Villareal post-game: Keep the faith!

[Hansern]

Toure 5, Lucas 5, Lovren 6 and Firmino 3. Christ.
Its like if the Discovery Girls magazine decided to a match report and ratings.

 

[Gary25]

Yeah strange ratings them.

 

[Gary25]

Although some very fair points in the opening paragraph.

 

[Squiggles]

Villarreal have beaten Real Madrid, Atleti, Sevilla, Napoli and Bayer Leverkusen at home. Held Barca. Only conceded once in EL at home.

Over 20 clean sheets this season in total.
But yet some on here are calling them an average side..
As Fark said, we made them look average. One lapse in concentration from Moreno and Kolo/Lucas away from a perfect defensive performance.

I called the team Klopp selected an average side. Not Villarreal.

 

[Squiggles]

Like I said in the other thread, I'm not sure why people are being hyper defensive of criticism towards Klopp. He gets unanimous love and complete praise for alot of things, because he gets most things right and we're in very good form this year. He made mistakes last night though, that doesn't make someone a Klopp critic, or "drunk" or a "kid" or whatever else.

He got his initial tactics right, we went there to contain them and keep the scoreline tight, initial job done. But as the game unfolded, it became clear that either Villareal weren't as good as we feared, or they were having an off day. Either way the opportunity was there to go for the jugular. I said it in the closing stages of the first half, we've used yesterdays tactics well in big games, and to a degree the containment side of it worked, but Firmino and Lallana weren't really at the races in an attacking sense. We also had Milner and Allen pressing high in midfield, with a continuous outlet wide that was stopping their wide play high up the pitch, in Clyne and Moreno. It was too easy for us in that sense, so we could afford to sacrifice one grafter for a genuine threat. The decision at half time made that even more perplexing. In his last few appearances, Ibe has not only looked lackluster, he's been a liability in giving the ball away in dangerous areas. He did it last night and it nearly cost us, he gave us all huff and no genuine penetration. Our only player on the pitch who is capable of creating a goal out of nothing, went off ill. Our only other player capable of doing the same was left languishing on the bench.

As it was, we didn't score, and for all our careful, meticulous gameplan, such was the fine balance of play, the whole thing was for nothing because we let a moment of naivety creep in with players following the ball late on and not holding position and watching the opposition players, and we were hit with a sucker punch. If we'd put our best goalscorer on we might have come away with a much needed away goal, or two.

People were talking in the match thread as though a 1-0 defeat (admittedly not a devastating result), was job done. It could and should have been so much more, if we'd managed to see the wood for the trees. Leaving our best player on the bench when we had Villareal where we wanted them was a bad decision in anyones book. It happens, it doesn't mean we all hate Klopp, every manager makes the odd gaff. We went to Real Madrid and left Gerrard on the bench, and everyone wanted to knife Rodgers. Yet we leave Sturridge on the bench here and suddenly everyone can see where Klopp was coming from.

We'll probably go through, so all the arguments either way are neither here nor there, but we could have made it much easier on ourselves. Which, let's face it, is this club all over in cup competition.

This is spot on. Klopps in game management as well as his team selections can be very questionable at times. This will become less and less important if he improves the squad as a whole but it can cost us in the present.

 

[Insignificance]

Hmmmm a 0-0 would have been fine against a stubborn Villarreal away, and people go bananas for that last effort they had which won the game. We can beat this lot and we will be putting the under pressure at Anfield. Key is of course that we manage to break down that overcrowded box of theirs. Maybe Benteke can come handy together with Studge.

 

[Squiggles]

I love how the slightest criticism of Klopp can be considered 'going bananas'.

What sort of place is this becoming?

 

[manwithnoname]

I love how the slightest criticism of Klopp can be considered 'going bananas'.

What sort of place is this becoming?

I just want to know what 'Discovery Girls' magazine is, so I can understand the jibe and enjoy the obviously hilarious joke.

 

[Squiggles]

I just want to know what 'Discovery Girls' magazine is, so I can understand the jibe and enjoy the obviously hilarious joke.

