Conte, unfortunately there was a coq up there, I had my usual ticket and the Mrs. and the boy had tickets in another part of the stadium, but I couldn't be there cos I was still in Tenerife.
I booked it a year ago for my mate's 50th and 15 of us were out there and it was proper carnage, but I forgot that I wasn't flying back until Saturday at 1750.
I thought I was back on the Friday, hence getting a ticket for Brentford.
Liverpool should have all their players fit and available for Tuesday, and as far as I am aware Chelsea have no injured players either. Let's hope for an entertaining match.
comment by Chelsea_since_summer_1969 ✯ (U1561)
posted 50 seconds ago
Conte, unfortunately there was a coq up there, I had my usual ticket and the Mrs. and the boy had tickets in another part of the stadium, but I couldn't be there cos I was still in Tenerife.
I booked it a year ago for my mate's 50th and 15 of us were out there and it was proper carnage, but I forgot that I wasn't flying back until Saturday at 1750.
I thought I was back on the Friday, hence getting a ticket for Brentford.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Ffs
I don't think Mane makes us tick at all. What he does is spread packed defences giving other players space. Which is "cruscial".
Yeah, talk about not checking the fine print properly.
I think its fair to say our current problems go a little bit further than not having Mane in the team.
But if he is on the bench, it would be a plus for us.
Chelsea are by some distance the best team in the league, and will be worthy champions, so if we are to somehow turn things around as quickly has they went to sh!t, then who better to get 3 points against.
Not counting on it though by any stretch.
So, it will take wee while to get on your missus good books then
I'll never get there, trust me.
Football has never and will never be about attack and defence as two separate entities, one influences the other.
Mane is fast in a way that none of our other forwards are so it gives teams some decisions to make. When they're attacking how far up should the defenders come. Too much space and a ball over the top could have Mane in on goal. Full backs are also occupied by the thought that if Mane gets goal side they're probably not going to catch him. Puts doubt in the mind.
Mane is also much more effective at the press than Sturridge or Origi and changes positions with Firmino more effectively than them too.
He's not a magic wand solution to all our problems.Not even close. But equally if people can't see that attacking players can have an impact on the rest of the team by the way the opposition sets up then I despair.
Mane will improve us. Matip will improve us. Whether they'll improve us enough to secure top 4 is the question.
comment by Got_Better (U6241)
posted 1 hour, 23 minutes ago
So 1 sht month out of 6 and all of a sudden our team is bang average....couldnt make it up; oh wait u have
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Henderson and Can are bang average....no imagination needed there, just eyes.
comment by Conte'nt (U20893)
posted 53 minutes ago
Liverpool should have all their players fit and available for Tuesday, and as far as I am aware Chelsea have no injured players either. Let's hope for an entertaining match.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Entertainment can go do one...I'll take the scrappiest 1-0
comment by Devonshirespur (U6316)
posted 3 minutes ago
comment by Got_Better (U6241)
posted 1 hour, 23 minutes ago
So 1 sht month out of 6 and all of a sudden our team is bang average....couldnt make it up; oh wait u have
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Henderson and Can are bang average....no imagination needed there, just eyes.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I hesitate to do this because I usually avoid people who use the term 'bang average'. I've found it's a fairly good indicator of intelligence. However...
Have you ever heard of form? Henderson has actually been very good for the majority of the season but Can is currently in horrendous form. Doesn't make him a bad player, just means he's not playing well.
To use Spurs examples, Alli was in nowhere near the form he is now at the beginning of the season. Eriksen as well, wasn't playing well at all to start with.
All players go through dips in form, I don't care who they are, and Can is doing just that.
comment by Devonshirespur (U6316)
posted 7 minutes ago
comment by Got_Better (U6241)
posted 1 hour, 23 minutes ago
So 1 sht month out of 6 and all of a sudden our team is bang average....couldnt make it up; oh wait u have
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Henderson and Can are bang average....no imagination needed there, just eyes.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Can yes. Henderson no. Henderson was playing well before his injury and had completed the most passes by a midfielder in the league. Also scored a cracking goal against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. He hasn't looked the same since he came back, but that's to be expected.
Funny a spurs fan calling Henderson average, as he always seems to dominate that wonderfully talented spurs midfield whenever we play them.
