Might as well start a general Footy/Soccer thread

[retirwntm]

They have fantastic choices on offense but something isn’t working right now. Maybe lampard is being out coached? Hard to be sure but Ancelotti definitely figured out how to neutralize the offense. West ham looked pretty good and Arsenal played really well as a mid and d unit made Chelsea look horrible.

From a great start to LLWLD in December in EPL after thoroughly destroying Sevilla things have all gone sideways. Now talk of Tuchel coming in for Lampard? Probably just need to have headlines but definitely concerning.


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[shafty85]

What's all the hubbub about the LUFC tweet? Am I missing something?

[Woodsy]

missing Manchester United being in second place with a game in hand.

[tintin5]

What's all the hubbub about the LUFC tweet? Am I missing something?

I think it’s more about the subsequent abuse directed towards Karen Carney as a result of the tweet.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/55485336

[Woodsy]

They have fantastic choices on offense but something isn’t working right now. Maybe lampard is being out coached? Hard to be sure but Ancelotti definitely figured out how to neutralize the offense. West ham looked pretty good and Arsenal played really well as a mid and d unit made Chelsea look horrible.

From a great start to LLWLD in December in EPL after thoroughly destroying Sevilla things have all gone sideways. Now talk of Tuchel coming in for Lampard? Probably just need to have headlines but definitely concerning.


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Lampard needs to realize that Jorghinho and Kante are the same player, but Kante is better.

You know the squad better than I but where is your central midfield in the XI against Villa?
those 2 are DMs, Pulisic, Mount and Hudson OIoi all seem very advanced/Offensive
Was Kovacic hurt?

[retirwntm]

Might as well start a general Footy/Soccer thread

I’m solidly confused about lampard’s midfield choices. Kante is about the best DM in the league still. He’s getting older but his work rate is still surreal. His position falling back with the defense to distribute the ball is always specious at best. He always seems rushed or lacks confidence with the ball at his feet. It’s not his strong suit. Evidence the fact that teams that press hard against Chelsea in the 18-midfield distribution have fantastic success as long as they cut off the distribution to players like Mount and other wingers that can advance the ball quickly into offensive 3rd. This is where Havertz is especially vulnerable with turnovers right now.

Jorginho is only there because he has a strong ability to handle possession and transition under pressure. In the Villa game I’d think lampard set up Kante vs. Grealish to stunt his delivery which is pretty exceptional. So maybe in that game the Kante vs. Grealish man v man allowed for the choice of Jorginho or Kovacic to act as distribution to wingers and forwards. Given that choice it’s a decision about pressure and whether either one needs to track back on d. Kovacic beats the press by dribbling out of trouble. Villa didn’t seem to press as hard as other teams so maybe If jorginho doesn’t need to track back on d and can just float balls forward or to wingers he’s the right choice. Maybe rotation played a large part as well. Kovacic has looked a little tired recently and no wonder given this stretch.

Kante and Jorginho inhabit the same spaces but do very different things.

Kante always cleans up and chases down in the final third of the field but mostly 18-midfield. At that he kills it. He’s not horrible horrible in distribution but he’s not good. He’s definitely not a threat which is why teams will either press him back to goal or double him when turned forward to turn over the ball in possession. Which he does enough to hurt them.

Jorginho drops back to receive the ball often back to goal in order to turn and distribute. He’s a horrible defender for the EPL. Not strong, not fast, gives up tons of fouls in dangerous areas and always accumulates yellow cards...often earlier than others that can ensure they manage their aggression with professional fouls until they are subbed or can play out the remainder of the game in less critical defensive formations.

Then there is Kovacic. He’s a god dammed slalom skier with the ball moving forward through defenders. He beats the press dribbling through 3-4 players. Amazing skill for that. He can track back on d and do all those things Jorginho can’t do above. He’s a very professional defender makes smart game decisions in critical areas whether to foul or pass on to other defenders.

Given all those individual skills for each player it’s always a decision for lampard to need to get right since those decisions seem to be 50% of the game if he gets them right. His matching of midfield transition and partners is critical.

Thought he got most of it right with villa. Grealish was good at distributing the ball out wide in their goal. Kante wasn’t on him so maybe someone else failed to really press him. There was the foul between he and Christensen so maybe Kante thought Christensen had him covered. Kante didn’t track back far enough - maybe he figured again that Christensen should have been in that space instead of on the ground trying to draw the foul.

A 1-0 vs. villa would have been a mourinho like grind it out tactical win.


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[shafty85]

I think it’s more about the subsequent abuse directed towards Karen Carney as a result of the tweet.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/55485336

Ah, I see. I am still confused by why people are claiming LUFC's tweet was 'inappropriate'? I am not 'woke' enough, I suppose.

[Woodsy]

Lampard shown the door.

Not shocking, United fan commented during LCFC v. Chelsea match we all wanted Chealski to win " I have only been supporting Chelsea for 30 minutes and they already drive me crazy. Its like Fat Frank just picks his best 11 players from training and throws out on the pitch. What are they doing?"

Former PSG boss Tuchel said to be named replacement, which should be good for Pulisic as he was the one at Dortmund who got his career going. Plus better style on the touchline than fat Frank's track suits.

In other news, how bout those Red Devils? Top of the table & punted Liverpool right out of the FA Cup.

Ole's at the wheel....

[JimmyCarter]

Happy 26th!

[Woodsy]

[ATTACH]359581[/ATTACH]
Happy 26th!

Give racism the fucking boot

[retirwntm]

Lampard’s tactics and coaching skills were laid bare pretty quickly. Once one team breaks you down and finds your weaknesses all teams do.


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[Kinnikinnick]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1g6RNs-Yw4

[Woodsy]

Lampard’s tactics and coaching skills were laid bare pretty quickly. Once one team breaks you down and finds your weaknesses all teams do.


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Ask Klopp

[altacoup]

Well LCC is closed all day so I was looking forward towatching the champions league today. But this year it’s on a new cbs streaming service. Fuck that. Every fucking media producer having their own streaming service sucks. And the champions league keeps getting bounced around. Wish it was back on fox sports and that coverage sucked but at least one could watch it.


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[getoutside]

its on univision if you get that channel