to get them that little bit more match fit so that they may have been able to have more of an impact when called on.
That’s also before we get into what sort of psychological effect losing has on confidence, etc
Winning breeds winning, while losing doesn’t and it’s not the first time we’ve crumbled from a position of strength.
I’m thankful we’re so far ahead in the league because it’s not the physical impact of the games that worries me, it’s the mental impact of effectively being “bottlers”.
We’re effectively becoming the bottle merchants we accuse Arsenal of being - and they are now likely to play more games than us this season, certainly they now can’t play less games than us. (City also will end up playing much the same amount of games as us).
So no Dreamie, I still don’t believe losing is a good idea or indeed something that should be encouraged.
Why do we need a new LW when there are other much higher priorities? I'm happy with Gakpo and Diaz (and if he leaves. which I think is unlikley, there'll be cash for a good replacement).
I can see something like this (by season) since we seem to have windows where we buy 4-5 followed by very quiet windows (seasons). I also think Slot will have a much better idea of who and where he wants to upgrade :
2025/6 : CF (Nunez), CM (+1 sell some squaddies), LB (Tsimi) (+RB only if TAA goes), GK (K goes with M coming in)
2026/7 : CB (Gomez), CF (Jota)
2027/8 : RW (Mo.), LW (Diaz)
2028/9 : CB (VvD) etc.
Well that's a different question in terms of how many positions we'll be able to address; but I don't think it's a particularly controversial statement to make if you look at the output of Diaz, Nunez and Jota this season, combined with the fitness record of Jota. Are we anywhere near the level of Mane and Firmino? Diaz is 28, probably as good as he's going to be and with as high a value as he's going to have, and he's doesn't produce enough for us.
I would however suggest that Gakpo is a better option than Diaz and he's our 2nd highest scorer. Slot seems to prefer Diaz's trickery (but less of an end result) for whatever reason.
I don't get why people keep mentioning Mane TBH - sure one of the very best we've had there but it's extremely rare any team can find a like for like replacement for one of their best ever players, so it's more about having players that contribute to the team in a substantive way than what they achieve as individuals.
I don't think he prefers Diaz, he definitely prefers Gapko for that left sided role, he's just shoehorned Diaz in the middle because Jota has been injured and Nunez has been unreliable. Then when Gapko got injured he's had to play Diaz there, I don't think he prefers him at all. I think we could easily see Diaz, Nunez AND Jota moved on in the Summer if we're looking to raise funds. The big question really is over Salah, if Salah goes then we might be more inclined to keep one of the other three, but really while their stocks are relatively high, we should sell them now.
This game was another example to add to your thread from the other month. It was a big occasion and we sat back and just watched the opposition grow into the game and play it the way they wanted. We never put them on the back foot or made them think there was any jeopardy in over committing to attacks. Proper piss poor.
What was worse was us coming out after half time with exactly the same mindset and set up. I knew he wouldn't change personnel, and then they got a corner and Macca was marking Burns again, which was just awful tactics, we'd have been better withdrawing Jota and putting Nunez on at least for just some height advantage and for someone to stick with Burns on setpieces.
That Joelinton is a fucking yard dog too, I had no problem with Newcastle's robust tactics yesterday, I said pre game that was exactly what they would do and their midfield would be dominant, but that challenge on Elliott was a disgrace, 5 minutes earlier he was crying about being outmuscled by Quansah.
That Joelinton is a fucking yard dog too, I had no problem with Newcastle's robust tactics yesterday, I said pre game that was exactly what they would do and their midfield would be dominant, but that challenge on Elliott was a disgrace, 5 minutes earlier he was crying about being outmuscled by Quansah.
I hate that from Joelinton, but equally I wish we had anyone out there willing to put in half as much fight as he did
Apathetic, passive, reserved. It was embarrassing
Given that we: need improvement across the squad, won't overhaul the entire squad in the summer transfer window, are completely exhausted among our usual starters, saw energy and desire from our reserves yesterday, are almost certainly going to win the league no matter what, and our top players never get much of a break in the offseason...
Play the guys like Nunez, Harvey, Endo, Cheezy for the rest of the season. Because if Jota, Gravy and Szobo and Macca (among others) aren't fully recharged by August, it'll be Groundhog Day again come next February.
(Let Mo chase the record books, because why not... But give some fresh energy behind and beside him so he actually has a chance to do so.)
Play the guys like Nunez, Harvey, Endo, Cheezy for the rest of the season. Because if Jota, Gravy and Szobo and Macca (among others) aren't fully recharged by August, it'll be Groundhog Day again come next February.
(Let Mo chase the record books, because why not... But give some fresh energy behind and beside him so he actually has a chance to do so.)
