…somewhat from the CL Final loss as well as the remarkably speedy tying up of the Fabinho transfer, I wanted to write about looking forward to next season. On a side note, how incredibly are our recruitment team working to tie up deals btw (Edwards and co)? Pretty dam well I'd say especially as no British journalists I saw even ran the Fabinho story before it was efficiently made official. Job well done all round.
So there is definitely much to be excited about life after the World Cup - a brilliant brand of football carried on from this season plus the new signings of Keita and Fabinho to add a lot more steel to the midfield. Plus, the Guardian are reporting that we are in advanced talks to sign Nabil Fekir from Lyon for around £60m which should hopefully be another piece of the puzzle towards silverware which these days seems so elusive. Yes, all the top 6 will most likely strengthen squads however on first glance our business looks to be not only speedy but filled with quality. I would hope for two more players to try and aid a title push next season - a centre back and a keeper.
However, I don't seem to have it in me to talk about next season without discussing Saturday night. Think it's time I get it out of the way - Ramos is a príííck. Is he a player I'd have in my team? Absolutely. We can talk to the death over whether or not the outcome would have differed had our best player stayed on the field. However, crying over spilt milk is pointless. For the record I don't think it would have. They have players who manage games in a way that I don't think I've ever seen before in my lifetime. Yes, they ride their luck - but they win games, win titles and win ugly when needed and that winners’ mentality is something that is quite admirable.
At first I felt angry and quite empty to be honest although I assume that pales in comparison to what Loris Karius will be feeling for quite a while yet. I'll leave the discussion of whether or not he should remain at the club for another day and I trust Klopp's judgement in deciding what route to go down regarding the keeper situation. However, what cannot be denied is that mistakes like that can ruin lives let alone football careers with the microscopic world that comes about from social media these days and those "fans" sending him death threats are despicable caaants and should be ashamed of themselves. I think it would have been easier to stomach had it been that Bale wonder goal which was the sole purpose of winning it for them. In the end though those two huge keeper errors are what will forever live in the memory. But we move on.
What was obvious in the closing stages of this season was lack of squad depth. Having Solanke and Ings to bring off the bench in order to change a game compared to some of the ridiculous options City have is not on the same level. Hopefully, the signings will plug that issue especially as I feel Ings, Sturridge and Mignolet will be moved on this summer and Can is off. What I also like is how the players being signed are deals done early. Keita was obviously done a while ago and is almost an anti-climax now but both him and Fabinho (who hasn’t made the Brazil squad I believe) will get full pre-seasons and time to acclimatise. Off the top of my head I can’t quite remember the exact number of our lads off to the World Cup but I don’t think the figure is too high. A silver lining of sorts.
This obviously gives Klopp better prep time for next season with the players he has available at Melwood and allows him also to ease the players in gradually because we all know our pressing style can be relentless on players. This is where greater rotation is key and I really hope to see more progress next season. However, all I can say is that this has been the most exciting European journey we’ve had in a while and it’s been an incredible rollercoaster following us this season in general.
P.S apologies for the long article
Now that the pain has subsided...
posted on 29/5/18
Mignolet couldn't catch a cold most of the time when he attempts he probably drops 25 % of them. and he opts to punch more than he does catch anyway. Another one that parries and shot/cross that and fails to command his 6 yard box let alone 18 yard.
posted on 29/5/18
any * that comes in *
posted on 29/5/18
comment by Inbefore (U20589)
posted 1 minute ago
Mignolet couldn't catch a cold most of the time when he attempts he probably drops 25 % of them. and he opts to punch more than he does catch anyway. Another one that parries and shot/cross that and fails to command his 6 yard box let alone 18 yard.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
You're talking about crosses and that's one area where punching makes sense and an area where Karius is much better than Mignolet. However Mignolet has no issues catching shots. Mignolet is poor as you say when the ball comes into the area.
posted on 30/5/18
comment by There'sOnlyOneReds (U1721)
posted 2 minutes ago
comment by Inbefore (U20589)
posted 1 minute ago
Mignolet couldn't catch a cold most of the time when he attempts he probably drops 25 % of them. and he opts to punch more than he does catch anyway. Another one that parries and shot/cross that and fails to command his 6 yard box let alone 18 yard.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
You're talking about crosses and that's one area where punching makes sense and an area where Karius is much better than Mignolet. However Mignolet has no issues catching shots. Mignolet is poor as you say when the ball comes into the area.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Mignolets another one that will parry weak shots, the top Gkers have confidence in their handling with hold on to shots with much more power or pat them down taking the power out etc. We've had numerous gkers that opt to parry so again points to coaching.
