Everything Soccer

[NorthDakota]

Leave it to Pool to put 5 past a team and still make me nervous about a second leg. Haha

 

[ACamp1900]

3-0 Roma, calling it now.

 

[Cackalacky]

2 away goals hurts bad. We need to score in Rome. Great game. hate to see two cheap ass goals like that though.

 

[nlroma1o]

yeah southern italy is definitely impoverished, you can tell why so many of them emigrated in droves to the United States. Naples has a reputation for a lot of crime but I didnt have any issues when I visited a few years back. It's a bit of a dump haha but yeah like most Italian cities the football club is it's heart and soul.

Yeah, that's because the northern alliance of Piedomont and his french mercenaries invaded the south, stole it from the Spanish Bourbons, who had money and made the south incredibly sophisticated and advanced. Napoli was the 3rd most wealthy city in Europe before the invasion. The South wanted nothing to do with a unified Italia because they were doing just fine. At the time the North was broke. So they banded together hired french mercenaries and raped the south of its wealth, resources, and caused the mass migration which saw the souths population cut in half.

So before everyone goes and mocks the city of Napoli. There is a reason it looks like you are going back in time when you go to Napoli. There is a reason people like my family ended up in New York. There's a reason why to this day the South despises Northern Italians.

 

[nlroma1o]

Di Francesco got the tactics wrong in this game. He needed to return the line up to a back 4 straight away in the second half. And he should have called back the high press to not start until midfield. He messed up bad in the second half and thats all there is to it.

Roma played near flawlessly the first 20 mins of the game. But they made 3 back to back bad plays/loss of posession in the middle of the field that were unforced and it changed the entire game. I was thrilled to get out of that first half down 2-0.

I thought hey, switch to the back 4. Pull the press line back to midfield. Try to get one on the counter. Make them try to Barcalona us in our defensive third. But EDF was arragant and got the tactics so fukin wrong I couldn't believe what I was watching.

 

[NorthDakota]

2 away goals hurts bad. We need to score in Rome. Great game. hate to see two cheap ass goals like that though.

I think Pool will score. They've given me no reason to think they won't.

 

[aubeirish]

I think Pool will score. They've given me no reason to think they won't.

This. The commentators made it sound way worse than it is. Liverpool is still up 3... Just like JK said, we'll go out there and try to win the game. That simple really.

Looks like Ox will be out for the season if the reports are true. Shame, his form has been superb and in continuous improvement since joining the reds. Plus the squad is getting really thin.

 

[Rogue219]

I think Pool will score. They've given me no reason to think they won't.

You think?

 

[notredomer23]

I think Pool will score. They've given me no reason to think they won't.

I thought Messi and co would score too.

 

[Cackalacky]

You think?

My only concern is if Liverpool are somehow affected by the road and the atmosphere in Roma. As soon as they took Salah off yesterday they took their foot off the gas and got lazy in the back (Lovern...smdh). Ings is a center forward and not a right wing so I hated that substituion. That Milner penalty was a penalty but was unfortunate.

With Roma needing 3 to win they will have to play fast and loose and that favors Liverpool by all accounts this year. I look to Liverpool to at least score 1 goal and that would make Roma need 4. Not impossible but unlikely they can come back from that.

 

[Rogue219]

Di Francesco got the tactics wrong in this game. He needed to return the line up to a back 4 straight away in the second half. And he should have called back the high press to not start until midfield. He messed up bad in the second half and thats all there is to it.

Roma played near flawlessly the first 20 mins of the game. But they made 3 back to back bad plays/loss of posession in the middle of the field that were unforced and it changed the entire game. I was thrilled to get out of that first half down 2-0.

I thought hey, switch to the back 4. Pull the press line back to midfield. Try to get one on the counter. Make them try to Barcalona us in our defensive third. But EDF was arragant and got the tactics so fukin wrong I couldn't believe what I was watching.

Roma overwhelmed Barcelona with this formation, cluttering the midfield and cutting out service to Messi. For those 20 minutes in the first-half, it worked. Liverpool's direct passes were the difference, in comparison. Roma didn't adjust.

They zone marked on corners. Poorly. No adjustment.

It was Roma's 8th game in 25 days. Not an excuse, but their preparation was poor knowing the competition and knowing their workload.

Roma played well at Camp Nou even though they lost 4-1. They had to have felt better mentally afterward and they ended up pulling off the shocker at home to advance. They did not play well last night and even with the two late goals (the PK a gift) I don't know how they can feel good mentally going into the second leg.

