We lost a game... (AM post-match)
- Thread starter rurikbird
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Honestly they got a goal from a bad mistake from us and then made us suffer. Its disappointing as we've stopped conceding goals like that, but it happens sometimes. Ref was an absolute embarrassment buying their play acting, but that's not why we lost, we lost because we became complacent, and dare I say it, were a little rattled by the occasion.
There is a second leg to come, the way their fans celebrated convinced me even more that we are going to be right up for the second leg. Klopp even said as much, Welcome to Anfield.
I dont think bringing either Keita or Minamino on would have changed much. An away goal would have been welcome of course, we had our chances.. notably Salah heading wide.
We need to accept they executed their game plan perfectly. Every one of their back 10 played exceptional, we were unable to break it down.
I dont think bringing either Keita or Minamino on would have changed much. An away goal would have been welcome of course, we had our chances.. notably Salah heading wide.
We need to accept they executed their game plan perfectly. Every one of their back 10 played exceptional, we were unable to break it down.
Fucking corner were they bothered to put only 4 guys into our box. The rest seemed ready to kill any potential counter.
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That is a really important point.
I genuinely think it will be a different game at Anfield. Their away form is not great either.
This really confused me.
I can't help but wonder if we identified a risk from them breaking from corners (like we do), or that there's stats that show they're incredibly effective at winning direct balls from corners.
I'd have thought we'd have tried to mix it up at least once or twice though, cos they don't usually have to defend against VVD at corners.
It was.
It reminded me of many years ago, when one of the cups (fa or league, can't remember) played with a really light ball compared to the league ball & players would continually sky it when they tried to get any power on a shot.
Ha, I've just remembered that teams used to have their own balls, I remember some teams would have heavier or lighter balls depending who sponsored/supplied them & it'd fuck up the away teams game. Anyone remember when that changed?
As Fark has said across a couple of threads, the way this played out shouldn't come as too much of a surprise, particularly after seeing how our games against Napoli tend to play out. As Saul himself said in his interview before the game, we struggled to break down Norwich at the weekend and it took a moment of brilliance from Mane late on to get us the win.
The struggle for goals has become a clear trend for me. We rightly get lauded for being very versatile and adaptable but it's clear we're nowhere near as free-scoring as we once were. That might be down to our standards dipping or teams adapting and making it tough for us... I'd say a combination of both.
That's why I said a while back that this a huge summer for us. Evolve or die. The other teams are learning and improving. We need to do the same.
In terms of the game last night, the overall performance wasn't too bad. I'd have taken a draw before the game but a 1-0 isn't the end of the world. The main worry is that we see a repeat of last night - they are going to be doing exactly the same in the return leg.
The struggle for goals has become a clear trend for me. We rightly get lauded for being very versatile and adaptable but it's clear we're nowhere near as free-scoring as we once were. That might be down to our standards dipping or teams adapting and making it tough for us... I'd say a combination of both.
That's why I said a while back that this a huge summer for us. Evolve or die. The other teams are learning and improving. We need to do the same.
In terms of the game last night, the overall performance wasn't too bad. I'd have taken a draw before the game but a 1-0 isn't the end of the world. The main worry is that we see a repeat of last night - they are going to be doing exactly the same in the return leg.
Another problem is that we've gotten so used to one of the three forwards pulling something out the bag, we've kind of overlooked the fact that together they are not scoring regularly. Mane has been on fire, but Salah and Firmino have a tendency to have purple patches and we know their respective issues - Salah can try too hard and lack awareness of what's around him, Firmino has never been particularly prolific or reliable for goals (for all his other brilliance).
Despite signing Minimino, I still feel that long-term we should be looking at another big goalscorer, the question is finding one that fits our ethic and style too.
Despite signing Minimino, I still feel that long-term we should be looking at another big goalscorer, the question is finding one that fits our ethic and style too.
