Liverpool Vs Villarreal

[Pagnell]

Europa Semi-Final. All match discussion in here.

 

[Dr Mantis Toboggan]

riquelme to score

 

[SALTIRE]

Best it could have been tbh, and the return is back at Anfield.

 

[G.B]

i'd like to wish my very good friend salty and his team all the best for this one. good luck my very good mate.

 

[Pagnell]

I just hope Sakho doesn't play.

 

[mistermagic]

I just hope Sakho doesn't play.

Sakho is the reason you're in the semi. He won you this match did Mamad!

 

[Destruction]

It was nice Liverpool made it through, I've enjoyed having Pagnell back and now we get him until at least the semis.

 

[Pagnell]

Sakho is the reason you're in the semi. He won you this match did Mamad!

GB would have gotten it.

 

[Bilo]

It was nice Liverpool made it through, I've enjoyed having Pagnell back and now we get him until at least the semis.

Yeah, he came back essentially calling our progression. Contrary to you that is, who thought we'd concede six. Care to give us another accurate prediction for this tie mate?

On topic, I know I said in the other thread, before the 2nd leg, that if we knocked Dortmund out we'd rightfully be favorites. I don't feel that way anymore. Haven't seen much of Villareal but they seem like quite a good side, and even then Sevilla in a final would be a nightmare considering their record. The toughest part is still to come.

 

[Destruction]

Yeah, he came back essentially calling our progression. Contrary to you that is, who thought we'd concede six. Care to give us another accurate prediction for this tie mate?

On topic, I know I said in the other thread, before the 2nd leg, that if we knocked Dortmund out we'd rightfully be favorites. I don't feel that way anymore. Haven't seen much of Villareal but they seem like quite a good side, and even then Sevilla in a final would be a nightmare considering their record. The toughest part is still to come.

You conceded four goals over the two legs, I didn't watch either game but I'd hardly say your victory was built on solid defending. Matip is coming to sit on the bench then is he?

 

[Bilo]

You conceded four goals over the two legs, I didn't watch either game but I'd hardly say your victory was built on solid defending. Matip is coming to sit on the bench then is he?

Without solid defense in the first leg there'd be no match to save in the second.

You thought we'd concede six. We conceded four. You were wrong. As usual. But you didn't answer my question, what's your prediction for these two MOUTH WATERING legs?

 

[Destruction]

Without solid defense in the first leg there'd be no match to save in the second.

You thought we'd concede six. We conceded four. You were wrong. As usual. But you didn't answer my question, what's your prediction for these two MOUTH WATERING legs?

Hi mate. Obviously this has been lost in translation. If you are talking football with someone and you say "X will put 6 past Y", you don't LITERALLY mean there will be 6 goals. You mean they will find scoring very easy. A bit like if someone said Milner's corners never beat the first man. They don't LITERALLY mean he has NEVER beaten the first man with a corner kick, they just mean it happens a lot.

If you want any other linguistic titbits* then feel free to get in touch.

*DM me if you don't understand this term before you go accusing me of breastfeeding or the likes in a few weeks time. Cheers.

 

[JimJams]

Liverpool take on the best team left in the tournament. If Sakho is left out for somebody who isn't a liability then they can go through.
Lovren has turned his terrible time in a Liverpool shirt around by going back to basics and defending, putting his foot through the ball when needed and not thinking he's Beckenbauer and able to dribble, pass or frankly any shit that's got him into trouble for a large part of his scouse tenure. Sakho still plays rash passes, still plays people onside when everyone else is playing them off, still can't judge the bounce of a ball and despite his height isn't all that dominant in the air. He had good moments against Dortmund, he also had some woeful ones. You can't expect miracle comebacks every time you play so they're going to need the Frenchman to cut out the fuck ups. I'm not sure he can. Fortunately with Origi coming into some form, Sturridge an option as well as other players able to chip in on the goals front Liverpool have enough about them to cause them some real problems, however Villarreal have a better defensive record than that of Barcelona and Real Madrid, they're only bettered by the stingiest side in Europe in Atletico so it'll be far from easy. They don't lose many either. They've only lost one more than Atletico and 2 more than the other pair whereas to say Liverpool are erratic is probably understating things.

 

[G-Dragon]

Without Emre Can I don't feel confident at all. We will probably have to play diamond formation with Lucas behind Allen + Someone (hopefully not Milner). Kevin Stewart would have been ideal replacement but I don't think he is registered for Europa League.

 

[Bilo]

Hi mate. Obviously this has been lost in translation. If you are talking football with someone and you say "X will put 6 past Y", you don't LITERALLY mean there will be 6 goals. You mean they will find scoring very easy. A bit like if someone said Milner's corners never beat the first man. They don't LITERALLY mean he has NEVER beaten the first man with a corner kick, they just mean it happens a lot.

If you want any other linguistic titbits* then feel free to get in touch.

*DM me if you don't understand this term before you go accusing me of breastfeeding or the likes in a few weeks time. Cheers.

No prediction then mate?

 

[Bilo]

Liverpool take on the best team left in the tournament. If Sakho is left out for somebody who isn't a liability then they can go through.
Lovren has turned his terrible time in a Liverpool shirt around by going back to basics and defending, putting his foot through the ball when needed and not thinking he's Beckenbauer and able to dribble, pass or frankly any shit that's got him into trouble for a large part of his scouse tenure. Sakho still plays rash passes, still plays people onside when everyone else is playing them off, still can't judge the bounce of a ball and despite his height isn't all that dominant in the air. He had good moments against Dortmund, he also had some woeful ones. You can't expect miracle comebacks every time you play so they're going to need the Frenchman to cut out the fuck ups. I'm not sure he can. Fortunately with Origi coming into some form, Sturridge an option as well as other players able to chip in on the goals front Liverpool have enough about them to cause them some real problems, however Villarreal have a better defensive record than that of Barcelona and Real Madrid, they're only bettered by the stingiest side in Europe in Atletico so it'll be far from easy. They don't lose many either. They've only lost one more than Atletico and 2 more than the other pair whereas to say Liverpool are erratic is probably understating things.