Basically we underestimate pool at our peril
comment by Can Solo (U6997)
posted 17 minutes ago
Football has never and will never be about attack and defence as two separate entities, one influences the other.
Mane is fast in a way that none of our other forwards are so it gives teams some decisions to make. When they're attacking how far up should the defenders come. Too much space and a ball over the top could have Mane in on goal. Full backs are also occupied by the thought that if Mane gets goal side they're probably not going to catch him. Puts doubt in the mind.
Mane is also much more effective at the press than Sturridge or Origi and changes positions with Firmino more effectively than them too.
He's not a magic wand solution to all our problems.Not even close. But equally if people can't see that attacking players can have an impact on the rest of the team by the way the opposition sets up then I despair.
Mane will improve us. Matip will improve us. Whether they'll improve us enough to secure top 4 is the question.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
exactly right ! I think one thing that has changed though is that most teams now see a draw vs Liverpool as a very decent result LFC are extremely dangerous, can score at the drop of a hat, press very high up the field and spring a counter at great pace once theyve recovered the ball. For this reason more and ore teams are sitting further and further back. Not only does this mean they dont open up so much to LFCs offensive game but it also negates the pace side of LFCs game (no space in behind), as well as forcing LFC into wider areas to find space, but LFC lack real width.
More teams are/will be playing a more limited game and looking to counter attack LFC. When on their game LFCs front line can pass it through any team and over 90 minutes the mass of possession tires the opposition but may be LFC will have to adapt a little bit.
To some extent this is why i think LFC have such a good record vs the top 6 because if you go at them and let them play they can really take advantage....if you sit deep, in numbers, pack the central areas and not threaten too much, bypass the midfield, then you make it very tough for them, and with their defence there's always a chance of a goal.
comment by Coutinho's Happy Feet (U18971)
posted 2 minutes ago
comment by Devonshirespur (U6316)
posted 7 minutes ago
comment by Got_Better (U6241)
posted 1 hour, 23 minutes ago
So 1 sht month out of 6 and all of a sudden our team is bang average....couldnt make it up; oh wait u have
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Henderson and Can are bang average....no imagination needed there, just eyes.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Can yes. Henderson no. Henderson was playing well before his injury and had completed the most passes by a midfielder in the league. Also scored a cracking goal against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. He hasn't looked the same since he came back, but that's to be expected.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Afraid I cant agree with you there mate. Decent engine, decent passer but nothing special. He's committed and has heart. I've seen many an average player score an amazing goal now and then....Charlie Adam anyone, oh no, you've been there
comment by jlou1978 (U15376)
posted 6 minutes ago
Funny a spurs fan calling Henderson average, as he always seems to dominate that wonderfully talented spurs midfield whenever we play them.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Are you high ?
The evidence from this season from our (Chelsea) games agst Spurs, Liverpool, Man City and Arsenal supports the thinnest of margins between the teams if playing to their best....
Prior to Liverpool's loss of form I would have them as slight favourites to beat us at Anfield, now i think we are slight favourites, but i predict a score draw 1-1 or 2-2
comment by Sheriff JW Pepper (U1007)
posted 7 minutes ago
Basically we underestimate pool at our peril
----------------------------------------------------------------------
i'd agree with that. If they click again they could go on a roll. As above though, i do think they need to adapt a bit as their opposition seem to have adapted to them.
comment by Devonshirespur (U6316)
posted 3 minutes ago
exactly right ! I think one thing that has changed though is that most teams now see a draw vs Liverpool as a very decent result LFC are extremely dangerous, can score at the drop of a hat, press very high up the field and spring a counter at great pace once theyve recovered the ball. For this reason more and ore teams are sitting further and further back. Not only does this mean they dont open up so much to LFCs offensive game but it also negates the pace side of LFCs game (no space in behind), as well as forcing LFC into wider areas to find space, but LFC lack real width.
More teams are/will be playing a more limited game and looking to counter attack LFC. When on their game LFCs front line can pass it through any team and over 90 minutes the mass of possession tires the opposition but may be LFC will have to adapt a little bit.
To some extent this is why i think LFC have such a good record vs the top 6 because if you go at them and let them play they can really take advantage....if you sit deep, in numbers, pack the central areas and not threaten too much, bypass the midfield, then you make it very tough for them, and with their defence there's always a chance of a goal.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I might have found an exception to my 'bang average' rule.