Boooooo! Booooooooooo! RAAAAAAATTTTINNNNNNNGGGGSSSS! (and Booooooooo!)
Well, we came up against the richest version of Stoke in the world, and in an eyewateringly awful game, we didn't do enough to get a result against Tony Puliseone's shithouse anti-football tactics and a fucking tit of a ref.
But you know what? That's fine. That's how they play. We knew that's how they would play, and we weren't good enough. And we also knew that conceding an early goal would intensify the shithousery to the max, so if we want to progress, we need to do better at Anfield.
Alisson (7) Made a good save from the surprisingly robust Morata. Little he could do for the scruffy early goal. Not much else bothered him.
TAA (5) All over the place at times, he was unsure in his footing and his deliveries were of the MWP standard. He never stopped trying, and saw a lot of the ball, but couldn't find the right delivery.
Gomez (7) The pick of the defence, he was calm and assured. Also put in the best cross of the game, which Salah missed.
Virgil (5) By his standards? Yeah, average. All over the fucking place at the start, with some awful clearances that conceded early chances and almost cost us a goal. Got much better, but damage was done.
Robertson (6) The spiky Scot had a decent enough game, making some great clearances, and working non-stop, but his attacking threat was snuffed out by Atletico Stoke's excellent, smothering defence, and he had two defenders to deal with.
Fabinho (5) Clanked about the pitch in the first half like a rusty Tin Man from the Wizard of Oz, spraying passes all over the shop with little accuracy; he did dig in and start to tackle and intercept with his usual intensity and aggression, but seemed tentative with the ball after his earlier slackness and slowed it down too much. Wasn't helped by a very poor referee and the usual cheating from Simeone's team.
Henderson (6) Very, very busy, as usual, and seemed to have quite a bit of freedom, but his final pass wasn't good enough. Kept things moving well, and had a chance in the second half, before leaving the pitch with a sore hamstring.
Wijnaldum (5) Got through a lot of work, and helped press AM back, but couldn't ever find a killer ball, and with how AM set up, the recycling job he does just wasn't enough. We were allowed control of the midfield, we didn't take it, and that nullifies the efficacy of Wijnaldum and Fabinho
Salah (6) Was under close attention all game, but never stoped running, moving, twisting and turning. It was commendable in that respect, but didn't do enough real damage, as evidenced by zero shots on target in 90 minutes (by anyone, not just him). Still the pick of the attackers.
Mane (5) A few little flashes of his quality, but every time he turned and ran at them, he was fouled, and he was visibly frustrated before getting hooked.
Firmino (5) Showed his usual enthusiasm for the dirty, hard yards bit of his game, but had almost zero effect in attack, as he ran into the blind alleys AM created for him time and again.
Subs:
Origi (5) Added some additional directness and unpredictability, but the aforementioned unpredictability isn't always intentional.
Chamberlain (5) Ran about a bit, but didn't do much to change the game.
Milner (5) I like Milner.
Well, we came up against the richest version of Stoke in the world, and in an eyewateringly awful game, we didn't do enough to get a result against Tony Puliseone's shithouse anti-football tactics and a fucking tit of a ref.
But you know what? That's fine. That's how they play. We knew that's how they would play, and we weren't good enough. And we also knew that conceding an early goal would intensify the shithousery to the max, so if we want to progress, we need to do better at Anfield.
Alisson (7) Made a good save from the surprisingly robust Morata. Little he could do for the scruffy early goal. Not much else bothered him.
TAA (5) All over the place at times, he was unsure in his footing and his deliveries were of the MWP standard. He never stopped trying, and saw a lot of the ball, but couldn't find the right delivery.
Gomez (7) The pick of the defence, he was calm and assured. Also put in the best cross of the game, which Salah missed.
Virgil (5) By his standards? Yeah, average. All over the fucking place at the start, with some awful clearances that conceded early chances and almost cost us a goal. Got much better, but damage was done.
