09 Apr 2017 21:55:00
ed001 great summary of the stoke match, how would you set us up for the west brom game? I had no problem with the youngsters playing last match but like yourself I was concerned with the formation, I think klopp needs to re- think his decision to not buy another centre half in the summer as matip aside I have no confidence going forward with klavan and especially lovren going forward, Gomez I will reserve judgement on until he gets a proper chance in the 1st team, I gave countinho and firmino a bit of stick in my last post so I am more than man enough to give credit where its due, we need to build the team around those two imo nice to see countinho becoming a regular goalscorer long may it continue.

{Ed001's Note - thanks kk7! We just need to go back to our standard formation. The players are used to it and trust it. It is simply enough to tweak it by asking the wide forwards to play narrow in behind the striker, as they did in the second half. Or other little tweaks. You don't need to change formation wholesale to make wholesale changes to the way a team plays, so why do so? Once players understand a position, the last thing you want to do is change it, as most are not intelligent enough to cope.

Personally, I am not convinced Matip is that good, he is fine when we dominate, but under pressure he has gone missing. Defensively he is suspect.}


1.) 10 Apr 2017
10 Apr 2017 05:28:30
I think you're being a little unfair on Matip Ed01. Cb's are all about building a partnership and he has played quite well for someone who is in their first season in a new league. Not to mention he's CB partner has either been Lovren or Klavan who are both not the very best especially the latter. Only problem I see is he seems to be injury prone which is not something you want from your main CB.

{Ed001's Note - if that is the only problem you see, then that is up to you, but he has not played well since Karius was dropped. I am happy to give him time to prove himself, but right now he has not convinced me, nor has he shown himself to be a good defender. His positioning, strength, heading and tackling are all weak points so far. Yes, positioning can be down to the partner alongside him, he certainly does not work well with Klavan, but the rest are down to him.}


2.) 10 Apr 2017
10 Apr 2017 08:09:29
Ed01 i think matip is good enough and the best we've got BUT i've said for some time we need a complete overhaul of the defence!

{Ed001's Note - I hope you are right, but he still has a lot to prove to me.}


3.) 10 Apr 2017
10 Apr 2017 08:33:01
Ed01 i hope im right too! With better quality players around matip i think he's ok. Lovren? We left him when Kenny was boss i think it shouldve been left there. Clyne? I was a fan but hasn't had a good seaon. Klavan? Cover at best. Milner? Cover again. We need to address this once and for all its gone on for too long to have so much talent exciting football be able to rip teams to pieces only to see it all fall apart at the back! ! Hopeing its sorted.


4.) 10 Apr 2017
10 Apr 2017 09:24:33
would have to concur with the Ed on Matip.

I posted before he arrived that in Bundesliga when the pressure was on - he went missing (maybe his heart wasn't in it) .

Fine when time on the ball, and we are dominating possession but when teams start hurling stuff at us an we are pegged back - perhaps not as good as everyone makes out.


5.) 10 Apr 2017
10 Apr 2017 10:26:02
So a complete overhaul then.


6.) 10 Apr 2017
10 Apr 2017 10:23:03
I agree with you over Matip, but is seriously over-rated by many of here. He just doesn't dominate, especially for someone of his size.

I have been very impressed with Harry Maguire of Hull. He is a big unit, the ball seems like a magnet to his head in the box, reads the game and has a bit of pace, a good passer and can carry the ball out when required. We should move for him before one of the other top teams do.


7.) 10 Apr 2017
10 Apr 2017 10:26:06
We should be looking at two world class CB's in the summer.


8.) 10 Apr 2017
10 Apr 2017 10:42:44
Matip is quality in terms of ability. In terms of leadership dominance, he's much like the rest of the squad. We still need some laeders at the back.


9.) 10 Apr 2017
10 Apr 2017 11:28:27
Ok reds who should we sign defenders wise? Remember who we can attract - location, money- wages fees etc - cl?


10.) 10 Apr 2017
10 Apr 2017 12:11:14
Matip is often out of position. I think he'll settle down next season especially with a half decent reliable partner and goalkeeper.
It's hard to look like a good defender when there's chaos all around.


11.) 10 Apr 2017
10 Apr 2017 12:31:06
I dunno about Matip, he's had a few mishaps but he's still the best defender we have and he's still in his first season, I wouldn't look to replace him just yet, I would find him a new CB partner myself, plus a left and a right back and a goalkeeper to replace Migs.


12.) 10 Apr 2017
10 Apr 2017 14:02:01
I've not seen the fuss with Matip since he signed. People on hear rave about him but I don't quite get it. He's our best defender but that's not very hard at the moment. Still, we can do better, I'd love sakho to have another chance next season and we signed another proper centre half. Not one who looks pretty with the ball at his feet when we're playing in the oppositions half but someone who will
Organise the back four, who will head every ball and get his body in the way of shots. someone who does what he's meant to do. Sakho, Matip, Gomez and a proper centre half would be a huge improvement on what we currently have!


13.) 10 Apr 2017
10 Apr 2017 15:39:16
Matip has been solid for us IMO. He does need to improve his fitness and be more assertive and physical in the challenge like Carra was, as well as take charge in critical situations. He has quality, no doubt BUT there are areas he can improve on. It does help to have a capable partner next to him that can improve him and communicate better with him. That is not happening right now as well as the fact that, our defence for for years since Carra left, has lacked leaders and vocal guard dogs who get everyone in line when under pressure. Matip must improve here if he is to be the player and leader many want him to be.


14.) 10 Apr 2017
10 Apr 2017 15:51:35
Ed - are we looking at a center back coming in this summer?

{Ed001's Note - we are looking at a few in case we sell, but right now there are no plans to buy.}


15.) 10 Apr 2017
10 Apr 2017 17:28:15
Harry, we should buy another two centre backs?

Just like we did last year - Matip and Klavan?

Before that - Lovren and Gomez

And before that - Sakho and Illori

Etc. hasn't worked so far has it? Less is more.


16.) 10 Apr 2017
10 Apr 2017 18:40:23
Puzzled, and when those two CB's (whoever they are) are struggling after the frist 3 months of the season, we chuck them out and do what? You guessed it, buy two more and the beat goes on.

It's the English way, keep throwing money at the problem until it is fixed however long it takes.


17.) 10 Apr 2017
10 Apr 2017 20:23:13
I don't want to start the whole argument/ debate off again but I think Matip and Sakho could be a good partnership. I hope the way Sakho has taken his medicine playing for the reserves and then knuckled down on loan plus the desire shown to play for LFC again gives him a way back.