It's weird how a 5-2 result is seen as uncertain. Part of that is how the game is played now, how defenders simply aren't as good and Liverpool's reputation under Rodgers and Klopp these past few years. Seems like we heard the same things pre City and post City first leg, though.

 

[Rogue219]

My only concern is if Liverpool are somehow affected by the road and the atmosphere in Roma. As soon as they took Salah off yesterday they took their foot off the gas and got lazy in the back (Lovern...smdh). Ings is a center forward and not a right wing so I hated that substituion. That Milner penalty was a penalty but was unfortunate.

With Roma needing 3 to win they will have to play fast and loose and that favors Liverpool by all accounts this year. I look to Liverpool to at least score 1 goal and that would make Roma need 4. Not impossible but unlikely they can come back from that.

They don't have much depth. If it wasn't Ings it would have been Solanke.

Matip, Can, Lallana and Ox are all done. They need results to stay Top 4 in the League and are trying to capture Europe's biggest prize. It's going to be an interesting end. I hope they have enough in the tank for their sake.

Need to spend this summer to bolster the ranks.

 

[Cackalacky]

They don't have much depth. If it wasn't Ings it would have been Solanke.

Matip, Can, Lallana and Ox are all done. They need results to stay Top 4 in the League and are trying to capture Europe's biggest prize. It's going to be an interesting end. I hope they have enough in the tank for their sake.

Need to spend this summer to bolster the ranks.

Agree but putting Ings out wide is dumb. Roma totally ignored him after Salah came off.

We need to offload Lallana and Matip and Lovren (too injured), and Can (not really good IMO). Dont think Solanke is a fit either after watching him with the first team. AS good as the team has been post Coutihno, we need some serious depth for sure. We do have Keita coming in and that is going to be awsome.

 

[nlroma1o]

Roma overwhelmed Barcelona with this formation, cluttering the midfield and cutting out service to Messi. For those 20 minutes in the first-half, it worked. Liverpool's direct passes were the difference, in comparison. Roma didn't adjust.

They zone marked on corners. Poorly. No adjustment.

It was Roma's 8th game in 25 days. Not an excuse, but their preparation was poor knowing the competition and knowing their workload.

Roma played well at Camp Nou even though they lost 4-1. They had to have felt better mentally afterward and they ended up pulling off the shocker at home to advance. They did not play well last night and even with the two late goals (the PK a gift) I don't know how they can feel good mentally going into the second leg.

It's weird how a 5-2 result is seen as uncertain. Part of that is how the game is played now, how defenders simply aren't as good and Liverpool's reputation under Rodgers and Klopp these past few years. Seems like we heard the same things pre City and post City first leg, though.

I’ll say it again. The arrogance of EDF lost this tie for Roma. It’s CLEAR man. At this level you have to be able to make adjustments for the good or bad. Make the damn change at halftime and play for the 2-0 or 2-1 or 3-1. Then we would have at least had a chance at home. I’ve been suspect of EDF all season. Now I could careless if he leaves.

 

[Old Man Mike]

What Liverpool has that I think is understated is a whole lot of people who can deliver long accurate feeder balls. I don't believe that even a team as good as Barcelona has that array of players for that specific task, and Barcelona certainly doesn't have three (even four or five) straightline blast runners like Liverpool. (Even their one run-long guy, Suarez, good as he is, doesn't run away from people and doesn't usually have the preternatural first time touch that Liverpool's three have.).

Roma's Barcelona strategy cannot be an anti-Liverpool strategy. Liverpool has weaknesses as we know, but, good lord almighty, if you let them play you're in deep sh!t.

By the way, I like Chamberlain's contribution to the team (both ends) a great deal, but Wynaldum played a superb game --- maybe as good by him as I have seen --- all over the field at front foot gear, never stopping.


As far as off-loading is concerned: I'm with Klopp that Lovren has the tools to be great, so stick with him to see if that mental stuff cures. VVD and the wingbacks and Henderson (and Wynaldum and the ancient Captain) all cover the occasional buffoon job pretty well now.

The team needs midfielders that you can count on and don't sulk if they're not playing much. Off-loading midfielders obviously has to be done only if equally talented and healthier ones come in. If Lallana actually GOT healthy, then he should stay. If Can actually WANTED to stay at Liverpool then he should stay. Those two guys are very talented. Matip as a sub is too. I'd almost rather see a threatening bench forward than anything else depth wise ... and a world class keeper.

