BPL 16/17 - The Exciting Season Begins Part 1

[Spring]

That fcker Shawcross... always remember how he broke Ramsey's leg. Now gives away penalty

[ins1dious]

It's good that the ref gives a penalty for this kind of pulling which we have seen it blatantly happening in penalty boxes a lot of the time. Trouble is some refs won't give it n therein lies the frustration as the refs are not consistent. Hopefully this changes this season.

[Osprey23]

Said before. Liverpool defensive weakness is not because of a certain LB.

 

The whole damn thing is systemic!

 

First goal was resulted from a sloppy pass. But the second? Shambolical.

[Osprey23]

We came prepared. Expecting Burnley to sit deep. Hence the selection of Sturridge, looking to take chances created in tight areas.

 

However, whatever tactics planned are out of window with 2 mins. By letting them taking the lead will just allow them to sit even deeper and wait for the chance to counter.

 

Players did try. Stretching play, pull wide but simply no final ball. No crosses from deep - possibly because not many to aim for or when switching to centre, instead of picking runners, shoot from distance.

 

End of last season, Pool's key problems are the lack of leadership, soft midfield spine and no playmaker from deep. Start of this season, same thing.

 

Just hope the lack of Europe commitment can help to push up league placing. Top 4 still the target to meet.

[Osprey23]

Chinese are eyeing a stake in Liverpool

 

http://stage.news.sky.com/story/state-backed-chinese-group-everbright-eyes-liverpool-fc-stake-10545444/revision/1471712445

[Hamburger]

Milner struggling at LB and Sturridge is non existent. hendo can't fulfill role as DM and continuo wore the wrong boot.

 

Haiz......

[Spurman]

I thought chelsea lose liao. Haiz but they still win.

 

Looks like xonte got luck.

 

Guess this season is chelsseay. Man yoo and man citeh challenging liao..... those who splurge proving that money is the way to go unfortunately

[Spring]

I thought chelsea lose liao. Haiz but they still win.

 

Looks like xonte got luck.

 

Guess this season is chelsseay. Man yoo and man citeh challenging liao..... those who splurge proving that money is the way to go unfortunately

It's not about splashing money per se. It's about improving the squad. If u have a position to fill or can make an improvement, then u buy even if it means paying abit more but not crazy money that will paralyse your club. Bookies could see the 2 Mancs esp n Chelsea to a lesser extent hv improved their squad n hence made them favourites for the title. It's early days so I won't say they are right but balance of play so far suggests an improvement at these 3 teams.

 

Spurs building a stadium so perhaps abit understandable they are cautious in spending but once this shackle is removed down the road, fans will expect squad strengthening but worry is from now till then some players n perhaps the Mgr won't wait for that day n will move on to greener pastures. Sad but that's the fact of life n more so in the sporting world afterall time n tide waits for no man! Good luck to your team!!

[Osprey23]

I thought chelsea lose liao. Haiz but they still win.

 

Looks like xonte got luck.

 

Guess this season is chelsseay. Man yoo and man citeh challenging liao..... those who splurge proving that money is the way to go unfortunately

They are certainly looking good but I believe things will only be clear at half way point

[Osprey23]

Milner struggling at LB and Sturridge is non existent. hendo can't fulfill role as DM and continuo wore the wrong boot.

 

Haiz......

We have Stewart who is deemed not good enough to start. Lucas is old liao but can still do a job if given 2 good shuttlers in front of him. Can I believe is the one Klopp wants to use as the deepest midfielder this season.

 

Milner certainly has issues playing as LB. He seems to be finding it very tedious to track back after the team lost possession. His tendency of cutting in basically means no width on the left flank with Coutinho doing likewise.

 

Migs letting in 5 goals from 7 shots faced, this it relegation form for a keeper. Karius is badly missed.

[Fooblack]

We came prepared. Expecting Burnley to sit deep. Hence the selection of Sturridge, looking to take chances created in tight areas.

 

However, whatever tactics planned are out of window with 2 mins. By letting them taking the lead will just allow them to sit even deeper and wait for the chance to counter.

