What a load of bollocks. You are certainly true to form of late.
Pre Match - Napoli (a) CL - Wed 8pm
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Play Bobby there. He spends half his time in the centre circle anyway.
Only since Hendo dropped out. Until then it was Fabs Hendo and Elliot.
Whereas the CB pairing is an average VVD and a below average Gomez. We’ve conceded first how many times this season?
Sure the midfield is empty, but so is the CB issue. People think it’s ok as we have Vvd and one other. But the other is Gomez and VVD is a shadow of himself at the moment
The Georgian left winger whose name I won't even try to spell will have a field day against the current version Trent and Osimhen can cause problems to any defense
On the other side of the pitch, Kim has done really well so far to replace Koulibaly, while their keeper looks a bit dodgy (was number 2 behind the old Arsenal reject Ospina last year)
Still think that the level of defending in Serie A is a piece of piss. Should be an entertaining game
On the other side of the pitch, Kim has done really well so far to replace Koulibaly, while their keeper looks a bit dodgy (was number 2 behind the old Arsenal reject Ospina last year)
Still think that the level of defending in Serie A is a piece of piss. Should be an entertaining game
This is much better than the rubbish we see in the league
Jesus WTF. Gomez was one of our highest rated players (if not the highest) vs Everton - after months out he's still getting back into form - and even if VvD is not yet at peak performance he's still better than 99% of CBs in the PL. Matip has been out for months, his return will have little to no effect on the team whereas the return of midfielders Thiago (or even Keita or I hope Melo when ready, even Hendo who has been shite but is still a real midfielder who can put in a performance) returning will, in comparison, have a massive effect and far far more than a returning Matip.
Our midfield has proven neither here nor there no matter who plays, when teams tactics seem to be to bypass our midfield and knock it into the space behind Trent.
The arguement for putting Gomez to right back is as valid as throwing an injury prone Thiago straight in. More so.
On paper Thiago can make a bigger difference to us, than swapping in a good centre half for a good centre half. But the problems are deeper and much more complex than a simple, premature fix that can have longer lasting damage.
* The Trent issue needs sorting for good, if only to help us get back to basics with defending. Playing Gomez, VVD and Matip helps, at least in some games.
* And no, VVD isn't "better than 99% of centre backs", not any more. He's not finished, but he's making mistakes more regularly and is uncharacteristically lax.
* Thiago is crucial to our season but needs protecting. Throwing him in days after returning is FIFA generation thick. You'll be whinging about Keita being a sicknote though while, by the same token, advocating us neglecting common sense over Thiago.
* We've played any combination of Hendo, Fabs, Milner, Elliott, Fabio this season and it's had zero fluctuation in difference, it's as much tactical as us missing one player. Our form in 2022 has been hit and miss and our "best" players have been as culpable as the rest.
The arguement for putting Gomez to right back is as valid as throwing an injury prone Thiago straight in. More so.
On paper Thiago can make a bigger difference to us, than swapping in a good centre half for a good centre half. But the problems are deeper and much more complex than a simple, premature fix that can have longer lasting damage.
* The Trent issue needs sorting for good, if only to help us get back to basics with defending. Playing Gomez, VVD and Matip helps, at least in some games.
* And no, VVD isn't "better than 99% of centre backs", not any more. He's not finished, but he's making mistakes more regularly and is uncharacteristically lax.
* Thiago is crucial to our season but needs protecting. Throwing him in days after returning is FIFA generation thick. You'll be whinging about Keita being a sicknote though while, by the same token, advocating us neglecting common sense over Thiago.
* We've played any combination of Hendo, Fabs, Milner, Elliott, Fabio this season and it's had zero fluctuation in difference, it's as much tactical as us missing one player. Our form in 2022 has been hit and miss and our "best" players have been as culpable as the rest.
I have to say I would rather we gave Bajcetic minutes at this stage than Milner. One is declining in ability and the other will grow exponentially based on minutes. They are probably not too far away from being at equal levels of ability on a bell curve, let's use the one where investing his game time will pay off in the future.
Give them each 45 mins in a double pivot with Fabinho. Or potentially Bajcetic if either one of em can't do 45 mins
On VvD. Whilst it's difficult to assess a defender purely on stats (because a player in a team under constant pressure will naturally have more interceptions/tackles e.g. Mepham of Bournemouth has the 2nd most clearances) with Leeds for example the most tackles, Everton the most clearances, Newcastle the most saves and CP the most blocks and to emphasise this there are no City, Spurs, Arsenal or Liverpool CBs in the Top 20 for Blocks, Fouls (Dias at 24th, 8, the highest CB), Clearances or Interceptions.
Whilst midfielders tend to dominate most defensive stats (tackles etc.), VvD still has :
the 3rd most successful passes in the PL so far this season,
just 3 fouls (150th, alongside 40 other players, in the PL),
9 headed clearances (equal with Gabriel of CBs from the Top Teams),
22nd for all clearances (best of Top Teams),
4th Aerial duels won (22 - the highest of any Top Teams)
Aerial battles lost he is 71st in the PL with just 7 (CBs Gomez 15, Dias 9, Gabriel 8),
0 errors leading to a goal (yes, 1 penalty conceded) and
he's needed to make only 3 tackles (203rd in the PL).
Additionally if we use what metrics are available then as a team (even if they are paltry at this stage and highly dependant on a teams tactics) then we have the 2nd most clean sheets (2) with just 6 goals conceded (1 more than the best defences of Spurs and Brighton and 1 less than City).
