Central Mediocrity

The whole front 3 press as a unit under Klopp hence why we have never been linked with a Masch type of destroyer who goes out looking to break up play.

The signing of Wijaldum suggests Klopp will intensify the all out attack looking to press and counter press even more relentlessly than last season hence the extra legs brought in as reinforcement.

I'm not sure what you are getting at dude? A Masc type player would be perfect under Jürgen, he would simply be part of the unit hunting down the ball. To be fair under Rafa we pressed high up the pitch, particularly at Anfield and it started from the front and was ably backed up my Sissoko and Masch playing as absolute wreckers.

I don't know, but I have seen enough games last season where we have struggled to break teams down, and when Allen has entered the fray we have broken them teams down easier... Have we won them all?... No The Games we have lose or drawn when Allen had take no part , would we have won them?... I don't know. But on the evidence of what I have seen we play better with Allen on the field than off the field, and with Allen and Lucas as apposed to Henderson and Milner

Funnily enough Allen often entered the game as a replacement for one of the forward players (usually Firmino or Lallana) rather than a centre mid. I think he responded to Klopp for showing that little bit of faith in his ability to effect the game for an attacking perspective and enabled Allen to turn in some performances that were more reminiscent of his Swansea days.

I'm not sure what you are getting at dude? A Masc type player would be perfect under Jürgen, he would simply be part of the unit hunting down the ball. To be fair under Rafa we pressed high up the pitch, particularly at Anfield and it started from the front and was ably backed up my Sissoko and Masch playing as absolute wreckers.

Then I wonder why we have never been linked to a single destroyer type of DM.

The system is the press under Klopp, not too difficult to understand!

It also means there is an extra midfielder who can join the attack.

Can isn't the problem, it's who Can plays next to that is. Whether it's holding or attacking is besides the point, the problem is that he's usually playing next to someone who has very little more in the way of experience than he does. Slot him alongside a Gerrard or a Hamann and you'd not only see a different Can but Can himself as a player would become better because he'd learn more. It's an inherent problem throughout the squad. It's all very well bringing in highly talented young players but without seasoned veterans to learn from they can never realise their full potential.

Understand what it is you are saying, but unfortunately we neither have Gerrard nor Hamann anymore... I view Can as a decent midfield, I is Henderson and milner I view as the problem 

Then I wonder why we have never been linked to a single destroyer type of DM.

The system is the press under Klopp, not too difficult to understand!

It also means there is an extra midfielder who can join the attack.

A little longer term I think the idea of Can/Grujic...both physically big guys would be able to turn enforcer if need be; I agree with you in that Jürgen maybe/is thinking outside the traditional box.

Funnily enough Allen often entered the game as a replacement for one of the forward players (usually Firmino or Lallana) rather than a centre mid. I think he responded to Klopp for showing that little bit of faith in his ability to effect the game for an attacking perspective and enabled Allen to turn in some performances that were more reminiscent of his Swansea days.

You could be very well right there Scott

A little longer term I think the idea of Can/Grujic...both physically big guys would be able to turn enforcer if need be; I agree with you in that Jürgen maybe/is thinking outside the traditional box.

Yeah I think what he is looking from his midfielders is the ability to carry the ball forward and we will defend high up the pitch through our pressing. Wijnaldum links certainly suggest this.

Yeah I think what he is looking from his midfielders is the ability to carry the ball forward and we will defend high up the pitch through our pressing. Wijnaldum links certainly suggest this.

The problem is can we say we're shopping within our weight, never mind above our weight? You cannot resolve a problem with mediocrity in the squad by replacing it with more mediocrity which is precisely what we're doing.

The problem is can we say we're shopping within our weight, never mind above our weight? You cannot resolve a problem with mediocrity in the squad by replacing it with more mediocrity which is precisely what we're doing.

Maybe Jürgen feels a PSV ex captain, Dutch player of the year and an International for who scores goals from Midfield is not mediocre.

Is it the fact he moved to Newcastle which you find underwhelming?

Maybe Jürgen feels a PSV ex captain, Dutch player of the year and an International for who scores goals from Midfield is not mediocre.

Is it the fact he moved to Newcastle which you find underwhelming?

No, what I find underwhelming is the suggestion that this is a player whose head goes down at the first sign of things getting tough. We have enough mental fragility in the side, thank you very much. We don't need more. Much the same as my problem with Mane. Nothing to do with him coming from Saints or thinking he's a bad player, but another player who dips in and out of form during the season was not what we needed. If he's able to demonstrate consistency lacking in his game to-date, I'll happily revise my opinion of him.

I would remind you that we signed a three time Serie A winner, one time EPL winner, winner of numerous cups across two leagues and member of UEFA's Euro 2012's Team of the tournament. His name is Mario Balotelli. You can't read too much into achievements.

The problem is can we say we're shopping within our weight, never mind above our weight? You cannot resolve a problem with mediocrity in the squad by replacing it with more mediocrity which is precisely what we're doing.

Bet you wouldn't dare say that to Jurgens face. 

I would remind you that we signed a three time Serie A winner, one time EPL winner, winner of numerous cups across two leagues and member of UEFA's Euro 2012's Team of the tournament. His name is Mario Balotelli. You can't read too much into achievements.

Hmmm... who we signed 2 years later after he'd turned into an unsufferable idiot who everyone knew wasn't the player he had been.

These lads haven't hit their heights yet never mind started to decline, totally different scenario.