A magazine created by girls, for girls ages 8-12. Winner of a 2011 NAPPA Gold Award and a 2011 Mom's Choice Gold Award, Discovery Girls gives girls advice, encouragement & inspiration. Plus each issue is packed with quizzes, embarrassing moments, contests, fashion, overzealous criticism of Kolo Toure and much more!

 

[Gary25]

I love how the slightest criticism of Klopp can be considered 'going bananas'.

What sort of place is this becoming?

Some very, very sensitive people about.

 

[Farkmaster]

Imagine if every time you had a difference of opinion you were characterized and sensitive and hysterical. Thank fuck we're men?

 

[Hansern]

I called the team Klopp selected an average side. Not Villarreal.

Yeah, its painfully obvious how average we are when our few quality players are out.
Klopp has got a massive job this summer in building a strong squad.

 

[manwithnoname]

A magazine created by girls, for girls ages 8-12. Winner of a 2011 NAPPA Gold Award and a 2011 Mom's Choice Gold Award, Discovery Girls gives girls advice, encouragement & inspiration. Plus each issue is packed with quizzes, embarrassing moments, contests, fashion, overzealous criticism of Kolo Toure and much more!

*subscribes*

 

[Gary25]

Imagine if every time you had a difference of opinion you were characterized and sensitive and hysterical. Thank fuck we're men?

Klopp got it wrong and people are stating that. No one is calling for his head.

It's ok to criticise you know.

 

[superchimp]

Its going to be them scoring first and us needing to score three again.

I just know it.

 

[Farkmaster]

Klopp got it wrong and people are stating that. No one is calling for his head.

It's ok to criticise you know.

Of course it is, that was rather my point. It's also ok to not feel like the criticism is totally valid.

 

[mark1975]

Of course it is, that was rather my point. It's also ok to not feel like the criticism is totally valid.

Yeah true Farky, but some people seem to think it's their duty on here to deflect any criticism of Klopp. I posted my thoughts quite fairly, and also stressed how great we've been since the turn of the year, and how loved Klopp is, I think that's as balanced as it gets. All managers make questionable decisions every now and then, even the greatest ones, it doesn't mean you can't point it out when it happens, without being faced with a barrage of insults and people questioning your sanity, maturity, sobriety, or knowledge, etc.

 

[Judge Jules]

Its going to be them scoring first and us needing to score three again.

I just know it.

Well, if it is, that's what we'll do.

I just know it.

 

[Buddha]

I called the first leg 1-0 and fear the 2nd leg will be 2-1 (another late goal for them).

Klopp fucked up on Thursday, they were there for the taking. We simply had to go for the away goal but didn't.

 

[Frogfish]

Poor result stemming from a crucial lack of ambition, a bad team selection and baffling substitutions.

Villareal weren't great, although they possibly just deserved the win, with Mignolet making two good saves. No away goal and a defeat is very worrying, given that so far at Anfield we have conceded one or more goals to Palace, West Brom, Arsenal, West Ham, Sunderland, Spurs, City, Stoke, Newcastle, Bordeaux, Chelsea, Southampton, Ruben Kazan, Fc Sion, Aston Villa....etc.

In fact, there have only been 5 games in all competitions at Anfield so far in which we have managed a scoreline that would be enough to get through this tie. We concede goals all the time, so there's little doubt we will concede next week, which would leave us requiring three goals. As I said, an awful result.

Mignolet (8) One or two very good saves and kept us in the game, but he wasn't tested that often.

Clyne (7) Really busy night and got through an awful lot of work. He was a consistent outlet, but sadly his use of the ball was lacking and he wasted several opportunities. Defensively solid.

Lovren (6) He had a quieter evening than most, and looked pretty comfortable. Requires someone next to him with genuine pace, though, rather than the glacial Toure.

Toure (5) He made some great clearances and blocks, but he was left floundering twice. Mignolet saved one, the other was a goal. He shouldn't be playing for Liverpool. Zero pace and turns like a fucking milkfloat.

Moreno (6) Hard to score this one. He left Toure exposed for the goal, which is totally inexcusable given that he must know that Lucas, Lovren and Toure don't have the pace to track attackers, so were carved open twice on the left. But he worked so hard to give us some attacking impetus, and was a Trojan all night.

