10 Feb 2018 10:40:36
Morning Ed001.

Thought we really started to look jaded during the 2nd half against Spurs, thought they took advantage of this by stretching the play.

Do you you think Klopp will make changes against Saints, with Porto in mind on Wednesday?

With 12 games to go and CL games this will be a real test of how strong we are in the run in.

{Ed001's Note - I don't think we were jaded, we came out deeper, so it couldn't have been that. It was a tactical change that just led to us getting overrun and the player's were struggling to cope.}

1.) 10 Feb 2018
10 Feb 2018 11:12:37
I always try and guess the starting line up using the Friday training photo's to help.

Total guess work but Ben Woodburn looked to be wearing the same coloured bib as all the players you'd expect to start (Firmino, Salah, Mane etc) .

2.) 10 Feb 2018
10 Feb 2018 11:15:26
I saw it as such, as well Ed. It may not had been the best tactic and indeed, all tactics are gambles in the end, IMO. It did work by and large, IMO until as they created next to no clear chances (3 shots on target in 95 mins says it all) until their first goal happened and then the refs stepped in it.

3.) 10 Feb 2018
10 Feb 2018 11:24:09
You may be right, MK.

4.) 10 Feb 2018
10 Feb 2018 11:24:14
Interesting that mk, would possibly see him play in the midfield 3? I wouldn't be mad seeing him get a chance to be the creative force from there in this game, would be great opportunity for him!

5.) 10 Feb 2018
10 Feb 2018 12:18:00
We are an extremely fit and mobile team and so are Spurs. I think we out ran spurs in the first half and then blew out of steam. Spurs were at sixes and sevens in the first half with our pressing. Second half the lads couldn't keep up the intensity which can be expected and this allowed Spurs to srretch us.

{Ed001's Note - but they didn't even try and press in the 2nd half, so it can't be about running out of steam immediately. It was a tactical change. It is not even difficult to see, the team set up differently, players deeper which makes it impossible to press.}

6.) 10 Feb 2018
10 Feb 2018 12:20:20
Would love to see the lad get a chance, just hope fans don't turn on him for not being ready made from the get go.

7.) 10 Feb 2018
10 Feb 2018 12:22:14
Lallana and Moreno also seemed to be in the hi-vis yellow bibs that Woodburn, Salah, Firmino and Mane were wearing.

100% guessing though lads. I would love to see Woodburn get a start though.

8.) 10 Feb 2018
10 Feb 2018 12:41:41
Saw and thought the same thing MK!

Would be very surprised to see him though, he hasn't even made the bench in recent weeks.

Fingers crossed though.

9.) 11 Feb 2018
11 Feb 2018 11:35:03
Agree completely that we just changed focus and tactics in 2nd half. My worry is that with the likes of Hendo, Can, Gini, Ox, and Milner, none of them are naturally defensive minded mids. I don't mean a CDM, just that their natural styles are dynamic box to box types ye. So when we try to play deep like we did vs spurs or in other cases when we try and contain a game, we are fighting against our own players natural instincts!

Case in point being the number of times we've seen Milner, Can and even Hendo fly up to press only to get turned so easily leaving our defence exposed. We just don't seem to have a CM who will sit Marshall his CM partnered and keep the ball in front of them. Our midfield is like turnstiles all game! Its not been a new thing too, we were like this under BR and definitely in Klopp's first 3/ 4 season in charge. I thought we had turned a lead around a 1/ 4 way thru this season where we seemed to play controlled but then we've reverted back to type.

My point is, and as mentioned by others, sorting out our midfield is as important to address this off-season. We've almost specialised in turning attacking mids into roles that require more specific defensive duties. Long term I think we will always battle this same problem until we recruit CMs who have a natural eye for the defensive side of the game. doesn't need to be CDM just someone who can apply the tactics of that deeper CM position.

Always wanted Ndidi, but don't know if we are interested in him. In any case I hope we address is it, I think it will really help Hendo, can (if he stays), Gini etc to play their natural games and hopefully improve their performances too.