18 Sep 2019 07:10:49
Morning ed001, watch the match?

Thought we were wasteful in the final third, slopping passing and wrong decision making at times. Yes we were undone by a poor refereeing decision but we were to blame for not winning.

We were in control at times and really should have put the game to bed. I know it's not the end of the world but we should have won last night - we move on, it happens, it's just disappointing.

I've noticed teams are getting joy down our right side with Trent, at times, leaving lots of space for attackers to work with.

By the way, Kalidou Koulibaly is immense.

{Ed001's Note - yeah it was purely down to us that we didn't win. I disagree on Koulibaly, we made him look better than he is. Positionally he is getting caught out and throwing himself into last-ditch tackles constantly, instead of being in the right place to cut out the pass. I failed to see a problem with Trent at all in that game. Our problems were purely down to us being wasteful and giving the ball away.}

1.) 18 Sep 2019
18 Sep 2019 10:33:16
ed001,

do you think the pitch was a major issue in why we kept giving the ball away and overhitting nearlly everything hhaha. mane and firmino literally hit the ball so hard to pass to each other which hasn't happened at all in the prem. our worst performance last season was napoli away that i can remember, which i don't think is any coincidence i think the pitch is terrible in and around both areas. This years was much better and if it is our worst ill be very pleased as we only got outdone by a dodgy pen.

{Ed001's Note - it certainly didn't help and you have to wonder how a virtually unused pitch can be in such a state and still allowable in the Champions League? They have been playing league games away from home, so the pitch should have been in prime condition.

Having said that, the players should be good enough to deal with it.}

2.) 18 Sep 2019
18 Sep 2019 10:41:34
Fully agree on Koulibaly, Ed. He looks like an absolute soldier when he is given an opportunity to make a tackle, but we shouldn’t forget that Lacazette and Aubameyang (Arsenal, of all teams! ) danced around him only a few months ago.
We were completely wasteful yesterday. There’s something about Napoli’s pitch which is unsettling, and the stadium looks like it is the last stop before you reach hell.

3.) 18 Sep 2019
18 Sep 2019 11:08:24
I watched Napoli vs Juventus, and had to rub my eyes several times as Higuain tore Koulibaly a new one in that game. Koulibaly is great but no messiah the way he is being touted as.

{Ed001's Note - he is not great. He is a Sol Campbell type. Fast and strong but positionally awful. If you give him time to get back at you then he looks great as he dives in making a last-ditch tackle for the cameras. But overall he should not have been caught out in the first place and it costs them. It is why he has as many games where he is shocking as he does where he is great. If we had forwards just hit it early, then he is in trouble, but we try to play through them and that gives him a chance.}

4.) 18 Sep 2019
18 Sep 2019 11:20:01
He gave us the ball time after time. Salah sat him down again, I don't think he had a great game at all, just Bobby Mane and Mo we're utter rubbish.

5.) 18 Sep 2019
18 Sep 2019 13:13:14
Im sorry but im uncomfortable with my centre back throwing himself in every single tackle. i mean does anyone remember him standing while tackling? and that too all over the defense. brr.

6.) 18 Sep 2019
18 Sep 2019 14:08:42
Most on here really need to learn to be gracious in defeat . Sometimes you need to just put your hands up and say the opposition did better . Yesterday Napoli defended well, midfield, defence and keeper, our strikers were n't "utter rubbish", they were restricted, they could've done this, that and the other but hindsight is great thing and what is even better being a couch manager/ footballer .
I posted yesterday before the game that we most probably loose and that won't be the end of the world, 5 more games to go in the group.

7.) 18 Sep 2019
18 Sep 2019 16:10:15
Firmino missed a sitter, Mane and Salah were 2 on 1 and messed it up because of Mane smashing it across when he was stood next to him. Salah was swiping at everything missing the ball, his touch was awful. Restricted? No just a really bad day at the office.

8.) 18 Sep 2019
18 Sep 2019 17:28:13
Totally agree with you on Koulibaly Ed001.
He flings himself into last ditched tackles almost recklessly, he’s going to seriously injure someone and / or himself at some point.

{Ed001's Note - it is hugely risky.}

9.) 18 Sep 2019
18 Sep 2019 17:52:33
Ed001 on the money again, all the news about Koulibaly being "immense" but no mention of Salah leaving him sitting on his ass like he did last year. Get them back to Anfield and watch the sparks fly and totally different headlines.