Lucas (5) Made several decent tackles - which is all he has to do in that role - but whenever Villareal ran towards him, he was all to easy to skip past. He has to tackle, because he can't actually run. Another who should not be playing for Liverpool next season. But how fucking long have we been saying that?

Milner (7) To his credit, he did actually try to do it all on his own. He was industrious and made several important interventions, but his passing is still erratic at times.

Allen (6). Busy. Tidy. Neat. Created nothing. Missed an easy chance. The usual from Allen. The absolute opposite of an impact player. did little wrong - apart from the shithouse effort on goal - but Liverpool players need to offer more.

Lallana (5) One Aldi Cruyff turn and one good run. That was it. Dreadful passing and largely anonymous. This team simply has too many of this sort of player: decent, neat, Ok-ish, no pace. When they're all in the same team - Firmino, Lallana, Lucas, Allen - we don't win games.

Coutinho (4) Taken off ill at half time, which was a blessing for him and us. But with him went any real chance of scoring a goal.

Firmino (3) When you play a tight, counter-attacking style of football what you don't need is a "false 9" who can't run in behind, and drops into all kinds of useless positions. Careless, wasteful, slow and totally shit.

Subs:

Ibe (4) Pace, some. Brain, none.

Honestly that is really excessive criticism. Again let's look at Hansern's post on Villareal at home :
Villarreal have beaten Real Madrid, Atleti, Sevilla, Napoli and Bayer Leverkusen at home. Held Barca. Only conceded once in EL at home.
Over 20 clean sheets this season in total.

So did they play crap because they had an off day or because they failed to adapt to our style of play ? Methinks twas the later and that due credit for that has not been given ; Possession : 46% - 54%, Shots (on target) : 9 (3) - 15 (3). I don't believe they are used to a powerful pressing game in La Liga, and they failed to overcome it. In the end we were unlucky, yes Mignolet made two excellent saves but Firmino hit the post (saved), Allen could (should) have scored, likewise Moreno and Lallana should have had a penalty as he was wrongly given offside and fouled in the box (neither player playing to, or hearing, the whistle).

 

[jexykrodic]

I called the first leg 1-0 and fear the 2nd leg will be 2-1 (another late goal for them).

Klopp fucked up on Thursday, they were there for the taking. We simply had to go for the away goal but didn't.

We did go for an away goal, had a 1 on 1, and a 12 yds right in front of goal on my favourite foot one. Didn't execute either. Neither time did the Manager intervene, just shit finishes.

We may pay the price but I suspect we'll get more chances at Anfield. And if they go in next time that won't have anything to do with the manager either, it'll still be about the players final strike.

 

[jexykrodic]

Regards the next game, as I said a while ago, we'll have to go all out to score as we are much better at gung-ho than we are at trying to defend a narrow lead or to secure a shut-out.

Thankfully we've got a must-do target and the Anfield atmosphere to spur the team on. It's all set up for another famous night.

G'wan.

 

[Arn]

Who knows what would have happened if we had played a more attacking style? Maybe they would have won with more than one goal? We simply don't know and will never find out the answer. Villareal love to face teams that play attacking style because they will then be able to make quick counter attacks. Everyone saw what happened in added time. A quick counter attack because we suddenly had started to chase a goal.

No one know if Klopp got it right or wrong, no one. Not even Klopp himself. We didn't had that many quick players out there so we would have been very vulnerable to quick counter attacks.

IMO Klopp got it right but that is only my opinion.

 

[mark1975]

Honestly that is really excessive criticism. Again let's look at Hansern's post on Villareal at home :
Villarreal have beaten Real Madrid, Atleti, Sevilla, Napoli and Bayer Leverkusen at home. Held Barca. Only conceded once in EL at home.
Over 20 clean sheets this season in total.

So did they play crap because they had an off day or because they failed to adapt to our style of play ? Methinks twas the later and that due credit for that has not been given ; Possession : 46% - 54%, Shots (on target) : 9 (3) - 15 (3). I don't believe they are used to a powerful pressing game in La Liga, and they failed to overcome it. In the end we were unlucky, yes Mignolet made two excellent saves but Firmino hit the post (saved), Allen could (should) have scored, likewise Moreno and Lallana should have had a penalty as he was wrongly given offside and fouled in the box (neither player playing to, or hearing, the whistle).

