23 Oct 2017 09:30:24
Hello Eds,
Watching the build up to Dele Alli's goal, i could not help but notice the fact that the whole defensive line acted like robots, followed the ball, while Dele simply positioned himself to receive the second ball. Almost as if the person who took the free-kick had predicted exactly how we would defend the ball.

{Ed001's Note - they probably did, as most teams that work on set pieces have at least one person who studies the opposition in advance to see how they set up and defend set pieces. Then they will look for ways to exploit any gaps. Sam Allardyce used to base large parts of his game around little things like that. Attention to details like that is why he was able to get disproportionate success with the teams he managed.}

1.) 23 Oct 2017
23 Oct 2017 09:42:13
Would have been avoided if Mignolet had shouted to Matip to leave it.

2.) 23 Oct 2017
23 Oct 2017 09:46:55
Allardyce in Ed001? 🤔😉.

{Ed001's Note - hahahaha.}

3.) 23 Oct 2017
23 Oct 2017 10:16:24
It gets me that we always have so many players in the box for set pieces. It doesn't excuse migs but if we had a few attackers spread up the pitch to the halfway line the attacking team wouldn't be able to commit so many numbers. We might be able to properly zonal mark that way and with our pace- we could easily turn dangerous defensive positions into precarious attacks for our opponents.

{Ed001's Note - agreed mate, I hate seeing teams bringing every player back to defend corners and free kicks. One man up forces the attacking team to leave 2 back to cover him.}

4.) 23 Oct 2017
23 Oct 2017 10:14:56
Thanks Ed001, but another thing do we actually have a defensive coach? And what exactly do you think is Lovren's problem? Or are we just expecting more than he is capable of delivering?

{Ed001's Note - we have coaches who work on the defensive side of the game, but I don't believe we have a coach purely for defending. If that makes sense. I am not sure I worded that well.

As for Lovren, his head is clearly not in it. He has always struggled a bit to keep focused on football, this season it is clear his head is elsewhere. Maybe related to the robbery he has talked about? Maybe it is bothering him still, I have no idea.}

5.) 23 Oct 2017
23 Oct 2017 10:29:41
Validation from ed1. Best day ever! 😆.

{Ed001's Note - I fear for you if this is your best day!! I will get Ed025 to send you a pic of himself in his speedos tomorrow to make it an even better day....}

6.) 23 Oct 2017
23 Oct 2017 10:39:29
I agree aoe, but for Spurs 3rd goal they only had 2 players in our box and out of our 10 we managed to mark none of them 😂.

7.) 23 Oct 2017
23 Oct 2017 10:46:44
Regarding Lovern. I feel for the guy and what he has been going through in his personal life for the last year. It's been reported in the press that the guy his wife had an affair with a year ago is a Croatian gangster, they then threaten to kidnap his kids unless he paid them millions and the robbery this Summer (where he and his family were gassed) was part of these threats. Arrests have been made in Croatia.
Maybe Klopp is trying to help him through this.

8.) 23 Oct 2017
23 Oct 2017 10:50:23
I wish to swiftly withdraw my previous statement.

{Ed025's Note - most women would give their right arm for one aoe..

9.) 23 Oct 2017
23 Oct 2017 10:52:45
Yep bit of a shambles alright mk.

10.) 23 Oct 2017
23 Oct 2017 11:06:29
Btw. I fully expect Lovern to be dropped now. Just giving background I've read as to explain why his head/ confidence could be all over the place.

11.) 23 Oct 2017
23 Oct 2017 12:02:52
Ed001 we had a disagreement on defenders recently .
Do you still think that looking elsewhere other than VVD is unrealistic . ? The CB we have are not the level we need but I don’t believe that they are as bad as we are seeing at the minute . Surely as previously stated there is a coaching/ tachctical/ organisation issue . Do you think Klopp and Liverpool would benefit from a proven premier league Defensive coach being brought in . Especially as the quality of defenders to purchase are not currently there .

{Ed001's Note - what proven Premier League defensive coach are you referring to? Does such a thing even exist?

The defenders are playing badly, there is an issue with the style of play being open, but good defenders can deal with that. Fergie at United used to leave his centre backs one on one with opposition attackers and their defensive record was excellent because they were good enough defenders and coped with it. Ours are so ridiculously inconsistent and their mentality is a problem as they fall apart under pressure, which is never a good sign.

Sadly I just don't see us getting any better defenders until we stop using stats to find them. Stats are a useful tool but they can't show you the basics of defending, even the guy who ran Midtylland's recruitment, a club that relied on stats as the owner also owned a statistics company (and Brentford), admitted that the stats do not work for recruiting defenders and you have to go watch them play. That is even more of a problem as our scouts clearly have not got a clue when it comes to finding defenders!}

12.) 23 Oct 2017
23 Oct 2017 12:54:19
Thanks Ed’s nice insight . I was referring to a coach in the Ilk of Mike Phelan . J.

{Ed001's Note - ah got you. I thought you meant someone who worked only with defenders. I am not sure having someone like Phelan involved would do anything other than confuse the players to be honest. It would need to be someone who understands the Klopp tactical plan and coach the defenders how to work within it.

Mind I do think we need someone to be telling these players how to do the basics. Don't try and dribble the ball on the edge of your own box. Do not head it back across goal. Do not play offside when the midfield is not applying pressure on the ball. Always be aware of where your partner in the backline is, you should be checking on his position every few seconds to make sure you are in tandem, when they are not in your peripheral vision. Always look to be goalside of an attacker before making a challenge. When a ball is delivered into the box attack it. Sprint first for a loose ball then slow down when you are sure no one is chasing you, rather than job towards and give an opponent hope of beating you to it. Try not to leave space in behind a press for an out ball etc etc. Those are all basic things that a professional player should know by the time they turn pro.}