No, what I find underwhelming is the suggestion that this is a player whose head goes down at the first sign of things getting tough. We have enough mental fragility in the side, thank you very much. We don't need more. Much the same as my problem with Mane. Nothing to do with him coming from Saints or thinking he's a bad player, but another player who dips in and out of form during the season was not what we needed. If he's able to demonstrate consistency lacking in his game to-date, I'll happily revise my opinion of him.

I would remind you that we signed a three time Serie A winner, one time EPL winner, winner of numerous cups across two leagues and member of UEFA's Euro 2012's Team of the tournament. His name is Mario Balotelli. You can't read too much into achievements.

How many times have you seen him play?

Even with McLaren as the manager he scored 11 goals, more than any of our midfielders.

Youngest ever PSV Captain suggests he has a strong mentality.

You need to get over your desire for mega bucks signings it's not happening, and that's not because Jürgen wouldn't want them.

How many times have you seen him play?

Even with McLaren as the manager he scored 11 goals, more than any of our midfielders.

Youngest ever PSV Captain suggests he has a strong mentality.

You need to get over your desire for mega bucks signings it's not happening, and that's not because Jürgen wouldn't want them.

Save your energy face palming me why don't you just send Jürgen an email and tell him exactly where he is going wrong with this transfer malarkey.
 I'm sure he would appreciate your years of experience on Football Manager.

We bought a midfielder! And he scores goals! I don't know if he is any good but it's a step in the right direction!

I'm hoping we dump this Henderson, Wijnaldum, Lallana experiment. It hasn't worked for me and I don't think it will. Despite scoring an excellent goal against the gooners Lallana doesn't look suited to the role and I don't think we have the luxury of waiting for him to get the hang of it either. He doesn't move the ball quickly enough in the middle of the park where there is less time and space to play and he is a better player when he has the chance to get his head up. And neither has Wijnaldum impressed as yet, looks lightweight to me and I've seen him bottle a couple of 50/50s already. If he is going to play in there then it must be with two stronger, more powerful players. I'm not a Henderson fan as such but if he plays then it needs to be alongside Can or Grucic. My preferred midfield based on the players we have would be Can/Grucic & Wijnaldum. At least Can and Grucic would provide a bit of a shield for the centre-halves which is especially important when our full-backs play so high up the pitch. Burnley played 8 behind the ball today but left left two up front and they gave our. Two CBs a tough time, having a couple of defensively minded CMs screening them would probably have prevented some of the problems they caused us today.

Ps. Based on what I've seen of our midfield thus far I really do believe that Ejaria is worth a spot on the bench.

When was the last time we truly had an exceptional specialist #6?  I'd go as far back as Masch, though Lucas was working towards being damn good until injury plagued him, yet still good enough after injury (imo), but with niggly injures and perhaps Rodgers and Klopp not fully rating him, I don't think he has had the chance to fully settle and become a mainstay.

Anyway, I think we desperately need to look into proper DM/DLPM with potential to be exceptional/world class, it'll add a lot more stability to the team on a consistent basis, someone who is either positionally aware and able to pick out passes, or one that is quick and agile , but most importantly, we need the specialist to be able to shift the ball quick.

Every big team has a specialist playing regularly and has had one throughout the years,  but why haven't we had one for so many seasons? It's clearly a huge problem and for me, it has been since Lucas' injury in 11/12 season.

Can

Grujic     Coutinho

Firmino

Sturridge     Origi

Call me crazy.

Can

Grujic     Coutinho

Firmino

Sturridge     Origi

Call me crazy.

Brendan... is that you?

Expecting calls for three at the back once Sakho is fit.

Brendan... is that you?

Expecting calls for three at the back once Sakho is fit.

We don't use wingers anyway. And when we do, they cross to an empty box. Might as well get our creative players playing around each other and have a focal point (Origi) rather than floating attackers. Can provides the most solid base in midfield we have had since the Alonso/Masch days.

EDIT: I should state this is until Mané comes back, of course. No idea how long he is out.

I'm hoping we dump this Henderson, Wijnaldum, Lallana experiment. It hasn't worked for me and I don't think it will. Despite scoring an excellent goal against the gooners Lallana doesn't look suited to the role and I don't think we have the luxury of waiting for him to get the hang of it either. He doesn't move the ball quickly enough in the middle of the park where there is less time and space to play and he is a better player when he has the chance to get his head up. And neither has Wijnaldum impressed as yet, looks lightweight to me and I've seen him bottle a couple of 50/50s already. If he is going to play in there then it must be with two stronger, more powerful players. I'm not a Henderson fan as such but if he plays then it needs to be alongside Can or Grucic. My preferred midfield based on the players we have would be Can/Grucic & Wijnaldum. At least Can and Grucic would provide a bit of a shield for the centre-halves which is especially important when our full-backs play so high up the pitch. Burnley played 8 behind the ball today but left left two up front and they gave our. Two CBs a tough time, having a couple of defensively minded CMs screening them would probably have prevented some of the problems they caused us today.

Ps. Based on what I've seen of our midfield thus far I really do believe that Ejaria is worth a spot on the bench.

Couldn't agree more .
Heap of sh*te playing there ... Henderson and all show no go Lallana.



Can and Grujic.

Imagine going back to  2008 and someone saying to you " Do you know who we are gona replace Gerrard and Alonso with ? "

"  Who?  "
" Jordan Henderson and James Milner "
Cue the Twilight Zone music. A terrifying reality. 
" Noooooooooooo "
 " Did i mention Lucas for Mascherano ? "
Now add  maniacal laughing .

Forward to 2016 -- " Oh it was just a terrible drea......  Aaaaaahhhhhhhhhhh "