Klopp and his staff shouldn’t escape criticism for that either. The 3rd substitute wasn’t used, why not? Do anything at that stage to break up the game, that includes bringing a sub on. It’s called game management.
That’s a manifestation of a bias towards action. For all we know, a sub brought on could have significantly disrupted our game for the worse, and made us concede goals anyway. I still remember a stretch of games not too long ago (maybe two seasons ago?) where every single time we brought on a substitute, it significantly weakened us for a few minutes to the point where we would be conceding goals in that period.
Despite all the armchair managers here, there was no change that could have been made that would have stopped us collectively switching off at the very end of that game. I was tempted to say that maybe Henderson playing in the game might have given us more leadership, but at some point in the last 10 minutes, Milner was shouting at the team telling them to wake up when we had yet another close shave, but not sure it made a difference in the end.
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I never thought that I’d be this disappointed in this group. This may be hyperbolic but they are reminiscent to the Liverpool Klopp inherited. No confidence and little fight. Frail mentally and physically.
It’s been a hellish season, everything that could go wrong, did go wrong but at some point they need to stand up and be counted. Since December they are playing like relegation fodder. I get that many of them may be exhausted but I can’t believe that this is the best they can do. Less than a year ago they were champions of England, Europe and the World and 4 months ago they were leading the league. They seem to have forgotten who they are and what they are capable of.
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We’re talking specifically about the final three minutes of stoppage time here, not ten minutes. After the Newcastle disallowed goal, we were hanging on and they had the momentum. At that stage bringing a sub on, to break up the play wouldn’t have made things worse, as they scored anyway.
I maybe an ‘armchair manager’, as you say, but I’ve played and watched enough football over many years to recognise when a situation can be helped by manager or coach making the right decision.
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This is what frustrates me.
Use the last sub to let the players gather their thoughts after the reprieve.
Or use the final sub on 85 minutes when it was obvious Newcastle had two fresh runners on the field.
Or get in an extra midfield player to plug the gaps by taking off one of the front three.
Case in point:
We had one breakaway in that final period. All the offensive players, the full backs, and midfielders burst forward.
Curtis carried the ball then the move petered out. Newcastle sprung into action and launched the ball forward with runners from midfield bursting a gut to get forward.
We had no need at all to throw the bus forward at that point.
The full backs should have been conservative for the final few minutes. At the breakaway, one full back go forward the other stay back. One midfielder run forward, the others hold cover just behind. Let Curtis pass on to the front three.
Basically we lost game management in those final few minutes, and Klopp and co could have given instructions to someone like Ox or Rhys Williams and done a little tweak.
Give the players a little breather. We’ve got a £10m plus left back not getting any minutes. Put him on for Mane to give an extra runner to match Newcastle.
Many different things, rather than struggling at every launched forward ball by Newcastle in the last minutes.
Fab did the dirty which was needed for the yellow. That was in the 89th minute! Why were we gung ho at that point in time as if we were the ones chasing a goal.
if we’re on top form, then I can understand that we could carve out a second goal. But the form we’re in, what was needed was to dig in, especially as a carbon copy last few minutes was played out against Leeds a few days before.
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That was typical of the form Mane is in at the moment. I don’t know what he was trying to do. Maybe he was trying to round the keeper, but do it in slow motion.
Similar to that game when Origi had a surprise start and then blazed onto the bar when one on one. Sums up our finishing in 2021.
If Salah weren’t knocking them in, I dread to think what position we would be in at the moment.
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I think if he had the 5 subs he could afford to start Tsimikas for example and if he’s struggling he can be taken off and replaced, with only 3 it a huge risk.
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Also doesn’t use 3 in case someone goes down injured.
If he had 5 available he can make 3 or 4 without that risk. It’s not rocket science.
That said, he should have brought Williams on late yesterday and against Leeds when we were sitting back.
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sorry, I live in the real world where they scored 1 goal
if the first goal was allowed in this magical parallel universe you describe, there is a 0.00000% chance that Newcastle are still throwing everyone up the pitch at 90’+5 to get the second goal
Weve conceded 11 goals in the last 10 minutes of matches this season.
Wouldn’t matter if we had taken our chances earlier in those games.
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Mentality minnows.
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This explains a lot.
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None of which were scored when Van Dijk or Gomes were on the pitch and only 2 when Matip was on. 3 were penalties, all questionable imo.
I’d wager if those 3 were available all season the figure would be 2 or 3.
Most will have been scored when teams are pushing for an equaliser late on with either inexperienced kids or centre-mids at CB. Hardly surprising really.
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Yes, that is what I’m specifically referring to. Our substitutions usually take time to settle into the match rhythm, which is why it can often disrupt our play negatively.
That’s just a hindsight bias. It is also possible that we might have made a substitution, who would then give the ball away or be ill-positioned, and then Jürgen would be blamed for changing things unnecessarily.
No denial that it will affect the transfer season. But I think it’s a bit of an exaggeration to say no top level player will want to join us.
Utd did attract top players without CL football, and while we may not have the money to convince them, but we do have the Klopp factor and the attraction of being the right destination for their development and improvement, and for sure the prospect of competing for trophies - if champions league will not be one of those for a season, it will be next season, I think it’s clear we are at that level in a normal season.
And I prefer a player coming for these reasons than for the money.
So I do think no CL will exclude quite a few players we may be after, but I do think we’ll make a few significant ones that will improve us in for next season.
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Rinse and repeat. Just want this season over.
Hendo is on the wrong side of 30 and becoming more and more injury prone. Who knows what shape VVd will return in. Glad to see the right noises about Konate. Need Gini replacement and goodness knows what else as Ox and Origi don’t amount to much of anything these days. Shaq once in a while. I’m just sad.
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It makes me wonder if a couple of lads are carrying knocks, so Klopp is wary of making the third change.
Bloody hell though, I’d have done it after the disallowed goal.
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also miss
mentality monsters
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If it were possible I’d sell and replace all the forwards except Salah. Yet another inept performance up front and, I’m sorry to say, another puzzling performance on the touchline. I really don’t get Klopp’s substitution decisions sometimes.
Edit: OK. I might keep Jota but he needs to be more consistent.
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