If only there was some way to foresee that one guy having to play 90 minutes every game because there is no alternative in the squad wasn't going to work out. The club deserve this as this is the situation they chose.
Nwaneri, Trossard, Odegaard, Sterling, all have to step up big time or we're done sadly. I was on the fence about needing a signing or not, in hindsight we obviously did, but Havertz and Martinelli both going down is pretty unlucky. Wouldn't be surprised if we see Tierney play a bit of left wing.
Could Merino be the striker we are in desperate need of for the rest of the season? I certainly hope so!
For the first 80 minutes it looked like we may really struggle for goals for the rest of the season, but Merino was the game changer we needed today - question is can he put a good shift in as striker week in week out?
Nwaneri is such an exciting player, it's crazy how good he is already and he's not even 18 yet
Very much a band-aid approach playing Merino up top. But still, 4 points off Liverpool. They have two games in 3 days. If they can drop points in one of them suddenly we’ll be in the position of a game in hand and only a few points adrift.
Just hope Arteta is trying to work out how to bring in a striker for the last few months.
You cant just pick and choose which laws to follow. Sure Id like to tape a baseball game without the express written consent of major league baseball, but thats just not the way it works.-Hank Hill
Leicester are god awful this season, but they made it tough for us, Trossard is not a CF, he looked way better when he moved to the left, Sterling has been so dissappointing, 4 offsides in the first half and as Wrighty pointed out, a 30 player should know better! Jesus, out for the season with ACL, Havertz likely gone too with Hammy, Saka looking to be a long term injury too same with Martinelli. 3 staring front men out! Lewis-Skelly and Nwaneri are future stars, Nwaneri with 7 goals this season is already reaching decent levels. He replaces Saka easily, Merino did what was required for his audition up front, yes it Leicester but other teams' defences tire and will struggle defending our set pieces.
Feels a big result to be 4 points back when we could potentially have ended this week 9 points behind. Expect every game to be just as frustrating with the lack of available goal threat now.
I’m quite impressed that Sterling managed to play himself out of the starting 11! It’s just so sad watching someone of his ability being unable to look threatening against a team likely to be relegated. Merino up front is definitely a more attractive offer, or at least starting him at left 8 to get into the box from midfield or challenge in the air for long balls.
I feel like there needs to be discussion at the club about Arteta’s apparent inability to rotate. It seems like every year vital players get run into the ground.
If we are playing weak teams where we are expected to win then from time to time guys like Saka who have a history of injury should start on the bench and only be called on if needed.
You cant just pick and choose which laws to follow. Sure Id like to tape a baseball game without the express written consent of major league baseball, but thats just not the way it works.-Hank Hill
I feel like there needs to be discussion at the club about Arteta’s apparent inability to rotate. It seems like every year vital players get run into the ground.
If we are playing weak teams where we are expected to win then from time to time guys like Saka who have a history of injury should start on the bench and only be called on if needed.
Inability or unwillingness to rotate. He's done it since day one with certain players. Saka for one played almost every game for two seasons despite looking tired and in need of rest. Although now with the younger players looking very good there might be more of an opportunity.
Although having said that we have for years dropped points against teams we should be beating - even with a full strength squad.
I think the problem is there is a massive drop between our starting 11 and the second 11. Closing that gap is the key. Mercifully for PSR the youth team has sorted LB and RW out.
And they have Man City up next. That could go either way (especially considering Madrid just dismantled them) but I’d be stoked with a draw.
It’s up to us to be consistent and that starts with West Ham.
You cant just pick and choose which laws to follow. Sure Id like to tape a baseball game without the express written consent of major league baseball, but thats just not the way it works.-Hank Hill
Prior to kick off today I did think our chances of a CL run were decent, as we should be able to keep most teams goal less over 2 legs and knick a goal from a set piece - classic tournament football stuff. However, if we can't stop Bowen from having a free header in the 6 yard box when we have the numbers in the box we are fudgeed. Chalk the title race off - once again it's West Ham at home in the run in FFS.
It’s the hope that kills you. Glad I didn’t bother getting up for it.
You cant just pick and choose which laws to follow. Sure Id like to tape a baseball game without the express written consent of major league baseball, but thats just not the way it works.-Hank Hill
Im usually pretty optimistic but feels like too bigger gap now sadly, home loss to West Ham is untenable in this situation. Bugger. We gotta muscle this through now and hold second, so we can go again next year, with all the injured players back.
Gah, what a sharke weekend for the teams I follow.
Pretty limp effort from us today. While I'm a big fan of Arteta, these performances are fairly common across his tenure. Not that I think he should wear all the blame for it as there were some coach killing actions out there today.
