Magic Lamps

We are witnessing Leicester's arguably best game of the season. They deliver when it matters the most, which is the mark of champions. However, them thriving with the addition of Schlupp and Ulloa raises the question whether their regular inclusion in the starting xi would have yielded better returns in the first place. Esp considering how poor Okazaki and Albrighton are. Surely they will win the league now nevertheless.

What I noticed about yesterday's game after recalling which players played (I could only see the 2nd half), I had to conclude that our Mikel Obi played CB. Mikel at CB. Football has peaked. But honestly, that is not even a bad idea. His offensive contribution is minimal anyway whilst his built is perfect for CB. Also he is as composed as anyone and a decent passer. That being said I wonder whether Gus did not simply play Miazga.

Good game, offensively and defensively, did his job alright for once. I hope the real Matic who is gone now for about a year can return now. If Conte is really gonna play Fabregas in the Pirlo role, we have to employ 2 complete cdms, who cover loads of ground on either side of him. From our current squad, Matic is closest to that, so we might as well keep him. Sure, we still need at least one energetic midifelder who is good at breaking up the opponents play and confident on the ball like Vidal, Kante or Nainggolan. They make Drinkwater, Xabi and that other guy look like worldbeaters besides them.

World class player, Already better than Rooney ever was.

With all his athletic and technical ability, Kyle Walker could actually be a decent footballer if he only had half a bran cell. Remember him gettng eaten alive by freckin Salomon Kalou in that legendary 5-1 fa semi 2012? Has not progressed much from there.

what Klopp is other than Mourinho is a pally character. He does not need to command full obedience and loyalty from his players for his authority to stand. Klopp is like the players big brother or best mate so he won't fall out with them as quickly and unreparable. Once Mourinho has lost a few players he loses the squad and consequently his job. Klopp does not have this demand of being perfect so he also doesn't need to find a culprit to blame when things go wrong. He can work on a solution together with the players. Mou's approach works brilliantly with mature, devoted characters (Zanetti, Lampard, Drogba, Lucio etc), who accept his authority and intromit but Klopp's is superior when dealing with youthfully exuberant sides, who still have to learn how to deal with their failures and amibitons. Consequently, klopps luck ran out as soon as the Dortmund and Mainz sides had matured.

credit where it is true, tremendous performance from liverpool in the second half. Klopp made that bunch of average players exceed their own limitations with will, character and discipline. They still made tons of mistakes but the difference to Hazard, Fabregas and Co was that they kept going regardless.

Klopp is actually doing miraculous work there, having them got where they are now at all, with the injuries they got and the lack of cover and quality. At least he has them playing decent football, pressing, chances and stuff. All worth nothing so far ofc.

"Anfield - the stadium that scores goals" was the headline from a major German paper today. More like the stadium that wastes 20 half chances. Some of the worst finishing ever seen here today whilst Dortmund score 2 goals from 3 chances. Brilliant counter attacking performance from them so far.

That Lverpool team is the epitome of mediocrity . I have seldom seen a team hat consists exclusively of perfectly average players from goalie to cf. Oh yeah I forgot, Coutinho is world class because he is better than Oscar, right? Think about what they invested in that team. 300m? Rival our recent signings

the most interesting duels would be Atletico - BAyern and Man City - Real. This is the only matchup I can see both underdogs having a shot at the final.

The team we could make up of stupidly sold players would comfortably see off our current one. Cech, Luis, De bruyne, Lukaku all lightyears better than what we have instead of them.

True. I think this year's Leicester surge is a great example of how team spirit, willpower, tactical discipline and a bit of individual quality thrown in is more than enough to win this league comfortably. This is not only testament to the poor quality in recent years but also shows what is really importan in football more than big spending which particularly highlights the failures of the big teams. I don't even blame people for predicting a Leicester collapse after that Last MInute defeat at Arsenal. Too often this has already happenend, esp to surprise leaders. But under the calming influence of Ranieri they have recovered from every set back and returned stronger as a group. Everytime their star players had a dip in form they bailed themselves out with a collective effort.

