UNOFFICIAL MDT - Liverpool v LUFC 23/02/22

My run is over. Just hope I do not have to do another MDT this season!

Spot on Daniel, started that way in pre-season and it only got worse.

We play like we're on the training pitch, trying things out.

There is no midfield, players get isolated allover the pitch with no cover at all!

A lot of the goals we conceed are selfinflicted too, as you say → the needless back passing and dallying on the ball.

Can't see us getting out of this mess.

Not even Roberts can save us now, but perhaps we'll start to use some of our worldclass players🙄

NO MIDFIELD to speak of. Look at the goals again and you will see we basically handed them to Liverpool. Slow ball movement, needless back passing inviting pressure and man marking which creates massive hole in our defence.

Reluctantly, I'm coming round to losing MB in the summer. It seems like he is in total command at ER, but unless someone is there to challenge some of his decision making, I suspect that little will change in his methods, and these drubbings will continue.

We have shipped more goals than anyone else in the PL, which is a disgrace in itself.

So have a serious word, Radrizanni. It's your ------- club and investment!

At 5 i switched off if im honest.

Cant believe that someone who obviously loves football dosent do anything when it comes to defending our goal.

Defending is an art too and is just as important as attacking, we havent the luxury of being a Brazil nor any of the top 20 teams in Europe so why oh why do we consistently set up and play every game as if we know we will concede but we will out score the opposition!!!!!! isnt happening and wont happen for a decade (if things go well for us).

I love Bielsa dont get me wrong but we are about to fall off the PL table (AGAIN) it took us 16 fcking years to get back last time it could take 20+ next time.

If i could request one thing from Marcelo and his coaching PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE can you concentrate on defending set pieces, and closing down space in training for the next few weeks.

Not alone do i not see our next cleansheet coming im struggling to see when our next win is coming (yes even norwich will fancy attacking us), i cant see us winning 9 points in our last 13 games going on current form. Ourselves and Brentford have 1 point from 5 games, newcastle have 11 points from the same 5 game period anyone trying to convince me otherwise will need a bloody good analysis sheet done. Our -27 GD is effectively another place down the table, conceding 56 goals in 25 games (more than 2 a game) is just NOT ACCEPTABLE and questions must be asked as to what are we doing to change this horrific (basic footballing stat) because if we dont that will equat to about 90 goals conceded by the end of the season

NO TEAM IN THE HISTORY OF FOOTBALL IN ANY LEAGUE AROUND THE WORLD WILL STAY IN ANY DIVISION IF THEY CONCEDE 2.25 GOALS IN EVERY GAME.

GET THIS SORTED

NOW

As predicted another severe defeat. Pens were perhaps harsh and probably wouldn't even be considered if they happened at the other end.

But there is simply no excuse for the line-up & set-up for this match.

You're at one on the best sides in Europe and you choose that line-up (lightweight & small)? A line up that carries at least 6 (six) to 7 players fully attackminded players, with none of those being able to defend let alone tackle, push or shove an opponent of the ball.

Whenever we've selected that kind of midfield (without the protection/presence of Kalvin) to put it mildly we've come up short in midfield.

Ayling is a good a right back, but a half decent CB at best → his lack of pace at CB is also an item that cannot be overlooked.

Klich was pants. Rapha is already at his new club. James is a winger playing at nr. 9. Rodrigo without the ball is a luxury and ineffective.

Firpo (nice tackle) isn't a defender either.

We still can't defend a corner, zero marking → the horror!

Is MB really surprised we got stuffed?

To make things worse it's not only the line-up but we're so open & naive that it beggers belief. It's like the result doesn't matter at all.

It matters to me and couldn't even sleep last night.

Is there even another team that conceeds with so much ease?

Our opponents must rub their hands when they face us, if you can't score against Leeds...

The performances of late only confirms one thing to me, we're going down.

Thanks Radz!

Very depressing night that. We knew it was coming but that was very bad, could have been more.

