07 Oct 2020 09:18:45
Hi Edoo1,

Who would be in your starting 11 in the derby taking into account those on international duty, form, availability and so on?
Do you think Bobby needs a break or shifted wide?
Was Klopp looking only at Diego Carlos or nobody else hence we didn't get a CB?

Thanks.

{Ed001's Note - Klopp looked at a few but we needed deals with either buy now pay later terms, or where the initial instalment was covered by an outgoing player like we did with Hoever to get Jota.

Bobby needs to play his way into form, he always starts slowly. As for the starting 11, so long as, if fit Hendo starts and Keita isn't anywhere near it, then I am sure it will be fine.}

1.) 07 Oct 2020
07 Oct 2020 14:33:22
A fit Hendo would be a huge boost indeed.
Would you drop Gomez if Matip is fit, Ed001? Or stick by the lad?
Will be watching him closely for England, hope he gets his head right.

{Ed001's Note - why would you drop Gomez when Virgil has been the worst defender? Why have so many got it in for the lad when he is not the one responsible for calling the line. Virgil sets the line, the others follow. If he makes the ridiculous error of repeatedly not spotting the lack of pressure on the ball and so fails to drop off, then that is something he needs to be held accountable for, instead of Gomez, who happens to then be caught by the ball in behind because Gomez is keeping the line Virgil has set. It is time Virgil got the kick up the arse he clearly needs because he has been far from the best defender in the world and is the one who should be calling the line to drop when there is no pressure on the ball.}

2.) 07 Oct 2020
07 Oct 2020 14:50:09
An excellent point! Cheers! I wasn't saying drop him. I personally am strongly opposed to the idea of blaming individual players for a dreadful team performance. They should all fix it together, with the Captain back in, of course.

3.) 07 Oct 2020
07 Oct 2020 15:08:40
Agree 100% Ed - people keep criticising the high line but that’s not the issue, it’s how you deal with when the midfield press isn’t working and the opposition has time and space on the ball.

4.) 07 Oct 2020
07 Oct 2020 15:21:49
All the attacks were down the right hand side trent and gonez were bad blaming virgil but surely klopp could shout to them to drop the line a bit and could have said it at half time aswell

Gomez looks to me to be struggling at time last season and he hasn't recovered


I remember a member here saying they were a friend or know a friend/ family member of Joe Gomez was struggling mentally with some personal issues it was around the sterling time I think

If the member could shine some light on the situation that would be great


To be fair to Gomez he was the best defender at arsenal so we need to help him not replace him or lower his confidence any more.

5.) 07 Oct 2020
07 Oct 2020 15:37:47
Ed001
This is the VVD I thought you would get on the regular when you signed him from Southampton. Languid/ lazy and quite complacent. He is slowly becoming "that" player.

You said VVD has been far from the best defender in the world. So who, in your opinion, has been the best defender in the world now?

{Ed001's Note - that is a good question, I don't know. You could argue for a few, but not Virgil for a while. There are players such as Skriniar, Gimenez, Varane or either of the 2 RBL centre-backs, for example, that you could make a case for. If I was going to plump for one on the last few performances I have seen from a centre-back, it would probably have to be Upamecano, even though I prefer the other one, Konate, normally.}

6.) 07 Oct 2020
07 Oct 2020 16:40:57
Spot on, Ed. Dezykid on a football level, our team is where it is cos of our ability to problem-solve in real time on the pitch. Klopp has gained the players' trust and vice versa hence, the players have the ability to fix things, something very few teams can do cos our boys are that intelligent.

VVD is not a leader cos that is not his game. Therefore, he may not have it in him naturally to problem-solve or well, lead. This is where Hendo or Milner come in. VVD sets the line so if he is not respecting his own line then, why is Gomez getting the blame for that? If VVD is plying poorly then surely, that will affect Gomez's game cos he feels he has to help VVD hence, he ends up doing two people's job. Isaw this happen for Leeds' 3rd goal at Anfield. You are staring down the barrel of disaster if Gomez has to carry VVD.

I agree with you that Gomez is a young kid and needs to be helped BUT if VVD cannot help himself, he cannot help Gomez. In addition, the midfield just standing there and allowing runners get at our defence won't help either. Hopefully, we can improve moving forward.

7.) 07 Oct 2020
07 Oct 2020 17:24:32
I would drop Gomez for Fabinho. He played fantastic back there, better than both Joe and Virg have managed yet.

8.) 07 Oct 2020
07 Oct 2020 18:10:59
I prefer Konate too ed001.
Both Konate and Upamecano are of similar quality buy Konate's physicality (height) means he can be more dominant in the air. But 5hey rarely seem to be fit and firing at once. One of them is injured most of the time when I watch RBL.

9.) 07 Oct 2020
07 Oct 2020 19:30:39
Konate is the more physical, imposing CB who is good on the ball and quite skillful. Saw him do step overs while bringing the ball out of defence vs OM in the EL semi final 2 years ago. Upamecano is the more polished CB who is more VVD-like as in, a calming influence. Both are very pacey as well. Klosterman is not bad either. He can play across the back line as well.

{Ed001's Note - I think you are getting Konate and Upamecano mixed up. Konate is the more polished one, slimmer build and less physically imposing, while Upamecano is bigger and stronger.}

10.) 07 Oct 2020
07 Oct 2020 20:37:13
Starting slowly and Bobby not being able to pass the ball 5 yards are 2 worlds apart. Bobby is not just a passenger he’s helping the opposition atm.

11.) 07 Oct 2020
07 Oct 2020 21:12:11
Ed01, that's odd. Seen Upamecano play a lot and even watched him for RBL vs Leverkusen last weekend and thought he looked very polished on the ball as well and in his passing and decision-making.

{Ed001's Note - he is very good, just not as polished as Konate. But you were clearly watching him alongside the other guy, whose name escapes me, as Konate is out injured. In which case, I agree with you. I didn't realise who you were comparing him to sorry.}

12.) 07 Oct 2020
07 Oct 2020 21:34:57
Gomez was left high and dry by a coasting VvD! It is ridiculous the heat Gomez is getting lately.

13.) 07 Oct 2020
07 Oct 2020 22:06:30
MattBea, Firmino literally set up Salah’s second goal against Villa. So calling him a passenger is wholly unreasonable. If you want a passenger look at Keita, no tackles, no interceptions, didn’t press, went missing and hid when the sh*t hit the fan. His ineptitude was a large part of the mess in midfield. He needs to go for his own sake of his career and for our sake is he’s not up to it.

14.) 08 Oct 2020
08 Oct 2020 10:24:27
Aaah! 6 times and Keita. A love story like the Titanic😅😅😅. After “Thiago will flop coz he has no legs” 6 times proudly present “Keita can’t do a thing“ 😅😅.
Sorry mate but asking if he isn’t good how exactly would he succeed somewhere else mate.

15.) 08 Oct 2020
08 Oct 2020 11:47:45
Keita has been a flop King of the North, It’s impossible to argue otherwise unless you’re some kind of fanboy. He doesn’t look up to it and hasn’t looked up to it since he joined. Time to sell him while we can get some money for him or he’ll go the way of Markovic and other big money flops we struggled to move on.