Man City 2-1 Liverpool - Thursday 3rd January, 2019

[LFCMadLad]

Just now, Blue said:

Brazil has a serious full back culture - they basically revolutionized it and still do. Maybe I was being harsh - but he wouldn't have caught the eye of Europeans better said. As an example, do you believe he can become as good as Roberto Carlos or Marcelo?

And as for the second point, I think that's fair enough. They are just words in the end but I guess a better way to put it is I don't think he'll be the next Alaba, or Marcelo. I think his peak is quite below that.

So you singled out Trent to criticise because he might not turn out as good as Carlos and Marcelo?

Fukkin'ell 

[Guest]

Just now, LFCMadLad said:

So you singled out Trent to criticise because he might not turn out as good as Carlos and Marcelo?

Fukkin'ell 

Yes, if you read my original post you would see why.

He's not a wonderkid as some of my favourite scouting fanpages list him to be, as well as a few others. I find that ridiculous.

[Dr. Gonzo]

2 minutes ago, Blue said:

Brazil has a serious full back culture - they basically revolutionized it and still do. Maybe I was being harsh - but he wouldn't have caught the eye of Europeans better said. As an example, do you believe he can become as good as Roberto Carlos or Marcelo?

And as for the second point, I think that's fair enough. They are just words in the end but I guess a better way to put it is I don't think he'll be the next Alaba, or Marcelo. I think his peak is quite below that.

I think Marcelo is overrated as fuck tbh. Alaba's class though.

[Stan]

Just gonna leave this here. Small-time player, goes missing against big clubs (and Utd) 

 

[Dr. Gonzo]

Just now, Blue said:

Yes, if you read my original post you would see why.

He's not a wonderkid as some of my favourite scouting fanpages list him to be, as well as a few others. I find that ridiculous.

Don't most scouting fanpages just hype players up though? Like realistically, how many "wonderkids" ever turn out to be "world class?" And I mean the very loose definition of "world class" like "Oh wow Mbappe was 'world class' in the World Cup" rather than actually world class like: "Messi is one of the few players like Maradona and Cruyff who were truly world class"?

I remember getting hyped up for young prospects once upon a time. I remember thinking Suso would be world class instead of just pretty good. They use hype to keep you interested so they can get clicks so they can get add revenue. Most prospects will never make it to the levels of their highest hype.

[LFCMadLad]

1 minute ago, Stan said:

Just gonna leave this here. Small-time player, goes missing against big clubs (and Utd) 

 

Firmino and Mane beat the best, Salah beats the rest 

[Guest]

1 minute ago, Dr. Gonzo said:

Don't most scouting fanpages just hype players up though? Like realistically, how many "wonderkids" ever turn out to be "world class?" And I mean the very loose definition of "world class" like "Oh wow Mbappe was 'world class' in the World Cup" rather than actually world class like: "Messi is one of the few players like Maradona and Cruyff who were truly world class"?

I remember getting hyped up for young prospects once upon a time. I remember thinking Suso would be world class instead of just pretty good. They use hype to keep you interested so they can get clicks so they can get add revenue. Most prospects will never make it to the levels of their highest hype.

They do all the time - but I feel they go OTT on Trent when to me there is better. Sometimes I feel they just do it because he plays for a top club in a top league and is capable of having some very solid performances. They do it as if he took the league by storm, and when I want to read about other players I always get TAA.

I could unfollow them but I think they provide good information. Of course we're not always going to agree on everything. I just don't see the hype for him.

[Stan]

Just now, Blue said:

They do all the time - but I feel they go OTT on Trent when to me there is better. Sometimes I feel they just do it because he plays for a top club in a top league and is capable of having some very solid performances. They do it as if he took the league by storm, and when I want to read about other players I always get TAA.

I could unfollow them but I think they provide good information. Of course we're not always going to agree on everything. I just don't see the hype for him.

how many Liverpool games have you watched in the last 12-18 months (i.e. the time where his reputation has increased due to more playing-time)? 

[Guest]

Just now, Stan said:

how many Liverpool games have you watched in the last 12-18 months (i.e. the time where his reputation has increased due to more playing-time)? 

I'd say about 6 or 7.