I have an amazing ability to find my way out of mazes. I'm pathological.
Since Arteta took over we've had 20 red cards. Next on the list is Wolves with 15. Somethings got to give there. I think 2nd will be hard to pull off, we've got plenty of games to need to win and based on how we struggled today...I'm not confident we'll pull it off.
Every game is going to be like this one now without a goal theat. The league is gone but the concern now is the inability to score will see us dragged down into a battle for the CL places.
How did it get to the point that a club who had Wright, Henry and Bergkamp no longer believes in the idea of a centre forward? Forget January. The club chose to go into the season without one.
If only there was some way to foresee the lack of depth in attack. It's almost like there needs to be some window in the season when you're allowed to add to the squad or something 🤷♂️
Feels a little ridiculous that after winning last weekend we were 4 points back and it felt a chance. A week and one loss later it's ballooned to 11 points and now over. Weird how the scheduling has worked out.
The cup element of the CL probably gives us a more chance without goals since draws are not as damaging as in the league. Technically we could go through with two 0-0 draws if defence holds solid. Although that would still require 4-5 players to score a penalty and who the fudge would they be?
Well done Liverpool. Just been unstoppable this season. Unlike us, who have been stoppable regularly. Hope a new head of football is in soon and a couple of good signings up top in the summer window.
I have an amazing ability to find my way out of mazes. I'm pathological.
Given Bowen scored a header, unmarked in the 6 yard box where we had 3 defenders I’m just not confident we can do this. Felt like Rice did his old club a favour in that moment.ajc28
Feels a little ridiculous that after winning last weekend we were 4 points back and it felt a chance. A week and one loss later it's ballooned to 11 points and now over. Weird how the scheduling has worked out.
The cup element of the CL probably gives us a more chance without goals since draws are not as damaging as in the league. Technically we could go through with two 0-0 draws if defence holds solid. Although that would still require 4-5 players to score a penalty and who the fudge would they be?
Altho all the chat has been about a centre forward or the lack of one, its notable that liverpool are walking the title doing the same. Nunez has been bit part only and always looked more effective on the left, and theyve rotated thru with wide forwards playing false 9 roles etc all season. As long as the goals are coming, its not essential. Long term injuries, or poorly timed injuries, to saka, martinelli, havertz, odegaard, jesus and even sterling who went down for a few weeks early on right when he might've got a confidence boosting chance, have really hurt us.
Disappointing draws when we needed to win have also been a factor. Losing three league games by this stage is not so much a problem, its the 8 draws. We simply needed to win more of those. Our unbeaten record against the "big 6" in the last 18 games show that the level is there, we just havent hit some of the critical moments, which were a bit of a hall mark of the 22/23 season, when we won a ton of games late. A bit of strengthening, getting players back to fitness, and we should be primed for another run next year. Would love to see us hold second a third year in a row, good consistent performance, just one more notch to go up, they can do it. My biggest worry is Edu going, our management and transfer business has been top notch under him. Yes we didnt get that CF but almost all signings the last few seasons have been pretty successful.
Altho all the chat has been about a centre forward or the lack of one, its notable that liverpool are walking the title doing the same. Nunez has been bit part only and always looked more effective on the left, and theyve rotated thru with wide forwards playing false 9 roles etc all season. As long as the goals are coming, its not essential. Long term injuries, or poorly timed injuries, to saka, martinelli, havertz, odegaard, jesus and even sterling who went down for a few weeks early on right when he might've got a confidence boosting chance, have really hurt us.
Liverpool have the best player in the world at the point in time.
Altho all the chat has been about a centre forward or the lack of one, its notable that liverpool are walking the title doing the same. Nunez has been bit part only and always looked more effective on the left, and theyve rotated thru with wide forwards playing false 9 roles etc all season. As long as the goals are coming, its not essential. Long term injuries, or poorly timed injuries, to saka, martinelli, havertz, odegaard, jesus and even sterling who went down for a few weeks early on right when he might've got a confidence boosting chance, have really hurt us.
Liverpool have the best player in the world at the point in time.
Yep, and no reason in my mind why Saka could not be that player for us too in a title winning season, in the exact same position
That’s been the difference this season and the last two? Best goal scorer in the league with Haaland and City and this season with Salah. Really have to go big this summer to sort it out.
Stating the obvious but without goals you can’t win games and points so we’re now likely to end up in a situation where a CL place becomes a battle to hold onto with 0-0 looking like best case scenario for the foreseeable future. Although if the extra money earned won’t be spent on addressing the weakness in the team again, is there even much point in making it?
Admit I switched it off in disgust when Sterling was brought on. Genuinely what was the point? This season's "thanks for your interest in our affairs."
