Liverpoool v Man City Post Match thread

[Craig_H]

The interpretation doesn't matter, you can call it what you want, I guess. Call it the ability to deliver then. I see the ability to deliver as the ability to prevent my defender from preventing me to deliver

I'm just kidding now, but surely you actually do understand what I am saying. Unlike Marsh, who's just trying to wind me up.

My point was, you can deliver without needing to beat/go past your man.

If you're high up the park, you can do this. If you're by the halfway line, you cant really cross from there into the box - you need to advance up the pitch, and inevitably, to do this, you'll need to take on/beat/go past at least one player, if not two.

Kuyt doesnt really have the pace or skill/trickery to do this.

[CJ]

The interpretation doesn't matter, you can call it what you want, I guess. Call it the ability to deliver then. I see the ability to deliver as the ability to prevent my defender from preventing me to deliver

I'm just kidding now, but surely you actually do understand what I am saying. Unlike Marsh, who's just trying to wind me up.

now would i do that.

i understand your point, i think its a bit black and white football is much more nuanced these days i think

[elrichio86]

Exactly, a "winger" who can't "wing", hinders his full back, whatever the formation is. It doesn't matter which kind of player you're talking about and what kind of threat he poses (A natural winger or a Pires type player), he needs to create that initial threat that gives the full back the space to become the second wave.

Players who are "non threats" are liabilities unless they can work themselves into good positions within the offense, they're usually good off the ball movers. A team filled with those types of players (like we are), will suffer, as there just aren't enough threats to create for them.

A "threat" is a guy like Adam Johnson. A "non threat" is someone like Ji Sung Park or Kuyt, they can work within a team and be extremely successful, but too many of them defeats their purpose.

You've missed my point there I think. In a 4231 the "wide-man" doesn't need to be able to wing, he needs to be able to find space and move the ball on efficiently. He doesn't NEED to be able to beat a man (although its a bonus if he can), he needs to be able to make space for others (mainly the fullback, but also for the AM and the striker) and get the ball to them. More similar in style to the AM than a winger.

You're last comment about too many of them though I completely agree with. Its alright having a few energizer bunnys, but you need some with some creativity to find and use them effectively. Which we've been missing since Alonso left

[paulg]

I was surprised at how physical City were, when were we last that physical? I can't remember anymore.

Also, without meaning to slate Roy too much, wasn't much made of him being a manager who only plays players in their proper positions? Didn't see much of that last night.

Can't believe my early season optimism has gone already.

[JohnDoe]

now would i do that.

i understand your point, i think its a bit black and white football is much more nuanced these days i think

I think football is a simple game of actions and reactions and the key is manipulating them in your favor.
You can look at football as trying to put the ball in the back of the net while avoiding the opponent's attempt to stop you. The better you avoid, whether by skill or by smarts (reading the game), the more dangerous you become as a player.

We don't have enough players who can start actions. We don't have enough players who are better with the ball than without it, most of our starting line up consists of players who feel more comfortable off the ball. Therefore, nobody wants the ball and it's treated as a hot potato. Look at our possession percentages against City, says it all.

[JohnDoe]

You've missed my point there I think.

I didn't, I understood you completely, the wording caused the confusion. I just don't see a winger as just a guy who beats players with dribbling and puts in crosses. If a player can cause threats from out wide, and I've already said it doesn't matter how he does it, it makes him an effective wing player.

[Buzzo]

Are you being sarky?

Totally.

Proper hysteria last night. Laughter, tears, drama, aggression...
Until all the kids went to bed.

[Lecter]

I think football is a simple game of actions and reactions and the key is manipulating them in your favor.
You can look at football as trying to put the ball in the back of the net while avoiding the opponent's attempt to stop you. The better you avoid, whether by skill or by smarts (reading the game), the more dangerous you become as a player.

We don't have enough players who can start actions. We don't have enough players who are better with the ball than without it, most of our starting line up consists of players who feel more comfortable off the ball. Therefore, nobody wants the ball and it's treated as a hot potato. Look at our possession percentages against City, says it all.

I thought the stats on Sky showed we had more possession than City

[JohnDoe]

I thought the stats on Sky showed we had more possession than City

I'm pretty certain the stats in the first half at least were very much in City's favor. Second half we had the ball more than in the first, but we had little idea about what to do with it. We've been a terrible team at taking advantage of possession ever since Alonso left.

[Lecter]

I thought the stats on Sky showed we had more possession than City

Scratch that just found them on Sky

City had 55% we had 45%

[Shaggy]

Wantaway Mascherano hit by backlash from teammates and fans after City no show


Javier Mascherano has been hit by an angry backlash from his Liverpool teammates over his Eastlands no-show.

Liverpool's senior players confronted Mascherano when he returned to training yesterday after he pulled out of the team to face Manchester City just hours before kick-off.

The Reds were humiliated 3-0 and the players are upset that Mascherano's late withdrawal wrecked boss Roy Hodgson's gameplan.

Hodgson had spent the previous three days working on a 4-5-1 formation, with Mascherano anchoring the midfield, but was forced to go with a disastrous 4-4-2 line-up because he had no other midfielder to replace the Argentina skipper. Mascherano trained alone yesterday and he cut a forlorn figure as he jogged around Melwood on his own.

He has told friends he has played his last game for Liverpool and is determined to force through a move to Barcelona following the Catalans' failed £12.3million offer.

Barca coach Pep Guardiola also refuses to be deterred by Liverpool's demands for £25million for Mascherano and says his team will be complete when the little South American arrives.

"I will speak about him when he's here - if he comes," said Guardiola. "If a defensive midfielder arrives, the needs of the team will be resolved.

"If one arrives, I will be satisfied. I understand that the club is doing everything possible to sign this kind of player."

Kopites have also turned on their former idol and Liverpool FC Supporters' Club chairman Ritchie Pedder said: "I was disappointed by what he did. If he doesn't want to play for us, we should let him go if we can get the right money for him."

Meanwhile, deal-maker Keith Harris claims he is involved with a mystery overseas buyer who is preparing a bid of between £400million and £500million to buy Liverpool.


Read more: http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news...#ixzz0xZB1ejZ0

[little dave hedgehog]

nice one, everybody but javier mascherano.

[Craig_H]

Never mind training on his own, i'd ban him from the training ground full stop. Suspend him.

[-V-]

Nah **** that no point banning in from training and letting him sit at home and collect his wage. Fine him 2 weeks wages for not playing and then ****ing make him work hard alone in the gym and make him do triple sessions. Then let him leave only when we get a good enough offer