Matip

[rubans]

I think we could have won the title with Rhys & Nat if we'd kept Fabs (and Hendo, when we dropped him back too) in DM.

That was the key, the fannying about it led to playing Hendo or Fab playing at the back and taken away from midfield was system breaker.
The CM trio maybe considered functional by many outside of LFC but that doesn’t negate what a set of midfielders they are.
Gary Neville described us last night as the best 11 in the PL, just shows good we are as a team still compared to the full on upgrades the challengers including EC winners have taken over the summer.
Just hope this year, regardless of any injuries, we leave the midfield alone .

 

[moron]

LOL

Has there been a better diamond in recent memory in the premier league

Alli

Matip VVd

Fab

It's insane.

No there has not. That diamond is the best ever in PL history.

 

[Modo]

LOL

Has there been a better diamond in recent memory in the premier league

Alli

Matip VVd

Fab

It's insane.

What I love about it mostly is that it makes it almost impossible for teams to beat us in the air. All of them are over 188 cm or 6 ft 2 in.

 

[Brizzle]

Think you've had 1 too many Razzle Dazzle's there bud.

Would have been way up there, as shown by the run we had once Fabs was back at DM at the latter stage of the season.

 

[Modo]

I actually think the "not as good as VVD" caveat isn't that necessary any more.

Plenty of games now where he's been the better of the two.

Exactly!

 

[Frogfish]

How many points did it cost us by not having our diamond available last season?

I reckon 15 to 20

The Title.

 

[Modo]

Rightly or wrongly there's periods when people judge Matip when he's coming back from injury and finding his form, which is pretty frequent.

Thing is, every time he gets injured for a lengthy period, when he comes back it's like he never was out. No having to get used to the tempo or whatever.
I've heard excuses for others, Ox, Keita etc but Matip just gets on with it. Love the guy.

 

[rurikbird]

Thing is, every time he gets injured for a lengthy period, when he comes back it's like he never was out. No having to get used to the tempo or whatever.
I've heard excuses for others, Ox, Keita etc but Matip just gets on with it. Love the guy.

It helps that he always plays the game at his own tempo.

 

[MomoWASright]

Thing is, every time he gets injured for a lengthy period, when he comes back it's like he never was out. No having to get used to the tempo or whatever.
I've heard excuses for others, Ox, Keita etc but Matip just gets on with it. Love the guy.

I think it’s a world of difference getting a defender up to speed and those who are more attacking.

 

[Modo]

I think it’s a world of difference getting a defender up to speed and those who are more attacking.

But it's also more risky with a defender. He's not allowed to make mistakes.
Ox however, can run into as many players as he wants in midfield.

 

[Richey]

No one has ever denied that Matip is a great player. People have said he is unreliable because he is injured a lot. I very strongly hope that he proves us all wrong on that point.

 

[peekay]

It is also a huge help to us that he has chosen to not represent his country and focus on the club career.

 

[MomoWASright]

But it's also more risky with a defender. He's not allowed to make mistakes.
Ox however, can run into as many players as he wants in midfield.

I think it’s the exact opposite. It’s blunting your attack by needing your player to get that 5% of close control and doing things at lightening pace. As a defender you get that extra by dropping a yard or two. Or lumping the ball.

 

[juniormember]

I remember saying that Maptip was a better CB than Gomez and was only replaced by him becuase of injury and people giving me jip for saying it.
Funny how many of you now are saying the same thing

I think you were trying to make that point by being ultra critical of Gomez. Being hyperbolic about something to try and make another point will always get you opposing views, as the point of the argument will get skewed.

 

[binomial]

I'm a little concerned with the lack of match fitness Gomez had, will have moving forward as it looks like Matip and VVD will be the focal pairing this season unless either or suffer an injury.

Gomez looks off the pace when he's needed to play a game here and there.

 

[Dreambeliever]

We missed VVD in the air big time.

 

[HC]

I'm a little concerned with the lack of match fitness Gomez had, will have moving forward as it looks like Matip and VVD will be the focal pairing this season unless either or suffer an injury.

Gomez looks off the pace when he's needed to play a game here and there.

Errr he played like 2 mins against Burnley and last night was his first start in a year or so ?

 

[binomial]

Errr he played like 2 mins against Burnley and last night was his first start in a year or so ?

Yeah what I'm saying is he'll always look short of match fitness if he's only being used as a started here and there.

I wonder if we'd be better off going to a back 3 because leaving Joe out the side don't feel right after the season when we won the league.

----Gomez----Matip-----Virgil

Trent----Fab-------Hendo------Robbo

 

[Fabio]

Yeah what I'm saying is he'll always look short of match fitness if he's only being used as a started here and there.

I wonder if we'd be better off going to a back 3 because leaving Joe out the side don't feel right after the season when we won the league.

----Gomez----Matip-----Virgil

Trent----Fab-------Hendo------Robbo

I like the idea, but I think it undoes everything klopps done so far. Definitely should try it at some stage though. Plus, it leaves a big hole in front of the midfield where the third mid would be..bobby dropping deeper counters that, but also means he might get doubled up on

 

[FreshRed]

I think it’s the exact opposite. It’s blunting your attack by needing your player to get that 5% of close control and doing things at lightening pace. As a defender you get that extra by dropping a yard or two. Or lumping the ball.

I agree. So far this season, Ox has been most effective in launching the other team’s counter attacks.

He is one of the last (maybe the last) player I want on the field, at the moment., which is a sad statement. May be can play out of his brainless funk, but I actually thought that Milan would score last as soon as he came on.

 

[FreshRed]

I like the idea, but I think it undoes everything klopps done so far. Definitely should try it at some stage though. Plus, it leaves a big hole in front of the midfield where the third mid would be..bobby dropping deeper counters that, but also means he might get doubled up on

Agree. Too early the season for that, just as the team is getting into a groove. Maybe later.

 

[bluebell]