I still think this midfield would be kind of imbalanced and lightweight. Also Payet is like 29. What I'd love is krychowiak/RLC - Fabregas - Kante. Power, pace, creativity and dribbling. Only lacking goals. But I don't want to be greedy, tho I am optimistic about RLC becoming a 10+ goals per seaon player. He has proved he does not need many chances when getting into the box. You are right about Kante tho. Tremedous player. Wins the ball drives it through midfield and sets up the attack - all day long. He is the DM version of Willian + footballing intelligence. The only thing I am not sure about is his high rate of turnover because of wayward passes and short clearances. I am sure he will improve on those tho since it is his first season is English football.

He showed some kind of promise. Despite not being particularly athletic, he displayed some good energy, passing and off the ball movement. Also impressive attitude to impose himself on an albeit poor Villa side when hopelessly inferior physically. Great debut. I hope we stay a million lightyears away from signing him permanently.

Don't know if anyone else noticed but eurosport featured an article todayabout how Costa alienated himself from his teammates in these four steps: 1)speaking up his problems with teammates 2)picking contests with team mates in the gym and celebrating his victories exuberantly 3) Promoting his pro-EU position against the EU-scepticism of TErry&friends 4)pretending to listen to "hardcore" hip hop when secretly preferring Drake in private I decided to share this with you since this bizarre article has me in a likewise bizarre limbo between absolute disbelief and cracking up with laughter. I can't honestly believe someone could be so dumb and superficial to compile a list of such meaningless bullshit in this context let alone belief this is legend but on the other hand I have not found any evidence to debunk this as some kind of tacky satire. https://uk.sports.yahoo.com/news/diego-costa-isolated-himself-chelsea-122056557.html

It is really testament to our poor overall quality this season that Willian wins this with ease despite the fact that after his purple patch in the first half of the season he has returned to be his usual, flashy but ineffective self a few months ago.

yeah...completely missed the game since the leicester one was simulataneously. I thought Bayern BVB was tomorrow haha. Nobody gives a shit about the title "race" in Germany anyway.

they won't win another 6 consecutive matches but I am positive they can win 6 of their remaining 9 games and that might be enough.

Lol @Claudio Ranieri. 5 years in England and still only basic English language skills. Lovely bloke tho.

Leicester are having trouble at Vicarage Road. Watford the clearly better team. I hope a moment of genius from one of their stars will rescue them again but if they are to win the title, it will have been a clinging to the rescue ring like it has been for us last season. They are running out of steam and Okazaki is still a joke of a footballer. He is an incredibly hard worker but when on the ball he is completely useless. Lacks the composure and tactical ability. Has been a poor player at Mainz and still is.

This little guy Imbula should be in the team in blue instead of those muppets Matic, Mikel or Oscar. It is not that this forum had imbula on its screens for ages now. Why can't the fucking board see that this kind of mobile, combative, yet technically gifted DMs is what we need in modern football? As for the game the usual stuff when being refereed by Clattenburg. Been the better team throughout but let down by his calls. Stoke still are a fine team, too. Some great football from them and resilience in defence. Wollscheid was a wall today. From us it was a below-par performance. clearly brakes on because of the CL tie. However, I can't see us progressing since we will definitely concede at least once. But back to this game. Mikel, Matic, Ivanovic, Remy, Willian and Oscar were their usual average selves whilst Traore scored an amazing goal. Hazard, Courtois can really do better, Azpi and Cahill were solid.

ft. fair result but we should have easily won that. mark hughes methods are showing tbf. clattenburg is still an impeccable, hideous cunt.

squandering this lead was our onw fault but clattenburg is an absolute excuse of a human being. should have sent Pieters off and given us a pen for the foul on oscar.

shit. Leicester can slowly start kissing the title good bye if they continue conceding goals like this.