Depressing and worrying. With the mediocre players available (sorry), the paradox is that no matter how much he’s being critisized (rightly or not) then Bielsa is the only manager who can save us from relegation.

We really can't defend and it's schoolboy stuff....

It never feels right when Ayling is CB, especially as he links so well down the right with Raphinha....it may be the only thing to get him going as he doesn't look interested.

Hope Cresswell, Bate, Summerville and Geldhart start v Spurs but I'm sure stubborn old Bielsa will keep the same team....

We'll still be ok as Brentwood are down there as well and it'll be between them, Norwich, Bumley and Watford for relegation....

We've only got to beat the teams around us as we WILL go on a half decent run especially when Kalvin is back....

I can't work out if it's great news that Coops is back in training but I have to admit that we need him.... at the moment.

I've never rated Forshaw but I think he's been great last 2 games....

This is relegation form. Anyone any idea where the next

point will come from? Really worrying

We genuinely have no idea how to defend!....Incredible!!😡

Someone needs to give Rapha a large kick up the ar*e! Has he made his mind to go in summer??

Burnley are winning again..... we're now technically 3rd bottom if teams below us win their games in hand.

Not sure who has gone off, but Shackleton and Roberts are on.

I'm watching it and I thought that both penalties were quite harsh. That said, Ayling looks too slow and Strujik isn't having a good game - why no Cresswell ? I wouldn't be surprised, if game-changer (not) Roberts is brought on in the 2nd half. At least Watford are also losing.

Only Norwich have a goal difference worse than us - such a shame, White went to Arsenal.

Gone

Nothing will change,until bielsa is

Even the mild mannered Tony Dorigo is becoming exasperated with the Man to Man marking system!. We cannot carry on like this, something has to change!!

We are an embarrassment

We're reaching new lows. I have just had to turn off the radio as the third goes in - and we've only just played a third of the game. 😔

When most of us were almost prepared to almost 'throw' the game by putting 3/4 of the 23's squad in tonights team, MB has put out a full first team. He is definitely going to go for the 3 points.

Come on you Whites! Go for it!

This must be a BBC wind up! Harrison in the back 4???

Koch & Llorente out, Firpo and Rapha in. If it ends up Firpo man marking Salah, we could be the first team for a while to let in double figures!😟

liverpool 3 - 4 leeds

now where have i seen that scoreline before????

Well best of luck with that BB

I can see a great game 3-4 Leeds win

but i wuld by happy with draw😅

Go BB, It’s gona be 3-3 so you will still be at the helm for the next one!

Raph, Joffy & Rodrigo to score💥🥊

Cummmmmmmmonnnnn U Mighty Fookin Whites💛💙⚽️

You're not wrong TC, if it's Firpo up against Salah, the latter will have a field day.

The left-back position is one those situations that was left unresolved.

Last season, most of the time we had either Alioski or Dallas playing there.

We replaced one a wing-back, Alioski by an other.

Loved Alioski, effort & energy, up & down all day, + got us some goals & assists.

But always felt that in terms of defending he was the greatest to put it mildly.

Somehow, they've replaced him with Firpo, a good technical footballer & also looks the part in going forward.

But more importantly is he any better than Alioski in defending, stamina running power, pace? Nope, in fact he"ll come up second best in most of those aspects.

Even when we've had Hjelde, a CB playing LB, the youngster already looks to be a better defender in that position.

So considering the money we spent on Firpo (transferfee & wages) was it wise to let Alioski go? Let alone an upgrade? Money spent wisely?

Don't want to go as far as playing all the reserves but would love to see Cresswell, Geldhart, Bate and Summerville get game time ahead of tried and tested and proved crap others.... also hate Ayling at CB. Him and Raphinha tie up brilliantly on their day down the right.

Meslier

Ayling Cresswell Strujik Dallas

Forshaw

Summerville Rodrigo Raphinha Harrison

Geldhart

This team is far too attacking so won't happen but at least it looks stronger with Koch, Coops, Kalvin and Hattrick still to come back....

James and Bate on as subs.... love Llorente and he will come good but has a mistake in him.