 

Players did try. Stretching play, pull wide but simply no final ball. No crosses from deep - possibly because not many to aim for or when switching to centre, instead of picking runners, shoot from distance.

 

End of last season, Pool's key problems are the lack of leadership, soft midfield spine and no playmaker from deep. Start of this season, same thing.

 

Just hope the lack of Europe commitment can help to push up league placing. Top 4 still the target to meet.

 

I think there were really some questionable tactical decisions on saturday which may explain how a team with 82% of possession still came away losing by a wide 2 goals margin. this is the record by the way since possession % started to be collated as a stat in the EPL. 

 

1.  Henderson is no defensive midfielder. He was tasked to played as the deepest midfielder AGAIN.  In possession play, I think he looks barely comfortable in that role that utilises very little of his running stamina and smart passes and crosses. It is when defending, he looks very novice out there, unable to break up plays and make telling interceptions.  When he is alongside Lallana and Wijnaldum as the more advanced midfielders, the entire midfield is lopsided with attacking guile, drilling, shots but not defensive-mindedness. that explains how Pool looked so vulnerable during fast counter-attacks. The 2nd goal was a classic example. Once Sturridge lost the ball in front of Brunley's penalty box, the midfield was over-whelmed within seconds.

 

2. As I watched the game, I wondered where is Sturridge supposed to play. He started on the right wing (obviously direct replacing Mane) and then drifted all over the pitch, mostly hogging unto his favorite central position.  He was obviously tasked to cut in from the right and use his left foot to shoot, which he tried a few times with very little success, not troubling the GK once.   It is a curious wonder why he was not played as the central forward. 

 

3.  Milner didn't look comfortable on the left back all game. The bunley defence gave him so much space that it was almost tlll the point of embarrassment that he couldn't put in a decent cross all game. The bunley defence just packed the central area and stuffed out every poor cross Milner tried to put into the box. At halftime, it should have been clear that they needed someone to dribble in. Moreno came on and there was some better moments on the left wing. 

 

4. it has almost become a norm for pool to start a bit slower in away games. They tried to gain composure by over-playing possession football in their own half. Clyne was very poor with his pass and was punished immediately as Bunley was able to press very high up the pitch.  Prior to that, Pool was already strained and giving away some passes in its own half.  The players need to learn to take less risks when they are trying to settle in the game and their passing rythme.. once you lose a goal in a game whereby the opposition is happy to park buses.. you are very much on a uphill battle..  

 

a huge learning curve for this Pool squad, It may be a blessing in disguise that it came early in the season. They need to lick their wounds quickly and set up more tactically in the next EPL game at spurs.. 

[Getzsfv]

I think there were really some questionable tactical decisions on saturday which may explain how a team with 82% of possession still came away losing by a wide 2 goals margin. this is the record by the way since possession % started to be collated as a stat in the EPL. 

 

 

Bro, possession means shit if you can't score... ask MANU last season...

 

Aniwae still dun get it why u guys sell benteke, he is the solution for pools attack. I always rated benteke for his strength and goal scoring abilities. SHould build a team around him. Dun expect COutinho or mane to score hollywood goals week after week. it just dun happen. Benteke sucks last season cos u guys never play his strengh... aniwae just my 2 cents worth.

 

Meanwhile, dun think Spurs will do an Arsenal next week so your guess is as good as mine... cheers

[Shorty]

Bro, possession means shit if you can't score... ask MANU last season...

 

Aniwae still dun get it why u guys sell benteke, he is the solution for pools attack. I always rated benteke for his strength and goal scoring abilities. SHould build a team around him. Dun expect COutinho or mane to score hollywood goals week after week. it just dun happen. Benteke sucks last season cos u guys never play his strengh... aniwae just my 2 cents worth.

 

Meanwhile, dun think Spurs will do an Arsenal next week so your guess is as good as mine... cheers

benteke is a good plan b. when against teams which sit deep, we need wingers to rain in crosses for ben. but unfortunately, klopp doesnt hv this plan at all. somehow wingers n big strikers are not in pool's plans. but mayb also it was his huge price tag being his undoing. mayb the club feels that to hv a 32m plan b is jus too expensive. anyway, i will put the blame squarely on klopp's team selection for this loss.

