02 Jul 2020 14:01:21
A few thoughts having digested last night:
Positives
- Pulisic - looks the real deal and seems to be getting better every game. Still keep reminding myself how young he is. Seems to be adapting to the physicality of the league. Will develop into a huge player for us in the coming years.
- Willian - not always been his biggest fan but credit where it's due he has been superb since the restart. Definitely think his experience and quality is extremely valuable to the squad and hope he signs a new contract.
- Mount - thought he came on and made a big difference. Playing 1/ 2 touch and passing the ball around with purpose. Looked much better as a team going forward once he came on
- Loftus-cheek - definitely seemed sharper yesterday compared to Villa game. Baby steps with him with all his injury problems but good for him to get some more minutes yesterday
- Zouma - didn't even play but came out of this game looking far better than any other of our defenders. In my opinion, he is the only CB we have who is a fairly decent defender and does the basics right - is aggressive, gets blocks in, wins balls in the air. Appreciate his ability to play out of the back is limited but I would hardly say any of our others CBs are particularly skilled in this area either. Would be more inclined to keep Zouma next season over any of our other CBs so would be disappointed if he's sold this summer. Feel with Zouma on the right and someone decent on the left side it could be a good pairing.
Negatives
- Rudiger - sloppy and simply not good enough. His sloppiness led to the corner on the first goal, wasn't tight enough to Antonio on the second and where do I start with the third. Do have a bit of sympathy with him being played on the left of the back 2 and being moved around different games but he clearly isn't comfortable there but it doesn't excuse performances of late. We need to sign a CB who is comfortable on the left side, aggressive and has some leadership qualities. I want someone who isn't sliding all over the place but actually has some intelligence and positions themselves correctly.
- Christensen - again, simply not good enough. Unfortunately he hasn't developed into the CB we had hoped for. He can have 2/ 3 good games in a row but then has a disaster game. Any relatively physical forward he struggles against and gets bullied by. Was at the game at the Bridge this season v Bayern and Lewandowski just sat on him and won every header against him. No presence physically and no presence mentality. Don't think he has any leadership skills at the back to be honest
- Kepa - not commanding enough in the area. I don't remember any games where he has made a big save to help us keep points this season. Defence don't trust him. Having said that, I don't think Onana is the answer at all - again too small and would be bullied in the EPL in my opinion. Need someone commanding back there and I'm not even concerned about the goalkeeper having to be particularly good with their feet either, all Kepa seems to do is tap it to the CBs anyway.
- Alonso - actually thought he had a half decent game up until their third goal. He's clearly a left wing back and not good enough defensively to play in a 4. Worrying thing for me is that I don't think Emerson is much better defensively and would still probably want Alonso in the team next match. what a sorry situation. An upgrade needed at LB this summer as we all knew beforehand.
- Lampard - think he has done brilliantly this season but need to be critical when necessary. The defending and coaching from set-pieces has been atrocious. Derby had the same problems defending set pieces last year in the Championship and conceded the most goals from set pieces in the league. Needs to start watching some videos of teams who are actually set up correctly from them. We looked fairly solid last year with Sarri's zonal system and he was operating with the pretty much all the same players. Can't blame everything on the players.
- Tammy A - Giroud needs to start these games. Don't think Tammy had a particularly bad game but feel he's a bit out of his depth to be honest. Giroud works much better with our system and is certainly the better option right now until the end of the season.
I'd love us to sign Havertz but the priorities areas should be CB who is comfortable on the left (at least 1 maybe even 2), a top draw LB and potentially a GK too.
Would like to get the thoughts of overs as well.
02 Jul 2020 14:32:25
We all see games differently. For instance I didn’t think Ross had a bad game but lots of posters did.
I did think Tammy was poor but I can just understand why he was picked over Giroud for last nights game.
I will get pelters but I also didn’t think Kepa was as bad as some people are posting. He wasn’t strong enough for the cross and that’s something that he and the coaches need to work on.
I think we will get a left back to replace Emerson or Alonso and the CH will probably be one in one out.
We are so generous as a club with give West Ham 20% of there points total and win the Premiership for Liverpool. Hahaha!
02 Jul 2020 15:54:33
Massive 3 points Lost 💙👊🾠#Hustle #AlwaysBelieve.
02 Jul 2020 15:43:50
Agree with almost all but regarding Willian, he scored two set pieces, both won by pulisic who was direct and ran towards the defence rather than sideways or standing still, Willian works hard but we created nothing yesterday, crosses final passes, give and go’s, think the two goals have papered over the fact that he didn’t add anything going forward in open play, which is a problem, that free kick was superb by the way, so credit where it’s due,
02 Jul 2020 16:50:31
Willian should stay but the sad reality is that he may be moving elsewhere because we won't give him the contract. His a true professional regardless. He would be the perfect player to provide Ziyech with competition.
02 Jul 2020 19:51:43
Ross barkley was terrible always needs a 2 touches before he gets his head up. Then his first thought is can I shoot.
Mount change the game for the time he came on making around the corner balls or one and two touch passes.
For me tammy was poor and for a big lad struggles to hold the ball and win arieal duels. Antonio showed him how it should of been done.
As for alonso neville was right he has 2 speeds one for going forward and another to make it look like he is on his way back. I for one hope he never plays for our club again. Play maatsen the kids looks better option already.