Its funny how different people see or watch the game to each other isn't it. I thought we were dreadful last night but I suppose that makes me a 'bed wetter' and I'm not allowed to say it all because we won the match and are through to the next round.
For what its worth, here's my take on the game. I was bored shitless last night and was growing frustrated with the way we were playing. For me, Leeds were the better side. They had a couple of big chances which they should have buried and ultimately knocked us out. We might have dominated the possession but all I was seeing was sideways and backward passing, we weren't doing anything with the ball. Leeds were happy to sit behind the ball, because we weren't doing anything with it, and then counter or take chances from set pieces. I thought we were lucky, and I thought they were unlucky. Obviously the game would have been decided one way or another last night but if it was a league game, then I would say a draw would have been fair to both sides.
Im just happy we're through because I thought we were lucky to get away with that last night. The one thing I took from the game was that it is evident there are 3 or 4 players who aren't good enough for us, plain and simple.
Mignolet - He's one who isn't good enough. He made a decent save or two to be fair to him but his all round play is just awful. Leeds fired in a couple of decent free kicks/corners and he always stayed glued to his line. Doesn't command his box at all, doesn't give the back four any confidence. His distribution is f**king awful as well. He throws the ball out when he shouldn't and puts us under immediate pressure and then the exact reverse happens where he keeps hold of the ball too long when he needs to hurry up and throw it out! My god he is the most annoying goalie ever.
Moreno - Is there a reason he thinks he is Roberto Carlos? Why does he insist on long range shots that always up going somewhere near the corner flag? I lost count how many times he was caught on the wrong side of his man and he offered f**k all going forward as usual. People think there is a player in him somewhere because he's quick. But if Usain Bolt played left back for us it doesn't mean he is a good footballer. Moreno is just bloody awful. The last straw for me was towards the end of the match were their right winger just seemed to brush him off with ease and get in front of him, Moreno went down like a sack of spuds looking for a free kick which wasn't given. I was always taught from a young age to play to the whistle but instead, Moreno stays down looking at the ref. Luckily Leeds didn't punish us, against better opposition and they probably would have. Moreno then gets up, the ref walks over to him and Moreno hobbles around limping putting an act on. Literally ten seconds later he was on the ball all fine again. F**k off.
Klavan - Thought he had a dodgy game. He wasn't terrible but I felt all game he was uncomfortable on the ball and he was quite hesitant. Gave possession away a few times.
Lucas - Steady Eddy at the back. Mr reliable. Hardly put a foot wrong.
TAA - Seeing some comments on here which are going a bit over the top in my opinion but its not uncommon to see that, it always happens with a young lad from the academy. Anyway, I thought he was very cautious and played far too safe, especially in the first half. Whenever he was picking the ball up he was looking to go backwards rather than forward. He was playing it too easy. Towards the end of the first half he put a free kick into the box which was a great delivery, the ball came back out to him and he put in another fine cross. That showed his quality a little bit. Second half I thought he looked a bit better. He was looking to go forward more, maybe Jürgen had a word at half time? The cross for Origis goal was another great delivery, they are the sort of crosses you cant defend, it was a great assist. Overall performance? a 6/10 type game but some posters are making him out to be a 9 or 10.
Can - I think Can is awful. Similar to Moreno, is there a reason he thinks he is Zidane? Whats with all the constant step overs, drag backs, dummys, back heels and so on? He's not good enough for all that nonsense just keep it f**king simple. He gets tackled or gives the ball away too much. Very frustrating. His decision making is appalling too. No better than a squad player.
Stewart - Not good enough. He's had enough chances for us now I think, one or two games he has done alright, but overall he has not shown enough to warrant a place in our team. Last night was another example. Bit of a ghost/passenger, was just doing simple basic things that any 12 year old in the academy could do. Going short to get the ball off the centre half and then passing it back to them.
Ejaria - I thought our whole midfield was poor last night, Ejaria included. Struggled to make any sort of impact. I do think he has more to his game than Stewart though.
Wijnaldum - I saw a comment above that said something along the lines of you can notice the difference in his game when he is in our best 11 and our reserve team if you like. I couldn't agree more and was having the same conversation at the match last night. Wijanldum is a pass and move player, he keeps the game flowing, keeps the ball moving. You can't do that playing in a team with players who aren't on your wave length. You can't get that out of Can or Stewart. Put him in the side with Lallana, Hendo, Cout and so on and he flourishes. Quiet game for Wij last night but I do think his game is suited for players who know how to do a quick 1-2.
Mane - Against Sunderland he was having one of those games were everything was bouncing off his shin. He had another one of those games last night. Couple of games to forget for Sadio.
Origi - Took his goal well but I actually thought he had a poor game last night too! He was trying too hard and the crowd were getting frustrated that he wasnt pulling the trigger (not just him, it happened with a few other players too). Origi was always trying one too many turns or one too many passes instead of just getting his shot on goal. I do love the amount of effort he puts in every time he plays for us though, you can see he wants that shirt. Good on him.
Woodburn - Great goal, burst the net. Youngest ever LFC scorer. Gave him motm for that alone.
To summarise, a good result but a poor display. Some players need to up their game if they want a career here, it wasn't good enough. On to the next round...
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