Watford (A): Post Match

[Exiled_red]

Having watched the goals on match of the day, it does seem very familiar. An imposing keeper really is one of the most important positions. It's shame we don't have one and a concern that klopp wasn't looking for one. At least we avoided defeat. Unbeaten so far.

I don't think Mignolet was particularly at fault for any of the goals but I think that he could have done better at the set pieces, the first goal he let the guy in front of him block him off - I don't think he would have come and prevented the goal but he should be dominating the 6 yard area and not letting an attacker control what he can and can't do. At the start of the season IMO he should be laying down a marker which shows he is prepared to 'clear out' anyone that gets in his way and that he is in control of that area and will not be bullied, otherwise players will be doing that to him all season.

I'd want to see Ward in goal. Got to be better than these couple of dickheads ahead of him.

That said Mig pulled off a fabulous save in the second half.

I was impressed with Ward in pre-season with what I saw of him, I think that he has the potential to be the best of the 3 keepers that we have but I'm unsure what his level is at the moment.

I had hoped that Mignolet would build on his form towards the end of last season but I just don't see him being a keeper who can dominate him area and that is a problem. I hope he can prove me wrong, but he just gives me the impression of being timid, rather than imposing.

Not a GK issue but why does no-one put men on posts at corners anymore?

[Exiled_red]

One thing people seem to be overlooking is that our attacking players didn't kill the game off when they should have. If Wijnaldum or Salah finish any of their chances in the second half Watford don't come back.

On the other side of the coin, I thought it was promising how dangerous our front three looked without any of them having particularly good games. All got on the scoresheet and created opportunities from next to nothing and it bodes well for the rest of the season.

I don't think that you can criticise an attack that scores 3 goals. If you score 3 goals you should be winning games, if you concede 3 goals you should be losing games

[Saveloy]

I don't think Mignolet was particularly at fault for any of the goals but I think that he could have done better at the set pieces, the first goal he let the guy in front of him block him off - I don't think he would have come and prevented the goal but he should be dominating the 6 yard area and not letting an attacker control what he can and can't do. At the start of the season IMO he should be laying down a marker which shows he is prepared to 'clear out' anyone that gets in his way and that he is in control of that area and will not be bullied, otherwise players will be doing that to him all season.




I was impressed with Ward in pre-season with what I saw of him, I think that he has the potential to be the best of the 3 keepers that we have but I'm unsure what his level is at the moment.

I had hoped that Mignolet would build on his form towards the end of last season but I just don't see him being a keeper who can dominate him area and that is a problem. I hope he can prove me wrong, but he just gives me the impression of being timid, rather than imposing.

Not a GK issue but why does no-one put me on posts at corners anymore?

Because you've not done enough in training to demonstrate you deserve a place in the matchday squad.

[Exiled_red]

He had a decent game by his own standards. Still not of the standard we need.

Arnold was brilliant for me. The 2 centre halves were ****ing useless for half that match at least. When you know how bad we defend set pieces then you watch that first goal.... You have to start questioning Klopp not just the ****e players he puts on the pitch.

Since when has it been possible to defend a corner by not marking anyone and not JUMPING FOR THE ****ING BALL! flat footed always it's ****ing awful

I'm doubting that this was there instruction, the problem with zonal marking for me is that for it to work you need the players to properly understand what they are meant to be doing, and while I'm not calling all our players thick, I think that some would benefit from simpler instructions so man marking might work better

I think that zonal marking can work, under Rafa we had a zonal marking system that worked but we had alot of players with game intelligence for me the players we currently have aren't at the same level

[Exiled_red]

Because you've not done enough in training to demonstrate you deserve a place in the matchday squad.

Obviously that was meant to be 'men on the posts' which I have now edited, although with the way we defended I probably wouldn't do any worse

[Havors]

I'm doubting that this was there instruction, the problem with zonal marking for me is that for it to work you need the players to properly understand what they are meant to be doing, and while I'm not calling all our players thick, I think that some would benefit from simpler instructions so man marking might work better

I think that zonal marking can work, under Rafa we had a zonal marking system that worked but we had alot of players with game intelligence for me the players we currently have aren't at the same level

Well if the players can't grasp what they should be doing after all these years they should not be in the team so then again it falls on management... klopp has this strange policy of picking one player out of all the players in the world and if he doesn't get him he doesn't get anyone.

