PL Matches August 22/23/24

[PrettyColors]

Slightly distressed that Liverpool look much more composed defensively, fluid going forward, and disciplined in their shape.

And they're actually playing their young players (Gomez, Ibe, Rossiter). I hate Rodgers but they've looked good.

I feel dirty.

 

[DEFchenkOE]

Its been really poor in terms of quality.

Has it? First half I saw Liverpool have some sustained pressure and they really looked a threat. Second half Arsenal put them under a lot of pressure but they didn't crack. But Liverpool still looked a threat on the counter.

Don't think it was poor quality at all.

 

[Mr Pink]

Has it? First half I saw Liverpool have some sustained pressure and they really looked a threat. Second half Arsenal put them under a lot of pressure but they didn't crack. But Liverpool still looked a threat on the counter.

Don't think it was poor quality at all.

Liverpool did well first half and should of been a few up. Arsenal were very poor. Overall though I've never seen so much ball given away, honestly. Arsenal improved in the second half, impossible not to really, but the game was littered with careless passing, mistakes, and poor decision making in the final third from both teams.

 

[Mr Pink]

Slightly distressed that Liverpool look much more composed defensively, fluid going forward, and disciplined in their shape.

And they're actually playing their young players (Gomez, Ibe, Rossiter). I hate Rodgers but they've looked good.

I feel dirty.

The looked good in the fist half tonight, and good defensively in the second. But against Stoke and Bournemouth they were very mediocre IMO.

Arsenal were poor again at home though, that has a bearing too.

 

[PrettyColors]

The looked good in the fist half tonight, and good defensively in the second. But against Stoke and Bournemouth they were very mediocre IMO.

Arsenal were poor again at home though, that has a bearing too.

They were mediocre against Stoke but they got 3 points out of the match. To me, Liverpool actually are what the optimists on here like to think we are.

They've made ridiculous profit on their players (Suarez and Sterling sold for 125m, bought for 22m) recently, give youth a big chance, and play "attacking football." But more than anything, they actually addressed their issues. Firmino and Coutinho will give defenses fits, IMO we don't have a player like that (no, not eriksen), and Can+Milner is actually really solid, looked even better with Lucas in.

They also are richer than us, pay bigger wages and fees, though. Not really a shock. But I think we're playing catch-up to the top 5 right now.

 

[Mr Pink]

They were mediocre against Stoke but they got 3 points out of the match. To me, Liverpool actually are what the optimists on here like to think we are.

They've made ridiculous profit on their players (Suarez and Sterling sold for 125m, bought for 22m) recently, give youth a big chance, and play "attacking football." But more than anything, they actually addressed their issues. Firmino and Coutinho will give defenses fits, IMO we don't have a player like that (no, not eriksen), and Can+Milner is actually really solid, looked even better with Lucas in.

They also are richer than us, pay bigger wages and fees, though. Not really a shock. But I think we're playing catch-up to the top 5 right now.

Yet they keep finishing behind us bar one freak season. They may well finish above us this season and perhaps that statement will carry some more weight but until that happens....

 

[PrettyColors]

Yet they keep finishing behind us bar one freak season. They may well finish above us this season and perhaps that statement will carry some more weight but until that happens....

Fair enough. They looked world class last August when they beat us 4-0, and yet they were shit afterwards. Early doors, but at this point only City have been truly impressive. We shall see.

 

[rossdapep]

We should want Wenger to stay in charge for many more years. He really doesn't seem to see the glaringly obvious gaps in his squad, if it was Mourinho he would have had the striker and dm they've needed TWO years ago. Neville's wrong, he's not naive, he's stubborn. They still have time to do something but it's funny to watch him continually leave his team short.

 

[Mr Pink]

Fair enough. They looked world class last August when they beat us 4-0, and yet they were shit afterwards. Early doors, but at this point only City have been truly impressive. We shall see.

City will win the League for me, they were my tip before a ball was kicked.

And the reason why I thought they would was the purchase of Sterling. Not because of his individual ability so much, but his pace and movement, and what that would do to their dynamic...you can already see how they're benefiting from it...down that left hand side with Kolarov and Silva linking up.

They'll be unstoppable this season IMO.

 

[DEFchenkOE]

Liverpool did well first half and should of been a few up. Arsenal were very poor. Overall though I've never seen so much ball given away, honestly. Arsenal improved in the second half, impossible not to really, but the game was littered with careless passing, mistakes, and poor decision making in the final third from both teams.

