Liverpool Football Club Thread

[Chewylegs]

10 hours ago, Pockets said:

I know if kids want it then they want it but if you can, hold off until next year. I think this season’s is the worst they’ve ever had, or certainly since those ‘90s sixties throwback monstrosities anyway. 

To be fair, he's going to be 5, and he mentioned it because I showed him all my Liverpool shirts I've got over the years.  He's a bit small for my Candy one unfortunately!

 

He would be more than happy with last seasons, I just thought it would be nice to get him the new one, but at £50, that's crazy!

[Gabe]

1 hour ago, Bob Sacamano said:

So while it’s probably a bit unambitious to be happy with just the one league title out of this current team it should be seen as a huge success and something to be massively proud of.

I think everybody is massively proud of what the club achieved during those 3 years - but that is done now and football always moves forward. 

 

The club had an opportunity to build on that success to generate further success, which in turn would generate more money for the owners (which is what they want). But they haven't because they are risk averse. Meanwhile every club around us is trying to freshen up their squads and compete, which just increases the pressure on a first 11 that has largely been the same for nearly 4 years now. 

 

My previous thoughts echo @SMD and I think this season is going to be tough. The quality is still there, but I said before last season started we couldn't expect the same level of performance for a 4th season in a row, yet here we are for a 5th. Our options from the bench have been poor for about 10 years and it especially showed last season when TAA and Robertson weren't providing the assists, there was no creativity from midfield to turn some of those draws/1-0 losses into something else and, currently, I don't see any change there (yes, I want Elliot to play and do well, but pinning hopes on an 18 year old kid is unfair.) 

[SMD]

I should add that I'm dead excited to see Elliott but expecting him to be anything other than a player we're blooding into the first team squad this year is just going to repeat the mistakes of the 90s, in my opinion. TAA is an exception, a wonderful exception and even he had dips in his first full season. I'm happy to see Elliott take Shaqiri's place in the squad, it just looks like we're banking on Minamino to suddenly take to the Prem and for half our midfield to discover a robustness to their fitness that's eluded them for most of their career.

[Chewylegs]

I don't particularly disagree with you guys, new signings are always great and they bring in competition for places, but you have to look at the fact we finished 3rd, just behind 2nd with a team that was severely hit by injuries last year to major players in the squad.  With these players back, you would definitely hope to see us competing again, with players like Jota, Elliott, Jones, Ox on the bench.  Our bench hasn't been poor for 10 years, it's been much better the last 3 years IF those injuries had not been so bad.  We've improved in that area, probably not enough but we can't afford to have a second string of £50m players on the bench like some other teams and it's as simple as that.

[Chewylegs]

FIRST XI

Alisson

Robbo 

TAA 

VVD 

Kanoute 

Henderson 

Thiago 

Fabinho 

Salah 

Firmino 

Mane 

 

BENCH

Jones 

Minamino 

Jota 

Milner 

Ox 

Gomez 

Matip 

Elliott 

Keita 

 

It doesn't look that bad to me.

(We're fucked if Alisson gets injured)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[SMD]

Well Robertson already got himself injured, we don't have a backup right back, Hendo and Thiago are both the wrong side of 30 now plus Firmino has been hot garbage for the last 2 years. Mane's form took a nosedive and you'd rather move him on than see that become terminal in the next year or so. Minamino hasn't shown anything to suggest he's ready for 40 plus games in a side challenging for titles, Milner is a crab, Oxlade Chamberlain last played close to a full season when Southampton were in League One, Gomez is Mr Glass, Matip Mr Glass 2 and Keita was rejected from playing the part of Mr Glass because audiences wouldn't have found his portrayal believable.

 

Both Williamses last season showed the problem with putting regular youngsters in before they're ready, we can't rely on the academy to plug gaps in the squad for any real length of time. I'd honestly have made it a priority to move AOC, Keita, Shaqiri and Origi on this summer and make space for the next generation to take over in 2 years full time. Players between 20 and 23 would've been great, instead we have Jones and uh yeah.