That is just complete ****ing nonsense stubborn and counter productive. No plan B.... are we to believe that only Keita and van dijk are good enough to play for us instead of the idiots that have constantly proven they aren't good enough to be in a league winning team? ****ing emre can and his consistent brain farts and headlessness should have seen him benched a long time ago. Grujic looks a much better technical footballer and isn't getting the chance can has had...

As much as I love klopp you do have to question whether he can't see the woods for the trees and he is so stubborn it's stupid

[labourRed]

Well if the players can't grasp what they should be doing after all these years they should not be in the team so then again it falls on management... klopp has this strange policy of picking one player out of all the players in the world and if he doesn't get him he doesn't get anyone.

That is just complete ****ing nonsense stubborn and counter productive. No plan B.... are we to believe that only Keita and van dijk are good enough to play for us instead of the idiots that have constantly proven they aren't good enough to be in a league winning team? ****ing emre can and his consistent brain farts and headlessness should have seen him benched a long time ago. Grujic looks a much better technical footballer and isn't getting the chance can has had...

As much as I love klopp you do have to question whether he can't see the woods for the trees and he is so stubborn it's stupid

You're only saying this because some posters have come to this conclusion. It certainly isn't fact and i don't know what is going on either but i also don't think Klopp only has two targets and not signing anyone is on him alone.

[Exiled_red]

You're only saying this because some posters have come to this conclusion. It certainly isn't fact and i don't know what is going on either but i also don't think Klopp only has two targets and not signing anyone is on him alone.

that tactic would be career suicide

[Havors]

You're only saying this because some posters have come to this conclusion. It certainly isn't fact and i don't know what is going on either but i also don't think Klopp only has two targets and not signing anyone is on him alone.

****ing hell go read or listen to his interviews. Klopp has stated this himself multiple times... he o ly has plab a. if he didn't only have 2 targets then why have we not signed anyone after these two transfers have broken down?

I hope I'm wrong, I hope he just says all thus stuff to get the press off his back but time will tell. September 1st we will know one way or the other.

[labourRed]

****ing hell go read or listen to his interviews. Klopp has stated this himself multiple times... he o ly has plab a. if he didn't only have 2 targets then why have we not signed anyone after these two transfers have broken down?

I hope I'm wrong, I hope he just says all thus stuff to get the press off his back but time will tell. September 1st we will know one way or the other.

He said in January hes trying to sign players and again this summer he has stated as recently as a few days ago that he's trying to sign a midfielder (and was going to before the Lallana injury). I don't know why signings haven't been made beyond that.

[little dave hedgehog]

as events have shown already this summer, transfers are not as simple as identifying players who will improve us the most, who want to come, and stumping up the money for them. if it were that easy, keita and vvd would be here already.

[Cormack74]

[BootRoom]

Although they both contributed, I'm not sure about Mane on the left and Salah on the right long term. Salah had two opportunities on the right, one where he tried to awkwardly guide the ball in with his left foot, and another that ended with a weak attempt with his right foot. His goal didn't really require a lot of technique. Mane also struggled crossing the ball with his left foot. I don't think we are going to see much of them flying down the flanks and putting in reliably good balls into the box without cutting back onto their stronger side.

[cannotmakeit]

good balls into the box for who?

[RedSpartan]

One thing people seem to be overlooking is that our attacking players didn't kill the game off when they should have. If Wijnaldum or Salah finish any of their chances in the second half Watford don't come back.

On the other side of the coin, I thought it was promising how dangerous our front three looked without any of them having particularly good games. All got on the scoresheet and created opportunities from next to nothing and it bodes well for the rest of the season.

It's a fair point about the forwards not scoring a 4th. However, our inability to defend from dead ball situations has't been addressed. It was there with Bodgers, and it is there with Klopp. It is really worrying that we are looking at another season where we will probably be a match for the Top 6 teams but the mid table teams and below will just consistently target us with dead ball and long throw knowing how weak we are there.

And you still wouldn't have ruled out that if we had got a 4th, Watford would have scored a 3rd and we would have had a nervy finish to the game.

We can't keep going in to games with the mindset of having to score 3 or 4 just to "squeak" a win, because we are going to concede.