It won't make me an expert but I do think it's enough for me to judge TAA.

[LFCMadLad]

2 minutes ago, Blue said:

I'd say about 6 or 7.

It won't make me an expert but I do think it's enough for me to judge TAA.

Klopp is pretty good at developing young talent and he clearly rates and trusts Trent.

He's probably a more reliable source to judge than you and your podcast mate. 

[Stan]

I don't see how, in watching 6 games over 12-18 months you could judge whether a player is meeting their hype or not  

[Guest]

2 minutes ago, LFCMadLad said:

He's probably a more reliable source to judge than you and your podcast mate. 

Never said I was a good source.

I'm not here to change anyones opinion - nor do I think I can write a whole piece on why I don't think TAA is a wonderkid. If you disagree with me just take my opinion with a pinch of salt. I'm a casual premier league follower, watching a few games every so often. I'm not a hardcore follower or an expert. If I see a game I like to drop my silly own personal opinion but don't really care if they don't agree with it. I just don't want it to result to insults 

[LFCMadLad]

1 minute ago, Blue said:

Never said I was a good source.

I'm not here to change anyones opinion - nor do I think I can write a whole piece on why I don't think TAA is a wonderkid. If you disagree with me just take my opinion with a pinch of salt. I'm a casual premier league follower, watching a few games every so often. I'm not a hardcore follower or an expert. If I see a game I like to drop my silly own personal opinion but don't really care if they don't agree with it. I just don't want it to result to insults 

Nobody has insulted you mate. 

Anyway, great game, gutted, off to bed 

[Honey Honey]

 

[Lucas]

Fernandinho was a man possessed.

Comes back for two games, City win both, and been the star performer in both. Standard.

[Harry]

It was a good game, a tense game and an entertaining game. A good advert for the premier league, and a worthy top of the table match. What kept it from being a classic was Liverpool playing pretty poorly. Too many passes delivered to the wrong player, even when the pressure wasn’t there. Huge credit to City for that. They were much sharper, created good chances, put immense pressure on the ball, and their crowd was fantastic as well, the loudest I’ve seen at city, and made for a very intimidating atmosphere. Who’d have  thought ten thousand actors paid by a Sheikh could make so much noise!!!

Despite the fact City were much sharper on the day we were defensively fairly solid, and we still created enough chances to win the game and thats an excellent sign. Thats our baseline performance, the minimum you put out when you dont quite click, and for years thats been our problem. Great to see it addressed even if it hasn’t been enough to beat city on the day..

Lovren for me is being made into a bit of a Scapegoat for today. We know he’s nobodies first choice CB, and he did make a couple of gaffes. But their goals were well worked, and for a side of that quality to score two against us is no huge shame.

1 hour ago, Rick said:

Getting stick because I think we need a more experienced RB available for games like this? Nah, sorry but it's not the first time I've said this sort of thing. I think the lad is massively talented, but he's still young and naive and a more experienced head would have been better to have in there tonight.

I agree it would be useful to have a handy alternative to TAA in games where there is more focus required on defence than offence. Probably Clyne could be that player, however he is much more limited going forwards than TAA is. Trade off. Also he cant get enough minutes to get any form behind him and doesnt seem to be a player that can come off the bench occasionally and still deliver solid performances.

1 hour ago, Rick said:

Listen. I'm very reactionary, it's one of my flaws when posting on here. Perhaps the way I worded my original post makes it seem as if I think Trent is some shite kid. I don't think that, I think he's very talented and has a big future, but with that youth comes naivety. He needs somebody to learn from.

Agree with this too. He needs to work much more on his defensive game. That said for me he wasn’t terrible today. He was up against Sane, and I honestly think he might be close to the best young prospect in Europe other than Mbappe. He’s damn near unplayable every time I see him. 

 

[Harry]

1 hour ago, Blue said:

Never said I was a good source.