Firpo had a good game until he tired even though he came on as sub. It's a pity that a LB can't defend though! 🙈Think he'd be slaughtered by Salah....

Best of luck Bri.

Love to see Creswell start but we all know he’ll move Ayling into CB if it means he can use one of his first team.

As an intelligent man and not just a coach, MB must see the hurt and damage position and points wise his rigid tactics have caused this season.

Can he change, will he change. Of course not. Some see this as noble, a trait that has to be admired. For me, with the players we have got, it almost seems suicidal and tunnel blind.

Please MB, surprise us all and at least try and stop teams scoring against us. No one will be bothered if we have a 0-0 or two. In fact it may make Meslier smile again because as sure as sh.t is sh.t he cannot be enjoying his time right now.

Well best of luck with that BB

personally o reckon 1-1

so get the pen out for the next one

My God is good. I am too old to see us go down and wait another 15+ years for us to return.

By hook or by crook I believe we will still be in the Prem next season.

You could put in a bunch of U23's, however chances are they would get annihilated and have the confidence drained completely so not sure that would happen. I understand the point of playing Gelhardt and the experience he would gain, but chances are that all the action would be around Meslier and the defenders, so stick Roberts up front as a free hit.

Cresswell at the back is a good shout, but I suspect that Ayling will fill in with Llorente, Firpo and Dallas. In my humble opinion, the only was we could avoid an absolute hammering would be to go 4-4-2, or even 4-5-1, but not sure any of those are in the Bielsa playbook.

I know in life you make your own luck, but it does seem that every 50-50 or deflection is going against us, compounded with our ever increasing medical dependencies!!.

Hopefully Spurs will beat Burnley and Palace see off Watford, however both of these sides won last time out so will have an extra edge to their game, even at this stage we are already looking for help from other teams!

It's going to be a very tough few weeks. Can we recover and regroup?, Yes. Will we?, Really not sure.

Well done BB stepping up to do this game, your challenge is to not do worse than I did with my thankless task of a MDT v Man City. So a 6-0 defeat would be a win in some ways.

I watched them play Norwich the other day and Norwich played well I thought until they dared to score and then Liverpool crucified them. So we need to score the first goal of the game in the 97th minute.

My team

Meslier

10 defenders

Sub llorente for raphinia in the 96th minute and bingo.

Weather Forecast. We need to get there, get the win and get out as quick as possible. Snow coming in there later, we should be OK though, just a bit nippy.

I agree a Jan window signing wouldn't make a difference right now to the team that takes to field each game, However if we had signed 3 players last Summer they would be well "Bielsa" fit and would at least provide an alternative to picking players that are playing with niggles or would give the manager a choice to rotate some players to avoid the fatigue the current starting xi are suffering right now.

However our running stats this year compared to last year dont stack up with the idea "leeds run all day" we are not the team that are running pressing all day this season, and i believe thats because of the vicious circle

small squad / same players play, however an injury ridden squad = same players play NO REST = Drop off in intensity / yards ran.

But like Bielsa we have made our bed now so we gotta lie in it. I think nothing will be gained on Wednesday night and i would start Roberts on Wednesday night and ask him to match if not better Bamfords running yards from last season and he is the first line of defence, its his job to protect the midfield and to stop VVD spraying the ball around as if he is Glenn Hoddle. Whats the point in playing Joffy at anfield? ok extra time experience in the PL, thats always a plus, but why play him against liverpool to drain his energy levels for the next game (saturday 12:30) where we might actually gain a point or 3??

Play the reserves, at liverpool, fck the PL they give us fck all anyway and hopefully Spurs will be feeling drained after their game in Turf Moor.

As guy just said that the tactics MB deploys are virtually the same, each & every game.

We need to change things around throw a curve ball, do something different, so why not do that and in turn allow our first xi a couple of days extra rest and target Spuds?

In general good players don't need much time to settle into a side or figure out the way we play. Quality speaks.

Most will agree that the tactics MB deploys are virtually the same, each & every game.