You're being harsh on Sakho here.

Our back four of Clyne-Lovren-Sakho-Moreno has been the most solid one we've had in ages. From February 14th up to the debacle against Southampton (when Lovren went off for Skrtel) we conceded 3 goals in 8 games. It doesn't sound like much but that's a ridiculous run considering how shit our defense has been since Rafa Benitez's days. After the Southampton game, we conceded 3 in 3 but that was against Tottenham, Stoke and Dortmund away.

Then came the defensive debacle on Thursday, which was horrible for Sakho but nonetheless and exception to the rule these days. If you put Skrtel in our defense, we turn shit. But if he's not playing, we're actually quite solid and that includes Sakho. There will be exceptions, but they're getting fewer and fewer.

 

[JimJams]

Youre just talking goals conceded though which sometimes isn't the whole picture. Against Spurs you only conceded 1 goal. That doesn't sound bad on the face of things considering the opposition, but how many times did Sakho give the ball away under no pressure in dangerous positions? It's fair to say he could have cost you a couple more if it hadn't have been for the efforts of your other defenders.
Lovren has come through a bad period and is getting back to looking like the player Southampton had. Sakho needs to improve in the same manner. Maybe Brendan had them thinking they were better on the ball and wanted them to play out from the back. I don't think those 2 are capable tbh.
Despite the previous post I don't really think Sakho should be left out because at this point you have no replacement. He's pretty much losing his spot to Matip though.

 

[Bilo]

Youre just talking goals conceded though which sometimes isn't the whole picture. Against Spurs you only conceded 1 goal. That doesn't sound bad on the face of things considering the opposition, but how many times did Sakho give the ball away under no pressure in dangerous positions? It's fair to say he could have cost you a couple more if it hadn't have been for the efforts of your other defenders.
Lovren has come through a bad period and is getting back to looking like the player Southampton had. Sakho needs to improve in the same manner. Maybe Brendan had them thinking they were better on the ball and wanted them to play out from the back. I don't think those 2 are capable tbh.
Despite the previous post I don't really think Sakho should be left out because at this point you have no replacement. He's pretty much losing his spot to Matip though.

Sakho always looks a bit shaky, but as I pointed out in the Spurs thread most of the time it looks worse than it is, as is shown by our defensive record.

It'll be a problem in the future if he can't cut out having a horrible game every 5 or 6 matches, but right now I trust our current back four more than I have any since Arbeloa/Carra/Agger/Aurelio, and that's seven years ago now. Generally speaking, going into this tie the back four won't be my biggest worry. Our midfield will.

 

[SALTIRE]

Sakho and Lovren weren't helped the other night by the midfield which usually has better cover but due to Hendo being out and Klopp not putting Allen in there first half Dortmund were able to get completely through it putting the defense under a lot of pressure and their build up play, movement and finishing were extremely incisive. Villarreal won't be as good as that going forward so I don't see them causing so many problems in defense as Dortmund did. They will however be harder to break down and set up better which will make the ties a lot closer.

 

[G.B]

don't think you can blame the midfield for sakho's desire to play 5/10 yards deeper than his cb partner. being under pressure doesn't excuse a complete lack of positional awareness on his part.

 

[Destruction]

No prediction then mate?

Can we have your prediction on Exeter v Mansfield please?

 

[Bilo]

Can we have your prediction on Exeter v Mansfield please?

Exeter have more to play for tbf, can still make the playoffs whereas Mansfield are out of it really. Couple that with the fact that Exeter won at Mansfield earlier this season and I'd go for Exeter by at least a couple of goals, say 3-1 or 2-0.

Your turn mate.

 

[Destruction]

Exeter have more to play for tbf, can still make the playoffs whereas Mansfield are out of it really. Couple that with the fact that Exeter won at Mansfield earlier this season and I'd go for Exeter by at least a couple of goals, say 3-1 or 2-0.

Your turn mate.

I'm afraid this wasn't a mutual prediction exchange mate, I just wanted to see if you'd do as I asked like a performing seal. And you did. Cheers.

 

[Bilo]

Oh, look, you chickened out. Quelle surprise!

 

[shane]

Hi mate. Obviously this has been lost in translation. If you are talking football with someone and you say "X will put 6 past Y", you don't LITERALLY mean there will be 6 goals. You mean they will find scoring very easy. A bit like if someone said Milner's corners never beat the first man. They don't LITERALLY mean he has NEVER beaten the first man with a corner kick, they just mean it happens a lot.

Your point might have been valid were Milner capable of beating the first man on a corner.

 

[Destruction]

Your point might have been valid were Milner capable of beating the first man on a corner.

It's not for us to question the Great Almighty Klopp mate.

 

[G-Dragon]

Like I said before perfectly happy going into next season with Lovren + Sakho as our main CB pairing. Sure Sakho makes mistakes, but which defender does not? "Top Class" CB like Hummels was 100% responsible for the goal Dortmund conceded at home. Then Dortmund conceded FOUR with him away.

Currently midfield is our biggest worry.

 

[JimJams]

Why sign Matip if you're gonna play Shatko?

 

[Stevencc]

So they can get rid of Martin Shitkel.

 

[johnnytodd]

europa pffft