Absolutely right, pace is negated to an extent by teams sitting deep and they certainly do that with Liverpool now. It's essentially a blue-print to getting a result off us and will remain so until we prove we can handle it and break through with regularity.
What I would say about Mane is that he's very direct as well. So even if a team is sat back he will pick up the ball and run straight at you. Again, few of our team do that. Without Mane we often have high percentages of possession by are effectively passing it around in front of the opposition defence. With Mane, he'll lose the ball occasionally but at least he asks the defence questions.
So yes, his pace will be less of a factor when teams sit deep but I still feel he asks questions that others don't. Sturridge is the only other one but whether he'll ever get back to his best is really debatable.
Liverpool's issues go beyond Mane imo, that was just horrible timing compounding the main problem. They look burnt out to me.
That high intensity pressing game Klopp likes where they break as high up the pitch as possible expels so much energy, unlike a traditional press where the aim is to regain possession (which converses energy once you get the ball back) they look to counter immediately, meaning the only breaks they get are when the balls out of play. It'll work in Germany because of the winter break, but in England where the Christmas period is the most intense you're starting to run into major fitness issues. They either need to expand their squad particularly in midfield or Klopp's gunna have to draw up plan B.
I will say I haven't watched Liverpool enough over the course of Klopp's tenure to know if that's 100% true, it's my theory having watched them twice this month and having researched 'Gegenpressing' (the name given to Klopp's tactical style) since he came to this country. If I'm wrong, anyone's free to call me out on it
Well ironically we have been covering more distance per game this month that at any other time in the season, so I don't think it's all down to fatigue.
Fair enough. Mane must add something to that counter that you're lacking then. You've not been winning the ball high enough up the pitch when I've watched you recently which I've put down to fatigue but might also be down to specific players, Sturridge for one springs to mind.
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Private Jet for Mane
Page 3 of 4
posted on 29/1/17
Conte, unfortunately there was a coq up there, I had my usual ticket and the Mrs. and the boy had tickets in another part of the stadium, but I couldn't be there cos I was still in Tenerife.
I booked it a year ago for my mate's 50th and 15 of us were out there and it was proper carnage, but I forgot that I wasn't flying back until Saturday at 1750.
I thought I was back on the Friday, hence getting a ticket for Brentford.
posted on 29/1/17
Liverpool should have all their players fit and available for Tuesday, and as far as I am aware Chelsea have no injured players either. Let's hope for an entertaining match.
posted on 29/1/17
comment by Chelsea_since_summer_1969 ✯ (U1561)
posted 50 seconds ago
Conte, unfortunately there was a coq up there, I had my usual ticket and the Mrs. and the boy had tickets in another part of the stadium, but I couldn't be there cos I was still in Tenerife.
I booked it a year ago for my mate's 50th and 15 of us were out there and it was proper carnage, but I forgot that I wasn't flying back until Saturday at 1750.
I thought I was back on the Friday, hence getting a ticket for Brentford.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Ffs
posted on 29/1/17
I don't think Mane makes us tick at all. What he does is spread packed defences giving other players space. Which is "cruscial".
posted on 29/1/17
Yeah, talk about not checking the fine print properly.
posted on 29/1/17
I think its fair to say our current problems go a little bit further than not having Mane in the team.
But if he is on the bench, it would be a plus for us.
Chelsea are by some distance the best team in the league, and will be worthy champions, so if we are to somehow turn things around as quickly has they went to sh!t, then who better to get 3 points against.
Not counting on it though by any stretch.
posted on 29/1/17
So, it will take wee while to get on your missus good books then
posted on 29/1/17
I'll never get there, trust me.
posted on 29/1/17
Football has never and will never be about attack and defence as two separate entities, one influences the other.
Mane is fast in a way that none of our other forwards are so it gives teams some decisions to make. When they're attacking how far up should the defenders come. Too much space and a ball over the top could have Mane in on goal. Full backs are also occupied by the thought that if Mane gets goal side they're probably not going to catch him. Puts doubt in the mind.
Mane is also much more effective at the press than Sturridge or Origi and changes positions with Firmino more effectively than them too.
He's not a magic wand solution to all our problems.Not even close. But equally if people can't see that attacking players can have an impact on the rest of the team by the way the opposition sets up then I despair.
