re: tOfficial Liverpool 2017/2018 Thread: “Upgrades Incoming Edition: A Great Season!”

Thanks Tag, 2005 is a definite again but I love the Zidane idea, that clinic was something to see and I may not have thought of that final. And you are welcome but I’m not some bad arse brother I just wanted you guys to know it wasn’t some sort of incident and just life. I especially don’t want my “TD Kopites” to think I’m sone kind of douchebag about where I’ve been and what I do.

Thanks again my man.

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I just got spinal fusion surgery for my 50th bday today

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Welcome to my world (twice), one lumbar (one disc), one cervical (two discs).

I'll hold my opinion of post-op recovery and just wish you well.

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It’s ok so far bb but I am only one day in and in the hospital

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Oh, so you still have access to the morphine pump?

Yeah, those things are nice...

Be well!

Roma usually press with a high line to win the ball with Alisson sweeping but --very unlike, say Man City -- they don't commit as much forward right away.

Of course, they send runners and try to score off turnovers but are equally content to simply use the press to turn the match into a midfield battle and avoid a goal mouth to goal mouth ping-pong match.

Unlike almost all EPL matches, a good Roma showing against a quality opponent will often result in neither goal showing up that often in the camera angle.


Roma does love to push the wingbacks really high up but usually balance that by both De Rossi and Strootman covering in behind a lot more than a Man City or Napoli would. They don't really like to sit back behind the ball and defend deeply unless absolutely forced into it and are not the most comfortable in so doing.


Against Liverpool, there will certainly be chances for Salah/Mane to get in behind and Manolas' and Juan Jesus' recovery speed will be put to the test to close them down.

When pressed, Roma's midfield is very solid on the ball and likes to play balls up to Dzeko for him to pass off to runners (Dezko can either be absolutely lethal in this regard or way off his game).


It's difficult to pick a similar type squad that Liverpool faced this season but I suppose the closest would be Sevilla (though Roma does have more quality than them all through the lineup).

From the EPL: I suppose Tottenham when they had Alderwereild playing in a back 3 with at least a couple of Dembele/Dier/Sossoko in front.




Advantages Liverpool:

1) Forwards: Seems both teams give up a lot of half-chances or, at least, numbers against them running in open space if press is broken. This is a big advantage for Liverpool which has been on fire turning these into goals whereas Roma leads Serie A by some distance in shots yet is 20+ goals off the pace in actual goals. Dzeko and Under have been better at finishing in CL which is why Roma has made it this far but overall Roma statistically messes up a ton of good chances compared to similar teams, especially Liverpool).


2) Depth: Roma has some promising young talent but the starting midfield 3 + Manolas, Fazio and Kolarov absolutely need to be available or it will be a massive advantage for Liverpool.



Advantages Roma:

1) Midfield: Roma has a midfield dynamic that is very unlike anything Liverpool has faced so far. De Rossi, Strootman and Nainggolan are all good on the ball/passing but are all three more bulldogs that defend with zeal --no lightweight #10 type attacking midfielders in the mix. They are very comfortable making a match a physical battleground. Barcelona, Chelsea, Napoli etc were all far from prepared for this type of midfield dynamic and very frustrated by it (whereas a Juve or even Lazio seems right at home against it.)

2) Goalkeeper: Alisson has been the best goalkeeper (shot stopper + distributor) in Serie A by a wide margin and the €70m type rumored offers from Real are not pure fantasy.



Things to worry about for both sides:

Roma: Salah, Mane or Firmino running free with the ball past the midfield and any Roma players except Manolas or Juan Jesus trying to close them down. This is the huge concern for Roma!


Liverpool: Roma's midfield setting tone to turn it into mdifield vs midfield war like Roma-Barca along with Dzeko physically beating Liverpool's CBs in hold up play and fullbacks on crosses.

great write up. not a Pool supporter or anything just clicked on the thread basically by accident we really need to get a running tactics thread to complement match day threads

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Ruben Neves

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Instead of Jorghino?

And why would Wolverhampton sell him since they just earned promotion?

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Instead of Jorghino? And why would Wolverhampton sell him since they just earned promotion?

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I would imagine it's one or the other... too similar to go for both. Personally, I'd prefer Neves.. I imagine the difference in fees would be a wash...

Good question, you would think they would do everything in their power to keep him... but if we really want him, and he really wants us, then its just settling on a fee...

I don’t see any reason why Wolves would be willing to sell Neves after just being promoted, but I like Jorginho more anyway. Neves is younger obviously, but I really like Jorginho. I’ve said it before but I think he’s everything Klopp hoped Henderson would be as a deep playmaker