13 Sep 2020 14:17:15
Excellent game to watch yesterday. Playing Liverpool at Anfield was always going to be difficult and if we had gotten anything out of it -that would have been a bonus. However, I won't settle until we get our first points on the board. I've seen too many teams play attractive and entertaining football but are too often at the wrong end of a close, sometimes high scoring game. We played well enough against Arsenal last season and lost by the odd goal and it was the odd goal again yesterday. Hope it doesn't get to be a habit. Would like to see more of Rodrigo. He came on, hardly had a touch and gave away a very sloppy penalty. He can only get better. Koch couldn't really be criticised for the penalty but was at fault for Van Dijk's goal although I don't think Cooper would have done any better. Koch got better as the game progressed. I still think we need a replacement for Hernandez. He can't keep going all season. De Paul looks the type but I can't see him coming. Whoever it is we need him quickly so he has time to get up to speed with Biesa's style of play. The same applies to a striker and centre back. I thought Bamford had a decent game even though he missed an easier chance than he scored with. Klitch and Harrison were excellent and I thought Costa had one of his better games. KP played in a more unusual position given the inexperience of the two centre backs. It meant we were very good going forward but pretty shaky when defending. Hernandez was a bit quiet I thought. Two full backs played well. GK did ok.
{Ed025's Note - good assessment that mate..
13 Sep 2020 15:36:36
Good assessment. Early days for our centre backs and disrupted due to injury and international games however I felt that we were a tad naive defensively, particularly when half clearing the ball to the edge of the box and not closing down the opposition on the second phase. Salah scored a good goal on one of these occasions however we were more likely to get away with this type of defending in the Championship as 7 out of 10 times a shot would end up in the stands however in the PL the quality is higher and will probably end up in the net 6/ 7 out of 10 times. Agree with Pablo, I see him being more effective in the last quarter when legs are tiring as his guile will be an asset. Last night he was swarmed by the Liverpool midfield and did not have the strength or stamina to impose himself.
13 Sep 2020 17:50:03
Hesslian the referee won the game for then . you will never win against them never a penalty under the current rules. Liverpool were lucky today. simply as that.
13 Sep 2020 18:34:13
I am a huge fan of King Pablo just maybe the extra intensity, quality and press of some of these EPL teams means he should not start but come on as an impact sub second half.
13 Sep 2020 18:55:45
Very good posts Hess and Notts.
13 Sep 2020 18:57:20
same bv Pablo is a god and deserves our respect and thanks but yesterday was embrassaing. he did nothing was often having to slide to try and keep up with the ball. personally I think we should let him go to another championship club where he could have another season as a match winner. and I say this with the upmost respect for Pablo who I love and think of highly.
13 Sep 2020 19:07:22
Oh, go on then I'll say it. Pablo was absolutely rubbish yesterday. Doesn't mean he won't be brilliant next week though! He probably is too old now to last 90 minutes. I agree bring him on when we need a goal in the last 15.
13 Sep 2020 19:09:55
That is going too far Berm! @@@@ . Pablo stays! . Pablo. as an impact sub is fine.
13 Sep 2020 23:32:42
I don’t think you judge Pablos ability to contribute to a premiership season by the first game of the season away at Liverpool! Let’s see how he does in the next two games. Pablo had those kind of games even in the championship!
I certainly wouldn’t ship him out to a championship club, I’d keep him involved in our club, setting examples to and helping the younger players.
14 Sep 2020 05:50:37
Spaniard Exactly. More pressing matters is when will Berm get his ink.
14 Sep 2020 09:35:53
Bringing Pablo on at half time or a little later worked last season after his injury . no reason to think it won’t again. Let’s focus on the positives lads, I’m sure not one of us copped any poo about supporting Leeds after that performance. So we go again against Fulham and let’s remember 46 games in the championship as opposed to 38 this year .