Mane will improve us. Matip will improve us. Whether they'll improve us enough to secure top 4 is the question.
posted on 29/1/17
comment by Got_Better (U6241)
posted 1 hour, 23 minutes ago
So 1 sht month out of 6 and all of a sudden our team is bang average....couldnt make it up; oh wait u have
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Henderson and Can are bang average....no imagination needed there, just eyes.
posted on 29/1/17
comment by Conte'nt (U20893)
posted 53 minutes ago
Liverpool should have all their players fit and available for Tuesday, and as far as I am aware Chelsea have no injured players either. Let's hope for an entertaining match.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Entertainment can go do one...I'll take the scrappiest 1-0
posted on 29/1/17
comment by Devonshirespur (U6316)
posted 3 minutes ago
comment by Got_Better (U6241)
posted 1 hour, 23 minutes ago
So 1 sht month out of 6 and all of a sudden our team is bang average....couldnt make it up; oh wait u have
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Henderson and Can are bang average....no imagination needed there, just eyes.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I hesitate to do this because I usually avoid people who use the term 'bang average'. I've found it's a fairly good indicator of intelligence. However...
Have you ever heard of form? Henderson has actually been very good for the majority of the season but Can is currently in horrendous form. Doesn't make him a bad player, just means he's not playing well.
To use Spurs examples, Alli was in nowhere near the form he is now at the beginning of the season. Eriksen as well, wasn't playing well at all to start with.
All players go through dips in form, I don't care who they are, and Can is doing just that.
posted on 29/1/17
comment by Devonshirespur (U6316)
posted 7 minutes ago
comment by Got_Better (U6241)
posted 1 hour, 23 minutes ago
So 1 sht month out of 6 and all of a sudden our team is bang average....couldnt make it up; oh wait u have
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Henderson and Can are bang average....no imagination needed there, just eyes.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Can yes. Henderson no. Henderson was playing well before his injury and had completed the most passes by a midfielder in the league. Also scored a cracking goal against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. He hasn't looked the same since he came back, but that's to be expected.
posted on 29/1/17
Funny a spurs fan calling Henderson average, as he always seems to dominate that wonderfully talented spurs midfield whenever we play them.
posted on 29/1/17
Basically we underestimate pool at our peril
posted on 29/1/17
comment by Can Solo (U6997)
posted 17 minutes ago
Football has never and will never be about attack and defence as two separate entities, one influences the other.
Mane is fast in a way that none of our other forwards are so it gives teams some decisions to make. When they're attacking how far up should the defenders come. Too much space and a ball over the top could have Mane in on goal. Full backs are also occupied by the thought that if Mane gets goal side they're probably not going to catch him. Puts doubt in the mind.
Mane is also much more effective at the press than Sturridge or Origi and changes positions with Firmino more effectively than them too.
He's not a magic wand solution to all our problems.Not even close. But equally if people can't see that attacking players can have an impact on the rest of the team by the way the opposition sets up then I despair.
Mane will improve us. Matip will improve us. Whether they'll improve us enough to secure top 4 is the question.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
exactly right ! I think one thing that has changed though is that most teams now see a draw vs Liverpool as a very decent result LFC are extremely dangerous, can score at the drop of a hat, press very high up the field and spring a counter at great pace once theyve recovered the ball. For this reason more and ore teams are sitting further and further back. Not only does this mean they dont open up so much to LFCs offensive game but it also negates the pace side of LFCs game (no space in behind), as well as forcing LFC into wider areas to find space, but LFC lack real width.
More teams are/will be playing a more limited game and looking to counter attack LFC. When on their game LFCs front line can pass it through any team and over 90 minutes the mass of possession tires the opposition but may be LFC will have to adapt a little bit.