I've rarely seen MB adapting his team, line-up or the way we play. It hardly matters who we are up against.

So the brand of football remains virtually the same whoever the opponent is.

Under MB there is certainly a high demand in regards to the fitness levels, pace & the intensity we play at. There is Bielsaball in training & all that, but are other teams unfit?

Think you'll find that most professional players will cope with those demands (tactics & fitnes). Also, if the likes of Roberts fit that bill, then who wouldn't?

Moreover this season we've been outplayed & outrun on several occasions.

Several players, perhaps due to all our injuries are either forced to play when not fully fit (Dallas, ...?) or run out steam.

In last game Rodrigo, Klich and even Pascal looked knackered (I fully respect the effort they gave). Was surprised to see how Firpo, who I felt had played really well for 30mins, then faded so badly.

So to me, the problem doesn't lie so much in the way we play, but rather with the quality & number of players (clearly injuries have taken it's toll) that we've got available. The credo of they've got to be better than those that we've already just infuriates me. It's not like we're Man City or Liverpool are we.

Good luck BB, we'll need it😀.

Hope we can at least keep the score somewhat respectable.

Would also play Geldhardt upfront, because playing Rodrigo or Roberts up top is about as effective as playing my gran there.

Cresswell at CB would mean we'll actually win a couple of headers.

Anyway Llorente has been PP over last games.

Seeing us getting killed in these games makes me both so sad & angry.

Even without all the injuries the writing was on the wall in pre-season.

That's was neglected and met with a nice spin, "any new players need to be better than those we've already got". The nitwits.

Rant over.

Thanks for your confidence Soopa!

BTW I expect nothing from this game just hope it is worth watching and not a total mauling.

All the best BB - look on the bright side - the team can't do much worse and neither can you with your MDT reign....

Who is pencilled in for the Spuds MDT?

Quality MDT BB and good luck for a prolonged run.... somehow!!

I really hope Raphinha and Geldhart start and maybe even Cresswell. Summerville surely has to be at least on the bench!!

Our away following will be our 12th man to cheer us on for at least a point....

Anfield isn't the best place to start but I'm going for a positive 1-0 victory with Geldhart to notch....

Jimmy needs to be on the bench too as a game changer

Well they have Firminho and Jota out for this game so have to rely on Origi, Minamino or Dias. What a problem to have!

I doubt Koch will be available so it looks like Firpo at LB with Dallas joining Forshaw in CM.

I would like to see Cresswell start at RCB. He is quick, dominant in the air and can pick a pass.

I would rest Llorente

Also would have Geldhart up top with Rorigo behind him and James with Rafa on the wings.

Good luck BB, but it looks like you have done a short MDT for a short regin in the MDT Chair.

On one hand i hope he plays a complete second string, as we wont be getting anything form the game regardless, even if its still 0-0 in the 80min VAR will intervene and make sure pool take all 3 points, sky need a close title race to boost sliding viewing figures, and as you say game in hand only 6 points behind City plus they also face city later on so gap gone potentially.

Spurs have Burnley, ourselves and Everton before they play manure in March so they will be looking for 9 points from those 3 games (min) to pile the pressure on scum. If it was me i would throw these next 2 games play the u23's and hope 10 days will be enough to get all batteries charged and possibly one or two of the injuries back before we face leicester. I watched them yesterday on/off after our game and they were patchy enough at times and shouldnt be a team that we should fear, but if we go balls out at LiVARpool and Spurs get zero points (no win in 6 at that stage) i can only imagine the moral boost they will have facing us knowing our players have lead in their legs.

Realistically we will patch up the players as best we can from yesterday and run out of steam before the hour is reached, not alone will the liVARpool front three look to exploit and try to add to each of their goal tallies VVD will want a slice of the scoring pie too as well as trying to keep another clean sheet.

Zero points at anfield for us and all we can hope for is that Spurs and Palace win their games on Wednesday night

sorry for the doom and gloom but i'm not going to post a score that will depress others even more.😓