Reviewing those stats it's hard to make a case that, even if he's not at his absolute peak, VvD isn't still one of the very best, if not the best, CBs so far this season.
On Thiago : I take it LFC would know best whether he's fit to start or not (despite not always getting it right they know better than our wild guesses). He's been training for a while now.
On the Midfield : It's a combination of factors (IMO). Integrating 3-4 new players, our top players not at the peak of their game and an injury list at least double that of any other team in the PL (it was 10 vs. 5 and lower). So how tactical it is remains to be seen. Until we have integrated the new players and our midfielders are fully fit and on the pitch, it's tough to say how much is down to pure tactics (though I agree on the mis-use of TAA & Milner).
NB.1
'Top Teams' for the stats above: City, Liverpool, Spurs & Arsenal.
NB2
I know some people here don't like stats but the fact is there can't be much wrong with them, even if they don't give the full picture, when LFC use stats to evaluate players, not even watching them after the initial scout recommendation, and it's definitely, by far, better than the infamous SCM "I use my own eyes".
NB3
Stats courtesy of the PL website.
Sounds like a plan ! I wouldn't start Bajcetic but would love to see him given 20 minutes or so.
You seem less convinced by your argument than me, hence the slightly overly aggressive opening statement.
if the defence is so good then why do we keep conceding goals? So essentially you’re saying we don’t need Matip or Konate back. Your post reads that VVD is better than most in the prem right now, which I don’t think he is, on current form. I thought Gomez was great a few years ago, but I don’t think he’s anywhere near as good as Matip or Konate at the moment.
Not only is Matip a much better defender, he’s also great at being the ball out and helping the midfield in the process. I disagree that Thiago is a bigger miss. And even if he were, certainly wouldn’t be by the margin you’re claiming.
Agree with most of that, except, I think Matip is underrated by many and I think there’s a clear step up in what Matip provides vs Gomez. I also think he brings out the best in VVD. They’re a great pairing.
Nice post.
We don't keep conceding goals ! We've conceded ONE more than the top defensive record in the PL so far (Spurs and Brighton). Read my post just above.
Did I say we don't need Matip or Konate back ? Don't be so daft. I'd want Konate in to start. I said we don't need Matip back as much as we need midfielders back (even Hendo) !
Yep. Absolutely we are missing midfielders more than a CB - we have a very decent replacement in Gomez. We have SFA in midfield at present and even a blind man can see what the issue is. For reference : every single pre-match thread and our injury list.
Again with the overly defensive comments. It’s hard to take you seriously. You may want to talk a leaf out of some of the more calm and considers posters.
We’ve conceded first how many times this season? Not having Thiago isn’t causing that. Every time we do, it upsets the team that doesn’t have the mentality it had last season at the moment. That’s why it’s crucial we get a top notch centre back pairing back.
Again, “even a blind man” etc etc. your argument should speak for itself. Which it doesn’t. So you resort to this kinda stuff. Hard to talk to you mate, and not worth the effort. Sorry dude. There’s no debate or discussion. Its just tiring, and a little pointless. Carry on by all means, but I don’t think it’s conducive to good debate.
Essentially, would I have taken VVD Matip Hendo Fabs and Eliot over VVD Gomez Hendo Fabs and Thiago up until now? Yep.
Kvaratskhelia is perhaps the most intriguing of Napoli's arrivals because of his distinct ball-carrying approach and ability to change games - predominantly operating off the left, he has attempted 6.58 dribbles per 90 minutes so far in the Italian top flight and made a goal contribution every 60 minutes.
In Saturday's 2-1 victory at Lazio, he almost scored his best goal yet, rifling a strike against the post from range after gliding past his marker with a delightful 'Maradona' turn, only to then grab the winner with a thumping strike in the second half.
"I invited him up to my house for a cup of tea on the afternoon he signed the contract," said Spalletti, after Kvaratskhelia's match-winning performance.
"He is able to control any ball and make it clean, he has this very shy way of doing things, he never wants to be the centre of attention, but when he plays football, he is so confident."
Note his 4 goals have come against Verona (1), Monza (2) and Lazio (1).
In Saturday's 2-1 victory at Lazio, he almost scored his best goal yet, rifling a strike against the post from range after gliding past his marker with a delightful 'Maradona' turn, only to then grab the winner with a thumping strike in the second half.
"I invited him up to my house for a cup of tea on the afternoon he signed the contract," said Spalletti, after Kvaratskhelia's match-winning performance.
"He is able to control any ball and make it clean, he has this very shy way of doing things, he never wants to be the centre of attention, but when he plays football, he is so confident."
Note his 4 goals have come against Verona (1), Monza (2) and Lazio (1).
My my what a sheltered life you've lived if words like 'daft' and 'WTF' feel 'aggressive' to you. Thank your lucky stars you're not from Liverpool, have never been in the military and are not the poster called Dreambeliever, Binomial, Blueboy or Donovan !
I've backed my opinion up with stats, you with words. It doesn't mean I'm right and you wrong but when you say I haven't debated it's you who has not come up with anything but repeating your assertion over and over. If you are not willing to consider that not having a viable midfield has more negatively affected what is generally a good defence (as our record proves - regardless of who scored the first goal) than having Matip back, then there's really nothing more to be said. I did however, which is why I bothered to research the debate above.
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