To some extent this is why i think LFC have such a good record vs the top 6 because if you go at them and let them play they can really take advantage....if you sit deep, in numbers, pack the central areas and not threaten too much, bypass the midfield, then you make it very tough for them, and with their defence there's always a chance of a goal.
posted on 29/1/17
comment by Coutinho's Happy Feet (U18971)
posted 2 minutes ago
comment by Devonshirespur (U6316)
posted 7 minutes ago
comment by Got_Better (U6241)
posted 1 hour, 23 minutes ago
So 1 sht month out of 6 and all of a sudden our team is bang average....couldnt make it up; oh wait u have
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Henderson and Can are bang average....no imagination needed there, just eyes.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Can yes. Henderson no. Henderson was playing well before his injury and had completed the most passes by a midfielder in the league. Also scored a cracking goal against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. He hasn't looked the same since he came back, but that's to be expected.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Afraid I cant agree with you there mate. Decent engine, decent passer but nothing special. He's committed and has heart. I've seen many an average player score an amazing goal now and then....Charlie Adam anyone, oh no, you've been there
posted on 29/1/17
comment by jlou1978 (U15376)
posted 6 minutes ago
Funny a spurs fan calling Henderson average, as he always seems to dominate that wonderfully talented spurs midfield whenever we play them.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Are you high ?
posted on 29/1/17
The evidence from this season from our (Chelsea) games agst Spurs, Liverpool, Man City and Arsenal supports the thinnest of margins between the teams if playing to their best....
Prior to Liverpool's loss of form I would have them as slight favourites to beat us at Anfield, now i think we are slight favourites, but i predict a score draw 1-1 or 2-2
posted on 29/1/17
comment by Sheriff JW Pepper (U1007)
posted 7 minutes ago
Basically we underestimate pool at our peril
----------------------------------------------------------------------
i'd agree with that. If they click again they could go on a roll. As above though, i do think they need to adapt a bit as their opposition seem to have adapted to them.
posted on 29/1/17
comment by Devonshirespur (U6316)
posted 3 minutes ago
exactly right ! I think one thing that has changed though is that most teams now see a draw vs Liverpool as a very decent result LFC are extremely dangerous, can score at the drop of a hat, press very high up the field and spring a counter at great pace once theyve recovered the ball. For this reason more and ore teams are sitting further and further back. Not only does this mean they dont open up so much to LFCs offensive game but it also negates the pace side of LFCs game (no space in behind), as well as forcing LFC into wider areas to find space, but LFC lack real width.
More teams are/will be playing a more limited game and looking to counter attack LFC. When on their game LFCs front line can pass it through any team and over 90 minutes the mass of possession tires the opposition but may be LFC will have to adapt a little bit.
To some extent this is why i think LFC have such a good record vs the top 6 because if you go at them and let them play they can really take advantage....if you sit deep, in numbers, pack the central areas and not threaten too much, bypass the midfield, then you make it very tough for them, and with their defence there's always a chance of a goal.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I might have found an exception to my 'bang average' rule.
Absolutely right, pace is negated to an extent by teams sitting deep and they certainly do that with Liverpool now. It's essentially a blue-print to getting a result off us and will remain so until we prove we can handle it and break through with regularity.
What I would say about Mane is that he's very direct as well. So even if a team is sat back he will pick up the ball and run straight at you. Again, few of our team do that. Without Mane we often have high percentages of possession by are effectively passing it around in front of the opposition defence. With Mane, he'll lose the ball occasionally but at least he asks the defence questions.
So yes, his pace will be less of a factor when teams sit deep but I still feel he asks questions that others don't. Sturridge is the only other one but whether he'll ever get back to his best is really debatable.
posted on 29/1/17
Liverpool's issues go beyond Mane imo, that was just horrible timing compounding the main problem. They look burnt out to me.
That high intensity pressing game Klopp likes where they break as high up the pitch as possible expels so much energy, unlike a traditional press where the aim is to regain possession (which converses energy once you get the ball back) they look to counter immediately, meaning the only breaks they get are when the balls out of play. It'll work in Germany because of the winter break, but in England where the Christmas period is the most intense you're starting to run into major fitness issues. They either need to expand their squad particularly in midfield or Klopp's gunna have to draw up plan B.
I will say I haven't watched Liverpool enough over the course of Klopp's tenure to know if that's 100% true, it's my theory having watched them twice this month and having researched 'Gegenpressing' (the name given to Klopp's tactical style) since he came to this country. If I'm wrong, anyone's free to call me out on it
posted on 29/1/17
*conserves energy
posted on 29/1/17
Well ironically we have been covering more distance per game this month that at any other time in the season, so I don't think it's all down to fatigue.
posted on 29/1/17
Fair enough. Mane must add something to that counter that you're lacking then. You've not been winning the ball high enough up the pitch when I've watched you recently which I've put down to fatigue but might also be down to specific players, Sturridge for one springs to mind.
Page 3 of 4