Perhaps, it is to do with this pragmatic approach we have taken this season. I am happy as far as it goes but we need to show our teeth bit more to the lesser opponents. For example, City demolished Southampton & the message goes out that when City come to the town, we just let them roll over us. We on the other hand, stopped our demolition half-way when we were 3-0 up. I don't really understand why.
Because we were 3-0 up at half time. I said the worst thing about that game was the timing of the third goal, as I thought it would be at the time. A 3 goal lead at halftime, normally sees players drop off after the break, and look to see the game out instead of pile up the goals. Whereas a two goal lead at half time, doesn't see any drop off, at least until we get the third, as we did at home to West Ham and Red Star Belgrade. That's not a Klopp specific issue, it happened regularly during Rodgers time as well. We settled for 3 and 4-0 wins in several games, instead of looking for more. Then found ourselves nine goals behind with 2 games to go in the run in. When we tried to do something about it at Palace, you saw the consequences.
we did struggle against them, the scoreline flattered us. Not because they made it difficult for us, or because they outplayed us, but because looked like we couldn't be arsed and would be content with a 1-0 win, and it was only once their goal went in that we woke the f**k up. We scored on the 10th minute then took almost an hour to score again, and did so because we failed to take the chances that came our way. Burying our head in the sand and pretending everything sunshine and roses is the surest way to hand City the title. To repeat myself, it is not unreasonable to accept we have a problem with the side right now and to work out how we can get back that free flowing attacking finesse we enjoyed last season.
You don't seem to know what you want. Last year, it was "boring 1-0 wins" by wasting time and dark arts, this year you want "free flowing football". One extreme to the other, and critical of both as it suits. You then tell us what the mancs and Bournemouth have done. But would they prefer to be where we are or where they are?
We were always in control against Cardiff. We led for almost the entire game. That's not pretending everything is rosy, that's how it played out. The result was clearcut and comprehensive.
It's not unreasonable to ask questions, god knows I've done it for years and still do. But we're not going to outscore City, nobody else will either. We didn't last year, and we won't this year. So if we're going to win it, it's going to be on points. And the surest way of handing City the title, is packing it in asap. Look at the reaction to the result at the weekend. Mass panic and armageddon, after "only" drawing one of our more difficult away games, despite getting robbed by the officials. When we were 2 points ahead, we had not won the league, and when we're 2 points behind we haven't lost it either. It's not like the cup where a tough 5 minutes and that's it for another year.
We're still unbeaten. There's another 30 points up for grabs by the first round of the cup. I repeat, THIRTY points. And who knows how many curveballs and banana skins thrown in, crappy refs, injuries, suspensions, travel issues, weather, pitches, etc etc. If we're well behind after that, then fair enough, we can focus on the cup. With the year that's in it, the cup is going to be more significant for us than usual. If we're not out of sight in the league, it's game on until May on all fronts. I remember we were 14 points behind the leaders in March 89, and we took the title race all the way to the final night. City were 8 points behind with 6 games to go and beat the mancs to the league. So a 2 point gap is nothing in November, and hopefully this thread will be active again soon.