Tott en Ham [H] - After Match Musings

[Slinky Skills]

Henderson was imperious today for me, best player on the pitch. Great defensively, and energy in the final third. Got into some really good positions. The blind 40 yard pass over his shoulder later on was quality as well. Great team performance though, Moreno needs a bit of praise considering the stick he's got this year, but excellent today.

Are you taking the piss?

He's **** mate.

He's surely trolling, i'd bite Spurs' hand off if they offered £25-30m for lego head. We could strengthen and weaken them.

We played well overall, but we need better passers of the ball under pressure in the centre mid.

We just need players that can actually keep hold of the ****ing ball, passing would help of course but we don't have anyone cool on the ball like Alonso used to be who actually uses it wisely.

[redmike65]

Klopp has the team shape set up as follows

X--X--X--X
---X--X
X---X---X
----X

with the emphasis of the three behind the striker on attack. So a two man middle, which is always a high-wire act that puts a premium on ball retention at the front end rather than in the central area (this is how Klopp seems to like to play the game, but I'd certainly have started Allen over Milner today and had more of the middle and less of the attack esp with Firmino out).

Henderson did well where he was asked to play, but its not really where we want to see him playing, as we think he should be "the third man" arriving late.

Klopp appears to be less interested in this as a tactic and the pursuit of Gotez seems to point to a front end that is designed to be possession heavy with Firmino as the 9.5 playing with three 10s across the pitch all doing their work in and around the opposition penalty area when in attack with two "sitting" midfielders working a 30 yard zone behind them. They will of course also be the first line of defence pressing and turning over the ball - the middle two will only come into play when that phase of play yields no turnover and everyone drops into a defensive shape.

Sturridge is useless in such a system as he doesn't just work hard enough regardless of anything else he might do in front of goal.

[Kenneth]

Nah. More a bit of excellence from Kane than an error from Lovren.

Talking about being being rolled by Kane then Sakho had a few.

[G]

Sakho had an absolute mare but as I've said on Lovren, honestly you can do everything right as a centre half but if you give a forward time and space to score like that then you've ****ed up. He switched off and lost his man, couldn't get back in time to put the pressure on and he punished him. Simple as. But he really was excellent today aside from that. With the chances we had, that goal shouldn't have mattered. I'm in the minority clearly but he could've have done better for me. Harsh to fault him when Sakho was a car crash most of the game.

[Kenneth]

I would argue that he gave Kane **** all time and space which is why it was such a good goal.

[Leyton388]

****ing 9th though. Can't wait for this **** fest of a season to end so Klopp can rebuild. I'd hate to think where we would be if Rodgers wasn't sacked.

[G]

I would argue that he gave Kane **** all time and space which is why it was such a good goal.

I'd disagree. He gave him loads of time Kane was in free space 2 yards away when the ball was played to him and then in the rush to close him down he got too tight and kane turned him easily. Superb finish but he should never have got the chance to do it. However I saw more than enough from him recently to be well happy if he's one of our centre half's next season and that's not something I thought I'd be saying.

[Shaggy]

Sakho - jeez. When he's good he's ****ing brilliant but he chucks in too many of these performances. Frustrating.

I thought Henderson played well.

[Norbs]

****ing 9th though. Can't wait for this **** fest of a season to end so Klopp can rebuild. I'd hate to think where we would be if Rodgers wasn't sacked.

Probably 9th

[Buzzo]

However I saw more than enough from him recently to be well happy if he's one of our centre half's next season and that's not something I thought I'd be saying.

Arguably he is our most consistent centre back. I almost can't believe I am typing that.

[tanner]

The first half was dreadful, Sakho was like a baby giraffe taking his first steps, mignolets poor clearing and distribution was handing possession back time and time again, but to be fair he redeemed himself with some great saves. So many mistakes in the opening 45, the ball was being taken off us relentlessly.

I thought we did far better in the second half against a strong side, but in reality, it wasn't a memorable performance. Lots of work to do in the summer.

[Leyton388]

Probably 9th

I like your optimism.

[Irishnev]

Sakho - jeez. When he's good he's ****ing brilliant but he chucks in too many of these performances. Frustrating.

I thought Henderson played well.

I know your the chairman of his fan club () and I'm also a member but yesterday showed why we can't build a defence with him in it. He can play insane backheels to get us out of danger but he can in the next play give a 6 yard pass to the opposition outside his box. He makes so many errors that he is just not stable enough.

I think he does so much good off the field that we tend to turn a blind eye to him on it. Lovren was better than him yesterday but he was directly at fault for the goal and also made a few other lunges that nearly cost us.

Two new starting CBs for me please - henchoz and hyppia anyone?

[Irishnev]

mignolets poor clearing and distribution was handing possession back time and time again, but to be fair he redeemed himself with some great saves.

I just can't understand how he just can't kick the ****ing ball beyond the half way line - any ball played back to him is like a lottery as to where it will go. He drives me insane.

[Chazza]

Henderson was decent yesterday one of the better performances he has put in this season.

It was an interesting game and shows what happens when you have 2 pressing teams going at each other forcing errors and making good players look average.

Lovren was great but got caught out for the goal and Kane has a fantastic ability to hit the bottom corner of the goal when he gets the shot off.