 

[nlroma1o]

What Liverpool has that I think is understated is a whole lot of people who can deliver long accurate feeder balls. I don't believe that even a team as good as Barcelona has that array of players for that specific task, and Barcelona certainly doesn't have three (even four or five) straightline blast runners like Liverpool. (Even their one run-long guy, Suarez, good as he is, doesn't run away from people and doesn't usually have the preternatural first time touch that Liverpool's three have.).

Roma's Barcelona strategy cannot be an anti-Liverpool strategy. Liverpool has weaknesses as we know, but, good lord almighty, if you let them play you're in deep sh!t.

By the way, I like Chamberlain's contribution to the team (both ends) a great deal, but Wynaldum played a superb game --- maybe as good by him as I have seen --- all over the field at front foot gear, never stopping.

OMM, at this level, just about every player on the pitch can reliever an accurate, timely long ball. Yesterday’s game the way Roma was disposessiing the ball in the middle of the pitch and being sloppy with it gave Liverpool time to in 2 passes go short and then a long ball over the top. Notice the first 20 mins to the last 25 mins of the first half. The difference was Roma was panicing, got sloppy and made lot of forced errant passes or dribbles that they could
Have avoided. And when you give up the ball in dangerous space like that and Roma’s mids were in a high press, the defense back line was very high, it’s easy for players at this level to ping an accurate pass.

 

[nlroma1o]

What Liverpool has that I think is understated is a whole lot of people who can deliver long accurate feeder balls. I don't believe that even a team as good as Barcelona has that array of players for that specific task, and Barcelona certainly doesn't have three (even four or five) straightline blast runners like Liverpool. (Even their one run-long guy, Suarez, good as he is, doesn't run away from people and doesn't usually have the preternatural first time touch that Liverpool's three have.).

Roma's Barcelona strategy cannot be an anti-Liverpool strategy. Liverpool has weaknesses as we know, but, good lord almighty, if you let them play you're in deep sh!t.

By the way, I like Chamberlain's contribution to the team (both ends) a great deal, but Wynaldum played a superb game --- maybe as good by him as I have seen --- all over the field at front foot gear, never stopping.

And in regards to Barca. It’s just not how they play football. They beat you by never letting you get the ball. They are one of the clubs that prides themselves of that. They have the skill to do it and they exhausts teams that way.

 

[Rogue219]

Agree but putting Ings out wide is dumb. Roma totally ignored him after Salah came off.

We need to offload Lallana and Matip and Lovren (too injured), and Can (not really good IMO). Dont think Solanke is a fit either after watching him with the first team. AS good as the team has been post Coutihno, we need some serious depth for sure. We do have Keita coming in and that is going to be awsome.

Tactically, agreed. He didn't really have any other options though.

They need another CB to go with Van Dijk. I'd keep Matip as a reserve. Lovren, Klavan and Moreno need to be sold. No idea what you do with Gomez at this point.

Can's contract is up. He's likely going somewhere else on a free.

 

[Rogue219]

Van Dijk, Alexander Arnold and Robertson are all good passers out of the back. Matip is a pretty good passer too and I think they miss him. Lovren had been playing well, but that's as much being next to Van Dijk as anything else.

If they find another class Center Half to pair with Van Dijk next year, this club will cause everyone problems in England and Europe.

 

[Cackalacky]

Tactically, agreed. He didn't really have any other options though.

They need another CB to go with Van Dijk. I'd keep Matip as a reserve. Lovren, Klavan and Moreno need to be sold. No idea what you do with Gomez at this point.

Can's contract is up. He's likely going somewhere else on a free.

Yes keep Matip as reserve. Gomez is young and physical and could slide inside or at least needs a shot over the guys we already know well. I am actually a big fan of Klavan and is a good sqaud player for the cups and such IMO. How can you let skills like this go:

Moreno has lost his spot to Robertson who has had an amazing last 6 months.