I think you're missing the point, as many are. I think everyone is agreed the gameplan worked and we had the measure of them. It's the failure to make the necessary tweeks "in game" that cost us from going one better.

Too many people are thinking it was job done because the initial tactics worked. We really could have completed the job.

 

[manwithnoname]

Honestly that is really excessive criticism. Again let's look at Hansern's post on Villareal at home :
Villarreal have beaten Real Madrid, Atleti, Sevilla, Napoli and Bayer Leverkusen at home. Held Barca. Only conceded once in EL at home.
Over 20 clean sheets this season in total.

So did they play crap because they had an off day or because they failed to adapt to our style of play ? Methinks twas the later and that due credit for that has not been given ; Possession : 46% - 54%, Shots (on target) : 9 (3) - 15 (3). I don't believe they are used to a powerful pressing game in La Liga, and they failed to overcome it. In the end we were unlucky, yes Mignolet made two excellent saves but Firmino hit the post (saved), Allen could (should) have scored, likewise Moreno and Lallana should have had a penalty as he was wrongly given offside and fouled in the box (neither player playing to, or hearing, the whistle).

What are you talking about? Atletico Madrid play a more powerful pressing game than we do. Barca have done for years.

 

[mom]

Quality. We lose one nil away and the world is coming to an end.
Get a grip.

 

[Arn]

Quality. We lose one nil away and the world is coming to an end.
Get a grip.

Not all of us think that. Six or seven posters moan, moan, moan in thread after thread after thread. They destroy thread after thread with all their moaning. That is why I called this site Six Crazy Moaners.

Even if we miss out on the CL Klopp will still be our manager and he is one of the best managers in the world. This is the first time since Rafa that we have a manager that is world class. This season would always be a season a season for Klopp to find the strenghts and weaknesses of the squad. We will be flying next season because Klopp have by then signed and sold players and made the squad much stronger. If teams want to beat us next season then they need to play excellent because the squad will be full of players that in game after game will be prepared to give 100% and a bit more. Will we score more goals in the PL than anyone else next season? Probably yes. If Klopp can sort out our defense then we will probably win the league.

 

[Skullflower]

Not all of us think that. Six or seven posters moan, moan, moan in thread after thread after thread. They destroy thread after thread with all their moaning. That is why I called this site Six Crazy Moaners.

shouldn't you be calling it Six or Seven Crazy Moaners?

 

[manwithnoname]

Not all of us think that. Six or seven posters moan, moan, moan in thread after thread after thread. They destroy thread after thread with all their moaning. That is why I called this site Six Crazy Moaners.

Even if we miss out on the CL Klopp will still be our manager and he is one of the best managers in the world. This is the first time since Rafa that we have a manager that is world class. This season would always be a season a season for Klopp to find the strenghts and weaknesses of the squad. We will be flying next season because Klopp have by then signed and sold players and made the squad much stronger. If teams want to beat us next season then they need to play excellent because the squad will be full of players that in game after game will be prepared to give 100% and a bit more. Will we score more goals in the PL than anyone else next season? Probably yes. If Klopp can sort out our defense then we will probably win the league.

Why will we probably score more goals in the PL than anyone else next season?

 

[mark1975]

Quality. We lose one nil away and the world is coming to an end.
Get a grip.

Not all of us think that. Six or seven posters moan, moan, moan in thread after thread after thread. They destroy thread after thread with all their moaning. That is why I called this site Six Crazy Moaners.

Even if we miss out on the CL Klopp will still be our manager and he is one of the best managers in the world. This is the first time since Rafa that we have a manager that is world class. This season would always be a season a season for Klopp to find the strenghts and weaknesses of the squad. We will be flying next season because Klopp have by then signed and sold players and made the squad much stronger. If teams want to beat us next season then they need to play excellent because the squad will be full of players that in game after game will be prepared to give 100% and a bit more. Will we score more goals in the PL than anyone else next season? Probably yes. If Klopp can sort out our defense then we will probably win the league.

Oh really, who has said that? Seriously, posts like these are just fucking nonsense. People offer up thoughtful, critical responses that are fairly balanced and we get ridiculous responses about posters overreacting. FFS.