Tomo

Thsts true it's just I've always felt like that against anything but elite teams (which Arsenal are not), equalizers for me against fodder have always been a case of moment of relief now kick on.

This video from 5:45 to 6:05

Im sorry but that is just not true. Don't get me wrong I was livid with the starting lineup but as soon as he changed it we may aswell have removed Kepa's goal. The second half we absolutely dominated them territorially although granted didn't create as much as we should have.

https://streamable.com/zyp4g Everyone on twitter like @Jason get this spreading

I didn't celebrate the equalizer anyway, would have been two points dropped if we drew that.

If we ever ever go back to a back three for whatever reason Lamptey needs to start with either Azpi or James playing RCB. There's no balance playing those 3 CBs (only one of which specialist ball player), one wingback who can't attack and one who can barely do anything.

Someone with video making skills please please please make a short clip of 5:45 to 6:05 to use.

Ill be livid at the minute because of the inconsistency about it but in general I've always been very pro give the benefit of any doubt to the attacker. Had Promes's goal been given against us I wouldn't have even noticed the marginal offside unless the commentary team or conspiracy theorists kicked up a fuss. Would anyone of noticed Mount being marginally offside in the build up Vs Liverpool? In my opinion the definition of offside should be if you can draw a line in between the last defender and attacker, offside was created in the first place to prevent goal hanging, getting all precious about the tiniest thing is just too much.

These days there seems to be a massive influx of managers at smaller teams who follow up strong and promising first season's with truly diabolical second season's. It's a big theme at Everton especially with Martinez, Koeman and Silva. I wonder what it is that makes this happen a lot, do they overestimate they're own ability thinking they can take the club to heights no one expects but then loses motivation when they realise they were a little too unrealistic in their ambitions?

Usually I would agree but I think Europa would come in handy next season if we miss out on CL. Will give us a platform to hand some significant minutes to Maatsen, Anjorin, Gilmour and possible even Lamptey. Team development is never a straight upward curve. Take Pool in Klopp's first full season, went from looking like our closest challengers to randomly losing three home games on the bounce.

There's a reason we are still 4th despite having the month from hell, we earned it by being so much better than the chasing pack before the last international break. That's what point cushions are there for, safety net incase things go south.

Just been thinking we've actually had it quite easy with Christmas scheduling for some time. I don't think we've had a 48 hour turnover since Watford-United under Hiddink but I could be wrong.

The VAR yes but the penalty really? It was absolutely stone wall. Absolutely beyond stupid from the defender.

Yeah i always laugh my head off when i read that Klopp has has got unconditional backing, he's been firmly restricted net spend wise his entire time. Now there's no Coutinho money look at how well he's being "backed", nothing in the summer and having to buy a £7m player while rivals are eyeing Sancho and Haaland. Liverpool's board is actually bang average at everything bar selling players, they're incredibly lucky one of the few top decisions they have made is hiring a manager who can turn urine into wine.

If it all goes to plan in terms of filling out on their potential i can see this being good enough to challenge. New keeper (faith in Kepa is evaporating tbh) James Rudiger, Tomori and new CB rotating 2 positions New LB Jorginho Kovacic/Kante if he's still here Mount/Ruben (Gallagher being the versatile rotation player in all 3 positions) Pulisic, new winger (hopefully Sancho) and Odoi rotating between two positions Tammy and new CF (preferably someone who can double up as a winger to give additional depth there) competing for up front. This is why Lampard should get time barring a massive dive down the league, even if he doesn't turn out to be good enough he will prioritise the long term good and leave a capable team on the up for a manager who is.

The Newcastle match has to be included as I think Kova was on after like half an hour which means they were by inlarge the mainstays in our best period of the season. It was working so well and to then only go on and use that midfield three once in nine games is inexcusable for me. I'm a little bit easier on Lampard as given his lack of experience I have hope he will eventually click on and learn his lesson however of an experienced manager did this I'd be incandescent at him. I think the home games recently we have missed their combination play, the only one they played together was West Ham and we handicapped them by playing not matchfit Oli and Pedro. Kova's decision making trump's Kante's in terms of minute by minute passing and running between the middle and final thirds which is crucial against teams sat deep, how many times did Kante frustrate in that regard two days ago alone? Even if Kova doesn't get anywhere in terms of finding space/openings we atleast retain possesion. That said I think Kova and Kante work well aswell, but Jorginho/Kante should never be used as a combo (I'd go as far as saying even a Jorginho/Barkley combo (like we saw Vs BHA) trump's that one) apart from Saints away we've looked all at sea playing those two together (with no Kovacic).

Judging by his first match Arteta is following Pep's method of inverted fullbacks. With this in mind I would raise the suggestion of the diamond (Jorgi, Kante, Kova, Mount) with Tammy and Pulisic as the strikers. Would be harsh on Willy as he won us the last big game but he will probably be shattered by the time this one comes around.

Funny thing is if Frank is planning on making back three a regular thing we could do a lot worse for a RWB.

Not every game but there was just no need to instantly change what was working. Kante playing his first season in English football would have had to work his way in yet because of what he's done in the past mainly in a team playing a completely different brand of football he's straight back in and we break up something that was working so unbelievably well. Our most complete performance (well 80 minutes) of the season was against Watford and we haven't seen the same midfield and front three combination in the league since, I'm not saying it's the sole reason for our collapse but do we lose 5 in 7 sticking to that blueprint for the most part? Not a chance in my opinion. Soon as the festive period is over Frank needs to be starting the Watford front six against every team outside the top 6/7, possibly including in some cases.

I'm sorry but that is just way to premature. He's had some bad games but there's also been some excellent games which can't be pulled off without some quality coaching in the training ground. He's earned the chance to pull out of a rut, admittedly a very bad one.

Probably Lampard's worst decision so far, he did an interview claiming he's learned a lot from Sven shoehorning him and Gerrard in the same side yet is showing similar traits trying to force Kante back in.

We were onto a good thing with the Jorgi/Kova/Mount midfield in the winning run. While I'm not trying to suggest it's the only reason everything's gone to shit and we will start looking great again should we bring it back trying to shoehorn Kante back in straight away was a decision right out of the Sven Goran "the big names must play" Eriksson handbook.

Yes

I said this at the time, people were so desperate to see Alonso dropped they turned Emerson into something he's not, just like they did with Baba Rahman when Ivanovic was declining. Say what you like about Marcos and god knows he's frustrating as fuck, but atleast he has an upside of some substance even if we only see it about 20% of the time. Emerson may aswell change his name to John Doe while on the pitch, plain and ordinary is an understatement.

Jorginho/Kova/Mount is my preferred trio against lesser sides. That game at Watford was an absolute delight.