Robertson (6) The spiky Scot had a decent enough game, making some great clearances, and working non-stop, but his attacking threat was snuffed out by Atletico Stoke's excellent, smothering defence, and he had two defenders to deal with.
Fabinho (5) Clanked about the pitch in the first half like a rusty Tin Man from the Wizard of Oz, spraying passes all over the shop with little accuracy; he did dig in and start to tackle and intercept with his usual intensity and aggression, but seemed tentative with the ball after his earlier slackness and slowed it down too much. Wasn't helped by a very poor referee and the usual cheating from Simeone's team.
Henderson (6) Very, very busy, as usual, and seemed to have quite a bit of freedom, but his final pass wasn't good enough. Kept things moving well, and had a chance in the second half, before leaving the pitch with a sore hamstring.
Wijnaldum (5) Got through a lot of work, and helped press AM back, but couldn't ever find a killer ball, and with how AM set up, the recycling job he does just wasn't enough. We were allowed control of the midfield, we didn't take it, and that nullifies the efficacy of Wijnaldum and Fabinho
Salah (6) Was under close attention all game, but never stoped running, moving, twisting and turning. It was commendable in that respect, but didn't do enough real damage, as evidenced by zero shots on target in 90 minutes (by anyone, not just him). Still the pick of the attackers.
Mane (5) A few little flashes of his quality, but every time he turned and ran at them, he was fouled, and he was visibly frustrated before getting hooked.
Firmino (5) Showed his usual enthusiasm for the dirty, hard yards bit of his game, but had almost zero effect in attack, as he ran into the blind alleys AM created for him time and again.
Subs:
Origi (5) Added some additional directness and unpredictability, but the aforementioned unpredictability isn't always intentional.
Chamberlain (5) Ran about a bit, but didn't do much to change the game.
Milner (5) I like Milner.
I dont think their game will be much different. They will be extreme deep but still hunt that goal in packs if getting the chance. We really need to have a few ideas on how to break this. If they score it will be difficult to put it mildly .
AM did what we all know what they can do. We arrived thinking we could beat them in third gear like we have done so to most teams in the league. In these tight games we need someone in midfield to turn up in the attacking third. The drop off in quality (ox/origi) is all the more evident. The front 3 were all quiet and we ran out of ideas. We played right into thier hands
Felt we missed someone to unpick them from the defence, no offence to Origi and all that as he's scored some worldies for us and he deserves a contract for life, but he's shit. It was a combination of needing someone to provide a killer ball, which we have no one on the bench, and then someone also that can be clinal with half a chance, on the bench, which again we had no one.
We pretty much dominated them start to finish and they got lucky off a corner, but we really didn't look like breaking their low block. But as Klopp has said before, every team in the world struggles vs low blacks and pretty much the best team against it is city. Not sure if we can emulate any of that effectiveness.
We pretty much dominated them start to finish and they got lucky off a corner, but we really didn't look like breaking their low block. But as Klopp has said before, every team in the world struggles vs low blacks and pretty much the best team against it is city. Not sure if we can emulate any of that effectiveness.
I think we were poor last night, and despite our run a way points success in the premiere League we have been poor for quite some time in the majority of games...
Where I believe where we have been poor is in creativity from midfield and potency in attack. While both Robertson and TAA provide some great quality crosses and balls in from wide the Midfield offers very little in quality balls to the front three; hence the reason that some of us was glad we bought Minamino to provide that quality and those balls in to the front three. But he will take a while to integrate him into the team.
When TAA is; as in last night, not on top of his game we have very little options. Yes, there is Robertson, but TAA is the preferred option for so many attacks, crosses, corners, free kicks, and last night he was off his game when it came to delivery.
The other problem is that the front three seem to have lost that ability to blitz a team as they did as they were doing a couple season back We seem to slow things down too much and allow the defenders time to re-set and seem to rely too much on fancy flicks in and around the box to create space. And when we try, or are forced to make a change up front we have very little in terms of quality or potency to replace one of the front three with...