I'm not here to change anyones opinion - nor do I think I can write a whole piece on why I don't think TAA is a wonderkid. If you disagree with me just take my opinion with a pinch of salt. I'm a casual premier league follower, watching a few games every so often. I'm not a hardcore follower or an expert. If I see a game I like to drop my silly own personal opinion but don't really care if they don't agree with it. I just don't want it to result to insults 

I think the real issue being debated here is what’s the threshold to be classed as a “wonderkid”. If there are only a few in Europe then he isnt. He’s no Mbappe, but he is playing above the level expected of a 19 year old in a top of the table EPL team. His form is enough to cause us not to go out searching for a $50M Mendy type option and not have the fans screaming about it. And for me thats fantastic.

I also think that his age will result in him being criticised in games like this as a talking point, where a more established attacking defender like Marcelo or Alves will often not be criticised in the same way. I want to see him work harder on the defensive side of his game, but going forwards he adds a lot of value. And I don’t see RB as a huge weakness for us.

His set piece delivery is also enough to get him into the first 11 imo. Since Suarez left we’ve missed a player that would be consistently capable of putting free kicks into the net, and it adds up to points at the end of the season. He’s earned his spot as our set piece taker.

[Harry]

26 minutes ago, Lucas said:

Fernandinho was a man possessed.

Comes back for two games, City win both, and been the star performer in both. Standard.

I was most impressed today by Fernandinho, Sane and Sterling - the latter mainly because Ive never been that convinced by him and probably not watched enough of their games this year, but today he looked very comfortable in City’s first 11.

[Dr. Gonzo]

1 hour ago, Blue said:

They do all the time - but I feel they go OTT on Trent when to me there is better. Sometimes I feel they just do it because he plays for a top club in a top league and is capable of having some very solid performances. They do it as if he took the league by storm, and when I want to read about other players I always get TAA.

I could unfollow them but I think they provide good information. Of course we're not always going to agree on everything. I just don't see the hype for him.

You should think about why they’re going over the top. Building hype for players in big leagues at big clubs, clubs that are relevant now and probably getting googled and whatnot, means that if they’ve got their SEO done right means those articles or whatever will be seen by more people. More people see it and that’s more exposure for them and also more potential ad revenue clicks for them.

They’re basically hype merchants.

For what it’s worth, I’ve seen loads of hyped up kids get a chance with us and flop harder than you’d imagine. And some were kids you could tell were very talented, like Suso, who didn’t make it with us but is now looking a pretty decent player in Milan. And some made an impression and looked pretty good. And some of them were Steven Gerrard and Robbie Fowler and we’ve really had nothing like them come through as good as those 2 since then. But at Trent’s age, at the level he’s playing, I think things are looking good for him. Sane may have had the better than him today, but in the past he’s had the better of Sane and has put in good shifts against other great wingers, and Sane is a great winger. But even so, he was one of our better players on the night and if the game was won on margins that battle between Sane and TAA was one of those closely fought margins. And Lovren was worse for the goals too.

I am gutted we’ve lost this one though. But considering how this fixture went last year, at least it was an even contest and we weren’t thrashed.

We just need to hope we bounce back nicely and get back into a winning groove again.

[UNORTHODOX]

That was a very frustrating game to watch for me, I understand City made it incredibly difficult for us to play our normal game but it felt like there was no urgency at all from us tonight when we had chances to break and potentially punish them. Nothing but sideways and backwards passing all night which again was down to City's gameplan which was brilliant  and left me frustrated to fuck for most of that game.

Dont mean to sound ungrateful because we are brilliant and have had an amazing season so far i just felt like we let City off the hook at times.

[Machado]

 

[Happy Blue]

8 hours ago, LFCMadLad said:

Agree they looked a little sharper which is understandable considering they HAD to win. Still think we created the better chances throughout though, as strange as that sounds. 

Well played @Happy Blue

Cheers bud  ..you still have a 4pt lead so it's still in your hands

[Happy Blue]

8 hours ago, MUFC said:

Should Kompany have seen red?

For an excellent tackle??  ...shows how pussyfied the game has become to even ask that question 

[True Blue]

Overall it was a good game and for the neutrals i felt Liverpool earned at least a win but were very unlucky. Now the title race is again wide open and Liverpool will have to respond in the best manner. Also Lovren is the Chelsea's version of Alonso he just can't start.

[Happy Blue]

Sane has turned better players than Trent inside out and upside down doesn't mean you are bad, Sane is just that good, probably the best young winger in the game tbf to Trent