 

meanwhile, ur man u looks good...with zlatan hitting the ground running. 

[Fooblack]

Bro, possession means shit if you can't score... ask MANU last season...

 

Aniwae still dun get it why u guys sell benteke, he is the solution for pools attack. I always rated benteke for his strength and goal scoring abilities. SHould build a team around him. Dun expect COutinho or mane to score hollywood goals week after week. it just dun happen. Benteke sucks last season cos u guys never play his strengh... aniwae just my 2 cents worth.

 

Meanwhile, dun think Spurs will do an Arsenal next week so your guess is as good as mine... cheers

 

in a way. Benteke presents a good plan B. But the question is whether it is economically sound to keep a 30M player on the bench for this back up plan. The player will be unhappy sooner or later too... 

 

Pool's offense is was actually not too bad but the problem is the opposition's parking the bus with 2 banks of 4 players playing defence.  

[Spring]

Just wanted to share some observations from the matches played over the weekend:

 

Fabregas still amongst the best creators in EPL. Though he played only 20mins or so, he made a peach of a pass to Costa for the winning goal and was also involved with the equalizer. Don't see how Chelsea will sell him.

 

Huddlestone of Hull amongst the best English creators and mind u there are not many of them. He can seem clumsy at times but he's a good passer of the ball and shows tenacity in MF.

 

Batshuayi of Chelsea, genuinely 2 footed as he packs a wallop with both feet. Scored with his right and crashed a shot against the bar with his left. This is exactly the kind of signing which seems abit overpriced on paper but not crazy. You have to back your judgment and pay. 33mil seems a risk for a player who plys his trade only in Belgium previously but it's looking a good signing so far.   

 

Negredo of Boro, always fancied him as good enough for most EPL sides and surprised he ended up at Boro. Good signing and showed his composure in setting up the 2nd goal.

 

Just my opinion only and obviously not possible to watch every game so may have missed out some other good performances.

[Osprey23]

Just my "wild" speculation.

 

Klopp's plan is to evolve to 4-2-3-1 eventually. He can't get it done this season because he can't get that midfield controller in.

 

Interim for his season, he will try to mould Can into a DM, with Lucas as his cover. Too bad we can't call upon them as both injured. Hendo over Stewart speaks volume of how high Klopp is rating Stewart.

 

Agree with most Pool fans. Hendo is no DM but currently really bo bian have to let him tong.

 

Pool currently still very unbalance, that's why I only think that only top 4 is a realistic target. Beating Arsenal opening fixture didn't really change my opinion because the weaknesses are still so glaringly seen there. Title winner must be able to hold a 1-0 lead while Pool can't even hold a 4-1 lead.

[Osprey23]

in a way. Benteke presents a good plan B. But the question is whether it is economically sound to keep a 30M player on the bench for this back up plan. The player will be unhappy sooner or later too...

 

Pool's offense is was actually not too bad but the problem is the opposition's parking the bus with 2 banks of 4 players playing defence.

Agree with you, definitely not sound. Big Ben will never agree unless Pool is like winning everything under the sun. Then maybe he will stay to collect medals even if just for cameo appearances.

 

Opponent parking bus is there tactics. We just have to find a way through. At the same time, we must also to defensive sound such that if heng heng score 1, we win 1-0 but if suay suay cannot score, we draw 0-0. Pool's defensively so weak that even parked bus team can score against us and continue to park the bus. This must be addressed.

 

Seen a stats. Out of the last 16 games where opponents played more than 50 long balls, Pool only managed to win 5. Burnley last weekend played 55. This tells a story. Our backline is having problem coping with this tactic - either beaten by strength or pace of opponents.

[Ngseeming]

For 2nd week in a row, Costa escaped the 2nd yellow (this time for blatant dive-FA & UEFA alike had vowed to clamp down on simulation) and stayed on to score the late winning goal.

 

Just wait and see if which ref has the ball to reach for straight red or 2nd yellow for Costa and how long their "luck" can hold.

 

Meanwhile, Moyes who proclaimed on his appointment that Sunderland is too big a club to fight relegations season after season. They should aim for top 10 finish. [rifle]