Origi, thought he has scored some important goals seems to have lost the ability to take on and dribble, or run pass defenders, and last night I was hoping that the
Ox would come on for Mane rather than Origi
The Ox; "The Twenty Minute Kid" shows up most of the time for 20 minutes then disappears. We failed to recognize that when Arsene Wenger said that he had not progress and before Arsenal sold him
Adam Lallana "No End Product" (please note; I have not been drinking so have not called him Alan 🙄) offers just that attack wise "No End Product"
Now thinking on it; the productivity or lack from midfield took a noticeable nose dive when we sold Philippe Coutinho and to be quite honest I would welcome his return especially at the cut price 67m being toted about, and if we were to sell Lallana, Origi and the Ox to fund it for me at least it would be a win, win.
Taking nothing away from them, Atletico are a very decent outfit, but last night we did ourselves no favors
Where I believe where we have been poor is in creativity from midfield and potency in attack. While both Robertson and TAA provide some great quality crosses and balls in from wide the Midfield offers very little in quality balls to the front three; hence the reason that some of us was glad we bought Minamino to provide that quality and those balls in to the front three. But he will take a while to integrate him into the team.
When TAA is; as in last night, not on top of his game we have very little options. Yes, there is Robertson, but TAA is the preferred option for so many attacks, crosses, corners, free kicks, and last night he was off his game when it came to delivery.
The other problem is that the front three seem to have lost that ability to blitz a team as they did as they were doing a couple season back We seem to slow things down too much and allow the defenders time to re-set and seem to rely too much on fancy flicks in and around the box to create space. And when we try, or are forced to make a change up front we have very little in terms of quality or potency to replace one of the front three with...
Origi, thought he has scored some important goals seems to have lost the ability to take on and dribble, or run pass defenders, and last night I was hoping that the
Ox would come on for Mane rather than Origi
The Ox; "The Twenty Minute Kid" shows up most of the time for 20 minutes then disappears. We failed to recognize that when Arsene Wenger said that he had not progress and before Arsenal sold him
Adam Lallana "No End Product" (please note; I have not been drinking so have not called him Alan 🙄) offers just that attack wise "No End Product"
Now thinking on it; the productivity or lack from midfield took a noticeable nose dive when we sold Philippe Coutinho and to be quite honest I would welcome his return especially at the cut price 67m being toted about, and if we were to sell Lallana, Origi and the Ox to fund it for me at least it would be a win, win.
Taking nothing away from them, Atletico are a very decent outfit, but last night we did ourselves no favors
They missed easier chances but do do they not count as key moments for you
We obviously did our homework & analysed how they usually defend corners and decided it'd be better to disorganise them a bit playing the short 1.
Might have been better if the dog had eaten it
You really think that?
We did play in their hands but it doesn't help when you're key players are taken off at HT, they told us jump and we said how high....
Was probably too occupied sipping out of that bottle we forgot to take with us.
That’s for them not us. The key moments for us not winning are those ones. I haven’t even mentioned the Salah miss.
“rusty Tin Man from the Wizard of Oz” - that’s very apt, that’s exactly how Fabinho played. Hopefully a little oil will loosen those joints... Still it was important to have him on the pitch as he was the one player who somehow managed to hurt the Atlético player every time when they tackled him.
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I'm amazed none of them fell off.
Initially I thought the same however when you saw how much holding was going on, and the ref was clearly way out of his depth, I thought it was a tactic so that they would let go once the kick had been taken allowing our players to move more freely.
Yeah but we most certainly had the height advantage.
Lovren strikes again. Wasn't even involved but had already implied the whole fucking team in his "We are so good" yadiyada bullshit.
Well we could do what we did against City few years ago and just intimidate the driver to the point where he U-turns back to Metroshitano...Atletico lose the tie due to forfeit.
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