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ECHO Comment: "Fears of Witch-hunt Against Liverpool FC" part 3

catcherintherye said:
The 10 days break from Southampton was most significant. They had the easiest schedule over xmas and a second long break.

There is obviously a short and more medium term thing happening here though. Theres no doubt it's a short term hit now. However medium term, since that Watford game it's been poor. I saw something the other day that showed from when Fernandes joined United they were 3rd or 4th in the table. For most of those games they had their famed best team in the world too.

It's a medium crisis for them now which is lasting close to a year. I said at the time, that Watford game would be significant. It showed a blueprint for how to beat them, and with each week that goes by, more video evidence emerges of how to do so. Opposing players gain more confidence, and Liverpool players lose confidence.

Like Pep before him, he created a bespoke system that took a bit of time to work out. Like City it was eventually worked out and there was some re adjustment time. Unlike Pep I am doubtful he has either the ability or the humility to radically overhaul his system. He didnt at Dortmund. I also don't think they will have 100+m to bring in 2 key defenders to help change the system.

City have been in transition for 18 months, and have now re emerged as a different type of team. More solid. They will probably spend 200m+ in the summer to box the attacking side of the team. They will be back on another level for Liverpool. Throw Haaland/Lukaku/Messi at that team and its levels ahead of Liverpool and that's before the transition.

As a final aside, 18 months for City to re emerge and that is;
1) Quicker than may be expected
2) The decline was quite shallow (partly due to league composition
3) With a lot of money spent
4) With an open minded manager happy to embrace the need for change.

Liverpool have none of those. Objectively you would have to say it could be a deeper and longer dip. In a strange way, the longer Klopp drags his heels, the longer the dip will be.

I'll be frank, like with Dortmund Klopp will not be hanging around for it. I pray to God they go and get Gerrard in. Hes way out of his depth. It will be Souness MK 2.
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Completely agree. Klopp is not someone who can build a dynasty. Just doesn't have the temperament for it. Peaks and troughs.

Liverpool's form since the restart last season is appalling: 14 wins in 27 games.

This is a team that lost focus way before this season started. This is no poor run or blip, it's a team with consistency...the consistency of barley a top 10 club.
 

PaulPowersTash said:
Good post.
The problem with Aguero is that he usually needs a run of 3 to 4 games before he's back to his best.
I have a feeling Pep's plan maybe that he is at his best for the CL games. Anything else is a bonus and he won't risk him which makes sense. As you say, the system has now changed. We no longer try to blow teams away as we don't need to because of the defence. I think I read that we have had 18 different players who have scored goals this season. If that's true then its mental!
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Saving Aguero for the CL would make a lot more sense if Jesus was amongst the goals. Was KDB played up front the game before last because of Jesus' form?
 
davek said:
If you're a Kopite you'd be worried that with a 9 day preparation for that game - and the much talked about post-Southampton defeat 'clear the air' team meeting - they looked pretty gummy in a statement game against United.

I sense they dont believe this season; and I wouldn't be surprised to see Burnley take a point at Anfield this week.
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My RS mate has already started, this was his text "If we get top 4 this season it will be a fantastic achievement considering how ravaged our squad is"
 

Thiago made at least 4 fouls from behind one blatant foul not given after hed been carded, good footballer who likes to play it, hes not suited to a kick and rush midfield, not surprisingly they are struggling to score with him in that side.
 
I know it's been said a lot but Klopp is a proper tit isn't he?

He comes out and bemoans teams playing styles all the time, whilst praising his own teams. Anyone who watched the match yesterday could see that if there was going to be a winner, it was only ever going to come from Utd. Liverpool look awful and it's not down to their much talked about "ravaged" defence, which has one player missing; as Fabinho has probably played more times at CB than he has CM. It's their forward players that are the ones letting them down.

They'll no doubt all come good again against us, but we are used to that.
 
davek said:
Saving Aguero for the CL would make a lot more sense if Jesus was amongst the goals. Was KDB played up front the game before last because of Jesus' form?
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To be honest, I'm really not sure. Jesus, has been out of sorts that is for sure. Also, with the defence being a lot tighter it does give the opportunity play KDB (and Gundogan) in a more forward role. It will be interesting to see how we set up when Aguero does come back.
 
davek said:
Completely agree. Klopp is not someone who can build a dynasty. Just doesn't have the temperament for it. Peaks and troughs.

Liverpool's form since the restart last season is appalling: 14 wins in 27 games.

This is a team that lost focus way before this season started. This is no poor run or blip, it's a team with consistency...the consistency of barley a top 10 club.
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Throw in the defeat to Watford and that's 14 wins in 28, with a lot of defeats too. Probably 5/6th in the league form.
 

I'll be buzzing if all we hear is how amazing Teeeeaaaaaarrrrrgo is with his 5 yard square passes. Means they're just continuing to convince themselves that hes something he's not.

They're missing Jota massively, he gives them a completely different energy because it looks to me like Firminho is spent. Hes given his best days to them and he'll be lobbed on the scrap heap in the summer if they can recoup a decent price for him.
 
PaulPowersTash said:
Good post.
The problem with Aguero is that he usually needs a run of 3 to 4 games before he's back to his best.
I have a feeling Pep's plan maybe that he is at his best for the CL games. Anything else is a bonus and he won't risk him which makes sense. As you say, the system has now changed. We no longer try to blow teams away as we don't need to because of the defence. I think I read that we have had 18 different players who have scored goals this season. If that's true then its mental!
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Goals from a lot of different players is a sign of a very good team. I might even watch the next few city matches in full as it sounds like Guardiola has re-worked the team to evolve their style yet again.
 
LouReedwalkonthewildside said:
My RS mate has already started, this was his text "If we get top 4 this season it will be a fantastic achievement considering how ravaged our squad is"
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They've slipped back into the mindset pre last season when they went 30 years without the title and had to have excuse after excuse lined up.

So far itls a pathetic defence to a title. Maybe not as bad as United's when Moyes took them over, but getting there.
 
maccavennie said:
I'll be buzzing if all we hear is how amazing Teeeeaaaaaarrrrrgo is with his 5 yard square passes. Means they're just continuing to convince themselves that hes something he's not.

They're missing Jota massively, he gives them a completely different energy because it looks to me like Firminho is spent. Hes given his best days to them and he'll be lobbed on the scrap heap in the summer if they can recoup a decent price for him.
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Thiago is going to be their new Joe Allen.
 

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