Champions League New Format and First Phase Matches

[Chucky McChuckface]

Was a bit of a turnaround there…

Anyway, congrats on both the Villains and the Goonies for already qualifying for the knock-out stages with 5 games to go… you’ve got to love this format, haven’t you??

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[Chucky McChuckface]

Does anybody know if that co-efficiant rule/extra spots thing is still in play this season?

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[Nike19]

McGinn’s right. I think it’s the experience on Europe Unai carries and so far, he seems a good fit for Villa.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c7v35er5jjlo

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[Nike19]

Steve McManaman on preview summed up Liverpool well under Arne Slot; something I noticed, but was a little hazy; the Press has changed. I don’t think we’re high-pressing. To me, it’s a collective build up from the back and an emphasis on Defenders being involved from the start.

That said, there is still that uncertainty creeping from the back playing excessive side-to-side passes and thereafter an impulsive pass to one of the midfielders leading them to stretch out further than they should and as a result, a strong challenge coming in from opposition and boom, a foul.

We’re in the lead. I am still not convinced! But we’re doing ok up to now 🙂

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[sean the sailor]

Clean sheets are great . Should have won by more and playrd some good but the ref was awful.

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[Chucky McChuckface]

I know we all ike to bash the refs in Blighty, and there have been numerous comments on here about the refs being better abroad… didn’t see Pool’s game last night (I was watching paint dry… 🙂 ), but both the refs in the Spuds games were bloody awful too…

Of course, I also players from aborad (along with my Spuds boyz) doing all the usual feigning injury and screaming with every tackle and appealing for every throw-in… basically putting the refs under more pressure than they really need… I guess it all comes down to the pressure to “win” a game by fair means or foul…

Or European refs are just as shite as Engerland refs… 🙂

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[sean the sailor]

Ah refreeing is dreadful

Just so inconsistent banjo me aul buttercup of the sun

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[threeps]

Sean, what did you think of our old mate Nunez? I actually thought he played very well, he looks fired up this season and works very hard and is holding the ball up much better. I would have him in over Jota who makes the attack look disjointed a lot of the time as he has poor link up play.

Said it before but I think a new no 9 should be a priority.

Glad Nunez scored a goal even he would struggle to miss, but my first thought was “hope he isnt offside knowing him!”.

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[Chucky McChuckface]

Altogether now…

“He’s just a suntanned Andy Carroll!”

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[Mikus LFC]

Yeh as I said on TT, I think with having new management, it has helped Nunez because everyone has to start again to impress Slot. Nunez hasn’t started many games either but I think its in his personality to fight it out. As much as many of us have criticised him (rightly) for his cost outlay vs his goals and missed chances, he does work very hard and is still a useful front 3 player. With some strikers, they find it tough to work in a front 3 but Nunez is very fluid and some of his passes and assists are outstanding. At the same time, yes we could still do with another no.9 to be more clinical. We still haven’t really replaced Mane in that sense. Also as well as our midfield has done, I’d still like a specialist DM.

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[threeps]

Specialised DM and what? Drop Gravenberch our players of the season so far and probably most in form midfielder in the league?

I don’t think we need a clinical no 9, just one that influences play more than Nunez and Jota. Bobby Firmino like, who is always involved and makes things happen. Although I remember when we were hammering everyone left right and centre people still asked for more goals from him or from the midfielders.

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[sean the sailor]

Ye threeps, nunez done very well v Bournemouth, Chelsea and last night. Much better with his use of the ball etc. still early days, would love to see him 20+ goals this but not so sure that will happen mate

I agree about jota aswell. Ball just bounces off him at times. I like jota,he gets about but his general play at times is frustrating you may well have a point about a new number 9.

Would love to see nunez prove me wrong. Thought we played some great football after we went 1-0 but got a bit sloppy after all the subs on 70 mins and we were always going to come under pressure at a tough ground.

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[Mikus LFC]

We’ll see how the season goes Threeps, but I just think we need a specialist in there in the longer term over a season. That’s in no way a criticism of Gravenberch who I agree has done very well but I’m not sure he was bought with that role in mind. All the top teams have specialised defensive midfielders.

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[threeps]

We didn’t have the role Grav is playing now when we bought him. To be honest I didn’t understand the purchase as we were well stocked in thr no 8 position and he didn’t play that much. But Slot doesn’t play with traditional defensive midfielders and the role Slot has put him in is working a treat. Only way I can see a less attacking midfielder come in is to play alongside him and push MacAllister into the 10 (which is probably his best). But it won’t be an out and out defensive midfielder.

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[Chucky McChuckface]

That’s a rotated 11 for sure… can see us coming a cropper!!

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[Chucky McChuckface]

Guess who just missed a 1-on-1?? The whole goal to aim for and rolled it right at the goalie… about as bad as you can get… my nan would have saved that and we cremated her 20 years ago…

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[Chucky McChuckface]

For a team of kids, subs, injury returnees and whatever catagory Timo Werner is, I was expecting worse… mind you, we weren’t great either… bring out the big dogs…

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[Chucky McChuckface]

Was thinking the ref hasn’t been too bad in tonights game, and then he goes and gives a 2nd yellow for a challange I didn’t even think was a foul…

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[Nike19]

Some good points re Liverpool:

In agreement completely with Three P’s on us needing a Firmino. He is noticeably missed because of his skill. Mane effectively never replaced.

I like Darwin, but realistically, we’re not going to get out of him and x y z amount of goals that we need.

This brings me to thinking and believing more and more we’ve stopped playing a high-press game. We are more conventional in playing from the back and relying on our midfield for protection and creativity.

Macca and Zobo therefore cannot be expected to last 100 minutes without picking up knock after knock and this is where Jones and Trent come in.

Without Jota, it’s a much different dimension but Gakpo and Diaz do provide the missing threat that we need.

Tough game this coming Sunday.

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[sean the sailor]

In no way having a go at utd lads but eth has to go. That was atrocious last night. As a utd fan that must be so hard to watch. Some good players just look awful.

There has to be a change as the football is horrendous. Bizarre playing a full back at ten. It was an enjoyable game but two poor sides

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