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Pre Match: Cardiff (H)

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Brizzle

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Right, onwards to Cardiff.

Surely this is going to be the one we are all waiting for - the first demolition of the season. Cardiff appear to me to be trying to play some expansive football, and have pretty awful defenders. I would love to see the same XI but I guess Lovren is getting some heavy rotation at the moment and Hendo or Milner might come back into the middle.

Has anyone been watching much of Cardiff?
 
Not watched them once this season.

I'd say it all depends on Firmino, as does much of our season. He's been nowhere near top form until the end of the Huddersfield game where he showed glimpses of class & last night, where he looked close to his best.

Teams have been working hard to keep him quiet as usually if you keep me quiet the rest of the front three struggles to find its rhythm. Shaqiri being there obviously makes that harder.

I'd like to see the exact same team & formation, for momentum & confidence if nothing else.
 
Not watched them once this season.

I'd say it all depends on Firmino, as does much of our season. He's been nowhere near top form until the end of the Huddersfield game where he showed glimpses of class & last night, where he looked close to his best.

Teams have been working hard to keep him quiet as usually if you keep me quiet the rest of the front three struggles to find its rhythm. Shaqiri being there obviously makes that harder.

I'd like to see the exact same team & formation, for momentum & confidence if nothing else.
Didn’t realise you were so important to the team!
 
I'd defo like to see Fabinho and Shaq still in the team at the weekend, they've deserved a go, Sturridge wasn't great with his chance.
 
I'd defo like to see Fabinho and Shaq still in the team at the weekend, they've deserved a go, Sturridge wasn't great with his chance.
Apart from an assist, & creating loads of problems for them?!

He didn't score, but was great when he came on. He shouldn't start though, imo he needs to be used sparingly to get the most out of him, but I'm fine with that.
 
Apart from an assist, & creating loads of problems for them?!

He didn't score, but was great when he came on. He shouldn't start though, imo he needs to be used sparingly to get the most out of him, but I'm fine with that.

I'm not on about last night with sturridge, I'm on about taking his chances with a start. He's a great option off the bench. I want Shaq and Fabinho to start.
 
I'm not on about last night with sturridge, I'm on about taking his chances with a start. He's a great option off the bench. I want Shaq and Fabinho to start.

Shaqiri's earned his place, because whenever he's played (more or less) he's made something happen. Good assist at the weekend too and a hand in both goals last night.

We lost our shape and edge when AOC got injured in that role at the tip of the midfield, and we haven't quite looked the same since, without that someone roaming and opening up space. He stepped into Coutinho's shoes quite well, so now Shaqiri has to do the same. I found Jim Beglin's comment last night, at Shaqiri being able to play that role, surprising to say the least. He's often played wide but doesn't really have the pace to stretch defenders, he was always better stepping inside and making things happen that way, so to me it was always a no brainer about playing him there.

As for Fabinho, it'll be interesting to see how he does against a quicker side, particularly Arsenal next week, but last night was encouraging to say the least, he's got it all in his locker (vision, power, grit), we just need to see that now translate to the Premiership.
 
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Shaqiri's earned his place, because whenever he's played (more or less) he's made something happen. Good assist at the weekend too and a hand in both goals last night.

We lost our shape and edge when AOC got injured in that role at the tip of the midfield, and we haven't quite looked the same since, without that someone roaming and opening up space. He stepped into Coutinho's shoes quite well, so now Shaqiri has to do the same. I found Jim Beglin's surprise last night, at Shaqiri being able to play that role, surprising to say the least. He's often played wide but doesn't really have the pace to stretch defenders, he was always better stepping inside and making things happen that way, so to me it was always a no brainer about playing him there.

As for Fabinho, it'll be interesting to see how he does against a quicker side, particularly Arsenal next week, but last night was encouraging to say the least, he's go it all in his locker, we just need to see that now translate to the Premiership.

I think it was a surprise for people who didn’t think he had the discipline required of a central mid, as is the case with quite a lot of players that started out wide. In that sense I feel Klopp (or his staff) must have had a big impact on players like Shaq and Ox who had otherwise not played in that role at their respective previous clubs.
Very pleasing.
 
I think it was a surprise for people who didn’t think he had the discipline required of a central mid, as is the case with quite a lot of players that started out wide. In that sense I feel Klopp (or his staff) must have had a big impact on players like Shaq and Ox who had otherwise not played in that role at their respective previous clubs.
Very pleasing.

Yeah, it's interesting too in that AOC was perceived as injury prone, so in essence possibly too lightweight for that role, yet he looked a revelation. While Shaqiri was deemed too lazy, yet is now using his upper body strength well and working his bollocks off. I noticed he does give the ball away a bit and get knocked off the ball too, but in this side he's working to get it back, which is our forte. If he's bought into that already and translated it to his performances, then given his apparent previous reputation, Klopp has done a stellar job on him too.
 
The same 11 deserves a start. If he does change something it might be to get Milner back in.
 
I feel that the 'balance' we've been missing has been found through a few things:

  1. TAA back at RB means a) we have more of an outlet down the right, b) less need for Salah to stay wide c) less reliance on Robbo for an out ball d) ability for Joe to walk the ball out of the back
  2. Shaq in the centre has filled that gap between CM and Attack that recently Firmino has been dropping back to fill as none of Gini, Hendo or Millie were naturally filling that hole
  3. Fabinho in a deeper holding position set Gini free a bit more in the middle too
For me the TAA back at RWB has had the biggest impact. That isn't knocking Gomez at RB, but they play different roles when deployed there and Joe needs to be starting with VVD now.
 
