Andoni Iraola on the reception he received and the support from the Anfield crowd:
“Yeah, lovely, lovely – especially in the first half when we were pushing and everything was going so well, we were enjoying it. The second half has been harsh because when they are expecting you to go and you are not able, and you cannot give them what we wanted, it is frustrating, yes.”
Maybe. Second half there was no system or structure. And the incoherence got worse with every sub. Wonder what there was to learn from that
Yeah. The thing is, that team has Trent´s passing from full back and the best front 3 in the world (with Firmino doing a Wirtz kinda role). I just dont think it would add enough on the ball nowadays, even if it would compete well.
It´s a real conundrum what to do with our current midfielders. I´d like us to play Nyoni as the Fabinho with another midfielder and Wirtz ahead, but he might just go with the starting midfield of today behind Wirtz.
Of the senior players, only Szoboszlai, Kerkez and Frimpong have completed a full pre-season. The rest are still at various stages. As you say, we need to be patient.
People go on about the changes in the 2nd half causing the problems, nope the attitude if the players coming out at haltime was the issue.
As Redged said we started fannying about passing at the back with no direction.
We need Wharton and his extraordinary passing range.
Also, I did mention Scott earlier. One reason I like him is that he will be more physically prepared for Iraola-ball than our current players.
Virgil van Dijk on Andoni Iraola:
“It’s been absolutely fine. We had a great conversation in the first week when he got announced.”
"The main thing for him to know, and obviously that’s what I told him, is that I’m here for him regardless of anything he needs. For me to do for the team or whatever, I’m here for him.
"Hopefully we’ll be successful this season, that’s what we want. Nothing to take away from Arne [Slot] and his staff. We had an amazing time together, obviously last year we were disappointed. This year we have a new manager, new ways of preparation, so we all have to adapt to it.”
"New staff, different training methods. But I liked working under Arne, and I’m sure I would like working under the new manager as well…”
I do remember Souness talking about a truly elite midfielder should not carry the ball too much. He talked about Rice, but I think his comments apply to Gravenberch and Szobozlai even more.
Souness definitely knew what he was talking about when it comes to the midfield.
It was good to be back at Anfield even if it was just for a friendly.
Would’ve preferred some balance in the quality/experience of the 2 sides because that game was quite predictable in how it’d play out but I understand as well the result isn’t so important and the closer to the season we get the youngsters won’t get as much time.
Until we conceded the silly pen we played some real good stuff and that’s my main takeaway from today. Ndukwe looked very good again.
What a glowing endorsement from the captain 
Under AI’s system you really need to move the ball quickly and for that the players need to be two passes ahead in their reading the game, so they can move into space to receive the ball and really stretch the opposition. We haven’t got that yet and a lot of the time the players are too static and just watching the game rather than anticipating ‘where should I be after he plays it to him’. It will come but this stuff needs intelligence and some of our guys ain’t the sharpest.
Speaking of which…Mama is about 2 seconds behind the right pass all the time.
Good take from Souness! Knowing when and how to release the ball is so important.
Gerrard was the man who used to carry the ball with his feet but it made him had a lot of muscle related injuries in the later part of his years.
Only when he played behind Torres that he probably realised the importance of releasing the ball at the right time and right amount of force.
Forget @Sportbilly1966, this is one for @MickyE . Right up your ally isn’t it sunshine.
Has anyone called for a change of manager yet?
Really not going into this season with much optimism sadly.