But for some poor finishing and good goalkeeping I thought there would have been a few goals at least. I didn't see too many problems with the final third decision making.

Btw Liverpool completed 81 passes in the final 3rd and Arsenal 231. Just to add a bit of perspective we completed 52 against Man U, 58 against Stoke, and 126 against Leicester.

 

[Mr Pink]

But for some poor finishing and good goalkeeping I thought there would have been a few goals at least. I didn't see too many problems with the final third decision making.

Btw Liverpool completed 81 passes in the final 3rd and Arsenal 231. Just to add a bit of perspective we completed 52 against Man U, 58 against Stoke, and 126 against Leicester.

Find those stats surprising, what were the overall passing stats for both teams?...there was a lot of giving the ball away, I definitely didn't imagine that.

Even Henry has literally just said, verbatim.,,,,'they didn't play well, I thought it was a poor game, those two teams are normally good on the ball, take care of the ball better and there was a lot of enforced errors and missed passes'

Basically exactly what I said.

 

[DEFchenkOE]

Arsenal completed 563/664 85%, and Liverpool completed 241/337 72%.

Yea I heard Henry say that, but I don't really agree with him. Just think the finishing was poor. But Liverpool also defended quite well.

 

[anydange]

from the BBC:

"Liverpool's tough set of fixtures early on in the season could have piled immediate pressure on Brendan Rodgers after a drab 2014-15 season.
So far he is swimming, not sinking."

They scraped through against Bournemouth and Stoke plus had one good half against a terrible Arsenal defence (which they failed to score against). The media spinning it in their favor yet again...

 

[Mr Pink]

Arsenal completed 563/664 85%, and Liverpool completed 241/337 72%.

Yea I heard Henry say that, but I don't really agree with him. Just think the finishing was poor. But Liverpool also defended quite well.

Well I do agree, it was poor in quality for large parts.

 

[SteveH]

we can't draw too many conclusions from so few games.
Liverpool look a little more workmanlike than last season.
Arsenal will get better but are very poor if put under pressure ATM
City look different class
Chelsea, are well, rich
Swansea look good
Spurs and Man U look scratchy.
Everton look very impressive.

 

[SteveH]

City will win the League for me, they were my tip before a ball was kicked.

And the reason why I thought they would was the purchase of Sterling. Not because of his individual ability so much, but his pace and movement, and what that would do to their dynamic...you can already see how they're benefiting from it...down that left hand side with Kolarov and Silva linking up.

They'll be unstoppable this season IMO.

The only problem for them will be Europe and subsequent injuries arising.
City rely on Aguaro far too much that could be a problem going forward?

 

[Mr Pink]

The only problem for them will be Europe and subsequent injuries arising.
City rely on Aguaro far too much that could be a problem going forward?

They still have Bony....a very good back up IMO. He could certainly get a good return of goals with a real run in the team.

But yeah, Aguero staying fit for the majority of the season and they'll win it.

 

[Monkey boy]

we can't draw too many conclusions from so few games.
Liverpool look a little more workmanlike than last season.
Arsenal will get better but are very poor if put under pressure ATM
City look different class
Chelsea, are well, rich
Swansea look good
Spurs and Man U look scratchy.

Everton look very impressive.

Sorry have to pull you up on this, they scraped a draw at home against Watford and were booed off in both halves, they beat Soton with what looked like a comfortable scoreline but the reality was that Saints could and probably should have easily been 2 nil up before they scored and then they lost 2 nil at home to Man City where had Navas and Sterling been able to finish the score line could have been a whole lot worse for them.

What have you seen so far that's impressive?

 

[SteveH]

Sorry have to pull you up on this, they scraped a draw at home against Watford and were booed off in both halves, they beat Soton with what looked like a comfortable scoreline but the reality was that Saints could and probably should have easily been 2 nil up before they scored and then they lost 2 nil at home to Man City where had Navas and Sterling been able to finish the score line could have been a whole lot worse for them.

What have you seen so far that's impressive?

True - I sit corrected.
They were good agains a very sad looking Southampton.

 

[Toela65]

We should have gone for Milner, and paid his wages. He's the kind of player who would show the lads some professionalism.

You did. He politely declined. Also wanted to stay oop North.