20 Aug 2018 13:19:57
Hi guys, been on this site for years but very rarely post and just visit about 100 times a day to read all the posts, hoping to get more involved this year.

Just wanted to share a thought about tonight's game and about one player I'm really keen to see how he does and that's TAA. If I remember correctly in the first half of this fixture last year he had a bit of a torrid time up against zaha and some of his positioning was suspect, the second half i remember he improved hugely but I want to see how much he learned from that first 45mins, to make it more interesting he will have Gomez next to him so that whole side lacks a bit in experience (as much as it can with a champs league finalist at right back) .

How do others feel they will do tonight?

Cheers
Lalala.

1.) 20 Aug 2018
20 Aug 2018 14:10:13
The lad bagged sane. Nuff said.

Still young. Shown enough quality to have our trust through any dodgy periods which he will still have.

He's our rb. That's that.

2.) 20 Aug 2018
20 Aug 2018 14:55:54
Hi,

I think the games TAA struggled in last season were Man U and Crystal Palace away - 2 teams that play differently to Man City.

Sané (or it seems to be Mendy this year) stays out on the left and the ball is played directly to them. TAA seems to handle those one-on-ones well.

The problem has been when the striker (Benteke or Lukaku) goes short to get a flick on from a goal kick. It caught our defence and midfield out of position a few times. That’s why I see it more of a team problem that just a TAA issue. I’m hopeful that a midfielder has been told to watch for that tonight so that TAA is not exposed by it.

I could be wrong of course! Just my own thoughts.

3.) 20 Aug 2018
20 Aug 2018 15:01:45
Also, I watched Crystal Palace's opening game and Zaha played predominantly on the right. That would make him more Robertson and Van Dijk's problem.

4.) 20 Aug 2018
20 Aug 2018 15:11:14
I think it's a toss up still, because he is still very new to this stage of the game. We all know consistency is the most difficult thing to get when you're early in your career. He could have a horrible game against Zaha, like last time, or rise to the occasion and snuff him out, like he did Sane, in the ECL. All depends on his mental approach and confidence. We'll find out tonight.

5.) 20 Aug 2018
20 Aug 2018 15:17:32
I agree inca man as one of our midfield should have dropped in front of benteke to stop that flick on happening so often. This was in no way a criticism of TAA, I love the guy! I just feel this is a good measure of his growth as a player in quite a short space of time.

Good to know epic potato if that's the case I would be confident of stopping those balls coming over the top and stopping the issue.

6.) 20 Aug 2018
20 Aug 2018 15:32:24
I think he's our automatic choice. He's absolutely earned it.

We all know that he'll end up playing further up the pitch at some point soon, but he's produced some great performances at RB.

Zaha would cause problems for any defence and he drifts around quite a lot for Palace, so I think it's a case of having to remain alert as a unit.

I think tonight will be an interesting match and a great test for our boys.

7.) 20 Aug 2018
20 Aug 2018 16:04:01
TAA is our first choice for two reasons.

1. He's a very good young player who is very effective (if not perfect) both up front and defending.
2. Our options are significantly worse to the point of being highly problematic if TAA needs a rest for any length of time.

He's still young and some better or quicker players have gotten the best of him in the past (although his performances against Sane in the Champions League suggest he's come a very long way in this way) . But he's by far the best we have, and we would struggle to do better even if we tried to import (the only better RB's I think anyone has bought in the past 5 years in the PL are Walker and Azipallicueta.

8.) 20 Aug 2018
20 Aug 2018 18:34:48
For the record, TAA only had one bad half against Zaha cos in the second half, Zaha did not get a sniff. Why? Cos Klopp pushed TAA further forward which pushed Zaha on the back foot cos he had to track back, something he hates doing. TAA took the game to him and eventually, we won. So there's that.

As for TAA being first or second choice, I agree with Hijkle. Clyne is a poor defender and an even poorer attacker on the right as he lacks any type of end product. TAA may have snuffed out Sane in pretty much both games BUT I don't see Clyne snuffing out Sane or Zaha (in one half) so in the end, he is first choice cos he fits the way Klopp wants to play.