 

[Cackalacky]

My favorite image from yesterday. Thats a whole lot of goals in this gif and Houlier lol
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Pure joy on Kenny's face.<br>Rushie is genuinely ecstatic.<br>Houllier can't believe what he's just seen.<br><br>What's not to love?<a href="https://t.co/5rw3xupfuG">pic.twitter.com/5rw3xupfuG</a></p>— SH (@Sennesation) <a href="https://twitter.com/Sennesation/status/989069157697277954?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 25, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[Rogue219]

Yes keep Matip as reserve. Gomez is young and physical and could slide inside or at least needs a shot over the guys we already know well. I am actually a big fan of Klavan and is a good sqaud player for the cups and such IMO. How can you let skills like this go:

Moreno has lost his spot to Robertson who has had an amazing last 6 months.

Koulibaly from Napoli at CB
Keita coming in.
Ndidi from Leicester to play DM.

Mignolet is going to be leaving so they'll need to find a class keeper to come in and push Karius. Danny Ward would be the third.

Fascinating team. If they can shore up their midfield to service this front three, they can overtake City next year for the title.

 

[Old Man Mike]

Thanks. I enjoy hearing you soccer veterans describe what's going on beyond my brief experience.

By the way, thanks to all the fellows in this thread --- one of the very few IE threads (of any standing) devoid of jerk behavior. A real pleasure to visit.

 

[dublinirish]

is that Ian Rush's wife or daughter next to him? bloody hell

 

[notredomer23]

Thanks. I enjoy hearing you soccer veterans describe what's going on beyond my brief experience.

By the way, thanks to all the fellows in this thread --- one of the very few IE threads (of any standing) devoid of jerk behavior. A real pleasure to visit.

We footy fans need to stick together to continue to grow the sport in the US we all love.

 

[Cackalacky]

is that Ian Rush's wife or daughter next to him? bloody hell

Carol Anthony (GF and model). She is a stone cold fox.

 

[dublinirish]

Carol Anthony (GF and model). She is a stone cold fox.

first i've heard of her and shes from Cork. 22 year age gap lol fair play to him

 

[Cackalacky]

What Liverpool has that I think is understated is a whole lot of people who can deliver long accurate feeder balls. I don't believe that even a team as good as Barcelona has that array of players for that specific task, and Barcelona certainly doesn't have three (even four or five) straightline blast runners like Liverpool. (Even their one run-long guy, Suarez, good as he is, doesn't run away from people and doesn't usually have the preternatural first time touch that Liverpool's three have.).

Roma's Barcelona strategy cannot be an anti-Liverpool strategy. Liverpool has weaknesses as we know, but, good lord almighty, if you let them play you're in deep sh!t.

By the way, I like Chamberlain's contribution to the team (both ends) a great deal, but Wynaldum played a superb game --- maybe as good by him as I have seen --- all over the field at front foot gear, never stopping.


As far as off-loading is concerned: I'm with Klopp that Lovren has the tools to be great, so stick with him to see if that mental stuff cures. VVD and the wingbacks and Henderson (and Wynaldum and the ancient Captain) all cover the occasional buffoon job pretty well now.

The team needs midfielders that you can count on and don't sulk if they're not playing much. Off-loading midfielders obviously has to be done only if equally talented and healthier ones come in. If Lallana actually GOT healthy, then he should stay. If Can actually WANTED to stay at Liverpool then he should stay. Those two guys are very talented. Matip as a sub is too. I'd almost rather see a threatening bench forward than anything else depth wise ... and a world class keeper.

Gini and Robertson are my unheralded players this year.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">360 ✅ Pinpoint pass ✅<a href="https://twitter.com/GWijnaldum?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GWijnaldum</a> &#55357;&#56399;&#55357;&#56399;&#55357;&#56399;<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UCL?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UCL</a> <a href="https://t.co/1WyCYMyXYU">pic.twitter.com/1WyCYMyXYU</a></p>— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChampionsLeague/status/988905706295300096?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 24, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Andy Robertson - Liverpool FC 17/18 (2) <a href="https://t.co/LTeUUu4Vsv">pic.twitter.com/LTeUUu4Vsv</a></p>— SH (@Sennesation) <a href="https://twitter.com/Sennesation/status/988119088412184576?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 22, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[nlroma1o]

is that Ian Rush's wife or daughter next to him? bloody hell

Bloody hell indeed! lol I was wondering the same.

 

[Rogue219]

Henderson got off to a poor start last night but he settled in quite well. Liverpool fans really hammer that guy.

I don't know of another team I've seen this year that gets the ball in the midfield better than Liverpool.

Rumors that Steven Gerrard will be the next manager of Rangers. I find that to be one of the more ridiculous rumors I've heard in a while.