re: OFFICIAL Liverpool FC 2015-2016 Season Long Thread: Basel Bound!

quote:

---

oh, the irony

---

The hypocrisy is so thick I could make a green and gold scarf with it.

quote:

---

See, we know we're not a very good team right now and we've spent poorly the past couple of seasons... But we are showing signs of moving in the right direction..

---

Exactly. Did I enjoy yesterday? Of course not. It hurts like hell. But it's a microcosm of the two clubs right now. United have been eeking out wins they didn't deserve for a year and a half now. Their best performers are old or suited for styles of play that are relics of the past (looking at you Marouane). I don't see any world class manager chomping at the bit to move their way.

Does that mean they'll be awful? Absolutely not, they'll always be a dangerous squad to face. But they're in for year(s) of growing pains that they gave us endless shite about under Rodgers and now Klopp. It's nice to see their short sightedness bite them in the arse finally.

quote:

---

Most objective LFC fans realize Klopp isn't a miracle worker and is working with the same bunch he inherited... We are sorely lacking in some key areas... But I'd rather us be cautious in Jan and look to the summer...

---

Agreed. The results say more than the performances now. Klopp has put this team in position to win every single game this season outside of maybe West Ham at home. He can't physically kick the ball over the line for them. The reality is we have an average squad that we all hope he carefully rebuilds. Id be fine with no signings in January as there really is no one to be had out there that's worth a damn. My point is, however, that he's outclassed pretty much every manager he's faced with garbage talent at CB and ST. That says the world about where we're going.

quote:

---

I hope LVG sees out his contract and they promote Giggs!

---

It remains to be seen how good Giggs will be. Unproven is always a risk but he has the intangibles. I think he has the potential to be great. The big difference for me is that I see much more promise in or youth and academy players than United's. I don't care how many youth titles your squad wins, what matters is how well they play in the first team. Ibe, Cou, Flanno, Gomez, Moreno, Ings, Origi are all 23 and under. Firmino and Clyne are 24. All have had significant first team minutes and played well above what their age would indicate. None of United's U23s have had as many minutes in the Prem or as significant contributions (goals, assists, clean sheets, etc). Does that mean they're all shite? Of course not. But I'd say it bodes much better for us than it does for them.

Sorry. I meant most frequent starters. The guys on the pitch day in and day out. The ones the system are built around. It says a lot when a squad is fully dependent on Ashley Young to be present to have a consistent threat in attack (not my words - every United article and podcast I listened to in the buildup said he was integral to you performing well). It says a lot when the system depends on Fro as a focal point.

United will be fine. United will win the title many more times in the future. United may never trail to LFC again in the "most league titles" race. All I'm saying is prepare for a rebuilding period with growing pains. The same things Liverpool were derided for incessantly over the last few years will soon become your reality. I'm just enjoying the irony of it all.

Fair points. I will say, with the right managerial change my opinion is completely destroyed. If Giggs ends up being the man, and he pans out to his potential, we could be right back to the SAF glory days of United steam rolling everyone.

Haha I listen to the other team's pods because I like to hear the unbiased opinion of the opposing fans. If a LFC pod has United fans and commentary on it, it devolves into bias tribalism. You can only really hear objective analysis of a team by listening to the fans talk to each other.

And into my nightmares.

Migs signed a long term deal today

quote:

---

Hopefully Klopp is locking up his backup GK.

---

Although I share your sentiments, I can't help but wonder if Simon is a very good GK behind a terrible back line. I like Lovren a lot, but the partnership of him and Skrtel was terrible. Sakho does well, but Skrtel still has slip ups, as does Lovren sometimes.

It seems like every game, at least once, I find myself saying "WTF (insert back line member)". Clyne is about the only one I haven't said that about in recent memory.

I think we may not have as much a striker issue as we do a defense and midfield issue. Creativity lacks all-around. We have creative passers/players like Coutinho, Firmino, and Lallana, but when it comes to maintaining possession we have players like Milner, occasionally Can, and Lucas that gift possession many times per match.

Hendo is average at best, at least in my eyes. He hustles his arse off, but he has moments where nobody at Anfield could tell you what he was doing or why he did it.

I like Firmino up top. I think he needs to stay there and play beside Origi when he gets healthy. I am not sure about Benteke. Part of me wants to see him as part of a 4-3-3. Maybe have Firmino be the true CF and have Origi playing a big AM role, with Benteke playing kind of off to the side of the box to create space and win headers.

Just spit-balling, but I feel like there are multiple ways Klopp can go, and that may be why he isn't as eager to make moves as you'd think.

DByrd... Migs is not very good... A great shotstopper at times, but he is below average at almost everything else... Though a shaky defensive unit doesn't help... However, I thought the defense had a pretty good match against United..

His distribution is pathetic... Makes me miss Pepe so much

Look at a keeper like De Gea, he makes a rather pedestrian defense look that much better... That's what we need...

I think we signed him just to lock him up and gives us options...

I love Hendo... His hustle, passing and runs into the box... I think he was a bit off against Arsenal at times, but he's just coming back and dealing with the heal... That said, I don't think he's go good he's irreplaceable.. But I def think he good enough to win things with...

I like Firmino up top, as opposed to Benteke, but I just can't see that as a long term deal... He's just not a nine in my eyes...

This is all I'm saying. If they don't hit a home run with their new manager they're going to have to go through the same rebuilding process we did. Which means they'll be mediocre, like we were. It's hilarious that they think themselves so infallible that's they're immune to a rebuilding year and an average (5th-7th place) finish. Giggs has the potential but I wouldn't put the house on it.