He dived. 100%. Should have been booked.
1 Like
Really sad to see the demise of what was a great team/ squad. Didnât expect to win at their place today but after a decent first half it was awful to see all of the heads go down and players just going through the motions. No need to say but major investment is required in the summer to put us back in the mix with City and Arsenal. The end of the season canât come quick enough for me.
No it isnt. Aquilani was our choice to replace a core member of our successful side. Arthur was a last minute stop gap to help us over a short term hump who was obtained so as to not impact our longer term planning.
4 Likes
Weâve had an excellent 5 seasons (barring that injury prone blip, and even then we battled back with Nat and Rhys).
This season, coming after an almost unprecedented season last year, feels flat as we all could see the midfield player needed.
However, Klopp has more than earned a couple of years rebuild time. We spent big on Darwin, which suggests what we all know that we went all out for our top midfield priority, and as is Kloppâs style, rather see out a year to get what we really need the next summer.
I think thatâs the part everyone agrees. Klopp too. Thatâs why this summer is crucial.
A lot has been done already, itâs important to remember that thereâs quite a few players that have not been here for more than 1-2 years (Nunez, Gakpo, Diaz, Konate, Jota). So with 4-5 players in midfield (including a bit of boost in defense), and a good pre season, I hope we can be competing at the highest level next season again. And if we are in Europa League (most likely), then I hope we win it. But primarily to go for the league. Anyway, ultimately to build a side that will be competing for the next 5 seasons.
2 Likes
The problem is it is not just Hendo.
Van Djike is suppossed to be the leader at the back, but the defense has been as tough as a 2 day old kitten most of the season, and gets worse as soon as we concede - they seem to collectively all lose the plot.
Robbo and Salah are both captains for their respective national teams, Fabinho has worn the armband enough times for us that looking at him as one of the team leaders is a fair view, but none of them have shown any sort of leadership in sorting out the mentalally switching off at half time, or the lack of fight we show when we go behind, this is a collective issue.
It is because:
-
Aquilani would not have been the choice if Rafa was given the full proceeds of Xabiâs sale. We chose him as a cheap hopeful option. Arthur wouldnât have been the choice if we had more money either.
-
Aquilani was already injured and it was (admittedly in hindsight) folly to then ask him to come take the reins of an LFC team in the cut and thrust of the PL. Arthur was just rehabbing back from injury and given how intensely we drive our midfielders, that was also folly.
When you start with 1 day left in the window, money is not the limiting factor to getting a deal done.
The only simple thing is your interpretation of things.
Someone chose to spend ÂŁ35m on Gakpo and not a midfielder. Clearly they could afford to spend. Hell, they could have still given that money to PSV but for Sangare instead of Gakpo. A choice was made not to not because they couldnât afford to.
If we canât find at least one midfielder in that range that would improve us then weâre fucked because we need at least two and without CL football thatâll be the bracket weâre shopping in.
The only thing that comes resembling close to Arthur is Ben DaviesâŚlast minute desperate signing no one at the club wanted.
Aqua was bought in (for what was big money at the time) to replace XabiâŚRafa wanted Barry, the club signed AquaâŚand he was starting all the games until the injury.
Marco Van Basten on VVD:
He makes noise, but he doesnât say anything,â Van Basten told Ziggo Sport, [via VI]
âHe is not clear. A good captain thinks aloud, makes it clear what is going on. He stays in between. He creates chaos. That leads to misunderstandings. That is what you, as a captain, must prevent.
In the dressing room he is good, football tactically and technically, not. You need another gentleman on the field. This has nothing to do with that injury, this has to do with leadership.
Agree today City were the better side, however if Salah could scamper fast like in seasons before (rather than plod) and had put us 2-0 up (the occassion Grelish was at least 3 times faster than Salah) I wonder what might have happened?
Instead City draw level, so was that the moment heads started dropping?
Thatâs a fair point. Had Rashford scored against us in the first half of the United match things might have been different, then again we had the home crowd.
1 Like
Very true. We need to question is VVD able to get back to even close to where he was? Do we bring in another cb and VVD becomes 3rd choice behind Konate and new cb? He was poor for the 1st two goals. Fabinho totally unaware of what was going on around him for the 3rd goal.
Mental fortitude is shot to pieces. At no point after they equalised did I believe weâre going to win. That toughness has been shattered.
1 Like
Huh? Wtf is he on about? When we are playing well VVDâs positioning against attackers is immaculate! He minimises the area that Ali has to cover for a shot. Lots of things arenât working this season and yes VVDâs attitude has been questionable and maybe his effort but I donât think heâs generally tactically wanting.
1 Like
Probably wouldâve lost 5-2.
Pinning the loss down to Salah is outrageous. The team fucking sucks.
1 Like
The Barry thing was from before. If you recall there was a drop in Xabiâs performance level in Rafaâs eyes and he wanted to replace him. This is before Barry joined City and Real came sniffing after Xabi. Rafa didnât help by not being a bit nice and letting Xabi have time with his family (during birth of his child?)
I remember the times in previous seasons, when we had a setback, we used to respond positively with a big win. Now, when it happens, we are devoid of ideas to challenge them. 
Wow! That felt like a Sakho moment! There is hope for next season!