1.) 25 Sep 2017
25 Sep 2017 08:33:47
Good write up Ed.

{Ed001's Note - thank you Lj.}


2.) 25 Sep 2017
25 Sep 2017 08:50:08
A good brief Ed01.

Jurgen Klopp moved to sign Joel Matip on a free transfer after taking the time to look over his defensive options at Liverpool!

Oh yes and he decided it bring in someone who is slower than a tortoise to play in high line defensive system and he followed up with another master stroke by signing Klavan who is slower than rotation of Earth! 😎😎😎.


3.) 25 Sep 2017
25 Sep 2017 09:03:01
Another quality write up ed. good stuff mate

Harry, ever thought of coaching professionally? Such a mind is wasted only posting on these pages 😂.

{Ed001's Note - thanks RB and Harry too.}


4.) 25 Sep 2017
25 Sep 2017 09:09:52
Good review Ed.

Harry just to let you know mate the earth rotates at about 900-1000mph.

I mean Klavan get's very fairly criticised on here, but i think you're setting the bar a bit high there. Usain Bolt can't even get to 5% of that speed!

{Ed001's Note - thank you MKS.}


5.) 25 Sep 2017
25 Sep 2017 09:20:16
Neatly written Ed001. The worrying part is that Klopp's primary target to partner Matip seems to have the same attributes of being very good on the ball but strolling around when it comes to defending. The only thing VVD has got on Matip is his physical prowess onset pieces. We are going to need one heck of a CDm if VVD and Matip are our Cbs next season.

{Ed001's Note - thank you IB. VVD has more pace and strength as well. He may not be any more aware, but he reacts to danger much more quickly and covers the ground much quicker, plus he doesn't get physically bullied like Matip can. Far from ideal, but he is a major step up from Matip.}


6.) 25 Sep 2017
25 Sep 2017 10:40:41
A good write up but I also think you've been a bit harsh on Matip at times. I agree players ghosting off his shoulder has been an issue at times but I wouldn't say any more so than any other CB. it's the strikers job to do this and no CB in any team is perfect at stopping this, Matip could do with being a bit more alert though.

What does concern me a bit is his pace when getting back, agree he looks like he's lacking a yard or two but then again he does also seem much better at dealing with pace than Klavan and Lovren, he stands players up much better in one-on-ones rather than diving in, so it's not that often he gets rounded IMO.

I still think he has plenty of potential, and part of fixing the problem is having a decent partner to help provide support in a crisis, and a proper deep midfielder to provide real cover, and I personally would like to see a very slightly deeper line and playing more through the midfield to prevent our defence from getting so exposed at times.

{Ed001's Note - he is the one who is stranding his teammates, not the other way around. He has hung both Gomez and TAA out to dry on a consistent basis, providing neither youngster with any cover at all, he also does the same with his centre back partner. Matip simply can't defend. As for standing players up, he is as bad as Lovren for trying to nick it high. The difference is that Matip is not strong enough to get round them or through them the way Lovren does, so often ends up just waving a foot aimlessly at the ball from behind the forward. While that may look less obviously bad, it is just as bad.

His only good performances have come when Liverpool dominate and he has no defending to do.

At 26 he should be coming into his peak, not talking about plenty of potential!}


7.) 25 Sep 2017
25 Sep 2017 11:16:24
I think when Matip finds himself in a defensive challenge he gets the job done probably 6 or 7 times in 10.

My problem is that as Ed001 has alluded to, he seems to deliberately avoid having to challenge for the ball. He gets close enough to the ball to look like he's trying but without actually impacting anything. I don't think he actually wants to defend most of the time.

He is strong as an ox running with the ball, but can be almost be blown out the way by an attacker. It's bizarre. He just lacks any quantity of aggression in my opinion. I wonder if his ankle operation has anything to do with it. Is he scared? Does he not trust the pin in his ankle to be strong enough? Or perhaps it just genuinely hasn't healed properly?

I find it so hard to believe not a 6ft5 man mountain can just naturally be scared of a challenge to the extent where he deliberately positions himself where he doesn't have to make them. He needs to be replaced though unless he can sort out his lack of fight. It's frightening.

A tale of two RR's. Rolls Royce on the ball, Reliant Robin off it.


8.) 25 Sep 2017
25 Sep 2017 12:49:06
😂 @ WCD and the rotation of the earth.

Do you need to be quick to play in a high defensive line? In my opinion if you can anticipate and read the game you should be able to intercept most threats. My beef with Matip is he seems happiest when he's facing his own goal.


9.) 25 Sep 2017
25 Sep 2017 12:52:49
Fact. is he is just another list of poor poor players we have.

Though the Ed says he is good on the ball but the fact remains that he does not know the timing or Position.

They are so bad and when we loose the ball all hell breaks loose.

Cheers.


10.) 25 Sep 2017
25 Sep 2017 14:11:53
why we sold lucas and kept the likes of klavan boggles my mind.


11.) 25 Sep 2017
25 Sep 2017 17:30:14
Damn MK! You're an encyclopedia.