[Chewylegs]

So from what you are saying it sounds like we'll be lucky to stay up! 😂
 

Every player has dips in form, some players take time to bed in (Fabinho for example).  I did say I don't particularly disagree with you guys but I think 

you are being a little harsh personally.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Gabe]

@ChewylegsWe managed to finish third because every team above us tried their hardest to stay out of the top 4 - had Leicester and Chelsea not kept tripping up we would've been out of sight before that final (and excellent) run right at the end.

 

[Chewylegs]

3 minutes ago, Gabe said:

@ChewylegsWe managed to finish third because every team above us tried their hardest to stay out of the top 4 - had Leicester and Chelsea not kept tripping up we would've been out of sight before that final (and excellent) run right at the end.

 

But Gabe, the season is 38 games, not just the last few.  I've never got this idea that you can lose or win a title at the end or beginning of a season.  All it means is we had a dip in form somewhere other than the end of the season and Leicester and Chelsea didn't.

[ryodi]

1 hour ago, Chewylegs said:

FIRST XI

Alisson

Robbo 

TAA 

VVD 

Kanoute 

Henderson 

Thiago 

Fabinho 

Salah 

Firmino 

Mane 

 

BENCH

Jones 

Minamino 

Jota 

Milner 

Ox 

Gomez 

Matip 

Elliott 

Keita 

 

It doesn't look that bad to me.

(We're fucked if Alisson gets injured)

 

Only because you didn’t put a goalkeeper on the bench. Who of the subs would go in goal, I assume Milner because he’s played in every other position. 

[Gabe]

3 minutes ago, Chewylegs said:

But Gabe, the season is 38 games, not just the last few.  I've never got this idea that you can lose or win a title at the end or beginning of a season.  All it means is we had a dip in form somewhere other than the end of the season and Leicester and Chelsea didn't.

Actually, statistically if you get off to a poor start and aren't in the hunt after 10 games then the odds of winning the title drop massively. There's a BBC article that was interesting to read (also if you don't have 11 points or more after 10 games, you are almost certain to be relegated.) 

 

But regardless, this isn't about winning or losing the title, the broader point was that the results were all over the place for teams last season and it still required us to go on a last-ditch winning streak that we hadn't seen since before winning the title.

 

We were fortunate to still be in with a shout - I don't think finishing 3rd should be pointed at and used as a "Yeah, it was actually all OK" because that kind of thought process plays into thinking the squad is fine (c.f. all the talk of VVD being back being the key that will make everything okay again.) At best we are back to where we were (ignoring individual player's form), but those around us have not stood still and continued to build, whereas it doesn't really feel like the squad has actually progressed at all in the last 3 years.

[Chewylegs]

16 minutes ago, ryodi said:

Only because you didn’t put a goalkeeper on the bench. Who of the subs would go in goal, I assume Milner because he’s played in every other position. 

😂 It wasn't an actual subs bench, just showing that things aren't that bad when you've got those players to chose from.

 

Again though, don't get me wrong, I'd like new signings, specifically a forward and centre midfielder.

 

[Shimmyhill]

Any of you coming to Carra Ruud on Saturday?

 

Just got my ticket, go easy on the poor Canaries!!!!

[ryodi]

Just now, Chewylegs said:

😂 It wasn't an actual subs bench, just showing that things aren't that bad when you've got those players to chose from.

 

Again though, don't get me wrong, I'd like new signings, specifically a forward and centre midfielder.

 

Oops, my mistake. I agree with you about needing a new striker but the problem is who could we sign when they know at best they are going to be fifth choice behind the main three and Jota. Hopefully Ox has an extended run being injury free this season because he is a decent goal threat when he’s playing, unlike Origi who no one is going to buy from us.

[Chewylegs]

16 minutes ago, Gabe said:

Actually, statistically if you get off to a poor start and aren't in the hunt after 10 games then the odds of winning the title drop massively. There's a BBC article that was interesting to read (also if you don't have 11 points or more after 10 games, you are almost certain to be relegated.) 

