Liverpool Banter Mobile

11 May 2024 13:16:46
My end of season awards are. best young player Quansah, best player Macallister or Allison, best goal is Mac's v Fulham at Anfield, best breakthrough player is Quansah again, best team performance v Chelsea at Wembley, highlight of season was winning league Cup and low point was announcement of Klopp leaving obviously.

11 May 2024 14:09:53
Cmon let’s get the proper awards going.
Superfan of the season on here would be very tight 😂.

11 May 2024 14:20:38
Young POTY: Elliott
Breakthrough: Quansah
POTY: Virgil
Best game: Carabao Cup Final
Best goal: Macca vs Fulham.

11 May 2024 14:27:51
Best Player: Van Dijk
Runner up: Mac Allaister

Best Young Player: Quansah
Runner Up: Conor Bradley

Best Goal: Mac vs Fulham
Runner up: Nunez vs Newcastle

Best Team Performance: home game vs Aston Villa

Highlight: League cup win

Breakthrough player: Connor Bradley
Runner Up: Quansah

Things I'm excited about for next year:

Harvey Elliott is taking serious steps these last few months. I'm extremely excited about him and didn't include him in my young players as I now consider him graduated.

Quansah and Bradley will save us millions. Superb additions that hopefully will only improve next season.

NicolGlory, put on some earmuffs for this next bit. I think this season got away from Szobozlai a little bit but I think he is a world class talent that we only scratched the surface on. With a break, small change of tactics, I'm very hopeful we see the best of him next season.

Bajcetic. What a talent. Just want to see him fit. Once he gets his fitness, we could have something really special.

I want to see Macca and Trent take ownership of this team on the pitch. I want them orchestrating everything. Creating chances left right and centre. It's rare to have two incredible playmaking talents at once. That should be far more noticeable than it was this season and hopefully we see it next season.

I admit I'm a glass half full guy most of the time but I genuinely see the building blocks of a really exciting new generation. With the right additions, I think we could have something very exciting on our hands.

11 May 2024 15:43:21
Wel put davey we have a quality young squad that are growing together with a few additions defensively and a tweak we could be unreal no doubt about it .y

11 May 2024 15:49:43
"Superfan of the Year" should be scientifically awarded to the person who complained about 'superfans' the most. Just for trolling.

11 May 2024 17:21:25
Close call between Quansah, Elliot and Bradley for young player of the year.

I like the idea of a breakthrough player as that allows the nomination of two of them for an award.

I think Elliot as young player due to playing more games and minutes and then Quansah as breakout player.

Endo underdog story of the year

Mac player of the year

Kelleher recognition award of the year.

{Ed077's Note - Quansah assist for the Bruno goal seals it for me 😜

11 May 2024 12:32:26
I had a very interesting chat with a Feynoord supporter I ended up in a debate with through social media this morning.

Naturally we got onto the way Slot plays with a 4-2-3-1. They clarified that only one full back inverts for Feynoord (normally Geertruida from either RB or LB depending what side he's playing) . So I'd guess not too dissimilar to how Trent does for us from RB. The main difference is that Slot then asks the other full back to sit in to create a back 3 whereas we still have Robbo bombing forward. Sounds like it will suit Trent and Bradley who have the ability to invert, but doesn't sound as good for Robbo or Tsimikas as neither are solid enough defensively for that in my opinion. Looks like we'd need a player at LB who can defend as a priority and will be disciplined in staying back. I thought Slot's arrival might be the end of Gomez, but arguably tucking in from LB to being a 3rd CB could be perfect for him (on paper) to reignite his career.

When Geertruida inverts, one of the double pivot players then pushes on next to the no.10 (sounds ideal for Mac Allister) which creates a dual attacking midfielder set up with the fast wingers then going wider to maintain the width. This creates an attacking 4 behind the striker which stretches right across the pitch. Sounds a lot like how Man City play in possession. Think this will suit Diaz and Gakpo quite well on the left but really highlights the need to sign a fast wide man to replace Salah on the right. Also highlights the need to have a clinical striker. Jota would probably be ideal if he wasn't so injury prone but Nunez is going to have to scrub up in front of goal big time.

