05 Feb 2019 21:05:30
I think what people are worried about is that at the start of the season we were playing badly but getting results. Now were playing badly and not getting them! So where is the turnaround going to come from?

People were saying that Klopp was saving the players from burnout at the end of the season by reining them in a bit at the start. Well now is the time to unleash the full effect! We need a response. I honestly thought that this would happen against Leicester- to keep the pressure turned up.

If we can get the fab four scoring for fun again like last year, our new defensive solidity should mean we could be winning games 4-0 rather than 4-3.

1.) 05 Feb 2019
05 Feb 2019 21:14:08
Not sure Coutinho is going to get involved 😂.

2.) 05 Feb 2019
05 Feb 2019 21:19:59
Stoneage, how can we unleash the full effect when half your potential starters are injured in critical areas? City lost Fernandinho and lost 3 out of 4 games. Just for perspective. How was Klopp supposed to know that VVD would get so ill he lost 4 kilos or Milner would get so ill he had to travel separately with the team before the WH game or that Gini or Hendo would be out at the last minute vs WH or that Gomez's injury would take him out for the whole season? I mean, I can keep going. We can't keep acting like these things don't affect the team and preparation for games cos they do.

These are the realities we have been dealt and we have to find a way to rise above them and still have a chance when out of it. Support and positivity is what is needed now cos the boys and manager deserve it for what they have done thus far and if we abandon them now (like many did at Anfield vs LC) then we should not be surprised if we don't win the title.

3.) 05 Feb 2019
05 Feb 2019 21:58:24
Interesting perspective RW, thanks. Clearly injuries are affecting us, as they would any team. But with the signings we made over the summer we are in many ways stronger than we were last season. I am wondering if it is down to tactics, rather than personnel. Shaq and Fab give us a new dimension going forwards, so why are we scoring less? Last night it seemed to me that the players could be a bit over-coached. they were over-thinking it when they got to the edge of the box. A couple of times Firmino could have run at goal or shot, but in every case they opt to try two thread the needle passes instead, handing the advantage to the WH defenders.

Whilst I appreciate that we have injuries, I am wondering why Klopp doesn't take the shackles off the players that are not injured. It's either that, or the pressure is getting to the players, cos they don't look like themselves.

ps KK92- Shaq is now part of the Fab 4. It's like when Ringo replaced Pete Best!

4.) 05 Feb 2019
05 Feb 2019 22:41:59
Stone, nice to have a good discussion for a change in the midst of this OTT mayhem currently going on. I fully agree with your points and premise and you have good arguments to make. It could be that our boys are being over-coached and are hence, over thinking things. It could also be that they are being over-coached hence, over-thinking things cos they lack confidence due in themselves which is affecting their decision-making.

Football is an instinctive game where confidence is huge. When you are confident, you don't go to things. They come to you. Check the players last night. They mostly made "safe" passes. Why? Cos they are no confident enuff to make that telling pass or take risks cos they know that mayhem could happen should a pass go astray and we get caught out. Bobbie was a great example. He put every foot wrong last night and that is my point.

The current state of affairs is affecting the players mental state and Klopp (if you saw his post game presser, is feeling it too. I propose that they go back to basics and just focus on football. Forget the title, forget City the whole thing. Focus on football and getting that mojo back and let's unleash that on B'mouth come Sat. Cheers, man.

5.) 06 Feb 2019
06 Feb 2019 12:31:05
Maybe the team mentality and preparations are fine and the only problem here is the fans unrealistic expectations, someone a couple of months back joked that it may take a record breaking number of points to win the league this year and that got stuck in the fans young minds . And they started to expect a win in every game . well maybe its not a record breaking season, we may drop more points, city will definitely drop points, I don't know come May who will be champion, but I know I am going to enjoy every game until then, because its been one of the best seasons for us for a while, good football, good team spirit and we need to ignore everything else and support the boys.