The cringiest part was van Dijk’s talk in the huddle before kick off only for us to be more limp than the dick of the worlds oldest man.
It was an inept and disgraceful performance, bad management which is lacking vast experience and naivety, Our team was beaten at the outset before kicking the ball. Slot has messed up grossly in his team's selection and very naive tactics, and I have started to doubt his ability in management style top club! For sure, he no different to Klopp! Especially after the last two games, PSG and Cup final. Our players were totally drained physically and mentally. He should have not started with Jota (out of form after injury) Daiz is totally drained, Konate not fully fit and drained, the same apply for Mac & Gravenberch!
We were beaten by basic football practise, How do expect Mac to mark big huge player, basis of stupid manager instructions, Endo, Elliot, Jones should have been the three midfield trio, all front players were supposed to be changed at half-time, Chiesa (top striker) , Nunez a Gakpo should be introduced!! The LFC King was none of existence!!!
These two bad results in one week, were luckily in cups competitions! My main worry is focused on the home game against Everton?? The gap is now 12 points, only three loses, therefore, the league has not won yet, with nine games to go everything is possible, our team's current form is at an alarming status! God help us, and best of luck which we need it badly.
We were beaten by basic football practise, How do expect Mac to mark big huge player, basis of stupid manager instructions, Endo, Elliot, Jones should have been the three midfield trio, all front players were supposed to be changed at half-time, Chiesa (top striker) , Nunez a Gakpo should be introduced!! The LFC King was none of existence!!!
These two bad results in one week, were luckily in cups competitions! My main worry is focused on the home game against Everton?? The gap is now 12 points, only three loses, therefore, the league has not won yet, with nine games to go everything is possible, our team's current form is at an alarming status! God help us, and best of luck which we need it badly.
When you boil it down to it's essence Newcastle came to graft their way to a victory, we came to tippy-tappy our way to an expected result and got steamrollered instead.
A vital lesson for the remainder of the season is that you have to earn the right, not expect results because 'reputation'.
A vital lesson for the remainder of the season is that you have to earn the right, not expect results because 'reputation'.
Not very good at maths are you. Now where are my pussy memes !
Newcastle were willing to fight tooth and nail for that win, especially after the way they lost to United in the final a couple of years back. We looked drained from 120 mins against one of the best teams in Europe. I thought 5 days to recover was enough - it clearly wasn't at this stage of the season and with the same players playing match in match out.
This game meant to much to Newcastle and that is why putting a bit of pressure on them early could have seen them completely fold. They were actually largely shit, and just played horrible tactics. Our problem is we let them. We sat back, kept the heart rates under 80 BPM and just watched as they controlled the game in the way they wanted.
We have players who captain their country all over the pitch, but still did nothing to really try and win the game. I'm not overly arsed about not leaving with silverware once the season is done & dusted. But to get to a final and not play with the heart to win it is fucking criminal.
We have players who captain their country all over the pitch, but still did nothing to really try and win the game. I'm not overly arsed about not leaving with silverware once the season is done & dusted. But to get to a final and not play with the heart to win it is fucking criminal.
Anyway I've done enough moping and replaying the could've/should've/would've bits from the last week, time to move on.
Fortunately the players have a useful break from the doom-scape to be with their countrymen in a different environment and Arne and his team can get to planning without counting down the hours to the next imminent fixture.
Fortunately the players have a useful break from the doom-scape to be with their countrymen in a different environment and Arne and his team can get to planning without counting down the hours to the next imminent fixture.
I thought it actually meant the opposite, that we needed to recapture how to play better football after being told we should set it aside if the opponents are good. If we get into a trying match with Newcastle, we could certainly do better than yesterday, but we would probably lose anyway.
This thing with the duels is annoying the shit out of me.
Yes, winning duels is very important.
What you do with the ball in between winning duels will prevent there being many duels. You win all the duels you don't get into, take that from a coward. That in between part is harder and what we have been traditionally decent at. If you can't carry any threat from possession and can't develop any attacking ideas, there's going to be lots of duels against a less technical side, because they're going to be winning the ball back from you and then getting at you.
Play fucking football. Note, this doesn't mean late houllier epoch passing across the back.
Yes, winning duels is very important.
What you do with the ball in between winning duels will prevent there being many duels. You win all the duels you don't get into, take that from a coward. That in between part is harder and what we have been traditionally decent at. If you can't carry any threat from possession and can't develop any attacking ideas, there's going to be lots of duels against a less technical side, because they're going to be winning the ball back from you and then getting at you.
Play fucking football. Note, this doesn't mean late houllier epoch passing across the back.