I feel that the 'balance' we've been missing has been found through a few things:

  1. TAA back at RB means a) we have more of an outlet down the right, b) less need for Salah to stay wide c) less reliance on Robbo for an out ball d) ability for Joe to walk the ball out of the back
  2. Shaq in the centre has filled that gap between CM and Attack that recently Firmino has been dropping back to fill as none of Gini, Hendo or Millie were naturally filling that hole
  3. Fabinho in a deeper holding position set Gini free a bit more in the middle too
For me the TAA back at RWB has had the biggest impact. That isn't knocking Gomez at RB, but they play different roles when deployed there and Joe needs to be starting with VVD now.

Good Points. TAA offers something special and is very hard to defend against. Of course it migth be a danger regarding defensive solidness, but against weaker oposition this is a good weapon.
Also it is early days for Fabinho, but he and Gini found a good Balance in workload yesterday. Gini's impressive start to the game meant Fabinho got the time he needed to get into the game. From there he never looked back, and I think him and Gini balanced that out very well. I keep in mind that Red Star, although being a fine team, play different than most PL teams, and the task will be tougher when the battle is on a "freezing evening in Stoke."
 
Good Points. TAA offers something special and is very hard to defend against. Of course it migth be a danger regarding defensive solidness, but against weaker oposition this is a good weapon.
Also it is early days for Fabinho, but he and Gini found a good Balance in workload yesterday. Gini's impressive start to the game meant Fabinho got the time he needed to get into the game. From there he never looked back, and I think him and Gini balanced that out very well. I keep in mind that Red Star, although being a fine team, play different than most PL teams, and the task will be tougher when the battle is on a "freezing evening in Stoke."

TAA hadn't delivered a quality cross in ages. He has had some average to poor games of late. Yesterday was a slightly better performance.

Gomez has been the beast that's covering that side of the field making sure Trent looked better than he has been.

Note how Virgil didn't have to do many of those last ditch runs to deny an opponent as compared to Gomez.
 
TAA hadn't delivered a quality cross in ages. He has had some average to poor games of late. Yesterday was a slightly better performance.

Gomez has been the beast that's covering that side of the field making sure Trent looked better than he has been.

Note how Virgil didn't have to do many of those last ditch runs to deny an opponent as compared to Gomez.

So the teenager had a period with a dip in form after being brilliant in his first CL campaign that resulted in a final as well as participating in his first world cup... ? How dare he?
 
I'd like to see more of Fabinho, but I'm more interested in seeing how he indirectly affects the game. Want to see if Wijnaldum and whoever else is in midfield gets more space or if he lessens their workload.
Many of us have been going on and on about the importance of a defensive midfielder on the pitch, so it will be interesting to see what effect it might have.
 
Shaqiri is key . Best creative player right now. Cardiff will not be able to stand in our way - obviously.
 
I'd like to see more of Fabinho, but I'm more interested in seeing how he indirectly affects the game. Want to see if Wijnaldum and whoever else is in midfield gets more space or if he lessens their workload.
Many of us have been going on and on about the importance of a defensive midfielder on the pitch, so it will be interesting to see what effect it might have.
Yeah I do want to see him starting against English opposition ASAP. I kind of doubt it though. Looks like he’s maybe being eased in via European football so he gets used to our play against opposition that don’t press as hard. But I’m liking what this midfield three brings to our play, on paper.
 
Shaq and Fabinho have to start. That's no reflection really on Milner and Hendo but the balance is superb - I was just watching the post match analysis of last night and Lineker and Rio were purring like a couple of fluffy kittens at the depth and quality of our squad. Lovely to hear. There are just so many class options it makes me start popping boners when I think about it. Incidentally am I right in thinking VVD was captain last night? Let him keep it for a bit. Seems to suit him well the big, smiley, colossus of a man mountain. He's my new favourite player.
 
Shaq and Fabinho have to start. That's no reflection really on Milner and Hendo but the balance is superb - I was just watching the post match analysis of last night and Lineker and Rio were purring like a couple of fluffy kittens at the depth and quality of our squad. Lovely to hear. There are just so many class options it makes me start popping boners when I think about it. Incidentally am I right in thinking VVD was captain last night? Let him keep it for a bit. Seems to suit him well the big, smiley, colossus of a man mountain. He's my new favourite player.

VVD is the player that has turned us from pretenders into contenders. No doubt about it. Big Virge is a belief system made man.
 
VVD is the player that has turned us from pretenders into contenders. No doubt about it. Big Virge is a belief system made man.
Yeah man - I love the guy. 75mill seems a fucking snip! I also love the fact he's named after one of my favourite poets and guide (no less) to the very circle of hell. That's pretty fucking cool.
 
I hadn't seen Neil for a while - he now looks like an owl in drag. Some people have to go through gender reassignment to look like this. He's just achieved it naturally.

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Warnock was very complimentary to both the team and Klopp. Weird reading him giving us praise. Hope we smash the living shite out of them tomorrow mind.
 
Warnock was very complimentary to both the team and Klopp. Weird reading him giving us praise. Hope we smash the living shite out of them tomorrow mind.

Warnock appears to have had some strange character change. From a spitting, irascible, pressure-cooker of a man, every interview I hear from him he treats Cardiff's misfortunes with a gentle humour, a shrug of the shoulders, and a faint stoic smile. Maybe Macca is onto something and his wife has been lacing his tea with oestrogen.
 
Warnock has revealed Harry Arter and Josh Murphy are both doubtful for this weekend’s game - both have knocks.
 
I dont know who either of those are.

I'm actually not sure I could name a single Cardiff player off the top of my head, I haven't watched them once this season.
 
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