 

But regardless, this isn't about winning or losing the title, the broader point was that the results were all over the place for teams last season and it still required us to go on a last-ditch winning streak that we hadn't seen since before winning the title.

 

We were fortunate to still be in with a shout - I don't think finishing 3rd should be pointed at and used as a "Yeah, it was actually all OK" because that kind of thought process plays into thinking the squad is fine (c.f. all the talk of VVD being back being the key that will make everything okay again.) At best we are back to where we were (ignoring individual player's form), but those around us have not stood still and continued to build, whereas it doesn't really feel like the squad has actually progressed at all in the last 3 years.

Fair enough about the stats, but the reality is there are still 38 games to win a max of 3 points in each, so wherever you win them doesn't matter as such.

 

Yes, I think you are right, we have stood still and we are at best where we were when we won the title or the year before, although probably worse off because of losing Gini and aging players.  However Jones has come through, Thiago is in his second season, Minamino was showing up for Southampton so maybe he just needed time to settle, Jota is brilliant and Elliott is coming through.

 

I still think it's not all doom and gloom, but we will have to wait and see.

[Chewylegs]

5 minutes ago, Shimmyhill said:

Any of you coming to Carra Ruud on Saturday?

 

Just got my ticket, go easy on the poor Canaries!!!!

Unfortunately not, I'll be taking my Norwich supporting Dad down the pub to watch the game.

 

How come you aren't watching Spurs?

[Shimmyhill]

11 minutes ago, Chewylegs said:

Unfortunately not, I'll be taking my Norwich supporting Dad down the pub to watch the game.

 

How come you aren't watching Spurs?

 

Spurs are playing Sunday - I live in Norwich, my other half and her dad are season ticket holders and I’m a member so access to tickets is good - can’t wait to be back in a full stadium, I’m pretty sure the last game i saw in a stadium was Spurs v Norwich so nice to see one of them as my first game back!!

 

How come your dad supports the mighty yellows!?

[Gabe]

Yeah, the model is very much bring talent in, get some good service from them and then (hopefully) ship them off for a decent sum. Success is a bonus, not the priority, in this scenario. 

 

@ChewylegsMinamino started well at Southampton but he wasn't even a regular starter I don't think? I read he only completed 90 minutes twice for them and I don't think he showed an awful lot. I wouldn't pin any hopes on him, at any rate.

 

[Chewylegs]

5 minutes ago, Shimmyhill said:

 

Spurs are playing Sunday - I live in Norwich, my other half and her dad are season ticket holders and I’m a member so access to tickets is good - can’t wait to be back in a full stadium, I’m pretty sure the last game i saw in a stadium was Spurs v Norwich so nice to see one of them as my first game back!!

 

How come your dad supports the mighty yellows!?

Ah cool, that's pretty awesome you have the access so readily.

 

 

 

My Dad is Cornish but he moved to Norwich when he was in his teens and his Dad was from there.  He's supported them for 60 years!!

[Oh Danny Boy]

Shaqiri looks on his way and is in talks with Lyon. Doku is heavily rumoured to be taking his place once he leaves. 

[disperse and recoagulate]

Not gonna lie that would be pretty mega

[Keiths_Dad]

New 4 year deal for Van Dijk sorted. Hopefully Henderson will be next.

[Keiths_Dad]

Klopp is positive Henderson will be sorted soon. In other, marginally less important news, I'm starting to feel really excited for the game tonight now. Last season felt over once we were out of Europe, so although most fans seem to be burnt out from over exposure, I'm right up for this season.

[Keiths_Dad]

Van Dijk starts 

Milner, Ox and Keita also start.

[Chewylegs]

I'm guessing that team is down to fitness more than anything else.

 

Looking forward to the game!!

[CheekyLee]

It's good to be ready for a proper game again!

[Azrael]

Waiting for VAR 😬

[CheekyLee]

Doug doing what Doug does best!

[Keiths_Dad]

Firmino 

[CheekyLee]

Salah doing assists now? Oh oh!