robsblubot

You kinda contradict yourself here, well to me at least. Your reasoning is that the players are easy to replace, if the board were good. I find that line of thought entirely unrealistic for the mere fact that however inapt our board may be, replacing quality players is NEVER easy. Matic was also an established player who was working well in a system, which makes him more valuable to the club. If it were that easy, then our inapt board would've replaced at least one of them adequately. It's much easier for Barca to replace top players, because the aspiring top players all want to move there. They already signed Arthur Melo (21) for 30+ mi just because he wanted to go there so badly. They bought an option of sale, because the transfer market is closed... Reading folks here talking about Salah is frankly sad.... Yes if you thought he was average when he was at chelsea (some of us did not!), just accept you missed it (I've plenty wrong about other players - Oscar for ex). Now not seeing what Salah is doing on the pitch is just the worst kind of blindness. The club, esp its coaching staff should have had the quality to both see the potential and hold to the players. Managers, esp transient managers (which is what they are for us) should never have the last word on transfers.

they will bring Jardim into our side of the fence, so that he we will play to Bakayoko's strengths. Jardim would be the polar opposite of Conte, and of every other manager we've been linked with.

yup, though Kane seems to be pretty injury-prone. At least it doesn't take him long to get it going when back. Unlike Aguero who's also injury-prone and takes forever to regain match fitness.

While I also dislike Conte's tactics, there is the plan and there is the execution of the plan. It's much easier said than done. It takes a certain set of players to execute high pressure for a 45min like Liverpool did today. Their attacking players have much higher work rate than ours and can keep on chasing and hustling the opposition. Besides, while that prevented City from playing, and also gave them the football in good positions, Liverpool still had the quality (esp Salah) to both create and finish the chances. It doesn't matter how well you play or execute a plan if you can't finish off the chances and win the match.

True. wouldnt use the word average for Fernandinho, otamendi, walker, and sane though. Need a goal here to make second leg interesting. As much as I think Liverpool is not good enough without salah, they will not concede 3 goals in the second leg.

Liverpool is done for: looks like a groin pull for salah. They will have a shot if they don’t concede otherwise I’d still go for city to go through...

Right back to you

Salah is literally twice the player. Coutinho is a great player, but salah right now is a top player, luiz Suarez level... can’t really understand how some here don’t see it - will they see it when salah is at RM next season?

Nah they have Salah who is unplayable at this time. if salah is off Liverpool simply cannot compete at this level. Aside from the remarkable effort from all players, most if not all key moments come from salah. That’s key player right there who make and average team a much better team. City will come back and prob play better. They will Move around more and finally connect some passes. Though folks are seeing how their D and middle crumble under pressure... can’t mske people unsee that.

Fernandinho is playing the same way he did against Germany ... another 7 goals?!

Well we did have Salah at some point, like you said, so replacing Hazard can't be that out of this world as you suggest. We also did have Kevin De Bruyne too, btw. That's how you replace a key player: you sign a number of prospects until one ends up delivering. You don't go for a Neymar or Dybala which would indeed be unrealistic. That's what Liverpool does since they don't have the cash to buy key players. Now, I don't disagree with you considering how bad our decisions concerning transfers have been lately, so we might end up selling Hazard to PSG (also can't see him RM going for him) and failing to replace him with anyone remotely as good. I actually think Eden is going nowhere.

My feeling is that even when youngsters get a shot, this club doesn’t do it right. Andreas should have played a few games while his good run of form lasted and then gone back to rotation. Throwing youngsters in a struggling starting xi is as bad as not giving them minutes. it can hinder their development.

As much as I'd agree in principle, the irony is just too great to ignore... (chelsea). Besides, the whole thing is a business no more no less. There is funny money everywhere and most folks are involved some way or another. Also, my bet is that Germany won't win it this time. Neither will brazil, just before someone accuses me of bias :), just think there stronger teams... Form at this time, before or during the group stage matters very little.

More like a scrimmage for Spain though

I’ve already seen all of it and think some is definitely caused by the team not producing enough chances. manyn of those chances he created himself via his own dribbling and sprints like against arsenal. That kind of work rate takes a toll on a striker and can affect his finishing. on the lack of physicality and difficulty with the pl, that I already commented on before: all fixable even short term as it has been done many times before. Even finishing varies a lot depending on a number of factors and can be improved on. what you can’t change is technique and he’s a good player. he hasn’t showed us nothing shocking (like say bakayoko) to make us this desperate... at least I don’t see it that way.

not bad considering striker is, by far, the most dependent position in the squad. People keep blaming the squad on hazard thread, which I find very ironic tbh... Now IMO Morata would have a far stronger claim that the (overall quality of the) team hasn't helped him enough.

hamstring injuries can be very sneaky... as in it's very difficult to know when it's time to return/up the workout. Recurring hamstring injuries in particular can be stubborn. Considering the lack of options in CM, we need Ross to come back ASAP. Thinking next season, either he becomes a viable option for the CM position or we will need to go shopping and it's not going to be for just one CM.

He seems to be hitting the gym. plays well even when his finishing is way off. Great finish vs Leicester, finally. not a bad goal ratio considering his injury and time to fully recover & first season. looking forward to next season and expect a vast improvement from him. the squad needs more players scoring goals, like William has been doing lately.

Think he plays CM often, I mean he drops back joining the middle leaving only Eden and striker up front. think he might lack both physicality and work rate for a purely cm position. He would have to pass a lot more too - holds to the football far too long.

Kante clear motm but what a fantastic play by Willian to set up morata (nice finish too).

They are not a good team. They have at most 2 players who would have a shot at making our starting xi, and still depending on form. Most likely bench warmers tbh. if we do show up - it’s been a while - we will likely beat them. Fa cup will finally complete our conversion into arsenal so a must win tomorrow.

Always thought it was tremendously stupid to sell salah back then - like as stupid as selling kdb. but he’s reached new levels... great footwork, pace, work rate, and instinct. Best PL player for me. KDB comes close but salah right now has so much confidence that he just knows he will score... and does. city still has more overall quality, so fav for me in cl, but salah will be a handful.

As much data as everyone who says he will flourish in a bigger club. but point well taken. I do believe that he enjoys a free role and there is some responsibility in that. Isn’t he under the highest wages (entire contract) at the club? Well he is going to be if he signs. sorry I just don’t care about hazard one bit.. Much less for folks who are hazard fans first. Hyperbole to make a statement.

That is literally what I wish he did do, but he does not - at least not nearly consistently enough in tough (CL or not) games. It's esp interesting that you compare him with players who are VERY consistent in their performances, which is the main complaint Eden gets (here and esp elsewhere). There is no gulf when William is the one delivering in big games; when Alonso steps up and normally plays well in those games; when Kante consistently plays better than Eden. While I agree the squad could be better, Hazard/key player could also be better. The obvious difference in quality you state IS priced in in their cost to the club: Hazard costs a lot more than the other players therefore the bar is/should be a lot higher for him. BTW, the conclusion from your post - if one agrees with your points - is that Hazard has to leave ASAP right? Because we are not Barcelona nor will we become barcelona anytime soon.

Agree. This place has been taken over by fanboys who lack critical thinking of any kind. and apparently people can’t read anymore either. Not even a fucking direct reply with quotation.