Out of possession is where it sounded more similar to a Klopp side. It's an aggressive press but where it differs to how we press more in wide areas, Feynoord press more through the centre. The no.10 pushed up to press with the striker but the 2 wingers drop in to create two defensive banks of 4. So it sounds more pragmatic defensively but perhaps not quite as effective at winning the ball high up the pitch; would like to see it in action though as pressing in 1's and 2's is very hard. Two players in our team who are both relentless in their pressing are Elliott and Szoboszlai so where I previously thought they might do well on the right wing under Slot, I'm now thinking they might be better suited to the 10 role where their work rate from the front will be better utilised out of possession.

I found it really interesting having never watched a full 90 of Feynoord so thought I'd pass on my understanding. Football has become so complicated nowadays. I had a totally different vision in my head when I heard Slot plays 4-2-3-1 with inverted full backs; I was thinking more like Spurs with Porro and Udogie inverting. Slot's 4-2-3-1 seems like it virtually disappears at kick off becoming a 3-2-4-1 in possession and a 4-4-2 out of possession. He's obviously a very regimented manager tactically.

11 May 2024 16:57:27
Given the changes to the offside rule from next season, it could see a lot more chances for Nunez, a lot of the offside calls against him would be onside next season. And once he’s away not many are catching him. He just needs to work on that last bit.

11 May 2024 17:09:22
The number of chances Nunez is getting is not his main problem.
Which offside decisions against him this season wouldn't be given next season, Vik?

11 May 2024 17:25:38
Nunez composure and decision making is what sometimes let's him down but that might just improve with more experience and exposure.

Realistically all the players still have something to play for the next two games as Slot will 100% be assessing them.

They can’t wait until pre season to set their marker that comes now.

Let’s send a legend in Klopp out with a high and give the incoming manager some good headaches to have before pre season even gets underway.

11 May 2024 17:40:00
Interesting MK, it does sound distinctly different from our mess of system. I can see how having proper wingers, rather than wide forwards, would make a big difference in maintaining width. Additionally, having a third centre back to play on the left hand side would make a big difference. Not sure it would be enough to convert me but there’s no doubt about it, we are implementing these tactics in the worst way possible.

Good point about the press. You’d imagine that in the premier league you wouldn’t be able to get away with pressing in 1’s and 2’s. Furthermore, if we’re moving away from having goalscoring wide players that cut inside, it raises a lot of questions. It should suit Diaz and Gakpo perfectly, providing we can keep both of them moving forward. Jota would be perfect but he is always injured.

Biggest concerns are Salah and Nunez. Salah would have to be moved centrally for me, I can’t see it working any other way, he doesn’t have the pace to beat a man and get to the byline anymore. Nunez wouldn’t fit in on either wing and isn’t clinical enough to lead the line if more emphasis is placed on the centre forward. Our midfield players should shine and score more goals as well.

Salah I can see being moved on if push comes to shove, I have no idea what the plan is for Nunez though. That does concern me. Convincing Diaz to stay is a must if this is the way we want to play.

10 May 2024 20:52:53
Just a thought, but how difficult would it have been for Arne Slot had Klopp won more of the cups like the FA cup, UEFA cup and Premier League?

How much easier is it now for Slot that we only won the minor one of the cups?

10 May 2024 22:12:26
What has happened in the past (including this season) has no bearing on what happens when Slot takes over - new management structure, new players coming in, current players leaving. Slot - like Klopp - needs to be judged on the circumstances that prevail at the time they are in charge.

10 May 2024 22:45:22
If we had won all four trophies then Slot would possibly be inheriting a squad that won all four trophies.
That would make his job easier, wouldn't it?

11 May 2024 08:26:20
What I hope we don’t see is massive rapid turnover of existing players. The squad has done pretty well this season all things considered and ripping the heart out of that just because the manager has changed will not end well. Evolution not revolution.

11 May 2024 08:35:45
Expectations would have been higher and sometimes that's the killer. I think the way the season has turned out a lot of us would have been happy in August 2023. I for one said a Trophy and a top 4 finish would be a good season. I will be happy if we can get the same next year, but i will give my prediction once we know the squad that Arne will have at his disposal.

I expect signings of the likes of Gini, Mane and Salah in terms of a little uninspiring at the time, compared to going and getting the best in the market at the Time, ie Virgil, Allison, Nunez and Thiago.

11 May 2024 11:16:36
Man who knows. I think the only that changes is the narrative.