Like i said i dont think we've had the most talented keepers since Reina but we've had a few the same person remains and theyve all struggled making the same actions that lead to mistakes.
Numerous times Mignolet parried shots for facked up kicking etc that lead to corners/set pieces we conceded from btw. The things most people don't pick up on and thats before you get to the glaring ones. These can be cut out with a top keeper and good coaching im convinced of that.
posted on 30/5/18
Klopp:-
“I really trust John Achterberg because he does a brilliant job here. He is one of the most hardest working people I have ever met.
“He is a goalkeeper coach 25 hours a day, and it’s good to work together with these guys and everything is okay.
“There’s no player in the world [who doesn’t] make faults and that’s because of the game and because of a lot of situations in the game, but you need the right skills and the readiness for getting better"
It's a wonder all these managers from Benitez to Dalglish to Klopp all rate him highly and have kept him at the club when in actual fact he's crap.
posted on 30/5/18
comment by Inbefore (U20589)
posted 4 seconds ago
comment by There'sOnlyOneReds (U1721)
posted 2 minutes ago
comment by Inbefore (U20589)
posted 1 minute ago
Mignolet couldn't catch a cold most of the time when he attempts he probably drops 25 % of them. and he opts to punch more than he does catch anyway. Another one that parries and shot/cross that and fails to command his 6 yard box let alone 18 yard.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
You're talking about crosses and that's one area where punching makes sense and an area where Karius is much better than Mignolet. However Mignolet has no issues catching shots. Mignolet is poor as you say when the ball comes into the area.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Mignolets another one that will parry weak shots, the top Gkers have confidence in their handling with hold on to shots with much more power or pat them down taking the power out etc. We've had numerous gkers that opt to parry so again points to coaching.
Like i said i dont think we've had the most talented keepers since Reina but we've had a few the same person remains and theyve all struggled making the same actions that lead to mistakes.
Numerous times Mignolet parried shots for facked up kicking etc that lead to corners/set pieces we conceded from btw. The things most people don't pick up on and thats before you get to the glaring ones. These can be cut out with a top keeper and good coaching im convinced of that.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Yes, so when we sign a good goalkeeper, will the coach then be good also?
posted on 30/5/18
comment by There'sOnlyOneReds (U1721)
posted 4 minutes ago
comment by Inbefore (U20589)
posted 4 seconds ago
comment by There'sOnlyOneReds (U1721)
posted 2 minutes ago
comment by Inbefore (U20589)
posted 1 minute ago
Mignolet couldn't catch a cold most of the time when he attempts he probably drops 25 % of them. and he opts to punch more than he does catch anyway. Another one that parries and shot/cross that and fails to command his 6 yard box let alone 18 yard.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
You're talking about crosses and that's one area where punching makes sense and an area where Karius is much better than Mignolet. However Mignolet has no issues catching shots. Mignolet is poor as you say when the ball comes into the area.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Mignolets another one that will parry weak shots, the top Gkers have confidence in their handling with hold on to shots with much more power or pat them down taking the power out etc. We've had numerous gkers that opt to parry so again points to coaching.
Like i said i dont think we've had the most talented keepers since Reina but we've had a few the same person remains and theyve all struggled making the same actions that lead to mistakes.
Numerous times Mignolet parried shots for facked up kicking etc that lead to corners/set pieces we conceded from btw. The things most people don't pick up on and thats before you get to the glaring ones. These can be cut out with a top keeper and good coaching im convinced of that.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Yes, so when we sign a good goalkeeper, will the coach then be good also?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
a good goalkeeper would be an upgrade but if hes constantly drilled to stay on his line for set pieces, parry every shot as its not worth the risk to try hold onto it etc how long until he loses confidence and mistakes start creeping in on those areas? You can have good handling as a GK but if you are practicing on it you're gna decline on it same for others.
Coaches have their own methods/preferences, GK being such a specific position trainings usually down solely to one person input. Some like Cech opted to take his GK coach from Chelsea to Arsenal with him didnt he?
posted on 30/5/18
if you are not practising*
posted on 30/5/18
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3387031/Petr-Cech-tells-former-coach-Christophe-Lollichon-s-use-small-balls-coloured-cards-ping-pong-robot-helped-Arsenal-keeper-No-1.html
good read and insight.
posted on 30/5/18
Fekir will be an incredible signing for you lot.