Liverpool v Leeds (H) PL

[Kenneth]

I think we’re gradually lowering our standards then. This was Leeds at Anfield, one of the favourites for relegation; doing okay in some regards and poorly in others is not helpful for a club like ours. We have a global profile, tens of millions of fans, expected to challenge for the title and on trots Curtis Jones and a 36 year old as we look for a winner. It’s a ****ing joke if we’re being honest.

[Exiled_red]

The issue to me seems to be that when we take stock of our squad at the start of the season it always seems to be done 'on paper'. If you look at our midfield on paper we are in a good position 1) numbers wise and 2) quality wise, but what it seems to fail to take into account is the injury records for 1 and assumes that everyone plays at or close to their peak level all season neither of which are realistic. Any fan could tell you Ox and Naby will barely be available. Milner can't play 2 games a week, Henderson and Thiago will pick up knocks and be in and out of the side, and that Elliott and Jones aren't ready to play week in week out, when this context is taken wee aren't is such a healthy position. It was madness not to sign at least one midfielder in the summer and why Ox and Keita are still here God knows. I wouldn't be surprised if we offer Keita a new contract either in panic at the size of the task or in the naive hope that he won't get injured and will become the player we thought we were getting

[Doc_Piptorious]

Milner tried and Hendo does we he can do, which admittedly isn't much these days but **** me Jones had an absolute nightmare.

Seasoned pros who have been getting plenlty of minutes this season vs a 21 year old still getting minutes into him after being out for months with an injury.

I know who I would be putting the responsibility of poor performances onto and also who I would be more forgiving of for needing time to get up to speed.

If we are at the point where we need guys still developing/coming back from injury to be covering for the faults of the senior guys, then that is not on the younger guys.

[Kenneth]

True, but it’s not really on the older guys either. Expecting a 36 year old to control a PL midfield is also too much to ask, and I’m sure Henderson isn’t deliberately declining as a player. The staff appear to have overestimated the abilities of the older and young players to perform.

Edit: not directly related, but it’s strange and somewhat amusing when we see questions like ‘would you take James Maddison?’ and everyone’s like, ‘nah, overrated’ while we’re picking Harvey Elliott every week and managing the minutes of Henderson and Milner.

[danperkins]

Seasoned pros who have been getting plenlty of minutes this season vs a 21 year old still getting minutes into him after being out for months with an injury.

I know who I would be putting the responsibility of poor performances onto and also who I would be more forgiving of for needing time to get up to speed.

If we are at the point where we need guys still developing/coming back from injury to be covering for the faults of the senior guys, then that is not on the younger guys.

All valid points but that's what we have left ourselves with and there is absolutely nothing we can do about it other than piss and moan... which sometimes ya just have to do. Regarding Jones, I don't think he's LFC standard, well if you are talking about a LFC side that wants to challenge for titles.... I'm not really sure what this LFC is. Milner has done ok when he's came in this season in fairness to him but yeah the fact we are relying on his old legs shows us the mistakes we've made in the market.

We are all saying the same things and have been since the end of last season. It's just a bitter pill to swallow as this was so avoidable.

[Doc_Piptorious]

All valid points but that's what we have left ourselves with and there is absolutely nothing we can do about it other than piss and moan... which sometimes ya just have to do. Regarding Jones, I don't think he's LFC standard, well if you are talking about a LFC side that wants to challenge for titles.... I'm not really sure what this LFC is. Milner has done ok when he's came in this season in fairness to him but yeah the fact we are relying on his old legs shows us the mistakes we've made in the market.

We are all saying the same things and have been since the end of last season. It's just a bitter pill to swallow as this was so avoidable.

My point is that is if we relying on young inexperienced guys coming back from injury to someone cover for the faults (be they age related or whatever) of the senior players then that is not on the younger guy who plays badly, it is not on the senior guys who are passed it, it is on those that built a team and that then did not refresh along the way.


I was not saying senior guys bad, young guy good in a bleating Animal Farm esque mantra.

[danperkins]

My point is that is if we relying on young inexperienced guys coming back from injury to someone cover for the faults (be they age related or whatever) of the senior players then that is not on the younger guy who plays badly, it is not on the senior guys who are passed it, it is on those that built a team and that then did not refresh along the way.


I was not saying senior guys bad, young guy good in a bleating Animal Farm esque mantra.

I think we all agree on the same things and are all just frustrated that we've gotten ourselves into a situation where we are in fact relying on old, declining players or young inexperienced players that are either not good enough or returning from injury.

In short, it's a **** show.

[Kenneth]

It does seem like there is a consensus here, albeit awkwardly reached.

[danperkins]

Aye, we're all eating a giant **** sandwich.

[Exiled_red]

The reality of the situation is our first choice midfield now based on age should be Fabinho, Thiago and Keita with Ox giving another option, Henderson being the old head coming in when needed or to see games out with Elliot and Jones getting minutes for experience and development. Problem is we are miles away from that scenario. Most of the players in that middle age group are way too injury prone to be reliable

[Harv]

Elliott is not a central midfielder. We're trying to shoehorn him into thee side and its hurting us every game. He s a good little player, but he looks lichee just doesn't have a proper position in our side.

[Norbs]

Elliott is not a central midfielder. We're trying to shoehorn him into thee side and its hurting us every game. He s a good little player, but he looks lychee just doesn't have a proper position in our side.

I've heard he's homesick, could be Chinese whispers

[red g]

I've heard he's homesick, could be Chinese whispers

Heard the same about Jurgen.

We are ****e everyone is loving it and piling in!

[Charly]

Elliott is not a central midfielder. We're trying to shoehorn him into thee side and its hurting us every game. He s a good little player, but he looks lichee just doesn't have a proper position in our side.

He is not a Klopp midfielder either.

Their number one attribute is a mega press. Which dictates they need some physicallity. Thiago gets away with it because he is quite tenacious and extremely good on the ball. Elliott just isnt right for it. Should be playing false 9

[danperkins]

Elliot has looked so lost and put of place in that starting 11